Monday 24 June 2013

Endgame Study 1:-Opposite Color Bishops (A)

A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Endgame"] [Black "Oppisite Colour Bishops"] [Result "*"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/4k1p1/8/2b5/2B5/4P1P1/5PK1/8 w - - 0 0"] [PlyCount "18"] {Opposite colure bishop endgame Main properties:-Very drawish even with two extra pawns If Black don't do anything he will lose How to evaluate this position? This is draw but Black has to know how to defend this position so he can defend} 1. Kf3 (1. e4 Kd6 2. Bd3 Ke7 3. f4 Bd4 4. Kf3 Bb2 5. e5 Bc3 6. Ke4 Be1 7. g4 Bc3 8. Kf5 Bd2 9. g5 Be3 10. Ke4 Bc1 11. Bc4 Bd2 12. Bd5 Bc1 13. Bb3 Kf8 14. Bc4 Ke7 15. Bd5 g6 16. Bc4 Bd2 17. Bd3 Bc3 18. Ke3 Kf7 19. e6+ Kxe6 20. Bxg6 Ke7 21. Bd3 Kf7 22. f5 Kg7 23. Kf4 Bd4 24. Bc4 Ba1 25. Ke4 {[%eval 87, 27]}) 1... g5 {Very important to put the pawn on g5 to stop the advance of White pawns. In order to win White has to create two passed pawns. Right now he has one passed pawns.} (1... Bb6 2. Ke4 Bc5 3. f4 {[%cal Ge4f3,Ge3e4]}) 2. Ke4 {[%cal Ge4f5]} Kf6 3. f4 gxf4 4. gxf4 {[%csl Ge3][%cal Gc5e3] It is very important to keep pressure on the backward pawn with bishop. Houdini 3 Pro x64 (40s): 'White has a new protected passed pawn: f4. '} (4. exf4 Bd6 {[%cal Gd6f4]} (4... Bf8 $16 {Houdini 3 Pro x64 (40s)}) 5. g4 Bc7 6. g5+ Kg7 7. f5 Bd8 {[%cal Gd8g5]} 8. g6 (8. f6+ Bxf6 9. gxf6+ Kxf6) 8... Bf6) 4... Ba7 5. Kf3 Bb6 6. e4 {Now White threats e5. So in this position you need to control the e5 square. Remember you can sacrifice your bishop for the two pawns and this will be a draw.} Bc7 {[%cal Gf6e5,Gc7e5]} ({Example line if the White reaches the 6th} 6... Ba7 7. e5+ Ke7 8. Ke4 Bc5 9. f5 Bb6 10. f6+ Kf8 11. e6 Bd8 {Here we reach the same kind of position but will not be able to make a draw here because the Black bishop don't have any squares to go and keep the pressure on f6} 12. Kf5 {[%csl Gd8,Ge7][%cal Gd8f6] Now Black is in zingzowng, if he plays the bishops away White will play e7-e8 and win the game} Ke8 13. e7) 7. Ke3 { Draw Note:-this strategy will work if White's pawns are on the 4th and 5th rank but if White's pawns are on the 6th rank it will not work and we will see why} (7. f5 Be5 {And White can never win}) 7... Bb8 {Putting pressure on the f4 pawn} 8. e5+ (8. Kd4 Bxf4) (8. Ba2 Bd6 $14) 8... Bxe5 {=} 9. fxe5+ Kxe5 { Draw Note:-this strategy will work if White's pawns are on the 4th and 5th rank but if White's pawns are on the 6th rank it will not work and we will see why} *

