Training Tasks - Days 1-32

by thechessworld
Day 1: Training Tasks
Attacking the King in the Centre Part 1
1 2
White to play White to play
3 4
by thechessworld
1 1.Nxf6! gxf6 [1...Bxf6 2.Qg6+ Kf8 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.Re6!+– is crushing.] 2.Qg6+ Kf8
1)
3.Bc1! [3.Rxe7! is also possible. 3...Qxe7 4.Bxf6 Qh7 5.Bxh8 Qxg6 (5...Qxh8
6.Re1! Ne7 7.Qd6 Qg7 8.Qb8++– picks up the Rook on a7.) 6.hxg6+–] 3...d5
[3...Qe8 4.Bxh6+ Rxh6 5.Qxh6+ Kf7 6.Qh7+ Kf8 7.h6 Qf7 8.Qf5 Nd6 (8...Nb6
9.Rd4+–) 9.Qf4+– Black's Rook is completely out of play while his King suffers.
White can capture on e7 or d6 next.] See 2).
2 4.Rd4! [White includes another piece in the attack. The pawn on h6 won't run
2)
away. This is the strongest continuation, although other moves win. [4.Bxh6+ Rxh6
5.Qxh6+ Kg8 6.Re6+- wins as well.] 4...Nd6 5.Rg4! [5.Bxh6+ Rxh6 6.Qxh6+ Ke8
(6...Kg8 7.Rg4++– is the big difference compared to the previous note: the Rook
joins the attack with decisive effect.) 7.Qxf6+– is also winning at this point.] 5...Nf7
6.Bxh6+! Ke8 7.Bg7+– [1 - 0, Kasparov - Andersson, Tilburg 1981. A good
example of the "attacking ratio" at work!]
3 1.Bxe4! [1.Be2!?± is also very strong, but less incisive.] 1...dxe4 2.Nxe4 [White
3)
tears open lines towards the Black King and Black's uncoordinated forces can't deal
with the resulting attack.] 2...Rg8 [2...Qxa2!? 3.Nxf6! Nxf6 4.Rxf6 Qa1+ 5.Kd2
Qa5+ 6.c3 Qa2 7.Qg5! (7.Kc2!+– is also good enough.) 7...Qxb2+ 8.Ke3 Qxc3+
9.Nd3 Kc7 10.Qe5+ Kd8 (10...Kb6 11.Rb1+ Ka6 12.Qb5# is a pleasing finish.)
11.Rf7+– is crushing, as White threatens both mate and the Rook on h8.] 3.Qa3!
[The Queen supports Ne4–d6 and eyes up a potential check on a5.] 3...Qg7 [3...c5
4.Nd6 Qg7 5.dxc5 Black won't survive for long. Capturing on h6 runs into a Knight
fork on f7 and White is threatening a nasty check on a5 to boot. For example, 5...Kc7
6.Qa5+! b6 7.Ne8+ Kd8 (7...Kb7 8.c6+!+– with mate to follow shortly.) 8.Qd2! Qxh6
9.c6!+– finishes Black off very nicely.] 4.Nd6 Nb6. See 4)
4 5.Ne8! [Other moves win, but this is the strongest.] [5.Re8+ Kc7 6.Ne4+– is
4)
also devastating.] 5...Qf7 [5...Nc4 doesn't help: 6.Qc5 Qf7 7.Nd6! Nxd6 8.Qxd6+
Bd7 9.Rxf6 Qg7 10.Rxf8+ Rxf8 11.Ne6++– is murderous.] 6.Qd6+! Qd7 [6...Bd7
7.Qc7#] 7.Qxf6+ [with mate next move. 1 - 0, Alekhine - Fahrni, Mannheim
1914. One can only attack a King in the centre by opening up the central files!]
by thechessworld
Attacking the King in the Centre Part II
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Kasparov,Garry (2675) - Gheorghiu,Florin (2550)

(1)
Interzonal–12c Moscow (12), 22.09.1982
14.d5! for the pawn White involves both bishops, rook, and their queen in the
attack. Black king is weak, their c6-bishop and a knight aren't well-placed. And a
black queen can be attacked by a white bishop. 14...exd5 15.exd5 Bxd5 16.Bb5
double pin 16...a6 [16...Bc6 17.Bf4 Qb7 18.Bxc6 Qxc6 19.Re1± Kf8 20.Rad1
Re8 21.Qf5 Nf6 22.Ne5 Qc8 23.Nd7+! Nxd7 24.Qxd7 Qxd7 25.Rxd7 g5
26.Rdxe7! Rxe7 27.Bd6+-; 16...Be6 17.Qe4 Rd8 18.Bf4 Qc8 19.Ne5! bringing
the last piece to the attack. Material losses are unavoidable.] 17.Bf4! [17.Bxd7+
Qxd7 18.c4 Be4!] 17...Qxf4 [17...Qb7 18.Bxd7+ Qxd7 19.c4 Qg4 20.Rxd5 Qxf4
21.Re1 Ra7 22.Ne5 Rc7 23.Ng6 fxg6 24.Qxg6+ Qf7 25.Rd8+!+-] 18.Bxd7+
Kxd7 19.Rxd5+ Kc7 [19...Kc8 /\ Ra8-a7-c7 20.Rf5 Qc4 21.Re1 Ra7 22.Re4 Qb5
23.Rxf7 with a decisive attack] 20.Re1! Bd6 [20...Rhe8 21.Rde5 Qf6 22.Qe4+-;
20...Bf6 21.Re4+-] 21.Rf5 Qc4 22.Re4! [22.Nd2? Rhe8!] 22...Qb5 23.Rxf7+ Kb8
24.Re6 Rd8 25.c4 Qc6 [25...Qa5 26.Qe4 Ra7 27.Rxd6!+-] 26.Ne5 Qc8 27.Qb1!
1–0 White wins. 1–0
2 Keres,Paul - Alexander,Conel Hugh O'Donel

(2)
Kent County CA-30 Premier Margate (3), 02.04.1937
8.Nb5! This knight attacks a complex of weaknesses: d6 & c7. Moreover, now
the bishop on b4 is useless and can be trapped with pawns. 8...cxd4 9.Bf4 Na6
[9...0–0 10.Nc7 Nc6 11.Nxa8 Qxa8 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Bxb7 Nxe2+ 14.Qxe2 Qxb7
15.Rad1 White will realize extra exchange] 10.Bd6 during the attack it's quite
important to attack enemy weaknesses. Now Black can't castle. 10...Qxc4
[10...Bc5 11.e3! dxe3 12.Bxc5 Qxc5 13.Nd6+ Ke7 14.Nxb7 with extra piece]
11.Qa4! All black pieces are hanging: the queen, the knight on a6, and both
bishops. White is also threatening with forks on d6 and c7. 11...Bc6 12.Nfxd4
Bxg2 13.Qxa6 [13.Rfc1] 13...Bxf1 14.Rxf1 Qxd4 15.Nxd4 Bxd6 16.Nb5 Ke7
17.Rd1 1–0 White wins. 1–0
3 Tal,Mihail - Zaitsev,Alexander N
(3)
URS-ch37 Final Moscow (17), 01.10.1969
by thechessworld
Black has a weakness on d5, however, it's more important that they didn't castle.
White opens the position not allowing Black to hide their king. Each move White
plays contains a threat. 11.c4! [11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.b3 Ne7 13.c4 0–0 and Black
almost equalizes] 11...Nf6 12.Bg5 Ne4 [12...dxc4 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Rc1 Black
gets an unpleasant middlegame and endgame because of doubled pawns.]
13.cxd5 Nxd4? [13...Nxg5 14.dxc6 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 0–0 and hereafter 16.Rc1
White has a strong attack] 14.Qxd4 Nxg5 15.Qxg7 Black king is so weak, that
extra bishop doesn't help 15...Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Rf8 17.Rac1 is another typical
blow. Instead of attacking the king, White attacks the black queen joining more
forces into the attack. 17...Bxh2+ 18.Kh1 Qd6 19.g3 Bxg3 20.fxg3 White won
the bishop back while the black king is hopeless. 20...Bf5 21.Rfe1+ 1–0 White
wins. 1–0
4 Keres,Paul - Kotov,Alexander
(4)
Candidates Tournament Budapest (5), 18.04.1950
10.Nxe6! Taking advantage of better development. White is ready to sacrifice to

open the black king's position [10.Be2 Qc7] 10...Qxe6 [10...Nxh5 11.Qd5! Nb6
(11...Qxd5? 12.Nc7#) 12.Qxc4 Nxc4 13.Nc7++-] 11.Nd5! Kd8 [11...Nxd5 12.exd5
Qf5 13.Qe1+! (13.Re1+ Ne5 14.f4 h6 15.g4 Qh7 (15...Qd7 16.fxe5 hxg5 17.e6+-)
16.Bh4 g6 17.fxe5 gxh5 18.Qe2! Kd7 (18...Bxg4 19.Qc4! Rc8 20.exd6+ Kd7
21.Qxc8+! Kxc8 22.Re8+ Kd7 23.Rd8#) 19.e6+ fxe6 20.dxe6+± /\e6-e7) 13...Ne5
(13...Qe5 14.f4+-) 14.f4 h6 (14...Be7 15.fxe5 Qxg5 16.exd6; 14...g6 15.fxe5
Qxg5 16.exd6++-) 15.fxe5 Qxg5 16.exd6++-] 12.Bg4 Qe5 Black secured their
king, but their position consists of chronic weaknesses: a lag of development, the
weak pawn on d6, and weak light squares. Now White attacked Black queen.
[12...Qe8 13.Qd2! /\Bxd7; Qc3] 13.f4 Qxe4 [13...Qxb2 14.Rb1 Qa3 15.Bxd7
Bxd7 (15...Kxd7 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Nb6++-) 16.Nxf6+-] 14.Bxd7 Bxd7 [14...Kxd7
15.Bxf6 Kc6 16.c4 gxf6 17.Qa4++-] 15.Nxf6 gxf6 [15...Qg6 16.Qd4+-; 15...Qc6
16.Nd5+ f6 17.Nxf6+-] 16.Bxf6+ Kc7 17.Bxh8 The attack ended with the extra
exchange. However, the Black king is still weak and whit may continue the
attack. 17...Bc6 18.Qd2 Bh6 19.Rae1 Qg6 20.Re7+ Kd8 21.Rfe1 a5 [21...Bxf4
22.Qa5++- (22.Qxf4? Qxg2#) ] 22.Bd4 Ra6 23.Qf2 Bf8 [23...Bxf4 24.Bb6+ Kc8
25.Rc7+ Kb8 26.Rxc6 bxc6 27.Re8+ Kb7 28.Re7++- Ka8 (28...Kb8 29.Bc7+ Kc8
30.Qxf4) 29.Bd4!] 24.Bb6+ Kc8 1–0 White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
Attacking the King in the Centre Part III
1 2
3 4
White to play Black to play
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Tal,Mihail - Uhlmann,Wolfgang
(1)
Alekhine Memorial–02 Moscow (6), 30.11.1971
Black lags in development but gained a pawn. Active actions are required from White. 12.Nf5!!
A threat of a check on d6 is quite unpleasant. That's why Black has to capture the knight.
12...exf5 [12...Qc5 13.Nd6+ Kf8 14.Be3 Qe5 15.Rb1 Protecting all pieces, White starts
collecting material. The black king is still under attack.] 13.Re1+ Be6 14.Qd6 a6 [14...Nf6
15.Rad1 a6 (15...h6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Rxe6+! fxe6 18.Qxe6+ Kf8 19.Rd7 Qa1+ 20.Bf1+)
16.Rxe6+ fxe6 17.Qxe6+ Kf8 18.Bc4 to avoid a checkmate on f7, Black has to sacrifice the
queen. 18...Qxc4 19.Qxc4] 15.Bd2! [15.Ba4?! b5 16.Bd2 Qc4 17.Bb3 Rd8! 18.Qc7 Rd7= and
White has to repeat the moves.] 15...Qxc2 16.Bb4! [16.Rac1? Qxc1! 17.Rxc1 axb5 18.Rxc6
Rd8!–+ The attack is over, and Black has a material advantage.] 16...axb5 17.Qf8+ Kd7
18.Red1+! Black has a material advantage, and White has to play properly. [18.Rad1+ Kc7
19.Qxa8 Nf6 20.Bd6+ Kb6 21.Qxh8 Ne4 22.Bg3±] 18...Kc7 19.Qxa8 1–0 White wins.[Qa4
19.Bd6+ Kb6 Qf8 Qh4 20.Bc5+ Kc7 21.Rab1 b4 22.Bd6+ Kb6 23.Bxb4 Nge7 24.Bxe7+ Ka6
25.Qxh8+-; Nf6 Qxh8
Ne4 19.Be1+- Tal] 1–0
2 Fischer,Robert James - Dely,Peter

(2)
Skopje Solidarnost–01 Skopje (4), 08.1967
13.f5 again Black king is uncastled and White opens files. 13...Qb4 [13...exf5 14.Ba4+ b5
15.Qe5+ Be7 16.Bb3 Qd8 (16...Kf8 17.Rxf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Bf6 19.Qd7 Be7 20.Qd5 with a quick
checkmate.) 17.Rad1 Bd7 18.Rxf5 0–0 19.Rxd7 Qxd7 20.Bd4 Bf6 21.Rxf6 Black has to
sacrifice the queen to avoid checkmate.] 14.fxe6 Bxe6 15.Bxe6 fxe6 It seems that Black
defended their position, and White would have to exchange queens, but 16.Rxf8+! The pieces
left are enough to succeed in the attack. 16...Qxf8 17.Qa4+ 1–0 White wins.[b5 17.Qxe4 Rd8
18.Qc6+ Rd7 19.Rd1 Qe7 20.Bb6 and Black lose their rook] 1–0
3 Tolush,Alexander V - Alatortsev,Vladimir
(3)
White finished their development, but the Black king is still in the center. If only it was castled,
Black's position would be fine. 12.d5! when it comes to the attack on the king, nobody counts
pawns. 12...Nxd5 [12...cxd5 an unpleasant attack from a side 13.Nb5 Be5 14.Qa3 preventing
castling 14...Nc6 15.Rhe1 0–0–0 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.Ned4 Ne4 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Qa6+ Kd7
20.Qb7+ Ke8 21.Nc7+ Kf8 22.Qb4+ c5 23.Qxc5+ Nxc5 24.Rxe5 Black avoided a checkmate,
but they have no chances in the endgame.] 13.Nxd5 cxd5 opening central files, White finds
other objects for the attack. 14.Qg3 Bxf4+ 15.Nxf4 Black king is left alone against all White's
army. 15...Qh6 16.Rhe1+ Kf8 17.Qa3+ 1–0 White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
4 Tatai,Stefano (2480) - Karpov,Anatoly (2690)

(4)
Las Palmas–06 Las Palmas (13), 1977
After a pawn sacrifice, Black is ahead in development. They should open the white
king's position. 23...Qd3!! [23...bxa3 24.Rxa3 Qb4+ 25.Qd2 Qxd2+ 26.Kxd2 Rac8 with a
positional attack in the endgame] 24.exd3 exd3+ 25.Kd2 it seems that Black just exchanged
queens. 25...Re2+! White king enters the center and white pieces are uncoordinated and can't
help him. 26.Kxd3 Rd8+ 27.Kc4 Rxc2+ 28.Kxb4 By first glance, the white king is safe, but all
weaknesses are covered with the white knight on d1. And now this knight becomes the object
of the attack. 28...Rcd2 [28...Rd3 29.Ka5 Rc5+ 30.Kb6 Bd4 and White has to sacrifice a rook.
31.b4 Rc2+ 32.Kxb7 Bxa1] 29.f3 Bf8+ 30.Ka5 Bd7 Black doesn't take the bishop on g2 but
completes a mating net. 0–1
by thechessworld
Attacking the Castled King Part I
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Kaufmann,Arthur - Reti,Richard
(1)
Match Kaufmann-Reti +4–1=1 Vienna (1), 07.02.1915
All black pieces went to the queenside leaving the king alone. And White instead focused on
the kingside. 17.Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.Qh4+ Kg8 [18...Kg6 19.Qg5+ Kh7 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.Ng5]
19.Ng5 1–0 White wins.[Rfc8 19.Qh7+ Kf8 Rxe6
fxe6 Qh8+ Ke7 Qxg7+ Ke8 Qg8+ Ke7 Qf7#] 1–0
2 Richter,Kurt Paul - Darga,Klaus

(2)
Berlin-ch Berlin (14), 1950
White is ready for the sacrifice on h7. The only problem is that the black bishop controls the
g5-square. But White has a reserved resource. 12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.h4 It's
important that the rook stays on h1. It joins the attack in case of the exchange on g5. 14...Re8
15.Ng5 Bxg5+ 16.hxg5 Kf8 now this pawn plays a role of a ram that destroys the black king's
pawn cover. 17.g6 fxg6 18.Qxg6 Bd7 [18...Ke7 19.Nxd5+ Kd8 (19...exd5 20.Qxg7+ Kd8
21.Qf6+ Re7 22.Rh8+ Kd7 23.Qd6#) 20.Qg5+ Kd7 21.Nf6+ Kc7 22.Nxe8+] 19.Rh7 a
checkmate on g7 or h8 is unavoidable. 1–0
3 Capablanca,Jose Raul - Ribera Arnal,Angel

