Tactical Training is the Way

On problem 300, Sharpen your Tactics ,Circle 1 .
2.1.11 update problem 375
2.2.11 -400
2.3.-420
2.4-460
2-5-480

Yes.... I am doing tactics from Sharpen Your Tactics by Lein and Archangelsky. You can watch my progress on my sidebar. Problems range in difficulty from 1 star-easy 1 movers to 4 stars- hard. The beginning of the book is mainly 1 star problems which goes by quickly. ( I have done this section before).

Level 1 -

Fellow knights here is where I'm at

1st circle problem 142

I have decided that my circles will be problem 1 through 1125 and no mini-circles(subgroups)

Also check this sharp tactic out trying solving without peeking from move 29 with BTM. see position above.

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1468087

To Fill in later

Fill In Later

A -Tactics by Player Name

Adams Akopian Alapin Alekhine Alekseev Almasi Anand Anderssen Aronian Atkins Averbach Azmaiparashvili

Andersen-Kieseritzky London 1851 syt4 The immortal game

Hochberg-Averbakh Stockholm 1954 CM 22

Averbakh-Penrose London 1954 CM60 L4

Keres-Arlamovski Tscharno-Zdrog 195o syt6

B-C Tactics by Player Name

Bacrot Bareev Bauer Beliavsky Bird Blackburne Bogoljubov Botvinnik Bronstein Bu Buckle Burn
Capablanca Carlsen Charousek Chigorin

Honfi-Barzcay 1977 CM9

Furman-Batygin Kalinin 1950 cm55 l6
Bellon-G.Garcia Cienfuegos 1976 CM 34

Zaharov-Bobolovich Russia 1960 2 syt

Bogoljubov-Monticelli San Remo 1930 8 syt

Byrne-Tarjan Cleveland 1975 5 ecm

To Fill in later

Chess Master List

Adams Akopian Alapin Alekhine Alekseev Almasi Anand Anderssen Aronian Atkins Averbach Azmaiparashvili
Bacrot Bareev Bauer Beliavsky Bird Blackburne Bogoljubov Botvinnik Bronstein Bu Buckle Burn
Capablanca Carlsen Charousek Chigorin
de Labourdonnais de Vere Dobias Dominguez-Peres Dreev Dubois
Eichborn Eljanov Englisch Euwe
Fine Fischer Flohr
Gelfand Geller Georgiev Goetz Grischuk Ginsburg Gunsberg M Gurevich
Harikrishna Harrwitz Hirschfeld Inarkiev Ivanchuk
Jakovenko Janowski
Kamsky Karjakin Karpov Kasparov Kasimdzhanov Keres Khalifman Kolisch Korchnoi Kramnik Krasenkow
Landa Lange Larsen Lasker Lautier Leko Lipke Lipshutz
Mackenzie Malakhov Makovetz Mamedyarov Maroczy Marshall Mason McShane Milov Miroshnichenko Moehle Morozevich Morphy Movsesian
Naiditsch Najdorf Nakamura Neumann Ni Nikolic, Nimzovich , Nisipeanu
Paulsen Petrosian Petrov Piket Pillsbury J Polgar, Polugaevsky Ponomariov Portisch Potter
Radjabov Reshevsky Riemann Rosenthal Rubinstein Rublevsky
Sargissian Sasikiran Schlechter Schwarz Shirov Short Smirin
Smyslov Socko Sokolov Spassky Stein Steinitz Suhle Svidler
Tal Tarrasch Timman Topalov
Vallejo Pons Van Wely Volokitin Von Bardeleben vond der Lasa
Yusupov
Wang Weiss Winawer
Zukertort

D-F Tactics by Player Name

de Labourdonnais de Vere Dobias Dominguez-Peres Dreev Dubois
Eichborn Eljanov Englisch Euwe
Fine Fischer Flohr

Dunhaupt-Kunert corr 52-53 ecm 2

Zuckertort-Englisch London 1883 CM47 L10

Furman-Batygin Kalinin 1950 cm55 l6

G-J Tactics by Player Names

Gelfand Geller Georgiev Goetz Grischuk Ginsburg Gunsberg M Gurevich
Harikrishna Harrwitz Hirschfeld Inarkiev Ivanchuk
Jakovenko Janowski

Bellon-G.Garcia Cienfuegos 1976 CM 34

Goncharova-Radchenko Riga 1983 CM l2

Livshitz-Grossman Wroclaw 1979 Cm51 l3

Hochberg-Averbakh Stockholm 1954 CM 22

Honfi-Barzcay 1977 CM9

K Tactics by Players Name

Kamsky Karjakin Karpov Kasparov Kasimdzhanov Keres Khalifman Kolisch Korchnoi Kramnik Krasenko

