Sponsored by St Catherine’s School, Bramley and the English

Chess Federation

Sponsored by:

St Catherine’s School
BRAMLEY
 CONTENTS
4 STARTING VALUES OF THE PIECES
4 BASIC TACTICS
5 - THE PIN
6 - THE FORK ONE
6 - THE FORK TWO
7 - THE SKEWER
7 - DOUBLE/DISCOVERED CHECK
8-11 TACTICS QUIZ
13-14 ATTACK
15 DEFENCE: AN INTRODUCTION
16 - DEFENCE BY CAPTURE
16 - DEFENCE BY MOVING AWAY
17 - DEFENCE BY BLOCKING
18 ADVANCED DEFENCE
19 DEFENCE: SUMMARY
20 THE GOLDEN RULES OF OPENING PLAY
21 DEVELOP YOUR PIECES QUICKLY
22 OCCUPY AND CONTROL
22 GET CASTLED
22 DON’T BLOCK THE PIECES IN
23 NOT TOO MANY PAWN MOVES
23 PLAY AGGRESSIVELY
24 DON’T BRING YOUR QUEEN OUT EARLY
25 SQUARE CONTROL: ONE
26 SQUARE CONTROL: TWO
27 VARIOUS CHESS OPENINGS
27 - THE RUY LOPEZ
28 - QUEEN’S GAMBIT
29 - ITALIAN GAME
31 - ENGLISH OPENING Grandmaster Judit Polgar, the strongest
female player in the history of the game.
31 - RETI’S OPENING
2 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS
32 THE ENDGAME: INTRODUCTION
33 - HOW TO QUEEN A PAWN: ONE
34 - HOW TO QUEEN A PAWN: TWO
35 - HOW TO WIN WITH AN EXTRA PAWN
36 TEN ADVANCED TIPS
37 DIESEN, M – HALASZ, L
39 ROZENTALIS, E – CABRERA, J
41 KEEP GOING!
42 TACTICS QUIZ & ATTACK SOLUTIONS

St Catherine’s, Bramley has been the proud host and sponsor of the national girls’
schools chess tournament since it began in 2013. Over the years, we have seen
record breaking numbers of girls of all levels participate in the annual tournaments
here which have always been fun and friendly occasions.
Sadly, this year due to Covid-19 we have not been able to welcome players for
the event. Instead, with the recent rise in interest in the game during lockdown,
we were pleased to work in partnership with the ECF and support this publication
designed to assist those encouraging beginners.
St Catherine’s has a thriving chess club from beginners in Year 3 to those who
attend a weekly masterclass with Andrew Martin, our resident chess master and
coach.
The benefits of playing chess for young minds are well documented and we see
clear benefits in terms of developing strategic and creative thinking, focus and
mental agility. We hope that parents, teachers and anyone working with their son
or daughter to help in their early engagement with chess will find this publication
useful.
Alice Phillips and Naomi Bartholomew
Headmistresses
St Catherine’s School, Bramley and St Catherine’s Preparatory School, Bramley

INTRODUCTION
W elcome to Booklet Two, which takes
us beyond the realm of the chess
beginner into new and exciting areas of
knowledge.
I am sure you will enjoy learning and
improving , as you work your way through
the booklet.

Andrew Martin, February 2021

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 3

STARTING VALUES OF THE PIECES

STARTING VALUES BASIC TACTICS

OF THE PIECES
The starting values of the pieces are as follows:
Here are some basic tactical ideas, one or more of which will
crop up in virtually every chess game.

1) THE PIN

2) THE FORK
QUEEN = 9
3) THE SKEWER

ROOK = 5 4) THE DISCOVERED CHECK

5) THE DOUBLE CHECK

We cover each of these ideas in turn.
BISHOP = 3.5

KNIGHT = 3.5
Mastery of basic tactics is essential
if one wishes to improve.

PAWN = 1

KING = The King is the most

important piece you
have. His loss means you
lose the game. Thus you
cannot assign a value.

The values of the pieces are not fixed, but CHANGE

according to the position. The above figures are a good
approximate guide.

4 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 BASIC TACTICS

BASIC TACTICS - A pin ties the enemy down.

THE PIN
If one of your pieces is pinned by an enemy piece, it is unwise to move it; or it is simply against the rules.
A pin ties the enemy down. There are two kinds of pin; an ABSOLUTE pin and a NORMAL pin.
Let us go through the opening moves of a game to illustrate both kinds of pin.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6

This is an opening called the Queen’s Gambit Play may continue

Declined. 5.e3 Nc6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bb5!
4.Bg5! This is an ABSOLUTE PIN. Black’s Knight on c6 cannot move.
PINNING the Knight on f6. This is a normal pin, Once again Black does best to escape the pin as soon as he
because the Knight can move, but in that event Black can:
would lose his Queen.
7...0–0!
The best defence to a pin is to UNPIN; to get out of
the pin as quickly as possible. Thus Black’s best reply
now is ... 4...Be7!

