Tune your chess tactics antenna : know when (and Where!) to look for winning combinations 9789056914509, 9056914502

Table of contents :
Tune Your Chess Tactics Antenna
Contents
Foreword
Explanation of Symbols
Introduction
Part I --
The Seven Signals
Chapter 1 King position
Chapter 2 Unprotected Pieces
Chapter 3 Alignment
Chapter 4 Knight Fork Distance
Chapter 5 Trapped Pieces
Chapter 6 Crucial Defender/Overloaded Defender
Chapter 7 Impotent Defence/Defence Too Far Away
Part II --
Find the Relevant Theme
Introduction
Chapter 8 King Position
Chapter 9 Unprotected Pieces
Chapter 10 Alignment
Chapter 11 Knight Fork Distance
Chapter 12 Trapped Pieces
Chapter 13 Crucial Defender/Overloaded Defender. Chapter 14 Impotent Defence/Defence Too Far AwayChapter 15 Solutions
Part III --
Looking for the Right Move
Introduction
Chapter 16 Candidate Moves
Chapter 17 Accurate Calculation
Chapter 18 Test: Is There A Combination?
Part IV --
Final Test
Solutions to Final Test
Bibliography
Glossary of Terms
List of Positions
Index of Names.

Citation preview

Tune Your Chess Tactics Antenna

Emmanuel Neiman

Tune Your Chess Tactics Antenna

Know when (and where!) to look for winning combinations

New In Chess 2012

© 2 0 1 2 New In Chess Published by New In Chess, Alkmaar, The Netherlands www.newinchess.com All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher. Cover design: Volken Beck Supervisor: Peter Boel Proofreading: Rene Olthof Production: Anton Schermer Have you found any errors in this book?

Please send your remarks to [email protected]. We will collect all relevant

corrections on the Errata page of our website www.newinchess.com and implement them in a possible next edition. ISBN: 9 7 8-9 0-56 9 1 -404-2

Contents Foreword

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Explanation of Symbols Introduction

Part I

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Chapter 2 Unprotected Pieces

Chapter 3 Alignment

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Chapter 5 Trapped Pieces

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Chapter 6 Crucial Defender/Overloaded Defender .

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Chapter 4 Knight Fork Distance .

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Chapter 7 Impotent Defence/Defence Too Far Away

Part II

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7 8 9

The Seven Sign.als ... ..... ................... ..... ........ 25

Chapter 1 King position -

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27 34 37 43 49 57 62

Find the Relevant Theme .. ..... ........ .... ........ ... ... 69

Introduction. ............................................. 71 -

Chapter 8 King Position ..................................... 8 1 Chapter 9 Unprotected Pieces ................................ 92 Chapter 10 Alignment ...................................... 98

Chapter 11 Knight Fork Distance ............................. 106

Chapter 12 Trapped Pieces

................................. 114 Chapter 13 Crucial Defender/Overloaded Defender ............... 124 Chapter 14 Impotent Defence/Defence Too Far Away .............. 134 Chapter 15 Solutions . . 142 .

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Part III Looking for the Rig ht Move.. ........................... 159 Introduction............................................. 161 -

Chapter 16 Candidate Moves ................................ 163

Chapter 17 Accurate Calculation.

............................ 167

Chapter 18 Test: Is T here A Combination? ...................... 173

Part IV

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Final Test.. ........................................... 181

Solutions to Final Test. ..................................... 200 -

Bibliography ............................................... 223 Glossary of Terms List of Positions Index of Names

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.. 225 .. 229 235 .

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5

Foreword In this book, I suggest a thinking method that is intended to help the practical chess player. I am sure that using this technique, the reader will improve his play as a whole, meaning both his tactical abilities (i.e. the ability to foresee combinations) and his positional abilities. The idea of this work is to provide the reader with a kind of 'antenna' . This an­ tenna has seven 'filters ' (what I call signals) that will allow a chess player to detect tactical possibilities. The two main points are : - Follow carefully the necessary steps of reflection (see the 5 phases in the Intro­ duction) ; - Detect the signals for you and for your opponent (Part I and 11). First look, then analyse, plan, and only then start to look for the right move ! See Part III of this book. great trainer and champion I once advised his pupils to calculate like machines. I'd say: be human ! Do not calculate without ideas.

A

Good luck to all ! Emmanuel Neiman November 2012

Alexander Kotov.

7

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Explanation of Symbols The chess board with its coordinates: 8 7

6 5

4 3

2 a 0 •

b

c

d

e

fg

h

White to move Black to move Good move

!! 17

Excellent move Bad move Blunder

!?

Interesting move

?!

Dubious move

;t =F ± =+=

White stands slightly better Black stands slightly better White stands better Black stands better

+- White has a decisive advantage

-+ Black has a decisive advantage =

balanced position

00

unclear position

#

8

checkmate

I ntroctuction Improving the ability t o solve chess combinations is the main road t o progress for the learning chess player. As soon as he is given the magic formula 'White to play and win ' , the seeker will try to find as quickly as possible the best move in order to provoke events and in so doing, he will improve his capacity to calculate forced lines. After some practice, in general the improvement is significant and as a trainer I am often surprised by the ability of some people to quickly find the solution to a non-obvious puzzle. When I congratulate a pupil on good solving, his/her reaction is often : 'That was not difficult, you told us that there was a combination ! ' Most of them add: 'The real problem is that when we are playing, we don't know when to look for a tactic' . This started me thinking about the idea of an 'antenna' that 'alarms' a player when a combination is available. Once I found in a newspaper the follOWing position, which I gave to grandmaster Anatoly Vaisser to solve :

Lingnau,Carsten Orso,Miklos Budapest 1 99 2 (4)

White to play and win

One, maybe two seconds after I showed him the position, he indicated the right so­ lution by drawing a kind of 'z' with his finger in the air. Nevertheless, in the actual game White was unable to win, and had to be content with a draw after 65.�d5 �g 1 66.e6 �f2 67.�d 7 �g 1 6S.liitcS �e3 69.tt:Ja5+ �a7 70.�b7 g2V2·1/2 9

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Here we have a basic illustration of our theme. White was not advised that there was a forced win, so he just continued in the 'logical' way, bringing his king to­ ward the enemy monarch. What did Vaisser immediately detect here ? We can observe, before doing any calculation, that the black king is already 'stalemated' by the knight on c6 and the pawn on a6. This observation should lead us to look for some chance to give check without moving the two guards (knight and pawn) . Then we might notice that the light-squared bishop is able to deliver the mate, for it can reach the b7 -square via the route h3 -c8-b7 and mate. Did Vaisser follow all these steps? I doubt it - in one or two seconds. What (as I think) he did instantly was just: 1.

Checking the enemy king position.

2. Looking for a mating possibility.

3 . Seeing the right route.

Is it the same process? No, the trained grandmaster (at this time, Vaisser was one of the best rapid players in the world) , knowing that there is something to be found, concentrates on the es­ sential. First, the king! Probably, almost immediately after he is given the diagram po­ sition, he looks for a mate, because he instantly realizes that the black king is trapped. If you tried some fancies along the long diagonal, or, like in the actual game, started a long march with the king, then you did not investigate the most crucial problem in the position (and most generally in chess) : the king 's position. I hope that after reading this book, you will go for the real stuff in this kind of pOSition, and that before looking for moves, you will look for ideas. Here the idea is relative to the poor king 's position. Such an idea is classically called the motif of a combination. The motif is the reason why there 's a combina­ tion or a forced win (a combination normally implies a sacrifice, here we look for ' tactics' - that is, a forced variation with or without a sacrifice) . Generally, puzzle books are arranged according to theme. This classification : double attack, pin, deflection, decoy, etc. , is a useful tool for solving purposes. When we know that there is a combination, the motif provides a valuable answer to the ' How ' . In this book, we deal with the 'Why' : we want to discover if there is a chance of winning by force. We are looking for hints, and if we can find some, then we will look at the posi­ tion with a solver's eyes - a solver who has already done part of the job. The an­ tenna has been erected, and it involves seven filters. In classical chess literature these filters are called motifs. In this book, in accordance with our 'antenna' theme, we will call them signals.

A. What Is a signal? A Signal is a weakness in the opponent's position. 10

When we look for a signal, we look for a reason why we should be winning. Since Steinitz, we know that the combination

I n t ro d u c t i o n

does not appear randomly, but as a con­ sequence of the positional superiority of one side. This superiority lies in positive factors, let's say more active pieces. But we can take the opposite approach: look­ ing at the opponent's position, we can establish that he has passive pieces; or they may be trapped, locked in or lack­ ing coordination. This way of looking gives us hints, and those hints we will call signals, in other words: reasons to believe that there is a possible win. Take another position :

What is the difference between a signal and a theme? The signal (the motif) is the reason why the combination exists. The theme is the main mechanism which allows us to make it work.

Christiansen,Larry Karpov,Anatoly

Wijk aan Zee (mll) 1 99 3

1 .d4 tLlfS 2 .c4 e S 3 .tLlf3 b S 4.a3 �aS S .YWc2 �b7 S .tLlc3 cS 7.e4 cxd4 8.tLlxd4 tLlcS 9.tLlxcS �xcS 1 O.�f4 tLl h S

Chasing the white bishop, but also pro­ visionally misplacing the knight. The move is correct here, but not with Kar­ pov's follow-up in mind . . . 1 1 .�e3 �dS

1 1 . . . .tc5 or 1 1 . . . YWb8 are better.

White has no weaknesses for the time being. All his men are well protected, and Black is unable to threaten any of them. Not a single white piece is on a light square, so the bishop is useless for offensive purposes. No file is available for the black rook (Black might dream about . . . h7 -h5 -h4, . . . :h8 and . . . h4xg3 with a possible attack on f2, but in the meantime White will have taken all the pawns on the queenside, beginning with l:k7 or tLlxe6). In short, there's no chance of any winning tactics for Black. When we are winning , or at least in a very advantageous situation like this one, the study of the signals will also help us keep the opponent in the de­ fence, without allowing him any tacti­ cal possibilities.

An important signal is the unprotected piece. Here Karpov has placed two un­ protected men on open lines: the hS -knight and the d6-bishop. 1 2.YWd 1

1-0

A double attack winning a piece in the opening, quite a rare bird in the prac­ tice of World Champions! Here we can dearly see the distinction : the signal can be found in the unpro11

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

tected pieces. A single unprotected piece is already a reason to look for a forced continuation - here we have two of them. So there could (should?) be some win. The theme is the realization of the winning tactic. Here the classical way of responding to the signal is to look for a double attack. If we don't find the thematic double at­ tack, we won't win, of course. But the win exists only because of the Signal. and here, once we are aware of the mo­ tif, the realization is not difficult. Both are complementaries; for example sometimes the Signal is clear, yet the combination is difficult to work out, because we need to use complex calcu­ lation. Here the theme is a useful help.

Study position

In this position, White has a draw with 3 .'iVf3 + '1tt h 3 4.'it'g 2 + 'it>g4 s .'iVf3 + etc. After 3 .'iVf3 + '1tth 3 White could try 4.g4+ , but then 4 . . . 'it>xh4 (not 4 . . . 'it>h2 because of S .'it'g 2 mate) S .'iVg3 + and Black has an escape with S . . . '1tt g S . Hence the first move, which is based on the theme of square closing , a typical theme when hunting the enemy king. With the same idea, instead of l:txg8 White plays 1 .l:lg51 l:txg5 2.g3+ '1tt g 4

1. . .c�j>e4 3 .'iVe3 # . 1. . . l:txg3 3 .'ifxg 3 + �e4 4.'iVe 3 # . 3 .'iff3+ 'it> h3

The signal is obvious here. Black's prob­ lem lies in the position of his king, stuck in the white camp, while the rest of his army is far away. Note that the king cannot go to e4, because then 2 . 'iVe 3 is checkmate. Yet, finding the win is not simple, and White has to act quickly, otherwise Black could force more exchanges with 1 . . . l:te2 + , and af­ ter Vi!txe 2 , then 1. . .l:txg 3 . Let's first calculate the most forced vari­ ation : 1 .l:txg8 'it'xg8 2 . g 3 + 'it>g4 (if 1. . . 'it>e4 then 3 . 'it' e3 mate) 12

I n t ro d u c t i o n

Now we will start the study of the dif­ ferent signals. This book is aimed at various levels of readers. Some basics of tactical play are dealt with further on in this book. If you are a beginner, or you lack experi­ ence in this aspect of the game, I strongly advise you to start with the in­ troduction to Part n, where basic tacti­ cal themes and classical checkmates are given (page 7 1 ) .

B. The thinking process What shall we do when we examine a position? There are five important steps2 that we must follow in order to get the right feeling for a position. 1.Global vision This part is very important in my opin­ ion, but most players omit it. The first thing to do when you examine a position is : take your time ! Take a panoramic view without trying to grasp all the details, try to get a general im­ pression. Look at it as if it were a large painting : don't come too close at first if you want to grasp the whole scene. If you randomly switch on the TV; what do you do when you see the first im­ ages? Probably first you will try to guess what kind of a program it is. If it is a movie, what kind? A comedy ? A west­ ern? And if you keep this program on, then you will try to gather more infor­ mation and progressively try to know exactly what's going on. 2

A chess game is like a movie : i f you be­ gin in the middle of it, you have to make some effort to get into it. So when you examine a position, you should be­ gin in exactly the same way. First you take a 'global' look to get some general information, and then you will pro­ gressively focus more deeply. What impression does it give you? Do you prefer White? Black? Does it re­ mind you of a similar position you know? It is a general feeling that you look for. Is there something unusual about it? This part of the reflexion is es­ pecially important because once you begin to get involved with calculation, you will not be able to retrieve this fresh look anymore - that which some people call 'intuition' .

2. Analysis of the position It is time to check the various strategic and tactical points. What about the ma­ terial? (maybe you have seen this al­ ready). Who is better, from various points of view? What are the important strategic and tactical points? Who would be better in an endgame? This phase is the one we will chiefly consider in our book. It is the right time for detecting the tactical possibili­ ties and looking for Signals - we will come back to this point in the next chapters. The analysis will reveal the Signals (see Part I), and once you have picked one or two, you can try and look for a combination, with the relevant

See Valeri Beim's The Enigma of Chess Intuition for a very similar explanation (he seems to involve more work in the first step, but the rest is nearly the same). The term 'examining a position' is also used by Beim.

13

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

theme in mind (see Part 11). You won't find a combination every time, but keeping the signals in mind helps you to be alert.

3. Looking for the theme When we have studied all the elements of a position, we have to choose a gen­ eral direction. This is also the time for an examination of important strategic choices like exchanges, or decisions concerning the central pawn structure what we call a 'plan' . For example, we have noticed that the ending would be winning, so the general direction is to find a way to exchange the queens. You don't plan at every move, but knowing what is desirable helps you to find one when required. From a tactical point of view, if we have detected several signals, then we can look for the relevant themes that could help us find the correct idea. For exam­ ple, we detect that the only defence against an important threat ('6'xh7 mate) is by a certain piece - say a knight on f6 . The theme will be to eliminate or dislodge this defender in order to give checkmate. Here we must look for the themes of elimination, de­ flection and decoy. We have found our idea, now we can begin our calcula­ tions. 4. Looking for candidate moves

This is the time to make choices. Basi­ cally the first three steps can (and should) be made in the opponent's

time. Now it is up to you. You know the position and have registered all the de­ tails. Time to get to work! Spas sky, when analysing a game and feeling that a forced win was available, used to say : ' Now i s the moment! This i s crisis ! Now we have to think! 03. The selection of candidate moves should be made according to the gen­ eral idea defined in Part Ill. We will choose the most forcing way to execute our idea first, and then the second most forcing, etc. The correct order for this is :

Checks - Mate patterns - Captures Threats.

5. The calculation of variations This is the stage were we have to check our ideas. The previous examinations re­ quired a good vision of the board. The final stage is just one of sweating. We have to examine the candidate moves, then try to find the best answer for the opponent, then our second move, the best defence. . . without forgetting any possible counter to our ideas. When we deal with forced moves (Le. only moves) , the calculation is easy. Sometimes we can find positions that are more complicated, and in this case, at each step, we have to return to step 4. For example, we want to examine a cer­ tain move for White that has many pos­ sible answers. Then for the black side we have to go back to the examination of candidate moves, to peruse them be­ fore starting to calculate (more on this in Part Ill) .

Thanks to D.l.t.G. and A.H. for this quotation.

3 14

I n t ro d u c t i o n

Phases of reflection In practice (1)

Gan�y, Surya Shekhar Basencyan,Mark Dubai Open 2 0 1 2 ( 1 . 1 1 )

1 .e4 d 6 2.d4 tDf6 3 .tDc3 tDbd7 4.g4 h6 5.g5 hxg5 6 .�xg5 c6 7.tDf3 e5 8.�c4 �e7 9.a4 a5 1 0.h4 'iilc 7 1 1 .1:1g1 tDf8 1 2.'iil e 2 tDe6 1 3.0-0-0 exd4 1 4.tDxd4 tDxd4 1 5Jbd4 �e6 1 6 .�xe6 fxe6 1 7.'iilc4 e5 1 8.�xf6 gxf6

1 8 . . . exd4 1 9 .1:1xg 7 dxc3 2 0 . 'iile 6 with unavoidable checkmate. 1 8 . . . �xf6 1 9 . tD bS +- . 1 9.tDb5 'iil b 8

much superior, and later try to look for a forced win. The second phase is the analysis. Let's check the material: equal. King posi­ tions : very poor for Black, especially if White's men can invade immediately (white queen on e 6 , white rook on g 7 ) . Our motif will be : ' defence too far away' (see Chapter 7 , p. 62) . Black's rooks can do little against a direct attack on his king. Then we have to take into account that Black has a double threat: on the knight and on the rook. The third phase consists of looking for the theme. We look for a decisive attack, so let's see what pieces are in the de­ fence. The main defender is the e 7 bishop. I t i s useful for u s t o deflect this , bishop ( deflection ' ) , or eliminate it (' elimination of the defender' ) . The fourth phase is looking for candidate moves. Here we should examine three that are quite force d : 2 0 . ':' g 8 + , 2 0 . tDxd6 + and 2 0 . 'iile 6 , which threat­ ens to invade with the rook. The fifth phase consists of accurate calculation. Then we can choose the right move. 20.tDxd6+1+-

What is our first visual impression here ? Nearly all the black pieces are on the back rank , the king is unable to castle. White enj oys an active posi­ tion, with all his men attacking on open lines , while his king is well pro­ tected . Without any further examina­ tion , we should analyse the position bearing in mind that White looks 4

2 0 . ':' g 8 + 1:1xg 8 2 1 . 'iilx g8 + �d7 and Black is OK; 2 0 . 'iile 6 cxbS 2 1 . : g 7 'iilc 7 and Black holds. I'll just mention a few other moves, which should be taken into consideration only if the first three are all inefficient. The p rogram offers two other winning ideas : The move 20 .1:1g 7 is less forcing, and there is a defence that complicates the

I give these variations because they are nice and interesting. You should

not calculate them in practice, the main thing is to be able to check if 20.ttJxd6 is winning.

15

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

task of the attacker: 2 0 . . . dS , when three white pieces are attacked simul­ taneously, and White has one only move to keep the advantage : 2 1 . l:txdS ! ! cxdS 2 2 . ttJc 7 + 'it> d 8 ( 2 2 . . . 'it>f8 2 3 . ttJ e 6 + 'it>e8 2 4.'it'bS # is a surpris­ ing checkmate) 2 3 . 'it'xdS + 'it> xc 7 2 4Jlxe 7 + 'it> b 6 2 S . 'it'b S + 'it> a 7 2 6 . 'it'xaS # . Another computer suggestion i s 2 o . l hd 6 , when after 2 0 . . . cxbS 2 1 J :t g 8 + checkmates. Upon 2 0 . . . .txd6 White has to find the cold-blooded 2 1 J :tg 7 ! with unavoidable checkmate. 20 . . . 'it>f8 is the best defensive try. Again, the best reply is not obvious : 2 1 .'it'cS ! (with the idea lhf6 + ) 2 1 . . . �xd6 2 2 . ttJxd6 'it'a7 2 3 .'it'c4 bS 24.'it'xc 6 ! .l:g8 2 S J:tx g 8 + 'it>xg8 2 6 . axbS l:[b8 2 7 . ttJfS and Whi te is winning. 20 ... 'it> d 7

2 0 . . . .ixd6 2 1 .'it'e6+ �e7 2 2 .l:tg7 and White will checkmate quickly. 21 .:d 3

1-0

2 1 . . .�xd6 2 2 Jlg 7 + 'it>d8 2 3 .'it'e6 and the game is over.

Phases of reflection In practice (2)

Vallejo Pons,Francisco Ponomariov,Ruslan Spain tt 2 0 1 1 ( 3 )

1 .e4 e 5 2.ttJf3 ttJc6 3.�c4 �c5 4.c3 ttJf6 5 .d4 exd4 6 .e5 d5 7.�e2 ttJe4 8.cxd4 �b4+ 9.�d 2 ttJxd 2 1 0.ttJbxd2 0-0 1 1 .0-0 f6 1 2 .a3 �a5 1 3 .�b5 ttJe7 1 4.'it'c2 �f5 1 5.�d3 �xd3 1 6.'it'xd 3 ttJg6 1 7.g3 c5 1 8.b4 cxb4 1 9.ttJb3 bxa3 20.ttJxa5 'it'xa5 16

21 .'it'b3 fxe5 22Jba3 'it'd8 23 .dxe5 'it'd 7 24.e6 'it'xe6 25 .'it'xb7 a5 26.ttJd4 'it'e4 27.:d 1 :a b8 28.'it'a6 :b1 29.:d3 :xd 1 + 30.l:txd 1 ttJe5 31 . 'it'xa5 ttJg4 32.ttJc6

3 2 . 'it' e 1 should hold for White : 3 2 . . . 'it'xe 1 + 3 3 Jlxe 1 :xf2 3 4J:te7 .

What is our first impression here ? White's pieces are scattered all over the board while Black's men are coordi­ nated and clearly aimed at the enemy king. The second phase, analysis, shows us that material is equal, and that White is threatening to take on dS with a quick draw to follow. Then we look for Signals , and we can find several : - the undefended white rook (Chapter 2 , page 3 4) ; - the weakness of White 's fortress , and of his king (Chapter 1 , page 2 7 ) . The third phase of looking for a theme should convince us that the many weak points on White 's side could be ex­ plOited with a double attack. The fourth phase (examining candidate moves) tells us to first examine checks (3 3 . . . 'it'g 2 + is not good) and mating patterns. 3 2 . . . ttJe3 creates a mate threat. Phase 5 : So we calculate and-select the winning :

I n t rod u c t i on

32 ... ltJe3 1 33.fxe3

3 3 . ltJ e 7 + changes nothing after 33 . . . 'i.tth 8 ....:. + as the knight protects d5 from e3 . 33 ... 'ifxe3+ 34.'i.ttg 2

34. 'i.tt h 1 is no better because of 3 4 . . . 'iff3 + . 34 ... :f2+

3 4 . . . 'ife2 + 3 5 .�h3 'ifxd l also wins. as the ending after 3 6 ....xd5 + "'xd5 3 7 .ltJe 7 + 'i.tt £7 3 8 .ltJxd5 is lost for White. 3S.'i.tt h 3 'ifh6+ 36.'i.ttg 4 'ifg6+0 1 -

C. Principles of calculation The calculation of variations is the most difficult part of chess , and arguably the most important. If you learn a chim­ panzee to play chess and give him abil­ · ities in every part of the game but no calculating strength, he will remain a poor player. If you don't learn him any­ thing, but give him the calculating abil­ ity of, say, a 2 6 0 0 Elo grandmaster, then he will be around master level (2400) . By the way, we don't use chimpanzees, but machines , who don't have any in­ telligence at all. Yet, by mainly using calculation (to make it even more un­ fair, they are also given huge opening knowledge) they are able to beat the best players, however stupid they may be ! Let's just look at the basic technics of calculation. When dealing with combi­ nations, we usually don't need to calcu­ late very deep, but we must be able to consider every plausible move and to calculate it at two or three moves' depth. How to do this?

Firstly, in calculation, we need to con­ sider the best moves. We don't deal with mistakes by the opponent. So the method is simple: you are White, you consider an attacking move and then in order to find the best possible answer, you mentally turn the board, and as Black you look for the best defence. Then, again as White, you consider the second move, and so on. Secondly, now that you already have a good feeling about the position (steps 1 , 2 and 3 ) , what do you calculate first? You calculate the most forcing moves, i.e. those that are the most demanding for the opponent, leaving him with the narrowest number of possible answers. In doing so you are considerably easing your task by restricting the number of lines that you have to calculate.

Checks The first moves to consider are checks , of course. Let's try some calculation in practice with an old game :

Barnes NN 1 8 7 6 (place unknown)

1 .e4 eS 2.ltJf3 ltJf6 3.�c4 ltJxe4 4.ltJc3 ltJxc3 S .dxc3 d6

5 . . .f6 ! is the official refutation of this interesting gambit : 6 . ltJh4 g6 7.f4 'ife7 8 .f5 (if 8. 0 - 0 "'c5 + wins the exposed c4-bishop) 8 . . . Wg7 9 . fxg6 hxg 6 1 0 .'ifg4 �d8 1 1 . ... g3 ( 1 1 . . .d5 was threatened) 1 1 . . . g 5 1 2 . ltJf5 "'h7 1 3 . 0 - 0 d5 ! with an advantage for Black (not the slow 1 3 . . . c6 due to 1 4.�d3 with a lot of play for White. Black was crushed after 1 4 . . . d5 ( 1 4 . . .... £7 or 1 4 . . ....h5 were safer) 1 5 .ltJd6 e4 (on 1 5 . . .... c7 1 6 .�xg 5 ! wins ; or 1 5 . . . 'ife7 17

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s A n t e n n a

1 6 .lhf6 ! ) 1 6 . l::txf6 exd3 1 7 .�xg5 �e7 I s . lLl f7 + 1 - 0 Rublevsky-Scetinin , Pardubice 1 9 9 2 ) 1 4. �xd5 �xf5 and Black eventually won in Krnjovsek­ Pavasovic, Slovenia ch-U l S , 1 9 9 3 . 6 .lLlxe5 'ire7 7.�xf7+ d8 8.0-0 'irxe5 9.l::t e 1 'irf6

White to play and give mate. In the ac­ tual game, Barnes announced mate in 1 1 , but there are shorter solutions. Our job is to find checks, and, where we have several possibilities , to find the most restricting ones for the opponent. 1 0.tte8+

This one is not difficult. Nearly the only possible check ('irxd6 is not so attrac­ tive ) , and there is only one answer. 1 0... d 7 1 1 . 'ir 94+ c6

IS

This is the only move because the two alternatives lose immediately, so we won't take them into account. Here, in the book, we have a diagram, but dur­ ing the game you won't have one be­ fore you! So I advise you to use a ' step­ by-step ' method: after calculating two or three relatively forced moves, try to visualize the position in your head, just as if you had it in front of you, on the board. This method is used by all strong play­ ers and it is based on a photographic memory. Every two or three moves, you ' take a picture' and try to fix the new image so that you know where all the pieces are. Only then do you continue with your calculation. This method explains why the majority of the best players often don't look at the board. Most of the time they are ' building' their own position on the board - the one they are currently ana­ lysing. This method takes time, because you need time to shift and replace many pieces when you go further in your cal­ culation, but in the end it is consider­ ably safer. If you calculate while looking at the actual board, you run the risk of mixing up the actual position on the board with the result of your calcula­ tions. For example, there is the phenomenon of the ' residual image' that remains in your calculations : ' seeing' a piece on a square that is not there any more be­ cause it has been captured, or dis­ placed. You should not calculate 1 1 . . . 'irf5 because it is not a good move, but anyway it also leads to mate :

I n t r od u c t i on

1 2 . 'i h f5 + 'iit c 6 . Can you see how, as an exercises ? Here we have a problem, because if we play the logical sequence the game is more complicated. 1 2.�d5+1

1 4.Ae3+

A very pleasant move for White, be­ cause it introduces a new attacker with tempo. Black's answer is virtually forced.

This is a very forcing move. 1 2 .'irc4+ 'it>b6 1 3 .Ae3 + is 'normal ' , but now Black can interpose 1 3 . . . c5 In a ' real game ' , we can stop here because White is winning. He has a small material and a huge positional advantage after the simple 1 4.l::t xc8 . 1 2 ... �xd5

The black king is cornered thanks to the jOint forces of the queen along the light-squared diagonal (h I -a8) and the e 3 -bishop along the dark-squared diag­ onal (g I -a 7 ) , so that he has only few available squares (b5 , as , a6) and no help from the rest of his army. The fin­ ish is quick: Practically forced. After the alternatives, 'irb4 and Ac4 will mate immediately. 1 3 .... e4+ �c5

Only move.

5

1 5.a4+1 'it>a6

I 5 . . . 'iit a 5 1 6 .'irb4+ 'iit a 6 makes n o difference.

1 7 .'irb5 #

1 6.'irc4+ 'it>a5 1 7.... b5#

1 -0

13.'ii'd5+ 'iti>b6 14."b3+ 'iti>c6 IS."c4+ (I S.l:tdS is the computer move, enabling the qUickest mate. It is of course completely impossible for a human to find such a move: IS... bS 16.i.e3. 1 S.c4 is also qUicker, nevertheless I prefer the straightforward way) IS .. 5.t'b6 (IS... 'iti>d7 16.l:txcS! ttJa6 17.�e6+ �e7 IS.�gS#) 16 ....b4+ 'itic6 17.�d5+ �d7 IS."g4+ c;tr>xeS 19 ....xcS+ �e7 20.i.gS#.

19

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s A n t e n n a

Mate patterns

Andruet,Gilles Spassky,Boris Germany Bundesliga 1 9 8 7 / 8 8 ( 8 . 2 )

1 .d4 ttJf6 2.c4 e6 3 .ttJf3 �b4+ 4.�d 2 �xd 2+ 5 .... xd2 d5 6 .ttJc3 0-0 7.e3 'fIe7 8J1c1 :1d8 9 ....c2 ttJ b d 7 1 0.cxd5 exd5 1 1 .�d3 ttJf8 1 2.0-0 ttJg6 1 3 .ttJe2 c6 1 4.ttJg3 :1e8 1 5.'fIc5 'fId8 1 6.ttJd2 ttJh4 1 7.b4 a6 1 8.a4 �d7 1 9J:tb1 ttJg4 20....c2 g 6 21 .b5 axb5 22.axb5 h5 23.bxc6 bxc6 24.:1fe1 'fIf6 25.ttJdf1 ?!

��� .� � � ��� � � i ' �

-='�.�'I �

i§ � � .

�����If!j ,�%,,"����' �(tf'�1';�' ' '; �� M �� f"i. f� t2J �

2 S .ttJb3 was preferable, because the knight on fl hampers the coordination of White's pieces. It restricts the avail­ able space of notably the king, the d3-bishop (which cannot retreat to fl now) and the rooks (which are cut off from the king side ) . We can notice that in order to defend, White had to give some breathing space to his army, and instead of regrouping hedgehog-like, it would have been better to take the knight to the queenside. 25 ... 1:a3 1

Intending to overload the queen with the defence of d3 and f2 . 26J1e2 20

���.� �� � � i �;4,;�� � � � � .f� rn'; ''; ' ' ' Y-�I�i�E� B M B Wt2J=

-'Z.:tl �

�

�E

,"",,,%

White 's pieces are hurting each other, and thanks to some energetic play, Black is now able to seize his chance : 26 ...c5 1

Threatening 2 7 ".c4, trapping White 's bishop. 27.dxc5

Not 2 7 .... xcS l:txd3 . 27... ttJe51

A very nice move, which contains two threats. One is apparent : to take the d3bishop. Can you see the second threat ? 28.�b5

���.� �� � �i �;4,;�� " " %� ,,,;� �. ���,�!.�'! �� �w« �% ".J" '; � � if§ � " ' ' ' ��vI�c:�E;� B M B Wt2J= ••

%'"''

�

�

�E

,"",,,%

Anyway there was no defence. What are the candidate moves for Black? 28 ......f3 1

Of course it is logical to begin with the examination of possible checks , but as they do not lead to a forced mate (if

I n t ro d u c t i o n

2 8 . . . tUef3 + , 2 9 . �h l ! ) , you should then continue by calculating the threat of giving mate on the next move. White has simply no defence against the mate on g 2 . So he resigned. 2 9 . gxf3 is the only try, and then 2 9 . . . tUexf3 + 3 0 . �h l .ih3 renews the threat of mat­ ing on g 2 . As White, lacking coordina­ tion , is unable to control this square, checkmate cannot be prevented.

Captures Material is so important that when a player takes a piece, the recapture is nearly automatic - and if he cannot re­ capture, then we have gained material. Every possible capture should be checked by a serious player.

In this game, steps one (Global vision) and two (Analysis) helped us to deter­ mine that the aggressive black rook on d2 is in a somewhat dangerous position as the white knight may attack it at some pOint. There are no checks , nor mating threats , so let's consider the available captures. White can either take the bishop on c6 or the knight on f6 . 20 . .ixe6

The most logical move, because Black's answer is forced. If we begin with the capture on f6 , we will have to deal with two variations ( 2 0 . . . �xf6 or 2 0 . . . .ixg 2 ) 6 . 20 ... bxe6 21 .�xf6 i.xf6

Bolbochan,lulio eruz,Walter Oswaldo Rio de Janeiro 1 9 5 2 ( 1 5 )

1 .tUf3 tUf6 2.g3 g6 3 .�g2 Ag 7 4.0-0 0-0 5.d4 d5 6.c4 e5 7.dxe5 dxc4 S.tUe3 'ifxd 1 9.1:xd 1 tUe6 1 0.h3 h6 1 1 . .ie3 �e6 1 2.tUd4 .id 7 1 3.tUxe6 �xe6 1 4.l:td4 e6 1 5.l:txe4 1:fdS 1 6 . ..id4 a5 1 7.a3 l:td7 1 S.e3 1:eS 1 9 . ..ie5 l:td2

After the two forced exchanges, a knight fork wins on the spot. 22 ....ixb2

The only try is a counterattack against White 's undeveloped rook. It also starts with a capture. 23.l:tb1

6

By the way, 20.�xf6 is just as good.

21

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i cs An t e n n a

Now, i n order t o keep the bishop de­ fended, Black has to play 23 ...:e2. But then the rook is dominated and trapped after 24.�fl! and White is winning.

Attacking the queen with a pin along the a7-g1 diagonal. White's answer is forced:

Piece attacks For the same reasons as piece cap­ tures, piece attacks are the last cate­ gor y of so-called 'forced moves' . The defender has to do something con­ crete against the threat, so it reduces the number of variations that we have to deal with. Not all attacks are good, but we always have to check them carefully.

17.ttJc5 d6 is basically game over.

Kiilaots,Kaido Chuche1ov, Vladimir Istanbul Ech 2003 (1)

1 .e4 c5 2.ttJf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.ttJxd4 a6 5.i.d3 i.c5 6.ttJb3 i..a7 7.0-0 ttJc6 8.•g4 ttJf6 9 ....xg 7 :g8 1 0 .• h6 ttJe5 1 1 .i.. e 2 ttJeg4 1 2.i.. x g4 :g6 1 3 .... h3 ttJxg4 1 4.i.e3 i.b8 1 5.f4

1 7.ttJd4

1 7... e51 An attack on the knight follows. Even if it is easily parried, it again forces White's answer.

