Course Summary - Defensive Play.pdf

(149 KB) Pobierz
Counterattack Polgar style!
Defensive Play
GM Susan Polgar
The art of defense will win you as many points as studying tactics or attacking, yet few
people learn it. However, all the World Champions have been excellent defenders and
developing this ability will save you from many painful defeats. Even turn them into wins.
In Defensive Play, GM Susan Polgar analyzes instructive games involving successful defense
to typical attacks. You’ll see Kingside pawns pushed forward, Rooks and Queens lining up
along the h-file and other dangerous situations.
Susan reveals how to defend properly using a combination of counterplay, carefully
calculated moves and ways to slow our opponent down. As you will see, even the scariest
looking attacks can often be contained.
Many times, our opponents will sacrifice material giving us a winning advantage if we
neutralize their threats.
The course is divided into 5 parts:
Chapter 1:
Positions Requiring Precise Calculation
Chapter 2:
Combining Defense with Counter-Attack, Littlewood – Botvinnik
Chapter 3:
Defending Kingside Attacks
Chapter 4:
World Champion Level Defense, Anand – Carlsen
Chapter 5:
Miraculous Endgame Defense
1
Chapter 1: Positions Requiring Precise
Calculation
1. There are 2 types of position in chess: those that can be played by
intuition and those that require precise calculation.
2. First we should look at the material balance, then look at all the different
threats.
3. When analyzing a move, if we see our opponent can get a winning
position, we move on to looking at a different move.
4. If you’re ahead in material but your opponent has some dangerous
threats, look for ways to exchange Queens (or another attacking piece),
even if it involves giving back some material.
5. In your opponent plays a seemingly forcing move like a capture with
check, consider whether you can ignore the recapture and move to safety.
This usually only works when you have strong threats of your own too.
6. If you can counter your opponent’s threat, check to see if they can counter
your counter!
Chapter 2: Combining Defense with
Counter-Attack, Littlewood – Botvinnik
1. When chasing enemy pieces away, be careful not to force them to better
squares.
2. Where captures and recaptures are concerned, we must consider both the
tactical and positional result of the variations.
3. Think about what your opponent plans and find the best defensive set-up.
Botvinnik could not stop the h-file being opened but he knew he would be
safe with a Knight on f6. Therefore, he spent a move getting rid of the e5
pawn.
4. Although a pawn on h7 might look dangerous, it often helps Black as his
King can hide behind it.
2
Chapter 3: Defending Kingside Attacks
1. If our opponent is advancing pawns against our King, we can choose
between blocking the advance, perhaps with our own pawns, and moving
the King to safety.
2. If our opponent can still open the position, fleeing with the King might still
be dangerous. Nevertheless, we should judge each position on its
individual merits.
3. When choosing a square for our King to go to, we need to consider how
this move affects the mobility of our other pieces too.
4. If your opponent has a piece en prise but you cannot take it because of a
pin, look for ways to attack the pinning piece.
5. If your opponent has to take time bringing his pieces to the attack, see if
you can safely grab material.
Chapter 4: World Champion Level
Defense, Anand – Carlsen
1. Anand starts advancing his Kingside pawns, pushing the f6 Knight back.
Carlsen responds by trading his well-positioned b3 Knight for a Bishop,
getting rid of a potential attacking unit.
2. Magnus understand he will need defenders so plays Ra8-a6, covering the
6th rank.
3. Anand makes a slight inaccuracy, rushing forward with 19.f4. 19.Rb2!
would have slowed down any counterplay on the Queenside.
4. Carlsen gets a protected, passed pawn but Anand now has 2 pawns, a
Knight, Queen and Rook heading for Black’s King.
5. Anand gets a protected pawn on f6. Black has to play …g6 and White
replies Qh4, heading for h6 then Qg7#. Carlsen brings his Knight back to
e8 to defend g7.
6. Now comes 26.Qh6, clearing h4 for Rf1-f4-h4 with mate on h7. Carlsen
plays the only move, 26…b2! keeping the Rook occupied.
7. Anand goes for the Rook lift right away, allowing Carlsen to promote with
check. The new Queen can be sacrificed to prevent the h-file attack.
3
Chapter 5: Miraculous Endgame Defense
1. In endgame positions that look lost, look for ways to either give up your
pieces, or leave your King with no squares to move to, so the game ends
in stalemate.
2. It’s never too late to resign!
3. If you have some chances to save the game, even if you have to rely on a
trick, try your luck.
4. Look for ways to leave your opponent without enough material to force
mate.
4

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika:

Zgłoś jeśli naruszono regulamin