Hello there! Lets start this lesson off with an oldie but a goldie.
THE PAWN BREAK...
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN.
The Black pawns are heading towards the white pawns, don't forget about our algebraic coordinates here guys !
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...A......B......C......D......E......F......G......H
Now that one you should both remember! If not, time to be reintroduced!
THE WEAK BACK RANK...
WHITE OR BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN! The solution is the same in either case.
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DIRECT OPPOSITION
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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Now for a game that I played against GARTH HALLET at the Springfield Chess Club's Chess Championship...
Black Garth Hallett (1608), Round 5, Board 1, OPEN SECTION, Game in 75, 09/28/2003.
Here in this game we see an opening error by Black that ends up costing him the game...
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 (Heading towards a possible NIMZO-INDIAN set-up, however...) 3.e4 Bb4
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4.e5 Bxc3 5.bxc3 Ne4?? 6.Qg4 (Double attack, as the knight and the pawn on g7 are both eyed by the White Lady.) ...Ng5?? (This loses a piece!)
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7.h4 h5
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8.Qxg5 Qxg5
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9.hxg5 g6 10.g4 Nc6 11.d4 b6 12.gxh5 Bb7 13.Rh4 Ne7 14.h6 Nf5 15.Rf4 d6 16.Bd3 dxe 17.dxe Ne7 18.Ba3 c5 19.Nf3 0-0-0 20.0-0-0 Rh7
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21.Be4 Ba6 22.Rxd8+ Kxd8 23.Nd2 Kc7 24.Kc2 Nc6 25.Bxc6 Kxc6 26.Ne4 f5 27.gxf5 Rf7 28.Ng5 And Black Resigned here as his position is totally hopeless. 1-0.
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This game is interesting because it shows us how one careless move can leave us with a lost game that will only bring us suffering. However, this game also showed us something that is very important too... We should never give up. Always play on for the "CHEAPO" and make your opponent earn the full point.
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FIGHTING SPIRIT is very important in chess. Black's best chance in this game was to play 13...Rxh5 and then to try and create some chaos with a passed h-pawn. He would still be lost but it would have given white some chances of going wrong in the game. Always take the path that will set your opponent as many problems as possible.
Well I hope you guys both enjoyed this lesson and just leave me your solutions in an email and then post them on Thursday as well. Take care and I wish you all the best on the board and off! -S.