extreme chess tactics - nf6components that may be studied and practised by us all. furthermore,...

Extreme Chess Tactics

Yochanan Afek

Develop your ability to find stunning chessboard tactics

Contents Symbols

Introduction

1: Fork

2: Battery Play

3: Pinning and Unpinning

4: The Skewer

5: Deflection and Decoy

6: Trapping a Piece

7: Removing a Guard

8: Line-Opening and Line-Closing

9: Back-Rank Weakness

10: Pawn Promotion

11: Zwischenzug

12: Devious Draws: Perpetual Check

13: Devious Draws: Stalemate

14: The Ultimate Goal: Mate!

15: Combined Motifs

16: It’s Your Move!

Index of Names

Composers

Players

Copyright Information

About the Author

About Gambit Publications

About Gambit Chess Studio

Other Gambit Titles on Chess Studio and Kindle

Symbols

+ check

++ double check

x captures

# checkmate

!! brilliant move

! good move

!? interesting move

?! dubious move

? bad move

?? blunder

+– White is winning

= equal (or drawn)

–+ Black is winning

0-0 castles kingside

0-0-0 castles queenside

1-0 The game ends in a win for White

½-½ The game ends in a draw

0-1 The game ends in a win for Black

simul simultaneous display

Ch Championship

(n) nth match game

(D) see next diagram

Comm. Commendation

HM Honourable Mention

Pr. Prize

Sp. Special

Ty Tourney

JT Jubilee Tourney

MT Memorial Tourney

In each section, real-game positions appear first, followed by composed endgame studies. In the real-game positions, you are told who is to move. In the studies, it is always White to play, and you are told whether the aim is to win or to draw.

Introduction The final move of the 2016 world championship match was also its main tactical highlight. The last rapid tiebreak game was decided in grand style by a stunning blow:

White to play

Carlsen – Kariakin

4th rapid tiebreak, World Ch, New York 2016

Carlsen retained his title with the memorable double deflection 50 Qh6+!! and Kariakin threw in the towel in view of 50...Kxh6 51 Rh8# and 50...gxh6 51 Rxf7#.

Here I should humbly admit that once this position (or even a move earlier) appeared on the demonstration board it instantly rang a bell, reminding me in a flash of another episode, a more sophisticated one which I came across in an old chess magazine a quarter of a century earlier:

White to play

N. Popov – Novopashin

Beltsy 1979

White continued 27 Nxf4!, allowing Black to win material by removing the guard of both the c4- and e4-squares: 27...Rxd2+ (or else he is just two pawns behind) 28 Qxd2 Qxe4+ 29 Kh2 Qxc4 30 Ng6+! hxg6 31 Rxf8+ Kh7 (D) and by now the pattern is recognizable:

White to play

32 Qh6+!! after which both 32...Kxh6 33 Rh8# and 32...gxh6 33 Rxb7+ are mating. I remember being deeply impressed by this marvellous combination at the time – not just the final blow that was later also employed by the current world champion, but also by Popov recognizing it in advance and going for it five moves earlier.

I am not sure if Carlsen had ever seen this earlier example but I have no doubt whatsoever that gifted players of his calibre are capable of spotting the winning move in a split second. For me, that special moment in chess history emphasized once again the important role that pattern-recognition plays in the process of training chess capabilities in general and in improving our tactical skills in particular.

Although the old saying of the German master Richard Teichmann that “chess is 99% tactics” might sound rather an exaggeration, it has a serious point. During the entire game our mind should stay non-stop alert to all kinds of tactical possibilities that might pop up at any moment on any of the 64 chessboard squares by any of its 32 pieces. It also suggests that the lion’s share of decisive results are affected directly or indirectly by tactics. If this is true, how come players of all levels tend to give such an overwhelming priority to the study of chess openings and much less attention to polishing their tactical sense?

Well, the good news is that almost anyone can still improve his chess abilities by regularly solving tactical problems. Even the most brilliant of combinations by the chess greats are based on a limited number of relatively simple tactical

components that may be studied and practised by us all. Furthermore, unlike memorizing piles of opening variations, tactical exercises might prove very enjoyable and inspiring.

In his book Learn Chess Tactics (Gambit, 2004), John Nunn teaches the basics of chess tactics to the novice. The present book is aimed at the advanced and experienced club player who wishes to improve his tactical vision as well as his combinative and calculation skills based more or less on the same range of elements. For that purpose I have carefully selected examples for each of the book’s chapters that belong to the following two categories:

1) Sacrificial combinations by world champions, both men and women;

2) Endgame studies (all White to play!), which introduce the tactical ideas in their purest form demonstrated by only the relevant pieces.

This way the reader is not only able to polish his tactical understanding and out-of-the-box thinking but is also equipped with a whole arsenal of creative weapons for a lifetime of fighting chess.

I should acknowledge three important sources:

Encyclopedia of Chess Problems, Milan Velimirović and Kari Valtonen (Šahovski Informator, 2012)

Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations (Šahovski Informator, various editions)

Endgame study database HHdbV, Harold van der Heijden (hhdbv.nl)

Finally, in case you were wondering about the study featured on the front cover, here it is:

White to play and win

E. Pogosiants

Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1976

1 Qc8+! Kxc8 2 a8Q+ Kd7 3 Qe8+ Kd6 4 Qe6#

Yochanan Afek

Amsterdam, June 2017

1: Fork The fork is the most basic form of double attack and probably the most common tactical device in chess practice: a simultaneous attack by a single piece on two or more enemy pieces, which might result in the fall of one of them.

The most effective type of fork is usually one accompanied by a check: threatening the enemy king and an enemy piece at the very same time leaves little choice, as the king must be saved, leaving the other piece to its fate.

White to play

Tal – Tringov

Munich Olympiad 1958

How should White act before Black completes his development?

White can win immediately by:

17 Qxd7+!

A sacrificial decoy to allow a knight fork that leaves White a piece ahead.

17...Kxd7 18 Nc5+ Ke7 19 Nxe4 +–

White to play

Carlsen – Kamsky

Khanty-Mansiisk 2005

How can White shake the opponent’s fairly solid set-up?

Exploiting the pin on the sixth rank might help. Deflecting the black king allows a decisive fork:

37 c5+!

The alternative fork 37 Rg6?! allows all the black pieces to gain great activity; e.g., 37...Bd4 38 Rxg5 Rf8 39 Re2 Kc5.

37...Kxc5

37...Ka7 38 c6 +– makes it even worse.

38 Re7

A fork against the bishop-pair decides the game.

38...Bd4

38...Bc3 39 Rc7+ Kb6 40 Rxc3.

39 Rxb7 +–

The piece most identified with the fork is the knight, owing to its distinctive way of moving. Because it is so different from the way other pieces move, it is easy for the knight to attack a number of enemy units without coming under fire itself.


A. Troitsky

Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1911

Which is stronger here: the bishop or the knight?

The answer in this instance is the knight, but only for tactical reasons.

1 e6! Kxf6 2 Ne3 +–

Quite surprisingly the bishop, despite its five flight-squares, is lost:

a) 2...Be2 3 Nd5+ Kxe6 4 Nf4+.

b) 2...Bd3 3 Nd5+ Kxe6 4 Nf4+.

c) 2...Bh3 3 Nd5+ Kxe6 4 Nf4+.

d) 2...Ba6 3 Nd5+ Kxe6 4 Nc7+.

e) 2...Bb5 3 Nd5+ Kxe6 4 Nc7+.

In each of these five variations, the knight inflicted a decisive fork on a seemingly free bishop!

Fork Exercises

1: White to play

Can White force the win of the enemy queen?

2: White to play

How can White punish Black’s neglect of the kingside?

3: Black to play

Black could win a pair of white pawns. Can he do even better than that?

4: White to play

The black pieces seem securely protected by each other. Is that so?

5: Black to play

Can Black hinder White from castling?

6: White to play

Should White retreat his attacked knight?

7: White to play

Which king is safer?

8: White to play

Is winning the rook the best White can do?

9: White to play

White has won a pawn. What is his most straightforward route to victory?

10: Black to play

How can Black obtain a decisive material advantage?

11: White to play and win

Do you see a way to bring harmony to the white camp?


Can the white queen take advantage of the rooks’ momentary vulnerability?

13: White to play and draw

How can White regroup his pieces in this awkward position?


Is there a way to stop the black pawn?


White is about to lose a piece. Is it game over?


Can the promotion of Black’s pawn be hindered?


How can White deal with Black’s evident superiority?


Can White force a draw in this difficult position?

Fork Solutions

1: White to play

1) Stefanova – Dembo

European Women’s Ch, Kusadasi 2006

White can do so by employing a fork, but must first decoy the king to a square that allows this:

51 Rg7+! Kxg7 52 Nf5+

leaving White a piece ahead.

2: White to play

2) Kasparov – Bareev

Cannes rapid 2001

By a swift mating attack:

40 Nd7+!

To vacate a square for an even stronger check.

40...Bxd7 41 Qf6+ 1-0

This looks like another fork but in fact it’s mate next move either by the queen or by the knight – and curiously on the very same square.

3: Black to play

3) Pavlov Pianov – Alekhine

Moscow 1919

He can win those pawns, but also with a decent bonus:

27...Qxh2+!

Decoying the white king to the forking range of the black knight.

28 Kxh2 Nxg4+ 29 Kg3 Nxe3 30 Rxe3 Rxf5

Black has won the exchange...

31 Bf4 Re6

...and his rooks are even spinning a mating-net around the white king.

4: White to play

4) Hou Yifan – Skripchenko

Women’s Olympiad, Istanbul 2012

White can show it to be illusory with...

42 Rxc7!

Deflecting the queen so that the rook is left unprotected.

42...Qxc7 43 Qd1+ 1-0

It’s a fork next: 43...Kh6 44 Qc1+.

5: Black to play

5) Barcza – Tal

Tallinn 1971

Ready to bring his king to safety, White is surprised by an unexpected intruder:

9...Bh3! 10 Nfxd4

10 0-0 loses the exchange following 10...Nxf3+ 11 Bxf3 Bxf1 –+.

10...Bxg2 –+

After 11 Rg1 exd4 Black won a piece and the game.

6: White to play

6) Anand – Lobron

Dortmund 1996

36 Nf6!

A knight retreat allows counterplay: 36 Ne3?! Be5 37 Qg1 Rg8.

1-0

The fork leads to another pair of forks: 36...Bxf6 37 Rxh5+ or 36...Qxf6 37 Qxh5+ +–.

7: White to play

7) Lasker – NN

Casual game 1920

White wins brilliantly with a double decoy:

1 Rc8+! Rxc8 2 Qa7+!! Kxa7 3 bxc8N+! +–

The new-born knight forks the royal couple and White comfortably wins the resulting ending.

8: White to play

8) Petrosian – Simagin

Moscow Ch (5) 1956

He can cut the struggle much shorter by:

44 Qa8+! Kg7 45 Bxe5+!

A fork.

45...Qxe5 46 Qh8+!!

A skewer.

46...Kxh8 47 Nxf7+ 1-0

And a fork to conclude.

9: White to play

9) Capablanca – Fonaroff

New York 1918

A fine blend of motifs is the most straightforward way to reach the goal:

20 Nh6+

Profiting from the pin along the g-file.

20...Kh8 21 Qxe5! Qxe5 22 Nxf7+! 1-0

The winning fork is made possible by the back rank’s weakness.

10: Black to play

10) Stefansson – Carlsen

European Team Ch, Khersonissos 2007

A surprising fork ambush was sprung:

22...Qxf3!! 23 gxf3 Bxc3 24 Rxd8 Rxd8 25 f4

Since 25 Qxc3 is met by 25...Rd1+ 26 Kg2 Nf4+ 27 Kg3 Ne2+ –+.

25...Rd4! 0-1

After 26 Qb3 Bxb4 the win is just a matter of technique.


11) A. Åkerblom

Mora Tidning, 1925

For experienced solvers, the fact that all the thematic pieces are on light squares should be a good hint.

1 c4+!

The first fork with two echoing lines:

a) 1...Kxc4 2 Bf7! Qxf7 3 Nd6+ +–.

b) 1...Qxc4 2 Be2! Qxe2 3 Nd4+ +–.

Two sacrificial skewers, each followed by a fork.


12) E. Pogosiants

6th Sp. Comm., Sportivnaya Gazeta, 1976

Yes it can, but the utmost precision is required.

1 Qb8+!

Both 1 Qd2+? Ke5 and 1 Qh2+? Kf5 are refuted by ‘only’ moves yet sufficient ones.

1...Ke4 2 Qb1+!

A second long and aesthetic check.

2...Kf4 3 Qf1+ Ke5 4 Qb5+ +–

Both rooks are simultaneously forked.


13) A. Troitsky

Source unknown

Yes, with the help of two consecutive forks, one per piece:

1 Bb6+!

Decoying the queen so that it will be won with a second fork.

1...Qxb6 2 e7+ Ke8 3 Nf6+! Kxe7 4 Nd5+ =

Winning the queen.


14) L. Prokeš

Ztec, 1943

Yes, a clever forking manoeuvre does the trick:

1 Nh4+ Ke5 2 Be4!

The bishop vacates a key square for the knight.

2...Kxe4 3 Nf3 b1Q 4 Nd2+ =


15) G. Zakhodiakin


In fact, White can still regain a piece thanks to a pair of knight forks:

1 Bc8!

Not 1 Ba6? Rxd5+ 2 Kh4 Rd6, when Black wins.

1...Rxd5+ 2 Kg4! Rc5! 3 Nd8!!

Both 3 Ne7? Rc7 and 3 Na7? Rc7 fail due to forks by the black rook.

3...Rxc8 4 Nf7+ Kg7

The other forking idea is 4...Kh7 5 Ng5+.

5 Nd6 =


16) A. Troitsky

Novoye Vremia, 1895

A fork and two stalemates save the day.

1 Rf5+

Now the black king has two options:

1...Ke7

Or 1...Kg7 2 Kh3 g1Q 3 Rg5+ Bxg5 stalemate.

2 Re5+ Kf6 3 Re1! Bxe1+ 4 Kh3! g1N+

Promotion to queen or rook is stalemate, while a bishop promotion leads nowhere.

5 Kg2 Ne2 6 Kf1 =

The king forks two minor pieces.


17) E. Pogosiants

Shakhmatnaya Moskva, 1959

He can, with some imaginative though forced sacrificial play and a handful of forks.

1 Re4+ Kg5 2 Re5+! Kh6

The alternatives are 2...Nxe5 3 Ne4+ and 2...Qxe5 3 Nf7+.

3 Rh5+! Kxh5

3...Kg7 is met by 4 Ne8+.

4 g4+ Kh6

4...Kg5 5 Ne4+.

5 g5+! Kxg5

Or 5...Qxg5 6 Nf7+.

6 Ne4+ =


18) L. Prokeš

Tijdschrift v.d. KNSB, 1939

The rook and knight combine to create wonders:

1 Rb7+! Ka8

1...Kxb7 2 Nxc5+ Kc6 3 Nxb3 Kb5 4 Kf5 Kb4 5 Na1 Kc3 6 Ke4 Kb2 7 Kd3 Kxa1 8 Kc2 =.

2 Rxb3 a1Q 3 Nc7+ Ka7 4 Ra3+! Qxa3 5 Nb5+ =

2: Battery Play A battery is a setting of two pieces of the same colour targeting an enemy piece or a certain square. Moving the front piece exposes the target to the threat of the rear piece. The rear piece may be any line-mover (queen, rook or bishop) while the front piece may be any piece but the queen. Operating the battery generates a discovered attack by the rear piece of the battery while the front (‘firing’) piece may create a second threat simultaneously.

Just as with the fork, if the discovered attack is made against the enemy king, the defending options are limited, and the firing piece has carte blanche to wreak havoc. If both rear and firing pieces attack the enemy king simultaneously it’s a double check, which forces a king move – provided that there is still one available.

White to play

Euwe – Denker

Groningen 1946

This highly charged position calls for urgent measures. Can you suggest one for White?

There is just one way out:

49 Qxf6+!

After 49 e8Q+? Nxe8 50 Qg8+ Ng7 –+ White runs out of checks.

49...Kxf6

Black’s king has entered into the white bishop-and-pawn battery and now comes under a discovered check that leaves him a piece behind with a lost ending.

50 e8Q+ Kg7 51 Qxe4 c1Q+ 52 Kf2 +–

A battery may be unleashed so that either the front piece or the rear one checks – a discovered attack or a discovered check, respectively. In either case, as

getting out of check takes priority, the other target is often lost.

Black to play

Petrosian – Korchnoi

USSR Spartakiad, Moscow 1963

Is Black doing as badly as it appears?

Not at all! Quite the contrary. A tactical blow turns the tables in just a single move:

35...f3! 36 Kg5

36 Kxf3 Kg7+ is a discovered check, winning the white rook.

36...Ke8!

Not 36...f2? 37 Rf6+ Kg8 (37...Ke8?? 38 d7+! +–) 38 Rg6+ Kh7 39 Rh6+ Kg7 40 Rg6+ Kf7 41 Rf6+ with perpetual check.

0-1

The black pawn is no longer stoppable.

The main types of battery are:

1) In a direct battery the rear piece is unleashed directly against the enemy king or another target.

2) An indirect battery is aimed at a square around the king or another piece to hinder that piece from moving to this square.

3) In a masked battery, a piece of either colour is standing between the front piece and the target and moving it sets the battery ready to fire.


R. Bianchetti

L’Italia Scacchistica, 1924

The ending of R+B vs R is usually drawn, though far from easy to defend in practice owing to a number of winning positions with this material. In this classical study, White wins thanks to the powerful masked battery:

1 Bb2! Rh6

A symmetrical echo variation is 1...Rf8 2 Rc7+ Kg8 3 Rg7+ Kh8 4 Ka2! with zugzwang followed by a discovered attack depending on the move of the black rook: 4...Ra8+ 5 Ra7+.

There is another pair of symmetrical echo variations with a double check followed by mate: 1...Rf7 2 Rh3++ Kg8 3 Rh8# and 1...Rg6 2 Rc8++ Kh7 3 Rh8#.

2 Rg3+ Kh7 3 Rg7+ Kh8 4 Kb1!

Zugzwang! Not 4 Ka2? Ra6+ 5 Kb1 Ra1+ 6 Kc2 Rc1+ 7 Kb3 Rc3+ 8 Bxc3.

4...Rh1+ 5 Rg1+ +–

Operating a battery may be even more effective if combined with another tactical or positional element. Zugzwang, for example, as in the next example:


C. Bent

EG, 1968

1 Bg4+ Kd8 2 Ne6+ Kd7

Now the temptation to win the bishop right away by using the battery immediately would prove premature: 3 Ng7+? Kd8! 4 Nxe8 stalemate.

3 Bh3!

Patience pays off! Black is in zugzwang. Any of his bishop moves is met by a discovered check.

Not 3 Bf5?, which allows Black to slip away by 3...Bg6!.

3...Bg6

Or 3...Bh5 – the bishop is lost in either case.

4 Nf4+ +–


E. Pogosiants

Problemista, 1964

The pawn is beyond reach. What is to be done?

The cornered king should lead you to the right idea.

1 Nd3! b1N!

The best try. After 1...b1Q 2 Nf2+ Kg1 3 Ne4+ Kf1 (3...Kh1 4 Ng3#) 4 Nd2+ the queen is lost.

2 Bc5!!

This is the only effective waiting move, preventing the enemy knight from fleeing to freedom via a3. For example, after 2 Bb6? Na3 3 Nf4 Nc4 4 Bd4 Nd2 5 Nh5 Ne4! White has reached a dead end.

2...Nc3 3 Nf2+ Kg1 4 Ne4+ Kh1

Hoping for stalemate; however...

5 Ng3#

Battery Play Exercises

1: White to play

Is the mutual dependence of the white pieces so uncomfortable for him?

2: Black to play

How did Black turn a beautiful diagonal into a deadly battery?

3: Black to play

What is the fastest way for Black to finish White off in this winning ending?

4: Black to play

Is there any hope for Black in this difficult ending?

5: White to play

Whose back rank is more vulnerable?

6: White to play

A piece behind, should White go for a perpetual check?

7: Black to play

Is there a way for Black to save both his attacked rooks?


Can White stop Black promoting?


With White’s last pawn about to be traded, what else can he still hope for?


How could the queen be trapped on a relatively open board?


Can a single extra pawn make a difference?


Can you wisely recruit White’s regiment to face the inevitable promotion?


Show how White activates his far-advanced passed pawn.


How can White challenge Black’s dominance of the long diagonal?


Can White cope with Black’s obvious threats?


How can White even dream of winning when he is three pawns behind?

Battery Play Solutions

1: White to play

1) Anand – Kasimdzhanov

Wijk aan Zee 1999

White is challenged not just by his precarious-looking pieces, but by Black’s far-advanced pawn. However, he has a devastating blow:

39 Rg7+! 1-0

39...Kh5 is met, for example, by 40 Nxf5 Rxe6 41 g4+ Nxg4+ 42 hxg4#, while after 39...Kxg7 40 Nxf5+ +– the battery on the sixth rank is unleashed by a discovered attack and White wins two rooks for the price of one.

2: Black to play

2) Torres Caravaca – Alekhine

Spain simul 1922

By opening that mighty diagonal up!

28...Qxh3!!

The toothless 28...Ng3+? merely regains a pawn: 29 hxg3 Qxh3+ 30 Kg1 Qxg3 31 Qf2 =.

29 gxh3

A battery has been created with its front piece ready to strike.

29...Nf2++

It’s a double check!

30 Kg1 Nxh3# (0-1)

3: Black to play

3) Litinskaya – Gaprindashvili

USSR Women’s Ch, Tbilisi 1974

By using the battery against the white queen:

48...Rxg3! 0-1

Either way the rook is captured, a discovered attack wins the queen.

4: Black to play

4) Wang Lei – Stefanova

Women’s Interzonal, Kishinev 1995

The battery targeted at the white rook suggests a tactical solution:

34...Be3+! 35 Kxe3

Otherwise after 35...Bxf4 White won’t be able to make any progress.

35...d4+

A discovered attack!

36 Kxd4 Bxg8 37 Kc5 Bf7 38 Be4 h5 39 g5 fxg5 40 fxg5 h4 41 g6 Bxg6 ½-½

5: White to play

5) Fischer – Sherwin

USA Ch, New York 1957/8

It turns out to be Black’s:

31 Qf1!!

The paradoxical option is the correct one! After 31 Rf1+? Kh8 32 Bf7 Qf4 White is totally lost.

31...h5

Black is helpless against the deadly battery: 31...Rxf1+ 32 Rxf1+ Qxd5 33 Rxf8+ Kxf8 34 exd5 and White wins.

32 Qxc1! Qh4

This would have been a good moment to throw in the towel.

33 Rxf8++ Kh7 34 h3 Qg3 35 hxg4 h4 36 Be6 1-0

6: White to play

6) Tal – Letelier

Capablanca Memorial, Havana 1963

Many a player would probably settle for a draw by 27 Qh4+, but a powerful rook-lift should be preferred:

27 Re4!!

Threatening 28 Rg4!.

27...Bd4+

After 27...Rd4 28 Qh4+ White wins the rook.

28 Kh1!! Qxe4 29 Qg6+ Ke7

29...Ke5 30 Qe6#.

30 f6+ 1-0

White wins the black queen by a discovered attack.

7: Black to play

7) Anand – Kasparov

PCA World Ch (11), New York 1995

Astonishingly, by keeping them both en prise!

31...Rxc2!! 0-1

The idea is to create an almighty battery by 32 Rxc2 Rb3+ 33 Ka2 Re3+, winning back the rook with a won ending.


8) L. Prokeš

České Slovo, 1937

He could, but at the cost of reaching a drawn ending with queen vs c2-pawn. White has a better idea:

1 Qh4+ Kd3! 2 Qxf2 c1Q 3 Qe3+ Kc4

3...Kc2 allows a queen exchange following 4 Qc3+.

4 d3+! +–

A hidden battery is unleashed out of nowhere, winning the new-born queen!


9) E. Pogosiants

HM, Shakhmatnaya Moskva, 1967

The cramped position of the enemy king might provide the hint.

1 g6! fxg6 2 Bd1!

The first battery is created; the aim is to win the black bishop by a discovered check.

2...Ba6!

2...Be8 is met by a fork after 3 Nd2+ Kg5 4 Ne4+ Kf5 5 Nd6+.

3 Nd2+ Kg5 4 Ne4+ Kf5 5 Bc2! +–

Any bishop move to parry the threat leads to its immediate loss.


10) L. Kubbel

Comm., “64”, 1927

The well-coordinated white pieces can achieve this improbable goal:

1 Bf3+ d5!

Vacating a flight-square for the black king. After 1...Kc8 2 Bc6 Kd8 3 Re2 the king is trapped in a mating-net, while 1...Kb6 is met by 2 Rb2+.

2 Bxd5+ Kb6

Can White exploit in some way his new B+P battery?

3 Ra2!! Qxa2 4 c5+ +–

Indeed he can! The decisive discovered attack wins the queen.


11) J. Fritz

Šachové Studie, 1954

This modest pawn has a great future!

1 Bf2 Rd4 2 Bxe3! Rd3+ 3 Kc2 Rxe3 4 Kd2!

The black rook is dominated.

4...Rb3 5 f4+ +–


12) A. Sochniev

Thèmes-64, 1980

All four minor pieces should join efforts against the new queen:

1 Bf5+ Kc7 2 Nd5+ Kc6

The king has been lured to the long diagonal.

3 Nf3! h1Q 4 Be4! +–

Creating a pair of powerful batteries at the very same time! The royal couple has no escape.


13) J. Fritz

Svobodne Slovo, 1966

The white king should carefully rush to the other side of the board.

1 Kb7

1 Kb8? leads to a dead end after 1...Kb4 2 Kc7 Kc5 3 Kd7 Kd5 4 Ke7 Ke5 5 Kf7 Kf5 6 Kg7 Rg1+ 7 Kf7 Rh1 8 Rf8 Rxh7+ 9 Kg8+ Kg6, etc.

1...Kb4

White was threatening a deadly rook check, and the idea now repeats.

2 Kc6 Kc4 3 Kd6 Kd4 4 Ke6 Ke4 5 Kf6 Kf4 6 Rf8!

Creating a surprising battery.

6...Rxh7 7 Kg6+! +–

White wins the rook and the game.


14) S. Kozlowski

Ksiega JT, 1938

The long and powerful diagonal should be attacked at its base and with no delay!

1 Rd7

With the lethal threat of 2 Bc3. 1 Rd2? is met by 1...Bb2!.

1...Kh6!

Not 1...Kh8 2 Rd8+ Kh7 3 Ra8 followed by 4 Bb4.

2 Kf3!

Naturally not 2 Ra7? Bd4+.

2...a2 3 Rd2!

With a double threat on both edges of the board.

3...Bb2!

The other threat is demonstrated by the line 3...a1Q 4 Rh2+ Kg5 5 Bh4+ Kh5 6 Bd8#.

4 Rh2+ Kg7 5 Rxb2 a1Q 6 Bc3+ +–

The battery is now directed at the queen, with the roles of the front and rear pieces exchanged.


15) E. Pogosiants

3rd Comm., Rumanian Liberation-30 JT, 1974

Flexible battery play is the remedy:

1 Rf4! Rh1+! 2 Kxh1!

Caution! After 2 Kg2? Rg1+! White loses on the spot.

2...b1Q+ 3 Bd1+ Kg3 4 Rf3+! Kh4

4...Nxf3 is a beautiful pin stalemate.

5 Rf4+ Kg3 6 Rf3+ Kg4! 7 Rf1+ =

The white pieces exchange roles. It will be a draw by perpetual check or stalemate.


16) L. Kubbel

Shakhmatny Listok, 1927

White’s last pawn still awaits its moment of glory:

1 Qf3+ Ke5!

1...Kg5 2 Qg2+! creates a battery to win the queen next move by a discovered check.

2 Qe3+ Kf5!

2...Kd5 3 Qxe6+ is a skewer.

3 Qf2+! Ke5! 4 Qh2+!

The pawn will now be the front piece of a powerful battery.

4...Kd5

Other moves allow the pawn to demonstrate its versatility: 4...Kf5 5 e4+, 4...Kd4 5 e3+ or 4...Ke4 5 exd3+.

5 e4+ +–

3: Pinning and Unpinning

A pin is a basic tactical motif in which three pieces are involved, all of them standing on one and the same line. A line-mover, the pinning piece, is attacking an enemy piece (any of them but the king). Moving the attacked unit, the pinned piece, would expose the unit behind, the rear piece, to the threat of the pinning piece. If the rear piece is the king, then a move by the pinned piece is illegal.

The pin is a common device mainly for winning material, deflecting an enemy piece, or immobilizing an important defensive unit.

Black to play

Bannik – Tal

USSR Ch, Moscow 1957

White threatens two enemy pieces. How should Black respond?

Initially Black even seems in serious trouble, but he has a surprising defence:

29...Bxc3!

Any attempt to rescue the queen favours White; e.g., 29...Rd1? 30 Qxf6 Rxe1+ 31 Kh2 Qh6 32 Bxe1.

30 Rxc1 Bd4 –+

Pinning the queen and consequently trading both of White’s most dangerous pieces. Black will be the exchange and a pawn ahead.

White to play

Botvinnik – Keres

World Ch, The Hague/Moscow 1948

What is the main weakness White should attack, and how should he do so?

In the absence of Black’s dark-squared bishop, White can launch a massive attack on the kingside dark squares:

21 Rxg7+! Kxg7

The knight is now pinned.

22 Nh5+ Kg6

After 22...Kh8 23 Bb2 +– or 22...Kg8 23 Nxf6+ Nxf6 24 Qxf6 followed by 25 Bb2, White wins the battle on the long dark-square diagonal.

23 Qe3 1-0

Black will be mated. The battle over the dark squares ends up in White’s favour again, on a different diagonal. 23 Qd2 is equally good.


L. Prokeš

Šachové Studie, 1941

Can White secure the promotion of his only pawn?

The key is in restricting the freedom of the black rook to force it to move to the same line as his king.

1 d7 Rd5 2 Rh7 Kb6

2...Kb8 3 Ke4 Rd6 4 Ke5 Kc7 5 d8Q++ Kxd8 6 Kxd6 is winning for White.

3 Ke4 Rd6

Or 3...Kc6 4 Rh6+ Kc5 5 Rh5! (pinning!) 5...Rxh5 6 d8Q, winning.

4 Rh6!

Pinning!

4...Rxh6 5 d8Q+ +–

Here we saw two echo lines, pinning the black rook on different ranks.


T. Gorgiev

4th HM, Shakhmaty, 1929

How can White secure promotion despite the hardships of his cornered king?

1 h7

Greed doesn’t pay here: 1 Rxg4? Ra6 2 Kh2 Kf3 3 Kh3 Rxh6 4 Rg8 Kf4 draws.

1...Ra3

A counter mate threat. 1...Ra8 is naturally met by 2 Rg8.

2 Rf6+ Kg3! 3 Ra6! Rd3

After 3...Rxa6 4 h8Q the new-born queen covers the mating square.

4 Ra3!

Hindering the mate while decoying the rook back to the desired file.

4...Rxa3

The pinned black rook has no other choice.

5 h8Q +–

White wins as the mating square is now once again under control.

Pinning and Unpinning Exercises

1: White to play

What is White’s most convincing way to exploit the open files on the kingside?

2: White to play

Black has plenty of material for the queen, yet White’s piece activity proves decisive. How?

3: Black to play

Can Black profit from White’s somewhat cramped position?

4: Black to play

How can Black win material in this position of material equality?

5: White to play

How can White increase his advantage?

6: White to play

Can White escape the annoying pin without damaging his pawn-structure?

7: White to play

How should White best exploit his total control of the a2-g8 diagonal?


The black pawn is unstoppable. True or false?


How can White secure the promotion of his last pawn?


Can White stop the black pawn and still deal with the material consequences?


Can White win one of the black pieces without losing his only pawn?


White’s passed e-pawn plays a decisive role. How can he pave its way forward?


How can White make something of his fleeting edge in this near-drawn position?


Is White’s position as desperate as it looks?


How can White trap one of the black pieces?


How should White handle the pair of menacing black pawns?


Is there any hope for White to survive the terrible pin on his rook?


White seems in serious trouble. Any advice?


Can White prevent the h-pawn from promoting?


Any idea how White can counter the unstoppable pawn-pair?


How can White tame the pawn-pair and their supporting bishop?


Can White deal with the promotion threat and the queen checks, and still win?

Pinning and Unpinning Solutions

1: White to play

1) Kosteniuk – Efroimski

European Clubs Cup (women), Eilat 2012

Deflecting the overloaded queen by pinning it:

31 Rg3! 1-0

31...Qxg3 32 Qxh7#.

2: White to play

2) Kasparov – Najdorf

Bugojno 1982

It’s mostly about the weakness of the dark squares:

24 Nxg7! Bxg7

24...f5 is more stubborn, but after 25 Nxf5+ Kh8 26 Qh5 the king is exposed and thus White’s attack is irresistible.

25 Bh6 1-0

Mate is unavoidable.

3: Black to play

3) Blümich – Alekhine

Krakow/Warsaw 1941

White can take advantage of his better piece coordination:

31...Qb5! 32 c4

The point of the pin is that 32 Ke2 is met by 32...Ne1! –+ (better than 32...Qxd3+ 33 Kxd3 Ne1+ 34 Kd2 Nxg2 35 Nxg2 Kf8, when good endgame technique will still be required to convert the advantage) 33 Kxe1 Qxd3 followed by further unavoidable damage on the queenside.

32...Qxc4! 33 Qxf3

33 Nxc4? allows 33...Re1#.

33...Qxd3+ –+

4: Black to play

4) Pilnik – Fischer

Mar del Plata 1959

With a simple pinning trick:

37...Rxf3! 38 Rxf3 Be4 39 Rxf7 Rf2!

39...Rb3? 40 Kg2 Rxa3 is just equal.

40 Rf8+ Kg7 0-1

The king finds refuge on h6, after which White will lose the pinned rook. Had his g-pawn stood on g5, he could have escaped with a draw by perpetual check.

5: White to play

5) Petrosian – Taimanov

USSR Ch, Leningrad 1960

With a pin-based combination:

34 Nxe6! +–

The point of the sacrifice is 34...Bxe6 35 Rxe6! Qxe6 36 Bc4 +–, pinning and winning. In the game, the counter-pin 34...Re8 was met by 35 Nxg7! Rxe3 36 Nf5+ Kf8 37 Nxe3 Qd4 38 Qf2, leaving White three pawns ahead.

6: White to play

6) Alekhine – Tenner (variation)

Cologne 1911

White can unpin his knight in a most unexpected manner:

11 Nxe5!! Bxd1 12 Bxf7+ Ke7

12...Kf8 13 Bxc5+ Qd6 14 d4 leaves White a piece up.

13 Bxc5+ Kf6 14 0-0+!

The black king is in a mating-net.

14...Kxe5

Or 14...Kg5 15 Be3+ Kh4 16 Rf5, mating.

15 Rf5#

7: White to play

7) Karpov – Ki. Georgiev

Tilburg 1994

A double sacrifice followed by a double pin does the trick:

29 Bxf7+!! +–

Way stronger than 29 Neg5!? hxg5 30 Nxg5 Ne5 (or 30...Nf6 31 Nxf7 Kh7), when Black can at least fight on.

29...Rxf7

29...Kh8 costs more than just a pawn after 30 Qe6! g5 31 Nexg5 hxg5 32 Qh3+, mating.

30 Neg5! hxg5 31 Nxg5 Rf8 32 Re8!

An attractive picture with both rooks pinned. Black’s collapse is inevitable.

32...Qxd6

There is no defence any more: 32...Rxe8 33 Qxf7+ Kh8 34 Rxe8+ +– or 32...c4 33 Qxc4 Ne5 34 R1xe5 Qb7 35 Qxf7+ Qxf7 36 Nxf7 Bxe5 37 Rxf8+ Kxf8 38 Nxe5 +–.

33 Qxf7+ Kh8 34 Ne6 1-0


8) L. Prokeš

Nova Svoboda, 1946

1 f3!

This pawn sacrifice aims to lure the black bishop to the pinning line and at the same time vacates a key square for the white king.

1...Bxf3

The alternative is 1...h2 2 Kf2 Kh4 3 Bd5, after which Black can make no further progress.

2 Kf2 h2 3 Bd1! Bxd1

Or 3...h1Q 4 Bxf3+.

4 Kg2 =

The black bishop was deflected twice to allow the white king to stop the pawn at the very last moment.


9) J. Fritz

Prace, 1953

Pinning and unpinning play a pivotal role.

1 b7 Ra7

Pinning is the only defence.

2 Re1+ Kd8 3 Re7!

And unpinning secures the promotion after all!

3...Kxe7 4 b8Q +–


10) L. Prokeš


The mother of all pins is the special remedy:

1 Rdg7!

1 Rh3? Rxh3 2 Rg7 is the slightly more obvious attempt, but alas it fails after 2...Rh8+ 3 Kb7 to the counter-pinning 3...Rh7! 4 Rxh7 g1Q 5 d5 Qc5, etc.

1...g1Q 2 Rh3!

The rather rare double pin in action!

2...Qb1+ 3 Rb7! Qxb7+

As 3...Qe1 is met by 4 Rb3+.

4 Kxb7 Rxh3

Black has won both white rooks in return for his queen, but Black will still have to return the favour for the speedy white pawn.

5 d5 Rh6 6 Kc7 =

And the pawn will sooner or later have to be stopped at the cost of the remaining rook.


11) E. Pogosiants

Shakhmaty (Riga), 1967

He can do so by cleverly employing the potential pinning options:

1 Ra7!

The knight is taboo because Black is threatening a pin of his own: 1 exf6? Bc8.

1...Nd7! 2 Rxd7!

Surprise! Not 2 Rxa6+? Kb4, when White cannot keep his pawn on the board any longer.

2...Bc8

Pinning and winning? Not quite!

3 e6!

Self-unpinning and winning!

3...fxe6 4 Rc7

The hunter is now the hunted: the bishop is dominated.

4...Ba6 5 Ra7 +–

The pieces have exchanged their earlier roles and the pinned bishop is lost.

>


12) V. and M. Platov

La Stratégie, 1910

To start with, it’s essential to avoid being carelessly mated...

1 Ra5+

Not 1 e7?? Rh2#.

1...Kg6 2 e7 Re2 3 Be6!

White lures the rook to the sixth rank, along which it will then be pinned. Not 3 Rxa6+?? Kg5! 4 Ra5+ Be5!, when Black even wins.

3...Rxe6 4 Rxa6! Rxa6

4...Bd6 5 Rxd6 doesn’t change much.

5 e8Q+ +–

with an easy win.


13) H. Rinck

The Chess Amateur, 1909

Look for a potential pin!

1 c7 Rc3+ 2 Kb1!

The more ‘centralizing’ 2 Kd2? Rxc4 3 Rh3+ allows 3...Kb2! 4 Rh7 Kb3 5 Kd3 Rc6 6 Kd4 Kb4 7 Kd5 Kb5 8 Rd7 Rc1 9 Kd6 Kb6 with a dead end.

2...Rxc4 3 Rh3+ Ka4

3...Kb4 is answered the same way.

4 Rh4!

Pinning in order to queen.

4...Rxh4 5 c8Q +–


14) A. Grin

“64”, 1989

Even when an endgame looks lost beyond all hope, a miraculous stalemate might pop up out of the blue:

1 Nb5! a2 2 c6!

2 Na7+? is premature owing to 2...Kc7 3 Nb5+ Kd8 – game over.

2...a1Q+ 3 Na7+

This cross-check self-pins the knight.

3...Kd8 4 c7+! Kxc7 =

It’s a cute pin stalemate, isn’t it?


15) L. Kaev

Neue Leipziger Zeitung, 1932

By forcing the far-away knight to a pinning line – and doing so more than once if necessary!

1 Rh7 Kf8

Or 1...Kf6 2 Nh5+ (starting with a fork) 2...Kg6 3 Rxg7+ Kxh5 4 Rb7! Nc6 (4...Na6 5 Rb5+ Kg6 6 Rb6+ is a fork again) 5 Rb5+ Kg6 6 Rb6, ending up with a winning pin just a rank lower.

2 Ne6+ Kf7! 3 Nxg7 Kg8 4 Rh6! Kxg7 5 Rb6 Nd7 6 Rb7 +–

A decisive pin from the other side of the rank.


16) E. Pogosiants (correction)

Chervony Girnik, 1967

If you can’t fight them, join them!

1 Ne3+ Kh1 2 Rf1+ Ng1

Black is now threatening 3...g2 and stalemate.

3 Rc1!

The only square available beyond the critical landing square of the white knight.

3...g2 4 Nd1!

Unpinning to avoid stalemate...

4...Nf3 5 Nf2#

...and then using the battery to give mate.

This is an example of what is known in chess composition as the Indian theme: a piece crosses a critical square (3 Rc1!) on which another piece temporarily interferes (4 Nd1!), and this battery is then unleashed.


17) H. Mattison

Wiener Neueste Nachrichten, 1931

Yes, but he must be willing to unpin the rook whatever the cost.

1 Qb5+ Bd5 2 Qxd5+!!

White gives up his queen to free the rook.

2...exd5 3 Rg3!

The unpinned piece is now the pinning one!

3...d4!

3...Qxg3 is naturally stalemate, while after 3...Kf4 4 Rxg4+ Kxg4 5 Kg2 White seizes the opposition.

4 Kg2!

Care is needed. After 4 Rxg4+? Kxg4 5 Kg2 d3 6 Kf2 Kf4 White is forced to abandon the opposition.

4...d3 5 Kf1! Qxg3 =

Stalemate.


18) M. Matouš

Comm., Scacco, 1979

Most moves by the attacked knight (e.g., 1 Nd1) are met by the deadly pin 1...Bf6, which leaves White with...

1 Ne4! Rd4

However, now the knight is pinned. Note that after 1...d2 2 Nxd2 Bf6 3 Ne4 Rd4 White unpins both his pieces simultaneously by 4 Kg3.

2 Rg4 Rxe4! 3 Rxe4 Bf6+

A zwischenzug to avoid 3...d2 4 Re7+.

4 Kh5! d2

The pawn is unstoppable but...

5 Rg4! d1Q =

Self-pinning and... stalemate!

5...d1R would be a better practical try in an over-the-board game, though of course R+B vs R is drawn with correct play.


19) L. Mitrofanov

Comm., Leninske Plemia, 1989

He can, but a crucial piece of foresight is required.

1 Ra8!

The immediate 1 Bf3? is wrong since 1...Bh5! 2 Kf2 (or 2 Rh8 h1Q 3 Rxh5 Qd1+ =) 2...Bxf3 3 Rh8 h1Q is just a draw.

1...Kb2 2 Rb8+!

It’s important to get the black king back to the first rank.

2...Ka1

Only now is it time for the bishop move:

3 Bf3 Bh5!

Pinning the bishop is the only counterplay. But now, what is left for White to do?

4 Rh8!

Pinning the pinning piece!

4...h1Q 5 Rxh5 Qc1 6 Rh1 +–

The final pin explains White’s earlier efforts and concludes the battle in White’s favour.


20) V. Pachman

2nd Comm., Československy Šach, 1938

The key to salvation is the white king’s position at the very edge of the back rank.

1 Ng2+ Kg3

1...Kh3 is answered the same way, but obviously not 1...Kg4?? due to the fork 2 Ne3+.

2 Ra1! b2 3 Ne1!

Self-pinning!

3...b1Q

3...c1Q 4 Rxc1 bxc1Q doesn’t change much.

4 Rxb1 cxb1B!

Avoiding he pin stalemate following 4...cxb1Q and threatening mate on the diagonal.

5 Nf3! Be4 =

And it’s a pin stalemate again!


21) L. Silaev


The last hope for the desperate is stalemate. Why not give it a try?

1 Nd3 b3

Black would need one extra tempo for 1...Bd2 to work: 2 Kf1 b3 3 Na1 b2 4 Nxb2 Bc3 5 Nd3 Bxa1 6 Nb4 is a draw.

2 Na1 b2!

Black counters with an active plan of his own.

3 Nxb2 Bg7 4 Nd3!

It’s interesting how White runs out of moves after 4 Nc2? Bxb2 5 Kf1 Kf3 6 Ke1 Bc3+! 7 Kd1 Kf2 8 Kc1 Ke2! – White is in zugzwang.

4...Bxa1 5 Nc1!

An anticipatory self-pin.

5...Bd4+ 6 Kh1! a1Q =

Ending up in a self-pin stalemate. The strength of the back rank!


22) G. Amirian

2nd HM, Shakhmaty (Riga), 1984

He manages to do so with the help of battery play and pins.

1 Rh5

The mate threat persuades Black to look for perpetual check.

1...Qa7+ 2 Re7 Qa2+ 3 Re6 Qa7+ 4 Kg6! Qh7+

Obviously not 4...g1Q+ 5 Bg5+ Qh7+ 6 Rxh7+ Kg8 7 Re8#.

5 Kf6 g1Q 6 Re8+ Qgg8 7 Bg7#

A lovely symmetrical picture of a double pin mate!

4: The Skewer A skewer occurs when a line-moving piece attacks an enemy unit, and moving the attacked piece would expose a second enemy piece standing behind it on the same line.

The most common and dangerous type of skewer is when the king is the front enemy piece. If the attacking piece cannot be captured and nothing can interpose, then the checked king must move and thus expose his fellow piece to capture.

The skewer resembles the pin as in both cases a piece takes advantage of two enemy pieces standing on the same line. However, the difference is the order of the pieces on the line. In the pin the rear piece is the more valuable one, while in the skewer it is the front one (or they have the same value; e.g., a bishop might skewer two rooks on a diagonal).

White to play

Tal – Benko

Amsterdam Interzonal 1964

It is the last call before Black castles. Can White hinder this plan?

The reader won’t find it too hard to spot the skewer:

19 Rd8+! Ke7

The alternative is being forked: 19...Kxd8 20 Nxf7+ +–.

