Chess Notes

David Kaleko
January, 2013
Resources used include
The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Silman
chess.com videos
Miscellaneous youtube.com videos

David Kaleko

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Contents
1 Openings
1.1 Guioco Piano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.1 The Main Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.2 Quiet buildup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.3 Gambit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2 Four Knights Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2.1 Branch 1 (the main line) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2.2 Branch 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.3 French Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.3.1 Branch 1 (the main line) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.3.2 Branch 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.4 Ruy Lopez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.4.1 Branch 1 (the main line) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.4.2 Branch 2: Exchange variation (+fishing pole!) .
1.5 Sicilian Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.5.1 Grand Prix Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.6 Queens Gambit Declined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.6.1 Resolution #1: Tartakower Defense . . . . . .
1.6.2 Resolution #2: Capablancas Freeing Maneuver
1.6.3 Resolution #3: Tarrasch Defense . . . . . . . .
2 Middlegame Strategies
2.1 Castling: Same side, opposite sides
2.1.1 Castling on opposite sides .
2.1.2 Castling on the same side: .
2.2 Opponents king in the center . . .
2.3 Open Positions . . . . . . . . . . .
2.4 Closed Positions . . . . . . . . . .

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3
3
3
3
4
5
5
6
7
7
8
10
10
11
14
14
17
17
18
19

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21
21
21
21
23
24
25

3 Mating patterns
26
3.1 Two bishops and king . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3.2 Bishop, knight, and king . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4 Pawn Structure
4.1 Doubled Pawns . . . . .
4.2 Isolated Pawns . . . . .
4.3 Backward Pawns . . . .
4.4 Outpost Squares . . . .
4.5 Passed Pawn . . . . . .
4.5.1 Protected Passed
4.6 Pawn Chains . . . . . .
4.7 Minority Attack . . . . .
4.8 Pawn Tension . . . . . .

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Pawn
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31
31
31
32
33
33
34
34
34
35

5 Endgame
36
5.1 Using The King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
5.1.1 Opposition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Page 2 of 36

David Kaleko

1
1.1

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Openings
Guioco Piano

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Bc5
White places his Bishop on an active diagonal, pointing towards the vulnerable f7. Figure 1.

Figure 1: Guioco Piano opening.

1.1.1

The Main Line

4. c3 White takes control of d4 and prepares d2-d4.

Black has to actively stop this... allowing White to control the center is bad news.
4. ...Nf6
5. d4 exd4
6. cxd4 Bb4+
7. Bd2 Bxd2+
8. Nbxd2 d5! Black destroys Whites center before White can solidify it.
Figure 2.
9. exd5 Nxd5
10. Qb3 Nce7
Figure 3.
White has three options: a quiet buildup, a gambit, and the main line.
1.1.2

Quiet buildup

4. d3, continuing with 0-0, c3, Nbd2, eventually hoping to expand in the center with d3-d4. Black builds
up with ...Nf6, ...d6, ...0-0 (using the e5 strong-point strategy from the Ruy Lopez), and has a fine position.
Figure 4.

Page 3 of 36

David Kaleko

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 2: Guioco Piano: Main line. Black tries to dispute control of the center.

Figure 3: Guioco Piano: Main line. Whites active pieces compensate for isolated d-pawn.

Figure 4: Guioco Piano: quiet buildup by White.

1.1.3

Gambit

4. b4!? is known as the Evans Gambit. White sacs a pawn to gain time and get his pieces out rapidly. After
4. ...Bxb4, 5.c3 followed by d4 and often Qb3. Figure 5.

Page 4 of 36

David Kaleko

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 5: Guioco Piano: Evans gambit.

1.2

Four Knights Opening

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bb5
Figure 6.

Figure 6: Four Knights main line.

1.2.1

Branch 1 (the main line)

4. ...Bb4
5. 0-0 0-0
6. d3 d6
7. Bg5 Bxc3 (capture towards the center)
8. bxc3
Figure 7.
White has two bishops and an unpleasant pin on Black. If Black bumps the bishop away from the kingside with 8. ...h6, run away to h4, then g3. Its worth messing up Blacks kingside pawn structure.
Page 5 of 36

David Kaleko

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 7: Four Knights symmetrical branch.

