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-—
11L1 .IfT hr LEARN CHESS THE RIGHT WAY Book 3: Mastering Defensive Technique
Internationally Acclaimed Chess Trainer!
GRANDMASTER SUSAN POLGAR Women’s World Chess Champion
zI It _t_I.
Learn Chess the
Right Way Book 3 Mastering Defensive Technique by Susan Polgar with Paul Truong
2016
Russell Enterprises, Inc. Milford, CT USA
Learn Chess the Right Way Book : Mastering Defensive Technique ? Copyright 2016 Susan Polgar ISBN: 978-1-941270-49-3 ISBN(eBook): 978-1-941270-50-9 All Rights Reserved No part of this book maybe used, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any manner or form whatsoever or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Published by: Russell Enterprises, Inc. P0 Box 3i3i Milford, CT 06460 USA
http://www.russell-eriterprises.com info@russell-enterprises.com Cover design by Janel Lowrance Front cover Image by Christine Flores Back cover photo by Timea Jaksa Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents Introduction
Chapter iRun! Chapter 2Getting Out of Check Chapter 3 Protect Each Other! Chapter 4Avoid Checkmate! Chapter 5Counterattack! Chapter 6 Escaping by Sta’emate Chapter 7Escaping by Perpetua’Check Chapter 8Stop the Promotion! Chapter 9Avoid Being Trapped! Chapter ioVarious Saving Moves
Solutions
I ntrodudion Ever since I was four years old, I remember the joy of solving chess puzzles. I wrote my first puzzle book when I was just 15, and have published a number of other best-sellers since, such as A World Champion’s Guide to Chess, Chess Tactics for Champions, and Breaking Through, etc. With over 40 years of experience as a world-class player and trainer, I have developed the most effective way to help young players and beginners Learn Chess the Right Way. By understanding the most common and critical patterns, it will help you improve much quicker In this series of Learn Chess the Right Way, I will show you the most effective way to learn and improve through pattern recognition. In Volume 3, you will be introduced to 500 must-know defensive techniques. Each chapter will start with a few introductory examples and
explanation about what to look for in the puzzles that follow.
In chapter i, the task is to move an attacked piece. In each puzzle, there is only one good solution by moving the attacked piece to a safe square. In chapter 2, one of the kings is in check. The goal is to find the correct response. In chapter 3, a piece is attacked, but has no good square to which to move. So, rather than moving the attacked piece(s), you will need to look for a way to protect it with another piece. In chapter 4, we focus on defensive ideas against a direct checkmate threat. In chapter 5, one side “defends”by counter-attacking. In chapters 6 and 7, you will be introduced to the game-saving techniques of drawing by stalemate or perpetual check. In chapter 8, the task is to catch a pawn that is about to promote. In chapter 9, a certain piece is about to get“trapped.”The task is to prepare for the attack and avoid material loss. Finally, in chapter jo, you can practice solving a variety of defensive
ideas, with the goal to avoid or minimize material losses or being checkmated. In some examples it will be White to move, while in others you will have to try to find the saving move for Black. Also please note that under each diagram you will be able to record the amount of time it took you to solve each puzzle. As you go through and solve the puzzles again, your speed recognizing the winning material patterns should improve.
In chess, pattern recognition is a very important part of playing better chess. Therefore, my suggestion is to try to solve the puzzles multiple times, or until you feel that you can recognize the correct solutions within a minute per page(4 puzzles). Initially you may want to set up the pieces on the chess board as shown in the diagrams(make sure every piece is exactly as shown!), but by the second time around I would surely recommend to try to solve the puzzles just from the diagram.
Wishing you enjoyment on embarking on the road“Learning Chess the Right Way!” Susan Polgar Juiy 2016
Chapter 1 Run! Once one of your pieces is attacked by an enemy piece, you may have a number of options. Usually, the most natural and simplest response is to“run.” In other words, move away from the attacking piece. Of course, depending on the exact situation, you may have other and perhaps better options, such as capturing the enemy piece which is attacking your piece, or ignoring the attack on your piece and counterattack.
In this chapter, we shall see only examples where your best option is to“run.” Once you recognize that one of your pieces is under attack and that you want to move it, you need to identify the safe square(s)to which to move. Moving to a wrong square where your attacked
piece would still get captured, possibly by a different enemy piece, would be no help. In order to understand which squares are safe for your pieces, it is essential to understand the relative value of the different pieces:
Queen 9 Rook 5 Bishop or Knight 3 Pawn i
The king can never be captured(removed from the board)and has no relative value. It is very important to be clear about the values of the various pieces as shown in the above table so that you will avoid moves which lose material for no reason.
Now let us take a look at a few basic examples of
what you will practice in this chapter.
8
6
4 5 3 2 I
I)C(I e f g h White to move
Black’s last move was Bc8-g4, attacking the white queen on f3. If White captures the bishop on g, Black would simply recapture with Nxg4, thereby winning a queen while only losing a bishop. In other words, White would lose 6 points based on the“relative value table”above. The same material
loss would occur if White were to capture the black
knight with Qxf6 after which Black responds with g7xf6. Now that we have established that there is nothing
that the white queen can capture safely, it is time to search for a safe square. It is not good to move the queen to e(on account of Bxe3)or g(on account of h4xg3)or other squares, save one. It is not difficult to come to the conclusion that in this
position, d3 is the only safe square to which to
In some cases, as in our next example, in order to find a safe square, it is necessary to find a supportive piece(one of your own); this can even be a pawn.
8
6
4 5 3 2 I
I)C d C f g h Black to move
Here, White’s last move was Nf3-e5 attacking Black’s rook on c6. White’s pawn on C4 is safe
as
after Rxc4, the white knight would capture Black’s rook there.
The only move to avoid losing material is Rd6. It is key to recognize that after i...Rd6, if White cap- tires 2.Rxd6 Black can simply recapture with
2 .
cxd6, which would result in an exchange of rooks
without any material loss on either side. In this case the“supportive role”of the c7-pawn
was
essential to find the safe square. H
6
4 5 3 2 I
a b c ci c f
g
h
White to move
Every piece is important in chess. Generally, you would not want to lose even the lowest valued piece (a pawn)for no reason. In the position above, the white pawn on c is“hanging,”which is a chess word for a piece under attack without protection.
The right answer here is to simply push the c4- pawn to C5 and White avoids losing any material. Now you will find ioo examples to practice the above theme. They will be separated by the various pieces. In the first 20 puzzles, you will have to find the safe square for the queen. In the next 20, you will have to do the same for the rook, then bishop, knight and then finally in the last 20, the pawn. Remember, in most examples, the task simple, just find a safe square, but in others, first you will need to establish which is the“supportive piece”in order to find the correct answer
And now, have fun, and good luck solving the next ioo puzzles! White to move
(I)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1 a
b c ci c f
I ___________
Time:
(2)
g
h
H
6
4 5 3 2
1 V
4.
I)
CI c f g Ii
I. _____
Time:
(3)
H
6 5 4
2 3 1
a b c ci c f
I. _________
Time:
(4)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(5)
g Ii
S
6 5 4
3 2 1 V
4.
h c ci c f
I
Time:
(6)
g
Ii
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g Ii I. _____
Time:
(7)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f
I ___________
Time:
(8)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(9)
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(io)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
III)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(12)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)c ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
Black to move
(‘3)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(‘4)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(‘5)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(i6)
g
h
S
6 5 4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)C ci c f g Ii
I.
2.
Time:
White to move
(‘7)
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(i8)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(‘9)
g h
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
2. ___
Time:
(20)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(2!)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(22)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(23)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(24)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(25)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(26)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(27)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(28)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(29)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(30)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(3’)
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(32)
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)c(1 c f g h
I.
2.
