FIDE-TRG - Chess Steps A - Book

GRIVAS CHESS
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY
Recognized by FIDE
www.fide.com
Recognized by ESO
www.chessfed.net
CHESS STEPS
VOLUME A
Efstratios Grivas
Chess Steps - Volume A 1

First Edition in Pdf - 2014
English Copyright © FIDE 2014 (office@fide.com - www.fide.com)
Copyright © Efstratios Grivas 2013 (GrivasEfs@yahoo.co.uk - www.GrivasChess.com)
The rights of Efstratios Grivas to be identified as the author of this work have been asserted in
accordance with the International Copyright, Designs and Patents Act.
All rights reserved. This book is distributed for free to the FIDE certified and licenced trainers,
subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, sold, hired out or
otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and
without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent owner.
Limit of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty: FIDE makes no representation or warranties with
respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaims any
implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose and shall in no event be
liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special,
incidental, consequential, or other damages.
ISBN-13: 978-960-99379-6-2
Cover and drawings by Nicolas Sphicas

White King on dark square, 2011, electronic design. Based on Italian manuscript, 1730.
(sphicasnicolas@gmail.com-www.chess.gr/sphicas-www.logicalchess.com/info/graphics/sphicas)
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
I would like to thank especially Nicolas Sphicas for almost all of the drawings that make the book
more enjoyable to read and offer a different, artistic point of view to this project! And, of course,
for his texts and general contribution, without which the book would not be so presentable!
I would also like to thank T. Karali, S. Logothetis and V. Vrettos for helping with technical
matters, also K. Tsiamis, V. Panagiotopoulos and K. Lykoudis for their contributions.
Commissioning Editor: Efstratios Grivas (www.GrivasChess.com)

Assistant Editors: Sotiris Logothetis, Nicolas Sphicas and Vasilis Vrettos
Cover by Nicolas Sphicas
Translation to English by Tania Karali
English Proofer Kevin O’Connell (www.kochess.com)

Contents
Colophon ...………..…………………………………………………………………...........…….. 2
Contents - Symbols ...……..............…..……………………………………………………….…. 3
Foreword .…………………………....…………………………...………..…..…........................ 4
The Origins of Chess ...………………………………………………………………………….… 5
Lesson 1st - Learning Chess - Origins & Myths - The Chessboard ………………...……….. 11
Lesson 2nd - The King - The Queen ……………………………………………………………… 15
Lesson 3rd - The Rook - The Knight ……………...……………………………………………… 19
Lesson 4th - The Bishop - The Pawn …………………………………………………………….. 23
Lesson 5th - Castling - En Passant - Chess Notation………………………………………….. 27
Lesson 6th - Check & Checkmate - Stalemate …………………………….………………….... 31
Lesson 7th - Checkmate - King & Queen vs. King …………………………………………….. 35
Lesson 8th - Checkmate - King & Rook vs. King ……………………………….……………. 39
Lesson 9th - Checkmate - The Back Rank ………………………………………………………. 43
Lesson 10th - Checkmate - The Typical Mates …………………………………………….….... 47
Lesson 11th - Chess as a Sport ………………………………………………………………….... 51
Lesson 12th - The Centre…………………………………………………………………………... 55
Lesson 13th - Development Rules - The Knight & the Bishop ……………………………..... 59
Lesson 14th - Development Rules - The Rook & the Queen ………………………………..... 63
Lesson 15th - Development Rules - Castling ………………………………………………….... 67
Lesson 16th - Sportsmanship - Why do we Lose? ……………………………………………… 71
Lesson 17th - Cooperation - Strategy & Attack ………………………………………………… 75
Lesson 18th - Game Opening - Opening Names - Bibliography …………………………...… 79
Lesson 19th - Centre Game ……………………………………………………………………..… 83
Lesson 20th - King's Gambit …………………………………………………………………….... 87
Lesson 21st - Danish Gambit ……………………………………………………………………... 91
Lesson 22nd - Evans Gambit ……………………………………………………………………… 95
Lesson 23rd - There is no Shame in Losing ………………………………………………….… 99
Lesson 24th - Discovering Targets ……………………………………………………………..... 103
Lesson 25th - Learning from our Losses ………………………………………………………… 107
Lesson 26th - King Safety - The Pawn/Square f2/f7 …………………………………………. 111
Lesson 27th - King Safety - Same Side Castling …………………………………………….... 115
Lesson 28th - King Safety - Opposite Side Castling …………………………………………. 119
Lesson 29th - Fool's Mate …………………………………………………….…………………… 123
Lesson 30th - Smothered Mate (Lucena’s Mate) ……………………...…………………..…... 127
Lesson 31st - Avoiding Stalemate ………………………………………………………………... 131
Lesson 32nd - Preparing for the Game ………………………………………………………….. 135
The Author ....………………………………………………………………………………………. 139
FIDE Trainers’ Commission …………………………………………………………………….. 140
Symbols
+ / ++ Check / Double Check (D) See next Diagram
# Checkmate 1-0 White Wins
!! Excellent Move ½-½ Draw
! Good Move 0-1 Black Wins
!? Interesting Move □ White's Name
?! Dubious Move ■ Black's Name
? Bad Move ○ White to Move
?? Blunder ● Black to Move
Foreword
Dear Reader,
For many years I have been coaching and writing at top level. What I have noticed is that even
top chess players seem to have holes in what is called basic education, which is usually obtained at
a young age. Almost all of the books that are addressed to beginners offer simple information and
guidance, aiming at just being read enjoyably. I do agree with enjoyable reading, but, on the other
hand, I would also like the aspect of correct education...
The two books of the series ‘Chess Steps’ that you are holding in your hands wish to cover both
mentioned aspects. They are the written point of view of a top chess player, coach and writer, with
‘enough’ experience in chess matters to offer basic education to whoever wishes to study the se-
crets of our spiritual sport.
The themes and presentation are primarily based on the experience I got by participating in two
Commissions of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), the Trainers’ Commission and the Chess in
Schools Commission. Furthermore, the experience I got by being a Technical Adviser for the
Greek Chess Federation was also very valuable.
In 2012 I established the Chess Academy ‘Grivas Chess International Academy’, mainly aiming
at organizing school chess education (and chess beginners in general) in Greece and Cyprus. The
books of the series ‘Chess Steps’ are the Academy's first project and constitute the main branch of
the given education. They provide basic theory, general specialized practice and focused exercises,
so that the reader may acquire chess knowledge.
I usually refer to the help offered by a specialised trainer, who would answer any kind of ques-
tion, check and guide. In schools, this would be the instructor/trainer, while ‘older’ groups should
address chess clubs to get this kind of help. No book may substitute human participation in any
kind of activity - it may be a guide to the basic principles, but the main instructive part will always
be played by the human mind.
I would like to thank both FIDE and TRG (FIDE Trainers’ Commission) for giving me the right
and the pleasure to share my training knowledge with all of you, trainers and trainees, who wish to
be a part of my way. I do not claim authority on the subject, as there are plenty of good and re-
spectable books around; I am just giving my own small brick to our great wall of chess education.
Have a nice reading journey!
Athens, 2014
Efstratios Grivas

The Origins of Chess
Dr. Nicolas Sphicas
The origins of various games are very im- The game imitates the way the prisoners in
portant, because they reflect each society's America played, who, due to lack of oppo-
culture. When it comes to chess especially, nent, hit the ball at the prison yard’s barbed
they are of even greater importance, given wires.
that it is the most popular game in the world.
Many decades of books, essays and studies
have been written about its invention and
origins. Chess copies real life and by playing
one tries to understand it better. Friedrich
Schiller's opinion is that man only feels
complete when playing, maybe because
competition is part of his nature. Other
games also correspond to models of reality,
like e.g. Weiqi (known in the West as Go).
Exactly due to lack of a certain archetype,

chess has had many variations. Each varia-
tion had its own name. Today we tend to
relate those similar games to find their ori-
gins.
In all ancient cultures we find war board
games which are nowadays a part of every-
day life, with the difference that during cen-
turies they transformed from war games to
spiritual activities.
This game's purpose is to improve the un- Historically, chess is classified as a war
derstanding of the force of water and to em- game and is considered a game of battle
phasise the need to be awake in controlling without blood, a spiritual conflict between
the flood. Inventing a game has never been two opponents, where each one controls a
an isolated incident. It is more of a social small size force. The two sides are of the
than individual triumph. And the difficulty same force in a battlefield of 64 squares.
of its conception is found in the archetype. It Over time, this war game has evolved into
is easier to invent something that has an ar- an art with the form of a game and includes
chetype, like squash. every athletic feature.
Each side consists of sixteen pieces, a
king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two
knights and eight pawns. In formal chess
games the chessboard and the pieces must
adhere to certain standards, considering the
material, colour and dimensions. However,
beyond competitive chess there is a variety
of pieces and figures that reflect each soci-
ety's history and culture. Moreover, in west-
ern cultures, the opposing side was mainly
the country's enemy. In this picture
we see a King from Rajasthan. This one
This picture
shows a Scandinavian Queen made of ivory

from a set known as ‘Lewis’ which is dated
at the end of the 12th century. From the same shows an ivory Bishop from North China
set is the Scandinavian Rook. dated around 1790 and this one
There is historical evidence that a prema-
ture four part Indian Chess four-handed,
meaning with four sides, was not similar to
the one routed in Persia. At four-handed,
each side consisted of eight pieces (a King,
an Elephant, a Knight, a ship and four sol-
diers) in distinct colours. However, this
game is considered as the only close varia-
tion of two-handed, meaning two sides,
which shows some similarities to modern
chess.
In the sixth century a premature form of
chess was already known to northwest India
as Chaturanga, when chess was spread in
Persia. This premature Sanskrit name of the
game means four ‘angash’, four forces-sides,
which consisted, in the Indian army, of
Chariots (represented by the Rooks), Cav-
alry (Knights), Elephants (known in the
West as Bishops) and soldiers (pawns). This
army structure was used by the Indians to
represent the game. Alexander the Great
faced these four forces of the Indian army in
327 B.C. when he invaded India. Specifi-
cally, sovereign Poros's army consisted of
1.000 chariots, 3.000 knights, 130 elephants
shows an ivory Chinese Knight. The next
and 50.000 soldiers.
picture
After the Arabs conquered Persia, chess,
then known as Chatrang, spread to the whole
Islamic empire under the Arabic name Sha-
tranj. In the eighth century it was known at
Medina and Mecca, and then spread to Syria
and North Africa.
From North Africa chess spread to Spain
through the Moors and to South Italy and
Sicily through the Saracens. It spread widely
in Western Europe and by the eleventh cen-
tury it was already known in England. Dur-
ing the first half of the twelfth century chess
already appears in artwork in Italy and
France
Gareth Williams suggests that beginning
from India the game was known in Mongo-
lia in the seventh century and from there
spread to Russia.
From India it also spread to Sumatra and
then to Borneo and the Himalayas. He also
believes that the similar Chinese chess is
probably a variation of the Indian and that it
shows a Gallic pawn manufactured at the was known to Japan through Korea in the
beginning of the 19th century. thirteenth century.
Several researchers have investigated The making of the legend of the origins of
board games of ancient times. The most chess is due to the fact that the researchers,
complete study about chess variations is the like the players in the Islamic world, wrote
one by Harold Murray which in approxi- widely about games and biographies of ex-
mately 900 pages deals not only with its cellent players and presented great chess
origins, but also its evolution. From her problems of their time, which affected the
point of view, Colleen Schafroth considers Western culture, without minding the origins
that the true origins of chess are yet un- of the games. The same happened in the
known until more archeological or historical West, where the Arabic chess work was con-
evidence arises. David Li in The Genealogy tinued from the end of the thirteenth century,
of Chess, through Western bibliography and people working on the games, chess prob-
with certainly deeper study than Williams lems and endgames - which are based on
and Schafroth, mentions that other countries Arabic Mansubas - that attracted attention
also claim its origins, but that is less likely. and helped in chess study composition.
The writer estimates that in the most Mansuba in Arabic means ‘something
primitive form of chess, the two armies' made’, meaning a preconstructed position
sides must include the Elephant and the having an instructive goal.
Knight. Many ancient games like Egyptian During recent decades, many historians
senet have studied the origins of chess and several
countries, among which Greece, claim their
roots. The prime reason for which is that the
country that created chess must have had a
developed army, therefore a formed society
and a certain cultural development.
Very soon chess became a source of inspi-
ration in every form of art; at first in litera-
ture and painting and then in music, sculp-
ture, theatre, dancing and cinema. During
the twentieth century, after accepting the
speed of light and the theory of relativity,
the game has penetrated modern science, as
a close relation was detected between meas-
ures of matter, time and space with the cor-
and the game ‘pessoi’ in ancient Greece responding chess measures expressed by the
were games requiring skill, like checkers great chess player William Steinitz: material,
and/or speed like backgammon, so we time and space.
should not relate them to chess. Unfortu- The history of chess follows its time, af-
nately the board games that appear in figures fects it, and is affected by it and changes.
on ancient Greek pots do not provide infor- The moves, the theory and the time of think-
mation regarding their rules of play. ing of the game, vary according to the social,
political, industrial and technological evolu-
tion and are adapted to the demands of the
players and also the spectators. This makest-
his old royal game, among other things, con-
temporary, resulting in an increasing number
of admirers each day.
Officially the first World Champion is the
Austrian born William Steinitz who won the
title on the 29th of March in 1886 and held it
until 1894. Thirty years later, specifically on
the 20th of June 1924, the International
Chess Federation was founded, known as improved. Championships between chess
FIDE (Fédération Internationale des clubs are part of the main organization, ac-
Echecs), which is the world governing body companied by open tournaments, some of
of chess. which have formed a tradition, local indi-
Although the Greek Chess Federation vidual championships in big areas as well as
(ESO), the highest administrative form of the closed Greek Championship. In many
Greek chess and a factor in the game's mass cities there are chess clubs with classes for
spread, was founded as recently as 1948, as children and systematic training.
Turkish dominance delayed the country's Determining factors in the rise of Greek
cultural development, today the chess level chess are, among other things, the growing
is internationally recognized and appreci- Greek chess bibliography, the visits of
ated. The President, Georgios Makropoulos World Champions to our country (Fischer,
and the Federation's people have contributed Karpov, Kasparov, Spassky and Smyslov)
greatly to the evolution and promotion of the and the foreign coaches of our national team.
game. We should also mention that at the We should mention that the two chess
beginning of 2007 it consisted of around 250 Olympiads in Thessaloniki, in 1984 and in
active chess clubs. 1988, have been top events and they have
We can divide the history of Greek chess contributed greatly to the sport's rising de-
into three periods: The first one was before velopment.
the ESO foundation, which unfortunately The players' results, both men and women,
consists of very few and scattered pieces of in chess Balkaniads, in the Europeans, and
information in non chess sources, from also in the last World Team Championship
which we are unable to form a full picture. have shown that Greek chess is internation-
The second period covers the time from ally respected. The results of the young age
the ESO foundation to the fall of dictator- groups are also worthy of note and our opin-
ship and the third one after the political ion about the future is exactly the same as
changeover, continues until now and is con- the one stressed by Christos Kefalis: Greek
sidered to be the most productive one. chess faces the challenges of spreading chess
The first Greek tournament is found in among the youth, becoming part of the
Piraeus in 1926, while the first strong tour- school curriculum, finding financial funding,
nament and first national championship, was refreshment of clubs afflicted by recession
organised in Athens, at the beginning of and the cancellation of state funds, organiza-
1934. tion and improvement of structure (coaches,
During recent years, the number of players bibliography etc.). Establishing success and
in our country has increased significantly further improvement depend on solving
and the quality level appears to be constantly these.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 1st * Category: Basics * Title: Learning Chess - Origins & Myths - The Chessboard
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Learning Chess
Chess is not just any board game. It is a spiritual sport which reasonably is considered the ex-
pression of spiritual athleticism for centuries. It is maybe the only human invention, that really
gets away from the tyranny of luck and grants the glory of victory only to superior intelligence.
We would offend chess if we called it just a ‘game’. The way it has developed, it is also a science,
an art.
If we wished to define the identity of chess, we should present it as a game-sport, with scientific
structure, with fine art features, which stresses cultural and recreational components, with strong
social interest and a very important influence on education. So, chess is all these combined, but it
is even more. It is a way to live.
Chess theory consists of a whole philosophy, which teaches how to face even the most difficult
of situations, always depending on our abilities, as they have been cultivated through chess. This is
why millions of people around the world, learn to play chess and never abandon it.
Chess, as a sport and science, offers the most in the teaching process and spiritual development,
at each level of education.
● Teaches us to work in a resourceful and scientific manner.
● Teaches self-control.
● Nurtures moral values, such as determination, diligence, assiduity, self-criticism and objectivity.
● Advances social integration, through working in groups, taking responsibilities and imparting
knowledge and experience.
● Absorbs aggression and helps in understanding and getting familiar with methodical ways of
thinking.
● Improves the length of mental concentration and working.
● Develops critical thinking, as the chess player works on observing, comparing, classifying, pri-
oritising, assuming and predicting, analysing and verifying.
● Improves the abilities of memory and creative imagination.
● Develops logical-mathematical thinking and ability in problem solving
● Teaches attaining desirable goals, through the development of individual skills, without the in-
terference of any kind of luck.
Studies in American universities have shown that the students who play chess have a higher per-
formance in their finals by about 17%! For all the reasons mentioned above, many Ministries of
Education in various countries grant the champions of the Youth Individual Championships bo-
nuses for their studies.

Origins & Myths
There are many stories about the origins of chess, most of which are not true. There is some por-
tion of truth in those myths, but often there is also a lot of imagination of the people that made
them up.
One of the best stories is about a wise Brahman and his Maharaja, who lived in India. The
Brahman was called Sissa and by order of the Maharaja, designed a game similar to real battle.
This game looked like a false war and was played on a piece of wood, just like modern chess-
boards.
The Maharaja was so excited that he told the Brahman he could have anything he asked for. To
the Maharaja's great astonishment, Sissa did not ask for gold, valuable stones or anything with
great value in his kingdom. Sissa just wanted to have some rice, which was and still is part of the
basic nutrition in the countries of Eastern Asia. All Sissa wanted was to be paid using the battle
field on which the game he created is conducted. He asked for one grain of rice on the first square,
two grains of rice on the second square, four grains on the third, eight on the fourth and so on con-
stantly doubling the quantity.
The Maharaja was very pleased; because he thought this way he would have a beautiful game at
an exceptionally low cost. He told Sissa to go down to the palace store and get paid by his servants
immediately. Then Sissa explained that this was not possible, because the total amount of rice
grains needed to pay him was 18,446,744,073,709,551,615.
This amount of rice did not exist, not only in his kingdom or the other kingdoms of India by that
time, but not even in the whole world! Even if it had existed, the whole of the king’s riches would
not be enough to buy that much rice.
The story tells that the Maharaja did not know what to admire the most, Sissa's invention or his
cleverness in being paid! He gave him a big farm and enough presents to live comfortably for the
rest of his life. He, however, did not want to leave his Maharaja and stayed with him to advise him
in times of trouble.
The game made by Sissa was the ancestor of chess. After a few changes in the way the pieces
move, which took whole centuries to be accepted, modern chess appeared around 1500, now with
many millions of players and fans. Even if Sissa did not actually exist, the ideas of his story are
still alive.

The Chessboard
The game of chess was invented about two
XABCDEFGHY
thousand years ago in India (then traveled to 8-+-}-+-+(
Persia, reaching Europe later) and is the old-
est game we know. Chess is played by two
7+-+{+-+-'
opponents and you may win, lose or draw. 6-+-}-+-+&
To play chess you will need a chessboard
and two armies (pieces) of opposite colour - 5+-+{+-+-%
one of white and one of black. 4-+-}-+-+$
The player of the white pieces always
starts the game and then each player plays 3+-+{+-+-#
his move in turn.
Here are all the different pieces and values:
2-+-}-+-+"
K
1+-+{+-+-!
King K -
Q Queen Q 9 Xabcdefghy
R Rook R 5 For practical reasons in recognizing the
L Bishop B 3 squares we will mention the English nota-
N Knight N 3
P tion:
Pawn P 1
a b c d
But before we begin learning about the e f g h
pieces and how they move, we need to start The horizontal rows of squares are called
learning about the board. Here we have a ranks. They count from 1 to 8 (bottom to
board: top):
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-% 5}{}{}{}{%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
As you can see, the board is of rectangular The black dots show the fifth rank (from
shape, with alternations of white and dark a5 to h5). There are 8 files and 8 ranks on
squares. the chessboard. So if you multiply 8 files by
There are totally 64 squares on the board - 8 ranks, we have a total of 64 squares. Each
theoretically the same number for each op- square on the board has a name, like you and
ponent: 32 squares! your friends!
On the chessboard there are vertical col- For example, the first square in the bottom
umns of squares called files. They count left corner, where the first file meets the first
from a to h, from the left to the right). The rank, is called a1, where you can see a black
black dots - show the d-file - from d1 to d8: dot on the following diagram:
XABCDEFGHY Besides files and ranks, there are also lines
of squares referred to as diagonals. Although
8-+-+-+-+( on files and ranks there are always squares
7+-+-+-+-' of alternating colour, when we speak about
diagonals we always refer to a series of same
6-+-+-+-+& coloured squares, either black (a3-c1) or
5+-+-+-+-% white (a4-e8).
4-+-+-+-+$ XABCDEFGHY
3+-+-+-+-# 8-+-+{+-+(
2-+-+-+-+" 7+-+{+-+-'
1}-+-+-+-! 6-+{+-+-+&
xabcdefghy 5+{+-+-+-%
It is important to remember that the letter
always comes before the number. So it is a1
4{+-+-+-+$
and not 1a. In the following diagrams, where 3}-+-+-+-#
the f-file meets the fifth rank, you may see
the black dots on f5 & f1:
2-}-+-+-+"
XABCDEFGHY 1+-}-+-+-!
8-+-+-+-+( xabcdefghy
Besides dividing the chessboard in black
7+-+-+-+-' or light squares, files, ranks and diagonals,
6-+-+-+-+& we also divide it in other ways.
Every square from the first to the fourth
5+-+-+{+-% rank is considered as White's territory, as
4-+-+-+-+$ every square from the fifth to the eighth rank
is considered as Black's territory.
3+-+-+-+-# Another way to divide the chessboard is by
2-+-+-+-+" separating right side from the left side.
However, in chess we call them differently:
1+-+-+-+-! right side (e-h) is the Kingside and left side
xabcdefghy (a-d) is the Queenside.
Important note: Remember that bottom
XABCDEFGHY right corner (h1) must always be a light
8-+-+-+-+( square, meaning white - a lot of players sim-
ply forget it…
7+-+-+-+-'
Practice
6-+-+-+-+& Maybe all the above seems difficult in the
5+-+-+{+-% beginning, but with the right practice/trai-
ning you will easily learn it.
4-+-+-+-+$ Your trainer will bring you a chessboard
without letters and numbers and you will
3+-+-+-+-# divide into two groups.
2-+-+-+-+" Everyone in turn will be called upon to
name a square your trainer will choose and
1+-+-+{+-! his group will win one point for every cor-
xabcdefghy rect answer!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 2nd * Category: Basics * Title: The King - The Queen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The King The white king begins the game always on
Now that you are familiar with the chess- the square e1, while the black king goes on
board and you know everything about it, it is e8, as shown in the previous diagram.
time to know the chess pieces one by one. You may lose any other piece during a
We will begin with the king. The king game and keep playing. But beware: if you
looks like an old man! ‘lose’ your king (checkmate) the game im-
Why is that? Because it moves very slowly, mediately ends.
just one square each time. The king though, Therefore, it is very important to make sure
is very important in chess. that your king is safe at any moment.
The king has no number value such as the It also means that you cannot move to a
other pieces do (and as we saw in the first square where your king could be ‘captured’
lesson), because losing the king (checkmate) by any of your opponent's pieces. Pay atten-
means the immediate ending of the game in a tion to this rule!
loss. XABCDEFGHY
But how do we place the kings? Let's see
the following diagram for their initial instal- 8-+-+Q+-+(
lation:
7+ mK-+r+-'
XABCDEFGHY
6-+k+-+-+&
8-+-+k+-+(
5+-+-+-+-%
7+-+-+-+-'
4-+-+-+-+$
6-+-+-+-+&
3+-+-+k+-#
5+-+-+-+-%
2-+r+ mK-+"
4-+-+-+-+$
1+-+L+-+-!
3+-+-+-+-#
xabcdefghy
2-+-+-+-+" This action could be called ‘moving into
1+-+-mK-+-! threat’ (check), which is definitely prohib-
ited! If you play like this by mistake, you are
xabcdefghy obliged to take your move back.

In the above diagram we may notice sev- XABCDEFGHY
eral of the forbidden cases!
As we have already mentioned, the king 8-+-+-+-+(
may move just one square in any direction
(horizontally, vertically or diagonally), as
7+-+ s+-+-'
you can see in the following diagram: 6-+-+-+ +&
XABCDEFGHY 5+-+-+-+-%
8-+-+-+-+( 4-+-+-+-+$
7+-+-+-+-' 3+-+-+-+-#
6-+-+-+-+& 2-+-+-+-+"
5+-+{}{+-% 1+-+-mK-+-!
4-+-}K}-+$ xabcdefghy
3+-+{}{+-#
2-+-+-+-+" XABCDEFGHY
1+-+-+-+-! 8-+-+-+-+(
xabcdefghy 7+-+-+ +-'
The black dots indicate the squares where a 6-+-+-+-+&
white king placed on the square e4 may
move. You should also remember that the 5+-+-+-+-%
two enemy kings may not move (be placed) 4-+-+ +-+$
next to each other!
3+-+-+-+-#
2-mK-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
Xabcdefghy
XABCDEFGHY
8-+ +-+-+(
Exercises
7+-+-+ +-'
In order to better understand how the king 6-+-+-+-+&
moves, try to solve the following exercises
(diagrams).
5+-+-+-+-%
What you should do: In the three following 4-+-+-+-+$
diagrams you should find a short, safe and
legal according to the rules, route for the 3+-+-+-+-#
white king to follow, to get from his initial 2-+-+-+-mK"
square to the square a8, moving only on light
squares. 1+-+-+-+-!
Indicate it using black dots or anything else
you like and your trainer understands!
Xabcdefghy
The Queen
Each opponent begins the game with only
XABCDEFGHY
one queen. The queens are placed on the 8-}-+{+-+(
square d1 for White and on d8 for Black, like
in the following diagram:
7+{+{+-+-'
XABCDEFGHY 6{}{+-+-+&
8-+-wqk+-+( 5}Q}{}{}{%
7+-+-+-+-' 4{}{+-+-+$
6-+-+-+-+& 3+{+{+-+-#
5+-+-+-+-% 2-}-+{+-+"
4-+-+-+-+$ 1+{+-+{+-!
3+-+-+-+-# xabcdefghy
Now let's compare with the rook or bishop
2-+-+-+-+" (pieces you will learn about in the next chap-
1+-+QmK-+-! ters) on the same square b5. The rook on b5
will have only 14 possible squares to move
xabcdefghy to, while the bishop on b5 will have only 9
The queen is the most powerful piece in squares.
chess (but not the most valuable!). The Let's see the following case:
queen's relative value equals 9 pawns, (see XABCDEFGHY
value table of 1st Lesson again) much more
than any other chess piece. 8-+-+-+-+(
For example, it is generally equal to 3
bishops or 1 rook and 1 bishop and 1 pawn
7+-+-+-+ '
and so on. 6-wq-+r+-+&
It is usually very important to keep in mind
the pieces' relative value, as shown in the 5+-+-+-+-%
first lesson. 4-+-+-+-+$
A higher relative value of your pieces
(compared to your opponent's), usually 3+-+-wQ-+-#
amounts to a better position and more
chances to win the game.
2-+-+-+ +"
Therefore you must take care of your 1+-vl-+-+-!
pieces, especially the queen and your rooks,
as they are the most valuable pieces on the xabcdefghy
chessboard. The white queen on e3 may capture 3 dif-
The queen moves as a rook and a bishop at ferent black pieces: the bishop on c1, the
the same time. It may move along files, ranks rook on e6 or the queen on b6.
and diagonals. Having in mind these choices, which move
It moves as a combination of the pieces we do you think that you should choose for
mentioned and therefore has huge power. White, expecting, of course, the best Black's
In the following diagram the queen has response after your move?
many choices. It is very important in chess to always try
If you count the black dots, you will find to look for the best response for our opponent
23 different squares to which the queen may that we can find. Only by understanding this
move from its current position on the square ‘simple advice’ will you be able to make the
b5: right choice!
Now let's study the different choices for Even if the bishop has the least relative
White. The most powerful piece he can cap- value (3 pawns) from the three choices, it is
ture is the white queen on b6: still the best piece to capture, as it is for free,
XABCDEFGHY meaning that White will not lose his queen in
exchange!
8-+-+-+-+( XABCDEFGHY
7+-+-+-+ ' 8-+-+-+-+(
6-wQ-+r+-+& 7+-+-+-+ '
5+-+-+-+-% 6-wq-+r+-+&
4-+-+-+-+$ 5+-+-+-+-%
3+-+-+-+-# 4-+-+-+-+$
2-+-+-+ +" 3+-+-+-+-#
1+-vl-+-+-! 2-+-+-+ +"
xabcdefghy 1+ wQ-+-+-!
However, by this choice, Black on his turn
will capture the white queen on b6 with the xabcdefghy
rook on e6. So the right choice is Qe3xc1, which is the
This action is called an exchange, because complete chess notation (we will learn details
White captures the black queen, but loses his in a following chapter): queen captures
own queen afterward. bishop on c1 (Qxc1 for short) and White
The meaning of exchange is valid only for wins valuable material. In the future, this
enemy pieces of the same value. valuable material gain will help to mate the
Capturing the black rook on e6 is even opponent’s king!
worse, because, as a response, Black may
capture on his turn the white queen using his
queen on b6.
This action would cause a loss of material
equal to 4 pawns for White, giving up 9
pawns (queen) to gain 5 pawns (rook).
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+ '
6-wq-+Q+-+&
5+-+-+-+-% Practice
4-+-+-+-+$ In order to better understand how the king
and queen move, split up into groups of two
3+-+-+-+-# and play some games with just the king and
2-+-+-+ +" queen on the chessboard.
Your trainer will correct any potential mis-
1+-vl-+-+-! takes and will help you to fully understand
the movements of these two pieces. Repeat at
xabcdefghy home the exercises on the king.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 3rd * Category: Basics * Title: The Rook - The Knight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rook The rook moves and captures in the same
When a chess game is about to begin, each way. Naturally, the rook (just like any other
side has two rooks on the board. piece), may not capture a piece of the same
Their starting positions are on the squares colour, but only the opponent's pieces.
a1 and h1 for White and on the squares a8 In the position in the previous diagram you
and h8 for Black. can see a white rook on h1. As long as there
Each rook is the equal of 5 pawns, accord- is no obstacle in its way, from h1 it may
ing to the relative value table we saw in the move to the left, meaning to the squares a1,
st
1 Lesson. b1, c1, d1, e1, f1 or g1.
Alternatively, it may move to the top along
the h-file, meaning to the squares h2, h3, h4,
h5, h6, h7 or h8.
The rook may not move to any other square
The rook moves like a train on rails, in a
from its place on h1.
straight line, up and down, left or right. The
To write down the rook move we write R
rook moves vertically or horizontally, but
(the first letter in the word Rook) before the
never diagonally:
name of the square to which it will move.
XABCDEFGHY For example, if the rook moves from h1 to
8-+-+-+-}( b1, we shall write Rb1.
This is the short notation. In the detailed
7+-+-+-+{' (long) notation, we should write Rh1-b1.
If the rook captures an opponent's piece
6-+-+-+-}& with its move, then we should add an x,
5+-+-+-+{% which is the sign for capture. In this case, we
should write Rxb1 in short or Rh1xb1 in de-
4-+-+-+-}$ tailed notation.
3+-+-+-+{#
2-+-+-+-}" To better understand the rook's strength,
1}{}{}{}R! let's take a look at the following example,
where we have added a white king on the
xabcdefghy square h2:

8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-% 5+-+R+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-mK" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+R! 1+-+-+-+-!
Then the white rook's mobility on h1 is
restricted. It may continue to move to the XABCDEFGHY
left, but it may no longer move up along the
file, because the king on the square h2 is in 8-+-+-+-+(
its way.
Always remember that no piece (apart from
7+-+-+-+-'
the knight) may pass above another! 6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+R+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
XABCDEFGHY
Exercises
In order to better understand how the rook
8-+-+-+-+(
moves, try to solve the following exercises 7+-+-+-+-'
(diagrams).
In the first two diagrams you must indicate 6-+-+-+-+&
the squares where the white rook may move, 5+Q+R+r+-%
starting from the square d5 in the first dia-
gram and from the square e2 in the second 4-+-+-wq-+$
diagram. You may indicate these squares 3+-+-+-+-#
using black dots!
2-+ vl-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
In the third diagram, indicate which of the
four pieces the white rook on d5 may cap- xabcdefghy
ture.
The Knight In the previous diagram we see how the
The knight is the piece with the strangest knight may capture eight pawns-dots, with-
move and we can also call it a horse. out any other pieces on the board - just
It is worth three pawns and is the only moves by White.
piece that can jump over other pieces. The knight captures any enemy piece that
The knight moves in the shape of an L. It is on the square the knight lands on; the short
can move from a light to a dark square and line of the letter L. As the movement of the
vice versa. knight is a bit difficult (compared to other
XABCDEFGHY pieces) try to remember the letter L.
To write down the knight's move we write
8-+-+-+-+( N (from the word knight) before the name of
the square where it is about to move.
7+-+{J{+-' For example, if the knight moves from e5
6-+{+j+{+& to f3, then we shall write Nf3 or Ne5-f3 in
detailed notation.
5+-JjsNjJ-%
4-+{+j+{+$
3+-+{J{+-#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
As we can see in the above diagram, the
white knight from e5 may move to the
squares d7, f7, c6, g6, c4, g4, d3 or f3.
Exercises
In order to better understand how the
knight moves, try to solve the following ex-
ercises (diagrams).
In the first three diagrams use asterisks and
The path it follows is indicated by asterisks black dots to show the squares where a white
and it then lands on the black dot, so that we knight may move, exactly as we have seen in
can clearly see the letter L. a previous diagram.
8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+{+{+-+& 6-+-+ sN-+&
5+{+-+{+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-sN-+-+$ 4-+-+-+-+$
3+{+-+{+-# 3+-+-+-+-#
2-+{+{+-+" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy Xabcdefghy
8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+k+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-+Q+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-% 5+-+-sn-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-+-+R+$
3+N+-+-+-# 3+N+p+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-+-+-+-!
8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-+N+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-wQQwQQwQ$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+-+Q+-+Q#
2-+-+-+-+" 2-+-wQ-sn-wQ"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-+QwQQwQQ!
In the following three diagrams indicate
which of the pieces the black knight may Practice
capture: In order to better understand how the rook
XABCDEFGHY and knight move, split into pairs and play
some games with just rooks and knights on
8-+-+-+-+( the board.
7+-+-+-+-' Your trainer will correct any potential mis-
takes and will help you to fully understand
6-+-+-+-+& the movements of these two new pieces. Re-
peat at home these exercises.
5vL-zPL+-+-%
4-+-zp-+-+$
Solutions to Exercises
3+n+-+-+-# The solutions to the previous, 2nd Lesson's
2-+-+-+-+" (King & Queen) exercises, are the following:
Diagram 1: e2-d3-c4-b5-a6-b7-a8.
1+-+-+-+-! Diagram 2: b3-a4-b5-a6-b7-a8.
xabcdefghy Diagram 3: g2-f3-e4-d5-c6-b7-a8.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 4th * Category: Basics * Title: The Bishop - The Pawn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bishop b5, c4, d3, f1 or on the other diagonal: h5,
The bishop is a long range piece (just like g4, f3 or d1.
the queen and rook), as it may move very To write down the bishop's move we write
quickly from one end of the board to the B (the first letter in the word Bishop) before
other. the name of the square where it is about to
In some languages it is also called ‘fool’ or move.
‘crazy’, as it exclusively moves diagonally. When the bishop moves from e2 to h5, then
Each side has two bishops. One that moves we write Bh5 or Be2-h5. When in the same
exclusively on light squares (f1 & c8) and move it captures an enemy piece on h5, then
one that moves exclusively on dark squares we write Bxh5 or Be2xh5.
(c1 & f8) Getting back to the diagram, we may notice
The bishop has the same value as three that the bishop may capture all black dots in
pawns, exactly like the knight, so the two just 10 moves! For example, following the
pieces are of equal strength. path d1-f3-g4-h5-g6-d3-c4-b5-a6-f1.
Let's take a look at the following example:
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-'
6{+-+-+-+&
Exercises
5+{+-+-+{% In order to better understand how the
4-+{+-+{+$ bishop moves, try to solve the following ex-
ercises (diagrams).
3+-+{+{+-# In the first two diagrams you must indicate
2-+-+L+-+" the squares where a white bishop from the
square d5, in the first diagram, and from the
1+-+{+{+-! square g6, in the second diagram, may move.
You may indicate these squares with black
xabcdefghy dots!
We notice that the white bishop on e2, may In the third diagram, indicate which pieces
choose to move to one of the 9 squares: a6, the white bishop on d5 may capture.

XABCDEFGHY The Pawn
In chess every piece is of some value. Their
8-+-+-+-+( relative values vary during a game, but we
use a median to simplify things.
7+-+-+-+-' When a game begins, the pawns are the
6-+-+-+-+& least powerful pieces on the board.
Their relative value is just 1 point, com-
5+-+L+-+-% pared to other pieces that vary from 3 to 9
4-+-+-+-+$ pawns each.
However, as opposed to every other piece,
3+-+-+-+-# each side has 8 pawns to begin with! In addi-
tion, pawns have certain special abilities that
2-+-+-+-+" no other piece has.
1+-+-+-+-! The pawns are placed on the 2nd and 7th
rank of the board, as in the following dia-
Xabcdefghy gram:
XABCDEFGHY
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+(
8-+-+-+-+( 7zppzppzppzpp'
7+-+-+-+-' 6-+-+-+-+&
6-+-+-+L+& 5+-+-+-+-%
5+-+-+-+-% 4-+ + +-+$
4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-#
3+-+-+-+-# 2PzPPzPPzPPzP"
2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-!
1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy
Xabcdefghy The pawns move straight and always for-
ward, one square at a time (like the king).
XABCDEFGHY However, a pawn may move two squares
forward in one single move from its starting
8-+-+-+-+( position.
In other words, if a pawn is still in its start-
7+-zp-+P+-' ing position, you may choose to advance it
6-+-+-+-+& one or two squares forward.
This is also a quite important rule to re-
5+-+L+-+-% member and use if necessary.
4-+-+-+-+$ As soon as the pawn moves (one or two
squares), it may then advance just one square
3+n+-+p+-# on any further move.
In the following diagram, we notice that
2-+-+-+-+" the white pawn on c2 (or the black one on
1+-+-+-+-! a7) may choose to move to c3 or c4 (or a6 &
a5). But the rest of the pawns (on h4 and on
Xabcdefghy e6) may just move one square (h5 & e5).

