for Beginners
·Franco Masetti & Roberto Messa
Franco Masetti and Roberto Messa
1001
chess
exerc1ses
for
beginners
•
The tactics workbook that explains
the basic concepts, too
New In Chess 2012
2012 New In Chess
© Le due Torri 2006-2008
English edition published by New In Chess, Alkmaar, The Netherlands
www.newinchess.com
1001 Chess Exercises for Beginners
Translated from 1001 Esercizi per Principianti
This edition is published by arrangement with Le Due Torri - Chess Department
Store - Italy- www.chess.it
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission from
the publisher.
Translation: Richard Jones
Cover design: Volken Beck
ISBN 978-90-5691-397-7
Mate in one
.
Mate in two
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The missing piece
Double attack
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Discovered attack
Discovered check
Double check
Pin
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Skewer
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Deflection
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Decoy sacrifice
Pawn promotion
Drawing tactics
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. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mixed motifs: Black
Mate in three
Mate in four
Curiosities
Glossary
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Mixed motifs:White
Solutions
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7
13
25
29
35
39
43
47
53
57
61
65
71
75
93
109
1 17
12 1
125
144
Chess is 99% tactics!
If this celebrated observation is true for the master, how much more
so for the beginner and club player.
By far and away, the quickest and most effective way to improve your
chess performance is to increase your tactical skill so that at a glance
you are able to see the typical mating patterns and material-winning
tactical motifs that so often decide a game. There is no doubt that the
best way to acquire good tactical vision is to do exercises that teach you
to
recognise
the
tactical
building
blocks
that
make
up
every
combination. This book focuses on the crucial positions that every chess
player must know.
It cannot be stressed enough that a knowledge of
strategy is of little use if you have not first mastered the fundamentals
of tactics.
This book starts with hundreds of essential mating positions that train
immediate visual recognition; first there are the easier mate in one or
two move exercises; then there are exercises for various crucial tactical
motifs that must be mastered by any aspiring chess player; these are
followed by more demanding positions where these various motifs are
often combined.
While the easier problems can be solved without a chess board, we
suggest that for the more difficult ones you set up the positions on a
board and try to find the solution as if you were playing a real game.
You should therefore not touch or move the pieces before having made
your decision, perhaps writing down the possible variations before you
check the solutions at the back of the book.
The introductions to each chapter are particularly instructive. It is
here that we explain the ideas behind crucial tactical motifs such as
double attack, the pin and skewer, as well as pawn promotion, drawing
techniques, etc.
This book is intended not only for personal use, but also as a course
text book. We have thus consulted leading teachers and masters with
extensive training experience working in chess academies and club
courses so as to best identify the most productive positions and
exercises to use.
Franco Masetti and Roberto Messa
5
White to move and mate in one
Solutions on page 125
1
2
The pin is mightier than the sword
i1. and E1 make a winning team
4
5
a
b
c
d
e
3
ILl and E1 in partnership
6
I
Nice and simple
7
Only one of several checks is mate
Also here
Another lethal pin
8
9
Softly, softly
7
Pawn power
Mate in one
12
11
10
Less i s more
The bishop and knight team up
15
14
13
No en passant
One check i s bad enough
18
This i s more recent
A mate from the past
Her Majesty checkmates
21
20
19
Double check
Sacrificing the queen for mate
17
16
Nothing fancy
Three ways to mate
8
The historic Arabian mate
Mate in one
24
23
22
A mate by... Anderssen
25
27
26
Power along the rank
A n opening tactic
28
29
Ruling the ranks
31
The king has strayed too far
Castle early, castle often
Two ways to mate
Black regrets not castling
30
By no means a draw
32
The queen and knight unite
33
Black didn't develop
9
GMs get mated too
Mate in one
34
36
35
a
A 2 006 mate
The right piece for the job?
Bishops rule
TheE\ and liJ gang up on the king
It is nice t o discover there's mate
A deadly pin
e
Cornered
Double trouble
Two ways to end the game
45
44
43
d
42
41
40
c
39
38
37
b
White's pieces are more active
Once again the king is exposed
10
An enterprising pawn
Mate in one
46
47
48
B • B!.Bs
lj.-.-raa:
•:a
a
•
•• • 84
� ·�· D
• • -��2
lj
•••
a
b
c
d
e
l
g
h
5
3
Mighty knights
49
50
A devastating discovered attack
52
Diagonal domination
55
Another deadly discovery
Better not to exchange
51
The attacker wins
Another king stuck in the centre
53
54
A king in the centre succumbs
The king is too closely guarded
56
57
A tactical motif decides the day
11
Here too
Mate in two
White to move and mate in two
Solutions on page 125
58
Back rank basics
61
59
60
The open file is a fatal weakness
Getting the king where you want it
62
63
Yet again
64
66
65
Opening lines: a rank
Smothered mate
Deadly diagonal
Opening lines: a file
13
Opening lines: a file
Mate in two
67
69
68
Opening lines: a file
70
g? or elsewhere?
Fatal attraction
72
71
c
Watch your back... rank
73
e
f
Deflection unpins
Deflection or closing a line?
78
77
Domination o f diagonal and file
14
g
Two cannons on the ranks
75
74
A discovery for starters
76
Here too
d
Also here
h
Mate in two
79
81
80
All comes to he who waits
Two ways t o d o it
82
Deadly pin
Black must move
85
86
Again, two fearsome knights
88
a
84
83
87
c
d
e
I
Arabian mate
g
Good knight to the king
Zigzag
89
b
Heroic knights
90
h
Greco's mate
15
The rook will mate
Mate in two
91
92
93
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
Boden's mate
Another Boden's
94
Setting up mate
96
95
N o defence
How to promote?
97
Double check to start things off
99
98
Removing the defender
Here too
I need a vacation
100
102
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
a
Overloaded
b
c
d
e
I
A quiet move
16
g
h
What's preventing me?