20 Rxh8 Qxg5 21 Qd2 1-0

Black to play

Honfi – Tal

Sukhumi 1972

Black has invested some material to expose the white king. How can he now cash in?

While in the previous example we saw a white horizontal skewer, here we witness a black diagonal one in action. It is prepared by a bishop sacrifice:

31...Bb4+!! 32 Kxb4 Qa5+ 33 Kc4 Qa6+ 0-1

Following this decisive skewer, White’s entire camp falls apart in no time.


W. Proskurowski

Szachy, 1959

Can White achieve more than the likely-looking draw?

He can, by employing the most common skewer combination in chess practice.

1 a6

The ‘logical’ option leads to a dead end following 1 Rh7+? Kd8 2 a6 Ra4 3 a7 Kc8 4 Kd6 Ra6+ 5 Kc5 Ra1 6 Kb6 Rb1+, drawing.

1...Ra4 2 a7! Kd7

Black avoids one skewer: 2...Rxa7 3 Rh7+.

3 Rh8! Rxa7 4 Rh7+ +–

...but falls into another one.


L. Prokeš

Jak Řešit Šachove Ulohy a Studie, 1946

A skewer by promoting – or right after – is fairly common in the endgame. Can White stop Black’s promotion while securing his own?

That is unlikely but there is a surprising alternative:

1 Bd5 Ke2

1...h2 allows White time to regroup by 2 Bh1! (care is needed: not 2 Bg2? Ke1 3 e4 Kf2) 2...Ke2 3 e4 Kf2 4 e5 Kg1 5 Ba8.

2 e4 Ke3 3 e5 Kd4 4 e6! Kxd5

The king has been lured to the critical diagonal...

5 e7 h2 6 e8Q h1Q 7 Qa8+ +–

...to be hit by a lethal skewer.

Skewer Exercises

1: White to play

Black seems to have created a kind of stonewall. Can White break it?

2: Black to play

The black pieces are menacingly placed. What is the most effective way to make use of this?

3: White to play

How can White make progress and achieve victory?

4: Black to play

Show how Black can most wisely use his initiative.

5: White to play

How does White act forcefully against the exposed black king?

6: Black to play

Find a way for Black to exploit the overloaded white queen.

7: Black to play

Black now smoked out the white king. How?


How can White create winning chances even though his pawns are barely defensible?


Facing a double threat, can White maintain a decisive material superiority?


Can the white trio dominate the enemy queen?


Is there a way for the two rooks to defeat the royal couple?


Can White win this odd-looking position?


How should White put his extra bishop to use?


Can White make use of his queenside superiority? Is the black king in trouble?


Whose skewer will come first?


To convert his advantage, White must win any of the black pieces. But which one?


Both rooks are attacked and the h-pawn is about to promote. How does White cope?


Both sides are about to promote; can the white knight make any real difference?


Does White’s extra bishop promise victory?


Can White take advantage of the enemy king’s vulnerability?


How can the white pieces bring down the queen?


Show how White can give life to his pinned pawn.


How should White handle the king-hunt?

Skewer Solutions

1: White to play

1) Fischer – Gligorić

Rovinj/Zagreb 1970

Not just is it possible, but he can he do so immediately:

35 Rxf6!! 1-0

There are two variations: a skewer following 35...Kxf6 36 Bxg5+ and a fork after 35...Qxf6 36 Nh5+.

2: Black to play

2) Guimard – Euwe

Groningen 1946

From the various reasonable candidate moves, the strongest is no doubt...

34...Nd2!!

Black wins instantly due to the skewer 35 Qxd2 Qh2+.

3: White to play

3) Alekhine – Spielmann

New York 1927

A breakthrough is the only way in:

68 b5! cxb5 69 Kb4 1-0

Black resigned in view of the most thematic skewer in rook endings: 69...c6 70 Rh8! Rxa7 71 Rh7+ +–.

4: Black to play

4) Larsen – Spassky

Linares 1981

By employing two sacrificial decoys. First he uses the pin on the third rank for a fork:

43...g4+! 0-1

After 44 Kxg4 comes a skewer: 44...Bh5+! 45 Kxh5 to deliver mate by 45...Qg5#.

5: White to play

5) Karpov – Sax

Linares 1983

The white pieces are ideally coordinated for...

35 Re7!!

Neat and elegant!

35...Rd1+

Or 35...Qxe7 36 Qa8+ Kc7 37 Qa7+ Kd8 (37...Kc8 38 Qxe7) 38 Qb8#.

36 Kxd1 Qxe7 37 Qa8+ Kc7 38 Qa7+ Kd6 39 Qb6+ 1-0

39...Kd5 (39...Ke5 makes no difference) 40 Qd4+ Ke6 41 Bb3#.

6: Black to play

6) Spassky – Fischer

World Ch (5), Reykjavik 1972

This was a key moment in arguably the most dramatic world championship match of all:

27...Bxa4! 0-1

Deflection by a skewer. 28 Qxa4 Qxe4 –+ is a double mate threat that White cannot handle, while

28 Qb1 Bxd1 29 Qxd1 Qxe4 30 Qd2 Nxg2 leaves White three pawns behind.

7: Black to play

7) Tartakower – Euwe

Venice 1948

Two well-calculated sacrifices expose the king to two effective skewers:

39...Nc4+! 40 bxc4 Rxa4+! 41 Kxa4 Qa2+ 42 Kb4 Qb2+ 0-1

White resigned in view of 43 Ka5 Qa3# and 43 Kc5 Qxf2+, with the second, and fatal, skewer.


8) L. Prokeš

Lidove Listy, 1934

White wins by giving away both his pawns.

1 Rc7+ Kxb3

After 1...Kb4 2 Rc4+ Ka3 (2...Ka5 3 Ra4+) 3 Kc2 Rxb3 the pinning 4 Rc3 is decisive.

2 Rc2!

Attacking from behind is the essence of the skewer!

2...Ka3+ 3 Ka1! Rxb7 4 Ra2+ Kb3 5 Rb2+ +–


9) L. Kubbel

Krasnaya Gazeta, 1935

Yes he can, by counter-attacking a black piece to start with:

1 Nc7! g5+ 2 Kh3! Bf1+ 3 Kg3!

Allowing the capture with check...

3...gxf4+ 4 Kf2

...but now the bishop is dominated!

4...Bd3

4...Bh3 5 Be6+ is analogous.

5 Bh7+ +–


10) H. Rinck

L’Échiquier, 1929

They can indeed, provided they handle the queen-hunt harmoniously on the almost open board:

1 Ra4! Qg8

Capturing the rook is met by the first skewer: 1...Qxa4 2 Be8+.

2 Ra8! Qh7

All other queen moves are met by either a skewer or a fork: 2...Qxa8 3 Bf3+; 2...Qb3 3 Nd4+; 2...Qc4 3 Rc8+; 2...Qd5 3 Nb4+; 2...Qe6 3 Nd4+.

3 Bg6!

No rest here either!

3...Qxg6 4 Ra6+ +–

The final deadly skewer.


11) H. Lommer

The Field, 1948

There is, but only with the utmost coordination and precision. First the king should be pushed to the lower edge of the board:

1 Ra3+ Ke2 2 Rc2+ Kd1 3 Rh2!

Now Black has two options, both defeated by a skewer along a rank that wins the black queen:

a) On the second rank: 3...Qxh2 4 Ra1+ Kc2 5 Ra2+ Kb3 6 Rxh2 +–.

b) On White’s back rank: 3...Qd4 4 Ra1+! Qxa1 5 Rh1+ Kc2 6 Rxa1 +–.


12) S. Kozlowski

Swiat Szachowy, 1931

Paradoxically, giving away the bishop is the only option:

1 Rg7+!

1 g7? Ra8 is a positional draw since there is no way for White’s rook to reach the eighth rank.

1...Kxh8 2 Rh7+ Kg8 3 g7! Ra8 4 Rh8+ +–

The upper corner has been vacated for the decisive skewer.


13) G. Zakhodiakin


By sacrificing it – and more than once!

1 Kc7+! Kc4!

1...Ka5 is met by 2 f8Q b1Q 3 Qa3#.

2 Bb5+! Kc3

Black declines the first gift due to a vertical skewer: 2...Kxb5 3 f8Q b1Q 4 Qb8+ Kc4 5 Qxb1.

But he now falls into a diagonal one:

3 Bd3! Kxd3 4 f8Q b1Q 5 Qf5+ +–

White finally wins the black queen.


14) L. Kubbel

L’Eco degli Scacchi, 1917

Yes, and it can be forced into an even more unfavourable location:

1 Be7+ Kc4

Not 1...Ka4 2 Ra3#. But what now?

2 Rc3+!!

A stunning sacrifice to block the c3-square.

2...dxc3 3 d3+ Kd4 4 Bc5+ Ke5 5 Bd6+ +–

White finally unearths the treasure on the kingside.


15) A. Grin


White inflicts the victorious skewer:

1 Qa5+!!

Not 1 a8Q?, when Black strikes first by 1...Qc1+.

1...Kxa5 2 a8R+!

The triumphant skewer! Not 2 a8Q+? Kb4 3 Qb8+ Kc3 4 Qxb1 with stalemate.

2...Kb4 3 Rb8+ Kc3 4 Rxb1 +–


16) J. Fritz


In fact, all the black pieces are targeted during the ultra-sharp solution:

1 Bd5! Bxd5!

1...Bg7 fails due to the zwischenzug 2 R8h5+.

2 Rxf8+ Kg4!

Two other king moves are met by zwischenzugs: 2...Ke6 3 Rh6+ and 2...Ke5 3 Rh5+. Meanwhile, 2...Ke4 interferes with his own bishop, and so allows 3 Rxf2, while 2...Kg6 3 Rg1+ Rg2 4 Rxg2+ Bxg2 is decisively met by the skewer 5 Rg8+.

3 Rg1+ Rg2!

The battle is decided by two successive skewers:

4 Rg8+! Bxg8

4...Kh3 5 Rh1+ Rh2 6 Rh8+.

5 Rxg2+ +–


17) A. Maksimovskikh and V. Shupletsov


He takes one step at a time and first gets rid of the forking knight:

1 Rb6+ Kc5

To keep both rooks threatened. Now 2 Rh8? is no good due to 2...Nc4+.

2 Rxd6! h1Q

What are White’s winning aspirations based on?

3 Rd1!!

By threatening the queen and mate simultaneously, White decoys the queen into surprising rook skewers.

3...Qb7

3...Qxd1 falls into a direct skewer: 4 Rc8+ Kd4 5 Rd8+ Ke3 6 Rxd1.

4 Rc8+! Qxc8 5 Rc1+ +–

The queen is finally won.


18) G. Zakhodiakin


An impressive knight manoeuvre engineers a skewer once the new queens are born:

1 h7 b2 2 Nh3+! Kg4!

Surprisingly, this is the only move that allows neither promotion with check nor a skewer on the b1-h7 diagonal.

3 Nf2+ Kf3!

Again the only move, this time to avoid also a further knight check to stop the pawn; e.g., 3...Kg3 4 Ne4+ Kf4 5 Nd2, etc.

4 Ne4!

Decoying the king to the desired diagonal.

4...Kxe4

Since 4...b1Q is met by the fork 5 Nd2+.

5 h8Q b1Q 6 Qh7+ +–

The decisive skewer explains all the earlier efforts.


19) M. Perelman

Sovetskaya Belorussia, 1929

Sometimes it would, but here White is better off without the bishop!

1 Be3!!

After 1 c7? d2 2 c8Q d1Q 3 Qc6+ Ke5 4 Bh2+ Kf5 White’s attack comes to a dead end.

1...dxe3 2 c7 e2

The other important line is 2...d2 3 c8Q d1Q 4 Qd7+, with a skewer.

3 c8Q e1Q 4 Qc6+

4 Qd7+ Kc4 5 Qb5+ Kc3 6 Qa5+ is equally strong.

4...Kd4 5 Qc5+ Ke4 6 Qe7+ +–

Another skewer decides the game.


20) A. Troitsky

Shakhmaty Ziurnal, 1898

A brilliant sacrifice leads to a pair of quick skewers:

1 Re6+!! Rxe6 2 Qa6+ Kd5 3 Qc4+ Kd6

3...Ke5 4 Qc3+ is a diagonal skewer.

4 Qc5+ Kd7 5 Qa7+ +–

And this is a horizontal one.


21) A. Herbstman

Magyar Sakkvilag, 1936

A well-coordinated attack generates three different skewers, totally dominating the queen:

1 Rh7+ Ke6!

For 1...Kf6 see next move.

2 Bh3+ Kf6 3 Rh8! Qa7!

3...Qxh8 allows the first skewer: 4 Be5+.

4 Bb6! Qa6!

4...Qxb6 is met by the second skewer, 5 Rh6+.

5 Bf1!

Black is now forced to take, allowing the third and final skewer:

5...Qxf1 6 Rf8+ +–


22) L. van Vliet


Decoying, unpinning and promoting create a deadly skewer – in several forms!

1 Qb4!

Zugzwang!

1...Qh1!

The other thematic lines are 1...Qd5 2 Qa4+ Kb6 3 Qb3+! Qxb3 4 b8Q+, 1...Qf3 2 Qa4+ Kb6 3 Qb3+! Qxb3 4 b8Q+ and 1...Qg2 2 Qa3+ Kb5 3 Qb2+! Qxb2 4 b8Q+.

2 Qa3+ Kb6

2...Kb5 allows a ‘banal’ technical win; e.g., 3 Qb2+ Kc4 (3...Ka4 4 Qa2+ Kb4 5 Qb1+ Qxb1 6 b8Q+) 4 Ka7 Qg1+ 5 Ka6 Qg6+ 6 Qb6.

3 Qb2+ Ka6

After 3...Kc7 there is a further skewer: 4 Qh2+! Qxh2 5 b8Q+.

4 Qa2+ Kb5 5 Qb1+! Qxb1 6 b8Q+ +–


23) H. Rinck


Chasing the black king might not end in mate and yet might help to weaken the mutual protection between the other pieces.

1 Qf4+ Kc3 2 Rxc5+!!

The king seems to evade all direct mating attempts such as 2 Qd2+? Kc4! 3 Qd3+ (3 Qa2+ Kb5) 3...Kb4 4 Qb1+ (4 Re4+ Ka5) 4...Ka4! 5 Re4+ Ka5 6 Qa2+ Kb6, but falls to this stunning sacrificial deflection which leaves his queen unguarded.

2...Rxc5 3 Qc1+ Kd4! 4 Qe3+ +–

The unguarded black queen is helpless against skewers following either 4...Kd5 5 Qf3+ or 4...Kc4 5 Qd3+ Kb4 6 Qb1+.

5: Deflection and Decoy Deflection is the act of driving an enemy piece away from a line or a square, while a decoy means driving it to a line or onto a square. Either way, the aim is to damage the opponent’s defensive efforts and the functions of his pieces either by removing a guard, interfering or shutting off a line, obstructing or self-blocking a square, etc. The purpose might also be to keep the opponent busy to allow the execution of a certain plan, or luring a piece to a square on which a second tactical motif is employed against it. Since they may appear in so many forms, deflection and decoy are among the most common weapons in one’s tactical arsenal and may appear in both the simplest and the most complex combinations.

In our selection, all deflections/decoys are sacrificial. While deflection and decoy are slightly different, they are also closely linked – often a sacrifice is both a deflection and a decoy – so we shall discuss them together. Here are two simple examples:

White to play

Lasker – NN

Netherlands simul 1908

Can you spot a quick win?

Deflecting the overloaded black queen generates a quick mate:

1 Rf8+!

Caution! Taking first on h7 with 1 Bxh7+?? fails as there is a black bishop lurking on c5!

1...Qxf8 2 Qxh7# (1-0)

The black queen has been deflected and thus does not control the mating square any more.

White to play

Spassky – Korchnoi

Candidates (7), Kiev 1968

The ending following the queen exchange seems very attractive for White. Can he do even better than that?

Decoying the enemy king to the neighbouring square on the open file decides the issue much faster:

35 Qh6+!!

After 35 Rh1+? Kg8 36 Qh6??, mate looks unavoidable. However, it is Black who mates: 36...Qd3+ 37 Ka1 Nc2+ 38 Kb1 Na3++ (nicer than 38...Ne1+ 39 Ka1 Qd1+ 40 Qc1 Qxc1#) 39 Ka1 Qb1+! 40 Rxb1 Nc2#, with a smothered mate.

After the move played, White makes much better use of his rook on both sides of the board.

1-0

The black king has the choice only between being mated in one move or in two moves.

Owing to their vast variety and multiple facets, deflection and decoy are popular in the art of chess composition.


A. Troitsky

Novoye Vremia, 1903

How can White make sure that his pawn promotes?

By decoying the black king to an unfavourable square. 1 g7? is simply refuted by 1...Kf7 while 1 Rg5? allows 1...Ra5! 2 Kg4 Kf6!. The only effective way is to cut off the king by...

1 Rf5!! Rc2

1...Kxf5 is simply met by 2 g7.

2 g7 Rc8 3 Rf8 +–

White to play and draw

M. Henneberger

National Zeitung, 1924

Both white knights are stranded on opposite sides of the board and about to be trapped. Is there any possible ray of hope?

A double deflection/decoy saves White’s skin against all odds:

1 Ne3!

After 1 Ne7? Rd3! 2 Ng6+ Ke4! the f1-knight has no future.

1...Kxe3 2 Ne7! =

The miracle does happen, and in just three moves, thanks to the fork after 2...Rf6 3 Nd5+.

Deflection and Decoy Exercises

1: White to play

How can White exploit Black’s vulnerable back rank?

2: White to play

Can you turn Black’s solid-looking position to ruins in just a single move?

3: White to play

Black has not yet castled, and this will cost him dear. Why?

4: Black to play

How should Black convert his kingside superiority into victory?

5: White to play

What’s the simplest way for White to win material?

6: Black to play

What is White’s most significant weakness, and how does Black benefit from it?

7: Black to play

White is about to consolidate by 25 Nd4. Can Black strike first?

8: White to play

Black’s pieces look active and secure. Can the white queen dispute that view of matters?

9: White to play

What would be White’s dream here and how can he realize it?


Is there a way for White to save his last pawn?


Can you see Black’s counterplay and work out how White should handle it?


It seems that the white pawn will be lost. But what is really going on?


Show how White disrupts the rook’s efforts to prevent promotion.


Can White avoid being mated?


How should White handle the dangerous black pawn?


The pair of far-advanced black pawns pose a deadly mating threat. Can White stop it?


It seems that Black can comfortably tame both pawns. Can White prove this view wrong?


How does the white king halt the unstoppable black pawn?


Can White make his pawn as strong as its black counterpart?


Show how White makes good use of his pair of connected passed pawns.


What can White do to prepare for Black’s unavoidable promotion?


What does it take to secure the promotion of White’s pawn?


How does White convert his kingside superiority into something more tangible?

Deflection and Decoy Solutions

1: White to play

1) Capablanca – Spielmann

San Sebastian 1911

White wins a piece by deflecting the only defender of the eighth rank:

29 Rxe7! +–

After 29...Qxe7 30 Qc8+ White mates.

2: White to play

2) Fischer – J. Bennett

USA Junior Ch, San Francisco 1957

By deflecting the black queen, White takes over the long diagonal at once:

38 Rd8+! Qxd8 39 Qxc3+ Qf6 40 Qxf6# (1-0)

The dark squares have changed hands.

3: White to play

3) Alekhine – Kussman

New York simul 1924

The ‘centralized’ black king is exposed to various threats and thus is caught by surprise:

16 Qb5+! Nd7

The black queen is overloaded, busy in this case guarding both file and rank and its deflection is aimed at mating her king: 16...Qxb5 17 Nf6#.

17 Rfe1 Bb4

Missing the best moment to resign.

18 Nf6++ Kf8 19 Nxd7+ Rxd7 20 Qe5 1-0

With a deadly triple mate threat. Therefore: ‘first castle and then philosophize!’ Is that clear?

4: Black to play

4) Paoli – Smyslov

Venice 1950

Decoying and deflecting the white queen leads to her downfall:

32...Rxc2!

Forcing the white queen to abandon control of f3.

33 Qxc2

33 Rxe5 is no better in view of 33...Qxe5 34 Qxc2 Qxa1, winning the exchange.

33...Nf3+ 34 Kf2

Or 34 Kh1 Qg3, mating.

34...Qg3+ 0-1

After 35 Ke2 (35 Ke3 Nfd4+ is equally bad) 35...Nfd4+ the consecutive forks prove decisive.

5: White to play

5) Fischer – Goldsmith

West Orange 1957

A simple sacrifice deflects either the black queen or the black knight:

12 Rxd7! Qxd7

Or 12...Nxd7 13 Qxe7, with a similar outcome.

13 Bxf6 Bxf6 14 Qxf6 +–

White wins two pieces for the rook in addition to the extra pawn he already possessed.

6: Black to play

6) Lisitsyn – Smyslov


The weakness of the long light-squared diagonal allows a double sacrificial deflection:

23...Rxc4!

Removing the white queen from its third rank, while also bringing it to a square where the knight can attack it.

24 Qxc4 Ne3! –+

25 fxe3 (everything else is hopeless) allows 25...Bxe3+ 26 Kf1 Qf3+ 27 Ke1 Qf2#.

7: Black to play

7) Timman – Karpov

London 1984

He can indeed:

24...Rxe5!

Deflecting the overloaded white queen away from guarding f3.

25 Qxe5 Qf3+ 26 Kh2 Qf2+ 0-1

Black mates after 27 Kh3 Bc8+ 28 g4 Rf3+.

8: White to play

8) Tal – Keller

Zurich 1959

A daring sacrificial deflection is all it takes for Black’s position to collapse completely:

29 Rb7+!! Kxb7

Now the queen can invade.

30 Qd7+ Kb8 31 e8Q+ Rxe8 32 Qxe8+ Kb7 33 Qd7+ Kb8 34 Qxc6 1-0

This sequence of forced moves leaves Black lost on material.

9: White to play

9) Botvinnik – Keres

USSR Team Ch, Moscow 1966

The obvious answer is to mate on h7, and there is a way to make this come true:

27 Rb8! 1-0

The queen is deflected and there is no way to keep guarding h4. After 27...Qxb8 28 Qxh4, mate is unavoidable.


10) W. Mees

De Schaakwereld, 1939

Deflecting the black king away from the pawn gives its white counterpart a vital tempo to move in closer:

1 Nc6! Kxc6 2 Nb6!

And another knight for another square! Not 2 Nc7? Kxc7 3 Kf7 Kd6, when White is a tempo too short.

2...Kxb6 3 Kf7 Kc6 4 Ke6 Kc7 5 d5 Kd8 6 Kd6! +–

In this basic K+P vs K position, White wins no matter who is to move.


11) F. Lazard

Le Soleil de Marseille, 1925

White must tiptoe around a pair of stalemate mines:

1 h6 Ba2

After 1...Bc2!? 2 Bxc2+ Kxh6 White wins by 3 g8N+! (but not 3 g8R? stalemate).

2 Kg5 Bb3! 3 Bd7!

The only square; e.g., 3 Bc6?! Bd5 4 Kf6? (White can still win by finding 4 Bd7!) 4...Bxc6 5 Kf7 Bd5+! is a draw.

3...Be6!

A valiant try, but the black bishop has in truth been decoyed to a critical square, as will become apparent.

4 Kf6! Bxd7 5 Kf7 +–

The black bishop can deliver no more checks without being captured.




Not as yet!

1 Bxd3+!

Care is needed: not 1 Rxd3? Rxa7! 2 Ra3+ Kh6 3 Rxa7 with stalemate.

1...Kg7 2 Ba6!

Interference to decoy the rook to the sixth rank.

2...Rxa6 3 Rd7+ Kf6

Or 3...Kg8 4 Rd8+.

4 Rd6+!

The rook is now deflected away from the a-file.

4...Rxd6 5 a8Q +–


13) H. Weenink


He can do so with the help of a well-timed sacrificial decoy:

1 a7 Rg2+

1...Rg8 allows White to block the rook’s access to a8 immediately by 2 Bg3+ Kd5 3 Bb8 +–.

2 Kb1

2 Ka1 is just as effective.

2...Rg1+ 3 Be1! Rxe1+

Again 3...Rg8 allows 4 Bg3+ Kd5 5 Bb8 +–.

4 Kb2

The rook cannot rush to its back rank any more.

4...Re2+ 5 Kb3 Re3+ 6 Kb4 Re4+ 7 Kb5 +–

There are no more checks, so the pawn promotes.


14) L. Kaev

“64”, 1932

He can do so by actively getting rid of all his pieces one by one!

1 Bh4+!

The right check. Following 1 Bf4+? Kh3 2 g8Q Qa1+ 3 Bc1 Qxc1+ 4 Nd1 Qxd1+ 5 Qg1 Qd5+ 6 e4 Qxe4+, Black mates.

1...Kh3! 2 g8Q Qa1+!

The critical moment: since 3 Qg1? now fails to 3...Qa8+, White comes up with two consecutive sacrificial zwischenzugs to decoy the queen along the first rank:

3 Nd1! Qxd1+ 4 Be1! Qxe1+ 5 Qg1

Now there is no check on the long light-squared diagonal.

5...Qxe2

And even here there is only one way to evade the several mating threats.

6 Qe3+! Qxe3 =

Stalemate.


15) V. Kovalenko


Harassing the enemy king is the only option:

1 Nec2+ Kb2!

After 1...Ka2 2 Nc4! f1Q 3 Nb4+ Ka1 4 Nc2+ Black must either acquiesce to perpetual check or allow a knight fork.

2 Ne3 Nf5+!

Deflection by Black!

3 Kd3 Nxe3 4 Nc4+!

And now White uses deflection.

4...Nxc4 5 Ke2 =

Following the mutual deflections, the pawn is finally neutralized.


16) V. Kichigin

Buletin Problemistic, 1978

Yes, but he must decoy the black king into the range of the remote knight whatever the material cost.

1 Rh7+!

The natural try 1 Ra6+? leads to a dead end after 1...Kg7! 2 Ra7+ Kg8!.

1...Kxh7

Forced or else the rook continues to its back rank.

2 Bg6+! Kxg6

Forced again!

3 Nf4+ Kf5 4 Ne2!

Not 4 Nd3? Ke4 5 Nc1 Ke3.

4...Ke4 5 Nxc3+ =

Just in time!

Note that care was still needed: the careless 5 Nc1?? loses to 5...Ke3 6 Ka2 Kd2 7 Nb3+ Kd1.


17) L. Prokeš

Severočesky Šach, 1946

Yes he can, but the move-order must be precise:

1 d7

This pawn must advance first. After 1 a7? Kb7 2 d7 Rf8 3 Ke7 Rh8 4 Bg6 Kxa7 5 Be8 Rh7+ 6 Bf7 Rh8, Black draws.

1...Rd4

Not 1...Rf8 2 Ke7 Rh8 3 d8Q Rxd8 4 Kxd8 Kb6 5 Bd3 +–, since White has the right bishop to go with the a-pawn.

2 a7 Kb7

How can White be winning this?

3 Be4+!

Deflecting the rook off the promotion file.

3...Rxe4+

After 3...Kxa7 the interference 4 Bd5 wins.

4 Kd5 Re1

Preparing a skewer.

5 a8Q+!

Decoying the king to its back rank so the promotion comes with check, and the potential skewer can never take place.

5...Kxa8 6 d8Q+ +–


18) T. Gorgiev

Izvestia, 1928

By elbowing his way to the queenside:

1 g4+! Kg5!

After 1...Kxg4 2 Kg6 c5 3 h4! (deflecting the black king) 3...Kxh4 (otherwise both sides promote) 4 Kf5 White is just in time to stop the pawn.

2 Kg7!

Not 2 h4+? Kxh4! 3 Kg6 Kxg4 4 Kf6 Kf4.

2...c5 3 h4+!

This second deflection also brings in ideas of White promoting one of his own pawns.

3...Kxh4

3...Kxg4 4 Kg6! Kxh4 5 Kf5 is as above.

4 Kf6

Finally gaining the critical tempo owing to the threat of advancing White’s own pawn. This motif is named after Richard Réti, who was the first one to demonstrate it in a study.

4...c4 5 g5 =

Both sides promote together and draw.


19) L. Mitrofanov

Leningradskaya Pravda, 1988

Similarly to the previous position, here too White must place his trust in his own pawn to counterbalance the soon-to-be-born black queen. But first he should shut off a couple of potential lines for the queen in advance:

1 Be1+! Kb5 2 Nc4!

The first decoy is to shut off the c-file.

2...Kxc4

2...Bxg5 is obviously met by the fork 3 Na3+.

3 g6 Bh6 4 Bd2!

The second sacrifice has a double purpose: deflecting the bishop to allow the white pawn to march, while also shutting off the diagonal to keep the queen away from White’s pawn.

The bishop ending following 4 g7?? Bxg7 5 Bd2 Kd3 6 Bc1 Bd4 7 Kg2 Be3 8 Bb2 Kc4 9 Kf3 Kb3 is evidently hopeless.

4...Bxd2 5 g7 c1Q+ 6 Kg2 =

All of a sudden Black, despite his tremendous material advantage, is helpless against the white promotion.


20) N. Kralin

1st-2nd Pr., Vserossiski Ty, 1962

A pair of deflections assures that:

1 Bb5+!

Since the direct 1 f6? fails to 1...Rxe4 2 f7 Rf4, when the pawn is under control, White first inserts this check.

1...Kxe4 2 f6

The pawn seems unstoppable.

2...Ra2+!

But it’s not so simple! Black also cunningly inserts a check to decoy the white king to the a2-g8 diagonal.

3 Kxa2 Ke5

Is Black’s mission accomplished and the white pawn doomed? The drama is still on with a pair of powerful moves by White:

4 Bd4+!

A deflection to keep the king away.

4...Kxd4 5 Bc4!

And now the diagonal is shut off by a decoy.

5...Kxc4 6 f7 +–

Promotion is finally secured.


21) L. Mitrofanov and V. Razumenko

Kirovsky Rabochi, 1976

Any attempt to hold the position with two minor pieces and a strong pawn against the queen would prove futile since then the dormant black knight in the corner will decide the battle in no time. The solution to this seemingly hopeless situation is quite stunning:

1 Ne4!

Decoying the king into the line of fire of a battery.

1...Kxe4

1...d1Q is naturally met by the fork 2 Nf2+ Kd4 3 Nxd1 Ke5 =.

2 Kc7+!

The discovered check by the king should be carefully chosen to avoid being checked by the new-born queen, yet to be as close as possible to his own pawn.

2...Ke3! 3 Bf3!

A second decoy to shut off the f-file.

3...Kxf3 4 f6 d1Q 5 f7 =

It is important that the white pawn cannot be controlled from behind now and that the white king is just in time to create a well-known positional draw; e.g., 5...Qc2+ 6 Kd7 Qf5+ 7 Ke7 Qe5+ 8 Kf8 Ke4 9 Kg8 Qg5+ 10 Kh7 Qf6 11 Kg8 Qg6+ 12 Kh8! – the extra knight is too far away to make any difference.


22) A. Gillberg

Tidskrift för Schack, 1986

The solution features no fewer than four consecutive sacrificial deflections:

1 e7 Bh4

Both 1...Rc7 and 1...Rc8 lose to 2 Bd7.

2 Re1+! Kf2

2...Bxe1 is met by 3 Bc6! – the only move to avoid a check by the rook on c7.

3 Rf1+! Ke3

3...Kxf1 is met by 4 Bb5+, while after 3...Kg3 4 Rf3+ Kg2, 5 Bc6! creates a battery to win the black rook following 5...Bxe7 6 Rc3+.

4 Rf3+! Kd2

4...Kxf3 fails to 5 Bh5+.

5 Rf2+!

The last deflection cannot be declined.

5...Bxf2 6 Bd7! +–


23) A. Hildebrand

3rd Pr., Springaren, 1984

By recruiting all his forces for a mating attack:

1 Rfg1+! Bg2!

Black must insert this move to avoid a banal defeat after 1...Kf3 2 Rh3+ Kf4 3 Rh4+ Kf3 4 Bxe4+, winning the queen.

2 Rxg2+ Kf3

2...Kf4 3 Rh4+.

3 Be4+!!

A stunning deflection!

3...Qxe4

Since 3...Kxe4 allows a skewer by 4 Rh4+, and 3...Kf4 is met by 4 Rh4#.

But what now?

4 0-0#

Castling can look pretty aggressive sometimes!

6: Trapping a Piece While the final goal in chess is to mate the enemy king, a standard way to work towards that aim is to hunt down the opponent’s pieces and capture them. Material gains can be achieved by positional pressure or by employing a variety of tactical weapons. Standard methods to win a piece include a fork, a pin or a skewer.

Trapping a piece by limiting its mobility is far less common in practice and usually catches the opponent by surprise. Maybe an unexpected zwischenzug pops up out of the blue and denies the attacked piece any safe refuge. It is especially painful when the victim is the queen, as demonstrated in the following two examples:

White to play

Steinitz – Bird

London (9) 1866

How should White punish a queen that tries to win the game all by itself?

A single lady out there in a futile solo sortie often becomes an easy prey:

9 h3! Qxg2

Or 9...Qh5 10 g4 and the queen has no refuge. The move chosen fails to offer much more.

10 Rh2! +–

Her majesty is trapped as early as move ten.

White to play

Botvinnik – Schneiderman Stepanov

Leningrad Ch 1930

How can White benefit from the ‘offside’ position of the black queen?

He can actually trap the enemy queen as follows:

19 Bxf7+!

Vacating a key square...

19...Rxf7 20 Nc4 +–

...for the vicious hunter. The black queen is helpless.


E. Pogosiants


How can White dream of winning when he is a piece behind?

By hunting this extra piece, taking advantage of its rather limited space:

1 d6!

Locking up in advance the bishop’s cage. The obvious 1 Ke8? Bc7 2 Kxe7 Ke5 is only a draw.

1...exd6 2 Ke8 Bc7 3 Kd7 Bb8 4 Kc8 +–

The bishop is doomed thanks to the anticipatory line-closing on the first move.

A piece may also be trapped by means of domination – that is, one side obtains control over a significant part of the board so that certain squares are not accessible to an enemy piece (or more). When a valuable piece lacks a safe haven, it may be won either by being threatened or due to zugzwang. Have a look at the following relatively simple example.


E. Richter

Československa Republika, 1928

How can White convert his rather minimal advantage?

In fact, faster than expected:

1 d6!

To block the file first.

1...exd6 2 Bc2!

The rank is no safer either and the rook is actually dominated.

2...Rh1

Or 2...Rd5 3 Be4, pinning the rook.

3 Be4+ +–

The fork attacks both black pieces at opposite ends of the long diagonal. It only remains to mate with bishop and knight.

Nevertheless, trapping a piece does not always mean physically capturing it. The weaker side might obtain domination over a superior enemy piece (or pieces) just by limiting its mobility in a certain part of the board. If the stronger side is unable to make progress and left with nothing better than just

repeating moves, the game may result in a positional draw.

Trapping a Piece Exercises

1: White to play

Black seems in no hurry to castle. Can this be recommended here?

2: White to play

How can White take the enemy king by surprise?

3: White to play

Which is Black’s most vulnerable piece?

4: Black to play

White has two mobile connected passed pawns. Where is Black’s counterplay?

5: White to play

How can White confuse the crowd on Black’s back rank?


Is the black bishop really safe?


A rook behind, is there still hope for White?


Can White keep all his pieces intact to secure the win?


Material is equal and there are no pawns. So how can White secure victory?


White’s sole remaining pawn looks vulnerable. Can it be maintained?


Is there a way to exploit the temporarily cramped position of the black queen?


How can White prove the knight’s superiority in this open position?


It looks like an impossible mission, doesn’t it?


Will White lose his winning hopes with the impending fall of his last pawn?


White is two pieces down. Is there any hope?


Can White prevent Black from promoting?


Can White save all three of his pieces to secure a win?


What will be the shortest way to win the new-born black queen?


How can White trap the seemingly unimpeded rook?


Can you dominate the black bishop?


Which of his threatened pieces should White abandon?


Any idea how White can foil the promotion of the h-pawn?


Can the white infantry take down the queen?


How can White win one of Black’s pieces?


Does trapping a piece always mean winning it?


Can you help White out of his gloomy position?


A whole rook behind, what is left for White to fight for?


Can White avoid the loss of his a7-pawn?

Trapping a Piece Solutions

1: White to play

1) Tal – Streicher

Riga 1950

Generally speaking, one should obey the great Tartakower, who used to say “First castle and then philosophize!” (in French it even rhymes). It certainly applies in this position, and White vigorously shows why:

5 Bxf7+! Kxf7 6 Ng5+ +–

The black queen can either be trapped following 6...Ke8 7 Ne6 or become a widow after 6...Kf6 7 Qf3#.

2: White to play

2) Fischer – Sherwin


White decides the battle in his favour by turning a defender into an aggressor, even at the cost of weakening his own king:

26 Nf5!!

Threatening not just a fork but rather a mate!

26...Rxg2+ 27 Kf1

Black’s pieces are trapped owing to the knight’s mate threat.

27...b6 28 Ne7+

28 Rc1 is equally effective.

28...Kb7 29 Nxc6 +–

Grabbing a piece and winning the game.

3: White to play

3) Anand – Nikolić

FIDE Knockout, Groningen 1997

The uncastled king is quite well protected, so White should focus primarily on the more exposed black queen:

27 Rxd7!

This preliminary move drags the black king to the pinning file. The immediate 27 Rb4?! Qxb4! 28 Bxb4 Nxc7 allows Black to put up more resistance.

27...Kxd7 28 Rb4! +–

28...Qf5 29 g4 leaves the queen trapped in the middle of the board.

4: Black to play

4) Kramnik – Anand

World Ch (5), Bonn 2008

The back-rank pin might offer a hint, but how to exploit it?

34...Ne3!! 35 fxe3

Turning down the gift by 35 h3 Rxf1+ 36 Kh2 Rxf2 –+ traps the white king in a mating-net.

35...fxe3 0-1

The threat of 36...e2 is hard to meet, and the pinned bishop is trapped. The game might end 36 Rc7 Rxc7 37 g3 Rc1 38 Kg2 Rc2+ 39 Kf3 Rf2+, etc.

5: White to play

5) Fischer – Reshevsky


By spotting a surprisingly long pinning line:

10 Bxf7+!! Kxf7 11 Ne6!

The queen has no escape!

11...dxe6

Once again, either the queen is trapped or her king is marched to the scaffold: 11...Kxe6 12 Qd5+ Kf5 13 g4+ Kxg4 14 Rg1+ Kh4 15 Qe4+ Kh3 16 Qg4+ and mate next move.

12 Qxd8 +–


6) J. Gunst


The black bishop certainly seems to have plenty of room. It’s the black king that might experience hardships:

1 Bc6+

Taking over the critical diagonal.

1...Kb8 2 Ne5! a5

Parrying the direct mate threat. 2...Be6 is met by 3 Bg2!, preventing the black bishop from finding a safe haven on h3.

3 Be4!

All of a sudden there is no defence against 4 Nc6+ followed by a discovered check to pick up the black bishop.

3...Ba2

There is no safe spot for the bishop. Moving the king is no better: 3...Ka7 4 Kc7! Ka6 (4...a4 5 Nc6+ Ka6 6 Bd3+, mating) 5 Bd3+ Ka7 6 Nc6+ Ka8 7 Ba6, mating again.

4 Nc6+ Kb7 5 Nb4+ +–

The bishop is lost.


7) A. Wotawa

Schach Magazin, 1950

White is even ready to give away his best pawn in order to save the game.

1 b7!! Rb1+ 2 Kc3 Rxb7 3 Rh5+ Kc6 4 Kc4! =

Surprisingly, Black cannot prevent 5 Rh6+ followed by the fork 6 c6+. Both rooks obstruct the king’s escape. The loss of a rook is thus unavoidable!


8) A. Kakovin

2nd HM, Suomen Shakki, 1961

In fact he can’t in view of the double threat (the direct one on his bishop and the slower one to fork the other white pieces), yet a devious trap makes up for it:

1 Ba4! Re4 2 Bb3+ Kh8

Otherwise Black loses even faster: 2...Kh7 3 Bc2 or 2...Kf8 3 Bc5+.

3 Ne5!! Rxd4+ 4 Kc3!

All of a sudden, the rook can find no proper shelter.

4...Re4

All dark flight-squares are indirectly covered by immediate knight forks: 4...Rh4 5 Ng6+, 4...Rd8 5 Nf7+, 4...Rd6 5 Nf7+ or 4...Rf4 5 Ng6+.

The only light flight-square is covered by a delayed fork:

5 Nf7+ Kh7 6 Ng5+ +–


9) T. Gorgiev

4th HM, “64”, 1930

By seeking to dominate the black bishop:

1 Rb3+ Rb6! 2 Rxb6+ Kc7

Obviously not 2...Ka7 3 Re6.

3 Bd8+!

As by now 3 Re6? fails to 3...Kd7.

3...Kxd8 4 Rb8+ Ke7 5 Kg6! +–

The bishop is lost due to zugzwang.


10) Z. Birnov

Shakhmaty, 1929

Yes, thanks to the vulnerability of the black bishop:

1 Kd2! Kb4 2 Kc1 Ba2 3 Kb2 Bxb3 4 Bd6+ Kc4

Alternatively, 4...Ka4 is met by 5 Nc3+.

5 Nc3! +–

Black is totally dominated and loses his bishop.


11) A. Gurvich and E. Pogosiants

3rd Pr., Molodoi Gvardia, 1963

Trapping the queen is made possible by unavoidable knight forks. The first move vacates the key square.

1 Kb2! Kc4

The only way to avoid the immediate loss of the queen. Both knights are taboo in view of the identical double threat: 1...Qxb5 2 Nc3+ or 1...Qxd1 2 Nc3+.

2 Ne3+! Kxb5 3 Nd5!

The queen is dominated.

3...Kc6 4 Nc3 +–


12) R. Réti (version)

Hastings and St Leonards Post, 1922

Unexpectedly, it takes just two moves to do so:

1 Nd4+ Kc5

1...Kb7 2 Kxh2 Ka6 3 Nb3 Kb5 4 Kg3 is a technical win and even not such a complicated one.

2 Kh1!! +–

Extraordinary vision! Each of the bishop moves (as well as 2...Kd6) is met by a knight fork.

The natural alternative 2 Nb3+? Kb5 3 Kxh2 Bf4+ 4 Kh3 Bb8 5 Kg4 Ka4 is only good enough for a draw.


13) A. Guliaev

Sp. Pr., Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1940

A great deal of creative imagination is called for:

1 g7!

1 Bc5? hxg6 2 e6 Kh7+ 3 Kf7 Kxh6 4 e7 Kg5 gets White nowhere.

1...f2 2 Be7! f1Q 3 Bf6! Qxf6! 4 gxh8Q+!!

4 exf6? is just a stalemate.

4...Qxh8

4...Kxh8 5 exf6.

5 d4! +–

The black queen has run out of safe squares up there in the corner.


14) L. Kubbel

Rigaer Tageblatt, 1914

Not quite! The oddly-placed black bishop is the basis for White’s ambitions:

1 Be4! Kxa7 2 Nd5 Bg8 3 Ne7! +–

Although the bishop seems to have plenty of room, it in fact has no refuge along the entire diagonal. See for yourself:

a) 3...Bh7 4 Kb5 Kb8 5 Kb6.

b) 3...Be6 4 Nc6+ Ka6 5 Bd3+ Kb7 6 Nd8+.

c) 3...Bb3 4 Nc6+ Ka6 5 Bd3+ Kb7 6 Na5+.

d) 3...Ba2 4 Nc6+ Ka6 5 Nb4+.

e) 3...Bf7 4 Nc6+ Ka6 5 Bd3+ Kb7 6 Nd8+.


15) Y. Yakimchik


Owing to the cramped position of Black’s pieces in the corner, White is even dominant:

1 Be4!

Not 1 Be6? Kh2 2 Kf2 Ng6, when Black wins in the long run by checking on h3, for example.

After the text-move, White now threatens the black knight.

1...Nf4+!

The only sensible response is to put the other knight en prise too!

2 Ke3 Nhg2+ 3 Bxg2! Nxg2+ 4 Ke2

From now on, a sole king dominates the battle.

4...Kh2 5 Kf2 Kh3

What else?

6 Kg1! =

The bishop is trapped and splitting the point is unavoidable.


16) S. Kozlowski

Ksiega JT, 1938

No he can’t, but he must seek to win the new-born queen afterwards:

1 Ra1 Kg2 2 Kh8!!

There is no time for a waiting move since then Black gains a vital check: 2 Rc1? Bf1 3 Rc7 h1Q 4 Rh7 Bc4+!.

2...Bf1 3 Ra7! h1Q+ 4 Rh7!

The queen is trapped and will be lost to a skewer:

4...Qg1 5 Rg7+ =


17) D. Petrov


Eventually he will lose one, but obtains domination with the remaining two:

1 Bc1! Rf2+!

Worse is 1...Rd4+ 2 Be4.

2 Kg3! Rf1!

Two pieces are still hanging.

3 Bf4+! Rxf4 4 Bd3!

All of a sudden the rook is dominated! Any move is met by a knight fork.

4...Rb4

The alternatives are 4...Rf6 5 Nd5+ and 4...Rd4 5 Nb5+.

5 Nd5+ +–


18) P. Heuäcker

Wiener Neueste Nachrichten, 1933

Certainly not by 1 Qxc2? stalemate.

1 Nh5!

Curiously, the straightforward knight journey fails: 1 Nf5? Kb2 2 Qb7+ Ka2! 3 Nd4 c1Q 4 Qb3+ Ka1 5 Nc2+ Qxc2 6 Qxc2 with stalemate again.

1...Kb1 2 Qb7+ Ka2 3 Qh1 Kb2 4 Nf4

This was the idea behind 1 Nh5!.

