Typical IQP tactical breakthrough from Lichess game

Here is a rapid game example I could have included into my IQP ebook/paperback:

Find the best move for White after Black made a typical mistake.

 

Exchange Slav – Sample Puzzles from new PaperBack Book

My ebook Exchange Slav – Strategy and Tactics is now 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 from the “Pressure on c6” chapter. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see solutions.

Kramnik, Vladimir - Anand, Viswanathan
   2007.11.21   

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3 Rc8 9. Be2 e6 10. O-O Be7?!

( 10. ... Bd6! )

11. Qb3

11. ... Na5?

( Correct was 11. ... Qd7! 12. Na4 Na5! 13. Rxc8+ Qxc8 14. Qb6 Nc4 15. Qa7 although White still maintains some pressure. )

12. Qa4+ Nc6

White's turn

---

The following examples have colors reversed, as it is Black who is putting pressure on 'c3'.

Babu N Sudhakar - Sriram, Jha
   2002   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nf3 e6 8. Bb5 Nd7 9. O-O Be7 10. Rc1 Rc8 11. Ne5 Ndxe5 12. Bxe5 O-O 13. Bg3 Qb6 14. Qe2 a6 15. Ba4 Bg6 16. Bd1 Nb4 17. Qd2 Qa5 18. Be2 b5 19. a3?

Black's turn

---

Khropova, Larisa - Shumilina, Alexandra
   2008   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. e3 Bg4 8. Be2 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 O-O 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Qd2 b5 14. Qd3 Qb6 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Be2 Na5 17. Qb1 Nc4 18. Bd3 h6 19. b3 Na3 20. Qb2 Qa5 21. g4 Bb4 22. Ne2 Qb6 23. Kg2 Qb7 24. Kg1 a5 25. Bg3 Ne4 26. Bh2 Ng5 27. Kg2 Nc4 28. Qb1 Nd2 29. Qb2 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 Ndf3 31. Nc3 Rc8 32. Bg3?

Black's turn

 

 

Solutions

Kramnik, Vladimir - Anand, Viswanathan
Wch Blitz 3rd   2007.11.21   

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3 Rc8 9. Be2 e6 10. O-O Be7?!

( 10. ... Bd6! )

11. Qb3

11. ... Na5?

( Correct was 11. ... Qd7! 12. Na4 Na5! 13. Rxc8+ Qxc8 14. Qb6 Nc4 15. Qa7 although White still maintains some pressure. )

12. Qa4+ Nc6

13. Bxa6! Ra8

( After 13. ... bxa6 14. Ne5 Qb6 15. Ne2 Qb5 16. Qxb5 axb5 17. Rxc6 +/- White remains up a pawn. )

14. Bxb7 Rxa4 15. Bxc6+ Kf8 16. Nxa4 Ne4 17. Bb7 Nd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Rc6 Qd7 20. Rc8+ Bd8 21. Ne5 1-0

---

Babu N Sudhakar - Sriram, Jha
Chhattisgarh Trophy   2002   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nf3 e6 8. Bb5 Nd7 9. O-O Be7 10. Rc1 Rc8 11. Ne5 Ndxe5 12. Bxe5 O-O 13. Bg3 Qb6 14. Qe2 a6 15. Ba4 Bg6 16. Bd1 Nb4 17. Qd2 Qa5 18. Be2 b5 19. a3?

19. ... Na2 20. b4

( 20. Rcd1 Nxc3 21. bxc3 Bxa3 would have left Black up two pawns, as the 'c3' pawn is also going to fall. )

20. ... Nxb4 21. axb4 Bxb4 22. Ra1 Bxc3 23. Rxa5 Bxd2 24. Rxa6 b4

Black came out of complications with an extra passed pawn and is winning here.

25. Rb6 Rc2 26. Bd6 Rfc8 27. Ba6 R2c6 0-1

---

Khropova, Larisa - Shumilina, Alexandra
Moscow-ch   2008   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. e3 Bg4 8. Be2 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 O-O 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Qd2 b5 14. Qd3 Qb6 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Be2 Na5 17. Qb1 Nc4 18. Bd3 h6 19. b3 Na3 20. Qb2 Qa5 21. g4 Bb4 22. Ne2 Qb6 23. Kg2 Qb7 24. Kg1 a5 25. Bg3 Ne4 26. Bh2 Ng5 27. Kg2 Nc4 28. Qb1 Nd2 29. Qb2 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 Ndf3 31. Nc3 Rc8 32. Bg3?

