Defensa de Campeon-Igor Smirnov

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DEFENDING CHAMPION
Acknowledgements
First, I would like to thank all those students who

sent me their chess questions via e-mail,
comments on my website, etc. This course was
created based on your queries.
I would like to thank Fide Master Marko Makaj for

his great affords by creating many of the course’s
videos. His is a really cool guy and I’m glad to
corporate with him.
I would like to thank Aggelos Kesaris for his great

help with the course development. Also, he’s one
of the most positive people I’ve ever known. ☺
Hariharan and Soundaramoorthy made sure that

the design and presentation of this course are
nice and convenient for you.
I appreciate Alexandr Zozulia’s efforts in polishing

the texts of the course.
On top of that, let me thank the whole Remote

Chess Academy team. They have made a valuable
contribution to the creation of this course. Also,
they are awesome people! ☺ Thank you!
Finally, all of my work is only possible due to the

inspiration and support of my wife and family.
Thank
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| Next for this!
CONTENTS
VIDEO LESSONS
LESSON 01: Introduction
LESSON 02: Direct approach
LESSON 03: Other approaches
LESSON 04: Stop losing material
LESSON 05: Evaluate the position
LESSON 06: Simplification
LESSON 07: Economic defense
LESSON 08: Consolidation
LESSON 09: Active defense
LESSON 10: Fortress - NEW
LESSON 11: Psychology of defense
LESSON 12: Gambits
LESSON 13: Three main methods
LESSON 14: Eliminate your errors
LESSON 15: Your practical guide
PRACTICAL PART
Instruction
TASK 1: How to stop losing material
TASK 2: Evaluate the position
TASK 3: Exchange attackers
TASK 4: Economy in defense
TASK|5:
Home | Previous Perpetual
Next check
TASK 6: Consolidation
TASK 7: Active defense and counterattack
TASK 8: Fortress
TASK 9: Deal with gambits
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DEFENDING CHAMPION
Introduction
GM Igor Smirnov - FM Marko Makaj
Hi, my name is Marko Makaj and I amfrom Croatia. I’ve been

a chess coach more than 15 years and my FIDE ELO is around
2350. My students achieved great results and I’m pretty sure
that this particular chess course will help you to improve your
performance in chess.
Also, I’d like to let you know that we are working together
with GM Igor Smirnov on this course, in order to provide you
with the best training techniques. This is the introduction to
the video for the next 3 hours of our journey about “How to
defend”.
Let’s start with very instructive phrase: “Attack wins the

game but defence wins championships”! Thus, the name of
the course is Defending Champion.
I can tell you that it’s true: defence is extremely important in

chess matches and tournaments. While you are playing in a
chess tournament, I’m pretty sure that you can win a game
with some crashing attacking ideas. However, we all know that
the chess tournaments have 7 or even 9 rounds. Thus, it is
obvious
Home | Previous | Nextthat
in some rounds you will not have a very good
position. It could happen after a mistake or because of a bad
opening preparation. This situation is very normal indeed and it
happens very often even to the Grandmasters.
There is a quote from an anonymous guy which says: “A bad

day of Chess is better than any good day at work”. Thus, a bad
position doesn’t mean that this is a complete disaster! There are
a lot of techniques and ideas which can save the game. In this
video series we will speak about when and why we need to
defend our position.
Let’s imagine one situation: if you manage to win 4 games, in 7

round tournament, and make a draw the other 3, you will be in
the top positions, so you can win the medals and the monetary
prizes. This is the reason why defence is a very important topic.
So, when you need to defend your position? For better

understanding I need to speak first about the evaluation of the
position. You need to know that after the evaluation of the
position we come to conclusion that we need to defend.
If position is equal then there is no need for defence, because

the position is equal and opponent can’t attack us. If we are
better in some positions then we should attack and for that
reason there is no need to defend either. There is the third
situation: our position is worse, so we need to defend our
position.
Here, in this course, I will try to teach you how and when you
need to choose the defensive strategy. Obviously, the purpose
of the defence is to defend in the worse position.
It is |very
Home | Previous Next important
to understand that position can be worse
with equal material, with less material, but also with the
material advantage!
Every stage of the game and every of those tree situations from
aspect of material advantage or disadvantage has its own rules
and we will go through all of them in the following chapters.
You need to understand that everything start in the opening

because white has the first move so because of this White has
some advantage. White can develop their pieces faster and they
can start their attack before Black can. Thus, it is necessary for
Black, in the opening, to defend. When you are playing in a
tournament, half of the times you will have white pieces and
the other half you will have black pieces. This is another reason
to learn how to defend.
If black successfully defend in the opening than they will come

out from the opening with equal chances and in the
middlegame's position will be equal and there will not be any
need for defence.
This course is mainly addressed to1500 to 2000 ELO players.

On this level it is normal for players to blunder a pawn or a
piece in any random move order. For that reasons we will cover
all the aspects of the different stages in the chess game. We will
speak about how to defend in openings, middlegames and
endgames. The ideas will be useful and applicable in practice,
for any levels of players.
It’s important also to have in mind that after successful defence

we will get in position with the equal chances. If we equalize
the position there will not be any reason to defend but to try to
get an advantage.
Most important is to understand that we can’t be good chess
players without the knowledge how to defend position well!
This knowledge of how to defend is essential for any chess
player!
Conclusions
1. Attack wins the game, however defence wins

championships.
If you would like to win a friendly 10-game mini match with

your friend or even a big open chess tournament then you
should know how to defend property.
2. Positions with equal material are not necessarily equal.
We will explain this idea in the second lesson with much more
details and examples.
3. Defence starts from the opening.
In the half of the games you will have the black pieces, thus
you should learn how to defend on an appropriate level.
Thank you for now, I’ll see you in the next chapter.
Previous | Next
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DEFENDING CHAMPION
How to defend in the openings
As we have discussed in the introductory video, defense

starts from the opening. In this chapter we will learn how
to defend in the opening. Here we will speak from the
Black’s perspective because White is moving first, what
gives some advantage. Thus, Black needs to defend right
from the first move. One hundred years ago this knowledge
was very logical. Later, after so many games were played
and deep research was made new ideas and systems
adjusted the repertoire of the chess players. Now we are in
the era of very powerful computers, with these computers
we can work with extremely powerful chess engines, so we
have very deep calculations and extraordinary ideas. Today
we have a large opening encyclopedia, from which we can
take many variations and plenty of ideas.
We have all this knowledge but we cannot change the

fundamental ideas from the old masters. This is not a
lesson about the openings, so I’ll not teach you how to play
openings.
Home | Previous | Next Instead I’ll try to teach you how to think and how
to defend your position in the openings. In this lesson I’ll
disclose to you essential knowledge and fundamental ideas,
and how to defend in the opening. Now I’ll show you four
ideas, how to defend in any opening. The first two are all
about the direct defense approach, the indirect defense
approach. After that I’ll expose you to two modern
approaches.
Fist idea – direct approach
70 - 80 years ago this was the only way of playing with the
black pieces. In this example I’ll use the first move for
White the d4.
1.d4
White has occupied the d4 square; he attacks the e5 and c5

square.
1… d5
<<Lesson 2 - 1>>
White to play
This is the direct approach. This is the most logical way to

defend. Black has equal space in the center. Black is
defending the e4 square. If you would like to defend
yourself then you need to be equal in the center. White
controls two squares: e5 and c5 and black have also two
squares under control: e4 and c4. White has two squares
under control as well as black has.
From time to time White here has all kind of moves and if
you think about this position very logically then you will
understand that every move of White bases on the 4 central
squares: e4, d4, d5 and e5. If White tries to play any other
move except c4, then white doesn’t have any real advantage
or logical idea how to break in the center with the e4.
2.c4
This is the most logical move for White because you are
making more and more pressure on the d5 pawn. Even from
this moment Black needs to defend the d5 pawn and control
at the same time the e4 square.
[2...dxc4 3.e4
<<Lesson 2 - 2>>
Black to play
It is not the best direct approach to capture of c4 because

you will lose the control over the d5 and e4 squares. After
the move e4, White has huge advantage in the center. We
will not move deeper in this line because it is not a lesson
for openings, so you can see this line in an encyclopedia of
openings. I’m trying to teach you why something was
played. ]
Home | Previous
2…e6| Next
This is the very powerful direct approach. The pawn from

d5 is still controls the e4 square and the pawn from e6
overprotects the d5 pawn. Now it is not that easy for White
to break the center with the move e4. If White manages to
play the move e4 successfully then they will have good
advantage in the opening.
With the move e6 we would like only to defend, this is not

an aggressive idea. Black would like to equalize the position
and only later they would like to play more aggressively
moves.
3.Nc3
This is the most common move for White because White

makes extra pressure on d5 square and fighting for the e4
square. Perhaps White would like to break through with the
e4 move in the future.
3…Nf6
<<Lesson 2 - 3>>
White to play
Black continues fighting for the center and overprotects the

center squares.
4.Bg5
This is another easy move to understand. White pins the

Knight and puts extra pressure on d5 and e4 squares. Bishop
can take the knight and then White can capture on d5.
4…Be7
This is the direct approach because you break the pin and
the Knight is free to move.
[ Black
Home | Previous can
| Next try to be tricky with the move: 4...Nbd7
<<Lesson 2 - 4>>
White to play
From the first glance it seems that the d5 pawn is hanging.

Let’s see how Black from the defensive position can
counterattack White. After the forcing moves:
5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nxd5
It seems that the Knight on f6 is pinned but nevertheless

Black can captures on d5, sacrificing the Queen temporarily,
because Black re-capture the Queen in the next forcing
moves.
6…Nxd5 7.Bxd8 Bb4+

<<Lesson 2 - 5>>
White to play
This beautiful move wins the game, because White’s King

is in check, the only possible move in this position is to give
the Queen away; Black can win an extra piece, as you can
see in the following forcing variation.
8.Qd2 Bxd2+ 9.Kxd2 Kxd8]
5.e3
White has developed two minor pieces and it is necessary to

develop the other two minor pieces. So, this move e3 is
preparing the development.
5…. Nbd7
<<Lesson 2 - 6>>
White to play
6.Nf3 0–0
The position is about equal. The only disadvantage in

Black’s position is the Bishop on c8. The other pieces are
equally developed, except from the Bishop c8. The pawn
structure is also symmetrical. They only minor advantage is
that White’s pawn is attacker and Black’s pawn on d5 is
defensive pawn. Thus, we can say that White has a small
advantage.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
Other approaches
Undirected approach
In this example we will see the undirected approach. In

this example I’ll also try to use the d4 move.
1.d4 Nf6
Home | Previous | Next <<Lesson 3 - 1>>
White to play
Black didn’t defend with the move d5, but the Knight
from f6 is defending the vital squares d5 and e4. The
Knight does the same job as the pawn on d5.
In the first defensive method – the direct defense, Black

defends only with the d5 pawn and he uses the pieces in
order to support the d5 pawn. The second defensive
method is a little bit different but the idea is more or
less the same, what you need to cover and how you can
do this? The vital squares are d5 and e4, so Black
covers them with the Knight on f6.
2.c4
White controls the d5 square and he plans to play

Knight c3 as his next move. White also tries to take
space in the center.
2...e6
Black is very flexible and he tries to control the d5

square indirectly. They didn’t put a pawn there but he
covers this square with the pawn. Now you can see that
the Bishop from f8 can come into play.
3.Nc3
Now it is obvious that White would like to put their

pawn on e4. For that reason he developed the Knight on
c3. | Next
Home | Previous
3...Bb4
<<Lesson 3 - 2>>
White to play
Here you can play d5, like the first approach (direct
defense), or you can try the indirect approach. In the
indirect approach, Black tries to defend the center
squares with the pieces only, but not with the pawns. If
you know what you should cover in the center then the
plan is very easy to understand.
With the last move Black took the control of the e4

square because he pinned the Knight and for that
reason White cannot push the pawn to e4 now.
4.Nf3
White doesn’t have anything better to continue the

development. Knights should be developed first, before
the Bishops because Knights cannot reach all of the
squares, which Bishop can. Bishop can directly develop
to g5, but Knight needs to develop first to f3 and only
then to g5.
4…b6
Here again you can play as directly as you can, like d5.
By the way Black has good results in those types of the
positions. In the other words you have another good
idea in order to use indirect defense. Black can occupy
d5 and e4 even with more pieces.
As we show in the previous lesson, the Bishop from c8

doesn’t have a good square to develop. Now Black is
preparing his Bishop to go to b7.
5.Bg5 Bb7
<<Lesson 3 - 3>>
White to play
White and Black needs to develop his pieces, so these

two moves are very natural.
6.e3
White needs to plays this move because the white

Bishop needs to get out from f1.
6…0–0
Black manages to castle and you can see that White

doesn’t have any great advantage. Perhaps has a tiny
advantage because of the pawns d4 and c4, but with
flexible moves, Black can control the vital center
squares.
Home | Previous
Useful| Next
tip: The very good thing with the indirect
approach is the fact that you always can use the direct
approach! If you see that in the future that your
opponent tries to play e4, then you can simply play d5
and shut down this opportunity for White, because
Black has placed beautifully his pieces, the Knight to f6
and the Bishops to b7 and the other Bishop to b4.
Third approach
This is a younger idea. People use this in our days

because they would like to play differently and
experiment in new things.
If you try direct and indirect approach, there everything

is based on defense. If you try this new idea you can
give more space to your opponent and then you can
counter attack him.
You can let your opponent to push forward his pieces

and then you can drive back his pieces and attack him
later in the game.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 2...g6

<<Lesson 3 - 4>>
White to play
This approach has a significant difference compared to

the first two. Black has no fear and allow his opponent
to attack and later on he will try to use White’s
weaknesses. If White attacks very early then he will not
have good background to do this and Black can expose
his weaknesses.
3.Nc3 d5
Black also would like to defend the pawns on d5 and

e4, but in a different way. Black tries to use the d5
pawn and the Knight f6 in order to control the two
central squares.
4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4

<<Lesson 3 - 5>>
Black to play
This is a very sharp opening and for that reason Black

should know exactly how and what to do. In this
approach Black doesn’t want to defend but to attack.
By attack I don’t mean to attack the King, what is
meant is the center.
White has a small advantage in the opening, if he plays

correctly. White should try to create attacking changes
and take control over the center.
5…Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7
This move is not only preparing the castle in the King

side, however brings way more benefits to white. This
Bishop is in the biggest dark diagonal and he is making
a lot |ofNext
Home | Previous pressure on the d4 pawn.
7.Bc4
This is very good move and White has very big

advantage and good control over the center. White’s
advantage is mostly in the center, because the pawns e4
and d4 doesn’t allow Black to play in the center.
7… 0–0 8.Ne2 c5
<<Lesson 3 - 6>>
White to play
Once again I’d like to mention that I don’t want to

teach you how to play in this line, but to make you
understand how the defense works even in the
openings. It is easy to learn the theory in this line, you
can just read an opening Encyclopedia.
You need to see where your advantage as Black is.

Maybe here White has more advantage in the direct or
indirect approach, but he should play very carefully
because one bad move can completely destroys his
position.
In this position Black would like to attack the d4 pawn.

He can do this by exchanging the c pawns, because the
d4 pawn is very well protected by the c3 pawn.
9.0–0 cxd4 10.cxd4 Nc6
<<Lesson 3 - 7>>
White to play
Now we can see clearly the Black’s idea. Black is

attacking the d4 pawn. Now White is facing some
problems.
Home | Previous | Next If White pushes the pawn to d5 then the
Bishop from g7 will has a great diagonal. Then the
Rook on a1 will be hanging and Black can move their
Knight on e5.Here we can see that it is the Black side
that attacks and White is the side who defends.
White cannot attack now because the Black pieces are
rather well placed.
If Black doesn’t know how to create those attacking

changes then your opponent will defend this pawn and
after this he will prepare other ideas. Perhaps White can
push f4 f5 or e5 or d5. Black cannot just defend here
but they should put pressure in the center d4 pawn.
This is advance technique. First of all I’ll teach you

how to defend directly, how to put your pieces in the
right squares and how to neutralize your opponent’s
initiative.
The fourth approach
After the starting moves:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7

<<Lesson 3 - 8>>
White to play
This is not very logical idea, but I’ll show it to you in

order to get the big picture of defense. You need to
know this technique in order to understand all kinds of
the defensive approaches. Chess is a very rich game
and if you know how to use something then you can
play pretty well.
This is the hardest idea to understand, but you need to

know it. This last approach is not something that you
can play only with logic.
With his last move, Black let the opponent to

completely take the center. This cannot work in any
other line, but this approach works in this particular
opening somehow. This system, the King’s Indian
Defense,
Home | Previous | Nexthad played from many – many TOP-
grandmasters like Garry Kasparov.
4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5
<<Lesson 3 - 9>>
White to play
After the logical developing moves we have this

position. Black’s idea isn’t to capture on d4 but to fight
for the central squares.
7.0–0 Nc6
Black’s idea is to close the center. If you close the

center when your position is bad then you have better
chances to defend the worse position. You can place
your pieces in good positions and you will not be afraid
of the| Next
Home | Previous direct attacks.
8.d5 Ne7
Black had left the center completely to the opponent.

Black gave the space advantage, control upon the center
and better piece placement to White, but Black would
like to counterattack the White’s King.
This is a very sharp defense. Black is always worse

positional but he has chances to attack White’s
King. I should let you know that this is a very popular
opening. If you are playing with an opponent who has
100 or 200 ELO points below of you then you can use
this system in order to bit him with Black. You cannot
defeat him if he has a very small but stable advantage
but here you can give him space and good position in
order to attack his King.
Black cannot defend in the Queenside. The only thing

that Black can do is to attack on the Kingside. If you
managed to breakthrough on the Kingside then you can
win with a great checkmate. In the other words, if you
cannot deliver mate or if your attack fails then you will
lose in every game.
Final note: I would like to advise you that for the

beginning you should use the direct and indirect
approaches. If you understand very well these two
defensive approaches then you can move forward to the
other|approaches.
Home | Previous Next
Conclusion
1. When you have a worse position, you need to defend.

Sometimes this can start right from the opening.
2. The fundamental ideas are stable. Yes the defensive

approaches had changed by the time but the basic
fundamental ideas are still the same. The powerful
computers are resent in our lifes and for that reason it is
normal to defensive approaches and the opening
systems to be affected. The very first idea, the direct
approach which used 100 years ago is always a very
good and stable option.
3. You can defend with 4 defensive approaches. Direct

and indirect approaches give to your opponent smaller
advantage but you need to defend. The third and fourth
approaches give to your opponent a bigger advantage
but you have the chance to counterattack him.
4. My recommendation is to use the direct approach in

order to equalize the position and only later on you can
play with the equal chances.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
Stop losing material

Our next chapter is all about “How to stop losing

material”. When your opponent starts attack on you it’s
not necessary that he will attack your King. In most
situations you will need to protect your pawns and
pieces. In this chapter I will try to teach you how to
stop losing pieces or material.
It is important to understand the position and before

you start thinking what to do and how to defend you
need to spot what your opponent wants to do:
Basically, you need to do three things:
- spot what your opponent wants to attack
- spot how he wants to attack his target

Home | Previous
- |find
Next ways to defend
Spot what your opponent wants to attack. It may be the

pawns, pieces or maybe the King. After that you need
to understand how he would like to attack your pieces
or pawns or even your King. Finally, you need to find
the moves, which will help you to defend against his
threats.
We will see 5 different examples and try to learn how

to defend our pieces.
<<Picture 4.1.>>
White to play
In the first example we will see a position from the 19th

century.
Home | Previous It
| Next shows a typical “double blow” situation. By
the “double blow” situation I mean that Black has two
threats. The King would like to capture the Rook on f4
and Queen would like to deliver the checkmate on first
rank, on a1.
The first thing that we need to do is to stop the

opponent’s threat, what he wants to do. The second
thing to do is to see how he would do this, how he will
perform his threat. He would like to capture the Rook
on f4 with the King and give the mate with the Queen.
When we spot all the threats then we need to find a way

to stop all of his threats. Actually the only move that
White can do is only the move 1.Ra4, because it stops
both threats simultaneously. This is not a typical
defensive move; however, there is a great idea behind
this move. In reality this is not very hard move to find
because if you understand very well your opponent’s
threats then you can spot the right defensive ideas.
If Black takes this Rook on a4, 1…Qxa4, then White

will give a check on h3, forcing the King to go on the
4th rank and then White will attack the Black King with
the move 2. Rh4+. Thus, White will win the Black’s
Queen on a4. For that reason Black can tries a different
idea.
1… Qc8
Black| Next
Home | Previous doesn’t capture the Rook and in the same time he
stops the move Rook to a3, declaring the checkmate.
2.Rh3+
White attacks the opposite King with the rook anyway.