1 8......g51

Now Black has a straightforward win, thanks to a forced variation based on a capture and direct attacks.

1 5 ...ttJxe31 1 6 ....xe3 i..a7 22

A new attack to follow up with. There is also a mating threat on g2. White's an­ swer is once more forced if he wants to keep the knight alive.

1 9.�2 19 .• xg5 loses a pIece 19 ...hd4+ 20.�hl :xg5.

after

I n t rod u c t i on

1 9 d61 ...

0-1

1 9 . . . 'iVxg 2 + was not so strong, even if it was clearly in Black's favour. 1 9 . . . d6 is a beautiful move that threat­ ens to take on e S . There is no defence to this simple threat: 2 0 . 'iVxgS (on 2 0 .e6 l::t f6 + ! is the point. Black's takes every­ thing in the amusing variation 2 1 . �e2 'iVxg 2 + 2 2 . l::t f2 l::t x f2 + 2 3 . 'ifxf2 'iVxf2 + 24. �xf2 (material is still equal, but not for long. . . ) 2 4 . . . �xd4+ 2 S .�e2 �xb2 grabs everything ; and if 2 0 .c3 dxeS ) 20 . . . l::t x gS 2 1 .c3 dxe S .

We saw the different moves that have to be considered first. In practice, when he has enough thinking time, a strong player will, at every move, automatically check all those forced moves. Of course, in a book about combinations, you will be dealing mainly with this kind of moves, because they present extracts of the crucial part of a game. There­ fore, in this book, we will give the moves that lead to the crucial position where possible, to get closer to the actual game situation. We are now ready to tackle our subj ect. We will begin by studying the different signals, and to use them as a general tool to identify the tactical chances. If you see one signal, then your antenna should be in alarm mode : at any time, there may be a combinative possibility. For example, your opponent has one unprotected piece. If you can't exploit this right away, don't attack it. You have identified one weakness , and as soon as he will concede a second, you will have serious chances to strike ! When you see two weaknesses (or more) , you should start calculating. This book is aimed at various levels of readers. Some basics of tactical play are dealt with further on in the book. If you are a beginner, or you lack experience in this aspect of the game, I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction of Part II : A. Standard Combination Themes (page 7 1 ) and B. Basic Checkmates (page 7 5 ) . Many thanks for their help to Nicolas Devaux, who kindly accepted to read the manuscript, give corrections and advices , Yochanan Afek, who gave me precious help upon a rare topic, and Stephanie Menase, whose help during the ' finishing days' of the manuscript proved invaluable. In order to find fresh examples for this book, I mainly browsed Mr. Baburin's Chess Today, which was of great help. I warmly recommend this digital newspaper to ev­ ery reader for the daily training that it offers. I have also used examples from the ChessBase News articles , especially from Oliver Reeh's chronicles. Many books have been written on our subj ect. I have used examples and ideas from several of them, and gave a short list of the (to me) most memorable in the Bibliography in the back of the book. 23

Part 1_

-

The Seven Signals

Chapter 1: King Position Chapter 2: Un protected Pieces Cha pter 3: Alignment Cha pter 4: Knight Fork Dista nce Chapter 5: Tra pped Pieces Cha pter 6: Crucia l Defender/Overloaded Defender Chapter 7: Impotent Defence/Defence Too Far Away

2S

Chapter 1

King position

This first of our signals is obviously the most important, as any attack against the king might immediately end the game. We will see that often, a lone motif is not enough to signal a forced win. But this is not the case as soon as the position of the king is at stake. This factor is in itself, without regard to any other weakness, enough to enable the opponent to force a win. Why? Because the other Signals point to ways of gaining material. We cannot sacrifice more than what we hope to get back, while in order to deliver checkmate, we can afford to give anything. A king on an open line, which, however, is not yet in danger of any mating attack, should be regarded as a Signal. In this case, we will regard it as the equivalent of an unprotected piece (see Signal 2 in the next chapter) . Also here, a double attack may be possible, if we give check and attack the unprotected piece at the same time. A poor position of the king is the greatest possible defect in a position. How do we know in the opening if the king's position will be safe or not? Well, at first we don't. But what we do know are many examples of dangerous attacks: when the king is in the centre of the board, there are risks of intrusion by the enemy pieces along the open files. There is also the traditional weakness of the f7 -square - the f2-square in White 's case. Kennedy

NN

nent any more, only accepting handi­ cap games. Sometimes, the ' handicap ' can prove to be an advantage, notably when a knight is missing. The rook can be brought into play more quickly ! 1 .e4 e5 2 .�c4 ttJf6 3.d4 ttJxe4 4.dxe5 ttJxf2

4 . . . 'irh4 ! 5 . 0 - 0 �c5 was better.

The starting position is unusual , but in the nineteenth century, handicap games were almost the rule. Morphy, for example , used to play with the handicap of a pawn, a knight, or a tempo, and when he came back from his glorious trip in Europe , he refused to play on equal terms with any oppo-

27

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

5.0-01 1

5 . �xf2 'ifh4+ was what Black had hoped for; 5 .'ifd5 .

7.exf6 'ifxf6 8.gxf3 ttJc6 9.f4 .id 7 1 0.�e3 0-0-0 1 1 .ttJd2 l:te8 1 2.'iff3 �f5 1 3 .0-0-0 d51 1 4 . .ixd 5

5 ... ttJxd 1

A good appetite ! 5 . . . d5 was safer: 6 . 'ifxd5 'ifxd5 7 .ixd5 ttJg4 8 .�xf7 + �d8 and Black is much better - though not as much as at the beginning of the game ! .

r-!S'��=�=-�--'---"' ..t \\i=·,tI A

��

�m�!!!' �

----i� �·=-=··�

��

;�;���;�

�I '&" �.�.� �.V. � '� �.�

�k�� ���J� /�. Y..�� �� �mt2J�A)) �M W

6 .�xf7+ �e7 7.�g5#

Alekhine (see the introduction to his 200 Selected Games) considered castling to be a necessary developing move, which enables one to play with all his men, and particularly with his rooks. From a purely defensive point of view, the king might be safer in the centre than in a corner. Attackers have devel­ oped all kinds of techniques to attack it, and there's always the risk of the fa­ mous back-rank mate, the most fre­ quent at all levels of play. Let's see a 'more recent' game :

White's queenside-castled king is quite exposed here, as Black's light-squared bishop on f5 has an open diagonal and the last available square for the king is occupied by the knight on d 2 . All of this means that the king has no squares to move to if it gets under attack. The rest is well-known : 1 4 ... 'ifxc3+ 1 5.bxc3 .ia3#

This is the famous Boden's Mate. The reader should know all the classical mating patterns by heart (see the Intro­ duction to Part II on page 7 1 ) , so that he will be able to spot them by anticipa­ tion, before the position might allow their realization. Here 's why you should learn them :

Kudischewitsch,David Neiman,Enunanuel Tel Aviv 2 0 0 2 (9)

Schulder Boden,Samuel Standidge London 1 8 6 0

1 .e4 e5 2.ttJf3 d6 3.c3 f 5 4 . .ic4 ttJf6 5.d4 fxe4 6 .dxe5 exf3 28

1 .d4 d 5 2 ..ig5 h6 3.�h4 c6 4.c3 �f5 5.'ifb3 'iVb6 6.ttJd2 ttJd7 7.f3 ttJgf6 8.g4 .ih7 9.�g3 e6 1 0 . .ig 2 �e7 1 1 .h3 c5 1 2.e3 cxd4 1 3.'ifxb6 ttJxb6 1 4.exd4 _

C h a p t e r 1- K i ng p o s i t i o n

tion is very poor. Notice also the poor position of the d8-knight, which re­ stricts the other rook. But the most crucial point is this one : there is a mate if the white rook reaches e 8 . This is how we have to think : look for a possible mate. Here is the position that the experienced attacker will see in his mind's eye : After this curious opening sequence by White, Black can win a pawn by force. Can you see how? 1 4 ... tLla4!

Attacking the b2-pawn. 1 5.0-0-0 tLlxc3 ! 1 6.bxc3 �a3#

'a la Boden' ! In the game White kept his

king alive, but after 1 5 .tLle2 tLlxb2 , the c3- and d4-pawns soon fell as well. How do we detect such a motif? We must look for possible mating chances.

Mating chances

Gligoric,Svetozar Rosenstein,Julis Chicago 1 9 6 3

We have received the signal. This is the first and most important point. We can now examine the forced continuations that may allow the mate to come on the board. The mate on e8 is defended by the bishop on e7 and the queen on d 7 . So the solution is clear. We have to try to remove these two pieces by any means: ehmina­ tion, deflection, decoy, pin, etc. (see Stan­ dard Combination Themes, page 7 1 ). We begin by looking at checks. 1 .... xe7+! ...xe7

Black's king position is not satisfactory, for several reasons. The king is blocking its own rook, so Black's piece connec-

29

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Now there 's only one obstacle left : the queen. We might take it; this is good enough by the way, but not the stron­ gest, because the black king would get some breathing space on d 7 . Another idea i s t o deflect the black queen from the defence of e 8 , and we can do so with 2 .�d6 !

Making use o f the pin. 2 . :ifxd6 .

Black would be lost after all other moves , because he cannot defend the queen. 3 .l:te8#

The posltlon i s approximately equal from a materialistic point of view (an exchange for White against two pawns for Black). But Black's king is danger­ ously surrounded by the white pieces and the strong pawn on e5 . On the other hand, the white pawn cen­ tre (c3 -d4-e5) is under threat, and it could vanish on the next move after 1 . . . ttJxe5 or 1 . . . cxd4. So White should act quickly, in order to benefit from his provisionary space advantage. This is the general approach. More con­ cretely put : what mating pattern should we look for? The position of the e4-knight and the g I -rook should immediately make us think about the following situation :

This final position is the one we looked for at the beginning of our exercise : mate on e 8 . This example was quite straightfor­ ward, and Black's position was so bad that we could have chosen it to illustrate another motif, for example ' lack of co­ ordination' (Chapter 7 , see page 6 2). Let us look at a more difficult example :

Rossolimo,Nicolas NN Paris 1 944

When an experienced player sees such a position, he immediately spots the following mating pattern with rook and knight, called Arabian or Arabic Mate : 1 .ttJf6+ �h8 2..1::[9 8#

30

So in our initial pOSition, without the g 7 -pawn, it would be mate in two. Here we have our Signal, and now we must look for a way to respond to it. An idea would be to play 1 .�xh6+ in order to force 1 . .. gxh6 and so reach the desired pattern. But the knight on f5 also controls the h6-square. So we start by examining :

C h a p t e r 1 - K i n g p o s i t i on

1 .J:.xfSI

Eliminating the defender while clearing the diagonal of the queen. 1 ... exfS 2.-.xh6+1

Or 1 . . . �h6 2 .�xf7 # . Let's move the king forward t o threaten our second intended mating pattern : 4.f4 1

Now Black can only hope for a n inter­ ception along the h-file, after the king has moved to h7 . 4 ...... e6

Now we have only few attackers left, so it is easier to look for mating chances ! Here the black king has n o squares, but how to give check to it? Our hero will be the e 2 -bishop, which would give mate in 2 if it was allowed to go to hS . Here a strong player dreams of the following situation :

A type of back-rank mate is achieved af­ ter two moves : 1 .�hS+ �h7 2.�xf7#

Here the �hS check is playable, but un­ clear, and we must look for another forced variation. The king still being 'stalemated ' (no available squares), can't we find a direct mating threat? S.J:.h8!

( S .�h S + h 7 6 . �xf7 + -'h6) and there is no more defence to the mate on hS . Quite a piece of calculation! I remem­ ber that at the beginning of our century, the strongest program (it was probably Fritz 3) was unable to find it on an aver­ age computer. Yet a strong grandmaster spots it very quickly, because he will be looking for it. The mating pattern being known, he immediately tries to realize it, and calculates the sacrifice on h6 af­ ter the preliminary J:.xfS . The rest is ac­ curate calculation, not easy but quite forced. 31

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

What are the mating patterns? (1.)

Rogers,Ian Ris,Robert

Is there another possible mating pattern? If you look at the bishop on b 7 . you can hope for a mate with the black queen on g 2 .

Gibraltar Masters 2 0 0 7

1 .d4 d S 2 .c4 c6 3 . ttJf3 ttJf6 4.ttJc3 e 6 S .... b3 d xc4 6. "'xc4 bS 7.... d3 .i b 7 S.e4 b4 9.ttJa4 ttJ b d 7 1 0.eS ttJdS 1 1 .�e2 �e7 1 2 . 0 - 0 llcS 1 3 .�d 2 cS 14.l::tf c1 a6 1 S .ttJxcS ttJxcS 1 6 .d xcS �xcS 1 7.ttJgS "'b6 1S .... g 3 ttJ e 7 19 ..t d 3 : d S 20.�e1 h 6 21 .ttJe4 ttJfS 2 2 . ttJ d 6 + �xd 6 2 3 .�xfS 0 - 0 24.exd 6 exfS 2 S J:t d 1 l::tf eS 26 ....f4 :e4 2 7. "'xfS llxd 6 2S.11xd 6 Wxd 6 29.l::t c 1

Even if this checkmate looks far away. it is not impossible. if White lets us install the queen on the long diagonal. Why should he ? Maybe because he has other problems to deal with. like the back­ rank mate. So the best move here is the charming 1 . . . ... c6 ! .

In this position we can easily picture a first possible mating pattern for Black: the back-rank mate.

Black threatens both to directly take the rook (2 . . ....xc l ). and to give checkmate in two moves on the long diagonal ( 2 . . . 11xe l + followed by 3 . . . ... xg2). There is no defence, apart from giving the queen. 32

C h a p t e r 1- K i n g p o s i t i o n

What are the mating patterns? (2)

You are approaching the right solution. There is a third possible mate : Both sides' pieces seem to be packed in two units - two on the queenside, and four on the kingside. Black's initiative looks very dangerous , especially thanks to the poor position of the white king, shut up by its own defenders. What patterns can we look for? The first one is obvious, and nearly winning by itself: a smothered mate with . . . ttJg3 looks possible to engineer, because the only defender, the queen on f2 , might be deflected from its defensive duty.

..

1 ttJg3+1

Against 1 . . .'ife3 ( l . . .f4 is too slow, as White can defend with 2.h3) the accu­ rate 2.ttJd l ! defends , because after re­ taking the queen on f2 , the knight is able to reach the h3 -square, thus saving the king (however, 2.'ifxe3 loses after 2 . . . ttJ g 3 + 3 . hxg 3 and here not 3 . . . l:th6 + ? which fails to 4.'ifxh 6 , but 3 . . .f4 ! enables Black to force the mate). On 1 . . .... d2 2 . .te2 (2 .... xd2 ttJg3 + 3 .hxg 3 f4! and the mate cannot be averted) 2 . . . 'ifxb2 Black is better, but the game is still quite unclear after 3 . l:tc4.

.

.

2 ... xg3 f4 3 ...e1

Yet, instead of looking immediately for a winning tactic, we should delve a lit­ tle deeper, and look for another mating possibility. Can you see one? If the queens weren 't on the board, we would have the possibility of a knight sacrifice on g 3 , and a kind of ' back­ rank mate ' along the h-file with the rook. Have you seen this possibility?

� � �r , �i.,, _ •• _ � � � � �' " %""}""\m} i� . , �� ���ti%.""'Y..%g""%J %:� � 7,ti%�� � 7,ti% �� ���r�""'; m� ��� ���r� i�% • � • t::, i� " � " �� %",,�r�:l� � % y. ,, , , , ,

..

Now the killer is the brutal 3 'ifxh2+

4.�xh2 l:th6 + 5 .'ifh4 l:txh4# . 33

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s A n t e n n a

Chapter 2

Unprotected Pieces

An unprotected piece or square creates the possibility to attack something, like giv­ ing check, threatening mate or attacking a piece. This constitutes our second signal. It must be possible to attack the unprotected piece. For example, at the begin­ ning of the game, the rooks are unprotected, but this does not matter because they are not subj ect to attack. On the other hand, as soon as we are playing a pawn (b- or g-) in order to fianchetto a bishop, the opening of the diagonal might be danger­ ous for the rook, and we have to be able to deal with it. So an unprotected piece is a piece without protection that is placed on a square that the opponent might attack (on an open line, or at a knight's distance). Here is a basic example.

Filipovic,Branko De Filomeno,Simone Biel 20 I 0 (4)

1 .e4 cS 2.tLlf3 tLlc6 3.�bS g6 4.0-0 �g 7 S .tLlc3 tLld4 6.tLlxd4 cxd4 7.tLldS

7 .tLle2 was better, with equality. 7... e6 S.tLlf4

A double attack is the usual punishment for keeping your pieces unprotected. And the queen is most often the execu­ tioner, thanks to its unique mobility, and its capacity to attack all parts of the board in various directions. A piece is also unprotected and subject to attack if it is attacked by an enemy piece and protected by one of its own then a new attack will be a direct threat.

Double Wea kness

Savic,Miodrag Miljkovic,Miroslav Neum tt 2 0 1 1 ( 7 . 1 )

White now has two unprotected men : the bishop on bS and the knight on f4. How did Black win one ? S .. :"gS I

And Black won. 34

1 .e4 cS 2.tLlf3 e6 3.c3 tLlf6 4.�d3 dS S.eS tLlfd 7 6.�c2 b6 7.0-0 �a6 SJ:te1 tLlc6 9.d4 l:tcS 1 0.a3 �e7 1 1 .�e3 'ilc7 1 2.�a4 bS 1 3 .�b3 cxd4 1 4.cxd4 tLlaS 1 S.tLlc3 tLlxb3 1 6 .'ilxb3 'ilb7 1 7.�gS �xgS 1 S.tLlxgS h6 1 9.tLlh3 l:tc4 20.tLle2 b4 21 .tLlhf4 0-0 22.tLlhS g6 23 .tLlf6+ tLlxf6 24.exf6 bxa3

Chap ter 2

-

U n p r o t e c t e d P i e c es

Now we deal with one unprotected piece (the rook on f8) and one insuffi­ ciently protected piece (the a6-bishop). The winning double attack is 26.'it'xa3+-

There followed a bid for a counterattack: 26 . . .l:t b8 27.'iYxa6 28.l:txa 6 l:txb2

Another important way to take advan­ tage of an unprotected point is the 'intermediate ' move, or ' in-between' move. Attacking an unprotected point will allow us to provoke some favour­ able change in the position. Here the bishop on a6 is potentially attacked once by the a 1 -rook and defended once by the queen. Another undefended point is h 6 . 2S.'it'h31+-

The threat of the queen entering on h6, with unavoidable mate, forces the king to protect the pawn. Hence the final double attack is prepared by an interme­ diate move that attacks a third object. 2S ... h7

If 2 S . . . hS , then the intermediate move 2 6 .'it'e3 ! forces the king to abandon the defence of the f8 -rook : 2 6 . . . h7 2 7 .'it'xa 3 +- .

'iVxa6

Threatening to take on e 2 , with a back­ rank mate to follow. . . 29.h4 and White won.

The possibility of a check on a pro­ tected square is equivalent to an unpro­ tected piece with the opponent.

Double weakness

Caruana.Fabiano Vachier-Lagrave.Maxime Biel 2 0 1 1 ( 1 )

1 .e4 cS 2 .ttJf3 d 6 3.d4 cxd4 4.ttJxd4 ttJf6 S.ttJc3 a6 6 .AgS e6 7.14 h6 8.�h4 'iYb6 9.a3 ttJ b d 7 1 0.�c4 gS 1 1 .Af2 'iV c 7 1 2.'iVe2 ttJb6 1 3.Ab3 gxf4 1 4.0-0-0 �e7 1 SJ:the1 :g8 1 6.g3 fxg 3 1 7.�xg3 eS 1 8.ttJfS AxfS 1 9.exfS :g 7 20.b1 0-0-0 21 .�f2 :d7 22.�xb6 'it'xb6

° dlld :xg 1

Chap ter 0-1

39 ... c4+

Discovery attack number two : both lines have been opened, and Black will give mate : 40 .... f2 �xf2 4 1 . �f1 �xa 2 + 4 2 . �f2 �xf2 + 43 . 'it'f1 �h l # .

Pin and Counterpi n

Germany Bundesliga 2 0 1 0 / 1 1 (9)

1 .c4 c6 2.e4 dS 3.exdS cxdS 4.d4 tLlf6 S.tLlc3 tLlc6 6�gS �e6 7.a3 "'d7 Ue2 �d8 9..bf6 exfS 1 0.c5 g6 1 1 �f3 gS 1 2.g3 f5 1 3.tLlge2 f4 14.gxf4 g4 1 S�g2 �g7 1 6.tLlbS 0-0 1 7.tLld6 tLle7 1 8.tLlg3 tLlc8 1 9.tLlxc8 �c8 20.... d3 "'a4 21 .�d1 �d7 22.0-0 �bS 23 .... b1 bf1 24..bf1 bd4 2S.b4 �g7 26.tLlfS �c7 27.�d3 b6 28.�g3 bxc5 29.�g4 f6 30....d3 c4

c'� z � �,111�� �c,���� �� m� *� �"'.""' , z� � � �

' ' ' ' ' V.

�

"',,%

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� � , � t2J� if� ' � � M � d �iV� � � � � �

� �� ��t.fI1, , 3 �

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Alignment

pieces o n the line into account. Looking at the g-file, we notice that the black bishop is pinned by White 's rook and queen, but also - important detail - that White 's king is standing on the same file. Thus it is Black, not White, who is win­ ning : 31 ...... d 7 ! 32.tLlxg 7

Howell,David Sandipan,Chanda

%.. , , %

3 -

�,

Z" , ,%

White, to play, could take on dS , with a complicated game. Instead, he decides to use the alignment on the g-file in or­ der to play for the pin and win the bishop. 31 .... g3

The pin ought to bother Black, but with an alignment we should take all the

3 2 .tLle3 is better, but 3 2 . . . £S 3 3 .�gS 'it'h8 gives Black a winning position; 3 2 . �xg 7 + 'ifxg 7 ! 3 3 . tLlxg 7 �xg 7 and Black wins.

0-1

32 ... 'ifxg41

3 3 .... xg4 �xg 7 wins the queen and the game. Note that the immediate 3 2 . . .... xg 7 would fail to 3 3 .�g2 ! . All alignments have to be carefully ex­ amined. Sometimes a combination is the result of many of them :

Readi ng the l ines

Samhouri,Ahmad PolgarJudit Khanty-Mansiysk 01 2 0 1 0 ( 1 )

1 .e4 cS 2.tLlf3 tLlc6 3 .�bS d 6 4.0-0 �d 7 S.c3 tLlf6 6.: e 1 a 6 39

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

7.�a4 bS S.�c2 eS 9 . d 3 �e7 1 0.tLlbd2 0-0 1 1 .tLlf1 l:1eS 1 2.d4 cxd4 1 3.cxd4 �g4 1 4.dxeS tLlxeS 1 S.tLle3 �hS 1 6 .h3 :cS 1 7.g4 �g6 1 S.tLld2 'ifb6 1 9.14

Beautiful! All Black's men prove active attackers in this game. 0-1

23J:tf3 tLlxf4

This is a complicated position. Let's try to find all the alignments that are in­ volved: - The first and more important is the pin exerted by the black queen on the e 3 -knight. - The second and third alignments are leading to c l . Both the c-file and the h 7 -b l diagonal see Black's long-range men looking at the c2-bishop. - The fourth one is well-hidden : it is the pressure on the semi-open e-file by the e 8 -rook. Can you believe that in the game, this rook will be able to take the e 3 -knight within four moves? 1 9 ... tLld S I

This shot reveals all the alignments. 1 9 . . . l:xc 2 ! ? was also in Black's favour. 20.exdS �xc2 21 .'ife2

Black has taken a bishop against a knight, but the worst for White is yet to come. 21 ... tLld3 22.:f1 �h41 40

Even if the king looks secure in an appar­ ently closed position, putting an enemy piece on the same line always makes sense. Here are two similar examples of a combination that I have called:

The Tin Opener (1)

Glek.Igor Arkhipov.Sergey Tomsk 2 0 0 1 ( 2 )

1 .e4 c S 2 .tLlf3 tLlc6 3 ...t b S e6 4.0-0 tLlge7 S.l:1e1 a6 6 . ..txc6 tLlxc6 7.d4 cxd4 S.tLlxd4 'fIIc 7 9.tLlxc6 bxc6 1 0.eS �b7 1 1 .tLld2 cS 1 2.tLlc4 ..tdS

. �.��.�,�,y. �.I ���." �:�i�:· £· • i� .i. i� •

�!i!;��� � 8fl] � ... J��J� �� �if�� �

z

z

White 's knight is under attack, and if we defend, Black has time to play

Chap ter

3

-

Al i g n m e n t

. . . �e7 and castle queenside , thus obtaining full equality. But a surprising combination is possible, thanks to the alignment on the e-file : 1 3.tLld6+1 �xd6

1 3 . . �e 7 loses quickly to 1 4. 'iih 5 , at­ tacking f7 . Now the only defensive try is 1 4 . . . g 6 , but then there is a mate in two with 1 5 .�g 5 + ( 1 5 .'ifg 5 + is the same) 1 5 . . .f6 1 6 .�xf6 # . .

1 4.'ifxd5

E� ��r�"�"( �e5 4.ttJxc5

'it>xfS

A typical tactical device : a decoy sacrifice in order to lure the queen to the square where the fork is the most effective. 4 .... xc1 ttJe2+ 5.'it>f1 ttJxc1

With advantage to Black.

The pawn ending is winning.

Ozsvath,Andras Honfi,Karoly Budapest 1 9 5 3

I n this famous position, White i s two pawns up. We can see that the striking factor is the prominent d4-knight, which is at checking distance from the

Giri,Anish Meier,Georg Dortmund 2 0 1 1 ( 3 )

1 .d4 ttJfS 2.c4 eS 3 . g 3 d5 4.ttJf3 �b4+ 5 .�d2 �e7 S .�g2 0-0 7.0-0 cS S .... c2 bS 9.l::td 1 ttJbd7 1 0.�f4 �b7 1 1 .ttJe5 ttJh5 1 2.�d 2 ttJhfS 1 3.cxd5 cxd 5 1 4.ttJcS �xcS 1 5 .... xcS as 1 S .e3 b5 1 7.'ifc2 "'cS 1 S .... d3 "'c4 1 9.�f1 ttJe4 20.�e1 l:tfcS 21 .b3 "'xd3 22.�xd3 e5 23.a4 exd4 24.exd4 b4 25.a5 ttJg5 2S.�e2 l:tc2 27.'it>f1 l:tb2 2S.:d2 l::txd 2 29.ttJxd 2 gS 30.h4 ttJeS 31 .ttJf3 'it>fS 32.l:tc1 'it>eS 33.�d2 �dS 34.l:ta 1 �e7 35.:a.4 ttJ bS 3S.�xb4 �xb4 3 7.l:txb4 ttJcS

Chap ter 4

3SJ:ta4 xh7 1 2.ttJxf6+ c;t>h6

This is the most stylish solution. 1 6 . c;t>fl , with the double threat of 1 7 .ttJh2 and 1 7 .�e2 , would have mated one move earlier; and so would the simple 1 6 . 0 - 0 , 81

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

with the single but completely undefendable threat of 1 7 .ttJh2 + with checkmate on the next move. 1 6 ... �g2 1 8.�d2#1

1 7.l:th2+

�g1

1 8 . 0- 0 - 0 mate was a less elegant, but valid alternative. The following example demonstrates once again that when our short-range king is driven far inside the enemy camp, we should calculate the varia­ tions carefully, because the way back is long and arduous.

Kasparian & Manlevian 1 93 6

1 . 'ifxc6+ �xc6

If 1 . . .�b8 , 2 . ttJd4 'ifa6 3 .'ifd7 is com­ pletely crushing. 2.ttJeS+

This check prevents the monarch from returning home via d 7 . The calculation is not so difficult here, because Black has nothing but only moves. 2 ... �cS 3.ttJd3+

Nice geometry : while the knight takes care of the dark squares, the bishop and pawns look after the white ones. 3 ... �d4

.-r.-., . " • •,. • % , %�3. ��'3. 0"���.��� � !� �� �.­ � ��.!.�.�� � . � � � L,j

However costly i t is, here we must con­ sider the sacrifice of the queen, which drives the black king into unknown ter­ ritory. The signal is the alignment be­ tween the g2-bishop and the king, but above all the poor position of the king after the queen has been sacrificed on c6. The general technique o f attracting the king is, from the attacker's point of view, firstly to make sure that the mon­ arch can't get back, secondly to lure him as close as possible to our pawns, and then thirdly to accurately calculate the checkmate line. 82

Now the third rank (the squares e3 , d3 and c 3 ) needs control. This job is done by the white king : 4.�d2 'iffS

Or any other move, since there are no checks available. . . S.c3#

Another important tip for the attacker is to learn by heart the classical mating patterns (see in the bibliography, p. 2 2 3 , L'Art de jaire mat , or Improve your Chess Now ) . We will give an example in order to demonstrate how far in ad­ vance a strong player can anticipate a basic pattern.

Chap ter

Darniano's Mate

8 -

King Pos i t i o n

you will find the mate i n six moves easily. 1 .: h 1 + �gS 2 J:t hS+ 3 J:t h 1 + wgS 4J:thS+ 5:irh1 + �gS 6 .... h7#

�xhS �xhS

The tactical theme is line clearance. Both white rooks are sacrificed to allow the queen to go to h I .

Looking for Damlano Take Damiano's Mate - a typical posi­ tion which requires two elements : a pawn fixed on g 6 (or g 3 for Black) , and the queen. Most checkmates involve two pieces, one of them being the queen.

Benjarnin.Joel Carter.H London Uoyds Bank Open 1 9 8 2

1 .e4 e 5 2.ttJf3 ttJf6 3 .�c4 ttJxe4 4.ttJc3 ttJf6 5 .ttJxe5 d5 6 .�b3 �e7 7.d4 0-0 S.�g5 c6 9 ... d 3 ttJfd 7 .

Darniano's Six-Mover

When he played his next move Benjamin had already calculated the fi­ nal checkmate : 1 0.h4!? f6

Black has castled kingside, while White has been able to plant a pawn on g 6 , thus covering the h 7 -square and preventing the black king 's escape via f7. With the help of its precious assis­ tant, the lone queen will able able to de­ liver the final blow on h 7 . Black also has undefendable mating threats on b2 and a2 , but White is to move first here. When you see such a possibility, you must immediately visualize the previ­ ous diagram (Damiano's Mate) . Then

I O . . . ttJxe5 was better (not 1 O . . . �xg 5 because after I I .hxg5 the h-file gives White too much attack) . Benjamin al­ ready saw that Damiano's Mate was al­ most forced after 1 1 .ttJxd511 cxd5 1 2.�xd5+ whS 1 3.ttJg6+ hxg6 1 4.h5 83

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

This is where the g S -bishop comes in handy; it keeps Black from preventing the opening of the h-file, as . . . g6-gS is impossible. 14 .. :"a5+ 1 5.c3 "'xd5

That's all, folks ! 1 6.hxg6+ gS 1 7.:hS+ xhS 1 S .... h3+ gS 1 9.'ifh7#

Building on Damiano's Mate

84

We can see that Damiano 's Mate would be possible if the black knight could come to g 3 , and White 's h-pawn had to take it. This is not yet the case, because the knight on e2 also controls g3 . Thanks to other tactical motifs (the alignment of white men along the a6-fl diagonal , the possibility of a knight fork on g 3 - at checking dis­ tance from h i ) , Black is able to bring about the desired pattern by force : 1 9 ... l::t xd 3 ! 20 .... xd3 .ic4 21 .'iYe3 �xe2 22."'xe2

This is the first step. 2 2 . l::t fc 1 -+ .ic4 2 3 .axbS .ixbS 24. l::t c b l l::t h 6 2 S J �d l ttJf4 2 6 .:d6 %hd6 2 7 . cxd6 "'xd6 2 8 .'ifa7 'iYd2 2 9 .'iYc S + d7 was the game finish.

Chapter

24 .. J�h1 +

The flashy: way ! First 2 4 . . . 'ii' d 8 or 24 . . . 'ii' e 7 amounts to the same. 24 . . . 'ii' xcS + is also easily winning : after the sequence 2 S . :fl gxfl + 2 6 .'ii' xfl .!:th 1 + 2 7 . � xh 1 'irxfl the game is over.

8

- King Pos i t i on

1 4.lLlhS! lLlxhS

1 4 . . . .!:tfd8 is more resilient, but still los­ ing after I S .lLlxf6 + �xf6 1 6 .�xh 7 + 'iii xh7 1 7 .'irh S + �g8 1 8 .�xf6 gxf6 .

2S.�xh 1 'ii' d S 26 .:fd 1 'ii' h 4+ 27.�g 1 �h2+ 2S.�f1 'ii' h 1 #

The basic attacking patterns deal with the destruction of the enemy king 's shelter. Various classical destructive sac­ rifices are well-known, such as the sac­ rifice on h7 (the Greek gift, or Greco 's mate) and the sacrifice on h6. We will mention here the beautiful dou­ ble bishop sacrifice, which was played for the first time in the following game :

Lasker,Emanuel Bauer,Johann Hermann

Amsterdam 1 8 8 9 ( I )

White wins easily if he manages to spot the technical move here. Can you? 7 1 S.�xh7+

The first bishop is sacrificed in order to get rid of the h7 -pawn, and to enable the queen to come to hS with tempo. 1 S ... 'iii x h7 1 6 .'irxhS+ �gS

1 .f4 d S 2.e3 lLlf6 3.b3 e 6 4.�b2 �e7 S.�d3 b6 6 .lLlf3 �b7 7.lLlc3 lLlbd7 S.O-O 0-0 9.lLle2 cS 1 0.lLlg3 'ii' c 7 1 1 .lLleS lLlxeS 1 2.�xeS 'ii' c 6 1 3.'ii' e 2 a6

Now the second bishop is sacrificed, eliminating the g-pawn, so that a qUick checkmate will be possible after the ar­ rival of the rook on g3 or h3 .

7

1 9.'ii'h6! is the move , shutting in the king first - with l:tf3-g3 to follow.

8S

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

1 7. .txg 7 �xg 7

There is another possibility to parry the threatened mate on h8 : by moving the f-pawn. On 1 7 . . . f6 , 1 8 .�h6 is a typical method ( 1 8 .l::t f3 is also good) . White wants to play 'irg6 and 'irg7 mate, so Black has to give up the rook: 1 8 . . . l::t f7 1 9 .'f6g 6 + �h8 2 0 . 'irxf7 l:tg8 2 1 .l::t f3 and mate by �g 7 + and l::t h 3 is un­ avoidable. On 1 7 .. . f5 the best move is 1 8 .�e5 �f6 (after 1 8 . . . l::t f6 1 9 . 1::t f3 �f8 2 0 . l::t g 3 Black will be mated all the same) 1 9 .'irg6 + �h8 and now the ar­ rival of the rook is decisive : 2 0 . l::t f3 , and mate. 1 S.'irg4+ � h 7 1 9.l::tf 3 eSI

A clever defensive try.

