Learn chess from the Masters : formerly published under the title Chess by yourself 9780486203621, 048620362X

Citation preview

DOVER BOOKS ON CHESS, CHECKERS, GO AND OTHER GAMES Mensselr's BEST Gervles oF CuESS, Frank J. Marshall. (20604-r) $2.50 THp Anr or CHpss, James Mason. (20463-4) $3.00

THE PnINCTpLES or Cuess, James Mason. (20646-7) $3.S0 csnss Pnexrs (Tsp Pnexrs or Mv Svsreu), Aron Nimzovich.

(202e6-8) $3.s0

Moornx CHnss SrRerpcy, LudEk pachman. (2O2gO-9)

$3.00

AlprurNn vs. Bocor-JuBow: wonlo's curss cnnuerorusurp on 1934, Fred Reinteld and Reuben Fine. (2lgl3-9) $l.25 Tue DnvpLopurNr oF e csrss GpNrus: 100 INsrnucrrvp Geprps on ArBxHrNE, Fred Reinfeld. (20551-7) $3.00 How ro FoRcE Cupcruere, Fred Reinfeld. (ZO43g-l) $1.50 HvpenuoDERN cspss es DBvuopED rN THE Gelrars oF ITS Gnperpsr ExpoNeNr, ARoN NlrvrzovtcH, edited bv Fred Reinfeld (20448-0) $2.50 cornrprrrp Boox or.cHess Sr.Rerecevrs, Fred Reinfeld. (206eo-4) $2.00 Leenu Cuess FRoM rue MesrrRs, Fred Reinfeld. (20362-X) $2.2s

Tse TnpesuRy on CnBss

LoRE, Fred

Reinfeld. (20458-8) $2.7s

er CHESS, Fred Reinfeld. (20438-3) $r.:S Tse Anr oF THE Cuecrcuern, George Renaud and Victor Kahn. ' WrN

(20106-6) $2.50

Rrsrcvsxy's

BEST GeprBs oE CnBss, Samuel Reshevsky.

(20606-8) $2.50

MooBnN Ioees rN CHess, Richard Reri. (20638-6) $2.50

AN ABC on Cnrss

Pnosr-BNas, John Rice. (2053,4-7 ) Cloth$8.50 RunrNsrerN's Csess MesrpRprECES, edited by Hans Kmoch.

'bound

(20617-3)

$Z.Oo

CrievrproNsstp CHess, Philip W. Sergeant.

(zlOlZ-I')

$2.50

(continued on hock flap)

Learn Chess From The Masters FORMERTY PUBTISHED UNDER THE TITTE

CHESS BY YOURSELF

Fred Reinfeld

DOVER PUBTICATIONS, tNC. Ne.w Yorh

Copyright @ 1946 by Fred Reinfeld. reserved under Pan American and In-

All rights

ternational Copyright Conventions.

Published in Canada by General Publishing Company, Ltd., 30 Lesmill Road, Don Mills, Toronto, Ontario.

This Dover edition, first published in 1956, is an unabridged and unaltered republication of the work first published in 1946 by David McKay under the title

Chess

By Yourself.

Standard Book Number: 486-2D52-X 6

Library of Congress Catalog Card, Number:

57-3552

Manufactured in the United States of America Dover Publications, Inc. 180 Varick Street New York, N. Y. 10014

lntroduction The present volume is the fourth in a series whose obiect is to teach chess players to think for themselves. This is not so easy a task as it may seem; in fact, many will wonder why the task is necessary. There is a deffnite need for such books, I feel, because most players fall into two groups: those who like to study books, but, getting litde opportunity to aPPly their theoretical knowledge, generally prove sad failures in actual play; the other file of player who disdains or ignores book *nowledge, relies on his own ideas, and consequently lacks that basic familiari$ *ith broad general principles without which considerable chess ability is impossible. The three previous books in this series were Chess Mwtcry By Question ,{nd, Anrlu'zr ( 19Sg ), io which I gave the reader an opportunrty to work out for himself the reasons for the moves played in master games; Chess For ,{rnnteurs (L942), in which the same question-and-answer technique was a[F plied to the games of ordinary players; and Chess Quiz ( 1945 ), in which the reader was invited to ffnd the best move in ttrree hundred carefully selected positions, and was given a method of grading his results. In Chess By Yowself, the reader is again asked to do the work, but the book can be read in a number of ways. Just what are these.ways? First, the book can be viewed as a collection of ffne games, and it can be read through for pure enioymeng without any thought of answeri.rg the questions or solving the problems. Secondly, the book can be read in a desultory manner, through casual study of the diagrams and their captions, which have been frankly adopted to catch the reader's attention and arouse his curiosity. lhirdly, the reader can make a serious efiort to hit on the moves before thry are re-

