Level 1600 – 1800

Task Position 1

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

chessboard.

2. You can spend from 5 to 10 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. The positions here are more complicated and

you need to invest time in order to find the correct
ideas. Try to apply things that you learn from
theoretical lessons. I belive in you!

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 1600 – 1800
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 1600 – 1800
Position 7 Position 9

White's Turn White's Turn

Position 8 Position 10

White's Turn White's Turn

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 Level 1600 – 1800
The Correct Answers
Solution 1
Polugaevsky,Lev - Nezhmetdinov,Rashid [A53]
RSFSR-ch 18th Sochi, 1958
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.e4 exd4
5.Qxd4 Nc6 6.Qd2 g6 7.b3 Bg7 8.Bb2 0–0
9.Bd3 Ng4 10.Nge2 Qh4 11.Ng3 Nge5 12.0–0 f5
13.f3 Bh6 14.Qd1 f4 15.Nge2 g5 16.Nd5 g4
17.g3 fxg3 18.hxg3 Qh3 19.f4 Be6 20.Bc2 Rf7
21.Kf2 Qh2+ 22.Ke3
Diagram #
22...Bxd5!
Here we have a fight. Black is attacking the
kindside and White's King is running towards to
the center. As we learned in lesson 4 "How to
Create a Gold-Cage for the Enemy King ", we
need to cut off the escaping root. However, this is
not possible in every position as we have here. In
order to create a successful attack, when the
enemy King is in the center of the board, you
need to exchange some key defenders and open
up lines for your pieces.
23.cxd5 Nb4 24.Rh1 Rxf4!!
If you don't take risks, you don't drink
champagne! Black brings all the bridges by
sacrificing his Queen in order to create the
Checkmate attack. Indeed Queen is the most
powerful piece but not the only one that can
perform checkmate. White's King is into a deadly
mating net and he cannot escape from it.
25.Rxh2 Rf3+ 26.Kd4 Bg7
The g7-Bishop it's more important comparing to
White's Queen because it is controlling a lot of
squares and it can create very serious threats
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against the enemy King. In such situations the
material is not important because if you "lose" the
king you're going to lose the game. White cannot
hide his King and he lost the game after some
moves.
27.a4 c5+ 28.dxc6 bxc6 29.Bd3 Nexd3+
30.Kc4 d5+ 31.exd5 cxd5+ 32.Kb5 Rb8+
33.Ka5 Nc6+ 34.Ka6 Nc5# 0–1
Solution 2
Nakamura,Hikaru (2648) - Van Wely,Loek
(2679) [D44]
Corsica Masters rap 11th (2.3), 29.10.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5
h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 b5 8.e5 g5 9.Bg3 Nd5
10.Nd2 Nd7 11.Be2 Bb7 12.a4 Qb6 13.Nde4 a5
14.0–0 Rd8 15.Bh5 b4
Diagram #
16.Qg4!
#19 - Queen to the penalty area, #29 - Create
threats, and #2 - Counterblow. He is threatening
Qxe6, because the f7 is pinned. [16.Qf3!?;
16.f4!?; 16.Nxd5!?]
16...Nc7 [16...bxc3!! 17.Qxe6+ Be7
18.Qxf7#] 17.Nd6+!?
When he goes back we should go forward! In any
case, White has a lot of good moves here. [17.f4!?
bxc3 18.bxc3‚ Black pieces are paralyzed and
White's attack is coming...; 17.Rab1!?]
17...Bxd6 18.exd6 Nf6 19.Qf3 Nxh5
20.dxc7!
#32 - Find the intermediate moves!
20...Rxd4 21.Qxh5+-
 Level 1600 – 1800
White's position is winning and Hikaru took the
full point after a long fight.
21...bxc3 22.bxc3 Rd3 23.Rab1 Qa6
24.Be5 Rh7 25.f4 c5 26.fxg5 Rd2 27.Rxb7 Qxb7
28.Qf3 Rd5 29.g6 1–0
Solution 3
Lyrberg,Patrik (2415) - Nielsen,Peter Heine
(2475) [E29]
Minsk - edited Minsk (1), 1994