The technique i s quite simple, yet let's look at a similar example. When Tarrasch was congratulated after the fol­ lowing game, he declared that he had no merit, because the winning method had been already discovered by Lasker, back in 1 8 8 9 !

Nimzowitsch,Aaron Tarrasch,Siegbert St Petersburg 1 9 1 4 ( 5 )

1 .d4 dS 2.ttJf3 c S 3 .c4 e S 4.e3 ttJfS S .�d3 ttJcS S.O-O �dS 7.b3 0-0 S.�b2 bS 9.ttJbd2 �b7 1 0.ttc1 'ire7 1 1 .cxdS exdS 1 2.ttJh4 gS 1 3.ttJhf3 l:tadS 1 4.dxcS bxcS 1 S .�bS ttJe4 1 S.�xcS �xcS 1 7.'irc2 ttJxd 2 1 S.ttJxd 2

20J:th3+ 'irhS 21 .l::t x hS+ �xhS

Winning a bishop, and the game. 22 ...�fS 23.'irxb7 �g7 24.l::tf 1 l::t a bS 2S.'ird 7 l::tf dS 2S.'irg4+ �fS 27.fxeS �g 7 2S.eS l::t b 7 29.'irgS f S 30.l::t xfS+ �xfS 31 .'irxfS+ �eS 32.'irhS+ �e7 33 .'irg 7+ �xeS 34.'irxb 7 l::t d S 3S.'irxaS d4 3S.exd4 cxd4 37.h4 d3 3S.'irxd 3 1 -0 86

The basic requirements for the double bishop sacrifice to work are : - a chance to bring in the queen with tempo ; - the possibility to quickly bring a rook into action, so that one maj or piece controls the g-file and the other one the h-file, thus allowing the check­ mate. Here all the conditions are fulfilled thanks to Black's next move, giving the d5-square to the rook while opening the long diagonal (a8 -h I ) .

Chapter

1 S...d41 1 9.exd4

J

Losing by orce. 1 9 .l:tfe 1 was a better chance.

1 9 ...i.xh2+ 20. ..txh2 'ifh4+ The first major piece has been brought in with tempo.

21 . ..tg1 .txg2 22.f3 The main line is 22...txg2 "'g4+ 23 ...th2 l:tdS .

8

-

King P os i t i on

Tarrasch continues coolly, aiming all his men on the white king.

23.lLle4 On 23 .�xg2 l:te2+ mates quickly.

23

• h1 + 24 ..tf2 .txf1 25.d5

.••

•

On 2S .l:txf 1 'iVh2+ nets Black a queen.

25 f5 26.'iVc3 •••

White takes his chance and now also has undefendable mating threats.

26 ......g2+ 27 ..te3 •

Here comes the second major piece. White has a surprising defence, but it does not save the game: 24.'iVxcS! l:thS + 2S .'iVxhS .xhS + .

There was a mate in three available, be­ ginning with 28 ...'iVg3 + 29 ...td2 .£'2 + 3 0...tdl 'iVe2#.

29.�xf4 l:tfS+ 30.�e5 'iVh2+ 31 .�e6 l:teS+ 32 ..td7 .tb5:f1: •

The material balance i s not so clear here, but just as in Lasker's game, Black wins another piece thanks to a double attack: 26...tg2 "'gS + 27...tfl 'ifxd2-+.

22 ...l:tfeSI

A final pOSition that deserves a diagram. 87

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Kuzmin,Gennady Sveshnikov,Evgeny Moscow ch-URS 1 9 7 3 ( 1 4)

1 .e4 cS 2.tLlf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tLlxd4 tLlc6 S .tLlc3 'fIc7 6.�e2 a6 7.0-0 tLlf6 8.�e3 � b4 9.tLlxc6 bxc6 1 0.tLla4 0-0 1 1 .c4 �d6 1 2.f4 tLlxe4 1 3.�d3 tLlf6 1 4.cS �e7 1 S.�d4 tLldS

� m J.. m ��.m m . i _i � i imimim m � ��� �� �t[j0 � �� � �"..3�r0 t2J � %'

!� .. �� .. 3 f�

r

..�{ 3� iV�� M�(�'�1� � �

You know the method, Of course, you will need to calculate - one cannot give up two precious bishops speculatively ! Okay, take your time, calculate and find the winning move White played.

White brings on his rook to give mate on h3 , as usual, but there is a defence here : the surprising 2 0 . . . tLlxf4! , con­ trolling the h3-square : 2 1 . :xf4 fS and Black holds. If 2 2 .'fIh3 + 'it> g 6 2 3 .'fIg 3 + � g S shielding against dis­ covered checks. The same motif works after 1 9 . . . c;t>h6 , but 1 9 . . . h8 2 6 . l:t g 3 'fIfS 27 . l:th 3 'fIxh 3 2 8 . gxh 3 , with a winning material ad­ vantage . 1 6 ... tLlxb6

If 1 6 . . . :b8 1 7 . tLlxdS , followed by the double sacrifice. Now it's a piece of cake . . . 1 7.�xh7+ �xh 7 1 8.'ifhS+ 'it>g8

1 6.tLlb611

Before the ritual sacrifice, White has to deflect the central black knight. The 'nor­ mal' 1 6 .Axh7 + fails, for a reason that is hard to spot: 1 6 . . . h 7 22 . .I:I.c1 .l:l.acS 23.'iVe5 f5 24 . .I:I.dc3 c5 25 .dxc6 tUxc6 26. 'iff4 g5 27.tUxg5+ hxg5 2S.'iVa4 f4 29.'iVe4+ ..t>g7 30 ..I:I.xc6 .l:l.xc6 31 . .I:I.xc6 .tf6 32 .�c1 .l:l.eS 33 .'ifc2 .l:l.e7 34.b4 'iVd4

28 . ..t>h l or 2 8 ..t>f1 was better. .

(Solution on page 1 49) *

Exercise 3 Signal 3

Exercise 2 Signal 3

*

Thesing,Matthias Gasthofer,Alexander Germany Bundesliga 20 1 1 / 1 2 ( 5 )

1 .e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.tUf3 �d6 5.c4 dxc4 6.�xc4

Lahno,Kateryna Gaponenko,Inna Kharkov ch-UKR W 2 0 1 2 ( 3 )

1 .e4 tUf6 2.e5 tUd5 3.d4 d 6 4.tUf3 �g4 5 .�e2 e6 6 . 0 - 0 �e7 7.c4 tUb6 S.tUc3 0-0 9.�e3 d5 1 0.c5 �xf3 1 1 .gxf3 tUcs 1 2.b4 c6 1 3 .f4 f5 1 4 . ..t> h 1 b6 1 5 . .I:I. g1 g 6 1 6 .a4 a5 1 7.b5 bxc5 1 S.dxc5 tU d 7 1 9.bxc6 tUxc5 20.tUb5 ..t>f7

1 03

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

21 Jlc1 ttJa6 22.c7 �d7 23.�b3 ttJb4 24.l:t g d 1 1:gS 2SJ1d2 ':hS 26.'ifc3 :gS 27.ttJd4 ttJa 7 2S.ttJxe6 'iit x e6 29.�xa 7 ':xa 7 30.cS'iW ':xcS 31 .'iWxcS 'iWxcS 32Jixc8 gS 33.fxgS �xg S 34.':d 1 'iit x eS 3S.'iit g 2 �e7 36.'iit f3 d4 37.�c4 ttJdS 3S.:e1 + 'iit d 6 39J:td 1 'iit e S 40.�xd S 'iit x dS 41 .11bS �b4 42.':dS+ 'iit c4 43 .':Sxd4+ b3 44.':b1 + xa4

(Solution on page 1 49)

Exercise 5 Signal 3

***

Karpov.Alexander Ovetchkin.Roman Smolensk tt 2 0 0 0 ( 1 1 )

(Solution on page 1 49)

Exercise 4 Signal 3

**

Zubarev.Alexander Vachier-Lagrave.Maxime

1 .e4 c6 2.d4 d S 3.exd S cxd S 4.c4 ttJf6 S .ttJc3 e6 6.ttJf3 .ib4 7.cxdS ttJxd S S.'iWc2 ttJc6 9.�d3 �aS 1 0.a3 ttJxc3 1 1 .bxc3 ttJxd4 1 2 .ttJxd4 �xd4 1 3 .�bS+ �d7 1 S .c4 'iWdS 'iVfS 1 4.0-0 1 6 .�xd 7+ 'it>xd 7 1 7.'iYb2 b6 1 S.a4 f6 1 9.:d 1 + �c6 20.cS ':adS 21 .'iVbS+ 'it>c7 22 .�e3 �bS 23 .'iYc6 'iWhS 24.':d6 ':cS 2S.'iVd 7 ':hdS 26 .'iYxg 7 'iWeS

Port Marly 2 0 1 2 ( 7 . 3 )

1 .e4 cS 2 .ttJe2 d 6 3.g3 g6 4.�g 2 �g 7 S.O-O ttJc6 6 .c3 eS 7.ttJa3 ttJge 7 S.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 ttJxd4 1 0.ttJxd4 exd4 1 1 .�f4 0-0 1 2.ttJbS 'iWb6 1 3 .�xd 6 'iWxbS 1 4.�xe7 ':eS 1 S .�a3 �e6 1 6 .14 d3 1 7.eS ':acS 1 S.':f2 �fS 1 9.�xfS ':xfS 20.a4 'iWd 7 21 .�e4 ':fdS 22.':a3 d2 23.':d3 l:tc1 24.l:tfxd 2

1 04

(Solution on page 1 S O)

Chap ter 1

Exercise 6 Signal 3

***

Atalik.Suat Peek,Marcel

f7 2 6 J �fS + 'it>e6 2 7 .'ifxh 7 with unavoid­ able checkmate, for example 2 7 . . . bxc5 2 S .'iff7 + 'it>d6 2 9 . .if4#.

Deflection

Bauer.Christian Kortchnoi. Viktor Enghien les Bains 2 0 0 3 ( 8 )

1 .ttJf3 d S 2 . d 4 ttJf6 3 .c4 e 6 4 . g 3 � b 4 + S .Ad 2 Ae7 6 .�g 2 0 - 0 7. 0-0 c6 8.'ifc2 ttJ b d 7 9.l:td 1 b 6 1 0.Af4 �b7 1 1 .ttJc3 d xc4 1 2 .ttJd2 ttJ d S 1 3 .ttJxc4 ttJxf4 1 4.gxf4 g6 1 S .l:tac1 l:tc8 1 6 .e3 ttJf6 1 7.a3 ttJ d S 1 8. b4 a s 1 9.bxaS b x aS 20. 'ifb3 �a 6 21 .ttJeS 'ifd6 2 2 .1:a 1 l:t b8 23 .'ifc2 l:tfc8 24.ttJe4 'ifc7 2S.l:tdc1 �bS 26 .ttJcS �xcS 27.'ifxcS a4 28.fS g xfS 29.�xd S exd S 30.'it> h 1 f6 31 .l:tg 1 + 'it> h 8

-

C r u c i a l D e fen d e r / O v e r l o a d e d D e fen d e r

Here again, the black queen fulfills a crucial function : to prevent checkmate on f7 by the white knight. White has an elementary win thanks to a deflective move, which pours oil into the fire by adding another mating threat. With 32.'ifd 6 !

White wins o n the spot, because the queen is taboo, and mate on f6 is threatened. 32 .. .1::[18

This loses the queen. After 3 2 . . J�b7 3 3 . 'ifxf6 + Black loses everything : 3 3 . . . 'ifg7 3 4 . lhg 7 l:txg 7 3 5 . l:tg 1 l:tc7 3 6 .'iffS + . 3 2 . . :ifdS i s even worse because o f the one-move checkmate 3 3 . ttJ f7 # . 33.'ifxc7

1 -0

Elimination/Mate

Hiibner.Robert Kulovana.Eva Prague 2 0 1 1 ( 8 )

1 .g3 dS 2.Ag2 ttJf6 3 .c4 c6 4.ttJf3 Ag4 S.ttJeS Ae6 6.cxdS AxdS 7.ttJf3 cS 8.ttJc3 �c6 9.0-0 ttJbd7 1 0.d3 e6 1 1 .e4 eS 1 2.ttJh4 g6 1 3.f4 �g 7 1 4.�e3 0-0 1 S.fS 'ife7 1 6.g4 'ifd6 1 7.gS ttJhS 1 8.f6 Ah8 1 25

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

1 6 .'ifd 6 �xbS 1 7.�xbS+ 'ifxbS 1 8 . .!:!.c7 tDd7

l S . . . tDg6 was playable, when the posi­ tion would be unclear.

Black has allowed White to weave a mating net around his king, as well as one around the fianchettoed bishop, which is trapped permanently. Should a white piece give check, it would be mate right away. Who better than the knight can achieve the desired attack in such a closed posi­ tion? Immediately, we imagine the h4knight going to f5 , attacking the queen with a double mating threat on e7 and h 6 . At the moment, there is a defender: the g6 -pawn. So naturally, we will go for the deflective - and definitive ! 1 9.'ifxhSI

1 -0

If Black takes with 1 9 . . gxh5 , 2 0 .tDf5 creates the double threat of checkmate on h 6 , and taking the queen. There is no satisfactory defence. .

White has to deflect Black's queen. That's an easy task : 1 9 . .!:!. b 1

1 -0

Resignation was not premature here, because if Black tries to keep an eye on the d 7 - knight with 1 9 . 'ifa4 ( 1 9 . . . 'iYxb l allows 2 0 .'ifxd 7 + and 2 1 .'iYxf7 checkmate) White has the complementary deflection with 20 . .!:!.b4, when either Black's queen or his king is lost. .

.

Deflection Deflection

Ernst,Sipke Klein,David Oslo 2 0 1 1 ( 6 . 6)

1 .d4 tDf6 2 .c4 e6 3.tDf3 d S 4.tDc3 dxc4 S . e4 �b 4 6 .�gS cS 7.�xc4 cxd4 8.tDxd4 ..ixc3+ 9.bxc3 'ifaS 1 0.�xf6 'ifxc3+ 1 1 .'iti>f1 gxf6 1 2 . .!:!.c1 'ifaS 1 3 .g3 �d7 1 4.'iti>g2 tDc6 1 S .tDbS tDeS 1 26

Ni Hua Polajzer,Danilo Rogaska Slatina tt 2 0 1 1 ( 3 . 3 )

1 .e4 cS 2.tDf3 e 6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tDxd4 tDc6 S .tDc3 'ifc7 6 . ..ie3 a6 7.'ifd2 tDf6 8.0-0-0 �b4 9.f3 tDe7 1 0.tDde2 dS 1 1 .�gS dxe4 1 2.�xf6 gxf6 1 3 .'ifd4 exf3 1 4.'ifxb4 fxe2 1 S .�xe2 fS 1 6 . .!:!.d6 tDc6 1 7.'iYf4 'if�7 1 8.�f3 0-0 1 9 . .!:!. h d 1 eS 20.'ifh6 �e6

Chap ter 1 3

.i • • �••• � � Sf �

�rA �r",{.t.. "�rA ��� , .I.i)�m ," v.. ,,, ,, v.. ,v.. " , �i§�

•

-

C r u c i a l D e fe n d e r / O v e r l o a d e d D e fe n d e r

23."'g5+ �hS 25.�xd5

24."'f6+ �gS

"�d" � ?""';

�

�

���. .�� • � • - m" : . ,, " ,,

White has a large advantage here, thanks to his powerful attack against the damaged black fortress. Several moves are advantageous, but there is one that wins by force. White 's most dangerous threat is to bring a knight to d5 , attacking the black queen while threatening the decisive tDf6 + and 'Wxh7 mate. The defender of the d5-square is the e6-bishop, which also has the function of controlling a rook invasion on d 7 . That i s why the first player decided to play the deflecting move 21 .l:td7 !+- 'Wb4

In the game Black resigned after 25 .. .'.-f4+ 2 6 . �b l . Now, 26 . . . tDd8 is useless because of the forced 2 7 Jhd8 l:taxd8 2 8 .�xfl + l:txfl 2 9 . l:txd8 + l:tf8 3 0 . l:txf8 # . After the text, the best way t o win i s the brutal 26.l:txdS! l:taxdS 27.�xf7 + l:txf7 2S.l:txdS+ l:tfS

After 2 1 . . .Axd7 , 2 2 .tDd5 wins queen or king : 2 2 . . . 'iVe6 2 3 .tDf6 + �h8 24.'iVxh 7 # . 22.tDd5+-

And now follows a very fine triangula­ tion manoeuvre : 29.'We6+ �hS 22 ...Axd5

This is now forced.

29 . . . � g 7 3 0 .l:.d 7 + and mate. 30.'Wxe5+

127

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Now White controls the e l -square.

White has infiltrated the weakened light squares in the black king 's posi­ tion. 2 I .tbf5 would be strong, if Black did not have checkmate on g2 ! So the queen should be challenged before we play the knight.

3 0 ... �g8

21 .':c5 ! 'ifxc5

31 .:d3! f4 33.'ifg5+ �h8

32.l:td 7 !

:f7

On 2 I . . . 'ifd 7 , the reply 2 2 .tbf5 is crushing. The simple threat is to take twice on g 7 , then on c7 and b7 , for ex­ ample 2 2 . . J:tacS 2 3 . tbxh 6 + '1t>hS 24.tbf5 with 2 5 . :e3 and 2 6 . :h3 + to follow. 22.tbf5 :e7

Also, 3 3 . . . �fS 3 4.':'d S # . 34J:td8++-

1 -0

Deflecting the Main Defender

Bojkov,Dejan Van Riemsdijk,Herman Queenstown 2 0 1 2 ( 7 . 5 )

1 .e4 e 5 2.tbf3 tbc6 3.�c4 tbf6 4.d3 �e7 5.0-0 0-0 6 .�b3 h 6 7.:e1 ':'e8 8.tb bd2 �f8 9.tbc4 b5 1 0.tbe3 tba5 1 1 . ..td2 tbxb3 1 2.axb3 d 5 1 3.exd5 tbxd5 1 4.tbxd5 'ifxd5 1 5 .�c3 f6 1 6 .tbh4 b4 1 7.�d2 g 5 1 8.'fi'h5 �b7 1 9.'ifg6+ �g7 20.':'a5 'ifc6

K .��'� .�K ••• �,� �r�

�� ..t ��

•

�

�

"" z.ii. '�_ii. 'i{ % " "1';

��� t�� � t�� D.. '''

�

" ..%

" ..%

·;:·f·=·�= ." " Z.""'��" " Z�" " Z ' ''

�� � � • •

' ''''

1 28

�� � ��

�

L , ,�

An important line is 2 2 . . :iffs 2 3 .�xb4! - another deflection. Now, on 2 3 . . . 'iff7 (if 2 3 . . . c5 24 .�xc 5 ) 24.tbxh6 + forks the king and the queen. 23.d4!

and White wins. 23 .. :iVd6

On 23 . . . 'ifb6 24.tbxe 7 + ..thS 2 5 . tbf5 wins. 24.tbxd 6 cxd 6 25 . ..txb4 :d8 26.dxe5 ':'xe5 27.�c3 :xe1 + 28.�xe1 ..td5 29 . ..tc3 �f7 1 -0 30.'iff5 :e8 31 .h3

Chap ter 1 3

Promi nent Defender

GashiI�ov,Vugar Navara,David Wijk

aan

Zee 2 0 1 2 (9)

1 .e4 e5 2.ttJf3 ttJc6 3.�b5 ttJf6 4.d3 �c5 5 .c3 0-0 6.ttJbd2 d 6 7.h3 a6 8.�a4 �a7 9.ttJf1 d 5 1 0.'ife2 b5 1 1 .�b3 d4 1 2.ttJg3 a5 1 3 .�g5 h6 1 4.�d5 hxg5 1 5 .�xc6 l:tb8 1 6.cxd4 �xd4 1 7.l:tc1 l:tb6 1 8.'ifc2 g4 1 9.ttJxd4 'iYxd4 20.hxg4 ttJxg4 21 .'ifd2 'ifd6 22.�d5 a4 23.ttJh5 'ife7 24.13 ttJh6

-

C r u c i a l D e fen d e r I O v e r l o a d e d D e fen d e r

3 5 . l:txc 7 + WdS 3 6 . :hc6 'ifxf3 3 7 . l:t c S + W e 7 3 S . l:t S c 7 + WdS 3 9 .1::1 c S + We7 40.l:tSc7 + and draw. 25 ... 'ifxc7

If 2 5 . . . 'if d6 White finishes with 2 6 . 'if c 1 �a6 2 7 . Wf2 followed by 2 S .g4 and 2 9 . g 5 . winning the knight. 26.'ifg5+-

����.�. ��.� 3� _ ,v-� '.�srltS. •. i. • • •• �'r

!: t.::ti! %� ����r •

26 ... ttJf5

�

?, j

�

If 2 6 . . . l:tg6 2 7 .'ifxg 6 . Against 2 6 . . . g6 2 7 .'ifxh6 gxh5 2 S .'ifg5 + mates in two : 2 S . . . WhS 2 9 J lxh5 + . 27.exf5 g 6 28.fxg6+-

White has a beautiful attacking posi­ tion. Nearly all his men are aimed at the enemy king. He benefits from various open lines: the h-file and the a2-gS di­ agonal. and he enjoys a well-placed knight. If only the white queen could help her army. and finish the job! g5 is a very attractive square. the only obstacle being the black queen controlling it. So 25.l:txc7 !

2 5 .g4 was played in the game. after which White was unable to win : 2 5 . . J :1g6 2 6 . ttJg3 'ifdS 2 7 .l:th5 Ae6 2 S . g5 �xd5 2 9 . gxh6 l:txg 3 3 0 .'ifh2 l:tg5 3 1 .hxg 7 Wxg 7 3 2 . l:th7 + Wf6 3 3 . exd5 'ifxd 5 3 4 . l:th 6 + We 7

And mate by2 9 . gxfl + will follow soon.

Elimi nation and Deflection

Van Kampen,Robin Vedder,Richard Amsterdam 2 0 1 2 ( 5 )

1 .e4 e 5 2.ttJf3 ttJc6 3 .�b5 a 6 4.�a4 ttJf6 5.0-0 ttJxe4 6.d4 b5 7.�b3 d5 8.dxe5 �e6 9.c3 �c5 1 0.'ifd3 0-0 1 1 .ttJbd2 f5 1 2.exf6 ttJxf6 1 3 .a4 l:t b8 1 4.axb5 axb5 1 5.:a6 �b6 1 6 .ttJg5 Af7 1 7.ttJxf7 l:txf7 1 8.ttJf3 'ifd6 1 9.�e3 �xe3 20.fxe3 'ifc5 21 .ttJg5 l:t d 7

1 29

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

�� �.� _��"",y.�rA ��,� �J�i rJ:' � �B�� " " "';c'�

:,:::1:-:-

·� J�� ��� '�MC3 �C3 • • o � �""%. � � �. � irti""% >" ' , , %

Many weaknesses can be seen on Black's part of the board. Two motifs are clear enough : - the alignment of White 's bishop on b3 with the black king on g 8 ; - the lack of protection for the c6knight, which is attacked once, and protected once - by the queen on cS . The idea would be to deflect the queen from the defence of the c6-knight, which can be achieved thanks to the preparatory 22.:xf6 !

Eliminating the defender of the e4- and d S -squares. 22 ... gxf6 23 .tLle4

Deflecting the queen from the defence of the c6 -knight. 23 ... 'ife7

23 . . . tLleS was played in the game, and Black resigned after 24. tLlxcS . 24Jbc6

Attacking f6 . 24.�xdS + is also possi­ ble, but why enter a pin? 24 ... ..t>hS

After 2 4 . . . l:tf8 , 2 S .'ifd4 ! wins easily, for example : 2 S . . . ..t> g 7 2 6 . tLlxf6 ! l:txf6 2 7 . l:txf6 'iVxf6 2 8 . 'ilf g 4 + �f8 2 9 .'ifxd7 . 1 30

2S.tLlxf6 l:td6 27.l:txd 6+-

26.tLlxdS

'ifg 7

Attraction and Deflection

Savchenko,Stanislav Riazantsev,Alexander Chisinau 20 1 2 ( 1 . 2 )

1 .tLlf3 tLlf6 2.c4 e6 3 .tLlc3 d S 4.d4 �e7 S .�f4 0 - 0 6.e3 tLlbd7 7.a3 cS S.cxdS tLlxdS 9.tLlxdS exdS 1 0.dxcS tLlxcS 1 1 .�e2 'ilfb6 1 2.�eS tLlb3 1 3 .l:tb1 �fS 1 4.�d3 �e4 1 S .0-0 'ifg 6 1 6 .�xe4 dxe4 1 7.'ifxb3 exf3 1 S.�g 3 'ife4 1 9.1:tfd 1 l:tadS 20.gxf3 'ifxf3 21 .l:txdS l:txdS 22.'ifc4 h S 23 .l:tc1

�.� y. "", , �� � , � �� � �

��

�:;%.���

r� • %.."%�r�

r�if�

" " '%�r�""'"%'�

J�r"��J�( �,�J� � f� � �

Here Black has an undisputed advan­ tage, thanks to the better pawn structure (two islands instead of three) and the very strong position of his queen. From f3 the queen keeps control over d 1 , thus insuring Black's domination on the d-file. More importantly, the queen could give checkmate on g2 with the help of a pawn on h 3 . Of course, White controls h4 twice (queen and bishop) , against Black one (bishop) . But here we encounter our theme: 23 ... h4!

Chap ter 1 3

A classical opportunity for a deflection. On 24. 'iff4 l:td l + 2 S . l:txd l 'ifxd l + 2 6 . ..t>g2 hxg 3 wins the bishop ; 2 4 .�f4 'ifg4+ 2 S . ..t>fI g S ! is a fork against the queen on c4, because if 2 6 .�c7 . . .

-

C r u c i a l D e fen d e r / O v e r l o a d e d D e fen d e r

'ife4+ 2 S . ..t>g l 'ifg6 + 2 9 . ..t>h l 'ifd3 30 . .tc7 'ifd2 and after taking on b2 Black will have a dangerous passed c-pawn , with an easy win.

Overworked Piece

Renet,Olivier Relange,IDoi Toulouse ch-FRA 1 9 9 5 ( 5 )

. . . here we can see another case of an overloaded defence : the white rook has to protect the queen while guarding the back rank against checkmate : 26 . . . l:td I + 2 7 .':xd l 'ifxc4+ . After 24.�xh4 the bishop has been lured to a square where it is attacked once, and defended once by the queen. 24 . . . bS (the queen is dominated along the fourth rank, and is not able to de­ fend the bishop any more) 2 S .�xe 7 bxc4 2 6 .�xd S .

1 .e4 c 5 2 .ttJf3 d 6 3 .d4 cxd4 4.ttJxd4 ttJf6 5 .ttJc3 ttJc6 6 ..tc4 e6 7.�e3 �e7 8.�b3 0-0 9.0-0 ttJa5 1 0.f4 b6 1 1 .e5 ttJe8 1 2.15 dxe5 1 3.fxe6 exd4 1 4.exf7+ ..t>h8 1 5 .fxe8'if 'ifxe8 1 6.�xd4 ttJxb3 1 7.axb3 l:txf1 + 1 8.'iYxf1 �b7 1 9.:e1 'ifd7 20.l:td 1 'iYc6 21 .'ife2 'ifg6 22.l:td3 �d6 23.l:te3 l:td8 24.l:te6 'iff7 25.�f2 �c6 26.�g3 �c5+ 27. ..t> h 1

11Z u u� � � � I. L'�� � � cuu� i .l l .�uu�W� � � � �

=." �US ��.=.�. �

�

��ts uu� ;� �'�ir� � . � � .� Here the queen is the necessary guard of the e6-rook, and against the back-rank mate. A classic case of an overloaded piece. The deflection is decisive : 27.. J�d 2 1 28.':'xc6

The queen i s much stronger than the bishop and rook here, because White cannot achieve any good coordination, and some pawns (b2) are exposed, for example : 2 6 . . . 'ifg4 + -+ 2 7 . ..t> h l

2 S . l:te S + �xe S . 2 S .'ifc4 allows 2 S . . . �xg 2 # . 28 ... l:txe2

0-1

After 2 9 .l:tcS+ Black has the simple backward move 29 . . . l:teS and wins. 131

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Exercises Exercise 1 S ignal 6

*

1 7.c4 tbc3 1 S.l:txb7 �dS 1 9.'iYf4 cxd4

Le Roux.Jean Pierre Mocquard. Yves Guingamp 2 0 1 2 ( 1 )

1 . tbf3 tbf6 2 . c4 c5 3 . tb c 3 b 6 4 . g 3 � b 7 5 .� g 2 g 6 6 . 0 - 0 �g 7 7. d 4 c x d 4 S. 'if x d 4 0 - 0 9 . 'if h 4 'if c 7 1 0 J:t d 1 tb a 6 1 1 . � h 6 l:tfeS 1 2 . tb d 5 tbxd 5 1 3 .cxd 5 �x b 2 1 4. d 6 'ifc3 1 5 . l:t a b 1 l:t a c S 1 6 . tb d 4 �xg 2 1 7. � x g 2 �a3 1 S. l:t d 3 � c 5 1 9 . d x e 7 'ifxe 7

(Solution on page 1 5 4)

Exercise 2 Signal 6

(Solution on page 1 5 5 )

Exercise 3 Signal 6

*

Hounie Fleurquin.Carlos Castillo Larenas.Mariano Buenos Aires 1 9 3 5 ( 1 5 )

1 .e4 tbf6 2.tbc3 d 5 3.exd 5 tbxd5 4.�c4 tbxc3 5 .bxc3 tbd7 6.tbf3 e6 7.d4 Ae7 S.�e2 c5 9.0-0 0-0 1 0.l:te1 Af6 1 1 .l:t b 1 g 6 1 2.�h6 l:teS 1 3 .'ife3 tbb6 1 4.�b5 �d 7 1 5 .�xd 7 tbd5 1 6 .'ife4 'ifxd 7 1 32

(Solution on page 1 5 5 )

*

Chap ter 1 3

-

C r u c i a l D e fe n d e r / O v e r l o a d e d D e fen d e r

**

Exercise 4 Signal 6

Bricard,Emmanuel Vanheirzeele,Daniel France tt 2 0 1 1 (4) 1 .g3 c5 2�2 tZ:c6 3.04 g6 4.0.c3 �g7 S.d3 d6 6:ifd2 e5 7.b3 CiY;Je7 8..ib2 0-0 9.e3 �e6 1 0.tt:ldS "'d7 11 .tLle2 h6 1 2.h4 �b8 1 3.hS gS 14.f4 g4 1 S.0-0 f5 1 6.e4 ttJd4 1 7.tt:lxd4 exd4 1 attJxe7+ Wlxe7 1 9J:ae1 "'d7 2OJ:tf2 l:tfe8 21 .l:tfe2 b6 22.b4 a6 23�1 b5 24.exf5 .ixf5 2S�5+ Wf8 26h3 l:te3 27.bxc5 l:txg3+ 2al:tg2 lbd3 29.c6 "'c7

o

��. � . � _""��nf ��' ' �WI'� •%� �g� � •%� •\ r " "%�.i"�

� �

, � ���• � �� .!.. �� . .�E�C""%� � ,��C � � . � � ,. �"" � �� �� �� j� �.' C''� �!� � ' �fa � (Solution on page

1 5 5)

Exercise 5 Signal 6

Radjabov, Teimour Karjakin,Sergey

""'

Exercise 6 Signal 6

***

Marcelin,Cyril Abergel, ThaI Evry 2 0 0 2 ( 7 ) ***

Wij k aan Zee 2 0 1 2 (6) 1 .d4 t216 2.04 e6 3.00 b6 4.g3 � S.ttJbd2 d5 6Jlg2 �7 7.0-0 0-0 8b3 c5 9.dxc5 bxc5 1QtLe5 �7 11� tLbd7 12.e3 t2Jxe5 13� Ci::JJ7 1tib2 .ifS 1S....c2 � 1 6.cxd5 exd5 17J:rac1 l:ac8 1a.md1 md8 1� ttJxr6 2O.'iffl) g6 21 •• rJi;g7 22.h4 as 23.e4 dxe4 24.� 'ife6 25lhd8 .Ihd8 26....c7 "'d5 27.� 'ifd2 28.l:tc:2 l:td7 29....xc5 "'e1 + 3Q� h5 31 ....e5 Wb4 32.l:tc5 "'d2 33Jk:2 Wb4 34."'gS Ci:tl7 35.'iff4 "'d4 36� l:te7 371J.c7 ft 381J.c5 � 391J.c2 "'a6 4Ql:td2 _

1 .e4 cS 2.ttJf3 d 6 3.�bS+ �d7 4.bd7+ 'iix d7 S.c4 ttJc6 6.ttJc3 g6 7.d4 cxd4 8.ttJxd4 .tg7 9.ttJde2 l:tc8 1 0.0-0 ttJaS 1 1 .b3 ttJf6 1 2.�gS 0-0 1 3 .... d2 b6 14.�h6 ttJb7 1 S.bg7 �xg7 1 6.f4 ttJcS 1 7.ttJg3 a6 1 8.l:tad 1 "'c6 1 9.ttJdS ttJxdS 20.exdS "'c7 21 .l:tf3 ttJd7 22.l:te1 l:tfe8 23.fS ttJeS

1 33

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Chapter 14

I m potent Defence/Defence Too Far Away

A strong motif is the absence of defensive forces. For example, if the players have opposite-coloured bishops, the dark-squared bishop is unable to defend against attacks on light squares, and vice versa.

Grischuk,Alexander Gelfand,Boris Linares 2 0 1 0 ( 2 )

1 .d4 ttJf6 2 .c4 e6 3.ttJc3 �b4 4.e3 0-0 5 .�d3 d5 6 .ttJf3 c5 7.0-0 dxc4 8.�xc4 ttJ b d 7 9 .... e2 a6 1 0.a4 cxd4 1 1 .exd4 ttJb6 1 2 . .td3 ttJbd5

1 3 .ttJxd51?

Eliminating a potential defender of the king 's castle. 1 3 ... ttJxd5 1 4 .... e4 96

After this move, White focuses on at­ tacking the dark squares. In order to do so, he will eliminate the main defenders of these squares. 1 5 .�h6 l:I:e8 1 6.ttJe5 1 7.VWf3 VWe7 1 8.�e4 �c6 1 34

�d 7

27... �xe5

The eS -knight is so strong that it must be exchanged. In doing so, Black has given his dark-squared bishop, so the attack on the dark squares will now be very difficult to stop.

Chapter

14 -

28.dxe5 'iff7 29J:te3 �h8

2 9 . . . l:I.c7 was a better defence. After 3 0 .a5 , White has a clear advantage, and good chances of building up a success­ ful attack, for example 'ifg5 (or maybe first hxg6) , :g3 etc. 30.'ifh4+- gxh5 31 J:tg3

B �EB �

B �

• . "z

. , . .'if. ' ,. .,. � . . �,., ,

� .i. � SJ fj � � �� �%D� 3 � �n; • t� •

�,;a�3• ';ft�Y-. ...

• � � � . L . .z

White is winning : too many attackers of the dark squares against too few de­ fenders.