4...c1Q 5 Nd3+ +–


19) A. Hildebrand

Eskilstuna Kuriren, 1946

The position of the black king might provide a broad hint:

1 Bg4!

With a double threat against both the king and the rook.

1...Rc7 2 Bb6!

Resuming the double threat.

2...Rc2

An echo variation to the main one is 2...Rc3 3 Bxa5 Kd2 4 Bf5, when the rook is lost by zugzwang.

3 Bxa5+ Rd2 4 Kh1! +–

Avoiding stalemate with a move like 4 Bf3?.

But now it’s zugzwang, and the pinned rook is doomed.


20) V. Bron

4th Comm., Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1948

The kings and pawns play a key role in this short but tense battle:

1 Nc5+ Kc8 2 Ne4! Bb4!

This is only square where the bishop won’t fall victim to a discovered check; for example, 2...Be3 3 Nd6+ Kxc7 4 Nc4+ +–.

3 Kb3 f2! 4 Bxf2

4 Nxf2? loses the pawn after 4...Ba5.

4...Ba5 5 Nd6+ Kxc7 6 Nc4! +–

The black bishop has no refuge.


21) J. Fritz

Prace, 1953

The bishop is chosen to be given away – and by a modest key move!

1 a3!!

The intention of this funny-looking move will soon become apparent.

1...Rxg1+ 2 Kf2 Rg4

Black is forced to leave the first rank: after 2...Rc1 3 Re1 White will win the pawn ending following the exchange of rooks.

3 Rb3+ Ka2 4 Rb4! +–

Finally explaining White’s choice on move 1: the black rook is trapped! White forces an exchange of rooks, after which his modest pawn is unstoppable.


22) J. Fritz

Zemedelske Noviny, 1962

Not really, but White can prepare a hostile welcome for the new queen:

1 Bc5+ Kd8! 2 e7+! Bxe7 3 Kb7! h1Q+ 4 Bc6

By threatening the royal couple simultaneously, White wins the queen.

4...Qb1+ 5 Bb6+ =


23) Y. Hoch

4th Comm., Israel Ring Ty, 1981

They can if each pawn sticks to his duty whenever the queen threatens to escape its cage.

1 b6 Qa8 2 c6!

2 b7? is premature in view of 2...Qa7 3 d6 Qb6+!, forcing stalemate.

2...dxc6 3 d6 c5 4 b7!

Now is the time! Leaving a mobile black pawn avoids any stalemate pitfall.

4...Qa7 5 b5 c4 6 b6 +–

The queen is finally trapped, after which White comes first in the race to promote.


24) J. Fritz

Svobodne Slovo, 1950

Actually he can’t do so directly, but he comes up with a nastier idea.

1 Ra1!

Threatening both mate and 2 Rc1.

This is the only sound way. Here are a few failing attempts: 1 Ra7? Nb5 2 Ra5 Bd7 =; 1 Ra3? Nb5 =; 1 Ra5? Bg4 2 Rg5 Bd1 3 Rg1 Bb3+ =; 1 Ra4? Kh6 = 2 Rc4?? Be6+ –+.

1...Bb7

1...Kh6 2 Rh1+ Kg5 3 Rc1 Nb5 (3...Be6+ 4 Ke7) 4 Rc5+ and 1...Be6+ 2 Kf6 Kg8 (2...Bd7 3 Ra7 Nd5+ 4 Ke5 Nb6 5 b3) 3 Rc1 are both winning for White.

2 Ra7 Nb5

Has White been tricked?

3 Rxb7!

Not at all! White is the farsighted one here.

3...Nd6+ 4 Ke7 Nxb7 5 b4! +–

Even without the rook on the board, the knight is still trapped.


25) E. Pogosiants

2nd HM, Kiev Chess Club Ty, 1961

Not necessarily. Here the rook is sentenced to life imprisonment:

1 Nf8!

Deflecting the king! The knight must be captured to avoid its fork.

1...Kxf8

1...Rh8 2 Ng6+.

2 g6 Rh8 3 Kd7! Rg8

Or 3...Kg8 4 Ke8.

4 Kd8 =

It’s a positional draw: Black is a rook up but can’t do better than repeat moves.


26) A. Gurvich

Etiudy, 1961

The problem is actually even bigger than it looks since the pawn ending following a bishop exchange is hopelessly lost. It might be hard to believe but the

only chance of survival lies in giving away the bishop!

1 Bh2!!

Let us examine the alternatives: after 1 Be1? Kg1 the e2-pawn will fall; 1 Bxf4? gxf4 2 Kg4 (2 g4 f3!) 2...Kxg2 3 Kxf4 Kf2 and Black wins.

1...Bxh2

Following 1...g4+ 2 Kxg4 Bxh2 3 Kf3 Bc7 4 g4 Bxa5 5 g5 Kh2 6 g6 Bc3 7 Kxe3 the white king will neutralize Black’s only remaining pawn.

2 g4! Bg1

Any other move stalemates on the spot.

3 Kg3 Bf2+ 4 Kh3! Bg1

Otherwise it is stalemate again.

5 Kg3 Bh2+ 6 Kh3 =

And so on. Even returning the favour by 6...Bg3 is only good enough for a draw. The bishop is trapped in a vicious circle of stalemates and hence it’s a positional draw.


27) G. Zakhodiakin


The only remaining chance is to trap the black rook:

1 c7! Be5+ 2 Kh1!

Sidestepping a devious idea: 2 Kh3? Bxc7 3 Bd5 Re8!! 4 g7 Re3+ 5 Kg2 Rg3+, winning the pawn and the game.

2...Bxc7 3 Bd5! Rg7

This is the only way to stop the pawn, but it allows White to put the rook under siege.

Naturally 3...Rxg6 allows the pin 4 Bf7.

4 Bf7! =

With his rook trapped in the cage, there is no way for Black to close in on the white king.


28) Y. Hoch

Jerusalem Post, 1978

In fact he can’t, yet sacrificing it still saves the game:

1 a8Q! Qh8+

A skewer by Black.

2 Kf7 Qxa8 3 Re8! Qa7+ 4 Re7 Qa8

4...Qxa6 is met with a skewer by White: 5 Re6+.

5 Re8 =

The queen is trapped and dominated by the white rook. It’s a positional draw!

7: Removing a Guard A guard is a piece that is defending another piece or a key square. Its removal therefore leaves that piece or square unprotected. Removing a guard may be done in various ways: closing its line, deflection, pin, and also by simply capturing it.

The practical examples and exercises here demonstrate the removal of a guard (or guards) by sacrificing material.

White to play

Tal – Suetin

Goglidze Memorial, Tbilisi 1969

How should White exploit the enemy king’s position in the centre?

Removing the main guard leaves the king totally helpless:

20 Qxe5!

20 Bxb5+ axb5 21 Qxe5 +– is another version of the same idea.

20...dxe5 21 exf7+ 1-0

Black’s material losses are unbearable: 21...Kf8 22 Bh6# or 21...Kd7 22 Bf5++ Kc6 23 Be4+ +–.

White to play

Petrosian – Ivkov

Yugoslavia – USSR, Teslić 1979

The black king seems perfectly safe. Is that so?

Not quite!

35 Rxd4! 1-0

Removing a guard exposes him to a mate in two! 35...exd4 36 Re5+! Kxg4 and now 37 f3# or 37 h3#.

In endgame studies, removing a guard by capturing it is much less common than in practice. The reason is that in this art, ‘brutal’ captures – even by sacrifices – are not as appreciated.


A. Selezniev

Shakhmaty, 1925

All the black pieces are on the same coloured squares. What can you make out of it?

Collect them all like in checkers:

1 Rxd4! cxd4

1...Re6+ 2 Kxc5.

2 a7+! Kxa7 3 Bxd4+ Kb8 4 Bxe5+ Ka7 5 Bd4+ Kb8 6 Bxf2 +–

Removing a Guard Exercises

1: White to play

What is Black’s main kingside weakness?

2: White to play

A good bishop vs a miserable knight. Is it so?

3: White to play

Black’s back rank seems well protected. Can White prove that view wrong?

4: White to play

Black is a piece up but his disorganized camp invites a tactical blow. Can you see one?

5: White to play

How can White bring down the royal castle?

6: White to play

Does White still need to bring up reinforcements?

7: White to play

How can White profit from Black’s somewhat cramped position?


How on earth can White hope to win here?


Can White cope with Black’s considerable material advantage?


How can the knight successfully fight against a mighty pair of bishops?


In this position of material equality, what might tip the balance?


Can White secure the promotion of his only pawn?


Is White’s modest extra pawn a sufficient advantage to win?


How should White nullify Black’s material advantage?


How can White save this seemingly hopeless ending?


Can the far-advanced white pawns neutralize Black’s huge material advantage?


How can White secure the future of his e-pawn?

Removing a Guard Solutions

1: White to play

1) Kosteniuk – Ushenina

European Women’s Rapid Ch, Minsk 2001

The light squares have been considerably weakened, but White strikes on the dark ones:

35 Rxh6+! gxh6 36 Bxf6+ Kh7 37 Qf7# (1-0)

2: White to play

2) Lasker – Von Scheve

Berlin 1890

A poor knight alive is better than a dead model bishop:

25 Rxd3! Qxd3

25...Rxd3 leaves the other rook unguarded: 26 Qxa8+.

26 Re8+! 1-0

A second guard-removal by deflection: 26...Rxe8 27 Qxd3.

3: White to play

3) Steinitz – Sich

London 1871

White should attack on file, diagonal and rank. For that purpose, he removes two defenders of the eventual mating square first:

22 Rxe5! dxe5 23 Qxh5! +–

23...Qxh5 24 Rf8+ Rg8 25 Bf6#.

4: White to play

4) Tal – Petrosian

USSR Team Cup, Moscow 1974

Removing a guard leads to mate:

22 Rxd7! Bxd7

Since 22...Qxd7 is met by 23 Qh4 +–.

23 Bxf7+

23 Qh4 Re8 24 Bxf7+ is good too.

1-0

23...Rxf7 24 Qxf7+ Kh8 25 Re4 Bg4 26 Qxg6 Qf5 27 Nf7+ Kg8 28 Nh6+, winning.

5: White to play

5) Tal – Hartston

Hastings 1973/4

A daring sacrifice is the only way to break in:

24 Rxf7!!

This is both a guard-removal and a deflection, leaving the g6-pawn and the black queen unprotected.

24...Rxf7

24...Kxf7 25 Bxg6+ Kg8 26 Qh7#.

25 Bxg6 Nf5 26 Bxf7+ Kxf7 27 Qh7+ 1-0

27...Ke8 28 Qxh5+ Kf8 29 Qh8+ is a decisive skewer.

6: White to play

6) Carlsen – Ibraev

Calvia Olympiad 2004

No; the position is already ripe for action:

17 Rxf6!! 1-0

17...Qxf6 18 Qh7+ Kf8 19 Ne4! Qe6 20 Ba3+ +–.

7: White to play

7) Alekhine – Sämisch

Berlin 1923

A daring queen sacrifice to remove the guards from the key outposts enables the white knights to storm the barricades:

18 fxe6!! Bxg3 19 exf7+ Kh8

19...Kf8 20 Ne6+ forks king and queen.

20 Nd5! 1-0

20...Qb7 21 Ne6 Rg8 (or 21...Be5 22 Nxd8) 22 fxg8Q+ Kxg8 23 Ne7+ Kh8 24 Bxg7#. What an invasion!


8) M. Kliatskin

HM, Shakhmaty, 1924

The last pawn standing performs some magic:

1 c7!

Luring the king into a check.

1...Kxc7 2 axb6+!

Removing the knight that is guarding the a8-rook.

2...Kxb8 3 b7! +–

Black is in zugzwang.


9) A. Selezniev

35 Endspielstudien, 1919

The solution is instructive as well as entertaining:

1 d7! Kxd7

1...Bh4 2 d8N+! = leaves White a piece up, while after 1...Ke7 2 Kd5 Kxd7 3 Bxf6 = Black cannot play 3...gxf6?? 4 h6, when the pawn is unstoppable.

2 Bxf6!

Removing a guard by deflecting the black pawn to allow the final pawn-march.

2...gxf6 3 h6 f5+! 4 Kd5! Be1 5 h7 Bc3 6 h8Q! Bxh8 =

A ‘mirror’ mid-board ideal stalemate – meaning all squares around the white king are empty and attacked just once, thus creating an aesthetic picture.


10) A. Avni

3rd HM, Thèmes-64, 1981

The knight perhaps not, but a single pawn might!

1 g5 Ke6

1...Bb5 2 g4 Ke6 3 Nxf7.

2 Nxf7!

Removing the guard.

2...Kxf7 3 g4!

The road to stalemate is paved.

3...Bg7 4 g6+ Kf8 5 g5 Bd4 6 g7+ Bxg7 7 g6 Bd4 8 g7+ Bxg7 =

Stalemate.


11) A. Selezniev

35 Endspielstudien, 1919

The difference is in the kings’ positions:

1 Kh6! Bf7 2 Bd3 Be6

2...Bg8 3 g5 Bf7 4 Bxh7 Bxc4 5 g6.

3 g5 Bg8 4 Bxh7!!

Removing the guard.

4...Bxh7

4...Bxc4 allows 5 g6 Bd3 6 g7#.

5 g6 Bxg6 6 Kxg6 +–

White wins the resulting pawn ending.


12) Y. Afek and H. van der Heijden

1st HM, Tidskrift för Schack, 2005

Tactics help to keep away the defenders:

1 Rh8+ Kd7 2 a7 Nc7 3 Rh7+ Kd6 4 Rxc7

Removing the guard.

4...Ra5 5 Be5+! Kxe5 6 Rc5+!

Removing another guard by deflection.

6...Rxc5 7 a8Q +–


13) L. Kubbel

Krasnaya Gazeta, 1934

It might be with the help of a couple of anticipatory tactics.

1 Ra4!

Pinning the bishop with a double threat. 1 Be1? is premature in view of 1...Re3!, since there is no time for 2 Ra4.

1...Ra3!

The only defence. 1...Rh3 fails to 2 Be1, while 1...Kb5 loses to 2 Rxb4+ Kxb4 3 Be1, pinning and winning.

2 Rxb4+!

Removing the guard of the black rook. Not 2 Rxa3? Bxa3+ 3 Kxa3 Kc3, when the last pawn falls.

2...Kxb4 3 Be1+!

3 Bc5+? drops half a point owing to 3...Kxc5 4 Kxa3 Kc4 5 Kb2 Kb4, when Black maintains the opposition.

3...Ka4 4 Bc3!

It’s reciprocal zugzwang.

4...Rxc3 5 Kxc3 +–

The modest pawn prevails after all!


14) A. Hildebrand


The mass of pieces obstructing each other might give you the right idea.

1 Rg6+ Kh7 2 Rxg7+!

Removing a guard to allow the white knight to give a series of checks.

2...Nxg7 3 Nf8+ Kh6 4 Ng6 Rh7

Black must preserve his rook, since a pair of knights is unable to force mate.

5 Nf8 =

With a positional draw despite Black’s huge material advantage.


15) E. Pogosiants

3rd HM, Chervony Girnik, 1965

Never lose hope! The game is full of surprising resources.

1 Rb5+! Kxa4

After 1...Ka6?? 2 cxb3 cxd3 3 Rxd5 +– it is Black who is seeking (in vain!) a peaceful conclusion.

2 Rxb4+!

Removing the guard of the c3-square at the cost of a whole rook! Instead 2 cxb3+? Kxb5 3 dxc4+ dxc4 offers White no hope.

2...Kxb4 3 c3+ Kc5 4 d4+ Kd6 5 Kh6! Ke6 6 Kg5! =

It’s a fortress even though the bishop is as free as a bird. The white king heads to the safe haven on c1. The most Black can then achieve is stalemate.


16) H. Lommer

British Chess Magazine, 1946

They miraculously can, provided they pick the right promotion:

1 g7! Nxh6+ 2 Rxh6+!

Removing the guard to allow promotion.

2...Rxh6 3 g8N+!

As 3 g8Q? fails to 3...Rg6+!.

3...Kg6

3...Kg7 allows 4 Nxh6.

4 Ne7+!

After 4 Nxh6? Rf8! the knight is trapped.

4...Kf6 5 Ng8+!

5 Nxf5? loses to 5...Rg6+.

5...Kg6 6 Ne7+! =

White gives perpetual check without capturing either of the rooks.


17) L. Prokeš

Lidove Listy, 1934

Eliminating the strongest guard is the key.

1 Rf7!

Threatening mate in one cannot do any harm.

1...Rxg6

Black obviously doesn’t fall for 1...Bxf7 2 gxf7, with an unstoppable pair of connected passed pawns.

2 Rf8+ Rg8 3 Rxe8!

Here it is! White sacrifices the exchange to remove an important defender.

3...Rxe8 4 Kd7 Ra8 5 e7 +–

The king will deal with the remaining one: 5...Ra7+ 6 Ke6 Ra8 7 Kf7 Ra7 8 Kf8 Ra8+ 9 e8Q Rxe8+ 10 Kxe8 with an easy win.

8: Line-Opening and Line-Closing

Line-opening and line-closing are probably the most common tactical motifs appearing in combinations and studies. Sometimes they are the main theme, but more often an accompanying one. A friendly or enemy piece enters or leaves a line of play of either your line-mover (queen, rook, bishop) or an enemy one.

The purpose of opening a line is simply to enable another piece to move freely along this line. When the blockage of a line denies the opponent a key defensive possibility, we call this interference.

Opening or closing a line is usually combined with other tactical elements, each and any of them.

White to play

Alekhine – Vasić

Banja Luka simul 1931

White’s mighty dark-squared bishop and Black’s uncastled king suggest there might be a quick decision. How?

By opening another diagonal for his other bishop:

10 Qxe6+! fxe6 11 Bg6# (1-0)

Black to play

J. Polgar – Gaprindashvili

Women’s Olympiad, Novi Sad 1990

The siege of the white king just requires the finishing touch. Can you provide it?

A deadly check on the long diagonal is a good guess:

31...Rc3! 0-1

Closing the c-file is the fastest way to mate: 32 bxc3 Bxc6+ 33 Kg1 Rg8+.

Even a simple position may provide opportunities for more than one interference. Take a look at the following case:


J. Fritz

British Chess Federation Ty, 1931

1 Nf5+

To prevent the rook from standing behind the pawn.

1...Kg6

Or: 1...Kh7 2 d7 Rg4 3 Nd6 Rg8+ 4 Ne8; 1...Kg5 2 d7 Ra4+ 3 Kb7 Rb4+ 4 Kc6! (4 Kc7 Rc4+ 5 Kb6

Rb4+ 6 Kc6 is just a loss of time) 4...Rb8 5 Nd6 (threatening 6 Nc8) 5...Rf8 (5...Rd8 6 Nf7+) 6 Ne8.

2 d7 Ra4+ 3 Kb7 Rb4+ 4 Kc6 Rb8 5 Ne7+ Kf7 6 Nc8 +–

A heroic performance by the knight, employing various interferences along the promotion rank.

Interference may occur on more than one line simultaneously. This is rare (but not unknown) in practice, but a popular theme in studies.


E. Pogosiants

Revista Romana de Sah, 1965

What is White’s winning plan with such minimal material on the board?

A tactical device comes to help:

1 f7+ Kf8 2 Kf6

With the immediate threat of 3 Ng6#, while introducing the potential idea of Ne6#, even though it is initially prevented by the rook.

2...Bc2 3 Be4!!

The bishop lands at the intersection of the guarding lines, thus threatening two mates at the same time. Whichever way Black captures, he can only prevent one of the mates, but not both.

3...Rxe4

Or 3...Bxe4 4 Ne6#.

4 Ng6#

In chess composition, a sacrifice like this on the critical square (that is, the one where two vital lines intersect) is called the ‘Novotny theme’ after the Czech composer Antonin Novotny, who first demonstrated this idea as early as 1854.

Line-Opening and Line-Closing Exercises

1: White to play

How can White restrain Black’s mighty pawn?

2: White to play

What is White’s most effective way to put his kingside pressure to use?

3: White to play

White’s far-advanced a-pawn is about to fall. Can it still be of any use?

4: White to play

How should White advance his kingside attack?

5: White to play

The black king seems well protected by his own troops. Do you agree?

6: White to play

How can White seize his chance in this seemingly equal rook ending?

7: White to play

Kingside attacks were the speciality of the Wizard from Riga. Can you follow his magic?

8: White to play

Black’s heavy guns are a long way from his king. How should White take advantage?

9: Black to play

Can you spot a vulnerable point in White’s camp and launch an attack against it?

10: Black to play

This game between Norway’s best juniors was decided by a devastating strike. How?

11: White to play

Show how White invades the exposed black kingside.


How should the white pawn be steered to its destination?


Is there a way for White to secure the promotion of his last pawn?


What is White’s best response to Black’s unavoidable promotion?


Can you create a ‘future’ for White’s ambitious pawn?


How should White meet Black’s double threat?


What is the knight’s role in White’s attack?


Can White take over the long dark diagonal?


It seems White will lose his queen as soon as it appears. But can he save the game anyway?


In view of Black’s sharp threats, what are White aspirations based on?


How can White disrupt the bishop’s efforts to prevent a promotion on c8?


Can White trust his pawn to save the day?


How can White maintain his shaky advanced pawn?

Line-Opening and Line-Closing Solutions

1: White to play

1) Tal – Zilber

Latvian Ch, Riga 1954

He doesn’t. He gives mate instead:

32 Qxh7+! 1-0

Opening the h-file for a thematic mate: 32...Kxh7 33 Rh3#.

2: White to play

2) Alekhine – Lasker

Zurich 1934

Here too a queen sacrifice opens up the winning route:

26 Qxg6!!

Stronger than 26 Qh4? g5 27 Qh5 Ne5 28 Rh3 Qc7, when White is merely better.

1-0

26...hxg6 27 Rh3+ Nh6 28 Rxh6#.

3: White to play

3) Euwe – Alekhine

World Ch (8), Amsterdam 1935

White can win an enemy piece for it by shutting off the file and opening up a rank at the very same time:

69 Ba6! 1-0

Black resigned in view of 69...Bxa7 70 Rxa7 and 69...Rxa6 70 Rd8+ Ke7 71 a8Q Rxa8 72 Rxa8 +–.

4: White to play

4) Capablanca – Vassaux

Buenos Aires Olympiad 1939

He can mate the black king by opening the h-file before the black queen retreats to cover the vulnerable h7-square:

28 Rxh7+! Kxh7 29 Qh3+ Kg7 30 Qh6# (1-0)

5: White to play

5) Tal – Malich

Varna (team event) 1958

He might have been if not for...

24 Rxe5+! fxe5

24...dxe5 is not much better in view of 25 d6+ Kd8 26 Qh6, winning.

25 Qg5+ Kf8

25...f6 26 Qg7+ +–.

26 Qf6 Rg8 27 Be6 1-0

Black laid down his arms as 27...Rc7 is met by 28 Qd8+. Black’s heavy guns were mere onlookers.

6: White to play

6) Karpov – Khalifman

World Cup, Reykjavik 1991

Even an innocent-looking rook ending might have its venom. Opening the seventh rank has a devastating effect:

32 e6! fxe6

The alternative is trouble on the back rank: 32...Rxb3 33 e7 Re8 34 Rc8 +–.

33 Rdd7 1-0

White threatens mate in three, and Black will therefore lose his kingside pawns without diminishing White’s initiative.

7: White to play

7) Tal – Ulski

USSR 1968

Tal cracked open a hard nut by a series of brilliant sacrifices to open all routes to the royal palace:

1 Ng6+!! fxg6

1...hxg6 2 hxg6+ Kg8 3 Bxf6 was much less of a challenge for White.

2 hxg6 h6 3 Rxh6+! gxh6 4 g7+! Kxg7 5 Bxh6++! Kxh6 6 Qd2+ +–

It will be mate next move.

8: White to play

8) Kasparov – Smirin


Surprisingly, there is just one way:

39 Rxh6! Bxh6 40 Be6+ Kh8 41 Qf6+ 1-0

Black called it a day in view of 41...Kh7 42 Qf7+ Bg7 43 Bf5+ Kh8 44 Qh5+ Kg8 45 Be6+ Kf8 46 Qf7#.

9: Black to play

9) Ivanchuk – Anand

Linares (1) 1992

The weakened dark squares around the white king are challenged by:

42...e4! 43 Rxe4+

After 43 Rg1 Rxg1 44 Bxg1 f5 –+ the pair of passed pawns are unstoppable.

43...Be5!

The mate threat costs White the exchange and the game.

44 Rxe5+

Or 44 c3 Rd2+, forking.

44...fxe5 45 Kb2 Rd2 0-1

10: Black to play

10) Hammer – Carlsen

World Under-14 Ch, Kallithea 2003

It’s mate in two starting with a queen sacrifice:

17...Qh5+! 0-1

Opening up the fourth rank for 18 gxh5 Rh4#.

11: White to play

11) Fischer – Sofrevski

Skopje 1967

By adding a fresh attacking piece while shutting off the fifth rank:

15 Nd5!! Rfe8

15...exd5 16 Rxd5 b5 17 Rh5 Bg4 18 Qg3 +–.

16 Nxe7+ Rxe7 17 Rxd6 Rc8 18 Qd4 Be8 19 Qxf6 1-0

Black’s position is falling apart.


12) L. Prokeš

Nedelni Listy, 1941

A couple of appropriate deflections and interferences should do the job.

1 Bc3!

Deflecting by pinning.

1...Bxc3 2 c7

And now a pair of echoing interferences:

2...Be5

The echo is 2...Ba5 3 Nb6! Bxb6 4 c8Q, while 2...Ne4 3 Ne7 Nd6 4 Nf5+ Nxf5 5 c8Q features a knight deflection for dessert!

3 Nd6! Bxd6 4 c8Q +–

White wins comfortably.


13) W. Proskurowski

Comm., Magyar Sakkelet, 1961

Yes: by shutting off the line of the guarding rook:

1 f7! Rd8+ 2 Kh7! fxe4

The other main variation is 2...fxg4 3 Nd6+ Kc6 4 Ne8 +–, while 2...Rf8 fails due to 3 Bxf5 Rxf7 4 Nd6+.

3 Bd7+! Kc5 4 Be8 +–

The line is shut off once again.


14) J. Fritz

Kniha Šachovych Studii, 1951

The black king on the edge of the board seems like a convenient target.

1 Bf3! a1Q 2 Rg7!!

Closing in advance the long dark diagonal before opening it up.

2...Nxg7

2...Ka5 is met by the skewer 3 Ra7+.

3 b4!

Thanks to the preparatory diagonal shut-off, both the g7- and h7-squares are out of the queen’s reach.

3...b5 4 c5

Mate is unavoidable.

4...Qe5 5 Bb7#


15) H. Rinck


Two basic combinations and the pawn is there:

1 Nb3+!

To deflect the black knight.

1...Nxb3 2 Bd2+!

A fork to close the just-opened d-file.

2...Nxd2 3 d7 +–

And the pawn finally makes it to a safe promotion.


16) T. Gorgiev

Shakhmaty, 1927

With a double surprise of his own!

1 Bg7+ e5!

1...Ka2 2 Bd5+! (an interference to lure the black rook) 2...Rxd5 3 Kd1.

2 Bxe5+ Ka2 3 Bd6!

The first deflection closes the file and protects the white pawn.

3...d1Q+!

A clever zwischenzug as 3...Rxd6 loses to 4 Kd1 Re6 5 Bd5+, etc.

4 Kxd1 Rxd6+ 5 Bd3!!

This decisive interference sidesteps a nasty mine: 5 Kc2? (or 5 Kc1?) 5...Re6 6 Bd5+ Ka1! 7 Bxe6 stalemate.

5...Rxd3+ 6 Ke2 +–

The promotion is finally secured.


17) G. Zakhodiakin

Comm., Shakhmatny Listok, 1930

To provide a pair of surprising unprotected interferences:

1 Qe7 Qd2+ 2 Nf4!!

After any king move, Black could comfortably capture the knight.

2...Qh2+!

After 2...Qxf4+ 3 Kg6 there are no more checks.

3 Nh3!! +–

Black lacks any useful checks after both 3...Qxh3+ 4 Kg6 and 3...Qd2+ 4 Ng5.


18) P. Heuäcker

Neue Freie Presse, 1930

The combined action of both his king and bishop secures victory:

1 Ba7!

Trying to lure the black bishop away from the long diagonal.

1...Ba1

Declining the deflection attempt. 1...Bc3 is met by 2 Kc2.

2 Kb1! Bc3 3 Kc2

Gaining an important tempo to approach the centre.

3...Ba1 4 Bd4!!

A stunning interference!

4...Bxd4

Or 4...exd4 5 Kd3!.

5 Kd3 Ba1 6 Ke4! +–

The long diagonal is successfully shut off!


19) M. Liburkin

“64”, 1935

A pair of Novotny interferences do wonders:

1 h8Q Bb2+ 2 Kc5 Rg5+

Clearing the diagonal.

3 Be5!

The first interference: a Novotny sacrifice on the intersection of two line-movers to disrupt their control of vital squares.

3...Rxe5+ 4 Kb4! Re4+ 5 d4!

And a second one!

5...Rxd4+ 6 Qxd4 Bxd4 =

Stalemate! Sheer magic, isn’t it?


20) L. Mitrofanov

Magnitogorski Rabochi, 1983

On even sharper threats against the black king!

1 Rg5! a1Q 2 Nc7+! Bxc7 3 Kxc7

Threatening 4 Ra5#.

3...Nb3 4 Kb6! +–

With a new mate threat on the eighth rank. This one is irresistible owing to the a2-g8 diagonal having being closed by Black’s previous move.


21) V. Halberstadt and J. Lerman

Bulletin de la Fédération Française des Échecs, 1926

He can do so either by forcing the bishop to the shorter diagonal or cutting the longer diagonal shorter:

1 f4! Kg4

1...gxf4 2 Nxf4+ Kg4 3 c7 sends the bishop to the shorter diagonal, allowing an easy win after 3...Ba6 4 Nd5 Kf5 5 Nb4.

2 f5! Kxf5

Now it’s the king that cuts the longer diagonal shorter.

3 c7 Be6

Or, as earlier, 3...Ba6 4 Ka7 Bc8 5 Ne7+.

4 Nf8! +–

The diagonal is shut off, so the bishop has no retreat.


22) G. Zakhodiakin

Comm., Szachy, 1980

The pawn is the only survivor of this short and bloody battle:

1 Bb2!

The bishop is sacrificed to shut off the long dark diagonal.

1...Kxb2 2 Ra4!

The rook is given away to shut off the a-file.

2...Nxa4 3 e7 a1Q+ 4 Kf2 =

The white king guards the gate to the e-file, and the pawn safely promotes.


23) V. and M. Platov

Sbornik Shakhmatnykh Etiudov, 1914

The pawn should first be protected by the bishop to keep the black bishop paralysed in the corner.

1 Bb1+

After 1 c7? Bb7 the white pawn remains defenceless.

1...Kf6 2 Be4! Ke5!

We have reached the crossroad. Where should the white bishop move?

3 Bh1!!

White needs to move his bishop to prepare a decisive opening of the diagonal next move. But he must also do so without allowing a fork on the move after that. This is the only winning square, as we can see from examining the alternatives: 3 Bd5? Kd6 4 c7 Bxd5 5 c8Q Be6+; 3 Bf3? Kd6 4 c7 Bxf3 5 c8Q Bg4+; 3 Bg2? Kd6 4 c7 Bxg2+ 5 Kxg2 Kxc7; 3 c7? Bxe4 4 c8Q Bf5+ 5 Qxf5+ Kxf5.

3...Kd6 4 c7! Kxc7 5 Bxa8 +–

9: Back-Rank Weakness The back-rank mate, experienced by practically every novice, is inflicted by a rook or a queen against a king stranded on its own back rank. That usually occurs when all three pawns in front of the castled king (generally on the kingside) haven’t yet moved and so the king has no ‘air’ and any check along the back rank could be mate. There are also variations on this theme, where the potential flight-square(s) can be covered or blocked in some way.

This type of sudden mate is our primary focus in the practical examples in this chapter, but the exercises are not limited to the thematic mate, and display the weakness of the back rank in various settings. The endgame studies illustrate the distress of the king at the edge of the board in general.

Black to play

O. Bernstein – Capablanca

Moscow 1914

How should Black profit from his opponent’s back-rank vulnerability?

Note that great care should be exercised when both players have a weak back rank. The direct attempt 29...Qb1+? 30 Qf1 Rd1? backfires due to 31 Rc8+, which takes advantage of Black’s own back-rank weakness.

However, the moment was ripe for:

29...Qb2!! 0-1

This threatens both white pieces simultaneously, forcing an immediate resignation in view of 30 Qe1 Qxc3!, when the white queen proves overloaded.

Black to play

Ivkov – Xie Jun

Women – Veterans, Vienna 1993

How should Black handle White’s strong passed pawn?

Just ignore it and target the back rank:

36...Qe2! 0-1

37 Qa5 loses to 37...Rd1 –+ (likewise 37 Rf1 Rd1). Unlike the previous example, here the black king is totally safe and thus the rook may leave its back rank without problems.

In endgame studies, it is rarer to see a king mated behind a simple wall of its own pawns, but mates on the edge of the board are still a common theme. The attacker’s king is often instrumental in covering the rank or file next to the edge on which the enemy king stands.


E. Pogosiants


Is there a way for White to defeat the cornered black king?

A surprising sacrifice helps to obtain the same finish as in the famous Saavedra position.

1 Bd4+! Rxd4+ 2 Kc2 Ra4

It’s rook vs rook with no pawns...

3 Kb3! +–

...but it’s a double threat and the black rook is lost.

In case you don’t know, the Saavedra position is as follows:


F. Saavedra and G. Barbier

Weekly Citizen (Glasgow), 1895

1 c7 Rd6+ 2 Kb5 Rd5+ 3 Kb4 Rd4+ 4 Kb3 Rd3+ 5 Kc2 Rd4! 6 c8R!

6 c8Q? Rc4+! 7 Qxc4 stalemate.

6...Ra4 7 Kb3 +–

It is one of the best-known endgame studies and has inspired numerous followers. The study was initially based on a real game that had been played at a London chess club 20 years earlier. Barbier published it as a draw, based on the stalemate idea. Saavedra’s sole contribution was the underpromotion to a rook, but this was enough to ensure his immortality in chess circles!

Back-Rank Weakness Exercises

1: White to play

Who is winning here?

2: White to play

What is the best way to defend the attacked queen?

3: Black to play

The open files invite the black rooks in. Any idea how?

4: White to play

White has more than one winning plan. What is the most straightforward one?

5: White to play

Should White accept the offer to exchange queens?

6: White to play

White has lost the strategic battle. Can he still win the tactical one?

7: White to play

White is about to lose his passed pawn. What can he still count on?

8: White to play

How can White justify the earlier bishop sacrifice?

9: Black to play

How should Black benefit from White’s evident hardships?

10: White to play

The black king seems pretty safe; well... almost. Why is that?

11: White to play

White has lost the queenside battle. Would a kingside assault make up for it?

12: Black to play

While White is still seeking a target, Black is set for action. How?

13: White to play

White’s big d-pawn is about to fall while the black king has ‘air’ on h7. So is Black better?

14: White to play

Show how White turns his apparently minimal edge into a decisive advantage.


How can White avoid a technical draw in this R+P vs R ending?


The black rook is well placed to give long-range checks. What then is the win based on?


How might White win this pawnless four-rook ending?


White has no pawns left and is just a minor piece ahead. So how might he win?


It’s White’s turn to worry about his back rank. Any good advice for him?


Time for mutual back-rank play. Do you take a side?


Is the knight advantage sufficient to win here?


How can White win this ending of material equality?


Can White take advantage of the cramped position of the black king in the corner?


With his pawn about to fall, where do White’s winning chances lie?


Can White take advantage of the black rook’s cornered position?

Back-Rank Weakness Solutions

1: White to play

1) Smyslov – Lilienthal

USSR ‘Absolute’ Ch, Leningrad/Moscow 1941

The best defence is attack:

37 Qxd6! 1-0

Any capture is met by a back-rank mate: 37...Rxe1 38 Qf8# or 37...Qxd6 38 Rxe8+ Qf8 39 Rxf8#.

2: White to play

2) Zsu. Polgar – Yudasin

Munich 1991

Just ignore it and open a new attacking file aimed at the eighth rank:

25 exf6! +–

White has won a piece in view of 25...Rxd4 26 Re8#.

3: Black to play

3) Fontein – Euwe

Amsterdam 1939

With the white army ‘in exile’ on the queenside, the white king is exposed to a merciless assault by the black artillery:

24...Rc1! 0-1

25 Rxc1 Qd1+ 26 Rxd1 Rxd1#.

4: White to play

4) Capablanca – Grommer

New York 1913

Going for the back rank is the most vigorous way:

43 Qf7!

43 Qd1 Qd7 44 Re7 is another promising option, although the move played is more forceful.

43...Qc8

Or 43...Rg8 44 Qe8 h6 45 d7 Qg5 46 Qxg8+ Kxg8 47 Re8+ Kh7 48 d8Q and White wins.

44 Qxf8+! 1-0

44...Qxf8 45 d7 Kg8 46 Re8 +–.

5: White to play

5) Gaprindashvili – Umudova

Sheki (women) 2005

White should instead grab a piece:

24 Rexd3!

24 Rbxd3? allows a successful defence following 24...Qxc2 25 Rxd8+ Bf8 26 Rc3 Qb1+ 27 Rc1 Qb6.

24...Qxc2 25 Rxd8+ 1-0

After 25...Bf8 26 Bh6, avoiding mate is too costly.

6: White to play

6) Steinitz – NN

London 1864

A combined assault on both seventh and eighth ranks turn the tables:

1 Qd5+!

An important anticipatory check! The premature 1 Rd8+? Rxd8 2 Qxd8+ Bxd8 3 Re8+ Kf7 4 Rf8+ Kg6 5 Rxf2 leaves White still two pawns behind with a hopeless ending.

1...Kh8

Accepting the offer is met by a thematic mate in three: 1...Rxd5 2 Rxg7+ Kh8 3 Rxh7+ Kg8 4 Rdg7#.

However, declining it leads to a mate in five:

2 Rd8+! Rxd8 3 Qxd8+ Bxd8 4 Re8+ Qf8 5 Rxf8#

7: White to play

7) Alekhine – Colle

Paris 1925

White goes for a devastating strike behind the enemy lines:

30 Qxd7!! Rxd7 31 Re8+ Kh7 32 Rcc8

Ironically, Black’s pieces obstruct their own king and mate is avoidable only at the high price of losing his queen.

32...Rd8 33 Rexd8

Avoiding the last mine: 33 Rcxd8? Qc1+ 34 Kg2 g5, after which Black can still fight on.

1-0

8: White to play

8) Zsu. Polgar – Todorčević

Pamplona 1990/1

By storming the eighth rank:

48 Qxf5!!

48 Re8? Rf1 49 Rxf8+ (49 Bxf8 Qg1+ 50 Kg3 Qf2+ is a perpetual check) 49...Rxf8 50 Bxf8 Bxg4 51 Bxg7+ Qxg7 52 Qe8+ Qg8 53 Qe5+ is just a draw.

48...Rxf5 49 Re8+ Rf8

49...Bf8 50 Be5+ +– is no better.

50 Bxf8 Be5+

50...Bxg4 is met by the discovered check 51 Bc5+ +–, winning the queen.

51 Kh1 1-0

Black has no proper defence against 52 Bg7#; e.g., 51...h5 52 Bg7++ Kh7 53 Rh8#.

9: Black to play

9) Barcza – Tal

Tallinn 1971

Black should act with no further delay before White regroups his disoriented forces:

21...Rd8! 22 Qe3 Qxc2!

Threatening mate in two on d1.

23 Kf1

23 Qxf3 fails to 23...Qxc1+.

23...Rd1+ 0-1

24 Rxd1 Qxd1+ 25 Qe1 Qd3+ –+ and mate next move.

10: White to play

10) Alekhine – Reshevsky

Kemeri 1937

The back rank has been left unprotected, allowing:

35 Rxb8+!

This drags the king into the mating position.

35...Kxb8 36 Qxe5+! 1-0

White now opens up the file to allow the rook invasion to the vulnerable back rank. It’s mate after 36...fxe5 37 Rf8+ Qe8 38 Rxe8+ Rd8 39 Rxd8#.

11: White to play

11) Alekhine – Frieman (variation)

New York blindfold simul 1924

A double sacrifice opens up the thematic lines for a brilliant mating attack:

23 Re8+ Nf8 24 Nh6+!

To get the black queen out of the way.

24...Qxh6

Now the white queen’s diagonal access to the back rank is open.

25 Rxf8+! Kxf8 26 Qd8#

12: Black to play

12) Goglidze – Botvinnik

Moscow 1935

Everything is ready for the invasion:

27...Qxf1+!

Removing a guard.

28 Kxf1 Rb1+

28...Rc1+ is equally good.

0-1

29 Ke2 Rc2# exploits the weakness of both first and second ranks.

13: White to play

13) Fischer – Di Camillo

Washington DC 1956

Not after:

40 Bc7! Nf4+

40...Rxc7 is obviously met by 41 Re8+.

41 Kf1

Or any other king move.

1-0

41...Qxc7 42 d8Q+ or 41...Rxc7 42 Re8+ +–.

14: White to play

14) Capablanca – Rossolimo

Paris 1938

He launches an assault on the eighth rank while attacking the black knight:

29 Bd3! 1-0

A multi-purpose move! The attacked bishop finds the perfect retreat, covering the only flight-square of the enemy king. After 29...Re8 (29...Rxa1 30 Rc8#) 30 Rxe5! White grabs a piece.


15) J. Ulrichsen

EBUR, 2001

By giving away his extra pawn for a crucial tempo:

1 Kg5!

1 e6? Re7 2 Kg5 Kg7 3 Rd6 Kf8 4 Kf6 allows the surprising defensive resource 4...Rf7+! 5 Ke5 Rb7, when there’s no more than a draw.

1...Rxe5+

Declining the gift is no better: 1...Kg7 2 Ra7+ Kf8 3 Kf6 Rc8 4 e6 Re8 5 Rf7+ Kg8 6 Rg7+ Kh8 (after 6...Kf8 7 e7+ Black loses his rook) 7 e7 and White wins easily.

2 Kg6 Re8 3 Kf7! +–

With a familiar position in which the double threat costs Black his rook.


16) A. Selezniev


Black’s problem is that his king runs out of space at the edge of the board.

1 Rg1+!

Both 1 exf5? Ra7+ and 1 Rxf5? Ra7+ lead to a dead end and an evident draw.

1...Kh7 2 e5!!

White gives away his pride and joy for a crucial deflection. Obviously not 2 Kf7? Ra7+.

2...Rxe5+ 3 Kf7

Threatening mate.

3...Kh6 4 Kf6 +–

The double threat is decisive. The ‘back rank’ here was in fact the h-file.


17) P. Benko


Black’s unfortunate predicament on his back rank is the key:

1 0-0-0!

After this surprising move, all the black pieces are tied up on their back rank.

1...Rf8 2 Kb1! Rhg8 3 Ka1!

That’s amazing! The white king makes three consecutive quiet moves while Black is unable to improve his position due to the incurable weakness of his back rank. For example:

3...Rf6

Or 3...Rg6 4 Re1+ Kd8 5 Ra8+.

4 Rb1! +–

Black loses a rook; e.g., 4...Rd6 5 Rb8+ Rd8 6 Rxd8+ Kxd8 7 Ra8+, etc.

Another remarkable discovery of the Hungarian-American composer who was a world-class player in the 1960s and 1970s.


18) J. Hašek

Československy Šach, 1929

By abandoning that piece to exploit Black’s back-rank misery:

1 Bf5!!

The premature 1 Kc5? f5 2 Kd6 Rf6+ gets White nowhere as the back-rank weakness is hardly a factor any longer.

The text-move gives away a whole bishop for a single tempo! The point is to block the f-pawn, as demonstrated by the following lines:

1...gxf5

1...f6 2 Bxg6+ Kd8 3 Kc5 f5 4 Bf7 is a killer.

2 Kc5! f6 3 Kd6 Rg8

Or 3...Rf7 4 Ra8#.

4 Ke6 Kf8 5 Kxf6 +–

Game over.


19) V. Kovalenko

Shakhmaty (Riga), 1971

There certainly is: abandon your rook and trust your pawn!

1 g5!

Following 1 Kf1? Kh3! 2 Rg1 Kxh2! the white rook is trapped and consequently lost, while 1 h3? Kg3 is even worse.

1...Kh3 2 g6! Ra1+ 3 Kf2 Rxh1 4 g7! Rxh2+ 5 Kg1! Rg2+ 6 Kh1 =

It’s a positional draw: either perpetual check (6...Rh2+ 7 Kg1 Rg2+, etc.) or stalemate after 6...Rxg7.


20) Y. Hoch

1st Comm., Schakend Nederland, 1973

Mutual blows in a short yet ultra-sharp encounter. Hold your breath!

1 Qxc2! Re8

1...Rxc2 2 Rxa4 leaves White a piece ahead.

2 Qc8!!

Pinning the black rook. Is the black queen already trapped?

2...Qd7!!

Not quite! This counter-sacrifice aims to unpin the rook.

3 Qc1!

Not: 3 Qxd7? Rxe1#; 3 Qa8? h6 4 Ra7 Qb5 5 Rb7 Qe2.

3...Qc7!!

The unprotected queen strikes again, attacking both White’s heavy guns. However...

4 Ra8!! +–

Pinning the black rook and thus threatening its queen. The piece advantage has been finally secured and the rest of the battle is just a matter of good technique.


21) H. Blandford


Even less than that is needed, as the first thing White does is get rid of his own knight!

1 Nh5! Rb5+

To avoid the threat of Nf6. 1...Kg8 is met by the fork 2 Nf6+ Kf8 3 Nd7+, while after 1...Rd8+ 2 Ke6 Re8+ (2...Kg8 3 Nf6+ Kf8 4 Rf7#) 3 Kf5 the initial threat cannot be prevented any longer.

