Level 1200 – 1400

Task Position 1

1. Your task is to set up these positions on the real

chessboard.

2. You can spend from 3 to 5 minutes in the

starting position. Try to calculate the best move
and foreseen the variations ahead.

3. Open up your notebook. Write the date that you

performed the questions.

4. Here you can see slightly more difficult

exercises. Please try to open up lines or to
perform the final killing blow.

5. After you solve the puzzles, by writing your

answer to your notebook, please go to the
solutions and check if you were correct.
Black's Turn
6. I suggest you to check the entire game and not
only the solution after the diagram.
Position 2

White's Turn

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 Level 1200 – 1400
Position 3 Position 5

Black's Turn White's Turn

Position 4 Position 6

White's Turn White's Turn

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 Level 1200 – 1400
Position 7 Position 9

Black's Turn White's Turn

Position 8 Position 10

White's Turn Black's Turn

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 Level 1200 – 1400
The Correct Answers
Solution 1
Tatai,Stefano (2480) - Karpov,Anatoly (2690)
[A34]
Las Palmas Las Palmas (13), 1977
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1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5
5.g3 g6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.Ng5 e6 9.Nge4
Nb6 10.Qb5 c4 11.Na4 0–0 12.Nxb6 axb6
13.Qxc4 e5 14.Qc2 Nd4 15.Qb1 f5 16.Nc3 e4
17.d3 b5 18.Be3 b4 19.Nd1 Re8 20.dxe4 fxe4
21.Bxd4 Qxd4 22.a3 Bg4 23.Qc2
Diagram #
23...Qd3!
I'm going to repeat. If the enemy King is in the
center of the board you should attack on f7 (f2) or
via e-file. In order to attack you need to open up
lines for your pieces. Thus, Karpov tried to
liberate his pieces with the powerful move Qd3.
[23...bxa3!?; 23...Kh8!?]
24.exd3
[24.Qd2 Qxd2+ 25.Kxd2 bxa3 26.Rxa3 Rac8!
Black's pieces are extremely active, the Rh1 and
Bg2 are super passive. Black has a very
dangerous attack. 27.Rb3 Bh6+!?‚ (27...Red8+!?)
] [35.Qa8+ Kh7 36.Bxf7! White created the mating
24...exd3+ 25.Kd2 Re2+
After this combination Black is going to take back
the material and his attack is continue.
26.Kxd3 Rd8+ 27.Kc4 Rxc2+
Black is winning because his pieces are extremely
active comparing to White.
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28.Kxb4 Rcd2 29.f3 Bf8+ 30.Ka5 Bd7 0–
1
Solution 2
Bilek,Istvan (2500) - Farago,Ivan (2440) [A14]
HUN-ch Hungary, 1973
[www.rules-chess-strategies.com]
1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0–
0 0–0 6.b3 b6 7.Bb2 Bb7 8.d3 c5 9.e3 Nbd7
10.Qe2 a6 11.Nc3 Qc7 12.Rac1 Bc6 13.Rfd1 b5
14.cxd5 exd5 15.e4 Rfe8 16.e5 d4 17.exf6 dxc3
18.fxe7 cxb2 19.Qxb2 Qd6 20.d4 Qxe7 21.dxc5
Nxc5 22.Qc3 Bxf3 23.Bxf3 Ne4 24.Qc7 Ra7
25.Qf4 Ng5 26.Bg2 h6 27.h4 Ne6 28.Qe3 Rc7
29.Bd5 Rxc1 30.Rxc1 Qd6 31.Qf3 Rd8 32.Rd1
Qe5 33.Kg2 Kh8
Diagram #
34.Bxe6!
A cool winning combination. Please notice that
the d1–Rook in not hanging with check. White
played earlier the prophylactic move Kg2. Thus,
White capture a piece and in the same time he is
threatening Rxd8. [34.Bb7!?; 34.Bc6!?; 34.a4?!
Nd4]
34...Rxd1 35.Qa8+
net and Black cannot stop the move Qg8#] 1–0
Solution 3
Kotov,Alexander - Bondarevsky,Igor
Tsakharovich [A90]
All Union 1st Category Tournament Gr1
Leningrad, 1936
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 Level 1200 – 1400
1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 d5 5.0–0
Bd6 6.c4 c6 7.Nbd2 0–0 8.b3 Qe8 9.Ne1 Nbd7
