Find the Winning Move E-Book

Gary Lane

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

Seitenzahl: 196

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

Find the Winning Move contains hundreds of chess positions in which the reader must find the right way to deliver a winner in one, two or more moves. International Master Gary Lane uses his teaching skill and experience to present a fun but educational puzzle book that helps players develop recognition of tactical combinations. Over 400 puzzles are presented to allow players of all levels - from novices upwards - to improve their game. Hours of enjoyment and entertainment are to be gained from trying to solve these puzzles and you'll end up a better chess player at the end of it.

Leseprobe

Find the Winning Move

Gary Lane

Contents

Introduction

1 Winning in Two Moves

2 More Two Move Wins

3 Winning Combinations in Three Moves or More

4 Hall of Fame

5 White to Play and Lose

6 Black to Play and Lose

7 Knight Moves

8 The Lady Vanishes

9 Smash the Defence

10 Essential Endings

11 Classic Games

12 Chasing the King

13 Opening Surprises

14 Fantastic Moves

15 Tough Puzzles

16 The Top 30

For the Gillespie family – Marcel, Katrina, Lachlan and Scott

With thanks to Ashley Silson and Françoise Mertens for their help in providing material for the book.

Introduction

Looking at a wide variety of chess puzzles will greatly increase your knowledge of tactical tricks and traps which will then come naturally to you when playing your own games. It has been proved time and again that a heightened awareness of the possibility of a combination in any given position will make it far easier for you to identify and execute a winning idea.

You will find plenty of fantastic and entertaining moves in this book but more importantly these are also practical stepping stones to victory.

The success of my first quiz book Find the Checkmate has prompted me to write this companion volume with over 400 puzzles and enough hints to help those who cannot always spot the winning move. The basic difference is that here I also give positions where someone wins a piece or other material rather than just delivering checkmate:

Horner-D.Howell Blackpool 2003

The Horner-D.Howell game shows a typical situation where Black is defending an awkward position and apparently just about holding his ground. However, White saw a tactic starting with 1 ♖e6 when 1...♕f8 2 ♖xe8! ♕xe8 3 ♗c6 suddenly forced Black to resign as he will end up losing a piece.

Naturally a threat of checkmate may also be serious enough for a player to have to surrender material and this area of the game is equally well covered in the book.

Brynell-Hebden Oslo 2004

Endings too can provide many surprising tactical opportunities. In this particular case, Black wins quickly by 1...♖f5+ 2 ♘g5 ♖f6 when to avert 3...♖h6 mate he must play 3 ♘e4 allowing 3...♖h6+ 4 ♔g5 ♘f3+ and White’s rook will have to leave the board.

Blunders and Brilliancies

I have made an effort to provide rather different chapter headings from those used in traditional puzzle books which usually catalogue such standard themes as pins, skewers, forks, etc. However my approach required quite a bit of research as when I looked for enough positions to include in The Hall of Fame. On the other hand there was no shortage of embarrassing episodes to fill the White to Play and Lose chapter several times over. The following curious example caught my eye:

Emms-Ryan Isle of Man 2003

Black was happy to draw with a grandmaster and quickly repeated moves with 1...♕h4+ 2 ♖h3 ♕f4+ 3 ♖hg3 ♕h4+. However, the audience watching on the Internet flooded the webmaster with complaints that the position must be wrong because White is completely lost. John Emms was so cool I saw him strolling around the tournament room to fool his opponent into thinking that repetition was the sensible choice. In fact, 1...♖f3! is a winner due to the threat of 2...♕h4+ 3 ♔g1 ♖xg3 while 2...♕g6 allows 2...♕h4+ 3 ♔g1 ♖f1 mate.

Checkmate

It is possible to hone your checkmating skills by looking at numerous examples and searching for an appropriate theme. A spectacular checkmate often has a simple key attacking idea which can be copied in your own games.

Tate-D.Coleman World Open, Philadelphia 1993

White spots a tactic to force mate: 1 ♘xf7+! and Black resigned rather than witness 1...♖xf7 2 ♖d8+ ♗e8 3 ♖xe8+ ♖f8 4 ♖xf8 mate.

This idea of rook and knight joining forces against a king stuck in the corner has been the inspiration for many a fine finish.

Bauer-Kortschnoi Enghien les Bains 2003

Naturally, White was aware of the rook and knight mate so he was happy to force this position which allowed him to win in style with 1 ♕d6! when Black resigned rather than face 1...♕xd6 2 ♘f7 mate, 1...fxe5 2 ♕f6 mate and 1...♖f8 2 ♕xc7 winning easily.