XABCDEFGHY The following example is enlightening:
White may continue with the move e4xd5:
8-+-+-+-+( XABCDEFGHY
7zp-+-+-+-' 8-+-+-+-+(
6{+-+p+-+& 7+-+-+-+-'
5}-+-}-+{% 6-+-+-+-+&
4-+{+-+-zP$ 5+-+p+-+-%
3+-}-+-+-# 4-+-+P+-+$
2-+P+-+-+" 3+-+-+-+-#
1+-+-+-+-! 2-+-+-+-+"
xabcdefghy 1+-+-+-+-!
When a pawn faces a piece placed in front
of it, as in the following diagram, then the xabcdefghy
pawn is immobilised and may not advance. The pawns are the only pieces that may not
move backwards!
That means that the white pawns start from
the second rank on the board, advancing to-
wards the eighth rank, while the black pawns
start from the seventh and move towards the
first rank.
Our goal is to manage to get at least one of
our pawns onto its last rank.
But what for? What is on the other side of
the board? Something magical happens!
Pawns hide a great secret. They are the
XABCDEFGHY only piece that when reaching their last rank
8-+-+-+-+( are transformed into a different, more valu-
able piece - to whatever we want!
7+ + +-+-' But remember: transformation into a king
is forbidden!
6-+-+-+p+& XABCDEFGHY
5+p+-+-zP-% 8-+-+Q+-+(
4-zP-zp-+-+$ 7+-+-}-+-'
3+-+P+-+-# 6-+-+{+-+&
2-+-+-+-+" 5+-+-}-+-%
1+-+-+-+-! 4-+-+P+-+$
xabcdefghy 3+-+-+-+-#
None of the pawns in the above diagram
may advance! The pawns though, differ from 2-+-+-+-+"
other pieces when they capture something.
Pawns move only forward, but capture di- 1+-+-+-+-!
agonally - remember this rule! xabcdefghy
In that case, it must not remain a pawn, but square from which the pawn moves and the
must transform into any other piece it square on which it arrives. In this example
chooses, meaning queen, rook, bishop or we shall write 1.c6-c7.
knight. Let's see another example. When a pawn
Naturally, in most cases the pawn becomes moves from g4 to g3 (for Black), we shall
a queen, since she is the most powerful piece just write 1…g3 in short and 1…g4-g3, if
on the board. you use detailed notation.
Also remember: it may not change colour When a pawn promotes (reaches the last
during transformation! square on its rank), for example to a queen
A fun game to play is ‘pawn war’ with all 8 on c8, we write: c7-c8Q or just c8Q.
pawns for both sides (but no kings). The goal Respect your pawns - they are the soul of
is to advance a pawn to its last rank and the the game! Do not forget that every pawn is a
side to do so first is the winner! potential queen…
We see a battle between pawns of both
sides, as below:
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-'
6-+P+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+ +-+p+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+ +-+-+" Practice
1+-+-+-+-! In order to better understand how the bish-
ops and pawns move, divide into groups of
xabcdefghy two people and play some games with just
The white pawn is already on c6, just two bishops and pawns on the board.
squares away from promoting on the square Your trainer will correct any potential mis-
c8, while the black one needs three moves to takes and will help to fully understand how
reach promotion or transformation on g1. the two new pieces move. Repeat these exer-
Therefore, if White moves, then he should cises at home.
play the pawn to c7. On his turn, Black will Solutions to Exercises
advance his pawn to g3 and on his turn The solutions to the previous, 3rd Lesson's
White will promote his pawn on its last rank, (Rook & Knight) exercises, are the follow-
on the square c8. ing:
To write down the pawn move we just Diagram 1: d1-d2-d3-d4-d6-d7-d8 & a5-b5-
write the name of the square where a pawn c5-e5-f5-g5-h5.
moves. For example, if a pawn moves from Diagram 2: e1-e3-e4-e5-e6-e7-e8 & a2-b2-
square c6 to square c7, we shall only write c2-d2-f2-g2-h2.
1.c7. There is no need to write P (pawn) be- Diagram 3: Rf5 & Bd2.
fore the square, although you could, if you Diagram 4: g8-h7-h5-g4-e4-d5-d7-e8.
wish. We should mention that the pawn is Diagram 5: a1-c1-d2-d4-c5-a5.
also referred to as a soldier! Diagram 6: g7-h6-h4-g3-e3-d4-d6-e7.
In detailed notation, once more you do not Diagram 7: Ba5 & c5.
need to write P for the pawn. The only thing Diagram 8: Qc6 & Rg4.
you have to do is write the name of the Diagram 9: Qd1-Qd3-Qe4-Qg4-Qh3-Qh1.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 5th * Category: Basics * Title: Castling – En Passant - Chess Notation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Castling Let's examine kingside castling, beginning
Castling is a very special move, which each from the previous diagram. The white king
side may use at most once during the game. moves two squares to the right, to g1 and as a
Castling is a special move that allows you part of the same move, the white rook from
to move two of your pieces, the king and the h1 moves above the white king and is placed
rook, at the same time! on his left on the square f1. The final posi-
The purpose of castling is to hide the king tion:
near the corner of the board, behind your
pawns, from the dangers that might occur if 3+-+P+-+-#
it remained in the middle of the board. 2PzPP+-zPPzP"
1tR-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy
Black may do the same, by moving his
Castling may be done either kingside or king to g8 and his rook onto f8. See the fol-
queenside. Take a look at the following dia- lowing diagram:
gram: XABCDEFGHY
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+(
8r+-+k+-tr( 7zppzp-+pzpp'
7zppzp-+pzpp' 6-+-zp-+-+&
6-+-zp-+-+& Now let's take a look at the other case,
5+-+-+-+-% queenside castling. In some languages it is
also called ‘long castling’, comparing to the
4-+-+-+-+$ kingside one that is called ‘short castling’.
3+-+P+-+-# That is because in kingside castling the
distance between the king on e1 and the rook
2PzPP+-zPPzP" on h1 is just two squares, while in queenside
1tR-+-mK-+R! castling the distance is three squares.
Chess notation for kingside castling is 0-0,
xabcdefghy and for queenside castling 0-0-0.
XABCDEFGHY In this position White's best move is to
capture the black knight, thus gaining mate-
8-+ktr-+-tr( rial (Kxd2) However, afterward, even if the
7zppzp-+pzpp' white king later returns to e1, White will
have lost the right to castle (on either side)
6-+-zp-+-+& for the rest of the game.
5+-+-+-+-% XABCDEFGHY
4-+-+-+-+$ 8r+-+k+-tr(
3+-+P+-+-# 7zppzp-+pzpp'
2PzPP+-zPPzP" 6-+-zp-+-+&
1+-mKR+-+R! 5+-+-+-+-%
xabcdefghy 4-+-+-+-+$
In the diagram above the white king has 3+-+P+-+-#
moved two squares to the left, to the square
c1 and as part of the same move, the white 2PzPP+-zPPvl"
rook has moved past the white king and
landed next to it on the square d1. 1tR-+-mK-+R!
Black has also moved his king from e8 to xabcdefghy
c8 and his rook from a8 to d8.
In the position above White can and should
There are several restrictions on castling -
capture the black bishop on h2. However,
either temporary or permanent. You may not
that means that White will not be able to cas-
castle, when:
tle kingside, as his rook will have moved
1. The king has been moved, even if later
from h1. On the other side, the queenside,
on it finds its way back to its initial position
castling remains possible.
on e1 or e8.
Although castling is generally important
2. If the rook with which you want to castle
(especially when the queens are still on the
has been moved, even if later it was placed
board), gaining material is usually even more
back in its initial position (a1, h1, a8, h8).
important.
Castling can only be done with a rook that
has not been moved.
In order to better understand these two
cases, we may take a look at some examples:
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+k+-tr(
7zppzp-+pzpp'
6-+-zp-+-+& We will now take a look at some cases
where castling is forbidden at least temporar-
5+-+-+-+-% ily, but may happen later, provided the cir-
4-+-+-+-+$ cumstances have changed:
1. The king is in check.
3+-+P+-+-# 2. The square where the king will land is
2PzPPsn-zPPzP" controlled (attacked) by an enemy piece.
3. When the king needs to go through a
1tR-+-mK-+R! square controlled (attacked) by an enemy
xabcdefghy piece.

XABCDEFGHY En Passant
There is one last rule we should know and
8r+-+k+-tr( it is the capture en passant. This expression is
French and means ‘in passing’.
7zppzp-+pzpp' Let's see what exactly happens with this
6-+-zp-+-+& move:
5vl-+-+-+-% XABCDEFGHY
4-+-+-+-+$ 8-+-+-+-+(
3+-+P+L+-# 7+-+-+-+-'
2PzPP+-zPPzP" 6-+-+-+-+&
1tR-+-mK-+R! 5+-+-+-+-%
xabcdefghy 4-+-zp-+-+$
In this example the white king is in check 3+-+-+-+-#
(attacked) by the black bishop on a5. There-
fore White may not castle on either side.
2-+P+-+-+"
However, White may play the move c3, pro- 1+-+-+-+-!
tecting his king from check and may later
castle. xabcdefghy
The en passant move occurs when a pawn
advances two squares from its initial position
(from c2 to c4 in the above diagram) and
In the next diagram Black may only castle ends next to an enemy pawn.
kingside and not queenside, as the squares c8
and d8 are controlled by the white bishops on XABCDEFGHY
g4 and h4. 8-+-+-+-+(
XABCDEFGHY 7+-+-+-+-'
8r+-+k+-tr( 6-+-+-+-+&
7zppzp-+pzpp' 5+-+-+-+-%
6-vllzp-+-+& 4-+Pzp-+-+$
5+-+-+-+-% 3+-+-+-+-#
4-+-+-+LvL$ 2-+-+-+-+"
3+-+P+-+-# 1+-+-+-+-!
2PzPP+-zPPzP" xabcdefghy
1tR-+-mK-+R! In this case, Black has a special choice (and
xabcdefghy just for this one time), to capture the white
pawn exactly as if the pawn had moved just
Remember that it is possible to castle one square up, from c2 to c3.
queenside later on, if the circumstances will Then Black will move his pawn from d4 to
have changed, meaning the bishops will have c3, behind the white pawn, which is then
moved or been blocked. removed from the board!
The rules are not so complicated and can A little bit complicated again, but practice
be easily learned with a little practice! will help you to understand it!
XABCDEFGHY Chess Notation
Even though we have already seen chess
8-+-+-+-+( notation (piece by piece), it would be good to
remember some basics.
7+-+-+-+-' When a pawn moves, it is enough to write
6-+-+-+-+& the name of the square to which the pawn is
moved. For example, f4 means that a pawn
5+-+-+-+-% has been moved to this square.
4-+-+-+-+$ For other pieces' moves we can write the
first letter (as a capital) of the piece that
3+-zp-+-+-# moves and then the name of the square.
K for the king, Q for the queen, R for the
2-+-+-+-+" Rook, B for the bishop and N for the knight.
1+-+-+-+-! For example, Nf3-g5 means that the knight
moved from f3 to g5. You could also write
xabcdefghy Ng5.
In the above diagram you see the position If the same move includes a capture, then
after …dxc3 - the en passant capture. you shall write Nf3xg5 or Nxg5.
In the next diagram we can examine an- If two of the same kind of piece may move
other en passant case. to the same square, you should declare which
XABCDEFGHY one is moving. For example, if we have two
knights on f3 and b3 for square d4, then we
8-+-+-+-+( shall write either Nfd4 or Nbd4.
7+-+-+-+-' Practice
6-+-+-+-+& In order to better understand castling and
en passant, pair off and play some games
5+-+-+-+-% where you will use them. Your trainer will
4-+ zp-+-+$ correct any potential mistakes and will help
you to fully understand these two moves.
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+P+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
If White plays e4, then Black can respond
with ...dxe3!
However, it is important to remember that

you have this choice only immediately after a Solutions to Exercises
pawn moves two squares from its initial posi- The solutions to the previous, 4th Lesson's
tion. (Bishop & Pawn) exercises, are the follow-
If you do not use the en passant choice ing:
straight away, then this right is lost. Diagram 1: a2-b3-c4-e6-f7-g8 & h1-g2-f3-
Also, you may never capture a pawn by the e4-c6-b7-a8.
en passant move if this has been moved just Diagram 2: b1-c2-d3-e4-f5-h7 & h5-f7-e8.
for one square! Diagram 3: f3 & Nb3.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 6th * Category: Basics * Title: Check & Checkmate - Stalemate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check & Checkmate
Check is a threat towards the enemy king.
XABCDEFGHY
When the king is directly threatened by any 8-+-+-tR-+(
enemy piece, then we say it is in check. 7+-+-+-+-'
You can deal with check by:
6-+-+-+-+&
1. Moving the king to a safe square.
2. Interposing one of your own pieces so
5+-+-+-+-%
as to block check. 4-+-+-+-+$
3. Capturing the checking piece.
3+-+K+-+-#
Every game's goal is checkmate! By 2-+-+-+-+"
checkmate the game immediately ends in a
win. If your opponent manages to check- 1+-+k+-+-!
mate, then you lose! Therefore, a game may xabcdefghy
end in three ways: win, loss or draw.
In the above diagram White may check-
Using chess notation:
mate by playing 1.Rf1.
1. If White wins, the result is 1-0.
2. If Black wins, then the result is 0-1.
3. If the game ends in a draw, then the
result is ½-½.
But what is the difference between check

and checkmate? The big difference is that
the opponent may escape check, while
checkmate immediately ends the game, since
the opponent can’t get away!
That is to say, none of the three previously
mentioned ways to defend check is possi-
ble!
In order to fully understand the difference, Also, in the following diagram White may
we should see some examples: checkmate in two ways:

XABCDEFGHY In the previous diagram we see an example
where check may be dealt with by interpos-
8-+-+k+-+( ing a piece.
Black avoids checkmate by moving (inter-
7tR-+-+-+R' posing) his rook from e7 to e1, blocking
6-+-mK-+-+& White's check.
But let's also take a look at the following
5+-+-+-+-% diagram. The black king is in check and may
4-+-+-+-+$ not move. Moreover, there is no possibility
to interpose a piece.
3+-+-+-+-# Is Black in checkmate? No, because the
white rook may be captured by the black
2-+-+-+-+" rook on a4.
1+-+-+-+-! XABCDEFGHY
xabcdefghy 8-+-+-+-+(
1.Ra8 or 1.Rh8.
On the other hand, moving any rook to the
7+-+-+-+-'
square e7 would be a check, because in that 6-+-+-+-+&
case the black king would be able to move
either to d8 or to f8. Any other move for 5+-+-+-+-%
White would not be check or checkmate. 4r+-+-+-tR$
Therefore the first condition to checkmate
is to attack (check) the enemy king with one 3+-+-+-+-#
of our pieces. It may be any piece apart from
our own king.
2-+-+-mK-+"
A king may never immediately attack the 1+-+-+-+k!
enemy king.
The second condition is what distinguishes xabcdefghy
check from checkmate. In the case of mate, Finally, we can remember that chess nota-
the enemy king has no escape square, nor tion for checkmate is #. The notation for
can the opponent interpose a piece, nor, fi- check is + and for a double-check (two
nally, can he capture the checking piece. pieces simultaneously give check) is ++.
XABCDEFGHY
Stalemate
8-+-+-+-+( There is another thing we should learn
7+-+-tr-+-' about - stalemate. Stalemate occurs when the
player to move:
6-+-+-+-+&
1. His king is not in check.
5+-+-+-+-% 2. No legal move can be made either by
4-+-+-+-+$ the king or by any other piece.
3+-+K+-+-# In stalemate, the game ends in a draw and

each player gets half a point.
2-+-+-+-+" This case may be disappointing to the side
1+-+k+R+-! having the more material, for example, king
and queen vs. king.
xabcdefghy Therefore, the dominant side should be
Now let's take a look at some cases of ‘al- especially careful.
most’ checkmate but not enough! Three examples:

XABCDEFGHY In all three previous examples Black is to
move and every case is a stalemate!
8-+-+-+-+( But in the following positions there is no
stalemate. The black king has no legal move,
7+-+-+-+-' but the black pawn is able to move!
6-+-+-+-+& XABCDEFGHY
5+-+-+-+-% 8-+-+-+-+(
4-+-+-+-+$ 7+-+-+-+-'
3+-wQ-+-+-# 6-+-+-+-zp&
2-+-+-mK-+" 5+-+-+-+-%
1+-+k+-+-! 4-+-+-+-+$
xabcdefghy 3+-wQ-+-+-#
2-+-+-mK-+"
XABCDEFGHY 1+-+k+-+-!
8-+-+k+-+( xabcdefghy
7+-+-zP-+-' XABCDEFGHY
6-+-+K+-+& 8-+-+-+-+(
5+-+-+-+-% 7zp-+-+-+-'
4-+-+-+-+$ 6-+-+-sN-mk&
3+-+-+-+-# 5zP-+-+-+-%
2-+-+-+-+" 4-+K+-+-+$
1+-+-+-+-! 3+-+-+-+-#
xabcdefghy 2-+-+-+-+"
XABCDEFGHY 1+-+-+-tR-!
8-+-+-+-+( xabcdefghy
It is important to remember that stalemate
7zp-+-+-+-' occurs only when no piece of the stalemated
king is able to move.
6P+-+-sN-mk& The following, constructed game, ends in
5+-+-+-+-% the quickest stalemate there is! No piece has
been exchanged or lost and this fact makes
4-+K+-+-+$ the game even more beautiful and rare!
3+-+-+-+-# Of course, both sides' moves are of no
point, no reason, just with a certain plan, to
2-+-+-+-+" make this rare stalemate!
1.d4 e5 2.Qd2 e4 3.Qf4 f5 4.h3 Bb4+
1+-+-+-tR-! 5.Nd2 d6 6.Qh2 Be6 7.a4 Qh4 8.Ra3 c5
xabcdefghy 9.Rg3 f4 10.f3 Bb3 11.d5 Ba5 12.c4 e3 (D)

XABCDEFGHY Practice
1. In order to better understand check,
8rsn-+k+ntr( checkmate and stalemate, split up into pairs
and play some games where you will use
7zpp+-+-zpp' them. Your trainer will correct any potential
6-+-zp-+-+& mistakes and will help you to fully under-
stand these two moves.
5vl-zpP+-+-% 2. Also, repeat at home the five previous
4P+P+-zp-wq$ lessons and the exercises they contain, so as
to remember every detail and combine the
3+l+-zpPtRP# acquired knowledge.
In this way, you will be fully prepared to
2-zP-sNP+PwQ" enjoy many chess games, playing correctly
1+-vL-mKLsNR! and by all the rules!
xabcdefghy
No white piece can move and as it is
White's turn to move, the game is a stale-
mate and, therefore, a draw!
½-½
Ready
After learning the moves and everything
we should know, we are ready to play a
game of chess, we are ready to begin.
The board and the two players' pieces
should be set up exactly as seen in the next
diagram:
XABCDEFGHY 3. Finally, you should do the next simple
8rsnlwqkvlntr( exercise, which has two solutions, depend-
ing on which side is about to move!
7zppzppzppzpp' You should answer what happens if it is
White to move and what happens if it is
6-+-+-+-+& Black to move!
5+-+-+-+-% XABCDEFGHY
4-+-+-+-+$ 8K+-+-+-+(
3+-+-+-+-# 7+-wq-+-+-'
2PzPPzPPzPPzP" 6-+k+-+-+&
1tRNvLQmKLsNR! 5+-+-+-+-%
xabcdefghy 4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
From the next lesson we will continue
practicing on a different basis!
xabcdefghy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 7th * Category: Basics * Title: Checkmate - King & Queen vs. King
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checkmate - King & Queen vs. King The white king on d6 dominates the enemy
Every typical checkmate requires coopera- king on d8 and is perfectly placed.
tion between at least two pieces. 1.Qd5
The dominant side's king has a decisive We find the solution by thinking of improv-
part to play in pushing the enemy king to the ing the worst placed white piece! Other good
edge of the board. moves are 1.Qa4 and 1.Qg4. All three moves
The most typical mate we should know is result in an easy mate either on a8, or on g8,
checkmate with king & queen vs. king. This depending on how Black answers.
specific endgame may occur in almost every 1...Ke8
game. Or 1...Kc8 2.Qa8 #.
Usually, after we gain some material, we 2.Qg8 #
exchange pieces and (might) promote one of 1-0
our pawns into a queen.
Naturally, there may be many variations,
but here we will carefully examine the main
idea.
Let's see an example:
The simplest checkmate comes from a
XABCDEFGHY coordinated attempt by the two pieces, the
8-+-mk-+-+( king to push the enemy monarch to the back
rank (with the casual checking by the
7+-+-+-+-' queen), in order to isolate it at the (any) end
of the board.
6-+-mK-+-+& It is important to remember that for this
5+-+-+-+-% specific mate to occur, the enemy king needs
to be isolated at any end of the board,
4-+-+-+-+$ horizontally or vertically!
3+-+-+-+-# The king's part in cooperating with the
queen is double. Not only does he help his
2-+-+-+-+" queen to restrain the enemy king at the end
1+-+Q+-+-! of the board, but also helps in checkmating,
either by supporting the queen or by
xabcdefghy excluding escape squares.

8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+Q+-mk(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-+-+-+K+&
5+-+k+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+Q+$ XABCDEFGHY
3+-+-+-+-# 8-+-+-+-mk(
2-+-mK-+-+" 7+-+-+K+-'
1+-+-+-+-! 6-+-+-+-+&
xabcdefghy 5+-+-+-+Q%
But let's see what actually happens:
1.Kc3 Ke5 2.Kc4 Kd6 3.Kd4 Kc6 4.Qe6+
Let's see yet another technique:
Kb5 5.Qd6 Ka4 6.Kc4 Ka5 7.Qh6!
Or any other ‘waiting’ move on the 6th rank, XABCDEFGHY
apart from 7.Qc6?, when stalemate would 8-+-+-+-+(
occur (!), a rather usual and common begin-
ners’ mistake. 7+-+-+-+-'
7...Ka4 8.Qa6 #
1-0 6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-mk-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
Typical checkmate positions 3+-+-+-+-#
In order to know what we want to do, we
need images of the final position, check- 2-+-+-+-+"
mate! The next diagrams (half) show final 1+-wQ-mK-+-!
mating positions:
XABCDEFGHY xabcdefghy
In our diagram, the black king is in the mid-
8-+-+-+-mk( dle of the board. White must isolate it at the
edge of the board:
7+-+-+-wQ-' 1.Qc4
6-+-+-mK-+& The queen moves to a square near to the
enemy king. The placement of the two
5+-+-+-+-% pieces reminds us a bit of the knight's move.
Next, it will guide the king to the end of the
XABCDEFGHY board, using this ‘knight move’. The next
8-+-+k+-+( moves are important for learning or teaching
checkmate and it is good to repeat them sev-
7+-+-wQ-+-' eral times, until you are absolutely sure you
have understood them:
6-+-+K+-+& 1...Kf5 2.Qd4 Ke6 3.Qc5 Kf6 4.Qd5 Ke7
5+-+-+-+-% 5.Qc6 Kf7 6.Qd6 Ke8 7.Qc7 Kf8 8.Qd7
Kg8 9.Qe7 Kh8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY Achieving a Draw
In order to know what we want to do
8-+-+-+-mk( (whichever side we are on); we must know
when a game ends in a draw. Therefore, a
7+-+-wQ-+-' draw is achieved:
6-+-+-+-+&
1. If an opponent has no legal moves but
5+-+-+-+-% his king is not in check (case of stalemate).
4-+-+-+-+$ 2. If achieving checkmate is impossible.
3. By common agreement between the two
3+-+-+-+-# players.
2-+-+-+-+" Moreover, one of the players may demand
1+-+-mK-+-! a draw:
xabcdefghy 1. If each player makes 50 moves without
The black king has been restrained at the capturing any piece and without moving any
edge of the board, but here we must pay pawn. A whole move is considered when
attention! The queen must not further ap- both opponents have moved once.
proach the king, as, if it moves to f7; there 2. If the same position occurs three times,
will be stalemate and a draw! with the same opponent to move and the
But now the white king begins his journey, same rights in terms of possible moves (see
helping his queen in achieving checkmate, castling, en passant etc.).
by working together!
10.Kf2 Kg8 11.Kg3 Kh8 12.Kg4 Kg8 Practice
13.Kg5 Kh8 14.Kg6 Kg8 15.Qe8 # (D) In order to better understand mating with
XABCDEFGHY king and queen vs. king, pair off and play
some games where you will either try to
8-+-+Q+k+( checkmate (if you have the queen) or defend
for at least 50 moves or stalemate (if you do
7+-+-+-+-' not have the queen). Your trainer will cor-
6-+-+-+K+& rect any potential mistakes and will help you
to fully understand them.
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
You should practice this mate several
times. As we have said, this specific end-
game occurs very often and it is important to
know how to handle it, to ensure victory and
avoid potential stalemate. For the six following exercises, given to
Especially, if your opponent is extremely you to practice, we give no solutions, as the
stubborn and refuses to quit! Resignation is cases of checkmate and the possible moves
quite rare among beginners, as stalemate is are many. Just be careful to be within the
always lurking! limit of 50 moves!
1ABCDEFGH○ 4ABCDEFGH○
8-+-+-+-+( 8Q+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+k+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4Q+-+-mK-+$ 4-+-+-mK-+$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+" 2-+k+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-+-+-+-!
8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-wQ(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-mK-+-+-+&
5+-+k+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+" 2-+-+-mk-+"
1wQ-+-+-+K! 1+-+-+-+-!
8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-mk-+-+-+& 6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+Q% 5+-+-+k+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+K+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-mK-+-+" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-wQ-+-+-!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 8th * Category: Basics * Title: Checkmate - King & Rook vs. King
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checkmate - King & Rook vs. King
Checkmating with king and rook vs. king
XABCDEFGHY
is a little more difficult than checkmating 8-+-+-tR-mk(
with king and queen vs. king.
That is because the enemy king is able to
7+-+-+-+-'
attack the rook in a way that is impossible in 6-+-+-+K+&
the case of the queen.
The king and rook first need to restrain the 5+-+-+-+-%
enemy king at the end of the board (as usual)
and then proceed to checkmate.
4-+-+-+-+$
3+K+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+k+R+-+-!
xabcdefghy
Typical Checkmate Positions
In order to know what we want to do, we
4-+-+-+-tR$
need images of the final position, check- 3+-+-+-+-#
mate!
The next diagrams (half) show final mat- 2-+-+-mK-mk"
ing positions: 1+-+-+-+-!
8k+-+-+-+(
7+-mK-+-+-' Therefore, since we know what the end
should look like, it is easier to proceed with
6R+-+-+-+& correct moves and plan!
Let's examine the procedure, with our first
5+-+-+-+-% example:

XABCDEFGHY practice and some more exercises, as al-
ways!
8-+-+-mk-+( Let's carefully (you gonna need to know
this well!) study another example:
7tR-+-+-+-'
XABCDEFGHY
6-+-+K+-+&
8-+-+-+-+(
5+-+-+-+-%
7+-+-+-+-'
4-+-+-+-+$
6-+-mk-+-+&
3+-+-+-+-#
5+-+-+-+-%
2-+-+-+-+"
4-+-+-+-+$
1+-+-+-+-!
3+-+-+-+-#
xabcdefghy
1.Rc7 A waiting move of restraint! The
2-+-mK-+-+"
black king must move to the corner, as now 1+-+-+-+R!
1...Ke8 is followed by 2.Rc8 #. 1...Kg8
2.Kf6 Kh8 The black king has nothing else xabcdefghy
to do. After 2...Kf8 comes 3.Rc8 #. 3.Kg6 1.Rh5 Now, the black king cannot get
Kg8 4.Rc8 # (D) 1-0 through the 5th rank, therefore, it is already
XABCDEFGHY restrained in three ranks! 1...Ke6 2.Ke3 The
white king rushes to help his rook! 2...Kd6
8-+R+-+k+( 3.Kd4 Ke6 4.Rd5 (D)
7+-+-+-+-' XABCDEFGHY
6-+-+-+K+& 8-+-+-+-+(
5+-+-+-+-% 7+-+-+-+-'
4-+-+-+-+$ 6-+-+k+-+&
3+-+-+-+-# 5+-+R+-+-%
2-+-+-+-+" 4-+-mK-+-+$
1+-+-+-+-! 3+-+-+-+-#
xabcdefghy 2-+-+-+-+"
The previous case was rather easy, as the 1+-+-+-+-!
black king had already been restrained
enough at the end of the board. xabcdefghy
But when the opponent’s king is in the The rook restrains the enemy king even
middle of the board, things are a bit harder, more. 4...Kf6 5.Re5 The restriction in-
as the dominant side needs to push him to creases move by move, step by step! 5...Kf7
the edge, in order to checkmate! 6.Kd5 Kf6 7.Kd6 Now the black king is
Naturally, it is not that difficult, we just forced to move even closer to the end of the
need to make some more moves and always board. 7...Kf7 8.Re6 Even bigger restriction
pay attention to avoid possible stalemate. of the black king - the end is nearer! 8...Kg7
In general, there are techniques to make 9.Ke7 Kg8 10.Rg6+ Kh7 11.Kf7 Kh8
this specific mate a piece of cake after some 12.Rh6 # (D) 1-0

XABCDEFGHY quires somewhat more effort! The steps you
need to remember are summarized as fol-
8-+-+-+-mk( lows:
7+-+-+K+-' 1. Use the rook to restrain the enemy king.
6-+-+-+-tR& 2. Support the rook with the king.
3. Restrain the enemy king to as few
5+-+-+-+-% squares as possible.
4-+-+-+-+$ 4. If restriction is not directly possible,
‘lose’ a move with your king or rook, in
3+-+-+-+-# order to force the enemy king to retreat
(waiting move).
2-+-+-+-+" 5. When the enemy king is at the end of
1+-+-+-+-! the board look for one of the typical mating
positions to end the game!
xabcdefghy 6. In general, by playing correctly, it is
Of course, the examples we may see are possible to achieve checkmate in 15 to 20
countless, but we will finish with one more: moves. Be careful though not to exceed 50
XABCDEFGHY moves, because then the game will end in a
draw!
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' Practice
In order to better understand mating with
6-+-+-+-+& king and rook vs. king, pair off and play
some games where you will either try to
5+-+K+-+-% checkmate (if you have the rook) or defend
4-mk-+-+-+$ for at least 50 moves or get stalemate (if you
do not have the rook). Your trainer will cor-
3+-+-+-+R# rect any potential mistakes and will help you
to fully understand them.
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
1.Rg3 A waiting move, exactly as we de-
scribe below. 1...Kb5 2.Rb3+ The black
king is even more restrained. 2...Ka4 3.Kc4
Ka5 4.Rb1 A second waiting move! 4...Ka6
5.Kc5 Ka7 6.Kc6 Ka8 7.Kc7 Ka7 8.Ra1 #
1-0
To the six following exercises, given to

you to practice, no solutions will be given,
Winning Steps as the cases of checkmate and the possible
According to all the above, we may say moves are many. Just be careful to keep
that mating with king & rook vs. king re- within the limit of 50 moves!

8-+-+-+-+( 8R+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+k+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4R+-+-mK-+$ 4-+-+-mK-+$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+" 2-+k+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-+-+-+-!
8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-tR(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-mK-+-+-+&
5+-+k+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+" 2-+-+-mk-+"
1tR-+-+-+K! 1+-+-+-+-!
8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-mk-+-+-+& 6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+R% 5+-+-+k+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+K+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-mK-+-+" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-tR-+-+-!
xabcdefghy abcdefgh
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 9th * Category: Basics * Title: Checkmate - The Back Rank
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checkmate - The Back Rank and especially of his back rank! The back
Mating on the back rank is one of the most rank mate lurks in many cases!
typical and may occur in any game and at XABCDEFGHY
any time! Its typical form:
XABCDEFGHY 8-+ tr-+k+(
8-+-+-+k+( 7+-+-+-zpp'
7+-+-+pzpp' 6-+-+p+-+&
6-+-+-+-+& 5+-+-zp-+-%
5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$
4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-tR-+-+-#
3+-+-+-+-# 2-zp-sN-zPPzP"
2R+-+-zPPzP" 1trR+-+-mK-!
1+r+-+-mK-! xabcdefghy
In this example White (who is about to
xabcdefghy move) faces trouble at his back rank. Of
The (white) king that is mated is attacked on course he has an extra knight, but not even
his 1st rank and his pawns (or other pieces) this positive aspect may save him! 1.Rc2
do not allow escape. Rxd2! 2.Rcxb2 Or 2.Rxd2 Rxb1+ 2...Rd1+
Naturally, cases where a side may forget Certainly not 2...Rxb2? 3.Rxa1! 3.Rxd1
the back rank mate are very common among Rxd1 #
beginners. 0-1
A typical example is the following one

from a game of the former World Champion
One of the first lessons a beginner may Jose Raul Capablanca. Pay attention to the
pay attention to is to take care of his king final combination:

□ Bernstein Ossip In the next diagram, where Black is to
■ Capablanca Jose Raul move, the combination, which can be
Moscow 1914 ○ played, is quite typical for a back rank mat-
XABCDEFGHY ing attack.
By guiding the white pieces and introduc-
8-+-tr-+k+( ing a small combination consisting of a
pseudo-sacrifice, Black achieves a quick
7zp-+-+pzpp' victory:
6-wq-+-+-+& XABCDEFGHY
5+Ntrn+-+-% 8-+-+r+k+(
4-+-+-+-+$ 7+-+-trpzpp'
3+-zp-zP-+-# 6-+-+-+-+&
2P+R+QzPPzP" 5+-+-+-wq-%
1+-tR-+-mK-! 4-+-+-+-+$
xabcdefghy 3+-+-+-wQ-#
White is pressured by the strong black
passed c-pawn and decides to win it. Rea-
2-+-+-zPPzP"
sonable, but in the end wrong! 1.Nxc3? 1+-tR-+RmK-!
Nxc3 2.Rxc3 Rxc3 3.Rxc3 Qb2!! White
expected just 3...Qb1+? 4.Qf1 Qxa2 xabcdefghy
(4...Rd1?? 5.Rc8+) 5.g3 and a possible draw. 1...Qxc1! The pseudo-sacrifice, introducing
But now he resigned, as he would either lose the combination. White's back rank is weak-
material, or be checkmated on the back rank. ened, since one rook is being removed,
Each case is very annoying! while the other is guided to a desirable (for
0-1 Black!) square! 2.Rxc1 Re1+ 3.Rxe1 Rxe1
#
Under normal circumstances, the king is 0-1
safe when none of the three pawns in front
of it has moved. However, in case an enemy
queen or an enemy rook threatens the king
on the back rank, without the possibility to
repel the attack, then it is a back rank
checkmate!
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-zPPvL-+"
1tr-+-mK-+r!
Practice
xabcdefghy In order to better understand mating on the
As we see in the above diagram, castling is back rank, try to solve the six following ex-
not necessary in this mate, which can be ercises (page 45, difficulty level 1). Next, try
made with the king in the middle of the to solve at home the further six exercises
board. In this exact example Black can mate (page 46, difficulty level 2). Repeat every
from either side using a rook (but only one!). exercise at home.
8-+k+-+-tr( 8-mk-+-+-tr(
7zppzp-+-+-' 7zplzp-+-+-'
6l+-+-+-+& 6Lzp-+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-% 5+Ptr-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-tR-+-+$
3tr-+-+-+-# 3+-+-+-zP-#
2-+-tR-zPPzP" 2-+-+-zP-zP"
1+L+R+-mK-! 1+-+R+-mK-!
2ABCDEFGH○ 5ABCDEFGH●
8-+-tr-trk+( 8-+-tr-+k+(
7+-+-tRpzpp' 7+-+rvlpzpp'
6-+-+-+q+& 6-+-+-+-+&
5wQ-+-+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+L+-+-+-#
2-+-+-zPPzP" 2PzPP+-+-+"
1+-+-tR-mK-! 1+-mKR+-+R!
3ABCDEFGH● 6ABCDEFGH○
8-+-+-+k+( 8-+r+-+k+(
7+-tr-+-zp-' 7+-wq-+pzpp'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-+-+-tr-+&
5+-+-+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4R+-+-+-+$
3+-+l+-+-# 3+-+-+-+P#
2-+rsN-zP-+" 2-+-tR-zPP+"
1tR-+-mK-tR-! 1+-+Q+-mK-!
1ABCDEFGH●Y 4ABCDEFGH●
8-+-+-trk+( 8r+-+r+k+(
7zp-+-+-zpp' 7+p+l+pzp-'
6-+-+R+-+& 6-zp-+-+-zp&
5wq-zpN+-+-% 5+-+Pwq-+-%
4-vl-+-tr-+$ 4 tR-+-+-+$
3+P+Q+-+-# 3zP-+Q+L+-#
2P+-+-+PzP" 2-zP-+-+PzP"
1+-tR-+-+K! 1tR-+-+-+K!
8-tr-tr-+k+( 8-+-+-+k+(
7+-wq-+pzpp' 7tR-+-+pzp-'
6p+-+l+-+& 6-+-+-wq-zp&
5+-+-zp-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-zp-+P+-+$ 4-+-+L+-+$
3+-+-+L+-# 3+rtr-zP-zPl#
2PzPPtR-wQPzP" 2-wQ-+-zP-zP"
1+-+R+-+K! 1+-tR-+-mK-!
8-+-tr-+k+( 8-+-+-+k+(
7+-+p+pzpp' 7+-wq-+pzpp'
6-+-+p+-+& 6-+p+l+-+&
5tr-+-wQ-+-% 5+ tr-zp-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+p+P+-+$
3+-+-+-zP-# 3tR-+-+-+P#
2q+-+PzPKzP" 2-zP-wQ-zPP+"
1+R+R+-+-! 1+-+-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy Xabcdefghy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 10th * Category: Basics * Title: Checkmate - The Typical Mates
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checkmate - The Typical Mates If the black king could attack any of the
Every typical mate requires the existence white rooks, then they would transfer to the
of at least two pieces of the same side. The other side of the board, continuing their
king takes part actively, helping to isolate ‘staircase’ without any distractions!
the enemy king on the edge of the board. XABCDEFGHY
In lessons 7 and 8 we took a look at typical
mates - king & queen vs. king and king & 8-+-+-+-+(
rook vs. king.
But unfortunately these mates are not
7+-+-+-+-'
enough for your education; you should learn 6-+-+-+-+&
some additional typical mates!
5+-+-+k+-%
King & Two Rooks vs. King 4-+-+-+R+$
XABCDEFGHY 3+-+-+-+R#
8-+-+-+-+( 2-+-+-+-+"
7+-+-+-+-' 1mK-+-+-+-!
6-+-+-+-+& xabcdefghy
5+-+-+-mk-% 1.Ra4 Ke5 2.Rh5+ Kf6 3.Ra6+ Kg7 4.Rb5
4-tR-+-+-+$ Kh7 5.Rb7+ Kh8 6.Ra8 #
1-0
3+-+-+-+-#
As you have already understood, this spe-
2-+-+-+-+" cific mate is actually easy and does not re-
1tR-+-mK-+-! quire the king's aid.
The rooks are placed on adjacent files or
xabcdefghy ranks and, following the ‘staircase’ way,
A very usual situation. The winning way is restrain the enemy king and finally ‘capture’
also referred to as a ‘staircase’! 1.Ra5+ Kf6 it (checkmate).
2.Rb6+ Ke7 3.Ra7+ Kd8 4.Rb8 # Remember that the job is done from a dis-
1-0 tance and no mutual support is required!

King & Queen & Rook vs. King King & Two Bishops vs. King
XABCDEFGHY Once again using the ‘staircase’ is neces-
sary, but in this case we need assistance
8-+-+-+-+( from the king.
7+-+-+-+-' XABCDEFGHY
6-+-+-+-+& 8-+-+-+-+(
5+-+-+-+-% 7+-+-+-+k'
4-+-+k+-+$ 6-+-+-+-+&
3+-+-+-+-# 5+-+-+-+-%
2-+-wQ-+-+" 4-+-+-+-+$
1+-+-+RmK-! 3+L+-+-+-#
xabcdefghy 2-+-+-+-vL"
An even easier mate, as it too does not re- 1+-mK-+-+-!
quire assistance from the king. The ‘stair-
case’ is once again rather useful; however xabcdefghy
the black king may not attack the enemy 1.Kd2 Kg6 2.Ke3 Kf6 3.Ke4 Ke7 4.Ke5
pieces. 1.Rf4+ Another way to win is by Kd7 5.Bg1 Improving the bishop placing, so
playing 1.Qe2+ Kd4 2.Rd1+ Kc3 3.Qd2+ that it controls more space. 5...Ke7 6.Be6
Kb3 4.Rc1 Ka3 5.Rb1 Ka4 6.Qa2 # or 6.Qb4 Kd8 7.Kd6 Ke8 8.Bd4 Kf8 The black king
#. 1...Ke5 2.Qd4+ Ke6 3.Rf6+ Ke7 4.Qd6+ has been restrained on the edge by the two
Ke8 5.Rf8 # bishops. White begins a diagonal ‘staircase’,
1-0 so as to push the enemy king to a8. 9.Bc4
Ke8 10.Bg7 Kd8 11.Bf7 Kc8 12.Kc6 Kb8
XABCDEFGHY If 12...Kd8 then 13.Bf6+ Kc8 14.Be6+ Kb8
15.Kb6 Ka8 16.Ka6 Kb8 17.Be5+ Ka8
8-+-+-+-+( 18.Bd5 #. 13.Bf6 Ka8 If Black tries to es-
7+-+-+-+-' cape by 13...Ka7 then White continues re-
striction by 14.Bc4 Kb8 15.Kb6 Kc8
6-+-+-+-+& 16.Be6+ Kb8 17.Be5+ Ka8 18.Bd5 #.
14.Kb6 Kb8 15.Be6 Ka8 16.Ka6 Or any
5+-+k+-+-% other waiting move apart from 16.Be5?? and
4-+-+-+-+$ stalemate! 16...Kb8 17.Be5+ Ka8 18.Bd5 #
1-0
3+-wQ-+-+-#
2-+-+R+-+"
1mK-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
Here mating is once again quick: 1.Re5+ In this checkmate, the king works together
Kd6 2.Qc5+ Kd7 3.Re7+ Kd8 4.Qc7 # with his two bishops to cut the enemy king's
1-0 escape exits, thus restraining it and pushing
it to the edge of the board. The mate is ac-
Remember that mutual support of the complished in one of the corners.
pieces is (almost) crucial to accomplish the Yes, it looks like a piece of cake when you
mate! know ‘how’ to finish the job!

