A to Z Chess Tactics E-Book

George Huczek

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

Seitenzahl: 473

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

An indispensable reference book of chess moves, perfect for any chess player, beginner or club player. This A to Z of chess tactics provides an explanation of all the key terms and jargon used in chess so you can understand them and put them into practice in your own game. From Castling to Zugzwang, from Underpromotion to Zwischenzug. Written in a clear and informative style, the book features a large section with Illustrative games from past chess masters and grandmasters which show the relevant chess definition in action. Plus there are exercises that illustrate the tactic defined – these test you on your ability to recognize the tactics learned, as that is how they will appear in a match. The exercises teach you how to seize the opportunities before they disappear as well as avoiding traps your opponent may leave. Useful for all chess players, this is an essential read for those looking to improve and understand the game better.

Leseprobe

Contents

Introduction

Attraction

Back Rank Mate

Back Rank Weakness

Battery

Bind

Castling

Checking the King

Classic Bishop Sacrifice

Clearance Sacrifice

Counter Pin

Cross Check

Desperado

Discovered Attack

Discovered Check

Diversion

Double Attack

Double Check

Establishing a Fortress

Flank Weakness

Forced Move

Gaining a Tempo

Hunting the King

Infiltration

Interference

Jostling the King

Knight Fork

Lead in Development

Line Clearance

Manoeuvring on the Staircase

No Retreat

Overloading

Pawn Fork

Pawn Promotion

Pawn Roller

Perpetual Check

Pin

Queen Ambush

Removing the Defender

Simplification

Skewer

Smothered Mate

Swindle

Triangulation

Underpromotion

Vacating a Square

Windmill Attack

Winning Material

X-Ray Attack

Yielding to Zugzwang

Zwischenzug

Tactical Exercises

Evaluation Symbols

Solutions to Exercises

Exercise References by Themes

Index

Introduction

The following remarkable game features a variety of spectacular attacking motifs. It was won by former world champion Garry Kasparov and illustrates how tactics can arise in a chess game and how they can be exploited.

It was played at the Wijk aan Zee tournament in 1999. Kasparov had the white pieces against Topalov, who adopted the Pirc Defence.

1 e4 d6 2 d4 ♘f6 3 ♘c3 g6 4 ♗e3 ♗g7 5 ♕d2 c6 6 f3 b5 7 ♘ge2 ♘bd7

Both sides are already staking out their strategic plans. Black intends to operate on the queenside. White’s actions are aimed at the centre and on the kingside.

8 ♗h6

Black’s king is ready to castle but this would not be advisable now as White would advance the g- and h-pawn can opener and storm the kingside.

8...♗xh6 9 ♕xh6 ♗b7

So Black adjusts the strategy, preparing to secure the king on the queenside instead.

10 a3

This is a restraining move. In chess such an action is known as prophylaxis. It is intended to delay or discourage Black from an immediate advance of the b-pawn.

10...e5

Before castling queenside Black decides to reduce the central tension.

11 0-0-0 ♕e7 12 ♔b1

This is a prudent move, often used in queenside castling to secure White’s king. It is another prophylactic move intended to reduce Black’s chances on the c-file and along the c1-h6 diagonal. The king vacates c1 and arrives at b1, a safer square.

12...a6 13 ♘c1 0-0-0 14 ♘b3

White has repositioned the knight from e2 to b3 where it supports d4 and can later consider moving to a5.

14...exd4

Black releases the central tension. With Black castled on the queen’s flank White’s queen is temporarily misplaced, while the remaining bishop on f1 is still undeveloped. Black might be able to generate activity on the d- and e-files by opening the centre.

15 ♖xd4 c5 16 ♖d1 ♘b6 17 g3

This move allows White to develop the bishop to h3, where it will be actively placed.

17...♔b8

In the same fashion as White’s prophylactic twelfth move, Black moves the king to a safer square prior to playing an eventual d6-d5.

18 ♘a5 ♗a8

Black wants to retain this bishop, keeping it on the a8-h1 diagonal to support an eventual central break by d6-d5. The loss of this bishop would strengthen White’s grip on the contested d5 square.

19 ♗h3 d5

Black has finally achieved the desired advance of the d-pawn. However here White can use this opportunity to bring the queen back into play with tempo, as Black’s king is clearly less secure now and will soon come under attack.

20 ♕f4+ ♔a7 21 ♖he1 d4?!

Now the tactical fireworks begin in earnest. Black’s king is not secure. This provides the justification for White’s use of aggressive tactics. After 21...dxe4 22 fxe4 White would contest the d5 square and the white pieces would take up more active positions.

22 ♘d5! ♘bxd5

If 22...♗xd5? 23 exd5 ♕d6 then 24 ♖e7+ ♔a8 25 ♘c6+-. Or 22...♘fxd5? 23 exd5 and Black is overloaded, enabling White to obtain a winning position after 23...♕d6 24 ♕xf7+ ♔b8 25 ♖e6 ♕c7 26 ♖e7.

23 exd5 ♕d6

24 ♖xd4!

This speculative rook sacrifice blasts the centre wide open. Black’s king will now be subjected to a strong attack.

24...cxd4

As tempting as this was, the rook should not have been taken. Black cannot recover after this so 24...♔b6 or 24...♗xd5 were better choices for Black.

25 ♖e7+

25 ♕xd4+? would have been a mistake. Black would have come out ahead after 25...♕b6 26 ♖e7+ ♘d7∓. White has now infiltrated with the rook and Black cannot capture it since 25...♕xe7? loses quickly to 26 ♕xd4+ ♔b8 27 ♕b6+ ♗b7 28 ♘c6+ ♔a8 29 ♕a7#.

25...♔b6

26 ♕xd4+!

White is prepared to sacrifice the knight in order to draw Black’s king further up the board. A classic king hunt is now under way.

26...♔xa5

26...♕c5 does not hold. After 27 ♕xf6+ ♕d6 White has the beautiful 28 ♗e6. The point is that if Black now continues 28...♗xd5 then after 29 b4 ♗a8 or 29...♗c6 White has 30 ♕xf7 with mating possibilities developing along the seventh rank.

27 b4+ ♔a4 28 ♕c3

Computers are quick to point out that White also had the elegant winning move 28 ♖a7!.

28...♕xd5

Black captures an important central pawn and guards against ♕b3#. White’s rook is still taboo: 28...♕xe7? 29 ♕b3#.

29 ♖a7

Mate is now threatened on the a-file, so Black must respond accordingly.

29...♗b7 30 ♖xb7

The rook remains immune from capture. Black’s ♗b7 gives up the bishop but allows a rook to reach a8 to defend against the mate threat. 29...♖d6? would have enabled White to play 30 ♔b2+-, with the threat of 31 ♕b3+ ♕xb3 32 cxb3#.

On the other hand 30 ♕c7? would have allowed a swindle, giving Black a draw by perpetual check. 30...♕d1+ 31 ♔b2 ♕d4+.

30...♕c4

Simplification by a trade of queens would help Black to relieve the pressure. White resists the offer in favour of snatching the loose knight on f6. Here computers prefer 30...♖he8 for Black.

