Here follow articles and problems I have submitted to various publications.
I took most of the problems from Lou Hays excellent book "Winning Chess Tactics for Juniors" which I highly recommend for beginners once they have the basic art of checkmate mastered.
For Puzzles of the day, the number in ()s is the problem number from this book.
For Puzzles of the day, the number in ()s is the problem number from this book.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Article 1: Puzzle of the day (272)
Black to play and mate in 2 moves.
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1... Rh1+ 2.Kxh1, Qh7#
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1... Rh1+ 2.Kxh1, Qh7#
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Article 2: What's an En Passant
En Passant is a rare and tricky chess rule you will only see in about 1 in 20 games. It helps a lot to know the history of why that move came into being. Before this move was invented, pawns could only advance one square per turn. Around the 1500s, a speed-up rule was added to allow pawns to move 2 squares in a single turn when leaving their home square. This created the following interesting situation:
Using the old rule white can only move to the 1 square (g3) but with the speed-up move white could also move to the 2 square (g4). If he did so, under the old rules the black pawn would not be able to capture it. This would allow the white pawn to 'slip' past the black pawn. To prevent that, En Passant was invented. If white move to the 2 square, black can, immediately afterwards only, take the white pawn 'as if' it moved to square 1 (g3).
So look for the En Passant move whenever you see a pawn move two squares - it might be handy to take that pawn.
So look for the En Passant move whenever you see a pawn move two squares - it might be handy to take that pawn.
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Article 3: Calculation Trick
The middlegame can get complicated. Here's a trick to help you calculate complex exchanges more easily.
Can black safely move to d5?
Here's the trick:
1) Count how many attackers white has on d5. (Ans: 2, the pawn on e4 and the bishop on c4)
2) Count how many defenders black will have after he makes his move to d5. (Ans: 2, the knight on f6 and the queen on d8)
3) If there are as many (or more) defenders as there are attackers then the move is usually safe.
The exception happens when the piece being taken or the defending pieces are worth more than the attacking pieces. Remember Pawns=1, Rooks=5, Knights=Bishops=3 and the Queen is worth 9 points. Always assume both sides will take with the least valued piece first.
Don't forget to count x-ray attacks. For Example, say the Knight on f3 was actually a bishop. That bishop could take on d5 after the pawn on e4 has captured on d5 so you would count that piece as well.
Here's the trick:
1) Count how many attackers white has on d5. (Ans: 2, the pawn on e4 and the bishop on c4)
2) Count how many defenders black will have after he makes his move to d5. (Ans: 2, the knight on f6 and the queen on d8)
3) If there are as many (or more) defenders as there are attackers then the move is usually safe.
The exception happens when the piece being taken or the defending pieces are worth more than the attacking pieces. Remember Pawns=1, Rooks=5, Knights=Bishops=3 and the Queen is worth 9 points. Always assume both sides will take with the least valued piece first.
Don't forget to count x-ray attacks. For Example, say the Knight on f3 was actually a bishop. That bishop could take on d5 after the pawn on e4 has captured on d5 so you would count that piece as well.
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Article 4: Puzzle of the Day (534)
Black to move and win a piece in 3 moves.
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1...Qxd1+ 2.Qxd1 Bg4 3.Qxd8+
If the queen moves then [3.Qc1 Rd1+]
3...Nxd8
white wins a piece
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1...Qxd1+ 2.Qxd1 Bg4 3.Qxd8+
If the queen moves then [3.Qc1 Rd1+]
3...Nxd8
white wins a piece
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Article 5: How to play Siamese
Siamese, also known as bughouse, is a chess variant that is played with 2 chess sets and two chess clocks. I am running a Siamese chess tournament on May 28th at the Kooskia High School Library at 1:00 PM called a “chess dance”. I am encouraging couples to come play this exciting and fun game. For the meager $5 entry fee per team there will be prizes and lots of great social interaction.
A game of Siamese only lasts 10 minutes because we set the clocks for speed-chess times, that is, 5 minutes / player for the game. This will be a round-robin tournament so there will be lots of games to play but the rounds will go quickly. The whole thing should be over in less than 2 hours.
To set up Siamese, place the sets next to each other with the white and black pieces cross-wise. One team sits on one side of the sets with one player having white while the other has black. Across from them the opposite team faces them using the opposite set colors.
Play proceeds like normal speed-chess where the two black players start the clocks at the same time to begin the game and the white players then start with their first move.
When a player captures a piece he gives it to his partner. This works because we set things up so the partner is playing with the opposite color pieces. Thus each player begins to gather up pieces from their partner of the same color as they are playing.
Instead of a normal chess move, in Siamese, you can instead place a piece you got from you partner onto any empty square. This feature makes Siamese pretty exciting and a bit whacky. It inspires much imagination and resourcefulness!
There are just a few caveats about placing a piece: 1) You cannot place a pawn onto the 1st or 8th ranks. Pawns never go there in a normal game so you can’t put them there in Siamese. 2) You cannot checkmate your opponent with a placed piece. This simply prevents some very cruel scenarios from happening.
Note that caveat 2 is what I will be using for the Chess Dance. Other people omit this restriction or have a more restrictive rule that you cannot put your opponent in check with a placed piece.
When a pawn is promoted, it is tipped sideways and understood to be a Queen (or whatever you promoted it to). We don’t use extra queens in this game because once it is taken it needs to turn back into a pawn so that the game doesn’t “inflate” into a ton of Queens.
When any player wins, either by checkmate or by time, the game is over and the team with the winning player wins the round.
If you want to come to the Dance, I encourage opposite sex couples but it’s not a requirement. Also all ages are allowed so don’t be shy.
If you have a chess clock, I would practice with it so you will be used to it at the tournament. Bring your clocks if you have them.
I play chess with kids at the public schools so if you want to come and join me to practice some Siamese feel free to call or email me.
A game of Siamese only lasts 10 minutes because we set the clocks for speed-chess times, that is, 5 minutes / player for the game. This will be a round-robin tournament so there will be lots of games to play but the rounds will go quickly. The whole thing should be over in less than 2 hours.
To set up Siamese, place the sets next to each other with the white and black pieces cross-wise. One team sits on one side of the sets with one player having white while the other has black. Across from them the opposite team faces them using the opposite set colors.
Play proceeds like normal speed-chess where the two black players start the clocks at the same time to begin the game and the white players then start with their first move.
When a player captures a piece he gives it to his partner. This works because we set things up so the partner is playing with the opposite color pieces. Thus each player begins to gather up pieces from their partner of the same color as they are playing.
Instead of a normal chess move, in Siamese, you can instead place a piece you got from you partner onto any empty square. This feature makes Siamese pretty exciting and a bit whacky. It inspires much imagination and resourcefulness!
There are just a few caveats about placing a piece: 1) You cannot place a pawn onto the 1st or 8th ranks. Pawns never go there in a normal game so you can’t put them there in Siamese. 2) You cannot checkmate your opponent with a placed piece. This simply prevents some very cruel scenarios from happening.
Note that caveat 2 is what I will be using for the Chess Dance. Other people omit this restriction or have a more restrictive rule that you cannot put your opponent in check with a placed piece.
When a pawn is promoted, it is tipped sideways and understood to be a Queen (or whatever you promoted it to). We don’t use extra queens in this game because once it is taken it needs to turn back into a pawn so that the game doesn’t “inflate” into a ton of Queens.
When any player wins, either by checkmate or by time, the game is over and the team with the winning player wins the round.
If you want to come to the Dance, I encourage opposite sex couples but it’s not a requirement. Also all ages are allowed so don’t be shy.
If you have a chess clock, I would practice with it so you will be used to it at the tournament. Bring your clocks if you have them.
I play chess with kids at the public schools so if you want to come and join me to practice some Siamese feel free to call or email me.
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Article 6: Puzzle of the day (453)
White’s in trouble but he can checkmate in two moves. What should he do?
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1.Re3 Bxe3 2.Qxg7#
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1.Re3 Bxe3 2.Qxg7#
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Article 7: How to instantly improve your chess
Chess is a thinking game. Unfortunately, this means you have to THINK!
So the best way to improve your game quickly is to learn how to think better.
Here are some tips that if you do them, your game will instantly do much better. When I take the time to do these steps my rating strength typically increases by 200-300 points.
So the best way to improve your game quickly is to learn how to think better.
Here are some tips that if you do them, your game will instantly do much better. When I take the time to do these steps my rating strength typically increases by 200-300 points.
- Pick 3 good moves to choose from before moving. By looking for 3 good moves you slow yourself down and catch a lot of things you might have missed. Also the effort you spend in deciding which of the 3 moves is best greatly enhances your play.
- Think on your opponent’s time. I do this all the time and by the time they move, I can move pretty quickly which tends to rush my opponent into playing hastily. A clock need not be on the game for this to help you a lot. By fully analyzing the position while your opponent thinks you are ready to just calculate the differences caused by his/her move.
- When your opponent moves, pay close attention to where they moved to and where they moved from. A lot of times, where a piece moved from will open up a discovered attack or remove a defender of another piece. Checking both of these in particular will help you catch mistakes and threats.
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Article 8: The rules of Castling
Chess has some weird moves. I recently wrote on the whacky En Passant move (Article 2) which is the only time in chess that a piece is captured but the capturing piece does not end up on the same square as the piece that was taken.
This move is the only move in chess where two pieces move at the same time!
Castling is a short-cut move that was probably added to the game about the same time as the two-square-pawn move and En Passant were. It gets the king into safety while at the same time bringing the rook into play.
Here are the rules concerning castling:
This move is the only move in chess where two pieces move at the same time!
Castling is a short-cut move that was probably added to the game about the same time as the two-square-pawn move and En Passant were. It gets the king into safety while at the same time bringing the rook into play.
Here are the rules concerning castling:
- There are no pieces between the King and the Rook.
- Neither the King or the Rook has ever moved.
- The King is not in check.
- The King is not crossing a checked square.
- The King is not going into check.
- Moving the King two squares towards the rook.
- Moving the rook next to the king on the other side of the king.
That’s all there is to it. You can castle on either the Queen or the King side. As long as you follow this procedure you will make the move right.
Never touch the rook first! That’s because if you are playing in a touch-move tournament, if you touch the rook first it means you are intending to move the rook, not castle. You have to touch the King first, and by moving him two squares instead of one, you are indicating that you intend to castle your king.
Note that chess is a one-handed game. Don't try to use two hands! Again, if you are playing touch-move (and you should always practice as if you are) if you touch two pieces at the same time your opponent chooses which one you touched first!