I m p o t e n t D e fen c e / D e fen c e T o o F a r Awa y

Classical play assumes that the opening is over when the rooks are connected. Yet, if a player loses time, for example with pawn grabbing , he risks to be left with a position where connection be­ tween the rooks is made impossible for ever. Computer programs are particu­ larly apt at evaluating such factors Time against Material, especially the evaluation of ' how much a tempo is worth' . That is why as a model game, I give this one, from the world computer chess championship : 1 .e4 c5 2.tLlf3 e6 3 .d4 cxd4 4.tLlxd4 'ifc7 5.tLlb51 'ifc6

5 . . . 'ife5 has also been tried: 6 . .te3 a6 7 .f4 'ifxe4 8 .tLlc7 + 'it>d8 9 .'ife2 .tc5 1 0 . tLl xe 6 + dxe 6 I I . �xc5 'ifxe 2 + I 2 ..� xe2 tLld7 1 3 .�d4 tLlgf6 1 4.tLlc3 ( 1 4.tLld2 ± was probably more accurate.

31 ...�d5 32.a5 f4 33.:g7 'iff5 34.'ife7 'ife4 35.'iff6 1 -0

3 5 .l:tg8+ was even quicker: 3 5 . . . l:txg 8 3 6 .'iff6 + l:tg7 3 7 .'ifxg 7 # . Another form o f impotent defence i s a lack of coordination between one's forces, particularly at the opening stage. The folloWing game is typical :

Junior Pandix Pamplona 2 0 0 9 ( 2 )

In order to be able to defend, the de­ fender needs mobility. On prinCiple, one obtains good mobility when all the pieces are connected, and able to move quickly from one point to another. The problem of a good connection between one's forces is one of the main obj ec­ tives in the opening.

Now if Black plays 1 4 . . . b6 like in the game, 1 5 . tLlc4 is very unpleasant: 1 5 . . . l:tb8 1 6 . 0 - 0 - 0 'it>e 7 1 7 . g4! ? with a clear advantage) 1 4 . . . b6 1 5 .�f3 l:tb8 1 6 . 0 - 0 �b 7 1 7 .�e5 tLlxe5 1 8 .fxe5 tLle8 1 9 . 1:tad l + �e7 2 0 . l:td4 �xf3 2 I .l:txf3 tLlc7 2 2 . :g4. In this pOSition, a draw was agreed, though White re­ tains a small edge, Perez Candelario­ Khamrakulov, Navalmoral 2 0 1 1 . 6 .�f41 'ifxe4+ 7. .te3 'if b4+ 1 35

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Another possibility is 7 . . . ttJa6 S.ttJ 1 c3 'ifg6 9 .ttJd6+ �xd6 1 0 .'ifxd6 ttJe7 1 1 . 0- 0 - 0 +- . Black's king is stuck in the centre, and both his kingside and queenside are undeveloped. If 1 1 . . .ttJf5 1 2 .'ifa3 . 8.ttJd2 White looks for the c4-square. Also good was S . ttJ 1 c3 . 8 ... 'ifa5

This bishop. fixed on the outpost d6, completely ties Black up. preventing him from castling. and on the other side, dominating the a6-knight while making it difficult for the cS-bishop to find a way out. 1 2 . ttJe7 ..

The alternative 1 2 . . . b6 1 3 .�d3 .tb7 1 4 .'ife2 gives White a large advan­ tage. 1 3.'iff3 'ifbS 1 4.ttJc4 'ifcS

The computer plays a gambit ' coffee­ house style' . 9 ... 'ifd8

After 9 . . . �xb4 1 0 . c 3 �xc3 (on 1 0 . . . �e7 1 1 . ttJc4 is crushing) 1 1 . ttJxc3 'ifxc3 1 2 .'u'c 1 is the trick.

1 36

Here Black could have exchanged queens . which looks more logical with the king in the centre. 1 5 ... 'ifxf3

The game continued 1 5 . . . 'ifxb5 1 6 .�a3 �fS 1 7 . 'u'd l ! +- ttJc7 l S .'iff4 ! ttJa6 1 9 .'ifd6 'ifg5 2 0 .h4 'iff6

Chap ter

1 4- -

I m p o t e n t D e fen c e / D e fen c e T o o F a r Awa y

The black queenside is completely frozen. Neither the b8 -knight. nor the c8-bishop can move. 1 9 ... g 6

24-.tbxc8 ! (the simplest way is to take the apparently useless bishop. 'Bad bishops defend good pawns' - Suba) H . . Jhc 8 2 S ..I::tx d 7 tbcs 2 6 . �xcS lhcs 2 7 .:d8 + �f7 2 8 . :xh8 and Black resigned. 1 6.gxf3 tbbS

What is the most efficient way to win for White? 20.:g311

This beautiful geometrical resource is winning by force. The threat is 2 I J:ta3 followed by 2 2 . tb b6. 20 . . . tbfS 2 I . l::t a 3 tbxd6 2 2 .tbxd 6 + �d8

Black is a pawn up in the ending. Never­ theless. he is hopelessly lost. because he will not be able to coordinate his forces. 1 7J:tg1 l::t g S 1 S.f4

The opening of the long diagonal dis­ courages . . . b 7 -b6. 1 S ...f6

Vacating the f7 -square for the king. 1 9.0-0-0

is no defence because of 23 . l:tc3 ! . Sometimes we have to provoke such a coordination problem by blocking a few defensive lines. thus leaving the de­ fence without prospects of bringing his forces toward the crucial zone. 1 37

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Blockade

Carvallo,Henri Picard,Clement Nationale 1 2 0 1 0

1 .d4 cS 2.c3 e6 3.ltJf3 ltJf6 4.�f4 cxd4 S .cxd4 'fib6 6 .'iYc2 ltJc6 7.e3 �e7 S.ltJc3 a 6 9.�e2 0-0 1 0.0-0 dS 1 1 .a3 �d 7 1 2.�d3 l:tacS 1 3.'fie2 ltJa7 1 4.ltJeS �eS 1 S.l:tac1 ltJd7 1 6 .l:tc2 ltJxeS 1 7.�xeS �d6

1 8 . . . g 6 1 9 . e 4 ± dxe4 ( 1 9 . . . ltJc6 2 0 .exd 5 ± ) 2 0 .'fie3 +- ( 2 0 .'fid2+-) ; 1 8 . . .h6 ? ! 1 9 . 'fig4 g 6 2 0 . 'ifh3 (20 . . . h5 ( 2 0 . 'ifh4+- ) 20 . . . �h7 2 1 . g4) 2 1 . f4 ! +- �d7 2 2 . l:tf3 followed by 2 3 .'fixh6+ �xh6 24.l:th 3 # . The idea i s that against a move like 1 8 . . . �d7 , White plays 1 9 .�xh 7 + ( 1 9 . 'fih 5 +- ) 1 9 . . . �xh 7 2 0 .'ifh5 + �g8 2 1 .'fig5 g6 2 2 .'fih 6 . 1 9.1tJxdS

Or 1 9 .'ifg4+ �h8 2 0 .'ifh4 f5 2 1 .ltJxd5 ! exd5 2 2 .�xf5 'iit g 7 2 3 .'ifg5+ �h8 24.'iYh6 �xh2 + 2 5 .'fixh2 +- . 1 9 ... 'fidS

If 1 9 . . . exd5 2 0 .'ifg4+ �h8 2 1 .'iff5 mates.

� � �iLt �� . �

� y.� � . , , � � ","� �� r� ��, ". . . . �

In this game, White's queen and two bishops are looking dangerously at the black king. Black's position is solid, though. His castle might be defended by a classical pawn move like . . . £7 -f5 or . . . g7 -g6 , and everything would be in order. That is why White must prevent Black 's forces from coordinating immediately. The blockading move 1 S.�f61

leaves Black in dire straits , because now he is no longer able to assist his king, while White will be attacking. 1 8 .�xd6 'fixd6 1 9 .'fih5 ( 1 9 .l:tfc l ) 1 9 . . . g 6 was played in the game, where Black was able to equalize. 1 S ... gxf6 1 38

.....

.�.�;.� �r� ��"..3%.� �� � �r�� r�%.r�" � £r.�%." M �iVr � f!J %'

. � %� �.i�f � � , ·% ....

%" •

•

%

..

20.l:txcS ltJxcS

If 2 0 . . . 'fixc8 2 1 .'ifh5 f5 2 2 .ltJf6+ �g7 2 3 .'fig 5 + �h8 24.'fih6 and mates. 21 .'ifg4+ �hS 22.'fih4

And White wins : 2 2 . . .. f5 2 3 .'ifxd8+- . A third possibility that leads to impo­ tent defence is when the defensive pieces are too far away from the main action; in this case the attacker has enough time to build up his attack, and to round it off before the defensive men are able to come back.

C h a p t e r 1 4-

-

Defence too far away

Naer,E�geny Yuferov,Sergey St Petersburg 2 0 0 0 ( 3 )

1 .d4 ttJf6 2.ttJf3 g6 3.c4 �g7 4.ttJc3 d 5 5 .cxd5 ttJxd5 6 .e4 ttJxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.l:tb1 0-0 9.�e2 b6 1 0.0-0 �b7 1 1 .'ii d 3 .ia6 1 2.'ii e 3 'ii d 7 1 3.Axa6 ttJxa6 1 4.'ii e 2 'ii a 4 1 5.d5 �xc3

Very courageous. Now White will be able to develop a quick attack thanks to a tempo-winning move, which allows him to quickly obtain perfect coordina­ tion between his forces : 1 6 .l:tb3

I m p o t e n t D e fen c e / D e fen c e T o o F a r Awa y

unable to assist their king ' in case of emergency' . 1 7.ttJe5!

Simple, yet brilliant: the knight vacates the third rank in order to let its own rook have its say on the kingside. Also, the knight may reach the interesting c6 -square, while controlling f7 and g 6 around the black king 's defences . 1 7... l:tac8

After 1 7 . . . f6 several moves give White an advantage , the funniest being 1 8 . ttJxg 6 ! ( 1 8 . ttJ c 6 ± ) 1 8 . . . hxg 6 1 9 .1:tg3 'it>f7 ( 1 9 . . . 'ii e 8 2 0 .'iih S ! +- ; not 2 0 .'iix a6 ± , which would allow Black some hope to save the game)

The threat is to take the bishop, and in case it retreats , say to g 7 , to play 1 7 . l:ta3 , thus winning the a6-knight. 1 6 ...Ab4

This move was forced, in order not to lose the knight on a 6 . We should be very wary of entering such messy piece positions with black. Queen, knight and bishop are stuck on the queenside, and

The game is over. Black will not get his pieces back to protect his king : 1 8 . . . c41 9 . 'ii e 3 ! followed inevitably by 'iih 6 .

1 39

T u n e Yo u r C h e ss T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Exercises Exercise 1 Signal 7

*

Bondarevsky,Igor Botvinnik,Mikhail Moscow ch-URS 1 94 1 ( 1 9)

1 .d4 d5 2.tDf3 c6 3 .e3 �g4 4.c4 e6 5.tDc3 tD d 7 6 .�d3 tDgf6 7.0-0 �e7 S.b3 0-0 9.�b2 e5 1 0.�e2 e4 1 1 .tDd2 i.xe2 1 2 .'iYxe2 �b4 1 3 .a3 �xc3 1 4.�xc3 :eS 1 5.f3 tDfS 1 6 .:f2 'tWd7 1 7.:af1 exf3 1 S.:xf3 :e6 1 9.'iYd3 :aeS 20.tDb 1 tDg6 21 .�e1 dxc4 22 .'iYxc4 :xe3 23 .lIxe3 :xe3 24.�f2 tDd5 25.tDd2 tDgf4 26.h3 �c3 27.... a4 tDe2+ 2S.�h2

(Solution on page 1 5 6)

Exercise 3 Signal 7

**

Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Huschenbeth,Niclas

(Solution on p a g e 1 5 6)

Exercise 2 Signal 7

*

Hawkins,Jonathan Mackle,Dominic North Shields ch-GBR 2 0 1 2 (6)

1 .d4 tDf6 2.c4 e6 3.tDf3 b6 4.g3 �6 5 ....a4 �e7 6 ..tg2 c6 7.tDc3 0-0 S.�f4 �b7 9.0-0 d5 1 0.tDe5 a6 1 1 .'iYc2 b5 1 2.b3 tDbd7 1 3.:fd 1 :ca 1 4.e4 tDxe5 1 5.dxe5 tDd7 1 6.exd5 cxd5 1 7.cxd5 b4 1 S.dxe6 1 40

Gibraltar 2 0 1 2 ( 5 . 8 ) 1 .d4 tDf6 2.c4 e6 3.tDf3 b6 4.a3 �b7 5.ttJc3 d5 6.cxd5 tDxd5 7�d2 �e7 8.'iYc2 0-0 9.e4 tDxc3 1 0hc3 c5 1 1 .dxc5 bxc5 1 2.:d1 'ilic7 1 3�d3 ttJc6 1 4.e5 h6 1 5.0-0 :fdS 1 6�7+ �hS 1 7�e4 'iYb6 18.'iYa4 :aca 1 9�b1 :Xd1 20.:Xd1 :dS 21 .h4 h5 22.:e1 g6 23.'iif4 �gS 24.tDg5 bg5 25.'i!Jxg5 tDd4 26':e3 'iic7 27.�h2 .td5 o

• .�� ••• �·r. � �

:·�:·fif. % %. % " z

, � r�'��..t.r�' " ' � �D ..... % �m�.%§%� �• � r%�%�"". tI= .�. �. %•. .%

• �."

(Solution on page 1 5 7)

Chapter 1 4

Exercise 4 Signal 7

-

I m p o t e n t D e fen c e / D e fen c e T o o F a r Awa y

**

Q'Connell,Gerard Brady,Stephen Dublin 20 I 2 ( 7 )

1 .d4 t2Jf6 2.c4 e 6 3 .t2Jc3 �b4 4.e3 dS S .�d3 0-0 6 .t2Jf3 b6 7.0-0 �b7 8.cxd S exdS 9.'iVc2 a6 1 0.�d 2 �d6 1 1 .t2JeS cS 1 2 .f4 cxd4 1 3 .exd4 t2Jc6 1 4.t2Je2 !tc8 1 S .'iVd 1 t2Je4 1 6 .nc1 t2Je7 1 7.t2Jg3 bS 1 8.'iVe2 t2Jxd 2 1 9.'iVxd 2 nxc1 20Jbc1 t2Jg6 21 .t2JfS �b8 22.g3 t2JxeS 23 .fxeS �a 7 24.�g2 �h8 2S .'iVf4 �c8 26 J�c6 �xfS 27.�xfS 'iVaS

(Solution on page 1 5 7 )

***

Exercise 6 Signal 7

Fedorchuk,Sergey Ponomariov,Ruslan Spain tt 2 0 1 1 ( 5 )

(Solution on page 1 5 7)

Exercise 5 Signal 7

***

1 .e4 cS 2.t2Jf3 d 6 3 .�bS+ t2J d 7 4.d4 cxd4 S .'iVxd4 a6 6 .�xd 7+ �xd 7 7.t2Jc3 eS 8.'iVd 3 h 6 9.t2Jd 2 !tc8 1 0.t2Jc4 'iVc7 1 1 .t2Je3 t2Jf6 1 2 .0-0 �e7 1 3 .a4 'iVcS 1 4.!td 1 �e6 1 S .'iVe2 0-0 1 6 .!td3 �d8 1 7.'iVf3 �h7 1 8.t2JfS !tc6 1 9.b3 �aS

Gonzalez Garcia,Jose Teran Alvarez,Ismael Seville 2 0 1 1 ( 5 )

1 .t2Jf3 cS 2.e4 d 6 3.d4 cxd4 4.t2Jxd4 t2Jf6 S.t2Jc3 t2Jc6 6.�gS �d7 7.'iVd2 !tc8 8.t2Jxc6 bc6 9.f3 a6 1 0.0-0-0 e6 1 1 .�b1 �e7 1 2.h4 0-0 1 3.t2Je2 bS 14.t2Jd4 'iVb6 1 S.g4 b4 1 6.�e3 'iVb7 1 7.gS t2Jd7 1 8.g6

(Solution on page 1 5 8)

141

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Chapter 15

Sol utions Sol ution Swi n g Door 1 (page 75)

2S ... b 5 !

enables Black to enter the ' swing door' mechanism. Both the knight and the queen are attacked, so White has to try a counterattack :

wins the queen. Solution Swi ng Door 2 (page 75)

27.'ifxc5

Here, Black's queen is attacked, but so is White's knight, which defends the queen. 2 7 .'ife6 is better, but the ending is lost after 2 7 . . . 'ifxe6 ( 2 7 . . .'iU8 also wins, threatening 28 . . . l:rd6) 2 8 .fxe6 bxa4 2 9 .exf7 + 'iit x f7 3 0 .l:tx h 7 axb3 3 1 .cxb3 l:ld3 -+ with an easy win. This is the right moment to set up the discovered attack: 27.. .l::t d S !

Auto-pinning the rook. Now the White knight has to move but after 28.ttJc3

1 42

The winning move is again the auto­ pin 32.l:le3

The answer 32 ... ttJd4

is forced. If 3 2 . . .ttJaS 3 3 .b4 wins piece.

a

Chap ter 1 5

-

Sol u t i ons

2 0... :c6 1

The white rook is attacked, and it must keep the queen protected because of the threatened discovered check . . . :xc 1 + . All the same, the 'pinned' rook has chances to join an attack on the white king via the sixth rank. 21 .:h5! 33.:d3 !

The pinned piece is now the attacker. The only try is 33 ... tOb3

The only chance. In the game, White played 2 1 . l:tf5 tOd6 2 2 .'ifd3 1::t x e3 2 3 .dxe3 'ifxf5 24.a3 'ifh3 + 2 5 . Wg l tOf5 and White resigned , because checkmate cannot be avoided. 21 ... g6 22.l:te51

The situation looks similar to the one at the beginning, but there is a huge dif­ ference : the white rook is on an open file, which allows a striking finish.

In order to take on e 8 with check, so Black plays

34.'iff6+1 l:txf6 35.exf6+ �gS 36J:tdS+ 'iffS 37.:xfS+ �xfS 3S.cxb3 1 -0

Avoiding some checks. But now Black wins back material.

Sol ution Swi ng Door 3 (page 75)

22 ... �xh7 23.�g1

23 ... tOd6 24.1!t'xb4

On 24.'ifd5 :c5 wins. 24... :xe5

with a large advantage to Black, thanks to the good coordination of his forces. Solution Checkmates 1 (page 80)

The adventurous Russian champion (with white) plays an acrobatic game, taking pawns (three ! ) without being able to get his queenside pieces into play. For the moment White 's queen at­ tacks Black's, so the second player re­ sorts to our known mechanism :

1 43

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Practice is necessary in this field. Even if we know all classical mating patterns, it is not easy to spot them in a compli­ cated game. Here White missed a sur­ prising checkmate : 3 0.�xh611

3 0 . g 3 was played in the game, after which Black won. 30 ... �xb2

If 3 0 . . . �xh6 3 1 . ttJxh 6 + WhS 3 2 JbfS # . I f 3 0 . . . :xf7 3 1 . :dS + �fS 3 2 JhfS + lhfS 3 3 JhfS # . After the text move, a well-known pat­ tern appears :

This game was played some weeks after Grischuk-Gelfand (see page 1 3 4) . It seems that Giri had seen the game, be­ cause he played exactly like Grischuk, eliminating the enemy pieces that were controlling the dark squares, in order to attack precisely on this colour. I was playing in the same hall and I re­ member that the young Dutchman was playing extremely quickly. He actually spent more time in the analysis room , looking at and commenting on a short draw between Nataf and Van Wely, than at his board. Now I can see why : he had done his homework ! 26.�f811 l:txf8

In the game there followed 2 6 . . . :ecS 2 7 .... c5 and Black resigned. The best defence was 2 6 . . . �b6 . After 2 7 .:d7 �e6 White has the winner 2 S .�c5 ! , which threatens mate on h6 while tackling the queen. 2 6 . . . WxfS 2 7 .�h6+ also leads to a quick checkmate. 27.ttJh6#

1 -0

Sol ution 1 Sig n a l 1 (page 89) 31 .�h8+! �xh8 32.ttJh6#

An ' Epaulette Mate ' . Sol ution Checkmates 2 (page 80)

White has to identify the typical mating pattern (see 'The Basic Checkmates , page 7 6) called 'Anastasia's Mate ' : 21 ....xh7+! wxh7 22J:�h5# 1 44

Chapter 1 5

-

S o l u t i on s

the rook due to 38 ....xd4 '::' c l + and checkmate follows. Solution 3 sig n a l 1 (page 89)

Solution 2 sig n a l 1 (page 89)

4S .. .l::t d S I

The mating threat is obvious : a back­ rank checkmate with . . . l:tc l +. White needs two pieces to defend against this check : the queen and the rook. Against this double defence, Black uses a double deflection and wins instantly : 3S .. b4 1! ...

0-1

White's queen was defending against the threat of . . . �d5 , attacking the pinned knight on g 2 . After the interception by the black rook, White loses at least the knight: 47 .�xd6 �d5 or 47 ."e8 l:td2 48."e4 �d5 49 ....xc2 l:txc 2 . Solution 4 sig n a l 1 (page 90)

0-1

White is able to reach the opponent's monarch thanks to the sacrificial 3S.tDxf7 1

Both the queen and the rook are under attack. There is no defence, because if 3 7 ."d l (or 3 7 ....e 3 ) 3 7 . . ... xd4! wins

Black has to take because the knight is forking his heavy pieces. 3S .. .';i;>xf7 3 7.... eS+ �8 1 45

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

And now the scattered black men are unable to defend against the simple

Checkmate by h2 -h4+ and �f3 /h3 fol­ lows inevitably.

38J:t h 1

Threatening mate i n one. Black could give a rook back by l::t g 1 + . but the re­ sulting position would be hopeless. so he resigned.

1 6.l::t x h7+1+- �xh7 1 7.�d3+

Solution 5 sig n a l 1 (page 90)

The threat is 2 1 .ttJe4. so the black queen has to move in order to provide some room for the king. 20 . 'ife3+ ..

20 . . . �d7 allows the elegant finish 2 1 . ttJ g 8 + ! � g S 2 2 . ttJ e4+ �g4 (22 . . . �fS 2 3 . ttJh6#) 2 3 .ttJh6#. 1 46

C h ap t e r I S

21 .�b1 �e5

Or 2 1 . . . ..t�7 2 2 .ttJe4+ �eS 2 3 .�g 7 + f6 24 . ..txf6#. 22.ttJe4

-

S ol u t i ons

1 9 .... c1 !

Attacking two unprotected men and winning a piece. Black resigned. . Sol ution 3 sig n a l 2 (page 96)

Now the threat is 2 3 .�g7 with check­ mate. There is no other defence than to give the queen. Black preferred to resign. Sol ution 1 sig n a l 2 (page 96)

In this open position, three white men lack protection : the e I -rook, the b 2 pawn (both attacked once and defended once) and the c S -knight . Unsur­ prisingly, Black is able to strike and win : 24.�xc6 l:txc6 25 ....e4 !

After this double attack, 2 S . . . l:te6 is the best try, but White wins the queen with 2 6 .'iVa8+ "'e8 2 7 . l:td8 . Solution 2 sig n a l 2 (page 96)

30...... e5!

A double attack. White has to part with the e l -rook because checkmate is threatened on b 2 . Also, 3 0 . . . l:txe l + 3 1 . l:txe l 'iYb4 ! , at­ tacking three unprotected points. Sol ution 4 sig n a l 2 (page 97)

In this wild rapid game, Black has just defended the h pawn. In doing so, he offers a neat finish to his opponent. 1 8 . . . l:I.a8 would have been unclear.

24.b4! 1 47

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

This in-between move had escaped the attention of the Dutchman.

Solution 6 sig n a l 2 (page 97)

24 ... �xb4 25 .ttJc2

And now the two pieces are simulta­ neously under attack. One is lost. 25 ... �d 2 26 .�xd2 ttJb2+ 27.�e2 �d5 2S.�c1 ttJc4 29.wd3 ttJb6 30.ttJe3+ we6 31 .ttJc4 ttJcS 1 -0 32.ttJa5 ttJd6 33.�f4

Sol ution 5 sig n a l 2 (page 97)

The rook on b 7 is en prise (step one) . 1 6:tVg4+ 1

We must reposition the queen for sev­ eral reasons , the key one being that we must gain access to the f3 -square. 1 6 ... �hS 1 7.exf6 �xf6 1 S.'iVf3 !

The final move, a clear double attack on the two unprotected pieces, on f6 and b7. 1 4.ttJxd5 �xd5 1 5.ttJg5

Threatening mate in one ( 1 6 .'ifxh 7 ) while opening the long diagonal for the g2-bishop. 1 5 JhdS is also good. 1 5 ... �xg5 1 6 .�xd5

1 S . . .�xb2 1 9.1:ta2 l:tb6 20.l:txb2 f6 21 .J:bd2 e5 22.a5 l:ta6 1 -0 23J:td7 l:txa5 24.J:dS

Sol ution 1 sig n a l 3 (page 1 03)

2S ... J:dS 1 6 ... 'fie7 1 7.�xg5 'ifxg5 1 S.f4 'fih 5 1 9.�xaS 1 -0 1 48

0-1

After 2 9 .'ifxcS Black wins a -rook with ,..o.., f2 bxcS . 2 9 . . Jhd 1 + 3 0 . 13'

Chap ter

Solution 2 sig n a l 3 (page 1 03)

lS

-

Sol u t i ons

just an illusion because what really counts here is the alignment on the a-file between Black's king and rook. So 45J�dxb4+!

1 -0

On 4S . . . axb4 4 6 . l:ta l + g7

26 . . . g5 27 .h4. White has engineered a counterattack against Black's standard push . . . g 5 -g4 with g 2 - g 3 . The position of the bishop on f2 and the king on h2 allow Black to win a piece thanks to a forking threat : 24 ... h4 1 25.gxf4

If the king or the bishop moves, to avoid the pawn fork, for example 2 5 . 'it'h 1 , completely crushing is 2 5 . . . hxg3 2 6 . �e l gxh3 . 2 5 .fxg4 was White 's best option, but Black has a great advantage after 2 5 . . . hxg 3 + 2 6 . �xg3 fxg 3 + .

27.g5 ttJxe4 2SJ:txd 7 l:tc2 2 9.ttJxe5 l:txf2+ 3 0 .'Ji? g 1 l:tf5 3 1 .ttJac6 l:txg5+ 3 2 . 'it'f 1 l:tf5+ 3 3 . 'it' e 2 a6 34.:te7 ttJc5 3 5 . ttJ d 4 :4g5 3 6 .b4 ttJa4 3 7.:4xf7+ 'it'g S 3 S.:4e 7 ttJc3+ 3 9 . 'it'd3 1 -0

Solution 1 sig n a l 5 (page 1 2 1 )

2 5 ... g3+ 26.'it> h 1 gxf2-+

Simplest. 26 . . . exf4 , as played in the game, is also advantageous for Black. Solution 6 Sig n a l 4 (page 1 1 3)

Black's rook is far advanced and aggres­ sively posted on the second rank, but at the moment it lacks connection with its own army.

and the rook cannot escape. White won an exchange, and a bi� later the game. 1 52

Chapter 1 5

Sol ution 2 sig n a l 5 (page 1 21 )

-

Sol u t i ons

21 .b4!

The rook is trapped along the 5 th rank. 21 ... l:4cS

Defending against 2 2 .. �c4, but there is another way of catching the rook. 22.a41

2 2 .�e4? �b5 and Black is fine. 22 ... �c3 23 .�a 2 1

The white queen has infiltrated deeply into the enemy lines , without assistance of her army. Black, not White, is able to benefit from this advanced position, by trapping the queen. 20 ...�g41-+

Closing the emergency exit. 21 .c5 i.fS

Now both the queen and the game are lost. 22.cxd6 'ifa 7 23 .'ifxfS+ l:1hxfS 24.l:1d2 c5 25 .�a5 �abS 26 .�c1 �b5 27.�c7 Ae6 2S.�dc2 c4 29.bxc4 � b4 30.ttJb2 'ifd4 31 .ttJd1 �xc4 32J:txc4 �xc4 33 .ttJe3 �xa2 34.�d 1 'ifc3 0-1

Sol ution 3 s i g n a l 5 (page 1 21 )

Now �e4 cannot b e prevented. Not 2 3 . i. e 4 ? d 3 ! 24 . .ixd3 ( 2 4 . �xd5 dxc2 + ; 24. l:4xd3 l:4dxd3 2 5 .�xd3 %ia3) 24 .. .l::t d4 and Black is much better. 23 ... :xd 3

So Black decides to ' sacrifice ' the ex­ change. White is winning. 24.cxd3 a5 25.�b1 g5 26.�hf1 b6 27.fxg5 Axg5 2S.�f5 �xf5 29.gxf5 �g7 3 0.bxa5 bxa5 31 .�b5 �d2 32.�b3 �f6 33.�c4 �c3 34.h3 �g5 35.�b7 'it'xf5 36 .�xf7+ �g6 3 7.�f4 h 5 3S.�d5 �g5 39.�e4 �b4 40.�xd4 �a3 41 .�e6 �c5 42.h4+ �g6 43.�f4 �b4 44.d4 1 -0

Solution 4 s i g n a l 5 (page 1 22)

1 53

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Sol ution 6 sig n a l 5 (page 1 23)

1 1 8 ... ttJd 7 1

Black dominates the enemy knight, and will attack it with a king march ( . . . �d6-c6-b5 ) that cannot be averted. White 's knight has to go to c5 , but this loses a pawn, and the game. 1 1 9.�d2

The immediate 1 1 9 .ttJc5 + is no help : 1 1 9 . . . ttJxc5 1 2 0 . dxc5 �d7 1 2 1 .�d2 �c6 1 2 2 . �e3 �xc5 . 1 1 9 ... �d6 1 20.�e2 1 21 .�e3 �b5 1 22 .ttJc5 1 23 .dxc5 �xc5 1 24.�e2 1 25.�d2 �e6 1 26.�d 1 1 27.�d 2 �f4 1 28.�d 1 1 29.�c1 �e2 1 30.�b 1 1 31 .�a 1 d4 1 32.cxd4 �c2

�c6 ttJxc5 �d6 �f5 �e3 �d2 0-1

1 6 .�g6 1 ! 0-0

On 1 6 . . . fxg 6 1 7 .ttJxe6 wins the queen. This surprising trapping of the queen is the point of the combination. After 1 6 . . . hxg 6 1 7 .'ifxhS+ wins the exchange. 1 7.�xh7+ �h8

Sol ution 5 sig n a l 5 (page 1 22)

And Black resigned. Sol ution 1 sig n a l 6 (page 1 3 2)

The fianchettoed knight apparently has an escape square on c5 . But Black has a trick here : 25 ...... b61

Attacking queen and knight. White has to take, but after 2 6 ....xb6 axb6 the knight is dominated, and lost after 2 7 .ttJdS :cS , or 2 7 . . . :d6 .

1 54

20 . .l:.xa31

And Black resigned. After 2 0 . l:.xa3 "'xa3 2 1 ....f6 he has to give up the queen to prevent check­ mate.

Chap ter I S

-

S ol u t i ons

Sol ution 2 sig n a l 6 (page 1 3 2)

Solution 4 Sig n a l 6 (page 1 33)

The queen is protecting the bishop. If the white queen were able to take the bishop on f6 , it would threaten check­ mate on g 7 . That is what White can en­ force with

The queen is the only protection against checkmate on d 6 . That is why no sacri­ fice is too expensive in order to remove it:

20J:td 7 1

1 -0

Sol ution 3 sig n a l 6 (page 1 32)

The only defender against the check­ mate on h7 is the crucial f6-knight. Un­ fortunately for Black, White is able to either deviate or eliminate it with a fork: 1 8.tLld 7!

1 8 . . . tLlxd 7 1 9 ....h 7 # . 1 8 . . ....c7 1 9 . tLlxf6 + �xf6 2 0 ....h 7 is also checkmate.

30.... a511 'fixa5

On 3 0 . . .... d8 3 1 .c 7 wins. 31 .�xd6#

Sol uti o n 5 sig n a l 6 (page 1 33)

60.b6 1 l:txa4

60 . . . l:tb7 6 1 . l:tc6 is an easy win. 61 .b7

6 1 . l:tc4+ first is also possible.

1 -0

61 .. .l:lb4 6 2.l:tc4+11

A beautiful deflection, of both the rook (which keeps the b-pawn under con155

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

trol) and the bishop (which guards against ttJc2 + , forking rook and king) . There could follow 6 2 . . . . �xc4 6 3 . ttJc 2 + c,to>c3 6 4 . ttJxb4 and the b-pawn will be crowned, or 62 .. Jhc4 6 3 . ttJxc4 followed by M.bS ... .

If 2 6 . . . gxhS 2 7 .... g S + c,to>hS 2 S . l::t £7 l::t g S 2 9 .'ifh6 and mate.

Solution 6 sig n a l 6 (page 1 33)

On 2 9 . . . 'if g 7 White 3 0 .'ifxg 7 + Wxg 7 3 1 .d 7 .

27.'ifh 6 e6 28.d6

Or 2 S .dxe6 with l:l£7 to come. 28 ...... a7 29.ttJf6 l::t e d8

wins

with

30.d 7

1 -0

Sol ution 1 sig n a l 7 (page 1 40)

White 's four pieces are looking toward the king, while the knight on eS holds the black defence. This is a typical case of a crucial defender, and White now played the logical 24.l:lxeS! dxeS 2S.fxg6 fxg6

If 2 S . . . hxg6 2 6 .ttJhS + gxhS ( 2 6 . . . c,to>gS 2 7 .'ifh6+-) 2 7 .'ifg S + and mate. Now comes another sacrifice, in order to de­ stroy the last guards of the king.

White 's queen might appear trapped , but this is not the right signal here. The problem is that no piece can defend the light squares around White 's king. 28 l::t x h3+! • •.

If 2 9 . gxh3 ttJdf4, followed by mate. Sol ution 2 sig n a l 7 (page 1 40)

26.ttJhS+! c,to>h8 1 56

0-1

Chap ter

Black's king faces three enemy pieces : the bishop, the rook and the queen, and is quite iSQ.lated here. Only the f8 -rook is able to assist immediately in the de­ fence. White can win by force : 23 . .ih61

IS

-

S ol u t i ons

Solution 4 sig n a l 7 (page 1 41 )

1 -0

If 2 3 . . . gxh6 24.�xh6 and mate is un­ avoidable ; or 2 3 . . J � g 8 2 4 . i.xg 7 + l:txg 7 2 S .l:te8 + , winning the queen. 23 ... l:tg8 24.�f7

Black's queen and bishop are far away. White wins by combining the forces of his bishop, rook, queen and e S -pawn.