31 ♕xf6

31...♔xa3

Black’s best chance would have been to continue 31...♖d1+ after which White would be able to reach a difficult but technically advantageous endgame. Then 32 ♔b2 ♖a8 33 ♕b6 threatens mate, so Black would need to simplify with 33...♕d4+ 34 ♕xd4 ♖xd4 35 ♖xf7 ♖d6 36 ♖d7! ♖f6. Black dare not take the rook by 36...♖xd7? because of the clincher 37 ♗e6! when the bishop mates on b3.

32 ♕xa6+ ♔xb4

Now White maintains the initiative and sustains the attack.

33 c3+!

The pawn sacrifice gives White even more lines of attack.

33...♔xc3

Capturing with the king is necessary as 33...♕xc3? would allow White to mate in three moves: 34 ♕xb5+ ♔a3 35 ♖a7+ ♕a5 36 ♖xa5#.

34 ♕a1+ ♔d2

The king hunt continues as Black’s king endures its long march up the board. Disastrous would be either 34...♔b3 35 ♕b2+ checkmating, or 34...♔d3 35 ♗f1+ skewering the queen.

35 ♕b2+ ♔d1

This is a sensational position. Black’s king has travelled from e8, its initial square, to d1. It will end its journey on e1. The king has been forced to take a march towards the scaffold.

36 ♗f1!

Remarkably this sauntering bishop is safe from capture: 36...♕xf1 37 ♕c2+ ♔e1 38 ♖e7+ ♕e2 39 ♕xe2#.

If Black moves the queen to a safe square White has a mating attack. For example, White would mate with either 36...♕c6 37 ♕e2# or 36...♕e6 37 ♕c1#.

36...♖d2

37 ♖d7!

White makes one exquisite move after another. This partial pin forces a favourable exchange for White, simplifying the position.

37...♖xd7 38 ♗xc4 bxc4 39 ♕xh8 ♖d3 40 ♕a8 c3

The advanced c-pawn is Black’s slim and only remaining hope.

41 ♕a4+ ♔e1

42 f4

This is the final finesse. It removes any hope of establishing a defensive fortress. The remaining kingside pawns will eventually decide the outcome.

42...f5 43 ♔c1

The king provides a blockade, preventing the advance of the c-pawn.

43...♖d2 44 ♕a7 1-0

Black is unable to play 44...♖xh2? because of 45 ♕g1+ when the double attack snags Black’s rook.

White will now begin to liquidate some of Black’s remaining pawns, with further simplification to a won endgame: 44...h5 45 ♕g1+ ♔e2 46 ♕b6+-.

This is a beautiful chess game. A wide variety of tactical motifs were used at one point or another. Many of these same motifs are described in more detail throughout this book.

Some of the tactical motifs that occurred or might have possibly arisen in this game included pawn storms, prophylaxis, a central pawn break, checking the king, vacating a square, opening the centre, piece development, gain of tempo, rook sacrifice, clearance sacrifice, infiltration, weaknesses on the flank, knight sacrifice, hunting the king, jostling the king, perpetual check, maintaining the initiative, pawn sacrifice, overloading, simplification, hanging pieces, forced moves, skewers, pins, mating attacks and blockades.

A to Z of Chess Tactics provides an alphabetical reference of tactics, a careful study of which will most certainly help readers become stronger chess players. Then from time to time these topics can be referred to again and again as necessary.

The tactical exercises can be used for practice and for tournament preparation. It is recommended that a few exercises should be attempted daily. It is also recommended to set up these positions on a chess board and make a real effort to solve them.

Cognitive neuroscience addresses the importance of retrieving recognised patterns from memory. Incoming sensory stimuli are compared with stored templates. Acquiring those stored templates in long-term memory requires dedicated study and practice. There are no shortcuts here. No one gets admitted for free. Even child chess prodigies need to study seriously if they aspire to compete at the highest levels.

The exercises are intentionally given without any indication as to what tactics are involved. The reason for this is to more realistically simulate what happens in real games! One needs to acquire a sense of tactical intuition.

Depending on one’s level of proficiency, the amount of time required to solve these exercises will vary. A timer may be used to allow as much time as is deemed to be necessary. Studying the exercises under time constraints simulates the additional psychological pressure of playing with a clock.

Should one wish to practice tactics thematically, a cross-reference of the exercises by theme is provided in the Appendix.

The tactical exercises become progressively more difficult, extending for more moves and often including several possible variations, each of which should be given due consideration.

Here are a few suggestions for improving tactical awareness.

■     Practice.

There is no substitute for this. Regular practice is essential. Practice daily if possible. Work with a higher-rated training partner, a trainer, or a chess coach. If you have no one you can approach in your area there are always chess trainers available on the Internet.

■     Use a chessboard when training.

This has to do with the importance of developing a recognition of those important tactical templates that are stored in memory. Most players would agree that this approach is much better than working only with diagrams on paper or on a computer display.

■     Examine every position carefully.

Consider all combinations. Look closely at any move that involves a check on the king. Be aware of possible sacrifices on the board. These dynamics change from move to move. Reconsider them on every turn.

■     Develop tactical awareness.

Be able to recognise situations where the main tactical themes are likely to arise. Study tactics and remember the first point listed here – practice! That really is the key to success. In any creative endeavour, practice, training and hard work are required. There are no substitutes. This applies equally well to dilettantes and experts.

Enjoy the book. Hopefully it will serve you well.

The author may be contacted at [email protected]

AAttraction

Attraction is a tactical motif that lures or forces an opponent’s piece to a square on which it can be exploited in some way. A sacrifice is often used. For example, in the following hypothetical position, White uses an attraction tactic to secure a winning advantage.

Material is equal but White’s pieces are much better placed. White’s rook controls the open f-file, the knight is well centralised and supported by a passed pawn, and the queen is well placed for both attack and defence.

1 ♖f8+!

White exploits the back rank weakness.

1...♔xf8

White forces this capture, thereby drawing the black king to the f8 square. This illustrates the key idea behind an attraction tactic. The king has been obliged to relocate to a vulnerable square on which it will be subjected to a knight fork, winning Black’s queen.

2 ♘d7+

After Black moves the king – 2...♔g8 is probably best but the position is still resignable – White plays 3 ♘xb6 with a winning advantage.

Another example, also involving a rook sacrifice, is seen in the next position.

Black’s first move, 1...♖xg2+! forces White’s reply, 2 ♔xg2. Black has thereby exploited the pin on White’s queen so it is the king that must capture the rook on g2.

Using the attraction motif, Black has repositioned White’s king by only one square to g2, but this is all that is needed to allow a quick mating finish.

2...♕h2#

Another attraction motif involving sacrifices occurred in the game Wahls – Bjarnason, Malmö, 1986.

The open a-file provides an infiltration route for White. Close attention should be paid to the knight on d4 and the bishop on e3. They will play a key role in the attack, which will feature an important double check later on.

1 ♖a8+

Black must accept the rook sacrifice, but this attraction has placed the king on the open a-file.

