Chess for Kids and Parents - Heinz Brunthaler

42 Chess for Kids and Parents

For the start ουΓ plan should be:

Move a pawn into the centre e2-e4

Develop a knight towards the centre Ng1-f3

Move the king's bishop as soon as possible Bf1- ?

Castle kin~side (short) ο-ο

If ννθ proceed lίke that and do not let ourselves be too much diverted
from ουΓ plan, ννθ can soon set υρ a solid position. Lίke that, ννθ ννίll not
lose immediately either because of attacks by ουΓ opponent ΟΓ because
ννθ have made some mistake. And that is the most important thing ίη
chess: make as few mistakes as possible!

The correct and the quick order of moves

It is important that the developing moves are made ίη the order ννθ have
described above. It does matter which order the moves are made ίη.

For example. If after

1.e2-e4 e7-e5 instead of Ng1-f3

2.Bf1-c4 is played first (Ο), the
opponent can bring out his queen
2...Qd8-h4 and after 3.Ng1-f3 he would
ννίη a pawn by 3... Qh4xe4+! ΟΚ, the
queen move is actually a weak one, but
ίη such situations beginners easily lose
their head and then make bad blunders,
like for example 3.g2-g3? Qh4xe4+ and
the Rh 1 is then lost!

The move 2.Ng1-f3 prevents any such sortie, any attempt at Scholar's
mate, and a lot of possible opening traps!

So always stick to ουΓ move order, which should only be interrupted if
there is some threat from your opponent (to which ννθ naturally have to
react first). As soon as the danger is over, ννθ continue to develop
according to our plan.

And πονν let's have a look at an opening:

We learn an opening: the Scotch Game 43

We learn an opening: the Scotch Game

There are many ways to open a game of chess. Theoretically, White
can make one of 20 different moves at the beginning: each of the 8
pawns can advance by 1 ΟΓ 2 squares ΟΓ the knights can go to a3/c3 ΟΓ
f3/h3. Black can do the same, of course, and after 1 move there are 400
different and possible positions! But many of these moves would not be
good ones ΟΓ don't achieve anything, so ννΘ can concentrate on a few
opening moves.

abcde With White ννΘ always open with

1.e2-e4

This move clears the way for the
queen and the bishop and it occupies
the centre.

Your opponent usually makes the

same move, so
3 1....e7-e5 (Ο)
2 What happens if he does something

else ννίll be discussed later.

But mostly your opponents ννίll play
e7-e5.

a bc de ΒΥ 2.Ng1-f3 ννΘ follow ουΓ plan of
developing pieces.

The knight takes aim at the centre,
attacks the e5-pawn and makes space
to castle later on.

Your opponent usually protects his
e5-pawn with

2...Nb8-c6 (Ο)

2

The concept σ' an 'Όρροnent" wiII probab/y not p/ease many teachers

and parents and they wou/d rather see some word such as "p/aying
partner" σΓ the Iίke. The intention is certain/y good, but unfortunate/y not

44 Chess for Kids and Parents

νθΙΥ reaIίstic. Chess, by its νθΙΥ nature, has something of the character

of a due/. Two peop/e ΒΓθ p/aying against each other and each is trying (ο

oνercome the other. There can on/y be one winner (a draw often /eaνes
both p/ayers dissatisfied and in any case the goa/ is (ο win and not (ο be

content with a ha/f point). But in chess the child shou/d be taught fair p/ay

and respect for the person he is p/aying. But p/ease accept the
concept of an opponent, unti/ you yourse/f ΒΓθ conνinced of its νaIίdity

after seeing some tournament p/ay.

Our next move brings about the I'Scotch Opening". Other moves
could lead to other ο θηίη s.

abcde 3.d2-d4

We make a direct advance into the
centre. The black e5-pawn is now

attacked twice and defended only
once. If it is not defended again ΟΓ
exchanged, ννθ would win this
important central pawn. Black must
3 now react to ουΓ move and cannot play
just any old move, ΟΓ else he ννίll soon
2 have problems.

There are 3 likely moves:

3...f7-f6, 3...d7-d6, 3...e5xd4

3...f7-f6 is a bad way to defend. One
reason is that a pawn on f6 takes away
from the Ng8 its normal developing
square. This makes it harder for Black
to castle. After 4.d4-d5, for example,
you can immediately drive away the
Nc6 and Black is very cramped. There
are other reasons, which ννθ ννίll
discuss later.

3...d7-d6 (Ο) is perhaps better, but it
is not a good move either. We ννίll look
at it straight away, because it is often
played. If your opponent plays it, then
right from the start you have a slight
advantage.

We learn an opening: the Scotch Game 45

1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ν 1-f3 Nb8-c6 3.d2-d4 d7-d6

a bc de 4.d4xe5

We take the e5-pawn and Black now
has 2 possible moves:

4...Nc6xe5

4... d6xe5

We shall look at both of them:

4 ... Nc6xe5 5.Nf3xe5 5 ... d6xe5
abcde
6.Qd1xd8+
7
6 We prevent ουΓ opponent from
5 castling!
4
His king must take our queen and
then it may no longer castle!

On the other hand, we can develop
3 qUΊckly and castle and have the better

position!

2

46 Chess for Kids and Parents

6... Ke8xd8

7.Bf1-c4 (Ο)

We develop the bishop and at the

same time immediately make room to

castle. We have achieved all the goals

in ουΓ little list! At the same time, Wθ

are attacking the f7-pawn. In order to

3 defend it Black must either play

2 7...Kd8-e8, ί.θ. make a move that does
not develop any of his pieces; ΟΓ play

7... f7-f6, after which the pawn robs
the knight of its natural developing
square f6; ΟΓ play

7...Bc8-e6, when after 8.Bc4xe6 f7xe6 he has doubled pawns (it is
usually not all that good to have doubled pawns; we'll learn more about
that later); ΟΓ - the weakest reply

7...Ng8-h6 and after 8.Bc1xh6 g7xh6 9.Bc4xf7 Wθ have both won a
pawn and inflicted doubled pawns on ουΓ opponent!

80 all this looks quite good for us. But instead of taking the queen with
the king, ουΓ opponent could have used his knight. What would things
look like then?

abcde Position after 4...d6xe5 (Ο)

We again take the queen, so
5.Qd1 xd8+ and now Black can
recapture either with his king ΟΓ his
knight.

If 5... Ke8xd8 Black loses the right to
castle.

3 After 5...Nc6xd8 Black even loses a
2 pawn to 6.Nf3xe5, since the pawn iS

now no longer protected. 80 another
good result for you!

We learn an opening: the Scotch Game 47

But Black had yet another possibility, which ννθ ννίll πονν take a look at:

The best continuation:

1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ν 1-Ι3 Nb8-c6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4

a bcde f 3 ... e5xd4

is the best continuation for Black,
since it avoids all the problems
connected with the protection of the
e5-pawn which ννθ have already
looked at.

