Best Tactics of 2017 Book

This new publication is a collection of nearly 500 best combinations played by strong chess players in tournaments that took place in 2017. To see the solution for the combination - go to the next page in your e-reader. This book is building up on the "Quarterly Tactics" series, which provides instructive tactical positions from the most recent top chess tournaments.

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Sample puzzles with Solutions

Tactics in the Schliemann – Training positions – System with 4. Nc3

If you are looking to pick up a new opening for Black against 1.e4, you might be interested in the Schliemann Defence and in the book with a collection of tactics in this opening, it is available both in Kindle and Paperback versions. It is also available on Kobo. The second volume covers combinations in the games played in the repertoire lines and illustrate typical tactical ideas for Black. Here are some sample training exercises that illustrate the combinations in 4.Nc3 system. Scroll down to see the solutions.

Lagrotteria - Rombaldoni, 1989

Black's turn

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Kotan - Sosna, 1991

Black's turn

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Bagirov - Kholmov, 1961

Black's turn

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Egorov - Sviridov, 1997

Black's turn

 

Solutions

 

Lagrotteria, Salvatore - Rombaldoni, Andrea, 1989

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 Nd4 5. Bc4 c6 6. O-O Qf6 7. d3 Nxf3+ 8. Qxf3 f4 9. Bd2 Nh6 10. Qe2 Be7 11. a4 Nf7 12. Bxf7+ Qxf7 13. a5 O-O 14. Ra4 d6 15. f3 Qh5 16. g4 fxg3 17. hxg3 Rf6 18. Qh2 Bh3 19. Rb4 d5 20. g4

20. ... Qxg4+ 21. fxg4 Rxf1# 0-1

---

Kotan, Ladislav - Sosna, Jan, 1991

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 Nd4 5. Ba4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. exf5 O-O 8. d3 d5 9. Bg5 c6 10. Nxd4 exd4 11. Ne2 Bxf5 12. Ng3 Bg6 13. Bb3 Kh8 14. c4 dxc3 15. bxc3 h6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. d4 Bd6 18. Bc2 Bxc2 19. Qxc2 Qg5 20. Rae1 Rf6 21. Qd1 Raf8 22. Re3

22. ... Rxf2 23. Re2

( 23. Rxf2 Qxe3 -/+ )

23. ... Bxg3 24. Rexf2 Bxf2+ 25. Rxf2 Qe3 26. Qd2 Qxf2+ 27. Qxf2 Rxf2 28. Kxf2 Kg8 -+ 29. Ke3 Kf7 30. Kd3 Ke6 31. g4 Kf6 32. Ke3 Kg5 33. Kf3 Kh4 34. Kf4 g6 35. a4 a5 36. Ke5 Kxg4 37. Kd6 Kh3 38. Kc7 b5 39. axb5 cxb5 40. Kb6 0-1

---

Bagirov, Vladimir - Kholmov, Ratmir D, 1961

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Qe2 Bc5 6. exf5 Qe7 7. Ne4 Nxe4 8. Qxe4 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. d4 Bxf5 12. Qe2 Bb6 13. dxe5 d5 14. h3 Be4 15. Ng5 Rf5 16. Nxe4 Rxe5 17. Qa6 Rxe4 18. Be3 Re8 19. Bxb6 cxb6 20. Qd3 Qf6 21. b3 h5 22. Rad1 R8e5 23. Qc3 c5 24. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1

25. ... Re2 26. Rxe2

( 26. Qxf6 Rxe1+ 27. Kh2 gxf6 )

( 26. Qa1 Qxf2+ 27. Kh1 Qxg2# )

26. ... Qxc3 0-1

---

Egorov, Dmitry - Sviridov, Alexander, 1997

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 fxe4 6. dxe4 d6 7. O-O Be7 8. h3 O-O 9. Bc4+ Kh8 10. Ng5 Qe8 11. Be6 Nh5 12. Bf7 Rxf7 13. Qxh5 Bxg5 14. Bxg5 Be6 15. b3 Nd4 16. Rac1 Qc6 17. Bd2 Raf8 18. Qh4

18. ... Rf3 19. Nd5

( 19. gxf3 Nxf3+ 20. Kg2 Nxh4+ )

19. ... Rxh3!

