Breaking down the walls ...

I have attempted to solve many tactical puzzles over the years, where you are encouraged to look for ways to 'break through' the castled King's defenses through the city walls ... When you have at least two pieces aimed at the pawns around the castled enemy King, it is always worth trying to imagine what you could do once those pawns have been eliminated.  Ask yourself - what possible tactics can I try, after I've effectively broken in ... Here is the critical position that was reached during my game this evening. 

As you can see, there is a possibility of winning the g and f pawns for the Bishop, but how do you follow this up?  The key is to have a look at the remaining Black pieces to see what can potentially be exploited.  In this case, I could see that the Queen and the Bishop are lined up along the 7th rank, so effectively I get to skewer the Queen and the Bishop, meaning I win the Bishop back once the Queen moves .. !!  So the net result is two pawns profit ...   

Here is the beginning of this little combination ... it was considered a brilliancy by chess.com's analysis.  

Unfortunately after

22. Bxg6 fxg6

23. Rxg6+ Kh8

24. Rg7 

my opponent tried to counter with 24. ..Nd5? threatening my Queen, but this made the eval bar max out in my favour, because I can then counter again with Queen 25. Qe5!!  My opponent then resigned ... Here is the full game ... 

Caro-Kan

The Endgame Is Not a Bore: A Study Plan for Tactical Endgames

Welcome back, fellow tacticians! Many players view the endgame as a slow, technical grind—a phase where tactics take a backseat to dry, positional maneuvers. This is a dangerous misconception. In fact, endgames are full of explosive tactical opportunities that can turn a lost position into a draw, or a small advantage into a crushing win.

Today, we're going to change your perspective on the endgame. We'll explore the unique tactical motifs that define this phase of the game and provide you with a structured study plan to sharpen your endgame killer instinct !! 😃

The King Is Now a Tactical Piece

The most significant change in the endgame is the role of the king. No longer a piece to be protected at all costs, the king becomes a powerful attacking and defending unit. Its ability to create threats and participate in tactical combinations is a core element of endgame play. An active king can:

• Support a passed pawn: Escorting a pawn to promotion.

• Attack opponent's pawns: Creating a new weakness or winning material.

• Participate in tactical forks and skewers: The king's presence can create double attacks that win the game.

Essential Endgame Tactical Motifs

While many tactical themes from the middlegame (like forks and pins) still apply, the endgame introduces several unique motifs that every aspiring tactician must master:

• Pawn Breakthroughs: Sacrificing a pawn (or two!) to create a new, unstoppable passed pawn. These combinations can be deep and surprising. The pawn breakthrough is perhaps the most quintessential endgame tactic.

• Zugzwang: This is the most famous endgame motif. It's a position where any move a player makes leads to a worse position. Being able to spot a zugzwang and maneuver your opponent into it is the hallmark of a strong endgame player.

• King Opposition: The strategic maneuver of placing your king directly opposite your opponent's king with an odd number of squares in between. This is often used to restrict the enemy king or gain a key tempo.

• The Power of Passed Pawns: A passed pawn is a potential queen, and tactics revolve around its advance and the opponent's attempts to stop it. This includes sacrifices to clear a path or create a diversion.

• Stalemate Tricks: In a losing position, a tactical player can use stalemate as a life-saving resource. This often involves sacrificing pieces to create a position where the opponent's king is not in check but has no legal moves.

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Your Endgame Tactical Study Plan

Don't just watch videos or read books—you need to actively practice these concepts. Here is a five-stage study plan to transform your endgame skills.

Stage 1: The Fundamentals (Rating 0-1000)

Your first goal is to master the absolute basics. Without this foundation, the rest of the plan is useless.

1. King & Pawn vs. King: Learn how to win with a lone king and pawn. Master the "rule of the square" and the concept of opposition.

2. Basic Mates: Know how to checkmate with a queen and a rook against a lone king. This is a non-negotiable skill.

3. Rook & King vs. King: Learn the "bridge" technique (Lucena Position) for winning and the "fence" (Philidor Position) for drawing. These are the most common and important endgame concepts.

• Study Resources: The Lichess and Chess.com endgame lessons are perfect for this. They are interactive and will test you on the fundamental positions.