Saturday 22 June 2013

Members Game 1:-Mina Zaky–Nsls Ngaihboy

A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "?"] [Site "Sao Paulo/Bilbao"] [Date "2013.06.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Mina Zaky"] [Black "Nsls Ngaihboy "] [Result "*"] [ECO "A40"] [Annotator "Houdini 3 Pro x64 (60m)"] [PlyCount "100"] [EventDate "2012.10.13"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "2"] [EventCountry "CHN"] {A40: Unusual replies to 1 d4} 1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 f6 3. e4 Nh6 4. Nc3 Nf7 5. Be3 { last book move} Bg7 (5... c6 6. Be2 $16 (6. Bc4 $16)) 6. Qe2 (6. h4 c6 $16 ( 6... Nc6 $16)) 6... O-O (6... b6 7. O-O-O $16 (7. Qd2 $16)) 7. Qd2 (7. h4 h6 $16) (7. O-O-O b6 $16) 7... c6 {Controls b5} 8. Bc4 (8. h4 d5 $16) 8... a5 9. Bh6 $4 {White has let it slip away 'gives the opponent counterplay'} (9. a3 $142 $16) (9. h4 $142 d5 10. Bd3 $14) 9... Bxh6 $19 10. Qxh6 d5 11. Bxd5 cxd5 12. Qe3 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nc6 14. h4 (14. O-O Nb4 (14... Nd6 15. Qb3+ Rf7 $19) 15. Qe2 Bf5 $19) 14... Bf5 (14... Nb4 $5 {keeps an even firmer grip 'might be the shorter path'} 15. Qe2 (15. Rc1 Nxa2 16. Ra1 $19) 15... Ra6 16. O-O $19) 15. c3 Qd5 16. Ng3 {[%cal Yh4h5] White intends h5} Nd6 (16... e5 {seems even better} 17. Nxf5 (17. O-O exd4 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. cxd4 $19) 17... exd4 18. O-O-O (18. N5xd4 $4 Rfe8 $19) 18... Qxf5 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Rxd4 $19) 17. h5 (17. O-O a4 $19 (17... Kg7 $19)) 17... e5 18. O-O exd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. cxd4 Rae8 21. Qa3 Bg4 (21... b6 {might be the shorter path 'makes it even easier for Black'} 22. hxg6 (22. Rac1 Nb5 23. Qa4 $19) 22... Bxg6 23. Qc3 $19) 22. hxg6 hxg6 23. Qd3 Kg7 24. Rfc1 Bf3 (24... b6 $142 $19 {nails it down}) 25. Rc7+ Rf7 {'Black threatens to win material: Rf7xc7'} 26. Rc5 {'White threatens to win material: Rc5xd5'} Be4 27. Rxd5 Bxd3 28. Rxd6 f5 29. Nf1 Re2 {'Black threatens to win material: Re2xb2'} 30. Rb6 Ba6 31. d5 f4 32. Rc1 Rd7 33. d6 {'He broke from his leash'} Kf6 34. Nh2 g5 35. Ng4+ {Houdini 3 Pro x64 (40s): 'The knight likes it on g4'} Ke6 36. Rd1 Rc2 37. f3 Rc6 38. Rxc6 bxc6 39. Nf2 Rxd6 40. Rxd6+ Kxd6 {'A minor pieces endgame occured'} 41. Ne4+ Kd5 42. Kf2 Bc4 43. a3 Kd4 44. Nxg5 Kd3 45. Nh3 {'White threatens to win material: Nh3xf4'} Kc2 46. Nxf4 Kxb2 47. a4 Kb3 {'Black threatens to win material: Kb3xa4'} 48. Ke3 Kxa4 49. Nd3 Bxd3 50. Kxd3 Kb3 $11 *

Friday 21 June 2013

Members Game 2:- Raymond Udofia – Mina Zaky

A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "Grand Slam Final playoff 5th"] [Site "Sao Paulo/Bilbao"] [Date "2013.06.15"] [Round "?"] [White "Raymond Udofia "] [Black "Mina Zaky"] [Result "*"] [ECO "C44"] [Annotator "Houdini 3 Pro x64 (60m)"] [PlyCount "34"] [EventDate "2012.10.13"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "2"] [EventCountry "CHN"] {C44: Ponziani Opening and Scotch Gambit} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Nxf7 Nxf7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qxc5 {last book move} d5 10. e5 (10. O-O dxe4 11. c3 Be6 $11) 10... Re8 {Black threatens to win material: Re8xe5} 11. O-O Rxe5 12. Nd2 Bg4 (12... Qd6 13. Qxd6 cxd6 14. c3 $17) 13. f3 (13. Nb3 Qd6 14. Qxd6 cxd6 $15) 13... Bf5 $17 14. g4 (14. Nb3 Qd6 15. Qxd6 cxd6 $17) 14... Re2 (14... Qf6 $142 15. Rf2 b6 $19) 15. Qb5 $2 (15. Ne4 $142 Bxe4 16. fxe4+ Kg7 17. Qxd5 (17. exd5 $4 Qh4 18. Bf4 Qh3 $19) 17... Qxd5 18. exd5 $17) {[%tqu "","","",d3,"",10]} 15... d3 $1 $19 {Mate attack} 16. cxd3 (16. cxd3 Qh4 {Mate attack}) (16. -- $140 Qh4 {Mate threat}) 16... Qh4 17. Qxd5+ Be6 (17... Be6 18. Qd6 cxd6 19. Re1 Qxh2+ 20. Kf1 Qg2#) *

