Anderson I. - Chess Visualization Course Book 1 Part 2
Anderson I. - Chess Visualization Course Book 1 Part 2
Ian Anderson
Foreword by FIDE Master Paul Whitehead
SECTION 4. QUEENS UNDER ATTACK
This section contains exercises in which each player captures his opponent’s Queen using a
piece of lesser value. As in the previous section, the activity covers at least two different
sectors of the board and contains the following chapters:
CHAPTER 14, FIRST PLAYER TO ATTACK THE QUEEN, shows how the first player to at-
tack an enemy Queen can gain the advantage.
CHAPTER 15, SECOND PLAYER TO ATTACK, shows how the second player to attack the
enemy Queen can gain an advantage.
CHAPTER 16, DESPERADO QUEENS, shows how an attacked Queen can voluntarily give
herself up for a piece of lesser value.
CHAPTER 17, DOUBLE DESPERADOS, features exercises in which both Queens voluntarily
give themselves up for a piece of lesser value.
CHAPTER 18, PINS TO THE QUEEN, features exercises in which a Queen is captured by a
piece of lesser value due to the breaking of a pin to the Queen.
CHAPTER 14. FIRST PLAYER TO ATTACK THE QUEEN
This chapter features exercises in which each player captures his opponent’s Queen using a
piece of lesser value (Rook, Bishop, Knight, or pawn). It shows how the first player to at-
tack the enemy Queen can gain an advantage. An important feature to consider in such sit-
uations is the nature of both Queens – are they unprotected or defended by another piece?
Defended vs. undefended Queen. If the first player’s Queen is defended while
the second player’s Queen is not, then the first player to attack will win ma-
terial because he’ll be able to take the enemy piece that captured his Queen, an
option that won’t be available to the second player, since his Queen was unde-
fended – see exercises 393, 394, 399, and 413.
Both Queens defended. If both players’ Queens are defended, then one way
that the first player can gain an advantage is by capturing the Queen with a
piece of lesser value – see exercises 396, 412, 419, and 420.
Even when the first player does not gain an advantage directly from the trade of Queens,
there may be an opportunity to win material after the exchange of Queens occurs, such as
by capturing a hanging piece, by winning material through the use of some tactical device
such as a Knight fork or Rook scewer, or by gaining an important tempo through check or
some other threat. Here are the typical features seen:
Capturing a hanging piece – see exercises 402, 405, 406, 407, 413, 417, 418,
and 420;
Winning material by using a tactical device – see exercises 398, 400, 410, 414,
423, and 424;
Gaining a tempo by means of a check – see exercises 401, 402, 403, 404, 408,
415, 416, 421, and 422; and
Gaining a tempo by means of a threat – see exercises 397, 411, and 423.
These features can often compensate for other disadvantages in the position, such as hav-
ing a Queen that’s undefended or using a piece of great value to attack your opponent’s
Queen.
This chapter contains thirty-two exercises ranging in depth from five to eleven half-moves,
as seen in the following table:
5 ply 5 ply
E97 D85
393. Visualize the position after the moves 21 394. Both Knights are under attack. Visualize
d6+ Be6 22 dxc7 Bxb3 23 Rxb3. What is the the position after the moves 33 Ne2 Nc6 34
material balance? Nxc1 Nxb4 35 Bxb4. What is the material bal-
ance?
5 ply 5 ply
B75 B00
395. Visualize the position after the moves 13 396. White is up a pawn, but his Nd5 is under
Nb3 Bxc31 14 Nxa5 Bxd2+ 15 Bxd2. What is attack. Visualize the position after the moves 23
the material balance? h5 Bg51 24 hxg6 Bxf4+ 25 Nxf4. What is the
material balance?
1
13...Qb4, 13...Qc7, or 13...Qd8 are also playable.
1
Moving the Queen drops another pawn, e.g., 23…
Qe8 24 Nxf6 exf6 25 Rxd6 or 23…Qg5 24 Nxg5
Bxg5 25 Qxg5 hxg5 25 Nxe7.
CHAPTER 14. FIRST PLAYER TO ATTACK THE QUEEN || 137
6 ply 6 ply
A90 B03
397. Visualize the position after the moves 20 398. Black is up a pawn, but his Queen is tied to
Nd7 b41 21 Nxb6 bxa3 22 Nxa8 Rxa82. What is the defense of the Rd5. Visualize the position
the material balance? after the moves 21 Nd2 Nd4 22 Nxe41 Nxb3 23
Bc4 and 24 Bxb3. What is the material balance?
1
20...Qd8 21 Qxd6 wins a piece (e.g., 21…Re7 22
Bxb5). 2 In the actual game Black played 22...g5, but 1
22 Bc4 Nxb3 23 Nxe4 is similar to the game.
resigned after 23 Bxa6 Bxa6 24 Nc7 (1-0).
7 ply 7 ply
B07 C07
399. Visualize the position after the moves 11 400. White is up the exchange and Black's
Ng3 Qh41 12 Bg5 Bh62 13 Bxh4 Bxd2+ 14 Queen is trapped. Visualize the position after
Rxd2. What is the material balance? the moves 17 a5 Ne4 18 axb6 Nxd6 19 Rxa71
Be8 20 Rxa8. What is the material balance?
1
White gets an attack if Black moves his Knight, for
example, 11…Nxg3 12 hxg3 with 13 Qh2 or 11… 1
Black resigned here. White gets a new Queen after
Nf6 12 dxe5 dxe5 with 13 h4 and 14 h5. 2 The only 19…Rxa7 20 bxa7.
way to save his trapped Queen.
138 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
7 ply 7 ply
D58 C11
401. White will have the better pawn structure 402. White is up a pawn. Both Queens are under
and better pieces in an ending. Visualize the po- attack. Visualize the position after the moves 25
sition after the moves 36 Nh4 Bxe2 37 Nxf5 Bxg6 Bxe5 26 Re1 Bg71 27 Rxg7+ Kxg7 28
Bxd1 38 Nxe7+ Rxe7 39 Rxd1. What is the ma- Bxe82. What is the material balance?
terial balance?
1
Leaving the a1-h8 diagonal allows 27 Bf6 and 28
Rh8, mate. 2 Black resigned here.
7 ply 7 ply
E94 C62
403. White is up a pawn. Visualize the position 404. White has to watch out for discovered at-
after the moves 28 e6 Bc31 29 Rxf5 Bxd2 30 tacks along the fifth rank. Visualize the position
Rxf7+ Kg8 31 Nxd22. What is the material bal- after the moves 29 Nb4 Nf3+1 30 gxf3 Rxa5 31
ance? Nxc6+2 Ka8 32 Nxa5. What is the material bal-
ance?
1
28...Ne5 was also possible, though White wins a
piece after 29 exf7 Re7 30 Nxe5 Bxe5 31 Bxc5 bxc5 1
29...Qxe4 loses to 30 Nxa6+ Ka8 31 Nb4+ Kb8 21
32 f4. 2 Black resigned here. Qa7, mate. 2 Black resigned here.
CHAPTER 14. FIRST PLAYER TO ATTACK THE QUEEN || 139
7 ply 7 ply
C15 B30
405. Visualize the position after the moves 9 406. Visualize the position after the moves 17
Bg5 Bd61 10 Bxf6 Bxg3 11 Bxe7 Bxf2 12 Bg5. Rde1 Bd61 18 Rxe6 Bxc7 19 Rxf6 gxf62 20
What is the material balance? Bxc7. What is the material balance?
1 1
9...Qg6 loses material to 10 Nf4 Bd6 11 Nxg6 Bxg3 Relatively best is 17...Rd7 18 Rxe6 Rxc7 19 Rxf6
with either 12 Nxh8 or 12 Nxe7 Nxe7 13 hxg3. Rxc3, although White is up a pawn after 20 Rb6 Rc2
21 Rxb7. 2 White is up a piece after 19...Bxf4 20
Rxf4.
7 ply 7 ply
A52 E77
407. Visualize the position after the moves 11 408. Visualize the position after the moves 14
Nb3 Bg41 12 Nxc52 Bxd1 13 Nxa63 bxa64 14 Rxf71 hxg52 15 Rxe7 gxh4 16 Rxe8+ Kf7 17
Rxd1. What is the material balance? Rxc8. What is the material balance?
1 1
Black's Queen is trapped after 11...Qb6 12 Ba5. The alternative 14 cxd5 hxg5 15 Bxg5 is also good
2
White is up a piece after 12 f3 Qb6 13 fxg4, but the for White, but Black's Queen is active after 15…
text is even better. 3 The threat of 14 Nc7+ gives Qb4. 2 Black can gain a Rook and Knight for a Queen
White time to capture Black’s Bishop on d1. 4 White and pawn after either 14…Qxf7 15 Nxf7 Nxc3 16
is up a Rook after 13...Bh5 14 Nc7+ Kd7 15 Nxa8 bxc3 Kxf7 or 14…Qxg5 15 Bxg5 Kxf7, but lacks
Rxa8. development in both cases.
140 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
7 ply 7 ply
D45 C19
409. White is down a pawn and his Nd4 is un- 410. White’s Knight on g5 and pawn on h4 are
der attack. Visualize the position after the under attack, but Black’s f-pawn is overworked.
moves 23 Nf3 Nxg2 24 Nxe51 Nxe3 25 Nxg42 Visualize the position after the moves 17 Nxe6
Nxg4 26 Rxg4. What is the material balance? Ngxe51 18 Nxd8 Nxd3 19 Nc62 Nxf4 20 Rxf4.
What is the material balance?
1
24 Rxg2 Bxf3 25 Qxf3 loses the exchange to 25…
Ne1. 2 White is down a piece after 25 fxe3 Nxe5. 1
White is up a pawn after 17...fxe6 18 Qxg6 Qe8
(18...Qxh4 loses the Nd7 to 19 Qe6+). 2 Black's
Knight is trapped.
8 ply 8 ply
E38 A00
411. Visualize the position after the moves 25 412. Visualize the position after the moves 18
Bxf5 exf5 26 Rxf5 Be6 27 Rxf6 Bxh3 28 Rc6 f51 gxf52 19 exf5 Rxd23 20 fxe6 Rxc2 21 Nxc24
Be6. What is the material balance? Nh6. What is the material balance?
1
Two of Black's pieces are under attack. 2 White is up
the exchange after 18...Rxd2 19 fxe6 Rxc2 20 exf7+
Kxf7 21 Nxc2. 3 Moving the Queen drops the Knight.
4
21 exf7 first is even better, when 21...Rxf7 can be
met by 22 Rd8+ Rf8 23 Rxf8+ Kxf8 24 Nxc2.
CHAPTER 14. FIRST PLAYER TO ATTACK THE QUEEN || 141
9 ply 9 ply
C00 D56
413. White is down a pawn. Visualize the posi- 414. Visualize the position after the moves 8
tion after the moves 21 Ba3 g4 22 b5 gxf3 23 Bxe7 Nxc3 9 Bxd8 Nxd11 10 Be72 Re83 11 Ba3
Bxd6 fxe2 24 bxc6 Bxc6 25 Bxc6. What is the Nxf2 12 Kxf2. What is the material balance?
material balance?
1
Black's Knight is trapped. 2 Two of Black's pieces
are under attack. 3 10…Nxf2 11 Kxf2 Re8 12 Ba3
transposes, while 10...Nxb2 loses the exchange for a
pawn after 11 Bxf8 Kxf8 12 c5.
9 ply 9 ply
C02 E33
415. White is down a pawn, but Black’s a-pawn 416. Visualize the position after the moves 19
is weak. Visualize the position after the moves f5 b51 20 fxe6 bxc42 21 Rxf6 cxd3 22 exf7+
26 Qd2 Rg31 27 Rxa5 Rd3 28 Rxa6 Rxd2 29 Bxf7 23 Rxf7. What is the material balance?
Rxc6+2 bxc6 30 Rxd2. What is the material bal-
1
ance? Best. 19...Qe7 20 fxe6 f6 (or 20...fxe6 21 Qe4,
threatening 22 Bd3) 21 Nf7. 2 The desperado 20…
1
Heading for d3. White has a Queen and Bishop for Qxf1+ 21 Qxf1 bxc4 gives Black a Rook and Bishop
two Rooks after 26...Qb6 27 Rxc6+ Qxc6 28 Rc1 for a Queen and two pawns, but White can now win a
Kd7 29 Rxc6 bxc6 30 Qxa5. Black's prospects are piece with 22 exf7+ Bxf7 23 Qxf7+ Kh8 24 Qxc4.
dim after 26...Qa8 27 Rxa5 Qb8 28 Qf2. 2 Black re-
signed here.
142 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
9 ply 9 ply
C03 A29
417. Visualize the position after the moves 10 418. Visualize the position after the moves 22
Nxf7 Bxf31 11 Qxe62 Nf83 12 Nxd8 Nxe6 13 Bh3 Nc81 23 Bxd7 Nxb6 24 Bxc62 bxc6 25
Nxe6 Bxg2 14 Rg14. What is the material bal- Rxb6 Bd53 26 Rxa6+. What is the material bal-
ance? ance?
1 1
After 10...Kxf7 11 Ng5+ Ke8 12 Nxe6 Qc8 13 White gets his Knight to d6 after 22...Qe7 23 Nf5
Nxg7+ Kd8 14 Ne6+ Ke8 15 Bf4, White has three Qd7 24 Nd6, when White gains a pawn and a domi-
pawns for a piece and threatens 16 Nxc7+. 2 Three nant position after 24…Qe7 (forced) 25 Qxb7 Qxb7
Black pieces are under attack. 3 White is up two 26 Rxb7. 2 Black resigned here. 3 Defending the a-
pawns after 11...Bd5 12 Nxd8 Bxe6 13 Nxe6. pawn with 25...Ka7 leads to mate after 26 Nxc6+
4
White threatens 15 Nxc7+, but 14…Kd7 defends. Ka8 27 Rcb1 Bc4 28 Rb7 with 29 Ra7, mate.
10 ply 11 ply
B02 D00
419. Visualize the position after the moves 19 420. Visualize the position after the moves 20
Nc41 Rg62 20 Nxa5 Rxg3 21 Nxc63 bxc64 22 e41 dxe42 21 Nxe4 Nxd4 22 Rxc8 Rxc8 23
fxg3 Be3+ and 23…Rxd7. What is the material Nxd6 Nxb3 24 Nxc83 Bxc8 25 axb3. What is
balance? the material balance?
1
Two Black pieces are under attack. 2 19…Bf4 drops 1
20 Qxd5 Rxe3 gains nothing. 2 20...Ba7 21 e5 fxe5
a piece after either 20 Qxf4 or 20 Nxa5 Bxg3 21 22 fxe5 drives Black's Queen away from d5, while
Nxc6 Rxc6 22 fxg3 Rxc2 23 Nxd4. 3 Three of Black's 20...Be6 loses a pawn to 21 exd5 Bxd5 22 Nxd5
pieces are under attack. 4 21...Rxg2+ loses an addi- Rxe2 23 Qxb7 Ree8 24 Be4. 3 Black resigned here.
tional, e.g., 22 Kxg2 bxc6 23 Nxd2 Rxd7.
CHAPTER 14. FIRST PLAYER TO ATTACK THE QUEEN || 143
11 ply 11 ply
D58 E60
421. Visualize the position after the moves 17 422. White is down a pawn. Visualize the posi-
dxc5 bxc51 18 Rxd5 Nd42 19 Rxd8 Nxc2 20 tion after the moves 25 Na7 Nxe3 26 Nxc6
Rxf8+ Kxf8 21 Kxc2 Bxf3 22 Rh4. What is the Nxc21 27 Ne7+ Kf8 28 Nxc8 Rxc8 29 Rd2 b5
material balance? 30 Rdxc2. What is the material balance?
1 1
17…Bxc3 18 Qxc3 wins Black’s Queen because of 26...Rxc6 allows the desperado 27 Qxc6 bxc6 28
the mate threat. 2 Discovering an attack on White’s fxe3, when White is up the exchange for a pawn.
Rook d5, as well as the Knight on f3 and the Rook on
h1 behind it.
11 ply 11 ply
B84 B06
423. Both of White Knights are under attack. 424. Visualize the position after the moves 8
Visualize the position after the moves 19 Bxg7 dxe5 dxe5 9 Nxe5 Nxe4 10 Nxf7 Nxc31 11
exf51 20 Bc4+ Rf7 21 Bxf6+ fxg4 22 Bxe7 bxc3 Nxd8 Nxd1 12 Bc4+2 Kh8 13 Rxd1. What is the
23 Bxf7+2 Kg7 24 Bxc5. What is the material material balance?
balance?
1
White is up a pawn after 10...Rxf7 11 Nxe4. 2 To
1 clear the d-file. Black has two pieces for a Rook and
19...Qg5 allows mate after 20 Nxe7+ Qxe7 21
Bxe5+. 2 23 Rxf7 is also good. Black resigned here. two pawns after 12 Rxd1 Rxd8 13 Bc4+ Rd5 14
Bxd5+ cxd5 15 Rxd5.
CHAPTER 15. SECOND PLAYER TO ATTACK THE QUEEN
This chapter shows how the second player to attack the opponent’s Queen can gain an ad-
vantage. Typical techniques involve the following:
Using a piece of lesser value to attack the Queen – see exercises 428, 429,
431, and 432;
Capturing the Queen with a threat – see exercises 439, 445, and 449.
This chapter contains twenty-eight exercises ranging in depth from five to eleven half-
moves, as seen in the following table:
5 ply 5 ply
C07 D43
425. White is up a pawn. Visualize the position 426. Black has just attacked White's Queen. Vi-
after the moves 19 Nxh7 Rfe81 20 Nxf6 Rxe5 sualize the position after the moves 28 Rxd5
21 Nxd7. What is the material balance? fxe41 29 Rxd8+ Rxd8 30 Rxe4. What is the ma-
terial balance?
1
White is up two pawns after 19…Nxh7 20 Qxh5.
1
Black's pawns are shattered after either 28...Qxd5
29 Qxd5 exd5 or 28...exd5 29 Qxf5, when White
threatens both 30 Qxf7 and 30 Rd1.
6 ply 6 ply
C33 B76
427. Visualize the position after the moves 8 428. Visualize the position after the moves 23
Bxf6 Bxd1 9 Bxe7 Bxc2 10 Bxf8 Rxf8. What is Nd5 Rxc2 24 Nxc7 Rxd21 25 Nxe6 Kxe6. What
the material balance? is the material balance?
1
Black is down the exchange for a pawn after 24...
Rxc7, but the Queens are still on the board.
CHAPTER 15. SECOND PLAYER TO ATTACK THE QUEEN || 147
7 ply 7 ply
D04 C07
429. Visualize the position after the moves 9 430. Visualize the position after the moves 18
Bxc6 bxc6 10 Nxc6 Rxb3 11 Nxd8 Rb8 12 Nc6. Nc4 Nxb21 19 Nxd6+ Ke7 20 Nxb7 Nxd1 21
What is the material balance? Rfxd12. What is the material balance?
1
White is up two pieces after 18...Ndxf2 19 Nxd6+
Ke7 20 Nxb7 Nxd1 21 Rfxd1. 2 Black resigned here.
7 ply 7 ply
C35 C33
431. Visualize the position after the moves 9 d5 432. Visualize the position after the moves 10
Bxf31 10 dxc6 Qxc62 11 Bxf7+ Kxf7 12 Qxf3. e5 Nxc41 11 exf62 Nxb2 12 fxe73 Qxe74 13
What is the material balance? Qb5. What is the material balance?
1 1
9…Ne5 is best. 9…Na5 loses material to 10 Bd3 Playing 10...dxe5 11 Nxe5 first, before 11…Nxc4,
(threatening 11 b4) when 10...b6 11 b4 Nb7 loses the takes White's e-pawn out of the picture. 2 Now two of
Queen to 12 Bb5. 2 White is up a piece for a pawn Black's pieces are under attack. 3 Black resigned here.
4
after 10…Bxd1 11 cxd7+ Nxd7 12 Raxd1. White has two pieces for two pawns after 12...Nxd3
13 exd8=Q Raxd8 14 cxd3.
148 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
7 ply 7 ply
C10 B04
433. Visualize the position after the moves 16 434. White’s Queen is under attack. Visualize
Rxd7 Rxd7 17 Rd1 a6 18 Rxd7 axb5 19 Rxc71. the position after the moves 15 Bxc7 Rxe21 16
What is the material balance? Bxd82 Re6 17 Bxb63 Rxb6 18 Nxd5. What is the
material balance?
1
19…Bxg5 20 Nxf7 wins back the piece.
1
15...Qd7 can be met by 16 Qb5, when White retains
his extra pawn. 2 White threatens to win Black’s
Knight with 17 Bxb6. 3 Black resigned here.
7 ply 7 ply
B38 B33
435. Visualize the position after the moves 10 436. White is down the exchange, but has a
Bxg4 Bxg41 11 Nxc6 Bxd1 12 Nxd8 Rfxd82 13 passed pawn and an active position. Visualize
Nxd1. What is the material balance? the position after the moves 25 d7 Red8 26
fxe51 Rxd72 27 Rxf6 Rxd3 28 Rxc6. What is the
1
White is up a piece after 10...Nxd4 11 Bxc8 Rxc8 material balance?
12 Bxd4. 2 The actual game continued 12...Bxc3 13
Rfxd1 (1-0), when White is up a piece for a pawn 1
This attacks Black’s Bishop and opens up the f-file.
after Bxb2 14 Rab1 Rfxd8 15 Rxb2. 2
26...Be7 27 Bh3 is also good for White.
CHAPTER 15. SECOND PLAYER TO ATTACK THE QUEEN || 149
7 ply 7 ply
D20 A80
437. White's Queen is under attack. Visualize 438. White is up the exchange, but his Queen is
the position after the moves 13 Nxc6 Bxc4 14 under attack. Visualize the position after the
Nxe7 Bxe2 15 Bxf61 Bc42 16 Bh43. What is the moves 27 Bc71 Qb42 28 Rxb4 Bxd1 29 Rb8+3
material balance? Kh7 30 Rxd1. What is the material balance?
1 1
White is up a piece after 15 Nf5 Bc4 16 Nxg7+ Kf8 27 Qb1 is also good. 2 Two of Black's pieces are
17 Bxf6. 2 The actual game continued 15...gxf6 16 under attack after 27...Bxd1 28 Bxa5 Be2 29 Re1.
Nd5 (1-0), when White threatens both 17 Kxe2 and Relatively best is 27...Qxc7 28 Rxc7 Bxd1 29 Rxd1,
17 Nxc7+. 3 White can also play 16 Bxg7 Kxe7 17 when White remains up the exchange. 3 Black re-
Bxh8 Rxh8, when he is up the exchange and a pawn. signed here.
8 ply 8 ply
C17 A00
439. White is down a pawn. Visualize the posi- 440. White’s Queen is under attack. Visualize
tion after the moves 21 g4 Ne3 22 Bxd4 Nxd1 the position after the moves 23 Bxe5 Bxb5 24
23 Bxb61 Nc3 24 Rfc1 Rdf82 25 Rxc3. What is Bxc7 Bxe21 25 Rd7+ Kh8 26 Rb1 b5. What is
the material balance? the material balance?
1
Two of Black's pieces are under attack. 2 The actual 1
The actual game continued 24...Re7 25 Bd6 Bxe2
game continued 24...d4 25 Nxd4 Bc6+ (White is up a 26 Bxe7 (1-0, 29), when White will be up a piece
piece and a pawn after 25...Kb8 26 Rxc3 Rc8) 26 after 26...Bxf1 27 Kxf1.
Nxc6 Rxd3 27 Nb4 (1-0), when White will win a
second piece after 27...Rf3 28 Rb3.
150 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
9 ply 9 ply
B01 C10
441. Visualize the position after the moves 25 442. Visualize the position after the moves 13
f5 Nf4 26 Nxg7 Ne21 27 Nxe8 Nxc3 28 Nxc7 Nexf7 Rxf7 14 Qxe6 Bd51 15 Nxf7 Bxe6 16
Nxd1 29 Rxd1. What is the material balance? Nxd8 Rxd8 17 Rxe6. What is the material bal-
ance?
1
26...Bxg7 27 Rxf4 White is up a pawn with the bet-
ter position. 1
White is up the exchange and two pawns after 14...
Qf8 15 Nxf7 Qxf7 16 Qxe7.
9 ply 9 ply
C20 B48
443. White’s Queen is under attack. Visualize 444. Visualize the position after the moves 31
the position after the moves 10 Bxf6 Nxd4 11 Nd4 Nc41 32 Nxc6 Nxe3 33 Nxe7 Nxf1 34
Bxe7 Nc2+ 12 Kd2 Nxa11 13 Bxd6 Bf52 14 Nxd5 Bxd5 35 Rxf1. What is the material bal-
Bxc7. What is the material balance? ance?
1 1
White is up a piece after 12…Bxe7 13 Kxc2. 31...Rc7 or 31…Rc8 loses a couple of pawns to 32
2
White has two Knights for a Rook and pawn after Nxb5, for example, 32…axb5 (32…Rc6 to prevent
13…cxd6 14 Na3 Be6 15 Nf3 Nb3+ 16 axb3 Bxb3. Nd6 can be met by 33 Na7) 33 Qxb6 with 34 Bxb5 or
34 Qxb5 to follow.
CHAPTER 15. SECOND PLAYER TO ATTACK THE QUEEN || 151
9 ply 9 ply
C89 B50
445. Black has active pieces for his three-pawn 446. Visualize the position after the moves 25
deficit. Visualize the position after the moves 25 Nc7 Bb3 26 Bxh5 Bxc2 27 Bxf7 Rxd1+1 28
h3 Bxh31 26 Bf3 Bxf1 27 Bxh52 Rxd2 28 Kxf1 Nxd1 Rc8 29 Nd5. What is the material bal-
Rxb2 29 Rxa6. What is the material balance? ance?