Time:
White to move
(33)
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
134)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(35)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(36)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(371
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I.
2. ___
Time:
(38)
g
h
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(39)
g h
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(40)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(4’)
g h
H
6 5 4
2 3 1
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(42)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
143)
g 1i
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(44)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
145)
g 1i
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(46)
g
h
S
6 5 4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)C ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
(47)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(48)
S
6 5 4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)C ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
White to move
(49)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(50)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g Ii I. _____
Time:
(5’)
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(52)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(53)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
154)
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(55)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(56)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)c ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
White to move
(57)
H
6
4 5 3 2
1 4
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(58)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(59)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(6o)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(6i)
g h
H
6 5 4
2 3 1
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(62)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(63)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(64)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(65)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(66)
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)c(1 c f g h
I.
Time:
(67)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(68)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(69)
g h
H
6 5 4
2 3 1
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(70)
g
h
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)c ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
(7’)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(72)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(731
g h
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(74)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(75)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(76)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(77)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(78)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(79)
g 1i
H
6 5 4
2 3 1 a
I)C ci c f
I. __________
Time:
(8o)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(8i)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(82)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(83)
g 1i
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(84)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(8)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(86)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(87)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(88)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(89)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(90)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(9’)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(92)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(93)
g h
H
6 5 4
2 3 1
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(94)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(95)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(96)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(97)
g h
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(98)
g
h
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)c ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
(99)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(ioo)
g
h
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
g h
Chapter 2 Getting out of Check In chapter i, we practiced moving various pieces away from an attack. In this chapter, we will do the same, but this lesson is about the response options when the king is the piece under attack. When the king is attacked and cannot escape, it is checkmate, as we learned in book i of this series.
When the king is attacked and can escape, it means it is in a check.
When a king is in check, it has three possible options:
Capture the enemy piece which is checking the king; Move away; or Block the attack on the king A very common beginner’s mistake is when the
king is in check, it is touched automatically to look for a safe square to which to move. That mindset is a grave mistake, as in many cases, one of the above outlined alternatives may be a better option. In tournament play, there is also a“touch move”rule, which means that once you touch a piece you have to move it, even if along the way you discover that it would not be your best choice. Therefore, it is very necessary to always look for the relatively best option you have. For example, imagine a scenario in which you are in check and have the option to move your king, but you will get checkmated on the next move. Alternatively, you can block the check with your bishop, which your opponent can capture and you lose a bishop, but you avoided getting checkmated. Naturally, the second option would be the better choice, even though it loses some material. Similarly, if your option is to block the check and avoid any material loss, or capture the
“check-giving”enemy piece for free, again the second option is the better one. Let’s see a few examples to demonstrate these principles. 8
6
4 5 3 2 1
I)C d e f g h White to move
Black’s last move was Rd8-d2, checking White’s king. White has only two legal moves:
I.
Either move the king to g’; or
2.
interpose, blocking the check with Nh3-f2.
In the second case, if White blocks(with I.Nf2) Black could capture knight on f2 safely with either rook for free, as the two black rooks would protect each other
Therefore, in this position, simply moving out of the check is the heifer of the two options to avoid losing material. H
6 5 4
3 2 1 a
I)
c ci c f
g
h
Black to move
In the above example, Black is in check. Black has a number of possible moves, but only one of them is safe. Even though the king could move to three different squares, in each case White could respond by giving checkmate immediately. If i...Kh6, then 2.RhI or after i...Kf8 or i...Kg8, 2.Rc8 checkmate, ending the game. Therefore, to avoid losing the game, Black should block the check by playing i...f6. S
6 5 4
3 2 I a
I)
c ci c f g I?)
White to move
In this example, White has the option to block, capture or simply move out of the check. One is much heifer than the other two alternatives. You
often need to identify your options, compare them, and use the method of elimination to come to the correct solution.
It is not hard to realize that after blocking with Qd2, Black could simply capture the queen by Bxd2+, which is certainly not good news from White’s perspective. After looking further, we can see that if the king starts to run to bi, Black would checkmate with Rdi. Therefore, it is obvious that
the third option, which is I.Bxe3 is best. Then Black can recapture with I...Nxe3, which would result in an exchange of bishops. At that point, Black will threaten to checkmate with 2...RdI, but then
White could simply defend by opening an escape square for the white king on b2 by playing 2.b3. Now you have Go exercises to practice picking
the right response to a check. Remember, in order to find the correct solution you will need to think ahead and try to foresee the opponent’s potential response after each of your choices. In all the puzzles, one of the two or three options is much heifer than the alternative(s). Good luck in solving and enjoy! Black to move
(ioi)
S
(5
5 4
3 2 1
a b c ci c f
g
h
I.
Time:
(102)
S
6
4 5 3 2 1
a I)
CI e f g h
I.
Time:
(‘03)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(104)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(105)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(io6)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(107)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(io8)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(‘09)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(no)
g
h
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(iii)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(112)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(“3)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(“4)
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(“5)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(ii6)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(“7)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(H8)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(“9)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(120)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(121)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(122)
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(123)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(124)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(125)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(126)
g
h
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)c ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
(127)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(128)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(129)
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(130)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(‘3’)
g h
H
6
4 5 3 2
1 4
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(132)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(‘33)
g h
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(‘341
S
6 5 4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)C ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
(‘35)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(136)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(‘37)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(138)
g
h
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)c(1 c f g h
I.
2.
Time:
(139)
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(140)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(141)
g Ii
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(142)
g
h
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)c(1 c f g h
I.
Time:
(‘43)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(‘44)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(‘45)
g h
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(146)
g
h
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(147)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(148)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(‘49)
g h
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(150)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(‘5’)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(152)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(153)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(‘54)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(155)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(156)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(‘57)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(158)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(159)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I.
2. ___
Time:
(i6o)
g
h
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I.
Time:
I)c(1 c f g h
Chapter 3 Protect Each Other! Once a piece is attacked, in addition to moving it away, you may also protect it. This is the topic of this chapter. It is important to remember that while you defend the attacked piece, you do not lose a different piece or get checkmated in the process. Let us take a look at some examples.
S
6 5 4
3 2 1 4
I)C(.1 C f g h
White to move
In the above position, Black’s last move was Qc7- e7, attacking White’s rook on f6. The problem is that if White simply moves away the rook(for example to a6), the knight on h4 will fall. The only way to avoid material loss is to connect the rooks by i.Rai-fi, when White maintains the material advantage. S
(5
5 4
3 2 1
a I)C(1 C f
g
h
Black to move
In this example, White just played Rfi-ci, targeting Black’s bishop on C4. The issue is that if Black moves the bishop(anywhere), in view of the back rank weakness, White immediately check- mates with Rci-c8. Therefore, Black needs to protect the bishop with the knight by i...Nd6 to avoid material loss or checkmate. In the next example, two black pieces are forked 8
6
4 5 3 2 I
I)C ci e f g h
Black to move
White has lust played Nc4-d6, attacking both the Black rook and bishop. If either piece would move away(except for the one correct square), White would capture the other one. The only correct answer is i...Rf8 moving the rook away from harm’s way while defending the bishop at the same time. Then, if 2.Nxf5, Rxf5 Black would maintain their material advantage(of extra pawn). White to move
(6i)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(162)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(163)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(164)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(165)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(i66)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(167)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(i68)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(169)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(‘70)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(‘7’)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(172)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(‘73)
g 1i
H
6 5 4
2 3 1
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(‘74)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(‘75)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(176)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(‘77)
g 1i
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(178)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(‘79)
g 1i
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(i8o)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(i8i)
g 1i
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(182)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(183)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(184)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(185)
g h
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(‘86)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(187)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(i88)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(‘89)
g h
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(190)
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)c ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
(‘9’)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(192)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(193)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(‘94)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(195)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(‘96)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(‘97)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(198)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g Ii I. _____
Time:
(199)
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(200)
S
6 5 4
3 2 I V
4.