Tips for Black:

The best way to break the pin on your queen is NOT bumping the bishop away with ...h6. First, move
the queen up one diagonally with ...Qe7 (still pinned), now you pivot your other night around to attack
the pinning bishop with ...Nd8 then ...Ne6.
Keep the center blocked! Bishops do well in open centers, knights do well in closed ones. Guard the
e5 pawn with your life. DO NOT exchange if White pushes d4.
1.2.2

Branch 2

4. ...Nd4!? Intending to drop a pawn in exchange for development and active pieces.
5. Ba4 Bc5 Retreat the attacked bishop.
6. Nxe5 0-0 Grab the free pawn.
Figure 8.

Figure 8: Rubinsteins variation with a shap ...Nd4!? move.

Page 6 of 36

David Kaleko

1.3

Chess Notes

January, 2013

French Defense

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3
Figure 9.

Figure 9: French Defense start.

1.3.1

Branch 1 (the main line)

3. ...Bb4
4. e5 Pin drops defender on pawn... best move is to advance it. Keep Blacks c-bishop on lockdown!
Figure 10.
Note the closed center. Closed centers usually call for play on the wings. Blacks pawns point
towards queenside, attacking there. White attack towards kingside.

Figure 10: French Defense main line.

4. ...c5 Black takes a stab at center.
5. a3 Bxc3 Bump the bishop away, exchange, even though knights beat bishops in closed centers.
6. bxc3 Ne7 Sustain the pawn chain... e5 pawn is important. Black prepares to castle.

Page 7 of 36

David Kaleko

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 11.

Figure 11: Black attacking queenside + Whites center. White attacking kingside, with maybe Qg4 next.

1.3.2

Branch 2

3. ...Nf6 Dont push your e-pawn up yet to bump the knight away, as its retreat to d7 followed by the other
knights development to c6 puts pressure on both of whites central pawns. Its ok to push the pawn if you
can trade off Blacks bishop, which could potentially attack your central pawns on d4 and e5.
4. Bg5 Be7 If Black doesnt unbreak the pin with ...Be7, push your pawn and kill the knight!
Figure 12.

Figure 12: If Black doesnt break the pin, push the pawn and kill the knight!
5. e5 Nfd7 Now push the pawn, knight retreats... trade bishops.
6. Bxe7 Qxe7
7. Nb5 Nb6 Advance your knight into enemy territory. Blacks Nb6 is to let the queen defend the Nc7 fork.
Figure 13.
Play might continue:
8. c3 a6 White solidifies pawn chain, Black bumps knight away, keeping defense of d6, a wicked outpost for
Whites knight.
9. Na3

Page 8 of 36

David Kaleko

Chess Notes

January, 2013

And Black can reply with ...c5 to take a stab at Whites center (most popular move), ...Bd7 to continue
developing, ...f6 to strike at Whites center, ...0-0, etc.

Figure 13: French transitioning to middle game. White to move.

Tips for White:
One of Blacks main problems is that his queenside bishop is trapped in by that pawn. Do NOT
exchange with exd5 exd5 because this frees that bishop up. Keep him trapped!

Page 9 of 36

David Kaleko

1.4

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Ruy Lopez

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5
Figure 14.

