Corsi

Introduzione

Fundamentals

6 Esercizi

1
Check on f7
Anteprima corso
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer simply and keep a healthy structure.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend without conceding anything.
5. 5
  The bishop is already looking at f7.
6. 6
  We continue development and keep the Traxler idea.
7. 7
  White targets f7 directly.
8. 8
  We accept the challenge and play for the initiative.
9. 9
  This check tries to knock us out of our plan.
10. 10
  The king relocates without drama, and White does not get the promised attack. Remember that this check does not break the Traxler.
2
Trapped queen
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer simply and keep a healthy structure.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend without conceding anything.
5. 5
  The bishop is already looking at f7.
6. 6
  We continue development and keep the Traxler idea.
7. 7
  White targets f7 directly.
8. 8
  We accept the challenge and play for the initiative.
9. 9
  White wins material but lets his coordination fall apart.
10. 10
  We deflect the king before thinking about anything else.
11. 11
  White refuses Kxf2 and blocks himself.
12. 12
  The queen steps aside and prepares to open the center.
13. 13
  The knight takes the rook but buries itself in the corner.
14. 14
  We free the light-squared bishop with tempo.
15. 15
  White captures again, but his queen will run out of air.
16. 16
  The bishop comes out with tempo on White’s queen.
17. 17
  White finally captures on f2, too late to get organized.
18. 18
  The queen falls and the line is won. Above all, remember the duo ...d5 followed by ...Bg4.
3
Pressure on the queen
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer simply and keep a healthy structure.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend without conceding anything.
5. 5
  The bishop is already looking at f7.
6. 6
  We continue development and keep the Traxler idea.
7. 7
  White targets f7 directly.
8. 8
  We accept the challenge and play for the initiative.
9. 9
  White wins material but lets his coordination fall apart.
10. 10
  We deflect the king before thinking about anything else.
11. 11
  White refuses Kxf2 and blocks himself.
12. 12
  The queen steps aside and prepares to open the center.
13. 13
  The knight takes the rook but buries itself in the corner.
14. 14
  We free the light-squared bishop with tempo.
15. 15
  White captures in the center, but this mainly helps our pieces.
16. 16
  The knight jumps into the heart of the game with several threats.
17. 17
  White tries to chase it away, but weakens himself.
18. 18
  The bishop comes out with tempo and White’s queen will suffer. Remember that ...Nd4 followed by ...Bg4 turns the initiative around very quickly.
4
d6 breakthrough
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer simply and keep a healthy structure.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend without conceding anything.
5. 5
  The bishop is already looking at f7.
6. 6
  We continue development and keep the Traxler idea.
7. 7
  White targets f7 directly.
8. 8
  We accept the challenge and play for the initiative.
9. 9
  White wins material but lets his coordination fall apart.
10. 10
  We deflect the king before thinking about anything else.
11. 11
  White refuses Kxf2 and blocks himself.
12. 12
  The queen steps aside and prepares to open the center.
13. 13
  The knight takes the rook but buries itself in the corner.
14. 14
  We free the light-squared bishop with tempo.
15. 15
  White captures in the center, but this mainly helps our pieces.
16. 16
  The knight jumps into the heart of the game with several threats.
17. 17
  White tries to get counterplay before being suffocated.
18. 18
  We recapture calmly and keep all the developing threats. Remember not to panic against d6.
5
Fork on c2
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer simply and keep a healthy structure.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend without conceding anything.
5. 5
  The bishop is already looking at f7.
6. 6
  We continue development and keep the Traxler idea.
7. 7
  White targets f7 directly.
8. 8
  We accept the challenge and play for the initiative.
9. 9
  White wins material but lets his coordination fall apart.
10. 10
  We deflect the king before thinking about anything else.
11. 11
  The king accepts the sacrifice.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  This retreat keeps the king on the first rank.
14. 14
  The queen enters quickly and forces White to defend.
15. 15
  White covers the essentials, but his queen becomes a target.
16. 16
  The knight wins a decisive tempo.
17. 17
  This retreat keeps the material but gives up c2.
18. 18
  We strike immediately and get concrete play. Remember that the king on f1 makes Black’s forks very strong.
6
Check on h3
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer simply and keep a healthy structure.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend without conceding anything.
5. 5
  The bishop is already looking at f7.
6. 6
  We continue development and keep the Traxler idea.
7. 7
  White targets f7 directly.
8. 8
  We accept the challenge and play for the initiative.
9. 9
  White wins material but lets his coordination fall apart.
10. 10
  We deflect the king before thinking about anything else.
11. 11
  The king accepts the sacrifice.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  This retreat keeps the king on the first rank.
14. 14
  The queen enters quickly and forces White to defend.
15. 15
  White covers the essentials, but his queen becomes a target.
16. 16
  The knight wins a decisive tempo.
17. 17
  White tries to close the dark squares.
18. 18
  We keep the queen active and the king remains under pressure. Remember that g3 does not always make the king safe.