This move forces Black to capture with the Queen,
putting the King and the Queen in the same rank. After
the forcing continuation:
2. … Qxh3 3.Ra3+ Kf4 4.Rxh3
White manages to capture Black’s Queen and win the

game afterwards. This is a very nice geometrical
motive, isn’t it?
Second example
Home | Previous | Next <<Picture 4.2>>
White to play
The second game was played by very well-known
Grandmasters: Fischer – Shocron. White’s last move

was:
1.Rc6
First of all we need to spot what is the real threat. White

wants to captures the Queen. Black cannot capture the
Rook because the Rook is protected from the Bishop to
a4.
The second idea which Black should discover is a very

tricky idea from the White side. Unfortunately, Black
didn’t spot it during the game, so they played the
following move:
1...Qd8
After that Fischer continues the game with a very

powerful blow:
2.Rxe6
Black cannot touch the Rook because all White pieces

will come into play and they can deliver the final
checkmate to Black’s King. So Black in this game tries
to pin the Rook and he tries to recapture it, by the
move:
2…Qc8
Fischer had calculated this variation in advance and

here he had found an unbelievable move:
3.Bd7 Qxd7 4.Rxg6+ hxg6 5.Qxd7
At the end of the variation he won the Queen and the

game afterwards.
If Black would spot White’s real threat during the

game, there is a chance that Black wouldn’t have lost,
i.e. Rook takes on e6, and then he should try to defend
the Knight on e6. The only move to do this is:
1…Qd7 2.Rxc4
At the first glance it seems like White can win the game
because he can capture on c4 with the Rook, using the
discover attack on Black’s Queen. But now White
captures a pawn and Black has the opportunity to start
the attack.
White has no real idea how to attack. The Rook is

completely out of play on c4 and White’s pieces are not
coordinated well. White cannot create any problems to
Black’s King, pawns or pieces.
2…Qd3
After this very aggressive move Black is under the

attack. The Rook is hanging and Black’s idea is to play
Rook to b1 and Queen to f1. Thus, here White won a
pawn| but
Home | Previous Next Black has the initiative and they are trying to
checkmate the opponent King.
Third example
<<Picture 4.3>>
Black is to play
White is threatening to checkmate on h7. Now we spot

the treat so we need to find the right way to defend this
pawn. We can defend this main threat with three
moves, f5, Nf6 and g6. Similarly, White is threatening
the Knight on d7. Let's check the options:
1...Nf6
It seems
Home | Previous | Next that Black covers the two threats
simultaneously. White cannot checkmate on h7 and he
cannot capture the Knight on d7. Unfortunately Black
cannot defend himself by this move because White can
play this beautiful move:
2.Nd7
In this position Black has lost because the Queen and

the key defender, the Knight on f6, are under the attack.
Black can try to play the tricky defensive move:
2…Be4 3.Nxf6+
But this check can destroy Black pieces coordination

and White is winning.
3…gxf6 4.Qxe4
1...g6
This is the only possible defensive move and for this

reason it is easy to spot it. This is the only way to
defend.
2.Nxd7 Qxd6 3.Nxb8 Rxb8
White is a pawn up and has consolidated his position.

Now they can defense easier his position.
<<Picture 4.4>>
Black is to play
Forth example
Alekhine - Verlinsky 1918
16.10.2016
Black had sacrificed a piece in order to attack White.

Black is threatening to capture the Rook on d6 and the
Rook on c1. White cannot capture the Queen on c7
because the Rook from f8 can deliver checkmate on f1.
White should protect simultaneously the Rook on d6,
the Rook on c8 and avoid the checkmate on f1 square.
He can do that only with one move:
1.Qd1
This is a great move but the only one which can protect
everything
Home | Previous | Next and in the same time White is attacking the
Queen on c7. Black cannot capture the Queen on d1
because they will lose their Queen on c7. Black is
attacking and for that reason he doesn’t like to
exchange the Queens.
1…Qa5 2.Qxe2 Qxe5 3.Rd5
After the exchange of two minor pieces White manages

to protect the Bishop on g5 and he consolidates his
position. White pieces are protecting each other and
they are controlling the center. White won the game
afterwards.
Useful tip: You will never find the move if you don’t
see what your opponent wants to do!
Fifth example
<<Picture 4.5>>
Black to play
At first glance it may seem that White is winning.

White has the material advantage and he is attacking
the Bishop on h5. If we take a closer look to this
position then we can realize that White’s King is open
and the Bishop pair can create deadly threats.
1...Bg6+ 2.Ka1 Be7
In this position White should defend because Black is

threatening Bishop f6 with the double attack to the
King and to the Queen. If you know what your
opponent wants to do then you need to figure it out how
to defend.
White is in a very uncomfortable situation. He should

find |aNext
Home | Previous good move in order to save the game. And he
finds the only way to counter attack Black. Basically
the only potential idea for White is to block the
diagonal a1 to h8 and White can do this only with one
way, by Knight.
3.Nf3 Bf6+ 4.Ne5+ Ke7
<<Picture 4.6>>
Black to play
This is another difficult position. White cannot

exchange all the pieces because he will lose the
endgame. They have 3 pawns and Black has 4 pawns.
White cannot move the Knight because it is pinned. If
the Queen runs away, the Knight will be dropped.
White found an unbelievable move in order to win a
piece!| Next
Home | Previous
5.Qh4
Black cannot capture the Knight because the Bishop is

pinned and in the same time White is threatening the
pawn on f4. The only move is Bishop captures on h4
but after that White can win a piece by the double
attack. White won the game afterwards.
5…Bxh4 6.Nxg6+ Kf6 7.Nxh4
Conclusion
1. Before doing anything else, UNDERSTAND what

the opponent’s threat is. What he want to do in his
next move?
2. When you spot the threat then try to counter attack

his pieces or his King.
3. If he attacks you with the Bishops then try to close

the diagonal with your Knight or with another piece.
4. Think twice and examine 2 or 3 possible defensive

alternatives.
In general, when you defend you will not have a lot of

options. But, the most obvious defensive move can be
not the best one. The defence is like the pawn
endgames. If you make a mistake then there is no turn
back. You should calculate accurately the alternative
defensive
Home | Previous | Next moves and find a clear and very save way to
stop your opponent’s aggressive ideas.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
How to evaluate position

Defense, just like the attack, is a very important

element in chess. When one player in chess has an
advantage that automatically means that other player
has a disadvantage or an inferior position. You will not
always have better position that is why you cannot be
a good chess player without the ability to defend.
As we mentioned before, there are three possible

scenarios:
o First one is that we are better and our opponent is

worse; here is no need to defend.
o Second situation is equal position where no side

has advantage or disadvantage and there is also
no need to defend as well.
o The third scenario is when your opponent is

better,
Home | Previous | Nextso you will need to defend yourself. That is
why we need to evaluate the position and that is
why we will look at three scenarios and our three
examples.
The first scenario will be when we are with more

material, we are on the plus with material, we have
mater advantage and our opponent will have material
disadvantage, but of cause he will launch the attack, so
we will have to defend very correctly and very precise.
The second will be the position with equal material,

but with a little bit better position for our opponent.
And then we will look and try to see how we can
defend.
And in the third example we will see the position,

where we will have martial disadvantage, our opponent
will be better also in the position, and then we will try
to see how it is possible to defend this kind of the
positions and situations over the table. The basic
principle of the defense is to make the opponent’s task
as hard as possible. You need to set as many traps as
you can for your opponent. With a clear idea and
carefully calculated variations you will find objectively
best move. I can tell you most unissued move and the
most save in the inferior positions or at least, you will
be able to prolong the battle.
<<Lesson 5 - 1>>
White to play
Our first example will be game between two very

popular and very famous chess player and even world
champion Alexander and Euwe that have played this
game in 1936 an in this example we will see how to
defend your position with extra material.
If you look at this position you will see that Black has
two pawns more and of cause White has some attack.
First what we need to see is that we should evaluate this
position and find a clear idea what to do and how to
defend ourselves.
It is not hard to see that d4 pawn is very powerful for

Black and this Rook on d8 makes really good protect
for this
Home | Previous pawn,
| Next because it is behind the pawn. It will try
to work with this pawn together to get the next Queen
on d1. Also, here is the Queen on a2 square that also
can join the attack, for example on b1 and try to attack
the opponent’s King, and of cause, it is a very fast piece
and can also defend out King on h8. From the other
side, White is two pawns down, so he has material
disadvantage, but has a very powerful attack on
7th track. You see, it is impossible to find some clear
idea how to defend the pawn on g7.
And now we need to see first who is better: so White

has a very powerful attack, but Black has two more
pawns and one of them is very fast. And it can be a
second Queen very soon. So, we need to find the idea
we need to see some major things and how to make
things position work.
How can we, first, to defend ourselves, and, second,

how to promote this pawn on d4 to the Queen. You
will see, that we can and we need to give our opponent
this pawn on g7. What is really important to see is
where we can defend ourselves. So, first we need to
defend, and, second, we need to promote d pawn.
Our opponent will take from us g7 pawn and then you

will need to exchange one Rook, and with this you will
have one piece less in attack, or we will have one piece
more in defence. The next thing what is also important
is that our pawn is really fast and opponent needs to
mate|us.
Home | Previous NextIf opponent doesn’t mate, that we are clearly
winning, so we need to find here a correct move and try
to make this to work.
The first thing is that we have to decide if we want to

push this pawn of first try to defend g7 pawn. As we
mentioned before, we would let our opponent to take
the g7 pawn and we will move our pawn to d3, now this
pawn is one square less and in two moves it will be a
next Queen. Our opponent can’t do anything else, but
take on g7.
Now it is very easy to find and to spot d move because

if we don’t take this Rook on g7, the next what White
will do is they will mate us on h7 square, so … Rook
takes on g7, White Rook takes on g7. Now you see that
also White have the possibility of taking on h7 and also
have two pieces on the 7th track and they have some
kinds of the attacking possibilities. We said, also, few
moves before that our goal is to defend the pawn on
h7. This is just like an Idea how we need to play and
how we need to protect ourselves, so we give first
check to the white king of g1, and you can see now
that when King moves himself we will move the pawn,
we will be one step closer to the promotion square and
our Queen on b1 will be very nicely defending our
pawn on h7. So, it was a very good example of a
perfect idea how to defend, where to defend and how to
try with some of the contra attacks, even win these
games. Because this d pawn was really fast.
Now we need to spot that white has two squares, two

ideas, let’s see first what will happen if white king goes
to h2. Of cause we will push the pawn, and now our
Queen will protect on h7, and the pawn would get to be
a Queen in the very next move. So, White needs to
play Rg4. Now please see, that White has a deadly idea
to move Qg7.
Now we need to find a move how to defend g7. Try to

spot that Black can defend with Rook to g8, but then it
will be hard for him to get away from the checks on d8
and on 7th rank, and also white will take this pawn on
d2, so it is not something what you want to do. Try to
see now how Black can defend the g7 square. Try to
find a right move, you only need to see the idea.
So, the idea is to defend the g7 square, because in the

very next move the pawn will get to be a Queen. The
only move is Queen to g6, now we defend g7 square,
and, as we have said, the pawn on d will be the next
Queen. Of cause, after taking on g6, taking on the g6,
White can take on a6, … d1Q.
Black now has a Rook more, so they will easily win the
game. The rest of the game can be like this: 1.Qxf6+
Kh7 2. Qe7+ Kh6 only practical move is 3. Qe3,
because if you move 3. Qh4 then of cause 3…. Qh5
will exchange the Queens. The extra Rook will easily
win the game. So, after 3. Qe3, you can also play 3…
Kh5,|now
Home | Previous Next the only way to give a check is 4. Qe5, but
after 4… g5 there are no more checks and the extra
Rook will easily win this game.
<<Lesson 5 - 2>>
White to play
Let’s go one step back when Black move queen to b1.

The next thing what White can do is to move their King
to g2. Now also our plan is to push d2, and after Rg4
now we can see that the position is somehow different,
but Black can do is here even better. So, … Qg6 is also
a wining move, because Rook takes, Pawn takes, and
the pawn on d2 is the next Queen. But now Black has
event better idea, because now White King is on g2.
Black has one very nice move how to, let’s say, take the
Rook, we will promote our Queen, but before we will
sacrifice
Home | Previous | Nextour Queen. Later we will get the White Rook.
Let’s see how it works, try to find the next move.
<<Lesson 5 - 3>>
Black to play
1…..Qh1+ - Now you can see that King needs to take

on h1, because the King doesn’t have any other choice,
but to take the Queen. After that, of cause, our new
queen will promote. And After White King moves, let’s
say, to g2, we can take the Rook on g4. We can easily
win this game with an extra Rook. So, this is one
position, one idea when we have extra material, we
have material advantage. We have successfully
defended and even we had won the game.
<<Lesson 5 - 4>>
Black to play
In our second example we will see the position with the

equal material. In the successfully organized defence it
is very important to recognize in the good time the
coming danger. You need to realize when your
position is inferior and that it demands some defensive
actions.
Why do I tell you that? Because, if you look at this

position the first thing, what you can see and what will
be in the most cases the sign of very good player is that
this position is that this position is completely equal. Of
cause, the Black needs to be a very good player to try to
win this game, but let’s think about how to evaluate the
position. If you look at this a little bit carefully, you
will |spot
Home | Previous Next first that materially speaking the position is
completely equal because White and Black both have 5
pawns, the Knight, the Rook and the Bishop. But if you
look a little bit more careful, you will spot that Black
pieces are a little better, they are on a little better
squares and only the Bishop is for now is in a bad
position and does not have any future, but this night
from h6 can easily go to g4 and attack the King, and
what is more important The Rook on c8. This Rook is
very good; because it can go to c2 and can try even to
take the pawn on a2. For this time White doesn’t have
such good pieces. This Bishop on d4 looks great, but it
doesn’t have any object for the attack. The Knight g3 is
completely misplaced, it can only reach only the square
on e4, what Black will not allow. The Rook on c8 will
be a great piece. And for that particular reason Black is
better in this position.
Now we need to see how we can try to defend. Very

next move is very easy to spot because what Black do is
he pushes the Pawn to d5, now he has a great Bishop on
f8. The next move can be … Rc2, so you will see that
Black Pieces are better. In this position you need to
realize, that you are worse and you need to defend. If
you try to attack your opponent with the random move
like f5, or try to go on the e file – it will not give you
any results. Moreover, it will be a big danger for you.
So, when you see and you can spot that your opponent
is in the better position, you need to defend.
How|can
Home | Previous Next you defend here? You need to spot that the
Bishop can go to a3, Rook can go to c2, and Knight
can go to g4. So first, you need to spot where you can
try to defend yourself first. I can tell you that a very
good move is, let’s say, h3. You do not allow your
opponent to move the Knight. Now this Knight is on h6
and does not have a single square to move forward.
What Black will do now – he will try to attack your
pieces, but here not only the pieces, he will first attack
you pawn, because it is his objective now. The pawns
that are not great are the pawns on F4 and a2. So, that is
why first Bishop from d6 will attack the pawn on f4.
What we need to do, is we need to see here that we are
now defending this pawn with Rook, but in the future
you need first to spot the opponent’s ideas, and very
next move and the very next idea is to play … Rc2.
Then you will need to protect the a2 pawn. Here you
need to organize your defense, you need to find out
how in two moves you can defend pawn on a2 and f4.
How can you do this? Try to spot. The best Idea is of

cause to defend this pawn on f4 with Bishop, and then
to defend a2 pawn with the Rook. How we can do this?
Like I have mentioned Before, very important is just to
find an Idea. After that you can try to find right moves.
Bishop can go to e3, now not only we defended our
pawn on f4, but we also prepared Rook to go to c1. If
we exchange the rooks, there’ll be no more advantage
for the opponent, because without the rooks the position
will be completely equal and draw will be agreed in the
next |few
Home | Previous Nextmoves.
That is why the most aggressive way is the best way for
playing for our opponent. Then, … Rc3 will be a very
good attacking move, because now White Bishop is
hanging. We have to find a right way, right square
where to move this Bishop. Or even we shall think how
to defend this Bishop, because for now it is on the best
square, and you will not have to move your piece,
which defends the pawn that you want to defend. So,
you can defend this Bishop with Rook or with your
King. But we have the idea that Rook should have
ability to defend a2 pawn. So that is why it is better to
defend the Bishop with King. Of cause, now the
opponent can check us on c2 square.
<<Lesson 5 - 5>>
Black to play
Now you can see, that our opponent makes something

to work, he takes our pawn on a2. We need to go with
our King on f3, so Black can take on a2. What do we
need to spot now. If you now will look a little bit more
careful, you will see, that our King will get a place on
f3, King now is almost in the center, it is not on g1 any
longer, where it was before. What is also Very
important: our pieces are now very good. The Bishop
protects the pawn on f4, it’s not on d4. Our Rook can
even attack the pawn on d5. Also, you can see that
neither the Bishop, nor the Knight of Black have no
future for now, they attack nothing. So, Black takes
only the Pawn and nothing else. We sacrificed a pawn
in this position, but now we have a great King and even
better Rook. Of cause, you can spot that the very next
move will be Rc1 after which we can allow our
opponent try to take this pawn on b3. However, our
active Rook and these three great pieces: Bishop, King
and Knight have a great future. That is why with the
active defense, but without the pawn we will easily
manage to save this game and to make a draw.
How we can do this? – Next move can be Rook to b2,

now our pawn is hanging, but the next thing what we
need to spot is that you opponent can take our pawn,
but if we take one of his pawns and with all of those
active pieces we will have enough defensive resources
to make a draw. It is very easy to find a move Rook to
c6. Now Black’s Bishop is attacked. Now our position
is way
Home | Previous better
| Next than his. We are one pawn down, but now
our opponent needs to defend.
Something like 1.…Bb4 2.Ra6 Rb3.
<<Lesson 5 - 6>>
White to play
When you try to defend yourself you should not

allow your opponent to make some tricks, because
you always need to calculate and spot the ideas of your
opponent. Now his idea is to play … Bc5. After that our
bishop will be pinned, which is not the best scenario for
us. So we have to move our King. Now you can see that
Black is a pawn up, but this pawn on d5, it is just a
matter of time, when it will be lost. After Black will not
have advantage anymore. Black can try to play …. Be1,
we can take this Bishop, he can take our Bishop. After
Kf2 and
Home | Previous | Nextsomething like Rb3 – it is very important to
see and to understand that when your opponent is in
Rooks’ endgame and has one more pawn, than it is
really important to have an active Rook. What do I
mean by that? By that I mean that you need to be with
your Rook behind the enemy’s pawn. So the goal for
your Rook is d6, you never try to put your Rook
somewhere like d2. You always try to be behind the
pawn, because then your Rook is active. Now if Black
tries to defend this pawn we can lay something like
Rd7, so you can see that this Rook is very active on the
7th rank. It also doesn’t allow Black King to go any
further; similarly, Rook from behind attacks the d pawn
and does not let it go any further either. For example
now the opponent is completely passive. He has a pawn
up, but has no moves to play, if he tries to play
something like Nf7 – he only tries to get some
advancement for this Knight, but you can also find your
way to play with your Knight. Then, of cause, when
you have the active piece you also trying to construct
some traps and you want to see what you opponent will
go. By this I mean, if he plays something like g6 – now
you can take on d5. After the Rook will take on d5 you
can try to move Ne7+, later you will take on d5 and will
make a draw.
<<Lesson 5 - 7>>
White to play
Our third and last example in this chapter about how to