I)C ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
White to move
(201)
H
6 5 4
2 3 1
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(202)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(203)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(204)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)c ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
Black to move
(205)
H
6 5 4
2 3 1
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(206)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(207)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(208)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(209)
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(210)
g
h
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(211)
g h
H
6
4 5 3 2
1 I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(212)
S
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(213)
g
Ii
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(214)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(215)
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(216)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(217)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(218)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(219)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(220)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
I. _____
Time:
CI c f g h
Chapter 4 Avoid Checkmate! If you get checkmated, it is game over, even if you have major material advantage, such as being up a queen. Therefore, it is very important to always remember that you must avoid getting checkmated at all costs. You may defend against a checkmate threat by one of the following methods. i. Avoid it by Getting rid of(capture)an enemy piece that is essential for the checkmate threat;
Pin the piece which threatens to checkmate; or
Block the file or diagonal of the enemy piece which threatens to checkmate. Or, 2. Allow the threatening move, but prepare: To guard by one of your pieces the
square where the checkmate it threat- ened so when the threatening comes, you can capture it; To create an escape square for your king; or
To block the attack on the king by interposing.
And now, let’s look at some examples implementing each of the above methods.
8
6 5 4
3 2
I
I)C d c f g h
Black to move
Black seems to be in major trouble as White threatens to checkmate on a8 with either the queen or rook. If Black played I...Qg2, that would stop the checkmate by the queen, but not by the rook. The only way to avoid getting checkmated is to play I...Qc5 check, forcing the exchange of queens. This will leave Black with a winning endgame, thanks to the far advanced connected passed pawns along the g-and h-files. Next we will see an example on to how defend against the checkmate by pinning.
8
6 5 4
3 2 I a
1)c d c f g h Black to move
White threatens to checkmate with Rei-e8. The
solution is i...Rai, preventing White’s threat. After 2.RxaI, Black recaptures with 2...BxaI.
8
6 5
4
3 2 I
a h c d c f
g h
White to move
White is a whole queen up. Normally, that is a tremendous advantage and certainly enough to win the game easily. Here, however, Black threatens to checkmate with Rd2-h2. The best move is I.Qe2, preventing the black rook from moving to h2. It is true that then Black can capture White’s queen with i...Rxe2. But after 2.Bxe2, White has avoided
getting checkmated while still maintaining the material advantage of an extra rook.
After seeing some illustrations on how to avoid the threatened checkmating move, now we shall take a look at examples when it is alright to allow it, but by preparing for it, the threatened move loses its strength.
8
6 5
4
3 2 I
1)C d C f g h White to move
Black threatens to checkmate with Qf3-g2, as well as to capture White’s knight. Here the task is simply to guard the g2-square. The solution is
i.Nf4, and then if still I...Qg2 I, 2.Nxg2. S
6 5 4
2 3 I I
1)C(I C
gh
White to move
Here, Black has dual threats of Nf4 to e2 orh3 checkmate. The obvious response is to capture Black’s knight with I.gxf4. But that fails to a different checkmate with i...Rg6! As White cannot avoid both threatened moves, it is best to prepare for it by creating an escape square for the king on h2 by playing i.h3.
And finally let’s see an example of the method interposing. 8
6 5 4
3 2 1
I)C d c f g h Black to move
White threatens to checkmate with Rbi-b8.
Opening an escape square for the black king with i...h5 does not help, as checkmate in two moves follows with 2.Rb8 I Kh7 and 3.Rh8. The only way to escape trouble is with i...Be6, preparing to meet 2.Rb8 by interposing on c8 with either the rook or
bishop. Now you are ready to test yourself in applying the above learned in solving the following 6o puzzles. The first task is to recognize where the checkmate threat is, and then figure out how to stop it. Have fun!
Black to move
(zzi)
S
6
4 S 3 2 1 I
I)
CI C f g h
I.
Time:
(222)
S
6
4 5 3 2 1
a I)
CI e f g h
I.
Time:
(223)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(224)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(225)
g 1i
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(226)
g
h
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(227)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(228)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(229)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(230)
g
h
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(231)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(232)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(233)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(234)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(235)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(236)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(237)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(238)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(239)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(240)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(241)
g h
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
2. ___
Time:
(242)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(243)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(244)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(245)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(246)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(247)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(248)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(249)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(250)
g
h
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(251)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I.
2. ___
Time:
(252)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(253)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(254)
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)c(1 c f g h
I.
Time:
(255)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(256)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g Ii I. _____
Time:
White to move
(257)
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(258)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(259)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(260)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(261)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(262)
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 V
4.
I)c ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
(263)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(264)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(265)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(266)
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(267)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(268)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(269)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(270)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(271)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(272)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(273)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(274)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(275)
g 1i
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(276)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(277)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(278)
g
h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(279)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
1)C Cl c f g Ii I. _____
Time:
(280)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
g h
Chapter 5 Counterattack! Often there is no good way to directly defend against a threat. In those cases, it is important to be on the lookout for a counterattack. It maybe attacking one of the opponent’s pieces or by threatening checkmate.
Let’s have a look at a few examples and see how it works in practice.
8
6
4 S 3 2 1
a 1)C(1 C f
g
h
White to move
Black has 5ust played Rf8-c8, attacking White’s queen. The problem is that if White moves the queen away from the c-file, Black will respond with Rc8-ci exploiting White’s back rank weakness. Therefore, White must counterattack and solve the
back rank problem. The correct move is i.h3. With this
intermediate move, White attacks Black’s
queen. If Black now takes I...Rxc3, then White would respond with 2.hxg4, which effectively
would be an exchange of queens. On the other hand, if Black moves queen away, for example with i...Qe6, then the white queen can move away with 2.Qd3 as after 2...RCI+White can respond safely with either 3.Kh2 or 3.Rdi. In the following position Black is facing a fork.
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
I)C CI C f g h Black to move
After White’s last move Nd4xe6, both black
rooks are attacked simultaneously. Without
a
counterattack, moving either rook would result in the los 5 of the other rook. Fortunately for Black, I...Re5, attacking White’s queen, solves all problems.
8
6
4 5 3 2 1
a b c ci c f
g
h
Black to move
In this example, White has just made a discovered attack with Nc3-b5, attacking the black queen (with the bishop on b2)and the rook(with the
knight)at the same time. The only correct response is I...Re7 and if 2.BxfG then 2...Rxe3. On the other hand, T...Qe7 would be big a mistake as after 2.QC3, Black could not avoid either getting checkmated(on g7 or h8)or losing material. 8
6
4 5 3 2 1
a 1)C ci c f
g
h
White to move
Black just played L..Bd7-c6, pinning White’s rook. Again, the only way avoiding material loss is by counterattacking with 2.Qe3. Then, if I...Bxe4,
White captures Black’s rook with 2.Qxa7. And here is one final example.
S
6
4 5 3 2 I I
1)
(.1 c f g ii White to move
Black’s last move was d6xe5, capturing White’s pawn. Now the knight on d4 is under attack. White has to be careful where to move the knight so that the bishop on f5 is not lost. The only correct answer is LNc6, attacking Black’s rook.
Next you will find 6o
exercises
to practice the
various forms of counterattacking. Enjoy! White to move
(281)
S
6 5 4
3 2 I
I)C CI c f g h I.
2.
Time:
(282)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1 a
I)c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(283)
g I?1
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
2. ___
Time:
(284)
g
h
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)c(1 c f g h
I.
2.
Time:
Black to move
(285)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I.