2 Ke6 Rxh5

Or 2...Rb6+ 3 Kf7 Rb8 4 Nf6 g3 5 Ke6 and White wins.

3 Kf6 h6

After 3...Rh6+ 4 Kf7 the black rook obstructs its own pawn.

4 Kg6 Rg5+ 5 Kxh6

Now the pawn obstructs the rook!

5...Rg8 6 Rh7#


22) V. Kovalenko

Comm., Magyar Sakkelet, 1976

Forcing the right bishop exchange would result in a won pawn ending for White.

1 Bd4!

Not 1 Bd8? Bc7 2 Bxc7 stalemate.

1...Ba7!

1...Bc7 makes no difference.

2 Bb6! Bb8! 3 Ka5!

But not 3 Kb5? Kb7 4 Ka5 Ba7 and here the bishop exchange allows Black to maintain the opposition and thus a draw.

3...Kb7 4 Kb5 Kc8

4...Ka8 loses to 5 Kc6.

5 Ka6! +–

The last trap was 5 Kc6? Bc7! 6 Bxc7 stalemate.

Following 5 Ka6! Bc7 6 Bxc7 Kxc7 7 Ka7 Kc8 8 Kb6 Kd7 9 Kb7 Kd8 10 Kc6 Ke7 11 Kc7 White wins the pawn and the battle over the opposition.


23) Y. Afek (version)

1st HM, Probleemblad, 2007

Sacrificial battery play carries out the mission:

1 Rf8!!

The front piece of the first battery is sent to create another battery, in which it will act as the rear piece.

1...Qxd4+

1...Qg3 2 Kd7+ Qb8 3 Rxb8+ Kxb8 4 a7+ Ka8 and now any waiting move forces Black to move his pawn, which would naturally be captured by its white counterpart.

2 Kc7+ Ka7 3 Ra8+!!

White again sacrifices the rear piece of a battery in order to secure promotion.

3...Kxa8 4 axb7+ Ka7 5 b8Q+ Ka6 6 Qb6+

Forcing a queen exchange to reach an easily won pawn ending.

6...Qxb6+ 7 axb6 +–


24) P. Farago


Believe it or not, in giving away not just the pawn, but the bishop too!

1 d8Q+!

It’s a double deflection (of king and rook).

1...Kxd8

1...Rxd8 2 Bxf6+ is a skewer.

2 Ra8+ Ke7 3 Bd6+!

Another double deflection (this time of king and pawn).

3...cxd6

Or 3...Kxd6 4 Rxf8.

4 Ra7+ Kd8 5 Ke6 Re8+ 6 Kxd6 +–

In order to avoid mate, Black must abandon his rook owing to the weakness of the back rank.


25) A. Guliaev


Surprisingly, that can be achieved only by giving away White’s material advantage right away!

1 Nf8+!!

To stop the black king from heading for the middle of the board. The much more natural attempt 1 Kf5? actually leads nowhere after 1...Re8 2 Ne5++ Kg8! 3 Kxf6 Rf8+.

1...Kxf8

1...Ke8 is aggressively met by 2 Ng6 Rg8 3 Kf5, when the black rook is lost.

2 Kf5 h5 3 Kg6!

3 Kxf6? is premature greed in view of 3...Rh6+.

3...Rg8+ 4 Kxf6

The black rook is trapped.

4...Ke8 5 Ra8+ +–

10: Pawn Promotion A pawn that manages to cross unhurt the entire board and reaches the back rank of the opponent is rewarded for its efforts by being promoted to any of the other pieces (other than the king). In practice, the pawn is usually promoted to the strongest piece – the queen – an act that may dramatically change the balance of power and often decides the battle. It is no wonder that players will use all available resources, including considerable material sacrifices, to achieve a pawn promotion or to hinder the opponent’s pawn-march to promotion. Let’s have a look at a relatively simple example:

Black to play

Medina Garcia – Tal

Palma de Mallorca 1966

Which passed pawn is more dangerous?

Despite the kings’ positions, it is the black one, but only if you found Tal’s next move:

38...Ne3! 0-1

Whether White takes the knight or not, Black will play ...h2-h1Q.

Black to play

Lautier – Karpov

Linares 1995

How can Black clear the path for his pawn-pair?

40...Rxb1! 0-1

This straightforward move will leave the white rook helpless against two united passed pawns on their sixth rank.


J. Gunst

Suomen Sosialidemokraatti, 1947

How can White secure the promotion of his pawn?

1 Ra7+ Kb5 2 Ra1!

That’s the key idea! White lures the enemy rook to the a-file to enable his pawn to promote unhindered. The simple answer for Black would be to keep his rook on the b-file, but there is a lack of good squares due to the kings. The problem with b4 is as follows:

2...Rb4 3 b7 Kc5 4 Ra5+ +–

White forces an exchange of rooks and consequently promotes his pawn.

Pawn promotion is often connected with the motif of breakthrough. In general a breakthrough involves breaching the enemy defence, often at some cost in material, to open an invasion route. In pawn endings they are employed to create passed pawns. Look at the next example.


L. Mitrofanov

Comm., Vecherni Leningrad, 1971

How should White cope with the passed black pawn and even win?

White needs to spot the vulnerability of Black’s pawn-structure to create a passed pawn himself – and the sooner the better!

1 Kf8!

1 Kf7? allows 1...f3 2 f6 exf6 3 g6 f2 4 h5 f1Q 5 h6 Qc4+!.

1...f3 2 f6!

Breaking through for the first time.

2...exf6 3 g6! f2 4 h5 f1Q 5 h6! +–

The final breakthrough. 5...gxh6 is met by a mate in two that the reader should not find too hard to spot.

Pawn Promotion Exercises

1: White to play

White’s pair of passed pawns is blocked by the black king. Can you mobilize them?

2: White to play

Black’s last move was 65...h4. What had he overlooked?

3: White to play

Can you help White to create a passed pawn?

4: Black to play

Black must evade a last trap: which pawn move is the right one?

5: White to play

Can White count on his shaky passed d-pawn to emerge victorious?

6: Black to play

The c2-pawn is under fire, but can it still have its moment of glory?

7: White to play

How can White secure a quick promotion of his passed a-pawn?

8: Black to play

Do you see a way for Black to make a breakthrough?

9: White to play

Is the fall of White’s extra pawn unavoidable?

10: Black to play

Black is about to lose both his kingside pawns. Is a draw inevitable?

11: Black to play

Both sides have a dangerous passed pawn. Who will win the race?

12: White to play

What has White planned against the unpleasant pin on his second rank?

13: White to play

Can you imagine the f5-pawn promoting? A real challenge for the ambitious reader!


White’s pieces are trapped. What should he do?


How can White promote when the black bishop has access to both key diagonals?


It seems Black can maintain the distant opposition. Is there a way for White to trick him?


Who wins the race for promotion?


White’s d-pawn is lost. What is its last wish?


Which of the white pawns will eventually promote?


Can the white pawns triumph over the enemy bishop?


Can White stop the exchange of the black rook for the last pawn?


Black is about to blockade the white pawns. Why is White playing on?


How bright is the future for the white pawn?


How can White ensure promotion while his king is in danger?


Whose pawns are stronger?


Is this another colourless and drawish rook ending?


How should White exploit the distress of the enemy king?


How should this unequal battle unfold?

Pawn Promotion Solutions

1: White to play

1) Anand – Adams

Wijk aan Zee 2005

Giving away the light-squared bishop paves the way to promotion:

42 Bb5+! +–

Before Black rushes his rook to the b-file. 42...Kxb5 43 b7 Rxd4 44 b8Q+ Kxc5 45 Qc7+ +–.

2: White to play

2) Spassky – Larsen

Palma de Mallorca 1969

Black had missed White’s threat to promote his blocked pawn:

66 Qc8+ Kh7 67 Qxe6! 1-0

67...fxe6 68 f7 Qb1+ 69 Kh2 +–.

3: White to play

3) Anand – Lautier

London rapid 1995

A thematic sacrifice does the trick:

34 Bxb7!

Removing a guard!

34...Kd7

Recapturing the bishop would make the pawn unstoppable: 34...Nxb7 35 a6 +–.

35 Bb4! Kc7 36 Bd5 Na6 37 c3 Nxb4 38 cxb4 c3 39 Ke3 Kd6 40 Bf3 h5 41 a6 1-0

4: Black to play

4) Smyslov – Botvinnik

USSR ‘Absolute’ Ch, Leningrad/Moscow 1941

Black has no time for the natural 60...c2?, since 61 R6g5! Kh6 62 Rg6+ Kh7 63 R6g5 is a draw by repetition.

60...d1Q!

Both this and 60...b1Q! are correct.

61 Rxd1 c2 62 Rgg1 cxd1Q 63 Rxd1 Rc1 0-1

5: White to play

5) Alekhine – A. Nestor

Port of Spain simul 1939

He definitely can, thanks to an attractive combination:

1 Rc8! Rxc8

1...Qxd7 2 Qf8+! uses an X-ray theme to mate on Black’s back rank.

2 Qe7!! 1-0

Deflection to secure promotion!

6: Black to play

6) Yurgis – Botvinnik

Leningrad 1931

Combined control of file and diagonal makes the dream come true:

34...Rc4!!

Much better than 34...Bc5? 35 Rxc2 Rc4+ 36 Rcf2 Rc3 37 Kg2 Bxf2, which leaves Black just slightly better.

35 bxc4

Or 35 Rc1 Bc5 36 bxc4 b3 37 Kf1 Bxf2 38 Kxf2 b2 –+.

35...Bc5!

Following the exchange on f2, the pawn-pair will be unstoppable.

36 Kg2 Bxf2 37 Kxf2 b3 0-1

7: White to play

7) Anand – Spassky

Cannes 1989

One of the white knights deflects the guarding black knight:

49 Nd3+! Nxd3 50 a6 Be8

Then the other one restricts the bishop’s access:

51 Nd5+ 1-0

After 51...Ke5 52 Ne7 the way is paved for the pawn to march in.

8: Black to play

8) Bisguier – Fischer

USA Ch, New York 1966

Since the white king is tied to the protected passed pawn, Black can afford:

69...Bxe4!! 70 Bxe4 Ka4 71 Bf5 Kb3 72 Bxg4 e4 73 Bxh3 Kxc3 74 g4 Kd2 0-1

Black will be the first to promote – and with check!

9: White to play

9) Smyslov – Guimard

Mar del Plata 1962

Some out-of-the-box thinking suggests differently:

28 cxb6!! Re1+

The rook ending following 28...Qxb5 29 Rxb5 axb6 30 c4 Re1+ 31 Kg2 Ra1 32 Rxb6 is fairly easily won for White.

29 Rxe1 Qxb5

Had White missed this possibility?

30 bxa7 Qc6

Or 30...Qxa6 31 Re8+ Kh7 32 a8Q, etc.

31 Rb1! Kh7 32 Rb8 1-0

White promotes next move.

10: Black to play

10) M. Gomes – Stefanova

Gibraltar 2006

It indeed is if the pawns fall, but there is a better option: keep the pawns and give away the rook.

54...gxh4! 55 Bxh5 hxg3 56 Bf3 h5! 57 Kg6 h4 58 Bg2 Kd2 0-1

After 59 Kg5 Kxe2 60 Kxh4 Kf2 Black will soon promote one of her pawns.

11: Black to play

11) Lombardy – Fischer


Black exploits the white king to gain superiority:

47...Rb2+!! 48 Kxa4 c2 49 Re1 Rb4+!

A crucial zwischenzug to secure the final check by the new-born queen.

50 Ka3 Rb1 51 Be4

51 d7 Rxe1 52 d8Q c1Q+ 53 Kb3 Re3+.

51...Rxe1 52 Bxc2 Re6 53 d7 Rd6 0-1

12: White to play

12) Tal – Koblencs

Jurmala 1976

White had actually prepared a breakthrough on the kingside:

1 f6!! Rxe2

Following 1...gxf6 2 g7 Rg2 3 Rg1 +– the pawn costs Black his rook.

2 fxg7! Rxd2 3 Bxd2 Qe2 4 Kc1 1-0

The promotion will give White a massive material advantage.

13: White to play

13) Alekhine – Bogoljubow

World Ch (4), Villingen 1934

An outstanding piece of tactics carries out this seemingly impossible mission:

52 Rxe7+!!

Not 52 Bxd4+? Rxd4 53 Rxe7+ Kf8 54 Rxb7 Rxd3 55 Rcc7 Re3! =.

52...Rxe7 53 Bh4! Kf7

Or 53...Red7 54 Bxd8 Rxd8 55 Rc7+ +–, forking.

54 Bxe7 Kxe7 55 Rc7+ Rd7 56 f6+! Ke8 57 Bg6+ Kd8 58 f7 Kxc7 59 f8Q

Mission accomplished!

59...f3 60 Qxb4 Rd6 61 Bd3 1-0


14) L. Prokeš

České Slovo, 1938

White should give away both his pieces to secure the promotion of one of his pawns:

1 g6!

After 1 h6? Re1+ 2 Kd6 gxh6 Black draws easily.

1...Rxf8 2 h6! gxh6 3 Rh8+! Kxh8 4 Kxf8 +–


15) J. Moravec

Source unknown, 1959

The knight needs to make it happen:

1 e7+ Ke8 2 Na6! Kd7

The other thematic variation is 2...Bh5 3 Ke6! Bg4+ 4 Kd6 Kf7 5 Nc7.

3 Nc5+ Ke8 4 Ne6! Kd7

Or 4...Bh5 5 Ng7+.

5 Ng7! +–


16) A. Herberg

Wiener Schachzeitung, 1935

Yes, there is. White should first lure the black king to its back rank.

1 Ka7!

All other attempts to win the opposition fail: 1 Kb7? Kf7 2 Ka8 Ke8 3 e5 Ke7; 1 Kb5? Kf7 2 Ka5 Ke7 3 Ka6 Ke6 4 Kb6 Kf6 5 Kc7 Ke7, etc. If White hastily tries 1 e5? then after 1...dxe5 2 c5 e4 both sides promote.

1...Kg7

Black must keep an odd number of squares between the kings (i.e. the distant opposition), or else he loses as follows: 1...Kf7? 2 Kb7! Kf6 3 Kc8 Ke7 4 Kc7 Ke6 5 Kd8, etc.

2 Ka8! Kg8 3 e5! +–

It is now time for the decisive breakthrough. Black loses since White promotes with check.


17) V. Dolgov and A. Maksimovskikh

Comm., Buletin Problemistic, 1980

Black wins the race but loses the game:

1 Bf6+! Bg7

1...Kg8 2 Bf7+ Kf8 3 Ke6! c1Q 4 g7+! Bxg7 5 Be7#.

2 Bg5 Bb2

Black seems about to force an obvious draw.

3 Bf6+! Bxf6 4 Kxf6 c1Q

Black is first to promote, but...

5 g7+ Kh7!

Or 5...Kg8 6 Bf7+ Kh7 7 g8Q+ Kh6 8 Qh8#.

6 Bg6+ Kh6 7 g8N#


18) L. Prokeš

České Slovo, 1941

To pave the way for its fellow pawn:

1 d6! exd6

On 1...Rh2 an easy win is, for instance, 2 Rg8 and one of the pawns promotes.

2 Re3!

The anticipatory sacrifice of the rook shuts off the file and the pawn finally breaks through.

2...Kxe3 3 e7 +–


19) A. Beliavsky and L. Mitrofanov

Comm., Chernovi Girnik, 1978

The e-pawn is sacrificed to shut off the eighth rank:

1 e7 Kf7 2 e8Q+! Kxe8 3 a7 Nb6 4 Kxb6 Rb3+

Or 4...Ra3 5 Nc7+ Kf7 6 Na6 and White wins.

5 Nb4!

The knight is given away to decoy the rook.

5...Rxb4+ 6 Ka5 +–

Promotion (with check!) is unavoidable.


20) J. Moravec

Casopis Československy Šach, 1913

They can – with the help of their king to deny the bishop access to the long diagonal:

1 f5!

Clearing an important square for the king.

1...exf5

1...Bxf5 2 a6 bxa6 3 b6 makes the desired breakthrough even easier.

2 Kf4 Bh3 3 Kg3!

All gates back to the queenside are now locked.

3...Bf1 4 a6 bxa6 5 b6 +–

The pawn promotes in comfort.


21) G. Zakhodiakin

“64”, 1931

Amazingly, sacrificing both knights with check is the only way to deflect the rook:

1 e7 Rc8 2 Nc4+!

The knight is to be taken with check!

2...Rxc4+

Declining the offer is of no help: 2...Ka6 3 Nb4+ Ka7 4 Nc6+ Ka6 and now 5 Nd8 interferes on the eighth rank to secure promotion.

3 Nd4!

A second knight is given away with check.

3...Rc8

Since 3...Rxd4+ 4 Kf3 Rd3+ 5 Ke2 is game over.

4 Nc6+ Kb6 5 Nd8 +–

And the pawn finally queens.


22) L. Prokeš

Rude Pravo, 1948

My infantry for a tempo! White gives away three of his pawns, allowing the remaining one a narrow win:

1 d6! Bxd6 2 e7! Bxe7 3 Ke6 Kxc7

Any bishop move (e.g., 3...Bg5) is met by 4 Kd7, forcing promotion.

4 Kxe7 Kc6 5 Ke6 Kc5 6 Ke5 Kc6 7 d4 Kd7 8 Kd5! +–

White obtains the opposition and wins.


23) Y. Bazlov and V. Kovalenko

1st HM, Krasnaya Gazeta, 1971

Very bright thanks to the brilliant...

1 Qf1+!!

The natural try 1 Qf5+? fails to 1...Bf7 2 Bf6 Qd4+! 3 Bxd4 stalemate.

1...Qxf1 2 Bd4! +–

Black has no escape; e.g., 2...Kf7 3 h8Q Kg6 4 Qg7+ Kf5 5 Qf6+.


24) H. Rinck

Comm., L’Italia Scacchistica, 1920

Putting both white pieces en prise surprisingly does the trick:

1 Nf6!

Deflection! The natural attempt fails: 1 e7? Rg8 2 Bd7 Kc5 3 Kb7 Rxe8! 4 Bxe8 Kd6, winning the pawn.

1...Rxf6

The other lines are no better: 1...Rxg4 2 e7! +– (but not 2 Nxg4? Kc6!) or 1...Kc7 2 e7 Rg5 3 Ne8+! Kb6 4 Ng7! Rxg4 5 e8Q.

2 e7 Kc7

Threatening mate.

3 e8N+! +–

Not 3 Ka7? Rf1.

The winning fork displays the Phoenix theme: a captured piece is reborn.


25) P. Farago


The connected black pair looks healthier, but the white ones are further advanced and supported by their rook. No less important: it’s White to play.

1 Re3 Ke7

1...Rg8 is refuted by a typical deflection: 2 e7 Re8 3 h5! Kf7 (3...a4 4 Kd2 Kf7 5 Rf3+ Kg8 6 Rf8+) 4 Rf3+ Kg8 5 Rf8+! Rxf8 6 h7+! with the deflection allowing the eventual promotion.

2 h7 Rh6 3 Rc3! Rxe6+

Or else a thematic skewer is unavoidable; e.g., 3...b4 4 Rc8! Rxh7 5 Rc7+.

4 Re3!!

An astounding pinning switchback of the white rook to deflect its counterpart.

4...Rxe3+ 5 Kd2 +–

5 Kf2 +– is equally good.


26) F. Prokop

28 Rijen, 1924

In fact, White’s doomed-looking b-pawn has a bright future:

1 Rc1+ Kd4

1...Kb4 loses due to a skewer: 2 b7 Rb6 3 Rc2 Ka3+ 4 Ka1 Rxb7 5 Ra2+ Kb4 6 Rb2+.

2 Rc6 Kd5

2...Ra5 3 Rxe6 leaves White two pawns up with just technical matters to handle.

3 b7!!

Decoying the black king into a fork.

3...Kxc6 4 b8N+! Kb7 5 Nxa6 Kxa6 6 g4 +–

The king has been lured so far away that it can no longer catch White’s innocent-looking g-pawn.


27) L. Mitrofanov

Problem, 1970

By spinning a mating-net and removing the obstacles from the pawns’ way, even at the cost of a queen!

1 Qf7+ Kh8 2 f6! Qa5+!

The other thematic line is 2...Rg8 3 Kh6 Qf8+ 4 Qxf8 Rxf8 5 fxe7 +–.

3 Kg6! Rg8+ 4 Qxg8+! Kxg8 5 dxe7! +–

Even the queen is helpless against the pawn-pair!


28) A. Guliaev

L’Échiquier, 1929

1 g7 Bh4+!

To open the g-file. 1...Bf4+ 2 Kf3 Rd3+ 3 Kxf4 is a draw.

2 Kh3! Rd3+ 3 Kxh4 Rd1! 4 Kg5!

4 g8Q? fails due to a skewer: 4...Rh1+ 5 Kg5 Rg1+.

4...Ke7

Both 4...Ke5 5 Kg6! and 4...Rg1+ 5 Kf6! lead to a ‘normal’ draw with no tactical touches for a change.

5 g8N+! =

Promoting with check avoids the skewer.

11: Zwischenzug A zwischenzug (also known as an ‘in-between move’ or an intermezzo) is an unexpected interruption of what seems like a natural sequence of moves. The zwischenzug is necessary to profit from a fleeting aspect of the given situation. Although it can appear during any series of moves, it is most common during routine sequences such as piece exchanges or a pawn-march.

White to play

Petrosian – Balashov

USSR Ch, Leningrad 1977

Black has just played 50...Rc7? to simplify into a single-rook ending. Hasn’t he gone too far?

He has indeed in view of the vigorous...

51 Rxg6! 1-0

Two pawns down, the resulting rook ending is now hopeless for Black.

White to play

Lasker – Euwe

Nottingham 1936

Both knights are under attack. How should White act?

Black expects a drawish ending following an exchange of knights. However, what looks like a colourless equality changes dramatically after a zwischenzug:

24 b4! Bxb4 25 Nc2

Both black pieces are all of a sudden en prise.

25...Bd2 26 Bxd2 +–


L. Prokeš

Schackvärlden, 1939

What can White do to stop this advanced pair of connected passed pawns?

The situation looks desperate, especially since the pawns are supported by their king. Yet there is a way!

1 Kg4 e2!

More challenging than 1...d2 2 Kf3 Kd3 3 Ra1! e2 4 Ra3+ Kc2 5 Ra2+ Kc1 6 Ra1+ Kb2 7 Kxe2.

2 Rc1+ Kd4

The other options are similar to the main line: 2...Kb3 3 Kf3 d2 4 Rb1+! (zwischenzug!) 4...Kc2 5 Kxe2 or 2...Kd5 3 Kf3! d2 4 Rc5+! (zwischenzug!) 4...Kxc5 5 Kxe2.

3 Kf3! d2

It looks like White is helpless against this pawn invasion. However...

4 Rc4+!

This zwischenzug gains a single tempo to halt both intruders.

4...Kd3!

4...Kxc4 5 Kxe2 Kc3 6 Kd1 Kd3.

5 Rd4+!

And again!

5...Kxd4 6 Kxe2 Kc3 7 Kd1 Kd3 =

Stalemate.


J. Fritz


Black has a considerable material advantage. What can White do?

He can start by playing the only moves that don’t lose immediately:

1 Ka6 Re7

1...Re1 2 Kxa7 Rb1 3 Kxb6 Rxb4+ 4 Kc5 is obviously drawish.

2 Bb7! Rxb7!

Oops! It looks like White has just blundered.

3 b5!!

This zwischenzug out of the blue keeps the position intact. Naturally not 3 Kxb7? a5.

3...Rb8

Since 3...Rh7 is stalemate.

4 Kxa7 Rh8 5 Kxb6 =

Black is just one tempo short of his goal.

Zwischenzug Exercises

1: Black to play

White has offered a rook exchange. Is Black forced to trade?

2: White to play

Where should White move his attacked knight?

3: White to play

Has White’s attack come to a dead end?

4: White to play

Is there a way for White to profit from his bishop-pair?

5: White to play

All is set for the final blow on the kingside. Or is it?

6: Black to play

White is seeking to distract Black from his kingside attack. What happened instead?

7: White to play

Black has just taken a rook on h1. Is the obvious recapture the best option?

8: White to play

White could increase his positional superiority by 29 Qc1. But can he do even better?

9: White to play

White seems in trouble, with his queen and bishop attacked. Can he solve this problem?

10: Black to play

The black pieces are ready for action. Is the time ripe for the final blow?

11: White to play

Two pieces down, you would expect White to try to get his material back. Should he?


Can White hinder Black’s dangerous pawn-march?


How can White avoid a lost rook ending?


Any idea how to stop the black pawn?


Taming the pawns seems like an easy task, doesn’t it?


Can White’s one-pawn advantage prove decisive here?


How can White stop the black pawns without losing his material advantage?

Zwischenzug Solutions

1: Black to play

1) Santo-Roman – Spassky

French Cup, Paris 2002

Black has a different idea:

35...Nd5!! 0-1

This totally unexpected move wins a piece in view of 36 Rxa2 Nxc3, with a fork that wins a whole rook.

2: White to play

2) Stefanova – Zhukova

European Women’s Ch, Rijeka 2010

In fact, there is a much stronger option:

21 Nd5+! exd5

21...Nxd5 is no better: 22 exd5 Bxb2 23 d6+ +–.

22 exd5+ +–

Too many black pieces are hanging.

3: White to play

3) Tal – Platonov

Dubna 1973

White should pin his hopes on his kingside attack:

23 Qh6! 1-0

Let’s see why Black resigned:

23...Rxg3

Now 24 hxg3? allows 24...Bg7!. What else, then?

24 Bg6!!

This great blow shuts off the g-file.

24...Rxg6 25 fxg6

Black is helpless against the double mate threat.

4: White to play

4) Fischer – Shocron

Mar del Plata 1959

Only by opening the position:

39 Rxe6!

Now 39...fxe6 40 Qxe6+ Kf8 41 Qxe5 +– would leave Black helpless against the threats of the white

queen and bishop-pair. But Black had a trick of his own:

39...Qc8!

Had White overlooked this move?

40 Bd7!! 1-0

This powerful unpinning zwischenzug decides the battle in White’s favour after all: 40...Qxd7 41 Rxg6+.

5: White to play

5) Menchik – S. Graf

Women’s World Ch (14), Semmering 1937

Not yet! There is one detail still missing since the brilliant move you might have had in mind, 21 Qxh5?!, is met by 21...Qxh2+! 22 Qxh2 Nxh2 23 Kxh2 Bxg5, when Black can fight on. Therefore a stunning zwischenzug is called for:

21 Rd7!! 1-0

Only after 21...Qxd7 does White play 22 Qxh5!! gxh5 23 Bh7#.

6: Black to play

6) Kramnik – Anand

Nice rapid 2008

White was perhaps ready for perpetual check following 42...Rh1+? 43 Bxh1 Qh2+ 44 Kf1 Qxh1+ 45 Ke2 Qe4+ 46 Kd2 Qd4+. However, he actually got mated after a stunning queen sacrifice:

42...Qf3!! 43 cxb7+ Kf5!

Not 43...Kg5? 44 Bxf3 gxf3 45 Qd8+!! Rxd8 46 Rc3 Kf4 47 Rxf3+ Kxf3 48 Rc3+ Ke4 49 c6 =.

0-1

Mate, starting with 44...Rh1+, is unavoidable.

7: White to play

7) Tal – NN

Stuttgart simul 1958

It’s the automatic response, but the Wizard from Riga had prepared a way stronger move:

16 gxf6!! Rxd1+ 17 Nxd1!

A stunning point! The black queen is now en prise.

17...Qxd2 18 fxg7! 1-0

A second zwischenzug threatens a mating promotion. After, for instance, 18...Be6 19 g8Q+ Kd7 20 Qxc8+ Kxc8 21 Bxd2 Black has nothing to play for any more. A classic combination in a simul!

8: White to play

8) Alekhine – Flohr

Bled 1931

The game may be decided at once:

29 Rc8! 1-0

29...Qxe3 is met by the zwischenzug 30 Rxd8+.

9: White to play

9) Anand – Kasimdzhanov

Hyderabad 2002

Anand noticed a fascinating draw following 27 Qa5? Bxe4! 28 d8Q Rg6? (in fact, 28...f3! is good for Black) 29 Qxh4 Rxg2+ 30 Kh1 Rxf2+ 31 Kg1 Rg2+ with perpetual check. Then he also saw that he could seek more than that with a zwischenzug:

27 d8Q! Rxd8 28 Qa5!

The result is that now two black pieces are threatened.

28...Bxe4

After 28...Rd7 29 Bxb7 Rxb7 30 Qd8+ Bf8 31 Rfe1 White is winning.

29 Qxd8+ Bf8 30 f3 +–

White’s superiority is evident.

10: Black to play

10) Nikitin/Sakharov – Kasparov

Moscow 1981

A magnificent double deflection, ignoring the hanging white bishop, leads to a rare mating picture:

39...Re2!! –+

40 Qxe2 Qxh2+! 41 Nxh2 Ng3#.

11: White to play

11) Anand – Gelfand

Wijk aan Zee 1996

Not as yet! An immediate attempt to regain material would get White nowhere, whereas a stunning preliminary move turns the tables on Black:

22 Rxe6!!

Wholly bad is 22 Bxe6+?? Bxe6 23 Rxe6 Qg7! –+, while 22 Qxg6+? Qg7 (22...Bg7? 23 Rxe6! leads to mate) 23 Qh5 (23 Rxe6? Qxg6 24 Rexf6+ Kh7! –+) is only enough to draw.

22...Kg7

On 22...Bxe6, White now wins by 23 Qxg6+ Qg7 (23...Bg7 24 Bxe6+) 24 Bxe6+ Kh8 25 Rh5+.

23 Rxe7+ Bxe7 24 Rxf8 Bxf8 25 h4 1-0


12) L. Prokeš

České Slovo, 1941

The pawns may be tamed by a clever zwischenzug:

1 e7! Kxe7

1...e2 2 e8Q exf1Q 3 Qd8+ Ke6 4 Qe8+ is a draw by perpetual check. A king move further is met by a skewer.

2 Kc3 e2 3 Rf7+!

That’s it!

3...Kxf7 4 Kxd2 =


13) E. Pogosiants

Zabaikalsky Rabochi, 1964

A powerful zwischenzug makes the difference:

1 Nf2+

Not 1 Rh2? Kg3! 2 Rxg2+ Kxg2 3 Ng5 Rf5 –+.

1...Rxf2 2 Rh4+!

The saving zwischenzug! After 2 Rg1? Kg3 Black wins easily.

2...Kxh4

2...Kg3 3 Rg4+! Kf3 4 Rf4+ Ke3 5 Re4+.

3 Kxf2 Kh3 4 Kg1 Kg3 =

Stalemate.


14) J. Sehwers

Sehwers’ Endspielstudien, 1922

By gaining time and praying? Well, that’s just half true:

1 Re6+! Kxf5

Capturing the rook allows the knight to get back home just in time after 1...Kxe6 2 Nd4+ Kd5 3 Nf3 Ke4 4 Ke2 Kf4 5 Ng1 =, while declining the offer would even leave Black having to defend a difficult ending following 1...Kf7?! 2 Rg6! Kxg6 3 Nxh4+.

2 Re5+! Kf6!?

Just postponing the inevitable since 2...Kxe5 is met by the zwischenzug 3 f4+! to vacate the saving square for the white king: 3...Kxf4 4 Kf2.

3 Rg5!

Now the king is forced to capture.

3...Kxg5 4 f4+!

The zwischenzug again!

4...Kxf4 5 Kf2 =

After the fall of the g2-pawn, the resulting position is a well-known fortress where any attempt to drive the white king out of the corner will end in stalemate.


15) E. Pogosiants


It certainly does: just give away a piece for each enemy pawn and the remaining white pawn will do the rest. But is it really that simple?

1 Ng5+! Kg4! 2 Bxg3! f2!

Aha! Black avoids the obvious 2...Kxg3 3 Ne4+ and seeks a surprising stalemate.

3 Nf3!!

Before White captures the pawn, he sneaks in a lovely zwischenzug. Not 3 Bxf2? stalemate.

3...f1Q

Or 3...Kxf3 4 Bxf2.

4 Nh2+ Kxg3 5 Nxf1+ +–


16) F. Aitov

3rd Pr., “64”, 1974

This innocent-looking pawn is the hero of this study, with both of White’s pieces sacrificed to secure its future:

1 e5+ Kf5 2 Bc8!

Deflecting the bishop to activate a dormant battery.

2...Bxc8 3 e6+ Kg6! 4 Rg5+! Kf6 5 Rf5+!

A decisive deflection!

5...Kxf5 6 exf7 +–

The pawn queens.


17) A. Maksimovskikh


With a systematic attempt to create a skewer:

1 Rh6 Be6!

A cunning defence, trying to lure the rook to a more vulnerable square.

2 Bb8!

Declining the gift in favour of a potential skewer since 2 Rxe6? g1Q 3 Bb6+ Kd5 4 Bxg1 Kxe6 is just a draw.

2...Kb6! 3 Rh7! Bd7!

Inviting White again to capture the bishop.

4 Ba7+!

A strong zwischenzug before accepting the offer! 4 Rxd7? g1Q 5 Ba7+ Kc6 6 Bxg1 Kxd7 =.

4...Kxa7 5 Rxd7+ Kb6 6 Rd1 +–

White easily collects all the black pawns.

12: Devious Draws: Perpetual Check

The draw is integral to the essence of chess. Such a conclusion of the battle may be the result of a lack of mating material, or it may be agreed by the players or be declared after 50 moves with no captures or pawn moves. These are the normal and ‘quiet’ draws.

A threefold repetition of position may also belong to the ‘normal’ category of draws but might also prove highly tactical. A particular case of repetition occurs when a player, mostly the one with the inferior position, manages to chase the enemy king with endless checks that he is unable to hide from. That often involves sharp or subtle tactics and even sacrificial play. The outcome is that at some point a threefold repetition is unavoidable.

White to play

Smyslov – Vasiukov

Moscow Central Chess Club 1961

White seems in trouble. Is there a way out?

White had actually anticipated this position, and had prepared a rescue:

44 Rh5+!

Naturally not 44 fxe3? since after 44...gxf5 45 Qd6+ Qg6! (not 45...Kh5? 46 Qd1+) 46 Qf8+ Kh5 it’s all over.

44...gxh5 45 Qd6+ ½-½

With perpetual check, as the king has no flight-square on h5: 45...Qg6 46 Qf8+ Qg7 47 Qd6+ =.

White to play

Fischer – Spassky

Sveti Stefan/Belgrade (15) 1992

Despite being a piece up, White is about to be mated on his first or second rank. Can he somehow survive?

As a matter of fact, White’s pieces are already set to trap the enemy king in a perpetual check net:

33 Nf5+! ½-½

A draw was agreed in view of 33...gxf5 34 Qg5+ Kf8 35 Qd8+ Kg7 36 Qg5+, etc.


L. Topko


Can White meet Black’s threat to promote?

White creates a net of repeated checks by the strong bishop-pair:

1 Bb6!

1 Bc5? leaves White a square short after 1...e1Q 2 Bh3+ Ke2 3 Bg4+ Kd3 4 Bf5+ Kc3, etc. (Note that in studies, the 50-move rule doesn’t apply.)

1...e1Q 2 Bh3+ Ke2 3 Bg4+ Kd3 4 Bf5+ Ke2 5 Bg4+ =

The black king has no refuge against the repeated checks as moving to a dark square is met by a skewer along the diagonal.


S. Kozlowski

Glos Poranny, 1932

Can the white pawn-pair make up for the missing rook?

Yes, but paradoxically only by both being given away!

1 g7+ Kg8

After 1...Kf7 2 h7 it is Black who must seek a draw by perpetual check, but he naturally hopes for more than that. With his pawns restrained, is there anything left for White but to play on a rook behind?

2 h7+!

A surprising sacrifice!

2...Kxh7 3 g8Q+!

And another one! What can the point be?

3...Rxg8

By now the board has been cleared for a surprising perpetual check:

4 Rh2+ Kg6 5 Rg2+ Kf7

The king must protect its rook.

6 Rf2+ =

The well-placed white king plays a vital role by enforcing a border on the e-file. There is no way out!

Perpetual Check Exercises

1: White to play

Black is an exchange up and seems safe enough. Is he?

2: Black to play

Black appears to stand slightly worse. Can she force a draw?

3: White to play

It seems that White’s sacrificial attack has reached a dead end. Can he still save his skin?

4: Black to play

Does the mate threat force an exchange of queens, or is there a better option for Black?

5: Black to play

White’s far-advanced d-pawn is unstoppable. Is it time to call it a day?

6: White to play

White, a piece down, is threatened with mate next move. Can she still change her fate?

7: Black to play

White seems better due to Black’s weakened kingside. How should Black continue?


Black’s promotion is unavoidable. How should White welcome the new-born queen?


More unstoppable pawns. Can you think of any creative resources for White?


The black pawn is about to queen. Is there no hope for White?


Can the knight stop the black e-pawn?


How should White respond to Black’s upcoming pawn promotion?


Can White restrain both black passed pawns?


Two knights vs three far-advanced passed pawns. Can they cope?

Perpetual Check Solutions

1: White to play

1) Lasker – Steinitz

World Ch (8), Moscow 1896

Black is an exchange ahead but is not winning because of the following deflection:

56 Rb7! ½-½

A draw was agreed in view of:

56...Qxb7 57 Qxf6+ Qg7

57...Kg8? 58 Qxd8+ Kg7 59 Bh5! Qc7 even loses after 60 Qe8 Ra3 61 Kh4! with the deadly threat of 62 f6+!, mating.

58 Qxd8+ Qg8 59 Qf6+

It’s perpetual check.

2: Black to play

2) Cramling – Chiburdanidze

Women’s Candidates, Tilburg 1994

She can do so by deflecting the white queen:

33...Rb5! 34 Qxb5 Qxf2+ 35 Kh1 Qxh4+ 36 Kg1 Qf2+ =

With a draw by perpetual check.

3: White to play

3) Lasker – Hanham

New York 1892

The ultimate sacrifice can still save White:

1 Qg7+!! Nxg7 2 Nh6+ Kh8 3 Nxf7+

It is also a fork, but White is not so interested in taking the black queen as that would leave him a piece down.

3...Kg8 4 Nh6+ =

The black king cannot escape the checks.

4: Black to play

4) Smyslov – Tal

Bled/Zagreb/Belgrade Candidates 1959

The queen exchange would be hopeless, but fortunately Black can still save his skin:

38...Rg1+!

The white king may only choose to be repeatedly checked by either the rook or the queen.

39 Kh2

39 Kxg1 Qd1+ 40 Kh2 Qh5+ 41 Kg2 Qf3+ 42 Kg1 Qd1+ is another way for the battle to conclude in perpetual check.

39...Rh1+! 40 Kg2 Rg1+ ½-½

5: Black to play

5) Portisch – Kasparov

Moscow 1981

Not at all. An astounding double sacrifice exposes the white king:

42...Rxd2!

Removing a defender.

43 Qxd2 Qf3+ 44 Qg2 Ng3+!!

Opening the h-file.

45 hxg3 Qh5+ 46 Qh2 Qf3+ 47 Rg2 Qd1+ 48 Qg1 Qh5+ 49 Rh2 Qf3+ ½-½

An eye-catching perpetual of a cornered king!

6: White to play

6) Xie Jun – Tisdall

San Francisco 1995

In fact she can by exposing the enemy king to a check bombardment:

45 Rxf7+! Kxf7 46 Qf6+ Kg8 47 Qd8+!

Tisdall admitted afterwards that this check had escaped his attention.

47...Kg7 48 Qf6+ Kh6 49 Qf4+!

The other checks on dark squares are equally effective.

49...Kg7 ½-½

7: Black to play

7) Kasparov – Kramnik

Frankfurt rapid 1999

He should secure a draw using a thematic double bishop sacrifice:

18...Bxa2+! 19 Kxa2 Qa5+ 20 Kb1 Bxb2! 21 Kxb2 Qc3+ 22 Ka2 Qxc2+ 23 Ka1 Qc3+ 24 Ka2 Qc2+ ½-½

Paradoxically, it was White’s castled position that was shattered first.


8) G. Zakhodiakin


Building a perpetual check fortress is the only chance:

1 Rb4

It looks like White is merely seeking the childish trap 1...a1Q? 2 Ra4+, but the plan is deeper than that: the rook is heading to the centre.

1...b5 2 Rd4! a1Q 3 b4!

The threat of perpetual check cannot be foiled.

3...Qc3 4 Rd6+ Kb7 5 Rd7+ Kc6 6 Rd6+ =


9) S. Kozlowski

Swiat Szachowy, 1932

White has two moves before Black queens, and he can use these tempi to build a battery against the black king:

1 Nd6! d2 2 Ne4! d1Q 3 Nf6+ Kh4 4 Ne4+! Kh5

Any other king move is met by an immediate fork.

5 Nf6+ Kg5 6 Nd5+!

Preparing a new pair of knight forks, so the king has to go back.

6...Kh5 7 Nf6+ =

It’s perpetual check by a battery that covers an impressively large part of the chessboard.


10) F. Lazard

Le Monde des Échecs, 1946

In view of the cramped position of the black king, it is more than just a hope:

1 Kg4 f2 2 Bf4+ Kg2 3 Bg3! f1Q 4 Nf4+ Kg1 5 Nh3+ Kg2 6 Nf4+ =

The black king is trapped in a perpetual check net.


11) A. Selezniev


No, but it can successfully pursue the black king instead:

1 Kf7! e3

1...Kh8 2 Nf6 e3 is just a change of move-order.

2 Nf6+! Kh8 3 Nd5! e2 4 Nf4 e1Q 5 Nxg6+ Kh7 6 Nf8+ Kh8 7 Ng6+ =

With a perpetual check.


12) G. Zakhodiakin

Chervony Girnik, 1979

By repeatedly harassing the black king before and following the promotion:

1 Rc4+ Kd2 2 Rd4+ Ke2 3 Re4+ Kf2 4 Rf4+ Kg2 5 Rb4!

Not 5 Rg4+? Kf3!.

5...h1Q 6 Rb1! Qxh3 7 Rb2+ =

The black king is restricted to the first two ranks, so it’s either perpetual check or else the queen is lost to a skewer.


13) L. Prokeš

La Stratégie, 1939

He can, but only with the help of a somewhat unusual king move:

1 Kb8!

Not 1 Ka8? a4 2 Rxa7 a3 3 Rxa3 Kb2 4 Ra7 c1Q 5 Rb7+ Ka3 6 Ra7+ Kb4 7 Rb7+ Ka5 8 Ra7+ Kb6 9 Rb7+ Kc6 and White has run out of checks.

1...a4!

1...Kb2 is premature in view of 2 Rb7+ Kc3 3 Rc7+ Kd3 4 Rd7+ Ke4 5 Rc7, when the black king can find no shelter.

2 Rxa7 a3! 3 Rxa3 Kb2 4 Ra7!

Thanks to the sterile space created by White’s first king move, perpetual check is now possible.

4...c1Q 5 Rb7+ Ka3 6 Ra7+ =

The king has nowhere to hide.


14) G. Afanasiev and E. Dvizov

Problem, 1967

They can here, as the pawns also take flight-squares from the black king.

1 Ng3+! Kg1 2 Ng5! f2+

Caution! 2...h1Q?? 3 Nxf3#.

3 Kd2! f1N+!

Care is needed again: 3...f1Q?? 4 Nh3#.

4 Ke1! Nxg3

And despite being two pawns behind – and both those pawns being about to queen – White saves his skin with a lovely perpetual.

5 Nh3+ Kh1 6 Nf2+ Kg1 7 Nh3+ =

13: Devious Draws: Stalemate

It is a quirk of the laws of chess: the game is drawn if the side to play is unable to make a legal move and his king is not in check.

Stalemate is a frequent guest in endgame theory and also in the art of endgame studies. Nevertheless it is rather rare in chess practice and is considered as a last and desperate defensive resource. Probably that is why even strong grandmasters, world champions included, sometimes overlook stalemate traps. It seems so unusual and irrelevant!

A famous episode is demonstrated in our initial example, which is from the first big international tournament organized after the Second World War.

White to play

O. Bernstein – Smyslov

Groningen 1946

Black’s last move was the natural 59...b2. Was natural also right?

Apparently not in view of:

60 Rxb2! ½-½

Black was counting on the skewer 60...Rh2+, but after 61 Kf3 Rxb2 it is stalemate! 60...f3+ 61 Ke3! f2+ 62 Ke2 Rh1 63 Rb5+ is also a draw.

Stalemates have always attracted the imagination of study composers. They have come up with many remarkably beautiful ways for the game to end in a surprising stalemate. Often those discoveries have also enriched endgame theory. Here are two simple examples with evident practical value:


H. Rinck

1st HM, Budapest Tourney, 1911

Does White still have any chance in this inferior ending?

The last desperate resource works here too:

1 Kg3! h5 2 e4!


2...Kg1 3 e5! dxe5 =

Stalemate.


E. Pogosiants

Uzni Ural, 1975

Can White save this seemingly hopeless ending?

White forces a draw as follows:

1 Bb1+ Ke2! 2 Bxf5 Rxh2! 3 Be4! Rh4! 4 Bf3+!

Care is needed: 4 Bxg2? loses to 4...Rg4 5 Kh2 Kf2 6 Bh3 Rh4.

4...Kxf3 =

Stalemate.

Stalemate Exercises

1: White to play

How can White force a draw?

2: Black to play

What is the simplest conclusion to this game?

3: White to play

Two pawns down, is it time for White to surrender?


Two rooks usually have no difficulty when facing an enemy queen. Is this the case here?


Can the white pawn counterbalance Black’s extra rook?


How should White prepare for the birth of the new black queen?


White’s position seems to be falling apart. Does any hope remain?


