Step 3 plus

Reminders

From the 3rd edition onwards workbook Step 3 plus is published as an international version. We have
decided to remove the reminders and make them available as a PDF file for downloading.
This means more exercises on the pages that have become available.

As a teacher you can now hand out the reminders one by one at the appropriate time. Please note that
a reminder can never replace the lesson in the manual! (Manual for chess trainers Step 3).

The page number at the bottom left refers to pages in the workbook with the corresponding theme of
the reminder.

The solutions of all workbooks can be found on the website at:

http://www.stappenmethode.nl/en/solutions.php

Information and an order form can be found on our website at: http://www.stappenmethode.nl/en/

© Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

X-ray protection

A simple topic to start on the Plus book. You have already learnt about X-ray protection and X-ray
attacks, but there is more that can be done using the X-ray effect of queen, rook and bishop.

The white rook is attacking In this position the f4 is Is 1. Rxh6+ possible? Yes.
the d5 and also controlling looking through the e5 White saves himself by X-
the squares behind the rook, to the b8-square. White can ray protection after 1. ... Kg7
White can win a piece with deliver mate with 1. Qb8+ with 2. Rd6, and both rooks
1. Bxd7. Bxb8 2. Rxb8#. are protected.


X-ray protection works very 1. .. Rxc4 is not good since Here again White can win
well in other sorts of combi­ White plays 2. exd5+. The material by X-ray protection:
nations. Here it is the double capture can wait, since 1. … 1. Bd6+ Kg7 2. Bxb4. White
attack. White wins the queen Nc3+ is possible. The rook is lucky because his bishop is
with 1. Bc4+. will protect the knight. protecting the queen.

The a8 is safe because of Exchanging queens is bad, White can eliminate the
X-ray protection. Unfortu­ since after 1. Qxb5 axb5 the black king as a defender
nately Black cannot save the knight is pinned. 1. Nb6 is by chasing it away. After
rook after 1. Bg2 (the b7 is good. Black has to abandon 1. Nc6+ Black loses the
protecting the bishop). the protection of the b8. queen. The c6 is protected!

Step 3 plus page 2-4 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

Pinned pieces

We deal once more with pinned pieces. This is the subject in which most mistakes are made in prac-
tice. We shall take a look at how other types of combinations exploit pinned pieces.


Double attack: knight Double attack: queen Double attack: rook

The queen on e3 is pinned, The pin on the e6 lets the Unprotected pieces in view!
so the knight can give check queen go safely to g4. After White wins a piece with
without heeding it: 1. … 1. Qg4 White wins a lot of 1. Rd5. The c6 cannot do
Nd3+ winning the exchange. material. anything.


Discovered attack Threatening mate Chasing away + material

Firing away with the front Black has sacrificed his bish- White exploits the pin on the
piece by 1. Re4 Bxe4 2. op on d6 with a clever plan. Bd7 with 1. Ne6. If the rook
Qxf6 Bxf5 leads nowhere. He exploits the pin on the moves away, the d7 falls.
The correct move is 1. Rd8. e-pawn with 1. … Qf3! The best move is 1. … Qe8.
The f6 is pinned.

Luring away + mate Trapping The pinned piece can help!

Black and White are both The d7 cannot help. After The b7 is pinned, but
ready to mate. White gets 1. Bc6 the rook is shut in watch closely: 1. … Qb2+
there first with 1. Rf5. (1. ... Rb8 2. Qxb8). 2. Rxb2 Rf1+ 3. Rb1 Rxb1#.

Step 3 plus page 5-9 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

The rook pawn

A pawn is worth 1 point, but not all pawns are of equal value. The rook pawn is weaker than its col-
leagues, since it controls one square less and therefore can only capture in one single direction.

Draw. On the left the black Win. On the left White plays In Berger-Mason, Breslau
king cannot be chased out of 1. a7 and wins. On the right 1889 White played 1. Ke4?
the corner. On the right the White must occupy a key After 1. … Kb4 2. Kd3 Kb3
white king cannot get away square (g7 or g8) in order to he could no longer reach the
without letting the black king win: 1. Kg7 Ke6 2. h4 Kf5 corner. 1. Ke3 is correct, to
into the corner. 3. h5. head for the safe square c1.
  

