Recognize the Master

Can you guess who is this child at age 13 who later on went on to become World Champion.

Brilliant Mating Combination

White to Play and Mate in 4 Moves

Minor Piece Endgames

Endgames wherein Bishops and Knights are on the board are called Minor Piece Endgames
Below is a very simple Position with White to Play and Win

1. a6 Ba2

2. Kd4! Bd5

3. Kxd5

1-0

In a slightly different Position with White to Play, this time it will be a Draw because the Black Bishop can capture the Pawn.

1. a6 Ba4!

2. Kc5 Bd1!

3. a7 Bf3

4. Kb6 Bg2

5. Kc7 Bf3

6. Kb8 Bg2

7. a8(Q) Bxa8

8. Kxa8

0.5-0.5

More useful Links: Wiki, TCW

Play through a good collection of such endgames on Chessgames

Below is an instructive Video

FIDE World Chess Championship Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand, Sochi 2014

FIDE World Chess Championship Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand, Sochi 2014
Official Website, Live Games, YouTube, Chessbase, TWIC, Chessdom, Chess.com, ChessinTweets, SusanPolgarBlog

Scotch opening

The Scotch game is a solid opening which gives good chances for both players. The first few moves are as below.

Bc5 Variation
1. e4 e5 
2. Nf3 Nc6 
3. d4 exd4
4. Nxd4 Bc5
5. Be3 Qf6
6. c3 Nge7
7. Bc4 Ne5
8. Be2 Qg6
9. 0-0 d6
10. Kh1 Qxe4
11. Nd2 Qg6
12. Nb5 0-0
13. Nxc7 Rb8
Unclear position

Nf6 variation
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 exd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nxc6 bxc6
6. e5 Qe7
7. Qe2 Nd5
8. c4 Ba6
9. b3 g6
10. f4 Bg7
11. Qf2 Nb4
12. a3 Bxe5

 (=)

More on Scotch game: Chessgames, Wiki, Chess.com, TCW, ECS & 365Chess

Below is a video with the moves explained.

Using the King actively

In the endgame, when the number of pieces on the board are fewer, it is important to use the King actively. Since the danger of mate is lesser, the King can also help the other pieces in fighting. In the below position, White has to play and win

1. Kxc3 Kb8 
2. Kb4 Kb7 
3. Kc5 Kc7 
4. h3 good waiting move. White should not play 4. h4? Kd7 5. Kb6 c5 6. Kc5 Kc7 when Black will get the opposition and draw the game
4... Kd7 
5. Kb6 c5 
6. Kxc5 Kc7 
7. h4 Kb7 
8. Kd6 Kb8 
9. Kc6 Ka7 
10. Kc7 Ka8 
11. Kb6 Kb8 
12. Kxa6
1-0

Click here to view more examples: Link1, Link2
Two good game collections on Chessgames: Collection1, Collection2
Below is a complex but instructive video

Pawnless Endgames

Endgame positions without any pawns on the board are rare to occur. But when they happen, it is important to play precisely without wasting even a single move.
Read more details on Wiki, also Click Here for some more positions.
Play though this collection on Chessgames: Link1, Link2

Silman's favourite positional chess games

Below are a series of instructive articles by IM Jeremy Silman on Chess.com. In his own words,
When discussing great games, many chess fans always think of slashing attacks and outrageous combinations. While every world-class player tossed out more than a few epic combinations at some point in his career, positional masterpieces are far harder to find.
In this series, I’ll take a look back at the classic games that affected me profoundly, and those games were almost always positional in nature.
Part1, Part2, Part3, Part4, Part5, Part6, Part7, Part8, Part9, Part10, Part11, Part12, Part13

Learn the Basics of Chess on Nagesh Chess Academy

Learn the basics of Chess with this Online Course on Nagesh Chess Academy.com

Download free Chess playing Programs

Click here to download free Chess playing Programs

Brilliant Endgame

Alapin - Rubinstein, Vienna 1908
After 28 moves, the below position was reached:

White here continued:

