Becoming a better player – DR

Find out why you lose games (or fail to win them), and work on those things until they aren't a problem
any more. The easiest ways to do that are to practice, and to get some feedback on your chess games.
This weekend should give you the chance to do both.
The most common things that decide junior The most common other problems I see during junior
chess games are: games are:
a. I missed a tactic c. I didn’t know what to do
b. I got caught in the opening d. I was winning but…
So I’m going to talk about each of these.
Generally… Most mistakes in chess are doing things you already know you aren’t supposed to do – not
because your opponent knew something you didn’t. It also follows that improving in chess is a lot about
doing what you already know you should do – not learning brand new stuff!
There is a set of booklets, talking about the good and bad things the U14 squad have done each year, listed
on the front page of this booklet:
http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors.html#games
The booklets mainly consist of me saying all the things on this page, in different ways, every year… Please,
when you are in the U14 team, don’t make me have to say them to you!
You can download the games, or play over the games from that booklet directly on the website.
* If you don’t have a computer or access to the Internet, let me know, and I can send you what you are
interested in.

a. I missed a tactic
There are six basic types of tactic, although there is a list of a dozen or so when you look at the details.
They are: jumps (discoveries), mates, forks, nets, pins/skewers, and ties (e.g. undermining, decoys). You
have to recognise each of them when they appear on the chessboard. The most common types are pins
and forks but the one that people miss most often is a discovery. Once you know each type, practice more
and more complicated examples. So, once you can do one-movers, then try two-movers, and so on.
Some people are quite good at finding tactics in puzzles, but still make blunders when playing. Well, chess
is a complicated game, and 9 moves out of 10 there won't be a tactic for you, so you get into a bad habit of
not checking. So, always have a second look at your chosen move before you play it – is it a blunder?
You might say, OK Dave, when I choose a move, I’ve just been looking, so how do I look again and find
something different? First of all, look for the clues that there might be a tactic for one side or the other.
Look for patterns that go with each type of tactic. Other clues are:
• Undefended pieces – or pieces that are just • Pieces in a line should make you think of
defended enough – can be caught with a tactic. tactics (pins, skewers and discoveries).
cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
(rhwDkgw4}e (rDwDwDND}
70wDw1p0p} 70pDwDwDp}
6b0pDwDwD} 6wDk0wDwD}
5DwDpDwDw} 5DwDwDwDw}
&wDwHwDwD} &wdwdwDwD}
3DPHPDwDw} 3DwDwDwDw}
2PDPDB)P)} 2P)nDw)P)}
%$wGwIwDR} %$wDw$wIw}a
v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV
If you look, you can see two completely undefended Black saw the pattern for a fork – very good! But If
pieces… can you see what Black should play to win at you look again, you can see some important pieces
least one of them? in a line… can you see what White can play here?
Loose Pieces Drop Off, says John Nunn! (LDPO)
 If I had a second tip, it would be, check every check and every capture on every move. That's a big thing to
ask, but get as close to it as you can. Does that sound odd? The thing is, you get used to looking at
‘normal’ moves, but when there is a tactic, the move that works can be a really odd one.
cuuuuuuuuC Black has a fine position, and all Black’s pieces are in excellent
(wDw4rDkD}e positions, so any normal move is good enough…
70wDwDp0p} Ah, but the best move isn’t a normal one. The best move is
6wDpDwhwD} 18...Rxd4!
5DwDwDwDw} That takes a pawn which is defended by a pawn… well, normally that
&wDq)pGwD} is just daft, you will lose a Rook! But the defending pawn is pinned,
3)w)wDPDw} and so it’s really only pretending to defend, and your Rook is safe
2wDQDwDP)} (19.cxd4 Qxc2).
%$wDw$wIw} If Black had looked at 18...Rxd4 for a moment or two, he might have
v,./9EFJMV realised that he could actually play it! In the same way, White should
have looked at it, and made sure the pawn was really defended.
So, look at every check, and every capture, every turn – it might be a winning move!

