365 Chess Master Lessons E-Book

Andrew Soltis

• Herausgeber: Batsford
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 730

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Increase your chess knowledge within the year! In this book, Andrew Soltis analyzes 365 key chess games in an easy way for busy people. In this book, 365 of the most instructive short games of chess are analyzed, step by step, by well-respected author Andrew Soltis. Arranged as daily lessons, this book is perfect for chess players who would like to reach the next level of skill but can't devote hours and hours each day to study. Learn to feel confident with each tactic – each game features test-yourself quizzes (with answers at the back of the book) to help cement understanding, as well as chess diagrams for those who learn visually. Challenging tactics are revisited in later games to help you recognize when they occur and how chess masters use them to their full advantage. With this book, Andrew encourages you to learn to think like a chess master within the year. From Castling to Zugzwang, learn something new everyday!

Leseprobe

Introduction

The format of this book is simple: There are 365 lessons so that you can study one each day for a year.

Each lesson consists of a short annotated game and at least one quiz question to test you. At the end of the lesson you will find an additional game that illustrates the opening or strategic themes of the main game.

Try to set aside at least an hour for each lesson. You can get the most out of it by playing the main game over at least twice.

The first time will give you a general sense of why the game was won or lost. The second time will allow you to look more closely at the tactics and strategy. You might look at it once more, this time with colors reversed, seeing the board from Black’s viewpoint rather than White’s. You’d be surprised how often this reversal changes your appreciation of what happened. If you are using a computer program, make sure to look at the illustrative game with it to see any tactical ideas you might have missed.

Feel free to move on to a second lesson each day after you’ve finished the first. But don’t leave a lesson until you can describe what happened in the main game. Describe it in words, not “White won because 17 ♗xc5+ Kg8 18 Rg1+.” I’m hoping that at the end of each lesson you will have that feeling – all too rare in chess – that you’ve learned something today.

Almost all the main games in this book last 20 moves or less. The early lessons have most of the very short games and the more basic tactical ideas. Longer games and more complex positional ideas are tackled later on. Most of the games were played by masters, so some will end when a player loses a piece and resigns. Other games may last until checkmate.

Don’t be surprised if you find some games helpful, others difficult and still others too easy. Each student progresses in their own way. And don’t feel upset if you can’t answer the daily quiz questions. Some are based on simple tactics but others are much more difficult. The answers are at the back of this book.

Of course, there is a lot that this book does not cover. Games of less than 20 moves end much too early to provide meaningful instruction about the endgame. Nor is this the book that will teach you the finer points of openings. Many of the games begin with gambits, some long out of fashion. But they are here because they illustrate important concepts like compensation and initiative and demonstrate the many combinational patterns that you need to know.

And most of these games were chosen because they are entertaining. If you aren’t enjoying chess as you study it, you won’t keep at it. So have a good year!

DAY 1 Take What He Gives

Almost every move by your opponent has good – and less good – features. You win by exploiting the latter.

Jan TimmanWhite

Mustafa Ahmed BakaliBlack

Nice 1974

Center Counter Defense B01

1 e4 d5 2 exd5♘f6 3 d4♘xd5 4 c4

Quieter play, 4 ♘f3 g6 5 ♗e2 ♗g7 6 0-0, promises a modest White advantage, at most.

4...♘b6 5♘f3♗g4

Now on 6 ♗e2 Black can play ...♗xf3 when ♗xf3 would allow ...♘xc4. On 6 ♕b3 he gets active piece play from 6...♗xf3 7 ♕xf3 ♘c6.

That’s what’s good about 5...♗g4. What’s problematic is that b7 is unguarded.

6 c5!

Now 6...♘6d7 7 ♗c4 grants White the more active pieces.

6...♘d5?

This natural move is a serious error – but only if White appreciates what Black has given him. Black would be solid after 7 ♗c4? c6 8 ♘c3 e6.

7 ♕b3!

Attacking both the knight and b-pawn. Black loses material after 7...♗xf3 8 ♕xb7!.

7...b6?

Best is the humble 7...♗c8!. The loss of time is far outweighed by its benefit, keeping the game going.

See the game below for an example.

8 ♘e5! resigns.

Question 1: What happens on 8...♗e6 ?

Esther De KleuverWhite

Staffan ThomassonBlack

Dieren 2006

1 e4 d5 2 exd5 ♘f6 3 ♘f3 ♘xd5 4 d4 ♗g4 5 c4 ♘b6 6 c5 ♘d5 7 ♕b3 ♗c8 8 ♗c4 c6 9 ♘c3 e6 10 0-0 ♗e7 11 ♖e1 0-0 12 ♘e4 ♘f6 13 ♘eg5 ♘d5 14 ♕d3 g6 15 h4 ♘d7 16 h5 b6 17 hxg6 hxg6 18 ♖xe6 ♗f6 19 ♖xc6 ♗xg5 20 ♗xg5 ♘7f6 21 ♗xf6 resigns (21...♘xf6 22 ♕xg6+).

DAY 2 Oldest, Essential

A last rank mate is the oldest mating pattern. And the most common. That makes mastering it essential knowledge.

Alexander AlekhineWhite

Friedrich KoehnleinBlack

Dusseldorf 1908

Colle System D05

1 d4 d5 2 ♘f3 e6 3 e3 ♘f6 4 ♗d3 ♘bd7 5 ♘bd2 ♗d6 6 e4 dxe4 7 ♘xe4 ♘xe4 8 ♗xe4 0-0 9 ♗g5

White tries to provoke 9...f6 since Black’s e6-pawn would be a bit weak.

But 9...♗e7! is fine for Black.

9...♕e8? 10 0-0 f5 11 ♗d3

Black’s last two moves prepared 11...♕h5 followed by trapping the g5-bishop with 12...f4 and 13...h6.

That also sets up ...e5, e.g. 11...♕h5 12 ♕e2 e5! 13 dxe5 ♘xe5 14 ♘xe5 ♕xe2!.

However, White can improve with 12 ♕e1!. Then 12...e5? 13 dxe5 ♘xe5 14 ♘xe5 ♕xg5 loses to 15 ♗c4+ ♔h8 16 ♘f7+!, as we’ll see later.

So Black goes for the immediate…

11...e5? 12 dxe5 ♘xe5 13 ♖e1!

Now 13...♘xf3+ 14 ♕xf3 favors White after 14...♕f7 15 b3 and ♗c4.

Or 14...♕a4 15 ♗e7 ♗xe7 16 ♕d5+ and 17 ♖xe7.

Question 2: What about 14...♕g6 15♗e7♗xe7 16♖xe7♕f6 and then 17♖ae1♕xb2 ?

13...♕h5 14 ♘xe5 ♕xg5 15 ♗c4+ ♔h8

16 ♕xd6!

Much stronger than winning the Exchange (16 ♘f7+ ♖xf7).

Now 16...cxd6 allows the decisive check 17 ♘f7+ because 17...♖xf7 18 ♖e8+ mates.

Black resigned, after 16...♕xg2+17 ♔xg2.

This game and the following are just variations of the basic last-rank mating pattern.

Tihomil DrezgaWhite

Abraham BaratzBlack

Paris 1929

1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♗c4 ♘f6 4 d4 exd4 5 0-0 d6 6 ♘xd4 ♗e7 7 ♘c3 0-0 8 f4 ♗g4 9 ♘xc6 bxc6 10 ♕e1? (10 ♕d3!) d5! 11 ♗d3 dxe4 12 ♘xe4 ♖e8! 13 ♔h1 ♗c5 14 ♕g3? ♘xe4 15 ♕xg4 ♕xd3! White resigns.

DAY 3 Opportunity Knocks

The door of tactical opportunity usually stays open for an instant.

Tigran PetrosianWhite

Nikolai GrigorievBlack

Tbilisi 1945

Sicilian Defense, Nimzovich Variation B29

1 e4 c5 2 ♘f3 ♘f6 3 e5 ♘d5 4 ♘c3 ♘xc3 5 dxc3 b6?

Here 6 ♗d3? ♗b7 7 ♗f4 ♕c7 closes the door of opportunity. White’s edge is minimal.

6 e6!

But now he wins, e.g. 6...fxe6 7 ♘e5 threatens both 8 ♕h5+ g6 9 ♘xg6 and 8 ♕f3.

6...dxe6 7 ♕xd8+!