29. Bg3-c7 Re8xe1

30. Rf1xe1 Rd8-d2

31. Re1-e8+ Kg8-f7

32. Re8-a8 Rd2xb2

33. Ra8xa7 Kf7-g6

34. a2-a4 h7-h5

35. a4-a5 b6xa5

36. Ra7xa5 Rb2-c2

37. Bc7-g3 Kg6-h6

38. Bg3-f2 Nc5-e4

39. Bf2-e3+ Kh6-g6

40. Ra5-a4 Ne4-g3

41. Be3-f4 Ng3-e2+

42. Kg1-h2 h5-h4!

43. Bf4-d6 Kg6-h5

44. Ra4-a5+ Kh5-h6

45. Ra5-f5 Kh6-g6

46. Rf5-f2 Rc2-d2

47. Bd6-f4 Rd2-c2

48. Bf4-d6 Kg6-f7

49. Bd6-a3 Kf7-e6

50. Ba3-f8 g7-g6

51. Bf8-g7 f6-f5

52. Bg7-h6 Ke6-f6

53. Bh6-f8 g6-g5

54. Bf8-d6 Kf6-e6

55. Bd6-b8 Rc2-d2

56. Bb8-c7 g5-g4

57. h3xg4 f5xg4

58. g2-g3 h4-h3!

59. Bc7-b8 Ke6-d5

60. Bb8-f4 Rd2-c2

61. Bf4-e3 Kd5-e4

62. Be3-g5 Ke4-d3

63. Bg5-h6 Ne2-d4

64. Rf2xc2 Nd4xc2

65. Bh6-f4 Kd3-e2

66. Bf4-b8 Nc2-e3

67. Kh2-g1 Ke2-f3

68. Bb8-c7 Ne3-f1!!

69. Bc7-b8 Nf1xg3

70. Bb8-c7 Ng3-e2+

71. Kg1-h2 Ne2-f4

72. Bc7-b6 g4-g3+

73. Kh2-h1 Nf4-d3

74. Kh1-g1 h3-h2+

75. Kg1-h1 Nd3-f2+

76. Bb6xf2 g3xf2

77. Kh1-h2 f2-f1(R)

78. Kh2-h3 Rf1-h1#

0-1

Play through the above game by clicking here

Giuoco Piano Trap

1. e2-e4 e7-e5
2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
3. Bf1-c4 Nc6-d4?! better move is Bf8-c5
4. Nf3xe5? correct move is d2-d3 or 0-0 Qd8-g5! attacking both Ne5 and g2 pawn at the same time
5. Ne5xf7 Qg5xg2
6. Rh1-f1 if Nf7xh8 Qg2xh1+ followed by Qh1xe4 wins for Black Qg2xe4+
7. Bc4-e2 Nd4-f3# a beautiful smothered mate!
0-1
Play through this on my Lichess study page

Other Links: Wiki, ChessDotCom, iChess, TheChessWebsite

Goring Gambit

The Goring gambit is a good choice for beginners to play attacking chess.
1. e2-e4 e7-e5
2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
3. d2-d4 e5xd4
4. c2-c3 d4xc3 accepting the gambit pawn. It is also possible to decline with 4..... d7-d5
5. Nb1xc3 Bf8-b4
6. Bf1-c4 d7-d6
7. 0-0 White is ahead in development and has open lines for attack. Plan for White will be to attack the f7 pawn by Ng5, Qb3, etc.
Click here to read an introduction to the gambit
Click here to Play through a Master Game

Removing the Defender

When you attack an enemy piece or pawn, the opponent will try to defend it. If you can remove the defender, your attack will succeed and you can win material.
Example 1: White is attacking Ne5 which is protected by f6 pawn. White to play and win

1. h4xg5 Ne5-d3  2. Bb2xf6  winning 2 pawns.

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Example 2: White is attacking the Nf6 which is defended by g7 pawn. White to play and win.

1. Rg3xg7! Qe7xg7  2. Bb2xf6 Qg7-h7  3. Bf6xh8 winning a pawn.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Example 3: White is attacking Nc4 which is defended by Qf7. White to play and win.

1. Qh3-h8+ Qf7-g8  2. Qh8xg8+ Kf8xg8  3. Ne3xc4 winning a piece

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All the above examples are from Chessguru. 

Learn more positions on my Lichess study page

More examples are at Chesscorner, Chess.com, Chessfox, Chessgames

Play through the Video below

 

Four Knights - Best Opening in Chess for Beginners

Beginners are faced with lot of confusion when they want to learn a good opening to play. The Four Knights opening is a simple and easy to play opening for beginners.

