Boost Your Chess 1

The Fundamentals
By

Artur Yusupov

This is a pdf excerpt from Boost your Chess 1 by Artur Yusupov, published by Quality Chess.

CONTENTS
Key to symbols used Preface Introduction 4 5 6 8 16 26 34 46 56 66 76 86 96 106 118 128 140 152 160 170 180 190 200 208 218 228 238 246 256 257 265

1 The windmill 2 Pawn weaknesses 3 Back rank combinations 4 Exploiting weaknesses 5 The 7th rank 6 Fortresses 7 The pawn wedge 8 Opening traps 9 The use of traps 10 Stalemate combinations 11 The semi-open file 12 Mate with bishop and knight 13 Combinations involving files 14 Outposts 15 Combinations involving diagonals 16 Elementary endgames 17 Combinations with knights 18 The principles behind mobilization 19 Perpetual check 20 Mate in two moves 21 Combinations with the major pieces 22 Coordination of the pieces 23 Combinations with knights 2 24 Zugzwang Final test Appendices Index of composers Index of games Recommended books

chapter
The windmill Coordination of the pieces Mating attack

1
The windmill
The windmill is one of the most beautiful combinations in chess. Kotov provided the definition of a windmill as a forcing series of attacks with discovered check. The following famous game made this type of combination so well-known. Diagram 1-1

Contents

Diagram 1-1 r 1222222223 t+ +tMl+5 Ov+ +oO 5 + Oo+ O5 +w+ + Bq5 P P + +5 + + N R 5 p+ + PpP5 + + R K 5 79

C.Torre Em.Lasker
Moscow 1925

The white bishop is pinned and attacked. However, Whites surprising reply turns the tables. 1.f6!! White sacrifices his strongest piece in order to set up a windmill. 1...xh5 2.xg7 Now the white bishop and rook display unbelievable coordination. 2...h8 3.xf7 White sets the windmill in motion. The rook first eliminates almost all of the black pieces on the seventh rank. The only way for Black to meet the discovered checks is with king moves. It would be bad to play 3.g5 h7 4.xh5? (White could still go back with 4.g7 and continue as in the game) 4...g6 5.b5 c6 and Black wins a piece. 3...g8 4.g7 h8 5.xb7 It is important that the white bishop is not under attack. Otherwise it could not participate in the windmill without being in danger. 5...g8 6.g7 h8 7.g5 With another discovered check White wins back his queen. White could also have first taken the pawn on a7, but he did not want to unnecessarily open the a-file for the opposing rook. 7...h7 8.xh5 g6 This double attack wins the piece back, but White will have a good three pawns more! 9.h3 xf6 10.xh6 10 8

The windmill

chapter

The attacking side exploited the power of a rookbishop battery. It is very important to learn how to coordinate these different pieces. They complement each other very well. We have already seen some similar examples of this in Chapters 2 and 7 of Build Up Your Chess 1. The windmill and other similar attacking set-ups are very dangerous and often lead not only to a gain of material, but also directly to mate. Diagram 1-2
Variation from the game

V.Smyslov M.Euwe
Zrich Candidates 1953

1.xe5! A deflecting sacrifice. Another good move is 1.c5+. 1...xe5 2.xe5! xe5 3.xc6 b8 4.b7 a8 A typical windmill, which even leads to mate in this case. 5.b5#

Diagram 1-2 r 1222222223 l+m+t+ +5 O +r+ Vv5 +o+ WoO5 + + Oo+ 5 +p+ + +5 + B Q P 5 pP + PbP5 + + + K 5 79 Diagram 1-3 q 1222222223 + + T L5 O O W Oo5 + + + +5 + Vq+ + 5 + +m+ +5 + P Pn+ 5 pP + TpP5 Rn+ R K 5 79

Diagram 1-3

N.N. W.Steinitz
London 1869

Here is another example which confirms how strong the rook-bishop battery is. 1...h4!! A spectacular move. The threat is 2...xg2 and then ...f2, as well as the simple 2...2xf3. 2.xh4 xe3! The threat is 3...f1#. White is left with no satisfactory defence. 3.g6 Other moves are no better: a) 3.h3 f1 4.h2 g1 5.h1 g3#. b) 3.g3 e2 4.h1 xe1 5.g2 g1 6.h3 f2#. c) 3.f3 2xf3+. 3...hxg6 4.g3 e2 5.h1 xe1 Black has a forced mate. 9

chapter

Tactics 1

Diagram 1-4 r 1222222223 + +v+tL5 + + + Wo5 + +o+ +5 +oBoMoPp5 P + Q +5 + P +b+ 5 + + +rK5 + + + + 5 79 Diagram 1-5 r 1222222223 + +v+ L5 + + + +o5 + W + P5 +o+oRoT 5 P B + +5 + P +q+ 5 + + + K5 + + + + 5 79

