FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

1

Alonso Zapata:

Follow the Checks (II)

»Combination is a soul of chess« (Alexander
Alekhine)

Continuing with my article of 2017 (Follow
the Checks), I have observed tactical
improvement of my students once they can
recognize and apply this natural principle of
attack. In most of the king-oriented
combinations, checks are powerful threats,
and not only for the checks themselves, but
also for the implied/possible threats.
Naturally, once we are in the middle of
analyzing a combination, we must first
follow our instinct to see where it leads us.
However, It cannot be overstated that the
study of combinations is of great benefit to
the student. Apart from its inherent aesthetic
pleasure, it teaches us to recognize patterns
of attack and opens doors to an immense
inflow of creative ideas, especially when
practiced daily or applied in practice. It is
worth emphasizing following the sequence
of forced checks during a combination. Rhis
is an ideal in the calculation of variants,
since all in-between moves can be ignored.
An interesting psychological exercise. Here,
when calculating variations, many chess
players would not follow seemingly illogical
sequences of moves, even if all are forced.
And that judgement obscures visualizing the
solution. Although it looks absurd, here we
find the answer by just following the checks!

Artistic solution (2018)

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trkvL0
9+-+-+p+R0
9-+-+-+P+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+K+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
1.Rg7!!
The key. You have to get rid of the useless
bishop!
1...Kh8 2.Rh7! Kg8
If we saw this puzzle at this moment
(without the useless bishop!), it would be
easy to find the decisive move!
3.g7!
Now, a subtle move against the defender!
3.g7 Re8 4.Rh8+–. 1:0.

Vajda : Li, Sydney 2014

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-tr-mk0
9+pzp-+-zpp0
9p+-+-+L+0
9zP-+-zp-sN-0
9-zP-+-+-sN0
9+QzPn+-+-0
9-+-+-+PzP0
9tR-+-+nmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.

The first glance, following the checks
works!
20.Qg8!
20.Qg8 Kg8 (20...Rg8 21.Nf7#) 21.Bh7 Kh8
22.Ng6# 1:0.

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

2

Witkowski : Blaschack, Poland 1953

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+r+0
9zp-+-+rmkp0
9-+-tRQ+n+0
9+pzp-zp-vL-0
9-+p+P+-+0
9+-zP-+-tR-0
9P+-+-wqPmK0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
A quick assessment suggests that there may
be a direct attack on the black king. Reasons:
1 – weakness of the king in black squares,
2 – weakness in the file g and in the 6. rank,
3 – possible ambush Rg3, Bg5/Kg7.
1.Qe5!!
The finding of this move is due to the
concept of playing against the defender. In
this case, the idea is to deflect the knight
(key of the defense) from the g6 square.
1...Ne5
Not 1...Kf8? 2.Rd8#. An ingenious ambush
has been created!
2.Bf6!
The double check is an extremely fearsome
weapon!
2...Kh6
If 2...Kf8 3.Rd8#.
3.Bg7!!
Another double check!
3...Kh5 4.Rh6# 1:0.

Torre : Timman, Hamburg 1982

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9+pwQ-+-zpp0
9-+p+-zp-+0
9zP-+-sn-+-0
9-+-+-+l+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9-zP-+PzP-zP0
9+R+NwqLmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black to play.
The white king is vulnerable due to
weakness around the first rank, especially
the light sqares. After evaluating (and
discarding) queen checks, and the knight's
check appears!
1...Nf3!
With the check, we soon realize an elegant
unstoppable attack coordination!
2.Kg2
If 2.ef3 Qf1! 3.Kf1 Bh3 4.Kg1 Re1#.
Typical checkmate with rook and bishop.
Our first thought should be check with the
more powerful piece.
2...Qf1! 2...Qf1 3.Kf1 Bh3# 0:1.

Richardson : Qelmar, New York 1885

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+-+ktr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-vl-+-+-+0
9+-+q+-+-0
9-+-zpN+-+0
9wQ-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-mKPzP0
9tR-vL-tR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.

The attacking theme of the previous game
made me recall the well-known sacrifice and

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

3

typical model plan of the next game. We
must give way to the checks!
1.Nf6!! gf6 2.Qf8!
Attraction!
2...Kf8 3.Bh6 Kg8 4.Re8# 1:0.

