Roots of Positional Understanding - Σκακιστικά Μαθήματα

Thematic Opening Idea

In the opening White often achieves a nice pawn center (with pawns on e4 and d4) that is accompanied by a seemingly strong Bishop on c4.

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D.Durham-J.Shapiro, Los Angeles 1997

A normal game is in progress. White has more central space, Black is already castled. How should Black handle this type of situation?

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Crossing the opponent's plans

This position arose from a Modern Benoni (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5, etc.). White's correct move should be almost automatic in this kind of situation. Do you see what must be done?

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Expanding your possibilities

This well-known opening position usually occurs after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 (it's known as the Semi-Slav).

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Pieces working together

This position (from an opening known as the Closed Sicilian) is just a few moves old (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 d6 4.Bg2) and doesn't appear to be critical to much of anything.

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Plugging the holes

White enjoys a clear advantage in this position. Can you spot the factors that give the first player this pull and, if you can, how can White take maximum advantage of these things?

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Fischer-Gheorghiu, Buenos Aires 1970

The game (the first moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 Be7 6.Bd3 Nf6) appears to be fairly equal, except for the fact that White enjoys a slight advantage in central space.

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Motoc-Assad, 1996 World Youth Festival (girls under 12)

Black has to come up with a useful and clear plan. This is easy to say but very difficult to do!

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Perunovic-Zivanic, World Youth Festival 1996 (Boys Under 12)

White has the more comfortable position. Black would like to eventually equalize the chances but he has to catch up on development before this happens.

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Bhat-Paragua, World Youth Festival 1996 (Boys Under 12)

Vinay Bhat, the young American Master, is a fine positional player and also excels at tactics. Here he finds a simple way to increase his advantage. Sometimes the simple moves are the most effective.

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Minority Attack

The plan shown here is a bit advanced but is also very, very important. It allows the side using it to create weak pawns and weak squares in the enemy camp, and open files for his Rooks.

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Chinkevich-Anceyta Tejas, World Youth Festival 1996 (boys under 14)

White has two glaring advantages: an attack against the enemy King and potential pressure down the c-file against the weak c6-pawn.

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Sargisian-Bacrot, World Youth Festival 1996 (boys under 14)

White has played in a classical manner (the first moves were: 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 c6 5.a4 Nd7 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 Ngf6 8.dxe5 dxe5) and enjoys a comfortable edge.

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Siegel-Vallejo Pons, World Youth Festival 1996 (boys under 14)

Both sides are trying to get something started in this closed, slow position. Your job is to find a Black maneuver that improves the position of his pieces.

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Mah-Acs, World Youth Festival 1996 (boys under 16)

Both sides have a solid position, but White has just attacked Black's Bishop on c5 with Na4. How should Black deal with this threat?

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Smetankin-Anchev, World Youth Festival 1996 (boys under 16)

White's pieces are more active than Black's. The proper move, a typical maneuver in these situations, considerably adds to the pressure against the enemy position.

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Fontaine-Fressinet, World Youth Festival 1996 (boys under 16)

Both sides enjoy certain advantages in this position. What thematic idea drastically improves the Black cause?

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Vescovi-Banikas, World Youth Festival 1996 (boys under 18)

White has a big pawn center and an advantage in space. Now he must find a way to consolidate his position.

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Filipek-Stevic, World Youth Festival 1996 (boys under 18)

This problem demonstrates a typical and highly important maneuver. White has to develop his forces, but he must do this in a way that aids future plans and pawn advances.

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The right capture

Black is a pawn down and must recapture his pawn on f5. His choices are very limited and, as can be expected, only one is correct.

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Dealing with a threat

This position came from a Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4).

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Using care when you develop

This position comes from the Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3) and is known to offer Black a solid game. How should Black continue his development?

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The big break

This position demonstrates a common structure and the equally common way that Black seeks to free himself.

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Freezing a weakness

This problem shows us a way to freeze a pawn so that it can't move to a better position. By making it immobile, you turn it into a weakness that will need to be defended for the rest of the game.

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The art of restraint

Find White's most promising move. If you succeed, it will show that you understand quite a bit about positional play.

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Claiming a square

This problem shows the student the correct way to conquer a square. This may not seem important, but such a "minor" strategy is often enough to pick up the full point.

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Correct development

This simple position (from an English Opening) has come up many times and, in amateur circles, has been botched on a number of occasions.

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Advanced maneuver

Finding the best squares for your pieces is far harder than one might suppose. This problem takes an innocent position and challenges you to make a slight adjustment in Black's setup.

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How to nurture a pawn center

White has a full pawn center. In general, when you own such a center you should do everything you can to protect it and make it indestructible.

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Getting the Bishop outside the pawn chain

This position is a typical Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5) where Black must solve the problem of how to develop his pieces.

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When simple development is simply bad

Both sides are developing their pieces and Black has just played his Bishop from c8 to f5.

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Creating a proper development

After 1.e4 c6 (the Caro-Kann) 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 White must decide where his pieces belong.

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London System Reversed

This position, typical for a London Reversed (1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.e3, etc.), may seem easy but is actually misplayed by many amateurs. How should White continue?

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Forward or backward?

Black's Knight on d5 is under attack and he must figure out the best way to deal with it. He can consider a few replies, but only one of them is good.

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Hitting the right spot

White has lots of reasonable-looking moves to choose from, yet only one makes real sense. This move may prove to be harder to find than you might suppose.

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Subtle Threat

This well-known opening position from the Dutch Defense (1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 d5 5.c4 c6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.b3) gives us an excellent illustration of the importance of good and bad minor pieces.

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Refuting a common space grab

The solution will prove very useful since this kind of thing comes about in many different positions.