Of course, White does not feel like
3 giving away a pawn and so he ννίll play

2

4.Nf3xd4.

Νονν Black has lots of possible
7 moves:
6 Α) 4...Nc6xd4
5 Β) 4...Ng8-f6

4 C) 4...Qd8-f6
D) 4...Qd8-h4

Ε) 4...Bf8-c5

and ννθ ννίll πονν take a look at all of
them, so that ννθ do not have any nasty
surprises ίπ ουΓ game!

Of course, ννθ can't remember all these different moves and the moves
which follow them (this is what ννθ call variations) - ννθ would certainly
forget them just as qUΊckly. Try to remember the idea ΟΓ the plan which is
behind each of the different variations.

And if ου know the lan, ου ννίll also find the correct moves!

48 Chess for Kids and Parents

Α 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ν 1-13 Nb8-c6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.N13xd4 Nc6xd4

abcde h 4...Nc6xd4 (Ο)

5.Qd1xd4

7 It is not so good for Black to take the

6 Nd4, since that would leave ουΓ queen
ίη a very central position. Black can

5 only attack it by 5...Qd8-f6, but after
4 6.e4-e5 (Ο be/ow /eft) would have to

retreat, ΟΓ by 5...c7-c5, but after, e.g.,
6. Qd4-c31

(Ο be/ow centre) ουΓ queen is still
well placed, whilst the c5-pawn gets ίη
the way of Black's Bf8.

Of course there are
other possible queen
moves apart from
β.Qd4-c3, e.g. Qd4-d1,
Qd4-d3 ΟΓ Qd4-a4.

Just try out the
different possibilities ίη
training games and see
I-----a-ft-e-r-β-.e-4--e-5-----+---a-ft-e-r-β-.Q-d-4---C-3-----1 which you like best!

80 White has a good and active position if Black exchanges knights.

ΑΙΙ the other variations are better for Black than the exchange of
knights. We can divide them into variations ίη which Black attacks the
e4-pawn and variations ίη which Black attacks the Nd4. After you have
played Nf3xd4, you must work out from Black's reply what your
opponent is actually attacking. When you have worked that out, you
can decide whether you should move it away ΟΓ protect ίΙ

1 This is not, according to opening theory, the best moνe, but it is ΟΠθ that is p/ayab/e

for a beginner and giνes him/her chances. From c3 the queen threatens g7 (which is

often oνer/ooked by an opponent who is a/so a beginner and moνes his 8f8) and can

/ead to an attack οπ the king after the queen goes to g3 ΟΓ h3. Many of the theoretically

best moνes ίπ the opening are simp/y incomprehensib/e to a beginner because of the

/ack of technique and experience; and thus they can be of πο use to him.

We learn an opening: the 8cotch Game 49

Β 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ν 1-f3 Nb8-c6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Nf3xd4 Ν 8-16

4 ... Ng8-f6

What is the knight attacking?

Yes, the e4-pawn. We must protect
6 it, but ίπ doing so make sure that wΘ
5 don't make a mistake. The simplest

protection would be 5.f2-f3. This move
does meet its purpose, but it must be
3 used with care. It weakens ουΓ castling
2 position (you wίll learn more about that
later), and ίπ a worst-case scenario it
can make castling impossible. Ιπ the
opening, WΘ should only play f2-f3
(f7-f6) if there iS πο other choice!

5.Bf1-d3? (Ο below left) does protect the e4-pawn, but cuts off the
Nd4 from the queen which iS protecting it and it would be lost after
5...Nc6xd4! Mark it well: this mistake often happens! Otherwise it would
not be a bad move, for WΘ would protect the pawn, develop a piece, and
prepare castling. 80 for that reason wΘ first worry about the Nd4 which is
under attack and swap it off: 5.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 (if Black plays 6...d7xc6,
WΘ can again Γυίπ his chances of castling with 7.0d1xd8+, Ο below
centre) 6.Bf1-d3 (Ο below right). After this WΘ can castle, and develop
the Nb1 to c3 and the Bc1 (perhaps to 5).

after 5.Bf1-d3? after 7.0d1xd8+ after 6.Bf1-d3

50 Chess for Kids and Parents

C 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ν 1-f3 Nb8-c6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Nf3xd4 Qd8-f6

4...Qd8-f6 (Ο)

The idea of the queen move is, after
5.Nd4xc6 to recapture the knight with
the queen (instead of with the b- ΟΓ d-
pawn) and so avoid doubled pawns.

80: 5...Qf6xc6 and ννθ once more
play 6.Bf1-d3, qUΊckly castle and have
3 nothing to fear!

2 But there iS οηθ trick by the
opponent ννθ must watch out for, ΟΓ
else the game could come to a sudden
end:

If after:

5.Nd4xc6 (Ο) Black does not take at
once but plays 5...Bf8-c5, ννθ are ίη
great danger!

The threat iS Qf6xf2#

80mething must be done to block
this threat at once, ΟΓ else the game iS
over! Υου can defend against the mate
by 6.Qd1-e2 ΟΓ 6.Qd1-f3.

6.f2-f3 would also be possible, but
then you ννίll have problems with
castling, because the Bc5 controls the
a7-g1 diagonal - and you are not
allowed to castle into ΟΓ through a
check!

Ιη Variation Ε) you ννίll learn more about this position and the
possibilίties ίη it, since both these positions are identical, although they
are reached by quite different move orders.

This is called a transposition of moves, when identical positions are
reached b different move orders.

We learn an opening: the Scotch Game 51

D 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ν 1-f3 Nb8-c6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Nf3xd4 Qd8-h4

abcde f

8 4...Qd8-h4 (Ο)

This looks dangerous - a bolt from
6 the blue! - but if Wθ think and play

carefully, Wθ have nothing to fear.

5

The e4-pawn iS under attack and Wθ
must defend ίΙ But wθ must also watch
3 out for the Nd4, which the white queen
2 iS protecting.

Simply exchanging the knight does not work, since after 5.Nd4xc6
Qh4xe4+ 6.Qd1-e2 Qe4xe2+ 7.Ke1xe2 d7xc6 Wθ have lost the e-pawn.
That would not be so bad, because ίπ a game between beginners a
pawn does not make a lot of differences; but we would like to see if Wθ
can avoid losin ίΙ

abcde f

We can protect the e4-pawn by
5.Nb1-c3, but after 5...Bf8-b4

Black iS attacking the defending
knight.

Of course, Wθ can defend everything
by 6.Qd1-d3 but after 6...Bb4xc3+
3 7.b2xc3 Ng8-f6 the position iS not so
2 easy to play and Wθ would do better
not to go ίπ for ίΙ Απ experienced
player can play and defend many sorts
of position. But someone who iS at the

start of his/her chess career should at first avoid positions which are too
complicated and concentrate οπ putting into practice his/her plan (centre,
development, castling) and οπ not making too many mistakes.