XABCDEFGHY 2ABCDEFGH○
8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+k+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-mk-mKRtR$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-vLL+-+" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+K+-+-! 1+-+-+-+-!
Another example to practice. With your
trainer's guidance analyse more lines apart
from the main one: 1.Bc3 Kc5 2.Kd2 Kd5 3ABCDEFGH○
3.Kd3 Kc5 4.Ke4 Kd6 5.Bb4+ Ke6 6.Bc4+ 8-+-tRKtR-+(
Kd7 7.Kd5 Kc7 8.Bc5 Kd7 9.Bd6 Kd8
10.Bb5 Kc8 11.Kc6 Kd8 12.Kb6 Kc8 7+-+-+-+-'
13.Be7 Kb8 14.Ba6 Ka8 15.Bb7+ Kb8
16.Bd6 # 1-0 6-+-+k+-+&
Practice 5+-+-+-+-%
In order to better understand the typical 4-+-+-+-+$
mates, split up into pairs and play some
games where you will either try to check- 3+-+-+-+-#
mate (if you have the material) or defend for
at least 50 moves or stalemate (if you only 2-+-+-+-+"
have the king). Your trainer will correct any 1+-+-+-+-!
potential mistakes and will help you to fully
understand them. xabcdefghy
8-+-+-+-+( 8Q+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-+-+-mk-+&
5+-+-+k+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-mK-+-+$ 4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+R+-+-# 3+-mK-+-+-#
2-+-tR-+-+" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-+-+-+R!
8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-+LvL-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-% 5+-mK-+-+-%
4-mk-+-+-+$ 4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+KwQR# 3+-+-mk-+-#
2-+-+-+-+" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-+-+-+-!
The solution to the exercises of the previ-
6ABCDEFGH○ ous, 9th Lesson (Checkmate - The Back
8-+-+-+-+( Rank mate), are the following:
7+-+-+-+-' Difficulty level 1

Diagram 1: 1.Bf5+ Kb8 2.Rd8+ Rxd8
6-mk-+-+-+& 3.Rxd8 # 1-0
5+-+-+-+-% Diagram 2: 1.Qxd8 Rxd8 2.Re8+ Rxe8
3.Rxe8 # 1-0
4-+-+K+-+$ Diagram 3: 1...Rc1+ 2.Rxc1 Rxc1 # 0-1
Diagram 4: 1.Rd8+ Rxd8 2.Rxd8+ Bc8
3+-+-+QtR-# 3.Rxc8 # 1-0
2-+-+-+-+" Diagram 5: 1...Bg5+ 2.Kb1 (2.Rd2 Rxd2
3.c3 Rd1+ 4.Kc2 R8d2 #) 2...Rxd1+ 3.Rxd1
1+-+-+-+-! Rxd1 # 0-1
xabcdefghy Diagram 6: 1.Rc4! Qxc4 (1...Rc6 2.Rxc6
Qxc6 3.Rd8+ Qe8 4.Rxe8+ Rxe8 5.Qd7)
2.Rd8+ Rxd8 3.Qxd8 # 1-0
7ABCDEFGH○ Difficulty level 2
8-+-+-+-+( Diagram 1: 1...c4! 2.bxc4 Qa3!! 3.Qd1
Qxc1! 4.Qxc1 Rf1+ 5.Qxf1 Rxf1# 0-1
7+-+-+-+-' Diagram 2: 1.Qa7! Qa5 2.Qxa6! Qc7 3.Qa7!
6-+-+-+-+& 1-0
Diagram 3: 1.Rb8! Ra8 2.Ra1!! Qxa1
5+-+-+-+-% (2...Rdxb8 3.Rxa2) 3.Rxd8+ Rxd8 4.Qxa1
1-0
4-+-+-+-+$ Diagram 4: 1...Rxa3!! 0-1
3+-+-+k+-# Diagram 5: 1...Qxf2+!! 2.Kxf2 (2.Qxf2
Rxc1+ 3.Qe1 Rxe1+ 4.Kf2 Rf1+) 2...Rxb2+
2-+-+-+-+" 3.Kf3 Rxc1 4.Ra8+ Rc8 0-1
1+-+-+LvLK! Diagram 6: 1.Ra8+ Bc8 2.Ra7! Qb6 (2...Bb7
3.Rxb7 Qc8 4.Qd7 Qf8 5.Rc7) 3.Qd7!!
xabcdefghy Bxd7 4.Ra8+ 1-0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 11th * Category: History * Title: Chess as a Sport
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chess as a Sport example, we may mention two rather sig-
For many years, chess, all over the world, nificant ones:
has grown widely especially among the
youth. 1. A study made with the participation of
Many parents enroll their children to chess 4.000 pupils in Venezuela has shown that,
clubs or chess classes at school which are a after 4.5 months of playing chess, every
part of extra-curricular activities of the Par- child showed an important growth of IQ,
ents & Guardians Clubs. regardless of sex or their financial or social
In some schools, chess is included in the status.
‘flexible zone’ or even the school program. The Government in Venezuela was im-
It is now accepted that chess helps in de- pressed by this result and decided to intro-
veloping character and children's thinking, duce chess as a course in every school since
however all the positive influences of chess the year 1988-89.
on man may not be yet known.
There is a lot of evidence that shows chess 2. A study made during one year by pro-
is a very good and useful tool in children’s fessor Stuart Margulies in New York in
education and its contribution to improving 1993 was about the influence of chess on the
educational performance is significant. children's studying performance.
But what exactly is chess? Some people
say it is an art. Some say it is a science. Students of two classes from ten schools
Above all though, chess is a game. Like took part in this research and were divided
every other game (e.g. football, basketball into groups of the same level.
etc.) chess offers the participants feelings of In the first group the students played chess
joy, fun, sportsmanship and creativity. on a regular basis, while the students in the
However, the main difference from every second group did not.
other sport is that it exercises creative think- The study result showed that the group of
ing at a much higher level. children that played chess regularly had bet-
ter performance in studying than the other
Scientific Studies group.
For many years there have been studies These are two of the many researches until
concerning the influence of chess on man. now and prove that chess helps in develop-
They all confirm the beneficial effect of ing intelligence and concentration, as well as
chess on both children and adults. As an school performance.

Several similar studies in the USA, Russia, the responsibility for a bad result may easily
England and Belgium have shown that stu- be accredited to others, in chess, where the
dents who play chess have improved their factor of luck is almost non-existent, full
school performance up to 60% with better responsibility for failure but, of course, for
results in mathematics and linguistic classes, success too, belongs exclusively to the chess
as well as their general academic progress. player.
With no doubt, chess is a sport that ad- It is an individual sport that teaches fair
dresses every age. The first contact with play as well as respecting the opponent with,
chess may be made at any age, from kinder- as a typical example, the handshake before
garden to old age, as opposed to other sports. and after the game.
Therefore, by learning chess, one may find
a pleasant hobby for the rest of one’s life. 5. Hard Work - chess proves that success
in every aspect of life is gained only through
hard work, patience and hard work. The
chess player learns to pursue recognition
only based on his knowledge and abilities.
While, when at beginner level he may win
by chance or thanks to an opponent's illegal
move, he will soon understand that this kind
of approach will not be helpful against good
opponents.
6. Constant Learning - mistakes are always

inevitable, but it is very important to learn
The Positive Aspect of Chess from them and try to improve. The chess
Chess may be helpful in many ways to a player learns how to lose, as well. Loss is
child or an adult. Some of these are: inevitable, but what is most important is how
to handle it.
1. Decision Making - based on reason, as Concerning the causes of a loss, as well as
the sport's nature itself demands the chess the effort to improve, are factors that help in
player to have a scientific approach in their the child's general maturity and a chess
way of thinking. player's in general.
2. Cultivating Logical Thinking - he must 7. Socialisation - as it gets children (but

constantly look for new ideas, analyse each also chess players in general) in contact with
position to its individual elements, later other children of different ages, nationality,
combine all these elements to find the right sex, physique and character.
move, as well as correctly apportion the Thus, they acquire social interest and team
available time. spirit, when they take part in team games at
school or a club.
3. Development of Imagination - which
may prove to be an important element in a 8. Memory Development and Exercise - as
game, as it may show the right direction for at the same time it helps develop and exer-
making a decision in cases where many rules cise memory.
may be applied in a position and logical Chess theory, which children gradually
thinking may not give an easy answer. memorize, as well as the typical positions
Without imagination, chess would be a which they recall in their memory and use
bankrupt field that modern computers would in their games, result in cultivating mem-
have worked out. ory.
4. Personal Responsibility - as it teaches 9. Concentration - chess is a game that
taking it. In contrast to other sports, where requires constant and absolute concentration.
A small mistake by an instant of inattention ‘Chess should be part of the school pro-
or diversion may lead to loss. gram’
Fidel Castro.
The educational character of chess in the
field of concentration resides in the fact that Naturally, many general advantages have
the result of good (or lack of) concentration been mentioned at times. Advantages that
is directly visible to the young chess player develop multiple aspects, such as:
and, thus he or she understands its great im-
portance in every game they play. ● Knowledge abilities, like attention, mem-
Especially at young ages where concentra- ory and logical thinking. Basic skills for a
tion in studying and exams is required, chess person's growth.
may help by getting better results at school.
All these factors have led governments in ● Creativity, through problem solving.
over 70 countries to promote chess in differ-
ent ways, considering it to be beneficial in ● Critical thinking, improvement of the abil-
the education of young people. ity to evaluate strong and weak points, crea-
Moreover, over 30 countries, like Russia, tion of rational judgment and decision mak-
Iceland, Canada, Bulgaria, Spain, Slovakia, ing.
Slovenia and Venezuela have included chess
to the official school program. Since 2006, ● Moral sense, as improvement in general
Turkey, with an impressive move, included attitude is often noted.
chess in its official educational program by Furthermore, there are more specialized
training around 60,000 instructors at elemen- advantages that include:
tary school. (Comments - K. Tsiamis)
● Focusing - children are taught its benefits
by carefully observing through concentra-
tion. If they do not observe what is happen-
ing, they cannot respond to the needs, no
matter how clever they may be.
● Visualisation - children are asked to imag-

ine a series of actions before they happen.
Thus the ability of picturing is enhanced, as
the pieces first move inside their brain and
afterward on the board.
FIDE's Opinion ● Future Thinking - children learn to first

The educative advantages of chess are think and then act. They learn to wonder ‘if
many and varied. They are well sustained by I do this, what might happen next and how
a great number of researches around the can I respond?’ Through time chess helps in
world. developing patience and seriousness.
The (ex) Presidents of the USA and Cuba ● Responsible Choices - children are taught
agree: that we must not go to the first thing that
comes to mind. They learn to detect alterna-
‘Chess helps players develop thinking and tive choices and examine the advantages and
analysing and concentrating skills, greater disadvantages of various actions.
self-control and self-confidence...
There is strong evidence that chess in ● Specific Analysis - children learn to
schools works’ evaluate the results of specific actions and
William Jefferson Clinton. their continuations. Will this line help or
hurt me? They make better decisions when promoting chess at schools include the fol-
guided by reason, rather than impulsion. lowing:
● Abstract Thinking - children are taught 1. The game teaches patience. We need to
that in certain situations they need to avoid give the opponent time and space to think
details and study the situation through the and make his move.
bigger picture. They also learn to get the
motifs used in a context and apply them in 2. It teaches that decision must be a result
different, but relevant situations. of a serious thinking action.
● Planning - children are taught to develop 3. Chess teaches discipline. For example,
wider goals and take action to the right dias chess players know the touch move rule,
rection. They are also taught the need to they need to be disciplined, as what is
reevaluate their plans, as new facts change touched has to be played.
the situation.
4. Chess teaches justice. You can warn
● Multiple Simultaneous Subjects - children your opponent before attacking and keep
are encouraged to not be too much absorbed him aware of your moves and intentions.
at any price, but to try and evaluate many
factors at the same time. Sport
The word athlete derives from the Greek
‘The main advantage is that it contributes word ‘athlos’, meaning achievement. In
in developing strategic thought and concen- chess, this means that some are athletes of
trating, analytic skills and problem solving’ thinking, who achieve some goals by think-
Jacob Zuma (President of South Africa). ing more precisely, in a quicker, more me-
thodical, more analytic and productive way
The Ministries of Education around the and who almost always adapt to new situa-
world have been convinced. Among the tions and never run away, always having a
most impressive movements were those of strong will to win. These are the chess play-
Turkey, the USA and South Africa. ers. If a game shows our limits, a sport calls
In 2005, Ministry of Education started an us to surpass them.
ambitious plan to teach chess to every pupil A game, when stereotyped, becomes a
of elementary school, aiming at making the sport. In the sport of chess, there is no place
citizens cleverer and better. for inactive chess players, for people who
The Turkish Government has educated settle for what has been gained and rest.
40.000 instructors and about 2.000.000 chil- Indeed, among chess players there is a
dren now learn chess. common opinion that this should be avoided
The financial budget for chess programs in life in general. Chess has the richest his-
for 2011 in New York schools was tory, mythology (!) and bibliography of all
3.200.000 dollars. The achievements of sports and is a source of ethics and uplift of
chess in improving educational models and spiritual values.
socialisation at schools of Bronx and Harlem That does not occur just from common
are known. sense and experience but is primarily based
Recently, the government of South Africa on multiple scientific researches of reliable
announced an important program: Moves for scientists in not a few countries that prove
Life. A common effort among the Ministry the great advantages deriving from chess,
of Education, of Sports and Supreme Chess because it helps both young and old, not
Trust. only as a game, but also as a sport.
President Zuma stated: In summary, the Comments - K. Lykoudis & V. Panagio-
advantages we accumulate by teaching and topoulos.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 12th * Category: Strategy * Title: The Centre
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Centre Why is it so Important?
Taking and controlling the centre is a very XABCDEFGHY
important element in chess. But of course, in
order to understand this, we should first ex- 8rsnlwqkvlntr(
plain why.
7zppzppzppzpp'
6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-zPP+-+$
What is it? - Where is it?
The centre is defined by the central 3+-+-+-+-#
squares e4, d4, e5 and d5: 2PzPP+-zPPzP"
XABCDEFGHY 1tRNvLQmKLsNR!
8rsnlwqkvlntr( xabcdefghy
7zppzppzppzpp' The centre is controlled by pawns and the
6-+-+-+-+& above diagram is a good example of central
control.
5+-+{}-+-% By placing our pawns in the centre, we
achieve multiple benefits, such as:
4-+-}{+-+$ 1. Our pawns are perfectly placed in the
3+-+-+-+-# centre, controlling one or more central
squares: c5, d5, e5 and f5.
2PzPPzPPzPPzP" 2. The files and diagonals are open, allow-
1tRNvLQmKLsNR! ing our pieces to develop in an easier,
quicker and more balanced way.
xabcdefghy 3. Our knights and bishops are ready to
If we also add the adjacent central squares take important central squares with help
c4, c5, f4 and f5, then we get what is called from the queen.
the ‘Expanded Centre’ - just a bigger version 4. Our king will be able to castle quickly,
of the centre. being transferred to a safe position. In the

meantime our rooks will join and cooperate 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Nc3 Nd7
with the rest of our army. 5.Bc4 e6 6.0-0 a6 7.a4 b6 8.Re1 Ne7 9.Bg5
5. All the above will create the perfect 0-0 10.Qd2 Bb7 11.Rad1 Kh8 12.h3 Qe8
conditions to take the initiative and create (D)
threats towards the enemy pieces. XABCDEFGHY
The next diagram shows an (almost) ideal
developing strategy: 8r+-+qtr-mk(
XABCDEFGHY 7+lzpnsnpvlp'
8rsnlwqkvlntr( 6pzp-zpp+p+&
7zppzppzppzpp' 5+-+-+-vL-%
6-+-+-+-+& 4P+LzPP+-+$
5+-+-+-+-% 3+-sN-+N+P#
4-+LzPPvL-+$ 2-zPPwQ-zPP+"
3+-sN-+N+-# 1+-+RtR-mK-!
2PzPPwQ-zPPzP" xabcdefghy
1+-+RtR-mK-! White has achieved a perfect developing
form and is ready to begin the attack towards
xabcdefghy the black king.
It took White just 10 moves to develop all 13.Bh6 Ng8 14.Bxg7+ Kxg7 (D)
eight pieces in perfect positions and also XABCDEFGHY
castle. He is now ready to attack the enemy
camp or simply force the opposing side to 8r+-+qtrn+(
retreat. All this developing was based on
taking the centre, which began with advanc-
7+lzpn+pmkp'
ing the central pawns during the first moves. 6pzp-zpp+p+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4P+LzPP+-+$
3+-sN-+N+P#
2-zPPwQ-zPP+"
1+-+RtR-mK-!
xabcdefghy
15.Re3!
White has, firstly, weakened the black king's
defence by trading the dark-squared bishops
(an important defensive black piece) and he
How can it be Done? is now bringing his rook into the attack. His
We have just examined the why; but how control of the centre proves to be of signifi-
to do it? Let's take a look at some examples: cant importance!
15...Qe7 16.Nh2 e5 17.Bd5 c6 18.Bb3 Ngf6
□ Strange Mikkel 19.dxe5?!
■ Petersen Tom Petri But now voluntarily and wrongly he de-
B06 Denmark 2002 stroys his centre without an important rea-
son! A simple 19.Ng4 Nxg4 20.hxg4 Rad8 XABCDEFGHY
21.Rh3 would give him the advantage.
19...dxe5 20.Qd6 Qxd6 21.Rxd6 (D) 8rsnlwq-trk+(
XABCDEFGHY 7+p+-zppvlp'
8r+-+-tr-+( 6p+pzp-snp+&
7+l+n+pmkp' 5+-+-+-+-%
6pzpptR-snp+& 4-+PzPPzP-+$
5+-+-zp-+-% 3+-sNL+N+-#
4P+-+P+-+$ 2PzP-+-+PzP"
3+LsN-tR-+P# 1tR-vLQmK-+R!
2-zPP+-zPPsN" xabcdefghy
1+-+-+-mK-! Black has chosen to passively face the situa-
tion and White's centre is impressive. The
xabcdefghy attack begins!
White is just slightly better and finally won 8.e5 dxe5 9.fxe5 Ne8 10.h3 Nc7 11.0-0 b5
the game: 12.Qe2 Ne6 13.Be3 Bb7 14.Rad1
21...a5 22.Rf3 Rad8 23.Ng4 Ne8 24.Rd1 h5 Completing the development. Black has no
25.Nxe5 Nxe5 26.Rxd8 Nxf3+ 27.gxf3 Nf6 active way to continue, precisely because of
28.Rd6 Re8 29.Nd1 Re7 30.Ne3 b5 White's centre control.
31.axb5 cxb5 32.Rb6 a4 33.Bd5 Bxd5 14...Nc7 15.h4! Qc8 16.Ng5 f6? (D)
34.exd5 Ra7 35.Rxb5 h4 36.c4 a3 37.bxa3 16...Nd7 would have been better, although
Rxa3 38.c5 Ra1+ 39.Kg2 Nh5 40.Rb4 g5 after 17.h5 White's attack would continue to
41.c6 Rc1 42.d6 Nf4+ 43.Rxf4 gxf4 grow.
44.Nf5+ Kf8 45.d7 Rxc6 46.d8Q # XABCDEFGHY
1-0
Conclusion is easy: the centre is the most
8rsnq+-trk+(
important part of the game. We have to try 7+lsn-zp-vlp'
and lay claim to it and, at times, conquer it
as much as possible.
6p+p+-zpp+&
5+p+-zP-sN-%
4-+PzP-+-zP$
3+-sNLvL-+-#
2PzP-+Q+P+"
1+-+R+RmK-!
xabcdefghy
Let's take a look at another example: 17.Nxh7!
A simple sacrifice of a piece, which destroys
□ Smint Olaf Black's defence.
■ Karl Verner 17...Kxh7 18.Qh5+ Kg8 19.Bxg6 Rd8
E76 Boblingen 2000 20.Qh7+ Kf8 21.Nh6!
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 c6 And Black had to resign…
6.Nf3 0-0 7.Bd3 a6 (D) 1-0
□ Grivas Efstratios XABCDEFGHY
■ Stipic Arian
A68 Bella Crkva 1987 8r+-wqn+k+(
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4
(D)
7zp-+-+-vlp'
Here we see another opening (The King's 6-zp-zP-+pvL&
Indian) where Black temporarily gives
White the centre, aiming at claiming it later. 5+-zpNwQ-+-%
XABCDEFGHY 4-+-+-+-+$
8rsnlwqk+-tr( 3+-+-+-+-#
7zppzp-zppvlp' 2PzP-+-+PzP"
6-+-zp-snp+& 1+-+-+RmK-!
5+-+-+-+-% xabcdefghy
4-+PzPPzP-+$ An excellent position where three white
pieces (the queen, the bishop and the pawn
3+-sN-+-+-# on d6) may be captured by Black. But, in
every line Black loses (find how), while
2PzP-+-+PzP" White's main threat (25.Ne7+) is decisive.
1tR-vLQmKLsNR! Black decided to throw the towel in!
1-0
xabcdefghy
5...c5 6.d5 0-0 7.Nf3 e6 8.Be2 exd5 9.cxd5
Na6 (D)
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq-trk+(
7zpp+-+pvlp'
6n+-zp-snp+&
5+-zpP+-+-%
4-+-+PzP-+$
3+-sN-+N+-#
Practice
2PzP-+L+PzP" 1. Split up into two approximately equal
groups and play a game where you shall try
1tR-vLQmK-+R! to conquer the centre and develop your
xabcdefghy pieces in a balanced way towards it. In each
White, having the advantage over the centre, team you may talk to each other and you
decides to unleash his attack. But if he is not should all decide your moves together. Your
careful, he may lose not only the centre, but trainer will help you in decision making and
also his pawns! answer your questions.
10.e5 Ne8 11.0-0 Bg4 12.Ng5 Bxe2 2. With your trainer analyse the following
13.Qxe2 Nac7 14.Be3 b6 15.Rad1 dxe5 game: 1.h4 a5 2.Nh3 Na6 3.a4 g6 4.Ra3
16.d6 Ne6 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.fxe5 Bxe5 Bh6 5.Rg3 b6. Comment on the moves of
19.Rxf8+ Kxf8 20.Bh6+ Bg7 21.Rf1+ Kg8 both sides about the centre and their devel-
22.Qxe6+ Kh8 23.Qe5 Kg8 24.Nd5!! (D) oping value.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 13th * Category: Strategy * Title: Development Rules: The Knight & the Bishop
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Development Rules - The Knight In the previous diagram the knight on c3
One of the most common chess quotes is (which is a rather central square) is perfectly
‘knights before bishops’. Naturally, this rule placed, as it controls eight squares!
only refers to the opening and the correct On the contrary the knight on the corner
order of developing. However, just like any square h8 is considered to be badly placed,
other chess rule, it is just advice, nothing as it only controls two squares!
absolute. In general, you should try to develop your
In the opening, we ought to develop our knights towards the centre and, at first, on
pieces and especially our knights and bish- the third rank, if that is possible.
ops. Controlling the central squares is impor-
But in which order and where? We may tant and the knights have more power in the
follow the first paragraph quote. If there is a centre and not on the edge of the board -
tactical reason not to, then it is of absolute remember this advice!
priority. But let's take a look at the next typical
If there is a serious reason to develop a game:
bishop before a knight, then we should re-
spect it. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 (D)
8-+-+-+-sN( 8r+lwqkvl-tr(
7+-+-+{+-' 7zppzpp+pzpp'
6-+-+-+{+& 6-+n+-sn-+&
5+{+{+-+-% 5+-+-zp-+-%
4{+-+{+-+$ 4-+-+P+-+$
3+-sN-+-+-# 3+-sN-+N+-#
2{+-+{+-+" 2PzPPzP-zPPzP"
1+{+{+-+-! 1tR-vLQmKL+R!
Xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
All four knights have been developed to- □ Krivec Jana
wards the centre. Now it's the bishops' turn... ■ Yelica Mara
4.Bb5 Nd4 B23 Sibenik 2009
A popular line. 4...Bb4 is also good. 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 (D)
5.Nxd4 exd4 6.Nd5 XABCDEFGHY
6.e5 dxc3 7.exf6 Qxf6 8.dxc3 Qe5+ 9.Qe2
Qxe2+ 10.Bxe2 is a line with equal possi- 8r+lwqkvlntr(
bilities.
6...Nxd5 7.exd5
7zpp+pzppzpp'
Suddenly all knights were exchanged in a 6-+-+-+-+&
minimum amount of time. In general, no
side has lost or gained anything, as exchang- 5+Lzp-+-+-%
ing pieces of equal value is usual. 4-+-snP+-+$
7...Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Re1 c5 10.a4 d6 11.d3
Bg5 12.Bd2 a6 13.Bc4 b6 14.b4 Bd7 (D) 3+-sN-+-+-#
XABCDEFGHY 2PzPPzP-zPPzP"
8r+-wq-trk+( 1tR-vLQmK-sNR!
7+-+l+pzpp' xabcdefghy
6pzp-zp-+-+& 4.Nf3
4.Bc4 is also popular, but the game move
5+-zpP+-vl-% shows that White is more interested in de-
4PzPLzp-+-+$ veloping quickly and does not wish to move
the bishop on b5 once more.
3+-+P+-+-# 4...Nxb5 5.Nxb5 a6 6.Nc3 d6 7.d4
White opens the centre, aiming at a better
2-+PvL-zPPzP" development.
1tR-+QtR-mK-! 7...cxd4 8.Qxd4
The white queen is now perfectly placed in
xabcdefghy the centre, as no black piece may attack it. A
Both opponents have completed developing perfect case!
their pieces and are ready for the battle to 8...e6 9.Bg5 Qc7?
come. 9....Nf6 was compulsory, as developing is of
Everything that we examined so far has great importance!
nearly been completed: development, ex- 10.0-0-0
changes, castling, centre, etc. This is how a White has completed developing her pieces.
modern chess game is developed. On the contrary, Black has a lot of work
ahead of her.
10...Bd7 11.Rd2 e5?
An awful move, allowing the white knight to
be placed on the excellent central square d5,
from where it may unleash threats towards
Black's camp.
12.Nd5! Qa5?
Yet another poor move, although Black's
position was already quite problematic. Now
White impressively completes the game with
a simple idea!
The next game is significant for knights' 13.Qb4! (D)
possibilities:
XABCDEFGHY central d-pawn difficult, while on e2 it
would be more passive than on the previ-
8r+-+kvlntr( ously mentioned squares.
Naturally, this is a very simplified ap-
7+p+l+pzpp' proach, but, on the other hand, the basics
6p+-zp-+-+& may prove very effective!
Let's take a look at two examples of devel-
5wq-+Nzp-vL-% oping the bishop on c4. They are both taken
4-wQ-+P+-+$ from games of the famous Italian chess
player Gioachino Greco of the 16th century
3+-+-+N+-# and were played in Europe in 1620 - almost
400 years ago! His opponents (Black) are
2PzPPtR-zPPzP" not known.
1+-mK-+-+R!
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4
xabcdefghy Bb6 6.dxe5 Nxe4
A beautiful combination that ends the game Black thought it was to exchange pawns, but
immediately. If 13...Qxb4 then 14.Nc7 #. the truth is bitter.... White, on his next move
That's why Black decided to resign. creates a double threat (mate on f7 and the
1-0 knight on e4) and wins material and the
game:
Development Rules - The Bishop 7.Qd5 (D)
The bishops may and need to be placed on XABCDEFGHY
good diagonals, from where they will be
able to control many squares. 8r+lwqk+-tr(
Depending on the opening selection, one
bishop may be developed immediately,
7zppzpp+pzpp'
while the other will follow. For example, 6-vln+-+-+&
after 1.e4 (D):
XABCDEFGHY 5+-+QzP-+-%
8rsnlwqkvlntr( 4-+L+n+-+$
7zppzppzppzpp' 3+-zP-+N+-#
6-+-+-+-+& 2PzP-+-zPPzP"
5+-+-+-+-% 1tRNvL-mK-+R!
4-+-+P+-+$ xabcdefghy
1-0
3+-+-+-+-#
2PzPPzP-zPPzP"
1tRNvLQmKLsNR!
xabcdefghy
By moving the pawn in front of the king, Another game with a similar idea is the
the path for the light-squared bishop is open following:
to develop on a good square (usually c4 or
b5), from where it may take part in the bat- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6
tle. Note that developing the bishop on d3 5.Ng5 0-0 6.d3 h6 7.h4 hxg5 8.hxg5 Nh7
would make the development of the other 9.Qh5 (D)
XABCDEFGHY 7.Qc2 c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Qxc4 Qe7 10.Nc3
h6 11.Bf4 Nc6 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 (D)
8r+lwq-trk+( XABCDEFGHY
7zppzpp+pzpn' 8r+l+-trk+(
6-+n+-+-+& 7zpp+-wqpzp-'
5+-vl-zp-zPQ% 6-+-+psn-zp&
4-+L+P+-+$ 5+-vl-vL-+-%
3+-zPP+-+-# 4-+Q+-+-+$
2PzP-+-zPP+" 3+-sN-+-zP-#
1tRNvL-mK-+R! 2PzP-+PzPLzP"
xabcdefghy 1tR-+-+RmK-!
1-0
xabcdefghy
Developing the bishop on b5 is also popu- The white bishops rule. The light-squared
lar. An example: controls the long diagonal h1-a8 and the
darks-quared is also strongly placed. Black
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0- is having trouble to complete his develop-
0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8 ment without loss of material.
10.d4 Nbd7 11.Ng5 Bb7 12.Nbd2 (D)
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-wq-trk+(
Therefore, we may easily assume that the
7+lzpnvlpzpp' bishops ‘belong’ on open diagonals, ready to
6p+-zp-sn-+& attack multiple squares. Compare the bish-
ops in the following diagram and you will
5+p+-zp-vL-% understand:
4-+-zPP+-+$ XABCDEFGHY
3+LzP-+N+P# 8{+-+-+-+(
2PzP-sN-zPP+" 7+{+-+-+-'
1tR-+QtR-mK-! 6-+{+-+-+&
xabcdefghy 5+-+{+-+-%
Both opponents have developed their pieces 4-zP-zP{+-+$
(and their bishops of course!) on decent
squares and are ready for the battle to come. 3}-zP-+{zP{#
An example of ‘balanced development’ 2-vL-+PzPLzP"
where every piece takes part in the battle.
1}-}-+{+{!
In openings starting with 1.d4 or 1.c4, the
bishops are often placed on the long diago- Xabcdefghy
nals. Practice
‘Catalan’ is one of them: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 Divide into equal groups and play games
3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 on these topics.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 14th * Category: Strategy * Title: Development Rules - The Rook & the Queen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Development Rules - The Rook Definitely there is no reason for something
The rook is usually the last piece to take like this to happen again - the rook does not
part in the battle, because the other pieces feel comfortable crowded by so many enemy
come first! pieces!
It is very common among beginners to
start the game by moving the pawns in front Ideal Development
of the rook and then to move immediately So, it is better to develop the rooks when
the rook itself, especially to squares where it we have already exchanged some pieces or,
might be captured! alternatively, towards the centre and espe-
Many games like the following one have cially on the first rank.
been played: Remember that the rooks belong on open
1.a4 Not the best first move! 1...e5 Black or semi-open files. Their mission is to pene-
follows a correct strategy. (D) trate the enemy side and create threats, by
XABCDEFGHY gaining material.
8rsnlwqkvlntr(
7zppzpp+pzpp'
6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-zp-+-%
4P+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-zPPzPPzPPzP" Let's take a look at some examples:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nxd4
1tRNvLQmKLsNR! 5.Qxd4 d6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.0-0-0 By
castling, White secures his king and helps
xabcdefghy his rooks to develop 8...0-0 9.e5 Ne8
2.Ra3? A serious mistake, of which Black 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.exd6 cxd6
takes immediate advantage. 2...Bxa3 Gain- 12...Nxd6 allows a typical combination:
ing material (rook for bishop) and eventually 13.Nxc7 Qxc7 14.Qxd6, thus gaining mate-
the game! rial. 13.Bd3 Be6 14.Nf4 Nf6 15.Rhe1 (D)

XABCDEFGHY The Endgame
The most powerful phase of the game for
8r+-wq-trk+( the rook! As several exchanges have been
made and as the rook is a long range piece, it
7zpp+-+pzpp' may now comfortably move over long dis-
6-+-zplsn-+& tances and everywhere, thus creating threats
against the enemy side!
5+-+-+-+-% We will take a look at two famous and
4-+-wQ-sN-+$ almost identical examples, so as to under-
stand the various manoeuvres that strong
3+-+L+-+-# chess players conduct with precision and
special effectiveness.
2PzPP+-zPPzP"
1+-mKRtR-+-! □ Kan Ilya Abramovich
■ Capablanca Jose Raul
xabcdefghy C25 Moscow 1936
Both white rooks have been excellently 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Na4 Bb6
developed and are ready to get into battle. 5.Nxb6 Axb6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.Bg5
On the contrary, the black rooks stand totally Qxd4 9.Nxd4 Bd7 10.Bc4 Ne7 11.0-0 Ng6
passive. 12.a3 0-0 13.Rad1 Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6
The following diagram is illuminating for 15.Bd2 Ra4 16.Bd3 Ne5 17.Bc3 f6 18.f3
the rooks' liveliness: Re8 19.Rf2 Bc8 20.Bf1 Ba6 21.Bxa6 Rxa6
XABCDEFGHY 22.Bxe5 fxe5 (D)
8r+-+-trk+( XABCDEFGHY
7zppzp-+pzpp' 8-+-+r+k+(
6-+-+-+-+& 7+-zp-+-zpp'
5+-+-+-+-% 6rzppzp-+-+&
4-+-+-+-+$ 5+-+-zp-+-%
3+-+-+-+-# 4-+-+P+-+$
2PzPP+-zPPzP" 3zP-+-+P+-#
1+-mKR+-+R! 2-zPP+-tRPzP"
xabcdefghy 1+-+R+-mK-!
There are four rooks on the board. Three of xabcdefghy
them stand passive, as there are pawns in 23.Rd3 b5 24.Rfd2 c5 25.Kf2 Ra4 26.Ke3
front of them that restrict them. But the Kf7 27.Rd1 Ke6 28.Kd2 Rb8 29.Rc3 g5
fourth one, the white one on d1, is active 30.h3 h5 31.Rh1 Rd4+ 32.Ke2 Rg8 33.Rd3
(there is no pawn in front of it) and may Ra4 34.Rgd1 g4 35.hxg4 hxg4 36.Ke3 Rh8
easily invade the black camp: 1.Rd7 Pene- 37.Rb3 Rh2 38.Rd2 Rd4 39.Re2 c6 40.Rc3
trating the 7th rank, by threatening the black g3 41.Rd3 Rh1 42.f4 Rf1 43.f5+ Kf6 44.c3
c-pawn. 1...Rac8 The best move. 2.Re1 Rxd3+ 45.Kxd3 d5 46.b3 c4+ 47.bxc4
Now the second white rook will also be acti- bxc4+ 48.Ke3 Ra1 49.Kf3 Rxa3 50.Kxg3
vated by penetrating the 7th rank (3.Ree7). Rxc3+ 51.Kh4 Rc1 52.g4 Rh1+ 53.Kg3 d4
We can easily conclude that White will win 54.Ra2 d3 55.Kg2 Re1 56.Kf2 Rxe4
material and later on his chances to win the 57.Kf3
game would be great! 0-1
□ Radjabov Teimour Beginners love to move their queen rela-
■ Carlsen Magnus tively quickly, thus either gaining a lot of
C45 Moscow 2012 material or losing it - anything in between is
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 rare!
5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.Qf3 bxc6 7.Qg3 d6 8.Nc3 The following game has been played hun-
Qg6 9.Bd3 Nf6 10.Na4 Bd4 11.c3 Bb6 dreds of times, even in reverse colours, es-
12.0-0 Qxg3 13.hxg3 Ng4 14.Bf4 f6 pecially between beginners:
15.Rad1 h5 16.Be2 Be6 17.Nxb6 axb6
18.a3 Ke7 19.f3 Ne5 20.Kf2 b5 21.Bxe5 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 White develops normally, by
fxe5 22.Ke3 h4 23.gxh4 Rxh4 24.Rh1 controlling the central square d5. 2...Nc6
Rah8 25.Rxh4 Rxh4 26.Rc1 (D) And Black, on his turn, claims a portion of
the centre. 3.Qh5 Even if it creates an im-
XABCDEFGHY mediate threat (checkmate on f7), it is not a
8-+-+-+-+( good move, as it violates acceptable opening
rules. 3...Bc5?? However, Black did not pay
7+-zp-mk-zp-' attention to the opponent's threat and contin-
6-+pzpl+-+& ued developing without concern. But of
course, the mistake is huge - he should have
5+p+-zp-+-% played 3...g6, threatening the white queen
4.Qxf7 #
4-+-+P+-tr$ XABCDEFGHY
3zP-zP-mKP+-# 8r+lwqk+ntr(
2-zP-+L+P+" 7zppzpp+pzpp'
1+-tR-+-+-! 6-+n+-+-+&
xabcdefghy 5+-vl-zp-+Q%
26...Rh2 27.Kf2 Rh8 28.Ke3 g5 29.Bd3
Kd7 30.Ra1 Bb3 31.Rc1 Kc8 32.Kf2 Kb7 4-+L+P+-+$
33.Kg3 Be6 34.Ra1 Kb6 35.Rc1 c5 36.Ra1
c4 37.Bc2 Kc5 38.Re1 c6 39.Bb1 Kb6 3+-+-+-+-#
40.Bb2 Kc7 41.Kf2 Kd7 42.a4 bxa4 2PzPPzP-zPPzP"
43.Ra1 Rb8 44.Ra2 d5 45.exd5 cxd5
46.Bxa4+ Kd6 47.Bc2 d4 48.Be4 Rb6 1tRNvL-mK-sNR!
49.Ke2 g4 50.fxg4 Bxg4+ 51.Kd2 Be6 xabcdefghy
52.Kc2 Bd5 53.Bxd5 d3+ 54.Kd2 Kxd5
55.Ke3 Rg6 56.Ra5+ Ke6 57.Ke4 Rg4+ This particular mate is called Scholar's Mate.
58.Kf3 Rf4+ 59.Ke3 Rf1 1-0
0-1
Development Rules - The Queen