Sol ution 3 sig n a l 7 (page 1 40)

28.l:t h 6 1 l:td8

After 28 . . . gxh6 2 9 . �xh6 is crushing. On 2 8 . . . g6 2 9 .�xg6 wins. 29.l:txh7+ g8 30.'irg5 31 .�xg6 f6 32.�xf6

g6

1 -0

Sol ution 5 sig n a l 7 (page 1 41 )

The black queen is the main defender here, against three white pieces that are aimed at the black king's castle. 28.�xg6 ! fxg6

After this sacrifice to destroy the for­ tress , White is able to deflect the enemy queen thanks to the alignment on the as-d8 diagonal : 29 . .ia5 1 �xa5 30.�xg6+ f8

On 3 0 . . . h8 3 1 .�h6+ g8 3 2 J�g3 + and checkmate follows. 31 .l:tg31

1 -0

There is no defence against a quick checkmate : 3 1 . . .e7 3 2 .�h7 + e8 3 3 .l:tg8#, or 3 1 . . . ttJfs 3 2 .'irg 8 + e7 3 3 .'ifh 7 + ete.

25.e5!

A typical move, opening the diagonal for the white bishop and closing the line of defence of the black bishop. 25 ... dxe5

On 2 S . . . l:tb6 the queen exchange 2 6 .�xb 7 l:txb 7 followed by the se1 57

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

quence 2 7 .�xa6 l:tbb8 2 8 .�d3 + �h8 2 9 .bxc3 is winning for White. Now comes a typical obstruction move :

20.ltJxg 7! �xg 7

26 .�f6 !+- l:tg8

If 2 0 . . . .ig4. 2 1 .'ifxf6 wins a piece.

If 2 6 . . . gxf6 then 2 7 .l:tg 1 with mate. 27.�d3+ �h8 28.'ife4

Or 2 8 .'iVg 6 . Solution 6 sig n a l 7 (page 1 41 )

It is clear that Black's pieces are too far away from the main action. that is : the dark squares around the black king !

1 -0

21 .�xh6+!

' Play it again. Sam !

.

21 ... �g6

Black keeps defending the f6 -knight. If 2 1 . . . �xh6 White forces mate with 2 2 ....xf6 + �h5 2 3 . l:tg 3 . 22.ltJd5 ltJ h 7

After the retreat 2 2 . . . �d8 . 2 3 . ..txf8 wins. 23.'ifg3+ �h5 24.ltJf6+ ltJxf6 25.'ifg5# 1 -0

1 58

Part I � I - Looking for the Right Move

Introd uction Cha pter 16 Cha pter 17 Cha pter 18

-

Ca ndidate Moves

-

Accurate Ca lcu lation

-

Test: Is There A Combi nation?

1 59

I ntroduction We now enter the fourth and fifth phases o f our thinking process. After we have examined the position ('Global vision' , page 1 3) , analysed it (see Part I, p. 25) and chosen a general course of action (Part n, p. 69) , we have to make a con­ crete decision, Le. choose a specific move. This topic can be divided into two parts: - one (phase 4) consists of making a selection of moves (so called ' candidate moves ' ) that we need to investigate further, in order to select the best among them; - the other (phase 5 ) consists in calculating the variations. Schematically, it is easier to consider that part one is ' selecting the candidates ' and part 2 is ' calculating them' , but in practice it is difficult to separate the two op­ erations. Specifically, when we pick up a few candidate moves , the calculating pro­ cess may suggest a new candidate that originally wasn't taken in account. This can be explained with a classical example (from the remarkable Imagination in Chess, see the bibliography on page 2 2 3 ) :

Calculation

This looks like a win for White because of the terrible mate threat 5 1 J:tg6+ hxg 6 5 2 .�h 8 # .

Refutation Then we see the refutation of the idea : 50 ... 'fhc2 1

5o ... Af8 5 1 .l:tg6+ is checkmate all the same. But after the text the black queen controls g 6 . This position can be as­ sessed as unclear. White must first calculate the forced variation 49.Ibe6 �xe6 50.l:txe6

The Masked Candidate Now we can look for a new candidate move, which was completely out of consideration at the first examination of the position. Since the threat of l:txe6 is so strong, and can only be parried by . . . �xc 2 , it is logical to try and find a way to prevent this defence : 49.c411 bxc3 1 61

T u n e Yo u r Chess T a c t i cs An tenna

and White wins (Sax-Partos, Biel InterzonaI 1 9 85) . For this reason, I won't give a specific order for these two phases. We have to perform both tasks correctly. In the next two chapters we will see some important points regarding both the selection of candidate moves and the calculation.

1 62

Chapter 16

Cand idate Moves

Seeing u nexpected possibilities

Oren,Menachem Dyner,Boruch Israel Tei Aviv 1 9 5 2

1 .d4 ttJf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 �g 7 4.�g 2 c5 5.d5 0-0 6 .e4 d 6 7.ttJe2 ttJfd 7 8.0-0 b5 9.cxb5 a6 1 0.bxa6 ttJxa6 1 1 .ttJ bc3 l:b8 1 2.b3 ttJb4 1 3 .�b2 ttJe5 1 4.ttJa4 ttJbd3 1 5.�c3 �a6 1 6.f4 ttJg4 1 7.�xg 7 'it>xg 7 1 8J:rt3 c4 1 9.bxc4 l:t b4 20Jbd3 �xc4 21 .l:ta3 Via5 22.�f3 �b3?

Here there are eight legal moves for White. Most people would not spot the winning one. Yet , once you have calcu­ lated that the king moves lose quickly (losing the queen or getting check­ mated) , and eliminated 9 as useless the parades with the queen (on d4) or the rook (on e 3 ) , you are left with knight jumps. Two of them are useless, but one wins on the spot : the extraordinary 24.ttJb611

which lures the black queen to the same file as her rook, thus creating an align­ ment. 2 4 . . . Vixb 6 + .

2 2 . . . �xe 2 ! 2 3 .Vixe2 l:txa4 would have held because after 24. l:txa4 (24.Vib2 + ttJf6) 24 . . . Vixa4, 2 5 .�xg4 is a mistake, due to the double attack 2 5 . . . Vid4+ .

The b4-rook i s now pinned , which allows White to escape and win : 2 5 .Vid4+ ( 2 5 . ttJd4 also wins) 25 . . . Vixd4+ 2 6 . ttJxd4 l:txd4 2 7 . Axg4 with an easy win for White.

9

We call this method of elimination. The frequent use of this method explains why strong grandmasters fall victim to simple tactics: if in a position where they have two possibilities, the 'nonnal' one loses, they play the second one, without even calculating it, because they know that it is the only chance.

1 63

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s A n t e n n a

There are also situations where you have to consider every possible move. Most often this will happen in the end­ game. Sometimes , when the stakes are very high, and when every move can mean the difference between winning and losing, you will have to consider improbable alternatives.

1 7.l:[xd4 tLlb3+ 1 S.'ifxb31

Of course, you have to consider move first, because a capture is simplest way to parry a check. you ? Very well, let's continue the then !

this the Did line

1 S ... 'ifxb3 1 9J:tdS+

Taking every move i nto account

Romanko.Marina Zhukova.Natalia Antakya Wch 2 0 1 0 ( 1 . 1 )

1 .d4 tLlf6 2 .c4 e6 3.tLlc3 �b4 4.'ifc2 0-0 S.a3 �xc3+ 6 .'ifxc3 dS 7.�gS cS S.dxcS d4 9.'ifc2 tLl b d 7 1 0.e3

1 0 .b4 ( I/2- 1/2, 40) Morozevich-Shirov, Biel 2 0 1 1 (6) . 1 0 ... h6 1 1 .�h4 eS 1 2.exd4 exd4 1 3.0-0-0 tLlxcS 1 4.tLlf3 'ifb6 1 S.tLlxd4 l:[dS 1 6 .f3

Black, a strong player, could have won by force here. Can you calculate the winning continuation? 1 6 ... l:[xd4 1

1 6 . . . �d7 was seen in the actual game, which ended in a draw. 1 64

How do you like this position ? It looks as if White is winning , yet there 's a sur­ prising winning move for Black. What are the possible moves here ? 1 9 ... tLleS!I

The purpose of this sacrifice is to de­ viate the rook , so that the normal fol­ low-up 2 0 .�d3 + will not be possible anymore , because the d3 - s quare won't be controlled by the white rook . After 1 9 . . . Wh7 2 0 .�d 3 + g6 loses (yet another surprising interpolation was available with 2 0 . . . �f5 ! and the posi­ tion after 2 1..� xf5 + g6 2 2 Jha8 'ifxc4+ 2 3 .�c2 'ifxh4 is still playable for Black) 2 1..� xf6 and mate : 2 1 . . .�f5 2 2 Jha8 and so on. 20J:txeS+ w h 7

With a big advantage for Black. Here 's another example :

Chap ter 1 6

Taimanov,Mark Larsen,Bent Vinkovci 1 9 7 0 ( 1 3 )

-

Can d i d a t e Moves

1 8.0-0!

Probably the best decision : White sacrifices an exchange in order to keep his king safe, while Black's castle has been damaged by his adventurous play. 1 8 ... �xc1 1 9.�xc1 �e6 20.h3!?

After 2 0 . 'it'xb7 'it'b6 2 1 .'it'xb6 axb6 2 2 .�c7 , White should hold the ending. 20 ... gxh3 21 .�e5

Here the imaginative Dane uncorked 1 4 ... g51 1 5.�g3

If 1 5 .Axg 5 Axg 5 1 6 . ltJxg 5 , 1 6 . . . d4! wins a knight thanks to a double threat.

White mounts a very dangerous attack­ ing set-up; if the queen j oin the attack on g 3 , it will be checkmate.

1 5 ... g4 1 6.ltJd4 ltJxd4 1 7.exd4

21 ...f6 1 22.ltJe4 fxe5 23.'it'g3+

1 7... Ag5 1

Threatening the rook on c 1 and also threatening to give a nasty check on e 8 , while the white king i s still in the cen­ tre.

This looks like a winning attack for White. Should the king go to h8 , 'it'xe5 would be possible, taking the bishop with check on the next move. But the square fl is not ideal either, because of the nasty check on g 5 with the knight. 1 65

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Larsen had seen the paradoxical solu­ tion from afar:

23 ... �g411 A crucial deviation, in order to force White to take on g4 with the queen, thus losing his ideal coordination. The key point is that the queen on e5 would enable the rook to join the party on c7. Instead, Black would lose after both 23 ... �h8 H.'ifxe5+ �g8 25.'it'xe6 + l:fl (25...�g7 26."e5+ �g8

(25 ... 1Wb6 is also losing after 26.l:c7+) : 26.l:c7+ with a crushing attack for White. Now the queen has been attracted on g4, the attack is over.

24.1Wxg4+ �h81

Now the coordination of White's pieces has been spoiled: from g4, the queen does not have access to the crucial e5-square, where it attacks the king while enabling the rook to land on c7. 27.l:c3! with a fatal check on g3 to come) 26.lbd6 l:f8 27.lbxfl l:xfl 28 .l:c8 + White wins; and 23 ...�fl 24 .lb g5+ �e7 25.1Wxe5 l:f6

1 66

25.lbg5 'ifd2 26.l:c7 'ifxf2+ 27.�h2 'it'xg2+ 28....xg2 hxg2 29.dxe5 l:ac8 30.l:xb7 l:c2 31 .lbf7+ �g7 32.e6 �f6 33.e7 0-1 g 1 "+ 34.�xg1 l:g8+

Chapter 17

Accurate Calculation Pawn endi ng

Berry,Neil Rendle, Thomas Bunratty 2 0 1 2 ( 3 )

1 .d4 f S 2 .ttJf3 ttJf6 3 .c4 g 6 4 . g 3 �g 7 S . b4 d 6 6 .� b 2 eS 7.dxeS ttJfd 7 S.�g 2 dxeS 9.'iYb3 0-0 1 0.cS+ �hS 1 1 .0 - 0 'iYe7 1 2 .ttJc3 c6 1 3 . ttJ d 2 ttJf6 1 4.l::t f d 1 e4 1 S .e3 �e6 1 6 .... a 3 ttJ b d 7 1 7.ttJe2 � g S 1 S.h4 ttJ e S 1 9.ttJf4 l::t f dS 20.�d4 ttJ d S 2 1 .ttJxdS l::t x dS 2 2 .�f1 a 6 23 .'iYc3 l::t a d S 24.�e2 ttJ d 3 2 S . ttJ b 3 ttJ e S 2 6 . ttJ d 2 l::t S d 7 27. ttJ b 3 �xb3 2S. "'xb3 ttJf3+ 2 9.�xf3 exf3 30 .... c3 �gS 31 .l::t d 2 f4 32 .... c4+ "'f7 33 .... xf7 + �xf7 34.gxf4 �e6 3 S .l::t a d 1 l::t d S 3 6 . � h 2 �fS 3 7. � g 3 �e4 3S.a3 l::t S d 7 3 9 . � g 4 h6 40. l::t c 1 h S + 41 . � g 3 � h 6 4 2 . l::t c 4 �xf4+ 4 3 .exf4 l::t x d4 44.l::t c xd4+ l::t x d4 4 S . l::t x d4+ �xd4 4 6 . � xf3 �c3 47.fS g xfS 4S.�f4 � b 3

Calculation i s o f paramount importance in pawn endings. When both players have chances to promote (in backgam­ mon they call this a 'race ' , and the term is appropriate in chess too) , we can count the separate moves, for White and for Black, and then assess the result of the race. Here, Black will queen in seven moves : the king takes on a3 , then b4, and the a-pawn goes as , a4, a3 , a2 , a l . What should White do? 49.�gS !

49 . �xf5 was played in the game : 49 . . . �xa3 5 0 . f4 �xb4 5 1 .�g6 as 5 2 . f5 a4 5 3 . f6 a3 54.£'7 a2 5 5 . f8'" a l '" 5 6 . �xh5 "'d l + V2- 1/2. The text move is winning because while White will also need seven moves to queen (king to g 5 , take on h5 . back to g 5 , and h5 -h6-h7 -h8 = queen) , the newly-born queen will be able to con­ trol the promotion square of the oppo­ nent just in time. 49 ... �xa3 SO.�xhS �xb4 S1 .�gS as S2.hS a4 S3.h6 a 3 1 -0 S4.h 7 a 2 SS.hS'"

Is there a th reat?

Nielsen,Peter Heine Volokitin,Andrey Rogaska Slatina tt 2 0 1 1 ( 7 . 1 )

1 .d4 ttJf6 2.c4 g 6 3 .ttJc3 dS 4.�f4 �g 7 S.e3 cS 6.dxcS "'as 1 67

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

7.:c1 dxc4 S.�xc4 0 - 0 9.ttJf3 'fIxcS 1 0.�b3 ttJc6 1 1 .0-0 'fIaS 1 2.h3 'fIa6 1 3.e4 l:tdS 1 4.'fIe1 ttJ b4 1 S.ttJgS e6 1 6 .l::t d 1 r:txd 1 1 7.'fIxd 1

Cebalo,Miso Campora,Daniel Bern 1 9 8 8 ( 1 )

1 .d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.tt::l c3 ttJf6 4.ttJf3 dxc4 S.a4 �fS 6.e3 e6 7.�xc4 �b4 S.O-O 0-0 9.ttJh4 ttJbd7 1 0.f3 �g6 1 1 .ttJxg6 hxg6 1 2.e4 eS 1 3.�e3 'fIb6 1 4.h 1 as 1 S .f4 exd4 1 6 . .txd4 �cS 1 7.�xf6 ttJxf6 1 S.eS 'iVxb2 1 9.:c1 .l:tadS 20.'fIf3 ttJdS 21 .ttJxdS cxdS 22 ..txdS 'fId4 23 .:cd 1 'fIe3 24.'fIxe3 �xe3

White is better, with an advantage in space and better coordination. Never­ theless , Black is quite solid here, and beginning a regrouping with 1 7 . . . ttJc6 or 1 7 . . . 'fI as will allow him to keep fighting. He decided to attack instead: 1 7... ttJd3

Black's last move is a calculation mis­ take. Why? 1 S.�c2 1

Winning. After 1 8 . . . ttJxf4 1 9 .'fId8 + �f8 2 0 .'fIxf6 White will give check­ mate on f7 . Thus the threat of 1 8 . . . ttJxf4 after 1 7 . . . ttJd3 was not a real one, and after 1 8 .�c2 Black loses a piece.

Here White would like to play e5-e6, and if Black takes, .ixe 6 + , with mate threats. The problem with this variation is that after �xe6 White has no rook lift, because he is himself threatened with a back-rank mate. Hence the idea of preparing the mate by a preliminary rook lift : 2S .:f3 1 �cS 26.e6

And in order to survive, Black has to give up material.

Cha ngi ng the move order When you are calculating variations and you are not satisfied with the re­ sulting position , i t makes sense to try to change the order of your move s . 1 68

26 .. J:txdS

2 6 . . . g 5 ! ? was another defensive try. After 2 7 . exf7 + h7 2 8 . .l:th3 + ( 2 8 . f5 g4!) 2 8 . . . g6 2 9 .r:tg3 White has a winning advantage.

Chap ter

17

-

Acc urate C a l c u l a t i on

3JbdS

And WhiH� duly won .

Zugzwa ng Zugwang is a classical case where we have to change the 'normal ' move or­ der.

Ilyin-Zhenevsky,Alexander Botvinnik,Mikhail Leningrad ch-city 1 9 3 8

1 .e4 e S 2 . ttJf3 ttJc6 3 .�bS a 6 4.�a4 ttJf6 S . O - O �e7 6 . l: e 1 bS 7.� b3 d 6 S.c3 0-0 9 .d3 ttJaS 1 0.�c2 cS 1 1 . ttJ b d 2 :leS 1 2 .ttJf1 �fS 1 3 .�gS h 6 1 4.�h4 ttJc6 1 S .ttJe3 �e 7 1 6 .d4 cxd4 1 7.cxd4 ttJ h 7 1 S.�g 3 ttJ g S 1 9.dxeS ttJxf3+ 20.'ifxf3 dxeS 21 .�b3 �e6 2 2 .�xe6 fxe6 23 J:ted 1 'ii' b6 24.'ii' h S �gS 2S.ttJg4 'fic7 2 6 .l::t d 3 � h 7 27J:ta d 1 l::t e dS 2S.ttJxeS ttJxeS 29.�xeS 'ii' b 7 30:�g4 l::t x d 3 31 Jbd 3 l::t d S 3 2 .l::t x dS �xdS 33.h4 'ii' f 7 34.f4 �f6 3S .�xf6 'iYxf6 36.eS 'ii' d S 3 7. � h 2 'ii' d S 3S.a3 � g S 3 9 . h S a s 40.d 7 S4.ttJfS+

This is the obvious calculation , but now we have to check the moves. in order to see if each of them is really forced. And now we see that on the knight check on f8 . Black can draw with 5 4 . . . Wc8 ! .

Second try Leko saw this, and in order to threaten 54.c7 . he played S3 .ttJeS

..:-1-:In this position. we must notice that Black is very close to drawing : he just needs to take the c6-pawn. There are two motifs here that are based on un­ protected pieces: - the bishop is unprotected on g 5 . and can be attacked from e6 or f7 ; - the king has to stop the c-pawn at some point, and is a possible subj ect 1 70

Now 5 3 . . . ..t>d6 is impossible because of the fork on f7 . and taking the knight is

Chap ter

out of the question because of c6-c 7 . White's control o f the d7 -square keeps the black k�ng from catching the passed pawn. Alas for White, Black has another re­ source : S3 ... �d81

And this enabled him to achieve a draw in the game.

Forced. Now White has control of the d7 -square, so that on S4.c7 �xc7

17 -

Ac c u r a t e C a l c u l a t i o n

result o f our calculation. Most o f the time, this will force us to go half a move deeper than we originally intended to calculate - but this half-move can save us many full points !

Hou Qiang Yang Kaiqi Pattaya 2 0 1 1 ( 6 . 7 )

1 .e4 c S 2.tbf3 e6 3 .d4 cxd4 4.tbxd4 a6 S .�d3 �cS 6.tbb3 �e7 7.c4 d 6 8.0-0 tbf6 9.tbc3 tbbd7 1 0.Ae3 0-0 1 1 .a4 'ifc7 1 2.aS l:te8 1 3.tba4 tbcS 1 4.eS tbxa4 1 S.exf6 tbxb2 1 6.�xh 7+ �xh 7 1 7.�hS+ �g8 1 8.fxg 7 �xg 7 1 9.Ah6+ � h 7 20.Ac1 + �g7 21 .�h6+ �g8 22.�xb2 eS 2 3.f4 �f8 24.�gS+ �g 7 2S .fS f6 26 .�g4 �d7 27.l:tf3 l:tac8 28.l:tg3 l:te7 29.l:tc1 b6 30.h4 bxaS 31 .hS a4 32.h6 axb3 33 .�h4 .tc6 34.�xf6 l:tf8 3S.�g6 �h8 36.hxg 7+ l:txg 7 3 7.�h6+ �g8 38.l:tcc3 l:txfS 39.�e6+ �f7 40.l:txg 7+ �xg 7 41 .l:tg3+ � h 7 42.�xd6

is forced, but it allows a decisive fork: SS.tbe6+

And after collecting the bishop, and the black pawns , White wins easily.

Don't stop calculating too soon l This tip i s explained i n various works by Mark Dvoretsky (see Bibliography on page 2 2 3 ) . When we are calculating a variation, we must continue to calculate - even if the verdict seems obvious - as far as there is still an active possibility for either player. Only when there are no more ac­ tive moves can we stop, and assess the

42 ... l:tf1 +

This was rejected by Black because of the variation given below. The game went 42 . . . �xg 2 4 3 .�d3 e4 44.'ifd2 (44.�d4+-) 44 ... �f3 45 .�d8 �f8 171

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

46 ....d7+ :£7 47.'ifh3 +? (47 .l:th3 + ! +-) 47 . . .... h6-+ 48 ....xh6 + xh6 49.f2 l:tc7 5 0 .�e3 l:txc4 5 1 .f4 l:tc6 5 2 .�f5 l:tc5 + 5 3 . f6 h5 5 4 . �d4 l:tb5 5 5 .�f2 �g4 5 6 .l:tg2 1:[f5 + 5 7 .g7 �h3 5 8 . l:.h2 g4 5 9 .�d4 l:td5 60 .�c3 l:tc5 6 1 ..itd4 l:td5 6 2 .�c3 l:td3 6 3 .�e l e3 64.f6 l:.d l 6 5 .�c3 Afl 6 6 .l:.b2 �c4 0- 1 .

ttJg4 1 2.�d 2 �d 7 1 3.l:ta b 1 a6 1 4.a4 f5 1 5.b3 ttJe5 1 6 .... e2 e6 1 7.exf5 gxf5 1 S.�f4 ttJg6

43.h2 "'h5+ 44.l:th3

Black attacks the c3 -knight. The first move that we should calculate here is : 1 9.�xd6

Black replies 1 9 ... �xc3

Winning the queen - or so it seems. Here Black has to calculate one move deeper. because he has an active possi­ bility : a check! Even when they look fancy. you have to check all the checks. 44 ... l:.h1 + 1 45.xh 1

Or 45 .g3 l:.xh3 + 4 6 . gxh3 "'f3 + 4 7 . h4 (47 . h2 "'g2#) 4 7 . . ....f4+ 4 8 . h5 �e8 + . 4 5 ...... xh3+ 46.g 1 "'xg2#

0-1

Romanko,Marina Dworakowska,Joanna Gaziantep Ech 2 0 1 2 ( 1 1 )

1 .d4 ttJf6 2.c4 g 6 3.ttJf3 �g 7 4.g3 0-0 5 .Ag2 cS 6.0-0 cxd4 7.ttJxd4 ttJc6 S.ttJc3 ttJxd4 9 .... xd4 d6 1 0 .... d3 l:tbS 1 1 .e4 1 72

and after 20.�xbS "'xbS

she has won some material (bishop and knight against rook and pawn) . Do we stop the calculation here ? White has neither checks (except for 2 1 . ...xe6 + . which we don't have to consider for long) nor captures. Does she have active moves? If we are able to visualize the position that means that we see where the pieces actually are after the two moves that we played since our diagram - we will be able to spot that White has a very active move. one that wins a piece by simulta­ neously attacking the two unprotected bishops : 21 .... d 3 1 +-

and White won the bishop ·back. and later on the game.

Chapter 18

Test : rs There A Combi nation? This test will challenge your intuition and your ability to calculate. You are given six positions to solve. In some of them, there is a possible combination. In others , there is no combination to be found. There are 1 2 points to be gained, the time al­ lowed is one hour. First you look at the diagrams for a maximum time of two minutes each, and you have to decide which of them allow a combinative solution. every diagram is worth one point (6 points maximum) . Then (for 6 points) you have to find the best moves, and every solution is also worth one point if there is a combination, or a best move. When there is nothing special to be found, you get one point if you play a 'normal' (Le. correct) move.

ITAC 1

NN NN 1 949

1 2.i.e3 ttJ b4 1 3 .f4 0-0 1 4.i.f3 e5 1 5J:.t2 exf4 1 S .�xf4 :ad8 1 7.:d2 �c8 1 8.g4 �eS 1 9.95 ttJd7 20.:a4 ttJcS 21 .ttJd5 �xd5 22.exd5 ttJce5 23 .�e4 :fe8

(Solution on page 1 7 5 )

(Solution on page 1 7 5 )

ITAC 2

ITAC 3

Nunn,]ohn Csom,Istvan

Wang Hao Manik,Mikulas

Moscow Ech-tt 1 9 7 7 ( 3 )

Sarajevo 2 0 1 0 (4)

1 .e4 c 5 2.ttJf3 d S 3.d4 cxd4 4.ttJxd4 ttJfS 5.ttJc3 ttJcS S .Ac4 'fi'bS 7.ttJb3 eS 8.0-0 as 9.a4 �e7 1 0.a5 'fi'c7 1 1 .�e2 i.d7

1 .e4 e5 2.ttJf3 ttJcS 3 .�b5 as 4.Aa4 ttJfS 5.0-0 �e7 S.:e1 b5 7.�b3 0-0 8.c3 dS 9.h3 ttJa5 1 0.�c2 d5 1 1 .d4 dxe4 1 2.ttJxe5 1 73

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

c S 1 3.�f4 cxd4 1 4.cxd4 � b 7 1 S.ttJc3 l:tcS 1 6.ttJxe4 ttJxe4 1 7.�xe4 �xe4 1 S.l:txe4 "'dS 1 9 ....f3 l:tc2

ttJc6 1 0.l:tb1 "'c7 1 1 .�a3 �f5 1 2.l:tbS a6 1 3.l:tc5

(Solution on page 1 7 9) (Solution on page 1 7 6) ITAC 4

Andreev Dolukhanov Leningrad I 9 3 5

ITAC 6

Matlakov,Maxim Khismatullin,Denis Sochi tt 2 0 1 2 (4)

1 .d4 ttJf6 2.c4 e6 3 .ttJf3 �b4+ 4.�d2 'iVe7 5.g3 ttJc6 6.ttJc3 ..txc3 7. ..txc3 ttJe4 S.l:rc1 0-0 9.�g2 d6 1 0.d5 ttJxc3 1 1 .l:rxc3 ttJdS 1 2.0-0 e5 1 3.ttJd2 b6 1 4.f4 exf4 1 5 .gxf4 ttJb7 1 6.15 ttJc5 1 7.f6 gxf6 1 S. b4 ttJd7 1 9.ttJe4 f5 20.l:rxf5 f6 21 . "'f1 a5 22.c5 axb4 23 .cxd6 cxd6 24J:te3 'iit g 7 25. "'f4 ttJe5 26.l:tg3+ ttJg6 27.l:th5 �gS

(Solution on page 1 7 8 ) ITAC 5

Sokolov,Andrey Karpov,Anatoly

Linares (mi l l ) 1 9 8 7

1 .e4 c6 2 .c4 d S 3 .exdS cxdS 4.cxdS ttJf6 S .ttJc3 ttJxdS 6 .ttJf3 ttJxc3 7.bxc3 g6 S.h4 �g 7 9.hS

1 74

(Solution on page 1 7 9 )

C h ap t e r 1 8

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T es t : I s T h e r e A C o m b i n a t i o n ?

Solutions ITAC Solution 1 (page 1 73)

Soluti o n 2 (page 1 73)

A half-move earlier, White had faced the following choice.

What is the best way to achieve a win? White can exchange queens , with a rook ending two pawns up, or play the rook to c7 , in order to win the queen or give a qUick checkmate beginning with l:txg 7 + . What is your choice? 1 .l:tc7?

This move was played in the game, in which Black, not White, achieved a win ! 1 . ...xd7 l:txd7 2.'iit f l was an easy win, there are neither tricks nor drawing chances here. The two weaknesses in White 's position are the alignment between the white queen and the white rook, and the pos­ sibility of a back-rank mate. So yes , there i s a forced win, i f the second player uses the elegant theme of a cross­ pin : 1 ... :cSI I

If White takes the rook, he is mated or loses his queen; if he does not, he loses the rook.

Here Nunn, a renowned attacking player, delivered what he thought was a crushing blow: 24.�xh7+

There was no combination, so a cool re­ grouping move like 24.'iffl should have been preferred, when the position is unclear. Mark one point if you have chosen a quiet (and not losing ! ) move here. White's more active piece position is compensated for by the weaknesses of the pawn structure and his ' airy' king. 24 ... wxh7 26.�xeS

2S .... hS+

wg8

' I was all ready to finish my brilliancy with such lines as 2 6 . . . dxe5 2 7 . l:th4 �c5 + 2 8 .tt:lxc5 "'xc 5 + 2 9 . Wfl Wf8 3 0 .d6 f5 3 1 . ... g6 Wg8 3 2 ....h 7 + Wf7 3 3 . ... xf5 + W g 8 3 4 . ... h 7 + Wf7 3 5 JH2 + We6 3 6 . ... g 6 + Wd5 3 7 J:td 2 + W c 6 3 8 . ... e4+ Wb5 3 9 .... a4# ' , Nunn writes i n his Chess Puzzle Book, 'but . . .' 26 ... tt:lxeS 27.l:th4 1 75

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

27... ttJf3+

This spoils the whole concept. We call such moves ' spoilers' ; they are very dif­ ficult to detect, especially if you are an optimistic player. This kind of move is also a useful tool for trainers, in order to force young and gifted talents to check their calculation, before claiming after I S seconds' thought ' Oh yes, of course, �xh7 is completely winning ! ' . On 2 7 . . . f6 , 2 8 . g 6 wins for White. 28.'ifxf3 �xg5

'Black wins the exchange for nothing ' Nunn. 29.1:[g4 �xd2 31 .'ifxh6 l::r e 1 +

30. 'iff6

�h6 0-1

3 2 .'it>f2 'ifxc2 + ! and now 3 3 .'it>xe l l::t e 8 + 34.'it'fI 'ife2 + or 3 3 .ttJd2 'iffS + . Sol ution 3 (page 1 73)

Black's last move, 1 9 . . . l::r c 2 ? ! , is a clear mistake, exposing the rook without ne­ ceSSity. Black has no chance to build an attack with this lone rook. White is better in any case, thanks to his nice piece concentration in the centre, but 1 9 . . . �d6 or 1 9 . . . f6 was more cautious and would have allowed Black some hopes of holding the game. Many weaknesses are visible in Black's position : - the c2-rook is unprotected, and deeply penetrated in the white camp on a sensitive square. - two alignments look interesting for White : the rook on e4 virtually attacks the e7 -bishop through the white knight on eS . And the same e4-rook, the pivotal piece in the position, is the only defence for the unprotected black queen against White 's queen on f3 . Obviously White is much better and all these 'hints' give him so many chances that a winning move is available. This is a Significant example of a little­ known principle : there's no correlation between the fact that a position is 'com­ pletely winning ' and the degree of diffi­ culty to solve it. True, the position is completely winning for White, and the reader can quite easily see why. White's forces are more active, more secure, more harmonious, and Black has several weaknesses. Nevertheless the winning combination is quite hard to spot, in spite of the numerous existing motifs. White won in style with 20.�h611

A slow but very purposeful move that prepares a discovered attack. The threat is 2 1 . �xg 7 , and if 2 1 . . . 'it>xg 7 , then 2 2 . :g4+ wins the queen. There are many tries, but there is no defence. 1 76

Chap ter

On 2 0 .ttJg4, 2 0 . . .£S ! more or less holds. 20 11d8

IS

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T es t : I s T h e r e A C o m b i n a t i on ?

Not 2 2 . . .�hS because of 2 3 .'it'xdS ':'xdS 24.ttJxfl # .

...

This move was played in the game, with the simple idea of protecting the queen. This is not enough to stop White's fury. A) On 2 0 . . . gxh 6 ? 2 1 . 11g4+ wins immediately ; B) 2 0 . . . 'it'dS fails to the wild 2 1 .i.xg 7 c;tr>xg 7 n . llg4+ �hS ( 2 2 . . .�h6 2 3 .h4! (the best move, threatening 'it'f4 and mate. 2 3 .ttJxfl + l:lxfl 24.'it'xfl also wins, of course) 2 3 . . . �xh4 24.'it'h3 winning the bishop, the queen and the game) and now:

Now White i s able t o exploit the first motif, the lack of protection of the c2rook, with a double attack: 23.'it'd3 1

2 3 .'it'xfl ! l:lgS 24.'it'f6 + ! ; C) 2 0 . . . 'it'e6 is strongly met by 2 1 .ttJg4 and now : C l ) 2 1 . . .'ifc6 ! ? with the clever idea n . l:lxe 7 'it'xf3 23 . gxf3 gxh 6 ; instead n .dS ! is a winner: 2 2 . . .'it'xdS 2 3 .ttJe3 ! or 2 2 . . . 'it' d 7 2 3 . i.xg 7 �xg 7 24.ttJe 3 +- ; C 2 ) After 2 1 . . . 'ifd7 simplest is 2 2..�.xg 7 ( 2 2 . 11ae I is completely crushing, of course, and even superior) 2 2 . . .'it>xg 7 2 3 .ttJe3 ! (this in-between move replaces the knight with tempo, in the direction of fS ) 2 3 . . . 11c6 (or 23 . . .£5 24.11xe 7 + 'ifxe 7 2 S .ttJxc2+-) 24.11xe 7 ! 'it'xe 7 2 S .ttJfS + . 21 �xg 7 1 �xg 7 22.11g4+ �f8 .

Attacking the rook and the h 7 -pawn, while keeping an eye on the e 2 -square. 2 3 .'iffS , which was played in the game, is slightly less accurate. At this point Black resigned, though there was still a defensive try in 2 3 . . . 11e2 ! . We will understand the im­ portance of this defence later: 24.'ifxh7 �f6 and now: A) 2 S . 11 g S + �e7 2 6 .ttJg6+ �d6.