evaluate position will be a game between two very
famous, one of them was even a world-
champion, Chigorin vs. Steinitz from 1892,
where Chigorin was White and Steinitz was Black. We
need to look at this game very quickly from the Black’s
prospective. If you want to see who is better in the
material way, you will see that White has one pawn
up, because he has 7 pawns against of 6 of Black. For
now it looks like White is also attacking Black. You
can see, the last move was Nh7, White took the pawn
and attacked the Rook on f8, and it looks like Black is
very bad. However, when we think about how to
evaluate the position, we need to see also the
prospective
Home | Previous | Next of this situation and also the prospective of
the pieces.
By that I mean that White took the pawn on h7, but this
Knight temporary attacked the Rook. The White night
looks like it is an attacking piece, but if you look closet,
you will see that White took the h pawn and opened the
h file, making the perfect place for Black Rook.
Eventually the Knight will have to go back. So, we
have the position where our opponent has one pawn,
but our position is very perspective, because if you look
a little bit more careful, you will see that White pieces:
The Knight on c3, the Bishop on b3 and the Rook on
f1 – for now does not play big role in this game. But
this Extra pawn for White is not that important, because
he needs to defend himself after …. Rh8.
What is really important to understand, I have already

tried to explain in the second example. When your
opponent gets some material advantage, you need to
be very active and you need to find resources to
organize your defense. You shall try to put the
opponent’s pieces back. Here, you see, if White
somehow tries to play Kg5, Black easily castling on the
Queen side. You can see that Rook on h file is a
completely great piece, second, we can easily put the
second Rook on f8, our Queen can go to h4, or even
after …Nf4 it can take a White Knight on g5. Every
Black piece can very easily go and create very big
threats and hard attack on White. This is not something
what|you
Home | Previous Next want to do as White, because the only thing
here, what White can do is to try to neutralize Black’s
threats by playing Qg5. It is possible because now the
Knight on h7 is unavailable – Black cannot take it.
Because if Black does take it, White will be able to take
the knight on g6, eventually the Rook on h7 as well, so
White will have a Rook up, and it will be very easy to
win the game for White.
Black now needs to be creative; he needs to find the

resources how to organize his position. When we are
materially down – when should not panic. What you
can do is try to find the best ways of creating some
ideas, some traps against your opponent, to find some
basic ideas how to make your pieces better and how to
push opponent’s piece back.
Here you see that knight is hanging on g6, but if you

take the Queen, the Knight will take the Queen and it
would be better placed that it is on h7. The second thing
that is really important thing is that you will lose a
tempo, because you will take the Queen and they will
go with the Knight. The best thing is to be as active as
you can. In this play you can move your Knight even
further, because it is not attacked on g6 and now White
decides who needs to take the Queen, because the
Knight is hanging on h7. The only way to do this is
taking the Queen, Black King also takes the Queen, and
now White puts Knight on g5. This is the final thing
that you need to understand to be better in chess.
<<Lesson 5 - 8>>
White to play
At first you need to evaluate this position. White is

still one pawn up, but every single Black piece is
better placed than the White. If you try to compare
the Rooks h8 and with the one on d1 – it is clear that
the h Rook has a great future, not only to attack the
pawn, but also the Knight, and, maybe, take something
from White. Rook on d1 does not do anything, and
wherever you would put the Rook – doesn’t really
matter. Just like the other White Rook, if you put it
from a1 to b1, c1, or even d1 – it still does not create
anything good for White. The next thing is the Black
Rook on a8, this Rook can easily go to f8 or even after
… Rh5 the second Rook can go to h8. Black can double
the Rooks
Home | Previous | Next and eventually he will take some of the
pawns on the King’s side.
The next is the light-squared Bishop has a very good

square on g4, attacking the Rook and creating some
pressure around the King. And the White Bishop on b3
isn’t doing anything; it is just placed there on b3. The
Bishop doesn’t attack anything – that is something you
don’t want to have (pieces that aren’t doing anything).
Also, we can try to compare the Knights: Knights on f4

and Knight on b7, which can easily come to c5 are
much better and stronger than ones on g5 and c3.
Now, after the comparing of the 4 pieces are better, or

even 5 pieces are better for Black. So black has 5 better
pieces, against one extra pawn of his opponent. This is
completely hopeless position for White.
So, how we defend in this position? We sacrificed the

pawn, we activated our pieces and now we push the
opponent even further. It is very easy to find the next
move …. Rh5. The very next move is something that
Black will even take the Knight or a pawn, even if, of
cause, White will protect the Knight it will be all over
for them. Black active pieces cannot be compared to
defensive White pieces, after something like Nf3
(because Knight needs to be protected). If something
like h4 will happen, Rook will just take the pawn and
after g3 Black will play ….Rg4 now you can see also
the power
Home | Previous | Next of the Black pieces that were in the defense
before, after 3 or 4 moves are getting to be complete
monsters. They are attacking White king very good. I
think White cannot defend in this Kind of the position.
So, that is why the only thing that White can try to do is
to defend his position. You can see what the difference
is, when Black defended, he tried to coordinate the
pieces, tried to find good spots. Tried to push the
opponent with the active play. Here, with every single
move White tries to defend himself, but he needs to go
further and further and finally he doesn’t have squares
and pieces for the defense.
Here is a very easy move like Bg4; by that Black can

completely outplaying White. White extra pawn is now
the one, which needs to be defended, but it is almost
impossible. Because, let’s say, White plays Re1 to
unpin himself, you can take on f3 and after taking on f3
you can play something like …. Rah8. It will create a
complete domination, h2 pawn cannot be protected.
You can see that White King can’t now go any further,
cannot hide himself on f1, because e2 and g2 are
completely covered with Knight on f4. Here White is
completely busted. Black can win this game very easy
because of a great idea. So, when you have one pawn
less, lie here, what you want to do is to create an idea,
to create an opportunity to come from defense with one
pawn down to the position where your pieces will be
much more active than your opponent’s. For this
sacrifice,
Home | Previous | Nextfor given pawn, you need to create a concrete
idea and try to push your opponent in the defense. If
you succeed in this, you will maybe have a position
where you can win. If no, you will just take the pawn
back, and in most of the cases it is an easy draw.
For a better understanding and easy evaluation you

need to practice. Find 10 random games and try to
evaluate them after first 15 moves. After evaluation in 5
of them, when you can find one side is worse, try to
find the idea how to defend and calculate few direct
variations. With this you will make a very big progress,
you will see where you are. You will also see how
better you can be with that kind of the practice.
Finally, when you are worse, don’t panic, and don’t

waste your nerves – just try to play on, try to put as
many obstacles in front of your opponent as you can.
Good Luck.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
Simplification
In this chapter we will go through simplification in

chess. Chess game is in many ways in many ways like
a world trip. We can slowly leave harbor of the initial
position and float for a while in the familiar streams of
the chess openings theory. After this we will be left
alone surrounded with unknown waters of the
middlegame. It is possible that our trip will not go like
we hope it will, and we will be caught in the storm.
Then we will abandon the idea of the reaching the
main destination – we will be just trying to reach any
harbor as soon as possible. That will be equal to
simplifying position maybe to the worst position but
possibly to the one that we can save in the end.
With simplification we can avoid the further

damage and try to reach the equality. In today’s
chess theory and the endgames are much more
developed than the middlegames. That is why we can
try to| Next
Home | Previous reach familiar territory and this can help us to
survive the storm of the middlegames.
Let’s start with our example. First example is a real

game played in 2002. With Marin as White and Golayet
as Black.
<<Lesson 6 - 1>>
White to play
Here, in this initial position White is to move, and first,

let’s see what is happening here. So, if we go and count
the material we can easily see that White is a pawn
down. From the other hand, White has a Queen and a
Rook vs. Queen and a Rook – this is just as equal as it
can be. So, White is a pawn down, and he needs to do
something not to lose the second one on a3.
When we go and try to see what we can do here, we

need to speak about the simplification in this particular
example. So what can we do and how we can
simplify the position reaching the equality of the
endgame?
First. We need to see which piece and how we want

to exchange. Will it be the Queen or the Rook? When
you ask yourself which piece you want to exchange,
mainly you need to see and to understand which and
game will be equal and will be close to the one that you
can save. Is better to go from the middlegame to the
endgame with the Queens on the board or only with the
Rooks?
I need to tell you that the answer is very simple. Why?

Because, mostly the endgames that you can easily save
with one pawn down will be Rook-endgame. Mostly,
when you have a little bit worse endgame or
middlegame and the Queens and the Rooks are on the
board you need to try to exchange the Queens and after
this it is much more simple to make a draw with the
Rooks. Because Rook’s endgames with one pawn are
more or less likely to be draw-endgames.
So, we want to stay with the Rooks, and this means that
we want to exchange the Queens. In this particular
example, if we want to exchange the Queens we also
need to protect our pawn on a3, because if Black
somehow
Home | Previous | Next can take that pawn – then they will be much
more closer to the winning than White to the draw. So,
first move is Qf3 – not only to exchange the Queen on
b3, but also we protected the pawn on a3. After the
Queens will exchange the endgame will be on the board
and this will be an endgame with Rooks and the pawns.
Most of those endgames are likely to be a draw.
Let’s see what is happening here: Queen can take on f3

because this Queen of b3 also needs to protect the f7
square. After king will take on f3, it will not allow a
Black Rook to go to e2, e3, or even to e4. From the
other side, our pawn now on a3 doesn’t allow Black to
play b4. So, Black will try to get a pawn on b3, and we
will try to take a pawn on b5. Very equal endgame will
appear after playing … Re1.
It is clear that Black wants to get a pawn on a3 and we

need to get a pawn on b5. So, next moves are very easy
to understand and easy to find, because we know what
we want to do. Rook will go to b7, b5 pawn is under
attack. Now our pawn on a3 is under attack. After
taking of b5, the Black Rook will take on a3 and White
are in check. Kg4 – it is a perfect scenario for White.
So, from the storm of the middlegame we reached a

very equal endgame because this pawn on a4 can’t
do much damage for White and we can try to stop
those pawns from moving on the kingside. We can
stop the pawn on a4 with the Rook behind. This
particular
Home | Previous | Next endgame is very likely to finish as a draw.
What Black can try to play is … Rb3, now you can’t
take on b3, because this pawn will be a queen, so you
need to protect yourself against the exchange and attack
this pawn from the a file. When you do this just try to
reach the position behind this pawn. Why? Because
from behind you will always have a possibility to take
the pawn, you can also control all tries to reach the
Queen. What is much more important, you will allow
the Rook to be very active. I will show you how you
can do it in few moves.
<<Lesson 6 - 2>>
Black to play
So, it reaches the last square that it can reach. Now

Black cannot move the pawn without help of Rook, but
if he |moves
Home | Previous Next the Rook, he will lose the pawn. Now we
can try to play something like the advancing with the
King, or with a pawn on king-side. You will not allow
him with h5. You can see that this pawn on the h file
plays and doesn’t allow Black king-side pawns to
advance, and what is also much better thing, is that it
wants to exchange itself for the other pawns.
So, Black cannot move anything, but play something

like 1 … g6 2.hxg6 fxg6, you can play 3. f4. Now you
see that Black king cannot reach anything, our Rook is
very well placed, and his pawns on g6, h6 and a3 are
very vulnerable and it is not clear how Black can
escape this. Let’s suppose, he moves King to f8, you
can put your Rook on a6. This is the game when those
players agreed to a draw. It is much more likely that
draw is reached here, because in 4-5 moves no matter
what it will also be a draw, because this pawns cannot
go any further. These pawns on g6, h6 and a3 are well
protected and also attacked with this Rook that is on the
best square possible. The Rook is very active and
somehow it controls the 6th rank, a file and it also cut
Black King from advancing. Rook also stops a pawn
from going to a1 and reaching Queen. So, this is a very
easy and clear draw.
<<Lesson 6 - 3>>
Black to play
Our second example will be a game between Korchnoi

and Karpov that was played in 1981. In this game
Karpov was playing Black and Korchnoi was White.
We need to see here that Karpov has much worse
middlegame because of very bad pawn on d5 and much
better White light-square Bishop on g2. We all know
that Karpov was a great player and managed to survive
in even worse midddlegame. So, what happened here
and how do we need to play in the middlegames that
are not in our favour – we need to use motive that we
can call simplification.
In simplification here we need to reach the position,

maybe worse, but still playable, the position where we
can easily
Home | Previous | Next try to survive. When the opponent tries to
attack you, as here White do, in most of the cases
you cannot just try to protect this pawn, because
even here, if you play something like Rfd8 or Rhd8.
Then White Queen can go to d2, Rook can go to d1,
second will go to c5 and White will easily occupy the
d5 pawn and will take it in the next few moves.
What you can do and how you can try to simplify this
position to make a draw? Of cause, you are here in a
worse situation, and what you want here is to reach the
draw. You can simplify the position by pushing d4.
Now you can see, that for now, White can take the
pawn, let’s see if he takes with the e pawn, we can take
with our Queen, then with the Bishop, but we will lose
the pawn on b7. This is what sometimes you need to do.
So, you have a worst middlegame, but this is an
endgame with Rooks and opposite color Bishops.
<<Lesson 6 - 4>>
Black to play
If you have in these kinds of positions active piece, like

Bishop on d4, you have a lot of chances to make a
draw. I can tell you that something like …Rad8 the
draw is, I will say, something that will happen here. It
is because Black doesn’t have any bad square, both of
his Rooks can be very useful, Bishop can control vital
diagonal a7-g7. With opposite color Bishops and
present Rooks it will be, in the most of the cases, surely
draw. Just like here, because White doesn’t have any
square to attack, those 2 pawns a and b against a pawn
is clearly nothing and Black can easily stop those
pawns from advancing, and also pawn of f2 can be a
very easy target for the Rooks and the Bishop. So, this
will be very easy draw in the next few moves.
<<Lesson 6 - 5>>
Black to play
That is why in this position after … d4 Korchnoi tried

to do something else. He doesn’t want to allow the
simplification very next move, if he doesn’t need to do
this. We saw that it would be a draw if he would agree
for the simplification. He played here a very interesting
move Rc5, now you see, Black wants to simplify the
position and White doesn’t allow him to do so. So,
whoever would be first to make the opponent need to
play like one wants – one will be better.
If he will tries and manages to take the pawn without

any further simplification, White will be better, but if
Black succeed to simplify the position then it is a surely
draw.| Next
Home | Previous
Let’s see what Black can do here, now the Bishop is

attacked and needs to go back. …. Bf6 is the only
move, and now without the simplification White can try
to push even more on d pawn. Rd5 – very good move.
Rook attacks the pawn and doesn’t allow Black to
exchange anything, to simplify even more. Now Black
Queen is hanging, we can move the Queen to c7 and
now White needs to take this pawn, because f not Black
will take on a3 and will be even better. After exd4 we
have reached the position where Black also needs to
play for the simplification. How Black now and why
they need to play for the simplification?
I am sure that you found the best move Ra-d8 it is also

the same as Rf-d8, after which White needs to take on
d8, we reach the position very similar to the first one,
where we also exchange one more Rook. White has one
extra pawn on d4, but they will have a bad or not so
easy time to defend the pawn, he needs to move it now,
in the very next move, because both Black Bishop and
Rook are attacking the pawn and only the Queen is
defending the pawn, so d5 is the only move. After this
you can play something so your opponent will not be
able to checkmate on the 8th rank, like g6.
<<Lesson 6 - 6>>
Black to play
Now we reached a perfect position: we did

simplification, we let our opponent to take our pawn,
but in order to do this he had need to exchange the
Rooks, after what he also needed to put the pawn of d5.
After that the Bishop on g2 doesn’t play any role on
the big diagonal, besides, Rook and Queen are well
protecting the d6 square, not to let the pawn to get in.
We have opposite color Bishops and not a lot of
activity for one pawn. So, except of this pawn, Black
does not have any significant disadvantage. In this
position Black is clearly with lots of the draw-chances,
because this pawn will not go any further and Rook and
the Queen with this opposite color Bishop have the
potential to play a very equal and very likely to finish
as a draw
Home | Previous | Next endgame. After changing no matter the Rook
or the Queen with the opposite color Bishops it will be
a draw.
<<Lesson 6 - 7>>
Black to play
Now we came to the next example about the

simplification, it was between very famous
grandmasters, both World Champions. Garry Kasparov
plays White and Anatoliy Karpov again plays Black
back in 1984. So, here we need to speak about this
position, when can see that White has much better
position because he has very good Bishops on g2 and
a3 and Knight on c5 also controls much of the
squares around Black’s position. So, we can tell the
White is better. But what here has Black? He has also
nicely| Next
Home | Previous developed Knight and Bishop on e7. What he
needs to is to develop a Bishop from c8, which has no
good squares for now; it will make this position likely a
draw. How can he do this by playing with this idea of
simplification? So, if you try to look at it a little bit
more careful, you will see that this Bishop from c8 can
reach a great square on e6, but the Knight on c5 doesn’t
allow it to do so. So, the idea is to take this Knight,
trying to simplify the position and find the vital square
for this Light-square Bishop. Karpov here takes this
Knight with the Bishop from e7. After this the only
move White can do is simply take the Bishop on c5
attacking the Black Rook on f8. Rook will go to d8 and
in the very next move this Bishop is now allowed to
take a vital square on e6 and the position will become
approximately equal, because Black doesn’t have any
bad squares or pieces. It will be easy for Black to make
the draw.
Now Whit has that perfect playable on g2 and c5, but

he doesn’t have any square or piece that Bishops can
attack and he needs to go on d file, and opponent this
Black Rook on d8, after which, of cause, Black will
play … Be6 and manage to get through his idea by
taking this Knight and placing the Bishop on a6. Now,
without any nice idea of why this position is a perfect
draw.
The only thing White has now is two Bishops, and this
Bishops is a very small advantage, they have minimal
advantage,
Home | Previous | Next but he needs to play on. Kasparov played
here h3 – he wants to prevent the Black Bishop from
going to g4, and, on the other hand, he doesn’t want to
give Black any mate chances on the first rank, if he
moves with his Queen and Rooks further.
After h3 we reached the second very important moment

in this position. With other simplification now Black
manages to equal this position very easy in the next 5
moves. What and how he wants to simplify this
position. Try to take a look and find a combination in
two moves.
I am sure, that you found this idea: what and how Black
wants to simplify the position is very easy – he wants
to exchange the Rooks and come one step closer to
the draw-endgame. So, Rook can take on d1, White
Rook needs to take on d1, after which Black can put the
second Rook on d8, later White will have to take on d8,
because he doesn’t have any other square or idea where
to move this Rook. If he moves the Rook to a1, b1, or
c1 – Black Rook will be able to come on the 2nd rank
on d2 and you will be even better than the opponent on
b or even c line. So, he needs to take and Black take on
d8.
Now, if White doesn’t do anything else, next move will

be …. Bd5 – another good simplification, which will
exchange light-square Bishop after what White will
have no advantage. After the second move, I can tell
you that
Home | Previous it
| Next will also be a draw. White can try to take the
pawn on a7, this is the only idea that White can try to
play on, so now White has extra pawn, but this is also
somehow connected with the simplification, because
Black has a very good square for the Queen on a8.
Now, this Bishop is under attack with the Knight and
with the Queen. We move Queen to a8 – Black play
just for the simplification, now White is forced to take
the night on c6 and simplify the position even more,
because if not, then Black will take the Bishop on a7
and will even win this game, so, 1.Bxc6 bxc6 and now
this pawn on h3 is under attack. After White can defend
this pawn, Black will play something like, let’s say, h5.
Now, we can see this position, Black succeed in
simplifying very much this position, he found good
squares for his pieces and also managed to survive this
middlegame. Yes, he gave White one pawn, but for this
pawn he reached equality in this position because
Bishop on e6 is great, Queen on a8 doesn’t allow White
pieces to play. Here, without of any further
simplification it is hard for White even not to exchange
any pieces. So, it is not easy to find any vital idea or
move how to play on. Here, in this position Black are
safe, and maybe it will be a draw in a very next move.
Conclusions
As a conclusion, I can tell you that you will be able to

survive worse endgame, than unknown and difficult
middlegame. You can try to simplify the position in
order| to
Home | Previous get
Next a theoretical draw.
Please, simplify the position and try to exchange the

