An unexamined life is not worth living.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Best Tactics of 2017 Book

This new publication is a collection of nearly 500 best combinations played by strong chess players in tournaments that took place in 2017. To see the solution for the combination - go to the next page in your e-reader. This book is building up on the "Quarterly Tactics" series, which provides instructive tactical positions from the most recent top chess tournaments.

Amazon | Kobo | Google Play | Paperback

Sample puzzles with Solutions

image

Saturday, February 3, 2018

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

80

Black's turn


Kotan - Sosna, 1991

81

Black's turn



Bagirov - Kholmov, 1961

82

Black's turn


Egorov - Sviridov, 1997

83

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

192
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

193
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

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

194
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

195
18. ... Rf3 19. Nd5
( 19. gxf3 Nxf3+ 20. Kg2 Nxh4+ )
19. ... Rxh3!
196
20. Qxh3
( 20. Qg5 Ne2# )
20. ... Bxh3 21. Kh1 Be6 22. Nb4 Qe8 23. f3 Qh5+ 24. Kg1 Ne2+ 0-1

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Tactics in the Schliemann – Training positions – System with 4.d3

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.d3 system. Scroll down to see the solutions.

Yudasin - Inkiov, 1982.05.08

13

Black's turn


Dgebuadze - Held Paul, 1999

14

White's turn



Kasparov - Sobeck, 2014.01.02

15

Black's turn


Kozelsky - Kondula, 2014

16

Black's turn

 

 

Solutions :

 

Yudasin, Leonid - Inkiov, Ventzislav, Minsk, 1982.05.08

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Nc3 O-O 8. a3 d6 9. Na4 Bb6 10. Nxb6 axb6 11. c3 Kh8 12. Re1 Qe8

119
13. Nd2 Qg6 14. Qf3 Bg4 15. Qe3 Nh5 16. Bf1 Rf6 17. Kh1 Raf8 18. f3 Be6 19. g3
120
19. ... Nxg3+ 20. hxg3 Qxg3 21. Bg2 Rh6+ 22. Kg1
121
22. ... Rh2 23. Re2
( 23. Qf2 Rxg2+ 24. Qxg2 Qxe1+ -+ )
23. ... Bh3 0-1

Dgebuadze, Alexandre - Held Paul, 1999

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Bg5 d6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Nd5 Kh8 10. Bc4 Bg4 11. Nxf6 gxf6 12. Bh6

Here Black should sacrifice an exchange with either Nd4 or Na5, but instead he played the most natural move.
12. ... Re8?
122
13. Ng5! Qd7
( 13. ... Bxd1 14. Nf7+ Kg8 15. Nxd8+ Kh8 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Raxd1 +- )
14. Qxg4!! Qxg4 15. Nf7+ Kg8
123
16. Nxd6+ Re6 17. h3 Qh4 18. Bxe6+ Kh8 19. Bg7+ 1-0

Kasparov, S. - Sobeck, G., 17th Guben New Year 2014, 2014.01.02

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Qd3 d6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bc4+ Kh8 10. Ng5 Qe8 11. Be3 Nd4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Qg6 14. c3 Nf3+ 15. Nxf3 Rxf3 16. Kh1 Bg4 17. Rae1 Qh5 18. Kg1 Raf8 19. Qd1 R8f6 20. Qc1

124
20. ... Rh3! 21. f3
( 21. gxh3 Bf3 22. Bg5 Rg6 23. h4 Qxh4 -+ )
21. ... Rxh2 22. Bxc5 Qh4! 0-1

Kozelsky, Marek - Kondula, Lukas, 2014

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. exf5 O-O 8. Nxe5 Bxf5 9. Be3 Bd4 10. c3 Bxe5 11. d4

125
11. ... Bxh2+ 12. Kxh2 Ng4+ 13. Kg3 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Qd6+ 15. Rf4 g5 -+ 0-1

Saturday, December 9, 2017

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.
image[3]


Csulits, Anton - Horvath, Miklos, 1989
205
White's turn

Hladik, Josef - Balaz, Peter, 1990.11.11
206
White's turn


Horvath, Gyula - Juhasz, Jozsef, 1990
207
White's turn

Naumkin, Igor - Ward, Christopher, 1990
208
White's turn


Solutions:



Csulits, Anton - Horvath, Miklos, Szekszard op, 1989
241
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
242Black'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
243
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
244
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

Horvath, Gyula - Juhasz, Jozsef, Budapest Spring op 06th, 1990
245
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
246
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
247Black 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


























Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Schliemann Defence: Volume 2 - Tactics and Combinations

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 collection of tactics in this opening that I just published. 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.