Advice for Chess Parents, Coaches and Improving Players

I have included a fun guide to test your playing strength. 10 points are awarded for each correct solution and you can add up your total at the end of each chapter. An hour should be enough to test your chess ability on the chapters with 25 puzzles and 15 minutes more for those containing a further 5 puzzles. Then you will discover whether you are a future champion or should give up chess! Probably the best results are to be gained by using the book for entertainment while repeatedly going over the various puzzles and absorbing the attacking ideas.

Warning

5 points will be deducted if you have to use the hints given in the Give Us A Clue pages.

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.

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 final chapter you will be able to compare yourself with grandmasters and the world number one Garry Kasparov.

1 Winning in Two Moves

It sounds so easy to win in two moves but I could show you many games where short combinations are overlooked by experienced players. Their usual excuse is that they were not looking for a combination or that these things are easier to see in a puzzle book when you know there is a trick ready and waiting. Though this is true, if you look at a large number of two move wins then some of them will surely turn up in your tournament games and you will be able to finish in style.

I.Jamieson-S.Peters Paignton 2003Black to move

White offers an exchange of queens in order to obtain a good ending but thereby sets himself up for a powerful deflection. After 1...♖d1+ White resigned because 2 ♖xd1 allows 2...♕xc3 winning the queen.

This idea of deflecting a piece can work wonders if you are always on the look out for it:

Mordue-Hebden British Team Championship (4NCL) 2000Black to move

White has just played ♗d3 but before Black could reply he astonished all the spectators by resigning. This is because he saw 1...♖xd3 when the queen is deflected from its defence of the queen’s rook and after 2 ♕xd3 ♕xc1+ Black is left with a clear advantage.

So when you forcibly remove an enemy piece from its defence of another piece or even a critical square—this procedure is termed a deflection.

The theme of deflection is not only instrumental in winning material but can just as easily be exploited to deliver a spectacular checkmate:

Cvitan-Moser Oberwart 2003White to move

Here material is equal but the crucial difference is that the white queen is a monster in the attack. The idea of deflection prompted White to play 1 ♖e8+!

when Black resigned rather than face 1...♕xe8 2 ♕xf6 mate or 1...♗xe8 2 ♕g8 mate.

It should be clear by now that knowledge of various two move combinations can prove very useful.

1

Carr-Heal Boston 2001White to move

In an effort to dampen the attack Black offers to exchange bishops. Why is this a useless idea?

2

Van de Oudeweetering-Ernst Leeuwarden 2004Black to move

White has just played ♕f3 pinning the rook. Though this looks good, Black gave his opponent cause to regret his choice by delivering a swift mating attack. How?

3

Canfell-Wohl Sydney 1990White to move

The position looks very complicated and Black has just played ...♘f6-e4 to increase his attack. How did White exploit this?

4

W.Taylor-Shelley Wincanton 2004White to move

This middlegame position looks harmless and Black is offering a queen exchange to further reduce any attacking options. But how did White now punish his opponent?

5

Hillarp Persson-Grosse Frintrop Recklinghausen 2001White to move

Tiger Hillarp Persson was once described in a newspaper as “The James Dean of Swedish chess” due to his maverick style on and off the board. Here he forces mate. How?

6

Young-Burt British Team Champ (4NCL) 2004White to move

White’s major pieces are gathering like vultures in the vicinity of the black king. How did he make the most of this?

7

Burmakin-Kessler Bad Wiessee 2003White to move

There are lots of checks available for White but which one leads to the quickest checkmate?

8

Ashby-Menadue Torbay 1983White to move

Jeremy Menadue is a respected chess coach who no doubt tells his pupils that an extra queen is enough to win! But there are exceptions as he knows from bitter experience. What happened next?

9

Tregubov-Lalic Saint Vincent 2000White to move

There is no time for Black to count the pieces to see how much he is ahead because mate is imminent. How did White finish the job?

10

Allen-Solomon Australian Open 1999White to move

The black king’s protective pawn barrier has been annihilated. How did the talented Australian now deliver checkmate?

11

D.Gurevich-Scheffer Boston 1988Black to move

The black knight has to retreat and it seems any square will do. In fact 1...♘d7 was played but can you see White’s winning tactic?