Question 3: Why not 7♗b5+ and 8♘e5 with a threat of 9♕f3 ?

7...♔xd8 8 ♘e5 ♔e8

Or 8...♖g8 9 ♘xf7+ ♔e8 10 ♘g5! and wins.

For example, 10...h6 11 ♗d3! and 12 ♗e4 or 12 ♗g6+.

9 ♗b5+ ♗d7

The rook is trapped after 9...♘d7 10 ♗c6! ♖b8 11 ♗f4!.

10 ♘xd7 ♘xd7 11 ♗f4

After 11...a6 12 ♗c6 ♖d8 13 0-0-0! White threatens both 14 ♗c7 and 14 ♖xd7! ♖xd7 15 ♖d1. White also wins after 12…♖c8 13 ♗b7 ♖d8 14 ♗c7.

11...e5! 12 0-0-0! ♖d8

If 12...exf4, White can win a rook with 13 ♗xd7+ ♔d8 14 ♗c6+. Or play for mate with 13 ♖xd7.

13 ♗xe5 resigns.

Bukhuti GurgenidzeWhite

Anatoly LeinBlack

Tbilisi 1967

1 e4 c5 2 ♘f3 ♘f6 3 e5 ♘d5 4 ♘c3 ♘xc3 5 dxc3 ♕c7 6 ♗f4 ♘c6 7 ♗c4 e6 8 0-0 b6 9 ♖e1 f5 10 ♘h4 g6 11 ♘xf5! ♘a5 (11...exf5 12 e6! ♕xf4? 13 exd7+) 12 ♗d5! ♗b7 (12...exd5 13 ♘d6+) 13 ♘d6+ ♗xd6 14 exd6 ♕c8 15 ♗h6 ♖g8 16 ♕f3 ♗xd5 17 ♕xd5 ♘c6 18 ♖ad1 ♘d8 19 ♕g5 ♘c6 20 ♕f6 g5 21 ♖e5 resigns.

DAY 4 Line Seal

An alert defender can seal dangerous files and diagonals, sometimes with drastic effect.

Mikhail KislovWhite

Semyon FurmanBlack

Moscow 1970

Sicilian Defense, Closed Variation B26

1 e4 c5 2 ♘c3 ♘c6 3 g3 g6 4 ♗g2 ♗g7 5 d3 d6 6 ♗e3

White’s plans include ♕d2 and later ♗h6/♗xg7.

6...e5 7 ♕d2 ♘ge7 8 ♗h6

Now on 8...♗xh6 9 ♕xh6 he would threaten to win at least a pawn with 10 ♕g7.

8...0-0 9 h4

The inaccurate 9 ♗xg7? ♔xg7 10 h4 allows Black to seal the kingside with 10...h5!.

9...f6!

Routine development, 9...♗e6 10 h5 ♕a5? is smashed by 11 ♗xg7 ♔xg7 12 hxg6 and 13 ♕h6+.

10 h5??

Black’s last move enabled him to meet 10 ♗xg7 ♔xg7 11 h5 with 11...g5!, ending the hxg6 plan. White could then aim for f2-f4.

10...♗xh6! 11 ♕xh6 g5!

The White queen is trapped.

Question 4: How is it threatened?

12 ♘d5 ♘xd5! 13 exd5 ♘d4

White resigned in view of the dual threats of 14...♘f5 and 14...♘xc2+. He loses a piece after 14 ♗e4 f5!.

Here’s how a line-sealing defender can become the attacker:

Ilya FiglerWhite

Vladimir KirpichnikovBlack

Moscow 1966

1 e4 c5 2 ♘c3 ♘c6 3 g3 g6 4 d3 e5 5 ♗g2 ♗g7 6 ♗e3 d6 7 ♕d2 ♘ge7 8 ♗h6 0-0 9 h4 f6 10 ♗xg7! ♔xg7 11 h5 g5 12 f4 h6! 13 ♗h3 ♘d4 14 0-0-0 b5 15 ♗xc8 ♖xc8 16 ♘ge2 ♕a5 17 ♔b1 b4 18 ♘d5 ♘xd5 19 exd5 ♘b5! 20 fxg5 fxg5 21 ♖df1 ♖b8 22 ♕e3? ♘c3+! 23 bxc3 bxc3+ 24 ♔c1 ♕xa2 25 ♔d1 ♖b1+ 26 ♘c1 ♖fb8 27 ♔e2 ♕xc2+ 28 ♔f3 ♖1b2 29 ♖fg1 ♖f8+ 30 ♔g4 ♖b4+ 31 ♔h3 g4+ 32 ♔h4 ♖f2 White resigns.

DAY 5 Too Quiet

Good players allow bad finishes when they think the position is too quiet for mate.

Andrew KarklinsWhite

Mark ArnoldBlack

Foxwoods 2004

Sicilian Defense, Levenfish Variation B71

1 e4 c5 2 ♘f3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 ♘xd4 ♘f6 5 ♘c3 g6 6 f4

This opening is notorious for quick losses after 6...♗g7 7 e5 dxe5 8 fxe5, such as 8...♘g4 9 ♗b5+! ♗d7 10 ♕xg4.

Question 5: Why not 9...♔f8 ?

But 7...♘h5! makes the line playable.

6...♘c6 7 ♘xc6 bxc6 8 e5

Now 8...♘d7! 9 exd6 exd6 followed by ...♗e7 and ...d5! is fine for Black.

8...dxe5?! 9 ♕xd8+ ♔xd8 10 fxe5

On 10...♘d5 11 ♘xd5 cxd5 12 ♗f4, White threatens 13 ♖d1 ♗b7 14 c4.

10...♘g4

The e5-pawn appears doomed by ...♗g7 and ...♘xe5.

11 ♗f4 ♗g7

If Black plays 11...♗e6, White has a promising sacrifice, 12 ♘e4 ♗g7 13 ♘c5!.

For example, 13...♗xe5 14 0-0-0+ ♔c7 15 ♗xe5+ ♘xe5 16 ♘xe6+fxe6 17 ♖e1 and 18 g3/♗h3 with good compensation. Also complex is 13…♗f5 14 h3 ♘xe5 15 0-0-0+, e.g. 15…♔c7 16 g4! ♗c8 17 ♗g2 and ♖he1.

12 0-0-0+

A similar sacrifice is 12...♗d7 13 e6! fxe6 14 ♘e4 followed by ♘c5 and ♗c4.

12...♔e8?? 13 ♘b5! resigns.

Mate (13...cxb5 14 ♗xb5+ ♔f8? 15 ♖d8) didn’t occur to Black until it was too late.

Rashid NezhmetdinovWhite

P. ErmolinBlack

Kazan 1946

1 e4 c5 2 ♘f3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 ♘xd4 ♘f6 5 ♘c3 g6 6 f4 ♗g7 7 e5 dxe5 8 fxe5 ♘d5? 9 ♗b5+ ♔f8 10 0-0 ♗xe5? 11 ♗h6+ ♔g8 12 ♘xd5! ♕xd5 13 ♘f5! ♕c5+ (13...♕xd1 14 ♘xe7 mate) 14 ♗e3 ♕c7 15 ♘h6+ resigns.

DAY 6 Developed, Unprotected

Develop your pieces and they create tactics for you. But until your developed pieces are protected they may create tactics for the other guy.

Panayiotis PambalosWhite

Nikoloz ShavtvaladzeBlack

Thessaloniki 2004

Modern Defense B06

1 e4 g6 2 d4 ♗g7 3 ♘c3 c6 4 ♘f3 d5

One of Black’s ideas is to win the d4-pawn after ...♗g4, ...dxe4 and ...♗xf3.

5 ♗f4

This discourages 5...♗g4 because of 6 exd5! cxd5 7 ♘b5! and Black faces 8 ♘c7+.

After 7...♘a6 he will have problems getting his queenside pieces into play since ...♖c8? will allow ♘xa7!. See game below.

5...dxe4 6 ♘xe4

Black accepts a slightly inferior but solid position if he plays 6...♘d7 and 7...♘gf6, e.g. 7 ♗c4 ♘gf6 8 ♘xf6+ ♘xf6 9 0-0 0-0 10 ♖e1 or 10 h3.

6...♕a5+!

Better than 6...♕b6? 7 ♗c4 ♕xb2 8 ♖b1 ♕a3 9 ♕e2.

