White is down a knight and two pawns, but the passed pawn threatens to promote…
Tactical Tips
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Windmill: Grind up your opponent’s defenses
A windmill, also known as a seesaw, is a strategic maneuver in chess where a player repeatedly captures their opponent’s pieces while also setting up a sequence of checks that can’t be avoided.
Full Game Analysis
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Rudolf Spielmann vs. K. Strassl: Pin them down
Rudolf Spielmann, the author of “The Art of Sacrifice in Chess”, and the well-known “The Last Romantic”, played this gem during a simultaneous exhibition in Passau.
Tricks And Traps
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Würzburger Trap: Lure the black bishop to its doom
Not every trap ends with a checkmate or a queen capture. This one allows White to get “only” a bishop, but the material advantage is still sufficient to win the game.
Opening Theory
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Learn to play Halász-McDonnell Gambit: Attack on the king side
Although there is no concrete evidence in the archives regarding the initial instance of the Halász Gambit being played, it is established that the gambit dates back to no later than 1840.
Variants
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Screen Chess: Get ready to win before the game starts
The Screen Chess is one of the classic chess variants where both players must edit their start positions before the game begins. In live games over the board, it can be accomplished by placing a temporary barrier between the 4th and 5th rank, so each player can set up the pieces without seeing the opponent’s configuration.
Endgame Strategy
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Advanced: Bishop and pawn vs bishop – the same colors
The game is a draw if the defending king can reach any square in front of the pawn that is opposite in color to the squares the bishops travel on.
Tactical Tips
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Pawn Storm: A direct way to break through enemy defenses
The success of a pawn storm depends on several factors, including the position of the opponent’s pieces, the strength of their pawn structure, and the timing of the attack. A well-timed pawn storm can be devastating, as it can force the opponent to make difficult decisions and create weaknesses that can be exploited.
Curiosities
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The ringed piece handicap: No one kills him but me!
Let’s focus, one more time, on special restrictions. The stronger player puts a ring on a selected piece (a queen-side knight in this case), and is obliged to deliver a checkmate only with this piece and nothing else.
Full Game Analysis
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Another four knights game, and the power of the bishop pair
The opening was the Four Knights game, which didn’t belong to the most aggressive ones. However, the game is still intriguing in many aspects.