Tactics in the Schliemann – Training positions – System with 4. Nc3

If you are looking to pick up a new opening for Black against 1.e4, you might be interested in the Schliemann Defence and in the book with a collection of tactics in this opening, it is available both in Kindle and Paperback versions. It is also available on Kobo. The second volume covers combinations in the games played in the repertoire lines and illustrate typical tactical ideas for Black. Here are some sample training exercises that illustrate the combinations in 4.Nc3 system. Scroll down to see the solutions.

Lagrotteria - Rombaldoni, 1989

Black's turn

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Kotan - Sosna, 1991

Black's turn

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Bagirov - Kholmov, 1961

Black's turn

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Egorov - Sviridov, 1997

Black's turn

 

Solutions

 

Lagrotteria, Salvatore - Rombaldoni, Andrea, 1989

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 Nd4 5. Bc4 c6 6. O-O Qf6 7. d3 Nxf3+ 8. Qxf3 f4 9. Bd2 Nh6 10. Qe2 Be7 11. a4 Nf7 12. Bxf7+ Qxf7 13. a5 O-O 14. Ra4 d6 15. f3 Qh5 16. g4 fxg3 17. hxg3 Rf6 18. Qh2 Bh3 19. Rb4 d5 20. g4

20. ... Qxg4+ 21. fxg4 Rxf1# 0-1

---

Kotan, Ladislav - Sosna, Jan, 1991

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 Nd4 5. Ba4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. exf5 O-O 8. d3 d5 9. Bg5 c6 10. Nxd4 exd4 11. Ne2 Bxf5 12. Ng3 Bg6 13. Bb3 Kh8 14. c4 dxc3 15. bxc3 h6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. d4 Bd6 18. Bc2 Bxc2 19. Qxc2 Qg5 20. Rae1 Rf6 21. Qd1 Raf8 22. Re3

22. ... Rxf2 23. Re2

( 23. Rxf2 Qxe3 -/+ )

23. ... Bxg3 24. Rexf2 Bxf2+ 25. Rxf2 Qe3 26. Qd2 Qxf2+ 27. Qxf2 Rxf2 28. Kxf2 Kg8 -+ 29. Ke3 Kf7 30. Kd3 Ke6 31. g4 Kf6 32. Ke3 Kg5 33. Kf3 Kh4 34. Kf4 g6 35. a4 a5 36. Ke5 Kxg4 37. Kd6 Kh3 38. Kc7 b5 39. axb5 cxb5 40. Kb6 0-1

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Bagirov, Vladimir - Kholmov, Ratmir D, 1961

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Qe2 Bc5 6. exf5 Qe7 7. Ne4 Nxe4 8. Qxe4 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. d4 Bxf5 12. Qe2 Bb6 13. dxe5 d5 14. h3 Be4 15. Ng5 Rf5 16. Nxe4 Rxe5 17. Qa6 Rxe4 18. Be3 Re8 19. Bxb6 cxb6 20. Qd3 Qf6 21. b3 h5 22. Rad1 R8e5 23. Qc3 c5 24. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1

25. ... Re2 26. Rxe2

( 26. Qxf6 Rxe1+ 27. Kh2 gxf6 )

( 26. Qa1 Qxf2+ 27. Kh1 Qxg2# )

26. ... Qxc3 0-1

---

Egorov, Dmitry - Sviridov, Alexander, 1997

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 fxe4 6. dxe4 d6 7. O-O Be7 8. h3 O-O 9. Bc4+ Kh8 10. Ng5 Qe8 11. Be6 Nh5 12. Bf7 Rxf7 13. Qxh5 Bxg5 14. Bxg5 Be6 15. b3 Nd4 16. Rac1 Qc6 17. Bd2 Raf8 18. Qh4

18. ... Rf3 19. Nd5

( 19. gxf3 Nxf3+ 20. Kg2 Nxh4+ )

19. ... Rxh3!