� c' z � � � �� ��0�� �i � �� ���' �����i � '! Wi 0" " ';� �I � � � � " " 3� � � � � �� � %. " " %(b" 0� % r!� "f��f" %���r�!i � � �

Here the win is achieved thanks to an­ other motif, the forking distance be­ tween queen and rook: 2 7 JhdS + ( 2 7 . ttJ f4 'ife4 2 S . 'ifxf7 l:hg S 2 9 . 'it'xf6 + r3;c7 3 0 .'it'fl + r3;c6 i s not so 1 77

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

clear. even after 3 1 .dS + Wb6 3 2 .d6) 27 . . . �xd8 2 8 . tDf4 �e4 2 9 .�h6+ d7 3 0 . tDxe2 �xe2 3 1 .�xa6 �xb2 3 2 J �e 1 +- and the rook and three pawns are much stronger than the bishop and knight; B) 2 S .:c l ! ' This cool computer move. intending to penetrate via c 7 . is the strongest. Black has no defence. 2S . . . tDc4 is the obvious try. trying to block the c-file while centralizing the awkward as -knight. Nevertheless. the combination of these two moves is in White's favour. in one variation only. . . Here a computerish solution i s available. thanks to a kind of domination/ deflec­ tion of the black queen: 2 6 .l:tg8 + ! �e7 2 7 .tDg6+ d6 2 8 . tDf4! . Now f7 cannot be protected. Of course. this is very diffi­ cult to spot from a human point of view. which is why I prefer the more logical main variation (line A) . 2 8 . . . �e4 2 9 .�xf7 and now: B l ) 2 9 . . J :te l + 3 0 Jh e l 'ifxe l + 3 1 . h 2 l::t x g 8 3 2 . �xf6 + d 7 3 3 .�f7 + �e 7 3 4.'ifxg 8 and wins; B2) Here is the variation in question : 2 9 . . . l:txg 8 3 0 .'ii' xf6 + c7 3 1 .'iff7 + c6 ( 3 1 . . . b6 is worse : 3 2 . tDdS + c6 3 3 .�c 7 + xdS

3 3 . .l:.xc4+ +- .

...

23 l:tcc8

The best possible defence is 2 3 . . . .l:.e2 . but even here. the concrete 24.'ifxe2 is overwhelming. 24.�xh 7 �f6

� � �.

.

·:�·�· )' ..I Z "' d � � �L";�%%�� "';�%%l�� !���"��!i zl

. ' �if �

1 78

�

r"�{ " �� % '''' �� '0� % �

f� �

�

Now the e-file is available. so :

.

2S .l:.e1 !

Sol ution 4 (page 1 74)

3 4 . �d 7 + tD d 6 3 s . l:k s + xd4 3 6 .�xd6+ 'ifdS 3 7 .�xdS#) 3 2 .'ifxg 8 �xf4

�

1 -0

Chap ter

Here the best move i s a quiet one. 1 .. :ifc5!

A famous , but wrong combination starts with 1 . . . .:r.xh2 ! ? (who could resist the temptation?) 2 . .:r.xh2 "'xa3 3 .bxa3 �xa 3 + 4.b l ttJc3 + S . a l

18

-

T es t : Is T h e r e A C o m b i n a t i o n ?

The situation looks awkward for White : The cS -rook could easily be trapped, the a3-bishop is unprotected, and his king is still in the centre, which means that Black will have a check available. Nevertheless, there is no forced win here (at least according to my 2 0 1 2 computer, assisted by Houdini 1 . S ) , partly because Black also needs a devel­ oping move, like castling, in order to have everything in order. Still , as the rest of the game shows, White has a long-term problem with his advanced rook, which he was not able to solve in the game. 1 3 ...... d 7 1 4 .... b3 0-0 1 5.hxg6 hxg6 1 6 . .ic4

S . . . �b2 + 6 . xb2 ttJxd l + . The combi­ nation usually stops here. You get one consolation point if you spotted this se­ quence, but 2 points if you played 1 . . .'ifcs . Nunn, in his puzzle book, claimed that the position is not clear af­ ter 7 . a2 ttJxe3 8 . fxgS and White should hold the draw with best play. 2:ifxc5 i.xc5 3.�xe4D

3 . fxgS �e3 + 4.b l ttJf2-+ . 3 ... �e3+ 4.b1 l:txd 1 + 5 . .:r.xd 1 fxe4 6.�g 1 �xg 1 7. .:r.xg 1 gxf4-+

1 6 .�e 2 00 . 1 6 ...�f6 1 7.d4 1 9:if d 1 ttJ b 7 21 .dxe5 ttJxc5 23 .f1 "'a 7 25.cxd4 ttJf4

b5 1 8 ..t d 5 ttJa5 20.ttJe5 �xe5 2 2 :ifd4 ttJd3+ 24.�xe7 "'xd4 0-1

Mark one point if you have spotted that there was no combination, and one more point if you decided to play a quiet move, like Karpov. Sol utio n 6 (page 1 74)

Solution 5 (page 1 74)

28.... h4!

1 79

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

This wins by force, at least threatening :xg 6 + followed by :hS + and :h7 + , winning the queen. The right motif here is that the defence (Le. Black's other pieces) is too far away, and the relevant theme is elimination of the de­ fender (Le. the knight on g6) . 2 S . tiJxd6 was the game continuation, which led to an unclear position (ac­ cording to the same computer ! ) : 2 S . . . :xa2 2 9 .A.e4 f5 3 0 .tiJxf5 Axf5 3 1 . Axf5 'ifxe 2 3 2 . :xg 6 + hxg 6 3 3 .:hS+ g 7 3 4 . 'ii h 6 + f6 3 5 . :xfS + rt; e 7 3 6 . 'ii g 7 + � d 6 3 7 J :lf6 + �c5 3 S .'ifc7 + �d4 3 9 .'iff4+ rt;c5 40.'ifc 7 + rt;d4 4 1 .'iff4+ �c3 4 2 . 'ifg 3 + �d4 43 .A.h3 %:ld2 44.d6 'ife3 + 45 .'ifxe 3 + �xe3 46.d7 b5 4 7 J Hs b3 4S . l:te S + �f3 49 .dS'if.

1 80

The only defensive try. But now White has the devastating 29Jbh7 ! 'ifxh7 30.tiJxfS+ :xfS 31 .'ifxfS+- A.f5 32.'ifxf5 rt;g7 33.A.e4+1 -0

Part IV

-

Final Test

181

Final Test

1.

Alignment

*

20.�e3 tbxe3 21 . .l::t x e3 hxg3 22 . .l::t x g3 �d 7 23 .fxeS dxeS 24 . .l::t x g 7 fS 2S . .l::t xfS �xfS 26 .'iYxfS .l::t c 7 27.'WxeS .l::tf8 28.tbd4 'Wh6 29.tbe6 "'c1 + 30.�h 2 .l::t d 7 31 .'Wb8+ �d8

Djurhl,lus,Rune Kvisvik,Brede

Oslo 2 0 1 1 ( 2 )

1 .d4 tbf6 2.tbf3 g6 3.c4 �g 7 4.tbc3 0-0 S .e4 d6 6.�e2 eS 7.0-0 t2Jc6 8.dS tbe7 9.b4 c6 1 0.a4 as 1 1 .bxaS "'xaS 1 2.1::[ a3 tbe8 1 3 .�e3 fS 1 4.dxc6 bxc6 1 S.cS fxe4 1 6.cxd 6 tbdS 1 7.�c4 tbxd 6 1 8.�a2 exf3 1 9.tbxdS cxdS 20.�xdS+ c;t>h8 21 .�xa8 tbc4 22.�xf3 tbxa3 23.-.wb3 �a6 24 .... xa3 �xf1 2S.�xf1 .l::t b 8 26.g3 .l::t b4 27.'iVc1 "'a6+ 28.�e2 'ifb 7 29.�bS

(Solution on page 2 0 0) 3.

*

Damiano's pawn �c�orrovvJolun Benson,Oisin

Bunratty 2 0 1 2 (4)

(Solution on page 2 0 0) 2.

Epaulettes

*

Guseinov,Kadir Rijnaarts, Stef

Rogaska Slatina tt 2 0 1 1 ( 2 )

1 .e4 cS 2.tbc3 e6 3.tbf3 tbc6 4.d4 cxd4 S.tbxd4 d6 6.g3 tbf6 7.�g 2 .td 7 8.0-0 �e7 9.tbb3 a 6 1 0.f4 hS 1 1 .h3 .l::t c8 1 2 .'ife2 "'c7 1 3 .�e3 tbaS 14 . .l::t a e1 tbc4 1 S.�c1 eS 1 6 .�h1 'ifb6 1 7.tbdS tbxdS 1 8.exd S �g4 1 9.-.wd3 h4

1 .e4 cS 2.tbf3 d 6 3 .d4 cxd4 4.tbxd4 tbf6 S.tbc3 a6 6.f3 eS 7.tbb3 �e6 8.�e3 tbbd7 9.'Wd2 bS 1 0.�e2 tbb6 1 1 .tbaS 'fIc7 1 2 . .l::t d 1 tbc4 1 3 .tbxc4 bxc4 1 4.tbdS �xdS 1 S .exdS �e7 1 6 :ifb4 .l::t c8 1 7:ir'a4+ tbd7 1 8.'ifxa6 0-0 1 9.c3 fS 20.0-0 f4 21 .�f2 gS 22.h3 .l::tf 7 23 .11fe 1 h S 24.�f1 .l::t g 7 2S.� h 1 tbf6 26.�b6 'ifd7 27.�xc4 .l::t xc4 28.'ifxc4 g4 29.'fIf1 gxh3 30.gxh3 .l::t g 3 31 .�h2 e4 32 . .l::t x e4 tbxe4 33 .fxe4 �h4 34.�f2 .l::t f3 3S.'ifg2+ �g3+ 36 . .txg3 fxg 3+ 37.�g1 'ifa7+ 38.l:td4 'iff7 39.h4 'iff4 40.'ife2 .l::tf 2 41 .eS 'iffS 42.'ifd3 1 83

T u n e Yo u r C h e ss T a c t i c s An t e n n a

5.

*

Two weaknesses Navara,David Goodger,Martyn Reykjavik 2 0 1 2 ( 1 )

1 .d4 fS 2.g3 tLlf6 3.�g2 g6 4.tLlf3 �g 7 S.O-O 0-0 6.b3 d6 7.�b2 'ifeS S.c4 tLla6 9.'ifc2 l:tbS 1 0.tLlbd2 bS 1 1 .a3 c6 1 2 .l:tac1 �d 7 1 3 .tLle1 'iff7 1 4.tLld3 l:tfcS 1 S.l:tfe1 tLlc7 1 6 .tLlb4 tLlceS 1 7.cxbS cxbS 1 S.'ifd3 l:tb6 1 9.1:txcS �xcS 20.l:tc1 'tWe6 21 .tLlc6 �a6 22.dS 'ifd 7 23 .�d4 b4 24.tLlc4 �xc4 2S.bxc4 l:tb 7 26.axb4 �h6 27.l:ta1 f4 2S.�xa 7 'ifg4 29.�d4 fxg 3 30.hxg3 l:td7 31 .l:taS �f7 32.tLldS+ �fS 33 .�f3 "'h3 34.tLle6+ �f7 3S.�xf6 tLlxf6

(Solution on page 200) 4.

Defender

*

Zhao Xue Danielian,Elina Shenzhen 2 0 1 1 ( 1 0)

1 .d4 dS 2.c4 c6 3.tLlf3 tLlf6 4.tLlc3 dxc4 S .a4 �fS 6.tLlh4 �g4 7.h 3 �hS S.g4 �g6 9.tLlxg 6 hxg6 1 0.e3 e6 1 1 .�xc4 �b4 1 2 .'iff3 tLl b d 7 1 3 .�d 2 a s 1 4.gS tLld S 1 S .h4 'ife7 1 6 .�b3 tLlSb6 1 7.0-0-0 0-0-0 1 S.tLla2 �xd 2+ 1 9Jbd 2 � bS 20.� b 1 � a S 21 .e4 eS 2 2 .'ifc3 exd4 23 J:txd4 tLlcS 24.l:txdS+ l:txdS 2S .'ifxa S+ �bS 26.l:te1 tLlxb3 27.'iYxb6

o

M� � � �

�

�

.� , �r�� � t2J. ' m �r�

z ·o'z

�.�

4i�i4i;4i�; iV� �..t �if �

�1 3

�

� � � ��d � � � . � � � = L.�

(Solution on page 2 0 1 ) 6.

Stalemated queen

**

Dukaczewski,Piotr Ziska,Helgi Dam Reykj avik 2 0 1 2 (6)

(Solution on page 2 0 1 ) 1 84

1 .e4 c S 2.tLlf3 d 6 3 .�bS+ tLl d 7 4.d4 cxd4 S .... xd4 a6 6.�xd 7+ �xd 7 7.tLlc3 l:tcS S.�gS h6 9.�h4 eS 1 0.'ifd 3 gS 1 1 .�g3 tLlf6 1 2 .tLld2 bS 1 3 .a3 'if b 6 1 4.f3

F i n a l Tes t

ile7 1 5 .�f2 'ifb7 1 6 .0-0 0-0 1 7JHe1 tLlh5 1 S.tLld5 �e6 1 9.tLlxe7+ 'iYxe7 20.tLlf1 J:.fdS 21 .tLle3 tLlf4 22.'ti'f1

8.

**

Weak point Steingrimsson,Hedinn Perez,Raul Reykj avik 2 0 1 2 ( 3 )

•

1 .d4 d 5 2 .c4 c 6 3 .tLlf3 tLlf6 4.e3 e6 5 .�d3 tLlbd7 6.0-0 �d6 7.tLlc3 0-0 S.e4 dxe4 9.tLlxe4 tLlxe4 1 0.ilxe4 h 6 1 1 .�c2 b6 1 2.'ifd3 f5 1 3.l:te1 'iYf6 o

..t

� �� •• � �.�� �.� J � � �/.. ��.� ���. ��" ' ! . ' B �� /

(Solution on page 2 0 1 ) 7.

-;!;-i ��; � iV lZJ ���%"�.J��J� � /�J�!

��

**

An impossible escape

%I'"

%I'"

%I'�

g � g �

Dunn,Andrew Gunnarsson,Jan Viktor

(Solution on page 2 0 2 )

Reykjavik 2 0 1 2 (6)

1 .d4 tLlf6 2.tLlf3 d6 3 .c4 tLlbd7 4.tLlc3 e5 5 .g3 c6 6 .�g 2 �e7 7.e4 0-0 S.O-O a6 9.a4 a5 1 0.h 3 l:teS 1 1 .�e3 exd4 1 2.tLlxd4 tLlc5 1 3 .'ifc2 �fS 1 4.l:1ad1 'ifb6 1 5.l:tfe 1 g 6 1 6.�h2 �d 7 1 7.14 �g7 1 S.tLlf3 'ifb4 1 9.tLld2 l:te7 20.�f2 l:1aeS 21 .l:1e2 tLlh5 22.e5 �f5 23.tLlde4 tLlxe4 24.�xe4 ile6 25 .exd 6 J:.d7 26 .�f3 tLlf6 o

" .. 3

9.

**

Legal

.� � � � � � , � ., " , '�� � ..t � �� .... . %� 'z.... ;� � �� ��n �� L_ �3�\i� �� � �% i:f� �� � �% . . %� � % � I_"" = ��iV _····% � r_ "_·. ··%

,'� �'�

.

.

..· ..

(Solution on page 2 0 1 )

.

(Solution o n page 2 0 2 ) 1 85

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

1 0.

Mini mate

**

Fedorov.Alexey Cosma.Ioan Eforie Nord 2 0 1 1 ( 5 )

1 .e4 cS 2.ttJf3 ttJc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.ttJxd4 'ilc7 S.ttJbS 'ilbB 6.�d3 ttJf6 7.f4 d6 S.O-O g6 9.ttJd2 �g7 1 0.ttJf3 0-0 1 1 .'ile1 �g4 1 2.'ilh4 bra 1 3.lhf3 'ifc8 1 4id2 'ilg4 1 S.'ile1 'ild7 1 6.�h1 a6 1 7.ttJc3 e6 1 S.'ilh4 tfdS 1 9.1:th3 ttJhS 20.'ilf2 ttJf6 21 .a4 ttJb4 22.l:tf1 ttJxd3 23.cxd3 dS 24.f5 dxe4 2S.dxe4 ttJg4 26.'ile2 hS 27�f4 exfS 28.exfS l:tea 29.'ilc2 'ilb6 30.l::t hf3 l:tadS 31 .h3 ttJeS 32.l:te3 'ifc6 33�gS l:tc8 34.'iff2 gxfS 3S.tfxfS 'ilg6 36.ttJdS 'ifxfS 37.l:txfS ttJc6

o

� ����� , � � , �. � !�I� ��';"'�� ���t2J�M�' �� � � �C"��"" �� � �� � � . v.� r;� • . 3� �� ��= �

1 1.

A weak defender

;,, ".�, • �� . %;�.1;� �%�4IlB %�, � , � " %Ir '%� �� �"� �m � !� v.� �� !�I� �.�� m� mMm � � m % %• • • • •

(Solution on page 2 0 3 ) 1 2.

Knightmare

Kharkiv 2 0 1 2 ( 3 )

**

1 .e4 cS 2.ttJf3 ttJc6 3.�bS d6 4.c3 ttJf6 S.'ile2 �d7 6.0-0 g6 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 �g7 9.eS dxe5 1 0.dxeS ttJdS 1 1 .l:td 1 ttJc7 1 2.a4 0-0 1 3.ttJc3 'ifc8 1 4.h3 a6 1 S.�c4 .ie6 1 6.�f4 �xc4 1 7.'ifxc4 'ilf5 1 8..ig3 l:tac8 1 9.'ifcS l:tfd8 20.'ilb6 l:txd 1 + 21 .l:txd 1 ttJxeS 22.ttJd4 'ifd7 23.'ilxb7 'iVe8 24.�xeS beS 2S.ttJc6 �d6

Gordon.Stephen Adams.Michael Canterbury ch-GBR 2 0 1 0 ( 7 )

1 .d4 ttJf6 2 .c4 e6 3.g3 dS 4.ttJf3 �b4+ S .�d2 .id6 6 .�g2 c6 7.'ifc2 ttJbd7 S.O-O 0-0 9.l:td 1 'ile7 1 0.�gS h6 1 1 .�xf6 ttJxf6 1 2 .ttJbd2 eS 1 3 .dxeS �xeS 1 4.cxd S ttJxdS 1 S .ttJxeS 'ilxeS 1 6 .ttJc4 'ilf6 1 7.e4 ttJb6 1 S.ttJe3 1 86

**

Karlovich.Anastasia Bezkorovaina.Marija

�

(Solution on page 2 0 3 )

�e6 1 9.f4 l:tadS 20.fS �c8 21 .ttJg4 'ViII e 7 22.f6 gxf6 23.ttJxh6+ �g7 24.ttJfS+ �xfS 2S.exfS l:tfe8 26 .l:txd8 l:txd8 27.l:tf1 l::t d 4 28.b3 ttJd7 29.l:td1

(Solution on page 2 0 3 )

F i n a l T es t

1 3.

Lack of space

**

Kobes�,Watu Dronavalli,Harika Ekurhuleni 2 0 1 1 ( 8 )

1 .d4 ttJfS 2.ttJf3 e S 3 .c4 bS 4.ttJc3 �b4 S .e3 �b 7 S .�d3 0-0 7.0-0 dS S.cxdS exdS 9.ttJeS ttJbd7 1 0.�fS ttJxeS 1 1 .dxeS ttJe4 1 2.ttJe2 g S 1 3 .f3 ttJgS 1 4.�c2 as 1 S .a3 �cS 1 SJib1 Wle7 1 7.h1 �aS 1 SJie1 l:tfdS 1 9.ttJd4 �b 7 20.�a4 .ixd4 21 .exd4 cS 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 cxd4 24.�c2 l:tdcS 2S.�d3 l:ta2 2S.'ifb3 l:tf2 27.�f4 ttJe4 2S. g 1 'ifh4 29.�xe4 'ifxf4 30.xf2 dxe4 31 .l:tb2 'ii h 4+ 32. f1 'ifxh2 33 .fxe4 l:tc3 34.'tWd 1 �xe4 3S.'tWg4 �fS 3S.'tWgS hS 37.'tWdS+ h7 3S.'ifxd4

� � � , �.

•.�3 �%.f!Jl. %. 3 �,.

page

1 4.

Hanging pieces

1 5.

**

One woman show

Matlakov,Maxim Shomoev,Anton Khanty-Mansiysk 2 0 1 1 ( 8 )

1 .d4 ttJfS 2.c4 eS 3.g3 d S 4.�g 2 dxc4 S.ttJf3 �b4+ S.�d 2 as 7.a3 �xd 2+ S.'ifxd 2 cS 9.a4 bS 1 0.ttJa3 �d 7 1 1 .ttJeS ttJdS 1 2 .e4 ttJb4 1 3 .0-0 0-0 1 4.l:tad 1 �eS 1 S .dS 'tWdS 1 S .ttJg4 'tWcS 1 7.dxcS �xcS 1 S.axbS �xbS 1 9.ttJxbS 'tWxbS 20.eS ttJScS 21 .'tWgS l:ta7 22.h4 ttJd3 23 .�e4 hS 24.b3 'tWcS 2S.bxc4 ttJdxeS? 2S.ttJxeS ttJxeS

. � � � �

� � ��n��t3� �� �fj��'i" '�� �� � .· �r"�" "v.� ��� �S ..· W .� � � � � ��m�� � 203) (Solution on

(Solution o n page 2 0 4)

**

Levitina,Irina Kushnir,Alla Dortmund 1 9 7 7 (9)

1 .f4 dS 2.ttJf3 gS 3.g3 �g7 4.�g2 ttJd7 S.O-O eS S.fxeS ttJxeS 7.ttJxeS heS S.c4 dxc4 9.ttJa3 ttJe7 1 0.h1 0-0 1 1 .ttJxc4 �g7 1 2.d3 cS 1 87

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

1 6.

Attraction

**

1 7.

Undefended knight

**

Rozentalis,Eduardas Lindberg,Bengt

Tiviakov,Sergei Manolache,Marius

Stockholm 2 0 1 1 / 1 2 (9)

Eforie Nord 2 0 1 1 (6)

1 . e 4 c S 2 . c 3 ttJf6 3 . e S ttJ d S 4 . ttJ f 3 e 6 S . � c4 d 6 6 . d 4 c x d 4 7 . c x d 4 ttJ c 6 S . O - O .$.. e 7 9 . e x d 6 "' x d 6 1 0 . ttJ c 3 0 - 0 1 1 . :l e 1 b 6 1 2 . ttJ x d S e x d S 1 3 . � b S � f 6 1 4 . ... a 4 � d 7 1 S . � g S � x g S 1 6 . ttJ x g S f 6 1 7. ttJ f 3 a 6 1 S . � x c 6 � x c 6 1 9 . ... b 3 � d 7 2 0 . ttJ d 2 � e 6 2 1 . :l e 3 � f 7 2 2 . :l c 1 :l a c S 2 3 . :l e c 3 :l xc 3 2 4 . ... x c 3 :l e S 2 S . ttJ f 1 h S 2 6 . ttJ e 3 a s 2 7 . a 3 'iff4 2 S . ... d 3 "' e 4 2 9 . ... d 2 .$.. e 6 3 0 . b 4 :l c S 3 1 . :l e 1 'iff4 3 2 . h 3 "'c7 3 3 . b x a S b x a S 3 4 . 'if e 2 � f 7 3 S . ttJ f S :l e S 3 6 . ... d 2 :l x e 1 + 3 7 . ... x e 1 wfS 3 S . ttJ e 3 �e6 39.h4 wf7 40.g3 g6 4 1 . ... d2 "' b 6 4 2 . w g 2 g S 4 3 . ... c 3 w g 7 44. wf3 a4 4 S . ... c S "' b 7 4 6 . ... d 6 w f 7 4 7. w g 2 g x h 4 4 S . g x h 4 "' b 1 4 9 . ... c 7 + w f S S O . ... c 2 'if b S S 1 . ... x a 4 "' f 4 S 2 . ... b 4 + w f 7 S 3 . a 4 "' x h 4 S 4 . a S �fS

1 .e4 c S 2.ttJf3 e 6 3.c3 ttJf6 4.eS ttJdS S.�c4 d6 6.exd6 �xd6 7.d4 ttJc6 S.dxcS �xcS 9.0-0 0-0 1 0.ttJbd2 a6 1 1 .ttJb3 �d6 1 2.:le1 h 6 1 3 . .$..x dS exdS 1 4.�e3 �bS 1 S.�cS :leS 1 6.:lxeS+ "'xeS 1 7....xdS �e6 1 S....e4 �c7 1 9.�e3 fS 20 ....c2 "'hS 21 .ttJbd4 ttJxd4 22.cxd4 :lcS 23 ....d2 �dS 24.ttJeS �d6 2S.f3 bS 26.�f4 �e7 27.ttJd3 "'g6 2S ....e2 �f6 29.�eS "'eS 30.b3 �e7 31 .:le1 �fS 32.h4 ... dS 33 ....f2 "'as 34.wh2 iLf7 3S.ttJcS "'dS 36 .... g3 :lc6 37.ttJd 3 :lc2

(Solution on page 2 0 4) 1 88

White wants to get rid of the annoying rook on c 2 . and tries to use the fact that the g 7 -bishop has the duty of pro­ tecting against the checkmate on g 7 . So h e deliberately puts the knight en prise : 3S.ttJb4

A blunder. White forgot just one move for his opponent - a winning one ! 3 8 . ttJf4i .

(Solution o n page 2 0 4)

Final Test

1 8.

Disconnection

**

UhlrniUID.Wolfgang Rodriguez Vargas.Orestes Rogaska Siatina tt 2 0 1 2 ( 2 )

1 .c4 c 6 2 .d4 dS 3 . e 3 tbf6 4.tbc3 e6 S. 'it'c2 tbbd7 6 .�d2 b6 7.tbf3 .ib7 S.�d3 �d6 9.cxdS exdS 1 0.e4 dxe4 1 1 .tbxe4 �e7 1 2.0-0 0-0 1 3.tbeS cS 1 4.tbxd 7 tbxd 7 1 S.dxcS tbeS 1 6.tbd6 tbxd3 1 7.tbxb7 'it'dS 1 Ue3 tbeS 1 9.tbd6 'iYd3 20.'it'a4 'it'g6 2U Ud1 bxc5 22hc5 tbd3 23.'it'd7 �f6 24.tbb7 tbxc5 2S.tbxc5 bb2 26.11ab1 .if6 27.'it'b7 l:tfeS 2S.tbd7 fie7 29.g3 as

(Solution on page 2 0 5 ) 1 9.

N o way out

(Solution o n page 2 0 5 )

21. **

Rendle. Thomas Luaces Rubio.Alfredo

***

Three weaknesses

Vooremaa.Andres Justi Soviet Union 1 9 7 7

Hastings 2 0 1 1 / 1 2 ( 5 )

1 .e4 e S 2.tbf3 tbc6 3.�c4 tbf6 4.d 3 �e7 S.O-O 0-0 6 .l::t e 1 d 6 7.a4 a6 S . h 3 tbd7 9.tbc3 tbcS 1 0.tbdS h6 1 1 .c3 �d 7 1 2.aS tbe6 1 3.d4 tDgS 1 4.tbxe7+ 'it'xe7 1 S .tbxgS hxgS 1 6. 'it'hS exd4 1 7.eS dxeS 1 S.�xgS 'it'cs 1 9.1::t e4 'it'xc4

(Solution on page 2 0 6) 1 89

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

22.

Back ranks

***

Abreu Delgado,Aryam Podgaets,Mikhail Havana 1 9 9 9 ( 3 )

1 .e4 c 6 2 .d4 d5 3.e5 Af5 4.lLlf3 e6 5.�e2 lLle7 6.0-0 c5 7.dxc5 lLlec6 S.�e3 lLl d 7 9.c4 dxc4 1 0.lLla3 �xc5 1 1 .�xc5 lLlxc5 1 2.lLlxc4 0-0 1 3.'ifc1 lLld3 1 4.'ife3 lLl d b4 1 5.na d 1 'ife7 1 6 .lLld6 �g6 1 7.�c4 lLla5 1 S.b3 Ah5 1 9.nd2 a6 20.a3 lLlxc4 21 .bxc4 lLlc6 22.lLld4 lLlxd4 23 .'ifxd4 b5 24.c5 'ifc7 25.nc1 tic6 26 .'ife4 'ifxe4 27.lLlxe4 nfcS 2S.c6 nc7 29.nd 7 nacS

�xg5 22 :iVxe5 'iVxe5 23 .nxe5 �f4 24.ne4 �d6 25.�b5 wfS 26 .�xeS wxeS 27.wf1 wd7 2S.nd4 e5 29.nd5 we6 30.na5 a6 31 .nb6 we7 32.nd5 �c7 33.nb1 we6 34.nbd 1 e4 35 .a4 �e5 36.nc5 h4 37.g3 hxg3 3S.hxg3 f5 39.we2 Ad6 40.ncd 5 �e7 41 .nd7 g5 42.nc7 �d6 43.n h 7 �e7 44.a5 b5 45.nd h 1 �c5 46.n1 h6+ wd5 47.nd 7+ wc4 4S.nc7 b4

(Solution on page 2 0 7 ) 24.

(Solution on page 2 0 6) 23.

Alignments

***

Carlsson,Pontus Istratescu,Andrei Porta Carras Ech 2 0 1 1 ( 1 )

1 .e4 c5 2.lLlf3 e 6 3.c3 lLlf6 4.e5 lLld5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6 7.�c4 lLlc6 S.O-O �e7 9.'ifc2 0-0 1 0.lLlc3 dxe5 1 1 .dxe5 lLlxc3 1 2.bxc3 'iVa5 1 3.�d2 �d7 1 4.nfe1 nfdS 1 5.nab1 nabS 1 6.'ife4 �eS 1 7.lLlg5 g6 1 S.'iYh4 h5 1 9.'iYf4 nxd2 20:iYxd2 lLlxe5 21 :iVf4 1 90

Double threat

***

Cmilyte,Victoria Kosteniuk,Alexandra Nalchik 2 0 1 1 ( 7 )

1 .d4 lLlf6 2.c4 e 6 3.lLlc3 �b4 4.lLlf3 b6 5.'ifc2 �b7 6.a3 �xc3+ 7.'iYxc3 lLle4 S:ifc2 0-0 9.g3 c5 1 0.�g 2 cxd4 1 1 .lLlxd4 lLlc5 1 2.�xb7 lLlxb7 1 3.0-0 tic7 1 4.�f4 d6 1 5.lLlb5 'iVc6 1 6.nfd 1 ndS 1 7.nac1 a6 1 S.lLld4 'fic7 1 9.�g5 ncs 20:ife4 lLld7 21 .b4 h6 22.�e3 lLle5 23.�f4 lLlg6 24.�e3 lLle5 25.nc2 na bS 26.ndc1 'iVe7 27.�f4 'iVf6 2S.c5 bxc5 29.bxc5 lLlg4 30.lLlc6 d5 31 .'iYa4 naS 32.lLlb4 a5 33.lLld3

Final Test

e5 34.'ifd 7 exf4 35 .... xg4 fxg 3 36.hxg3 l:tc7 3Vt:Jf4 "'c6 3S ....f5 l:tdS 39.l:td2 d4 40.l:t b2 g6 41 .... e5 l:teS 42.'ifxd4 l:td7 43:tWc3 l:tc7 44.tLld3 l:!.ecS 45:�'d2 "'d5 46J:tbc2 h5 47.... e3 l:tc6 4S.l:tc4 l:te6 49.'iff3 "'xf3 50.exf3 l:tec6 51 .l:td4 l:t6c7 52.l:td5 �g7 53.f4 �f6 54.�g2 ..tt e 6 55.l:te5+ �f6 56.�3 l:tdS 57.l:tc3 l:tdcS 5S.�e3 tLld6 59.�d 2 tLlb7 60.l:tc1 �g7 61 .l:td5 f6 62 . ..tt e 3 rJilf7 63 .�d4 tLldS 64.'1te3 l:tbS 65 .l:tc3 tLlc6 66.�d2 �e6 67.l:td6+ �f5 6S.f3 l:tb1 69.g4+ hxg4 70.fxg4+ �xg4 71 .l:txf6 ..tt h 5

22. 'ifxg4+ �hS 24.Ae4 l:tg6

23. 'iff5

l:tgS

(Solution on p a g e 2 0 8 ) 26.

***

Alternating wings

Marholev,Dimitar Rotstein,Arkadij Livigno 2 0 1 1 ( 3 )

(Solution on page 2 0 7 ) 25.

Calculating forced moves * * *

Galkin,Alexander Alexeev,Evgeny Taganrog 2 0 1 1 ( 7 )

1 .c4 tLlf6 2.tLlf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4 ..tg2 d4 5.b4 a5 6 .�b2 e5 7.tLlxe5 �xb4 S.tLld3 0-0 9.tLlxb4 axb4 1 0.a3 bxa3 1 1 .tLlxa3 c5 1 2.0-0 tLlc6 1 3.tLlb5 l:txa 1 14 .... xa 1 �g4 1 5.l:te1 tLlb4 1 6 .... b1 d3 1 7.exd3 'ifxd3 1 S.�c3 'ifxc4 1 9.tLld6 'ifa6 20.�xf6 gxf6 21 ....e4 'fixd6

1 .tLlf3 g6 2.e4 �g 7 3 . d 4 d 6 4.tLlc3 tLl d 7 5 .�c4 e6 6.h4 h6 7.a4 tLlgf6 S .... e2 0-0 9.h5 g5 1 0.tLlxg5 d 5 1 1 .�d3 c5 1 2 .dxc5 tLlxc5 1 3 .e5 tLlfd 7 1 4.tLlf3 f6 1 5.exf6 "'xf6 1 6 .�e3 tLlxd 3+ 1 7. 'ifxd 3 tLle5 1 S.tLlxe5 "'xe5 1 9.0-0-0 �d 7 20.f4 l:txf4 21 .�xf4 'ifxf4+ 22.�b1 �hS 23.l:tdf1 "'g5 24.l:tf7 �c6 25.l:th3 l:tgS 26.l:tg3 "'xh5 27....f1 "'e5 2S.l:tg6 AeS O

_� .i. _ E _ � ' �r rlr L %� ::;' � l� ':.% _

� �

�

�

:.:.�.:. ���' .� �� !� ��� ��I� �

(Solution on page 2 0 8 ) 191

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

2 7.

Pin

***

40.cS 1::t e S

Opl.Klaus Bodrogi.Mihaly Budapest 2 0 1 2 (6)

1 .e4 c S 2.d4 cxd4 3 .c3 'ifaS 4.tLlf3 tLlf6 S . .id3 dS 6.eS dxc3 7.tLlxc3 d4 S.�bS+ �d 7 9.tLlxd4 tLle4

(Solution on page 2 0 9 ) 29.

An old mating pattern

***

Rozentalis.Eduardas Kantsler.Boris Israel tt 2 0 1 2 ( 7 )

(Solution on page 2 0 8 ) 28.