1 1
25…Qxh3 is senseless, as it allows White to trade After 27...Bxd1 28 Nxe8 Bf3 29 Nxg7 Kxg7 30
Queens, e.g., 26 Qxh3 Bxh3 27 Nc4. 2 Two of Bd5, when Black can't win a pawn with 30...Nxd5 31
Black’s pieces are under attack. exd5 Bxd5 because of 32 Rd1.
10 ply 10 ply
C45 C09
447. Visualize the position after the moves 19 448. Visualize the position after the moves 21
Nxc7 Rcd81 20 Nxe8 Rxd7 21 Nxf6 Kxf6 22 Rhg1 Ng61 22 Qxd5+ Be6 23 Bxf6 Bxd5 24
Rxe72 Rxe7 23 Rxe7 Kxe7. What is the material Bxd8 Bxb32 25 Rxd6 Bf7. What is the material
balance? balance?
1 1
19...Red8 loses to 20 Rxe7+ Kg6 21 Rxg7+ Qxg7 21…bxc3 loses the exchange to 22 Qxf6 while
22 Re6+. 2 22 Re6+ Kf7 is also good, as Black's piec- 21...Kf8 loses a pawn to 22 Rxg7. 2 The actual game
es are all tied up. continued 24...Nf4 25 Bg5 (1-0), with the same ma-
terial balance as in the main line.
152 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
11 ply 11 ply
D06 E17
449. Visualize the position after the moves 13 450. Visualize the position after the moves 18
Qc2 Nb4 14 Bxh7+ Kh8 15 Be4 Nxc2 16 Bxd5 Qb4 Bxc31 19 bxc3 a52 20 d6 Qe53 21 Bxe5
Nxe31 17 Bxa8 Nxf1 18 Kxf1. What is the ma- axb4 22 cxb4 Nd3 23 Bc3. What is the material
terial balance? balance?
1 1
White is up a pawn after 6...exd5 17 Rxc2. 18...Bf6 loses a piece to 19 d6 Qd7 20 Qxc5. 2 19…
Rfe8 20 d6 wins a piece, e.g., 20…Nd3 21 dxe7
Nxb4 22 cxb4. 3 White is up a pawn after 20...axb4
21 dxe7 Rfe8 22 Bd6 Ne6 23 cxb4.
11 ply 11 ply
C01 E57
451. Visualize the position after the moves 12 452. Visualize the position after the moves 18
0-0 Nxd3 13 Nxe6 Nb21 14 Nxf8 Nxd1 15 Nxd7 Ng51 Bxg52 19 Bxg5 Nd43 20 Ne7+ Kh8 21
Nxe3 16 Rfe12 Nxd73 17 Rxe3. What is the ma- Nxc8 Nxe2+ 22 Bxe2 Rxc84 23 Bxh5. What is
terial balance? the material balance?
1
13...Qxe6 14 Qxd3 is equal. 2 Black has compensa- 1
18 Nxe7 18 Nxe7 Nxe7 19 Bg5 also wins material.
2
tion for the exchange after 16 Nxf6+ Bxf6 17 Rfc1 White is up the exchange and a pawn after 18...Nf6
Bxd4 18 Kh1 dxc4. 3 White is up a couple of pawns 19 Nxe7+ Nxe7 20 Nxf7 Rxf7 21 Bxf7 22 Qxe7+.
after 16...Nc2 17 Rxe7 Nxa1 18 Nxf6+ gxf6 19 Relatively best for Black is to give up the exchange
Nxd5. with 18…Rxd5 19 Bxd5 Nf6. 3 White it up a piece
after 19...Rde8 20 Qxh5 and threatens 21 Ne7+.
4
22…Nf6 23 Nxa7 is worse for Black.
CHAPTER 16. DESPERADO QUEENS
This chapter contains exercises that feature a desperado Queen, that is, a Queen that volun-
tarily captures a defended enemy piece of lesser value. Such a desperado can be utilized to
gain either a material or positional advantage, or to minimize your opponent’s advantage.
The Queen typically gives herself up in one of three ways – by capturing a piece with
check, capturing a piece without check, or giving check without capturing a piece:
Capturing a piece with check – see exercises 453, 454, 455, 461, 463, 464,
465, 466, 467, 468, 472, 473, 474, 475, and 478;
Capturing a piece without check – see exercises 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 462,
470, 471, 479, and 480; and
Giving check without capturing a piece – see exercises 469 and 476.
When the enemy Queen is defended, a desperado can be used to gain a material advantage
if the desperado Queen can capture the piece of greater value than the piece used to capture
the enemy Queen – see exercises 461, 462, 463, 464, 471, 473, and 476. On the other hand,
capturing the Queen with a piece of equal value will not win material, but it can be used to
break up your opponent’s pawn structure – see exercises 457, 458, 459, and 475.
This chapter contains twenty-eight exercises ranging in depth from five to eleven half-
moves, as seen in the following table:
5 ply 5 ply
E15 B17
453. Visualize the position after the moves 32 454. White is down a pawn, his King is in
Bxf7+ Rxf7 33 Qxf7+ Kxf7 34 Rxc5. What is check, and his Rf6 is under attack. Visualize the
the material balance? position after the moves 25 Rf1 f51 26 Qxg5+
hxg5 27 Rxh1. What is the material balance?
1
Black remains a pawn up after 25...Qd5.
5 ply 5 ply
C15 C41
455. Black is up two pawns. Visualize the posi- 456. Visualize the position after the moves 22
tion after the moves 6 Nf3 h51 7 Qxe6+ Bxe6 8 Ne4 Re61 23 Qxf62 Rxf6 24 Nxc5. What is the
Nxd4. What is the material balance? material balance?
1 1
Black remains a pawn up after 6...Qf6 7 Qxe4. 22…Re8 loses a Rook to 23 Qxe8+ and 24 Nxc5.
Relatively best 22...Qxd4 23 Qxd4 dxe4, when Black
has a Rook and Bishop for Queen and pawn after 24
Qxa7. 2 23 Qxe6 allows 23...Qxd4.
CHAPTER 16. DESPERADO QUEENS || 155
6 ply 6 ply
C48 B67
457. White is down a pawn. Visualize the posi- 458. Visualize the position after the moves 22
tion after the moves 19 Rxf6 Bxg4 20 Qxe4 Rf5 Ra81 23 Qxa8 Bxa82 24 Rxe5 dxe5. What is
dxe41 21 Rxc6 bxc6. What is the material bal- the material balance?
ance?
1
Black has nothing to fear by taking the Rook, e.g.,
1 22...exf5 23 Nd5+ Kc8 24 Nb6+ Kc7, when White is
20...Qxf6 loses a piece to 21 Qxg4+.
down a Rook and has to repeat the position with 25
Nd5+. 2 23...Rxa8 doesn't change anything.
6 ply 6 ply
B40 B22
459. Visualize the position after the moves 11 460. Visualize the position after the moves 23
Nb31 Nxe42 12 Qxc6 dxc6 13 Nxa5 bxa53. What Bd2 Bxb51 24 Qxe4 dxe4 25 Bxa5 Bd3. What is
is the material balance? the material balance?
1 1
Also possible is 11 e5 bxc5 (11…Qxc5 is similar) This gives Black compensation for his material, but
12 exf6 gxf6 (but not 11...Ng4 12 b4, e.g., 12...Nxb4 23...Qd8 is also good.
13 Nb3 Nc2+ 14 Kd2, when two of Black's pieces are
under attack). 2 Moving the Queen allows White to
save his pawn, e.g., 11...Qe5 12 Qxe5 Nxe5 13 f3 or
11...Qh5 12 Qg3 00 13 f3. 3 White has compensation
for his pawn.
156 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
6 ply 6 ply
B01 C67
461. White is up a piece. Visualize the position 462. White is up the exchange. Visualize the
after the moves 30 Nd4 Rxe51 31 Qxe5+ Bxe5 position after the moves 18 Qe4 Bd51 19 Qxd52
32 Nxc6 bxc6. What is the material balance? Rxd53 20 exf6 gxf6. What is the material bal-
ance?
1
30…Qd7 loses the exchange to 31 Nxf5 Qxf5.
1
This gets Black into trouble. Moving the Queen is
better. 18...Bf5 can be met by 19 exf6 Bxe4 20 Rfe1
Bxc2 21 Re7. 2 Black resigned here. 3 Slightly better
is 19...Qxf2+ 20 Rxf2 cxd5.
7 ply 7 ply
C50 B26
463. White is up a pawn. Visualize the position 464. White is down a pawn, but Black’s pawn
after the moves 32 a5 Nxb51 33 Qxe7+2 Kxe7 on h7 is weak. Visualize the position after the
34 axb6 axb6. What is the material balance? moves 20 Bd51 Nf52 21 Qxf8+ Rxf8 22 Bxe6
fxe6 23 Ne4. What is the material balance?
1
32...Qxb5 unprotects the Nd6. 2 Also possible is 33
Rxc8+ Kxc8 34 Qxe7 Qd8 35 Qc5+, although the 1
To drive the Queen away from f5. The immediate
Queens stay on the board in this line. 20 Be4 can be met by 20...Nf5. 2 Best. 20...Qe7 loses
to 21 Be4, when White cashes in on h7, for example,
21...Nd4 22 Bxg6 fxg6 23 Qxh7, mate.
CHAPTER 16. DESPERADO QUEENS || 157
7 ply 7 ply
A89 D52
465. White is up two pawns. Visualize the posi- 466. White is up the exchange for a pawn. Vi-
tion after the moves 37 Bd5 Rf5 38 Qd8+ Rf8 sualize the position after the moves 27 Rf1
39 Qxf8+ Bxf8 40 Bxa21. What is the material Ng4+ 28 Kh3 Ne3 29 Qxh7+1 Kxh7 30 Rxf32.
balance? What is the material balance?
1 1
Black resigned here. White can also trap Black's Knight with 29 Rxf3
Nxc2 30 Rc1 Na3 31 c4. 2 Black resigned here.
7 ply 7 ply
B06 B14
467. White is up the exchange and his King is in 468. Visualize the position after the moves 22
check, but Black’s Queen is tied to the defense Rd2 Ba41 23 Bxf7+ Nxf72 24 Qxf7+ Kxf7 25
of his Ng7. Visualize the position after the Rxd6. What is the material balance?
moves 36 Kg3 Rf81 37 Qxf8+ Kxf8 38 Rxh6
1
Kxe7 39 Rxg6. What is the material balance? 22...Qc7 is met by 23 Re7 with pressure. 2 White is
up a Bishop and a pawn after 23...Kh8 24 Rxd6 Bxb3
1
Black’s Queen can’t move because of 37 Qxg7, 25 Bxb3.
mate.
158 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
7 ply 7 ply
A90 C07
469. Visualize the position after the moves 48 470. Visualize the position after the moves 16
Be5 Rh41 49 Qh7+2 Rxh73 50 gxh7+ Kxh7 51 Bf4 g61 17 Nxg6+ hxg6 18 Qxf62 Nxf6 19
Bxc7. What is the material balance? Bxc7. What is the material balance?
1 1
48...Qd7 allows White to set up a mating net with Better is 16...Qb6, sidestepping the discovered at-
49 Rf2. 2 This is better than winning the exchange tack and attacking both d4 and b2. 2 Black is up a
with 49 Qxh4 Qxe5 50 Qg3. 3 49...Kf8 loses to 50 piece for a pawn after 18 Bxc7 gxf5.
Rf2+ Ke8 51 Qg8+ Kd7 52 Rf7, mate.
8 ply 8 ply
C88 C17
471. Visualize the position after the moves 22 472. Visualize the position after the moves 16
e6 Rad81 23 exf7+ Qxf7 24 Qxd8 Rxd8 25 Nxf7 Bc4 Rg71 17 Qh8+2 Rg8 18 Qxg8+ Nxg8 19
Kxf7. What is the material balance? Bxd5 exf4. What is the material balance?
1 1
Black can keep the advantage with 22...f6 23 Nxe4 To drive White’s Queen away from e4. 2 17 Qxg7
Rxe6 24 Ng3 Qc6 25 f3 Rae8. loses tow pieces for a Rook after Qxe4 18 Kf1 Qxf4,
although White can improve with 18 Be3, e.g., 18…
dxe3 19 Qxf7+ Kd8 20 0-0-0.
CHAPTER 16. DESPERADO QUEENS || 159
8 ply 8 ply
E94 D61
473. Visualize the position after the moves 18 474. White is up a pawn. Visualize the position
Qxd61 Nxe4 19 Qxf8+ Bxf82 20 Bxb6 Nxc3 21 after the moves 21 Rd6 Be41 22 Bxe6+2 Rxe63
Nxc3 axb6. What is the material balance? 23 Qxe6+ Nxe6 24 Rxb6 Bxg2. What is the ma-
terial balance?
1
This attacks Black's Knight on c5. 2 In the game
Black played 19...Kxf8, but resigned after 20 Bxb6, 1
21...Qa7 gives White another pawn and a dominant
since White is up a Rook after either 20...axb6 21 position in the center after 22 Bxe6+. 2 White can
fxe4 or 20…Nxc3 21 Bc5+ Kg8 22 Nxc3. remain a pawn up after 22 Rxb6 Bxf5, but sees a bet-
ter move. 3 Two of Black’s pieces under attack after
22…Nxe6 23 Qxe4, while White is up a piece and a
pawn after 22...Kh8 23 Rxb6 Bxf5 24 Bxf5.
9 ply 9 ply
C15 B80
475. White is down a pawn. Visualize the posi- 476. White is up two pawns. Visualize the posi-
tion after the moves 18 Bc4 fxe41 19 Bxe6+ tion after the moves 42 Bf4 Re71 43 Qg8+ Rxg8
Kg7 20 Qxf8+ Kxf8 21 Rxd4 Nxd4 22 Bxc8. 44 hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 45 Bxe5 Nxe5 46 Rxd6.
What is the material balance? What is the material balance?
1 1
Both Queens are now under attack. 42...Qf6 43 Rxg7 wins a piece after either 43...Qxg7
44 Qxe6 or 43...Qxf7 44 Rxf7.
160 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
9 ply 9 ply
B12 B87
477. Visualize the position after the moves 19 478. Black is up a pawn, but his Rg8 is weak.
Qa4 Nxd4 20 Nxd4 Qxd4 21 Be3 Nb6 22 Visualize the position after the moves 23 Nc6+
Qxa7+ Kxa7 23 Bxd4. What is the material bal- Rxc6 24 Qxf71 Rgc82 25 Rb3 R6c73 26 Qxc7+
ance? Rxc7 27 Rxb4. What is the material balance?
1
This is better than winning a pawn with 23 Qxf7.
2
24...Rcc8 can be met by 25 Rb3. 3 25…Qxa4 26
Qxb7 is mate.
11 ply 11 ply
A16 C78
479. Visualize the position after the moves 26 480. White's Knight on d4 is under attack and
Nxe5 axb41 27 Qxa8 Rxa8 28 Nxd72 Rxa1 29 Black's Rook opposes White's Queen on the
Nxf6+ Kg7 30 Ne8+ Kh8 31 Rxa1. What is the c-file. Visualize the position after the moves 24
material balance? Na4 Nxd41 25 Qxc8 Bxc82 26 Nxb63 Nxb3 27
Rxc8 Rxc8 28 Nxc8 Nc5 29 Rxd5. What is the
1
26...Qe7 can be met by 27 bxa5, when 27…Qxe5 material balance?
loses the exchange to 28 b7. 2 Black resigned here.
1
The count is 3-2 on c6. 2 25...Rxc8 26 Rxc8 Bxc7 27
Nxb6 is similar to the game continuation. 3 Black re-
signed here. Two of his pieces are under attack.
CHAPTER 17. DOUBLE DESPERADOS
This chapter features exercises that contain two desperado Queens, each of which volunta-
rily capture a defended enemy piece of lesser value. A double desperado can arise only
when the first desperado is executed without check. This is followed by a second despera-
do, usually executed with check – see exercises 482, 496, 497, 499, and 500.
This chapter contains twenty exercises ranging in depth from five to eleven half-moves, as
seen in the following table:
5 ply 5 ply
B23 B09
481. White’s Queen is under attack. Visualize 482. White is up a pawn but his Queen is under
the position after the moves 28 Qxd8 Qxe1+1 29 attack. Visualize the position after the moves 8
Rxe1 Rxd8 30 Bxa6. What is the material bal- Bb5 Qxb5 9 Qxf61 Bxf6 10 Nxb5. What is the
ance? material balance?
1 1
28…Rxd8 allows a back rank mate. 9 Nxb5 Nxd4 10 Nfxd4 (White remains a piece
down after 10 Nc7+ Kd8 11 Nxa8 Nxc2+ 12 Kd1
Nxa1) 10...Nxe4, attacking White's Knight on d4, is
about equal.
5 ply 5 ply
B00 A37
483. White is up a piece for a pawn. Visualize 484. White’s Queen is under attack, but Black’s
the position after the moves 26 Rac1 Qxc1 27 Queen is trapped. Visualize the position after
Qxf8+1 Rxf8 28 Rxc1. What is the material bal- the moves 31 Rb8 Qxb81 32 Qxf6+ Kxf6 33
ance? Rxb8. What is the material balance?
1 1
White is up a Queen for a Rook and pawn after 27 Black can also play 31...Nc8, for example, 32 Qh4
Rxc1 Rxc1+ 28 Kg2 Rcc8 29 Nf7+ Rxf7 30 Bxf7. h5 33 Bxc8 Rxc8 34 R1b7+ Kh6 35 Rxc8 Qxc8 36
Black can’t play 28...Rfc8 because of 29 Nf7+ Kg8 Qxf6 Qxb7 with a Queen ending.
30 Nd8+, when White has a forced mate: a) 30...Kh8
31 Qf8+ Ng8 32 Qxg8, mate or 30…R1c4 31 Qe6+
Kh8 32 Nf7+ Kg8 33 Nh6+ Kh8 34 Qg8+ Rxg8 35
Nf7, mate.
CHAPTER 17. DOUBLE DESPERADOS || 163
6 ply 6 ply
D31 D30
485. White’s g-pawn is about to fall, while 486. Black has just played 32…g5. Visualize
Black’s Queen is tied to the defense of his Nf8. the position after the moves 33 fxg5 Rxf2 34
Visualize the position after the moves 30 a3 Qxf2 Qxh4+1 35 gxh4 Rxf2. What is the materi-
Nxg61 31 Qxh6 Qxc3+ 32 bxc3 gxh6. What is al balance?
the material balance?
1
White is up a pawn after 34...Rxf2 35 gxh6.
1
30…Qd6 loses a piece to 31 Qxd6 Rxd6 32 Rxf8.
7 ply 7 ply
C51 B80
487. White is up a piece and a pawn, but Black 488. White wants to play Nf6+, winning
threatens 21...Qxa1 22 Rxa1 Re1, mate. Visual- Black’s Queen, but has to get rid of Black’s Bi-
ize the position after the moves 21 Nd61 Qxa12 shop on d4 first. Visualize the position after the
22 Qxf7+ Kh8 23 Qxe8+ Rxe8 24 Rxa1. What moves 29 Qxd4 Qxg3+1 30 Nxg3 Nxd4 31 Be3
is the material balance? Nxc2 32 Bxb6. What is the material balance?
1 1
Not only forking Black’s Rook, but also hitting White is up a piece for a pawn after 29...Nxd4 30
Black’s f-pawn. 2 21…R4e7 loses the exchange to 22 Nf6+ Kg7 31 Nxg4 Nxc2.
Nxe8 Rxc7 23 Nxf6+ 23 gxf6, when White is up a
Rook.
164 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
7 ply 7 ply
E64 B01
489. White is down a pawn, but Black’s Bishop 490. White is up a piece and pawn. Black seems
on c8 is pinned. Visualize the position after the to have an attack, but his Rook is overworked.
moves 37 Bb7 Ne6 38 Rxc8 Qxc81 39 Qxe5+ Visualize the position after the moves 29 Qxe4
dxe5 40 Bxc82. What is the material balance? Qxh2+ 30 Kxh2 Rxe4 31 g31 Bxg1+ 32 Kxg1.
What is the material balance?
1
38…Nxf4 leaves White up a piece for a pawn after
39 Rxd8. 2 Black resigned here. 1
31 Rh1 loses the Rook to 31...Rh4+ 32 Kg3 Rxh1.
7 ply 7 ply
A34 D07
491. Visualize the position after the moves 34 492. White's Queen is under attack. Visualize
Qe8 Nxb61 35 axb6 Qxb62 36 Qxf8+ Kxf8 37 the position after the moves 18 Bf21 Qxf22 19
Bxb6. What is the material balance? Qxe6+ Bf7 20 Qxf7+ Kxf7 21 Rxf2. What is
the material balance?
1
White’s Queen is under attack. 2 35…Bxe8 loses to
36 bxa7 when the pawn queens. 1
White can also just take the e-pawn, for example, 18
Qxe6+ Bf7 19 Qf5. 2 Black can also play 18... fxe5 or
18…Qg5, but both moves break up his pawn struc-
ture: 18...Qg5 19 Qxg5 fxg5 or 18…fxe5 19 Bxh4
Rfb8 20 Bg3 Rb5.
CHAPTER 17. DOUBLE DESPERADOS || 165
8 ply 8 ply
B14 C17
493. White is up a piece for two pawns. Visual- 494. Both of White's Rooks are under attack.
ize the position after the moves 15 Qc6 Qa5+ 16 Visualize the position after the moves 13 Bd2
Bd21 Bd7 17 Qxd7 Qxd2+ 18 Nxd2 Nxd7. What Qxf3 14 Qxg8+ Nxg8 15 gxf3 Bxf1 16 Kxf1
is the material balance? cxd4. What is the material balance?
1
Two of Black’s pieces are under attack.
9 ply 9 ply
A35 C44
495. Black has a 3-2 advantage on f1. White can 496. The count is 3-3 on e4, but White pulls his
force a perpetual check here with 33 Nf7+ Kg8 Knight away to open the d-file. Visualize the
34 Nh6+, but has more. Visualize the position position after the moves 15 Nf1 dxe4 16 dxe4
after the moves 33 Qxd8 Qxf1+1 34 Rxf1 Rxd8 Bxe4 17 Qxe41 Qxd12 18 Bxd1 Nxe4 19 Rxe4.
35 Nf7+ Kg82 36 Nxd8 Bxf1 37 Kxf1. What is What is the material balance?
the material balance?
1
Material is even after 17 Rxd7 Bxc2 18 Rxc7 Nd8.
1 2
The only move. 2 Black resigned here without wait- 17…Nxe4 18 Rxd7 gives White a piece for a pawn.
ing for White's reply.
166 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
9 ply 9 ply
A61 D36
497. White is up a pawn, but Black is threaten- 498. Visualize the position after the moves 24
ing to win White’s Queen with 19...Ba4+ 20 Bxg6 Nxf41 25 Qxf4 fxg6 26 Nxg6+ Qxg62 27
Kd2 bxc3 21 Qxc3 Be1+. Visualize the position Qxf8+ Rxf8 28 Rxg6. What is the material bal-
after the moves 19 Bg5 Ba4+ 20 Kc11 Be3+ 21 ance?
Qxe3 Qxd6 22 Nxd6 Nxe3 23 Bxe3. What is
1
the material balance? 24...fxg6 is met by 25 Nxg6+, when both the Rf8
and the Nh5 are under attack. 2 26...Kh7 27 Nxf8+
1
20 Kd2 bxc3+ 21 Qxc3 is also good for White. Qxf8 loses to 28 Rh5+ Kg8 29 Rg1+, etc.
11 ply 11 ply
D38 B23
499. Black has two pieces attacking g2. Visual- 500. Visualize the position after the moves 17
ize the position after the moves 20 Rg3 Bxg21 Bxh6 Bxh6 18 Rxf71 Be3+ 19 Qxe32 Qxf7 20
21 Rxg2 Qxe5 22 Qxh62 Ng63 23 dxe5 gxh6 24 gxf73 Bd74 21 fxg8=Q+ Rxg8 22 Qh6. What is
Bxg6 fxg6 25 Rxg6+. What is the material bal- the material balance?
ance?
1
White threatens both 19 Rxf8 and 19 Rxh7, mate.
2
1 2
Black’s idea is to play …Qxe5 and …Nf3+. Black 19 Kh1 is also good. 3 Black resigned here since tak-
is up a pawn after 22 dxe5 Nf3+ 23 Kh1 Nxd2. 3 22... ing White's Queen allows 21 fxg8=Q, mate. 4 20...Rf8
Nf3+ 23 Kf1 Nxh2+ 24 Qxh2 Qxh2 25 Rxh2 Rxc3 is met by 21 Qh6 with 22 Qf6, mate.
leaves Black down a piece for two pawns.
CHAPTER 18. PINS TO THE QUEEN
This chapter features exercises in which a Queen is captured by a piece of lesser value as
the result of a pin to the Queen. There are times when either player – the player with the
pin or the player under the pin – can gain an advantage or break the pin without detriment.