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Van Wely-Kramnik, Arnhem 1990

This position may seem drawish but Black is actually better (and went on to win). How can Black prove his superiority?

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Variation of Novikov-Kramnik, Moscow 1991

This is a typical type of Dutch Defense situation. Black's minor pieces are worse than White's and the first player also has a queenside space advantage.

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Yusupov-Spasov, Skara Echt 1980

The position looks quiet and neither player appears to have anything to attack. How can White drastically change this assessment?

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Variation of Yusupov-Spasov, Skara 1980

Neither side is burning down any bridges, but White enjoys an edge thanks to his nice Bishop (compared to Black's undeveloped Knight).

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Yusupov-Timman, Tilburg 1986

This position is full of tension and difficult strategic ideas. One could easily get confused here, but White's next move is thematic is such Benoni positions.

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Yusupov-Timoshchenko, USSR ch. 1982

This position came about from a Caro-Kann (by transposition). Black mistakenly allowed the center to be opened.

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Yusupov-Wirthensohn, Hamburg 1991

Black is badly tied up but White doesn't have too many pieces left to play with. How can White continue his drive for a victory?

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Botvinnik-Keres, USSR ch. 1952

Keres was trying to win this game so he placed his Bishop on the dynamic d6-square (it usually stays on e7), ignoring the pin on the f6-Knight.

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Gottschall-Nimzovitsch, Hannover 1926

How did the legendary Nimzovitsch improve his position? This problem teaches us the virtue of patience and the usefulness of small gains.

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Wang Zili-Yusupov, Novi Sad (ol) 1990

Black has a clear advantage, but me saying this and you proving it are two very different things. First try and figure out what Black has that will annoy the opponent. Then find a way to make use of it.

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Botvinnik-Zaguriansky, Sverdlovsk 1943

This type of isolated d-pawn position is very common. Usually its owner plays for piece activity while the opponent (in this case White) tries to exchange minor pieces.

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Rubinstein-Takacs, Budapest 1926

Black is in big trouble but he has managed to create an adequate defense to the threats against b7.

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Petrosian-Suetin, USSR (ch) 1960

The great World Champion Tigran Petrosian was known as a very safe player who would slowly tie you up in an unbreakable embrace.

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Ilyin Zhenevsky-Ragozin, Leningrad 1929

Ragozin was a strong Soviet player who could beat anyone on a good day.

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Fischer-Petrosian, Buenos Aires 1971

This well-known game shows why many players compare Fischer to Capablanca.

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Uusi-Simagin, Gorky 1954

At times we have several choices of plan and can base our decision on personal style or taste. More often, though, the correct path is already laid out.

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Spassky-Simagin, USSR (ch) 1961

The great Boris Spassky didn't lose many games in the 60's, but here we see the relatively unknown (outside of the USSR) Simagin take him apart in nice fashion.

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Sokolov-Brunner, Oakham 1988

After the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 (the Nimzo-Indian Defense) 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Ne2 c5 8.a3 cxd4 9.exd4 Bd6 10.0-0 Nc6 we arrive at this position.

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Sokolov-Wilder, Haninge 1989

This is a fairly simple position where White's space advantage gives him the better of it. The question is, how does one play simple positions?

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Sokolov-Korchnoi, Novi Sad (ol) 1990

It doesn't look like White has anything special. Surprisingly, one move destroys this illusion and cements White's advantage.

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Sokolov-Beliavsky, Belgrade 1991

Things seem a bit complicated and some players might panic about the attack on b2. How should White deal with this?

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Tukmakov-Karpov, Leningrad 1973

Karpov is considered to be one of the greatest players of all time.

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Karpov-Kuzmin, Leningrad 1973

When Black has an isolated d-pawn (as he does in the present position) he usually must play for a kingside attack or a ...d5-d4 advance.

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Karpov-Gligoric, Leningrad 1973

Gligoric was Yugoslavia's best player throughout the 50's and 60's and clearly one of the strongest players in the world.

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Karpov-Spassky, Leningrad 1974

This game is the 9th from Karpov's match against Spassky. Spassky, as former World Champion, was favored to win, but the young challenger showed his talent.

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Karpov-Korchnoi, Leningrad 1974

This 24th match game would decide who was going to meet Fischer in a match for the World Title.

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Karpov-Andersson, Stockholm 1969

Karpov's victory in this event gained him the coveted title of World Junior Champion.

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Karpov-Zaitsev, USSR Championship 1970

This game had been a wild affair with White's King running from e1 to e4 (!) and finally to safety on b1.

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Karpov-Parma, Caracas 1970

White can't claim any advantage in this position but it's still important to come up with a plan and make whatever gains are possible.

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Karpov-Bagirov, Riga 1970

White stands better, but just how great is his advantage? A glance might suggest that Black's isn't doing too badly, but Karpov feels that Black's game is already beyond salvation!

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Karpov-Stein, Leningrad 1971

Karpov, the 12th World Champion, is well-known to all chess fans. However, Leonid Stein is largely unknown to the younger generation.

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Karpov-Mecking, Hastings 1971/72

Brazilian Grandmaster Henrique Mecking was considered a serious candidate for the World Championship when he suddenly withdrew from chess.

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Karpov-Huebner, Graz 1972

Huebner has been Germany's strongest player (and a candidate for the World Championship) since the early 70's.

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Karpov-Uhlmann, Madrid 1973

Germany's Wolfgang Uhlmann was once one of the World's best players. In the present game he is subtly outplayed by Karpov. Your job is to find Karpov's idea (not easy by any means!).

