TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page
Key to symbols
Introduction
Structure of the book

Chapter 1. Attack

Games 1-3
Games 4-6
Games 7-9

Chapter 2. Defense and Attack

Games 10-12
Games 13-15
Games 16-18

Chapter 3. Positional Play & Structures

Games 19-21
Games 22-24
Games 25-27

Chapter 4. Endings

Games 28-29
Games 30-32

Index of games

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 The Chess Scalpel
32 Master Games Dissected

Predict the Moves and Maximize Your Chess Understanding!

by
Zenón Franco

www.thinkerspublishing.com

Managing Editor
Romain Edouard

Consulting Editor
Daniël Vanheirzeele

Translator
Juan Miguel Guía García

Proofreader
Ian Marks

Graphic Artist
Philippe Tonnard

3
Cover design
Iwan Kerkhof

Typesetting
i-Press ‹www.i-press.pl›

First edition 2022 by Thinkers Publishing

The Chess Scalpel. 32 Master Games Dissected

Copyright © 2022 Zenon Franco

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 978-94-6420-151-2
D/2022/13732/23

All sales or enquiries should be directed to Thinkers Publishing, 9850 Landegem, Belgium.

e-mail: info@thinkerspublishing.com
website: www.thinkerspublishing.com

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 KEY TO SYMBOLS

! a good move
? a weak move
!! an excellent move
?? a blunder
!? an interesting move
?! a dubious move
™ only move
= equality
∞ unclear position
© with compensation for the sacrificed material
² White stands slightly better
³ Black stands slightly better
± White has a serious advantage
µ Black has a serious advantage
+– White has a decisive advantage
–+ Black has a decisive advantage
‚ with an attack
ƒ with initiative
„ with counterplay
… with the idea of
¹ better is
≤ worse is
N novelty
+ check
# mate

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 INTRODUCTION

It is a real pleasure for me to start my collaboration with Thinkers Publishing by writing a volume on
a theme with which I am very familiar. I have written several books on this topic; since I first learned
how the pieces move I have been linked to the ‘Guess the Move’ format, first as a student, then as a
trainer, and now as an author.
The idea behind this book is for you to ‘play’ as in a real game, and it is my job to ensure you have a
pleasant time while training. I suggest you take at least an hour and a half for each game and as your
coach I will indicate when to guess the moves. Sometimes there will be suggestions — including
tricky ones — to measure your concentration level. The ideas behind the moves are always explained.
Points are awarded for the ‘right answers’ as well as for some other moves, and at the end there is a
general assessment plus a review of some of the things to be learned from the game. During my
coaching period I was able to witness how motivating it is for kids to receive points for the right
answers, their ‘lives are at stake’ when they try to find the answers, and it is a challenge much
appreciated by them. Later I also noticed a similar effect with adults although, unlike the kids, the
older students try to hide it.
The final score is not that important; it is not scientifically based. But of course the more points you
get the better you ‘would have played’. The effort you put into trying to find the best move every time
is what matters most. I firmly believe it really helps to learn a little more about playing chess with
every game.
The methodology recommended for solving the exercises is the ‘old-school’ one of using a piece of
paper to cover the text and scrolling down the page as you advance.
The games have been chosen according to my personal liking and commentaries are based on those
by the players themselves, which is a great help in understanding what indeed happened.
In some games you will have to guess moves for the losing side too. Indeed, I expect that as you
proceed you will become familiar with the question of Mark Dvoretsky: “What could my opponent
play?”.
Importance has also been given to the practical aspect, which doesn’t always coincide with the
suggestions offered by the engines as best. This is to make it more like ‘a real game’.
It was enlightening to read that the current world champion, Magnus Carlsen, mentioned that the
difficulty involved in playing a position is a factor to take into consideration, and that in such cases
the engine’s assessment is not that useful.
Let’s go back to how this book originated: the main reason for this ‘guessing moves’ pastime stems
from the immense popularity that chess has always had in Argentina, where I lived for many years.
As we know, the 1939 Chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires coincided with the outbreak of World War
II. This terrible event saw a considerable number of chess masters staying in Argentina.
In some cases, like Gideon Stahlberg, Savielly Tartakower, Moshe Czerniak, Ludwig Engels etc., it
was just a temporary stay, but for some, such as Miguel Najdorf, Paulino Frydman, Erich Eliskases,

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Paul Michel, Albert Beckert, Enrique Reinhardt and many others, it turned out to be permanent. In
such a short list, the gold-medal winning team of Germany, as well as several members of the silver
medallists, Poland, are included.
Their presence left a heritage that invigorated the Argentinian chess atmosphere, which by then was
already at a high level. Brilliant performances in the Olympiads such as second places in Dubrovnik
1950, Helsinki 1952 and Amsterdam 1954, with third in Munich 1958 and fourth in Moscow 1956,
were accompanied by other accomplishments. For example, the sudden appearance of two junior
world champions — Oscar Panno and Carlos Bielicki in the 1950s — as well as Argentinian
participation in the 1953 and 1956 Candidates tournaments, were some of the fruits of the period.
In that favorable atmosphere, chess clubs such as Jaque Mate, Club Argentino, Club Villa Martelli,
Club Vélez Sarsfield, and many others, with excellent masters as coaches, proliferated everywhere.
Even several football clubs featured an important chess section: GM Oscar Panno and IM Bernardo
Wexler, among others, taught chess at two of the most popular clubs, Boca Juniors and River Plate,
while IM Jacobo Bolbochán did the same at Club Jaque Mate.
Miguel Najdorf’s presence, displaying his infectious enthusiasm for the game, was another important
factor. The influence of Don Miguel, or ‘El Viejo’ (the Old Man) as he was referred to (even by
himself), explains part of the popularity of chess in a country so distant from the game’s epicenter.
Amateurs anxiously awaited the blitz tournaments as well as the ‘guess the moves’ contests. I was
particularly attracted by the latter and, most likely together with the impact of a Bent Larsen exercise
published in the Argentinian magazine Ajedrez in his admirable style, I started the same practice
some forty years ago in the now-defunct Argentinian chess magazine, El Rey (The King).
It is not far-fetched to assert, as I wrote above, that this book was born — in part — as a result of all
those events, and that I consider myself to be very lucky for having lived through such a period in the
chess history of Buenos Aires.
I hope you, dear readers, will enjoy reading and ‘guessing the moves’ in this book as much I did
writing it, and that you all learn from it to the best of your ability.

GM Zenón Franco Ocampos

Ponteareas, September 2021

Dedicated to Yudania

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 STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK

There are thirty-two games in this book, divided into four chapters:

Chapter 1. Attack

Featuring nine games in which the main theme is the attack on the king.

Chapter 2. Attack and Defense

The nine games in this chapter are devoted to positions where attack, defense and counterattack are
the main topics.

Chapter 3. Positional Play/Structures

This chapter contains nine games where the fight centers on positional play and/or typical structures.

Chapter 4. Endings

The main topic in the five games of the final chapter is endgame play.

It is clear though that the division is just partial, since in chess — as a general rule — themes are
interconnected one with another. We, of course, can only see a fraction of the possibilities out there.
There is a lot to discover, a plethora of things to learn, and all sorts of improvements to each and
every game. Who knows — maybe you will contribute to finding them!

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 Show in Text Mode

CHAPTER 1.
ATTACK

Game 1
White: You
Black: Master
Caro-Kann Defense [B15]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.c3

Most usual is 6.Bc4, but White has another idea.

6...Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0

What do you think White’s idea is?

8.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

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8.Qh5

1 point. Good deduction, since that is the point of the bishop going to d3. White, right from the start,
is looking for ways to put his own stamp on the game. Objectively, there is not that much poison
contained in the offensive but neither should it be underestimated.
Both 8.Qc2 (1 point) and 8.Ne2 (1 point) are more common.

8...g6 9.Qh4 c5

Black opts for a strike in the center, in order to develop the knight via c6. There were several
possibilities to choose from. Another idea is to try to bring the knight to d5 or e4 followed by a timely
...f5. Vukovic, in The Art of Attack in Chess, recommended 9...Nd7 10.Ne2 Be7! 11.0-0 f5 12.Qg3
Nf6. Also interesting is 9...Re8+ 10.Ne2 b6 followed by ...Ba6, or directly 9...b6. These are all
satisfactory continuations.

10.Ne2 Nc6 11.Bh6 f5

Black does not want to play the obvious 11...Re8, although it has no particular downsides.

12.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

12.Bg5!

2 points. After the move ...f5, which weakened Black’s king position, White naturally does not
consider trading queens, although in that case his superior pawn structure would offer a good
position.

12...Qb6

It is unpleasant to exchange bishops because after 12...Be7 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.0-0-0 White has
harmonious development, a better bishop and a preferable position.

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13.0-0

This leads to an IQP (Isolated Queen Pawn) position which is not that bad for Black, but which also
‘insists’ on White´s initial idea of attacking.
At first sight, 13.dxc5 looks better and to then play b4 if necessary, followed by castling, with a slight
advantage for White, but things are not so clear. Why didn’t White play that way?

Your move after: 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.b4.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Black would play 14...Ne5! and after 15.Bc2 comes the counterpunch 15...f6! (3 points), when after
16.Bh6? (or inserting 16.Bb3+ Kh8) Black takes advantage of the fact that White is not castled with
16...Bxf2+! 17.Qxf2+ followed by 18...Ng4+, while after 16.bxc5 fxg5 17.Qxh7+ Kxh7 18.cxb6
axb6 the position is equal.

13...cxd4 14.cxd4

14.Nf4 is not dangerous due to 14...Be6, controlling d5, and after 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Bc4 Rae8 the
position offers equal chances.
I suggest you now flip the board and this time play with the black pieces.

14...Your move.

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 Show/Hide Solution

14...Re8?!