Thursday 20 June 2013

Instructive Game 8:-Akobian, Varuzhan–Gurevich, Dmitry

As a taring when you a see a chess diagram try to find the next move before scrolling down
A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "USA-ch"] [Site "Tulsa"] [Date "2008.05.13"] [Round "3"] [White "Akobian, Varuzhan"] [Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2601"] [BlackElo "2513"] [Annotator "Akobian"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2008.05.13"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2008.07.03"] {'D41: Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch with 5 cxd5 '} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 (3... Be7 {Very interesting move. Ideas here is to prevent Bg5 immediately}) 4. Nf3 (4. cxd5 Nxd5 {A rare move but White needs to know what to do here to be able to get some advantage} (4... exd5 {The usual move here} 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 c6 8. Nge2 {I like the Knight on e2 here instead of f3} Nbd7 9. Qc2 Re8 10. O-O {Just a line} Nf8 {[%cal Gf2f3,Ge3e4] Here we have the idea to pla f3 and e4} 11. f3 {Usually in this kind of structure White's plan is Rb1 and b4-b5 and starts a minority attack , but when you put the knight on e2 you have the idea of playing f3 which i prefer in this kind of position})) 4... c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 {The Main move here for Black is Bb4+ but Black played ...Nc6 this gives White extra option, so what can White play here?} Nc6 9. a3 {Keeping the bishops on the board and that gives White advantage because White is trying to attack, he has the control of the center and with more pieces on the board it is easier to attack. So if you play this as Black you should play ...Bb4+ first} Be7 10. Bd3 O-O (10... Nxd4 $2 11. Nxd4 Qxd4 12. Bb5+) 11. Bb2 (11. O-O $2 {Losses the d pawn} Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4) 11... Qa5+ {What should White do here Qd2, Nd2 or move the king, What is the best continuation here for White, remember that White is fighting for advantage [#]} 12. Kf1 {Now the game is going to be very sharp because i lost my right to castle and Black will try to do some ideas , Black will do some positions threats and White have to play the right moves to stop these threats.} (12. Nd2 {Not ideal because you lose time by bringing the Knight back and then foreword}) (12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 {About equal}) 12... b6 {What is the idea behind this move? [#] Black is trying to play Ba6 exchanging the bishop and if he can manage to exchange this bishop and quickly put his rocks on C8 and d8 it will be extremely difficult to attack because Black is very solid here, no weakness in the king side, so without light square bishops White's attacking chances it will be very little, so White can't allow Ba6 so how he can prevent that?