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Chess Master at Any Age
Chess Master at Any Age
,I
1 I
c
CHESS MASTER
. . . at any age
by
Rolf Wetzell
Thinkers' Press
1994
Davenport Iowa
Chess Master . . . at any age
First Printing:
June 1994
ISBN: 0�938650�58�0
Thinkers' Press
Bob Long
P.O. Box 8
Davenport, Iowa 52805�0008 USA
Contents
Acknowledgement .
..... .............. .... . . .. .... . . . ...... . .. . . . . . . . .... . ........... . . . . . ... ...... . . . . viii
PART I:
B. Origins.
1. The years of confusion ... . .......... . . . . . . ... ... . . .. .... . . . .... .. ...... ....................... 1
2. The years of structuring ........................ .............................................. 2
D. This book: How correct? ............... . .... ............ .. .. .. . ...... .. . . . . . . . . ... ... . . . ........ .. 4
PART II:
A. Images ..................................................................................................... 10
(iii) Time Pressure in Blitz Chess .... ... ........ . . . . . . .. ... .. .. ...... .. 44
.. .. . .
1. Playing chess ...... . .. ... . . .... .. ... . . .... . ............. . .... . . .. ............... .. . 61
. . . . . . . . . .. . .. .
2. Studying .... ............ ... ........ ..... .. ... ......... . . . . . . . .. . ... . ... . ... 62
. .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . .
3. Other inputs ............ ....... .......... ... . ..... .... . ... . ...
. .. . . . . . . . .. . .... .. . . . . . ..... 63
. .. .. . .
B. Filtering chess inputs .......... . . . . . . ..... ... ..... .......... .... . . . ............. . ..... ..... 63
. . . . . .. .
1. Attitude factors . . ..... . .. ... .... ... . ... .. . . ...... . .... .. ........ . .... ....
. . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . . ... . 63.
2. Genetic factors . . . .... ............ . ..... ... . . . . ........ ............ ........ . .... ..... 64
. . . . .. . . . . . .
1. The liquid for the vase .... .......... . ..... .... . . .... .... ..... . .... ....... .. . . ..... 65
. . .. . . . . . .
2. Features of the vase ... ...... .... ................ . . . ............ . . .. . ..... . ............... 67
. . . . .
B. The rust factor . . .. . . ....... . ............ . ... . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . ......... . . . ... .... . . .. . . . . .... 68
. . . . . . . . . .
C. The effect of additional games . . ... ..... ........ ....... ................. ....... ........ 69 . . . . . .
ii
D. Effect of a tournament .
........... . . .... . .. ....... ........ .. . ... . . . .. . . ...........
. ... . ..... . .... 70
PART III:
C. The stickiness of the starting position . ...... .. .............. . .... . . .... ... .... ...... 137
. .
iii
CHAPTER 6: Improving the Move selection Method .................. ..... .. ... 145
(i) You must believe that Time Pressure wors e ns results .... 163
(ii) The false premise of "Relative Time Pressure" ....... ...... .. 169
(iii) The causes of Time Pressure ............... ..... ....... .............. .. 170
b. The remedial program ........ ................ .... ................................... 175
(i) The mechanics of Time Pressure tracking .
........ ............ 175
(ii) Reward and punishment ..................................... . ........... 187
2. Improving allocation of extra time in critical positions . .......... .. .... 192
D. Improving "on�line toughness" .............................. ................ .............. 194
iv
g. Learn and practice good nutrition ................ . ... ........... .... ..... 206 . . . .
F. Personality influences ...... ...... .... . . . . ... . . . ... .... . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . ........ . 207
. . . . .
1. Reckless vs. overcautious play . . ...... . . . . . ...... . . .... .. .. . . . . . . . ..... . ............. 207 .
2. Other faulty special preferences ... ........ ........ .. ...... ...... .... ......... .. 210 . . . . .
CHAPTER 8: The Long-Range Plan . . ... . ....... . . . ..... . . ... . . .. . .... . ....... . . . .... 213 . . . . .
A. Why a long-range plan? . . . ... . . .... . . . . . . .. . . . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . ... . . ... .... . 213
. . . . . . . . . . .
B. Long-range plan details .......... ..... .......... ....... . . ...... ....... . . . . ....... .. . .... 214
. . . . . . .
1. Images .. . .. . .. ... .... .. . ...... ... . .. .... . . ......... ....... . . .... . . .. . . ....... .. .. . . . . 216
. . . . .. . . .. . . . .
a. Openings .... . . ... . . .... ... . . .. . . . ... . ..... . .. .... ........ . . . . .... ......... ..... . .. . 216
. . . . . . . . .
c. Endings . ... ... . . . . . . . ... . . .... . . .... . .... . ........... . . .... ....... ...... . ... 217
. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .
a. General ...... ...... ..... . . . . ... ..... ...... . . . ....... ... . . . . ..... .............. . 217
.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
c. Platform analysis .. ... ... .... . . . ..... ... ... . ... ................. . .. . ... .. . 219
. . . . . . . .. . . . .. .
a. Objectivity . . . ..... . . . . . . . ... . .. ... ..... .... . . . . ..... . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . .. .. .. ... .. . ...... 220
b. Caution-recklessness . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
c. Toughness . ............................... . . . . ................ . ... .......................... 221
d. Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . ..
.. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .... .. . .. ... . ....... . ....... ... 222
.
APPENDIX I: Ideas for Scientific Study .. ... . . . ....... . .... .. .. .. .. . .......... . .......... 225
A. Can Mental Clock Rate be improved? .. ... ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .... .... .. .. .. .... . 225
1. Thesis and Objective ...... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . ........ .... .... . . .. ........ . . . ....... 225
2. Method of the experiment or test . . . . . . . . .. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
a. The reference portion of the experiment ... . ..... . . . . . . . . . ...... . . . . . . . . . . 226
b. The le rning portion of the experiment ................................... 226
a
C. Time Pressure influence on chess Strength . . ...... ... . ..... . ... . ......... 229 . .. . . . . . . .
D. Chess Strength vs. study time .......... ... . . . . . .... .. . . ..... ...... ... .. .. 231 .. . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .
v
APPENDIX III: Scenarios Leading to Flash Cards . ..... ... .. ... .. ........... . . .. .... 239
A. Rote is NG ... . .. .. ...... .. .. ... ......... .... .. . ............ ..... ......... ...... . . .. .. . .. .... . .. .... .. 239
B. Frog into a prince .. . . .. . .. .... . .. .. ... .. .. . . ..... .. .. ... .. .................. .... . .. .. . .. .. . .. ... .. 241
C. Central Knight - safe squares? . . .. ...... ..... .. ..... . ... ..... ............... ... . . .. .. . ... 241
D. Redeploy! ............... ...... ....... .. ...... . ....... ... .. . .... . ... . . . ..... ..... ....... . . .. . ...... . .. . 242
N. Transfer of forces .... .............. . ...... . . . ... ..... . ...... . .............. . .......... . . . . .... . .... 255
P. Look for the active defense! . . . . ...... . . .. .. ... .. .. . . ... .. . .... .. ... ..... ............ .. . .... . 259
APPENDIX IV: Backup Calculations for the Model . . ... . . .. .. . .... .. . .. .. . .. . . . . . 261
B. Calculation for liquid added weekly ...... . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .... . . . . . . ... .. . 261
C. Rating track for a 1600 player who quits playing ......... . .. . ................... 262
2. Wetzell-Frank Deming . . . .
................... ......... ... .... ...... .... .... . . . . . . . . 269
4. Wetzell-Rigel Capallo .............. . . .... ........... .. . .. . ........ ..... .. . .... ... .. 272
vi
5. Allan Bennett-Wetzell ............................ .. ....... ... ..... .... . . .......... 273
6. Wetzell-Allan Bennett .. ..... .. .... . .... . . . .. .... . ... . ........... .................. 275
9. Frank Deming-Wetzell ... . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. .. .... . .... . . .... .. . . .......... ...... .... 280
13. Wetzell-Allan Bennett ..... . . . . .. . . . ...... . .......... . ......... ...... . .... ... . . . . .. 288
16. Wetzell-Rigel Capallo ... . . .... ...... .. ....... ...... ...... . .... .. ...... . . ....... . . .. 293
APPENDIX VI: From the Editor's File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . ... . . . . . .......................... 296
The Author .
.............. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . . .... ......................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . 301
vii
Acknowledgments
---
viii --
PART ONE
B. Origins.
2
Why Another Book?
3
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
4
Why Another Book?
USCF
rating
2200
I
p
I
I
I
2000
1800
Figure 1
5
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
6
PART TW O
C OMPON ENTS O F C H E S S
CAPAB I LITY, AND MO RE
Desire/Discipline
I
+
� Playing chess
� Study
z Other
I
t
er:
Genetic factors
�
w
Attitude
I
+
I
1- Images
� Abil ity to PROject Positions
� Move selection Method
� Genetic factors
Figure 2
8
CHAPTER ONE
C OMPON ENTS O F
C H E S S CAPAB I LITY
A. Images.
e5 ).
e ) On an open board, a Bishop pair is stronger
than a Bishop plus Knight.
f) Any simple tactical operation. An example is
the "fork trick" in Figure 3 . Here White can play 4.
Nxe5 with the idea of recovering the piece after
Black's capture 4 Nxe5 by playing 5. d4!
•••
10
Components of Chess Capability
11
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
MEMORY
E
x P:ltTER .--
' -·-·�·--. different "life--
p spans."
E
P«•decidl
[IMAGEJ
R A "light"
I whether we
E
Image is a fact,
want to
N
c rememl>ef1 or facts , that
E are loosely, or
Figure 4 almost ran,
domly, acquired, without being well connected with
other Images . An example might be an opening
sequence someone showed you last week, without
going over the moves or reasons for them.
A "durable" Image is a fact, or perception, re,
peatedly reinforced, although not necessarily logi,
cally connected with other Images. A non,chess
example might be a friend's phone number, while an
example in chess is White's well,known fifth move
in the Slav: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4
5. a4 - see Figure 5. Now, knowing 5. a4 by having
repeatedly played this, without knowing the ratio,
nale behind the move, is a durable Image, because it
has been reinforced.
12
Components of Chess Capability
13
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
14
Components of Chess Capability
15
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Figure 7
16
Components of Chess Capability
17
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
18
Components of Chess Capability
24 . Bd6) 24. Qxd7 Rads 25. Qxb7 Qe3t 26. Kfl Rd2
27. Qc6t Re6 28. Bc5 Rf2t 29. Kgl Rxg2t 30. Kxg2
Qd2t 3 1 . Khl Rxc6 32. Bxc6 Qxc3 33. Rgl t when
White is clearly winning. The analysis had to reach a
19
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
20
Components of Chess Capability
the board.