20. Qxh3

( 20. Qg5 Ne2# )

20. ... Bxh3 21. Kh1 Be6 22. Nb4 Qe8 23. f3 Qh5+ 24. Kg1 Ne2+ 0-1

Bishops of Opposite Colour – Training Positions – Part 2

Bishop Endgames: Do Opposites Attract? (Practical Endgames) is now available as a paperback; here are some sample training exercises that illustrate the play in typical endgames with bishops of opposite colour. Scroll down to see the solutions.



Csulits, Anton - Horvath, Miklos, 1989

White's turn

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Hladik, Josef - Balaz, Peter, 1990.11.11

White's turn

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Horvath, Gyula - Juhasz, Jozsef, 1990

White's turn

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Naumkin, Igor - Ward, Christopher, 1990

White's turn

Solutions:

Csulits, Anton - Horvath, Miklos, Szekszard op, 1989

24. Bd5+

White noticed that winning the 'f5' is much more important than the 'c' pawn.

( The check is better than capturing on c6. 24. Bxc6 Kf8 )

24. ... Kh8 25. Be6 Rc7 26. Bxf5

Black's pawns now are disconnected and White has an advantage which he converted into a full point.

26. ... c5 27. Kg2 Rc6 28. Be4 Rc7 29. Bd5 Bf6 30. f4 Kg7 31. Kf3 e5 32. e3 Kf8 33. Ke4 exf4 34. gxf4 Ke7 35. Kf5 Kd6 36. e4 Bd4 37. Ra4 1-0

---

Hladik, Josef - Balaz, Peter, CSR-chT 9091, 1990.11.11

39. Rxc6

White wins another couple of pawns, so the bishop endgame is winning.

39. ... Ke7 40. Rc7+ Rd7 41. Rxd7+ Kxd7 42. Bxd5 Kd6 43. Bg8 h6 44. Kg3 g5 45. f5

45. ... Be5+ 46. Kf3 Bf4 47. Ke4 Bc1 48. b3 Bb2 49. Kd3 Ba3 50. c4 Kc5 51. cxb5 Kxb5 52. Ke4 Kc6 53. Ke5 Kd7 54. Be6+ Ke7 55. f6+ Kf8 56. Kd5 Bb2 57. f7 Ba3 58. Kc4 Ke7 59. b4 1-0

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Horvath, Gyula - Juhasz, Jozsef, Budapest Spring op 06th, 1990

40. Bxb7

( 40. Bxb7 Rxb7 41. c6 and the pawns supported by the rook win the game. )

1-0

---

Naumkin, Igor - Ward, Christopher, Lloyds Bank op 14th, 1990

30. Rd5

Forces Black's king to block the pawn.

30. ... Kd7 31. Rb5 Kc6 32. Rb6+

Another sacrifice - the rook again cannot be captured because of d6-d7-d8.

32. ... Kc5 33. d7 Bh5

Black is setting up the last trap.

34. Bd6+!

Blocking the 'd' file with yet another check.

( 34. d8=Q?? would allow Black to bounce back 34. ... Rd1+ )

1-0

Bishops of Opposite Colour – Training Positions – Part 1

Bishop Endgames: Do Opposites Attract? (Practical Endgames) is now available as a paperback; here are some sample training exercises that illustrate the play in typical endgames with bishops of opposite colour. Scroll down to see the solutions.

Rogers, Ian - Lejeune, Jean Pierre, 1976

White's turn

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Savva, Andreas - Said, Mahmoud, 1986.11.23

White's turn

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Cuijpers, Frans Andre - Stoll, Ferdinand, 1988

White's turn

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Tal, Mikhail - Hull, Lee, 1988.03.08

White's turn

 

 

 

Solutions

Rogers, Ian - Lejeune, Jean Pierre, Wch U16, 1976

32. Rg8+

The White pawn will now inevitably promote.

1-0

---

Savva, Andreas - Said, Mahmoud, Dubai Olympiad, 1986.11.23

33. Bxa6! h5

( 33. ... bxa6 34. Rxe7 Bxe7 35. b7 and pawn promotes. )

34. Bxb7 Bh6 35. Bc6 e3 36. Kf1 exf2 37. Rxe7 Kxe7 38. b7 Be3 39. b8=Q 1-0

---

Cuijpers, Frans Andre - Stoll, Ferdinand, Bad Woerishofen op 4th, 1988

38. Bc6

Black is unable to stop e8Q.