1...♔xa8 2 ♕a1+ ♔b8

White has gained a tempo, bringing the queen into the attack with a check.

3 ♕a7+! ♔xa7

The queen sacrifice has to be accepted otherwise Black will get mated on the next move: 3...♔c8 4 ♕a8#. Notice that the queen check on a7 sets up the crucial double check that follows on the next move.

4 ♘c6+ ♔a8

If 4...♔a6 then 5 ♖a1+ and Black will be mated.

5 ♖a1+ 1-0

Checkmate is unavoidable in two more moves at most.

A beautiful example of the attraction motif occurred in the next game Spraggett – Delva, Columbus, 1977.

White’s first move, a rook sacrifice based on an attraction tactic, must have come as quite a surprise.

1 ♖f7!

White threatens mate with 2 ♕xh7# thus forcing Black’s reply.

1...♔xf7

Black’s king has been relocated to f7 where it no longer protects the h7 pawn. This gives White the opportunity to infiltrate with the queen and a bishop.

2 ♕xh7+ ♔e8 3 ♕xg6+ ♔f8 4 ♗h6#

Had Black tried 2...♔f8 instead, then White would have been able to play 3 ♗h6+ ♔e8 4 ♕xg6#.

Sometimes attraction is also referred to as a deflection. The tactic attracts a piece to a key square, or diverts the piece away from a better square, so one could conceptualise this motif in either way.

In the game Ornstein – Schneider, Sweden, 1985, Black uses a pawn sacrifice followed by a knight sacrifice to draw the opponent’s king into a mating net.

1...f3+!

Black’s pawn acts like a magnet, attracting White’s king into the open. The h3 square is unavailable because of the bishop on e6. A retreat is not advisable because of the weakness of the back rank: 2 ♔f1 ♖d1+ 3 ♖xd1 ♖xd1#. The advanced pawn on f3 controls the e2 and g2 flight squares.

2 ♔xf3 ♘h4+ 0-1

Checkmate cannot be avoided, whether or not the knight sacrifice is accepted. If the sacrifice is refused the game will finish 3 ♔e3 ♖4d3+ 4 ♔e4 ♗f5+ 5 ♔xe5 f6+ 6 ♔f4 ♖xf2#. Accepting the sacrifice is also fatal: 3 gxh4 ♖4d3+ 4 ♔e4 (4 ♔g2 ♗h3+ 5 ♔g1 ♖d1+ 6 ♖xd1 ♖xd1#) 4...f5+ 5 ♔xe5 ♖e2+ 6 ♔f4 ♖e4#.

The attraction tactic can disrupt a defender’s position completely. One further example, from Piredda – Joksić, Milan, 1980, shows just how quickly a position can collapse from the timely use of this tactic.

1...♖c2+!

This attraction follows a similar motif to the Spraggett – Delva game. It is instructive to see how quickly things start to go bad for White after the rook sacrifice has drawn White’s king away from its protection of the a2 pawn.

2 ♔xc2 ♕xa2+ 3 ♔d3

After 3 ♔c1 Black penetrates even more quickly by 3...♖xb3 and then mating White on the back rank.

3...♖xb3+ 4 ♘c3 ♕xg2 5 h4 ♘xe5+

This diversion forcefully relocates the queen, Black’s best defender on the board.

6 ♕xe5 ♕f3+ 7 ♔d2

After 7 ♕e3 Black could finish with a swallow’s tail mate: 7...♕xd1+ 8 ♕d2 ♖xc3+ 9 ♔xc3 ♕b3#.

7...♖b2+ 0-1

It is mate in one after 8 ♔c1 ♕xc3# or 8 ♔e1 ♕f2#.

Here is an enchanting example of the attraction motif, taken from the game Caruana – Ponomariov, Dortmund, 2014.

1 ♖e7!

White exploits the weakness of the c-pawn, threatening ♖xc7+.

1...♕xe7

The point of the sacrifice was to relocate Black’s queen so that it is no longer protecting the back rank. Other options are also bad for Black: 1...♗e8 2 ♖xe8 ♕xe8 3 ♕xe8+-; 1...♕b8 2 ♖xc7+ ♕xc7 3 ♕xc7+ ♔a8 4 ♗a6+-; 1...♔b8 2 ♗a6+-.

Now all is revealed.

2 ♗a6!

Mate is threatened on b7. Black must capture the bishop.

2...♔xa6 3 ♕a8#

This is indeed a dazzling display of chess artistry!

Another nice example of the attraction motif comes from the game Urkedal – Illingworth, Baku, 2016.

1 ♖c7!

This is only a temporary rook sacrifice. The diversion weakens the back rank so White’s queen is able to infiltrate on d8, gaining a tempo with check, capturing Black’s rook, and driving Black’s king into the open. White’s queen and bishop pair will then be able to hunt Black’s exposed king.

1...♖xc7

White would still have the upper hand with 1...♘e6 after 2 ♗b7 ♘xc7 3 ♗xa6 ♘xa6 4 ♗d6. Allowing White’s rook to remain on the seventh rank by playing 1...♖e8?! might lead to 2 ♕h5 ♖b8 3 ♕f7 ♕h6 4 ♕g8+ ♖xg8 5 hxg8♕#.

2 ♕d8+ ♔xh7 3 ♗g8+!

This is an important zwischenzug and much better than checking with the queen on g8. It drives Black’s king into the open with tempo. Black’s king cannot go back to h8 as then a discovered check would lead to mate: 3...♔h8?! 4 ♗f7+ ♗f8 5 ♕xf8+ ♔h7 6 ♕g8+ ♔h6 7 ♗d2#.

3...♔g6 4 ♕xc7

Even though White’s king is exposed as well, Black has no good way of attacking it. Without counterplay Black is completely on the defensive.

4...♕f6

The point of this move is to discourage White from playing ♕f7+ which would mate quickly. However, White still has another way to check Black’s king.

5 ♕g3+

5...♔h5

The king hunt is under way. Note the role of White’s bishop on g8. 5...♔h6 doesn’t hold the position either: 6 ♗d2+ ♔h5 7 ♕h3+ ♔g6 8 ♕h7#.

Trying to shield the king with 5...♕g5 loses the queen: 6 ♗h7+ ♔h6 7 ♕h3+ ♕h5 8 ♗d2+ ♔xh7 9 ♕xh5+.

6 ♕h3+

6...♔g6

Black’s king goes to the only available white square. Instead 6...♔g5 would give White an extra tempo to bring in the other bishop: 7 ♗d2+ ♔g6 8 ♕h7#.

7 ♕h7+ ♔g5

Black’s king has been forced to a dark square.

8 ♗d2+ ♔g4 9 ♕h3#

The attraction tactic, starting with the move 1 ♖c7!, gave White the initiative. It was the winning move in this game.

In the game J. Polgar – Berkes, Budapest, 2003, White used an attraction tactic to create a mating attack on the h-file.

White has already sacrificed a minor piece. To sustain the attack, immediate action is required. Black cannot be given the time needed to reverse the trend.

1 ♖h7+!

Here again the attraction motif is used advantageously. White obtains the necessary time to set up a battery on the h-file.