Askelof : Svensson, corr. 1981

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9zpp+-+-+p0
9-+-wQ-+p+0
9+-wq-+p+-0
9-+-+-vLnzP0
9+P+-tr-+-0
9P+PtR-+P+0
9tR-+-+K+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black to play.

Start with the rook check:
1...Re1! 2.Re1
Now queen check appears.
2...Qg1!! 3.Kg1
Deflecting the main defender, the king!
3...Re1# 0:1.

Osloukhov : Nedobora, USSR 1990

XIIIIIIIIY
9-mklwq-+r+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-zpQ+P+-+0
9+-zpL+-+p0
9-+P+-+-+0
9zP-+-+-zPK0
9-+-+r+-zP0
9+R+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black to play.

The danger of the king on the edge of the
board:

1...Qh4!! 2.gh4
Deflection. 2.Kh4 (Attraction.) 2...Rh2#.
2...Re3 3.Bf3 Be6!
Deflecting the last defender!
4.Qe6 Rf3# 0:1.

Basman : Balshan, Israel 1981

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9zppzpq+p+p0
9-+-sn-tR-zP0
9+-zP-+-zP-0
9-+-wQr+-+0
9zP-+P+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.

The theme similar to the previous game.
White only has a check.
1.Rg6!! fg6
Doesn't work 1...hg6 2.Qg7#. There are three
checks. Only one is correct!
2.Qh8!
Playing against the defender (deflecting).
2...Kh8 3.Rf8# 1:0.

Vakkaroni : Mazzoni, Roma 1891

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9-+-+l+Rzp0
9+-+-wq-+k0
9-+-+-+-vl0
9+L+-+-+-0
9-+PvL-+Q+0
9+-mK-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

4

Notice that the black king is trapped on the
edge of the board. We start with the queen
checks!
1.Qg4!!
Deflecting (removing the defender).
1...Bg4
Obstruction. Follow the rook checks.
2.Rh6!
Opening the bishop diagonal!
2...gh6 3.Bf7#.
The white bishop delivers checkmate, with
the help of the black pieces that entomb their
own king! 1:0.

Vukovic : Deutsch, Zagreb 1920

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
9zppzp-+-zpp0
9-wqp+-+-+0
9+-vl-zPp+-0
9-+-wQn+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPvLNzPPzP0
9+-+RmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.

1.Qd8!!
This sacrifice, although more elaborate in
this battle, reminded me of the model theme
of the famous game: Reti : Tartakower,
Vienna 1910.
1...Kd8
1...Kf7 2.e6! Be6 (2...Ke6 3.Nf4 Kf7
4.Ne5#) 3.Ne5#.
2.Bg5 Ke8 3.Rd8 Kf7 4.e6!
Only this intermediate check makes it
possible for the combination to flow.
4...Ke6
4...Be6 5.Ne5#; 4...Kg6 5.Nf4#.
5.Nf4 Kf7 6.Ne5# 1:0.

Wanke : Wegener, corr. 1972

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+l+p+p0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-vLPtR-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-wQ-+P0
9-wq-+-trPmK0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.

Notice the dark squares around the black
king are very weak. Can this be exploited?
To start, there is only one check to evaluate.
1.Re8! Be8
1...Kg7?? 2.Bd4.
2.Qe8 Kg7
Here are several checks, and the best is:
3.Qf8 Kf6
Critical combination situation.
4.Bd4!
This check deflects the black queen to an
undefended square!
4...Qd4 5.Qh8 1:0.

Serzhanov : Nikitin, UNNR 1978

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+-mk0
9zp-wQ-+-vlp0
9-+p+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+LtRn+0
9+P+-+-zPl0
9P+N+q+-zP0
9+-+-+-vLK0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black to play.
At first sight the white king is safe ... until
we remove the defenders with a string of
harassing checks.

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

5

1...Nf2! 2.Bf2
2.Rf2?? Qe4–+.
2...Rd1 3.Bg1
If 3.Ne1 Qe1 and checkmate. Following the
rook check!
3...Rg1!
Removing the defender.
4.Kg1
A new deflection check appears!
4...Bd4! 5.Nd4
5.Kh1 Qd1. And after the knight is
deflected:
5...Qe1 0:1.