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Karpov-Unzicker, Nice Olympiad 1974

Karpov has obtained a position where he enjoys a spatial plus thanks to his advanced pawn on d5 (Karpov was always very fond of territory).

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Typical Maroczy Bind decision

This position comes about after 1.e4 c5 (the Sicilian Defense) 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 (the Accelerated Dragon) 5.c4 (known as the Maroczy Bind).

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Karpov-Spassky, USSR 1975

Former World Champion Boris Spassky was a great master of the correct use of isolated and hanging pawns.

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Karpov-Gligoric, Milan 1975

Svetozar Gligoric is a legend in his home country of Yugoslavia. A World Championship contender for many years, Gligoric was known to always play the Ruy Lopez as Black versus 1.e4.

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Karpov-Unzicker, Milan 1975

Though Karpov won this game quickly, it's important to build the attack in an accurate manner. How did the legendary 12th World Champion handle this position?

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Karpov-Portisch, Milan 1975

Black is in big trouble (he went on to lose this game) since his pieces aren't anywhere as active as their White counterparts.

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Karpov-Vaganian, Skopje 1976

This position appears to be very complicated. To many, it may not be clear who's better! How can White clarify this question and demonstrate a clear plus?

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Uhlmann-Karpov, Skopje 1976

Chess is all about the creation of weaknesses and this game is no different. Karpov, playing Black, is famous for creating weak points in the enemy camp. See if you can figure out how he does it.

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Torre-Karpov, Bad Lauterberg 1977

This position arose after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 Qc7 6.a3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.Be3 Be7 9.Rc1 Ne5 10.Be2 Ng6 11.0-0. White has more space and appears to stand better.

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Karpov-Gheorghiu, Moscow 1977

This position may look simple enough, but both sides must solve some very definite problems before they can accomplish their goals. What is White's correct path?

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Tatai-Karpov, Las Palmas 1977

See if you can find the knockout blow.

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Karpov-Smyslov, Tilburg 1977

Ex-World Champion Vassily Smyslov (playing Black) appears to have an excellent position. How can White change that assessment?

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Anand-Inkiov, Calcutta 1986

Anand is the strongest player to ever come out of India and, at present (1998), is the number two player in the world.

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Anand-Ninov, Baguio City 1987

This tournament, the World Junior Championship, was ultimately won by Anand, who caught fire after this game.

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Anand-Benjamin, Wijk aan Zee 1989

Black has won the White Queen and it appears that the second player will have excellent chances. However, Anand (playing White) has seen further.

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Tal-Anand, Cannes 1989

In the present game Tal is quite lost, but the young Anand still has to prove the win. What's the best way of doing so?

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Anand-Spassky, Cannes 1989

Black had actually resigned the game on the previous move, but what had White intended if this position had been reached?

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Kuijf-Anand, Wijk aan Zee 1990

White (Kuijf) tried the unusual Ponziani opening, no doubt hoping to catch his opponent by surprise.

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Petursson-Anand, Manila 1990

It looks like Black is in trouble, since two of his pieces are hanging. However Anand, who is known for his tactical prowess, had prepared a nice answer. Can you find it?

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Beliavsky-Anand, Munich 1991

White's pawns on d5 and e5 look very threatening? Does White stand better? How should Black handle this situation?

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Kasparov-Anand, Reggio Emilia 1991/92

Kasparov has dominated international chess for many years, but lately Anand, the number two player in the rating lists, has earned a growing number of fans.

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Anand-Bareev, Dortmund 1992

Bareev is a great specialist in the Black side of the French Defense. Here he tries a popular variation but still falls victim to some of the opening's positional flaws. Can you spot these flaws?

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Anand-Bareev, Linares 1993

I've heard many descriptions of Anand's style. Some see him as a tactical player (and his tactical sight is extraordinary!). Some simply call him a "natural talent."

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Anand-Izeta, Madrid 1993

This problem explores a simple but very useful concept: should one place the Queen in the middle of the board or should it live on a safer square?

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Opening line of the Slav Defense

Try and figure out the best way for Black to develop in this position. The first moves were: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 b5 6.b3.

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Typical Sicilian idea

This problem demonstrates one of Black's main ideas in the Sicilian Defense. It's not rocket science, but it is extremely important if you play either side of this opening.

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Anand-Kamsky, Las Palmas 1995

How can White demonstrate a positional advantage? Black's King is open, but his pieces on the f-file appear to give him some dynamic opportunities.

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Anand-Ivanchuk, Las Palmas 1996

Endgames tend to be very difficult for amateurs to play. The reason may be that one tiny error can lead to a quick debacle.

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Anand-Karpov, Las Palmas 1996

White has some pressure on the Black position but it's far from clear how he's going to increase it.

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Keres-Barcza, Szczawno-Zdrój 1950

Black threatens both ...Bxf3 (doubling White's pawns) and ...Be6 (allows Black to castle). How can White address these problems?

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Keres-Borisenko, Moscow 1950

We are in the opening phase, but Black's original play is making every decision critical. Can White take advantage of the h6-Knight's placement?

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Averbakh-Keres, Moscow 1950

Can Black equalize, or dare he try for more?

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Keres-Smyslov, Budapest 1952

This heavyweight game saw Keres, one of history's finest players, face off against the great Smyslov.

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Keres-Geller, Budapest 1952

White is a pawn up but the win is still a long way off. What can White do to make things easier?

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Keres-Korchnoi, Moscow 1952

Black's last move (11...Na5?) decentralized the Knight (you should really try and keep your pieces in the center!). How can White punish this error?

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Keres-Sajtar, Amsterdam 1954

This problem illustrates one of the most common pitfalls Black has to face in the Sicilian Defense.