Black wants to compete in activity, but this move has its drawbacks and collects no points.
Best was to go for defense and reinforce the position with 14...Nb4! followed by 15.Nc3 Be6!
stopping Nd5, or after 15.Bc4 Be6 Black controls d5 and achieves a satisfactory position. (3 points).
Also acceptable is 14...Be6! (2 points), with a sound position, for example 15.Bf6 Rfe8 16.Nc3 Nb4
or 15.d5 Bxd5 16.Bxf5 Qxb2!, but not 16...gxf5?? 17.Bf6, winning for White.

15.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

15.Bc4!

2 points. Of course, hitting f7 which was weakened by Black’s last move.

15...h5

Practically forced.
In response to a careless move like 15...Bf8? the main threat follows: 16.Bxf7+! Kxf7 17.Qxh7+ Bg7
18.Bh6 Rg8 19.Nf4 targeting g6, followed by Rfe1, with a decisive attack.

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 16.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

16.Rae1?

Bringing an inactive piece into the fight. This is an ambitious and risky move, but objectively
imprecise as it releases the tension. It therefore gets no points.
16.Bf6! was very strong (3 points), in order to play 17.Qg5, which would threaten both 18.Qh6 and
18.Qxg6+.
16...Be7? fails due to 17.Qg5 Bxf6 18.Qxg6+, while the resourceful 16...Be6? 17.d5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5
Rxe2 does not hold because of 19.Qc4.
However, 19.Qg5 is not so strong. Why not?

Your move after 19.Qg5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because of the simple 19...Ne7! (1 point), reinforcing the defense of g6 and Black lives.
After 16.Bf6 the most stubborn defense seems to be 16...Na5, diverting the bishop from the ever-so-
annoying diagonal, though after 17.Bd3 Bd7 there follows 18.d5! with a clear advantage. Besides the
weakness of the black king and the awkward position of the a5-knight, White practically has a passed
pawn advantage.
There is another move leading to an advantage, but it involves trading queens, so in practice it is
difficult to consider when there are alternatives. After 16.Nc3! (1 point) 16...Qxd4 17.Qxd4 Nxd4
18.Nd5, threatening Nf6+ with the idea of Rad1, Black is punished for being behind in development
and after just a few moves material loss is inevitable.

16...Re4?!

Black aims at immediate activity. A less aggressive player would have opted for the more cautious
16...Bd7! since on 17.Bf6?! (playing for Qg5) there could follow 17...Na5!, expelling the bishop
from the a2–g8 diagonal. Now 18.Qg5? is not possible due to 18...Nxc4 19.Qh6 Bxh2+! winning.

17.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

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17.Nf4!

2 points. Of course, threatening 18.Rxe4 and 19.Nxg6. The loss of the d4-pawn had been taken into
consideration when playing 16.Rae1.

17...Qxd4 18.Rxe4 fxe4?

Black did not want to enter a somewhat inferior endgame after 18...Qxe4 19.Nxg6 Qxh4 20.Nxh4
Be6, but objectively it was the best course of action.
It is true that not everyone can play the next phase with the same accuracy and forcefulness as the
player of the white pieces.

White has sacrificed a central pawn and from now on will need to make several only moves to justify
it.

19.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

19.Nxh5!

4 points. A beautiful strike! There are two white pieces hanging, but White’s offensive is
unstoppable.

19...gxh5

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It is obvious that on 19...Qxc4? it is mate after 20.Nf6+.

20.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

20.Bf6!

2 points. 20...Qxc4? is met by 21.Qxh5! and mate follows.

20...Qc5

Necessary defense of the 5th rank. How does White now enliven the attack?

21.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

21.Rd1!

2 points. With the threat of 22.Rd5.

21...Kf8

Aiming at escaping with the king. Let’s have a look at some other insufficient defenses.

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 Your move against 21...Be6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
There follows 22.Rd5! (2 points) 22...Qxc4 (or 22...Bxd5 23.Qxh5!) 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Rxd6 and a
quick mate.

Your move against 21...Be7.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
The same reply follows, 22.Rd5! (1 point) 22...Qxc4 (or 22...Bxf6 23.Qg3+) 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Bxe7+
Ke8 25.Bc5 winning.
The most stubborn defense was 21...e3! though unfortunately for Black this would not save the game
either as White obtains a big advantage by continuing in similar vein to the game.

White has sacrificed a piece to get this attacking position: Black’s king is weak and White has
dynamic superiority, which must be used, otherwise Black will complete his development.

22.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

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22.b4!!

4 points. A superb move which pinpoints that the black queen is overloaded: it defends both h5 and
d6. What about the knight?
What does it defend?
On the contrary, 22.Rd5 was incorrect (and loses 1 point), but why?
Answer:
Because 22...Qxc4! (2 points) is possible, and on 23.Qxh5 there is the saving resource 23...Qc1+,
when after 24.Rd1, among others, Black can simplify as follows: 24...Qxd1+ 25.Qxd1 Be7 and Black
defends with a material advantage.

22...Nxb4

Now on 22...Qxc4, 23.Qxh5 wins, for example: 23...Ke8 24.Rxd6 Qc1+ 25.Rd1.

23.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

23.Qg3!!

4 points. As this beautiful move shows, the knight was defending the d8-square.
This is the strongest move, but not the only winning one.

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Also strong was 23.Bd4 (2 points) 23...Qc7 (defending d8) 24.Qxh5, and now 24...Qxc4, 25.Bf6
decides, while on 24...Bg4, there is the decisive 25.Qh8+ Ke7 26.Qh4+ Ke8 (or 26...Kf8 27.Bf6!)
27.Bb5+ Nc6 28.Qxg4 with a deadly attack despite being a piece down. 23.Qxe4 was also good (2
points).

23...Bg4

Avoiding the threat of 24.Qg7+. The queen is untouchable due to 24.Rd8#.

24.Rxd6 Nd3

24...Qxc4 is not better. Why not?

Your move after 24...Qxc4.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
The queen infiltrates with 25.Qe3! (or 25.Qf4!) 25...Ke8 26.Qh6 and mate. (1 point).
Black controls f4 and e3, so how should White continue?

25.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

25.Bxd3

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1 point. Of course, there is no longer a good defense available to Black. Any other move loses 3
points.

25...Qc1+

How would you have refuted 25...exd3?

Answer:
With 26.Qf4! (1 point), defending c1 and winning.

26.Bf1 Rc8 27.h3 Qxf1+

28.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

28.Kh2!

1 point. But not 28.Kxf1?? Rc1+ 29.Rd1 Rxd1#.

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28...Qc1

The rook cannot join the attack with 28...Rc1 due to 29.Rd8# and the bishop cannot move due to
29.Qg7+ and mate.

29.hxg4 hxg4 30.Qxg4 Qh6+ 31.Kg3 Rc3+ 32.f3 1–0

Herman Pilnik–Miguel Najdorf, Mar del Plata, 23.03.1942

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. Which pieces to exchange? Which ones to keep? These are questions to be properly answered at
several moments of any game: 12.Bg5!
2. Determining if it is time to bring more pieces into action or if more concrete measures should be
taken is an aspect which can tip the balance one way or the other. 14...Re8?
14...Nb4!
16.Rae1?
16.Bf6!
3. After sacrificing material, accuracy and speed are essential for a successful attack: 17.Nf4!
19.Nxh5!
21.Rd1!
22.b4!!

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23.Qg3!!
4. Always be alert, even when you are winning. Never relax: 28.Kh2!

MAXIMUM SCORE: 42 POINTS

• More than 38 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 35 and 38 points: Grandmaster.
• Between 30 and 34 points: International Master.
• Between 24 and 29 points: Master.
• Between 17 and 23 points: You found some important moves.
• Between 8 and 16 points: Isn’t it admirable how Grandmaster Herman Pilnik attacked?
Game 2
White: You
Black: Master
Petroff Defense [C42]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 Nc6

8.c4

White has different ways to continue but decides here to immediately open up the game. Another
possibility was to get rid of the e4-knight directly with 8.Nc3, while the most modern treatment is
8.Re1 Bg4 9.c4.

8...Nb4 9.cxd5

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More common nowadays is to keep the bishop with 9.Be2, and after e.g. 9...0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3
Nxc3 12.bxc3 we reach a typical pawn structure for White in this opening, with central pawns on c3
and d4. Another route is 10.a3 Nc6 11.cxd5 Qxd5 12.Nc3 Nxc3 13.bxc3.

9...Nxd3 10.Qxd3 Qxd5

It would be good to try to recapture on d5 with the knight with 10...Nf6, but here this is not
satisfactory. Why?

Your move after 10...Nf6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Due to 11.Qb5+! (2 points), and Black is left a pawn down. It may be doubled, but it is valuable, and
after 11...Bd7 (or 11...Qd7 12.Qxd7+ Bxd7 13.Nc3) 12.Qb3 0-0 13.Nc3 b5 14.Bg5, White has an
advantage.

11.Re1 Bf5 12.Nc3

Other possibilities are 12.g4 and 12.Ne5.

12...Nxc3 13.Qxc3

This is a non-typical IQP position. In Black’s favor is the fact that minor piece simplification has
reduced White’s attacking power; against that we have the fact that the king is still in the center and

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c7 is undefended.

13.Your move.

Choose between:
• 13...Qd6
• 13...c6
• 13...Be6

Show/Hide Solution

13...c6?

Before this game the pawn push was an accepted move for a long time. Its punishment is not
immediately obvious, so even if objectively it is a mistake no points are lost.
The other suggestion 13...Qd6 is not acceptable either (choosing this one does lose 1 point from your
final score). Why?