Recognizing that this continuation didn't facili,
tate White's game, Allan looked at this position and
then realized that Black, playing this move, would
have to lose the Exchange to 3 7. Ba3 , since if the
Rook moved, White would continue with the
skewer 3 8 Belt winning Black's Bishop. So Black
.
21
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
22
Components of Chess Capability
23
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
24
Components of Chess Capability
25
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
26
Components of Chess Capability
27
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
28
Components of Chess Capability
3. Blunders.
29
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
30
Components of Chess Capability
4. Should-A..Beens.
31
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
D. Attitude.
32
Components of Chess Capability
1. Desire.
33
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
2. Objectivity.
3. Time Management.
a. Introduction.
34
Components of Chess Capability
35
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 60
I I
.g. I I U.S. Open
'5 I I
.§ / /
-
- - -
- - -
- - -
--®
f1 /&
- - - - - .
�
20 --
--
- - - - ·®
Blitz
= = - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
�� : :
30 40 50 60 1 20 240
Number of Moves
Fig. 13A
36
Components of Chess Capability
b. Time Pressure.
37
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
38
Components of Chess Capability
39
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
40 ,
,
,
remai n i n g ,
,
n u mber ....
,
-
of 30 -
-
lo" -
- -
-
moves -
-
-
·
-
-
to be - -
- -
made 20 ,
,
in ,
the �
,
time 10 ,
...
,
control •
'
10 20 30 40 50 60
time {min utes) left in time control
Fig. 13B
40
remai n i ng
n u m ber
of 30
moves
to be
made 20
in
the
time 10
control
10 20 30 40 50 60
time (minutes) left in time control
Fig. 13C
40
Components of Chess Capability
41
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
and so on.
Back to the game. You have kept up with the
recommended schedule for the first 25 minutes, hav,
ing made 85 moves. Now you must play at the rate of
10 moves per minute. If you're exactly on target, you
will have made 1 3 5 moves when your flag drops.
That's OK.
How do you know whether you're keeping up
with your "last five minutes" schedule ? Simple. As
you approach the last five minutes, you must make
two columns on your score sheet, with four lines
each, the left column showing the entries 4/1 0; 3/20;
2/30; 1/40; 0/50. At the time your clock shows five
minutes left, you may stop keeping score. At this
time, you start using your counter - set to zero. The
entry 4/1 0 means that with four minutes left on your
clock, your counter should show 1 0 moves. 3/20
means that with three minutes left, your counter
should show 20 moves, and so on.
It is noteworthy that most players will not be
keeping up with your schedule. The logical exten,
sion of this is that most players mishandle sudden,
death time controls. They will have made too few
moves with half, and with a quarter, of their "clock"
remaining.
42
Components of Chess Capability
"C
CD
..
CD
Q.
E
0 1 00
()
"'
CD
>
0
E
,.._
0
...
CD
.c
E
::s
c
30
Figure 13D
43
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
44
Components of Chess Capability
....
0
....
G>
.c
E
::::J
c:
45
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
....
46
Components of Chess Capability
5. On-line toughness.
47
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
6. Physical fitness.
48
Components of Chess Capability
7. Personality influences.
49
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
50
Components of Chess Capability
51
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
52
Components of Chess Capability
53
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
move.
But sometimes we might select a move or sacri�
fice which is flashy, when a simpler procedure, less
flashy, maybe not involving a sacrifice, is also very
strong. This is showing off.
In Figure 1 8, Joel Johnson-Wetzell, Westford
MA, 1 988, Black, on the move, would be able to
mate with 1 . . . Ra8 were it not for the Knight at c7.
1 . Rc8 is simple, threatening to win the Knight,
. .
54
Components of Chess Capability
E. Genetic factors.
55
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
56
Components of Chess Capability
57
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
2. Memory.
58
Components of Chess Capability
59
Chess Master . ) . . At Any Age
60
CHAPTER TWO
C H E S S I N PUTS AND
TH E I R F I LT E RI N G
A. Chess inputs.
1. Playing chess.
2. Studying.
62
Chess Inputs and Their Filtering
3. Other inputs.
1. Attitude factors.
63
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
2. Genetic factors.
64
CHAPTERTHREE
A MO D E L O F
C H E S S STRE NGTH
A. Basic structure.
66
A Model of Chess Strength
67
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
68
A Model of Chess Strength
with 2 dS .
. . .
69
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
added into the vase for each hour of play (for this
player rated 1 600 ) , and we've learned that a total of
2. 7 5 units is added weekly. The liquid is evaporating
(both the light and the heavy liquid) at such a rate
that the 2. 7 5 units of liquid each week - earned as
described in Section B - just replenishes the amount
of evaporated liquid for that week. We have reached,
technically speaking, the steady,state, or equilibrium.
It is important to note that, even if our chess,
player is adding 2. 7 5 units of liquid each week to the
vase, the level of the liquid will eventually stabilize.
The only way it can rise further is if we can add more
than 2 . 75 units per week.
Now let's say he gets more interested and starts
to play in two different clubs, one game every other
Tuesday evening (his original schedule of a game
every other week) and one game each week on Fri,
day evening at a different club.
The player rated 1 600, increasing his chess expo,
sure from half a game a week to one and a half games
a week, will eventually obtain a 63 ,rating,point in,
crease. Here again, the calculations are provided in
Appendix IV for the interested reader.
D. Effect of a tournament.
70
A Model of Chess Strength
71
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
72
A Model of Chess Strength
73
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
IMPACT OF STUDYING
ON STRENGTH
The table is not a rigid, infallible evaluation of
studying. It is my idea of the median improvement of
a large number of players. The actual improvement
in Strength that a player will achieve depends on the
type of material he is studying, the seriousness of the
study, and many other factors. We'll return to this in
Part III.
There are several important features about the
table. First, imagine that a player starts playing chess,
and plays on and off for some number of years at
some level of study. He typically reaches a level, or
plateau. It is this plateau that is meant as a reference
in the table. This is also the plateau that Grandmas,
ter Andy Soltis refers to as your final plateau after
about eight years of serious play in his article in
Chess Life , January 1 986.
Second, notice in the table that the typical player
must increase his study time geometrically for each
increment in rating strength.
For every 1 00 points, the typical player must
74
A Model of Chess Strength
75
PART T H RE E
77
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
78
CHAPTER FOUR
80
Increasing the Number of Images
81
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
82
Increasing the Number of Images
example - to a perma,
nent advantage. Here the superior pawn structure
becomes more important in the endgame than it was
in the middlegame with Queens still on the board.
Did I know that before the game ? Yes, I did. Was
it an Image ? Apparently not, since that thought did
not rise to a conscious level as a useful resource
during the game.
So now I had a new Image .
We have already introduced the idea of quality
Images being logically linked with something else
you already know.
So this new Image is a quality Image because its
essence, namely that one should always be on the
lookout to convert a dynamic advantage into a per,
83
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
84
Increasing the Number of Images
85
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
86
Increasing the Number of Images
87
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
88
Increasing the Number of Images
r����-��m��-�m
analyzing my games."
��r;�:I
That's a good step,
but it's only a step. The
problem is that quality
study is painful, because I I ��-����i [!,�ff ��1�•· · �!�1��;�l�>�1ql4�\ I
you are exposing your l•• • • ·• '�jir�i·· ����f�l��1�!����g�1�.t \••· • •· )
own shortcomings, or,
more effectively, someone else is doing this to help
you.
If you should be fortunate enough to have a
stronger player review your games with you, you
could be receptive, and look with him for the weak�
nesses in your logic and your Move selection Method.
89
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
90
Increasing the Number of Images
91
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1. Flash Cards.
92
Increasing the Number of Images
interest.
In the next section, we'll identify the specific
layout of the card. It must be organized in such a way
that you can refresh your memory with its contents
in a very short time, hopefully within, literally, a few
seconds.
In Section iv we'll go through the development
of several representative Flash Cards. Appendix III
has some additional Flash Card developments, just
to give you a better feel for these, and to help propel
you to do your own.
93
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
FREEHAND SYMBOLS
FOR CHESSMEN
Pawn: L � L'.:) ..
King: CJ ��
•
Queen: ¥ -I' � y
Rook: ,, � Jr I
Bishop: 0 ___,. Q 1.
Knight: =i7 - r:u •
Figure 23
94
Increasing the Number of Images
95
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
96
Increasing the Number of Images
Figure 24
So we have taken the output of one of our own
game analyses as the raw material for a Flash Card,
constructing the Flash Card by adding an appropri,
ate grabber phrase and chess position.
97
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
98
Increasing the Number of Images
1 00 1 #3 1 6 Jun 85
Figure 26
99
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 00
Increasing the Number of Images
ls� Ut � �I
1 . c6 2 . Qc3 Bb5 t 3 . Ke l
. .
Figure 28
In Figure 29, I was emulating former World
Champion Capablanca in the game Capablanca
Chajes, New York 1 9 1 8, annotated in Capablanca's
excellent book Chess Fundamentals . Even though I
was "playing" the white pieces, I was thinking about
Black's moves too !
1 01
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 02
Increasing the Number of Images
'[)� a, � �1
s� � eu
� Jeea.
1 . . . Re8!
Capa p. 226
Figure 30
better fix the idea in your mind.
1 03
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 04
Increasing the Number of Images
Figure 32
Knight.
I chose 1 . £3, so that if 1 . Nh5 , I would be able to
. .
1 05
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
[1;�111rrrr1il
L��i•· ···>•· ·• I von Richthofen, the G erman
World War I fighter ace, knew ex ...
actly what he wanted, and then
did it. He is attributed to having
said, after translation, "Find the
enemy and shoot him down. Everything else is rub ..
bish." To me, that means: establish what your prob ..
lem is, and then solve it. The grabber phrase "Von
Richthofen" conjures up the decisiveness necessary
to deal with this position. See Figure 34. For short ..
hand, a square not "blackened in" represents White,
while one "blackened in" represents Black. So the
second sentence in the notes of this Flash Card
reads: "White to keep Bishop on the diagonal."
Former World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik, in
New York in 1984, said, "Chess is a game for strong
1 06
Increasing the Number of Images
Figure 34
1 07
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Figure 35
1 08
Increasing the Number of Images
1 09
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 . QhS t Better 1. o O ! !
..
Figure 38
1 10
Increasing the Number of Images
111
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
. . . de , . . . b6 , . . . Bb7
Capa p. 1 60
Figure 40
In the game John Loyte-Wetzell, Comeau Me�
morial, Danvers MA, August 1 985, it was Black to
play in Figure 41 .
1 12
Increasing the Number of Images
1 13
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1� 1
..
1 . . . Nxe4? ? expecting
2 . Bxe4 Qxg5 or
. ..
Figure 42
1 14
Increasing the Number of Images
1 15
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
116
Increasing the Number of Images
1 ,500 seconds) .
I t is important to point out that you shouldn't
attempt to review the Flash Cards too fast. I've no,
ticed that, for me anyway, it takes a little time for a
thought to settle. If it is too fleeting, the reinforce,
ment becomes compromised, or disappears alto,
gether.