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Keres-Alexander, Hastings 1954/55

This problem shows the importance of going beyond surface considerations. In the actual game Black thought he was doing reasonably well, but that turns out to be far from the truth.

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Keres-Szabo, Hastings 1954/55

Black has played well in the opening thus far (1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 0-0 5.g3 d6 6.d4 c5 7.Bg2 Ne4 8.0-0 Nc6 9.Nbd2) and must now make a big decision.

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Keres-Taimanov, Moscow 1955

This position was played in an earlier game of Taimanov's, in which Black did quite well.Keres had seen that game and had come prepared.

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Fischer-Sherwin, USA 1957

Black's position appears to be safe and solid. How can White get something going?

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Petrosian-Fischer, Portoroz 1958

During Fischer's day, the players who dominated world chess were Botvinnik, Tal, Spassky and Petrosian.

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Pilnik-Fischer, Mar Del Plata 1959

How does Black gain counterplay here?

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Fischer-Rossetto, Mar Del Plata 1959

White's a piece down for the moment and must figure out how best to recapture on d5.

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Fischer-Larsen, Portoroz 1958

In our problem, we are taking a look at White's reply to 12...Bxb3. Why did Black avoid this move?

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Fischer-Unzicker, Zurich 1959

Fischer always loved the two Bishops, so he must have been happy here.

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Gudmundsson-Fischer, Reykjavik 1960

White appears to have a promising position, due to his advantage in central space. However, a player of Fischer's caliber won't allow this state of affairs to linger. What did he do to turn the tide in his favor?

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Szabo-Fischer, Leipzig 1960

This kind of position is commonly reached in the King's Indian Defense. How does Black grab equality?

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Reshevsky-Fischer, New York Match 1961

White's a-pawn seems to be very fast. How can Black stop it?

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Reshevsky-Fischer, Los Angeles 1961

This was the final game of the ill-fated match between these two players. Fischer walked out and forfeited while the score was tied at 5 each.

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Fischer-Geller, Bled 1961

A sharp position has been reached (after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.c3 Qf6 8.g4 Bg6) that Geller (playing Black) thought was good for him.

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Fischer-Petrosian, Bled 1961

This was Fischer's first victory over the late World Champion, Petrosian.

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Fischer-Trifunovich, Bled 1961

White has more or less refuted his opponent's opening line and now he has to find the best way to finish his development.

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Bertok-Fischer, Stockholm 1962

Since Fischer had already clinched first place, he wasn't in the mood for more aggressive (and risky) systems. What's the best way for Black to complete his development?

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Fischer-Bolbochan, Stockholm 1962

White enjoys a clear positional advantage. How can he turn this into a winning positional plus?

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Fischer-Najdorf, Varna 1962

Fischer loved to play the Najdorf Variation as Black, and when he faced it as White he tried several different ideas.

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Fischer-Robatsch, Varna 1962

Grandmaster Robatsch tried a rare line of the Center Counter Defense as Black but Fischer completely refuted his plan in this game.

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Fischer-Fine, New York 1963

The present game was one of several "fun games" played between Fine and Fischer at Fine's home.

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Fischer-Benko, U.S. Championship 1963-64

The present game was the last of the tournament. Fischer already had 10-0 and really wanted to get the perfect score with a win here.

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Fischer-Bisguier, U.S. Championship 1963-64

At the time this game was played, Bisguier was a solid Grandmaster but he couldn't seem to stand up to Fischer's might.

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Fischer-Smyslov, Havana 1965

Fischer played this tournament while sitting in New York! Unable to get a visa to Cuba, Bobby sent and received his moves via long-distance telephone.

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Portisch-Fischer, Santa Monica 1966

How did Fischer demonstrate Black's superiority from this position?

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Fischer-Bednarski, Havana Olympiad 1966

Fischer has chosen a very sharp variation against Black's Najdorf Sicilian. In the game, the complications proved to be too much for his opponent, and Bobby won in just 22 moves.

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Larsen-Fischer, Monaco 1967

For many years Fischer and Larsen were known to be the strongest two Western players, and certainly the only players outside the Soviet Union who had a real chance for the World Championship.

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Kholmov-Fischer, Skopje 1967

Fischer had lost to Kholmov in the only game they had played, but here Fischer got revenge rather easily.

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Taimanov-Sliwa, Moscow 1956

Taimanov was a strong Soviet player who excelled in opening theory and in sharp, tactical situations.

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Taimanov-Browne, Wijk aan Zee 1981

Grandmaster Walter Browne has won the U.S. Championship no less than six times. However, in this game he falls victim to Taimanov's superior preparation.

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Taimanov-Geller, Zurich 1953

Geller (playing Black) was a great master of the King's Indian Defense, but here he falls on his face to Taimanov's superior understanding of this particular line.

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Unzicker-Taimanov, Wijk aan Zee 1980

This game started out with a Taimanov Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 Nge7), a line invented and popularized by Taimanov himself.

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Mnatsakanian-Taimanov, Yerevan 1986

As is usual in the Sicilian, Black has excellent chances on the queenside, while White must seek his own play in the center or on the kingside.

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Kuzmin-Taimanov, Leningrad 1977

Another odd Taimanov Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 Nge7 7.0-0 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qe3 Bd6) eventually led to this very favorable position for Black.

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Taimanov-Botvinnik, Moscow 1953

When Botvinnik created a plan that focused on the advance of his center pawns in the Nimzo-Indian Defense to beat Capablanca in 1938, everyone was impressed.

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Taimanov-Spassky, Tbilisi 1959

This innocent position actually boasts a violent battle for one lone square: both sides are trying to gain control over e4. How can White try and win this fight?