Mate in two
105
104
103
One... two... KO
A king and a commoner
108
107
106
111
1 10
Also here
Opening lines: a file
Opening lines: a file
Removing the defender
1 14
113
1 12
Deflection
Now a quiet one
A novel manoeuvre
109
Two bishops vs two knights
Opening lines: a rank
17
Decoy sacrifice
Mate in two
115
1 16
Once again a decoy
1 18
Check then mate
1 19
A marvelous manoeuvre
121
120
Invite everyone to the party
Opening lines: diagonals
122
The king is cramped
1 24
Decoy sac and discovered attack
125
Clearing a path
The queen does its duty
1 26
Have a nice knight
18
One more decoy sacrifice
Mate i n two
127
b
a
129
128
c
d
e
I
g
h
White is more active
Decoy and double check
A king with nowhere to go
132
135
1 34
133
Just a little bit closer
d2 or e5?
Back rank weakness
The second check will b e mate
138
1 37
136
Step this way please
With a little support
An Arabian mate looms
Two checks do the trick
19
Removing the defender
Mate in two
141
140
139
The knight mates
Deflecting the defender
144
143
142
A wily waiting move
145
The queen will dominate
From g8 or h2?
Decisions! Decisions! d6 or c7 ?
147
146
Deflection and opening a file
148
Nothing could be simpler
How to advance?
Opening lines: a file
1 50
149
Mate on the eighth
20
Making way
Mate in two
151
1 52
The black king has strayed
1 54
153
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
The defender abandons his post
155
Knight strike
1 57
1 56
160
Vacating a square
How to unpin the rook?
A recurring motif: a decoy sacrifice
158
Removing an escape square
One rook is sufficient
159
Decoy and discovered attack
Double check creates a pathway
161
162
Discovered attack clears the way
Discovered attack and decoy
21
Mate in two
16 5
163
a
Decoy sacrifice
166
b
c
d
e
I
g
169
A short reign for the queen
Bishop and rook
A fatal file
No escape
174
173
Clearing a file
No need for anything flashy
17 1
170
172
Deflection
168
167
Also here
h
Anything for mate
First a double check
22
Mate in two
175
a
177
1 76
b
c
d
e
9
h
a
Deflection
178
b
c
d
e
9
h
b 6 i s the weak point
Promotion!
179
Clearing the rank
1 80
Mate on the eigth
Correct promotion
181
183
2
9
Three motifs
1 84
h
d
e
h
The king is trapped
Getting the king where you want it
The knight delivers
No defence
185
Mate on the back rank
9
23
In these valuable exercises you have to place a piece on the
board so as to create checkmate or a winning position. These
exercises are more than just good fun; they improve pattern
recognition, visualisation and creativity as well.
Solutions on page 127
187
Add a knight and it's mate
1 90
Add a bishop and it's mate
188
Add a knight and it's mate
Add a knight and it's mate
192
191
Add a bishop and it's mate
25
Add a bishop and it's mate
The missing piece
195
193
Add a bishop and it's mate
196
Add a rook and it's mate
199
Add a bishop and it's mate
198
1 97
Add a rook and it's mate
20 1
200
Add a pawn and it's mate
202
Add a rook and it's mate
Add a rook and it's mate
Add a bishop and it's mate
204
203
Add a queen and it's mate
26
Add a bishop and it's mate
The missing piece
205
207
206
Add a bishop and it's mate
210
208
g
h
Add a queen and it's mate
Add a knight and it's mate
213
212
211
Add a knight and it's mate
Add a rook and it's mate
g
Add a bishop and win
Add a rook and it's mate
216
215
214
Add a rook and it's mate
h
Add a knight and win
27
Add a rook and win
White to move
Solutions on page 127
So far we have looked at lots and
lots of mating positions. This is clearly
White has just played 1. l:'i:dS,
creating a double attack on the
logical as delivering checkmate is the
bishop and knight. One of the two
pieces will be captured on the next
move.
objective of the game. However,
checkmate is much easier to achieve
when we have an advantage in
material, namely more pieces.
Combinations of tactical motifs that
force a gain in material occur in
We have already noted that a
double attack is very often impossible
to meet. However, this is not always
the case; in certain positions a fleeing
virtually every game, and the most
important of these motifs are based
on some kind of double attack .
piece can protect another.
However, double attack is most
commonly used to describe a position
in which one piece attacks two
undefended pieces simultaneously
and only one of those threatened
pieces is able to save itself. It goes
without saying that it is rare that in a
single move one's opponent can save
or protect two attacked pieces. Let's
look at an example.
In this position, which is almost
identical to the preceding one, Black
can save both pieces with the simple
move 1 . . . ii.d7.
There is also the 'double threat'
motif, which arises when at least one
of our attacks does not involve the
threat of material gain, but instead
another type of threat such as
checkmate.
29
Double attack
This example teaches us that before
making a double attack we have to
make sure that our opponent does
not have tactical resources of his
own.
All the pieces can create a double
attack, including the king and the
pawn. Perhaps the most dangerous is
the knight; its unusual way of moving
In this position White plays 1. �e4!,
simultaneously threatening checkmate
allows it to attack two pieces without
being attacked itself and renders its
with 2. �xh7 and the capture of the
movements more visually difficult to
anticipate!
rook on aS. Black has no choice but to
defend his king, leaving the poor rook
to its fate.
A double attack by a pawn or a
knight is usually called a 'fork'.
In the following example the
position of the white king allows a
most unpleasant surprise! Black has
the luxury of choosing between two
moves that not only save both his
threatened pieces, but which also win
the white rook.
In this position White will win one of
the two rooks by playing 1. e4.
A classic pawn fork!
As mentioned before, a double
attack in the broadest sense is central
to most of the tactical motifs
In reply to White's double attack,
Black can play either 1... �c6, 'pinning'
the rook to the king, or launch his
own double attack with 1 ... l2le3+!
discussed in the following chapters;
for example, a discovery is no more
than a sophisticated form of double
attack.
30
Double attack
219
217
Nasty pin
221
Loose pieces drop off
222
Black was a World Chamipion!
224
223
One move with two objectives
Simple chess
Two more loose pieces
225
The same idea
227
226
A simple double threat
This won't take you long
A pawn provides the answer
228
Check then a double attack
31
This is trickier
Double attack
229
231
230
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
c
g
A pawn for a piece
Objective: undefended pieces
232
e
234
233
Temporary sacrifice
An unpleasant choice to make
The eighth
238
His or Her Majesty?