Your move after 13...Qd6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
14.d5! is very strong (2 points), and the black king does not find a safe shelter. White threatens to
take on g7 and 14...0-0? is not possible (neither is 14...0-0-0?) due to 15.Qe5!, in both cases winning
a piece.
Of course, 14...Kf8, giving up the right to castle, condemns the black king to torture; 15.Be3
followed by Rac1 is simply good. The winner showed the line 15.Bg5 f6 16.Nd4 fxg5 17.Nxf5 Bf6
18.Qc4 Qd7 19.Re6 Rd8 20.d6 cxd6 21.Nxd6, winning. 15...Bxg5 is better, but it is clear that
defending with the king on f8 is very difficult.
If Black plays 14...f6, there follows 15.Nd4 Bd7 and now the sequence 16.Qc4 0-0 17.Bf4! exploits
the weakness created on the a2–g8 diagonal and Black’s problems persist.
Correct was to surrender the c7-pawn in order to bring the king to safety. After 13...Be6! (3 points),
first played in Hübner–Smyslov, Velden 1983, Black had no problems after 14.Qxc7 Bd6 15.Qc2 0-
0, with good compensation thanks to the bishop pair and active game.
Later the most popular continuation turned out to be 14.Re5 Qc6! (on 14...Qd7 15.Bg5! f6 16.Re3
followed by Rae1 is annoying) with equal chances.
“For forty years this position was considered boring, but with my next move it suddenly exploded,”

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commented the winner. How?

14.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

14.Bh6!!

5 points. “Played after forty-five minutes’ thinking time: I offered my bishop with confidence. My
opponent enjoys the bishop pair and a better pawn structure so I should react with energy.”
The passive 14.Bd2 was played in the very old game Yates–Kashdan, Hastings 1931, “but after
14...Be6 15.Re5 Qd7 is good for Black with solid control of d5,” pointed out the winner of our main
game. Black, it should be noted, won that older encounter.

14...Rg8

Black loses the right to castle short with this move, although he was confident about long castling
possibilities. Let’s see the other possibilities, none of which are better in any way.
After 14...gxh6 15.Re5 Qd7 16.Rae1 Be6, how would you continue?

Your move after 16...Be6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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Naturally, opening up the long black diagonal with 17.d5! (2 points), when after 17...cxd5 18.Rxe6
fxe6 19.Qxh8+ Bf8 20.Qf6, followed by Rxe6, the black king does not survive in the center.
14...Be4 is not better, why?

Your move after 14...Be4.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because the position can be decisively opened with 15.Bxg7! Rg8 16.Rxe4! (2 points, and also 2
points for the reverse move order with 15.Rxe4! first) 16...Qxe4 17.Re1 Qxe1+ (or 17...Qg4 18.Qb4
0-0-0 19.Rxe7) 18.Qxe1 Rxg7 19.Nh4! Rg5 20.Qe4, with the idea of Nf5 and/or Qxh7, and again
Black is punished for having an unsafe king.

15.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

15.Re5

1 point. Of course, one has to take advantage of the fact that both rooks can enter the game.

15...Qd7

15...Qd6 is no better due to 16.Bf4 followed by Rae1, although the winner indicated another way:
16.Rae1 Be6 17.Bf4 Qd7, and now a familiar blow: 18.d5! cxd5 19.Qd3 Rh8 20.Nd4 and the black
king is stuck in the center. His analysis runs a little further: 20...Kf8 21.Nxe6+ fxe6 22.Rxe6 Bb4
23.Bd2 Bxd2 24.Qxd2 h6 25.Qb4+ Kg8 26.Re7 “lethally invading on the seventh rank.”

16.Rae1 Be6

Black now threatens to capture the bishop as well as castling, so how to respond?

17.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

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17.Ng5!!

5 points. Before this move the winner recalls his thinking: “I almost could not believe the next move!
I had already offered a bishop and now I was going to cut its retreat off. It was strange; but everything
fit. I took the decisive step.”
Now the recurring theme, 17.Bxg7 Rxg7 18.d5 (1 point), is not so strong, How does Black defend?

Your move after 18.d5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
The winner commented: “The natural continuation of my original plan did not work,” as there would
have followed 18...cxd5 19.Rxe6 Rxg2+! (2 points) 20.Kxg2 fxe6, “and I was not happy, because
White has compensation for the pawn after 21.Qe5, but there is no clear advantage.”
17.Bf4 is an attractive possibility (2 points), with our known idea of sacrificing a pawn with d5
followed by Nd4.
On 17...Bf6 there follows 18.Rc5 and 18...0-0-0? is not possible due to 19.Qa5! a6 (playing 19...g5
20.Bg3 first does not change anything) 20.d5! Bxd5 21.Rxd5! winning.
Resigning oneself to keeping the king in the center by playing 18...Rd8 doubtlessly does not look
good, and the winner indicates 19.Bg5! when after 19...Bxg5 20.Nxg5 Qxd4 21.Qf3! Qf6 22.Qb3
Rd6 23.Qxb7 White wins easily, while if 19...Bxd4 20.Nxd4 Qxd4, “after a long fight White should
win.”

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17...0-0-0

Of course, after 17...Bxg5 18.Bxg5 “besides not being able to castle, Black faces the immediate threat
of d4–d5 and a well-timed sacrifice on e6,” commented the winner, and after examining the sample
lines it is easy to agree with him.
Black cannot even castle after weakening his position with 18...h6 19.Bh4 g5 20.Bg3, but what would
now be the most forceful continuation?

Your move after 20...0-0-0.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
21.d5! Bxd5 22.Re7 is decisive (1 point).
Let’s take a look at another possibility: after 17...gxh6 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Rxe6 Black can only castle
by giving back the piece and being a pawn down after 19...0-0-0 20.Rxe7 Qxd4, either in an ending
after 21.Rxh7, or in a middlegame after 21.Qh3+ Rd7 22.Rxh7, both of which are terrible options for
Black.
How would you refute the attempt to keep the material advantage instead of castling?

Your move after 19...Rg7.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Again the same recommendation of opening up the long diagonal with 20.d5! (2 points), when after
20...Kf8 there is the beautiful blow 21.Qxg7+! Kxg7 22.Rxe7+ Qxe7 23.Rxe7+, which leads to a
winning ending after 23...Kf6 24.d6, and the rook on the seventh rank is decisive, capturing several
pawns in exchange for the d6-pawn.

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Walter Browne commented: “Arthur must have felt at ease as his king seems to be safe and pressure
is being exerted on the d-pawn. Besides, the white bishop looks kaput. Massive exchanges on e6 give
nothing. Surely Walter’s madness is over!”
Show the incorrectness of such an assessment.

18.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

18.Nxf7!

4 points. “Suddenly another piece is offered and this time it cannot be declined!”
Indeed, not much is achieved with 18.Nxe6 (no points), as after 18...fxe6 19.Rxe6 there simply
follows 19...Bf6 and then ...Bxd4. Browne also indicated another line: 19...Rge8! 20.Qh3 (on
20.Bxg7 Bb4! equalizes) 20...gxh6 21.Rxe7 Qxh3 22.gxh3, which is equal.
More promising was 18.d5! (2 points), when after 18...gxh6 19.dxe6 fxe6 20.Nxe6 Bf6 21.Nxd8
Rxd8 22.f4, the white pieces are left “with better prospects due to the structural advantage.”

18...Bxf7

After 18...gxh6 19.Rxe6 Rde8 20.Qe3 is a decisive pin.

19.Rxe7 Qxd4

On 19...Qd5 there are various good moves, such as 20.Bf4, or Browne’s suggestion of 20.Qb4 Rd7

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21.Rxd7 Qxd7 22.Re7 a5 23.Rxd7 axb4 24.Rxf7 gxh6 25.Rxh7, with a winning ending.

20.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

20.Rxf7

2 points. The best from a practical viewpoint as the ending is very advantageous.
Browne declined to keep the queens on with 20.Qh3+ (1 point), as he considered that after 20...Kb8
21.Rxf7 gxh6 22.Qb3 b6 23.Rxh7 “it seemed to give more counterchances due to the strong position
of the queen on d4.”

20...Qxc3

Browne considered 20...gxh6 21.Qb3 Qb6 22.Qxb6 axb6 23.g3 Rd7 24.Ree7 Rxe7 25.Rxe7 Rd8 to be
a better practical try, though a similar endgame to those seen before is reached after 26.Rxh7! Rd2
27.b3 Rxa2 28.Rxh6 Rb2 29.h4 Rxb3 30.h5 Rb5 31.g4 Kd7 32.Rg6, and “the white pawns are way
too fast.”

21.bxc3 gxh6 22.Rb1!

The natural 22.Rxh7! was also good, as after 22...Rd2 23.a4 Rg4 24.Re8+ Rd8 25.Rxd8+ Kxd8
26.Rxb7 Rxa4 27.Kf1 a5 28.Ra7 Ra2 29.g4 “and with a three to one majority on the kingside, and the
black king cut off, it should be an easy win” remarked Browne.

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22...Rg5

Of course, 22...b5 is met with 23.Rxa7.

23.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

23.h4!

2 points. “Creating luft with tempo.” In the most-likely pawn race to come, every single tempo is
vital.

23...Rb5 24.Rxb5 cxb5 25.Rxh7 Rd1+ 26.Kh2 Rd2 27.Rxh6 Rxa2

28.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

28.h5

1 point. Sure, “passed pawns must be pushed,” although here the advantage is so huge that it was
possible to play 28.Rf6 (2 points), which besides defending f2 makes way for the h-pawn.

28...Rxf2 29.Rh8+ Kc7 30.h6 Kb6

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The black king escapes the checks and dreams of supporting the passed pawns.

31.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

31.Kh3

2 points. To make way for the g-pawn. 31.Kg3 Rf1 32.Kh4 (2 points) was also good in order to help
the pawns with the king already on h4.
Instead, 31.h7 was incorrect (and loses 2 points), but why?

