A far advanced pawn
4 *
Solution
Files and diagonals
5 *
Solution
A long diagonal
6 *
Solution
Beat the magician
7 *
Solution
A vulnerable rank
8 *
Solution
Clearing a square
9 *
Solution
Final move
10 *
Solution
Successive forks
11 *
Solution
The revival
12 **
Solution
Weaving a net
13 **
Solution
Harassment
14 **
Solution
A circuit
15 **
Solution
Attacking the weakness
16 **
Solution
Multi-purpose move
17 **
Solution
Atribute to Steinitz
18 **
Solution
Diversion
19 **
Solution
Automatic recapture
20 **
Solution
Storming the fortress
21 **
Solution
Traffic jam
22 **
Solution
Make room
23 **
Solution
Breakthrough
24 **
Solution
Back door
25 **
Solution
Ambush
26 **
Solution
Self-protection
27 **
Solution
Royal safety
28 **
Solution
Introductory step
29 **
Solution
Desperate measure
30 **
Solution
The right diagonal
31 **
Solution
The invader
32 **
Solution
In etremis
33 ***
Solution
Majority attack
34 ***
Solution
Constant squeeze
35 ***
Solution
Geometry
36 ***
Solution
Unexpected brilliancy
37 ***
Solution
38 ***
Solution
Sliding queen
39 ***
Solution
Addition attacker
40 ***
Solution
Zugzwang
41 ***
Solution
The lion’s den
42 ***
Solution
A troubled couple
43 ***
Solution
Liquidation
44 ***
Solution
Pins
45 ***
Solution
A missed skewer
46 ***
Solution
Deflecting her majesty
47 ***
Solution
Best defence
48 ****
Solution
Intrusion
49 ****
Solution
Alternating wings
50 *****
Solution
The undiscoverable draw
51 *****
Solution
Crossfire
52 *****
Solution
Tragicomedy
53 *****
Solution
Test solutions
Exercise 1 *
Akopian,Vladimir
Kamsky,Gata
Nalchik 2009 (5)
You have to look out for stalemates in such a position, and the draw was obtained after
1. … Rb7xe7!
2. Re2xe7
Stalemate!
In the actual game, there followed 1…Rb8+?? 2.Kc7 Rb7+ 3.Kc6 Ra7 4.Bd8 Rh7 5.Bc7 Rh6+ 6.Bd6 and White is winning Fatigue after a long game must be the explanation for Kamsky’s lapsus.
Back
Exercise 2 *
Kononenko,Tatiana
Zhao,Zong Yuan
Seville 2008 (6)
A tiny step backward for a huge leap forward.
1. Rf4-f3!
In the game an aggressive forward move ended in disaster: 1.g4? c4 2.gxf5 h5 3.Be4? 3.Rf3=. 3…Bxe4 4.Rxe4 Qxf5 5.Qg3+ Kh7.
1. … c5-c4
2. Rf3-g3+ Kg7-h6
3. Qb8-f4 Kh6-h5
4. Bd5-f3+ 1-0
Back
Exercise 3 *
Karjakin,Sergey
Gelfand,Boris
Moscow Wch blitz 2008 (32)
White could have won in two moves:
1. Qe5-h5+!!
1.Qf5+ was played in this blitz game: 1…Kg7 2.Qf2 Qxf2 3.e8Q and the game was drawn.
1. … Qh4xh5
2. e7-e8Q+
With QxQ to follow. A simple combination, even in blitz, but of course the lack of thinking time is sufficient explanation.
Back
Exercise 4 *
Grischuk,Alexander
Lima,Darcy
Khanty-Mansiysk 2007 (1.1)
White has just played 1.a6, and Black missed an unexpected escape with
1. … Ra2xa6!
2. Ra8xa6
Stalemate.
Instead, 1…Ra3+?? was played and White won after 2.Kf2 Ra2+ 3.Ke3 Ra3+ 4.Kd4 Kg4 5.Rg8+ Kf3 6.Rg6.
Back
Exercise 5 *
Tischbierek,Raj
Wahls,Matthias
Bremen ch GER 1998 (5)
White resigned in this position as he seems to lose a rook, but he can exploit several weaknesses on the open lines to save the game:
1. Rd2-c2! Bc3xa5?
1…Rd8! is better, with an equal game, e.g. 2.Ra1 Bxb2;
1…Rxb2!? is also OK for Black: 2.Bd4+ Kg8=.
2. Bc5-d4+ Kh8-g8
3. Rc2xc8+
Back
Exercise 6 *
Szmetan,Ricardo
Nakamura,Hikaru
Buenos Aires 2003 (1)
The last move of the future American champion was …b6? The Argentinian master seems to be captivated by the peaceful nature of the position as he completely ignores the possibility of winning a central pawn by either
1. Nc3xe4!
or 1.Ndxe4!
1. … Nf6xe4
2. Nd2xe4 Qe7xe4
3. Be2-f3+−
Instead he played 1.b4? and after a balanced game Black eventually won.