1...♔xh7

Refusing the rook by 1...♔g8 still allows White to develop a mating attack by playing 2 ♖dh1, since Black has no adequate means of defence.

2 ♕h2+

This is the point of the attraction tactic. White gets control of the h-file, gaining a tempo with check.

2...♔g8 3 ♖h1 ♗xg5+ 4 ♘xg5 ♕xg5+ 5 f4

Black’s position has deteriorated.

5...♕xf4+ 6 ♕xf4 ♗xe4 7 ♕xe4

White has an endgame advantage. The game has entered a technical phase with White clearly ahead.

In the game Schiffers – Chigorin, St. Petersburg, 1897, Black missed a chance to use the attraction motif to draw the white king into a mating net.

Black has an open h-file and a beautiful pair of raking bishops.

1...♖h1+

The sacrificed rook must be captured by the knight. This will deprive White’s king of the h1 square.

2 ♘xh1

2...♗h2+!

White’s king would have been dragged to the h-file with this beautiful bishop sacrifice.

3 ♔xh2 ♖h8+

Now the king would have been drawn further up the board into a mating net. White cannot play 4 ♔g1 because of 4...♖xh1#.

4 ♔g3 ♘f5+ 5 ♔f4 ♖h4#

BBack Rank Mate

The basic motif of a back rank mate follows important patterns that should be studied thoroughly. Avoiding the threat of a back rank mate requires foresight, in order to prevent situations in which the king is unable to move off the back rank. Even chess masters fall victim to back rank mates.

A rook or queen can deliver a back rank mate against a king that is unable to evade the check because there are pawns or other pieces in front of the king, preventing it from leaving the back rank.

1 ♖a8#

Black’s king is prevented from leaving the back rank by its own pawns.

Imagination is sometimes required to create a position where a back rank mate is possible, as can be seen in the following diagram.

1 ♖c8+ ♘xc8 2 ♕d8#

Black’s knight has been diverted, allowing the queen to mate on d8. The queen cuts off the e7 flight square. Black’s pawns also prevent the king from leaving the back rank.

In the next example White’s pawns on f2, g2, and h2 prevent White’s king from leaving the back rank. If it were Black’s move the game would end quickly after 1...♖d1+ 2 ♖e1 ♖xe1#.

Black’s king is confined to the back rank because it does not have access to the flight square on h7, as White’s bishop controls that square. With White to move, the game ends immediately by 1 ♖e8#.

Other tactical elements frequently come into play to produce back rank mate threats. Consider the following situation with White to move.

The g7 square is controlled by the white bishop on h6. Black has a kingside weakness on the dark squares. This can be thought of as a weakened or ‘broken’ fianchettoed position; Black’s lack of a dark-squared bishop severely compromises the position, as it eliminates the possibility of using g7 as a flight square. The consequent back rank weakness can be exploited by White who can win by creating a diversion to get the black queen off the back rank.

1 ♕xc5!

This is the decisive move. White wins the rook outright since Black cannot recapture with the queen because the back rank would be left unprotected.

1...♕xc5 2 ♖d8+ ♕f8 3 ♖xf8#

A few examples from actual play will now be examined. Note the moves leading up to the back rank mates. The first is a back rank mate threat preceded by a sacrifice and other tactical motifs. It occurred in the game Ivanchuk – Anand, Reggio Emilia, 1988.

White has now just played 1 f3 attacking two minor pieces with a pawn fork. Black’s knight on e4 and bishop on g4 are both threatened. In this position the tactics become frenzied. Black ignores the threats against these two minor pieces and continues the attack.

The attack is justified. White is behind in development and the rooks on the first rank are not yet connected, leaving the potential of creating back rank mating threats. The rook on e1 is also unprotected.

1...♗h4!

This move attacks the hanging rook on e1. If White captures one of the minor pieces forked by the pawn, Black can capture the rook, winning the exchange.

2 ♖f1

On 2 fxe4 Black simply wins the exchange with 2...♗xe1. Even worse for White would have been 2 fxg4 ♗f2+ 3 ♔f1 ♕xh2 and Black would have a winning attack. Instead, if White plays 3 ♔h1 then 3...♘g3+ 4 hxg3 ♕h6# would provide Black with a nice finish.

2...♗h3!

3 ♕c2

If White accepts the offered bishop sacrifice by playing 2 gxh3, the partially opened g-file on the kingside would give Black the opportunity to infiltrate by 3...♕g6+, gaining a tempo with check and maintaining a strong attack similar to that which actually occurs in the game.

3...♕g6

White’s g2 square is very weak. The pin now prevents the g-pawn from capturing the bishop. Black threatens 4...♕xg2#.

4 ♘b3

White protects the g2 square with the queen by relocating the knight. It is unfortunate that the knight had to move away from the side of the board being attacked. Whenever possible, minor pieces should be brought towards the side of the board under attack in order to bolster the defence, but White did not have that option in this position.

4...♖hf8 5 ♘a3

White tries to develop and defend. Unfortunately this knight too has to move to a bad square, again away from the critical side of the board where White is under attack.

5...♖de8 6 ♔h1

White moves the king from the g-file, relieving the pin on the g2 pawn. This allows for the possibility of playing gxh3 if the opportunity should arise. However, moving the king to h1 has the undesired consequence of creating the conditions for a back rank mate.

6...♘f2+ 7 ♖xf2

The diversion of the rook leads to mate. Had White played 7 ♔g1 instead, then 7...♕xg2# checkmates immediately.

7...♗xg2+! 0-1

White resigned because if 8 ♖xg2 is played then 8...♖e1+ and White mates in two more moves, exploiting the back rank weakness: 9 ♗f1 ♖xf1+ 10 ♖g1 ♖xg1# or 10...♕xg1#. Nor can White escape by playing 8 ♔g1, because of 8...♖e1+ 9 ♗f1 ♖xf1+ 10 ♖xf1 ♗xf3+ 11 ♕g2 ♕xg2#.

Examples such as this show that back rank mate threats often occur even among grandmasters. In fact, most of the games presented in this book were played by very highly rated players, some of whom were even world chess champions.

The following game between Bernstein, playing White against Capablanca in Moscow, 1914, included a back rank mate threat, created by means of a diversion.

Both kings lack flight squares from the back rank. It appears that the rooks guarding the back ranks for both players stop any threats of mate there. However the tactical threat of a back rank mate can emerge suddenly, as seen here.

1...♖xc3 2 ♖xc3 ♕b2! 0-1

White resigned because Black has successfully created a position where White’s queen is diverted from its protection of the d1 square, making possible the threat of a back rank mate.

3 ♕xb2 ♖d1#

If White tries 3 ♕e1 then Black can play 3...♕xc3 winning the rook. Black cannot retake the queen on c3 because of the back rank mate that would follow: 4 ♕xc3 ♖d1+ 5 ♕e1 ♖xe1#.

Also 3 ♖c2 loses a rook at once after 3...♕b1+ 4 ♕f1 ♕xc2 and Black further threatens to play the rook to d1.

