FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

1

Alonso Zapata:

Follow the Checks

There is a popular adage in the chess clubs
of my country that says: "Give check- maybe
it'll be a checkmate!" 

Concept:
Combinations could be defined and
understood in many ways. The former World
Champion Mikhail Botvinik defined the
combination as a “sequence of forced moves
with sacrifices”. All the them have the same
idea and the same character of forcing
moves, the check possibly being the most
forced move of all. Although the result is a
little surprising, many of the combinations
can be solved just by observing and
following the checks around, making the
Classification of Combination by Themes
fall into the second place.
When we feel that the position deserves a
tactical treatment (listen here to your
intuition), and if the combinations appear,
we should first choose the analysis order of
the potential variations by instinct. Then, go
on to review and calculate the sequences of
checks. A very good advice in many cases is
starting with the strongest pieces, in
descending order of worth.
Per my experience, most of the combinations
could be in the subject of following the
checks, and to achieve success play against
the defenders (creating weaknesses by
deflecting or removing them).
I would like to encourage my dearest readers
to analyze and find solutions to the different
combinations mentioned in this article by
yourself.

Carlsen : Karjakin
New York (play-off - 4) 2016

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+-vlpzp-0
9-zp-zp-+-+0
9+-+-+R+P0
9-+-+PwQ-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9r+-+-wq-zP0
9+-tR-+-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play - surprise on the second move!
This is the last game (Round 4) from the
World Championship - Rapid playoff.
Following the checks, you will find quickly
winning idea, awesome, and crushing move -
the single best move of the year!

49.Tc8 Kh7 50.Dh6!!
A picture perfect move!!!
If 50.Dh6 gh6 (50...Kh6 51.Th8#) 51.Tf7#
1:0.

Gongora Reyes : Blanco Ronquillo
Cuba 2004

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-vlr+0
9+q+-+kzpp0
9p+-zpNsn-+0
9+p+P+PwQ-0
9P+n+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zPPvL-+PzP0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play - surprise on the first and
second move!

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

2

1.Dg6!!
Follow the checks - starting with the
strongest piece in this case works best!
1...Ke7
1...hg6 2.Sg5#.
2.Df7!!
Again, deal a check with the strongest piece!
2.Df7 Kf7 3.Sg5# 1:0.

Seirawan : Lobron
Amsterdam 1983

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9tR-+-+pzp-0
9-+-+-wq-zp0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+L+-+0
9+rtr-zP-zPl0
9-wQ-+-zP-zP0
9+-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black to play.
There are weaknesses of both kings in the
1st and 8th rank. The idea of following the
checks served white to find the solution
quickly.
22...Df2!!–+
Queen's check.
23.Kf2
23.Df2 Deflection! And 23...Tc1 24.Df1
Tf1#.
23...Tb2 24.Kf3 Tc1 25.Ta8 Tc8 0:1.

Rodriguez Or. : Olafsson F.
Las Palmas 1978

Reasons:
- weakness of white castle;
- weak white squares (f3, g2);
- weakness of the 1st row;
- 2 pieces misplaced (Qa2, Re2).
When you take a look at the Queen's
placement the check appears:

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+-+PvL-sn0
9zP-zP-+qzPP0
9Q+-+RzP-mK0
9+-+-+-tR-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black to play.
1...Dg2!
This check has several functions:
- releases the square f3 to the Knight;
- obstructs the square g2;
- deflects the Rg1 from the 1st rank defense.
2.Tg2 Sf3
Knight's check.
3.Kh1 Td1
Rook's check.
4.Tg1 Tg1#
Typical coordination of N and R. 0:1.

Antimirov : Shestak
URSS 1982

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-mk-+0
9zpp+-+-zpp0
9-+-+L+-+0
9+-+-zP-+q0
9-zp-+-sn-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzPQ+-mK-+0
9+-+r+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black to play.
The position looks weird and difficult to
play because both Kings are defenseless, so

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

3

the black side must be fast. Since starting
with the black Queen's check is not a good
idea, suddenly the absurd Rook's check
becomes visible.
1...Tf1!!
A surprise move for players who do not look
for possible checks! Not 1...Th1?, because it
will be a draw after 2.Dc5= (2.Dc8=). Do
not use 1...Dh1?, because of 2.Df5=.
2.Tf1
2.Kg3 Tf3#; 2.Ke3 Df3 wins; 2.Kf1 Dh1
3.Kf2 Dh2 wins the Queen.
2...Dh2 3.Ke3 Dc2 4.Kf4 Dh2–+ 0:1.