(3)
Capablanca sim Barcelona, 14.12.1935
A sacrifice on h7 in a more complicated way. The knight on f6 defends the h7-square. And the
g5-square is occupied already without its own bishop. 12.d5! Nxd5 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 Now it
seems that a sacrifice on h7 doesn't work, because the black knight retreats to f6. 14.Bxh7+
Kxh7 15.Ng5+ Kg8 What then? 16.Rxd7! Qxd7 17.Qh5 White cleared the way to attack the
enemy king at the cost of a rook. But the game is not over. 17...Rd8 18.Qxf7+ Kh8 19.h4?! an
escape square that allows our knight on g3 to join the attack [19.Re1 Qe8 (19...Ng8 20.Nh5
Nf6 21.Nf4 Qxf7 22.Nxf7+ Kg8 23.Nxd8) 20.Nh5 Qxf7 21.Nxf7+ Kg8 22.Nxd8] 19...Nf5?
[19...Qe8 20.Nh5 Qxf7 21.Nxf7+ Kg8 22.Nxd8 Bd7 23.Nb7 Nf5 White knight is trapped and
Black restores material balance.] 20.Nh5 Qe8 21.Nf6 And this is a mating net. [] Qxf7
Nxf7# 21...gxf6 22.Qh7# 1–0 White wins. 1–0
4 Schlechter,Carl - Wolf,Heinrich
(4)
Ostend Masters Ostend (19), 08.07.1905
Before a bishop sacrifice, White should calculate a king move to g6 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.Ng5+
Kg6 21.Qg4 f5 22.exf6 gxf6 [22...Nf5 23.fxg7 Kxg7 24.Re1 Rf6 25.Ne6+ Kf7 26.Qh5+ Ke7
(26...Kg8 27.Ng5 Nh6 28.Re8+) 27.Ng7+ Kd7 28.Nxf5+-] 23.Ne6+ Kf7 This is where White
may sacrifice the knight.
by thechessworld
Queen and rook are enough to checkmate. 24.Qg7+ Kxe6 25.Re1+ Kf5 26.Qh7+ [26.g4+ Kf4
27.Qh6+ Kxg4 28.h3+ Kf5 29.Qh5+ Kf4 30.Qg4#] 26...Kg5 27.Rxe7 [27.h4+ Kg4 28.f3+ Kf4
29.Qh6+ Kg3 30.Qg7+ Kxh4 31.Qg4#] 27...Rg8 28.Re3 b4 29.Rg3+ Qxg3 30.Qxg8+ 1–0
White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
Attacking the Castled King Part II
1 2
3 4
Black to play Black to play
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Janowski,Dawid Markelowicz - Tarrasch,Siegbert

(1)
Ostend Masters Ostend (8), 22.06.1905
It's a very representative example. Black pieces moved far away from their king so
that a winning combination must exist for White. 31.Nxh6+ [31.Rxf7 destroying the
last defender 31...Kxf7 32.Nxh6+ Kf8 33.Qc2 White slowly brings their queen into
the attack, but Black can't do anything to survive. 33...Re8 34.Rxe8+ Rxe8 35.Qh7
Re1+ 36.Nf1 Qc8 37.Bh5 Ke7 38.Qxg7+ Kd8 39.Nf7+ Kd7 40.Ne5+ Kd8 41.Qxf6+
Kc7 42.Nxc6+ White has a huge material advantage.] 31...gxh6 32.Rxf7 Kxf7
33.Qxh6 Quite unpleasant neighborhood. Five white pieces surrounded the black
king. 33...Kg8 34.Qg6+ Kh8 35.Qxf6+ Kg8 36.Qg6+ Kh8 37.Re5 1–0 White wins.
1–0
2 Rubinstein,Akiba - Alekhine,Alexander
(2)
Semmering Panhans Semmering (8), 17.03.1926
18...Nxf2!! a strong psychological strike! [18...dxc3 19.Ne4 Ne3 20.fxe3 Bxe3+

21.Kg2 Qxd1 22.Rxd1 c2 with extra exchange] 19.Kxf2 [19.Rxf2 dxc3 There are
two pins simultaneously] 19...dxc3+ 20.e3 cxd2 Black has only one extra pawn, but
this pawn is strong enough. 21.Ke2 Qb8 22.Bf3 Rd8 23.Qb1 Qd6 Certainly, without
queens on the board Black has no advantage. 24.a4 f5 25.Rd1 Bb4 26.Qc2 Qc5
Black pieces are attacking the e3-pawn. 27.Kf2 a5 28.Be2 g5 White pieces are
helpless. They surrounded the king, but can't help him. 29.Bd3 f4 0–1 Black wins.
0–1
3 Rotlewi,Georg A - Rubinstein,Akiba
(3)
Lodz1 Lodz, 26.12.1907
Black pieces are so much focused on the attack of the enemy king. That's why a
winning combination must exist. 22...Rxc3!! Black rook destroys the defender but
also controls the third rank. [22...Qe7 with the threat of Ne3, and all White pieces are
miscoordinated.] 23.gxh4 [23.Bxb7 Rxg3 To avoid checkmate White has to
sacrifice half of their material.] 23...Rd2! 24.Qxd2 [24.Rf2 Bxe4+ 25.Qxe4 Nxf2+
26.Kg1 Nxe4+ and mate in 4] 24...Bxe4+ 25.Qg2 Rh3 What a concentration of
Black forces! Checkmate in 2 is unavoidable. 0–1
4 Sunye Neto,Jaime (2475) - Kasparov,Garry (2630)

(4)
WchT U26 03rd Graz (10), 27.08.1981
Black dangerously surrounded the white king. The knight on f3 is the most
unpleasant piece. It's important to notice that one of the pieces can be sacrificed.
by thechessworld
The rest is enough to create a mating net. 42...Bxe3!! 43.fxe3 [43.Ne2 Nh2+
44.Ke1 Rxg2 45.Qxe3 Nf3+ 46.Kf1 Rg1+!! 47.Nxg1 Rd1+] 43...Rdxg2! Aside from
mating threats an idea of a fork on d2 appeared. 44.Qc3! [44.Qxb6 Rh2 45.Ne2
Rgg2+-] 44...Rh2 45.Ne2 Kh7! A favorite maneuver of Garry Kasparov. By moving
his king, he doesn't allow White to apply any tactical strikes. For example, a check
on c8. [45...Rgg2 46.Qc8+?=] 46.Qc8?! [46.Qb4! f5! 47.Qb5 (47.Qf8 Rh1+ 48.Kf2
Nd2!) 47...f4! 48.Qb4 Nd2+! 49.Qxd2 (49.Ke1 f3 50.Kxd2 Rxe2+ 51.Kc3 Rxe3+
52.Kd4 f2 Рѕ x f1Q) 49...Rh1+ 50.Kf2 f3!+-] 46...Rh1+ 47.Kf2 Nd2! 0–1 Black
wins.[Ng3 47...Rh2+ Ke1 Nf3+ 48.Kf1 Rxb2] 0–1
by thechessworld
Attacking the Castled King Part 3
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Answers
1 Larsen,Bent - Tal,Mihail [E99]

(1)
Candidates m 3rd place Eersel (5), 1969
Bent Larsen is leading in his match vs Mikhail Tal. That's why Tal is looking for how to
win with black pieces. He decided to start the attack and didn't count sacrifices.
18...gxf3 19.gxf3 Bh3 Nobody cares about this rook. The main task is to bring the
queen to g5. 20.Nxa8 Nxe4 21.fxe4 Qg5+ 22.Kf2 Black already has a perpetual
check. However, they think it's too little. 22...Qg2+ 23.Ke1 Nh4 Objectively, Black is
losing. 24.Be3? However, White is confused with a lot of complicated variations and
makes a critical mistake. [24.Nf2! Nf3+ 25.Kd1 Nxh2 26.Nxh3 Nxf1 27.Qc8+ Rf8
28.Qe6+ Kh8 29.Rc8] 24...Qxe4 25.Bf2 f3 [25...Ng2+! 26.Kd2 f3] 26.Bxh4 Qxh4+
27.Nf2 fxe2 28.Qxe2 e4 White still has an extra rook, but it's hard for them to find the
moves. Their king is under a coordinated attack. 29.Rg1 e3 30.Qxe3 Re7 31.Rxg7+
Kxg7 32.Rc7 Bd7 33.Rxd7 Rxd7 34.Qxa7?? White is in time trouble. And Black
gets enough resources for a successful attack. 34...Re7+ 35.Kd1 Qc4 36.Qb6 Qf1+
37.Kd2 Re2+ 38.Kc3 Qc1+ 39.Kd4 Qe3+ 40.Kc4 Rc2+ 0–1
2 Karpov,Anatoly (2725) - Kasparov,Garry (2805)

(2)
Linares 11th Linares (10), 02.1993
The opening stage of the game is not over, but both players have already started
frontal attacks. The black knight is under attack, but does it have to move? 14...b4!!
A huge advantage in development and the unsecured white king could allow Black
to initiate the attack immediately. [14...Ng4 15.Bd4 Bxd4 16.Nxd4] 15.Nb1 Ng4
16.Bd4 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 Rxa2 White king is in a trouble. It's hard to find how to finish
pieces development for White. 18.h3 [18.Nc1 c5 19.Qg1 Qe7 20.Nxa2 Qxe4+
21.Be2 Re8 22.Qf1 Ba6 23.Nc1 Ne3 24.Qf3 Qc2 25.Rxd7 Qxc1+ 26.Kf2 Qxh1 with
irrefutable threats.] 18...c5 19.Qg1 Compare White and Black pieces' location.
What happened? 19...Ngf6 20.e5 Ne4 21.h4 Preventing Qh4. However, such
moves won't save the game. [21.Qe3 Bb7 22.Nd2 Nxd2 23.Rxd2 Rxd2 24.Qxd2 c4
25.Qxb4 cxb3 Absolutely undeveloped kingside of White doesn't provide them with
any chances to save the game.] 21...c4!! While white pieces are paralyzed, and the
Black pawn is about to be promoted. 22.Nc1 [22.bxc4 Qa5 23.Qd4 Ndc5 and a
deadly discovered check is unavoidable.] 22...c3!? [22...Rb2 However, Black
wanted to promote the second queen.] 23.Nxa2 c2 24.Qd4 cxd1Q+ 25.Kxd1 Ndc5
It seems that White survived. The game passed into the endgame. However, the
white king is still under attack. 26.Qxd8 Rxd8+ 27.Kc2 Nf2 0–1 Black wins.[Rh2
27...Bf5 28.Kb2 Nd1+ Ka1 28...Nxb3] 0–1
3 Kasparov,Garry (2760) - Smirin,Ilia (2500)

(3)
URS-ch55 Moscow (12), 07.1988
by thechessworld
Garry Kasparov somehow managed to confuse his opponent with complicated

variations. The last move of Black (capturing the knight on c4) was a decisive
mistake. They didn't notice a mating net. 39.Rxh6!! The only winning move!
39...Bxh6 Other moves would only postpone an unavoidable checkmate. 40.Be6+
Kh8 41.Qf6+ 1–0 White wins.[Kh7 41.Qf7 Bg7 42.Bf5 Kh8 Qh5+ Kg8 Be6+ Kf8
Qf7#(42.Qe8+?? Qxe8);] 1–0
4 Gelfand,Boris (2761) - Nakamura,Hikaru (2708)

(4)
WchT 7th Bursa (5.1), 09.01.2010
In the sharpest King's Indian Defense, White attacks in the center and the
queenside, while Black attacks on the kingside, and their main target is the white
king. The last move of White dxc7 is a decisive mistake. 24...Nxe1! 25.Qxe1
[25.cxd8Q g2# a nice mate with the pawn.] 25...g2+ 26.Kxg2 Rg7+ 27.Kh1 It seems
that Black needs to save their queen, but 27...Bh3! A checkmate is stronger than
material losses. In such sharp positions, each tempo costs a lot. 28.Bf1 Qd3!!
Another tactical strike from the center. Black queen is hanging at first glance, but she
attacks a lot of weaknesses in White's camp. 29.Nxe5 [29.Bxd3 Bg2#] 29...Bxf1
30.Qxf1 Qxc3 Black gained a rook, while White was defending their king. 31.Rc1
Qxe5 32.c8Q Rxc8 33.Rxc8 Qe6 The position got simplified. It's just an extra knight
for Black. 0–1
by thechessworld
Opposite-Sided Castling Part I
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Adorjan,Andras (2525) - Ribli,Zoltan (2595)

(1)
Interzonal–11a playoff place 3 Budapest (4), 29.10.1979
Qd8 Qg7+ Bxg7 hxg7+ Kg8 Rh8# [#] In the case of opposite-side castled
positions, a pawn march is especially effective. White succeeded in it, but how to
continue? And not allow Black to close the position on the kingside? 18.Bh6! not
allowing to block the flank [18.gxh7+ Kxh7 19.Qg2 Bf8 20.h6 g6 White attack
bogged down, and Black gains a lot of opportunities on the queenside.] 18...Bf6
[18...hxg6 19.hxg6 Rxc3 20.gxf7+ Kxf7 21.Rxg7+ Ke8 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Bg5 And
White destroys Black's camp faster.] 19.gxh7+ Kxh7 20.Bxg7 Bxg7 21.h6! This is
the key move. Black doesn't have enough resources to defend against white rooks'
attack. 21...Bf6 [#] [21...Bf8 22.Qg5 f6 23.Qg6+ Kh8 24.h7 with checkmate on g8 or
g7] 22.Qg2 [#][] 1–0
2 Spassky,Boris Vasilievich - Petrosian,Tigran V

(2)
World-ch25 Petrosian-Spassky +4-3=17 Moscow (7), 25.04.1966
During double-edged plays on opposite sides, it's important not only to attack the
enemy king but to secure your king as well. Black found a way how to cement their
king's fortress. After that, it's just one-sided play. 17...c4! 18.Be2 [18.Bf5!? e.g. 18...
18...exf5 19.e6 Bd6 20.exd7+ Rxd7 21.Qd4] 18...a6! Now White can't open the a- &
the b-files. 19.Kh1 Rdg8 20.Rg1 Rg4 21.Qd2 [21.Nh2!? Rg6 22.Nf3 Rhg8 23.Qd2]
21...Rhg8 Black slowly, but properly concentrates their forces for the kingside
attack. 22.a5 b5 23.Rad1 Bf8! [/\ 24...f6 25.exf6 e5] 24.Nh2 Nxe5! 25.Nxg4 hxg4
26.e4 Bd6 [26...dxe4?? 27.Bxe5±] 27.Qe3 Nd7 [27...g3!? 28.f3!] 28.Bxd6 Qxd6
29.Rd4? [29.f4! f5 30.e5 Qc7] 29...e5! 30.Rd2 [30.Rxd5!? Bxd5 31.Rd1 Nf6
32.exd5і] 30...f5!µ 31.exd5 [31.exf5 h3!µ (31...Nf6! 32.f3 Nh5 33.fxg4 Ng3+ 34.Kh2
d4!µ) ] 31...f4! 32.Qe4 [32.Qa7 e4µ] 32...Nf6 33.Qf5+ Kb8 34.f3 [34.Qe6 Qxe6
35.dxe6 Ne4!µ] 34...Bc8 35.Qb1 g3 36.Re1 h3 37.Bf1 [37.gxh3 g2+ 38.Kg1
Qd7!–+] 37...Rh8 38.gxh3 Bxh3 39.Kg1 [39.Bxh3 Qd7!] 39...Bxf1 40.Kxf1
[40.Rxf1 Qd7 /\ 41...Qh3 or 41...Qa7+] 40...e4! 41.Qd1 [41.fxe4 f3!–+] 41...Ng4!
42.fxg4 f3 43.Rg2 fxg2+ [44.Kxg2 Qf4] 0–1
3 Spassky,Boris Vasilievich - Petrosian,Tigran V

(3)
World-ch25 Petrosian-Spassky +4-3=17 Moscow (23), 06.06.1966
c5 Nc8 Ra8 A sharp position with opposite-side castling. White king doesn't feel
comfortable. Black rook has already occupied an attacking position. That's why
White saves their position by queen exchange. 15.Qg5! cxd4 [15...Qxf2 16.Rf3
Qg1 17.Qg3 Rfd8 18.Be2 and the queen is trapped.] 16.Qxf6 Nxf6 17.Rxd4
Despite a material equality, White has a strong positional advantage.
by thechessworld
Their bishop is stronger than the enemy knight, rooks are more active and ready to
attack the black weaknesses on a7 & c7. Material losses are unavoidable. 17...Rb7
18.Rb3! With each exchange black weaknesses become weaker. 18...Rxb3
19.axb3 Ra8 20.Rc4 Ne8 21.Ra4 Nd6 22.g3 An ideal location for the white pawns
and the bishop. 22...Kf8 23.Bg2 Rc8 24.Rxa7 Ke7 25.Kd2 h6 26.c4 g5 27.hxg5
hxg5 28.Kc3 Kd7 29.b4 Rh8 30.b5 Rh2 Finally, Black entered White's camp, but
the white pawns are already far advanced. 31.Bc6++- Kd8 1–0 White wins.[] 1–0
4 Fischer,Robert James - Larsen,Bent

(4)
Interzonal–08 Palma de Mallorca (9), 20.11.1970
Both kings are under attack, but White's threats seem to be stronger. A proper
prophylaxis is required from Black. 23...Rf7! With one move Black defends the g7-
square and covers their king against a check on e6. In such positions, each tempo
costs a lot. Any unexpected check may change the assessment of the position
drastically. [23...a4 24.Nxe6 Bxe6 25.Qxe6+ Rf7 26.bxa4+-] 24.Rhg1 a4 25.bxa4
e5! an important intermediate tactical strike. Black forces White to move their knight
futher from the king. Black also properly calculated that this knight won't reinforce
White's attack on the kingside. 26.Ne6 [26.Nf5 b3 27.c3 Rxa4 28.Nxh6+ Kf8 29.Qg6
gxh6 30.Qxh6+ Ke7 31.Qg5+ Ke8 32.Qg8+ Rf8 33.Qxb3 Ra1+ 34.Kd2 Rxd1+
35.Rxd1 Black has to realize their extra bishop.] 26...Qc4 27.b3 Qxe6 White
secured their king at the cost of a piece sacrifice. 28.Qxe6 Bxe6 29.Rxd6 Re8 The
black bishop is much stronger than the white pawns. 30.Rb6 Rxf3 31.Rxb4 Rc8
The a-, b- & c-pawns are hard to move. The e4- & h5-pawns will be captured soon.
32.Kb2 Rf2 33.Rc1 Bf7 34.a5 Ra8 35.Rb5 Bxh5 36.Rxe5 Be2 37.Rc5 h5 38.e5
Bf3 39.Kc3 h4 40.Kd3 Re2 41.Rf1 Rd8+ 42.Kc3 Be4 43.Kb4 Rb8+ 44.Ka3 h3
45.e6 Bxc2 46.b4 Re3+ 47.Kb2 Bd3 48.Ra1 Ba6 49.Rc6 Rxb4+ 50.Kc2 Bb7
51.Rc3 Re2+ 52.Kd1 Rg2 0–1 Black wins. 0–1
by thechessworld
Chapter 8: Opposite-Sided Castling Part 2
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Answers
1 Fischer,Robert James - Larsen,Bent

