Lesson 20

Playing Tournament Level Chess Games & Planning

Part 1: Finding High Level Plans and Critical Thinking in Chess Concepts:
How to put it all together in chess! Critical thinking skills and advanced planning!

Ever thing ou have learned in this curriculu!" #ro! the $asics o# the ga!e" how the pieces !ove" the #unda!ental principles o# develop!ent and %pening strateg " to tactics" $asic and advanced pawn pla " and #inall Endga!e techni&ue has prepared ou #or this #inal lesson' (ou are al!ost an e)perienced scholastic chess pla er read to take on the world o# high*level tourna!ent chess + and succeed! ,ut''' how does it all co!e together- Learning to appl what ou know is o#ten !uch !ore i!portant than knowing ever thing .i# that were even possi$le/' Possessing the a$ilit or thinking tools to #igure out so!ething ou don't know or a position ou have never seen" is far more important than your ability to memorize what ou are taught' Let0s talk a$out planning and critical thinking skills' How can ou transition #ro! 1ust knowing things to actuall applying things ou learned in our own chess ga!es- 2t isn0t alwa s eas " $ut let0s tr to si!pli# a #ew i!portant concepts''' Critical Thin ing! "rganzing #our Thoughts! an$ %in$ing a Plan& the "pening' cuuuuuuuuC (ou now know there are !an things" perhaps too !an " to (rhb1kgn4} think a$out even $e#ore our #irst !ove' ,elow is a guide o# 70p0p0p0p} our reco!!ended steps to success #or putting together 6wdwdwdwd} what ou know a$out the %pening stage o# a chess ga!e:

5dwdwdwdw} &wdwdwdwd} 3dwdwdwdw} 2P)P)P)P)} %$NGQI !"} #$%&'()*+,

Follow the steps to Opening success. Use this section as practical advice on how to apply all the X's and O's you have learned so far!

3on0t 1ust develop pieces" develop plans! (o) to& 1/ 4tart out $ alwa s attacking the center5 6/ 7s the pawn structure changes di##erent paths .diagonals" s&uares and #iles/ will $eco!e availa$le to our pieces' ,e willing to change and relocate5 8/ 7s the structure $eco!es clear" develop a plan #irst and then develop our pieces accordingl 5 9/ 2t is a wrong thought to sa " %:" 2 will 1ust develop and get castled and then #ind a plan' Thin about the plan from the beginning' Page 1 o# <

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Lesson 20
Critical Thin ing! "rganzing #our Thoughts! an$ %in$ing a Plan& the *i$$legame' cuuuuuuuuC The =iddlega!e is the ulti!ate $attle#ield where ou and (wdr4wdkd} our opponent0s ar!ies collide" o#ten in heaps o# #orks" pins" 70whw1pgp} skewers and other tactics' :nowing how to #ind and target 6b0wdpdpd} positional weaknesses is also essential:

5dwdp)w!w} &Pdw)wd-d} 3dw)wdwdP} 2wd Gw)Pd} %$wdQ$wIw} #$%&'()*+,

In this complicated iddlegame! white developed a plan of "#.$g% followed &y h%'h( for a )ingside attac*. +lac* couldn't stop this idea &ecause the structure supports white's Kingside attack!

>o hope chess! 7lwa s pla what0s $est! Hope chess is when ou are pla ing #or tactics or tricks that are $ased on our opponent missing our threat or not playing the &est move' (o) to& 7ttack in the direction o# our pawns" or in the center i# it is open5 Look #or ,ig 8 opportunities: Can ou check" can ou capture" can ou attack the QueenFind and target positional weaknesses #irst and #ore!ost" as the are the enduring #eatures in the ga!e' (our opponent !ight #ind the $est !oves" $ut i# ou are attacking so!ething that is positional and can0t $e undone" his?her $est !oves can0t stop ou!

Critical Thin ing! "rganizing #our Thoughts! an$ %in$ing a Plan& the +n$game' cuuuuuuuuC 2# an Endga!e is reached where one side has a signi#icant (wdwdwdr.} !aterial advantage" we will toss those ga!es up to 70wdwdpd-} techni&ue" $ecause those positions should $e winna$le $ 6w/ndpdw.} keeping it simple (Lesson 16) Here we are going to talk 5dwdwdwd-} !ore a$out the critical thinking process o# a roughl e&ual &wdwdwdP.} Endga!e:

In this game white played ,.)f-!! protecting the g%' pawn so that he might advance the passed h' pawn. +y recogni.ing that advantage! white was a&le to achieve a winning position &ecause of the outside passed h'pawn. /he game ended in a draw due to later mista*es &y white.
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3)wdw$-dP} 2wdNd0dwd} %dwdwdwdw} #$%&'()*+,

