Find the Checkmate E-Book

Gary Lane

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

Seitenzahl: 179

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

This title, suitable for both novices and children, allows readers to find the right way to deliver a checkmate in one, two or more moves from hundreds of positions provided by the author. By tackling these puzzles, they can begin to think like chessplayers and visualize, calculate and advance. 

Leseprobe

Find the Checkmate

Gary Lane

Contents

Introduction

1 One Move Wonders

2 Celebrities

3 Checkmate in 2

4 More Checkmates in 2

5 Checkmate in 3 or more

6 Blunders and Brilliancies

7 Old Favourites

8 Back Rank Checkmates

9 Beating the Castled King

10 Attacking Chess

11 Beat the World Champions

12 Storming the King

13 Winning Endgames

14 The King Hunt

15 The Ultimate Test

Introduction

The easiest way to win more games of chess is to improve your tactical skills so you can spot tricks and traps in all sorts of positions. Puzzle books are particularly useful in familiarising players with the various combinational patterns, thus making it easier to discover ways of gaining material or delivering checkmate. Of course it is simpler to solve a puzzle where you know that there is a brilliant combination waiting to be played than to find a winning move during a game where there is nobody to whisper in your ear ‘Puzzle!’ every time a tactical possibility arises.

Therefore it is necessary to sharpen your skills by constant practice in solving tactical positions and this book will help you do just that.

Checkmate

I noticed when compiling the puzzles that it is not uncommon in the heat of battle for strong players to miss checkmates. Nevertheless studying a large number of sharp, tactical positions will help you instinctively to recognise any latent mating patterns and reward you with many victories.

Sliwa-Doda Lodz 1967

In this game Black has just played ...g2 to which White now responded with 1 ♖1f2. But the question is: where is the mate?

Well, first, let’s take a look at another position for some inspiration.

Gavriel-Crouch Sutton 1999

Here White played 1 ♕xh7+! and Black resigned in view of 1...♖xh7 2 ♖xh7 mate. And, after seeing this example, it will be easy to work out that the Sliwa-Doda game could have finished spectacularly with 1 ♕xh7+ ♖xh7 2 ♖xh7 mate. Clear evidence that a good knowledge of mating patterns can help you to win games!

Calculating forcing lines in puzzles can certainly improve your performance. For instance, even this old example has an instructive role to play.

Fazekas-Spielmann Prague 1938

At first glance White appears to be on the verge of giving up but after 1 ♖c8+ ♔h7 2 ♖h8+!! it is Black who will lose after 2...♔xh8 3 ♕h6+ ♔g8 4 ♕xg7 mate. Now you might think that such a brilliant combination is a miracle and will never happen again—but this is not the case. The key to playing winning chess is to recognise ideas and patterns, and this can be stimulated by studying puzzles like this.

Fast forward 75 years and we have another position for you to consider.

Peredy-Malanca Budapest 2003

An amazing finish ensured that the final position appeared in numerous chess magazines. What did Black play?

The big clue lies in the previous game and I suspect you will have already detected the idea of 1...♖d1+ 2 ♔h2 ♖h1+!! when Black wins at once after 3 ♔xh1 ♕xh3+ 4 ♔g1 ♕xg2 mate.

Just a little tactical knowledge goes a long way and checkmates like this have been repeated many times. What some would consider a stroke of genius has suddenly been reduced to a standard puzzle which you are capable of solving. The more puzzles you look at the better chances you have of recognising the ideas so my tip for the top is to read this book and then read it again and again!

How The Puzzles Were Selected

I have always wanted to compile a puzzle book and when I finally got down to work I found that many instructive positions worthy of inclusion sprung to mind. However the strange thing was that some of the older examples which had inspired me as a young improving player now failed the test when analysed by computer. The software program quickly found examples where a mate in two actually took seven moves and sometimes even found a good defence so there was no mate at all! Nevertheless some of my favourites stood up well although I had to discard others that I had seen many times before. One or two old puzzles were inspired by the respected chess historian Edward Winter who always seems to be discovering obscure but extraordinary examples. In the chapter introductions I have often had occasion to highlight examples where the mating theme of an old game has been repeated many years later. And, in turn, the themes of modern puzzles will themselves be repeated again and again in the future.

Advice For Chess Parents, Coaches And Improving Players

Perhaps the best way to benefit from this book is to dip into it every now and then for pure entertainment. Or you might prefer to treat each set of positions as a test where marks are awarded, which is why at the end of each chapter I have related total scores gained to a rating performance. This may be something of a fun guide but if you score highly then that surely is an indication of talent. As a general rule I would say that 60 minutes is needed to solve the chapters with 24-25 puzzles and 75 minutes for the chapters with 40 puzzles. There are 10 points to be gained in each puzzle, 5 of which are awarded for the key first move and 5 for providing analysis comparable to that given in the solution at the end of the chapter.