The player with the pin can often gain an advantage by capturing a piece of less value that
is defended by the pinned piece – see exercises 501, 502, 503, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513,
523, and 524.
The player under the pin can sometimes gain an advantage by voluntarily moving his
pinned piece out from under the pin, thereby exposing his Queen to capture. Such an idea
can be feasible if the pinned piece attacks the enemy Queen or creates some other type of
strong threat. Typical scenarios involve the following:
Pins involving pieces other than Bishops and Knights – see exercises 507,
519, 521, 522, 525, and 526.
This chapter contains twenty-eight exercises ranging in depth from five to eleven half-
moves, as seen in the following table:
5 ply 5 ply
D30 B99
501. White is up a piece for a pawn. Black is 502. Black has just taken White’s pawn on b2.
threatening 32...Nxf4 and 32...Rh6, but the Bi- Visualize the position after the moves 24
shop on f5 is pinned. Visualize the position after Qxe5+1 dxe5 25 Rxd8 Raxd8 26 Kxb2. What is
the moves 32 Rxd3 Bxd3 33 Qxf6 gxf6 34 the material balance?
Rxh5. What is the material balance?
1
24 Kxb2 can be met by 24...b4, 24...Qa5, or 24...
Qf6, winning back the piece.
5 ply 5 ply
D10 C11
503. Visualize the position after the moves 17 504. Visualize the position after the moves 19
Qxd5 Qxh2+ 18 Kxh2 cxd5 19 Rc7. What is the Ne4 Nxe4 20 Qxe4 dxe4 21 Rxd6. What is the
material balance? material balance?
CHAPTER 18. PINS TO THE QUEEN || 169
5 ply 5 ply
A00 C01
505. Black’s Knight on e5 is exerting pressure 506. Visualize the position after the moves 15
on c4 and f3. Visualize the position after the f3 Nxc3 16 Bxf5 Nxd1 17 Rfxd1. What is the
moves 13 Bxe5 Qxe5 14 Nxe5 Bxd1 15 Rxd11. material balance?
What is the material balance?
1
Black resigned here.
5 ply 5 ply
C00 A81
507. Black’s Queen is trapped. Visualize the 508. Visualize the position after the moves 31
position after the moves 18 Bd2 Rxc2 19 Bxb4 Rg71 Ng5 32 Rxc7 Nxe4 33 Nxe42. What is the
Rxe2 20 Bxe7. What is the material balance? material balance?
1
The threat of 32 Qh7, mate, forces Black’s reply.
2
Black resigned here.
170 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
7 ply 7 ply
E02 B01
509. Visualize the position after the moves 11 510. Visualize the position after the moves 19
Bf4 b51 12 Qxc5 Nxc5 13 Rxd8 Rxd8 14 Bxb8. axb5 axb51 20 Rxa8 Qxa8 21 Qxb5 cxb5 22
What is the material balance? Bxa8. What is the material balance?
1 1
White has the better position after 11…Ra8. 19…Qxb5 loses a Rook to 20 Qxb5, since both of
Black's pawns are pinned.
7 ply 7 ply
A36 E71
511. Visualize the position after the moves 19 512. White is down a piece for a pawn, but can
h31 Rb22 20 Qxb2 Nxb2 21 Rxd8 Rxd8 22 hxg4. win Black’s Rook on a8 or the exchange with
What is the material balance? Ne6. Instead White takes a different path. Vi-
sualize the position after the moves 22 d6 Bxd61
1
19 Qxd3 Qxd3 20 Rxd3 Bxe2 amounts to an even 23 Qxd6 Rf6 24 Qxe5 Nxe5 25 Rxd8. What is
exchange of pieces. 2 Now 19…Bxe2 20 Qxe2 drops the material balance?
a piece, as does 19…Be6 20 Qc3.
1
22…Bf6 can be met by either 23 Nxa8 or 23 g5 Rb8
24 Ne6 Qe8 25 Nxf8+ Qxf8 26 Rdf1, when White
has three pieces for a Rook and pawn.
CHAPTER 18. PINS TO THE QUEEN || 171
7 ply 7 ply
D78 C82
513. Visualize the position after the moves 20 514. Visualize the position after the moves 17
Nxb7 Qxb7 21 Qxc41 dxc42 22 Bxb7 Rab83 23 Bg5 Qxg5 18 Nxg5 Bxd1 19 Bxh7+ Kh8 20
Bxa6. What is the material balance? Raxd11. What is the material balance?
1 1
21 Rxc4 Qb5 22 Rc2 Qxb4 keeps the material even. White doesn’t have to worry about 20...g6, which is
2
Best for Black may be 21…Rfb8 22 Qd3 Qxb4. met by 21 e6, when the threat of 22 e7 forces Black
3
White is up two pawns after 22...Ra7 23 Bc6 Rc8 24 to play 21...Nxe6, when White is up a pawn after 22
Rxc4. Nxe6 fxe6 23 Rxe6 Kxh7 24 Rxc6.
8 ply 8 ply
D30 D01
515. Visualize the position after the moves 7 a3 516. Visualize the position after the moves 20
Bxd2+ 8 Qxd2 Ne4 9 Bxd8 Nxd2 10 Nxd2 Bh4 Bxc3 21 bxc3 Nxe41 22 Bxe7 Nxd2 23
Kxd8. What is the material balance? Bxf8 Kxf8. What is the material balance?
1
21...g5 22 Bxg5 hxg5? 23 Qxg5+ Kh8 24 Qxh4+,
when the threat of mate wins Black's Queen (e.g.,
24...Nh7 25 Qxe7).
172 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
9 ply 9 ply
B22 A35
517. Visualize the position after the moves 7 d5 518. Visualize the position after the moves 8 d5
Ne5 8 Nxe5 Bxd11 9 Bb5+ Nd7 10 Bxd7+ Qxd7 Ne51 9 Nxe5 Bxd1 10 Bb5+ Qd7 11 Bxd7+
11 Nxd7. What is the material balance? Kd8 12 Kxd12. What is the material balance?
1 1 2
8...dxe5 is the only move. This loses. 8...Bxf3 or 8...Nb8 are better. Black
resigned here.
9 ply 9 ply
D02 B07
519. White is up two pawns. His Nf7 is pinned, 520. Visualize the position after the moves 27
but he has a 3-2 advantage on e5. Visualize the Rxb41 d2 28 Nxd2 Nxd2 29 Rxc5 Nxb3 30
position after the moves 28 Rxe5 Bxe5 29 Rxe5 Rxc8 Rxc8 31 Rxb3. What is the material bal-
Qxe5 30 Nxe5 Rxf3 31 Kxf3 Rxe6 32 Ke4. ance?
What is the material balance?
1
The count on c4 is now 3-2.
CHAPTER 18. PINS TO THE QUEEN || 173
9 ply 9 ply
B07 C15
521. White is up a pawn. Visualize the position 522. White’s pawn on c3 is under attack. Vi-
after the moves 15 Ndb5 Rxd3 16 Nxc71 Rxd1+ sualize the position after the moves 11 Re1
17 Nxd1 Bxg12 18 Nxa8 Nxa83 19 Rxg1. What Nxc3 12 Rxe7 Nxd1 13 Ba3 Nc31 14 Rxc72 Re8
is the material balance? 15 Rxc3. What is the material balance?
1
Three of Black’s pieces are under attack. 2 17… Rb8 1
In the actual game Black played the correct 13...
18 Bxc5 gives White a piece and a pawn. 3 18... Bxh2 Nxf2, although White was up a piece for two pawns
is met by 19 Nxb6, attacking Black's Bishop on c8. after 14 Kxf2 (1-0, 23). 2 Two of Black's pieces are
under attack.
9 ply 9 ply
B08 B85
523. Visualize the position after the moves 14 524. Visualize the position after the moves 21
Qd6 Bf61 15 Qxf6+ Nxf6 16 Rxd82 Rxd8 17 fxe6 Re51 22 exf7+ Qxf72 23 Qxe5 Bxe5 24
Bxe7 Re8 18 Bxf6+. What is the material bal- Rxf7 Rxf7 25 Nxc5. What is the material bal-
ance? ance?
1 1
14…Re8 drops the f-pawn. The only alternative is White is up two pawns after 21…fxe6 22 Qxe6 Qf7
the passive 14…Ng8. 2 Black resigned here. 23 Qxa6. Relatively best for Black is to hold the a-
pawn with 21…Qd6, although Black can also try
21…c4 22 Nd2 c3 23 Ne4 Re5 24 Nxf6+ gxf6, etc.
2
Other moves drop the a-pawn.
174 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
10 ply 10 ply
B02 D16
525. White is down a pawn, but Black’s Knight 526. White’s Nd6 is pinned and his Queen is
on a5 has no moves. Visualize the position after under attack. Visualize the position after the
the moves 19 b41 f52 20 dxe6 Bxe4 21 exd7+ moves 16 Ndf51 Nxd22 17 Nxe7+ Kf8 18 Rxd23
Kxd7 22 Nxe4 fxe4 23 bxa5 bxa5. What is the Rxd2 19 Kxd2 Kxe7 20 Nxh5. What is the ma-
material balance? terial balance?
1 1
Black is up two pawns after 19 dxe6 Qxe6 (19… 16 Ngf5 can be met by Qf6. 2 White is up a piece
dxe6 is also good for Black) 20 Qxe6 Rxg2+ 21 Kf1 after 16...Rxd2 17 Nxe7+ Kf8 18 Rxd2 Nxd2 19
fxe6. 2 19...exd5 is met by 20 Qxh7, when two of Kxd2 Kxe7 20 Nxh5. 3 Black resigned here.
Black's pieces are under attack.
11 ply 11 ply
C26 D07
527. Visualize the position after the moves 8 528. Visualize the position after the moves 8
Bg5 Bxf2+1 9 Kxf2 Ng4+ 10 Qxg4 Qb6+ 11 Nxe5 Bxd1 9 Bb5+ c6 10 dxc61 a6 11 c7+ axb5
Be3 Qxe3+2 12 Kxe3 Bxg4 13 Nxd5. What is 12 cxd8=Q+ Rxd8 13 Nxd1. What is the ma-
the material balance? terial balance?
1
This loses. 2 White is down two pieces for a pawn 1
In the game Black played 10...Ba4 11 Nxa4 Qc7
after 11...Qf6+ 12 Qf3. (11...bxc6 12 Bxc6+ Nd7 13 Bxd7+ Qxd7 14 Nxd7
Kxd7 White is up a piece and a pawn) 12 cxb7+ and
was mated after 12...Kd8 13 Nxf7 (1-0).
SECTION 5. RABID PIECES AND PAWNS
This section contains exercises that feature an excursion by a rabid piece or pawn into
enemy territory, gobbling up any pieces and pawns that lie in its path. A rabid piece is one
that captures or threatens to capture an enemy piece or pawn on three or more moves in
succession. Most of the exercises in this section are of the “two-way street” variety, where
both sides are playing in his opponent’s half of the board.
CHAPTER 19, RABID KNIGHTS, features the raid of a rabid Knight into enemy territory,
usually with the intent to win an enemy Rook on the back rank. Typical raids include Nc3-
b5-c7-a8/e8 and Nf3-g5-e6-d8/f8.
CHAPTER 20, RABID BISHOPS, features the raid of a rabid Bishop into enemy territory, of-
ten with the intent to win an enemy Rook on the back rank. Typical raids include Bc6-b7-
a8 and Bf6-e7-d8/f8.
CHAPTER 21, RABID PAWNS, features the raid of a rabid pawn into enemy territory, such
as Pe5-f6-e7/g7, followed by the threat to capture a piece on d8/f8 or Pb5-c6-b7/d7, which
is then followed by the threat to capture a piece on a8/c8/e8.
CHAPTER 22, RABID PASSED PAWNS, is similar to the previous chapter, except that here
the rabid pawn makes it all the way to the back rank, where it captures an enemy piece and
simultaneously promotes.
CHAPTER 19. RABID KNIGHTS
This chapter features the raid of a rabid Knight into enemy territory, usually with the intent
to win an enemy Rook situated on the back rank. Some of the typical Knight maneuvers for
White seen in this chapter include the following:
The maneuver Nc3-b5-c7, with a subsequent Nxe6 and Nxf8 – see exercises
535 and 543;
The maneuvers Nf3-g5-f7 and Nc3-b5-d6 involve an attack on Black’s King and will be
covered in a subsequent volume.
Other pieces often support these raids. The raid Nc3-b5-c7, for example, can be supported
by a pawn on d6 (see exercises 556 and 562), a Bishop on g3 or f4 (see exercises 530, 535,
and 551), a Knight on d5 (533), or a Rook or Queen along the c-file (543).
The move Nf3-e5 or Nf3-g5 is often played in conjunction with a discovered attack, such
as a discovered attack by a White Bishop on g2 against a Black Knight on d5 (see exercises
553, 559 and 561) or by a White Bishop on e2 against a Black Knight on h5 (see exercise
557).
Black often meets the raid of a rabid Knight with a raiding Knight of his own (see exercis-
es 529, 548, 550, 559, 560, 561 and 564). A typical idea for defending against the Nc3-b5-
c7 raid is to attack a supporting Bishop on f4 with …Nh5 or …Ne6 (see exercise 530).
This chapter contains thirty-six exercises ranging in depth from six to eleven half-moves,
as seen in the following table:
6 ply 6 ply
B12 E10
529. Visualize the position after the moves 19 530. Visualize the position after the moves 10
Nxd7 Nxe31 20 Nxf8 Nxg22 21 Kxg23 Bxf8. a3 Nc2 11 Nh4 Nxa1 12 Nxf5, with Qxa1. What
What is the material balance? is the material balance?
1
White has the better position after 19...Qxd7 20
Nxf5 gxf5. 2 White is up the exchange and a pawn
after 20...Nc4 21 Bxc4 dxc4 22 Nxh7 Kxh7. 3 In the
actual game White played 21 Nxh7, when material is
even after 21…Nxe1 22 Rxe1 Kxh7 (1-0, 30).
7 ply 7 ply
D15 B28
531. Visualize the position after the moves 9 532. Visualize the position after the moves 9
Nh4 Ne4 10 Nxf5 Nxc3 11 Nxg7+ Bxg7 12 Nxe5 Bxe2 10 Nxc6 Bxd1 11 Nxd8 Bc2 12
bxc3. What is the material balance? Nxb7. What is the material balance?
CHAPTER 19. RABID KNIGHTS || 179
7 ply 7 ply
B45 B08
533. Visualize the position after the moves 7 534. White has given up a pawn to create a
Bf4 e51 8 Nd52 exf43 9 Nbc7+ Kf8 10 Nxa8. weakness on e6. Visualize the position after the
What is the material balance? moves 10 Ng5 Nge5 11 Nxe6 Qe8 12 Nxc7
Qd8 13 Nxa81. What is the material balance?
1
7...Ne5 drops a pawn to 8 Qd4, e.g., 8...f6 9 0-0-0
with 10 Nxd6. 2 8 Be3 is also playable. 3 8...Rb8 al- 1
This is better than winning the exchange with 13
lows 9 Nxe7, when Black has to choose between de- Ne6, as White's Knight on a8 can get out safely. See
fending his d-pawn with 9…Kxe7 or losing a pawn to the answer key for details.
9...Ngxe7 10 Nxd6+ Kf8 11 Bg5.
8 ply 8 ply
D35 E92
535. Visualize the position after the moves 12 536. Visualize the position after the moves 11
Nb5 c6 13 Nc7 Rc8 14 Ne6 Qe8 15 Nxf8 Nxf8. Nb5 Nxe41 12 Nxc7 h6 13 Nxe82 hxg5 14 Nxg7
What is the material balance? Kxg7. What is the material balance?
1
After 11...Rb8 12 Nxc7 Rf8 13 Nd5, Black can't
play 13...Nxe4 because of 14 Ne7+ Kh8 15 Nxc8
Rbxc8 16 Rxd7. 2 13 Be3 wins a Rook.
180 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
8 ply 8 ply
A41 A16
537. Visualize the position after the moves 6 538. Visualize the position after the moves 13
Nxe5 Bxe2 7 Qxd7+ Qxd7 8 Nxd7 Bb5 9 Nxf8 Ng5 Bxe2 14 Nxe6+ Ke7 15 Nxf8 Ba6 16 Nxd7
Kxf8. What is the material balance? Kxd7. What is the material balance?
8 ply 8 ply
D40 A03
539. Visualize the position after the moves 10 540. Visualize the position after the moves 12
cxd5 Nxd5 11 Bxe7 Nxc31 12 Bxd8 Nxd1 13 Nd4 Bxb1 13 Nxc6 Qxd1 14 Nxe7+ Kh8 15
Rxd1 Nxd8. What is the material balance? Rxd1 Be4. What is the material balance?
1
11...Ncxe7 drops the e-pawn. 11...Ndxe7 is even
worse, as it gives up the d-file after 12 Nxc6 e.g.,
12...Qxd1+ 13 Rxd1 Nxc6 14 Nxe4 or 12...Nxc6 13
Qxd8+ Nxd8 14 Bb5+ Bd7 15 Bxd7+ Kxd7 16 Nxe4.
CHAPTER 19. RABID KNIGHTS || 181
8 ply 8 ply
A84 B39
541. White is up a pawn, but his Queen is in 542. Visualize the position after the moves 19
danger of becoming trapped. Visualize the posi- Nb5 Ba61 20 Nc7 Bxf1 21 Nxa8 Bxg2 22 Kxg2
tion after the moves 13 Nxe4 Nc51 14 Nxc5 Rxa8. What is the material balance?
Bxe6 15 Nxe6 Qg6 16 Nxf8 Rxf82. What is the
1
material balance? 19...Rb8 drops a pawn, as does 19…Bb7 20 Rc7
Ba6 21 Nxa7. In this line, 20...Rfb8 isn’t possible, as
1
White remains up a pawn after 13...Nb6 14 Nd6 it loses the Bishop to 21 Nd6 Bc8 22 Rdc1.
Bxe6 15 Nxe8 Raxe8. 2 16...Qxb1 can be met by 17
Bg5 Qe4 18 Nh4 Qxe2 19 Bxe7, when 19...Qxe7 los-
es the Queen to 20 Nfg6+.
8 ply 8 ply
D37 A48
543. Visualize the position after the moves 13 544. Visualize the position after the moves 16
Nb5 0-01 14 Nc7 Rb8 15 Nxe6 Qa5 16 Nxf8 Ng5 Nxe31 17 Nxe6 Qd72 18 Nxd8 Nxf1 19
Nxf82. What is the material balance? Nxf1 Rxd8. What is the material balance?
1 1
The Rook is vulnerable on f8. 13...Rb8 drops the White has compensation for the pawn after 16...
a-pawn. The only other option is 13...Kf7. 2 In the Nxb2 17 Nxe6 fxe6 18 Rab1. 2 17...fxe6 18 Qxe3
actual game Black played 16...Qxa2 and resigned breaks up Black's pawn structure.
after 17 Nxh7 (1-0).
182 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
9 ply 9 ply
B01 B02
545. Visualize the position after the moves 5 546. Visualize the position after the moves 6
Bxf7+ Kxf7 6 Ng5+ Kg81 7 Ne6 Qe8 8 Nxc7 Bxf7+ Kxf71 7 Ng5+ Kg82 8 Ne6 Qe8 9 Nxc7
Qd8 9 Nxa8. What is the material balance? Qd8 10 Nxa8. What is the material balance?
1 1
Black’s King is more open after 6...Kg6 7 Ne6 Qe8 White has both a material and a positional advan-
8 Nxc7. tage after 6...Kf8 7 Ng5 Nc5 8 Bc4 Qe8. 2 Other
moves drop the Queen.
9 ply 9 ply
C46 B12
547. Visualize the position after the moves 11 548. Visualize the position after the moves 21
a4 Nxb4 12 axb5 axb51 13 Nxb5 Nc6 14 Nxc7+ Bxb6 Qxb6 22 Nxd5 Nb41 23 Nxb6 Nxc2 24
Kd7 15 Nxa8. What is the material balance? Nxa8 Nxa1 25 Rxa1. What is the material bal-
ance?
1
12...0-0 avoids the coming Knight fork.
1
22…Qd8, intending to take on d4 if White moves
his Knight on d5, can be met by 23 Qe4.
CHAPTER 19. RABID KNIGHTS || 183
9 ply 9 ply
A34 E00
549. Visualize the position after the moves 13 550. Black is temporarily up a pawn. Visualize
Nxd61 Nxd52 14 Nxb7 Nxe33 15 Nxd8 Nxd1 16 the position after the moves 8 Nxd4 Ne41 9
Nxc6 Ra6 17 Rxd1. What is the material bal- Nxc6 Nxd22 10 Nxd8 Nxf13 11 Nxf7 Kxf74 12
ance? Rxf1. What is the material balance?
1 1
13 Nxb6 Qxb6 14 Nxd6 allows 14…Rad8 and 8...Qb6 may be better. 2 9...bxc6 is also possible.
15…Bxc4. 2 Material is even after 13...Qxd6 14 Nxb6 3
Material is even after 10...Nxc4 11 b3 Nb6 12 Nxf7
Rad8 and 15...Qxd3. 3 White is up a pawn after Kxf7. 4 White is up a piece after 11...Nxg3 12 Nd6+
14...Qb6 15 cxd5 Bxd5 16 Bxd5 Qxb7. Ke7 13 Nxc8+ Raxc8 14 hxg3.
10 ply 10 ply
A13 B50
551. Visualize the position after the moves 9 552. Visualize the position after the moves 9
Nb5 Be7 10 Bf4 c6 11 Nc7 Nh5 12 Nxa8 Nxf4 Nxe5 Bxe2 10 Nxc6 Bxd1 11 Nxd8 Bg4 12
13 gxf4 Bxa8. What is the material balance? Nxb7 Rb8 13 Na5 Rxb2. What is the material
balance?
184 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
10 ply 10 ply
A26 A13
553. Visualize the position after the moves 9 554. Visualize the position after the moves 11
cxd5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Nxc3 11 Nxc6 Nxe2+1 12 Nd4 Bxg2 12 Nxe6 Qe7 13 Nxf8 Bxf1 14 Nxd7
Qxe2 bxc6 13 Bxc6 Rb8. What is the material Bh31 15 Nxf6+ gxf6. What is the material bal-
balance? ance?
1 1
White is up a pawn after 11...Nxd1 12 Nxd8 Rxd8 14...Qxd7 15 Qxf1 Ng4 keeps Black's pawn struc-
13 Rxd1. ture intact, but the move in the game allows Black to
keep his strong light-squared Bishop on the board.
10 ply 10 ply
D97 A60
555. Visualize the position after the moves 11 556. Visualize the position after the moves 12
e6 fxe61 12 Ng5 Nf62 13 Nxe6 Bd5 14 Nxd5 Nb5 Qb81 13 d6 0-0 14 Nc7 Ne8 15 Nxa8
Qxd5 15 Nxf8 Kxf83. What is the material bal- Nxd6, with a subsequent Nxb6 axb6. What is
ance? the material balance?
1 1
Better is 11...Bxf3 12 gxf3 fxe6 with an even game. 12...Qd8 lets White pile up on the f-pawn, then free
2
12...Re8 allows a smothered mate after 13 Qxe6+; up d5 for his Queen: 13 Nd6+ Ke7 14 Ng5 Rf8 15
12...Qc8 loses the exchange to 13 Qxe6+ Kh8 14 Ndxf7 Rxf7 (moving the Queen is worse: 15... Qe8
Nf7+. 3 15...Qxb3 allows White to win an extra pawn 16 d6 is mate, while 15...Qc7 16 d6+ wins Black’s
after 16 axb3 Bxf8 17 Bxb5. Queen) 16 d6+ Ke8 17 Nxf7 Kxf7 18 Qd5+, winning
Black's Rook on a8.
CHAPTER 19. RABID KNIGHTS || 185
10 ply 10 ply
B07 A85
557. Visualize the position after the moves 14 558. Visualize the position after the moves 14
Nxe5 Nxg3 15 Nxd7 Nxf1 16 Nxf8 Nxh2 17 Bxg5 hxg5 15 Nxg5 Nxe41 16 Nxe6 Nxc3 17
Ng6 Ng4 18 Nxe7+1 Qxe7. What is the material bxc3 Qc82 18 Nxf8 Qxf8. What is the material
balance? balance?
1 1
The actual game continued 18 f3 Nf6 19 e5 dxe5 20 White is up four pawns for a piece after 15...Qc8 16
dxe5 (1-0, 66), when 20…Bc5 (instead of 20… Nh7 Nxe6 Rf7 17 exf5. 2 The actual game continued
21 Qd4) gives Black an advantage. 17...Qe8 18 Nxc7 Qg6 19 Nxa8 Bxa8 (1-0, 82), when
White has won an extra pawn compared to the line
with 17…Qc8.
11 ply 11 ply
A05 A15
560. Visualize the position after the moves 12
559. Visualize the position after the moves 8 Ng5 Nc6 13 Nxe6 Nxd4 14 Nxd8 Nc2+ 15 Kd1
Nxe5 Nxc3 9 Nxc6 Nxd1 10 Nxd8 Nxf2 11 Nxa1 16 Nxb7 Nb4 17 Bxa1. What is the ma-
Nxf7 Nh3+ 12 Kh1 Rf8 13 Ne5. What is the terial balance?
material balance?