Notice that an immediate 5...♖d1? fails to 6 ♖c8+ and the tables are turned, with White suddenly winning because of the mate on the other back rank.

Here is a related example based on the same motif, using a diversion to exploit a back rank weakness. It is taken from the game Doroshkevich – Fedorov, USSR, 1981.

Black’s king is confined to the back rank where it is liable to be mated as Black’s queen and rook on the seventh rank provide insufficent defence against the potential threats.

1 ♖c2!

After this marvellous move, White’s queen and rook are now both en prise, but capturing either is taboo. 1...♕xe5 2 ♖c8+ ♖e8 3 ♖xe8# or 1...♕xc2 2 ♕b8+ ♕c8 3 ♕xc8+ ♖e8 4 ♕xe8#. White is also winning after 1...♗c6 2 ♕c3 ♖d7 3 ♕xc6 ♖d1+ 4 ♗f1 ♕d8 5 ♕c8+-.

1...♕d7 2 ♖c8+ ♖e8

Black would have not done any better with 2...♕xc8 4 ♗xc8 ♗xb3 5 ♕d6 ♖e8 6 ♗d7 ♖a8 7 ♕xb6+-.

3 ♕c7 1-0

Black is completely overloaded, as the following lines show: 3...♖xc8 4 ♕xd7; 3...♕xc7 4 ♖xe8#; 3...♕e7 4 ♕xe7 ♖xc8 5 ♗xc8; 3...♕xc8 4 ♗xc8.

The threat of a back rank mate occurs frequently in tournament play. Sometimes just the threat of a back rank mate is sufficient to cause immediate resignation, without the threat ever being carried out.

The following position arose in the game Ståhlberg – Alekhine, Hamburg, 1930. White had just blundered by playing 1 ♔h1?

White’s mistake allowed Black to conjure up a winning tactical combination, starting with a rook sacrifice.

1...♖xf3! 0-1

The reason why White resigned so suddenly was due to the tactical threats arising from the weakness of the back rank. In his notes to the game, Alekhine wrote that he considered White’s best defence to be 1 ♕d2, after which he intended to continue 1...♗xf3 2 ♘xf3 ♘xf3+ 3 ♖xf3 ♖xf3 4 ♕xg5 ♖xf1+ 5 ♖xf1 ♖xf1+ 6 ♔xf1 hxg5 7 ♔e2 ♔f7 8 ♔f3 ♔e6 9 ♔e4 b5! with a winning endgame. White’s doubled pawns on the b-file could then be picked off easily, whereas Black’s connected pawns on the d- and e-files will be unassailable. against the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard.

After the move 1...♖xf3!, played in the game, there is a back rank mate threat. To avoid being mated White must give up too much material. For example, 2 ♖xf3 ♕xe3 3 ♖xe3? and Black has a back rank mate on f1 with 3...♖xf1#, while after 3 ♘c2 ♘xc2 4 ♖xe3 ♘xe3 5 ♖a1 ♖xf1+ 6 ♖xf1 ♘xf1 Black has an overwhelming advantage due to the extra minor pieces.

White managed to exploit a back rank weakness by a queen sacrifice in the game Ostropolsky – Ivanovsky, USSR, 1949.

1 ♕xd7+!

White’s bishop controls the d8 and e7 squares. Black’s replies to this queen sacrifice are forced.

1...♖xd7 2 ♘c7+

This knight check diverts Black’s rook from the d-file, allowing White’s rook to deliver the mate.

2...♖xc7 3 ♖d8#

Here is a nice mate delivered in a famous game played at the opera in Paris 1858 by Morphy, with White against the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard.

1 ♖xd7!

Black is behind in development and this exchange sacrifice increases the pressure on the beleagured position. White’s other rook will next go to d1 to exploit the pinned pieces. Black is essentially playing without the kingside bishop and rook.

1...♖xd7 2 ♖d1

White’s bishops are both showing the power of the pin.

2...♕e6

Black breaks one of the pins. On 2...♕b4 White would still exert pressure after 3 ♗xf6 gxf6 (3...♕xb3 4 ♗xd7#) 4 ♗xd7+ ♔d8 5 ♕xf7±.

3 ♗xd7+

3...♘xd7

Other choices for Black were no better:

3...♕xd7? 4 ♕b8+ ♔e7 5 ♕xe5+ ♔d8 (5...♕e6 6 ♕c7+ ♕d7 [6...♔e8 7 ♖d8#] 7 ♕xd7#) 6 ♗xf6+ gxf6 7 ♕xf6+ ♔c7 8 ♖xd7+ +-.

No improvement was 3...♔e7? 4 ♕b4+ ♔d8 (4...♕d6 5 ♕xd6+ ♔d8 6 ♕b8+ ♔e7 7 ♕e8#) 5 ♕b8+ ♔e7 6 ♕e8#.

Now White concluded the game with a beautiful mating combination.

4 ♕b8+! ♘xb8 5 ♖d8#

Another example of exploiting a back rank weakness by a queen sacrifice comes from a game Tisdall – J. Polgar, Reykjavik, 1988.

1...♖1h3 2 ♕e2 ♕a4+!

White’s king is weak on the flank as well as on the back rank.

If White declines the queen sacrifice by playing 3 ♔b1 Black will win with 3...♖h1+ 4 ♕e1 ♕xe4.

3 ♖xa4 ♖xa4+ 4 ♔b1 ♖h1+ 0-1

It is checkmate in two moves.

Back Rank Weakness

A back rank weakness has many of the same characteristics as a back rank mate. The threatened side can only avert mate on the back rank by making serious concessions which can then be exploited. Sometimes a threatened mate on the back rank forces the defending side to give up material to stop mate or to allow other weaknesses to develop in the position, which might then be exploited in a variety of ways.

In Larsen – Ljubojević, Milan, 1975, the game was decided as a consequence of the threats directed against Black’s weakened back rank. The entire game is given as it shows how the back rank weakness arose in actual play, and how various tactical motifs emerged at different stages of the game.

1 d4 ♘f6 2 c4 e6 3 ♘c3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 g6 6 ♘f3 ♗g7 7 e4 d6 8 ♗e2 0-0 9 ♘d2 ♖e8

This opening is the Classical Benoni. Black endeavours to gain space on the queenside, while White will castle on the kingside and aim for f2-f4, putting pressure on e5 and intending an eventual breakthrough by an advance of the e-pawn.

10 0-0 ♘bd7 11 a4 a6 12 ♔h1

White duly prepares the advance of the f-pawn with this precautionary move, removing the king from any potential checks along the a7-g1 diagonal.

12...♖b8 13 f4 c4?!

Black’s idea is to place the knight on c5, increasing pressure on White’s e4 pawn. A slower but better idea would have been to play 13...♕c7, creating more tactical chances after the c5-c4 advance.

14 e5

Annotations by Unzicker suggest that Black might stand slightly better after 14 ♗xc4. He gives 14...♘c5 15 ♕f3 (15 e5 dxe5 16 fxe5 ♖xe5 17 ♘f3) 15...♗g4 16 ♕g3 b5 17 axb5 axb5 18 ♗xb5 (18 e5!) 18...♘cxe4! 19 ♘dxe4 ♘xe4 20 ♕xg4 ♖xb5! 21 ♘xe4 (21 ♘xb5? ♘f2+ 22 ♖xf2 ♖e1+ 23 ♖f1 ♖xf1#) 21...♖xe4.

