Chess: The Right Way to Play Chess and Win - Chess Tactics, Chess Openings and Chess Strategies
Date: 2015-08-02 07:00:00+00:00
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Description: Enjoy Chess and Enjoy a New Level of Mastery! Updated and Expand 2nd Edition Do you love tactics and strategy? Are you fascinated by chess? Do you want to win big and improve your rating? Read This Book for FREE With Kindle Unlimited If so, this Expanded 2nd Edition of Brett Alexander’s The Right Way to Play Chess and Win – Chess Tactics, Chess Openings and Chess Strategies is the book for you. No matter what your opponent does, you’ll be ready. This book helps you correctly identify and play the different types of chess scenarios you will Open Games Semi-Open Games and Closed Games What is th
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Chess
The Right Way to Play Chess and Win

Chess Tactics, Chess Openings and Chess Strategies

By
Brett Alexander

2nd Edition

Table of Contents

Introduction

Your FREE Gift:

Chapter 1: Chess – General Information

Chapter 2: The Elements of Chess Openings

Chapter 3: How to Play “Open Games” Correctly

Chapter 4: How to Play “Semi-Open Games” Correctly

Chapter 5: How to Play “Closed Openings” Correctly

Chapter 6: How to Formulate Correct Chess Strategies

Chapter 7: How to Use Chess Tactics Correctly

Chapter 8: Advanced Concept – Pawn Majorities

Chapter 9: Advanced Concept – Converting an Advantage into a Win

Chapter 10: Advanced Concepts – Mating Motifs

Chapter 11: Advanced Concept – Prophylactic Thinking

Chapter 12: Advanced Concept – Correct Defense

Conclusion

 Copyright 2015 by – Brett Alexander – All rights reserved.

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Introduction

I want to thank you and congratulate you for purchasing the book,“Chess: The Right Way to Play Chess and Win.”

This book contains proven steps and strategies on how to play chess openings and formulate chess strategies.

This book will teach you how to play various types of openings: open, semi-open and closed. In addition, this book will help you learn about positional elements and the process of creating a strategic plan. Finally, it will explain the different tactical motifs that you can use in your games. Practical tips are also included to help you become an excellent chess player.

Thanks again for purchasing this book, I hope you enjoy it!

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Chapter 1: Chess – General Information

Chess is a board game that has captivated the interest and passion of millions of people all over the world. Its beauty comes from its inherent simplicity and complexity. Yes, you read that right. Chess is both simple and complex; even positions with few pieces left on the board may involve deep plans. Because of this, you need to know how to analyze chess positions and identify their significant elements. The ability to evaluate a chess position is important if you want to improve as a player.

Chess is simple because its rules are easy to understand. The main goal of a player is to attack the enemy king and prevent it from escaping. In order to do this, chess players often try to achieve a material advantage. Attacking the enemy king becomes easier if you have more pieces than your opponent. On the other hand, chess is considered complex because it involves mental calculations and serious preparation.

In general, a player is not allowed to touch any piece during the game unless he will make an official move. This rule requires players to formulate plans and calculate moves without moving the pieces. Serious preparation is needed by players who want to join chess tournaments. They have to choose the openings that they will use and sharpen their tactical skills. It would be extremely difficult to win in chess tournaments without sufficient preparation.

This book is designed for players who want to improve their game. Although it cannot turn you into a grandmaster instantly, it will teach you how to play chess correctly. You will learn about the best chess openings that you can use. Also, you will know how to formulate strategies and execute tactical attacks. This eBook will explain the chess theories that can help you become a strong player. You can improve your game by focusing on chess openings, tactics and strategies. These three aspects of chess will serve as a solid foundation for your improvement.

Chapter 2: The Elements of Chess Openings

The first few moves of a chess game determine the strategies and tactics that can be used. If you will play this phase carelessly, you might find yourself defending a losing position after the 10th move (or even less). Thus, you have to familiarize yourself with the ideas and theories related to chess openings. You will find it easier to win your games if you understand how to bring out your pieces and strengthen your position. This chapter will discuss the three elements that compose a chess opening. These are:

1.        Time – In chess, time is extremely important. You should bring out ALL of your forces in the quickest way possible. Players who move the same pieces back and forth are wasting their time. As a general rule, you should only move a piece again once your army is fully developed.

2.       Space – This element can greatly influence the outcome of the game. If you have more space than your opponent, you will be able to develop your pieces easily and execute decisive attacks. If you have lesser space, on the other hand, you may experience difficulties defending against your opponent’s assault. Your pieces will be tied up and your position will be passive.

You can grab space by pushing your pawns forward. Your pawns will act as the boundary for the area that you can control. An advantage in space can give you great squares for your pieces.

3.       Development – This refers to the placement of your pieces (e.g. knights, bishops, rooks, queen, and king). At the start of the game, you should move your pieces from their original squares. This will allow them to exert pressure on your opponent’s army. Better development is often converted into material or positional advantages, so you should develop your pieces as soon as possible.

Chapter 3: How to Play “Open Games” Correctly

These openings are characterized by the moves 1.e4 e5. In general, open games provide excellent tactical opportunities for both camps. The pawns on e4 and e5 control central and kingside squares, which allow quick development. This chapter will teach you how to play some of these openings correctly. You will also learn about fundamental opening principles.

The Ruy Lopez (also called Spanish Game)

This opening is reached via the move order: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5.

White is ready to complete his kingside development by castling on the kingside. The knight on f3 exerts pressure on the e5-pawn. This pressure is intensified by the bishop on b5, which threatens to eliminate the e5-pawn’s sole defender. Black often answers with either 3… a6 or 3… d6.

3… a6 – Black forces White to make a decision regarding the b5-bishop. If White captures the knight, Black’s pawn structure will be ruined (i.e. after bxc6 or dxc6). However, White cannot hope to win a pawn via 4. Nxe5 since the simple 4… Qe7 will make him grimace; if he will try to defend the knight with 5. f4, Black’s 5… f6 will force the knight retreat. The weak pawn on e4 will be captured next move.

White’s most common reply is 4. Ba4, a move that keeps the active bishop on the board. The game often continues: 4… b5 5. Bb3 d6 6. c3 Na3 7. Be2 Bb7 8. 0-0 Nf6. This is a popular variation. White will try to open diagonals for his bishops and support his central pawns. Black, on the other hand, will do his best to attack White’s center and boost the strength of his b7-bishop.

3… d6 – Black decides to support his e5-pawn with a passive move. Notice that the d6-pawn turns the f8-bishop into a mere observer. In addition, that move allows White to completely ruin the pawn structure via 4. Bxc6. Because the capture 4…dxc6 is no longer possible, White will achieve a significant advantage.

The Giuoco Piano (also called Italian Game)

You can reach this opening via 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4.

This opening has some similarities with the Ruy Lopez. It offers quick kingside development and active pieces. However, instead of attacking the c6-knight, White places his bishop on c4 and focuses on central expansion. Often, Black proceeds with 3… Bc5.

At this point, White has the option to sacrifice a pawn with 4. b4. This move aims to acquire space and boost development by harassing Black’s pieces. For instance: 4… Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bb6 8. 0-0. White’s active pieces, extra space and lead in development provide ample compensation for the missing pawn. This is a popular pawn sacrifice called “Evan’s Gambit.”

However, the pawn sacrifice is optional. White can simply develop his forces via d3, 0-0, Nc3, Re1, etc. Black may complete his development with d5, Nf6, 0-0, Re8, Qe7, Be6, etc.

The Vienna Game

You can reach this chess opening with the moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3.

White develops his queenside knight first. The game may continue: 2… Nf6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. 0-0 0-0 6. d3 d6 7. Rc1 Re8. This move sequence often results to early equality. Equality means the slight advantage provided by White’s first move has been negated completely. Thus, the Vienna game doesn’t offer any opening advantage. As you can see, Black can expect to achieve equality by making natural moves.

Vassily Smyslov, a former World Chess Champion, created a system of development starting with 3. g3 and 4. Bg2. Here, White aims to control the a8-h1 diagonal and keep the center closed until he can benefit from it.

Chapter 4: How to Play “Semi-Open Games” Correctly

Semi-open games start with 1. e4. However, instead of answering with the symmetrical 1…e5, the Black player uses a different move to achieve early equality. This chapter will teach you three of the most popular semi-open chess openings. Study these openings carefully because they can be used to surprise your opponents who expect open games.

1. e4 – This move opens the d1-h5 diagonal for the queen and the f1-a6 diagonal for the king’s bishop. Chess players consider this as the most aggressive first move. Aside from opening valuable diagonals, the pawn move attacks the d5 and f5 squares. Black has a wide range of options regarding his first move. In this chapter, you will learn about 1… c5 (also called Sicilian Defense), 1… e6 (also called French Defense), and 1… c6 (also called Caro-Kann Defense).

The Sicilian Defense (1… c5)

This is an aggressive reply to White’s first move. Black pushes his pawn to the c5-square to prevent his opponent from establishing a pawn center (i.e. with pawns on d4 and e4). In this opening, Black allows White to attack on the kingside. He hopes that he will be able to nullify White’s assault and prepare his own assault on the queenside.

The c5-pawn move opens the a5-d8 diagonal for the Black queen. It also encourages White to exchange pawns on d4, after which Black will control the newly opened c-file. The game usually continues:

2. Nf3 – White develops his knight and fights for the d4-square.

2… d6 – Black supports his c5-pawn and opens the c8-h3 diagonal for his light-squared bishop. Also, he prevents White from transferring the f3-knight to the e5-square.

3. d4 – In order to start his attack, White opens the center and opens a diagonal for his c1-bishop. If Black takes the pawn, White will be able to place his pieces actively.

3… cxd4 – Black opens the c-file and removes one of White’s central pawns. He hopes that the c-file and his pawn advantage in the center will give him a good game.

4. Nxd4 – Taking the pawn using the queen allows 4… Nc6, which attacks the queen and gives Black a free move to develop his pieces.  The knight is excellently placed on the d4-square.

4… Nf6 – Black attacks the undefended e4-pawn and develops a knight. It is important to note that the d6-pawn prevents White from pushing his pawn forward with 5. e5.

5. Nc3 – This move develops the second knight and defends the e4-pawn.

5… a6 – This position is known as the Najdorf Variation. Black prevents White from placing a piece on the b5-square. Also, he prepares the move …b5, which grabs more queenside space.

As the White player, your best option is to place your dark-squared bishop on e3, transfer your queen to d2, and castle on the queenside. This is known as the English Attack, the deadliest answer to Black’s defensive set-up.

The French Defense (1… e6)

With this “silent” move, Black satisfies himself with a small center. He simply opens diagonals for his queen and dark-squared bishop. It is considered as a quiet opening. The game usually continues:

2. d4 – White tries to establish a strong pawn center. The pawns on d4 and e4 control the c5, d5, e5, and f5, squares. In addition, the c1-bishop acquired an open diagonal.

2… d5 – Black cannot allow White to strengthen the pawn center. A well-supported pawn center can be converted into a decisive space advantage, so you have to attack it as soon as possible.

3. Nc3 – White defends the pawn and develops a knight.

3… Bb4 – Black pins the c3-knight against the king. Because the knight is not allowed to move, Black threatens to capture the pawn on e4.

4. e5 – White saves his pawn by pushing it forward. This pawn advance grabs more space in the center and the kingside.

4… c5 – Black assaults the center. If he can eliminate the d4-pawn, the pawn on e5 will be severely weakened.

5. a3 – It attacks the bishop on b4 and forces Black to make a decision regarding the bishop.

5… Bxc3 -  Black decides to ruin White’s pawn structure. Even though bishops are considered to be stronger than knights, he hopes that he can exploit White’s fragmented pawn set-up.

6. bxc3 – White needs to capture the bishop to restore material equality.

