Step by Step: Calculation #26 By Mark Donlan Step by Step: Calculation is designed to improve your visualization and calculation skills. The premise is simple: find the winning move in the first diagram and then calculate the win from the second diagram and determine how it relates to the first. On ocassion follow-up questions will be asked relating to various sidelines. For best results, set the position up on the board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. Black to move and win Calculate a win for Black Tolush,Alexander V - Simagin,Vladimir URS-ch20 Moscow, 1952 Meran Semi-Slav [D47] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 … [Read more...]
Step By Step
Step by Step: Tactics #59
By Mark Donlan Step by Step: Tactics is designed to test and improve your basic tactical skills. For best results, play the position out over-the-board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. You can also print out this page and use it as a workbook exercise in a classroom setting. After the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 e5 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qe2 Nc5 11.fxe5 dxe5, why was 12.Nxe5 a mistake? Scroll down for more options Circle the type of tactics that were involved in this puzzle: Checkmate Deflection Discovered Attack Double Attack En Prise Fork Pin Removing the Guard Skewer Trapped … [Read more...]
Step by Step: Mate #59
Step by Step: Mate #59 By Mark Donlan Step by Step: Mate is designed to test and improve your visualization skills. The premise is simple, try solving for mate from the first diagram. For best results, set the position up on the board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. If you are unable to solve for mate, refer to the diagrams below in which you can solve Step by Step for mate in one, mate in two, etc. You can also print out this page and use it as a workbook exercise in a classroom setting. Spaces are provided for answers to be written; occasionally there will be positions that allow for two similar moves from the defender. Solve for Black to … [Read more...]
Step by Step: Test #22
Step by Step: Test #22 By Mark Donlan Step by Step: Test is designed to test and improve your chess skills. For best results, set the position up on the board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. What move by White caused Black's immediate resignation? Jobava,Baadur (2711) - Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar (2764) SportAccord Rapid Men 2012 Beijing CHN (2), 14.12.2012 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Opening [A01] 1.b3 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.c4 Bg7 5.Nc3 f5 6.Rc1 0-0 7.g3 Re8 8.Bg2 f4 9.gxf4 Qh4 10.Kf1 Bxc3 11.Rxc3 Qxf4 12.h4 d6 13.h5 Nc6 14.Nh3 Qd4 15.e3 Qf6 16.Nf4 Ne7 17.Qf3 Qg5 18.Bh3 c6 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.Bxc8 Raxc8 21.Nh5 f5 22.Rd3 Kf7 23.Nf4 Rcd8 24.Rh7+ … [Read more...]
Step by Step: Calculation #25
By Mark Donlan Step by Step: Calculation is designed to improve your visualization and calculation skills. The premise is simple: find the winning move in the first diagram and then calculate the win from the second diagram and determine how it relates to the first. On ocassion follow-up questions will be asked relating to various sidelines. For best results, set the position up on the board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. White to move and win Calculate a win for White Krasenkow,Michal (2505) - Westerinen,Heikki MJ (2435) GMA Baleares op Palma de Mallorca (1), 1989 Queen's Gambit Accepted [D21] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 4.e4 … [Read more...]
Step by Step: Tactics #58
By Mark Donlan Step by Step: Tactics is designed to test and improve your basic tactical skills. For best results, play the position out over-the-board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. You can also print out this page and use it as a workbook exercise in a classroom setting. After the moves 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Ne4 Qc7 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4, why was 11.Ne7 a mistake? Scroll down for more options Circle the type of tactics that were involved in this puzzle: Checkmate Deflection Discovered Attack Double Attack En Prise Fork Pin Removing the Guard Skewer Trapped … [Read more...]
Step by Step: Test #21
Step by Step: Test #21 By Mark Donlan Step by Step: Test is designed to test and improve your chess skills. For best results, set the position up on the board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. Find the mate. Alekhine did blindfold! Alekhine, Alexander - Supico Lisbon simul, 1941 Danish Gambit [C21] 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Bb4 5.Bc4 Qe7 6.Nge2 Nf6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Bg5 Qe5 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Nd5 Qd6 11.e5 Qc5 12.Rc1 Qa5 13.a3 Bxa3 14.bxa3 c6 15.Ne7+ Kh8 16.Qd6 Qd8 17.Nd4 b6 18.Rc3 c5 19.Ndf5 Ba6 20.Qg6! 1-0 20...fxg6 21.Nxg6+ hxg6 22.Rh3+ Qh4 23.Rxh4#. A PDF file of this week's Step by Step puzzle, along with all … [Read more...]
Step by Step: Tactics #57
by Mark Donlan Step by Step: Tactics is designed to improve your basic tactical skills. For best results, play the position out over-the-board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. You can also print out this page and use it as a workbook exercise in a classroom setting. After the moves 1.a3 c5 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 e5 5.d3 Be7 6.0–0 Be6 7.Nbd2 f5 8.c4 e4 9.Ne1 Nf6 10.cxd5 Bxd5, why was 11.Nc4 a mistake? Scroll down for more options Circle the type of tactics that were involved in this puzzle: Checkmate Deflection Discovered Attack Double Attack En Prise Fork Pin Removing the Guard Skewer Trapped Piece Huettig,M … [Read more...]
Step by Step: Test #20
Step by Step: Test #20 By Mark Donlan Step by Step: Test is designed to test and improve your chess skills. For best results, set the position up on the board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. From the diagrammed position, suggest a good move for White. Wheeler, Cameron (2127) – Chesterkine, Vassili (1761) Wch U12 Maribor (1.5), 08.11.2012 English Opening [A29] 1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e5 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Be6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 Nb6 8.d3 Be7 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 f6 11.b5 Nd4 12.Nd2 Nd5 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 14.e3 Nxb5 15.Nxb5 Bc6 16.Qb3+ Kh8 17.a4 Qd7 18.Ba3 Bxa3 19.Nxa3 Rad8 20.Rfc1 Qh3 21.Rxc6 bxc6 22.Ne4 Qg4 23.Nc5 Rd5 24.Rc1 Qg6 25.Nc4 Rxc5 26.Qa3 Rd8 27.Qxc5 … [Read more...]
Step by Step: Tactics #56
by Mark Donlan Step by Step: Tactics is designed to improve your basic tactical skills. For best results, play the position out over-the-board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. You can also print out this page and use it as a workbook exercise in a classroom setting. After the moves 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Ne5 Bh7 8.Qh5 g6 9.Bc4 e6 10.Qe2, why was 10...Bg7 a mistake? Scroll down for more options Circle the type of tactics that were involved in this puzzle: Checkmate Fork Deflection Pin Discovered Attack Removing the Guard Double Attack Skewer En Prise Trapped … [Read more...]