Martinovic : Marjanovic, Yugoslavia
1980

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-trr+nmk0
9zpR+-wq-+-0
9-+-vl-+-zp0
9+-+-snp+-0
9-+Pzp-+pzP0
9zP-+P+-zP-0
9-+-+-zPLmK0
9+RvLQ+-sN-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black to play.
Analyzing the possible checks, we see the
queen sacrifice and the king discovered
check.
1...Qh4!! 2.gh4
2.Nh3 Nf3 3.Kh1 Qh5–+; 2.Bh3 gh3 3.gh4
Ng4 4.Kh3 Nf2 5.Kg2 Nd1+–.
2...Nd3
Preparing the typical checkmate combination
Knight – Bishop.
3.f4
3.Kh1 Nf2#.
3...gf3!
In practice, it seems many students miss en
passant moves when calculating variations.
This issue occurs frequently; especially,
when performed mentally (to the end
without moving the pieces) 0:1.

Larsen : Kristiansen, Denmark 1991

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tR-+-+0
9zpqtr-+-mkp0
9r+-+pzpp+0
9+-+-sN-+P0
9-zP-+pzP-+0
9+-zP-+-zP-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-+Q+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.
The following production is a beautiful
example of how effective the combination of
queen and knight can be. Only after
following the checks, we can find the
solution!
1.Rg8!! Kg8
Attraction. 1...Kh6 2.Ng4 Kh5 3.Nf6 Kh6
4.Ng4 Kh5 5.Ne5 Kh6 6.g4+–.
2.Qd8 Kg7 3.h6
More attraction.
3...Kh6 4.Ng4 Kh5
4...Kg7 5.Qf6 Kg8 6.Nh6#.
5.Nf6
Check and eliminate defender.
5...Kh6 6.Ng4 Kh5
6...Kg7 7.Qf6 Kg8 8.Nh6#.
7.Qh4# 1:0.

Gilg : Noll, Great Britain 1964

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+k+0
9+-+-+pvlp0
9-+rzp-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-sN-zPP+0
9zPp+-+-+-0
9-zP-wQ-+qzP0
9mK-+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black to play.

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

6

How to get to the a2 square?
1...Rc1!! 2.Qc1
Deflecting the queen. If 2.Rc1 Ra3!!
(2...Qd2) 3.ba3 Bd4 4.Kb1 (4.Qd4 Qa2#)
4...Qd2.
2...Ra3!! 3.Kb1
3.ba3 Qa2#.
3...Ra1! 4.Ka1
Attraction.
4...Qa8 5.Kb1 Qa2# 0:1.

Cuartas : Zapata, Bogota 2000

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+k+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9pzp-+psn-+0
9+-vl-wq-+-0
9-+P+l+-+0
9sN-+-+L+P0
9PzPR+Q+P+0
9+-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black to play.

Sometimes the threat of a check is very
powerful! As Nimzowitsch said, "The threat
is stronger than the execution!" Here we see
an interesting example, where the threat of
check is the difference. Black creates chaos
on the white side after:
34...Nh5!!
34...Bd6 35.g4.
35.Bh5
35.Qe1 Ng3 36.Qg3 Qg3 37.Be4 Bd6
38.Kg1 Qh2 39.Kf2 Qf4 40.Bf3 Bc5 41.Ke1
Qe3 42.Be2 (42.Re2 Qc1#) 42...Bb4 43.Kd1
Rd8–+.
35...Bd6!
There's no way to stop the mate attack.
36.Kg1
36.Bf7 Kh8–+.
36...Qh2 37.Kf2 Qg3 38.Kg1 Bc5!
Crushing the position, the game is over:
39.Rf2 (39.Kh1 Qh3#) 39...Qg2# 0:1.

Corrales Jimenez : Ferragut Blanco
Cuba 2004

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+rmk0
9+p+-+p+p0
9-+p+p+-+0
9+-+NzP-+R0
9-+PtR-zP-+0
9+-zP-+-zPl0
9-vlKvLQ+-+0
9wq-+-+-+r0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.