Question 6: Why is this good for White?

White has a broad choice after 6...♕a5+. For example, he would stand well in the continuation 7 ♗d2 ♕d5 8 ♘c3 followed by 9 ♗c4.

Or he could seek a favorable endgame, 7 ♕d2 ♕xd2+ 8 ♘exd2 ♘f6 9 0-0-0.

7 c3?? ♕f5!

White has three developed pieces. But two are unprotected and attacked.

8 ♗xb8 ♕xe4+ White resigns.

Ludger KeitlinghausWhite

Laszlo VadaszBlack

Budapest 1996

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘c3 g6 4 ♘f3 ♗g7 5 ♗f4 ♗g4 6 exd5 cxd5 7 ♘b5 ♘a6 8 h3 ♗xf3 9 ♕xf3 ♘f6 10 ♗d3 0-0 11 c3 ♕d7 12 g4 ♖fc8 13 ♕g3 ♘e8 14 ♕h2 ♘f6 15 f3 ♘e8 16 h4 h6 17 ♕d2 h5 18 gxh5 gxh5 19 ♖g1 ♖c6 20 ♖g3 ♖g6 21 ♗xg6 resigns.

DAY 7 Catching Up

Falling behind in development is risky. Trying to catch up fast can be riskier.

Anastasios PavlidisWhite

Eleftherious FragkoulisBlack

Aghia Pelagia 2004

French Defense, Tarrasch Variation C07

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘d2 c5 4 exd5 ♕xd5 5 ♘gf3 ♘c6 6 ♗c4 ♕d8?!

Black is a little worse after 6...♕d6 7 ♘e4 or 6...♕h5 7 dxc5 (7...♗xc5 8 ♘e4).

7 ♘b3 cxd4 8 ♘bxd4 ♘xd4 9 ♘xd4 ♗c5?

Black wants to catch up in development. But this is playing with fire because the c5-bishop is unprotected. For instance, 10 ♗e3 ♘f6 11 ♘c6! e.g. 11...♕xd1+ 12 ♖xd1 ♗d7 (12...♗xe3?? 13 ♖d8 mate) 13 ♗xc5 favors White.

10 ♗b5+!

Objectively, this is no stronger than 10 ♗e3. But it gives Black more opportunities to go wrong. Black can try the surprising

10...♔e7!.

Then 11 ♗e3 would threaten to win with 12 ♘f5+! exf5 13 ♗xc5+. Black should play 11...♕b6 or 11...♕d6 (and hope to get queens off the board after 12...e5).

His difficulties are illustrated by 11...♕b6 12 c3 ♗xd4? 13 ♗xd4 ♕xb5 14 ♗xg7 and ♗xh8 winning. Or 12...e5 13 ♕e2! exd4?? 14 ♗g5+ and mates.

10...♗d7? 11 ♘xe6!

It’s pretty bad after 11...fxe6 12 ♕h5+ g6 13 ♗xd7+ and 14 ♕xc5. Worse is 11...♕a5+ 12 ♗d2 and now 12...♕xb5?? 13 ♘c7+.

Question 7: But what about 12...♗xf2+ 13♔xf2♕b6+?

11...♕b6??

Relatively best was 11...♗xf2+ 12 ♔xf2 fxe6.

12 ♕xd7 mate

Boris HarchenkoWhite

Vladislav ZagorodnyBlack

Dnipropetrovsk 2003

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘d2 c5 4 exd5 ♕xd5 5 ♘gf3 ♘c6 6 ♗c4 ♕d8 7 ♘b3 cxd4 8 ♘bxd4 ♘xd4 9 ♘xd4 ♘f6 10 0-0 ♗e7 11 b3 0-0 12 ♗b2 a6 13 ♕f3 ♕c7 14 a4 ♗d7 15 ♖fe1 ♗c6? (15...♗d6) 16 ♘xc6 bxc6? 17 ♗d3 ♘d5 18 ♖e5 ♗f6? 19 ♗xh7+! ♔xh7 20 ♖h5+ ♔g8 21 ♕h3 g6 22 ♖h8+! resigns.

DAY 8 Developed, Unprotected II

Even great players can rely on too-aggressive first moves of minor pieces.

Hikaru NakamuraWhite

Veselin TopalovBlack

St. Louis 2016

Nimzo-Indian Defense, Classical Variation E34

1 d4 ♘f6 2 c4 e6 3 ♘c3 ♗b4 4 ♕c2

White avoids the doubling of pawns from ...♗xc3+ and prepares e2-e4.

4...d5 5 cxd5 exd5 6 ♗g5! h6 7 ♗h4 c5! 8 dxc5

Black’s counterplay comes quickly after 8 0-0-0 ♗xc3! 9 ♕xc3 g5 10 ♗g3 cxd4. For example, 11 ♕xd4 ♘c6 12 ♕a4 ♗f5 makes the c-file dangerous for White.

8...g5 9 ♗g3 ♘e4 10 e3 ♗f5??

Black threatens 11...♘xg3, attacking the queen. But 10...♕a5, threatening a capture on c3 – and protecting the b4-bishop – was right.

11 ♗xb8!

Not 11 ♕a4+? ♘c6 when White is in trouble because of 12...♘xc3. For example, 12 ♘e2? ♘xc5! 13 ♕-moves ♘d3+ and wins.

11...♘xc3

Without a knight to come to c6, Black just loses on 11...♖xb8 12 ♕a4+.

Question 8: But what about 11...♗xc3+ 12 bxc3♖xb8 ?

12 ♕xf5 ♘e4+

Black avoids material loss with 12...♕xb8. But 13 a3! ♗a5 14 b4 is a bad position.

13 ♔e2! ♕xb8 14 ♕xd5 resigns.

A piece is lost after 14...♘f6 (or 14...♘xc5) 15 ♕d4!. No better was 13...♖xb8 14 ♕e5+ ♔d7 15 ♕xd5+.

Cristhian CruzWhite

Luis GomezBlack

Montcada i Reixac 2010

1 d4 ♘f6 2 c4 e6 3 ♘c3 ♗b4 4 ♕c2 d5 5 cxd5 exd5 6 ♗g5 h6 7 ♗h4 c5 8 dxc5 g5 9 ♗g3 ♘e4 10 e3 ♕a5 11 ♗e5 0-0 12 ♗d3 ♖e8 13 ♗xe4 dxe4 14 ♗g3 ♗e6 15 ♘ge2 ♗c4 16 0-0 ♗xc3 17 ♘xc3 ♗d3 18 ♕b3 ♘d7 (18...♗xf1 19 ♕xb7 ♘a6 20 ♘xe4) 19 ♖fc1 ♘xc5 20 ♕d5 ♖ac8? 21 ♕f5! (threat: ♘d5-f6+) ♗c4 22 ♘xe4 ♗d3 23 ♖xc5 resigns.

Question 9: What did White have after 17...♗xf1 ?

DAY 9 Beware the Automatic

What you think is a forced recapture often isn’t.

Yury RazuvaevWhite

Viktor KupreichikBlack

Dubna 1970

English Opening A27

1 c4 e5 2 ♘c3 ♘c6 3 ♘f3 f5 4 d4 e4!

By attacking the f3-knight Black gains time and space.

5 ♗g5

If 5 d5 ♘-moves, White can play 6 ♘d4!, a much better square for the knight than d2 or g5.

But Black can reply 5...exf3!. The result of 6 dxc6 fxg2 7 cxd7+ ♕xd7 is somewhat even (8 ♕xd7+ ♗xd7 9 ♗xg2 0-0-0).

5...♘f6 6 d5?

This looks like an improved version of 5 d5.

6...exf3 7 dxc6 fxg2

Now 8 ♗xg2 gives White some compensation for his lost pawn.

For example, after 8...dxc6 9 ♕xd8+ ♔xd8 10 0-0-0+ or 8...bxc6 9 ♕d3 (9…g6? 10 ♗xc6 dxc6? 11 ♕xd8+ ♔xd8 12 ♗xf6+ and White wins).

8 cxd7+??

Black has three ways to recapture. White assumed he would get the edge with 9 ♗xg2 in any case.

For example, 8...♕xd7 9 ♗xg2 ♗e7 10 ♘b5! or 9...♕xd1+ 10 ♖xd1 Or 8…♗xd7 9 ♗xg2 c6 10 ♕d4!.