12

Palliser-Rety Newport 2001White to move

Black is worried about the advance of the a-pawn so has just played ...♖e7-a7 to attack it. Can you now see a decisive move for White?

13

Prasca-Aderito Bled Olympiad 2002White to move

Black knows he is going to lose because he is a piece down. However being mated in only two more moves still came as quite a shock.

14

Scuderi-Skembris Montecatini Terme 2004White to move

White is faced with an army of pieces hell bent on attacking so he tried 1 f3 to slow down the onslaught. What is Black’s winning continuation?

15

Ganguly-Ventkatesh Indian Championship 2003White to move

Black’s pieces are disorganised and the position seems ripe for a decisive combination. How did White force mate?

16

Hempson-Ponter Paignton 2001Black to move

Black was not worried about the passed pawn and calmly played 1...♗g5. Why should he have been more frightened of White’s response?

17

N.Lane-Escribano Gosford 2001White to move

Black appears to have weathered the storm and still hopes for a swindle. How did White destroy such wishful thinking?

18

Gonzalez Garcia-Svidler Linares Open 1994Black to move

Black has been too busy pursuing the attack to recapture the bishop on d5. How did he now win?

19

Balogh-Gyimesi Miskolc 2004White to move

White has lots of good looking moves available but only one leads to mate in two. What was it?

20

Tukmakov-Hecimovic Pula 2000Black to move

White seems to be doing well but he has made the crucial mistake of underestimating his much lower rated opponent. How did Black cause an upset?

Give Us A Clue

1 The black queen is defending the bishop so force it to move.

2 It is mate in two.

3 A pawn move is the answer.

4 Exchange the queens and then win a piece.

5 Deflect the bishop on g7.

6 Check with the queen!

7 The first check is with the bishop.

8 Black is threatening to take the rook on f1 so stop that by retreating a piece.

9 A discovered check is needed.

10 Promote the pawn.

11 Think of a bishop move.

12 Move the rook

13 Sacrifice the rook.

14 Attack the h-pawn with the rook.

15 It is time for an amazing queen move.

16 Time for deflection by advancing the h-pawn.

17 Move the queen.

18 A rook check will force mate.

19 The first move is a knight check.

20 Attack with the knight.

Solutions

1 1 ♘e2 wins because if the queen retreats then 2 ♗xc4. Black was so shocked he played 1...♕c5? and after 2 ♖xc5 he resigned.

2 1...♕a1+ and White resigned in view of 2 ♔d2 ♕e1 mate.

3 1 g4! (to deflect the queen from its defence of the knight on d7) when Black struggled on in a lost position after 1...♖xg4+ 2 hxg4 ♕xg4+3 ♔h1.

4 1 ♕xb4 ♘xb4 2 ♘xg6 wins because the f-pawn is pinned by the white bishop on c4.

5 1 ♖xh6+! and Black resigned due to 1...♗xh6 2 ♕h7 mate or 1...♔g8 2 ♕f7 mate.

6 1 ♕h7+ ♖xh7 2 ♖xh7 mate.

7 1 ♗f3+ and Black resigned because of 1...♔h3 2 ♖h6 mate or 1...♔g5 2 h4 mate. Deduct 5 points for 1 h3+ ♔h5 2 ♗f3+ ♔g5 3 h4 mate because this chapter is about winning in two moves.

8 1 ♗c1! and Black resigned due to the threat of 2 ♕h8 mate. 1 ♖d1 fails to impress after 1...gxh6! 2 ♕g6+ ♗g7 and it will be White who resigns.

9 1 ♘d8+! (1 ♘g5+ is good but there is no mate in two) and Black resigned in view of 1...♔h8 2 ♖f8 mate or even 1...♕e6 2 ♖f8 mate.

10 1 f8=♕+ (Curiously, promoting to a knight also wins but it takes a little longer: 1 f8=♘+ ♔g8 2 ♕f7+ ♔h8 3 ♘g6+ ♖xg6 4 ♕h7 mate) 1...♔xf8 2 ♕f7 mate.

11 After 1...♘d7 White forced resignation by 2 ♗g4 since 2...♕e4 or 2...♕f7 is met by 3 ♗xd7 winning.

12 1 ♖xc6! and Black resigned because 1...♕xc6 allows 2 ♕xa7+ winning.

13 1 ♖xh6+ and Black resigned due to 1...gxh6 2 ♕e5 mate.

