Chess is one of the few games that survived the test of time.

Since its birth some 1500 years

ago in India, not only has chess retained its popularity, but it even keeps growing. According
to a survey conducted by FIDE, over 600 million people all over the world play chess regularly,
including over 365 thousand that possess the official international rating. Every day more than
two dozen million chess games are played on online platforms.
A good balance between chances of both sides, the necessity of coordinating action of pieces
that move in various ways, an enormous number of possibilities, and huge general development
benefits from regular play is what keeps chess so popular. Research results show primarily the
development of strategic, critical, logical, and analytic thinking, the ability of problem solving
and foreseeing, as well as the improvement of concentration, patience, and memory.
In 1950, Professor Shannon estimated the number of possible positions in chess as 1042.5. Other
estimates are not much different. To compare, the number of possible placements in checkers
on the same board is 1020.5, less than 1% of them being achievable from the original position.
In 1936, Professor Hardy during his lecture at the Harvard University observed that the number
of possible distinct chess games is much higher than the number of atoms in the known,
observable universe.
Such a huge complexity of chess makes it impossible in practice to precisely foresee and calculate
everything. Strategic thinking, searching for various plans and evaluating their consequences
is what is required in chess. A gradual position improvement is often the best preparation for
an effective finish. One of the top players of the beginning of the previous century, Rudolf
Spielmann, complained: “I can see combinations as well as Alekhine, but I cannot get to the
same positions.”.
Scientific research results show that during play grandmasters primarily try to find the
similarities with the examples they are familiar with. It shortens the time needed for a decision
and improves its quality. The book we are giving in your hands aims to teach universal rules of
chess strategy that can be successfully implemented in practice to obtain good positions, as well
as to correctly choose plans of their effective realization.
Grandmaster Bartłomiej Macieja,
International Master Witalis Sapis
 Bartlomiej Macieja
Witalis Sapis

Chess Strategy
Explained
Volume 2

Published by Sawit in 2021

3
 Table of Contents

Chapter 5 – Improving own position ...................................................... 9

5.1. Opening the line ......................................................................... 9
5.2. Peregrination of the king ............................................................ 30
5.3. Improving the position of a badly placed piece ......................... 37
5.4. Repositioning the queen ............................................................. 56
5.5. Entering the outpost ................................................................... 72
Chapter 6 – Prophylaxis ......................................................................... 95
Chapter 7 – Problems ............................................................................. 123
Chapter 8 – Solutions to problems ......................................................... 135
Index of players ................................................................................................. 189

7
 Chapter 5
Improving own position
5.1. Opening the line
If you are better developed, you should open the position. Opening the
files often widens the variety of possibilities, especially for the rooks.
The opponent’s king can easily get into trouble. The opening of the position
is also typically good when you have bishops against knights.

□ Macieja Bartlomiej □ Sapis Witalis

■ Michalski Olaf (1/3) ■ Langner
Poland 1996 Strzybnica (Poland) 1982

# 174 # 175
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8r+-wq-trk+( 8-+-tr-trk+(
7zpp+-+pvlp' 7zp-+-+pzpp'
6-+n+p+p+& 6-zp-sn-+q+&
5+-+pzP-+-% 5+-+p+l+-%
4-+-zP-+-+$ 4PzP-vL-+-+$
3+-zP-+QzPP# 3+-zP-+P+-#
2P+-+-zPL+" 2-wQ-+L+PzP"
1tR-vL-+RmK-! 1tR-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move White to move

As White has a space advantage Due to a pair of bishops, especially

on the kingside, he should seek the d4 one, white has a slightly
the initiative there. That’s why he better position. He should play
played 1.h4, aiming to open the 1.a5, to open the “a” file and to
“h” file. attack the a7 and b6 pawns.

9
 □ Macieja Bartlomiej □ Ciszek Mieczyslaw
■ Klimenko Sergey (2/3) ■ Sapis Witalis (4/7)
Saint Petersburg (Russia) 1996 Swiebodzin (Poland) 1983

# 176 # 177
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8rsn-wq-trk+( 8-+l+-trk+(
7zpp+l+-zpp' 7+pwq-+p+p'
6-+-+p+p+& 6-+-vl-+p+&
5+-+pzP-+-% 5zp-tr-zp-+-%
4-+pzP-+Q+$ 4P+PzpP+P+$
3zP-zP-vL-+-# 3+P+L+N+P#
2-+P+-zPPzP" 2-+Q+RzP-+"
1tR-+-mK-sNR! 1+-+-tR-mK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move Black to move

By playing 1.h4 Rf7 2.h5, White By playing 1...h5, we open the “h”
opens the “h” file for the attack file. We will gain the possibility to
on the black’s king. Usually, the attack the white king and to make
direct attack works in closed or better use of the bishops.
semi-closed positions, but it is
hardly ever efficient in open The plan connected with the
positions. position opening by f5 would have
been wrong, as it would have:
– led to the trade of the light-
square bishops,
– weakened the light squares in
the center,
– created the weakness on e5,
– opened the white rooks, that
currently don’t perform useful
tasks.