Can White restore the material balance?


What is left for White to do but resign?


Is there any salvation for White in this difficult pawn ending?


How can White fight against the mighty queen?


White’s pawns look vulnerable. What chance do they have versus Black’s extra bishop?


Can the white rook generate serious counterchances in this desperate position?


What can a single bishop do against four pawns?


Can the restrained white pawns still affect the outcome of the battle?


How can White avoid losing one of his pieces?


White’s pieces look loose. Can he secure them?


How should White meet Black’s threat to promote?


Can White save his besieged knight?


White is well behind on material. Do you have any good advice for him?


Black’s powerful passed f-pawn is well supported. So what hope does White have?

Stalemate Solutions

1: White to play

1) Matulović – Botvinnik

USSR – World, Belgrade 1970

Though queen endings may last a long time, the draw was achieved here by a single move:

93 Qd3+! ½-½

93...Qxd3 stalemate.

2: Black to play

2) Ribli – Spassky

Montpellier Candidates 1985

It’s stalemate in one!

85...Qxh6+! 86 Kxh6 (stalemate) ½-½

3: White to play

3) Stefanova – Ramon Perez

Zaragoza 1999

Not yet! With an immobile king, all White need do is sacrifice the rook repeatedly:

57 Ra5+ Ke4 58 Re5+ Kd3 59 Re3+ Kd2 60 Re2+ Kd3 61 Re3+

61 Rxb2 was good enough too.

61...Kd4 62 Rd3+ Ke4 63 Re3+ ½-½

The rampant rook in action: it’s either stalemate or perpetual check!


4) L. Prokeš

Severočesky Šach, 1946

The white king is under mate threats. The rooks are required to employ extreme measures:

1 Re6+ Kc7 2 Ra7+ Kc8 3 Rb6!

The only remedy against the mate threat.

3...Qd5+ 4 Rab7 Qa5+ 5 Ra7 Qxb6 6 Rc7+!

Any capture of the rook results in an immediate stalemate.

6...Kd8 7 Rd7+ =

The familiar rampant rook gives Black a choice between only perpetual check and stalemate.


5) A. Maksimovskikh and V. Dolgov

Problem, 1977

Black can prevent promotion but at the price of a surprising finale:

1 c7 Bh5

To win the new queen with a skewer. 1...Rb6+ is answered with 2 Ke7 Rc6 3 Kd8 =.

2 Kf5 Rb4

Restoring the skewer idea.

3 Bd4+!

This interference gives Black no choice.

3...Rxd4 4 c8Q! Bg4+ 5 Ke5 Bxc8 =

Stalemate.


6) V. and M. Platov


He should profit from the kings’ positions:

1 Nf2! Bxf2 2 Rh1+

2 Rd6? loses due to the fork 2...Bc5+.

2...Be1

2...Kc2 fails to 3 Ka2 Be1 (3...Kd3 4 Rd1) 4 Rh2 =.

3 Rh2! d1Q

3...d1R is the technically drawn ending R+B vs R.

4 Rb2+ Kc1

Or 4...Ka1 5 Ra2+ Kb1 6 Ra1+ Kxa1 stalemate.

5 Rb1+! Kxb1 =

Again we have stalemate.


7) E. Pogosiants and V. Yakimchik

Comm., Shakhmaty (Riga), 1968

An amazing sacrifice turns the position into a continuous stalemate maze:

1 Bg5!!

Not 1 g5? h5.

1...hxg5+

After 1...Kxg2 2 Bxh6 Kf3 3 Kg5 Rxg4+ 4 Kf6 Ke4 5 Bg5 the last pawn falls.

2 Kh3 Rf1

Both 2...Rxg2 and 2...Ra1 3 g3! lead to stalemate again.

3 g3 Rf5!

No better is 3...Rf4 4 gxf4 gxf4 5 g5, with a drawn pawn ending.

4 gxf5 gxf5 5 g4 f4 =

The final stalemate of an active defence!


8) A. Hildebrand

Sp. Pr., De Vanföres Tidsskrift, 1950

He can’t, so he should try extreme measures:

1 Rc6!

Wrong are both 1 Rc1? Bg5+ and 1 Rf3? Bg7+! 2 Kxg7 Be4+.

1...Bg7+!

Decoying the king to set up a battery.

2 Kxg7 Be4+

2...Be8+ allows White an additional option compared to the main line, i.e. 3 Rg6.

3 Kh8! Bxc6 4 Be4!

There’s no good answer to this double threat since the black rook cannot protect its bishop from either side.

4...Bxe4 =

Stalemate.


9) D. Gurgenidze

Rokada, 1984

Never say die!

1 Rb1!

1 Ra2? Re3 leaves no hope.

1...f2! 2 Rxb3 f1Q 3 Rxb4+ Kh5 4 Rh4+!

Black can only choose between three different draws: perpetual check, a fortress or stalemate.

4...Kg5 5 Rg4+ Kh5

The fortress arises after 5...Kf5 6 Rg2.

6 Rh4+ Kxh4 =

Stalemate.


10) A. Selezniev

Deutsches Wochenschach, 1919

In fact, it’s a forced draw:

1 Kc6! Kd8 2 Kd5! Kxd7 3 Ke4!

But not 3 Ke5? Ke7 4 Kd4 Kf6 5 Ke4 g4 6 Kf4 g3 7 Kxg3 Kxf5 –+.

3...Kd6

3...Ke7 4 Kf3 Kf6 5 Kg4.

4 Kf3!

Where is the king heading?

4...Ke5 5 Kg4 Kf6 6 Kh5! Kxf5 =

Stalemate.


11) M. Matouš


White should use his only pawn to create significant counterplay:

1 c6 Qh8!

After 1...Qe5+ 2 c7+ Kd7 (2...Ke8 3 Nab6 =) 3 Nab6+ Kc6 4 Ka7 White promotes.

2 c7+

2 Nab6? Be5+.

2...Kd7+ 3 Kb7!

3 Ka7? Bd4+ 4 Nab6+ Bxb6+.

3...Qc8+ 4 Ka7 Bd4+ 5 Ndb6+! Ke6 =

It’s stalemate, as both knights are paralysed, for differing reasons.


12) V. Kivi

Schackvärlden, 1935

With the active help of their king, the pawns may narrowly escape:

1 Kg4 Kf6 2 Kh5 Kg7 3 f6+ Kh7 4 f7 Bxc4 5 f8N+!

Obviously not 5 f8Q? Be2+ 6 Qf3 Bxf3#.

5...Kg7 6 Ne6+! Bxe6 =

Stalemate.


13) H. Mattison


A well-coordinated interaction of the rook and its king saves the day:

1 Rg8! Bxd6+ 2 Kc4 Rc3+

2...Rd4+ fails to 3 Kxd4 f2 4 Ra8+ Kb3 5 Ra1 =.

3 Kxc3 f2 4 Rg4+!

Not 4 Ra8+? Kb5 5 Ra1 Be5+, when Black wins.

4...Ka3

4...Ka5 5 Rg5+ Kb6 6 Rf5 =.

5 Rg5!

5 Rg7? allows the fork 5...Be5+.

5...Bb4+ 6 Kc2 f1Q

Or 6...f1R, with R+B vs R.

7 Ra5+! Bxa5 =

Stalemate.


14) V. Anufriev


Usually not much, but here is an exception:

1 Kc1!

1 Bg5? Kd4 2 Bd2 Ke4 3 Bc3 Ke3.

1...Kb4 2 Ba1!!

Not 2 Bb2? a1Q+! 3 Bxa1 Ka3 4 Bd4 Ka2, when Black wins as he will soon get a won K+P vs K ending.

2...Ka4!

2...Ka3 3 Bb2+ Ka4! 4 Kd2! a1Q 5 Bxa1 Ka3 6 Kxd3 b2 7 Bxb2+ Kxb2 8 Kc4 is a draw.

3 Kd2 b5 4 Kc3! b4+ 5 Kb2! d2 =

Stalemate.


15) Y. Afek

HM, Israel Ring Tourney, 1981

White can still come up with a surprising escape:

1 g7+ Kh7 2 g6+ Kh6 3 a8Q! Rxa8 4 Kf7 Ra7+ 5 Kg8!! Rxg7+

On 5...Kxg6, 6 Kh8 draws.

6 Kh8!

Black has a whole free tempo, but cannot avoid the upcoming stalemate.

6...Ra7 7 g7! Rxg7 =

Stalemate.


16) E. Somov-Nasimovich

5th HM, Shakhmatny Listok, 1927

To avoid a fatal material disadvantage, White must move his rook. But where? If it moves along the e-file, it will be won by a series of bishop checks against the cornered king. However, if it moves along the rank, then the unprotected knight will be picked off by a similar series of bishop checks. In such a desperate situation there is still one chance: a miraculous stalemate!

1 Rf1! Bd4+ 2 Ka2 Bd5+ 3 Ka3 Bc5+ 4 Ka4 Bc6+ 5 Ka5 Bxe8

This would normally be a won position for Black, except that in this particular case White has an unexpected resource:

6 Rc1+! Kxc1 =

Stalemate.


17) V. Halberstadt

1st Pr., Réti MT, Šachové Umenie, 1950

Keeping the pieces close to their king is usually the way to save them against a mighty queen. Here it seems an impossible mission and yet a couple of unusual moves manage to do the magic:

1 Be1!

With the idea of continuing 2 Bf2, when White would be safe.

1...Qe3

After 1...Qd1 2 Re5 or 1...Qb1 2 Ra5+! (but not 2 Re5? Qb7+ followed by a fork) 2...Kb6 3 Re5 White’s pieces are safe.

But how should White meet the powerful text-move? In what looks an insane act of despair, he puts both his pieces en prise!

2 Bg3!! Qxg3

2...Qxc5 3 Bf2! Qxf2 is immediate stalemate, while after 2...Kb6 3 Rc2! Qxg3 4 Rb2+ White checks along his second rank, and Black has no refuge other than taking the rampant rook, giving stalemate.

3 Ra5+ Kb6 4 Ra6+! =

Once more, Black cannot escape the checks along the a-file as taking the rampant rook would mean stalemate.

Here we witnessed a combination of both ‘devious draw’ themes: perpetual check and stalemate.


18) A. Herbstman

Shakhmaty, 1925

White uses interference to gain precious time for greater tactical goals:

1 Ka8! b2 2 b7 Bh2 3 f4! Bxf4 4 e5! Bxe5

Having got rid of the surplus pawns, almost everything is ready for a lovely stalemate.

5 b8Q Bxb8 6 Bd5!

Threatening 7 Ba2.

6...b1Q 7 Be4+! Kxe4 =

Stalemate.


19) H. Mattison

Latvijas Sacha Vestnesis, 1924

No he can’t, but he can still save the game! The time required for Black to trap the knight is used by White to force a surprising stalemate.

1 Kd5!

The pawn ending following 1 a4? Kc8 2 a5 Kb7 3 Nb6 Bxb6 4 axb6 axb6 is lost; e.g., 5 Kd4 Ka6 6

Kc3 Ka5 7 Kb3 Kb5, seizing the opposition and winning.

1...Kd7

After 1...Kc8 2 Kc6 the knight is rescued.

2 a4

White cannot afford a waiting move: 2 a3? allows 2...Bf2 3 a4 a5 4 Kc4 Kc6 5 Nc7 Kxc7 6 Kb5 Be1!, when Black wins.

2...a5 3 Kc4 Kc6

What remains to be done?

4 Nc7! Kxc7 5 Kb5 Bb6 6 Ka6!

And Black is left with just...

6...Kc6 =

Stalemate.


20) M. Liburkin

Izbrannie Etiudy Kaminera i Liburkina, 1981

Try to trap the black knight and you won’t believe what will happen!

1 Rc6!

The knight is lost but Black has three ways to prepare annoying pins after its capture:

a) 1...Bf2 2 Kxa4 Bd7 3 Kb5 Kg4 4 a4 Kf4 5 a5 Ke4 6 Ka6! (not 6 a6? Ba7) 6...Bxc6 stalemate.

b) 1...Bd1 2 Rc4+ Kg5 3 Rd4! (not 3 Rxa4? Bd6+ 4 Rb4 Kf5, when White is in zugzwang and must lose his rook) 3...Nc3 4 Rd3 Be5 5 Rxc3! Bxc3 stalemate.

c) 1...Nc5 2 Rxc5 Bd6 3 Kb4 Be2 4 a4 Kg4 5 Ka5! (not 5 a5? Ba6!) 5...Bxc5 stalemate.

So what have we just witnessed? Three identical stalemate patterns on three different ranks where the

pieces changed their colour squares. In chess composition, this is called a chameleon echo.


21) P. Farago

Gininger MT, Revista Romana de Sah, 1935

Passive defence would lead to defeat, so a more creative approach is called for.

1 a7!

Not 1 Kc6? f3! 2 Re6 Kb8! 3 Re1 f2 4 Rf1 Rf6+ 5 Kb5 Ka7, with an easy win for Black.

1...Kb7 2 a8Q+!

A double deflection!

2...Kxa8

After 2...Rxa8 3 Rf5 White wins the dangerous pawn.

3 Kc6 Kb8

3...f3 4 Ra5+ (or 4 Kxc7 Rf7+ 5 Kb6 =) 4...Kb8 5 Rb5+ is essentially the same as the main line.

4 Rb5+! Kc8

Now all is set for the highlight of White’s play.

5 Rf5! Rxf5 =

Stalemate.

14: The Ultimate Goal: Mate!

Checkmate is of course the aim of the game, and capable of justifying any amount of material sacrifice. Innumerable combinations are aimed at spinning a mating-net, using all tactical devices available. Here is a fine selection for you to crack.

White to play

Spassky – Marsalek

Leningrad (team event) 1960

Can you spot Black’s vulnerability and inflict the final blow?

Yes, it’s g7 and the attacked queen strikes with no delay:

21 Qh6! 1-0

21...gxh6 22 Nxh6#.

Black to play

Korchnoi – Karpov

World Ch (17), Baguio City 1978

Is the white king as safe as it looks?

Not quite! In fact he is most unsafe, as was demonstrated on the board:

39...Nf3+! 0-1

40 Kh1 Nf2# or 40 gxf3 Rg6+ 41 Kh1 Nf2#.


G. Zakhodiakin

Comm., Belarussian Ch 1979

The extra pawn seems insignificant. Is there a way to use it after all?

If you can’t promote it, mate with it:

1 b6+ Kc8

1...Kxc6 2 Nd8+ Kd7 3 bxa7 +–.

2 Bb7+!! Kxb7 3 Nd6+!

3 Nd8+? Kc8 4 bxa7 Nc6+! 5 Nxc6 Kb7 is a well-known fortress position in which despite the knight advantage White can make no progress.

3...Ka8

3...Kc6 4 bxa7.

4 b7#


E. Pogosiants

Leninets Put, 1971

How many knights will be on the board for the final mate?

Four! It’s not a printing error; just wait and see:

1 Nf2+ Kg1 2 Nh3+ Kf1

2...Kh1 is met by 3 Ng3#.

3 Kd1 h1N

The only way to parry the immediate mate threat.

4 Kd2!

Zugzwang! It’s Black to move and any of his moves is met by a knight mate on either g3 or e3.

4...Nf2 5 Ng3#

Mate Exercises

1: White to play

How does White activate his heavy artillery on the queenside?

2: Black to play

What is the best way for Black to protect his attacked pieces?

3: Black to play

Can you help Black to spin a net around the enemy king?

4: Black to play

Can you spot White’s weakness and go for it?

5: White to play

Black is seeking queenside play, leaving the other wing to White. Can he act vigorously?

6: White to play

How can White transform his attacked rook into a poisonous one?

7: White to play

The naked black king doesn’t seem bothered by White’s activity. Should it be?

8: White to play

White looks set to increase the kingside pressure. But is he ready to fire already?

9: White to play

How can White break the tough enemy resistance?


Can White win with a single bishop?


All the white pieces will take an active part in the mating process. Can you see how?


The black king seems as free as a bird. Can White trap it in a mating-net?


White must hunt the black pawn while protecting his own. Do these goals contradict?


The h-pawn looks doomed. What then are White’s aspirations based on?


Materially it’s a drawish ending. What could possibly change this outcome?


The white pawn is about to fall. Can you make Black fall with it?


Can you discover a forceful mating sequence?


Preventing promotion might cost White a rook. Where lies the winning chance, then?

Mate Solutions

1: White to play

1) Tal – Botvinnik

World Ch (17), Moscow 1960

Black’s royal castle falls apart following:

40 Rxa6+! Kb8

Or: 40...bxa6 41 Qb6+ Ka8 42 Qxa6+ Ra7 43 Qxc8#.

41 Qa4 1-0

Black is unable to escape the mating attack.

2: Black to play

2) Potemkin – Alekhine

St Petersburg 1912

In view of White’s king position, it’s better to give away the black queen for a mating attack:

16...Nxd4!

With 16...Qb5? 17 Nc3 Qc4 18 Bf1 Black doesn’t achieve much.

17 gxf5 Nxf5+ 0-1

18 Kh3 Nf2# or 18 Kg4 h5+ 19 Kg5 Bh6#.

3: Black to play

3) Liutov – Botvinnik

Leningrad 1925

Despite being a piece down, Black can use his kingside pawns efficiently for that purpose:

1...h5!!

Threatening 2...g4+ and mate.

2 Qxh5

Following 2 g4 hxg4+ 3 Qxg4 Qh1+ 4 Kg3 Qe1+ –+ White wins the knight and the resulting queen ending.

2...Qh1+ 3 Kg4 Qd1+

It’s a skewer.

4 Nf3 Qd7#

A rare mate in over-the-board practice using two active self-blocks!

4: Black to play

4) Andruet – Spassky

German Bundesliga 1987/8

Surprisingly, the light squares around the white king are vulnerable:

28...Qf3!! 0-1

After 29 gxf3 Nexf3+ 30 Kh1 Bh3!, mate is unavoidable.

5: White to play

5) Kasparov – Korchnoi

Zurich rapid 2001

White handles the king-hunt with no opposition in sight:

21 Rf3+! Kxg6

21...Kg8 22 Ne7+ +–.

22 Bd3+ Kh5 23 Rh3+ Kg4 24 f3+ Kf4 25 Kf2! g4 26 g3+ 1-0

It is mate next move.

6: White to play

6) Smyslov – Oll

Rostov-on-Don 1993

By spinning a mating-net as follows:

29 g4+! Kxe4

29...Kxg4 30 fxg5+.

30 Nf2+ Kxf4

And now a quiet move finishes Black off.

31 Rg1! 1-0

31...e4 32 Nh3#.

7: White to play

7) Karpov – Szoldos

Hungary 1973

No doubt it should, as an astounding act of aggression allows him no chance:

1 Nxe5!! Qxe2 2 Rf7+ Kh6 3 Rh8+ Kg5 4 Rg8+ Kh4

4...Kh6 5 Rg6#.

5 Ng6+ Kg3 6 Nxe7+ Qg4 7 Rf3+ Kh4 8 Nf5+ 1-0

8...Qxf5 9 Rxf5 Rg3 10 Rf4+ Rg4 11 Kh2! Rxf4 12 g3#.

8: White to play

8) Petrosian – Pachman

Bled 1961

In fact, White is set to convert his initiative even faster than expected:

19 Qxf6+!! Kxf6 20 Be5+ Kg5 21 Bg7!! 1-0

The black king can’t escape the mating-net.

9: White to play

9) Spassky – Filip

Gothenburg Interzonal 1955

A vigorous counter-attack obtains a quick decision:

38 Rxf6! Rxg2+ 39 Qxg2 Bxg2 40 Rf8! 1-0

White wins back the queen owing to the mate on the seventh rank.


10) G. Zakhodiakin


He can, owing to Black’s cramped position. In fact, it’s a mate-in-four problem:

1 Kc7 a3 2 Ba4! a2 3 Kc6! a1Q 4 Bb5#


11) C. Bent

Volksgazet, 1970

The solution is sharp and elegant:

1 g8Q+!

A rook promotion is equally good.

1...Nxg8 2 Rg7+ Kh4

2...Kh2 is met by the lethal pin 3 Bc7.

3 Rh7+ Nh6+ 4 Rxh6+! Qxh6

Creating an active self-block.

5 Bf2+ Kh5 6 g4#


12) H. Rinck


A series of well-coordinated tactical acts should do the trick.

1 Bd5+!

As a starter, a skewer secures promotion...

1...Kxd5 2 exd7 g2

...but to what piece?

3 d8N!

The net is made!

3...g1Q 4 c4#


13) J. Fritz

České Slovo, 1939

Paradoxically, White can handle them both with the help of the Réti theme:

1 Kf7 h5 2 Ke6

After 2 Bf6? Kb3! 3 Kg6 h4! Black escapes.

2...h4 3 Kd5!

The Réti manoeuvre: the white king is threatening to enter the square of the black pawn but at the same time is heading to the other side of the board for a different purpose.

3...h3

3...Kb3 is met by the desired 4 Ke4.

4 Kc4! h2 5 Bb4! h1Q 6 b3#


14) G. Zakhodiakin

“64”, 1931

On the cramped position of the black pieces:

1 h6!

1 Rd8? is of no use: 1...Kg7! 2 Kf4 Kh6 3 Kf5 Nxh5! with a draw.

1...Ng4+ 2 Kf4 Nxh6 3 Kg5!

The king is also a key factor here. Again 3 Rd8? is no good: 3...Kg7 4 Rxe8 Kxg6 =.

3...Ng8

3...Kg7 loses to 4 Rd7+.

4 Rh2+ Kg7 5 Rh7+ Kf8 6 Rf7#

An attractive mating picture!


15) J. Fritz

Šachové Umenie, 1950

1 Rf5+!

Now White either wins one of the black knights or inflicts a rather unexpected mate.

The more natural 1 Rxh5? leads nowhere due to 1...Nf6! 2 Rf5 Ne7 =.

1...Ke6 2 Rxh5 Nf6 3 Ra5! Ne7

3...Nd6 loses a knight after 4 Ng5+ Ke7 5 Re5+.

4 Ng5#

An ideal mate following a pair of active self-blocks.


16) A. Lewandowski

1st HM, Czechoslovak Ty, 1989

The fall of the white pawn is followed by the fall of the black king:

1 Kc7! Be6 2 Kd6 Bf7 3 Be2 Kg5 4 Ke7! Bxh5

The active self-block completes the mating-net.

5 Bf6+ Kg6 6 Bd3#


17) G. Amirian

Schakend Nederland, 1994

A rook and a bishop-pair make a pretty powerful team, though with no pawns they are usually unable to overcome a queen. Here is one of the more surprising exceptions:

1 Kf7+ Kh4

After 1...Kh5 White employs a discovered check to win the queen: 2 Bf3+ Kh4 3 Bg3+ Kh3 4 Bg2+! Kxg2 5 Be5+.

2 Bg3+ Kh5 3 Bf3+ Kh6

Now what?

4 Rh8+!! Qxh8 5 Bf4+ Kh7 6 Be4#


18) H. Lommer


Here again it all depends on luring the king to the scaffold:

1 Ne3+ Kd4

It is important to keep attacking the knight.

2 Rxe2 Bd3+ 3 Kb4! Bxe2

A self-block!

4 Nc2+ Kd3 5 Bg6#

15: Combined Motifs A game might be decided by a single motif, but a great deal of chess combinations are more complex than that, requiring the employment of two or more tactical motifs along the road to success.

Black to play

Galliamova – Kosteniuk

Russian Women’s Ch, Kazan 2004

How should Black conclude a successful kingside attack?

First she should remove the guard:

27...Rxd4! 28 Rxd4

And then close the line of the other guard:

28...Rc3 29 g4

Or even a second time in the case of 29 Qb2 Rc2 –+.

29...Qf3+ 0-1

White’s queen is lost.

Black to play

Yudasin – Kramnik

Candidates (1), Wijk aan Zee 1994

White is two pawns up with a seemingly safe king. Perhaps too safe?

Indeed. The white king is surrounded by too many friendly pieces.

24...Qxe3!! –+

This deflects the white pawn so that Black can open the h-file: 25 fxe3 Ng3+ 26 hxg3 Rh5#.


L. Prokeš

Schweizerische Arbeiterschach Journal, 1948

Can White promote one of his pawns?

Combining a breakthrough with a line interference is the key to success here:

1 g6!

Breaking through to secure promotion.

1...fxg6

1...Rxe4 2 gxf7 and 1...Rc1 2 g7 Rc8 3 Bh7 are no fun either.

2 f7 Rf1 3 Bf5!

Interference on the promoting file.

3...Rxf5 4 g4+

And a fork for dessert.

4...Kh6 5 gxf5 Kg7 6 fxg6 +–

Combined Motifs Exercises

1: White to play

Should White accept the offer to trade queens?

2: White to play

Does the complete material equality herald an inevitable draw?

3: Black to play

We have opposite-wing attacks. Who wins the race?

4: White to play

Can you see a way for White to gain material superiority?

5: White to play

How does White convert his queenside pressure into something more tangible?

6: White to play

Can you help White find the finishing touch?

7: White to play

Black’s game looks positionally sound, but can you spot his serious tactical weakness?

8: Black to play

The passed pawn is blockaded. How should Black make progress?


How should White make the most of his activity on the central files?


Can you see a way for White to win this pawnless ending?


Will White’s strong passed b-pawn bring victory?


White is about to lose a piece. How should he play for a win?

Combined Motifs Solutions

1: White to play

1) Karpov – Topalov

Dos Hermanas 1994

White inserts a powerful fork:

30 Nf6!! Kxf6

30...Qxf3 is met by 31 Nxe8+ +–.

31 Be5++!

The black king is decoyed to the open file.

31...Kxe5 32 Qxe4+ Kxe4 33 Re1+ Kf5 34 Rxe8 +–

2: White to play

2) Anand – Charbonneau

Calvia Olympiad 2004

Not quite! The e6-square is triple protected however...

34 Rxf7+!! 1-0

Two guards are removed and the remaining one is deflected by a fork to leave the queen unprotected: 34...Nxf7 35 Ne6+! Rxe6 36 Qxd4+ +–.

3: Black to play

3) Glek – Chiburdanidze

Minsk 1983

Black is to move and comes first by decoying the king:

25...Nxb2! 26 Kxb2 Ba3+! 27 Kb1

27 Kxa3 Qc3+ 28 Nb3 axb3+ 29 Ra4 b2#.

27...Qc3 28 Nc4 Qxd4! 0-1

Profiting from the weakness of the back rank.

4: White to play

4) Smyslov – Unzicker

Hastings 1954/5

Thanks to his space advantage, White can use a surprising deflection to exploit the pin along the half-open c-file:

25 Bh3! Qxh3 26 Bxd6 1-0

26...Ree8 (26...Rd7 27 Bxe5 +–) 27 Rxc7 leaves Black a pawn down, with a second one under serious pressure.

5: White to play

5) Fischer – Gligorić

Havana Olympiad 1966

He opens a file and removes a guard:

18 Nxa6!! +–

The game concluded:

18...Bxh3

18...bxa6 19 Rxc6.

19 e5 Nxe5

19...fxe5 20 Nc5+ Kb8 21 Rc3!.

20 dxe5 fxe5 21 Nc5+ Kb8 22 gxh3 e4 23 Nxe4 Qe7 24 Rc3 b5 25 Qc2 1-0

6: White to play

6) Kasparov – Ivanchuk

Linares 1994

He threatens mate and decoys the rook at the same time:

30 Re8!!

Pinning the bishop to threaten 31 Qa7#.

30...Qh2+

30...Rxe8 31 Qxh6.

31 Kf1 Qxg2+

31...Rxe8 is now met by 32 a6 +–.

32 Kxg2 +–

The game was concluded after:

32...d4+ 33 Qxb7+! Rxb7 34 Rxh8 Rxb5 35 a6 Ka7 36 Rf8 Rxb2 37 Rxf7+ Ka8 38 a7 c3 39 Rf8 1-0

7: White to play

7) Botvinnik – Sharov

USSR Trades Unions Team Ch, Leningrad 1928

Did you find the unusual idea?

26 Nf6+!

The first point is to deflect the queen to win the exchange after 26...Qxf6 27 Qxc7 +–. But what if Black calmly moves his king?

26...Kh8 27 Ne8!!

The next surprise is a double threat behind enemy lines.

27...Qxe8 28 Qxc7 Rb2 29 Rad1 1-0

8: Black to play

8) Kmoch – Alekhine

Kecskemet 1927

It’s last call for a pawn move!

27...dxc3! 28 Rxd7 Rxd7 29 Rxd7

29 Qe8+ Kh7 30 Qxd7 Qe4!, intending ...c2, is winning for Black.

29...Bd4+ 30 Kh1?

After 30 Rxd4 Black liquidates to a winning queen ending; e.g., 30...Qxd4+ 31 Kf1 Qf4+ 32 Ke1 Qc1+ 33 Qd1 Qe3+ 34 Kf1 Qf4+ 35 Ke2 Qg4+ 36 Ke1 Qe4+ 37 Qe2 Qb1+ 38 Kf2 c2 –+.

30...Qc1+ 0-1

It’s back-rank mate.


9) J. Ulrichsen

Dagbladet, 1967

With a double sacrificial interference, each followed by a luring pin:

1 e6 Re2 2 e7 Kf4 3 Rd4+

With two echo lines, each leading to a technical win:

a) 3...Kg3 and now 4 Ne3! is interference to allow a deflection by pinning and then queening: 4...Rxe3 5 Rd3 Rxd3 6 e8Q.

b) 3...Kg5 4 Ne5! Rxe5 5 Rd5! Rxd5 6 e8Q +– with a similar outcome.


10) P. Rossi


A combination of battery play and domination prevails:

1 Bg4+! Bxc7 2 Rxc7+ Rf7!

A surprising decoy.

3 Rxf7+ Kg6

3...Kg8 4 Rf2! Bxg4 5 Rg2, pinning and winning.

4 Bh5+!

Counter-decoy!

4...Kxh5 5 Rh7+ Kg4 6 Kf2! +–




2nd Comm., Magadansky Komsomolets, 1985

With two sacrificial decoys, it might:

1 b6 exd5 2 bxa7 Bb7 3 Ba6!! Bxa6+

Or 3...Bc6 4 Nc4! Kd8 5 Na5 Ba8 6 Bb7 and White wins.

4 Nc4!! Bb7 5 Nd6+ +–

The deadly fork secures promotion.


12) E. Pogosiants

2nd HM, Problemista, 1965

By seeking forks:

1 Ne5!! Qxe5

Following 1...Qh2 2 Bb4+ Ke8 3 Nc7+ Kd8 4 Ne6+ Kc8 5 Nf4+ Kc7 6 Neg6 all White’s pieces are well protected, so he should win.

2 Bb4+ Kf7

Or 2...Ke8 3 Nd6+ Kf8 4 Nc4+ – a discovered attack by battery play.

3 Nd6+ Kf6 4 Bc3!

A lethal pin that results in a decisive fork.

4...Qxc3 5 Ne4+ +–

16: It’s Your Move! To end the book, here is a variety of exercises with neither hints nor any indication of the themes. You are told just who is to move and, in the case of the endgame studies, whether it is ‘White to play and win’ or ‘White to play and draw’. Good luck!

1: White to play

2: White to play

3: White to play

4: Black to play

5: Black to play

6: Black to play

7: Black to play

8: White to play

9: Black to play

10: White to play

11: White to play

12: Black to play

13: Black to play

14: Black to play

15: Black to play

16: White to play

17: White to play

18: White to play

19: White to play

20: White to play

21: White to play

22: White to play



It’s Your Move Solutions

1: White to play

1) Kramnik – Adams

Linares 1999

White profits from the vulnerability of Black’s back rank to win his knight by deflection:

38 Rd6! 1-0

It’s in fact a fork too, attacking both black rook and knight at the same time. The point is 38...Rxd6 39 Rb8+ Rd8 40 Rxd8#.

2: White to play

2) Kramnik – Radjabov

London Candidates 2013

33 Nxe7+!

A fork owing to the weakness of the back rank.

33...Kh8

Or 33...Rxe7 34 Qc8+ Bf8 35 Rb8 Re8 36 Qxe8 Qa3 37 e6 fxe6 38 Qxe6+ with a lethal fork.

34 Nxd5 Qxd5 35 Qc4 +–

White has a decisive material advantage

3: White to play

3) Kosteniuk – Milman

Philadelphia 2003

White removes the guard of g6:

32 Rxf7+! Kxf7 33 Rf1+ 1-0

It’s mate in a few more trivial moves.

4: Black to play

4) Dao Thien Hai – Kasparov

Batumi rapid 2001

Black takes advantage of the pinned pawn to engineer a fork:

23...Rxe3+!!

Deflecting the queen from defending the g4-pawn.

24 Qxe3

24 Kxe3? Re8+ costs White either his queen or his king: 25 Kf4 g5+ 26 Kf5 Qxf3#.

24...Qxg4+ 25 Kf1 Qxd7 26 Qxa7 Qb5+ 27 Kg2 0-1

27...Qg5+ will leave White a rook down.

5: Black to play

5) I. Thomas – Chiburdanidze

Lloyds Bank Masters, London 1985

19...Qxf1+!

Removing the guard.

20 Rxf1 Bxg3+ 21 Rf2 Raf8 0-1

The massive pin along the file is irresistible.

6: Black to play

6) Sliwa – Smyslov

Alekhine Memorial, Moscow 1956

59...h3+!

Luring the king to an unfavourable square.

60 Kxh3 Qg1! 0-1

White’s position falls apart: 61 Rg2 fxg4+ 62 Kg3 Nf5+ and mate in two more moves.

7: Black to play

7) Keres – Petrosian

Bled/Zagreb/Belgrade Candidates 1959

Black didn’t miss the decisive deflection:

51...Qxf4+! 0-1

52 Qxf4 Rh1#.

8: White to play

8) Spassky – Foguelman

Mar del Plata 1960

27 Rg8+!!

Deflecting the king to gain material. This is way more vigorous than the defensive option 27 Rc1 (though this is also good).

27...Kxg8 28 Qxg6+ Rg7

Forced, since after 28...Kf8 29 Qf6+! +– White mates with no delay.

29 Rd8+ Qf8 30 Rxf8+ Kxf8 31 Qxc2

Black’s most feared pawn is gone too, so the game is practically over.

31...Kg8 32 Qc5 1-0

9: Black to play

9) Letelier – Fischer

Leipzig Olympiad 1960

23...Qxf4+!! 0-1

A lovely queen sacrifice to decoy the king: 24 Kxf4 Bh6#. 24 Kf2 invites a devastating attack by 24...Ng4+ 25 Kg2 Ne3+ 26 Kf2 Nd4 – one out of various winning options.

10: White to play

10) Fischer – Celle

Davis simul 1964

The uncastled king is punished by two deflections to open the central files:

22 Rxd7+! Qxd7 23 f6+! Nxf6

23...Kxf6 24 Qxd7 +–.

24 Re1+ +–

11: White to play

11) Karpov – Najdorf

Mar del Plata 1982

White strikes first by luring the enemy king to its back rank and then inflicting a mate in two:

53 Rh8+! 1-0

53...Kxh8 54 Qe8+ Kh7 55 Qg8#.

12: Black to play

12) Topalov – Kasparov

Novgorod 1995

A sacrifice smokes the white king out all the way to a mid-board scaffold:

40...Bxc2+! 0-1

41 Qxc2 allows 41...gxh6 –+ as there is no Qh7# any more. After 41 Kxc2 it’s mate in four: 41...Rf2+ 42 Kd3 (42 Kd1 Qd4+ makes it even shorter) 42...Qd5+ 43 Ke3 Qd2+ 44 Ke4 Rf4#.

13: Black to play

13) Lobron – Kramnik

Dortmund 1995

Black liquidated to win the endgame:

33...Rxe5! 34 Qxe5 Qxe5 35 Nxe5 d2 36 Rxd2 Rxd2+ –+

With a pair of extra connected passed pawns, the win is just a matter of time.

14: Black to play

14) Krasenkow – Karpov

Wijk aan Zee 2003

A deflection leaves White with no chance:

29...Re1! 0-1

30 Rxe1 Qxf3# or 30 Kg2 Rxf1 31 Kxf1 Qxf3+ 32 Ke1 Qxd5 –+.

15: Black to play

15) Rodzinski – Alekhine

Paris simul 1913

A double threat against the royal couple fully justifies the earlier rook sacrifice:

13...Qxd3! 14 cxd4 Be7!

A devastating move, unleashing the battery against the queen while threatening mate.

15 Qxh8 Bh4# (0-1)

16: White to play

16) Alekhine – Verlinsky

Odessa (match) 1918

24 Qd1!!

The black queen is taboo owing to White’s weakened back rank, but this stunning zwischenzug protects the white rooks while defending the back rank and attacking both enemy queen and bishop. Thus White maintains his material advantage.

24...Qa5

Or 24...Bxd1 25 Rxc7 +–.

25 Qxe2 Qxe5 26 Rd5 1-0

White is a piece and a pawn up.

17: White to play

17) Euwe – Cortlever

Beverwijk 1940

White wins in the opening by attacking both black knights:

11 Nc4! 1-0

After 11...Nxc4 12 Bxd5+ White wins a piece by a fork.

18: White to play

18) Alekhine – Rubinstein

Karlsbad 1923

A surprising bishop move paves the way for the queen to the open file on the kingside while threatening to win material:

25 Bg6!! Qe5

25...Kg8 26 Qc4 +– is hardly an improvement, while 25...fxg6 26 Qe4! Bd6 27 Qh4+ leads to mate: 27...Kg8 28 Qh7+ Kf8 29 Qh8+ Ke7 30 Qxg7+ Ke8 31 Qg8+ Bf8 32 Qxg6+ Ke7 33 Qxe6#.

26 Nxf7+ Rxf7 27 Bxf7

White has won the exchange and a pawn. The game didn’t last long:

27...Qf5 28 Rfd1! Rxd1+ 29 Rxd1 Qxf7 30 Qxc8 Kh7 31 Qxa6 Qf3 32 Qd3+ 1-0

Forcing the exchange of queens rules out any last hope of a miracle reprieve.

19: White to play

19) Fischer – Benko


A shocking obstruction of the black f-pawn leaves the black king defenceless:

19 Rf6!!

The premature 19 e5? allows 19...f5!.

19...Kg8

After 19...Bxf6 the black bishop blocks its own pawn, so after 20 e5 there is no defence against 21 Qxh7#.

20 e5 h6 21 Ne2 1-0

20: White to play

20) Karpov – Korchnoi

World Ch (8), Baguio City 1978

A deadly invasion:

26 Rd7! Rb8

26...Bxd7 removes a guard of f7, allowing mate by 27 Qxf7+! Rxf7 28 Rxf7#.

27 Nxf7 Bxd7 28 Nd8+! 1-0

White uses the discovered check to shut off the back rank so that 28...Ke7 29 Qf8# is possible.

21: White to play

21) Menchik – Mora Iturralde

Women’s World Ch, Buenos Aires 1939

Removing the guard opens up a lethal diagonal:

19 Nxf7! Rxf7 20 Qxe6 1-0

With unavoidable heavy material losses along the weakened a2-g8 diagonal.

22: White to play

22) Alekhine – Fletcher

London simul 1928

A queen sacrifice leads to deadly battery play:

26 Qxe4!! fxe4

26...Bxf1 27 Rxf1 doesn’t change the position and its consequences.

27 Bxe4+ Kh8 28 Ng6+ Kh7 29 Nxf8++

Removing the guard of the mating square by a double check.

29...Kh8 30 Ng6+ Kh7 31 Ne5+

And a discovered check to get to the mating square.

31...Kh8 32 Nf7# (1-0)


23) L. Prokeš

Revista Romana de Sah, 1939

White shuts off the bishop’s route as follows:

1 Ke3!

The premature 1 d4? cxd3 2 c4? Kf1! 3 Ke3 Ke1 4 c5 d2 proves too daring and even loses, while 1 Ke2? Kg2! 2 d4 cxd3+ 3 cxd3 Kg3 is simply too slow.

1...Bxc2

Or 1...Kg2 2 d4! (2 d3? Kg3 3 dxc4 Kg4) 2...cxd3 3 c4 Kf1! 4 Kd2! Kf2 5 c5 with two unstoppable passed pawns.

The text-move places the bishop behind the critical d3-square, which allows White’s main idea:

2 d4! cxd3 3 Kd2! +–


24) L. Prokeš

Šach, 1940

The white rook shuts off the promotion file four times in the solution:

1 e7 Re1+ 2 Kf4! g5+

Both king moves are met by interferences along the e-file: 2...Kh5 3 Rg5+ Kh6 4 Re5 or 2...Kh3 3 Rg3+ Kh2 4 Re3.

3 Kf3 g4+

3...Kh3 4 Re2 interferes on the e-file for the third time.

4 Rxg4+

Not 4 Kf4? g3.

4...Kh5 5 Re4 +–

And the fourth and final one!


25) H. Rinck


Here we see the Novotny theme: the white rook is sacrificed on the intersection square of two lines,

stopping either the black rook or the black bishop from doing its job.

1 d7

1 a7? Kb6 2 d7 Kc7 3 Rxh7 Bb5.

1...Rd2 2 a7

2 Ra1+? Kb6 3 a7 Bf3 achieves nothing but a draw.

2...Bf3 3 Rh5+ Kb6

3...Bxh5 allows 4 a8Q+.

4 Rd5!

The rook lands right at the crossroads, interfering with both guards at the same time. Black can prevent just one promotion, but not both.

4...Bxd5

Or 4...Rxd5 5 a8Q.

5 d8Q+ Kxa7 6 Qa5+ +–

The fork finishes Black off.


26) E. Pogosiants


With the royal couple close to the edge of the board, the rooks prove stronger:

1 Rh7+ Kd8 2 Ra6 Qf8+ 3 Kg3! Qg8+ 4 Kf2 Qd5

The queen runs out of checks following 4...Qf8+ 5 Ke2 Qe8+ 6 Kd2.

Now a typical skewer combination finishes Black off.

5 Ra8+! Qxa8 6 Rh8+ +–

Black loses his queen and consequently the game too.


27) L. Kubbel


The white duo wins the black queen by forking the royal pair following a sacrificial decoy:

1 Rc8! Qxc8

An echo variation is 1...Qg7 2 Rg8! Qxg8 3 Ng4+ Kd5 (3...Kf5 4 Nh6+; 3...Ke4 4 Nf6+) 4 Nf6+.

2 Nc4+ +–

With three forks: 2...Kd5 3 Nb6+, 2...Kf5 3 Nd6+ and 2...Ke4 3 Nd6+.

A true festival of forks!


28) E. Pogosiants

Priziv, 1964

A white underpromotion brings about the domination of the black queen:

1 Ba2+

A premature promotion is met by a skewer: 1 f8Q? f4+ =.

1...Ke5 2 f4+!!

2 f8Q? is too early owing to 2...Qd7+ 3 Ke2 Qb5+ 4 Kf3 Qc6+ 5 Kg3 Qg6+, with perpetual check; if the white king instead seeks shelter on the queenside, he is likely to lose his only pawn.

2...Kxf4

Otherwise White promotes with check. But what was the point of White’s pawn sacrifice?

3 f8N!! +–

Surprisingly, the attacked queen has no escape since any move to a dark square is met with a fork by the new-born knight: 3...Qg7 4 Ne6+, 3...Qe7 4 Ng6+, 3...Qc7 4 Ne6+ or 3...Qh8 4 Ng6+.


29) L. Prokeš

Narodni Prace, 1940

The pin along the d-file is fatal.

1 Rg7+

1 Kd2? is premature in view of 1...Nf6! 2 Rg7+ Kf8! =. The same goes for 1 Rge4+? due to 1...Kf7 2 Kd2 Nf6! =.

1...Ke6

1...Ke8 2 Rg8+ Ke7 3 Re4+ +–.

2 Kd2! +–

This square is the only safe haven for the white king against potential checks. Black is in zugzwang, and any of his moves loses a piece.


30) L. Prokeš

2nd Pr., Duras JT, Šach, 1943

The black rook is decoyed to the third or fifth rank by an interference and then deflected off the same rank by pinning:

1 b7

Now 1...Kxa4 loses simply to 2 Ra6+, while the main lines are two echo pinning variations:

a) 1...Ka3 2 Bb3! (blocking the b-file to lure the black rook to the third rank) 2...Rxb3 3 Rc3! (in order to deflect the rook by pinning and consequently allow promotion) 3...Rxc3 4 b8Q; e.g., 4...Ka2 5 Qb5 Ka3 6 Qb1 or 4...Rb3 5 Qf4 +–.

b) 1...Ka5 is answered analogously: 2 Bb5! Rxb5 3 Rc5! Rxc5 4 b8Q +–. Again, this is a won Q vs R+P ending.


31) L. Prokeš

Prace, 1946

The black rook is won by an X-ray fork on the seventh rank:

1 e7 Re5 2 Rb7!

Preparing the pin in advance.

2...Rxe7 3 Ra7+ Kb4 4 Nc6+!

It’s a fork since the pawn is pinned.

4...dxc6 5 Rxe7 +–

with an easy win for White.


32) L. Kubbel

Shakhmaty, 1955 (composed 1937)

A combination of a skewer threat and operating a discovered attack does the trick:

1 Bc2! Kg5!

Any queen move is met by another skewer; e.g., 1...Qg6 2 Rh1+ Kg5 3 Rg1+.

2 Rg1+ Kf4

Or 2...Kf6 3 e5+.

3 Rg4+ Ke5 4 d4+! Kxd4 5 e5+! +–

Two batteries are unleashed at the very same time against the enemy royal couple.


33) L. Prokeš

České Slovo, 1937

A hidden battery is unleashed as if from nowhere to win the new-born queen:

1 Qh4+ Kd3! 2 Qxf2 c1Q 3 Qe3+ Kc4

3...Kc2 leads to a queen exchange following 4 Qc3+ Kd1 5 Qxc1+, when the rest is trivial.

