CLASES DDE AJEDREZ Day 27 - The 8th Rank - 21 Days To Supercharge Your Chess by TheChessWorld

4/29/2015 Day 27: The 8th Rank — 21 Days to Supercharge Your Chess by TheChessWorld.
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Positional Package Day 27: The 8th Rank
Day 27: The 8th Rank
36% Positional Training Completed
The 8th rank (or 1st rank for black) is a very important rank to take control of, for a successful attack. Many
amateur chess players do not fully understand that by gaining control of this rank they not only threaten the
opponent’s king safety, but also paralyze his pieces to defensive position and threaten to attack the pawns from
where they are not well protected. In this lesson we will learn the basic techniques that can be used to exploit the
8th rank.
The main problem many practical chess players are facing is how to occupy the 8th rank. In order to do that,
first it is necessary to gain control of one of the open files. We have already learned how it can be done,
when we learned about the importance of open lines.
Here is the plan you need to follow to occupy the rank:
Step one is to gain control of a semi-open file by first occupying it with one of the rooks and then doubling
up on the file. On the diagram below white doubles the rooks on the d-file, gaining full control of it.
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4/29/2015 Day 27: The 8th Rank — 21 Days to Supercharge Your Chess by TheChessWorld.com
Step two is to open up the file by exchanging the pawns or removing/chasing away the blocking piece. On
the diagram below white just played c2-c4, chasing the black’s d5-knight away from blocking the d-file.
Finally, after all preparatory steps are done, you can break into the 8th rank and to gain a full control of the
game. On the diagram below white places his rook on d8, conquering the rank.
Let’s take a look at how Smyslov is using an open file and the 8th rank control to win the game:
1. f3 Let's take a look at the following game

between Smyslov and Polugaevsky. f6 2. g3
g6 3. b3 g7 4. b2 d6 5. d4 O‐O
6. g2 This is so‐called Anti‐King's Indian
system, with a double fienchetto of white's
bishops. e5 Black played actively challenging
white's control of the center 7. dxe5 How
should black proceed here? g4 This is the best
response. Black exploits the pin in order to retake
on e5 with the knight.
Straightforward 7...dxe5 ? is no good.

8. xd8 xd8 9. xe5 and black is
down a pawn.
8. h3 xe5 Black recaptures the pawn which in

turns leads to more exchanges. 9. xe5 dxe5
10. xd8 xd8 Let's take a look at this
What have we learned from this game?
1. Castling queen’s side can be played not only with an idea to roll your pawn’s towards the opponent’s
king as we have learned previously, but also to quickly activate the rook and capture an open file.
When the queens are not present on the board, opposite side castling’s main idea of “pawn attack” is not as
effective, due to limiting attacking resources. Therefore, the game takes more of a positional direction and
players concentrate on occupying an open files and ranks, which leads to a strong attack on the king.
2. Typically it is not advised to put your knight on the edge of the board unless there is a good reason for
it. In this game on move 15, white places his knight on the edge of the board because he is able to
exploit a vulnerable position of black’s queen side pawns paralyzing many of black’s pieces and gaining
valuable time.
3. Once you have gained a control of open file you should advance your rooks as far in the opponent’s
position as possible. Ideally, you should place the rooks on the 8th rank (or 1st rank for white). Also, the
6th rank is a very good rank to take control of, since many of the opponent’s pawns are usually located
here and are defenceless from the side attack.
4. When you have a positional advantage you should avoid exchanging pieces, since, in most cases, that
will lead to reduction of attacking momentum. Sometimes, even winning a pawn is not a good enough
compensation for exchange of one of you active pieces.
5. The final goal of having any positional advantage should be converting it into a permanent one, such as
extra material. Then, this extra material should be used to win the game.
Tactics Lab: Homework 27

Instructions:
Here is your practical (tactical) exercises. Solving these problems is a very important part of the program on your
way to improve your game. Try solving them by looking on the diagram. If that is hard you can setup pieces on the
board and attempt again. Solutions are given at the end. Check them only after your complete/attempt all problems.
#152. White to move and win
#153. Black to move and win
Hide Solution
Tischbierek vs. Vegh
1. xe7 !
1. xh7 g1+ 2. xg1 g7 3. h8+

g8 4. h5 f5 5. e8+ g7
6. xe7+ g6 7. f7+ h6 8. f6+
h5 9. h7+ g4 10. e2#
1... xe7 2. f6+ d6 3. d1+ d4

4. xd4+ c5 5. e5+ b6 6. d6+
a5 7. c5 xg2 8. a4#
Endgame Lab: Position 27
Instructions:
Here is your practical (tactical) exercises. Solving these problems is a very important part of the program on your
way to improve your game. Try solving them by looking on the diagram. If that is hard you can setup pieces on the
board and attempt again. Solutions are given at the end. Check them only after your complete/attempt all problems.
White to move and win
Hide Solution
This is another variation of the "classical pawn

race". White needs to promote his own pawn
faster than his opponent. 1. d4 ! The only
winning move.
All other attempts lead to a draw.

1. d5 ? a5 White wants to play c4 but
cannot because it puts the king outside the
square. 2. c4
2. c4 a4 3. c5 a3 4. c6 a2 5. c7

a1=Q 6. c8=Q =
2... e4 3. b5 d4 4. xa5 c3 =
1... f4
If black chooses to run his own pawn, white

still wins because of superior position of the
king. 1...a5 2. c4 a4 3. c5 a3
Endgame Trainer
Instructions:
Practice the following endgame position against the computer until you are confident that you can play it
correctly in actual game. Take your time and go through the exercise more than once if needed to fully understand
the material. If you have any difficulties please refer to the lesson above.
Hide Practice Position: Day 27
White to move and win:
Great Job! That's it for today. You can move to the next lesson!
Next Lesson
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Positional Package Day 27: The 8th Rank

Here is the plan you need to follow to occupy the rank:

1. f3 Let's take a look at the following game

Straightforward 7...dxe5 ? is no good.

8. h3 xe5 Black recaptures the pawn which in

What have we learned from this game?

Tactics Lab: Homework 27

#152. White to move and win

#153. Black to move and win

#154. White to move and win

#155. White to move and win

#156. White to move and win

#157. White to move and win

1. xh7 g1+ 2. xg1 g7 3. h8+

1... xe7 2. f6+ d6 3. d1+ d4

White to move and win

This is another variation of the "classical pawn

All other attempts lead to a draw.

2. c4 a4 3. c5 a3 4. c6 a2 5. c7

2... e4 3. b5 d4 4. xa5 c3 =

If black chooses to run his own pawn, white

Hide Practice Position: Day 27

White to move and win:

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