Your move after 31.h7.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Due to 31...Rf7! (2 points) which surprisingly is good enough to equalize, as the pawn is too fast and
White won’t be on time with his g-pawn, e.g. 32.g4 a5 33.g5 Rg7! (not 33...a4?? because of 34.g6
and the white pawns win) 34.Kh3 Rxg5! 35.Kh4 Rg7 36.Kh5 and the simplest is 36...Rc7, to check
the king when it supports the h7-pawn, although 36...b4 also draws.

31...a5 32.g4

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32...b4

“Sharper is 32...Rf3+! 33.Kh4 Rxc3,” indicated Browne, though he also pointed out that White wins
with 34.Rd8 Rc7 35.g5 b4 36.g6 b3 37.h7 b2 38.Rd1 Rc1 39.h8=Q b1=Q, and as is often the case in a
mutual-queening situation with exposed kings, the first check proves decisive: White is able to
capture the c1-rook, and quickest is 40.Qf6+ Ka7 (or 40...Kc7 41.Qf4+ and 40...Kb5 41.Qg5+)
41.Qf2+ Kb8 42.Qf4+.

33.cxb4 axb4

34.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

34.Re8

1 point. Now Black is forced to go back with the rook (1 point is awarded also for the similar
34.Rd8), and White’s two connected passed pawns win easily.
It is surely impossible, after the analysis above, that you very kindly gave away half a point by
playing 34.h7??

34...Rf1

If 34...b3 then 35.Re1 wins, though allowing Black to queen also wins, when the continuation might
be 35.h7 b2 36.h8=Q b1=Q 37.Qd4+, capturing the rook.

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35.Kg2

The simplest, not allowing a check on h1.

35...Rf7 36.g5 Rf5 37.h7 Rxg5+ 38.Kf3 Rh5 39.h8=Q Rxh8 40.Rxh8

The white king gets to the queenside very quickly and further resistance is futile.
1–0
Walter Browne–Arthur Bisguier, US Championship, Chicago, 27.06.1974.
Walter Browne commented:
“I consider this to be the best game I played in my whole life. I would say that, if there were an
anthology with the best hundred games of the century, this one deserves to be in it.”

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. Having an isolated d-pawn gives more piece mobility, but every exchange forces you to take
concrete measures or it can be turned into a weakness: 14.Bd2?
2. King safety is always an important factor and — more often than not — is the most relevant
element of a position. 13...c6?
13...Qd6?
13...Be6!
3. One has to be alert to detect unforeseen possibilities, particularly when the enemy king is stuck in
the center, though they are not always as brilliant as 14.Bh6!!
4. A single blow is rarely enough to decide a chess game: if you say

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(a) 14.Bh6!! you also have to mention
(b) 17.Ng5!!,
and in this example there was also (c) 18.Nxf7!
5. Never relax thinking “all moves win”: 31.h7??
34.h7??

MAXIMUM SCORE: 42 POINTS

• More than 38 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 35 and 38 points: Grandmaster.
• Between 30 and 34 points: International Master.
• Between 25 and 29 points: You are a master of attack.
• Between 18 and 24 points: Your attacking genius is remarkable.
• Between 8 and 17 points: This game is a very instructive artistic masterpiece, isn’t it?
Game 3
White: Master
Black: You
English Opening [A33]

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.Ndb5

The most common move here is 6.g3 and the main alternative is 6.a3.

6...d5 7.cxd5

There was a discussion for several years around the complex ending deriving from 7.Bf4 e5 8.cxd5
exf4 9.dxc6, played in the Korchnoi–Portisch Candidates match in Bad Kissingen 1983, though later
it fell out of fashion.

7...Nxd5 8.Nxd5

The alternative was 8.e4.

8...exd5

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 9.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

9.Qxd5?!

White chooses to leave Black with an isolated d-pawn, but it doesn’t come for free: several tempi
have been lost.
The most natural move was 9.e3 (1 point), though it is true that there is no advantage for White after
e.g. 9...Be6 10.Be2 Be7 followed by castling and a well-timed ...a6; the d5-pawn does not suffer and
Black develops the pieces without difficulties.
What was played in our main game shows considerable optimism. White wins a pawn but will be left
lagging in development, therefore the move receives no points. Black gets enough compensation —
how?

9...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

9...Bb4+

1 point. There is compensation in Black’s quick development.

10.Bd2

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 10...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

10...Qe7!

3 points. There is no reason to exchange queens as the white queen is really exposed on d5 and in the
next few moves Black will gain more tempi in development with ...Be6 and ...Rd8.
Engines even like 10...0-0 and 10...Be6, which could objectively be right, but do not get any points.
Keeping the queens is a lot stronger from a practical viewpoint and it is very likely that in a short
while it will also be the engine choice!
White’s position is delicate, but not yet bad. Now it is time to find the best move for White.

11.Your move.

Choose between:
• 11.Nc3
• 11.a3
• 11.0-0-0

Show/Hide Solution

11.Nc3?

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This leaves Black with a free hand, therefore 1 point is lost if you chose this.
11.a3 (1 point) is better, because after 11...Bxd2+ 12.Qxd2 0-0 13.Qd6 Qg5 Black has clear
compensation due to White’s lack of development.
It is possible that the best move here was 11.0-0-0 (3 points), when after e.g. 11...Be6 12.Bxb4 Nxb4
13.Nd6+! Kf8 14.Qa5 Nxa2+ 15.Kb1 b6 16.Qa3 it is not clear which side has better chances.

11...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

11...0-0

2 points. Simple and strong: Black brings the king to safety and is ready to harass the white queen
with ...Rd8.
Also strong was 11...Be6 (2 points), following which 12.Qh5 0-0-0 is possible, when the white
king’s issues in the center are plain to see after 13.e3 Rxd2! with a decisive attack, e.g. 14.Kxd2 Rd8+
15.Kc1 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Qa3+ 17.Kc2 Qa4+ 18.Kc1 Bg4.
In Ljubojevic–Topalov, Monte Carlo 1999 (rapid) White continued with 12.Qe4, followed by 12...f5
13.Qb1 0-0 14.e3 Rad8 15.Be2 Ne5. Here White still needs time for castling, whereas Black has all
his pieces active. 16.Qc2 was strongly met by 16...f4!.

12.Bg5

12.e3 Rd8 is not better, e.g. 13.Qh5 g6 14.Qd1, and one of the possibilities is 14...Rd6, preparing the
development of the c8-bishop and then ...Rad8, with unbearable pressure.
If, instead of 14.Qd1, White chooses 14.Qh6, how would you play?

Your move after 14.Qh6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
The fact that the white queen is so far from the action is punished with 14...Rxd2! (2 points) 15.Kxd2
and now the most ‘human’ is 15...Bf5, with decisive threats like 16...Bxc3+ 17.bxc3 Qa3, as well as
16...Rd8+ with the same idea and with 17...Qd7 as an extra threat.
Computer engines suggest that playing 15...Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Qa3 directly is equally strong, if not
stronger.

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 12....Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

12...Qc7!

3 points. A temporary withdrawal, as the queen will soon find a way of activating herself.
It is better than 12...Bxc3+?! (no points) 13.bxc3 Qa3, which allows White to defend with 14.Qb3.

13.e3 Be6 14.Qd2

14...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

14...Qa5

2 points. Of course, this was the intended destination with 12...Qc7, and the queen reactivates with
tempo by hitting the g5-bishop.

15.Bh4

15...Your move.

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 Show/Hide Solution

15...g5!

2 points. The obvious virtue of this advance is that Black gets access to d8 for the rook.
There were already alternatives, and 15...Rac8! (4 points) increasing the pressure on c3 first was even
stronger.
There are several advantageous possibilities for Black after 16.Rd1, such as the simple 16...g5 17.Bg3
Rfd8 18.Qc1 Rxd1+ 19.Qxd1 Qxa2, when there is no defense.
16.Be2 is no better, how would you refute it?

Your move after 16.Be2.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Again making d8 available with 16...g5! 17.Bg3 Rfd8 (2 points) is very strong, as after 18.Qc2 the
black rook’s pressure is exerted to the limits after 18...Bxc3+ 19.bxc3 Nb4! 20.Qb2 Nc2+! 21.Qxc2
Rxc3 22.Qd2 Rc1+.

16.Bg3

16...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

16...Rfd8

1 point. Consistent, although it was also good to play 16...Rac8 (1 point) first.
There was another interesting alternative to hand, taking advantage of the position of the rook on f8
with 16...f5! (2 points), when ...f4 is annoying, as 17.Be2 can be met with 17...f4! 18.exf4 gxf4 and
now 19.Bxf4? is not possible due to 19...Rxf4! 20.Qxf4 Bxc3+, winning material.

17.Qc2

How would you have responded to the withdrawal 17.Qc1?

Your move after 17.Qc1.

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
17...Bxc3+ (1 point) is possible, with the idea of 18.bxc3 Nb4!, but after 19.Be2 Nxa2 20.Qb2
Qxc3+ 21.Qxc3 Nxc3 22.Bf3, Black is a pawn up, though there is a long road ahead to break White’s
resistance.
The strongest is to bring in more forces with 17...Rac8! (3 points). After 18.Be2 there follows a
similar sequence to the one already seen: 18...Bxc3+ 19.bxc3 Nd4! 20.exd4 Rxc3 21.Qd2 Rxd4
winning.

17...Your move.

Choose between:
• 17...Rac8
• 11...Ne5
• 17...Bxc3+

Show/Hide Solution

17...Bxc3+!

2 points. It is always difficult to know when it is time to stop maneuvering and time to eliminate the
tension. Black does it here with a concrete idea in mind.

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17...Ne5? was ineffective (and loses 1 point) because at a minimum it allows White to complete
development with 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Be2, followed by 20.0-0
It was possible to keep increasing the pressure with 17...Rac8! (2 points), and after 18.Bd3 h5 19.h4
you have to find the best answer.

