Trial by Tactics is our member-only Daily Chess Puzzle. Members enjoy access to all archived content, including thousands of PDFs and hundreds of Ebooks - all free! To join: make a $25 (or more) tax deductible donation to ChessEdu.org and we will send your log in details for one-year access. (It may take up to 72 hours to receive your log in.) In Trial by Tactics you are shown the position just before the tactic occurs and then asked to visualize the winning sequence. Thereby emulating a real game scenario. These puzzles can also be used as test questions in conjunction with the ChessEdu.org curriculum. A new puzzle is posted daily. Your daily chess quiz! [FEN … [Read more...]
And the Good News Is
And the Good News Is By Gary Lane What to do when White does not want to play in the spirit of the Semi-Slav? This the question posed by Mike Baird from Scotland. He writes, "I have attempted to master the Semi-Slav, but alas I do not always have the opportunity to play the variations I have learned. A new problem is the plan of a queenside fianchetto when I no longer know the right moment to play ...dxc4. Can you help?" The Semi-Slav is certainly a favourite amongst tournament campaigners and the good news is that you can adapt the variations to suit your needs. In this case against a queenside fianchetto, you should develop in the usual manner associated with the opening, but … [Read more...]
The French the Easy Way
The French the Easy Way An easy way to play the French is revealed. Martin Brown from Wales commented via e-mail, "I play the French but no longer like the opening. My problem is that after 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 dxe4 5 Nxe4 Be7 6 Bxf6+ gxf6 the positions are not to my liking; but the truth is that I do not know many book moves. I thought about 6...Bxf6 or even 4...Bb4. What do you think?" I think that 4...Bb4 is a good option but needs a lot of study. Therefore, until you have the time and patience the more practical option is 6...Bxf6. I can think of some inspiring games that might be of help: Robin Van Kampen-Sam Shankland Wijk aan Zee (B group) 2015 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 … [Read more...]
As You Wish
As You Wish How to play against the Veresov? This is the question posed by Greg Wilson from Australia. Apparently after 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 Nbd7 his sparring partner at the local club plays the well known replies and does well in blitz games. His simple question is "What should I play?" I must admit to always having a soft spot for the Veresov because it always seemed so tricky playing 2 Nc3 and enjoyed a good reputation amongst club players. It also has a good pedigree having been employed by such stars as Bent Larsen, David Bronstein, Hikaru Nakumura and Mikhail Tal. The opening is named in honour of Gavril Veresov who played the line so much they changed the name of the … [Read more...]
Old Fashioned
Old Fashioned by Gary Lane What are the good and bad points about a line in the Trompowsky? Jeremy Mitchell from the United Kingdom e-mailed to comment on the variation 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 and now 3 Bh4. His questions is "What should I do next because White is supposed to play 3 Bf3. Is it any good and if not how do I win?'' It is certainly true that the variation with 3 Bh4 is considered to be old fashioned having been particularly popular in the 1980s. However, the current craze to revive old lines with the help of computer software has reinstated some openings that were previously dismissed by the books. Here is a glorious game by an elite grandmaster from Azerbaijan who beats … [Read more...]
One More Thing
One More Thing by Gary Lane Can the Closed Sicilian be an attacking opening? This is the question posed by the Australian Jonathan Adams who helpfully e-mails a great game where he wins in style. The potentially aggressive line (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.d3 e6 6.Be3) adopted by Adams has been tested by some famous names such as Michael Adams (no relation), Nigel Short, Boris Spassky, and Alexander Stripunsky. I noticed that their high level opponents tended to put up firm resistance but when the position was played at a lower level the defence was more flimsy. I should add that World Champion Magnus Carlsen also gave his seal of approval to the opening by employing it … [Read more...]
Go!
Go! by Gary Lane How to beat the Dutch with 1 Nf3? This is the question posed by Marin Thomas from England who has been trying numerous lines against the Dutch but with little success. He e-mailed to say, "I play 1 Nf3 but when they play the Dutch Defence how should I continue? I have played the risky 2 e4 which I like but don't trust. Which attacking opening should I play?" I think someone with experience with gambit lines should go for it by playing the Lisitsyn Gambit. This is a clever line which involves the sacrifice of a pawn and has been well known since the 1940s. It has enjoyed a recent surge of popularity with many elite players employing it, including on a couple of … [Read more...]
Lost and Found
Lost and Found by Gary Lane The latest twist in the Vienna. On the Internet chess sites, gambits are all the rage to put people off when playing blitz. Martin Smith, England e-mailed to comment "I faced the Vienna and my opponent played a frail move in the opening 5 d3 but when I pounced it was a disaster. What should I do in the next game?" I think the Vienna (1 e4 e5 2 Nc3) is one of those openings in need of a revival. It has been played by so many elite players such as Michael Adams, Nigel Short, and Boris Spassky. If you look on Youtube there is even a video clip of Magnus Carlsen playing a fun blitz game against his manager Espen Agdestein with the Vienna so I suspect the … [Read more...]
Rumble in the Jungle
Rumble in the Jungle by Gary Lane Can an opening known as the Lion be a danger in tournaments? Kevin Winter from England is a keen player of the opening and e-mailed to say, "What do you make of the Black Lion? It is very popular in England and I have played it hundreds of times with great success. Even Carlsen, Vachier Lagrave, and most notably Rapport have played it; see the game of Bok v Rapport. Jobova essayed it in reverse, again against Bok. I would welcome your 'take' on it. There is a lot of history to it; thinking Blackburne, Marco, and Alekhine. Still relatively unknown." I suspect the first thing is to explain the origin of the name of the opening, because the Black Lion … [Read more...]