14...dxe5 15 ♘xc4 b5 16 axb5 axb5

17 ♘xe5

Better for White was 17 ♘d6! ♖e7 18 ♘xc8 ♖xc8 19 ♗xb5.

17...b4! 18 ♘b5

Black had offered a tempting sacrifice which White either missed or purposely declined. A very interesting continuation would have arisen after 18 ♘c6 bxc3 19 ♘xd8 cxb2 20 ♗xb2 ♖xb2 21 ♗f3 ♖xd8 reaching an unclear position with chances for both sides.

18...♘xe5 19 fxe5 ♖xe5 20 ♗f4 ♘xd5

21 ♗c4

White’s knight would be badly misplaced after 21 ♗xe5 ♗xe5 22 ♗c4 ♕h4 23 h3 ♕xc4∓.

21...♗e6 22 ♗xe5 ♗xe5

Black has an extra pawn but is the exchange down. The active centralisation of the bishops and the knight offers good compensation for this slight material deficit and in fact Black’s position is superior. White’s king is tucked away nicely in the corner, but the minor pieces do not provide much support for protection of the castled position. Black’s queen can access the kingside via h4, whereupon a mate threat on h2 already appears, along with a double attack on the unguarded bishop on c4.

As will soon be evident, a back rank weakness is beginning to form and this will become even more significant as Black’s attack develops over the next few moves.

23 ♕e2

This move serves two purposes – guarding the bishop on c4 and attacking Black’s bishop on e5.

Black would have had a winning advantage after 23 ♘d4?! ♘e3! 24 ♘xe6 ♕h4 25 g3 ♕xc4.

23...♕g5

24 ♗xd5?

Much better for White was 24 g3 as both g2 and h2 are very weak. 24 g3 would give the king an escape square from the back rank on g2 and provide some protection against possible threats along the b8-h2 diagonal. However it would also expose White’s king to attack along the a8-h1 diagonal. Such is chess, where positional compromises are sometimes required.

White is now in serious trouble. This is a critical point in the game. It is important for players to sense situations where tactics are emerging on the board.

24...♗xd5

25 ♖a5

White is overloaded as both the weak g2 square and the knight on b5 must be guarded. 25 ♖ae1? would allow Black to create a diversion by playing 25...♖xb5 when White’s queen would be unable to recapture the rook because of 26 ♕xb5 ♕xg2#.

One possible try was 25 ♖f2 ♖xb5 26 ♕xb5 ♕h5 27 h3 ♕xh3+ 28 ♔g1 when after the cunning 28...♕h5 White must watch out for the trap 29 ♕xd5 ♗h2+ losing the queen to a discovered check. Instead White could play 29 ♕d3, and would still be winning after 29...♕h2+ 30 ♔f1 ♕h1+ 31 ♔e2 ♕xa1 32 ♕xd5 ♕xb2+ 33 ♔e3 ♕c3+.

25...♖c8 26 ♘a7 ♕h4!

27 ♕xe5

Black’s last move involved some very interesting tactics. It might appear as if the bishop on e5 was left unprotected by accident. Players should be particularly wary of such ‘gifts’ as they might contain venom.

After 27 h3 mate would have followed with 27...♕xh3+ 28 ♔g1 ♗d4+ 29 ♖f2 ♕xg2#.

Now the back rank weakness is evident and Black exploits this by means of a diversion.

27...♕f2! 28 ♖g1

It appears as if White has managed to defend successfully. Capturing White’s queen would have been a mistake, allowing a back rank mate: 28 ♖xf2 ♖c1+ 29 ♕e1 ♖xe1+ 30 ♖f1 ♖xf1#.

28...♕xg2+! 29 ♖xg2 ♖c1+ 0-1

The queen sacrifice has proved decisive. White’s rook is pinned by the bishop and mate follows on the back rank after 30 ♕e1 ♖xe1#.

Notice the unfortunate placement of White’s rook and knight on the a-file, away from where the critical action took place on the board. White’s defeat was ultimately determined by the inability of these pieces to participate fully in either attack or defence.

Another example of using a diversion to exploit a back rank weakness is illustrated by a game of Pillsbury, playing White against an unknown player in St. Petersburg, 1896.

Notice how Black’s queen is tied down, having to protect the e8 square in order to prevent mate by the white rook. White played 1 ♕f5! upon which Black resigned at once, because 1...♕xf5 allows 2 ♖e8# exploiting the weak back rank.

Attempting to prevent the mate leads to a crushing loss of material after a line such as 1...♕e6 2 ♖xe6 fxe6 3 ♕xe6+ ♔f8 4 ♕f5+ ♔g8 5 ♕d7 ♗f6 6 ♘xc7.

A famous example of a diversion used to exploit a back rank weakness occurred in the alleged game Adams – Torre, New Orleans, 1920.

In the following position White has pressure along the e-file due to the rook battery. Notice that if it were not for Black’s queen offering support, White would have back rank mating possibilities. What now follows is an almost surreal hunt to divert Black’s queen from its protection of e8.

1 ♕g4!

This move must have come as a surprise. White’s queen cannot be taken because of the back rank mate: 1...♕xg4 2 ♖xe8+ ♖xe8 3 ♖xe8#. Also the queen cannot go back to d8 because of the loss of material: 1...♕d8 2 ♕xc8! ♖xe2 3 ♕xd8+ ♗xd8 4 ♖xe2 and White is a whole rook ahead. Notice as well that after 1...♖xe2 2 ♕xd7 ♖xe1+ 3 ♘xe1 ♖d8 4 ♕xb7 White is winning. Black’s only remaining option is to move the queen along the a4-e8 diagonal, maintaining protection of the e8 square.

1...♕b5 2 ♕c4!

Again Black cannot take the queen either way without leaving the back rank unprotected. If 2...♖xc4 3 ♖xe8+ ♕xe8 4 ♖xe8# or 2...♕xc4 3 ♖xe8+ ♖xe8 4 ♖xe8#.

2...♕d7 3 ♕c7!

There is humour in the sheer logic of chess. White is doing everything possible to give away the queen but Black must continue to reject its capture. White continues to pursue a similar theme for the next few moves, until Black’s queen runs out of places to hide. Either 3...♕xc7 or 3...♖xc7 allow White to mate with 4 ♖xe8+.

3...♕b5 4 a4 ♕xa4 5 ♖e4

White now offers a rook to exploit the opponent’s overloaded pieces. Neither White’s queen nor rook may be taken: 5...♖xe4 6 ♕xc8+ with a back rank mate to follow: 5...♕xe4 6 ♖xe4 ♖f8 7 ♕xa5 +-; or 5...♖xc7 6 ♖xe8+ also mating next move on the back rank.