10.Nd3 Ne4 11.Nf3 Qh5 12.Nf4 Qf7 13.Qc2 g5
14.Nd3 Qh5 15.Nfe5 Rf6 16.f3 Rh6 17.h4 Nxg3
18.hxg5 Qh2+ 19.Kf2 Rh4 20.Rg1 Rxd4 21.Bb2
Qh4 22.Bxd4 Ne4+ 23.Ke3 f4+ 24.Nxf4
Diagram #
24...Qf2+!
When the enemy king is not in the castleing
position, then it is expose. Blacks army is very
strong and it is controlling squares around the
enemy King. You need to search for the most
forcing moves, the checks. Next, you need
adaptability to visualize clearly the continuation.
As much moves ahead you can foreseen as good
your level is.
25.Kd3 Qxd4+
This was the difficult move of the combination,
because Black is luring the enemy king in the
center of the board in order to deliver the final
checkmate.
26.Kxd4 Bc5+ 27.Kd3 Nxe5# 0–1
Solution 4
Schlechter,Carl - Meitner,Philipp [C54]
Wien Vienna, 1899
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6
5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0–0 Bxc3
9.d5 Ne5 10.bxc3 Nxc4 11.Qd4 f5 12.Qxc4 d6
13.Nd4 0–0 14.f3 Nf6 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 g5
17.Bf2 Kg7 18.Rfe1 Bd7 19.Qb3 c5 20.dxc6
bxc6 21.Ne6+ Bxe6 22.Rxe6 Qd7 23.Rd1 Nd5
24.Bd4+ Kh7 25.Rde1 Rae8 26.Rxe8 Rxe8
27.Rxe8 Qxe8 28.Qb7+ Kg6 29.Qg7+ Kh5
30.h3 Qe6 31.g4+ fxg4 32.hxg4+ Kh4
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Diagram #
33.Qxh6+!!
Another brilliant move! White is distracting the
enemy Queen and he's going to create the mating
net with his own King.
33...Qxh6 34.Kh2
Black resigned here because he cannot stop the
move Bf2. 1–0
Solution 5
Philidor,Francois Andre Dani - Cotter
London London, 11.01.1789
[www.rules-chess-strategies.com]
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3 exf4 4.exd5 Qxd5
5.Nc3 Qe6+ 6.Kf2 Be7 7.d4 Nf6 8.Bxf4 Ne4+
9.Nxe4 Qxe4 10.Bxc7 Nc6 11.Bd3 Qe6 12.Re1
Qxa2 13.Bb5 Bd7 14.d5 Qxb2 15.dxc6 bxc6
Diagram #
16.Bxc6!
Same scenario, the enemy King is in the center of
the board so he has real problems! In similar
situations you would be able to sacrifice even a
rook because the opponent cannot connect his
own. White has tremendous activity thanks to his
pieces in the center of the board. The only Black's
good developed piece is the queen, however she is
alone. White's task now is to deliver the final
killing blow. He can do that by following the
attacking principles. Try to calculate the forcing
moves; i.e. checks and captures. Try to open lines
for your remaining pieces, even if you need to
sacrifice some pieces on the way. [16.Rxe7+!?]
16...Bxc6 17.Rxe7+ Kxe7 18.Qd6+
 Level 1200 – 1400
Black's King doesn't have a lot of options and
White deliver the checkmate after some moves.
18...Ke8 19.Qxc6+ Ke7 20.Bd6+ Kd8
21.Qc7+ Ke8 22.Qe7# 1–0
Solution 6
Kasparov,Garry (2720) - Wahls,Matthias
(2330) [A70]
Frankfurt Clock sim, 24.05.1986
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5
5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Bf4 Bg7 8.Qa4+ Bd7
9.Qb3 Qc7 10.e4 Nh5 11.Be3 0–0 12.Nd2 Bd4
13.Be2 Bxe3 14.fxe3 Ng7 15.0–0 a6 16.e5 dxe5
17.Nce4 b5 18.Rac1 c4 19.Nf6+ Kh8 20.Qb4
Qd8 21.Nde4 Bf5 22.Qe1 Nd7 23.Qh4 g5
24.Qh6 Bg6
Diagram #
25.Nxh7!
White created the stronger army on the kingside
and now it's time to open lines for his pieces. You
can do that by exchanging pawns or sacrificing
pieces.
25...Bxh7 26.Nxg5
The pin on h7 is deadly and Black is completely
losing.
26...Nf6 27.Rxf6 Qxf6 28.Qxh7# 1–0
Solution 7
Masikas,Dimitrios (1299) - Kesaris,Evangelos
(1898)
23rd Iraklio Chess Tournament (8), 03.07.2021
[www.rules-chess-strategies.com]