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Taimanov-Kuzmin, Kishinyov 1976

A very tough battle is in progress. Who stands better and how should White continue?

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Taimanov-Nedeljkovic, Leningrad 1957

Taimanov was known to be a great expert on both sides of the Nimzo-Indian Defense. Here he once again takes up the gauntlet from White's perspective and scores a resounding success.

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Taimanov-Hort, Tallinn 1975

This position was reached after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bc5 5.e3 d6 6.a3 Be6 7.b4 Bb6 8.d3 Qd7 9.h3 0-0 10.Nge2 Nd8 11.Na4 c6 12.Nxb6 axb6 13.Bb2 Ne8 14.f4 f6.

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Taimanov-Minic, Vrnjacka Banja 1965

Though Taimanov was a specialist in Queenpawn openings, he would occasionally venture other lines like 1.c4 or 1.e4.

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Taimanov-Uhlmann, Reykjavik 1968

Germany's Uhlmann is a dynamic player who loves to be on the attack. He plays less well if he has to defend.

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Nezhmetdinov-Taimanov, Baku 1951

This seems simple: Black's in check and must either capture the pawn or move his King to h8.

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Keres-Taimanov, Moscow 1952

As is so common in the Sicilian Defense, both sides are beginning attacks against the enemy Kings. Who's going to come first and why?

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Taimanov-Geller, Moscow 1955

White has many advantages, but the attack against c4 is a problem. How should White address his position's only defect?

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Hoffmann-Taimanov, Bad Wildbad 1993

White appears to have a good game, but sometimes appearances are deceiving. How can Black change the assessment of the proceedings?

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Portisch-Taimanov, Leningrad 1959

The opening has been a bit strange (1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.e4 c5 4.Qg4) and Black must decide how to defend his g7-pawn. What decision would you make?

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Taimanov-Flohr, Leningrad 1948

In his prime, Flohr was one of the finest players in the world. In fact, it was considered to be almost impossible to beat him.

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Taimanov-Averbakh, Moscow 1951

A quiet game is in full swing with both sides vying for their share of the center. How should White finish his development?

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Taimanov-Smyslov, Tbilisi 1966

White's advantage is obvious, but winning a won game has always been a difficult task.

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Taimanov-von Elst, Neisse 1993

White has a very pleasant position. However, increasing the pressure in such situations is easier said than done.

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Levenfish-Taimanov, Leningrad 1952

The legendary Levenfish was playing chess before the Russian revolution. Here he gets beaten by Taimanov who, at that time, was a student of his.

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Taimanov-Polugayevsky, Leningrad 1959

From the Pirc Defense, we've managed to transpose into a line of the Benoni (after 1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Be2 Nf6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.d5 Na6 8.Re1 Nc7 9.a4 a6 10.h3 Bd7).

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Taimanov-Najdorf, Moscow 1956

We have reached a fairly common opening position (after 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Nge2 c5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.a3). What is Black's best plan?

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Donner-Unzicker, Santa Monica 1966

Black appears to be doing well, but the reality is that he's strategically lost! How can White prove this?

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Petrosian-Reshevsky, Santa Monica 1966

Petrosian was World Champion at that time, and he was famous for his handling of "boring" positions like this. White has a slight edge, but how does one handle this situation?

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Spassky-Larsen, Santa Monica 1966

White appears to have a clear advantage thanks to his superior pawn structure. However, this doesn't turn out to be the case.

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Fischer-Donner, Santa Monica 1966

Having achieved a winning position, Fischer played his Bishop to d3, only to realize that his move was a horrible blunder! What can Black do about his sad looking situation?

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Petrosian-Matanovic, Portoroz 1958

The late World Champion T. Petrosian was famous for squeezing his opponents to death in a manner that reminded many of his colleagues of a boa constrictor.

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Petrosian-Suetin, Riga 1958

Things appear to be very tactical and sharp. How should one respond to such a situation? Should you increase the game's tempo even more? Should you try and slow things down? Should you panic?

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Petrosian-Yukhtman, Tiflis 1959

This was one of the initial games in which Petrosian used his patented "Petrosian System" against the King's Indian. How should White continue here?

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Petrosian-Smyslov, Moscow 1961

This was a game between two chess powerhouses. Petrosian hadn't earned the title of World Champion yet (that was still a few years away), while Smyslov was an ex-World Champion.

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Petrosian-Pachman, Bled 1961

Pachman was a well-known opening expert, so to see him with a lost game after a dozen moves.

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Fischer-Petrosian, Curacao 1962

Fischer reached this position after trying a horrible opening idea that he had spotted in a Russian magazine.

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Petrosian-Korchnoi, Curacao 1962

Korchnoi, playing Black, is well-known for his great defensive skills, but in this case he's bitten off more than even he can chew!

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Pein-de Firmian, Bermuda 1995

White's two Bishops will prove to be stronger than Black's Bishop and Knight, though me saying it and you proving it are two different things.

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Martin-Ward, Oakham 1994

A Nimzo-Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4) led us to the usual fight between White's Bishops and Black's Knights.

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Johner-Nimzovich, Dresden 1926

This is a famous game and is now considered to be a classic. Nimzovich gives future generations a beautiful lesson in prophylactics and restraint.

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Botvinnik-Capablanca, AVRO 1938

A classic game between World Champions. Botvinnik, the great Russian champion, was making his bid for the World title.

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Conquest-Emms, British (ch) 1990

Sometimes appearances are very deceptive. In this position White looks like he has a significant advantage. How can Black prove the opposite?

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Timoshchenko-Emms, London 1993

White owns two Bishops in an open position. This gives him an obvious advantage, but it's not clear how he should continue. How can White get the most bang from his two Bishop-buck?