Figure 14: Start of Ruy Lopez opening. Shown: possible ways Black can defend e5.
White looks to keep pressure on c6, which in turn puts pressure on the e5 pawn, only defended by the
knight. Eventually, white hopes to build up his center and win that e5 pawn. He also wants to castle quickly
and get his king to safety.
Tips for Black:
Hold on to the e5 pawn to keep control of the center. d4 along with castle + Rfe8, and possibly
Ng8-f6-d7 and Bf8-e7-f6.
Only take exd4 if you dont give up too much central control.
Most respected defense is the Closed Defense, bumping the bishop away.
3. ...a6

1.4.1

Branch 1 (the main line)

4. Ba4 Nf6 Ruy Lopez is all about keeping the tension!

5. O-O Be7 Continuing to develop. If Black takes ...Nxe4 after you castle, play Re1. If he defends with
a pawn, bump the Knight with d3 and you win the pawn back. If he runs to ...Nc5 attacking your spanish
bishop, you have to trade it for his c6 knight before winning back the pawn.
6. Re1 b5 White supports his pawn, renewing the threat of winning the e5 pawn (Bxc6 dxc6, Nxe5). So,
black cant castle here! Bump the bishop away first, if you havent already.
7. Bb3 O-O (Figure 15)
8. c3! d6 White should use pawns to control the center. This also makes a flight square for Whites superimportant white (spanish) bishop.
9. h3 Na5 d4 is possible for White, but it allows the annoying ...Bg4 pin, challening Whites center. Black

Page 10 of 36

David Kaleko

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 15: Black has supported his center sufficiently so White cant attack it directly. More development
moves follow.
tries to get rid of the powerful spanish bishop.
10. Bc2 c5 Making use of the flight square. Black tries to get some center control.
11. d4 Qc7 d3 is also ok. d4 provokes an exchange in the center (...cxd4, cxd4 exd4, Nxd4) leaving Black
with isolated d6 pawn. Dont exchange if youre Black!
At this point, White wants to bring out his pieces and get them on the kingside. Black wants to play
on the queenside because he has more space there. Middlegame, here we come. Figure 16.

Figure 16: Ruy Lopez mainline (no exchange) transitioning to middlegame.

1.4.2

Branch 2: Exchange variation (+fishing pole!)

Starting from Figure 14 and ...a6:

4. Bxc6 dxc6 Black needs to take back with d-pawn, to open up his bishop towards the center. This is
contrary to the capture towards the center idea.
Note, if white takes the hanging pawn on e5, black responds with 4. ...Qg5!, forking the knight and
the vulnerable g2 pawn.
5. 0-0 Bg4 Get castled quickly, then start taking advantage of the broken-ish black pawn structure.
Page 11 of 36

David Kaleko

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Other possibilities to defend the e5 pawn are are ...Bd6, which white responds with d4, opening up the
center and lines of attack. Also possible is ...f6, which responds with d3. Makes kind of a complex position.
With the text move, Black pins the knight. If white tries to bump the bishop away with the h-pawn:
Black shouldnt retreat because after bumping it further, white will end up taking the e5 pawn with
his knight. If ...Bxe4, Re1 will end up being bad for Black since his king isnt castled.
Black shouldnt exchange, because having two bishops is his only compensation for the doubled pawns.
What else is there?
5. h3 h5! Support the bishop! Its your fishing bait.
If White takes hxg4, hxg4 youve set up a fishing pole attack. Bring Qh4 and own that open file.
Figure 17.

Figure 17: Fishing pole variation for black in exchange Ruy Lopez. hxg4 hxg4, if the knight moves, ...Qh4
and mate follows soon.
Now it gets interesting. If White recognizes the fishing pole, he can play
5. d3 Qf6 White frees a spot for his b-knight to defend his pinned knight. Black increases his pressure.
hxg6 still doesnt work... can always get the queen to the opened h-file.
6. Nd2 Ne7 Black has just enough time to prepare the rest of his pieces.
7. Re1 Ng6
Figure 18.

Page 12 of 36

David Kaleko

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 18: Further along with the exchange, fishing-pole variation. If White tries to open it up with d4, dont
take back! Use that time to develop your bishop to d6, pointing more attackers towards the kingside.