186 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
11 ply 11 ply
A29 A60
561. Visualize the position after the moves 7 562. Visualize the position after the moves 7 e5
cxd5 Nxd5 8 Nxe5 Nxc3 9 Nxc6 Nxd1 10 Nxd8 dxe5 8 d6 Bf8 9 Nb5 Nb61 10 Nc7+ Kd7 11
Nxf21 11 Nxb7 Nh3+ 12 Kh12. What is the ma- Nxa8 Nxa8 12 fxe5. What is the material bal-
terial balance? ance?
1 1
10...Rxd8 11 Rxd1 keeps Black's pawn structure This gives Black’s King an escape square. 9…exf4
intact. 2 Black's pieces are well-placed after 12 Bxh3 allows 10 Nc7+, when Black has to give up his
Bxh3. Queen to stop the mate.
11 ply 11 ply
C41 D30
563. Visualize the position after the moves 7 564. Visualize the position after the moves 22
Bxf7+1 Kxf7 8 Ng5+ Kg8 9 Ne6 Qe8 10 Nxc7 Nd31 Nxc4 23 Nxc5 Nxb2 24 Nxb72 Nxd13 25
Qg6 11 Nxa8 Qxg2 12 Rf1. What is the materi- Rxc8 Qxb7 26 Rxf8+ Kxf8 27 Qxd1. What is
al balance? the material balance?
1 1
Even better is 7 Ng5 0-0 8 Bxf7+ Rxf7 9 Ne6 Qe8 White is threatening both 23 Nxc5 and 23 e5.
2
10 Nxc7 Qd8 11 Nxa8, when White is up the ex- White is up the exchange for a pawn after 24 Qxb2
change and two pawns. Rxc5, but Black has control over the dark squares.
3
Black is down a Rook for two pawns after 24…
Rxc1 25 Rxc1 Qxa3.
CHAPTER 20. RABID BISHOPS
This chapter features the raid of a rabid Bishop into enemy territory, often with the intent
to win an enemy Rook situated on the back rank. Typical raids include the following:
Raids on the kingside light squares (e.g., e6/g6-f7-e8-d7) – see exercises 565,
574, 575, 576, 581, 583, 584, and 585;
Raids on the kingside dark squares (e.g., f6-e7-d8/f8) – see exercises 570, 571,
572, 573, 589, 590, 591, and 595;
Raids on the queenside light squares (e.g., c6-b7-a8) – see exercises 578, 579,
and 586;
Raids on the queenside dark squares (e.g., c5-b6-a7) – see exercises 567 and
568; and
Many of these raids conclude with a backwards capture by the Bishop, such as a capture of
an enemy piece or pawn in the center of the board or even back in the Bishop’s own territo-
ry (see exercises 565, 573, 575, 576, 580, 581, 587, 588, 590, 591, and 596).
This chapter contains thirty-two exercises ranging in depth from five to eleven half-moves,
as seen in the following table:
5 ply 5 ply
D91 D34
565. White is up a pawn. Visualize the position 566. White’s Queen is under attack. Visualize
after the moves 28 Bxg6 Kg71 29 Bxh5 Be5 30 the position after the moves 22 Bxd5 fxg5 23
Bxf72. What is the material balance? Bxe6+ Kh8 24 Bxg4. What is the material bal-
ance?
1
White is up two pawns after 28...h4 29 Bh7+ Kxh7
(29…Kg7 30 Bc2) 30 Qd3+ Kg8 31 Qxc3. 2 Black
resigned here.
6 ply 6 ply
B92 C91
567. Visualize the position after the moves 22 568. White’s Queen is under attack. Visualize
Bb6 Rxc3 23 Bxd8 Rxd3 24 Bxe7 Rd2. What is the position after the moves 31 Bxc5 Rxe31 32
the material balance? Bxb6 Rxd2 33 Bxe3 Rb2. What is the material
balance?
1
31...Rxd2 transposes after 32 Bxb6 Rxe3 33 Bxe3.
CHAPTER 20. RABID BISHOPS || 189
6 ply 6 ply
E06 E66
569. Visualize the position after the moves 25 570. Visualize the position after the moves 17
Bxf5 Rc2 26 Bxe4 Rxb2 27 Bxg6 fxg6. What is Bxf6 Rxb11 18 Bxd8 Rxf1+ 19 Bxf1 Rxd8.
the material balance? What is the material balance?
1
White is up a piece after 17...Bxf6 18 Rxb8 Qxb8
19 Nxf6+ Kg7 20 Qc3.
7 ply 7 ply
C06 E15
571. Visualize the position after the moves 18 572. Visualize the position after the moves 20
Bxf6 Bg6 19 Bxe7 Bxd3 20 Bxf8 Bxf81 21 Nc6 Nxd5 21 Bxg71 Bxc62 22 Bxf8 Bxf8 23
Bxd3. What is the material balance? Bxd5. What is the material balance?
1 1
Worse is 20...Bxc2 21 Bxd6, for example, 21... White is up the exchange for a pawn after 21 Nxd8
Qxb2 22 Nxd5 Nxd4 23 Nxd4 Qxd4 24 Rac1 Qxd5 Nxc3 22 Rxc3 Rxd8. 21 Bxd5 gives Black a 2-1 ad-
25 Rxc2 h6 26 Be5. vantage on c6. 2 White is up the exchange after 21...
Kxg7 22 Nxd8 Rxd8 23 Bxd5.
190 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
7 ply 7 ply
A36 D32
573. Visualize the position after the moves 20 574. Visualize the position after the moves 23
Bxh6 hxg41 21 Bxf8 gxf3 22 Bxd6 fxg22 23 Nxd5 Bxd5 24 Bxd5 g61 25 Bxf7+ Kg72 26
Bxc5. What is the material balance? Bxg63. What is the material balance?
1
20…Kxh6 loses the Queen to 21 Nf5+. 2 White is up 1
Better is 24...Qc7, as now Black’s Rook is hanging.
2
a piece for a pawn after 22...Nxd3 23 Qxf3 Nxb2, for 25...Kxf7 drops the Rook to 26 Qd7+. Relatively
example, 24 Qb3 Bxh3 25 Bxe5. best is 25...Kh8. 3 Black resigned here.
7 ply 7 ply
D03 D15
575. Black’s g-pawn is weak. Visualize the po- 576. White is down a pawn and his Queen and
sition after the moves 26 Bxg6 Nd7 27 Bxf7 Rook are under attack. Visualize the position
Nxe51 28 Bxe6+ Kf6 29 Bxd5. What is the ma- after the moves 20 Rxf71 Qxf72 21 Bxe6 Nxb3
terial balance? 22 Bxf7+ Kh8 23 Bxb33. What is the material
balance?
1
White is up three pawns after 27...Bxf7 28 Rxd7
1
Rf8 29 Rxa7. 20 Bxe6 Nxb3 21 Rxf7 transposes. 2 20...Nxb3 loses
to 21 Rf8, mate. 3 Black resigned here.
CHAPTER 20. RABID BISHOPS || 191
7 ply 7 ply
A51 B38
577. White’s Knight on c3 is under attack. Vi- 578. Visualize the position after the moves 10
sualize the position after the moves 28 Bxd3 Bxg4 Bxd41 11 Bxc8 Bxe3 12 Bxb7 Qb6 13
Qxc3 29 Bxe41 Rd2 30 Bxf5+ Kb82 31 Rb1. Bxa8. What is the material balance?
What is the material balance?
1
White is up a piece after 10...Bxg4 11 Nxc6 Bxd1
1 2 12 Nxd8.
White’s threat is 30 Qd8, mate. 30...Bxf5 allows
White to defend both of his queenside pawns after 31
Qxf5+ Kb8 32 Qf8+ Ka7 33 Qc5+ Kb8 34 Rf1.
7 ply 7 ply
C42 D15
579. Visualize the position after the moves 23 580. White is down two pawns and his Rook is
Bxd5 Re21 24 Bxc6 Bc2 25 Bxb7+ Kxb72 26 under attack. Visualize the position after the
Qd7+. What is the material balance? moves 21 Bxc8 Nxd11 22 Bxb7 Rb8 23 Bxc6
Nb2 24 Bxd5. What is the material balance?
1
White is up a pawn after 23...Bc2 24 Qxc2 cxd5.
2 1
In the game Black chose 25...Kb8 26 Qb4 Bxd1, but 21...Qxc8 loses to 22 Nf5, with the dual threat of 23
this allows mate in three, beginning with 27 Bc6+ Qxg7 and 23 Ne7+, winning Black’s Queen; 21…
(1-0). Rxc8 can be met by 22 Rb1 Nc4 23 Nf5, when White
has compensation for his pawns, for example 23…g6
24 Nxh6+, etc.
192 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
8 ply 8 ply
B06 B08
581. Visualize the position after the moves 26 582. Visualize the position after the moves 14
Rxe6 Nxe61 27 Bxe6+ Kg6 28 Bxd5 Rgg1 29 Bh6 Bxb31 15 Bxf8 Bxc2 16 Bxe7 Bxd1 17
Bxh1 Rxh1. What is the material balance? Bxd82 Bc2. What is the material balance?
1 1
Better is 26...Rxf1, for example, 27 Re7+ Kf8 28 14...Re8 15 Bxe6 fxe6 gives Black tripled pawns on
Rxf1 Kxe7 29 Re1+ Kf8 30 Re2, when White retains the e-file. 2 Black resigned here.
a slight edge.
8 ply 8 ply
B16 C41
583. Visualize the position after the moves 13 584. Black has just played 11...exd4. Visualize
Bxe4 Qxh41 14 Bxf5 Nd72 15 Bxe6 0-0-03 16 the position after the moves 12 Bxf7+ Kf81 13
Bxd7+ Kxd7. What is the material balance? Bxe8 dxc3 14 Bxd7 cxb2 15 Bxb2 Bxd7. What
is the material balance?
1
13...fxe4 14 Rxe4 defends the Nh4. 2 14...Qf6 can be
met by 15 Qb3 b6 16 Bxe6 and 14...Qe7 by 15 Qh5 1
Black could try 12...Kxf7 13 Ng5+ Kg8 14 Qc4+ d5
(threatening 16 Rxe6) Kd8 16 Qxh7. 3 15...fxe6 16 15 Nxd5 Nxd5 16 exd5 Ne5, when the onus is on
Rxe6+ Be7 17 Qe2 with 18 Kh1 wins a piece, as 17... White to demonstrate that he has compensation for
Rg7 can be met by 18 Bh6, when Black’s Rook can't the piece.
leave the g-file.
CHAPTER 20. RABID BISHOPS || 193
9 ply 9 ply
E46 E16
585. White is up a piece for a pawn, but two of 586. Visualize the position after the moves 24
his pieces are under attack. Visualize the posi- Rb5 exd51 25 Rxb7 Qxb7 26 Bxd5+ Re6 27
tion after the moves 23 Bh5 Rad81 24 Bxg6 Bxb7 Rxd6 28 Bxa8. What is the material bal-
Rxd5 25 Bxf7+ Kh82 26 Bxe8 Qxe8 27 Rxa7. ance?
What is the material balance?
1
White gains control of the 7th rank after 24…Ba6 25
1 Rxc5 Qb7 26 Rc7 with 27 Qxd7, while 24...a6 25
White is up a pawn after 23...Bxh5 24 Qxh5 Qxc3
25 Qxf7+ Kh8 26 Rxa7. 2 25...Kf8 can be met by 26 Rxc5 Qd8 26 Rc7 Bc8 allows 26 dxe6 Rxe6 27 Bd5,
Bb4+, winning both of Black’s Rooks. pinning Black’s Re6.
9 ply 9 ply
B01 C42
587. Visualize the position after the moves 13 588. White is up a pawn, but his Rook is under
Rxe6 0-01 14 Bxc6 Qxd5 15 Bxd5 fxe6 16 Bxb7 attack. Visualize the position after the moves 19
Na6 17 Bxa6. What is the material balance? Bxc81 Bxe5 20 Bxb7 Rab8 21 Bxc6 Re72 22
Bxd5+ Kh8 23 dxe5. What is the material bal-
1
13...cxb5 allows mate in three: 14 Rxe7+ Kxe7 15 ance?
Qd6+ Ke8 16 Re1, mate, while 13...fxe6 can be met
by 14 Qxe6, threatening 15 Ng5 and 16 Qf7, mate. 1
White has two Rooks and a pawn for the Queen af-
ter 19 Rxe8 Bxf5 20 Qxf5 Qxf5 21 Rxa8. 2 The actual
game continued 21…Re6 22 Bxd5 Kh8 23 Bxe6
Nxe6, when White is up four pawns (1-0, 25).
194 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
9 ply 9 ply
C09 A35
589. Visualize the position after the moves 13 590. Visualize the position after the moves 16
Bd4 Bxf3 14 Bxf6 Bxe2 15 Bxc6+ bxc6 16 Bd6 Bc2 17 Bxe7 Bxd1 18 Bxc6 bxc6 19 Bxf8
Bxg7 Bh5 17 Bxh8. What is the material bal- Bc21 20 Bxc5. What is the material balance?
ance?
1
White is up a Rook after 19...Rxf8 20 Raxd1.
10 ply 10 ply
B07 C49
591. Both Bishops are under attack in this near- 592. Visualize the position after the moves 10
ly symmetrical position. Visualize the position Bg5 Bg4 11 Qxa1 Qxa8 12 Bxf6 Bxf3 13 Bxe5
after the moves 11 Qxd8 Nxd81 12 Bxf6 Bxe2 dxe51 14 gxf3 Re8. What is the material bal-
13 Bxg7 Bxf1 14 Bxf8 Bxg2 15 Bxh6 Bxh3. ance?
What is the material balance?
1
Worse is 13...Bxe4 14 Bxg7 Bxg2 15 Bxf8, when
1 the threat of mate wins material, e.g., a) 15...Bxf1 16
White is up a pawn after 11...Raxd8 12 Bxf6 Bxe2
13 Bxd8 Bxf1 14 Bxc7 Bc4. Qg7 is mate (1-0); b) 15...Qxf8 16 Kxg2 leaves
White up a Rook; or c) 15...Kxf8 16 Qh8+ Ke7 17
Re1+ Kd7 18 Qxh7, when White is up the exchange
and a pawn.
CHAPTER 20. RABID BISHOPS || 195
11 ply 11 ply
C63 B85
593. Visualize the position after the moves 9 594. Visualize the position after the moves 23
Nxc6 bxc6 10 Bxc6 Ba6 11 Bxf61 Bc42 12 Bxe7 Ba7 Nxc21 24 Bxb8 Nxa1 25 Bxd6 Nxb32 26
Qxe73 13 Bxd5+ Bxd5 14 Qxd5+. What is the Bxe7 Rxc4 27 Bxf6 gxf63 28 Nd5. What is the
material balance? material balance?
1
11 Bxa8 Qxa8 is also good for White. 2 White is up 1
23...Ra8 can be met by 24 Bb6 (24 Nb6? Qxa7) Rb8
the exchange and two pawns after 11...Bxf6 12 with a possible repeition after 25 Ba7. 2 25...Bxd6
Qxd5+ Kh8 13 Bxa8 Qxa8 14 Qxa8 Rxa8. 3 White is drops the exchange to 26 Nxd6. 3 White is winning
up two pieces and a pawn after 12...Bxb3 13 Bxe8 after 27... Rxc3 28 Qg3 g6 29 Qxe5, for example,
Raxd8 14 axb3. 29...Rc8 30 Bh8 f6 31 Qxf6 Bc6 32 e5, with the
threat of 33 Rd8+ Rxd8 34 Qxd8+ Kf7 35 e6, mate.
11 ply 11 ply
E76 B12
595. White’s Knight on g5 is under attack. Vi- 596. Black has a 2-1 advantage n b5, but
sualize the position after the moves 13 fxg6 Black’s Queen is tied to the defense of c7. Vi-
hxg5 14 Bxg5 Bg41 15 Bxf6 Qd72 16 Bxg7 sualize the position after the moves 20 Bb4
Bxd1 17 Bxf8 Rxf8 18 Raxd1. What is the ma- Qb61 21 Bxf8 Bxb5 22 Bxg7 Bxf1 23 Bxh8 Be2
terial balance? 24 Bxd4 Qa6 25 Rde1. What is the material bal-
ance?
1
14...Be6 may be better. 2 White is up two pawns af-
ter 15...Bxf6 16 Qxg4. White is up a pawn and has 1
20…Qxb4 allows 21 Qc7, mate.
connected passed pawns on the Kingside after
15...Bxd1 16 Bxd8 Rxf1 17 Bxf1 Bh6 18 Bc7 Bf8
and ...Bxg6.
CHAPTER 21. RABID PAWNS
This chapter contains exercises that feature the raid of a rabid pawn into enemy territory,
usually winning enemy pieces situated on the sixth and seventh ranks, with a threat to cap-
ture a piece on the back rank. Typical raids include the captures Pe5-f6-e7/g7, with the
threat to capture a piece on d8/f8/g8, or the captures Pd5/b5-c6-b7/d7, with the threat to
capture a piece on a8/c8/e8. Rabid pawns can appear on other squares as well, such as a
White pawn on h5 capturing on g6 and f7/h7, with the threat to capture another piece on
e8/g8.
Most of the exercises in this chapter are of the “two-way street” variety, where both sides
alternate capturing pieces and making threats in each other’s half of the board. Typical fea-
tures include the following:
Both sides have a rabid pawn – see exercises 597, 599, 600, 606, 612, 616,
618, 620, 623, and 624;
A rabid White pawn is met with …Bb4, …Qa5, and …Bxc3 against White’s
uncastled King – see exercises 607, 613, and 615; and
Black counters the rabid pawn with a rabid Knight – see exercise 603.
For exercises that show when the second player to capture gains the advantage, see exer-
cises 597 and 600.
This chapter contains twenty-eight exercises ranging in depth from six to eleven half-
moves, as seen in the following table:
6 ply 6 ply
C55 B40
597. Visualize the position after the moves 23 598. Visualize the position after the moves 17
g5 d4 24 gxf6 dxc3 25 bxc3 Bxf6. What’s the cxd5 Bxb4 18 dxe6 Rxc3 19 exd7 Nxd7. What
material balance? is the material balance?
6 ply 6 ply
A18 B47
599. Visualize the position after the moves 4 e5 600. Visualize the position after the moves 10
d4 5 exf6 dxc3 6 bxc31 Qxf6. What is the ma- e5 b4 11 exf6 bxc3 12 bxc31 gxf6. What is the
terial balance? material balance?
1 1
Material is even after 6 fxg7 cxd2+ 7 Bxd2 Bxg7 Taking on g7 only helps Black: 12 fxg7 Bxg7 13
Qc2. bxc3 Bxc3, when material is even, but Black has a
strong Bishop on c3.
CHAPTER 21. RABID PAWNS || 199
7 ply 7 ply
A16 A52
601. Visualize the position after the moves 10 602. Visualize the position after the moves 19
e5 Be6 11 exf6 Bxb3 12 fxg7 Kxg7 13 axb3. f4 c6 20 fxe5 cxd5 21 exf6 gxf61 22 Rxd52.
What is the material balance? What is the material balance?
1
21…bxc4 loses to 22 Bxc4+ Kf8 23 fxg7+ Ke7 24
Qe4, mate. 2 The actual game continued 22 Rg1+
Kh8 23 Rxd5 d6 24 Rdg5 Be6 25 Rg7 Bg8 26 Rd7
(1-0).
7 ply 7 ply
B06 C48
603. Visualize the position after the moves 17 604. Visualize the position after the moves 5
d5 Nxe31 18 dxc6 Nxf1 19 cxd7+ Kxd7 20 Nxd4 exd4 6 e5 dxc3 7 exf6 Qxf61 8 dxc3.
Rxf12. What is the material balance? What is the material balance?
1
Moving the Knight is better. 2 Black resigned here. 1
Black is up a pawn after 7...cxd2+ 8 Bxd2 Qxf6, but
White has compensation after 9 0-0.
200 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
7 ply 7 ply
D47 B67
605. Visualize the position after the moves 13 606. Visualize the position after the moves 12
d5 b4 14 dxc6 bxc3 15 cxd7 Bxd71 16 bxc3. e5 b41 13 exf6 bxc3 14 fxg7 Bxg72 15 Qxd6.
What is the material balance? What is the material balance?
1 1
15…cxb2 drops a piece to 16 dxc8=Q bxa1=Q 17 White is up a pawn after 12...Nd5 13 Nxd5 Qxd2 14
Qxf8+ Rxf8 18 Qxa1 or 16...Rfxc8 17 Rb1. Rxd2 exd5 15 Rxd5. 2 The actual game continued
14...cxd2 15 gxh8=Q, when White is up a Rook (1-0,
25).
7 ply 7 ply
D44 B87
607. Black is up a pawn. Visualize the position 608. Visualize the position after the moves 14
after the moves 8 e5 h61 9 exf62 hxg5 10 fxg7 e5 bxc3 15 Qxg7 Rf81 16 exf6 Bd8 17 bxc3.
Rg8 and 11…Rxg7. What is the material bal- What is the material balance?
ance?
1
White is up the exchange after 15…cxb2 16 Qxh8+
1 Bf8 17 Rab1, while 15…Rg8 can be met by 16 exf6,
Two of Black's pieces are under attack after 8…Qa5
9 axb5 Bxc3+ 10 bxc3 Qxc3+ 11 Bd2. 2 Black re- for example, 16…Rxg7 17 fxg7 and the pawn queens
mains up a pawn after 9 Bh4 g5 10 exf6 gxh4 11 or 16…Bxf6 17 Qxg8+, which not only wins Black’s
Nxh4 Qxf6, but White can also play 10 Nxg5, when Rook, but the Bf6 as well, e.g., 17…Ke7 18 Bxf6,
the game might continue 10…Bxc3+ 11 bxc3 Qa5. when 18…Kxf6 loses to 19 Qg5, mate.
CHAPTER 21. RABID PAWNS || 201
8 ply 8 ply
C10 B96
609. Visualize the position after the moves 13 610. Visualize the position after the moves 8 e5
Qe51 Qxe5 14 dxe5 h6 15 exf6 hxg5 16 fxg7 dxe51 9 fxe5 Qc7 10 exf6 Qe5+ 11 Be2 Qxg5.
Kxg7. What is the material balance? What’s the material balance?
1 1
The double attack on Black's Queen and pawn on c5 Black's kingside pawns are broken up after 8...h6 9
forces Black's reply. Bh4 dxe5 10 fxe5 g5 11 exf6 gxh4.
8 ply 8 ply
B00 B84
611. Visualize the position after the moves 15 612. Visualize the position after the moves 12
h5 c4 16 hxg6 cxd3 17 Rxh7 Rg81 18 gxf7+ e5 b4 13 exf6 bxc3 14 fxg7 Rg81 15 bxc3 and
Kxf7. What’s the material balance? ...Rxg7. What is the material balance?
1 1
17…Rxh7 loses to 18 gxh7, and the pawns queens. 14…cxd2 loses a Rook to 15 gxh8+Q.
202 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
8 ply 8 ply
B30 D10
613. Visualize the position after the moves 12 614. Visualize the position after the moves 10
d5 Bb4 13 dxc61 Bxc3+ 14 bxc3 Qxc3+ 15 Qd2 Nxd5 Nxd51 11 cxd5 Bxd2 12 dxc6 Ba5 13
Qxa1. What’s the material balance? cxd7 Bxd7. What is the material balance?
1 1
The position is level after 13 0-0 Ne7 14 dxe6 Bxe6 White is up a pawn after either 10...exd5 11 Bxb4 or
15 Bd2. 13 Bd2 loses a pawn to 13...Bxc3 14 dxc6 10...Bxd2 11 Nxf6+ Qxf6 12 Nxd2.
(14 Bxc3 Qxd5) Bxd2+ 15 Nxd2 bxc6.
9 ply 9 ply
E32 A32
615. Visualize the position after the moves 7 e5 616. Visualize the position after the moves 15
cxd4 8 exf6 dxc3 9 axb4 Qxa1 10 fxg7 Re8 11 e4 e5 16 exd5 exf4 17 dxc6 fxg3 18 hxg3 bxc6.
bxc3. What is the material balance? What is the material balance after White wins
Black’s pawn on c6?
CHAPTER 21. RABID PAWNS || 203
9 ply 9 ply
C90 C00
617. Black’s Bishop on g5 can become trapped. 618. Visualize the position after the moves 8 b5
Visualize the position after the moves 18 f4 exf4 dxe4 9 bxc6 exf3 10 gxf3 Be6 11 cxb7 Rb8, and
19 h4 g6 20 hxg5 gxf5 21 gxf6+ fxg4 22 Bxf4. ...Rxb7. What is the material balance?
What’s the material balance?
9 ply 9 ply
A29 C66
619. White wants to open up the d-file. Visual- 620. Visualize the position after the moves 12
ize the position after the moves 18 d41 fxe42 19 dxe5 h41 13 exf6 hxg3 14 fxg7 gxh2+ 15 Nxh2
dxe5 Nd5 20 exf6 exf3 21 fxg7+ Kg8 22 Bxf3. Rg8 and …Rxg7. What’s the material balance?
What’s the material balance?
1
White is up a pawn after 12…Ng4 13 h4 Nxe5 14
1 2 Nxg5. Less clear is 13 exd6 h4 14 dxc7 Qxd1 15
White’s threat is 19 dxe5. 18…exd4 is met by 19
e5, winning the trapped Bishop on f6. Rxd1 hxg3, which gives up a piece for three pawns.