In this position, White tries to take advantage of his two bishops and kingside space. Black, on the other hand, plans to counterattack on the queenside and highlight the weakness of White’s pawns.

The Caro-Kann Defense (1… c6)

Similar to the French Defense, this opening prevents immediate conflicts in the center. The Black player prepares the pawn move 2… d5.  Its main drawback is that it occupies the c6-square, which is the most natural spot for the knight on b8. The game usually continues:

2. d4 – White tries to increase his control over the central squares.

2… d5 – Black attacks the pawn on e4 and opens a diagonal for the c8-bishop.

3. e5 – Taking the enemy pawn via 3. exd5 allows 3… cxd5 and 4… Nc6 for Black. Because of this, White simply pushes his pawn forward. This move gives White several advantages: more space in the kingside, control over the f6-square, and a longer pawn chain.

3… Bf5 – Black wants to develop his pieces as soon as possible. The move allows …e6, which will open a diagonal for the f8-bishop.  Also, the knight on b8 can go to d7 now without hemming in the light-squared bishop.

4. Nf3 – White starts to develop his kingside forces. The knight move also supports the pawns on d4 and e5.

4… e5 – The a3-f8 diagonal is now available for the dark-squared bishop.

5. Be3 – it strengthens the d4-pawn and stops Black from pushing the c-pawn to c5.

5… Nd7 – It increases Black’s control over the c5-square and develops the knight on b8. The a8-rook can be transferred to c8 later.

This opening often leads to positional battles. Because the piece configuration of both camps provide minimal attacking opportunities, it is extremely hard to initiate tactical attacks.

Chapter 5: How to Play “Closed Openings” Correctly

Closed openings don’t start with 1. e4. White spends his first move to either grab some queenside space or develop his kingside pieces quickly. These openings provide less attacking opportunities than open or semi-open ones. Because of this, chess players use closed openings to initiate strategic or positional battles. Positional battles are characterized by subtle moves and minimal calculations. Instead of attacking the enemy king directly, the players are trying to improve their respective positions. They do this by gaining more space, eliminating the opponent’s strong pieces, establishing a pawn center, etc.

This chapter will discuss two starting moves for White: 1. d4 and 1. c4.

1. d4

This move attacks the c5- and d5-squares. The c1-h6 diagonal is also opened for the queen’s bishop. However, it doesn’t contribute to the development of the kingside pieces. The White player is required to spend additional moves just to get his f1-bishop and g1-knight out. Black has a wide range of available replies here. This book will focus on the most popular defenses: King’s Indian Defense, Queen’s Indian Defense, Slav Defense, Queen’s Gambit Declined, and the Semi-Slav Defense.

1.1 King’s Indian Defense

This opening starts with 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6.

As you can see, Black castled immediately and placed his bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal. His main goal is to turn this bishop into an extremely strong piece. If he can open the center, the bishop on g7 will exert tremendous pressure on White’s camp. White, on the other hand, has more space and great options for piece development. The pawns on c4, d4, and e4 control important squares in the center of the board. If he wants to neutralize the power of the g7-bishop, White should keep the center closed.

Black may try to open the center with …c5 or …f5. If he will choose the latter, he will gain some kingside space which can be converted into a violent attack. Here, White must develop his kingside quickly and support his excellent center. Two of his best options are 5. Bd3 (followed by 6. Ne2 and 7. 0-0) and 5. Be3 (followed by 6. Qd2 and 7. Bh6).

1.2 Queen’s Indian Defense

This opening starts with 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nf3 b6.

In the Queen’s Indian Defense, Black develops his c8-bishop early. He intends to pressure White’s pawn center and create some weaknesses in the enemy camp. Similar to the King’s Indian Defense, this opening gives White extra space and excellent options for piece development. His control over the central squares gives him a good game. The play might continue:

4. e3 – It supports the d4-pawn and opens a diagonal for the f1-bishop.

4… Bb7 – The bishop is exerting great pressure on the a8-h1 diagonal.

5. Bd3 – It defends the e4-pawn and develops the bishop.

5… Be7 – Black finishes his kingside development.

6. 0-0 – White is ready to start his queenside operations.

6… Bg7 – Black has two bishops placed on valuable diagonals. If he can successfully open the center, the combined power of these bishops will rock White’s world. Black may exert more pressure on the center by transferring his b8-knight to d7 and moving his f8-rook to e8.

1.3 The Queen’s Gambit

You can reach this opening via 1. d4 d5 2. c4.

White wants to eliminate the pawn on d5 and open the c-file for his major pieces (i.e. the queen and rooks). It looks like he is sacrificing a pawn for nothing. However, Black cannot hope to keep the c4-pawn if ever he takes it. He may experience serious positional problems if he will try to defend his ill-gotten wealth. In addition, White can easily get material equality. For example: 2… dxc4 3. Qa4+ followed by 4. Qxb4. Black has three main options: the Slav, the Queen’s Gambit Declined, and the Semi-Slav Defense.

1.3.1 The Slav Defense

It can be reached via 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6.

Black protects his d5-pawn using a quiet move. Although the pawn on c6 occupies the most natural square for the b8-knight, Black’s position looks great because the move …b5 is now available. Play might continue:

3. Nc3 – White adds more pressure on the d5-pawn. If Black will take the pawn on c4, White will answer with 4. a4 (preventing …b5) a6 5. e3 (attacking the enemy pawn) b5 (Black tries to hold on to his extra material) 6. axb5 cxb5 7. Nxb5 (and Black will still lose the pawn on c4). The knight cannot be taken with …axb5 since White will laugh maniacally and capture the poor rook on a8.

3… Nf6 – Black continues with his development. He calmly defends the pawn on d5.

4. e3 – White is now ready to recapture on c4.

4… Bf5 – Black exerts pressure on the e4-square.

In this position, White usually attacks the queenside via Qb3 (attacking the undefended pawn on b7 and increasing the pressure on d5). Black has to complete his kingside development as soon as possible and defend against White’s attacks. He may play Qd7 followed by Na6, Nc7, Rb8, etc.

1.3.2 The Queen’s Gambit Declined

You can get this position with the opening moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6.

Black defends his pawn and opens a diagonal for his bishop on f8. However, the bishop on c8 becomes trapped. Some chess players consider this opening as too passive. Unlike other answers to 2. c4, this defense offers minimal opportunities for a counterattack. Play might continue:

3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 0-0 6. a3 Be7 7. Qc2 b6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Bb7.

White has excellent control over the c-file. He can start a queenside attack via Bd2 and Rc1. Because he has more pawns in the center, he can grab more space in that area of the board.

Black, on the other hand, has completed his kingside development and placed a bishop on a long diagonal. He should attack White’s center immediately. If the central pawns will be supported by White’s pieces, they will be able to restrict Black’s army and force him to defend for the rest of the game.

1.3.3 The Semi-Slav Defense

This opening can be reached with the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6.

As you can see, this opening combines e6 and c6. The Semi-Slav Defense is one of the most popular weapons against the Queen’s Gambit. Black has more space in the queenside. Play might continue:

5. e3 – This move allows White to defend the c4-pawn using the bishop.

5… Be7 – Simple moves work for Black. He is now ready to hide his king and bring out one of his rooks.

6. Qc2 – The c-file is going to be opened so White places his strongest piece there. This move is also used to delay the development of the f1-bishop.

6… 0-0 – Black has completed his kingside development.

7. Bd2 – White vacates the c1-square for his rooks.

7… Re8 – The rook is placed on the e-file because White may try 8. cxd5. If that happens, Black will recapture with his e-pawn and give the e8-rook an open file.

8. Bd3 – White cannot delay this move any longer (8. Be2 gives the same results). He needs to complete his development or Black will get a decisive advantage.

8… dxc4 – Black wants White to waste a move.

9. Bxc4 – White needs to restore the material equality.

9… b5 – This move attacks the bishop and grabs more space in the queenside.

10. Bd3 – White must retreat this bishop. The d3-square is the best option since it allows the bishop to attack h7, a weak point in Black’s position.

10… a6 – Black supports his b5-pawn and prepares 11… Bb7.

White will castle and exert pressure on the c6-pawn. Black, on the other hand, will protect that pawn via …Bb7, …Nd7, and …Rc8.His queen can go to b6, where it can help in preparing …c5. If he can accomplish this move, he will be able to remove one of his weaknesses and eliminate White’s d4-pawn.

2. The English Opening

This is considered as one of the simplest openings currently available. White pushes his pawn to c4 in order to grab space in the center and the queenside. If Black plays d5, White will have the option to play d4 and convert the game into the Queen’s Gambit.

Black has three main choices: 1… c5, 1… e5 and 1… Nf6.

2.1 The Symmetrical Variation (1… c5)

Black copies the first move of his opponent. Play might continue: 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. 0-0 0-0.

Black can achieve a solid position just by copying White’s moves. However, he must break the symmetry at some point. White’s right to move first can be converted into a decisive advantage if the symmetry will be kept for a long time.

2.2 The Reversed Sicilian (1… e5)

This move aims to prevent 2. d4 and grab some space in the kingside. In addition, the bishop on f8 acquired an open diagonal.

2. g3 – White wants to cement his control over the d5-square. He will place his bishop on g2 during his next move.

2… Nf6 – Black develops a knight and starts to fight for the d5-square.

3. Bg2 – The bishop is placed on the long diagonal. It can become extremely strong if Black will not close the center.

3… c6 – This move increases Black’s control over the d5-square. It also restricts the power of the g2-bishop.

4. Nf3 – Since the a8-h1 diagonal has been blocked, White will just continue his development. 4. e3 followed by 5. Ne2 is also good.

4… Qc7 – The pawn on e5 must be defended.

5. 0-0 – White has castled his king. The rook on f1 can be transferred to e1.

5… Be7 – Black makes a natural bishop move.

Normally, White pushes his queenside pawns forward to acquire more space. Black, however, should focus on the center. He also needs to complete his development as soon as possible.

2.3 1… Nf6

Black develops his knight early. The position can be converted into the variations discussed previously if Black will play …c5 or …e5 later. Play might continue:

2. Nc3 – The knight fights for the d5-square.

2… e6 – Black opens the diagonal for his f8-bishop. Obviously, he wants to hide his king as soon as he can.

3. Nf3 – White makes another natural move. As a general rule, you should develop your knights before your bishops.

3… Bb4 – Black develops a piece and threatens to ruin White’s pawn structure.

4. e3 – White ignores the threat. He continues to develop his pieces by vacating the e2-square for his bishop.

4… Bxc3 – Black disrupts the pawn configuration of the enemy camp.

5. bxc3 – Despite their ugly appearance, White’s queenside pawns are doing an excellent job. The pawn on c4 controls b5 and fights for d5. The pawn on c3 claims the b4- and d4-squares. Meanwhile, the c1-bishop can be transferred to b2 or a3, depending on White’s preferences.

5… 0-0 – Black completes his kingside development.

6. Ba3 – The bishop attacks the rook on f8. By doing so, White gets a free move to develop another piece.

6… Re8 – The rook is transferred to the e-file to support the advance of the e6-pawn.

7. Bd3 – White develops his light-squared bishop and prepares to castle. The move 7. d4 is also good; it prevents Black from advancing the pawn on e6.

In this opening, White tries to take advantage of the open b-file. He pressures the queenside by placing both of his rooks there. Black, however, must defend against White’s queenside assault and prepare his counter-attack in the center of the board.

Chapter 6: How to Formulate Correct Chess Strategies

If you want to win many games, you have to know how to create sound plans. Players who make moves without a clear plan of action usually experience horrible losses. Your chances of winning a game will increase significantly if you will form a strategy based on the elements of the position. It is important to note that your plans must match the characteristics and needs of the board.

If you will attack your opponent’s king just because you like violence and complicated struggles, you might lose most of your games. You should always look at the board and figure out what it “wants” you to do. If the board requires you to play quiet moves, you should avoid making tactical shots. Tactical attacks that are not supported by positional elements usually backfire.