Queens, because Queens are the most aggressive and
dangerous pieces. If you manage to exchange them –
then the attack will not have enough resources to
succeed. You should try to simplify into the Rook’s
endgame, because they are most likely to bring you a
draw.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
Economic defense
In this chapter I will try to teach you how to use the

resources in defense very economically. Chess is a
logical game and because of that many players have
been trying to find a mathematical module for their
favorite game. For instance, Trash started that it should
be possible to evaluate the position resulting from the
opening by counting the tempos needed by the piece to
get from the actual square to the original one.
However, there is one mathematical method that
works. It is basic defense method. You need to have in
defense, at least equal, or even more pieces against
opponent’s pieces that are attacking you. But please,
don’t overprotect yourself and don’t use all of your
pieces, of cause, if the opponent doesn’t use all of his
pieces for the attack. Here, we also need to speak
about King’s role in the defense. Nominal value of
the King is infinite, and one of the main ideas is to find
a safe place for your King. However, it is sometimes
strong
Home | Previous enough
| Next to take care of itself. So there is no need
to use other pieces for King’s defense. So, you will
have a lot more pieces to play.
<<Lesson 7 - 1>>
White to play
Let’s see our first example. This is an original game

between Emanuel Lasker and William Steinitz in 1896.
Lasker was White and Steinitz was Black. This is a
great example about the economic resources in one
game.
At first, we see that White has a great attack on Black

King. All of White’s minor pieces both: the Bishop and
the Knights are playing significant role in the attack on
a Black King. From the other side, those two Bishops
don’t| Next
Home | Previous attack anything and the Queen needs to come
somehow into the play. But, at first, we need to see that
Black is one pawn up. This means, if he survives, he
can try to play even for the win, but first he needs to
organize defense. As we have mentioned in the
introduction we need to see first how many pieces of
White wants to attack Black King?
Two Bishops and two Knights this means there are in

the attack four pieces for now. This Queen doesn’t
attack the King, because foe now, she doesn’t have any
square from where Queen will be able to do this. If you
look from Black’s prospective, you will see, that the
Rook on g8 is a defensive piece, the Queen on e7 is a
defensive piece, but both: the Bishop on e6 and the
Knight on e3 are also somehow defensive pieces.
Because this Knight can easily go to f4 and the Bishop
doesn’t allow White Queen to play to e3 or to f2. This
means that for now White attack with four pieces and
Black defends with three pieces. What is also here is
very important is to figure out what and how White
wants to do what they want to do, how they are going to
attack Black King. The first idea is to see that somehow
White can try to play Ng6, sometime and somehow.
But here it is very easy to find the next Black move.
Try to figure out, which piece they want to play for
Black to be OK.
The move is … Be8. It is a very powerful defensive

move and this Bishop on d7 was not doing anything,
after |playing
Home | Previous Next on e8 Bishop’s role is to attack the Knight
on h5 and preventing the second Knight from joining
the attack from g6. This was a great defensive move,
now Black has four pieces in the defense against four
white pieces in the attack. This is enough.
You don’t need to protect yourself with any other piece,

because with four attackers and four defenders it is very
hard to imagine that the attack will work out. In this
game, White decided that with four attackers against
four defenders it is impossible to win this game, so he
moved his Queen to h3.
Now, somehow he wants to push one of the pieces

away from h5 and then this Queen, maybe, will join the
attack. Now Black is on the move and he got to figure
out what he wants to do. Here Steinitz finds a great
idea, of cause, he was a great player. He figured out,
that now he has only one piece that is not in the defense
or in the offense, and after he regroups this piece it will
be all over. Because for now, he protects his King very
well, now he needs to organize all pieces in order to get
the full equality in the defense and then he will try to
push this extra pawn on the queen-side. ….Na4 – from
b2 this knight doesn’t support offends or defines, so he
tries to regroup the Knight on c5 square, where he will
be able to come into the defense, as well as in the
offense, because the pawn on e4 will hang. Now, White
is to move and in few minutes White figured out that he
cannot arrange any attack, he is unable to attack Black
king |because
Home | Previous Next of this resources in defense, so he tried to
push his pieces way back into the defense.
<<Lesson 7 - 2>>
Black to play
It is a crucial moment of this game and of this chapter,

but this moment is really important, because Bishop on
f3 has been played and what I wanted to show you is
also that Knight on g6 will not work now because of the
Bishop on e8. So, after 1.Ng6 Bxg6 2.fxg6 Rxg6 3. ….
Nd-f4 the other Rook can be placed on g8. Bishop on
h6 is hanging now and White doesn’t have any real
chances not even to save this game. That is why after
Bf3 he tries to consolidate the position.
It is a very important moment to show you and to try to

teach| Next
Home | Previous you why and how these economic resources in
defense are really important. Now, if you push all of
your pieces back in the defense, then White can even
survive this. Because defensive piece doesn’t play
anywhere else. That means, that we have now Bishop,
Queen and Rook in the defense, you don’t need to push
any more pieces in the defense. You need just to
organize a counter-attack on the queen-side. By this I
mean that after 1. … Nac5 2. Re2 – now you have the
piece on c5 that can play into defense or into offense
and this piece is a great piece. Here Steinitz plays Ne7.
This is a critical moment where I want to teach you and

try to show you how is this economical use is very
important in chess. I mark every piece besides the Rook
on a8 with green mark. If you look at it carefully, you
will see that every Black piece has a great role in the
game: Rook on g8 is a defensive piece, Queen on e7 is
a defensive piece, Bishop on e8 is a defensive piece.
And the Knight on e7 can be a defensive piece on f6, on
f8, or even an offensive piece on c5. Second Black
Knight is a great offensive piece on d3, because it
doesn’t allow White Rook to play on every single
square they want to play. Bishop on b6 plays huge role
on this diagonal. Of cause, this Rook on a8 will support
a pawn fro marching to the promotional square.
If you try to look now from White prospective, what

White has in his position. Rooks are misplaced, they
don’t support any defense or any offense positions.
Bishop
Home | Previous on
| Next f3 is just as a pawn on f3 – doesn’t support
anything. Those three pieces Bishop on h6, Knight on
h5 and on h4 – don’t support any attack, because it is
not enough. Those three pieces against three pieces in
the defense are not enough to win the game. Besides,
now you can see that White is completely lost, because
all of these pieces that supported some attacking
activities on the Black King, they don’t have any time
or square to organize the defense. Now Black is
completely winning, because his Knights, Bishops and
the Rooks can easily come from the defense to the
offense and with pushing those pawns on the queen-
side Black will manage to even win this game very
easy.
This means: don’t push too many pieces only into

defense, try to stay with some pieces, which are active.
If you have like here Black has, one extra pawn, try to
push this pawn in order to provoke the opponent from
going to attack to defending, or, like here, your superior
position of your active pieces will be enough, because
most of opponents pieces will try only to attack you, so
they will have no time to organize the defense.
<<Lesson 7 - 3>>
Black to play
Our next example will be a game between two great

grand-masters: Garry Kasparov and Tigran Petrosian
played this game in 1981. If you look at it, you will see
that this is a game, where White launch a great attack
on Black King. Both Bishops, Knights, two Rooks and
the Queen are playing great roles in the attack, it seems
that it is just a matter of time when White will manage
to attack and mate opponent’s King. But, if you look a
little bit more careful, then you will see that in this
position Black has one extra pawn. This pawn can help
him to prevent White from mating because a and b
pawns for now are protecting Black King. Then, it is
also very important that the Knight on c4 is hanging
and needs to be moves, and also, it is very important to
understand
Home | Previous | Next that all of Black pieces are playing a great
role in the defense. This is an economical resources use
in the defense. All of White pieces attack and all of
Black pieces defend. In this particular game, in this
cases, when this will happen, it is not easy for attacker
to attack and to establish mating chances, or even
bigger attack. It is also very important to understand,
that with White Kasparov is playing – one of the
greatest attacking players of all times.
Let’s see what is happening here, Black are on the

move. Black needs to figure out, what he wants to do.
Economically speaking this defense is very well
organized, and every Black piece is now playing into
defense, there is no need to be afraid of some possible
ways for White for attacking with extra pieces. What
Black find here to be move is one very unpleasant
move for white here and also the move that you cannot
see, in the real games. Here is a movie, and Tigran
Petrosian finds this move and manages to save, even to
win this game later. Black play here King to b7 – this is
a really great move, because here he sees that he
doesn’t need to protect and don’t need to push anymore
piece in the defense. But see that this king on a file can
be very easily attacked with Rooks on a file. So, he
needs to come with his King into play. This is really
important, King is also the piece, and some time, it is
very good to find a safe place for him.
Here, it wants to march to c6 square. Later he might be

trying| Next
Home | Previous to reach d7 or e8 square. And with this
King protects the pawn on b5 and somehow try to
figure out how to escape on the other side of the board.
Kasparov is a great attacker, and, maybe, one of the
greatest attackers of all times, he finds here Bb4 – the
only piece that has not been playing now comes to
attack and attack the Queen. Black needs to get with
this Queen on e8, other moves are not a good option.
And now also, all of the Black pieces are in defense.
Very important to understand that is why Black is now
playing. If not, he will be mated in few moves. So, very
economically Black tries to defend himself. White on
the move here, playing one by one great offensive
moves, here comes Bd6.
Once again, this Bishop can’t be taken, because if

Black takes on d6, White takes on d6 – and it is all
over, because Black Queen will be taken on e8. So,
Black needs to protect his position even more.
Tigran Petrosian plays very defensive move Ra8. Now,

even take the advantage of the square on a6 and try to
defend even this pawn. Now, everything is protected
and Kasparov plays here Qb1. Second thing that is
really important, this active pieces playing from one
active square to the other trying to combine some
attacking moments on this a and b pawns. Now, you see
that every Black piece is great in defense. And b5
square needs to be protected. So, how Black manages to
do this now? Try to figure out, which move will help
Black| Next
Home | Previous in the defense, in his plan, and also will stop
White from taking on b5.
<<Lesson 7 - 4>>
Black to play
This move is 1…. Kc6. This is the move that is in our

idea of this chapter, King is a fighting unit and not only
that this King now protects b5, but it also attacks the
Bishop on d6. And he tries even to move further after
the moving the Knight from d7. So, King to c6 is a
remarkable move.
This defensive structure and these moves that here have

been played with Black are very difficult, only the idea
that Black had here – try to push this king to the center,
he tries to move his Knight, tries to defend b5, tries to
attack| Next
Home | Previous the Bishop on d6, and try to move King on d7
later on. This is a great example about why and how
King is also defensive, attacking piece, the unit that
plays in the chess game. Now, Kasparov played the
move Rb-a3 – this is also great attacking move, he tried
to get Black King out of this chain behind the pawns.
Somehow, he tried to sacrifice this Bishop on d6. After
this move, Black played very well, he stood calm, he
even won this game with very easy defense. Because of
all of these pieces in the defense, White doesn’t have
enough potential attacking resources. Here, that is why
Black can take on c4. After taking on c4 – it is nothing
else than taking on a6, after which Black takes, White
Rook takes and Black Bishop goes to b6.
Now, you see, potentially, there is no treat because

Black King is very well placed on c6, White pieces
cannot attack it. All Black pieces are on very defensive
squares and there is no way that White can give mate to
Black. The rest of the game was only the matter of the
technic. With 1.Bc5 Qd8 (defending Bishop on b6) 2.
Qa1 Nxc5 and eventually Black won this game, which
is a very clear example how one side, when having the
potential defending resources find hidden idea and
figure out how to win the game with extra material.
Because, here is a very clear example in one game that
have been played, as I have said, with, maybe, greatest
attacking chess player of all times, and he didn’t
managed to attack and breakthrough great organizes
defense from Tigran Petrosian.
Conclusion
In this example you saw how the king can play very
defensive and offensive role. It can stop the opponent
from launching a greater attack on him. I can tell you as
a conclusion for this chapter that in defense, you need
to think logically and use simple mathematical method.
If your opponent attacked you with three pieces – try to
use three pieces in the defense. With economical
defense, you will have more pieces for organizing
active game.
Please, keep the king safe, but sometimes King is also

very powerful piece, it can protect itself.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
Consolidation
Our next chapter is dedicated to how we can try to

consolidate and save almost lost position that even
looks like loss. Here, I have one question to ask you,
have you ever experienced this? “Have you had nice
time playing with me? Have your enjoyed yourself?
Now is the time for your resignation.” – Those are the
words mostly from chess veterans to much younger
opponents, who are unwillingness to resign looks like
lack of the respect. And chess is indeed a gentleman
game and every player should know when the time has
come and resign.
But, on the other hand, before resignation, you should

be absolutely sure that all defensive possibilities have
been exhausted. The moral side of the respect and
playing on for a while in a lost position is completely
lacking of risk. You can find many games of
miraculous escapes. Most often in those positions or
situations
Home | Previous | Next you can escape loosing with two great ideas:
first is perpetual check and other is a checkmate.
<<Lesson 8 - 1>>
Black to play
So, let’s start with our examples. Our first example is

this game that happened between Band Larsen and
Mikhail Tal in 1984. The last move from Black was e3
to e2 and now Band Larsen resigned. I can tell you
that this is a premature resignation. Why so?
Band Larsen saw here only Qe2, after which Black

Knight can come to f3 and check White King and the
very next move is Rxe2 and the game will be ended as
a resign for White. So, Band Larsen resigned here,
which was not the best option, this is on the chapter
about| Next
Home | Previous the premature resignation. Much better move
was Rook from e takes on e2, after which, if Black
checks White King with the Knight from f3, the King
can come to f1. And now, the only thing that Black can
do – taking the pawn on d4. It looks like … Qf3 will be
an easy win for Black. But now White missed a very
nice idea, very nice combination, based on the fact that
Black King is not the most defended King on the table
and he could take the Black Bishop on g7.
Now, Queen cannot take this Rook, because Rook and

the Queen are trapped, so King needs to take on g7.
Now, 1.Rxe8, Rxe8 2.Qg4 Kf7 3.Qf4 Kg8 4. Qxd4 –
White will have two pawns for the exchange and this
will be far away from the resigning and far away from
the clear win for Black. So, this is one case about the
premature resignation. First, try to see, if you have
achieved some combinations, or somehow play on
for a while, if doesn’t help – only then resign.
<<Lesson 8 - 2>>
Black to play
Our second example will be also a real game between

Grand-masters Georgich and Maitz from 2002 year.
Here, it looks like Black completely lost. White has
some extra material, he has 5 pawns against 4 on the
Black side, he has very active pieces, he is a clear
exchange up - it looks like Black can resign in very
next move, because everything is hanging. But, don’t
forget to check whether you can somehow do a miracle.
Just Like in the first example, here you have some great
idea, how (without resign) to make a draw. This is the
position where you can try to play on the idea of the
perpetual check. This idea greatly works here. Bxg3 is a
great| move!
Home | Previous Next Now you can see that even White has the
Queen and the Rook very actively taking part in
offense, those pieces don’t protect here White King,
and the King is at his own. Now, no matter what
happened, if King takes of g3 – Black has a very easy
draw with perpetual check that starts with 1.…. Qf4+
2.Kg2 Qe4+ - we can give that check, King can go,
maybe on h2, and then again, Qf4+, if King goes on g2
– Black gives check with the Queen from e4, if White
moves their King to g1 – Qe1+ and you can see that
doesn’t matter what White does, Black can check him,
so the game will be ended as a draw.
So, this is not the option, what else white can do? After
1.… Bxg3 he can try to take with the pawn – let’s see
2.fxg3, now 2…. Qe2+ is a very nice check – those
three pawns do not allow White to escape, it is also a
very easy and clear draw, because 1. Kg1 Qe1+ 2.Kg2
Qe2+ 3. Kg1 Qe1+ and the game ended as a draw.
So, don’t please resign prematurely. It is clear, that in

the most of the cases, when the opponent has extra
material and it looks like a very bad situation, or even a
loss situation, if you manage to, somehow, try to push
on your opponent, try to take the idea of perpetual
check – it is a very powerful idea. If you succeed in
using this you will manage to survive and to take the
draw. What is also important, please, find out the
abilities of your opponent and also the position of his
pieces, if it has some problems. White has a great
Queen
Home | Previous on
| Next d7 and the Rook on a6, they are very
powerful for the offense, but you see that this King on
g1 (before King was on h2). King is without of any
defense, only some pawns defend the White King. With
this extra idea of sacrificing the Bishop here Black
found the way with his Queen to give a perpetual check
to White King and make a draw here.
<<Lesson 8 - 3>>
Black to play
In the first example, we will try to use the second idea –

the idea of the stalemate. Here, if you look at this
position, which is also a real position between Ibjantz
and Majatz form 2002 year, you will see that Black is
here on the move and he has an extra pawn. The Queen
on g7 and the Bishop on g4 are a little bit more active
than |the
Home | Previous NextQueen on d6 and the Bishop on a8. But if
Black will manage somehow to exchange the Queen by
moving Queen to h6, White can take the Queen on h6,
King will take on h6 and this will give to White a very
easy draw. It is because when we reach the endgame it
is much more likely that we will make the draw, than
our opponent will win the game. That is why here
Marin tries to take second line and tries do something
else. At first, you can see that this e pawn is very great
pawn and pawn’s abilities to promote on e1 is the main
idea for Black. Second, you can also see that this pawn
on e4 and Bishop on e8 are on the b file, if somehow
Black can try to get the position where White needs to
take the pawn on e4, then Black can give a check and
take the Bishop on e8. This is pretty much the situation
that Black is looking for.
From the other side, White needs to defend this

position. First, he needs to be afraid of this pawn on e4
and second, he needs to see how he can try to reach the
situation, how can he reach the structure for draw.
Here, White (Ibanitz) finds remarkable idea, he finds
great resources and calculates the position until the
draw. It is not easy, but it is very instructive example
about how to use the motive of stalemate as a great
weapon for saving the game.
As I have said before, …Qh6 will only give Black the

draw, so he needs to try to win with move … Qb2+.
Now, it is easy to understand that the only move is Ke3,
because
Home | Previous Ke1
| Next will after …. Qe2 will result in mate for
White. So, the only move is Ke3, after which Majatz
finds the next idea. ….Qc1+ once again, if King goes to
f2 it is close to mate …. e3+ and then Queen will go to
the second rank and Black will win in a very next
move. Here, it looks like White has completely lost, he
needs to take this pawn on e4, now Black Queen can
come to e1 and take the Bishop on e8. And of cause, it
is the best move, nothing else here can be done, and if
Black doesn’t check the King on e1 it will be a draw in
the very next move. Because the material is equal the
Queen defends the pawn on g3 and if Black doesn’t
take the Bishop on e8, then the game is a clear draw.
So, …Qe1+ - it looks like the game is over, it is also
something about premature resignation: if you think
here that you have lost, you need to figure it out, if you
can how you can try to survive this game, if you can
find a remarkable move, how to find the hidden
resource and save this game. So, if White will not see
this, he will for sure resign. Because with an extra piece
Black is easily winning here, you really need to find a
great idea and not to lose this game. After Kf4 Black
takes with their Queen on e8. Now, you shall try to see
how you can save the game. You can’t move White
pawn, and you need to find the square from which your
King will be unable to play on, so with the stalemate,
you can save this game. Here, Ibanitz finds a
remarkable move and a great idea how to stalemate
himself: he played Qe7+ after which Black King is
under attack, and if now Black Queen takes the Queen
on e7| Next
Home | Previous it is a stalemate, because White cannot move his
King any further this game will be ended as a draw.
So, before you resign, try to find some hidden ideas,

try to find remarkable moves and try to survive.
Conclusions
As a conclusion, I can tell you, please, don’t resign