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Nimzo-Indian main line

This position comes about after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Nge2 Ne4 6.f3 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Be7 8.e4. Black must decide how he's going to complete his development.

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Farago-Kuzmin, Polanica Zdroj 1977

In a perfect world you label your imbalance and instantly know what set of rules to follow (rules, of course, that benefit the imbalance that you possess).

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Speelman-de Firmian, Brussels 1992

The first moves in this game were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Nge2 Ne4 6.a3. White's last move actually falls for a positional trap. How can Black spring it?

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Kubreichik-Vaganian, Moscow 1976

This is a typical situation, often arising from the French Defense (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5). Black has a host of interesting ideas at his disposal. Which one do you think is best?

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Nikolaidis-Moskalenko, Agios Nikolaos 1995

This position could easily confuse many players. Can you cut through the fog and find Black's correct plan?

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Kosten-Brunner, Altensteig 1989

This position is full of interesting imbalances. In light of these differences, how should White complete his development?

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Renet-Mellado, Palma 1989

This position (from a French Defense) looks reasonable for Black, but White can initiate a long-term plan that demonstrates a deep understanding of minor pieces and squares. Can you find this plan?

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Romanishin-Nikolic, Leningrad 1987

The concept of improving the life of each piece is an important one. In the present example, Black shows us how such a maneuver can change the nature of the whole position.

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Canepa-Alekhine, Carrasco 1938

The legendary Alekhine was nowhere near his prime in 1938 (thanks to an interest in alcohol), but he was still a force to be reckoned with.

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Ciemniak-Matlak, Polish Championship 1993

In this game White is going to play Nd2-b3-c5 with a queenside bind. What can Black do about this?

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Kozel-Malakhatko, Yalta 1996

Can you find a good plan for the second player?

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Nunn-Schmittdiel, Dortmund 1991

White has an obvious advantage, but it's far from easy to find a way to increase that edge. What is White's correct plan?

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Nimzowitsch-Salwe, Carlsbad 1911

Black's pieces seem to be active and he seems to be putting pressure on White's center. How can White dispel these illusions?

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Gonzalez-Gurevich, Havana 1986

The position is simplified and, perhaps to some, boring. Nevertheless, whether a game is exciting or dull, you still have to find a plan and play the best moves available. What is Black's plan?

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Illescas-Speelman, Linares 1992

Black has the better game, but there's no winning continuation. This means that the second player must continue to build up his game and look for new possibilities. How can Black increase his edge?

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Adams-Epishin, Ter Apel 1992

Both sides are involved in a violent battle for e5. How can Black increase the pressure and also create more harmony in his game as a whole?

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Sveshnikov-Bareev, Poliot 1991

Black is piling up on e5 and also threatens ...Bxc5. What can White do to turn the tide?

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Nimzowitsch-Levenfish, Carlsbad 1911

Black is putting quite a bit of pressure on the White center. What can be done about this?

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Waitzkin-Gurevich, New York Open 1993

White's King is castled and he's started active play in the center. What can Black do about this?

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Maliutin-Mamadshoev, USSR 1991

Simplified positions are often very hard for amateurs to handle because normal attacking ideas are no longer valid. Can you find a plan for White in this position?

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Adorjan-Tringov, Varna 1972

A tough Queenless middlegame is in full swing, and it's not clear who is better. How can White keep Black's counterplay to a minimum?

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Van der Wiel-Van der Sterren, Dutch Championship 1997

The Exchange Variation of the Ruy Lopez (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0) often leads to this kind of position.

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Iskov-Villeneuve, Stockholm 1974

This endgame favors White, but me saying this and you proving it are two different things. How should White start his buildup?

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Boensch-Litkiewicz, East German Championship 1974

Because the center is locked up, White has to decide which side of the board he's playing on.

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Timman-Kasparov, Hilversum 1985

Dutch Grandmaster Jan Timman has played many games against World Champion Garry Kasparov. Unfortunately for Timman, the score hasn't gone well for him.

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Dvoretsky-Southam, Philadelphia 1991

One often reads how a position is now "a matter of technique."

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Fischer-Portisch, Havana Olympiad 1966

Fischer, perhaps the greatest player of all time, finds a way to punish a bad bishop move. How did he do it?

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Adorjan-Danov, Wijk aan Zee 1971

White has a very pleasant position, but choosing the right way to improve his game is rather difficult. How should he proceed?

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Van der Wiel-Pinter, Rotterdam 1988

White stands better since Black is behind in development and various weaknesses exist in his position. Now White must figure out how he intends to increase the pressure.

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Kovalev-Dimitrov, Moscow Olympiad 1994

Sometimes you see a simple, attractive move and yearn to play it.

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Botvinnik-Sorokin, USSR 1931

Though White is a future World Champion, you can find the same move that he did if you look for something simple and to the point.

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Lundin-Yanofsky, Groningen 1946

White's pieces are more active than Black's. However, there aren't any clear objects of attack at the moment. This means that White must find a way to increase the advantages he already possesses.

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Fischer-Spassky, Belgrade 1992

Both sides are clearly pursuing attacks against the enemy King. White is clearly ahead in this race. How should he continue this assault?

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Averbakh-Kholmov, Minsk 1952

Lots of things are going on in this sharp position. Confusion easily sets in when these situations appear. What to do?

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Kasparov-Smyslov, Vilnius 1984

White enjoys a large advantage thanks to his two Bishops and extra center pawn (which cramps Black's pieces). At this point Kasparov played an important move. Can you find it?

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Oppenrider-Moiseev, corr. 1957-59

Many players take one look at a sharp position and go blind to anything but the basest threats.