Kindermann : Skrobek
Warszawa 1983

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+kvl-+0
9+-+-+p+p0
9p+-zpP+-+0
9+-+P+p+Q0
9q+Nsn-+-+0
9+-zpL+-+-0
9P+-+-+-zP0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

1...Lh6!!
We decided for this movement, once, we
have analyzed and ruled out the erroneous
analyzes. Starting with the Queen checks, we
soon discard them: 1...Da3?? and 1...Dc2??
2.Lc2 Se2?? 3.De2. There is a possible
checkmate with the knight in e2 if we deflect
the defenders!
2.Dh6
The Queen deviates from the defense of the
square e2.
2...Dc2!! 3.Lc2 Se2# 0:1.

Bauer : Gollner
Berlin 1956

Attracts attention that, when we study tactics
books, curiously, in most combinations, the
theme of the sequence of the checks, defines,
or is a very important part of the winning
plan.

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+n+-+0
9zpp+-wq-zpk0
9-+p+LsnRzp0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+p+-zP-+0
9+P+-+-+P0
9PvL-+-+QmK0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
There are three checks. We quickly discard
Bg8 and Rg7. Suddenly appears:
1.Th6! gh6
No use 1...Kh6 because the successive
checks, lead to checkmate 2.Dg5 Kh7 3.Dh4
Kg6 4.f5#. And looking at:
2.Dg8!
Deflecting the Knight to the eventual escape
square g8.
2...Sg8
Becomes visible the surprising!
3.Lf5# 1:0.
Beautiful checkmate with the bishops,
helped by the defensive pieces that
surrounded the king!

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

4

Zapata : Schussler
Santa Clara 1996

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-tr-+0
9+-+-+pmkp0
9-+p+nsnp+0
9zp-+-wQ-+-0
9Pzp-wqP+-+0
9+-+L+PsN-0
9-zPP+-zP-+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
If we follow the advice, suddenly appears a
sequence of devastating checks!
20.Sf5! gf5 21.Tdg1
My opponent resigns at this moment. The
checkmate becomes unstoppable due to
21.Tdg1 Kh8 22.Th7 Kh7 23.Dh2 1:0.

Zapata : Efimenko
San Marino 2006

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tR-trk+0
9tr-wq-+-zpp0
9p+-+p+-+0
9+-+-+p+N0
9-+PwQlzP-+0
9zPp+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
32.Td6?
In this critical position. I made a mistake and
should have been focused on all possible
checks!
I should have played the winning idea:

32.Sf6!! gf6 (32...Kf7 33.Td7+–) 33.Tf8 Kf8
34.Df6 Ke8 (34...Df7 35.Td8#) 35.De6 Kf8
(35...De7?? 36.Dg8 Df8 37.Td8+–) 36.Df6
Ke8 37.Td6+–. Gives a decisive advantage!
There is little black resistance after: 37...Dc5
(37...De7 38.Te6+–) 38.Kh1 Te7 (38...Td7
39.De6 Te7 40.Dg8#; 38...Lg2 39.Kg2 Tg7
40.Kf3+–; 38...Dd6 39.Dd6 Tg7 40.De6 Kf8
41.Kg1 Tg2 42.Kf1+–) 39.Dh8 Kf7 40.Tf6#.
32...Df7 33.Sg3 La8 34.Te1 Te7 35.De5
35.c5±.
35...Tc7 36.Te6= Tc4 37.Te7 Df6 38.Df6
Tf6 39.Sh5 Tf7 40.Te8 Tf8 41.T8e7 Tf7
42.Te8 Tf8 43.T8e7 ½.

Adams : Ju Wenjun
Gibraltar 2017

In the recent tournament of Gibraltar
Masters, Adams found the best continuation,
just by following the checks. You can
recreate it on your own by finding the
winning sequence.