To help you become a strong player, this chapter will teach you how to properly analyze chess positions. You can only create an effective strategy if you understand the position you are working on. Also, this chapter will discuss the different elements of chess positions. Study these elements carefully because they can help you make excellent chess strategies.

The Positional Elements

Chess positions are composed of various elements. You need to familiarize yourself with each of these elements if you want to be a strong player. These elements are:

1.        Minor pieces – This refers to the knights and bishops on the board. You should know that countless games have been won or lost because one of the players possessed an excellent minor piece. Chess theorists claim that a minor piece is equivalent to 3 pawns. However, this value changes according to the strength and location of the piece. For example, a knight that is placed in the center of the board is more valuable than an undeveloped rook (even though rooks are equivalent to 5 pawns). Here are some additional details regarding minor pieces:

1.1     Knights – These pieces move in a strange manner. Their range is shorter than that of bishops, so you should place them in the center of the board if you want them to be effective. Because they “jump” around other pieces, they love closed positions and locked centers.

1.2    Bishops – These bishops have longer range compared to knights. Actually, they can sit on a corner square and still control an entire diagonal. Chess theorists state that bishops are more valuable than knights, especially if the player has two bishops. Since bishops are restricted in terms of square color (i.e. dark-squared bishops can never go to a light square and vice-versa), owning both bishops can give you a significant advantage. It means you will be able to control both dark squares and light squares.

2.       Space – The position of your pawns determine your territory. If you will think of your pawns as a fence, you will see that the squares behind them are your property. Space advantage is important because it gives you more room to develop your pieces.

3.       Pawn Structure – Pawns play an important role in every game of chess. They protect your pieces and defend your king from your opponent’s violent attacks. They also determine the space that you can control. If the connection between your pawns is disrupted, your camp will be weakened. Since pawns can only move forward, isolated or doubled pawns can be serious weaknesses in your camp. For this reason, you should always evaluate whether or not you can allow your opponent to destroy your pawn chain.

4.      Material – To become a strong player, you have to remember that extra material is only one of the positional elements. Obviously, you will be able to win a game easily if you have more pawns or pieces than your opponent. However, you should never consider it as an end in itself. You must consider the rest of the positional elements prior to capturing an enemy piece. For instance, if capturing your opponent’s rook will expose your king or disrupt the cooperation among your pieces, you should think twice before accepting the material. An extra rook will be useless if your opponent can mate your king or if your pieces don’t work together.

5.       Advantage in Development – This element is of utmost importance during the opening. You can gain a lead in development by bringing your pieces out as soon as possible. Keep in mind that your pieces can only help you win the game if they are placed on good squares. Even queens (which are the strongest pieces available) can be useless if they are not developed.

6.       Initiative – This positional element allows a player to dictate the course and tempo of the game. For instance, if you have the initiative, you will be able to turn the game into a tactical struggle or a strategic fight. Experienced players consider this as one of the most important elements. Often, these players are willing to sacrifice material just to gain the initiative.

7.       Control of an important square or file – Squares serve as homes for your pieces while files act as roads. If you control a square, you can place one your pieces there to exert pressure on your opponent’s camp.  Files, on the other hand, can be used to transfer your pieces to their best squares. If you own a heavy piece (i.e. queen or rook), you should open a file to make your piece useful.

How to Evaluate a Chess Position Correctly

This section of the book will provide you with some chess positions and detailed evaluations. These game fragments are taken from grandmaster games. Study the assessments carefully because they can serve as great examples of how you should “read” the chess board.

Anatoly Karpov vs. Garry Kasparov

World Cup (2nd Round) August 1989

White has more space in the queenside. His pawns on b4, c4, and d5 take away important squares from Black’s pieces. The minor pieces are equal in strength; the bishop on e2 is locked up in its own camp, just like the one on g7; the bishop on c8 is as strong as the one on d2 since they are both pointing at well defended pawns. The four knights on the board are of equal strength, although the black ones can gain more value because they are participating in the struggle for kingside space. The white knights are waiting passively in the queenside. The game is currently even, with Black having some attacking chances because most of his pieces are in the kingside.

Robert James (Bobby) Fischer vs. Myagmarsuren Lhamsuren

Sousse “Interzonal” Tournament (3rd Round) October 15, 1967

White’s pieces are actively placed in the kingside. Notice that the h8-square is weak (i.e. it can only be defended by the king on g8). If only White can open the h-file, he will be able to mate the king via Rh8. As you can see, four of Black’s pieces are on the queenside. It means they cannot help in defending their king. If Black can push his c-pawn to the c1-square, he may get a second queen (pawns that reach the final square can be converted into any piece). If White will capture the new queen with Rxc1, Black will smirk before recapturing with his c8-rook. Things look good for Black on the queenside. However, his kingside is being demolished. The legendary Bobby Fischer demonstrated his tactical skills with the queen sacrifice 31. Qxh7 Kxh7 32. hxg6 Kxg6 33. Be4. Black’s king is checkmated.

Viswanathan Anand vs. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

Gashimov Memorial Tournament (8th Round) April 25, 2015

Black attacks the rook on d6. Because the white rook cannot retreat to a safe square, it must be exchanged with the rook on d8 to retain material equality. The Black knights on d4 and e5 are exerting tremendous pressure on White’s camp. Although White has his queen and rook on the d-file, he cannot do anything there since the d4-knight is reigning supreme in the center. Anand, a former World Champion, found an interesting idea that shocked his opponent:

28. Rd5 – Anand allows Black to capture the rook using the e6-bishop. White exchanges his active rook for the enemy bishop. The reason behind this is easy to understand: Anand plans to recapture using his c4-pawn. When that happens, the bishop on e2 will become active and the pawn on d5 will control squares deep inside the enemy camp.

28… Bxd5 29. cxd5 Qb6 30. f4  Ng6 31. Bc4 Qa5 32. Qf2 b5 33. Nxd4 cxd4 34. Ba2 b4.

White’s central pawns are extremely strong and the black pawn on d4 cannot be defended easily. Anand’s material sacrifice allowed him to control key squares and build a solid pawn structure.

How to Create Your Own Plans

Now that you know how to properly analyze chess positions, you are ready to formulate your own plans. This part of the eBook will provide you with easy steps on how you can create effective chess strategies.

1.        Determine the significant elements – Although chess theories state that positional elements have equal values, you still need to look at the board and identify the most important elements. For instance, space and pawn structures have the same theoretical importance. However, the position on the board may show that the space advantage is useless because of the opponent’s excellent pawn configuration. Disrupted pawn chains often become weak targets, so bonus squares are of no use.

2.       Choose an area of the board you want to play on – The chessboard is divided into three areas: the queenside, the center, and the kingside. Since it would be impossible to attack all parts of the board at the same time, you have to choose an area you want to focus on.  You should base your decision on positional elements. For example, you may want to play on the kingside if you have more space in that area.

3.       Use your imagination – Look at the board and figure out the best squares for your pieces. To see if you will benefit from such squares, imagine that your pieces are already placed there. Are your pieces exerting pressure on the enemy camp? Are they functional? Can your opponent eliminate your pieces easily? Using your imagination and asking yourself these simple questions can help you avoid wasting your time on useless plans and weak moves.

4.      Check if your pieces can reach their best squares - Before moving your pieces toward excellent squares, you have to make sure that these squares are reachable. Every move is important; it would be horrible if you will discover that your dream square is impossible to reach after investing several moves for it.

5.       Calculate your moves – This is the last part of the planning process. After confirming that the best squares are reachable, you have to calculate the moves that can give you the best winning chances. Most of the time, you will find several moves that seem to offer identical benefits. However, you should calculate these moves one by one to make sure that you are making the right choice.  This kind of calculation will help you avoid blunders.

Chapter 7: How to Use Chess Tactics Correctly

Chess instructors say that players can attain significant improvement in their skills by studying chess tactics. Because inexperienced players are prone to blunders, a superior tactical ability can set you far above your competition. This chapter will teach you the different tactical motifs in chess and how you can use this information during training and practical play. This chapter contains theoretical information and practical tips that can help you boost your tactical abilities.

The Tactical Motifs

Chess tactics must not be confused with chess strategy. In general, chess tactics are maneuvers or captures that are based on temporary elements of a chess position. Chess strategies, on the other hand, are based on theoretical principles and permanent factors present in the position. You should use chess tactics to implement your strategies. Here are the most common forms of tactical attacks used by chess players:

- Forks – This type of chess tactic involves an attack against two enemy pieces. Forks can be done by all of your chess pieces, even the kings and the pawns. Here, you should attack two enemy pieces at the same time. For example, your pawn stands at d3 and the rooks of your opponent are on c5 and e5. You can execute a fork by pushing the pawn to d4, which attacks both rooks. Since your opponent can only move one piece at a time, you will be able to capture one of his rooks.

- Pins – Pins can only be done by pieces that move along files and diagonals. With this tactic, you will use a bishop, a rook, or a queen to attack an enemy piece and prevent it from moving. It involves three pieces: the attacking piece, the pinned piece and the guarded piece. For example, a knight is blocking a diagonal that leads to the king. You may pin this knight against its king if you can attack it using a bishop; the poor knight will not be able to move since the bishop will kill the king. There are two types of pins:

- Relative Pins – With this type, the pinned piece can still move.

- Absolute Pins – With absolute pins, the guarded piece is a king. Because of that, the pinned piece is not allowed to move.

In general, the value of the guarded piece is higher than the attacked piece. It means a player will lose material if he will move the pinned piece.

- Skewers – Similar to pins, only pieces that move along files and diagonals can accomplish this tactic. It also involves three pieces: the attacking piece, the attacked piece and the guarded piece. However, skewers involve a different principle: the value of the attacked piece is equal to or higher than that of the guarded piece. It means a player may be forced to move the attacked piece to minimize loss of material. For example, your opponent’s king is on e8 and one of his rooks is on h8. You can skewer the enemy pieces by placing a queen or rook on a8, b8 or c8. You will gain material since the opponent is required to move his king, letting you capture the undefended rook on h8.

- Overloading – With this tactic, you will force an enemy piece to do multiple tasks at the same time. Since your opponent can only make one move per turn, you may gain material by overloading his pieces. For instance, your opponent’s queen is defending a knight on a5 and a bishop on d4. You can overload the queen by attacking the knight and the bishop simultaneously. If you can capture one of these pieces, the opponent will be forced to recapture using his queen, which will leave the remaining piece undefended.

- Discovered Attack – This tactic has some similarities with pins and skewers. Only queens, rooks and bishops can do it. Discovered attacks involve 3 pieces: the attacking piece, the blocking piece, and the attacked piece. You own the long range piece and the one blocking it. For example, your queen is on a diagonal that leads to an undefended enemy piece. However, one of your knights is blocking the diagonal. You can execute a discovered attack by moving your knight away; this action will allow your queen to threaten the enemy piece.

You will gain greater benefits from this tactic if you can make an attacking move using the blocking piece. Since your opponent can only make one move at a time, executing two attacks simultaneously can earn you a decisive material advantage.

- Discovered Check – This is a discovered attack in which the attacked piece is the enemy king. Your opponent will be required to defend against the check, so you can make a free move or a decisive capture using the blocking piece.

Tips from the Pros

This part of the book will provide you with practical tips regarding chess tactics. These tips can help you enhance your tactical ability and become a strong chess player.

1. Tactics and Chess Openings

- Always look for tactical opportunities, even during the first few moves of the game – If you want to train your “tactical vision”, you have to search for tactical motifs in every chess position. This method of analyzing a position will help you avoid gross blunders and missed tactical opportunities. It will also give you more knowledge about the chess opening being used.

- The pawns on f2 and f7 are the weakest points in any position – This is because only the king can defend these pawns, especially during the opening. You can win many games just by focusing your attacks on the f-pawn of your opponent. Remember: you should always attack your opponent’s weaknesses.

