Tactics: Problem #6

Here is a tactical problem that should be quite easy! Try and find the finish ...

(Careful not to scroll too far - you'll see the answer ... !)

Black to move ...

1...  Nxd4 2. cxd4 Qe2# 0-1

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

De La Maza Training Update

As visitors and members of this Blog may know, I am currently in engaging in a tactics regime encouraged by Michael De La Maza.

See a previous post for more information on the 7 Circles approach ...

I am encouraged by my results, but not entirely convinced. As can be seen from the table below, the time spent solving my 100 sample problems has decreased steadily for each circle attempted. However, I feel the main reason for the considerably faster solving times is due simply to memory! After all, you are solving the same problems again and again, therefore you tend to remember the solution rather than having to re-solve them each time.

All very well but what if you leave the training and revisit it after a 2 month break?  As you can see from the table below (Problems 101 - 200), there is a break between Circle 6 - 28/03/2012 and Circle 7 - 20/05/2012 of almost 2 months.  Unfortunately my time went back up to 40mins, BUT the good news is that it is still 11mins quicker than Circle 1 when I first started Batch # 2.  What is more, I got all the solutions correct, so another plus here!

Overall, for me the training cannot be a bad thing ... After all, pattern recognition is essential for the chess tactician, and surely the more frequently you see the same chess problem / position before you, then the more chance you have of seeing it's underlying pattern and method of solution?  As usual, comments welcome.

Half open f-file wreaks havoc in GP-Attack!

I played a Grand Prix Attack game online this evening and won comfortably in 17-moves (opponent's grade 1600 approx). It's easy when you know how ... If you manage to sac your f-pawn as White - a common plan in the GP-Attack, then the half open f-file causes mayhem for your opponent. The Black f-pawn becomes pinned and g6 becomes an attacked, won square and a haven for your pieces! Generally speaking, a Queen or a Knight can easily occupy this square ... Here is my sample game ...

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bc4 a6 6. a4 Be7 7. d3 Qc7 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe1 h6 10. f5 exf5 11. exf5 Bxf5 12. Nh4 Bh7 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Bxh4 15. Qxh4 Bg6 16. Qg3 Nd7 17. Qxg6 1-0

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Budapest - Skittles Game Win!

I was sparring with my favourite opening this evening - the Budapest. My opponent took their eye off the ball and blundered their f-pawn with dire consequences. Here is the game ...

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 Bc5 4. e3 d6 5. Nc3 Bf5 6. Na4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 a5 8. a3 Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 Na6 10. Ne2 O-O 11. Ng3 Bg6 12. Be2 Qd7 13. b3 h5 14. h4 Rab8 15. Qd1 Ng4 16. e4 f5 17. Bxg4 fxg4 18. O-O Rf4 19. Qe2 Rbf8 20. Rac1 b6 21. Nc3 Nc5 22. b4 Nb3 23. Rb1 Nd4 24. Qd3 Qf7 25. Rb2 axb4 26. axb4 Qf6 27. Nce2 Rxf2 28. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 29. Kh2 (Nf3+! wins easily...) 0-1

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Tactics: Problem #5

Here is a tactical problem that should be quite easy! Try and find the finish ...

(Careful not to scroll too far - you'll see the answer ... !)

White to move ...

1. Qxg6+! hxg6 2. Bxg6+ Ke7 3. Bc5# *

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Calculation Training in 20mins (continued)

Here is a link to the recent Asian Continental Championships won by Negi of India.  If you click on the link and scroll down you will find at least 2 games.  The first one is an English opening.  If you follow the game through until about move 19. you find yourself deep into the middlegame.  This is where you should start thinking about the plan, for your chosen colour.  Let's say you choose Black ... Play move 19. for White but don't look at Black's next move.  Instead, make a list of all the candidate moves for Black.  Choose which you think are the 3 most promising.  Now reason through each of the 3 candidate moves in turn to test that a) they are tactically sound and b) that they have a solid goal in mind ... The goal might be tactical - i.e. you can win a pawn or piece or it might be strategical - i.e. you can improve the position of one of your pieces with a further longer-term aim in mind ...  Once this technique is perfected then you will become a formidable player!