Never touch the rook first! That’s because if you are playing in a touch-move tournament, if you touch the rook first it means you are intending to move the rook, not castle. You have to touch the King first, and by moving him two squares instead of one, you are indicating that you intend to castle your king.
Note that chess is a one-handed game. Don't try to use two hands! Again, if you are playing touch-move (and you should always practice as if you are) if you touch two pieces at the same time your opponent chooses which one you touched first!
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Article 9: Puzzle of the Day (276)
White to play and win.
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1.Qxh6+ Kxh6 2.hxg6+ Kg7 3.Rh7+ Kg8 4.gxf7+ Rxf7 5.Rc8+ Rf8 6.Rxf8+ Kxf8 7.Rxa7 And white is up a full rook minus a pawn. *
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1.Qxh6+ Kxh6 2.hxg6+ Kg7 3.Rh7+ Kg8 4.gxf7+ Rxf7 5.Rc8+ Rf8 6.Rxf8+ Kxf8 7.Rxa7 And white is up a full rook minus a pawn. *
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Article 10: Puzzle of the Day (141)
The problem here is how does white save that knight? White to move and win.
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1.Qa8 Qxc6 2.Qxb8+ Ke7 3.Bxc4
and white is much better off.
3...cxd4 4.Qa7+ Ke8 5.Qxd4 *
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1.Qa8 Qxc6 2.Qxb8+ Ke7 3.Bxc4
and white is much better off.
3...cxd4 4.Qa7+ Ke8 5.Qxd4 *
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Article 11: Puzzle of the Day (137)
Black to move and win.
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1...h4 2.Nf1
[2.Nh1 h3]
2...h3
Evil! The pawn marches to a big win because of the power of a pin!
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1...h4 2.Nf1
[2.Nh1 h3]
2...h3
Evil! The pawn marches to a big win because of the power of a pin!
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Article 12: Improving the depth of your game
When I play a game with someone stronger than me I often find my head starting to hurt as I try to accurately visualize a position several moves beyond where I am. So how does one improve this visualization skill?
First, just play games and think ahead. Don’t touch or move pieces till you know for sure what you will move. Let your head do the thinking not your hands!
Second, practice remembering a position. You can do this with two sets or with a computer chess program like ChessPad. Set up a complex position on the board. Look at it closely, think about it deeply and then hide that board from view and try to recreate the same position on another board. Then check yourself.
Improving your ability to visualize accurately in your head has a lot to do with remembering positions accurately.
Third, and this one is really hard, try playing your friends blindfolded! To do this you and your friend need to understand chess notation. You simply turn away from the board and let your friend tell you their moves and you tell them yours. He keeps track on the board and you try to keep track in your head. Peek if you need to. This will really improve your game!
First, just play games and think ahead. Don’t touch or move pieces till you know for sure what you will move. Let your head do the thinking not your hands!
Second, practice remembering a position. You can do this with two sets or with a computer chess program like ChessPad. Set up a complex position on the board. Look at it closely, think about it deeply and then hide that board from view and try to recreate the same position on another board. Then check yourself.
Improving your ability to visualize accurately in your head has a lot to do with remembering positions accurately.
Third, and this one is really hard, try playing your friends blindfolded! To do this you and your friend need to understand chess notation. You simply turn away from the board and let your friend tell you their moves and you tell them yours. He keeps track on the board and you try to keep track in your head. Peek if you need to. This will really improve your game!
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Article 13: Make a mate puzzle
Here’s an example of a make-a-mate with the black king on d5 and white using a King, 2 Bishops, a Knight and a pawn. My notation for this problem is: “W:KBBNP B:Kd5”
See if you can come up with a good make-a-mate for “W:KNNBP B:Kd5”. In other words, try to place the white pieces in a way that puts the black king into checkmate.
1 possible Answer:
See if you can come up with a good make-a-mate for “W:KNNBP B:Kd5”. In other words, try to place the white pieces in a way that puts the black king into checkmate.
1 possible Answer:
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Article 14: Puzzle of the Day (78)
White to play and win.
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1.Qxh7+ Kxh7 2.Rh3+ Kg8 3.Rh8#
Mouse over to see the answer below:
1.Qxh7+ Kxh7 2.Rh3+ Kg8 3.Rh8#
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Article 15: Recording a chess game
You notice those numbers and letters on the board? They show you the coordinate system we now use to record chess games. This notation is known as “algebraic notation”. The 1 rank is always where white starts. Notice that the files are named with lowercase letters.
Pieces are represented by a single uppercase letter:
For captures we use an “x” so we might note the capture of a pawn on d5 by a pawn on e4 to be: “Pe4xPd5”.
You will find that most recorded games shorten the notation by
There are also special characters to note certain things:
This way I can glance at my score and see what pieces have been taken quickly. This helps me spot any errors as I play quicker.
Note that when you record a game you need two columns. White is on the left and black is on the right and each line should be numbered.
Here's a picture of the game recording sheets I use at tournaments:
Pieces are represented by a single uppercase letter:
- K=King,
- Q=Queen,
- B=Bishop,
- N=Knight,
- R=Rook
- P=Pawn.
For captures we use an “x” so we might note the capture of a pawn on d5 by a pawn on e4 to be: “Pe4xPd5”.
You will find that most recorded games shorten the notation by
- Removing the P for pawns, if there is no name, it’s a pawn.
- Remove the source square if only one piece can go to the target square.
There are also special characters to note certain things:
- + means “check”,
- # means “checkmate”,
- “=Q” means a pawn was promoted to a Queen,
- Sometimes you might see a $ to mean stalemate.
- 0-0 means castle King side while
- 0-0-0 means castle queen side.
- 1-0 means “white won”,
- 0-1 means “black one”
- ½-½ means the game was a draw.
This way I can glance at my score and see what pieces have been taken quickly. This helps me spot any errors as I play quicker.
Note that when you record a game you need two columns. White is on the left and black is on the right and each line should be numbered.
Here's a picture of the game recording sheets I use at tournaments:
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Article 16: Puzzle of the Day (221)
White to move and win.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.d5!
Double attack on the Knight and the Bishop and opens up the Queen to bear down on the King, pinning the pawn knight leaving the rook less protected.
1...Bxd5
Practically forced. Any other move looses a piece immediately. This removes the biship from defending f5.
2.Nxf5
And another fork! The rook will soon go.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.d5!
Double attack on the Knight and the Bishop and opens up the Queen to bear down on the King, pinning the pawn knight leaving the rook less protected.
1...Bxd5
Practically forced. Any other move looses a piece immediately. This removes the biship from defending f5.
2.Nxf5
And another fork! The rook will soon go.
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Article 17: A classic mistake
A classic mistake – early rook development
There is something I see over and over again and it never ceases to amaze me. A classic mistake new chess-players make is to try to get the rook out early in the game. Here’s a common example:
There is something I see over and over again and it never ceases to amaze me. A classic mistake new chess-players make is to try to get the rook out early in the game. Here’s a common example:
Black is trying to quickly get his King rook into play by playing 1… h5. There are many reasons why this just never works.
First of all, the pawn is a liability because it isn’t protected by anything but the rook right now and the queen is attacking where it stands.
Second, the pawn on h5 does not help black control the center.
Third, black’s move doesn’t open up any other pieces besides the rook.
So here is what I typically reply to this kind of move: 2.d4
First of all, the pawn is a liability because it isn’t protected by anything but the rook right now and the queen is attacking where it stands.
Second, the pawn on h5 does not help black control the center.
Third, black’s move doesn’t open up any other pieces besides the rook.
So here is what I typically reply to this kind of move: 2.d4
The white bishop is now blocking the rook from coming out to h6. If black is stubborn he will typically move his pawn up another square to h4, but h5 is already under attack by the Queen so the rook still cannot get out, yet white has opened up both his bishops and his queen and has full occupation of the center. With one move black is already way behind in development and can’t even reach his initial goal of getting the rook active.
But let’s think about this for a minute. What if white just did normal development and black actually achieved his goal of getting the rook out- here’s a possible situation:
But let’s think about this for a minute. What if white just did normal development and black actually achieved his goal of getting the rook out- here’s a possible situation:
White can now play d4 and attack the rook at the same time with his bishop. The rook must move again – which is a violation of the basic opening rule that you don’t move the same piece twice.
Also note the value of the pieces: P=1, N=B=3, R=5. The rook is the most valuable piece in play. It is also the most powerful but if white simply protects his pieces, the rook can’t really do any damage because it is worth more than all its possible targets.
So now, even if we get the rook out it still is nothing but a target and can’t really do any damage to white. Also note that the Rook requires a pretty open board to reach deep into enemy territory. In the beginning of the game, the rook is always blocked by tons of pawns and knights and bishops. It can’t really get anywhere. Rooks are meant to support the position from behind and not really come out till near the end of the game.
So my rule to new players is this:
Also note the value of the pieces: P=1, N=B=3, R=5. The rook is the most valuable piece in play. It is also the most powerful but if white simply protects his pieces, the rook can’t really do any damage because it is worth more than all its possible targets.
So now, even if we get the rook out it still is nothing but a target and can’t really do any damage to white. Also note that the Rook requires a pretty open board to reach deep into enemy territory. In the beginning of the game, the rook is always blocked by tons of pawns and knights and bishops. It can’t really get anywhere. Rooks are meant to support the position from behind and not really come out till near the end of the game.
So my rule to new players is this:
Never bring your rook out early in the game. You will just waste your time.
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Article 18: Puzzle of the Day (148)
White to play and win.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
3.Qg7+
Looks like a sack but its a fork!
3...Qxg7
forced.
4.fxg7+ Kg8
forced.
5.Ne7+
Mouse over below to see the answer:
3.Qg7+
Looks like a sack but its a fork!
3...Qxg7
forced.
4.fxg7+ Kg8
forced.
5.Ne7+
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Article 19: The Knight – a very special piece
I wanted to spend some time with each of the pieces in chess. The Knight is one of the harder pieces to learn how to move because it does not move in a straight line. I like to think of it as the difference between a rook and a bishop.
The blue line shows how a rook would move while the green line shows how the bishop would move and the red line shows how the knight would move.
Because the Knight does not move in a straight line there is something very cool that we get – it cannot be blocked! The Knight is the only piece that jumps over other pieces. This makes it very effective in the opening when the board is full of pieces that block the long-range pieces but have no effect on Knights.
Knights and Bishops are both worth 3 points but in the beginning of the game, Knights are worth a little more than Bishops while as the game progresses, Bishops become more valuable than Knights.