The queen needs to be handled with the
utmost care, as to lose her is usually disas-
The American champion Hikaru Naka-
trous. This powerful piece is not easily re-
mura has played this specific variation many
placed…
times. Studying his games is worthy:
The usual order in developing is knights,
bishops, queen and rooks, with castling in □ Nakamura Hikaru
between. ■ Sasikiarn Krishnan
There will always be some exceptions, but, C20 Malmo/Copenhagen 2005
in general, we need to follow some simple 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Nc6 3.Bc4 g6 4.Qf3 Nf6
rules. 5.Ne2 (D)
XABCDEFGHY Naturally, as we have already mentioned
more than once, no rule is absolute in chess.
8r+lwqkvl-tr( If it is good and necessary, the queen will,
certainly, move early.
7zppzpp+p+p' However, we have to be especially careful
6-+n+-snp+& - see the next game!
5+-+-zp-+-% □ Grivas Efstratios
4-+L+P+-+$ ■ Daglas Konstantinos
D51 Athens 1979
3+-+-+Q+-# 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bg5 Nbd7
5.Nf3 c6 A common variation called ‘The
2PzPPzPNzPPzP" Queen's Gambit - Cambridge Springs’.
1tRNvL-mK-+R! 6.Ne5?! 6.e3 is the most popular line.
6...Qa5 A very early but good move of the
xabcdefghy black queen that creates multiple threats.
5...Bg7 (...Ne4, ...Bb4). 7.e3? The decisive mistake.
Or 5...d6 6.h3 Bg7 7.d3 Be6 (7...a6 8.Nbc3 7.Nxd7 Bxd7 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.e3 with equal-
Na5 9.Bc5 h6 10.Be3 Nxc4 11.dxc4 Be6 ity, was compulsoty. 7...Ne4! And White
12.b3 0-0 Nakamura,H-Filipov,A Internet loses a lot of material! 8.Bh4 Nxe5 9.dxe5
2005) 8.Bb3 h6 9.Be3 Bxb3 10.axb3 d5 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Qxc3+ 11.Ke2 Qxc4+
11.0-0 0-0 Nakamura,H.-Mitkov,N Minea- 0-1
polis 2005.
6.Nbc3 Balanced development is very important in
Or 6.d3 d5 7.exd5 Nb4 8.Bb3 Nbxd5 9.h3 0- modern chess. Games should follow rules
0 10.Bg5 c6 11.Nbc3 h6 (11...Qa5 12.Bd2 and advice, beginning, among others, like
Qb6 13.g4 Nxc3 14.Nxc3 Be6 Naka- this: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nc6
mura,H.-Filipov,A Internet 2005) 12.Nxd5 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3
hxg5 13.Ndc3 a5 14.a4 Qe7 Nakamura,H- Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6
Filipov,A Internet 2005. 13.Bc2 Nb8 14.Bd3 c6 15.Nf1 Nbd7
6...d6 7.d3 Bg4 8.Qg3 Qd7 9.f3 Be6 10.Bg5 16.Ng3 g6 17.Be3 Rc8 18.Qd2 h5 (D)
Nh5 11.Qh4 h6 (D) XABCDEFGHY
XABCDEFGHY 8-+rwqrvlk+(
8r+-+k+-tr( 7+l+n+p+-'
7zppzpq+pvl-' 6p+pzp-snp+&
6-+nzpl+pzp& 5+p+-zp-+p%
5+-+-zp-vLn% 4P+-zPP+-+$
4-+L+P+-wQ$ 3+-zPLvLNsNP#
3+-sNP+P+-# 2-zP-wQ-zPP+"
2PzPP+N+PzP" 1tR-+-tR-mK-!
1tR-+-mK-+R! Xabcdefghy
xabcdefghy
Practice
A complicated position - Black won in 87
Split up into equal groups and play games
moves.
on these topics.
0-1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 15th * Category: Strategy * Title: Development Rules - Castling
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Development Rules - Castling Military Academy’ (Athens) I was trying to
By castling, we achieve two main goals: convince one of my trainees of the impor-
1. The king is transferred to a safe posi- tance of castling. One of his games reached
tion, out of direct danger, waiting for a pos- the position in the above diagram and, as my
sible endgame, in which it will play the main trainee wanted to ‘please’ me, he went on
part. with a catastrophic move:
2. All other pieces and especially the rooks 1.0-0??
are able to cooperate, as the ‘obstacle’ of the Of course, castling was the correct move,
king is gone. but on the other side: 1.0-0-0, leading to a
complicated position. His opponent was
Should we Castle? prepared for the wrong castling choice and
The answer is yes, of course! But, as we won the point by the simple:
have already mentioned, nothing in chess is 1...Qxh2 #
definite. Let's take a look at the following My trainee stood up from his seat and told
game: me: Teacher, I had told you that castling is
XABCDEFGHY dangerous - please don't push me again!! I
was left speechless and had nothing to say in
8r+-+r+k+( a case like this!
0-1
7zppvl-+pzpp'
6-+pwq-+n+&
5+-+p+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ Therefore, we need to understand that cas-
3+-sN-zP-+-# tling is an ‘obligation’ (with exceptions of
course) of the same value as developing the
2PzPPwQNzPPzP" pieces as it could be considered a develop-
1tR-+-mK-+R! ment move - it connects and brings the rooks
towards the centre and takes the king to a
xabcdefghy safe location. But pay attention: do not castle
Some years ago, specifically in 2003, during into an unsafe position!
one of my coaching sessions at the ‘Greek Castling may solve several problems:

XABCDEFGHY given a golden chance to attack his oppo-
nent’s king. A typical case where castling
8r+-+k+-tr( does not secure the king's safety!
17.Nc6! bxc6?
7zpp+qvlpzpp' Black did not understand White's idea and
6-+-+-sn-+& now loses. He should have continued with
17...Rxe3 18.Nxa7+ Kb8 19.Qxe3 Qxg2
5+-zp-wQ-+-% 20.Nb5, with equal possibilities.
4-+-+-+-+$ 18.Qa6+ Kb8 19.Qxa7+ (D)
Correct was 19.Bxa7+ Ka8 20.Bb6+ Kb8
3+-+-+-+-# 21.Qa7+ Kc8 22.Qxc7 #. Remember this
mating mechanism. It is typical and may be
2PzPP+-zPPzP" repeated in various cases!
1tRNvL-tR-mK-! XABCDEFGHY
xabcdefghy 8-mk-trr+-+(
It is Black's turn to move and, to complete
his development, he only needs to castle.
7wQ-zpn+pzpp'
However, it is not that easy, because of his 6-+p+-sn-+&
pinned bishop on e7.
12...0-0-0! 5+-+-+-+-%
12...0-0! was also good 13.Qxe7?? Rfe8. But 4-+-+-+-+$
either way White took the bait!
13.Qxe7?? Qxe7 3+-zP-vLPzPq#
And White resigned, as he realised that after
14.Rxe7 Rd1+ 15.Re1 Rxe1 # he would be
2P+P+-+RzP"
checkmated! 1+-mKR+-+-!
0-1
xabcdefghy
□ Grivas Efstratios 19...Kc8
■ Papandreou Nikolaos White may now repeat the position and
Athens 1979 ○ achieve checkmate, exactly as in the above
XABCDEFGHY comment. But, obviously shocked, contin-
ued with the awful
8-+ktrr+-+( 20.Qa8+??
Losing the game!! Of course, the correct
7zppzpn+pzpp' way was 20.Qa6+ Kb8 21.Ba7+ Ka8
6-+-+-sn-+& 22.Bb6+ Kb8 23.Qa7+ Kc8 24.Qxc7 #.
20...Nb8 21.Ba7 Rxd1+ 22.Kxd1 Qxg2
5+-+-+-+-% And White resigned, as he has lost a lot of
4-+-sN-+-+$ material, without achieving a mate that was
at his disposal for two moves!
3+-zP-vLPzPq# 0-1
2P+P+Q+RzP"
1+-mKR+-+-!
xabcdefghy
White did not handle the opening correctly
and his position was difficult. But, with
some help from Black, of course, he was
□ Grivas Efstratios castle, as he had to move.
■ Fouriki Artemis 14...g6 15.Bg4 Be7 16.Nf3 Nxf3 17.Bxf3
Athens 1981 ● Rxh2
XABCDEFGHY Black went on correctly and penetrated
White's camp, threatening mate. Under pres-
8-+-+-+rmk( sure, White overlooked that...
18.Rh1? Qxf2 #
7zp-zp-+-+p' 0-1
6-+p+-+-+&
5+-+-+r+q%
4-+-zP-zp-+$
3+-zPQ+Pvl-#
2PzP-+R+-vL"
1tR-+-+-+K!
xabcdefghy
Here is another case where castling does not Delaying Castling…
guarantee safety. And of course, there is a Delaying castling is rarely a good thing
reason for the lack of safety, as the white and must be generally avoided. The next
king does not have the necessary pawn cover game is typical:
in front of it! Black, using a simple combi-
nation, wins the game: □ Taimanov Mark
28...Bxh2 29.Rxh2 Qxh2+! ■ Polugaevsky Lev
And White resigned, as checkmate is inevi- D23 Leningrand 1960
table after 30.Kxh2 Rh5 #. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qa4+ Nbd7
0-1 5.Nc3 e6 6.e4 c5 7.d5 exd5 8.e5 d4 9.Bxc4
dxc3 10.exf6 Qxf6 11.Bg5 Qc6 (D)
□ Felouzis Evangelos
■ Grivas Efstratios
XABCDEFGHY
Athens 1980 ● 8r+l+kvl-tr(
XABCDEFGHY 7zpp+n+pzpp'
8-+r+k+-tr( 6-+q+-+-+&
7zpp+l+pzp-' 5+-zp-+-vL-%
6-wqn+p+-+& 4Q+L+-+-+$
5+-+pzP-+L% 3+-zp-+N+-#
4-vl-sn-+-sN$ 2PzP-+-zPPzP"
3+P+-+-zP-# 1tR-+-mK-+R!
2PvL-+-zP-zP" xabcdefghy
1tRN+Q+KtR-! The e-file is open and the black king may
not move to any square. And castling will be
xabcdefghy delayed, as at least two moves are needed.
In this example, the white king's unfortunate On the other hand, the white king may castle
placement is clear; he has lost the right to either queenside or kingside. As it is White

to move, things look difficult for Black... XABCDEFGHY
But a possible retreat of the threatened white
queen from a4 (12.Qc2) would give Black a 8r+l+-mk-tr(
chance to defend with 12....f6. Therefore, it
is important for White to take drastic meas-
7zpp+Lvl-zpp'
ures... 6-wq-+-+-+&
12.0-0-0!!
By castling queenside White allows his 5+-zp-+-zp-%
rooks to immediately take part in the battle. 4Q+-+-+-+$
The upcoming check on the e-file (Rhe1+) is
even more important than the queen itself!! 3+-+-+N+-#
12...cxb2+
If Black captures the white queen (right now
2P+-+-zPPzP"
or on the next move) with 12...Qxa4, he 1+-mKRtR-+-!
would be coming to a bad end: 13.Rhe1+
Be7 14.Rxe7+ Kf8 (14...Kd8 15.Rexd7+ xabcdefghy
Ke8 16.Rd8 #) 15.Rxf7+ Kg8 (15...Ke8 Black has avoided direct material loss, but
16.Re1+ Ne5 17.Rxe5+ Be6 18.Bxe6 fol- his king still hasn't castled and is under en-
lowed by checkmate) 16.Rfxd7+ Qxc4 emy fire. Moreover, his pieces have not
17.Rd8+ Kf7 18.Ne5+ Ke6 19.Nxc4 and completed developing and do not even par-
White has an extra piece! ticipate in the monarch's defence! White,
13.Kxb2 Be7 (D) with some excellent attacking moves, exe-
XABCDEFGHY cutes his opponent.
18.Rxe7! Kxe7 19.Qe4+ Kd8
8r+l+kvl-tr( 19...Kf7 leads in mate in five moves:
20.Nxg5+ Kf6 (20...Kg8 21.Qe8 #) 21.Qf5+
7zpp+n+pzpp' Ke7 22.Qf7+ Kd8 23.Bc6+ Bd7 24.Qxd7 #.
6-+q+-+-+& 20.Bf5+
The poor black king is under crossfire! He
5+-zp-+-vL-% should have castled long ago...
4Q+L+-+-+$ 20...Kc7 21.Qe5+ Kc6 22.Rd6+ Kb5
23.Qb2+
3+-+-+N+-# And Black resigned because of 23...Ka5
24.Qa3+ Kb5 25.Nd4+! cxd4 26.Bd3 #.
2PmK-+-zPPzP" 1-0
1+-+R+-+R!
xabcdefghy
14.Rhe1!
And now, as every white piece takes part in
the attack, Black has no satisfactory defence
- material will be lost.
14...f6
Black could have castled now with 14...0-0,
but at a high cost: 15.Qxc6 bxc6 16.Bxe7 Practice
and White would gain a piece. 1. Create a position by yourselves where
15.Bb5 Qb6 16.Kc1 fxg5 there would be a possibility to castle and
Once more, if 16...0-0, then 17.Qc4+ Kh8 discuss it with your trainer.
18.Rxe7 fxg5 19.Bxd7 and White gains ma- 2. Split up into two equal groups and play
terial. a game(s) where castling will be done within
17.Bxd7+ Kf8 (D) the first ten moves.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 16th * Category: General * Title: Sportsmanship - Why do we Lose?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sportsmanship □ Polgar Judith
Sportsmanship during a game is an impor- ■ Kasparov Garry
tant value. It is understood that a game or Linares 1994 ●
sport needs to be conducted by its rules XABCDEFGHY
which may be written down (official), but
some times not (ethical). 8-+-+r+k+(
The World Chess Federation (FIDE) has a
rule (among others of course) named ‘touch
7+L+n+pzp-'
move’, which means that any piece that is 6-zp-wQ-sn-zp&
touched needs to be moved.
A chess player who touches a piece is 5+-+-zpP+-%
obliged to move it (if the move is legal, of 4q+-+-+-+$
course). This ‘sensitive’ rule has caused sev-
eral disputes among players at many levels, 3+-+-+-+-#
mostly at the lowest level, where lack of
experienced arbiters can be fateful.
2-zPrsN-+PzP"
But of course, similar unfortunate cases 1+-+RtR-+K!
also occur at high level. The next famous
example is typical: xabcdefghy
At this point of the game the World Cham-
pion changed his mind about his initial
choice and then he made a different move!
36...Nf8?!
Kasparov actually played 36...Nc5, and in
fractions of a second saw his opponent’s
possible response: 37.Bc6 Qh4 with a com-
plicated game. According to the Laws of
Kasparov's Touch - Dispute Move Chess, when a chess player has let go of a
During the Linares tournament in 1994, piece on a square, he can make no other
the best female chess player of all times, the move with another or the same on a different
Hungarian Judith Polgar suffered a disput- square. Thus Kasparov should have played
able loss at the hands of Garry Kasparov, his initial move and not the one played in the
World Champion at the time: end. Polgar explained that she did not make

a deal out of it because: ‘I was playing the 12...h5?
World Champion and did not like to cause An unbelievable move that every commenta-
displeasure during my first invitation in such tor tried to explain by thinking in a chess
an important tournament. I was also afraid manner. But what had happened exactly?
that if my accusation was not accepted, I The former World Champion Robert Fischer
would then be punished with a time penalty’. touched his h-pawn, planning to play
Both players seemed to be unaware that the 12...h6. But he suddenly realised that his
game was recorded by a television crew. The opponent could continue with 13.Bxh6, with
videotape showed that Kasparov let go of his a very powerful attack. Therefore, he had no
knight for about 1/4 of a second, so he other choice than to play the piece he
should have played 36...Nc5. The tourna- touched, but at least advance it two squares
ment director was criticized for not interven- (...h5). An awful move, of course, but the
ing when the tape evidence was put at his other choice (...h6) would have been even
disposal. Polgar later asked Kasparov: ‘How worse. To his honour, Fischer did not try to
could you do this to me?’ Kasparov declared trick either his opponent or the arbiter, si-
to the journals that his conscience was clear, lently accepting his mistake and his ‘misfor-
as he did not realize that his hand had left tune’. Naturally, he lost the game, but gained
the piece. Note that 36...Rxb2! 37.Bc6 Qb4 everyone's respect. Let it be noted that the
could have won immediately… The game move 12...h5? weakens Black's castled king
went on with Kasparov's irregular move that position very much, White unleashing a very
finally won: strong and relatively easy attack:
37.Ne4 N8d7 38.Nxf6+ Nxf6 39.Qxb6 Ng4 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Ng4 15.Bxe7 Qxe7
40.Rf1 e4 41.Bd5 e3 42.Bb3 Qe4 43.Bxc2 16.Ne4 Qc7 17.h3 Nxe5 18.Nf6+ Kh8
Qxc2 44.Rd8 Rxd8 45.Qxd8+ Kh7 46.Qe7 19.Qg5 Nxd3+ 20.Rxd3 gxf6 21.Qxh5+
Qc4 0-1 Kg7 22.Qg4+
1-0
In his book Chess for Dummies, the writer □ Portisch Lajos
James Eade commented the game and con- ■ Gulko Boris
cluded: ‘If even the World Champions break Linares 1990 ○
the rules, what hope is there for the rest of
us?’ But let's take another look: XABCDEFGHY
□ Unziker Wolfgang 8-+rwqr+k+(
■ Fischer Robert James
Buenos Aires 1960 ● 7+l+n+p+p'
XABCDEFGHY 6pzp-+-+p+&
8r+l+-trk+( 5+-+-zp-+-%
7+-wq-vlpzpp' 4P+Q+Nvl-+$
6p+pzppsn-+& 3+-zP-+N+P#
5+-+-+-vL-% 2-zP-+-zPP+"
4-+-+PzP-+$ 1tR-+-tRLmK-!
3+-sNL+-wQ-# xabcdefghy
2PzPP+-+PzP" At this point Portisch thought that the game's
line should be 22.Qe2 Bxe4 23.Qxe4. But
1+-mKR+-+R! his mind got confused and thinking that the
22nd move had already been played by both
xabcdefghy sides, he touched his knight on e4 to play

23.Qxe4!! When he realized what he had Navara finally moved his bishop and soon
done, he immediately resigned, as according he got into a winning position.
to the rules he had to move the piece he had XABCDEFGHY
touched (meaning his knight on e4), which
would lead to loss of his queen to the black 8-+K+-+-+(
rook on c8 on the next move.
0-1
7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-mk-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3wq-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+R+-+-!
The Case of FIDE World Cup xabcdefghy
During the FIDE World Cup in 2011 a But in the end, just a few moves away from
strange incident happened. In the end both victory, Navara offered a draw (!), feeling
players were rewarded for their behaviour uncertain of what had really happened at the
during the game, by a sportsmanship prize critical position. A strange case of ‘moral
from the Mayor of the Siberian town of uncertainty’.
Khanty-Mansiysk, where the tournament ½-½
took place.
□ Moiseenko Alexander
■ Navara David
Khanty-Mansiysk 2011 ●
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
Moral of the Story
7zp-+-vlk+-' You should respect the rule ‘I play what I
6-+-+-zp-+& touch first’. You should get used to thinking
first, using your brain and not your hands, so
5+-zpq+-+r% as to avoid unpleasant situations like the
4-zp-+R+-zP$ previous ones. The hand should move after
the brain has decided.
3+-+-+-+-#
FIDE Laws of Chess
2PvL-+QzP-zP"
1+-+-+-mK-! Article 4: The act of moving the pieces
xabcdefghy 4.1 Each move must be made with one
In his effort to move his bishop, Navara ac- hand only.
cidentally touched his king. His opponent, 4.2 Provided that he first expresses his
being in time pressure, thought that Navara intention (for example by saying ‘j’adoube’
had first touched his king and asked him to or ‘I adjust’), the player having the move
move it. But he almost immediately realized may adjust one or more pieces on their
his mistake and withdrew his request. squares.

4.3 Except as provided in Article 4.2, if the ● Ignorance of the opening: Our knowl-
player having the move deliberately touches edge regarding the opening we have chosen
on the chessboard: is inadequate, or the opening is simply not
a. one or more of his own pieces, he must suited to our style.
move the first piece touched which can be
moved ● Theoretical novelty: Our opponent em-
b. one or more of his opponent’s pieces, he ploys a new move in the opening which ei-
must capture the first piece touched which ther is strong or changes the overall evalua-
can be captured tion of the variation, or to which we fail to
c. one piece of each colour, he must cap- react properly.
ture the opponent’s piece with his piece or,
if this is illegal, move or capture the first ● Ignorance of strategic concepts: Our
piece touched which can be moved or cap- reaction to the strategic demands of the posi-
tured. tion is below par or even bad, mostly due to
If it is unclear, whether the player’s own ignorance.
piece or his opponent’s was touched first,
the player’s own piece shall be considered to ● Ignorance of tactical concepts: Our reac-
have been touched before his opponent’s. tion to the tactical demands of the position is
below par or even bad, mostly due to igno-
Why do we Lose? rance.
Every chess-player makes mistakes, some-
times small, sometimes very serious. But a ● Ignorance of basic endgames: Our han-
good chess player rarely repeats the same dling of standard endgames is below par or
mistake! even bad, mostly due to ignorance.
Thus, the difference in chess strength is
determined by the frequency of mistakes in ● Incorrect handling of the attack: Our
one's games. handling of the attack is not governed by the
A chessplayer who wishes to improve relevant principles.
must, learn from his mistakes.
The most important lesson to be learned is ● Incorrect handling of the defence: Our
not to repeat mistakes, in the beginning at handling of the defence is not governed by
least, with the same frequency! the relevant principles.
The mistakes we make can, in some way,
be categorized: ● Incorrect handling of the clock: Com-
mon and unjustified time-pressure.
● Momentary blindness: Overlooking
moves of the opponent that contain simple ● Psychological reasons: Fear of: losing the
tactical threats. game, the opponent, the position, time-
pressure, etc.
● Double attack: Giving the opponent the
possibility to attack two of our pieces, with- Consequently, in order to improve we have
out having the possibility of defending both. to learn from our mistakes and increase our
knowledge. But the clever man learns from
● Overloaded defence: Our pieces do not the mistakes of other people – he doesn’t
defend harmoniously, with the result that have the time for his ‘own’!
more problems are created than are solved.
Practice
● Zwischenzugs (in-between moves): Your trainer will prepare a knock-out
Overlooking moves in the midst of a tactical tournament for you, with rapid time control.
sequence that abruptly change the evaluation Follow his instructions and try to apply the
in our opponent's favour. rules you have learned.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 17th * Category: General * Title: Cooperation - Strategy & Attack
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooperation - Strategy
Cooperation rules our lives. The best
XABCDEFGHY
teams, regardless of their individual talents, 8r+l+-mk-tr(
reach success through cooperating. And in
general it seems that teams are getting more
7zppzpp+p+p'
attention than individuals… 6-+-+-sn-+&
Our first example is instructive:
XABCDEFGHY 5+-+P+-vL-%
8rsnl+-vlntr( 4-+-+-+-+$
7zppzp-+-zpp' 3+-zP-+N+-#
6-+-+-+-+& 2P+-+-zPPzP"
5+-+Q+-+-% 1+-+-tR-mK-!
4-+L+Nmk-+$ xabcdefghy
Here too, Black is one rook ahead. White
3+-+-+-+-# may certainly gain the enemy knight on f6,
thus reducing the material deficit, but his
2PzPPzPKzP-zP" pieces may cooperate even better: 1.Bh6+
1wq-+-+-+-! Kg8 2.Re5 And Black resigned due to the
inevitable ckeckmate on g5 or on e8.
xabcdefghy 1-0
Black has four extra pieces (!). But they
have either not been developed or are iso- Lack of balance and cooperation causes
lated from the rest of their army (Qa1) and problems and leads to bad or catastrophic
not cooperate in a balanced way. Therefore, results.
they cannot offer protection to their exposed Beginners tend to constantly move just one
king, which has been surrounded by the few piece all over the board until it is lost and
remaining white pieces. Naturally, in similar then another piece and so on...
cases, the end of the game is close: 1.Qg5+ Moreover, beginners (and not only them!)
Kxe4 2.d3+ Kd4 3.Qe3 # emphasize very much to material value,
1-0 counting how many points they are ahead of

their opponent, ignoring the basic values of XABCDEFGHY
cooperation and balance of the pieces that
continue to take part in the battle! 8r+l+k+ntr(
7zp-+p+pzpp'
XABCDEFGHY
6n+-vL-+-+&
8rsnl+-vlntr(
5+p+NzPN+P%
7zppzpp+-zpp'
4-+-+-+P+$
6-+-+-wq-+&
3+-+P+Q+-#
5+-+-tR-sNk%
2P+P+K+-+"
4-+-zP-+-+$
1wq-+-+-vl-!
3+-+Q+-+-#
xabcdefghy
2PzPP+-zPPzP" Black has gained a lot of material, but his
1tRNvL-+-mK-! pieces are scattered, unconnected and
without perspective. On the contrary, the
xabcdefghy white pieces work together to destroy the
The black king has gone for an unhealthy black monarch and the end is not far away:
walk! The white pieces attack in a group, as 21.Nxg7+ Kd8 22.Qf6+ Nxf6 23.Be7 #
even the undeveloped bishop on c1 takes 1-0
part in the job. 1.g4+ And Black resigned, as
he cannot avoid checkmate: 1...Kh6 (1...Kh4 Cooperation (or teamwork) also includes
2.Qg3 # or 1...Kxg4 2.Qh3 #) 2.Nf7 # - the making sure that our units do not stand
power of double check - Black cannot take around to look ‘beautiful’ (Leonard Barden
the knight, because his king is in check from uses the term ‘window dressing’), but actu-
the white bishop on c1. ally work for the common good!
1-0
□ O'Connell Kevin
■ Sales Keith
London 1975 ○
XABCDEFGHY
We will now take a look at a very famous
8r+-+-trk+(
game played in 1851. It was character- 7zp-+-wQp+-'
ized/called ‘Immortal’ for its outstanding
beauty and White's excellent combinative 6-+-+-zp-+&
game. Certainly, there were many mistakes, 5+-+-wqN+-%
but…
4-+-+-+-+$
□ Anderssen Adolf
■ Kieseritzky Lionel 3+-+-zP-zP-#
C33 London 1851 (The Immortal Game) 2PzP-+P+-zP"
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 b5
5.Bxb5 Nf6 6.Nf3 Qh6 7.d3 Nh5 8.Nh4 1+-+-+RmK-!
Qg5 9.Nf5 c6 10.g4 Nf6 11.Rg1 cxb5 12.h4
Qg6 13.h5 Qg5 14.Qf3 Ng8 15.Bxf4 Qf6
xabcdefghy
16.Nc3 Bc5 17.Nd5 Qxb2 18.Bd6 Qxg1 White sacrificed the exchange (rook for
19.e5 Qxa1+ 20.Ke2 Na6 (D) knight) in order to attack, but his queen does

not stand well on e7, as it does not work Cooperation - Attack
together with the rest of its army. The secret The ideas of a successful attack seem easy
is, of course, to transfer her to the attack, so to find, but, on the other hand, many chess
that she can cooperate with the knight: players forget them during the battle.
1.Qb4 Rc8 2.Qg4+ Kf8 3.Qg7+ Ke8 We should know the concept/theory of the
4.Qg8+ Kd7 5.Qxf7+ Kc6 6.Ne7+ And Centre of Gravity (COG), developed by Carl
now, depending on where the black king Philipp Gottfried von Clausewitz - 1780-
moves, White wins with Rf5, Rxf6 or Nxf8, 1831, a Prussian military theorist who de-
therefore Black resigned. veloped German military theory and stressed
1-0 the moral and political aspects of war.
This specific theory is a powerful tool that
□ Fishbait may apply as well in chess, as in war. It is a
■ O'Connell Kevin practical method to define a certain target -
Internet 1995 ● the opponent's weakest point for us to attack.
XABCDEFGHY The COG theory gives our efforts more pos-
sibilities and increases the chances of suc-
8-tr-+-+-mk( cess.
7+p+-trpzpp' We should understand that when our
‘team’ works together, then our pieces can
6-+-zp-+-+& unleash a meaningful attack, and not just
5wQ-+-vlPzP-% threaten something that has been left unpro-
tected!
4-+Pwq-zp-zP$
3+-+P+-+-# □ Manthe Barry
■ Alexopoulos Georgios
2-+-+-zPL+" Philadelphia 1993 ●
1+R+-+RmK-! XABCDEFGHY
xabcdefghy 8r+l+-+-+(
Black has the advantage and may just take 7zpp+-wQrmkp'
the d3 pawn and later win. But the possibil-
ity of cooperation between the queen and the 6-+-+p+p+&
bishop may lead to a victory faster and is
definitely more effective than just gaining
5+-+-zPp+-%
material: 1...f3 2.Bh3 (2.Bxf3 Qf4 with an 4-+-+-wqP+$
easy win) 2...Qf4
0-1 3+-zpL+n+N#
2P+P+-+-zP"
1tRK+-+R+-!
xabcdefghy
Conclusion A complex position at first sight, but it soon
Learn to handle your time well! Make sure becomes clear who is in the driver's seat...
that your pieces work together. ‘Listen’ and 25...Nd2+! 26.Kc1 Nb3+! Cooperation of
respect your pieces - they often have valu- the couple, queen and knight. 27.Kb1 If
able advice to give! 27.Kd1 Qd2 #. 27...Qc1+!! A spectacular
Teamwork (cooperation) is especially im- combination leading to a smothered mate!
portant, as well in chess, as in your real life. 28.Rxc1 Nd2 #
Learn to value it… 0-1

□ Grivas Efstratios
■ Szkudlarek Frantz
Dortmund 1991 ○
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-vl-tr(
7zp-zpk+-+p'
6-+pzpl+pzP&
5+-+-+-sN-% Did you notice the white pieces' coordi-
nated attack? The creation of a high level of
4-+P+P+P+$ unity and cohesion among our pieces is
3+-+-vLQ+-# more than desirable.
Teamwork and division of labour is the
2Pwq-+-zP-+" serious secret, which the trainer of the for-
mer World Champion Mikhail Tal,
1tR-+-+RmK-! Koblencs, mentioned as ‘miracle formula’!
xabcdefghy We should know our enemy and as army
Black has managed not to lose material but commanders we ought to acknowledge the
at the cost of his king remaining in the cen- strong and weak points of both sides.
tre, where it will be soon be found under By using a simple approach, we should
crossfire! 20.Rfd1 Qe5 21.Bf4! Qc5 22.e5 define our opponent's critical points that are
Opening lines against the black king! vulnerable to attack. We must think about
22...Be7 22...d5 23.Rac1! Qa5 24.Nxe6 the activity, coordination, balance, interde-
Kxe6 25.cxd5+ cxd5 26.Rc6+, and a win. pendence and mobility of our pieces!
23.Ne4 Qxc4 24.Rac1 (D) To complete our thinking, we should take
a look at the strategic relation between criti-
XABCDEFGHY cal weaknesses or the power of the pieces to
8r+-+-+-tr( act (attack, defence) and the centre of the
board.
7zp-zpkvl-+p' To achieve the strategical goals we need to
act from a position of strength, to be able to
6-+pzpl+pzP& attack. Therefore, we should build a solid
5+-+-zP-+-% situation in the centre of the board.
4-+q+NvLP+$
3+-+-+Q+-#
2P+-+-zP-+"
1+-tRR+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
Every white force is pointed against the
black king - the gathering of so much fire-
power is difficult for Black to meet…
24...Qxa2 25.exd6 cxd6 26.Bxd6 Bd5
27.Bxe7 And Black resigned. After Practice
27...Kxe7 28.Qf6+ Kd7 29.Qxc6+, he loses Create a position by yourselves where co-
material. operation between pieces will be obvious
1-0 and discuss it with your trainer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 18th * Category: Openings * Title: Game Opening - Opening Names - Bibliography
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game Opening chess players, is nothing more than a well
The middle game and endgame theory is hidden insecurity related to the mediocre to
important for achieving victory. Of equal poor understanding of the openings we have
importance though is theoretical preparation chosen.
for the opening, in order to set a solid basis The chess player who has studied and un-
to develop our knowledge during the follow- derstood the openings he chooses can’t pos-
ing stages. sibly be afraid of his opponents in this par-
As opposed to the middle game and end- ticular area.
game, where theory is common and accepted How is it possible, since he has acquired
by everyone, in the opening each chess so much experience and has played so many
player makes his choices according to his times a specific opening, that he is afraid
feelings and personal experience. that his opponent will prove to be more
No opening wins or loses. Every other ‘prepared’ or more capable than him?
opinion about the openings is meaningless It would practically be ‘suicide’ for the
and harmful for a chess player's progress. opponent to enter an opening that we have
Opening knowledge is important but cannot understood, while he has not the required
constitute the remedy for all chess educa- experience.
tion, nor can we demand to win just by its Naturally, sometimes the opponent's
help. preparation may prove to be deadly. It is
The choice of a chess player's opening is a possible to lose games due to an opponent's
clearly personal matter. His obligation is to special preparation, as has happened in the
study and deeply understand subjects such as past and will happen in the future.
the right move order, the ideas behind them We can, though, learn from our losses and
and the plans to be developed in the middle become even more aware of the openings of
game. our choice.
A bizarre phenomenon is common among Choosing openings that ‘suit’ us is not
young chess players (and not only them). easy. During his career, the chess player will
This phenomenon is called ‘fear of the op- change many openings or variations.
ponent's preparation’ and is expressed by a The experience, the difficult situation, the
disproportionate evaluation of his abilities differentiation in his character will greatly
regarding the openings we have chosen. In define these changes which are considered to
simple words, the concept of ‘preparation be normal and desirable for his overall pro-
against an opponent’ that is so often used by gress.

The following tables show the situation in Black 1.e4
general of the desirable branches of the Preparation choice from:
opening ‘repertoire’ any chess player needs Alekhine's Defence
to have. Caro-Kann Defence
If a chess player begins his game with the Pirc Defence
move 1.e4, then he needs to prepare Vienna Game
(choose) the following openings: French Defence
White 1.e4 King's Gambit
Preparation against: Spanish Game
Alekhine's Defence Italian Game
Caro-Kann Defence Modern Defence
Pirc Defence Russian Game
Vienna Game Sicilian Defence
French Defence Scandinavian Defence
King's Gambit Scotch Game
Spanish Game various other responses
Italian Game Likewise, after 1.d4, 1.c4 or 1.Nf3, the
Modern Defence chess player needs to choose an opening or
Russian Game openings among:
Sicilian Defence
Scandinavian Defence Black 1.d4 - 1.c4 - 1.Nf3
Scotch Game Preparation choice from:
various other responses English
Grunfeld Defence
If the player begins his game with 1.d4, Benoni Defence
1.c4 or 1.Nf3, then he must prepare the fol- Tarrasch Defence
lowing openings: Queen's Gambit
White 1.d4 - 1.c4 - 1.Nf3 Queen;s Gambit Accepted
Preparation choice against: Queen's Indian
English King's Indian
Grünfeld Defence Catalan
Benoni Defence Nimzo-Indian Defence
Tarrasch Defence Dutch Defence
Queen's Gambit Old Indian Defence
Queen’s Gambit Accepted Queen's Pawn
Queen's Indian Slav
King's Indian various other responses
Catalan
Nimzo-Indian Defence
Dutch Defence
Old Indian Defence
Queen's Pawn
Slav
various other responses
The openings, as opposed to the middle
Naturally, the preparation must be contin- game and endgame, require constant study,
ued with the black pieces as well. After 1.e4, renewal and correct information. The active
the chess player needs to choose an opening chess player will be forever occupied with
or openings among: them!
Opening Names Beginners also study the openings, but
The definition of the opening is the totality their importance for them is much less, as
of the initial moves in a game. A usual series rarely are their games decided during the
of moves is referred to as an opening by opening.
White and as a defence by Black.
But, in the end, the term opening includes Baptism!
both sides as a general description. Remembering a certain series of moves is
There are many dozens of different initial not a simple procedure! Chess players are
move series (openings or defences) and hun- considered to be clever beings and thus they
dreds of variations. The well-known book thought of naming every opening, in order to
Oxford Companion to Chess mentions 1,327 simplify things and remember the openings
openings and variations in total. more easily. This procedure has been com-
They differ a great deal one to another, mon and widely accepted for at least 200
from calm positional openings to sharp, tac- years. Some openings have been named
tical lines. even 400 years ago!
Historical Openings
The ‘Italian Game’ is a ‘family’ of open-
ings that begins with the moves: 1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4.
The ‘Italian Game’ is one of the oldest
recorded chess openings; it occurs in the
Göttingen manuscript and was developed by
players such as Damiano and Polerio in the
The opening is the first phase of a chess 16th century, and later by Greco in 1620,
game. The other phases are the middle game who gave the game its main line.
and the endgame. It has been extensively analyzed for ap-
The opening's series of moves is basically proximately 400 years! The term ‘Italian
an architectural model that is often written Game’ is now used interchangeably with
down in reference works, like encyclopae- ‘Giuoco Piano’, though that term also refers
dias (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) particularly to play after
and, lumped together, these series of moves 3...Bc5.
are referred to as theory. The Italian is characterized as an open game.
These reference books usually present the The opening's defining move is the White
move sequences in simple algebraic nota- bishop move to c4 (the so-called ‘Italian
tion, in ‘trees’ or simply in theory tables, bishop’) in preparation for an early attack on
often with a concluding assessment. Black's vulnerable f7-square. As such the
When a game starts to diverge from the game is typified by aggressive play, where
usual opening theory, the players consider Black's best chances are often vigorous
themselves to be ‘out of the book’, meaning counter-attacks.
they now move to unknown paths. Most professional chess players have now
In some cases the opening covers the first abandoned the ‘Italian Game’ for the ‘Span-
20-25 moves or even more. ish Game’ (‘Ruy Lopez’ - 3.Bb5) and
In some cases the analysis goes as deep as ‘Scotch Game’ (3.d4), considering that these
30 or 35 moves, like in the classical ‘King's two openings offer better possibilities for
Indian Defence’, or the ‘Sveshnikov’ and long-term advantages.
‘Najdorf’ defences of the ‘Sicilian Defence’ But of course, the ‘Italian Game’ is still
etc. very popular in correspondence chess and
Professional chess players study the open- generally in games among beginners or other
ings for years, as their theory is constantly low level players. It still remains a good
developed. ‘laboratory’ of tactics!
Bibliography 4. Books on various topics: Some excellent
The question that takes over any new and books are Zurich International Chess Tour-
hopeful chess player, besides choosing a nament 1953 (David Bronstein), The Art of
suitable trainer, has to do with choosing Chess Analysis (Jan Timman), Chess for
suitable books, from which to learn the se- Tigers (Simon Webb), Montreal 1979 (Mi-
crets of chess. hail Tal), Akiba Rubinstein (Dr. Nikolai
There is an exceptionally large number of Minev) and My 60 Memorable Games
available books and we read everywhere (Robert Fischer).
only of good editions, excellent writers etc.,
which in the end, makes our search harder, 5. Magazines: The suggestion refers to
instead of answering it. simply the best magazine in the world New
I am sure that any good chess player can in Chess Magazine (8 issues per year). Other
propose some books, but opinions vary and good editions are British Chess Magazine
choosing becomes harder. My subjective (12 issues per year) and an electronic maga-
opinion on this difficult question is the fol- zine ChessBase Magazine (8 issues a year).
lowing: Finally, the reader may get useful informa-
tion from ChessCafe.com, where several
1. Opening books: The trainee, after he has useful articles on every aspect are presented.
defined an opening repertoire, would do well
to obtain the 5 volumes of the Encyclopae- Naturally, all the above consists of my
dia of Chess Openings (Informator). Next he personal choices. From these books and
may refer to the Opening Monographs (In- magazines, I have been taught and teach, as I
formator) or to special books on openings consider them to be essential for every chess
that interest him. player wishing to improve.
Certainly, there are other good books and
magazines that either my memory skips or I
do not know of.
Just like an athlete has his equipment, a
chess player needs to be provided with the
‘tools’ that will help him to train better and
to achieve a higher level and better perform-
ance.
In cooperation with his trainer, he will
understand and acquire what is described in
the literature. Thus, he is condemned to im-
prove in chess!
2. Middle Game books: I propose the fol-
lowing books Chess Fundamentals (Jose
Raul Capablanca), Modern Ideas in Chess
(Richard Reti), Chess College (3 volumes -
Efstratios Grivas), My System (Aaron
Nimzowitsch), Play like a Grandmaster -
Think like a Grandmaster - Train like a
Grandmaster (Alexander Kotov).
3. Endgame books: Firstly, Basic Chess Practice

