Players can enhance their likelihood of executing a swindle by employing certain strategies, such as maintaining an active playing style and taking advantage of time pressure. While swindles can take various forms, common themes include employing stalemate tactics, utilizing perpetual checks, and executing unexpected mating attacks.
Selfmate: Why would you force the opponent to checkmate you?
Selfmates are chess puzzles where one side, usually White, is to play and force Black to deliver checkmate within a certain number of moves. In other words, White sets up a position where Black is compelled to checkmate White, even though it may seem counterintuitive. The objective is for White to cooperate with Black to enforce the checkmate.
Learn to play Van der Wiel attack against Caro-Kann Defense
White aims to exploit the weaknesses around Black’s king while gaining space and piece activity. Black, on the other hand, must navigate the complexities, maintain solid piece development, and seize any counterplay opportunities that arise.
Englund Gambit Trap: Will you take the risk?
The Englund Gambit, named after the Swedish player Fritz Carl Anton Englund, gained recognition in the early 20th century. Englund, a creative and unorthodox player, introduced this gambit as a response to the commonly played 1.d4 d5.
Recycle Chess: Win by capturing your own pieces
Recycle Chess is a chess variant of the loop category. It means that some pieces which have been removed from the board can be brought back to the game and reused. There is a similarity with Loop Chess, but the game strategy is entirely different.
Alexander McDonnell vs. Louis-Charles Mahé De La Bourdonnais: The most famous victory
In this remarkable game, La Bourdonnais established a formidable and agile pawn formation, reminiscent of his predecessor François-André Danican Philidor. Philidor, known for his profound understanding of chess, famously stated that pawns were “the soul of chess.” La Bourdonnais’ strategic approach echoed this sentiment as he crafted a potent and dynamic pawn center.
Backward pawns: How to exploit them
So, the general idea is to avoid creating backward pawns of your own. Backward pawns generally pose a positional drawback since they lack support from other pawns, making them vulnerable.
Learn to beat Steinitz Variation of Scotch Game
If the Scotch Game became one of your favorite openings to play as White, you should be ready for the Steinitz Variation, as the surprise queen’s strike can cause troubles if not met with a proper response.
Intermediate: Two minor pieces vs. rook – win or draw?
In the endgame, the value of two minor pieces is roughly equal to that of a rook and an additional pawn. The configuration of pawns on the board plays a crucial role. When the opponent’s pawns are vulnerable, the two minor pieces hold an advantage.
Fishing pole trap: Hook, line, and sinker
It’s essential for any skilled chess player to recognize this pattern as one of the most frequently employed traps in the Ruy López opening. The knight positioned on g4 serves as a tempting lure, while the pawn on h5 acts as a poised fishing pole, patiently awaiting the opportunity to surprise an unsuspecting opponent.