2. ___
Time:
(286)
g
h
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(287)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(288)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(289)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(290)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(291)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(292)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(293)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(294)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(295)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(296)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g Ii I.
2
Time:
White to move
(297)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(298)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(299)
H
6 5
4
2 3 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(300)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(301)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(302)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(303)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(304)
g
h
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
White to move
(305)
g h
H
6 5 4
2 3 1
a b c ci c f
I.
2
Time:
(306)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(307)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
2. ___
Time:
(308)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g Ii I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(309)
H
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(310)
g
Ii
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
1)c ci c f
I.
Time:
(3”)
g
h
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(312)
g
h
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(312)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2 1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
White to move
(313)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(314)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(315)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(316)
g
h
H
6
4 5 3 2
1 4
1)
c.1 e f g h
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(317)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I. _____
Time:
(318)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(319)
g 1i
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(320)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g h I. _____
Time:
White to move
(321)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(322)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g h I. _____
Time:
(323)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(324)
S
6
4 5 3 2 1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(325)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(326)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g h I. _____
Time:
(327)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
2
Time:
(328)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g h I. _____
2. ___
Time:
White to move
(329)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(330)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(33’)
g 1i
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(332)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
Black to move
(333)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(334)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(335)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(336)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g Ii I. _____
2. ___
Time:
White to move
(337)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(338)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g h I. _____
Time:
(339)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(340)
g
h
S
6 5
4
2 3 1 V
4.
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
I)c ci c f g Ii
Chapter 6 Escaping by Stalemate When we begin a chess game, we always try to win. However, at times things don’t work out the way we hoped and we have to cut our losses. A draw is always better than losing. In this chapter and in the next, we shall see patterns on how to save seemingly hopeless situations. Stalemate is a special case in chess when one side(often much behind in material)has no legal moves, and therefore the game ends in a draw In the following examples, we shall see two kinds of puzzles:(i)ones where one side already has no legal move, except for one piece(other than the king). In those cases, the only task is to get rid of that last piece and be stalemated; and(2)where the king still has legal move(s)and a decoy is needed to force one of the enemy pieces onto a square where it will take away that last square(s)from the king.
H
6
4 5 3 2 1
a b c ci c f
g
h
Black to move
In the position above, White is up a lot of material a rook, bishop and pawn. Black has only one mobile piece, the queen. Given the huge material imbalance in White’s favor, it is clearly in Black’s interest to try to draw the game. And Black can achieve that by sacrificing the last mobile piece with I...Qxh2 as after 2.Kxh2, it is stalemate since Black has no legal moves.
The next example will demonstrate the second type of resource.
6
4 5 3 2 1
I)C d c f g h Black to move
Here, getting rid of the knight in itself would not be enough, as Black’s king can still move to g8. Hence, Black needs to combine the two tasks, forcing
White’s knight to f6(so the king no longer can move to g8)and disposing of the knight. The solution is i...Nf6+. Now if White captures with 2.Nxf6
it is stalemate. Otherwise, if White moves the king out of the check, Black would capture White’s rook on d7 restoring the material balance. Have fun in practicing this useful escaping pattern through the next 40 puzzles. Black to move
(34’)
S
6
4 5 3 2 I C
I)
ci C f g h
I.
Time:
(342) 8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci e F g h
I.
Time:
(343)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(344)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I.
2. ___
Time:
White to move
(345)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(346)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(347)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(348)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(349)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(350)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(35’)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(352)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(353)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
1354)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(355)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(356)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(357)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(358)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci e F g h
I. _____
Time:
(359)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(360)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(36’)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(362)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(363)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(364)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(365)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(366)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(367)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(368)
g
h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(369)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I. _____
Time:
(370)
g
h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(37’)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(372)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(373)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(374)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(375)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(376)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(3771
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(378)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(379)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(380)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I. _____
Time:
I)C ci c f g h
Chapter 7 Escaping by Perpetual Check In this chapter, just like in chapter 6, we will learn about another game-saving tool. A common pattern is forcing a draw by a repetition of moves. The rule is once the identical position repeats itself three times on the board(with the same side to move), the game is declared a draw. The most common way to reach such situations happens with so called“perpetual checks.” In our next example Black has very significant material advantage.
8
6
4 5 3 2 I
I)C d C f g h White to move
Nevertheless White can save the game by forcing a repetition of moves LNf7 I Kg8 2.Nh6 I Kh8 3.
Nf7 I Kg8 4.Nh6 I and so on. It is important to
notice that moving toward the other side with 2...KfB would be much worse for Black, as it would
allow checkmate with 3.g7. Therefore Black has no better option than to allow a draw by perpetual check. Both sides can only avoid the draw by making it worse and lose, and so it is in the best interest
of both sides not to deviate, but rather settle for peace.
S
(5
5 4
3 2 1
a b c ci c f
g
h
Black to move
In this example, White seems to have the upper hand. It would be a big mistake for Black to try to win a pawn by I...Nxg3, as after the fork 2.Qg5 I, Black would lose even more material. But Black can
save the game with i...Rdi I 2.Kg2 Rd2+, and White cannot avoid the continuous checks by the rook
from di and d2.
And now, practice this important game-saving tool on the next 20 puzzles. Have fun! Black to move
(381)
S
6 5
3 4 2
I a I)
I.
CI C F g h
2.
Time:
(382)
8
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I.
2.
Time:
I)c ci c F g h
(383) 8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 C
b c ci e F
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(384)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
White to move
(385)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I.
2.
Time:
(386)
g
h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)c ci c f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(387)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI e f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(388)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
Black to move
(389)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
ci e f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(390)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)c ci c f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(39’)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI e f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(392)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
White to move
(393)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI e f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(394)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(395)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I.
2.
Time:
(396)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
Black to move
r397)
g 1i
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
ci e f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(398)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(399)
g 1i
S 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 C
I)c ci e F g h
I.
2.
Time:
(400)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
g h
Chapter 8 Stop the Promotion! The only chess piece which can start as one and possibly end up as another more valuable piece is the pawn. When a pawn reaches the other end of the chessboard, it can promote to any piece(except for a king), even to the most valuable and powerful queen. Generally, you would want to prevent your opponent from having a new(or second)queen, or be ready to capture it as soon as it promotes. In some cases, when you cannot stop it, you could look for counterplay by either promoting your own pawn, attack your opponent’s existing queen, or threaten to give checkmate Additionally, in some other trickier cases, you can prepare to meet the promoted pawn with a tactical tool such as a fork, skewer, or discovery. Now, let’s see a very basic way to holding off a
pawn.
8
6
4 5 3 2 I
I)C(-I C f g h Black to move
White intends to promote the f7-pawn to f8 on his next move. Therefore, it is necessary to control the key promotion square f8. Black can do that by stepping next to the pawn with I...Kg7, attacking White’s pawn. After the pawn promotes with i.f8Q, Black simply captures the new queen with i...Kxf8.
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
I)C CI C f g h Black to move
In this example, Black has significant material advantage However, if White succeeds in pro- moting the c7-pawn safely, then the material balance would be reversed and the position will favor White. Unlike in the previous example, here the black king is too far to“catch”White’s passed pawn. Black also cannot catch it with a bishop move. However, fortunately for Black, i...f4 does the trick, as then the c8-h3 diagonal opens up, and
Black’s bishop controls the promotion square c8. In some other cases it is impossible to directly “hold off”the pawn, but a small tactic needs to be prepared. 8
6 5
3 4 2 I
I)C(I e f g h Black to move
Here, the Black knight seems to be too far from the d8 promotion square as it clearly cannot reach a controlling square in just one move.