10
 □ Kempinski Robert □ Sapis Witalis
■ Macieja Bartlomiej ■ Sygulski Boguslaw
Sopot (Poland) 1997 Debica (Poland) 1990

# 178 # 179
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-tr-+-+( 8r+-+-trk+(
7+k+-vl-+p' 7+lzpnwq-zpp'
6-zp-+-+p+& 6-zp-zp-+-+&
5+-zp-+p+-% 5zp-+-zp-+-%
4-+-zp-zP-zP$ 4-zPPzPp+-+$
3+-+P+NzP-# 3zP-+-zP-+P#
2-zP-+P+K+" 2-+-+LzPPvL"
1tR-+-+-+-! 1tR-+Q+RmK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move White to move

After 1.h5, White opens the “h” White has a strong pawn center,
file and conquers it with the rook, two bishops, and a space advantage
taking advantage of the weak g6 on the queenside. Black has the
pawn, that can easily become open “f” file, which is good, but
subject to attack of the knight from also a few positional problems,
h4. It will not allow Black to trade that make his position worse.
the rooks on h8. The doubled “e” pawns are not
that relevant, as Black can easily
capture the d4 pawn. It is more
difficult to solve the problem of the
b7 bishop closed by the e4 pawn.
The best plan for White is to play
1.c5, to open the position, taking
advantage of the undefended
position of the b7 bishop. It will
additionally increase the strength
of the white bishops, especially the
h2 one.

11
 □ Macieja Bartlomiej □ Veerman Johan
■ Gradalski Przemyslaw ■ Sapis Witalis (1/3)
Lubniewice (Poland) 1998 Legnica (Poland) 1992

# 180 # 181
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+k+-tr( 8r+l+r+k+(
7+-+-snpzpp' 7+pwq-vlpzpp'
6rsn-+p+-+& 6p+p+-+-+&
5zp-+pzP-+-% 5+-zP-zp-+n%
4-zp-+-zP-+$ 4-zP-+Psn-+$
3+-+-+N+-# 3+-sN-+NvL-#
2PzPP+N+PzP" 2P+Q+LzPPzP"
1tR-+R+-+K! 1+-tRR+-mK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move Black to move

By playing 1.a3, White opens After 1...a5, we open the “a” file
the “a” file for his rook and attacks for our rook.
the advanced black pawns on the
queenside.

12
 □ Toczek Grzegorz □ Sapis Witalis
■ Macieja Bartlomiej ■ Piechocki Franciszek
Lubniewice (Poland) 1998 Gdynia (Poland) 1993

# 182 # 183
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-tr-mk( 8r+l+q+k+(
7+pzp-+r+p' 7zp-+-tr-zp-'
6-+-zplzpq+& 6-+p+-+-zp&
5zp-sn-zp-zp-% 5+p+-vL-+-%
4P+P+P+P+$ 4-+pzP-zP-+$
3+PsN-zP-+P# 3+-+-zP-+P#
2-+P+-tRQ+" 2P+Q+-+P+"
1+-+-+RsNK! 1tR-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
Black to move White to move

By playing 1...h5, Black opens White has the edge due to the pawn
the “h” file for his major pieces advantage in the center and on the
and begins the direct attack on the kingside, and due to the dominant
white king. On the diagonal h3- position of his bishop. If the game
c8, the attack is supported by the continued in a static manner, Black
bishop. would be able to complete the
development and advance the
queenside pawns. That’s why
White should immediately begin
the direct attack on the black
king: 1.f5 Rxe5 (there is no other
difference against 2.f6) 2.dxe5
Qxe5 3.f6 Qxe3+ 4.Kh1 Qd3
5.f7+ Kf8 6.Qb2 Bf5 7.Qe5.