Introdaction vealed to him. In t}is case, he will use a card or a slip of paper to cover up the coming moves and explanations. FinallR the reader can supplement his effort to discover the moves for himself by actually g"ding himself and gettirrg a fairly accurate notion of his playing strength. The result of such testing will either make him complacent ( which would be a prty!) or will stimulate his determination to improve his game ( which is what I am aiming at! ). In writing all the books of this series, I have had in mind the great number of chess players who lack time or opposition, and consequently get little opportunity for over-theboard encounters. For such players, who run into the hundred thousands, the opportunrty to test their skill should prove welcome. Now a few words as to the grading system.: almost every move in the following games has been assigned some value, and the same applies to many plausible alternatives. Of course, no two individuals can agree completely on what a plausible alternative is, or how many points should be allocated to it. However, ttre valuations in this book have been worked out with great care, and have been checked with the opinions of other players. In each game, then, the moves on both sides, and plausible alternatives, have been assigned a value. Additional credits are provided for the answers to supplementary problems. The posdble scores are then graded on four levels: Master strength, excellen! good, fair. The games are arranged in ascending order of difficulty, so that the reader will have the benefft in the later games of the skill he will have acquired in working over the earlier games. If the reader keeps careful records, he will, on completing the book, have a composite score for the ten games which can be graded after inspection of the following tables:

Introdnrction

l-Analysis of tlw Mo*i,murn Score Game

Black's Extra no. White's moves moves credits '

I

84

61

I

62

85

4

29

D

42

6 7 8

7T

79 59 66 68 50 47 86 45 85

o A

73

57

I

7r

10

45

Totals

m

Total Maximum Score

16

111 168

12 L4 19

106 109 129 188

n t7

m6

84

til

18

111

%

L4L

26

156

,05

iBiB

flhe maximum number of points which can be obtained is therefore 1818. Any score above 894 points, or roughly g0%, is considered Tair" or better. II-Hout To GradeYun Score Game no.

I 2

I

4 D

6

Master Strength 100-111 14&168

9L106 98-109 11e12g 124188

7 8

139-154

I

t0L111 t27-r4L

10

14G151

Totals

uB7ffi$

Excellent

7& 99 Lt*L47 74- 94

Til

97

9r115 97-r28 108-188 78- 99

99-126 109-139

w1

Good

Fair

5* 77 82-tL4 58- 78 Sil 75 65-,89 69- 96 77-t07 5* 77 71- 98

83-tt

78-108

4L81 82,-5'2

8244 8944 4148 4U76 83-54 4?-70 47:77

66L914 894J50

Introdaction

vllr

Thus the ffnal scores for the four categories are:

Master Strength Excellent Good

Fair

1187-1318 points 9?LLL77 points 660- 914 points 89L 650 points

The games used in this book are all short and sprightly. Dulness and excessive length have been carefully avoided. Diagams have been plentifully supplied at strategic points. Notes have been inserted to guide the student toward correct solutions. The rest is up to the readerl

Fnro RBlNrmo New York M"y 21,1946

Conlents v

lntro&tction

I. QUEEN'S PAWN OPENING: ]anowski-Marshall; Match,

1

1916

2. RUY LOPEZ:

13

Michell-Blake; City of London Chess Club Championship, 1920

3. RUY LOPEZ:

81

Donovan-Bernstein; Ventnor City, L942

4.

DUTCH DEFENSE:

4s

Gluecksberg-Naidorf; Warsaw, 1985

5. RUY LOPEZ:

il

Scott-Winter; Match, 1919

5. CARO.KANN

70

7. V!ENNA

88

DEFENSE: Sokolsky-Bronstein; USSR Championship, t944

GAME:

Mieses-Znosko-Borovsky; Ostend, 1907

8. RETI OPENING:

103

Reinfeld-Orkild; Metropolitan Chiils League, 1931 9.

CARO.KAN

N DEFENSE:

Lt7

Dobkin-Grinberg; Tel Aviv, 1944

lo. FRENCH DEFENSE: Boleslavsky-Uffmtsev; USSR Championship, 7944 ( Omsk Semi-Finals )

180

l.

QUEEN'S PAWN OPENING MATCH, r gt6 WHITE

D.Ianousski

1

BIACK

F. f .IularsVwll

P-Q4

2 points for this rnooe.

1

P-Q4

2 points for this mooe or

or7. . . P-Q83. 2 B-B4

7 . . . Ri-KBB or I . . . P-K8

2 points for this rather unusnl rnooe, which is not quite so strong as 2 P-QB4 because the text sets Black less difrcult problems. 2 points also for 2 P4B4 or 2 Ki-QBB or 2 P-KB or 2 KI-KBS or 2 P-KKI3.