- If you are certain that your opponent is much weaker than you, use an opening that provides excellent tactical opportunities. Weak players often have weak tactical skills. Take advantage of this fact by introducing tactical possibilities as soon as possible. Start the game by pushing your e-pawn and developing your pieces aggressively. You have to make sure that your opponent cannot make safe and mindless opening moves.

- Use pawn sacrifices to boost the development of your pieces – You shouldn’t be afraid of using gambits (i.e. material sacrifices done in the opening). Countless players have improved their tactical skills by using pawn sacrifices during the opening. Keep in mind that material is just one of the positional elements. If you can grab the initiative and finish your development quickly by giving up a pawn, do so. If you will think about it, you will get two advantages (i.e. initiative and lead in development) while your opponent will only get one (i.e. material advantage).

There are a lot of excellent gambit openings you can choose from. Use the one that works for you. Surprise your opponents with stylish pawn sacrifices at the start of the game.

- Enhance your tactical skills by playing different openings – Playing the same openings repeatedly can hinder your improvement. You have to learn various openings to hone your tactical skills. In general, open and semi-open games offer the best learning opportunities. Stay away from closed games because they focus on quiet development and positional struggles.

- Do not accept unfamiliar gambits offered by your opponents – Larry Evans, a chess Grandmaster, stated that the best way to beat a gambit is to take it. However, this statement is only applicable for strong players like him. Inexperienced players should not accept gambits that they have never seen before. It would be best if you will perform deep calculations to determine if the move is a gambit or just a simple blunder. Obviously, you should punish the errors made by your opponent whenever you can.

- Each opening has its own set of tactical traps and attacking opportunities – When studying a new opening, you should not be satisfied with its common strategies and theoretical explanations. You also have to familiarize yourself with the tactical motifs associated with your chosen opening. If you have that piece of information, you will be able to set traps for your opponent and execute tactical combinations. Learn as much as you can about the openings that you play; opening knowledge can give you lots of easy wins.

- Use a chess database software to gain more knowledge about chess openings – Serious players own a computer program that can store and display recorded chess games. If you want to have the best features, you should buy Chess Assistant from chessok.com or Chessbase from chessbase.com. These products offer innovative ways to study chess openings and the common tactics associated with them. If you don’t want to spend money, however, there are several free chess programs that you can use. Two of the most popular options are Scid and ScidvsPC.

2. Tactics and Chess Books

- Use chess books that are designed for kids – These books contain basic tactical motifs and clear solutions. These can help you polish your skills without exerting too much effort. A great example for this kind of book is “How to Beat Your Dad at Chess,” which contains 50 tactical patterns every player should know.

- Read old books about chess tactics – Old books are usually cheaper than new ones. If you want to save some money, you can just buy used tactics books. You don’t have to worry about the quality of information and instructions you will get. This is because chess rules, theories and tactics do not change. That means the books written several decades ago can provide useful information even today.

- Read all of your chess books – One interesting fact about the book publishing industry is that only 10% of the books that are sold are read past the second chapter. If you are going to buy chess books, make sure that you will read them thoroughly. It would be best if you will read the same book several times to reinforce the information you have gathered. Repetition helps the human brain to store data, so you should read each of your chess books at least twice.

- Check online chess forums to get information about the best chess books – The people who have read chess books share their opinions and reviews through online forums. You can communicate with these players to find out about their recommended books.  Since these players know how difficult it is to find good chess books, they will give you useful and unbiased suggestions.

3. Tactics and Computers

- Use computer programs to review your games – Nowadays, chess players use computers to analyze and annotate their games. Programmers have developed strong chess programs that can even defeat the best players. Some of the best chess programs (also called “chess engines”) are Houdini, Rybka, Hiarcs, Deep Junior, Shredder, and Fritz.  In just one click, you will be able to see all of your tactical mistakes. The chess engine will also give you better moves as suggestions. Even chess Grandmasters are using these programs to analyze their games, so you should get one too. Most of these chess programs cost less than $20, so you don’t have to worry about your budget. Alternatively, there are some free chess engines being offered online. However, these are weaker than the paid ones.

- Use the “Blunder Check” option – Almost all chess programs have a feature called Blunder Check. This feature analyzes each move and gives a numerical value to show the assessment. A positive number (e.g. +2.50) means White has the advantage while a negative number (e.g. -1.50) means Black has the upper hand. If the assessment is equal to zero, the position is completely balanced. This feature will help you see the moves that can change the overall assessment of a chess game.

- While working on chess puzzles, make sure that your chess engines are deactivated - Chess engines can solve difficult chess puzzles in just a few seconds. However, you will not experience any improvement in your tactical skills if you will let your computer answer chess puzzles on your behalf. If you want to be a strong chess player, turn off your computer and solve the puzzles mentally (i.e. without using a board). This type of training will boost your visualization skills greatly. After some time, you will acquire the ability to calculate many moves ahead.

- Different versions of the same chess engine find the same blunders and tactical motifs – Programmers release new versions of the same program every year. Although newer versions involve better analysis and fewer glitches, their overall strength is identical with the older ones. For instance, the assessments and suggestions of Houdini 4 are similar to those of Houdini 1. That means you don’t have to buy chess programs yearly. Instead, spend your money on chess books because they can help you gain more knowledge about the game.

- You should load an opening book when analyzing your games with a computer – “Opening books” are computer programs that allow a chess engine to instantly evaluate opening moves. If you will not load an opening book, your chess engine will waste several minutes analyzing each opening move. Thus, “opening books” will enable your chess engine to focus on the middle game and the endgame. In addition, an opening book will show you Grandmaster games that started with the same moves. You can gain important information by comparing your games to the ones played by Grandmasters.

4. Improve Your Tactical Ability

- Repetition can help you improve your game – People tend to forget roughly 90% of what they learned just 30 days after acquiring the knowledge. If you want to retain the chess knowledge you have gathered, read each of your chess books several times.

- After each game, ask your opponent what he/she thinks about your tactical skills – The thoughts of your opponents can help you identify your areas of improvement. Since they have personally experienced how your skills work during a game, they can give you accurate opinion. You can greatly benefit from this if you will play against players that are stronger than you.

- Don’t focus on acquiring chess knowledge. Instead, strive for an improvement in your chess abilities – Although knowledge is important, you must not be satisfied with memorizing theories and general principles. The ability to apply what you know and choose the best moves during a game is more important. There are many chess players who know the theories of complicated openings (e.g. Sicilian Najdorf, Semi-Slav Meran, English Karpov, etc.) and yet lose their pieces because of simple tactical attacks made by their opponents. If you know how to spot tactical motifs and take advantage of your opponent’s mistakes, you will be significantly stronger than a player who focuses on theories and general ideas.

- Study tactics until you become an expert – Countless players have become chess experts just by studying tactics. These people were able to defeat their opponents by utilizing the tactical elements present in the position. Based on this fact, it is safe to assume that tactical ability outweighs strategic skill during an actual game. Deep plans and “flawless” concepts are useless against tactical attacks that can mate the enemy king in a few moves.

- Spend time on improving your tactical ability – According to chess trainers, it takes about 10,000 hours before a person can be a great chess player. This is the amount of time many players have spent to reach the Grandmaster level. You don’t have to be a “genius” to become an excellent player. If you will study tactics for a long period of time, you will certainly reach the Grandmaster title every chess player is dreaming of.

- Tactical ability is required if you want to be a strong player – Grandmasters are often divided into two categories: positional players and opening specialists. However, all grandmasters have outstanding tactical abilities. They can spot decisive tactical moves even in simple positions. It means regardless of your playing style, sharp tactical abilities are needed if you want to improve your game.

- Analyze all of the possible moves – You can train your tactical vision by evaluating all legal moves in a position. With this kind of training, you will be able to discover ideas and tactics hidden in a position. Your visualization skills will also be enhanced, letting you see many moves ahead. The ability to visualize possible board positions can help you outsmart your opponents.

5. Psychology and Chess Tactics

- Remove all distractions during training or while playing chess – Before starting your training session, you should turn off your mobile phone, iPod, or other gadgets that can create noise. Chess requires all of the player’s attention; you will not experience significant improvements in your skills if you will keep on texting or listening to music while looking at the board. It would be extremely hard to find the tactical motifs present in a position if you are doing other things at the same time.

- Your tactical skills are based on your ability to remember and recognize patterns – Tactical motifs require the presence of certain piece patterns. For example, a pin can only be done if an enemy piece blocks a file or diagonal that leads to another enemy piece. Forks, on the other hand, can be accomplished only if you can attack two enemy pieces simultaneously.

If you know many tactical patterns, you will have a great tactical ability. In addition, your inventory of tactical patterns can help you minimize your calculations. You won’t have to visualize or calculate possible moves if you already know the final positions.

- You should have the desire to win, even if you are losing the game – No one has ever won a chess game by resigning. Regardless of the material or positional imbalances, you must strive to win the game (or at least get a draw). If you will defend stubbornly or even counterattack despite a significant disadvantage, your opponent may be surprised (which can lead to blunders). Lots of games have been won or drawn by people who played on even if their opponent had decisive advantages.  Look for tactical motifs while defending an inferior position; these motifs can help you restore equality or even gain the advantage.

Chapter 8: Advanced Concept – Pawn Majorities

In this part of the book, you’ll learn about the theories related to pawn majorities. Since pawns play an important in chess, you have to study this material carefully.

Queenside Pawn Majority

Many chess players claim that queenside pawn majority (i.e. having more pawns in the queenside) is a significant advantage. However, if you have more queenside pawns, your opponent will have more pawns in the center or in the kingside (assuming that the material is even). So, what makes queenside pawns important?

First, you should know that Pawn Structure is just one of the positional elements that you have to consider while playing chess. In some cases, the mere existence of pawn superiorities in a position doesn’t affect the overall evaluation. For instance, the game might be directed by other factors such as piece activity, open files, or king safety.

However, once most of the chess pieces have been removed from the board, pawns will become more important. If your pawn structure is better than that of your opponent, you will have better chances of creating a passed pawn. A “passed pawn” (i.e. a pawn that cannot be stopped by enemy pawns) is a huge advantage in the endgame. Stopping a passed pawn during the endgame is extremely difficult since there are few pieces left. For this reason, the kings must help their respective army in stopping enemy pawns.

Keep in mind that kings are often found in the kingside. That means you will have excellent winning chances if you can create a passed pawn on the other side of the board (i.e. the queenside). The king is a short-range piece, which means your opponent will have to spend a lot of moves just to transfer his monarch to the queenside. This is the reason that chess players consider queenside pawn majority as a positional advantage.

Second, it is usually easier to play in the area of the board where you have the pawn majority. Pawns can attack enemy pieces and protect vital squares. That means a queenside pawn majority can lead to successful queenside attacks.

The following examples will help you to master this concept:

Frank J. Marshall versus Jose Raul Capablanca

New York 1909

White to move

Black has more pawns in the queenside. If these pawns will be exchanged, Capablanca will acquire a passed pawn. That means White should prevent his opponent from exchanging pawns. At this point, Marshall needs to place a rook on the d-file to make sure that Black won’t get anything from that area. The game continued:

1. Rfc1 (This move is weak. It traps the a1-rook in the corner of the board and allows Black to control the d-file. 1. Rfd1 is clearly better.) Rab8 2. Qe4 (Threatening 3. Bh3) 2… Qc7 (Capablanca, known as a monster in the endgame, unpins his bishop and transfers his queen to the queenside.) 3. Rc3 (Marshall plays in the queenside blindly. He should’ve acknowledged the fact that Black has the advantage in that area. The pawn majority gives Capablanca a good game in the queenside. That means White should use his kingside pawn majority to start some action. 3. f4 is a better try.)