14 After 1 f3 Black played 1...♖g3! and White resigned because there is no defence to 2...♕xh3 mate.

15 1 ♕d8+! and Black resigned rather than see 1...♖xd8 2 ♘c7 mate. 1 ♘c7+ ♖xc7 2 ♕xc7 f6 is also good for White but I wanted mate so no points awarded.

16 After 1...♗g5 White played 2 h7 forcing resignation as the rook needs to cover the promotion square by 2...♖f8 or 2...♖h8, after which comes 3 ♗xg5 winning a piece.

17 1 ♕xh6+ and Black resigned due to 1...♔g8 2 ♕h7 mate.

18 1...♖e2+ and White resigned because of 2 ♔f1 ♕xd1 mate.

19 1 ♘d4+ and Black resigned as all is lost upon 1...♔e5 2 ♖e6 mate or 1...♔e4 2 ♖e6 mate.

20 1...♘e1! and White resigned because of the threat 2...♕xg2 mate. On 2 ♖xe1 comes the deadly 2...♕xe1+ 3 ♗f1 ♕xf1 mate, while 2 ♗d3 allows 2...♕xb2 winning easily.

Check Your Rating

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

180-200

2400 International Master

160-180

2300 FIDE Master

140-160

2200 US Master

120-140

2000 Internationally rated player

90-120

1800 Class A player/Good Club player

60-90

1600 Improving player

30-60

1000 Still learning so you need to read the chapter again.

0-30

If at first you don’t succeed take the hint and give up chess!

2 More Two Move Wins

The chapter looks at more two move wins in an effort to reinforce some ideas and themes. It will certainly pay off reminding yourself of those basic tactics that continue to catch people out.

For instance:

Geenen-Conan Drancy 2003

It seems that the attack on the h-file has come to halt because of the blockading black knight. However, 1 ♖xh4! wins because the rook cannot be taken due to the pin along the rank: 1...gxh4 2 ♕xa5 would capture the queen.

I admit this is all fairly obvious but never forget that awareness of such moves promotes quick and easy decision-making during play. Here are two more positions where White can make a snap judgement:

Crouch-Bulbeck Bradford 2002

White played 1 ♕xb4 and Black promptly resigned because 1...cxb4 2 ♖xc7 leaves White a piece up.

Zuniga-Walsh Lindsborg 2002

After 1 c5 Black sensed no danger and played 1 dxc5? only to be hit by 2 ♖xf4! when Black resigned because 2...exf4 3 ♖xe7+ gains a winning advantage.

1

Bergmans-Praet Belgian Team Championship 2004Black to move

The white king’s journey was intended to support the advance of the pawns, but it has backfired. How can Black mate?

2

Martin del Campo-Garcia Correa Merida 2003White to move

Black has no sense of danger and misses a standard tactical trick. Can you do better and see what White played?

3

Manthe-Alexopoulos Philadelphia 1993Black to move

It has to be admitted that Black is spoilt for choice when it comes to good continuations. Which move leads to mate in two?

4

Goloshchapov-Harich Le Touquet 2003White to move

The black king looks rather miserable being protected only by the bishop. How can White wrap up the game?

5

Zimina-Shumiakina Rethymno 2003White to move

How did White power his way through in this seemingly docile position?

6

Germann-Berg East Parsippany 2004Black to move

White is still harbouring hopes of swindling a draw. It is time for Black to torpedo such thoughts with a mating combination. How?

7

Schwartzman-Komarov Metz 1994White to move

If only it were Black to move he could win by taking on g2. Instead White gave him no chance and forced mate. How?

8

Woodfruff-Finnegan Exmouth 2003White to move

Black has just played ♕f7 to pin the rook on d5. How can White turn this to his advantage and storm to victory?

9

Meier-Posch Vienna 2003Black to move

White has an extra piece but he would gladly give it back to make his king safe. How can Black force mate?

10

Depasquale-T.Le Drouin 2004Black to move

Here Black had a miserable choice between 1...♖g8 and 1...♗d4. He chose the latter but was forced to resign almost at once. What is wrong with both of these moves?

11

Lane-Ashby Torbay 1982White to move

The threat of checkmate by Black looks strong but I had already spotted a thunderbolt reply. What did I play?

12

Cavalcanti-Lima Brazilian Championship 2004Black to move

It looks complicated but now Black launched his prepared attack to take White completely by surprise. What happened?

13

Ascic-Masirevic Vinkovci 2004White to move

The black king is boxed in but he is relying on his b7 pawn being well protected. However White is able to prove that his opponent’s defensive policy is flawed—how does he win immediately?