5...♕b5 6 ♕xb7 1-0

There is nothing left for Black to do to save the game. If 6...♕xb7 (or 6...♕a4 7 ♖xa4 ♖xe1+ 8 ♘xe1+-) then White checkmates by 7 ♖xe8+ ♖xe8 8 ♖xe8#.

The game Gheorghiu – Kinnmark, played in The Hague, 1961, shows White using a diversionary tactic involving a sacrifice of the exchange to exploit a back rank weakness.

The weakness on the back rank is due to the action of the rook on the e-file and the white bishop on f5, which denies Black’s king access to the flight square on h7. Black’s undeveloped bishop on c8 also prevents the rook on a8 from co-operating with its counterpart on f8 to protect the back rank. An exchange sacrifice now gets things started.

1 ♖xd6 ♕xd6 2 ♘xf7+

This knight fork is the real point of diverting the queen first. The knight check on f7 now practically forces Black to capture the knight with the rook due to the fork on the king and queen.

2...♖xf7

Black’s back rank is now critically weakened.

3 ♖e8+

If Black responds by blocking this check with the rook, White has another diversionary tactic.

3...♖f8

Alternatively, Black could have tried to bring the queen back, but the position would be hopeless: 3...♕f8 4 ♖xf8+ ♖xf8 5 ♕d2 ♔g8 but not 5...♗xf5? because White would have 6 ♕xh6+ mating next move.

4 ♕d2!

Black’s queen is overloaded.

4...♕xd2 allows the back rank mate: 5 ♖xf8#.

Black cannot guard the rook with 4...♕f6 because of 5 ♗xf6.

An interesting example of a back rank weakness occurred in Esbjerg, 1979, in the game Castro Rojas – Sigurjonsson.

Black’s last move ♘xb4? launched a discovered attack on White’s queen along the d-file. Black had hoped to capitalise on this tactic but soon realised it was a mistake that would cost the game.

1 ♕xd8+! ♗xd8

Recapturing with the queen would lose material because of the hanging knight on b4. 1...♕xd8 2 ♖xd8+ ♗xd8 2 axb4+-.

2 ♗xb7 1-0

White’s bishop pair is very strong. Black must give up the queen to avoid being mated by the rook on the back rank. White would then be a rook up.

One way of analysing a position is to strip away everything except the kings and pawns. Compare the following hypothetical king positions and relative king safety, momentarily disregarding what else may be on the board.

This example highlights the importance of noting important structural elements in a position, such as king safety and pawn formation, as these may play an important part in tactics or combinations. As seen here, by narrowing down the situation to just these elements, one might be able to gather important insights.

By examining only this pattern on part of the board, one can see that in situations with other material present White might be able to find a way to exploit Black’s back rank weakness.

Then, by adding the rest of the material on the board, a position from the game Najdorf – Timman, Buenos Aires, 1980, can be shown. Notice the similarities in kingside pawn structure to the previous diagram.

White noticed and exploited the back rank weakness to win material.

1 ♗d6! ♔g8 2 ♖e8 1-0

Black resigned because after 2...♔f7 3 ♖xf8+ ♔e6 4 ♗xc5 White holds on to the extra minor piece.

Here is another example, starting with only the kings and pawn formations, in which potential regions of strength and weaknesses can be identified. It is taken from the game Rubinstein – Hirschbein, Lodz, 1927.

Judging by the pawn structure, White may have a potential back rank weakness. The f2 and h2 squares may also be potentially weak. Otherwise, this is one of the safest kingside formations available after White has castled kingside.

White is a pawn down. A minority attack might be a longer term strategy for White to pursue, trading off two queenside pawns then attacking the remaining one.

Black’s kingside pawn structure also shows potential weaknesses. The h6 pawn may be particularly weak and might eventually have to be advanced to h5.

The f7 pawn may be a potential weakness as well. The f6 square is a hole that might allow an enemy infiltration on the kingside.

There may be a potential weakness for Black along the a1-h8 diagonal, as the protective dark-squared bishop has been exchanged.

The d5 square is a potential outpost for Black. White could possibly undermine that outpost by advancing the e-pawn to e4.

On the queenside Black might be able to obtain a passed pawn by exchanging or eliminating the two white queenside pawns.

It appears that Black is safer against back rank threats, but this is an illusion, particularly if White controls the a1-h8 diagonal with the queen or bishop.

Having gleaned all of this information from the pawn structure and the relative king safety, consider the further elements that become noticeable when the other pieces are added to the board.

With the inclusion of the other pieces several other important things become apparent. Black’s bishop on c8 has not been developed. As a result Black’s rooks are not yet working together.

White’s knight has two possibly great squares on d6 and especially f6, where a potentially deadly knight fork might be delivered. White’s queen has control of the a1-h8 diagonal. In the absence of the king’s bishop, controlling the dark squares, Black has a weak dark square complex, particularly on the kingside.

White’s queen and rook serve as a battery on the c-file. The rook on d1 is very active on the open d-file. The exchange sacrifice on d7 is a potentially serious tactical threat and indeed White began with 1 ♖xd7!.

Now Black cannot recapture with the queen because of a family check: 1...♕xd7? 2 ♘f6+ ♔f8 3 ♘xd7+ ♗xd7 4 ♗xg6! when Black is in serious trouble, e.g. 4...fxg6?! 5 ♕f6+ ♔g8 6 ♕xg6+ ♔f8 7 ♕f6+ ♔g8 8 ♖c4+-.

1...♗xd7

2 ♘f6+

The exchange sacrifice has removed one of the defenders of the f6 square, thereby enabling this knight check. The key point to note is that Black’s king will be diverted to f8, creating a back rank weakness.

2...♔f8

The king was forced to move to f8 because of the discovered check: 2...♔h8? 3 ♘d5+ e5 4 ♘xe7 ♖xe7 5 ♕b4+- or the deadly double check after 2...♔g7? 3 ♘xe8+ ♔g8 (3...♔f8 4 ♕h8#) 4 ♕g7#.

White now concludes the game abruptly.

3 ♘d5! 1-0

Black resigned because of 3...e5 4 ♘xe7 winning the queen, while 3...exd5 or 3...cxd5 expose the back rank weakness by 4 ♕h8#.

Here’s another beautiful example of how a back rank weakness can be exploited.

In Capablanca – Rossolimo, Paris, 1938, the following position was reached.

White has just played the bishop from a6 to d3, denying the black king the flight square on h7 and introducing a discovered attack on the rook at a8.

The back rank weakness is paralysing. Black will have to lose a piece to avoid the threatened mate.

1...♖d8 2 ♖xe5 1-0

If Black had tried 1...♖e8 then White could have still played 2 ♖xe5 with impunity. Black could not recapture the rook because of the back rank weakness. 2...♖xe5 3 ♖a8+ leads to mate.

Alternative defences were equally inadequate. 1...♖ab8 2 ♖xe5 and 1...♖bb8 2 ♖xa8 ♖xa8 3 ♖xe5 both lose the knight on e5.

Battery

A battery involves tactical formations that allow two or more pieces to operate on a file, rank, or diagonal. Line acting pieces – queens, rooks and bishops – are typically involved. The strength and synergy of the mutually protective action of the pieces involved in a battery allows for tactical possibilities.