Position after White’s 3rd move: Rc3

3… b5 4. a3 c4 5. Bf3? (Marshall plays another weak move. He should’ve played 5. Rd1 to stop Black from controlling the d-file.) 5… Rfd8 6. Rd1 Rxd1ch 7. Bxd1 Rd8 (With this move, Capablanca takes ownership of the only open file.) 8. Bf3 g6 9. Qc6 (White wants to exchange the queens, hoping that a simplification will help him to save the game.) 9… Qe5 (Black can also win after 9… Qxe5. However, he saw that he can improve the position of his queen even more.)

Position after Black’s 9th move: Qe5

10. Qe4 (The black queen is too active, White must eliminate it as soon as possible.) 10… Qxe4 (Capablanca exchanges the queens. This time, his rook can penetrate the enemy camp without sacrificing any pawn.) 11. Bxe4 Rd1ch 12. Kg2 a5 (And Capablanca gains a winning position. The white king, which is stuck in g2, cannot go to the queenside to help his comrades. Black’s plan is simple: he will transfer his king to the queenside, push his pawns forward, and create a passed pawn. Capablanca crushed Marshall in just a few more moves.)

Position after Black’s 12th move: a5

The next example will show you how to create and utilize a queenside pawn majority:

Artur Yusupov versus Roberto Hernandez

Thessaloniki, Greece (Chess Olympiad) 1984

White to move

All of the pawns are still present on the board. The knight on d4 puts some nasty pressure against White’s camp. Yusupov should eliminate that knight quickly. Also, he must initiate some play in the queenside, since his pawn chain is pointing there. The game continued:

1. Nb5! (This maneuver kills the d4-knight and changes the queenside pawn structure.) 1… Nxb5 2. cxb5 Bd7 3. a4 a6 4. bxa6 Rxa6 5. a5 (With this move, White makes sure that he has more space in the queenside. Black must do something about this, or else he will be smothered in the a-, b-, and c-files.) 5… c6 (Black wanted to free himself from White’s queenside bind. This move removes some pressure on the queenside. However, it allows White to establish a queenside pawn majority.) 6. dxc6 Rxc6.

Position after Black’s 6th move: Rxc6

7. Rfd1 (The pawn on d6 is extremely weak. If White can put more pressure on this spot, he might get a positional advantage. This is an important principle: attack the weakest point of your opponent’s camp.) 7… Rec8 (Black doubles his rooks on the c-file. He intends to use those pieces to attack White’s queenside pawns.) 8. b4 (Of course, Yusupov can’t allow Black to play Rc2. By pushing the pawn to b4, he makes sure that Black’s rooks can’t attack the pawn majority.) 8… Rc4 (Hernandez wants to utilize the c-file. This rook move aims to throw White on the defensive. However, White answers with an interesting knight maneuver.) 9. Nf5

Position after White’s 9th move: Nf5

White transfers his knight back to the center. By attacking the d6-pawn and the e7-queen, Yusupov forces his opponent to exchange on f5. Black replied with: 9… Bxf5 10. exf5 d5 (Two pawn majorities are present on the board: White’s queenside majority and Black’s central majority.) 11. b5 (White didn’t want to play 11. Bxd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Rxb4 because his pawn majority will disappear.) 11… h5 (Black cannot do anything active. Thus, he simply makes a neutral move on the kingside. This pawn move stops any bank rank mating threat.)

Position after Black’s 11th move: h5

12. a6 bxa6 13. bxa6 (White converts his pawn majority into a powerful passed pawn. As you can see, Black will have a hard time stopping this pawn.) 13… e4 (Hernandez must do something active. With 13… e4, he pushes his own pawn majority forward. As a bonus, the latest pawn move blocks the a8-h1 diagonal.) 14. Bf1 (The bishop must be transferred to a different diagonal. With 14. Bf1, Yusupov attacks the c4-rook and protects the a6-pawn.) 14… Rc2 15. Qd4 Ng4 16. a7 (White threatens to promote the pawn next move.) 16… Ra8 (This is forced.)

Position after Black’s 16th move: Ra8

17. Rdb1 Ne5 18. Qxd5 Nf3ch 19. Kg2 Rxa7 (White loses his passed pawn. However, he gains a powerful attack against the enemy king.) 20. Rb8ch Kh7 21. f6 gxf6 22. Qxh5ch Kg7 23. Rh8 (Black resigned here since he cannot stop White’s mating attack.)

Position after White’s 23rd move: Rh8

Central Pawn Majority

Pawn exchanges often lead to asymmetrical positions, in which one player has a pawn majority in the center. This pawn configuration gives a lot of benefits to the owner.  For instance, the player can control the center (which is an important part of the board) and launch flank attacks in the kingside or the queenside.

According to chess experts, central pawn majorities are exceptionally powerful during the middlegame. This is because the central pawns can be used to destroy the enemy king’s defenses. The pawns can also drive away enemy pieces. However, make sure that your pieces can support your pawns before implementing this strategy. If you push your pawns carelessly, you will simply create weaknesses in your own camp.

Analyze the game fragments below. They will teach you how to use a pawn majority in the center.

Euwe versus Nestler

Lenzerheide 1956

White to move

The pawns are playing an important part in this game. White’s queenside pawns give him an advantage in that area of the board. Black’s pawn chain, on the other hand, grabs space in the center and the kingside. The position is still equal at this point, although White can start some aggressive operations in the center. The game continues:

1. c5! Ng6 2. cxd6 (Max Euwe, a former World Champion, initiates a pawn exchange. He acquires a pawn majority on the kingside. However, his opponent gets a pawn majority on the queenside. Euwe hopes that his kingside majority can lead to a mating attack.) 2… Bxd6 3. Rac1 Qe7 4. dxe5 Nxe5 5. Nxe5 Bxe5 6. e4 Bd7 7. h3 (White starts his kingside attack. With this quiet pawn move, he intends to control more space in the kingside.)

Position after White’s 7th move: h3

7… h6 8. f4 (This move is an important aspect of the kingside assault. The f4-pawn grabs e5 and g5. It also increases the scope of the f1-rook.) 8… Bd4ch 9. Kh2 (With this maneuver, Euwe protects the h3-pawn and vacates the g1-square. That means he can place a rook or queen there to conduct his mating attack.) 9… Bb6 10. e5 Nh7  (Poor knight! The cavalier will sit on that horrible spot for the rest of the game.)

Position after Black’s 10th move: Nh7

11. Rce1 Bf5 12. f5 (White’s kingside assault gains more strength.) 12… Bc7 13. Na4 Rad8 14. Nc5 Bc8 15. Nd3 Qd7 16. Rd1 (Euwe makes sure that his opponent cannot utilize the open d-file.) 16… Qe7 17. h4! (White grabs more space in the kingside.) 17… g6? (This move weakens the squares around the black monarch. It would’ve been better if Black focused on the queenside, where his pawn majority is located.) 18. fxg6 fxg6 19. Nf4 (The knight attacks the undefended pawn on g6.)

Position after White’s 19th move: Nf4

19… Bf5 20. Qc4ch Be6 21. Nxg6 (White wins a pawn.) 21… Qg7 22. Rxd8 Bxd8 23. Qc2 Bc7 24. Nf4 Bxe5? (A huge mistake. Black’s desire to attain material equality is understandable. However, he should’ve focused on improving his position. His last move leads to a quick defeat.) 25. Bxe5 (Forcing the queen to move away from her husband.) 25… Qxe5 26. Qg6ch (White wins the undefended rook on e8.)

Position after White’s 26th move: Qg6ch

In the next example, another ex-World Champion uses the central pawn majority to win.

Alexander Alekhine versus Efim Bogoljubow

Budapest 1921

White to move

Alekhine, a legendary chess tactician, has a 2 versus 1 pawn advantage in the center. He can convert it into a kingside majority by exchanging pawns on e5. The game continued:

1. e4! (White strengthens his control over the central squares.) 1… exd4 2. Nxd4 Nc5 (Black can’t play 2… Nxe4 because of 3. Qe3, and the knight is pinned against the undefended queen on e7.) 3. Bc2 Rd8 4. Rad1 Bg4 5. f3 Ne6 6. Qf2 (Alekhine cannot capture the bishop with 6. fxg4 because of 6... Nxd4 7. Qxd4 Rxd4 8. Rxd4 Nxg4) 6… Nxd4 7. Rxd4 Be6 8. Rfd1 (White has the advantage. He controls the d-file and possesses a solid pawn majority in the kingside.)

Position after White’s 8th move: Rfd1

8… b6 9. h3 (Alekhine wants to push his kingside pawns forward. However, he needs to protect his own king. His last move makes sure that black pieces can’t go to the g4-square.) 9… c5 10. R4d2 Rxd2 11. Qxd2 (Black can no longer fight for the d-file.) 11… c4 12. f4 g6 13. Qd4 Rc8 14. g4 (The white pawns are now moving toward the enemy king. Alekhine, one of the deadliest attackers in the history of chess, will surely get a decisive mating attack if Black will play passively.)

Position after White’s 14th move: g4

14… Bxg4 (Black decided to sacrifice a piece. He did this to create some mating possibilities against the king on g1. However, this creative blow isn’t enough to beat Alekhine.) 15. hxg4 Nxg4 (Black intends to play Qh4. With the help of his knight and queen, Bogoljubow wants to generate some winning chances.) 16. Kg2!! (The king tries to protect himself. Instead of running away, he bravely moves toward his enemies.)

Position after White’s 16th move: Kg2

16… h5 (16… Qh4 is bad because of 17. Rh1.) 17. Nd5 Qh4 18. Bd1 (Black resigned. He realized that he cannot overcome White’s positional and material advantages.)

Position after White’s 18th move: Bd1

Chapter 9: Advanced Concept – Converting an Advantage into a Win

This chapter will teach you how to convert positional and tactical advantages into a win.

The Proper Mindset

Many chess players relax after gaining an advantage on the board. They think that attaining an advantage is enough to win the game. In most cases, however, this assumption leads to a heartbreaking (and embarrassing) loss. You should never become overconfident while playing chess.

According to chess experts, a player must raise his/her level of concentration after gaining an advantage. By doing so, he will be able to solve the problems that may arise on the board. Yes, you should maintain (or even enhance) your focus especially upon attaining a significant advantage. Remember that an advantage won’t win the game for you. It’s just a factor that allows you to beat your opponent.

The Principles

Here are some principles that will help you to win more games. By keeping these principles in mind, you’ll have better chances of converting advantages into wins.

Prevent Any Counterplay

Grandmasters claim that this is the most important concept related to winning. In general, you will win the game easily if you can get a superior position and stop your opponent from doing anything active. You shouldn’t relax even if you have all the advantage in the world – keep in mind that injured opponents are the most dangerous. A player who is about to lose the game becomes more resourceful and aggressive: he will create complications in order to confuse his/her opponent.

To make sure that you will win the game, you should strive to limit your opponent’s options. Monitor his/her moves and anticipate his/her plans. Try to improve your position while keeping your opponent at bay. Once you have exhausted all of your opponent’s resources, winning the game will be as easy as 1-2-3.

Don’t Rush Yourself

This concept becomes important once you have killed your opponent’s counterplay. After stopping the enemy from doing anything active, the last thing you want to do is rush your moves. Keep in mind that patience is an important weapon in a chess player’s arsenal. If you can patiently wait for excellent opportunities, you’ll have great winning chances.

Stay focused but don’t be too excited. You might accidentally remove your opponent’s chains by forcing an unripe win. Since your opponent can’t do anything, it would be best if you will enhance your position (e.g. by improving the placement of your pieces). You may also make the enemy’s position worse. Once you have used up all of the available resources in the position, go ahead and win the game.

Important Note: You don’t have to follow this principle blindly. Don’t wait around if there’s a quick way to victory. Also, you must take note of all the options available to your opponent. If you think that your opponent has a way to fight back, you should hurry and finish the game quickly.