In fact, I know a chess-player in Kamiah that loves to trade off his bishops for his opponent’s knights so that his knights can work some magic in the opening. I don’t recommend this however. I don’t know of any masters that do that and by the time you trade off your bishops for your opponent’s knights, many times the bishops are already starting to become more powerful than the knights.
Knights lack the long range of Bishops but a well placed knight or two can devastate an opponent.
Knights are also fork-masters – they love to attack multiple pieces at the same time. Here’s a classic chess problem showing a potential fork by white on black.
Because the Knight does not move in a straight line there is something very cool that we get – it cannot be blocked! The Knight is the only piece that jumps over other pieces. This makes it very effective in the opening when the board is full of pieces that block the long-range pieces but have no effect on Knights.
Knights and Bishops are both worth 3 points but in the beginning of the game, Knights are worth a little more than Bishops while as the game progresses, Bishops become more valuable than Knights.
In fact, I know a chess-player in Kamiah that loves to trade off his bishops for his opponent’s knights so that his knights can work some magic in the opening. I don’t recommend this however. I don’t know of any masters that do that and by the time you trade off your bishops for your opponent’s knights, many times the bishops are already starting to become more powerful than the knights.
Knights lack the long range of Bishops but a well placed knight or two can devastate an opponent.
Knights are also fork-masters – they love to attack multiple pieces at the same time. Here’s a classic chess problem showing a potential fork by white on black.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d6
White to move and win material.
White to move and win material.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
Ng5-f7 attacking both the Queen and the Rook.
Ng5-f7 attacking both the Queen and the Rook.
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Article 20: Puzzle of the Day (1)
White to play and win.
Mouse below to see the answer:
1.Qh6+! Bxh6 2.Ng5+ Kh8 3.Rh7#
Mouse below to see the answer:
1.Qh6+! Bxh6 2.Ng5+ Kh8 3.Rh7#
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Article 21: Puzzle of the Day (2)
Black to play and win.
Mouse below for the answer:
1...Qg2+!! 2.Kxg2 Nf4+ 3.Kg1 Nh3#
Mouse below for the answer:
1...Qg2+!! 2.Kxg2 Nf4+ 3.Kg1 Nh3#
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Article 22: Controlling More Squares
The most common first move in chess is e4. Ever wonder why? If you count all the squares attacked by the white pieces you will find that this move increases that number the most of any possible first move. That’s because it opens up both the queen and the bishop at the same time. It’s a very simple way to evaluate a position – how many squares do I attack vs my opponent? 1. e4 is very probably the best first move possible but it’s not so simple because of transpositions. Thus if I play 1. Nf3… 2. e4, I end up with the same position as I would if I played 1. e4… 2. Nf3. To this simple metric I would add a center-weighting – a center square is more important to attack then an edge square.
So the next time you are about to move and just don’t know what to do, consider looking for the move that increases the number of squares you attack rather than some random pawn move because it just looks good.
So the next time you are about to move and just don’t know what to do, consider looking for the move that increases the number of squares you attack rather than some random pawn move because it just looks good.
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Article 23: Puzzle of the Day (335)
White to move and mate in 4.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Nxa5!
Clears the b7 square for later
1...bxa5
unwittingly clears the path for the rook to b7
2.Nf6+ Ke7 3.Rb7+ Rc7 4.Rxc7+ Rd7 5.Rxd7#
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Nxa5!
Clears the b7 square for later
1...bxa5
unwittingly clears the path for the rook to b7
2.Nf6+ Ke7 3.Rb7+ Rc7 4.Rxc7+ Rd7 5.Rxd7#
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Article 24: Puzzle of the Day (185)
White to move and win
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Rh5+!
The knight fork on e6 prevents the bishop on f7 from moving so the rook can safely make this check.
1...Kf6
[1...Bxh5 2.Ne6+ Kg6 3.Nxc7]
2.Rxf5+ Ke7 3.Kxg4
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Rh5+!
The knight fork on e6 prevents the bishop on f7 from moving so the rook can safely make this check.
1...Kf6
[1...Bxh5 2.Ne6+ Kg6 3.Nxc7]
2.Rxf5+ Ke7 3.Kxg4
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Article 25: Have a Plan
New chess players rarely have a plan beyond “what should I move now?” I can tell this when I see their hand waving over the chessboard just looking for something that can move. Now I don’t fault a 6 year old or brand new player for doing this, but let’s get real, this game goes way deeper than just “making a move”. Chess breaks down to basically 3 phases of play.
The first phase is “Get my stuff out NOW”. Open up ways for your minor pieces to get out and get that King castled where its safe. If you’re playing anyone with any skill, you better do this or you will regret it.
The next Phase is “KILL!”. This is hard to describe because it can get complex. Find targets (checks, loose material, weak squares, isolated pawns, etc.) and build up pressure on them. If you’re playing a good player, exploiting a weakness can take many turns – this is the basis of your “plan”.
The last Phase is “Checkmate!”. Sometimes this involves trading down to a simple position you can win because you are ahead in material. Sometimes this means getting that pawn across to get a queen and finish the game. If you did a good job in the KILL phase, you may find you have checkmate in the middle-game.
A plan helps you sort out your options and work towards a goal instead of just wandering around with random moves. It’s a good thing!
The first phase is “Get my stuff out NOW”. Open up ways for your minor pieces to get out and get that King castled where its safe. If you’re playing anyone with any skill, you better do this or you will regret it.
The next Phase is “KILL!”. This is hard to describe because it can get complex. Find targets (checks, loose material, weak squares, isolated pawns, etc.) and build up pressure on them. If you’re playing a good player, exploiting a weakness can take many turns – this is the basis of your “plan”.
The last Phase is “Checkmate!”. Sometimes this involves trading down to a simple position you can win because you are ahead in material. Sometimes this means getting that pawn across to get a queen and finish the game. If you did a good job in the KILL phase, you may find you have checkmate in the middle-game.
A plan helps you sort out your options and work towards a goal instead of just wandering around with random moves. It’s a good thing!
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Article 26: Puzzle of the Day (492)
Black to move and mate in 2.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Ra4+ 2.bxa4 b4#
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Ra4+ 2.bxa4 b4#
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Article 27: Puzzle of the Day (283)
Black to play and mate in 2.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Ra1+! 2.Nxa1 Ba2#
or
[2...Qa2#]
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Ra1+! 2.Nxa1 Ba2#
or
[2...Qa2#]
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Article 28: Fighting when you are down
One of the more valuable things about Chess, and any game of pure skill, is that it forces onto you the psychological challenges that life brings. Defeat is always a possibility. How will you handle it? When an opponent beats you at chess, because it is a game of pure skill, it is a humbling experience.
I actually fail at this because I usually easily win. I have a friend that is a better player than me and I can’t stand to play him more than about 5 games at a time because he tends to beat me every time. He always gets me in some tactical blunder and then my game collapses.
Such is the way my life has gone these past few years. Simple mistakes due to lack of due-diligence have cost me dearly. I could have learned that lesson from Chess but didn’t.
In both games, perseverance can pay off. Never give up! Never surrender! Most importantly, learn from your mistakes and life to fight another day!
If you are down in material, don't trade down. Consolidate your position and try to set traps for your opponent to get that material back.
Improve your pawn structure and set yourself up for the endgame. A single passed pawn can make all the difference when down in material.
You're opponent may be getting over confident and you can think deeper and see if you can outsmart him.
And of course, if there is a checkmate - TAKE IT!
I actually fail at this because I usually easily win. I have a friend that is a better player than me and I can’t stand to play him more than about 5 games at a time because he tends to beat me every time. He always gets me in some tactical blunder and then my game collapses.
Such is the way my life has gone these past few years. Simple mistakes due to lack of due-diligence have cost me dearly. I could have learned that lesson from Chess but didn’t.
In both games, perseverance can pay off. Never give up! Never surrender! Most importantly, learn from your mistakes and life to fight another day!
If you are down in material, don't trade down. Consolidate your position and try to set traps for your opponent to get that material back.
Improve your pawn structure and set yourself up for the endgame. A single passed pawn can make all the difference when down in material.
You're opponent may be getting over confident and you can think deeper and see if you can outsmart him.
And of course, if there is a checkmate - TAKE IT!
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Article 29: Puzzle of the Day (296)
Black to play and Win
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Bg1 2.Kxg1 Nf3+
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Bg1 2.Kxg1 Nf3+
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Article 30: Puzzle of the Day (373)
White to play and win.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Qe6+ Kg7 2.Qe7+ Kh6 3.Qxf6
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Qe6+ Kg7 2.Qe7+ Kh6 3.Qxf6
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Article 31: The Knights Tour
As a child I was very impressed to meet Mr. George Kowltanowski. He was a favorite chess author of my father’s and one of the all-time world’s best simultaneous blindfold chess masters.
You got that right. He would play as many as 36 people at once with himself never looking at a single board – and usually beat everybody – even experts!
As a teen I got to watch him demonstrate the Knight’s Tour at a chess tournament. So here’s the problem:
You got that right. He would play as many as 36 people at once with himself never looking at a single board – and usually beat everybody – even experts!
As a teen I got to watch him demonstrate the Knight’s Tour at a chess tournament. So here’s the problem:
George would have a display board set up and he would leave the room. The MC would call on people at random to give him a phone number, address, or something like that and he would write it into one of the board squares. When the board was full, Mr. Kowltanowski would come out and look at the board for 1 minute. He would then go behind the board and the MC would place a knight on a square called out by the audience. In the above board I placed the knight on c3.
George would then call out what was written on the square and the MC would X out that square. Then George would call out the next square for the Knight to travel by calling out what was written on the next square. In my example here, I moved the knight to d5, but George would call the square by what was written on it like say 345-9876.
George would then move the knight to every single square on the board without visiting any square twice using legal knight moves all the way – all without looking at the board! He was amazing!
I have never been able to do this! Get out your board and see if you can. If its too hard, try using just a 5x5 board and if your still stuck you can read all about it at here.
In my example I traveled this route: c3-d5-c7-a6-c5-e4-f2-g4-h2-f1-e3-f5-e7-g8 and finally to h6 where the black knight is. I have no idea if this can be completed from here or not. There are solutions out there and there are many ways to do it.
George would then call out what was written on the square and the MC would X out that square. Then George would call out the next square for the Knight to travel by calling out what was written on the next square. In my example here, I moved the knight to d5, but George would call the square by what was written on it like say 345-9876.
George would then move the knight to every single square on the board without visiting any square twice using legal knight moves all the way – all without looking at the board! He was amazing!