Look out for loose pieces
240
239
Make mine a double
Protectors in close proximity
237
236
235
A pawn is a pawn
The knight on the rim is grim
32
Sweet and simple
Double attack
241
242
The back rank i s the key
243
You gain a rook
245
244
247
246
A winning discovery
Nice and simple
Discovery and double attack
251
250
Fifth rank
Something unexpected
249
248
Two targets
A long move
All the ingredients are there
252
If only the king were...
33
Two bishops in danger
White to move
Solutions on page 128
A discovered attack is a form of
opponent does not surprise us with
an 'acrobatic' defence.
double attack where one piece moves
to attack another, unmasking an attack
by a second piece.
In the example above White can
play 1. lt:Jd2, with a discovered attack
In the above position, the knight
that threatens both queen and rook.
can jump to d4, unleashing an attack
However, the strong reply of 1. . Wc6!
.
on the black queen. Black is forced to
solves Black's problems; thanks to
choose the lesser of two evils, and
the threat of mate on g2, Black has
accept the loss of the bishop on fS.
sufficient time to save the rook, for
example: 2. e4 l::lxc3.
As always, things do not necessarily
Yet another example of how time
work out as we plan, and we must
and geometry are the fundamental
always
building blocks of chess tactics.
check
carefully
that
our
35
Discovered attack
255
254
253
One small step
256
Discovery then double attack
A most unpleasant choice
Freeing the diagonal
A couple of checks
261
260
The long diagonal is weak
262
258
257
Discovery then double attack
259
How to advance the pawn?
The queen is a goner
This is a classic
264
263
Double trouble
36
The queen or smothered mate
D iscovered attack
265
267
c
Discovery and pin
d
e
White is on top
268
The king looks vulnerable
270
269
8
/---�m"Z'i//"=',,77:"'''=/""'�d
7
6
5
4
3
2
Winning attack
271
Won endgame
272
Immediate victory
2 74
Black's pieces are badly placed
Discovery o n the queen
273
The back rank
An intermediate exercise
275
276
A n elegant double threat
37
Mating attack
White to move
Solutions on page 128
A discovered check occurs when the
In defending his king, White
unleashes a discovered check: 1. l"i:bl!
target of the unmasked piece in a
discovered attack is none other than
His Majesty himself. As a result they
. . . which is indeed checkmate!
The last example is as instructive as
are particulary dangerous.
it is entertaining.
White plays 1. ti:JgS+ with a discovered
check, picking up the queen on the
1. l"i:xbS+ �a7 2. l"i:b7+ �a8
next move.
The poor black king is forced back
The following examples will give you
a even better idea of the devastating
to the critical square.
power of a discovered check .
l"i:h7+ mb8 6. l"i:xhS
3. l"i:xb4+ �a7 4. l"i:b7+ ma8 5.
This series of discovered checks
concludes with the capture of a good
three pieces.
This nightmare form of deja vu is
called a 'windmill'. Though infrequent,
it is one of the most delightful of all
tactical motifs.
39
Discovered check
277
278
Simple does it
280
279
Also here
281
I can check too
283
282
Not s o hard
Decoy and discovered check
Unpin to win
Winning the rook
284
286
One little check
285
White to move and win
287
Deflection and discovered check
288
Surprisingly frequent
40
Clearing the diagonal
Discovered check
289
290
A beautiful combination
294
293
Out o f the blue
First you have t o prepare
295
296
b
c
d
e
f
Nice and quick
A stylish mate
292
a
291
g
297
h
Deflection and discovered check
298
A n overloaded knight
299
How t o prevent mate?
Two shattering checks
Gaining a knight
300
Turning the corner
41
Mate in 3to finish things off
White to move
Solutions on page 129
Double check is a type of discovered
controlled
by
the
two
attacking
check where one piece moves to give
pieces. It is amusing to note that both
check and uncovers another piece
the checking pieces are hanging, but
that also attacks the king. Needless
because of the power of a double
to say this is a bombshell and two out
check they are immune from capture.
of
the
three
possible
ways
of
defending the king no longer apply: it
The following diagram shows the
is not possible to interpose with a
superiority of a double check compared
piece,
to a normal discovered check.
as check arrives from two
directions; you cannot capture the
checking piece because there are two
of them. The only remaining hope is
to move the king to a safe square,
presuming there is one . . .
Black, with an enormous material
advantage, hopes to finish things off
immediately with
1...
li:Jc4+ ?.
This
would be a grave error, as White can
reply with a double check: 2. li:JcS+
In the above position White ends
the
'it>c8 (Black cannot capture either the
game with the killing 1 . �c6#.
queen on b2 or the knight on cS due
The king's two escape squares are
to the double check) 3. 'W'h8#
43
Double check
301
303
302
A famous mate i n three
304
A nicely composed mate
307
The end of the Evergreen Game
3 10
Decoy and double check
306
305
A devastating double check
Double check and mate
309
308
The bishop for a double check
A king stuck in the middle...
A winning attack
2 rooks for a bishop
312
311
Just a few more moves
44
From all directions
Double check
313
3 14
A smooth mate i n five
3 16
315
Check, check, mate
Rampaging rook
3 17
The knight is the star
Mate in two
3 19
321
320
Mate in three
Decoy sacrifice
322
Black didn't expect this
324
d
e
F-file
f
Seen before. . . but improved
45
Black threatens mate on a 1
White to move
Solutions on page 129
When a piece is on the same line of
pieces is an optical illusion.
attack as its king, it cannot move. It
is
'pinned'. In the following position
the black rook is pinned by the white
bishop and cannot avoid capture.
However,
their presence makes
seeing the mating move 1. iWh6#
much more difficult to see.
Black can try to limit the loss of
material by playing 1... �c6, after
which White should not be hasty: if
he contents himself with winning the
exchange with 2. .ixdS+? �xdS he will
achieve no more than a draw; whereas
if he piles on the pressure with 2. c4!,
he will win the rook for nothing on the
following move.
The rook cannot
As with all tactical ideas it is always
escape because of the paralysing pin.
necessary to anticipate your opponent's
The pin is a very common tactical
reply. In the example above, White
motif that can often lead to a gain in
has
material or mate itself.