(1)
Interzonal–04 Portoroz (8), 16.08.1958
The situation on the board became extremely sharp. A player who attacks the
enemy king first wins the game. Black is threatening with strong a5-a4. 22.Rxh5!
gxh5 Black is confused. They'd better exchange the white dark-squared bishop.
[22...Bxd4 23.Qxd4 gxh5 24.g6 Rc4 a) 24...e6 25.Qxd6 (25.gxf7+ Kxf7 26.Qxd6) ;
b) 24...Qe5 25.gxf7+ Kh7 (25...Kf8 26.Qxe5 (26.Qg1) 26...dxe5 27.Rg1 e6 28.Bxe6
Ke7 29.Bxc8 Rxc8 30.Rg5+-) 26.Qd3+- /\ f3-f4; ] 23.g6 White surrounded the black
king faster than Black. That's why now they have to defend, and all their attacking
moves are losses of tempi. 23...e5 [23...e6 24.gxf7+ Kxf7 (24...Rxf7 25.Bxe6)
25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Rg1+ Kh7 27.Qg2 Qe5 28.Qg6+ Kh8 29.Rg5 Rg7 30.Rxh5+ Kg8
31.Bxe6+ Kf8 32.Rf5+ Ke7 33.Rf7++-] 24.gxf7+ Kf8 25.Be3 d5 [25...a4 26.Qxd6+
Re7 27.Qd8+! Rxd8 28.Rxd8+ Re8 29.Bc5++-; 25...Rd8 26.Bh6+-] 26.exd5
[26.Bxd5 Rxc2!] 26...Rxf7 [26...a4 27.d6! axb3 28.dxc7+-] 27.d6 Rf6 Black has an
extra exchange, but their king is weak. White has a dangerous passed pawn on d6.
That's why Black loses the game. [27...Rd7 28.Be6+- (28.Bh6‚) ; 27...Rxf3 28.d7+- /\
Qd6+] 28.Bg5 Qb7 [28...Qd7 29.Qd5! Qf7 (29...Rf7 30.Be7+!) 30.Bxf6+-] 29.Bxf6
Bxf6 30.d7 Rd8 31.Qd6+ 1–0 White wins.[31.Qh6+!] 1–0
2 Petrosian,Tigran V - Gligoric,Svetozar
(2)
Candidates Tournament Zuerich (19), 04.10.1953
In King's Indian Defense Black attacked the white king. However, Tigran Petrosian
was able to distinguish enemy initiative and gain a few pawns. However, being in a
time trouble White played Ne2? and provided their opponent with a rare chance
37...Rxe4! [37...Rda4? 38.Nc3 Rd4 39.b3 Qb8 40.h5 Bxh5 41.Qh4 Black had to
resign] 38.fxe4 [38.h5 Bf5 39.Bh3 Rea4 40.Nc3 Bxc2+ 41.Rxc2] 38...Nxe4 Not only
the white queen is under attack. 39.Qe1 [39.Qg1 Black checkmates in 4 39...Nd2+
40.Ka1 Rxa2+!! 41.Kxa2 Qa8+ 42.Qa7 Qxa7#] 39...Qxd5 Black is playing without a
rook, but how well their pieces are coordinated? Black is threatening with a
checkmate on a2 and the light-squared bishop keeps a deadly pin on c2. The black
knight is ready to check on d2. Generally speaking, Black threats are quite serious.
White has to sacrifice the material to save their position. However, their king will be
still under attack. 40.a3 Nd2+ 41.Ka1 Nb3+ 42.Kb1 Nxc1 43.Kxc1 Bxc2 44.Kxc2
Qe4+ with a winning position. 1–0
3 Karpov,Anatoly - Kortschnoj,Viktor Lvovich

(3)
Candidates Karpov-Kortschnoj +3-2=19 Moscow (2), 18.09.1974
by thechessworld
White is ahead with their kingside attack in this position. However, now they need to
find another resource to destroy the black king's pawn cover. 24.e5! The 5th rank
has to be intercepted. This is how White stops the black queen from joining the
defense. [24.Nxf6+ exf6 25.Qxh7+ (25.Nh5 Qg5+! That's the reason why 24.e5 is
important!) 25...Kf8 The black king successfully escapes.] 24...Bxd5 [24...dxe5
25.Nxf6+ exf6 and the final tactical strike follows 26.Nh5 Black has to sacrifice a
queen to avoid a checkmate] 25.exf6 White's resources are enough to create a
mating construction. 25...exf6 26.Qxh7+ Kf8 27.Qh8+ 1–0 White wins.[Ke7
27.Nxd5 Qxd5 28.Re1 and again Black has to sacrifice the queen.] 1–0
4 Fischer,Robert James - Gligoric,Svetozar

(4)
Olympiad–17 Final A Havana (8), 12.11.1966
In this game a piece attack is faster than a pawn march. 15.Na4! Kb8 [15...exf3
16.Nb6+ Kb8 17.Nxd7+; 15...Qxd1 16.Rxc7+ Kb8 17.Rc8+] 16.Rxc7!! Qxd1
17.Rc8+!! Ka7 [17...Kxc8 18.Nb6#] 18.Bb8+ Ka8 19.Nb6# 1–0 White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
Opposite-Sided Castling Part III
1 2
Black to play White to play
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Teichmann,Richard - Chigorin,Mikhail Ivanovich

(1)
Cambridge Springs Cambridge Springs (15), 1904
Black managed to expose the white king. However, their pieces are still too far from
him. First of all, Black has to secure their knight's position on d5. 15...b5 [15...Qxg2
16.Rhg1 Qh3 17.c4 Nb4 18.Bf1 Qxf1 19.Rdxf1 Nxc2 20.Kxc2 And Black doesn't
have enough chances to win the game.] 16.Rhg1 Qe7! The second step is to move
the queen to a3 in the shortest way. 17.Rdf1 White king is in a trouble, that's why
White prepares evacuation. [17.Kb2 Nb6 with the idea of the check from a4.]
17...Qa3+ 18.Kd2 b4 Black has a material advantage on the queenside - the place
of action. The white bishop on e5 is unable to help its king. The white queen is also
the object of the attack. 19.c4 Ba4 20.Qb1 Nc3 Amazing metamorphosis! 4 moves
have passed, but the Black army already entered White's camp and creates threats.
21.Qa1 Rd8 Now the rook joins the attack. Black is threatening with c7-c5. 22.g4 A
useless attempt to create a counter-play. 22...Ne4+ 23.Ke2 Nc5 24.Qb1 Nxd3
25.Qxd3 Qxa2+ 26.Kf3 Bc2 Black's attack ended unexpectedly with the trap of the
enemy queen.[26...Qd2 Be4+ Ke2 Bf3+ Kxf3 27.Qxd2] 0–1
2 Alekhine,Alexander - Lundin,Erik
(2)
Oerebro Schacksaellskap Oerebro (9), 16.04.1935
Black's extra pawn doesn't count, because both kings are exposed. Black
carelessly put their queen in front of the enemy rook. 25.g5! Not only with the idea to
create a strong point on f6 for the knight, but also to destroy the black dark-squared
bishop and create mating threats using dark-squares. 25...Qb5 26.Nxf6+ Nxf6
27.Qc3 That's it! The knight on f6 is lost. 27...Re8 [27...Ne8 28.Rxe8+ Rxe8
29.Qg7#; 27...Qf5+ enough is 28.Be4 Qxf2 29.gxf6] 28.Rc1 Qf5+ 29.Ka1 Kh7
30.Qxc4 unexpectedly the f7-pawn hangs 1–0
3 Bronstein,David Ionovich - Panov,Vasily N

(3)
Moscow-ch26 Final Moscow (3), 17.04.1947
King safety is extremely important in the case of double-edged play. It's obvious that
the black king is weaker, White has more space and it's easier for them to maneuver
pieces. Moreover, the white bishop participates in the attack as well as in the
defense. White starts to exchange black defenders. 23.Nxd6+! cxd6 [23...Qxd6
24.Nxg5 Nh6 25.Nxf7 Black faces material losses and they should forget about a
counter-attack.] 24.Nd2! The other knight changes the first one. Black's position is
full of weaknesses: b6, d6, f7 & g5 [24.Qa2] 24...f6 25.Nc4 Kb7 [25...Kc7 26.d4 Rc8
27.Rd1 and Black can't defend all their attackable squares.] 26.Bxb6 As the result
of a sacrifice the black king lost his pawn cover and becomes defenseless. White
starts a pawn march while their knight may occupy the c6-square.
by thechessworld
26...Nxb6 27.Nxa5+ Kc7 28.Nc6 Qe8 29.a5 Nd7 30.b6+! The knight doesn't count.
White brings their queen and rook into the attack. 30...Kb7 [30...Kxc6 31.Qa4+ Kb7
32.a6+ Kxb6 33.Qb3+ mate in 3.] 31.a6+ Kxb6 32.Rb1+ Kc7 33.Rb7+ Kc8
34.Na7# 1–0 White wins. 1–0
4 Morozevich,Alexander (2732) - Alekseev,Evgeny V (2616)

(4)
RUS-chT 11th Sochi (4.1), 23.04.2004
It's obvious that White is ahead with their attack on the enemy king. They have
pieces and pawns in the attack, while Black attacks only with minor & major pieces.
Moreover, the white rook participates in the defense by protecting the pawn on c2.
23.h6! [23.bxc3 fxg6 24.hxg6 hxg6 25.Bd3 Kf7 26.Rg2 Rh8 27.Qg3 Nf8 28.f4 Rh3
29.Qf2 with a strong positional attack] 23...fxg6 24.hxg7 h5 The only way to avoid
checkmate. However, with such moves, it's impossible to save the game. The
enemy king's pawn cover will be destroyed anyway. 25.Qg5 Kxg7 26.bxc3 Bf7
[26...Nf8 27.Qh6+ Kg8 28.Rg2 Bf7 29.Bg5 d5 30.f4 and the checkmate on g7 is
unavoidable.; 26...Kf7 27.f4 Rg8 28.f5 Black has to sacrifice their bishop.] 27.Qh6+
Kg8 28.Rxh5! As it was in our other examples, the black pieces were stuck on the
queenside, and the black king has to defend himself. 28...gxh5 29.Bxb5 axb5
30.Rg1+ Bg6 31.Qxg6+ Kf8 32.Qg8+ mate in 2 1–0
by thechessworld
Playing with the Isolated Queen's Pawn Part I
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Kortschnoj,Viktor Lvovich (2650) - Karpov,Anatoly (2690)

(1)
World-ch29 Karpov-Kortschnoj +6-2=10 Merano (9), 24.10.1981
Black took advantage of the isolated pawn, forcing their opponent to weaken the
king and move the pieces away to the edge of the board. The white king has no
defense. That's why it's time to deliver a tactical strike. 35...e5! 36.fxe5 Rxe5
37.Qa1 [37.dxe5 Rxd2 38.Rf4 Qb6+ 39.Kh1 Qc6+ 40.Qf3 Qc1+ 41.Qf1 Rd1 as the
result of the attack on the king, Black gained a queen.] 37...Qe8!! taking advantage
of geometrical tactical motifs. The white queen is tied down to the protection of the
rook on a4, and the black pieces enter the white king's camp. 38.dxe5 Rxd2 Now
any check with the queen is deadly. 39.Rxa5 Qc6 40.Ra8+ Kh7 41.Qb1+ g6 42.Qf1
Qc5+ 43.Kh1 Qd5+ with the next move Rd1 Black captures the queen. 0–1
2 Karpov,Anatoly (2705) - Spassky,Boris Vasilievich (2640)

(2)
Montreal International Montreal (4), 14.04.1979
Karpov's games are quite illustrative when it comes to playing against an isolated
pawn. The white forces are concentrated around the d5-pawn. They advanced
pawns on the kingside and created tactical opportunities. 35.f5! Preparation. Now
the black bishop won't defend the rook on d7 anymore. 35...Bf7 36.e4 Please, pay
attention to how major pieces are located. This setup is called "Alekhine's Setup".
The d5-pawn is pinned, because of the d7-rook being not protected enough.
36...Kg7 37.exd5 Qc7 [37...Qd6 However, a queen is not a suitable piece for such a
purpose.] 38.Re2 b5?? Being under the pressure for the entire game, Black
blunders tactics. [38...Bd6 39.Re6 Bxe6 40.fxe6 Re7 41.Qf3 Black is defenseless
against the White's attack.] 39.Rxe7 Rxe7 40.d6 Qc4 41.b3 1–0 White wins. 1–0
3 Petrosian,Tigran V - Spassky,Boris Vasilievich

(3)
World-ch26 Spassky-Petrosian +6-4=13 Moscow (8), 02.05.1969
Black has an isolated pawn, and the d4-square in front of it is attacked three times.
However, this time it was enough. It was important to block this pawn and fix a stable
positional advantage. Otherwise, Black will surprise White. 14...d4! Unexpectedly,
the bishop on e6 joins the game. 15.Bxd4 [15.Nxd4 Nxd3 16.Nxe6? fxe6; 15.Ne2
dxe3] 15...Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Bc4 17.Qb1 Bxf1 18.Rxf1 Nd5 Now Black has a small
advantage which they later realized. 0–1
4 Kasparov,Garry (2700) - Karpov,Anatoly (2720)

(4)
World-ch31–KK2 Kasparov-Karpov +5-3=16 Moscow (11), 01.10.1985
by thechessworld
A typical play against an isolated pawn. The white pieces are mobilized perfectly,
and White takes their chance to get rid of the isolated pawn and improve their
pieces' activity. 16.d5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Bxg3 18.hxg3 exd5 19.Bxd5 White solved
their problems, while Black has some weaknesses. They have to defend accurately.
19...Qf6 20.Qa4 Rfd8 21.Rcd1 Rd7 First inaccuracy. The rook hangs on d7 which
offers tactical opportunities for White. 22.Qg4 Rcd8?? Black blunders simple
tactics. [22...Rd6 23.Bc4 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 Rc7 covering the entry squares] 23.Qxd7
Rxd7 24.Re8+ Kh7 25.Be4+ 1–0 White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
Playing with the Isolated Queen's Pawn Part II
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Farago,Ivan (2505) - Velikov,Petar (2475)

(1)
Albena–15 Albena, 1983
White has a strong advantage in development. Their pieces are ready to attack the
enemy king. The d4-pawn is not protected, but Black doesn't have enough tempi to
destroy it. 15.Ng5! Nf6 16.Rf3! This is what is called "initiative". Each move of White
creates a threat. 16...g6 17.Qb3 A good example of the concentration of the force. In
our case - on f7-square. 17...Nd5 18.Ne4 Qd8 19.Bxd5 cxd5 20.Nf6+ Kg7 Now
White can capture on d5, but they had another plan originally. 21.Qe3 The Qe5
threat is deadly. 21...h5 [21...Qc7 22.Ne8+ Rxe8 23.Qxe8] 22.Qe5 Kh6 23.Nxh5
Bg4 [23...gxh5 24.Rf6+ Black has to sacrifice a queen.] 24.Qg7+ Kg5 25.Rg3 1–0
White wins.[25.h4+ Kxh4 (25...Kxh5 26.Qh7#) 26.Qh6 Bxf3 27.Nf6+ Bh5 28.Qf4+
Bg4 29.Qxg4#] 1–0
2 Bronstein,David Ionovich - Berger,Bela

(2)
Interzonal–06 Amsterdam (11), 02.06.1964
Both players conducted their plans which are typical for such type of a position.
Black finished their development and blocked the d4-pawn. White located their
pieces ideally and prepared for a kingside attack. Their queen on h3 is the most
dangerous. The queen attack both - the h7- & the e6-pawns. That's why White
should be looking for tactical strikes, for example, the knight sacrifice on f7. The last
move of Black - b5 was inaccuracy. It was better to do some prophylaxis - protect the
bishop on e7 and the f7-pawn with Rc7 move. 17.Bc2 A wrong choice. A threat of
Bxf6, Nxd5 & Qxh7# can be parried by Black. [17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nxf7 Rxf7 19.Qxe6
Qd7 20.Nxd5 Qxe6 21.Rxe6 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 with a decisive advantage.] 17...Qd6?
And here the black queen is located unstable. White applies another combination.
[17...Bb7! And the bishop on c2 is hanging. 18.Bb1 g6 19.Bh6 Nxc3 20.bxc3 Nd5
21.Bxf8 Qxf8 For an exchange sacrifice Black defended their position, while the
white pieces on the first rank are useless. Black also has ideas of Nf4 or Nc3 with a
bishop pair.] 18.Nxc6 Rxc6 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Ne4 1–0 White wins.[20.Ne4 Bxe4
Black has to lose an exchange because of the mating threat on h7.] 1–0
3 Spassky,Boris Vasilievich - Avtonomov

(3)
Leningrad Junior-ch Leningrad, 1949
Black lags in development and while the black king is in the center, White starts the
tactical strike. 12.d5! [12.Bg5 Nbd5 13.a4 b4 14.Ne4 but a breakthrough in the
center is more effective] 12...Nbxd5 13.Bg5 This is the main idea of the pawn
sacrifice.
by thechessworld
Black pieces are tied, and White continues with a forcing combination. 13...Be7
14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.Bxd5 exd5 Black is left with an extra pawn, but
their king is weak, their pawn structure is also weak, and the white knight occupies
the dangerous position on f5 with multiple threats. 17.Nd4 Kf8 18.Nf5 h5 White has
various options of how to win. 19.Rxd5 [19.Qf3 Qb6 20.Rxd5 Rc8 21.Rd7 and
bishop dies] 19...Qxd5 20.Qxe7+ Kg8 21.Qxf6 checkmate and the fork on e7 are
unavoidable. 1–0
4 Miles,Anthony John (2560) - Ribli,Zoltan (2595)