Later ου wίll be able to and should! take οπ more ...

52 Chess for Kids and Parents

a bcde f 80 it is simpler if ννθ protect with an
immediate 5.Qd1-d3.
7
6 If Black πονν tries to attack by 5... Bf8-
5 b4+ ννθ ννίll ΓUΊπ his dreams with an
4 immediate 6.c2-c3.

Α more dangerous attack is the ΟΠθ
with 5...Nc6-b4 (Ο)

The knight is attacking the queen
and the c2-pawn.

But we can protect everything with
6.Qd3-e2 and defend against a further
attack οπ the e4-pawn by 6...Ng8-f6
with 7.Nb1-c3 (Ο be/ow) - the Nb4 is
πονν blocking the attacking square that
could be used b the Bf8!

Black's early attack has achieved
nothing.

We are controlling the centre and
can choose to drive away the Nb4 by
a2-a3. The black queen ννίll be chased
away by Nd4-f3 and it is starting to Γυπ
short of squares to retreat to!

80 do not worry about early attacks
by your opponent. If you keep your
ΠθΓνθ and work out what is being
threatened and what you can do about
it, then things are never as bad as they
seem!

Νονν ίπ the next pages ννθ ννίll come to the most complicated variation,
during the study of which ννθ willlearn many interesting moves.

We learn an opening: the Scotch Game 53

Ε 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ν 1-f3 Nb8..c6 3.d2..d4 e5xd4 4.Nf3xd4 Bf8-c5

4... Bf8-c5 What is the bishop
attacking? The knight, of course!

We have 4 possible moves:
5.Nd4xc6
5.Nd4-b3
5.c2-c3

3

5. Bc1-e3

2

We shall start with the simplest
alternative: the capture!

5.Nd4xc6 Qd8-f6 (Ο)

(If instead of this, Black takes back
by 5...b7xc6 ννθ once more play Bf1-
d3 to protect the pawn and prepare to
castle. After 5 ...d7xc6 ννθ again stop
Black castling by... ?)

3 00 you remember this position? We
already had it ίπ Variation C), by

2 transposition οΙ moνes.

Our opponent has a good plan:

His threat is (e.g. if ννθ bring ουΓ knight to safety by Nc6-a5) to play
ΟΙ6χΙ2# - a sort of Scholar's mate (we ννίΙΙ take a closer look at this
'ΌΡenίng trick" ίπ the chapter οπ "Traps").

At the same time he avoids getting doubled pawns, since the queen
can always recapture the knight by 6...Qf6xc6.

We need Ιο do something about the mate at once. Only a queen
moνe ννίll do! (We could avoid the mate by f2-f3, but that may mean that
ννθ could πο longer castle because the Bc5 is controlling the a7-g1
dia onal (0-0 into check is not allowed!)

54 Chess for Kids and Parents

abcde 6.Qd1-e2 (Ο)
Another possible defence would be
7 6. Qd1-f3. Unfortunately ουΓ text move
6 blocks the Bf1, which is a bit of a
5 nuisance. 6.Qd1-f3 could be used by
4 ουΓ opponent to give us doubled
pawns by 6...Qf6xf3 (though after
7.g2xf3 b7(d7)xc6 he also has to
2 accept doubled pawns).
Ιπ any case, both moves help you
avoid mate.

6...Qf6xc6 7.Nb1-c3 (Ο)
and could πονν develop by, e.g.,
7...Ng8-f6, after which you can offer to
exchange bishops by 8.Bc1-e3, ίπ
order to free the Bf1 again by
8...Bc5xe3 Qe2xe3.
If Black does not want to exchange
3 and instead plays 8...Bc5-b4 you have
2 to play 9.Be3-d2 (or d4)! The small
diagrams below show you why! Let us
assume that instead you play 9.a2-a3

After 9...Bb4xc3+ (Ο)
10.b2xc3 Qc6xc3+
(Ο right) Black wins a
whole rook and as a
rule the game as well!

We learn an opening: the Scotch Game 55

Ε2) 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Nf3xd4 Bf8-c5
5.Nd4-b3

abcde f

5.Nd4-b3 (Ο) attacks the Bc5. The
bishop can actually only retreat to b6,
because οπ any other square it would
get ίπ the way of its οννπ pieces (e.g.
οπ e7 ΟΓ, even worse, οπ d6).

2

5... Bc5-b6 6.a2-a4 (Ο)

Οπ b6 the bishop has πο escape
7 square and if ννθ can get ίπ a4-a5 it is
6 lost! Remember this idea. If pieces
5 (and that includes your οννπ!) do not

have much room around them, they
can be lost!

Black has ΟΠθ likely move:

6...a7-a6 and by 7.a4-a5 White
drives the bishop into the corner (Ο
below left).

After 7...Bb6-a7 and
8.Bf1-d3 White can
castle next move and
has a solid position,
which even a better
player cannot easily
crack open!

56 Chess for Kids and Parents

Ε3) 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Nf3xd4 Bf8-c5
5.c2-c3

5.c2-c3 (Ο)
If the opponent πονν takes the Nd4,
we have a wonderful position!
After 5...Nc6xd4 6.c3xd4 we have a
great centre and the Bc5 also has to
move again. Beginners often give a
senseless check here.
If Black plays 6...Bc5-b4+ here, he
does us a big favour, since we develop
another piece by 7.Nb1-c3!.

ΒΥ 7...Ng8-f6 he develops too and πονν we must be careful, since ουΓ
e4-pawn is threatened! The Nc3 may be protecting e4, but it cannot
move ΟΓ ουΓ king would be ίπ check! (Ο be/ow /eft)

If a piece may not move because otherwise the king would be ίπ
check, we call that a "ρίn" ΟΓ we can say, "the piece is pinned". Even if,
instead of the king, it is a more valuable piece than the attacking one
(e.g. ίπ ουΓ eχample a rook ΟΓ the queen) that is under threat, we can
speak of a ρίπ. But ίπ that case the pinned piece would at least be
allowed to move, even if material is lost. Ιπ the chapter οπ "Tactics" we
ννίll deal with the ρίπ ίπ some depth.

After 8.Bf1-d3 (Ο) we
protect ουΓ threatened
e-pawn and clear the
way for castling. We
have a good position
and are still occupying
the centre.

We learn an opening: the 8cotch Game 57

Of course, Black does not have to
eχchange the knight. Whenever you
are considering what your opponent
might play, you must not only think of
the moves you would like to see!
Unfortunately ουΓ opponent often
makes moves that are not pleasant for
3 us - ΟΓ which ννθ simply hadn't seen!

2 5...Qd8-h4 gives him better chances
than ίπ the variation ννθ have just
looked at.