4 d3+! +–


34) E. Pogosiants


The superior knight is given away to dominate the enemy bishop:

1 Nf6!!

Avoiding both 1 Nh6? Be8 2 g5 Kd5 3 Kf8 Ke4 4 f5 Kf4! 5 f6 exf6 6 gxf6 Ba4 = and 1 Kf8? Bxg8 2 Kxg8 Kd5! 3 Kf7 Ke4 =.

1...exf6 2 Kf8!

The sacrifice has changed the pawn-formation, and Black will soon run out of moves.

2...f5 3 g5! +–

The bishop is trapped and the resulting pawn ending is hopeless.


35) L. Kubbel

Izvestia, 1923

The only way to maintain the two-piece advantage is to give away the rook and regain its counterpart by domination:

1 Nh5!! Rg4+ 2 Kc3 Rxa4 3 Kb3!

The rook is dominated.

3...Re4

Other moves are no better: 3...Rd4 4 Bc3, 3...Rg4 4 Bc3+ Kh7 5 Nf6+, forking, or 3...Ra1 4 Bc3+, forking again.

4 Bc3+ Kg8 5 Nf6+ +–

with yet another winning fork.


36) A. Grin

2nd HM, Lenin MT, Biulleten Tsentralnogo Shakhmatnogo Kluba SSSR, 1990

My pieces for a skewer!

1 Ne2! Kxe2

1...b1Q? is met by 2 Nc3+, while 1...Kd2 is defeated by 2 Nc3! Kxc3 3 h8Q+, winning.

2 Bf1+! Kd2

2...Kxf1 allows a horizontal skewer: 3 h8Q b1Q 4 Qh1+.

3 Bd3! Kxd3 4 h8Q b1Q 5 Qh7+

And now a diagonal one!

5...Kc3 6 Qxb1 +–


37) H. Rinck

3rd Pr., Sala Imperio, 1916

The well-coordinated rooks prove stronger than the queen:

1 Re6+

Not 1 Rh6+? Kb5 2 Rh5+ Ka4! 3 Rh4+ Ka3! 4 Kd2+ Ka2.

1...Kb5 2 Re5+! Ka4! 3 Re4+! Ka3

3...Kb5 loses to 4 Rh5+ Kc6 5 Re6+ Kd7 6 Rh7+.

4 Kc4+! Ka4

4...Kb2 leads to a mate on the back rank: 5 Re2+ (not 5 Rh2+? Ka3! 6 Rh3+ Kb2) 5...Kc1 6 Rh1+.

5 Kd5+! Kb5! 6 Rb3+ Ka5 7 Ra3+ +–

The skewer wins the black queen.


38) V. Platov

La Stratégie, 1907

Stalemate might still remain an option after all other resources have let one down.

1 Ra5+ Kb1

1...Kb2 2 Nd3+ is an immediate fork.

2 Nf3!

But not 2 Nc4? Nf3+!, when the forking square is under control.

2...Nxf3+

2...f1Q is obviously met by the fork 3 Nd2+.

3 Kg3 f1Q

3...f1R allows 4 Rxf5, with a ‘normal’ draw.

4 Ra1+! Kxa1 =

Stalemate.


39) D. Gurgenidze

Šachové Umenie, 1974

White refutes the ‘unavoidable’ stalemate with an elegant mate:

1 Nc2! g4 2 Ne1 g3

The first self-block around the king...

3 Ke2 Kg1 4 Ng6 h1Q

...and the second one.

5 Nf3+ Kxg2 6 Nf4#

Mate following two active self-blocks.


40) T. Gorgiev

Shakhmaty, 1927

White can stop the black pawn without losing his own if he employs a variety of tactical motifs. And it takes just four moves:

1 Bd6!

Interfering on the promotion file while protecting the e7-pawn.

1...d1Q+

Avoiding the fork following 1...Rxd6 2 Kd1 Re6 3 Bc4+.

2 Kxd1 Rxd6+ 3 Bd3!

The second decoy by a bishop!

3...Rxd3+

3...Re6 is met with the fork 4 Bc4+ once again.

4 Ke2 +–

Promotion is finally secured!

Index of Names Composers

Players

Composers

Numbers refer to chapters (I = Introduction).

Afanasiev, G. 12

Afek, Y. 7, 9, 13

Aitov, F. 11

Åkerblom, A. 1

Amirian, G. 3, 14

Anufriev, V. 13

Avni, A. 7

Barbier, G. 9

Bazlov, Y. 10

Beliavsky, A. 10

Benko, P. 9

Bent, C. 2, 14

Bianchetti, R. 2

Birnov, Z. 6

Blandford, H. 9

Bron, V. 6

Dolgov, V. 10, 13

Dvizov, E. 12

Farago, P. 9, 10, 13

Fritz, J. 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8, 11, 14, 14

Gillberg, A. 5

Gorgiev, T. 3, 5, 6, 8, 16

Grin/Guliaev, A. 3, 4, 16, 6, 9, 10

Gunst, J. 6, 10

Gurgenidze, D. 13, 16

Gurvich, A. 6, 6

Halberstadt, V. 8, 13

Hašek, J. 9

Henneberger, M. 5

Herberg, A. 10

Herbstman, A. 4, 13

Heuäcker, P. 6, 8

Hildebrand, A. 5, 6, 7, 13

Hoch, Y. 6, 6, 9

Kaev, L. 3, 5

Kakovin, A. 6

Kichigin, V. 5

Kivi, V. 13

Kliatskin, M. 7

Kovalenko, V. 5, 9, 9, 10

Kozlowski, S. 2, 4, 6, 12, 12

Kralin, N. 5

Kubbel, L. 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 7, 16, 16, 16

Lazard, F. 5, 12

Lerman, J. 8

Lewandowski, A. 14

Liburkin, M. 8, 13

Lommer, H. 4, 7, 14

Maksimovskikh, A. 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15

Matouš, M. 3, 13

Mattison, H. 3, 13, 13

Mees, W. 5

Mitrofanov, L. 3, 5, 5, 8, 10, 10, 10

Moravec, J. 10, 10

Pachman, V. 3

Perelman, M. 4

Petrov, D. 6

Platov, M. 3, 8, 13

Platov, V. 3, 8, 13, 16

Pogosiants, E. I, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 11, 13, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16, 16

Prokeš, L. 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 10, 10, 11, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16

Prokop, F. 10

Proskurowski, W. 4, 8

Razumenko, V. 5

Réti, R. 6

Richter, E. 6

Rinck, H. 3, 4, 4, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 16

Rossi, P. 15

Saavedra, F 9

Sehwers, J. 11

Selezniev, A. 7, 7, 7, 9, 12, 13

Shupletsov, V. 4, 5, 15

Silaev, L. 3

Sochniev, A. 2

Somov-Nasimovich, E. 13

Topko, L. 12

Troitsky, A. 1, 1, 1, 4, 5

Ulrichsen, J. 9, 15

Van der Heijden, H. 7

Van Vliet, L. 4

Weenink, H. 5

Wotawa, A. 6

Yakimchik, V. 13, 6

Zakhodiakin, G. 1, 4, 4, 6, 8, 8, 10, 12, 12, 14, 14, 14

Players

When a player’s name appears in bold, that player had White. Otherwise the FIRST-NAMED PLAYER was White.

ADAMS – Anand; Kramnik

ALEKHINE – Blümich; Bogoljubow; Colle; Euwe; Fletcher; Flohr; Frieman; Kmoch; Kussman; Lasker; Nestor, A.; Pavlov Pianov; Potemkin; Reshevsky; Rodzinski; Rubinstein; Sämisch; Spielmann; Tenner; Torres Caravaca; Vasić; Verlinsky

ANAND – Adams; Charbonneau; Gelfand; Ivanchuk; Kasimdzhanov; Kasimdzhanov; Kasparov; Kramnik; Kramnik; Lautier; Lobron; Nikolić; Spassky

ANDRUET – Spassky

BALASHOV – Petrosian

BANNIK – Tal

BARCZA – Tal; Tal

BAREEV – Kasparov

BENKO – Fischer; Tal

BENNETT, J. – Fischer

BERNSTEIN, O. – Capablanca; Smyslov

BIRD – Steinitz

BISGUIER – Fischer

BLÜMICH – Alekhine

BOGOLJUBOW – Alekhine

BOTVINNIK – Goglidze; Keres; Keres; Liutov; Matulović; Schneiderman Stepanov; Sharov; Smyslov; Tal; Yurgis

CAPABLANCA – Bernstein, O.; Fonaroff; Grommer; Rossolimo; Spielmann; Vassaux

CARLSEN – Hammer; Ibraev; Kamsky; Kariakin; Stefansson

CELLE – Fischer

CHARBONNEAU – Anand

CHIBURDANIDZE – Cramling; Glek; Thomas, I.

COLLE – Alekhine

CORTLEVER – Euwe

CRAMLING – Chiburdanidze

DAO THIEN HAI – Kasparov

DEMBO – Stefanova

DENKER – Euwe

DI CAMILLO – Fischer

EFROIMSKI – Kosteniuk

EUWE – Alekhine; Cortlever; Denker; Fontein; Guimard; Lasker; Tartakower

FILIP – Spassky

FISCHER – Benko; Bennett, J.; Bisguier; Celle; Di Camillo; Gligorić; Gligorić; Goldsmith; Letelier; Lombardy; Pilnik; Reshevsky; Sherwin; Sherwin; Shocron; Sofrevski; Spassky; Spassky

FLETCHER – Alekhine

FLOHR – Alekhine

FOGUELMAN – Spassky

FONAROFF – Capablanca

FONTEIN – Euwe

FRIEMAN – Alekhine

GALLIAMOVA – Kosteniuk

GAPRINDASHVILI – Litinskaya; Polgar, J.; Umudova

GELFAND – Anand

GEORGIEV, KI. – Karpov

GLEK – Chiburdanidze

GLIGORIĆ – Fischer; Fischer

GOGLIDZE – Botvinnik

GOLDSMITH – Fischer

GOMES, M. – Stefanova

GRAF, S. – Menchik

GROMMER – Capablanca

GUIMARD – Euwe; Smyslov

HAMMER – Carlsen

HANHAM – Lasker

HARTSTON – Tal

HONFI – Tal

HOU YIFAN – Skripchenko

IBRAEV – Carlsen

IVANCHUK – Anand; Kasparov

IVKOV – Petrosian; Xie Jun

KAMSKY – Carlsen

KARIAKIN – Carlsen

KARPOV – Georgiev, Ki.; Khalifman; Korchnoi; Korchnoi; Krasenkow; Lautier; Najdorf; Sax; Szoldos; Timman; Topalov

KASIMDZHANOV – Anand; Anand

KASPAROV – Anand; Bareev; Dao Thien Hai; Ivanchuk; Korchnoi; Kramnik; Najdorf; Nikitin/Sakharov; Portisch; Smirin; Topalov

KELLER – Tal

KERES – Botvinnik; Botvinnik; Petrosian

KHALIFMAN – Karpov

KMOCH – Alekhine

KOBLENCS – Tal

KORCHNOI – Karpov; Karpov; Kasparov; Petrosian; Spassky

KOSTENIUK – Efroimski; Galliamova; Milman; Ushenina

KRAMNIK – Adams; Anand; Anand; Kasparov; Lobron; Radjabov; Yudasin

KRASENKOW – Karpov

KUSSMAN – Alekhine

LARSEN – Spassky; Spassky

LASKER – Alekhine; Euwe; Hanham; NN; NN; Steinitz; Von Scheve

LAUTIER – Anand; Karpov

LETELIER – Fischer; Tal

LILIENTHAL – Smyslov

LISITSYN – Smyslov

LITINSKAYA – Gaprindashvili

LIUTOV – Botvinnik

LOBRON – Anand; Kramnik

LOMBARDY – Fischer

MALICH – Tal

MARSALEK – Spassky

MATULOVIĆ – Botvinnik

MEDINA GARCIA – Tal

MENCHIK – Graf, S.; Mora Iturralde

MILMAN – Kosteniuk

MORA ITURRALDE – Menchik

NAJDORF – Karpov; Kasparov

NESTOR, A. – Alekhine

NIKITIN/SAKHAROV – Kasparov

NIKOLIĆ – Anand

NN – Lasker; Lasker; Steinitz; Tal

NOVOPASHIN – Popov, N.

OLL – Smyslov

PACHMAN – Petrosian

PAOLI – Smyslov

PAVLOV PIANOV – Alekhine

PETROSIAN – Balashov; Ivkov; Keres; Korchnoi; Pachman; Simagin; Taimanov; Tal

PILNIK – Fischer

PLATONOV – Tal

POLGAR, J. – Gaprindashvili

POLGAR, ZSU. – Todorčević; Yudasin

POPOV, N. – Novopashin

PORTISCH – Kasparov

POTEMKIN – Alekhine

RADJABOV – Kramnik

RAMON PEREZ – Stefanova

RESHEVSKY – Alekhine; Fischer

RIBLI – Spassky

RODZINSKI – Alekhine

ROSSOLIMO – Capablanca

RUBINSTEIN – Alekhine

SÄMISCH – Alekhine

SANTO-ROMAN – Spassky

SAX – Karpov

SCHNEIDERMAN STEPANOV – Botvinnik

SHAROV – Botvinnik

SHERWIN – Fischer; Fischer

SHOCRON – Fischer

SICH – Steinitz

SIMAGIN – Petrosian

SKRIPCHENKO – Hou Yifan

SLIWA – Smyslov

SMIRIN – Kasparov

SMYSLOV – Bernstein, O.; Botvinnik; Guimard; Lilienthal; Lisitsyn; Oll; Paoli; Sliwa; Tal; Unzicker; Vasiukov

SOFREVSKI – Fischer

SPASSKY – Anand; Andruet; Filip; Fischer; Fischer; Foguelman; Korchnoi; Larsen; Larsen; Marsalek; Ribli; Santo-Roman

SPIELMANN – Alekhine; Capablanca

STEFANOVA – Dembo; Gomes, M.; Ramon Perez; Wang Lei; Zhukova

STEFANSSON – Carlsen

STEINITZ – Bird; Lasker; NN; Sich

STREICHER – Tal

SUETIN – Tal

SZOLDOS – Karpov

TAIMANOV – Petrosian

TAL – Bannik; Barcza; Barcza; Benko; Botvinnik; Hartston; Honfi; Keller; Koblencs; Letelier; Malich; Medina Garcia; NN; Petrosian; Platonov; Smyslov; Streicher; Suetin; Tringov; Ulski; Zilber

TARTAKOWER – Euwe

TENNER – Alekhine

THOMAS, I. – Chiburdanidze

TIMMAN – Karpov

TISDALL – Xie Jun

TODORČEVIĆ – Polgar, Zsu.

TOPALOV – Karpov; Kasparov

TORRES CARAVACA – Alekhine

TRINGOV – Tal

ULSKI – Tal

UMUDOVA – Gaprindashvili

UNZICKER – Smyslov

USHENINA – Kosteniuk

VASIĆ – Alekhine

VASIUKOV – Smyslov

VASSAUX – Capablanca

VERLINSKY – Alekhine

VON SCHEVE – Lasker

WANG LEI – Stefanova

XIE JUN – Ivkov; Tisdall

YUDASIN – Kramnik; Polgar, Zsu.

YURGIS – Botvinnik

ZHUKOVA – Stefanova

ZILBER – Tal

Copyright Information First published in printed form in the UK by Gambit Publications Ltd in 2017 First Kindle edition published by Gambit Publications Ltd in 2017 Copyright © Yochanan Afek 2017 The right of Yochanan Afek to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without prior permission of the publisher. In particular, no part of this publication or images thereof may be transmitted via the Internet or uploaded to a website without the publisher’s permission. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damage. ISBN-13: 978-1-911465-19-5 ISBN-10: 1-911465-19-8 (Printed edition: ISBN-13: 978-1-911465-12-6; ISBN-10: 1-911465-12-0). Gambit Publications Ltd, 50 Freshwater Road, Chadwell Heath, London RM8 1RX, England. E-mail: [email protected] Website (regularly updated): www.gambitbooks.com Edited by Graham Burgess Kindle edition prepared by Graham Burgess Cover illustration by Wolff Morrow Gambit Publications Ltd Directors: Dr John Nunn GM, Murray Chandler GM and Graham Burgess FM German Editor: Petra Nunn WFM

About the Author Yochanan Afek is both a Grandmaster of Composition and an over-the-board International Master. This unique combination of talents makes him a highly insightful writer, noted for his work on the factors that make moves hard to see. He grew up in Tel-Aviv and now lives in Amsterdam. His greatest over-the-board success was winning the Paris Championship in 2002.

About Gambit Publications

Gambit Publications Ltd is a dedicated chess publishing company catering for players of all skill levels. The company was founded in 1997 by three expert chess players and editors: Grandmaster John Nunn, Grandmaster Murray Chandler, and FIDE Master Graham Burgess.

To date, Gambit has published more than 180 chess books, and has published or licensed editions in 13 different languages. Over 1 million Gambit chess books have been sold. Up-to-date news on all Gambit chess books in print – including current and future Kindle editions – can be found at the Gambit website:

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About Gambit Chess Studio

Gambit Chess Studio is an app that enables the purchasing and reading of Gambit chess books in a convenient electronic format. An on-screen board allows the chess content of the book to be viewed, meaning a physical chess set is no longer required. For example, if you have finished playing over a side-variation there is no tedious re-setting of the position – just one tap on the screen restores the main line. Or tap on any chess move in the book, and the position instantly appears on the screen. Once you have bought and downloaded a book via Gambit Chess Studio, it’s stored on your device. So it is easy to access your Gambit chess library when travelling, even without an Internet connection. The app itself is free to download from the Apple Store (for iPads and iPhones), or the Google Play Store (Android devices), and a free sample is available for downloading. From within Chess Studio you then select which Gambit books to purchase from the in-app bookstore. Once you’ve bought a book, you can read it on all your compatible devices.

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Other Gambit Titles on Chess Studio and Kindle Books for Kids and Beginners

Books for Improvers and General Works

Opening Books: General

Opening Books: Specific and Repertoire

Tactics, Exercises and Puzzles

Strategy and Training

Game Collections

Endgames, Studies and Problems

Complete List

Books for Kids and Beginners

Chess for Children – Murray Chandler and Helen Milligan

Your First Chess Lessons – Paul van der Sterren

Learn Chess – John Nunn

A Complete Chess Course – Antonio Gude

How to Beat Your Dad at Chess – Murray Chandler

1001 Deadly Checkmates – John Nunn

Chess Tactics for Kids – Murray Chandler

Chess Endgames for Kids – Karsten Müller

Chess Strategy for Kids – Thomas Engqvist

Chess Puzzles for Kids – Murray Chandler

Chess Openings for Kids – John Watson and Graham Burgess

Books for Improvers and General Works

Learn Chess Tactics – John Nunn

Fundamental Checkmates – Antonio Guide

Instructive Chess Miniatures – Alper Efe Ataman

The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book – John Emms

Understanding Chess Move by Move – John Nunn

FCO: Fundamental Chess Openings – Paul van der Sterren

The Giant Chess Puzzle Book – Zenon Franco

Understanding Chess Endgames – John Nunn

Understanding Chess Middlegames – John Nunn

Fundamental Chess Endings – Karsten Müller and Frank Lamprecht

Opening Books: General


Mastering the Chess Openings Volume 1 – John Watson





Understanding the Chess Openings – Sam Collins

How to Build Your Chess Opening Repertoire – Steve Giddins

101 Chess Opening Traps – Steve Giddins

The Quickest Chess Victories of All Time (new enlarged edition) – Graham Burgess

125 Chess Opening Surprises – Graham Burgess

Opening Books: Specific and Repertoire

A Killer Chess Opening Repertoire (new enlarged edition) – Aaron Summerscale and Sverre Johnsen

Attack with Black – Valery Aveskulov

A Rock-Solid Chess Opening Repertoire for Black – Viacheslav Eingorn

Grandmaster Secrets: The Caro-Kann – Peter Wells

Play the Najdorf Sicilian – James Rizzitano

Play the Alekhine – Valentin Bogdanov

Chess Explained: The Queen’s Gambit Declined – James Rizzitano

Chess Explained: The French – Viacheslav Eingorn and Valentin Bogdanov

Chess Explained: The Classical Sicilian – Alex Yermolinsky

Chess Explained: The c3 Sicilian – Sam Collins

Chess Explained: The Grünfeld – Valentin Bogdanov

Chess Explained: The Nimzo-Indian – Reinaldo Vera

Chess Explained: The Queen’s Indian – Peter Wells

Chess Explained: The Modern Benoni – Zenon Franco

Chess Explained: The Meran Semi-Slav – Reinaldo Vera

Chess Explained: The Taimanov Sicilian – James Rizzitano

Chess Explained: The Main-Line Slav – David Vigorito

Chess Explained: The English Opening – Zenon Franco

Win with the Stonewall Dutch – Sverre Johnsen, Ivar Bern and Simen Agdestein

Win with the London System – Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovačević

The Dynamic English – Tony Kosten

A Strategic Chess Opening Repertoire for White – John Watson

The Cambridge Springs – Krzysztof Panczyk and Jacek Ilczuk

Understanding the King’s Indian – Mikhail Golubev

Play the Sicilian Dragon – Edward Dearing

Mastering the Najdorf – Julen Arizmendi and Javier Moreno

Play the Open Games as Black – John Emms

Anti-Sicilians: A Guide for Black – Dorian Rogozenko

The Gambit Guide to the Torre Attack – Graham Burgess

An Explosive Chess Opening Repertoire for Black – Jouni Yrjölä and Jussi Tella

Understanding the Scandinavian – Sergey Kasparov

How to Beat 1 d4 – James Rizzitano

Understanding the Leningrad Dutch – Valeri Beim

The Ruy Lopez: A Guide for Black – Sverre Johnsen and Leif Erlend Johannessen

Understanding the Marshall Attack – David Vigorito

A Simple Chess Opening Repertoire for White – Sam Collins

Play the Classical Dutch – Simon Williams

The Slav – Graham Burgess

Understanding the Sicilian – Mikhail Golubev

My Secrets in the Ruy Lopez – Lajos Portisch


Tactics, Exercises and Puzzles



The Gambit Book of Instructive Chess Puzzles – Graham Burgess


The Most Amazing Chess Moves of All Time – John Emms


365 Ways to Checkmate – Joe Gallagher




Endgame Challenge – John Nunn

John Nunn’s Chess Puzzle Book – John Nunn


How to Calculate Chess Tactics – Valeri Beim

Perfect Your Chess – Andrei Volokitin and Vladimir Grabinsky


How to Become a Deadly Chess Tactician – David LeMoir

Essential Chess Sacrifices – David LeMoir

A Course in Chess Tactics – Dejan Bojkov and Vladimir Georgiev


Problem Chess: Art and Magic on the Chessboard – Göran Forslund

Fundamental Checkmates – Antonio Gude


Extreme Chess Tactics – Yochanan Afek

Fundamental Chess Tactics – Antonio Gude

Strategy and Training


Understanding Pawn Play in Chess – Dražen Marović


Chess for Zebras – Jonathan Rowson


Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy – John Watson

Chess Strategy in Action – John Watson

Secrets of Practical Chess (new enlarged edition) – John Nunn

The Road to Chess Improvement – Alex Yermolinsky

John Nunn’s Chess Course – John Nunn

Secrets of Positional Chess – Dražen Marović

Secrets of Chess Defence – Mihail Marin

Secrets of Attacking Chess – Mihail Marin

How to Play Chess Endgames – Karsten Müller and Wolfgang Pajeken

101 Winning Chess Strategies – Angus Dunnington

Dynamic Pawn Play in Chess – Dražen Marović

Chess Training for Budding Champions – Jesper Hall

50 Essential Chess Lessons – Steve Giddins

How Chess Games are Won and Lost – Lars Bo Hansen


Storming the Barricades – Larry Christiansen

Chess for Life – Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan



The Seven Deadly Chess Sins – Jonathan Rowson


How to Play Dynamic Chess – Valeri Beim

Improve Your Positional Chess – Carsten Hansen

The Chess Attacker’s Handbook – Michael Song and Razvan Preotu


Game Collections


Garry Kasparov’s Greatest Chess Games Volume 1 – Igor Stohl



Vishy Anand: World Chess Champion – Vishy Anand and John Nunn

Secrets of Grandmaster Chess – John Nunn

John Nunn’s Best Games – John Nunn



Instructive Modern Chess Masterpieces – Igor Stohl

Grandmaster Chess Move by Move – John Nunn



Endgames, Studies and Problems



Nunn’s Chess Endings Volume 1 – John Nunn




Secrets of Pawn Endings – Karsten Müller and Frank Lamprecht

Secrets of Rook Endings – John Nunn

Secrets of Pawnless Endings – John Nunn

The Survival Guide to Rook Endings – John Emms



Understanding Rook Endgames – Karsten Müller and Yakov Konoval

Solving in Style – John Nunn


Complete List



A Cunning Chess Opening Repertoire for White – Graham Burgess






A Killer Chess Opening Repertoire (new enlarged edition) – Aaron Summerscale and Sverre Johnsen



Attack with Black – Valery Aveskulov

The Gambit Book of Instructive Chess Puzzles – Graham Burgess


Understanding Pawn Play in Chess – Dražen Marović

The Most Amazing Chess Moves of All Time – John Emms

A Rock-Solid Chess Opening Repertoire for Black – Viacheslav Eingorn


Understanding the Chess Openings – Sam Collins


Chess for Zebras – Jonathan Rowson


365 Ways to Checkmate – Joe Gallagher


Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy – John Watson

Chess Strategy in Action – John Watson


How to Build Your Chess Opening Repertoire – Steve Giddins

Secrets of Practical Chess (new enlarged edition) – John Nunn

The Road to Chess Improvement – Alex Yermolinsky



Learn Chess – John Nunn

Chess for Children – Murray Chandler and Helen Milligan

Grandmaster Secrets: The Caro-Kann – Peter Wells

Play the Najdorf Sicilian – James Rizzitano

Play the Alekhine – Valentin Bogdanov

Chess Explained: The Queen’s Gambit Declined – James Rizzitano

Chess Explained: The French – Viacheslav Eingorn and Valentin Bogdanov

Chess Explained: The Classical Sicilian – Alex Yermolinsky

Chess Explained: The c3 Sicilian – Sam Collins

Chess Explained: The Grünfeld – Valentin Bogdanov

Chess Explained: The Nimzo-Indian – Reinaldo Vera

Chess Explained: The Queen’s Indian – Peter Wells

Chess Explained: The Modern Benoni – Zenon Franco

Chess Explained: The Meran Semi-Slav – Reinaldo Vera

Chess Explained: The Taimanov Sicilian – James Rizzitano

Chess Explained: The Main-Line Slav – David Vigorito

Chess Explained: The English Opening – Zenon Franco







Win with the Stonewall Dutch – Sverre Johnsen, Ivar Bern and Simen Agdestein

Secrets of Positional Chess – Dražen Marović

Secrets of Chess Defence – Mihail Marin

Secrets of Attacking Chess – Mihail Marin

Vishy Anand: World Chess Champion – Vishy Anand and John Nunn

Win with the London System – Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovačević


101 Winning Chess Strategies – Angus Dunnington

The Dynamic English – Tony Kosten

A Strategic Chess Opening Repertoire for White – John Watson

John Nunn’s Chess Puzzle Book – John Nunn

Secrets of Pawn Endings – Karsten Müller and Frank Lamprecht

Secrets of Rook Endings – John Nunn

Secrets of Pawnless Endings – John Nunn

Secrets of Grandmaster Chess – John Nunn

John Nunn’s Best Games – John Nunn

Dynamic Pawn Play in Chess – Dražen Marović

The Survival Guide to Rook Endings – John Emms


The Cambridge Springs – Krzysztof Panczyk and Jacek Ilczuk

Understanding the King’s Indian – Mikhail Golubev

How to Calculate Chess Tactics – Valeri Beim

Perfect Your Chess – Andrei Volokitin and Vladimir Grabinsky

Chess Training for Budding Champions – Jesper Hall

Play the Sicilian Dragon – Edward Dearing

Mastering the Najdorf – Julen Arizmendi and Javier Moreno


How to Become a Deadly Chess Tactician – David LeMoir

Play the Open Games as Black – John Emms

Anti-Sicilians: A Guide for Black – Dorian Rogozenko


Instructive Modern Chess Masterpieces – Igor Stohl

The Gambit Guide to the Torre Attack – Graham Burgess

An Explosive Chess Opening Repertoire for Black – Jouni Yrjölä and Jussi Tella

How Chess Games are Won and Lost – Lars Bo Hansen


A Course in Chess Tactics – Dejan Bojkov and Vladimir Georgiev


Storming the Barricades – Larry Christiansen



Understanding the Scandinavian – Sergey Kasparov

Grandmaster Chess Move by Move – John Nunn

How to Beat 1 d4 – James Rizzitano

Understanding the Leningrad Dutch – Valeri Beim

The Ruy Lopez: A Guide for Black – Sverre Johnsen and Leif Erlend Johannessen

Understanding the Marshall Attack – David Vigorito

Understanding Rook Endgames – Karsten Müller and Yakov Konoval

Chess for Life – Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan


A Simple Chess Opening Repertoire for White – Sam Collins


Play the Classical Dutch – Simon Williams

The Seven Deadly Chess Sins – Jonathan Rowson

The Slav – Graham Burgess


Your First Chess Lessons – Paul van der Sterren

How to Play Dynamic Chess – Valeri Beim

Improve Your Positional Chess – Carsten Hansen

Solving in Style – John Nunn

Understanding the Sicilian – Mikhail Golubev



The Chess Attacker’s Handbook – Michael Song and Razvan Preotu



FCO: Fundamental Chess Openings

Paul van der Sterren

This just has to be the perfect single-volume survival guide. All openings are covered, with detailed verbal explanations of plans for both sides.

The first moves of a chess game define the nature of the whole struggle, as both players stake their claim to the critical squares and start to develop their plans. It is essential to play purposefully and to avoid falling into traps or reaching a position that you don’t understand. This is not a book that provides masses of variations to memorize. Paul van der Sterren instead offers a wealth of ideas and explanation, together with the basic variations of each and every opening. This knowledge will equip players to succeed in the opening up to good club level, and provide a superb grounding in opening play on which to build a more sophisticated repertoire. The strategies he explains will, unlike

ever-changing chess opening theory, remain valid as long as chess is played, and so the time spent studying this book will be rewarded many times over.

Also available on Chess Studio.

“The format of the book is very friendly, openings very clearly set out and identified, with the variations touched upon in short and sweet sections” – John Lee Shaw, CHESS CHECK (e-zine)

Fundamental Chess Endings

Karsten Müller and Frank Lamprecht

This is the first truly modern one-volume endgame encyclopaedia. It makes full use of endgame tablebases and analytical engines that access these tablebases; where previous authors could only make educated guesses, Müller and Lamprecht have often been able to state the definitive truth, or get much closer to it. Covers all major types of endgame, featuring rules of thumb, thinking methods, principles, practical advice, and much more.


Also available as German-language Chess Studio and Kindle editions.

“The authors love the endgame phase of the game and this shows in the writing. ... Anyone reading it will seriously improve their game.” – British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award press release

A Cunning Chess Opening Repertoire for White

Graham Burgess

A good opening repertoire need not require an enormous amount of study to be highly effective. A cunning choice of lines and move-orders can steer the game to positions that we like and deny the opponent his preferred strategies. The main cornerstones of this repertoire are carefully chosen Queen’s Gambit lines, the Torre Attack (vs ...e6), and a variety of fianchetto options against the King’s Indian and related set-ups. White’s position is kept highly flexible, with many possible transpositions to a wide variety of systems that the reader can use to extend and vary the repertoire. The book features a wealth of new ideas and original analysis.


“This is the way opening books should be written. It is a training repertoire book which you can use to build a solid white repertoire for your career. It is not a ‘hope they make a mistake and fall for the trap’ book. Best value if you want to learn to play the opening like a grandmaster.” – Danny Woodall, Amazon.com review

Mastering the Chess Openings Volume 1

John Watson

In this major four-volume work, Watson explains not only the ideas and strategies behind specific openings, but also the interconnections of chess openings taken as a whole. By presenting the common threads that underlie opening play, he provides a permanent basis for playing openings of any type. Volume 1 offers both entertainment and challenging study material in king’s pawn openings such as the Sicilian and Ruy Lopez.



“The publication of this series is a bellwether event in chess publishing, and all players should avail themselves of the opportunity to read these books.” – Mark Donlan, CHESS HORIZONS

“All of these epic Watson works have one thing in common. You walk away after reading with a deeper understanding of chess.” – Pete Tamburro, CHESS LIFE


John Watson

Watson presents a wide-ranging view of the way in which top-class players really handle the opening, rather than an idealized and simplified model. This volume, focusing on queen’s pawn openings, will make chess-players think hard about how they begin their games. It also offers both entertainment and challenging study material in openings such as the Nimzo-Indian, King’s Indian and the entire Queen’s Gambit complex.



“Watson has managed to present the most important openings after 1 d4 and analyses them in detail as well as explaining the backgrounds. ... you have the feeling you are holding a real classic in your hand. It may sound exaggerated, but I believe Watson is a sort of modern Aron Nimzowitsch. Absolutely recommended!” – Martin Rieger, WWW.FREECHESS.DE


John Watson

In the third volume of his highly acclaimed series, Watson moves on to flank openings. He provides in-depth coverage of the English Opening, while drawing upon many themes from the first two books. Particularly in the context of reversed and analogous forms of standard structures, we understand why certain ideas work and others don’t, and experience the concept of ‘Cross-Pollination’ at work in even more varied forms than seen in earlier volumes.



“This volume can be read separate from the other two in this series; however, I recommend reading all three books. They will truly take your game to the next level and help you understand the opening phase so much better, as well as help minimize the risk of starting the game out from an inferior position. Those who play the English Opening should buy this book without any hesitation. This book is a modern classic. It is genuinely instructive and provides numerous examples of original analysis and improvements over existing theory.” – Carsten Hansen, CHESSCAFE.COM


John Watson

This final volume draws together many themes in a wide-ranging discussion of general opening topics. In the process, Watson covers a variety of opening structures and variations not seen in the earlier volumes and presents a great wealth of original analysis. He also explains how players should best prepare and choose their openings for the level at which they play. The final topics are the future of chess openings and the skills that will be most important as chess evolves in the forthcoming decades.



“The section on gambit play is extremely well done and must reading for any player coming up through the ranks. So too is the following chapter ‘Choosing and Preparing Openings’ which is pure gold. Watson gives well-considered suggestions for appropriate openings for players from just beyond beginner to 2300 that will solve many amateurs’ perennial headache. Highly Recommended” – IM John Donaldson, US Team Captain

Chess Openings for Kids

John Watson and Graham Burgess

This book teaches the names and starting moves of all the main chess openings, and explains the basic ideas. Beginners will learn how to position their pieces for maximum impact. More experienced players will discover some remarkable tactical and strategic themes that are vital for chess mastery.



“A very succinct overview of the main openings and the ideas behind them” – GM Luke McShane, NEW

IN CHESS

“To be able to provide both enthusiasm, inspiration and basic knowledge is a praiseworthy effort.” – FARBRORTHEGURU.BLOGSPOT.COM

A Killer Chess Opening Repertoire (new enlarged edition)

Aaron Summerscale and Sverre Johnsen

Bored with the same old openings? Worried about having to learn too much theory? Then this book – a set of exceptionally dangerous opening weapons for White – will come as a godsend. The queen’s pawn repertoire is based on rapid piece development, and includes many lethal attacking ideas and traps.


“Johnsen has chosen to build on the first edition, addressing the areas where theory has substantially changed or Summerscale’s original coverage needed expanding. Offers a nice mix for the player who doesn’t like to study theory too much but still wants a chance to come out of the opening with chances for an advantage” – IM John Donaldson, US Team Captain

How to Beat Your Dad at Chess

Murray Chandler

The enduring bestseller – explaining in simple terms all the basic checkmate patterns. Learn about the 50 Deadly Checkmates – attacking patterns that occur repeatedly in games between players of all standards.



“Fun to read for players of any age or any strength” – GM Lubosh Kavalek, WASHINGTON POST

Chess Tactics for Kids

Murray Chandler

In an easy-to-understand format, this book explains how to bamboozle your chess opponents using commonly occurring tactical motifs. 50 different tactical motifs are covered, all leading to the win of material.



“As a teacher of scholastic/junior players, I have long wished for a comprehensive yet brief and inexpensive guide to chess tactics. Finally a work that fills the bill” – Bill Whited, CHESS COUNTRY

Attack with Black

Valery Aveskulov

Need a reliable way to fight for the initiative when White plays 1 d4? Grandmaster Aveskulov presents

a sound but ultra-aggressive repertoire based on gambits that have proved their worth in grandmaster play over many years. The Benko Gambit offers Black very active piece-play and intense positional pressure. If White dodges the Benko, we hit him with the Blumenfeld, sacrificing a pawn to set up a strong pawn-centre. Aveskulov examines all of White’s options and move-orders after 1 d4 Nf6.


“This isn’t like previous books on the Benko ... this book has the real strength of taking the total Black approach in hand. Anyone looking to fill out a full defense to 1 d4 would do well to pick this up.” – Bill McGeary, WWW.CHESSVILLE.COM

The Gambit Book of Instructive Chess Puzzles

Graham Burgess

Solving chess puzzles is one of the most effective ways to improve your game. This convenient book provides 300 exercises, with instructive points highlighted in the solutions.

Also available as a German-language Kindle edition.

“There are several things a successful book on tactical puzzles should have. They include examples that are not well-known, material arranged not by theme but by degree of difficulty and perhaps most importantly solutions that are detailed enough to explain to the student why they went wrong. Burgess passes all these tests with flying colors.” – IM John Donaldson, US Team Captain

Chess Puzzles for Kids

Murray Chandler

This chess puzzle super-challenge contains 100 fun positions to solve, ranging from encouragingly easy to mind-numbingly hard. Using an innovative format, every puzzle is preceded by an instructive example, illustrating an important pattern. Chess Puzzles for Kids will quickly enable children to enjoy using their new-found skills to outwit friends and relatives.



“Grandmaster Murray Chandler writes excellent books for kids who already know how to play. ... presents the mating and tactical patterns in such a clear and entertaining way that it is a joy to read it.” – GM Lubosh Kavalek, HUFFINGTON POST

Understanding Pawn Play in Chess

Dražen Marović

Chess owes its extraordinary depth to pawns. These humble pieces can take on many roles in the chess

struggle. They can be blockers, battering-rams, self-sacrificing heroes, and can even be promoted to the ranks of royalty. Marović investigates high-quality games to provide the reader with an armoury of pawn-play concepts that will help him make the right judgements at the board.



“GM Marović utilizes all his experience as a GM and trainer to outline appropriate strategies associated with specific pawn-structures: isolated pawns (specifically IQP), isolated pawn couples, hanging pawns, passed, doubled and backward pawns, pawn-chains and pawn-islands. This approach ... has of course been attempted before, but not, that I have seen, with such clarity as in this book” – Jonathan Tait, BCCA

The Most Amazing Chess Moves of All Time

John Emms

Very occasionally, a chess move is played that astonishes the whole world. It may be a move of astounding complexity, unearthly beauty, deep paradox... or all three. The move is discussed and analysed around the world as chess-players attempt to fathom both why the move works, and how on earth anyone thought of it in the first place. In this book John Emms has selected, from hundreds of candidates, the 200 most amazing chess moves of all time. In each case, the reader is given the chance to try to find the move for himself – making this one of the most challenging chess puzzle books ever published.


“...you are getting double value for money – a wonderful games collection and a ‘find the continuation’ complication. A really enjoyable and instructive book.” – Alan Sutton, EN PASSANT

A Rock-Solid Chess Opening Repertoire for Black

Viacheslav Eingorn

Grandmaster Eingorn shows that it is possible both to play solidly, and to take White out of his comfort zone. The repertoire, based on playing 1...e6, is strikingly creative and will appeal to those who want a stress-free life as Black. You will get every chance to demonstrate your chess skills, and are very unlikely to be blown off the board by a sharp prepared line. Eingorn’s subtle move-orders are particularly effective if White refuses to pick up the gauntlet, as Black can then use his delay in playing ...Nf6 to good effect and take the fight directly to his opponent.


“...shows depth of reading and balanced research. ... A pleasure to recommend this little gem of a book. ... Perhaps the best book of 2012 so far. A creative effort.” – James Pratt, BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

Understanding Chess Middlegames

John Nunn

The middlegame is the phase of the chess battle where most games are decided, yet is the one that has received the least systematic treatment from chess writers. With the outstanding clarity for which he is famous, Nunn breaks down complex problems into bite-sized pieces. Each of the 100 lessons features two inspiring examples from modern chess, with a clear focus on the key instructive points.



“I own several books on the Middlegame in chess written by esteemed Grandmasters but this one is probably my favourite. John Nunn knows his subject; he is three-times World Chess Solving Champion” – Carl Portman, CARLSPLANET.CO.UK

Understanding the Chess Openings

Sam Collins

A comprehensive guide to all important chess openings. There is coverage of all major variations, and helpful descriptions and explanation of the typical strategies for both sides.



“Anyone rated under 1700 should own this book and even higher rated players who are looking to fill in the blanks in their repertoire can benefit. It arms you with the knowledge of where to focus your resources when investing money on other opening books.” – Carsten Hansen, CHESSCAFE.COM

The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book

John Emms

This book provides a wealth of puzzle positions to test just about every facet of your tactical skills. The book begins with 100 relatively easy positions suitable for novices, and ends with 100 extremely tough puzzles, which provide a mind-bending challenge even for top-class players. There are 1001 puzzles in all.



“The material is well chosen, and a marking system enables you to assess your performance relative to

masters and grandmasters” – Leonard Barden, EVENING STANDARD

Chess for Zebras

Jonathan Rowson

An insight into human idiosyncrasies, in all phases of the game. The reader will begin to appreciate chess at a more profound level, while enjoying a book overflowing with common sense and humour.



“I warmly recommend the book, especially to players frustrated by a long period of stagnation. Most chess books attempt to change what we think, but Rowson’s helps us to change how we think, and in the long run, that’s what will pay the biggest dividends” – Dennis Monokroussos, CHESS TODAY

Understanding Chess Move by Move

John Nunn

Thirty modern games are examined in depth, to help the reader understand the most important aspects of chess and to illustrate modern chess principles in action. Virtually every move is explained using words that everyone can understand.



“This is a great book from one of the best chess writers in the world. He does a fine job explaining the plans ‘move by move’ so everybody can understand what it’s all about” – Søren Søgaard, SEAGAARD REVIEWS

365 Ways to Checkmate

Joe Gallagher

Tactics based on checkmate ideas against the enemy king decide a large proportion of chess games, so it is vital to be alert to these possibilities when they occur. Joe Gallagher provides 365 checkmate puzzles to help readers sharpen their skills. In each position, the task is to find a way to force a clear-cut win.

“One of the things that makes this a good book is Gallagher’s skill at selecting examples and placing them at the right level of difficulty. Another is offering detailed solutions which often cover plausible sidelines that might have attracted the reader.” – IM John Donaldson, JEREMYSILMAN.COM

1001 Deadly Checkmates

John Nunn

The ability to spot checkmates is a vital skill – and this easy-to-use book shows you how it is done.

With the help of Grandmaster John Nunn, you will be ready to shock your next opponent with a deadly checkmate, whether in a school match, a club tournament – or even a championship game!



“A great book, which I think will be useful to a wide range of players, say from 1400 to 2400. Chess is largely a matter of pattern recognition, so exercises like these are useful to everyone.” – Frederick Rhine, CHICAGOCHESS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy

John Watson

In a profound but thoroughly practical manner, this classic work explores how chess concepts have evolved over the past 70 years. Acclaimed double-winner of the British Chess Federation and United States Chess Federation ‘Book of the Year’ awards.



“can, without resorting to hyperbole, be considered a classic” – GM Nigel Short, THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Chess Strategy in Action

John Watson

Here Watson fleshes out the theory presented to enormous acclaim in Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy. He illustrates the modern practice of chess with examples from imaginative players such as Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand and Ivanchuk, and tempestuous innovators like Shirov and Morozevich.



“...above all else Watson is excellent at explaining these mysterious grandmaster concepts to the club player” – IM Richard Palliser, CHESS MONTHLY

Learn Chess Tactics

John Nunn

This book teaches basic tactical ideas such as the fork, pin and discovered attack, and introduces general ideas like elimination, immobilization and compulsion. A basic knowledge of simple tactics will enable a novice to start winning games, by giving checkmate or capturing material.



“The quality of the material, the fine layout, and the enlightening comments make this book the ideal introduction to chess tactics for the inexperienced player.” – SCHACHMARKT

How to Build Your Chess Opening Repertoire

Steve Giddins

Whether a novice or a master, every player needs to select an opening repertoire. In this book, the first to focus on these issues, Steve Giddins provides common-sense guidance on one of the perennial problems facing chess-players. He tackles questions such as: whether to play main lines, offbeat openings or ‘universal’ systems; how to avoid being ‘move-ordered’; how to use computers; and if and when to depart from or change your repertoire.



“I can recommend this book unreservedly to anyone who is serious about improving” – Phil Adams, 3Cs website

Secrets of Practical Chess (new enlarged edition)

John Nunn

What is the best way to improve your chess results? Memorizing openings, learning endgames... there must be an easier way! How about making the most of your existing talent? Contains 45% more material than the first edition.


“Grandmaster John Nunn offers practical advice on how to improve your chess results. It includes guidance on making decisions at the board, the study of opening, middlegame and endgame play, use of computers plus the selection and use of chess books. ... I found the chapters on use of computers and the selection and use of chess books of particular interest” – David Mills, TIME TROUBLE

The Road to Chess Improvement

Alex Yermolinsky

“How can I improve my game?” is a perennial question facing chess-players. Alex Yermolinsky is well-qualified to offer advice – having trained himself, slowly but surely raising his game to top-class grandmaster standard. In this award-winning book he passes on many of the insights he has gained over the years, steering the reader away from ‘quick-fix’ approaches and focusing on the critical areas of chess understanding and over-the-board decision-making.