However, it can reach it in two moves with
I...Nc5, threatening to capture the pawn on d7 and once White promotes to a queen with 2.d8Q, Black can fork with 2...Ne6+and then capture the new queen. It is an important to realize that the same cannot be accomplished by i...Nf4, as then White is not forced to promote right away, but instead will play 2.Kd6(preventing Ne6)and only promote the pawn on the following move. If after I...Nc5, White still tries 2.Kd6, then 2...Nb7 I holds. Next, 20 similar puzzles follow for you to practice on. Enjoy! White to move
(401)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
ci e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(402)
S 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci e F g h
I. _____
Time:
(403)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
ci e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(404)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci e F g h
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(405)
S 7
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h
ci C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(406)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(407)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(408)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci e F g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(409)
S 7
6 5 4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci e F g ii
I. _____
Time:
(410)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci e F g h
I. _____
Time:
(4”)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(412)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I.
2.
Time:
Black to move
(413)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
ci e f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(414)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)c ci e F g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(415)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
ci e f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(416)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci c f g h
I.
2. ___
Time:
White to move
(417)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
ci e f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(418)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I)C ci e F g h
I.
2. ___
Time:
(419)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(420)
S 7
6 5
4
3 2 1 a
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
I)C ci e F g h
Chapter 9 Avoid Being Trapped! Another common threat occurs when one of
your pieces is threatened to be“trapped.”Usually that happens when a piece is surrounded by a lot of enemy pieces, and it would be captured on any square to which it might try to move. That is why, when possible, you should try to avoid losing one of your pieces by getting it trapped. The following demonstrates a very typical example.
8
6
4 5 3 2 I
a h c d e f
g
h
Black to move
It is even visually noticeable that Black’s bishop on a2 is surrounded by a good number of enemy pieces. In fact, if Black does not hurry up, White will play b2-b3 next, followed by KcI-b2 trapping the bishop. Therefore the necessary defensive move is I...Bc4, escaping the possible imprisonment while the door is open. Another common scenario is when a queen
captures a rook in one of the corners arid needs to rush to escape before it is too late. S
6 5 4
3 2 1
a b c ci c f
g
h
White to move
If it were Black’s turn, the White queen would be trapped after i...Nf6. Therefore, it is absolutely urgent to escape with i.Qd4.
H
6
4 S 3 2 1
I)C CI V f g h Black to move
In this example, it is Black’s bishop that is in danger. The threat is f2-f3 The only way to prepare for the threat is L..Rc8, so after 2.f3 Black can safely capture White’s pawn on c. Remember, look to identify what the threats are and then try to prevent them. You have 20 puzzles to practice on. Have fun!
Black to move
(421)
8
6 5 4
3 2 I I
C
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(422)
S
6 5 4
3 2 I V
4.
I)C ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
(423)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(424)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
White to move
(425)
g 1i
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
d e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(426)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(427)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
2. ___
Time:
(428)
g
h
S
6 5 4
3 2 I V
4.
I)C ci c f g Ii
I.
Time:
Black to move
(429)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(430)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(43’)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(432)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(433)
g Ii
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(434)
g
h
8
6 5
4
3 2 1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(435)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C ci Q f
I.
2. ___
Time:
(436)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g Ii I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(437)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
2. ___
Time:
(438)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
(439)
H
6 5 4
3 2 1
4
I)C ci c f
I.
Time:
(440)
g
h
S
6 5
4
3 2 1 V
4.
I.
Time:
I)c ci c f g Ii
Chapter 10 Various Saving Moves In this chapter you will find of a variety of defensive ideas to which you were introduced in the previous chapters, along with a few new ones. The goal of each puzzle is to avoid getting checkmated or los- ing material. In some cases, the task will be to minimize the loses. In other words, minimize the
damage by losing as little material as possible.
H
6 5 4
3 2 I
I)C d e
f g Ii
White to move
In this example, White is in check from the knight, which is also forking the queen. Normally, this would be a major problem. However, White save has a way to the game. After White gets out of
the check with T.Kg2(the only right square to which to move), White’s queen cannot be safely taken as afler i ...Nxd4 White would checkmate ,
with 2.RhT
S
(5
5
3 4 2
1
a I)C(1 C f
g
h
Black to move
Before you decide on your next move, it is always essential to try to foresee your opponent’s potential best response. In the above example, White threatens to advance the d6 pawn to d7 with a discovered check and then to promote it. That is why it would be a blunder to try to stop the pawn with the natural looking i...Qe8, as then 2.d7 I is still played, and White wins. The only way to prevent material loss or checkmate is with i ... Kc8.
And here come the final 6o puzzles for you to solve in this volume. Recognize the threat and then prevent it or counterattack! Have fun! White to move
(44’)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I. _____
Time:
(442)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(443)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I. _____
Time:
(444)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(445)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(446)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g h I. _____
Time:
(447)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I.
2.
Time:
(448)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(449)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I. _____
Time:
(450)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(45’)
g h
8
6 5 4
3 2 1 S
h c d c F
I. _____
Time:
(452)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(453)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I. _____
Time:
(454)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(455)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(456)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(457)
g h
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(458)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(459)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I. _____
Time:
(460)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
Black to move
r461)
g 1i
H
6
4 5 3 2
1 4
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(462)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(463)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I. _____
Time:
(464)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2 1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(465)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I. _____
Time:
(466)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(467)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(468)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(469)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I.
2.
Time:
(470)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(47’)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(472)
S
6
4 5 3 2 1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
White to move
(473)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(474)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(475)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(476)
S
6
4 5 3 2 1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(477)
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(478)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(479)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I. _____
Time:
(480)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(481)
g 1i
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(482)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(483)
g 1i
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(484)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
Black to move
(485)
g 1i
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)
CI C f g h
I. _____
Time:
(486)
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(487)
g 1i
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(488)
S
6
4 5 3 2 1
a I)
CI c f g h
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(489)
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I. _____
Time:
(490)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g h I. _____
Time:
(49’)
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
(492)
g
h
8
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
Black to move
(493)
g h
8 7
6 5
4
3 2 I
a I)
CI e f g h
I. _____
Time:
(494)
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(495)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I.
2.