Less pieces !eans less roo! #or !istakes! (o) to& @n#ortunatel " !an pla ers pla Endga!es like the opposite is true .!eaning with less pieces" the !ove &uickl and spend little e##ort/5 !on't do that! The correct approach to an Endga!e is to think o# it as less roo! #or error and !ake ever decision like it could $e our last5 Take a !o!ent to see what positional weaknesses have carried over #ro! the =iddlega!e' Target the opponent0s weaknesses and de#end our own5 3o ou have an passed pawns- 2# es" develop a plan o# advance!ent' 3o ou have an pretending passed pawns- 2# es" develop a plan to trade' Prevent our opponent #ro! doing the sa!e'

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Lesson 20

Playing Tournament Level Chess Games & Planning

Part 6: Proph lactic Thinking in Chess Concepts:
Ahat is proph lactic thinking7dvanced critical thinking: 4topping our opponent0s threats!

The $ad news- Ever check!ate attack and tactic ou tr to co!e up with #or oursel#" ever plan $ased on targeting a positional weakness" and ever single thing we covered in Part 1 that should $e your thought process is also going to #actor into your opponent,s plan! 4o what do we doAelco!e to chess" the !ost di##icult ga!e in the world! That0s what it0s all a$out: Learning as !uch as ou can + which ou are doing $ reading this curriculu! + learning how to appl it + which is what we worked on in Part 1 + and now" realiBing that stopping our opponent #ro! doing the sa!e" while carr ing out our own plans" is what !akes chess so hard' Like !ost o# the last #ew lessons" we0re going to give the short and si!ple version o# ver deep" and ver advanced chess concepts + so don0t get #rustrated i# it is a lot to take in' 2nstead" #ocus again on the #act that instilling these general concepts and critical thinking skills in our ga!es is $etter earlier rather than later' The -efinition of Prophylactic Thin ing in Chess& cuuuuuuuuC Proph la)is or proph lactic thinking is the act o# #ocusing not (wdk4wgw4} onl on stopping our opponent0s i!!ediate threats or 70p0n1pdw} tactics" $ut on preventing their overall plans and goals from 6wdwdbdw0} &ecoming reality' 2t is de#ined loosel as #uture de#ensive 5dQdpdwdw} !indedness or thinking de"ensi#ely a$out the #uture'

&wdw)wdp!} 3dw!wdw)w} 2P)Pdw)Pd} %dwI"d d"} #$%&'()*+,

0o! arshall did not miss it1 If ".02d( +2d( -.$2d( $g(3! %.$2g( h2g(! the h%')night is pinned!
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7s ou i!prove" recogniBing and stopping our opponent0s immediate threats isn0t too hard" et even a!ong the $est pla ers in the world" proph lactic thinking is a skill to $e ac&uired and i!proved upon' 2t takes a lot o# discipline to think a$out our opponent #irst" and put our plans second .doesn0t sound #un does it-/" $ut it is ulti!atel the road to chess success' 2n this ga!e" Frank =arshall 1ust pla ed 1'''C*C*C against Aorld Cha!pion E!anuel Lasker' 3id =arshall !iss 6'>)dD- Think a$out our weaknesses! Page 8 o# <

Lesson 20
Prophylactic Thin ing! +.ample 2& Lautier! /0 1 2asparov! G0 Tilburg 3445 362 cuuuuuuuuC 2n this #a!ous ga!e the #irst grand!aster #ailed to appl (wdwdwdw4} proph lactic thinking when he pla ed 6C'Ec<-" and the 7$wdwgk0p} second .the reigning Aorld Cha!pion at the ti!e no less/ 6wdpdp0wd} #ailed to punish hi!' This e)a!ple" like the previous" tells us 5dwdwdwdw} to alwa s $e aware o# our potential weaknesses" even i# we &w)wdPdwd} don0t see an i!!ediate wa #or the! to $e attacked'

3dwdwdwdw} 2wGwdw)P)} Ahite0s potential weakness we re#er to is the $ack rank' 7#ter %dwdwdwIw} 1'Ec<" a draw was agreed as $oth sides si!pl assume$ the #$%&'()*+, c*pawn would $e traded #or the $*pawn' However" 6C'''cD!!
4ven if you don't see how your opponent can e2pose your wea*ness! always &e aware of it! would have won the ga!e! 2# white pla s 61'$)cD then 61'''E$F and suddenl white is losing either the $6*,ishop or getting $ack rank check!ated' 2# white does nothing a#ter 6C'''cD" $lack will win the $*pawn'

Prophylactic Thin ing! +.ample 7& %ischer! 80 1 9olbochan! /0 :toc holm 34;2 3<0 cuuuuuuuuC 2n this ga!e the great 7!erican cha!pion" ,o$$ Fischer" (wdr1w4kd} has 1ust esta$lished his :night on the strong outpost at dD' He 7dwdwgp0p} now has the option to keep the :night on this post and tr to 6pdw0wdwd} develop an attack .likel on the :ingside/ or consider trading 5dpdN0w)w} the :night #or the ,ishop on e<" at the chance o# winning the &wdwdPdw)} dG*pawn' Proph la)is-