Miller-Kearney NY 1935 11syt

Keres-Arlamovski Tscharno-Zdrog 195o syt6

Andersen-Kieseritzky London 1851 syt4 The immortal game

Koepaev-Vistaneckis ussr 1949 CM38

Muchloc-Kostic Koln 1912 syt9

Trifunovic-Kostic Yugoslavia Moscow 1956 cm 40

Kudari-Larsen Ottawa 1970 4 ecm

L-Q Tactics by Player Name

Landa Lange Larsen Lasker Lautier Leko Lipke Lipshutz
Mackenzie Malakhov Makovetz Mamedyarov Maroczy Marshall Mason McShane Milov Miroshnichenko Moehle Morozevich Morphy Movsesian
Naiditsch Najdorf Nakamura Neumann Ni Nikolic, Nimzovich , Nisipeanu
Paulsen Petrosian Petrov Piket Pillsbury J Polgar, Polugaevsky Ponomariov Portisch Potter

Kudari-Larsen Ottawa 1970 4 ecm

Tikan-Peebo Tartu 1977 CM58 l2

Averbakh-Penrose London 1954 CM60 L4

Puschman-Lengyel Hungry 71 CM48 L10

Lipschutz-Schallopp London 1886 3 ecm

Livshitz-Grossman Wroclaw 1979 Cm51 l3

Volkevich-Lyskov Moscow 1958 Cm34 L4

Miller-Kearney NY 1935 11syt

Bogoljubov-Monticelli San Remo 1930 8 syt

Muchlok- Kostic Koln 1912 9syt

Yusupov-Nogueiras Montpelier 1985 syt 15

Petrosian-Simagin Moscow 1956 cm25

Poldepor-Stoudtman Pepic 1980 10syt

R-T Tactics by Player Name

Radjabov Reshevsky Riemann Rosenthal Rubinstein Rublevsky
Sargissian Sasikiran Schlechter Schwarz Shirov Short Smirin
Smyslov Socko Sokolov Spassky Stein Steinitz Suhle Svidler
Tal Tarrasch Timman Topalov

Goncharova-Radchenko Riga 1983 CM l2

Reti-Tartakover Vienna 1910 syt13

Smyslov-Szabo Hastings 4-55 CM49 L2

Smyslov-Szabo Hastings 4-55 CM49 L2

Vaslukov-Taimanov usssr 1965 cm61 l4

Tikan-Peebo Tartu 1977 CM58 l2

Trifunovic-Kostic Yugoslavia Moscow 1956 cm 40

Rubinstein-Vidmar Berlin 1918 syt 12

Lipschutz-Schallopp London 1886 ecm 3

Petrosian-Simagin Moscow 1956 cm25

Tolush-Simagin 1952 1 ecm

Steinitz-Schlesser 1863 7 syt

Poldepor-Stoudtman Pepic 1980 10syt

Reti-Tartakover Vienna 1910 syt13

Byrne-Tarjan Cleveland 1975 5 ecm

Tolush-Simagin 1952 1 ecm

U-Z Tactics by Player Name

Vallejo Pons Van Wely Volokitin Von Bardeleben vond der Lasa
Yusupov
Wang Weiss Winawer
Zukertort

Vaslukov-Taimanov usssr 1965 cm61 l4

Veizai-Hodja Albania 1954 Cm56 L4

Koepaev-Vistaneckis ussr 1949 CM38

Rubinstein-Vidmar Berlin 1918 syt 12

Volkevich-Lyskov Moscow 1958 Cm34 L4

Yusupov-Nogueiras Montpelier 1985 syt 15

Zaharov-Bobolovich Russia 1960 2 syt

Zuckertort-Englisch London 1883 CM47 L10

Boleslavsky vs Lisitsin

I have just memorized this game which is the first supplementary game in The Best Lessons of a Chess Coach in chapter one.

It had a very similar theme as the Smyslov game a killer Knight outpost on d5. Boleslavsky created the conditions for this outpost with a brilliant c4 pawn sac to create a bishop trade. He then went on to remove the Knight on f6 the last defender of the d5 square. I find it interesting that both games had the opponent trade knights as the first piece exchange and toward the end each side had a minor piece, 2 rooks and a queen. The outpost knight held the power in each game.

Note to self: Be mindful once a knight is traded for outpost opportunities.

Another interesting move was the quiet 21 Qe2 followed by 22 Qf1 preventing a future blockade by Blacks queen on the H file. This allows for the pawn storm sequence beginning with 23 g3. The knight on d5 at times keeps black bishop on f8 to prevent e7 check as well as the queen can never take on h5 due to f6 check & fork.


Kingcrusher did a nice analysis of this game on youtube . The game can be replayed here at playchess .

hmmm...............

On the most direct level, Yermolinsky explains how to improve your chess, then shows in detail exactly how he did it himself. The main idea is not very mysterious: take Botvinnik's advice, analyze each and every game you play, and be sure that you do so thoroughly and without prejudice.