8...♘xd7!

But now 9 ♗xg2 ♕xg5 costs a piece.

The rest was: 9 ♗xd8!? gxh1(♕) 10 ♗xc7 ♕c6 11 ♗g3 ♗b4 12 ♕b3 ♗xc3+ 13 ♕xc3 0-0 14 e3 ♘f6 15 ♗e5 ♗e6 White resigns.

Tony MilesWhite

Jaime Augusto ChavesBlack

Sao Paolo 1977

1 c4 e5 2 ♘c3 ♘c6 3 ♘f3 f5 4 d4 e4 5 ♘d2 ♘f6 6 e3 g6 7 ♗e2 ♗g7 8 ♖b1 a5 9 a3 0-0 10 b4 axb4 11 axb4 ♘e7 12 ♕b3 d6 13 b5 ♔h8 14 ♗a3 f4 15 ♘cxe4? fxe3 16 fxe3 ♘xe4 17 ♘xe4 ♗f5 18 ♗d3 ♘d5! 19 0-0 ♘xe3 20 ♖f3 ♕h4 21 g3 ♕g4 22 ♖xe3 ♖xa3! 23 ♕xa3 ♗xd4 24 ♔g2 ♕h3+ 25 ♔h1 ♗xe4+ White resigns.

Question 10: Why not 19 cxd5 ?

DAY 10 Trapper Trapped

To set a good trap, you need good bait. But make sure the bait can’t be taken in a different manner.

Radoslav Dolezal Jr.White

Zdenek NeuschlBlack

Klatovy 1989

Caro-Kann Defense B17

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘c3 dxe4 4 ♘xe4 ♘d7 5 ♗d3 ♘df6 6 ♘g5

The first trap of the game was 6...♕xd4? 7 ♘xf7! (7...♔xf7? 8 ♗g6+ and 9 ♕xd4).

6...♗g4 7 ♘1f3

Also good is 7 f3 but White wanted to set up a threat (8 ♘xf7! ♔xf7 9 ♘e5+ and 10 ♘xg4).

7...h6?

Behind in development, Black is reluctant to spend a tempo on 7...♗h5 or put the knight offside, 7...♘h6. Instead, he sets his own a trap. The bait is ♘xf7.

A better way was 7...♕c7 since 8 ♘xf7? fails to 8...♗xf3.

In fact Black can even take the knight, 8...♔xf7, and meet 9 ♘e5+ with 9...♕xe5+! when he emerges with an extra piece.

8 ♘xf7!

Black saw this and 8...♔xf7 9 ♘e5+ ♔e8?? 10 ♗g6 mate or 9...♔e6 10 ♘xg4. But he thought he had a surprise.

8...♗xf3!

Now 9 ♘xd8 ♗xd1 wins material.

9 ♗g6!

But the trapper becomes the trappee (9...♗xd1 10 ♘e5 mate).

Question 11: What is wrong with 9♘e5 so that 9...♗xd1 10♗g6 mate?

9...♕a5+! 10 ♗d2 ♗xd1 11 ♘xh8 resigns.

White emerges at least the Exchange and a pawn ahead after 12 ♗xa5.

Alexander BorisenkoWhite

KharchenkoBlack

Konstantinovka 1989

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘d2 ♘d7 4 ♗d3 dxe4 5 ♘xe4 ♘gf6 6 ♘g5 ♘b6 7 ♘1f3 ♗g4 8 0-0 h6? 9 ♘xf7! ♗xf3! 10 ♗g6! ♗xd1 11 ♘e5 mate.

DAY 11 Rival Raids

Sharp positions may let you allow a raid on one wing while you raid the other.

Nicolai PedersenWhite

Lars KarlssonBlack

Hallsdall 1996

French Defense, Winawer Variation C17

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘c3 ♗b4 4 e5 c5 5 ♕g4 ♘e7!

Black permits ♕xg7 to avoid concessions like 5...g6 or 5...♔f8.

6 dxc5

Black’s main idea is a queenside raid such as 6 a3 ♕a5!.

What happens if White continues his kingside raid with 6 ♕xg7 ♖g8 7 ♕xh7? Then Black’s raid is stronger, 7...cxd4 8 a3 ♕a5! when 9 ♖b1 dxc3 10 axb4 ♕a2! traps the rook.

6...♘bc6

It’s too early for 6...d4 because of 7 a3!. For example, 7...♗a5? 8 b4 ♗c7 9 ♘b5 ♗xe5 10 ♘f3 with superior chances for White.

7 ♘f3

The critical line is 7 ♕xg7 ♖g8 8 ♕xh7 d4 9 a3 ♕a5.

Question 12: Does 10♖b1 dxc3 (11 axb4♕a2) lose immediately?

7...d4! 8 a3

Better was 8 ♗b5 and then 8...♕a5 9 ♗xc6+ bxc6 10 ♕xd4, although Black is in command after 10...♘f5.

8...♕a5 9 ♖b1?

White had to sacrifice the Exchange, 9 axb4 ♕xa1 10 ♘e2.

9...dxc3 White resigns.

Belatedly White saw 10 axb4 ♕a2!.

Julio KaplanWhite

Jan TimmanBlack

Jerusalem 1967

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘c3 ♗b4 4 e5 c5 5 ♕g4 ♘e7 6 dxc5 ♘bc6 7 ♗d2 ♘f5 8 ♘f3 ♗xc5 9 ♗d3 0-0 10 ♗g5 ♕b6 11 0-0 ♕b4? 12 ♕h3 h6 13 a3 ♕b6 14 ♗xf5 exf5 15 ♘xd5 ♕xb2 16 ♘f6+! gxf6 17 ♗xf6 ♔h7 18 ♕h5 resigns.

DAY 12 Tactical Chain

Pieces that protect one another are tied together in a chain that may be breakable.

Pia CramlingWhite

Claude LandebergueBlack

Biel 1987

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Tchigorin Defense D07

1 d4 d5 2 c4 ♘c6 3 ♘c3 ♘f6

Now 4 cxd5 ♘xd5 5 e4 ♘xc3 6 bxc3 allows Black to hit back with 6...e5. And if 7 d5, then 7...♘b8 and ...♘d7 with a reasonable game.

4 ♘f3 ♗g4 5 cxd5 ♘xd5 6 e4 ♘xc3 7 bxc3 e5 8 d5! ♘b8 9 ♕a4+!

Opportunity knocks: White can meet 9...♗d7 with 10 ♕b3, threatening 11 ♕xb7 as well as 11 ♘xe5. The same goes for 9...♕d7? 10 ♕b3.

9...♘d7

Black could try 9...c6 10 ♘xe5 ♕f6 (based on 11 ♘xg4 ♕xc3+).

Question 13: Is that good enough?

10 ♘xe5 ♕f6

Same trick (11 ♘xg4?? ♕xc3+ and 12...♕xa1).

Black’s pieces seem to hang together. After 11 f4 ♗d6 he would threaten ...♗xe5.

Then 12 ♗e2 is too late because of 12...0-0! and 13 ♗xg4 ♗xe5 (14 fxe5 ♕h4+).

11 ♗e2!

Also good is 11 f4 ♗d6 12 ♖b1 or 12 ♗b5. But his move breaks the chain of protection: 11...♗xe2 12 ♕xd7 is mate.

And 11...♕xe5 12 ♗xg4 ♕xc3+? 13 ♗d2 costs the queen or allows mate (13...♕xa1+ 14 ♔e2 ♕xh1 15 ♕xd7).

11...♗d6

Question 14: Does 11...c6 save Black in view of his idea of 12♗xg4♘xe5 ?

12 ♗xg4 ♕xe5 13 ♗xd7+ ♔d8 14 ♗d2 resigns.

Michael WilderWhite

Daniel BaroutyBlack

New York 1985

1 d4 d5 2 c4 ♘c6 3 ♘f3 ♗g4 4 ♘c3 ♘f6 5 cxd5 ♘xd5 6 e4 ♘b6 7 d5 ♘e5? 8 ♘xe5 ♗xd1 9 ♗b5+ c6 10 dxc6 ♗a4 11 ♘xa4 ♕c7 12 cxb7+ ♔d8 13 ♘xf7 mate.

DAY 13 Fork Trick

The fork trick is a tactical device with a positional goal, to depreciate an enemy pawn center.