Your move after 19.h4.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
A familiar sequence is the answer. Although 19...Bxc3+ 20.bxc3 Nb4 (no points) is tempting, it
allows White to recover with 21.Bh7+! Kg7 22.Qb2, and the pin saves White after e.g. 22...Nd5
23.Be4 Nxc3 24.0-0.
19...Ne5! is better (3 points), as after the almost forced 20.Bxe5 Qxe5 21.Rc1 Black has the strong
21...g4!, with the idea of ...g3. Preventing this with 22.g3 is possible, but after 22...Bc5 White’s
castling is again delayed due to 23...Bxe3, with the idea of ...b5.

18.bxc3

How do you respond to 18.Qxc3?

Your move after 18.Qxc3.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18...Nb4 (1 point) is decisive, threatening both 19...Nc2+ and 19...Rac8.

1 point. This was the idea, though also possible was 18...Rac8 (1 point), likely reaching positions we
have already seen.
Black’s initiative is considerable, and now you have the not so pleasant task of finding the best
defense for White.

19.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

18...Nb4 19.Qe4?

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White bases his defense on a tactical detail, which however does not work.
19.cxb4? Qxb4+ 20.Ke2 Rac8 was not possible either.
The lesser evil was 19.Qb2!? (3 points), when Black is better (in similar fashion to what we have
seen previously) after 19...Nxa2 20.Be2 Qxc3+ 21.Qxc3 Nxc3 22.Bf3, but there is still a fight.

19...Nxa2 20.Qb4

This was the idea. Let’s see some other defensive tries:
How is 20.Be5 refuted?

Your move after 20.Be5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
20...Nxc3! wins (1 point), based on 21.Rxa5 Rd1#.
How would you respond to 20.Qe5?

Your move after 20.Qe5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
20...Rd5 (1 point) is decisive, and there is no defense after 21.Qc7 Qa3, with the idea of 22...Rc5 and
...Qb2, as Lajos Portisch pointed out in Informator 38.

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This was the planned defense, but how is it refuted?

20...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

20...Rd1+!

2 points. Not the only winning move, but certainly the most effective and the quickest, exploiting the
a1-rook being overloaded: 21.Rxd1 loses the queen and 21.Kxd1 fails to 21...Nxc3+, while 21.Ke2
loses because of the obvious 21...Qxb4 22.cxb4 Rxa1.
0–1
Mihai Suba–Lajos Portisch, Thessaloniki, 01.12.1984

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. Capturing a pawn in the opening with tempo is attractive, but the risks have to be well calculated:
9.Qxd5?!
11.Nc3?
2. It is possible to attack without queens on the board, but most often it is preferable to keep them:
10...Qe7!
3. In positions when behind in development and the king is in the center, as a general principle this is
the most important problem to be solved: 11.Nc3?

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11.0-0-0!
4. It is important to know when the time has come to take concrete measures instead of continuing to
maneuver: 15...g5!
15...Rac8!
17...Bxc3+!
17...Rac8!
4. Bringing the king to safety — even at the expense of returning or sacrificing material — is
sometimes the best way to keep the fight going: 19.Qb2!

MAXIMUM SCORE: 44 POINTS

• More than 39 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 36 and 39 points: Grandmaster.
• Between 31 and 35 points: International Master.
• Between 25 and 30 points: You are fearsome with the initiative.
• Between 18 and 24 points: Your attacking instinct is respectable.
• Between 8 and 17 points: You were given a good lesson by none other than the Hungarian legend,
Lajos Portisch.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 4
White: You
Black: Master
Sicilian Defense [B84]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Kh1

The most debated line for years was 8.Be3 Bb4, and it is also possible for Black to play in
Scheveningen style with ...Be7. The king sidestep played is useful in many situations; the immediate
idea is to play f4, since 8.f4?? was not possible due to 8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Bc5 pinning the white queen.

8...Be7

On 8...Bb4 White can play 9.Bg5.

9.f4 d6

10.Nxc6 bxc6

Referring to taking on c6, reinforcing Black’s center, the winner commented: “Usually it is not a very
good idea in the Scheveningen (that we have reached by transposition), but here it makes sense. The

45
move ...a6 becomes a wasted move and the queen is placed on a non-ideal square”.
Show what the positive side of the decision is.

11.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

11.Qd3

3 points. One positive of White’s previous move is that the d4-knight no longer needs protection with
Be3 before moving the queen, often to e1 and g3.
Also, having taken on c6, White can now play — in the words of the winner — “a multipurpose
move, reinforcing e4 and keeping open the option of moving the queen across the third rank.”
It is different from 11.Qe1 (1 point), planning to play Qg3, as from d3 the queen can also go to h3.

11...0-0

During the game, the eventual winner doubted if castling now was the right thing to do, as it seems to
invite White to attack. However, this is the most commonly used move; the white king does not have
a better place to be than the kingside.
11...c5 has also been played, as has 11...d5.

12.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

12.b3

2 points. The bishop on c1 can take up a more active destination than it does in the regular positions
on e3.
Nevertheless, 12.Qg3 (1 point) is also possible, which would be the more logical continuation if
11.Qe1 had been played.

12...Bb7 13.Bb2 c5

Black chooses to pressure the e4-pawn to make the queen transfer to g3 or h3 more difficult.
Another way was to play the immediate 13...d5, trying to take advantage of the central majority
created after 10.Nxc6, though it is very likely that Black will play this later anyway, before White
places his pieces ideally for the attack.

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 14.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

14.Rae1

1 point. White’s last inactive piece joins the game, and the rook is placed on the e-file which will be
useful for both holding e4, or in case the file opens.

14...Rae8

At first sight, this looks like a rather weird move, and it was criticized by several masters after the
game.
The winner, though, explained that it is based on a solid foundation: sooner or later Black will play
...d5, when after e5 Nd7 the black rooks on f8 and e8 will be well placed to play ...f6.
This line is an example of why the rook move might be useful: 14...d5 15.e5 Nd7 16.Qh3 f5? 17.exf6
Nxf6 18.Qxe6+.
However, playing 14...d5! was a good choice anyway: Black should play the correct follow-up
16...g6!, and is fine.

Black decides not to play ...d5 yet, so that the white queen remains tied to e4 and thus cannot play
Bd3, thereby having the two bishops aiming at Black’s castled position.
How does White make any progress?

15.Your move.

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 Show/Hide Solution

15.Qh3!

4 points. Sacrificing the central pawn sharpens the fight and, although it is not objectively
advantageous, from a practical point of view it is very promising.
The winner put it this way: “This was, by far, the most difficult move of the game for me. There was
no need to sacrifice, and I could not calculate the consequences precisely, but I felt it was the sharpest
continuation.”
As he points out, it was also possible to move the queen without sacrificing the pawn with 15.Qg3 (1
point), but Black is fine after 15...d5 16.e5 Nd7 17.Bd3 g6, while on 16.Bd3, keeping the tension,
16...g6 is possible, being able to move the knight to h5 after White’s e5-thrust.

15...Nxe4

Black accepts the challenge, and why not?

15...d5 was still possible, though White would reach a better situation than before after 16.e5 Nd7
17.Bd3, as the queen is better on h3 than on g3; for example she can go to h6 after the
aforementioned ...g6 by Black.

16.Bd3 Nf6

The most ambitious.

Returning the pawn immediately with 16...d5 is safer, though after 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxe4
19.Rxe4 White’s position is preferable due to his superior structure.

17.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

17.Re3

2 points. It is important to increase the pressure on the opponent so White brings more toys to the
party with concrete threats.
Not too much is achieved (thus no points are given!) by knight jumps intending by capture on f6:
White’s offensive fades after, for example, 17.Nb5 (or 17.Nd5) 17...axb5 18.Bxf6 g6.

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17...g6

Black responds correctly, stopping White’s main threat with this move which closes the d3-bishop’s
diagonal, but let’s not forget that it opens that of the b2-bishop!
How would you respond to the careless 17...Bd8?

Your move after 17...Bd8.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Thanks to the rook on the third rank, White wins with the typical mating combination
18.Nb5! (3 points), 18...axb5 19.Bxf6 g6 20.Qxh7+! Kxh7 21.Rh3+ Kg8 22.Rh8#.
18.Nd5 (1 point) is good, but doesn’t lead to mate after 18...exd5 19.Bxf6 Re4! when Black is still
fighting.
The player of the black pieces suggested 17...h6, which would be met with 18.Rg3, and after
18...Kh8, how would you play?

Your move after 18...Kh8.

Show/Hide Solution

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Answer:
The player of the black pieces showed great optimism, commenting that he did not play this way due
to 19.Rxg7 (no points), which forces a draw after 19...Kxg7 20.Qg3+ Kh8 21.Qh3 Kg7, but of
course that had not even crossed White’s mind.
It is possible for White to continue the attack with 19.Nd1! (3 points), to bring the knight to the
kingside, let’s say to e3 and g4, clearing the long black diagonal.
After 19...Rg8, 20.Ne3, trying to close the long black diagonal with 20...d5 followed by ...d4, does
not make it in time due to 21.Bxf6! Bxf6 22.Ng4, winning.
There are several possibilities against the best defense, 20...Qd8: you have to choose from 21.Bxf6!
Bxf6 22.Ng4, 21.Qh4! with 21.Rh3, and the winner’s favorite: 21.Rg5! with the idea of Rh5.
Maybe even stronger than 19.Nd1 is 19.f5! (4 points), opening more lines towards the black king, as
closing the long diagonal with 19...e5 is no defense. Why?

Your move after 19...e5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because the bishop finds another decisive route with 20.Bc1! (2 points), when 20...Ng8 does not stop
21.Bxh6! Nxh6 22.f6, winning.

18.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

18.Nd1!

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3 points. As before, White brings more toys to the party!
It was not possible to attack directly down the h-file with 18.Qh6? due to 18...Ng4.
Just this one time in the present game, find a defense for Black.