Central chase

5 Esercizi

1
Pressure on f2
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer in the same way.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend and develop.
5. 5
  The bishop targets f7.
6. 6
  We allow the critical line to appear.
7. 7
  White attacks f7 very early.
8. 8
  We ignore the threat in order to play for the initiative.
9. 9
  White mainly thinks he is winning material.
10. 10
  We deflect the king before recovering anything.
11. 11
  The king accepts and loses its safety.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  The king walks into the middle of the board.
14. 14
  The queen joins the attack immediately.
15. 15
  The knight takes the rook, but goes completely out of play.
16. 16
  The queen chooses an active square and forces the king again.
17. 17
  The king tries to come back, without real safety.
18. 18
  We keep the king trapped in the center. Remember that pressure on f2 often replaces a simple direct mate.
2
Knight on d4
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer in the same way.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend and develop.
5. 5
  The bishop targets f7.
6. 6
  We allow the critical line to appear.
7. 7
  White attacks f7 very early.
8. 8
  We ignore the threat in order to play for the initiative.
9. 9
  White mainly thinks he is winning material.
10. 10
  We deflect the king before recovering anything.
11. 11
  The king accepts and loses its safety.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  The king walks into the middle of the board.
14. 14
  The queen joins the attack immediately.
15. 15
  White wants to hold the center and cover several threats.
16. 16
  We cut off squares and prepare the knight’s arrival on d4.
17. 17
  White’s knight takes the rook, but it is out of play.
18. 18
  The knight jumps with tempo and White’s center cracks. Remember that ...Nd4 often comes after a too-slow defense with Qf3.
3
Intermediate check
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer in the same way.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend and develop.
5. 5
  The bishop targets f7.
6. 6
  We allow the critical line to appear.
7. 7
  White attacks f7 very early.
8. 8
  We ignore the threat in order to play for the initiative.
9. 9
  White mainly thinks he is winning material.
10. 10
  We deflect the king before recovering anything.
11. 11
  The king accepts and loses its safety.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  The king walks into the middle of the board.
14. 14
  The queen joins the attack immediately.
15. 15
  White wants to close the position around his king.
16. 16
  We open this screen immediately.
17. 17
  The recapture looks logical, but it releases a tactical motif.
18. 18
  We start with the useful check before recovering anything. Remember that in the Traxler, the strong check often comes before material.
4
Jump to b4 (1)
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer in the same way.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend and develop.
5. 5
  The bishop targets f7.
6. 6
  We allow the critical line to appear.
7. 7
  White attacks f7 very early.
8. 8
  We ignore the threat in order to play for the initiative.
9. 9
  White mainly thinks he is winning material.
10. 10
  We deflect the king before recovering anything.
11. 11
  The king accepts and loses its safety.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  The king walks into the middle of the board.
14. 14
  The queen joins the attack immediately.
15. 15
  The knight takes the rook, but goes completely out of play.
16. 16
  The queen chooses an active square and forces the king again.
17. 17
  The king still has no refuge.
18. 18
  The knight jumps with check and closes even more squares. Remember the sequence ...Qh4, ...Qf4+ then ...Nb4+.
19. 19
  Forced.
20. 20
  mate.
5
Forced retreat (1)
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer in the same way.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend and develop.
5. 5
  The bishop targets f7.
6. 6
  We allow the critical line to appear.
7. 7
  White attacks f7 very early.
8. 8
  We ignore the threat in order to play for the initiative.
9. 9
  White mainly thinks he is winning material.
10. 10
  We deflect the king before recovering anything.
11. 11
  The king accepts and loses its safety.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  This retreat looks more cautious, but the king remains uncoordinated.
14. 14
  The queen wins a tempo and already cuts off squares.
15. 15
  The king keeps retreating without saving itself.
16. 16
  We force another move.
17. 17
  White’s king still has no safe square.
18. 18
  The knight joins the attack with check. Remember that retreating does not extinguish Black’s attack.
19. 19
  Forced.
20. 20
  mate.