immediately in the lost-looking positions – play a
little bit more. And, when it looks like it is all over, try
to save the game with some hidden resources, hidden
ideas, and try to look for even perpetual check, or
maybe a stalemate, you can save your game with this.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
Active defense
This chapter is dedicated to the active defense and the

counterattack. Long time ago Napoleon said one very
nice phrase: “Attack is the best defense”. And from
then many sportsmen used this phrase but also tried to
do this in their sports. It clear, that attack and defense
are in many ways reminding each other. Both: the
attacker and defender need to include as many pieces
as possible and to be focused on other’s weakness. If
you have worst, but solid position – don’t try to
counterattack the opponent, because you are worse and
you need to defend, but you can defend yourself
actively. In general, Attacker attacks and defender
defends, but there are also some grey zones. This
mostly happens when one side has more suspicious
position but with lots of the active possibilities, which
needs to be investigated before going into defense, or
even resignation. In much more worse position, when
you find yourself in almost lost position – try to find
ways| Next
Home | Previous to attack your opponent and do not count the
material.
<<Lesson 9 - 1>>
Black to play
Let’s take a look at our first example about the active

defense and counterattack. It was a real game Between
Decannen and Ketaven on Olympians in 2012. This
game Decannen played White and Ketaven played
Black. First, let’s try to figure out what is this for
(situation and position) and who is here better. If you
go and count the material, you will see that White has 6
pawns against 6 pawns of Black and also 4 light-pieces,
2 Rooks, and 2 Queens form both sides. Secondly, you
will see that White has a great attack on the h file,
where the very next move is taking the g pawn, after
which,
Home | Previous if Black
| Next takes …. hxg and White tries to make
Black on the h file. If you try here to defend yourself
very passively – you will not succeed because of one
thing – you don’t have resources for that because your
Queen is on a3, both of the Knights are on b4 and c5
and those pieces are not defenders. Those are the
attackers.
Now, you can see that White attack you with the Rook
on h1, Bishop on h6 and Queen on d2, potentially also
the Knight from f3 can manage to go on g5, after which
White will have 4 pieces in the attack against one
Bishop on g7 in defense. Black cannot survive only
with the defense. What you need to organize here is a
very active counter-play, very active defense. You
shouldn't create the counterattack, because you cannot
really counterattack your opponent, you need to play
very actively in order to not allow to give him a chance
to mate you on the h or even g file.
Those Knights on c5 and b4 with the Queen on a3 are

great attackers, you have only one piece on d7 that
doesn’t do anything here, but tries to control the
diagonal c8-h3, this Bishop can take the pawn on g4
and create the pressure on this Knight on f3, if you can
take this Knight, then maybe you can take the Rook on
h1.
First, let’s go with our piece that doesn’t play anything

here on g4 taking a pawn. Here also very important to
understand
Home | Previous | Next that you cannot survive by taking this
Bishop on h6, because White will take this Bishop with
their Queen, and if you now take, for instance, this
Knight on c3, White will not count the material and
with Kg5 will mate you on h7. So, this is a lost
position, you cannot control this h7 square and you will
be mated in a very next move, you have some extra
material now, but White managed to check-mate you –
so the game is over. You don’t want to allow this and
you need to see what White’s real idea in this position
is. So, after Bishop taking on g4, White needs to open
this h file and try to push Black’s King from the safety
area.
Of cause, Bxg7 and here is also, once again, a very

clear situation, you cannot try to defend yourself,
because if you take now the King on g7, after taking on
g6 and Qh6 Black are very close to get mated, or to lose
much of his material. So, in this kind of a situation the
only thing you can do is try to play active and try to
counterattack or actively defend yourself, that is why
you need to take this Knight on f3, now you see that
with this you can try to take even the Rook on h1 that
have great potential on this h file, in order to attack or
even mate your King, with also Queen on h6, or even
on h7. Now, really, this Rook is under attack, and if,
let’s say, now White take this Bishop on f3, now you
can take this Bishop on g7, because now you don’t
need to be scared anymore, you don’t need to defend
your King against the Knight-on-g5 threat, because you
took |this
Home | Previous Nextpiece, and you didn’t allow White to push you
with Qh6+ and Ng5 – that is why if now he takes on g6,
you can take on g6, and after Qh6+ you have a move
Kf6.
<<Lesson 9 - 2>>
White to play
Now, if he doesn’t check you on h4, you can escape

with King to e7, d7 and you will have a great position,
because Knight on c3 is hanging, Rook no a1 will hang,
this Bishop on f3 is hanging, so every piece is attacked
by Black and this is a perfect position for Black. Now,
Qh4+ Kg7 – it is a clear draw.
That is why the only thing here that White can try to do
is Qh6. Now he really attacks your King and after hxg6
he can
Home | Previous create
| Next more or less dangerous situation. But also,
as I have said a few times – you need to play very
actively. No passive defense will help you, because you
have no pieces to protect you from getting mated. ….
Qc3 – very nice play, very nice move. Now Black tries
to counter attack and mate White even before, if he now
allows you to take the Rook with the Queen after
something like hxg6 Black will mate his opponent even
before he will get mated. So, the only thing that he can
do is Bishop takes on f3, after which, you don’t have
the possibility to take on a1, because, once again, you
will get mated with hxg6, so, you only can take this
Bishop on f3 and now the next position will happen.
hxg6 – very next possible move is gxh7, which is a
mate. Also, if you take f or h on g6 Qh7 or Qh8 are
also mating chances for White.
<<Lesson 9 - 3>>
Home | Previous | Next White to play
You need also to protect yourself from the active

counter play or active defense – this is better word.
….Qh1 – very strong move, which doesn’t allow white
anything else, but the Draw. It is because White needs
to take the Queen, after which King takes on g7. Now,
if he takes 1.gxh7 Kh8 and Black will stay with the
Rooks and two Knights against the Queen – it is
perfect for him, because it is much better than a Queen.
Also, what White can do here is only play for the draw,
because with the extra material Black will have a great
position, where he can play for the advantage, or even
for winning, so White needs to take on h7 and after …
Kf6 the only thing that White can do is try to survive
here and play Qh4+ later Qh7+ and manage to draw
this game.
So, if you see that the position is approximately

equal and opponent tries to push too hard on your
King, please, don’t defend yourself passively, if you
do not have pieces to do this, because like, you see
here, all of your pieces are playing some active roles, in
this kind of the position, you will not be able to survive
with the passive defense, only active defense and active
play will allow you to even attack your opponent and
not allow him to check-mate you, or take some of your
material. With this you will make the balance, so his
attack and your attack will be concrete and will play
huge roles, and mostly those games will be agreed as
draws,
Home | Previous because
| Next one or the other side will manage to
play and take the perpetual check, or will manage
somehow to get the draw with some other counter
attack. Games like this one, will most likely end as a
draw.
<<Lesson 9 - 4>>
White to play
In our next example, you will see a completely different

story. Here, all the black pieces are better-placed than
the whites, also Black has a very great pawn on a5.
First, you can see that no matter what White will do
Black will push this pawn and if he succeeds in this –
White will completely lose. You can also see that no
active defense here will not help you, because you
cannot stop this a pawn from marching to a1. So, what
you can
Home | Previous do
| Next is to try to counterattack Black, you can try
to push him with Queen and the Knight, and to try to
create maybe even chances to mate opponent’s King.
First, you need to spot that this pawn c4 cannot fall,

because, if Black manages to take this pawn – then the
position will be lost in the very next move, because the
Queen needs to be exchanged and with those two
Bishops and a pawn Black will manage to win this
game in next few moves. So, first move is very easy
understandable, this is Be2, because you cannot allow
Black to take this pawn and your position will be
collapsed. Now, we need to see here some other things.
White c pawn is really no threats, this pawn in a
completely defensive one, it doesn’t have any attacking
chances on the opponent.
Second thing that you need to be able to understand is

this Bishop on e2 – it is also only a defensive piece, it
can do nothing else, but the defend the pawn on c4. It is
now also easy to understand that what you can do in
counterattack, in some active defense, you can do only
with the Knight and the Queen. Both of those pieces
needs to create something against the Black King,
because if not – Black will manage to win this game
very easily. From the other side, you need to be able to
understand that this a pawn can’t be stopped, because
those two Bishops and Queen will easily help this pawn
to Queen himself on a1. So, the only thing what you
can do here, is to try to counterattack Black and to try
to create
Home | Previous | Nextreal chances to mate the opponent’s King. And
that is why here, after Black plays …. a4, White has an
idea of getting better of his pieces and trying to do
something with Nc7. Now, White wants to take the
Bishop on e6, if you take the Bishop you will be with
an extra piece and it will be much easier for you to
maybe even try to mate the opponent’s King on h8. So,
what Black can do is not allow this, of cause. They can
check you first with Qb1+, because now you need to
protect your King and get this Bishop even further on
f1, and you will be not able to play with this Bishop
anymore – this Bishop is also very defensive piece, it
doesn’t create any counter-chances. So, you stayed with
the Knight and The Queen in the counter attack. The
next thing that Black can try to do here, they will try to
defend themselves by playing … Bg4. It is a very
interesting move, which now wants to play this move
Be2 and mate you on the first rank. What you want to
do against this? Can you allow Black to do this?
First, you need to take a look at this position and try to

see, if you can counterattack Black, if he plays …. Be2?
Try to see.
Yes, it is possible, but you cannot stay with those

pawns on f2, g2 and h2, because after this, after … Be2
it will be a mate on f1 – King cannot go any further.
That is why you cannot allow Be2, so you have to
move h3. Now, you King will be able to escape on h2
and if now Black plays … Be2, you have this great
counterattack
Home | Previous | Next move Qd7. After which 1.…Qxf1+2. Kh2
(diagram 5), it is not easy to find the better idea, but to
make a draw, because Qe8 and Ne6 can create very big
offensive chances against Black King.
DEFENDING CHAMPION
Fortress
In this chapter we will speak about the fortresses.

Fortress is a very common thing people that tend to
consider chess with. As an abstract reflection of the
real life. In chess, it is possible that the small army
can resist against much more strong opponent by
hiding within the wall, built with the pawn and
defended with the pieces. It is also important that
sometimes we can get help also from our opponent,
with this motive we can defend the positions with
much less material. In most cases we can reach the
draw by using this method. The boundary between the
safe fortress and lost position sometimes is hard to
determine. With the next few examples I will try to
show you how you can use this motive to defend
yourself in worse positions.
<<Lesson 10 - 1>>
White to play
Let’s look at our first example, this is a real game

between Petrosian and Gazai back from 1970. They
reached this position, where White has a significant
advantage: his Queen and his Knight are much better
than the Bishop on g3 and the Queen on a7. With the
very next move, White can move b6 and Black’s
position will collapse. So, if Black cannot stop White
from pushing b6 – he will lose. The only way to survive
in this position for Black is to find the move, which will
not allow White to push this pawn to b6. Let’s take a
look and try to figure it out, how Black can defend
himself.
I am sure that you found this move, if not – this move is

…. Qb6.
Home | Previous | NextAt first, you can see that this is the move that
will sacrifice the Queen and if you played this game on
the Internet, you will think that your opponent
misclicked and played this instead of something else,
but it was not so. This is the clear way, how Black can
manage to survive this very bad middle-game with the
creation of the fortress. Now you see that White doesn’t
have any better move, but taking on b6, after which
Black, of cause, take on b6, now you see that Black
create fortress. He creates fortress and now White
with almost Queen more doesn’t have any positional
advantage and this game ended as a draw right now.
<<Lesson 10 - 2>>
White to play
Let’s take a look at our second example, this is also a

real game
Home | Previous | Next between Adianto and Michalevky played in
1998. Here, White is to move. First, you can see that
White is two piece up, but Black has this pawn on a file
that cannot be stopped. So, we will very easy can reach
the position with Queen on a1 against two pieces. In
this particular case, it will be very hard for White not to
lose this game, if he plays without of any idea, and
doesn’t know how to survive this. If White has an idea
then he needs to find best squares for his pieces and try
to create the fortress and not allow Black’s Queen to
take any piece, or to reach his King. How he can do
this?
It is very easy to understand that the new Queen will

appear on a1. White King will need to stay on g3,
maybe g2 or f3. Now White needs to figure out and
find the best squares for his two pieces, after which
White will reach the position with a clearly draw-
endgame, because Black will not be able to take any of
this pieces neither he will be able to attack White King.
How he can do this?
First, White needs to figure out where he should put his

Knight. You will see it very easy and you will find this
square, because the next move will be Kd4. Now this
Knight on a perfect square, the pawn from e3 defends
this Knight controls vital squares on e2, on f3 and on
f5. Besides of this, Kb5 very next move can be deadly
for Black, because with this he can take this pawn and
then stay with an extra piece, this Bishop on e8.
Next move is easy understandable. Black needs to push

this pawn closer to the Queen on a1. Now, White needs
to figure it out, where to put their Bishop. It is also very
easy to understand, the vital diagonals, vital squares
will be light square around the King that can help him
to survive checking this Queen from a1. So, white can
play Bf7. Next move he will take this pawn on b5 and
manage to take this advantage, or this diagonal a8-h1.
1… A1Q and now 2. Bxd5. What Black can do is to try
to check White on g1, after which you can see Bishop
from g2 now covers this square. Now, try please to see,
what kind of the fortress White has. Knight on d4 is
perfectly placed and beside of this, very next move is
possible Ke2+ and he can take the Queen on g1. The
next this is that this Knight controls: e6, f5, f3 and e2 –
4 vital squares around the King. It doesn’t allow even
Black King or Queen to go on those squares. Next,
these pawns on g4, e3 and f2 are very well controlling
the other squares around the King; with the Bishop on
g2 this is the fortress that cannot be broken.
<<Lesson 10 - 3>>
White to play
It is an easy draw for White, because his pieces don’t

allow opponent’s pieces to reach some squares or try to
mate the King, because it is impossible. White here
plays this position a little bit further because Black
plays here … Kd3. Fine, he can try to push the King to
e1 and then try to take the pawn on f2. Now a very
powerful move is Nf5 – this Knight perfectly plays on
f5, doesn’t allow Black to occupy some other squares
on the king-side. Now, if King goes to e2, White very
easily giving the check and if now King goes to e1, you
can see that Knight from c2 will check him once again
and then will go back and manage the repetition of the
position thus reaching the draw. If White doesn’t allow
Black to do that, Black needs to go back, after what
Knight,
Home | Previous once
| Next again, occupies the square on f5. You see
that neither with the Queen nor with the King Black can
push White doing from anything else but repeating the
moves. This game was also ended as a draw, because of
this great fortress, which white create very well – those
2 minor pieces don’t allow Black to take any
advantage.
<<Lesson 10 - 4>>
White to play
Please, Take a look at our next example, this is not a

real game, but a study from Troitsky in 1928. It looks
like the second example, because also White has 2
pieces against Black pawn on f2 that cannot be
controlled and it is much more likely that this pawn will
be Queen in the next move. But, our journey and our
chapter
Home | Previous here
| Next is to create the fortress, so how White can
try to create the fortress and why?
First, you need to spot where White can try to push

Black, try to check him in order to take this pawn on f2.
You can easily find this move, this move is Bb4, now,
if Black King takes the Bishop on b4, Knight will come
to d3 and after Kc3, Knight can take on f2.
Now it looks like this pawn will be the Queen and

Black can take here on e2, but now this Knight can stop
Black from pushing this pawn to e1. Ne4+ - now no
matter is Black reach d4 square or d3, or any else
square, Knight on e4 and King to c1 will capture the
pawn on e2. So, if …Kd4 – Knight have to check, 1….
Ke3 2.Ng4+Kf3 3.Kd2 (diagram 5).
Home | Previous | Next <<Lesson 10 - 5>>
White to play
This pawn will not survive and the game will be ended
as a draw. Black can try here to go back on d3, after
which Kf2 second time will give a check, and it will
also be a draw. This is not the idea that Black wants to
do. Besides, the next square that can be reached by the
Black King is, of cause, b3. Now, you can see that you
can’t stop this pawn from advancing on f1 – this pawn
will be Queened for sure. So, now you need to figure it
out, how and where to create the fortress and not allow
Black Queen to go out from this f1 square. It is very
easy to find the first move – to take the pawn on f3,
after which ….f1Q and now Be1.
<<Lesson 10 - 6>>
Home | Previous | Next White to play
Now, we create a perfect fortress, if you take a look

now, you will see that Black Queen has only two
squares: g2 and f1. No matter where Black pushes his
Queen, you will be able to cut his Queen from playing
with the Bishop on e1. So, when the Queen is on f1, but
when the Queen comes to g2 – Bishop comes to g3 and
doesn’t let the Queen to go any further. So, for now,
even, Queen takes on e2 is not really the opportunity,
because Knight will come on d4, check the King on b3
and it will take the Queen on e2. For example, it is a
very nice fortress and how you can survive these
middle-games, when it looks like there is no way out,
then you try to create something else, try even to create
some fortress, like this one.
For instance, now Black can try to play Qg2, it looks

like Queen goes out on g file, but now the great move
Bg3. Take a look, this pawn protects the Bishop, the
knight is protected with outer pawn, which cannot be
taken because of Nd4+ and Black will even lose this
game. Black can try to play here something like Kc3,
now, he wants to take the Pawn on e2. But this is the
only square that needs to be protected and White King
form d1 can manage it very easy. After which this
queen cannot now go from g file, even if he checks
from h1, you can still control the first rank with Be1,
but when the Queen comes back on g2, you can put
your Bishop to g3, if this Queen is on h or f1, the only
thing| you
Home | Previous Next need to do is to lay with the King. In few
moves this game perfectly ended as a draw, because he
can play 1…. Kc4 2. Kd2 Qg2 you can now push
Bishop back on g3. This is, as I said, is a perfect
fortress, you see, both of those pieces has their own
idea, how to protect this fortress and not allow Black to
go out with this Queen. If the queen cannot go out any
further – it is clear that the game will end up as a draw.
Here, it is a perfect study and a perfect fortress about
how to create a fortress and make the draw from a very
bad middlegame.
Conclusion
As a conclusion I can tell you, don’t resign please in the

positions with much less material, try to hide yourself
behind the fortress, even in the lost position, and try to
find the hidden resources. With the idea of the
blocking the position, you can sometimes save yourself
from a very bad position and reach the draw.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
Psychology of defense
Let’s speak in this chapter about the psychology of

defense. Psychology is a very important in chess.
Sometimes, if you are able to suddenly change sharply
the situation on the board- perhaps, even by choosing
continuation, which is objectively not the strongest, but
involves considerable risk, and your opponent already
turned to play a certain pattern of the game, he will not
be able to return and will begin making mistakes. You
need to understand that people are not computers,
and they make mistakes. Sometimes, it is practically
impossible to draw the line between philological and
rational chess decision. When aiming for a sharp
change in the character of the play, we sometimes find
the continuation that turns out to be correct not only
from psychological, but also objective point of view.
However, this instinct is not so significant.
In the next few examples, I will try to show you how to

break| Next
Home | Previous unfavorable course of the play. With the
accumulation of practical experience, we will learn to
determine the measure of the acceptable risk, which
indecently strongly depends on the initial position. On
the end, it is also very important to tell you something
about the mindset in the hard situations. These are the
situation, when your opponent attacks you and you
need to defend for quite a while. In this kind of
situations, please, don’t lose your head. Stay calm and
think positively, because the position will give you
energy and sometimes, you will be able not only to
save, but also to win the game.
<<Lesson 11 - 1>>
White to play
In our first example, we will look at the position, game

between
Home | Previous | Nexttwo great masters Marin and Oldman. This
game was played in 1988. Marin is White and Oldman
is Black. Playing this game they have reached this
position. Here, White is to move. If you look at it
carefully, you will see that White has 5 pawns and
Black has 7 pawns, which means that White sacrifice
two pawns in order to organize a great attack, on the
other hand, you will see that the Knight on e5, both of
the Bishops on d3 and h4, and even Rook on h3 are
joining the attack. Now, this Queen, also from d2 can
very easily join the attack by taking this pawn on f4.
This means that White really has a great potential of the
attacking position.
If you look at Black position and Black pieces – we

also can see that this Knight on d4 is a very good piece,
the Bishop on e6 is also a great piece. Both of those
Bishops and Queen are joining somehow this defense.
Now, it is very easy to understand that the very next
move of White will be e5. This is the move that opens
the last piece, the Bishop on b3, after which, the only
move that Black can make is to get with the Queen on
h8. Now, Marin with White takes the pawn on f6. Now
we need to speak about the psychology in defense, it is
very important here to not lose the head – you need to
be able to calculate some lines, but in those kinds of the
positions, you can see that you cannot only defend
yourself, you need to switch up, you need to make a
very active moves, you need to switch to a very active
play, you need to figure out: how to switch the curse of
this position.
Here, Black played … Bxh3. It is very important to see,

if here Black tries to take on f6, Bishop should take on
f6, now Black needs to take with the Queen on f6, after
1.Nf6 Bh3, Qf4 Black is in a completely lost position,
he can’t protect this h6 pawn and by taking this pawn,
White will mate Black King.
<<Lesson 11 - 2>>
So, when you see that in the position, when you only
saying in the defense, is completely hapless, try to
move to some other moves, try to switch this position
and to do something else. Here, Black decides,
correctly to take the Rook on h3.
<<Lesson 11 - 3>>
White to play
Now, White manages to push even harder on Black by

playing a great move Rg1. Now, Please, take a look at
all of White pieces, they all are playing in the game,
they all attack the Black King. It is not easy to find out
how you can defend here. With the biggest probability -
… Rg8, the only move that can defend Bishop on g7,
you are completely lost, because, fxg7, after …. Rg7,
White will take the Rook and now King needs to take
on g7, because if Queen takes on g7 – then a very easy
move Bf6 will win this Queen, after … Kxg7, Black is
completely lost, because he cannot escape from netting
mate. So, this is a very powerful position and White
will manage to win this position in few moves. It is
because no matter what Black will do, White will take
on h6| Next
Home | Previous and mate the Black King on h8.
<<Lesson 11 - 4>>
Black to play
So, with only defensive measures, you will not be able

to save the game and survive in this position, that is
why you need to figure out how to switch this game,
how to switch from defense to offense, how to
reorganize you defense. Psychologically speaking, you
cannot only defend yourself, because then you are lost.
You need to figure out something else and the best way
for doing this is to play on f6 with the Bishop (diagram
5).
<<Lesson 11 - 5>>
Black to play
Now, ok, you manage to win this pawn, but after

