Page 40 - Learning Chess Workbook Step 5
P. 40
Defending
The f o llowing 9 positions contain examples of various defensive strategies. These include defending
against mate, the loss of material and pawn promotion. We recommend that you study them well!
I. .i •
1t\ , � 'YW ,
" �
------!'------ .,---,<--- ,----,'---'"-i-
White threatens mate on g7. White threatens mate on e8. Black survives with the help
Black cannot protect g7, but Black can protect e8 by of a pin and an in-between
he can save himself with a means of a double attack: 1. move: 1. ... Qt7 2. Rxt7
counter pin: 1. ... Df4 2. ..• Rh4+ 2. Kg3 Rh8. Rxdl+.
Dxf4 Bxe5.
.i. 'iV •
. , , I. " 1:. .i. ,
, .i. , 'iV " -..-----�
, t::,
1:. t::, t::,
t::, �
t::, t::, �
Black can escape the X-ray Sadly, I . ... Kf8 2. Rxe7 Dxe7 Black's gamble 1. .•• e2 1 . ...
(
6
attack with a gain of tempo: 3. Dxc8+ f a ils. The double Bf ! ) paid off; after 2. fxe7
I • ••• Rc4 2. Rxc4 Rd8+ (a attack can be avoided by Bd4+ White resigned. White
check in-between) 3. bxc4. trapping the rook: I • ••• Qt7 could have won with 3. Ne3!
The rook is safe. 2. Rxe7 Qxe6+ 3. Rxe6 Kt7. (X-ray protection of )
fl
Black counterattacks. Is there The c-pawn cannot be won The knight can cover fl with
a better move than I. Qd2? without losing material, but a gain of tempo: 1. KaJ! b5
There is! 1. Qxh7+ Kxh7 2. the new queen can. After I. 2. b4+ Kb6 3. Nd5+ Kc6 4.
Rxd4, and 2 • ••• Nc2 is met BaJ cl Q 2. Rxb2 White wins Ne3 winning. The passed
by 3. Be4+. White remains with a discovered attack. pawn is stopped with the
an exchange up. help of a double attack.
36 Fifth step