If your opponent makes a surprise attack, you should not panic. If you
keep your nerve, things ννίll turn out fine. If you make the first move you
think of, you ννίll probably lose. Ιπ such positions beginners often play g2-
g3? - a silly move. Why attack the queen, which has πο intention of
staying οπ h4, but would lίke to grab the e4-pawn? Which is what
happens πονν anyway!

ΙΙ is important Ιο consider first of all what is threatened.

The queen is attacking the e4-pawn. Moreover, if the Nd4 moves
away, Black would ννίπ straight away by Qh4χf2#. 80 ννθ a) may not
move the Nd4, b) should protect the e4-pawn, and c) must think about
protecting the Nd4

The last point eliminates most of the protecting moves:

After 6. Qd1-f3 there would come Nc6 (or Bc5)xd4 c3xd4 and B(N)xd4
and ννθ may have protected the e-pawn, but ννθ have lost the (new) d-
pawn.

After 6.Bf1-d3 the d-pawn is also lost.

And the same happens after 6.Nb1-d2

Only 6.Qd1-d3 is left to meet the requirements. And if Black continues
to attack the e-pawn with 6...Ng8-f6, ννθ can then protect the pawn with
7.Nb1-d2, because πονν the lίnk between the queen and the Nd4 is πο
longer blocked.

So by careful consideration and by elimination of the
unfaνourable moνes, we haνe found the correct moνe!

58 Chess for Kids and Parents

4.) 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Nf3xd4 Bf8-c5
5.Bc1-e3
The last of ουΓ 4 possible moves is
5.Bc1-e3 (Ο).

8 And it is a good one, because it
7 protects the Nd4 and at the same time
6 6 develops the Bc1 .
5 If Black exchanges, you can bring
4 your queen back into the centre:
3 3 5...Nc6xd4 6.Be3xd4 Bc5xd4

2 7.Qd1xd4: your position is solid and
nothing can happen to you (assuming
of course you still keep your eyes wide
open) and use your head every time
you make a move!

There are of course other possibilities for Black.

ΒΥ 5...Qd8-f6 Black can further increase the pressure on the Nd4, but
White too can mobilise another defender by 6.c2-c3. After 6...Ng8-e7
Black is perhaps preparing to castle, something you could (or should)
also do by 7.Bf1-e2. After both sides have castled, the position offers
chances to both players. We say that the position is open.2

Black can attack the e4-pawn by
5...Qd8-e7. But that does not bother us
7 too much, because 6.Nb1-c3 allows us
6 to keep υρ in the struggle for the e4-
pawn!

5

4 But after 6...Ng8-f6 (Ο next page)
Black can further increase the

3

pressure, but now ννΘ can use a new
2 trick, which ννΘ shall take a look at on

the next page.

2 ΒΥ an open position / mean that the expected resu/t of the game is open. /t shou/d
not be confused with the so-ca//ed Open games ΟΓ Open openings, terms which
describe a// those openings which start with 1. e2-e4 e7-e5.

We learn an opening: the 8cotch Game 59

Position after 6...Ng8-f6 (Ο)

abcde Our Nd4 can move away and that
would mean that the black Bc5 was
suddenly under attack from ουΓ white
Be3!

If a piece ΟΓ a pawn can move and
open υρ an attack from another piece

(which it had previously been
blocking), this is called a discovered

attack.

2

The discovered attack is a very
dangerous weapon. And one that
ineχperienced players either do not
see ΟΓ find difficult to spot. 80 7.Nd4-
f5.

ΑΙΙ Black is left with is 7...Qe7-f8 and now ννΘ can eχploit the fact that
the queen has to protect two points at once (the Bc5 and g7). This is
called being overloaded. 8.Nf5χg7+ Qf8χg7 9.Be3χc5 and ννΘ have
recovered the piece ννΘ sacrificed, won a pawn, and damaged Black's
king's position!

In ουΓ position ννΘ could play 7.Nd4xc6 and attack both the queen
(with the knight) and the Bc5 (with ουΓ bishop). Unfortunately the queen
is protecting the Bc5, so after 7...d7xc6 ννΘ wouldn't have won anything.

But back to ουΓ other discovered
attack: 7.Nd4-f5 (Ο). The queen is
attacked and must move while
simultaneously protecting the Bc5 and
also the g7 pawn. 7...Qe7-e5 is
immediately out for two reasons: firstly
it doesn't protect g7 and ννΘ win a
pawn and ruin Black's castling position
after 8.Nf5xg7+, as ννΘ have seen.

But even better is 8.f2-f4, because
then the queen has no safe escape
square and is lost!

60 Chess for Kids and Parents

Τraps, Τricks & Blunders

Probably the best known and most often used opening trap is Scholar's
mate. ΑΙΙ beginners greatly enjoy using this trick against every opponent -
but have also been mated with it themselves!

After 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Bf1-c4 Nb8-c6
3.Qd1-h5 (Ο) ννθ have reached the
starting position. Απ experience player
would immediately smeII a rat and
avoid mate by

3...Qd8-e7, Qd8-f6 ΟΓ g7-g6.
Then the white queen must retreat
and White has wasted a move.

2

This caIIed losing a tempo ΟΓ a
wasted tempo.

Of course, you are secretly hoping
that Black does not spot the trap and
7 plays, e.g.
6 3...Ng8-f6 ΟΓ 3...Bf8-c5, so that you
5 then can triumphantly mate him with
4 4.Qh5xf7# (Ο)!

But this reaIIy only works against
beginners. It might be a nice thing to
ννίπ, but it would soon become boring if
every game ended Iίke this!

If your opponent is not an absolute beginner, you should not try out
Scholar's mate against him; he ννίΙΙ certainly know it and you ννίΙΙ be the
ΟΠθ who is immediatel at a disadvanta e!

Traps, Tricks & Blunders 61

But even worse things can happen! If a player moves his pawns
carelessly, he can Γυπ into the quickest possible mate ίπ the game: Fool's
mate (not a very nice name, but there is a bit of truth ίπ it)

1.f2-f3? Α bad move which achieves
nothing (development!) and even

8 blocks the Ng1 off from its natural
developing square f3.

7

1...e7-e5 Black develops normally
6 6 and is not put off by strange moves.

5 5 2.92-94?? Another senseless move.
4 4 And it opens υρ the e1-h4 diagonal at

3 ΟΠθ end of which sits an unprotected

white king!

2

2...Qd8-h4# For such wantonly
thoughtless - ok, say it, idiotic - moves

there is an immediate red card. Mate,

game over, total disgrace!

If White had set υρ a pawn ίn the centre, this could never have
hap ened!

abcde f Stupid moves are not just made by
White. After

1.e2-e4 f7-f6 2.d2-d4 97-95 3.Qd1-
h5#

Black loses ίπ exactly the same way,
ίπ return for the same neglect of
opening principles and sensible
3 development!

