1

Обложка
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Content

1. Know the rules ……………………………………………………… 3

2. Train systematically ………………………………………………. 5
3. Use the possibilities of Internet ……………………………… 8
4. Solving chess puzzles ……………………………………………… 9
5. Study simple endings …………………………………………… 10
6. Examine typical games of grandmasters ……………… 13
7. Check your moves ………………………………………………… 15
8. Improve your visualization …………………………………… 18
9. Analyze your games …………………………………………….. 20
10. Do not play blitz too often …………………………………… 23
Know the rules 3

Know the rules

Learn how each piece moves
It is clear that if you have played several games of chess, then most likely you know
this already. However, it doesn't hurt to check yourself. Did you know that a knight can
check and even checkmate the opponent's king, even if he hid and surrounded himself
with pieces? And list, for verification, all the cases when it is impossible to castle. And
also - the rules for capturing a pawn end passant, or in passing. It is also worth
remembering that in chess it is not necessary to capture, which a chess player who
played checkers might not be aware of, because in checkers it is necessary to capture.
Do not forget that apart from the queen, the pawn can also turn into weaker pieces, for
example, into a knight, which can be an easy surprise for an inexperienced chess player.

Learn basic concepts - check, checkmate, stalemate, etc.

Also seemingly elementary things. It will be all the more sad if you accidentally
stalemate your opponent in a winning position. Or, on the contrary, you will lose the
game, thinking that you have entered a stalemate, although, for example, your pawn
can still move.

Learn the types of draws

Useful knowledge. Let's list them right here: mutual agreement, three times repetition,
insufficient material for mate (for example, king and bishop against king), stalemate, 50
moves in a row without captures and pawn movements, perpetual check.

Study the rules in force during the game (see codex)

Most of these rules apply only when playing offline, whereas nowadays playing on the
internet is very common.

Touched - move
It is important to know that if the figure is clearly crooked, then you can correct it only
by saying "Adjust." Otherwise, you may be forced to move with this piece, or capture it
(if it is an opponent's piece). It is also worth remembering that no one will allow you to
redo a move. If you made a move with a piece and released it, then the move has already
been made, and you will not be able to return it, even if you have not yet switched the
clock. If you grab a piece, but have not yet released it, you can move it to another place
in accordance with the rules of chess.

Play with one hand

This is also an important rule. With which hand you make a move, you must use the
same hand to remove the enemy's captured pieces from the board, and with the same
hand press the button of the chess clock.

Castling rules
As follows from the previous point, you need to castle with one hand and start with the
king's move. Otherwise, you may be forced to move with the rook.
 4 Know the rules

How to promote a pawn

Here it is already more complicated, and even among the world champions there have
been strange incidents. First you need to stock up on the piece into which you are going
to turn your pawn. If it is not in the immediate visibility, you have the right to temporarily
stop the clock and go in search of the desired figure, or contact the competition judge.
The next step is to advance your pawn to the promotion square, announce out loud
which piece you are placing, then remove the pawn from the board and place the piece
you have stored on this square. It is a common habit among amateur chess players to
turn a pawn into a queen and put an inverted rook in its place. Don't even think about
doing this during a tournament game! You will be immediately credited with a loss due
to an impossible move.

How to offer a draw

It is worth remembering that a player can offer a draw only once per game. Otherwise,
it may be regarded as an attempt at psychological pressure, and the adversary may file
a complaint against you with the judge.

Other required knowledge

There are a few more chess rules than it might seem, and situations are so difficult that
even a professional judge cannot immediately understand them. For example, your
opponent makes an impossible move, and you also follow him, but at the same time you
run out of time, and your opponent's phone rang in his pocket. In whose favor did the
game end in this case?
Another case (it was at one of the chess olympics): White made a move, dropped the
king from the h1 square on the floor, and placed it on g1. As a result, the king managed
to reach the passed pawn, and an unfair victory had happened. Will the player get a
point in the tournament table in this case?
All of this is written in the chess codex of your federation. It is also worth noting that
the rules in the codex are regularly changed. For example, if earlier for an impossible
move (not according to the rules) when playing blitz, the player was immediately given
a defeat, then they were allowed to make a mistake once for the game, and only with
the second violation a loss is assigned. So it's worth following these rules. However, in
any more or less important tournament, before the start, the referee announces
important points according to the rules of the game.
It is very useful to spend some time and at least familiarize yourself with these
intricacies. Then you will feel much more confident during the game, and also
understand that chess is a serious sport, and not just entertainment with the movement
of wooden pieces.
Train systematically 5

Train systematically
Millions of people play chess, but some have played at the same level all their lives,
while others became grandmasters and contenders for the world championship in three
years. What is the difference? As in any business, systematic practice leads to the
desired result.

Practice regularly
It is better to study chess every day for twenty minutes than once a week until
exhaustion. First, knowledge is better assimilated, and secondly, there is no negative
element of chess fatigue. Modern technologies (internet, smartphones, tablets).

Make a plan
Classes with a plan are much more productive than without one. The plan includes
working on your specific problems, followed by monitoring and using what you
learned in practice. It is better to make a plan with a coach, because he sees the
flaws in your game from the outside, and will help you choose one or several areas of
training.

The training system should include:

1. Study of typical positions
This provides specific knowledge, typical strategic and tactical techniques used in
certain positions. In addition, when you encounter an unfamiliar position in a game, you
can see familiar shapes and apply an idea you already know. Grandmasters know tens
of thousands of different positions, and this is what you should aim for.
2. Solving chess puzzles
Regular solution of simple tactics, studies, checkmate problems in several moves
improves your combination vision, teaches you to see the influence of a particular piece
on the position, teaches you to see weaknesses on both sides. Tactics should be a
necessary part of a chess player's training, especially in the first year, as it is the fastest
way to win a game.
3. Analysis of games of grandmasters
Also a necessary moment. Especially the study of the games played recently. This
allows you to keep up with the theory. Your potential rivals may not know new ideas
and end up on your prepared variation. Also, it develops chess thinking at the
grandmaster level. The analysis of grandmaster games with the help of a powerful
engine allows you to dive into the depths of the work of professionals on positions in a
real game, which is very useful, and you can apply the acquired skills in your own games.
After studying the next game, it is worth making edits to the file of your opening
repertoire.
4. Practice
As you know, practice without theory is blind, and theory without practice is dead.
Practical games reinforce the knowledge you have gained, increases the number of
positions that you will have intuitively, without the participation of your brain. The flaws
in your game are also highlighted.
 6 Train systematically

5. Playing with a coach

A coach will play with you the positions that you will use in tournaments, and
immediately explain your mistakes. This is the so-called interactive learning with a high
memorization efficiency.