2..

P-Q84

2 points for this tnoue2 with which Black plays for the initiative in the center. 2 points also for 2 . . . Ki-KBB or 2, . . B-84 or 2 ., .

P-K3.

3

P_K3

P flF,9. 2 points extra credit for the best replu to 3 PxP.

2 points for this rnoDe o, 3

I

KT-Q83

Chess By Yourself

2pointsforthistnooeors , , .

4 2

pints for

Ki-KB}org... P-Kg.

P_QB3

this tnooe or 4

Kt-K88.

4... 2 poir*s for this mooe or 4

P-K3 Kt-88.

ll

Blaek has the initiative in the center because his Queen's Bishop Pawn is on the fourth rank, while White's Queen's Bishop Pawn is on the third rank.

ii

5 2 points

Kr-Q2

for this rnooe or 5 KI-BB or 5 B-Q8.

B--Q3

5 2 points for this rnooe or 5

. . . Kt-BS or 5 . . . B-I(g,,

The text is the most comfortable continuation.

6

B-Kr3

2 points for this rnooe. 7 point for 6 BxB, which would only facilitate Black's development.

Queeris Pusn Opening

2

7 point ertra credit for the best reply to 6 KKt-83' at' temptingto maintain o strong grip on K5.

P-B4

6

2

points for this nwoe ( which imitates White's policy of maintaining puwerful pressure on K5 ) or 6 . . . Kt-88. 7 point for 6 , . . BxB, which is somewhat unclear because Black might be reluctant to castle later on in view of the open King's Rook file.

7

KKI-B3

2 points for this tnooe or 7 B-QS or 7B-IA. 7'point for 7 BxB, which would now be inconsistent, and loss of time as well.

H

a

t

t ,%,

A

A fierce fight is going on for control of the center.

,%,H 7,

KT-B3

1...

2 points for this rnooe.

Tpointfor7

B

.,.

BxB.

KT_K5

this rnooe or I B-Qg or B B-IA or 8 P-84. of K5 is a bit premature, as the further occupation The course of the game indicates.

2 points for

Clwss By Youself

4

H

1p,

2 points for this rnoDe. 7 poiw for 8 . . . B x Kr, which would not be quite satisfactory at this stage because of 9 PxB and if 9 . . . Kt-K5;

r0 KtxKt, BPxKt; 11 Q-R5ch, P-Kt8; 72 Q-R6

and

Black's position is somewhat awkward.

9

I

B-.I(Z or 9 B-Q1.

I

BxKt

2 points for this mooe or

10

I , . . KFKi.

2 points for this moDe. 7 point f or 70 QP xB, which would be relatively weaker be-

it would give Black a strong Queen-side Pawn formation with a standing possibility of the disruptive . . . P-Q5.

cause

Kr-Ks

2 points for this mooe, which practieally forces the exchange of Knights, since White can hardly permit the feeble Pawn

formatiorr he would acquire after allowing

11

. . KtxB.

M f,af

2p 3) 1;

8p

Ktx Kt

ndi

2 points for this mooe. In view of the "threat" of 77 . , Ktx B, White has little choice.

11 . . .

T

H

BPxB

10

E

I IA

P_KB4

2 poirrts for this rnooe or

casd

.

BPxKf

2 points for this mooe, which gives Black complete control of the King's Bishop file and thus makes it difficult if not impossible for White to castle King-side.

77r, No,

w, -g otll

Queenis Pausn Operfing

7 point for 77

QPxKt, after which White could still

.

castle King-side.

%% A%r

f

White's listless

opening

play has made it possible for Black to seize the initiative.

12

Q-Kr4?

DeiluA 7 point for this mooe, which is a serious elror of iudgment.

2p

42, qedit credit

3 4

12... 8 points for

O-O. to 72 PxP. to 72 Q-Qz.

PxP!

this ntooe, which is the prelude to a ffne combi-

nation.

I8

KPxP

point for this tnooe. No credit for 18 BPxP, which could be answered decisively by I8 . . Q-R4 ch, exposing White's Kit g to a devastating attack. The absence of White's Queen is having serious

7

consequences!

Chess By

Y

ourself

@'%,

T

'lffit

,%

%

w%

The stage is set for a brilliant and surprising sacri-

I I

fice!

n

t1

%H 13 . . .

E

KtxQP!! 57

B points for the turt-a typical Marshall thunderbolt which energetically exploits the absence of the White Queen.

14

a,

afi

7 point for this rnoue.