So 25 minutes of drill each week will support
about 300 Flash Cards for that sitting, and allow you
to review 2 ,400 cards at least once every other
1 17
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
month.
1 18
Increasing the Number of Images
Figure 43
1 19
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Figure 44
1 20
Increasing the Number of Images
Figure 45
121
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
2 1 . h5 If 2 1 . . . gxhS , then 22 . Ne 1
Figure 46
1 22
Increasing the Number of Images
1 23
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Figure 48
1 24
Increasing the Number of Images
1 25
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 26
Increasing the Number of Images
1 27
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 28
Increasing the Number of Images
1 29
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 30
Increasing the Number of Images
131
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 32
Black: French Albin Chatard: 1 . e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3 . Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5 . e5 Nfd7
6. h4 c5 1
7. Bxe7 ........................................... .................................................... NbS . . ........................ Qg4
Kxe7 1 0 f6 Kf8
8. f4 ........ ..................................................... BbS ..... Nf3 ..... Qg4 Bd3 Nf3
Qb6 cxd4 Nc6 ! Kf8 a6 Nc6
9. Nf3 .................. Rh3 .... Na4 Qxd4 1 51 th Nf3 QhSt Qf4
1
cxd4 cxd4 Qc6 Nc63 Nc6 Kf8 1 cxd4
1 0. Qxd4 .. Nxd4 .. Nb5 2 NxcS Bxc6 dxcS Rh3 . . . . .............. Nh3 Nb5 1 2
Nc65 Qxb2 Nc6 NxcS bxc6 Ndxe57 axbS cxd4 QaSt
1 1 . Qxb6 ............... Qg4 dxcS Q,Q,Q NxeS Bh6 Nf4 Kdl -
Qxc5 6
;:s
Nxb6 co Qb6 NxeS NxeS Nxe58 h6 ("')
-t
(i:>
1 2. Q,Q,Q 1 52th Qd2 + Qg3 dxeS Nxd4 Bxe7 �
hS Nc6 Reti, Nc6 gxh6 Qb6 Kxe7 �-
s-
1 3 . NbS Q,Q,Q ... Nf3 Euwe + Rf3 + + (i:>
Figure 49
A typical opening sheet
n
i=r
Vi
Vi
W7 BlO W1 0 W1 4 Wl l W1 2 �
. . .� "� · "� ""�1 "�· �'.. , � l.f
0�·-•�A� 0 �i
w
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. . .���-il"
�U "� · · �t"
· � . .d ·� .... ·�·:· �%
•t�-ti, t" 0t
�ir,"�%. . ·�
%"'
•t�-ti, '� � � · "�nt ·"�
&'.
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%"" '" ��·�
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6
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�� � %'" � �,1�J� i" �� ��"/.7, �,,,�J � i"�. :��� �. . m•lfh
�� �,,§, ,.�'d � � - ' 2;
� '%'" . . .� . . ��·% i" � m" · ·" ��"6< %'d. %. �
� '- � .3".,· /'�r, ��.3-·(7,
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mft.ft · m�� m� 3 �%"-i� � �%·%"� � � �%"'•� � �
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'ft � �Fr- %
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.3
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""·�ft ��������!- �""/, � ft-· · · ft �" -ft � � � � � � ��
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J. mm�.tm . . · ·-' j�1� '·· "1� �1
,
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Wl l W1 2 W14 WB W1 0 BIO
I"
mt" r .
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ef
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�%% %'�d� %'"•�� 45 �%""'- n �
ft��ft�
· ft��ft� ��ft� ,�l � �, � �; ·� �""/, � � �-� � "' . J.m i• � ft �dm
' "� . �. .�ftm
�r
�' � �.
�...��I:::>� . . .< � ��·
.�· ;� � �I:::> � �� ����!! rd m-«t��Et! rd m � "�!! �r
�i � '. ,,
L v,� �l:::{#':>�
FIGURE 50
Diagram Sheet
CHAPTER F IVE
IMPROVIN G AP RO P
A. Studying combinations.
1 36
Improving APROP
1 37
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Figure 5 1
1 38
Improving APROP
from f3 .
1 39
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 40
Improving APROP
1 41
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Figure 54
1 42
Improving APROP
iillillllllill
ter how quick, or how
skilled, can consciously
consider all possible moves
for even two half,moves
1 43
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 44
CHAPTER S IX
1 46
Improving the Move selection Method
1. Analysis Fibrillation.
1 47
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 48
Improving the Move selection Method
2. Analysis Repetition.
3. Blunders.
1 49
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
4. General thoughts.
1 50
Improving the Move selection Method
151
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 52
CHAPTER SEVEN
1 54
Moderating Attitude
1 55
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1. Study time.
1 56
Moderating Attitude
2. Study methods.
3. Study materials.
4. Your attitude.
1 57
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
B. Improving objectivity.
111g1111111
issue of Chess Life by Dr. Don Ifill
summarized the results of a survey
of chessplayers ( taken at the 1 987
World Open) about reasons for
winning and losing. The answers showed that
chessplayers displayed a considerable lack of objec,
tivity by attributing losses much more to blunders
than to superior play by the opponent, while wins
were attributed much more to superior play than to a
blunder by the opponent. There is plenty of bias or
lack of objectivity to go around. So please take this
section seriously.
There really is a very simple reason for this. At
any stage, or level, of Strength, in order to improve, a
1 58
Moderating Attitude
1 59
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
opponent's behalf.
If you think of new information as coming
through a window, objectivity is akin to the size of
the window. The more objective we are, the more
new pertinent information we gather during each
encounter.
Improving objectivity encompasses two tasks: a)
establishing whether you really are objective, and b)
correcting this lack of objectivity if you determine
that you're not.
To determine whether you are objective, ask
another chessplayer who knows you well. You may
be fortunate to know a stronger player whom you can
ask. There are two related points. First, you must ask
the question in such a way that the player is comfort,
able with giving you either answer. Second, if, on
hearing the answer, you are tempted to argue, stop
yourself and admit to yourself that you're not objec,
tive.
1 60
Moderating Attitude
1 61
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 62
Moderating Attitude
1 63
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 64
Moderating Attitude
1 65
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 66
Moderating Attitude
1 67
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
� •
•
•
•
•
quality of my games?
YES •:
YES :
deteriorate?
•
•
YES •
•
YES :
AGAIN :
FIGURE 55
1 68
Moderating Attitude
1 69
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 70
Moderating Attitude
1 71
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 72
Moderating Attitude
The perfectionist.
The procrastinator.
1 73
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 74
Moderating Attitude
1 75
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 76
Moderating Attitude
1 77
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
opening date
vs.
1 21
2 22
3 23
4
D 24
5
(53) 25
6
0 26
7 27
FIGURE 56
1 78
Moderating Attitude
round no.
opening date
vs.
1 21
2 22
3 23
4
� 24
5 (53) 25
6
@ 26
7 27
8 28
9 29
10 30
11 31
12 32
13 33
14 34
15 35
FIGURE 57
1 79
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
round no.
opening date
vs.
1 21
@
2 22
3 23
4
� 24
OZ]
5 (53) 25 (21 )
6
@ 26
@
7 27
8 28
9
@] 29
0
10 (49) 30 (1 2)
11
@ 31
@
12 32
13 33
14
� 34
m
15 (40) 35 (4)
16
@ 36
@
17 37
18 38
19
@] 39
OJ
20 (28) 40 (0)
Figure 58
1 80
Moderating Attitude
181
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 82
Moderating Attitude
things.
All true. But an important mitigating factor is
present. You'll get used to it so that you can do these
calculations in your sleep. You probably remember
the first few times you used a clock, and how it
disrupted your thinking. But that problem soon
passed. After a while, you will not need the schedule
card we will describe shortly. I used it for a while -
and then weaned myself from it.
1 83
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
40 35 30 25 20 15 1 0 40 35 30 25 20 15 10
A 60 52 50 48 45 40 30 30 27 26 25 24 23 20 15
59 52 51 50 48 45 40 30 29 26 25 25 24 22 20 15
58 51 50 49 47 44 39 29 28 25 24 24 23 21 19 14
57 50 49 48 46 43 38 29 27 24 23 22 22 21 18 14
B
56 49 48 47 45 42 38 28 26 23 23 22 21 20 18 13
55 49 48 46 44 42 37 28 25 22 22 21 20 19 17 13
54 48 47 45 44 41 36 27 24 21 21 20 20 18 16 12
53 47 46 45 43 40 36 27 23 21 20 20 19 18 16 12
52 46 45 44 42 39 35 26 22 20 19 19 18 17 15 11
51 45 44 43 41 39 34 26 21 19 18 18 17 16 14 11
50 44 43 42 40 38 34 25 20 18 18 17 16 15 14 10
49 43 42 41 40 37 33 25 19 17 17 16 16 15 13 10
48 42 42 40 39 36 32 24 18 16 16 15 15 14 12 9
47 42 41 40 38 36 32 24 17 15 15 15 14 13 12 9
c
46 41 40 39 37 35 31 23 16 14 14 14 13 12 11 8
45 40 39 38 36 34 30 23 15 14 13 13 12 12 10 8
44 39 38 37 36 33 30 22 14 13 12 12 12 11 10 7
43 38 37 36 35 33 29 22 13 12 12 11 11 10 9 7
42 37 36 35 34 32 28 21 12 11 11 10 10 9 8 6
41 36 36 35 33 31 28 21 11 10 10 10 9 9 8 6
40 35 35 34 32 30 27 20 10 9 9 9 8 8 7 5
39 35 34 33 32 30 26 20 09 8 8 8 8 7 6 5
38 34 33 32 31 29 26 19 08 7 7 7 7 6 6 4
37 33 32 31 30 28 25 19 07 7 7 6 6 6 5 4
36 32 31 30 29 27 24 18 06 6 6 5 5 5 4 3
D 1 27 24 18 05 5 5 5 4 4 4 3
34 30 30 29 28 26 23 17 04 4 4 4 4 3 3 2
33 29 29 28 27 25 22 17 03 3 3 3 3 3 2 2
32 28 28 27 26 24 22 16 02 2 2 2 2 2 2 1
31 28 27 26 25 24 21 16 01 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
30 27 26 25 24 23 20 15 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FIGURE 59
1 84 ------
Moderating Attitude
1 85
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 40 35 30 25 20 15 10
60 53 52 50 48 45 40 30 30 27 26 25 24 23 20 15
59 52 51 50 48 45 40 30 29 26 25 25 24 22 20 15
58 51 50 49 47 44 39 29 28 25 24 24 23 21 19 14
57 50 49 48 46 43 38 29 27 24 23 22 22 21 18 14
56 49 48 47 45 42 38 28 26 23 23 22 21 20 18 13
55 49 48 46 44 42 37 28 25 22 22 21 20 19 17 13
54 48 47 45 44 41 36 27 24 21 21 20 20 18 16 12
53 47 46 45 43 40 36 27 23 21 20 20 19 18 16 12
52 46 45 44 42 39 35 26 22 20 19 19 18 17 15 11
51 45 44 43 41 39 34 26 21 19 18 18 17 16 14 11
50 44 43 42 40 38 34 25 20 18 18 17 16 15 14 10
49 43 42 41 40 37 33 25 19 17 17 16 16 15 13 10
48 42 42 40 39 36 32 24 18 16 16 15 15 14 12 9
47 42 41 40 38 36 32 24 17 15 15 15 14 13 12 9
46 41 40 39 37 35 31 23 16 14 14 14 13 12 11 8
45 40 39 38 36 34 30 23 15 14 13 13 12 12 10 8
44 39 38 37 36 33 30 22 14 13 12 12 12 11 10 7
43 38 37 36 35 33 29 22 13 12 12 11 11 10 9 7
42 37 36 35 34 32 28 21 12 11 11 10 10 9 8 6
41 36 36 35 33 31 28 21 11 10 10 10 9 9 8 6
40 35 35 34 32 30 27 20 10 9 9 9 8 8 7 5
� 35 34 33 32 30 � 20 � 8 8 8 8 7 6 5
38 34 33 32 31 29 26 19 08 7 7 7 7 6 6 4
37 33 32 31 30 28 25 19 07 7 7 6 6 6 5 4
36 32 31 30 29 27 24 18 06 6 6 5 5 5 4 3
35 31 30 30 28 27 24 18 05 5 5 5 4 4 3
34 30 30 29 28 26 23 17 04 4 4 4 3 3 2
33 29 29 28 27 25 22 17 03 3 3 3 3 2 2
32 28 28 27 26 24 22 16 02 2 2 2 2 2 1
31 28 27 26 25 24 21 16 01 1 1 1 1 1 1
30 27 26 25 24 23 20 15 00 0 0 0 0 0 0
Figure 60
paper clip.