204 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
10 ply 10 ply
D58 B90
621. Visualize the position after the moves 11 622. Black’s threat of 19…b4 gives him an ad-
Bxe7 Qxe7 12 Nxd7 Nxd7 13 cxd5 Bxe2 14 vantage. Watch the fifth rank. Visualize the po-
dxe61 Ba62 15 exd7 Qxd7. What is the material sition after the moves after the moves 20 e5
balance? dxe5 21 fxe5 b4 22 exf6 Qxg5+ 23 Kb1 bxc31
24 fxe7 Qxe7. What’s the material balance?
1
Two of Black's pieces are under attack. 2 14...Qxe6
15 Qxe6 fxe6 16 Kxe2 leaves White up a pawn, 1
23...Qxf6 is also possible.
while White is up two pawns after 14...Nf6 15 exf7+
Rxf7 16 Nxe2.
11 ply 11 ply
E98 E94
623. Visualize the position after the moves 21 624. Visualize the position after the moves 12
exf5 gxf5 22 g51 e4 23 gxf6 exd3 24 fxg7+ c5 exd41 13 cxd6 Qxd6 14 e5 Qc7 15 exf6 dxe3
Rxg7+ 25 Kf2 dxe2 26 Nxe2. What’s the ma- 16 fxg7 exf2+ 17 Kxf22. What’s the material
terial balance? balance?
1 1
22 gxf5 22…Ne7, intending 23…Nxf5 and 24... Black’s Knight is trapped after 12...dxc5 13 dxe5
Rg8, just helps Black. Nh5 14 g4. 2 Black can't take the g-pawn because of
18 Qd4+ Kg8 19 Ne4, with the threat of Nf6+, fol-
lowed by either Nxe8 or Nxd7.
CHAPTER 22. RABID PASSED PAWNS
This chapter contains exercises that feature the raid of a rabid pawn into enemy territory, a
raid that ends with the pawn capturing an enemy piece on the back rank and simultaneous-
ly promoting to a Queen. This “capture plus promotion” move is one of the most powerful
in chess because it enables a player to gain two pieces in a single move; that is, if White’s
pawn captures a Black Rook on the back rank and simultaneously promotes to Queen, then
White will gain a Queen and a Rook for a pawn. The startling power of this idea is seen in
exercise 637.
The captures Pd5-c6-b7-a8/c8 – see exercises 625, 631, 647, 652, and 659;
The captures Pe5-f6-g7-h8/f8 – see exercises 627, 630, 632, 642, 641, 644,
and 648; and
The captures Pe5-d6-c7/e7-b8/d8/f8 – see exercises 629, 633, 634, 635, 639,
and 655.
This chapter contains thirty-six exercises ranging in depth from five to eleven half-moves,
as seen in the following table:
5 ply 5 ply
C10 B32
625. White is up a pawn. Black just played 626. White’s Rook is under attack. Visualize the
6...Nc6, thinking that White’s d-pawn is pinned. position after the moves 19 dxe6 Bxf4 20 e71
Visualize the position after the moves 7 dxc6 Qd72 21 exf8=Q+ Rxf8. What is the material
Qxd41 8 cxb7+ Bd7 9 bxa8=Q+. What is the balance?
material balance?
1
Black resigned here. 2 20…Qb6+ is answered by 21
1 Bd4, when two of Black’s pieces are still under at-
7...bxc6 8 Bxc6+ Bd7 9 Bxa8 Qxa8 leaves White up
a Rook and a pawn. tack.
6 ply 6 ply
B12 B14
627. Visualize the position after the moves 11 628. Visualize the position after the moves 23
exf6 Qxf4 12 fxg7 Bf6 13 gxh8=Q Bxh8. What f6 hxg51 24 fxg7 gxh4 25 gxf8=Q+ Rxf8. What
is the material balance? is the material balance?
1
Black's Queen is buried after 23...Qh8 24 Ne4,
when 24…g5? loses to 25 Nxg5 hxg5 26 Qxg5+ Kh7
27 Rf3.
CHAPTER 22. RABID PASSED PAWNS || 207
6 ply 6 ply
C41 B06
629. White’s Queen is under attack. Visualize 630. White’s Queen is under attack. Visualize
the position after the moves 8 exd6 cxd51 9 dxe7 the position after the moves 16 exf6 Bxb3 17
dxc42 10 exf8=Q+ Kxf8. What is the material fxg7 Kd71 18 gxh8=Q Qxh82. What is the ma-
balance? terial balance?
1 1
White is better after 8...Nxd6, for example, 9 Qd4 17...Rg8 loses the Queen to 18 Bb5+. 2 In the actual
Qd7 10 Re1+. 2 White is up a pawn after 9…Bxe7 10 game White played some tempo moves before win-
Bxd5. ning Black's Rook on h8: 18 Bb5+ Kd6 19 Bf4+ Ke6
20 gxh8=Q Qxh8 (1-0, 23).
6 ply 6 ply
B01 B34
631. White is up a pawn. Visualize the position 632. Two of White's pieces are under attack.
after the moves 4 dxc6 Qa51 5 cxb7+ Kd82 6 Visualize the position after the moves 13 exf6
bxa8=Q Qxb5. What is the material balance? Qxd51 14 fxg7 Qxd4 15 gxh8=Q Qxh8. What is
the material balance?
1
White remains up a pawn after 4...Nxc6 or 4... bxc6.
2 1
In the actual game Black chose 5...Qxb5, which was Two alternatives: a) 13...Bxf6 14 Bxf6 Qxd5
met by 6 bxc8=Q, mate (1-0). (14...Nxf6 allows 15 Qxe7 is mate) 15 Bxh8 leaves
White up a Rook; b) 13...Bf8 14 fxe7 cxd4 (14...
Qxd5 drops the Rook to 15 exf8=Q+ Kxf8 16 Bxh8)
15 exf8=Q+ Kxf8 16 Qe5, when White is up a pawn
and has the better position.
208 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
7 ply 7 ply
A10 B25
633. Visualize the position after the moves 16 634. Visualize the position after the moves 14
cxd6 exd41 17 dxc7 dxc3 18 cxd8=Q Rxd8 19 exd6 bxc31 15 dxe7 cxd22 16 exd8=Q Rxd8 17
Qxc3. What is the material balance? Nxd2. What is the material balance?
1 1
White wins a pawn after 16...cxd6 17 Nb5 Be7 Material is even after 14...Qxd6 15 Nb5 Qd7 16
(17…Qg6 18 Qxc8) 18 Qc7. Bxc5 Bxb2. 2 White is up a pawn after 15…Qxe7 16
bxc3.
7 ply 7 ply
B38 D97
635. Visualize the position after the moves 15 636. White is up a pawn. Visualize the position
cxd6 Bxb31 16 dxe7 Bxd1 17 exf8=Q+ Bxf8 18 after the moves 11 c6 Nc7 12 cxb7 Nxb5 13
Rxd1. What is the material balance? bxc8=Q Raxc81 14 Bxb5. What is the material
balance?
1
After 15...Rfd8 White can save the pawn with 16 f4
Bg4 17 e5. 1
In the actual game Black played 13...Nxc3, allowing
White to save his Queen with 14 Qxc3 (1-0, 15).
CHAPTER 22. RABID PASSED PAWNS || 209
7 ply 7 ply
B15 B90
637. Visualize the position after the moves 13 638. Visualize the position after the moves 10
Qf6+ Nxf61 14 gxf6+ Kh7 15 fxe7 Qxe72 16 g5 bxc3 11 gxf6 cxb2 12 fxg71 bxa1=Q2 13
Bxe7. What is the material balance? gxh8=Q. What is the material balance?
1
Other moves drop a piece to 14 Qxe7. 2 White is up 1
Black is up a pawn with the better position after 12
a Rook and two pieces for a pawn after 15... Qe8 16 Bxb2 Qxf6. 2 12...Bxg7 13 Bxb2 is similar to the
exf8=Q. game, except there's only one pair of Queens on the
board.
8 ply 8 ply
E90 B09
639. Visualize the position after the moves 11 640. White has two pieces and a pawn for a
dxe5 f41 12 exd6 fxe3 13 dxc7 exd2 14 cxb8=Q Rook, but his Bd3 is under attack. Visualize the
Rxb8. What’s the material balance after White position after the moves 24 fxg61 exd3 25 Qf7+
wins Black’s pawn on d2? Qxf7 26 gxf7+ Kf8 27 fxe8=Q+ Kxe8. What is
the material balance?
1
11…dxe5 keeps the material even.
1
Black resigned here.
210 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
8 ply 8 ply
B72 B86
641. Visualize the position after the moves 11 642. Visualize the position after the moves 18
e5 Bxf31 12 exf6 Bxg22 13 fxg7 Bxh1 14 fxe5 Bxb31 19 exf6 Bxa42 20 fxg7+3 Kg8 21
gxf8=Q+ Kxf8. What is the material balance? gxf8=Q+ Kxf8. What is the material balance?
1 1
Better is 11...dxe5 12 Bxb7 Ra7, when two of 18…dxe5 19 Bxe6 fxe6 gives White the better posi-
White's pieces are under attack. 2 White is up a piece tion. 2 White is up a piece for a pawn after 19…Bxf6
and a pawn after 12...Bxf6 13 Nxf3. 20 axb3. 3 Black has an extra pawn and an attack
along the c-file after 20 fxe7 Qxe7.
9 ply 9 ply
B87 B72
643. Visualize the position after the moves 12 644. Visualize the position after the moves 14
f5 dxe5 13 fxe6 exd4 14 exf7+ Kh8 15 fxe8=Q e5 Nxb3 15 exf6 Nc5 16 fxg7 Nxd3 17
Rxe8 16 Bxd4. What is the material balance? gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 18 Rxd3. What is the material
balance?
CHAPTER 22. RABID PASSED PAWNS || 211
9 ply 9 ply
B86 B88
645. Visualize the position after the moves 13 646. Visualize the position after the moves 12
e5 Bb7 14 exf6 Bxf3 15 fxe7 Bxd11 16 exf8=Q+ f5 dxe5 13 fxe6 exd41 14 exf7+ Kh8 15 fxe8=Q
Rxf8 17 Rxd1. What is the material balance? Qxe8 16 Bxd4. What is the material balance?
1 1
White has three pieces for the Queen after 15...Rfe8 13...Nxb3 14 Nc6 Qd6 15 Nxe7+ Qxe7 16 exf7+
16 Nxf3. Rxf7 17 axb3 gives White only a small advantage.
9 ply 9 ply
A00 B08
647. Black’s c-pawn is pinned. Visualize the 648. Visualize the position after the moves 11
position after the moves 14 cxd5 exd41 15 dxc6 e5 dxe5 12 dxe5 b41 13 exf6 bxc3 14 fxg72
Nc5 16 cxb7 Nxa42 17 bxa8=Q Rxa8 18 Bxa8. cxd23 15 gxf8=Q. What is the material balance?
What is the material balance?
1
Better is 12…Ng4. 2 Material is even after 14 Qxc3
1
White is up a pawn after 14…b5 15 Qb3 cxd5 16 Bxf6 15 Bd4 Nd7. 3 Black resigned here.
Bxd5. 2 White it up a Rook after 15…d3 16 cxb7
dxe2 17 bxa8=Q exf1=Q+ 18 Rxf1 Rxa8 19 Bxa8.
212 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
9 ply 9 ply
C90 D30
649. Black has two pieces for a Rook and pawn. 650. Visualize the position after the moves 10
Visualize the position after the moves 29 d6 Bf6 cxd5 e41 11 dxc6 exf3 12 cxd7 fxg22 13
30 Qd5+ Be6 31 d7 Bxd51 32 dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 dxe8=Q+ Qxe8 14 Re13. What is the material
33 exd5. What is the material balance? balance?
1 1
31…Qxd7 drops the Ra7, while 31…Qd8 drops the 10…cxd5 11 dxe5 Nxe5 12 Bb2 is about equal.
2
Be6. White is up two pawns after 12…Bxd7 13 Bxf3.
3
14 Kxg2 drops the e-pawn.
9 ply 9 ply
C03 B07
651. Visualize the position after the moves 14 652. Visualize the position after the moves 12
e6 Ng31 15 exd7+ Kf82 16 Qe8+ Qxe8 17 dxc6 Nbc41 13 cxb7 Nxd22 14 Bxb5+ Nd7 15
dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 18 Re1. What is the material bxa8=Q Qxa8 16 Rxd2. What is the material
balance? balance?
1
14...Bxe6 loses a piece to 15 Bxf5. 2 White is up a 1
12...Bxc6 can be met by 13 Qd4 with the threat of
piece for a pawn after 15...Kxd7 16 Qe5 h4 14 f4. 2 13...Rb8 can be met by 14 Qd4 Rxb7 15 Bxc4
(16…Nxf1 17 Bf5 is mate) 17 Bf5+ Nxf5 18 Qxf5+. bxc4 16 f4, when White will be up either a Rook or
two pieces.
CHAPTER 22. RABID PASSED PAWNS || 213
9 ply 9 ply
B09 B81
653. White is down two pawns. Visualize the 654. Visualize the position after the moves 13
position after the moves 16 fxg6 Rg81 17 gxh7 e5 Bxg2 14 exf6 Bxf11 15 fxe7 Bxe22 16
Rxg4 18 h8=Q+2 Kf73 19 Nd8+4 Qxd8 20 exd8=Q+ Kxd8 17 Ndxe2. What is the material
Qxd8. What is the material balance? balance?
1 1
16...hxg6 17 Qxg6, mate; 16...h5 17 g7 Rg8 18 Qg6, White is up a piece for a pawn after 14…Bxf6 15
mate. 2 Black resigned here. 3 18...Bxh8 19 Rf8, mate. Kxg2. 2 15…Qxe7 16 Rxf1 is similar to the game,
4
19 Nd8+ allows 19…Kg6 20 Qh6, mate. except that the Queens remain on the board.
10 ply 10 ply
B08 C85
655. Visualize the position after the moves 7 e5 656. White is up two pawns. Visualize the posi-
Nd51 8 exd6 Nxc3 9 dxe7 Nxe2 10 exd8=Q tion after the moves 25 d5 Bd81 26 dxe62 Bxc7
Rxd8 11 Kxe2 Bxd4. What is the material bal- 27 e7 hxg4 28 exf8=Q+ Kxf8 29 hxg4 Bxe5.
ance? What is the material balance?
1 1
White is up a piece for a pawn after 7...d5 8 exf6 15…Qxd5 drops a Rook to Nxe7+. 2 Black resigned
exf6 9 Bd3. here.
214 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
10 ply 10 ply
D01 B23
657. Visualize the position after the moves 16 658. Visualize the position after the moves 9 f5
Qg4 e61 17 fxe62 f53 18 e7 fxg44 19 exd8=Q+ dxe4 10 fxe6 exf3 11 Qxf31 Qc72 12 exf7+ Kd8
Qxd8 20 Bxd8 Kxd8. What is the material bal- 13 fxg8=Q Rxg8. What is the material balance?
ance?
1
With the dual threat of 12 Qxf7 mate and 12 Qxc6+.
1 2 2
16…Kb8 drops the e-pawn. With a double attack 11...Nf6 12 Qxc6+ Ke7 allows 13 Rxf6 Kxf6
on Black's f-pawn. 3 White is up a pawn with the bet- (13...gxf6 14 Nd5+ is similar) 14 e7+ Kxe7 15 Nd5+,
ter position after either 17...Qxe6 18 Qxe6+ Nxe6 19 when Black has to gives up his Queen to stop the
Nxe4 or 17...Nxe6 18 Bxf6. 4 White is up a piece af- mate.
ter 18...Re8 19 exf8=Q Rhxf8 20 Qf4.
11 ply 11 ply
D06 A55
659. Visualize the position after the moves 4 660. Visualize the position after the moves 16
cxd5 cxd41 5 dxc6 dxc3 6 Qxd8+ Kxd8 7 cxb7 f4 Bg41 17 fxe5 Bxd1 18 exf6 Bxc2 19 fxe7
cxb22 8 bxc8=Q+ Kxc8 9 Bxb2. What is the ma- Bxb12 20 exf8=Q+ Kxf8 21 Nxb1. What is the
terial balance? material balance?
1
4…Nxd4 is better. 2 Black is down a pawn after 7... 1
Black's Bishop is trapped after 16...Ned7 17 f5,
Bxb7 8 bxc3. while his Knight is trapped after 16...Neg4 17 h3 Nh6
18 g4 and 18 g5. 2 White is up three pieces for a Rook
and pawn after 19...Bxe7 20 Nxc2.
SECTION 6. THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD
This section contains exercises in which the play typically covers three or more sectors of
the board. It includes the following chapters:
CHAPTER 23, THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD (WHITE TO PLAY), contains exercises in
which the activity covers three or more sectors of the chess board with White to play.
CHAPTER 24, THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD (BLACK TO PLAY), contains exercises in
which the activity covers three or more sectors of the chess board with Black to play.
CHAPTER 25, SEEING FARTHER, contains exercises that simulate situations in which both
players envision a series of moves, after which one player can gain a winning position if he
has enough foresight.
CHAPTER 26, LONGER VARIATIONS, features exercises that are twelve to nineteen half-
moves deep.
CHAPTER 23. THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD
(WHITE TO PLAY)
This chapter contains exercises in which the activity takes place over three or more sectors
of the chess board with White to play. The following are some of the tactics seen in these
exercises:
File-clearing operations – see exercises 664, 668, 675, 680, 685, 687, 688, and
694;
Diagonal-clearing operations– see exercises 662, 665, 669, 691, and 695;
Rank-clearing operations – see exercises 661, 678, and 688;
Forks – see exercises 674 and 693;
Skewers – see exercises 670 and 680;
Removing a defender/overworked piece – see exercises 664, 666, 667, 677,
679, 692, 694, and 695;
Checks – see exercises 661, 663, 679, 686, 690, 691, and 692;
Rabid pawns – see exercises 671, 672, 681, 682, 685, and 692; and
Resources against a Queen capture – see exercises 671, 672, 673, 681, 682,
and 683.
This chapter contains thirty-six exercises ranging in depth from five to eleven half-moves,
as seen in the following table:
5 ply 5 ply
B22 A46
661. Black is up a pawn. Visualize the position 662. White has three pawns for a piece. Visual-
after the moves 19 Qxf5 exf5 20 Bxf7+ Rxf7 21 ize the position after the moves 17 Qxc3 Nxc3
Rxa4. What is the material balance? 18 Bxc6+ bxc6 19 Bxc3. What is the material
balance?
5 ply 5 ply
B12 D35
663. Visualize the position after the moves 13 664. Visualize the position after the moves 10
Nxf5 Qxd11 14 Nxg7+ Bxg7 15 Raxd1. What is Nxd5 cxd5 11 Qxc8+ Kf7 12 Qxf5+1. What is
the material balance? the material balance?
1 1
Black loses a pawn after 13…exf5 14 Qc2 Ne4 15 12 Qxh8 allows 12…Qb4+ 13 Kf1 Qxb2 with the
Bd3 Rc8 16 Qe2. dual threat of 14...Qxa1 and 14...Qxf2, mate, al-
though material is even after 14 Bxe4 Qxa1+ 15 Ke2
fxe4.
CHAPTER 23. THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD (WHITE TO PLAY) || 219
7 ply 7 ply
B57 C33
665. Visualize the position after the moves 35 666. White is up two pawns. Visualize the posi-
Qxh7+1 Kxh7 36 e5+ Kg7 37 exf6+ Kxf6 38 tion after the moves 18 Qxe8+ Rxe8 19 Rxe8+
Bxa6. What is the material balance? Kg7 20 Bxc61 Nxf4 21 Bxb7. What is the ma-
terial balance?
1
Black resigned here.
1
Threatening to play 21 Be5.
7 ply 7 ply
E14 E25
667. Black is up a pawn. Visualize the position 668. White is up a pawn. Visualize the position
after the moves 13 Bb5 Qxb5 14 Qxf7+ Kd8 15 after the moves 16 Bb5 axb51 17 axb5 Qxa1 18
Qxb71 Bc52 16 Qxa8+. What is the material bal- Rxa12 Rxa1 19 bxc6. What is the material bal-
ance? ance?
1
Two of Black’s pieces are under attack. 2 15...Rc8 1
16…Bd7 17 Bxc6 isn’t good: a) 17…bxc6 18
allows 16 Rxf8+, when Black’s only move is 16… Qxe5+ wins a second pawn; b) 17…Bxc6 loses to 18
Qe8. Nf5, when Black can’t stop both mates (19 Qe7 or 19
Nxg7). 2 Two of Black’s pieces are under attack.
18…Na7 is met by 19 c6, threatening 20 Bc5 and 21
Qe7, mate.
220 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
7 ply 7 ply
C00 E62
669. Visualize the position after the moves 14 670. White is up a pawn. Visualize the position
axb5 axb5 15 Rxa8 Nxa8 16 Nxd4 Nxd4 17 after the moves 30 Nxg6 fxg6 31 Qxa8 Rxa81
Bxa8. What is the material balance? 32 Bxd5 Qxd5 33 Rxd5. What is the material
balance?
1
The actual game continued 31...Nc3 32 Bd5 Rxa8
33 Bxe6+, when White is up two pawns (1-0, 38).
7 ply 7 ply
B86 B41
671. Visualize the position after the moves 14 672. Visualize the position after the moves 13
e5 Bb7 15 exf6 Bxf3 16 fxe7 Rfe8 17 Nxf3. e5 Bb7 14 exf6 Bxf3 15 fxe7 Qxe71 16 Rxf3.
What is the material balance? What is the material balance?
1
15…Bxe2 16 exf8=Q+ Rxf8 17 Bxe2 gives White a
Rook and two Bishops for a Queen and pawn.
CHAPTER 23. THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD (WHITE TO PLAY) || 221
8 ply 8 ply
B10 B09
673. Visualize the position after the moves 14 674. Visualize the position after the moves 20
h5 Nb3+ 15 axb3 Bxe3 16 Bxe3 Ne7 17 hxg6 fxg6 hxg6 21 Qxc8 Qxc8 22 Nxe7+1 Kh8 23
Nxg6. What is the material balance? Nxc8 Rxc8. What is the material balance?
1
Black resigned here.
8 ply 8 ply
E38 C95
675. White's Bishop on c4 is under attack, but 676. Visualize the position after the moves 24
White has play on the c-file. Visualize the posi- e5 Ng41 25 hxg4 Nxg5 26 exd6 Nxf3+ 27 gxf3
tion after the moves 16 Qxh7+ Kxh7 17 Bd3+ Bg5. What is the material balance?
f5 18 Rxc7 Bxh4 19 Rxb71 Bf6. What is the ma-
1
terial balance? 24...dxe5 loses a pawn to 25 Rxe5 and 26 Bxe6.
24...Nxg5 25 Nxg5 dxe5 26 Rxe5 gives White a
1
19 Nxh4 Bc6 is also possible. double attack on b5 and e7, when 26...Qb7 can be
met by 27 Nxf7+, e.g., 27…Kg8 28 Nxd6+ winning
Black’s Queen or 27… Rxf7 28 Bxf7 undermining
the defense of Black’s Bishop on e7.
222 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
8 ply 8 ply
C82 B07
677. Black is up a pawn. Visualize the position 678. Black’s f-pawn is overworked. Visualize
after the moves 21 Qxd7+ Kxd71 22 Bxc6+ the position after the moves 14 hxg6 fxg6 15 g5
Kxc6 23 Nxe7+ Kb7 24 Nxg6 fxg6. What is the Nh51 16 Rxh5 gxh5 17 Qxe6+ Rf7. What is the
material balance? material balance?
1 1
21...Rxd7 allows 22 Bxc6. The actual game continued 15...Bxa2 16 gxf6 Nxf6
17 dxe5 dxe5 18 b3 Qc5 19 Bc4+ Kh8 20 Rd7 (1-0).
9 ply 9 ply
A56 D10
679. White is down a piece for two pawns. Vi- 680. Visualize the position after the moves 12
sualize the position after the moves 60 Qxc5 Bxg6 hxg6 13 Qxh8+ Bxh8 14 Rxh8+ Ke7 15
dxc5 61 Rxd7 Rxd7 62 Rxe8+ Kf7 63 Rc8 with Rxd8 Kxd8. What is the material balance?
64 Rxc5. What is the material balance?
CHAPTER 23. THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD (WHITE TO PLAY) || 223
9 ply 9 ply
B86 B09
681. Visualize the position after the moves 12 682. Visualize the position after the moves 14
e5 Nxd4 13 Bxd4 Bb7 14 exf6 Bxf3 15 fxe7 e5 Nxb3+ 15 Nxb3 Bf5 16 exf6 Bxd3 17 fxg7
Qxe7 16 Rxf3. What is the material balance? Kxg7 18 Rxd3. What is the material balance?
9 ply 9 ply
D07 E00
683. Visualize the position after the moves 19 684. White's pawn on e4 is pinned and under
Bxh4 b5 20 Bxe7 bxc4 21 Bxc5 Rf71 22 dxe6 attack, but White can get an extra attacker on
Qxe6 23 Bxf5. What is the material balance? d6. Visualize the position after the moves 21 e5
Bxf3 22 exd6+1 Bxd6 23 Bxd6+ Rxd6 24 Rxd6
1
All of Black's Rook moves have about the same Bxd1 25 Rxd1. What is the material balance?
value.
1
Black is up a pawn after 22 exf6+ Kxf6 23 Be2.