32. ... Ne1+ 33. Rxe1 Bxc3 34. Qe2 Bxe1 35. Qxe1 b4 -+ 36. Bd6 Rc3 37. Qe2 Ne4 38. Bxe4 dxe4 39. Bc5 e5 40. Kh2 exd4 41. Bxd4 Qc7+ 42. Kg2 Rd3 43. Bb2 Qc6 44. Kg1 a4 45. bxa4 Qxa4 46. Bd4 Ra3 47. Qc4 Qd1+ 48. Kh2 Qf3 0-1

Samples of Best Combinations of 2016 – Now as Paperback

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. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the solutions.

This publication is a collection of over 140 best combinations played by strong chess players in tournaments that took place in the fourth quarter of 2016. This book is the eighth in the "Quarterly Tactics" series, which provides instructive tactical positions from the most recent top chess tournaments. Quarterly Chess Tactics will allow you to
    * Follow the recent games of top grandmasters
    * Improve your game
    * Study combinations any time and anywhere
    * Enjoy a collection of annotated puzzles that you have not seen in any other tactics books
    * Maintain regular practice by solving several puzzles every day

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.

Nabaty, T. - Vaganian, R.
   2016.10.07   

White's turn

---

Nenezic, M. - Miladinovic, I.
   2016.10.01   

White's turn

---

Flores, Di - Real de Azua, E.
   2016.07.20   

White's turn

---

Bosiocic, Mari - Fercec, N.
   2016.10.12   

White's turn

 

 

Solutions

Nabaty, T. - Vaganian, R.
1st Yerevan Open 2016   2016.10.07   

28. Qxc8+

Black resigned in view of

28. ... Rxc8 29. Ne6+ Kf7 30. Nxg5+ 1-0

---

Nenezic, M. - Miladinovic, I.
TCh-SRB Premier 2016   2016.10.01   

21. c4 bxc4 22. Qxb7 Nxd4 23. Bxc4

---

Flores, Di - Real de Azua, E.
91st ch-ARG 2016   2016.07.20   

40. Rxe6

Black resigned in view of

40. ... Qxe6 41. Bd5 1-0

---

Bosiocic, Mari - Fercec, N.
25th TCh-CRO Div 1b 2016   2016.10.12   

18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Rxd5 Bd6

( 19. ... Rxd5 20. Bxd5 Qd7 21. Qxb7+ Qxb7 22. Rc8# )

20. Qxb7+ Kxb7 21. Rxd6+ 1-0

The Break by Vladimir Kramnik – Examples from new Paperback book

My ebook The Break - Learn From Schlechter, Botvinnik and Kramnik is now 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 from the chapter about Vladimir Kramnik. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see solutions.

Korobov, Anton - Kramnik, Vladimir
   2013.08.24   

Black's turn

---

Alexander Ipatov - Vladimir Kramnik
   2013.12.02   

Black's turn

---

Svidler, Peter - Kramnik, Vladimir
   2014.03.15   

Black's turn

---

Kramnik, Vladimir - Ulibin, Mikhail
   1992   

White's turn

 

Solutions

 

Korobov, Anton - Kramnik, Vladimir
FIDE World Cup 2013   2013.08.24   

45. ... d4!?

Although this move is speculative, Kramnik sacrifices a pawn to activate his rook and bishop. Objectively it may be not the best, but for a human player passive defense is intolerable, so that justifies his decision.

46. exd4 Re6+ 47. Kd2 Bd3 48. d5 Rd6 49. Kc1 Bg6 50. Bb4 Rxd5 51. Rxa6 Kd7 52. Rf6 Rb5 53. Bc3 Rf5 54. Rb6 Rxf4

The active rook is able to eliminate white pawns, achieving a draw now.

55. a6 Rf2 56. a7 Be4 57. Kd1 Ra2 58. Rf6 Ke8 1/2-1/2

---

Alexander Ipatov - Vladimir Kramnik
FIDE World Team Championship   2013.12.02   

29. ... e5 30. dxe5 Nxe5 31. fxe5 Qxe5

Black has only a pawn for a piece, but White's pieces are badly placed, and all of his pawns are vulnerable.