Passed pawns

***

Potkin. Vladimir Grischuk.Alexander Khanty-Mansiysk 2 0 1 1 (4)

1 .d4 tLlf6 2 .c4 g6 3.tLlc3 �g 7 4.e4 d 6 S.�e2 0-0 6 . .igS tLla6 7.f4 'iYeS S.tLlf3 eS 9.fxeS dxeS 1 1 .tLld2 tLlh S tLlcS 1 0.dS 1 2 .�xhS gx hS 1 3 .'ifxhS tLld3+ 1 4.�e2 tLlf4+ 1 S.�xf4 exf4 1 6 J:t hf1 �eS 1 7.g3 fxg3 1 S.tLlf3 �g 7 1 9.eS �xeS 20.tLlxeS f6 21 .'iYxeS .l::t x eS 22.hxg3 .l::t x eS+ 23.�d2 �f7 24J:tf4 1::tfS 2S J:taf1 1::t xf4 26.1::t xf4 �d 7 27.tLle4 fS 2S.tLlcS �cS 29.b4 b6 30.tLld3 �f6 31 .1::t h 4 �g 7 32 .�c3 �d7 33.tLleS �eS 34.�d4 hS 3S.tLld3 �f7 36.tLlf4 1::t e S 37.tLlxhS+ �xhS 3S.1::t x hS 1::t e 4+ 39.�d3 bS 1 92

1 .e4 c S 2.tLlf3 e6 3.tLlc3 a6 4.d4 cxd4 S.tLlxd4 'ifc7 6.g3 �b4 7.tLle2 tLlf6 S.�g 2 0-0 9.0-0 �e7 1 0.tLld4 tLlc6 1 1 .b3 d6 1 2 .�b2 �d 7 1 3 .1::t e 1 1::t a cS 1 4.tLlxc6 �xc6 1 S .... e2 bS 1 6 .a3 �b7 1 7.1::t a d 1 1::tf dS 1 S.h3 tLld7 1 9.f4 .tf6 20.eS dxeS 21 .�xb 7 'ifxb 7 22.fxeS tLlxeS 23 .tLle4 tLlf3+ 24.'ifxf3 "'b6+ 2S.�f1 .ixb2 26 .c3 1::t x d 1 27.1::t xd 1 fS 2S.1::t d 7 h6

(Solution on p a g e 2 1 0)

Final Test

30.

Hot square

***

Smeets,]an Brandenburg,Daan Netherlands Internet 2 0 1 1 ( 2 )

1 .e4 e6 2.d4 dS 3.eS c S 4.c3 ttJc6 S.ttJf3 'ifb6 6.a3 ttJh6 7.b4 cxd4 S.cxd4 ttJfS 9.�e3 �d7 1 0.ttJc3 �c8 1 1 .ttJa4 "'dS 1 2.�d3 ttJxe3 1 3.fxe3 �e7 1 4.0-0 0-0 1 S.e4 ttJxd4 1 6.ttJxd4 �xa4 1 7. "'xa4 dxe4 1 S.ttJxe6 fxe6 1 9.�e2 'iYd4+ 20.�h 1 'ifxeS 21 :it'xa7 �d6 22.g3 .l:tc2 23 .'ife3 •

� � Cv � � � �� f �� � j?:I' f �� f C " "%� � � �� � "''' � E �� � �,�� � �

31.

i irJ� _,

Who attacks who?

***

Neiman,Emmanuel Vega ICC 2 0 1 1

1 .c4 eS 2.g3 ttJc6 3 .�g2 ..tcS 4.ttJc3 d6 S .e3 a6 6 .ttJge2 ttJge7 7.d4 exd4 S.exd4 �a7 9.0-0 �fS 1 0.a3 'ifd7 1 1 .�e3 0-0 1 2 . .l:tc1 .l:tfeS 1 3 .ttJdS ttJdS 1 4.ttJxe7+ .l:txe 7 1 S.ttJc3 c6 1 6.b4 �h3 1 7.... d 3 �xg2 1 S.�xg2 ttJe6 1 9.dS ttJfS 20.�xa 7 .l:txa 7 21 . .l:tfe1 .l:.aS 22 .:xe7 "'xe7 23 . .l:td1 .l:tdS 24.dxc6 bxc6 2S.cS dS 26:it'xa6 d4 27.... e2

2 7 .ttJe2 'iVe4+ 2 8 . f3 'iVeS � .

***

Assessing a variation

Jurmala 2 0 1 2 ( 1 )

� � �� � �

(Solution on page 2 1 0)

32.

Azarov,Sergei Glek,Igor

� �� rf/�"A {{{f:; �%f§� r"",,% �� _ "'� �nlJi ' ;'%� r�r� "',,%W� " " " Y,

(Solution o n page 2 1 0)

1 .e4 d 6 2 .d4 ttJf6 3 .ttJc3 eS 4.ttJf3 ttJbd7 S ...tc4 �e7 6.0-0 0-0 7. .l:te1 a 6 S.a4 b6 9.ttJe2 ttJ h S 1 0.ttJg3 ttJxg3 1 1 .hxg3 c6 1 2 .�e3 �b7 1 3 .�b3 bS 1 4:it'e2 �f6 1 S .11a d 1 "'e7 1 6 .g4 g6 1 7.�h6 .l:.feS 1 S.c3 exd4 1 9.cxd4 d S 20.eS �g7 21 .'ifd2 cS 2 2 .�xg 7 �xg 7 23.dxcS ttJxcS 24.�c2 bxa4 2S.'iff4 �c6 26.gS ttJe6 27.... h4 .l:.abS 2S.ttJd4 Ad7 29.ttJxe6+ fxe6 30.11e3 .l:.xb2 31 .11h3 l:hS 32 . .l:.c1 �eS 33 .�d3 .l:.bS 34 .... h6+ �gS 3SJ:tf3 a 3 36 . .l:.c7 �d7 37.�xg 6 •

�� � � . � ""' Y. " B � �" Y. _%� . ��, ..i " j , � " y.� " %� �� ��r��t�� � � ' 7,,t� _"'� _"'� , ,,%� %. ,,%� �� �� r� � � L '%� �� � � � � �.'�''%�!'0� � � � - �

!

(Solution on page 2 1 1 )

1 93

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

33.

Absence of defence

****

Neiman,Emmanuel Taddei,Benoit

ttJgS 24.dS fS 2S.llxhS ttJe5

25.hS

gxhS

After a friendly game, 2 0 1 2

1 .e4 eS 2.d4 d 5 3 .ttJc3 h S 4.ttJf3 ttJfS 5 .e5 ttJe4 S .�d3 �b4 7. 0-0 ttJxc3 S.bxc3 �xc3 9.llb1 ttJcS 1 0.�b5 �d 7 1 1 .�a4 bS 1 2 .... d3 �a5 1 3 .c3 ttJe7 14 . .tb3 'ifcs 1 5 .�a3 c5 1 S . .ic2 ttJgS 1 7.�c1 0-0 1 S.h4 lleS 1 9. h 5 ttJfS

(Solution on page 2 1 2 ) 35.

Move order

****

Li Shilong Ni Hua Xinghua Jiangsu ch-CHN 2 0 1 1 ( 8 )

(Solution on page 2 1 1 ) 34.

Removing the obstacle

****

Hagesaether,Arne Marusenko,Petr

1 .d4 ttJfS 2.c4 eS 3.ttJc3 �b4 4 ....c2 0-0 5.ttJf3 c5 S.dxc5 ttJaS 7.g3 ttJxc5 S.�g 2 ttJce4 9.�d 2 ttJxd 2 1 0.ttJxd2 as 1 1 .0-0 �e7 1 2.llfd 1 "'c7 1 3 .llac1 llbS 14 .... d 3 lldS 1 5 .ttJde4 ttJg4 1 S .... d4 d S

Hastings 2 0 1 1 1 1 2 (9)

1 .e4 cS 2 .d4 d5 3.ttJc3 dxe4 4.ttJxe4 �f5 5.ttJg3 �gS S.h4 hS 7.ttJf3 ttJd7 S.h5 i.h7 9.�d 3 �xd 3 1 0. "'xd 3 eS 1 1 .�f4 �b4+ 1 2.�d 2 �xd 2+ 1 3 .fhd 2 ttJgfS 1 4.0-0-0 0-0 1 5 .ttJf1 "'bS 1 S.ttJe3 llfdS 1 7.�b1 c5 1 SJ:th4 llacS 1 9.c4 e5 20.d 5 e4 21 .ttJf5 exf3 22.ttJxhS+ �fS 23 .ttJf5

1 94

(Solution on page 2 1 2 )

Final Test

36.

Obstructions

****

Tarra�ch,Siegbert NN

1 S.ttJ bxd4 � d S 1 S.'iYh4 �e7 1 7.'iYf4 �fS 1 S.:c2 a s 1 9.1::t d 1 a420.b4 a 3 21 . bxcS axb2 22.cS :xa2 23.l::t b 1 gS 24.'lYe3 �aS 2S.:bxb2 l::t x b2 2SJ:txb2 ttJxg3 27.c7 'lYaS 2S.'iYxeS+ 'lYxeS 29.:xbS �xd4 3 0.ttJxd4 ttJxe2+ 31 .ttJxe2 'iYxe2 32.l::t x aS

(Solution on page 2 1 2) 3 7.

Around the corners

****

(Solution on page 2 1 4) 39.

Coordination

****

Gaprindashvili,Nona Servaty,Rudolf Dortmund 1 9 7 4 ( 3 )

(Solution o n page 2 1 3 ) 38.

A draw in hand

****

1 .e4 c S 2.ttJf3 ttJcS 3 .d4 cxd4 4.ttJxd4 gS S .c4 �g 7 S .�e3 ttJfS 7.ttJc3 ttJg4 S.'iYxg4 ttJxd4 9.'lYd 1 eS 1 0.ttJbS 0-0 1 1 .�e2 'iYh4 1 2.ttJxd4 exd4 1 3 .�xd4 'iYxe4 1 4.�xg 7 'iYxg2

Brady,Stephen Collins, Sarn Brannigan cup 2 0 1 2 ( 2 )

1 .ttJf3 ttJfS 2 . g 3 c S 3 .c4 bS 4 . .tg2 �b7 S.O-O eS S .ttJc3 �e7 7.b3 0-0 S.�b2 dS 9.cxdS exdS 1 0.d4 ttJaS 1 1 .:c1 :eS 1 2.'iYd2 ttJe4 1 3 .'iYf4 cxd4 1 4.ttJbS ttJacS 1 95

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Black should have played 14 . . . �xg 7 when after 1 5 . 0 - 0 White is only slightly better. . (Solution on page 2 1 4) 40.

Horse jumping

****

Rozentalis,Eduardas Socko,Bartosz Austria Bundesliga 2 0 1 2 ( 1 0)

1 .e4 c S 2.c3 dS 4.d4 tLlf6 S.tLlf3 7.�d3 �e7 S.O-O 1 0.�e3 eS 1 1 .c4 1 3 .�xe4 tLlxe4 1 S.dxc6 .ih3 1 7.tLleS

(Solution on page 2 1 6)

3.exdS "'xdS e6 6.a3 tLlc6 0-0 9.l::t e 1 l::t d S "'d6 1 2.dS e4 14 .... c2 "'g6 1 6.g3 "'xc6

42.

Net

Gurvich,Abram study 1 9 5 9

(Solution o n page 2 1 7 ) (Solution on page 2 1 5 ) 41.

Secret weakness

43. ****

****

Counterattack

*****

Karjakin,Sergey Aronian,Levon Wijk aan Zee 2 0 1 2 ( 1 )

Bologan,Viktor Naiditsch,Arkadij Chisinau 2 0 1 2 ( 3 )

1 .e4 c S 2.tLlf3 tLlc6 3 .�bS tLlf6 4.�xc6 dxc6 S.d3 "'c7 6 .eS tLldS 7.h3 �fS S.tLl bd2 g S 9.tLle4 h6 1 0 .... e2 0-0-0 1 1 .�d2 'ifb6 1 2.0-0-0 �g 7 1 3 .g4 �e6 1 4.�b1 l::t d 7 1 S .tLlg3 l::t h dS 1 6 .tLlfS �xfS 1 7.gxfS 1 96

1 .e4 e S 2.tLlf3 tLlc6 3.�bS a6 4.�a4 tLlf6 S.O-O 1i..e 7 6.d3 bS 7.�b3 0-0 S.a4 b4 9.tLlbd2 �cS 1 0.h3 d6 1 1 .c3 l::t bS 1 2.l::te 1 l::teS 1 3.aS .ia7 1 4.tLlf1 tLle7 1 S.tLlg3 tLlg6 1 6.d4 h6 1 7.�c2 cS 1 S.dxeS dxeS 1 9.�d3 �e6 20..ixa6 c4 21 .l::t a4 "'c7 22.cxb4 .ixf2+ 23.�xf2 'tWa7+ 24.1i..e 3 'iYxa6 2S.�g 1 .:redS 26.'ifc 1 l::t d 3

Final Test

(Solution on page 2 1 7 ) 44.

Lack of harmony

*****

Nakamura,Hikaru Aronian,Levon Sao Pau1o/Bilbao 2 0 1 1 ( 8 )

1 .d4 d S 2.c4 e 6 3.ttJc3 �e 7 4.cxdS exdS S.�f4 c6 6.e3 �fS 7.g4 �e6 S.h4 ttJd7 9.hS ttJh6 1 0..ie2 ttJb6 1 1 .ttJh3 gS 1 2.hxg6 hxg6 1 3 ..ig3 •

.I � � . � � �� �' ' %�iF%' �� uu (

�''0

[� l � W l �

. l � .t � l •

0-0 S.O-O ttJbd7 9J:1d1 b 6 1 0.b3 �6 1 1 ..if4 :ea 1 2.ttJc3 :eS 1 3.e4 dxc4 14.ttJd2 bS 1 S.bxc4 bxc4 1 6.�f1 ttJb6 1 7.a4 �b4 1 RaS ttJbd7 1 9hc4 �bS 20.'iVb3 bc3 21 .'iVxc3 ttJdS 22.'iff3 ttJxf4 23.'ifxf4 "fIIe 7 24.eS 16 2S.:ac1 :edS 26."flle3 ttJf8 27.exfS "'xfS 2RttJe4 'ife7 29�b3 �hS 30.ttJgS :ea 31 .:c5 h6 32.ttJf3 ttJd7 33.ttJeS ttJxeS 34.:xeS :edS 3S.'ife4 'iff7 36.:e1 :18 37:�Ye3 :d6 3She6 "fIIc7 39.:hS :16 40.�b3 :dS 41 �c2 �c4 42.dS 'iVf7 43."flle4 gS 44.'ifd4 �g7 4S.'ifxc4 'ifxhS 46.'iVd3 'iVf3 47.'ifh7+ � 4S:�'hS+ c:Ji;f7 49.'ifh7+ � SO.'ife7+ �gS S1 .:f1 :xdS S2�h7+ �hS S3..ie4 :d7 54."flleS :dS SS ....e7 :d7 S6."fllxd7 "'xe4 S7....xa7 hS 58.:d1 :18 S9....c5 :fS 60.'iVc3+ �gS 61 .:a1 h4 62 ....e3 'ifdS 63 ....ea+ �g7 64.:e1 h3 Q

•;.�.=,; �f"'g7 24.'iVf6 + c;t> g S 2 s . fixh6 fidS 2 6 J :tbe l +-) 2 2 .fid l gxh6 2 3 .fig4+ c;t>hS 24 . .l:.b3 fid2 2 S . l:t g 3 figS 2 6 . 'iVf3 'iVe 7 2 7 .fif4 �d2 2 s .fixd2 fs 2 9 . hfS exfS 3 0 .e6 .l:.adS 3 1 .fixh6+ ttJh7 3 2 .ttJxfS fifS 3 3 .exd7 l:txd7 3 4.fig6+- . 21 .ttJ h 2 1

37... hxg6 1-+

would have been winning. 3 7 . . . a2 was played in the game, and White won af­ ter 3 S .�fl + fixfl 3 9 J ixfl a 1 fi + 40.�h2 fixe S + 4 1 .f4 with checkmate soon. 38.fixg6+ fig 7 39.fixg 7+ �xg 7 40.l:txd 7+ �g8

Now White cannot play 4 1 J ixa3 be­ cause of 4 1 . . . l:.b l # . But 4 1 . g 3 also loses because after 4 1 . . . a 2 42 . l:ta 3 .l:.b 1 + White has to give up a rook to stop the passed a-pawn. SIGNAL: King position. THEME : Line clearance/ Back-rank mate.

Toward the dark squares ! 2 1 .fie3 c;t>g7 2 2 .fif4 fidS 2 3 .fig4+ c;t>hS 24.'tWf4 c;t>g 7 = . 2 1 ... fic7

2 1 . . . l:te7 2 2 .fie3 with a winning attack, for example 22 . . . cxd4 2 3 .'iVxh6 'iVxc3 H .... g S + �hS 2 s .fif6+ c;t>gS 2 6 .h6. 22.fie3 f 5 23 .exf6 �c6 24.ttJg4 ttJh7 25.fixh6 l:tf8 26.l:tfe1 l:tae8 27.ttJe5 l:txf6 28.�xh7+ fixh7 29.fixf6+-

SIGNAL: Impotent defence. Here you should sacrifice because there is no available defence, regardless of how long it will take to checkmate the oppo­ nent. THEME : Eliminating the defender (the g 7 -pawn) . 21 1

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Sol utio n 3 4 (page 1 94)

1 7.'ifa7 1

Changing the move order. Now I S .lLlbS is threatened. A possible idea was 1 7 . lLl b S axb S l S . cxbS 'ifd7 1 9 .'ifa7 . winning the rook. but of course l S . . . 'ifaS is winning here. Once you have noticed the idea. and the possible defence. you should look for another move order. The best reply for Black is: 1 7... �d7 1 S.lLlb5 'ifa5 27Jbf6+ l lLlxf6 2S.'ifg5 1 1

The most important attacking tip is prob­ ably to bring the queen into play. The threat is 2 9 .'ifg7 + and 3 0 .'ife7 mate. There is no defence. since the d6-pawn keeps Black from defending via c 7 . 2S ... lLlgS

2S . . . l:td7 2 9 . 'ifxf6 + lLlfl ( 2 9 . . . �eS 3 0 .'ifxe S + ) 3 0 .'ifg 7 + �eS 3 1 .'ifg S # . 2S . . . lLleS 29.'ife7 + �gS 3 o.lLlh6+ �hS 3 1 .'ifflH �h7 3 2 .'ifgS+ �6 3 3 .l:th l #. 29.'ifg 7+ 31 .J::t e 1 +

�eS

30.d 7+

lLlxd 7 1 -0

SIGNAL: Defence too far. THEME: Elimination/Deflection of the defender.

After I S . . . axbS 1 9 . cxbS the queen has no squares. 1 9.1Llexd6± �g5 20.f4 .if6 21 .lLlxb7 l:txb7 22.�xb7 �xb2 23.J::t b 1 �xb5 . 24.cxb5 l:txd 1 + 25 .l:txd 1 g6 26.�f3 'ifa4 27.l::t d S+ �g7 2S.�xg4 'ife4 29.�f3 1 -0

SIGNAL : Unprotected piece (the bS-rook) . Impotent defence. Alignment (on the c-file) . THEME : Line clearance (the c-file) . Sol ution 36 (page 1 95)

Sol ution 35 (page 1 94)

1 .�xeS! l:txc7 2.�d 7 1

The first obstruction : of the rook. 2 ... l:.cS 3 .�xcS 'ife2 4.�e61 212

S o l u t i o ns t o F i n a l T e s t

The second obstruction : of the queen. 4 .. :iVxeS SJ:tb1 'ifeS

The queen controls simultaneously the bS and the eS-squares - a classical case of an overloaded defender. After 5 . . . �gS 6 J:tb S + �f7 7 .eS'if+ 'ifxeS S .l::txe S �xeS 9. �g 1 +- White wins without trouble, as in the vast ma­ jority of the pawn endings with a pawn up : 9 . �d7 1 O . �f2 � d6 1 1 . � e3 � c5 1 2 �e4 . .

.

.

S.d41

1 -0

SIGNAL : Defence too far away. THEME : Line clOSing, Deflection. Sol ution 37 (page 1 95)

To find this first move, you need to grasp the whole concept!

Solution 37b

Lalic,Bogdan Del Rey,Diego La Rada 2 0 1 2 (9)

1 .d4 d S 2.c4 cS 3.1L1f3 lLlfS 4.1L1c3 dxc4 S.a4 as S.e4 .ig4 7.�xc4 eS S.�e3 �b4 9.'ifc2 lLlbd7 1 0.�e2 0-0 1 1 .0-0 �xf3 1 2.�xf3 eS 1 3.1L1a2 �dS 1 4.g3 'ife7 1 S.dxeS lLlxeS 1 S .�g2 lUeS 1 7J:tac1 lLled 7 1 SJ:tfe 1 lLlg4 1 9.�d4 �eS 20.�xeS 'ifxeS 21 .h3 lLlgfS 22.f4 'ifeS 23.b3 lLlbS 24.l:tcd 1 lLlfd 7 2S.1L1c1 fS 2S.1L1d3 'ife7 27.�h 2 �hS 2SJ:td2 lLlfS 29.eS l:tedS 30.exfS 'it'xfS 31 .1L1eS lLldS 32.�xdS cxd S 33 .'ifc7 �gS 34.'ifxb7 l:t a bS 3S .'ifa 7 l:txb3 3S. 'ifxaS 'ifbS 3 7. 'ifxbS l:txbS 3S.l:ted 1 l:taS 39.aS d4 40.l:txd4 l:txd4 41 .l:txd4 l:txaS 42.l:tdS l:ta7 43.g4 g S 44J:teS �g 7 4S.gS l:tc7 4S.h4 l:tb7 47.�g3 l:tb3+ 4S.�g4 l:t b 1 49.l:te7+ �gS SO.lLlf7 l:tg1 + S1 .�f3 l:tf1 + S2.�g3 l:tc1 S3.1L1hS+ �hS S4.l:tf7 l:tcS SS.lLlg4 lLleS SS .lLlfS lLlg7 S7.�f2 l:tbS SS.�e3 lLlfS+ S9.�d 2 l:tdS+ SO.�c3 l:tcS+ S1 .�b4 lLlg7

1 ...� h7 2.'ifh2+ �gS 3.'ifa2+ �h7 4.'iff7 1 -0

SIGNAL: Trapped pieces (queen and king ! ) . THEME : Domination/Zugzwang. A recent game saw on the same square a zugzwang that was very similar to the one in the previous study : 213

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s Antenna

62.c;t>b5 64.c;t>b7

1%a8

63.c;t>b6

1%d8 1 -0

34.i.xg4 f51

0-1

Opening the seventh rank . After 3 S .hfS Black can achieve the winning double attack and win the c-pawn thanks to 3 S . . .... a 1 + 3 6 . �g2 'fIg 7 + 3 7 . �f3 .xc 7 . SIGNAL: Unprotected piece (the c7 -pawn and then the king) THEME: Double attack, Line clearance.

Solution 39 (page 1 95) It is a total zugzwang. If the rook moves, it is lost; if the knight moves it is check­ mate on h7 , if the h-pawn moves, White takes on h6 with a quick check­ mate.

Solution 38 (page 1 95) 1 5."d41 Sacrificing the two rooks, like in Adolf Anderssen's Immortal Game. 1 5 ...... xh1 + 1 6.�d2 .xa 1

32 ...•xa61

Black has calculated a forced win , and rej ects the draw after 3 2 . . .• d 1 + 3 3 .�f1 "'g4+ 3 4 . c;t>h 1 .f3 + 3 S . �g l . 33.�h3 Apparently, the c-pawn will promote. But Black has seen further. 33 ... g41 In order to open the g-file. 214

1 6 . . .... xh2 1 7 .i.f3 dS 1 8 .hfB c;t>xfB 1 9 .1%h 1 'ifd6 2 0 . 1%xh7 +- . Interesting variations begin with 1 6 . . ....c6 1 7 .hfB c;t>xf8 :

S o l u t i ons to F i n a l T e s t

1 8 .l:te 1 ! is the winning move, threaten­ ing 1 9 .'ifh8+ and 2o.AO + : 1 8 . . .f60 1 9 .c5 ! +-:.. Now �b5 is threatened ( 1 9 .�d3 ± was good enough, but 1 9 .c5 is stronger) . There is no defence: 1 9 . . . b6 (on 1 9 . . . a6, 20 .�c4, threatening �d5 or 'ife3 , is lethal) 2 0.�b5 .0 2 1 .'ifd6+ 'ifilg7 22.'ife 7 + c;ft>h6 2 3 .'iffiH c;ft>g5 (af­ ter 23 . . . c;ft>h5 24.�e2 wins) 24.l:te5 + ! (showtime ! ) 2 4 . . . f5 2 5 .h4+ c;ft>f4 26 ....d6! when mate is near.

Now c.omes the beauty : 1 7....f61

1 -0

With the irreparable threat of 1 8 .�h6 and 1 9 .• g7 mate. Black's men are un­ able to assist the lone king. SIGNAL: Defence too far, King position. THEME: Line closing (blocking on f6 with the queen) .

Solution 40 (page

Black's idea is obvious , but it involves a nice piece of calculation. 1 7 lLJd21 1 S.lLJxc6 •••

1 8 . 0 lLJxO + 1 9 .1LJxO winning for Black.

"'ill is close to

1 S...lLJf3+ 1 9.c;ft>h1

For a similar combination, see the game Andreev-Dolukhanov in 'Is There a Combination?' , page 1 74. 20.c;ft>xg2 lLJxe1 + 21 .c;ft>h3 lLJxc2 Black wins the exchange. 22.lLJxe7+ 2 2 . lLJxd8 lLJxa 1 -+ . 2 2 b7 mate is threatened. 3 ... c,i;>xa4 4.bS#

SIGNAL: King position. THEME: Line closing. Solution 43 (page 1 96)

Two defenders , the g7 -pawn and the f6-knight, have been removed from the defence of their king. Now it is time to look for a perpetual : 34.ttJgS+! c,i;>h8

On 3 4 . . . hxg S 3 S .'ifxf7 + c,i;>hS 3 6 . ttJhS even wins for White ! 3S.ttJxf7+ g8 3S.ttJxhS+ h 7 37....f7 + c,i;> x h S 38.ttJfS+ g S 39 .... xd7 .l:. d 3 40 .... h 7 f4 41 .ttJh4 c,i;>gS=

If 4 1 . . . ttJxh4 4 2 . 'ifxh4+ 4 3 . 'We 1 + , winning the b4-rook. 42.ttJfS

SIGNAL: Unprotected pieces . THEME : Line clearance, Deflection. Solution 44 (page 1 97)

In this difficult position, White could have achieved a draw if he had

217

c,i;> e 3 1/2- 1/2

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

The white pieces lack coordination here : - there is a possible pin on the h-file (the rook on h I is unprotected, and the h3 -knight cannot go to £1 ; - i n g eneral , White 's pieces lack space because each of them takes ' breath­ ing spac e ' from the others ; the g 3 -bishop and the h 3 -knight restrict each other. Those factors allow a combination that was left unnoticed by these two elite players. I 3 .f3 is normal, thus allowing the knight to come into play via the £1 -square and in so doing protect the h I -rook. 1 3 ... ttJxg4!

I 3 . . . 'ifd7 was the move played in the actual game, which was later won by White.

Sol ution 45 (page 1 97)

65J:te7+ wf6

6 5 . . . Wh6 leads to mate after 6 6 . 'ifh8+ Wg6 67 . 'ifh 7 + Wf6 6 8 .'ifg 7 # . 6 5 . . J:t fl i s bad, because after a general exchange, the a-pawn promotes. 66.'iff8+ wg6 68.'ifh8+ wg4

67.1::t g 7+

wh5

1 4.�xg4 'if d7!

This slow move is a very difficult one to find, just after you have sacrificed a knight. There is no defence : 1 5.�xe6

I 5 . f3 f5 ! , trapping the bishop, is the point. 1 5 ...... xe6

1 -0

White lacks the agility to protect his knight. SIGNAL: Alignment, Impotent defence. THEME : Pin, Domination. Queen and rook are very powerful when they are attacking the king to­ gether. Nevertheless , in the following game, you have to be very accurate in the calculations in order to find the forced win that follows. 218

After this sequence, White has to have foreseen the following move, the only clear winner: 72.l:td 7 !

Winning the queen. SIGNAL: King position, Alignment. THEME: Pin, Skewer.

1 -0

S o l u t i on s to F i n a l T e s t

Solution 46 (page 1 97)

2S.l:txf6 1

The beginning of a deep combination. White deflects the bishop from the de­ fence of cS . 2S .....txf6 29.lLlc5 �h4

If 29 . . . 'ira7 3 0 .lLld7 ! l:td8 3 1 . lLlxf6 + � h 8 3 2 .lLlh5 and White i s winning. 30.'irxh4 'ird5 31 .lLlcb3

25 ... lLlc511

The knight wants to land on the strong d 3 -square. White has to take it. 2 S .. .'iit e 8 was played in the game. which ended in a draw. 26.dxc5

Or 2 6 . :xcS �xcS 2 7 .dxcS lhc S ! 2 8 .�g2 :c2 + 2 9 .�h3 'irf2 3 0 .'irg3 :xhS +. winning for Black. 26 ...�xc5+ 27.Wg2 2S.:xg 1 l:tc2+ 29.wh3

31 ... a5

The best defence is 3 1 . . .eS ! (pin) 3 2 . 'ir g 3 (counterpin) 3 2 . . . lLl c 6 ( 3 2 . . . f5 3 3 .c 3 lLl c 6 3 4.'irxg 7 + Wxg 7 3 s .lLlxfs + �f6 3 6 . :xdS �xfS offers better chances of resistance)

�xg 1

2 9 . �h l e3 with . . . 'irc6+ to come. 29 ...'irf2 30.'irg3 l:txh5+

3 1 . lLl e4 ! +was even better : 3 1 . . .'if a 2 + 3 2 . �c 1 'ira l + 3 3 .Wd2 'irxb2 seems to offer compensation. but 3 4 .lLlf6 + gxf6 3 S .'irg 3 + �f8 3 6 ....xb8 + wins for White.

0-1

SIGNAL: Alignment. THEME: Line clearance. Solution 47 (page 1 9B)

3 3 .:e l ! lLlxd4 ( 3 3 . . . exd4 3 4.'irxb 8 + lLl x b 8 3 S . : e 8 #) 3 4 . l:txe S 'ir b 7 ( 3 4 . . . 'ir d 8 3 S . :d5 ! +- ) 3 S . l:te7 ! 'irbS 3 6 .'irf4+- lLlfS 3 7 . l:teS . 32.l:td2 h 6 33.lLlf3 'iraS 34.:d 7 'irc6 35.l:tdS+ � h 7 36.lLlfd4 1 -0

SIGNAL : Knight fork. Unprotected piece (the rook on b 8 ) . THEME : Deflection. 219

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Solution 4 8 (page

1 9B)

2 9 . � d 3 ':'xf2 + 3 0 . � c 3 �c l + 3 1 .�b3 �c6 + when Black should be winning. 22 ...... e 1 + 23 . ..t d 1

2 3 . Wc2 ttJ b4# . 23 ... l:tacS+ 24.�c3 ttJxc3-+ 1 -0

SIGNAL: King position. THEME: Line clearance, Deflection.

21 �h311 •.•

Solution 49 (page

1 99)

Both defending against the checkmate on hS , and attacking along the c-file thanks to the square clearance. After this move, Black's attack is quicker. The actual game went 2 1 . . .... c 5 + 2 Viti'd 2 �b4+ 2 3 . � c 3 �xc 3 + 2 4 . bx c 3 ':' d S 2 5 . ttJxf7 ttJxc 3 + 2 6 . ttJxdS + and White won. 22.l:txh3

The best defence according to the pro­ grams was 2 2 .... e4! "'a l + 2 3 . �d2 "'xh l 24.�xd5 .

White is threatening checkmate in one with 2 5 . ...xg6 . But now comes an­ other deflection : 24 . . . �b4+ ! ! 2 5 . ... xb4 ':' a d S 2 6 . ... d4 �xg 2 2 7 . ..txf7 + ':'xf7 2 S . �xd S + ':' fS 220

54 .... xh6+1

54. exf7 �d5 + 5 5 .�f2 (if 5 5 .'�t g 3 :Sa3 + checkmates on the next move because White does not benefit from the empty h4-square ! ; if 5 5 J:lg 2 ':'xg 2 + 5 6 . Wh l ':'a l +) 5 5 . . . ':'xf2 + 5 6 .Wg3 l:tf3 + 5 7 . Wh4 ( 5 7 . Wh2 �xf7 with a winning edge for Black) 5 7 . . . l:taa3 and Black wins. 5 4 . ':'x g 2 ':'xg 2 + 5 5 . Wxg 2 l:ta2 + 5 6 . wfI "'g6 ! and White has no de­ fence. 54 ... gxh6 55.exf7 �d5+ 56.Wg3 �xf7 57.wh4 ':'gS 5S.':'xgS wxgS 59.':'xd4 112-112

SIGNAL: King position. THEME: Square clearance.

S ol u t i ons t o F i n a l T e s t

Solution 50 (page 1 99)

I like this study because it contains a beautiful trick that makes it a great spoiler' : if White confidently plays 2 . :eS + �g7 3 .:gS+ he only can only draw after 3 . . . �h6 ! ' This is the move that you have to consider as a solver: if 4. :xg l stalemate, or even 4.ti:)g4+ �h5 5 .ti:)f6+ �h6 = . •

2 .....g8 ..

If L .h6, now 3 .:eS + �h7 4.ti:)f6 + � g 6 5 .:gS + wins.

3.ti:)g711 1!t'xg7 3 . . .�xg 7 4.:g2 + �f8 5 .:xg S + �xgS 6 .a 5 +- . 3 . . . h5 4.:eS 'it'xeS 5 . ti:)xeS h4 6 .ti:)f6 h3 7 .ti:)g4 f5 S .ti:)h2 +- ; 4.:e8+ 6.a5+-

"'g8

5.:xg8+

�xg8 1 -0

SIGNAL: Alignment. T1f�E: Skewe� Pin.

22 1

Bibli9graphy Leonard Barden, Batsford Chess Puzzles , Batsford 2 0 0 2 Valeri Beim The Enigma of Chess Intuition , New I n Chess 2 0 1 2 Mark Dvoretsky, Secrets of Chess Tactics , Batsford 1 9 9 6 Paata Gaprindashvili , Imagination i n Chess , Batsford 2 0 0 4 August Livshitz, Test your chess IQ: First Challenge Cadogan 1 9 9 7 August Livshitz, Test your chess IQ: Master Challenge Cadogan 1 9 9 7 August Livshitz, Test your chess IQ: Grandmaster Challenge Cadogan 1 9 9 3 Emmanuel Neiman, ['ail tactique, Payot 2 0 0 3 , 2nd ed. 2 0 1 0 Emmanuel N eiman, Yochanan Afek, Invisible Chess Moves , New In Chess 2 0 1 1 Yakov Neishtadt, Improve Your Chess Tactics , New In Chess 2 0 1 1 John Nunn, Secrets of Practical Chess , Gambit 1 9 9 8 (new enlarged edition 2 0 0 7 ) Georges Renaud, Victor Kahn, L'Art defaire mat, Payot 1 9 9 7 Kurt Richter, Chess combination as a fine art, W Golz (ed.) I P. Keres , Pitman 1 9 7 6 John Shaw, Quality Chess Puzzle Book, Quality Chess 2 0 1 0 Jonathan Tisdall, Improve your chess now, Cadogan 1 9 9 7 Artur Yusupov, Mark Dvoretsky, Attack and Defence, Batsford 1 9 9 8 Chess Today Chess Base

223

Glos$ary of Terms Attack

Combination

When a piece is threatened by capture

A clever and more or less forced se­

or a king is threatened by checkmate .

quence of moves which usually results i n an advantage for the player who

Back rank

starts the sequence.

The first rank (for White) or the eighth rank (for B l ack).

Connected pawns A number of fellow pawns on adj acent

Blitz game

files ; they can protect each other and

Quick game in which each pl ayer gets

are usually less vulnerable than isolated

five minutes (or less) for all his moves.

pawns.