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-mk-tr0
9zp-+-+-+p0
9lvl-+-+p+0
9+-+R+N+n0
9-zp-+N+-+0
9+-+-vL-+-0
9-zPP+-zPPzP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

27.Lh6 Kf7
27...Kg8 28.Se7 Kf7 29.Sg5 Ke8 (29...Ke7
30.Te1 Kf6 31.Te6#) 30.Sf5 gf5 31.Te5#.
28.Sg5
28.Td7 Kg8 (28...Ke6 29.Te7 Kf5 30.Td5
Kg4 31.h3 Kh4 32.Lg5#) 29.Se7 Kf7 30.Sd5
Ke6 31.Te7 Kf5 32.Sd6 Kg4 33.Te4 Sf4
34.Sf6 Kh4 35.Tf4#.
28...Kf6 29.Td6 Kf5

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

5

29...Ke5 30.T1d5 Kf4 31.Sf3 g5 32.Lg5 Kg4
33.h3#.
30.T1d5 Kg4 31.h3 Kf4
31...Kh4 32.Sf3#.
32.Sf3
Even faster if you play: 32.Tf6!! Sf6 33.g3#;
32.Se6 Ke4.
32...g5 33.Lg5 Ke4 34.Sd2# 1:0.

Aleksandrov : Zaitsev
USSR 1973

You will see a nice example of how to win
when you follow the checks and
deflect/remove the defenders.

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+k+r+-tr0
9zppsn-+-zpq0
9l+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+p+-0
9-+-+-wQn+0
9+-sN-vL-zP-0
9-zP-+-zPL+0
9+-tRR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
1.Dc7! Kc7 2.Sb5 Kb8 3.Td8!!
With the idea to deflect the Rook defender.
If 3.Lf4 Te5!
3...Td8 4.Lf4 Ka8
4...Se5 5.Le5.
5.Sc7 Kb8 6.Sa6
Now removing the defender!
6...Ka8 7.Sc7 Kb8 8.Sd5 Ka8 9.Sb6
A crushing blow!
9...ab6 10.Ta1# 1:0.

Steinitz : Bardeleben
Hastings 1895

A very famous game that does not need
presentation.
- Weakness of both Kings.
- Weakness of the 1st rank.
- Hanging pieces.

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+k+-+0
9zpp+qsn-+p0
9-+-+-zpp+0
9+-+p+-sN-0
9-+-+-+Q+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-tR-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
1.Te7! Kf8!
1...Ke7 2.Te1 Kd6 (2...Kd8 3.Se6 Ke7
4.Sc5+–) 3.Db4 Kc7 4.Se6 (4.Tc1!?+–)
4...Kb8 5.Df4 Tc7 6.Sc7+–; 1...De7 2.Tc8
Tc8 3.Dc8.
Following the "walk" of the Rook in the 7th
rank seems a fantasy, but it's definitely no
fiction!
2.Tf7! Kg8
2...Df7 3.Tc8.
3.Tg7! Kh8
3...Kf8 4.Sh7 Wins.
4.Th7!
4.Th7 Kg8 5.Tg7! Kh8 (5...Kf8 6.Sh7)
6.Dh4 Kg7 7.Dh7 Kf8 8.Dh8 Ke7 9.Dg7
Ke8 (9...Kd8 10.Df8 De8 11.Sf7 Kd7
12.Dd6#;
9...Kd6 10.Df6 De6 11.De6#) 10.Dg8 Ke7
11.Df7 Kd8 12.Df8 De8 13.Sf7 Kd7
14.Dd6#. 1:0.

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

6

Schmidt : Richter sr
Heidelberg 1946

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-tr-+0
9+-+psNpmkp0
9-+-zpn+p+0
9+-zpN+-+P0
9-+PsnP+-+0
9wq-+-wQP+-0
9-+-+LmKP+0
9+R+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
When you begin to analyze this position,
many things will occur to you. In this case,
Black King's weakness over the h file and
the Black squares' weaknesses due to the
Bishop's absence. This analysis should start
by following your intuition and the checks.
This reveals that the Queen's sacrificing
check in h6 looks very attractive and
somehow

creates

a

very

dangerous

checkmate net. At this moment, you need to
support your ideas with precise calculation.
1.Dh6! Kh6
Loses quickly 1...Kh8 due to the continuous
checks: 2.Dh7! Kh7 3.hg6 Kg7 4.Th7#.
2.hg6
This check opens the column.
2...Kg5
The King cannot go back 2...Kg7 because of
3.Th7#. Follow the Rook's checks:
3.Th5! Kh5
There are several checks, the best is:
4.f4!
Controlling the important square g5.
4...Se2
It does not change much after 4...Df3.
Follow the Bishop's check 5.Lf3 Sf3. Now
comes the Rook: 6.Th1 Sh4, followed by the
Knight's check: 7.Sf6 Kh6 8.Th4 Kg7. Key
moment. The Knight's check deflects the