} 13. Qe2 Bb7 {Planning ... Rc8 and ...Rd8 so how can White attack here? Try to find a plan for White not just the next move ? [#]} 14. h4 {[%cal Gh1h3,Gh3g3] Planning Rh3-g3, one of the typical ideas to remember when you lost your right to castle} Rac8 (14... f5 15. exf5 exf5 {How should White continue here? [#]} 16. d5 Qxd5 17. Bc4) 15. Rh3 Nb8 {Planning Ba6 exchanging the bishops and then exchange Queens. So what is White best move to keep the attack and avoid that? [#]} (15... Rfd8 16. Rg3 {[%cal Gd4d5]}) 16. d5 {[%cal Gh3g3,Gd5e6]} (16. Rg3 {Is playable but White has something better}) 16... exd5 {How should White continue? [#]} 17. Rg3 f6 {How should White continue? What is the most precise move to continue the attack? [#]} (17... g6 {Looks very unnatural because it weakness the position. How should White continue? [#]} 18. exd5 Bd6 {[%cal Gd6g3]} 19. Ng5 Bxg3 {What is the winning move? [#]} 20. Qh5 gxh5 21. Nxh7) 18. Nd4 { [%cal Gd4f5,Gf5e7,Gf5g7] The knight and the queen aren't participating in the attack} dxe4 {How should White continue? IS there a strong move for White? [#]} 19. Qg4 {Bringing another piece to the attack with tempo} Rf7 {How should White continue? IS there a strong move for White? [#]} 20. Bxe4 {[%cal Ge4b7] Threating Bxb7} h5 {Trying to deflect the Queen from g4 but this move also weakness the position. So what should White do now? [#]} (20... Qa6+ 21. Bd3 {The Queen goes anywhere then} -- 22. Nf5) (20... Bxe4 $2 21. Qxc8+) 21. Qe6 {[%cal Ge4g6,Gg6f7,Ge6g8] Threating Bg6} (21. Qg6 $6 Bxe4) 21... Bxe4 22. Qxc8+ {[%cal Gc8b8] '+-' Houdini 3 Pro x64 (20s).} (22. Qxe4 $6 {is the weaker alternative} {[%tqu "","","",Nc6,"",10]} Nc6 {Decoy: c6} 23. Rc1 Qa6+ 24. Qd3 Qxd3+ 25. Rxd3 Bc5 $11) 22... Kh7 (22... Rf8 23. Qe6+ {[%cal Ge6e4]}) 23. Qxb8 {Now White is a up a rook, so all he need to do is consolidate his position .} Qd2 {[%cal Gd2b2,Gb2d4,Gb2a1] Black is threating ...Qxb2 then ...Qxd4 or ... Qxa1, in this kind of position where White is up a rock he has a lot of ways to win So how should be White's precise move here? [#]} (23... Qd5 { otherwise it's curtains at once 'there is nothing better in the position'} 24. Qc8 (24. Qe8 Bd6 $18) 24... Bd6 $18) 24. Qe8 (24. Bc3 $6 Bd3+) (24. Re1) 24... Bd5 {Can you find the winning idea ? [#]} (24... Rf8 25. Qxe7) (24... Qxb2 { '??'} 25. Qxf7 {[%cal Gf7g7,Gg3g7]} Qxa1+ 26. Ke2 {White's king is exposed to Queen and bishop, but Black don't have anything here, the d4 knight protects very important squares and Black don't have time to capture it '+-'} Qb2+ ( 26... Qxd4 27. Qxg7#) 27. Ke3 {[%cal Ge3e4,Gf7g7]} Qc3+ 28. Kxe4) 25. Rxg7+ { '!' 'Decoy: g7' '!' Houdini 3 Pro x64 (20s).} Kxg7 (25... Rxg7 26. Qxh5+ { 'Double attack'} (26. Nf5 {Decoy}) 26... Kg8 27. Qxd5+ {[%cal Gd5b3,Ga1e1]}) 26. Nf5+ Kh7 (26... Kg6 27. Nxe7+ {'Mate attack'}) 27. Nxe7 {[%cal Ge8g8,Gg8g6] 'Combination'} Bxg2+ 28. Kg1 {[%cal Ge8f7,Ge8g8,Gg8g6]} Rg7 29. Qxh5+ Qh6 30. Qxh6+ Kxh6 31. Nf5+ Kg6 (31... Kh7 32. Nxg7 $18) 32. Nxg7 $18 1-0