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1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 g6 4.f4 Bg7
5.Nf3 e6 6.0–0 Nge7 7.d3 d5 8.exd5 exd5 9.Bb3
Bg4 [9...0–0] 10.h3 Be6 [10...Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Nd4
12.Ba4+ Kf8] 11.Ng5 0–0 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.Qg4
Nf5 14.Bd2 Ncd4
[14...b5 15.Nxb5 Qb6 16.Nc3 (16.Ba4! Unclear.)
16...c4+]
15.Rae1 b5! 16.a4 [16.Nxb5 Nxb5
17.Rxe6 Nbd4–+] 16...c4 17.Ba2
[17.dxc4 bxc4 (17...dxc4 18.Ba2 Nxc2) 18.Ba2
Qb6]
17...b4 18.Nxd5
[18.Ne2 b3 (18...Nxc2!?) 19.Nxd4
(19.cxb3 cxb3 20.Bb1 Qd7) 19...Bxd4+ 20.Kh1
bxa2
18.Nb5 b3 19.Nxd4 Bxd4+ 20.Kh1 bxa2]
18...exd5 19.Bxb4 Re8 [19...Nxc2
20.Bxf8 Qb6+ 21.Kh1 Rxf8–+ Black is winning
because he is threatening Nxe1 and Ne3.]
20.Bc5 [20.Rxe8+ Qxe8 21.dxc4 Ne3;
20.dxc4 Qb6]
20...Rxe1 21.Rxe1 Qa5 22.c3 Qxc5
[22...Nc2!] 23.cxd4 Qxd4+ 24.Kh2 Bh6 25.dxc4
[25.Rf1 Re8; 25.g3 Qf2+] 25...Bxf4+ 26.Kh1
Diagram #
26...Qd2!
I'm always happy to see openings that I used to
play with the reverse colors. The Grand Prix
Attack is a dangerous system if Black don't know
what to do specifically. My opponent was in a
difficult position and he took the decision to
 Level 1200 – 1400
sacrifice a piece in order to prolong the game.
However, we have a lot of good options now.
During the game I knew that I'm winning here,
however, I need to calculate correctly the very
specific winning line. You need to calculate
slowly and try to find the best moves of your
opponent. Try to perform threats with every single
move.
[26...Ng3+!? 27.Kh2 Ne2+ 28.Kh1 Re8! I
missed this final move on this line.; 26...Qf2!?
27.Rd1 Ng3+ 28.Kh2 Nh5+ 29.Kh1 Re8–+ I
missed this final move on this line.]
27.Rd1
[27.Rb1 Re8! First of all I calculated 26...Ng3+
and then 26...Qf2. During these variations I didn't
saw Re8! Then I calculated Qd2 and I was
expecting Rd1 or Rb1. On Rb1, a very passive
move, I was able to find Re8. However, on Rd1
he's attacking my queen so I didn't thoght that
Re8 (counterblow) is so strong. In any case, I
found another cool continuation. 28.-- Re1+
29.Rxe1 Qxe1#]
27...Ng3+
[27...Re8!? Sometimes when your clock is ticking
is difficult to think clearly. The Practical advice
here is this. It doesn't matter if computers give
you +10 or +2. You needs to choose a variation
that you will be able to win the game.]
28.Kh2 Ne2+
I saw clearly this tactic in which destroying my
enemy's coordination. The d1–Rook is
unprotected.
29.g3 [29.Kh1 Qxd1#] 29...Bxg3+!
The final finesse. I calculated in advance from the
move 26...Qd2. ;-)
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30.Qxg3 Nxg3+ 31.Rxd2 Nf1+ 0–1
Solution 8
Kesaris,Evangelos (1883) -
Hatzistamatiou,Nikolaos (1797) [D02]
2nd Dias 1800+ (3), 10.10.2019
[www.rules-chess-strategies.com]
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bf5 5.0–
0 e6 6.b3 h6 7.Bb2 Be7 8.Nbd2 a5 9.a4 0–0
10.Re1 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bb4 12.c3 Bd6 13.Ndf3
Qc7 14.c4 Bb4 15.Rf1 Nxe5 16.dxe5!?
[16.Nxe5!?]
16...Nd7 [16...Ne4! 17.cxd5 exd5 18.Rc1]
17.cxd5 exd5 18.Nh4 [18.Nd4 Qxe5] 18...Bh7
19.f4 Qb6+? [19...Rfe8]
20.Kh1 [20.e3 Qxe3+ 21.Kh1 Be4
(21...Qd3) ] 20...Rfe8 21.e4! Rad8 22.exd5 cxd5
23.Qg4!?
[23.Bxd5? Nxe5?
(23...Nf6!! 24.exf6 Rxd5 25.Qxd5 Be4+–+
23...Nf8!?; 23...Nc5!?) 24.fxe5 Be4+ 25.Bxe4
Rxd1 26.Raxd1+-
23.Rc1!?]
23...Nc5 [23...Nf8 24.f5 d4 25.Rad1 Bc3
26.Bc1 h5
(26...Rxe5 27.f6! Ne6 28.Bxh6 g6 29.Nf5 Bb4)
27.Qe2
23...d4!?]
24.Bd4! [24.f5 Nxb3 (24...d4 25.Bxd4