Create a New Weakness

This strategic principle becomes important during the endgame. Often, your opponent can easily defend if there’s just a single weakness in his/her position. That means one weakness, regardless of its magnitude, may not be enough to end the game. You should always strive to create at least two weak spots in your opponent’s camp.

Ideally, the new weakness must be far away from the first one. Your opponent will likely have sufficient defensive options if the weaknesses are located in a single area. For instance, if all of the weaknesses are in the kingside, your opponent will simply transfer his pieces in that part of the board to stop your attack. If the weaknesses are spread across the board, however, your opponent will have a difficult time in solving his defensive problems.

Initiate Proper Exchanges

Jose Raul Capablanca, a former World Champion, introduced this concept. He said that a player should eliminate unnecessary pieces when converting an advantage. By simplifying the position, you will be able to minimize your opponent’s chances of creating counterplay.

In general, the player who has the advantage must initiate piece exchanges. This allows him/her to highlight his positional and/or material advantage. A player who has the inferior position, on the other hand, must exchange pawns. This is because a chess game becomes “drawish” (i.e. a game in which winning chances are minimal) once all of the pawns have been removed from the board.

Illustrative Example

The example given below will show you how to convert an advantage into a win.

Artur Yusupov versus Larry Christiansen – Las Palmas (1993)

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. f3 e5 4. dxe5 (Once the queens are exchanged, White will get a lasting positional advantage). 4… dxe5 5. Qxd8ch Kxd8 6. Bc4 (White develops his pieces quickly. Since the black king is stuck in the center, Yusupov should bring out his pieces immediately and conduct an assault.) 6… Be6?! (Black wants to eliminate the active bishop on c4. However, this is a weak move: it destroys the pawn structure in Black’s camp. It would’ve been better if Black protected his king via Ke8 or Ke7.) 7. Bxe6 fxe6.

Position after Black’s 7th move: fxe6

8. Nh3! (Black has a weak pawn on e5. Obviously, Yusupov wants to highlight and exploit that weakness. From h3, the knight will jump to f2 and d3.) 8… Bc5 (Christiansen wants to stop White’s plan. This is an important concept: you should try to prevent your opponent from executing his plans.) 9. Nf2 Bxf2ch 10. Kxf2 Nc6 11. Be3 Ke7 12. Na3 (This is an interesting maneuver. By placing the knight on a3, Yusupov creates various possibilities in his queenside development. For instance, he may play Nb5, Nc4, or even Nc2 later. The move Nc2 will be possible after c3.)

12… a6 13. c3 Rhd8 (Black places his rook on the open d-file. This kind of scheme often leads to piece exchanges.) 14. Ke2 (White uses his king to protect the open file.) 14… h6 15. Nc2 Rd7 (Christiansen aims to double his rooks on the file. If he will succeed in controlling that file, he will be able to put some pressure on White’s camp.) 16. Rhd1 (Obviously, White wants to stop his opponent’s plans. This rook move helps White to remove a pair of rooks from the board. After the exchange, his positional advantage will be more pronounced.)

16… Rad8 17. Rxd7ch Rxd7 18. Ne1 (White wants to attack the e5-pawn, which is the weakest spot in Black’s camp.) 18… Ne8 19. Nd3 Nd6 20. Bf2 (Yusupov will play Bg3 later, a move that enhances the pressure against e5. As you can see, Yusupov calmly improves the position of his pieces. He doesn’t go for any violent attack since his advantage is still small.) 20… b6 21. Bg3 Nf7 22. a4 a5 23. Rc1 (The weakness on e5 isn’t enough to win the game. Thus, White wants to create a new weakness in the queenside.)

Position after White’s 23rd move: Rc1

23… Kf6 (With this move, Christiansen protects the e5-pawn.) 24. b4 Rd8 25. b5 Ne7 (White pushes his queenside pawns in order to create a new weakness there. As a bonus, his pawn moves take away some squares from Black. A simple board evaluation will tell you that White has the better piece placement.) 26. Bf2 (Now that Black’s counterplay has been minimized, White improves the placement of his bishop. On f2, the bishop helps the queenside pieces in creating a new weakness in the enemy camp.) 26… Rb8 27. c4 c5 28. Nxc5 (This piece sacrifice aims to create passed pawns in the queenside. Since pawns can transform into a queen upon reaching the board’s edge, this sacrifice can be considered as a good investment.) 28… bxc5 29. Bxc5 Nd8 30. Bd6 (Yusupov attacks the b8-rook and frees up his c-pawn.)

Position after White’s 30th move: Bd6

30… Rb7 31. Rd1 (Yusupov transfers his rook to the d-file. This simple move does two useful things for the white army: (1) it protects the d6-bishop and (2) attacks the d8-knight.) 31… Nc6 (Black wants to return the extra material. He recognized that holding on to his extra piece will lead to an immediate defeat. By offering his knight on c6, he disrupts the pawn structure on the queenside and stops White’s plans.) 32. bxc6 Nxc6 33. Bc5 Rb2ch (Black gains control over his 7th rank. However, this positional advantage is not enough to equalize the game.) 34. Rd2 (White wants to remove the rooks since those are not necessary in converting his advantage into a win. If Black will allow the piece exchange, White’s positional and material advantage will decide the game.)

Position after White’s 34th move: Rd2

34… Rb3 35. Rd6 Ne7 36. Bb6 Ng6 37. Bxa5 Nf4ch 38. Kd2  Nxg2 39. c5 (White has two passed pawns in the queenside. If he can push it forward, Black will be forced to retreat.) 39… Ne3 40. Bd8ch Kf7 41. Rd3 (Again, White offers a piece exchange. He knows that the white rook is not needed in winning the game. Meanwhile, the black rook is doing an excellent job. That means White will get a huge positional advantage once the rooks are removed from the board.) 41… Nc4ch 42. Kc2 Rb8 43. c6 (The white pawn is just two squares away from being promoted.)

Position after White’s 43rd move: c6

43… Ke8 (The black monarch cannot help its teammates in stopping the c6-pawn. That king was needed to nurse the weak pawn on e5. Now that the weakness on the queenside has become decisive, Black cannot use his king to stop the annoying c-pawn.) 44. c7 Ra8 45. Rc3 (White attacks the knight and covers the c8-square.) 45… Nb6 (This is forced. If the knight goes to a different square, White will be able to convert his c-pawn into a powerful queen. Now, two black pieces are protecting the c8-square. Yusupov must distract one of these pieces if he wants to get a new queen.)

Position after Black’s 45th move: Nb6

46. a5! (This move forces Black to weaken his control over the c8-square.) 46… Rxa5 (Obviously, Black cannot allow White to capture the knight on b6.) 47. c8=Q (The pawn becomes a new queen. Black resigned after seeing this move.)

Chapter 10: Advanced Concepts – Mating Motifs

This chapter will focus on the advanced topics related to tactics. It will provide you with theories and practical examples that can help you in becoming a great chess tactician.

Mating Motifs

In this section, you’ll learn about the typical motifs used in mating attacks.

Attacks Along Open Lines

This is one of the most important motifs in chess. To set this motif, you need to use two major pieces (i.e. queens or rooks) and some open lines (i.e. files or ranks). You should drive the enemy king to the edge of the board and trap it there. Since that king has nowhere to go, it can be mated easily. Study the following examples:

Emmanuel Lasker versus Meyer

Prague (Simultaneous Game) 1900

White to move

Black’s king is in danger. The white rooks on the d-file are about to jump on to the 7th and 8th ranks. The black king doesn’t have any hiding place – all of its pawns have travelled forward. That means White has excellent winning chances. If White can force the enemy king towards a dangerous area, he will be able to get a quick mate.

The legendary Lasker, known for his creativity and resourcefulness, found an interesting way to win:

1. Rd8ch Kg7 2. R1d7ch Kf6 (if 2… Kh6, then Rh8! and the black king is dead) 3. Rf8ch Ke5 4. Re8ch Kf4 (4… Kf6 is a quicker way to die because White will answer with 5. Re6#) 5. Rd4ch Kg3 6. Re3# White succeeded in driving the king from g8 to g3. Then, he ended the game by placing a rook on e3. Here’s the final position:

After White’s 6th move: Re3#

In the next example, Grandmaster Artur Yusupov used the same motif to crush his opponent. Here’s the game:

White to move

In this position, Black has the material advantage. He also has the opportunity to exchange pawns on d5 and attack the resulting weakness. However, the black king on g8 is completely weak. It doesn’t have any protector. Keep in mind that extra pieces are only significant if they help in attaining the game’s objectives. An extra piece is useless if it it’s not doing anything on the board.

If you’ll look at the board, you’ll see that White is actually winning. His queen stares at the enemy king, and the white rooks are about to jump towards the kingside. Notice that because there are no black pawns in the kingside, White can utilize a lot of open lines in his attack. The game continued:

1. Re5!! – Black resigned after seeing this move. By placing the rook on e5, White threatens the mate the black king. The following variations prove that Black can’t survive:

- 1… Rd7 (Black tries to transfer the rook to the kingside.) 2. Rg5ch (The white rook joins the kingside attack. This move spells the end for black.) Kh7 3. Qg6ch Kh8 (Yusupov succeeded in driving the black king to a corner. To win, he just needs to cover the g-file and place a heavy file on the h-file.) 4. Rh5ch Rh7 (A useless try. White will capture this piece and mate the enemy king.) 5. Rxh7#

- 1… Rf8 (Black shows that he won’t back down. Instead of protecting his king, he uses a rook to attack the white queen. Courage, however, isn’t enough in chess. White will crush the black king in two moves: 2. Qg6ch Kh8 (The king can’t go to the other side of the board since a rook occupies f8. 3. Rh5#

Anastasia’s Mate

For many chess players, this is the most beautiful motif in the game. Anastasia’s Mate requires the attacking player to use a queen, a knight, and a rook. The following examples will show you how to conduct this type of attack:

Black to move

White is up by two pawns. His pawn on d5 looks promising: if he can defend it successfully, he will have a decisive advantage in the endgame. The best strategy for White involves board simplification – he just needs to trade pieces to lessen Black’s chances of surviving the game. If White has the move, he can capture the queen on b8 and trigger further piece exchanges. However, Black has the move. This fact changes the positional evaluation completely.

The queen on b8 can easily go to the kingside. The black rooks, on the other hand, have open lines that they can use to attack the white monarch. The knight on f4 also shows a lot of potential – it can assist the rest of the black army in executing the enemy king. In this position, Black can rock White’s world in 3 moves:

1… Ne2ch (Black forces the black king to go to the corner square. The knight also prevents the enemy king from going to g1 and g3.) 2. Kh1 (Black has no choice.) Qxh2!! (Black sacrifices his queen. This move is full of power and beauty. White must capture the queen in order to continue the game.) 3. Kxh2 Rh4# (This simple move ends game. As you can see, the knight on e2 plays an important role in executing the Anastasia’s Mate attack.) Here is the final position:

Position after Black’s 3rd move: Rh4#

The next example is a complicated variant of the Anastasia’s Mate motif.

Black to move

The position looks even: the material is equal and both camps have good spots for piece development. White’s pressure on the d6-pawn is countered by Black’s control over the open e-file. The knight on g4, which attacks the e5-rook, poses threats against the black king. Some players might think that this game can fizzle out to a draw. However, nothing could be further from the truth! This position offers no hope for White. Black initiates a merciless attack using a simple knight maneuver:

1… Ne2 (This move is an important part of the Anastasia’s Mate motif. The knight stops the enemy king from taking refuge in the g1 and g3 squares.)

2. Kh2 Qxg4!! (Black’s f4-queen and e5-rook are under attack. Beginners will probably aim for simplification through Qxd2 followed by Re8. It is true that Black will be able to get a good game after those moves. However, chess players must not be satisfied with mediocre moves if spectacular ones are available. By capturing the knight on g4, Black opened the h-file and exposed the enemy king to a brutal assault.