I have never been able to do this! Get out your board and see if you can. If its too hard, try using just a 5x5 board and if your still stuck you can read all about it at here.
In my example I traveled this route: c3-d5-c7-a6-c5-e4-f2-g4-h2-f1-e3-f5-e7-g8 and finally to h6 where the black knight is. I have no idea if this can be completed from here or not. There are solutions out there and there are many ways to do it.
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Article 32: Puzzle of the Day (360)
Black to play and win.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
We need to get the white Queen on f3 out of our way so we can mate with the black Queen on h1.
1...Re3! 2.Qg2
[2.Qxe3 Qh1#]
2...Rxg3 0-1
Mouse over below to see the answer:
We need to get the white Queen on f3 out of our way so we can mate with the black Queen on h1.
1...Re3! 2.Qg2
[2.Qxe3 Qh1#]
2...Rxg3 0-1
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Article 33: Puzzle of the Day (406)
White to play and mate in 4 moves.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Nh5 Nxh6 2.Qxh6 Rg8 3.Rf7 Rg7
[3...Qf8 4.Qxh7#]
4.Qxg7#
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Nh5 Nxh6 2.Qxh6 Rg8 3.Rf7 Rg7
[3...Qf8 4.Qxh7#]
4.Qxg7#
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Article 34: Puzzle of the Day (407)
White to play and mate in 3 moves.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Ncd6 exd6
[1...Qxb2 2.Nf5 Qxc1+ 3.Bf1 Qe3+ 4.Kh1! Black can no longer check white without loosing his queen and will then be in mate with Qg7.]
2.Nxf6+
and white threatens mate with Qxh7#
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Ncd6 exd6
[1...Qxb2 2.Nf5 Qxc1+ 3.Bf1 Qe3+ 4.Kh1! Black can no longer check white without loosing his queen and will then be in mate with Qg7.]
2.Nxf6+
and white threatens mate with Qxh7#
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Article 35: The Battery
In chess there is something called the battery. No it’s not something you charge up to get your car started. The battery is when you have two or more pieces lined up on the same row, column or diagonal backing each other up. Here’s a contrived position showing a few batteries:
When you get pieces lined up in batteries you have the pieces behind acting through the pieces in front. It’s known as a kind of x-ray attack and it lets you put more force on a square than might otherwise be possible. Often, a battery let’s you get that extra attacker needed to punch through your opponents defenses.
B6 is an interesting target square because we have a white and a black battery attacking that square. White might want to take that knight on b6 but blacks battery is defending it enough (3 defenders – Ra6, Qc6 and Rg6 vs 3 attackers – Rb1, Qb2 and Rb4 which means the black knight is safe)
Then there is the h1 square being attacked by black’s battery (Qc6, Bf3) but white holds him off with 2 defenders (Rb1 and Kh2). Can you see how black can move to take the knight on h1?
B6 is an interesting target square because we have a white and a black battery attacking that square. White might want to take that knight on b6 but blacks battery is defending it enough (3 defenders – Ra6, Qc6 and Rg6 vs 3 attackers – Rb1, Qb2 and Rb4 which means the black knight is safe)
Then there is the h1 square being attacked by black’s battery (Qc6, Bf3) but white holds him off with 2 defenders (Rb1 and Kh2). Can you see how black can move to take the knight on h1?
Mouse over below to see the answer:
R-h6+.
R-h6+.
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Article 36: Puzzle of the Day (280)
Black to play and mate in 2 moves.
Mouse over below t see the answer:
1...Rxa3+!! 2.bxa3
[2.Rxa3 Qxb2#]
2...Qa1#
Mouse over below t see the answer:
1...Rxa3+!! 2.bxa3
[2.Rxa3 Qxb2#]
2...Qa1#
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Article 37: Puzzle of the Day (409)
Black to move and mate in 4 moves.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Qf3!!
Threatens mate with Qxg2. White has no choice but to take the queen.
2.gxf3 Nexf3+ 3.Kh1
[3.Kf1 Bh3#]
3...Bh3 4.Ree1
Trying to get Bf1 for protection but too late.
4...Bg2#
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Qf3!!
Threatens mate with Qxg2. White has no choice but to take the queen.
2.gxf3 Nexf3+ 3.Kh1
[3.Kf1 Bh3#]
3...Bh3 4.Ree1
Trying to get Bf1 for protection but too late.
4...Bg2#
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Article 38: Puzzle of the Day (145)
White to play and win material.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
Uncover the pin!
1.Rxh6! Pxh6 2.Rg1
If he doesn't take the bait, you're still up a knight!
Mouse over below to see the answer:
Uncover the pin!
1.Rxh6! Pxh6 2.Rg1
If he doesn't take the bait, you're still up a knight!
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Article 39: Puzzle of the Day (82)
Black to play and win mucho material.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Qd3+ 2.Kxd3
[2.Ke1 Qxb1]
2...Bxc6+ 3.Ke3 Bxa4
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Qd3+ 2.Kxd3
[2.Ke1 Qxb1]
2...Bxc6+ 3.Ke3 Bxa4
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Article 40: Puzzle of the Day (7)
Black to move and mate in 2.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Bd3+
Double check!
2.Ke1 Rf1#
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Bd3+
Double check!
2.Ke1 Rf1#
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Article 41: Puzzle of the Day (180)
White to play and win.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Nxc6 Bxc6
Any other move looses the exchange due to the fork.
2.Ne7+
Another fork!
2...Kh7
or Kh8, it doesn't matter.
3.Nxc6
Fork again! White wins a pawn and the exchange. (R for N)
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Nxc6 Bxc6
Any other move looses the exchange due to the fork.
2.Ne7+
Another fork!
2...Kh7
or Kh8, it doesn't matter.
3.Nxc6
Fork again! White wins a pawn and the exchange. (R for N)
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Article 42: Puzzle of the Day (533)
White to play and win.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Rxh7! Kxh7
[1...Kf7 2.Bxg6+ Kxg6 [2...Kg8 3.Qh5] 3.Qh5#]
2.Qh5+ Kg8 3.Bxg6
and no way to stop Qh7#
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Rxh7! Kxh7
[1...Kf7 2.Bxg6+ Kxg6 [2...Kg8 3.Qh5] 3.Qh5#]
2.Qh5+ Kg8 3.Bxg6
and no way to stop Qh7#
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Article 43: Puzzle of the Day (277)
Black to play and win.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Nfxe4 2.Nxe4
[2.fxe4 Qh4+ 3.Qf2 Qxh6 with the same result, black is up a pawn]
2...Nxe4 3.fxe4 Qh4+ 4.Qf2 Qxh6
…and black is a pawn ahead.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Nfxe4 2.Nxe4
[2.fxe4 Qh4+ 3.Qf2 Qxh6 with the same result, black is up a pawn]
2...Nxe4 3.fxe4 Qh4+ 4.Qf2 Qxh6
…and black is a pawn ahead.
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Article 44: Tempo
Tempo is a word in chess that counts how many effective moves you have made. This is used as a measure of how efficiently you are developing your pieces in the opening. Let’s look at an example and I will explain as we go...
- e4 e5
- d4 exd4
- Qxd4
At this point white appears to be way ahead. He has control of the center and the queen developed and black has nothing developed. This opening is called the center-counter attack and white has just played it wrong. (Correct was Nf3).
Now let’s see what black does with the situation.
3. ... Nc6! (attacks the queen forcing her to move again)
4. Qd1 Nf6! (attacks the pawn forcing white to respond)
5. Bd3 Bc5
6. Nf3 O-O
Now let’s see what black does with the situation.
3. ... Nc6! (attacks the queen forcing her to move again)
4. Qd1 Nf6! (attacks the pawn forcing white to respond)
5. Bd3 Bc5
6. Nf3 O-O
What? Black has castled and white has not! Black has 3 pieces developed and white has only 2! What happened? Well white had to move the queen twice and back to where she started. (4. Qd1) There are other ways white could have gone but all of them end up with black forcing white to move the queen over and over and black gains time with each re-move of the queen.
Whenever you move a piece twice in the opening you are sacrificing tempo for whatever that piece is doing. If you are picking up material or forcing your opponent to respond, then you are getting something for your time, but if not, you are wasting it.
Thus the general rule:
“Never move the same piece twice in the opening.”
And this also brings up another point. When white developed the queen early he gave black a huge target to attack and because the queen is so valuable there is no way white can afford to ignore a threat to it. Thus white gave black a way to force him to respond instead of proceeding with development.
Whenever you move a piece twice in the opening you are sacrificing tempo for whatever that piece is doing. If you are picking up material or forcing your opponent to respond, then you are getting something for your time, but if not, you are wasting it.
Thus the general rule:
“Never move the same piece twice in the opening.”
And this also brings up another point. When white developed the queen early he gave black a huge target to attack and because the queen is so valuable there is no way white can afford to ignore a threat to it. Thus white gave black a way to force him to respond instead of proceeding with development.
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Article 45: Puzzle of the Day (4)
Black to play and mate in 3 moves.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Qxd4!
A queen sac? What does this accomplish?...
2.exd4
Ahha! It moves the e pawn out of the way for...
2...Bb4+
.. a discovered double check!
3.Kd1
There is no other choice because you can’t block or take your way out of a double check!
3...Re1#
tada!!!
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Qxd4!
A queen sac? What does this accomplish?...
2.exd4
Ahha! It moves the e pawn out of the way for...
2...Bb4+
.. a discovered double check!
3.Kd1
There is no other choice because you can’t block or take your way out of a double check!
3...Re1#
tada!!!
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Article 46: Puzzle of the Day (5)
Black to play and mate in 2 moves.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Qg2+!
Why is this a good move?
2.Kxg2 (forced)
2...Rxg3#
Ahha, that's why it was a good move! Double check and nowhere to go.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Qg2+!
Why is this a good move?
2.Kxg2 (forced)
2...Rxg3#
Ahha, that's why it was a good move! Double check and nowhere to go.
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Article 47: Puzzle of the Day (319)
White to play and mate in 3.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Bf6!
The real problem here is that Black's dark squares are so weak that white can just fly in with his Queen and Bishop. White's pawns are all on white squares effectively reducing blacks light squared bishop to immobility and his own pawns have all his pieces blocked. This makes possible a move for white which normally wouldn't be possible.