For example, in the next position from David – Seitan, Romania, 1956, White has two active batteries.

The rooks act together, forming a battery on the f-file. The bishop and queen also form a battery along the b1-h7 diagonal.

Note that in this second battery, if the queen is in front of the bishop on the diagonal, different tactical chances arise compared to having the bishop in front of the queen.

In the present position, the tactical opportunities existing along the b1-h7 diagonal offer exciting winning prospects. Black’s queen is currently preventing mate on h7 so diverting this piece would allow the mate to be delivered.

1 ♖1f6

The move serves two important purposes – to weaken Black’s king position and to divert Black’s queen.

1...gxf6

Had Black chosen to move the queen, the following possibility may have arisen: 1...♕h5 (The queen must remain on the h-file since 1...♕g5? 2 ♕h7#.) 2 ♖xg7+ ♔xg7 3 ♖g6+ ♔h8 (3...♔f8 4 ♕f2+ ♔e7 5 ♖g7+ ♕f7 6 ♕xf7#) 4 ♕d2 threatening 5 ♖h6+.

White next uses the power of the battery to divert the queen from the h-file.

2 ♖h7 ♕g5

Now the battery is unleashed with the offer of a rook sacrifice.

3 ♖h8+

Black declines the offered rook in an effort to prolong the game. 3...♔xh8 allows an immediate mate by 4 ♕h7#.

3...♔f7

White’s queen now infiltrates.

4 ♕h7+ 1-0

Exploiting the tactical power of the battery was the key to winning. The game might have continued 4...♕g7 5 ♗g6+ ♔e7 6 ♕xg7#.

Tactics can be used to undermine a battery, reducing its power. A rook battery proved to be just such a liability in Johannessen – Vouldis, Athens, 2003.

White has a rook battery on the a-file and it will be activated if White captures the b-pawn with axb6. White’s other positional asset is the knight on b5, as it is applying pressure against Black’s weak c-pawn. White’s dark-squared bishop is ready to liquidate the annoying knight on h4.

Black’s key asset is the pin on the g-file. The rook and knight are both targeting g2. Black’s bishop is weak, unable to do anything significant right now.

1...♕xh3

The pin on the g-file prevents White from capturing the queen and so another attacker is staring down at the pinned bishop on g2. The attack on the pinned piece both diagonally and along the file is sometimes referred to as a crossfire. White has to reduce the pressure exerted by this pin at once, to avoid material loss.

2 ♗xh4 ♕xh4

This is a much better move than 2...♖xa5?! after which White would be able to generate strong counter-play by 3 ♕e2 ♖xa2 4 ♖xa2 ♕xh4 5 ♘xc7, mainly because of Black’s bad bishop and weak b- and d-pawns.

3 axb6

White has suddenly activated the rook battery on the a-file and the advanced pawn, now on b6, has potentially become very dangerous. Black cannot recapture that pawn on the next move because of the battery on the a-file.

Black now has the opportunity to undermine White’s rook battery.

3...♖xg2+ 0-1

White does not have an adequate response. Capturing the rook with the king leads to a quick mate: 4 ♔xg2 ♖g8+ 5 ♔f1 ♕h1+ 6 ♔e2 ♖g2#.

Capturing with the rook results in a loss of material: 4 ♖xg2 ♖xa1+ and the queen has to return to f1 to block the check. After 5 ♕f1 ♖xf1+ 6 ♔xf1 ♕h1+ 7 ♔f2 cxb6∓ Black’s d-pawn is very weak but that alone will not be sufficient for White to trigger a central pawn roller. Black’s bishop is bad but for the time being it will serve an important defensive role until the position has been simplified.

A very powerful type of battery, dubbed ‘Alekhine’s gun’, became well known after a game between Alekhine and Nimzowitsch in San Remo, 1930. The formation involves placing the queen behind a rook battery, forming a type of battering ram.

White played 1 ♕c1 producing the Alekhine’s gun battery formation. The knight on c6 is pinned. Moving the knight would expose the queen to attack by the bishop and the c7 rook to the battery along the c-file. All of Black’s pieces are tied down to the defence of the knight on c6, so Black attempts to increase the protection of this piece.

1...♖bc8

White is attacking the knight on c6 four times, while Black is defending that square the same number of times. Therefore no combination to win material is yet playable here. Such an opportunity may arise in certain cases, e.g. where a sequence of captures allows the attacking side to exploit tactics and win material. Instead, White plays a move that threatens a pawn advance to b5.

2 ♗a4

With the white pawn on b5 and the bishop behind it on a4, White would be able to introduce one more attacker against the knight on the c-file. Black tries to stop this threat.

2...b5

Continuing logically, White will now capture the pawn and then proceed to restore the threat.

3 ♗xb5

White threatens to play the bishop back to a4 and advance the b-pawn to b5.

Black’s last hope is to bring up the king in order to support the defence.

3...♔e8

Now a critical situation has been reached.

4 ♗a4 ♔d8 5 h4 h5 6 ♔h2 g6

7 g3 1-0

Black is in zugzwang. Any move for Black will only make the situation worse. 8 b5 is coming. There is nothing that Black can do to prevent the loss of material. The pin on the c6 knight has proved to be decisive. Instead of rushing ahead with the attack, White has prepared it slowly and deliberately, building up the pressure until Black was completely tied up and unable to do anything useful to free up the position.

Bind

A bind is a strong grip on a position, usually created by one or more advanced pawns. It is also sometimes called a squeeze or a clamp. It can claim an advantage in space or have a restricting effect, tying the opponent down. A bind can have both short term tactical consequences and longer term strategic implications. Sometimes a bind can be established early in the opening. One well known example is the Maróczy Bind, named after the Hungarian player Géza Maróczy. The idea for White is to advance both the c- and e-pawns to gain a strong grip on d5.

This bind can be created in several different openings. Most commonly, but not exclusively, it arises in some variations of the Sicilian Defence. Here is an example of the Maróczy Bind against the Taimanov Variation.

1 e4 c5 2 ♘f3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 ♘xd4 ♘c6 5 ♘b5 d6 6 c4

The bind discourages Black from playing the freeing move d6-d5 in the near future, thereby creating tension in the centre. Based on results in actual play, statistically both sides have roughly equal winning chances from this position. What is important is that players should assess how comfortable they would feel playing this position from either side of the board and whether they should try steering the game toward or away from it.

Binds can be used with other tactical motifs. Here is an example from the Sicilian Defence, as played in a game Adams – Williams, Canterbury, 2010.

1 e4 c5 2 ♘f3 d6 3 ♗b5+ ♗d7 4 ♗xd7+ ♕xd7 5 c4

White has established the Maróczy Bind very early, even before the usual d4 pawn push, and it will take several moves for Black to prepare the d6-d5 counter punch.

This gives White the necessary time to develop and generate other threats.

5...♘f6 6 ♘c3 g6 7 d4 cxd4 8 ♘xd4 ♗g7 9 f3 0-0 10 ♗e3 ♖c8 11 b3 e6