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LMAVECTFAP
Author

Chess Tactics for Advanced Players

328 pages, paperback, Labate, 3. edition 2008, first edition 1986

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Discontinued
Introduction
We are witnessing at present an unupswing in the evolution of the theory of chess in general and of the theory of openings in particuEach year, fresh tomes devoted to the study of various opening games or particular opening sysor even opening variants apon the book shelves. Nowathe analyses of some openings continue deep into the middle game and even extend to the end-game. Not quite so explicit, but still very thorough is the study of the endDozens of positions, which were once blank spots on the map of the end-game, have been anain detail, assessed and inin textbooks on the end
Turning to the theory of the middle game we find that the progress made here is by no means as impresthe development of this phase being characterized mainly by a rapid growth in the volume of data. Books on the middle game usually contain hundreds of positions, but unlike their predecessors, the progmade here is reflected chiefly by an inreasing number of examples rather than by a more profound unof this fascinating phase of the game. But the search for new opening systems and their elaboration by chess practitioners have enhanced the strategy of the middle game, because many differtypes of middle game positions, which are characterized by a genplan or a general strategy, have been analysed extensively and in depth. Tactics, on the other hand, are dominated by chiefly a matter sizing up a concrete situation, which makes it difficult to arrive at generalizations.
Of course no one can maintain that the theory of tactics has been marktime. Attempts are made to clascombinations and work out ways of facilitating the calculation of intricate combinations. And yet on the whole the development of the theory of the middle game lags perceptibly behind the other two phases of the game.
The explanation commonly given is that the middle game is the most inand difficult phase of the game. It is by no means easy to unit and its laws. That is prewhy the middle game - more than any other phase - calls for a circumspect approach, for easily comprehensible principles and for a gradual transition from the simple to the complex.
Anyone who has taken an interest in engineering knows that one must first familiarize oneself with the deof a machine before trying to understand how it works. And yet it is in the study of the middle game that the basic principle of pedagog- the necessity of proceeding from the simple to the complex - is constantly being violated.
As a rule one begins learning the middle game and chess tactics by trying out combinations. Unquesthis is one of the most fasand exciting aspects of chess. The mechanics of even the most elementary combination are extremely complex. It is advisable to familiarize oneself thoroughly with its elements before studying the combination. When chess wridescribe chess combinations they usually stress the aesthetic and emotional aspects, namely the sacrithe surprise effect and the parelement of the game. Without a doubt these aspects are also important, because they bring out the fascinating side of the game. But it is even more important to unthe mystery of the complex mechanics of the combination and to show its main elements and how they function.
And still the attempts made so far to explain the combination mechanism have not yielded more than a handof general and not very concluconcepts, such as harmony of the pieces or the concerted use of forces. Besides, the debate about what the term "combination" means is still continuing. Different authors have interpreted the term in differways. The reader will recall that a discussion launched by the Soviet journal "Shakhmaty v SSSR" on the topic "What is a combination?" failed to produce a good answer, alit took up a good deal of space in the periodical.
But how is one to classify and study combinations if there is no consenabout the meaning of the term?
Of the combination it may be said with perfect truth that everybody is fascinated by it, that everybody unwhat it is, but that noseems to be able to give an exdefinition of the term.
The present book is an attempt to rescue the theoretical discussion from this impasse. We have endeavto establish a theoretical basis that would enable us to pursue our study of the extremely diverse tactical manifestations.
We have started by examining the most common and elementary situarising from confrontations between isolated pieces and conpossible methods of attack and defence. Then we gradually proceed to examine the more comfacets of the game, making sure to preserve continuity by delvdeeper into positions that have already been analysed. We soon reach the point at which we can expositions involving double attacks. If we regard the term "double attack" in a broader sense than has been done up to now by theoreticians, namely not merely as a two-pronged attack, but as a comof attacks and threats, we notice that the double attack in one form or another is the basis of most intricate tactical operations. Considerable space is devoted to this topic to convince the student of the truth of this statement. We soon realize that the double attack is a very effective device not only for atbut also for defending one's position.
The author is convinced that this approach makes it easier to find one's way through the mare of tacentanglements and provides a key to understanding the problems of the tactical game.
The next important step is to find out the meaning hidden behind such mysterious terms as "harmony of pieces" or "co-ordinated use of forces". Our aim here is to uncover the meaning and the essence of each term.
This enables us to introduce the term "elementary connections" which we have coined. We discover that any tactical operation no mathow complex, can be described in terms of different combinations of contacts. We soon realize that the concerted use of forces boils down to the co-ordinated use of combinations of contacts, i. e. to certain constellations of pawns, pieces or squares on the chess board. It is also demonstrated that most combinative end-games can be reduced to a few basic co-ordinated combinations of contacts.
With the aid of the term contacts and their combinations a definition of the combination is worked out and a new and promising system of classification is introduced.
But to obtain a thorough knowlof the theory of contacts and their combinations proposed by the author the reader will have to read the book. It is intended to help him fathom the sources of the combinaand to understand the origin and function of its mechanics.
Working his way through the book the reader will realize that various kinds of combination of chessmen and squares on the board must be preceded by various contacts bethem. And it is precisely these combinations aimed at specific tarthat form the basis for developcombinative possibilities. We believe that we can proceed, with good prospects of success, not only to acquainting the reader with the various combinations occurring in chess, but also to showing him how to recognize them in their incipient stages and how to prepare them afmaking a detailed study of the theory of contacts and their combi
In this work we have also been able to answer a fundamental question that has occupied the minds of chess theoreticians for many years, namely whether combinations are an exception or the rule. Contrary to the notions of adherents of the positional school, who regard the combination as an avoidable excepwe propose to demonstrate that the development of contacts and their combinations is a natural development of the chess game. Since the appearance of contacts usually heralds the combination, it evolves as a complex and various consequence of this process.
With this work we give the recepreader a book that is in the true sense a textbook of tactics and comIt is designed to help the reader master the art of combinawhich is the highest level of mastery of the game. It is a pinnacle which elevates the game to an art and which - like any other art - is a source of delight which affords the practitioner an opportunity to take part in the act of creation.
More Information
EAN 0875682190
Weight 530 g
Manufacturer Labate
Width 15.3 cm
Height 22.8 cm
Medium Book
Year of Publication 2008
Author Yuri Averbakh
Language English
Edition 3
ISBN-10 0875682190
Year of First Edition 1986
Pages 328
Binding paperback
005 Introduction
008 Compilation of technical terms used in the book