Rxd4) 25.e6+-] 24...Be4
 Level 1200 – 1400
[24...Qa6 25.f5 Nxb3 26.e6 (26.Bb2 d4
27.e6 f6 28.Rad1) 26...Nxd4 27.exf7+ Kxf7
28.Qxd4 Kg8 29.Bxd5+]
Diagram #
25.e6!
A very strong move, which releases the power of
the White pieces. White managed to create piece
superiority on the king side. #42 - When one
Queen is left the other Queen is dominating right.
25...Bxg2+ 26.Kxg2
White can recapture with the Knight but it was
more active to recapture with the King because
the Knight is more useful into the attack. White
would like to play Nf5. Similarly, the King is
saved here and he can escape either to h3 or h1
square.
26...f6 27.Nf5 Qc7 28.Rac1!
Another calm move that decreases the activity of
Black pieces. White bring all of his pieces into the
party and threaten to capture on c5 because the
Queen is overloaded; she cannot protect both g7
and c5 at the same time.
28...h5 29.Qg6
Black hoped to capture the pawn on e6 but he
didn't realize that the real threat was on c5... You
need two things in order to win games. Firstly,
start pressing your opponent. Secondly feel the
"crack"; the moment that your opponent
resistance breaks. This is exactly the moment;
Black is losing here.
29...Rxe6 30.Bxc5 Qd7 31.Nh6+ Kh8
32.Nf7+ Kg8 33.Nh6+ Kh8 34.Nf7+ Kg8
35.Nxd8
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White won a lot of material and for that reason,
my opponent resigned. Unfortunately, all of the
attacks cannot lead to checkmate but if you win
material (without compensation) then you can win
the game as well.
[35.Nxd8 Re2+ 36.Kf3!? (36.Kh1+- Qxd8
37.Bxb4 axb4 38.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 39.Rxe1+- With the
threat Re8.) ] 1–0
Solution 9
Kesaris,Evangelos (1883) - IM
Karagiannis,Athanasios (2184) [D07]
Iraklio Athens (6), 01.09.2019
[www.rules-chess-strategies.com]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.cxd5 Bxf3
5.gxf3 Qxd5 6.e3 e5 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.Bd2 [8.a3]
8...Bxc3 9.bxc3 exd4 10.cxd4 0–0–0 11.Rc1
[11.Bg2; 11.Be2; 11.Bd3; 11.Bh3+;
11.Rg1] 11...Nge7 [11...Qxa2 12.Bc4 (12.Rxc6)
12...Qa3 13.Bxf7] 12.Rc5 [12.Bh3+ f5] 12...Qd6
13.Bh3+ Kb8 14.0–0 h5? 15.Qb3 h4 16.f4!
[16.Rb1 b6] 16...Nd5 17.Rb1 Nb6 [17...b6]
Diagram #
18.a4!+-
My computer suggests here to play the move
Qxf7. I don't recommend you to do this because
you're losing important time on your attack.
Similarly, you are redeem your attacking power to
material. Thus, the move a4 it's much stronger
because you're creating threats. [18.Qxf7!?;
18.Kh1!?]
18...a5 19.Bxa5 Nxa5 20.Rxa5
White have the material advantage but the main
problem is the move a5. Without this Knight on
 Level 1200 – 1400
b6 White can create checkmate threats on b7.
20...Rh6 [20...Qg6+ 21.Kf1] 21.Rg5 f6
22.Rc5 [22.Rxg7] 22...Rg6+ [22...g5 23.fxg5
fxg5 24.a5 (24.Bg4!?+-) 24...g4 25.Bxg4 Rg8
(25...Rg6 26.h3+-) 26.Qxg8++-]
23.Kf1
Black doesn't have any counterplay and I
managed to win the game after some moves.
23...Qe7 24.Bf5 Rh6 25.a5 g6 26.Bh3
[26.Be6 Rd6 27.d5 Rxe6; 26.axb6 cxb6
(26...gxf5) 27.Qxb6 gxf5 28.Ra1+-]
called "How Grandmasters Use Tactics and
Effective Calculation Techniques".
10.b3 d4!
This was a difficult move. Black he's using the
momentum and create a lot of pressure against c3-
Knight. Yes, White can capture on c6, but Black's
attack is unstoppable.
11.Qxd4 [11.Bxc6+ Kf8 12.Bxa8 Bxc3+
13.Kf1 Bxa1–+] 11...Rd8
With the move d4 Black manages to open up lines
and bring their Rook on the game with tempo.

