Category: Intermediate

In part 2 of our series on the Italian game, we saw that white can sometimes launch a surprising but deadly attack using the maneuver Nf1-g3, Nh4, Qf3, followed by Nf5 or Nh5.

In part 2, black chose to prepare the d5 advance with Re8 and Be6. After some subsequent mistakes, things became difficult for black, to put it kindly. One question you could ask is: what would happen if black tried to beat white to the punch on the kingside? If white’s knight maneuver to f5 if so effective, why shouldn’t black dispatch a knight to the corresponding square (f4)? Indeed, the move 10… Nh5 is actually the most popular in this position (Be6 and Re8 are close behind).

Continue reading “The Italian Game: Counterattack”

A stunning checkmate! A daring queen sacrifice! A shocking under-promotion! We often think of chess tactics as bold and flamboyant.

But tactics sometimes appear with little fanfare and little warning for either the initiator or the victim. Sometimes, neither side will be attacking in a traditional sense, both kings might be safe, or the queens may no longer even be on the board! Moreover, the reward for a tactic might be as little as a pawn, though even such meager plunder can end up deciding the game. In this article, we’re going to practice spotting these “boring” tactics.

In the following encounter between Krishnan Sasikiran and Luke McShane from the recent World Team Championship in Astana, white (Sasikiran), who had been defending for a while, has just recaptured a pawn on c5 with his bishop.

Continue reading “Boring Tactics”

There are few worse feelings in chess than the sudden realization that your opponent has a strong move available. Sometimes you realize this right after making your own move, and must sit there squirming, awaiting the judgment of fate. Other times, you’ll remain oblivious right up to the moment when the hammer falls. In either case, you feel the agony of hope draining away as you grasp at variations, searching for a salvation that doesn’t exist.

The following position is from Yasser Seirawan vs. Viktor Korchnoi, Las Palmas 1971.

Korchnoi, who had been pressing earlier in the game, decided to capture on c5 here, intending to exchange rooks. Was this a good idea?

Continue reading “The Sinking Feeling”

No, this article isn’t about Chess Boxing (sorry)!

Many chess players can relate to the experience of not following through on a strong attack. You knew you had your opponent on the ropes, but you couldn’t find that final knockout blow which would have induced resignation.

Being able to find such blows quickly and consistently in your games will make you much more dangerous as an attacking player. Doing so requires a lot of practice, however.

Continue reading “Delivering the Knockout”