Warning

5 points will be deducted if you have to use the hints given in the Give us a Clue pages. Since you may constantly look at the clues we suggest that you place a bookmark beforehand on these pages for easy reference

Check Your Rating

2400

International Master

2300

FIDE Master

2200

US Master

2000

Internationally rated player

1800

Class A player/Good Club player

1600

Improving player

1400

A player with some potential

1000

Still learning so you need to read the chapter again

0-20

You must try harder

This is the rating list that can be seen at the end of most chapters. The figures are based on FIDE (World Chess Federation) ratings and are intended as a guide to your potential. In the Ultimate Test at the end of the book you will be able to compare yourself with grandmasters and world champions such as Garry Kasparov.

Tips For The Top

1 Keep looking at the puzzles because then eventually the ideas and mating patterns will be easier for you to spot during a game.

2 The solution usually demands an exact move-order otherwise there will be no mate. This is a useful discipline when launching an attack because all too often a win can be missed by not paying attention to precise calculation when pursuing the enemy king.

3 Sometimes a mate will be a few moves further on and difficult to visualise during the actual game. However a good knowledge of mating patterns will boost your confidence when thinking ahead.

4 It is nice to win in a spectacular fashion but after you have sacrificed a piece also consider the possibility of a quiet move if this helps to weave a mating net. You don’t have to sacrifice all the time—if you do you will probably end up regretting it.

5 Do not forget that your opponent will try to put up a stout defence so it helps if the attack is of a forcing nature. But again, assess the position carefully before you sacrifice.

1 One Move Wonders

It is widely believed that masters don’t make big mistakes, but I’m not so sure. There are plenty of people who dream of finishing off a great player with a mate in one move but it never seems to happen that way in tournaments. However, there is no shortage of masters who blunder, whether this be due to time pressure, complacency or just plain bad luck. I have compiled a number of puzzles where in a seemingly uneventful position one of the players goes terribly wrong.

Joel Benjamin is one of the USA’s finest grandmasters and a top tournament player. Surely he would never make a ghastly blunder ... or would he?

Benjamin-Gufeld Honolulu 1998White to move

In trying to avoid the checks White has marched his king around the board so as to maintain winning chances. He now continued 1 ♔e5 only to be dumbfounded by the reply 1...♕e6 mate. A rare occurrence perhaps, but these things do happen so seize your opportunity if it should arise. Let’s look at another example to reinforce the idea:

To prove that even the very best in the world can self-destruct here is a second catastrophe suffered by Benjamin, this time against Gulko, in the USA Championship 2000. After the ‘reasonable-looking’ 1 ♗xe3 White had to suffer the indignity of 1...♕b2 mate!

So the message of this chapter is that good players too can go wrong ... and provide us with some entertainment in the process. But not only entertainment: such misadventures also provide a stimulus for novices to find simple checkmates themselves.

A.Ivanov-Yermolinsky USA Championship 1993White to move

White lost on time in this position but with a few seconds more on the clock what would you have played?

Grischuk-Bareev Wijk aan Zee 2003Black to move

Black has many checks but he failed to find the one that leads to an instant win. Can you do better?

Adams-Shirov Reykjavik 2003White to move

England’s Michael Adams is one of the world’s top ten players but even he can make big blunders. Here he has an extra piece but, under pressure, chose to play 1 ♗xd4. What did he overlook?

Ezat-Pogorelov Anibal Open, 2003Black to move

White is desperately checking away to try to achieve a draw, but the signs are not good. After 1...♔h3 Black shook his head in despair. Why?

Gallagher-Wohl British Team Championship 2003Black to move

Aussie Alex Wohl is struggling to salvage a draw and decides to exchange pieces with 1...♘e5. Can you see White’s next move?

Vogt-Wirthensohn Zurich 2003Black to move

There are times when the draw is so obvious that players just make a few more moves for fun. This is the case here where 1...f5 leads to a draw. But Black thought he could play anything and moved 1...♘g6. What did he miss?

Dzhumaev-Thipsay Asian Championship 2003Black to play

Black has a difficult defence and sought to exchange queens by 1...♕e7. However this did not have the desired effect...What did White do?

Rade-Plenković Split 2003White to move

White is doing well but in time-trouble decided on impulse to fork the queen and rook with 1 ♘f4. Why is this not the best move?