Richard RetiWhite

DunkelblumBlack

Vienna 1914

Three Knights Game C46

1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♘c3 ♗c5

Normal and good alternatives include 3...♘f6 and 3...g6.

4 ♘xe5! ♘xe5 5 d4

White regains his piece and ends up with a superior pawn center, 5...♗d6! 6 dxe5 ♗xe5, with a small plus.

5...♗xd4?!

Worse was 4...♗xf2+? 5 ♔xf2 ♘xe5 6 d4!. Then White’s king is quite safe, he has the two bishops and, most important, he has a far superior center. Note that Black can set a trap, 6...♕f6+ 7 ♔g1 ♘g4 (8 ♕xg4?? ♕xd4+).

Question 15: What’s the best reply?

6 ♕xd4 ♕f6?

7 ♘b5! ♔d8? 8 ♕c5!

Black resigned in view of 8...c6 9 ♕f8 mate. He could have tried 7...c6 based on 8 ♘c7+ ♔d8 9 ♘xa8?? ♘f3+ and 10...♕xd4. But White should win eventually after 9 ♗g5! ♕xg5 10 ♘xa8.

More miniatures with the fork trick:

Leonid ShamkovichWhite

Peter DelyBlack

Moscow 1962

1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♗b5 a6 4 ♗a4 ♘f6 5 0-0 ♗c5 6 ♘xe5! ♘xe4 7 ♕e2! ♘xe5 8 ♕xe4 ♕f6? 9 d4! ♗xd4 (Based on 10 ♕xd4?? ♘f3+) 10 c3! ♗c5 11 ♗f4 resigns.

Maxim NovikovWhite

Vladimir AfromeevBlack

Tula 2007

1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♗c4 ♘f6 4 ♘c3? ♘xe4! 5 ♗xf7+ ♔xf7 6 ♘xe4 d5 7 ♘eg5+ ♔g8 8 d4 h6 9 ♘h3 ♗g4 10 dxe5 ♘xe5 11 ♘f4 c6 12 h3 ♗xf3 13 gxf3 ♕f6 14 ♗e3 ♖e8 15 ♔f1 ♔h7 16 ♖g1 g6 17 c3 ♗d6 18 ♖g3 ♖hf8 19 ♔g2 ♘c4 20 ♖xg6 ♖g8 White resigns.

Alfonso RomeroWhite

Fernando BragaBlack

Leon 1990

1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♗b5 ♘f6 4 0-0 ♗c5 5 ♘xe5 ♘xe5 6 d4 c6 7 f4 ♕b6 8 dxc5 ♕xc5+ 9 ♔h1 ♘eg4 10 e5 ♘f2+ 11 ♖xf2 ♕xf2 12 exf6 cxb5 13 ♘c3 d5 14 ♗e3 ♕h4 15 fxg7 ♖g8 16 ♘xd5 ♖xg7 17 ♘c7+ ♔f8 18 ♕d6+ ♔g8 19 ♗f2 resigns.

DAY 14 Draw-Minded

When a weaker player wants a draw, you have ways to unbalance the position.

Stefano TataiWhite

Viktor KorchnoiBlack

Beersheva 1978

French Defense, Exchange Variation C01

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5

By creating a symmetrical center White signals he might be happy to draw.

4 ♗d3 c5!?

The first unbalancing move. Black wants to pressure d4.

5 ♘f3 ♘c6 6 ♕e2+ ♗e7! 7 dxc5

Black threatened to win the bishop with 7...c4.

7...♘f6 8 h3?

White feared ...♗g4. But 8 0-0 ♗g4 9 ♗e3 and 10 h3 was OK. Better is 8...0-0 9 ♗e3 ♖e8! (10 ♘bd2? ♗xc5 or 10 ♕d2 ♘e4! with a nice game).

8...0-0 9 0-0 ♗xc5

Black would enjoy a space edge after 10 ♘c3 ♖e8 11 ♕d1 d4.

10 c3? ♖e8 11 ♕c2 ♕d6!

The threat is 12...♗xh3 13 gxh3 ♕g3+ and 14...♕xf3+.

12 ♘bd2 ♕g3!

13 ♗f5?

The last try was 13 ♘d4 ♘xd4 14 cxd4 ♗xd4 15 ♕b3.

13...♖e2! 14 ♘d4 ♘xd4 White resigns.

On 15 cxd4 ♗xd4 16 ♘e4 Black wins with 16...dxe4 (or 16...♘xe4) 17 ♕xe2 ♗xf5.

StrandeWhite

Aron NimzovichBlack

Aalesund 1925

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 ♗d3 ♗d6 5 ♘f3 ♘e7 6 0-0 ♘bc6 7 ♗e3 ♗f5 8 ♘c3 0-0 9 ♖e1 ♗xd3 10 ♕xd3 ♘b4 11 ♕d2 c6 12 a3 ♘a6 13 ♖e2 ♘c7 14 ♖ae1 ♘e6! 15 ♕d3 ♘g6 16 g3 ♖e8 17 ♗c1 ♕d7 18 ♘d1 ♖e7 19 ♘e3? ♘ef4 20 gxf4 ♘xf4 21 ♕d2 ♕h3 White resigns.

Question 16: Why not 22♘e5 ?

DAY 15 Pregnant Pawns

A pawn about to give birth to a new queen on the eighth rank is a powerful weapon.

SchusterWhite

Carl CarlsBlack

Oldenburg 1914

Caro-Kann Defense B15

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘c3 dxe4 4 ♘xe4 ♘f6

After 5 ♘xf6+ Black can play 5...gxf6 (and later ...♖g8) or go for piece play after 5...exf6 and ...♗d6.

5 ♘g3 h5!?

Black tries to push the White knight back further with 6...h4.

6 ♗g5

Better is 6 h4! with a fine game after, say, 6...♗g4 7 ♗e2.

6...h4 7 ♗xf6??

On 7 ♘1e2 Black would get nice play from 7...♕b6, 7...♗f5 or even 7...♕a5+.

7...hxg3! 8 ♗e5

8...♖xh2! 9 ♖xh2 ♕a5+!

Now 10 b4 ♕xe5+! wouldn’t change things.

10 c3 ♕xe5+! 11 dxe5 gxh2 White resigns.

The pawn queens. After this game was widely published, fans found that 10 ♕d2!? would have set a diabolical trap.

The point is that 10...♕xe5+? 11 dxe5 gxh2 allows 12 0-0-0! and a threat of 13 ♕d8 mate.

For example, 12...♘d7 13 ♗a6! h1(♕) 14 ♗xb7! wins for White (14...♗xb7 15 ♕xd7 mate). Black can stay alive with 13...hxg1!(♕) 14 ♖xg1 bxa6 – but perhaps not for long, 15 e6! fxe6 16 ♖d1.

Also bad is 12...♗d7 13 e6! fxe6 14 ♘h3 h1(♕) 15 ♕f4.

Question 17: So what is wrong with 10♕d2 ?

DAY 16 Phantom Pin

A pin may be a mirage. Attack the pinning piece and the pin might be broken.

Vasily PanovWhite

Nikolai GrekovBlack

Moscow 1928

Slav Defense D17

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 ♘f3 ♘f6 4 ♘c3 dxc4 5 a4 ♗f5 6 ♘e5

White will regain his pawn with ♘xc4 and try to shut Black’s f5-bishop out of play with f2-f3 and e2-e4!.

6...♘bd7

A very similar line runs 6...e6 7 f3 ♗b4 and now 8 e4 ♗xe4! 9 fxe4 ♘xe4. Then Black ends up with “comp” – that is compensation: three pawns and active play for a bishop (10 ♗d2! ♕xd4 11 ♘xe4 ♕xe4+).

7 ♘xc4 e6

More common is 7...♕c7, shooting for ...e5. For example, 8 f3? e5! 9 e4 exd4 10 ♕xd4 ♗c5 and Black stands well.

8 f3! ♗b4 9 e4 ♘xe4?

Black is a bit cramped after 9...♗g6. He goes for the knight sacrifice because now 9...♗xe4 10 fxe4 ♘xe4 11 ♕d3! offers only two pawns and little initiative for the bishop.

10 fxe4 ♕h4+

Now 11 g3?? ♕xe4+ and ...♕xh1 or 11 ♔e2?? ♗g4+.

11 ♔d2! ♕xe4?

White can favorably trade queens after 11...♗xe4 12 ♕e1!.