In
the
following
just
played
1.
Ei:g4,
taking
advantage of the pin to win the
position
the
knight,
'protection' of the king by Black's
but after
1.
.ihS, White's
smile will become a frown as he
47
Pin
In the above position the knight on
realises his rook is now itself pinned,
c6 is pinned to the king by the white
with a won game for Black!
bishop and at the same time it is
When a piece is pinned to the king,
attacked by the pawn on dS.
we have an absolute pin. If the piece
At first glance the knight looks
is pinned to any other piece, this is
doomed. However, Black has a typical
called a relative pin, as it is always
unpinning
possible that it may be opportune for
disposal:
the pinned piece to move and leave
manoeuvre
at
this
1 . . . a6! 2. �a4 (the only
move that maintains White's threat;
the formerly shielded piece to its fate.
the alternatives 2. �xc6+ bxc6 and 2.
dxc6 axbS gain nothing) 2 .. . bS!.
By continuing to harass the white
bishop, Black has neutralised the pin;
after 3. dxc6 bxa4 or 3. �b3 Ci:JaS etc,
the position remains balanced.
This example teaches us that in the
opening a pinned knight on c6 or f6
(c3 or f3 for White) is not something
In this well known opening variation,
to be overly afraid of. It is only in
it would appear that White can win the
some cases that it is advisable to
d pawn, exploiting the fact that the
prevent the pin with h6 or a6; in
knight on f6 is pinned to the queen. In
many others the prophylactic pawn
fact, 1. Ci:JxdS? is a blunder, as Black
move is a useless waste of time that
can reply 1... Ci:Jxd5!; and after 2. �xd8
creates a potential target.
�b4+! 3. Wd2 �xd2+ 4. �xd2 �xd8,
Often, Black can safely respond to
White finds himself down a piece.
the pinning move �gS by playing
Even with an absolute pin, there
�e7; otherwise, but only after the
are times when the defender can free
arrival
of the bishop,
himself from what appears to be a
choose
to
devastating pin.
White's bishop with h6.
48
'put
the
Black may
question'
to
Pin
325
326
Let's get started
328
327
This won't take you long
330
329
332
A pawn for a piece
3 34
333
A piece up for grabs
White's pinned queen looks a goner
335
The pin provides a fork
Time to get close
Apparent defence
Forget about e n passant!
331
In one
336
Loose pieces...
49
Absolute and relative
Pin
337
338
This i s a classic
340
339
A pin and something i n between
341
H e who pins last. ..
342
Opening lines
Let's go back a little
343
345
344
a
b
c
d
e
g
Immediate victory
A pin and deflection
347
346
348
a
Pinned protector
No more pin
50
b
c
d
e
I
g
Did you read the intro?
h
Pin
351
350
349
The e-file is the key
This is pretty
354
352
A paralysing move
A pinned pawn
Two pins
357
355
Two �·s will mate a lone king
A pin and deflection
359
Killer cross pin
An undefended queen
51
A composed pin
White to move
Solutions on page 130
On closer examination a skewer is
The skewer is no exception.
also a double attack. This is due its x­
ray nature; when a more valuable
piece moves out of the way of an
attack, the attack continues through to
a less valuable one. Only long-range
pieces can skewer, namely the queen,
rook and bishop.
King and knight
skewers do not exist.
As always, a diagram is worth a
thousand words.
White skewers the king with
1.
J.g2+, but if Black were to play the
prudent defence 1 . . . mc4, capturing
the rook on b7 would be a fatal error.
Instead, White must make a move to
parry the threat of 2 . . . :gas#. This
gives Black time to save the rook,
with a winning material and positional
advantage. Never underestimate your
opponent's defensive resources!
By playing 1 . J.h3+, White wins the
queen.
As mentioned before, our enthusiasm
for a possible tactical opportunity can
blind us to a possible defence by our
adversary.
53
Skewer
363
362
361
Arriving first but...
Straightforward
366
364
a
Forced rearrangment
367
b
c
d
e
I
g
h
Profit from a pin
King and queen alignment
369
368
Lineup
Making it happen
370
Reducing Black's options
372
371
Exploiting a square
54
White's pawn is pinned
Skewer
373
375
374
a
b
c
d
e
I
g
h
Immediate return on investment
376
377
378
A draw?
One small step
379
380
Decoy and skewer
382
381
First and foremost
3 84
383
Loose pieces...
Another decoy and skewer
Materially minded
55
White to move
Solutions on page 13 1
Deflection is a tactical motif whose
objective is to force a piece away
from the defence of another piece or
a key square.
With the spectacular 1 . Ei:e8!!, White
initiates a combination that includes
deflection and a pin; Black has no
choice but to part with his rook to
avoid checkmate.
The black queen guards the h4
square,
which is a role of
The plight of the black queen is
vital
miserable:
if 1... Wb6, there is 2.
importance as from this square the
Wg7#
white queen can force checkmate. By
will be met by 2. Wf6+ followed by
making a deflection sacrifice, White
mate; afterl . .. Wd4 (the only move
can put his queen on this key square:
that parries all the mating threats,
1. Ei:c8! Wxc8 (the black queen cannot
(the g8 Ei: is pinned); 1 . . . Wc7
but leaves the b8Ei: undefended), there
continue to guard h4, as the squares
is 2. Ei:3xg8+ ii.xg8 3. Ei:xb8 and White
e7, f6 and gS are all under White's
has a decisive advantage: the double
control) 2. Wh4+ mg8 3. Wh7#
attack 3... WeS+ fails because of 4. f4
(4 . . . Wxb8 is answered by 5. Wf 6#) .
Deflection, like all tactical motifs,
The chess term for describing a
can be combined with other elements,
piece that has more defensive tasks
as illustrated in the following position.
than it can cope with is 'overloaded'.
57
Deflection
387
386
Keep it simple
388
Deflection and skewer
390
389
f5 is the key
391
Elegant and effective
The objective: f8!