1 86
Moderating Attitude
1 87
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 88
Moderating Attitude
1 89
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 90
Moderating Attitude
191
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 92
Moderating Attitude
1 93
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 94
Moderating Attitude
1 95
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 96
Moderating Attitude
1 97
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 98
Moderating Attitude
1 99
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
200
Moderating Attitude
201
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
202
Moderating Attitude
203
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Be a NON-smoker.
204
Moderating Attitude
Exercise moderately.
205
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
206
Moderating Attitude
F. Personality influences.
207
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
208
Moderating Attitude
209
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
210
Moderating Attitude
21 1
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
212
CHAPTER E IGHT
TH E LONG-RANGE P LAN
214
The Long ,Range Plan
215
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1. Images.
a. Openings.
Status:
Identify each opening line you're willing to in,
elude in the test. There might be 50. Select at ran,
dom one of the first ten. The test is for Moves 4 to
1 3 . Play out the opening on a chessboard, guessing
your own color's move for each of the ten moves
(after you have played the "correct" move for your
side, just read the opponent's move and play it) . You
will have a certain number of moves right. Repeat
the procedure for every tenth opening sheet. For the
sake of score keeping in the future, your openings
rating or goodness will be the number of total open,
ing sheets you included in the test (not the number
you tested, which is ten times fewer) times the per,
centage of moves you guessed correctly.
Met1wd:
Promise yourself you're going to develop a cer,
tain number of these lines each month. Also identify
your goals for one year.
Your objective might be three lines a month, or
30 a year (other priorities in life might forestall your
plan during a couple of months) .
b . Middlegame.
Status:
Play three games of Solitaire, using a clock and
giving yourself three minutes a move. Keep track.of
the percentage of moves you guessed correctly from
216
The Long -Range Plan
c. Endings.
2. APROP.
a. General.
Status:
Select a diagram early in a game from virtually
any chess book with games in it, where most of the
men are still on the board. Set up the board with this
p05ition. It is more convenient to use a source where
the entire score is given together, such as Robert
21 7
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
b. Combinations.
Status:
Obtain a set of problem combinations. Could be
Reinfeld's 1 00 1 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Com,
binations , or one of the nine diagram chess quizzes
near the beginning of each issue of Chess Life, or the
set of combinations near the end of each Informant.
Naturally, all of these combinations are not equally
difficult; so it would be wise to select a set that you
can handle, yet is not trivial for you. Do half a dozen.
Record the elapsed time for each, the accuracy, and
the source of the problem set. Years later, it's impor,
tant to remember whether the test was from the
"Reinfeld" book or the "Informant. " Set up a series of
tests for 20 years, so that you keep a "permanent
218
The Long ,Range Plan
reference."
Method:
Plan to do a certain number every week. When,
ever you take inordinately long to obtain the answer,
or if you solve the combination incorrectly, review
the solution and determine, as we did in the section
on Flash Card generation, if there is a missing or a
flawed Image , and if so, develop a Flash Card. You
should record the time you took and the quality or
accuracy of your answer. This performance serves as
the point of reference for the future.
Identify goals for one year.
Again, the goal for the year can simply be 40 or
50 times the goal for the week.
c. Platform analysis.
Status:
Use, in the back of an Informant, the set of
combinations problems. In each case, look up the
first two (or maybe just the first) ply of the answer.
Knowing these first two ply, solve the problem. The
idea is that you will start
....--
.. ------------------
Again, you must record the time you took and the
quality or accuracy of your answer. This performance
serves as the point of reference for the future.
Method and goals for one year:
Do a certain number each week, and plan to do a
certain number for the year.
219
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
3. Personality.
a. Objectivity.
Status:
Take several of your recent games, and, for the
position at the end of ten, 20, and 30 moves, assess
your position as = , ;!; , + , ± , + , + - , or - + . Then have
a master (or player much stronger than you) evaluate
all these positions "correctly." To the extent that
you overestimate (or underestimate ) your position,
on average, you are not being totally objective.
Method and goals for one year:
This issue needs to be addressed only rarely, at
most once a year.
b. Caution,recklessness.
Status:
Play over your last 20 games. Count the number
of sacrifices you made. Record whether it was at least
a pawn. Do not include pseudo,sacs, or sham sacs,
which are temporary sacrifices where you can actu,
ally calculate to a point where you get your material
back - and often more. ( By the way, it's excellent
that you have perpetrated sham sacs, and is a good
indication of APROP, but has nothing to do with
personality. ) Since a table describing the frequency
of sacrifices for each rating level is not available, the
recommendation is to review your "sacrifice . fre,
quency" with a stronger player.
Met1wd:
If you assess your caution/recklessness ratio to be
too cautious, you might set up a similar program as
for Time Pressure to force yourself to take some
additional risks. It could work along the following
lines. You assess each game as to whether you sacri,
220
The Long -Range Plan
c. Toughness.
221
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
d. Fitness.
Status:
You will develop a number for F, for fitness, by
evaluating the expression F=4-W-H-B-C-D-S,
where we'll now identify how to obtain values for W,
H, B, C, D, and S.
W is the ratio ( it should be one) of your actual
body weight divided by the ideal weight for your
height and sex. H is your resting heart rate ( in beats
per minute after sitting quietly for five minutes)
divided by 62. B is your diastolic blood pressure ( the
lower of the two blood pressure numbers) divided by
75. ( If you can't get your blood pressure conveniently,
just use 1 .0 for B in the equation. ) To get C , you
multiply the number of cigarettes you smoke, on
average, each day, by the amount of tar in one ciga ..
rette in mg. ( the number is always given in mg. of
tar) , and divide this answer by 750. D is the number
of drinks (or 1 2.-oz. bottles of beer) that you consume
each week, subtract three, and divide the result by
1 00. S is simply the lower of the two numbers C or D .
Ideally, the formula fo r F gives the answer " 1 ", if
W, H, and B are all 1 , and the rest, namely C , D , and
S , are all zero. In case you're curious, S is my code for
sin, and simply refers to the fact that smoking and
drinking combined reduces fitness and health more
than adding up the effects of each of the two factors
separately.
222
The Long ,Range Plan
5. Genetic Factors
223
AFTERWORD
' .
Rolf Wetzell
April 1994
APPENDIX I
I D EAS F O R
S C I E NTI F IC STUDY
226
The Long ,Range Plan
227
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
228
The Long ,Range Plan
229
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
230
The Long ,Range Plan
23 1
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
APPENDIX I I
232
Computer,Generated Move,Search Algorithm
233
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Ke5
61 . Kc7: e7, Kd5 , Kd4 , Ke4 , Kf4 , Kf5 , Kf6 .
. .
234
Computer--Generated Move--Search Algorithm
e7: 8-6=2;
KdS : 6-5 = 1 ;
Kd4 : 9-7=2;
Ke4 : 9-7=2;
Kf4: 9 - 7 = 2;
KfS : 8- 7 = 1 ;
Kf6: 8- 7 = 1 .
235
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
236
Computer,Generated Move,Search Algorithm
237
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
238
APPEN D IX I I I
S C ENARIO S LEAD I N G TO
F LAS H CARD S
A. Rote is NG.
I �ote - n. t;.
Play by rote is NG. 5 . d3 ? ?
I
Ng4 !
WTBM #l l
Figure 63
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
I � Ut.efJ, a �
White has just played 1 2 . Re l . He plans
1 3 . Bxe7 and 1 4 . Nc5 . Black played
1 2 Bd6 to stop this plan.
. . .
Alexander Alekhine p. 3 7
Figure 64
240
Scenarios Leading to Flash Cards
24 1
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Figure 65
D. Redeploy!
242
Scenarios Leading to Flash Cards
Alekhine-Maroczy
1 924 p. 154 May 85
Figure 66
E. Predefend.
243
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
1 �1 1
Alekhine: 22. Bf l . If 22 . . . Qcl , 23 .
Qb6 Ne4 24 . QdB t Kg7 25 . QxdS
Nd2 26 . Nb5 .
1 924: p. 1 54 Jun 85
Figure 67
244
Scenarios Leading to Flash Cards
Figure 68
In studying this option, I was visualizing the
position of Figure 68, assuming that Black might play
3 . . . Bxgl . In mentally analyzing this position, I only
looked at the continuation 4 . Rxg 1 , when 4 . . . Qh4 t
and 5 . . . Qxh2 would follow (note by Evans) .
245
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
White.
For the record, Larry Evans gave three options
for White's third move, namely fxeS , Nf3 , and Bc4 ,
with Nf3 as his recommended move in the position.
My concern was my incorrect evaluation of 3 .
Bc4 , my conclusion that the move is worse than it
really is. In contemplating my reasons for not seeing
l �:i l
3 1 . . . Nb5-tricky! With what idea? Botvin
nik: 3 1 . . bS-if 32 . Kd3 b4 33 . Na2 bxa3 .
.
Figure 69
246
Scenarios Leading to Flash Cards
R The Block.