1...Nxf6
Might as well have a bishop. All other options fail. [1...Nxf3+ A nice fork on the King and Queen merely delays things. If Black could use this time to open up his position to defend himself it might have worked. 2.Bxf3 With essentially the same problem for black.] [1...Kf8 The white bishop on f6 cuts off the black king's escape completely. 2.Qh6+] [1...Qc7 Almost any move results in this line of death for black. 2.Qh6 White is threatening mate and there is nothing black can do. 2...Qd7 3.Qg7#]
2.Qh8#
Taking the bishop merely make's blacks death quicker.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1.Bf6!
The real problem here is that Black's dark squares are so weak that white can just fly in with his Queen and Bishop. White's pawns are all on white squares effectively reducing blacks light squared bishop to immobility and his own pawns have all his pieces blocked. This makes possible a move for white which normally wouldn't be possible.
1...Nxf6
Might as well have a bishop. All other options fail. [1...Nxf3+ A nice fork on the King and Queen merely delays things. If Black could use this time to open up his position to defend himself it might have worked. 2.Bxf3 With essentially the same problem for black.] [1...Kf8 The white bishop on f6 cuts off the black king's escape completely. 2.Qh6+] [1...Qc7 Almost any move results in this line of death for black. 2.Qh6 White is threatening mate and there is nothing black can do. 2...Qd7 3.Qg7#]
2.Qh8#
Taking the bishop merely make's blacks death quicker.
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Article 48: Merry Chessmas!
Chess holds a host of metaphorical ideas that can apply to life. Last night yet another metaphor came to mind prompted by the game of Chess.
Another title for this article might be: “Love, Truth and Wisdom”.
The Queen represents Love. She is the most powerful piece on the board and Love is so powerful, that when coupled with hope and faith can do just about anything. Love doesn’t care what the cost is. Not even death can stop love. It’s just like when Jesus didn’t care what it would take to free the world from sin. The Queen is often sacrificed in exciting games to achieve the ultimate end of victory.
The King, on the other hand, represents truth. Truth is our link to reality. It is what tells you if your move was good or bad. Love without truth is like a steam locomotive without a track. Chess requires precise and correct calculation to avoid the pitfalls of blunders. It constantly tests us for truth. As one goes deeper, truth directs our path and strategy.
Truth and Love together give us the wisdom we need to climb the road to the top of Victory Mountain. Love pushes us upward and keeps us moving. Truth guides us, keeps us out of the ditches and helps us find our way to the top.
Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge. Chess is a perfect game for imparting these deep ideas into another person. I think our culture needs more wisdom – don’t you?
Another title for this article might be: “Love, Truth and Wisdom”.
The Queen represents Love. She is the most powerful piece on the board and Love is so powerful, that when coupled with hope and faith can do just about anything. Love doesn’t care what the cost is. Not even death can stop love. It’s just like when Jesus didn’t care what it would take to free the world from sin. The Queen is often sacrificed in exciting games to achieve the ultimate end of victory.
The King, on the other hand, represents truth. Truth is our link to reality. It is what tells you if your move was good or bad. Love without truth is like a steam locomotive without a track. Chess requires precise and correct calculation to avoid the pitfalls of blunders. It constantly tests us for truth. As one goes deeper, truth directs our path and strategy.
Truth and Love together give us the wisdom we need to climb the road to the top of Victory Mountain. Love pushes us upward and keeps us moving. Truth guides us, keeps us out of the ditches and helps us find our way to the top.
Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge. Chess is a perfect game for imparting these deep ideas into another person. I think our culture needs more wisdom – don’t you?
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Article 49: What's a Quad?
What’s the tiniest Chess Tournament you can have? A Quad. That’s where 4 players play each other in a 3-round round-robin style tournament. You can easily get 3 good games in an evening.
For the next few months, every Tuesday starting at 5PM or so at the Orofino Pizza Factory, I am hosting chess playing and coaching and, if there is sufficient interest, quad tournaments. These will be scholastically rated as well. No fees, no prizes, but a good chance to hone your game and meet some players over some pizza.
You can check out our scholastic rating service at RatingsNW.com. Anyone that participated in last year’s Holiday Family Chess Tournament can see your ratings at http://chess.ratingsnw.com/report17-18/KamiahHoliday.html.
Catch you next time…
For the next few months, every Tuesday starting at 5PM or so at the Orofino Pizza Factory, I am hosting chess playing and coaching and, if there is sufficient interest, quad tournaments. These will be scholastically rated as well. No fees, no prizes, but a good chance to hone your game and meet some players over some pizza.
You can check out our scholastic rating service at RatingsNW.com. Anyone that participated in last year’s Holiday Family Chess Tournament can see your ratings at http://chess.ratingsnw.com/report17-18/KamiahHoliday.html.
Catch you next time…
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Article 50: Puzzle of the Day (149)
White to play and win.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
Material is even - what can we do?
1.Qxh6+
Took one pawn
1...Kxh6
OMG I lost a Queen! [1...Kg8 2.Bh4 N8h7 3.Nxg6 fxg6 4.Bxf6 Bxf6 [4...Nxf6 5.Qxg6+ Kf8 6.Rg3 pretty much mate in 1 6...Bd6 7.Qg7#] 5.Rxe8+ Wins blacks queen]
2.Nxf7+
Took another pawn
2...Kg7 3.Nxd8
got the queen back!
3...Rcxd8
lost a knight
4.Rxe7+
took a bishop with check
4...Rxe7 5.Rxe7+
Traded Rooks
5...Kg8 6.Rxb7
Took a third pawn. White is now up 3 pawns!
Mouse over below to see the answer:
Material is even - what can we do?
1.Qxh6+
Took one pawn
1...Kxh6
OMG I lost a Queen! [1...Kg8 2.Bh4 N8h7 3.Nxg6 fxg6 4.Bxf6 Bxf6 [4...Nxf6 5.Qxg6+ Kf8 6.Rg3 pretty much mate in 1 6...Bd6 7.Qg7#] 5.Rxe8+ Wins blacks queen]
2.Nxf7+
Took another pawn
2...Kg7 3.Nxd8
got the queen back!
3...Rcxd8
lost a knight
4.Rxe7+
took a bishop with check
4...Rxe7 5.Rxe7+
Traded Rooks
5...Kg8 6.Rxb7
Took a third pawn. White is now up 3 pawns!
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Article 51: Puzzle of the Day (64)
Black to play and win.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Ng4 2.Qxh3
[2.Qf2 Nxf2#] [2.Rg2 fxg2+ 3.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 4.Kxg2 Nxe3+ 5.Kf3 Nf1 6.Kg2 Nd2 and black is up a rook]
2...Nf2#
Mouse over below to see the answer:
1...Ng4 2.Qxh3
[2.Qf2 Nxf2#] [2.Rg2 fxg2+ 3.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 4.Kxg2 Nxe3+ 5.Kf3 Nf1 6.Kg2 Nd2 and black is up a rook]
2...Nf2#
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Article 52: Puzzle of the Day (149)
White to play and draw.
This was a proposed position by the famous mathematician, Sir Roger Penrose that fools computer programs.
This position, when placed into a computer program, will rate black as having a win.
In fact, unless white plays badly this is dead draw.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
Black can only lose by giving all his bishops to the white king and/or allowing the C6 pawn to queen on C8.
Now it remains to be seen whether or not such a position could ever be achieved in a game of Chess – I tend to doubt it is possible.
This I call insanity.
This was a proposed position by the famous mathematician, Sir Roger Penrose that fools computer programs.
This position, when placed into a computer program, will rate black as having a win.
In fact, unless white plays badly this is dead draw.
Mouse over below to see the answer:
Black can only lose by giving all his bishops to the white king and/or allowing the C6 pawn to queen on C8.
Now it remains to be seen whether or not such a position could ever be achieved in a game of Chess – I tend to doubt it is possible.
This I call insanity.
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Article 53: A local game reviewed
At our recent chess play at the Orofino Pizza Factory (every Tuesday night through March 2018)
Robert Jensen (white) recorded his game with Richard Steele. It was a lively and instructive game so I thought I would publish my review of it.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
I tend to shy away from this counter-attack method of opening especially for black. White always has the advantage in such copy-cat techniques.
3.Nxe5 Nxe4
Black is choosing the copy-cat method which in this case is deadly. [3...d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 Regains the pawn with a better position for black.]
4.Qe2
Now black is in a dire mess. He has a near pined knight deep in enemy territory and black cannot do the same to white with Qe7 because white will simply win blacks knight and protect his own at the same time. Things get very complex here for black.
4...Qe7?
Robert Jensen (white) recorded his game with Richard Steele. It was a lively and instructive game so I thought I would publish my review of it.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
I tend to shy away from this counter-attack method of opening especially for black. White always has the advantage in such copy-cat techniques.
3.Nxe5 Nxe4
Black is choosing the copy-cat method which in this case is deadly. [3...d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 Regains the pawn with a better position for black.]
4.Qe2
Now black is in a dire mess. He has a near pined knight deep in enemy territory and black cannot do the same to white with Qe7 because white will simply win blacks knight and protect his own at the same time. Things get very complex here for black.
4...Qe7?
5.Qxe4 f6
Black's options are limited. He has the potential pin of the white queen only and white is already up a piece.
6.d4
White chooses the simpler path and gives up the knight in exchange for a pawn - leaving white up a pawn in only 7 moves.
6...fxe5 7.Qxe5 Qxe5+ 8.dxe5
After all of this, white is now two moves and a pawn ahead.
8...Bb4+
Black is desperately trying to gain tempo by poking white with checks but these only help white gain even more time.
9.Bd2 Bc5
Black has moved his bishop twice while giving white a free development move.
10.Bc4 d6
Black invites a trade while down in material still trying to gain time. [10...Nc6 develops and threatens at the same time.]
11.exd6 cxd6
This creates a weak black pawn. Better I think was Bxd6
12.O-O Bg4
In general the rule is knights before bishops. This is an overly aggressive move way too late in the game. Usually the bishop here is pinning a knight before castling. Here it simply invites white to send him back and waste more time. Better was Nc6 I think.
13.Re1+
Black's options are limited. He has the potential pin of the white queen only and white is already up a piece.
6.d4
White chooses the simpler path and gives up the knight in exchange for a pawn - leaving white up a pawn in only 7 moves.
6...fxe5 7.Qxe5 Qxe5+ 8.dxe5
After all of this, white is now two moves and a pawn ahead.
8...Bb4+
Black is desperately trying to gain tempo by poking white with checks but these only help white gain even more time.
9.Bd2 Bc5
Black has moved his bishop twice while giving white a free development move.
10.Bc4 d6
Black invites a trade while down in material still trying to gain time. [10...Nc6 develops and threatens at the same time.]