18...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

18...c4

1 point. An ingenious defensive idea that will unfortunately fail!

Let’s have a look at some other attempts. For example, how would you respond to 18...d5 (no points),
with the idea of ...d4?

Your move after 18...d5.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
White anticipates ...d4 and plays 19.Be5, and after 19...Qd8 has the decisive 20.Qh6 with Rh3 to
follow. If 20...Nh5, then 21.Qxh5! gxh5 22.Rg3+ (2 points) wins.
In case of 19...Qc6 the strongest move is again 20.Qh6!, and after 20...d4 there follows the quiet
21.Rg3 and Black has no good defense against Nf2–g4, and no time to prepare Ne8, as in response to

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that move there again follows 22.Qxh7+! and mate.
The best defense, and very difficult to find for a master (but not for engines), was to prevent the Qh6
threat with 18...h5! (5 points) which does weaken the castled position more, but Black seems to hold
after 19.Rg3 with 19...Bc8.
20.Ne3 can be met by 20...e5, when nothing much is achieved with 20.Bxg6? fxg6 21.Rxg6+ Kf7,
and 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Qxh5 Bg7 is also not to be feared because the castled position is reinforced,
with equal material.
Also possible is 19...Be4, when after 20.Bxf6 Bxd3 21.Bxe7 Bf5 22.Bxd6 Qxd6 23.Qxh5 White is a
pawn up, but with uncoordinated pieces; Black seems to have acceptable counterplay after 23...Qd2.

19.bxc4 Qc5?

More resilient was 19...h5, which was Black’s idea. It fails, but why?

20.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

20.f5!

3 points. A tremendous blow, cutting off Black’s communications and weakening the black king
even more.
20...exf5 is not possible due to 21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.Bxf6, renewing the Qh6 threat.
Of course not 20.Qh6? (loses 3 points) due to 20...Qh5!

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20.f5! e5

After 20...Bd8, defending e6, there follows 21.Qh6 Qc6 (or 21...exf5 22.Bxf6 Bxf6 23.Rh3) when the
quiet 22.Rg3 wins, both defending and attacking and allowing for Ne3, as does the sharpest move
22.Be4 22...Qxc4 23.Rfe1 Bxe4 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Rh3, winning.
Instead, the preparatory 22.Rg1? exf5 23.Bxf6? Bxf6 24.Rh3 is not enough. Why?

Your move after 24.Rh3.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because of 24...Qxg2+! 25.Rxg2 Re1+, and mate (2 points).

21.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

21.Rg3

1 point. Obviously this piles more pressure on g6, threatening 22.fxg6 followed by Bxg6, as well as
22.Qh6.

21...Be4 22.Ne3

The most natural continuation: the knight joins the attack, though there were other attractive
possibilities such as 22.Qh4, 22.Qh6 and 22.Bc1.

22...Bxd3 23.cxd3 Kh8

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 24.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

24.Bc1!

4 points. The bishop might still have a future on the long diagonal but finds another logical
destination, one that will be surprisingly crushing.
24.Ng4 was also possible (1 point), but 24.fxg6 was premature (no points) due to 24...fxg6 25.Rxg6,
when Black counterattacks — taking advantage of the opened f-file and White’s lack of coordination
— with 25...Ne4! (25...Nh5 is also possible). Now 26.dxe4 Rxf1+ 27.Nxf1 Rf8 28.g4 Qxc4 29.Ng3
when, among others, 29...Qd3 gives Black enough counterplay for a draw.

24...Rg8

If 24...Nh5 White continues 25.Rgf3, planning Nd5, when 25...Nf4 does not defend, the most
overwhelming refutation being 26.Rxf4! exf4 27.Bb2+ Kg8 28.Qh6 f6 29.fxg6.
The best try was 24...Qd4, when a possible continuation is 25.Nd5 Nxd5 26.cxd5, threatening f6,
which gives White an advantage after 26...Rb8 27.Rgf3! (renewing the f6 threat, but not 27.f6? Bxf6!
28.Rxf6 Rb1 29.Qh6 Rc8 30.Rf1 Qf4!), 27...gxf5 28.Qxf5, (now threatening Rh3), 28...Rg8 29.Qxf7
Rg7 30.Qe6, with advantage to White.
The winner pointed out another way, 25.Ng4, which is also good.

25.Your move.

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 Show/Hide Solution

25.fxg6

2 points. This is the right time to open the f-file.

25...fxg6

On 25...Rxg6 there follows 26.Nd5! Rxg3 27.hxg3 Nxd5 28.Rxf7 Nf6 29.Bg5, and there is no good
defense.

26.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

26.Nd5!

2 points. Complementing the previous move, White gains space. Also valid was 25.Nd5 (2 points)
first, with the idea of 25...Nxd5 26.fxg6 (2 points).

26...Nxd5

26.Nd5! Nh5 was no defense for Black either, with a crushing attack after 27.Rgf3, when there are
too many threats, such as 28.Rf7, 28.Qd7, 28.Bh6 and 28.g4.

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 27.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

27.Qxh7+!!

3 points. A not-too-often seen finish! Black will be mated in four moves: 27...Kxh7 28.Rh3+ Kg7
29.Bh6+ Kh8 30.Bf8+ Bh4 31.Rxh4#.
1–0
Nigel Short–Ye Jiangchuan, Taiyuan, 25.07.2004

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. The objective assessment of the position is sometimes difficult to find, but it is possible to ‘trust
your gut’: 15.Qh3!
2. ‘Chess is a team game’: 17.Re3!
18.Nd1!
24.Bc1!
3. In atypical situations one has to be on the alert for unforeseen possibilities: 18...h5!
4. Progressing with one’s own plans is as important as stopping those of the opponent if they are
good: 18...h5!
20.f5!
20.Qh6?
5. The weakness of the king is always a very important factor — sometimes decisive, as in this game
— though the final blow is unusually beautiful: 27.Qxh7+!!

MAXIMUM SCORE: 45 POINTS

• More than 40 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 37 and 40 points: Grandmaster.
• Between 32 and 36 points: International Master.
• Between 26 and 31 points: You conducted the attack masterfully.
• Between 18 and 25 points: You are a very dangerous opponent.
• Between 8 and 17 points: Which of Short’s finishes do you prefer? This one, or that of his game
against Timman? (You know the one I am referring to!)
Game 5
White: Master
Black: You

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 English Opening [A28]

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.a3

White deviates from the two main continuations, 4.g3 and e3, with a commonly useful move in
almost every Sicilian line, thus avoiding one of Black’s main choices, which is to play 4...Bb4 against
the two above-mentioned choices. With this move the game heads into less-explored territory.

4...d5

Black accepts the invitation to play a Sicilian Defense with reversed colors; naturally, after opening
up the game, he should be more careful about subsequent moves so that the tempo down remains
relatively unimportant.

5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Qc2

In several lines this queen move is made for ‘free’ compared with reversed colors in the Sicilian.
Black should decide now how to develop the minor pieces.

6...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

6...Be7

1 point. Black does not take any radical decision and simply develops the bishop. The main

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alternative was to play it to d6, and to that purpose the most common way is 6...Nxc3 7.bxc3 Bd6 (1
point).
Among other choices, 6...Be6 (1 point) was also possible, without yet deciding the f8-bishop’s
destination.

7.e3 a6

Black continues to play cautiously, avoiding 8.Bb5 and following a theoretical line a tempo down.

8.Bc4

The sharpest line is to take advantage of the ‘extra’ Qc2 move to play 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 and now 9.Bd3
(or 9.Bc4), but White prefers not to simplify yet.
Less clear is playing 8.Bd3 directly; what is the critical line?

Your move after 8.Bd3.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Black can play 8...Ndb4! and after 9.axb4 Nxb4 it is true White has 10.Qa4+ 10...Bd7 11.Bb5, when
Black does not regain the sacrificed piece, but he gets reasonable compensation with 11...Bxb5
12.Nxb5 0-0, followed by ...b5, and then ...Qd3 or ...e4, depending on how White plays, which
should keep the king in the center. (2 points).

8...Nb6

Black agrees to distance the knight from the center in exchange for winning back the tempo. The
main alternative was 8...Be6.

9.Bd3

The modest 9.Be2 was possible, reaching standard positions after, e.g. 9...0-0 and 10...f5. There was
also the atypical 9.Ba2; how would you play in this case?

Your move after 9.Ba2.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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The natural 9...0-0 (1 point) is possible, but not the most dynamic, since Black can develop with
more ambition and without major impediments with 9...Bg4! (3 points). Because Black hasn’t
castled, 10.Qe4? is not possible due to 10...f5, while after 10.b4 Qd7 followed by 11...0-0-0 Black
manages to activate all his pieces with a good position.

Once the black knight is pushed from the center, White presses on the kingside. How to continue?

9...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

9...Qd7!

4 points. An amazing solution! Black defends the attacked pawn with a useful move. ...f5 is planned,
after which the threat of ...e4 will force White to take some measures, none of which exploit the
temporary and atypical placement of the black queen.
9...g6 is not to be recommended (no points), but how would White play in that case?

Your move after 9...g6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because one of the ideas of Bd3 is to be able to play 10.Be4! threatening Bxc6+ and Nxe5 (2 points),
after for example 10...Qd6 11.0-0 Bd7 White can try to take advantage of the awkward position of the

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black pieces with 12.d4! exd4 13.Rd1.
On 9...Bg4 it was also good to respond with 10.Be4.
Now it is time to recover from the surprise and defend the white side for this time only.

10.Your move.

Choose between:
• 10.Be4
• 10.b4
• 10.b3
• 10.0-0
• 10.b3?