2 Of course, somethin9 like this can
never happen to you, because you
always play a pawn into the centre and
think before every move - this
definitely means you don't Γυn into
idiotic mates!

62 Chess for Kids and Parents

Α defence a ainst those nas tricks which attack f7
We ννίll πονν learn another widely used trick, namely when a bishop
and knight attack the f7-square. If you are Black, it can happen to you as
ίπ the following position:

After the moves 1.e2-e4 e7-e5
2.Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3.Bf1-c4 Ng8-f6
4.Nf3-g5 (Ο) Black seems to be ίπ
great difficulties.

The f7-pawn is lost: either after
Bc4xf7+ losing the right to castle ΟΓ,
even worse, after Ng5xf7 with a
3 simultaneous attack οπ the Qd8 and
2 the Rh8.

This called a double attack ΟΓ also a
knight fork.

But do not be afraid of this trick, for there is a "counter-trick"! It is not
so easy to spot and so you must pay careful attention and remember it,
because you ννίll certainly need it one day!

4...d7-d5 (Ο) "What, I'm already
losing something and so I'm offering
my opponent even more", might be
your angry reply.

But it works, just wait!
If White takes with 5.Bc4xd5, you
exchange off everything with
5...Nf6xd5 6.e4xd5 Qd8xd5 and you
have πο more worries.

Naturally we can't expect to get off so Iίghtly every time, so let's look at
what happens after the stronger move 5.e4xd5.

Traps, Tricks & Blunders 63

5.e4xd5 Nc6-a5 (Ο)

We attack the Bc4. It can't retreat,
because then ννθ get ουΓ pawn back
and a good position, e.g.

6.Bc4-b3 Na5xb3 7.a2xb3 and Qd8
(or Nf6) takes d5.

3 Instead of that White attacks with

2 6.Bc4-b5+ and ννθ block the check
by 6...c7-c6 (Ο be/ow)

White exchanges pawns by

7.d5xc6 b7xc6 and the bishop
retreats 8.Bb5-a4.

Νονν you may be a pawn down, but
ίη exchange for that you are better
developed than White and ννίll make υρ
3 for that little disadvantage. We say,
''you have compensation for the
2 pawn"; ί.θ. these advantages make υρ
for the pawn (= compensate for it).

Here is the final position of ουΓ

variation after the retreat 8.Bb5-a4. It

7 is Black's move and he could, for

6 example, prepare to castle by 8...8f8-

5 c5 and at the same time the bishop
gets ίη its sights the centre (d4) and

a7-g1 diagonal.

Play this position ίn training
games, both with Black and White,
to get an idea of how things can
develop!

64 Chess for Kids and Parents
Opening ΟυίΖ

Well, do you remember all the tricks and traps? Τhen, let's see!
12

34

abcde f
77
6
5

Traps, Tricks & Blunders 65

Opening ΟυίΖ

5 6 Black 10 moνe

abcde f

7
6
5

3
22

7 8 Black 10 moνe

7
6
5
4

66 Chess for Kids and Parents

Opening ΟυίΖ

9 Black to moνe 10

abcde f a bc de

77
6
5
4

3
2

11 12 Black to moνe

abcde f
8
7

5

2

Traps, Tricks & Blunders 67

Solutions to O~ening αυίΖ

1 1.d4xe5 and Black loses a pawn ΟΓ the right to castle:

1...d6xe5

[1 ... Nc6χe5 2.Nf3χe5 d6χe5 3.Qd1 χd8+]

2.Qd1xd8+ Ke8xd8 [2 ... Nc6χd8? 3.Nf3χe5]

2 Someone always falls into the good old Scholar's mate:

1.Qh5xf7#

Black's last move Ng8-f6 attacked the queen, but it was too
late! If he had first moved the knight to f6 instead of playing
Bf8-c5, the white queen would not have been able to
advance like that.

3 1.Qd3-e2 is correct, the queen must protect the e4-pawn
and also the c2-square, which is threatened by a knight
fork.

Other moves lose either the e4-pawn ΟΓ the a1-rook, e.g.
1.Qd3-f3? Nb4-c2+ ΟΓ

1.Qd3-c4 Qh4χe4+

4 Here ννθ have an eχample of Fool's mate. Black's moves
f7-f6 and g7-g5 ννθΓθ both senseless and dangerous, so
vengeance was swift:

1.Qd1-h5#

5 1.a4-a5 and the bishop has πο square to escape to and is
lost! Black should have played a7-a6, then the bishop could
have retreated to a7.

6 White's last move a2 attacked the bishop. It does move
away - but not ίπ the way White had imagined:

1...Bb4xc3+ 2.b2xc3 Qc6xc3+

and because of his double attack οπ the king and the rook,
Black wins the rook!

68 Chess for Kids and Parents

7 1.Nd4xc6
This discoνered attack by the knight takes the Nc6,
attacks the queen and clears the way for the Be3 to attack
Black's Bc5. Νο wonder Black loses a piece in the face of
so many attacks:
1...b7xc6 2.Be3xc5 and you have won a bishop.
If 1...d7xc6 you first eχchange the queens by 2.Qd1xd8+
Ke8xd8 and then you take the bishop by 3.Be3xc5

8 It wasn't too bright of White to attack the queen with the last
move g2-g3. Νοw Black wins a pawn and White even has
to be careful that things don't get any worse than that:

1...Qh4xe4+ 2.Qd1-e2

[2.Bf1-e2? Qe4χh1 +]

2...Qe4xe2+ 3.Nd4xe2
[If 3.Bf1 χθ2? Bc5χd4 4.c3χd4 Nc6χd4 Black even wins a
second ~awn!]

9 Have you ever made fun of other children who fell for
Scholar's mate? It can even happen to White and that can
come a few moves later!

1...Qf6xf2#

an his last move, Nd4χc6, White captured the black knight.
But he would have done better to play Bc1-e3 protecting
his knight, which was under attack and protecting himself
against the mate!

10 1.Nd4-f5 Α discovered attack! The black queen is under
attack and has to protect the bishop on c5 and now the
pawn on g7 too - too much work, even for such a strong
piece!

1...Qe7-f8 2.Nf5xg7+ Qf8xg7 3.Be3xc5 and you have both
won a pawn and weakened your opponent's position!

Traps, Tricks & Blunders 69

11 Black's last move a7-a6 attacked the bishop, and ίπ doing
so helped White to ννίπ a pawn.

1.Bb5xc6 b7xc6 2.Qa4xa6+ Kc8-d7
[After 2...Kc8-b8 a second pawn is lost 3.Qa6χc6]
Α very bad mistake is

1... b7-b52.Qa4χa6+
Because White can πονν mate at once:

2... Kc8-b8 3.Qa6-b7# ΟΓ 3.Qa6-a8#
12 With the last move, Bf1-d3, White protected the e4-pawn

from the attack by the black queen.
But it was a panic move, because πονν the Nd4 is πο longer
protected by the queen and is lost:

3... Nc6xd4

If you found less than eight answers, your best plan would be to take
another look at ουΓ chapter οπ the opening.