20. Qxh3

( 20. Qg5 Ne2# )

20. ... Bxh3 21. Kh1 Be6 22. Nb4 Qe8 23. f3 Qh5+ 24. Kg1 Ne2+ 0-1

Tactics in the Schliemann – Training positions – System with 4.d3

If you are looking to pick up a new opening for Black against 1.e4, you might be interested in the Schliemann Defence and in the book with a collection of tactics in this opening, it is available both in Kindle and Paperback versions. It is also available on Kobo. The second volume covers combinations in the games played in the repertoire lines and illustrate typical tactical ideas for Black. Here are some sample training exercises that illustrate the combinations in 4.d3 system. Scroll down to see the solutions.

Yudasin - Inkiov, 1982.05.08

Black's turn

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Dgebuadze - Held Paul, 1999

White's turn

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Kasparov - Sobeck, 2014.01.02

Black's turn

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Kozelsky - Kondula, 2014

Black's turn

 

 

Solutions :

 

Yudasin, Leonid - Inkiov, Ventzislav, Minsk, 1982.05.08

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Nc3 O-O 8. a3 d6 9. Na4 Bb6 10. Nxb6 axb6 11. c3 Kh8 12. Re1 Qe8

13. Nd2 Qg6 14. Qf3 Bg4 15. Qe3 Nh5 16. Bf1 Rf6 17. Kh1 Raf8 18. f3 Be6 19. g3

19. ... Nxg3+ 20. hxg3 Qxg3 21. Bg2 Rh6+ 22. Kg1

22. ... Rh2 23. Re2

( 23. Qf2 Rxg2+ 24. Qxg2 Qxe1+ -+ )

23. ... Bh3 0-1

---

Dgebuadze, Alexandre - Held Paul, 1999

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Bg5 d6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Nd5 Kh8 10. Bc4 Bg4 11. Nxf6 gxf6 12. Bh6

Here Black should sacrifice an exchange with either Nd4 or Na5, but instead he played the most natural move.

12. ... Re8?

13. Ng5! Qd7

( 13. ... Bxd1 14. Nf7+ Kg8 15. Nxd8+ Kh8 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Raxd1 +- )

14. Qxg4!! Qxg4 15. Nf7+ Kg8

16. Nxd6+ Re6 17. h3 Qh4 18. Bxe6+ Kh8 19. Bg7+ 1-0

---

Kasparov, S. - Sobeck, G., 17th Guben New Year 2014, 2014.01.02

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Qd3 d6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bc4+ Kh8 10. Ng5 Qe8 11. Be3 Nd4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Qg6 14. c3 Nf3+ 15. Nxf3 Rxf3 16. Kh1 Bg4 17. Rae1 Qh5 18. Kg1 Raf8 19. Qd1 R8f6 20. Qc1

20. ... Rh3! 21. f3

( 21. gxh3 Bf3 22. Bg5 Rg6 23. h4 Qxh4 -+ )

21. ... Rxh2 22. Bxc5 Qh4! 0-1

---

Kozelsky, Marek - Kondula, Lukas, 2014

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. exf5 O-O 8. Nxe5 Bxf5 9. Be3 Bd4 10. c3 Bxe5 11. d4

11. ... Bxh2+ 12. Kxh2 Ng4+ 13. Kg3 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Qd6+ 15. Rf4 g5 -+ 0-1

Bishops of Opposite Colour – Training Positions – Part 2

Bishop Endgames: Do Opposites Attract? (Practical Endgames) is now available as a paperback; here are some sample training exercises that illustrate the play in typical endgames with bishops of opposite colour. Scroll down to see the solutions.



Csulits, Anton - Horvath, Miklos, 1989

White's turn

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Hladik, Josef - Balaz, Peter, 1990.11.11

White's turn

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Horvath, Gyula - Juhasz, Jozsef, 1990

White's turn

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Naumkin, Igor - Ward, Christopher, 1990

White's turn

Solutions:

Csulits, Anton - Horvath, Miklos, Szekszard op, 1989

24. Bd5+

White noticed that winning the 'f5' is much more important than the 'c' pawn.

( The check is better than capturing on c6. 24. Bxc6 Kf8 )

24. ... Kh8 25. Be6 Rc7 26. Bxf5

Black's pawns now are disconnected and White has an advantage which he converted into a full point.