Back
Exercise 7 *
Schneider,Lars Ake
Tal,Mikhail
Luzern Olympiad 1982 (13)
1. Qh3xh6!!
Unbelievable! The Swedish master drops a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to beat the Wizard from Riga with his own weapons! The threat 2.Qh8+! is decisive.
1. … Rf8xf7
1…g5 2.Qxg5.
2. Rd7-d8+
Mating.
Instead, the anaemic 1.g3? was played and White never got a second chance: 1…h5 2.Ng5 Qxb2 3.Ne6 Rxf1+ 4.Qxf1 Bf6 5.Rd8+ Kf7 6.Ng5+ Ke7 7.Nxe4 Kxd8 0-1.
Back
Exercise 8 *
Levenfish,Grigory
Tartakower,Savielly
Karlsbad 1911
In the game after 1.Be3? Black was able to equalize.
White could have gained material with
1. Nd5-b6!!
Playing on both wings.
1. … Qd8xd1+
1…Bg4 2.Bxg7+ Kxg7 3.Nxa8±
2. Ra1xd1
Attacking the ro
ok, and threatening mate.
2. … Bg7xh6
3. Nb6xa8+−
Back
Exercise 9 *
Ulko,Yaroslav
Chekhov, Sergey
Voronezh Open 2007 (1)
In the game, White had to be content with a draw after 1.Qg5? Qa4 2.Rxa7 Rxb2+ 3.Kxb2 Qb4+ 4.Kc1 Qa3+ 5.Kb1 Qb4+ ½-½.
1. Qg7xf6!!
Eliminating the defender while vacating the g7-square for White’s knight.
1. … Rb6xb2+
1…Nxf6 2.Ng7#! is the main idea; 1…Rxf6 2.Ng7+ Ke7 (2…Kd8 3.Rdxd7#) 3.Rcxd7#!.
2. Kb1xb2 Qe4-b4+
3. Kb2-a1+−
Back
Exercise 10 *
Tseitlin,Mark
Gershkowich,David
Givataim 2006
The intermediate move
1. Rf7-d7+!
was necessary.
1.Rxg7? followed in the game and after 1…Rc7+! 2.Rxc7 Black was stalemated.
Back
Exercise 11 *
Czarnota,Pawel
Ribli,Zoltan
Germany Bundesliga 2006/07 (3.4)
1.Rg1 was played in the game, when White is better, though not yet winning. He could have won instantly with
1. Qh4-h8+!
A move reminiscent of the famous Alekhine-Euwe game (see p. 114).
1. Kg8xh8
2. Ng5xf7+ Kh8-g8
3. Nf7xd6
The second fork in a row, winning on the spot.
Back
Exercise 12 **
Borisenko,Georgy
Mekheniev
Moscow 1950
Black mistakenly assumed that he had to play carefully to avoid defeat and played 1…Ke4? to secure merely a draw after 2.Rg8 Kf4 3.h4 f2 4.Rf8+ Kg4.
1. … f3-f2!
2. Rg3-g8
Preparing a deadly skewer, White is brushing up for the victory party when out of the blue the paralysed queenside comes to life!
2. … Ba2-b1!!
An unexpected turning point! This uninvited guest is about to mask the skewer and if captured, a senior guest will pop up on the first rank with a lethal check!
Back
Exercise 13 **
Cebalo,Miso
Velimirovic,Dragoljub
Yugoslav Championship 1993 (17)
White played 1.fxg5+ Kxg5 2.Rf3 Rd2+ 3.Re2 Rxe2+ 4.Kxe2 Rc2+ 5.Ke3 Rxb2 6.h4+ Kf6 7.g4 h6 8.Kf4 Rb4+ 9.Kg3 Rd4? Here Black could have achieved a draw with 9…d5! 10.Re3 Rb6!=. 10.Re3+−.
Instead, White could have set up a mating net with:
1. g2-g4! g5xf4
2. Re3-e6+ Kf6-g5
3. Re7-g7+ Kg5-h4
4. Re6-h6#
Back
Exercise 14 **
Ivanchuk,Vasily
Gelfand,Boris
Monaco rapid 1999 (3)
1…Qxf4 was played in the game, and after 2.Qb7+ Kg6 3.Qb6+ Kh7 4.Bg3 Qf6+? (4…Qb4 was better) 5.Qxf6 gxf6 6.b6 Be4 7.Bd6 Kg6 8.Kg3 White won.
The draw could have been obtained with
1. … g7-g5+!!
2. Kh4-h5
Certainly not 2.fxg5?? because of 2…Qxh2#;
2.Kg3 Qxf4+ 3.Kh3 Bf1# or 3.Kg2 Qxg4+ 4.Bg3 Qe2+ 5.Bf2 Be4+ 6.Kh3 Qf3+ 7.Bg3 Bf5#.
2. … Qe5-h8+!
2…gxf4+ is not as good: 3.g5 Qe2+? 4.Kh6 Qxf2 5.Qf6+ Ke8 6.Qe6+ Kf8 7.Qd6++−.
3. Kh5xg5 Qh8-d8+!
4. Kg5-h5 Qd8-h8+=
A clockwork-like perpetual.