224 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
9 ply 9 ply
B14 E74
685. Visualize the position after the moves 14 686. Visualize the position after the moves 12
Rae1 Nxe5 15 dxe5 Bxb5 16 Qxb5 Rfe81 17 e5 dxe5 13 Nxe5 Nxd51 14 Nxd7 Nxf42 15
exf6 Qxe1 18 fxg72. What is the material bal- Nxf8+ Bxf8 16 Qxf43. What is the material bal-
ance? ance?
1 1
16...Nh5 17 Bg5, threatening 18 Nxd5, gives White Material is even after 13...Nxe5 14 Bxe5. 2 White is
the advantage, as 17...Bxe5 can be met by 18 Nxd5, up a piece for a pawn after 14...Bxd7 15 Nxd5.
3
threatening 19 Rxe5 Qxe5 20 Nxe7+ with 21 Qxe5. Black resigned here.
2
18…Kxg7 can be met by 19 Nxd5, threatening both
20 Nc7 and 20 Qxb7.
9 ply 9 ply
C11 B66
687. Visualize the position after the moves 22 688. Visualize the position after the moves 18
Bxf6 Nxf61 23 fxe6 Qxe62 24 Qxe6 fxe6 25 g5 hxg5 19 hxg5 Rxh1 20 gxf6 gxf61 21 Bb5+2
Bh7+ Kxh7 26 Rxd8. What is the material bal- axb5 22 Rxh1. What is the material balance?
ance?
1
The Bishop has to stay on e7 to hold the b-pawn.
1 White has two pieces for a Rook and pawn after
With Black’s Bishop on f6 gone, Black‘s Rook on
d8 becomes a target along the d-file. 22...gxf6 creates 20...Rh8 21 exd5 (21 fxe7 allows 21...d4) 21 gxf6 22
holes in Black’s kingside, but Black may be able to dxe6 fxe6. 2 The actual game continued 21 exd5 Rd8
defend, for example, 23 Qg4+ Kh8 24 Qh5 Kg7 25 (better is 21...Bd7, when Black is up the exchange)
Rf3 Rh8 26 Rg3+ Kf8 27 Qg4 Bd7, etc. 2 23...fxe6 22 Bb5+ axb5 23 Rxh1 Rxd5 (1-0, 54).
doesn't change anything.
CHAPTER 23. THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD (WHITE TO PLAY) || 225
10 ply 10 ply
B58 D34
689. Visualize the position after the moves 22 690. Visualize the position after the moves 15
Bxb5 axb5 23 Nxb5 Qb8 24 Nxd6 Nc6 25 Red1 Nxc6 bxc6 16 Bxf6 Bxf6 17 Nxd5 Qxe1 18
Nh5 26 Nxe8 Rxe8. What is the material bal- Nxf6+ Kg7 19 Raxe1 Kxf6. What is the materi-
ance? al balance?
10 ply 11 ply
A61 B80
691. Black's Bishop on g5 is under attack. Vi- 692. Visualize the position after the moves 15
sualize the position after the moves 16 Qxd5+ hxg6 Nxd41 16 gxf7+ Qxf7 17 Bxd4 e52 18
Qxd5 17 Nxf6+ Bxf6 18 Bxd5+1 Kg7 19 Bxf6+ Bxe5 Bxh33 19 Bxh8 Be6 20 gxh6. What is the
Kxf6 20 Bxa8 Rxa8. What is the material bal- material balance?
ance?
1
15…fxg6 drops the e-pawn. 2 Better is 17...Rh7,
1 although White is up a pawn after 18 Na4 b5 19 Nb6
Black resigned here.
Rb8. 3 18...dxe5 19 Qd8 is mate.
226 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
11 ply 11 ply
A51 D36
693. Visualize the position after the moves 25 694. Visualize the position after the moves 8
Bd3+ g6 26 Ne5 Qe71 27 Nxg6 Qd62 28 Nf4+ Bxe7 Qxe71 9 Nxd5 cxd5 10 Qxc8+ Qd8 11
Kg7 29 Rc7+ Kf63 30 Rxb7. What is the materi- Bb5+ Nc62 12 Bxc6+ bxc6 13 Qxc6+. What is
al balance? the material balance?
1
26...Qg7 loses the Queen to 27 Bxg6+. 2 The only 1
Better is 8...Kxe7, although Black is down a pawn
square. Moving to a light square (d7, f7 or e6) loses after 9 Nxe4 dxe4 10 Qxe4+. 2 Black is down three
the Queen to a discovered check, while moving to a pawns after 11...Ke7 12 Qxb7+ Nd7 13 Qxd5.
dark square (f6 or g5) allows 28 Rc7+ Kg8 29 Bc4+,
mating. 3 29...Qxc7 loses the Queen to 30 Ne6+.
11 ply 11 ply
A10 E11
695. White can sacrifice the exchange to clear 696. Visualize the position after the moves 17
the h1-a8 diagonal. Visualize the position after cxd5 exd51 18 Nxc6 bxc6 19 Bxd6 Bxd6 20
the moves 17 dxc6 Bxc6 18 Rxc6 Qxc61 19 Qxc6 Rb82 21 Qxd5+ Kh8 22 Qxd6. What is the
Nxe5 Qe8 20 Nxf7+ Qxf72 21 Qxf7 Rxf7 22 material balance?
Bxa8. What is the material balance?
1
17...cxd5 loses a pawn to 18 Nxd7 Bxd7 19 Qc7
1
In the game, Black saw the danger and played Ne4 20 Qxd7 Bxa3 21 Qxe6+. 2 Worse is 20...Rf6 21
18...e4 19 Rc7 exf3 20 Bxf3, although White's pieces Qxd5+ Kh8 22 Qxa8 (1-0), as was played in the
dominate the position (1-0, 21). 2 20…Rxf7 21 Bxa8 game, when White is up a Rook and three pawns for
is similar. a Bishop.
CHAPTER 24. THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD
(BLACK TO PLAY)
This chapter contains exercises in which the activity takes place over three or more sectors
of the board with Black to play. The diagrams are set up with White at the bottom of the
board in order to give you the opportunity to practice visualizing positions in which your
opponent is the aggressor and most of the action takes place on your side of the board.
File-clearing operations – see exercises 701, 704, 707, 711, 715, 719, and 720;
Diagonal-clearing operations – see exercises 698, 699, 702, 709, 711, 712,
714, 720, 721, 723, and 724;
Forks – see exercises 697, 713, 714, and 723;
Removing a defender – see exercises 697, 698, 699, 701, 703, 704, 705, 709,
715, and 717;
Checks – see exercises 703, 708, 713, 717, 720, 721, and 722;
Zwischenzugs – see exercises 718, 721, and 722;
Desperados – see exercise 706; and
Rabid pawns – see exercises 710 and 718.
The diagrams in this chapter were intentionally set up with White at the bottom of the
board in order to give you the opportunity to practice visualizing moves from the defend-
er’s point of view.
This chapter contains twenty-eight exercises ranging in depth from five to eleven half-
moves, as seen in the following table:
5 ply 5 ply
A02 B37
697. Black has given up a pawn for develop- 698. Visualize the position after the moves
ment. Visualize the position after the moves 20...Bxb3 21 Qxb3 Nxf3 22 Bxf3 Bxd4. What
17...Rxf3 18 Bxd4 Qxd4 19 gxf31 Qxa1. What is the material balance?
is the material balance?
1
19 Nc3 allows 19…Rxc3 (29...Qxf2+ is also good),
when 20 dxc3 allows mate in five: 20...Qe3+ 21 Kd1
Rd8+ 22 Kc2 Rd2+ 23 Kb1 Qd3+ 24 Kc1 Qc3+ 22
Kb1 Qb2, mate.
5 ply 5 ply
B53 E15
699. Visualize the position after the moves 700. Visualize the position after the moves
11...Nxe41 12 Nxe4 Qxd2 13 Nexd2 Bxb2. 27...Bxd5 28 Rxb31 Nxf4 29 Rb12 Rxe33. What
What is the material balance? is the material balance?
1 1
Black is attacking White's Queen and has a 3-2 ad- Black is up a pawn after 28 Bxd5 Qxd5 29 Qf3
vantage on c3. Qxf3 30 Nxf3. 2 29 exf4 drops the exchange to 29…
Bxf3+ Rxf3 30 cxb3. 3 29…Bxf3 drops a piece to 30
Qxf3, since Black’s Knight on f4 is pinned to Black’s
pawn on f7.
CHAPTER 24. THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD (BLACK TO PLAY) || 229
7 ply 7 ply
B22 B35
701. Visualize the position after the moves 702. Visualize the position after the moves
14...Bxf3 15 Bxf3 Nxd4 16 Bxd41 Qxa4 17 9...Nxe4 10 Nxc6 Bxc3+ 11 bxc3 Qxc3+ 12
Nxa4 Rxc1+. What is the material balance? Ke2 dxc61. What is the material balance?
1 1
16 Qxd7 Nxf3+ 17 gxf3 Nxd7 concedes a pawn. Note that 13 fxe4 loses the Queen to 13...Bg4+.
7 ply 7 ply
B87 E74
703. Visualize the position after the moves 704. Visualize the position after the moves
12...b4 13 Bxb7 Qb6+ 14 Kh1 Qxb7 15 Nd5 13...Nxe4 14 Nxe4 Qxb5 15 axb5 Rxa1+ 16
Nxe4. What is the material balance? Ke2 Rxh11. What is the material balance?
1
17 Bxe7 drops a piece to 17...Re8, e.g., 18 Bxd6
Rxe4+.
230 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
7 ply 7 ply
B84 A85
705. Watch the count on e4. Visualize the posi- 706. Visualize the position after the moves
tion after the moves 19...b4 20 g5 bxc3 21 gxf6 11...Nxe5 12 Bxe41 Nxc42 13 Bxf5 exf53 14
Nxf6 22 bxc3 Bxe41. What is the material bal- bxc4 dxc4. What is the material balance?
ance?
1
12 dxe5 keeps the material even. 2 Material is even
1
In the actual game, White tried to complicate with after 12...dxe4 13 dxe5. 3 13…Nxe3 drops a piece to
22 Bh6, but resigned soon after 22…cxb2 23 Rxd6 14 Bxh7+ Kh8 15 fxe3.
Bxe4 24 Rd3 Kh8 (0-1, 27).
7 ply 7 ply
A01 A08
707. Visualize the position after the moves 708. Visualize the position after the moves
11...dxe4 12 Bxe41 Nxe4 13 Nxg6 hxg6 14 19...dxe4 20 Nxe51 Nxd4 21 Qxc7 Nxe2+ 22
Qxe4 Rxh2. What is the material balance? Rxe2 Rxc7. What is the material balance?
1 1
Black is up a pawn after 12 fxe4 Bxe4 13 Bxe4 Black is up a pawn and has advanced pawns in the
Nxe4, when 14 Bxg7 Rg8 only helps Black. center after 20 Bxb5 Nxd4 21 Nxd4 exd4.
CHAPTER 24. THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD (BLACK TO PLAY) || 231
7 ply 7 ply
D05 C16
709. Visualize the position after the moves 710. Visualize the position after the moves
17...Nxc3 18 Qf31 Qxf3 19 gxf3 Bxd42 20 bxc3 8...cxd4 9 axb4 dxc3 10 Bxe71 cxb2 11 Rb1
Bxc3. What is the material balance? Qxe72. What is the material balance?
1 1
Black is up a piece and a pawn after either 18 Qg3 10 bxc3 loses a Rook to 10...Qxc3+ while 10 Bh6
Nxb5 or 18 Nf5+ exf5 19 Rfe1+ Kf8 20 Qxd5 Nxd5. can be met by 10...Qxe5+ with 11...Ng6. 2 12 Rxb2
2
19...Nxb5 20 Nxb5 Bxf3 Black is up two pawns. doesn’t gain anything after 12…Qc7, with the dual
threat of 13...Qxe5+ and 13...Qc3+.
7 ply 8 ply
B72 D05
711. Visualize the position after the moves 712. Visualize the position after the moves
12...Nxe4 13 Nxe4 Nxd41 14 Bxd42 dxe43 15 14...Ng4 15 f4 Bxg5 16 h3 Bxf4 17 hxg41 Bxc1
Bxg7 Kxg7. What is the material balance? 18 Rxc1. What is the material balance?
1 1
13...dxe4 14 Nxe6 fxe6 gives Black tripled pawns Black is up a Rook after 17 Rcd1 Be3+ 18 Rf2
on the e-file. 2 Black is up two pawns after 14 Nc5 Bxf2+. The game continuation 17 Nd5 (0-1, 19) al-
Nxe2 15 Nxe6 fxe6 16 Qxe2 Bxb2 17 Rb1 Bc3+. lows 17...Be3+ 18 Rf2 (other moves are met by 18…
3
14...Bxd4 15 Qxd4 dxe4 16 0-0-0 just helps White. Qh2, mate) Qxc1+ 19 Bf1 Bxf2+ 20 Kh1 Qxf1, mate.
232 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
9 ply 9 ply
A05 B92
713. Black is down a pawn and his Nd3 is under 714. Black is down two pawns. Visualize the
attack. Visualize the position after the moves position after the moves 17...Nd3 18 Qxe4
18...Nxe4 19 Rxd3 Nxd2 20 Rxd8+ Rxd81 21 Nxe1 19 d6 Bxd6 20 Qxa8 Bb7 21 Qxf8+ Kxf8.
Qf5+ Kb8 22 Re1 Qxe3+. What is the material What is the material balance?
balance?
1
White is up a piece after 20...Kxd8 21 Qd3+ Qd6 22
Qxd6+ cxd6 23 Rxf7.
9 ply 9 ply
A00 C32
715. Black is up a pawn, but White’s play on 716. Visualize the position after the moves
the c-file could become dangerous. Visualize 16...Re8 17 Bxe4 Qxe4 18 Ne51 Nxe52 19 fxe5
the position after the moves 26...Nxf1 27 Nxd5 Qxg2+ 20 Kd3 Qxb2. What is the material bal-
Rxd5 28 Qxd5 Ng3+1 29 hxg3 Re1+ 30 Rxe12 ance?
cxd5. What is the material balance?
1
18 Qxe4 fxe4 loses the exchange, e.g., 19 Ng5
1 2
White resigned here. 30 Kh2 loses to 30...Qh6+. Bg4+. 2 Black can also play 18...Qxg2+ 19 Qf2 Qe4+
with ...Nxe5.
CHAPTER 24. THREE SECTORS OF THE BOARD (BLACK TO PLAY) || 233
9 ply 9 ply
C00 B65
717. Visualize the position after the moves 718. Visualize the position after the moves
12...dxe4 13 fxe4 Bxb3 14 Qxb3 exd4 15 cxd41 15...Bg4 16 e51 Rc82 17 Qb33 Bxd1 18 exf6
Qh4+ 16 Ng32 Nxd4. What is the material bal- Bxc2 19 Qa34 Bxf6. What is the material bal-
ance? ance?
1 1
In the actual game, White conceded the pawn with Black is counting on his rabid e-pawn, but moving
15 Ng3 dxc3 16 bxc3 (0-1, 26). 2 Black is up a pawn the Rook is better. 2 White has two pieces for a Rook
after 16 g3 Qxe4 17 Qe3 (pinning White’s Queen is and two pawns after 16... Bxd1 17 exf6 Bxf6 18
much better than 17 Rg1 Nxd4, when 18 Qd1 can be Kxd1 Bxb2. 3 Two of White's pieces are under attack
met by 18...Nf3, mate) Qxe3 18 Bxe3. after 17 Qb5 Qc7 18 Bd3 dxe5. 4 19 Qxc2 gives up a
Queen for a Rook and Bishop.
10 ply 10 ply
A01 B48
719. Visualize the position after the moves 720. Black's Knight is under attack. Visualize
10...d4 11 Bxc61 Nxc3 12 Bxc3 Bxc3 13 Qxc32 the position after the moves 14...dxe4 15 Nxe4
dxc3 14 Rxd8 Rxd8 15 Bf3. What is the materi- Nxe4 16 Bxe4 Qxc2+ 17 Bxc2 Bxf3 18 Rhe1
al balance? Bxd11 19 Bxd1. What is the material balance?
1 1
11 exd4 can be met by 11...Nxc3 12 Bxc3 Qg5+, Also good is the game continuation 18...Nxc2 19
with 13...Qxb5. 2 Black is up a piece after 13 Qe2 Kxc2 Rc8+ 20 Kb1 Bxd1 (0-1) 21 Rxd1.
bxc6.
234 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
10 ply 11 ply
B07 B33
721. Black is down the exchange for a pawn. 722. Visualize the position after the moves
Visualize the position after the moves 25...Nb4 26 Nxb41 Bxe3 27 fxe32 Rxf1+ 28
17...Qxb2+ 18 Kxb2 Nxe4+ 19 Qd41 Nf22 20 Kxf1 Bxb5 29 cxb5 Qc4+ 30 Kf2 axb4. What is
Qxg7+3 Kxg7 21 Be2 Nxh1 22 Rxh1. What is the material balance?
the material balance?
1
26 Raa1 allows 26...Bxb5 27 cxb5 Qc5, with pres-
1
Better is 19 Kc1 Nxd2 20 Nxd2, when White has sure on d5 and e3. 2 Black has the better position after
the exchange for two pawns. 2 White resigned here. 27 Nd3 Bxb5 28 cxb5 Qf5 29 Qd1.
3
20 Bg2 Bxd4+ 21 Rxd4 Nxh1 22 Bxh1 is similar to
the game.
11 ply 11 ply
D85 E80
723. Black's Knight on b6 is under attack, but 724. Visualize the position after the moves
White’s Knight on c3 is weak. Visualize the po- 13...Rxb2 14 Nb5 Nxe4 15 Bxb21 Qa5+2 16
sition after the moves 14...c5 15 axb6 cxd4 16 Nc33 Bxc3+ 17 Bxc3 Qxc3+ 18 Ke2 Be6. What
Bb5 dxe3 17 Bxe8 Bxc3 18 fxe31 Qxe82 19 is the material balance?
Rxa7 Rb8. What is the material balance?
1
Black is up a piece and two pawns after 15 Bxg7
1 Qa5+ 16 Nc3 Nxc3 17 Qc1 Nxa2+ 18 Bc3 Qxc3+ 19
The actual game continued 18 Qxd8 Rxd8 19 bxa7
(19 Bf7+) Bxa1 20 Rxa1 e2 (0-1), when 21 a8=Q Qxc3 Nxc3. 2 Black can also play 15...Bxb2.
3
allows 21...Rd1+, mating and 21 Re1 can be met by Relatively best is 16 Ke2 Bxb2 17 Qe1, challenging
21…Rd1. 2 White is up the exchange after 18...Qxd1 Black's Queen, although Black has compensation for
19 Bf7+ Kg7 20 Raxd1. the exchange.
CHAPTER 25. SEEING FARTHER
This chapter contains exercises in which both players see the same variation up to a certain
point, but White sees deeper into the position. The following are the solutions to these ex-
ercises:
Find a way to win material – see exercises 725, 728, 731, 732, 736, 738, 743,
and 753;
Find the winning move or sequence – see exercises 729, 730, 733, 740, 741,
748, 749, 754, and 755;
Find the mate in two – see exercises 727 and 742;
Find the mate in three – see exercises 734, 735, 750, and 756;
Find an improvement in the line given – see exercises 739 and 746; and
Find a winning defense – see exercises 726, 737, 747, and 751.
This chapter contains thirty-two exercises ranging in depth from seven to nineteen half-
moves, as seen in the following table:
7 ply 7 ply
C70 E18
725. After the moves 17 exf5 Nxf51 18 gxf5 726. After the moves 14 Nc6 Rc81 15 Nxd8
Bxf5 White is up a piece for a pawn, but Black Rxc2 16 Nxb72 Nf63, White's Knight is trapped
seems to have well-placed pieces. How does on b7 and Black intends to win it with 17...Rb8.
White win more material in this position? A How can White defend his Knight?
hint is in the footnotes.2
1
Relatively best is 14...Bxc6 15 Qxc6 Nf6. 2 Black
1
Black should just accept the loss of the pawn and resigned here. 3 Forced, since 16...Rb8 or 16...Rc7
play 17...Bf7. 2 Hint: White can create a situation in can be met by 17 Bxd5.
which he is attacking two pieces at once.
7 ply 9 ply
C02 D78
727. How does White mate in two after the 728. Black has just played Na4-c5, intending to
moves 32 Kf2 Nd21 33 Bxa42 Nxb1? win a Rook and pawn for two pieces after 20
dxc5 Bxa1 21 Rxa1 Nxc5, when Black is
1
Black is attacking two pieces at once. 2 33 Bxd2 threatening both 22…Nxb3 and 22…Nxe4. Yet
Bxc2 34 Re1 keeps material even, but gives Black White can win a piece after 21…Nxc5. How?1
control of the light squares. With 33 Bxa4, White
gives up the exchange in order to gain control of the 1
Hint: Black's Bishop on d7 is weak.
light squares around Black's King.
CHAPTER 25. SEEING FARTHER || 237
9 ply 9 ply
E43 D05
729. White is up a Rook for a pawn after 34 730. Black is up two pieces for a pawn after the
Rxd3 cxd3 35 Rc8 d2 36 Rxd8+ Kg7, but moves 18 gxf6 Qxd4+ 19 Kh1 Qxe4. How does
Black's pawn is about to queen. How does White win in this position?
White win in this position?
9 ply 9 ply
E15 B07
731. Visualize the position after the moves 25 732. Black is down a Rook after the moves 18
Bxd7 Rxe2 26 Qxe21 Rxe2 27 Bxc6 Bxc6 28 Nxd6 Bxh31 19 Bxh3 Rxd6 20 Qxd6 Rd8, but
Nd4 Ba4. How does White win a piece here? White's Queen is trapped. How does White win
material in this position?2
1
This Queen desperado wins material. The alterna-
tive, 26 Bxc6 Rxb2 27 Bxb7 gxf6, gives White two 1
Black has compensation for the pawn after 18...Ne8
pieces for a Rook and pawn. 19 Nxc8 Raxc8 20 Qf2 Bxc3. 2 Hint: On what square
does White have a 2-1 advantage?
238 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
9 ply 10 ply
E48 C10
733. White is up a pawn after the moves 28 734. Visualize the position after the moves 15
Rxc3 Qd1+ 29 Bf1 Bxc3. How can White win a dxc6 Bxc61 16 Nxc62 Rxd1 17 Rfxd1 bxc6.
piece in this position?1 How does White mate in three?
1 1
Hint: Two moves that don’t work are 30 Qxc3 Ne2+ Black is attacking White’s Queen and threatening
31 Kh1 Qxf1+ 32 Ng1 Qxg1, mate and 30 g3 Qxf3 mate on g2. 2 The only move. 16 Bf3 allows 16...Rh6,
31 gxf4 Qg4+, when the only way that White can while 16 f3 allows 16...Rxg3+ 17 hxg3 (17 Kf2 loses
avoid the draw is with 32 Bg2 Qd1+ 33 Qf1, when to 17…Qxh2+ 18 Ke1 Qh4) 17...Qxg3 18 Kh1 Qh4+
Black can gain the advantage with 33...Qd2. 19 Kg1 Rg8, mate.
11 ply 11 ply
C21 D45
735. White is down a piece and two pawns after 736. White is up a pawn and can win a piece
16 Qb2 Nxc4 17 Rxd8 Nxb21 18 Rxf8+ Kxf8, after the moves 21 Ba31 Bxf2+ 22 Qxf22 Nxf2
but can now mate in three. How? 23 Bxf8 Nh3+ 24 Kg2 Rxf8. How?3
1 1
17...Rxd8 gives Black a Rook, Knight and two Black's Queen is tied to the defense of the Re8 and
pawns for the Queen, but after 18 Qb3 Nd6 19 Bb2, can't move. 2 22 Rxf2 allows 22…Rxe1+ 23 Nxe1
White threatens 20 Qc3, with an attack along the a1- Qxa3, but 22 Kh1 is playable. 3 Hint: 25 Kxh3
h8 diagonal. doesn’t win a piece because of 25...g4+.
CHAPTER 25. SEEING FARTHER || 239
11 ply 11 ply
A89 D45
737. Black threatens mate on h2, but White to 738. White has three pawns for the piece after
play can draw with either 28 hxg31 or 28 20 Bxb5 Nxc31 21 Bxc6 Nxb1 22 Bxd5+ Kh8
exf8=Q+ Rxf8 29 Qxf8+ Kh7 30 Qf7+ Kh8 31 23 Bxa8 Qa7 24 Bf3 Na3. White’s Queen is un-
Qf8+. Yet White doesn’t have to be content der attack in this position, but White can win
with a draw. How can White win after the material here. How?2
moves 28 exf8=Q+ Rxf8 29 Qxf8+ Kh7? 2
1
20...cxb5 21 Nxd5 gives White two connected
1
28 hxg3 allows 28…Qxg3+ 29 Kh1 Qh3+, with a passed pawns for the piece. 2 Hint: Black’s Knight
perpetual check. 2 Hint: All White has to do is defend can become trapped.
his pawn on h2.
11 ply 11 ply
B42 B43
739. Black is down a Queen after the moves 27 740. White is up a piece for a pawn after the
Bxf7+ Rxf7 28 Rxf7 Qxf71 29 Qxf7+ Kh8 30 moves 17 g5 hxg5 18 hxg5 Ng41 19 fxg4 Bxe42
Nxb7 e2 31 Re1 Rf82, but is attacking White's 20 Nxe4 Rxh33, but his Queen is under attack.