Stage 2: Pawn Endgames (Rating 1000-1400)

Pawn endgames are the purest form of calculation. Mastering them will dramatically improve your tactical vision.

1. Key Squares: Learn about key squares—the squares that a king must occupy to win a pawn endgame.

2. Passed Pawns: Study pawn breakthroughs and how to create and stop a passed pawn.

3. Famous Studies: Explore classic puzzles that showcase tactical endgame ideas. The Réti endgame study is a perfect example of a paradoxical king maneuver. A quick search will show you how White's king appears to chase a pawn from afar but instead targets both pawns at once.

• Study Resources: "Silman's Complete Endgame Course" is a fantastic book that categorizes endgames by rating level, making it easy to know what to study next.

Stage 3: Minor Piece Endgames (Rating 1400-1800)

Now you'll add knights and bishops to the mix, where a deeper understanding of piece coordination and unique tactical motifs becomes key.

1. Bishop vs. Knight: Learn the strengths and weaknesses of each piece. For instance, a knight can fork a king and another piece, while a bishop can skewer pieces from a distance.

2. Same-Color Bishop Endgames: Understand why these are often drawn and the tactical ideas that can turn a position into a win (e.g., creating two weak pawns).

3. Knight vs. Pawn Endgames: These are full of forks and surprising traps. Practice puzzles where a lone knight must stop a pawn or where a knight must escape a trap.

• Study Resources: "Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual" is the undisputed bible of endgame theory, but it's a dense read. Use it as a reference for specific topics as you encounter them in your games. Online tools like Chessable's "100 Endgames You Must Know" are also great.

Stage 4: Rook Endgames (Rating 1800-2200)

Rook endgames are the most common and arguably the most difficult to master. They are full of tactical subtleties.

1. Cutting Off the King: Learn how to use your rook to restrict the enemy king, a key principle of rook endgames.

2. Rook Lifts and Back-Rank Attacks: The ability to lift a rook to the 7th rank for a devastating attack or back-rank check is a critical tactical skill.

3. Rook vs. Pawns: Study situations where a rook has to fight against multiple pawns, a classic endgame tactical puzzle.

• Study Resources: "Endgame Strategy" by Mikhail Shereshevsky is an excellent book that focuses on the plans and ideas behind the moves, not just the technical details.

Stage 5: Endgame Master (Rating 2200+)

At this level, you are not just learning, but refining your knowledge. You'll be ready to tackle the complexities of Queen endgames and the most difficult studies.

1. Advanced Queen Endgames: These are extremely complex and tactical, often involving perpetual check, pawn races, and king attacks.

2. Endgame Studies: Solve composed endgame studies (like the Saavedra Position) that challenge your calculation and creativity to the limit. These positions are specifically designed to test your understanding of unexpected tactical resources.

• Study Resources: Continue to work through "Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual" and play through the endgames of Grandmaster games. Analyze a game by a legendary endgame player like Capablanca or Karpov and try to understand the tactical and positional ideas behind their every move.

By following this plan, you'll discover that endgames are not just about technique—they are about a different kind of tactical play, one that requires patience, foresight, and a keen eye for the unexpected. Start today, and you'll find that the game of chess is just beginning when the pieces start to disappear.

Favourable Trades Win Games !!

To all beginner players who want to learn tactics ... 

Obviously it is important to look at the moves ahead both for you and your opponent.  But the trades need to be CAREFULLY analysed!!

In some cases, if your opponent hasn't spotted something, you will be able to win the game, simply by gaining an extra piece by looking at the move order when trading - as in the following example:

If this guy has been a businessman, and the pieces had monetary value then he'd have lost his money :)  

White - how to proceed?

White to move ... What is the right way to play here?

You will become a great chess tactician if you recognise the theme here. 

CLUE:  there are no pieces around Black's King (apart from the Black Queen on e7). Without looking at the solution, try and devise a series of moves in your head that you can play to attack the opponent's king for a favourable outcome ...

👁️ Sharpen Your Tactical Vision: See Like a Chess Assassin

 Every chess player dreams of spotting a brilliant sacrifice or finding that game-winning fork just in time. But how do top players seem to see everything — while the rest of us fall into the same pins and skewers again and again?

The answer: tactical vision.

This isn’t just calculation. It’s pattern recognition, intuition, and the ability to sniff out danger or opportunity from a mile away.

