1

UWE BÖNSCH:

TACTICAL TRAINING

What are tactics in chess?



Tactics means knowing what to do when
there is something which needs doing.
Strategy means knowing what to do when
there is nothing which needs to be done.
(S. Tartakower)



Knowledge of tactical motifs is the
foundation of positional play. (R. Reti)



Chess is 99% tactics. (R. Teichmann)
In the game of chess tactics are the
coordinated application of combinatory
motifs based on available forces, space and
time and their goal is the achievement of
superiority or equality.
Combinatory motifs might be elements
such as discovered attacks, double attacks,
pins or checks; superiority or equality can
be brought about either directly
by checkmate, stalemate or perpetual
check or else indirectly by the gain of
material or by a positional draw.
Tactics are thus directed towards a
relatively short-term goal. In general we
speak of tactical positions whenever a
longish sequence of forced moves for both
sides can be calculated.
Tactical means allow the gradual
achievement of strategic goals .
Tactics in chess involve the employment of
compulsion. Tactical methods are forcing
methods. The compulsion is brought about
by moves which set up a threat or which
put the opponent in zugzwang.
A threat is produced by means of a move
which sets up the possibility of a second
advantageous move. If the attacking side
were allowed a second consecutive move it
could obtain an advantage as a result of
that next move. This second move which is
intended represents the actual threat.
For example, if an unprotected piece is
attacked, then the threat is the capture; if a
protected piece is taken, then the threat is
to secure with the next move the gain of
material which has been made.

Thus a threat always involves two moves.
The first move sets up the threat, the
second is the actual threat which is to be
executed and against which the opponent
must mount a defence.
Tactics is the exploitation of tactical
weaknesses in order to achieve a specific
goal or to produce further tactical
weaknesses. (Volkhard Igney)
In the long run, every game of chess is
decided by means of tactics!

Methods in tactical training

1. Independently solving the task in your

head without moving the pieces

2. Independently solving the task, moving

the pieces

3. Solving with the help of a trainer or

training partner

4. The playing out of tactical exercises,

tactical positions and studies by two
players who are

undergoing training (like match training)
5. The playing out of tactical exercises,

tactical positions and studies by the trainer
against one or more players who are
undergoing training (like match training)

Forms of tactical training

Just like other elements in a chess game,
there are various methods of tactical
training:
Group training (with cooperation
between group members, which produces
positive synergetic effects).
Individual training (the most effective
form of training).
Self training – individual self study
(the do-it-yourself way of increasing
knowledge and acquiring skills).

2

Ways to help with the acquisition
of tactical skills:

- solve on a normal chess board tactically
orientated positions which have been set,
- solve positions from a demonstration
board / video projector / overhead
projector without using a chess board,
- solve positions which have been printed
out on worksheets
- solve positions which have been set for
you under match-like conditions using the
chess clock, with variable thinking times,
- solve without a board tactical exercises
for which the position has been dictated by
the trainer (only suitable for advanced
students).

Where to find appropriate
material for tactical training?

- chess books,
- chess magazines,
- CDs / DVDs,
- Internet (collections of exercises and
programmed exercises),
- your own collection of materials.

Chess studies in training

A chess study is a problem position with a
solution which is far from obvious; there is
only a single possible solution and it is
usually solved in an aesthetically pleasing
manner.
Studies frequently resemble the endgame.
A chess study is an artificially constructed
endgame and, as opposed to a chess
problem, a chess study more greatly
resembles a position from a real game and
is particularly effective in endgame
training, the calculation of variations and
the development of creativity in chess.
Depending on the type of goal, studies can
lead to a win, a draw or stalemate. There is
usually only ever one way to solve a study.
Bernhard Horwitz (1807-85) and Josef
Kling (1811-76) are considered to be the
originators of the modern study.

What does working with studies bring to a
committed chess player?
- An enjoyment of the beauty and the
originality of chess.
- Greater experience of creativity in chess.
- Training in calculating skills.
- The joy of the challenge.

Typical motifs to be found in
studies

Bristol - one piece moves along a line as
far as the edge of the board in order to
clear the way for another piece. Both
pieces move in the same direction.
Grimshaw - blocking the intersection
point of a piece which moves horizontally
or vertically and a piece which moves
diagonally, without a sacrifice.
Nowotny - blocking the intersection point
of a piece which moves horizontally or
vertically and a piece which moves
diagonally, by means of a sacrifice.
Plachutta - blocking by means of
a sacrifice the intersection point of two
pieces which move in a straight line.
Switchback - the apparently senseless
moving back and forward of a piece on to
the same square.

3

EXERCISES

1) Averagely difficult – solving time 5 –
10 minutes
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+ktr-+0
9tR-+-+p+-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-mK-+-+-+0
9+-+L+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White to move and win.

2) Difficult – solving time 10 – 15 minutes

XIIIIIIIIY
9-mkr+-+-+0
9zpP+-+-zp-0
9P+-+-+-zp0
9+-+-+K+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-vL-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White to move and win.

3) Study by Joseph – solving time 15
minutes
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-mK-+-+0
9mkp+-+-+-0
9p+-+-+-+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-zP0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White to move and win.

4) Study by Popov – solving time 30
minutes
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+-+K+-0
9-+-+-+pzp0
9+-zP-+-mk-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White to move and win.

5) Study by Sehwers – solving time 10
minutes
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+q+p+-+-0
9p+-mk-+-vL0
9+-+-+-+-0
9R+P+P+-zP0
9+-+K+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White to move and win.

6) Extremely difficult – solving time 1
hour
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9p+-+-zPKzP0
9+p+-+-tR-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White to move and win.