14

Mehdi-Roberts Gibraltar 2004White to move

There are plenty of checks available but only one leads to mate in two. Which one?

15

Turvey-Bhatia British Team Championship 1996Black to move

Black can play a discovered check but White is poised to take the bishop with the rook. How did Black surprise her opponent?

16

J.H.Hodgson-Rety Paignton 2003White to move

Black’s king is stuck in the middle of the board and looking miserable. How can White finish the game?

17

Barton-Sherwin Frome 2002Black to move

The American playing Black is easily winning and now he concluded smartly with a snap two move mate. How did he do it?

18

Gocheva-Velcheva Sofia 2004White to move

The rook on g7 is pinned by the white queen, which foreshadows Black’s demise. How did White win?

19

I.Annetts-Ehtesham Exmouth 2003White to move

In this quiet position Black has just moved his queen’s knight and is looking forward to a long manoeuvring game. How did the direct approach allow White to win?

20

Chambers-Donaldson Stillwater 2001Black to move

Black has been on top throughout the game. How can he now finish with mate?

Give Us A Clue

1 Start with a queen check.

2 A discovered attack is the key to the solution.

3 Try a startling queen move.

4 A rook sacrifice wins.

5 A dramatic queen move is needed.

6 Time to move the bishop.

7 A queen check is a step in the right direction.

8 White has to offer to give his queen away.

9 The second move is ♗f2 mate.

10 When the white rook moves it reveals an attack against the black queen.

11 Sacrifice a rook.

12 Now is the time to give away the queen.

13 A stunning queen move wins.

14 Look for a queen check.

15 Only one knight move leads to mate in two.

16 A queen check is required.

17 The escape square for the king is on c2 so block it.

18 A rook check puts White on course for mate.

19 A pawn move is sufficient.

20 Move the knight on d3.

Solutions

1 1...♕a6+ 2 ♔b8 ♗d6 mate. Instead 1...♕c6+ 2 ♔a7 ♗c5+ eventually leads to mate but still no points for that option!

2 1 ♘d5! winning because 1...♕xd2 allows 2 ♘xe7 mate. Black tried 1...♕xd5 but 2 ♗xd5 leaves a clear material advantage.

3 1...♕c1+! 2 ♖xc1 ♘d2 mate.

4 1 ♖h8+ and Black resigned due to 1...♗xh8 2 ♖g8 mate. If 1 ♖xg7 White will eventually mate but Black can delay the inevitable with 1...♕xc2+. Therefore in this case just deduct 1 point for not being precise.

5 1 ♕xh7+ and Black resigned because she spotted 1...♔xh7 2 ♖h3 mate.

6 1...♗g3 and White resigned because 2...♖h2 mate cannot be avoided.

7 1 ♕b7+ ♔d7 2 ♘f5 mate.

8 1 ♖xd7! winning because 1...♕xa2 2 ♖e8 is decisive.

9 1...♕g1+ 2 ♖f1 ♗f2 mate.

10 1...♗d4 2 ♖g8+ ♖xg8 3 ♕xh5 or if 1...♖g8 then 2 ♖xg7 ♕xf7 (2...♖xg7 3 ♕xh5) 3 ♖xf7 wins.

11 1 ♖xa8+! and Black resigned because of 1...♗a8 2 ♕a7 mate. Instead, 1 ♖xb7+ ♔xb7 2 ♕a7+ ♔c6 3 ♕a4+ ♔d6 4 ♕xd4+ ♔c6 5 ♕a4+ with a perpetual check and thus no points.

12 1...♕g1+ and White resigned which is hardly surprising in view of 2 ♖xg1 (2 ♘xg1 ♘f2 mate) 2...♘f2 mate.

13 1 ♕xa7+ ♔xa7 2 ♖a3 mate.

14 1 ♕e6+ ♔f4 2 ♖f7 mate although 2 ♖c4 is also mate. Instead 1 ♕d7+ ♔e5 2 ♕e6+ leads to mate in three not two.

15 1...♘g3+ 2 ♔g1 ♕g2 mate. Also 1...♘f2+ 2 ♔h2 ♘g4+ wins but it is not mate so no points.

16 1 ♕b8+ and Black resigned due to 1...♔d7 2 ♖c7 mate.

17 1...c2+ 2 ♕xc2 ♕a1 mate.

18 1 ♖