If there ννθΓθ only a few solutions you didn't find, all you need to do is
look back ΟVθΓ the eχercises and then continue with the neχt chapter.

Don't be annoyed with yourself if you didn't know something. Nobody
knows everything and, when you are starting out, you do sometimes
forget things. That is not a problem.

70 Chess for Kids and Parents

Introduction to training ίn tactics

Ιπ the next chapter ννθ shall deal with tactics ίπ chess. We use
combinations which are specific moves of individual pieces ΟΓ pawns ΟΓ
several pieces ΟΓ pawns acting together ίπ order achieve certain aims:
winning a piece ΟΓ a pawn, mating the opponent's king ΟΓ breaking υρ a
dangerous group of pieces attacking ουΓ οννπ position. The various
branches of tactics can be catalogued and divided into specific models
and typical cases (motifs ΟΓ themes). There are a lot of tactical motifs,
but don't worry because ννθ only need to know a few of them at the
beginning.

For beginners' chess these are:

• the double attack (a piece ΟΓ a pawn attacks two ΟΓ more opposing
pieces) .

• the ρίn (a piece cannot move, because if it did move a more
valuable piece behind it would be taken ΟΓ the king would be ίπ
check: which is not allowed, since it is against the laws of chess).

• the skewer (bishop, rook ΟΓ queen attack two pieces which are
standing ίπ lίΠθ, ΟΠθ behind the other. This is related to the ρίπ and
the double attack).

• discovered attacklcheck (moving a pawn ΟΓ a piece frees another
piece which πονν attacks something. If the piece which moves away
simultaneously attacks something - ΟΓ if the manoeuvre involves a
check - there arises a very dangerous situation, which often costs
material ΟΓ even leads to the loss of the game.)

These areas of the game, and the motifs and typical traps linked to
them, determine what happens when beginners play. Short term attacks
(mostly not thought through) and retreats, ΟΠθ move attacks, and of
course heaps of missed opportunities are typical of such games.

The most important thing is not falling into the simplest of "tricks". Ιπ
chess, at least υρ to the age group U10, the ννίΠΠθΓ of a game is the ΟΠθ
who makes the fewer (or least obvious) mistakes. And this is quite
logical - what use is skilfully winning pawns three times ΟΓ winning an
exchange, if at the end of the game you give away your queen ΟΓ overlook
a mating threat?

Tactics 71

U10 is the designation {αΓ those who are under 10 years o/d. The key
date is the 1st of January of the re/evant year. Α chi/d who is not yet 10
years o/d απ that date may continue to p/ay ίπ that grouping. The same is
obvious/y true of the other age groupings: U12, U14, U16, υ18 and U20.

80 ίπ the chapter which follows ννΘ shall try to teach your child some
tactical tricks.

With younger children it ννίll be almost obligatory to set υρ all the
positions οπ the chessboard and let him/her play them out there. Older
children from about 8 ΟΓ 9 can, οπ the other hand, usually manage with
diagrams and after some time work with them independently.

Discuss carefully with your child all those quiz exercises which s/he did
ηοΙ solve. Explain the relevant motifs ΟΓ work through the model examples
once more, and especially intensively.

Α few days ΟΓ weeks later, dependent οπ how intensive the training was,
set the exercises again, ΟΠΘ at a time, and make certain that the
knowledge of the different motifs has been acquired.

Especialiy as far as children of about 5 to 6 are concerned, ουΓ material
ννίll not necessarily be enough to give them a firm grasp of the tactical
motifs. For reasons of space, however, ννΘ cannot devote more room to
tactics ίπ this book. But for your child's further development ίπ chess, it is
νΘΓΥ important that s/he understands fully and masters the basic motifs ίπ
tactics.

Tactics

Tactics ίπ chess are the manoeuvres made by pieces and pawns ίπ
order to achieve specific goals.

It can be moves by individual pieces, but also several moves made by
several pieces ΟΓ pawns. These are what are called combinations.

The opposite of tactics is strategy, which includes general plans and
goals. 80, for example, my general plan (my strategy) might be to attack
my opponent οπ the kingside. ΜΥ tactics are then, perhaps, to advance a
knight to support my queen ίπ a mating attack.

Tactics can be divided into several areas. We have already learned
about some of them: the double attack ΟΓ the discovered attack.

We ννίll πονν take a look at some of the most important tactical motifs,
which ννίll help us to see through attacks by ουΓ opponent ίπ good time ΟΓ
to mount a successful attack ourselves!

72 Chess for Kids and Parents

The double attacklthe fork
Α double attack is when a piece ΟΓ a pawn attacks two opposing pieces.

Τhe double attack is often called a fork, especially when it is the knight ΟΓ
the bishop doing ίΙ

ΑΙΙ the pieces and pawns can mount a double attack.

Here are some typical eχamples of the double attack by different pieces:

abcde abcde abcde

8

6
5

Knight fork Bishop fork Double attack Double attack
with the rook with the θθη

Τhe lίVθlΥ knight, whose move is hard to foresee, is naturally ideally
suited to double attacks. Beginners especially have big problems working
out ίη advance knight moves and possible knight forks.

abcd Forks are not restricted to the pieces; pawns can
8 deliver them as well' And they can make a good job of
it, as ουΓ eχample shows, with a little pawn forking two
7 mighty rooks by their "blind spot" - this means that οηθ
of the two of them has had it!

Α pawn making its double move from the starting
position is often a nasty "surprise fork"!

We shall ηοw have a look at some eχamples of the various double
attacks and you can try to remember these attacks. Afterwards you can try
the quiz οη the double attack to work out for yourself possible eχamples of
double attacks ΟΓ forks.

Tactics 73

Τ icaI exam Ies of doubIe attacks taken from

7

Here you can see the double White too can fall into a
attack, which at the beginning knight fork. The c2-square is a
happens more than all the favourite target for the knight. If
others: the knight fork οπ the an opposing knight is hanging
c7-square. Black has failed to about οπ b4 ΟΓ d4, you should
castle early and not developed keep an eye οπ your c2 -
properly. 80 1.Nb5xc7+ square, ΟΓ else the same could
punishes him by winning the happen to you as ίπ this
rook and at the same time example: 1...Nd4xc2 and πονν
stopping him castling. the queen is lost because it has
πο escape square!

74 Chess for Kids and Parents

The black pawns have Since the queen can also
advanced and the d5-pawn is move lίke a bishop, it can also
πο longer protected. White deliver a "bishop" fork. The Re8
exploits this at once with the finds that out immediately after
bishop fork 1.Bb3xd5+, which 1...Qc7-c6+ when it is lost!
wins a rook!