Bishop taking on f6 – he doesn’t have anything else but
taking …. Qxf6. When after Nxf6, you can take with
the Rook on f6. Now you see that you don’t get the
great position, but you switched from the great attack of
White to somehow, I will say, middle game, or even
close to the endgame, where you can try to defend
yourself. Because now you get the Rook and the Bishop
for the Queen, not only this – you managed to survive,
Knight on d4 is a great piece, The Bishop will come to
e6 and will be also very powerful piece, and the Black
King is now very save, there is no attacking net, there is
no mating threats against this king on h8. So, with the
exchanging, or sacrificing the Queen, you managed to
save |this
Home | Previous NextQueen, you managed to get your opponent to
the position, where he cannot mate you, but also, you
switched to the position that is almost equal. You r
opponent has some chances, because of Queen, but you
defended very well and you turned from a very
attacking position from White’s perspective, to the laid
middle game, or even early endgame, which is not so
clear.
This is why you need to be in the mindset that you

don’t need to panic, but defend yourself. You can
switch to the game, maybe to the endgame, which is a
little bit worse, but will completely make opponent’s
attack hopeless and without the attack this endgame
will be much easier to play for Black.
<<Lesson 11 - 6>>
Home | Previous | Next Black to play
This is a real game between Korsunsky and Artur

Yusopov. Korsunsky – White, and Yusupov here,
playing this game for Black. First, you can see that
While has great attacking possibility, because of
those four very attacking and very aggressively
placed pieces. Bishop on c1, Knights on f3 and e4 ad
Queen on f5 – all support a great attack on the Black
King. On other side, Black very well organized the
defense, he has the Queen on d8, Bishop on f6 and
Knight on d5 – very well placed pieces that are in
defense and support the King very well. Now, besides
of this, Black Knight on b4 also is trying to occupy c2
square and will try to take one of those Rooks.
Black is here to move and immediate …. Nc2 is not a

great move, because White can take on f6, and no
matter, if Queen or Knight takes the Knight on f6,
White Queen will take on c2 and win this game.
So, that is why here Yusupov played … Qc8. There is a

clear purpose of this move – Black wants to exchange
the Queens and not to allow White to attack his King.
On the other side, White cannot accept this exchange,
because without the Queen Black will have a better
pawn’s structure. This pawn on d4 is a very good object
for the Black pieces and this endgame will be even
better for Black. That is why the only thing that here
White can do is Qh5.
If really Queen to c8, white take this Queen, after

Raxc8, now Nc2 is a very nasty threat, Re2 and Black
will play Rc-d8. Now you see, both Knights are better
Black than White, the Black Bishop take the opponent’s
pawn on d4 very well, and those Rooks can easily join
the attack on the g file. This is not something that
attacking player will want to do. On the other side, Qh5
is the only move that White can do because only those
will save this Queen form the exchange. Now Black
needs to decide what he wants to do. It is also very
important to show you, that …Nc2 is also a very bad
move, because now Knight on d5 is hanging. After
taking on d5 and Taking the Rook on a1 1. Kxf6 gxf6
and Bishop takes on f6. It will get White to the position
that will be almost lost for Black. That is why here,
Black needs first, to somehow protect this Knight on d5
in order to try to play …Nc2. What is here also very
important is the second thing that I want to show you in
this chapter, so this is the calm defense sometimes even
win the games. Why is this important, it is because, you
see that here Black has enough defensive resources for
not allowing white to mate his King. On the other side,
if you try here to do something crazy and get into the
counter attack on the White King, you will not be able
to do this because you don’t have enough pieces.
Instead of this you need to consolidate the position and
stay very focused in order to try to push on the
opponent later on. Because, what Black’s idea is to stay
calm, to defend and to try to exchange few pieces.
With calm defense and by exchanging one, or maybe

even, two minor pieces, you will be better in the
endgame. Because this Pawn on d4 will be objectively
under Black’s attack, so that means, if Black manages
to defend, he needs to be able to do this, because he has
enough resources, but he needs to stay calm, if Black
try also panic here and in panic try to exchange
something - that will not be for Black advantage, than
White will succeed.
But, with the calm defense, Black can save the game,
and even, if White pushes too hard, Black will even win
the game. In this game, as well as in the most of the
cases, when one side attack is present, here With tries
to win by serious attack. Bxh6 and this is the moment,
when you need to stay very calm. First of all, because
Bishop takes the pawn on h6 and nothing else, you see
that all of the squares around the King g6, g5, f5 and
g4, and even h4 are occupied by Black pieces. So, there
is no need for the extra protection here, and, what you
do here is try to counterattack. You need to stay calm in
the defense and try to get and many material as you
can.
Of cause, … Nc2 – this is something that White has

seen, his idea is only to attack. This why the calm
defense in a great idea here no matter what White does.
Black needs only to organize defense and take as many
material as he can. Now, here White plays Ne5 he puts
the Knight
Home | Previous | Next from f3 into the attack to e4. Very important
is to see that here White doesn’t have such a great
purpose with this Knight. Here, this Knight doesn’t
push on any of these Black pieces, so he needs to be
transferred to g4 square, this is the idea of White. Sure,
here Black can take this Rook on e1, for now, Black has
an extra Rook, this means, if Black survive and if he
finds the method and moves in defense and will stay
calm and will take everything he can, he will manage to
win this game. The only thing and the only attack that
White can launch here is Knight to g4. This is now the
position that looks very scary, but once again, Black
has three extra great pieces in the defense and it is very
hard, it is, I will say, impossible for White to launch
greater attack than this one. Once again, you need to
stay very calm.
Next move is Bd4, you don’t need to give this

defensive piece, on d4 is a clear pawn and there is no
way for White to take this Bishop. This is very
important, this Bishop is an extra piece in the defense
and you don’t need to allow your opponent to take it
from you.
<<Lesson 11 - 7>>
White to play
Now you see how hopeless White’s pieces are, not a

single piece creates any bigger damage at Black
position. Now, the only thing White can do is try to
take one of the defenders. Re1 will be lost because of
the move … Re8 and then not even this Knight is
playing anything else, because it is pinned with the
Rook and then, without this Knight, only with Queen
and the Knight and the Bishop White cannot organize
anything. Instead of this here, White tries to do his last
idea, his last ability to try, to push on the opponent and
plays Rd1. The idea is clear to move one defender. No
matter the one on d4 or on d5. Now, also, this Bishop is
the extra piece in the defense and you don’t need to
allow the opponent to take him. So, a very obvious
move| will
Home | Previous Next be Bishop to b2.
Only now White has the option to take this Knight on
d5, this is the first thing that White succeeds and this is
the first thing that is good for White, but now it is too
late. Black takes too many material, and now it is only
matter of technic what else Black will take. The other
thing that is very important here to understand that you
need in circumstances of this position you need to play
nice moves, you need to find well-organized moves that
will help you later on. By this I mean, you need to
figure it out how to use your extra pieces and here
Black play a perfect move, he plays first Knight to f3.
Not only to check the opponent, he moved his Knight
from the first rank and allows his Queen later on, after
he takes on d5, to occupy c1 square in order to organize
extra piece in the defense on this diagonal c1-h6.
Nothing else can be done by taking on f3 and after c
taking on d5, now you see that Bishop on h6 is hanging,
so this Bishop on h6 is hanging, this Knight on e4 is
hanging, this c1 square can easily be occupied by Black
Queen. Here, the last thing what White tries to do is
taking on g7, but now this extra idea that Black wants
to do is Queen to c1, King to g2 and Bishop takes on
g7. Now you see that everything is overprotected, the
Queen doesn’t allow White Queen to move on g5 and
the only thing that now White can try to do is 1. Nf6+
Bxf6 2.Nxf6+ Kg7.
<<Lesson 11 - 8>>
White to play
But now, if White can’t move his Queen to g5, we can

see that Black has 2 Rooks and White has only a
Knight, so this is a hopeless position for White. In this
game White tries to play Qe5, after which Black found,
I will say, the most correct move and a very calm move,
in the position that looks like after this Knight moves
somewhere, it will be an open check and it is not clear
what Black will do, so that move is a very calm, stay
very calm . Just don’t panic, no matter what is done,
you need to be focused and to find a right way to do
this. This Knight can move himself on 4 or even 5
different squares, but Black played … Rg8. This is
important for this chapter about how to stay calm and
even win the game, because now it is very clear that
this extra
Home | Previous | Next rook will be enough for winning the game,
because now Rook plays on the g file and no matter
what White will do, it is all over. So, after Knight g4
Black played Kf8 and after few checks: 1. Qd6+ Ke8
2.Qe5+ Kd7 3. Qd5+ Kc8 4.Qf5+ Kb8 5. Qe5+ Black
managed to prevent White from giving more checks
and stayed with 2 Rooks against the Knight, so Black
managed to win this game.
It is very important to understand that if we go back

here, we can see that game is approximately equal, but
when one side tries to attack, he needs to be very
focused and also be able to find out, is this good or not.
Here, with the calm defense, Black not only survived,
he managed even to win the game. In most of the
positions, this active play with White is very risky and
in the equal game, if you try to attack the opponent, it is
not always something that you want to do. After calm
defense, like here, you will be able to even win the
games.
Conclusion
As a conclusion for this chapter, I need to tell you that

it is very important to think like your opponent. If you
can get into his head, you will know how to find
objectively, not the best, but most unpleasant moves for
your opponent. Remember, people are not computers,
so they make mistakes. Please, stay calm in the
defense, because with this kind of the mindset, you will
make| Next
Home | Previous your opponent very nervous, so he will make
mistakes. You need to remember that calm defense in
sometimes even wins the games.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
Deal with gambits

In this chapter we will speak about how to deal with

the opening gambits. Our counter gambits may be
good.
Opening gambits have an idea of sacrificing one or

few pawns in order to get some positional
advantage. Usually the gambits are performed by
White. So, White‘s idea is to get immediately initiative
for the sacrificed pawn. The advantage that White get,
faster development, and even sometimes attack on the
opponent’s King. Gambits as an idea are good; they
are mostly used by the attacking players. Also, because
of thing that it is much easier to attack then to defend,
they are used even more in the blitz-games.
From the psychological aspect it is very important to

understand that gambits are used by very active and
attacking players, who like to sacrifice and play for a
great| attack.
Home | Previous Next In order to not allow your opponent to
sacrifice and attack, you can try not to take those
gambits. Instead of this, you can give your opponent a
pawn back and try to develop without ability for
opponent to attack you.
However, Black can response to the gambits in the

three ways:
• First one, to accept the gambit and take the

sacrificed pawn
• Second is to decline gambit, not to take the pawn,

and
• Third way to respond not taking his gambit, but

give his a counter gambit
In the first example let’s find out how the game will
continue, if Black will try to take this gambit and after
this defend his position. For this matter I will use this:
1.e4 c5 (Sicilian defense)
What are the gambits? The gambits are an idea how to

use an opportunity to sacrifice the pawn and after that
to try to take the initiative.
In this position in order to do this White can try to play

Home | Previous
2. d4| Next
<<Lesson 12 - 1>>
Black to play
With this move White wants to sacrifice the pawn for

the initiative and for the Quick development. In the first
example we will try to see what is happening, if Black
tries to take this pawn, and after this will try even to
defend this position with one pawn more.
2. … cxd4 3. c3
After this if Black doesn’t take this pawn, White will

take all the center and will have a great positional
pawn’s structure. Because of this, Black can take this
pawn| on
Home | Previous Nextc3.
3. … dxc3
Now, we can say that Black took this sacrifice, the

pawn, and accepted the gambit.
4. Nxc3
Let’s take a look at this position: after 4 moves you can

see that White developed the Knight on c3 and their
pawn is on e4. What Black has done? He only
exchanged c pawn. This mean that White for the
sacrificed pawn gained 2 tempos and after this he
managed to develop his pieces much faster. Now in
four moves, Black didn’t manage to play anything else
but with the c pawn. It is time for Black to develop
some pieces. It is very interesting and very good to
understand that here, something like …. Nf6 doesn’t
work, because after e5 you can see that this Knight is
prematurely developed and has no other squares but
one back on g8. This will be very bad for Black.
Because of this Knight to f6 as the fourth move isn’t
actually possible.
Black needs first, in order to develop the other Knight,

must develop further Knight on c6. This Knight will
control e5 square for now. In the next move, if White
will not play something supporting e5, Black will be
able to develop the other Knight. Because of this and
because
Home | Previous | Nextof the superiority in the development, White
doesn’t need to allow Black to do this.
4. … Nc6 5. Nf3
After this, Black is in the big danger and one more

time … Nf6 is impossible due to e5 again, after which
Knight from f6 will have to go back on g8 – this will be
disaster for Black. In order to develop Knight on f6 he
first must secure this e5 square. The only move we can
play here is:
5. … d6
Now you see that also, after 5 moves Black developed

only piece is Knight on c6. Now White develop his
Bishop on c4.
6. Bc4
This Bishop plays a big role on the diagonal a2-g8, also

prepares casteling on the king-side. The only move that
Black can play here is to develop the Knight on f6.
5. … Nf6 6. O-O
Black needs to develop the Bishop on f8 in order to

castle on the king-side. So, a very natural move is e6.
6. … e6
After e6 White has to show what he has for a pawn. At

this moment, you can see that White made the castling,
developed 3 minor pieces, in the same time Black
developed only 2 minor pieces and didn’t even castled.
This means that White also has 2 more tempos in this
position and a very strong attack, because of the great
pieces on f3, on c3, and on c4. Now, White is also in an
aggressive mood, he uses the plan, which will allow
him to make further attack. The idea is to put the Queen
on e2, after which Rook f will come to d1 and you can
see that this Queen on d8 will be not comfortable on it’s
square.
7. Qe2 Be7
Bishop to e7 is the only move that Black really can play

here.
8. Rd1
<<Lesson 12 - 2>>
Black to play
Rook to d1 is a very natural move, after which White

has a great initiative. If, for instance, now Black plays
something like castle on the king-side, after e5 Black
will be in a big danger. Because Rook on d1 is perfectly
placed, Queen on e2 and all minor pieces are playing a
huge role against those, very unnaturally developed
Black pieces. For Black things are not going that well,
Bishop on c8 is not developed or the Rooks – both of
them are not playing. Queen is very badly placed on d8
and White has a significant advantage in the center.
That means, instead of castling to the king-side, Black
needs to do something else.
In this particular position you can see that all White

minor| Next
Home | Previous pieces can come into the attack. All of those
diagonals and squares, which are occupied by White
pieces, are not easy to defend with Black pieces. That is
why in order not to lose after e5, in this situation Black
needs to close the position.
The rule is: if you are behind in the development, it

is very good for you not to open the position.
That is why Black needs to defend from e5. So, he

needs to play e5 himself.
8. … e5
After this, he allows White to occupy d5 square.
9. Be3 O-O 10. Ra-c1
Here we will stop in order not to go anymore further,

but only to show and understand this kind of the
gambit, or the positions, in which one side gets material
advantage, it always will be Black, and White, who will
have very good placed pieces, better development and
much of the initiative for this sacrificed pawn. All of
those positions are double-edged, but if you are playing
against the opponent, who plays very well attacking
positions – it will be better to avoid the gambits.
Let’s take a look on our second example, here, we say,

it is not a very good idea to let White to take cxd and
have |aNext
Home | Previous great center. That is why you need to have here
the alternative with Black. The most natural way is not
taking this pawn, but playing for the quick development
is the idea of playing … d3. Why so, first, you need to
see that now Black is a pawn up and White now needs
to take this pawn, second thing is that you didn’t take
this pawn c3 and didn’t let this Knight from b1 to get
on c3.
<<Lesson 12 - 3>>
White to play
Now, White, in order to play this position, needs to take

on d3. Most natural way is
4. Bxd3 Nc6
Now| Next
Home | Previous we can see the difference between the first
example and the second one, in the first example after 4
moves White had a great Knight on c3, pawn on e4 and
attack over the d file. On contrary, here, after 4 moves
White developed one piece and Black also. Only thing
that White has a little advantage is the pawn on e4.
Now, after
5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O Nf6
White managed to castle in 6th move. But Black has an

idea of playing ... Nf6. We can see that White cannot
easely create pressure on the d file, their Knight is on
b1, not on c5. So, attacking aspects of game – it is not
easy to attack Black here. What is even worst foe White
is that Black didin‘t take the pawn, so the position is
equal in this way. White cannot gain any serious
advantage. We can say that Black is in a very stable
position. Now, something like Rook to e 1 can be
played
7. Re1 Bg4 8. Nbd2 e6
You can see that White cannot do anything better but

only to finish the development. And, maybe, White has
a better position, mainly because of one tempo.
9. h3 Bh5
We can
Home | Previous see
| Next some ideas with
10. Nf1 Be7 11. Ng3 Bg6
<<Lesson 12 - 4>>
White to play
You can see that Black developed all of his minor

pieces, Queen can easily come to c7, Rook will go to c8
or d8, or e8. So, White didn’t get any serious attacking
chances. This is very important, because if you play
against a very aggressive player, you will be able to
make a solid position. It is not about the material
advantage, it is about not letting your opponent to get
any serious advantage or the attack on your King.
The second thing that you can use, trying to take over,
maybe
Home | Previous even
| Next the advantage, in this king of the gambits is
to play the 3rd move Knight to f6.
3… Nf6
With this move not only you don’t take the pawn, but
you develop the piece first. This pawn on e4 is hanging
and also this Knight on b1 can’t come on c3, which is
his natural square. That is why in order to play here for
the advantage the only move that White can do is e5.
This is the only move that gives White some space, also
he is attacking the Knight, so White got to move it to
d5.
4. e5 Ne5 5. cxd Nc6
Now we can see a completely different situation: here,