“a magnificent achievement, by far the finest book I’ve ever seen on the subject of practical play” – GM Matthew Sadler, NEW IN CHESS

Understanding Chess Endgames

John Nunn

Assuming no specialized endgame knowledge, John Nunn presents 100 key endgame concepts, and explains how they are used to win games or save difficult positions. He covers all the main types of endgames and typical thinking methods, and so equips readers with all the skills needed to excel in this vital phase of the game up to good club level and beyond.



“A fantastic endgame primer ... Nunn has distilled a vast amount of detailed endgame research into clear and well-presented chunks. There are 100 short sections, each with four examples, each with a diagram, fitting neatly across two pages” – GM Daniel King, THE GUARDIAN

101 Chess Opening Traps

Steve Giddins

This timeless collection of deadly traps might win you games in just a handful of moves! The book focuses on established opening traps that club players are most likely to fall for.


“To my delight and amazement [my opponent] fell straight into the trap” – Alec Toll, OPEN FILE

Learn Chess

John Nunn

Starting with the very basics, this book tells you everything you need to know to become a successful chess-player. No prior knowledge is assumed. The reader learns step-by-step, with each new point illustrated by clear examples. By the end of the book, the reader will be fully ready to take on opponents across the board, or on the Internet, and start winning.



“an excellent primer. The prose is lucid and the presentation systematic; an adult reader with no prior knowledge of the game will be taught all he needs to know” – James Vigus, DRAGON

Chess for Children

Murray Chandler and Helen Milligan

With this charming book, children will delight in learning the basic moves of chess. All the rules are explained step by step, assuming no prior knowledge. The lessons are reinforced by the inventive tales that George is told by his pet alligator Kirsty, self-proclaimed Grand Alligator of chess.

Chess is widely recognized as a useful tool for developing creative thinking in children, yet the rules of the game are straightforward. With this book, even children as young as five can enjoy exciting games and will thoroughly enjoy outwitting friends and relatives.



“...the best book of its type ever published” – Peter Connor, CHESSCOUNTRY.COM

“The highly professional design of this book commends it for use in chess lessons for beginners” – Dr W. Schweizer, ROCHADE

Grandmaster Secrets: The Caro-Kann

Peter Wells

The Caro-Kann is one of the most popular responses to 1 e4. Black stakes a claim to the central squares and seeks free development for all his pieces. While solid, it is by no means a drawing weapon – the resulting positions generally contain at least a degree of imbalance and the critical lines lead to sharp positions with chances for both sides. Many new approaches for both sides have been developed in recent years, and a good understanding of these ideas is vital for anyone looking to handle either side of the Caro with success.


“I would be quick to pick up this book as an e4 player or if I defended it with the Caro-Kann. Wells really focuses on how to play the opening by presenting a wide range of ideas for both sides. Explanations abound ... the analysis and coverage is outstanding.” – Lou Mercuri, CHESS HORIZONS

Play the Najdorf Sicilian

James Rizzitano

The Najdorf Sicilian has a unique place amongst chess openings: for several decades it has been regarded by the top grandmasters as the best way for Black to play soundly for a win against 1 e4. James Rizzitano, a battle-hardened Sicilian warrior, distils the most important ideas and themes from current practice to provide an ideal guide for those looking to succeed as White or Black in the Najdorf in the modern scientific era.


“A good book for those that want to start playing the Najdorf with Black and also recommendable for Najdorf players not the least because it is very much up to date and includes state of the art knowledge about the lines presented. Also quite useful for players that face the Najdorf with White, specially

those that play Bg5 or Be3 since so many different lines for Black are analysed here.” – Hedinn Steingrimsson, WWW.SCHACH-WELT.DE

Play the Alekhine

Valentin Bogdanov

The Alekhine is arguably the most forcing and aggressive reply to 1 e4. Black immediately forces the pace and drags the game onto his own favoured territory. Those who specialize in the Alekhine find that the opening has a real practical sting and quick-strike potential. The coverage in this book is even-handed, and there are abundant ideas presented to both sides.


“This is Bogdanov’s third book for Gambit, showing that this quality publishing house trusts the author – and why wouldn’t they? The language is fluent and informative, and the sample games are well chosen and instructive.” – Marko Tauriainen, SUOMEN SHAKKI

Chess Explained: The Queen’s Gambit Declined

James Rizzitano

The Queen’s Gambit Declined is one of the most important and popular of chess openings. Both sides have ways to create imbalance and test their opponent’s skills and knowledge in a full-blooded struggle. In addition to the traditional main lines with Bg5, White has at his disposal the Exchange Variation, and the Bf4 system, both of which can be handled in highly aggressive style if he wishes. Rizzitano covers all these lines and a plethora of other important options, focusing on the fundamental ideas on which they are based.


“I should also loudly call attention to Rizzitano’s new, well-written, and amazingly well-researched Chess Explained: The Queen’s Gambit Declined...” – John Watson, THE WEEK IN CHESS

Chess Explained: The French

Viacheslav Eingorn and Valentin Bogdanov

The French appeals to a wide range of chess temperaments: it is solid yet uncompromising, and with a variety of chaotic variations to appeal to the most bloodthirsty of players, but also offering more tranquil lines to those seeking a quieter existence. Chess Explained books provide an understanding of an opening and the middlegames to which it leads, enabling you to find the right moves and plans in your own games.


“...if you are considering utilizing the French as a weapon against 1 e4, then this book is a very good and inexpensive way of deciding if the opening is for you. It will give you a solid grounding in fundamental positional ideas and typical tactics in the French.” – Munroe Morrison, OPEN FILE

Chess Explained: The Classical Sicilian

Alex Yermolinsky

The Classical (1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6) is one of the most popular and respected systems of the Sicilian. Black develops his pieces more quickly than in many Sicilian systems, and intricate piece-play often results. Yermolinsky covers lines that retain the independent significance of the Classical move-order, such as 6 Bc4 Qb6 – a line in which he is a leading specialist.



“Yermo’s book represents a good way to get to grips with this sound and interesting opening system.” – Phil Adams, 3Cs website

Chess Explained: The c3 Sicilian

Sam Collins

The c3 Sicilian is one of White’s most popular and poisonous ways to avoid the main lines of the Sicilian. With the forcing line 1 e4 c5 2 c3, White denies his opponent the chance to demonstrate his preparation in some chaotic system. There are plenty of tricks and traps in the c3 Sicilian, and the open piece-play that often results can lead to quick attacks and means that careless play will rarely go unpunished.


“...the format is well suited to the average club player who wishes to start using this variation.” – David Mills, TIME TROUBLE

Chess Explained: The Grünfeld

Valentin Bogdanov

The Grünfeld creates immediate imbalance: Black strikes at White’s centre with all available resources. In the main lines, White creates a large pawn-centre and launches an attack. While the theory of these lines has been extensively developed, there is a coherent logical thread that needs to be understood in order to get to grips with the theory and handle the resulting positions. This book features a special contribution from Viacheslav Eingorn on the key ideas of the Rb1 Exchange main line, which he was instrumental in developing.


“If you like aggression when you play Black then this book is for you. It creates immediate imbalance and again it is crucial to know how to handle this opening as White too.” – Carl Portman, DEFENCE FOCUS

Chess Explained: The Nimzo-Indian

Reinaldo Vera

The Nimzo-Indian is one of the most important of all chess openings, and popular at all levels of play. It provides winning chances for both sides as it leads to structures of great strategic variety and complexity. Key battlegrounds in the Nimzo include the blockade, IQP positions, the handling of unbalanced pawn-structures, and the struggle between bishop and knight. An understanding of these topics will prove valuable in a very broad context.


“This is a very well-written book with enough analytical material to launch your Nimzo-Indian career, and more than enough explanation to justify the series title.” – John Watson, THE WEEK IN CHESS

Chess Explained: The Queen’s Indian

Peter Wells

The Queen’s Indian is an important and popular opening at all levels of play. Black’s flexible stance allows him to choose between a range of solid and dynamic structures. In turn, White can play flexibly, opposing Black’s fianchetto, or can try to force the pace in the centre and start a hand-to-hand fight. It is an opening rich in nuances, and many of the modern main lines involve moves that look extravagant, but are backed up by a deep underlying logic.



“The annotations in particular really impressed me, for the author actually did explain what was happening at every stage of the game. Everything appeared logical as I played through the games and read the annotations. Where alternatives are given, you are told why a certain move is good or bad, not just the fact that it is so. Peter Wells is to be congratulated on presenting everything so lucidly.” – Alan Sutton, EN PASSANT

Chess Explained: The Modern Benoni

Zenon Franco

The Modern Benoni is one of the few openings where White has no easy way to force drawish simplifications or deny Black any dynamic counterplay. In this book Franco shows how Black can seek to create the kind of mayhem that has

attracted champions such as Tal, Kasparov and Topalov to the Benoni, and also demonstrates how White can seek either to put a positional clamp on the game, or else to storm Black’s position before his development is complete. A special section deals with the vital question of move-orders.


“These books provide 25 well annotated, up to date model games which you can use to guide you when learning the openings. Excellent introduction to these openings for intermediate players.” – Paul Dunn, AUSTRALIAN CHESS

Chess Explained: The Meran Semi-Slav

Reinaldo Vera

Belying its solid classical appearance, the Semi-Slav is one of Black’s most aggressive responses when White opens with the queen’s pawn. The Meran is its traditional main line, and often leads to chaotic positions of immense strategic and tactical richness. Vera draws upon decades of personal experience to explain the underlying logic of the Meran and related lines, and to pick out the key features of positions that to the untrained eye might appear random and unfathomable.


“What he offers is honesty! I like that. It means to me you can trust the rest of the book because he is honest about his own contribution.” – Bob Long, WWW.CHESSCO.COM

Chess Explained: The Taimanov Sicilian

James Rizzitano

The Taimanov Sicilian is one of the most flexible options for Black in the Open Sicilian. It leads to a great variety of central structures, and the player with the better understanding of typical Sicilian themes will often emerge victorious – Taimanov positions need to be understood well in order to be played well. This book covers the Paulsen set-up with ...Qc7 in addition to the ‘pure’ Taimanov with ...Nge7.


“I’m really impressed with how thorough and helpful the explanations are. I’m quite sure that anyone interested in taking up the Taimanov would learn a lot from this book – in fact, the average club player would probably be able to make do with this as his or her one and only Taimanov book.” – S. Evan Kreider, WWW.CHESSVILLE.COM

Chess Explained: The Main-Line Slav

David Vigorito

The Main-Line Slav is one of the key battlegrounds of modern chess, with adherents among all levels of chess-players. This book discusses all major lines following the moves 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4. Vigorito dissects the most important themes and nuances, placing them firmly in the context of the practical struggle, making sure that readers will be familiar with the resources at their disposal, and understand when to employ them.


“...a solid understanding of the pawn-structures and piece-play will be the main factor in the success of any player who takes on this opening. ... As an introductory work to the Main-Line Slav, this book is an excellent place to start” – Carsten Hansen, WWW.CHESSCAFE.COM

Chess Explained: The English Opening

Zenon Franco

The English Opening is a flexible and dynamic choice for White, which avoids a great deal of sharp and well-mapped opening theory. It is popular with all levels of chess-players, and has been used to good effect at world championship level by Kasparov, Korchnoi, Botvinnik and other greats of the game. The English gives rise to an immense variety of structures, ranging from reversed Sicilians to Hedgehogs and fluid or locked central structures.


“Altogether I found this book really helpful in both the white as well as the black side of this opening.” – Andy May, WWW.NSGCHESS.COM

Nunn’s Chess Endings Volume 1

John Nunn

Going beyond standard texts, Dr Nunn shows how to apply knowledge of standard endgames to find the right methods in tricky real-life practical situations – even when they differ greatly from the idealized forms given by traditional endgame manuals. Nunn shows that lack of familiarity with key ideas can cause important ideas and themes to be missed even by very strong players. We discover that a staggering amount of previously published endgame analysis is simply wrong, and that many of the standard guidelines are at best partially true. This first volume covers general topics and discusses in detail pawn endings, queen endings and minor-piece endings.


“I think this really is a fantastic book. ... The book’s introduction and the first chapter (The Three Key Endgame Skills) are some of the best endgame-

related chess prose I’ve read in a long time.” – Arne Moll, CHESSVIBES.COM

Nunn’s Chess Endings Volume 2

John Nunn

In this award-winning two-volume series, Dr John Nunn identifies new and important motifs which occur repeatedly in over-the-board play. Tactical elements are heavily featured, and the focus is on endgames that are susceptible to concrete analysis. The discussion is geared to the over-the-board player; the ideas underlying the analysis – however complex – are richly explained in words. This second volume focuses on rook endgames – the most common and important category of practical endgames. Nunn also covers endings with rooks and minor pieces, a wide and rich area of strategic endgame play that is universally recognized as vital for chess mastery, but nevertheless neglected in chess literature.


“The book is in many respects different and better than the majority of the other books on the endgame where often the inspiration of the author languishes after a few chapters. ... the reader undoubtedly takes profit even from a passive or lazy reading: so great is the way the author explains complex positions making them easy and appealing to any range of audience” – Martin Eden, SOLOSCACCHI

Garry Kasparov’s Greatest Chess Games Volume 1

Igor Stohl

Garry Kasparov dominated the chess world for more than twenty years. His dynamism and preparation set an example that is followed by most ambitious players. Igor Stohl has selected 74 of Kasparov’s best and most instructive games from 1973 to 1993, and annotated them in detail. The emphasis is on explaining the thoughts behind Kasparov’s decisions, and the principles and concepts embodied by his moves. Stohl provides a wealth of fresh insights into these landmark games, together with many new analytical points. This makes the book outstanding study material for all chess enthusiasts.



“[Stohl] often improves on Kasparov’s past comments. It is one of this year’s best books, and it could be a great help to Kasparov in preparation of his own works about his career.” – GM Lubomir Kavalek, WASHINGTON POST

Garry Kasparov’s Greatest Chess Games Volume 2

Igor Stohl

This second volume covers Kasparov’s career from 1993 up to his retirement in 2005, a period during which he successfully faced the challenge of a new generation and achieved some of his greatest successes, both creatively and competitively.



“Congratulations to Gambit and to Igor Stohl for this masterpiece! As a matter of fact I would like at this point to state how much this book for me personally constitutes an absolute milestone in the field of chess books, but extraordinary quality needs no more words. ... sets new standards in the field of commentary and presentation of mastergames! Categorically a must-buy!” – Martin Rieger, WWW.FREECHESS.DE

Endgame Challenge

John Nunn

John Nunn presents 250 challenging positions where your task is to find a cunning way to win or draw. In many cases the odds against success seem overwhelming, yet by using all the tactical resources in the position it is possible to achieve the goal. Nunn’s detailed solutions contain many points and clarifications that have hitherto gone unmentioned, so readers will rarely be left to wonder whether their intended solution really did work. In an over-the-board game, the ability to use the pieces in harmony is paramount, and those players who can exploit every resource in a position are those who become champions. While the focus in this book is on tactics, readers will also develop a greater understanding of many important endgame topics, such as fortresses, stalemate defences, the opposition and zugzwang.


“The first 50 pages contain 250 diagrams to solve, and then we get 250 pages of shocking solutions – shocking in the sense that even world-class players might draw or even resign positions, when beautiful and unlikely possibilities still exist” – Bab Wilders, NEDERLANDS DAGBLAD

John Nunn’s Chess Course

John Nunn

Following on from his successful books Understanding Chess Endgames and Understanding Chess Middlegames, John Nunn fleshes out the theory by showing how World Champion Emanuel Lasker handled a wide variety of practical situations. We see how Lasker’s play, which his opponents found so unfathomable, was based on logic, extreme

pragmatism and a deep understanding of how chess-players think. Nunn covers topics not usually considered, such as queenless middlegames and manoeuvring, and dissects strategic issues including piece-activity, pawn-structure and bishop vs knight. He looks at psychological aspects of chess, such as choosing lines which are most uncomfortable for the opponent. The explanations focus on general ideas rather than detailed analysis. The book concludes with a selection of exercises, with full commentary and explanation.



“Now and again, amongst the hundreds of new books published, a jewel arrives. ... Choosing to examine chess strategy, tactics, etc., through the medium of the career of one player satisfies two objectives – one, the biographical chess career of a world champion and the other, all techniques necessary to become a proficient chess-player. Nunn succeeds magnificently in achieving this. When I was involved in running a chess stall at congresses, many times I faced the question ‘Can you recommend a chess book that I can read?’. Now, I would not struggle to find an answer.” – Bill Frost, CHESS DEVON

Win with the Stonewall Dutch

Sverre Johnsen, Ivar Bern and Simen Agdestein

The Stonewall Dutch is a traditional favourite amongst club players, as it offers Black ready-made attacking plans on the kingside. As Bent Larsen noted, the Dutch also has the tendency to ‘bring out the coward’ in opponents, giving it an added practical sting. However, up until the late 1980s, the Stonewall wasn’t fully trusted at grandmaster level, despite its earlier use by Alekhine and Botvinnik. Black’s attacking plans were too one-sided, and White’s methods too well worked out. The change came when a new generation of players, including Nigel Short and Simen Agdestein, showed that Black could handle his position in many other ways, including play on the queenside and in the centre, with the ‘Stonewall’ structure stifling White’s attempts to generate play of his own. Agdestein in particular has continued to experiment with many new set-ups and move-orders for Black, and this book contains a wealth of new recommendations and suggestions based on this work.


“An outstanding book ... Not only do the authors rehabilitate an underestimated opening – they even do so by means of inspiring chapters supported by the personal experiences of leading experts.” – GM Peter Heine Nielsen, SKAKBLADET

Secrets of Positional Chess

Dražen Marović

How can one determine if a piece is weak or strong? Or if a square is weak or strong? These are the principal questions that grandmaster and trainer Dražen Marović addresses in this important book. By discussing carefully-chosen games and positions, Marović explains how to recognize good and bad features of positions, and how to make use of one’s advantages and exploit the opponent’s weaknesses.



“As in his previous works, Marović’s deep knowledge shines through and he makes welcome use of classics and not just recent games. This work looks at many important positional principles, such as the weakness of the second rank or the use of rooks on half-open files ... the club player who takes time to study its many themes, and hundreds of well-explained examples, should significantly boost the depth of their positional understanding memory bank” – Richard Palliser

Secrets of Chess Defence

Mihail Marin

Good defensive abilities earn players a great many half-points and full-points. The climax of the defence is the launching of a devastating counter-attack, a skill at which all the great chess champions have been adept. Of particular interest to club players is Marin’s discussion of how to defend against unsound attacks, and the problem of how to parry the attack while retaining winning chances. Other topics include attack and defence in equal positions, where both sides must judge carefully how much of their resources to devote to the attack and the counter-attack. The main subject, though, is the case where the defender is fighting for his life, and must decide how to maximize his chances of survival. Marin considers psychological issues and explains the main options available to the defender: simplification, cold-blooded defence, a positional sacrifice, ‘blackmailing’ the attacker, or a counter-attack.

“Chess defence is invariably the part of the game that a lot of players don’t like to study because they find it too boring or they’d rather attack like Tal. In this his first publication, Mihail has written a book that will change your mind about defence as an important element to the game.” – Michael Stevenson, NEW ZEALAND CHESS

Secrets of Attacking Chess

Mihail Marin

What are the premises for a successful attack? Marin discusses the traditional concept that a player with the advantage is obliged to attack, and also the value of notions of logic and justice in deciding whether to attack. If we believe an attack is justified, but cannot back it up with concrete variations, how do we decide whether to trust our intuition? Marin surveys typical attacking scenarios, such an attack on two wings, with a queenside attack as a prelude for a swift strike on the other wing, and all-out attacks against apparently well-defended positions. He also explains why grandmasters generally prefer to maintain as many options as possible, and investigates the role of prophylactic thinking in attacking play.


“A quick glance at Secrets of Attacking Chess might prove somewhat intimidating. While there is plenty of explanatory prose Marin believes in backing up his conclusions with concrete analysis. A closer look reveals that Marin has a definite pedagogical bent and has taken pains to sprinkle instructive comments throughout the book that are destined to stay with the reader. Highly Recommended.” – IM John Donaldson, JEREMYSILMAN.COM

Vishy Anand: World Chess Champion

Vishy Anand and John Nunn

Anand has been one of the world’s top players for more than two decades, but it’s not just his results that make Anand special. His style of play leads to highly spectacular games, and his speed of thought is the stuff of legends. He is also a great explainer of ideas, as his annotations for this book demonstrate. Anand is renowned as ‘Mr Nice Guy’, popular with both the public and his fellow supergrandmasters. This new expanded edition of the award-winning Vishy Anand: My Best Games of Chess features 30 extra games from the period of Anand’s greatest successes, selected by Anand and annotated by John Nunn, and also contains a biographical sketch and a detailed career record.

“This book is full of wonderful games, many of which are tremendously complex, and occasionally the variations run to a considerable depth – neither Anand nor Nunn refrains from showing concrete variations, where the position warrants it. But both offer a nice balance of explanatory annotation as well, so there is a great deal of instructional value in here as well.” – GM Luke McShane, NEW IN CHESS

Win with the London System

Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovačević

The London System is a perennial favourite of club players, as it is a very sound and solid system with a

real practical sting. The authors of this new book seek to maximize this sting in two principal ways. Firstly, by explaining in detail the typical plans for White, they help readers to make the most of their chances, whether they are based on a kingside attack, queenside penetration, central play, or transition to a favourable endgame. Secondly, they advocate some subtle move-orders that limit Black’s options, and give White possibilities to change the nature of the game and go straight for the kill if Black responds casually or inappropriately. These move-orders have been tested successfully by co-author Kovačević at grandmaster level, and much of the analysis presented here is of totally new variations, and is previously unpublished. Covers all responses to 1 d4 against which White can use the London System.



“This is a first-class book, extremely well written, about a system that for too long has had its light hidden under a bushel.” – Michael Stevenson, NEW ZEALAND CHESS

How to Play Chess Endgames

Karsten Müller and Wolfgang Pajeken

In this companion volume to the award-winning Fundamental Chess Endings, Müller and Pajeken focus on the practical side of playing endgames. They cover all aspects of strategic endgames, with particular emphasis on thinking methods, and ways to create difficulties for opponents over the board. Using hundreds of outstanding examples from modern practice, the authors explain not only how to conduct ‘classical’ endgame tasks, such as exploiting an extra pawn or more active pieces, but also how to handle the extremely unbalanced endings that often arise from the dynamic openings favoured nowadays. All varieties of endgames are covered, and there are more than 200 exercises for the reader, together with full solutions.


“Karsten Müller rose to the Mount Olympus of endgame literature with Fundamental Chess Endings. ... His latest book, How to Play Chess Endings, with colleague Wolfgang Pajeken, is a sequel to that standard work.” – Harry Schaack, KARL

101 Winning Chess Strategies

Angus Dunnington

Without strategy, a chess game is just a series of tactical tricks. A good strategy binds together the tactics, and enables a player to make methodical

progress towards victory. This book makes sure you will never be short of winning strategies. Angus Dunnington utilizes his many years of chess playing and training to provide an arsenal of ideas that can be employed in many types of position. These plans have been proven in many grandmaster games, so you can be sure that by using them your game will be soundly based.


“...a useful book for players seeking to improve their creativity and piece coordination” – Alan Borwell, SCOTTISH CORRESPONDENCE CHESS

The Dynamic English

Tony Kosten

In the first book to explain the popular English Opening for many years, Grandmaster Kosten supplies players of the white side with a set of weapons that will equip them to challenge any opponent they face. Kosten concentrates on aggressive treatments of the English – an approach that has brought him great success in tournament play. His book provides everything you need to start attacking with the English Opening.


“Grandmaster Tony Kosten, a great exponent of this line, makes out a compelling case for this opening. He conveys his understanding with great skill” – IM Craig Pritchett, THE HERALD

A Strategic Chess Opening Repertoire for White

John Watson

Such has been the acclaim for John Watson’s ground-breaking works on modern chess strategy and his insightful opening books, that it is only natural that he now presents a strategic opening repertoire. The repertoire is based on 1 d4 and 2 c4, following up with methodical play in the centre. Watson uses his vast opening knowledge to pick cunning move-orders and poisonous sequences that will force opponents to think for themselves, providing a true test of chess understanding. Throughout, he discusses strategies for both sides, so readers will be fully ready to pounce on any inaccuracies, and have all the tools to decide on the most appropriate plans for White.


“Watson’s Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy I consider as one of the best books ever written! So for me Watson is the big star among chess book authors and I presume that all his books are best sellers – and that this last one, A Strategic Chess Opening Repertoire for White, also will be that” – GM Simen Agdestein, VERDENS GANG

John Nunn’s Chess Puzzle Book

John Nunn

Most chess puzzle books put you in an artificial situation: you are told a combination exists, what the theme is and what you are required to achieve. This one is different. In a real game, a player may sometimes need to find a combination. On the other hand he may have to reject a tactical idea and simply find a good positional move. His task is to find the right move, whatever it may be. The 300 puzzles in this book put you precisely in that situation. Spectacular ideas abound in these positions, but it is for you to decide whether to go in for them, or whether you would be falling into a trap. If you need them, there are hints to help you on your way. The book ends with a series of tests to measure your skills against those of other players.


“I think puzzle books serve as a great training tool before tournaments, to sharpen up tactics and help players to get into the groove of being able to calculate some lengthy variations. I don’t have a great deal of puzzle books but this is clearly the best one on my bookshelf!” – GM Stephen Gordon, 3CS CHESS

Secrets of Pawn Endings

Karsten Müller and Frank Lamprecht

This book provides a thorough course in endings with just kings and pawns, from the simple to the highly complex. Armed with this knowledge, the reader will also be able to tackle other types of endgame with greater confidence and certainty. Many interesting and beautiful positions are included, and there are test positions for the reader to solve. The authors follow the rigorously logical conventions introduced by John Nunn in his famous series of endgame manuals. This has necessitated a phenomenal amount of new analysis of theoretical positions to assess precisely the merits of each and every move.


“For years, Secrets of Pawn Endings has been one of my favorite endgame books. Müller and Lamprecht have written a book of great theoretical and practical significance. Secrets of Pawn Endings is a must-have.” – Josh Specht, CHESSVIDEOS.TV

Secrets of Rook Endings

John Nunn

The first edition of this book ushered in a new era in chess publishing. It was the first book based on computer-generated position databases that are guaranteed to provide the actual result of a position.

However, this book is no computer print-out. It takes a human ‘oracle’ to extract the useful information from this mass of data and to identify new principles to help the rest of us appreciate the key practical points. Dr John Nunn, top-class grandmaster and renowned theoretician, performs this role admirably. He has identified where previous theory has been overturned, and where there are important new results. Dr Nunn was also the first to reveal the general importance of the many ‘reciprocal zugzwang’ positions.


“I am sure that in fifty years’ time Secrets of Rook Endings will be regarded as one of the great classics of the twentieth century. It is as close as any book can ever realistically come to perfection on its subject.” – GM Julian Hodgson, BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

Secrets of Pawnless Endings

John Nunn

After the success of Secrets of Rook Endings, John Nunn turns his attention towards endgames without pawns. These occur surprisingly often in practice and are extremely tactical in nature. This book unites man and machine in the search for ultimate answers. The computer databases created by Ken Thompson, formerly of Bell Laboratories, can state with certainty the correct result of any position with five pieces or fewer. John Nunn has extracted the most important information from these databases and presented it in the form of guidelines and specific key positions, which can be more readily digested by the human mind. With most competitive games these days being played to a finish in a single session, this knowledge may prove invaluable over the board.

This is a new and expanded edition of an important book. Since the first edition was published, the databases for six-man endings have been created, resulting in some surprising and paradoxical discoveries. The coverage has therefore been expanded to include the most interesting features of these endings.


“...a treasure trove of the precisely extraordinary, with considerable practical value for more serious players in the earlier sections” – GM Jon Speelman, THE INDEPENDENT

Secrets of Grandmaster Chess

John Nunn

This book, originally published in 1997, is an updated edition of Secrets of Grandmaster Play,

which was hailed as a modern classic and won the British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award in 1988. It covers Nunn’s career from childhood up to 1985 and features 24 of John Nunn’s best and most instructive games, including his award-winning 1985 victory over Beliavsky. This superb manual of strategy and tactics also offers advice on how to think at the board and insights into the world of professional chess.


“A beautifully eloquent and instructive blend of variations and verbal explanations.” – INSIDE CHESS

John Nunn’s Best Games

John Nunn

Winner of the British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award

John Nunn has an unparalleled reputation as a chess theoretician and writer of the highest class. In this book he focuses his attention on his own games and annotates 40 complete games and many game fragments.

The book covers the period 1985-93, when Nunn rose to enter the world top 10, and includes victories over Short, Tal, Korchnoi, Anand, Gelfand, Portisch, Judit Polgar and many other top players. The analysis of these games provides a manual of attacking chess from one of the world’s best tacticians. This book is far more than a collection of superbly analysed games, however, since the author has brought the games to life with anecdotes from the events, and provides many practical tips which will be of benefit to aspiring chess players of all levels of ability.


“[Nunn’s] combination of erudition and straightforwardness makes him a particularly good subject to emulate. ... Perhaps the high point of this collection is Nunn’s 25-move victory over Sokolov of the USSR at the Dubai Olympiad, 1986. Wiping a top Soviet player off the board so unceremoniously was something that British players simply never did until Nunn and Tony Miles came along.” – T.D. Welsh, ‘Top 500’ Amazon.co.uk reviewer

Dynamic Pawn Play in Chess

Dražen Marović

This book tackles fundamental questions such as: ‘How should pawns be used to fight for the centre?’ and ‘How does the central pawn formation affect planning for both sides?’ These issues are central to understanding chess. Marović discusses central pawn-structures and their impact on play both in the centre and on the wings. He begins by surveying

how the pawn’s role in controlling the centre has been developed over the last 150 years, and how this has led to the refinement of concepts such as the ‘dynamic’ backward pawn and the positional exchange sacrifice. The bulk of the book is devoted to discussions of the main type of centre: Open Centre; Closed/Blocked Centre; Fixed Centre; and in particular the Mobile/Dynamic Centre.

“Marović has obviously been in the company of some of the greatest players and listened carefully to what they had to say ... this book is excellent value and is sure to improve your chess” – Chris Rice, WEEKEND CHESS

The Survival Guide to Rook Endings

John Emms

For all chess-players – from beginners to grandmasters, and whatever their style of play – one thing is certain: rook endings will arise in a great many of their games. Yet it is precisely in this area of the game that many players give away hard-earned points, either through lack of knowledge or inadequate understanding. Most previous books on the subject have been extremely technical and theoretical, but this one is different. John Emms provides the essential specific knowledge and explains the key concepts that will enable readers to find the right plan in most common types of rook endings.


“If you didn’t purchase this book first time around then I think you missed out. Rook endgame knowledge is at the core of endgame theory. Many club players would save a huge amount of points by having the confidence to go into a rook endgame, especially when a pawn or two down.” – Munroe Morrison, OPEN FILE

The Giant Chess Puzzle Book

Zenon Franco

More than anything else, a player’s ability to find tactical solutions determines how successful he is over-the-board. No endgame scheme, opening idea or strategic plan, however brilliant a concept it may be, is of any value unless it is accurately calculated and implemented. This book provides a wealth of chess puzzles to test just about every facet of your tactical ability. Franco has searched recent events and used powerful computers to seek out previously unpublished puzzles, and has also drawn extensively upon Latin American sources that he has been scouring for brilliant examples over the last three decades. The book begins with 120 relatively easy positions suitable for novices, and ends with 80 extremely tough puzzles, which provide a mind-

bending challenge even for grandmasters. There are 1001 puzzles in all, including themed sections and graded tests, all with detailed computer-verified solutions and verbal explanations of the main instructive points.

“Most of the positions will not have been seen before in other publications and you will not fail to improve your game – certainly your tactical awareness – if you have the discipline to work through this lovely book. Chess problems are like life. We are given a question and we don’t always know the answer. Is it right to turn away and not try to find that answer? Maybe we should just roll up our sleeves and meet that challenge head on; after all the answers are all there, waiting to be found. Enjoy the journey and absorb yourself in just some of the delightful mysteries of the 64 squares.” – Carl Portman, DEFENCE FOCUS

The Cambridge Springs

Krzysztof Panczyk and Jacek Ilczuk

The Cambridge Springs is a popular defence to the Queen’s Gambit that takes its name from the famous tournament in 1904 during which it was tested in a number of games. Since then it has become firmly established as a club-player’s favourite, since Black sets a number of traps and can generate a very quick initiative if White fails to respond precisely. Several world champions have used the Cambridge Springs, most notably Alekhine and Smyslov, while Kasparov has played it on occasion, including a sensationally quick victory over Karpov in 1985. The authors combine thorough research with a wealth of original material to offer comprehensive coverage of this combative system. While the main body of the book covers both sides of the Cambridge Springs, it also offers Black a repertoire against White’s alternative options in the Queen’s Gambit, the most important of which is the Exchange Variation.

“A professional effort where the authors have made their own contributions and have overturned long-held erroneous conclusions. I’m quite happy giving it 9/10” – GM Glenn Flear, NEW IN CHESS

Understanding the King’s Indian

Mikhail Golubev

Despite its sharp and aggressive nature, the King’s Indian is an opening that lends itself well to discussion in terms of plans, ideas and pawn-structures. Those who are familiar with these underlying themes will enjoy an enormous practical advantage when facing those who lack this understanding, even if they are theoretically well-prepared. This engaging personal account of the

King’s Indian is also wide-ranging and detailed. The main games are all from Golubev’s own practice, enabling him to provide a completely accurate description of the decisions at the board. The notes contain a wealth of references to games and ideas from other King’s Indian specialists, and the coverage is sufficient to provide Black with a flexible and aggressive repertoire.

“If you work with this book, you will affirm that the author is with you in the tiniest details, thorough, self-critical, and comprehensively analytical” – E. Carl, ROCHADE

How to Calculate Chess Tactics

Valeri Beim

Thinking methods are at the heart of the chess struggle, yet most players devote little conscious effort to improving their calculating ability. Much of the previous literature on the subject has presented idealized models that have limited relevance to the hurly-burly of practical chess, or else provide little more than ad hoc suggestions. Here, experienced trainer Valeri Beim strikes a balance by explaining how to use intuition and logic together to solve tactical problems in a methodical way. He also offers advice on when it is best to calculate ‘like a machine’, and when it is better to rely on intuitive assessment.



“One of Beim’s insights is that, when we find a beautiful combination that fails, we’re often halfway to finding the move we should play. The opponent’s strength that breaks our attack is precisely the target we should set about undermining. ... Beim shares with us a set of tools that, once mastered, appear well-designed for rapid, effective calculation in the critical positions that separate the master from the amateur.” – Derek Grimmell, CHESSCAFE.COM

Perfect Your Chess

Andrei Volokitin and Vladimir Grabinsky

Andrei Volokitin is one of a rare breed of players: he achieved a ranking in the world’s top 20 while still a teenager, playing dynamic and often brilliant chess. Although we cannot all aspire to emulate his achievements, there is much that we can learn from his training methods, his games and his general approach to chess. These topics are the subject of this book, written in collaboration with his trainer. The core material of the book is 369 positions where the reader is given a task or asked a question. These tasks resemble those that players regularly face over the board, and are especially useful from a training viewpoint. Many of the positions are from

Volokitin’s own games, so we get the ‘inside story’ on some truly spectacular chess. We are also presented with fine examples from Grabinsky’s training files, carefully collected and graded over the years for their instructive merit. The commentaries and detailed solutions explain the key issues in each position, and also convey the authors’ philosophy of chess and their love for the game.


“I had the opportunity to ask 21-year-old GM Valery Aveskulov, how it was that the Ukraine produced so many great young talents. I had already factored in a tradition of excellence, government and private support, and an economically challenging environment in which being a chess professional did not look so bad, but Valery added one more key ingredient – good coaching. One of the best he said was IM Grabinsky of Lvov and then rattled off a list of teenage IMs and GMs over 2500 on a rapid course toward 2600. Perfect Your Chess is geared towards this level and many of the young talents Aveskulov mentioned have gone through this material which relies on the games of Volokitin and others.” – IM John Donaldson, USA Team Captain

Chess Training for Budding Champions

Jesper Hall

Many chess-players find it difficult to improve their game beyond a certain level. They can see basic tactics, know a little about openings and can calculate a few moves ahead. However, so do their opponents. What is the next level, and how does one get there? This book is aimed at chess-players who have progressed well beyond beginner level and have acquired the basic skills required to play at club level, but need guidance to improve their understanding of chess. It is based on the training program that Hall himself followed when he was an up-and-coming player. The lessons are not based on ‘quick fixes’, but instead provide a well-rounded course in all aspects of chess that will equip the reader well for his chessboard battles, and provide a firm yet flexible basis for further improvement.


“The examples are great, the pieces of advice even better and the presentation is logical and easy to follow” – BIBLIOTEKSTJÄNST

Play the Sicilian Dragon

Edward Dearing

The Dragon Variation is one of the key battlegrounds of modern chess, and a perennial favourite of ambitious chess-players of all standards. Black develops his pieces so as to maximize the strategic pluses granted him in the Open Sicilian. If

White is to expose a defect in the Dragon, it must be by a direct attack, and this leads to ferocious battles, with White trying to checkmate the black king via the h-file, while Black seeks to gain counterplay down the c-file and on the long diagonal. In the Dragon, many Sicilian themes are seen in their clearest form, with the ...Rxc3 exchange sacrifice particularly important. Even Dragon endgames tend to be very sharp, with Black often possessing a swathe of mobile pawns in return for an exchange, a piece, or even a whole rook. In hazardous territory, a guide is essential, and Edward Dearing has stepped up to offer his services. He explains at length the all-important general themes, and advises on how to choose plans and methods, drawing upon his many years of experience and study of the Dragon. Dearing also provides an up-to-date view of Dragon theory, including many new ideas and suggestions to help the reader tailor his Dragon repertoire to suit his own preferences.

“This is the new Dragon bible and because of the analysis it will remain essential to every Dragon player for years to come. Gambit’s emphasis has always been on quality and depth, thus giving their books a long shelf life. Play the Sicilian Dragon is a great example of this, and also one of the best opening books in recent years.” – IM John Watson, THE WEEK IN CHESS

Mastering the Najdorf

Julen Arizmendi and Javier Moreno

The Najdorf is the most popular line of the Sicilian Defence for a very good reason: Black can play for a win without taking undue risks. The Najdorf’s fundamental soundness has been confirmed in countless top-level games, and in particular by Garry Kasparov’s successful use of it throughout his career. White has tried a wide variety of approaches against the Najdorf, including quiet positional lines and the traditional main line with 6 Bg5. Recently the idea of a rapid kingside pawn advance has found favour. The Najdorf’s landscape changes rapidly, and this presents its devotees with a complex task: they must not only keep up-to-date with sharp theoretical lines, but must also have a firm grasp of the strategies that underpin the main systems, both old and new. This book lends a helping hand to those who play the Najdorf or wish to take up this complex opening. Two Najdorf experts from Spain present a flexible repertoire for Black, including a wealth of original analysis of the critical variations. They also explain the key ideas behind the Najdorf, focusing on those plans that are most relevant to modern practice.

“If you are interested in taking up the Najdorf, I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good reference that will let you learn the opening quickly and give you excellent winning chances to boot.” – Bill Whited, CHESS COUNTRY

The Quickest Chess Victories of All Time (new enlarged edition)

Graham Burgess

This updated and expanded new edition contains a comprehensive collection of the shortest decisive games in chess history. It is an indispensable guide to the pitfalls and traps that lurk in every opening system. An ability to punish errors in the opening is an essential aspect of modern opening play. The thousands of games featured in this book show how to detect the opponent’s errors and take maximum advantage. Studying this book will help you seize your chances to win crisp miniature games, while reducing your chances of suffering an opening catastrophe, and overall will improve the level of your opening and tactical play.

An outstanding and comprehensive collection of games won in thirteen moves or fewer.

Explanations of the errors made and how to avoid them.

Helps sharpen your killer instinct!


“The notes are excellent. Each chapter has a brief summary of the odds of an opening’s difficulty. Transposing move-orders are usually mentioned. Some games have little anecdotes or historical connections. Whenever a game is resigned for less-than-obvious reasons (as most of these are) Burgess explains the mate threat or material loss to us patzers succinctly and precisely. This is really a book of how not to play openings. It will complement any repertoire books and opening encyclopediae. I highly recommend it for your shelf, even to intermediate players (like me). You might find it entertaining. You will find it useful.” – C. Dunn, Amazon.com reviewer

How to Become a Deadly Chess Tactician

David LeMoir

A guide for chess-players to help them spot unlikely-looking tactical tricks and launch cunning attacks. Readers are shown how to hunt the enemy king and how to seize the initiative with surprising sacrifices. LeMoir shows that the key factors in becoming a deadly tactician are motivation (having the willingness to sacrifice and to consider tactical ideas during play), imagination (being aware of tactical concepts that lead to ideas which other

players might miss) and calculation (being able to analyse and calculate effectively). This user-friendly and humorously written book contains many outstanding examples of seized opportunities, together with guidance on how to spot surprising tactics and handle positions of material imbalance. Throughout, there are exercises for the reader to tackle.


“LeMoir has selected his chess material extremely well – there are a huge number of startling examples which I’d never seen before – and his comments are always entertaining or instructive” – GM Matthew Sadler, NEW IN CHESS

Play the Open Games as Black

John Emms

This book fills a gaping chasm in chess literature. For years, those who wish to take on the black side of the Ruy Lopez have had to muddle their way through against the variety of alternative openings at White’s disposal, as there have been no good books to assist them. Grandmaster John Emms is ideally qualified to deal with this subject. Not only does he face these openings as Black, but he also used to play many of them as White before he graduated to the Lopez. He provides no-nonsense answers to such openings as the King’s Gambit, Vienna, Scotch, Four Knights, Italian Game, Bishop’s Opening and the variety of oddball gambits White can try.


“I was also impressed by watching the way Magnus [Carlsen, age 10] read chess books. While the others lay around and relaxed or clowned around in their rooms, Magnus lay in his bed and read Grandmaster John Emms’s Play the Open Games as Black, a brilliant book that covers everything but the Ruy Lopez that one can meet when answering 1 e4 with 1...e5. That the book was in English and at a level more suited for top international players did not appear to worry Magnus in the slightest. He didn’t need to get out a board and pieces either, he simply read the games from the book without a problem.” – GM Simen Agdestein, How Magnus Carlsen Became the Youngest Chess Grandmaster in the World

Anti-Sicilians: A Guide for Black

Dorian Rogozenko

The Sicilian is far and away the most popular chess opening. The reason is obvious: it enables Black to fight for victory without taking excessive risks. The Sicilian scores well in practice and is a firm favourite with players of all standards. Given both the Sicilian’s fearsome reputation and the amount of

theoretical preparation required to tackle it head-on, many players prefer to side-step the Open Sicilian with one of the Anti-Sicilian systems at White’s disposal. These include: positionally motivated lines such as the 2 c3 Sicilian and the 3 Bb5 systems; slow but tricky attacking lines including the Closed Sicilian and the King’s Indian Attack; and aggressive but loosening ideas like the Grand Prix Attack and a variety of gambits. This book equips Black to fight against all these lines. In the most critical variations, Rogozenko provides a choice between a solid and an aggressive option. He caters for those who meet 2 Nf3 with the three main moves, 2...d6, 2...e6 and 2...Nc6.


“To be blunt, any player who plays the Sicilian Defense as Black must have this book” – Chris Chambers, GEORGIA CHESS

50 Essential Chess Lessons

Steve Giddins

Steve Giddins has chosen 50 supremely instructive games – some old, some new, and including many that few readers will have seen before. He has annotated these games in detail from a modern perspective, explaining the useful lessons that can be learnt from them, while avoiding the harmful dogma that characterized many older works of this type. Topics include: Attacking the King, Defence, Piece Power, and Endgame Themes. Each game is followed by a recap of the main lessons to be learned. Giddins writes in a highly accessible down-to-earth style that appeals to club players seeking to improve their understanding of practical chess. His knowledge of Russian-language chess literature has enabled him to find many excellent examples that have not appeared in previous western literature.


“Highly recommended for 1200-2000 players seeking for a game collection, especially those who would like to improve their understanding in middlegame pawn-structures. Giddins tried to update Chernev’s Most Instructive Chess Games but he outdid his teacher.” – CHESSBUG.COM

Instructive Modern Chess Masterpieces

Igor Stohl

Igor Stohl has selected 62 outstanding games from recent years and analysed them in painstaking depth. Here he presents his findings to chess enthusiasts, who will find the games entertaining and the annotations both instructive and illuminating. Stohl is an outstanding theoretical expert, so the opening phase of each game reads like a lesson in the key strategic aspects of the opening chosen, with a

critical survey of modern trends. The middlegame is dissected and the critical decisions subjected to keen scrutiny – we are invited inside Stohl’s laboratory to join him in the quest for the truth. The endgame phase, if reached, is handled with similar erudition, with insights into the grandmaster’s approach to questions of technique. Following each game there is a discussion of the most important lessons to be learned. The expanded and revised new edition of this award-winning work features 12 new top-level games from the period 2000-7 annotated in great depth – about 40% new material. There are also corrections to the existing notes and a revised Introduction.


“This is an outstandingly thorough and insightful book. I have greatly enjoyed playing through some of the 50 deeply annotated games and learned a fair amount in the process, including various insights in the opening phase in which Stohl is a renowned expert ... I heartily recommend it” – GM Jonathan Rowson

The Gambit Guide to the Torre Attack

Graham Burgess

An award-winning author provides user-friendly coverage of an opening in which he has a wealth of experience against players of all levels. The Torre Attack is a very attractive system for White as it allows him to set the agenda from the outset, preventing many counterattacking systems. It has quick-strike potential if Black is careless or unfamiliar with the subtleties. The book provides detailed coverage and explanation of the Torre. The main themes are explained, and the critical variations examined in detail. The book focuses squarely on the ideas and systems that are of most relevance to the practical player. The analysis has been checked and revised for this new electronic edition.