011 Part 1: The double attack
011 The interrelations between strategy and tactics
014 Three stages of attack
018 Methods of defence
024 The second assault wave
026 An excursion into the past
026 The fork
032 The discovered check
037 The double check
039 The two-fold attack on a defended piece
042 The two-fold attack on two targets
046 The two-fold attack in conjunction with a pin
050 The mutual two-fold attack
054 The double attack
057 Defence against the double attack
064 Forcing the double attack
064 1. The attack
067 2. Zugzwang
069 3. The exchange
070 The sacrifice
077 Decoy attack
080 The two-fold double attack
085 Particulary strong moves
093 The double attack in the opening
099 The double attack in the end-game
109 Studies of double attacks
117 Sample games
133 Summarizing remarks on the double attack
137 Exercises for independent study
151 Solutions

157 Part 2: The combination
157 Co-ordination of piece moves
164 The mechanism of the mating attack
171 Individual contacts
172 -1. The attacking contact
172 -2. The restricting contact
172 -3. The queening threat
174 -4. The protective contact
174 -5. The interposing contact
174 -6. Refuting the queening threat
178 The co-ordinated attack
179 -1. The cornered king
182 -2. The king on the edge
188 Contacts and combinations in the double attack
189 -1. One piece attacks or threatens to attack two objects
193 -2. Two pieces attack or threaten to attack an object
195 -3. Two pieces attack two objects
199 Contacts and combinations with passed pawns
206 What is a combination?
212 Various means of applying force
212 -1. The attack
215 -2. The threat
217 -3. The exchange
219 -4. Zugzwang
221 Kinds of sacrifice
230 Classification of combinations
235 Winning combinations
235 -1. Combinations against the king
238 -2. Combinations against pieces and pawns
239 -3. Queening combinations
240 Drawing combinations
241 -1. Perpetual check
242 -2. The stalemate
245 -3. The-blockade
247 -4. Perpetual pursuit
249 -5. Building fortifications
253 -6. Balance of forces leading to a draw
255 The attack on the king
262 The importance of concrete calculation of variants
268 Sample games
305 Exercises for home study
318 Solutions
323 Index of names
326 Index of games