247
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Figure 70
L Permute!
248
Scenarios Leading to Flash Cards
1 00 1 : #3 2 1 Jan 89
Figure 7 1
249
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Figure 72
250
Scenarios Leading to Fl.ash Cards
25 1
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Figure 73
I did not even think of the Rook sacrifice 1 . . .
Rxf2 - now White cannot take the Rook, because if
2 . Kxf2 , 2 . . . Rc2 t 3 . Kg3 ( if 3 . Ke 1 , then 3 . . . Qxg2 is
hopeless for White) Rxg2 t 4 . Kf4 ( if 4 . Kh4 it's mate
after 4 . . . Qe4t 5 . Qf4 g5 t 6 . KhS Qg6) Rf2 t 5 . Kg4
Qe4t 6 . Qf4 (any King move leads to mate in two)
Rg2 t , and after 7 . Kh4 we again reach the position
where Black mates as in the parenthesis after White's
252
Scenarios Leaaing to Flash Cards
fourth move.
So White must defend after 1 . . Rxf2 with 2 .
.
253
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
Figure 74
254
Scenarios Leading to Flash Cards
Figure 75
N. Transfer of forces.
255
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
39 ..• Qe8!
Figure 76
256
Scenarios Leading to Flash Cards
Figure 77
I calculated that if I started the pawn race with
1 . . . f5 , then White would play 2 . Kxc4 , followed by
3 . Kc5 , 4 . Kb6 , 5 . Kxb7, and 6 . a6 , which I thought
would be complicated, since I couldn't stop the a,
pawn without giving up my Queen for it, with the
outcome not clear,cut. I played 1 . Kf5 , figuring
••
257
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
258
Scenarios Leading to Flash Cards
Figure 78
I saw that White was threatening 1 6 . Qxf7t , and
what chessplayer in his right mind ever allows the
opponent to make a move like that when he can
prevent it? I chose 1 5 Be6 , defending f7 and devel ..
. . .
259
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
260
APPENDIX IV
262
Backup Calculations for the Model
Figure 79
D. Rating calculations for increasing play.
263
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
264
APPENDIX V
I hope these games will illuminate some of the ideas pre ...
sented in the book.
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
attack. It was absolutely crazy for Rfl £4 23. Qd2 Bf3 24. Rfel Qg5
me to play this way. On my 1 9th Black was starting to knock me
move, I could have simply played around the block over my reckless
1 9. e3 with the idea 20. Bfl , when 1 9th and 20th moves, until his 24th
White has consolidated and can move. Instead of his 24 . . . Qg5 , he
start thinking about exploiting his could have played 24 . . . fxg3 25. fxg3
winning two pawn advantage. Even Bc7 with the idea of 26. bxc5 Qxc5 t
after 19. Bd3 f5 , 20. e3 would have winning at least the Exchange, or
held down the fort. Black would 26. Qf2 Bb6 with excellent win,
run into granite ( P/e3 , P/g3 ) if he ning chances in an over the board,
tried .. .f4 ( 20 . . . f4 2 1 . exf4 Bxf4 22. relatively short time limit game. All
Qe4 forces the exchange of Queens) these games were controlled at 40
and White's Queen was safe , or if moves in an hour.
20 . . . c5 2 1 . bxc5 Bxc5 22. Qe5 Qb7 25. e5 Qh5 26. exd6 Qh3 2 7. Bfl
23 . Bfl when White retains a win, and 1 -0.
n ing advantage . Adm i t t e d l y ,
Black's chances are much better af Game 3
ter 1 9. Bd3 than 1 9 . e3, but the John Loyte-Wetzell
point here is that I had two oppor, September 1 993
Illustrative Games
Qb5 Ra8 16. Rh4 Re6 1 7. Qd3 Qe7 Qe2 25. Qbl Nd3 26. b4
18. Rel Re8 19. Rxe6 Qxe6 20. Kgl
Ne4 2 1 . Nfl c5
26 . . . axb4
26 . . . axb4 ? allows White to com,
22. Ne3 plicate the game. I have a Flash
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
for Black, taking into account the where a different move is intro
lack of knowledge with this specific duced through the seventh move
continuation, was to play the for ( instead of through the e ighth
give and forget variation, namely move) . This cuts down the number
4 ... Nc6, expecting White to play 5 . of variations drastically, which I'm
c3 transposing to familiar lines, and sure you can master.
then, after the game, study the lines 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. 0-0 g6 7. a3
arising from 4. Nf3 cxd4 in order to Qc7 8. Re l Bg7 9. Bf4 Nge7 1 0.
avoid surprises in the future. Nhd2 0-0 1 1 . Bg3 Nf5
1 1 ... NfS ? is a serious mistake,
4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. 0-0 allowing White to damage Black's
g6 ? It turns out that this move is not pawn structure, and easily recapture
in keeping with the position, and, if his cl-pawn. I was already unhappy
it's any consolation, I became aware with my position, and anxious about
of that within the next few moves what I thought were powerful
in the game. So a Flash Card with White Bishops, expecting an attack
the mantra: � eUJ4t HUWe4-I ad imminently. Black should simply
vising, of course, to know at least play 1 1 ... Bd7 , when White still has
eight moves of any opening you may the not so simple task of recaptur
encounter. FC5 . I will make it a ing the pawn on d4 . For example,
point to be prepared to that extent 1 2. Nb3 Qb6, and should White
for all the lines I play for our club withdraw his light squared Bishop
championship next month. After along the f1 -a6 diagonal in order to
all, there aren't that many trees or attack d4 for the third time, Black
variations to learn, if one only has then has ...NfS and ...Nxg3. A Flash
to be familiar with the first eight Card is called for. The mantra: ��
moves of each. To give some cre dad M#t- (,t k- � � � 4.
dence to this statement, let's agree fwto/teetiQe.. FC6.
there aren't that many lines for the 1 2. Bxf5 gxf5 1 3 . Nb3 Bd7 14.
first five moves, remembering al Nbxd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Rac8
ways that only the opponent's 1 5 . . . Rac8 ? Playing without a
choices of moves create different plan. I was already not playing and
variations. At any point in an open thinking actively, disappointed in
ing when it is our move, we choose having allowed myself to get into a
the move that suits us best, not two messy position on my sixth move
or three. We must, of course, take 6 . . . g6. After the game, and looking
into account all reasonable moves at this position with Black to play
for our opponent at moves six, his 1 5th move, I saw very quickly
seven and eight, but this should that White has several related,
leave a manageable total number of simple winning plans. For example,
variations (two to three hundred). Bf4-Qh5 -Re3 -Rh3 -Qxh 7; or Bf4-
If this number of lines seems stag Qf3-Qg3 -Bh6 threatening mate; or
geringly high to you, take only those Bf4-Qf3 -Qg3-Bg5 -Bf6 threatening
Illustrative Games
surely in less than ten seconds. Rd7 34. f3 gxf3t 35. Kxf3 Rd3t
36. Kf4 Rdl 37. Rf2 Ke6 38. Ke3
A Flash Card is in order. The Rg l 39. KB Re l 40. Rd2 Re l 4 1 .
mantra: s� � fPUde: � Ke3 Rc4 42. Rf2 a5 43. Rh2 b5
aitWt � d.e � µea �. 44. Kd3 a4 45. Rh6t f6 46. g4 a3
FCl l. 47. b3 Rd4t 48. Ke3 b4 49. Rh5
1 8 . . . Rad8 1 9. Qb3 Qh5 20. Kd6 50. Rh6
Rxd8 50. Rh6 ? Overlooking that 50.
20. Rxd8 ? I was planning Qxb7, Rf5 wins a pawn, when Wh ite
but playing it immediately would might have some winning chances.
lose to 20 . . . Rxd l t. So, I thought, I So how did I overlook such a simple
simply need to exchange a pair of move ? I had been working so hard
Rooks to break up the combination. to obtain a draw, that mentally I
After Black recaptured with 20 . . . was predisposed to the idea that the
Rxd8, I realized that 2 1 . Qxb 7 Rd 1 t best I could do is draw . But that, of
22. Bfl h6, and although it was course, is incorrect-players make
White's move, it looked like there mistakes that tum the game around.
were too many strong continuations A Flash Card, with the mantra: iee
for Black. And so I refrained from ef44&U · d.e «!t#/tVuuu. � �
2 1 . Qxb 7. Allan told me after the 1HOUe l FC 14.
game that he had an immediate win l/z-1/1
( after 2 1 . Qxb7 ) with 2 1 .. . Qdl t
22.Bfl Qxcl . So there were two Game 7
things wrong. I missed the Queen Brad Ryan-Wetzell
sac; without the Queen sac (let's August 1993
assume neither player saw the possi, 1 .c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5
bili ty 2 1 . . . Qd 1 t) I saw ghosts, Nxd5 4. Nf3 c5 5. d4 Nc6 6. e3 g6
when, in fact, I could have played 6 . . . g6 ? Here I missed giving
2 1 . Qxb7 ( . . . Rdl t 22. Bfl h6 23 . White an isolated pawn. 6 . . . cxd4
Rxdl Qxd l 24. Qa6 ) . 7 . exd4 ( 7 . Nxd5 Qxd5 8. Nxd4
Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Qxd4) and White
Two Flash Cards are i n order. has an isolani, with Black having a
One with the mantra: � comfortable game ; or 7 . Nxd4
14#. 't �.. d.e � e4ll- k Nxc3, when White gets an isolated
�I. and the other with the c,pawn. Now 6 ... cxd4 is not neces,
mantra: z:>"* 'e 9d '""" � ol tfutHe.: sarily such a great move, since
� to a. � �. FC 1 2 White's dark squared Bishop is freed
and FC 13. after 7. exd4, but my point is that I
20 Rxd8 21. Qc2 Qf3 22. Bfl
•.. never explored this variation. I me,
Bxfl 23. Rxfl g5 24. Re l b6 25. e4 chanically played ... g6, steering into
c5 26. Qe2 Qxe2 2 7. Rxe2 g4 28. a sort of Gruenfeld defense. The
Kg2 Rd3 29. h3 h5 30. hxg4 hxg4 lesson ? FC5 , recently developed,
3 1 . Rc2 Kg7 32. Kfl Kf6 33. Ke2 had the mantra: Know the first
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
advises me to learn, and know, the Ral ,Ra7, when White has doubled
first eight moves of any opening I on the seventh. As it turns out, this
might encounter ! Also, a Flash is not as ominous for Black as Wild
Card in existence before this book Pigs usually are, because of White's
has the mantra: You may think in poor King position.
the opening! I'll pay more heed to
these two Flash Cards and will con, So what is the problem? I should
sider that my correction, my reme, have simply attacked White's c,
dial plan. pawn again with 3 1 ... Rc8, when
7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb5 e6 9. Ne5 Bd7 32. Rb7 t Kf6 just wins the pawn
10. Nxc6 Bxc6 1 1 . Bxc6 bxc6 (33. Rdl R8xc6 34. Rdd7 Bh6 and
Black stays a pawn ahead) . So a
Flash Card, with the mantra: 'ieede
""· I: 'Pae up, 0# de �· FC 1 5 .