Endings (Ruben Fine & Pal Benko) and then Decide on your own personal opening rep-
Exploring the Endgame (Peter Griffiths - ertoire, using the tables mentioned. In coop-
John Nunn), Practical Endgame Play (Ef- eration with your trainer, prepare a presenta-
stratios Grivas) and The King in the End- tion of an opening for the next lesson - look
game (Edmar Mednis). at the internet for additional information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 19th * Category: Openings * Title: Centre Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Centre Game The ‘Centre Game’ was rarely played by
The ‘Centre Game’ is an opening charac- elite players until GM Alexander Shabalov
terized by the moves 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4. The revived it in the 1980s. Later, top GMs such
usual line is 3.Qxd4 (D), where we have the as Alexei Shirov, Michael Adams, Judit Pol-
opening's typical position: gar and Alexander Morozevich also contrib-
XABCDEFGHY uted to the theory of the ‘Centre Game’ by
forcing the revaluation of lines long thought
8rsnlwqkvlntr( to favour Black. In recent years, GM Ian
Nepomniachtchi has also experimented with
7zppzpp+pzpp' it.
6-+-+-+-+& White succeeds in eliminating Black's e-
pawn and opening the d-file, but at the cost
5+-+-+-+-% of moving the queen early and allowing
4-+-wQP+-+$ Black to develop with tempo with
3...Nc6.
3+-+-+-+-# Naturally, White, after the normal 4.Qe3,
prevents Black from the liberating move
2PzPP+-zPPzP" ...d5. Moreover, his back rank is quickly
1tRNvL-mKLsNR! emptied of pieces, allowing him to proceed
by castling queenside and later unleash an
xabcdefghy attack towards the black king.
And now 3...Nc6, developing the knight by Finally, his queen may move quickly from
gaining time, because of the attack on the the e3 square to a more attacking one, g3,
white queen. Note that 3.c3 is considered a from where it can put pressure on the g-file.
different opening - the so called ‘Danish
Gambit’, which we will study in a following Analysing in Depth
chapter. The general acceptance of the ‘Centre
The ‘Centre Game’ is an old opening. It Game’ moves 3.Qxd4 Nc6 is widespread.
was mostly abandoned by 1900 because no Now White may choose where to place his
advantage could be demonstrated for White. queen.
Jacques Mieses, Savielly Tartakower and Although 4.Qa4 is strongly reminiscent of
Rudolf Spielmann seem to be the last strong a reversed ‘Scandinavian Defence’ (1.e4 d5
players regularly to adopt it. 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5), it is not often

played, because tournament experience has Main Variations - Analysis Tree
not been favorable for White. 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4
The best move for White seems to be ● 3.f4?! (Halasz Gambit)
4.Qe3, known as ‘Paulsen's Attack’. White ● 3.Nf3
intends to castle queenside and attack. Black ●● 3...Bc5 (Alekhine)
usually continues with 4...Nf6, when a fairly ●● 3...Nc6 (Scotch Game - reversed)
typical line may be 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 0-0 ●● 3...d6 (Philidor's Defence - reversed)
7.0-0-0 Re8 (D) ●● 3...Nf6 (Petroff Defence - reversed)
XABCDEFGHY ●● 3...Bb4+
● 3.Bc4 with the same choices as 3.Nf3
8r+lwqr+k+( ● 3.c3 (Danish Gambit)
● 3.Qxd4 Nc6 (4...Bb4+ - 4...Nf6 - 4...g6)
7zppzpp+pzpp' ●● 4.Qa4 (Reversed Scandinavian Defence)
6-+n+-sn-+& ●● 4.Qe3 (Paulsen's Attack - Main Line)
5+-+-+-+-%
4-vl-+P+-+$
3+-sN-wQ-+-# Postponing recapture of the d-pawn is a
2PzPPvL-zPPzP" standard idea (1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6), but
3.Nf3 is less commonly played. Black can
1+-mKR+LsNR! safely transpose to the ‘Scotch Game’ or
xabcdefghy ‘Petroff Defence’ or play a line recom-
mended by Alekhine, 3...Bc5 4.Nxd4 Nf6 as
White may try to complicate play by
now 5.e5 would be met with 5...Qe7.
means of the pawn sacrifice 8.Qg3!? intend-
The ‘Halasz Gambit’ (3.f4?!) is not often
ing 8...Rxe4 9.a3! - Shabalov's idea.
chosen. Although the move dates back to at
Black should opt for the quiet 9...Ba5.
least 1840, it has been developed more re-
Even though in some lines White gets com-
cently by the Hungarian chess player Dr.
pensation for the sacrificed pawn, Black's
Gyorgy Halasz. It seems dubious, but it has
position is satisfying.
not been definitely refuted.
A more solid option for Black is the natu-
ral 5...Be7!, intending ...d5 (sometimes even
after White plays 6.Bc4), opening up lines as
soon as possible. Black also seems to get a
good game with 4...g6 or 4...Bb4+, moves
that have been played successfully as well.
Game Analysis
In ECO (Encyclopedia of Chess Open-
ings) the opening is coded as C21-C22. We
will begin studying some lines, based on
games of the top Russian player GM Ian
Nepomniachtchi:
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 (D)

XABCDEFGHY Najer,E Netanya 2009) 10.Bd3 Nh5 11.Qe3
Ne5 12.Be2 Nf6 was unclear in the game
8rsnlwqkvlntr( Nepomniachtchi,I.-Gelfand,B Netanya 2009.
5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 0-0 7.0-0-0 Re8 (D)
7zppzpp+pzpp'
XABCDEFGHY
6-+-+-+-+&
8r+lwqr+k+(
5+-+-+-+-%
7zppzpp+pzpp'
4-+-wQP+-+$
6-+n+-sn-+&
3+-+-+-+-#
5+-+-+-+-%
2PzPP+-zPPzP"
4-vl-+P+-+$
1tRNvL-mKLsNR!
3+-sN-wQ-+-#
xabcdefghy
3...Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6
2PzPPvL-zPPzP"
Black has also tried: 1+-mKR+LsNR!
a) 4...d6 5.Bd2 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.0-0-0 Bg7
8.h4 Be6 (8...Ne5 9.Nh3 0-0 10.Be2 h5 xabcdefghy
11.Ng5 c6 12.Qg3 b5 13.Bf4 - unclear in 8.Qg3 (D)
Nepomniachtchi,I-Sargissian,G Moscow XABCDEFGHY
2007) 9.Nh3 Qd7 (9...Qe7 10.Nf4 h5 11.Bb5
0-0 12.f3 Ne5 - unclear in Nepomnia- 8r+lwqr+k+(
chtchi,I-Tomashevsky,E Moscow 2006)
10.Nf4 0-0-0 11.Bb5 Rhe8 12.f3 Kb8
7zppzpp+pzpp'
13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Be1 Ng8 15.Kb1 Nge7 6-+n+-sn-+&
16.Bf2 a6 17.Ba4 Qc8 18.h5 b5 19.Bb3 e5
20.hxg6 hxg6 21.Rh7 Bf6 22.Nd5 Nd4 5+-+-+-+-%
23.Nxf6 (D) 4-vl-+P+-+$
XABCDEFGHY 3+-sN-+-wQ-#
8-mkqtrr+-+( 2PzPPvL-zPPzP"
7+-zp-sn-+R' 1+-mKR+LsNR!
6p+-zp-sNp+& xabcdefghy
5+p+-zp-+-% 8...Rxe4
4-+-snP+-+$ A safe line is 8...d6 9.a3 Ba5 10.f3 Nh5
11.Qe1 Be6 12.g4 Nf6 13.g5 Nd7 14.h4 -
3+L+-wQP+-# unclear in Nepomniachtchi,I-Bu,Xiangzhi
Sochi 2009. Another main variation is
2PzPP+-vLP+" 8...Nxe4 9.Nxe4 Rxe4 10.Bf4 (10.Bg5 is
1+K+R+-+-! interesting, but this line's ‘inventor’ J.Mieses
used to place his bishop on f4. Now a possi-
xabcdefghy ble line is 10...Be7 11.h4 d6 12.f4 Be6
1-0 Nepomniachtchi,I-Toma,K Warsaw 13.Bd3 Ra4 14.a3, with compensation,
2011. Dardha,A-Dutreeuw,M Dernet 2000)
b) 4...g6 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.0-0-0 0-0 10...Qf6 11.Nh3 d6 12.Bd3 Nd4 (modern
8.Qg3 d6 9.h4 Re8 (9...a6 10.h5 b5 11.hxg6 theory believes that 12...Re8 is safer, but this
fxg6 12.Nf3 - unclear in Nepomniachtchi,I- is a matter of taste) (D)
8r+l+-+k+( 8r+lwq-+k+(
7zppzp-+pzpp' 7zppzpp+pzpp'
6-+-zp-wq-+& 6-+n+-sn-+&
5+-+-+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-vl-snrvL-+$ 4-vl-+r+-+$
3+-+L+-wQN# 3zP-sN-+-wQ-#
2PzPP+-zPPzP" 2-zPPvL-zPPzP"
1+-mKR+-+R! 1+-mKR+LsNR!
Now White may opt for: 9...Rg4
a) 13.Kb1?! Ne2 14.Qf3? Ba3!! (this move 9...Bd6 is another line: 10.f4 Re8 11.Bd3
immediately refutes White's preparation - Bf8 12.Nf3 d6 13.f5 d5 14.Rhe1 Rxe1
Black wins!) 15.bxa3 (15.c3 Nxc3+ and 15.Rxe1, with compensation, Nepomnia-
win) 15...Nc3+ 16.Kc1 Nxa2+ 17.Kb1 Nc3+ chtchi,I-Harikrishna,P Moscow 2007.
18.Kc1 Bxh3 19.Bxe4 Bxg2! with a win, 10.Qe3 Bf8 11.f3 Rg6 12.Qf2 d5 13.Bd3 d4
Nepomniachtchi,I-Vallejo Pons,F Moscow 14.Bxg6 hxg6 15.Bg5 Qe8 16.Bxf6 gxf6
2007. 17.Nb5 Bh6+ 18.Kb1 Be3 19.Qg3 Bf5
b) 13.Be3 Rg4 (13...Bg4? 14.Ng5 Rxe3 20.Nxc7 Qd7 21.Nxa8 Bxc2+ 22.Kxc2
15.Qxg4 Ne2+ 16.Bxe2 Rxe2 17.Ne4 Mi- Qf5+ 23.Kb3 Qd5+ 24.Kc2 Qf5+ 25.Kb3
eses,J-Capablanca,JR Berlin 1913. White (D)
wins the exchange - we must note that here XABCDEFGHY
we have one of the rare mistakes Capablanca
made during his career. Also not good is 8N+-+-+k+(
13...Bxh3? 14.Qxh3 Rh4 15.Bxd4 with a
win) 14.Bxd4 Rxd4 15.c3 (15.Qe3 Bf5)
7zpp+-+p+-'
15...Bxc3 16.bxc3 Rg4 17.Qe3 (17.Qf3?! 6-+n+-zpp+&
Qxc3+ 18.Bc2 Qa1+ 19.Kd2 Qxa2!
[19...Rd4+ 20.Ke2 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Qxa2 5+-+-+q+-%
22.Rd2 Qc4+ 23.Bd3 Qh4, unclear] 20.Rb1 4-+-zp-+-+$
g6, Black is better) 17...Qxc3+ 18.Bc2
Qxe3+ 19.fxe3 Rxg2 20.Nf4, unclear. 3zPK+-vlPwQ-#
2-zP-+-+PzP"
1+-+R+-sNR!
xabcdefghy
And here a draw (½-½) was agreed in the
game Nepomniachtchi,I-Aronian,L Mainz
2009.
Practice
Study the opening thoroughly and play
games with both colours. Your trainer will
9.a3 (D) advise you on any potential mistakes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 20th * Category: Openings * Title: King's Gambit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
King's Gambit There are two main branches, depending
The ‘King's Gambit’ is an opening charac- on whether or not Black accepts the pawn:
terised by the moves 1.e4 e5 2.f4 (D) the ‘King's Gambit Accepted’ (KGA) and
XABCDEFGHY the ‘King's Gambit Declined’ (KGD).
8rsnlwqkvlntr( History
The ‘King's Gambit’ had been one of the
7zppzpp+pzpp' most popular openings for over 400 years. It
6-+-+-+-+& has been used by many top chess players,
who created classical and impressive games.
5+-+-zp-+-% One of them is the ‘Immortal Game’ that is
4-+-+PzP-+$ analysed below.
However, players have held widely diver-
3+-+-+-+-# gent views on it. Francois-Andre Danican
Philidor (1726-95), the greatest player and
2PzPPzP-+PzP" theorist of his days, thought that the ‘King's
1tRNvLQmKLsNR! Gambit’ should end in a draw with correct
play by both sides.
xabcdefghy 150 years later, Siegbert Tarrasch, one of
White offers a pawn to eliminate the black the world's greatest chess players of the 19th
central e5-pawn and to dominate the centre and 20th century, considered the opening ‘a
with d4. Theory has shown that in order for decisive mistake’ and wrote that ‘it is almost
Black to maintain the extra pawn, he will madness to play the King's Gambit’. Bobby
have to weaken his kingside. Fischer, before becoming World Champion,
The ‘King's Gambit’ is one of the oldest wrote an article, ‘A Bust to the King's Gam-
documented openings, as it was examined bit’: “In my opinion the ‘King's Gambit’ is
by the 17th century Italian chess player busted. It loses by force.” He offered the
Giulio Polerio. It is also mentioned in a rare ‘Fischer Defence’ (3...d6) as a refutation.
older book by Luis Ramirez de Lucena. None of these pronouncements, however,
The ‘King's Gambit’ is frequently seen at proved to be actual refutations of the ‘King's
top level even nowadays, where Black usu- Gambit’. Although the ‘King's Gambit’ has
ally returns the extra pawn, thus obtaining a been rare among GMs, some of them use it
satisfactory position. often, including Joseph Gallagher, Hikaru

Nakamura, Nigel Short and Alexei Fedorov. □ Anderssen Adolf
It was also part of the arsenal of David ■ Kieseritzky Lionel
Bronstein, who almost by himself brought C33 London 1851 (Immortal Game)
the opening back to respectability in modern 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 b5?!
play. (D)
Of course, the ‘King's Gambit’ is fre- XABCDEFGHY
quently seen in games of beginners and
middle level, in general. 8rsnl+kvlntr(
ECO (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings)
uses ten codes for the opening, from C30 to
7zp-zpp+pzpp'
C39. 6-+-+-+-+&
Variations 5+p+-+-+-%
Both branches of the gambit, the accepted 4-+L+Pzp-wq$
and the declined, have several variations. In
general, accepting the pawn is considered 3+-+-+-+-#
the best line.
2PzPPzP-+PzP"
● King's Gambit Declined - Black can de- 1tRNvLQ+KsNR!
cline the offered pawn, or even offer a
counter-gambit - 1.e4 e5 2.f4: xabcdefghy
●● Panteldakis Counter-gambit: 2...f5?! The so called ‘Bryan Counter-gambit’ is
●● Falkbeer Counter-gambit: 2...d5 3.exd5 still, 160 years after this game, considered
e4 dubious!
●● Nimzowitsch Counter-gambit: 2...d5 5.Bxb5 Nf6 6.Nf3 Qh6 7.d3
3.exd5 c6 7.Nc3 g5 8.d4 with the idea of h4 is even
●● Classical Defence: 2...Bc5 better.
●● Other moves: 2...Nc6 3.Nf3 f5 - 2...d6 7...Nh5 8.Nh4
3.Nf3 exf4 - 2...Nf6 3.fxe5 Nxe4 4.Nf3 Ng5! German GM Robert Huebner recommends
5.d4 Nxf3+ 6.Qxf3 Qh4+ 7.Qf2 Qxf2+ 8.Rg1! (with the idea of g4), for example:
8.Kxf2 - 2...Qf6 (Norwalde Variation) - 8...Qb6 9.Nc3 c6 10.Bc4 (threatening
2...Qh4+ 3.g3 Qe7 (Keene Defence) - 2...c5 Ne5/Ng5) 10...Qc5 11.Qe2 Ba6 12.Bxa6
(Mafia Defence). Nxa6 13.d4 Qa5 14.Ne5 g6 15.Nc4 Qc7
16.e5 with an advantage for White.
● King's Gambit Accepted - 1.e4 e5 2.f4 8...Qg5 9.Nf5 (D)
exf4:
●● Mason or Keres Gambit: 3.Nc3
XABCDEFGHY
●● Villemson or Steinitz Gambit: 3.d4 8rsnl+kvl-tr(
●● Lesser Bishop's or Tartakower Gambit:
3.Be2
7zp-zpp+pzpp'
●● Breyer or Hungarian Gambit: 3.Qf3 6-+-+-+-+&
●● Schallopp Defence: 3.Nf3 g5
●●● Paris Attack: 4.h4 5+L+-+Nwqn%
●●● Quaade Attack: 4.Nc3
●●● Muzio Gambit: 4.Bc4
4-+-+Pzp-+$
●● Main Line: 3.Nf3 3+-+P+-+-#
●●● Becker Defence: 3...h6
●●● Bonch-Oshmolovsky: 3...Ne7
2PzPP+-+PzP"
●●● Cunningham Defence: 3...Be7 1tRNvLQ+K+R!
●●● Modern or Abbazia Defence: 3...d5
●●● Fischer Defence: 3...d6 xabcdefghy
9...c6 XABCDEFGHY
Black should try 9...g6 planning to displace
the powerful white knight from f5. 8rsnl+k+ntr(
10.g4 Nf6 11.Rg1! 7zp-+p+pzpp'
An excellent piece sacrifice. The idea is to
gain time by threatening the white queen. 6-+-vL-+-+&
White will get a great advantage in devel-
opment.
5+pvlN+N+P%
11...cxb5 12.h4 Qg6 13.h5 Qg5 14.Qf3 Ng8 4-+-+P+P+$
The desperate 14...Nxg4 has also been dis-
cussed, but the situation is still bad, after 3+-+P+Q+-#
15.Rxg4 Qxh5 16.Bxf4 d5 17.Nc3 Bxf5 2P+P+K+-+"
18.exf5.
15.Bxf4 Qf6 1wq-+-+-tR-!
After 15...Qd8 16.Nc3 White’s advantage in xabcdefghy
development is crucial!
19...Bxg1?
16.Nc3 Bc5 (D)
Probably in a state of shock, Black makes
XABCDEFGHY the decisive mistake. 19...Qb2! would have
8rsnl+k+ntr( been better, with an unclear position!
20.e5!!
7zp-+p+pzpp' Limiting the black queen and creating the
threat 21.Nxg7+ Kd8 22.Bc7 #.
6-+-+-wq-+& 20...Na6
5+pvl-+N+P% 20...Ba6 would have been better, even
though White would win after 21.Nc7+ Kd8
4-+-+PvLP+$ 22.Nxa6 (with 23.Bc7+ and Nd6 as the main
3+-sNP+Q+-# threat) 22...Bb6 23.Qxa8 Qc3 24.Qxb8+ Qc8
25.Qxc8+! Kxc8 26.Bf8! h6 27.Nd6+ Kd8
2PzPP+-+-+" 28.Nxf7+ Ke8 29.Nxh8 Kxf8 30.Kf3. Also,
you should note that 20...Bb7 21.Nxg7+ Kd8
1tR-+-+KtR-! 22.Qxf7 Nh6 23.Ne6+! Kc8 24.Ne7 #, also
xabcdefghy loses in a spectacular way.
21.Nxg7+ Kd8 (D)
17.Nd5
It has been written that the next move is ‘the
A beautiful move, but objectively 17.d4! is
final glory of a game with many glories!’
simpler and more precise: 17...Bxd4 18.Nd5
and White wins. XABCDEFGHY
8r+lmk-+ntr(
7zp-+p+psNp'
6n+-vL-+-+&
17...Qxb2 18.Bd6
5+p+NzP-+P%
Huebner's suggestion is definitely better: 4-+-+-+P+$
18.Be3!: 18...Qxa1+ 19.Kg2 Qb2 20.Bxc5 3+-+P+Q+-#
Qxc2+ 21.Kh3 Qxc5 22.Rc1!! d6 (22...Qxc1
23.Nd6+ Kd8 24.Nxf7+ Ke8 25.Nd6+ Kd8 2P+P+K+-+"
26.Qf8 #) 23.Rxc5 Bxf5 24.Qxf5 dxc5
25.Qc8 #.
1wq-+-+-vl-!
18...Qxa1+ 19.Ke2 (D) xabcdefghy
22.Qf6+!! Nxf6 23.Be7 # 25.Qxg4 Bxg4 26.Rf4 Bh5 27.Raf1 h6
1-0 28.Be5 Ra7 29.b5 axb5 30.axb5 cxb5 31.c6
Raa8 32.c7 Kh7 33.Rb1 Be2 34.Rf7 Rg8
35.Re7 Bc4 36.Kh2 Rae8 37.Rd7 Ra8
38.Rb2 Raf8 39.g4 Ra8 40.Rf2 b4 41.Rff7
h5 42.Rxg7+ Rxg7 43.Rxg7+
1-0
□ Pereny Bela
C31 Athens 1984
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 c6 (D)
XABCDEFGHY
8rsnlwqkvlntr(
Practice
Study the opening thoroughly and play
7zpp+-+pzpp'
games with both colours. Your trainer will 6-+p+-+-+&
advise you on any possible mistakes.
5+-+Pzp-+-%
Exercises 4-+-+-zP-+$
Analyse (moves & ideas) the following
games and show them to your trainer. 3+-+-+-+-#
2PzPPzP-+PzP"
□ Carlsen Magnus
■ Chadaev Nikolai 1tRNvLQmKLsNR!
C36 Astana 2012
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 exf4 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.c4
xabcdefghy
c6 6.d4 cxd5 7.c5 Nc6 8.Bb5 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 4.fxe5 Qh4+ 5.Ke2 Qe4+ 6.Kf2 Bc5+ 7.d4
10.Bxf4 Bg4 11.Nc3 Ne4 12.Qd3 Bf5 Bxd4+ 8.Kg3 Bxe5+ 9.Kf2 Bd4+ 10.Kg3
13.Qe3 Bf6 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Ne5 Bxe5 Qg6+ 11.Kf4 Qf5+ 12.Kg3 Bf2 #
16.Bxe5 Bg6 17.Nxe4 Bxe4 18.Qg3 (D) 0-1
XABCDEFGHY □ Mede Istvan
8r+-wq-trk+( ■ Mira Helene
C30 Winterthur 2010
7zp-+-+pzpp' 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Qh4+ 3.g3 Qe7 4.Nc3 exf4
6-+p+-+-+& 5.d4 d5 6.Bxf4 c6 7.Qe2 Nf6 8.Bg5 dxe4
9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Nxe4 Qe7 11.Nd6+ Kd8
5+-zPpvL-+-% 12.Qxe7+
1-0
4-+-zPl+-+$
3+-+-+-wQ-# □ Fedorov Alexei
■ Nielsen Peter Heine
2PzP-+-+PzP" C35 Stockholm 1997
1tR-+-+RmK-! 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 4.Bc4 Bh4+
5.Kf1 d5 6.exd5 Bg4 7.d4 Ne7 8.Nc3 Ng6
xabcdefghy 9.Qe2+ Be7 10.h4 h5 11.Qe4 Nd7 12.d6
18...f6 19.Bd6 Re8 20.b4 Bg6 21.a4 a6 cxd6 13.Ng5
22.h4 Qd7 23.h5 Bxh5 24.Rxf6 Qg4 1-0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 21st * Category: Openings * Title: Danish Gambit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danish Gambit good defensive lines for Black were discov-
The ‘Danish Gambit’ or ‘Nordisches ered and the ‘Danish Gambit’ lost favour
Gambit’ (‘Nordic Gambit’ in German) is an around 1920. Today it is rarely played in
opening characterized by the moves 1.e4 e5 top-level chess.
2.d4 exd4 3.c3 (D)
XABCDEFGHY History
The opening's birth is not totally ‘clear’.
8rsnlwqkvlntr( The idea stems from a famous correspon-
dence game London-Edinburgh, in 1824:
7zppzpp+pzpp' 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5
6-+-+-+-+& 5.c3 Qe7 6.0-0 dxc3 7.Nxc3. The Swedish
chessplayer Hans Lindehn used to choose
5+-+-+-+-% 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 on a regular basis
4-+-zpP+-+$ already from 1857. Using this opening, he
defeated among others World Champion
3+-zP-+-+-# William Steinitz (London 1864).
It is possible, that From met Lindehn in
2PzP-+-zPPzP" Paris in this period and learned about the
1tRNvLQmKLsNR! opening's possibilities. According to the
historian G. Burgess, in Denmark the open-
xabcdefghy ing is called the Nordic Gambit.
White sacrifices one or two pawns for the Many games transpose to the ‘Goring
sake of rapid development and attack. How- Gambit’, as Nf3 for White and ...Nc6 for
ever, with care, Black can accept the pawns Black are logical moves. Carl Theodor Gor-
safely or simply decline them with good ing used to play both variations, so we con-
chances as well. sider that there is hardly any difference.
Although the ‘Danish Gambit’ has been Certainly, the idea of sacrificing just one
known from much earlier, the Danish player pawn (Nxc3) is older in the ‘Goring Gambit’
Martin Severin From was the one to play it than in the ‘Danish’. Paul Morphy used it in
at a high level, in Paris in 1867. 1857 against Alexander Meek. Also, Alex-
The opening was adopted by attacking ander Alekhine used to play 1.e4 e5 2.d4
chess players, like Alekhine, Marshall, exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3, but in games of less
Blackburne, and Mieses. However, soon importance.

Variations may analyse this game as an exercise.
The ‘Danish Gambit’ is practically a varia- 5.c3 Qe7 6.0-0 dxc3 7.Nxc3 d6 8.Nd5 Qd7
tion of the ‘Centre Game’, but is important 9.b4 Nxb4 10.Nxb4 Bxb4 11.Ng5 Nh6
enough to be treated on its own. In ECO 12.Bb2 Kf8 13.Qb3 Qe7 14.Nxf7 Nxf7
(Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) its code 15.Qxb4 Ne5 16.f4 Nxc4 17.Qxc4 Qf7
is C21. 18.Qc3 Be6 (D)
After 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3, Black can XABCDEFGHY
safely decline the gambit, choosing 3...d6,
3...Qe7, or 3...d5 (Sorensen Defence or Ca- 8r+-+-mk-tr(
pablanca Defence). If Black accepts the
‘Danish Gambit’. 3...dxc3, the main possi-
7zppzp-+qzpp'
bilities are: 6-+-zpl+-+&
● Alekhine Defence: 4.Nxc3. 5+-+-+-+-%
●● Goring Gambit: 4...d6 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.Nf3 - 4-+-+PzP-+$
4...Bc5 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.Nf3 - 4...Nc6 5.Bc4.
●● 4...Bb4 5.Bc4 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 d6 7.Qb3 3+-wQ-+-+-#
Qe7 8.Ne2.
● Lindehn's Continuation: 4.Bc4.
2PvL-+-+PzP"
●● Goring Gambit: 4...d6 5.Nxc3. 1tR-+-+RmK-!
●● Danish Gambit Accepted: 4...cxb2
5.Bxb2. xabcdefghy
●●● 5...Bb4+ 6.Kf1 or 6.Nc3. 19.f5 Bc4 20.Rf4 b5 21.e5 dxe5 22.Qxe5 h6
●●● 5...d6 6.Qb3. 23.Re1 Rh7 24.f6 g5 25.Rf5 a5 26.Qc5+
●●● Schlechter Defence: 5...d5. Kg8 27.Rxg5+ hxg5 28.Qxg5+ Kf8 29.Bd4
Be6 30.Qc5+ Kg8 31.Qg5+ Kf8 32.Bc5+
Games Ke8 33.Qd5 Ra6 34.Qb7 Qh5 35.f7+ Kxf7
36.Rf1+ Kg6 37.Qe4+ Bf5 38.Qe8+ Rf7
□ London
39.Qg8+ Kf6 40.g4 Ra8 41.Qxa8 Qxg4+
■ Edinburgh
42.Kh1 Rd7 43.Ba3 Kf7 44.Qc6 Rd1
C53 Correspondence Chess 1824 (2)
45.Qxb5 Qe4+ 46.Kg1 Kg6 47.Qb2 (D)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5
The 3rd game of the series (5 games) contin- XABCDEFGHY
ued 4...Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.0-0 d6 7.a3 Bc5 8-+-+-+-+(
8.b4 Bb6 9.Qb3 Qf6 10.Nxc3 Be6 11.Nd5
Bxd5 12.Bxd5 Nge7 13.Bg5 Qg6 14.Bxe7 7+-zp-+-+-'
Kxe7 15.a4 a5 16.b5 Rab8 17.Nh4 Qf6
18.Nf5+ Kf8 19.Rac1 Ne5 20.Kh1 h5 21.g3 6-+-+-+k+&
g6 22.Nh4 Ng4 23.h3 g5 24.Nf3 c6 25.Bc4 5zp-+-+l+-%
Rh7 26.Kg2 Kg7 27.Be2 Ne5 28.Nxg5
Qxg5 29.f4 Qg6 30.fxe5 Qxe4+ 31.Bf3 Qe3 4-+-+q+-+$
32.Qb1 Kh8 33.Rce1 Qg5 34.h4 Qg7 35.Be4 3vL-+-+-+-#
Rh6 36.Rf5 dxe5 37.Rg5 Qf8 38.Qc1 Bd8
39.Rxe5 Bf6 40.Rf5 Re8 41.bxc6 bxc6 2PwQ-+-+-zP"
42.Rxa5 Kg7 43.Rc5 Re6 44.Qc4 Qe7
45.Re3 Qa7 46.Re2 Rd6 47.a5 Rd1 48.Bf3
1+-+r+RmK-!
Bd4 49.Rg5+ Rg6 50.Qxc6 Bf6 51.Rxg6+ xabcdefghy
fxg6 52.Qb6 Qf7 53.Rc2 Rd7 54.Bc6 Qe6
47...Qg4+ 48.Qg2 Qxg2+ 49.Kxg2 Bh3+
55.Kh2 Rd4 56.Qa7+ Kh6 57.Bf3 Qe3
50.Kxh3 Rxf1 51.Be7 a4 52.a3 Rf5
58.Qf7 Rd2+ 59.Rxd2 Qxd2+ 60.Kh3 Qf2
0-1
½-½ (99) Edinburgh-London 1824 (3). You

Be7 8.0-0 0-0, with equal possibilities)
5...Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 0-0 8.Nf3
Ne4 9.Qf4 Qxd5 10.Bd3 Qa5+ 11.Nbd2
Nxd2 12.Nxd2 Re8+ Reti,R-Schlechter,C
Baden 1914.
5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be2 0-0-0
Other continuations are 7...Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Bxf3
9.Bxf3 Qc4, with equality or 7...Bxf3 8.Bxf3
Qxd4?? 9.Bxc6+ or 7...Nf6 8.Nc3 Qa5 9.0-0
□ Mieses Jacques 0-0-0 10.Be3 Bc5 11.a3 (11.Qb3?! Bxd4
■ Wolf Heinrich 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Bxg4+, with equality)
C44 Monte Carlo 1903 11...Bxf3 12.Bxf3 (12.b4) 12...Bxd4
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 (D) (12...Nxd4 13.b4) 13.Bxc6 Bxc3 (13...Bxe3
XABCDEFGHY 14.Bxb7+ and Qf3) 14.Bxb7+ and Qb3.
8.Nc3 (D)
8rsnlwqkvlntr( XABCDEFGHY
7zppzp-+pzpp' 8-+ktr-vlntr(
6-+-+-+-+& 7zppzp-+pzpp'
5+-+p+-+-% 6-+n+-+-+&
4-+-zpP+-+$ 5+-+q+-+-%
3+-zP-+-+-# 4-+-zP-+l+$
2PzP-+-zPPzP" 3+-sN-+N+-#
1tRNvLQmKLsNR! 2PzP-+LzPPzP"
xabcdefghy 1tR-vLQmK-+R!
The most usual continuation. Of course,
accepting the pawn is also popular: 3...dxc3 xabcdefghy
4.Bc4 (4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Bb4 6.Nf3 Nf6 8...Qa5
7.e5 d5 8.exf6 dxc4 9.fxg7 Rg8 10.Bh6 Probably better than 8...Qh5 9.a3 Bd6
Qxd1+ 11.Rxd1 Bf5 12.0-0 Bd3 13.Rfe1+ 10.Be3 Nf6 11.Rc1 Rhe8 12.Nb5 Nd5
Kd7 14.Ng5 Rae8 15.Rxe8 Kxe8 16.Nd5 13.Rxc6 bxc6 14.Nxa7+ Kd7 15.Ne5+ 1-0
Be7 17.Nxh7 1-0 Arkhipov,S.-Bargahi,L Mieses,J-Taubenhaus,J Ostend 1906.
Kecskemet 1990) 4...cxb2 5.Bxb2 and now 9.Be3 Bc5 10.0-0 Nf6
the best move for Black is to return the ma- 10...Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nxd4 12.Bd5 Nf6, with
terial with 5...d5! (5...Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 equality, Espig,L-Xin,L Gorlitz 1972.
dxc4 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.fxg7 Bb4+ 10.Nc3 11.Qb3 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bxd4 13.Nxd4
Re8+ 11.Nge2 Bf5 12.0-0-0+ Nd7 13.Nd5 Rxd4 14.Qxf7 Qg5 15.Bxg4+ Qxg4
Bd6 14.Rhe1 c6 15.Nd4 Be6 16.Nxe6+ fxe6 16.Rac1
17.Rxe6 Rg8 18.Rxd6 cxd5 19.R1xd5 1-0 The position offers equal possibilities, but
Bologan,V-Humeau,C Calvi 2008) 6.Bxd5 Black soon lost his way…
Nf6 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qxd8 Bb4+ 9.Qd2 16...Rd7 17.Qb3 Nh5 18.h3 Qg6 19.Na4
Qxd2+ 10.Nxd2 Re8 with a totally unclear Qd6?
position in Smolskiy,M-Afromeev,V Tula 19...Nf4 20.Qf3 Nd3 21.Nc5 Nxc5 22.Rxc5
2007. Re8, with equal possibilities.
4.exd5 Qxd5 20.Rc3?
Also good is 4...Nf6: 5.cxd4 (5.Qxd4 Qxd5 20.Nc5! wins.
6.Qxd5 or 5.Nf3 Nxd5 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Bb5 20...Qd5 21.Qa3 Nf4? (D)
XABCDEFGHY Qd3 (D)
8-+k+-+-tr( XABCDEFGHY
7zppzpr+-zpp' 8r+l+-trk+(
6-+-+-+-+& 7zp-vlp+psnp'
5+-+q+-+-% 6-+p+-+-+&
4N+-+-sn-+$ 5+p+-+-vL-%
3wQ-tR-+-+P# 4-+-zP-+L+$
2PzP-+-zPP+" 3+-sNq+-+-#
1+-+-+RmK-! 2PzP-+R+-zP"
xabcdefghy 1tR-+-+-wQK!
22.Nb6+ xabcdefghy
Black resigned due to 22...axb6 23.Qa8 #. 23.Ne4 c5 24.Rd1 Qc4 25.Bf6 Bb7 26.Bf3
An impressive and quite effective final com- 1-0
bination.
1-0 □ From Martin Severin
■ Neumann Gustav Richard
C54 Paris 1867
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5
5.c3 Nf6 6.0-0 Nxe4 7.cxd4 d5 8.Re1 Be7
9.Bd3 f5 10.Ne5 0-0 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Qe2
Bd6 13.f3 (D)
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq-trk+(
7zp-zp-+-zpp'
Practice 6-+pvl-+-+&
Study the opening thoroughly and play 5+-+p+p+-%
games with both colours. Your trainer will
advise you on any potential mistakes. 4-+-zPn+-+$
Exercises
3+-+L+P+-#
Analyse the following games and show 2PzP-+Q+PzP"
those analyses to your trainer.
1tRNvL-tR-mK-!
□ From Martin Severin xabcdefghy
■ Lloyd Samuel
13...Qh4 14.g3 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Qxg3+
C53 Paris 1867
16.Kh1 Bd7 17.Be3 Rf6 18.Rd1 Rg6
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5
0-1
5.c3 Qe7 6.0-0 Ne5 7.Nxe5 Qxe5 8.Kh1
Ne7 9.f4 Qxe4 10.Re1 Qg6 11.cxd4 Bd6
12.f5 Qf6 13.Nc3 Qh4 14.g3 Bxg3 15.Re2
0-0 16.f6 Nf5 17.fxg7 Nxg7 18.Qg1 b5
19.Bd5 c6 20.Bf3 Bc7 21.Bg5 Qh3 22.Bg4

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 22nd * Category: Openings * Title: Evans Gambit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evans Gambit London 1825/6 (and published in British
The ‘Evans Gambit’ is an opening charac- Chess Magazine - the oldest chess maga-
terized by the moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 zine! 01/1928) although in that game a
3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 (D) slightly different move order was followed.
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwqk+ntr(
7zppzpp+pzpp' □ Evans William Davies
■ McDonnell Alexander
6-+n+-+-+& C52 London 1825/6
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 d6 5.b4
5+-vl-zp-+-% Bxb4 6.c3 Ba5 7.d4 Bg4 8.Qb3 Qd7 9.Ng5
4-zPL+P+-+$ Nd8 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Ba3 Nh6 12.f3 Bb6+
13.Kh1 Bh5 14.Rd1 Qc8 (D)
3+-+-+N+-# XABCDEFGHY
2P+PzP-zPPzP" 8r+qsnk+-tr(
1tRNvLQmK-+R! 7zppzp-+pzpp'
xabcdefghy 6-vl-+-+-sn&
ECO (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings)
has two codes, C51 and C52: 5+-+-zp-sNl%
● C51: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4
● C52: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4
4-+L+P+-+$
Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 3vLQzP-+P+-#
History 2P+-+-+PzP"
The gambit is named after the Welsh sea
captain William Davies Evans, the first
1tRN+R+-+K!
player known to have analysed it and widely xabcdefghy
used it. 15.Rxd8+ Qxd8 16.Nxf7 Qh4 17.Qb5+ c6
The first game where the ‘Evans Gambit’ 18.Qxe5+ Kd7 19.Qe6+ Kc7 20.Bd6 #
was played was Evans,W-McDonnell,A 1-0

In 1832, the first analysis of the gambit mal’ moves are 4.c3 or 4.d3. The idea be-
was published in the Second Series of Pro- hind the move 4.b4 is to sacrifice a pawn in
gressive Lessons (1832) by William Lewis. order to build a solid centre and get attack-
The gambit became very popular, especially ing possibilities against the f7-square. Ideas
after being played in the match between based on the move Ba3, preventing Black
McDonnell and Louis de la Bourdonnais in from castling, are also often involved. Ac-
1834. Great chess players such as Adolf cording to Reuben Fine, the ‘Evans Gambit’
Anderssen, Paul Morphy and Mikhail Chi- is a challenge for Black since the usual de-
gorin adopted it. fences (with ...d6 and/or give back the
However, after Emanuel Lasker's excellent pawn) are more difficult to pull off than with
and simple defence, introduced in 1895, it other gambits.
was out of favour for much of the 20th cen- At this point, we need to note that Fine lost
tury. John Nunn and Jan Timman used it in to Bobby Fischer, in just 17 moves!!
the late 1970s and World Champion Garry
Kasparov also used it in a few of his games. □ Fischer Robert
The most famous is the following one ■ Fine Reuben
against Viswanathan Anand (also a World C52 New York 1963
Champion) in Riga, in 1995: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4
5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4
□ Kasparov Garry E.Lasker's suggestion was 6...d6 7.0-0
■ Viswanathan Anand (7.Qb3!) 7...Bb6.
C51 Riga 1995 7.0-0 dxc3
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 Also 7...Bb6 8.cxd4 d6 or 7...d6 8.Qb3 Qd7
5.c3 Be7 6.d4 Na5 7.Be2 exd4 8.Qxd4 Nf6 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.Bb5 Kf8! 11.d5 Na5,
9.e5 Nc6 10.Qh4 Nd5 11.Qg3 g6 12.0-0 Fischer,R-Osbun,E Davis 1964.
Nb6 13.c4 d6 14.Rd1 Nd7 15.Bh6 Ncxe5 8.Qb3 Qe7
16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Nc3 f6 (D) M.Chigorin suggested 8...Qf6 9.e5 Qg6
XABCDEFGHY 10.Nxc3 Nge7 11.Ne2 or 11.Ba3, with am-
biguity.
8r+lwqk+-tr( 9.Nxc3 Nf6? (D)
7zppzp-vl-+p' XIIIIIIIIY
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ
6-+-zp-zppvL& 8r+l+k+-tr(
5+-+-sn-+-% 7zppzppwqpzpp'
4-+P+-+-+$ 6-+n+-sn-+&
3+-sN-+-wQ-# 5vl-+-+-+-%
2P+-+LzPPzP" 4-+L+P+-+$
1tR-+R+-mK-! 3+QsN-+N+-#
xabcdefghy 2P+-+-zPPzP"
18.c5 Nf7 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.Qe3 Nxh6 1tR-vL-+RmK-!
21.Qxh6 Bf8 22.Qe3+ Kf7 23.Nd5 Be6
24.Nf4 Qe7 25.Re1 xiiiiiiiiy
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ
1-0 Also bad was 9...Bxc3? 10.Qxc3 f6
(10...Nf6 11.Ba3 d6 12.e5 Ne4 13.Qb2 Nxe5
General Remarks 14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15.Rfe1, winning) 11.Ba3 d6
The ‘Evans Gambit’ is an aggressive vari- 12.Bd5! Bd7 13.Rab1 0-0-0 14.Nd4, also
ant of the ‘Italian Game’, in which the ‘nor- winning. But Black should have opted for
9...Qb4! 10.Bxf7+ Kd8 11.Bg5+ (11.Bxg8? Rb8 13.Qa4 Bb6 14.Nbd2 Bb7 15.Ne4 Qf5
Qxb3!) 11...Nge7 12.Nd5 Qxb3 13.axb3 16.Bxd3 Qh5 (D)
Bb6 (13...Bb4!?) 14.Rfc1 h6 15.Rxc6 hxg5 XABCDEFGHY
16.Nxb6 cxb6 17.Rxb6, with complicated
game. 8-tr-+k+-tr(
10.Nd5! Nxd5
Or 10...Qxe4 11.Ng5 and a powerful attack.
7zplzppsnpzpp'
11.exd5 Ne5 6-vln+-+-+&
11...Nd8 12.Ba3 d6 13.Qb5+ loses.
12.Nxe5 Qxe5 13.Bb2 Qg5 14.h4! Qxh4 5+-+-zP-+q%
Other choices for Black were not helpful: 4Q+-+N+-+$
14...Qh6 15.Qa3, with the ieda of Rfe1+ or
14...Qg4 15.Rfe1+ Bxe1 (15...Kd8 16.Qe3 3vL-zPL+N+-#
Bb4 17.Qh6!! gxh6 18.Bf6+ Be7 19.Bxe7+
Ke8 20.Bg5+! Kf8 21.Bxh6+ Qg7
2P+-+-zPPzP"
22.Re8+!! Kxe8 23.Bxg7, winning) 1tR-+-tR-mK-!
16.Rxe1+ Kd8 17.Qe3 Qxh4 18.g3! and
White wins. xabcdefghy
15.Bxg7 Rg8 16.Rfe1+ Kd8 (D) 17.Nf6+ gxf6 18.exf6 Rg8 19.Rad1 Qxf3
Or 16...Bxe1 17.Rxe1+, winning. 20.Rxe7+ Nxe7 (D)
8r+lmk-+r+( 8-tr-+k+r+(
7zppzpp+pvLp' 7zplzppsnp+p'
6-+-+-+-+& 6-vl-+-zP-+&
5vl-+P+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+L+-+-wq$ 4Q+-+-+-+$
3+Q+-+-+-# 3vL-zPL+q+-#
2P+-+-zPP+" 2P+-+-zPPzP"
1tR-+-tR-mK-! 1+-+R+-mK-!
17.Qg3! 21.Qxd7+ Kxd7 22.Bf5+ Ke8 23.Bd7+ Kf8
And Black resigned, because after the forced 24.Bxe7 #
17...Qxg3, there follows the elegant move 1-0
18.Bf6 #.
1-0
The famous ‘Evergreen Game’ was played
with the ‘Evans Gambit’:
□ Anderssen Adolf
■ Dufresne Jean
C52 Berlin 1852
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4
5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.0-0 d3 8.Qb3 Qf6
9.e5 Qg6 10.Re1 Nge7 11.Ba3 b5 12.Qxb5