394
393
392
The right rook
Exchange sacrifice and deflection
396
395
The h-file
58
Weakness on c6
Deflection
397
a
398
b
c
d
e
g
h
a
Double deflection & back rank mate
399
b
c
d
g
e
Mate in 3
Let the man through
401
400
Composed deflection
403
402
Surprisingly effective
One step forward
404
405
A forceful knight
This is nice
406
407
408
f
A king has walked into danger
g
h
The black queen is overloaded
59
h4 holds the answer
White to play
Solutions on page 13 1
We should always be on the lookout
another tactical motif; i n o u r first
for a sacrifice that draws an opponen­
example it is a fork, in the second a
t's piece onto a critical square. A decoy
sacrifice's objective could be to deliver
checkmate or to win material.
Let's look at a combination that fini­
pin.
shes with mate; the first step is an ini­
tial sacrifice to clear the g6 square;
then a decoy sacrifice to drag the black
king onto f8 and then the bishop and
rook quickly finish off the defenceless
king.
1. f7+! (a pawn fork that forces ei­
ther the king or queen onto f7, allo­
wing a devastating knight fork) 1 . . .
Wxf7 2. l2lh6+; otherwise 1 . . . mxf7 2.
l2ld6+ and White wins easily.
8
7
6
1 . l2lf6+ ! gxf6 (not accepting the sa­
5
crifice leads to immediate mate) 2.
4
Wf8+! (the decoy sacrifice) 2 . . . 'tt>xf8 3.
3
2
.th6+ 'tt>g8 4. :!::\e 8#
In the following positions the decoy
As always, in the following two exam­
1 .td4 Wxd4 (the pinned queen can­
not escape its fate) 2. l2lb5+ and Whi­
ples the decoy sacrifice is followed by
te wins.
sacrifices result in a gain in material;
.
61
Decoy sacrifice
409
410
Decoy and fork
Please come this way
412
Mate in 2
414
41 3
Double decoy
415
a
417
416
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Mate in 5
418
Two pinned knights
420
419
Better development
This may take you a while
62
Decoy sacrifice
421
423
Prepare to reposition your rook
424
425
427
Deflection and decoy
426
Little big man
Sprightly knights
Gaining a tempo
This is special!
428
Black looks solid...
430
431
a
The most famous decoy sacrifice
432
b
c
d
e
g
Spectacular sacrifice
63
h
Get him where you want him
White to move
Solutions on page 132
The
march
a
pawn
makes
to
promote, either to become a queen or
In the endgame, tactics related to
promotion many times involve a
another piece, involves a wide variety
of positions of tactical interest. These
pawn being 'outside the square', thus
beyond the king's reach.
usually occur in the endgame, when
the fewer pieces on the board often
have difficulty stopping the progress
of an ambitious pawn; however,
promotion related tactics can also
occur much earlier in the game.
In the above position, for example,
the king is still in the square of the b4
pawn (i.e. the square whose corners
are b4, b8,f4 and f8) . However, White
can create an obstacle on the black
king's path: 1. d6! exd6 2. bS lt>eS 3.
In this position White can play a
b6 and no matter what Black plays 4.
combination so that his advanced
pawn can promote: 1 . WeB+ ®h7 2.
Wxe6! fxe6 3. f7 h3 (Black plays his
last card; indeed, if White now
b7 is unstoppable and White wins.
White's pawn sacrifice blocks the
f4-b8 diagonal and the black king was
unable to remain within the square of
the passed pawn as it marched
towards promotion.
continues with 4. f8='W??, there is
mate from h2); instead, 4.f8=ltJ+!
Wg7 5. ltJxg6 lt>xg6 and White wins.
Though promoting to a knight is
Even when there are still pieces in
play, the rule of the square may create
surprises, as with the following game,
rare, it occurs more than one would
imagine.
65
Promotion
in which former World Champion
wins with 2 . b7) 2 . a7! l::\xa7 (again
Mikhail Tal was characteristically quick
necessary to prevent 3. a8=W) 3.
to exploit a tactical opportunity.
l::\g7+ followed by 4. l::lxa7.
White had to deal with the threat of
The last example shows the themes
1 .. . h2 followed by 2. . . We4+ and then
of pawn promotion and deflection in
promotion on hl . He thus played 1 .
tandem.
Wf3?, thinking that after an exchange
of queens his king would still be
within the square of the h3 pawn.
However, Tal saw deeper than that
and played 1 . . .
Wxf3+! ; and after 2.
'kt>xf3 tt:le3! , White had no choice but
to resign, as the knight move makes
the prevention of 3. . . h2 and subsequent
promotion impossible.
Pawn promotion can involve many
different
tactical
motifs.
In
The promotion of Black's passed
the
pawn seems to have been successfuly
following position White uses the
prevented by White. Then came the
threat of promotion to win a rook by
rude shock of 1 . .. l::le 1 + ! 2.
means of a skewer.
l::lxe 1
Wd4+! (deflecting the queen from the
Things get started with a sacrifice:
b4-e1 diagonal) 3. Wxd4 dxe1 =W#
1 . b6! cxb6 (forced; otherwise White
66
Promotion
433
435
434
Keep it simple
Nothing automatic
437
436
A pin
439
438
What's the hurry?
440
Mate in 19!
442
Let me repeat that
441
A pointless promotion
Black wants it to be theoretical
443
Getting ahead
Counter-instinctive
444
Mate in 4
67
Plan B
Promotion
445
447
446
448
450
449
453
452
b
c
d
e
Mr Tal does i t again
Promotion time
Choose wisely
a
An easy win
Pawn broker
e8 or f8!
f
Unassisted
Black wasn't expecting this
456
455
g
Worth remembering
How t o prevent promotion?
h
White's queen i s threatened
68
Target a8
Promotion
457
458
459
Distant passed pawns
Mate in 4
460
Which is the problem piece?
461
Out of the square?
462
Pin and mate
463
Deflection
464
465
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
c
e
g
This is weird!
466
An active king
An endgame study
467
468
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
A famous theme
c
e
g
A round of applause if you get this!
69
The most famous study of them all
White to move
Solutions on page 133
1 . �xg7+! mxg7 2. 'WgS+ mh8 3.
Tactics are not only for winning
material or delivering checkmate.
'Wf6+ mg8 4. 'WgS+ and perpetual
Sometimes the purpose of the most
spectacular combinations is to salvage
check. If Black tries 1 .. . mh8, White
has 2. �xh7+! mxh7 3. 'Wh3+ mg6 4.