 

Contents:
1. Introduction
2. How to Learn Typical Tactics - Follow up Book
3. Typical Themes
4. Early Deviations for White
5. System with 4.d3
6. System with 4.Bxc6
7. System with 4.Nc3
8. Odd Move orders
9. Index of Players
10. About the Author
11. Symbols and Abbreviations Used in the Book
11.1. Position Evaluation
11.2. Move Evaluation

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Schliemann Defence – Theory and Practice

If you are looking to pick up a new opening for Black against 1.e4, you might be interested in the Schliemann Defence and the repertoire outlined in the book I just published. It is available both in Kindle and Paperback versions. It is also available on Kobo. The first volume covers the theoretical variations and sample games. The second volume will contain a collection of combinations that illustrate typical tactical ideas for Black.

High Level repertoire overview and Table of Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Typical themes
3. Overview of Variations
4. Early Deviations for White
5. System with 4.d3
5.1. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. Nc3
5.2. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7.Bxc6
5.3. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7.Nc3
5.4. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7.Qe2
6. System with 4.Nc3
7. System with 4.Nc3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 6.Qe2
7.1. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Qe2 d5 7. Nxf6+ gxf6 8. d4 Bg7 9. dxe5 O-O 10. Bxc6
7.2. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Qe2 d5 7. Nxf6+ gxf6 8. d4 Bg7 9. dxe5 O-O 10. e6
8. System with 4.Nc3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 6.Nxf6
8.1. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Nxf6+ Qxf6 7. Qe2 Be7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxe5
8.2. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Nxf6+ Qxf6 7. Qe2 Be7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Qxe5
9. Final Classic Example
10. Conclusion
11. How to learn Typical Tactics - follow up book
12. Index of Players and Games
13. About the Author
14. Symbols and Abbreviations Used in the Book
14.1. Position Evaluation
14.2. Move Evaluation

Saturday, November 4, 2017

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.

image

Rogers, Ian - Lejeune, Jean Pierre, 1976

201

White's turn


Savva, Andreas - Said, Mahmoud, 1986.11.23

202

White's turn



Cuijpers, Frans Andre - Stoll, Ferdinand, 1988

203

White's turn


Tal, Mikhail - Hull, Lee, 1988.03.08

204

White's turn

 

 

 

Solutions


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

237

32. Rg8+

The White pawn will now inevitably promote.
1-0

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

238

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

239

38. Bc6

Black is unable to stop e8Q.
1-0

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

240

21. Ba6 Rxa6 22. c7 Ra8

( Black resigned, but game could have continued: 22. ... Ra8 23. Rd1 with inevitable Rd8 )
1-0

Saturday, September 23, 2017

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.

image[3] 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

153White's turn

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

154White'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

155White'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

166
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

167
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

168
26. Ne7
Black resigned, because capturing either knight leads to Qf6 mate, and otherwise White will capture on 'g8' himself.
1-0

Monday, September 4, 2017

Tactics in the Spanish Opening

 

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.

image 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.

Palosz, Andrzej - Jaracz, Barbara, 1999

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 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bd7 14. Nf1 Nc6 15. Ng3 Rfe8 16. Re2 h6 17. Be3 Rac8 18. a4 Na5 19. d5 Nc4 20. Bc1 bxa4 21. Bxa4 Bb5 22. Bxb5 axb5 23. b3 Nb6 24. Be3 Nfd7 25. Nf5 Bf8 26. Rea2 Ra8 27. Qd3 Rxa2 28. Rxa2 b4 29. Bd2 Qc5 30. Rc2 Qa5 31. Rc6 Nc5 32. Qe3 Nc8 33. N3h4 Kh7 34. Qe1 Nd3 35. Qe2 Nc5 36. Qe1 Nd3 37. Qe2 Nc5 38. Bxh6 gxh6 39. Qh5 Qa7