Page 13 of 36

David Kaleko

1.5

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Sicilian Defense

1. e4 c5
White stakes a claim at the center, and Black prevents d4 by preparing to capture Whites central pawn
with a flank pawn, if White pushes d4. Also Black would have an open c-file, which is very useful for a rook.
1.5.1

Grand Prix Attack

The main idea is that White tries to own the kingside and agressively attack. Hell develop fast, and get
the queen to the kingside with Qe1 (over one) then Qg3 or Qh4. Then hell thrust at the center with e5 or f5.
2. Nc3 Nc6
White largely abandons the hope of d4 by building an attack on the kingside. Nc3 solidifies Whites control
of the d5 square. Black can also play 2. ...d6 here, in which case White might choose the 5. Bb5 line instead.
3. f4 g6
4. Nf3 Bg7 These are the usual developing moves for Black. Black owns d4 and wants to drop a knight there.
Figure 19. White immediately gains space on the kingside where he plans to attack, gets his f-pawn in
front of his king knight, and starts an agressive checkmating attack. Use this extra space and rapid development to get at Blacks king as quickly as possible!

Figure 19: The beginning of the Grand Prix attack for White, in the Sicilian defense. Its possible Black has
a pawn on d6 instead of his knight on c6 at this point.
5. Bc4 line
5. Bb5 is the theoretically better line, but Bc4 is generally more exciting because its eventual pin of the f7
pawn to Blacks king can be super useful in an all-out kingside attack. Key moves in this line for White
are Qe1, f5, Qh4, Bh6, and Ng5. You might have to sac the f-pawn to open things up. Remember, its an
attack!

5. Bc4 (...Nc6 or ...d6) Attacking the weak f7 pawn.

6. 0-0 e6 Black tries to block out Whites c4 bishop.
Page 14 of 36

David Kaleko

Chess Notes

January, 2013

7. d3 Ne7
8. Qe1
This is an important move for White! Queen wants to get to h4. On e8, the queen x-rays Blacks king,
preventing Blacks d5 break (...d5, exd5 exd5 and Blacks knight on e7 is pinned).
8. ...0-0
9. f5
This is the move you need to remember in the Grand Prix for White. Figure 20. White might lose that
f-pawn but its worth it.
If Black takes with his e-pawn, that opens Whites bishop back to attack f7 which is keeping that pawn
pinned!. White continues the plan with Qh4, followed by Bh6 to offer an exchange of Blacks important
fianchettod defending bishop, followed by Ng5, and it will be impossible for Black to defend the f7
and h7 pawns.
In general, keep an eye out for pins, there are lots in this line.
Its also possible to bring Whites rook up and over to the h-file.

Figure 20: Grand Prix Bb4 mainline. White has just played f5 and isnt afraid of saccing the pawn.
5. Bb5 line
5. Bb5 For White, Bc4 is OK too, but ...e6, ...Ne7, then ...d5 is a good refutation for Black. Also ...a6 and
...b5 will be painful for Whites bishop on c4.
Whites plan with Bb5 is to exchange off the bishop right away and get an attack rolling kingside. Blacks
best bet is to avoid the exchange. If Black doesnt run with the knight: 6. Bxc6 bxc6, 7. e5 blocks off
Blacks dark squared bishop and owns the d6 and f6 dark squares in Blacks territory. This kills some of
Whites attacking chances but Blacks doubled c-pawns are weak (especially if Black pushes his d-pawn and
Whites e5 pawn captures it, leaving Black with doubled isolated pawns).
5. ...Nd4 Black avoids the immediate exchange.
6. 0-0 Nxb5
7. Nxb5 d5
Figure 21.
Page 15 of 36

David Kaleko

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 21: Mainline Grand Prix attack. Black has the bishop pair, White should keep things closed with d5.
White is ready to play d4 and play a slow, positional game.

Page 16 of 36

David Kaleko

1.6

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Queens Gambit Declined

1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
White places pressure on d5, and prepares to open the c-file with an eventual cxd5. Figure 22.

Figure 22: Start of the Queens Gambit Declined. Arrows show how Black plans to harmoniously develop,
including castling.
Problems for Black:
Blocked light-squared Bishop.
Lack of queenside space.
1.6.1

Resolution #1: Tartakower Defense

3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bg5 Increasing the pressure against d5. Figure 23.