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Tactics puzzles 10:-White to play and win

Tactics puzzles 9:-A trap in the King's Indian

A trap in the King's Indian
Black has just played Nh5 planning to win the White's dark square bishop
White to play and win

Answer

Tips for beginner in the Opening

There are five very important steps to do when you start the game
1st step:- Control the center (the four squares e4,d4,e5,c5).
And usually it is achieved by playing e4 or d4
2nd step:-Develop minor pieces (knight and bishops) and try to to develop knights before bishops.
3rd step:- Castle because safety of the king is very important .
4th step:- Finish developing including major pieces (Queen and Rocks)
5th step:-Start the Attack usually by advancing the pawns forward or activating the minor pieces towards the center

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Tactics puzzles 8:- White plays and win a piece

Tactics puzzles 7:- White plays and win a piece

Tactics puzzles 6:- Mate in three

White to play and Mate in Three

 


Instructive Game 7:-Carlsen, Magnus–Caruana, Fabiano

As A training, Try to find the next best move when you see a diagram before scrolling down
A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "Grand Slam Final playoff 5th"] [Site "Sao Paulo/Bilbao"] [Date "2012.10.13"] [Round "2"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "*"] [ECO "B40"] [WhiteElo "2843"] [BlackElo "2772"] [Annotator "Akobian"] [PlyCount "33"] [EventDate "2012.10.13"] [EventType "match (blitz)"] [EventRounds "2"] [EventCountry "BRA"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2012.11.13"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 {What Black idea here ?or Why did he played the last move [#] Attacking e4} 5. Qe2 (5. O-O $2 Bxe4) 5... d6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nf6 8. O-O Nbd7 {Black has a cramped position} 9. Rd1 a6 $6 { Controls b5 Find the wining move for White [#] Hint: - discovery attack} 10. e5 $16 Bxg2 $2 {Which is best exf6 or Kxg2? Capturing the knight or the bishop [#]} (10... Nxe5 11. Bxb7) (10... dxe5 $142 11. Bxb7 exd4 12. Bxa8 Qxa8 13. Rxd4 Bc5 $16) 11. exf6 $18 (11. Kxg2 {is clearly weaker} dxe5 12. Nf3 Qc7 $17) 11... Bh3 {The only move Try to find a move here [#] Hint: - tactical move that wins material} ({How should White answer? A string tactical idea} 11... Bb7 {[#] A very beautiful move Hint :- Mate threat} 12. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 ( 12... Qxf6 13. Nc7+ Kd8 14. Nxa8 Bxa8 15. Nc3 $18 (15. Qxa6 $4 {White will choke on that pawn} Qf3 16. Qxa8+ Qxa8 $19)) 13. Qxe6+ Be7 {What is the best move here for White? [#]} 14. fxg7 {[%cal Gg7h8,Ge6g8,Gg7f8] When the King is in the middle of the board we try to find any way to exploit that and Black here is behind in development that is why tactical works}) 12. Qh5 {[%cal Gh5h3] The Bishop don't any square to go to} Qxf6 (12... Bg4 13. Qxg4) (12... Bf5 {How should White Continue? [#]} 13. Nxf5 exf5 14. Re1+ Ne5 (14... Be7 15. fxe7) 15. fxg7 Bxg7 {[%cal Ge1e8]} 16. f4 {Winnig a piece}) 13. Qxh3 { Black contiued for few more moves but the postion is lost} Be7 14. Nc3 Qg6 15. Nc6 Ne5 16. Nxe7 Kxe7 17. Bf4 {1-0 (17) Carlsen,M (2843)-Caruana,F (2772) Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012} *

Instructive Game 6 :- Hammer, Jon Ludvig–Carlsen, Magnus

As A training, Try to find the next best move when you see a diagram before scrolling down
A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "Wch U14"] [Site "Chalkidiki"] [Date "2003.10.23"] [Round "1"] [White "Hammer, Jon Ludvig"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "2074"] [BlackElo "2450"] [Annotator "Akopian"] [PlyCount "36"] [EventDate "2003.10.23"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "GRE"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2003.11.25"] 1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nbd2 g6 4. e4 Bg7 5. Bd3 O-O 6. O-O Nc6 7. c3 e5 8. h3 Nh5 {[%cal Gh5f4]} 9. dxe5 Nf4 {[%csl Rd3][%cal Gf4d3]} 10. Bb5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 { What is the best move for White here? [#] Hint: - In between moves} Qg5 { [%csl Gg2][%cal Gf4g2,Gg5g2]} 12. Ng4 Qxb5 13. Nb3 Ne2+ 14. Kh1 Bxg4 15. hxg4 Rae8 16. Be3 $4 Rxe4 $19 17. Re1 {Try to Find Mate in two [#]} Qh5+ $3 { Deflection: g4 Here Black Resigns} 18. gxh5 Rh4# {Mate attack Deflection} 0-1

Sunday 9 June 2013

Tactics puzzle 5:-Mate in three

Tactics puzzle 4:- Mate in two

Tactics puzzle 3:- Find the best move





Hint

Tactics puzzle 2:- Find the best move

Tactics:- Find the best move

Click on the image to open the answer

Instructive Game 5 :- Fischer, Robert James–Fine, Reuben

As A training, Try to find the next best move when you see a diagram before scrolling down 