The Pin is a powerful tactical idea, so do look out for it in your games. Keep the opponent PINNED down whenever you can.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 5

BASIC TACTICS

BASIC TACTICS - The fork is a DOUBLE ATTACK

THE FORK: ONE which usually wins material.

The fork is a DOUBLE ATTACK which usually wins material, or at the very least is inconvenient for the opponent. The usual piece
that forks is the Knight but every piece is capable of doing so.
Let’s take a look at a couple of FORKS now.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5

There is a threat on f7. Black ignores it.
4...h6??
I have seen this move countless times in junior chess.
It’s just careless.
5.Nxf7
Ouch! The Knight FORKS Black’s Queen and Rook and
one of them is lost.

BASIC TACTICS -
THE FORK: TWO
This is a very stodgy opening played frequently in
junior chess by players who have been told simply to
get their pieces out. Black now has a nice idea, based
on the FORK, which gives him a good game.
4...Nxe4! 5.Nxe4 d5
Black’s Pawn forks the White Bishop and Knight. Black
regains his piece.

6 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 BASIC TACTICS

BASIC TACTICS - DOUBLE/DISCOVERED

THE SKEWER CHECK
The only way ever to escape a double check is by moving the
king.
The SKEWER is an X-ray attack. Here is a good illustration of double and discovered check.
White starts with a shocking Queen sacrifice.
1.Qd8+!

Here Black’s Rook SKEWERS the White King and the

White Queen. The King must move and the Queen is
lost.

Black must take.

1...Kxd8 2.Bg5+
1.Ke5 Rxa4
Now comes the killer blow, DOUBLE CHECK. Black’s king is
attacked by both the White Bishop and Rook and must move.

2...Kc7 3.Bd8# or 2...Ke8 3.Rd8#

Checkmate!
Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, current
World Champion.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 7

 TACTICS QUIZ
Now it’s over to you ...

TACTICS ONE
In Example One you are White and you have to play a move
which FORKS Black’s King and Queen.

TACTICS T WO
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 d6
White to play and put Black in a PIN.

8 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 TACTICS QUIZ

TACTICS THREE
Black to play and SKEWER White’s King and Queen.

TACTICS FOUR
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4
4.Nxe4 e5 5.Qe2 exd4
White can play a move now which is DOUBLE CHECK,
DISCOVERED CHECK and CHECKMATE all at the same time.
What is it?

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 9

 TACTICS QUIZ

TACTICS FIVE
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nb5 e6
White to play a decisive FORKING move.

TACTICS SIX
1.Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.d3 g6 5.0–0 Bg7 6.Nbd2 0–0
7.e4
Black plays and puts White in a NORMAL PIN.

10 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 TACTICS QUIZ

TACTICS SEVEN
White to play and win TWO Pawns.

TACTICS EIGHT
White plays
1.Bb2
Is the Black queen PINNED or SKEWERED against her King?

Solutions on page 42

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 11

ATTACK

AT TACK

Learning how to attack is very important if you want to

become good at chess.
To review a few ideas:

1) In order to win an enemy piece,

you must first attack it.

2) When you attack , try to use all

your pieces working together.
3) Ask yourself questions during a
game:
What am I doing in this
position?

What is my plan – can I attack

them?

What is my opponent doing –

are they attacking me?

12 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 ATTACK

Let us practise attacking now.

ATTACK ONE

White to play and attack the Black Bishop.

ATTACK TWO

Black to play, attack and win White’s Queen.

Grandmaster Bobby Fischer ATTACK SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 42

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 13

ATTACK

ATTACK THREE

White to play, attack and win Black’s Queen.

Solutions on page 42

Attacking is good and necessary if

you want to win.

ADDITIONAL
ATTACKING IDEAS
Check that the square you
are going to attack from is not
guarded by an enemy piece.
Make sure that you are not going
to lose one of your stronger
pieces for a weaker enemy unit.

14 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 DEFENCE

DEFENCE:
AN INTRODUCTION
We have just learned a little about how to attack. We must
now learn how to defend.
There are three basic ways to defend and two more advanced
methods.
The basics first.

One defends by:

1) Taking the piece that is attacking.

2) Moving Away from the attack .

3) Blocking the attack .

