How to Play Black Against 1.

e4
The 20 Training Questions
GM Susan Polgar

Question 1.

White to play.

What is the most interesting

move for White in this position?

Question 2.

White to play.

Does the typical sacrifice Bxh7+

work here?

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Question 3.

Black to play.

White has pressure against the

Knight on f6.

What should Black do?

Question 4.

What is the idea behind Black’s

…Qb6?

2
Question 5.

Black to play.

Should Black capture on d4?

Question 6.

Black to play.

Can Black take the pawn on d4?

3
Question 7.

Black to play.

What is the best plan for Black?

Question 8.

Black to play.

Black has a very good positional

move here.

Can you find it?

4
Question 9.

Black to play.

Can you find a winning

combination for Black?

Question 10.

Black to play.

White just played c4.

How should Black continue?

5
Question 11.

White to play.

Black just played …f6. What

should White do?

Question 12.

White to play.

How does White win from here?

6
Question 13.

Black to play.

White has sacrificed the Bishop

with h4.

What should Black’s reply be?

Question 14.

Black to play.

Is it good to defend the d4 pawn

with e5?

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Question 15.

White to play.

White has sacrificed a pawn for

an attack.

What is the follow-up?

Question 16.

Black to play.

Black has a strong attack against

the White King.

How should he continue?

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Question 17.

White to play.

Black is attacking the pawn on h2

but White has an interesting
Idea.

What is it?

Question 18.

White to play.

White has a strong continuation

here.

Can you find it?

9
Question 19.

Black to play.

What should Black’s plan be?

Question 20.

Black to play.

White has dangerous threats

against the Black King.

How can Black save himself?

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 The Solutions

1 5.c4, breaking the symmetry.

2 No, Black has an easy defense with 1.Bxh7+? Kxh7 2.Ng5+ Kg8 3.Qh5 Bf5!

3 Black can play 1…g5! without fear of sacrifices. After 2.Bg3 Bxg3 3.Qxg3 Qd6,
Black is ok.

4 To trade light-squared Bishops with …Bd7 followed by …Bb5.

5 No, 1…Nxd4? 2.Nxd4 Qxd4? 3.Bb5 + and the Queen is lost.

6 It still cannot be taken as 1 ... Nxd4 2.Be3! Bc5 3.b4!! (the key) Qxb4 4.Rb1 Qc3
5.Nxd4 Bxd4 6.Rc1 Qb4 7.Rxc8 Bxc8 8.Bxd4 and now if Qxd4? 9.Bb5 wins the
Queen.

7 The best plan is 1…Na5! 2.b3 Bb5! exchanging the bad Bishop.

8 The advance 1…h5! It’s not possible to play 2.h3 hxg4 as the Rook on h1 is
hanging. If 2.g5 Ne7! followed by Nf5 with a very good position for Black.

9 With 19…Nxb4! 20.axb4 Qxb4+ 21.Kf1 Rxc5 Black wins 2 pawns.

10 The counter-attacking 1…e5! and, after 2.Nc2 Bxd2+ 3.Qxd2 Nf6 4.Qxd8 Rxd8
5.Bxe5 Re8 6.f4 Nc6 Black obtains compensation.

11 White brings his Queen into the attack with 1.Qh5 g6 2.Bxg6! hxg6 3.Qxg6+
Kh8 4.Qh5+ Kg8 5.Qf7+ Kh8 and we’re onto the next question.

12 With the quiet 1.0-0! White involves the Rook in the attack, after 1…fxe5
2.Qh5+ Kg8 3.fxe5, White is winning.

13 The intermediate move 1…e4! 2.Bxe4 hxg5 and now if 3.hxg5 Nxe4 4.Qxe4 Re8
wins the Queen. If 3.0-0-0 then g4 closing the h-file.

14 No, it’s better to let the pawn go as 1...e5 2.Re1 Nc6 3.Bf4! Nd7 4.Nbxd4 gives
White a clear advantage.

15 The sacrifice 1.Nxg7! and now if 1…Kxg7 2.Qd4 with the threat Bh6 and White
is winning. Better is 1…Rd8 2.Qf3 Kxg7 3.Bh6+! Kg6! 4.c3 Nh5 5.Bc1 with an
unclear position. White has compensation.

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16 1…f4! opening lines, 2.Bf2 (if 2.Bxf4 Bh3 with a strong attack) Rh2+! 3.Kxh2
Qxf2+ 4.Kh1 Nh5 and mate soon.

17 White sacrifices a pawn with 1.Nf5! Bxh2+ 2.Kh1 with compensation.

18 Sacrifice the Queen with 1.Qxf6! and if gxf6 2.Bh6 Kg8 3.Re8 mate! Better is
1…h6 2.Qd4 Bd6 3.Bc4 and White is better.

19 Play the pawn break 1…c5! with the idea …Bc6.

20 With 1…Rxg2+! 2.Kxg2 Qg4+ 3.Kh1 Qf3+ 4.Kg1 Qg4+ and draw by perpetual
check.

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