32. Nf1 Bg7 33. a3

( Defending the pawns was not really possible in the long run: 33. Kd2 Re6 34. Nb7 Bh6 35. Nc5 Bxe3+ 36. Nxe3 Qxe3+ 37. Kd1 Re5 -/+ [%eval -32767,0] Black has still more ways to improve his position with Rhe7, Qxg3 and d5-d4. )

33. ... Qxc3+ 34. Qxc3 Bxc3 35. Bd1 Re6 36. Bc2 Bg6

Both White's rooks and knights are effectively out of the game for many moves to come, so the current material balance is virtually irrelevant here.

37. Nd2 Rxe3 38. Rd1 Bf6 39. Rhh1 d4 40. Rde1 Rhe7 41. Rxe3 Rxe3

In view of inevitable material losses, White resigned. A true positional masterpiece by Kramnik!

0-1

---

Svidler, Peter - Kramnik, Vladimir
World Chess Championship Candidates   2014.03.15   

41. ... e4 42. fxe4 Qe2 43. Rf3 Rxd6 44. Qe8 f6 45. e5

45. ... f5 46. gxf5

46. ... Rf6!!

Paradoxically, this is the only move that keeps Black alive!

( After 46. ... Ra6 47. e6! the black rook would be cut off from the kingside and Black would lose: 47. ... Ra7 48. f6 +- )

47. Kg3

( 47. e6 Qe4 = )

47. ... Qe4

Now the game ends with a repetition.

48. Bc5 Qe1+ 49. Bf2 Qe4 50. Bc5 Qe1+ 51. Bf2 1/2-1/2

---

Kramnik, Vladimir - Ulibin, Mikhail
Chalkidiki   1992   

36. g5!?

White opens up the game to exploit the power of his two bishops.

36. ... hxg5 37. hxg5 Nxg5 38. Bc6 Rc8 39. Rh1

As compensation for the pawn, White's rooks are also obtaining a lot of potential - on both sides of the board.

39. ... Kg8 40. Raa1 Nce6 41. Rh4

White is threatening to double on the 'h' file, so Black has to create an escape square for his king.

41. ... f6 42. Rg1

42. ... Kf7 43. Bd5 Ke8 44. Rh8+ Nf8 45. f4 Ne6 46. Kf3 f5 47. Rg6

Black's pieces are tied up in too many ways, so White begins to pick up the fruits of his labour.

47. ... Nc5 48. Bxg7 Rf7 49. Bxf8

( 49. Bxf8 Rxf8 50. Rxf8+ Kxf8 51. Rg8+ Ke7 52. Rxc8 +- )

1-0

Attack with Morozevich–book samples part 2

The book Attack with Alexander Morozevich - Selected Games and Best Combinations is a collection of his selected games, with each game focusing on a tactical shot delivered by Alexander. Here are some sample combinations for you to solve (scroll down for solutions)

Morozevich, Alexander    --    Pushkov, Nikolai
   1995     *

1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. c3 a5 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 e5 9. Bf1 Bg4 10. Qc2 dxe4 11. dxe4 Bc5 12. h3 Bh5 13. Rb1 Qe7 14. Nh4 Rfd8 15. Nf5 Qf8 16. Nc4 Nd7 17. Nce3 Bxe3 18. Bxe3 Nc5 19. b4 axb4 20. cxb4 Ne6 21. b5 Ncd4 22. Bxd4 exd4 23. Bc4 Ra3 24. Qd2 Bg6 25. Rbc1 Nc5 26. Qg5 Bxf5 27. exf5 h6 28. Qh4 Qd6 29. Bxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rxc5 d3 31. Qc4+ Kf8 32. Rxc7 Qd5 33. Qg4 Qd4

# White's turn 

*

---

Morozevich, Alexander    --    Ree, Hans
   1994     *

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 Nge7 5. Bg2 g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bg7 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Qd6 Ba6 10. Nc3 Qb6 11. Qa3 Bd4 12. Nd1 Rb8 13. c3 Bc5 14. b4 Bd6 15. Be3 Qb7 16. f4 e5 17. Nf2 Bc4 18. Rd1 Nc8 19. Ng4 Be6 20. Nf6+ Ke7 21. O-O exf4 22. gxf4 Kd8 23. Bd4 Qc7