6. Playing with strong opponents

Playing with strong opponents tests the quality of your preparation. Strong opponents
are characterized by the fact that they are stronger than you in all stages of the game.
Even after leaving the opening thanks to your opening knowledge and getting a good
position, you still have to show the technique of realizing the advantage or the ability to
maintain balance. The enemy will test you in a wide variety of ways, including the most
sophisticated techniques, which will greatly enrich your arsenal of technical chess tools.
In addition, a successful tournament game against a master or grandmaster contains a
tasty bonus in the form of an increase in rating or, possibly, a cash prize.
7. Training with a computer
8. Testing, control of fixing your material

Training should be interesting

It has been verified that no one can do an uninteresting business for a long time.
Classes should motivate you, which is an energy boost on your long journey to the
grandmaster (master) title or any other specific goal (for example, to win the
championship of your city). In our opinion, a strong motivating factor is the desire to
win, as well as communication with strong chess players and interesting people. It often
happens that while playing chess, a person also develops as a person. Also, the
motivation can be the desire to avoid defeat, which can stimulate the development of a
reliable, positional, economical defensive style.

Contain work on mistakes

On any long journey, you need to check with a map or compass to not get lost and to
not dodge the final goal. The same happens in chess education. After each stage of
training, be it a studied opening, familiarization with a certain class of positions, a played
tournament, you should make a list of your mistakes, draw conclusions from them and
plan work on them. There should be no gaps in your knowledge, as they can lead to
defeats in important games.

Learning to endure defeat

Do not forget that professional chess is a hard sport and often hours of exhausting
work. As much as victories are pleasant in this situation, defeats, especially undeserved
ones, can knock you out of the working rhythm. Here you need psychological
preparation, and the support of a coach or other person. Do not forget that everyone
loses, even the world champion, and defeats are feedback on your way to the top, and
show you your weak points. After defeats, calm, judicious analysis and work on mistakes
(immediately or after the tournament) is necessary more than ever.
Use the possibilities of Internet 7

You can study according to ready-made training courses, where all of this is taken into
account
One of the most complex teaching methods are training courses, where knowledge is
already "packed" in the right order, convenient for memorization, the most typical and
memorable examples are collected, test exercises are included. In addition, you can
practice in a tempo convenient for you.

Use the possibilities of Internet

The Internet provides huge opportunities to study chess by yourself. You need to keep
up with the time. If you don't use the internet in preparation, your potential opponents
will have an advantage over you. However, with such a variety of possibilities, self-
control is needed. Do it strictly according to the system. Otherwise, you can, for
example, get carried away with playing blitz on chess sites, resulting in missing out on
serious preparation, which will move you away from the final goal.

Online classes with a coach

The coach must be a qualified chess player, have good diction, be able to answer
questions professionally, and have a training program for the required level. It is
advisable that they have trained students already.

Video courses
There are free and paid ones. Free benefits: easy to find. At the same time: there is no
guarantee of quality, information is often disordered. If the video course is about some
kind of opening, there is a possibility that it is outdated, since the theory is developing
all the time.
Advantages of paid ones: usually high-quality (read reviews), information is given as it
gets more complicated, there is self-control. Webinars of grandmasters and masters
(usually paid). There is feedback (you can ask questions). They are held regularly, and
you can choose the desired topic.

Streams with commentary by strong chess players

Watch live games of strong chess players, get professional comments on each move.
Broaden your chess horizons, get professional advice on how to play many positions,
and often get the opportunity to play with strong chess players, and with the streamer
himself

Sessions with masters on the Internet

Gain experience at the level of a master. If it's a stream, then listen to the comments.
You can analyze your mistakes

Online tournaments (not blitz)

They contribute to the development of practical skills, there is an opportunity to win
prizes. Playing with chess players of different levels allows you to practice both a game
for a win and a draw.
 8 Solving chess puzzles

Chess services
There are a lot of them on the Internet, consider the two most popular:
Chess.com
There is a speed solving of problems (tactical assault, tactical duel), a large base of
games, a lot of training with a computer (endgames, handicap play, typical opening
positions, attack, defense, etc.). There are many videos from experienced trainers, and
already made video courses from trainers, for example from Viktor Neustroev,
Alexandra Kosteniuk, etc. An important component is the blogs of strong chess players,
which contain articles on openings, coverage of chess events, and practical examples.
The only drawback: the full range of services is paid.
Lichess.org
The site is free. There is an opportunity to solve unlimited positions from practical
games, a large number of training studios with tasks, with disassembled games, and so
on. You can design your own training studios. Availability of a training block for
beginners and low-skilled chess players. The ability to record streams and watch
strangers. It is convenient to analyze your own and other people's games using a
powerful engine, as well as watch the games of grandmasters online.

Websites of strong chess players

A large number of articles on chess, free and paid training materials.

Chess libraries
Lots of chess books available for download.

Chess apps for mobile

They can contain a large number of thematic problems, exercises, theoretical
knowledge, and, as a rule, contain a built-in chess engine of grandmaster level.
We recommend using all the possibilities of the Internet. It is known that information
is better assimilated if it is obtained from several sources, and also immediately applied
in practice. For example, having studied some opening, immediately work out it's
knowledge on a chess site. Take chess tests regularly to control your growth. Constantly
communicate with the coach in order to adjust the direction of your chess development.