11.exd6 cxd6
This creates a weak black pawn. Better I think was Bxd6
12.O-O Bg4
In general the rule is knights before bishops. This is an overly aggressive move way too late in the game. Usually the bishop here is pinning a knight before castling. Here it simply invites white to send him back and waste more time. Better was Nc6 I think.
13.Re1+
White develops with check still gaining time over black. Had black developed his knight, he could have blocked this check and had he not taken whites pawn on d6 with the c7 pawn and used the bishop instead, the e7 square would be double defended and black could then castle out of the way.
13...Be6??
This was a touch move error on blacks part. This person was playing way too fast hoping to goad his opponent into a blunder. This only works on tight time situations. This is not the way to play a rated game. The game collapses quickly for black from here.
14.Rxe6+ Kd8 15.Bg5+ Kc8?
Why not d7 now?
16.Nc3 Kd7
Again black is poking white, thinking this gains him time but better would have been to get his knight out instead of moving his king twice.
17.Rae1
White keeps gaining time on black by not poking around and just developing each piece in turn.
17...Nc6
Finally - but too late.
18.Bd5
[18.Bb5 a6 19.Ba4 b5 20.Bb3 Nd4 21.Re7+ Kd8 22.Bd5 seems better to me for white.]
18...Nd4
Again poking white and moving a piece twice instead of getting his rooks active. Black is a classic case of premature attaculation.
19.Re7+ Kd8
Now blacks rooks are forced apart and white can quickly close the game.
20.Re8+
The double check by whites rook and bishop makes Rxe8 impossible.
20...Kd7??
c7 would have given black an escape route via b6.
21.R1e7#
A merciful and elligant finish by white.
13...Be6??
This was a touch move error on blacks part. This person was playing way too fast hoping to goad his opponent into a blunder. This only works on tight time situations. This is not the way to play a rated game. The game collapses quickly for black from here.
14.Rxe6+ Kd8 15.Bg5+ Kc8?
Why not d7 now?
16.Nc3 Kd7
Again black is poking white, thinking this gains him time but better would have been to get his knight out instead of moving his king twice.
17.Rae1
White keeps gaining time on black by not poking around and just developing each piece in turn.
17...Nc6
Finally - but too late.
18.Bd5
[18.Bb5 a6 19.Ba4 b5 20.Bb3 Nd4 21.Re7+ Kd8 22.Bd5 seems better to me for white.]
18...Nd4
Again poking white and moving a piece twice instead of getting his rooks active. Black is a classic case of premature attaculation.
19.Re7+ Kd8
Now blacks rooks are forced apart and white can quickly close the game.
20.Re8+
The double check by whites rook and bishop makes Rxe8 impossible.
20...Kd7??
c7 would have given black an escape route via b6.
21.R1e7#
A merciful and elligant finish by white.
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Article 54: The Jensen-Crutchor Game
This is a review of another game we played Tuesday evening at the Orofino Pizza Factory.
[Date "2/27/2018"]
[White "Robert Jensen"]
[Black "Steven Crutchor"]
[Result "1-0"]
1.e4 d6
An interesting passive response but this blocks in the f8 bishop and will turn out to be a problem soon.
2.d4
White has the center.
2...g6 3.Bc4
Generally knights should come out before bishops. White is being very aggressive and black is being passive.
3...Na6
Knights are never as good on the edges of the board as in the center. Because of d6, the d6 square is weak and this is why black didn't do Nd6 instead.
4.Nc3 Be6?
This further cramps black but since the bishop on f8 has g7 to go to, its not quite as big a problem as at first it might appear.
5.d5
Rather than trade off a developed bishop, white correctly strengthens his lite squares and forces blacks bishop to move again.
5...Bd7
This is where the bishop should have gone in the first place.
6.Qd4
[Date "2/27/2018"]
[White "Robert Jensen"]
[Black "Steven Crutchor"]
[Result "1-0"]
1.e4 d6
An interesting passive response but this blocks in the f8 bishop and will turn out to be a problem soon.
2.d4
White has the center.
2...g6 3.Bc4
Generally knights should come out before bishops. White is being very aggressive and black is being passive.
3...Na6
Knights are never as good on the edges of the board as in the center. Because of d6, the d6 square is weak and this is why black didn't do Nd6 instead.
4.Nc3 Be6?
This further cramps black but since the bishop on f8 has g7 to go to, its not quite as big a problem as at first it might appear.
5.d5
Rather than trade off a developed bishop, white correctly strengthens his lite squares and forces blacks bishop to move again.
5...Bd7
This is where the bishop should have gone in the first place.
6.Qd4
Because of en-passant, neither d5 or e5 by black will remove the queen. Because the black knight is not on c6 where it belongs, the d4 square is open for white’s occupation. The queen strengthens the dark squares as well for white. Still, I generally don't bring the queen out till at least my minor pieces are developed.
6...b5
Weak. White has two attackers and black has one defender - the pawn will fall.
7.Qxh8
oh yah, then theres that problem!
7...Nh6!
I think Nf6 would have blocked in the queen and held the h pawn. When a queen gets deep into the corner of the enemy it very often happens that she gets trapped and lost.
8.Qxh7 bxc4
White is just not looking at the whole board.
9.Qh8
Pins the bishop which removes the black knight's only defender.
9...b8 10.Bxh6 e5
Too late.
11.Qxf8#
6...b5
Weak. White has two attackers and black has one defender - the pawn will fall.
7.Qxh8
oh yah, then theres that problem!
7...Nh6!
I think Nf6 would have blocked in the queen and held the h pawn. When a queen gets deep into the corner of the enemy it very often happens that she gets trapped and lost.
8.Qxh7 bxc4
White is just not looking at the whole board.
9.Qh8
Pins the bishop which removes the black knight's only defender.
9...b8 10.Bxh6 e5
Too late.
11.Qxf8#
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Article 55: Why Castling is important
Our representative from India decided to grace our club with his presence and gave us some really exciting games. This one shows off the theme of why castling is important well.
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2 Bf5 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.d4 c5 6.dxc5 e5 7.h4?
Not sure what this gains white.
7...Bxc5 8.a3 Ne4 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Qc1?
Why not Bxe5? [11.Bxe5 Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 Bxa3 Black gets a pawn. Can't have that, lets drop a knight instead. ?!? White here is better off than he was in the main line.]
11...Bd4?
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2 Bf5 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.d4 c5 6.dxc5 e5 7.h4?
Not sure what this gains white.
7...Bxc5 8.a3 Ne4 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Qc1?
Why not Bxe5? [11.Bxe5 Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 Bxa3 Black gets a pawn. Can't have that, lets drop a knight instead. ?!? White here is better off than he was in the main line.]
11...Bd4?
Here Black just made a near-fatal error with Bd4 (from c5). What would you have done instead?
Black will not castle his king and thus add the second rook to the fray. This kind of overly aggressive play will now be thwarted by white.
12.c3 Rc8 13.Qf4
The knight is lost.
13...Bxc3+ 14.Bxc3 Rxc3 15.Qxe5+
Had black castled, white would not have this fork.
15...Qe7 16.Qxc3
White is now up a rook. Be cool dude and you will have a win.
16...O-O
Too late but not a bad move.
17.e3 Rc8 18.Qa5
Although this is a nice fork, moving the queen to the edge of the board is not good at this time. White must control the center and solidify his pawns and THEN crush his opponent with his Rook advantage. Better was Qd4 I think.
18...Qc5 19.Qa4?
The white queen is now more out of play and cannot help defend his King.
19...Qc3+ 20.¢d1 Rd8+ 21.¢e2 Qd2#
A sad loss of a won game by relinquishing the center. Neither player castled early and both paid dearly in this game for not doing so.
0-1
Black will not castle his king and thus add the second rook to the fray. This kind of overly aggressive play will now be thwarted by white.
12.c3 Rc8 13.Qf4
The knight is lost.
13...Bxc3+ 14.Bxc3 Rxc3 15.Qxe5+
Had black castled, white would not have this fork.
15...Qe7 16.Qxc3
White is now up a rook. Be cool dude and you will have a win.
16...O-O
Too late but not a bad move.
17.e3 Rc8 18.Qa5
Although this is a nice fork, moving the queen to the edge of the board is not good at this time. White must control the center and solidify his pawns and THEN crush his opponent with his Rook advantage. Better was Qd4 I think.
18...Qc5 19.Qa4?
The white queen is now more out of play and cannot help defend his King.
19...Qc3+ 20.¢d1 Rd8+ 21.¢e2 Qd2#
A sad loss of a won game by relinquishing the center. Neither player castled early and both paid dearly in this game for not doing so.
0-1
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Article 56: The Center
This exciting but short game clearly demonstrates the importance of controlling the center.
1.Nc3
Usually it is better to have the c pawn advanced to c4 before doing Nc3 unless you plan to castle queenside.
1...e5 2.Ne4
Moving the same piece twice in the opening is a no-no and this is exceptionally bad due to what follows.
2...d5 3.Nc3 Bc5
I would have done d4 and kept the knight running and gaining space. Bishops before Knights is also not a good idea. Knights are more powerful in the opening that bishops and you don't want to lose your bishops early. Black is trying to do a reverse-scholars mate here. This is only advisable on weak opponents.
1.Nc3
Usually it is better to have the c pawn advanced to c4 before doing Nc3 unless you plan to castle queenside.
1...e5 2.Ne4
Moving the same piece twice in the opening is a no-no and this is exceptionally bad due to what follows.
2...d5 3.Nc3 Bc5
I would have done d4 and kept the knight running and gaining space. Bishops before Knights is also not a good idea. Knights are more powerful in the opening that bishops and you don't want to lose your bishops early. Black is trying to do a reverse-scholars mate here. This is only advisable on weak opponents.
4.Nf3?
White is properly developing his Knights first but he has lost too much time and has lost the center. Black should just ram his pawns down white's throat, push the knights to the edges of the board and then get his minor pieces developed ASAP with a very superior middlegame. [4.e4 d4 5.Nce2 ... is cramped but at least white has a token hold on the center. White should follow up with d3 and f4 and then get his pieces focused on the center asap.]
4...Nd7?
To passive. Black has the center and should take it. I would have done e4 and then c4.
5.d4!
Black's passiveness has lost the unchallenged center. White correctly occupies it while he can.
5...exd4 6.Nxd5
White is properly developing his Knights first but he has lost too much time and has lost the center. Black should just ram his pawns down white's throat, push the knights to the edges of the board and then get his minor pieces developed ASAP with a very superior middlegame. [4.e4 d4 5.Nce2 ... is cramped but at least white has a token hold on the center. White should follow up with d3 and f4 and then get his pieces focused on the center asap.]