(4)
Interzonal–11a Riga (13), 23.09.1979
As we know, an isolated pawn has pros & cons. Everything depends on other
pieces' and pawns' locations. In this position, Black located their forces ideally, while
the white bishop, for example, and the rook on c5 are almost useless. The first rank
is weak which allows Black to come up with a simple combination. 20...Nf4! A typical
strike in such positions. Black immediately threatens with Bxf3, Rxd4, Ne2+, the
queen is going to occupy the f6-square and continue with Nh3+. White's position
collapses. 21.Rdc1 [21.Qxf4 Qxc5 White loses the game, because of an absence of
an escape square.] 21...Qf6 22.Qe3 [22.Rc7 Nh3+ 23.Kh1 Qxf3 24.gxf3 Bxf3#!]
22...Bxf3 23.Qxf3 Qxd4 White is left without a pawn, but it's not the end. The bishop
on b1 is still bad. The queenside pawns are also Black's targets. 24.g3 Nd3 25.Bxd3
Qxd3 26.Qb7 Rd6 27.Kg2 Qb3 28.Qe7? Last mistake. White has to forget about
their counter-play and switch to the defense. [28.Rc8 Qd5+ 29.Qxd5 Rxd5 30.R8c6
Ra8 with chances to draw the game.] 28...Rd2 29.R1c3 Qxb2 30.Rf3 Qd4 31.h4
Qd6 32.Qa7 Rd5 33.Rxd5 Qxd5 and Black realized their material advantage. 0–1
by thechessworld
Playing with the Isolated Queen's Pawn Part III
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Botvinnik,Mikhail - Vidmar,Milan Sr
(1)
Nottingham International Masters Nottingham (13), 25.08.1936
White has an isolated pawn, their pieces are located ideally & they also have a
bishop pair. However, the Black's position is solid and if only they exchange a few
pieces, their chances become higher. White has to destroy the black pawn
construction f7-e6-Nd5 and they found a pawn resource. 17.f4! Rc8 [17...a5 18.a4
Ra6] 18.f5 The Black's position staggered. The knight, bishop and rook are
attacking the f7-square. 18...exf5 19.Rxf5 The bishop on b3 becomes stronger.
19...Qd6 20.Nxf7! Rxf7 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Rxd5 In addition the rook on c8 is
hanging. 22...Qc6 23.Rd6 Qe8 24.Rd7 a wipeout! 1–0
2 Braga,Fernando Alberto (2375) - Portisch,Lajos (2630)

(2)
Mar del Plata Clarin Masters Mar del Plata, 02.1982
White provoked the f7-f5 move which weakened the e6-pawn and the e5-square.
However, Black pieces are more active, especially the bishop on b7 which
pressures the white king. And as a result of Black pieces' activity, they deliver a
tactical strike. 24...Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Nf4! a destroying move. The white bishop, knight,
pawn and rook on c1 are hanging. Potentially Black can also pressure the white
queen. 26.Bf1 Bxf3 27.gxf3 White can't survive with such a king. 27...Qg5+ 28.Kh1
h6 An important move. Now Black can maneuver their rook to g6 or gain the d4-
pawn. The white pieces are paralyzed. 29.Qb4 Rd8 30.Qd2 e5 31.d5 Rxd5
32.Rc8+ Kh7 33.Qc2 b5 34.Rf8 Rd3 Because of mating threats this rook is not
hanging. White is under the pressure from both sides. 35.Qc8 Qg2+! mate in 2 0–1
3 Marin,Mihail (2495) - Gavrikov,Viktor (2535)

(3)
Tallinn Tallinn (9), 1989
White prepared to attack the enemy king but left their king in the center. The idea is
obvious - the rook on h1 can join the attack as well. However, Black opens the center
immediately and the white king is in a trouble. 12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 e5! a timely strike!
Now it's clear which side is attacking and which has to defend. 14.Qg3 exd4 15.h5
Playing such a position is quite difficult. Both players risk overlooking tactics.
15...Bd6 16.Bf4 Bxf4 17.Nxf4 g5 [17...Re8+ 18.Kf1 g5] 18.0–0 Kh8 19.h6 Qf6
20.Nd5 Qxh6 21.f4 Qd6 22.Nf6?? Qxf6 23.fxg5 Qe5 24.Qh4 d3 25.Rae1 Qc5+
26.Kh1 Bf5 0–1 Black wins. 0–1
4 Rubinstein,Akiba - Teichmann,Richard
(4)
DSV in der CSR-ch01 Meisterklasse Teplitz Schoenau (7), 09.10.1922
by thechessworld
White obtained all possible benefits playing against an isolated pawn. They
occupied the c-file and occupied dark-squares. That's why after a mistake played by
their opponent, White was able to find a tactical strike. 28.Qxc7! Qxc7 29.Ncxe6
Qxc3 30.Rxc3 fxe6 31.Nxe6 Rd7 Extra pawn, active pieces and better pawn
structure provides White with a decisive advantage. 32.f3 Kf7 33.Nd4 g6 34.Kf2
Ke7 35.Rc8 Ne8 36.Ke2 Kf7 37.Kd3 Nd6 38.Rc5 Ne8 39.a4 Ke7 40.h4 h5 41.Ne2
Nc7 42.Nf4 Kd6 43.Rc1 Rg7 44.g4 hxg4 45.fxg4 a5 46.Rh1 g5 47.hxg5 Rxg5
48.Rh6+ Ke5 49.Ng6+ Kf6 50.Nf8+ Kf7 51.Rh7+ Rg7 52.Rxg7+ Kxg7 53.Nd7
Na6 54.Kd4 Nb4 55.Nc5 b6 56.Nd7 Nc2+ 57.Kd3 Nb4+ 58.Kc3 Kg6 59.Nxb6 Kg5
60.Kd4 Nc2+ 61.Kxd5 Nxe3+ 62.Kc5 Nxg4 63.Nc4 1–0 White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
Playing with the Isolated Pawn Couple
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Charbonneau,Pascal (2505) - So,Wesley (2765) [D94]

(1)
PRO League Stage Chess.com INT (6), 14.02.2019
An example of how to fight against a pawn pair c3+d4. The main idea is to secure the
king and pressure the pawn on c3. 9...Qc7 10.Qb3 0–0 11.Ng5 White
overestimated their attacking resources. It was better for them to finish
development. 11...e6 12.Ba3 Rd8 13.0–0 Nc6 The Na5-threat is quite unpleasant.
14.Be2 b6 15.Bf3 Bb7 The Black's play is simple. The rook goes to c8, and White
experiences serious problems with the c3-pawn. 16.Qa4 Here the queen will be hit.
16...h6 17.Ne4 Nxd4! The final strike! The black pieces are located ideally, while the
white pieces are targets for attack. 18.cxd4 Rxd4 19.Qb3 Bxe4 20.Bb2 Rd3 0–1
2 Hansen,Curt (2530) - Kraidman,Yair (2440)

(2)
Jerusalem Jerusalem, 1986
Black wants to occupy the c4-pawn, but they don't have enough time. White
occupies central squares much faster and continues with a lightning fast kingside
attack. 15.Ne5 Ba4 [15...g6 16.Qf3 Bxe5 17.dxe5 Ba4 18.Re1 White will put their
bishop to f6 and create a mating attack.; 15...Bxe5 16.dxe5 Black king is
defenseless because of the White's maneuvers Qh5, Rb4-h4, Bc1–g5 and so on.]
16.Bxh7+ 1–0 White wins.[Kxh7 16.Qh5 Kg8 Qxf7+ Kh7 Rd3 And checkmate is
unavoidable.] 1–0
3 Peralta,Fernando (2570) - Libiszewski,Fabien (2478)

(3)
Marrakesh op 1st Marrakesh (6), 29.06.2010
White collected enough resources for the mating attack. 14.Ng5! g6 15.Qg4 h5
Making the g6 a weakness. Pawn structure of Black e6-f7-g6-h5 can be destroyed
at any point after which the black king will be defenseless. 16.Qg3 Ne7 17.Ba3 Now
the white bishop joins the game. 17...Rc8 [17...Qd7 18.d5! Bxd5 19.Rad1 Bxc3
20.Bb5 Qxb5 21.Qxc3 with the decisive invasion through the main diagonal]
18.Nxe6 1–0 White wins.[fxe6 18.Rxe6 Qc7 19.Bd6 Qxc3 20.Rd1 and the strike on
g6 is unavoidable.] 1–0
4 Larsen,Karsten (2563) - Hansen,Lars Bo (2337)

(4)
Horsholm Tectura Act Horsholm (4), 17.05.2008
And here the knight jump offers a strong attack. 14.Ng5 Bxg5 15.Bxg5 Qd6?!
[15...Ne7 16.Qg4 White may attack the g7- & h7-squares with the idea to provoke
these pawns to move and create another weakness into the Black's camp. A
destroying sacrifice is following after. 16...Qc7 17.h5 f5 18.Qh4 h6 19.Bd2 Qd7
20.Re3 with a long-term attack] 16.Qh5 f5? A pawn blunder in a complicated
position. 17.Bxf5 1–0 White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
Playing with the Hanging Pawn Part I
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Kortschnoj,Viktor Lvovich (2650) - Karpov,Anatoly (2690)

(1)
World-ch29 Karpov-Kortschnoj +6-2=10 Merano (1), 01.10.1981
With hanging pawns Black has a lot of benefits: a bishop pair, and active pieces. At
the same time, the white queen isn't located properly and will stay under attack.
There are only a few squares for the king to escape. The white bishop also doesn't
look good and may become the object of the attack. The White's kingside pawn
structure also is vulnerable and can be destroyed after the exchange on e3. That's
why a breakthrough in the center is played in time. 24...d4! 25.Ne2 Disadvantages
of this move are obvious [25.exd4 Bc6 26.Qc4 cxd4 27.Nxd4 Bf3 Black could obtain
material advantage and continue the attack] 25...dxe3 26.fxe3 c4 The white's
position becomes difficult. The e3-pawn will be captured soon. After that, the white
king will be in a trouble. 27.Ned4 Qc7 [27...Ng4] 28.Nh4 Qe5 [28...Qxg3??
29.Nhf5+ gxf5 30.Nxf5+ Kf8 31.Nxg3; 28...Rxd4! 29.Rxd4 Qxg3 30.Rxc4 Qxe3+
31.Kh1 Rc5 32.Rxc5 Qh3+ 33.Kg1 Bxc5+ with a wipeout, but nobody wants to risk
playing a World Championship Match.] 29.Kh1 Kg8 30.Ndf3 Qxg3 31.Rxd8+ Bxd8
32.Qb4 Be4 33.Bxe4 Nxe4 34.Rd4 Nf2+ 35.Kg1 Nd3 The black knight entered the
White's camp to help the queen. Huge material losses are unavoidable. 36.Qb7
Rb8 37.Qd7 Bc7 38.Kh1 Rxb2 39.Rxd3 cxd3 40.Qxd3 Qd6 41.Qe4 Qd1+ 42.Ng1
Qd6 43.Nhf3 Rb5 0–1 Black wins. 0–1
2 Spassky,Boris Vasilievich - Tal,Mihail

(2)
Tallinn Tallinn (13), 10.03.1973
Black is ready to realize all opening ideas. A bishop pair, an uncastled king, and a
pin. When to deliver a tactical strike? 14...d4! 15.exd4 Rxf3 Looks effectively
[15...cxd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Rxf2!! The engine sees this tactical strike right
away. Did Tal see it? 18.Qxf2 (18.Kxf2 Bc5–+) 18...Bxc3+ 19.Kf1 Bxb2 The white
king is extremely weak, so that Black restores the material balance quickly,
continuing the attack.] 16.Bxf3 cxd4 17.0–0 dxc3 18.bxc3 Bxc3 19.Qd6 White
hide their king at the cost of material losses. 19...Rxa6 20.Bxc6 Bb4 21.Qb8 Rxc6
The black bishops are quite strong. While the queens are on the board, it's still
possible to deliver mating threats. However, even in the endgame, Black's
advantage will remain. 22.Rac1 Bc5 23.Rc2 [23.Rfd1] 23...Qa4 24.Qb3 Qf4
25.Qg3 Qf5 26.Rfc1 Bb7 It's hot around the white king 27.Qf3 Qg5 28.Qb3 Rc7
29.g3 [29.Qxe6+?? Rf7 There is no defense against checkmate.] 29...Bxf2+! Black
calculated the final stage of the attack properly. 30.Kxf2 Qf6+ 31.Ke1 Qe5+ 32.Kf1
Ba6+ 33.Kg1 Qd4+ 34.Kg2 Qe4+ 35.Kg1 Bb7 36.h4 Qh1+ 37.Kf2 Rf7+ 38.Ke2
Qe4+ 0–1 Black wins. 0–1
3 Bertok,Mario - Fischer,Robert James

(3)
Interzonal–05 Stockholm (22), 04.03.1962
by thechessworld
Black has a space advantage, all their pieces are located properly. A concentration
of forces allows them to initiate an attack on the queenside. 17...c4! 18.Nf4 Rfb8
The b2-pawn is under the pressure. 19.Rab1 Bf5 20.Rbd1 Nf6 Before destroying
enemy pawns, it makes sense to secure your own. 21.Rd2 g5 White can't take
advantage of this weakening. The knight doesn't have a good retreat. 22.Nxd5
[22.g4 gxf4 23.gxf5 Ne4 24.Rc2 Kh7 And the white king is already in a danger.]
22...Nxd5 23.Bxc4 Be6 Black easily realizes their extra knight. 24.Rfd1 Nxe3
25.Qxe3 Bxc4 26.h4 Re8 27.Qg3 Qe7 28.b3 Be6 29.f4 g4 30.h5 Qc5+ 31.Rf2 Bf5
0–1 Black wins. 0–1
4 Kasparov,Garry (2838) - Adams,Michael (2742)

(4)
Linares 19th Linares (5), 28.02.2002
In this complicated position White has more advantage and a bishop pair, but their
king is weak. Their intention is a passed pawn creation and support of this pawn with
a bishop pair. 24.c5 Bf8 25.Bg4 Rcd8 26.Rae2 Qd5 27.Bf4 Rxe2 28.Qxe2 c6?!
allows White to activate bishops [28...Qc6 29.Qe5] 29.Bc7 Ra8 30.Qe5 Qxe5
31.Rxe5 Nc4 32.d5! A force concentration on a small part of the board. With small
material sacrifices, White achieves their goal. There was no other plan to play for a
win. 32...Nxe5 33.Bxe5 cxd5 34.c6 f5 35.gxf6 gxf6 36.Be6+ Kg7 37.Bg3 Bxa3
38.Bxd5 Rc8 39.c7 Bc5 It's obvious that the rook is lost. The question is whether
White can realize their extra bishop or not. 40.Bb7 Rxc7 41.Bxc7 a5 42.Bc6 g5
43.Kf1 Kg6 44.f3 Kh5 45.Be8+ Kh6 46.Ke2 f5 47.Bd8 An ideal location for both
bishops. Black is in Zugzwang. Black pawns on the queenside are paralyzed as well
as the king. And the white king is ready to enter the place of action. 1–0
by thechessworld
Playing with the Hanging Pawn Part II
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Kasparov,Garry (2690) - Portisch,Lajos (2620)

(1)
Niksic International Niksic (4), 27.08.1983
Black attacks the pawn on c4. White has a choice: whether to protect this pawn
passively or to apply a tactical strike. The white bishops are already targeted at the
black king. The white queen and knight are ready to join the attack. The white rook is
in the center, and almost all black pieces went to the queenside. There is nothing to
think about. 17.d5! exd5 18.cxd5 Bxd5 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.Rxd5 Kg8 21.Bxg7!!
It's hard to find another application for that bishop. 21...Kxg7 22.Ne5 The queen, the
rook, and the knight immediately surrounded the black king. 22...Rfd8 [22...f5
23.Rd3 Qc5 24.Nd7; 22...Rh8 23.Qg4+ Kf8 24.Qf5 f6 25.Re1 Nc6 (25...Qc1
26.Rdd1+-) 26.Nd7+ Kf7 27.Rxe7++- Kxe7 28.Qxf6+ Ke8 29.Qxh8+ Ke7 30.Qf6+
Ke8 31.Qf8#; 22...Qc2 23.Qg4+ Kh7 24.Rd3 Rc3 25.Qf5+ (25.Qh3+ Kg8 26.Rxc3)
25...Kg8 26.Rg3++-] 23.Qg4+ Kf8 24.Qf5 f6 25.Nd7+ [25.Ng6+ Ke8? (25...Kg7
26.Nf4 Rxd5 27.Nxd5 (27.Qg6+ Kh8 28.Ne6 Rg5) 27...Qc5 28.Nxe7) 26.Qh5 Rxd5
27.Ne5++-] 25...Rxd7 26.Rxd7 Qc5 27.Qh7 [27.Qh3 >=] 27...Rc7 28.Qh8+!
[28.Rd3? Qxf2+!! 29.Kxf2 (29.Rxf2 Rc1+) 29...Bc5+ 30.Kg3 Rxh7=] 28...Kf7
29.Rd3 Nc4 30.Rfd1! Ne5? [30...Bd6 31.Rd5 Qxa3 32.Rxd6] 31.Qh7+ Ke6
32.Qg8+ Kf5 33.g4+ Kf4 34.Rd4+ Kf3 35.Qb3+ 1–0 White wins. 1–0
2 Keres,Paul - Taimanov,Mark E
(2)
Variation from the game Moscow (17), 13.12.1951
13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Nd5 The queen and the knight both are under attack. Black has
the only respond. 14...Qc5 15.Bxf6! The bishop is not required for such a
combination. That's why we may exchange it. 15...gxf6 [15...Bxf6 16.Qe4 g6
(16...Rfd8 17.Qxh7+ Kf8 18.Qh8#) 17.Nxf6+] 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Qg4+ Kh8
18.Qh4! The f6-pawn is pinned and Black has to sacrifice the queen to avoid
checkmate. 1–0
3 Litinskaya,Marta I - Alexandria,Nana
(3)
Candidates Women sf Riga (6), 1974
The black pieces are already improved. The bishops target the enemy king, the
knight is ready to capture on f2, and the queen and the rook attack the f3-pawn. The
white pieces aren't located properly. There is a mess in their camp. As a result, the
breakthrough in the center is logical. 16...d4! 17.exd4 Ng5 [17...cxd4 18.Re1 Ndc5
19.Qc4 Rac8 maximally mobilizing all forces and getting closer to the white king]
18.Nxg5 Qxg5 19.Bf1? A passive defense isn't effective. [19.d5 Bxd5 20.Bxh7+
Kh8 21.g3 And White holds their position on tactical nuances.] 19...cxd4 20.Bb4
Rac8 21.Qa4 Chasing the white queen away and preparing their rooks, Black is
ready for a standard bishop sacrifice with a mating attack.
by thechessworld
21...Bxh2+ 22.Kxh2 Ne5 23.Rxd4 Re6 [23...Qh5+ 24.Kg1 Nf3+ 25.gxf3 Bxf3
26.Bg2 Qg5] 24.Be7 Qxe7 25.Rh4 Rg6 26.Nc3 Qg5 27.Qf4 Nf3+ 28.gxf3 Qg1+
29.Kh3 Qh1+ 30.Qh2 Qxf3+ 31.Qg3 Rxg3+ 32.fxg3 Qh1+ [32...h5 33.Rxh5
Qxh5#] 33.Kg4 Qf3+ 34.Kh3 f5 35.Bc4+ Rxc4 36.Rxc4 Qg2+ 37.Kh4 h6 0–1
Black wins. 0–1
4 Sokolsky,Alexey Pavlovich - Botvinnik,Mikhail