3dwdwdPd"} 2P)P1wdwd} 1'>)e<H would $e a terri$le !ove" not onl $ecause it gives %d0d"dwdw} up the :night #or that ,ig Pawn on e<" $ut also $ecause #$%&'()*+, a#ter 1'''I)e< 6'I)dG would lose i!!ediatel to 6'''E#dF!!'
5hen you calculate! always consider your opponent's ideas too! either winning white0s Iueen or delivering $ack rank check!ate a#ter 8'I)e< E)d1J' 3id ou recogniBe white0s potential weakness as the $ack rank !ate here-

Prophylactic Thin ing! +.ample =& Teschner! 80 1 Portisch! L0 *onaco 34;4 362 cuuuuuuuuC 2n our #inal e)a!ple" it is white to pla ' Teschner was down a (kdrdrdwd} pawn and so pla ed the !ove 6K'E)dD-- He clearl was not 70pdwdwdp} thin ing prophylacticly a$out his weaknesses .or at least 6w1wdwdwd} not enough/' Fortunatel #or hi! however" the great Portisch 5dwdpdN0w} wasn0t aware o# white0s weakness either'

&wgwdwdwd} 3dPdwdPdw} 2wdQd"dP)} %dwd"dwd0} #$%&'()*+,

One final e2ample of lac* of prophyla2is!

Portisch responded with 6K'''IaG-" co!pletel !issing 6K'''I#6!!" threatening 8C'''I#1 check!ate and winning the ga!e on the spot' 6K'''IaG was !et $ 8C'>g8" which de#ended ever thing' Ahite went onto draw the ga!e despite !aking that horri#ic $lunder on !ove 6K' >ote i# a#ter 6K'''I#6 $lack pla s 8C'E)#6 then 8C'''Ee1H and !ate'

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Lesson 20

Playing Tournament Level Chess Games & Planning

Part 8: Perpetual Check"Three*Fold Eepetition L the DC*=ove 3raw Concepts:
Ahat is perpetual checkAhat is Three*Fold EepetitionThe DC*=ove 3raw Eule!

Perpetual Chec & The >ever<+n$ing<"n<Going<+ternity of Chec s' cuuuuuuuuC 7 perpetual check occurs when one side can #orce a draw (khNdwdwd} $ a ne#er ending series o" checks These checks !ust 7dpdwdwdw} $e unavoida$le #or it to trul $e considered a perpetual' 6p.wdwdwd} %#ten" a perpetual check is used as a $ail out when one 5dwdwdwdw} pla er is worse" perhaps even losing" without the perpetual'

&wdwdwdwd} 3dwdwdwdw} 2wdwdwdwd} %d0dwdwdw} #$%&'()*+,

,.0&63 )a7 ".0c83 )a8 -.0&63 etc. 5hite draws &y perpetual chec*!

Here" white is worse" and needs to use the perpetual check .!oves listed $eneath the diagra!/ in order to save the ga!e' Ahite would have decent drawing chances without it" $ut $est pla would surel lead to $lack capitaliBing on the two pawn advantage and winning the ga!e'

Perpetual Chec Can :ave #our 9a$ Position cuuuuuuuuC %ur second e)a!ple shows a position where" unlike the (kdwdwdwd} #irst" white would have no chance o# saving the ga!e 7dpdwdwdw} without a possi$le perpetual check against the open $lack 6wdpdw4wd} :ing' %#ten a situation like this !ight occur i# white .or 5dwdQdwhw} either pla er depending on the ga!e/ has sacri#iced so!e &wdwgwdwd} !aterial #or an attack" et when the attack co!es up short 3dPdw1 dw} + white !ust look #or a wa to $ail out with a perpetual'

2PdwdwdP)} %dwdwdwd0} Ahite has to $e care#ul here with which check to give #irst: #$%&'()*+, 1'IdFH or 1'IaDH + which do ou think- 1'IdF!H is
5hite's attac* came up short! and so white must ta*e the perpetual chec* in order to hold a draw.

necessar ' 7#ter 1''':a< white achieves perpetual with 6'IaDH :$F 8'IdFH :a< 9'IaDH :$F D'IdFH" etc' 1'IaDH #irst would lose as it allows $lack0s ,ishop to $lock on a<' 7#ter: 1''',a< 6'IdFH ,$F 8'IaDH and 8'''Ia<!" winning'