Declined Variations
Black may decline the ‘Evans Gambit’ After 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3, the bishop must
with 4...Bb6, then 5.a4 a6 is the natural line. move. The common retreats are listed here:
But most researchers believe that declining
the gambit is wrong or, in general, a weaker ● 5...Ba5: Black's most popular retreat. It
line than accepting it. Moreover, a counter- gets out of the way of White's centre pawns,
gambit with 4...d5 is of questionable value. and pins the c3 pawn if White plays 6.d4,
but it has the disadvantage of removing the
Accepted a5-square for Black's knight. Black usually
The obvious and most usual line for Black places the bishop on b6 to facilitate ...Na5,
is to accept the Gambit, with 4...Bxb4, after which is particularly useful when White opts
which White continues with 5.c3 so 5...Ba5 for the Bc4, Qb3 approach.
(5...Be7 and 5...Bc5 or 5...Bd6 are alterna-
● 5...Bc5: This is the second most popular
tive lines) 6.d4 is considered to be the main
retreat, with White scoring better than after
line.
5...Ba5. This is often played by people un-
The line that E.Lasker suggested with
familiar with the ‘Evans Gambit’, but is ar-
4...Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 d6 7.0-0 Bb6 8.dxe5
guably not as good as 5...Ba5, because 6.d4
dxe5 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 10.Nxe5 Be6, stops
attacks the bishop and narrows down Black's
White's attack, by returning the pawn and
options as compared with 5...Ba5 6.d4.
exchanging queens.
According to Reuben Fine, the resulting ● 5...Be7: This has often been considered
simplified position ‘is psychologically de- one of the ‘safer’ retreats, and has been
pressing for the gambit player’ whose intent played by Viswanathan Anand. After 6.d4
is usually an aggressive attack. Na5, White can attempt to maintain an ini-
Also M.Chigorin published a great deal of tiative with 7.Be2 as played by G.Kasparov,
analysis on the alternative line 9.Qb3 Qf6 or immediately recapture the pawn with
10.Bg5 Qg6 11.Bd5 Nge7 12.Bxe7 Kxe7 7.Nxe5.
13.Bxc6 Qxc6 14.Nxe5 Qe6, that avoids the ● 5...Bd6: The so-called ‘Stone-Ware De-
queen exchange, but did not reach a clear fence’ after Henry Nathan Stone and Preston
conclusion. Ware. This move reinforces the e5-pawn and
Usually though, White avoids this line has been played by several top chess players.
with 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.dxe5, where Black re-
turns the pawn with 8...Bb6 or keeps it with ● 5...Bf8: The so-called ‘Mayet Defence’,
8...dxe5, although White has enough com- but is not played that often.
pensation for his sacrifice.
Alternatively, Black can meet 6.d4 with
6...exd4, when White can try 7.Qb3, a move
often favoured by Nigel Short. 7.0-0 is tradi-
tionally met by 7...Nge7 with the idea of
defence against 8.Ng5 or 8.cxd4 with 8...d5,
returning the pawn.
Also note that the ‘materialistic’ 7...dxc3
is well met by 8.Qb3 with a very dangerous Practice
initiative for the sacrificed pawns. Study the opening thoroughly and play
Alternatively there is 7...d6 8.cxd4 Bb6 games with both colours. Your trainer will
known as the ‘Normal Position’, in which advise you on any potential mistakes.
Black is content to settle for a one pawn
advantage and White seeks open lines for Exercises
the pieces and a strong centre! From the games you played during prac-
But of course things are far from easy in tice, write down one and analyse it at home.
such complicated lines… Next, show it to your trainer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 23rd * Category: General * Title: There is no Shame in Losing
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is no Shame in Losing position of the Greek National Champion-
There is no shame in losing; there is shame ship under 20 years old. According to the
in not trying! tournament rules we had to play tie-breaks
This old principle, which holds good in of 4 games to decide the winner.
every sport, even in real life, needs to be In case of a final result 2-2 then I would
strictly respected! win the title because of better ranking crite-
There is no shame in losing a chess game. ria in the championship, therefore I already
If there was, then everyone in the chess had some kind of advantage.
world should be ashamed! In the first game of the match I played
Naturally, victory is of less value than better and won and of course the possibili-
learning, so losing to an opponent of higher ties of final dominance increased, as I
level should be treated as a learning tool and needed just one more point from the remain-
a kind of honour. ing three games.
Chess is a complicated game. You may I remember that at the beginning of the
dedicate your whole life to become better second game, Kotronias wrote on his score-
and better, but the strongest chess player will sheet ‘2nd game and the last one.’
always be ahead in victories. I was not sure if he was joking or making
Even worse, if your opponent has a couple ‘fun’ of me or simply believed it.
of decades of extra learning, then loss is However, I soon understood: Kotronias
expected even more as a natural result… felt psychologically weak and was not ready
to fight and claim his chance…
Kotronias lost easily and without resis-
tance the second game as well, and the tie-
break ended 2-0, since (according to the
rules) there was no reason to play two more
games…
□ Kotronias Vasilios
D00 Athens 1982
Battle is an Obligation! 1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3 g6 4.Nd2 Nbd7 5.f4
Back in time, specifically in 1982, together Bg7 6.Ngf3 0-0 7.0-0 Ne8 8.c4 dxc4 9.Nxc4
with Vasilios Kotronias we tied for the first c5 10.d5 Nd6 11.e4 Nxc4 12.Bxc4 Nb6 (D)

XABCDEFGHY in losing, but if we continue to lose in the
exact same way and all the time, then we
8r+lwq-trk+( ought to start to feel some kind of shame!
7zpp+-zppvlp' □ Valatsoukis Filippos
6-sn-+-+p+& ■ Grivas Efstratios
C20 Athens 1979
5+-zpP+-+-% 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 (D)
4-+L+PzP-+$ XABCDEFGHY
3+-+-+N+-# 8rsnlwqkvlntr(
2PzP-+-+PzP" 7zppzpp+pzpp'
1tR-vLQ+RmK-! 6-+-+-+-+&
xabcdefghy 5+-+-zp-+Q%
Kotronias avoided the main theory of his 4-+-+P+-+$
opening repertoire at the time and gave me a
very good chance to build a very satisfying 3+-+-+-+-#
position without great effort.
13.Be2?
2PzPPzP-zPPzP"
A bad move that results in losing a pawn - 1tRNvL-mKLsNR!
White should have played 13.Qe2.
13...f5! 14.e5 Qxd5 15.Qxd5+ Nxd5 xabcdefghy
Black has won an important central pawn A common opening for the majority of be-
and later the game. ginners. But, in general, it should be avoided
16.Bc4 e6 17.Bxd5 exd5 18.Rd1 Rd8 19.b4 - the queen has no job attacking at such a
Bf8 20.Qe3 b6 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.Bd2 Bb7 premature stage.
23.Ba5 Rdc8 24.Ng5 Re8 25.Rab1 Bc6 2...Bd6
26.Kf2 h6 27.Nf3 Rab8 28.h3 d4 29.Bc7 I remember that in the beginning of my ca-
Rxb1 30.Rxb1 Rc8 31.Bb8 Be4 32.Rb5 reer I had lost some games playing 2...g6??
Bc6 33.Rb1 Bxf3 34.gxf3 c4 35.Ke2 d3+ 3.Qxe5+ Qe7 4.Qxh8. Naturally, after the
36.Kd2 c3+ 37.Kxd3 c2 38.Rc1 Rxb8 correct move 2...Nc6, which develops a
39.Rxc2 Rd8+ 40.Ke3 Rd7 41.Rc6 Kg7 piece and protects the e5-pawn at the same
42.e6 Re7 43.Kd4 Kf6 44.Kd5 h5 45.a4 time, Black gets a good game: 3.Bc4 g6
Bh6 46.a5 Bxf4 47.a6 Bc7 48.Rc4 Bb6 4.Qf3 Nf6.
49.Rc6 Bc7 50.Rc2 Be5 51.Rc6 Bg3 3.Bc4 Nh6?
0-1 Black does not handle the position correctly.
He should have opted for 3...g6 4.Qf3 Qe7.
A very weak game by my then young op- 4.d3 c6?
ponent, who later showed his true strength, 4...Qe7 would have been better: 5.Bxh6
since he reached the highest chess level and gxh6 6.Nc3 c6 7.Qxh6, but either way White
became the best Greek chess player, reach- has the upper hand…
ing the top 50 of the world. 5.Bxh6 Qe7
We grew up together in the chess world Black must accept losing a lot of material, as
and we both managed to become Grandmas- now 5...gxh6 is impossible because of
ters, while we have fought almost 40 battles 6.Qxf7 #.
on the chess board! 6.Bxg7
And White later won the game without par-
Shame on the Identical Loss! ticular problems!
As we have mentioned, there is no shame 1-0
Like all beginners, I too had lost some XABCDEFGHY
similar games before that one. But since then
I remembered that loss and was ready to face 8r+l+k+-tr(
similar circumstances in a much better way -
there is no reason to repeat bad habits!
7zppzpp+pzpp'
Remember that even the World Champion 6-+-+-+-+&
has been a beginner and has lost similar
games. But he learned from his mistakes and 5+-vl-+-+-%
became better… 4-snL+PzP-+$
Don't be Disappointed 3+-sNK+-zP-#
The previous game was my first official
one, a couple of weeks after I had learned
2PzPP+-+q+"
the rules of the game. 1tR-vLQ+-+-!
It was played at my first official tourna-
ment, in which I lost all 13 games I played. xabcdefghy
And I lost them in a very bad way and eve- 0-1
rybody laughed at how badly I played.
I was even voted the ‘friendliest’ opponent Be Stubborn!
- everybody was glad to face me over the After my ‘extraordinary’ start with 0/13, I
board! was furious with myself. I realized that my
Many years later, a friend of mine who opponents were simply better than me, but I
was Vice-President of my club at the time also wanted to be good!
(the tournament took place at the Kallithea So I spent the next two weeks analysing
Chess Club) told me the following story: the games I had lost again and again. I took
A well known Greek trainer was passing some books and decided to participate in
by the club and was asked his opinion about some more tournaments.
a possible talented player among the 14 In the second tournament of my life fate
children that participated. got me to meet again with my very first op-
The trainer took a look at the tournament ponent:
score board and said: I do not know who
may become a good chess player, but I know □ Grivas Efstratios
who will never become anything - and ■ Valatsoukis Filippos
showed my name - the player who finished C01 Athens 1979 ○
with 0/13…
In the end the trainer proved to be in some
XABCDEFGHY
way accurate, since he had actually discov- 8-+-+-+-+(
ered the only player in the tournament who
managed to become a Grandmaster!
7zp-+-+p+-'
But do not think that in this tournament 6-mk-+-+p+&
worse games where not lost! Take a look at
the following one - another great Grivas 5+p+l+-+-%
performance: 4-+-+-+-+$
□ Grivas Efstratios 3+-+-+-zP-#
■ Karayiannis Athanasios
C22 Athens 1979 2P+-+-zP-+"
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qd1 Bc5 1+-tR-+-mK-!
5.Bc4 Nf6 6.f3 Nh5 7.f4 Qh4+ 8.g3 Nxg3
9.hxg3 Qxh1 10.Nc3 Qxg1+ 11.Ke2 Qg2+ xabcdefghy
12.Kd3 Nb4 # (D) After a game with many mistakes from both
sides (we were beginners!), but both having 25.Nc7 Qc8 26.Nxe6 Qxe6 27.Ng5 Qc8
definitely improved, the diagram position 28.Rxf7 Ne5 29.Rf2 h6 30.Bh3 Qc7 31.Ne6
arose on the board. Qc8 32.Nxg7 Qxh3 33.Ne8 b6 34.Qc3 Qe6
White has won the exchange (rook for 35.Nc7 Qe7 36.Nd5 Qe8 37.Nf6+ Kf8
bishop) and with correct play he would have 38.Nxe8+ Kxe8 39.Qxe5 #
the upper hand. But on the next move he lost XABCDEFGHY
an important pawn, allowing Black to get a
very dangerous mass of passed pawns on the 8-+-+k+-+(
queenside and finally win the game!
47.f4? Bxa2 48.Kf2 Ka5 49.Ke2 b4 50.Rc2
7+-+-+-+-'
Bb3 51.Rb2 Ka4 52.Kd2 Ka3 53.Kc1 Be6 6-zp-+-+pzp&
54.Kb1 b3 55.Re2 Kb4 56.Re4+ Bc4
57.Kb2 a5 58.g4 a4 59.f5 a3+ 60.Kb1 gxf5 5zp-zp-wQ-+-%
61.gxf5 Kc3 62.Re3+ Bd3+ 63.Rxd3+ 4-+P+P+-+$
Kxd3 64.Kc1 Kc3 65.Kb1 a2+
0-1 3zP-+-+-zP-#
And loss number 14 was a fact! But I did-
2-zP-+-tR-zP"
n't stop here - I also lost my next game, be- 1+-+R+-mK-!
ginning my career with the extraordinary
0/15!!! I should show some stability from xabcdefghy
the beginning, being 100% successful! 1-0
The former World Champion Boris
Spassky has said:
‘When I am in good shape, I look a bit
stubborn, almost brute. I sometimes feel a
great sense of fighting spirit to guide me’.
Practice
Play games using the openings you learned
in the last Lessons (19-22). Your trainer will
advise you on any potential mistakes.
Exercises
Soon my efforts were put into action since Analyse at home the position in the last
on 30.08.1979 (just three months after I had diagram on the previous page. Next, show
learned the rules - 01.06.1979) my first offi- that analysis to your trainer.
cial victory was a fact:
□ Grivas Efstratios
■ Giannakopoulos Ioannis
B50 Athens 1979
1.c4 c5 2.e4 e5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Nc3 Ne7 5.g3 g6
6.Bg2 Bg7 7.d3 0-0 8.0-0 Nec6 9.Bg5 Qe8
10.Qb3 Nb4 11.a3 Nxd3 12.Qc2 Nxf2
13.Rxf2 Be6 14.Nd5 a5 15.Nc7 Qc8
16.Nxa8 Nc6 17.Nb6 Qc7 18.Nd5 Qd7
19.Bf6 Qh6 20.Bxe5 Qc8 21.Bxd6 Rd8
22.Be7 Bg7 23.Bxd8 Qxd8 24.Rd1 Qa8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 24th * Category: Strategy * Title: Discovering Targets
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discovering Targets
An important element in modern chess is
XABCDEFGHY
the selection of targets. These targets must 8r+-+ktr-+(
be relatively easy to locate and attack, at
least as far as beginners or low level chess
7zpp+qsnpzpp'
players, in general are concerned. 6-+p+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-sN-tR-+-#
As a player gains experience over the 2PzPP+-zPPzP"
years, plans and possible targets evolve.
Actually, some specialists claim that the 1tR-+Q+-mK-!
art of strategy consists of defining a plan and
placing the pieces so as to complete this xabcdefghy
plan, even with the best responses by the In this position Black needs just one move
opponent. (...0-0-0) to feel satisfied. If White is sup-
posed to have an advantage he should iden-
tify his main target.
1.Qe2!
This is his target! The pinned knight on e7
and the black king in general! White could
win a pawn with 1.Qxd7+ Kxd7 2.Rd1+
Nd5! 3.Nxd5 cxd5 4.Rxd5+, but he correctly
seeks more.
1...f6
Probably the only way for Black to defend
Target - Tactical Part against 2.Re1 (with 2...Rf7).
The tactical part is, in general, considered 2.Rd1
to be easier to understand than the positional Also good was 2.Re1 Rf7 3.Rd3 Qc7 4.Ne4
one, as it can be more easily counted. Let's and White's threats towards his main target
take a look at an example: (the black king) increase.

2...Qc7 3.Qh5+ Rf7 (D) Now, after 1.g4, the threat 2.g5 is decisive -
XABCDEFGHY White will either gain the black knight or, if
it retreats, checkmate the black king with
8r+-+k+-+( Qxh7+. Black has no defence...
1-0
7zppwq-snrzpp'
6-+p+-zp-+& Target - Positional Part
Finding potential positional targets simpli-
5+-+-+-+Q% fies things and helps us in improving our
4-+-+-+-+$ position.
3+-sN-tR-+-# □ Koutsaftis Konstantinos

2PzPP+-zPPzP" E43 Athens 1980
1+-+R+-mK-! 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 b6 4.Nf3 Bb7 5.e3
Bb4 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 c5 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0
xabcdefghy Nc6 10.a4 Na5 11.Nd2 (D)
4.Qxh7 XABCDEFGHY
White has won material, while his attack
continues to grow… 8r+-wq-trk+(
1-0
7zpl+p+pzpp'
XABCDEFGHY 6-zp-+psn-+&
8r+-wq-trk+( 5sn-zp-+-+-%
7zpp+-zpp+p' 4P+PzP-+-+$
6-+p+-sn-+& 3+-zP-zP-+-#
5+-+-+-+-% 2-+-sNLzPPzP"
4-+-zP-+-+$ 1tR-vLQ+RmK-!
3+-+Q+N+-# xabcdefghy
According to modern theory, pawn weak-
2PzPP+-zPP+" nesses are crucial and can be exploited. In
1+-mKR+-+R! our diagram the doubled c-pawns and espe-
cially the c4-pawn are weak and can become
xabcdefghy targets, as they cannot be protected by other
In this diagram as well, it is White to move pawns of the same colour. Black's strat-
and he has an advantage. The h-file is open egy/plan is simple but effective: he will ex-
and the black king has been stripped of his change every white piece that can protect the
defence and remains in his weak hideout. weak c4-pawn (the target), he will place the
The h-pawn, especially, is very weak and the queen and the rooks on the c-file squares c8,
only defensive piece is the knight on f6. c7, c6 and then, playing ...cxd4 at the right
Therefore, White needs to find a way to moment, he will open the c-file. If he man-
force the black knight to retreat, making the ages to do all that, the weak c4-pawn will be
decisive blow. captured!
1.g4! 11...Ne4!
1.Ng5 Qd6 2.Nxh7 Qf4+ 3.Kb1 was also According to plan. The white d2 knight that
good and the black king will be found to be protects the weak c4-pawn must be ex-
under unstoppable attack… changed!
12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Ba3 Qg5 14.g3 d6 □ Papathanasiou Ioannis
15.Bd3?! ■ Grivas Efstratios
This move helps White as he exchanges one A03 Athens 1983
more piece that protects the c4-pawn. It is 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d3 Bg7 4.e3 Nf6 5.Be2
obvious that Black is heading in the wrong 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.Qe1 d4 9.exd4
direction… Nxd4 10.Nxd4 cxd4 11.Ne4 Qb6 12.Nxf6+
15...Qf5 16.Bxe4 Qxe4 17.Qe2 Qb7 Bxf6 13.Qg3 Bf5 14.Bg4 Bxg4 15.Qxg4 (D)
18.Rab1 Qc6 19.Ra1 Rfd8 20.Rfd1 (D) XABCDEFGHY
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+(
8r+-tr-+k+( 7zpp+-zpp+p'
7zp-+-+pzpp' 6-wq-+-vlp+&
6-zpqzpp+-+& 5+-+-+-+-%
5sn-zp-+-+-% 4-+-zp-zPQ+$
4P+PzP-+-+$ 3+-+P+-+-#
3vL-zP-zP-zP-# 2PzPP+-+PzP"
2-+-+QzP-zP" 1tR-vL-+RmK-!
1tR-+R+-mK-! xabcdefghy
xabcdefghy Obviously, the opening phase is over by now
20...cxd4! and it is time to think of ‘what to do’; how to
And now White loses material. continue…
21.Rxd4?! Both players have completed development,
21.cxd4 Qxc4 was the lesser evil, just losing while many pieces have been exchanged. It
the ‘target’! seems that the game will follow a positional
21...Nb3! 22.Qd1 Nxa1 23.Bxd6 Rac8 path, not a tactical one, as conflict is hard for
24.Qxa1 Rxd6 25.a5 Rxd4 26.cxd4 Qxc4 the remaining pieces.
27.axb6 Qc1+ A careful chess player will immediately see
A nice and ‘clean’ win, which gave Black an the weak c2-pawn which is on an open file
easy way, as long as he discovered his tar- and cannot be protected by other pawns of
get. the same colour.
0-1 Therefore, since the target has been found,
the attack towards it must begin! The best
for Black is to gather his forces against the
pawn.
15...Rac8 16.Rf2 Rc5!
Preparing to triple the major pieces (queen
and rooks) on the c-file (...Rfc8, ...Qc6),
putting unbearable pressure on the c2-
pawn…
17.b3
Unfortunately for White, he cannot continue
with 17.c4 as en passant by 17...dxc3 de-
cides the game!
The following game is quite similar since it 17...Rfc8 18.Qd1 Qc6 (D)
treats pawn weaknesses and especially the And Black managed to capture the ‘target’
weak c-pawn, on an open file: (on the next move!).
XABCDEFGHY 26.Bb1+ Kh8 27.Qe5+ Rg7 28.Rd4 f6
29.Qf4 e5 30.Qxh6+ Kg8 31.Rd2 f5 32.
8-+r+-+k+( Qh4 Kf7 33.f3 Rag6 34.Re1 Qe6 35.Qd8
Rg8 36.Qc7+ Kf6 37.Rd6 Rxg2+ 38.Kh1
7zpp+-zpp+p' Rxb2 39.Rxe6+ Kxe6 40.Qxe5+ 1-0
6-+q+-vlp+& □ Sydor Andrzej
5+-tr-+-+-% ■ Drimer Dolfi
B22 Bath 1973
4-+-zp-zP-+$ 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4
3+P+P+-+-# Nf6 6.Be2 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Be3 cxd4
9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.cxd4 0-0 11.Nc3 Qd8
2P+P+-tRPzP" 12.Bf3 Bd7 13.d5 exd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5
15.Qxd5 Bc6 16.Qxd8 Rfxd8 17.Bxc6 bxc6
1tR-vLQ+-mK-! (D)
xabcdefghy XABCDEFGHY
19.c4 dxc3 20.Rc2 Rd8 21.Be3 Rcd5
22.Bxa7 Rxd3 23.Qe1 Rd2 24.Rxd2 cxd2
8r+-tr-+k+(
25.Qe2 Bxa1 7zp-+-vlpzpp'
0-1
6-+p+-+-+&
Exercises
Analyse the following games at home and 5+-+-+-+-%
define the targets: 4-+-+-+-+$
□ Sax Gyula
■ Ghinda Mihail 3+-+-vL-+-#
B03 Bath 1973 2PzP-+-zPPzP"
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Bc4 Nb6
5.Bb3 dxe5 6.Qh5 e6 7.dxe5 a5 8.a4 Na6 1tR-+-+RmK-!
9.Nf3 Nc5 10.Ba2 Bd7 11.Nc3 Nbxa4 xabcdefghy
12.Bg5 Be7 13.Nxa4 Nxa4 14.Rd1 Nc5
18.Rac1 Bf6 19.b3 Rd6 20.Rc4 h6 21.Rfc1
15.Qe3 0-0 16.c3 Qe8 17.Bxc5 Bxc5
Rc8 22.Kf1 a5 23.Ke2 Bg5 24.f4 Bf6
18.Ng5 h6 19.Ne4 Be7 (D)
25.R1c2 Re8 26.Kf3 Rd3 27.Re4 Rc8
XABCDEFGHY 28.Ke2 Rd6 29.Rd2 Rd5 30.Rc4 Rh5 31.h3
8r+-+qtrk+( Be7 32.Rdc2 c5 33.Rd2 Rf5 34.Rd7 Bf8
35.Ra7 Re8 36.Rxa5 Rf6 37.Raa4 Rfe6
7+pzplvlpzp-' 38.Rc3 g5 39.Kf3 gxf4 40.Bxf4 Rf6 41.Re4
Ra8 42.a4 Rb8 43.Ke2 Bd6 44.Be3 Rg6
6-+-+p+-zp& 45.g4 Bf8 46.Kd1 Rf6 47.Rf4 Re6 48.Kc2
5zp-+-zP-+Q% Rbe8 49.Bxc5 Re2+ 50.Kd3 Bxc5 51.Rxc5
R8e3+ 52.Kc4 Rc2+ 53.Kd4 Rxc5 54.Kxc5
4-+-+N+-+$ Rxb3 55.a5 Rxh3 56.a6 Ra3 57.Kb5 Kg7
3+-zP-+-+-# 58.Ra4 Rb3+ 59.Kc5 Rc3+ 60.Kd5 Rd3+
61.Ke4 Rd8 62.a7 Ra8 63.Kf5 Kh7 64.Kf6
2LzP-+-zPPzP" Kg8 65.Ra5 Kf8 66.Rb5 1-0
1+-+RmK-+R! Practice
Create a position by yourselves where you
xabcdefghy will define a tactical target and another
20.Nf6+ Bxf6 21.exf6 Ra6 22.fxg7 Kxg7 where you will define a positional one and
23.Qe5+ Kh7 24.Qxc7 Bc8 25.0-0 Rg8 discuss them with your trainer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 25th * Category: General * Title: Learning from our Losses
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Learning from our Losses 23.Qd3
Chess is basically a constant repetition of Even better would have been 23.Qd4 Qh5
subjects, positions and moves. By the help 24.Qd3 Rcxf7 25.Kg2 and the position
of written knowledge, we learn to avoid mis- would offer equal possibilities. White, how-
takes and seek the right path. ever, concentrated on the weak black d5-
Loss is certainly unpleasant, but we can pawn, ignoring the danger his king might be
learn a lot from it and then, in the future, in…
avoid similar bad situations. 23...Rcxf7 24.Rxf7 Rxf7 25.Rd1?
White is carefree as he continues his bad
□ Grivas Efstratios plan, meaning the threat against the weak
■ Hatzikos Georgios black pawn. He should have played 25.Kg2,
Athens 1980 ○ with almost equal possibilities.
XABCDEFGHY 25...Rf2!
Black now has a great advantage.
8-+-+-tr-mk( 26.Rd2?
And just as I played my last move, I realized
7+ptr-+Pzpp' that Black may continue with the deadly
6p+-vl-+-+& 26...Qe1+! I immediately resigned.
0-1
5+-+pwq-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ White lost the game because he ignored
what might be the most basic rule in chess,
3zPNzP-+-zP-# king's safety. His loss (checkmate) is the end
of the game!
2-zP-+-+-zP" Black correctly combined his pieces
1tR-+Q+R+K! (queen and rook) and, with help from his
opponent, won the game without difficulty,
xabcdefghy but in an instructive way!
Black will take the white f7-pawn and be
equal in material. White needs to look after □ Grivas Efstratios
his somewhat weak king but, in general, ■ Katsantas Serafeim
should not be in danger. Athens 1981 ●

XABCDEFGHY Black stands better, but White could (and
should) continue the battle with 25.b4.
8-+-+-+k+( 25.Qc3?
A move that creates weaknesses (c3-pawn)
7+-vl-+-zp-' and facilitates and eases Black’s task, since
6-+-wqp+Qzp& it offers him a clear and easy target!
25...Qxc3 26.bxc3 Rc5
5zpp+-+-+-% Black will soon gain material…
4-+pzPp+P+$ 27.Rfc1 a5 28.Rab1 Rac8 29.g4 Be6
30.Rb5 Rxc3 31.Rxc3 Rxc3 32.Rxa5 Rxh3
3zP-+-+r+P# The rest of the game is of no interest - White
resigned on the 57th move.
2-zPP+N+K+" 0-1
1+-+-+-+R!
xabcdefghy
This is similar to the previous game position.
White once again ignores his king's safety
and Black once again takes advantage of the
f-file. Knowing opening theory is necessary in
32...Qf8! order to be able to stand up to the require-
A very good move that ‘kills’ White. The ments of a game and not be the victim of a
black rook's penetration to f2 is decisive. lower level opponent, especially without a
33.Qxe6+ Kh8 34.Re1 Rf2+ 35.Kg1 Bh2+ fight!
36.Kh1 Qf3 # The following game was played in 1979,
0-1 between two very young chess players, who
obviously did not know good chess, but had
From the two games above, I learned to tried to memorize a certain theoretical line…
think about and respect my opponent's
threats. Unpleasant losses, but they helped □ Nikoleris Stefanos
me avoid many others, more important ones! ■ Grivas Efstratios
C54 Athens 1979
□ Grivas Efstratios 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4
■ Dellaportas Petros exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Nxc3
Athens 1980 ○ 9.bxc3 Bxc3 10.Qb3! (D)
8r+-+-+-+( 8r+lwqk+-tr(
7+-+-+pmkp' 7zppzpp+pzpp'
6p+-+-+p+& 6-+n+-+-+&
5+-+rwql+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+Q+p+-+$ 4-+LzP-+-+$
3zP-+-+-+P# 3+Qvl-+N+-#
2-zP-+LzPP+" 2P+-+-zPPzP"
1tR-+-+RmK-! 1tR-vL-+RmK-!
This line has been known since the begin- and understanding the opening, not by
ning of the 16th century! memorization, because in this case the pos-
10...Bxa1? sibility of confusing the moves is greater…
A very bad continuation that leads to a won
position for White. According to opening □ Karayiannis Athanasios
theory, 10...d5 is forced, with unclear game. ■ Grivas Efstratios
11.Bxf7+ Kf8 (D) Athens 1979 ○
8r+lwq-mk-tr( 8-+-+-+-+(
7zppzpp+Lzpp' 7zp-+-+pmkp'
6-+n+-+-+& 6-+pwq-+p+&
5+-+-+-+-% 5+-+-zp-+-%
4-+-zP-+-+$ 4-+Q+-+-+$
3+Q+-+N+-# 3+-zP-+-zP-#
2P+-+-zPPzP" 2PzP-+-zPKzP"
1vl-vL-+RmK-! 1+-+-+-+-!
12.Ng5? Material is equal, but White has more pawns
White got confused and forgot the theory he on the queenside and they can move easily
had memorized! After playing the correct and quickly, creating a passed pawn (a po-
move 12.Bg5 Ne7 White would have won tential queen!).
with the line 13.Ne5! Bxd4 14.Bg6 d5 33.a4 Qc7 34.b4 Qb7 35.Qc5 f6 36.Kg1 a6
15.Qf3+ Bf5 16.Bxf5 Bxe5 17.Be6+ Bf6 37.c4 Kh6 38.b5 g5
18.Bxf6 Ke8 (18...gxf6 19.Qxf6+ Ke8 Hopeless, but not even the normal 38...axb5
20.Qf7 #) 19.Bxg7 1-0 Soumiakina,T- 39.axb5 cxb5 40.cxb5 would save Black…
Litinskaya,M Svetlogorsk 1997. But Gio- 39.Qxc6 Qe7 40.bxa6
achino Greco had already discovered how to 1-0
win by 1620!
12...Nxd4 From this loss I learned to appreciate
And now Black wins! passed pawns and their value. And I had the
13.Qc4 chance of revenge in a similar endgame
Or 13.Ba3+ d6 14.Qe3 h6 15.Nh7+ Qxf7 many years later!
16.Qf4+ Bf5 17.Re1 d5 18.Re5 Rxf7
19.Rxf5+ Nxf5 20.Qxf5+ Kg8 21.Qe6+ Kh8
0-1 Svobontova,R-Hlavkova,T Svetlanant
Sazavou 1998.
13...h6 14.Bg6 d5 15.Qc5+ Qd6 16.Qa5
hxg5 17.Re1 Qxg6 18.Qxc7 Qh5 19.Ba3+
Kg8 20.Rxa1 Bd7 21.Rd1 Qxd1 #
0-1
Even if I finally won the game above, I

considered it to be one of my losses, because
the result could very easily have been differ-
ent. I realized that I had to learn by studying
□ Grivas Efstratios XABCDEFGHY
■ Karayiannis Athanasios
Athens 2002 ○ 8-+r+-trk+(
XABCDEFGHY 7zpp+nvlpzpp'
8-+-+-+-+( 6-wq-+p+n+&
7+-+-+pzpk' 5+-+pzP-+-%
6-+q+-+-zp& 4-+-zP-+-+$
5+-+-zp-+-% 3+P+-+N+-#
4pwQ-+P+-+$ 2P+-+-zPPzP"
3+-+-+-zP-# 1tR-vLQtRNmK-!
2PzP-+-zPKzP" xabcdefghy
1+-+-+-+-! The c-file is the only open file on the board
and Black rushes to occupy it.
xabcdefghy 13...Rc6! 14.Qd3 Bb4 15.Bd2 Rfc8
42.b3 axb3 43.axb3 g5 44.Qc4 Qf6 45.h3 16.Rec1 Bxd2 17.Qxd2 Qc7!
h5 46.b4 Kg7 47.Qd5 g4 48.hxg4 hxg4 Mission accomplished! Black will rule the c-
49.Kg1 Kf8 50.b5 Ke7 51.Qb7+ Kd8 52.b6 file and will later penetrate into his oppo-
Qd6 53.Qxf7 Qxb6 54.Qd5+ Kc8 55.Qxe5 nent's camp.
Qb1+ 56.Kg2 Qd1 57.Qc5+ Kb8 58.e5 18.Rxc6 Qxc6 19.Ne3 f6 20.Ne1 fxe5
Qf3+ 59.Kg1 Qf5 60.Qb6+ Kc8 61.e6 Qe4 21.Nd3 Qc3 22.Qxc3 Rxc3 23.Nxe5 Ngxe5
62.Qc5+ Kb7 63.Qe3 Qb1+ 64.Kg2 Qf5 24.dxe5 Nxe5 25.Rd1 Rd3 26.Rc1 Nc6
65.e7 Qd5+ 66.Kg1 27.Rc2 d4 28.Nf1 Rc3 29.Re2 e5 30.f3 Kf7
1-0 31.Nd2 Rc2 32.a3 d3 33.Rf2 Nd4 34.Nf1
Nxb3 35.Ne3 Rc1+ 36.Rf1 Rxf1+ 37.Kxf1
Nd4 38.Nc4 Ke6 39.Ke1 b5 40.Na5 Kd6
41.Nb7+ Kd5 42.Kd2 Nb3+ 43.Kxd3 Nc5+
44.Nxc5 Kxc5 45.Ke4 Kd6
0-1
Open files belong mainly to the rooks and

secondly to the queen. Wise words and read-
ily proved!
Studying this subject deeply helped me
avoid several unpleasant losses, but, at the
same time, gave me the chance to win many
games, even at a very young chess age.
The following game is typical: Practice
Choose an opponent of equal strength and
□ Gomatos Leonidas play a game on a subject you will choose.
■ Grivas Efstratios Write it down.
C00 Athens 1980
1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.Bb5+ Bd7 Exercise
5.Bxd7+ Nxd7 6.c3 Ne7 7.d4 Ng6 8.0-0 Analyse the game you played during prac-
Be7 9.Re1 0-0 10.Nbd2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Rc8 tice and show it to your trainer, together
12.Nf1 Qb6 13.b3 (D) with your conclusions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 26th * Category: Tactics * Title: King Safety - The pawn/square f7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
King Safety - The pawn/square f2/f7 Black resigned, as he cannot face White's
As we have already mentioned and ana- double threat, the immediate mate on f7 and
lysed in previous chapters, the white the queen's check on the diagonal a2-g8:
pawn/square f2, or f7 for Black, is extremely 7...Qe7 8.Qd5+ Qf7 9.Qxf7 #. A very short
sensitive, since it is only supported by the and awkward way to lose the game!
king. Certainly, by castling, the square is no 1-0
longer weak - once more castling proves its
importance! □ Vovk Oksana
■ Pfau Beate
□ Hogberg Toivo B06 Germany 2010
■ Hellstrom Jarkko 1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 g6 3.e4 Bg7 4.Bc4 Nd7? (D)
C27 Finland 2007 XABCDEFGHY
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nxe4 4.Bxf7+
Kxf7 5.Nxe4 Nc6 6.Qf3+ Kg8? (D) 8r+lwqk+ntr(
XABCDEFGHY 7zppzpnzppvlp'
8r+lwq-vlktr( 6-+-zp-+p+&
7zppzpp+-zpp' 5+-+-+-+-%
6-+n+-+-+& 4-+LzPP+-+$
5+-+-zp-+-% 3+-+-+N+-#
4-+-+N+-+$ 2PzPP+-zPPzP"
3+-+-+Q+-# 1tRNvLQmK-+R!
2PzPPzP-zPPzP" xabcdefghy
1tR-vL-mK-sNR! Yet another mistake in the opening from
Black, of which White takes advantage im-
xabcdefghy mediately, impressively and effectively!
Black's last move loses immediately - the f7- 5.Bxf7+! Kxf7 6.Ng5+ Ke8 7.Ne6
square cannot be sufficiently defended! The black queen is lost! Black resigned on
7.Ng5! the 25th move. The knowledge (or the igno-