32. Rb7t Kf6 3 3 . Rxh7 Rxc6 34.
Rb7 Rc2 35. Rb3 Ra8 36. Rd3 Raa2
3 7. g3 g5 38. Rb3 Bc7 39. Rb5 f4 40.
gxf4 gxf4 4 1 . exf4 Bxf4 42. Kh l e5
43. Rb7 Kg5 44. Rb3 Kh4 45. Rb4
Kg5 46. Rb3 Rf2 4 7. Rb4 Kf5 48.
Rb3 Bxh2 49. Nxh2 Rxh2t 50. Kgl
Rhg2t 5 1. Khl e4 52. R3e3 Rg4 53.
Rh3 R2g2 54. Rfl t Ke5 55. Re l
12. 0-0 R2g3 56. Rxg3,.Rxg3 5 7. Kh2 Rg6
The result of my poor opening 58. Rgl Rxgl 59. Kxgl Kd4 60. Kf2
play. White could have played 1 2. Kd3 0- 1.
dxc5 , leaving me with an isolated c,
pawn and a nice target for attack. Game s
12 . . . cxd4 13. exd4 Bg7 14. Ne2 Wetzell-Larry Charpentier
0-0 1 5 . Rb l Qd5 16. b3 Rfd8 1 7. July 1 993
Be3 Qa5 18. Qc2 Nd5 1 9. a4 Rac8 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 e5
20. Qc5 Qxc5 2 1 . dxc5 Nxe3 22. 4. Nf3 d6 5. Bg2 g6 6. 0-0 Bg7 7.
fxe3 Rd2 23. Rfel Rcd8 24. Ng3 f5 a3 0-0 8. d3 Be6
25. b4 a6 26. Nfl R2d3 27. b5 axb5
28. axb5 cxb5 29. Rxb5 Rc3 30. Rb6
Kf7 3 1 . c6 Be5
3 1 . . . Be5 ? Wrong plan! I rea,
soned that I may as well start by
fixing White's c,pawn, then attack
it. But the problem is that this
tempo allows White to win the h,
pawn as in the game. After 3 2 .
Illustrative Games
3 1 . Rldl Rd8 32. Bxe5 fxe5 33. grammed not to exchange pieces in
Nxc5 R8a8 34. Ne4 Ra3 35. Qb l the center in the opening, since
Qc7 36. Nxd6 Ne7 37. R5d3 Qa5 u s u a l ly t h a t s t re n g t h e ns the
38. Nxb7 Qc7 39. Rxa3 Rxa3 40. c5 opponent's position. But, of course,
Bf5 4 1 . Qb4 and White won in a there are exceptions. A Flash Card,
few more moves. FC 1 7, is in order. The mantra: (3,o,,,
� µea e:rda1e9u u,, tk �·
Game 9 Implied is: always consider piece
Frank Deming-Wetzell exchanges in the opening. We'll
July 1993 leave the always off in order not to
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. clutter up the Flash Card, and keep
e5 Nfd7 5. £4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. the mantra simple. Most people
Be3 Qb6 8. Na4 Qa5t 9. c3 cxd4 don't have this programmed aver,
10. b4 Qc7 1 1 . Nxd4 sion to exchanges in the opening
it' s probably more a personal issue
with me.
1 2. Be2 b5 13. Nb2 Be7 14. 0-0
0-0 1 5 . a4 Nxd4 1 6. Bxd4 Rb8 1 7.
Qd2 £6 18. axb5 fxe5 19. fxe5 axb5
20. Rxf8t Nxf8 2 1 . Nd3 Bd7 22.
Nf4 Be8 23. Ra6 Qc8 24. Qa2 Bxb4
25. Nxd.5 exd.5
2 5 . . . exd5 ? Carelessly played,
giving up the Bishop pair to White,
as well as ceding White the more
dangerous passed pawn (I believe
1 1 . . . a6 White's e ,pawn would become
1 1 . . . a6 ? A fairly simple move to more dangerous than Black's d,
find is 1 1 . . . Nxd4, j ust from general pawn). I know I didn't think about
princ i p l e s . Black is crampe d , this move very long, yet wound up
White's N/d4 is better than Black's giving a permanent advantage to
N/c6, and what's more, after 1 1 . . . my opponent. 25 . . . Bc5 ! 26. Nb4 ( if
Nxd4 1 2. Bxd4 ( if 1 2. Qxd4 Be7 , 26. Ne3 b4 2 7 . Qa5 Bxd4 ) Bxd4t
. . 0-0, .. .f6, . . . fxe5 destroys White's
.
27. cxd4 Qc l t 28. Bfl Qe3t 29.
center), the B/d4 is hemmed in and Qf2 Qxf2 and Black is much better
nowhere the dynamic piece that the than in the game.
N/d4 would have been.
My conclusion is that I was just
So why didn't I see this ? After careless. I didn't stop at a quiet po,
thinking about it for a while ( all sition and assess whose game is su,
these observations under discussion perior. A Flash Card is called for.
were made well after each game was The mantra: ?to- Mfrete��"e4.4_44-_
over), I realized that I'm prepro, 4e44- tk � � �· FC 1 8.
Illustrative Games
26. cxb4 Qc l t 2 7. Bfl Bf7 28. Bh5 . If, instead of the pawn move,
Ra7 Qf4 29. Qa l Ne6 30. Ra8 Rf8 White continues his development
3 1 . Rxf8t Kxf8 32. Bf2 d4 33. Bxb5 with Qc2,Be3 , Black cannot go
Qxe5 34. Qa8t Ke7 35. Qb7t Qc7 willy nilly into the simple break
35 . . . Qc7 ? loses to a Bishop com, .. .f5 , for example: 10. Qc2 Nd7 1 1 .
bination, as played by my opponent, Ne 1 and 1 1 . .. f5 ? would be answered
where 35 . . . Kf6 keeps Black in the by f3 ,hJ ,g4, when Black must lose
game. Yes, I feel I should have been material. Furthermore, 1 0. h3 weak,
able to see this coming, but was ens the King position, which I was
there anything special about this aware of.
position, contributing to my not
seeing it? After thinking about it, I So what was the problem? As I
conclude that there is. All of us explained above, I played 1 0. h3
have been exposed to the fearsome too automatically. A Flash Card is
power of two raking Bishops. Per, in order, with the mantra: 'P�
haps an unstated corollary is im, th- � a a. euea,eltU«) �
plied, that cross,raking Bishops-as � eU4luate �I Here put,
ings , that f4 is the correct response FC23, with the mantra: 2?e ""4IUf o/
to .. JS in the King's Indian Defense. � � �. Now I realize
However, having played h3 , my that most pawn moves are un,
pawn structure on the King side is forced-I . e4, 1 . d4 and 1 . c4 im,
too loose. The resulting pawn ex, mediately come to mind, but I will
changes in the center favor Black not misinterpret this Flash Card to
markedly, with his excellent minor block those kinds of moves.
piece position. I should have played
more cautiously here, developing Considering the lessons from this
slowly on the Queen side with Rbl , game, unforced pawn moves, or,
b4,N a4,c5 , or even 1 3 . f3 . If Black more accurately stated, making un,
advances .. .f4, then g4 and f3 . desirable unforced pawn moves
looks like it just achieved grand
So what's the remedial action? I theme status.
already have a Flash Card, devel, 15 Nxf5 16. Qd2 Qf6 1 7. Kh2
.••
oped earlier, Figure 30, with the Qd4 1 8. Qxd4 Bxd4 1 9. Ne4 Ne3
mantra: Distrust a pawn move , exam, 20. Bxe3 Bxe3 2 1 . Nxc5 Bxc5 22.
ine carefully its balance sheet. We'll Rael Rxfl 23. Bxfl
put a star on it for extra emphasis. 23. Bxfl ?? allows Black to pen,
Here again, with my preponderance etrate the seventh rank, as well as
for weakening pawn moves, this win at least one pawn, without hav,
motif is getting close to becoming a ing to allow White a useful inva,
grand theme. sion of the seventh. Black simply
13 exf4 14. Bxf4 Nc5 15. exf5
•.• plays 23 . . . Rf8, when White can't
1 5 . exfS ? Running scared, mak, stop ... Rf2. White can't move his
ing yet another unfarced pawn Rook from the first rank, since that
move . I like that description, one would leave the Bishop loose, so
that's unique and easy to grasp, un, after 24. Bg2, Black invades with
doubtedly entering my mind from 24 . . . Rf2 . White's 25 . Re7 would be
unforced errors in tennis . I was useless, since Black j ust defends
afraid of ... Bxc3 , taking away a de, with 25 ... Bb6 followed by mopping
fender of the P/e4, as well as damag, up White's Queenside pawns.
ing my pawn structure further. So I
played 1 5 . exfS , aware of the result, What was I thinking about ? Af,
ing s p l e n d i d p o s i t i on of my ter 22 . . . Rxfl , I reasoned that I
opponent's minor pieces. If I had needed my Rook on the e,file for a
thought a little further, I should quick invasion of the seventh rank.
have seen that 1 5 . Qc2 is OK, when So, 23 . Bxfl . I never considered
Black can't capture the e,pawn with what Black would do after my re,
15 . . . Bxc3 1 6 . Qxc3 fxe4 ? because capture. You'd think that after all
1 7. Bh6 is strong for White. the games of chess I've played, I'd
remember that we take turns in this
So, a new Flash Card is in order, game. In the note to the 1 5 th move
Illustrative Games
Game 1 1
George Mirijanian-Wetzell
June 1 993
29. h4 1 .e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3
29. h4 ? Another bad move lead, Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3
ing to the loss of a second pawn.
29 . . . Bf2 forces 30. h5 (30. Kh3
Bxh4 ! ) , when all of Black's pawns
become weak. In considering my
29th move, Black's response and the
forced advance of the h,pawn are
not beyond my ability to foresee. So
what happened? I was playing by
general principles, concerned, and
probably rightly so, that my King
was hemmed in, with threats like
. . . Rb l ,Be5 t in the air, when I'd
have to lose the Exchange. But I 6 • • . Bd7
Chess Master . . . At Any Age
6 . .. Bd7 ? Allowing White to play super Flash Card, because the theme
7. dxc5 followed, after 0-0, by b4, has been come up more than once.
gaining space. Since I was playing Since part of the Flash Card mas,
by general principles here, not see, ter plan is to review the entire stack
ing that the position reached after at least once every two months, we
9. b4 favors White considerably is can make a mental note to be on
understandable. The problem is, the lookout for this particular one,
however, that many players, even so that, as we encounter it in re,
well below the master level, know view, we can take a minute to put a
the refutation to many poor moves star on it.
in the opening. This gives those 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. 0-0 f6 9. b4 Be7
players a huge edge when playing a 1 0. Be3 Qc7 1 1 . b5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5
person of similar ability who is play, Qxe5 13. Rel Qc7 14. Qh5t Kf8 15.
ing by general principles. I there, a4 f5
fore think it's necessary to know at 1 5 ... f5 . A seriously weakening
least playable lines in the opening, pawn move, creating potential weak
for any openmg that one might en, squares in Black's camp. I felt that
counter, for a certain number of ... f5,Nf6 was a good tempo gaining
moves-and for some of the sharp sequence attacking the w h i te
lines, even more. Now the number Queen, but the long range, posi,
of moves one needs to know to get tionally debilitating feature of this
out of the opening alive and rea, pawn move far outweighed the
s onably well depends on various short term gain. But my real prob,
factors, af\d _ particularly, rating lem was a certain impatience .