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Typical Maroczy Bind situation

How should Black strive for counterplay?

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Tal-Padevsky, Moscow 1963

Find White's correct plan, play the move that caters to that plan, and solve the mystery dilemma at the same time!

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Miles-Morozevich, London 1994

White has good chances on the queenside and also has some pressure against Black's pawn on d5. How should White continue his attack?

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Activating one's forces

White has obvious chances along the c-file. However, after Black's last move (...b5- b4), a new opportunity has appeared. Can you find it?

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Botvinnik-Capablanca, Moscow 1936

White is kicking his illustrious opponent all over the map. Now he must find a way to add to the pressure.

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Larsen-Tal, Leningrad Interzonal 1973

Two of the greatest players in history and the two top chess writers square off in one of their many games.

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Spassky-Petrosian, World Championship Match 1969

White's pieces make a nice impression in the center, but now he must choose the best way to recapture the pawn on d5.

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Alatortsev-Capablanca, Moscow 1935

Though many players might consider the game to be even, Black is actually the one with a significant advantage.

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Ljubojevic-Smyslov, Skopje Olympiad 1972

White is a pawn up but he's missed something unpleasant. You can be sure that former World Champion Smyslov, playing Black, pounced on the chance!

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Ribli-Tal, Montpellier 1985

The Hungarian Grandmaster Ribli has always been a very hard man to beat. However his opponent, World Champion Tal, has always been a very hard man to withstand!

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Smyslov-Ragozin, Leningrad-Moscow Match 1939

In many positions we are faced with moves that seem obvious. These natural moves are, indeed, often the correct way to handle the position.

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Bondarevsky-Smyslov, Moscow 1946

Many players would be happy to have this quiet position with White, since he has a lead in development and a passed pawn. Can Black equalize or do even better? Let's see what you come up with.

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Larsen-Torre, Brussels 1987

White has a clear advantage but his last move (g5-g6) gave Black a nice defensive possibility. Can you see what both Grandmasters missed in the game?

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Rubinstein-Johner, Carlsbad 1929

White must decide how he intends to recapture the pawn. One way wins, the other draws.

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Zubarev-Alexandrov, Moscow 1915

This kind of position is usually winning for the owner of the Knight. You won't find any exception here! How should White improve his situation?

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Matulovic-Korchnoi, Ohrid 1972

The two strongest players in history who never achieved the title of World Champion were Paul Keres and Victor Korchnoi.

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Fine-Botvinnik, AVRO 1938

The American Grandmaster Ruben Fine did extremely well against the world's elite. Here we see him smashing future World Champion Botvinnik.

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Polugaevsky-Balashov, Leningrad 1977

The ability to win this kind of endgame is essential if you want to improve at chess. There's no doubt that White's in control, but how can he really make progress?

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Beliavsky-Matulovic, Sombor 1972

In the present game GM Beliavsky faces a strong Grandmaster. However, Matanovich's best years were behind him while the young Beliavsky's were just beginning.

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Beliavsky-Marjanovic, Teesside 1973

By winning this last round game against the one player who was tied with him, Beliavsky became World Junior Champion. In this problem, we're going to try and find an improvement for his opponent.

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Spassky-Beliavsky, Riga 1975

As a Soviet Grandmaster, it's only natural that you face legendary players like Tal, Karpov, Kasparov, Petrosian and, as in this game, Spassky.

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Beliavsky-Andersson, Cienfuegos 1976

Swedish Grandmaster Ulf Andersson is known as a very hard man to beat. In this game Beliavsky manages to score the full point, but a calm buildup of his position was necessary to make this happen.

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Basic development

Beginners must learn to develop in a smooth and natural manner. They must also take note of, and deal with, basic threats.

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Calm in the face of a storm

In chess there are two things you will always be asked to do. The first is to notice and defend against enemy threats. The second is to follow your own agenda with enormous verve.

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Who's got the file?

We've all heard that Rooks belong on open files. In essence, an open file is a road into the enemy position.

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To take or not to take?

Basic books on strategy constantly refer to the advantage of a Bishop over a Knight. Beginners, though, fear enemy Knights and often try to chop them off at the first opportunity.

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Knowing when to bail out

Sometimes things will be falling apart on the chessboard. When that happens, you will first have to notice it, and next you'll have to undertake some kind of damage control.

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Beliavsky-Petrosian, Vilnius 1978

The late World Champion Tigran Petrosian was famed for his positional mastery and defensive powers. In fact, during his prime years it was almost impossible to beat him.

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Beliavsky-Romanishin, Tbilisi 1978

Grandmaster Oleg Romanishin was, in the late 1970's, thought to be one of the best players in the world.

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Beliavsky-Kasparov, Minsk 1979

Little did Beliavsky know that his opponent, then only 16 years old, was eventually going to become World Champion.

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Rashkovsky-Beliavsky, Vilnius 1980

Beliavsky had to win this game to become USSR Champion.

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Portisch-Beliavsky, Moscow 1981

This position looks boring, but Black has any chances that exist. What is White's best method of defense?

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Beliavsky-Geller, Moscow 1983

Soviet Grandmaster Efim Geller was known as a very sharp player who often competed for the World Championship.

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Beliavsky-Portisch, Thessaloniki Olympiad 1984

An imbalanced opening has been employed and now both sides have to make the most of their respective chances. What should White do?

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Geller-Beliavsky, Sochi 1986

One might think that White simply stands better here, but Black has quite a bit of counterplay (in fact, he won in another 15 moves after White failed to find the best plan).

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Karpov-Beliavsky, Tilburg 1986

Do you know White's correct plan? It's a very useful idea, and can come about from a myriad of other openings.