Solving chess puzzles

Solving problems is a necessary component of a chess player's training. As in other
cases, regular exercise is important here. Many chess players neglect solving puzzles,
preferring a more practical game. But one should not forget that problems not only
develop combination vision, but also train calculation skills. Suffice it to say that the
current world champion Magnus Carlsen regularly solves problems and speaks positively
about etudes. It is no coincidence that a strong stage of his play is a difficult tactical
endgame, where he applies the acquired skills.
Solving chess puzzles 9

Algorithm for solving chess puzzles:

1. Solve puzzles regularly, 15-20 minutes a day, gradually increase.
2. Solve tasks without a board, without moving the pieces.
3. Self-control:
A) Write down solutions on paper. List all possible options.
B) Record elapsed time.
C) Record the number of correctly solved problems.
D) Gradually try to improve the results.
4. Choose the level of difficultly for yourself:
If the solving is too easy (1-2 minutes), take a more difficult level. If you spend a lot of
time on one problem (more than 5 minutes), take a simpler level.
5. Increase the difficultly gradually:
A) Mate problems start with one move (for beginners), then two, then three moves,
and so on.
B) Problems for usual tactics (winning material, achieving a draw) start with simple
ones (one move, one variation).
C) Increase gradually: the number of moves in puzzles, the number of variations, the
number of pieces on the board, the number topics in one continuation.
6. Solve tasks by topics:
For example, 30-50 tasks for promoting pawns, chasing the king, storming the king's
fortress, etc. Also solve problems on narrower topics. For example, sacrificing a bishop
on f7 and then a knight on e6 (or vice versa).
7. Adapt problem selection to practical play.
If you want to improve your endgame, then solve endgame problems and etudes. This
increases your knowledge of simple positions, and helps you feel properties of the
pieces and their interaction.
If you study positions of a certain type (openings), then solve tactics from this opening.
Take problems from books. Problems from books force you to solve them more
thoughtfully, since there is no temptation to quickly make an obvious move without
considering all possible options.
Here are some useful sources:
A) W. J. Baird “700 chess problems”
B) J. Pierce “English chess problems”
C) E. Wallis “777 chess miniatures in three”
An example of a checkmate problem in 1 move, 47 ways:










 10 Study simple endings

An example of a complex combination with several themes and multiple variations:

Lputian, S. — Kasparov, G.
Tbilisi,1976
1.d4 ♞f6 2.c4 g6 3.♘c3 ♝g7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 ♞c6 6.♗e3 a6 7.♕d2 ♜b8 8.♖b1 0–0
9.b4 e5 10.d5 ♞d4 11.♘ge2 c5 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.♘xd4 exd4 14.♗xd4 ♜e8 15.♗e2.










15...c5!
Pawn fork. 16.bxc5 ♞xe4! Exposed attack, double attack distraction, breaking the
king's cover. 17.fxe4 (17.♘xe4 ♜xb1+; 17.♖xb8 ♞xd2) 17...♛h4+ 18.g3 (18.♗f2
♝xc3!, destruction of defense.) 18...♜xb1+! Distraction. 19.♔f2, a counter
combination, double attack (19.♘xb1 ♛xe4 – double attack).
19...♜b2!! Distraction, withdrawal with the pace of the attacked piece. 20.gxh4
(20.♕xb2 ♝xd4+)20...♜xd2 21.♗xg7 ♚xg7 22.♔e3 ♜c2 23.♔d3 ♜xc3+! Return of
material (23...♜b2? 24.cxd6) 24.♔xc3 dxc5 25.♗d3 ♝b7 26.♖e1 ♜e5 27.a4 f5
28.♖b1 ♝xe4 29.♖b6 f4 30.♖xa6 f3 31.♗f1 ♝f5 32.♖a7+ ♚h6 33.♔d2 f2 34.♗e2
♝g4 35.♗d3 ♜e1 36.♖f7 ♝f5 37.a5 ♝xd3 38.♖xf2 ♜f1. 0–1.

Study simple endings

Studying engames should start from scratch. What's the point of getting an extra
queen if you can't mate a lone king.
In the first lessons, you should learn how to checkmate: with two rooks (linear
checkmate), a queen and a king, learn how to push back the king, then with a king and
a rook, here we first come across the concept of opposition. Checkmate with two
bishops. A checkmate with a knight and a bishop is somewhat more difficult, which
means that it can be transferred to a later stage of training.
The next step is to learn how to win with the queen and king against the king and minor
piece. A queen versus a bishop wins easily (it is enough to move to squares of the
opposite color to the bishop), but a queen versus knight endgame already causes some
difficulties, since the jumping knight tends to make forks. A queen against a rook is even
more difficult to win, you need to know typical tricks of pushing the king away.
Study simple endings 11

The ending of a king and a pawn against the opposing king is closely connected with
the mate with a queen. One or two lessons should be devoted to this endgame. Learn
the simplest terms: the square rule, opposition, emergency move, etc. Remember all
won and drawn positions, there are not so many of them.

Compile a file of endings

It is advisable to have a general idea of what endings there are, and their features, so
that during the game you can choose which ending is better for you. The number of
different endings is quite large, and their study requires gradual approach, as well as
regularly repeating the endings that you have already learned.
For example, if you have a bishop and your opponent has a knight, then it is better to
try to exchange pawns so that you get distant passed pawns. On the other hand, if you
have a knight, then it is desirable that all pawns are on the same flank.
The opposite is also true: if all the pawns are on the same flank, then it is better to
exchange your bishops for your opponent's knights, and if the pawns are scattered
around the board, then it is better to keep a bishop for yourself.
However, as with any rule, there may be exceptions.
You need to know the types of fortresses in different endings. For example, knowing
that the extreme pawn is not promoted if the opponent's bishop does not control the
square of promotion will help you save the game in what seems to be a hopeless
endgame.