Black should not carelessly The defender can exploit the Can Black draw? Yes; he
play 1. … Kf4 in view of weakness of the rook pawn causes White to lose time:
2. Kg6. His king must keep by downgrading his oppo- 1. … Kc5 2. Kg7 (2. h5 Kd6
the white one away with nent’s knight pawn to a rook 3. h6 Kd7 draws) 2. … h5 3.
1. … Kf5, winning the pawn. pawn: 1. … a4! Kg6 Kd6 4. Kxh5 Ke7.

The side with the rook pawn Shouldering off. White After 1. Kf5 Ke3 the  gets
must make sure he can hang keeps the black king out of to f8. So it must be kept at a
on to it: 1: 1. Kf5 Kg2 2. h4. the corner with 1. Kg5 Ke6 distance: 1. Kf4 Ke2 2. Kg5
2. Kg6 Ke7 3. Kg7. Ke3 3. Kxh5 Kf4 4. Kg6.

Step 3 plus page 10-11 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

 The intermediate move (in-between move)

White’s queen is in danger, Both queens are attacked. White does not thoughtlessly
yet he plays 1. Ne5! A good Black wants to exchange take on c4, but first saves his
intermediate move which queens, but first quickly own knight with an interme­
threatens mate on f7. Now 1. takes the knight: 1. … Qxe5! diate move: 1. Nf8! Only
… e6 2. Nxc6 wins material. He wins a piece. then does he look to the Nc4.

After 1. Nxd5 Black intend- Discovered attack Pin

ed to play 1. ... Qxf3, but With 1. Nd5 Qxd2 (or else The pin on the  looks harm­
with 2. Ne7+ and 3. Nxf3 Qxa5) 2. Nxe7+ White very less but after 1. Rd4 Qxb3 2.
White wins. Intermediate cleverly uses an in-between Rxd8+ Kf7 3. axb3 White
moves like this also work in move. He only recaptures on wins a rook with the help of
other combinations. d2 after 2. … Kh8. an intermediate move.
 

Capturing + material Luring away + material Black thinks he can play

Black takes the defender White diverts the king with 1. … Rxh4, eliminating the
of the queen: 1. … Nxc3 1. Nh7. After 1. … Rxc8 defender of g2. However,
2. Qxd7, and now the in-be- White gives an intermediate with the intermediate move
tween move 2. … Ne2+ and check on f6. 1. … Kxh7 is 2. Qd8+ Kh7 3. Qxh4+
then 3. … Rxd7. followed by 2. Rxf8. White wins the exchange.

Step 3 plus page 11-16 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

Vulnerability in the opening

It is possible to win material even in the opening with the combinations from Steps 2 and 3. Look out
for unprotected pieces, pieces on the same line, pieces with restricted mobility and defenders.

Trapping the queen Trapping Pin

The black queen is active, In the opening other pieces The mating pattern on f7
but also vulnerable. White can also be shut in. A well- immediately catches the eye.
wins the queen with 1. Bg5. known case is the knight on So the f6 is pinned. The
the edge of the board: 1. b4. attack 1. e5 wins a piece.


Pin Elimination of the defence Elimination of the defence

Black is threatening mate Again, mate on f7 catch- Black lures away the defen­
on f2. what a pity that the es the eye. The defending der of h2 by 1. … Nd4. If
d-pawn is pinned and that bishop can be eliminated by White moves the queen,
1. Nxe4 wins a piece. capturing it: 1. Bxe6. 2. … Nxf3+ will follow.

Double attack Discovered attack A vulnerable point

White plays 1. Qa4 and After 1. d6 mate is threat- Attack your oppo­nent’s weak-
threatens not only 2. Qxa6, ened on f7. After 1. … est point. After 1.  Nb5
but also 2. Nc7+. Black loses Nxb3 the intermediate move Black can no longer satisfac-
material. 2. dxe7 wins a piece. torily protect c7.

Step 3 plus page 17-22 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

Mini-plans

In your games you always have to be finding another good move. You have to make sound moves!
But what is a sound move? Read on and make use of the following plans in your games.

Increase the activity of Activate a piece Improve your pawn struc­

your pieces For the moment the knight ture
Both of White’s bishops are on c3 has nothing better to Doubled pawns are often not
active. The queen can go to do than to attack the well so strong. So it is a good plan
f3, but what next? The rooks protected d5-pawn. It is high to undouble them. White
are not working hard enough. time to move the knight to has the strong 1. Ba3 up his
So 1. f4 is better. After the a better square by means of sleeve. Black cannot prevent
capture on e5 the f-file is 1. Na4. The knight will be the exchange of rooks (1. …
opened and if required White better on c5. From there it Rc7? 2. Re8+) and has to
can double his rooks. Black attacks opposing pieces and play 1. ... Rxe3. After 2. fxe3
cannot solve the problem of controls more squares in the the white pawns are linked
the pin on his knight without opponent’s half of the board. again. In addition White has
losing a pawn. more control over f4.