Tactics 75

The f2 (f7) square οπ the 1.d4-d5 Α pawn fork!

kingside is often a very weak 1...Qe6-f7 2.d5xc6 b7xc6
3.Bb5xc6+ and ποw there is
one. The Ne4, which the Re1 even a bishop fork 3...Bc8-d7
4.Bc6xa8 (2 ...0-0 would have
wanted to chase away, been better, since it only loses
another pawn)
supports the very short but

effective bishop fork:

1... Bc5xf2+ wins the

exchan e3 . 2.Kg1-h1 Bf2xe1

3 Winning the exchange iS what we say when we swap a bishop ΟΓ a knight for a

rook. Since the rook iS worth 5 pawns and the bishop ΟΓ knight on/y approx. 3 pawns

(these eva/uations can, however, vary a /ot according to the position οπ the board!), the

win of the exchange is an advantage well worth having. /t may be a/most unimportant ίπ

beginners' and chi/dren's chess since frequent/y pawns and pieces are given away
quick/y and often, and since the p/ayers do not have the technica/ skills needed to rea/ise

their advantage.

76 Chess for Kids and Parents

Black has moved the bishop Bishop forks do not always
to d6. This blocks the d7-pawn, have to be to the right and left;
the Bc8 and the queen and in they can work forward and
addition the bishop is attacked back. 1.Bf7-e6+ wins the rook.
by a pawn fork: 1.e4-e5 wins a

iece.

abcde f
....;.....""'""

2

Nor does the knight need to With 1.Nc3-b5 White starts a
fork to its right and left. Here double attack on the queen and
the fork only points one way, the d6-pawn, which is already
but successfully: 1...Ne4-g3+ attacked by the Bf4 and is lost
and the queen is lost. These after Qc7-b6. If Black plays
forks are nasty, because they 1...Qc7-b8? the bishop can
are easy to miss! even start another double
attack b 2.Bf4xd6!.

a bc de Tactics 77

7 8 3
6 7 2
5
3
2

The queen only attacks the Especially ίπ the endgame,
knight from b3, not a double when there is a lot of room οπ
attack. But it supports the the board, rooks too can deliver
bishop which can πονν take οπ double attacks. 1.Rc2-c7 The
f7, making the queen move a rook attacks the b7-pawn and
double attack! 1.Qd1-b3 Nb4- the knight. 1...Ne7-f5 ΟΓ 1...Rf8-
c6 2.Bc4xf7+ And 1.Bxf7+ f7 may save the knight, but the
Ke8xf7 2.Qd1-b3+ also pawn is lost: 2.Rc7xb7
works - this time a proper
double attack!

abcde 8
8 7
7 6
6 5
5 4
4
3 2

More complicated and harder to see is when there is πο double
attack at once, but ΟΠθ is threatened after other moves. For example,
ίπ the positions above: (Ο /eft) 1.Qg4xe6 f7xe6 2.Bf4xd6 e6xd5
3.Bd6xb8 and (Ο right) 1.Bc4xe6 f7xe6 2.Ng5xe6 e.g. Qd8-d7

3.Ne6xf8.

78 Chess for Kids and Parents

Quiz οη the double attack
12

3 Black Ιο move 4 Black Ιο move

8
7
6
5

2

Tactics 79

ΟυίΖ οη the double attack

56

abcde f a bcde f

8

7

22

7 8

abcde f 8
7
6 3
5 2

3
2

80 Chess for Kids and Parents

SoIutions to the quiz οπ the double attack
1 1.Nd5xc7#

Υου certainly saw the knight fork, but did you see the
mate? This time the double attack was particularly nasty!
2 The knight fork is not quite so effective here, but it does ννίπ
the exchange:

1.Ng5xf7+ Rf8xf7 2.Bd5xf7
3 1...Qe1xh4+ 2.Kh2-g1 Re8-e1# ΟΓ also

1...Nf6-g4+ 2.Kh2-h3 Ng4xh6
If you found both solutions, you get an extra point!
4 Α small but successful bishop fork is: 1... Bf4-d2 and both
rook and kn19ht are attacked.
5 1.Nd5-f6+ The knight catches both king and queen οπ its
fork. And whenever a check is part of a double attack, the
king must be saved; so here the queen is lost!
6 1.b4-b5 The little pawn attacks the mighty queen - it may
well escape, but the Na6 ννίll not!
7 1.Bg5-e7 Protected by the knight, the bishop dares to go
into the lion's mouth and forks the rook and the queen!
8 Of course you could ννίπ a pawn at once with 1.Nf3xe5 and
set υρ a double attack οπ the queen and rook. But Black
would escape after 1...Qd7xd1 Rf1xd1.
Οπ the other hand, if ννθ first play 1.Qd1xd7+ Kc8xd7 then
2.Nf3xe5+, ννθ ννίπ the exchange, because the black king
must react to the check (= move) and the rook cannot
escape.

If you got less than six points, it is probably a good idea to go ονθΓ the
section οπ the double attack again ίπ a few days.

Tactics 81

The ρίn

If a piece is attacked and cannot (may not) move away because a more
valuable piece ΟΓ else the king is behind it, then the piece is pinned.

Here ννθ have a typical example:

After 1.Rf1-e1 the knight is
pinned, since it cannot move away
ΟΓ else the king would be ίπ check.

Black can of course protect the
knight by 1...d7-d5, but White ννίll
attack it with 2.d2-d3, and, since
the knight still cannot move, it ννίll
be taken οπ the next move.

There are always three pieces involved ίπ a ρίπ:
The attacking piece, the piece ΟΓ pawn which is being pinned and
the ΟΠθ which is behind it (the hidden piece).

Instead of the hidden piece it can sometimes be a critical square which
is protected by the piece being pinned; e.g. a mating square ΟΓ a square
that it would be advantageous for the opponent to occupy.

Pins can be delivered by queens, rooks and bishops, ί.θ. the pieces
which move along a lίne ΟΓ a diagonal. Knights, pawns and kings cannot
ρίπ pieces. Here are two typical examples of pins:

1.Bc1-b2 Kg7-f6 2.f2-f4 Black makes any move, then
Rb5xd5

82 Chess for Kids and Parents

Τ ical exam

8

5 2
4

2

The Nb8 is pinned and Black pins the Nh3 (with the
cannot move. White attacks it rook) by 1...Nh5-f4 and at the
again by. 1.Be3-f4 and wins it same time attacks it twice.
οη the neχt move White can make any moνe he
wants, then comes 2...Rh6xh3.