4...Nd7?
To passive. Black has the center and should take it. I would have done e4 and then c4.
5.d4!
Black's passiveness has lost the unchallenged center. White correctly occupies it while he can.
5...exd4 6.Nxd5
What should white have done here to save his game?
I say Nf4!
I say Nf4!
Ne5?
Much better would have been Nf6. Black is throwing away his Knight.
7.Nxd4??
[7.Nxe5 Qxd5 8.Bf4 I think is much better for white. 8...f6 9.Nd3 Shuts down the attack well.]
7...Qxd5 8.c4 Qxd4 9.Bd2 Qxf2# 0-1
Much better would have been Nf6. Black is throwing away his Knight.
7.Nxd4??
[7.Nxe5 Qxd5 8.Bf4 I think is much better for white. 8...f6 9.Nd3 Shuts down the attack well.]
7...Qxd5 8.c4 Qxd4 9.Bd2 Qxf2# 0-1
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Article 57: The Center is EVERYTHING
Robert was doing well this night. I tried to beat him and blew it, but he let me take the move back and then I won.
1.c4 e5 2.e4
This sets up a stonewall. I knew Robert was a maniacal attacker so I thought I would give him something to work on.
2...Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.d3 c6 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 Bc7 7.g3
White seems to be moving nothing but pawns. However most of those moves made the Black bishop move so there was not real loss of time for white.
7...d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.Bg5 d4
Black has gained space and has the center.
10.Nd5 Nbd7 11.Rc1 Bd6 12.Bg2 a5 13.Qa4 O-O 14.Nf3 h6 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Qb5 Nxd5 17.exd5
White is working hard to regain the center.
17...axb4 18.axb4 Qe7 19.O-O
I had to castle at this time and give up the b4 pawn or I would hve been soon mated.
19...e4
[19...Bxb4 I had expected this but Robert hates to lose momentum for mere pawns.]
20.dxe4 Qxe4 21.¦fe1 Qf5 22.Qxd4 Rf6 23.Re4
Though there are mating threats, white has regained the center!
23...Ra2
1.c4 e5 2.e4
This sets up a stonewall. I knew Robert was a maniacal attacker so I thought I would give him something to work on.
2...Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.d3 c6 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 Bc7 7.g3
White seems to be moving nothing but pawns. However most of those moves made the Black bishop move so there was not real loss of time for white.
7...d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.Bg5 d4
Black has gained space and has the center.
10.Nd5 Nbd7 11.Rc1 Bd6 12.Bg2 a5 13.Qa4 O-O 14.Nf3 h6 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Qb5 Nxd5 17.exd5
White is working hard to regain the center.
17...axb4 18.axb4 Qe7 19.O-O
I had to castle at this time and give up the b4 pawn or I would hve been soon mated.
19...e4
[19...Bxb4 I had expected this but Robert hates to lose momentum for mere pawns.]
20.dxe4 Qxe4 21.¦fe1 Qf5 22.Qxd4 Rf6 23.Re4
Though there are mating threats, white has regained the center!
23...Ra2
I screwed up, what would you have done as white?
24.Re8??
A fatal blunder on my part. Here's the alternative we played had I not screwed up. [24.f4 What I should have done! 24...g5 25.Qc4 I must get the queen back into the center game! 25...Ra4 26.fxg5 hxg5 27.Rf1 Qd8?? Black has abandoned the center and his King. The game is now over. 28.Nf5 Bxf5 29.Rxf5 Qb6+? Even worse black leaves his King alone for a check and a pawn. 30.Kh1 Rxb4?? My strong control of the f1 square saved me here.Black was so intent on a checkmate that he forgot his own King. 31.Rxg5+ Kh7 32.Rh4#]
24...Qxf2+
The game was officially Robert's but he let me take back the blunder and try something else.
0-1
A fatal blunder on my part. Here's the alternative we played had I not screwed up. [24.f4 What I should have done! 24...g5 25.Qc4 I must get the queen back into the center game! 25...Ra4 26.fxg5 hxg5 27.Rf1 Qd8?? Black has abandoned the center and his King. The game is now over. 28.Nf5 Bxf5 29.Rxf5 Qb6+? Even worse black leaves his King alone for a check and a pawn. 30.Kh1 Rxb4?? My strong control of the f1 square saved me here.Black was so intent on a checkmate that he forgot his own King. 31.Rxg5+ Kh7 32.Rh4#]
24...Qxf2+
The game was officially Robert's but he let me take back the blunder and try something else.
0-1
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Article 58: The Staab-Damron Game
Another example of how holding the center wins
[Event "Orofino Chess Club"], [Site "Orofino Pizza Factory"],
[Date "3-6-2018"],
[White "Sandy Staab"], [Black "James Damron"],
[Result "1-0"], [ECO "A04"], [Opening "Reti opening"]
[Event "Orofino Chess Club"], [Site "Orofino Pizza Factory"],
[Date "3-6-2018"],
[White "Sandy Staab"], [Black "James Damron"],
[Result "1-0"], [ECO "A04"], [Opening "Reti opening"]
Join us on Tuesday evening at the Pizza Factory in Orofino for fun games like this one!
1.Nf3 b6
The previous game James played the risky b5. He now played the more sane b6.
2.d4 Bb7 3.d5
This allowed me to gain space and cut off the bishop at the same time. As you will see in most of Semaj's games, he neglects space and then looses the center.
3...Nf6 4.c4 c6
Black really want's that pawn out of there, and rightly so!
5.Nc3 cxd5 6.cxd5 e6 7.d6
A nice way to keep my space. If I can get the e pawn to e5 it will hold.
7...Ne4?
This throws away the center and wastes time. Better would have been to get the bishop to g7 and castle.
8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Bf4
Holding on to that precious pawn on d6 - it is clogging up black well.
9...Nc6 10.Ne5
Holding that center!
10...Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Rc8 12.Qd4 Bf5 13.e4 Rc5?
Why not f6 instead?
14.exf5 Rxe5+ 15.Qxe5
White is now up a rook. Mostly because white had black so cramped, he could not maneuver. Once blacks queenside was traded off, black had little left to distract white.
1.Nf3 b6
The previous game James played the risky b5. He now played the more sane b6.
2.d4 Bb7 3.d5
This allowed me to gain space and cut off the bishop at the same time. As you will see in most of Semaj's games, he neglects space and then looses the center.
3...Nf6 4.c4 c6
Black really want's that pawn out of there, and rightly so!
5.Nc3 cxd5 6.cxd5 e6 7.d6
A nice way to keep my space. If I can get the e pawn to e5 it will hold.
7...Ne4?
This throws away the center and wastes time. Better would have been to get the bishop to g7 and castle.
8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Bf4
Holding on to that precious pawn on d6 - it is clogging up black well.
9...Nc6 10.Ne5
Holding that center!
10...Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Rc8 12.Qd4 Bf5 13.e4 Rc5?
Why not f6 instead?
14.exf5 Rxe5+ 15.Qxe5
White is now up a rook. Mostly because white had black so cramped, he could not maneuver. Once blacks queenside was traded off, black had little left to distract white.
15...g6?
Thanks for the rook man.
16.fxg6 fxg6 17.Qxh8 Kf7 18.Bc4 Qc8 19.Rc1 a5 20.O-O
I finally get castled! Something black never got to.
20...Qc6??
Looses the queen!
21.Bxe6+
Check with discovered attack on the queen!
21...Kxe6 22.Rxc6 dxc6 23.Qxf8 c5 24.Qe7+ Kd5 25.Rd1+ Kc6 26.d7 Kc7 27.d8Q+ Kc6 28.Qdd7# 1-0
Thanks for the rook man.
16.fxg6 fxg6 17.Qxh8 Kf7 18.Bc4 Qc8 19.Rc1 a5 20.O-O
I finally get castled! Something black never got to.
20...Qc6??
Looses the queen!
21.Bxe6+
Check with discovered attack on the queen!
21...Kxe6 22.Rxc6 dxc6 23.Qxf8 c5 24.Qe7+ Kd5 25.Rd1+ Kc6 26.d7 Kc7 27.d8Q+ Kc6 28.Qdd7# 1-0
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Article 59: The Chess guy gets Crushed!
Sabrina Hatch beats The Chess Guy!Sabrina and I decided to have a game at the Higher Grounds Cafe at their new location which has this nice chess table with the set in drawers. It was a nice venue for a good game.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
Sabrina played the Ruy Lopez opening. I haven't played that one in a long time.
3...a6 4.Bxc6
This is unusual and I was not prepaired for it. Usually white does Ba4. This seems to clearly win a pawn - funny I never noticed this variation before. It's called the exchange variation of the Ruy Lopez.
4...bxc6 5.O-O
[5.Nxe5 This looked like a free pawn to me. 5...Qe7 6.Nf3 Qxe4+ but this variation shows its costly for white.]
5...d6 6.d4 Bg4 7.dxe5 Bxf3
[7...dxe5 8.Qxd8+ Rxd8 9.Nxe5 I didn't like this possibility so I took the knight first.]
8.Qxf3 dxe5 9.Qg3 Qf6
Already, Sabrina has me defending hard. She is playing very sharp! [9...Bd6 couldn't do this because... 10.Qxg7] [9...g6 10.Qxe5+ That doesn't work either!]
10.Bg5 Qe6 11.Qd3 h6
[11...Rd8 12.Qxa6 My rook is pined to protect the pawn.]
12.Bh4 Bd6
I desperately wanted to get my pieces out and then try to regain the center.
13.Nc3 g5 14.Bg3 Ne7
Whew. I felt a little comfortable here in that I finally had no hanging pieces except the rook on a8.
15.f3
Strengthens her pawn structure but exposes the king.
15...O-O
This was probably a mistake. There just weren't enough pieces over there to defend the king. I think better might have been Kd7 and tough it out in the center but white could put a tripple battery on the d file easitly so I castled out of the way. Also this joined the rooks. Maybe it wasn't a mistake?
16.Rad1 Bc5+ 17.Kh1 Rfd8
This was actually dumb on my part. She could get two rooks for a queen and have the back rank in her clutches. Lucky for me, she didn't take the rook.
18.Qe2
[18.Qxd8+ Rxd8 19.Rxd8+ Kg7 20.Rfd1]
18...Bd4
I saw a way to get a pawn and took it.
19.Bf2 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Qxa2
Ah, a material advantage. Now to just trade down and win!
21.Bc5 Qe6 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.h3
So now I just wanted to lock up my pawns on the king side and push my pawn on the a file but I made my fatal mistake here not looking at tactics enough.