“A couple of books dealing with the Torre came out early in the nineties, but this superb work by Burgess surpasses them. The Torre is a very flexible set-up and gives White good chances of having a pleasant initiative after 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 with 3 Bg5. The Torre will repay careful study and provide interesting chess. The strategic introduction whets the reader’s appetite right from the word go as Burgess shows, via 12 illustrative games, just how dangerous the Torre is, and readers will realise that by taking up the opening they will have excellent chances of a quick and decisive attack” – IM Richard Palliser, HULL CHESS CLUB MAGAZINE

An Explosive Chess Opening Repertoire for Black

Jouni Yrjölä and Jussi Tella

This book equips the reader with everything he needs to know to play Black in a game of chess. Two experienced Finnish players have described an exciting repertoire based on the move 1...d6 in reply to whatever White’s first move happens to be. Black’s strategy is hypermodern and dynamic: White is encouraged to seize space, while Black develops his pieces rapidly and actively, waiting for the ideal moment to attack and destroy White’s central bastions. The variations advocated have been proven in top-level play and have quick-strike potential if White is at all careless or imprecise. The repertoire is based around the Pirc Defence and the variations 1 d4 d6 2 c4 e5 and 1 d4 d6 2 Nf3 Bg4, which fit seamlessly together with 1...d6 systems against White’s various flank openings.


“To my pleasant surprise the whole book focused solely on Black’s opening move 1...d6. Having dabbled with this a few times myself, I can assure you that the opening is a lot more dazzling than it sounds. The authors appear to have done an extremely diligent job, covering all possibilities for White and, with not far off 300 pages, you get a lot of chess for your money” – GM David Norwood, WEEKEND TELEGRAPH

How Chess Games are Won and Lost

Lars Bo Hansen

Traditionally, chess games have been divided into three stages – opening, middlegame and endgame – and general principles presented for how to handle each stage. All chess-players will be well aware that these principles all too frequently fail to help in their selection of the best move. In this important work, Lars Bo Hansen, grandmaster and professional educator, presents chess as a game of five phases, and explains the do’s and don’ts in each: the opening; the transition to the early middlegame; the middlegame; strategic endgames; technical endgames. With a wealth of examples from both his own practice and that of his colleagues, Hansen discusses the typical mistakes and pitfalls, and shows how to handle the subtleties unique to each stage. He also gives advice on how to work on your chess in each aspect of the game. Of special value is his explanation of how to study typical middlegames, and that middlegame preparation – a neglected area for most players – is both possible and necessary.


“Very rarely is so much good advice packed into one book. Hansen considers the lessons to be learned from the way his opening repertoire evolved, pawn structures, advice on swindling, defending, when to seek counterplay, tactics, technical endgames and how to use computers to analyse. This amongst many other ideas. What was particularly impressive to me was the 25 pages of discussion on how to play Queen’s Gambit Exchange structures from the point of view of Black and White. Really good stuff. This may be for the advanced player (1800+), but it’s a real treasure trove of ideas. It is very rare that one volume can contain such a wide breadth of information over the whole spectrum of chess ideas without sacrificing depth. A true ‘desert island’ chess book.” – Munroe Morrison, OPEN FILE

Essential Chess Sacrifices

David LeMoir

Sacrifices are an essential part of chess. Those who never consider sacrificing will miss countless opportunities and find that promising positions repeatedly slip away. Players who do not appreciate their opponents’ sacrificial possibilities will be unable to see danger signs, and find themselves on the wrong end of too many king-hunts. Rather than merely cataloguing the various possibilities and providing examples, LeMoir discusses the possible follow-ups to the sacrifices, the defensive options against them, and the positional factors that might suggest whether the sacrifice will be sound or unsound. There are many important types of chess positions that can only be played well by those who understand the thematic sacrifices that are possible.



“What makes this book brilliant, is that the concepts and positions examined are part of any top player’s fundamental chess knowledge. However, for the average player, below this aura of invincibility, there is no way to gain such an understanding without help from a teacher such as Mr LeMoir. We cannot sift through games, recognize the themes, make numerous case studies, and figure out what factors lead to success, and what factors let you down. David LeMoir has done this for us, and anyone who devotes some time to this book will emerge a better chess-player.” – Søren Søgaard, SEAGAARD REVIEWS

A Course in Chess Tactics

Dejan Bojkov and Vladimir Georgiev

The advice frequently given to chess-players eager to improve their results is straightforward: study tactics! But there is often little useful guidance as to how this is best done. By solving puzzle positions?

Or endgame studies? By dissecting the games of great tacticians? Few books present a structured approach to tactics, so this book fills a valuable niche in the ambitious player’s library. The authors present each major tactical theme in turn, explaining how it works and providing inspiring examples. They then explain how you can spot the idea in your own games and use it to your advantage. You immediately get a chance to put your knowledge to the test, as there are challenging exercises throughout the whole book, with detailed solutions. The second part of the book offers more advanced material, and takes us inside the professional’s tactics laboratory. Here we see how tactical themes are combined, and employed to achieve strategic goals. We are also shown how grandmasters spot the targets for their breathtaking combinations, which we thus come to see not as sheer witchcraft, but as the product of disciplined thought and training.


“The two Bulgarians spend the first part of the book explaining and delineating the elements of tactics (pin, deflection, decoy, discovered attack, etc.) and then move on to some more advanced tactical themes and then top the book off with 40 pages of exercises to reinforce what has been learnt.” – John Saunders, BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

Chess Endgames for Kids

Karsten Müller

Most chess games are decided in the endgame. It is here where you reap the reward for your good play, or else use all your cunning to deny the opponent victory. Knowing just a few key endgame techniques will dramatically increase your confidence, as you will understand what positions to aim for and which to avoid. Starting with the basic mates and the simplest pawn endings, this book provides all the endgame knowledge that players need to take them through to club level and beyond. Müller carefully guides us step-by-step through a fascinating range of endgame tactics and manoeuvres, helping us understand the underlying logic. Throughout the book, many cunning endgame tricks are highlighted. You will have fun springing them on friends, family – or your opponents in serious tournaments. Chess Endgames for Kids makes learning chess endgames fun. But it is also a serious endgame course written by a leading endgame expert, and provides a firm basis for vital skills that will develop throughout your chess career.



“Useful for both young kids and old kids like me!” – GM Matthew Sadler, NEW IN CHESS

Storming the Barricades

Larry Christiansen

Many books provide training in how to round off a successful attack with a final combination, but that’s really just the easy part. The difficult thing is to decide how and where to attack in the first place, and to build up the offensive without giving the opponent real counterchances. Larry Christiansen is highly respected by his grandmaster colleagues for his ability to conjure up dangerous attacking chances from almost any position. In this book he takes more than 50 real-life positions, breaks each one down into its key elements and explains the right strategy for conducting a successful attack. The examples are selected to illustrate a wide variety of attacking themes and to provide an instructive and accurate picture of how modern players attack and defend.


“Christiansen reveals what he has studied to become a master tactician ... in contrast to many attacking books, Christiansen gives fresh examples from recent years, organizing them according to attacking principles” – GM Lubosh Kavalek, WASHINGTON POST

A Complete Chess Course

Antonio Gude

This book is a comprehensive manual for those new to chess, which explains with great clarity the basics of the game. Using innovative methods, Gude ensures that readers quickly grasp each key concept before building on it by introducing new ideas. This is an interactive course. With a total of 280 questions and exercises to tackle, the reader will quickly gain skills rather than mere knowledge. Gude strips the mystery away from tactics and combinations by looking first at the strengths and weaknesses of each piece in isolation, and then showing how they work together with each of the other pieces. He also presents guidelines on chess strategy that will help shape the reader’s understanding of chess, and a wide variety of patterns for the reader’s all-important ‘mental database’. The section on openings explains the main aims of each major opening, and the style of game to which they tend of lead, together with some key variations. Later chapters provide examples of how to launch attacks, putting together the skills from earlier chapters, and deal with issues such as chess training, psychology and competitive chess at club and tournament level.


Antonio Gude is an extremely experienced chess writer and teacher from Spain. Several of his books

on tactics and for beginners are long-standing best-sellers in Spanish language. Gude has also translated a great many books, including some of the classics of chess literature.

“My fellow teachers at my elementary-middle school have been trying to get a real curriculum for our chess program, and in Gude’s book I think we’ve found it” – Ben George, Houston, Texas

Problem Chess: Art and Magic on the Chessboard

Göran Forslund

This is a book for those who enjoy problem-solving and appreciate clever solutions, and have at least a basic knowledge of chess. It is about the composition and beauty of chess problems: positions forged not in combat but from pure human imagination, and featuring elegant and surprising solutions. The author offers a personal view of chess problems, conveying an infectious zeal for his subject. Because this is as much a collection of short stories as it is a conventional problem collection. No matter how you use the book, you can expect many hours of excitement and a craving for more. Each chapter presents a variety of chess problems of a specific type, ranging from the familiar ‘mate in two’ puzzles via retro-analytical problems worthy of a whodunit novel to 15-move series problems and the ‘outer limits’ of fairy problems (altered rules or pieces). Throughout, the creative processes of problem chess are at the forefront of the discussion. Readers are given the opportunity to solve most of the problems before being presented with the solutions. Or you can simply enjoy reading the book from cover to cover without ever needing to set up a chessboard.


Göran Forslund (1958–2015) was a computer software professional with a PhD in computer science, with a focus on artificial intelligence. He published chess compositions in most genres, and won awards in the World Chess Composition Tournament, and several of his problems were selected for the FIDE albums. He also served as a judge in chess composition contests. He played regular chess too, with some success: he was a finalist in both the Swedish Junior Championship and the Swedish Correspondence Chess Cup.

“problem books are usually written for the already initiated. But now an exception has been accomplished by Göran Forslund. ... Forslund introduces each chapter with short texts about, for example, ice hockey, film, childhood memories or Einstein’s theory of relativity, and finds relations with chess problems. This makes the book very

special and personal, even a little autobiographical.” – IM Axel Ornstein, TIDSKRIFT FÖR SCHACK

Understanding the Scandinavian

Sergey Kasparov

The appeal of the Scandinavian Defence is easy to understand: it is very forcing – Black is virtually guaranteed to get his desired structure. There are no annoying ‘Anti-Scandinavians’ to study! But for many decades the Scandinavian was regarded with some suspicion, as Black apparently loses time recapturing on d5. Modern players have a different view. The great Danish player Bent Larsen kickstarted the revolution with his provocative assertion that it is an improved Caro-Kann (and, not least, beating Karpov with our opening)! But the 21st-century Scandinavian is a different beast altogether; the new main line of the whole opening (3...Qd6) has proven to have great strategic richness, with more than a few tactical tricks lurking just behind the scenes. The Scandinavian has been transformed into an opening that strong grandmasters are willing to use as their main defence, rather than as an occasional surprise weapon. This thoroughly modern guide focuses on these new approaches, while also covering the more traditional main lines. Kasparov guides the reader carefully through each system, explaining his recommendations with wit and clarity. With his help, you will have your opponents wishing there really were some ‘Anti-Scandinavian’ lines!


Sergey Kasparov is a grandmaster from Belarus. He plays regularly in international events around the globe and is an experienced writer, with several books and online reports to his credit.

“Conclusion: Understanding the Scandinavian is a new addition to the book market and focuses especially on the strategic basis of the Scandinavian Defence. It is both an instruction manual and a guide book, and distinguishes itself particularly by explaining and illustrating as much as possible of what’s happening on the board.” – Uwe Bekemann, German Correspondence Chess Federation

Grandmaster Chess Move by Move

John Nunn

A collection of John Nunn’s best games from 1994 to the present day, annotated in detail in the same style as the best-selling Understanding Chess Move by Move. Throughout, the emphasis is on what the reader can learn from each game, so the book is ideal study material for those seeking to progress to a higher level of chess understanding. There is also entertainment in abundance: Nunn has a direct

aggressive style, and many of his opponents in these games are ambitious young grandmasters from the generation inspired by Kasparov’s dynamic chess. The book also includes all of John Nunn’s compositions – problems and studies – with full solutions.


“GM John Nunn is at the pinnacle of chess writers and this book shows why. His analysis is always first-rate, and he does a good job of using words, where practical, to explain what’s going on. Besides giving you 46 of his most interesting games (complete with detailed notes) played during the last third of his career, he also throws in a slew of chess problems and studies, as well as two interesting articles.” – Michael Jeffreys, WWW.CHESSVILLE.COM

How to Beat 1 d4

James Rizzitano

Rizzitano, author of Understanding Your Chess, presents a full repertoire for Black against 1 d4, based on the Queen’s Gambit Accepted (QGA). The QGA is an extremely popular opening amongst players of all levels, as it gives Black free development and counterpunching potential, especially if White takes up the challenge and tries to set up a broad pawn centre. The QGA’s soundness is shown by the number of top-class grandmasters who have used it in critical games – it was a key factor in Short’s victory over Karpov, and has even been used by Garry Kasparov at world-championship level. Rizzitano has chosen to recommend dependable main lines of the QGA, and throughout emphasizes how Black can create winning chances and White’s typical ways to go wrong. The repertoire is completed by a set of weapons against White’s alternatives to offering the Queen’s Gambit, ranging from the stolid Colle to the weird Hodgson Attack and the reckless Blackmar-Diemer.


James Rizzitano is a strong international master who dominated chess in the New England region during a 14-year period from 1976 to 1989 – he won 157 out of 336 events in which he competed. His career highlights include victories over Alburt, Benjamin, Benko, Christiansen, Dlugy, I.Gurevich and Wolff, and exciting draws with de Firmian, Larsen, Speelman, and the legendary former world champion Tal. Rizzitano has recently made a return to competitive chess.

“Overall, I see no reason not to recommend this book to players from 1200 through at least master level. The analysis is comprehensive, the judgments

and evaluations are carefully considered, and a complete repertoire against a major opening move is presented. Highly Recommended.” – Lou Mercuri, CHESS HORIZONS

Understanding the Leningrad Dutch

Valeri Beim

The Leningrad System of the Dutch Defence is an interesting hybrid of the Dutch and the King’s Indian. For many years, it was viewed with some suspicion in view of the slight positional weaknesses created in Black’s position. However, in the 1980s dynamic new approaches were introduced by such players as Sergei Dolmatov, Evgeny Bareev, Mikhail Gurevich and especially Vladimir Malaniuk. These players showed how an active approach could compensate for these defects, and offer Black excellent winning chances. Since then, the Leningrad has been a popular and effective opening choice for players of all levels. A good understanding of the themes of the Leningrad is at least as important as detailed knowledge of its theory. Valeri Beim has a wealth of experience with the Leningrad Dutch and is an accomplished trainer, so is ideally qualified to guide the reader through the twists and turns of this remarkable opening.


Valeri Beim is a grandmaster who lives in Austria. He has won numerous tournaments and plays in the Austrian and German leagues. For many years, he was the head trainer at the chess school in Odessa (Ukraine), and he was also the trainer of the Israeli olympiad team. This is his second chess book.

“Valeri, as well as being an experienced chess trainer, is a player that uses the Leningrad Dutch Defence himself which is a big plus when writing a chess book. Through nine well-written chapters Valeri covers not only the Leningrad Dutch but also covers what to do if White plays a gambit or tries to deviate early. At the end of the book there is also homework in the form of exercises to do to see how much you’ve learned. If you wish to learn and understand how to play the Leningrad Dutch then this is the book for you.” – Michael Stevenson, NEW ZEALAND CHESS

The Ruy Lopez: A Guide for Black

Sverre Johnsen and Leif Erlend Johannessen

The Ruy Lopez (or Spanish Opening) is one of the critical chess battlegrounds. It has long been recommended as an excellent chess opening for training purposes, as it leads to a wide variety of structures and strategies. This book is a complete guide to handling the black side of the Lopez, based principally around the Zaitsev Variation, upon which

Anatoly Karpov relied during much of his career. This line leads to sharp play, often in open battles where Black gains active counterplay and challenges White to seize the initiative on the kingside. The authors explain in detail how Black can weather the storm. They also explain how Black can handle the practical problem of the Ng5 repetition, and recommend reliable procedures against White’s other options in the Lopez, starting off with the Exchange Variation, and moving on to a variety of closed systems. Throughout, the emphasis is on what readers actually need to know and understand in order to play the opening successfully in practice. There is a great deal of explanation of important ideas, and the authors take pains to guide their readers away from potential pitfalls.


Sverre Johnsen is a FIDE-rated player from Norway. He is an enthusiastic chess analyst, researcher and writer, and co-author of Win with the London System one of the most popular openings books of recent years. Leif Johannessen is a young grandmaster, also from Norway. He plays in several national leagues and has represented his country in many team events. The quality of his opening preparation is shown by the fact that he won the prize for most important theoretical novelty in Informator 92.

“Good chess opening books are all about ‘feel’ – do you feel the authors are making you at home in the variation, do you feel they are giving up their ‘secrets’ to you, the reader, and do you get the feeling they are on your side? Well, this book scores very highly in this respect; take the Preface, for example. It’s a 15 page discussion by GM Johannessen on how to learn a chess opening (albeit aimed at the Zaitsev, but the lessons are universal) – and it does the subject matter wonderful justice. I’ve read magazine and internet articles which do not come close to Johannessen’s logical explanation of taking an opening from a thought over a coffee at a chess bookstall to a full part of your tournament repertoire. For my money, the best part of the book, although the rest of the material doesn’t lag behind in quality.” – Munroe Morrison, OPEN FILE

Understanding the Marshall Attack

David Vigorito

The Marshall Attack is a chess opening like no other. Rather than subjecting himself to the ‘Spanish torture’ so typical in the Ruy Lopez, Black simply gives away a centre pawn. But in return, he gets long-term attacking chances and activity that can persist well into the endgame. It is almost a century since Frank Marshall invented his sensational

gambit, but it is still controversial, and more popular than ever amongst the best players in the world. In their hands, the Marshall Attack looks remarkably solid – even if White neutralizes Black’s attacking chances and remains a pawn up, Black often achieves full positional compensation. However, the Marshall appears a forbidding opening to ordinary club players, who feel that the theory is too difficult to understand and much too complex to memorize. Many simply avoid it with both colours. That, argues David Vigorito, is a shame. He shows that many typical Marshall positions can be broken down into elements that we can all grasp, and so build up an intuition to guide us. Then we are able to tackle this incredible opening and develop a feel for why pieces go to the squares that they do, and when Black has sufficient compensation, and when he does not. Of course, the Marshall remains a highly sharp and concrete opening, even to those who are versed in its unique brand of black magic. Vigorito provides detailed, cutting-edge theoretical coverage of all its main lines and the most important Anti-Marshall systems.


David Vigorito is an International Master from the United States. He plays regularly in high-level competitions, including the US Championship. He has written extensively for a variety of publications and is a chess teacher. This is his second book for Gambit.

“a good summary of existing theory, and the author has taken care to track down often overlooked, but sometimes theoretically crucial correspondence games, and importantly there is a decent sized section on Anti-Marshall lines that often crop up in practice.” – GM Michael Adams, DAILY TELEGRAPH

Understanding Rook Endgames

Karsten Müller and Yakov Konoval

Endgames with rooks and pawns are the most frequently occurring in chess, arising in about 1 game in 10. If you learn an important technique in this endgame, chances are you will end up using it sooner or later. And there are a great many methods and concepts that can be mastered with a little effort. This book highlights the key themes in rook endings, and at each turn invites the reader to test his knowledge and skills with abundant exercises. Rook endgame theory does not stand still. New practical examples illustrate novel approaches as players seek to pose problems to their opponents – Magnus Carlsen has shown that even the driest-looking positions can feature deadly traps. The ongoing creation of new endgame tablebases – of which co-author Yakov Konoval has been at the forefront –

enables new classes of positions to be assessed with definitive certainty. Using six-man and the brand new seven-man tablebases, the authors re-examine many of the old evaluations and reach new and enlightening conclusions about classic rook endings. You will be startled and amazed, and soon discover that you are becoming a far more effective endgame player.


German grandmaster Karsten Müller is arguably the world’s foremost writer on chess endgames. His ‘masterwork’, Fundamental Chess Endings, is a modern endgame ‘bible’ and was studied intensively in his youth by current World Champion Magnus Carlsen. Yakov Konoval is a Russian chess-player and programmer who studied at Mikhail Botvinnik’s chess school. He has written programs for solving chess problems and has pioneered new techniques for generating endgame tablebases.

“Unbelievably well written ... many new discoveries are revealed here. One of the best endgame books of all time” – John Elburg, WWW.CHESSBOOKS.NL

“You can feel confident that anything you study and learn on the basis of Müller’s book is 100% correct” – GM Matthew Sadler, NEW IN CHESS

Chess for Life

Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan

WINNER OF THE ECF BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

In this thought-provoking, wide-ranging and often inspiring book, the authors examine how chess style and abilities vary with age. The conventional wisdom is that greater experience should compensate for a loss of youthful energy, but with so many of the world elite currently in their twenties, chess is increasingly looking like a young man’s game. By making a number of case studies and interviewing players who have stayed strong into their forties, fifties and beyond, the authors show in detail how players can steer their games towards positions where their experience can shine through. Interviewees include: GM John Nunn, GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Nigel Short, GM Judit Polgar, GM Keith Arkell, GM Pia Cramling, FM Terry Chapman, GM Jon Speelman, GM Sergei Tiviakov and WIM Ingrid Lauterbach. By examining so many aspects of chess, the authors have written a work that ends up transcending its subject-matter, and becomes a text on how and why we love chess, the means by which we can play successfully whatever our age and level of play, and how chess is truly a game for life.


Matthew Sadler is one of the strongest British players of recent decades. Having become a GM in his teens, he twice won the British Championship and was awarded an individual gold medal at the 1996 Olympiad. After concentrating on an IT career for more than a decade, he returned to high-level chess in 2010 and quickly regained a spot in the world top 100. Matthew’s struggles to bring his game back up to speed after his long break were part of the inspiration for this book. Natasha Regan is a Women’s International Master from England who achieved a degree in mathematics from Cambridge University. While pursuing a successful career as an actuary in the insurance industry, she has raised a family and maintained a strong interest in chess and other board games, including Go.

“unlike any other chess book I have seen. It addresses the subject of how to sustain, and seek to improve, one’s chess strength throughout life, despite the inevitable diminution of calculation ability. Sadler and Regan have produced an insightful analysis of the way chess players of different styles adapted to age and the advancement of theory. From this, and candid interviews ... they unveil a tour de force of ideas to consider applying to one’s own game. This is not a book for the aging – it is rather a testament to the value of experience with lessons for players of all ages” – Ross Jackson, NEW ZEALAND CHESS

Fundamental Checkmates

Antonio Gude

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ECF BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

Chess might seem a complex and mysterious game, but the ultimate goal is simple: checkmate. Checkmate can occur in all stages of the game, from snap mates in the opening, through middlegame attacks to simplified endgames. Learning how to use our pieces together to corner the enemy king is a fundamental skill that all chess-players must constantly practise, sharpen and develop. This book lays out, in systematic and thorough fashion, a wide range of mating patterns and techniques, in particular showing how each piece-pair can combine to deliver mate. A working knowledge of these ideas enables players to move on to mating combinations, where pieces lay down their lives so that the remaining forces can deliver mate. Gude explains an amazing variety of tactical devices, and illustrates them in unforgettable style with some of the most brilliant mating attacks from practice, new and old. There are chapters on how to attack kings in the centre, as well as standard (and other!) attacks against the castled position. This is a true textbook

of checkmate; readers will never be short of mating ideas, and will instinctively know when there is a possibility to launch an attack, or when they must parry the opponent’s threats. Fundamental Checkmates also features more than 300 exercises with full solutions.


Antonio Gude is an extremely experienced chess writer and teacher from Spain. Several of his books on tactics and for beginners are long-standing best-sellers in Spanish language. Gude has also translated a great many books, including some of the classics of chess literature.

“The number of great examples is overwhelming. On the one part there are classic game fragments you may already know, but also a lot is new, giving something for everyone. I myself am currently using this book as study material for my constant training ... the book is actually suitable for any chess player. High recommended” – IM Dirk Schuh, ROCHADE EUROPA

A Simple Chess Opening Repertoire for White

Sam Collins

By choosing variations that lead to similar structures, highly experienced player, writer and teacher Sam Collins has put together an ideal repertoire for players with limited study time. White opens with 1 e4 and develops his pieces to natural squares and seeks open lines and the initiative. A successful repertoire is more than a set of variations; it also requires strategic understanding of the resulting positions and a knowledge of the key tactical methods and patterns. Because many of Collins’s recommendations lead to IQP (Isolated Queen’s Pawn) structures, ideas can easily be transplanted from one opening to another. He gives complete illustrative games that emphasize the main themes. The specific analysis is up-to-the-minute and features many new ideas that have proven their worth in recent grandmaster practice. Throughout there is a great deal of attention to move-order subtleties and on finding nuances in ‘sidelines’ that your opponents are most unlikely to have examined in detail.



Irish international master Sam Collins won the championship of his home country in 2002 and 2014. He has represented Ireland in numerous Olympiads, winning an individual gold medal at Bled in 2002. He is also an experienced chess teacher who has lectured at the Berkeley Chess School in California. His previous books for Gambit

were Chess Explained: The c3 Sicilian and the highly successful general opening work Understanding the Chess Openings.

“Sam Collins delivers a small but very well thought out repertoire book for White, based on lines that I have hardly seen before – for example the Italian line: 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 c3 Nf6 5 d4 exd4 6 cxd4 Bb4+ 7 Nbd2!?. One of the most interesting repertoire books at this moment!” – John Elburg, WWW.CHESSBOOKS.NL

Instructive Chess Miniatures

Alper Efe Ataman

Warning: this book is not just entertainment. The author wants to teach you a lot about chess and improve the quality of your play! He has selected 53 miniatures from throughout chess history – the earliest are from the 1850s, while the most recent are from grandmaster events just a few months ago!

A miniature is a decisive game, won in 25 moves or fewer. Most of these 53 games feature brilliant tactics, attacks on the king, and even a few outrageous king-hunts. In many, the winner had to overcome cunning defensive ploys and inventive counterattacks. But our aim in this book is not just to admire the players’ skill, but to learn how we can play like this in our own games. Chess coach Ataman is keenly focused on the instructive points, explaining which features of the position justified the attacks, and what prompted the critical decisions. Where analysis is given, it is restricted to what it would be realistic for a human to work out at the board. But why are miniatures so instructive, especially for younger players? It’s because we get to see an idea or plan implemented successfully, in full. Once we understand what players are trying to achieve, we can then appreciate how to oppose these ideas, and the cut-and-thrust typical in modern grandmaster play will make a lot more sense.


Alper Efe Ataman is a FIDE Master from Turkey. He is a chess publisher, author and an experienced trainer, especially at the scholastic level.

“The author has dragged his net wide and rediscovered gems like Freeman-Mednis, New York 1955, played when the future Grandmaster was still a teenager. Instructive Chess Miniatures is a book that will provide plenty of pleasure and instruction at a very reasonable price ... recommended” – IM John Donaldson, USA Team Captain

Play the Classical Dutch

Simon Williams

The Classical Dutch is a flexible opening that often gives Black dynamic attacking chances. In this book, one of its most enthusiastic adherents explains the workings of his favourite opening, and provides Black with a complete repertoire against 1 d4. Few opponents will be ready to take on the Classical Dutch, since it has received little attention in chess literature in recent decades. For an opening that has been played by all-time greats such as Korchnoi, Tal and Larsen, the Classical Dutch’s current lack of popularity is puzzling. In this book, Simon Williams shows how Black can obtain counterchances against each of White’s main options. He also provides recommendations against all of White’s alternative approaches against the Dutch, including a variety of sharp possibilities after 1 d4 f5.


English grandmaster Simon Williams has gained a reputation for playing daring attacking chess. He represented England in World and European Championships in various age groups, and has been a regular in the British Championship since his early teens.

“The author makes a spirited plea for the Dutch. Its key ideas and theory are relatively clear and self-contained, providing a rare opportunity these days to absorb sufficient information to play and experiment confidently without considerable research.” – IM Craig Pritchett, THE HERALD

The Seven Deadly Chess Sins

Jonathan Rowson

Everyone loses chess games occasionally, but all too often we lose a game due to moves that, deep down, we knew were flawed. Why do we commit these chess-board sins? Are they the result of general misconceptions about chess and how it should be played? And how can we recognize the warning signs better? In this thought-provoking and entertaining book, Jonathan Rowson investigates, in his inimitable style, the main reasons why chess-players sometimes go horribly astray, focusing on the underlying psychological pitfalls: Thinking (unnecessary or erroneous); Blinking (missing opportunities; lack of resolution); Wanting (too much concern with the result of the game); Materialism (lack of attention to non-material factors); Egoism (insufficient awareness of the opponent and his ideas); Perfectionism (running short of time; trying too hard); Looseness (“losing the plot”; drifting; poor concentration).



Jonathan Rowson became Scotland’s third grandmaster in late 1999, within months of graduating from Oxford University. He was runner-up in the 1997 European Junior Championship, Scottish Champion in 1999 and winner of the Canadian Open in 2000. Rowson’s first book, Understanding the Grünfeld, has been highly praised for the quality and originality of his writing, and freshness of approach.

“Whenever two large groups argue over a subject so intensely, that subject must be interesting and thought provoking ... The Seven Deadly Chess Sins is a fascinating, original, insightful work by the most promising young chess writer out there. It’s well worth owning (in fact, I consider it a must own!), and contains a bounty of knowledge that will improve your game at the cellular level if the Zen gene is a dominant one in you ... Quite simply, The Seven Deadly Chess Sins is one of the best chessbooks to come out in many, many years.” – Jeremy Silman, SILMAN REVIEWS

The Slav

Graham Burgess

The Slav has been played by 11 of the first 13 World Champions, and has been favoured by many stars of modern chess, including Anand, Kramnik, Shirov, Ivanchuk and Morozevich. Its great popularity is due to its extreme solidity and abundant possibilities for dynamic counterplay. This book provides detailed coverage to help players as both White and Black face the challenges of this tough yet rewarding opening. All lines after 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 are discussed, except those that transpose to the Semi-Slav. The sharpest tactical lines of the Slav receive especially detailed coverage. These include the critical piece sacrifice in the main line (5...Bf5 6 Ne5 e6 7 f3 Bb4 8 e4 Bxe4), the Steiner line (5...Bg4) with 6 Ne5 Bh5 7 h3, and the possibly dubious but highly dangerous Geller Gambit (5 e4), which was a favourite of the young Kasparov. The trendy ...a6 lines are also covered systematically for the first time in chess literature.


Graham Burgess holds the world record for marathon blitz chess-playing. He is a highly versatile chess writer, whose previous books range from general guides for relatively inexperienced players to high-level theoretical manuals. His Mammoth Book of Chess won the 1997 British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award, while Nunn’s Chess Openings, of which he is a co-author, has established itself as the leading modern one-volume openings encyclopaedia.

“The Slav continues to remain a very popular opening at all levels and so a thorough survey from the ever diligent Burgess is very welcome. Burgess has meanwhile managed to maintain his reputation as a very conscientious author with this work, as once again he constantly corrects the analysis of others, whilst providing many important suggestions and improvements himself as well as producing clear assessments of lines” – IM Richard Palliser, HULL CHESS CLUB MAGAZINE

Chess Strategy for Kids

Thomas Engqvist

So you have learned how to play chess, studied tactics and know some basic endgames and openings. What’s next? The glue that binds it all together is strategy. By forming a good plan, chess-players seize strong points on the board and target the opponent’s weaknesses. Experienced player and teacher Thomas Engqvist shows that it all depends on logic that can be grasped by players of any age. He explains how to identify the right strategy in a wide range of typical situations. With his guidance, you will soon be finding good plans on your own – and then it will be time to demonstrate your tactical mastery! He first teaches the importance of the central squares and the basics of pawn-play, before examining the role of each of the pieces and how they are affected by the pawn-structure. Finally we see how to use them together to launch attacks of many different types. You then get a chance to test your new strategic skills in 27 exercises, all with full solutions. Chess Strategy for Kids provides a complete course that will help readers understand the potential of their pieces and play more purposefully in their games. Chess will stop feeling like a series of random events as you take command of your forces and direct them like a general in charge of an army.


Thomas Engqvist is an International Master from Sweden with more than three decades’ experience of international chess. He is a successful chess trainer and has also made notable contributions to chess theory. Engqvist is editor of the website schacksnack.se and teaches at a school in the Stockholm area.

“simplifies some chess concepts in a manner that a modern reader can understand and appreciate. ... the author clearly shows he understood Nimzowitsch and knows how to convey Nimzowitsch’s ideas, but he does it in an easier and more appealing fashion. ... I also found the graphics absolutely exhilarating. They show typical chess ideas in a stunning fashion, which makes them easy to remember, especially for

the amateur. I think this book can be a nice gift for children who are interested in improving, or for adults who would like to know more about the game but don’t want to deal with some boring authors of the past who ... didn’t treat the topic in an entertaining manner.” – Davide Nastasio, GEORGIACHESSNEWS.COM

Your First Chess Lessons

Paul van der Sterren

Assuming no previous knowledge of the game, Grandmaster Paul van der Sterren teaches you how to play and draws you into the fascinating world of modern chess. This carefully crafted chess course is divided into true lessons, each building on what has been learned in the previous ones. Before moving on from a topic, you have the chance to test that you have fully understood it with the help of thoughtfully graded exercises. This is a 21st-century guide. Throughout, there are references to online chess resources and suggestions for online activities, such as training, playing and live broadcasts, and chess-related social media. Also dotted throughout the book are pieces of chess lore, practical tips and information about great players past and present.


Grandmaster Paul van der Sterren has won the Dutch Championship on two occasions, and in 1993 reached the Candidates stage of the World Chess Championship. He is an internationally renowned chess writer and editor: he was one of the founding editors of New in Chess, and is author of the bestselling user-friendly opening guide Fundamental Chess Openings.

How to Play Dynamic Chess

Valeri Beim

Chess is fundamentally a dynamic game. Each move changes the situation and the possibilities for both sides. No piece is ever identically as valuable as any other, and their scope changes from move to move. The current generation of supergrandmasters play unrelentingly dynamic chess, but a great deal of chess literature still deals with chess as if it were a predominantly static game. Much of our understanding of the game is based around traditional rules of thumb that might work well ‘on average’ or in ‘typical’ situations. But these rules may not equip us at all well in the specific and sometimes exceptional situations that we face in our games. In this book, Valeri Beim explains how to factor in dynamic considerations, and weigh initiative and time against material and other static factors. This is a realistic account by an experienced trainer and battle-hardened competitor, geared

towards the needs of players looking to improve their results. Topics include: Dynamics; Development; The King as a Target; Breakthrough; Initiative.

Valeri Beim is a grandmaster who lives in Austria. He has won numerous tournaments and plays in the Austrian and German leagues. For many years he was the head trainer at the chess school in Odessa, and he was also the trainer of the Israeli Olympiad team. This is his fourth chess book.

“an incredible work, simply the best I have ever read on this topic. I suspect even some players of the first rank will find something to think about, and the rest of us will have our games adjusted forever. If you buy one chess book this year, this should be it. This book is so good, I have to stray from my usual method of categorizing books, and deem it an Instant Classic.” – Don Aldrich, CHESS TODAY

Improve Your Positional Chess

Carsten Hansen

Throughout a game of chess, we must constantly make judgements and decisions that cannot be determined simply by calculation. We must then rely on our positional judgement. Good positional skills are primarily developed by experience, but they can also be learnt. In this book, Carsten Hansen provides a wealth of advice and ideas that will help give readers a helping-hand up to new levels of positional understanding. Paramount in this discussion is the player’s need to weigh up positional elements at the board, and decide which are most important for the situation at hand. Topics include: The Quest for Weaknesses; What is the Initiative?; Understanding Imbalances; The Relative Value of the Pieces; Decisions Regarding Pawn-Structures; Structural Weaknesses; Where and How to Attack. The book is rounded off with exercises to test your understanding of the concepts discussed, together with full solutions.

Carsten Hansen is a FIDE Master from Denmark who currently lives in the USA. He has a reputation for writing well-researched books on major chess topics, and is known to many through his painstaking book reviews on the Internet. This is his fourth book for Gambit.

“I figure to put about 20 Elo points on to my grade (2433) by the time I’ve finished; that’s how good it is. I can’t really say more than that. Oh, and I am enjoying reading it!” – IM Andrew Martin, SEAGAARD’S REVIEWS

Solving in Style

John Nunn

In this book, John Nunn, a top-class grandmaster who has also won the World Problem Solving Championship three times, explains the methods by which chess problems and studies are solved. The logical and creative methods advocated, while targeted at the solving of composed positions, may also help players find startling tactical solutions in their games. Solving in Style also constitutes an entertaining and insightful introduction to the world of problems and studies. There are chapters on series problems and other unorthodox stipulations, and also a discussion of specific themes such as the Novotny interference. This brand new electronic edition contains 50% more material than the original print edition. There are new chapters on proof games and solving competitions, as well as a large collection of new problems for readers to solve. Unsound problems from the first edition have been replaced, and errors and omissions corrected.


Dr John Nunn is one of the best-respected figures in world chess. He was among the world’s leading grandmasters for nearly twenty years, winning four gold medals in chess Olympiads and finishing sixth overall in the World Cup in 1989. He is a much-acclaimed writer, whose works have won ‘Book of the Year’ awards in several countries. In 2004, 2007 and 2010 Nunn was crowned World Chess Solving Champion, ahead of many former champions.

“Nunn does an excellent job of explaining the special rules of this parallel universe, but where he is likely to gain the most converts is in the field of chess studies ... Many of these studies look sufficiently ‘game-like’ that the over-the-board player will have no trouble appreciating the beauty and ingenuity involved. Highly recommended” – IM John Donaldson, USA Team Captain

Understanding the Sicilian

Mikhail Golubev

Mikhail Golubev has played the Sicilian as Black and White for the whole of his chess career, specializing in the sharpest and most aggressive systems. Here he presents the whole undiluted truth – as best he sees it – about this most popular and cut-throat of openings.

The quality of the games is striking. Even the list of opponents in junior tournaments features Kramnik and Shirov, while more recent opponents include Ponomariov and Svidler. Ivanchuk’s extraordinary ideas crop up repeatedly. But we also see Golubev facing more ‘normal’ opposition, where as the higher-rated player the top priority was to create winning opportunities.

There is much to learn from Golubev’s honest ‘warts and all’ presentation. We see the process of discovery and experimentation, and develop a feel for the spirit of the Sicilian. There is a wealth of original analysis (all scrupulously computer-checked), novelties and strategic guidance. For Dragon, Sozin/Najdorf and Velimirović players in particular, this book is an absolute must-read, but Anti-Sicilian and Taimanov players are among those who must also watch out. All Sicilian lines are covered, with the exception of those that have never occurred in the more than 440 Sicilian games from Golubev’s professional career.


Mikhail Golubev is a grandmaster from Odessa, Ukraine, who plays regularly in tournaments in eastern and central Europe. He is a noted expert in several sharp and aggressive opening systems, including the King’s Indian and the Dragon. His previous books, The Sicilian Sozin and Understanding the King’s Indian, have been praised for the quantity and quality of their original analysis, and for Golubev’s objectivity in identifying the critical lines.

My Secrets in the Ruy Lopez

Lajos Portisch

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ECF BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

It’s major news when a legendary player reveals his opening secrets. And when he has rarely written about his games or preparation methods, and was famous for meticulous, ahead-of-his-time opening analysis, it makes it a true publishing event.

Yet that is what eight-time world championship candidate Lajos Portisch has done. In this book, he opens his extensive opening files and presents the most important games and unused novelties in the Ruy Lopez (or Spanish Game). He also explains the strategies and ideas behind these lines, and places the key games in their historical settings. Anecdotes abound, as do reflections on his key rivals, including Fischer, Karpov, Tal, Larsen and Smyslov.

This is also a thoroughly modern work. As well as drawing upon games from his own long career, Portisch includes important Ruy Lopez games by modern champions, including Anand and Carlsen, describing them from his own unique perspective. All analysis has been computer-verified, with Portisch’s hand-made variations standing up to scrutiny in most cases, but with the computer adding new and surprising twists. Thus we see how human creativity can remain a vital component in modern preparation.


Lajos Portisch is one of the greatest players of the modern era. An elite player from the 1960s to the 1990s, he qualified for the candidates eight times and was board 1 for the Hungary team that won olympic gold in 1978, ahead of the USSR. He is one of the 12 Hungarian ‘Sportsmen of the Nation’ – the country’s highest sporting honour.

Extreme Chess Tactics

Yochanan Afek

Tactical ability requires knowledge and skills: knowledge of patterns and tactical methods, and the skill to recognize them, combine them, and calculate accurately.

This book features both composed studies and real-game positions. Composed positions distil tactics into their purest form: nothing irrelevant is present on the board. We can focus purely on the key ideas, which makes them an ideal learning tool. As one of the world’s greatest experts on chess composition, Yochanan Afek is the perfect man to select the best studies for this purpose. In over-the-board chess (in which Afek is also highly accomplished), the tactical ideas tend to be less complex, but they may prove harder to identify – unless they are already familiar to you. Afek provides a case in point in his introduction, where the stunning final move of the 2016 world championship could not possibly have been missed by those familiar with an earlier game. All the real-game positions in this book are taken from games by world champions (male or female).

Following the structure of John Nunn’s best-selling Learn Chess Tactics, in each chapter a theme is introduced and a number of examples are explained. Then the reader immediately gets to use this knowledge in a series of carefully selected exercises.


Yochanan Afek is both a Grandmaster of Composition and an over-the-board International Master. This unique combination of talents makes him a highly insightful writer, noted for his work on the factors that make moves hard to see. He grew up in Tel-Aviv and now lives in Amsterdam. His greatest over-the-board success was winning the Paris Championship in 2002.

The Chess Attacker’s Handbook

Michael Song and Razvan Preotu

Life is too short to play boring chess!

That’s the mantra of the two young authors of this book, and as you read their energetic and insightful words, you may find yourself caught up in their enthusiasm for direct attacking play.

Their over-the-board successes are not based on mere bravado or trickery, but on a profound understanding of the chessboard struggle and thought process. Song and Preotu consider the role of manoeuvring and prophylactic thought, and examine attacks in the endgame, as well as more standard topics such as play on colour complexes and when and how to launch the pawns in an all-out assault.

And because life’s too short to read a boring chess book, the text is packed with advice, study suggestions and anecdotes as well as quotes and references to philosophy and other ‘real-world’ topics. Their examples are drawn from their own practice and their supergrandmaster trainer, as well as modern classics and older gems. Most of their material you will not have seen before; the rest you will not have seen explained this way before.


The authors are the two highest-rated Canadian juniors. Razvan Preotu earned the Grandmaster title in 2016 at the age of 17. The most notable result during his meteoric rise was at the 2016 Calgary International, which he won outright ahead of a strong international field including five GMs. Michael Song became an International Master by winning the North American Under-18 Championship. He has represented Canada many times, winning a bronze medal at the 2011 World Youth Championship. His trainer is super-grandmaster Evgeny Bareev.

125 Chess Opening Surprises

Graham Burgess

Surprising the opponent is a primary aim of modern opening preparation. You can’t afford to be a stationary target – gone are the days when players worked out an elaborate repertoire from which they never varied.

These 125 opening surprises land like bombshells in the apparent calm of standard openings and disorientate your opponents as they grapple with original problems. This book is a treasure-trove of unusual ideas at an early stage of the opening, each with a firm logical foundation, yet running against the grain of conventional play. Each idea has quick-strike potential and is supported by enough concrete analysis to enable you to try it with confidence.

For this new edition, Burgess has thoroughly revised and expanded the original content with a great many new verdicts and additional analysis and ideas. Every single move has been re-examined and checked against current theory. The brand-new

sections mostly deal with ideas that were unknown or untopical before 2016 or 2017.

Reviews of the first edition (101 Chess Opening Surprises):

“explodes right in your face, with ideas in all openings ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous” – GM Lubosh Kavalek, WASHINGTON POST

“I was stunned by some of the author’s ideas ... excellent” – GM Paul Motwani, THE SCOTSMAN


FIDE Master Graham Burgess is Gambit’s Editorial Director, and one of the founders of the company. He holds the world record for marathon blitz chess playing, and lives in Minnesota. This is his 24th chess book, his earlier works including well-regarded opening guides and best-selling general texts.

Fundamental Chess Tactics

Antonio Gude

Once a player has learned how the pieces move, the next task is to put them to work – that is, to study tactics. For all players, from beginners to champions, tactical skill is the main component of chess ability. And this skill must be constantly practised and improved.

This book provides a systematic course in chess tactics and hundreds of exercises to sharpen and measure your skills. With Antonio Gude’s assistance, you will understand how the pieces work, so you can carry out your strategic plans and launch devastating attacks. And even in those games where things go wrong, you will always be ready to pounce when given the chance. The book is packed with entertaining and inspiring examples, brought to life with information and stories about some of the more notable figures in chess history.

This is a companion volume to Gude’s much-acclaimed Fundamental Checkmates:

“Books offering tactical positions to solve are universally agreed upon as first-rate training, but before starting out it makes sense to first have a solid grounding in the fundamentals. This book will do that and more.” – IM John Donaldson, USA Team Captain

“[Gude] is well-read, knows important games from the past and present, and uses famous endgame compositions to create a useful mating manual for wide readership” – GM Lubosh Kavalek, HUFFINGTON POST


Antonio Gude is a well-known chess writer and teacher from Spain who has represented his country in international correspondence chess events. His previous book for Gambit, Fundamental Checkmates, was shortlisted for the English Chess Federation Book of the Year Award.

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