Strong players hate defending

and are always looking out for
COUNTERPLAY.

Founder of the UK Chess Challenge

International Master Mike Basman

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 15

DEFENCE

Jonathan Pein (5) v Philip Gemmell (102)

DEFENCE BY CAPTURE

The White Knight is forking Black’s King and Queen. However,

Black simply TAKES the Knight.
1...Bxd5
... and all his problems are solved.

DEFENCE BY MOVING
AWAY
A game begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qxd4
d5 6.exd6 Nxd6 7.Nc3 Nc6
White’s Queen is now attacked. She moves away.
8.Qf4!
White has slightly better prospects with three pieces in play to
Black’s two, although Black is OK.

16 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 DEFENCE

DEFENCE BY BLOCKING

The game might begin

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qe5+
Is the check dangerous? No! White simply blocks with
4.Be2
and looks forward to repelling the aggressive Black Queen
on the next move.

Grandmaster Anatoly Karpov

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 17

DEFENCE

ADVANCED
DEFENCE
There are two more advanced ways to
defend.
There are two more advanced ways to defend which I must
mention, although they will crop up less frequently than the
others. The first of these is COUNTERATTACK.
Most strong players hate defending and are always looking out
for COUNTERPLAY.

ADVANCED
DEFENCE: ONE

Looking at the diagram, Black’s Bishop on b7 has just

been attacked by White’s Rook.
However, Black does not move the Bishop
immediately and instead counterattacks with
1...Rd1+ 2.Kh2 Bd6+!
This gives Black a very good position immediately as
3.f4 [3.g3 Rh1# CHECKMATE!] 3...Bc6
Black has everything under control.

Always look out for the opportunity to

COUNTERATTACK in your games.
Grandmaster Garry Kasparov

18 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 DEFENCE

ADVANCED DEFENCE SUMMARY

DEFENCE: T WO
Returning to the previous diagram, defence by PROTECTION is
Summarizing, nobody likes to defend. But if you are under
an idea worth mentioning.
attack do not panic.
1...Rb8

Remember you can:

1) TAKE

2) MOVE

3) BLOCK

4) COUNTERAT TACK

Black protects his Bishop, although if we compare this with

the counterattacking 1...Rd1+ we see that 1...Rb8 is a rather 5) PROTECT
passive move.
Defence by PROTECTION is fine, but should be a last resort.
Chess is an attacking game!
If you are watching what the opponent is doing, these
ideas will help you to become a very good defender.

If you are under attack do not panic.

Defence by PROTECTION is fine, but

should be a last resort. Chess is an
attacking game!

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 19

GOLDEN RULES OF OPENING PLAY

THE GOLDEN RULES

OF OPENING PLAY

1) Develop your pieces quickly.

2) Control or occupy the CENTRE

of the board.

3) Get your King to safety early.

CASTLE!

4) Don’t block in any of your pieces

if you can avoid it.

5) Make only those Pawn moves

that are necessary to let the
pieces out.

6) Play aggressively.

7) Don’t bring your Queen out too

early in the game.

8) Place your pieces where they

control lots of squares. Get the
pieces working together.

Let’s take a closer look at each of

these in turn.

20 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 GOLDEN RULES OF OPENING PLAY

DEVELOP YOUR
PIECES QUICKLY
Chess is an attacking game and you cannot attack unless you
have brought all your pieces into play. Let us take a brief look
at a game where one player develops quickly and the other
player forgets about this rule.

1.e4
A good move. White lets the Bishop and Queen out.
1...c6 2.d4 d6 3.Nc3 a6 4.Nf3
White has developed his Knights. The Bishops will follow.
4...h6 5.Bc4 Nd7
Finally Black brings out a Knight, but he blocks in his Bishop.

6.Bf4 e6 7.Qd2
White has an excellent position. He is ready to castle which
brings his King to safety. He is then ready to start an attack.

Remember NOT TO DELAY DEVELOPING

YOUR PIECES whether with WHITE OR
BLACK.

Grandmaster Tigran Petrosian

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 21

GOLDEN RULES OF OPENING PLAY

OCCUPY AND DON’ T BLOCK THE

CONTROL PIECES IN
The centre of the board is very important at any stage of a A common mistake that beginners make is to block in their
game, but particularly In the opening. Pieces and Pawns are pieces, especially the Bishops and Knights. Let us take a look at
best placed in the centre because there they control most a game where the players don’t believe in making good moves!
squares. The really important squares are d4, d5, e4, e5 but
c4, c5, f4, f5 are also very influential. PLAY TO CONTROL OR
OCCUPY THE CENTRAL SQUARES at the beginning of the game.