6.g2 g1 7.h3 f2 8.h4 f4! 9.gxf4 Or 9.g5 g4#. 9...g4# Diagram 1-4

O.Duras R.Spielmann
Bad Pistyan 1912

1.d4! White begins a forcing attack. 1...xf3 2.xf3 e5 3.h6! e7 If 3...c7, then 4.f4!+. 4.e2 4.xd5! would be simpler: 4...exd4 5.xd4+. 4...xg5 5.xe5 White sets up his battery. There is a strong alternative in 5.xe5! g8 6.f4+. 5...d6 Diagram 1-5 The only chance. Black pins the white rook. 6.g3!! White prepares an elegant way to unpin. But not the immediate 6.h1?? on account of 6...xh6+. 6...xh6 6...xg3 7.xe8# 7.h3! d6 8.h1!+ Black cannot avoid losing a piece. In the test which follows, you should try to set up a windmill! Calculate only the necessary variations. Always end your variations with an evaluation. It is important to concentrate on the first few moves and also to take into account the various possible replies by your opponent.

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chapter

Exercises
r Ex. 1-1 1222222223 + M + T5 + O + L 5 OvVoRoO5 + + + T 5 + P + +5 + PbQ +p5 w+ + +p+5 + + +rK 5 79 r Ex. 1-2 1222222223 t+ + L T5 OoOr+ Oo5 +m+ O +5 + + + +b5 + +pB +5 + Q + + 5 wP + PpP5 + K + + 5 79 r Ex. 1-3 1222222223 t+ + Tl+5 +o+m+oOo5 o+v+ + W5 + + +p+ 5 + Bp+ +5 +bP +q+ 5 p+p+ + P5 +k+ + R 5 79
11

r Ex. 1-4 1222222223 t+ Ml+t+5 Ov+ +w+o5 + +o+ +5 + +o+ Oq5 + + + +5 Bp+ + + 5 pP + PpP5 + R R K 5 79
q Ex. 1-5 1222222223 t+ + +l+5 Oo+ +oO 5 Wo+ +o+5 + +vT + 5 + + B +5 + +p+ +p5 pPp+ Qp+5 R + +rK 5 79

r Ex. 1-6 1222222223 +lT + +5 +vOt+ +o5 + +r+ +5 +oQ + + 5 + + + +5 + + + B 5 + W +pP5 + R + +k5 79

chapter

Exercises
q Ex. 1-7 1222222223 v+ + TtL5 + Q M +o5 + +o+w+5 O + P +r5 V B + +5 + + + Np5 Pb+ PpK5 + +r+ + 5 79 q Ex. 1-10 1222222223 +l+ +t+5 Ov+ +o+o5 W VoO +5 Q + + + 5 +p+m+t+5 + + B + 5 P + PpP5 R +bNrK 5 79

r Ex. 1-8 1222222223 +t+t+l+5 +r+ + Vo5 o+ + +o+5 + O M + 5 +w+ + +5 + B + + 5 Pq+ +pP5 + + +rK 5 79 r Ex. 1-9 1222222223 +t+ Tl+5 O + VoO 5 O +b+ O5 + + B Mw5 + P + +5 + + +r+p5 pP +qPp+5 R + + K 5 79
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r Ex. 1-11 1222222223 + + + L5 + + + + 5 + + T +5 + + + + 5 + + + +5 B R + + 5 + + + +5 K + + + 5 79 r Ex. 1-12 1222222223 + + Tl+5 + R + Oo5 t+ +oV +5 Ow+ B +q5 O +r+ +5 + + + +p5 + + +pK5 + + + + 5 79

chapter

Solutions
Ex. 1-1

Kreichik Laitgeb
Vienna 1951

1.xg5!!+

(1 point) 1...hxg5 If 1...xg2, then 2.xg2 xg2 3.xg6 h7 4.xg2#. 2.xg6 h7 3.xe6 g8 4.g6 h7 5.xd6 g8 6.g6 h7 7.xc6 g8 8.g6 h7 9.xb6 g8 10.g6 h7 11.a6 g8 12.xa2 10 Ex. 1-2

After a queen sacrifice, you must calculate your variations very carefully! Black plays 1...xf4 2.xg7 h8 3.xf7 e5 (or even 3...e5) and wins. 1...xh3 2.xg7 h8 3.xf7 g8 4.g7 h8 5.g8# (another 1 point for this variation) Ex. 1-4

G.Antunac R.Hbner
Dresden 1969

L.Schmid Muth
1950

1.xf6!!

(1 point) 1.h6! also wins easily. 1...gxf6 2.h6 g8 3.g7 f8 4.xc7 g8 5.g7 f8 Dont be impatient! The windmill can keep on working! 6.xb7 g8 7.g7 f8 8.xa7 g8 9.f7!! (another 1 point) This is the only winning move. 9...xf7 10.xa8 e8 11.xe8 f7 12.xh8 10 Ex. 1-3

(1 point) 1...xh5 2.e7 f8 3.xb7 e8 4.e7 f8 5.xh7 But not 5.xa7? e8 6.e7 f8 7.xh7? because of 7...xa3+. 5...e8 6.xh5+ (another 1 point for the whole variation) Ex. 1-5

1.c7!!