1-0

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Tal, Mikhail - Hull, Lee, Framingham CC sim, 1988.03.08

21. Ba6 Rxa6 22. c7 Ra8

( Black resigned, but game could have continued: 22. ... Ra8 23. Rd1 with inevitable Rd8 )

1-0

Tactics in the Spanish Opening – Part 2

Spanish Opening - Strategy and Tactics is now available as a paperback, here are some sample training exercises that illustrate the play in typical pawn structures of the Classical Spanish opening. Scroll down to see the solutions.

The book presents a straightforward repertoire for White after 1. e4 e5 and focuses on the Spanish Opening. Most major variations at Black's disposal are briefly explained and covered. The book is intended for chess players who want to learn the Spanish opening and are looking for a quick overview of the major variations. For each line, several sample games are followed by tactical positions typical for that line. Any player who plays the Spanish Opening either as White or Black - can benefit from learning the specific middlegame themes presented here. Most chapters have examples from practical games of chess champions of the past and present, such as Fischer, Karpov, Anand and Carlsen, followed by puzzles for the reader to solve. That should reinforce newly learned concepts and help get a better sense of the pawn structures discussed throughout the book. There are also questions for the reader to answer at the key moments of the games.

 

Safvat, Yousof - Calero, Ivan, 1962

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. h3 O-O 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. a4 b4 15. c4 Ne8 16. g4 g6 17. Nf1 Qd8 18. Ng3 Ra7 19. Bh6 Ng7 20. Kh1 Kh8 21. Rg1 Rg8 22. Rg2 Ne8 23. Qd2 Nd7 24. b3 Bf8 25. Rag1 Bxh6 26. Qxh6 Qf6 27. Ng5 Nf8 28. Nf5 gxf5 29. gxf5 Rg7 30. Qh5 Kg8 31. f4 h6 32. fxe5 dxe5 33. Nf3 Rxg2 34. Rxg2+ Ng7 35. Nh2 Kh7 36. Qf3 h5 37. Qg3 Re7 38. Bd1 Re8

White's turn

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Tseshkovsky, Vitaly - Henry, Paul, 1969

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. a4 Bb7 15. c4 b4 16. Nf1 Nbd7 17. g4 Rfb8 18. Ng3 g6 19. b3 Bf8 20. Kh1 Bg7 21. Rg1 Kh8 22. Be3 Ng8 23. g5 f6 24. h4 Nf8 25. h5 fxg5 26. Nxg5 Bc8 27. hxg6 hxg6 28. Nf5 Bh6 29. Nxh6 Nxh6 30. Rg2 Kg7 31. Qf3 Nf7 32. Rag1 Nxg5 33. Rxg5 Qf7 34. Qh5 Ra7

White's turn

---

Arshaev, Ajush - Ismayilov, Nijat, 2012

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bb7 13. d5 Bc8 14. a4 Bd7 15. Nf1 Rab8 16. Ng3 bxa4 17. Bxa4 Qb6 18. Bg5 Bb5 19. Nf5 Bd8 20. Bxb5 axb5 21. N3h4 g6 22. Nh6+ Kg7 23. Qf3 Ng8 24. N4f5+ Kh8 25. Bxd8 Rbxd8

White's turn

---

 

Solutions

 

 

Safvat, Yousof - Calero, Ivan, 1962

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. h3 O-O 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. a4 b4 15. c4 Ne8 16. g4 g6 17. Nf1 Qd8 18. Ng3 Ra7 19. Bh6 Ng7 20. Kh1 Kh8 21. Rg1 Rg8 22. Rg2 Ne8 23. Qd2 Nd7 24. b3 Bf8 25. Rag1 Bxh6 26. Qxh6 Qf6 27. Ng5 Nf8 28. Nf5 gxf5 29. gxf5 Rg7 30. Qh5 Kg8 31. f4 h6 32. fxe5 dxe5 33. Nf3 Rxg2 34. Rxg2+ Ng7 35. Nh2 Kh7 36. Qf3 h5 37. Qg3 Re7 38. Bd1 Re8

39. Bxh5!

Black resigned, not without reason, but perhaps a bit prematurely.