Shalimov-Tarlev Kharkov 2003Black to move

Black casually played 1...♖b8 and looked forward to quickly agreeing a draw. What did White do next?

Pixton-Fang Foxwoods 2003Black to move

Black has a tough ending but he wants to put up stubborn resistance and so plays 1...♔h5. However this is not the best way to fight on. Why not?

McShane-Sutovsky Reykjavik rapidplay 2003White to move

Rapidplay games tend to produce spectacular mistakes due to time-pressure. Here White can play the safe 1 ♔f3 but decided instead to grab a pawn with 1 ♔xh4. Why does this lose?

Beliavsky-Johannessen Anibal 2003White to move

White, a world class grandmaster, has been pressing for victory for some time and now plays 1 ♔f4. Black’s reply was swift and met by loud applause from the spectators. What happened?

Almasi-Berkes Hungarian Championship 2003Black to play

Black has a big advantage against one of the world’s best players and decided to offer the exchange of queens with 1...♕c4. How did White win?

Luco-Carlier Metz 1990White to move

It is not much fun being a pawn down against a strong player so White tried 1 ♗g5, defending the h-pawn. What did he miss?

Sokolov-Damljanović Sarajevo 2003Black to move

White has a mighty attack but had not even considered Black’s next move 1...e4. Why not?

Ree-Mecking Wijk aan Zee 1971White to move

Two grandmasters locked in battle ... but only one result is possible after 1 ♘f3. How did Black win?

Rohde-Benen Foxwoods 2003Black to move

Black is in big trouble and decides to grab the rook with 1...♘xa8. How did his American grandmaster opponent respond?

Peters-Lane Paignton 1997White to move

My opponent is struggling in this position but now played 1 ♕g4, which I had not considered. After a slight panic I played the winning move. What was it?

Rivas-Mednis Rome 1984White to move

After 102 moves White is still trying to win and should be commended for his persistence. However after 103 ♔g4 he must have been wondering why he had bothered. Can you see what happened next?

Mestel-Wells British Championship 1987White to move

The English grandmaster spotted a way to threaten mate with 1 ♕xf7. Why did the plan not work out as expected?

Davies-Lyrberg Wrexham 1994Black to move

Black is losing the endgame but spots a chance to recover a pawn with 1...♗xc4. Happily for White he had a good response.

Dive-Johansen Gold Coast zonal tournament, 1999Black to move

Black is a grandmaster fighting for first place in the last round of an important tournament. He decides to threaten mate with 1...♕h6. Can you see how White struck first?

Crakanthorp-Purdy NSW Championship 1935Black to move

The Australian Cecil Purdy was the first world correspondence chess champion. However here he displays a rare lapse of judgement in an over-the-board encounter by playing 1...♖xf2. What did he overlook?

Ivanov-Waitzkin New York, 1993White to move

White could play defensively but decides to snatch a pawn with 1 ♕xd4. Why did he have cause to regret this?

Give Us A Clue

1 It is time to move the queen.

2 A queen check wins.

3 There is a rook on b8 so move it!

4 Move the queen to the edge of the board.

5 Try a check on the eighth rank.

6 There is only one rook check and it wins.

7 The black queen was defending a pawn but now it can be taken.

8 Remember that the queen and rook combine well on the h-file.

9 Watch out for the white queen.

10 In endings there are plenty of attacking chances so see where the bishop can check.

11 White forgot about the black bishop.

12 The black queen finds the check that White missed.

13 Black does not control all the squares on the d-file.

14 Even a pawn can deliver checkmate.

15 What is defending the knight on h7?

16 Watch the black rook!

17 The f7 pawn is not protected.

18 Black’s control of the f-file is the deciding factor.

19 Move the black queen along the f-file.

20 The white queen is no longer protecting a pawn near his king.

21 Look for a back rank mate.

22 White dominates the f-file and that leads to mate.

23 Have a closer look at the b1-h7 diagonal

24 Black notices that the b-pawn is pinned by the bishop.

Solutions

1 1 ♕h8 mate.

2 1 ♕d3 mate.

3 1 ♖b1 mate.

4 1 ♕h4 mate.

5 1 ♕d8 mate.

6 1 ♖h5 mate.

7 1 ♕xg6 mate.

8 1...♕h1 mate.

9 1 ♕e8 mate.

10 1 ♗f7 mate.

11 1...♗e1 mate.

12 1...♕b8 mate.

13 1 ♕d7 mate.

14 1...f5 mate.

15 1 ♕xh7 mate.

16 1...♖f1 mate.

17 1...♖xf7 mate.

18 1...♕f1 mate.

19 1...♕f5 mate.