White didn’t get any serious advantage, or
disadvantage, so he sacrificed the pawn and Black
didn’t take the pawn, but is playing for his own
initiative and for the faster development. Now you can
see that both Black Knights are developed and neither
of White minor pieces is developed. Because of this
center, e5 and d4, we can say that the position is more
or less equal. Nothing but better chances White can get
here. In order to play the best moves, White can try to
play Knight to f3
6. Nf3 d6
In this
Home | Previous kind
| Next of position you don’t need to be afraid,
even if you are playing against a very aggressive
player, or even a positional player. It is because Black
achieved a complete equality, he is developed and his
pieces are mainly on the great squares. Here, Black has
nothing to be afraid of because it is a very good
position for Black. Something like the following can be
played:
7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb3 dxe
<<Lesson 12 - 5>>
White to play
Now we can see that after 8 moves, you destroyed

White’s center, you have 2 developed Knights against
Knight
Home | Previous and
| Next the Bishop and nothing that you need to be
afraid of. So, there is nothing that you need to be afraid.
So in this way, you are not taking the pawn, but just
playing for the development, not allowing White to get
the initiative, you will get a very solid position. You
will not get the better position form the beginning. You
will not let White to take the initiative or even start the
attack on your King.
In our third example, I will try to explain you what are

the counter gambits and are they good for playing.
Let’s see that first position
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5
<<Lesson 12 - 6>>
White to play
Now you see that all of those pawns are hanging and if
mostly very attacking players are playing the gambits
with White then even more aggressive players are
playing this as Black. I think that because of the logical
situations, where White is mostly ahead and has little
advantage after the first move, it is hard to imagine that
these counter gambits are good. In the chess theory
today I can tell you that this is not the best way to deal
with the gambit. Nevertheless I want to show you how
this game can continue. The best thing that White can
go – is to take a pawn.
3.dxe
Now White took a clear pawn on e5 and his opponent

cannot take on c4. If you take on c4, White Queen will
take on d8. Now you see after … Kd8 4. Nc3, you see
that White has a fairly big advantage, because the pawn
of c4 will be hanging, the pawn on e5 cannot be so
easily taken and also, when White developed this
Bishop on g5 with check, the very next move of White
will be O-O-O so, he will have 3 more tempos than
Black will. That is why in order to avoid this, the only
thing that Black can do is to play d4.
3. … d4
You can see that this position happens and we can say
that this is the counter gambit, because White offered
gambit,
Home | Previous he
| Next offered a pawn on c4, however, Black didn’t
take the pawn, on contrary, Black offered their own
pawn. In this particular position Black doesn’t have
anything better than a pawn on d4. Because, he didn’t
develop any of his piece and didn’t achieve anything in
the center.
4. Nc3 Nc6 5. g3
It is a very easy position when White doesn’t need to be

afraid of anything, he has an extra pawn, he has very
good developed Knight on f2 and after Bg2 and castling
on the king-side, he will be better in terms of material
(White has the pawn, but his opponent doesn’t have
enough compensation for it).
So, here mainly Black tries to do something very

original and attacking. In order to do this, the only idea
that Black can try here is to play Bishop to e6.
5. … Be6
First, you see that he wants to take the pawn on c4 and

second that is much more important to prepare the
Queen to go to d7 and go in the long castle. Later,
Black are planning to attack castled on the king-side
White King.
6. Nbe2
This |isNext
Home | Previous a natural way of developing the piece and it
protects the pawn on c4.
6 … Qd7 7. Bg2 O-O-O
<<Lesson 12 - 7>>
White to play
It is obvious that in this position Black developed 4

pieces and castled in the long side; these are the minor
pieces: Nc6, Be6, Qd7 and Rook on d8.
On the other hand, White has developed 3 minor pieces

and easily managed to defend the extra pawn. So, I can
tell you that White are in a better position with a solid
extra pawn. I don’t think that this is the best way for
Black to play these positions. I will show you few more
moves,
Home | Previous just
| Next in order you to understand how White will
play and protect the position, later attacking Black even
first.
8. Qb3
This is a great move, because not only White developed

the Queen, but also this more pushes on b7. Why do I
show you this? Because if now Black plays something
like:
8 . … Bh3
This was played in order to start an attack on the White

King.
After White castled here, White has really great pawn

sacrifice. By giving the pawn back, White will take on
initiative and will get in an almost winning situation.
9. e6!
Now Black cannot take with the Queen because of Kg5

and White will take this Bishop on h3 and also, fxe
isn’t possible, because White will take the Bishop on
h3. That is why the only move is Be6.
9. … Be6
You see, in terms of material, this position is equal.

However,
Home | Previous | Next in terms of the positional game, White is
close to winning, because of the next move.
10. Ne5!
Now you can see that Knight on c6 is a really nasty

thereat, after which all of the pawns on the queen-side
will be exposed for White, also, the Queen is under
attack and Nd5 isn’t really possible, because of the
mating chances on b7. That is why Black needs to play
somewhere with the Queen, on d6 or e8, after which 11.
Nxc6 bxc – brings a very bad pawn’s structure for
Black. Black will play for a long time until he, maybe,
manages to survive. However, mostly, White will win
in a very easy way, because of the big attacking
chances he has. That is why I do not think that the idea
of the counter gambit is good. First, because you will
always be behind in the development and White will
take the pawn first and after d4 White first developed
the piece Knight on f3. In those positions you will
always play, maybe, equal developed position with a
clear pawn down and this is not something that you
want to do. Second, what is really important is that at
some point, White can always give this pawn back to
get some initiative or a great positional advantage as
here. So, if you are not in necessity, do not play counter
gambits.
Conclusion
In conclusion,
Home | Previous | Next let me tell that gambits are usually used
by very aggressive players, so try to give the pawn
back and complete the development as soon as you
can.
If you want to keep the pawn – try to close the

position. But, whatever you do, keep in mind that you
need to develop your pieces.
Don’t take more than one pawn at any costs. Please,

don’t play the counter gambits, if you don’t need to do
so.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
3 main methods
For now you have studied lots of ideas about the

defense. First of all let me congratulate you with this
awesome fact. Now is the time to summarize and
conclude the practical ideas that your gained is to
apply in your own games.
I am Igor Smirnov, International Grandmaster from the

Remote Chess Academy and this lesson is called “3
main methods of defense”.
You do already know them from the previous lessons,

but now we are just systematizing your knowledge.
Let’s go to the chess board and analyse the 3 most
important methods of defense.
Although there are a lot of ideas regarding defense,

there are only 3 of them that are most important and
those are 3 techniques that you shall keep in mind
while| playing.
Home | Previous Next
Let’s start with the most common moves:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
Right now white is attacking Black’s pawn e5, Black

needs to do something about it. Before we come to the
first and most powerful method of defense, let me start
from an off-topic anecdote. This anecdote will help us
to understand the topic better.
One person asks another one:
- Why do you always answer a question

with another question?
- Why not?
This is an anecdote that you might have heard before,

but I am showing you this just to illustrate a very
important point. When you ask a question, you are
supposed to answer, if you ask why you are expecting
to hear “because of this and that”. In this example we
can see that one party gives an unexpected answer – the
answer by another question. It is a counter-question, as
we may call it. This is an unexpected and clever, so this
anecdote makes us smile.
When you are attacked – you are supposed to defend

and that
Home | Previous is
| Next why in this position the most natural reaction
for Black would be to protect the e5 pawn by playing
Nc6 or pawn to d6.
Indeed, in this way you can hold the position and

protect your pawn. However, we take the move back.
Instead, ask yourself “How can I counterattack my
opponent?” and you will suddenly find a lot of
opportunities.
In this example Black can counterattack White pawn by

playing d5 or f5 or Nf6. Therefore, there are a great
number of available counter-chances. Even though,
pawn-moves are looking a little bit suspicious, Knight
to f6 is perfectly all right.
Counterattacking moves are often the most powerful

and therefore, if you have a counter blow and you see
that it works well, most often you should do this. It will
confuse your opponent, break his plan and will shake
his confidence. Of cause, it also has it’s chess value.
Apart from such direct counterblows, which are

particular moves that counterattack the opponent. We
will also talk about the counterattack in the broader
meaning, like, when your opponent attacks you on the
king-side; you may realize your counterattack on the
other side of the board. You can counterattack him on
the queen-side. This way you will force, at some point,
to stop his attacking intentions and to switch back to the
defense.
Home | Previous | NextSo, the first main way of defense is the
counterattack. That is the best defense.
Now we are moving on to the second main method of

the defense. Although counterattack is a very powerful
tool, sometimes there are no counterattack moves, or
they are not the best because of some tactical reasons.
Or just don’t work that well. Then you just need to
defend. This is a classical defense, or, as we call it,
economic defense with a mathematical matter,
mathematical method. It means that you protect
something with the equal quantity of defenders. That
means, if your opponent attacks your pawn with only
one piece – you shall also protect it with only one
piece.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
So, here, we can play Knight to c6.
2. … Nc6
And then you are totally same: your opponent can’t

capture your pawn because it is protected. If your
opponent attacks your pawn twice, guess what… You
shall protect it twice as well. Therefore, if you want to
hold the pawn on d5, you shall do the following:
3.d4 d6 (providing with 2 defenders to e5 pawn)

Therefore,
Home | Previous | Next White cannot capture that pawn
4.dxedxe 5. Nxe5 Nxe5
White is just losing a Knight. That is pretty straight

forward.
This economical method of defense can be addressed to

the certain particular moves, like in the given example:
White attacks the pawn 2 times, Black needs to protect
it 2 times and at the same time, we also have talked
about this method in a broader sense. Evaluating
quantity of opponent’s pieces on a certain part of the
board, for example, even right now, White put the
Knight on c3, we can notice that White has 2 Knight in
the game – 2 pieces, while Black has only one active
Knight in the game. That already means that White has
2 times more pieces in the game then Black. It is an
alarm sign for Black, he really needs to bring the pieces
into play right now, cannot delay this. If Black would
ignore development and do something else, like g6, for
example, this makes some sense, but doesn’t help Black
to develop something directly. It turns out as a terrible
mistake, you can now understand why – because White
has 2 Knights in the game, while Black has only one
and now tries to recover. By the way, this position, by
playing Bb5 he can bring more pieces in play, it can be
already losing for Black, just because White has 2
pieces in the game and Black has only 1 – so Black are
unable to hold the position anymore.
So, this idea of providing equal quantity of defenders

you may apply for the particular squares or pawn and in
general. Let’s say, that you see that the opposite pieces
are gathering around your King, you need to bring in
there equal quantity of the defensive pieces. If you have
equal quantity of defenders to the quantity of attackers
– then you know that you are totally safe and all right.
And here comes the third, the last of the main methods
of defense. Sometimes, you face the situation, where
your opponent puts strong pressure on your position; he
creates a lot of different threats here and there.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 d6
Let’ say in this position White will put his Bishop on

b5.
4. Bb5
Now White has a number of threats: he can take your

Knight, your pawn, or push his pawn to d5. In such
situations you have to keep an eye on the all of the
opponent’s threats, calculate the variations, and make
sure not to overlook or forget something. Therefore, it
is somewhat complicated and unpleasant. In such
positions you can use the defensive method called
simplifications. You shall simplify your task, because
currently it is way too difficult. In order to do this, we
just need
Home | Previous | Nextto trade some of pieces and pawns as well.
Black can do this by taking the pawn on d4.
4…. exd 5. Nxd4 Bd7
Now it is quite likely to be like that: Knights will go

off, we can take with the Bishop to trade it as well.
6. Nxc6 Bxc6 7. Bxc6 bxc
As you can see, there is an easier position, situation

calmed dawn, and we have traded all of the opponent’s
attacking pieces. Now, your following moves are super
easy – just develop your Knight and Bishop then castle.
You make all very straightforward moves and your
position will be safe.
As you can see this 3rd method of defense,

simplification, is not even about the chess strategy, but
it is rather a practical piece of advice for you. So, it
states that when you feel uncomfortable, when you feel
like you are under pressure – trade the pieces. It is
especially good to trade of the opponent’s Queen –
because it is the most powerful piece. If there are any
opponent’s pieces, which are very powerful, on your
part of the board – try also to trade them off and
simplify your life.
Conclusions
Here are the 3 main defensive methods that you need to

keep in mind while playing chess.
1. First, you need to try to counterattack, if there is a

counterattack – it is usually the most powerful move
and it would be sudden for your opponent.
2. If there are no counterattacking options or they are

not working for some reasons, then you can use
economic defense. You provide equal quantity of
defenders, equal to the quantity of attackers and in this
way you hold the position.
3. Finally, if you feel under pressure, if you feel

uncomfortable, if your opponent has attacking forces on
your half of the board – then it is good to use
simplifications. Trade off the pieces and make your task
easier.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
Eliminate errors
Welcome into the next lesson called “How to

illuminate 90% of your errors”. Although it sounds
like an optimistic goal, this is totally possible. In a
while I will just show you exactly how you can do it.
The thing is that in this lesson I am going to share with
you my coaching experience. I have been teaching a lot
of different students and I saw a lot of mistakes they
were making and what the reason was for those
mistakes.
What I can tell you is that books and real life are often
very different. I think you know it yourself. The chess
tutorials show some intricate concepts, but when it
comes to an actual game – things are different. Let’s go
to the chess board and I will show you what I meant.
Let me show you another very typical mistake:

3. ArosemenaBethania - Chierici M (1922) [C41]
37th Olympiad w (13), 04.06.2006
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0–

0 0–0 7.h3 c6 8.a4 Qc7 9.Ba2 b6 10.Qe2 Bb7 11.Rd1
a6 12.Bg5 b5 13.a5 b4 14.Nb1 exd4 15.Nxd4 Rfe8
16.c3 Bf8 %08DA
In his last move, Black played Bishop to f8, attacking

White pawn on a4. How would you play here as White?
In an actual game White noticed attempting idea of
going Queen to c4, and by doing so, White is aiming at
the pawn on f7.
17.Qc4
Therefore, if Black continuous his intention to grab the

e4 pawn, White just goes on with Queen takes f7, later
White will put Queen on g8, which is a check-mate.
That is good idea for White for sure.
Let’s go back to the position, when White played Queen

to c4. So, White is attacking the f7 pawn, in case Black
tries to protect it with … Re7, White can go Nf5
threatening to grab that Rook with check and if the Rook
goes away, White can still capture that pawn on f7.
So, everything looks good for White, and what White

did in the game – he played 17.Qc4. You may wound
what is wrong with this. The problem here is that often,
when you see a really tempting idea that can bring you
to a nice victory, you really hope that it should work,
and |you
Home | Previous Next do not pay enough attention to opponent’s
defensive resources. Or, you just hope that your
opponent will fall into your trap. But both hopes are for
nothing. In chess you have to be realistic, you have to
assume the strongest replies of your opponent. You
can’t hope that your opponent will play stupid moves
and will help you to execute your plan. It will not
happen. What will happen in reality – is that your
opponent will definitely try to refute your ideas.
That is what exactly happened in the game.

[17.Nd2] 17...Ne5
Black not only protected the pawn on f7, but also

managed to attack White’s Queen. Here White realizes
that Qxb4 doesn’t work because of … c5 (attacking
Queen and Knight). Therefore White had to retreat back
to e2.
18.Qe2 c5 19.Nf3 Nxe4
After that White lost in a few moves.
20.Be3 Nxf3+ 21.gxf3 Ng5 22.Qc4 Nxf3+ 23.Kf1 Re4

24.Qd3 c4 25.Qe2 Rh4 26.Nd2 Qd7 27.Nxf3 Qxh3+
28.Ke1 Bxf3 29.Qc2 b3 30.Bxb3 cxb3 31.Qxb3 Qf1+
0–1
The idea of this example was about equal attention to

both parties. White lost just in few moves simply
because
Home | Previous | NextWhite was not realistic enough and he was
hoping for an idea that was too easy for Black to spot
and implement.
Here is another game,

2.Andreasen Rene - Storgaard M (1955) [D02]
22nd North Sea Cup (2), 14.07.2007
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 Nf6 4.e3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2

Be7 7.Be2 Qb6 8.Qb3 Qa5 9.0–0 0–0 10.Qc2 Qd8
11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Bd7 13.Bf3 Rc8 14.e4 Bb5
15.Rfd1 Qb6 16.Qb3
We can see here is a quite strong tension in the center.

Both players are attacking each other and White is
increasing the pressure, Black removes their Queen.
16... Qa6 %08DA
How would you play here as White? How do you think?

In the actual game, White played like this:
17.exd5
White overlooked the following reply of Black.
17... Ba4
Now Black Bishop attacks the Queen and the Rook,

which stands behind the Queen. As you can see White’s
way |ofNext
Home | Previous thinking was wrong here. At this point, once
Black played Queen to a6, White should have asked
himself: “What attacking move can my opponent play?”.
He should have asked himself: “What is the idea of the
move … Qa6? What is Black going to do next?”. At
very least, after White decided to capture Black’s pawn
in the center, before playing this move on the board,
White should have paused for a second and ask himself
a question: “After I will take the pawn, what
attacking move can Black play?”. You see, if White
would ask himself this question either after Black’s
move, or before playing their intended move, White
would certainly notice the move Ba4, bit because White
never followed that path and he was totally focused on
his own plans, he overlooked that move.
18.Be2
By the way, in the particular example it is not the end,

although White lost the game after that, but he didn’t
know that there was a very powerful blow for White
here.
White can push the pawn to d6 – sudden

combination and then,
[18.d6 Bxd6 (in case Black accepts the Queen-
sacrifice18...Bxb3 19.axb3 Qb5 20.dxe7 Rfe8 21.Nc4).
With his last move White is threatening to go Nd6,
attacking everything in the Black position, so suddenly
White has a very powerful attack. White has already
collected
Home | Previous | Next2 minor pieces for a Queen and they will get
more material. ]
However, it was a different story; it was just a tactical

opportunity, which White missed anyway. The main ide
of this story is that after your opponent plays his move,
you got to ask yourself: “Which attacking move can he
play next?”
18...b5 19.Qa3 Nxd5 20.b3 cxd4 21.Qb2 dxc3 22.Qc2

cxd2 23.Qxd2 f6 24.Bb2 Bb4 25.Qd3 Bc3 26.Bxc3
Nxc3 27.Re1 Rfd8 28.Qe3 Nxe2+ 29.Rxe2 e5 30.Rd2
Rxd2 31.Qxd2 Bxb3 0–1
Here is a game between two armature players, they are

rated about 2000
1.Boer Jan - Ilic An (2000) [A02]

ch-Euro IBCA (2), 15.08.2007
1.b3 d6 2.f4 Nf6 3.Bb2 Nc6 4.d4 Bf5 5.a3 e6 6.Nd2 e5

7.fxe5 dxe5 8.dxe5 Ng4 9.e4 Ne3 10.Qc1 Bg6 11.Ngf3
a5 12.Nc4 Nxf1 13.Rxf1 Bc5 14.Qf4 Qe7 15.Ne3 Bxe3
16.Qxe3 0–0 17.0–0–0 a4 18.Rfe1 axb3 19.Qxb3 Na5
20.Qc3 b5 21.Qb4 c5 22.Qxb5 Rfb8 23.Qd7 Qf8 24.e6
fxe6 25.Qxe6+ Bf7 26.Qd6 Nc4 27.Qxf8+ Kxf8
It is White’s move in the moment. Currently Black is

attacking White’s dark-squares Bishop on b2. And
White| Next
Home | Previous decided to move their Bishop from the attack and
at the same time to hit the Black Rook on b8.
28.Be5 Rxa3
Black replied by ignoring that threat of taking the Rook

and captured on a3.
29.Bxb8 Ra1# 0–1
If I ask you now, why it happened, how do you think?