Figure 23: Start of Tartakower Defense for Black in QGD.

4. ...Be7
5. e3 0-0 Black completes the harmonious development.
6. Nf3 h6

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Chess Notes

January, 2013

7. Bh4 b6
Figure 24.

Figure 24: Tartakower Defense for Black in QGD. Black will alleviate his spacial cramps by fianchettoing,
Nbd7, then breaking everything open with ...c5.

1.6.2

Resolution #2: Capablancas Freeing Maneuver

After starting as in Tartakower, instead of Black bumping the bishop away with 6. ...h6, he plays
6. ...Nbd7
7. Rc1 c6
8. Bd3 Here, Black is cramped. What do cramped players do? Exchange! Figure 25.

Figure 25: Start of Capablancas Freeing Maneuver in QGD. Black is cramped, so he exchanges. EVERYTHING.
8. ...dxc4
9. Bxc4 Nd5
Figure 26.
10. Bxe7 Qxe7
11. 0-0 Nxc3
12. Rxc3 e5

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Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 26: Black is cramped, so he exchanges. EVERYTHING.

13. dxe5 Nxe5
14. Nxe5 Qxe5
Figure 27.

Figure 27: Final configuration after Black exchanges everything in QGD CFM. Black now has more space.

1.6.3

Resolution #3: Tarrasch Defense

After starting as in Figure 22, Black immediately opens things up with ...c5.
3. Nc3 c5
4. cxd5 exd5
5. Nf3
Black ends up with an isolated pawn after white plays dxc5, but is compensated with active pieces, easy
development, no cramping problems like in other QGD lines. For Black, isolated pawn strategies (Section
4.2) apply here! Figure 28.

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Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 28: QGD: Tarrasch Defense. The only correct way to play QGD -Tarrasch. White should fianchetto
to put pressure on Blacks soon-isolated d-pawn.

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Chess Notes

January, 2013

Middlegame Strategies

2.1
2.1.1

Castling: Same side, opposite sides

Castling on opposite sides

This usually signals the start of an all-out attack by both sides.

Both sides generally start attacks with pawns. Push pawns to open files and gain space for rooks.
The initiative becomes very important here; the sacrifice of a pawn or two to place the opponent on
the defensive is a no-brainer for the experienced master.
Figures 29(a) and 29(b).

2.1.2

Castling on the same side:

Pushing pawns on the castled side would weaken your own king.
So, both sides generally start attacks with pieces.
Is the center wide open or in a state of flux? Play in the center, not on the wings.
Is the center closed, or under your control? A pawn-storm might be OK, even with pawns in front of
your king. Closed center means less worrying about your king safety.
Figures 30(a) and 30(b).

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Chess Notes

(a) White opens kingside files with h5

(since his king is on the queenside).
Black opens queenside files with b5.

January, 2013

(b) Black wants to play b4 (offer the

pawn to open the a-file). White wants
to play 1. g6 hxg6, 2.h5, offering those
pawns to open kingside files.

Figure 29: Opposite sides castling.

(a) Same side castling, center is in a

state of flux: both sides should play in
the center, not on the wings.

(b) Same side castling, center is closed.

1.g4 is an acceptable move for White.

Figure 30: Same side castling.

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Chess Notes

(a) Black begs to be spanked Push

f5 to rip open the center. 1. f5! exf5,
2. exf5 0-0, 3. Bg5

January, 2013

(b) Blacks king is trapped in the center

after 1. Qe2

Figure 31:

2.2

Opponents king in the center

Youre castled, and your opponents king is in the center? RED FLAG! Rip the position open, and
attack. Its possible the center is completely closed, in which case the enemy king is relatively safe. Leaving
your king in the middle is a suicidal act in OPEN positions.
Rules:
1. Get your king castled as quickly as possible.
2. If the opponent has left his king in the center, try to start an immediate attack.
3. If you can stop the opponent from castling, do it.
Figures 31a and 31b.