1 point for 14 O-O-O, although it is clear that White would be left without compensation for his Pawn.

A-R4ch

2 points for this rnooe, the indicated continuation of the attack. As will be seen, Black has subtle resources.

15 K-Qr 7 point for this nxoue.

No credit for 15

5

2 w!0

PxKt

14...

acl

K-Kz.

OE

c(I Itrr

71

6

76 2,t

&

2 points extra credit for BlacHs strongest continuation

after 15 K-IA. White's King is quite unsafe in his exposed situation, but.it is not easy to see how Black can readily exploit the situation. Trust Marshall to ftnd a way!

21

r

Qweds

tt

r% tgi

7

Pa:usn Opencng

How is Black to continue the attack?!

AA 15 . . 5 points acter.

for

B-Q2!

this tnooe,which is astonishing for its calm, char-

tor 75 . . . Q-KIS or 75 . . . Q-KIS, which would be answered by 16 Q-K2, and after 16 . . .

2

poirrts

QxPch; l7 Q-Q2, Q-KtB Black would still have a lasting attack because of his two connected passed Pawns in the center, White's inability to castle, and the lack of efiective communication of his Rooks. However, Marshall's method is much stronger.

16 Q-K2 7 point

for this mooe.

6 2 points ertra credit for Blaclis best contiru^tation 76

after

P-Kt9.

2 points extra credit for Blaclis best conti,ruation after 76

R_BI,

16 t

B-RSch

2 points for this rnooe, which is the logical sequel to Black's previous move.

17 K-BI

Chess By Yourself 7

point for this mooe,

No credit for 77 P-Kt3, which is answered by 77 . .

)

,

J

BxPch etc.

I

17 ..

QR-BI

ch!

3 poiffis for this ?noDe, which embodies a very clever idea. 77 . . . KR-Blch.

7 point for

7

2 points ertra credit for the conect explnnation of Blaclis preference for the tert as against 77 . . . KR-B lch.

IB K-KiI No credit for this morse, which is forced.

g

'%ffir

ir^ .,%

,%,

it

%

%

%

Black is all set for a new sacrifice!

%

ig %

%H % s%

B r8

R

x Bch!!

5 points for this tnoDe, which is the most conclusive winning method. 2 points for 18 . . . B-B7ch, which leads to a slower win after 19 QxB, RxQ; 20KxR, R-Blch;2I K-QI, Q-Kt5 (or 21 . Q-KtB ).

19

RxR

;'

l. Quemis Puon Opening 7 point for this rnooe. No creditfor 19 QxR. 1 point ertra credit for Blaclis quickest uinrling mahod, after 19 Qxfi.

8 L

19...

.-r-

2

B-Kt4

for this rnooe, which forces the win of White's

points

Queen.

t % A

,ru

H Llti !4

%

r% % ,m

i

'rm,

%

t Can you see why White's Queen is lost?

%

20 Q-Qt 7 point

for this rnooe. No credi,t for 20 QxB.

9

1 point ertra credit for Blaclis strongest contiratation after 20 QxB.

20... 2 points

for this rnoDe.

21 QxB

22 7

B-Q6ch

P-QR4

point for this rnoDe.

PxQ

t

t I

t0

I

Chess By Yourself

lO 1 point ertra credit for

after 22

R-81.

22.... 2 points for this rnooe or 22

1

Blaclis correct contirutation

R-B7 ,

..P-Q7ot22,,,Q-82.

28 R-B4 7 point

for this tnooe,

2g .tr

Q

KTs

2 points for thi,s rnooe.

24 R-BI 7 point

I I L

I

for this tnooe.

24 . .

i

t

I

RxP

2 points for this tnooe, which leaves White helpless against the coming advance of the Queen's Pawn.

25

R-R3

No credit for this rnooe.

25.. 7 point

P-Q7

for this tnooe. White resigns Su.mnary: Whitds rather quiet handling of the opening gave Black an easy game. On top of this, White's'plausible twelfth move proved to be a crass blunder of which Marshall took characteristically ingenious advantage. While the play following th" sacriffce was not too difficult, the sacriffce itself was a strikingly original conception which might easily elude even first-rate players.