26...Rh5 27.Rxh5 [27.Rxh5 gxh5 28.axb6 12.Bxc6+ Kf8 13.Bd5 Rxd5!

cxb6 29.Qa4 Qe4 30.Ra1 Qh1+ 31.Ke2 Qxh2
32.Qa7+ Kc7 33.Rc1+ Kd6 34.Qxb6+ Ke7
35.Qe6+ Kf8 36.Qxf6+ Ke8 37.Rc7] 1–0
Solution 10
Black is winning with many moves here. The
majority of my students find the move Nxd5.
Personally I like more Rxd5 because this has a
direct threat against the enemy Queen.

Kabes,V - Vesely,Jiri [A28] 13...Rxd5! 14.cxd5 Qxe2#; 13...Nxd5!?;

YUG U20–ch08 Final A Chocen, 07.1950 13...c5!?; 13...Ne4!?] 0–1
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1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d4 exd4

5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.g3 Qe7 8.Bg2 Ba6
9.Qd3

Diagram #

9...d5!

This is a very famous example and illustrates the

danger of remaining in the center of the board
with the King for long time. You should apply the
attacking principles in practice and in order to do
it successfully you need to calculate correctly.
Thus, in such situations you need to have a good
calculation ability and tactical understanding. You
can improve these skills by studying my chess
course that I created with GM Stelios Halkias

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