1...♜a1+ 2.♖f1 ♜xf1+ 3.Kxf1 ♝h3!! 4.gxh3 (4.♔f2 ♝xg2) 4...♚h8 with a draw,
since white is unable to drive the king out of the corner.
There are a lot of these fortresses; sometimes even grandmasters do not always know
them. Therefore, the study of this material will be gradual. For example, the rook and
bishop versus a bishop ending is very difficult, especially for novice chess players.
Particular attention should be paid to rook endgames, as they are very difficult and are
encountered very often. The rook is usually the last to enter the game, and after all of
the exchanges is the main character in endings.

Plan for learning endgames:

I. Know the differences between the endgame and the middlegame:
1. A sharp change in the nature of the game.
 12 Study simple endings

2. Technique comes to the fore.

3. Play slowly:
A) Gradually move the pawns
B) Repeat moves
C) Clarify the position
4. Think in schemes.
II. Learn typical endgame techniques.

Exchanges
Exchanging is the most important endgame technique. For example, by exchanging all
pawns, one can save an ending with one king against an extra piece of the opponent, or
even against two knights. It may be recalled that Kasparov versus Karpov once saved the
rare rook versus a bishop and two knights ending, but this required the destruction of
the last pawn.

Activation of the king

In the endgame, the king is a strong piece. In the absence of mating threats, his
strength is approximately equal to the rook. Therefore, the king's activity is very
important.

Passed pawns
As a rule, there is not enough material in the endgame to checkmate the enemy king.
Therefore, passed pawns become the main force. In the following example, the passed
pawn is stronger than the rook and knight.

Pawn structure, islands, weaknesses

In the endgame there is a struggle for material, especially weak pawns suffer.
Therefore, it is important to maintain the integrity of your pawn chain and break the
enemy one.
We have already seen one example of fighting against weak pawns in the Lasker-
Capablanca game, and here is another example.

Read books on endgames

There are a huge number of books on endgames. Reading them is very useful, as it not
only provides specific knowledge, but also develops endgame thinking. Here are a few:
There are quite a few similar books, but this one contains many excellent examples of
a variety of endings: Rosen “Chess endgame training”
This book contains many useful tips for both learning the endgame and playing it:
Shereshevsky “Endgame strategy”
This is a classic, a reference book for any chess player. The ultimate guide to playing
difficult endings.

Learn games of classics

A lot of useful things can be learned from the games of the great endgame masters
such as Capablanca, Smyslov, Fischer, Anderssen, Karpov, Kasparov, Kramnik, and
Carlsen. Especially with their comments. Solve endgame tactics, etudes.
Examine typical games of grandmasters 13

Solving etudes will add to your chess skill. Some etudes are simple, and just reinforce
your knowledge of simple positions.

Others contain a tactical twist

You should solve etudes every day, and gradually increase their complexity.

Train with a computer

A computer engine is a great training partner. By playing with it, you can learn a lot
about the endgame.

In training games, transfer the game to the endgame

When playing on websites like Lichess and Chess.com, try to trade queens and win on
clean technique. Strong opponents will use techniques against you that you will adopt.
Conclusion: The endgame is the most important part of a chess game, if only because
most games lead to the endgame. Regularly studying the final stage will seriously
advance your understanding of chess. Knowing how to play the endgame will bring you
a lot of points in tournaments.

Examine typical games of grandmasters

I. Create a file.
1. By openings:
А) Choose two or three openings for white and black, corresponding to your style
The set of openings will change as you explore.
B) The set of openings will change as you explore.
2. By typical positions:
А) Study middlegame and endgame positions that are obtained from your openings.
3. Write out the characteristics (strengths) of famous grandmasters, for example:
A) Capablanca - pure technique, realization of a minimum advantage.
B) Nimzowitsch - pawn structure, centralization.
C) Fischer - realizing the light-squared bishop in the endgame.
D) Spassky - inappropriate sacrifices for the purpose of artificial complications.
E) Petrosian– prevention, positional sacrifices of exchanges.
F) Alekhine - combinations with many moves.
G) Carlsen - difficult multi-piece endgame.
4. Write out the most famous specialists for the openings we are interested in, for
example:
A) Paulsen system – Rublevsky.
B) Zemisch system – Dreev.
C) French defense – Korchnoi, Vitiugov.
D) Regularly study games, preferably with comments
5. Collect games of grandmasters using the file:
A) On tactics – games of Tal, Alekhine, Kasparov.
B) On endgame technique – Capablanca, Karpov, Anderssen, Smyslov, etc.
6. Use smart search in the chess base, for example:
А) Opening crushes - take all Tal's games won by white in no more than 20 moves.
 14 Examine typical games of grandmasters

B) Thus, we find the game Tal-Suetin, and already know how to play aggressively
against the Paulsen system.
7. Read books with already selected thematic games. The winner's comments are very
helpful and shape the chess mindset. For instance:
A) Karpov “100 victorious games”
B) Fischer “60 memorable games”
C) Shereshevsky, Slutsky “Endgame outlines”
8. Plan the analysis of 1-2 games in each lesson.
II. When analysing:
1. Think about the position:
А) Lay out the position “brick by brick”
B) Look for weaknesses on both sides
C) Look for active ideas from both sides
2. Make a game plan for white and black:
А) Plans can consist of many moves
B) Try to guess moves of grandmasters
3. Write down typical techniques that you see.
Techniques can be very diverse: tactical (for example, a pawn breakthrough), strategic
(for example, a spare passed pawn), technical (seizing the line with the king's rook so
that the king gets to the center earlier), psychological (repetition of moves in a better
position), etc. During the game, if the position allows, it is worth using the techniques
learned.
Here is an example of a game where several techniques for realizing an advantage were
encountered:

Lasker, E — Capablanca, J.
Havana, 1921
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.♘c3 ♞f6 4.♗g5 ♝e7 5.e3 0–0 6.♘f3 ♞bd7 7.♕c2 c5 8.♖d1 ♛a5
9.♗d3 h6 10.♗h4 cxd4 11.exd4 dxc4 12.♗xc4 ♞b6 13.♗b3 ♝d7 14.0–0 ♜ac8
15.♘e5 ♝b5 16.♖fe1 ♞bd5 17.♗xd5 ♞xd5 18.♗xe7 ♞xe7 19.♕b3 ♝c6 20.♘xc6
bxc6 21.♖e5 ♛b6 22.♕c2 ♜fd8 23.♘e2 ♜d5 24.♖xd5 cxd5 25.♕d2 ♞f5 26.b3 h5
27.h3 h4 28.♕d3 ♜c6 29.♔f1 g6 30.♕b1 ♛b4 31.♔g1 a5 32.♕b2 a4 33.♕d2 ♛xd2
34.♖xd2 axb3 35.axb3.