13
 □ Macieja Bartlomiej □ Sapis Witalis
■ Pedzich Dominik ■ Jonczyk
Swidnica (Poland) 1999 Gdynia (Poland) 1993

# 184 # 185
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-trk+( 8-+r+k+-tr(
7+-+l+-vlp' 7zpl+n+pvl-'
6p+-wqp+p+& 6q+p+p+pzp&
5+p+p+-+-% 5+p+-zP-+-%
4-+-vL-zP-+$ 4-+-zP-+-+$
3+PzPL+-zP-# 3+P+-vLL+-#
2P+-+Q+-zP" 2P+NwQ-zPPzP"
1+-tR-+RmK-! 1tR-tR-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move White to move

By playing 1.h4, White prepares to After 1.a4, White opens the “a”
attack the g6 pawn and the kingside file with the decisive effect. The
of his opponent, taking advantage black queen gets under attack.
of the superior structure and the Black even cannot castle due to the
enormous difference between the weakness of the “h6” pawn.
activity of the light-square bishops.

14
 □ Cooper Thomas □ Weglarz Leszek
■ Macieja Bartlomiej (3/4) ■ Sapis Witalis
Reno (USA) 1999 Jaroslawiec (Poland) 1995

# 186 # 187
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8r+-wq-trk+( 8-+-+-trk+(
7+-+-+-vlp' 7zpp+rwq-+p'
6-+lzpn+-+& 6-+p+p+-+&
5zp-zp-zpp+-% 5+-zPpzPpzp-%
4-zpP+-+-+$ 4PzP-+n+-+$
3+P+P+NsN-# 3+-+-zP-+P#
2P+-vL-zPPzP" 2-vL-+QzPP+"
1+R+QtR-+K! 1tR-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
Black to move Black to move

By playing 1...a4, we prepare Black’s position is much better.

the opening of the “a” file at a The key element of the advantage
convenient moment. is the strong knight in the center.
Meanwhile, the bishop is limited
by the white pawns and is unlikely
to enter the game.

Black should play 1...Qg7,

with the idea of g4, what will
prevent the knight from getting
pushed away with f3. White cannot
respond with the immediate 2.f3
due to the weakness of the g3
square. The plan will also lead
to the opening of a file on the
kingside, what is convenient for
Black.

15
 □ Macieja Bartlomiej □ Sapis Witalis
■ Milov Vadim (1/2) ■ Laskarzewski (2/3)
Las Vegas (USA) 1999 Lukow (Poland) 1995

# 188 # 189
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq-trk+( 8r+-tr-+-+(
7zpp+-+p+-' 7+l+-mk-+-'
6-+n+-sn-zp& 6-zp-zpp+-zp&
5+-+-zp-zp-% 5zp-sn-zp-zp-%
4-+-zpP+-+$ 4-+P+P+-+$
3zP-+L+-vL-# 3+-+-+P+-#
2-zPP+NzPPzP" 2PzPLtRKvLPzP"
1tR-+Q+RmK-! 1+-+R+-+-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move White to move

The position is better for White, White should play 1.h4, to open
who has a pair of bishops, while the “h” file and to create the
Black has his kingside pawn weakness on g5. After 1...Rd7
structure weakened. Taking into 2.hxg5 hxg5 3.Rh1 White has
consideration both factors, White gained control over the “h” file,
plays 1.c3, to open the position what gives him an edge. It wasn’t
in the center. any better to respond with 1...g4
2.h5 gxf3+ 3.gxf3 Rd7 4.Bh4+
Kf8 5.Rxd6.

16
 □ Macieja Bartlomiej □ Sapis Witalis
■ Milov Vadim (2/2) ■ Shishkin Vadim (2/5)
Las Vegas (USA) 1999 Jaroslawiec (Poland) 1995

# 190 # 191
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8rsn-+-tr-+( 8rsn-wq-tr-+(
7+-+n+k+-' 7zpp+l+pvlk'
6p+-zP-+-zp& 6-+-zp-snpzp&
5+p+-zppzp-% 5+-zpP+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+P+-+P+$
3zP-+-+PvL-# 3+-sN-vL-+P#
2-zP-+-+PzP" 2PzP-wQLzP-+"
1+-tRR+LmK-! 1tR-+-mK-sNR!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move White to move

Opening diagonals can also be By playing 1.g5, White begins

decisive. By playing 1.a4, White to open the kingside, taking
wants to gain the c4 square for advantage of the advanced h6 and
his bishop. After 1...bxa4 or g6 pawns.
1...b4, White will continue 2.Bc4+
Kf6 3.Bd5 Ra7 4.Bf2, trapping
the rook.