GET CASTLED

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5

The King is the most important piece you own. If you leave him
in the centre, you are likely to get checkmated against a skilful
opponent. GET CASTLED! As you can see, in the diagrammed
position both players have developed quickly and they are
ready to castle. Thus the game might continue
5.0–0! 0–0!
with both Kings protected.
1.c3 d6 2.a3 e6
White’s moves have been horrible, mainly because he has
not brought out any pieces and he has taken away the only
squares for his Queen’s Knight! Black has blocked in both
Bishops! How is either player going to get their Queen and
Rooks into the game? They have no plan to do so. The lesson
is a simple one and we can immediately apply it: DON’T BLOCK
IN ANY OF YOUR PIECES WITH PAWNS IF YOU CAN HELP IT.

Don’t block in any of your pieces with

Pawns if you can help it.

22 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 GOLDEN RULES OF OPENING PLAY

NOT TOO MANY

Only defend when you have to.
PAWN MOVES
Making too many Pawn moves in the opening is not a good
idea. If you are up against a strong opponent he will be
developing pieces while you are messing around with Pawns.
The best Pawns to move in the opening are the central Pawns.

1.e4 e6 2.d4
This is an ideal position to aim for and White has free
development for his pieces. Even so, this French Defence for
Black has many devotees.

PLAY AGGRESSIVELY

This is a tip which applies to beginners and world champions

alike. You will enjoy chess more and win lots of games if you
learn to ATTACK. You have to try to get onto the offensive
as soon as possible. This tip blends in well with all the other
things we have learned so far. You can’t attack unless you get
your pieces developed, control the centre etc. ONLY DEFEND
WHEN YOU HAVE TO.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 23

GOLDEN RULES OF OPENING PLAY

DON’ T BRING YOUR

QUEEN OUT EARLY
The opening is a battle for TIME and POSITION. If you bring
your Queen out early she gets pushed around and eventually
driven back by lesser enemy pieces. Thus you lose time and
position. Here is a basic example.
1.e4 e5 2.Qh5?!
A beginner’s move, setting two traps.
2...Nc6!
Here are the traps: 2...Nf6? 3.Qxe5+; and 2...g6?? 3.Qxe5+ Qe7
4.Qxh8. I have seen many young players fall for these traps
because they do not pay attention to what the opponent is
doing.
3.Bc4
Checkmate looms on f7. However, by carefully parrying the
threats and gaining time along the way, Black is able to emerge
with a very good position.
3...g6
Blocking checkmate and attacking the Queen.
4.Qf3
Another move, another checkmate threat.
4...Nf6 5.Qb3
Again White hammers away at f7.
5...Qe7! 6.d3 Nd4!
Black starts to harry White’s Queen.
7.Qa4 Qb4+! 8.Qxb4 Nxc2+
A nice three-way (family) fork – Black wins a Pawn.

The opening is a battle for TIME and

POSITION.

24 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 GOLDEN RULES OF OPENING PLAY

SQUARE CONTROL:
ONE

Let’s say the game begins as follows.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6
Now you have to make a decision where to put your Bishop on
f1. You want to put it on a good square, controlling as much of
the board as you can. Let’s take a look at the options.

3.Bc4
An excellent move. The Bishop controls or influences 9
squares.

3 Bb5
On the other hand now the Bishop controls or influences just 7
squares. But it also threatens the Knight on c6. It is a trade-off.
There are advantages and disadvantages.
3.Be2 influences just 7 squares. 3.Bd3 is the same. It also has
the disadvantage of blocking the d Pawn.
It is clear that either 3.Bc4 or 3.Bb5 should be chosen.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 25

GOLDEN RULES OF OPENING PLAY

SQUARE CONTROL:
T WO

A blank canvas. You want to develop your Knight on b1

but are undecided where to put it.
1.Nc3!
A good move, into the centre of the board. The Knight
controls 8 squares.

1.Na3?
A Knight on the rim is dim, or so the old saying goes.
Here we see why, the Knight controls only 4 squares.
So on the very first move, just by placing a piece on
a different square, we can see what a good and bad
move is all about. By putting the Knight on c3, White
DOUBLES the power of that piece.
The idea of SQUARE CONTROL is important in the
opening but is valid throughout the whole game
Counting the number of squares a piece controls is a
bit boring at first, but it becomes second nature after
a while and REALLY DOES HELP TO IMPROVE YOUR Grandmaster Vasily Smyslov
GAME. It’s easy to understand too!