150White's turn

Rodriguez, Gonzales Jesus - Aguirre, Pedro, 1960


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. Nbd2 O-O 12. h3 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nf1 Re8 15. g4 Bf8 16. Bg5 Nbd7 17. Qd2 c4 18. Ng3 g6 19. Bh6 Kh8 20. Kg2 Ng8 21. Be3 f6 22. h4 Nc5 23. g5 Qd7 24. Rh1 Nxe4 25. Nxe4 f5 26. Ng3 f4 27. h5 fxe3 28. Qxe3 Kg7 29. hxg6 hxg6 30. Qe4 Ne7 31. Rh6 Nf5? 32. Rah1 Kf7

151White's turn

Ljubarskij, Juri - De Leeuw Johannes, 2004


1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Be7 5. O-O Nf6 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nc6 12. Nbd2 Qc7 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nf1 Re8 15. g4 Qd8 16. Ng3 g6 17. Bh6 Bf8 18. Qd2 Re7 19. Bg5 Re8 20. Rf1 Bg7 21. Nh2 Nbd7 22. Rae1 Qe7 23. Kh1 Qf8 24. Rg1 h6 25. Be3 Kh7 26. Rg2 Qe7 27. Reg1 Rg8 28. g5 hxg5 29. Bxg5 Qf8 30. f4 Bh6 31. Nf3 Rh8 32. f5 Bg7 33. Nh4 Qe8 34. Rf1 Kg8 35. Kg1 Nh7 36. fxg6 fxg6

152White's turn


Solutions:

 

 

Palosz, Andrzej - Jaracz, Barbara, 1999

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 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bd7 14. Nf1 Nc6 15. Ng3 Rfe8 16. Re2 h6 17. Be3 Rac8 18. a4 Na5 19. d5 Nc4 20. Bc1 bxa4 21. Bxa4 Bb5 22. Bxb5 axb5 23. b3 Nb6 24. Be3 Nfd7 25. Nf5 Bf8 26. Rea2 Ra8 27. Qd3 Rxa2 28. Rxa2 b4 29. Bd2 Qc5 30. Rc2 Qa5 31. Rc6 Nc5 32. Qe3 Nc8 33. N3h4 Kh7 34. Qe1 Nd3 35. Qe2 Nc5 36. Qe1 Nd3 37. Qe2 Nc5 38. Bxh6 gxh6 39. Qh5 Qa7

163
40. Nxh6! Bxh6 41. Nf5
There is now no good defence against White's attack.
41. ... f6 42. Qxe8 Nxe4 43. Rc2 Bf4 44. Qh5+ 1-0

Rodriguez, Gonzales Jesus - Aguirre, Pedro, 1960

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. Nbd2 O-O 12. h3 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nf1 Re8 15. g4 Bf8 16. Bg5 Nbd7 17. Qd2 c4 18. Ng3 g6 19. Bh6 Kh8 20. Kg2 Ng8 21. Be3 f6 22. h4 Nc5 23. g5 Qd7 24. Rh1 Nxe4 25. Nxe4 f5 26. Ng3 f4 27. h5 fxe3 28. Qxe3 Kg7 29. hxg6 hxg6 30. Qe4 Ne7 31. Rh6 Nf5? 32. Rah1 Kf7

164
33. Rxg6!
White's pieces have concentrated on the kingside; this sacrifice breaks through Black's defences.
33. ... Kxg6 34. Nxf5! Re6
( 34. ... Qxf5 35. Nh4+ +- )
35. Nxd6+ 1-0

Ljubarskij, Juri - De Leeuw Johannes, 2004

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Be7 5. O-O Nf6 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nc6 12. Nbd2 Qc7 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nf1 Re8 15. g4 Qd8 16. Ng3 g6 17. Bh6 Bf8 18. Qd2 Re7 19. Bg5 Re8 20. Rf1 Bg7 21. Nh2 Nbd7 22. Rae1 Qe7 23. Kh1 Qf8 24. Rg1 h6 25. Be3 Kh7 26. Rg2 Qe7 27. Reg1 Rg8 28. g5 hxg5 29. Bxg5 Qf8 30. f4 Bh6 31. Nf3 Rh8 32. f5 Bg7 33. Nh4 Qe8 34. Rf1 Kg8 35. Kg1 Nh7 36. fxg6 fxg6

165
37. Nxg6!
This opens up the 'g' file with decisive effect.
37. ... Qxg6 38. Nf5 1-0

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