'Wg4+ mh7 3. 'WhS+ etc.
a draw in what at first sight appears
to be a lost position. A startling tactical
Stalemate and perpetual check are n't
the only means for securing the draw.
blow that secures a draw by perpetual
check or stalemate is just as rewarding
as a brilliant checkmate. Few things
There is also the liquidation sacrifices,
where the objective is to simplify to a
theoretically drawn endgame position.
are as satisfying as 'swindling' our
opponent out of what appeared to be
certain victory. Remember, the ability
to tenaciously defend is as important
It should be noted that tactics are as
important in the endgame as in the
opening and middlegame.
as the ability to attack!
The most frequent opportunities to
give perpetual check are based on
sacrifices that smash open the
protection of the castled king.
Notwithstanding that White has a
two pawn to zero advantage, Black
immediately draws by eliminating the
only dangerous pawn: 1 ... tt:Jxb3! 2.
j,xb3+ mh8. Black knows his endgame
theory; if the white bishop does not
control the queening square, it's a
White's position is critical: Black's
threat is the devastating 1. . . 'Wa2+.
However, salvation is at hand with:
draw.
71
Drawing tactics
471
470
469
474
473
472
Now let m e think ...
Also here
A decoy draws
a
Another type o f mate
475
Into the heart o f darkness
d
e
I
477
476
478
c
Back and forth
Never surrender
480
479
All is not lost
72
g
Minor piece stalemate
Who would have thought?
Composed draw
b
Drawing geometry
Drawing tactics
483
482
481
486
485
484
Pay any price
And after I promote ...?
Royal encounter
Little choice
Draw study
The queen or perpetual?
492
491
490
Black was hoping for more
489
488
487
Stay calm
Just where I want you
Only one piece can move
Do what you must!
73
How to stop mate?
In the following exercises a variety of motifs are employed.
White moves and wins, often using a combination of d ifferent
tactical elements. Over the board, individual tactical motifs are
often hidden in the complexity of the position, and a player must
train his eye to recognise how a combination of tactical themes
can be put tog ether to achieve his objective, be it mate or
winning material.
Solutions on page 133
494
White has options
496
495
497
Double deflection
Forced mate
Surprisingly simple
498
The defender must go
75
How to defend 2 hanging pieces?
M ixed motifs: White
499
To c7or c3?
502
·
500
50 1
Two David's take on a Goliath
Black dominates, but White draws
503
504
Many motifs
The famous Legal's mate
505
507
506
Knightmare
508
Putting Black in a fix
A frequent tactical trick
510
509
A cunning combo
Give me your knight or your queen
It's either the king or the queen
76
Good knight
Mixed motifs: White
513
512
511
8
7
6
"---;0//h// .. .....J
5
�.//m"•"'C'.l
3
2
Time to prepare
Once more with feeling
Unwelcome interference
516
515
514
4
Anastasia's mate
Two checks
Two rooks for the price of one
A 2 pawn plus is enough to win
Removing the defender
518
517
a
The way ahead
520
Again and again and again and...
b
c
d
e
522
521
The old one-two
Deflection
g
h
M ixed motifs: White
525
524
Decoy, check, mate
Precarious defence
526
528
527
Back rank weakness
Wham... bam ... mate
Black's passivity is punished
531
529
a
One of them will make it
b
c
d
e
g
h
Seizing the rank
b-file blues
Knight fork
This is clever
78
Opening a file
M ixed motifs: White
549
548
547
Arabian mate in arrival
Deflection
Take away a n escape square
552
551
550
553
Winning back the exchange
Quick mate
It's worth the sacrifice
555
5 54
Operation b7
Winning attack
Double attack
5 58
556
g
Overloaded
A spectacular mate
80
h
Elegant execution
M ixed motifs: White
560
First a double attack
Removing the defender
562
561
563
A classic mate
565
564
Black did not expect this
566
Knight flight
568
The end is near
567
Mate in 3
Opening lines
569
Deadly simple
Strangely effective
570
Deflection
81
This is where I want you
Mixed motifs: White
571
573
572
d
3 motifs
e
g
h
Black loses material
Knight targets
574
576
Rank interference
The queen and knight strike
579
577
A difficult study
580
The mechanics of smothered mate
Pawns victorious
582
581
A study by Troitzky
82
Worth repeating
Mixed motifs: White
583
584
585
8
7
6
'�',,7;0j'"""n7md
-F'''''onmF�',,nd
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
5
4
3
2
h
A mate in 6 from the 16th century
Concluding the attack
The king or the queen
A minor promotion
Black's pieces are overloaded
587
Perpetual check saves the day
59 1
590
589
d
e
g
h
Sacrifice, promotion and mate
When there is no knight on f6 __ ,
592
593
Finishes with a fork
Del Rio 1750!
594
Surrounded by friend and foe
83
Crafty bishop
Mixed motifs: White
597
596
595
Closing a line
598
Pointless pin
599
Evident
601
600
Swift mate
602
Mate i n 2
604
Just a few moves to mate
603
Cutting off the king
Zugzwang
606
605
A fork in hiding
Pin i t t o win it
Morphy mate
84
No defence
Mixed motifs: White
607
608
The long diagonal
610
609
A crucial defender goes
White sees something simple
611
612
Material gain
Closing a diagonal
A basic bank rank mate
613
615
a
One square less for the king
616
The problem i s eliminated
b
c
d
e
I
g
h
Get rid of the defender
617
Out of the blue
618
Mate is on the way
85
Double o n the diagonal
M ixed motifs: White
621
620
619
c
d
e
1
g
h
Fantastic fork
Discovery
Double threat
Looks drawish?
White has two things in mind
623
622
One very effective move
627
626
625
A little nudge
Almost Arabian
First look left, then look right
630
629
628
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
c
A lot of interference
Deflection perfection
86
d
e
I
One more time
g
h
Mixed motifs: White
631
632
633
635
636
·".� . ·. 8
/..
7
Arabian mate
634
Pay5, get9
637
Linear
638
Surprising stalemate
640
639
641
Surely White has lost
A very odd move
Pins can be lethal
642
A nasty pawn
87
Vacating a square
Mixed motifs: White
644
643
Identity crisis: pin or deflection?