Getting better at checking…
Well, the best practice is making it a habit during a game. But here are some exercises:
1. On an empty chess board, put all the white pieces (not the pawns) on a chess board so that all the
pieces are defended by at least one other piece. Easy -- even I could do it!
2. On an empty chess board, put all the white pieces (not the pawns) on a chess board so that all the
pieces are defended by at least one other piece and are also defending at least one other piece
3. On an empty chess board, put all the white pieces (not the pawns) on a chess board so that all the
pieces are defended by EXACTLY one other piece and are also defending EXACTLY one other piece.
Tricky!
4. On an empty board, add as many black pieces as you can so that no black piece is defending any other
black piece. Start using one set; how many pieces can you add from another set? Try the king or
knights first!
5. Try again, but you can use any pieces you want from any set, and you can leave out the queen (so you
could have a whole rank full of knights!)
6. Put all the white pieces from one set on the board so they attack as many squares as possible
7. Put all the white pieces from one set on the board so they attack as FEW squares as possible
8. On an empty chess board, and using one set, put as many white and black pieces (no pawns) on the
same chess board as you can, so that every black piece is being attacked and no black piece is being
defended, while no white piece is being attacked, and every white piece is attacking at least one black
piece.
9. Now, can you find one with all the pieces from one set where all the white pieces are attacking AND all
defended AND not attacked, and the black ones all attacked and undefended?

Getting better at spotting tactics
Chess Position Trainer offers a free course in chess tactics from:
http://community.chesspositiontrainer.com/files/folders/repertoires/entry1006.aspx
There is a free booklet about chess tactics in the opening available from me at:
http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/General/chesblog.html#18th_Sept_09
You can download all the games in that booklet from the same link, and then you can play over the games
using any decent chess software; ChessBase Light 2009 is free from:
http://chessbase.com/download/
There is a free test-yourself chess tactics website at:
http://chess.emrald.net/
Practice playing against a computer – you can download version 5.32 of Fritz for free from
http://freechess.50webs.com/fritz.html
There are loads of books on chess tactics – find one that’s just a bit harder than you like!

Discoveries

cuuuuuuuuC
(rDwDw4kD} Discoveries are easy to understand but
hard to spot! They are the tactic that
70w0wgp0p} juniors miss most of all.
6w0b0p1wD} It’s not just the piece that moves you
5DwDwDwDw} need to worry about…
&wDw)wDwD} Look for a big piece hiding behind a little
3DPDw)NDw} one... like here.
2PGPDQ)P)} If the white Pawn on d4 moves to d5, it
%DwIRDwDR}a discovers an attack on the black Queen.
The black Queen can move out of the way,
v,./9EFJMV but then the Bishop on c6 will be taken.
cuuuuuuuuC
(rhb1kgw4} If White moves the Knight anywhere, Black
70p0pDp0p} must get out of the discovered check from
6wDXDwhwD} the Queen before worrying about what the
Knight is doing.
5DwDwHwDw}
Nc6+ wins the Queen, because the black
&wDwDwDwD} Queen can block the check only on e7,
3DwDwDwDw} where the Knight can still take it.
2P)P)Q)P)}
%$NGwIBDR}a
v,./9EFJMV