Check your moves 15

35...♜b6 36.♖d3 ♜a6 37.g4 hxg3 38.fxg3 ♜a2 39.♘c3 ♜c2 40.♘d1 ♞e7 41.♘c3
♜c1+ 42.♔f2 ♞c6 43.♘d1 ♜b1 44.♔e2 ♜xb3 45.♔e3 ♜b4 46.♘c3 ♞e7 47.♘e2
♞f5+ 48.♔f2 g5 49.g4 ♞d6 50.♘g1 ♞e4+ 51.♔f1 ♜b1+ 52.♔g2 ♜b2+ 53.♔f1 ♜f2+
54.♔e1 ♜a2 55.♔f1 ♚g7 56.♖e3 ♚g6 57.♖d3 f6 58.♖e3 ♚f7 59.♖d3 ♚e7
60.♖e3 ♚d6 61.♖d3 ♜f2+ 62.♔e1 ♜g2 63.♔f1 ♜a2 64.♖e3 e5 65.♖d3 exd4
66.♖xd4 ♚c5 67.♖d1 d4 68.♖c1+ ♚d5. 0–1.
An example of a game where a successful strategy made it possible to create an
attack on the king:

Kasparov, G. — Nunn, J.
Havana, 1921
1.d4 ♞f6 2.c4 e6 3.♘c3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 ♝g7 8.♗b5+ ♞fd7 9.a4
♞a6 10.♘f3 ♞b4 11.0–0 a6 12.♗xd7+ ♝xd7.










13.f5 0–0 14.♗g5 f6 15.♗f4 gxf5 16.♗xd6 ♝xa4 17.♖xa4 ♛xd6 18.♘h4 fxe4
19.♘f5 ♛d7 20.♘xe4 ♚h8 21.♘xc5. 1–0.

Check your moves

During the game we choose the move according to a certain algorithm:
1. Determine the type of position:
1.1 If the position is tactical then:
A) Look for checks, attack.
B) The search for a combination is associated with the search for weaknesses of the
enemy.
C) Weaknesses are:
1. Undefended pieces.
2. Weakly protected pieces.
3. Open king.
4. Undefended pawns.
5. Pieces and pawns that are easy to attack.
6. Pieces and pawns that have nowhere to retreat in the event of an attack.
D) Mate attack combinations:
1. Prerequisites: open or weakly defended enemy king.
 16 Check your moves

2. Calculate oppotunities to checkmate.

3. On occasion, you can sacrifice some of your pieces.
4. Goals of a combination can be:
A) Deprive the king of defenders.
B) Deprive the king of squares to retreat to.
5. Keep in mind that two pieces are often enough to mate, the rest can be
sacrificed.
6. The hardest part are mate combinations with multiple variations, or where
there is noforced mate. Rely on your estimate.
E) Combinations to win material:
1. The main instrument is exchange.
2. Often the motive is a double hit (fork).
3. Prerequisites - the presence of unprotected pieces, or weakly defended ones.
F) Combinations for capturing pieces:
1. Prerequisites - the presence of pieces that have nowhere to go.
2. If the piece that you are trying to capture is very expensive (queen, rook), then
sacrifices can be made.
G) Draw combinations:
G1) Combinations for a stalemate:
1. Prerequisites - lack of moves for most of your pieces.
2. The second sign is a clearly bad position.
3. Motive - to deprive the other pieces of moves or to sacrifice them.
G2) Combination for a drawn fortress:
1. Prerequisites - equal material ratio.
2. Motive - exchange material that does not fit into the fortress. Usually the
opponent's pawns.
3. You can sacrifice a piece for the last pawn of the opponent.
1.2 If the position is calm, then come up with a strategic plan:
A) Main reference points:
1. Material ratio.
2. Position of pawns.
3. Position of the king.
4. Activity of pieces (own and opponent's).
B) Main tools:
1. Exchange of active enemy pieces for your passive ones.
2. Transferring your passive pieces to active positions.
3. Pawn movement (capturing space, creating passed pawns).
2. Before making a move, check:
2.1 Does the enemy have a forced refutation?
2.2 Is there a better move?
2.3 If there is a choice between good moves, choose a more rational.
2.4 You can choose the move that leaves the enemy a chance to make a mistake.
2.5 When looking for a move, first discard the worst.
2.6 If two moves lead to different positions with an unclear estimate, try not to define
the position.
2.7 When looking for a move for an advantage, try to complicate the position.
2.8 When looking for a move to draw or to realize an advantage, try to clarify the
position.
Check your moves 17

2.9 Make moves related to positional sacrifice of material only as a last resort, your
assessment may be wrong.
An example of a game with a non-forced mate combination:

Averbakh, Y. — Kotov, A.
г. Цюрих, 1953 г.
1.d4 ♞f6 2.c4 d6 3.♘f3 ♞bd7 4.♘c3 e5 5.e4 ♝e7 6.♗e2 0–0 7.0–0 c6 8.♕c2 ♜e8
9.♖d1 ♝f8 10.♖b1 a5 11.d5.
11.a3?! exd4 12.♘xd4 a4!
11...♞c5 12.♗e3 ♛c7 13.h3 ♝d7 14.♖bc1 g6 15.♘d2 ♜ab8 16.♘b3 ♞xb3
17.♕xb3 c5 18.♔h2?!
18.♕c2 ♚h8 19.a3 ♞g8 20.♕d2 f5 21.exf5 gxf5 22.f4.
18...Kh8 19.♕c2 ♞g8 20.♗g4 ♞h6!? (20...♝h6) 21.♗xd7 ♛xd7 22.♕d2 ♞g8
23.g4!? f5 24.f3 ♝e7 25.♖g1 ♜f8 (25...f4 26.♗f2; 25...fxe4 26.♘xe4) 26.♖cf1 ♜f7?!
(26...♞f6 27.gxf5 gxf5) 27.gxf5 gxf5 28.♖g2?
28.f4! ♝f6 29.exf5 ♛xf5?! (29...♜e8 30.♘b5 b6) 30.♘b5 ♜d8 31.♕xa5 Qc2+
32.♖g2 ♛xc4 33.♕xd8 ♝xd8 34.♘xd6 ♛xd5 35.♖d1 ♛xg2+ 36.Kxg2 ♜g7+ 37.♔f3.
28...f4! 29.♗f2 ♜f6 30.♘e2? (30.♕e1 ♜h6 31.h4 ♞f6.)










30...♛xh3+!! 31.♔xh3 ♜h6+ 32.Kg4 ♞f6+ 33.♔f5 ♞d7.
33...♜f8? 34.♔e6; 33...♞g4!? 34.♘xf4 (34.♔xg4 ♜g8+ 35.♔f5 ♜f6#) 34...♜g8
35.♘h5 ♜hg6 36.♕g5 ♝xg5 37.♔xg4 ♝f4+.
34.♖g5.
34...♜f8+ 35.♔g4 ♜g8+ 36.♔f5 ♜f6#; 34.♖g7 ♜f8+ 35.♔g4 ♚xg7 36.♖g1 ♜g8
37.♔f5+ ♚f7 38.♖xg8 ♜h5+ 39.♔g4 ♞f6#.
34...♜f8+ 35.♔g4 ♞f6+ 36.♔f5 ♞g8+ 37.♔g4 ♞f6+.
37...♝xg5 38.♖g1 (38.Qe1 ♞f6+ 39.♔f5 ♞g4+ 40.♔xg4 ♝d8 41.♗h4 ♜g8+ 42.♔f5
♝xh4; 38.♔xg5 ♜f7 39.♗h4 ♜g7+ 40.♔f5 ♜hg6 41.♗g5 ♜xg5+ 42.♔e6 ♜5g6+
43.♔f5 ♞e7#) 38...♞f6+ 39.♔f5 ♞g4+! 40.♔xg4 ♝d8 41.♘xf4 ♜g8+ 42.♘g6+
♜gxg6+ 43.♔f5 ♜h5+.
38.♔f5 ♞xd5+ 39.♔g4 ♞f6+ 40.♔f5 ♞g8+ 41.♔g4 ♞f6+ 42.♔f5 ♞g8+ 43.♔g4
♝xg5 44.♔xg5 ♜f7 45.♗h4 ♜g6+ (45...♜g7+? 46.♔f5 ♜hg6 47.♕xd6 ♜xd6
 18 Improve your visualization

48.♔xe5) 46.♔h5 ♜fg7 47.♗g5 ♜xg5+ 48.♔h4 ♞f6 49.♘g3 ♜xg3 50.♕xd6 ♜3g6
51.♕b8+ ♜g8. 0–1.

Improve your visualization

Improving visualization means increasing the ability to see not only important
elements of the position on the board, but also those positions that may arise after
several moves. This is necessary for calculating variations, which is an essential skill for
a chess player. In chess, the winner is the one who sees the variations further and better
evaluates the emerging positions. Here are a few ways to improve your visualization.

Exercise 1. In your mind, move the pieces around the board

Examples:
1. Move around the whole board with a rook in a spiral, stop in the center, and go
back.
2. Move around the whole board or a part of the board with a knight.
3. Come up with your own exercises.

Exercise 2. Analysis of positions in your mind

Examples:
1. Find any position (problem).
2. Remember the location of pieces.
3. Turn away (close your eyes).
4. Remember where which pieces are.
5. Use an assistant (coach):
A) The coach asks where which piece is, what is attacking, who is defending.
B) Gradually complicate things, make moves, etc.

Exercise 3. Play blindfolded with yourself (or analyze positions) with limited material
Examples:
1. 8 pawns for white and black. Whoever runs out of moves loses.
2. Capture all enemy pieces with a knight, including the king.










3. A knight against three pawns.
4. A rook against several pawns.
5. Queen against eight pawns.
Improve your visualization 19

6. Pawn endgame positions, for example:











White wins
Exercise 4. Finding possible captures
Examples:
1. Arrange random pieces on the board (white and black).
2. Remember their locations.
3. In your mind find which piece can capture what.
4. Write it down and check.

Exercise 5. Blindfolded solving of puzzles

Example algorithm:
1. Coach dictates the puzzle.
2. Without looking at the board, remember the position of the pieces.
3. Solve in your mind.
4. Write down the solution.
5. Check the solution in your mind.
6. Check the solution on the board.

Exercise 6. Memorizing and replaying games

Example algorithm:
1. Analyze any game.
2. Memorize.
3. Replay mentally without a board.
4. On any move try to remember where which piece is located.

Exercise 7. Playing blindfold chess, regular games

Example algorithm:
1. First, play on one board.
2. Try to make a few moves.
3. If you forget the position, sometimes look at the board.
4. First play with recording your moves, gradually try without.
5. Complicating it, try to play on multiple boards.