Rook of the square f7. 9.Se8! Te8 10.Th7
Kf6 11.Tf7#.
5.Sf6
It Is the only check that keeps the control of
the g4 square.
5...Kh6
The Rook's arrival decides the fight.
6.Th1 Kg7
This crucial situation should have been
analyzed before the Queen ended up
sacrificed.
7.Se8!
Is the correct check, because it deflects the
Rook from the f7 square defense.
7...Te8
The Rook's checks end with a checkmate!
8.Th7 Kf6 9.Tf7# 1:0.

Galier : Hermann
Germany 1965

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+kvl0
9+lzp-+p+p0
9-+-+-+-vL0
9+p+n+N+-0
9p+-zP-+-+0
9zP-+Q+-+-0
9LzPP+-wqPzP0
9+-+-trR+K0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
White must act quickly because of the
weakness of his own king. Following the
concept, there are only two checks, but you
must find the correct order.
1.Se7!
Not 1.Dg3? Dg3 2.Se7, because of 2...Te7.
1...Se7
If 1...Te7 then 2.Tf2 wins. Following the
Queen's check:
2.Dg3! Dg3
Once the Queen is deflected - checkmate!
3.Lf7# 1:0.

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

7

Lasker Ed. : Thomas
London, 1912

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-+-trk+0
9zplzppwq-zpp0
9-zp-+pvl-+0
9+-+-sN-+Q0
9-+-zPN+-+0
9+-+L+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
Attraction motive - another famous game
where the successive checks lead to check
mate.
The white pieces point to the castling in
square h7. We started with the Queen's
checks:
1.Dh7!
This check attracts the King into an ambush!
1...Kh7 2.Sf6
Double check.
2...Kh6
It is not possible to go back 2...Kh8, due to
3.Sg6#.
3.Seg4
The successive checks take the King away
from the safety of the castle, and it is not
common for the King to wander around out
of his haven - wandering around to the other
side of the board to receive a checkmate.
3...Kg5 4.h4
Also gets a checkmate 4.f4 Kh4 (4...Kf4
5.g3 Kf3 (5...Kg5 6.h4#) 6.0–0#) 5.g3 Kh3
6.Lf1 (6.0–0!? y 7.¤f2#) 6...Lg2 7.Sf2#.
4...Kf4 5.g3 Kf3 6.Le2
6.0–0 and 7.Nh2#; 6.Kf1 and 7.Nh2#.
6...Kg2 7.Th2 Kg1 8.Kd2#
8.0–0–0#. 1:0.

Calculation exercise
Zapata, 2016.

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-tr-mkntR0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9-zp-wq-+P+0
9+-vl-+-wQ-0
9-+-+-zpP+0
9zpP+-zpP+R0
9-+-+-+-zP0
9+K+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
Follow the checks - it's an excellent
calculation exercise. You should analyze this
position mentally, without moving the
pieces, all the way to the end. White to play
and checkmate in 25 moves!
1.Tg8 Kg8 2.Th8 Kh8 3.Dh4 Kg8 4.Dh7
Kf8 5.Dh8 Ke7 6.Dg7 Ke6 7.Df7 Ke5
8.Df5 Kd4 9.De4 Kc3 10.Dc2 Kd4
10...Kb4 11.Dc4 Ka5 12.Da4#.
11.Dc4 Ke5 12.De4 Kf6 13.Df5 Kg7
13...Ke7 14.Df7#.
14.Df7 Kh6 15.Dh7 Kg5 16.h4 Kf6 17.Df7
Ke5 18.Df5 Kd4 19.De4 Kc3 20.Dc2 Kd4
21.Dc4 Ke5 22.De4 Kf6 23.Df5 Kg7
23...Ke7 24.Df7#.
24.Df7 Kh8 25.Dh7# 1:0.