Find the DISCOVERY in each of these positions:
cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
(rDwDkgw4} (rDwDkgn4} (rDbDkDn4}e
70p0wDp0p} 70p0bDp0p} 70p0pDp0w}
6wDnDwDwD} 6wDnDwDwD} 6wDwDw1wD}
5DwDq)wDw} 5DwDw0wDw} 5DwDwDwDw}
&wDwDNDwD} &QDBDqDwD} &wDw)PDK0}
3DwDwDQDw} 3Dw)wDNDw} 3DwDwDBdP}
2P)PDw)P)} 2P)w)w)P)} 2P)PDwDPD}
%$wGwIwDR}a %$NGKDwDR}a %$NGQDwDR}
v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
(wiw4wgw4} (wDwDwDwD} (rDbDwDw!}
70wDwDqDp} 70pDbDk0p} 7DwDwipDp}
6whb0w0wD} 6wDwDw0wD} 6pDnDpHpD}
5DwDNDw0w} 5DwDwDwDw} 5DwDwDwDw}
&wDwDPDwD} &wDwDwdwD} &wDPDw)wD}
3DBDwGwDw} 3Dw)wDw)P} 3DwDwDwDw}
2P)wDQ)P)} 2qDwDB!wI} 2w1wDBDP)}
%$wDwDRIw}a %DwDwDwDw}a %DwDRDwDK}a
v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
(wDw4kDw4} (wDw4w4kD}e (wDwDkDrD}
7Dw1wgp0p} 70wDwDpGw} 70wDwgwDw}
6p0wDbhwD} 6w0wDbDp0} 6wDwDw0r0}
5DwDpDwDw} 5DwDwDwDn} 5DwDqDNDR}
&wDP0wDwD} &wDwDwDwD} &wDwDp)wD}
3)wDPDN)w} 3)wDqDw)w} 3DwDwDw)w}
2w)wGw)B)} 2w)wDNDwD} 2P)wDwDw)}
%Dw$QIwDR}a %$wDQDRIB} %Dw!wDwIw}a
v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
(rDb1kDw4}
70p0pDp0p}
6wDnDwhwD}
5DwgwDwDw}
&wDwHPDwD}
3DwDwGwDw}
2P)PDw)P)}
%$NDQIBDR}a
v,./9EFJMV
 Making tactics work
B Mates Jumps Forks Nets Pins Ties

 Look at forcing moves like checks and captures

F

Checks
cuuuuuuuuC
(rDbDkDw4} Never play a check unless it does something. But
7DwDpDw0p} because everything stops for a check, it can give you
6pDpDp1wD} time to do something great!
5DwgwDwDw} wins 1.theQh5+!
Bc5 (a fork by the Queen)
&wDwDwDwD}
3Dw)BDwDw}
2PDPGw)P)}
w%$wDQIwDR}a
v,./9EFJMV

Captures
cuuuuuuuuC
w{wdrdwdkd}e Look at every check and every capture.
{dpdwdp0w} 1…Qxf3!
{pdwdpdw0} would normally be daft, but it makes space for the
{dpdwdwdw} knight fork …Ne2+ without giving White time to defend
{w)w!whwd}
{)wdwdNdw}
{wdwdq)P)}
{dwdwdRIw}
vllllllllV

Both at once!
cuuuuuuuuC
(wDw4rDkD} 1. Qxd5 looks promising but it doesn’t work (can you see
7Dp0wDp0w} why?)
6pDwDwDw0} But
5DwDqDwDw} 1. Rxe8+!
&wDwDwDwD} Wins the Queen
3Dw)QDwDP}
2w)PDw)PD} Ifdifferent
a combination doesn’t work, try thinking about it in a
order!
w%$wDw$wIw}a
v,./9EFJMV
 I smell a tactic!
m  Look harder if you see loose pieces or an unsafe king
R

Unsafe king? Is there a tactic around?
cuuuuuuuuC If the black Rook wasn’t on the board, Qd8+
would be checkmate.
(wDwDwDkD} And if Queens could bend it like Beckham,
Qe8+ would be good.
70pDwDp0p} 1. Qe7!
6wDp4wDwD} Threatens mate, and attacks the Rook, and
stops the Rook moving to d8, and… wins.
5DwDwDwDw}
&PDwDwDw!}
3DP1wDwDP}
2wDPDw)PD}
%Dw$wDwIw}a
v,./9EFJMV

Loose piece? Is there a tactic around?
A loose piece is a piece that is not defended (or only just defended)
cuuuuuuuuC The Knight on h5 is obviously loose. But if
you attack it, Black will move or defend it.
(rDw1kDw4} Aha! The Bishop on d6 is also loose. If you
can attack both at once, you will win a
70wDpDp0p} piece.
6w0bgpDwD} 1. Qd1!
Simple but deadly!
5DwDwDwDn}
&wDPDPDwD}
3)wHwGwDw}
2w)QDw)P)}
%$wDwIBDR}a
v,./9EFJMV
 The 6 basic tactics
a you ight ust ind a eat owerful actic!