17
 □ Macieja Bartlomiej □ Sapis Witalis
■ Stocek Jiri (2/3) ■ Shishkin Vadim (3/5)
Czech Republic 2001 Jaroslawiec (Poland) 1995

# 192 # 193
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8r+q+-trk+( 8rsn-wq-tr-+(
7+l+-vlp+p' 7zpp+l+pvlk'
6psn-zp-+p+& 6-+-zp-+psn&
5+-zpPzp-+n% 5+-zpP+-+-%
4-+-+P+-+$ 4-+P+-+-+$
3vLPsNL+-zP-# 3+-sN-vL-+P#
2-+PsNQzP-zP" 2PzP-wQLzP-+"
1tR-+-tR-mK-! 1tR-+-mK-sNR!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move White to move

To increase the pressure on the By playing 1.h4, White prepares

queenside, White needs to bring the opening of the “h” file with h5.
the knight to a5. The trade of the
knights on c4 doesn’t satisfy him
though, therefore he goes for 1.b4,
liberating the b3 square for the
knight, and opening the “b” file,
which he will conquer soon.

18
Sapis Witalis – Langner [B40]
Strzybnica (Poland) 1982
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Be2 d5 5.exd5 exd5 6.d4 Nf6 7.0–0 Ne4
8.Be3 Be7 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Nb5 0–0 12.Nbd4 Qd6 13.c3 Rad8
14.Qc2 Bf6 15.Rad1 b6 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Nd4 Qc8 18.b4 Bxd4 19.Bxd4
Bf5 20.Qb2 Ne4 21.a4 Qc6 22.Ra1 Qg6 23.f3 Nd6 24.a5 Nc4 25.Bxc4
dxc4 26.axb6 axb6 27.Ra6 Rd6 28.Qf2 Bh3 29.Qg3 Qxg3 30.hxg3 Bd7
31.Bc5 Rd3 32.Bxf8 Kxf8 33.Rxb6 Rxc3 34.Rd1 Be6 35.Rb7 g6 36.b5
Rb3 37.Kf2 c3 38.Rc1 Rb2+ 39.Ke3 c2 40.Kd2 Bf5 41.g4 1–0

Sapis Witalis – Sygulski Boguslaw [E11]

Debica (Poland) 1990
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 a5 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Bxd2 b6 7.Bf4 Bb7
8.e3 d6 9.h3 Nbd7 10.Be2 Qe7 11.0–0 Ne4 12.Bh2 f5 13.Nd2 0–0 14.Nxe4
fxe4 15.b4 e5 16.c5 axb4 17.cxd6 cxd6 18.axb4 Rxa1 19.Qxa1 Ra8 20.Qc3
Rc8 21.Qb2 exd4 22.Qxd4 d5 23.Bb5 Rc2 24.Bg3 Bc6 25.Bxc6 Rxc6
26.Qxd5+ Qe6 27.Rd1 Qxd5 28.Rxd5 Rc1+ 29.Kh2 Nf6 30.Rd4 Rc2
31.Rd6 b5 32.Rb6 Rb2 33.Rxb5 Kf7 34.Bh4 h6 35.Bxf6 Kxf6 36.Kg3
g5 37.Rb6+ Kf5 38.Rxh6 Rxb4 39.Rh8 Rb2 40.Rf8+ Kg6 41.Kg4 Kh6
42.Rf6+ Kg7 43.Kxg5 Rb5+ 44.Rf5 Rb2 45.g4 Ra2 46.h4 Rb2 47.h5 Rb6
48.Re5 Rb2 49.h6+ Kf7 50.Rxe4 Rb5+ 51.Kh4 Kg6 52.Re6+ Kh7 53.f4
Rb1 54.Kg5 Rb5+ 55.f5 Rb7 56.Ra6 Rc7 57.e4 Rb7 58.e5 Rb8 59.Ra7+
Kh8 60.e6 Rg8+ 61.Kh5 1–0

Sapis Witalis – Jonczyk [D06]

Gdynia (Poland) 1993
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 Nf6 5.Nc3 c6 6.Bg5 Qa5 7.Qd2 Nbd7
8.Nf3 g6 9.Be2 Bg7 10.0–0 e6 11.e5 Nd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Rfc1 b5 14.Qc3
Bb7 15.Ne1 h6 16.Bf3 Qc4 17.Qd2 Qa4 18.Be3 Rc8 19.b3 Qa3 20.Nc2
Qa6 21.a4 c5 22.axb5 Qxb5 23.Na3 Qb4 24.Qxb4 cxb4 25.Bxb7 Rxc1+
26.Bxc1 bxa3 27.Bxa3 f6 28.f4 g5 29.Bc6 fxe5 30.fxe5 Bf8 31.Bxf8 Rxf8
32.Rxa7 Rf7 33.d5 1–0