3. hxg4 (White may decline the sacrifice via 3. f3, although he will suffer from a material disadvantage after these moves: 3… Ng3ch 4. Kg1 Nxf1 5. hxg4 Nxd2 6. fxe4 Nxe4).

3… Rh5! (Black happily gives up another piece. He did this to open up some attacking lines for the rook on e4.) 4. gxh5 Rh4# (The white king is mated.)

The Arabian Mate

In this old motif, you will combine the might of a knight and a rook to mate the enemy king. Study the following examples:

Thomas Casper versus Artur Yusupov

Germany (Bundesliga Chess Tournament) 1999

Black to move

Black has excellent pressure against the enemy camp. The rooks on d2 and f2 are attacking the pawn on g2. The rook on g1, which is being attacked by the knight on e2, can’t leave its current spot because it must defend the pawn on g2. Black’s h4-pawn also helps in attacking the white monarch.

Currently, the f3-knight attacks the d2-rook. Should Black retreat that piece? Let’s see what happened during the game:

1… Rxf3!! (Black makes a rook sacrifice. In doing so, he eliminates two of White’s kingside defenders.) 2. gxf3 Nd4ch (Black exploits the opening of his 7th rank. He plans to capture the f3-pawn next move.)

3. Kh1 (White may try 3. Rg2, a move that threatens to exchange the rook on d2. However, this option won’t make any difference: the white king will still die. Here’s the proof: 3. Rg2 Nxf3ch 4. Kh1 Rd1ch 5. Rg1 Rxg1#.The resulting position is identical to the actual game.)

3… Nxf3 4. Rg2 Rd1ch 5. Rg1 Rxg1#.

Here’s the final position:

Position after Black’s 5th move: Rxg1#

Even Wilhelm Steinitz, the first Chess World Champion, had used the Arabian Mate motif in his games. Here’s the proof:

Reiner – Wilhelm Steinitz

Vienna 1860

Black to move

White has more pawns in the kingside. If he can push those pawns forward, he will create significant winning chances for himself. White must develop his queenside pieces if he wants to defeat his opponent.

Black, on the other hand, has a huge lead in development. His f3-knight gives him excellent mating possibilities. If he can transfer the rest of his army to the kingside, he will be able to outgun White in this tactical battle. The game continued:

1… Qh4!! (The knight on f3 controls the g1-square. That means Black can mate the enemy king by placing a rook on g1. However, the rook on g4 protects the open g-file. Black solves this problem by forcing the g4-rook to move.)

2. Rg2 (This is White’s best option. Capturing the black queen via 2. Rxh4 is horrible because of 2... Rg1#. However, since Black is threatening Qxh2#, White can’t exchange rooks on g8.)

2… Qxh2!! (Steinitz really wanted to give up his queen. This time, however, White cannot decline the sacrifice. Black will play Rg1 once White captures the queen.)

3. Rxh2 (This is forced.) 3… Rg1#

The final position is:

The Bishop-Queen Battery

If a bishop stands behind a queen on a diagonal, you’ll surely find a lot of mating possibilities. The examples below will show you how to use this powerful motif:

Black to move

Black has a large advantage. He has extra material, better development, and excellent control over the central squares. If he can successfully defend and push his central pawns, he will be able to throw White into a passive position. However, all of the advantages mentioned above are small when compared to the main advantage in Black’s camp – he has a powerful bishop-queen battery. This lethal combination of long-range pieces promises a decisive attack for Black.

In the next few moves, Black demonstrates how you should combine a central maneuver and a kingside attack. The game continued:

1… e4! (With this move, Black creates two powerful threats: (1) he attacks the f3-knight and (2) opens the diagonal for the bishop-queen battery. It is important to point out that the f3-knight helps in protecting the h2-square. Once that knight jumps to safety, the white monarch will die because of the queen-and-bishop combo.)

2. Nfd4 Qh2# (The queen kills the enemy king. As this example shows, you may drive away the defending pieces of your opponent. You don’t have to eliminate each defender. In most cases, forcing the defenders to move away is enough to guarantee a quick win.

Position after Black’s second move: Qh2#

The second example shows how a tactical motif can lead to material advantages. Often, tactical attacks against the enemy king don’t result to checkmates. That means you shouldn’t force yourself each time you attack. If you can get a significant advantage such as positional control or extra material, you should be satisfied with your work. Checkmates rarely come, especially when you’re playing against skilled opponents.

Black to move

White attacks the b7-pawn and controls the c-file. He also exerts some pressure against the weak pawn on d5. White could’ve had an excellent game if his kingside is stronger. The position on the board, however, shows that Black has a huge advantage. This advantage results from the bishop-queen battery on the queenside.

If White has an extra move, he will probably play g3 to protect the weak pawn on h2. Unfortunately, Black has the move. That fact throws away White’s chances to salvage the game.

1… Nxd4 (This simplification highlights the strength of Black’s bishop-queen battery. By exchanging the knights on d4, Black makes sure that he will get a material advantage.)

2. exd4 (This recapture, although weak, is White’s best choice. If he will take the enemy knight with Nxd4, Black will win via Qxh2#. Capturing the knight with Bxd4 is also bad, since Black will play 2… Nd2, 3… Nxf3, and 4… Qxh2#.)

2… Nxc3 (Black captures the bishop on c3 and opens the e-file for his rook.) 3. Rxc3 Rxe2 (White loses a piece.)

Chapter 11: Advanced Concept – Prophylactic Thinking

Prophylaxis (i.e. identifying and stopping your opponent’s plans) is one of the most critical aspects of positional play. Often, chess players forget that they are playing against another person. These players become so focused on their own plans that they stop thinking about the schemes of their opponent. This phenomenon usually leads to blunders and devastating losses they couldn’t recover from. If you want to win more games, you should consider not just your moves but also all of the possibilities available to your opponent.

The term “prophylactic thinking” refers to the habit of identifying your opponent’s intentions, determining the resources available to him/her, and utilizing the information you have gained in creating in-game strategies.

Chess experts claim that prophylactic thinking is an important part of the game. It helps you to “respect” your opponent and make appropriate decisions on the board.

In general, this method of thinking helps not only in identifying the ideas of your opponent. It also assists you in finding the best solution to the problems present in the position. Chess experts say that the “best move” in any position is a move that stops your opponent’s plans and improves your own game.

At this point, it is important to distinguish prophylactic moves from purely defensive ones. A prophylactic move is both offensive and defensive. It helps you to implement your plans and stop those of your opponent. A defensive move, on the other hand, is often weak and passive. It does nothing but stop your opponent’s current threat/s.

Here is the most important aspect of prophylactic thinking – it allows you to outthink your opponent. Playing against a prophylactic player requires a lot of skill and patience. Obviously, your opponent will make some mistakes if you’ll keep on stopping his plans.

Despite its effectiveness, you shouldn’t use prophylactic thinking all the time. You still need to evaluate the position and ask yourself if prophylaxis is needed in winning the game. For instance, if you can get a checkmate in 4 moves, you don’t have to think about your opponent’s plans.

The annotated games given below will show you how to use prophylactic thinking.

Artur Yusupov versus John van der Wiel

Lucerne (Chess Olympiad) 1982

White to move

White has a slight advantage. He has a long pawn chain, an excellent piece development, and great control over the central squares. If he can neutralize the strong bishop on b7, Yusupov will have a huge advantage in the game. He should create some play in the kingside because his pawn chain is pointing toward that direction. The game continued:

1. Nd2 (White repositions the knight in order to liberate his f-pawn. He prepares a kingside pawn storm.) 1… c5 (Black must do something about White’s powerful center. This move is a typical counterblow against a pawn chain. If White captures on c5, the pawns on c3 and e5 will become extremely weak.) 2. Qg4 (Yusupov generates some attacking chances in the kingside. The presence of the white queen adds more sting to White’s attack. As a bonus, the move helps in protecting  d4.) 2… g6 (Black makes a small adjustment in his kingside pawn formation. By pushing the pawn to g6, he creates some obstacles to White’s plans.) 3. Ne4 cxd4 4. cxd4 Nc6 (Black threatens Nxe5, a tactical blow that nets a 1-pawn advantage. If Yusupov recaptures with dxe5, van der Wiel will capture the undefended bishop on d3. How can White stop this powerful threat?)

Position after Black’s 4th move: Nc6

5. Rfd1! (This prophylactic move does three excellent things for White: [1] it improves the position of the rook, [2] it defends the d3-bishop, and [3] it adds strength to the d5 pawn push.) 5… Nb4 (If Black tried to steal a pawn with 5… Nxd4, he will lose his queen with 6. Bxd4 Qxd4 7. Nf6ch Bxf6 8. Qxd4) 6. Bh6 Re8 7. Bb5 Bc6 8. Bxc6 Nxc6 (White succeeded in eliminating the strong bishop on b7. Now, it’s time to occupy the open files in the queenside.)

Position after Black’s 8th move: Nxc6

9. Rab1 (This prophylactic move is full of power and subtlety. Yusupov realized that Black wants to play 9… Nb4 and 10… Nd5. By placing the rook on b1, Yusupov stops his opponent’s plan.) 9… Qd5 (Black threatens to capture the undefended pawn on a2. Should White defend it with a defensive move such as Rd2 or Rb2?) 10. Qf4! (Yusupov knew that Black wants to steal the a2-pawn. However, he saw that he doesn’t need to create a purely defensive move such as Rb2. By threatening a mate with 11. Nf6ch Bxf6 12. Qxf6 followed by Qg7#, he forced Black to retreat his queen. Thus, 10. Qf4 is a prophylactic move that allows White to defend the a2-pawn and create some mating threats against the black king.) 10… Qd8 (This if forced.)

Position after Black’s 10th move: Qd8

11. Rb3 Rc8 (Black tries to make some play in the queenside.) 12. h4 (White pushes his pawn to destroy Black’s kingside pawn structure. As you can see, White’s play is stronger than Black’s.) 12… Rc7 (The f7-pawn suffers from a severe pressure. So, Black tries to strengthen it with his last move.) 13. Rf3! (White puts more pressure on the f7-pawn.) 13… Rf8 (Black has no choice. This move leads to a material disadvantage, but there’s no better alternative.)

Position after Black’s 13th move: Rf8

14. Bxf8 Qxf8 15. d5 (With this pawn move, Yusupov tries to open and control the d-file.) 15… exd5 16. Rxd5 Nb4 17. Rd1 Rc6 (If Black played Nxa2, White will answer with exf6 and destroy the black monarch’s defenses.) 18. Nd6 Nxa2 19. Qa4 (White forks the a2-knight and the c6-rook. Black resigned.)

In the next example, White’s prophylactic play forced his opponent to make mistakes in the last part of the game.

Artur Yusupov versus Gennadi Timoscenko (Kislovodsk 1982)

1. e4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 (White makes pawn moves in the center before developing any of his pieces. With this approach, he makes sure that his opponent won’t be able to harass the white pieces later.) 4… Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 (Black develops his queenside bishop. This move aims to pin the f3-knight against the d1-queen and shatter the kingside pawns. However, this move has its own drawbacks. Since the bishop is now in the kingside, Black’s queenside has become extremely weak. White can punish this move by starting a queenside attack.)

7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qb3 (Yusupov tries to exploit the weakness of Black’s queenside. This move also attacks the knight on d5.) 8… Bxf3 (Timoscenko gives up his bishop in order to ruin the white king’s shelter.) 9. gxf3 (White has obtained the two bishop advantage. However, his kingside pawn wall has lost its integrity. Yusupov should utilize his dynamic advantage to negate his static disadvantages.) 9… Nb6 (Black uses his block to physically block the b3-queen’s attack against b7.)