26 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 VARIOUS CHESS OPENINGS

VARIOUS CHESS
OPENINGS
THE RUY LOPEZ

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

The Ruy Lopez or Spanish Game – the ‘Rolls Royce’ of chess
openings. White sets up pressure on Black that can last the
whole game through. Used by all World Champions past
and present.

The Ruy Lopez or Spanish Game – the

‘Rolls Royce’ of chess openings.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 27

VARIOUS CHESS OPENINGS

QUEEN’S GAMBIT A favourite of strategic players.

1.d4 d5 2.c4
The Queen’s Gambit. A very solid opening where White tries to
gain control of the centre by inviting Black to take the Pawn. A
favourite of strategic players.
2...dxc4
It’s worth seeing what happens if Black takes.
3.Nf3
White brings out his Knight, controlling e5 and is one step
closer to castling.
3...Nf6
Black likewise.
4.e3
White pushes up in the centre, threatening to regain his Pawn
on c4.
4...b5?
Black is greedy. Normal is 4...e6.
5.a4!
Attacking Black at his weak spot.
5...c6
Defending.

6.axb5

Opening up the game.

6...cxb5 7.b3!

Hitting hard at Black’s advanced Pawn.

7...cxb3
What else?

8.Bxb5+ Bd7 9.Qxb3

White regains his Pawn with better development and open
lines for his pieces. The Rook on a1 is already impressive
without ever having moved.

28 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 VARIOUS CHESS OPENINGS

THE ITALIAN GAME & The Classical Italian Game

T WO KNIGHTS DEFENCE (or Giuoco Piano)

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5

Both players develop naturally, preparing to castle. The White
Bishop hungrily eyes f7 and the Black Bishop f2. These are the
weakest squares on the board at the start of the game. This is
the Classical Italian Game (or Giuoco Piano).
4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5!
is one variation. An excellent counter. Black secures an equal
game.

The Two Knights Defence.

Now
4.Ng5
is very dangerous. It could lead to the famous ‘Fried Liver’
(or Fegatello) Attack.
4...d5 5.exd5 Nxd5?! 6.Nxf7!?

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 29

VARIOUS CHESS OPENINGS

THE ITALIAN GAME -

CONTINUED

White has sacrificed a Knight to expose the Black King.

6...Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Ke6 8.Nc3

White has a dangerous attack. It would be folly to enter into

this position as Black without a great deal of study. White
has all the fun! Young players win many games from this
position with White.

Grandmaster Michael Adams - England No. 1

30 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 VARIOUS CHESS OPENINGS

ENGLISH OPENING RETI’S OPENING

1.c4 1.Nf3
The English Opening. Reti’s Opening, named after a famous Hungarian
White controls the central square d5 and lets his Queen out. Grandmaster. 1 Nf3 is a very good move. White develops a
piece, controlling the central squares d4 and e5. He does not
1...e5
commit his Pawns yet. Note, that in all openings, influence
A perfectly good reply. on the centre is of the utmost importance. There are many,
2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 many chess openings to choose from, the good, the bad and
the ugly. You must make your own choice.
Still eyeing d5.
3...Nc6 4.Nc3 Bb4
Black deals with White’s central control by developing quickly.
By castling next, Black secures a good game.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 31

 THE ENDGAME

THE ENDGAME:
INTRODUCTION

The endgame is the most difficult part

of chess to master. With only a few
pieces left, it is very important to be
ACCURATE. You cannot play slapdash
moves and expect to win.

The very basic rules of endgame play are as follows:.

1) Play SLOWLY and CAREFULLY

2) The King is a strong piece in the

endgame. Use it aggressively, but
with care!

3) The object of the endgame is

to create a PASSED Pawn and
PROMOTE that Pawn to a Queen.
After that you need to know how
to checkmate. I can only show a
few endgames here, but they are
the positions that will prove most
useful to you at first.

Young player from St Catherine’s School, Bramley

32 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 THE ENDGAME

HOW TO PROMOTE
A PAWN: ONE

In this position White to play wins but if it’s Black to play the
game will be a draw. We call the White Pawn a PASSED Pawn.
It’s a Pawn which cannot be challenged by enemy Pawns.
1.Kd2!
White wins by bringing his King up.
1...Ke7 2.Kd3 Ke6 3.Ke4

A key position. The Kings are said to be in OPPOSITION and

whoever is to move must give way.
If 3...Kd6 4.Kf5 Kd5 5.e4+ Kd6 6.Kf6 Kd7 7.e5 Ke8 8.Ke6
wins.