(4)
URS-ch11 Semifinal Leningrad (1), 20.05.1938
White prepared for Black's hanging pawns move. It seems that the white position is
quite solid, but Black finds a break in White's camp - the e3-pawn and the c1–rook
are located on the same diagonal. 17...Bh6 Unexpectedly the idea of d5-d4 became
actual. 18.Ba3 Attractive move. However, there is no harmony in the White's pieces'
coordination. And White allows Black to apply their main idea. 18...Ng4 Bxe3 is a
threat. 19.Qd3 Nde5 20.Nxe5 Qxe5 21.Ng3 Qf6 An ideal strategy is to attack
weaknesses alternately. The next one is the f2-pawn. 22.Nh1 d4 White pieces are
pressured and Black applies a final strike in the center. 23.Qe2 Black holds the
initiative, but the position is quite complicated. Later in the game, both players made
several mistakes and finally Black won. 23...Ne5 24.exd4 cxd4 25.Rxc8 Bxc8
26.Re1 d3 27.Qd1 Bg4 28.Qa1 d2 29.Rxe5 d1Q 30.Re8+ Rxe8 31.Qxf6 Be2
32.Ng3 [#] 32...Bg7!–+ 33.Qc6 Bb5 34.Qc1 Qxc1 35.Bxc1 Re1 36.Be3 Ra1 37.a4
Bd3 38.f4 Rb1 39.Kf2 Bxf1 40.Nxf1 Rxb3 0–1 Black wins. 0–1
by thechessworld
Playing with a Backward Pawn Part I
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Geller,Efim P - Najdorf,Miguel
(1)
The White's strategy is successful. White dominates on the light squares. All black
pieces are tied down to the protection of the a6-pawn. White has only to find where
to move their knight from b3 and White finds it. It's d5! 25.Na5 Rc8 26.Nc4 Qc6
27.Ne3 a5 28.Rc4 [28.Ned5 Nxd5 29.Nxd5 Qxc2 30.Qg4 Qf2 31.b4 with an
overwhelming position.] 28...Qa6 29.b3 Bb6 30.Rxc8+ Qxc8 31.Ned5 Nxd5
32.Nxd5 This is the position that White wanted to achieve. The d5-knight is quite
powerful. White should only keep an eye on the g1–square. 32...Qc5 33.Ra1 Qf2
34.Qxf2 Bxf2 35.Rf1 Bd4 36.c3 Bc5 37.g4 hxg3+ 38.Kxg3 The white king enters
the game. The rest is just a pure technique. 38...Rb7 39.Rb1 f6 40.Kf3 Kf7 41.Ke2
Rb8 42.b4 g6 43.Kd3 gxf5 44.exf5 axb4 45.cxb4 Bd4 46.Rc1 Kg7 47.Rc7+ Kh6
48.Ke4 Kg5 49.Rh7 Bf2 50.Rg7+ Kh4 51.Kf3 Be1 52.Kg2 Rf8 53.b5 Ba5 54.b6
Bxb6 55.Nxb6 Rb8 56.Rg4+ Kh5 57.Nd5 1–0 White wins. 1–0
2 Karpov,Anatoly - Mecking,Henrique
(2)
Christmas Congress 1971/72-47 Premier Hastings (6), 04.01.1972
With their last move Black could activate their pieces, but they preferred Qb6. Now
White exchanges "extra" pieces trying to get the control over the most important
square - the d5. 12.Bg5 Be7 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nd5 Qa5+ 15.Qd2 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2
White has only a small advantage, but it's solid enough. Their main plan is to attack
on the kingside. 16...Bg5+ 17.Kd3 0–0 18.h4 Bd8 19.Rac1 a5 20.Kd2 Rb8 21.g4
Nb4 22.Bc4 Nxd5 23.Bxd5 The bishop on d5 paralyzes the Black's play. White is
very close to a winning position: they can centralize the king and still attack the
enemy king. 23...g5 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.Kd3 Kg7 26.h5 Bb6 27.Rh3 Bc5 28.Rf1 f6
29.hxg6 Kxg6 30.Rfh1 Rbe8 31.Rh7 The white rooks force the enemy king into a
mating net. 31...Kg5 32.Ke2 Kf4 33.R1h3 Bd4 34.Rg7 Checkmate is unavoidable.
1–0
3 Fischer,Robert James (2760) - Petrosian,Tigran V

(3)
Candidates f Fischer-Petrosian +5–1=3 Buenos Aires (1), 30.09.1971
It seems that White occupied the d5-square and they are going to choke Black
move-by-move. However, the unpleasant position of the knight on a3 allows Black
to apply a tactical strike. 11...d5! 12.exd5 Fork? 12...Bxa3 13.bxa3 Qa5! 14.Qd2
0–0–0! Only this move order offers a full play. White can't find a good spot for their
king. 15.Bc4 Rhg8 16.Rd1 Bf5 [16...Rxg2 provides Black with a strong advantage.
White can't unpin their pieces.]
by thechessworld
17.Bd3 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Nd4 19.0–0 Kb8 20.Kh1 Qxa3 21.f4 Rc8 22.Ne4 Qxd3
23.cxd3 Rc2 24.Rd2 Rxd2 25.Nxd2 f5 26.fxe5 Re8 27.Re1 Nc2 28.Re2 Nd4
29.Re3 Nc2 30.Rh3 Rxe5 31.Nf3 Rxd5 32.Rxh7 Rxd3 33.h4 Ne3 34.Rxf7 Rd1+
35.Kh2 Ra1 36.h5 f4 37.Rxf4 Rxa2 38.Re4 Nxg2 39.Kg3 Ra5 40.Ne5 1–0 White
wins. 1–0
4 Lepeshkin,Vladimir - Bebchuk,Evgeni
(4)
Moscow Moscow, 1963
A typical way to take advantage of the backward pawn that Black has on d6. First,
Black fixes the e4-pawn and then attacks it opening the position in their favor. White
hasn't enough resources neither for the flank attack nor for the blockade of the d6-
pawn. 16...e5 17.Rf3 h6 18.Rg1 White actively locates their rook with the idea of
playing g2-g4, but that won't work. Black is ahead. 18...d5! 19.exd5 Bxd5 20.Rg3
Kf8 A simple move with the king stops the attack of White. And now their pieces are
uncoordinated and the f5-pawn becomes a weakness. 21.Nxd5 Qxd5 the f6-knight
cements the black king's position and now Black can effectively attack the
queenside. This is a typical play for Sicilian variations. 22.c4 bxc4 23.Bxc4 Qe4
24.Rh3 a5 25.Rf1 Rac8 26.Bb5 Red8 27.Qxe4 Nxe4 The endgame doesn't ease
the position for White. A strong centralization of the black pieces offers a stable
advantage by the end of the game. 28.Re3 Rd4 29.Kg1 f6 30.Rd3 Rc5 31.Rxd4
exd4 32.Bd3 Nd2 33.Rd1 Nb3 34.Kf2 Ke7 35.Kf3 Kd6 36.g4 Re5 37.Be4 Kc5
38.Kf4 a4 39.h4 Kc4 40.Bd3+ Kd5 41.g5 hxg5+ 42.hxg5 Nc5 43.Bf1 Re4+
44.Kg3 Ke5 45.gxf6 gxf6 46.Rc1 Re3+ 47.Kg2 Ne4 48.Bb5 d3 49.Bxa4 Re2+
50.Kf3 Kd4 51.Rc8 Rf2+ 52.Kg4 Rxb2 53.Bc6 Rg2+ 54.Kf3 Rf2+ 55.Kg4 d2
56.Rd8+ Ke3 57.Ba4 Rf4+ 58.Kh5 Ng3+ 59.Kg6 Rxa4 0–1 Black wins. 0–1
by thechessworld
Playing with a Backward Pawn Part II
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Unzicker,Wolfgang - Fischer,Robert James

(1)
Olympiad–15 Final A Varna (7), 04.10.1962
A tricky position. Black has only one weakness - the backward pawn on d6.
However, it's easy to protect it. Other black pieces are quite active - the a-file is
occupied. The Black's task is to create tactical motifs. That's why they should
weaken the enemy king. 23...Bg5! The check on f4 is unpleasant, and White
decided to defend against it. 24.g3? Qa7! The black pieces' coordination obtained
some harmony. The main threat is the check on f2. 25.Kg2 Ra2 The b3-knight didn't
participate in the game. 26.Kf1 Rxc3! This is the master's play. The white army is
paralyzed.[Rxa2 Rf3+ Ke2 Rf2+ Kd3 26...Qc7 27.Nc5 Rd2+ Kc3 Rxd5] 0–1
2 Kortschnoj,Viktor Lvovich - Karpov,Anatoly

(2)
White has an extra pawn. However, it's obvious that in this position an extra pawn
doesn't count. The d5-knight is stronger than the bishop on a1, and White has to play
carefully. Being in a time trouble White moved their queen to c1, and now a tactical
strike follows. 39...Bg5 Black pieces immediately join the attack on the enemy king.
40.Qf1 Qf3 Qxg3+ [Be3 fxe3 Qg2 Bxf2+ 40...Qxf2+–+ Qxb3] 41.h4 0–1 Black
wins.[41.Nc5 Ne3! the queen has to be sacrificed.; 41.Qg2 Qe3 42.Kh2 Qxb3 This
position can't be saved.] 0–1
3 Karpov,Anatoly - Spassky,Boris Vasilievich

(3)
Candidates sf Karpov-Spassky +4–1=6 Leningrad (11), 04.1974
In this position we see a typical example of the backward pawn on c6. It allows White
to get a pawn majority on the kingside. However, to realize this pawn majority, White
should undermine Black's pawn chain. 21.e4 Bh3 22.Re1 dxe4 23.N3xe4 Qg6 With
fixed pawn chains the knight is usually a better piece than a bishop. For example,
the bishop on c7 is restricted with white pawns and becomes the object of the attack.
White tries to attack the c6-pawn. 24.Bh5 Qh7 25.Qf3 f5 26.Nc3 g6 The white
bishop is trapped. However, it's more important that the white forces enter the
enemy camp, while the black king is exposed. 27.Qxc6 gxh5 28.Nd5 The white
army is centralized, but the black pieces are uncoordinated. 28...f4 The attempt to
get closer to the white king is too late. 29.Re7 Qf5 [29...fxg3 30.Nf6+ (30.Rxh7??
gxf2+ 31.Kh1 f1Q+ 32.Rxf1 Rxf1#) 30...Rxf6 31.Qxa8+ Rf8 32.Qxf8+ Kxf8 33.Rxh7
gxh2+ 34.Kh1 and it's time to resign] 30.Rxc7 Rae8 31.Qxh6 The fastest way to win
the game. There are several mating threats simultaneously. 31...Rf7 32.Rxf7 Kxf7
33.Qxf4 Re2 34.Qc7+ Kf8 35.Nf4 1–0 White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
4 Praggnanandhaa,Rameshbabu (2608) - Grischuk,Alexander (2777)

(4)
Speed Chess Super Swiss chess.com INT (8), 03.10.2020
How to find the best moment to get rid of a backward pawn. If all your pieces are
located properly and you are ready to open the position, this is the best moment. You
should only calculate tactics. 21...d5! 22.exd5 Nxd5 23.Bf3 It seems that the black
knight is undern an unpleasant pin. 23...Nxc3 24.Bxc6 Nxd1 25.Qe2 Nxe3 For the
queen Black got too much material. 26.Bxb7 Rb8 27.Bxa6 Nxg2 White got 3
passed pawns on the queenside, but their promotion is time consuming. White is
likely to get checkmated earlier. 28.Bd3 N2f4 29.Qf3 Nxd3 [29...Nh4 30.Qe4 Nxd3
31.cxd3 Bd5 32.Qe2 Bc5 The black bishops are perfect. 33.Ne4 Bd4 with multiple
threats.] 30.cxd3 Rxb2 31.a6 Bd5 32.Ne4 Nf4 33.a7 Ba8 now the pawn is stopped.
34.Qe3 Rxd3 35.Qe1 Nxh3+ 36.Kf1 Rd8 37.Rc1 Bb4 38.Rb1 Bxe1 39.Rxb2 Bxe4
40.Rb8 Rf8 41.Kxe1 Ba8 42.Ke2 Nf4+ 0–1 Black wins. 0–1
by thechessworld
Playing with Doubled Pawns Part I
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Polugaevsky,Lev (2625) - Larsen,Bent (2620) [D16]

(1)
Interzonal–11a Riga (11), 19.09.1979
How to get rid of an unpleasant pin? 9.Qd3! White agrees to exchange. As

compensation for double pawns, they get a bishop pair, a strong center, and a play
through the g-file. However, not everything is simple. In the endgame, the black
knights may occupy blockading positions. 9...Bxf3 10.gxf3 Nc7 11.Rg1 Nh5
12.Ke2 g6 13.d5 Bd6 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.Qd4 0–0 16.Rgd1 Bxh2? a wrong
assessment of the position. 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 19.Bxa7 And here the
white bishops are more powerful. Knights usually fight against an edge pawn badly.
19...Be5 20.a5 Nf4+ 21.Kf1 Rd2 22.Nd1 Na8 23.Be3 Rd7 24.a6 Kf8 25.Nc3 g5
26.Na4 Bd4 27.Rd1 e5 28.Nc5 Rd8 29.Nb3 Bb6 30.Rxd8+ Bxd8 31.a7 Bb6
32.Bxb6 Nxb6 33.Na5 Ke7 34.Nxc6+ Kd6 35.Nb4 Ne6 36.Nd5 Na8 37.Nf6 h6
38.Bd5 Nec7 39.Ne8+ 1–0
(2)
2 Bronstein,David Ionovich - Tartakower,Saviely
Interzonal–01 Saltsjobaden (19), 13.08.1948
You shouldn't look for any forcing combination here playing for White. But you can
find a way how to worsen the enemy pawn structure. 13.Bh5! Nxe3 14.Bxg6+ hxg6
15.fxe3 The black pawns are like "firewood". The black king is weak, that's why they
decide to exchange queens. 15...Qd3 16.Qf3 e6 17.Qe4 Qxe4 18.Nxe4 Certainly,
Black has an extra pawn here. It is true, as well as the fact that they have to struggle
a lot playing this position and finally may get a chance to draw the game. Aside from
a bad pawn structure, there is another important factor - the knight on e4 dominates
the enemy bishop. 18...Be7 19.Ke2 Rd8 20.Rad1 0–0 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Rf1 After
the exchange of one rook pair, White decided to keep the second pair on the board.
One black rook alone can't create any counter-play. Moreover, all squares of
invasion are under the White's control. White, at the same time, is going to attack
enemy double pawns directly. 22...b6 23.Nf2 Rd5 24.Nd3 Bf6 25.Nb4 Rb5 26.a4
Rc5 27.e4 b5 28.a5 Bd8 29.Ra1 Rc4 30.Kd3 Be7 31.Na6 Ra4 32.Rxa4 bxa4
33.Nb8 Here the knight is extremely strong. None of the black pawns feels safe. The
black bishop can't even attack the white pawns. 33...a3 34.bxa3 Bxa3 35.Nxc6 Bc5
36.Kc4 Bg1 37.Kb5 Kf7 38.Ka6 Kf6 39.Nxa7 Kg5 40.g3 Bf2 41.c4 Kf6 42.Nc8
Bxg3 43.c5 1–0 White wins. 1–0
3 Kasparov,Garry (2710) - Smyslov,Vassily V (2600)

