Attacking the King

1. When opponent’s (reckless) move gives an attack on his piece

at the same time threat to the king.

White to move

2. D4 – Bb7 (a reckless move)

3. D*c5 – N*c5
4. Qd4!
White’s d4 should have been met with Ba6 2.Re1 c4
 2. Eyeing at attack gives some-other positional advantages.

White to move
1. Ng5
can be met with
…..Nf6
…..Nf8
…...g6
White needs to have good response to each of these move if going for 1. Ng5
 3. Attack is actually threatening checkmate even with material
sacrifices when end result is certain.

Black to play
To defend checkmate from Bg7, black has the following options –
1 …. Kf6 2. Q*e6+ #
1. … Ne6 2. Q*e6+ #
1. … Nd5/Ne2/Nh3/Ng2/Nd3/Nh5 2.Qe6+ #
1. ….g*f5 2. Bg7+ - Ke4 3. Q*d4+ #
Mating net
Focal point
White to play
 Attacking the un-castled king
Prevent King from castling –
1. Stopping development
2. Blocking castling squares or giving checks
3. Forcing king to stay in centre to support some pieces there
4. Having forces set on the corner to obstruct castling on that side.
Once king is in centre the following scene makes attack easy –
1. For King on e-file, it’s difficult to move away due to its own pieces occupy adjacent
squares or attacker having control of these square.
2. E-file is open or its in attackers’ hand to open it. Then attacker must have something
(rook or queen) to control the file or if necessary have possibility of doubling the
rooks there
3. Defender of the King is on the e-file makes it soft target as defender itself becomes a
piece to attack which will lead to attack on the King itself.

 Piece sacrifices – In order to destroy your opponent’s king shelter.

1. Pawn ruptures – As with sacrifices, pawn ruptures are a very effective method
in order to open the position
 Threats – Adding more pieces into attack with tempo, chasing your opponent’s
pieces or creating threats that keep him unable to solve the problem of his king
while you set the conditions to execute any of the first two.
White to play (black wins)
1. Q*d4 – Rd8 2. B*c6+ - Kf8 3.Bd5 – R*d5! #Q*e2+ mate 0-1
Black to play
{ 1…d*e4? 2. D*e4 B*f5 3. E*f5 and now e4 is pointless.}
1…B*f5! 2.Bg5 d*e4 3. D&e4 B*e4 4. Qc4 Qd5 5. Qb5 Bf2+ 0-1
[2. E*f5 e4! ]
When the e-file is open and in possession of attacker then the defender at e2 stays in a
critical situation, most likely becomes focal point.

Black to play
1. …R*d4!! 2. N*d4 – N*d4 3. c*d4 – Bb4! 4. Kf2 [4. Q*b4 – Q*e2+mate] – B*d2.

White to play
[1. Qe2 – Kf8 2. B*e7 – N*e7 3. Ng5 – Nf5 black’s defence successful.
1. R*e7 – N*e7 2. Qe2 – Qd7 3. Re1 – 0-0-0 4. Q*e7 – Re8 5. Q*d7+ - K*d7 6. Be3 = ]
1. Bf6! [1. ..0-0 2. R*e7 – N*e7 3. Qe2 – Re8 4. Qd2 – Kh7 5. Ng5+ - Kg8 6. Ne6! – f*e6 7.
Qh8 – Nf5 8. Q*g6+ ] – Rf8 2. R*e7! [such sacrifices require to eliminate one defender and
create place for second rook. Otherwise 2. Qd3! Is very powerful as 2. … a6 3. R*e7 – N*e7
4. Re1 wins]
- N*e7 3. Qe2 – Qd7 [3. …Kd7 4. Qb5+ - Kc8 5. Qc4 – d5 6. Qe2 – Kd7 7. Ne5+ - Kc8 8. N*f7 –
Qd7 9. Ng5 + -]
4. Re1 – Qe6 5. Qb5+ - c6 6. Q*b7 white wins.
White to play
1. White to move and win 2. White to move and win 3. White to move and win

4. White to move and win

Sol 1

Sol 2
Sol 3

Sol 4

https://thechessworld.com/articles/middle-game/attacking-king-in-the-center-part-2/

http://www.tigerlilov.com/attacking-chess-uncastled-king-0

https://chessschool.com.au/the-king-hunt/