Open kingside

5 Esercizi

1
Rook on h1
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer symmetrically.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend and develop.
5. 5
  The bishop targets f7.
6. 6
  We keep the Traxler idea.
7. 7
  White attacks f7 very early.
8. 8
  We choose the initiative instead of defending.
9. 9
  White wins material, but forgets king safety.
10. 10
  We deflect the king and open lines.
11. 11
  The king accepts the sacrifice.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  White retreats, but remains badly coordinated.
14. 14
  The queen enters with tempo.
15. 15
  White wants to build a screen on the dark squares.
16. 16
  We open this screen instead of going around it.
17. 17
  White recaptures, but the h-file opens completely.
18. 18
  We win the rook with check and the attack continues. Remember that ...Nxg3 often serves to tear away h1.
2
Pin on f8
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer symmetrically.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend and develop.
5. 5
  The bishop targets f7.
6. 6
  We keep the Traxler idea.
7. 7
  White attacks f7 very early.
8. 8
  We choose the initiative instead of defending.
9. 9
  White wins material, but forgets king safety.
10. 10
  We deflect the king and open lines.
11. 11
  The king accepts the sacrifice.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  The king heads toward the kingside, without real safety.
14. 14
  The queen already creates several threats.
15. 15
  White wants to defend and trade queens.
16. 16
  We add a piece to the attack and pin the f7-knight.
17. 17
  White tries to create an escape square.
18. 18
  We immediately open White’s castled position. Remember that the pin on f8 prepares ...Nxg3 very well.
3
Infiltration on e1
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer symmetrically.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend and develop.
5. 5
  The bishop targets f7.
6. 6
  We keep the Traxler idea.
7. 7
  White attacks f7 very early.
8. 8
  We choose the initiative instead of defending.
9. 9
  White wins material, but forgets king safety.
10. 10
  We deflect the king and open lines.
11. 11
  The king accepts the sacrifice.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  The king heads toward the kingside, without real safety.
14. 14
  The queen already creates several threats.
15. 15
  White wants to defend and trade queens.
16. 16
  We add a piece to the attack and pin the f7-knight.
17. 17
  White consolidates the center, but lacks coordination.
18. 18
  The queen infiltrates the first rank with check. Remember that d3 does not solve the dark-square problem.
4
Opening g3
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer symmetrically.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend and develop.
5. 5
  The bishop targets f7.
6. 6
  We keep the Traxler idea.
7. 7
  White attacks f7 very early.
8. 8
  We choose the initiative instead of defending.
9. 9
  White wins material, but forgets king safety.
10. 10
  We deflect the king and open lines.
11. 11
  The king accepts the sacrifice.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  The king heads toward the kingside, without real safety.
14. 14
  The queen already creates several threats.
15. 15
  White tries to close the lines around his king.
16. 16
  We break this structure immediately.
17. 17
  White recaptures, but opens his kingside even more.
18. 18
  The queen enters White’s castled position directly. Remember that pushing g3 can speed up our attack instead of slowing it down.
5
Breakthrough with Nd4
1. 1
  White takes the center.
2. 2
  We answer symmetrically.
3. 3
  The knight attacks e5.
4. 4
  We defend and develop.
5. 5
  The bishop targets f7.
6. 6
  We keep the Traxler idea.
7. 7
  White attacks f7 very early.
8. 8
  We choose the initiative instead of defending.
9. 9
  White wins material, but forgets king safety.
10. 10
  We deflect the king and open lines.
11. 11
  The king accepts the sacrifice.
12. 12
  The knight takes the center with check.
13. 13
  This retreat looks prudent, but it lacks coordination.
14. 14
  The knight wins another tempo and pushes the king farther away.
15. 15
  The king remains right in the middle.
16. 16
  The queen enters the game at the best moment.
17. 17
  White wants to close the kingside.
18. 18
  We immediately open White’s structure. Remember that ...Nd4+ followed by ...Nxg3 often gives a very clean attack.