Queen and threatens to play 32...Rf1+. White is How does White win in this position?
up a Rook and two pawns after 32 Qxf8+ Nxf8
1
33 Rxe2, but has a better move. What is it? 18...Ne8 or 18…Ng8 are safer. 2 Black doesn't mind
20 Nxe4, as this opens up the c-file for his pieces.
3
1
Black’s idea is to play Rf8, e2, and Rf1, with mate. White's Queen is tied to the defense of his pawn on
2
Black has achieved the position she wanted. c2; 21 Qxh3 loses to 21...Qxc2, mate and 21 Qg2
loses a Rook to 21...Rxh1+.
240 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
11 ply 11 ply
C15 B79
741. Material is even after the move 25 Rd1 742. How does White mate in two after the
Nd3+1 26 Qxd3 Qg5+ 27 f42 Rxd3 28 fxg5 moves 19 g5 b41 20 gxf6 bxc3 21 hxg62 cxd23
Rxc3, but how can White win a pawn and the 22 gxh7+ Kf84?
game?
1
19...Nxh5 seems okay for Black. 2 Black has com-
1 pensation for the exchange after 21 Bxc3 Rxc3 22
This attacks White's Bishop on h5. Moving the
Queen drops the f- pawn, e.g., 25...Qb5 26 Rxd8+ bxc3 Bxf6. 3 The actual game continued 21...fxg6 22
Kxd8 27 Bxe5 Qxe5 (27...gxe5 28 Qg5+ wins a Qh2 exf6 23 Qxh7+ Kf8 24 Bxf6 Bxf6 25 Qxg6, with
piece) 28 Qxe5 fxe5 29 Bxf7. 2 27...Qxf4+ allows 28 a winning attack (1-0, 30). 4 22...Kh8 23 fxg7 is mate.
Bd2, when White is up a piece for two pawns.
11 ply 11 ply
E90 B50
743. White is up two pawns after the moves 21 744. What is the material balance after the
Rxg71 Kxg72 22 Nxe4 Bxf5 23 Nxd63 Qe5 24 moves 17 exf61 Rxd1 18 fxe7 Rxe1+ 19 Rxe1
Nxf5+ Rxf5. How can White win a piece in this Bd7 20 Rd1 Be82 and how does White gain
position? compensation for the Queen?
1 1
21 Nxe4 Bxc3+ 22 Nxc3 leaves White up two White is better after 17 Qc2 Nd5 18 Nxd5 exd5.
pawns, but they’re doubled on the f-file. 2 White is up 2
In the game Black tried 20...e5 21 Rxd7 exf4 22 b4,
the exchange and a pawn after 21...exd3 22 Qg4. when his Queen has to give up control of d8, e.g.,
3
Black resigned here. 22...Qg5 loses to 23 Ne4 (1-0) or 22...Qb6 23 Nd5
Qb5 24 Rd8+ Qe8 25 Rxa8 Qxa8 26 Nc7 and the
pawn queens.
CHAPTER 25. SEEING FARTHER || 241
13 ply 13 ply
B09 C00
745. White has two Knights and two pawns for 746. White is down a piece after the moves 30
a Rook after the moves 23 Rxf7+ Qxf7 24 Ng4 g2+ 31 Qxg2 Rxh5 32 Nxf6 Rxg2 33
Qxh8+ Kxh8 25 Nxf7+ Kg7 26 Nxd6 Kf6, Nxh51 Rxh2+ 34 Kg1 Rxh5. How can White
when Black is threatening to win White’s improve at move 33 to win the game?
Knight on d6 with 27…Ke7. How can White
1
get the most for his Knight? Black has the better ending after 33 Kxg2 Rxh2+
and 34...Rxb2.
13 ply 13 ply
B40 E67
747. Visualize the position after the moves 14 748. White has three pawns for a piece after 20
Rfe1 Nfxe5 15 Nxe5 Nxe5 16 Bc41 Nxc42 17 g4 Nxg41 21 hxg4 Bxg4 22 f3 Bxd4 23 Rxd4
Qxh8 Nxa3 18 Qxh7. Why can't Black play Rxd42 24 Bxd4 Bxf33. How does White win in
18...Nxc2, forking both of White’s Rooks? this position?4
1
16 Bxc5 is also good. 2 White has two pieces for a 1
Black’s Queen can’t move, e.g., , 20...Qg5 is met by
Rook after 16...Bg7 f4 Nf3+ 18 Qxf3 Bb7 19 Qd1 21 f4, while 20...Qh6 drops a pawn to 21 Qc5
Bxa1 20 Qxa1 0-0 21 Nxc5. (threatening 22 g5) b6 22 Qc2, intending 23 Nxc6.
2
23...Bxf3 24 Rxd8 Rxd8 loses to 25 Qc3. 3 Black is
down a piece for two pawns after 24...Be6. 4 Hint:
Black’s Bishop on f3 is weak, while White’s Bishop
on d4 dominates the dark squares around Black’s
King.
242 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
13 ply 15 ply
A48 B52
749. Visualize the position after the moves 33 750. Black is up a pawn after 20 Rc7 Qa4 21
Bc4 Qh5 34 Rxf61 Qxf3+ 35 Kh2 Rg3 36 Rd8+2 Qf2 Qxb4 22 Rg7+ Kh8 23 Qh4 h5 24 Qg5
Kg7 37 Rf7+ Kg6 38 Rg8+3 Kh5. How does Ng41 and threatens a smothered mate, but how
White win in this position? can White mate in three here?2
1 1
34 Bxg8 can be met by 34…Qxf3+ and 35...Qxc6, This covers h6 and threatens a smothered mate with
with an equal position. 2 36 fxg3 loses to 36… Rxb2+ 25 Qxg6 Qb6+ 26 Kh1 Nf2+ 27 Kg1 (27 Rxf2 Qb1+)
37 Kg1 Qxg3+ 38 Kh1 Rh2, mate. 3 Black resigned Nh3+ 28 Kh1 Qg1+ 29 Rxg1 Nf2. 2 Hint: White can
here. mate by getting his Queen to g7.
15 ply 15 ply
A30 A52
751. Visualize the position after the moves 27 752. White is up a piece for a pawn after the
Rc8 Rdxc8 28 Rxc8+ Rxc8 29 Nxc8 Bc5. moves 11 Nxe5 Bxe2 12 Nxc6 Bxd1 13 Nxd8
Black’s Bishop dominates White’s Knight and Bxb3 14 Nxb7 Bxc4 15 Re1 Bb61, but his
is threatening to win it with his King, yet White Knight is trapped. How can White save his
has a resource that will not only save the Knight?2
Knight, but win the game. What is it?
1
15...Ba7 16 Nxa5 lets the Knight out. 2 Hint: Black’s
pawn on c7 is overworked.
CHAPTER 25. SEEING FARTHER || 243
15 ply 15 ply
A28 B12
753. Material is even after the moves 16 cxd6 754. White is down a pawn after the moves 9
Be6 17 dxc7 Bc4 18 Rac1 Bxb5 19 Rxc3 Bxe21 Nxf7 Bxf7 10 Bxf7+ Kxf71 11 Qh5+ Kg8 12
20 Rb12 Ba63. How does White win a piece in Qxc52 Nxe43 13 Qf5 Nf6, but can win the game.
this position? How?
1 1
After 19...Nc6 White still has his passed pawn and 10...Kf8 and 10...Ke7 avoid the coming danger.
2
can soften up the back rank with 20 Re3 Rxe3 21 White's threat is 13 Qc4+ Kf8 14 e5, winning
fxe3, intending 22 Rd1 or 22 Bh3. 2 Material is even, Black’s pinned Knight. 3 13...b5 or 13...Nbd7 are bet-
but Black's pinned b-pawn is under attack. ter.
3
20...Rac8 is met by 21 Bh3.
17 ply 19 ply
A44 B89
755. Visualize the position after the moves 21 756. Black is up the exchange after the moves
Rxf7 Nxf7 22 Qxf7+ Kh8 23 Qh5+ Kg8 24 14 g5 bxc3 15 gxf6 cxb2 16 fxe7 bxa1=Q+ 17
Rf11 Bf2 25 Qf7+2 Kh8 26 Qxf23 Qa64. White is Bxa1 Rc81 18 fxe62 Bxe6 19 Rg1 Qb4+3 20
down the exchange for a pawn, but how does he Kd14 a55, but White has a forced mate in three.
win in this position? How?
1
White’s threat is 25 Qh7, mate. 2 25 Rxf2 loses to 1
White is down the exchange, but has the better posi-
25...Re1+ or 25...Qc1+. 3 White threatens 27 Qh4+ tion. 2 18 Rg1 is also good. 3 Black can't defend
Kg8 28 Qh7, mate. 4 Black intends to meet 27 Qh4+ against 20 Rxg7 and 21 Rg5, mating, for example,
with 27…Qh6. 19...g6 loses to 20 Qf6. 4 Black resigned here.
5
20...f6 21 Qxf6 doesn’t help.
CHAPTER 26. LONGER VARIATIONS
This chapter features exercises that are twelve to nineteen half-moves deep covering the
following themes presented previously, as follows:
Before and After – see exercises 770, 771, 772, 774, 775, 785, 786, 787, 793,
794, 797, 798, 799, and 800;
Two Sectors of the Board – see exercises 757, 761, 773, 783, and 784;
Queens Under Attack – see exercises 758, 765, 766, 767, 768, 781, and 795;
Rabid Pieces and Pawns – see exercises 768, 769, 776, 778, 779, 780, and
788; and
Three Sectors of the Board – see exercises 759, 764, 790, 791, 792, and 796.
Most of these exercises ask you to visualize the resulting position and determine the ma-
terial balance, but the following exercises prompt you to find a mate or perform some other
task:
Find a mate in two or three moves – see exercises 772, 783, 784, and 792;
Win Black’s Queen – see exercises 782 and 788; and
Stop Black’s passed pawn – see exercise 770.
In addition, some exercises are of the “two-way street” variety – see exercises 760, 762,
and 777.
This chapter contains forty-four exercises ranging in depth from twelve to nineteen half-
moves, as seen in the following table:
Ply: 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 TOTAL
Exercises: 4 12 4 8 - 8 3 5 44
246 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
12 ply 12 ply
A57 B70
757. Visualize the position after the moves 15 758. Visualize the position after the moves 13
e5 dxe5 16 Nxe5 Qxe5 17 Qxe5+ Nxe5 18 Bxb6 Bxe2 14 Bxd8 Bxd1 15 Bxe7 Bxc2 16
Rxe5 Nxd5 19 Rxd51 Bxd5 20 cxd5 Rxd5. What Bxf8 Bxb1 17 Bxg7 Bxa21 18 Nxa2 Kxg7. What
is the material balance? is the material balance?
1 1
Material is even after 19 Re1 and 20 Nxc5. This wins a pawn over 17...Kxg7. Black resigned
here.
12 ply 12 ply
A41 E71
759. Visualize the position after the moves 15 760. White is up two pawns, but his a-pawn is
e5 Bf51 16 Bg5 Bxb1 17 Rxb12 Ncd7 18 Qxb6 about to fall. Visualize the position after the
Nxb63 19 exf6 Bxf6 20 Bxf6 gxf6. What is the moves 12 Nb5 Bxa61 13 Qxb4 cxb4 14 Nc7
material balance? Bxf1 15 Nxa8 Bxg22 16 Rh2 Bxf3 17 Nxf3
Rxa8. What is the material balance?
1
15…Nfe4 is fine for Black. 2 17 exf6 allows
17...gxf6, when White is down a pawn without full 1
12...Qxd2+ 13 Bxd2 Bxa6 14 Nc7 is similar to the
compensation after 18 Bh6 Be4 19 Bxf8 Kxf8. game, except that Black’s c-pawn is on c5. 2 The ac-
3
18...axb6 gives Black doubled pawns on the b-file, tual game continued 15...Bc4 16 Rc1 Ne5 17 Nb6
while 18…Nxb6 gives Black doubled pawns on the f- (1-0, 64), when Black could have won back the ex-
file. change with 17…Nd3.
CHAPTER 26. LONGER VARIATIONS || 247
13 ply 13 ply
C77 A48
761. Visualize the position after the moves 23 762. Visualize the position after the moves 10
Nxf7 Rxf7 24 Qf5 g6 25 Qe6 Kg7 26 Qxf7+ Qxd5 Nef6 11 Qb3 e4 12 Ng5 exd3 13 Nxf7
Kh6 27 Be61 Be5 28 f4 Bxf4 29 Qxf6. What is Qe7 14 Nd6+ Kh8 15 Nxe8 Qxe8 16 Bxc7.
the material balance? What is the material balance?
1
27 Qxf6 loses the Queen to 27…Bh2+.
13 ply 13 ply
B06 B88
763. Visualize the position after the moves 15 764. White is down a piece for a pawn, he’s in
axb5 axb5 16 Rxa8+ Nxa8 17 Nxb51 cxb5 18 check, and his Nc3 is under attack. What is the
Bxb5+ Kf8 19 Qb4+ Ne7 20 Rc3 Qb82 21 material balance after the moves 28 Qxg5 Bxg5
Qxe7+. What is the material balance? 29 Rxf8+ Rxf8 30 Rxf8+ Kg7 31 gxh71 Kxh72
32 Rf7+ Kg6 33 Rxb7 bxc3 34 bxc3?
1
This clears b4 for the Queen; White’s next move
clears the 3rd rank for the Rook. 2 20...Qb7 21 Qxe7+ 1
This wins an extra pawn compared to the line 31
Qxe7 loses to 22 Rc8+. Rf7+ Kxg6 32 Rxb7 bxc3 33 bxc3. Black resigned
here. 2 The zwischenzug 31...Be3 doesn't change any-
thing.
248 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
13 ply 13 ply
A52 C41
765. Visualize the position after the moves 12 766. Visualize the position after the moves 21
c5 Nc61 13 cxd6 Nxd4 14 dxe7 Nc2+ 15 Kd2 Nxd5 Bxd2 22 Nxc7 Bxe1 23 Nxe8 Bb41 24
Nxa1 16 exf8=Q+ Kxf8 17 Bc4 c6 18 Rxa12. Nexg7 Nxg7 25 Nxg7 Kxg7 26 e6+ Kf8 27
What is the material balance? Rxd7. What is the material balance?
1 2 1
12...Bf5 or 12...Rd8 are better. Black resigned White is up a after pawn 23…Rxe8 24 Rxe1.
here.
13 ply 13 ply
C42 C43
767. Visualize the position after the moves 22 768. White is down a pawn. Visualize the posi-
Qxd5+ Bxd5 23 Bxd7 Bxe5 24 Rxe51 Rc72 25 tion after the moves 11 gxf5 Bxf5 12 Bxe4
Rxd5 Rd8 26 Be6+ Kf8 27 Rxd8+ Ke7 28 Rc8. Bxe4 13 Nc3 Bxf3 14 Nxd5 Bxd1 15 Nxc7+
What is the material balance? Kd7 16 Nxa8 Bf3 17 dxe5. What is the material
balance?
1
Black resigned here, as two of his pieces are under
attack. 2 Black will be down a Rook after 24...Rcd8
25 Rxd5 Rf7 Be6.
CHAPTER 26. LONGER VARIATIONS || 249
13 ply 13 ply
B47 A41
769. Visualize the position after the moves 12 770. Visualize the position after the moves 51
f4 b4 13 e5 bxc3 14 exf6 cxb2 15 fxg7 bxa1=Q Qd81 Bxd8 52 cxd8=Q Qxd8 53 Nxd8 b4. What
16 Rxa1 Rg8 17 Qxh7 Rxg7 18 Qxg7. What is is the best way for White to stop Black’s b-
the material balance? pawn?
1
51 Nd8 with 52 c8=Q also wins.
13 ply 13 ply
C01 B06
771. Visualize the position after the moves 12 772. Visualize the position after the moves 45
Rxe7 Qxe7 13 Qf3 Kg7 14 Nce4 dxe4 15 Nxe4 Rxd7 Rxd7 46 Rxd7+ Qxd7 47 Qxf6+1 Kh7 48
Qe6 16 Bxf6+ Kg81 17 Qf42 Qxf6 18 Nxf6+. Qxg52 Qf73. How does White mate in three?
What is the material balance?
1
Black resigned here. 2 White's threat is 49 Nf6+ Kh8
1
16...Qxf6 17 Qxf6+ is similar to the game.2 Black 40 Qg8, mate. 3 Best is to give back the exchange
resigned here. The threat of 18 Qh6 and 19 Qg7, with 48...Rxd5 49 exd5, although this gives White a
mate, forces Black to give up his Queen. won ending.
250 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
14 ply 14 ply
A55 A90
773. Visualize the position after the moves 21 774. Visualize the position after the moves 36
dxe5 dxe5 22 Nd6 Rc7 23 Nxf7 Kxf7 24 Rxd8 Nxc61 Bxc6 37 Qxc6 Qxc6 38 bxc62 Nc4 39
Qxd8 25 Rxd8 Rxd8 26 Bb6 Rcd7 27 Bxd8 Rxb8 Rxb8 40 c7 Rc8 41 Rxe6 Rxc7 42 Bxd5
Rxd8. What is the material balance? Kf8. What is the material balance?
1
36 bxc6 drops the Ra6. 2 Black resigned here.
14 ply 14 ply
D50 E62
775. Visualize the position after the moves 22 776. Visualize the position after the moves 12
d5 Bxd5 23 Rxd5 Rxd5 24 Bxd5 Rxd51 25 d5 e51 13 dxc6 exf4 14 cxb72 fxe33 15 Qd5+
Re8+ Kh7 26 Qh8+ Kg6 27 Rg8+ Kh5 28 Kh8 16 bxa8=Q exf2+ 17 Kh2 Qxa8 18 Qxa8
Rxg5+ Kxg5. What is the material balance? Rxa8. What is the material balance?
1 1
In the game Black played 24...f4, but then resigned 12...exd5 13 cxd5 Ne5 14 Nd4 gives White a Knight
after 25 Bxb7, when White is up a piece (1-0). on e6. 2 This is better than 14 cxd7 fxe3, when
White's g-pawn is weak, for example, 15 fxe3 Nxg3.
3
14…Rb8 16 Bxa7 Rxb7 loses the Rook to 16 Qd5+.
CHAPTER 26. LONGER VARIATIONS || 251
15 ply 15 ply
A21 D14
777. White’s Rook is under attack, but most of 778. Visualize the position after the moves 11
Black’s pieces are on dark squares. Visualize Bxc6 Bxc3 12 Bxb7 Bxb2 13 Bxa8 Bxa1 14
the position after the moves 23 Bd5+ Kh8 24 Bxd5 Bxd4 15 Nxd4 Nxd5 16 Nxf5 Nxf41 17
fxe5 fxe5 25 Qxe5 Qxe5 26 Bxe5 Bxd1 27 Ne7+ Kh8 18 exf4. What is the material bal-
Bxc7 Be2 28 Bxd8 Bxf1 29 Bxb6 Bxd3 30 ance?
Bxc51. What is the material balance?
1
Better is 16...Qxb3 17 axb3 exf5.
1
Black resigned here.
15 ply 15 ply
A11 A35
779. Visualize the position after the moves 14 780. Visualize the position after the moves 14
b4 Bxd4 15 Nxd4 Nxd31 16 Nxf5 Nxc1 17 Bxe7 Bxg21 15 Bxf8 Bxf1 16 Bxg7 Bxe2 17
Nxe7+ Kf8 18 Nxc8 Nxe2+ 19 Kh1 Rxc8 20 Bxe5 Bxd1 18 Nf6+ Kg7 19 Nxd7+ Nxe5 20
cxd5 Nf6 21 dxc6. What is the material bal- Rxd1 Nxd7 21 Rxd6. What is the material bal-
ance? ance?
1 1
Two of White’s pieces are under attack. White is up a pawn after 14...Nxe7, when White can
play either 15 Bxh3 or 15 Nxe7.
252 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
15 ply 15 ply
A50 A46
781. Black's Bishop on b7 is undefended, so 782. Visualize the position after the moves 21
White clears the h1-a8 diagonal. What is the Rxc3 Rxd2 22 Rb3 Qc7 23 Rab11 Bd8 24 Qg72
material balance after the moves 23 e5 dxe5 24 Rf8 25 Nxf6+ Ke73 26 Rb74 Qc8. How does
d61 Qxd6 25 Bxb7 Qxd2 26 Ne4 c4 27 Nxd2 White win Black's Queen?
cxb3 28 Bxa8 Nc2 29 Rxe5 Nxa1 30 Bc6?
1
Black resigned here. 2 24 Rb8 Ke7 25 Qg7 Rf8 26
1 Qxf6+ is also good, e.g., 26...Ke8 is met by 27 Ng7,
Two of Black’s pieces are under attack.
mate. 3 25...Bxf6 26 Qxf6 threatens 27 Rb8+. 4 This
wins Black's Queen.
15 ply 15 ply
E91 C13
783. Visualize the position after the moves 20 784. Visualize the position after the moves 21
Qe7 Qxe7 21 Rxe7 Nce8 22 Rh3 f41 23 Bxg7 Nxc6 Nxc61 22 Rxc6 bxc62 23 Qxc6+ Ke7 24
Nxg7 24 Rxh7 Nf52 25 Re6 Rfe8. How does Qb7+3 Ke8 25 Qxa8+4 Qd8 26 Qb75 Qe7. How
White mate in two? does White mate in three?
1
22...b6 doesn’t change anything. 2 Black decides to 1
21...bxc6 22 Rxc6 wins a pawn. 2 Castling leaves
keep White’s Rook out of h6. 24...Ne8 (24...Nh5) White up a piece after 23 Rd6. 3 Black resigned here.
4
keeps White’s Rook out of f6, but then White can White is currently up a piece and a pawn. 5 White
continue 25 Rh6 Rf6 26 Reh7. threatens 27 Rd1, e.g., 27…Qe7 28 Qb8+ or 27...Qa5
28 Qc8+ Ke7 29 Rd7, mate.
CHAPTER 26. LONGER VARIATIONS || 253
17 ply 17 ply
D79 D18
785. White is down a piece for a pawn, but 786. Visualize the position after the moves 31
Black’s Knight on d7 is pinned. Visualize the Rxf71 Rxf7 32 Bxf7+ Qxf7 33 Rxf7 Kxf7 34 a5
position after the moves 21 Rxc8 Qxc8 22 exd7 Nc4 35 e6+ Kg8 36 a62 Nxb2 37 Qxc6 bxc6 38
Rxd7 23 Qxd7 Qxd7 24 Rxd7 Rxe3 25 Rd8+ a73 Kh7 39 a8=Q. What is the material balance?
Bf8 26 Rxf8+ Kg7 27 Ra81 Ra3 28 Ra7+ Kh8
1
29 Bd5. What is the material balance? 31 Bxf7 is also good. 2 White is threatening both 37
a7 and 37 axb7. 3 Black resigned here.
1
Black resigned here.
17 ply 17 ply
D02 D46
787. Visualize the position after the moves 20 788. Visualize the position after the moves 12
Qe4 g6 21 Bb5 Be6 22 Qa4 Re7 23 Ng41 Kf82 cxd5 cxd41 13 dxe6 dxc3 14 exf7+2 Kxf7 15
24 Nxe5 Ke83 25 Nxd7 Rxd7 26 Bxd7+ Bxd7 Ng5+ Kg83 16 Bc4+ Nd54 17 Rxd5 Bxd5. How
27 Rfe1+ Kf8 28 Rxd7. What is the material does White win Black’s Queen?
balance?
1
Taking on d5 avoids the danger. 2 This is better than
1 14 exd7 Qxd7 15 Bxc3, which only wins a pawn.
23 Ne4 is also good, for example, 23…Rf7 24 Bc6
3
Rb8 25 Bxd7 Bxd7 26 Rxd7 Rxd7 27 Qxd7 Qxd7 28 15...Kf8 loses the Queen to 16 Ne6+. 4 16...Kh8 los-
Nf6+ Kf7 29 Nxd7, as played in the game (1-0, 33). es the Queen to 17 Nf7+.
2
23...Rf7 isn't possible due to 24 Nh6+.
3
24...Nxe5 loses the Queen for Rook and Knight.
254 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
17 ply 17 ply
B27 B07
789. Visualize the position after the moves 19 790. White is down a pawn. Visualize the posi-
Nc6 Bxc61 20 dxc6 Qxc6 21 Nd5 Qd7 22 Rxc7 tion after the moves 28 Bxg5 Qxg5 29 Rh4 Qg7
Rxc7 23 Bxb5 Qc82 24 Nxc7 Qxc7 25 Rc1 Qd8 30 Rxg4 Ng6 31 f6 Qh71 32 Bxg6 fxg6 33
26 Bc6 Rc8 27 Bxa7. What is the material bal- Rxg6+ Kh8 34 f72 Rxf7 35 Qxe5+ Rg7 36
ance? Qxb8+. What is the material balance?
1 1
Black can also defend his e-pawn with his Bishop, 31...Qh8, as played in the game, loses to 32 Rxg6+
Rook, or King. 2 White is up the exchange after (1-0) 32...Kh7 33 Rh1, mate. 2 The threat is 35 Qe5,
23...Qxb5 24 Nxc7 Qb7 25 Nxa8 Qxa8. mating.