(3)
Candidates f Kasparov-Smyslov +4–0=9 Vilnius (9), 30.03.1984
by thechessworld
In this position White decided to play the endgame with double pawns. 14.Qxc3!
[14.Rxc3 Qb6 (14...Nxb4 15.e4 (15.Rc5? Nd3+!) 15...Na6 (15...Na2? 16.Rc2
Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Be6 18.Bc4+-; 15...f6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.axb4 Qxb4 18.Bc4 Qb1+?
19.Rc1 Qxe4+ 20.Kd1!+-) 16.Bxa6 bxa6 17.Rxc6 (17.0–0 h6! (17...0–0 18.Bf6!)
18.Qd6? hxg5 19.Qxc6+ Ke7 20.Rc5 (20.e5 Rh6) 20...Qb6) 17...Qxd2+ 18.Kxd2±)
15.Rc1 h6 16.Bh4 Bf5 +/=/+/-] 14...Nxc3 15.bxa5 Ne4 16.Bf4± A bishop pair in
open position is quite powerfull. Moreover, the black pawns on the queenside are
the objects of the attack of the white rooks. Moreover, the black rook can't occupy
the b8-square. From the other hand, White has material majority on the kingside and
they are likely to take advantage of it. 16...0–0 17.f3 Nf6 18.e4 Re8 [18...Bd7 /\ b6
19.Kf2 b6 20.Ba6! Bc8 (20...c5 21.Bb7 Rad8 22.Bc7 Rde8 23.Bd6) 21.Be2 Bd7
(21...c5 22.Bc7 Nd7 23.Rhd1 Zugzwang) 22.Rhd1 b5 23.Bg5±] 19.Kf2 a6 20.Be2
[20.Rb1 Re7 21.Bd6 Rxe4! and Black impoves their position.] 20...Be6 21.Rb1 Re7
22.Rhd1 Rae8 23.Rb2! Bc8 24.Rbd2 Rd7 25.Rxd7 Nxd7 26.g4! Nc5?! [26...h6
each pawn exchange brings Black closer to a draw.] 27.Be3 Nd7 [27...Ne6?! 28.f4
Rd8 29.f5 Rxd1 30.Bxd1 Nc7 31.a4! Ne8 32.Bb3 Nf6 33.Kf3 Nd7 34.Kf4 Kf8 35.e5±;
27...Nb3 28.Bb6 c5 29.Bc4 Be6 30.Bxb3 Bxb3 31.Rd7 c4 32.Bd4 White still has
some advantage, but an endgame with bishops of opposite colors has a lot of
drawing tendencies.] 28.g5! Ne5 [28...Re5? 29.f4! Rxe4? 30.Bg4 Re7 31.Bc5+-]
29.Bd4! White would better prevent piece exchanges. [29.Kg3? Be6 /\ 30....Nc4,
30.... Bc4] 29...Ng6 30.Kg3 Nf8 31.h4 Rd8 32.f4 Be6 33.Bc3! [33.f5 Bb3 34.Rd2
c5! 35.Bc3 Rxd2 36.Bxd2 Nd7 37.Kf4 f6!] 33...Rxd1 34.Bxd1 Nd7 [34...g6 35.Bc2]
35.f5 Bc4 36.h5! h6 [36...f6 37.h6+-] 37.gxh6 >< h6 37...gxh6 38.e5 Nc5 39.Kf4
Bd5 40.Bc2 f6 41.e6 Kg7 42.Bb4 [42.Bd4 Nb3 43.e7 Kf7 44.Bxf6] 42...Nb3 43.Ke3
c5 [43...Bc4 44.Bc3 Bd5 45.Be4! Bc4 (45...Nc5 46.Bxd5 cxd5 47.Kd4 Ne4 48.Bb4
Ng3 49.Kxd5 Nxf5 50.Kc5 Ng3 51.Kb6 Nxh5 52.Kxb7 Nf4 53.Kxa6 Nxe6 54.Kb6)
46.Bf3 Nc1 (46...Bb5 47.Be2!) 47.e7 Bf7 48.Bd1 Zugzwang] 44.Bc3+- Kf8
Abgabezug[44...Nc1 45.Ba4+-; 44...c4 45.Be4 Bc6 46.Bxc6 bxc6 47.Ke4+-; ; Bxb3
Bxb3 Bxf6 44...Be4 45.Bxe4+- Kxe4 Ke7 Kd5] 1–0
4 Exercise double pawn

(4)
This exercise is provided for you to understand how dangerous playing with double
pawns can be. First of all, the h-file is open, and the h-pawn can be potentially
promoted. Secondly, such pawns are not mobile. And Black takes advantage of it by
simply blocking it. The white king is active and only a pawn breakout can save the
Black's position. 1...g4! The only winning move. All others lead to a loss. 2.Kc5 f4
3.gxf4 [3.exf4 h4 4.gxh4 g3 5.fxg3 e3–+] 3...h4–+ 0–1 Black wins. 0–1
by thechessworld
Playing with Doubled Pawns Part II
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Karjakin,Sergey (2782) - Nakamura,Hikaru (2784) [B01]

(1)
Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz Moscow (9), 12.06.2013
It's hard to believe that a grandmaster may lose such a position with white pieces.
Black has double pawns, but that offers them a clear play through the g-file, as well
as an opportunity to undermine the White's pawn chain by f5-f4. 20...Rhg8 21.Rde1
Kf6 22.Re3 Rad8 23.Rhe1 Rg4 24.Ne5 Bxe5 25.Rxe5 Rd5 Despite the simplicity
of the position, it's full of dangers for White. The black king may march to attack the
white pawns. 26.Kd3 f4 27.R5e4 Rf5 28.R1e2? A decisive mistake. White gives up
too early. [continuation 28.Rxf4 Rfxf4 29.gxf4 Rxh4 seems to be dangerous for
White, however, there is a counter-play. 30.Re5 b6 31.b4] 28...fxg3 29.Rxg4 gxf2
30.Rxf2 hxg4 31.Rg2 Rf4 The h4-pawn won't go anywhere, while the f+g pawn pair
can't be stopped. 32.Ke3 Kf5 33.h5 Rf3+ 34.Ke2 Kg5 35.h6 Rh3 36.Rf2 f5 0–1
2 Nimzowitsch,Aron - Capablanca,Jose Raul

(2)
St Petersburg International Preliminary St Petersburg (1), 21.04.1914
Black is a pawn down, they also have double pawns on the c-file. If the game passed
into the pawn endgame, Black would resign. However, there are a lot of pieces on
the board and both black rooks can attack the white pawns through the a- & b-files.
White also feels the pressure of the dark-squared bishop of Black. The knight on c4
is another active piece. Moreover, Black has no weaknesses. 19...Ra8 20.a4 Nxd2
21.Qxd2 Qc4 White can hardly defend their position. The black rooks are ready to
invade the 4th rank. 22.Rfd1 Reb8 23.Qe3 Rb4 24.Qg5 Bd4+ 25.Kh1 Rab8
Unexpectedly the white position becomes losing. 26.Rxd4 Of course, Black takes
advantage of extra exchange. The white knight doesn't have any good spots.
26...Qxd4 27.Rd1 Qc4 28.h4 Rxb2 29.Qd2 Qc5 30.Re1 Qh5 31.Ra1 Qxh4+
32.Kg1 Qh5 33.a5 Ra8 34.a6 Qc5+ 35.Kh1 Qc4 36.a7 Qc5 37.e5 Qxe5 38.Ra4
Qh5+ 39.Kg1 Qc5+ 40.Kh2 d5 41.Rh4 Rxa7 42.Nd1 0–1 Black wins. 0–1
3 Smyslov,Vassily V - Stahlberg,Gideon
(3)
The black king is exposed, but their black pawns control the entry squares. White
has to speed up the attack. 20.Ne5! The elegant maneuver! 20...Qe7 [20...fxe5
leads to a quick loss 21.Qg5+ Kh8 22.Qf6+ Kg8 23.Rxe5 Qxe5 (23...Rfe8 24.Rg5+
Kf8 25.Rh5 Nd7 26.Qh4 Re7 27.Rxh7 Ke8 28.Rh8+ Nf8 29.Rxf8+ with 2 extra
pawns and a strong attack) 24.Qxe5] 21.Ng4 Rg8 22.Nh6 Qc7 23.Nxg8 Rxg8
24.b3 Kh8 the rest is obvious 25.Qh6 Rg6 26.Qh4 Nd7 27.Re3 Qa5 28.Rh3 Nf8
29.Rg3 Qxa2 30.Rxg6 Nxg6 31.Qxf6+ Kg8 32.Qf3 Qc2 33.Qd3 1–0 White wins.
1–0
by thechessworld
4 Cohn,Erich - Rubinstein,Akiba
(4)
St Petersburg Chigorin Memorial St Petersburg (10), 28.02.1909
This is the case when double pawns make the position lose. The main problem is the
weakness of the pawn on h2. 25...Kf6! 26.Kd2 Kg5 27.Ke2 Kh4 28.Kf1 Kh3
29.Kg1 The white king was in time to save the pawn. However, Black is going to
advance their pawns without problems. 29...e5 30.Kh1 b5! A technical move. In
case of a Zugzwang Black would get a reserved tempo a7-a6. 31.Kg1 f5 32.Kh1
[32.e4 fxe4 33.fxe4 g5 34.f3 h6 35.Kh1 h5 36.Kg1 h4 37.Kh1 g4 38.fxg4 Kxg4–+]
32...g5 33.Kg1 a waiting technique also doesn't save. 33...h5 34.Kh1 g4 35.e4 fxe4
36.fxe4 h4 37.Kg1 g3 38.hxg3 hxg3 0–1 Black wins. 0–1
by thechessworld
Playing the Minority Attack Part I
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Petrosian,Tigran V - Krogius,Nikolai V
(1)
URS-ch26 Final Tbilisi (9), 24.01.1959
White is expecting Black to play c6. That's why they prepare b4-b5 maneuver in
advance trying to destroy the enemy pawn chain. 12.b4 Bf5?! Now White is left with
2 knights which are better with such a pawn structure. [12...Bg4; 12...c6] 13.Bxf5
Nxf5 14.b5 Qd6?! This is a spot for the knight. With the bishop on g7 Black is unable
to initiate the attack on the enemy king. That's why the knight has nothing to do on f5.
[14...Nd6 15.Rc1 Nc4] 15.Qb3 Ne7 16.Rfc1 Kh8? [16...Rfc8] 17.Rc2 h6 18.Rac1
White has a lot of space, and because of no counter-play of Black, they have enough
tempi to ideally place their pieces. 18...c6 19.Na4 [19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Na4 (20.Ne2)
20...Rab8„] 19...Rab8 20.g3 Petrosian liked prophylaxis a lot. [20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Qc3
Kg8 22.Nc5±] 20...Kh7 21.Nc5 Rfd8 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.Qa4 Qf6 24.Kg2 Black has
no counter-play. Maybe they should try h6-h5? [24.Ne5] 24...Ra8 25.Nb7 Re8
26.Na5 g5 27.h3 Qf5 28.Nxc6 Qe4 29.Rc5 f5 30.Qc2 A queen exchange is quite a
common strategy in such positions. 30...Nxc6 31.Rxc6 f4 32.exf4 gxf4 33.g4 Bxd4
34.Qd2 Bg7 35.Re1 Qa4 36.Qxd5 Black tried to initiate an attack against the white
king. But White doesn't care about it. It's not required. 36...Rxe1 37.Nxe1 Rf8
38.Nf3 Kh8 39.Rc7 a6 40.Qb7 Rg8 41.Nh4 1–0 White wins. 1–0
2 Smyslov,Vassily V - Keres,Paul
(2)
World-ch17 Tournament The Hague/Moscow (17), 25.04.1948
15.Qb3 After the exchange on c6 White continues playing on the queenside. Their
task is to attack the b7- & d5-pawns, as well as to exchange the bishop on c6.
15...Be7 16.Bxf6 Certainly, leaving Black with a dark-squared bishop, which is
blocked with white pawns, only favors White. Black has no prospects to attack the
white king. 16...Bxf6 17.Bb5 Qd6 18.Rfc1 h5 19.Ne2 h4 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Qa4
Ne7 22.Rb7 White ideally initiates a typical plan. One of the weaknesses will be lost.
22...a5 23.h3 Reb8 24.Rcb1 [24.Rxb8+ Rxb8 (24...Qxb8 25.Nf4 And the knight
goes to e5 to attack the c6-pawn.) 25.Qxa5] 24...Rxb7 25.Rxb7 c5 26.Rb5 cxd4
27.Nexd4 As a result of the inaccuracy of White, Black was able to almost equalize.
However, their pawns are long-term weaknesses. 27...Rc8?! [27...Qc7 Everything
is protected, and it's not clear how White wins.] 28.Nb3 Bc3 29.Qxh4 Rc4 30.g4 a4
31.Nbd4 Bxd4 32.Nxd4 Qe5 33.Nf3 White has an extra pawn, and their king is
covered better. However, Black still has weaknesses on a4 & d5. 33...Qd6 34.Ra5
Rc8 35.Rxa4 Ng6 36.Qh5 Qf6 37.Qf5 Qc6 38.Ra7 Rf8 39.Rd7 d4 40.Rxd4 Ra8
41.a4 1–0 White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
3 Furman,Semen Abramovich - Klovans,Janis

(3)
URS-chT Cup 04th Moscow (2.4), 12.10.1964
White slows down with their minority attack. Black pieces are concentrated on the
kingside, but they still need to reinforce their attacking group of pieces. 19...Re6
Black assumes Rce8 and Rh6 with serious threats. White doesn't withstand the
stress and ruins their pawn structure. 20.e4?! dxe4 21.Nxe4 Black immediately got
new objects of the attack. 21...Qf4 22.Nc5 Black ignores the White's threats.
22...Nf3! The threat number one is checkmate in 2 moves on h2 and some other.
23.g3 [23.gxf3 Bxf3+] 23...Rh6 24.h3 Rxh3+ 25.Bxh3 Qh6 Checkmate through the
light squares is unavoidable. 0–1
4 Chekhover,Vitaly A - Riumin,Nikolay Nikolaevich

(4)
URS Young Masters-ch Leningrad (11), 12.1936
Because Black occupied the c4-square with their knight, they also covered the
weakness on c6. That's why it makes sense to undermine the entire structure and
isolate the d5-pawn. This is how the white knight gets more prospects. The c4-knight
may be hanging as well. 16.a5! a6 Provoking this move favors White. Now the white
rook may invade the b6-square. At the same time, the dark-squared bishop of Black
doesn't move to a6. 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.Nd2 Nxd2 19.Qxd2 Ra7 20.Rab1 Kh8
21.Na4 The White's position is close to winning. White is ahead of Black who tries to
attack the kingside. 21...g5 22.Nc5 Bd8 23.Nd3 h5 24.Rfc1 Rh7 25.Bxd5 A small
tactic. The white rooks invade the 8th rank which leads to a disaster. 25...cxd5
26.Rxc8 h4 27.Rbb8 hxg3 28.fxg3 Rd7 29.Ne5 This knight is strong as a rook.
29...f4 30.exf4 gxf4 31.Nxd7 Qxd7 32.Qxf4 1–0 White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
Playing the Minority Attack Part II
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Trifunovic,Petar - Pirc,Vasja
(1)
Interzonal–01 Saltsjobaden (12), 01.08.1948
This position favors Black rather than more common Carlsbad pawn structures. The
Rc1 move is less useful than a7-a6. Now it's more difficult for White to initiate the
minority attack. The Black's task is to find a good spot for their light-squared bishop
or just exchange this light-squared bishop. 12...g6!? The idea of this move is to
relocate the knight to g7 and with Bf5 move exchange light-squares bishops.
13.Na4 Ne6 14.Bh4 Ng7 15.Nc5 Nd7 16.Bxe7 Rxe7 17.b4 Nb6 Black maximally
reinforced their queenside. 18.a4 Bf5 Now the position is absolutely equal. 19.Nd2
Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Nf5 1/2–1/2 The game is a draw.
2 Polugaevsky,Lev - Spassky,Boris Vasilievich

(2)
URS-ch31 Final Leningrad (18), 11.1963
White played slowly. They spent a tempo on castling and allowed Black to play b7-
b5 and stop White's minority attack. However, now the c6-pawn is a weakness and
Black intends to defend it from the side. 13...b5 14.a4 a6 15.a5 Otherwise, the black
knight goes to c4. 15...Re8 16.Ne2 Be7 17.Qb3 Bd6 18.Nc1 The best for the white
knight is d3. 18...g5 With this move Black clears the 6th rank. 19.Nd3 g4 20.Nd2
Re6 21.Rfc1 Qg5 22.Ra2 Rae8 23.Rac2 Qh6 24.Nf1 The board is divided into two
parts by the pawn barrier. 24...Bb8 25.Nc5 Nxc5 26.Rxc5 Rg6 27.Qc2 Ree6 That
was the main idea of black. Now the position is equal and soon both players agreed
to a draw. 28.g3 Kg7 29.Qf5 1/2–1/2 The game is a draw.
3 Taimanov,Mark E - Nezhmetdinov,Rashid
(3)
URS-ch21 Final Kiev (5), 14.01.1954
White successfully conducted the minority attack. However, their last move Nf3-d2
is a serious mistake. It was better to exchange the light-squared bishop for the
knight on e4. In such a case, Black won't have enough resources to succeed with
the kingside attack. 17...Nxd2! 18.Qxd2 Nh4 Unexpectedly, White experiences
serious problems. Black creates the threats of Bf3 & Qg5. That's why White has to
sacrifice the pawn. 19.f3 Qxe3+ 20.Qxe3 Rxe3 21.fxg4 Rxd3 22.bxc6 bxc6
23.Ne2 There is a strong advantage for Black in this position. However, they couldn't
win the game.
by thechessworld
4 Salov,Valery (2710) - Timman,Jan H (2635)

(4)
Candidates FIDE sf3 Sanghi Nagar (5), 1994
If Black doesn't want to experience some discomfort because of the minority attack,
there is an option to play c5. 12...c5 13.a4 [13.dxc5 Nxc5 with active play] 13...b6
14.Ba3 Bb7 15.a5 bxa5 16.Nf5 Bf8 17.Na4 c4 18.Bc2 Bxa3 19.Rxa3 Qc7 And
Black gets a promising position.
by thechessworld
Playing with a Queenside Pawn Majority Part I
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Marshall,Frank James - Capablanca,Jose Raul