Capture towards the centre Exploit vulnerability Exploiting vulnerability

1. … fxg6+ looks good since It is always a good plan to In this position White is
the rook will then be activat- attack a weak point of your better. The vulnerable point
ed. That is true, but there is a opponent. Black has just does not immediately catch
disadvantage: the e6-pawn is played … a6 to prevent Nb5. one’s eye. White played
no longer protected by anoth- Thanks to a tactical trick 1. Rfc1 and missed the
er pawn. It is usually better White can still play 1. Nb5 imme­diate win with 1. Qf3.
to capture towards the centre. (1. … axb5 2. Bc7). Black Black seems to be able to
After 1. … hxg6 the black has to apply the brakes with protect f7 easily, but appear-
pawns control more squares 1. … e5. White can then win ances are deceptive. 1. …
than after 1. … fxg6. material either with 2. Nc7 Be8 or another bishop move
or with 2. dxe5. is followed by 2. Nxe6+.

Step 3 plus page 24-28 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

Mate

In order to deliver mate, you almost always need several pieces. We know about:
• the chaser – the piece which delivers mate, threatens mate or chases the king
• the helper – the piece which supports the piece which delivers mate
• the guard – the piece which deprives the king of escape squares
What is special about the examples on this page is that the chaser, the guard and the helper are brought
in closer without giving check.
 

Bringing in the helper Bringing in the chaser Bringing in the chaser and
The black knight needs to Of course, the white queen the guard
help the queen with the must deliver mate, but The white king can still
mate on b2. But 1. … Nc4 where? 1. Qc3 seems to win, escape to e1. Luckily pieces
would not be good: 2. Qb5 since Black cannot protect can often do more than one
and White saves himself. c7. Unfortunately 1. … f5 job at a time. After 1. … Rh1
After 1. … Na4 White can spoils the plan. So the queen the black rook is both chas-
no longer protect b2 prop- must mate on d8, when ... f5 er and guard. White can no
erly (2. Qb5 Nxc3+ 3. Ka1 no longer works. So the only longer defend against mate
Qxa2#). way to win is 1. Dd3! on f1.


Bringing in the guard Extra duties for the guard Clearing a square
The white threats on the The black rook is taking care To mate, White does not
h-file seem to be decisive, of the squares on the g-file. have to bring in a piece,
but after 1. Qh7+ Kf8 the The knight is controlling the just the opposite! What is
king escapes. h4-square. For the moment amusing is that the b7
White must first deprive the Black has no more pieces is just getting in the way.
black king of an important available. The rook must be Without it, the queen can
escape square with 1. Bb4. deployed more effectively: 1. mate on b7. White must clear
Black can still protect h7 … Rg4. Mate by 2. … Ng5# the b7-square with tempo:
with 1. … Nf8, but then it is can no longer be prevented. 1. Rxa7+ Nxa7 2. Qb7#.
mate on h8.

Step 3 plus page 29-32 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

Elimination of the defence

Some pieces with a specific job to do are called defenders. These can be eliminated by capturing them,
chasing them away or luring them away. You already know this. In this reminder there are three forms
which are slightly different from the ones we already know:
• eliminating the defender and gain material with a single piece;
• eliminating two defenders simultaneously;
• luring away a defender which has two jobs to do.

White can win a piece with Pieces other than the queen White would like to mate
1. Qg5. What is special is can also eliminate a defender with 1. Qf8. There are two
that the same piece chases on their own. With 1. Nd5 defenders. White takes one
the defender away and at- White wins the bishop on f6. with 1. Rxe6 and lures the
tacks the target. The queen has to abandon other away with: 1. … Qxe6
This combination is not a the protection of the bishop. 2. Qf8#. This combination
double attack by the queen, The problem with this form only works because the
because the Bg4 is (not yet) a of eliminating a defender is f7-pawn is pinned. 1. Qf6
target. But it looks as though that so far nothing is being would not be good on ac-
this were already the case. attacked. count of 1. … Rf5.