( 39. Bxh5 Kh8 ( 39. ... Nxh5? 40. Qg8+ Kh6 41. Ng4# ) 40. Ng4 Qg5 41. Bxf7 Re7 42. h4 Qf4 43. Nxe5 Qxg3 44. Rxg3 Rxe5 45. f6 +- )

1-0

---

Tseshkovsky, Vitaly - Henry, Paul, 1969

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. a4 Bb7 15. c4 b4 16. Nf1 Nbd7 17. g4 Rfb8 18. Ng3 g6 19. b3 Bf8 20. Kh1 Bg7 21. Rg1 Kh8 22. Be3 Ng8 23. g5 f6 24. h4 Nf8 25. h5 fxg5 26. Nxg5 Bc8 27. hxg6 hxg6 28. Nf5 Bh6 29. Nxh6 Nxh6 30. Rg2 Kg7 31. Qf3 Nf7 32. Rag1 Nxg5 33. Rxg5 Qf7 34. Qh5 Ra7

35. Qh6+!! Kg8 36. Rxg6+ Nxg6 37. Rxg6+ Qxg6 38. Qxg6+ Rg7 39. Qxd6 Rh7+ 40. Bh6 1-0

---

Arshaev, Ajush - Ismayilov, Nijat, 2012

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bb7 13. d5 Bc8 14. a4 Bd7 15. Nf1 Rab8 16. Ng3 bxa4 17. Bxa4 Qb6 18. Bg5 Bb5 19. Nf5 Bd8 20. Bxb5 axb5 21. N3h4 g6 22. Nh6+ Kg7 23. Qf3 Ng8 24. N4f5+ Kh8 25. Bxd8 Rbxd8

26. Ne7

Black resigned, because capturing either knight leads to Qf6 mate, and otherwise White will capture on 'g8' himself.

1-0

Improve your Rook And Knight Endgames

My Rook and Knight Endgames - Strategy and Tactics (now also available in paperback format) book looks at endings with rook + knight Vs. rook + knight. This material balance occurs quite frequently in tournaments, and some classical ideas and endgames have become well-known. Nonetheless, there is some lack of discussion of this topic in chess literature. The book covers both the strategic themes, and gives the reader a chance to practice their tactical skills. Mikhail Botvinnik was well known for his great technique in this type of endings; the book includes several relatively unknown examples from his career to illustrate the typical ideas, but also games by other famous players such as Korchnoi, Morozevich and Anand are featured.
Here are some examples of positions that the reader would get a better understanding of by working through this book.
Scroll Down to see solutions

Petrosian, Tigran - Bannik, Anatoly, 1958

White's turn

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Haba, P. - Dautov, R., 1995

Black's turn

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Sutovsky, Emil - Bacrot, Etienne, 2003.11.09

White's turn

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Raaste, Eero J - Tseitlin, Mikhail S, 1980

Black's turn

Solutions

Petrosian, Tigran - Bannik, Anatoly, Ch URS, 1958

18. Bc5

A lot has been written about this move in different books. In this famous position Black suffers from weak light squares and lack of space. Petrosian found a brilliant way to consolidate his positional advantage... I mainly see the explanation in the common strategic idea of trading off bad bishop which protects good pawns. Now the pawn chain 'e5-f6-g5' becomes much more vulnerable. Also the white knight's domination over his black colleague becomes more apparent, as now the white knight can access an important 'c5' square.

18. ... Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Bxc5 20. Nxc5 Re8 21. Ne4 Re6 22. g4 a5 23. Rd3 Nd7 24. Kc2 b6 25. Rf3 Kd8 26. a3 c5 27. Kc3 Ke7 28. Rd3 Rc6 29. Rd5 Nf8 30. Ng3 Ne6 31. Nf5+ Ke8 32. e3 Nc7 33. Rd1 Ne6 34. Kd3 Rc7 35. Ke4

Another aspect of the exchange of bishops is that now the advance of the white king is more dangerous for Black than before.

