Defensive Play

The 15 Training Questions

GM Susan Polgar

Question 1.

Black to play.

Black is ahead in material but

has to deal with back-rank
threats and the dangerous
pawns on the 6th rank.

How should Black continue?

Question 2.

White to play.

Black is threatening to check on

f2 then take on e2.

Can you find a counter?

1
Question 3.

Black to play.

Both sides have threats but Black

has the move and can win.

Can you see how?

Question 4.

White to play.

Is Ng6 a good move?

2
Question 5.

Black to play. Qh8# is a threat.

What should Black do?

Question 6.

Black to play.

Black’s Queen is en prise and he

is threatened with mate on g7.

What to do?

3
Question 7.

White to play.

How can White finish the game?

Question 8.

Black to play.

Can you find a winning move for

Black?

4
Question 9.

White to play.

Can you find the winning idea for

White?

Question 10.

White to play.

How can White continue the

attack?

5
Question 11.

White to play.

White is trying to force

checkmate along the h-file but
must first deal with the check.

How should White continue?

Question 12.

White to play.

White has both pieces en prise

and the g2 pawn looks
unstoppable.

How can White save the game?

6
Question 13.

White to play.

2 enemy pawns ready to

promote.

How can White save himself?

Question 14.

White to play.

How does White save himself

here?

7
Question 15.

White to play.

Can you find a defense for

White?

8
 The Solutions

1 1…Rd2+! (1…Qd5? 2.e7 wins for White) 2.Kh1 (2.Kh3 g4+ wins for Black) Qd5
3.Qxd5 Rxd5 4.e7 Re5 5.Bd3 is equal.

2 1.Rf7! (only move) Rxe2+ 2.Kd1! (2.Kxe2 loses after Re8+ 3.Kd1 Bxg4+ 4.Kc1
Re1+ 5.Kc2 Re2+) 2…Re1+! 3.Kc2! Re2+ 4.Kd1=.

3 With 1…Rb6! 2.Qe7 Rg6 and the pin on the Rook decides the game in Black’s
favor.

4 No because after 1.Ng6 fxg6 2.Rxe6 Qf7! 3.Nxb7, Black has a winning resource
with 3…Nd5! 4.Re2 (needed to defend f2) Qxb7 5.Rc5 Rad8 6.Re5 Qf7! again
attacking f2 and Black is a piece up.

5 The best defense is 1…Bxg2+! 2.Kxg2 Qc6+ 3.Kf2 Nd3+ 4.Kg1 Kxg7 5.Qxd4 with
an equal position.

6 1…c2+! 2.Kxc2 (2.Kc1 cxd1=Q+ 3.Rxd1 Qc8+ and Qxf5 winning) Qc8+! Followed
by Qxf5, stopping the White attack and Black is winning.

7 With a Queen sacrifice, 1.Qxh6+!! gxh6 2.Nxf6+ Kh8 3.Rg8 mate.

8 1…Rxf2! (1…Qxg3 2.Bxg3 gxh6 3.Rxc2) 2.Rcc3 (2.Kxf2 Qxg3+! and gxh6) 2...Qd4
3.Rce3 Rxa2

9 1.Kh1!! getting out of the way of any checks (if 1.Nf4 Nxd4 2.Qh6 Nf5+ is
winning for Black) Nxd4 2.Ng3 controlling f5.

10 1.Nf5! gxf5 2.Qh5! with the idea of playing g6. White has a winning attack.

11 1.Bf1 holds the position for White. Black has to find 1…Qd1 2.Rh4 Qh5 3.Nxh5
gxh5 4.Rxh5 Bf5! with an equal position. In the game White played 1.Nf1?? and
had to resign after Qe1! as now 2.Rh4 Qxh4! and Black is a piece up.

12 1.Rg7+ Kxf5 2.Rxg3 Bxg3+ 3.Kh3! and now after g1Q or g1R, it’s stalemate.

13 1.Rxe2+! Kxe2 2.Nd5! cxd5 3.Kc3 and b1=Q or b1=R is stalemate. If 3…b1B
4.Kb2 Bxc2 5.Kxc2 Ke3 6.Kc3 Ke4 7.Kc2 Kxd4 8.Kd2= or 3…b1=N 4.Kb4 Ke3
5.Kc5 Ke4 6.c4 and, again, it’s a draw.

14 1.Rg3+ Kd2 2.Rxc3 Bd5+ 3.Kb2 Rxb4+ 4.Ka3 Kxc3 stalemate.

15 White draws with 1.d7+! Nxd7 2.Ne8! Nb6 3.Nd6+ Kc7 4.Nd8+ Kc8 5.Nd6+.