Sapis Witalis – Piechocki Franciszek [D36]

Gdynia (Poland) 1993
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 c6 7.Bd3 Nbd7
8.Nf3 0–0 9.Qc2 Re8 10.h3 h6 11.Bf4 Bb4 12.0–0 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Ne4 14.c4
Ndf6 15.Ne5 dxc4 16.Bxe4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 f6 18.Qg6 fxe5 19.Bxe5 Re7

26
20.f4 Qe8 21.Qc2 b5 22.f5 Rxe5 23.dxe5 Qxe5 24.f6 Qxe3+ 25.Kh1 Qd3
26.f7+ Kf8 27.Qb2 Bf5 28.Qe5 Kxf7 29.Rxf5+ Kg8 30.Raf1 b4 31.Qe6+
Kh7 32.Qxc6 Rd8 33.R5f3 Qd5 34.Qxd5 Rxd5 35.Rf4 c3 36.Rxb4 c2
37.Rc4 Rd1 38.Kg1 1–0

Weglarz Leszek – Sapis Witalis [A12]

Jaroslawiec (Poland) 1995
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.b3 d5 4.e3 Bg4 5.Bb2 e6 6.h3 Bh5 7.Be2 Nbd7 8.0–0
Bd6 9.d4 Ne4 10.Nbd2 f5 11.Ne5 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 0–0 13.Ndf3 Qe7 14.a4
Rad8 15.Nxd7 Rxd7 16.c5 Bb8 17.b4 g5 18.Ne5 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Qg7 20.Qe1
g4 21.h4 g3 22.fxg3 Nxg3 23.Rf3 Ne4 24.Bd4 Kh8 25.Ra2 Rg8 26.Rxf5
Qg4 27.Rf4 Qh3 28.Rxe4 dxe4 29.Qf1 Qxh4 30.Qf6+ Qxf6 31.exf6 Rf7
32.b5 h6 33.bxc6 bxc6 34.Rb2 Kh7 35.a5 Rd8 36.Be5 Kg6 37.Rb4 Rd1+
38.Kh2 Kf5 39.Bd6 Rxf6 40.Rb7 Rd3 41.Rxa7 Rxe3 42.Rg7 Re2 43.a6
Ra2 44.a7 e3 45.Rg3 Ke4 46.Rg4+ Kd3 47.Be5 Rf5 48.Rd4+ Ke2 49.Bb8
e5 50.Rb4 Kf2 51.g4 e2 0–1

Sapis Witalis – Ganin Maksim [D10]

Legnica (Poland) 1996
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Qb3 Qc8 6.Nc3 c6 7.Rc1 Nbd7 8.Nf3
h6 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Bg3 Bb4 11.Nd2 Bh7 12.a3 Nxc3 13.axb4 Ne4 14.Nxe4
Bxe4 15.f3 Bg6 16.Bd6 a6 17.b5 axb5 18.Bxb5 Qd8 19.Be2 Qb6 20.Qc3
Nf6 21.e4 Kd7 22.Bc5 Qa5 23.Bb4 Qb6 24.0–0 Ra4 25.Bc5 Qc7 26.Rfd1
Rha8 27.Qb3 Ke8 28.d5 Nd7 29.Bf2 exd5 30.exd5 Kf8 31.dxc6 bxc6
32.Bb5 Nb6 33.Bxc6 Nc4 34.Bxa4 1–0

Kempinski Robert – Macieja Bartlomiej [A34]

Sopot (Poland) 1997
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nxd5 Qxd5 6.g3 g6 7.Bg2
Bg7 8.0–0 0–0 9.d3 Nc6 10.a4 Qh5 11.a5 Bh3 12.Qb3 Rab8 13.Bf4 Bxg2
14.Kxg2 e5 15.Be3 Nd4 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Rfc1 Rfd8 18.Qc4 Bf8 19.Ra3
Qd5 20.Qxd5 Rxd5 21.Rc2 f5 22.Rb3 Be7 23.Rb5 Kf7 24.Nd2 Ke8 25.Nc4
Kd7 26.f4 Kc7 27.Ne5 b6 28.Rc1 Bd6 29.axb6+ Rxb6 30.Rxb6 axb6
31.Nf3 Be7 32.h4 Rd8 33.Ra1 Kb7 34.h5 b5 35.hxg6 hxg6 36.Rh1 Bd6
37.Rh6 Rg8 38.Kf1 Kc6 39.Ke1 Kd5 40.Nh4 c4 41.Rxg6 Ra8 42.Nxf5
Bb4+ 43.Kf2 Ra2 44.dxc4+ Kxc4 45.b3+ Kd5 46.Rg8 Bc5 47.Kf3 Ke6
48.Re8+ Kd7 49.Re4 Rd2 50.b4 Bb6 51.Re5 Kc6 52.Ne7+ Kd7 53.Rxb5
d3 54.Rxb6 dxe2 55.Rb7+ 1–0