The third move is spectacular!!!
1.Rh7!
Check and remove the defender.
1...Kh7 2.Qh5 Kg7 3.Qh6!!
3.Qg5 Kf8 4.Qe7 Kg7 5.Qg5.
3...Kh6
Atracction.
4.f5 Rg5
If 4...Kg7 5.f6 Kf8 6.Bh6 Rg7 (6...Ke8
7.Nc7#) 7.fg7 Ke8 8.Nf6 Ke7 9.g8N#!
Neither 4...Kh7 5.Rh4 Kg7 6.Bh6 Kh7
7.Bf8#; 4...Kh5 5.Nf6#.
5.Rh4 Kg7 6.f6 Kf8
6...Kg6 7.Ne7#; 6...Kg8 7.Ne7 Kf8 8.Rh8
Rg8 9.Rg8#.
7.Rh8 Rg8 8.Bh6 Ke8 9.Rg8 Kd7 10.Nb6
Kc7 11.Rc8
Deflecting the King.
11...Kb6 12.Be3 c5
12...Ka5 13.Ra8#.
13.Bc5
I would just like to add, that the humble "c4
pawn" made this brilliant combination
possible! 13…Ka6 14.Ra8# 1:0.

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata

7

Zapata : Jacobson, Charlotte 2018

XIIIIIIIIY
9ltrr+-+-+0
9+-+-vlp+-0
9-+-+p+k+0
9zpp+p+-zpR0
9-+-sN-zPP+0
9zP-zPn+-mK-0
9-zPNvL-+-tR0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play.

37.f5!
Follow the checks and second, harass the
defender!
37.Rh6;
37.Rh7 Bf8 38.f5 Kf6 39.Nf3+– Bd6 40.Kg2
Bf4 41.R2h6 Ke7 42.Bf4 Nf4 43.Kg3 Kd6
44.Ng5+–.
37...Kg7
37...ef5 38.Rh6 Kg7 39.Nf5+–;
37...Kf6 38.Bg5+–.
38.Rh7 Kg8
38...Kf6 39.Bg5 Kg5 (39...Ke5 40.Be7+–)
40.Nf3 Kf6 41.R2h6#.
39.Rh8 Kg7 40.R2h7 Kf6 41.Bg5
41.Rh6 was actually played in the game. I
took the practical winning path as we were
both in time pressure. 41...Ke5 (41...Kg7
42.R6h7 Kf6 43.Rc8 Rc8 44.fe6) 42.Rc8
(42.R8h7±) 42...Rc8 43.fe6 f6 (43...Bf8!? -
A good practical try complicating matters
44.Rh8 fe6 45.Bg5 Nb2 46.Nb5±.) 44.Ne3
(44.b4!+–) 44...Bc5 (44...Nc5 45.Nef5 Ne4
46.Kg2 Ba3 47.ba3 Nd2 48.e7+– Nc4
49.Rh7+–, followed by Rf7 and Rf8)
45.Nef5+– Bd4 46.cd4+– Ke6 (46...Ke4
47.Nd6) 47.Rh7+– Re8 48.Ng7 Kf7 49.Ne8
Ke8 50.Rh8 Kd7 51.Ra8 Nb2 52.Ba5 Nc4
53.Bb4 Nb6 54.Ra6.
41...Kg5
41...Ke5 42.Rc8 Rc8 43.Be7+–.
42.Nf3 Kf6 43.g5 Kf5 44.Ncd4 Ke4

44...Kg6 45.Nh4 Kg5 46.Rh5 Kf6 47.R8h6
Kg7 48.Nhf5 ef5 49.Nf5 Kg8 50.Rh8#.
45.Rh4 Ke3
45...Nf4 46.Rf4 Kd3 (46...Ke3 47.Rh2 Bd6
48.Nc2 Kd3 49.Rd2# (49.Nfe1#) ) 47.Ne5
Ke3 48.Rh2.
46.Nc2 Ke2 47.Rh2 Kd1
47...Kf1 48.Ne3#.
48.Rd2 Kc1 49.Rh1+– Kb2
49...Ne1 50.Re1 Kb2 51.Ncd4 Kc3 (51...Ka3
52.Ra1#) 52.Rc1#.
50.Ncd4 Ka3
50...Kc3 51.Rc2#.
51.Ra1# 1:0.