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Beliavsky-Bareev, Minsk 1987

The opening was a Stonewall Dutch (1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 d5 5.Nf3 c6 6.0-0 Bd6) where Black accepts a weakness on e5 in exchange for central space.

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Seirawan-Beliavsky, Brussels 1988

Yasser Seirawan has been one of the best American players (for several years he was clearly #1) for many years now.

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Beliavsky-Vaganian, Odessa 1989

Vaganian won the Soviet Championship in this tournament, while Beliavsky came in second (due to a final round loss).

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Smirin-Beliavsky, Odessa 1989

Can you find the most valuable move in this position?

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Dolmatov-Beliavsky, Moscow 1990

Black is winning this game, but I've seen so many students toss easy wins out the window that I'm giving you a chance to show how it should be done.

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Beliavsky-Salov, Reggio Emilia 1991

An interesting game has led to this very imbalanced position. How can Black take the fight to his opponent?

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Romanishin-Beliavsky, Belgrade 1993

People are always saying that they need to know the openings, but logical play beats memorization any day.

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Korchnoi-Beliavsky, Leon 1994

The legendary Victor Korchnoi keeps winning tournaments, even though he's in his late sixties.

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Rublevsky-Beliavsky, Novosibirsk 1995

Both sides have castled on opposite sides of the board and a very sharp battle is in store. If you know the rules for this type of situation, then the proper move won't be too hard to find.

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Beliavsky-Ehlvest, Yerevan Olympiad 1996

White has a winning endgame, but claiming a win is one thing and actually scoring the full point is often quite another. How would you play this position?

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Beliavsky-Strikovic, Cacak 1996

White has built up an impressive pawn mass in the center. How does one play such positions?

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Beliavsky-Khalifman, Ubeda 1997

A typical opening position from the King's Indian Defense has occurred (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0-0 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Nf3 e5 8.d5 h6 9.Be3 Nc5 10.Nd2 a5).

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Averbach-Simagin, Moscow 1943

This problem comes under the title, "How to win a won game." We all get winning positions, but how often do you effortlessly score the victory? How should White proceed?

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Taimanov-Averbach, Leningrad 1947

Black has the advantage in this endgame, and he has several moves that qualify as tempting. What move would you choose?

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Averbach-Veresov, Moscow 1947

A seemingly simple endgame is the source of this lesson's anguish. How can White win the game?

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Averbach-Lilienthal, Moscow 1948

An interesting Bishop versus Knight battle is under way. How can White make his minor piece superior to Black's?

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Averbach-Goldberg, Tula 1950

White's position looks very nice, but how does he handle the threat to his c-pawn?

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Averbach-Ravinsky, Moscow 1950

Both sides are preparing their respective plans. How should White react to Black's last move?

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Averbach-Moiseev, Moscow 1950

Both sides are pursuing their play on opposite wings. Who's going to come first? What can you find for White?

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Golovko-Averbach, Moscow 1950

Black has to deal with his threatened c-pawn. What's the best defense?

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Kotov-Averbach, Moscow 1948

Many players would be very happy with White, but I'm handing the Black pieces to you. What are you going to do with Black's position?

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Averbach-Smyslov, Moscow 1951

The position appears to be quite unclear, but White shows that he's actually dominating the play. How did he do this against a player of Smyslov's strength?

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Averbach-Kholmov, Minsk 1952

The Tartakower Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined is still very popular, though this particular position is no longer played for White. Why?

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Unzicker-Averbach, Stockholm 1952

Black hasn't played well and, as a result, White has managed to build up a powerful queenside attack. How should the first player continue this assault?

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Pilnik-Averbach, Stockholm 1952

How did White prove an advantage?

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Averbach-Taimanov, Zurich 1953

A very sharp position has appeared where White must play with as much energy as possible. What would you do?

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Najdorf-Averbach, Zurich 1953

What is Black's best option?

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Averbach-Euwe, Zurich 1953

The legendary Max Euwe was playing Black here and has some problems to solve, but only if White finds the right continuation. How can White make a claim for the advantage?

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Averbach-Ragozin, Kiev 1954

Black's position may look nice at a glance, but some severe tactical problems are waiting to be found. What can White do to turn the game in his direction?

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Averbach-Bannik, Kiev 1954

White's advantage isn't in doubt, but it's far from easy to find a way to improve his position. How would you handle this situation?

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Averbach-Panno, Buenos Aires 1954

This position was reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5 c5 7.d5 a6 8.a4 Qa5 9.Bd2 e5. How did White respond to this move?

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Averbach-Aronin, Riga 1954

A very sharp battle is being fought, and it's not clear who stands better. Or is it? What would you do with the White pieces? Remember, a sharp position often requires a sharp resolution.

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Averbach-Botvinnik, Nikolina Gora 1956

First you have to know where you should be playing. Then you have to know the correct plan for that specific situation. Finally, you have to find the most accurate way.

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Averbach-Botvinnik, Nikolina Gora 1957

Visually White stands better, but Black's game isn't as bad as one might suppose. How can Black chip away at this illusion?

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Averbach-Spassky, Leningrad 1956

We are down to the final part of the battle, and accuracy is obviously required. How did White gain a draw?

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Averbach-Fuchs, Dresden 1956

This position, from the Averbach Variation of the King's Indian Defense, came about after 1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.d4 Nf6 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5 c5 7.d5 a6 8.a4 e6 9.Qd2 Qa5.

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Euwe-Alekhine, World Championship Match 1937

This position, achieved by 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Nge2 d5 6.a3 Be7 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Ng3, seems to offer Black many possibilities.

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