IT

Queeris Pausn Opening Analysis of the Maximum Score Points 84 White's moves 61 Black's moves

Extra Credits Total Maximum Score

16 111

How to Grade Your Score Points

from 100

Master Strength Excellent Good Fair

3a

aa

3C

to 111

'< 99 55"3c 77

78

33

54

Answers to Questions in the Text

3 PxP, Kt-QBS;4 Kt-KB3 (else... P-K4 is very strong), P-B8! followed by . . . P-K4 with a Pow-

, If

erful center. (2 points )

2 If 6 KKt-83?, BxB;7 PxB, PxP; 8 PxP,Q-BB win-

ningaPawn. (lpoint)

3 If L2 P x P, R-84 regains the Pawn, ultimately leaving Black with a strong center. ( 1 point )

4 If 12 Q-Q2, Q-K2;

O-O-O, P

85! followed by the formidable advance of Black's Queen-side Pawns (. . . P-QKIA4 etc.). ( 1 point) 5 If 15 K-K2, Q-Kt4ch followed by . . . QxP with a very strong attack. ( 2 points ) 13

16 P-KIS, Q-86; L7 R-Bl ( o. 17 R-QKt1, RxBch!; 18 RxR, Q-Q6chwinning), Qx QPch;18 K-Kl (if 18 K-Bz, QR-Blch; 19 K-KII, RxRch; 20 KxR,

5 If

12

Chess

By Yourself

R-BIch; 21 K-Ktl, Q-Q7;22YK2, R-87 and wins), Q-K6ch; L9 K-Ql, QR-BI and wins. (2 points) If 16 R-81, QxP; 17 Q-Kz, QR-BI with a winning

2

attack. (2points)

7

Black leaves his King's Rook on the King's Bishop file to have it available for a possible sacriffce. ( 2 points )

8 If 19 QxR, Q-Q7 forces mate. (1 point) 9 If 20 QxB, QxQ; 21 R-Ql, Q-K7 and White has no good move. (1 point)

tO If 22 R-81, RxRch; 28 KxR, Q--BlZrh winning easily. (l point)

2

g 2

2 g

I a

{r

L

RUY LOPEZ

2.

CITY OF LONDON CHESS CLUB CHAMPIONSHTP, t92O WHITE

R.P. Michell

1 2 points

for this tnooe,

Ki-KB3

for this tnooe.

2...

2 points

P-K4

for this mooe.

2 2 points

f . H. Blake

P-K4

1..o 2 points

BlACK

KT-Q83

for thk rnooe.

I

B-Kts

2 points for this rnooe,

3...

P-QR3 2 points for this rnooe or I . . , l(tr-fi8 (Berlin Defense) or 8 . . . KI-QS (Birds Defense) or 3 . , . P-QB (Steinitz Defense) or I . , . P-84 (Schliemann Defense) or 3 . . . p-l(!(s$ (Fianchetto Defense) o, I . . . KKi-IA ( Cozio Defense ). The R y Lopez is the most popular and hence the most analyzbd of all the chess openings.

4

B-R4

t4

Chess By Yourself

2 points for this nxooe or 4

4...

BxKt (the Exchange variation).

Kt-B3

4 . , . P-Ql. 7 poi.nt for 4 . . . P-QKI4, which is premature, or 4 . P-84, which is inferior. 2 points for this nxoDe or

.,

5 0-o 2 poi,nts for this moDe or 5 P-QS or 5 BxKt or 5 KI-BS or 5 Q-K2 or 5 P-Q4. Despite the considerable variety of choice here, 5 O-O is generally the move played.

5 ...

Ktxp

2 points for this rnoDe or 5 . . . B-Kz ( th" more usual move), or 5 . . . P-QB or 5 . . . P-QK?4,

H%L7ffi-z@,NZ "ffi

%r'/.ft-t%t'lffi,i

Black's last move generally leads to a lively game; it is therefore favoieJUy enterprising players.

6 P_Q4 2 points for this rnooe, which is the customary (because the most energetic) continuation. 1 point for 6 Q-K2 or 6 R-K7, each answered by 6 . . . Kt-84 with a good game for Black.

Ruy Lopez l.

I5

7 pointfor 6 BxKt, which recovers the Pawn at once but is rather colorless and offers Black no dificulty.

6 ... 2 points for this

p_eKf4 tnoDe,

which is the necessary prelude to

. P-Q4 ( Black must not allow his Queen's Knight to

be pinned ).

7 poi.rrt for 6 . , . P xP, which is very dangerous because of the exposed position of Black's Knight at K5 ( this is known as the Riga Variation).

7 7 point

B-Kt3

forthis tnooe. ,1

1...

P--Q4

2 points for this tnooe.

B

PxP

2 points for this rnooe or 8

KtxP or I P-QR4.

B-K3 2 points for this mooe. 7 point for B . . . Kt-I(2, an awkward and old-fashioned move which gives Black a cumbersome development.

9

P_B3

2 points for this rnooe, which is generally played to preserve the King's Bishop from exchange by . . . Kt-R4. 2 points also for the playable but rarely ad.upted alternatioes 9 Q-I