An alternative line of play from the above diagram is:

3...Kd7 4.Ke5 Kc8 5.Ke6 Kd8.
Black has been driven back and now it is time to push the
Pawn.
6.e4 Ke8 7.e5 Kf8 8.Kd7 Kf7
Black is helpless. The Pawn cannot be stopped coming
through.
9.e6+ Kf8 10.e7+ Kf7 11.e8=Q+
and White wins easily.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 33

THE ENDGAME

HOW TO PROMOTE
A PAWN: T WO

Now watch what happens if Black moves first.

1...Ke7! 2.Kd2 Ke6 3.Kd3 Kd5 4.Ke3 Ke5!
Black has taken the OPPOSITION and White cannot make
progress. He cannot get his King any further IN FRONT of the
pawn, which he needs to do.
5.Kf3 Kf5 6.e4+ Ke5 7.Ke3 Ke6!
A critical move. Black steps back to the MIDDLE in order to
take the opposition on the next move.

8.Kd4 Kd6! 9.e5+ Ke6 10.Ke4

Repeating the process.
10...Ke7! 11.Kd5 Kd7 12.e6+Ke7 13.Ke5 Ke8 14.Kf6 Kf8
15.e7+ Ke8 16.Ke6 Stalemate
Note the principle, that Black always keeps his King as
close to the White King as possible on the file.

Note that 14...Kd8 would have been a terrible mistake.15.Kf7

wins.

34 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 THE ENDGAME

HOW TO WIN WITH AN

EXTRA PAWN

Time and again you will reach a position like this where you
hold an extra Pawn. How do you win? The first stage is to
bring up the King.
1.Kf2 Kd7 2.Ke3 Ke6 3. Ke4 Kf6 4.Kd5
Stage One has been completed. Black is cramped and White
has the better King position.
Stage Two is to push the Pawns.
4...Kf5 5.d4 Kf6 6.e4 Kf7 7.Kc6 Kf6 8.Kd7
Black is running out of good moves.

8...Kf7
If 8...e5 9.d5 and the d5 Pawn rolls home.
9. e5 Kf8
If 9...e6 10.Kd6 wins the Black Pawn.

10.d5
10.e6 would even win the Black Pawn.

10...Kf7 11.d6 exd6 12. exd6 Kf8 13.Kc7 Kf7 14.d7

White queens his Pawn next move and then delivers
checkmate.
Note the technique: White used his King and Pawns together
to force the win. We learn how to play chess properly from
basic endgames like this. The importance of the pieces
cooperating together becomes clear.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 35

 ADVANCED TIPS

TEN ADVANCED TIPS

You should now be able to play a pretty good game of chess.

Here are a few key tips to help you play even better!

1) Remember that the Pawns and the

pieces work together as a team. You
are in charge of that team.

2) Concentrate on checkmate! Young

players like to take all the enemy
pieces. This is very good but you must
know how to checkmate after that.
Practise checkmating skills constantly.
3) The King is your most valuable piece.
Make sure the King is well protected.
4) Pieces are generally best placed in the
centre of the board, where they cover
more squares.
5) At the start of the game the centre
Pawns are most important, but as the
game goes on the wing Pawns become
more influential.
6) Look after your Pawns. Do not
surrender even a humble Pawn lightly.
It may help the opponent to win.
7) Bring out the pieces in reverse order
of strength. First the Pawns go into
the centre, followed by the Knights,
Bishops, Rooks and finally the Queen.

8) Ask yourself two important questions

all the way through the game: What is
my opponent trying to do? What am I
trying to do?
9) Play, play and play some more against
friends, family, in tournaments or at a
junior chess club. The best opponent
to learn from is someone who is
slightly better than you.

10) Enjoy winning, but be polite and

friendly when you lose. The great
players learn from their defeats and
are usually very gracious.

Young player from St Catherine’s School, Bramley

36 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 DIESEN, M - HALASZ, L

When I first learned how to play chess, I would often try to play through games in books or in the newspaper. Some of the moves
I could understand, but there were many ideas which confused me. I would have liked every move explained so that I could see
what was going on inside the mind of each player. Get out a board and set and play through these games, taking note of the
explanations.
So I’m going to take you through a couple of games now and give notes to each move.

