Thus a threat always involves two moves.
UWE BÖNSCH:
The first move sets up the threat, the
second is the actual threat which is to be
TACTICAL TRAINING
executed and against which the opponent
must mount a defence.
What are tactics in chess? Tactics is the exploitation of tactical
·ð Tactics means knowing what to do when weaknesses in order to achieve a specific
there is something which needs doing. goal or to produce further tactical
Strategy means knowing what to do when weaknesses. (Volkhard Igney)
there is nothing which needs to be done. In the long run, every game of chess is
(S. Tartakower) decided by means of tactics!
·ð Knowledge of tactical motifs is the
foundation of positional play. (R. Reti)
·ð Chess is 99% tactics. (R. Teichmann)
Methods in tactical training
In the game of chess tactics are the
coordinated application of combinatory
1. Independently solving the task in your
motifs based on available forces, space and
head without moving the pieces
time and their goal is the achievement of
2. Independently solving the task, moving
superiority or equality.
the pieces
Combinatory motifs might be elements
3. Solving with the help of a trainer or
such as discovered attacks, double attacks,
training partner
pins or checks; superiority or equality can
4. The playing out of tactical exercises,
be brought about either directly
tactical positions and studies by two
by checkmate, stalemate or perpetual
players who are
check or else indirectly by the gain of
undergoing training (like match training)
material or by a positional draw.
5. The playing out of tactical exercises,
Tactics are thus directed towards a
tactical positions and studies by the trainer
relatively short-term goal. In general we
against one or more players who are
speak of tactical positions whenever a
undergoing training (like match training)
longish sequence of forced moves for both
sides can be calculated.
Forms of tactical training
Tactical means allow the gradual
achievement of strategic goals .
Just like other elements in a chess game,
Tactics in chess involve the employment of
there are various methods of tactical
compulsion. Tactical methods are forcing
training:
methods. The compulsion is brought about
Group training (with cooperation
by moves which set up a threat or which
between group members, which produces
put the opponent in zugzwang.
positive synergetic effects).
A threat is produced by means of a move
Individual training (the most effective
which sets up the possibility of a second
form of training).
advantageous move. If the attacking side
Self training  individual self study
were allowed a second consecutive move it
(the do-it-yourself way of increasing
could obtain an advantage as a result of
knowledge and acquiring skills).
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.
1
What does working with studies bring to a
Ways to help with the acquisition
committed chess player?
of tactical skills:
- An enjoyment of the beauty and the
originality of chess.
- solve on a normal chess board tactically
- Greater experience of creativity in chess.
orientated positions which have been set,
- Training in calculating skills.
- solve positions from a demonstration
- The joy of the challenge.
board / video projector / overhead
projector without using a chess board,
- solve positions which have been printed
Typical motifs to be found in
out on worksheets
- solve positions which have been set for studies
you under match-like conditions using the
chess clock, with variable thinking times, Bristol - one piece moves along a line as
- solve without a board tactical exercises far as the edge of the board in order to
for which the position has been dictated by clear the way for another piece. Both
the trainer (only suitable for advanced pieces move in the same direction.
students). Grimshaw - blocking the intersection
point of a piece which moves horizontally
or vertically and a piece which moves
Where to find appropriate
diagonally, without a sacrifice.
material for tactical training?
Nowotny - blocking the intersection point
of a piece which moves horizontally or
- chess books,
vertically and a piece which moves
- chess magazines,
diagonally, by means of a sacrifice.
- CDs / DVDs,
Plachutta - blocking by means of
- Internet (collections of exercises and
a sacrifice the intersection point of two
programmed exercises),
pieces which move in a straight line.
- your own collection of materials.
Switchback - the apparently senseless
moving back and forward of a piece on to
Chess studies in training
the same square.
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.
2
EXERCISES
1) Averagely difficult  solving time 5  4) Study by Popov  solving time 30
10 minutes minutes
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+ktr-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9tR-+-+p+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+p+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+P+-+K+-0
9-mK-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+pzp0
9+-+L+-+-0 9+-zP-+-mk-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
White to move and win. White to move and win.
2) Difficult  solving time 10  15 minutes 5) Study by Sehwers  solving time 10
minutes
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-mkr+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9zpP+-+-zp-0 9+q+p+-+-0
9P+-+-+-zp0 9p+-mk-+-vL0
9+-+-+K+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9R+P+P+-zP0
9+-+-vL-+-0 9+-+K+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
White to move and win. White to move and win.