27
 5.2. Peregrination of the king
Peregrination – a journey, especially a long or meandering one. The king
usually becomes an active piece only in the last stage of a game. If the
king becomes active earlier, typically it is caused by the danger of getting
checkmated. Situations where the king helps other pieces happen rarely.

□ Macieja Bartlomiej □ Ciszek Mieczyslaw

■ Petrosian Tigran L ■ Sapis Witalis (7/7)
Stepanakert/Khankendi 2004 Swiebodzin (Poland) 1983

# 208 # 209
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-wqr+k+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+lzpp+p' 7+p+l+pmk-'
6-+-zp-+p+& 6-+-+-+p+&
5+-trP+-+-% 5zp-+-zp-+-%
4-wQ-tR-+-+$ 4PwqPzpP+P+$
3+L+-+P+-# 3+P+LvlP+-#
2-zPP+-+PzP" 2-+-+N+K+"
1+-mK-tR-+-! 1+-+Q+-+-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move Black to move

White is a pawn up. It is difficult White has set a stable, although

to progress though, as the advance a passive position, and intends to
of the queenside pawns would defend it. In order to break though,
open the king. That’s why White Black needs to engage the king and
decided to transfer the king to the bring him all the way to b4. After
kingside. After 1.Kd1, the c2 pawn 1...Kf6 2.Kg3 Ke7 3.Kg2 Kd6
is no longer pinned, thus protects 4.Kf1 Kc5 5.Qe1 Qxe1+ 6.Kxe1
the bishop for real. The king is not Kb4 7.Bc2 d3, Black easily won.
marching via d2 not to black the
square for the queen.

30
 5.3. Improving the position of a badly placed piece
Finding the best move is not always easy, especially if we don’t have a well-
-defined plan. In such situations, it is often recommended to try to improve
the position of a badly placed piece. As a rule, we should try to improve the
position of the worst placed piece. Sometimes, it is easier to say than to do.
Firstly, it may be difficult to establish which piece is the worst placed one.
Secondly, not always we can find a better position for the worst placed piece.

□ Macieja Bartlomiej □ Sapis Witalis

■ Pozdniakov Sergei (2/6) ■ Ardeleanu Alin
Saint Petersburg (Russia) 1996 Romania 1980

# 216 # 217
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+ktr-vlntr( 8r+-+ntrk+(
7zppwqn+pzp-' 7+p+-+qzpp'
6-+p+p+-zp& 6pvLnzpl+-+&
5+-+-+-+P% 5+-+-zp-+-%
4-+-zP-+-+$ 4P+P+-+-+$
3+-+Q+NsN-# 3+NwQ-+-zP-#
2PzPPvL-zPP+" 2-zP-+-zPLzP"
1+-mKR+-+R! 1+-+R+RmK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move White to move

The g3 knight doesn’t participate The knight is out of the play

in the game. However, after 1.Ne4, on b3. By playing 1.Nd2, we plan
the knight takes the central square to move it to e4.
and comes back to the fight.

37
 5.4. Repositioning the queen
The queen is the strongest piece in chess, therefore her activity and safety
can strongly determine the evaluation of the position. Sometimes, the queen
is misplaced, and she requires the transfer to the other side of the chessboard
to be able to demonstrate her full power.

□ Bukojemski Adam □ Zainescu

■ Macieja Bartlomiej ■ Sapis Witalis (2/2)
Poland 1994 Romania 1980

# 248 # 249
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+rtrk+( 8-+-+r+k+(
7zplzpp+pzpp' 7zppvl-+pzp-'
6-zp-+-+q+& 6-+q+-+-zp&
5+-+P+-+-% 5+-+-+-tr-%
4-+-+-+-+$ 4-+-vL-+-+$
3sN-zP-+Q+-# 3+-zPQ+P+P#
2PzP-+-zPPzP" 2P+-tR-+P+"
1tR-+-tR-mK-! 1+R+-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
Black to move Black to move

The black queen doesn’t have White’s pieces are centralized,

real tasks on the kingside. By but the dark squares around his
playing 1...Qd6 2.c4 Qb4, Black king are weakened. Black can take
transferred her to the queenside, to advantage of it by playing 1...Qd6,
attack the e1 rook and the b2 pawn. heading to h2.
Alternatively, Black could have
played 1....Qg5 2.c4 Qd2.