rance!) of opening theory is proved once 7...Bxd1? 8.Bxf7+ Ke7 9.Nd5 # (D)
again to be decisive! XABCDEFGHY
1-0
8r+-wq-vl-tr(
Examples of the weakness of the
pawn/square f2/f7 are countless and very
7zppzp-mkLzp-'
important. We should always think of the 6-+nzp-sn-zp&
consequences that may occur… An example
that has been played countless times is the 5+-+NsN-vL-%
following: 4-+-+P+-+$
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 3+-+P+-+-#
Black provokes White to take the f7-pawn,
creating, at the same time, a double threat!
2PzPP+-zPPzP"
5.Nxf7 Bxf2+! (D) 1tR-+lmK-+R!
8r+lwqk+-tr( 1-0
7zppzpp+Nzpp' □ Morozevich Alexander
6-+n+-sn-+& ■ Bratchenko Alexander
Novgorod 1997 ○
5+-+-zp-+-% XABCDEFGHY
4-+L+P+-+$ 8r+l+-tr-mk(
3+-+-+-+-# 7zp-+-+pzpp'
2PzPPzP-vlPzP" 6-sn-+-+-sN&
1tRNvLQmK-+R! 5+Lvl-wq-+-%
xabcdefghy 4-sn-+-+-wQ$
A form of counter-attack! Black will sacri-
fice his rook on h8 in return for attack! After 3+-sN-vL-+-#
6.Kxf2 Nxe4+ Black has a powerful attack,
so here 6.Kf1 Qe7 is considered to be better,
2PzP-+-+PzP"
with an unclear game. 1+-+-tRRmK-!
xabcdefghy
22.Nxf7+!
And Black resigned - he either loses the
queen or gets checkmated: 22...Rxf7
In the previous example we saw how both 23.Qd8+ Bf8 24.Qxf8+ Rxf8 25.Rxf8 #.
points of the board (f2 and f7) may prove to 1-0
be weak! Another proof of the need to think
about the opponent's threats… In many cases the pawn/square's weakness
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.Nc3 may be well hidden. Some preliminary
Bg4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Nxe5? moves may be needed:
A very bad move, which loses immediately
to the simple 7...Nxe5. But Black was □ Lutikov Anatoly
tempted by the white queen, proving White ■ Sakharov Yuri
to be right for his wrong choice… Ama Ata 1968 ○
8r+q+ktr-+( 8rsn-wqk+-tr(
7+p+lvlpwQp' 7zplzp-+p+-'
6pvLn+p+-+& 6-zp-+-zppvl&
5+-+pzPp+-% 5+-+-+-+p%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+LzP-sN-zP$
3+-sNL+-+-# 3+-sN-zP-+-#
2PzPP+-+PzP" 2PzP-+-zPP+"
1tR-+-+RmK-! 1tR-+QmK-+R!
The black king remains in the centre; he 11.Bxf7+! Kxf7 12.Qb3+ Ke8 13.Nxg6
seems though to be well protected by his Qd7 14.Nxh8 Qg7 15.Qe6+ Kf8 16.Nd5
pieces and pawns. White sacrifices material Nd7 17.Ne7
in order to destroy Black's defensive forma- 1-0
tion.
18.Bxf5! d4 □ Petrosian Tigran
Or 18...exf5 19.Nxd5 and White's attack will ■ Korchnoi Viktor
prove decisive. Curacao 1962 ○
19.Bxh7! dxc3 20.Rxf7! Rxf7 21.Bg6 XABCDEFGHY
And White wins. The end was:
21...Nxe5 22.Qxe5 Qc4 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8rwql+k+-tr(
24.Rf1+ Kg6 25.Bd4 Qxf1+ 26.Kxf1 Rf8+ 7+p+nvlp+p'
27.Kg1 cxb2 28.Bxb2 Rg8 29.Qc7 Rd8
30.Qg3+ Kf5 31.Qe5+ 6p+-+-zpp+&
1-0
5+-+-+-+-%
4-zPLsN-zP-+$
3zP-sN-zP-+-#
2-+-+-+PzP"
1+-tRQ+RmK-!
xabcdefghy
A game between world title Candidates!
15.Bxf7+! Kxf7 16.Qb3+ Ke8
Until now we have seen examples where 16...Kg7 17.Ne6+ Kh6 18.Rf3 also loses.
the weakness of the pawn/square f2/f7 is 17.Nd5 Bd6 18.Ne6 b5 19.Ndc7+ Ke7
seen in positions where openings with 1.e4 20.Nd4! Kf8
have been played and maybe you have the Now there is no salvation: 20...Bxc7
wrong picture. In every opening, destruction 21.Nc6+ or 20...Qxc7 21.Rxc7 Bxc7
may occur - let's see how with 1.d4/1.c4. 22.Qe6+ Kf8 23.Qc6 Ra7 24.Ne6+.
□ Vaganian Rafael 21.Nxa8
■ Boteril George And Black obviously had to resign…
Hastings 1974 ○ 1-0
□ Keres Paul
■ Winter William 1ABCDEFGH○
Warsaw 1935 ○ 8r+lwqkvl-tr(
XABCDEFGHY 7zppzpn+pzpp'
8rsnl+k+-tr( 6-+-zp-sn-+&
7zpp+-+pzpp' 5+-+-zp-+-%
6-+-vl-+-+& 4-+LzPP+-+$
5wq-+psN-vL-% 3+-+-+N+-#
4-+-+-+-+$ 2PzPP+-zPPzP"
3+-+L+-+-# 1tRNvLQmK-+R!
2Pzp-+-zPPzP" xabcdefghy
1+R+Q+RmK-!
xabcdefghy 2ABCDEFGH○
13.Nxf7! Kxf7 14.Qh5+ g6 8r+lwqk+ntr(
14...Kf8 15.Rfe1 Bd7 16.Qf3+ Kg8 17.Be7!
Qxe7 18.Rxe7 or 14...Ke6 15.Bf5+! Kxf5 7zppzpnvlpzpp'
16.Bd2+ or, finally, 14...Kg8 15.Qe8+ Bf8
16.Be7 Nd7 17.Bf5 also lose. 6-+-zp-+-+&
15.Bxg6+! hxg6 16.Qxh8 Bf5 5+-+-zp-+-%
Or 16...Nd7 17.Qh7+ Kf8 18.Bh6+ Ke8
19.Qxg6+ Kd8 20.Qxd6. 4-+LzPP+-+$
17.Rfe1 Be4 3+-+-+N+-#
Leading to mate: 17...Bxb1 18.Qf6+ Kg8
19.Re8+ Kh7 20.Rh8 #. 2PzPP+-zPPzP"
18.Rxe4! dxe4 19.Qf6+
Finally, because of 19...Kg8 (19...Ke8 1tRNvLQmK-+R!
20.Qe6+ Kf8 21.Bh6 #) 20.Kxg6+ Kf8 xabcdefghy
21.Qxd6+ Kf7 22.Qe7+ Kg6 23.h4 Qb6
24.g4 Qf2+ 25.Kxf2 e3+ 26.Kxe3 Nc6 27.h5
#. 3ABCDEFGH○
1-0
8r+lwqr+k+(
Practice 7zppzpnvlpzpp'
Create a position by yourselves where the
weakness of the pawn/square f2/f7 can be 6-+-zp-sn-+&
proved and discuss it with your trainer.
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+LsNP+-+$
3+-sN-+-+-#
2PzPP+QzPPzP"
1tR-vL-+RmK-!
Exercises xabcdefghy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 27th * Category: Tactics * Title: King Safety - Same Side Castling
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
King Safety - Same Side Castling □ Grivas Efstratios
In this chapter we will study positions ■ Sarwat Walaa
where both opponents have castled on the Moscow 1994 ○
same side, meaning they have theoretically XABCDEFGHY
secured their king.
The evaluation of one's potential for an 8-+qtr-+k+(
attack against the king will play a significant
role in the outcome of the battle.
7+ltrn+p+-'
When the enemy king has remained in the 6p+-vlp+p+&
centre without castling or in the case of op-
posite side castling, things are somewhat 5+pzp-+-+p%
easier, at least concerning the esti- 4-+-+PzP-+$
mate/evaluation of the situation or calculat-
ing variations. 3zPP+PsN-zPP#
In general we should have:
1. A space advantage in general, especially
2-vL-+Q+L+"
in the area we plan to attack. 1+-tRR+-mK-!
2. An easy way to transfer forces to the
area where we will attack. xabcdefghy
3. A material advantage in the area where White has more space, while the black
we will attack. pieces act without a plan. Moreover, Black's
4. Pawns - targets in the enemy king's de- defence is obviously weak, because of his
fensive structure. advanced pawns (especially the h-pawn),
5. Lack (permanent or temporary) of en- thus the requirements of attack for White are
emy defensive pieces. excellent! Let's see the game without many
An attack of any kind, does not aim only at comments:
the enemy king, but in general at winning 26.Rf1! Bf8 27.g4 hxg4 28.hxg4 Bg7
material or gaining a positional advantage. 29.Bxg7 Kxg7 30.g5 Rh8 31.Qb2+ Kg8
32.Ng4! Qf8 33.f5 exf5 34.exf5 Bxg2
35.Qxg2 gxf5 36.Rxf5 Rh7 37.g6! Rg7
38.Nh6+ Kh8 39.Nxf7+ Kg8 40.Rh5
And Black accepted his defeat…
1-0

□ Grivas Efstratios Classical Bishop Sacrifice
■ Velikov Petar The classical bishop sacrifice is an effec-
Xanthi 1991 ○ tive way to attack on the same side and is
XABCDEFGHY characterized by the move Bxh7+
(…Bxh2+).
8-vlrtr-+k+( It aims at weakening the opponent's defen-
sive structure and opening the h-file, in order
7+l+-+pzpp' to create an aggressive continuation.
6pwq-+p+n+& The first known classical bishop sacrifice
can be found in Gioachino Greco's manu-
5+pzp-+n+-% script (1619), after the moves (of dubious
4-+-+-+-+$ quality; ECO code C01):
1.e4 e6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bd3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.h4
3zPP+PzPNzP-# 0-0 6.e5 Nd5 (D)
2-vLRsNQzPLzP" XABCDEFGHY
1+-tR-+-mK-! 8r+lwq-trk+(
xabcdefghy 7zppzppvlpzpp'
Things look quiet, but once again the black 6-+n+p+-+&
pieces are gathered on the queenside, with-
out targets. White decides to unleash his 5+-+nzP-+-%
attack towards the king's side - a justified 4-+-zP-+-zP$
decision…
23.e4 Nfe7 24.h4! Nf8 25.h5 h6 26.Nh2 3+-+L+N+-#
Qd6 27.Ng4! Qxd3? (D)
The forced line was 27...Nd7 28.Nf3 (28.e5
2PzPP+-zPP+"
Qb6 29.Bxb7 Qxb7 30.Qe4) 28...Nc6 29.e5 1tRNvLQmK-+R!
Qf8 30.Nd2, with an advantage for White.
In the diagram position White proceeded to
8-vlrtr-snk+( the classical bishop sacrifice with
7.Bxh7+! Kxh7 8.Ng5+
7+l+-snpzp-' Black's has many choices, but each one
6p+-+p+-zp& loses:
a. 8...Kg8 9.Qh5 Re8 10.Qh7+ Kf8 11.Qh8
5+pzp-+-+P% #.
4-+-+P+N+$ b. 8...Kg6 9.h5+ Kh6 10.Nxf7+.
c. 8...Bxg5 9.hxg5+ Kg6 (9...Kg8 10.Qh5)
3zPP+q+-zP-# 10.Qh5+ Kf5 11.Qh3+ Kg6 12.Qh7 #.
1-0
2-vLRsNQzPL+"
1+-tR-+-mK-! In the previous example, White had all
‘necessary’ components to ensure the sacri-
xabcdefghy fice would succeed, meaning the following:
28.Nxh6+! gxh6 29.Qg4+ Neg6 30.hxg6 1. The possibility of attack with Bxh7(+).
Nxg6 31.Bf6! Kh7 32.Nf3! Bd6 33.Rd2 2. Having pieces to take part in the attack,
Qxb3 34.h5 Bf8 35.Rxd8 Rxd8 36.Bxd8 c4 at their best positions (Nf3-g5, Bc1, Qd1-h5,
37.Bf6 Qxa3 38.Rd1! Bc6 39.Rd8 c3 Rh1 and pawns e5 and h4), together with the
40.Ng5+ necessary absence of the opponent’s f6-
1-0 knight.
The word ‘necessary’ was mention in quo- The Lasker or the Two Bishops Sacrifice
tations, as each position has its special par- The Lasker sacrifice is considered to be
ticularities and we cannot establish exact one the most offensive actions, the main
rules for the successful result of the sacri- target of which is to destroy the opponent's
fice. Usually, the line Bxh7+, Ng5+ and castled position. Specifically, the double,
Qh5, is very usual, but not necessarily consecutive attack on the squares g7 and h7
needed to make the sacrifice. (or g2 and h2) ruptures the enemy king's
defence and denudes it, so the attacking
□ Grivas Efstratios side's pieces can act effectively against it.
■ Papandreou Nikolaos The meaning ‘effectively’ refers to the
Ikaria 1995 ○ following desirable goals:
XABCDEFGHY 1. Performing checkmate.
2. Gaining material.
8r+-wqr+k+( 3. Drawing by perpetual check.
The Lasker sacrifice does not arise often,
7zplzpn+pzpp' but it can be a powerful tool in the hands of
6-zp-+-+-+& an experienced player.
But what are the necessary conditions for
5+-+pzP-+-% the side that wishes to perform the two
4-+-zP-+Q+$ bishop sacrifice?
1. The two bishops being on the diagonals
3zP-+L+N+-# b1-h7 and a1-h8 (b8-h2 and a8-h1).
2. The inadequate defence of the enemy
2-zP-+-zPPzP" king, especially the absence of the f6-knight
1+-tR-tR-mK-! (or f3-knight).
3. The ability to sacrifice the two bishops.
xabcdefghy 4. The ability for the queen to come im-
The prerequisites of the sacrifice for White mediately to the g- or the h-file.
are in place, as his pieces are well situated to 5. The existence of the enemy rook on f8
make the sacrifice (Bd3, Nf3, Qg4, Re1 and (f1), so that the enemy king may not escape
pawn e5), while the absence of an f6-knight directly.
is important. 6. The ability to reinforce the attack (after
16.Bxh7+! Kxh7 17.Ng5+ Kg8 the sacrifice) with the participation of other
Naturally, we would reject 17...Kg6 pieces.
18.Ne6+, while 17...Kh6 18.Qh4+ Kg6 Usually, the existence of a pawn on f4 (f5)
19.Qh7+ Kxg5 20.Rc3, would lead to a is important, though not absolutely neces-
quick mate. sary for the success of the sacrifice.
18.Qh5 Bc8?! Even though this case of attack is difficult,
Now there is no salvation, but Black should we should know it.
have tried 18...Nf8, where White wins with
19.Qxf7+ Kh8 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.Re3! g6
(21...Bc8 22.Qf7+ Kh8 23.Rxc7 Qxg5
24.Qxe8) 22.Qh6 Bc8 (22...Qe7 23.Rh3 Qg7
24.Qxg7+ Kxg7 25.Rxc7+) 23.Rc6! Be6
(23...Qe7 24.Rf3! Qg7 25.Rxf8+) 24.Rh3!.
19.Qxf7+ Kh8 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.Qh7+ Kf8
22.Qh8+
A crushing attack which I quite enjoyed -
it’s always pleasant to beat your friend over
the board (and only there).
1-0
□ Lasker Emanuel Exercises
■ Bauer Johann
A03 Amsterdam 1889 1ABCDEFGH●
1.f4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.b3 e6 4.Bb2 Be7 5.Bd3 8-+-tr-trk+(
b6 6.Nf3 Bb7 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Ne2
c5 10.Ng3 Qc7 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Qc6 7zp-+-wqp+p'
13.Qe2 a6 14.Nh5 Nxh5 (D) 6-+lvl-+p+&
ABCDEFGHY 5+-zpp+-+-%
8r+-+-trk+( 4-+-+-+-+$
7+l+-vlpzpp' 3+P+-zP-+-#
6pzpq+p+-+& 2PvLQsN-zPPzP"
5+-zppvL-+n% 1+-tR-+RmK-!
4-+-+-zP-+$ xabcdefghy
3+P+LzP-+-#
2P+PzPQ+PzP" 2ABCDEFGH○
1tR-+-+RmK-! 8rsn-+-trk+(
xabcdefghy 7zplwq-+pzpp'
In this position, Emanuel Lasker, to the 6-+-+p+-+&
spectators' and his opponent's great surprise 5+-zp-+-+-%
did not continue with the expected 15.Qxh5,
but with the two bishop sacrifice, which thus 4-+P+L+-+$
found its place in the pantheon of formal 3+-+-+N+-#
combinations.
15.Bxh7+! Kxh7 16.Qxh5+ Kg8 17.Bxg7! 2P+P+-zPPzP"
Kxg7
Black's alternative moves were hopeless, as 1tR-+QtR-mK-!
both 17...f6 18.Bh6! and 17...f5 18.Be5! Rf6 xabcdefghy
19.Rf3 lose.
18.Qg4+ Kh7 19.Rf3 e5 20.Rh3+ Qh6
The solutions to the previous 26th Lesson
21.Rxh6+ Kxh6
(Pawn/square f2/f7) are the following:
It seems that Black has some material…
Diagram 1: (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7
22.Qd7! Bf6 23.Qxb7 Kg7 24.Rf1 Rab8
4.Bc4 Ngf6) 5.dxe5 Nxe5 (5...dxe5 6.Ng5)
25.Qd7 Rfd8 26.Qg4+ Kf8 27.fxe5 Bg7
6.Nxe5 dxe5 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qxd8 Bb4+
28.e6 Rb7 29.Qg6 f6 30.Rxf6+ Bxf6
9.Qd2 Bxd2+ 10.Nxd2 1-0
31.Qxf6+ Ke8 32.Qh8+ Ke7 33.Qg7+
Diagram 2: (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7
Kxe6 34.Qxb7 Rd6 35.Qxa6 d4 36.exd4
4.Bc4 Be7) 5.dxe5 Nxe5 (5...dxe5 6.Qd5)
cxd4 37.h4 d3 38.Qxd3
6.Nxe5 dxe5 7.Qh5 1-0
1-0
Diagram 3: (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7
4.Nf3 e5 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Qe2 exd4
Practice
8.Nxd4 Re8) 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Ne6 Kxe6
Create a position by yourselves where
11.Qc4+ d5 (11...Ke5 12.f4 #) 12.exd5+
there will be the classical bishop sacrifice
Nxd5 (12...Kf7 13.d6+ Kf8 14.dxc7 or
and another one where there will be the
12...Kd6 13.Nb5+) 13.Qxd5+ Kf6 14.Qh5
Lasker sacrifice and discuss them with your
1-0
trainer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28th Lesson * Category: Tactics * Title: King Safety - Opposite Side Castling
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
King Safety - Opposite Side Castling Other continuations are 15.Rhg1!? and
Attacks with opposite side castling occur 15.Qh3 0-0, where White may choose be-
from many openings and, specifically, we tween 16.Rhf1 or 16.Rhg1.
may see many examples in classical open- 15...0-0 16.h4!?
ings like the ‘Sicilian Defence’ and the A new move. White usually prefers 16.Qh3.
‘King's Indian’. 16...Rac8
Practice has shown that a significant per- Threatening 17...Nxc2! and 18...b4.
centage of games featuring mutual attacks 17.g6?
on opposite flanks are decided by one A bad move that, although opening lines,
tempo. One inaccurate move, one lost allows the black pieces to activate. The pas-
tempo, one mistaken calculation - all these sive move 17.Rc1 would have been better.
are immediately exploitable by our oppo- 17...Bf6! (D)
nent. ABCDEFGHY
For the above reasons, good knowledge of
the theory of the openings that we use, the 8-+r+-trk+(
correct judgment of the position, as well as
efficient tactical calculation of variations,
7+lwqn+pzpp'
are the basic prerequisites for success. 6p+-zppvlP+&
Let's take a look at some examples:
5+p+-+-+-%
□ Kotronias Vasilios 4-sn-+PzP-zP$
B33 Athens 1993 3+NsNLvLQ+-#
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6
5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7
2PzPP+-+-+"
9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.Kb1 1+K+R+R+-!
Nd7 13.g4 Nb4
Also good is 13...Nb6 14.g5 Na4 15.Bd2 xabcdefghy
Nxc3+ 16.Bxc3 e5 17.Bd2 exf4 18.Bxf4 0-0 18.gxf7+
19.h4 Be6 ½-½ Shirov,A-Grivas,E Panormo 18.gxh7+ Kh8! would have been worse,
2003. A good result against a very top because the white h7-pawn then becomes the
player, but probably I should continue… black king's best shield!
14.g5 Bb7 15.Rhf1 18...Rxf7 19.Bd4

Also interesting was 19.Nd4!?, when Black XABCDEFGHY
could choose between 19...Qa5!? and
19...Nc5. 8-+-+-+k+(
19...e5 20.fxe5 Nxe5 21.Qh3 Nbd3!
Black weakens the white pawn formation
7+-+-+-zp-'
and, at the same time, takes the initiative. 6p+-zpr+-zp&
22.cxd3 b4 23.Na4 Bc6 24.Nb6
The line 24.Rc1 Qd7! 25.Qxd7 Bxd7 5+-+-+-+P%
26.Rxc8+ Bxc8 27.Nb6 Be6 would lead to a 4-zpq+-+-+$
better endgame for Black.
24...Rb8 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.exd5 Qd7! (D) 3+-+-+-+-#
XABCDEFGHY 2PzP-+-+-+"
8-tr-+-+k+( 1+K+R+-+Q!
7+-+q+rzpp' xabcdefghy
6p+-zp-vl-+& The endgame, with two extra pawns, is the
result of Black's correct strategy and taking
5+-+Psn-+-% tactical advantage of the position.
4-zp-vL-+-zP$ 38.Rc1 Qe4+ 39.Qxe4 Rxe4 40.Rc8+
Or 40.Rc6 a5 41.Rxd6 Re5! and the end-
3+N+P+-+Q# game does not have any particular difficul-
ties for Black. Besides, Black already has a
2PzP-+-+-+" won endgame and the ending was:
1+K+R+R+-! 40...Kf7 41.Ra8 Re5 42.Rxa6 Rxh5
43.Rxd6 g5 44.Kc2 g4 45.Kd3 g3 46.Ke2
xabcdefghy Rf5 47.Rd3 Rf2+ 48.Ke1 Rxb2 49.Rf3+
Black wishes to reach an endgame, where he Ke7 50.Rxg3 Rxa2 51.Rb3 Ra4 52.Kd2 h5
would have an advantage because of his 53.Kc2 Kf6 54.Kb2 Kg5 55.Rg3+ Kf4
pawn formation. White is forced to look for 56.Rd3 Ra5 57.Rd4+ Kg5 58.Rxb4 Rc5
tactical lines, for which he needs every piece 59.Rd4 h4 60.Rd3 Kh5 61.Kb1 Kg4
and so he avoids the proposed exchanges. 62.Rd4+ Kg3
27.Qg3 Qb5 28.Qg2 Rbf8 29.h5 h6 30.Be3 White resigned because of the continuation
With threats like 31.Bxh6 or 31.Nd4, fol- 63.Rd3+ Kg2 64.Rd2+ Kf3 65.Rd3+ Ke2
lowed by Nf5. 66.Rh3 Rh5 67.Kc2 Kf2 68.Kd2 Kg2
30...Nxd3! 31.Rxf6 69.Ra3 h3.
Hopeless. The lines 31.Bxh6 Nxb2 32.Rxf6 0-1
Nxd1 33.Rg6 Qd3+ or 31.Nd4 Bxd4
32.Bxd4 Qc4! 33.Rxf7 Rxf7 34.Qg1 Ne5 A difficult game, where both sides used
35.Bxe5 Qe4+ lose. But now Black needs to tactical and positional elements in their ef-
be careful, because White's threats lurk… forts.
31...Rxf6 32.Nd4 Qc4 33.Ne6 R8f7 34.Bd4
White would also not be saved by 34.b3
Qc3! 35.Bd4 Rf2!.
34...Nf4! 35.Qh1 Nxe6!
The simplest. Black returns part of the mate-
rial and ensures a won endgame without any
particular complications that might favour
White.
36.Bxf6 Rxf6 37.dxe6 Rxe6 (D)

□ Grivas Efstratios An excellent move. 14.Be2? Nc5! would
■ Lputian Smbat have been a mistake, while after 14.Bxe7
D91 Panormo 1998 Rd7 15.Bf6 Re8, Black would have satisfy-
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 Bg7 5.Bg5 ing compensation.
Ne4 6.Bh4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.Qa4+ c6 XABCDEFGHY
The main theoretical line, with 8...Qd7, is
considered to be better. 8-+ktr-+-tr(
9.Qxc4 Na6 10.e4! (D)
7zpp+-zpp+p'
XABCDEFGHY
6n+p+l+pvl&
8r+lwqk+-tr(
5wq-+-+-+-%
7zpp+-zppvlp'
4-+-zPP+-vL$
6n+p+-+p+&
3+-zP-+N+-#
5+-+-+-+-%
2P+Q+-zPPzP"
4-+QzPP+-vL$
1+R+-mKL+R!
3+-zP-+N+-#
xabcdefghy
2P+-+-zPPzP" 14...f6!?
1tR-+-mKL+R! An interesting try. The line 14...Qxa2
15.Qxa2 Bxa2 16.Ra1 Be6 17.Bxe7 would
xabcdefghy have been worse, with a clear advantage for
A novelty. The move 10.e3 is not very White in the endgame.
promising for White, who sacrifices (offers), 15.Bg3!
a pawn with his last move. Avoiding the positional ‘trap’ 15.Be2?!
10...Qa5 11.Rc1! Bf4!, with the idea of ...g5 and ...h5, where
The line 11.Be2? Be6 12.Qd3 Nc5! 13.Qc2 Black would get enough counterplay.
Nxe4!, would have been disastrous for 15...f5
White.. Once more Black could not continue with
11...Be6 15...Qxa2 16.Qxa2 Bxa2 17.Rb2! Be6
Also interesting is 11...Bg4!?. 18.Bxa6 bxa6 19.Rb8+, where White would
12.Qd3 Bh6 clearly get a better position.
The lines 12...Bxa2? 13.Ra1 or 12...Qxa2 16.exf5 gxf5
13.Be2 Qa5 (13...Bh6 14.Bg5!) 14.0-0 Qc7 White would also keep his advantage after
15.Ng5! Bc8 16.f4 would have been worse, 16...Bxf5!? 17.Bd3! Bxd3 18.Qxd3.
with White having an advantage in each 17.Be5 Rhg8 18.Bd3! Rdf8?
case. A serious mistake by Black that defines the
13.Rb1! result of the game! The forced line was
The only move. The lines 13.Rc2? Bxa2! or 18...Rxg2 19.Nh4! Rgg8 20.Nxf5 Bf8
13.Rd1? Qxa2 14.Be2? Bb3 were hopeless. 21.Ke2!, with a great advantage for White,
The line 13.Ra1 Ng7! led to equality by where, however, Black would have practical
move repetition. possibilities because of the white king being
13...0-0-0 in the centre. The counter-attack and tactical
White would also keep his advantage, after threats are serious matters…
13...Qxa2? 14.Rxb7 Bb3 15.Be2! Qa1+ 19.0-0 (D)
16.Bd1 Bxd1 (16...Qxd1+ 17.Qxd1 Bxd1 White has secured his king and is ready to
18.Kxd1, with great advantage) 17.0-0! attack the worse placed black king, who
14.Qc2! (D) does not have enough defence.

XABCDEFGHY The best line. Not as good was 26.Bb5 Bxb5
or 26.d5 Qf4.
8-+k+-trr+( 26...Ka8 27.Bb5
And Black resigned because of 27...Rf6
7zpp+-zp-+p' 28.d5 Qf4 29.Rxc6 Qxh4 30.Rxf6 Qxf6
6n+p+l+-vl& 31.Bc6+.
1-0
5wq-+-vLp+-%
4-+-zP-+-+$
3+-zPL+N+-#
2P+Q+-zPPzP"
1+R+-+RmK-! Practice
Create a position by yourselves where
xabcdefghy there is attack with opposite side castling
On the other side, Black has no practical and discuss it with your trainer.
chance to annoy the white king, resulting in
lack of satisfactory counterplay, which is Exercise
crucial in this kind of position. Analyse the following game and show it to
19...Bd5 20.Nh4! your trainer:
Worse, but also with great advantage for
White, would have been 20.Bxf5+ e6 □ Thomas George Alan
21.Bh3 (or 21.Be4 Rxf3 22.Bxf3 Bxf3 ■ Monticelli Mario
23.Bg3) 21...Bxf3 22.Qb3! C73 Folkestone 1933
20...b5 (D) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6
The alternative choices for Black are also 5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.d4 f6 7.Be3 Ne7 8.Qd2
not adequate, for example, 20...Rg4? Ng6 9.Nc3 Be7 10.h4 0-0 11.h5 Nh8 12.0-
21.Bxf5+ or 20...Bg5 21.Nxf5! or finally 0-0 Nf7 13.Rdg1 Bd7 14.g4 exd4 15.Nxd4
20...Rg5 21.c4. Ne5 16.Qe2 Qc8 17.Nf5 Re8 18.f4 Nf7
XABCDEFGHY 19.h6 Nxh6 20.Nxg7 Kxg7 21.Qh2 Nf7
22.Qxh7+ Kf8 23.f5 Bd8 24.Qg6 Ke7
8-+k+-trr+( 25.Rh7 Rf8 26.Bh6 Be8 27.Qg7
1-0
7zp-+-zp-+p'
6n+p+-+-vl& Solutions to Exercises
The solutions to the previous, 27th Lesson's
5wqp+lvLp+-% exercises (Same Side Castling) are the fol-
4-+-zP-+-sN$ lowing:
Diagram 1: 18...d4! 19.exd4 Bxh2+!
3+-zPL+-+-# 20.Kxh2 Qh4+ 21.Kg1 Bxg2! 22.f3 Rfe8!
23.Ne4 Qh1+ 24.Kf2 Bxf1 25.d5 f5! 26.Qc3
2P+Q+-zPPzP" Qg2+ 27.Ke3 Rxe4+ 28.fxe4 f4+ 29.Kxf4
1+R+-+RmK-! Rf8+ 30.Ke5 Qh2+ 31.Ke6 Re8+ 32.Kd7
Bb5 # 0-1
xabcdefghy Diagram 2: 15.Bxh7+ Kxh7 16.Ng5+ Kh6
21.a4! 17.Qg4 Nd7 18.Re3 Nf6 19.Qh4+ Kg6
The white pawn, offered for many moves, 20.Rg3 Kf5 21.Re1 Rh8 22.Nf3 Ne4
now destroys Black's defensive structure! 23.Qg4+ Kf6 24.Rxe4 Ke7 25.Rxe6+ fxe6
21...Nc7 22.axb5 cxb5 23.Bxc7 Qxc7 26.Qxg7+ Kd6 27.Qe5+ Kc6 28.Qxe6+ Qd6
24.Rxb5 Bc6 25.Rc5 Kb8 26.Rb1+! 29.Ne5+ 1-0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 29th * Category: Tactics * Title: Fool's Mate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fool's Mate Naturally, this particular mate may occur
One of the most common and popular in other openings as well, like the ‘Dutch
mates is the Fool’s Mate. It happens to every Defence’ (A80):
beginner and they learn its possibilities and
mechanisms.
1.d4 f5 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 g5 4.Bg3 (D)
XABCDEFGHY
The shortest checkmate ever is noted as 8rsnlwqkvlntr(
the fool’s mate. It is a mate in just two
moves and is made by Black. The opening is 7zppzppzp-+-'
included in the ECO as A00: 6-+-+-+-zp&
1.f3? e5 2.g4? Qh4 # (D) 5+-+-+pzp-%
XABCDEFGHY 4-+-zP-+-+$
8rsnl+kvlntr( 3+-+-+-vL-#
7zppzpp+pzpp' 2PzPP+PzPPzP"
6-+-+-+-+& 1tRN+QmKLsNR!
5+-+-zp-+-% xabcdefghy
4-+-+-+Pwq$ At first sight, it seems that White will lose
his bishop…
3+-+-+P+-# 4...f4?
2PzPPzPP+-zP" But of course, it is a trap! The correct move
is 4...Nf6 5.e3 d6, as has been played in
1tRNvLQmKLsNR! many games.
5.e3! fxg3?
xabcdefghy Now 5...Nf6 is forced, even though after
White has decisively weakened the diagonal 6.exf4 White wins a pawn.
e1-h4 and is immediately punished! 6.Qh5 #
0-1 1-0

There are many cases where a mistake, XABCDEFGHY
either small or big, may lead to the fool's
mate (A02): 8rsn-wqkvlntr(
1.f4 e5!? 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 (D)
7zplzppzp-zpp'
XABCDEFGHY 6-zp-+-+-+&
8rsnlwqk+ntr( 5+-+-+p+-%
7zppzp-+pzpp' 4-+-zPP+-+$
6-+-vl-+-+& 3+-+L+-+-#
5+-+-+-+-% 2PzPP+-zPPzP"
4-+-+-+-+$ 1tRNvLQmK-sNR!
3+-+-+-+-# xabcdefghy
A careless move that is looking for trouble!
2PzPPzPP+PzP" The humble 3...e6 should be preferred.
1tRNvLQmKLsNR! 4.exf5!
Naturally, White ought to be prepared, as he
xabcdefghy needs to sacrifice his rook on h1 - not at all
This opening is called the ‘From Gambit’, a an easy decision!
basic line of the ‘Bird's Opening’ (1.f4). 4...Bxg2 5.Qh5+ g6 6.fxg6 Bg7!
4.Nc3? An analysis of Gioachino Greco dating back
A big mistake. The right line is 4.Nf3, pro- to 1619 mentions that 6...Nf6? is a mistake,
tecting the crucial square h4, with possible because of 7.gxh7+ Nxh5 8.Bg6 # (D)
answers 4...g5 or 4...Nf6 or finally 4...Bg4. XABCDEFGHY
4...Qh4+ 5.g3 Qxg3+ 6.hxg3 Bxg3 #
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wqkvl-tr(
8rsnl+k+ntr( 7zp-zppzp-+P'
7zppzp-+pzpp' 6-zp-+-+L+&
6-+-+-+-+& 5+-+-+-+n%
5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$
4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-#
3+-sN-+-vl-# 2PzPP+-zPlzP"
2PzPPzPP+-+" 1tRNvL-mK-sNR!
1tR-vLQmKLsNR! xabcdefghy
It is a fact, though, that even nowadays chess
xabcdefghy players still fall into this rather easy trap.
0-1 Knowledge of theory keeps us from such
pitfalls! It is quite amusing that chess play-
Generally, the queen's early outing to h5 or
ers knew about this trap as early as the 17th
h4 brings with it serious risk!
century!!! Yes, this Greco must have been a
B00 genius for his era…
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 f5? (D) 7.gxh7+ Kf8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY even this choice will prove lifesaving…
10.Bh6! Rxh7
8rsn-wq-mkntr( The line 10...Bxh6 11.Qxh6+ Kf7 12.Ng5+
Ke8 leads to mate: 13.Bg6 #.
7zp-zppzp-vlP' 11.Ng5!
6-zp-+-+-+& And now the next moves are forced:
11...Bxh6 12.Nxh7+ Nxh7 13.Qxh6+ Kf7
5+-+-+-+Q% 14.Qxh7+ Ke6 15.Qg6+ Kd5 16.Nc3+
4-+-zP-+-+$ Kxd4 17.Qg5 (D)
3+-+L+-+-# XABCDEFGHY
2PzPP+-zPlzP" 8rsn-wq-+-+(
1tRNvL-mK-sNR! 7zp-zppzp-+-'
xabcdefghy 6-zp-+-+-+&
8.Nf3! 5+-+-+-wQ-%
The white knight takes part in the attack and 4-+-mk-+-+$
this is clearly a much better line than the
automatic 8.hxg8Q+ Kxg8 9.Qg4 Bxh1. 3+-sNL+-+-#
8...Nf6 (D)
After 8...Bxh1 9.Ne5 Bxe5 10.dxe5, with the
2PzPP+-zP-zP"
idea of Bh6, White will perform checkmate 1tR-+-mK-+l!
in a very short time.
And the black king is hemmed in inside
8rsn-wq-mk-tr( White's camp and will be mated next move.
1-0
7zp-zppzp-vlP'
6-zp-+-sn-+&
5+-+-+-+Q%
4-+-zP-+-+$
3+-+L+N+-#
2PzPP+-zPlzP"
1tRNvL-mK-+R!
xabcdefghy
From the previous examples we may have
9.Qg6!
the wrong impression about the openings
And now the black bishop needs to choose
where the fool's mate may occur. Actually,
the piece to capture!
this particular mate may arise in many dif-
9...Bxh1
ferent openings and we need to be ready for
Choosing the other piece by 9...Bxf3 allows
anything!
the white rook to participate in the attack:
10.Rg1 Rxh7 11.Qg3, and White gains back
the material he sacrificed and a better posi-
tion: 11...Be4 12.Bxe4 Nxe4 13.Qf3+ Kg8
14.Qxe4 Nc6 15.d5 Na5 16.Nc3. Thus, B17
Black is ‘forced’ to take the rook, but not 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 (D)
XABCDEFGHY 8.Bd3!? fxe6?
Another tragic mistake that loses the queen!
8r+lwqkvlntr( 9.Qh5+! Kd8 10.Ba5! (D)
7zpp+nzppzpp' XABCDEFGHY
6-+p+-+-+& 8r+lmk-vlntr(
5+-+-+-+-% 7zpp+nzp-zp-'
4-+-zPN+-+$ 6-wqp+p+-zp&
3+-+-+-+-# 5vL-+-+-+Q%
2PzPP+-zPPzP" 4-+-zP-+-+$
1tR-vLQmKLsNR! 3+-+L+-+-#
xabcdefghy 2PzPP+-zPPzP"
Black prepares to develop with 5...Ngf6 and 1tR-+-mK-sNR!
avoids doubled pawns after 4...Nf6 5.Nxf6+.
5.Ng5!? xabcdefghy
An interesting idea that was rather popular Black saved his king but lost the queen! That
in the 1980s. was exactly the game between Nunn,J-
5...h6? (D) Georgiev,Kir Linares 1988 (1-0 in 42
XABCDEFGHY moves). The entire continuation has been
repeated in some other games as well! Proof
8r+lwqkvlntr( that you should know your openings in
depth!
7zpp+nzppzp-' 1-0
6-+p+-+-zp&
Practice
5+-+-+-sN-% Create a position by yourselves where
4-+-zP-+-+$ there will be a fool's mate and discuss it with
your trainer.
3+-+-+-+-#
Exercise
2PzPP+-zPPzP"
1tR-vLQmKLsNR! 1ABCDEFGH○
xabcdefghy 8rsnlwqkvln+(
Black ‘forgot’ White's response! The natural
would have been 5...Ngf6. 7zppzppzp-+-'
6.Ne6! 6-+-+-+-tr&
The key to White's strategy! The knight can-
not be captured, because of mate on h5! 5+-+-+-zpp%
6...Qa5+?
The immediate 6...Qb6 would have been 4-+-zP-zp-+$
better, even though after 7.Nxf8 Nxf8 White 3+-+LzP-vL-#
would anyway have an advantage.
7.Bd2 Qb6 2PzPP+-zPPzP"
Black was hoping to benefit from the double 1tRN+QmK-sNR!
threat to the pawns d4 and b2, but he is way
behind in development. xabcdefghy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 30th * Category: Tactics * Title: Smothered Mate (Lucena’s Mate)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smothered Mate (Lucena’s Mate) This double check is decisive - notice the
Smothered mate or Lucena's mate, as it is mate's mechanism: The double check is of
found in many sources, is one of the most the highest importance, as even if the queen
typical and beautiful to perform. is under attack, it cannot be captured!
To be successful, it requires a harmonious 3...Kh8
cooperation between the queen and the If 3...Kf8 then 4.Qf7 #. The king goes back
knight. The queen is sacrificed and the to his theoretically safe corner, but White
knight delivers the mate! comes up with a real surprise…
In the next diagram, White is to move: 4.Qg8+!! (D)
8rtr-+-+k+( 8rtr-+-+Qmk(
7+-+-+-zpp' 7+-+-+-zpp'
6-+Q+-+-+& 6-+-+-+-sN&
5+-+KsN-+-% 5+-+K+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-+-+-+$
3wq-+-+-+-# 3wq-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-+-+-+-!
This position comes from Lucena. White is White could repeat the moves by playing
hopelessly behind in material, but, by per- 4.Nf7+, forcing a draw by perpetual check.
forming the smothered mate, he wins the But he has something better, this excellent
game! ‘sacrifice’ (or pseudo-sacrifice!). The black
1.Qe6+ Kh8 king is surrounded by his own pieces and is
Forced, as after 1...Kf8 comes the immediate about to die of suffocation, smothered by the
2.Qf7 #. knight!
2.Nf7+ Kg8 3.Nh6++! 4...Rxg8 5.Nf7 # (D)

XABCDEFGHY tions is definitely easier and more precise.
8r+-+-+rmk( XABCDEFGHY
7+-+-+Nzpp' 8r+l+-trk+(
6-+-+-+-+& 7zppzppwqpzpp'
5+-+K+-+-% 6-+n+-+-+&
4-+-+-+-+$ 5+-vl-zP-+-%
3wq-+-+-+-# 4-+LzP +n+$
2-+-+-+-+" 3+-+-+N+-#
1+-+-+-+-! 2PzP-+-zPPzP"
xabcdefghy 1tRNvLQtR-mK-!
The knight ends the series of checks with the xabcdefghy
smothered mate. The rook and the pawns 9...Nxd4! 10.Nxd4 Qh4
form the dead black king's coffin! With a double threat towards two sensitive
1-0 points of White's castled position.
11.Nf3? (D)
One of the oldest examples of the smoth-
Here too, the move 11.Be3 would have been
ered mate can be found in Gioachino Greco's
better, although after 11...Qxh2+ 12.Kf1
manuscript (1619):
Qh1+ 13.Ke2 Qxg2 Black would have a
powerful attack.
□ NN
■ Greco Gioachino XABCDEFGHY
C50 Italy 1619 8r+l+-trk+(
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6
5.Re1 0-0 6.c3 Qe7?! 7zppzpp+pzpp'
A better line would have been 6...Nxe4!?.
Then, 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 Bb4 9.Rxe4 d5 6-+-+-+-+&
gives a good position for Black. Also, the 5+-vl-zP-+-%
positional move 6...d6 seems pretty good.
After 7.d4 Bb6, an interesting battle would 4-+L+-+nwq$
be expected. 3+-+-+N+-#
7.d4 exd4?
Once again, 7...Bb6 would have been better, 2PzP-+-zPPzP"
but do not forget that we are in 1619…
8.e5?! 1tRNvLQtR-mK-!
The complications are excessive. The simple xabcdefghy
8.cxd4, would give White a great advantage:
Now Black may perform the smothered
8...Bb4 9.Nc3 Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nxe4? 11.Qc2.
mate:
8...Ng4 9.cxd4? (D)
11...Qxf2+ 12.Kh1 Qg1+! 13.Nxg1 Nf2 #
A big mistake for White. 9.Bg5 would not
A very nice final image!
have been satisfactory because of 9...dxc3!
0-1
10.Bxe7 Bxf2+ 11.Kf1 cxb2 12.Nc3 Bxe1!,
but White could had continued first with
9.b4! Bb6 and only now 10.Bg5!, with an
advantage. Tough decisions for such a long
time ago - today the analysis of such posi-