35. ... Rc6 36. Nd6+ Ke7 37. Nf5+ Ke8 38. Nd6+ Ke7 39. Nf5+ Ke8 40. a4 Nd8 41. Nh6 Ne6 42. Ng8 Nf8 43. Rd2 Kf7 44. Nh6+ Ke8 45. Nf5 Ne6 46. Rd6 Rxd6 47. Nxd6+ Kd7 48. Nb5 Ng7 49. h6 Ne8 50. Kd5 f5 51. Kxe5 fxg4 52. Nc3 Ke7 53. Ne4 Kf7 54. Kf5 g3 55. fxg3 g4 56. Ng5+ Kg8 57. Ke6 Nc7+ 58. Kd7 Na6 59. e4 Nb4 60. e5 Nd3 61. e6 1-0

---

Haba, P. - Dautov, R., Deutschland, 1995

30. ... Nxh4+! 31. Kf1

( 31. gxh4 Rxf4 -+ )

31. ... Nf3 -+ 32. Rd8 Nd4 33. Rh8 Rf5 34. Rxh5 Nxb3 35. Rxf5 exf5 36. Ke2 Na5 37. Kd3 b3 0-1

---

Sutovsky, Emil - Bacrot, Etienne, EU-ch Internet fin, 2003.11.09

26. Nxa6! Ra8

( 26. ... bxa6 27. Rd6+ Kg5 28. Rxc6 +- )

27. Nc5 Ne5 28. Rxb7 +- Rd8 29. Kc2 Nc4 30. b3 Rd2+ 31. Kc1 Rxf2 32. bxc4 Rxg2 33. Nd3 Rg3 34. Kd2 Rxh3 35. c5 Rh2+ 36. Ke3 Ke6 37. Nf4+ Ke5 38. c6 Kd6 39. c7 Kd7 40. Nd5 Rh4 41. Nb6+ 1-0

---

Raaste, Eero J - Tseitlin, Mikhail S, Makarczyk Memorial, 1980

32. ... Rxa2! 33. Nd6

( 33. Kxa2 Nc3+ 34. Kb3 Nxd5 also gave Black good winning chances. )

33. ... Rd2! 34. Ne8+ Kc6! 35. Rxd2 Nxd2+ 36. Kc3 Ne4+ 37. Kd4

37. ... Kd7!

Black either wins the second pawn, or transposes into a winning pawn endgame. White chose the latter option, but resigned a couple of moves later.

38. Kxe4

( 38. Ng7 Nxg3 -+ )

38. ... Kxe8 39. Kd5 Ke7 40. b5 Kd7 0-1

More of Best Combinations of 2016 - October, November, December 2016

My ebook Modern Chess Combinations: October, November, December 2016 is now also available in paperback format, so you can order a physical copy and have it delivered to you like most chess books you probably already own. Here is a sample set of exercises for you to get the taste of it. The highlight of this edition are the games from the World Championshop match between Karjakin and Carlsen, and World Rapid and Blitz Championship. The combination played by Magnus Carlsen in the last game of the tie-break - was found by him instantly and was a worthy finish to the tough match. It proved yet again, that being able to spot tactics quickly and effortlessly is an essential part of being a strong player.

Scroll down to see the solutions:

Rakhmanov, Ale - Domogaev, S.
   2016.10.04   

White's turn

---

Dreev, A. - Lugovskoy, M.
   2016.10.04   

White's turn

---

Shaposhnikov, E. - Vitiugov, N.
   2016.10.04   

White's turn

Solutions

Rakhmanov, Ale - Domogaev, S.
ch-RUS Blitz 2016   2016.10.04   

24. Rxf5

Black resigned in view of

24. ... gxf5 25. Qg5 1-0

---

Dreev, A. - Lugovskoy, M.
ch-RUS Blitz 2016   2016.10.04   

37. Qxh6+

Black resigned in view of

37. ... Bxh6 38. Rh7# 1-0

---

Shaposhnikov, E. - Vitiugov, N.
ch-RUS Blitz 2016   2016.10.04   

32. Qxd4

Black resigned in view of

32. ... exd4 33. Rc8+ Bd8 34. Rxd8+ Qe8 35. Rxe8# 1-0