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Lesson 20
Our final lessons involve two very important rules that every chess player! scholastic or otherwise! needs to *now. Other than a draw reached from perpetual chec*! a draw reached &y mutual agreement 9 meaning one player offers and the other accepts 9 or the classical )ing vs )ing draw! there are two other ways a chess game can arrive at a draw! &oth of them applied in international tournament play. Three<%ol$ 8epetition 1 ?lso 2no)n as 8epetition of Position cuuuuuuuuC ,ecause this rule can $e slightl con#using" we will #irst (wdw.w.wd} &uote the e)act language #ro! the F23E .2nternational 7dwdwdp/w} Chess Federation/ hand$ook: The ga!e is drawn" upon a 6wdwdwdwd} correct clai! $ the pla er having the move" when the 5dwdwdw1p} sa!e position" #or at least the third ti!e .not necessaril $ &wdwdwdnd} se&uential repetition o# !oves/:

3dPdw)wdw} 2P1wdwdwd} a' is a$out to appear" i# he?she #irst writes his?her !ove on %d dwdwIw} his?her scoresheet and declares his?her intention to !ake #$%&'()*+, this !ove that repeats the position" or
0ote that three'fold repetition does not necessariliy have to &e reached &y chec*s :not the same as perpetual; though this game was agreed to a draw &y chec*s as neither player wanted to ris* losing. $' has 1ust appeared" and the pla er clai!ing the draw has the !ove' Ahat this !eans is that when a position has occurred three ti!es in the ga!e" either pla er can clai! a draw on their !ove' 2t !ust $e the e)act position however" not a single pawn changed! .,ut it doesn0t have to $e repeated in three consecutive !oves" which is what !an $elieve'/

The @0<*ove -ra) 8ule 1 The %n"orced -ra) -ue To of Lac of Progress' cuuuuuuuuC The #i#t *!ove draw rule was put in place to prevent pla ers (wdwdwdwd} #ro! pla ing #orever in drawn positions' ,asicall " the rule 7dwdwdwdw} prevents one side #ro! tr ing to win solel on ti!e or $ 6wdwdw$wd} causing his?her opponent #atigue .!ake the! tired/' The 5dwIwdwdw} rule states that a $ra) can be claime$ by either player if &wdwdwdwd} fifty moves have been ma$e Aby each playerB )ith no 3dwdwdw/w} captures or pa)n moves on either si$e0

2wdwdrdwd} %dwdwdwdw} =aking a capture and?or !oving a pawn are two things that #$%&'()*+, suggest progress in chess" so i# too !uch ti!e goes $
One e2ample of a dead drawn ending would &e <oo* vs <oo* 9 the fifty move rule prevents this game from going forever! without either" the ga!e is dee!ed" or can $e clai!ed" a draw' Fi#t !oves is considered !ore than enough ti!e to check!ate the opponent in an o# the $asic check!ate patterns .Lesson 9 #or e)a!ple/' This is wh it is i!portant to learn and !e!oriBe the $asic check!ate patterns!

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Lesson 20

Playing Tournament Level Chess Games & Planning

2nstructor0s Muide
The ke points o# lesson 6C are clearl practical" and in !an wa s" the $eginning o# chess psychology' Pla ers can learn the N0s and %0s o# $asic strateg and tactics in sel#*taught !ethods .$ooks" curriculu!s such as this one" etc/" $ut without guidance or so!e level o# ps chological advice" the never trul develop the a$ilit to appl their knowledge in ga!es' This was one o# our !ain goals in this lesson: 7tte!pt to give so!ething that !an $ooks o##ering a technical approach do not: ? user,s gui$e to critical thin ing s ills in chess' 2t is likel o$vious to those reading this lesson that !an o# the concepts reco!!ended in regards to a pla ers0 thought process could have $een e)panded upon .so!e in great detail/' However" in keeping it relativel si!ple" we hope that $eginning chess pla ers + whether the $e coaches or students the!selves + will have a chance at immediately instilling the $asics o# critical thinking into their ga!es' Proph lactic thinking is !uch easier said than done' Ae did not provide worksheets on this as we intend #or a coach to use the positions given within Part 6 in an open classroo! &uestion and answer #or!at' The $asics o# wh did ! opponent go there were alread discussed in Lesson G" so going an deeper into proph lactic e)ercises would prove too a$stract #or children to #ollow at this level' The general thought process $ehind prophyla&is is ke here' Practical >otes an$ ?$vice 1 Lesson 20& Chen teaching the practical pieces of a$vice offere$ in Lesson 20! try to refer bac to $ifferent lessons& +.ample& Dn lesson ; )e learne$ "penings! right everyoneE :o this is )hat our thought process might be $uring the "pening )hile )e try to follo) the basic rules of $evelopment! etc0 Dn this )ay the abstract concepts of thin ing attach themselves to something concrete that the stu$ents learne$0 8evie) the rules of Part 7 an$ ma e sure you fully un$erstan$ the technicalities of each claim a player might ma e $uring a game before e.plaining them to your stu$ents0 "ther)ise! a first inaccurate impression of the rule might be a lasting one0

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