Here’s how to sharpen your tactical blade. 🗡️

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🎯 What Is Tactical Vision?

Tactical vision is the ability to spot combinations, threats, and opportunities instantly. It’s like having a mental radar that beeps whenever a tactic is brewing — whether you’re attacking or defending.

“Tactics flow from a superior position.” — Bobby Fischer
But only if you see them!

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🔍 Common Tactical Patterns You Must Master

To improve your vision, first master the core tactical building blocks:

• Forks – One piece attacks two or more.

• Pins – A piece can’t move without exposing something valuable.

• Skewers – Like a pin, but reversed: the high-value piece is in front.

• Discovered Attacks – Move one piece to unleash a hidden threat.

• Double Checks – The most forcing tactic of all.

• Back-Rank Mates – The sneakiest checkmates you'll see at club level.

• Zwischenzugs – Sneaky intermediate moves that change everything.

The more of these you internalize, the faster you’ll spot them.

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🧠 How to Train Tactical Vision

Here’s how the pros (and improving amateurs) sharpen their tactical eye:

1. Solve Tactics Daily

📱 Use platforms like Chess.com Puzzles, Lichess Training, or ChessTempo.
🧩 Just 15–20 minutes a day builds recognition fast.

2. Use “Pattern Storms”

Try a drill-based app or book (like Bain’s Chess Tactics for Students or Polgar’s Puzzle Book) to hammer patterns into your brain. Repetition breeds instinct.

3. Play Slower Games

It sounds boring, but longer time controls give you time to search for tactics until it becomes second nature.

4. Study Classic Combinations

Learn from Tal, Morphy, Alekhine, and Kasparov. Pause the game and guess the move. Your brain will start to see like they did.

5. Review Your Own Games

Find the tactics you missed, not just the ones you played. Painful? Yes. Effective? Hugely.

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⚔️ Real-World Example

Position: White to move
![Insert tactical puzzle diagram here if blogging with images]

Do you see the fork? The pin? The quiet move that wins material?

💡 If not, don’t worry. Train that vision and this will become second nature.

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🔁 Bonus Drill: “Blind Tactics”

Close your eyes. Picture a position and talk through it. This sharpens both visualization and tactical recognition at once. Hard at first — but powerful in the long run.

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🧩 Final Word

Improving your tactical vision isn’t magic — it’s habit. And once it clicks, you’ll start seeing shots before your opponent even sniffs them.

You won’t just play tactics.

You’ll feel them coming.

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🚀 Quick Links to Train Your Tactics:

• Chess.com Puzzle Rush

• Lichess.org Training

• [CT-ART App (Android/iOS)] – Classic tactics trainer

• The Woodpecker Method – For serious grinders!

Tactical Turbulence: Ride the Combinational Wave to Chess Mastery!

 

1. Why Tactics Matter

Tactics are the “edge” in most club-level games—forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, and mating nets decide the outcome. As GM Noël Studer notes, understanding motifs like pin‑skewer or windmill makes spotting tactics much easier medium.com+2github.com+2chessmood.com+2nextlevelchess.com.

2. Build Your Tactical Toolkit

Begin with motif-learning, then move on to pattern recognition and calculation drills:

• ChessMood’s “Improve Your Chess Tactics” course dives into motifs with exercises medium.com+4chessmood.com+4nextlevelchess.com+4.

• For free motif reviews, check out Chess.com’s 38 Definitions and Examples of Chess Tactics (includes pins, forks, skewers, etc.) nextlevelchess.com.

3. Drill, Drill, Drill!

Regular solving reinforces pattern recognition and sharpens calculation:

• Use Chess.com Tactics Trainer or Lichess puzzles—these tools let you work on speed and accuracy nextlevelchess.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2beginchess.com+2chessgames.com+11chess.com+11johnbartholomewchess.com+11.

• Try Chessable’s “100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know” for spaced‑repetition mastery chess.com+7chessable.com+7johnbartholomewchess.com+7.

4. Learn from Real Games

Studying grandmaster games grounds your tactics in real positions:

• GM Svitlana Demchenko’s “Smart Moves” from the recent Norway Chess 2025 showcases sharp tactics in GM play chess.com+10en.chessbase.com+10modern-chess.com+10.