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2.3

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Open Positions

Occur when the center is not blocked by pawns, so the files and diagonals are open.
Rules:
1. Pieces are key, pawns are secondary.
2. Direct play towards the (open) center.
3. Every tempo is key, dont fall behind in development.
4. Castle ASAP!
Figure 32.

Figure 32: Open center. Black has an extra pawn but White has a lead in development.
Starting from Figure 32,
1. Ng5 Ne5 Attacking vulnerable f7 square.
Also good is 1. Re1+ Be7, 2. Qe2 keeping Blacks king in the center as in Figure 31b, or 1. Qb3 winning f7.
2. Re1 Qxd1+ Pinning the knight.
3. Raxd1 Nfd7 Black tries to defend the pinned knight
4. Nxf7 Rook will have to move, then you win the pinned knight. Game over.

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2.4

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Closed Positions

Occur when the center is filled with pawns that are locked together, which block files and diagonals, limiting
the activity of most of the pieces.
Rules:
1. Play towards the wings, since the center is blocked off.
2. Most attacks initiated by pawns. Push your wing pawns to gain space and open rook files.
3. Play on the wing where your pawns point. This is where your space advantage is.
4. Development and castling can be delayed.
Figure 33.

Figure 33: Closed position. Blacks pawns point towards kingside, Whites towards queenside. Black wants
...Nd7 and ...f5 at some point to gain space and get the f8 rook involved. White wants b4 followed by c5 to
open queenside lines.

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Chess Notes

January, 2013

Mating patterns

3.1

Two bishops and king

The principle of king and two bishops versus king is: advance your king as close as possible to your opponents, and then cut off the squares where the king wants to go. Force him into the corner as shown in
Figure 35. Use your dark squared bishop to block off the back wall.
Dont be afraid of using lots of waiting moves where you just draw your bishop back,
once the king is along a wall. Dont panic! And always watch out for stalemates.

Heres what mating pattern might look like. Figures 34, and 35.

Figure 34: Starting point of the two bishop mate. White to move.
1. Be5 Kg8 Draw back with your bishop and wait. Keep the black king stuck on g8 and h8, moving back and
forth.
2. Kg6 Kh8 Get your king to the Knights square.
3. Bc6 Kg8 Waiting move with the bishop. Note here you cant move your white bishop to d5 because thats
stalemate. You cant check with your black bishop because his king would squeeze out along the back wall
and youd have to start over.
4. Bd5+ Kh8
5. Bd4#

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Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 35: What mate looks like. Notice the king on the knights attack square.

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3.2

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Bishop, knight, and king

The most difficult of the checkmates (two knights isnt possible). Memorization required.
You have to checkmate in the corner that is the same color as your bishop.
To play defense against this mate, stay towards the middle and run to the opposite color corner.
Assuming the opponent knows to run for the opposite color corner, heres what a mating pattern might look
like. The black king intentionally runs to the black corner to delay mate.
Step 1: Place your king on f6. It must be the square diagonally three in from the corner. Figure 36.

Figure 36: Bishop knight possible starting position.

Step 2: Put your bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal. Any square. Figure 37.

Figure 37: Start with your bishop on this diagonal.

Step 3: Put your knight on f7 or g5, find some way to do it. Figure 38
Step 4: After Nf7 (continuing the knight along its pattern), Bh8 cuts off the g8 square for the king and
keeps him moving towards the mating corner. Figure 39.

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Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 38: Once youre in this position, you have to execute these moves. The next series of moves is forced,
in an extremely useful pattern. Start with the knight.

Figure 39: Bh8 is key to cut off the g8 square.