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+
5.bxc3 c5 6.e3 0–0 7.Ne2 Nc6 8.Ng3 b6 9.Bd3
Ba6 10.e4 Ne8 11.e5 cxd4 12.cxd4 d5 13.Qh5 f5
14.Nxf5 exf5 15.Bxf5 Rxf5 16.Qxf5 Nxd4
17.Qd3 dxc4 18.Qe4
Diagram #
18...Bb7!!
White went all out for the attack. Please notice the
fantastic prophylactic move 10...Ne8. Black
avoided the pin on g5. In many Nimzo Indian
lines White starts a brutal attack on King side so
Black should be careful. White's main problem
here is the king in the center of the board. Only
the White Queen is developed and for that reason
he cannot create counter attack. This will happen
if you exchange your attacking pieces
unsuccessfully. Black's move 18...Bb7 completely
disorganized White's position and highlights the
tactical weaknesses.
19.Qxb7
[19.Bg5 Bxe4 20.Bxd8 Rxd8–+ #36 - Doesn't
have to end in checkmate.
19.Qb1 Bxg2 20.Rg1 Nf3+ 21.Ke2 Nxg1+
22.Ke1 Qd4–+] 19...Nc2+ 20.Ke2 Qd3# 0–1
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Solution 4
Lazard,Frederic - Renaud,Georges [C12]
FRA-ch 04th - edited Biarritz, 02.09.1926
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd3 Nf6
5.Bg5 dxe4 6.Bxe4 Nbd7 7.Bd3 b6 8.Qf3 Rb8
9.Nge2 Bb7 10.Qh3 h6 11.Bh4 Rc8 12.0–0–0 a6
13.Rhe1 Be7 14.f4 c5
Diagram #
15.f5!?
Black played a lot of passive and strange moves.
He moved his Bishops back and forth. His King is
still in the center of the board. It's impossible to
attack on f7, so what are you going to do? Of
course try to open up the e-file. The move f5 isn't
computer's first choice but I'm not trying teach
you play like it. You need to understand the
position, follow the attacking principles in order
to select your candidate moves, and finally
calculate the variations in order not to miss any
tactical reply from your opponent. It's not always
easy to find good moves on your practical games
however this is the correct approach. White
played f5 to open up the e-file. [15.dxc5!?;
15.d5!; 15.Bc4!?; 15.Bxf6!?]
15...exf5 16.Bxf5!?
White has a lot of good options and this means
that his position is fantastic. [16.Ng3!?;
16.dxc5!?]
16...Bc6 17.d5!
When you start attacking you will have aggressive
moves constantly. If you calculate them correctly
it will be extremely difficult or impossible for
your opponent to annihilate your initiative. The
threat now on c6-Bishop and d6.
 Level 1600 – 1800
17...Nxd5 18.Rxd5!
#13 - Imbalance the position. Select carefully
which pieces you'd like to keep on the board.
Usually, you should keep the pieces that will help
you to keep the pressure. For example the Knight
is more important on d5 comparing to the Rook.
The knight will press the e7-pinned piece.
[18.Bxe7!?; 18.Nf4!? Nxf4 19.Bxe7 Nxh3
20.Bd6++-
18.Nxd5!? Obviously this is winning as well; but
I don't want to give any opportunity to my
opponent. I don't like to exchange my important
attacking places. For that reason, I try to avoid
similar exchanges on my practical games.
18...Bxd5 19.Nf4+-]
18...Bxh4 19.Rxd7 Qg5+ 20.Nf4+
#2 - Counterblow. White position is winning.
20...Bxe1 21.Qe3+ Kf8 22.Rxf7+ Kxf7
23.Qe6+ Kf8 24.Qxc8+ Be8 25.Ncd5 1–0
Solution 5
Spielmann - Hoenlinger [B15]
Vienna, 1929
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6
5.Ng3 e6 6.Nf3 c5 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.a3
0–0 10.0–0 b6 11.b4 Be7 12.Bb2 Qc7 13.b5 Na5
14.Ne5 Bb7 15.Ng4 Qd8 16.Ne3 Nd5
Diagram #
17.Qh5!?
White have two good options here, Qh5 and Nh5.
Sometimes you might be confuse which line you