646
645
One less escape square
647
Winning the exchange
649
648
Another trapped queen
A Boden's mate i n the making
Queen hunt
Keep it simple
651
650
652
Essential endgame knowledge
Simple but crushing
This is original
654
653
Diagonal and rank
88
Closing a file
Mixed motifs: White
655
656
The rook i s a bystander
658
657
Perpetual motion
659
f7 is weak
661
Where to attack?
660
Vulnerable back rank
Another loose piece drops off
Closing a file
Smothered mate refresher
662
The back rank beckons
664
665
Keep your eye on g6
666
Crashing through
89
Opening a diagonal
Mixed motifs: White
667
669
668
Removing an obstacle
670
Double attack
Losing material for a moment
672
671
a
Mating net
673
b
c
d
e
g
h
Unobstructed diagonal
674
675
Opportunities o n a rank
Just a little bit nearer
The right promotion
Beautifully simple
Bishop standoff
Exploiting the long diagonal
676
90
Mixed motifs: White
680
679
One step ahead
684
683
682
Keeping the extra piece
Removing an escape square
b
a
Fatal weakness on the back rank
Black's pieces lack coordination
685
686
d
e
g
Nothing could be simpler
687
LPDO
Removing the defender
689
What was that about loose pieces?
c
690
Discovery
91
h
As with the previous chapter, a variety of motifs are presented often with several tactical themes in the one position. However, in
these exercises it is Black to move and White to suffer.
Solutions on page 137
691
693
a
First a warm up!
694
b
c
d
e
f
h
Now that your motor is running
695
In one
g
Elementary, m y dear Watson
696
Equally quick
93
Tightening the noose
Mixed motifs: Black
697
698
c
d
e
g
h
A cornered king
700
699
Worth remembering
701
Black wants to repeat
Behind in development
702
Black's king i s i n a tight spot
704
Material gain
705
g
Elegant in its simplicity
706
Quite a lineup
707
Making way
No price is too high for victory
708
Two moves to go
94
h
N o comment
Mixed motifs: Black
709
710
711
713
714
A painful pin
712
g
From g2 or h1!
715
717
716
Mate in 2
An elementary tactic
White's attack backfires
720
719
Paralysing pin
Mate on the back rank
Easy deflection
Cutting off the king
95
Deadly two-step
h
Mixed motifs: Black
721
722
4 moves and it's mate
724
723
726
725
Something's got t o give
727
A round of applause
729
Third rank
Forcing mate
732
731
Bishop bonanza
Pretty as a picture
Weak diagonal
728
730
Also in2
Here mate in 2
What double attack?
96
What back rank mate?
Mixed motifs: Black
733
734
Black picks u p a piece!
735
Weak o n the light squares
A round o f applause for this one!
737
736
738
b
A pretty mate i n 4
739
c
d
e
I
g
h
A welcome skewer
Tactical retreat
740
741
We've seen this before
742
Stylish perpetual
A-bomb
743
B ••• !I a
. i"ilf "•'•·
• • -�!1 6
7
. �
�.��D'ii'
J��-�!1
:
B B
%
a
Made in Italy
�.�0��
./
� f"j'/� B :
�
.
b
c
d
e
t
g
Double check dynamite
97
h
3
2
1
I would like to repeat that
Mixed motifs: Black
745
746
747
3
g
One two three
748
e3is the key
749
A surprise for White
750
a
The 2 pawns are not enough
751
752
c
d
e
g
h
g
h
A knight for mate!
753
a
754
b
Clearing a file to draw
Sacrifice and double check
h
Back rank problems
b
c
d
e
f
A cornered king gets mated
756
755
Fighting t o the last man
98
Death o n the dark squares
Mixed motifs: Black
757
a
759
7 58
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
a
760
A surprise win for Black!
Deadly two-step
e
f
g
Pinned pieces
a
Also here
b
c
d
e
f
Checkmate in 2
A spanner in the works
768
767
It's all over for White
d
765
764
766
c
762
761
763
b
Cross-pins are nasty
The original Boden's mate
Blockade the f-pawn
99
Think back rank
g
h
M ixed motifs: Black
771
770
769
772
774
773
Fork then mate
Closing i n o n the king
775
Almost equal ?
Royal dilemma
Rank and file
Another important discovery
Black manages to save himself
777
776
778
Fast mate
Overload
Imminent mate
780
779
A brutal threat
100
Keep it simple
Mixed motifs: Black
783
782
781
Most effective
784
Precise play is needed
785
A king that should have castled
787
786
Black wins a piece
788
2 moves t o mate
790
Logical and linear
789
Winning attack
Unstoppable
791
Unpinning the rook
Deflection and discovery
792
Opening lines
1 01
Balletic
Mixed motifs: Black
793
794
A cannon blast
795
A discovery does it
How to save the bishop?
The f2 square ...
Mate in 3
797
796
Fireworks
801
799
I could d o this forever
802
Sacrifice and mate
804
803
Greed is good
Checkmate in 3
102
Knight shift
Mixed motifs : Black
806
805
g
h
Reflect and deflect
808
810
809
812
A pawn mates
814
813
This i s a classic
Double check devastation
816
815
3 more moves to go
Pretty mate in 3
Overload
Decoy and discovery
81 1
Pleasing to the eye
Kingside collapse
World Championship tactics
103
Magical rearrangement
Mixed motifs: Biack
817
819
818
Mate follows deflection
820
Better to win than to draw!
822
821
A brutal move
823
Does two things at once
It's actually quite simple
The f 3square...
A king without a future
828
827
826
A type of epaulette mate
825
824
Deflection
White threatens both the 1'1 and mate
Brutally effective
1 04
Intermediate check!
Mixed motifs: Black
829
830
Boxed-in king
832
Graceful mate
Attack and defence
83 3
Postponing check
835
834
Back rank and pin
Another look at a classic
836
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
In cold blood
Linear mate
c
d
e
f
840
Out of the chaos
105
g
Pin and counter-pin
Light squares...