Strength. I believe that at the Ex, Again, slightly longer over the
pert level, one should know all lines board thinking should have re,
that one may encounter through vealed that I could play ... Bd6,Ne7,
eight moves anyway, and consider, and slowly think about . . . e5 , which,
ably more in the sharper lines, such when finally implemented, would
as the Marshall attack against the result in a very strong position for
Ruy ( 1 . e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 Black. In short, I was in a rush. A
4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re l b5 7 . Flash Card is in order, with the
Bb3 0 - 0 8. c 3 d 5 9. exd5 Nxd5 1 0. mantra: 1fltd em.ei "'4te1Ut:d, e,o.,e
Nxe5 Nxe5 1 1 . Rxe5 c6) , assuming, utidate /14�1 FC26.
of course, that one is playing the 16. Bd4 Nf6 1 7. Qe2
Ruy with White.
In this game I played a wrong
sixth move ! It's time to dust off
FC5 , with the mantra: Know at least
eight moves of any opening you may
encounter! Let's put a star on that
Flash Card, to remind me, when
reviewing it, that it has become a
Illustrative Games
1 7 g6
. . • 20 h6
. . .
take in logic? Time to further dust followed by 30. Bf8t and 3 1 . Rxd7,
off our by now well known Flash but 28 . . . Kg8 29. Qe3 again forking
Card of Figure 30 with the mantra: Bishop and h,pawn would win for
Distrust a pawn move ; examine White, and 28 . . . Kh7 29. Qe3 Bb4
carefully its balance sheet. This one 30. Bf8 and it's curtains for Black.
is a Super Flash Card already. I may
have to think about a second star, a I should have played 25 . . . b6,
bigger Flash Card, a different color when the outcome of the game is
Flash Card, or something. For now, not at all clear.
we'll stick with the simple, unvar,
nished, Super Flash Card. So what went wrong? Was my
APROP good enough to project the
How about my second mistake analysis above ? I would say j ust
in logic? I knew I was a pawn up, about. Although not easy, I should
but only subconsciously. I felt that have examined 25 . . . Ne4 and seen
losing the e,pawn was curtains. A it lead to ruin, then look for an,
Flash Card is called for, FC2 7, with other defense, and find the addi,
the mantra: � � ema. tional attack on the pinned piece
�I This idea, this motif, now (here P/c5 ) .
that I think of it, has never been at
the forefront of my conscious think, But more important is a failure
ing. It probably goes along with in resolve, which can happen in dif,
some of the other faulty chess ideas ficult positions. I reasoned this way:
I have, discussed earlier in the book, after all these moves with pressure
which I'm working to root out, such on my P/e6, I can finally alleviate it
as overvaluing a Bishop vs a Knight, with ... Ne4, and if White captures
overvaluing a structural or material the Knight, he'll be staring at some
advantage vs a dynamic advantage, strong pawns in the center. During
and attacking with the piece of least my considerations for the 2 5 th
value. move, I did not look at any alter,
21. Rael Ba3 22. Rc2 Re8 23. c4 nates to the Knight move 25 . . .
Qd8 24. c5 Rc8 25. Bd6 Ne4 Ne4, nor did I look seriously at the
25 . . . Ne4 ? White can now win continuations following 26. Bxe4.
quickly. 26. Bxe4 fxe4 2 7 . NeSt A Flash Card is called for, with the
Kg7 28. Qe3 Bb4 29. Qf4 and Black mantra: Z)04e 't k �tiated
cannot avert serious material loss. � 4. � a. �I FC28.
In the game, I played 26 . . . dxe4 26. Bxe4 dxe4 2 7. Ne5t Kg7 28.
losing even more quickly to 2 7 . Rdl and 1 -0.
NeSt Kg7 ( if 2 7 . . . Kg8 2 8 . Qe3
forks the dark,squared Bishop and Game 1 2
the h,pawn, which is hopeless for Nasser Abbasi-Wetzell
Black) 28. Rdl when I resigned. June 1 993
White was threatening 29. Nxd7 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4.
Illustrative Games
alternately j ust strengthened that least I would have had the two Bish,
one, by using a star on it, and not ops. Now, after 2 1 . . . Bxb2, 22 . . .
created this new Flash Card. Either Qxe3 t and 2 3 . . . Qxd3 , I would have
way is OK. been hopelessly behind in material,
12 . . . £6 13. e3 Nxf3 14. Bxf3 Rb8 so I resigned. But what else contrib,
1 5 . Qc2 f5 16. Bg2 Bd6 1 7. f4 Qe7 uted to my bad 2 1 st move ? I think
18. fxe5 Bxe5 1 9. Na4 two things. Firstly, I didn't want to
1 9 . Na4 ? loses the Exchange. As lose a whole Rook, so moving it
in the game, 19 . . . Nxa4 20. Qxa4 where it will be protected comes to
Ba2 attacks my Queen Rook, and mind. But I could have descreened
there is no escaping Black's raking the Rook, by playing 2 1 . Bd2. Of
Bishops. The attack on my Rook course, I also could have played 2 1 .
follows only three ply beyond my Qc2. Secondly, apparently I missed
1 9th move. I should have been able that Grand Theme on discovered
to see it. My Analysis Horizon is far mobility, namely that Black's dark
enough to be able to see it. So why squared Bishop screens, momen,
didn't I ? The key reason, I believe, tarily, the move . . . Qxe3 t. We'll
stems from a chronic problem I have generate a new Flash Card, FC35 ,
of not paying attention to the po, w ith the mantra: 7o. fz-"-t>tea,
tential fie ld of control of the etu�I M issing the discovered
pieces-both mine and my oppo, mobility is unfortunate, but I do
nent's. I didn't project the control have Flash Cards on it. Maybe I
of al and b2 by Black's dark squared should consider a second star for
Bishop in my general thinking, even greater emphasis.
leaving me with a false sense of se, 2 1 . Bxb2 22. 0- 1 .
••
ing the danger to my pawn would after 28 . . . Nxe4 29. Bxe4 Black
have been no greater. I've noticed could attack my Queen with . . . NeS ,
that a P/c4 when White employs but felt I could move the Queen
the English, or the P/f7 when Black while maintaining protection of my
is playing the French and has Bishop at e4. I didn't realize until
castled Q side, may ripen quickly as after Black played 29 ... Ne5 that I
its owner can't defend it against an couldn't maintain the protection of
attack from a Knight. So my tenth my B/e4 with 30. Qd4 because I
and eleventh moves really were would lose the Exchange after 30 . . .
Should,a, Beens. Bf6 3 1 . Qdl Ng4.
I could discover check with the move. Normally, a fork in two can
Bishop. But the threat is vague and be parried because one attacked
somewhat simpleminded. Secondly, piece can be moved on the move,
I didn't recognize the concept of and the other on the following
envelopment in this position. I am move if the maneuver is carried out.
probably abusing the term envelop, Let's rethink that Flash Card, FCl ,
ment for this maneuver, so let's coin with the objective of combining
a different term-forced K ing these two similar but not identical
march. In the third place, I never themes, and somehow increase the
considered a second candidate, an, impact of this Card. We'll place a
other choice for my 46th move. star on the new one, and then dis,
card FCl .
A new Flash Card, FC4 2,. is in The common thread between
order, with the mantra: *;Olt«d � both situations above is that there
llUllld. u � "'""eew-�. To rem, e x isted two p iec e s u l timately
edy my not looking for a second forkable. It's easy to visualize the
candidate, we'll place a star on arrangement of two pieces ulti,
FC20, with the same message. mately forkable, since it's the same
46 . . . Kg6 4 7. Rd6 Rxd6 48. Bxd6 arrangement as two pieces about to
Kf5 49. Be5 b5 50. b3 b4 5 1 . axb4 be forked.
Nxb4 52. Bd6 Nc6 53. Ke3
53. Ke3 ? Walking into a poten, FC43, with a star, to replace
tial fork, thus losing a pawn. Here, I FCl , will have a mantra: B� de
fell prey to some simplistic reason, ultu1tatet, � �I
ing. My P/b3 was safe, I thought, 53 .••Na5 54. Bc5 Nxb3 55.
since, if attacked, could always be Bb4 Ke6 56. Ke4 Nc l 5 7. f5 t Kf7
advanced to a dark square covered 58. Bc5 Nb3 59. Be3 Na5 60. Kf4
by my Bishop. However, after 53 ... Nc4 6 1 . Bd4 Nd2 62. Be5 Nc4
Na5 , I had to give up the pawn or 63. Bc3 Nd6 64. h4 Kg8 65. £6
lose my Bishop to a fork. Nf7 66. Kf5 Kh7 67. Bb2 Kh6 68.
Ba3 Kh7 69. Ke6
FCl shows a strikingly similar 69. Ke6 ? allows ... Kg6, drawing.
theme as that used to exploit this I could have played 69. Bb4 Kh6
position. In FC l , we had a free 70. Bd2t Kh7 7 1 . Be l and now, if
Knight move (the check) followed 7 1 . . . Nd6t White wins with 7 2 .
by a fork. After 53. Ke3 in this Ke6, while on other Black moves
game, we had a free Knight move White will be able to win with ei,
(attacking the pawn which must ther 72. Kg5 or Kg6.
move to escape capture) , followed,
if the pawn is not given up, by a Now, what went wrong? For one
fork. Both scenarios lead to a fork thing, I simply didn't know the se,
in two. In both cases we can think vere limitation of a single Bishop in
of the first Knight move as a decoy these kinds of endings. Like every,
Illustrative Games
good idea, and kept my backward d Rxc4 Rd3 28. Ra4 a6 29. Kfl Rc8
pawn. The same admonition pre 30. Rb4 Rxc5 3 1 . Rxb7 Rxa3 3 2.
vails as that of the previous Flash R l b l Ra2 33. Ra7 Rc8 34. Ke l
Card. I will put a star on that Card, Rd8 1/2 - 1h.
to elevate it in importance.