23...f6?
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
Sabrina played the Ruy Lopez opening. I haven't played that one in a long time.
3...a6 4.Bxc6
This is unusual and I was not prepaired for it. Usually white does Ba4. This seems to clearly win a pawn - funny I never noticed this variation before. It's called the exchange variation of the Ruy Lopez.
4...bxc6 5.O-O
[5.Nxe5 This looked like a free pawn to me. 5...Qe7 6.Nf3 Qxe4+ but this variation shows its costly for white.]
5...d6 6.d4 Bg4 7.dxe5 Bxf3
[7...dxe5 8.Qxd8+ Rxd8 9.Nxe5 I didn't like this possibility so I took the knight first.]
8.Qxf3 dxe5 9.Qg3 Qf6
Already, Sabrina has me defending hard. She is playing very sharp! [9...Bd6 couldn't do this because... 10.Qxg7] [9...g6 10.Qxe5+ That doesn't work either!]
10.Bg5 Qe6 11.Qd3 h6
[11...Rd8 12.Qxa6 My rook is pined to protect the pawn.]
12.Bh4 Bd6
I desperately wanted to get my pieces out and then try to regain the center.
13.Nc3 g5 14.Bg3 Ne7
Whew. I felt a little comfortable here in that I finally had no hanging pieces except the rook on a8.
15.f3
Strengthens her pawn structure but exposes the king.
15...O-O
This was probably a mistake. There just weren't enough pieces over there to defend the king. I think better might have been Kd7 and tough it out in the center but white could put a tripple battery on the d file easitly so I castled out of the way. Also this joined the rooks. Maybe it wasn't a mistake?
16.Rad1 Bc5+ 17.Kh1 Rfd8
This was actually dumb on my part. She could get two rooks for a queen and have the back rank in her clutches. Lucky for me, she didn't take the rook.
18.Qe2
[18.Qxd8+ Rxd8 19.Rxd8+ Kg7 20.Rfd1]
18...Bd4
I saw a way to get a pawn and took it.
19.Bf2 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Qxa2
Ah, a material advantage. Now to just trade down and win!
21.Bc5 Qe6 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.h3
So now I just wanted to lock up my pawns on the king side and push my pawn on the a file but I made my fatal mistake here not looking at tactics enough.
23...f6?
Can you see what Sabrina can now do? I exposed my king. [23...Kg7 I think this would have saved my game. No way can the queen check me now. Then after f6 my king side is stable and I can concentrate on the queenside.]
24.Qc4+!
A fork on the King and the c6 pawn and I have no way to defend it. There went my material advantage.
24...Qf7
[24...Kg7 I still lose the pawn but this might have been a better move.]
25.Qxc6 Qe8
This gives up the kingside pawns to give me time to advance the a pawn. I have a chance if I can get that pawn far enough to tie her rook down stopping it. [25...Kg7 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Qxa6 still looses a pawn, and my passed one at that!]
26.Qxf6 a5 27.Qxh6 Qe7
from here the Queen protects all my pawns. [27...a4 28.Qxg5+ This just looses too much and I would never have time to advance the a pawn.]
28.Qg6+ Kf8
[28...Qg7 29.Qe6+ Kf8 30.Rxd8+ Rxd8 31.Ra1 Ra8 32.Qd5 and the a pawn falls. 32...Ra7 33.Rxa5]
29.Qh6+ Kg8 30.g3 a4 31.h4 gxh4 32.gxh4
Sabrina now has an open file to attack my king. It doesn't look good for The Chess Guy here!
32...a3 33.Ra1 Rf8 34.Rg1+ Kf7 35.Qg7+ Ke6 36.Qg6+ Qf6 37.Qg4+
I simply can't escape that queen.
37...Kd6 38.Rgd1+ Kc6 39.Qd7+ Kb7 40.Rdb1+ Ka7 41.Qxc7+ Ka6 42.Qb7+ Ka5 43.Qb5#
Crushed and put to bed. Man, wha-happened?
1-0
24.Qc4+!
A fork on the King and the c6 pawn and I have no way to defend it. There went my material advantage.
24...Qf7
[24...Kg7 I still lose the pawn but this might have been a better move.]
25.Qxc6 Qe8
This gives up the kingside pawns to give me time to advance the a pawn. I have a chance if I can get that pawn far enough to tie her rook down stopping it. [25...Kg7 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Qxa6 still looses a pawn, and my passed one at that!]
26.Qxf6 a5 27.Qxh6 Qe7
from here the Queen protects all my pawns. [27...a4 28.Qxg5+ This just looses too much and I would never have time to advance the a pawn.]
28.Qg6+ Kf8
[28...Qg7 29.Qe6+ Kf8 30.Rxd8+ Rxd8 31.Ra1 Ra8 32.Qd5 and the a pawn falls. 32...Ra7 33.Rxa5]
29.Qh6+ Kg8 30.g3 a4 31.h4 gxh4 32.gxh4
Sabrina now has an open file to attack my king. It doesn't look good for The Chess Guy here!
32...a3 33.Ra1 Rf8 34.Rg1+ Kf7 35.Qg7+ Ke6 36.Qg6+ Qf6 37.Qg4+
I simply can't escape that queen.
37...Kd6 38.Rgd1+ Kc6 39.Qd7+ Kb7 40.Rdb1+ Ka7 41.Qxc7+ Ka6 42.Qb7+ Ka5 43.Qb5#
Crushed and put to bed. Man, wha-happened?
1-0
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Article 60: Kinights and Bishops
It took me many years to really understand the subtle differences between knights and bishops in chess. It turns out to be quite simple but I have never heard it taught this way before. Even though both pieces get a value of 3 for their material value, their true value on the board changes as your game progresses. Knights can jump but have limited range. This makes them ideal in crowded boards where Bishops are blocked from doing their long-range sniper-bot tactics. Because Bishops cannot jump and only can reach half of the board squares, they are better if you have both of them and when there are fewer pieces on the board.
To illustrate this, I devised a drill that two people can play to learn how to use their Knights and Bishops best.
To illustrate this, I devised a drill that two people can play to learn how to use their Knights and Bishops best.
- Set up your kings and one white Bishop and one black Knight on their home king-side squares.
- Choose how many pawns to play with and place them each on the second rank towards the center of the board.
- The goal of the game is to get your Knight or Bishop across the board to a safe square or get a pawn across which can turn only into a white Bishop or a black Knight and must not be immediately taken to win.
- If you trade the Knights and Bishops off, it’s a draw.
Above is an example of a possible drill setup position using 5 pawns each.
Not only is this a challenging endgame problem but you should find that the more pawns you start with, the more likely it is for the Knight to beat the Bishop.
Not only is this a challenging endgame problem but you should find that the more pawns you start with, the more likely it is for the Knight to beat the Bishop.
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Article 61: Another Exciting Game
[Event "Orofino Chess Club"], [Site "Orofino Pizza Factory"]
[Date "3-6-2018"]
[Round "3"], [White "Robert Jensen"], [Black "Normad Semaj"]
[Result "1-0"], [ECO "B00"], [Opening "King's pawn opening"]
[Date "3-6-2018"]
[Round "3"], [White "Robert Jensen"], [Black "Normad Semaj"]
[Result "1-0"], [ECO "B00"], [Opening "King's pawn opening"]
This game is very instructive of the importance of keeping your pawns in front of your castled king in good order.
1.e4 b5
Believe it or not, this pawn sac is a real opening in chess - but I don't recommend it, though I have been beaten with this opening myself.
2.Bxb5 Bb7 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d3
[4.e5 Bxg2 5.exf6 Bxh1 6.fxe7 Qxe7+ 7.Nge2 White probably looses too much material in exchange for a better control of the center but this seemed almost worth it to me.]
4...c6 5.Bc4 Na6?
The CENTER man! That's where its at.
6.Qf3
Premature I think. [6.Nf3 followed by o-o was better.]
6...e5 7.Bg5 Bb4 8.Ne2 Nc5!
This may have been blacks plan all along. This is a good spot for the knight.
9.Bxf6
1.e4 b5
Believe it or not, this pawn sac is a real opening in chess - but I don't recommend it, though I have been beaten with this opening myself.
2.Bxb5 Bb7 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d3
[4.e5 Bxg2 5.exf6 Bxh1 6.fxe7 Qxe7+ 7.Nge2 White probably looses too much material in exchange for a better control of the center but this seemed almost worth it to me.]
4...c6 5.Bc4 Na6?
The CENTER man! That's where its at.
6.Qf3
Premature I think. [6.Nf3 followed by o-o was better.]
6...e5 7.Bg5 Bb4 8.Ne2 Nc5!
This may have been blacks plan all along. This is a good spot for the knight.
9.Bxf6
Here’s where black blew it. What would you have done?
9. …gxf6?
Better was Qxf6. Why mess up your pawns needlessly? By trading queens first, black greatly reduces the dangers of leaving a hole in his kingside pawn structure. This move invites much trouble.
10.Qh5
White immediately seizes on the opportunity.
10...Ne6
Black must retreat to handle threats at home.
11.O-O d5 12.exd5 Ng7
[12...cxd5 I saw nothing wrong with this.]
13.Qh6
Black is having a hard time with those backwards doubled pawns. The queen will not let go of attcking them and the weakness they create.
13...Rg8 14.Qxh7 Kf8 15.dxc6 Bxc6
Black has lost all momentum and is struggling just to survive now.
16.f4 Bc5+ 17.Kh1 Rb8 18.fxe5 Rxb2
[18...fxe5 19.Rxf7+]
19.Rxf6 Rxc2 20.Rxf7+ Ke8 21.Qxg8+ 1-0
Better was Qxf6. Why mess up your pawns needlessly? By trading queens first, black greatly reduces the dangers of leaving a hole in his kingside pawn structure. This move invites much trouble.
10.Qh5
White immediately seizes on the opportunity.
10...Ne6
Black must retreat to handle threats at home.
11.O-O d5 12.exd5 Ng7
[12...cxd5 I saw nothing wrong with this.]
13.Qh6
Black is having a hard time with those backwards doubled pawns. The queen will not let go of attcking them and the weakness they create.
13...Rg8 14.Qxh7 Kf8 15.dxc6 Bxc6
Black has lost all momentum and is struggling just to survive now.
16.f4 Bc5+ 17.Kh1 Rb8 18.fxe5 Rxb2
[18...fxe5 19.Rxf7+]
19.Rxf6 Rxc2 20.Rxf7+ Ke8 21.Qxg8+ 1-0