A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "New York"] [Site "New York"] [Date "1963.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Fischer, Robert James"] [Black "Fine, Reuben"] [Result "*"] [ECO "C52"] [PlyCount "39"] [EventDate "1963.??.??"] [EventType "game"] [EventRounds "1"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1999.07.01"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 {Evams Gambit} Bxb4 (4... Nxb4 {Is bad because} 5. Nxe5) 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O dxc3 {What is the move for White here to activate a piece and create a threat immediately ? [#]} 8. Qb3 { [%csl Gf7][%cal Gc4f7]} Qe7 9. Nxc3 $14 {[%cal Gc3d5]} (9. Ba3 d6 $11) 9... Nf6 $2 {This is a mistake , Can you find the best move for White [#]} (9... Bxc3 10. Qxc3 $14) 10. Nd5 $18 ({Is also a good attacking move} 10. e5 $16 { Houdini 3 Pro x64: 1)} Nxe5 ({Houdini 3 Pro x64: 2)} 10... Bxc3 11. exf6 Bxf6 12. Ba3 d6 13. Rae1 Ne5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. f4 Bd4+ 16. Kh1 Be6 17. f5 O-O 18. fxe6 fxe6 19. Rxe6 Rxf1+ 20. Bxf1 Qf7 21. Bc4 Kh8 22. Qxb7 Rf8 23. Qf3 Qxf3 24. gxf3 g5 25. Kg2 Bf6 26. Re4 Kg7 27. f4 h6 28. Bc1 Rb8 29. fxg5 hxg5 30. Bb3 a6 31. Ra4 Re8 32. Rxa6 {[%eval 282,24] 2.82/24}) 11. Ba3 Nxf3+ 12. gxf3 d6 13. Rfe1 Be6 14. Bxe6 O-O 15. Bf5 Qd8 16. Rad1 Bb6 17. Bb2 Re8 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. fxe4 Qh4 20. Qg3 Qxg3+ 21. hxg3 Bc5 22. Kg2 Rad8 23. e5 dxe5 24. Rxe5 b6 25. Rd7 Rf8 26. Red5 Bd6 27. Rd1 Rxd7 28. Bxd7 Rd8 29. Bc6 {[%eval 159,24] 1.59/24} ) 10... Nxd5 {Now you have a choice, you can take back with the bishop or with pawn, which is better [#]} 11. exd5 {[%cal Ge1e7,Gd5c6]} Ne5 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 { Try to find a Good move here that also develop a piece and attack? [#]} 13. Bb2 Qg5 {Try to find the best move here ? [#]} 14. h4 (14. f4 {It has the same idea of h4 but much weaker than h4 because it open the diagonal of the king}) (14. Qa3 {[%csl Ge7][%cal Ga3a5,Ga3e7,Gf1e1,Ge1e7] Is a very strong move too, hitting the bishop on h5 and sitting on the f8-a3 diagonal with threats to checkmate after Re1+} d6 15. Qxa5) 14... Qxh4 15. Bxg7 Rg8 {What can you do here? [#]} 16. Rfe1+ Kd8 (16... Bxe1 17. Rxe1+ Kd8 {Transpose}) 17. Qg3 {[%cal Gg7f6] Here Fischer opponent resigns} (17. g3 $2 Rxg7) 17... Qe7 ( 17... Qxg3 18. Bf6#) (17... Rxg7 18. Qxh4+ f6 19. Qxf6+ Re7 20. Qxe7#) 18. Rxe7 (18. Rxe7 d6 19. Rxf7 Ke8 20. Qf3 Rxg7 21. Rf8+ Kd7 22. Qf5+ Ke7 23. Qf6+ Kd7 24. Qxg7#) 18... Kxe7 19. Qe5+ Kd8 20. Bf6# *

Saturday 1 June 2013

"What books can you recommend that will help me improve my game?"