17 ply 17 ply
C15 D36
791. Visualize the position after the moves 15 792. Visualize the position after the moves 22
Nxf7 Rd71 16 N7g5 Ba6 17 Nxe6 Qc6 18 Nfd4 Ng5 Qd5 23 Nxf7 Nf51 24 Nh6+ Nxh6 25 Qxh6
Qa42 19 Kb1 Rxd4 20 Nxd4 Qxd4 21 Bxa6 Ne6 26 Nf42 Qxd43 27 Nxe6 Rxe6 28 Kh1 Qc54.
Qxd2 22 Bc4+3 Kf8 23 Rxd2. What is the ma- How does White mate in two?
terial balance?
1
23...Rxf7 24 Rxf7 Qxf7 (White is up the exchange
1 and a pawn after 24...Rb8) 25 Rxf7 Kxf7 leaves
White is up the exchange and a pawn after 15…
Qxf7 16 Bxg6 Rxd2 17 Bxf7+ Kxf7 18 Rxd2. 15... White with a Queen and pawn for Rook and Knight.
2
Rxd3 can be met by 16 Nh6+ gxh6 17 Qxd3. 2 This Getting rid of Black's Knight will soften up f8.
3
hits both a2 and d4. 3 Black resigned here. 26...Nxf4 27 Rxf4 Rg7 allows Black to defend both
f7 and f8. 4 Black has defended f8.
CHAPTER 26. LONGER VARIATIONS || 255
18 ply 18 ply
B06 D53
793. Visualize the position after the moves 21 794. What is the material balance after the
Rxd8 Rxd8 22 Qxd8+ Nxd8 23 Rxd8+ Bf8 24 moves 56 Nf6+1 Kh82 57 Qh3 Be83 58 Re14 Bf7
Bh6 Nd7 25 Nxe5 Qc7 26 Rxd7 Qxe5 27 Rd8 59 Rh1 Bg8 60 Bxg65 Qa7 61 Bxh7 Bxh7 62
Qe7 28 Rxf8+ Qxf8 29 Bxf8 Kxf8. What is the Qxh7+ Rxh7 63 Rxh7+ Qxh7 64 Nxh7 Kxh7?
material balance?
1
This pins Black’s Knight on h7. 2 56...Nxf6 loses the
g-pawn to 57 gxf6 Rh7 58 Bxg6. 3 Intending to de-
fend the pinned Knight with Bf7-g8 and Qa7.
4
Heading for h1. 58 Qxe6 was also possible. 5 At-
tacking the Knight and creating a passed g-pawn.
18 ply 19 ply
B07 C26
795. Visualize the position after the moves 17 796. Visualize the position after the moves 16
Qg31 Nh52 18 Nh6+ Kh8 19 Nxf7+ Kg8 20 Qxf7+ Kh8 17 Bf8 dxc3+ 18 Kh1 Bd4 19 d61
Nxd8 Nxg3 21 Nxe63 Nxf1 22 Nxf8 Nxe34 23 Be6 20 Bxe6 Rxf82 21 dxc73 Qe8 22 Qxf8+
Nxd7 Nxg2 24 Kxg2 Re75 25 Nc5 dxc5. What Qxf8 23 Rxf8+ Rxf8 24 c8=Q Rxc8 25 Bxc8.
is the material balance? What is the material balance?
1
White’s threat is 18 Nh6+ Kh8 19 Nf7+. 2 Both 17... 1
White's threat is 20 Qg8, mate. 2 White is up a Rook
Qc7 18 Nh6+ Kh8 19 Nxf7+ and 17...Kd8 drop a for three pawns after 20...Rxe6 21 Qxe6 cxd6.
pawn. 3 21 fxg3 Nxd8 leaves White a pawn up. 4 22... 3
Black resigned here.
Rxf8 23 Rxf1 gives White two pieces and a pawn for
a Rook. 5 Black resigned here.
256 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
19 ply 19 ply
A86 A30
797. Visualize the position after the moves 26 798. Visualize the position after the moves 22
Rxe8 Bxe8 27 Qxe8 Rxe8 28 Rxe8 c5 29 dxc5 exd6 Bxd6 23 Bxd6 Rxd6 24 Rxd6 Rxd6 25
Qf7 30 Ra8 Qe7 31 c61 Qxa3 32 c7 Qc5+ 33 Rxd6 Qxd6 26 Qb6 Qd71 27 Bxc6 Bxc62 28
Kh22 Kg8 34 c8=Q Qxc8 35 Rxc8. What is the Qb8+ Qe8 29 Qxe8+ Bxe8 30 axb5 axb5 31
material balance? Nxb5. What is the material balance?
1 1
31 cxb6 Qxa3 32 b7 wins an extra pawn, compared Relieving the pressure on b5 is better, either with
to the game continuation. 2 Black resigned here. 26...b4 or by taking on a4/c4. 2 The game continued
with 27...Qxc6 28 Qd8+, with mate next move.
19 ply 19 ply
B84 D85
799. White is up two pawns. Visualize the posi- 800. White is down a pawn. Visualize the posi-
tion after the moves 41 d71 Kxe7 42 d8=Q+ tion after the moves 23 e6 Qc8 24 dxe71 Re8 25
Rxd8 43 Rxd8 Kxd8 44 Kf52 Ke7 45 Kg6 Ke6 Rd8 Rxd8 26 exd8=Q+ Qxd8 27 e7 Qe8 28
46 h4 f53 47 Kg5 Ke5 48 h54 Ke6 49 h6 Kf7 50 Qe6+ Kh82 29 Rd1 Rc8 30 Qxc8 Qxc8 31
Kxf5. What is the material balance? Rd8+3 Qxd8 32 exd8=Q+. What is the material
balance?
1
White's idea is to draw Black's King away from f6.
2
Black resigned here. 3 Both pawns are on track to 1
After 24 d7 Qc7 White's central passed pawns are
queen at the same time, but White's next move immobile, while Black's passed pawns on the queen-
changes that. 4 White's pawn will queen with check. side are ready to roll. 2 28...Qf7 29 e8=Q+. 3 Black
resigned here.
Answer Key Book 1
Part 02
288 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
393. Becelic-Kostic,
Winter Open, Bel-
grade, Serbia and Mon-
tenegro, 2006.
White is up a pawn and
has the Bishop pair
(1-0, 49).
394. Perk-Scholze, EU
Team Championship
(Seniors), Dresden,
Germany, 2006.
White is up a piece
(1-0, 41).
395. Luther-Reschke,
10th Open, Bad Zwes-
ten, Germany, 2006.
ANSWER KEY || 289
leaves White up two Black has the Bishop White is up a piece and
pieces for a Rook) 15 pair, but White is up a has the two Bishops
Na3 Rac8 16 Be5 pawn and is about to (1-0).
Rfd8+ 17 Bd4 Nc2 18 win Black’s c-pawn as
Nxc2 Bxc2 19 Kxc2 well. The remaining CHAPTER 16.
Rxd4 20 Nf3 Rd6 21 moves were 18...c5 19 DESPERADO QUEENS.
Rd1 Rxd1 22 Kxd1 f6 dxc5 a5 20 c6 Ba6 21
23 c4 Kf7 24 Kd2 Bb7 (1-0). 453. Smolich-Zhigalko,
(1-0). Belarus Championship
White is up a piece and 450. Atalik-Erturan,
(Under 20), Minsk, Be-
444. Saric-Cherin, 11th a pawn and has the two 3rd Mediterranean larus, 2006.
HIT Open (Group A), Bishops (1-0, 40). Championship, An-
Nova Gorica, Slovenia, talya, Turkey, 2006.
2006. 447. Aleksandrov-
Danojlic, Serbia, 2006.
White is up the ex-
change and a pawn
White is up a pawn and (1-0, 62).
White is up a pawn has the two Bishops.
(1-0, 47). White is up a pawn (1-0, 27).
(1-0, 44). 454. Kislinsk-Zhizmer,
Kiev Championship,
445. Gurevich- 451. Rosen-Budrich, Ukraine, 2006.
Greszkowiak, Corres- 448. Langenber- East German Cham-
Friesen, Soest Open,
pondence, 1970. pionship (Under 20)
Netherlands, 1996. Leipzig, 1951.
Material is even (1-0,
42).
White has lost a pawn,
but remains up two White is up a Rook and Whte is up the ex-
455. Read-Nelson,
pawns and has broken a pawn. change (1-0, 20). British Correspondence
Black's attack. The re- Championship, 1985.
maining moves were 449. Alekhine- 452. Keres-Ojanen,
29...g6 30 Be2 Bb8 31 Gladstone, London Si- Finland-Estonia Match,
mul, 1938.
Ra5 h5 32 Rd5 h4 33 Helsinki, 1966.
Rd8+ Ke7 34 Rd7+
Ke8 35 gxh4 Bxf4 36
Rg7 (1-0).
446. Berchenko-
Markovits, Kings Isl-
and, USA, 2006. White is down a pawn,
but has compensation
294 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
White is down the ex- after ...Rxb7 (1-0, 63). CHAPTER 22. RABID
change for a pawn, but PASSED PAWNS.
has the two Bishops 619. Zahn-Poellner,
and has weakened Munich Open, 1985. 625. Chow-Valyaev,
Black’s kingside (1-0, Australian Champion-
35). ship (Reserve), Mel-
bourne, Australia,
616. Abdulla-Reefat, 1991.
Bangladesh Champion-
Black is up a pawn and
ship, 2006. has opened up the b-
file to White's King,
but blundered after 25
White is up two pawns Rh3 Rb8? 26 Qxc4.
and has the Bishop pair Black’s counterplay
(1-0, 34). ran out after
26...Rxb2+ 27 Kc1
620. Gibso-Ndure, Du- Qg5+ 28 Rhe3, when White is up a Rook,
bai Olympiad, 1986. White threatens mate Knight, and pawn. The
Black is up a pawn and and Black’s c-pawn game ended with the
has the Bishop pair (1-0, 53). moves 9...Ke7 10 Be3
(1-0, 59).
623. Jacimovic-Murey, Qb4 11 a3 Qxb2 12
Bc5, mate.
617. Teichmann- EuroCup, Kranevo,
Leonhardt, San Sebas- 1996. 626. Loetscher-Zanetti,
tian, 1911. Swiss Championship,
2001.
White is up a piece and
pawn and has a target
in Black's King (1-0,
22).
621. Kanko-Oud, EU
Team Championship Material is even (1-0,
Material is even, al- (Seniors), Dresden, 48).
though White has the Germany, 2006. White is up a piece for
Bishop pair (1-0, 33). 624. Karpov-Ehlvest, a pawn.
Mazatlan Rapid, 1988.
618. Totsky-Rudolf, 627. Baeke-Vercruyce,
22nd Cappelle la
Brugge Open, Brugge,
Grande Open, Cappelle Belgium, 1997.
la Grande, France,
2006.
White is up a pawn
(1-0, 47).
White is up a piece for
622. Janetschek- a pawn, and will soon
Hoelzl, Baden, 1980. drop a second pawn
(1-0, 27). White is up the ex-
change and a pawn,
Material will be even
308 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
and a Bishop for the Rooks, and will soon Kxf7 21 cxb3 bxc3 22
Queen. In the actual win a third pawn (1-0, bxc3 Qxc3 when White
game White kept his 25). has only two pieces
passed pawn and and a pawn for the
played 21 d7! instead 669. Sanges Montfort- Queen. Not so good is
of 21 Bxb7. There fol- Linan Serra, 2nd Salou 19...bxc3? 20 exf7+
lowed 21…Ne2+1 22 Open, Spain, 2000. Kxf7 21 Bxd5+ when
Rxe2 Bxc6 23 Ne5 White wins Black's
(1-0) Qe7 24 Rxf7+ Ra8) 20 Nxd5! Qa7 21
White is up a pawn Qxf7 25 d8=Q. Bf2 Rac8 22 Rxe6 Qb7
(1-0, 27). 23 Bxc5 Kh8 24 Bd4
1
Two alternatives: a) Af- a5 25 Rxh6+ (1-0).
664. Bogdanov- ter 21...Bxc6 22 d8=Q
Borchardt, Bydgoszcz, Bxe8 23 Qxe8 White is 672. Pilnik-Pinzon So-
Poland, 2000. up a Rook and pawn; b)
lis, Lima, Peru, 1959.
21...Ne6 and now: b1) 22
Rxe6 fxe6 23 Nd4 with a White is up a pawn
discovered attack on (1-0, 37).
Black's Qf6. If now
23...Qd8, for example,
then 24 Nxe6+ wins; b2) 670. Taimanov-
22 Bxb7 Nd8 23 Ne5, Antoshin, USSR
with pressure on both f6 Championship, 1956.
and f7.
White is up two pawns 667. Kainz-Takacs, White has three pieces
(1-0, 25). 2nd Summer Open, for a Queen and pawn.
665. Solovjov-
Savaria, Hungary, The game continued
2002. 16...Nxd3 17 cxd3
Chernyshov, Pardubice Rfc8 18 f5 Qd7 19 Rg3
Open, Pardubice, Cze- Kh8 20 Rf1 f6 21 fxe6
choslovakia, 2001. Qxe6 22 Nd4 Qe5 23
White is up two pawns. Nf5 Rc7 24 Bd4 Qe6
25 Nxg7 (1-0).
671. Westerveld-
Mawira, Netherlands
673. Hector-Karolyi,
Team Championship, Kecskemet, 1987.
1992.
White is up a Rook
(1-0, 21).
White is up a piece. 668. Malaniuk-
Springer, Linz Open,
666. Fischer-Sandrin,
1997.
Chicago Simul, 1964.
White has three pieces
White has three pieces
for the Queen, includ- for a Queen and pawn,
including the Bishop
ing the two Bishops. pair. The game contin-
The game continued ued 18 Nf5 0-0 19 Ne4
17...d5 18 f5 b4 19 a5 20 Bh6 (1-0), when
fxe6 fxe6 (Black can 20…gxh6 loses to 21
White is up a Queen get the advantage with Nf6+ Kh8 22 Rxh6 and
White has two Rooks and two pawns for two 19...Nxb3 20 exf7+
312 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
with 19...Bg4+, win- White mates in two White wins with 20 f7+ a pawn after 30 Qc8+
ning White's Queen with 34 e8=N+ (1-0) Rxf7 21 Qxf7+ Kh8 22 (1-0) Kg7 31 Qxc3+
(1-0). Rxe8 35 Rxd7, mate. Rf4 (1-0). White is up when 31...Kg8 32 Qe3
a Queen for two pieces stops the threat of
CHAPTER 25. SEEING 728. Backwinkel- after 22...Qxf4 23 ...Ne2 and drives
FARTHER. Bastian, West German Qxf4. Black's Knight away.
Championship, 1982.
725. Van Otten-Van 731. Magerramov- 734. Nimzovich-
Hemert, Hengelo (Un- Lerner, Palma de Mal- Fleuss, Zurich, Swit-
der 20), Netherlands, lorca (GMA), 1989. zerland, 1906.
1996.
White can take advan-
tage of the pin on
Black's Bd7 with 22
Bxc5 (now Black’s White wins a piece Black is up a Queen
White wins more ma- Bd7 becomes pinned; with 29 Ra1 (1-0), and pawn for Rook and
terial with 19 Nxf5 22 Rd1 can be met by when two of Black's Bishop, but White now
Rxf5 20 d4, attacking 22…Bg4) Rxc5 23 Rd1 pieces are under attack. mates with 18 c5, for
two of Black's pieces at Rc7 24 Ne5 (1-0). example, a) 18… Kb8
once (1-0, 23). 732. Landa-Kravtsov, 19 Rb1+ Ka8 20 Rd8,
729. Reshevsky-Han- Tomsk, Russia, 1997. mate or b) 18… Rg8 19
726. Horvath-Kaiser, auer, US Champion- Rab1 (1-0) with 20
Eger, Hungary, 1994. ship, NY, USA, 1940. Ba6, mate.
735. Bier-Rocamora,
Hamburg, Germany,
1876.
White wins with 21
Qxf6 Bxf6 22 Bxf6,
White can save his Kb7 White wins by clearing when White has a
with 17 Bg5, e.g., d8 with check: 37 Rook and two Bishops
17…Rb8 18 Bxf6 Bxf6 Rg8+ (1-0) Kxg8 38 for his Queen (1-0, 28).
19 Bxd5 (1-0, 23). d8=Q+ Kg7 39 Qxd2.
733. Lund-Norgaard, White mates in three:
727. Gonzalez Freixas- 730. Colle-Aguilera, Snekkersten, Denmark, 19 Nxh7+ Kg8 20
Alvarez, Correspon- Barcelona, Spain, 1981. Re8+ Kxh7 21 Rh8,
dence, 1989. 1929. mate.
736. Portisch-Miolo,
Indonesia, 1983.
White is up a piece and
ANSWER KEY || 317
more with 25 Qd3, two pawns for the ex- 25 Qc2 defends the
when Black's Knight is change and a dominant Rook on c3 and attacks
trapped (1-0). position. Black's Rf5, when
White is up a piece and
739. Swathi- 741. Pasma-Avni, two pawns after
Khurtsidze, FIDE Israeli Championship, 25...Rf6 26 Bxh7.
Women's World Cup, 1984.
Group B, Hyderabad, 744. Safin-Ribeiro,
India, 2002. Elista Olympiad, Elis-
25 Ne5, threatening ta, Russia, 1998.
both 26 Ng6+ and 26
Kxh3, wins a piece af-
ter 25...Rf6 26 Kxh3
(1-0).
737. Ingerslev-Milner
Barry, Moscow Olym- 29 Bxf7 (1-0) threatens
piad (Finals, GroupA), 30 Bxe6 Kb8 31 Rd8,
Moscow, USSR, 1956. White can stop the mate. Black can pre-
threat with 32 Qc4 vent the mate with After 21 Bxb7, White
(1-0). 29...Bh3 or 29…Bd5, will win Black's
but then 30 g6 gives trapped Rook, then
740. Motylev- White's an unstoppable play 22 Rd8.
Zakharov, Russia Cup, passed pawn.
Tula, Russia, 1999. 745. Koines-Guthrie,
742. Gerigk- Webb Open, Webb,
Lindemann, Badenwei- USA, 1989.
ler Open, Badenweiler,
White wins by protect- Germany, 1988.
ing h2, which he can
do with 30 Qe7+ Kg8
31 Qd8+ Kh7 (31...Kf7
doesn't change any-
thing) 32 Qc7+ Kg8 33
Qc2. White has parried White can win material
Black's threats and is with 21 Bc5+ (1-0),
up a Rook. temporarily blocking White has two ways to
the c-file. White is up a save his Knight: a) 27
738. Fedder-Seret, Os- Rook for a pawn after White mates in two Bg4 Ke7 (27...Bxg4
tende Team Champion- 21...Bxc5 22 Rxh3 and with 23 h8=Q+ Bxh8 loses to 28 Ne8+) 28
ship (EWG), Ostende, threatens 23 Rh8+ and 24 Rxh8, mate. Bxd7 Rxd7 29 Ndxb5
Belgium, 1975. 24 Rxc8, relieving all axb5 30 Nxb5 or b) 27
pressure on his posi- 743. Lukov-Beckmann, a4 Ke7 28 Ndxb5 axb5
tion. Muenster Open, Muen- 29 axb5 (1-0, 40), in
ster, Germany, 1990. both cases White has
Note that 22 Qxh3 los- four pawns for the ex-
es to 22...Be3+, for ex- change.
ample, a) 23 Kb1
Qxc2+ 24 Ka1 Qc1+ or 746. Pedersen-Fant,
b) 23 Kd1Qxc2+ 24 Copenhagen Open,
Ke1 Qxd3 25 Qh8+ Copenhagen, Denmark,
White has three con- Ke7 26 Qxc8 Qxe4, 1995.
nected passed pawns when Black already has
for a piece, but can win
318 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
754. Richardson- (or 23 Bxf6, mate). Dolny, Poland, 1996. White has a Rook and
Charles, NATO Team three pawns for two
Championship, Viborg, CHAPTER 26. LONGER pieces (1-0, 38).
Denmark, 1996. VARIATIONS.
763. Magem Badals-
757. Piceu-Massink, Aleksieva, Lisbon
Open, Lisbon, Portug-
HZ Open, Vlissingen, al, 2001.
Netherlands, 2005.
White has two pieces
for a Rook (1-0, 26).
14 Qe6+ Kf8 15 Bf4 760. Skembris-
(1-0) threatens 16 Martorelli, Rome, Italy,
1983.
Bd6+.
755. Gurevich-Short, White is up two pawns
White has two pieces
Hastings, 1982. for a Rook and two and the two Bishops
pawns and has the two and will win a third
pawn after 21…Kg8 22
Bishops. White's pieces Be8 Kh7 23 Bxf7
are very strong. The (1-0), when White
game ended 21 Bf4+
Ka7 (21...Be5 loses threatens 24 Bxg6+
material to 22 Be4) 22 White is up the ex-
Kxg6 25 Rg3+, etc.
Be4 Rdd8 23 Nxc5
Bxb2 24 Rb1 Bc3 25 change for a pawn. 764. Fischer-Cardoso,
New York (Match),
White wins with 27 d6 Be3 Bd4 26 Rxb4 761. Alekhine-Duras, 1957.
(1-0), when 27...Qxd6 Bxe3 27 Rb7+ Ka8 28 St. Petersburg, Russia,
Rxe7+ (1-0) when
loses the Queen to 28 1914.
Nf7+ Kg8 29 Nxd6, Black can't stop
when White is up a 28...Kb8 29 Nxa6+
Queen and Knight for a Kc8 30 Rc7, mate.
Rook
758. Fage-Polonski,
756. Pacl-Fiser, Czech European Youth (Boys
Under 14), Tallinn, Es-
Army Championship,
Prague, Czechoslova- tonia, 1997. White is up the ex-
kia, 1966. change and two pawns.
White is up a Rook.
765. Zavodny-
762. Galego-Santos,
Boavista Masters, Por- Republic, 1965.
Dokladal, Brno, Czech
to, Portugal, 1999.
White is up a piece for
White has a mate in a pawn.
three with 21 Rxg7+
Kh8 22 Rg5+ (or any- 759. Kempinski-
where else along the g- Czerwonski, Polish
file) f6 23 Qxf6, mate Championship, Brzeg White is up a piece and
320 || CHESS VISUALIZATION COURSE
C21: 386, 735 D00: 420 D79: 356, 785 E94: 206, 390, 403, 473,
C23: 344 D01: 51, 63, 516, 657 D80: 118 624
C26: 527, 796 D02: 175, 201, 297, 316, D85: 23, 394, 723, 800 E95: 5
C28: 9 318, 519, 787 D87: 167 E96: 39
C30: 223, 363, 366 D03: 575 D91: 105, 565 E97: 150, 171, 393
C32: 716 D04: 311, 429 D93: 12 E98: 623
C33: 427, 432, 666 D05: 330, 709, 712, 730 D94: 116, 168 E99: 216
C34: 114, 315, 388 D06: 44, 92, 138, 449, D97: 555, 636
C35: 233, 431 659
C36: 225 D07: 151, 213, 239, 492, E00: 224, 309, 550, 684
C37: 380 528, 683 E02: 509
C40: 320 D08: 298 E04: 219, 236
C41: 456, 563, 584, 629, D10: 204, 273, 278, 503, E05: 253
766 614, 680 E06: 569
C42: 335, 579, 588, 767 D11: 170, 304, 346 E10: 530
C43: 768 D13: 89 E11: 696
C44: 62, 68, 292, 496 D14: 778 E12: 205
C45: 447 D15: 77, 117, 531, 576, E14: 208, 384, 667
C46: 56, 142, 547 580 E15: 1, 15, 20, 453, 572,
C48: 457, 604 D16: 126, 526 700, 731
C49: 369, 592 D17: 199 E16: 586
C50: 463 D18: 786 E17: 79, 385, 450
C51: 487 D20: 102, 437 E18: 726
C55: 127, 597 D24: 34, 115 E25: 358, 668
C60: 42, 377 D26: 281 E32: 214, 338, 387, 615
C61: 149 D27: 177 E33: 416
C62: 404 D30: 108, 362, 364, 486, E34: 312
C63: 593 501, 515, 564, 650 E38: 221, 411, 675
C64: 217 D31: 60, 302, 485 E43: 322, 729
C65: 329 D32: 574 E46: 585
C66: 620 D34: 566, 690 E48: 733
C67: 179, 462 D35: 535, 664 E56: 143
C69: 73 D36: 29, 65, 71, 133, E57: 452
C70: 259, 725 339, 498, 694, 792 E59: 333
C71: 128 D37: 375, 543 E60: 173, 422
C76: 314 D38: 166, 499 E62: 368, 670, 776
C77: 37, 378, 761 D40: 144, 539 E63: 271
C78: 365, 480 D41: 174, 340 E64: 489
C82: 514, 677 D43: 247, 357, 426 E66: 238, 570
C84: 382 D44: 332, 607 E67: 109, 272, 348, 748
C85: 656 D45: 157, 235, 373, 409, E69: 30, 262
C86: 36 736, 738 E71: 512, 760
C88: 471 D46: 317, 788 E72: 305
C89: 445 D47: 605 E74: 686, 704
C90: 103, 258, 617, 649 D50: 24, 124, 775 E76: 82, 595
C91: 568 D52: 466 E77: 408
C93: 45 D53: 35, 155, 360, 794 E80: 724
C95: 676 D55: 64 E81: 319
C96: 256 D56: 414 E90: 38, 198, 248, 289,
C97: 85 D58: 401, 421, 621 639, 743
C98: 18 D61: 474 E91: 147, 783
C99: 286 D78: 513, 728 E92: 72, 245, 536