Show/Hide Solution

White underestimates Black’s chances, believing it is possible to continue developing the queenside,
but the opponent will prove otherwise, so opting for this move loses 1 point.
Best was to resign oneself to the quieter 10.0-0 (2 points), although Black is fine after 10...f5, e.g.
11.e4 f4 12.Nd5 Qd6, planning 13...Bg4.
10.b4 is not convincing either (and loses 1 point), because now the typical 10...Bxb4! combination is
possible.
And finally, the previously strong 10.Be4 (losing 1 point), is not to be feared now. Why?

Your move after 10.Be4.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Because logically, the main idea follows: 10...f5! (2 points), without being afraid of 11.Bxc6 Qxc6
12.Nxe5 due to 12...Qxg2.

10...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

10...f5

1 point. Of course, this was the idea. Black has overcome his difficulties and now fights for the

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initiative; White must now deal with the threat of 11...e4.

11.e4?

This was the response White had prepared, but it will be punished with precise play.
11.Be2 e4 was also unsatisfactory, but best seems to be 11.Bb2, when there might follow 11...e4
(Black also has other good moves) 12.Nxe4 fxe4 13.Bxe4, when White gets reasonable practical
chances for the piece thanks to the two pawns and Black’s lack of development.
The piece arrangement for both sides is atypical, which gives opportunities for uncommon
possibilities. What black reply clarifies the situation?

11...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

11...g5!

4 points. With the strong threat of 12...g4, this forces the knight’s withdrawal and ‘uncoordinates’ the
rest of White’s army: Black is already better.
It is very likely that this possibility was not taken into account by White when playing 10.b3?.
There are other satisfactory moves, such as 11...f4, but they are not as strong and therefore get no
points.

12.exf5

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White chooses to exchange the piece for two pawns; as long as the black king is in the center there
are practical chances.
The alternative was 12.0-0 g4 13.Ne1 f4, which is inferior for White and indeed quite depressing.

12...g4 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.Be4

Black is already better, but regrouping is necessary to avoid difficulties. How can it be achieved?

14...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

14...Nc6!

3 points. The knight has an ideal post on d4 from where it targets f5 and b3 while stopping d4.
14...Bf6 (1 point) was possible and advantageous, but not so precise.
Instead 14...0-0 (no points), though objectively correct, gives White a clear target and allows him to
try to fish in troubled waters with 15.h3.

15.Ne2

This is a small achievement for Black, but how to stabilize the advantage?

15...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

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15...Bf6

1 point. Controlling the long black diagonal and preventing a timely tactical f6-resource.

16.Rb1?!

White does not want to simplify, but this grants another tempo without creating any threat. 16.Bb2
was preferable.

16...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

16...Qd6!

2 points. The idea is clear; to develop the c8-bishop and bring the king to safety. This is a good
move, though it was difficult to know which was the best square for the queen, as 16...Qf7 is also
reasonable. (2 points).

17.h3

White logically rushes to open lines before Black satisfactorily regroups and consolidates the material
advantage.

17...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

17...gxh3!

2 points. The simplest. Black’s position is ready to withstand the opening of the h-file, though there
is nothing against keeping the tension with 17...h5 (1 point).

18.Rxh3

What was Black’s idea?

18...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

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18...Bd7

1 point. Of course, it was not to waste time.

19.Rd3

White desperately tries to stop Black from castling.

After 19.Rh6, for example, Black can simply play 19...Qe7 and then castle.

19...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

19...Qf8

1 point. Never underestimate your opponent’s chances, even more so with your king in the center.
In the unlikely case you chose 19...Qe7?? (for which you lose 3 points), 20.Re3 follows, and the
tables are turned.
19...Qh2 was possible (no points), but after 20.Rh3 you have to go back to d6.

20.Bxc6 Bxc6 21.Re3+ Kd7 22.Bb2

Proceeding with 22.Rd3+ Kc8 23.Rg3 does not annoy Black, who can continue with 23...Kb8 and
...Ka7.

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 22...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

22...Nd5!

3 points. Another preparatory move before bringing the king to safety; the knight is placed on an
ideal square from where it defends and attacks, as well as gains a tempo.
Black has a winning position and there are several good possibilities, but they all allow practical
chances, so no points are given for other moves, e.g. 22...Re8 is met with 23.Rxe8 and you have to
take back with the king on e8.

23.Qd3

Now the f6-bishop was defended and on almost any move, like 23.Rd3, Black has 23...Rd8 and
...Kc8.

23...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

23...Bxb2

2 points. There is no risk in delaying 23...Rd8 (1 point) followed by ...Kc8.

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24.Rxb2

What did Black want to play?

24...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

24...Qxa3

2 points. This not only wins a pawn, but also conquers the b4-square.
Also possible was the simple 24...Rd8 (1 point), without fearing 25.Nd4, when 25...Nf4 or even
25...Nxe3 are playable.

25.Rc2

There are many good moves; which one would you choose?

25...Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

25...Rae8

1 point. Preparing ...Kc8 and more simplifications, though equally consistent was 25...Rad8 (1
point).

26.Qd4 Kc8

0–1
Viktor Korchnoi–Boris Spassky, Elista, 23.12.2009

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. Unconventional positions allow unconventional continuations or solutions: 9...Qd7!
11...g5!
2. Do not forget to ask yourself ‘how can my opponent reply?’: 10.b3?
11.e4?
19...Qe7?

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3. Remember: ‘Chess is a team game’ and ask yourself ‘Which piece can I improve?’: 14...Nc6!
16...Qd6!
22...Nd5!
4. Never let your guard down, not even in ‘easily won’ positions: 19...Qe7?

MAXIMUM SCORE: 39 POINTS

• More than 34 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 32 and 34 points: Grandmaster.
• Between 28 and 31 points: International Master.
• Between 23 and 27 points: You conducted the attack in a masterful way.
• Between 17 and 22 points: You found several difficult moves.
• Between 8 and 16 points: “A world champion, even if it is an ex-world champion, is always strong,”
Kasparov once said, referring to another great player. The same goes for Spassky, don’t you think?
Game 6
White: You
Black: Master
Nimzo-Indian Defense [E52]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 b6 7.a3 Bxc3+

Black accepts the invitation to double the pawns, but it’s also possible to withdraw the bishop and
leave the structure unchanged.

8.bxc3

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8...c6

“Black builds ‘the Chinese wall’, which is not an easy nut to crack,” commented the winner.
The alternatives are 8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5 (or 9...Bb7), and 8...Ba6.

9.cxd5 cxd5

The winner pointed out that 9...exd5 was also interesting, and some possible plans can be seen in the
following sample line: 10.0-0 Ba6 11.a4 Re8 12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.Qd3 Nc7 14.Ba3 followed by c4,
with a slight advantage to White.

10.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

10.Qe2

2 points. White strongly opposes Black’s plan to trade off the strong d3-bishop, as this piece has
kingside plans.
The otherwise logical 10.0-0 (no points) was also possible, but it allows 10...Ba6 without obstacle.

10...Nc6

Black abandons the plan of swapping bishops; an acceptable decision.

He could insist on the exchange in two ways: with 10...a5, which leaves the b6-pawn weak, and with
the maneuver 10...Bb7 11.Bb2 Qc8. Let’s take a brief look. How would you play in this case?

Your move after 11...Qc8.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
White takes advantage of the tempo offered by getting rid of his backward pawn and taking control of
the c-file:
12.Rc1 Ba6 13.c4! (3 points), e.g. 13...dxc4 14.Bxc4 Bxc4 15.Rxc4 Qb7 16.0-0 Nbd7 17.Qc2 Rfc8
18.Rc1 with a slight advantage for White, as indicated by the winner.

11.0-0 Na5

Black controls the c4-advance. If instead 11...Bb7 had been played, what would you have chosen?

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 Your move after 11...Bb7.

Choose between:
• 12.a4
• 12.c4

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
White does not achieve too much by playing the immediate 12.c4 (no points), because of 12...dxc4
13.Bxc4 Na5 14.Bd3 Ne4, when Black momentarily stops e4, is active on the queenside and has
good play.
Preferable is 12.a4! so that the c1-bishop can join the game (3 points), and after e.g. 12...Qc7 13.Ba3
Rfc8 14.Rac1 White plans to play c4 under better circumstances. Now 14...Na5 is met with 15.Ne5
and White is slightly better.

12.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

12.a4

2 points. Of course, as we already know, the c1-bishop has a good diagonal available, but White does
not fear its exchange either since after 12...Nb3 13.Rb1 Nxc1 14.Rfxc1 Qd6 he can count on
queenside pressure with 15.a5.

12...Re8

A weird decision: the eventual winner expected 12...Qc7, in order to put the rook on d8.

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13.Ne5

The player of the white pieces considered his position to be more comfortable, because — even if
there is a weakness on c3 — his better piece play is more important. He has in mind a typical plan for
this structure: the e3–e4 advance and expanding in the center, all done without forgetting the potential
of the bishop pair if the position opens up.

13...Ne4?!

Black does not like the course of action described above so he tries to change the position by
expelling the strong e5-knight, but this leaves the king unprotected and requires very careful play in
the future.
Instead of this maneuver, a less original continuation was possible: 13...Bb7 14.Ba3 Qc7 15.Rac1
where, as indicated by the winner, White has two plans: f4 and c4.

14.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

14.f3

1 point. Forcing the knight to make a decision.; 14...Nxc3? is not possible, due to 15.Qc2.

14...Nd6

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This was the idea, as the 14...Nf6 withdrawal would not be consistent. The winner indicated that in
such a case, 15.Ba3 Nd7 16.f4 f5 17.Bb5 would not lead to an advantage, even if it wins the
exchange. For example: 17...Nxe5 18.Bxe8 Qxe8 19.fxe5 Bd7 with excellent opportunities for Black.
15.Qc2 would be stronger, however, and if 15...Qc7 16.Ng4! White wins a pawn after 16...Nxg4
17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.fxg4, since 18...g6? 19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.Qxg6 leads to a quick victory for him.