[ ates umps orks ets ins & ies]

X
Basic pattern for a ate Basic pattern for a in
cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
(rDb1kgw4} (rDbDw4kD}
70p0pDQ0p} 7DwDw1pgp}
6wDnDwhwD} 6pDwDphpD}
5DwDw0wDw} 5DwDw0PGw}
&wDBDPDwD} &w0wDNDw!}
3DwDwDwDw} 3DwDBDwDw}
2P)P)w)P)} 2P)PDwDP)}
%$NGwIwHR} %$wDwDRDK}
v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV
Basic pattern for a ump/Disco Basic pattern for a et
cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
(rhb1kgw4} (rDw1kgn4}e
70p0pDp0p} 7DwDbDp0p}
6wDwDwhwD} 6pDw0wDwD}
5DwDwHwDw} 5Dp0QDwDw}
&wDwDwDwD} &wDwDPDwD}
3DwDwDwDw} 3DBDwDwDw}
2P)P)Q)P)} 2P)PDw)P)}
%$NGwIBDR}a %$NGwIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV
White wins after 1. Nc6+! Black wins the Bishop after 1...c4!
Basic pattern for a ork Basic pattern for a ie
cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
(rDwDw4kd}e (rDb1rDkD}e
70p0wDp0p} 70pDwDp0p}
6wDwDwhwD} 6wDwDwgwD}
5DqDw0w!w} 5DwDQDwDw}
&wgwdw)wD} &wDwDwDwD}
3DwHwDwDw} 3DwHw)NDw}
2P)nDwDP)} 2P)wDw)P)}
%$wGwIwHR} %$wDwIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV
1...Bxc3+ undermines the Queen
 Test your tactics!
R Find the ate Find the et
N
cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
(rDbDw4kD}e (rDbDkgw4}
70pDw0pgp} 70p0pDp0p}
6wDwDwDpD} 6wDnDwhqD}
5DwDp1wDw} 5DwDwDNDw}
&wDwDwDnD} &wDwDPDwD}
3DN0BDwDP} 3DwHwDwDw}
2P)wDQ)PD} 2P)PDB)P)}
%$wGw$wIw} %$wGQIwDR}a
v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV
Find the ump Find the in
cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
(rDb1kDw4}e (rDb1kDn4}
70p0w0pgp} 70p0pgw0p}
6wDwDwDpD} 6wDwDwDwD}
5DNDphwDw} 5DBDwhwHw}
&wDw!wDwD} &wDwDpDwD}
3Dw)wDNDw} 3Dw)wDwDw}
2P)wDP)P)} 2P)wDw)P)}
%$wDwIBDR} %$NGQIwDR}a
v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV
Find the ork Find the ie
XABCDEFGHY cuuuuuuuuC
8-+-+-+k+( (rDbiwDrD}
7+-+-+r+p' 70p0pDpGp}
6p+-sN-+-+& 6wDwDwDwD}
5snpzpP+-wq-% 5gwDPDwDw}
4-+P+-+-+$ &wDBDwDw1}
3+P+-sN-+-# 3DQDwDwDw}
2PwQ-+-+-zP" 2PDwDw)PD}
1+-+-+-+K!a %$wDw$wIw}a
xabcdefghy v,./9EFJMV
ates : 1...Qh2+ and 2...Qh1# ets : 1. Nh4
umps : 1...Nxf3+ and 2...Bxd4 ins : 1. Ne6!
orks : 1. Qh8+ and 2. Nxf7+ (one of ies : 1. Qg3 (one of Fischer's)
Spassky's)