Exercise 8. Hardest exercise – play unusual blindfold chess

Examples:
 20 Analyze your games

1. Fischer random chess.

2. Giveaway.
3. Rearrangements (a captured piece is placed on another square of the board).
4. Swedish chess.
5. Double-move chess.
Let's give an example of a visualization problem. Try to imagine a position on a blank
board and solve the same puzzle. If you forget the position of some of the pieces, erase
the board, look at the starting position, and start this step again. Close your eyes with
something and imagine the position and solution in your mind:
Say where each part is out loud, and then say the solution:










1.♗xf6 ♝xf6 (1...♜xd3 2.♖xd3 (2.♗xe7 ♜xd1 3.♖xd1) 2...♝xf6) 2.♗xh7+ ♚xh7
3.♖xd7+-.

Analyze your games

Finding your mistakes
A game played should be analyzed regardless of the result. Finding mistakes is an
important milestone on the path of improving for a chess player. Nowadays, a quick
analysis can be done right after the game using a chess engine in your smartphone, and
you can quickly spot your mistakes. And after the tournament, in a calm atmosphere, in
the presence of a coach, you can deal with the errors and prepare measures to eliminate
them more attentively.

Assesment of your condition

A chess player could be in different states. Sometimes he is calm and confident,
sometimes he has a surge of energy and a desire to attack his opponents, and sometimes
he is, in the terminology of G. Kasparov, "disassembled" and is not capable of a full-
fledged game. By analyzing his mistakes, a chess player can diagnose himself and take
measures to improve his condition. If you feel tired or upset, you should do some
calming exercises, such as a short nap or a walk in the woods before a game.

Conclusions from mistakes

At the end of the analysis, you should write a list of your mistakes and make a plan to
Analyze your games 21

eliminate them. Unfortunately, we have to admit that very few people do this, and even
your coach is often not up to it. If he forces you to do it, then you are lucky - you have a
brilliant trainer, and you should to do whatever he says!

Work on your mistakes

Working on mistakes identified at the end of the game can be of varying urgency. For
example, if you have been preparing an opening for a tournament for a long time, but
have not taken something into account and have suffered defeat because of it, this is a
reason for immediate "repair". Especially if you plan to use this opening in the following
games of the tournament. And if you notice several mistakes in a tense structure, where
all pieces are under attack, then this is already a long-term task. You should analyze such
positions for a certain time in order to understand their features and train your brain to
understand such situations. Such work can be done after the tournament, in the course
of independent preparation. Well, until the end of the tournament, apparently, it is
worth playing easier positions.

Making adjustments to your training plan

A chess player who wants to become a professional must have a preparation plan that
includes work on the opening, work on the endgame, an analysis of a grandmasters'
game, solving problems, training with a computer and so on. Analysis of a game played
gives you a reason to shift your priorities in preparation. For example, you played well
in the opening but made mistakes in the endgame. In this case, you need to pay more
attention to the endgame.

Analysis is useful by itself

The analysis of chess games is one of the most effective components of a chess player's
training. Especially in the presence of a qualified trainer, or with the help of a computer.
Analysis of the opening stage introduces you to specific ideas in various positions. It is
useful to look for the best move in a position by yourself, and then check it with moves
of grandmasters (if it happened in games) or with the opinion of the computer. Also,
during the analysis, you can improve your combination vision and counting abilities.
Now well give an example of a game, the analysis of which with the help of a computer
gave a lot of information to the person playing black.










 22 Analyze your games

Gerber, V. — Sevostianov, V.
Novosibirsk, 2020

24.♗a1.
This difficult position has advantages for both white and black. White's strong central
pawns provide space and freedom of maneuver, and the knight can be transferred to
d6. At the same time, black has an active queen, perspective of the blockade of white
pawns, and the bishop in the corner does not decorate white's position. Black, in search
of initiative, allows the fatal blunder of a piece.
24...♞g6?? 25.♕xc6 ♛xa3! Realizing that it is hopeless, black clenches his will into a
fist and stores up a pawn. 26.♘e4 ♜c8 27.♕b5 ♜ed8 28.♘d6 ♜c2. Black could not
prevent the knight's invasion on d6, but he activated his rook and creates some turmoil
around the white king. It is important that neither the white rooks nor the bishop have
the ability to quickly come to the aid of their monarch.
29.♕d5 ♞h4 30.♕xf7+ ♚h8. On the other hand, white's queen and knight, acting in
a pin and using the weakness of black pieces, could even now force the opponent to
surrender. 31.♖f1. Not yet missing out on the win, but losing most of his advantage. In
this position, despite the material advantage and the huge evaluation of the computer,
White should act accurately. The strongest move was 31.♔h1, taking the king away
from checks, and only then attacking the scattered black pieces with the queen; 31.♕d5
was also strong enough, intending in the case of a check on g2 to simply give up the
queen and take the d8-rook with a fork, and the surviving black queen cannot resist the
mighty army of white.; the third winning move, which black feared the most in the game,
was 31.♕e7 ♜xg2+ 32.♔h1 ♜xh2+ 33.♔xh2 ♛a2+ 34.♔g3 ♛g2+ 35.♔xh4, and the
white king easily escapes checks, but it is not easy to send your monarch on a long
journey.
31...♜xg2+ 32.♔h1 h6 33.♕f4.
Here white should have found the absolutely overwhelming 33.♕c4!! ♛h3 34.♘f7+
Kh7 35.♕d3+ with a lethal for black exchange of queens.
33...♛h3 34.♘f7+ ♚h7 35.♖g1?
Here white should have forgotten about his ambitions and save himself with 35.♘xd8
♞g6 36.♖d3 ♜xh2+ 37.♕xh2 ♛xf1+ 38.♕g1 ♛xd3=.
35...♜xh2+?
Black was demoralized with his blunder on move 24 and could not bring himself to play
for a win. Meanwhile, to win, their was a simple 35...♞g6! 36.♕g3 ♜xg3 37.♖xg3 ♛h5
38.♖dg1 ♜f8–+.
36.♕xh2 ♛f3+ 37.♖g2 ♜f8.
Black saw that 37...♛xd1+ 38.♕g1! was bad, with the threat of mate on g7, and after
the exchange of queens it is completely sad; and the tempting 37...♞xg2 was followed
by a smashing blow 38.♘g5+!.
38.♕xh4?! taking in account the pressure of time and the openness of his king, white
instinctively simplifies the position. The cold-blooded 38.♖c1! was much
Do not play blitz too often 23