This is a question I'm asked from time to time, so I will occasionally introduce some of my most helpful books, starting with the classic:

MY SYSTEM by Aron Nimzowitsch

Nimzowitsch was a contemporary of Alekhine, and actually defeated him once or twice. So he's no lightweight! Read this book to learn about "restrain, blockade, destroy", "prophylaxis", outposts, the best use of rooks (mysterious rook moves), and much more. I'm told that even GMs return to this classic to brush up their technique. Just make sure you get the algebraic version, if that's what you're used to. Published by Hays Publishing.

Tactics puzzle 1 :-- Find the best move

As A training, Try to find the next best move when you see a diagram before scrolling down 

Games
[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2013.05.31"] [Round "?"] [White "Tactics"] [Black "Double Attack 1"] [Result "*"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "7k/p2q2pp/2pP1p2/2r1p3/P7/7P/3Q1PP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "1"] 1. Qb4 {[%cal Gb4c5,Gb4b8,Gb8h8]} ({Houdini 3 Pro x64: 1)} 1. Qb4 g6 2. Qb8+ Kg7 3. Qc7 Qf7 4. Qxf7+ Kxf7 5. d7 Rc1 6. d8=Q Rxd1+ 7. Qxd1 Ke7 8. Qf3 Kd6 9. Qxf6+ Kc5 10. Qxe5+ Kc4 11. Qe6+ Kb4 12. Qxc6 Kb3 13. Qb7+ Kxa4 14. Qxa7+ Kb4 15. Qxh7 g5 16. Qf5 g4 17. Qxg4+ Kb5 18. Qg6 Kc5 19. Qg5+ Kd6 {[%eval 1812,24]} ) ({Houdini 3 Pro x64: 2)} 1. Qe3 Rd5 2. Rxd5 g5 3. Rd1 Kg7 4. Qc5 Kf7 5. Rc1 a5 6. Qc4+ Kf8 7. Qxc6 Qxc6 8. Rxc6 Ke8 9. Rc7 h6 10. Kf1 h5 11. Ke2 Kd8 12. Ke3 f5 13. Rf7 g4 14. Rxf5 gxh3 15. gxh3 Kd7 16. Rxe5 Kxd6 17. Rxh5 Ke6 18. Rxa5 Kd7 19. h4 Ke6 20. h5 Kf6 21. h6 Kg6 22. Ra6+ {[%eval 1143,24]}) * [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2013.05.31"] [Round "?"] [White "Tactics "] [Black "Double Attack 2"] [Result "*"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r1b1r1k1/pp3p1p/5qpB/3p4/3b4/1Q4P1/PP3PBP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "1"] {Hint:- Look at the pieces that aren't protected} 1. Qa4 ({Houdini 3 Pro x64: 1)} 1. Qa4 {[%cal Ga4d4,Ga4e8]} Be6 2. Qxd4 Qxd4 3. Rxd4 Rad8 4. Re1 f6 5. Bxd5 {[%eval 478,25]}) ({Houdini 3 Pro x64: 2)} 1. Bxd5 Be6 2. Bxe6 Rxe6 3. Qxb7 Rd8 4. Be3 Bxe3 5. Rxd8+ Qxd8 6. fxe3 Re7 7. Qb3 Qd2 8. Rd1 Qxe3+ 9. Qxe3 Rxe3 10. Kf2 Re7 11. Kf3 Rc7 12. Rd2 Kg7 13. Kf2 Rc6 14. Ke3 a5 15. Kf3 Rf6+ 16. Ke3 Re6+ 17. Kf4 Rf6+ 18. Ke4 Re6+ 19. Kd5 Re3 20. Kd4 Re8 {[%eval 4,25]}) * [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2013.05.31"] [Round "?"] [White "Tactics "] [Black "Double Attack 3"] [Result "*"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2r3k1/p2q1ppp/1p1b4/2p2N2/8/2PP4/PP2Q1PP/R6K w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "5"] 1. Qg4 ({Houdini 3 Pro x64: 1)} 1. Qg4 Qxf5 2. Qxf5 Rd8 3. Rf1 f6 4. Qd5+ Kf8 5. Qb7 b5 6. Qxb5 Re8 7. Qa6 Bb8 8. Qc6 Kf7 9. Qd5+ Kf8 10. Qxc5+ Kg8 11. d4 h6 12. Qh5 Kf8 13. Qd5 Re7 14. c4 Re8 15. Qb7 a5 16. c5 Bf4 17. c6 Re7 18. Qa8+ Kf7 19. Qxa5 Bc7 20. Qd5+ Kf8 21. b4 Re3 22. Qd7 {[%eval 1155,24]}) ({Houdini 3 Pro x64: 2)} 1. Nxd6 Qxd6 {[%eval -18,23]}) 1... Bf8 2. Nh6+ Kh8 3. Qxd7 *

