Starting Out: Chess Tactics and Checkmates by Chris Ward Firstpublishedin2006byGloucesterPublishersplc(formerlyEveryman Publishersplc),NorthburghHouse,10NorthburghStreet,LondonEC1V0AT Copyright©2006ChrisWard TherightofChrisWardtobeidentifiedastheauthorofthisworkhasbeen assertedinaccordancewiththeCopyrights,DesignsandPatentsAct1988. Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinare- trievalsystemortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,electrostatic, magnetictape,photocopying,recordingorotherwise,withoutpriorpermissionof thepublisher. BritishLibraryCataloguing-in-PublicationData AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary. ISBN:1857444183 ISBN13:9781857444186 DistributedinNorthAmericabyTheGlobePequotPress,P.OBox480, 246GooseLane,Guilford,CT06437-0480. AllothersalesenquiriesshouldbedirectedtoEverymanChess,NorthburghHouse, 10NorthburghStreet,LondonEC1V0AT tel:02072537887;fax:02074903708 email:[email protected];website:www.everymanchess.com EverymanistheregisteredtrademarkofRandomHouseInc.andisusedinthis workunderlicencefromRandomHouseInc. TothehealthofDandW.Pleasegetwellsoon. EVERYMANCHESSSERIES(formerlyCadoganChess) ChiefAdvisor:ByronJacobs Commissioningeditor:JohnEmms TypesetandeditedbyFirstRankPublishing,Brighton. CoverdesignbyHoratioMonteverde. ProductionbyNavigatorGuides. PrintedandboundintheUSbyVersaPress. Contents Symbols 4 Introduction 5 1 TheBasics 7 2 FirstStepstowardsCheckmate 30 3 MorePracticalLessons 50 4 PopularThemesandRealLifeChess 72 5 Quick-firePuzzles 102 6 SolutionstoExercises 128 7 SolutionstoQuick-firePuzzles 147 Symbols + check !! brilliantmove ! goodmove !? interestingmove ?! dubiousmove ? badmove ?? blunder Introduction I’msurethatyouareitchingtogetintothemainbodyofthisbook,soIwon’t keepyouherelong.OfcourseIhavenoideahowyouwillusethismanuscript, butIwouldobviouslypreferthatitwasn’ttoswatfliesorbalanceatableleg!Se- riously,Iamconfidentthatyouwillbewellversedintacticalplayandtheartof deliveringcheckmateifyouworkthroughthisbookfrombeginningtoend,butit isimportantthatyoudosoatyourownpace.Pleaseensurethatyoutakeallthe timethatisrequiredforyoutogettogripswitheachtheme. Theobviousproblemwhensolvingpuzzlessetinanewspaperorquizbook,as comparedtoapracticalgameofchess,isthatinreallifethereisnoangel(or devil!)whoappearstoinformyouthatyouhaveasacrificeavailable,leading,for example,tomateinthree.Intruth,recognisingwhenitisworthinvestingtimeon yourclockintournamentplaytolocatea‘winningcombination’comeswithex- perience.However,thisbookwilltrytofast-trackyouinthatdepartment,by makingobservationsonsuchconditionsunderwhichtacticalplayislikelytobe successful.Indeed,workyourwaythroughtheexercisesaswellandyouwill soonbecomeadeptatrecognisingpatterns.Thenallthatwillbeleftwillbefor youtoemploysuchideasinyourowngames,andifyoudoso,thenI’msurethat youwillbesatisfied. Inchess,winningistheimportantthing,but–well,nobodycandenythatwin- ningasaresultofasnazzycombinationoraprettycheckmatereallyaddstheic- ing! IhopeyouenjoyStartingOut:TacticsandCheckmates. ChrisWard, Beckenham, July2006 Chapter One The Basics d Playing Chess d Check d Checkmate d The Value of the Pieces d Sacrifice d Stalemate d The Fork d The Pin d The Skewer d Discovered Check d Double Check Starting Out: Chess Tactics and Checkmates Playing Chess WARNING:Chesscanbeawholelotoffun(especiallywhenyouare winning!)butisnotaneasygame! ForthepurposesofthisbookbasicallyIhaveassumedthatthereaderknowshow tomovethepiecesandanincrediblyhard-foughtgamemightgofromthis... W________W [rhb1kgn4] [0p0p0p0p] [WDWDWDWD] [DWDWDWDW] [WDWDWDWD] [DWDWDWDW] [P)P)P)P)] [$NGQIBHR] W--------W Diagram1(W) Ready,steady,go! tothis... W________W [WDWDWDWD] [DWDWDWDW] [WDWDkDWD] [DWDWDWDW] [WDWDWDWD] [DWDWIWDW] [WDWDWDWD] [DWDWDWDW] W--------W Diagram2 Honourseven! 8