Morphy is probably the best player for the beginning player to study. Alas there are precious few games to go on, for he lived before the growth in international tournaments and was denied a match by Staunton. Morphy more or less perfected the art of winning in open games: smooth, fast development, opening up lines…
Classic Bishop Sacrifice Harder Bishop Sacrifice Lev Polugaevsky was a difficult opponent for Tal, I think the decisive games went 9-2 in Polu’s favour. So, even if there is a local hot-shot player whom everyone is scared of, maybe you are their difficult opponent. Certainly, you should try to be just that! Tal maybe had…
At Paris in 1933, Tartakower once heard a spectator say about one of Bernstein’s games: “Ces grands-maîtres placent leur[s] Cavaliers à é5 et après les mats découlent d’eux-mêmes!” dit en voyant cette catastrophe un spectateur grincheux.” In English: “These Grandmasters place their Knights at e5, and then the mates follow by themselves!”, said a grumpy…
Rules for attacking
Phiona Mutesi, the ‘Queen of Katwe’ featured on BBC2 yesterday, played this game in the 2012 Olympiad: There’s a little bio of Phiona at ChessGames https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=127569
An old Greek Gift sacrifice on h7 from El Greco A checklist: Bxh7 is possible Nf3 can get to g5 Q can get to h5 No knight on f6 and …Bf5 not possible Is there another piece if you need it? Let’s try a harder one: Greek gift sacrifice on h7 A Greek gift that…
Don’t panic! You need a clear head and a calm heart Defend threats You must spot and defend threats Don’t make weaknesses (if you can avoid it) Don’t help your opponent! Don’t open lines (if you can avoid it) Don’t help your opponent! Seek swaps Get the Queens off (if you can) Make blocks and…
Steinitz taught us: If you’re attacking: Don’t attack too soon Attack with a team Attack only if you have good reason=you have an advantage If you’re defending: Defend what you have to Don’t make weaknesses Let’s see what happens if you break the rules… Attacking done badly Too soon Too lonely No excuse Defending done…
Some patterns you should know Rook on eighth rank Rook on seventh rank Italian diagonal Long diagonal Classic diagonal Open f-file Open g-file Open h-file Knight on e5 Knight on f5 Knight on g5 a1h8 a2g8 b1h7 f1f8 g1g8 h1h8 Ne5 Nf5 8th 7th
Attacking the uncastled King Attacking the castled King Attacking with pieces Attacking with the help of pawns Opposite-side castling Using weaknesses: sacrifices and pawn levers Using weaknesses Making weaknesses Attack with a closed centre The Very Slow King’s-side Attack The King Hunt