Back
Exercise 15 **
Braun,Arik
Siebrecht, Sebastian
Vienna 2005 (2)
Here Black had another perpetual with a rook sacrifice:
1. Rg1-e1+!!
In the game Siebrecht lost quickly after 1…Qb5+?? 2.Kf3 Qxb1 3.Rd8#.
2. Ke2xe1
Forced, for example: 2.Kf3 Qxd2; 2.Kd3 Qxb1+.
2. … Qb2xb1+
3. Rd2-d1
If 3.Ke2 Qe4+ 4.Kf1 Qh1+=.
3. … Qb1-e4+
4. Ke1-d2
4.Kf1 Qh1+.
4. … Qe4-d4+
5. Kd2-c2 Qd4-c4+
6. Kc2-b1 Qc4-b4+
And so on.
Back
Exercise 16 **
Georgiev,Kiril
Van Wely,Loek
Groningen 1997 (4.2)
In the game, White made a draw with 1.Bd7? Rf8 (1…Qxe2 was the best move. Even here White might still have won with 2.g4! hxg4 3.h5, but he played 2.Re3.
White could have won by bringing another piece into the attack with the powerful
1. Bh3-e6!!
Attacking f7 and g6. There is no defence.
1. … Re8xe6
1…fxe6 2.Qxg6+ Kh8 3.Qxe8+; 1…Nxe6 2.Qxf7+ Kh8 3.Qxe8+.
2. Qf6xd8+ Kg8-g7
And now there is a nice geometrical win:
3. Qd8-c7!! Re6-f6
4. Qc7-e5+−
Back
Exercise 17 **
Marrero Lopez,Yaniet
Perez,Angel
Havana 2005 (7)
White had just blundered with 1.Qc8xBd8 (instead of 1.Qc2=). Black replied with 1…Qa1?? and White won after 2.Qa8+! Kxa8 3.d8Q+ Ka7 4.Qd4+ Ka8 5.Rxa1.
Instead, Black had an easy win:
1. … Qa3-d3!!
Attacking the rook while keeping an eye on the d-pawn. There is no defence because of the lack of connection between the white pieces.
2. h2-h4 Qd3xb1+
3. Kh1-h2 Qb1-d1
4. Qd8-c8 b2-b14
5. d7-d84 Qd1-g1+
6. Kh2-h3 Qg1-e3+
7. g2-g3
7.Kh2 Qbg1#
7. … Qb1-f1+
8. Kh3-g4 h7-h5#
Back
Exercise 18 **
Kurajica,Bojan
Romanishin,Oleg
Solin 2007 (2.2)
Black has just brought the knight from c6 to e5. Are you able to spot the Steinitzian win?
1. Kg1-f1!!
Winning the knight or the rook. The king is a piece!
1. … Qa5-b5
2. Rf4-b4 1-0
The game saw 1.h4?! Qxc5 2.h5 Qb6 3.Qg5 Kg7?! 3…Re8. 4.h6+ Kh8 5.Kf1! and now:
A) Romanishin played 5…f6 6.Kxe2 Qa6+? (6…Qd6 7.Rxf6 Rxf6 8.Kf1±) 7.Bc4 Nxc4 8.Qxf6+! Qxf6 9.Rxf6 1-0.
B) Instead there was 5…Re8! 6.Kxe2 Qb5+ 7.Ke3 (the invisible self-pin 7.Rc4!? was another interesting try for a win: 7…Nxc4+ 8.Kf3 Ne5+ 9.Kg2 Qb6 and after 10.Rb1 White is better) 7…Qb6+ 8.Rfd4!? Nc6+ 9.Kf3 Nxd4+ 10.Kg2.
Back
Exercise 19 **
Kortchnoi,Viktor
Krush,Irina
Gibraltar 2007 (8.13)
White played the losing move 1.Rf2?? and resigned, not waiting for the forced sequence 1…Qxe4 2.Nxe4 Rd1+ 3.Rf1 Rxf1+.
He could have won by exploiting the alignment of Black’s king and queen along the a2-g8 diagonal with
1. Rf4-f8+!
Deflection!
1. … Rd8xf8
If 1…Kg7, 2.Rxd8 Nxd8 3.Qxc7 gives White a winning advantage.
2. Be4-d5 1-0
Back
Exercise 20 **
Khaunin
Fridman
Leningrad 1962
This is a draw if White has only a g-or h-pawn along with the c7 pawn (see Vyzhmanavin-Lerner in the introduction), since Black’s king can move to and fro between g7 and h7.
1. Kh3xg3!
1.hxg3? was played in the game, when Black was able to force a draw with 1…g4+! 2.fxg4 and White, though three pawns up, is unable to win because the g-pawns are useless. Black’s king just stands on g7, and if the king moves up to protect the c7 pawn, the rook keeps giving checks from below.
1. … Kg7-h7
2. h2-h4!
Deflection of the g-pawn, in order to create a winning passed pawn on the f-file. 2…gxh4+ 3.Kh3 Kg7 4.f4+− Kh7 5.f5 Kg7 6.f6+ Kf7 (6…Kxf6 7.Rf8+) 7.Rh8! and White wins.
Back
Exercise 21 **