The queen on e5 is protected The e7 has at least one It is sometimes not so easy to
twice. White takes the de- clear task: it must protect the find a defender with two jobs
fending pawn with 1. Nxf6+. bishop on d5. to do. It helps to first recog-
Black must recapture (h7 is Its second job is also easy to nise one of its tasks.
now attacked twice). After spot. It is the only defender The g7 must protect the
the recapture with the knight against mate on h8. bishop. White can lure the
the queen on e5 does not White wins the bishop on d5 g-pawn away with 1. Qf5.
have a single defender left. with luring away the knight: The g-pawn has to give up
Recapturing with the queen 1. Qh8+ Ng8 2. Rxd5. the protection of the bishop.
also costs material.

Step 3 plus page 35-38 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

Underpromotion

Sometimes it is better not to take a queen. Promotion to a rook, bishop or knight is called underpromotion.

Underpromotion to a knight On the left 1. d8Q a1Q Promotion to a rook or a

is sometimes possible. A draws. Winning is 1. d8N bishop only makes sense if
knight moves differently a1Q 2. Nc6+ Ka8 3. Bb7#. you want to avoid stalemate.
from a queen. Above 1. On the right White has 12 These pieces have fewer
g8N# is mate (1. g8Q Nf6+). points less after 1. gxh8Q options than the queen. After
Below 1. … c1Q does not Qxg6+ 2. Kf2 Nxh8. After 1. d8Q? Nf7+ 2. Bxf7 Black
win; 1. … c1N+ does. 1. gxh8N Qxh8 2. Qxf7 or is stalemated. So only 1. d8R
1. … Qxg6 2. Nxg6 things wins.
are level!

Promotion to a queen or rook

leads to stalemate: 1. d8Q
Ne6+ 2. Nxe6. Only 1. d8B
is correct.

Underpromotion to a knight is useful if:

Sometimes underpromotion • the knight makes a double attack
is necessary to draw. Above • the knight protects one of its own pieces
1. b8N+ is necessary to • the knight gives check or mate
avoid a double attack. Below Underpromotion to a rook, bishop or knight is useful:
1. … b1N+ prevents mate. • to avoid stalemate

Step 3 plus page 39-40 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

Pins

Almost every game contains a pin. Sometimes pins are harmless, but usually they are very disruptive.
In this reminder we shall take a look at some complicated aspects of pins.

There are three aspects: You first have to find the ‘A pinned piece is not a good
Pinning: above left White pin. In any case the c7 is defender’ (for the sake of
plays 1. Rc7 and pins the pinned. That looks harmless, simplicity ‘NGD’) is quite
queen. since after 1. Nd7 (threaten- the most difficult of the three
Attacking a pinned piece: On ing mate on b8) there is the aspects. Even grandmasters
the right White plays 1. g5 saving move 1. … Rc5. Mate overlook it from time to
and wins the pinned knight. on b8 would also be possible time. Since it is ‘NGD’ other
A pinned piece is not a without the b7-pawn. Think- pins are possible. With 1. …
good defender: below left ing that through, we easily Bb4 Black exploits the pin
Black exploits the pin with find the solution: 1. Nc6+! on the a-pawn. Any rescue
1. … Ra3#. White exploits two pins. comes too late for White.

The g7 is pinned. White The d7 may not move The pins in the previous dia­
can attack the pinned piece along the d-file, but can gram are called cross pins.
with 1. Qd4, but the bishop make a move along the The pieces which are taking
is still sufficiently protected. 7th rank. So an attack with part in the pins form a cross.
Now the d6 is in a pin (the 1. Qc6 would make no sense. On straight lines a È on dia­
d8 is not protected), so White must attack the pinned gonals a Ð. A combination
1. Be5 is possible. piece again but also pin it at of straight and diagonal is
White combines an attack on the same time: 1. Qd6. Now also possible. The c6 is
a pinned piece with ‘a pinned if the rook moves the queen partly pinned. It is tied to the
piece is not a good defend- is lost. protection of the c8. White
er’. Black loses material. This trick also works along a takes advantage of that with
diagonal. Below Black wins 1. Bb5. In a cross pin the
the bishop with 1. … Qb4. front piece is pinned twice.

Step 3 plus page 44-48 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

Defending against mate

White is threatening mate The threat is Qd1#. Making White cannot save himself
with 1. Qf6#. Black can only an airhole with 1. h3 does with 1. Qe1 (protecting),
defend by protecting. Not not help: 1. … Qd1+ 2. Kh2 since the d5 is en prise.
with 1. … Nd5 2. Bxg7+, but Qh1#. White must protect Salvation comes via mov-
1. … Kf7 and White loses with 1. Qa4. After 1. … Qe4 ing away and interposing:
even more material. White defends with 2. Kf1. 1. Kh1! Qf1+ 2. Bg1.


