From Amateur to Master

IM Valeri Lilov

Question 1.

Black is tied to defending his rook

on d7.

What should White do?

Question 2.

White has a queen for 2 minor

pieces but Black has great
dynamism.

How should Black continue here?

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Question 3.

A position ripe for tactics! What is

Black’s strongest move?

Question 4.

Black is a rook up so White needs

to come up with something fast.

Any suggestions?

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Question 5.

Wilhelm Steinitz won one of the

most famous games of all time
here.

But what did he, as White, play

now?

Question 6.

White has given up 3 pawns for

this lead in development.

How should he continue?

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Question 7.

Black has opened up White’s king

position. Can you find a way to get
at the king?

Question 8.

White has 3 pieces attacked. What

should he do?

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Question 9.

Material is level but Black’s lead in

development gives him the
advantage.

How should Black continue?

Question 10.

Black’s king is exposed but White’s

bishop is attacked.

What is the best move for White?

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Question 11.

Black’s last move, …Rh7, was a

mistake. Why?

Question 12.

Black is winning but can you find

Alekhine’s superb idea to
maximize the advantage?

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Question 13.

24…f6 was a mistake. What is the

refutation?

Question 14.

Only 1 move wins for White! Can

you find it?

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Question 15.

How did Alekhine, playing White,

keep his initiative going?

Question 16.

Black has just captured a knight

on h5.

What did White play?

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Question 17.

Precision required! How can Black

win with this attack?

Question 18.

Black looks to have everything

defended – but does he?

White to play.

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Question 19.

Can you find a winning tactic for

White?

Question 20.

How did the great Bobby Fischer,

playing White, make progress with
his attack?

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 Solutions

1 24.Re4! wins material as Rc4+ forces Black’s king away.

2 18…Kd7! protects the bishop, secures the king and prepares to develop Bf8-h6,
with tempo.

3 13…Rxd5!! is slightly stronger than …Nxd5 as it attacks the queen, a more forcing
move. The rook cannot be taken as 14.cxd5 Qxe2 is mate. And if the queen moves,
then 14…Bxc3+.

4 26.Rxe7+! Kxe7 27.Bg5+ Kd6 28.Qd1+ Kc7 29.Bf4+ Kb6 30.Qd6+ Ka7 31.Qe7+ Rc7
32.Be3+! Kb8 33.Qd8+ Rc8 34.Qb6#.

5 Steinitz played 20.Qg4! threatening g7 and, after 20…g6, 21.Ng5+! creates more
problems for Black.

6 13.Nxf7!! stops Black from castling …Kxf7 14.Qh5+ g6 15.Bxg6+! hxg6 16.Qxh8 Bf5
17.Rfe1! and Black is trapped in a mating net.

7 21…Nef3+! 22.gxf3 Qg5+ 23.Kxh2 (23.Qg2 Qxc1+) Rxe2+ and Black is winning.

8 22.Rxe7+!! is winning. If the queen captures then 23.Rxc8+ and if 22…Kxe7

23.Re1+ Kd8 24.Ne6+ Ke7 25.Nc5+ wins the queen.

9 Black takes advantage of the lack of development on White’s kingside with

20…Bxf2+! 21.Kxf2 Ng4+ 22.Ke2 Qxg3 and the queen comes into the attack. If
22.Kg2 Bg7+. This bishop will also join the attack, making life very difficult for
White.

10 19.Qg7!! Well done if you found it! White is setting up 20.f4+ and 21.Qh6# Black
tried 19…Re4 but Smyslov was undeterred: 20.f4+! Rf4 21.Rxf4 Kxf4 22.Rf1+ Ke3
23.Qe5+ Kd2 24.Bc4!! and Black is getting mated.

11 Because of 36.Rxg7! Rxg7 37.Qxh5+ Kd8 38.Qh8+ mating.

12 A few moves keep the advantage but best is Alekhine’s stunning 28…Nf4!! 29.Rxg6
Bg2+! 30.Rxg2 fxg2+ 31.Kg1 Ne2+ 32.Kxg2 Nxd4. Black is ahead by a pawn and an
exchange, plus has a protected passed pawn.

13 25.Nf5+ Kh8 26.Qxg6! was enough to make Lasker resign. If 26…hxg5 27.Rh3+
Nh6 28.Rxh6#

14 27.Qh8! combines threats of winning the d4 pawn and mating on either c8 or d8.
Black cannot prevent them all.

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15 26.Nde6!! threatens mate with …Kh8 the only decent defense. Then 27.Rd8+ Ng8
28.Nxc7 followed by 29.Nxf7 gives White a winning position.

16 15.Bxh7+! Kxh7 16.Qxh5+ Kg8 17.Bxg8! this double bishop sacrifice was made
famous by this game. Play continues 17…Kxg8 18.Qg4+ Kh8 19.Rf3! and Black
must give up a lot of material to prevent mate.

17 22…Rfe8!! stops the White king from crossing the e-file while the other rook keeps
pressure on the d-file with potential to join in the attack via the 5th or 6th rank.

18 24.Nxh7! Nxh7 25.Rh3! wins back the knight and keeps the attack going.

19 29.Bxh7+! Qxh7 30.f7+! Kf8 31.Qxh7 wins the queen as 30…Qxf7 31.Qh8#

20 29.Nxh7! Nxh7 30.hxg6 fxg6 31.Bxg6 exposes the king. The game continued
31…Ng5 32.Nh5! Nf3+ 33.Kg2 Nh4+ 34.Kg3 Nxg6 35.Nf6+! Kf7 36.Qh7+ 1-0.

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