Capture

Correspondence game

When a piece is removed by an enemy

A game between two players who send

piece, which then takes the place of the

each other each move in turn by mail or

captured piece.

(in recent years) by e-mai l .

Castling

Diagonal

A move by king and rook that serves to

A line of squares running from top left

bri ng the former into safety and to acti­

to bottom right or the other way round

vate the latter. The king is moved side­

(e.g. ' the a l -h8 diagonal ' ) .

ways two squares from its original square . At the same time, a rook moves

Doubled (tripled) pawns

from its origi nal square to the adj acent

Two (three) pawns on the same file (the

square on the other side of the king.

result of a capture by one (two) of these

A player may castle to the kingside or

pawns).

the queenside, but only if both the king and rook i n question have not moved

EndgamelEnding

before in the game, if his king is not in

The final phase of a chess game, when

check, and if his king does not pass a

there are only few pieces left on the

square on which it would be in check.

board.

Check

En passant

When a king i s under direct attack by an

When a pawn which has j ust moved

opposing piece.

forward two squares from its original square, i s captured by an enemy pawn

(Check)mate

standing immediately beside it. This

When a king is under direct attack by an

capturing

opposing piece and there is no way to

square behind the captured pawn, as if

deal with the threat.

it had made a normal capture.

pawn

then

occupies

22S

the

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

E n prise

Liquidation

When a piece i s under attack and threat­

When the next phase of a game is en­

ened with capture.

tered by an exchange of a nu mber of pieces.

Exchange

1 ) When both

sides capture pieces that

are of equal value. A synonym i s trad­

Major piece A queen or a rook.

ing or swapping pieces . 2) The surplus i n value of a rook above

Mating net

a minor piece (a bishop or a knight) .

A situation where a king is attacked by

Fianchetto

cape the mate threat.

enemy pieces and eventually cannot es­ The development of a bishop to the sec­ ond square of the adj acent file of the

Middlegame

knight (to b2 or g2 for White, to b7 or

The phase of the game that follows im­

g7 for B l ack).

mediately after the *openi ng.

File

Minor piece

A line of squares from the top to the

A bishop or a knight.

bottom of the board (e.g. ' the e-file ' ) .

Open file/rank/diagonal Fork

A file, rank or diagonal whose squares

When two (or more) pieces are attacked

are not occupied by pieces or, espe­

simultaneously by the same opposing

cially, pawns.

piece.

Opening Fortress

The initial phase of the game.

A defensive formation designed to pre­ vent

the

opponent

from

breaking

through.

Opposition A situation where two kings are fac ing each other with one square in between.

Fritz

The king that is forced to move ' lose s '

A computer programme w ith which

the opposition and h a s t o make way for

games can be analysed.

the opponent. When the di stance be­ tween the two kings is larger, but one of

Isolated pawn

the two cannot avoid ' losing' the oppo­

A pawn which does not have any fellow

sition, the other is said to have the 'dis­

pawns on adj acent files. It cannot be

tant opposition ' .

protected by another pawn and there­ fore may be vulnerable.

Overburdening/Overload

Kingside

one fellow piece or square at the same

The board half on the right (e-, f- , g- and

time and is not able to maintain thi s sit­

h-files ) .

uation sati sfactori ly.

When a piece has to protect more than

226

Glossary o f Terms

Passed pawn

Sacrifice

A pawn that has no enemy pawns on the

When material is del i berately given up

same or .an adj acent file. Its promotion

for other gains.

can only be prevented by enemy pieces .

Sealed move Perpetual (check)

A move which was written down and

An unstoppable series of checks that

kept in cover when a game was * ad­

neither player can avoid without risking

j ourned. When the arbiter opened the

a loss. Thi s means that the game ends in

cover, the game was resumed starting

a draw.

with the sealed move . In the meantime,

Piece

position .

the players were allowed to analyse the All chessmen apart from the pawns . I n thi s book, mostly queen, rook, bishop

Simultaneous display

and knight are meant because many tac­

A n event where a strong player takes on

tical motifs (sacrifices, for instance)

a number of weaker players on a num­

cannot be carried out by a king.

ber of boards at the same time .

Pin

Square

An attack on a piece that cannot move

One of the 64 sections of the chess

away without exposing a more valuable

board that can be occupied by a pawn,

piece behind it.

piece or king.

Pins can take place on a rank, file or di­ agonal .

Stalemate

Promotion

no legal move and it is his turn . This

When a player who is not in check has When a pawn reaches the 8th rank, it i s turned

into

a

more

valuable

means that the game ends i n a draw.

piece

(knight, bishop, rook or queen ) .

Tempo The duration of one move made by one

Queenside

side. A tempo can be won or deliber­

The board half on the left (a-, b-, c- and

ately lost by several methods, see e . g .

d-fi les).

' Triangulatio n ' .

Rank

Triangulation

A line of squares running from side to

A manoeuvre where the king first

side (e.g. ' the third rank ' ) .

moves sideways and only then forward,

Rapid game

to gain the opposition.

in order to ' lose' a tempo, for example Quick game in which each player gets fifteen to thirty minutes for all his

Underpromotion

moves, sometimes added with a num­

The promotion of a pawn to a piece of

ber of seconds after each completed

lesser value than the queen . Thi s is

move .

quite rare . 227

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Wing

Zwischenschach

Either the kingside or the queenside.

An intermedi ate check, di srupting a logical sequence of moves.

Zugzwang When a player is to move and he cannot

Zwischenzug

do anything w i thout making an i mpor­

An intermediate move with a point that

tant concession.

d i srupts a logical sequence of move s .

228

List of Positions

Lingnau,Carsten Christiansen,Larry Study position Ganguly, Surya Shekhar Vallejo Pons, Francisco Barnes Andruet,Gilles Bolbochan,Julio Kiilaots, Kaido Kennedy Schulder Kudischewitsch,David Gligoric ,Svetozar Rossolimo,Nicolas Rogers,Ian Filipovic,Branko Savic,Miodrag Caruap.a,Fabiano Rivera,Diego Alexandrov,Alexey Giri ,Anish Aginian,Nelly Howell,David Samhouri ,Ahmad Glek,Igor Vachier-Lagrave,Maxime Razuvaev, Yury Euwe,Max Ozsvath,Andras Giri ,Anish Orlov,Andrey Korneev,Oleg Romanko,Marina Kasparian, Genrikh Herbstman and Kubbel Troitzky,Alexey Lobron,Eric Study position

Budapest 1 9 9 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Wij k aan Zee 1 9 9 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Dubai Open 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 - Basencyan,Mark Spain tt 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 - Ponomariov,Ruslan 1 876 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 - NN Germany Bundesliga 1 9 8 7 / 8 8 . . . . . . 2 0 - Spassky,Boris Rio d e Janeiro 1 9 5 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 - Cruz, Waiter Oswaldo Istanbul Ech 2 0 0 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 - Chuchelov,Vladimir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 - NN - Boden,Samuei Standidge London 1 8 6 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 Tei Aviv 2 0 0 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 - Neiman,Emmanuel Chicago 1 9 6 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 9 - Rosenstein,Julis Paris 1 944 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 - NN Gibraltar Masters 2 0 0 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 - Ris,Robert Biel 2 0 I 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 - De Filomeno,Simone Neum tt 2 0 I ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 - Miljkovic,Miroslav - Vachier-Lagrave,Maxime Biel 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 Varna 01 1 9 6 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 - Fischer,Robert James Aix-Ies-Bains Ech 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7 - Vaisser,Anatoly Boxtel ch-NED 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7 - Spoelman, Wouter Tbilisi 20 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 8 - Kosintseva,Tatiana Germany Bundesliga 20 I 01 1 1 . . . . . . 3 9 - Sandipan,Chanda - Polgar,Judit Khanty-Mansiysk oI 2 0 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . 3 9 Tomsk 2 0 0 I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 - Arkhipov,Sergey Nimes ch-FRA 2 0 0 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1 - Degraeve,lean-Marc Keszthely 1 9 8 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 - Mestrovic,Zvonimir Amsterdam 1 9 2 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 - Davidson,lacques Budapest I 9 5 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 - Honfi,Karoly Dortmund 20 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 - Meier,Georg Palau 2 0 0 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 - Pantaleoni,Claudio Krumbach Open 1 9 9 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 - Van Wely,Loek Taganrog 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 - Zaiats, Elena study 1 9 3 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 End ofa study I 9 3 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 7 study 1 9 2 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 9 Dortmund 1 9 8 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 0 - Hort,Vlastimil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 - Orso,Miklos - Karpov,Anatoly

·

·

·

229

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s A n t e n n a

lakobsen,Ole Djuric,Stefan Morphy,Paul Kravanja, Georg Eischer,Robert lames Winter, William ' Blue Saphire' Short, Nigel Damljanovic,Branko Zhao Xue Tikkanen,Hans Study position Van Beek,Lucien Batsiashvili,Nino Rodshtein,Maxim Rossolimo,Nicolas Grischuk,Alexander Srebrnic,Ana Baramidze,David Ivanchuk, Vassily Salomon,Eduardo Movsesian,Sergey Morozevich,Alexander Schneider,Lars-Ake Giri ,Anish Lasker,Edward Kasparian & Manlevian Damiano's Mate Damiano's Six-Mover Benjamin,loel Kwapinski,Leszek Lasker,Emanuel Nimzowitsch,Aaron Kuzmin,Gennady Czempiel,Henryk Richter,Michael Mamedov,Rauf Tiviakov,Sergey Petrosian, Tigran Brkic,Ante Neiman,Emmanuel Biriukov,Nikolay 230

Arvier Wch Seniors 2 0 0 6 . . . . . Carnevale Open 1 9 9 8 . . . . . . . . Paris m 1 8 6 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graz Open 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . Buenos Aires 1 9 7 0 . . . . . . . . . . Hastings 1 9 1 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . ICC 2 0 0 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . London 20 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paracin 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cap d' Agde 2 0 0 6 . . . . . . . . . . . Vasteras ch-SWE 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Netherlands NED-chT 2 0 0 7 . . . - Pel,Bonno Shenzhen 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . - Shen Yang Bie1 2 0 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Negi,Parimarjan - Romanenko, Ivan Simon Salzburg 1 94 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Khanty-Mansiysk 20 1 1 . . . . . . . - Genba,Vladimir - Galojan, Lilit Porto Carras Ech-tt 20 1 1 . . . . . . - Kalinitschew,Sergey Germany Bundesliga 2 0 0 6 / 0 7 . - Bu Xiangzhi Nanjing 2 0 0 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Bernstein,Osip Samuel Montevideo 1 9 5 4 . . . . . . . . . . . Carlsbad 2 0 0 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Kortchnoi, Viktor Bursa Wch-tt 20 I 0 . . . . . . . . . - Papaioannou,Ioannis - Tal, Mikhail Lucerne 01 1 9 8 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . France tt 20 I 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Laznicka, Viktor London I 9 I 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Thomas, George Alan 1 93 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Carter,H London Lloyds Bank Open 1 9 8 2 - Blomqvist,Erik Stockholm 2 0 1 1 / 1 2 . . . . . . . . . - Bauer,lohann Hermann Amsterdam 1 8 8 9 . . . . . . . . . . . St Petersburg 1 9 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . - Tarrasch,Siegbert - Sveshnikov,Evgeny Moscow ch-URS 1 9 7 3 . . . . . . . - Nowak, Kamil Gora Swietej Anny 20 1 2 . . . . . . Gothenburg 20 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . - Berg,Emanuel - Adhiban,Baskaran Moscow 20 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Tukmakov, Vladimir Rostov-on-Don 1 9 9 3 . . . . . . . . Bled 1 9 6 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Pachman,Ludek Sarajevo Open 20 1 2 . . . . . . . . . - Nestorovic,Dejan - Velikov,Petar Evry 2 0 0 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kharkov 20 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Yilmaz,Mustafa Enes

- VeselskY,lozef - Navacchia,Andrea - D e Riviere,lules Arnous - Sakelsek, Tadei - Schweber,Samuel - Capablanca,lose Raul - Neiman,Emmanuel - Kramnik, Vladimir - Doric,Darko - Karjakin,Sergey - Eriksson,lohan

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L i s t of P o s i t i o n s

Le Roux,Jean Pierre - Hamdouchi,Hicham Bartel, Mateusz - Nikolaidis,Ioannis Spassky,Botis - Averkin,Orest - Ligterink, Gert Kasparov, Garry - Rhodin,Christian Novikov, Igor - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime Bacrot,Etienne San Segundo Carrillo,Pablo- Rodriguez Vargas,Orestes Lasker, Emanuel - Euwe,Max - Westerberg.]onathan Ivanov,Sergey - Goudriaan,Etienne Tikkanen,Hans - Kramnik, Vladimir Meier,Georg - Polugaevsky,Lev Lombardy, William Arjun,Bharat - Leer-Salvesen,Bjarte - Oleksienko, Mikhail Yu Ruiyuan - Wagner,Dennis Schindler, Christian - Peric, Slavisa Izeta Txabarri,Felix - Topalov, Veselin Karpov,Anatoly - Molerovic,Milivoje Cetkovic ,Momcilo Dolzhikova,Olga - Spirin,Oleg - Gasthofer,Alexander Thesing,Matthias - Gaponenko, Inna Lahno, Kateryna - Vachier-Lagrave,Maxime Zubarev,Alexander Karpov, Alexander - Ovetchkin,Roman Atalik,Suat - Peek,Marcel - Tirto, Tirto Marentek,Hanny - Monsch,Jean Pierre Stoffregen, Giinter - Obodchuk,Andrey Luther, Thomas Kelleher, William - Kovacevic,Vlatko Johansson,Linus - Karlsson, Lars - Kotov,Alexander Golubev - Novopashin,Arkady Kopaev,Nikolay - Lasker,Edward Reshevsky, Samuel - Mannheimer NN - Ernst,Sipke Elsness,Frode - Neiman,Emmanuel Rodflores Erturan, Yakup - Mintenko,Heorhiy - Brinck Claussen, Bj orn Hamann,Svend Dalo,Hermes - Neiman,Emmanuel - Gasthofer,Alexander Hausrath,Daniel - Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Khairullin,Ildar - Mainka,Romuald Goloschapov,Alexander - Martinsen,Stig Furman,Boris

Caen ch-FRA 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eretria 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moscow ch-URS 1 9 7 3 . . . . . . . . . . . Malta 0 1 1 9 8 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bern 1 9 9 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bastia rapid 20 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salamanca 1 9 9 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nottingham 1 9 3 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stockholm 20 1 1 / 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wij k aan Zee C 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dortmund 20 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reykjavik 1 9 7 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stockholm 2 0 1 1 / 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . Chennai Open 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Osterburg ch-GER 20 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . Suances Open 1 9 9 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dos Hermanas 1 9 94 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yugoslavia 1 9 5 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OsI0 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Germany Bundesliga 20 1 1 / 1 2 . . . . . Kharkov ch-UKR W 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Port Marly 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Smolensk tt 2 0 0 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vienna 20 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jakarta 20 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switzerland 1 9 8 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dresden 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opatija 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stockholm 20 1 1 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . Soviet Union 1 9 2 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riga tt 1 9 5 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York 1 9 2 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Osl0 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ICC 20 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Golden Sands 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hastings B 1 9 6 2 1 6 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barcelona Sanz 20 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Germany Bundesliga 20 1 1 / 1 2 . . . . . Jurmala 20 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Germany Bundesliga 2 0 1 1 1 1 2 . . . . . Hastings 20 1 1 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 1

. 93 . 93 . 94 . 95 . 96 . 96 . 96 . 97 . 97 . 97 . 98 . 98 . 99 1 00 1 00 101 101 1 02 1 03 1 03 1 03 1 04 1 04 1 05 1 06 1 06 1 07 1 07 1 08 1 08 1 09 1 10 1 10 1 12 1 12 1 12 1 13 1 13 1 13 1 14 1 14 1 15

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i cs An t e n n a

Laznicka, Viktor Botvinnik,Mikhail Efimenko, Zahar Carlsen,Magnus Kurnosov,Igor Nordlohne,G Romanov,Evgeny Safarli,Eltaj Onischuk, Vladimir Szabo, Krisztian Onischuk,Alexander Fressinet,Laurent Romanishin,Oleg Bauer,Christian Hiibner,Robert Ernst,Sipke Ni Hua Bojkov,Dejan Gashimov, Vugar Van Kampen,Robin Savchenko,Stanislav Renet,Olivier Le Roux,Jean Pierre Hounie Fleurquin,Carlos Milov,Vadim Bricard,Emmanuel Radjabov, Teimour Marcelin,Cyril Grischuk,Alexander Junior Carvallo,Henri Naer,Evgeny Bondarevsky,Igor Hawkins,Jonathan Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar O'Connell,Gerard Gonzalez Garcia,Jose Fedorchuk, Sergey Oren,Menachem Romanko,Marina Taimanov, Mark Berry, Neil 232

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Moiseenko,Alexander Stepanov,G Sebenik, Matej Vallejo Pons,Francisco Varga,Zoltan

San Sebastian 20 1 2 . . . . . . . Leningrad ch -city 1 9 3 0 . . . Porta Carras Ech-tt 20 1 1 . . . Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2 0 1 1 . . . . Austria Bundesliga 2 0 1 0 / 1 1 study 1 9 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Clery, Nicolas Cappelle la Grande 20 1 2 . . . - Korobov,Anton Baku 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . St Petersburg 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . - Dvoirys, Semen - Lysyj , Igor Cappelle la Grande 2 0 1 2 . . - Morozevich,Alexander Sochi t t 2 0 0 8 . . . . . . . . . . . France tt 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . - Brunner,Nicolas - Werner,Clemens Vlissingen HZ Open 2 0 0 I . . - Kortchnoi,Viktor Enghien les Bains 2 0 0 3 . . . . - Kulovana,Eva Prague 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . - Klein,David Osl0 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rogaska Slatina tt 2 0 1 1 . . . . - Polajzer,Danilo - Van Riemsdijk,Herman Queenstown 20 1 2 . . . . . . . - Navara,David Wijk aan Zee 20 1 2 . . . . . . . Amsterdam 20 1 2 . . . . . . . . - Vedder,Richard Chisinau 20 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . - Riazantsev,Alexander - Relange,Eloi Toulouse ch-FRA 1 9 9 5 . . . . - Mocquard,Yves Guingamp 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . - Castillo Larenas,Mariano Buenos Aires 1 9 3 5 . . . . . . . - Erismann,Peter Neuchatel 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . - Vanheirzeele,Daniel France tt 20 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . Wijk aan Zee 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . - Karjakin,Sergey - Abergel,Thal Evry 2 0 0 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linares 20 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . . - Gelfand, Boris - Pandix Pamplona 2 0 0 9 . . . . . . . . . - Picard,Clement Nationale 1 2 0 1 0 . . . . . . . . - Yuferov,Sergey St Petersburg 2 0 0 0 . . . . . . . Moscow ch-URS 1 9 4 1 . . . . - Botvinnik,Mikhail - Mackle,Dominic North Shields ch-GBR 2 0 1 2 - Huschenbeth, Niclas Gibraltar 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . - Brady,Stephen Dublin 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . - Teran Alvarez,Ismael Seville 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . - Ponomariov,Ruslan Spain tt 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . Tel Aviv I 9 5 2 . . . . . . . . . . . - Dyner, Boruch Israel Antakya Wch 2 0 1 O . . . . . . . - Zhukova, Natalia Vinkovci 1 9 7 0 . . . . . . . . . . - Larsen, Bent Bunratty 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . - Rendle, Thomas

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1 15 1 16 1 17 1 18 118 1 19 121 121 121 1 22 1 22 1 23 1 24 1 25 1 25 1 26 1 26 1 28 1 29 1 29 1 30 131 1 32 1 32 1 32 1 33 1 33 1 33 1 34 135 1 38 139 1 40 1 40 1 40 141 141 141 1 63 1 64 1 65 1 67

L i s t of P o s i t i o n s

Nielsen,Peter Heine - Volokitin,Andrey Cebalo,Miso - Campora,Daniel Ilyin-Zhenevsky,Alexander - Botvinnik,Mikhail Leko, Peter - Kasparov,Garry Hou Qiang - Yang Kaiqi Romanko,Marina - Dworakowska,Joanna NN - NN Nunn,John - Csom,Istvan Wang Hao - Manik,Mikulas Andreev - Dolukhanov Sokolov, Andrey - Karpov,Anatoly Matlakov, Maxim - Khismatullin,Denis Dj urhuus,Rune - Kvisvik,Brede Guseinov,Kadir - Rijnaarts, Stef McMorrow,John - Benson,Oisin - Danielian,Elina Zhao Xue Navara,David - Goodger,Martyn Dukaczewski ,Piotr - Ziska,Helgi Dam Dunn,Andrew - Gunnarsson,Jan Viktor Steingrimsson,Hedinn - Perez,Raul Espinosa,J - Moreno,Javier Fedorov,Alexey - Cosma, Ioan Gordon,Stephen - Adams,Michael Karlovich,Anastasia - Bezkorovaina, Marija Kobese,Watu - Dronavalli,Harika Levi tina, Irina - Kushnir,Alla Matlakov, Maxim - Shomoev,Anton Rozentalis,Eduardas - Lindberg, Bengt Tiviakov,Sergei - Manolache,Marius Uhlmann, Wolfgang - Rodriguez Vargas,Orestes Rendle, Thomas - Luaces Rubio,Alfredo - NN NN Vooremaa,Andres - Justi Abreu Delgado,Aryam - Podgaets,Mikhail - Istratescu,Andrei Carlsson,Pontus - Kosteniuk,Alexandra Cmilyte, Victoria Galkin,Alexander - Alexeev,Evgeny Marholev,Dimitar - Rotstein,Arkadij Opl,Klaus - Bodrogi,Mihaly Potkin, Vladimir - Grischuk,Alexander - Kantsler,Boris Rozentalis, Eduardas - Brandenburg, Daan Smeets,Jan

Rogaska Slatina t t 2 0 1 1 . . . Bern 1 9 8 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . Leningrad ch-city 1 9 3 8 . . Bled o1 2 0 0 2 . . . . . . . . . . . Pattaya 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . Gaziantep Ech 2 0 1 2 . . . . . 1 949 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moscow Ech-tt 1 9 7 7 . . . . Sarajev0 2 0 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . Leningrad 1 9 3 5 . . . . . . . . Linares 1 9 8 7 . . . . . . . . . . Sochi tt 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . Osl0 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . Rogaska Slatina tt 2 0 1 1 . . . Bunratty 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Shenzhen 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . Reykjavik 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Reykjavik 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Reykjavik 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Reykjavik 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Bogota 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . Eforie Nord 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . Canterbury ch-GBR 2 0 1 0 . Kharkiv 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . Ekurhuleni l 0 1 1 . . . . . . . Dortmund 1 9 7 7 . . . . . . . . Khanty-Mansiysk 2 0 1 1 . . Stockholm 2 0 1 1 / 1 2 . . . . Eforie Nord 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . Rogaska Slatina tt 2 0 1 2 . . . Hastings 2 0 1 1 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Soviet Union 1 9 7 7 . . . . . . Havana 1 9 9 9 . . . . . . . . . . Porto Carras Ech 2 0 1 1 . . . Nalchik 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . Taganrog 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Livign0 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . Budapest 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Khanty-Mansiysk 2 0 1 1 . . Israel tt 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . Netherlands Internet 2 0 1 1

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1 67 1 68 1 69 1 70 171 1 72 1 73 1 73 1 73 1 74 1 74 1 74 1 83 1 83 1 83 1 84 1 84 1 84 1 85 1 85 1 85 1 86 1 86 1 86 1 87 1 87 1 87 1 88 1 88 1 89 1 89 1 89 1 89 1 90 1 90 1 90 191 191 1 92 1 92 1 92 1 93

T u n e Yo u r C h ess T a c t i c s A n t e n n a

Neiman,Emmanuel Azarov,Sergei Neiman,Emmanuel Hagesaether,Arne Li Shilong Tarrasch,Siegbert Brady,Stephen Gaprindashvili, Nona Rozentalis,Eduardas Bologan, Viktor Gurvich,Abram Karjakin,Sergey Nakamura,Hikaru Sasikiran,Krishnan Shirov,Alexey Sutovsky,Emil Fridman,Daniel Adhiban,Baskaran Przepiorka,Dawid Golod,Vitali Potkin, Vladimir Lalic,Bogdan

234

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Vega Glek, Igor Taddei,Benoit Marusenko,Petr Ni Hua NN Collins, Sam Servaty,Rudolf Socko,Bartosz Naiditsch,Arkadij

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Aronian,Levon Aronian,Levon Laznicka, Viktor Parligras,Mircea Kozul,Zdenko Harikrishna,Pentala Sadler,Matthew

- Werle,Jan - Grischuk,Alexander - Del Rey,Diego

ICC 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jurmala 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . After a friendly game, 2 0 1 2 . . Hastings 20 1 1 / 1 2 . . . . . . . . Xinghua Jiangsu ch-CHN 2 0 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brannigan Cup 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . Dortmund 1 9 7 4 . . . . . . . . . . Austria Bundesliga 2 0 1 2 . . . . Chisinau 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . study 1 9 5 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wijk aan Zee 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2 0 I 1 . . . . . New Delhi 2 0 1 I . . . . . . . . . . Porto Carras Ech-tt 2 0 1 1 . . . . Plovdiv Ech 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . France tt 2 0 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . Wijk aan Zee C 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . study 1 9 2 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vlissingen 2 0 0 0 . . . . . . . . . . Khanty-Mansiysk 2 0 I 1 . . . . L a Roda 2 0 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . .

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1 93 1 93 1 94 1 94 1 94 1 95 1 95 1 95 1 96 1 96 1 96 1 96 1 97 197 197 1 98 1 98 1 99 1 99 205 209 213

Index of Names Numbers refer to pages. A

Abergel Abreu Delgado Adams Adhiban Afek Aginian Alekhine Alexandrov Alexeev Anderssen Andreev Andruet Arjun Arkhipov Aronian Atalik Averbakh Averkin Azarov B

Baburin Bacrot Baramidze Barnes Barte! Basencyan Batsiashvili Bauer Benjamin Benson Berg Bernstein Berry Bezkorovaina Biriukov Blomqvist Blue Saphire Boden Bodrogi Bojkov Bolbochan Bologan Bondarevsky Botvinnik

1 33 1 90 1 86 8 9 , 1 99 23 38 28, 1 1 7 37 191 214 1 7 4, 2 1 5 20 99 40 1 9 6- 1 9 7 1 05 92 94 1 93 23 96 64 1 7- 1 8 93 15 60 85, 1 25 83 1 83 89 74 1 67 1 86 92 84 55 28 1 92 1 28 21 1 96 1 40 1 1 6 , 1 40 , 1 69

Brady Brandenburg Bricard Brinck Claussen Brkic Brunner Bu Xiangzhi C

1 4 1 , 1 95 1 93 1 33 1 13 91 1 23 65

Campora 5 4- 5 6 , Capablanca Carl (Count) Isouard Carlsen Carlsson Carter Caruana Carvallo Castillo Larenas Cebalo Cetkovic Christiansen Chuchelov Clery Cmilyte Collins Cosma Cruz Csom Czempiel D

Dalo Damiano Damljanovic Danielian Davidson D e Filomeno De Riviere Degraeve Del Rey Devaux Diderot Djurhuus Djuric Dolukhanov Dolzhikova

1 68 1 17 78 1 18 1 90 83 35 1 38 1 32 1 68 1 02 11 22 121 1 90 1 95 1 86 21 1 73 89

1 13 83 57 1 84 44 34 52 41 213 23 202 1 83 52 1 74, 2 1 5 1 03

Donner Doric Dronavalli Dukaczewski Duke of Brunswick Dunn Dvoirys Dvoretsky Dworakowska Dyner E

Efimenko EIsness Eriksson Erismann Ernst Erturan Espinosa Euwe F

Fedorchuk Fedorov Filipovic Fischer Foubert Fressinet Fridman Furman G

43 57 1 87 1 84 78 1 85 121 171 1 72 1 63 117 1 12 58 1 32 1 1 2, 1 26 1 12 1 85 44, 9 7 141 1 86 34 36, 53 202 1 23 1 98 115

191 Galkin 63 Galojan 15 Ganguly 1 03 Gaponenko 1 95 Gaprindashvili 1 29 Gashimov 1 03, 1 1 3 Gasthofer 1 3 4, 1 44 Gelfand 63 Genba 3 7 , 44, 8 0 , 1 44 Giri 40 , 1 9 3 Glek 29 Gligoric 205 Golod 1 14 Goloschapov 235

T u n e Yo u r C h es s T a c t i c s An t e n n a

Golubev Gonzalez Garcia Goodger Gordon Goudriaan Grischuk 6 3 , 8 0 , 1 3 4, 1 92 Gunnarsson Gurvich Guseinov H

Hagesaether Hamann Hamdouchi Harikrishna Hausrath Hawkins Herbstman Honfi Hort Hou Qiang Hounie Fleurquin Howell Hubner Huschenbeth I

Ilyin-Zhenevsky Istratescu Ivanchuk Ivanov Izeta Txabarri

J Jakobsen Johansson Junior Justi K

1 08 141 1 84 1 86 97 1 44 , 1 85 1 96 1 83

1 94 1 13 93 1 98 1 13 1 40 47 44 50 171 1 32 39 46, 1 2 5 1 40 1 69 1 90 65 97 101 51 1 08 1 35 1 89

64 Kalinitschew 1 92 Kantsler Karjakin 5 7 , 1 3 3 , 1 96 Karlovich 1 86 Karlsson 1 08 Karpov 1 1 , 1 0 1 , 1 74 Karpov,Alexander 1 04 Kasparian 47, 82 Kasparov 54, 9 5 , 1 70 Kelleher 107 27 Kennedy 236

Khairullin Khamrakulov Khismatullin Klein Kobese Kopaev Korneev Korobov Kortchnoi Kosintseva Kosteniuk Kotov Kovacevic Kozul Kramnik Kravanja Krnjovsek Kubbel Kudischewitsch Kulaots Kulovana Kurnosov Kushnir Kuzmin Kvisvik Kwapinski L

1 14 135 1 74 1 26 1 87 1 09 46 121 46, 7 5 , 1 2 5 38 1 90 1 08 1 07 1 98 5 5 , 98 53 18 47 28 22 1 25 1 18 1 87 88 1 83 84

1 03 Lahno 213 Lalic 1 65 Larsen Lasker 5 9 , 8 5 -8 7 , 9 7 Lasker,Edward 81, 1 10 80, 1 1 5 , 1 97 Laznicka 93, 132 Le Roux 99 Leer-Salvesen 202 Legal 1 70 Leko 1 87 Levitina 1 94 Li Shilong Ligterink 95 1 88 Lindberg Lingnau 9 50 Lobron Lombard 98 1 89 Luaces Rubio Luther 1 07 1 22 Lysyj M

Mackle Mainka

1 40 1 14

Mamedov Mamedyarov Manik Manlevian Mannheimer Manolache Marcelin Marentek Marholev Martinsen Marusenko Matlakov Mayot McMorrow Meier Menase Mestrovic Miljkovic Milov Mintenko Mocquard Moiseenko Molerovic Monsch Moreno Morozevich Morphy Movsesian N

Naer Naiditsch Nakamura Nataf Navacchia Navara Negi Neiman

89 1 1 4, 1 40 1 73 82 1 10 1 88 1 33 1 06 191 1 15 1 94 1 7 4, 1 8 7 202 1 83 44, 9 8 23 43 34 132 112 132 115 1 02 1 06 1 85 7 5 , 1 2 2 , 1 64 2 7 , 52, 7 8 75

1 39 1 96 1 97 1 44 52 1 2 9 , 1 84 61 28, 55, 92, 1 1 2- 1 1 3 , 1 9 3 - 1 94 Nestorovic 91 Ni Hua 1 2 6 , 1 94 Nielsen 1 67 Nikolaidis 93 Nimzowitsch 86 NN 1 7 , 30, 1 1 0, 1 89, 195 Nordlohne 1 19 Novikov 96 Novopashin 1 09 Nowak 89 Nunn 1 7 3 , 17 5 - 1 7 6 , 1 79

Index o f Names 0

Obodchuk O'Connell Oleksienko Onischuk Opl Oren Orlov Orso Ovetchkin Ozsvath P

Pachman Pandix Pantaleoni Papaioannou Parligras Partos Pavasovic Peek Perez Perez Candelario Peric Petrosian Philidor Picard Podgaets Polajzer Polgar Polugaevsky Ponomariov Potkin R

Radjabov Razuvaev Reeh Relange Rendle Renet Reshevsky Rhodin Riazantsev Richter Rijnaarts Ris Rivera Rodflores Rodriguez Vargas Rodshtein Rogers

1 07 141 1 00 1 2 1 - 1 22 1 92 1 63 45 9 1 04 44 90 135 45 75 1 97 1 62 18 1 05 1 85 135 101 90 202 1 38 1 90 1 26 39 98 1 6, 1 4 1 1 92 1 33 43 23 131 1 67 , 1 89 131 1 10 96 1 30 89 1 83 32 36 1 12 96, 1 89 61 32

Romanenko Romanishin Romanko Romanov Rosenstein Rossolimo Rotstein Rozentalis Rublevsky S

62 1 24 4 6 , 1 64, 1 7 2 121 29 30, 62 191 1 88 , 1 92, 1 96 18

Sadler 1 99 Safarli 121 Sakelsek 53 Salomon 74 Samhouri 39 San Segundo Carrillo 96 Sandipan 39 Sasikiran 197 Savchenko 1 30 Savic 34 Sax 1 62 Scetinin 18 Schindler 1 00 Schneider 80 Schulder 28 53 Schweber Sebenik 1 17 Servaty 1 95 Shen Yang 60 Shirov 1 64 , 1 9 7 Shomoev 1 87 55 Short Smeets 1 93 Socko 1 96 Sokolov,A 1 74 Spassky 1 4, 2 0 , 94 Spirin 1 03 Spoelman 37 Srebrnic 63 Steingrimsson 1 85 Steinitz 10 Stepanov 1 16 Stoffregen 1 06 Suba 137 1 98 Sutovsky 88 Sveshnikov Szabo 1 22 T

Taddei Taimanov

1 94 1 65

Tal Tarrasch Teran Alvarez Thesing Thomas Tikkanen Tirto Tiviakov Topalov Troitzky Tukmakov U

80 86, 1 9 5 141 1 03 81 58, 97 1 06 90, 1 88 101 49 90

Uhlmann V

Vachier-Lagrave 1 04 Vaisser Vallejo Pons Van Kampen Van Riemsdijk Van Wely Vanheirzeele Varga Vedder Vega Velikov Veselsky Volokitin Vooremaa W

1 89 35, 41 , 96, 9- 1 0 , 3 7 1 6, 1 1 8 1 29 1 28 46, 1 44 1 33 1 18 1 29 1 93 92 51 1 67 1 89

Wagner Wang Hao Werle Werner Westerberg Winter

1 00 1 73 205 1 24 97 54, 5 6

Yang Kaiqi Yilmaz Yu Ruiyuan Yuferov

171 92 1 00 1 39

Y

Z

Zaiats Zhao Xue Zhukova Ziska Zubarev

46 5 7 , 1 84 1 64 1 84 1 04 237