Time:
(496)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a h c ci c f
I. _____
Time:
White to move
(497)
g h
H
6 5
4
3 2 I
C
I)C(1 Q f
I. _____
Time:
(498)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
I)C CI c f g Ii I. _____
Time:
(499)
8
6 5
4
3 2
I
a b c ci c f
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
(500)
g
h
S
6
4 5 3 2
1
a I)
I. _____
2. ___
Time:
CI c f g h
Solutions Chapter i: Run! (I)i.Qb4 (2)I.Qd5 (3)i.Qa6 (4)I.Qe4 (5)i...Qg6 (6)i...Qb4 (7)I...Qg5 (8)I...Qe7 ()i.Qf3 (io)I.Qe4
(II)I.Qh2 (12)I.Qa2 (13)i...Qg6 (14)I...Qc3 (15)i...Qe8 (i6)i...Qf4 2.QXf4 Bxf4 (‘7)I.Qf5 (i8)i.Qxb (i?,)I.Qb5 Qxb5 2.NXb5 (20)i.Qci (21)i...Rd3
(22)i...Re6 (23)i...Rg8 (24)I...Rf5 (25)i.Rd7 (26)I.Rf5 (27)i.Rei (28)I.Rh5 (29)I...Ra7 (30)i...Rd7 (31)T...Rcd7 2.RXd7 Rxd7 (32)I...Re2 2.Rxe2 Bxe2
(33)I.Rc4 (34)i.Rb7 Rxb7 2.BXb7 (35)i.Re8 (36)i.Rdi (37)I...Re7 2.Rxe7 Nxe7 (38)I...Rd5 (39)I...Re2 (40)I...Rc4 (.41)I.Bd2 (42)i.Ba6 (43)T.Bc3
(44)i.BfB (45)i...Bb6 (46)i...Bh6 (47)i...Ba6 (48)I...Ba7 (49)I.Bg2 (50)i.Bb7 (51)I.Be3 (52)I.Bc3 (53)i...Bc8 (54)i...Bd8 (55)i...Bf7
(56)I...Bc2 (57)I.Be3 (58)i.Bdi (59)I.Bh2 (6o)I.Be5 (6i)i...Nf6 (62)i...Na6 (63)i...Nf6 (64)i...Nb3 (65)i.Nei (66)I.Ng3 (67)i.Ng8
(68)i.Nb3 (69)i...Nb8 (70)I...Nb5 (71)i...Nh6 (72)i...Ndi+ (7)I.Nc4 Nxc4 2.BXC4 (7)i.Ne6 Nxe6 2.Rxe6
(75)I.Nd5 Nxd5 2.CXd5 (76)I.Ne2 (i.Ndi? Rei+2.Kg2 Rxdi) (77)I...Nf5
(78)I...Ne5 (I...Nd2? 2.Rd4+fork) (79)i...Nf6 (8o)i...Nc4 I (8i)I.b5 (82)i.c6 (83)i.f5 (84)i.h6 (85)T...e3 (86)T...C4 (87)I...C4 (88)i...d4
(89)I.C5 (90)i.h3 (si)i.f6 (92)I.g5 (93)I...C4 (I...cxd4? 2.Bxd4 pin) (94)I...f4 (95)I...e4 (i...Re8? 2.Nf6 I fork) (96)I...a5 (97)I.5 (98)I.d5 (99)I.C4
(icc)i.b4 Chapter : Getting Out of Check (ici)i...Kh8 (102)I...Kg7 (103)i...Kb8 (i...Kd8? 2.Nf5 I) (104)i...Kg6 (105)i.Rfi (io6)i.Bf4 (I.Kg2? Rxei) (107)I.d5 (i.Kgi? cxd4) (io8)I.Nc2
(109)I...Bxd5 (110)i...Nxc8 (III)i...Rxf4 (112)i...Bxf6 (113)i.Kei (114)i.IKbi (i.Kdi? Qd211) (115)i.Bd5 (i.Kgi? Rxh3 I.Kh2? g4)i...Rd8 2.C4
(ii6)I.Rxb4 (i.Kbi? Rfill) (117)i...Kg8 (i...Kf8? 2.Re8#i...Kf6 2.Ne4 I fork)
(ii8)i...Kb7 (I...Ka7? 2.Nb5+fork) (119)i...Kf8 (120)i...Bc8 (i...Kh7? 2.Ng5 I fork) (121)i.Bxai (I.Kh2? Qxf6) (122)i.Rei (I.Kc2? Qdi#) (123)T.Kxh2 (124)I.Kd2 (i.Kbi? Qdi#) (125)I...Kg7 (i...Kh7? 2.Rf7 I fork) (126)i...Nxc6
(i...Qxc6? 2.Nxe5) (127)i...Kf7 (i...Bf8? 2.Ne6) (128)i...Bf8 (i...Kf7? 2.Ne5 I fork) (129)i.Rd3 (130)I.Bxe2 (I.Kxe2? f3 i discovery) (131)i.Bxf3 (132)i.Rfi (I.Kh2? g3+) (i3)i...Nxd8 (134)i...Bd7 (135)i...Kf8
(i...Kd8? 2.Rd7/1) (136)T...Qg7 (i...Kf6? 2.Qh8 I skewer; i...Kh6? 2.g5//) (‘37)i.Kh3 (138)I.Qxe3 Rxe3 2.Nxd8(wins a piece) (‘39)i.1Kb3 (i.Kd3? Rd4 i) (140)i.Rxdi (i.Qxdi? Nxe5) (141)i...bxc6 (i...NxcG? 2.Qxd3) (142)i...Rg6 (i...g6? 2.Rh8//) (,43)I...Bf5
(i...Kf7? 2.BXC8) (‘44)i...Qxf8 (i...Bxf8? 2.Qxe8) (145)i.Nd4 (I.Kh2? Qh6÷) (146)I.Kg2 (I.Kh2? Be5 pin) (147)i.Qxd4 (148)i.Khi (i.Kh3? g4 I fork; i.Kgi? Bd4 I fork) (149)i...Nd7+ (,50)i...kn1r I (i...Kk8? o.Rfkk( (151)i...Ifgf (i...Kof? o.Bbo I disoovoiy)
(152)i...Kd7 (i...Kf6? 2.g5 I Kf 3.g4#: or 3.Re5#) (153)I.Ke4 (I.Kg3? h4#) (154)I.Ke2 (i.Kd4?Nb3i) (i55)i.Bd3+(counter-check, discovery and White wins a bishop.) (156)I.Qc2 (157)i...Ke6 (i...Kd8? 2.BXC6#) (i8)i...Bxe6 (i...Kg8? 2.Rf8#) (159)I...Bd5 I(counter-check!) 2.KfI Bxc4 I 3.Re2 f3
(i6o)i...Kf8 (i...Kh7? 2.Rh5//) Chapter : Protect Each Others (i6i)i.Rei (162)T.Be2 (163)i.f3 (i6)I.Kg3 (165)i...Nb6 (i66)i...Nba6 (167)i...Kg8 (i...Rg8 (i68)I...Be4 (169)i.Bfi
(I.g3? Nxf3) (170)I.Re5 (I.e3? Rxf2) (17i)i.Rdi (172)i.Bf3 (173)i...Rb8 (174)i...Rd8 (i...Nxc3? 2.Nxc3 Bxc3? 3.Bxa8) (175)I...Re4 (176)‘...gG (177)i.Kf3 (i.Bf3 Rxe3) (178)T.4
(‘79)I.Ng3 (i8o)I.Ke4 (i8i)T...C5 (I...Nf2? 2.Rf4) (182)I...5 (i...Nxd3? 2.Qb8 i) (183)i...NhfG (i8)i...Bd4 (185)T.Re2 (i86)i.f3
(i.Ng3?Bd31 fork) (187)i.Rdi (i88)I.Nc2
(189)I...Ra5 (190)i...Bf8 (191)i...b6 (i...Nc6? 2.Bxc6 Qxc6 3.Rxd8) (192)i...Nfg8 (i...Re8? 2.Ba4) (193)i.d4 (I9z)I.Re3 (I.Rec2? Bf5) (195)i.Rdb3 (196)i.f3 (197)i...Bd4 (198)i...Bd6 (i...Ng6? 2.BxfG)
(199)i...b6 (i...Nd3? 2.Bxa7) (200)i...Qd8 (201)I.Nc5 (I.Bg2? Rxb3) (202)i.Nd3 (I.Ba5? Rxb3) (203)i.Qb3 (i.Bb3? Qxdi+2.BxdI ReIll) (204)i.b4 (205)I...Bf5 (ao6)I...Ra5 (I...Nc3? 2.Bxa8) (207)i...Nd6
(208)i...Rf6 (209)I.Kg2 (i.Rxei? dxeiQ) (210)I.Bd2 (211)i.Qd3 (212)i.Qdi (213)T...C5
(214)i...Rc8 (I...Na5? 2.Bxb7 Nxb7 3.Rc7÷fork) (215)T...5 (216)i...Kb8
(i...Ne6? 2.Qc8#: i...Rd7? 2.RaI a6 3.b6) (217)i.Bd4
(218)i.Rf4 (i.BxcG? Rgi+) (219)i.Rdi (I.R7b2? Rdxd2 I) (220)i.Rcdi Chapter : Avoid Checkmate I (221)i...Bf8 (222)T...Bc3 (i...Qc3 2.Qd8#) (223)i...Ne6 (224)I...Ra7 (i...Qd7? 2.Qf8//) (225)i.Rd6 (i.Ra6÷bxa6 2.Qxa6 I Kb8 3.Qb6÷Ka8 4.Qa6 I is oniy good enough for a draw by perpetual checks.)
