A weakness of the dark squares is also a weakness of the pieces and pawns on the light squares. Light-square weaknesses are also possible, resulting in a weakening of the enemy pieces on the dark squares. The point of an attack on the dark squares is that by placing my pawns and pieces on the dark, I attack my opponent’s pieces and pawns on the light. This game provides a clear example of the method of exploiting dark square weakness; and the combination which was possible after Black’s 24th move begs to be included in a textbook, taking place as it does entirely on light squares.
1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.d4 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Nf3 a6 7.Qxc4 b5 8.Qc6 Diagram
Having hatched a plan to weaken the enemy dark squares, Szabo undertakes a delicate maneuver aimed at bringing about the exchange of the dark square bishops, which will further strengthen his grip on the dark squares.
8…Rb8 9.Bf4 Nd5 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.0-0 Bb7 13.Qc2 c5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Rc1 Rc8 16.Nc3 Nf6 Diagram
A small but serious inaccuracy; Black removes this piece from the main theater of operations.[16…Nb6 much better for Black. Increases control of c4 and makes it more difficult for White to play b4.]
White to move
1. Material: White is up a pawn, that is about to Queen. But White cannot defend it.
2. King safety. White’s King is pinned to the light squared bishop. Black’s King is in no immediate danger.
3. Activity: Black’s rook is more active, and his bishop is not pinned like White’s.
4. Pawn structure. White has the better pawn structure on the Kingside, and has a passed pawn on the Qside.
Biggest threat for White is 1…Rxa7 losing the passed pawn and heading into a draw.
Problem is that White cannot defend the pawn with the rook since the rook is lost with either 1.Ra8 or 1.Rc7.
Candidates:
Highlight text for answer:
1. Rxc6+ {the most forcing move} Kxc6 2.a8=Q Rxa8 3.Be4+ {Wins the Black rook due to the skewering of the King and the Rook}
This content was buried in a post for Kotov’s Method for Chess Improvement, and since it is such an important chess improvement tool, I figured I would promote it to its own post.
Stoyko Exercises
from Dan Heisman’s Exercises page
A summary of Stoyko exercise:
1) Find a fairly complicated position
2) Get out a pen/pencil and paper
3) You have unlimited time
4) Write down every (pertinent) line for as deep as you can see, making sure to include an evaluation at the end of the line. This will likely include dozens of lines and several first ply candidate moves. Evaluations can be any type you like:
a) Computer (in pawns, like +.3)
b) MCO/Informant (=, +/=, etc.)
c) English (”White is a little better”)
5) At the end state which move you would play and it’s “best play for both sides” line becomes the PV
6) When you are done, go over each line and its evaluation with a strong player and/or a computer. Look for:
a) Lines/moves you should have analyzed but missed
b) Any errors in visualization (retained images, etc.)
c) Any lines where you stopped analyzing too soon, thus causing a big error in evaluation (quiescence errors)
d) Any large errors in evaluation of any line
e) Whether the above caused you to chose the wrong move
etc.
It is very important that you have mastered exercises 1-5 before starting on this exercise. For exercises 1-5 visit the chess exercises page.
Without looking at the board, tell all the squares controlled by:
– a bishop on b2
– a bishop on b7
– a bishop on a5
– a bishop on h4
– a bishop on d4
– a bishop on c4
The purpose of the following list of chess errors, is to assist us to diagnose our weaknesses when we annotate our games.
Opening Weaknesses
Falling victim to an opening trap
Ignoring the development of your pieces
Waiting too long to castle
Opening inaccuracy
Moving the same piece more than once in the opening
Calculation Weaknesses
Missing the strongest continuation
calculation errors
stopping analysis of a candidate too early
Losing the thread of your analysis (getting lost in your analytical tree of variations)
Retained image error (calculation)
Not analyzing a candidate because it seems to lose material
Stopping the analysis of a line 1-2 ply before the winning move
Not evaluating the position at the end of your analysis
Thought Process Weaknesses
Failing to see your opponents threats
Losing a won game
Losing concentration / Focus / Thread of the game
Not asking the right questions
Time Management Weaknesses
getting into time trouble
playing too fast
playing too slow
Spending too much time on a non-critical move
Endgame Weaknesses
Entering into a lost endgame
Missing a common endgame pattern
Not knowing how to play a fundamental endgame position
Positional Weaknesses
Ignoring your opponents threats
Ignoring King safety
Starting a premature attack
Pawn hunting in the opening
Losing control of an important file or diagonal
Allowing your opponent too much space
Weakening your pawn structure
Misplaying a pawn breakthrough
Entering an exchange which leads to a worse position
Missing a positional move / idea
Psychological Weaknesses
Worrying about ratings / results
Fearing your opponents rating
Playing without a plan
Learning
Not reviewing your games
Learning concepts too advanced for your level
Focusing too much on knowledge and not on skill (studying too much versus playing too little)
For exercises 1-4 visit the chess exercises page.
It is very important that you have mastered exercises 1-4 before starting on this exercise.
Without looking at the board, tell all the squares controlled by:
– a bishop on g2
– a bishop on g7
– a bishop on e5
– a bishop on b7
– a bishop on d2
– a bishop on c5
Favorite Chess Blogs
1. Chessvibes : News, tournament reports and endgames studies.
2. Chess for all Ages : A little bit about everything about chess.
3. Chess Training : Not a well known blog, but worth checking out. It is not frequently updated, but when it is the content is exactly what I’m looking for in a chess improvement blog.
4. Susan Polgar Chess News and Information : Frequently updates news and puzzles from Susan Polgar.
5. The Kenilworthian : The Kenilworth Chess Club, but don’t let the name fool you, this blog contains lots of news and information not found elsewhere, definitely worth a visit.
Favorite Chess Sites
1. Chess.com: Best chess social networking site
2. Chessbase : Best chess news .
3. Chess Cafe : Best chess related articles.
4. chessgames.com : Best chess game database, also has guess the move feature which is excellent for training.
5. Chess Tempo: Best placed to practice your tactics online.
Honorable Mentions
1. www.chess.fm : Worth the visit, if only for the Dan Heisman training videos. (requires ICC membership to view most videos)
“If you want to get better at chess you need to place much less emphasis on ‘study’ whereby you increase your knowledge of positions, and place more emphasis on ‘training,’ whereby you try to solve problems, play practice games, or perhaps try to beat a strong computer program from an advantageous position.” (p.25).
“Chess skill emerges from chess playing combined with chess training, where ‘training’ means working things out by yourself. The main skill a chess-player needs is skill in making decisions, so that’s what you need to do and do repeatedly. If you want to become a better player, you need better habits, and you cultivate better habits through training. The best training is the kind that pushes you up against the edges of your comfort zone, where you force yourself to take responsibility for difficult decisions. It is so much easier to read books that give strategic guidelines, hints and tips, etc., but what you need is ‘know how’ and that means learning by doing.” (p.29)
“…The main function of chess trainers should be to guide the training of their students, rather than to teach them directly. The best thing you can do for a student is to select interesting positions for them and analyse them carefully so you can see the kinds of things that the student is missing. The trouble with this approach is prosaic, but real. Chess tutors are normally paid by the hour, and this tends to make you think that you should be showing the students certain things, imparting knowledge, giving hints and tips, etc. This is understandable, but much more useful, I think, is to give the student difficult positions to solve, to be there in a supportive role as they solve them, and then carefully consider what the student missed and why.” (p.66)