Black counted on the pin to prevent 12 ♘xe4. He threatens ...♕xd4+.

Question 18: Is Black OK after 12♗e2♕xd4+ 13♔e1♕xd1+ ?

12 ♘d6+! resigns.

The pin was an illusion: 12...♗xd6 13 ♘xe4!.

Austin De BurcaWhite

Pal RethyBlack

Warsaw 1935

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 ♘c3 ♘f6 4 ♘f3 dxc4 5 a4 ♗f5 6 ♘e5 e6 7 f3 ♘bd7 8 ♘xc4 ♗b4 9 e4 ♘xe4 10 fxe4 ♕h4+ 11 ♔d2 ♕f2+ 12 ♔d3? 0-0-0 13 ♘d6+?? (13 ♕e2!) ♗xd6 14 exf5 ♘e5+! White resigns.

DAY 17 Frozen Pawn

When a d-pawn or e-pawn is frozen on its original square it can be an as obstructive as an iceberg.

Savielly TartakowerWhite

Emanuel SchiffersBlack

Poland 1910

Ponziani Opening C44

1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 c3 d5 4 ♗b5

The 5 ♘xe5 threat prompts the next few moves.

4...dxe4! 5 ♘xe5 ♕d5 6 ♕a4! ♘e7

The pawn on e4 is more a strength than a weakness after 7 ♘xc6 ♘xc6 8 0-0 ♗d7.

For example, 9 ♖e1 0-0-0 10 ♖xe4? a6! (11 ♗f1 ♘b4).

7 f4 ♗d7

White would also find developing hard after 7...exf3 8 ♘xf3 a6 (9 ♗c4? ♕e4+ 10 ♔f2 ♕f5).

8 ♘xd7 ♔xd7

He can solve his d-pawn problem with 9 d3! exd3 10 0-0, followed by 11 ♗xd3 or 11 ♖f3, with advantage.

9 0-0 ♘f5 10 b4? a5!

White wanted to rule out ...♗c5+.

Question 19: What is Black’s threat?

11 ♔h1

It was too late to unfreeze the pawn, 11 d4 exd3 (12 ♗xd3 ♕xd3? 13 ♖d1 but 12...axb4! 13 ♕xa8 ♗c5+).

11...axb4! 12 ♗xc6+ bxc6

Now 13 ♕c2 b3! or 13 ♕d1 ♖xa2 are hopeless so:

13 ♕xa8 ♗c5! 14 ♕xh8 ♘g3+ 15 hxg3 ♕h5 mate.

Joseph BlackburneWhite

Amos BurnBlack

London 1870

1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♗b5 ♘ge7 4 c3 d5 5 ♘xe5 dxe4 6 ♕a4 ♕d5 7 f4 ♗d7 8 ♘xd7 ♔xd7 9 ♗c4 ♕f5 10 ♕b3 ♘g6 11 ♕xb7 ♘xf4 12 0-0 ♕c5+ 13 d4 ♕xc4 14 ♕xa8 ♗c5! 15 ♕xh8 ♘xd4 16 ♗e3 ♕e2 17 ♕xg7 ♘f3+ 18 gxf3 and White resigns.

DAY 18 Shot for Shot

If you challenge your opponent to a tactical shootout, you may have to keep firing bullets if he does.

Evgeny VasiukovWhite

Shlomo GitermanBlack

Odessa 1960

Ruy Lopez, Cordel Variation C64

1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♗b5 ♗c5 4 c3 f5

This threatens 5...fxe4 and prompts both players to rely on sharp moves.

5 d4!

White gets excellent “comp” (compensation) for a pawn after 5...exd4 6 e5! dxc3 7 ♘xc3.

5...fxe4!

On 6 ♗xc6 dxc6 7 ♘xe5 Black can afford to halt the sharp moves with 7...♗d6.

He enjoys reasonable play then, or after 6 dxc5 exf3 7 ♕xf3 ♘f6.

6 ♘g5!

So that 6...exd4 7 ♘xe4 ♗b6 and 8 ♗g5! offers White an initiative (8...♘ge7 9 ♕h5+ or 8...♘f6 9 ♗xf6).

6...♗e7?

Black fires a blank. Better was 6...♗b6!, preparing to keep an extra pawn with 7...♘f6.

7 dxe5!

Far better than 7 ♘xe4 exd4 8 cxd4 ♘f6.

Now 7...♗xg5 8 ♕h5+ g6 9 ♕xg5 makes Black weak on dark squares, e.g. 9...♕xg5 10 ♗xg5 ♘xe5 11 ♗f4 ♘f7 12 ♗xc7.

8...♘xe5??

Black didn’t like 8...d5 because of 9 exd6 or 9 c4 dxc4 10 ♕xd8+.

8 ♘e6! resigns.

Karen GrigorianWhite

Roman DzindzichashviliBlack

USSR 1969

1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♗b5 ♗c5 4 c3 f5 5 d4 fxe4 6 ♘g5 ♗b6! 7 d5 e3! 8 dxc6 bxc6 9 h4 exf2+ 10 ♔f1 cxb5 11 ♕d5 ♘h6! 12 ♕xa8 c6 13 ♘e4 0-0 14 ♗g5 b4! White resigns.

Question 20: Why resign?

DAY 19♗xh7+!

If you are going to learn one sacrificial theme, this is the one.

Gunnar GundersenWhite

A.H. FaulBlack

Melbourne 1928

French Defense, Advance Variation C02

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 c5 4 c3 cxd4?! 5 cxd4 ♗b4+ 6 ♘c3 ♘c6 7 ♘f3 ♘ge7 8 ♗d3

Beginners are afraid of doubled pawns after 8...♘f5 9 ♗xf5 exf5. Actually, they are not weak. The trade is balanced by the removal of White’s good bishop.

8...0-0?

9 ♗xh7+!

The basic ingredients of this theme are a castled Black king and the bishop sacrifice on h7 followed by a queen + knight trying to mate around h7.

Declining the bishop, 9...♔h8 10 ♘g5 g6, loses to 11 ♕f3 followed by 12 ♕f6 mate or 12 ♕h3.

9...♔xh7 10 ♘g5+ ♔g6!

The best practical choice. The queen drops after 10...♔h6 11 ♘xe6+.

He also loses too much material to stop mate after 10...♔g8 11 ♕h5. The key line runs 11...♖e8 12 ♕h7+ ♔f8 13 ♕h8+ ♘g8 14 ♘h7+ ♔e7 15 ♗g5+.

11 h4!

Once familiar with the sacrifice, you will find it easier to spot when ♗xh7+ is possible. But the proper follow-up can be harder:

White can let him escape with 11 ♕g4?! f5!. For example 12 ♕g3 f4! 13 ♗xf4 ♘f5. Or 12 exf6? ♔xf6 13 ♘h7+ ♔f7 14 ♘xf8 ♔xf8.

Question 21: Was there was another winning White 11th move?

11...♘xd4

Or 11...♕b6 12 h5+ ♔h6 13 ♘xe6+. Also 12 ♕d3+ ♘f5 13 g4.

12 ♕g4 f5 13 h5+ ♔h6 14 ♘xe6+ g5 15 hxg6 mate!

This is the oldest known sacrificial theme because of:

Gioachino GrecoWhite

NNBlack

1620

1 e4 e6 2 d4 ♘f6 3 ♗d3 ♘c6 4 ♘f3 ♗e7 5 h4 0-0? 6 e5 ♘d5 7 ♗xh7+! ♔xh7 8 ♘g5+ ♗xg5 9 hxg5+ ♔g8 10 ♕h5 f5 11 g6 ♖e8 12 ♕h8 mate.

DAY 20 Long (Explosive) Diagonals

When rival bishops face off on the same diagonal, it looks like strategy. But there’s a lot of hidden tactics.

Magnus CarlsenWhite

Fabiano CaruanaBlack

Bilbao 2012

Sicilian Defense B40

1 e4 c5 2 ♘f3 e6 3 g3 b6 4 ♗g2 ♗b7 5 ♕e2 d6 6 d4 cxd4 7 ♘xd4 ♘f6 8 0-0

Now on 8...♗e7 White might play 9 e5, with the idea of 9...dxe5? 10 ♗xb7, winning material.

But Black can improve with 9...♗xg2! and then 10 exf6 ♗xf1!.