(226)I.Qh5 (227)i.Rf7 Rdi+2.RfI (228)i.Rei (229)I...Bc2 (230)i...Re8 (231)i...Nf6 (232)I...Qg7 (233)I.Ng4 (234)I.Rc2 (235)I.Bg2 (236)I.4 (237)I...Kg7
(i...Rd8? 2.Nf7 I fork) (238)i...Rc3(pinning the bishop) (239)I...Rc4 (I...gxh5? 2.Bd411) (240)I...5 (241)i.h4 Qf6 2.NgI (242)I.Bf2 (243)i.IKgi (244)I.Ng3 (245)i...Qe6 I (246)I...cxd5 (I...a5? 2.Nc7 I Ka7 3.Bc8 followed by checkmate with Rb7)
(247)I...C5 (248)I...Qe5
(2.49)i.Nf3 (250)I.3 Rh8+ 2.Kg2 (251)i.Nfi Rh8+ 2.Nh2
(252)I.Be5 (253)i...Ng6 (254)i...Nf6 (255)I...Qg7 (256)I...g5 (257)I.Bb2
(258)i.f3 (I.g3? Rhi I 2.Kg2 R8h2//) (259)i.Bh3 (260)T.Nc2 (i.Kai? Rci I 2.NbI Nc3 3.bxc3 Bxc3 I 4.Qb2 Bxb2 I 5.Kxb2 Rfi; I.Qe3? Rci÷2.QxcI Nxci 3.Kxci Bxh4) (261)i...Rc4 (I...g4? 2.Rf4#) (262)i...f6 (263)i...Kf6 (264)i...Rh8 (265)I.Kg2 (i.b8Q? Nf4 i 2.Qxf4 gxf4) (266)i.QxfG (I.Kg4? Qg21 2.Kh5 Qf3#)
(267)i.Qei (268)I.Ng2 (269)i...Qb8(pinning White’s queen) (270)i...Qd7 2.Qe51 Qg7 (271)I...Qh5 (i...Qd4? 2.Nf7#) (272)I...Bg4 (273)s.Rhp (274)I.Qe4 (275)i.QhP (276)i.Rge (277)s...Rap
(278)i...f4 (i...Kd5? 2.NC3 I fork) (279)i...Qf6 (i...Qg8? 2.Qe7#) (280)i...Ra8 (‘...Qf7? 2.Re8 i) Chapter : Counterattack! (281)I.Qc3 Qxc3 (‘...Rxth? 2.QXC7) 2.NXC3 Rxdi 3.Nxth (282)I.Ne4 Bxf4 2.NXC5 (283)‘.Nd4 Nxe3 2.NXb5 (284)I.Qe4 Qxe4 (i...Bxei? 2.Qxg6)
2.Rxe4 (285)I...Rd2 2.Bxc8 Rxb2
(286)i...Re6 2.QC4 (2.QxeG fxe6 3.NXC7 Nd4 or 2...Rd7 (287)I...Bd5 (I...Ra5 2.Rxc4) 2.Qe3 Ra8 (288)I...Qe5 (289)i.Nf6 (290)I.Bg5 (291)T.Qg3 (292)i.f4
(293)i...Bd4 (294)i...Bh3 (I...Ne3? 2.Rf3) (295)I...Nb5 2.Rxe7 (2.Qa4 Qg5) 2...Nxa3 (296)I...C3 2.Rxg5 cxb2 (297)I.Rg5 (298)i.Ne6 (299)i.Nb6 Rb8 2.NXC8 I Rbxc8 3.Bd3 (300)I.Qe4 (301)i...Bb4
(302)i...Nd3 (i...Rc8 2.RecI) (303)i...Qb4 (i...Rd8 2.Qb3) (304)i...Kf6 2.NXC6
(2.Bxe4 Bxf2+3.Kxf2 Bxe4) 2...KXf5 (305)I.Qa4 Qd7? 2.NXf6 I
(306)I.Nf5 (i.Rdi? Bf2) (307)i.Rd7 (I.Ng4 would leave White a pawn down)i...Qc8 2.Rxe7 fxe5 3.Qg4 (308)i.Qa6
(309)i...Qxd3 (310)T....Nc3 (311)i...Ba6 (312)I...Qb5 2.BXh8? Qb211 (313)I.Qa5 Rxh4?(I...Ra4 2.Qb6) 2.Qa8 I (314)T.Qc3 Nxg2? 2.Qxg7# (315)i.Bb5 (316)i.Nd4 (317)I...Qb2 (318)I...Ne3
(319)T...Ne2 I (320)i...Bd3 (321)I.Bb5 (322)i.Rd7 (323)I.exd5 Rxa5 (I...Qxd5? 2.QXC7) 2.dXC6
(324)I.Rd5 (325)i...Rxg2 (326)I...Bxe3 (327)i...Qg6 2.NXd8? Qxbi I (328)i...Qd6 2.BXf7? Qxh2#
(329)I.Rc2 (330)i.Rb8 (331)I.Rd2 (I.Ne5? Qdi+) (332)I.Be5 Re8?(I...Rb5? 2.Bd7) 2.Bd7 (333)I...Nd5 2.exd6 Nxc3 (334)I...Qd5 (335)i...Bb4 (336)I...NC5 2.BXC6 Nxb3 (337)I.Bg5 (338)I.Bb5
(339)I.Nd5 (340)T.Bg5 Bf6 2.Bxf6 QxfG 3.Ne2 Chapter 6: Escaping by Stalemate (34’)i...Re6+2.Kxe6(stalemate) (342)T...Qxg2 I(T...Qxh2?? 2.Rxh2ll or I...Qg4? 2.Qe8 i...Rgi+(T...Rg7? 2.Qb711) 2. Kxgi(stalemate) (344)T...b2 I 2. Kbi(stalemate) (345)i.RhG I gxh6(stalemate) (346)i.Bc3 I Kxc3(stalemate) (347)i.Bxf3 Kxf3(stalemate)
(348)I.Re4 I Rxe4(sta’emate) (ji)I...Nh5 I 2.BXh5(sta’emate) (350)I...Rg7+(i...Rxf7? 2.Rd7 I Kxd7 3.Kxf7 Kd8 4.Kxe6) 2. Kxg7(sta’emate) (351)I...Rxd7 I 2.exd7(stalemate) (352)i...Rxf8+2.QXf8(sta’emate) (353)i.Rb8 I(I.Ra7 i? Kc6 2.Rc7 I Kd6 3.Rd7+Ke6 4.Rd6 I Bxd6)i...Kxb8(stalemate) (354)i.Rb7 I Kxb7(sta’emate)(i...Ka8 2.Ra7 (55)i.Kf8 Bh7(stalemate) (356)I.Bxd5 I Kxd5(stalemate) (357)I...Rc7 I(i...Rb6 i? 2.KXb6) 2. Kxc7(sta’emate)
(358)I...Ng4 I 2.Nag4(stalemate) (359)s...h4 I 2.KXh4(stalemate) (6a)i...Kh3 a.Bxf(stalemate) (361)s.Ree Qae3(stalemate) (362)I.N64+(s.Ng5+? Rag5(s...Ra64(stalemate) (6)I.Ra5 I Qaa5(stalemate) (364)i.14h6 Qag8(stalemate) (365)s...IKha a.Bd(stalemate) (366)i...Ba5 a.Qaa3(stalemate) (367)s...hsQ a.Rahi(stalemate)Salutians )68)i...Qaa8 a.Nae8(stalemate) (369)i.Qbn Qab(stalemate)