Black must defend against Gaining a tempo and X-ray Mate on f7 and g6 can only
Ra3#. He can protect the protection. After 1. Qd7+ be defended against by
a3-square and win a tempo Kh6 comes 2. Qc7. After pinning the attacking piece
at the same time: 1. … Rd1+ 2. … Ne5 White pins the and capturing it: 1. … Bc7
2. Kf2 Ra1. attacking piece with 3. Qc1. 2. Kg1 Bxe5.
  

Black has no defence against Black’s rescue comes from This position is very like
the mate on h8. Counter-at­ an unexpected quarter. Apart the previous one. But here
tack saves him. 1. … c1N+ from his queen Black cannot the king still has a move. So
leads to perpetual check, but move. So stalemate is pos- Black must play very accu-
1. … Bb3+! 2. Kxb3 c1N# is sible: 1. … Qxg3+ 2. Kxg3 rately: 1. … Qe6+. He saves
even better! stalemate. himself by stalemate.

Step 3 plus page 49-51 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

The square of the pawn

In pawn endings the rule of the square of the pawn is very helpful in calculating whether a passed
pawn can still be caught. Of course that is not all you need to know about the square of the pawn.


First, a little revision. The The white king can reach the Opposing pawns can keep
square of the h-pawn is square of the g-pawn. Black the king out of the square of
indicated. If White to move to move can set up a barrier the pawn. White plays 1. f5!
reaches the square, it is a in its way with 1. … e3. Af- Black runs out of moves:
draw. If it is Black’s move ter 2. dxe3 g4 3. Kd4 g3 the 1. … a4 2. Kc3 a3 3. Kb3
the pawn can promote. white king is too late. a2 4. Kxa2 Ke7 5. h7.

1. h4! prevents both white Black cannot win the pawn: In this diagram the pawns
pawns being lost. 1. … Kf5 1. a4 Kc5 2. Kg1 Kb6 3. c4, cannot stop White drawing,
2. Ka5 Kg6 is followed by but White cannot win with- since they cannot keep the
3. f4! Kh5 4. f5. White wins out his king: 3. … Kc5 4. a5 king under control: 1. Kg4!
with the help of his king. Kc6 4. Kh2 Kc5. Kg7 2. Kf5.

Connected passed pawns are Black must remain in the A knight must protect its
very strong. After 1. b4 Ka7 square of the e-pawn. After pawn from outside the
2. b5 Kb6 3. Kh2 Black 1. Ka4 he must abandon his square of the pawn. So
cannot take on b5. pawn. 1. Nb3! Kb4 2. a5.

Step 3 plus page 52-53 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022

Discovered attacks

 

In discovered attacks the Almost the same position, The d4 must move away
front piece in the battery but here 1. … Ne3+ 2. Ke2 with tempo. Not 1. Nf5+
needs to find a target. Black is no use. Black must take a Bxf5 2. Qd8+ Ke6, but
wins with 1. … Ne3+: an piece with 1. … Nxd2+, so 1. Nc6+ Qxc6 2. Qd8#, an
attack on king + material. once more king + material. attack on king + square.

The battery Qc3/Rd4 must be Discovered attack + inter­ Discovered attack+trapping

aimed at material + square mediate move. White can The battery Qa4/Rb3 leads to
with 1. Re4! It will be mate win with 1. Nxg6 Qxf3 the win: 1. Rh3. The queen
on g7 or e8. 2. Nxe7+ and 3. Rxf3. is now controlling d1.

Discovered attack and The c4 is under indirect at- The bishop is attacking the
elimination of a defender tack from the f1. The front queen indirectly. So the front
On the left the front piece piece can attack the defend- piece can find a suitable
has a dif­ferent goal in mind. ing queen with 1. Nf4, and target to attack: 1. Ng4. The
1. Bd6+ chases away the the knight deprives the queen queen is being attacked and
king. On the right the back of the d5-square. The queen can no longer protect the
piece eliminates the defend- has to abandon the protection h6. The discovered attack
ing queen: 1. Nh5. of c4. eliminates the defender.

Step 3 plus page 54-56 © Cor van Wijgerden 2002-2022