F.Dos Santos M.Ginzburg

1...e2!

(1 point) 2.xb6 xg2 3.h1 xc2 4.g1 g2 5.h1 xb2 6.g1 g2 7.h1 xa2 8.g1 axb6 01 Ex. 1-6

B.Verlinsky I.Rabinovich
USSR Ch, Leningrad 1925

A.Beni Schwarzbach
Austria 1969

1.xc7!

1.h3!!

(1 point) After deflecting the black queen, White can open up the diagonals for both his bishops. 1.h5!!+ does this equally well. On the other hand 1.f4? would be wrong. 13

(1 point) 1...xc7 2.xc7 b8 3.c1 There is the equally good 3.c3+. 3...a7 3...d6 is followed by 4.xd6 a7 5.a1 a6 6.xa6! b7 (or 6...xa6 7.f4+) 7.b6! a7 8.c5+.

chapter

Solutions
2.xe5! (another 1 point) 2...xc2 3.f8! But not 3.xg6?? xe5+. 3...xf8 4.xg6 10 (1 point) Ex. 1-9
Based on the game

4.a1 a6 5.axa6 b7 6.eb6 c8 7.a8 d7 8.xd8 xd8 9.d6 10 (another 1 point for this variation) Ex. 1-7

Afanasjev Koshelev
USSR 1968

(1 point) 1...f5? would be bad: 2.xf5 xf5 3.xf5 exf5 4.e6+. 2.xh5 xg2 3.h1 gxf2 Of course not 3...gg8 4.h2 xf2? due to 5.xf2 and Black will have to give perpetual check: 5...g2 6.h1 g5=. 4.g1 g2 5.h1 xc2 (another 1 point) 6.g1 g2 There is an even faster win: 6...g8! 7.f1 g2 8.g1 c6 9.f1 b5 10.c4 xc4 11.d3 xd3#. 7.h1 xb2 8.g1 g2 Here too there is a win after 8...g8!. 9.h1 d2 10.g1 xd1 11.h2 d2 12.g1 12.g3 is met by 12...g2 13.h4 f5#. 12...g2 13.h1 c2 Or 13...f1!. 14.g1 xc7 01 Ex. 1-8

1...xh5!!

B.Malich Litkiewicz
East Germany 1967

1.xf7!

(1 point) 1.g4 (1 consolation point) is not so strong: 1...xf3 2.xf3 g5 3.xc8 xc8. 1...xe2 1...xh3 2.gxh3 g6 is followed by 3.g4 xg4 4.hxg4 xf7 5.xc8+. 2.xg7 h8 3.xe7! (1 point) After 3.g8 h7 White has to repeat moves by 4.g7 h8. 3.xg5?? would be bad, on account of 3...f6+. 3...xe5 4.dxe5 c2 5.b3 cxf2 6.c1 xb2 7.c6+ Ex. 1-10

I.Boleslavsky A.Ufimtsev
Omsk 1944

M.Taimanov N.N.
Simultaneous 1964

1.xg7!

(1 point) 1.xe5 (1 consolation point) is not so precise, as after 1...xf1! 2.xf1 xe5 Black has a rook, bishop and pawn for the queen and can still defend his position. 1...h8 1...xg7 2.xe5+ 14

(1 point) 1...xa5?! 2.xa5 d2 would not be so good, in view of 3.xg4 xf1 4.xe6 fxe6 5.xf1. 2.xg2 d2! + (another 1 point) Also possible is 2...c3!?+; but 2...xg2? 3.xg2 g5 is refuted by 4.f3!. 3.d5 3.xb6 is met by 3...xg2 4.h1 xh2 5.g1 h1#.

1...xg2!

chapter

Solutions
3.f3 also leads to a quick loss: 3...xe3 4.h1 h6+. 4...xd5 5.cxd5 xb2+ Ex. 1-11
The end of a study by

2.c7 g8 3.g7 h8 4.a2+

(1 point) Black is in zugzwang and loses after any move he makes. Ex. 1-12

L.Topko
1966

V.Faibisovich K.Lerner
USSR Ch semifinal, Alma Ata 1971

1.b2!

(1 point) Preparing the battery for discovered checks. 1...f8 The echo variation is 1...h6 2.g3 h7 3.g7 h8 4.b1+. 1...f7 runs into 2.h3 g8 3.h8#; likewise, 1...g6 allows 2.c8 h7 3.h8#.

Here it is all about achieving equality. 1.xf6! (1 point) 1...xh5 2.xg7 h8 3.f7! (1 point) White delivers perpetual check, naturally avoiding 3.g5? xf6+.

Scoring
Maximum number of points is 23

20 points and above 16 points and above 12 points

Excellent Good Pass mark

If you scored less than 12 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong.
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