• Chessentials.com provides collections like Best Chess Games of World Champions, downloadable in PGN chessentials.com+1beginchess.com+1.

• PGNMentor.com is a great source for recent games packs (events & players updated Jan 2025) pgnmentor.com.

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🔗 Tactic‑Boosting Resources

• Chess.com Tactics Trainer – massive puzzle bank + theme-based training.

• Lichess Puzzles & Database Download – over 3.5 million puzzles available chess.comlichess.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.

• ChessMood: Improve Your Chess Tactics – a structured approach to motifs and exercises nextlevelchess.com+1chessmood.com+1.

• Chessmentschia’s PGN Downloads – free PGN packs of champion games github.com+9chessentials.com+9reddit.com+9.

• PGNMentor PGN Files – updated through Jan 2025 chess.com+2pgnmentor.com+2reddit.com+2.

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📥 Embed-Worthy Tactical PGNs

Here are two recent tactical gems you can embed in Chess.com:

1. Karpov vs Topalov, 1994 (Queen’s Pawn, rich in pins & forks)
Download PGN: PGNMentor → “Players” → search Karpov Topalov johnbartholomewchess.com+15chessgames.com+15modern-chess.com+15pgnmentor.com

2. Gukesh vs Giri, Tata Steel 2025 (complex combinational tactics)
You can grab the PGN from ChessBase or YouTube video description en.wikipedia.org+4en.chessbase.com+4en.chessbase.com+4

(Tip: Once uploaded to Chess.com, copy the “Embed” link and add it to your post.)

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🛠️ DIY Tactics Training Plan

Week	Focus	Tools & Material
1	Learn motifs	Chess.com motif guide, ChessMood course
2–4	Solve puzzles	Chess.com Trainer, Lichess, Chessable PGNMentor, Chessentials
Weekly	Analyze your own games with tactics	Use Lichess or Chess.com analysis tools

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✨ Final Thoughts

Tactics improvement is a cycle of:
Learn → Drill → Apply → Study
Stick with it, and soon tactical patterns will pop out during your games—it’s like having radar for combinational fireworks!

How to deal with the openings - Part 1 of 3

I think that many beginner to intermediate players make the same common mistake of 
trying to learn too many openings ... It is true that after 1.e4 then Black actually gets to choose the opening :) I think that many beginners are actually unaware of this fact!

For instance you have to know what your going to do against 

1 .. d5, The Scandinavian, 
2 .. e6, The French 
2 .. Nf6, Alekhines Defence
2 .. g6 or d6 Pirc Modern
2 .. e5, Kings Pawn
2 .. b6, Queens Indian
2 .. c5, Sicilian


If you play 1.d4 then expect: 

2 .. Nf6 3. c4 g6 Kings Indian Defence
2 .. Nf6 3. c4 e5 Budapest Defence
2 .. d5 3. c4 e6 Queens Gambit
2 .. d5 3. c4 c6 Slav/Semi-Slav Defence

These are only a subsection of the most popular openings ... 

As White ... 
My old chess coach used to remind me that as White, you should decide whether you are a d4 or an e4 player.  Generally speaking e4 leads to potentially more tactically rich openings and d4 leads to more strategic lines.  Obviously both styles of opening can lead to tactical positions of course ...!

As Black ... 
If White plays e4 then you need to decide which one of the above openings to follow up with ... If White plays d4 then you have to decide whether you are going to play:  

2 .. Nf6 leading to Kings Indian, Budapest, Gruenfeld, depending on each players second move.  

2 .. d5 can lead to Queens Gambit or Slav / Semi-Slav Defence, Catalan


etc. etc. etc.

Whatever you choose it is important to stick to learning one or two openings for each colour, before going into the depths of every opening ... Once you have learnt one or two key openings then you will see similar ideas / patterns in other related openings ... 

Part 2 of 3 to follow.

When 1690 plays 1390

what are the differences between the styles of play in this game? The difference is that of technique - development and the conception of a plan. The lower graded player is not properly developed whereas the higher graded player considered development very carefully and capitalised on the 1390s lack of development.

The 1690 has managed to plan an attack against their opponents king, no matter how simplistic... 
Finally they used tactics to issue the knockout blows and checkmate the king!