Instructive Game 4 :- Fischer, Robert James–Reshevsky, Samuel Herman

As A training, Try to find the next best move when you see a diagram before scrolling down 

A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "USA-ch"] [Site "New York"] [Date "1958.??.??"] [Round "6"] [White "Fischer, Robert James"] [Black "Reshevsky, Samuel Herman"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B35"] [Annotator "Akopian"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "1958.12.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1999.07.01"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Bb3 Na5 {Is the knight move to rim here a good move or bad? What is Fischer next move? [#] Hint: - The knight is moving away from the center , so what you can do to make advantage of that ?} 9. e5 {[%csl Gf6]} (9. Ba4 Nc4) 9... Ne8 {[%csl Ge8][%cal Ga8g8] Very bad for Black, his pieces aren't connected, can you find the next move [#] Hint: - A high tactical move} (9... Nxb3 10. exf6 {In between move} Nxa1 11. fxg7 Kxg7 12. Qxa1 {[%csl Gg7][%cal Ga1c1, Ge3h6] Two minor pieces for a Rook}) 10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 {What is Fischer next move? [#]} (10... Rxf7 {What is Fischer next move? [#]} 11. Ne6 {[%csl Gb6, Gc7][%cal Ge6c7,Ge3b6] So the idea here when Fischer sacrificed the bishop to get the control of the e6 square where you have the nice idea of Ne6 move and the Queen is trapped} dxe6 12. Qxd8) 11. Ne6 dxe6 (11... Kxe6 12. Qd5+ Kf5 13. g4+ (13. e6+ Be5 14. g4+) 13... Kxg4 14. Rg1+ Kf5 (14... Kh5 15. Qg2 (15. Rg5+ Kh4 16. Qe4+ Kh3 17. Rg3+ Kxh2 18. Qg2#)) 15. Rg5#) (11... Kg8 12. Nxd8) 12. Qxd8 Nc6 13. Qd2 Bxe5 14. O-O Nd6 15. Bf4 Nc4 16. Qe2 Bxf4 17. Qxc4 Kg7 18. Ne4 Bc7 19. Nc5 Rf6 20. c3 e5 21. Rad1 Nd8 22. Nd7 Rc6 23. Qh4 Re6 24. Nc5 Rf6 25. Ne4 Rf4 26. Qxe7+ Rf7 27. Qa3 Nc6 28. Nd6 Bxd6 29. Rxd6 Bf5 30. b4 Rff8 31. b5 Nd8 32. Rd5 Nf7 33. Rc5 a6 34. b6 Be4 35. Re1 Bc6 36. Rxc6 bxc6 37. b7 Rab8 38. Qxa6 Nd8 39. Rb1 Rf7 40. h3 Rfxb7 41. Rxb7+ Rxb7 42. Qa8 1-0

Instructive Game 3 :- Fischer, Robert James–Fine, Reuben

As A training, Try to find the next best move when you see a diagram before scrolling down 

Games
[Event "Manhattan blitz"] [Site "New York"] [Date "1963.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Fischer, Robert James"] [Black "Fine, Reuben"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C41"] [PlyCount "25"] [EventDate "1963.??.??"] [EventType "tourn (blitz)"] [EventRounds "3"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1999.07.01"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. O-O Be7 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Qe2 Ngf6 8. Rd1 Qc7 $2 {What is Fischer next move? [#]} 9. Ng5 O-O 10. Bxf7+ {Here Black resigned} Rxf7 {What would Fischer play here? [#]} (10... Kh8 {What would Fischer play here? [#]} 11. Ne6 {[%cal Ge6f8,Ge6c7]}) 11. Qc4 {[%cal Gg5f7, Gc4f7]} Nd5 {What would Fischer play here? [#]} 12. Nxf7 (12. exd5 $2 Bxg5) 12... Kxf7 13. exd5 1-0