(1)
Match Capablanca-Marshall +8–1=14 New York (23), 23.06.1909
The position seems to be approximately equal, and it's obvious that both players
with fight for the d-file. If Black wants to play for a win, they should advance their
queenside pawns. Black has a pawn majority there. The queen move provokes
White to double the rooks on the c-file. 17...Qc7 18.Rc3?! b5 19.a3?! White doesn't
feel a danger. [19.b3 could prevent c5-c4. However, the White's position is passive
in this case.] 19...c4 20.Bf3 Rfd8 21.Rd1 Rxd1+ 22.Bxd1 Rd8 23.Bf3 g6 The last
preparation before exchanges. 24.Qc6 Qe5 25.Qe4 Qxe4 26.Bxe4 Rd1+ 27.Kg2
a5 The rest is simple. White can't do anything to counter-balance the black pawn
march. 28.Rc2 b4 29.axb4 axb4 30.Bf3 Rb1 31.Be2 b3 32.Rd2 Rc1 33.Bd1 c3
34.bxc3 b2 35.Rxb2 Rxd1 36.Rc2 Bf5 37.Rb2 Rc1 38.Rb3 Be4+ 39.Kh3 Rc2
40.f4 h5 41.g4 hxg4+ 42.Kxg4 Rxh2 43.Rb4 f5+ 44.Kg3 Re2 45.Rc4 Rxe3+
46.Kh4 Kg7 47.Rc7+ Kf6 48.Rd7 Bg2 49.Rd6+ Kg7 0–1 Black wins. 0–1
2 Smyslov,Vassily V - Szabo,Laszlo
(2)
Christmas Congress 1954/55-30 Premier Hastings (4), 01.01.1955
It's hard to believe that this position with equal material is winning for White. White
far advanced their queenside pawn. That is the reason. Black can hardly stop these
pawns. If Black decides to sacrifice a minor piece for these pawns, it's still enough
pawns on the board to realize the White's material advantage. 33.b5! e5 34.Ne4+
Ke6 35.c6! a tricky tactical strike. 35...exf4+ 36.Kxf4 bxc6 37.Nc5+ Kd6 38.Nxb3
cxb5 39.h4 Nc6 40.Bxc6 Kxc6 41.Kg4 b4 42.axb4 Kb5 43.Nd4+ 1–0 White wins.
1–0
3 Bronstein,David Ionovich - Rantanen,Yrjo A

(3)
Tallinn Tallinn (9), 28.02.1975
The material is equal on the board. However, the white pieces are located better and
they have a pawn majority on the queenside. White starts realizing it, but before they
have to paralyze the Black's forces. 20.g4! This technique is quite common for
endgames. 20...a6 21.g5 Ne8 Now each pawn move by Black will only weaken their
position. That's why the black king can't join the place of action right away. 22.a4
Ra7 23.h4 Rb7 While Black is stuck, White occupies the d-file. 24.Rd3 Rc5 25.Re1
Rd7 26.Red1 g6 27.Ne2 Rxd3+ 28.Rxd3 b5 The last attempt to demostrate some
activity. 29.cxb5 axb5 30.Rd7 Kf8 Black is almost in a Zugzwang. 31.a5 Rc6
32.Rb7 b4 33.Rb8 Bc5 34.Ng3 1–0 White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
4 Larsen,Bent - Spassky,Boris Vasilievich

(4)
Olympiad–18 Final A Lugano (11), 04.11.1968
This endgame is tactical. The assessment of this position is based on concrete

variations. Black hopes to promote the c-pawn, however, now their pawn
construction is under the attack of the enemy rooks. Black finds a way how to lock
one of the rooks out. 26...Kf6! 27.axb5 g6! 28.Rxh6 axb5 If the black rook entered
the b3-square, White would have to resign. Two passed pawns cost a rook.
29.Nd4? [29.Rh4 Rd3 30.Ra1 Kg7 31.Ne1 Rb3 32.Rf4 Rxb4 33.Ra7 The result is
not clear] 29...Nd2+ 30.Kg1 Nb3 31.Nxb3 cxb3 And how to fight against this pawn
only with one rook? 32.Rb1 Re4 33.g3 Rxb4 34.Rh4 Rxh4 35.gxh4 Rd3 The
material balance shouldn't mislead, Black is winning. 36.Kg2 Ke5 0–1 Black wins.
0–1
by thechessworld
Playing with a Queenside Pawn Majority Part II
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Kasparov,Garry (2595) - Vukic,Milan (2460)

(1)
EU-chT 07th Final Skara (7.8), 26.01.1980
White has a strong advantage because of positional benefits. One of them is a pawn
majority on the queenside. However, now Black intends to play b7-b5 and provoke
favorable exchanges. That's why White has to fix the black pawns on the queenside.
33.a5! Ne8 [33...b5 34.axb6 Kxb6 35.b3 the c4-pawn is quite strong] 34.Re1 The
second part of the White's plan is to exchange pieces properly. 34...Rd6 35.f4
Nf6?? In a complicated position Black allows White to realize their plan. The pawn
endgame is completely losing for Black. 36.Bxf6 gxf6 37.Rd1 1–0 White
wins.[37.Rd1 Kxd1 37...Kc5 38.g5 fxg5 39.fxg5 hxg5 40.h6+-] 1–0
2 Padevsky,Nikola Bochev - Barcza,Gedeon

(2)
Kecskemet Toth Memorial–01 Kecskemet (7), 19.05.1966
The position looks approximately equal. However, the white pawns are located
better. They may threaten with a queen exchange after which a pawn majority on the
queenside is decisive. 28.Qd3 Qc5 29.Ne4 Qb6 30.b4 Slowly White moves their
pawn army, while their king is well covered behind it. 30...Ka7 31.Kb3 Qc7 32.f3
Kb8 33.c5 Kc8 34.Nd2 Qd7 White occupied a lot of space which provokes Black to
exchange queens. Otherwise, White initiates a mating attack. 35.Qxd7+ Kxd7
36.Kc4 Kc6 37.a4 b5+ 38.cxb6 Kxb6 White is strategically winning. They have only
to find how to maneuver the knight to attack the kingside pawns of Black. 39.Ne4 a5
40.b5 Bf4 41.Kd4 Kc7 42.Kd3 Kb6 43.Kc4 Kc7 44.Kd4 Bc1 45.Kd3 Ba3 46.Nd2
Bb4 47.Nc4 Be1 48.Ne5 f6 49.Nc4 Kd7 50.Ke3 Bb4 51.Kd4 Be1 52.Ke4 Kc7
53.Kf4 Kd7 54.Kg4 Kc7 55.Kf4 Kd7 56.Ke3 Bb4 57.Ke4 Be1 58.g4 Bb4 59.Kf4
Be1 60.Ke3 Bc3 61.Kd3 Be1 62.Ke4 Bc3 63.f4 Be1 64.f5 e5 65.Kd5 Bb4 66.b6
Be1 67.Nd6 Bf2 68.b7 Kc7 69.Ke6 Ba7 70.Ne4 Kxb7 71.Kf7 Kc6 72.Kxg7 Kd5
73.Nxf6+ Kd4 74.Kxh6 e4 75.Nxe4 Kxe4 76.Kg6 1–0 White wins. 1–0
3 Faibisovich,Vadim Z (2460) - Okhotnik,Vladimir

(3)
URS Soviet Union, 1979
The position was almost equal all the time, however, it's harder for Black to find the
moves. White always looks for opportunities to pass the game to the favorable
endgame. And now they got the chance. 26.Ne5! Qxf2 27.Rxc6 bxc6 Black has to
exchange pieces. 28.Nxc6+ Kc7 29.Nxd8+ It's important to notice that White
captures the rook with the check. Otherwise, Black could avoid a queen exchange.
29...Kxd8 30.Qd2+ Qxd2+ 31.Kxd2 White is winning. the pawn majority on the
kingside doesn't count, while the White's queenside pawn majority can be
converted to a passed pawn.
by thechessworld
(431...f5 Now the h5-pawn controls two enemy pawns. In fact, White is a pawn
up. [31...g5 32.hxg6 fxg6 33.Ke3 The white king goes to e5, and Black has to
resign.] 32.c4 Kc7 33.c5 Kc6 34.Kd3 Kd5 35.g3 e5 36.Kc3 a6 37.Kd3 a5 38.a3
a4 39.Kc3 e4 40.Kd2 Kc6 41.Ke3 Kd5 42.Kf2 Kc6 43.Ke2 Kd5 44.Ke3 Kc6
45.g4 1–0 White wins. 1–0
4 Spassky,Boris Vasilievich (2615) - Portisch,Lajos (2655)

(4)
Candidates qf Spassky-Portisch +1–1=12 Mexico City (9), 04.1980
Black is defending their position, and White has a better pawn structure. Black
would better play g7-g6 to decrease the number of weaknesses and activate the
rook. You may also notice that at the moment the white knight can't jump to f4 to
attack weak pawns of Black. 31.Rd1! The move is obvious, but at the same time
quite strong. 31...Ke7 32.bxc5 Bxc5 which allows the white knight to get to f4
33.Nf4 Rb8 34.Bb4 Nd7 35.Kc3 Rc8 36.Nd3 Bxb4+ 37.axb4 The plenty of
weaknesses in the Black's camp are decisive. 37...e5 38.Ra1 Rc6 39.Ra5 The ideal
square for the rook. Black pieces are stuck. 39...Kf6 40.g3 Re6 41.Rd5 Nf8 42.Rd8
Ke7 43.Ra8 There are a lot of threats: from Nc5 to Ra7+. Moreover, the c4-pawn
supported by the king can be promoted. 43...g6 44.Nc5 Rd6 45.Nxa6 Ne6 46.b5
gxh5 47.c5 Rd5 48.Ra7+ Ke8 49.b6 1–0 White wins. 1–0
by thechessworld
Complex Pawn Endings Part I
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Borisenko V - Zvorykina K
(1)
Despite being without a pawn, Black wins in this position. 1...a4! 2.Ke4 b4 3.Kxd4
bxa3 4.Kc3 Kg5 Own pawns don't allow the White king to stop the a-pawns of
Black. 5.d4 Kxg4 White resigned. 0–1
2 Godes D,Averbakh Y
(2)
The black king lacks one tempo to stop the pawns. 1.c5! bxc5 [1...Kd5 allows White
to get a protected passed pawn. 2.c6 Kd6 3.Kg6+-] 2.a5 Kd5 3.a6 A standard
algorithm: blockade - undermining - breakthrough [3.b6? axb6 4.axb6 Kc6–+]
3...Kd6 4.b6+-
3 Grigoriev N,1
(3)
Black has a more active king. The white pawns are more advanced. Which of these
two factors is more important? 1.Kc3! It's important to occupy the diagonal
opposition. 1...Kd5 [1...Kf4 2.Kc4 Kg5 3.Kc5 Kxh5 4.Kb6 Kg4 5.Kxa6 h5 6.Kb6 h4
7.a6 h3 8.a7 h2 9.a8Q+-] 2.Kd3 Kc5 [2...Ke5 3.Kc4 Kd6 4.Kd4 Ke6 5.Kc5 Ke5
6.Kb6 Kd6 7.Kxa6 Kc6 8.Ka7 Kc7 9.a6 Kc8 10.Kb6+-] 3.Ke4 Kb5 4.Kf5 Kxa5 5.Kg6
Kb4 6.Kxh6 a5 7.Kg6 a4 8.h6 a3 9.h7 a2 10.h8Q+-
4 Valker
(4)
White should be winning, but they have to play properly. Pawns have a tendency for
a breakthrough. 1.c4! Two pawns are not enough to organize a breakthrough.
[1.c3? a3!–+] 1...bxc3 2.bxc3 a3 3.c4 Kd7 4.e4 Kc7 5.e5 dxe5 6.Kxe5 Kc6 7.Ke6
Kc7 8.Kd5 Kb6 9.Kd6 Kb7 10.Kxc5+-
by thechessworld
Complex Pawn Endings Part II
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Exercise 1
(1)
It's necessary to fix the edge pawn far from the queening square. The black king has
to capture the h-pawn and then get to the c8-square in time. 1...a5! Otherwise,
White plays a5 themselves. 2.Kh5 Kh8 3.Kg6 Kg8 4.Kf5 Kh7 5.Ke5 Kxh6 6.Kd5
Kg6 7.Kc5 Kf6 8.Kb5 Ke6 9.Kxa5 Kd7! 10.Kb6 Kc8! a theoretical draw
2 Lasker Em - Tarrasch S
(2)
Petersburg Petersburg, 1914
Black rushed and passed the game into the pawn endgame, considering their
position to be winning. 1.h4 Kg4 2.h5 was a threat 2.Kg6! It's important to force the
black king to spend a tempo. The white king keeps an eye his pawn, but at the same
time controls the black pawns. [2.Kf6? c4 3.bxc4 bxc4 4.Ke5 c3! 5.bxc3 a4–+]
2...Kxh4 3.Kf5 Kg3 4.Ke4 Kf2 5.Kd5 Ke3 6.Kxc5 Kd3 7.Kxb5 Kc2 8.Kxa5 Kxb3 a
draw
3 Nikolaevsky Y - Taimanov M
(3)
Tbilisi Tbilisi, 1967
In normal conditions White would win the game. However, this position consists of a
nuance. 1.d6 There is no other way to force the black king to move away from the
h5-pawn. 1...Kf6 2.Kxh5 Ke6 3.Kg5 Kxd6 4.Kf5 The white king now shoulders the
black one from the c5-pawn. Is it time to resign? 4...Kc6 5.Ke5 Kb6 6.Kd5 Ka5! A
stalemating fortress! 7.Kxc5 Stalemate
4 Exercise 4
(4)
And in this position White threatens the pawn on d7 and forces their opponent to
stalemate in the middle of the board. 1.Kb4 Kg8 [1...Kh7 2.Kc5 Kh6 3.Kd6 Kg5
4.Kxd7 Kxf5 5.Kxc6 =; 1...d6 2.Ka5 d5 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Kb5 a draw] 2.Kc5 Kf7 3.Kd6
Ke8 4.c5 Kd8 5.f6! gxf6 Otherwise, White wins. Stalemate.
by thechessworld
Complex Pawn Endings Part III
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Exercise 1
(1)
This example is devoted to corresponding squares. 1.Kc6! [1.Kxb6 Kg4 2.Kc5 Kg3
3.b6 Kxg2 4.b7 f3 5.b8Q f2] 1...Kg4 [1...Kg6 The black king is too far. That's why the
pawn can be taken. 2.Kxb6] 2.Kd6! [2.Kd5 an important techique - a distant
opposition. 2...Kh5!] 2...Kg3 3.Ke5 Kg4 4.Kf6 Kh4 5.Kf5 Kg3 6.Kg5 Kxg2
7.Kxf4+-
2 Lombardy - Fischer R
(2)
Ch USA 1960
Black decided that in the pawn endgame they are winning because of the king's
activity. 1...Rxc3+ 2.bxc3 Rxe5+ 3.Kd2 Rxe1 4.Kxe1 Kd5 5.Kd2 Kc4 6.h5 b6
7.Kc2 g5! An important technique: you should prevent any opportunity for a
breakthrough. 8.h6 f4 9.g4 a5 And an outside passed pawn decides the game
10.bxa5 bxa5 11.Kb2 a4 12.Ka3 Kxc3 13.Kxa4 Kd4 14.Kb4 Ke3 White resigned
0–1
3 Exercise 3
(3)
Black doesn't allow White to pass through the a-file. That's why White has to create
a complicated maneuver to win the game. 1.Ka3! a triangular maneuver. White
forces Black to retreat with the king. 1...Kb6 2.Kb2 Ka5 3.Kb3 Kb6 4.Kc3 Ka5
5.Kd2! and again corresponding squares [5.Kd3 Kb4 =] 5...Ka4 [5...Kb4 6.Kd3+-]
6.Ke3 ! [6.Kd3 Kb4] 6...Kb4 7.Kd3 Ka3 8.Ke4 Ka4 9.Kd5 Kb4 10.a3++-
4 Exercise 4
(4)
Despite being only a few pawns on the board, White has to play accurately. 1.Kf5!
[1.e5 Kg6 The black king is able to stop the pawn.] 1...Kh6 [1...g5 2.e5 The black
king falls under a check and they won't be able to promote a pawn to a queen in
time.] 2.e5 Kh7 3.Ke6! [3.e6 Kg8] 3...g5 [3...Kg8 4.Kd7+- controlling the queening
square] 4.Kf7! g4 5.e6 g3 6.e7 g2 7.e8Q g1Q Black loses because of unlucky
located king. 8.Qe4+ Kh6 9.Qh4# 1–0 White wins by checkmate
by thechessworld
Complex Minor Piece Endings Part I

Knight Endings
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Exercise 1
(1)
It's hard to realize which of these two moves leads to a draw 1.Ng3! [1.Nf2? Kd2
2.Kd6 Ke2 3.Nh1 (3.Ne4 Kf3 4.Nd2+ Kg2–+) 3...Kf3 4.Kd5 Kg2 5.Ke4 Kxh1 6.Kf3
Kg1–+] 1...Kd1 [1...Kd3 2.Kd6 Ke3 3.Nf1+ a draw] 2.Kd6 Ke1 3.Ke5 Kf2 4.Kf4 =
2 Exercise 2
(2)
It's unbelievable, but the knight can successfully fight against the enemy king and
two pawns. A knight's ability to fork saves the position. 1.Ne6! g4 2.Ng7 f4 [2...g3 ,
С‚Рѕ 3.Nxf5 g2 4.Ne3+] 3.Nh5 f3 4.Nf6 g3 [4...f2 5.Nxg4 f1Q 6.Ne3+] 5.Ne4 g2
6.Nd2+ Kd3 7.Nxf3 a draw.
3 Exercise 3
(3)
In this position White checkmates in a forcing way despite whose turn it is 1.Nf6 For
example, if it's White to move 1...Kh1 [1...g5 2.Ng4+ Kh1 3.Kf1 h2 4.Nf2#] 2.Ng4 h2
3.Kf1 g5 4.Nf2# 1–0 White wins by checkmate.
4 Exercise 4
(4)
1.Ke6 Kf8 2.Kd7 Kg8 3.Ke7 Kh8 4.Nf6! Stalemating the black king, white destroys
his fortress. 4...gxf6 5.Kf7 with the checkmate on the next move.
by thechessworld
Complex Minor Piece Endings Part II