4

SOLUTIONS

1)

There is a clear win for White. To

achieve it, he must fist block the f7-pawn.
After that the black king will be mated on
the edge of the board.
1.Lf5!! gf5
1...f6 2.Lg6 Kd8 3.Kc5 f5 4.Lf7!+-.
2.Kc5 Kd8
2...Tg8 3.Ta8 Ke7 4.Tg8+-.
3.Kd6+-
Black is helpless despite his two extra
pawns 1:0.

2)
1.Lf4!
1.La7? simply leads to a draw: 1...Kc7
2.bc8D (2.Lb6 Kb8 3.Ld4 g6 4.Ke4=
(4.Kg6 Tc6 5.Kh5 Ta6 6.Lg7 Kb7
7.Lh6=)) 2...Kc8 3.Kg6 Kc7=.
1...Tc7 2.Kg6!
The decisive idea! The white king
approaches the d8-square via h7 and the
8th rank.
2...h5 3.Le5!
Or 3.Ld6. A draw is all that can be
achieved after the pawn ending: 3.Kh5 g6
4.Kg4 g5 5.Lc7 Kc7 6.Kg5 Kb8 7.Kf6 Kc7
8.Ke7 Kb8 9.Kd8 Stalemate!; 3.Kh7??
even loses on account of 4...g5.
3...h4 4.Kh7 g5 5.Kg8 g4 6.Kf8 g3 7.Ke8
g2 8.Kd8 g1D 9.Lc7# 1:0.

3)
1.b6!
1.h4? ab5; 1.ba6? ba6.
1...Kb8!
1...Kb6 2.h4+- and the white pawn goes
through to queen.
2.h4 a5 3.h5 a4 4.h6 a3 5.h7 a2 6.h8D
a1D 7.Dg8
7.Da1?? Stalemate!
7...Da2
The only way to parry the threat of Kd7 or
Ke7 with mate is by attacking the white
queen. 8.De8 Da4 9.De5
This check forces the black king on to the
a-file.
9...Ka8 10.Dh8

Now the defence with Da1 fails because of
the capture on a1 with check. There is no
longer any defence against the back rank
mate 1:0.

4) This is a complicated study which even
strong computer programs cannot solve
just like that.
1.b6 Kh3 2.b7 g3 3.b8L!
3.b8D? only leads, after 3...g2 4.Dg8 g1D
5.Dg1, to a draw.
3...g2 4.La7 Kg3
4...Kh2 5.Kg4 h3 6.c4 g1D 7.Lg1 Kg1
8.Kh3–+.
5.Kg5!
The h-pawn must be attacked from behind.
5.c4? h3 6.Lb8 Kf2 7.Lh2 g1D 8.Lg1
Kg1–+.
5...h3 6.Lb8 Kf3
6...Kf2 7.Kh4! g1D 8.La7 Kg2 9.Lg1 Kg1
10.Kh3+-.
7.Lh2 Ke4!
Is the most resilient defence. 7...Kf2 8.Kg4
g1D 9.Lg1 Kg1 10.Kh3+-.
8.Kg4 Kd5 9.Kf3!
But not 9.Kh3 Kc4 10.Kg2 Kc3 with a
draw.
9...Kc4 10.Ke2 Kc3 11.Kd1 Kd4 12.Lg1
Kc4
12...Kc3 13.Kc1+-; 12...Ke4 13.Ke2! (the
black king must not be allowed on to f3)
13...Kf4 14.Lh2+-.
13.Kd2 Kd5 14.Kd3 Ke5 15.Lh2 Kd5
16.c4 Kc5 17.Kc3 Kc6 18.Kd4 Kd7
19.Kd5 Kc8 20.c5 Kd7 21.c6 Kc8 22.Kd6
Kd8 23.c7 Kc8 24.Lg1 h2 25.Lh2 g1D
26.Lg1 Kb7 27.Kd7+- 1:0.

5)
1.Tb4! Dc8
1...Da7 2.Le3 Da8 3.Tb8 Db8 4.Lf4 also
loses the queen.
2.Tb8! Dc6 3.Tb6!
Now Black is forced to capture the
impertinent rook.
3...Db6 4.c5
That is the point! It does not matter how
Black takes the pawn, he will lose his
queen after a bishop check.
4...Dc5

5

4...Kc5 5.Le3+-.
5.Lf8 Kc6 6.Lc5 Kc5 7.h5
and the pawn goes through to queen 1:0.

6)
1.Te3!
A move which is difficult to find. The
black king is tied down to the kingside.
1...b2 2.Te8 Kf7 3.Te1!!
Even the very top players have difficulties
in finding this move. The previous check
forced the opposing king into the range of
its own pawns and now the black pawns
are held up for two more moves. 3.Tb8? is
not enough for the win: 3...a3 4.h5 a2 5.g6
Ke7 6.Tb2 a1D 7.Tb5=.
3...a3 4.f5 a2 5.g6 Kf8
5...Kf6 6.Te6 Kg7 7.Kg5! b1D 8.f6 Kf8
9.g7 Kf7 10.Te7 Kg8 11.Te8 Kf7
12.g8D#; 5...Kg7 6.Kg5 b1D 7.f6 Kf8 8.g7
Kf7 9.Te7 Kg8 10.Te8 Kf7 11.g8D#.
6.f6 b1D 7.g7 Kf7 8.Te7 Kf6 9.g8S!!
Underpromotion to a knight is the point of
this exercise. The four white pieces have
woven a beautiful mating net around the
black king.
9...Kg6 10.h5#
Mating with a pawn is always particularly
nice 1:0.