26. ... c5 27. Kg2 Rc6 28. Be4 Rc7 29. Bd5 Bf6 30. f4 Kg7 31. Kf3 e5 32. e3 Kf8 33. Ke4 exf4 34. gxf4 Ke7 35. Kf5 Kd6 36. e4 Bd4 37. Ra4 1-0

---

Hladik, Josef - Balaz, Peter, CSR-chT 9091, 1990.11.11

39. Rxc6

White wins another couple of pawns, so the bishop endgame is winning.

39. ... Ke7 40. Rc7+ Rd7 41. Rxd7+ Kxd7 42. Bxd5 Kd6 43. Bg8 h6 44. Kg3 g5 45. f5

45. ... Be5+ 46. Kf3 Bf4 47. Ke4 Bc1 48. b3 Bb2 49. Kd3 Ba3 50. c4 Kc5 51. cxb5 Kxb5 52. Ke4 Kc6 53. Ke5 Kd7 54. Be6+ Ke7 55. f6+ Kf8 56. Kd5 Bb2 57. f7 Ba3 58. Kc4 Ke7 59. b4 1-0

---

Horvath, Gyula - Juhasz, Jozsef, Budapest Spring op 06th, 1990

40. Bxb7

( 40. Bxb7 Rxb7 41. c6 and the pawns supported by the rook win the game. )

1-0

---

Naumkin, Igor - Ward, Christopher, Lloyds Bank op 14th, 1990

30. Rd5

Forces Black's king to block the pawn.

30. ... Kd7 31. Rb5 Kc6 32. Rb6+

Another sacrifice - the rook again cannot be captured because of d6-d7-d8.

32. ... Kc5 33. d7 Bh5

Black is setting up the last trap.

34. Bd6+!

Blocking the 'd' file with yet another check.

( 34. d8=Q?? would allow Black to bounce back 34. ... Rd1+ )

1-0

In memory of Mark Taimanov - video with a famous combination against Karpov

A year after Mark Taimanov's passing - here is a tribute to his tactical vision!

Schliemann Defence: Volume 2 - Tactics and Combinations

If you are looking to pick up a new opening for Black against 1.e4, you might be interested in the Schliemann Defence and in the collection of tactics in this opening that I just published. It is available both in Kindle and Paperback versions. It is also available on Kobo. The second volume covers combinations in the games played in the repertoire lines and illustrate typical tactical ideas for Black.

 

Contents:
1. Introduction
2. How to Learn Typical Tactics - Follow up Book
3. Typical Themes
4. Early Deviations for White
5. System with 4.d3
6. System with 4.Bxc6
7. System with 4.Nc3
8. Odd Move orders
9. Index of Players
10. About the Author
11. Symbols and Abbreviations Used in the Book
11.1. Position Evaluation
11.2. Move Evaluation

Schliemann Defence – Theory and Practice

If you are looking to pick up a new opening for Black against 1.e4, you might be interested in the Schliemann Defence and the repertoire outlined in the book I just published. It is available both in Kindle and Paperback versions. It is also available on Kobo. The first volume covers the theoretical variations and sample games. The second volume will contain a collection of combinations that illustrate typical tactical ideas for Black.

High Level repertoire overview and Table of Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Typical themes
3. Overview of Variations
4. Early Deviations for White
5. System with 4.d3
5.1. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. Nc3
5.2. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7.Bxc6
5.3. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7.Nc3
5.4. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7.Qe2
6. System with 4.Nc3
7. System with 4.Nc3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 6.Qe2
7.1. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Qe2 d5 7. Nxf6+ gxf6 8. d4 Bg7 9. dxe5 O-O 10. Bxc6
7.2. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Qe2 d5 7. Nxf6+ gxf6 8. d4 Bg7 9. dxe5 O-O 10. e6
8. System with 4.Nc3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 6.Nxf6
8.1. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Nxf6+ Qxf6 7. Qe2 Be7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxe5
8.2. Variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Nxf6+ Qxf6 7. Qe2 Be7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Qxe5
9. Final Classic Example
10. Conclusion
11. How to learn Typical Tactics - follow up book
12. Index of Players and Games
13. About the Author
14. Symbols and Abbreviations Used in the Book
14.1. Position Evaluation
14.2. Move Evaluation