15.Ba3 Bb7

Black refrains for the time being from the attempt to kick the white knight with 15...f6. How would
you play in that case?

Your move after 15...f6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Not the passive 16.Ng4 (choosing it loses 1 point) 16...Ndc4 17.Bb4 Ba6 and Black is fine.
White would have played 16.Bxd6! with the idea that on 16...Qxd6 he follows up with 17.f4! (4
points), and there is nothing better than accepting the piece, as 17...Qe7 is met by 18.Qh5, when
18...g6? 19.Bxg6 is crushing. Therefore it would be necessary for Black to play 18...f5 (or 18...h6), to
which White can advantageously reply 19.Rf3 (heading to h3) and/or g4, with what could be
described as ‘free’ superiority!
Of the alternatives, 17...Re7 is met by 18.Bxh7+! Kxh7 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.Rf3, winning, and after
17...fxe5 there follows the almost forced sequence: 18.Qh5 g6 19.Bxg6 Re7 20.fxe5 Qd7 21.Bd3 Rg7
22.Rf6 Qe7 23.Raf1 Bd7, and now there are several possible continuations, one of which is 24.R1f4.
How would you follow up here after 24...Nc4?

Your move after 24...Nc4.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
The decisive move is to exchange the defending rook with 25.Rg4! (3 points), threatening 26.Qxh7+.
After 25...Rxg4 26.Qxg4+ Qg7 it is possible to withdraw the queen, but 27.Bxh7+! Kxh7 28.Qh5+
Kg8 29.Rg6 is already very strong. Although Black has a rook and two minor pieces for the queen
and the three pawns, White has a winning position: the h-pawn will advance (maybe later backed by
the g-pawn), the black king remains exposed and Black’s pieces are well coordinated.

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 16.Your move.

Choose Between:
• 16.e4
• 16.Bxd6
• 16.Qc2

Show/Hide Solution

16.Bxd6

2 points. 16.e4 was again insufficient (no points), as after 16...f6 17.Ng4 Ndc4 White’s attacked is
curbed.
16.Qc2! (3 points) was indeed attractive, e.g. 16...g6 17.e4 “occupying the center with the bishop
pair support,” as indicated the winner.
There are several possibilities in response to 16...f5, one of which is trying to exploit the weaknesses
created on the kingside by trading one the bishops for a knight with 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 followed by
18.e4.

16...Qxd6

What was White’s idea behind taking on d6?

17.Your move.

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 Show/Hide Solution

17.f4

2 points. Now the f5-break is in the air, and there are no defenders around Black’s castled position.
Also, to make matters worse from a practical viewpoint, Black was now short of time.

17...g6

17...f6? is not possible due to 18.Qh5 f5 19.Qf7+ Kh8, where 20.Ng6+! hxg6 21.Rf3 is faster than
20.Qxe8+ and Nf7+, and there is also our familiar combination: 18.Bxh7+! Kxh7 19.Qh5+ Kg8
20.Qf7+ Kh7 21.Rf3.
A more solid defense was 17...f5, when White can already continue with 18.g4, or delay it, playing
first 18.Rf3 or 18.Qh5.

18.Your move.

Choose between:
• 18.g4
• 18.e4
• 18.h4
• 18.Qg4

Show/Hide Solution

18.Qg4

2 points. Bringing the queen to the kingside and insisting on playing f5 is a good measure.
Also effective was 18.h4! (3 points), trying to weaken Black’s castled position. For example 18...h5?
is not possible due to 19.g4! and the bastions are hopelessly open, while 18...Rac8 does not prevent it
either as 19.h5! follows. Now if 19...Rxc3 there comes 20.hxg6 hxg6 21.Bxg6!, and White’s heavy
pieces soon invade the kingside against the naked black king, e.g. 21...fxg6 22.Qg4.
Instead, the 18.e4? break (loses 1 point) would only help Black to get rid of a dangerous attacker and
gain counterplay through 18...dxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Rac8, followed by doubling rooks on the
c-file.
18.g4 (no points) was not clear either, e.g. 18...f6 19.Nf3 Rac8 20.Rac1 Rc7 21.g5 f5 22.Ne5 Rec8. It
is difficult to see how White can ask for anything more, as pointed out by the winner.

18...Nc4?

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“The first in a series of bad moves,” as the victor later pointed out. 18...f5 — playable before under
better circumstances — was still preferable, and also the less radical 18...Qe7. How would you
respond to this latter choice?

Your move after 18...Qe7.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:
Not with 19.f5 (loses 2 points) since after 19...exf5 20.Bxf5 (or 20.Rxf5 Bc8) 20...Nc6! and suddenly
Black is better.
Instead, White would have played 19.h4! (2 points), or 19.Rf3 (1 point).

19.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

19.Qg3!

3 points. “A quiet maneuver that the computer does not comprehend,” commented the winner in
2012. However, in 2019 the computer now gets it, and it is among its first choices.
White keeps all the threats and gives Black a chance to play 19...Qe7, which is not easy to do, pointed
out the winner.

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Another attractive choice was 19.Bxc4! the idea being to follow 19...dxc4 with 20.Qg5 Rf8 21.Ng4
(3 points) with big threats thanks to the dark-square weaknesses. Also interesting is 19.Qg5 (2
points), with a similar idea, planning to respond to 19...Qe7 with 20.Ng4, again with the Bxc4 break
in mind.

19...Qc7?

The decisive mistake, according to the winner. Simplifying first by opening the f-file with 19...Nxe5
20.fxe5 Qc7 does not help the situation, as after defending the pawn with 21.Rac1 White would
initiate a very strong offensive with 22.Rf6! followed by h4.
The best defense was 19...Qe7 when White considered playing Ra2 with the initiative, though he
would have had several alternatives, among them 20.h4, insisting on the attack, or the quietest
20.Nxc4 dxc4 21.Bc2, with “a pleasant advantage”.

20.Your move.

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20.Bxc4!

2 points. The first step.

20...dxc4

21.Your move.

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21.f5!

2 points. Of course, this was the idea, and now Black’s position falls apart. Among the various
threats are 22.f6 followed by 23.Qg5 or 23 h4.

21...f6

Naturally, Black was aware of the dangers of weakening the castled position, but the alternatives were
not much better.
For example, after 21...exf5 22.Rxf5 Bd5 White concentrates all his forces on the undefended king
with 23.Raf1 after which there is no defense: on 23...Rf8 there simply follows 24.e4 Be6 25.Rf6, and
then h4, when Black’s position is hopeless.

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 22.Your move.

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22.fxg6!

3 points. Much more forceful than 22.Ng4 (2 points) 22...Qxg3 23.Nxf6+ Kf7 24.fxe6+ Rxe6
25.Ng4+ with a winning ending.

22...fxe5

23.Your move.

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23.Rf7!

3 points. White finishes the attack with precision, and any other move loses 2 points. Even when you
are winning, such opportunities — when the king is undefended — must be taken advantage of!

23...Qc6

Or 23...Qxf7 24.gxf7+ Kxf7 25.Rf1+ Ke7 26.Qg7+.

24.Your move.

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 Show/Hide Solution

24.gxh7+!

4 points. No break! After sacrificing a piece, White now sacrifices a rook, but manages to coordinate
the attack with the two remaining pieces.
Also winning was 24.Raf1 (1 point), which forces 24...Qxg2+ 25.Qxg2 Bxg2 26.gxh7+ Kh8
27.Kxg2, but this line prolongs the fight.

24...Kxf7 25.Rf1+ Ke7

26.Your move.

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26.h8=Q!!

4 points. “This quiet move is the key to White’s combination. The queened pawn attracts the rook to
h8, where it is vulnerable and it cannot fulfill any defensive functions,” (Ivanchuk).
The reverse move order 26.Qg7+ and 27.h8=Q also wins (4 points).

26...Rxh8 27.Qg7+ Kd6

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Or 27...Kd8 28.Qxh8+ Qe8 29.Rf8.

28.Your move.

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28.dxe5+

1 point. This is the only winning move. The black king is mated after 28...Kd5 29.Rd1+ Ke4
30.Rd4+ with mate in two, or 28...Kc5 29.Qe7+ Kd5 30.Rd1+ Ke4 when the fastest is 31.Qg5,
followed by mate.
1–0
Vassily Ivanchuk–Wang Hao, Istanbul Olympiad, 09.09.2012

SOME LESSONS FROM THE GAME*

* Italics indicate that the move belongs to a line and not to the actual game.
1. Which pieces is it convenient to trade? Which ones to keep? These are useful questions to be asked
in almost every game: 10.Qe2!
16.Bxd6! (in the commentary to Black’s fifteenth move)
16.Bxd6!
20.Bxc4!
2. It is important to know the typical tactical themes of the chosen structure, as you will frequently
read in these game summaries: 12.a4!
3. King safety is often the most important factor in a chess position, and the lack of defenders is
generally decisive: 13...Ne4?
13...Bb7!
26.h8=Q!!
4. The priority against a weak king is to open lines: 20.Bxc4!
21.f5!
22.fxg6!

MAXIMUM SCORE: 50 POINTS

• More than 44 points: Super Grandmaster.
• Between 40 and 44 points: Grandmaster.
• Between 34 and 39 points: International Master.
• Between 27 and 33 points: Very well, Master.
• Between 18 and 26 points: You are a gifted attacker.

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• Between 8 and 17 points: How imaginative ‘Chucky’ is! Isn’t he?

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 7
White: You
Black: Master
Queen’s Indian Defense [E16]

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2

5...c5?!

This move has a very respectable antecedent: Capablanca defeated Alekhine with it in New York
1924, but it was later considered inferior, only to be revived some years ago by Gashimov and
Andreikin.
What is the best response?

6.Your move.

Show/Hide Solution

6.d5!

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