Step 5: Move the knight down its pattern, keeping the king moving west. Figure 40a.
Note, if the king moves back go f8, you just continue the knight pattern, Nd7+ e8, following with your
king to e6 forces his king westward. Eventually, the king is going to get to leave the back wall and almost
escape. Create a neat box with your knight and bishop, forcing the king back towards the corner. Figure 40b.
Now, work your way into the corner, and end up with the final mating pattern, Figure 41.
1. ...Kc7
2. Ke7 Kc6 This part isnt forced, there are lots of ways to get to final mating position.
3. Bc4 Kc7 Maintaining the box.
4. Bb5 Kb7 Your bishop now blocks off e8 so the king cant run back east.
5. Kd6 Kc8
6. Nc5 Kd8 Continuing to follow the king.
7. Nb7 Kc8
8. Kc6 Kb8 Now its just a matter of getting the king into the corner and delivering mate.
9. Kb6 Kc8
10. Bc6 Kb8
11. Bd7 Ka8 Waiting a move to get the king into the corner, cutting off c7 eastward escape. Now its just a
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Chess Notes

(a) Keep the king moving west.

January, 2013

(b) Memorize this shape!

Figure 40:
matter of reorganizing your pieces.
12. Kc5 Kb8
13. Na6+ Kh8
14. Bc6#

Figure 41: What mate looks like with a bishop and a knight.

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Chess Notes

January, 2013

Pawn Structure

4.1

Doubled Pawns

Two pawns on top of each other. They arent the end of the world, but they can be bad.
They are weak because they cant defend each other, and they move forward in each others way.
Theyre good if they are central and cover important squares.
They always open a file which you should try to control.
In general, the lead pawn is a target of attack.
Example: Ruy Lopez exchange variation (Section 1.4). After 4. Bxd6 dxc6, and doubled pawns occur on
the c-file. Compensation here is the bishop pair for black, and Whites wasted time doubling the pawns.
If the doubled pawns are isolated pawns (Section 4.2, they are much weaker than just doubled pawns.
Doubled pawns with defense arent the worst.
Sometimes the best way to play against doubled pawns is not to attack them directly (unless they are
isolated), but to play with a pawn majority on the other side of the board, like in the Ruy Lopez exchange.
Tripled Pawns
Tripled pawns have no redeeming value in themselves, and, if you dont have some form of compensation
for them (an attack, a material advantage, extremely active pieces, etc.), your game will almost certainly
take a downward turn.

4.2

Isolated Pawns

Isolated pawn is one that has no friendly pawn on adjacent files to protect it. These are usually bad, but
not always:
Isolated pawns might be ok:
1. An isolated pawn might be an unstoppable passer, running to promote. Figure 42(a).
2. It might be centrally placed and might guard important central squares, possible outposts for knights.
Figure 42(b).
3. You might be able to use it as a battering ram the enemys superior structure. Figure 42(c).
Even if the isolated pawn isnt going anywhere, try to put your rooks on its adjacent files.
If your opponent has an isolated pawn,
Try to control the square in front of it. Putting a piece there is good because it cant be bumped
out by pawns.
Trade off all minor pieces, put a rook in front of the pawn to immobilize it, get the queen behind it
Figure 43. Common situation: isolated queen-pawn.
If you can get two isolated pawns next to each other (isolated pawn couple), it is best to keep them on
the same rank. If they get stuck separated they become much weaker (called hanging pawns), and can be
worse than single isolated pawns. NOTE TO SELF: Take notes on this section later.
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(a) Isolated pawn: valuable passer.

Chess Notes

(b) Isolated pawn: controlling key c5

and e5 squares.

January, 2013

(c) Isolated pawn: Blacks a-pawn

plays ...a4 and shatters Whites pawns.

Figure 42: Isolated pawns can be good.

Figure 43: Common isolated pawn scenario (ignoring the kings). If given the chance, whites nearby pawns
should capture towards it.
When you have hanging pawns or isolated pawns, it is in your best interest to keep the
minor pieces on the board. Vice versa,
If your opponent has hanging or isolated pawns, it is in your best interest to trade off
the minor pieces and win that pawn with rooks and queen.