(370)i.g8Qn(s.g8R is also fine)‘...Rxgll(stalemate) (37’)i.Qfan Qxfa(stalemate) (372)s.Rfa I Qxfa(stalemate) (373)I...Bd5 a.Bxdy(stalemate) (7y.)I...Ra5 a.Qxay(stalemate) (375)I...Kfiy a.g8Q(stalemate) (376)s...ga+a.Kfia(stalemate) ()i.Bga Rxga(stalemate) (376)i.Bx64 I Qxffi(stalemate) (%z?)s.Ra6 I Bxa6(stalemate) (8o)s.gyn I7egy(stalemate) Cbaptsr 7: Esmpiog by Psrpetaal Cbeeb
(381)I...Qg3+ 2.KhI Qh3÷ (382)i...Qfi I 2.Kh2 Qf2 I (383)i...Qdi I 2.Ka2 Qa4 I (384)I...Qg3+ 2.Kh5 Qg6+ (385)I.Rg71 Kh8 2.Rh71 Kg83.Rdg7I Kf84.Rf7i (386)I.R5a71 Kb6 2.Ra61 Kb73.R6a71 (387)I.Rc71 Kb8 2.Rb7+Ka8 3.Ra7 (388)I.Rc5÷Kh4 2.RC4I Kh53.Rc51
(389)I...Be4 I 2.Kh3Bf5I 3.Kg2Be4I 4.KfiBd3i (390)i...Bf4 I 2.KgI Be3+3.Kh2 Bf4+ (39’)T...Bg5 I 2.Kf2 Bh4÷3.1Kg Bg5 I (392)I...Bf5 I 2.1Kb3 Be6+3.1Cc Bf5 i (393)i.Nc6 I Kc8 2.Na71 Kb83.Nc6I Kc8 (3...Ka8? 4.Ra7#)4.Na7 I (9)I.Ne71 Kh8 2.Ng6+Kg8 3.Ne7÷ (395)I.Nh5÷Kh7 2.Nf6+Kg7 3.Nh5 I (396)I.Na7÷Kb6
z.Nc8+Kb5 3.Na7+ (397)i...Kbi 2.BC3 Kc2 3.BaI Kbi (398)i...Rd3 I 2.Kf2 Rd2 I 3.Kg3 (3.Ke3? Re2+)3...Rd3 I 4.Kf2 Rd2 I 5.KeI Rdi+ (399)I...Nb2 I 2.Ka5 Nc4÷3.Ka4 Nb2 (400)i...Qei I 2.Ka3 Qai I 3.Kb4 Qei Chapter 8: Stop the Promotion! (401)i.Bd4 (402)I.Ne2 (403)i.Re8
(404)i.Qb7 (405)i...Kd7 (406)i...Kd5 (407)i...b3 (.408)i...Rb8 (409)i.Kei Ke3(sta’emate) (410)i.Rai (411)i.b4 h2 2.Rh3 (412)I.Ra5 (I.Ra4? c5)i...Kc6 2.Rh5 (413)i...Nf4 I 2.Ke5 Ng6 I 3.Kf6 NfE 4.Kg7 Ne6 I
(414)i...Ng5 2.fBQ Ne6 I (415)i...Be6 2.Kg7 Bxf7 3.Kxf7 (416)i...Rei 2.Kg5 (2.f8Q? Rfi÷) 2...RfT
(417)i.b4-i-Kxb4 2.1<1)2
(418)i.Kd3÷Kg3 2.Ke2 Kg2 3.Rf4 (419)i.Bf3 (420)i.Bd5 I Kg7 2.Ba2
Chapter g: Avoid Being Trapped!
(421)‘...g6 (422)i...QbG (I...c5? 2.Na4; i...b5 2.Ra2) (423)i...d4 (i...Kf6? 2.a4) (424)I...Ke7 2.g4 Nf6 (425)i.Nb6 (I.Kc4? Kc6: I.a4? Bd8) (426)T.Qa7 R3b7 (i...Ra8 2.Qxf7l i...R8b7? 2.Qa8) 2.Qa5 (427)i.f4 (i.Rfei? Rd5)i...ez. 2.dxe4 (428)I.4
(i.h4? e5) (429)T...Rg4 (I...b5? 2.RXC6) (430)i...f6 2.h3 Ne5 (431)i...f6 (432)I...d5 (i...b5? 2.QXb5) (433)I.g4 (434)i.Rd8 I
(435)I.Ng5 fG? 2.Ne6 I
(436)I.Qd5 (437)i...h6 2.f3 Ng5
(438)I...C5 (439)i...Bh6 (4o)i...Rb8 Chapter io: Various Saving Moi.’es (.i)i.Qf4 (412)i.Kei Nf3 I 2.Ke2
(443)i.Nf3 (444)i.Bd5 (45)i...Rb8 (446)I...Qc5 I (447)I...Qh2 (i...Kf8? 2.Be7÷Kg8[2...Ke8? 3.Ba3113 3.Rhi)
(418)i...Nfd7 (449)I.Bd2 (450)T.Nc4 (45’)i.Bci (i.Kci? f6) (452)i.Bd4 (453)I...Qd5(pin) (454)T...Qc2 (I...Qxd5? 2.Qxd5 does not work, because Black’s rook is pinned) 2.Qxc2? Rei// (455)i...Qb6+ (456)i...Qa6 (457)i.Nd4 Rxb3
2.NXb3 (458)i.Bf4 (459)I.Rd2 (460)I.Rb2 Rxb2? 2.Re8#
(461)i...Qf6 (i...Qxd4? 2.Bh71 discovery) (462)I...Qc5 (i...Qd7? 2.Nf6 I fork) (.463)i...Qa6 (i...Qf6? 2.Ng4 I discovery; I...Qc5? 2.Nd3 I dscovery; i...Qe6 2.Nd3[or 2.Nf3 pin]) (464)i...Qd7 (i...Qb4? 2.BC3 I discovery; I...Qe7? 2.Bc3 pin) (465)I.Nd2
(i.Nh4? g traps the knight) (466)T.Rxe4 (i.Rdi? e 2.Nf3 e2; or T...Bxd2 2.Rxd2 e3 3.Rth e 4.ReI RfB followed by Rh i) (467)I.Bd5 I (468)i.Rbi (469)I...Qg5 I 2.Qxg5 hxg5 (470)i...Qgi I(I...Ng5? 2.Qe8 i) 2.QxgT Nxgi (471)T...Rh5 (472)i...Rxth 2.BXC7?(2.RxdT Qe7[2...Qxf4? 3.Rd811]) 2...RXfIII
(473)I.Ng2
(474)i.Kfi (475)I.Nf5 (476)I.Qe2 (477)i...Kf7 (478)i...Re8 (479)i...Rb8 (480)I...Bb5 (481)i.Kd3 (482)i.Bfi f2 I 2.Bg2 (483)I.Rb2 (484)i.RfB I Kh7 2.Rh8+Kxh8(stalemate>
(485)T...Ng3 I 2.KgI Ne2 I (486)i...Rae8 (487)T...g5 (488)i...KgG (i...Rd8? 2.RfI) (489)i.Kf4+ (490)i.Bxf4 (49’)i.Qg8+Kxg8(stalemate) (492)i.Rb5 (i.Rh6? Kg7 and the rook is trapped) (493)I...C5 (494)I...Ng4 I 2.hxg4 Bxai
(495)i...Bxb6 2.NxbG Re2
(496)T...Ra3 (497)I.g3 (i.f3? Bg3; i.f4? BbG÷) (498)i.Qh3 (499)i.exf6 Bxh6 2.f7 I Bg7 3.fEQ# (5oo)T.Kb2 Nxd4? 2.RaIJ/