56
 5.5. Entering the outpost
An outpost is a weak square near the opponent’s stronghold that can be
occupied by our pieces and is not protected by the opponent’s pawns.
Gaining control over an outpost in the center is meaningful, as it allows our
pieces to create threats on both sides of the chessboard.

Macieja Bartlomiej – Sapis Witalis (1/2)

Sopot (Poland) 1997

# 272
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-wqr+k+(
7zppsn-zppvlp'
6-+p+l+p+&
5+-+-+-vL-%
4-+PzP-+-+$
3+L+-+N+P#
2PzP-wQ-zPP+"
1tR-+-tR-mK-!
xabcdefghy
Black to move

Black should play 1...b5 to gain the control over the d5 square.

72
 Chapter 6
Prophylaxis
“Principiis obsta; sero medicina paratur, cum mala per longas convaluere
moras.” (“Halt its beginnings; too late is the medicine prepared, when the
disease has gained strength by long delay.”) wrote Ovid over 2000 years ago
in “Remedia Amoris” (“The Cure for Love”). His message applies to chess
as well. Preventing threats is often easier and more efficient than dealing
with their consequences. The goals of prophylaxis are:
– to halt threats,
– to eliminate potential opponent’s possibilities.

□ Macieja Bartlomiej □ Ciszek Mieczyslaw

■ Voloshin Leonid (1/2) ■ Sapis Witalis (2/7)
Polanica-Zdroj (Poland) 1996 Swiebodzin (Poland) 1983

# 309 # 310
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-trr+-snk+( 8r+l+-trk+(
7+-wq-+p+p' 7zppwqnvlpzpp'
6p+l+p+p+& 6-+p+-sn-+&
5+p+pzP-zPP% 5+-+-zp-+-%
4-+-sN-zP-+$ 4-+P+P+-+$
3zP-sNQ+-tR-# 3+-sN-+N+-#
2-zPP+-+-+" 2PzPQ+LzPPzP"
1+-mKR+-+-! 1tR-vLR+-mK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move Black to move

Blacks intends to play 1...b4, to The best square for the d7 knight,
open the “b” file and the bishop. which blocks the light-square bishop,
White prevents it by playing 1.b4. is c5. However, after 1...Nc5, White
will attack the knight with 2.b4.
That’s why Black started with 1...a5.

95
 Chapter 7
Problems
Problem 45 Problem 47

XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-wq-+rmk( 8-tr-+ktrn+(
7+-+l+p+-' 7+-+-+-vl-'
6n+-zp-+-zp& 6psNlzpq+pzp&
5+p+PzpP+-% 5zPpzp-zp-+-%
4pzP-+P+-sn$ 4-+-+P+-wQ$
3zP-+-+-+L# 3+-sNPvL-+-#
2-+R+-wQ-mK" 2-zPP+-+PzP"
1+NsN-+-+-! 1tR-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
Black to move White to move
1. Find the best continuation. 1. Evaluate the position.
2. Find the best continuation.

Problem 46 Problem 48

XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+r+k+( 8r+-+-trk+(
7+-+-wqp+p' 7zpl+-+-wqp'
6pvlp+-snp+& 6-zp-zpp+-+&
5+-sn-zp-+-% 5+-+-+-zp-%
4PzpP+P+P+$ 4-+-zPPzp-+$
3+P+-+P+-# 3+-zPL+-+P#
2-vLQ+-+PsN" 2PzP-wQ-+P+"
1+-+R+L+K! 1+-+-tRRmK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
Black to move White to move
1. Evaluate the position. 1. Evaluate the position.
2. Find the best continuation. 2. Find the best continuation.