stronger, with a large material advantage, and after 38...♛xg2+ 39.♕xg2 ♞xg2
40.♔xg2 ♜xf7 41.e6 the pawns become queens.
38...♛xd1+ 39.♔h2 ♜xf7 40.e6?, losing the remnants of the advantage. Should have
improved the coordination with 40.♗c3. 40...♜f1. tempting and quite strong [and
immediate draw is given by 40...♜f5 41.♕e4 ♛h5+ 42.♔g1 ♛d1+ with a perpetual
check.
41.♕e4+ Kg8 42.♖c2??
Here white is in time trouble, so they rejected the proposed draw and created the
threat of a checkmate, however, leaving his king to the mercy of fate.
42...♛h5+ 43.♔g3 ♛g5+?
Not seeing a win, black agrees to a perpetual check [the win here was the incredible
43...♜f5!!, blocking the dangerous diagonal, black provides the king with a retreat to
h7, and for the queen the square g6: 44.♖e2 ♛g6+ 45.♕g4 ♜g5 46.♕xg5 ♛xg5+, the
black king easily holds the white pawns in place, and the queen begins to destroy the
scattered white army.
44.♔h3 ♛h5+ 45.♔g3. ½.
The conclusions made by black are that one should spend more time thinking in any
position to look for a win, then a draw, and to have more concentration in difficult
situations.

Do not play blitz too often

Many opportunities to play blitz

Blitz is very popular nowadays. Especially considering the possibilities of the internet.
A large number of blitz tournaments, both personal and with teams, are held on chess
sites every day. Blitz is also played by various bloggers, streamers, and grandmaster-
level chess commentators.

Difference between blitz and classic time control

The differences are obvious. Here you play a much larger number of games over a
period of time. You have the opportunity to showcase a large number of ideas from your
arsenal, but much less time to think about them. This determines the choice of openings
and variations. It is hardly worth choosing super-complicated options without proper
preparation, where it is easy to make a mistake and put the game at the risk of defeat.
Unless, of course, we are talking about a training game.

The chance to play with strong opponents

It is unlikely that a strong grandmaster will want to play a classical game with you, but
in blitz on the internet it is quite possible to meet with representatives of the world’s
elite. This will be a rewarding experience and a powerful motivation for further
improvement.
 24 Do not play blitz too often

Blitz is not for fun, but a serious work

You must remember this. Thoughtlessly playing blitz is like eating food without
chewing thoroughly, and without thinking about food choices, which can lead to
digestive problems.

What not to do
It can be harmful for your chess development to play blitz whenever you can, without
proper awareness of your actions. This can negatively affect games with classical
control, that makes you stop thinking about the position and working hard at the board.
Therefore, plan in advance how many blitz games you will play in a period of time, and
coordinate this with your coach.

Thoughtful choice of the opening

Take a few seconds before making the first move. Moreover, when playing on major
chess sites, your time will not start running until you have made the first move. The
opening determines the nature of the struggle for the entire game, and must be
consistent with the sporting task, with your condition, or with local goals (for example,
working off the defense as black in the Queen's Gambit).

Necessary concentration
When playing important games that are of sporting importance, or against principled
rivals, you should tune in for a few minutes of extreme concentration. Nothing should
distract you, extraneous sounds, discomfort or uncomfortable posture. It should also be
remembered that no one can maintain concentration for long. Try to do light warm-up
movements between sets and completely relax. You can also rest during games with
weak opponents. If you feel tired, play defensively, retreat. Choose those types of
positions where you have a lot of practice, you can trust your reflexes and give your
brain a rest.

Positional control
At any given time, you should have an approximate idea of what you will do in the next
few moves. You must have some guidelines. For example, an endgame with a certain
ratio of pieces and pawn position. If you are leading an attack, be prepared for the fact
that your opponent can defend, and then your positional advantages will have to
compensate for possible material costs.

Time control
Don't forget that the time factor is very important in blitz. Even if you have a winning
position, you should leave yourself time to realize your advantage. It must be
remembered that on the internet opponents never hesitate to carry a beaten draw for
a hundred moves in order to knock your flag down. Therefore, sometimes it is worth
neglecting the exact calculation of options, relying on intuition to save time. As the
saying goes, everything needs a limit.
Do not play blitz too often 25

Set goals for yourself before playing blitz

Blitz can be made a serious component of your chess training if you set specific goals
for a tournament or for a given game. For example, work out the opening or variation
you just studied. Practice endgame techniques when playing against an isolator. Learn
to play difficult positions when you have little time left. Next – think over your actions
during the upcoming games.

After the game – analysis of errors, conclusions

An essential stage in blitz that many chess players neglect. Having played another
tournament, you should try to remember your games, if not all, then the most important
ones. Try to reproduce the course of your thoughts, why this or that course was chosen.
You can immediately check how well you reproduced the theoretical version. How much
you were affected by your opponent's play, how well you kept your concentration, how
good your endgame technique was, and so on. The conclusions you draw can be
incorporated into your regular training.

Close observation of your opponent's play

When playing blitz with strong and not so strong opponents, you can often spy on an
interesting idea in some variation that you did not know before, and subsequently apply
it, subjecting it to a preliminary analysis, perhaps even in a classic game. And also a
variety of techniques that can be adopted, sometimes against them.

The same can be said about the study of blitz games of the world's leading
grandmasters, especially champions. They say that the quality of Alexander Grischuk's
blitz games is not inferior to his games with classical control. After watching a number
of videos from the World Blitz Championships, you get a lot of fresh ideas and the
necessary combat charge of vigor that will allow you to play without fear against
superior opponents.
Conclusion: with a reasonable approach, blitz can be an important component of your
preparation.