Opposite-Coloured Bishop Endings
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Exercise 1
(1)
It's important to force black pawns to be located on dark-squares. This is how the
white bishop will create a barrier to block the pawns. 1.c5! Bxc5 2.Bb3 e5 3.Be6
Kc7 4.Ke4 White just needs to keep the bishop on h3-c8 diagonal. It's a draw.
2 Kotov A - Botvinnik M
(2)
Ch URS Moscow, 1955
It's important to save the b- & the h-pawns, but destroy the one on h4. The black
bishop will defend the b3-pawn and control the white pawns. 1...g5! 2.fxg5 [2.hxg5
h4 3.Bd6 Bf5 4.g6 Bxg6 5.f5 Bxf5 6.Kxb3 Kg2–+] 2...d4+! 3.exd4 Kg3 4.Ba3 [4.Be7
Kxh4 5.g6+ Kg4–+] 4...Kxh4 5.Kd3 Kxg5 6.Ke4 h4 7.Kf3 [7.d5 Bxd5+ 8.Kxd5
h3–+] 7...Bd5+ And the black king goes to c2 with a winning position. 0–1
3 Exercise 3
(3)
The black bishop has to attack the d5-pawn from the f7-square, at the same time
taking the e6-square under control. 1...Be8! and the bishop goes to f7 [1...Bd7 2.e5
Bc8 3.Be1! White could win 3...Bg4 4.Kd4 Bf5 5.Bb4+ Kf7 6.Kc5 Bg4 7.Kd6 Bh3
8.e6+ with a victory] 2.Bb4+ Kd7 3.e5 Bf7! 4.Kd4 Bg8 a draw
4 Exercise 4
(4)
The opposite-colored bishop endgame sometimes can be drawing even without 2

pawns. However, if the distance between 2 passed pawn is long enough, usually it's
winning. The white bishop defends one pawn, but the king goes to the other one.
1.Bf3 Bh4 2.Ke6 Kd8 3.f6 Bg5 4.f7 Bh6 5.Kf6 Bf8 6.Kg6 Ke7 7.Kh7! Kd8 [7...Kxf7
8.c7+-] 8.Kg8 Ke7 9.c7 with a victory
by thechessworld
Complex Minor Piece Endings Part III

Same-Coloured Bishop Endings
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Exercise 1
(1)
White can advance the pawn after a few manuevers with their bishop. 1.Bc6 Be2
2.Bd5 Bb5 3.Be6 Ke3 4.Bd7 Ba6 5.c6 Kd4 6.c7 Kc4 7.Bh3 Kb4 [7...Bb7 8.Bg2
Bc8 9.Kc6 Kb4 10.Kb6 Kc4 11.Ka7 Kc5 12.Kb8 Be6 13.Bb7 Kb6 14.Bc8 Bc4 15.Bh3
Ba6 16.Bf1 Bb7 17.Bb5! Zugzwang] 8.Kc6 Ka5 9.Bg4 Kb4 10.Kb6 and the pawn is
promoted.
2 Capablanca J.R. - Yanovsky D

(2)
New York New York, 1916
In this position an outflanking manuever of the king wins the game 1...Kf4! 2.Bd4
Kf3! 3.b5 [3.Bc5 Ke2! 4.Kc6 Kd3! 5.Kd7 Bg5 6.b5 Kc4 7.Kc6 Bd8!] 3...Ke2 4.Kc6
Kd3 5.Bb6 Bg5 6.Kb7! the last attempt [6.Bc7 Be3 7.Bd6 (7.Kd5!? Bd2! 8.b6
(8.Bd8 Be3 9.Be7 Bb6 10.Kc6 Ba5) 8...Ba5) 7...Kc4 8.Bc7 Bf2 9.Bb6 Bg3] 6...Kc4
7.Ka6 Kb3! To control the a5-square. 8.Bf2 Bd8 9.Be1 Ka4!
3 Exercise 3
(3)
White easily wins, but they shouldn't capture the bishop with the g-pawn. 2.g3 Kh6
3.Bf1 Bg4 4.h4 the first step is done 4...Bf5 5.Kf2 Bg4 6.Ke3 Be6 7.Kf4 Bd7 8.Bd3
Bh3 9.Bf5 Bf1 10.g4 Be2 11.g5+ Kh5 [11...Kg7 12.Bg4 Bd3 13.h5+-] 12.Kg3
[12.g6? because of 12...Kh6 13.Ke5 Bh5 a draw] 12...Bd1 13.Be4 Bb3 14.Bf3+
Kg6 15.Kf4 Bf7 16.h5+ Kg7 17.Ke5 Bb3 [17...Be8 then 18.h6+ Kg6 19.Bh5+!]
18.Be4 Bf7 19.h6+ Kh8 20.Kf6 Bh5 21.Bd5 Kh7 22.Bf7 and the pawn is promoted.
(4
4 Exercise 4
White draws the game, because of a stalemating idea. 1.Ka1! Ba2 [after 1...Bc4
follows 2.Bd3! the white bishop will lead the black one. And in the case if Black
captures it, the game ends with a stalemate.; 1...Bd1 2.Bc2 with similar ideas] 2.Bc2
b3 3.Bxb3! Bxb3 this is a drawing position.
by thechessworld
Complex Major Piece Endings Part I

Rook Endings
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Exercise
(1)
Black uses a shouldering technique 1...Ke4 [1...Kf4 2.Kd4 Kf3 3.Kd3 g3 4.Rf7++-]
2.Rg7 Kf3 3.Kd4 g3 4.Kd3 g2
2 Exercise 2
(2)
To win the game White has to realize an outflanking maneuver with their king.
1.Ke7! [1.Kd7 f4 2.Ke6 f3 and the black king doesn't allow the white one to pass]
1...f4 2.Kf6 f3 3.Kg5 Ke3 4.Kg4 f2 5.Kg3 Ke2 6.Kg2+-
3 Maroczy G - Tarrasch S
(3)
San Sebastian San Sebastian, 1911
A typical maneuver leads to a win. 1.Ka6 ! [1.a6? Kg3 2.Kb6 Kf4 3.b5 Ke5 4.a7
(4.Ka7 Kd6 5.b6) 4...Kd6 5.Kb7 Kc5 The black king isn't in time.] 1...Kg3 2.b5 Kf4
3.b6 Ke5 4.b7 Rb1 This is the difference - Black has to move with their rook. 5.Ka7
Kd6 6.b8Q+ Rxb8 7.Kxb8 and the a-pawn will be promoted.
4 Exercise 4
(4)
If it's White's turn to move they have to lose a move 1.Kd6+! Kf6 [1...Kf8 then 2.Kd7
Re8 3.Ra1 Re7+ 4.Kd6 Re8 5.Rf1+ Kg7 6.e7 Ra8 7.Ra1! the same move] 2.Kd7
Kg7 there is no other square 3.Ke7 winning the game 3...Kg6 4.Ra1 Rb7+ 5.Kd8
Rb8+ 6.Kc7 Rb2 7.Re1 Rc2+ 8.Kd7 Rd2+ 9.Ke8 Rd3 10.e7 and then White builds
a bridge
by thechessworld
Complex Major Piece Endings Part II

Rook Endings
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Serper Grigory (USA) - Chernin Alexander (HUN)

(1)
Groningen (Netherlands) Groningen (Netherlands), 1993
A draw can be achieved with 1...Rc8! [1...Rd8+? 2.Kc3! Rc8+ (2...Kxa3 3.Rf5 Rc8+
4.Rc5 Ra8 5.Ra5++-) 3.Kb2! Rh8 4.Rf6! the only move (4.Rf5? Rh5! 5.Rf8 (5.Rf6
Kb5) 5...Rh2+ 6.Kc3 Rh3+ 7.Kc4 Rh4+ 8.Kc5 Rh5+ 9.Kb6 Rh6+) 4...Rh2+ 5.Kc3
Rh3+ 6.Kc4 Rh4+ 7.Kc5 Rh5+ 8.Kb6 Kxa3 9.b5! Kb4 10.Rf4+ Kc3 11.Ka6 Black
resigned; 1...Rh8 2.Rc3 Rh2+ 3.Kd3 Rh4 4.Rc4 Rh3+ 5.Kd4 Rxa3 6.Kc5 Rb3 !
7.b5+ Ka5] 2.Rc3 Rh8 3.Kd3 Rh4! 4.Rc8 [4.Rc7 Kxa3 5.b5 Kb4 6.b6 Ka5 7.b7 Rb4]
4...Kxa3 5.b5 Kb4 6.b6 Rh7 7.Rc7 Rh8 8.b7 Rb8 a draw 1–0
2 Exercise
(2)
To win this game White has to exchange rooks at the cost of one pawn. The other
pawn will be promoted. 1.Kh6! Rb6+ 2.g6 Rb8 3.Ra6! Rf8 4.g4 Rb8 5.g7 Rc8
6.Rf6 Ra8 7.Rf8+ and the second pawn can be promoted
3 Suetin A - Portisch Ferenc (HUN)

(3)
Belgrade (Yugoslavia) Belgrade (Yugoslavia), 1977
To draw the game we shouldn't allow the white rook to move away from the h-file.
1...Rf4! 2.Kb3 Ka6 3.a5 Re4 4.Kc3 Rf4 5.Kd3 Rg4 6.Ke3 Rc4 7.Kf3 Rc3+ 8.Ke4
Rc4+ 9.Kd5 Rg4 10.Ke6 Rc4 11.Rh8 Kb7 12.Rh7+ [12.h5 Rc6+! 13.Kd5 (13.Kf5
Rc5+ 14.Kg6 Rc6+) 13...Rf6! the threat of Rf5+ 14.Ke5 Rc6 15.Rd8 Rh6] 12...Ka6
13.h5 Rc5! 14.Rh8 Kb7! [14...Kxa5? 15.h6+-] 15.h6 Rc6+ 16.Ke5 Rg6 17.Kf5 Rc6
18.a6+ Ka7! [18...Rxa6 19.Kg5!+-] 19.Kg5 Rc5+ 20.Kf4 Rc6 a draw.
4 Taimanov Mark E (RUS) - Gulko Boris F (USA)

(6
Ch URS URS, 1976
A rook endgame with the f- & the h-pawn often is drawing. The same thing happens
in this game. The black king is cut off. This is an example from the game. Here White
achieves a draw because the black king is cut off and has to stay on the h-file.
2.Kg1! h4 [2...f3 3.Rf7] 3.Rg8 f3 4.Rf8 Kg3 [4...Rg2+ 5.Kf1! Kg3 6.Rg8+ Kh2 7.Rf8]
5.Rg8+ Kf4 6.Rf8+ Ke3 7.Re8+ Kd3 8.Rd8+ Ke2 9.Re8+ Kd1 10.Rf8 with an easy
draw.
by thechessworld
Day 32: Bonus Training Tasks
Queen Endings
1 2
3 4
by thechessworld
Solutions
1 Exercise 1
(1)
Black has 3 pawns, but their king is weak. That's why White wins the game by
multiple Zugzwang. 1.Qf4+ [1.Qf2+? Kg5–+] 1...Qg4 2.Qe3! and Black has to push
the pawn. 2...b6 The black queen can't move, because of checkmate on g3 or h3.
3.Qe7+ Qg5 4.Qe4+ Qg4 5.Qe3! repeating the previous scenario 5...b5 6.Qe7+
Qg5 7.Qe4+ Qg4 8.Qe3 b4 9.Qe7+ Qg5 10.Qxb4+ Qg4 11.Qe7+ Qg5 12.Qe4+
Qg4 13.Qe3+- now Black ran out of moves. g5 loses the game because of Qf2+
2 Ftacnik Lubomir (SVK) - Plachetka Jan (SVK)

(2)
Ch Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia, 1978
In queen endgames not only the number of pawns is important, but how far they are
advanced as well. 1...e4! 2.Qe8 Kb6 [2...Qd3] 3.Qb8+ Kc6 4.b5+ Kc5 5.Qe8 Kd4!
[5...Qd3? 6.Qc6+ Kb4 7.b6 e3+ 8.Kg5 e2 9.b7 Qe3+ 10.Kg4 Qd4+ 11.Kf3! e1N+
12.Ke2 Qe5+ 13.Kf1+-] 6.b6 Qd6+ [6...e3? 7.Qa4+ Ke5 8.Qa1++-] 7.Kf5 Qc5+
8.Kf4 Qd6+ a draw.
3 Spassov L - Ermenkov Evgenij (BUL)

(3)
Varna Varna, 1975
In the case of equal material the queen's activity decides the game. 1.Qh4! Kg7
[1...Qd7 possible is a simple 2.b3 ,(2.Qxh6 Qxa4 3.Kg2 Qd1 !? 4.Qe6+ Kg7 5.Qg4+
Kf7 6.Kh3! with huge advantage.) ] 2.Qg4+ Kh7 3.Qe6! Kg7 [3...Qd8 4.Qf7+ Kh8
5.Qg6 Qh4 6.Kg2! and now Black has to pass the game into the pawn endgame,
which is absolutely losing. 6...Qg5+ 7.Qxg5 hxg5 8.Kh3 Kg7 9.Kg4 Kg6 10.h3 Kh6
11.Kf5 Kh5 12.Ke6 Kh4 13.Kxd6 Kxh3 14.Kc7 g4 15.fxg4 f3 16.d6 and so on.] 4.Kg2
Qb8 [4...Qd8 5.Kh3 Qf6 6.Qd7+ Kg8 7.Qc7+- and the pawns are lost.] 5.Qe7+ Kg6
6.Kh3 and now the white king enters the game. These checks are not dangerous.
6...Qc8+ 7.Kh4 Qb8 8.Qe6+ Kg7 9.Kh5 1–0 White wins. 1–0
4 Exercise 4
(4)
White easily wins with two extra pawns. However, some precise play should be
demonstrated by White. 1...Qe8+ 2.Kc4 Qe2+ 3.Kc5 The king hides behind the
queen and occupies a favorable position. 3...Qe7+ [3...Qf2+ 4.Kc6 Qf6+ 5.Kc7
Qg7+ 6.Qd7+-] 4.Qd6 Qg5+ [4...Qe3+ 5.Qd4] 5.Kc6 Qg2+ 6.Kc7 Qg7+ 7.Qd7 now
the king moves with a check. 7...Qc3+ 8.Kd6+ Kb8 9.Qb5+ and the queens are
exchanged.

Training Tasks - Days 1-32

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Training Tasks - Days 1-32

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by thechessworld

Day 1: Training Tasks

Attacking the King in the Centre Part 1

Day 2: Training Tasks

Attacking the King in the Centre Part II

1 Kasparov,Garry (2675) - Gheorghiu,Florin (2550)

2 Keres,Paul - Alexander,Conel Hugh O'Donel

10.Nxe6! Taking advantage of better development. White is ready to sacriﬁce to

Day 3: Training Tasks

Attacking the King in the Centre Part III

2 Fischer,Robert James - Dely,Peter

4 Tatai,Stefano (2480) - Karpov,Anatoly (2690)

Day 4: Training Tasks

Attacking the Castled King Part I

2 Richter,Kurt Paul - Darga,Klaus

3 Capablanca,Jose Raul - Ribera Arnal,Angel

Day 5: Training Tasks

Attacking the Castled King Part II

1 Janowski,Dawid Markelowicz - Tarrasch,Siegbert

18...Nxf2!! a strong psychological strike! [18...dxc3 19.Ne4 Ne3 20.fxe3 Bxe3+

4 Sunye Neto,Jaime (2475) - Kasparov,Garry (2630)

Day 6: Training Tasks

Attacking the Castled King Part 3

1 Larsen,Bent - Tal,Mihail [E99]

2 Karpov,Anatoly (2725) - Kasparov,Garry (2805)

3 Kasparov,Garry (2760) - Smirin,Ilia (2500)

Garry Kasparov somehow managed to confuse his opponent with complicated

4 Gelfand,Boris (2761) - Nakamura,Hikaru (2708)

Day 7: Training Tasks

Opposite-Sided Castling Part I

1 Adorjan,Andras (2525) - Ribli,Zoltan (2595)

2 Spassky,Boris Vasilievich - Petrosian,Tigran V

3 Spassky,Boris Vasilievich - Petrosian,Tigran V

4 Fischer,Robert James - Larsen,Bent

Chapter 8: Opposite-Sided Castling Part 2

1 Fischer,Robert James - Larsen,Bent

3 Karpov,Anatoly - Kortschnoj,Viktor Lvovich

4 Fischer,Robert James - Gligoric,Svetozar

Day 9: Training Tasks

Opposite-Sided Castling Part III

1 Teichmann,Richard - Chigorin,Mikhail Ivanovich

3 Bronstein,David Ionovich - Panov,Vasily N

4 Morozevich,Alexander (2732) - Alekseev,Evgeny V (2616)

Day 10: Training Tasks

Playing with the Isolated Queen's Pawn Part I

1 Kortschnoj,Viktor Lvovich (2650) - Karpov,Anatoly (2690)

2 Karpov,Anatoly (2705) - Spassky,Boris Vasilievich (2640)

3 Petrosian,Tigran V - Spassky,Boris Vasilievich

4 Kasparov,Garry (2700) - Karpov,Anatoly (2720)

Day 11: Training Tasks

Playing with the Isolated Queen's Pawn Part II

1 Farago,Ivan (2505) - Velikov,Petar (2475)

2 Bronstein,David Ionovich - Berger,Bela

3 Spassky,Boris Vasilievich - Avtonomov

4 Miles,Anthony John (2560) - Ribli,Zoltan (2595)

Day 12: Training Tasks

Playing with the Isolated Queen's Pawn Part III

2 Braga,Fernando Alberto (2375) - Portisch,Lajos (2630)

3 Marin,Mihail (2495) - Gavrikov,Viktor (2535)

Day 13: Training Tasks

Playing with the Isolated Pawn Couple

1 Charbonneau,Pascal (2505) - So,Wesley (2765) [D94]

2 Hansen,Curt (2530) - Kraidman,Yair (2440)

3 Peralta,Fernando (2570) - Libiszewski,Fabien (2478)