The lessons for the 1390 player should be:
1) Bring all your pieces into play as expediently as possible.
2) Look out for enemy attacks and tactics against your king.
3) Plan your own attacks and make threats - the tactics will follow!

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Kings pawn

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

Chess Tactics Magnus Carlsen Decoded

I have just downloaded a fantastic, up to date tactics book for my Kindle.  It features the most recent wins of Magnus Carlsen and demonstrates the tactical levers he used to achieve them!  This ebook features over 50 games, many of which are contests between Carlsen and Aronian, Carlsen and Nakamura and Carlsen and Anand.

If I remember correctly, the book is VERY reasonably priced at under £5.  It is written by Mijail Bogdanov, who has himself annotated the games.  I appreciate this guide, because:

a) There is no exhaustive analysis.
b) There are loads of tactical positions to analyse.
c) I can learn from these positions.
d) Entire games are included, so openings can also be examined.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tactics-Magnus-Carlsen-Decoded-ebook/dp/B00AXVC9VO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369647109&sr=8-1&keywords=magnus+carlsen+decoded

It is worth noting however, that the book should probably have been edited more thoroughly as the English is a little stunted / awkward in places, but I didn't buy the book to appreciate English grammar!

I love the book and I'm tackling just one game per day, which should be sufficient for me.  Thoroughly recommended.

A French with counter-play for White

Just lately my club chess has gone from 'very average' to 'catastrophic' to 'downright diabolical' all in the space of about a month! This evening I turned up for my game, mindful that another loss would make me have serious doubts about whether or not I ought to take up tiddly-winks instead ...?

I want to reach 130 Bcf by the end of the season but the fact is, I need to play a lot better than I have been to get anywhere near it ... In my game this evening I was faced with the French. My opponent cleverly managed to trade off his bad light squared Bishop by playing it to a6 early on ... After that I got into a tactically sharpish position (for me) and overlooked a simple enough combination from my opponent allowing him to win a pawn. My head went down - another loss maybe?

I think it should have been a loss for me, but I've always said that you have to cling on to any glimmer of hope you might have ... It is best to remain poker faced when you're losing, advisable not to show your emotions - I.e. shaking of head, grimacing, snorting, whimpering, maniacal laughter - there all off limits! My opponent went on to win the exchange (nothing much I could do about that, 'snort') but bizarrely, he only had a Queen in play with two passive rooks and my Knight was destined for a greater future on b5 ...

Incredibly, my opponent seemed to overlook the safety of his King and presented me with a chance for counter-play ... In the final position it looked like a draw by repetition was probably the best option for him, and when he offered it I practically bit his arm off !!!

(I found out after the game that my opponent was graded almost 300 Elo points above me at 1848 Elo. It paid me in grading points not to give up the fight!)

As usual, any comments welcome ...

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

Chesscentric

Myself and a colleague have recently completed the development of a new free online chess server:

   http://www.chesscentric.org

Visit the above site to register and view Chess Tactics Puzzles, Videos, Game of the Month and play chess online.  Look forward to seeing you all on there ... !

20 Minute Exercise - Carlsen Game

Below is a link to the recent World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Astana. If you click on the link and scroll down you will find a game contested by Kazhgaleyev (W) and Carlsen (B). This one is a traditional e4 - e5 opening. If you follow the game through until about move 9. 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 9. 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 ... Take 20 minutes maximum for this exercise.  Once this technique is perfected then you will become a great player!

http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/chessnews/events/world-rapid-and-blitz-championships-2012

Concept of open 'h' file

I lost many games online last night, but managed to win one in the end :) I remembered a concept that I'd seen on a DVD by Roman Dzindzichashvili. The idea is to sacrifice the Bishop on g5 and open the h file. I ended up with a Queen and Rook mate threat and plenty of time to capitalise on my opponent's uncastled King. Here is the game - a 5 minute Blitz.

As usual - any comments welcome!!

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

Blast 'em with Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit

I was recently trying to find some gambit lines against the Petroff and I stumbled across the Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit. It should be noted that, although White can use this Gambit to their advantage, it is unlikely that Black graded greater than ELO 1700 will fall for any cheap tricks. Here is one very simple line and to put it bluntly, probably one of the cheapest tricks in the book ... As usual - any comments welcome!!

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.

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 ...

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 ...

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

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!!

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