19 . . . Be6 20. Qc3t Kg8 2 1 . b4 When I first reached the master
Rad8 22. Rfdl Bd7 23. Bfl Be6 24. rating, it was similar to a runner
bxc5 Qb3 25. Bc4 having a hot day and making a per
25. Bc4 ? Here I was guilty for the sonal record which will take a while
third time in a row of curtailing my to digest or consolidate, before the
thinking. I was a pawn up, so why next better record can be set. I
not head for the endgame ? The crossed the line, got the master
simple 25 . Qxb3 would be terrible "sheepskin" from the USCF, but
since the R/dl would have to move knew I wasn't a solid master yet,
after Black recaptures with the able to play steadily at master
Illustrative Games
strength.
Since that first debut as master,
using the study techniques I develop
in this book within a meager regi,
men of about three hours a week,
along with one weekly serious forty
moves per hour game, I have been
unable to maintain (for any ex,
tended number of games) a playing
strength at master level. But my
very recent development of Appen,
dix V-and here I urge you to read
the introduction to that appen,
dix-has given me great confidence
about my intermediate term goal
(next several years) of achieving a
solid, steady playing strength at
master level with a seven hour a
week study program.
APPENDIX VI
F ROM TH E E D ITO KS F I LE
I liked what I read in Mr. Wetzell's book. As the publisher at Thinkers' Press
it is important for me to understand what is in a manuscript; it makes
marketing a lot easier! I decided to apply it to some recent games. He's
correct, it is much more valuable applying these techniques to games I've lost.
The losses have been exasperating but instructive. I let my guard down
at "crucial moments" like I've done before.
I hope to give you some insight about one of my games, using the Rolf
Wetzell method, and title my own flash cards. As I accumulate these cards,
I will review them, as suggested. One master I know reviews mating patterns
and other odds and ends before each significant tournament he plays in, from
a notebook. Using the cards would make it a lot easier.
1 9. c4 dxc4 attadl"
20. Bxc4 Bg6! 23. Bxe4
2 1 . Ne4 Qf4? ! 24. Rxe4 Qd6
White has voluntarily blocked 25. Qe2 Nd7
the e,file and I make a move that 26. Bf7 Nc5
contributes nothing towards that 27. Re3 Rhf8
idea. Of course I was concerned 28. Bxe8 Kxe8?
about the giant cholesterol block, 29. Rxe7t 1-0
age which is showing up in the It's not my intention to monopo,
"square" e6,c6,c8,e8. It turns out lize Rolfs book, but I did want to
that 2 1 . . . Qd7 ! is probably much show you how it works for me. Rolf
more effective. went along with including a game
22. Be6t Kd8 too. Now let's see if I can use these
23. d5 ideas to pump up my playing perfor,
mances. Good luck to you to Dear
Reader.
Bob Long
Senior Editor
PS: Does the method work? I believe
it does . I looked at this game very
critically. Two months later my Ex,
pert opponent repeated and I played
10 . . . Kb8. After 1 1 . Bb5 a6 1 2. Bd3
h6 he played 1 3 . b4, launching a Q,
Knowing I need a Flash Card is
side attack which died after 13 . . .
clear; naming it isn't always. It's
Nxd4 ! Systems can work!
APPENDIX VI I
G LO S SARY
COLOP HON
Typeset i n Adobe's Trajan Bold and Goudy Oldstyle . Diagrams done
in C . R . Horowitz ( symbols copyrights 1992 by Thinkers' Press ) and
Wetzell . Chess ( symbols copyrighted 1994 by Rolf Wetzell) . Word
processed in MacWrite® and MS-Word 5 . 1® and PageMaker
5 .0a®.
BIOGRAPHICAL
The Journal of a Chess Master: Ste This book contains many items miss
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An amazing collection of annotated seven annotated games (3 by Kortchnoi,
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lettres style that William Shakespeare Kortchnoi's notes are a motherlode of
would have loved. information on such topics as pushing
Several times finalist in national cor passed pawns.
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1 d4 dS 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 cS 4 ???
2. Richter-Veresov: A New Idea for
White. 1 d4 dS 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 BgS Nbd7 4 Nf3
g6 5 ???
3. Nimzo-lndian Defense: A Gambit Sys
tem for Black. 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4
Qc2 0-0 S a3 Bc3 6 Qc3 ???
4. Old Catalan : A New Idea for Black. 1
d4 dS 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 g3 ???
5. Catalan: A Surprise Weapon for
Black. 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 ???
6. Colle System : A New Idea for Black.
1 d4 dS 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 cS 4 c3 ???
7. French Advance: An Interesting Idea
for White. 1 e4 e6 2 d4 dS 3 es cs 4 c3 Nc6
S Nf3 Qb6 6 Be2 cd 7 cd Nh6 8 Nc3 NfS 9 ???
? Includes 6 games.
Issue Three: Lasker vs. the Devil , 8. Symmetrical English: A Gambit for
New York 1 893, Frank Marshall, Chess White. 1 c4 cs 2 ???
9. French Defense Burn Variation: A
and Strategy, Lasker's Forgotten Games,
Gambit Idea for White. 1 e4 e6 2 d4 dS 3 Nc3
and "old" Lasker in the USSR. 48 pp.
Nf6 4 BgS de 5 ???
EN598958 $1 5.00 1 0. Sicilian Defense Moscow Variation:
Issue Four: Doomsday Encounter, An Unusual Resource for Black. 1 e4 cs 2
Khrulev on Lasker, Marshall and Lasker Nf3 d6 3 BbS Nc6 4 d4 cd s Qd4 Qa5 6 Nc3
'.
C a m b ri d g e S p r i n g s , 1 8 9 4 M atch QbS 7 NbS ???
Lasker's Visit to Spain, Chess Nerves, 1 1 . Ruy Lopez Classical Defense: A
and the Annotated Lasker. 56 pp. Gambit Idea for White. 1 e4 es 2 Nf3 Nc6 3
EN59859 $1 5.00 Bb5 Bes 4 ???
The Lasker Poster: A beautiful , full 1 2. Caro-Kann, Panov-BotvinnikAttack:
A Blow to the Gunderam Attack. 1 e4 c6 2
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d4 dS 3 ed cd 4 c4 Nf6 S cs es 6 Nc3 ed 7 Qd4
designed by Bob O'Hare for Lasker & His
???
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1 3. Reti System: An Unusual Idea for
black. Price includes shipping. $1 2.95. White. 1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 d4 3 ???
1 4. Caro-Kann Advance Variation: A
New Resource for Black. 1 e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3
CHESS HAMMERS es ???
1 5. Center-Counter Defense, "Modern"
Variation: A New Resource for Black. 1 e4
Originally published a s "Chess Analysis
dS 2 ed Nf6 3 c4 ???
Reports." Use these just like a jackhammer to
1 6. French Tarrasch, Guimard Varia
you r opponent's game.
tion : An Underestimated Resource for
This is winning chess, ideas that you won't
Black. 1 e4 e6 2 d4 dS 3 Nd2 Nc6 4 Ngf3 Nf6
find in the regular opening books. And, if you
s es Nd? 6 Nb3 Be? 7 BbS ???
look close enough, you will find lines that
1 7. The English Defense: Black Fights
probably refute current thinking-no kidding!
Back! 1 d4 e6 2 c4 b6 3 a3 ???
There are 32 of these (with 4 more coming
1 8. Reti vs. Dutch: An Old Gambit
soon!) and you can get them all at special
Springs to Life. 1 Nf3 fS 2 e4 fe 3 ???
prices, see at the end. These typeset idea
1 9. QGA: A "Beginner's Move" for
starters run from 3 to S pages. Contributions
Black. 1 d4 dS 2 c4 de 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 e3 ???
by Masters Tom Tucker, Allan Savage, Tim
20. Center-Counter with Colors Re
Sawyer, and your editor, Bob Long.
versed: A Surprise for White. 1 e4 es 2 d4
ed 3 Qd4 Nc6 4 ???
1. Colle System: A New Idea for White.
21 . The Old Indian Defense: Pseudo
Saemisch System for White. 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4
d6 3 Nc3 e5 4 d5 Nbd7 5 ???
22. Trompowski's Attack: Black's Criti
cal Answer. 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 Bf4 c5 4 f3
Qa5 s c3 Nf6 6 d5 ???
23. The Larsen-Nimzovich 1 b3: White's
Punishment. 1 b3 e5 2 Bb2 Nc6 3 c4 ???
24. The Bishop's Opening: An Unusual
Defense for Black. 1 e4 es 2 Bc4 ???
25. Caro-Kann Defense: A New Idea for 1. The French Defense: Tarrasch 3 ...
Black. 1 e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3 Nd2 de 4 Ne4 ??? a6. 1 e4 e6 2 d4 dS 3 Nd2.
26. QGD: Anti-Alatortsev. 1 d4 dS 2 c4 2. The King's Indian Defense: Smyslov's
e6 3 Nc3 Be? 4 cd de 5 ??? Variation 5 Bg5. 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7
27. English Opening, Mikenas System: 4 Nf3 d6.
Improvements in the 8 h6 Line for Black.
.•. 3. The English Opening: Neo-Keres 3 ...
1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 3 e4 dS 4 es d4 S ef de 6 be c6. 1 c4 es 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2.
Qf6 7 d4 cs 8 Nf3 ??? 4. The Closed Two Knghts' Defense 4
28. French Defense, Alekhine-Chatard d3. 1 e4 eS 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6.
Variation: The Recommended Defense 5. Torre Attack 3 h6 Variation. 1 d4 Nf6
•.•
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By Showi ng YOU
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Cou nts ! ! !
The annotations come from the His famous last words were: "/
best teacher of chess who ever l ived have a win, but it's going to take time."
and who published his thoughts He d ied at a chess tou rnament.
Cecil John Pu rdy. Now a book has· been published
Even Bobby Fischer tol d a friend whereby.Pu rdy reveals the i ntrica
who had 3,000 books · in h i s l i b rary cies of master play and what makes
that he was missing the best book G randmasters better than masters
on chess ever written-Jamieson & and world champions better than
H a m m o n d 's C .J . S . P u rdy, H i s anyone else. He knew, he was a
Life, H is Games and H i s Writ world champion himself.
i ngs. That book is also available I 00 annotated games of al l types.
from Th i n kers' Press at $28.00, A 20-page section on how to
postpaid. 81 28285. make general i m p rovements in you r
Pu rdy came from Australia, be chess playing as wel l a s specific im
c a m e t h e fi rst Wo r l d Co rre p rove m e nts i n the o pe n i ng, the
spondence Chess Champion, had a middlegame, and the endgame.
nearly 70% wi n n i ng record, wrote
numerous books, and was consid One. of the tru ly great instructive
ered an extraord i nari ly gifted ana books, CJS P u rdy's Fine Art of
lyst for his overseas chess periodi C h ess An notation. For more de
cal, Chess World. tai ls see Game Collections.