Why While has lost the game so easily? It is not because
he is a total beginner, because he is not. Also, it is
obviously has nothing to do with the chess calculations
or visualization skills or tactical skills, or anything like
that. Move Ra1# is absolutely simple. So, why has
White missed it? It is not because the move was
difficult; it was just because White wasn’t thinking
about it at all. If we take a few moves back, you will see
that white plays Be5 in order to attack the Rook and
hoping to capture it. Therefore, when Black left the
Rook on b8 and did his move, White has gladly captured
the Rook, so White didn’t even think about some others
variations, or what Black can do. He just grabbed the
Rook and he was happy about that – it was his intention
and he has done that.
So, you see that it has nothing to do with the chess

skills. It is all about psychology.
Time| for
Home | Previous Nextan anecdote, I will give you a moment to read
it:
- I never think bad about others! I do not

think about others at all.
So what is the point of this? You see, we all are self-

centered; we think about ourselves all the time, about
our plans, our problems, out intentions, our emotions
and so on and so forth. We are self-centered, so we think
about us. That is normal; however, in chess, as well as in
the general life, it sometimes can bring you in a trouble,
because we do not pay equal attention to the other
people. Just you know black and white pieces, there are
2 equal armies that have equal say and you have to pay
equal attention to the plans of both sides: White and
Black. While for us it is so much natural to pay most of
the attention to the only plans of our army and we are
not equally paying out attention to the opponents plans.
But it is a serious mistake and we have to allocate
enough time to think about opponent’s plans. For doing
so, there is possible question that you need to remember
and most importantly to apply all the time. Here is the
question: What attacking moves can my opponent
play?
This question is very simple, what is difficult is to keep

asking yourself this question after every move.
However, if you develop this habit – you will reduce
90% of your errors for sure.
Here|isNext
Home | Previous one more example to illustrate the topic.
4. Dengler D - Carreras P (1935) [D03]
37th Olympiad w (10), 31.05.2006
1.d4 Nf6 2.c3 g6 3.Bg5 Bg7 4.Nd2 d5 5.e3 Nbd7

6.Ngf3 0–0 7.Be2 Re8 8.0–0 c5 9.a4 b6 10.Bb5 a6
11.Bc6 Ra7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Bxd5 e5 14.Qb3 Re7
15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Rxe5 17.e4 Rh5 18.f4 Be6
19.Bxe6 Qxd2 20.Bg4 Rh4 21.Rf2 Qe3 22.Qxb6 Rxg4
23.Qxf6 Rd7 24.Qe5 Rd2 25.Qb8+ Kg7 26.Raf1 Rxf2
27.Rxf2 Qe1+ 28.Rf1 Qe2 29.g3 Qe3+ 30.Kg2 Qe2+
31.Rf2 Qxe4+ 32.Kh3 h5 33.Qd6 g5 %08DA
Last move of Black was advancing his pawn to g5. How

would you reply as White? Well, you know that there
should be some trick here, don’t you. Anyway, in the
actual game White took a pawn:
34.fxg5
I can understand why - it looks really good. In case

Black grabs the pawn back, White will continue like in
the following variation:
[34...Rxg5 35.Qf6+]
So, it was very attempting for White to grab this pawn

on g5 and open the Rook on f2 and everything is so
cool. What is the problem here? The problem is that
Black can do this:
34. … Rh4+
35.gxh4 Qg4# 0–1
By the way, there is one interesting thing here, I am

pretty sure that if I set this position on the chessboard in
front of you, I am pretty sure that you would find Rh4+
quickly. However, in the real games, people often
overlook like that. That is not about the Tactical vision,
it is rather about psychology. When you see the position
like that, you know that White can take the pawn on g5,
and you see that everything looks so tempting for you,
you know that you can play Qf6 on the next move, start
attacking the opponent’s King, you are close to the
check-mate, and you hope that it will work out. You
want win the game and you start dreaming here, instead
of staying realistic. And keep calculating variations,
keep asking yourself: “What is the attacking move of my
opponent? What can he play? Why he plays g5? Was
there any idea behind it? ”. When you are stopping being
objective and realistic, instead perusing a certain idea,
which looks tempting to you, then there is a great chance
that you can overlook something and lose the game
because of that.
In this lesson we were talking about very common

psychological problems of the chess players that makes
players make terrible mistakes that costs them a lot of
games. If you admit that these mistakes may happen in
your |games
Home | Previous Next as well, you will start paying attention to
those aspects of the chess games, then for sure you will
be able to reduce Quantity of blunders and big mistakes
in your games down to, maybe, 10 % of what it is now.
Your results will be improved significantly.
So, what are the main things you need to keep in mind:
the first thing – always remember to ask yourself this
question: “What attacking moves can my opponent
play?”. If you keep asking yourself this question after
every move of your opponent, then you will never
overlook opponent’s good moves. In this way, you will
pay equal attention to your plans and to the plans of your
opponent. You will keep the situation under your full
control. The second piece of advice is to be realistic.
When you see the first tempting idea – don’t just hope
that it will work out, you need to calculate the
variations carefully and then you will find out,
whether this idea works or it doesn’t. While
calculating the variations, stay realistic, do not hope that
your opponent will play foolish moves and will let you
realize your idea. Assume the strongest play of your
opponent and check if your ideas still work out or not.
If you follow these pieces of advice and pay equal

attention to your and opponent’s ideas you will reduce
your mistakes tremendously and will improve your
results as much.
Previous | Next

DEFENDING CHAMPION
Your practical guide

So, we are approaching the end of the course

“Defensive champion”, where you have already
learned so many different ideas about the defense. This
time I would like to make a funny summary of the
most critical points of the whole course. These are
points of how to play the opening stage. Here, we will
talk about the practical way of thinking, so when you
play games, you would be able to find a proper defense
in the opening, so you will never get into the opening
trouble.
Why we talk about the opening so much? Because the

opening is the beginning of the game and if you don’t
play it well – you lose in the very beginning of the
game. Most of the modern players are the tricky guys –
they learn a lot of tricky opening lines and are ready to
put you under a good test with lots of traps that they
know, therefore you need to know how to handle that.
First of all, you have already learned a lot of different

approaches for playing opening stage properly and how
to deal with the center, different approaches for the
center you have studied in the first lessons; in one of
the following lessons you have studied how to deal with
the gambits.
One of the most important ideas that I want you to take

away is this: in opening you need to insure your
strong center and quick development – those are two
things that you shall reinsure and then you can be
confident that your position will be rock-solid and that
your opponent will not be able to apply any tactical
tricks.
Let’s start from the idea that you need to insure your
strong center. You have certainly heard about that many
times before, but this time I would like you to look at
this from a slightly different prospective. Consider the
center as a shield that hides your King.
<<Picture 15 – 1 >>
I move the pawns to the center just to illustrate my idea.

If you pay attention to the white central pawn d4 and e4
– they occupy 2 squares by selves and they are
controlling 4 joint squares. This is a sort of a shield, a
barrier on the way of opponent’s pieces, that is why it
would be extremely difficult for opponent’s pieces to
come through and start attacking your King.
When I say that you need to insure a strong center,

usually I imply to take the control upon d4 and e4
squares. Although, sometimes, for some reasons you
cannot put e and d pawns there, you may also use
joining pawns on c and f files. The idea would be the
same – to insure strong control over the central square.
What| Next
Home | Previous it means practically? It means that while playing
the opening, you need to try playing this e4 and d4
moves as much as possible. I will show how that idea
works in practice.
Daleczko Z - Maliszewski J (1942) [B34]

XV LaskerMem Open A (8), 08.06.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nxc6 bxc6

6.Qd4 Nf6 7.e5 Nd5 8.e6 f6 9.exd7+ Bxd7 10.Bc4 e5
11.Qd1 Be6 12.0–0 Qb6 13.Bb3
<<Picture 15 – 2>>
Black’s turn.
You may expect that Black would like to castle in king-

side. They want to put the Bishop on g7 and then castle
in king-side.
Home | Previous | Next In the game, Black refused to protect
those squares on the kingside, instead, he just
centralized his pieces. He played Bishop to c5.
13...Bc5 14.Bh6 Kf7
Luckily for Black, White played Bishop to h6 in order

to prevent Black from castling and Black calmly played
King to f7.You see that although Black’s king is
centralized, it is so well protected that even without
castling it feels absolutely safe. White can try to put
more pressure by Nc3.
3. Nc3 Rd8 (strengthening the central position)
Here, you can see that Black centralized position is so

powerful that is so difficult for White to do something.
There is also a little bit funny variation.
4.Qf3 Nxc3 5. Bxe6+ Kxe6 6. Qxc3

<<Picture 15 – 3>>
Black’s turn.
You can see that in the middle of the game the Black’s
King is in the center of the 6th rank, on e6, which is
usually so much dangerous in the middle-game for the
King. Think about that for a moment, how White can
attack Black’s centralized King. Shortly you will see
that there is no real way. White can make one check
and that is it. After that there is no continuation for
White’s attack. Moreover, it is Black’s turn now and if
he wants he can play Queen to b4 to trade the Queens
of just hide the King back and play Kf7. In any case,
pay attention to this powerful central shield, which
covers Black’s King.
Just see how strongly Black controls all the important

squares,
Home | Previous | Nextmaking it impossible for White to go forward
and attack the opponent’s King. At the same time, you
can imagine that without Black pawns, e5 and f6 –
Blacks position would be just hopeless and White will
put a checkmate in the next few moves. So, you see
how important it is to have that central pawn on e5.
Moreover, it is not only about the center. Let’s say,

Black now decides to hide his King back to the king-
side and plays Kf7. Think about this: how can White
bring his Rooks to attack Black King?
There is no easy way at all. Normally, if White needs to

bring his Rooks to the king-side, he would do this via
the 3rd rank and via the open d file. However, in this
position, since Black already controls the d file, White
will be unable to do so. You see that centralization
helps Black here.
Alternatively, White can try to transfer the Rooks via e

file, let’s say, Re1-e3-h3. However, this plan also fails,
because Black’s Bishop controls the e3 square
therefore, White Rooks will be unable to go via this
square. If White tries to go via e 4 square instead, Black
can play Rook to d4 and time and also take control over
the 4th rand as well.
As we can see there is just no way for White to bring

and that happens due to Black powerful central
position.
So, strong center is a shield for your King, for your

whole position, which protects your central lines and
the same time, prevents your opponent from
transferring pieces to the king-side or to the queen-side.
The second key Idea to insure your safety in the

opening is quick development. When I say “quick” I
mean that in the opening by every move you should try
to bring more pieces into play, you should to develop a
new piece with your every move. As we have said, you
will spend at last 2 moves to put the pawns in the
center.
Let’s look at one example:
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5
Here white already took control over the central

squares.
3. f3
<<Picture 15 – 4>>
Black’s turn.
What do you think about this move? That is a mistake!

Once you took control over the central square, all the
others moves should be dedicates to development. That
is why
White should have played Nc3 and then Nf3 and

continue developing pieces with his every move.
3. … dxe 4. fxe5
Black are sacrificing the pawn. What should you do

here? Same thing – to develop, so he should play Nf3
then Nc3. Instead they played a pawn move.
5. c3?| Next
Home | Previous Qh4!
<<Picture 15 – 5>>
White’s turn.
Suddenly, White is losing, because if White doesn’t

want to move the King he has to lay g3, then Black
takes on e5 and grabs the Rook on h1.
What is the lesson that White should learn from this

example? Shall White learn the opening theory better?
Definitely, it was not a real problem for White here,
because if you understand the basic principle, you can
play a line without any knowledge. You will understand
that you need to play Nf3, if you keep in mind the idea
that in the opening you need a strong center and quick
development. When I say “quick development”, I mean
to strive
Home | Previous to
| Next develop new pieces by your every move.
Now, we will go through various tricky openings lines

that your opponent can play. The main thing I would
like you to learn here is that you can find good moves
by yourself very easily, if you understand the defensive
principles explained in this course.
Let’s start with this:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf6 Nc6 3.d4exd 4.c3
<<Picture 15 – 6>>
Black’s turn.
Have you ever seen this opening line? Do you know the
opening theory here? No matter whether you know it or
not, |you
Home | Previous Next can understand how to play properly very
easily. First of all, you see that your opponent wants
you to take on c3, which will help him to develop the
Knight to c3 with the tempo. But we know that it is
dangerous to give your opponent advantage in the
development. We also know the idea of counterattack,
you shall not fall in your opponent’s plan, instead, you
shall realize your plan. What is Black’s plan here? - As
always, to have a strong center and quick development.
To have a strong center, you shall push your central
pawns forward, if possible you shall push them 2
squares forward. In this case, you definitely can do this
– you are pushing d5. By doing so, you occupy the
center and you enable easy development for all of your
pieces.
4. … d5 5.exd Qxd5 6.cxd
Now you just start developing every piece with our

every move
6. … Nf6 7.Nc3 Bb4 (to pin the Knight)
In the next moves you will castle and play Bishop to g4

and your position will be absolutely fine. So, without
any opening knowledge you can play this variation,
play nice moves and get a very good position.
Let’s have a look at another gambit line for White. This

time after d4 White will play Bishop to c4.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf6 Nc6 3.d4exd 4. Bc4
<<Picture 15 – 7>>
Black’s turn.
It is a very aggressive opening line for White. How

shall Black play here? The idea is still the same – you
need to push your central pawns forward, by central
pawns I mean e pawn and d pawn. The e pawn was
already pushed, so now it is time for d pawn. This will
help you to develop you pieces, which are currently
staying backward and it will help you to fight for the
center. Currently, he can’t play d5 right now, however,
it could be an option because White sacrificed the pawn
so we have an option to sacrifice it back.
If you| Next
Home | Previous want to prepare d5, you shall play Nf6, preparing
d5 advancement on the next move. By the way, what if
White plays e5? How you will react here? Remember,
one of the key sources of defense is the counterattack.
Here you can still play d5, which will be a
counterattack. Then, as you can see, all of your pieces
can be developed very quickly, your Bishop can go out,
your King can castle both sides. You will finish the
development quickly and you will be all right.
Now, let’s take a few moves back and maybe you think
that this variation with the counter attack is too difficult
to find in the practical game. If you think so, still you
can apply the general idea: you need to push the d
pawn, ideally 2 squares forward, or at least one square
forward.
4. … d6 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Be7
After that you just castle. Maybe White is slightly more

active, but the position is about to be equal. Again, you
see that without of any opening knowledge you can find
proper defensive moves without any problems.
Let’s have a look at Sicilian gambit, Morra gambit,

which we have already analyzed in one of the previous
lessons.
1. e4 e5 2.d4 exd 3.c3

<<Picture 15 – 8>>
Black’s turn.
Here we already know some good possibilities for

Black. For example, Black can play d3, preventing
White from quick development. Or, alternately, you can
still use the same strategy, push pawns forward, e pawn
and d pawn fight for the center. White wants to develop
his Knight after 3….. dxc. You can just push d5
3. … d5 exd
You can capture with the queen, but if possible, you

can try to capture the pawn with the Knight. It would be
even better, because in that way you will not waste any
time, if the opponent will try to take advantage of your
Queen. You can play Nf6 and then take this pawn with
Knight
Home | Previous | Nextand continue development Nc6, develop
Bishop, push e pawn forward, develop the other Bishop
and continue development. You can see that it is very
easy with your every move you tried to develop the
new piece. With every move you shall strive to develop
new piece and, of cause, you should reinsure that you
have good control over the center, and if possible you
should put the central pawns forward, so you will get to
control the center.
We are going through different opening variation just to

let you see that you can apply this general rule foe
absolutely any opening, you don’t need to memorize all
opening variations, because it is impossible anyway the
variations are very numerous. You will never
remember all the tricky opening lines, even the world
top champions, who were studying chess their entire
life’s, day in and day out. In every tournament, almost
every game they face the opening novelties.
Let’s go ahead with some last examples, this time it is

King’s gambit.
1. e4 e5 2.f4 exf4
<<Picture 15 – 9>>
White’s turn.
Very aggressive sharp opening line. If you face this

position and you don’t know what you play (I hope,
you have already got the pattern) you have to push
central pawns quickly and then quickly develop your
pieces. Here you can push d5 and then you start
developing your pieces. By the way, you can see that
when your opponent offers a gambit you can either
decline the gambit, if you don’t want to give your
opponent advantage in development, you can always
give this pawn back. Like in this example, Black firstly
accepted the pawn on d4 but after he pushed d5 to give
the pawn back and insure his quick development. So,
now we can play Knight to f6 and the only way to
protect the pawn on d5 is to play c4.
3. Nf3 d5 4.exd Nf6 5.c4
But this is the pawn, which Black took previously on

f4, so materially, it is equal. First they captured the
pawn and then gave it back. But now, after c6, you see
that Black will have a very quick development and
White will have no chance for a tricky opening attack.
As we have learned in the opening there are 2 main

ideas that you need to keep in mind. You want to get
the strong center and develop your pieces quickly.
To get strong center you need to control the central

squares either with your pawns or with your pieces or
anyhow you need to control them. Ideally speaking,
you need to push forward your 2 central pawns, if
possible 2 squares forward, if impossible at least 1
square forward.
You also need to insure quick development, meaning,

you shall strive to develop a new piece by any move in
the opening.
Following this 2 simple pieces of advice and will not

distract for anything else, in that case, your activity will
always be at least equal, or even higher than opponent’s
activity. Since chess is a logical game, it is impossible
for your opponent to start a successful attack, if your
activity is, at least, equal with the one of your
opponent.
Home | Previous | Next Therefore, follow this pieces of advice, as
well of all other pieces of advice in this course, you will
be a champion including defending positions and
winning games afterwards.
Thank you for the attention and good luck in your

games!
Previous | Next


Defensa de Campeon-Igor Smirnov

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Defensa de Campeon-Igor Smirnov

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First, I would like to thank all those students who

I would like to thank Fide Master Marko Makaj for

I would like to thank Aggelos Kesaris for his great

Hariharan and Soundaramoorthy made sure that

I appreciate Alexandr Zozulia’s efforts in polishing

On top of that, let me thank the whole Remote

Finally, all of my work is only possible due to the

All Rights Reserved. Copyright ©. 2009-2016 Remote

Hi, my name is Marko Makaj and I amfrom Croatia. I’ve been

Let’s start with very instructive phrase: “Attack wins the

I can tell you that it’s true: defence is extremely important in

There is a quote from an anonymous guy which says: “A bad

Let’s imagine one situation: if you manage to win 4 games, in 7

So, when you need to defend your position? For better

If position is equal then there is no need for defence, because

You need to understand that everything start in the opening

If black successfully defend in the opening than they will come

This course is mainly addressed to1500 to 2000 ELO players.

It’s important also to have in mind that after successful defence

1. Attack wins the game, however defence wins

If you would like to win a friendly 10-game mini match with

2. Positions with equal material are not necessarily equal.

3. Defence starts from the opening.

All Rights Reserved. Copyright ©. 2009-2016 Remote Chess

As we have discussed in the introductory video, defense

We have all this knowledge but we cannot change the

Fist idea – direct approach

White has occupied the d4 square; he attacks the e5 and c5

This is the direct approach. This is the most logical way to

It is not the best direct approach to capture of c4 because

This is the very powerful direct approach. The pawn from

With the move e6 we would like only to defend, this is not

This is the most common move for White because White

Black continues fighting for the center and overprotects the

This is another easy move to understand. White pins the

From the first glance it seems that the d5 pawn is hanging.

5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nxd5

It seems that the Knight on f6 is pinned but nevertheless

6…Nxd5 7.Bxd8 Bb4+

This beautiful move wins the game, because White’s King

8.Qd2 Bxd2+ 9.Kxd2 Kxd8]

White has developed two minor pieces and it is necessary to

The position is about equal. The only disadvantage in

All Rights Reserved. Copyright ©. 2009-2016 Remote Chess

In this example we will see the undirected approach. In

In the first defensive method – the direct defense, Black

White controls the d5 square and he plans to play

Black is very flexible and he tries to control the d5

Now it is obvious that White would like to put their

With the last move Black took the control of the e4

White doesn’t have anything better to continue the

As we show in the previous lesson, the Bishop from c8

White and Black needs to develop his pieces, so these

White needs to plays this move because the white

Black manages to castle and you can see that White

This is a younger idea. People use this in our days

If you try direct and indirect approach, there everything

You can let your opponent to push forward his pieces

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 2...g6

This approach has a significant difference compared to

Black also would like to defend the pawns on d5 and

4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4