Theme: Psychological Battles

Coach’s Usage Description: Study games where psychological factors influenced outcomes. Discuss
mental preparation, time management, and how to create complications for opponents.

Note: Copy and paste our annotated PGNs into ChessKid Classroom to set up your lessons!

Game #1: Watch Out For Your Opponent’s Resources

[Event “Hoogeveen Essent op”]
[Site “Hoogeveen”]
[Date “2000.10.17”]
[Round “5”]
[White “Berkvens, Joost”]
[Black “Mikhalevski, Victor”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C66”]
[WhiteElo “2364”]
[BlackElo “2532”]
[PlyCount “32”]
[EventDate “2000.10.13”]
[EventType “swiss”]
[EventRounds “9”]
[EventCountry “NED”]
[SourceTitle “CBM 078 ext”]
[Source “ChessBase”]
[SourceDate “2000.11.10”]
[SourceVersion “1”]
[SourceVersionDate “2000.11.10”]
[SourceQuality “1”]

{This miniature mostly offers calculation practice and finding surprising resources.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6
4. d3 d6 5. c3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. d4 Bd7 8. Re1 O-O {So far both sides are playing reasonable moves, but White
probably played the next move quickly, not realizing that he was allowing a tactic.} 9. Nbd2 $2 {[%c_effect
d2;square;d2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Everything looks quiet, but Black already has a tactic to win material.
Can you spot it $2} (9. d5 Ne7 10. Bxd7 {This is White’s best option, with a small advantage thanks to the extra
space in the center.}) 9... Nxd4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The discovered attack
on the b5-bishop wins a pawn for Black.} 10. cxd4 {White knew that Black would win back the bishop, but thought
that he could win the e5-pawn.} (10. Bxd7 {What should Black play $2} 10... Nxf3+ 11. Nxf3 Qxd7 {Black has an extra
pawn.}) 10... Bxb5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nxe5 {Material is temporarily even again. How should Black try to win something
$2} 12... Re8 {Black wants to skewer on the e-file.} 13. Nxf7 $2 {[%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]
This looks like a nice trick, but Black saw one step further.

Theme Psychological Battles 1

How can Black win material $2} (13. Nef3 {How can Black win material $2} 13... Nxe4 14. Nxe4 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Rxe4
{Black has an extra pawn.}) 13... Kxf7 14. Qb3+ {This fork of king and bishop was White’s idea. What’s the only good
move for Black $2} 14... Qd5 $3 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] The back rank mate means
that White can’t safely take the queen. Black will keep an extra piece. White resigned, but let’s see one possible
end to the game.} 15. exd5 {How can Black win the game $2} 15... Rxe1+ 16. Nf1 Rxf1# {A pretty finish $1 Always look
for possible tactical ideas for your opponent.} 0-1

Game #2: A World Champion Refutes A Bad Opening

[Event “Belgrade URS-World”]
[Site “Belgrade”]
[Date “1970.03.31”]
[Round “2.1”]
[White “Larsen, Bent”]
[Black “Spassky, Boris V”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “A01”]
[Annotator “Kane,Jeremy”]
[PlyCount “38”]
[EventDate “1970.03.29”]
[EventType “team”]
[EventRounds “4”]
[EventCountry “YUG”]
[Source “ChessBase”]

{This game demonstrates how to refute a dubious opening. What was the creative (sometimes too creative)
grandmaster, Bent Larsen. Black was world champion, Boris Spassky.} 1. b3 {This is an OK, but move, but it does
allow Black to occupy the center. What would you play $2} 1... e5 (1... d5 {is equally logical.}) 2. Bb2 {How should
you develop and defend the pawn $2} 2... Nc6 3. c4 (3. e3 d5 4. Bb5 {is popular today.}) 3... Nf6 4. Nf3 $5 {[%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Interesting;persistent;true] White encourages black to take space in the center. Is it worth it
$2} 4... e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 5. Nd4 Bc5 {Black keeps developing.} 6.
Nxc6 $6 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This helps Black develop too quickly. How
should Black recapture and continue to develop $2} (6. Nf5 {is better and leads to wild complications.} 6... d5
7. Nxg7+ Kf8 8. cxd5 Bd4 {This is a huge mess and about even.}) 6... dxc6 {This frees the c8-bishop.} 7. e3 Bf5
8. Qc2 {How should you develop and prepare to castle queenside.} 8... Qe7 9. Be2 O-O-O 10. f4 $2 {[%c_effect
f4;square;f4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] White makes one too many provocative moves. This exposes the king
and doesn’t develop.} (10. Nc3) 10... Ng4 $1 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black prepares
a possible sacrifice on e3 and a check on h4.} 11. g3 h5 {Preparing h4 to open the kingside before White has
finished development.} 12. h3 {What brilliant move can Black play to rip open the kingside $2} 12... h4 $3 {[%c_
effect h4;square;h4;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] Black gives a piece to open the h-file and create a dangerous
passed pawn.} (12... Nxe3 $5 {[%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This is also strong, but there’s
something even better.}) 13. hxg4 hxg3 14. Rg1 {White aims to dodge the trade of rooks, but Black finds a shocking
move to keep the attack going.} 14... Rh1 $3 {[%c_effect h1;square;h1;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] Sacrificing a
whole rook just to advance the g3-pawn.} 15. Rxh1 g2 16. Rf1 {White tries to defend by giving back the rook, but it’s
not enough. How can Black take advantage of the exposed white king $2} (16. Rg1 Qh4+ 17. Kd1 Qh1) 16... Qh4+ 17.
Kd1 gxf1=Q+ {White resigns} 18. Bxf1 Bxg4+ 19. Be2 (19. Kc1 Qe1+ 20. Qd1 Qxd1#) 19... Qh1# 0-1

Theme Psychological Battles 2