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should select. You should follow the attacking
principles and make it as simple as possible.
White here is transferring the Queen to the
penalty area and force Black to play g6. He's
attacking on h7, and in the same time he is
provoking weaknesses.
[17.Nh5!? Nxe3? (17...g6!? 18.Ng4! f6 19.Qd2
Qc7 20.Qh6 Bd8 21.Bxg6!
This is the move that you have to find in order to
claim the initiative. It's almost impossible for
human to calculate everything accurately. This is
why you should not choose very complicated
lines during your practical games.
21...hxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kh8 23.Ngxf6+-
17...Bf6 18.Nxf6+ Nxf6 19.Re1+-
White is clearly better according to the computer,
however, I cannot see the specific next moves.)
18.fxe3 f6 19.Qg4 Rf7 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Rxf6+-]
17...g6 18.Ng4!!
#3 - Checkmate Patterns. It's not so easy to
foreseen this move before play Qh5, but not
impossible. Your general guideline is this. You
need to create piece superiority in the opponent's
territory.
[18.Qh6 Bf6 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 (19...Qxf6 20.Nxd5
Bxd5 21.Rfe1
It's not the best combination but Black should be
careful. White has a lot of pieces on kingside.)
20.h4 This is what you have to calculate first and
it seems that white has a clear plan to advance on
h5 and open up Black's king position.]
18...Bf6 [18...gxh5 19.Nh6#] 19.Nxf6+
Nxf6 20.Qh6
 Level 1600 – 1800
White manages to keep the powerful dark-square
Bishop on the board. His attack is very strong and
he managed to win the game afterwards.
20...Rc8 21.Rad1 Qe7 22.Rfe1 Ne8
23.Nf5 Qc5 24.Re5 Bd5 25.Ne7+ Qxe7
26.Qxh7+ Kxh7 27.Rh5+ Kg8 28.Rh8# 1–0
Solution 6
Carlsen,M (2834) - Sharafiev,A (2432) [C48]
PRO League Group Stage chess.com INT (1),
18.01.2018
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bd6
5.d3 a6 6.Ba4 0–0 7.g4 Nxg4 8.Rg1 Nf6 9.Bg5
Be7 10.Bxc6 dxc6 11.Nxe5 Qd4 12.Nf3 Qb4
13.Qc1 Re8 14.a3 Qb6 15.Qf4 Kh8 16.0–0–0
Be6 17.Qh4 c5 18.Rg3 Ng8 19.Bxe7 Rxe7
20.Ng5 h6 21.f4 f6 22.Nf3 Qa5 23.f5 Bd7
24.Nd5 Rf7 25.Rdg1 b5
Diagram #
26.Nxf6!
Another difficult example in which you have a lot
of options. #42 - When one Queen is left the other
Queen is dominating right. White has a piece
superiority and clearly the better position. You
need to calculate lines and used tactics. You
should start from checks and then captures. These
are the most forcing moves to continue the game
and step by step you can find the right solution.
White's tactical ideas are based on the enemy
overloaded pieces. Rook and Knight should
defend multiple points in the same time. [26.e5!?;
26.Nf4!?; 26.Rg6!?; 26.Nd2!?]
26...gxf6 [26...Nxf6 27.Rxg7 Rxg7 28.Qxh6+
Rh7 29.Qxf6+ Rg7 30.Qxg7#]
27.Rxg8+!
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#16 - Eliminate - Remove key defenders
27...Rxg8 28.Qxh6+ Rh7 29.Qxf6+ Rhg7
30.Rg6
Amazing move. He is threatening Rh6 and black
cannot do anything serious about it. 1–0
Solution 7
Payen,Arnaud (2408) - Forget,Cyril (1921)
[B50]
Syre Memorial op 29th Issy les Moulineaux (6),
28.05.2006
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 e6 5.0–0
Be7 6.Bb3 Nc6 7.c3 0–0 8.Re1 Qc7 9.Nbd2 b6
10.Nf1 Bb7 11.Ng3 b5 12.d4 e5 13.d5 Na5
14.Bc2 Nc4 15.Nf5 Bd8 16.b3 Nb6 17.a4 bxa4
18.bxa4 a5 19.N3h4 Re8 20.Qf3 Rf8
Diagram #
21.Nxg7!
This is an ideal position on Ruy Lopez. The
center is closed and Black has no counter play in