839
838
b
b2 is pivotal
Mixed motifs: Black
843
842
84 1
b
a
c
d
e
f
g
h
A surprise mate
The knights mate
846
845
844
The correct check
This is worth a re-run
Turning the tables
849
848
847
b
a
Brilliant bishops
850
c
d
e
f
g
h
Vacating a square draws
852
85 1
a
Perpetual check saves the day
A double sacrifice draws
106
b
c
d
e
f
g
White's king is too active
h
Mixed motifs: Black
855
8 54
853
Sublimely simple
856
857
858
860
861
Killer cross-pin
Out of the square
Majestic march
864
863
Mixed motifs mate
The king has advanced too far
It's easy when you know how
107
White to move and mate in three. The exercises progress from
the comparatively easy to the delightfully difficult. Tactical puzzles
to test your strength !
Solutions on page 140
867
866
865
868
A solid move...
Linear logic
Smooth a s silk
870
869
Like clockwork
A pin on g7
873
871
872
A problem from the 18th century!
The pawn delivers checkmate
109
Another pawn triumphs
Mate in 3
874
b
a
876
875
c
d
e
g
h
Boden's looms
Discovery
877
879
878
The Immortal Game
880
Another 18th century problem
883
The tricky Novotny theme
882
881
9th century Arabian study
Also b y Stamma
A tight squeeze
Plagiarism?
885
884
Opening a file
110
Spectacular
Mate in 3
886
887
888
a
The pawn condemns Black
889
A reckless king
892
893
895
e
A problem b y Lolli
894
A common motif
Decoy
896
A surprising victory
d
Opening a line
A study from the 30's
Sitting duck
c
891
890
Remember how it's done?
b
897
Fast approaching queen
111
Epaulette mate
g
h
Mate in 3
898
899
I
Just a little calculation
901
Step 1 : opening a line of attack
902
The black knight i s badly placed
904
31ong moves
King hunt
908
Opening a rank
Sacrifice, check and mate
906
905
907
Decoy sacrifice
903
A brilliant move
Back rank attack
g
909
Check, check, checkmate
112
The bishop delivers
h
Mate in 3
9 10
912
911
Forced mate
Mate in the endgame
913
9 14
The problem is the rook on hB
916
915
Decoy sacrifice and mate
917
Keep your eye on e7
9 19
Check, sacrifice and mate
At close quarters
The extra piece means nothing
918
f7 is the critical square
Removing the guard
920
921
The h-file
113
Now the g-file
Mate in 3
922
924
923
A difficult problem
2 checks then mate
927
925
a
Weak light square complex
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Sacrifice, double check and mate
The queen checkmates
9 28
Stuck in the middle
930
Daring knights
931
Sacrifice and waiting move
Smothered mate
Cornered
933
932
Rank and file
114
Back rank mate
Mate in 3
934
935
936
938
939
Two raking bishops
937
a
Imprisoned king
b
c
d
e
g
Vacating a square
Opening a diagonal
Nifty
Check, check, mate
h
941
940
Here two lines are opened
945
944
943
h-file
Knight attack
115
Discoveries are dangerous
White to move and mate in four moves . Here too the exercises
become progressively more difficult ;
if you finish these, you
d eserve a diploma !
Solutions on page 142
946
947
948
Another Arabian
949
Just enough to win
Looks familiar?
950
Forced
952
951
953
a
Smooth sequence
Opening a diagonal
Material equality but not a draw
9 54
b
c
d
e
l
g
Opening a diagonal
117
h
Poorly protected king
Mate in 4
955
A flimsy wall
Queen for a king
959
958
a
9 57
956
b
c
d
e
f
g
960
h
A king i n peril
Forced mate
962
961
The first move is the hardest
963
A few pieces mate
964
Nothing too difficult
965
Mate in the middle
966
Discovered check is the key
118
Straightforward
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Solutions on page 142
We conclude with a variety of
positions that range from tragicomic
To whet your appetite here is a
celebrated problem created by Sam
resignation with a won position to
Loyd in 1 8 59.
tactics so exquisite they approach
art. Not all our readers will be able to
solve these, but this does not prevent
us from delighting in the whimsical
beauty of tactical opportunities both
missed or brilliantly found.
The fact that so many of these
positions are from actual games proves
that fact is stranger than fiction.
However, as elsewhere in the book,
some of the following positions are the
fruit of a composer's imagination.
Such positions are called 'studies' or
'problems', and though composed,
they can be of great value in
White to move and mate in two.
The solution is 1. WaS! ! ; each reply
by Black results in a different way to
checkmate: if 1 . . . �cs 2. Wal #, if 1 . . .
developing our tactical skills. The first
�e7 2 . VfieS#, if 1 . . . Ei:d7 2. lbfS# , if 1 . . .
Ei:e7 2. Wxb4# and so on. You may
type involves realistic looking positions
where the challenge is to find a move
enjoy finding the remaining ways to
deliver mate!
sequence that
winning
leads to victory, a
material advantage
or
a
We
will
finish
with
a
word
of
theoretical draw.
warning: being a good tactician does
In the second type the objective is to
find mate in a certain number of
moves; in these problems it is of no
importance if White has such a
not mean that we have to make
startling sacrifices and tactical
skirmishes at all costs. Tactics are not
decisive advantage that he could win
an end in themselves, but rather a
tool that must bring concrete
with inaccurate play; the solver must
advantages or make it possible to
indicate the only solution that leads to
checkmate in two, three or more
moves.
execute our plans. The use of tactics
requires not only creativity and
prudent
but
also
courage,
1 21
Curiosities
Chess can be cruel
Mate i n 2
982
987
986
c
d
e
g
h
Black to move and win
988
Enterprising king
That's it! But how?
990
989
Odd fork
g8: off limits!
Seems a study!
985
b
Master or beginner? Black to move
984
983
No quick mate here !
a
981
980
979
Knight fight
122
Black's move became legend
Curiosities
993
992
991
b
White accepted a draw offer
c
d
e
g
h
Who would have thought?
996
994
This i s nice
Another premature resignation
Here Black resigned!
999
997
a
Also here White threw i n the towel
White quit instead of winning
b
c
d
e
g
h
White regretted resigning
1001
1000
b
A clever king !
c
d
the end!
e
Megafork
1 23
g
h