20 1...♕xb2 mate.

21 1 ♖e8 mate.

22 1 ♕xf7 mate.

23 1 ♕h7 mate.

24 1...♕a4 mate.

Check Your Rating

Points Total

10 points are available for each puzzle. Take away 5 points if you read Give Us A Clue.

230-240

You are a decent player and ready to learn more

130-230

If the masters missed the mate then so can you

100-130

Perhaps you should read Give Us A Clue next time

50-100

Keep trying and you will get better

10-40

Checkmate can be difficult to find so read the chapter again

0-10

Before you read this book you should learn to play chess

2 Celebrities

Chess is played by millions of people so it is not surprising to find that many celebrities also enjoy the game. However, it is difficult to find examples of their games because most just play for fun and no records are kept of the moves. For example singers Madonna and Sting both play but I have only been able to trace one game, which hardly helps my cause. On the other hand there are surprisingly many games attributed to the great Napoleon.

Napoleon-Madame de Remusat Malmaison Castle 1804

White mates in style with 1 ♗c4+! ♔xc4 2 ♕b3+ ♔d4 3 ♕d3 mate. Sadly, chess historians now think such encounters were fabricated years later.

Perhaps a better example is this position taken from the game Slater-Archer, London 1968.

Jeffery Archer might have sold millions of novels but it is clear why he has never written a chess book. Here ace financier and chess sponsor Jim Slater employed a neat trick with 1 ♘xe5 and won after 1...♗xd1? 2 ♗xf7+ ♔e7 3 ♘d5 mate. This combination is known as Legall’s Mate.

Can games by celebrities help you to improve? Yes they can because the same tricks occur again and again, even if in slightly different guises and positions. For instance:

In this game from the under 16 Olympiad, Kuala Lumpur 2002, Australian player Rebecca Harris played 1 ♘xe5! against Chau Kar Keung when if 1...♗xd1 then of course White wins with 2 ♗xf7+ ♔e7 3 ♘d5 mate. The game in fact went 1...♘xe5 2 ♕xh5 g6 (2...♘xc4 3 ♕b5+ c6 4 ♕xc4 is good for White) 3 ♕e2 and White remained a pawn up.

And so on to the puzzles again. Remember to bookmark the Give us a Clue pages chapter by chapter in case you need to refer to them for help when trying to solve the following puzzles.

Spassky-Bronstein Leningrad 1960White to move

This is the scene of a live chess game that opens the James Bond movie From Russia with Love. Do you have a ‘licence to kill’ or are you going to cheat by watching the DVD?

Lawson-Fowly Oxford University Champ 1975White to move

Dominic Lawson is a prominent British newspaper editor and a rather good chess player. His father Nigel is a former Chancellor of the Exchequer in the government while his glamorous sister Nigella is a celebrity chef. How does White smash his way into Black’s position to score a quick win?

Black to move

In the credits to the movie The Luzhin Defence English grandmaster Jon Speelman is named as ‘chess consultant’. He earns this distinction by composing a position which allows Luzhin a clever finish.

Bogart-Anon USA 1935White to move

Movie star Humphrey Bogart was a Hollywood tough guy appearing in classic movies such as Casablanca and The African Queen. In between filming he played chess enthusiastically and was considered a decent player.

Ashley-Kempinski Bad Wiessee 1997White to move

The world’s first Afro-Caribbean grandmaster, Maurice Ashley, is a popular TV chess commentator in the USA. Here he forces mate. How?

Paehtz-Klitschko Leipzig 2001Black to move

Boxing is one of the toughest of sports but there are fighters who play chess to keep calm before a bout. Here the Ukrainian champion Vladimir Klitschko plays 1...♗xh6. Can you spot what White did next?

Waitzkin-Pehme New York 1992White to move

The movie Searching for Bobby Fischer is a great advert for chess but what happened to its hero Josh Waitzkin? Well, he grew up to be a fine chess player. How did he now force mate?

Krabbé-De Saegher Dutch Team Championship 1996White to move

The Dutch writer Tim Krabbé has written best selling books including The Vanishing, which was made into a Hollwood movie. In his spare time he is an accomplished chess player. Can you see how he forces mate?

Kleczynski-Duchamp Paris 1924Black to play

Frenchman Marcel Duchamp was one of the pioneers of modern art. Yet he once temporarily gave up his profession to spend more time playing chess! Can you see how he forces mate in 2?

Emmerich-Moritz 1922Black to play

This is a position from the film Night Moves (1975) where Gene Hackman demonstrates how someone missed a mate. Can you do as well?

A de Musset La Regence 1849White to move