CBM training

Learning from the Chess Olympiad

- Volokitin's Breakthrough
- Race of the Passed Pawns
- Race of the Rook's Pawns
- Oswaldo Zambrana's Octopus

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8469

Ivanchuk in Istanbul

The first player has sacrificed a piece to invade with his rook on the 7th rank, but the calm 24.Raf1 in the diagram position would allow the excuse 24...Qxg2+. The alternative 24.gxh7+ Kxf7 leads to ...

A) ... a white victory by force
B) ... perpetual check
C) ... a winning position for Black




Solution: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8476

Good choice?

The second player has parried the attack on her rook e8 with 15...Be6-d7 (diagram), leaving the pawn d5 momentarily without sufficient protection. Now the capture 16.Nxd5 earns White ...

A) ... the loss of a piece;
B) ... the win of a pawn;
C) ... an endgame advantage with material equality.




Solution: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8493

Deflection sacrifice

The white squares in Black's camp are vulnerable. What can the first player achieve in the diagram position by playing 45.Bh5+ Kxf5 46.Qxf5+?

A) win of the queen
B) win of a pawn
C) only perpetual check.




Solution: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8530

Your judgement, please

In this position with mutual rook batteries and knight forks, three continuations are to be considered - one wins for White, one for Black and one leads to a roughly equal situation. Make your pick!

A) 47...Qa7 48.Qxd6
B) 47...Qa7 48.Ng5+
C) 47...Ne5 48.Rxe5




Solution: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8565

Open for everything

The first player is better developed and wants to exploit the diagonal b2-g7 as well as the e-file.
The sequence 15.Nd5 exd5 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.Qxd5+ leads to what?

A) victory for White;
B) victory for Black;
C) a dynamically balanced position.




Solution: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8581

Draw okay?

In the diagram position there followed 41...Ne5 42.f6 Qd7+ 43.Kg2 Qd5+, and after 44.Kh3 Qd7+ the game ended with a perpetual check.
Who missed the win in this sequence?

A) White;
B) Black;
C) neither, everything was correct.




Solution: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8608

Queens and rooks

With 26.Re1-e8 (diagram) the first player has taken control of the enemy back rank.
The opponent's attempt to follow suit with 26...Rd4-d1+ leads to ...

A)... advantage for White;
B)... perpetual check by force;
C)... advantage for Black.




Solution: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8620

- The sharp endgame weapon zugzwang
- Chernyshov's Counterblow
- Milliet's missed chance

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8629

Dark-squared invasion

White's queen on a3 is controlling the vital diagonal to f8.
Which continuation gives him the win?

A) 29.Qc5 Nd6 30.Rxb5 (Nd7)
B) 29.Bb6 Qxb6 30.Bxc4+ Kh7 31.Qxf8
C) both
D) neither




Solution: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8638

The Beauty of Chess Tricks!
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8674