3) Study by Joseph  solving time 15 6) Extremely difficult  solving time 1
minutes hour
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-mK-+-+0 9-+-+-+k+0
9mkp+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9p+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-zP-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9p+-+-zPKzP0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+p+-+-tR-0
9-+-+-+-zP0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
White to move and win. White to move and win.
3
Now the defence with Da1 fails because of
SOLUTIONS
the capture on a1 with check. There is no
longer any defence against the back rank
1) There is a clear win for White. To
mate 1:0.
achieve it, he must fist block the f7-pawn.
After that the black king will be mated on
4) This is a complicated study which even
the edge of the board.
strong computer programs cannot solve
1.Lf5!! gf5
just like that.
1...f6 2.Lg6 Kd8 3.Kc5 f5 4.Lf7!+-.
1.b6 Kh3 2.b7 g3 3.b8L!
2.Kc5 Kd8
3.b8D? only leads, after 3...g2 4.Dg8 g1D
2...Tg8 3.Ta8 Ke7 4.Tg8+-.
5.Dg1, to a draw.
3.Kd6+-
3...g2 4.La7 Kg3
Black is helpless despite his two extra
4...Kh2 5.Kg4 h3 6.c4 g1D 7.Lg1 Kg1
pawns 1:0.
8.Kh3 +.
5.Kg5!
2)
The h-pawn must be attacked from behind.
1.Lf4!
5.c4? h3 6.Lb8 Kf2 7.Lh2 g1D 8.Lg1
1.La7? simply leads to a draw: 1...Kc7
Kg1 +.
2.bc8D (2.Lb6 Kb8 3.Ld4 g6 4.Ke4=
5...h3 6.Lb8 Kf3
(4.Kg6 Tc6 5.Kh5 Ta6 6.Lg7 Kb7
6...Kf2 7.Kh4! g1D 8.La7 Kg2 9.Lg1 Kg1
7.Lh6=)) 2...Kc8 3.Kg6 Kc7=.
10.Kh3+-.
1...Tc7 2.Kg6!
7.Lh2 Ke4!
The decisive idea! The white king
Is the most resilient defence. 7...Kf2 8.Kg4
approaches the d8-square via h7 and the
g1D 9.Lg1 Kg1 10.Kh3+-.
8th rank.
8.Kg4 Kd5 9.Kf3!
2...h5 3.Le5!
But not 9.Kh3 Kc4 10.Kg2 Kc3 with a
Or 3.Ld6. A draw is all that can be
draw.
achieved after the pawn ending: 3.Kh5 g6
9...Kc4 10.Ke2 Kc3 11.Kd1 Kd4 12.Lg1
4.Kg4 g5 5.Lc7 Kc7 6.Kg5 Kb8 7.Kf6 Kc7
Kc4
8.Ke7 Kb8 9.Kd8 Stalemate!; 3.Kh7??
12...Kc3 13.Kc1+-; 12...Ke4 13.Ke2! (the
even loses on account of 4...g5.
black king must not be allowed on to f3)
3...h4 4.Kh7 g5 5.Kg8 g4 6.Kf8 g3 7.Ke8
13...Kf4 14.Lh2+-.
g2 8.Kd8 g1D 9.Lc7# 1:0.
13.Kd2 Kd5 14.Kd3 Ke5 15.Lh2 Kd5
16.c4 Kc5 17.Kc3 Kc6 18.Kd4 Kd7
3)
19.Kd5 Kc8 20.c5 Kd7 21.c6 Kc8 22.Kd6
1.b6!
Kd8 23.c7 Kc8 24.Lg1 h2 25.Lh2 g1D
1.h4? ab5; 1.ba6? ba6.
26.Lg1 Kb7 27.Kd7+- 1:0.
1...Kb8!
1...Kb6 2.h4+- and the white pawn goes
5)
through to queen.
1.Tb4! Dc8
2.h4 a5 3.h5 a4 4.h6 a3 5.h7 a2 6.h8D
1...Da7 2.Le3 Da8 3.Tb8 Db8 4.Lf4 also
a1D 7.Dg8
loses the queen.
7.Da1?? Stalemate!
2.Tb8! Dc6 3.Tb6!
7...Da2
Now Black is forced to capture the
The only way to parry the threat of Kd7 or
impertinent rook.
Ke7 with mate is by attacking the white
3...Db6 4.c5
queen. 8.De8 Da4 9.De5
That is the point! It does not matter how
This check forces the black king on to the
Black takes the pawn, he will lose his
a-file.
queen after a bishop check.
9...Ka8 10.Dh8
4...Dc5
4
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.
5