1. e2-e4 e7-e5
2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
3. Nb1-c3 Ng8-f6
4. Bf1-b5 Bf8-b4
5. 0-0 0-0
6. d2-d3 d7-d6
7. Bc1-g5 Bb4xc3
8. b2xc3 Qd8-e7
9. Rf1-e1 Nc6-d8
10. d3-d4 Nd8-e6
11. Bg5-c1 c7-c5
12. Bb5-f1 Rf8-d8
Equal Position


Other useful links on this topic: Chess.com Blog post, Wiki, iChess.net

Click here to learn this opening from my Lichess study page

Four Knights opening on Chessgames




Check the below video

Difficult Chess Problems

Try these difficult Chess Problems: Link1, Link2

Boden's Mate

This is a checkmating pattern with the two Bishops criss-crossing the enemy King.
The mate is known from the friendly game played below.
Schulder - Boden, London 1853

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 d6
3. c3 f5
4. Bc4 Nf6
5. d4 fxe4
6. dxe5 exf3
7. exf6 Qxf6
8. gxf3 Nc6
9. f4 Bd7
10. Be3 0-0-0
11. Nd2 Re8
12. Qf3 Bf5
13. 0-0-0? d5!
14. Bxd5? Qxc3+!
15. bxc3 Ba3#

More details on Wiki, Chess.com & Chesshistory
Games with Boden's mate pattern
Boden's Mate Video

TEST YOUR CHESS UNDERSTANDING

Here are 2 excellent articles on Chess.com by IM Jeremy Silman on Puzzles and Positions to test your Chess understanding: Part-1 Part-2

Example Games for Opening Middlegame and Endgame Rules

Click Here to play through example games to illustrate the Opening Rules, Middlegame Rules and Endgame Rules

Opening Stage of a Chess Game

Gyula Breyer, the talented Hungarian master had called the above position one of the most difficult positions of Chess! It is true. How to start the game is an interesting and confusing decision a player has to make before starting

the game. 

Many amateurs do not understand and appreciate the importance of good, accurate Opening chess play. "Well begun is half done" is very much true on the chess board. Especially in higher levels of chess, the choice of opening is crucial to gaining a competitive edge over the opponent.

Recognized sequence of opening moves is referred to by some names. If the Black player determines the changes in sequence it is referred to as Defense. There are hundreds of openings with each opening leading to thousands of variations.

Broadly, all openings are classified into 'King pawn openings', 'Queen pawn

openings' and 'Flank openings'. The ECO (Encyclopedia of Chess Openings) classifies all these openings into clear systematic groups named by unique "ECO Code", which makes it easy for players to search for and study openings based on this code. Today this Code has become the world wide standard to index the openings and their various variations. In the ECO, the grouping of all openings is by Open games (double king pawn), Semi open games (single king pawn), Closed games (double queen pawn), Semi closed games (single queen pawn), Flank openings and Unusual first moves for White. The 'Indian systems' are the most popular defenses to the Queen pawn openings and are included under semi closed games.

An opening where material (usually one or two pawns) are sacrificed to gain a

lead in development is called as 'Gambit'. If the opponent plays his own gambit in response to a gambit, it is called as 'Counter-gambit'. Both gambits and counter-gambits, whether accepted or declined, usually lead to exciting tactical chess.

An opening system which is a general method of development that can be used against several different openings is called as a 'System'. Popular examples are the 'London system', 'Colle system', 'Stonewall attack' and 'Hedgehog system'.

Sometimes a particular opening usually played by Black (as a defense) is played by White; this is referred to as 'Reversed'. There is an important tempo gained in such formations but such opening need deep positional insight to play well. Popular examples are 'Sicilian reversed' (English opening), 'Reti opening' and 'King's indian attack'.

Often, after the first few moves of a particular opening, the position resembles the position which can be reached from another different opening. Such moves are referred to as 'Transpositions'. Strong players use such transpositions to intentionally take the opponent out of the book, because, quickly adapting the plans to suit the changed middle game position is required to survive such games.

Each opening formation is given a name. Sometimes the grandmaster name itself is given because a strong master popularized it or sometimes because a grandmaster won a famous game playing that opening for first time. Sometimes the name of the place is given to an opening because it was some tournament at this place that the opening became popular. Many opening names do not indicate anything and few opening names seem to be absurd wherein their nature of game contradict the name.

Opening traps are usually first studied by beginners learning chess and are many times the best way to win against a weaker unsuspecting opponent. There are several traps in each of the openings and all such traps are based upon a tactical idea or theme.

To end this article, i would advise beginners to not learn any opening by rote, or not to memorize the opening moves. If there is a deviation from the standard sequence of moves or if there is a transposition, then the player does not know how to continue and may get into an inferior position from the opening itself. It is very important to understand the fundamental concepts of each opening and the positional differences in the variations of an opening.