Position after Black’s 9th move: Nb6

10. d5! (Yusupov harasses the c6-knight and grabs more space in the center.) 10… Nd4 (Of course, Black exploits the weaknesses in White’s camp: f3 and b3. This knight move “instructs” White to defend the weak pawn on f3 and retreat the queen on b3.) 11. Bb5ch! (Yusupov refuses to obey his opponent’s “instructions.” Instead of making a purely defensive move such as Qd1, he creates his own threat by developing the light-squared bishop.) 11… Nd7 12. Qa4 e5 (Black doesn’t want to capture the f3-pawn. He knows that White will get the initiative after 12… Nxf3ch.) 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Be3 a6.

Position after Black’s 14th move: a6

With this pawn move, Black forces White to make a decision regarding his queenside attack. White responded with: 15. Bxd7ch (A move that leads to further simplification.) 15… Qxd7 16. Qxd7ch Kxd7 (Because of the piece exchanges, White was able to pull the black king out of its hiding place. White should exploit the black king’s horrible position by launching a mating attack.) 17. 0-0 Bd6

Position after Black’s 17th move: Bd6

The white king is more protected than its black counterpart. As you can see, Black can’t utilize his solid pawns in the kingside since his king is stuck in the middle of the board. If given the chance, Black will surely play Rac8 (to control the c-file) and Ke7 (to transfer the king to the kingside). Thus, White must anticipate his opponent’s defensive plans and make the necessary countermoves. He played:

18. Nd5! (This is a powerful prophylactic move. By threatening Nb6, which forks the d7-king and c8-rook, White prevents Black’s intended Rc8 next move.) 18… Rad8 (Black decides to transfer his king to the queenside. He will play Kc7 or Kc8 on his next move.) 19. Rac1 (Of course, Yusupov stops his opponent’s plans. Aside from controlling the open c-file, this move makes sure that the black king won’t get refuge in the queenside.)

Position after White’s 19th move: Rac1

19… Nc7 (Black wants to exchange pieces. He knows that White’s attack will be weakened once some of the pieces are removed from the board.) 20. Nb6ch (When attacking, you have to avoid unnecessary piece exchanges. You won’t be able to mate the enemy king if you’ll allow your opponent to eliminate your attacking pieces.) 20… Ke6 21. Rfe1 (Yusupov develops his rook and attacks the enemy king. This is an important principle: attack your opponent while developing your pieces. This approach gives you some “extra moves” that you can use to improve your position.) 21… Kf5 22. Rfe1 (White threatens 23. Rxd6 Rxd6 24. Rxc7) 22… Ne6

Position after Black’s 22nd move: Ne6

23. Rd5ch Kf6 24. Rcd1 (White transfer the pressure onto the d6-bishop. With his last move, Yusupov takes control of the d-file.) 24… Bc7 (Again, Black encourages his opponent to exchange some pieces.) 25. Nd7ch Ke7 26. b4 (White’s pieces are extremely active. However, they are not enough to win the game. That means White should create more advantages on the board. By pushing the b-pawn forward, Yusupov starts a queenside assault.) 26… f6 27. a4 g5? (This move is questionable. It weakens the f6-pawn and creates vulnerable squares in Black’s kingside. Black did this aggressive move to exploit the weak position of the enemy king.)

Position after Black’s 27th move: g5

As a general rule, you should attack the weaknesses in your opponent’s camp. This technique allows you to establish dominance on the board and force your opponent to defend. Once your opponent’s pieces are doing defensive chores, go ahead and create more advantages in your position. In the game, the f6-pawn is extremely weak. The only piece that can defend it is the king on e7. Thus, White’s next move is easy to understand:

28. Bc1 (Yusupov prepares 29. Bb2, a move that puts a lot of pressure on the f6-pawn.) 28… Nf4 (Timoscenko wants to harass the white king using some knight moves. If he succeeds, his kingside pawns can be extremely dangerous.) 29. Bxf4! (White makes a great prophylactic move. He gives up his plan of attacking the f6-pawn just to stop his opponent. By eliminating the knight, White steers the game into a won ending.) 29… Bxf4? (Black makes a huge mistake. He should’ve played 29… gxf6 instead. The bishop was playing an important role in c7, where it protects the d8-rook and the queenside. This blunder leads to a material loss.)

30. Nxf6!! (White punishes Black’s mistake. The king cannot capture the knight because the rook on d8 will fall. If Black captures on d5, White will recapture using his knight.) 30… Rc8 (White’s material advantage guarantees a sure win in the endgame. So, Black tries to avoid further exchanges.) 31. Nh5 (White, on the other hand, encourages piece exchanges. This is the quickest way to victory.) 31… Bc7 32. Re1ch Kf7 33. Rd7ch Kg6 34. Ng7 (White threatens to mate the king next move with 35. Re6#) 34… Bd8 (Timoscenko intends to block 35. Re6ch with 35… Bf6) 35. Rxb7 (White increases his material advantage. Black resigned, knowing that White can easily convert the material advantage into a win.)

Chapter 12: Advanced Concept – Correct Defense

For most players, defense is more complex and difficult than offense. It’s understandable because you can conduct attacks just by pressuring the weaknesses in your opponent’s camp. To conduct proper defense, however, you have to do the following:

- Find the weak spots in your camp.

- Anticipate the plans of your opponent.

- Identify your defensive resources.

- Stop your opponent’s attack.

- Look for counterplay chances.

The last bullet is extremely important. Counterplay allows you to generate your own attacks against the enemy camp. Obviously, you won’t win just by defending. You also need to attack your opponent if you want to obtain positional and/or material advantages. Passive defense doesn’t win games.

Defense and Accuracy

Correct defense requires accuracy. Accurate calculations and positional assessments are necessary if you want to stop your opponent’s attacks. Since you are playing against a person who wants to beat you, you have to strive for accuracy when making evaluations and calculations. If you can pinpoint your opponent’s offensive resources and attacking plans accurately, your defensive chores will become easy and simple.

Defending an Inferior Position

In equal positions, defending your opponent’s attacks is just a simple matter. Your resources are equal to that of your opponent so you can stop his/her threats without much thought. However, defending your camp in a disadvantageous position is a different story.

When playing chess, you’ll surely find some situations where your opponent has the advantage. These situations often result to brutal attacks and complicated play. If you want to win, or at least get a draw, you have to be creative and resourceful. Find all of the defensive possibilities available to you and stop your opponent’s plans as much as you can. Simply put, make sure that your opponent can’t get the win easily. Even expert players commit mistakes in advantageous positions when faced with resilient defense.

The Principles of Proper Defense

In this part of the book, you’ll learn about the most important principles related to proper defense. Study this material carefully since it can help you save losing positions.

1. Don’t make unnecessary pawn moves near your king.

Keep in mind that pawns can’t go back to their previous squares. That means even the best pawn moves can create permanent weaknesses. If your king stands in the kingside, consider kingside pawn moves as your final options. The following example will illustrate this principle:

Chigorin and Ponce versus Steinitz and Gavilan

Havana, Cuba (Consultation Game) 1889

White to move

In this position, Black has a powerful kingside attack. Almost all of the black pieces are ready to assassinate the white king. The queen and rook on the f-file puts a lot of pressure on the f3-bishop. The rook on g8 supports the g-pawn, making sure that the king will die once the g-file gets opened. Even the bishop on b6 stares at the white king hungrily. However, in order to win, Black must use his pawns too. This is the reason why the g-pawn stands in g5. It threatens to harass the f3-bishop and ruin White’s pawn structure. The game continued:

1. h3? (White succumbs to Black’s threats. This is a huge mistake: the pawn move creates more weaknesses in the kingside. It would’ve been best if White played the following sequence: 1. Kh1! g4 2. Be2 Bxf2 3. g3 Rxe4 4. Kg2. This variation offers better resistance than the actual game.) 1… g4! (Because of 1. h3, Black can easily open some lines in the kingside. Since three black pieces are in that sector, open lines can result to a quick win.) 2. hxg4 (If White played 2. Bxg4, Black will get a mate in 4 moves: 2… Rgxg4 3. hxg4 Rxf2 4. Rxf2 Rxf2ch 5. Kh1 Qh4#) 2… h5!

Position after Black’s 2nd move: h5

Black is sacrificing another pawn to open some lines in the kingside. If White will accept this offer, both the g-file and the h-file will be opened. The game continued:

3. g5 Rxg5 4. Kh2 (White knew that his opponent will exert tremendous pressure down the g-file. To solve his problem, he transfers his king to the h-file. Unfortunately, this solution isn’t enough to stop Black’s attack.) 4… Rh4ch 5. Kg1 Qf4 (Now, the black pieces are hunting down the white monarch.) 6. Re1 (This move stops Black’s threat: 6… Qh2#) 6… Rxg2!! (Black gives up a rook just to kill the enemy king. White resigned here since there’s no defense against Black’s mating attack. Here’s the proof: 7. Kxg2 Qh2ch 8. Kf1 Qxf2#)

2. Strive for an economical defense.

Make sure that you are not “over-defending”. Analyze your opponent’s threats and defend accordingly. Don’t use five pieces to defend if you can repel your opponent’s attack using just two pawns. Keep in mind that pieces can get in each other’s way. If you will transfer all of your pieces into a single part of the board, they will become ineffective.

Strike a balance between offense and defense. Use about half of your army for offensive operations. Your opponent will have excellent chances if you will panic and defend with all of your forces.

3. Make your opponent pay.

When attacking, a player often creates irreparable weaknesses in his/her own camp. That means you have to damage your opponent’s position as much as you can while defending. Force him/her to make some positional or material sacrifices. By doing so, you’ll have excellent winning chances once you have stopped his/her attack completely.

4. Offense is the best defense.

You should try to counterattack while repelling your opponent’s assault. Since your opponent needs to use his pieces for offense, his defensive resources will likely become insufficient. That means you can actually get the advantage just by “punching back.”

Attackers often become so engrossed in their schemes that they forget about their own defense. They think that since they are conducting an attack, their opponent is required to defend. You can use this faulty assumption to your advantage. For example, you can surprise your opponent by conducting some counterblows against his/her king. Your opponent might retreat some of his/her forces to block your attack or even forget about his/her assault altogether.

In some cases, a counterblow is more powerful and dangerous than the initial attack. This is because the attacking player isn’t ready to meet attacks against his/her own camp. Chess experts claim that counterattacks are exceptionally strong if the attacker’s king is in an unsafe position.

5. Eliminate your opponent’s attacking pieces.

Your opponent has to use his/her pieces in order to kill your king. Pawns can help in the assault, but you can’t rely on them when going for the checkmate. That means if you want to stop your opponent’s attack, you have to remove his aggressive pieces from the board. Even the queen, which is the most powerful piece in the game, becomes useless once it is exchanged.

As a general rule, you should encourage piece exchanges while defending against a mating attack. Your opponent will have problems continuing his attack if his pieces are no longer on the board.

Conclusion

Thank you again for purchasing this book!

I hope this book was able to help you become a stronger chess player. The theoretical information and practical tips contained in this book can transform your skills and help you reach the “next level.”

The next step is to further improve your skills by joining chess competitions.

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Table of Contents

- Introduction
- Chapter 1: Chess – General Information
- Chapter 2: The Elements of Chess Openings

- Chapter 3: How to Play “Open Games” Correctly

- Chapter 4: How to Play “Semi-Open Games” Correctly

- Chapter 5: How to Play “Closed Openings” Correctly

- Chapter 6: How to Formulate Correct Chess Strategies

- Chapter 7: How to Use Chess Tactics Correctly

- Chapter 8: Advanced Concept – Pawn Majorities

- Chapter 9: Advanced Concept – Converting an Advantage into a Win

- Chapter 10: Advanced Concepts – Mating Motifs

- Chapter 11: Advanced Concept – Prophylactic Thinking

- Chapter 12: Advanced Concept – Correct Defense

- Conclusion