□ Akopian Vladimir 30...Ra8
■ Piskon Yuri 30...gxh6 31.Qxh7 #.
Uzhgorod 1988 ○ 31.Qg8+!
XABCDEFGHY 1-0
8-tr-+-trk+( □ McConnell James

■ Morphy Paul
7+lwq-sn-zpp' New Orleans 1849 ●
6p+-vl-+-+& XABCDEFGHY
5+-+psN-+-% 8r+-wq-trk+(
4P+pzP-zp-+$ 7zp-+-+-+-'
3+-+-+-vLQ# 6-+-+l+-zp&
2-+P+-zPPzP" 5+-+p+pzp-%
1+R+-tRNmK-! 4-+Psnnzp-+$
xabcdefghy 3+-+Q+-+-#
22.Qe6+!
White correctly estimates that after 22.Bh4
2PzPLsN-+PzP"
Nf5 23.c3 Bc8 he would stand badly, so he 1tR-vL-+RmK-!
decides to give up two pieces for rook and
pawn. xabcdefghy
22...Kh8 23.Nf7+ Rxf7 24.Qxf7 fxg3 18...Qb6
25.Nxg3 Rg8? (D) No doubt Morphy wished to end the game in
Black's first mistake. He should have con- style. So he prepares to move the knight to
tinued with 25...g6 or 25...h6. The punish- f3. White faces Black's threats with preci-
ment is immediate. sion, at least for the time being.
XABCDEFGHY 19.Kh1 Nxc2 20.Qxc2 Nf2+ (D)
8-+-+-+rmk( XABCDEFGHY
7+lwq-snQzpp' 8r+-+-trk+(
6p+-vl-+-+& 7zp-+-+-+-'
5+-+p+-+-% 6-wq-+l+-zp&
4P+pzP-+-+$ 5+-+p+pzp-%
3+-+-+-sN-# 4-+P+-zp-+$
2-+P+-zPPzP" 3+-+-+-+-#
1+R+-tR-mK-! 2PzPQsN-snPzP"
xabcdefghy 1tR-vL-+R+K!
26.Rxe7! Bxe7 27.Nf5 Qf4? xabcdefghy
White got back the material he gave, but 21.Kg1?
Black continues to make mistakes. Naturally, 21.Rxf2 Qxf2, was the least bad
28.g3! Qf3 29.Rxb7 Bf6 30.Nh6! idea, although Black's advantage would be
Now Black's problems cannot be solved, almost decisive. But now Morphy has the
particularly after this knight's move. chance for the triumphant conclusion he
sought!
21...Nh3+ 22.Kh1 Qg1+ 23.Rxg1 Nf2 # 2ABCDEFGH○
0-1 8r+q+-trk+(
Practice 7+p+-vlNzpp'
Create a position by yourselves where 6-+-+-+-+&
there is a smothered mate and discuss it with
your trainer. 5zp-+n+Q+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
The solution to the exercise of the previ- 3zP-+-+-zP-#
ous, 29th Lesson (Fool's Mate) is the follow-
ing: 2-vL-+PzPLzP"
Diagram 1: 1.Qxh5+ Rxh5 2.Bg6 # 1-0 1sn-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy
3ABCDEFGH●
8-+-+-trk+(
7zpp+-+pvl-'
6-+-+-+p+&
5+-vL-+q+-%
4-sn-+-+-+$
3+-sN-+-+-#
2PzP-tr-+-+"
Exercises
1mK-tR-+-wQR!
xabcdefghy
8-tr-+-+k+( 8r+-+-+k+(
7+-+-+pzpp' 7+p+-+rzpp'
6p+-sNlsn-+& 6pzPqzPQ+-+&
5+-zPp+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-zP-+-+$ 4P+-+n+-+$
3wqL+ tR +P# 3sN-+-+p+-#
2P+-+-+P+" 2-+-+-+PzP"
1mK-+-wQ-+-! 1tR-+R+-mK-!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 31st * Category: Strategy * Title: Avoiding Stalemate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avoiding Stalemate ing not for a miracle, but for one last trap…
Stalemate is basically a situation where the 34...h6! 35.Rxf8+ Qxf8 36.Qe4 Qd8
player who is to move and is not in check 37.Qd3! b4! 38.Kg2 a5 39.Kf2 a4 40.Ke2
has no legal move available. Thus the game a3 41.Qb3 d3+ 42.Kd2 Qd4 43.Kd1!?
is drawn. Qc3?
By stalemate we may salvage a draw in Into which Black falls! The line 43...Qa1+
games where we may be losing, but we need 44.Kd2 Qb2+ would have been easier.
to look after and avoid it in cases where we 44.Qg8+!! Kxg8
are winning! It is an important weapon that ½-½
requires correct use!
Let's take a look at some examples: □ Bird Henry Edward
■ Englisch Berthold
□ Congdon James Adams London 1883 ○
■ Delmar Eugene XABCDEFGHY
New York 1880 ●
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+ntr-mk(
8-+R+-tr-mk( 7tR-+-+-+-'
7zp-+-+-zpp' 6-+-+Rzp-+&
6-+-+Q+-+& 5+-+-+-tr-%
5+p+-+-+-% 4-+-+-+N+$
4-+-zp-+-+$ 3+-+-+-zP-#
3+-+-+q+-# 2-+-+-+PmK"
2-+-+-+-mK" 1+-+-+-+-!
1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy
White ‘discovers’ a combination that may
xabcdefghy soon end the game. But Black, not having
Naturally, White is losing, as he has five anything better, finds a well hidden possibil-
pawns less! But he continues the game, hop- ity.

39.Rxe8? Rh5+! □ Napier William
39...Rxe8? 40.Nxf6, leading soon to victory. ■ Marshall Frank James
40.Kg1 Rxe8 41.Nxf6 Rh1+!! 42.Kxh1 New York 1896 ●
42.Kf2?? Rf8, and Black wins! XABCDEFGHY
42...Re1+ 43.Kh2 Rh1+!! 44.Kxh1
½-½ 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+&
□ Janowski David Markelovich 5+Q+-+-+-%
■ Mieses Jacques
Paris 1895 ○ 4-+-+-+p+$
XABCDEFGHY 3+-+-+-mkp#
8-+-+-+-+( 2-+-+Kvl-+"
7+-+-+-+-' 1+-+-+-+-!
6-+-+k+-+& xabcdefghy
5+-+p+-+p% Black is losing but discovers one last possi-
bility (trap) to save himself.
4-+pmK-+-+$ 69...Kh2!! 70.Kxf2?
And White falls into the trap! The winning
3+-zP-+-zPP# lines were 70.Qe5+! Kg2 (70...g3 71.Kf3!
2-+-+-+-+" Kh1 72.Qh8 Kh2 73.Kg4 or 70...Bg3
71.Qe4) 71.Qe4+! Kg3 72.Kf1 Ba7
1+-+-+-+-! 73.Qd3+.
xabcdefghy 70...g3+! 71.Kf3 g2 72.Qe2 Kh1! 73.Kg3
g1Q+ 74.Kxh3 Qe3+!! 75.Qxe3
The endgame is equal but needs some atten-
½-½
tion…
46.g4! h4! □ Schlechter Carl
The careless 46...hxg4? 47.hxg4, would ■ Wolf Heinrich
lose! Nuremberg 1906 ●
47.g5 Kf5! 48.Kxd5 Kxg5 49.Kxc4 Kf4
50.Kd4 Kg3 51.Ke3
XABCDEFGHY
Also leading to a draw is the line 51.c4 8-+-+-+-+(
Kxh3 52.c5 Kg3 (52...Kg4? 53.c6) 53.c6 h3
54.c7 h2 55.c8Q h1Q. 7+-+-+-zp-'
51...Kxh3 52.Kf3 Kh2 53.Kf2 h3 54.c4 6-+-+-+-+&
Kh1 55.c5 h2
The correct line that unavoidably leads to 5+-+-+-tR-%
stalemate. Waiting, with 55...Kh2?, would
have been catastrophic after 56.c6 Kh1 57.c7
4-zP-+k+-+$
h2 58.Kg3! (58.c8B? leads to stalemate) 3zP-+-+-zP-#
58...Kg1 59.c8Q h1Q 60.Qc1 #. The game's
ending is not difficult, but not every path 2r+-+-+-zP"
leads to victory! A ‘small’ mistake would 1+-+-+-mK-!
have been enough…
56.c6 xabcdefghy
½-½ White has enough extra material and must
win, but some attention is always needed. □ Maliutin Boris
48.Rg5! Kf3! 49.Rf5+ ■ Gregory Bernhard
Also winning was 49.h4 Rxa3 50.Rxg7 Rb3 Breslau 1912 ●
51.Kh2 Rxb4 52.Kh3, but certainly not XABCDEFGHY
49.Rxg7? Ra1 #.
49...Ke3 50.Rf7 g5! 51.Rf5 g4 52.Rf1 Rxa3 8-+-+-+-+(
53.Rb1! Kf3!!
Preparing an excellent stalemate idea!
7+-+-+-+-'
54.b5! Re3! 55.b6? 6-+-+l+-+&
Into which White falls! The winning line
was 55.Kh1 Re7 56.b6 Rb7 57.Kg1. 5tR-+-+-zpk%
55...Re1+!! 56.Rxe1 4-tR-+N+-+$
½-½
3+-+-+-+-#
2PzPr+-+PmK"
□ Znosko-Borovsky Eugene
1+-+-tr-+-!
■ Salwe Georg xabcdefghy
Ostend 1907 ● Black is losing (two pawns less), but there is
XABCDEFGHY always something before resigning!
42...Bc4! 43.Rxg5+ Kh4! 44.Rxc4?
8-+-+-+-tR( The winning line was 44.Nd2! Rxd2
7+-+-+-+P' (44...Kxg5 45.Nf3+) 45.Rc5! But now Black
does not miss the chance not to be lost…
6-+-+-+-+& 44...Rh1+!! 45.Kxh1 Rc1+!! 46.Kh2
5+-+-+p+-% Rh1+!! 47.Kxh1
½-½
4-+-+-mk-+$
Practice
3+-+-+p+-# Create a position by yourselves where
2r+-+-+-+" there will be stalemate and discuss it with
your trainer.
1+-+-mK-+-!
xabcdefghy Solutions to Exercises
The endgame is equal and particularly in- The solutions to the exercises of the previ-
structive. ous, 30th Lesson (Smothered Mate) are as
44...f2+ follows:
The line 44...Rh2 45.Kf1 Rh6 46.Ra8!? Diagram 1: 1.Rxe6! fxe6 (1...Rxb3 2.Re8+)
Rxh7 47.Rb8 does not lead anywhere, only 2.Qxe6+ Kh8 3.Nf7+ Kg8 4.Nh6++ Kh8
to a draw. 5.Qg8+ Nxg8 6.Nf7 # 1-0
45.Kf1 Kf3 Diagram 2: 1.Nh6+! Kh8 2.Qxd5 Nc2
And checkmate or stalemate is close! 3.Qg8+! 1-0
46.Ra8!! Rxa8 Diagram 3: 1...Nc2+ 2.Kb1 Na3++ 3.Ka1
Forced (46...Re2? 47.Ra3+). Qb1+! 4.Nxb1 Bxb2 # 0-1
47.h8Q! Diagram 4: 1...Qc5+ 2.Kh1 Nf2+ 3.Kg1
It is important that the new queen controls Nh3++ 4.Kh1 Qg1+! 0-1
the a1-square (47.h8R? Ra1 #).
47...Rxh8
Exercises
½-½

8-+-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-' 7+Pmk-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+& 6L+-+l+-+&
5+-+-+-+-% 5+-+-+p+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-mK-+-zp$
3+-+-mK-mk-# 3+-+-+P+P#
2-+-+-sN-zp" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-+-+-+-!
2ABCDEFGH● 5ABCDEFGH●
8-mk-+-+-+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+K+-+-' 7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-sN-+-+& 6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-% 5+-+-+-zpp%
4R+-+-+-+$ 4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+-+-mK-mk-#
2p+-+-+-+" 2-+-zp-+-+"
1tr-+-+-+-! 1+-+-+R+-!
3ABCDEFGH● 6ABCDEFGH●
8-+-+-+k+( 8-+-+-tr-mk(
7+-+-mK-zp-' 7+-+-+-+p'
6-+-+-+P+& 6-+-+-wq-zP&
5+-+-+-+P% 5zp-zp-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4P+P+-zP-tR$
3+-+-+-+-# 3+P+-+QzP-#
2-+-+-+-+" 2-+-+-zPK+"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-+-+-+-!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson 32nd * Category: General * Title: Preparing for the Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preparing for the Game Its function is rather easy: each chess clock
The first school year is coming to an end. is a compound of two ordinary timers with
Chess now has fewer secrets than we thought two pistons (or two buttons). When we press
and everything looks much more natural and our button, our clock stops working and the
easier. opponent's begins. When our opponent
However, there is still a long way to go, as presses his button his clock stops working
knowledge is endless and many things are and ours begins.
still unknown. We will need to continue to Digital chess clocks are more advanced and
learn, but also participate in tournaments and count down time, meaning they show the
other activities, in order to track our progress remaining time to fulfill our obligations.
in action. Chess clocks may be analog:
Chess Tournament
Participating in a tournament does not re-
quire many things. Usually the material
(chessboard, pieces and scoresheets) are pro-
vided by the organizer, so the only thing we
have to do is learn how to use it all!
Let's get to know the necessary material
and take a look at how it is used.
Chess Clock
Using a clock in official games is practi-
cally obligatory. Each player has at his dis-
posal a certain amount of time (defined be-
fore the games by the organizer) to make a
minimum number of moves.
In the case that this number is not made in
the allotted time, then the time limit has been
exceeded and the game is immediately lost!
The allotted time for each player is the
same, so there is justice, but there are also
various tournaments with different time lim-
its (handicap) for the two players. Or digital, like the next one:
these boxes we write down not only the
moves of both players, but also other useful
information (tournament, date, opponents'
names, round etc). It is also possible (and
often useful) to write down the time used for
each move or for a certain number of moves,
for statistical reasons.
Game Modes
Nowadays many game modes are used.
Some of them are:
With a bit of practice you will not have any 1. Round-Robin or All-Play-All Tourna-
problems in using them! ments - Every player faces every other
player, one by one. So, if ten players partici-
Chess Scoresheet pate, there will be nine rounds, meaning each
A typical chess score sheet looks as fol- chess player will play nine games.
lows: There is also the double round-robin varia-
tion, in which players get both white and
black against all opponents.
2. Swiss Tournament - Its basic advantage
is that the number of players that can partici-
pate is basically infinite. In the first round,
the pairing is made randomly or by rating,
while from the second until the last one,
players with the same game points play to-
gether.
3. Match - It is usually between two players
for a predetermined number of games.
4. Knock-out - Similar to the model used in
tennis tournaments. The participants are di-
vided into pairs, the winner progressing each
time until the ultimate winner is declared.
5. Scheveningen - It is between two teams,
each member of one team facing every
member of the opposing team (one by one).
6. Team - The participants are divided into
two (or more) teams and each player of one
It is important to write our games down, in
team faces one of the opposing team (pairing
order later to be able to analyse them and
made by rating or by lottery). The total
discover our mistakes, but it is also usually
points scored by all members of each team
obligatory to record the moves.
determine the winning team.
Writing them down on a score sheet is
similar to recording football games on video! Generally
We do not throw our score sheet away be- In every tournament mode, the following
cause we lost or because we think it is not are desirable:
important. We keep it at home and study it 1. In a tournament, it is desirable to assign
with help from our trainer or various chess each participant an equal number of white
engines, so that even a loss can prove ex- and black games (or in odd number of rounds
tremely valuable for the future. a difference of only one game, e.g. 5-4), as
Score sheets may be different, but each one well as to avoid the same colour in succes-
will have some boxes (or line spaces). In sive games.
2. The general rule is that each participant 9.Kc6 Qb6+! or 3.Kxg3 Qxh4+! 4.Kf3
may face an opponent only once, unless the Qxf4+! 5.Ke2 Qxf2+! 6.Kd3 Qd2+! 7.Ke4
tournament regulations are different. Qf4+!) 3...Qa1+! 4.Ke2 Re3+! 5.Kxe3
3. In chess the result for victory is 1 point, Qc1+? (5...Qe1+!) 6.Kf3? (6.Qd2) 6...Qe3+!
½ point for a draw and 0 points for a loss. 7.Kxe3 ½-½
School Tournaments
As we have mentioned, participating in
Remember that, as children, it is excellent tournaments is desirable. School
to try and socialize through chess in a com- championships are an excellent chance to
petitive environment, to learn how actions check your strength and have fun with your
and consequences are connected and improve favorite sport and with your friends, and even
your ability to concentrate. Above all, try to make new friends!
have a great time and have fun! The best way to begin is in your school's
championship, which can be organized with
Practice responsibility and effort by your trainer.
Make a tournament with a rapid time con- Next you can participate in the school
trol, using chess clocks, in order to get accus- championship of your region, which is
tomed to them. usually organized by the local chess clubs.
If you wish and feel up to it, you can
Solutions to Exercises participate in your city's championship,
The solutions to the exercises of the previ- which is usually organized by unions of
ous, 31st Lesson (Avoiding Stalemate) are the clubs or the federation.
following: Finally, there is the National School
Diagram 1: 1.Nh1+ Kg2 2.Ke2 Kxh1 3.Kf1 Championship, where you may achieve a
½-½ higher distinction!
Diagram 2: 1...Rc1! 2.Rxa2 Rc7+! 3.Kd8 Note that usually the games are organized
Rd7+!! 4.Kxd7 ½-½ according to age and usually have both
Diagram 3: 1...Kh8 2.h6 Kg8! (2...gxh6? individual and team results.
3.Kf7) 3.h7+ Kh8 4.Kd6 ½-½
Diagram 4: 1...f4! 2.Bf1 Kxb7 3.Ke5 Bd7
4.Kxf4 Bc6! 5.Kg4 Bxf3+! 6.Kxf3 Kc7
7.Kf4 Kd7 8.Kf5 Ke7 ½-½
Diagram 5: 1...h4! 2.Rg1+ Kh2! 3.Rf1 Kg3
(3...h3? 4.Kf3) 4.Rg1+ Kh2! 5.Kf2 h3 6.Rb1
g4 7.Rd1 g3+ 8.Kf3 g2 9.Kf2! g1Q+!
10.Rxg1 d1N+ 11.Rxd1 ½-½
Diagram 6: 1...Rg8! 2.Qd5? Rxg3+!! 3.Kf1
(3.fxg3 Qb2+! 4.Kh3 Qh2+! 5.Kg4 Qxh4+!
6.Kf5 Qxf4+! 7.Ke6 Qf6+! 8.Kd7 Qd8+!
How to Spend the Summer In this way, amateurs and beginners get a
Basically the best thing to do during chance to face strong opponents that they
summer is go on vacation! But, on the other would normally not meet in ordinary tour-
hand, it is not bad to continue learning your naments.
favourite sport, with help from specialized
books and friends who share the same
interests and can help you.
Participating in various tournaments is
desirable and they are more often organized
during summer than the rest of the year, be-
cause there is more available free time.
There are many tournaments for you to
take part in, but generally, you should prefer
tournaments where there are opponents
around your level. And of course the best
case is the School Games!
Seek out simultaneous exhibitions and try
Simultaneous Exhibition to participate. A lot of strong players began
During a simultaneous exhibition a strong their career in a similar simultaneous exhibi-
chess player (usually a GM or IΜ) plays at tion, where they had the chance to face a
the same time against many opponents of legend, a very powerful player they would
lower level. not be able to under other circumstances.
Efstratios Grivas with the FIDE ex-World Champion Vishy Anand

The Author - Curriculum Vitae
Efstratios Grivas (30.03.1966) V.Kramnik 0 - P.Leko ½ ½ ½ -
is a highly experienced chess trainer S.Lputian 1 - S.Movsesian ½ -
and chess author J.Nunn 1 ½ ½ ½ - J.Polgar ½ ½ -
S.Polgar ½ - A.Shirov ½ - N.Short ½
Has been awarded by the Interna- - I.Smirin ½ - V.Smyslov ½ ½ ½ -
tional Chess Federation (FIDE) the P.Svidler ½ - V.Topalov ½ -
titles of: R.Vaganian ½ - L.Van Wely ½
▪ An opening variation has been
▪ International Chess Grandmaster named after him. The ‘Grivas Sicil-
▪ FIDE Senior Trainer ian’ is characterized by the moves
▪ International Chess Arbiter 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
▪ International Chess Organizer Qb6.
His main successes over the board What he does/did:

were: ▪ Secretary of the FIDE Trainers’
▪ Silver Medal Olympiad 1998 (3rd Commission
Board) ▪ Director of the FIDE Grivas Inter-
▪ Gold Medal European Team Cha- national Chess Academy (Athens)
mpionship 1989 (3rd Board) ▪ Director of the UAE Chess Federa-
▪ 4th Position World Junior Cham- tion FIDE Academy (Abu Dhabi)
pio-nship U.20 1985 ▪ Technical Director of the Greek
▪ 5 Balkan Medals (2 Gold - 1 Silver Chess Federation (1996-1999)
- 2 Bronze) ▪ Technical Director of the United
▪ 3 times Winner of the International Arab Emirates Chess Federation
‘Acropolis’ Tournament (2014-2016)
▪ 28 times Winner of Greek Indi- ▪ Head Trainer of the Turkish Men’s
vidual & Team Championships National Team (2006-2012)
▪ Winner of Various International ▪ Head Coach of the Greek Men’s
Tournaments National Team (2013)
▪ Among the 120 best players of the ▪ Head Coach of the Sri Lanka Men’s
World in 1993 National Team (2014)
▪ Rating Record in 1999 *2528* ▪ Head Coach of the United Arab
(equal to today 2630 ~) Emirates Men’s National Team
▪ Best Individual Results: Z.Almasi ½ (2016)
½ - V.Anand ½ - Z.Azmaiparashvili 1 ▪ Workshops with National Teams of
- J.Benjamin 1 - F.Caruana ½ - Austria (Women), Jordan (Women),
M.Chiburdanidze ½ ½ ½ - Mauritius (Men) and Sri Lanka (Men
L.Christiansen ½ - Z.Efimenko ½ - & Women)
J.Ehlvest ½ - B.Gelfand ½ - ▪ Winner of the FIDE Boleslavsky
Kir.Georgiev 1 - R.Huebner ½ - Medal 2009 & 2015 (best author)
▪ Winner of the FIDE Euwe Medal ▪ Official Commentator of the FIDE
2011 & 2012 (best junior trainer) World Rapid & Blitz Ch 2013
▪ Winner of the FIDE Razuvaev ▪ Organiser of the European Youth
Medal 2014 (Trainers’ education) Championships 1999, FIDE Con-
▪ Trainer of Various GMs & IMs - In gress 2015 & Asian Nations Cup
2009-2011 alone, he formed 7 GMs! 2015
▪ Trainer of the FIDE World Women ▪ Lecturer at FIDE Seminars for
Champion Antoaneta Stefanova Training & Certifying Trainers
▪ Trainer of the FIDE World Junior ▪ Author of 88 Books in Arabic, Eng-
Champion U.20 2012 Alex Ipatov lish, Greek, Italian, Spanish & Turk-
▪ Trainer of the Gold Medal Winner ish
(Group D’) Team of Sri Lanka in the ▪ Cooperating with the World’s Most
41st Chess Olympiad Important Magazines
▪ Worked over 12.000 hours on train-
ing!
ble to undervalue. Now, on our ‘second pe-

FIDE Trainers’ riod’, we have to re-examine our position at
the moment and to create new tasks for the
Commission future.
The most important task of TRG was the
A General Concept introduction of a system of titles and li-
We’re all born with a natural sense of cu- censes as demanded by the IOC. The main
riosity. It’s what drives us to create new idea was that the titles will boost the impor-
things and develop new ideas. At TRG, tance of trainers’ positions in the chess
we’re committed to nurturing our members’ world. Licenses are necessary for keeping
pursuit of advanced scientific and ‘techno- the level of the trainers, but up to Sofia 2010
logical’ knowledge through many research FIDE Presidential Board, these licenses were
initiatives. TRG is ‘partnering’ with global not approved to be used worldwide.
leader trainers in a variety of fields including Now we have instruments to improve the
seminars, training methods, publishing and level of trainers but we need the cooperation
research. The results of this cooperation can of the Continental and National FIDE affili-
be applied in ways that benefit TRG intellec- ated federations to implement the system
tually and culturally by transforming the correctly and effectively. Our important role
region into cutting-edge leader in the crea- is to protect trainers and to help them to
tion of human chess-knowledge. But above conduct their duties effectively and with
all, TRG’s research aspirations aim to in- dignity. For further information, please see
spire trainers, and the chess world, to dis- http://trainers.fide.com/trg-council.html and
cover new ways of unlocking their potential. http://trainers.fide.com/trg-members.html.
The FIDE Trainers Committee, predeces- Aims
sor of the Trainers Commission (which was The FIDE Trainers Commission (TRG) is
formed in 2009) was formed in 2000 during the official body of the World Chess Federa-
the Istanbul Olympiad and was chaired by tion that deals with trainers worldwide. TRG
GM Yuri Razuvaev. The Committee ‘cre- is responsible for and operates the following
ated’ a real and decent training environment subjects:
and established the guidance for its function- 1) Deals with any subject concerning
ing for about eight years; its role is impossi- trainers (http://trainers.fide.com).
2) Keeps the record of the list of trainers ented, but lazy’. To me, this simply showed
(http://trainers.fide.com/fide-trainers- that there is a big gap in the person’s charac-
system.html). ter. Working hard is a form of talent - it is in
3) Keeps the record of the financial status fact, an important element of the person’s
of the trainers (as above). talent. By not working hard, how can your
4) Awards the highest training title world- natural gift become real diamonds?
wide; the FIDE Senior Trainer (FST). So, that is why I think working hard is
5) Endorses and record FIDE Academies sometimes just as important as having a tal-
(http://trainers.fide.com/fide- ent. Of course, I must admit that it will be
academies.html). difficult for someone without a huge talent
6) Prepares and follows its annual Budget to be a world champion. But, you can still go
(http://trainers.fide.com/minutes.html). very high up and achieve a lot, even with
7) Runs the annual FIDE Trainers Awards limited talent. Of course, when I said limited
(http://trainers.fide.com/awards-hall-of- talent, please do not get confused by the
fame.html). term.
8) Draws the necessary Guidelines and People can get really confused as talent
Rules and proposes to FIDE PB and GA. can mean anything, you know. Being num-
9) Organises the worldwide Educational ber one in your school also requires some
Seminars for FIDE titles. talent. Being number one in the world also
10) Organises and supports various Youth requires talent, but these are very different
Camps forms of talent. That said, I am a great pro-
(http://trainers.fide.com/seminars.html). ponent of the concept that the ability to work
11) Organises Informative Meetings in hard is a unique talent and if you can work
various events hard and if you can spend the long hours and
(http://trainers.fide.com/minutes.html). if you can concentrate on the goal and if you
12) Listed its Recommended Books can make detailed plans, you could still be
(http://trainers.fide.com/recommended- ahead of your competitor even if you are less
books.html). talented or less gifted in chess or anything
13) Supports trainers with monthly, free of else simply because he or she is not as good
charge Surveys in organizing their work.”
(http://trainers.fide.com/surveys.html).
14) Cooperates with CACDEC, ECU A Short History
(European Chess Union) and IOC/ARISF In 1998 FIDE formed a powerful Commit-
(International Olympic Committee / Asso- tee comprising leading chess trainers from
ciation of Recognized International Sports around the globe. Named the FIDE Trainers
Federations), assuring sponsored FIDE Committee, the main tasks during the period
Trainers Seminars (for CACDEC federa- 1998-2002 were FIDE licensing of chess
tions) annually (2009-2016). trainers and their recognition by
15) Supports trainers with general valuable the International Olympic Committee, bene-
info (http://trainers.fide.com). fiting in the long run all chess federations,
Chess Training trainers and their students. The initial mem-
How important is chess training? Lately bers of the FIDE Trainer’s Committee varied
the following question was given to ex- from 20-35 in total, which often led to diffi-
World Champion, GM and FST Garry Kas- culties in finalizing decisions made. The
parov: ‘In your opinion, can a less talented proven benefits of playing and studying
individual still succeed in chess, if he or she chess have led to countries, such as Arme-
has the utmost passion for the game and a nia, introducing chess into their compulsory
detailed plan to get there?’ school curriculum!
Garry Kasparov answered: “Sometimes, I The ASEAN Chess Academy, headed by
find it hard to understand what it means FIDE General Secretary Ignatius Leong,
when someone says, ‘Oh, he or she is tal- organized from November 7th to 14th 2003 a
Training Course under the auspices of FIDE tended on an appeal by the FIDE General
and the International Olympic Committee. Secretary Ignatius Leong! Afterwards,
IM Nikola Karaklajic from Serbia & Monte- FIDE Trainer candidates would have to ap-
negro provided the training. The syllabus ply via their regional Chess Academies.
was targeted for middle and lower lev- In coordination with the FIDE Trainers’
els. Another Trainers’ Course was conducted Committee, the first training course, carried
by FIDE and the ASEAN Chess Academy out by outstanding lecturers, took place at
from 12th to 17th December 2004, where the International Trainer Academy in Berlin
extensive work was done. The main lecturer (Germany) from 5th to 11th November 2004.
was FIDE Senior Trainer Israel Gelfer. Then After successful completion of this course,
at a national trainers’ meeting in Thessalo- new titles of FIDE Instructor and FIDE
niki, another FIDE Trainers Course was pro- Trainer were acquired. The success of the
posed to take place by the Deputy President first course in Berlin led to the organization
of FIDE - George Makropoulos! of a second and so on! Certified chess train-
The trainer’s titles, numbering five in total, ing is obviously, finally, on its way to world-
originated from the 75th FIDE Congress in wide recognition. There is no better way to
Calvia (Spain) 2004, by FIDE Congress de- promote excellence in chess!
cisions, with all schematics previously pre-
pared already in Bled 2002. The FIDE Trainers’ Titles/Levels
Trainers System is structured as follows: Chess books and databases can be of valu-
Developmental Instructor, National Instruc- able help to the progress of an ambitious
tor, FIDE Instructor, FIDE Trainer and FIDE chess player. However, besides these indis-
Senior Trainer. pensable tools, the role of the trainer is both
The FIDE Trainers Committee set itself significant and essential. This consideration
another gigantic task of preparing a modern immediately provokes the question: who
chess training program, with professional should be the trainer?
manuals accessing all levels of chess. An Every trainer is useful in specific stages in
official FIDE Training Centre for young the progress of a chess player. All the train-
players in Slovenia has been established, ers of a chess player form a strong chain
supported by the Slovenian Government and which should in no way break down. Each
National Chess Federation! The world’s best part of the chain is valuable and useful and
trainers (mainly FIDE Senior trainers, using should be not underestimated; ‘basic’, good
all FIDE languages!) lectured at these train- education can be proven more important
ing seminars. There were eight regular than anything else. We could try to catego-
seminars in 2005, with lecturer IGM & FST rize chess trainers as follows:
Adrian Mikhalchishin among others. First-Level Trainer: The trainer who will
An appeal was set for conducting new teach the student the basics and bring him
seminars for trainers during the World and into contact with the world of chess. One of
Continental Youth Championships. The 75th his main aims is to infuse the student with
FIDE Congress awarded 31 FIDE Senior love and respect for chess (see Developmen-
trainer titles, making it possible to start the tal Instructor).
system of trainers’ education. Second-Level Trainer: The trainer who
The FIDE Trainers Committee did not will teach the student his first openings,
forget that there are still many excellent simple tactical motifs and, generally, will
chess trainer resources out there! Through introduce the student to the aspects of work-
FIDE it requested all national Federations to ing and learning (see National Instructor).
propose their own list of candidates for Third-Level Trainer: The trainer who
FIDE trainer titles. The Committee would will teach the student, first and foremost, the
then review the qualifications of proposed theory of the middlegame and the endgame.
candidates. This unique proposal was valid He will work closely with the student to-
until May 2005 only, although later ex- wards the creation of the student's personal-
ized openings repertoire, which he will also Fifth-Level Trainer: The trainer who
help enrich with new ideas (see FIDE In- trains the trainers! Of course he also can do
structor). great things with players, but his main mis-
Fourth-Level Trainer: The trainer who sion is to properly develop the future of
will continue in the footsteps of the previous chess training, to inspire, to inspire, to en-
one, but will also introduce the student to courage and to innovate (see FIDE Senior
other important aspects of chess, such as the Trainer).
concept of and preparation for competitive The FIDE Trainers’ Commission (TRG)
success. Trainers of such calibre and skill operates under certain Regulations. These
are very scarce, and are only necessary to Regulations have been approved by FIDE’s
those chess players who wish to reach a high PB & Congresses and are valid from
level of play or seek competitive success in 01.01.2014.
any form (see FIDE Trainer).
TRG’s Publications 2010-2014

Starting at 2010, TRG supports the trainers FIDE TRG Yearbook 2011
with educational books, which can be a real Year 2012 - 216 pages
help in their work. (240mm/170mm) - ISBN-
13: 978-960-9379-2-4
Note that all book-covers are designed by
ISSN-08: 2241-0953
the artist Nicolas Sphicas -
Authors: A. Beliavsky, U.
sphicasn@gmail.com- www.chess.gr/sphicas
Boensch, J. Bosch, E. Gri-
www.logicalchess.com/info/graphics/sphicas vas, M. Illescas, A. Kuz-
and the editor is Efstratios Grivas - min, A. Martin, A. Mikha-
grivasefs@yahoo.co.uk. lchishin, G. Mohr, J. Petro-
nic, S. Polgar
Furthermore these books are not for sale
but are given free to certified and licenced
FIDE TRG Trainer
trainers and federations. The books produced Foundation Guide
so far are:
Year 2012 - 96 pages
FIDE TRG Syllabus (240mm/170mm) ISBN-
13: 978-960-9379-3-1
(240mm/170mm) - ISBN- Authors: M. Boensch-Kau-
13: 978-960-99379-0-0 ke, E. Grivas, J. MacArthur,
A. Martin, A. Mikhalchi-
Authors: E. Grivas, M. Gu-
shin, K. O’Connell, S. Pol-
revich, M.Illescas, M. Kho-
gar, S. Rohde, A.N. Yazici
darkovsky, A. Martin, A.
Mikhalchishin, J. Petronic
FIDE TRG Yearbook2012

FIDE TRG Yearbook 2010 (240mm/170mm) - ISBN-
13: 978-960-99379-5-5
Year 2011 - 208 pages ISSN-08: 2241-0953
(240mm/170mm) - ISBN-
13: 978-960-9379-1-7 Authors: A. Beliavsky, U.
Boensch, J. Bosch, V. Ein-
Authors: A. Beliavsky, U. gorn, E. Grivas, M. Ille-
Boensch, J. Bosch, E. Gri- scas, A. Martin, A. Mikha-
vas, M. Illescas, A. Jussu- lchishin, G. Mohr, S. Pala-
pow, A. Martin, A. Mikha- tnik, J. Petronic S. Polgar
lchishin, G. Mohr, J. Petro-
nic

Trivial Endings FIDE TRG Yearbook2013
Revealing the Secrets
Year 2013 - 128 pages (240mm/170mm) - ISBN-
(240mm/170mm) ISBN- 13: 978-960-99379-8-6
13: 978-960-99379-4-8
Authors: J. Aagard, B.
Author: E. Grivas Avrukh, A. Beliavsky, U.
Boensch, D. Bojkov, V.
Bologan, J. Bosch, G.
Dizdar, V. Eingorn, E.
Grivas, M. Illescas, M.
Khodarkovsky, M. Marin,
A. Martin, A. Mikhalchishin, G. Mohr, K. Muller, S.
Palatnik, J. Petronic, S. Polgar, R. Vera, A. Zapata
FIDE TRG
Double Rook Endgame
(240mm/170mm) - ISBN-
Important Note
13: 978-960-99379-7-9
The ‘Chess Steps’ series shouldn’t be con-
Authors: M. Khodarkov- fused with the excellent ‘Chess Steps
sky, L. Listengarten
Method’ which was developed in 1987 by
Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden in order
to teach children to play chess.
Embraced by the Royal Dutch Chess Fed-
eration, the ‘Chess Steps Method’ became
the single most popular method in the Neth-
Chess Steps
Volume A erlands. It spread throughout Europe and is
now available world wide. This step by step
(240mm/170mm) - ISBN- method consists of six steps. Each step has a
13: 978-960-99379-6-2 workbook with exercises and summaries for
(Pdf) the student and an accompanying manual for
Author: E. Grivas the teacher / trainer / parent.
The manuals contain complete scripted
lessons for the teacher, as well as aids that
address the learning stages and development
of children. The answers of the workbook
exercises can be found within the manuals
Chess Steps
Volume B too. The books are written in such a way that
the actual level of the teachers’ chess
(240mm/170mm) - ISBN- knowledge is of lesser importance.
13: 978-960-99379-6-2
(Pdf)
Author: E. Grivas

FIDE-TRG - Chess Steps A - Book

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FIDE-TRG - Chess Steps A - Book

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GRIVAS CHESS

Chess Steps - Volume A 1

Cover and drawings by Nicolas Sphicas

Commissioning Editor: Efstratios Grivas (www.GrivasChess.com)

Chess Steps - Volume A 2

Have a nice reading journey!

Chess Steps - Volume A 4

Exactly due to lack of a certain archetype,

shows a Scandinavian Queen made of ivory

Chess Steps - Volume A 9

Chess Steps - Volume A 11

Chess Steps - Volume A 12

Chess Steps - Volume A 15

Chess Steps - Volume A 18

Chess Steps - Volume A 19

Chess Steps - Volume A 22

Chess Steps - Volume A 23

Chess Steps - Volume A 24

Chess Steps - Volume A 28

However, it is important to remember that

But what is the difference between check

Chess Steps - Volume A 31

3+-+K+-+-# In stalemate, the game ends in a draw and

Chess Steps - Volume A 32

Chess Steps - Volume A 33

Chess Steps - Volume A 35

Chess Steps - Volume A 36

Chess Steps - Volume A 39

Chess Steps - Volume A 40

To the six following exercises, given to

Chess Steps - Volume A 41

A typical example is the following one

Chess Steps - Volume A 43

Chess Steps - Volume A 47

Chess Steps - Volume A 48

7+-+-+-+-' Difficulty level 1

Chess Steps - Volume A 50

Chess Steps - Volume A 51

6. Constant Learning - mistakes are always

2. Cultivating Logical Thinking - he must 7. Socialisation - as it gets children (but

● Visualisation - children are asked to imag-

FIDE's Opinion ● Future Thinking - children learn to first

Chess Steps - Volume A 54

Chess Steps - Volume A 55

Chess Steps - Volume A 62

Chess Steps - Volume A 63

Development Rules - The Queen

Chess Steps - Volume A 67

Chess Steps - Volume A 69

Chess Steps - Volume A 71

Chess Steps - Volume A 72

Chess Steps - Volume A 73

Chess Steps - Volume A 75

Chess Steps - Volume A 76

Chess Steps - Volume A 77

Chess Steps - Volume A 79

3. Endgame books: Firstly, Basic Chess Practice

Chess Steps - Volume A 83

Chess Steps - Volume A 84

Chess Steps - Volume A 86

Chess Steps - Volume A 87

Chess Steps - Volume A 90

Chess Steps - Volume A 91

Chess Steps - Volume A 92