the other side of the board. Again we can see a
fantastic piece superiority on the kingside. In such
positions you should search for sacrifices in order
to open up lines for your pieces. [21.Bh6!? gxh6
(21...Ne8) 22.Qg3+; 21.g4!?; 21.Rb1!?]
21...Kxg7 22.Bh6+!
#4 - Basic Tactics Required. White is luring out
the enemy King. There is no turning back for
Black. [22.Nf5+?? Kh8 23.Bh6 Rg8–+ It's very
easy to overestimate you're attacking potentials
and end up in a position like this; Black is
winning!]
22...Kxh6 23.Nf5+ Kg6 24.Qg3+ Kh5
25.Bd1+!? [25.Qh4+!? Kg6 26.Qh6#] 25...Ng4
 Level 1600 – 1800
26.Qxg4# 1–0
Solution 8
Gelfand,Boris (2670) - Anand,Viswanathan
(2725) [D47]
Biel Interzonal Biel (8), 1993
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3
Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.a3 b4
10.Ne4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 Qc7 12.axb4 Bxb4+
13.Bd2 Bxd2+ 14.Nxd2 c5 15.Qc2 Qb6 16.dxc5
Qxc5 17.Qa4 Rb8 18.0–0 0–0
Diagram #
19.Qxd7!
Black tried to escape the bind with tactics. His
idea was after 19.Qxd7 to pin the queen to the d2-
Knight. Usually tactics are not going to save you
if you have bad position... In the initial puzzle
position Black was under pressure because his
King was un-castled and in the center of the
board. [19.Rfc1!?]
19...Rfd8 20.Bxh7+!
It was very important to calculate this sacrifice in
order to enter the line 19.Qxd7. White's idea is to
create a mating net for the opponent King.
20...Kxh7 21.Qxf7 Rxd2 22.Ra4!+-
#41 - Create the rook lift (Kasparov Rook). Black
is doomed.
22...Qg5 23.g3 e5 24.Rh4+ Qxh4 25.gxh4
Rd6 26.h5 Be4 27.Qe7 Rbb6 28.Qxe5 Re6
29.Qf4 1–0
Solution 9
Kesaris (2115) - Part (2042) [B43]
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Rapid // 20+5 Main Playing Hall, 07.02.2010
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6
5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qd2 Bb4 8.f3 d5 9.e5
Nfd7 10.f4 Nc6 11.Bd3 Nc5 12.0–0 Bd7 13.Kh1
Rc8 14.Qf2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Na4 16.Qg3 g6
17.Rae1 Ne7 18.Qg5 Nxc3 19.Qf6 Rg8 20.f5
gxf5 21.Bg5 Ng6
Diagram #
22.Bxf5!?
After a complicated fight with mutual mistakes I
have my chance to finish off the game. Black
pieces are not coordinate and I have the
momentum to start the brutal attack. I'm going to
repeat; when the enemy King is in the center of
the board, then try to open up the e-file. You can
open it with piece sacrifices. [22.Nxf5!?;
22.Rxf5!?]
22...exf5 23.e6
I'm following the same principle; try to open up
the e-file.
23...Bxe6 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Rxe6+ Ne7
26.Rxe7+ Kd8 27.Re6+ Qe7 28.Qxe7# 1–0
Solution 10
Filguth,Rubens Alberto (2380) - De la Garza
Madero,Arturo (2240) [A18]
WchT U26 prel-4 02nd Mexico City (1),
18.08.1980
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6
dxc3 6.bxc3 Qxf6 7.d4 Nc6 8.Nf3 h6 9.Bd3 Bd7
10.0–0 Be7 11.Rb1 b6 12.Qe2 0–0 13.Re1 Rfe8
14.g3 Bf8 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.h4 Na5 17.Ne5 Ba4
18.Qe4 Qf5
Diagram #
 Level 1600 – 1800

19.Qh1!!

The idea is amazing and quiet rare. White would

like to get some critical tempi in order to
accelerate his attack. Of course, when we have a
attack we should not exchange Queens. [19.Qf3!?
Qf6 20.Ng4 Qe7 21.Bxh6+-]

19...Qf6 20.Bg5

This was a key idea behind Qh1. He'd like to open

up the h-file and the Queen is already there.

20...hxg5 21.hxg5 Qxg5 22.Qh7# 1–0

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