DIESEN, M - HOLLAND,
HALASZ, L 1973
1.e4
An excellent move, letting White’s pieces out, notably the
Bishop and Queen. White’s Pawn controls the central squares
d5 and f5.
1...e5
Black copies White’s move. The Pawn controls d4 and f4.
2.Nf3
White develops a Knight, attacks the Pawn on e5 and controls
the central square d4. He is one step nearer to castling.
2...Nc6
Black carefully protects his Pawn on e5, develops a piece and
controls d4 and e5.
3.Bb5
The Ruy Lopez.
White develops his Bishop and prepares to castle. He may play
Bxc6 followed by Nxe5.
3...a6
An interesting move. Black attacks the Bishop, inviting White
to carry out his ‘threat’.
4.Ba4
White retreats and keeps up the pressure. He knows better
than to play 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nxe5 Qd4! Black regains his Pawn
with a very good game. It will be easy to develop the rest of his
pieces.
4...d6
Not a move I like. Black pins himself. It is true he lets his Bishop
out and protects the Pawn on e5. 4...Nf6 is recommended.
5.0–0
Simple, easy chess. White has whisked his King to safety and
brought his Rook into play.
5...b5
Black releases the pin. However he is making too many Pawn
moves. The modest 5...Bd7 was preferable.
6. Bb3
This the only way to avoid losing the Bishop for a Pawn.
6...Na5?!
Not a good move. The Knight was well-placed on c6, why move
it again? Black is falling behind in development. If that is going
to be played, Black should definitely follow it up with 7...Nxb3.
7.d4

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 37

DIESEN, M - HALASZ, L

DIESEN, M - HALASZ, L
CONTINUED
7...exd4
Black thinks he has seen a trick.
8.Qxd4
But White has seen further.
8...c5?
Black has to play 8...Nf6 and hope to get his King out of the
centre quickly. 8...c5 is very poor again. It is another pawn
move which does not attend to the problem of development.
White now can now think about an attack. His King is safe and
he has free piece play.
9.Bxf7+!
Excellent. White plays a COMBINATION. This is a series of
moves which, in this case, leads to a win of material.
9...Kxf7
The alternative, Ke7, is also unappetising.
10.Qd5+
A FORK! The Queen attacks the King and the Rook on a8 at the
same time. Black must lose material.
10...Ke8
Perhaps Black was relying on 10...Be6 but then a second FORK
finishes him off: 11.Ng5+ Ke8 12.Nxe6 Qc8 13.Qxa8! The third
fork is on the way. 13...Qxa8 14.Nc7+
White ends up a Rook and Pawn ahead for a Knight.
11.Qxa8
Black resigns. He loses a Rook and he cannot get his King out
of the firing line. At master level it is courteous to resign in a
hopeless position.

LESSONS TO BE
LEARNED
1) Quick development really does
help you to gain the attack .

2) Leaving the King in the centre is

folly against a good opponent.

3) Combinations and opportunities

to win the game spring naturally
from a better position.

38 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 ROZENTALIS, E - CABRERA, J

ROZENTALIS, E - King to safety and introducing a Rook into the game free of
charge.

CABRERA, J 6...d5?
A poor choice. Black just loves pushing Pawns. Black takes
the fight to White when behind in development. This asking
CAPPELLE-LA-GRANDE for trouble. Meanwhile White has played excellently. He
now looks to OPEN UP THE GAME to take advantage of his
2010 lead in development. Basically, if you have castled and your
opponent’s King is still in the middle, always look to open up
Now a game between a strong grandmaster and a less the position.
experienced player. Black thinks he can take liberties with his 7.exd5! b4
development. He is wrong. Black is a master player, but you would not know it. He
1.e4 operates like a beginner, making all sorts of Pawn moves
Once again, the most effective first move to let out the pieces. which he thinks are clever. What he should have been doing
is keeping the position closed and trying to catch up in
1...c5
development.
The Sicilian Defence, one of the most popular responses at
any level to 1.e4. Black dissuades White from forming a centre 8.Na4 Bxd5 9.Bxd5 exd5 10.Re1!
with d2-d4.
2.Nc3
Simple development, covering d5
2...a6?!
I am not at all sure this is a good move. A Pawn move on the
edge of the board must have an idea behind it. Black wants to
advance his queenside Pawns, but it is not clear why.
3.g3
White gets his Kingside pieces out and prepares to castle.
3...b5

Rook to the OPEN FILE. Now White threatens DISCOVERED

CHECK by moving his Knight on e2.
10...Be7
Blocking the threat.
11.Nf4!
Another threat looms: Nxc5, taking advantage of the pinned
Black Bishop on e7.
11...Kf8
A continuation of the same faulty plan. Black unpins, but he can no longer castle.
4.Bg2 An attractive Bishop move. 12.d4
4...Bb7 Letting his queenside pieces out and opening up the game
Black likewise. further.
5.Nge2 12...c4 By now, Black is desperate to close things down.
In order not to obstruct the Bishop on g2.
13.Qf3
5...e6
Attacking the Pawn on d5.
6.0–0 Castling is desirable in most games of chess, getting the