123
 Chapter 8
Solutions to problems

Problem 45

Fiodorov Mikhail – Macieja Bartlomiej (3/3)

Polanica-Zdroj (Poland) 1997

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-wq-+rmk(
7+-snl+p+-'
6-+-zp-+-zp&
5+p+PzpP+-%
4pzP-+P+-sn$
3zP-+-+-+L#
2-+R+-wQ-mK"
1+NsN-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
1. As the a6 knight is out of play, Black chose 1...Nc7, intending to transfer it
via e8 to f6, where it would be actively placed. It requires the calculation of
the following line: 1...Rxc7 2.Qxc7 3.Qxh4 Qxc1, and there is no checkmate
on h6, as the black queen protects this square.

Improving the position of a badly placed piece

135
 Problem 46

Ferenc Jozef – Sapis Witalis

Slupsk (Poland) 1995

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+r+k+(
7+-+-wqp+-'
6pvlp+-snp+&
5+-sn-zp-+p%
4PzpP+P+P+$
3+P+-+P+-#
2-vLQ+-+PsN"
1+-+R+L+K!
xabcdefghy
1. White has a pair of bishops and controls the only open file. The cons of
his position are:
– dark squares, that are heavily weakened,
– weak b3 pawn,
– passive knight and the light-square bishop.
Strategically, White’s position is undefendable.

2. To take advantage of the weakened dark squares, Black should play 1...h5.
White can choose between:
– 2.gxh5 Nxh5 3.g4 Nf4,
– 2.g3 hxg4 3.Nxg4 Nxg4 4.fxg4 Qg5,
– 2.g5 Nh7 3.Bc1 Nxg5 4.Be3 Nge6 (what happened in the game).
In none of the lines White is able to create real counterplay chances.

Opening the line

136
 Problem 47

Macieja Bartlomiej – Kuczynski Robert (2/3)

Ksiaz (Poland) 1998

XABCDEFGHY
8-tr-+ktrn+(
7+-+-+-vl-'
6psNlzpq+pzp&
5zPpzpNzp-+-%
4-+-+P+-wQ$
3+-+PvL-+-#
2-zPP+-+PzP"
1tR-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy
1. White is much better due to the activeness of all of his pieces and the safer
position of his king.

2. White played 1.Ncd5, occupying the central outpost. Additionally,

it creates the threat of 2.Nc7+.

Entering the outpost

137
 Problem 48

Sapis Witalis – Dluzniewski Marcin (1/2)

Lublin (Poland) 1999

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-trk+(
7zpl+-+-wqp'
6-zp-zpp+-+&
5+-+-zP-zp-%
4-+-zP-zp-+$
3+-zPL+-+P#
2PzP-wQ-+P+"
1+-+-tRRmK-!
xabcdefghy
1. White is slightly better developed and has a strong center. Black has the
pawn majority on the kingside, that may become dangerous.

2. It is crucial not to let Black play 1...e5, what would strengthen his pawn
structure. That’s why White played 1.e5, even though it opened the h1-a8
diagonal.

Prophylaxis

138
Chess is one of the few games that survived the test of time. Since its birth some 1500 years
ago in India, not only has chess retained its popularity, but it even keeps growing. According
to a survey conducted by FIDE, over 600 million people all over the world play chess regularly,
including over 365 thousand that possess the official international rating. Every day more than
two dozen million chess games are played on online platforms.
A good balance between chances of both sides, the necessity of coordinating action of pieces
that move in various ways, an enormous number of possibilities, and huge general development
benefits from regular play is what keeps chess so popular. Research results show primarily the
development of strategic, critical, logical, and analytic thinking, the ability of problem solving
and foreseeing, as well as the improvement of concentration, patience, and memory.
In 1950, Professor Shannon estimated the number of possible positions in chess as 1042.5. Other
estimates are not much different. To compare, the number of possible placements in checkers
on the same board is 1020.5, less than 1% of them being achievable from the original position.
In 1936, Professor Hardy during his lecture at the Harvard University observed that the number
of possible distinct chess games is much higher than the number of atoms in the known,
observable universe.
Such a huge complexity of chess makes it impossible in practice to precisely foresee and calculate
everything. Strategic thinking, searching for various plans and evaluating their consequences
is what is required in chess. A gradual position improvement is often the best preparation for
an effective finish. One of the top players of the beginning of the previous century, Rudolf
Spielmann, complained: “I can see combinations as well as Alekhine, but I cannot get to the
same positions.”.
Scientific research results show that during play grandmasters primarily try to find the
similarities with the examples they are familiar with. It shortens the time needed for a decision
and improves its quality. The book we are giving in your hands aims to teach universal rules of
chess strategy that can be successfully implemented in practice to obtain good positions, as well
as to correctly choose plans of their effective realization.
Grandmaster Bartłomiej Macieja,
International Master Witalis Sapis