Material would be roughly equal after 11 fxe7 ♗xe2 12 exd8(♕)+ ♔xd8 13 ♘xe2.

8...♘bd7 9 ♖d1

White seems intent on attacking the d6-pawn with 10 ♘b5.

9...a6?

10 e5! ♗xg2?

Black lasts longer after 10...dxe5 11 ♗xb7 exd4 12 ♗xa8 ♕xa8 13 ♖xd4 but is still lost. Worse is 11...♖b8?? 12 ♘c6!.

11 exf6

White threatens the g2-bishop – but also 12 ♘xe6! fxe6 13 ♕xe6+ ♗e7 14 fxg7!. And 11...♗d5 walks into 12 c4.

11...♗h3 12 ♕h5!

The bishop on h3 is trapped because 12...♗f5 13 ♘xf5 exf5 invites 14 ♖e1+!.

Question 22: How does 13...g6 fail?

12...♕xf6 13 ♕xh3 ♗e7 14 ♘c3 ♕g6 15 ♘c6! ♘e5 16 ♘xe7 ♔xe7 17 ♗f4! resigns.

Vladimir MakarovWhite

Vladimir MeleshkovBlack

Ilyichevsk 2000

1 e4 c5 2 ♘f3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 ♘xd4 a6 5 g3 ♕c7 6 ♗g2 b5 7 0-0 ♗b7 8 ♘c3 ♘f6 9 ♖e1 ♘c6? 10 e5! ♘g8 11 ♗f4 ♗c5 12 ♘b3 ♗b4 13 ♕g4 g6 14 a4 bxa4 15 ♖xa4 ♗f8 16 ♘d2! ♘h6 17 ♕d1 ♗g7 18 ♘de4! ♘f5 19 g4 ♘fe7 20 ♘d6+ ♔f8 and now 21 ♕f3 and the threat of 22 ♗h6 is strong. For example, 21…♘c8 22 ♘d5! exd5 23 ♘xf7 ♔xf7 24 e6+.

DAY 21 Elegant Block

Blocking a key diagonal can be defensive, offensive – and elegant.

David JanowskiWhite

Emil SchalloppBlack

Nuremberg 1896

Queen’s Gambit Accepted D21

1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 ♘f3 c5 4 e3 cxd4 5 exd4 ♗g4

Black can rarely hold onto his extra pawn in a Queen’s Gambit (5...b5? 6 a4! favors White). But he can usually return it and approach equality, as with 5...♗e6! (6 ♘a3 ♘c6 7 ♗xc4 ♗xc4).

6 ♗xc4 e6 7 ♕a4+ ♘c6

Black seems to be doing well (8 ♗e3 ♗xf3 or 8 ♘bd2 ♗xf3 9 ♘xf3 ♗b4+).

8 ♘e5! ♕xd4?

He gets a better version of the game after 8...♗b4+! and 9 ♘c3 ♕xd4.

9 ♘xc6 ♕e4+ 10 ♗e3 bxc6 11 ♘c3

Much better than 11 ♘d2 ♕xg2!.

11...♕xg2

12 ♗d5!!

On any other move, Black would be close to winning.

12...exd5 13 ♕xc6+ ♔d8 14 ♕xa8+ ♔d7

Another fast finish follows 14...♗c8 15 0-0-0!. For instance 15…♘f6 16 ♘xd5 ♗d6 17 ♕c6.

15 ♕b7+ ♔e6 16 ♕c6+ ♗d6

Or 16...♔f5 17 ♔d2 and ♖hg1.

17 ♗f4! resigns.

Question 23: Find the forced mates after 17...♕xh1+ 18♔d2♕xa1.

Alexander BaburinWhite

Joseph RyanBlack

Kilkenny 1996

1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 ♘f3 c5 4 e3 cxd4 5 ♗xc4 ♕c7 6 ♕b3 e6 7 exd4 ♘f6 8 ♘c3 a6 9 ♗g5 ♗e7 10 d5 exd5 11 ♗xd5 0-0 12 0-0 ♘c6 13 ♖fe1 ♗f5 14 ♖ac1 ♘a5? 15 ♕a4 ♘c6 16 ♗xc6 bxc6 17 ♘d4! ♘g4 18 ♘xf5! ♕xh2+ 19 ♔f1 ♗xg5 20 ♕xg4 ♕h1+ 21 ♔e2 ♖ae8+ 22 ♔f3 (or 22 ♘e4) ♖xe1 23 ♕xg5 g6 24 ♕h6! resigns.

White will be at least a knight ahead.

DAY 22 Secure Center

A solid pawn center is usually a pre-requisite to attack, on either wing.

Nigel ShortWhite

Rene BorngaesserBlack

Solingen 1986

French Defense, Tarrasch Variation C05

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘d2 ♘f6 4 e5 ♘fd7 5 f4 c5 6 c3 ♘c6 7 ♘df3!

The more natural 7 ♘gf3 is met by 7...♕b6! (8 ♘b3 cxd4 9 ♘bxd4 ♘xd4 10 ♘xd4 ♗c5 with good play).

7...♕a5

But now he can meet 7...♕b6 with 8 ♘e2!. With a secure center he can continue 9 g3, 10 ♗h3 and 11 0-0. See below.

8 ♗e3! cxd4 9 ♘xd4

Now 9...♗c5?? or 9...♘c5?? lose a piece to 10 ♘xc6 bxc6 11 b4!.

9...♘xd4 10♗xd4

White would have the better chances after, say, 10...♗e7 11 ♘f3 0-0 12 ♗d3 followed by ♕c2.

10...b6??

To trade off White’s dangerous bishop with 11...♗a6.

11 a4!

With a killing threat of 12 b4!. Black is lost after 11...b5 12 axb5 so he desperately sacrifices his queen.

11...♗a6!? 12 b4 ♗xf1 13 bxa5 ♗xg2 14 ♘e2 ♗xh1 15 ♘g3 ♗e4 16 ♘xe4 dxe4 17 axb6 axb6 18 a5 resigns.

The outcome would be clear after 18...♖xa5 19 ♖xa5 bxa5 20 ♕a4 and ♕xa5.

Karl BurgerWhite

Elliott WinslowBlack

Aspen 1968

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘d2 ♘f6 4 e5 ♘fd7 5 f4 c5 6 c3 ♘c6 7 ♘df3! ♕b6 8 g3 cxd4 9 cxd4 ♗b4+ 10 ♔f2! (10 ♗d2? ♘xd4) f6 11 ♔g2 0-0 12 ♗d3 fxe5 13 fxe5 ♗e7 14 ♘e2 ♔h8 15 ♗b1 ♖f7 16 h4! ♕d8 17 ♘f4 ♘b6? 18 ♘g5! ♗xg5 19 hxg5 resigns.

Question 24: Why not 19...♔g8 ?

DAY 23 Book Brilliance

You can learn to be brilliant by mastering common sacrificial patterns.

Jacques MiesesWhite

Johannes OhquistBlack

Nuremberg 1895

Center Counter Defense B01

1 e4 d5 2 exd5 ♕xd5 3 ♘c3 ♕d8 4 d4 ♘c6?

This works in similar positions when the d4-pawn is vulnerable and can’t advance.

5 ♘f3

White would have a significant lead in development after 5 d5! ♘b8 6 ♘f3. Or in space after 5...♘e5 6 ♕d4.

5...♗g4?

Black could reduce his inferiority with 5...e6 (6 ♗b5 ♗d6).

6 d5!

Now 6...♗xf3 7 ♕xf3 favors White. For example, 7...♘d4 8 ♕d3 c5 9 ♗e3 threatens ♗xd4. Or 8...e5 9 dxe6.

6...♘e5?

Now 7 ♗e2 is good enough for a White plus. But he noticed something else.

7 ♘xe5!

This looks like genius. But it is simply recognizing a known sacrificial pattern.

7...♗xd1 8 ♗b5+ c6

Or 8...♕d7 9 ♗xd7+ ♔d8 when both 10 ♘xf7+ and the capture on d1 win.

9 dxc6

Black would be a piece down after 9...a6 10 c7+ axb5 11 cxd8(♕)+.

9...♕c7 10 cxb7+ ♔d8 11 ♘xf7 mate

The pattern can occur in other forms:

1 e4 ♘c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 ♕xd5 4 ♘f3 ♗g4 5 ♘c3 ♕d8? 6 d5! ♘e5? 7 ♘xe5! ♗xd1 8 ♗b5+ transposes exactly into the game above.