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 39

ROZENTALIS, E - CABRERA, J

ROZENTALIS, E - CABRERA, J
CONTINUED
13...Nf6 17.Be3
Defending. Seeing that Black can do nothing, White brings up the
reserves. White is ready now to bring his Rook on a1 into the
14.Re5
attack.
Attacking one more time. White is relentless.
17...Nxd5
14...Nc6 A COUNTERATTACK on the Rook.
Black grabs what he can get.
15.Rxd5!
18.Nxd5 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Bxc5 20.Bxc5+ Qxc5
Very clever. Tactics tend to favour the better developed player.
21.Nc7 1–0
15...Qb8
A nice final move. White has three threats:
Running away. If 15…Nxd5 16 Ne6+. wins the Queen with the
22.Qxa8+ (b) 22.Nxa8 (c) 22.Ne6+. 22.Re8 23.Nxe8 Qe7 24.
help of both a pin on the f7 Pawn and a FORK as shown in the
Nc7 leaves Black helpless.
diagram on Page 55.

The lesson to be learned from this

game is clear. Chess is a logical game
and even masters cannot break the
rules when they feel like it. Black spent
his opening moves on pawns instead of
pieces and was pulverized as a result.
Note that neither of Black’s Rooks
moved throughout the game.
16.Nc5 Qc8
16...Nxd5 17.Nd7+ is another, devastating FORK.

40 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 KEEP GOING!

KEEP GOING!

1) PLAY, PLAY, PLAY Play as much as possible, with

friends, family, at school, at a club or online. Play
in tournaments whenever you can with players of
your own age and roughly equal ability. Record
your games, because there is no quicker way
to improve than to look over your own games
afterwards.

2) READ CHESS BOOKS, MAGAZINES and

CHESS COLUMNS in the newspapers and
online. As soon as you have learned chess
notation you will be able to do these things. The
more you read, the more you will improve. You
will develop a very strong ‘feel’ for the game of
chess.

3) CONCENTRATE! There is nothing wrong

with taking the game of chess seriously. Try to
CONCENTRATE as much as you can. Concentrating
and getting good at something is fun!

4) AIM FOR THE ATTACK Learn chess openings

and prepare surprises and traps. It Is very
satisfying to win a game of chess when you out-
prepare your opponent.

5) REMEMBER THAT CHESS IS FUN! Chess

should be fun and enjoyable for the young player.
If at any time you don’t feel that you are enjoying
chess, STOP PLAYING. When the fun element
returns, pick it up again. Chess is a gift which you
can enjoy your whole life long. By sticking to the
above rule you can keep it that way!

Player from St Catherine’s School, Bramley

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 41

 TACTICS QUIZ:
SOLUTIONS
FROM PAGES 8 - 11

ONE
SOLUTION – 1.Nf4+!

TWO
SOLUTION – 4.Bb5!

THREE
SOLUTION – 1...Rd8+

FOUR
SOLUTION – 6.Nf6#

FIVE
SOLUTION – 6.Nc7+

SIX
SOLUTION – 7...Bg4!

SEVEN
SOLUTION – 1 Nxd6++ wins both the Pawn on d6 and the Pawn
on b7. 1 Nxc7++ is also possible, but that only wins one Pawn.

EIGHT
SOLUTION – It’s a PIN. The King and Queen would have to be
the other way around for a SKEWER to occur.

AT TACK : SOLUTIONS
FROM PAGES 13-14

ATTACK: ONE
SOLUTIONS – 1.Rd8 [or 1.Rc1]

ATTACK: TWO
SOLUTION – 1...Re1+!

ATTACK: THREE
SOLUTION – 1.Nf5!

Copyright : The English Chess Federation.

Project sponsored by St Catherine’s School, Bramley - co-sponsors of

the ECF National Schools competitions.

Author: Andrew Martin

First Edition edited by Stewart Reuben with assistance from Malcolm

Gesthuysen, John Philpott. Player from St Catherine’s School, Bramley

42 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS

 PHOTOGR APHY

John Upham is photographer and founder of

Britishchessnews.com and an accredited chess coach
and writer.
Some of the photographs used in this publication were
either taken by John or sourced by John from historical
archives.

L aura Hirons, School Photographer at St Catherine’s

School, Bramley, took the photographs of St Catherine’s
students featured in this booklet.

T his booklet has been designed by Hannah Walsh,

Graphic Designer at St Catherine’s School, Bramley.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS 43

 +44(0)1483 899609
[email protected]
www.stcatherines.info

[email protected]
https://www.englishchess.org.uk
Grandmaster David Howell

44 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS - IMPROVERS