Ιη the opening, knights are The Bc7 is pinned, but that
often pinned οη f6 (f3) and c6 does not matter. But after
(c3). It is not usually possible to
ννίη the knight. Not here either, 1.Bf4xc7+ Qe7xc7 the black
but after 1.Nd5xf6+ g7xf6 queen is pinned. This leaves
2.Bg5xh6 White has ίη any the rook unprotected:
case ννοη a pawn. 2.Rd1 xd8+ and ηονν the queen
is lost: 2...Kb8-a7 3.Q 3xc7

Tactics 83

The g7-pawn is pinned and 1.Ne4-d6+ Since the e7-
cannot protect the pieces on f6 pawn is pinned, White can play
and h6. White exploits the this cheeky move [1 ...e7χd6?
situation by 1.Qg6xh6 - a motif 2.Bg5χd8] 1... Ke8-f8 2.Nd6xf7
which ver fre uentl happens. and White is winnin .

Α pin can be very dangerous, It does not have to be a piece
sometimes even fatal. Here Wθ
have a drastic eχample of how that is in the firing line behind
a pin turned into the end of a
game: the piece which is pinned. It can

1... Nd4-f3# also be, as in this eχample, a

mating square. If after 1.Rf1 xf4

Black recaptured with

1...e5xf4? then he is mated by

2.Qh6-g7#. The e5-pawn was

pinned!

84 Chess for Kids and Parents

1 ΟυίΖ οπ the ρίπ Black to moνe
2
8
7 8
6 7
5
4 5 3
3 4 2
3
2

3 Black to moνe 4

ab a b c de

7 7
6 6
5 5
4

Tactics 85

Quiz οη the ρίη

5 Black to move 6

abcde

2

7 8 Black to move

abcde f

7

2

86 Chess for Kids and Parents

Solutions Ιο the quiz οη the ρίη

1 1.Ra1-b1 pins the bishop, which cannot get away and is
taken οπ the next move.

2 1...Be5xg3 and not on/y is the pawn /ost, but there is
a/so the threat of Qh4xh2#. /f White defends with 2.Re1-e2
he /oses the exchange after 2...Bb5xe2 3.Qe3xe2.

3 The Bg5 is pinned; if it moves away the queen is 10sΙ
Black exploits this by 1...h7-h6 and wins the bishop οπ the
next move.

4 1.d5-d6 and the pinned Be7 is lost. ΒΥ 1...Bf5-e6 Black
prevents Re1xe7+, which would be even worse, but
nothing works against 2.d6xe7.

5 The discovered attack Ng7-f5+ could be dangerous οπ
the next move - but what use is the best /aid p/an, if it is
your opponent's move, who exploits the ρίπ οπ the f2-pawn
by 1...Qd6xg3 to ννίπ the queen?

6 The Bg6, which is apparently protecting the king, is ίπ
reality itself unprotected - unprotected because the f7-
pawn is pinned by the white bishop! 80:

1.Rg4xg6+ Kg8-h7 and without the important defensive
piece, it is all over: 2.Rg6xh6# [or 2.Qe3xh6#]

7 This is a difficu/t exercise and it does not matter if you
did not find the so/ution. Υου must first prepare for the ρίπ:

1.a4xb5 c6xb5 2.Be2xb5+ The a-pawn cannot
recapture because it is πονν pinned! Ke8-d8 3.Ra1xa6 and
White has ννοπ two pawns and deprived Black of the right
to cast/e!

8 1...Qg4xf3 And ννθ see it again! The g2-pawn is pinned,
the Rf3 was "hanging" as it was unprotected - easy meat!

/f you got /ess than six points it is probably a good idea to go ονθΓ the
section οπ the ρίπ again ίπ a few days.

Tactics 87

The skewer

The "skewer" is a mixture of double attack and ρίπ.

Τwο opposing pieces are attacked down the same lίne (diagonal, rank
ΟΓ file), and the first piece is ίπ effect covering the second one. Should the
first ΟΠθ move away, the ΟΠθ behind it would have πο protection from the
attack. Often the piece which is under direct attack is the more valuable -
ΟΓ the king - and moves (sometimes has to move) which costs the player
the piece behind it!

1.Be1-f2+ 1.Rb2-d2+

The left-hand diagram shows us the starting position for a typical bishop
skewer. The king and the rook are lined υρ οπ the g1-a7 diagonal. After
1.Be1-f2+ the king must move off the diagonal and the rook is lost.

The right-hand example shows us a double skewer:

After 1.Rb2-d2+ the Ba1 skewers king and queen and the Rd2 skewers
the king and the knight!

Just as ίπ the ρίπ, three pieces are involved ίπ the skewer and also only
those pieces which operate along a whole lίΠθ (queen, rook and bishop)
can carry out a skewer, but not the knight, pawn ΟΓ king.

Οπ the next page you wίll find some examples of skewers which have
been taken from praxis:

88 Chess for Kids and Parents

8
77
66
55

4

2

1...Rc1-b1+ The rook 1.Bf1-b5 and the queen is
skewers the king and queen lost. This position occasionally
down the b-file. The king often crops υρ ίπ the 8cotch Game, if
comes far forward ίπ the Black does not castle early but
endgame. Then you must be plays a premature d7-d6. 80
careful not to get it caught οπ always castle as quickly as
the same lίne as another iece! possible!

If the queen moves forward Black expected an exchange
carelessly, things lίke this can of queens and hoped for a
happen: 1.Bc1-g5 catches both draw, but 1.Re1-e7 skewers the
the queen and the rook οπ the king and the queen and wins
same lίΠθ! easil !

Tactics 89

abcde f 9h

3
2

1.Bc1-e3 White drives the 1.Ra7-a8+ The rook attacks
queen away from the Nc5, the king and the rook along the
which is then lost. Qd4xb2 and rank. Normally the king could
the queen attacks the rook, but protect its rook, but the knight is
after 2.Ra1-b1 it is once again preventing that:
cau ht ίπ a skewer!
1...Kc8-c7 2.Ra8xe8

a b c de
8

1.Ra8-h8 Apparently White is If there ννθΓθ πο Nf6, the Kc8
abandoning the a7-pawn. and Qd7 are beautifully placed
1...Ra2xa7 [1 ...Kd7-c6 2.a7- for a skewer. 80 let's get rid of
a8Q+ Ra2xa8 3.Rh8xa8 and the knight.
wins] 2.Rh8xh7+ Kd7-c8
3.Rh7xa7 and wins. Giving υρ 1.Bb2xf6 g7xf6 2.Be2-g4 f6-
the pawn led to the skewer! f5 3.Bg4xf5 and the queen is
lost.

90 Chess for Kids and Parents

Quiz οη the skewer

1 Black to move 2

abcde f

8

7

3
2

3 Black to move 4 Black to move

8
7
6
5

Tactics 91

Quiz οη the skewer 5
3
5 Black Ιο move 6 2

abc

78

abcde f 9h