Question 25: What happens after 5...♗xf3 ?

DAY 24 Wing Grab

When the center is blocked, the player who seizes more kingside space usually has an advantage.

Andre LilienthalWhite

Adolf HammingBlack

Zandvoort 1934

Queen’s Gambit Accepted D31

1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 ♘c3 dxc4 4 e4! c5 5 d5

White gets a great outpost on d5 after 5...exd5 6 ♘xd5.

5...a6 6 a4 ♘f6 7 ♗xc4 e5? 8 f4!

Now 8...exf4 9 ♗xf4 ♗e7? 10 d6! is awful.

8...♗d6 9 ♘f3

And here 9...exf4? 10 e5 costs a piece.

9...♘bd7 10 0-0 0-0 11 f5!

By seizing much greater kingside space, White can throw everything at the king.

11...♕c7 12 ♗g5! ♘b6 13 ♗xf6!

Now 13...gxf6 14 ♘d2 followed by ♕h5 and ♖f3 is hopeless.

13...♘xc4 14 ♘g5!

So that 14...gxf6 15 ♘xh7! and 15...♔xh7 16 ♕h5+, 17 ♕g4+ and 18 ♖f3 followed by ♖h3 mate.

Another finish is 15...♘e3 16 ♘xf6+ ♔g7 17 ♕h5! and wins.

14...h6 15 ♕h5!

It’s mate after 15...hxg5 16 ♕xg5 (16...g6 17 ♕h6). Or 15...gxf6 16 ♕xh6 fxg5 17 f6.

15...♖e8 16 ♗xg7! resigns.

And here it is 16...♔xg7 17 f6+ and mates.

Viktor KorchnoiWhite

Stanislav BogdanovichBlack

Odessa 2006

1 c4 e6 2 ♘c3 d5 3 d4 dxc4 4 e4 c5 5 d5 exd5 6 ♘xd5 ♗d6 7 ♗xc4 ♘c6 8 ♘f3 h6? 9 e5! ♗b8 (9...♘xe5? 10 ♘xe5 ♗xe5 11 ♕e2 wins a piece) 10 ♗e3 b6 11 ♕a4 ♗b7 12 0-0-0! ♕c8 13 ♖d2 ♘ge7 14 ♘f4 0-0 15 e6 f6 16 ♖d7 a6 17 ♘d5 b5 18 ♕c2 bxc4 19 ♖xe7! resigns.

Question 26: Why resign?

DAY 25 Right Squares

It’s simple: A good center helps you put good pieces on the right squares.

Rafael VaganianWhite

George BotterillBlack

Hastings 1974-75

Trompowsky Attack A45

1 d4 ♘f6 2 ♗g5 g6 3 ♗xf6! exf6 4 e3 ♗g7 5 ♘e2!

The center tells White that the knight will watch more important squares on f4 than on f3 and that Black cannot oust it with ...e7-e5.

5...b6 6 ♘f4

The center also makes ♗c4 good. Another game went 6...♗b7 7 h4 0-0 8 h5 ♘c6 9 ♗c4! ♘e7? 10 hxg6 hxg6 11 ♘xg6! and wins. (11...♘xg6 12 ♕h5).

6...d5 7 h4! h5

White could have met 7...0-0 with 8 ♘c3 ♗b7 9 h5 and then 9...g5 10 h6! ♗h8 11 ♕f3 (11...gxf4?? 12 ♕g4+).

8 c4! dxc4

Worse is 8...c6 9 cxd5 cxd5 10 ♗b5+! (10...♗d7 11 ♗xd7+ ♕xd7 12 ♘c3).

9 ♗xc4 ♗b7 10 ♘c3

Necessary is a safety step like 10...♕d7.

Question 27: Why not 10...♘d7 followed by ...f5 and ...♘f6 ?

10...♗h6?? 11 ♗xf7+! ♔xf7 12 ♕b3+ ♔e8

Not 12...♔f8? 13 ♘e6+.

Question 28: What is fastest after 12...♔e7 13♘xg6+♔d7 14♕f7+♔c8 ?

13 ♘xg6 ♕d7 14 ♘xh8 ♕g7 15 ♕e6+ ♔f8 16 ♘d5! ♘d7

Or else 16...♕xh8 17 ♕e7+ ♔g8 18 ♘xf6+.

17 ♘e7! resigns.

Joszef BrindicsWhite

Miklos MincsovicsBlack

Hungary 1999

1 d4 ♘f6 2 ♗g5 g6 3 ♗xf6! exf6 4 e3 ♗g7 5 ♘e2 b6 6 ♘f4 ♗b7 7 c3 0-0 8 h4 f5 9 h5 ♗f6 (9...g5!) 10 hxg6 hxg6 11 ♗c4 d5 12 ♗d3 ♔g7 13 ♕f3 ♗g5 14 ♘d2 ♘d7 15 g4 ♗xf4 16 ♕xf4 fxg4 17 ♕h6+ ♔f6 18 0-0-0 ♔e6 19 f4 ♘f6 20 ♕g5 ♖g8? 21 f5+ gxf5 22 ♕xf5+ ♔e7 23 ♕e5+ ♔f8 24 ♖df1 ♘d7 25 ♕f4 f6 26 ♖h7! g3 27 ♕h6+ resigns.

DAY 26 Knee-Jerk

Masters have learned to exploit certain pawn moves with a quick reflex.

Jiri VeselyWhite

Karel OpocenskyBlack

Jablonec 1962

Caro-Kann Defense B16

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘c3 dxe4 4 ♘xe4 ♘f6 5 ♘xf6+ gxf6 6 ♘f3 ♗f5 7 ♗c4 ♘d7 8 0-0 e6 9 ♗b3 b5?

Black tries to secure d5 for his knight (...♘b6-d5) by anticipating c2-c4. But he gives White a target, either at c6 or b5.

10 a4!

The proper knee-jerk response. A c6 target appears after 10...bxa4 11 ♗xa4.

10...♘b6?

Despite appearances, this fatally weakens Black’s control of d5.

Better was 10...b4 with a slight inferiority after, say, 11 ♗f4 ♘b6 12 ♘h4 ♗g6 13 ♕f3.

White also gets the upper hand from 10...a6 11 axb5! axb5 12 ♖xa8 ♕xa8 13 ♘h4 ♗g6 14 ♕e2. Or 11...cxb5 12 d5!.

11 axb5 cxb5 12 ♕e2!

Now 12...a6 13 ♖xa6! (13...♖xa6 14 ♕xb5+).

12...♕d7 13 d5!

This blasts open the d-file, e.g. 13...♘xd5 14 ♖d1 with a threat of 15 ♗xd5. For example, 14...♗e7 15 c4! bxc4? 16 ♗a4 or 14...0-0-0 15 ♗e3 and ♖xa7. Or 13...e5? 14 ♘xe5!.

13...♘c4 14 ♘d4! ♕xd5

Another loss is 14...♗e7 15 ♘xb5! (15...♕xb5 16 ♗a4).

15 ♘xb5! ♖c8 16 ♖d1 ♕e4 17 ♗a4! resigns.

The neat end would be 17...♕xe2 18 ♘c7+ ♔e7 19 ♖d7 mate.

Larisa DergilevaWhite

Heike VogelBlack

Germany 2004

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘c3 dxe4 4 ♘xe4 ♘f6 5 ♘xf6+ gxf6 6 ♗c4 ♗f5 7 ♘f3 e6 8 0-0 ♗d6 9 ♘h4 ♗e4? 10 ♕h5! ♗d5 11 ♗xd5 cxd5 12 ♖e1 ♕d7 (12...0-0 13 ♗h6 is lost) 13 ♘f5 ♗f8 14 ♗h6 ♖g8 15 ♗xf8 ♖g5 16 ♕xh7 ♔xf8 and now 17 ♕h8+ or 17 ♘h6 win.

Question 29: What was White’s threat after 13♘f5 ?

DAY 27 Unforced

The most unpleasant surprises come from unforced “forced” moves.

Yuri RusakovWhite

Boris VerlinskyBlack

Moscow 1947

King Pawn’s Opening C20

1 e4 e5 2 c3 ♘c6 3 d4 ♘f6 4 ♗g5