# White's turn 

*

---

Morozevich    --    Sveshnikov
   1995     *

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 d5 6. e5 Bd7 7. Re1 Nf5 8. Bf1 Be7 9. d3 O-O 10. g3 f6 11. exf6 Bxf6 12. Na3 g5 13. Bg2 h6 14. Nc2 Qb6 15. Qe2 Rae8 16. Ne3 Bg7 17. Qc2 Nxe3 18. Bxe3 e5 19. h4 g4 20. Nd2 Be6 21. b4 d4 22. bxc5 Qa6 23. cxd4 e4 24. Nxe4 Nxd4 25. Qd2 Bd5

# White's turn 

*

---

Solutions:

Morozevich, Alexander    --    Pushkov, Nikolai
Russian Championship   1995     1-0

1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. c3 a5 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 e5 9. Bf1 Bg4 10. Qc2 dxe4 11. dxe4 Bc5 12. h3 Bh5 13. Rb1 Qe7 14. Nh4 Rfd8 15. Nf5 Qf8 16. Nc4 Nd7 17. Nce3 Bxe3 18. Bxe3 Nc5 19. b4 axb4 20. cxb4 Ne6 21. b5 Ncd4 22. Bxd4 exd4 23. Bc4 Ra3 24. Qd2 Bg6 25. Rbc1 Nc5 26. Qg5 Bxf5 27. exf5 h6 28. Qh4 Qd6 29. Bxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rxc5 d3 31. Qc4+ Kf8 32. Rxc7 Qd5 33. Qg4 Qd4

# 

34. Re8+

( Black resigned because either capture loses immediately: 34. Re8+ Kxe8 ( 34. ... Rxe8 35. Qxd4 ) 35. Qg6+ Kf8 36. Qf7# )

1-0

---

Morozevich, Alexander    --    Ree, Hans
Tilburg   1994     1-0

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 Nge7 5. Bg2 g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bg7 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Qd6 Ba6 10. Nc3 Qb6 11. Qa3 Bd4 12. Nd1 Rb8 13. c3 Bc5 14. b4 Bd6 15. Be3 Qb7 16. f4 e5 17. Nf2 Bc4 18. Rd1 Nc8 19. Ng4 Be6 20. Nf6+ Ke7 21. O-O exf4 22. gxf4 Kd8 23. Bd4 Qc7

# 

24. Nxd7!

In addition to the discovered attack on the rook this also opens up the 'd' file with decisive effect.

24. ... Bxd7 25. Bxh8 +- Bxf4 26. e5! g5 27. b5! Ke8

( 27. ... Rxb5 28. Qf8# )

28. e6! fxe6 29. Rxd7!

# This will be followed by Bxc6 so Black resigned. It is impressive how Morozevich tore apart Black's position with the last few energetic moves. 

1-0

---

Morozevich    --    Sveshnikov
Russian Championship   1995     1-0

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 d5 6. e5 Bd7 7. Re1 Nf5 8. Bf1 Be7 9. d3 O-O 10. g3 f6 11. exf6 Bxf6 12. Na3 g5 13. Bg2 h6 14. Nc2 Qb6 15. Qe2 Rae8 16. Ne3 Bg7 17. Qc2 Nxe3 18. Bxe3 e5 19. h4 g4 20. Nd2 Be6 21. b4 d4 22. bxc5 Qa6 23. cxd4 e4 24. Nxe4 Nxd4 25. Qd2 Bd5

# 

26. Nf6+!

The quickest way to wrap up the game as White adds the advantage of two bishops to his two extra pawns.

26. ... Qxf6 27. Bxd5+ +- Kh7 28. Rab1 b6 29. cxb6 axb6 30. Rb4 Nf3+ 31. Bxf3 gxf3 32. Rxb6 Re6 33. Rxe6 Qxe6 34. Kh2 Qf5 35. Rc1 Rb8 36. d4 Qg4 37. Rc7 Kh8 38. Qc2 Qe6 39. Rxg7 1-0

---