4.3

Backward Pawns

These are positional weaknesses come about frequently in the middlegame. A backward pawn is one that
has fallen behind its brother pawns and cant be guarded by them, or safely move side-by-side with them.
Backwards pawns can be bad, or good:
1. If the backward pawn is on an open file, it is very weak.
2. If the backward pawn isnt on an open file and is well defended, it is pretty strong.
3. If the square directly in front of it is adequately protected by pieces, it is pretty strong.
4. If the pawn is serving a good purpose being where it is, its ok. Example: guarding a pawn that blocks
in an enemy bishop.
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Chess Notes

January, 2013

Figure 44.

Figure 44: Blacks d-pawn is backwards. It serves a purpose of supporting the e5 pawn to block in Whites
bishop, so Black controls d4. Here, the d-pawn isnt weak, and is even able to safely advance to d5.

4.4

Outpost Squares

Figure 45: Whites knight takes advantage of an outpost square created by the backward Black pawn. Note,
here Black also has an outpost square on c5.
An outpost square will never again be able to be attacked by pawns. The effectiveness is most obvious
when a Knight fills the outpost square, but other pieces can also do well on outpost squares. See Figure 45.

4.5

Passed Pawn

A passed pawn is one that has no enemy pawns directly in front of it, or in either adjacent file to attack it.
To decide if a passed pawn is useful or not, ask yourself two questions:
1. If both sides have play elsewhere independent of the passed pawn, it can be useful as an endgame
insurance.
2. Can the passed pawn be firmly blockaded? If so then it can block files and diagonals, which is bad for
you.

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4.5.1

Chess Notes

January, 2013

Protected Passed Pawn

A protected passed pawn (PPP) is one that is protected by another pawn. The strength of this position is
that an enemy king is completely crippled by a PPP. A PPP configuration is probably the biggest
advantage you can have in a king-pawn endgame. Figure 46.

Figure 46: Protected Passed Pawns. The Black king cant run too far east/west, because the pawn will
promote, and the king will never be able to get rid of the pawns. If he tries to sneak in and kill the backwards
pawn, the PPP on d5 will promote.

4.6

Pawn Chains

Pawn chains are three or more pawns diagonally linked together. They are strong, and if you have them,
its important to make sure you can keep them together, and that your pieces should be attacking the side
where the chain is pointing. The most important pawn is the one that is second-from-the-front. Figure 47.
Develop your pieces in the direction the pawn chain is pointing.

Figure 47: A pawn chain in the French Defense, advance variation.

4.7

Minority Attack

Minority can give good attacking chances. See Figure 48. Here, if Whites pawn gets to b5,

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Chess Notes

January, 2013

Black allows White to take on c6, he is left with a backwards pawn and a good outpost for Whites
knight on c5.
Black takes on b5, it isolates his d5 pawn and gives White attacking chances on the queenside.
Black pushes ...c5, after which White takes dxc5 and Blacks d5 pawn is again isolated.

Figure 48: Black has a 3-on-2 pawn advantage on the queenside. White can initiate a good minority attack
with 1. b4 followed by 2. b5!

4.8

Pawn Tension

Figure 49. Here, White doesnt want to take 1. dxc5 since it would allow 1. ...bxc5, opening the b-file for
Blacks rook, and trading an important/active central pawn for Blacks passive b-pawn. Theres no rush for
White to capture on c5 anyway, he might as well explore other options first.
Black doesnt want to take on 1. ...cxd4, because it would open up the e-file for White after 2.exd4,
and it would exchange a space-gaining central c-pawn for Whites passive e3 pawn.
Only trade pawns if you gain something by doing so!

Figure 49: An example of pawn tension. White doesnt want 1. dxc5 and Black doesnt want to take 1.
...cxd4.

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Chess Notes

(a) Distant opposition. White to move

has the opposition, as there are an even
number of squares between the Kings.

(b) Diagonal opposition.

move has opposition.

January, 2013

White to

Figure 50: Opposition.

5
5.1
5.1.1

Endgame
Using The King
Opposition

Opposition is something you want to have. Whoever is to move when there is an even number of squares
between the Kings has the opposition. You want to have an even number of squares between the Kings when
it is your turn to move. This applies to files/ranks, and diagonals (Figures 50(a) and 50(b)).

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