http://www.chess.com/news/negi-wins-asian-continental-championships-6652

Budapest - Undeveloped Bishop

In this club game I wanted to spring a surprise on my opponent by playing an unorthodox opening.  How better that the Budapest?!  Just one problem - my opponent wasn't really surprised ... :)  In fact he seemed to know Alekhine's variation of the Budapest pretty well and achieved perfect central domination.  My bishop became hemmed in - I played a poor positional game with my knights and left myself with zero play!  It just goes to show that, if your opponent is more than familiar with the opening that you are trying to surprise them with, then you have to be prepared. I didn't revise Alekhine's variation well enough. Upon arriving home after the game, I referred to Tim Taylor's book and realised that I had misplaced my knight at a critical juncture. Here is the game:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 (Alekhines Variation ... ) 4...  Nxe5 5. f4 Nec6 6. Be3 Bb4+ 7. Nd2 Qh4+ 8. g3 Qe7 9. Bg2 d6 10. a3 Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Nd7 (not sure about this ...) 12. Ne2 Nf6 13. Nc3 O-O 14. O-O Na5 15. Qd3 Nb3 16. Rae1 Nc5 17. Bxc5 dxc5 18. e5 Ne8 19. Nd5 Qd7 20. Be4 g6 21. f5 c6 22. fxg6 cxd5 23. gxf7+ Kh8 24. fxe8 Rxe8 25. Bxd5 Qc7 26. Rf7 1-0

c7

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Calculation Training 1

Here is another very useful video on calculation ... a necessary evil for the expert chess tactician!

Simple calculation to avoid mistakes

Here is a game I played online this evening. The game is abundant with tactical oversights from both players ... However, it is always best to check before you castle!!

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Ne7 4. e5 Ng6 5. Bd3 c5 6. Bxg6 hxg6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Bxd4 Nc6 9. Nf3 g5 10. g4 a6 11. Qd2 Rh3 12. Nxg5 Rh4 13. Qf4 Qe7 14. O-O-O Bd7 15. Nf3 Rh3 16. Ng5 Rh4 17. h3 O-O-O 18. Nxf7 g5 19. Qf3 Nxd4 20. Rxd4 Qc5 21. Nxd8 Qxd4 22. Qxf8 Kc7 1-0

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Chess Tactics Training 1

Here's a great place to start training with some basic positions!

Sicilian 2.Bc4 - Lucky Win for Black

Here is a Sicilian with 2.Bc4. I was aware that my opponent likes to play the King's Gambit setup, therefore I adopted a defense for Black that resembles the stance you'd take as Black in the Grand Prix Attack. I should have lost this game because my opponent could have won the exchange and I am certain that I wouldn't have gained enough compensation for it!

As the game progresses I managed to exchange Queens with a favourable position for me, although I have to be careful of a back rank mate threat with White's Knight on f5 and Re8#. We are both in time trouble at this point and fortunately I have Ne5, blocking the Rook. The game ends with me getting a Rook and Knight mate of my own in!

1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 d6 3. f4 Nc6 4. a3 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. O-O e6 7. d3 Nge7 8. c3 a6 9. Be3 b5 10. Ba2 Bb7 (I choose to get develop Bishop on Long Diagonal) 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Nh4 Bf6 13. Qe1 Kh8 14. Ndf3 a5 15. g3 b4 16. f5 exf5 17. exf5 bxc3 18. bxc3 Ba6 19. Rad1 Rb8 20. R1f2 Qd7 21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. Bxg5 gxf5 23. Bh6 Ne5 24. c4 (surely Bxf8! - c6 blocks the Bishops diagonal) 24...  Rg8 25. Qc3 Bb7 26. Re1 Qc6 27. Kf1 f6 28. d4 cxd4 29. Qxd4 Rg4 30. Bf4 Qh1+ 31. Ke2 Qe4+ 32. Qxe4 Bxe4 33. Kf1 Rxf4 34. Rxf4 Nd3 35. Rfxe4 fxe4 36. Rxe4 Ng6 37. Nf5 Nge5 38. h3 Rb2 39. Rd4 h5 40. Rxd6 Rxa2 41. Rxf6 Rf2+ 42. Kg1 Nf3+ (Kh1 Rh2#) 0-1

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/