Opening Theory- KID-Black to Move

BTM , Black to expand on the Queenside 7...c5 0r 7....b6 works even 7... a6

A Most Instructive Instructive Game-Smyslov-Rudakovsky 1945

A View from the Bunker, Black to Move


Here's a game which Smyslov played against Rudakovsky in the 1945 USSR championship tournament. Found here

This has appeared in many chess books including:
Silman's Re-access your Chess
Pachman's Chess Strategy
Chernev's Most Instructive Games
Best Lessons of a Chess Coach.(Chapter 1)
[Note: I'm currently working through this book]

This game appears to be the 1940's equivalent of the Opera Game. An appealing entertaining and instructive game where each move of the winner is purposeful, effective and ends with a great mating combination. It is game most used when the author wants to show an example of a strong Knight Outpost that dominates the game. It illustrates as well the value of coordination and superior position where sides of equal material can be greatly different strengths. Poor Rudakovsky is unable to accomplish anything in this game and his Queen sits helplessly watching a mating net from the opposite side of the board.

When I have a good classic instructive game that I study, I memorize it. I do this by breaking the game in phases and creating a narrative. I find the handful of games that are considered to be the classics have a nice entertaining story that runs through them.


It starts off with Basic Sicilian Scheveningen Stuff

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6

Both Sides rush to King Safety

6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O

Get out those pieces

8. Be3 Nc6(a threat forms)

A weakness is not a weakness if it cannot be exploited! f4 prepares for a King-side attack.

9. f4 {I want to play this move more in a number of openings}

Black moves big gun to play on the Queen side

Interesting you have the same position in Karpov-Spassky game here at whites move 9 (look at the winning combination!)

9 .... Qc7

White Queen positions for protection on Queen side with a quick route to King side (THE MOVE per Weeramantry)

10. Qe1 !

Black uses a tactic to gain space

10..... Nxd4 11. Bxd4 e5

White declines the pawn take since restricting Blacks Space is a major goal. Why free up the bishop and spread out his pawns ?

White develops his bishop and black tries to develop his bishop
12. Be3 Be6

Kick that Bishop!

13. f5

Forces Trade

13.... Bc4 14. Bxc4 Qxc4

White quickly enacts a plan to create a unbreachable Nd5 Outpost

15. Bg5 Rfe8(protects bishop but that's not what white is after)

Removal of the last guard of d5 and occupation

16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nd5

Black runs Bishop to Safety

17 ..Bd8

Smyslov repairs a weakness before starting his attack

18. c3

Black's mysterious pawn move (?)

18 .... b5

Kick that Queen!

19. b3

I'll check you because I can

19..... Qc5+ 20. Kh1

Prepares a Qxc3 attack

Rc8

Rook Lift that protects and prepares a kingside attack

21. Rf3 !

Get in the bunker(f6 would be a better)

21.... Kh8

Kamikaze Pawn

22. f6! gxf6

Build the attack and threaten an eventual QXh7 mate

23. Qh4

Protects as best he can

23... Rg8

White threatens Qxh7 mate and black defends

24. Nxf6 Rg7

White prepares a deflection mate Black fights back

25. Rg3 Bxf6

Queen pins rook and prepares for the kill


26. Qxf6

Black tries to support the now pinned rook

26. Rcg8

Smyslov brings fight to new front on the way to back rank tactics

27. Rd1

Rudakovsky has run out of moves

27......d5

Chess is a cruel game; replace the pinned rook with another one
28. Rxg7 Rxg7

29. Rxd5 and the game is over with Blacks Queen sitting on the checking square totally out of the game unable to defend or get a tempo to take advantage of whites back rank


Also: here is my game collection page of games worth remembering.

Opening Theory - The Marshall Attack - BTM

I like to play the Marshall Attack as Black against the Ruy. Given the well travelled path of opening theory here I know the line to about move 15. I hope to learn more and be able to win occasionally and force a draw when I need to. It's an attacking line but against proper play most likely a draw.

Here against Sliuszicht 1697 on Playchess. BTM. ( I played Bd7 and eventually lost)

I would like to play the thematic F5. Charge ! Fight to Open lines .

f4! f5, Bxf5 gxf5, Rook Lift Re6 and black is better after the bishop sac.

1/1/2011 Herb Healy Tournament

Here I am wearing the blue hat sitting next to the scholar and gentleman :George the Blunderprone. (Please note: Despite the photographic evidence above, I'm not asleep ?!)

This is my third New Years day tournament at the BCC and was my favorite. All games were 1 e4 8),openings I was comfortable with and hard fought .
I played
1) a King's Gambit as White ( lost)
2) a Reti Gambit as White against the French (won)
3) a Scotch Gambit as Black (lost)
4) a 2 Knights as Black (lost) (almost a Traxler but went 0-0 0-0)

All interesting games and I didn't hang any pieces. I consider this a major accomplishment given my two year hiatus.

Games 3 & 4 I was hanging on for my life through most of it.

Game 3 I accidently plopped down my bishop on an unintended square (an across the board mouse slip)
Game 4 I believe I should of kicked the G5 Knight by h6 but never played it.

I'm rated at the time I let my USCF lapse under 11oo ..... So I was happy with my play against the 4 players all who were over 1600. (two of them over 1800)

A nice informal get together with enjoyable people.