Chess might seem a complex and mysterious game, but the ultimate goal is simple: checkmate .
Checkmate can occur in all stages of the game, from snap mates in the opening, through middlegame attacks to simplified endgames.
Learning how to use our pieces together to corner the enemy king is a fundamental skill that all chess-players must constantly practise, sharpen and develop.
This book lays out, in systematic and thorough fashion, a wide range of mating patterns and techniques, in particular showing how each piece-pair can combine to deliver mate. A working knowledge of these ideas enables players to move on to mating combinations , where pieces lay down their lives so that the remaining forces can deliver mate. Gude explains an amazing variety of tactical devices, and illustrates them in unforgettable style with some of the most brilliant matingattacks from practice, new and old. There are chapters on how to attack kings in the centre, as well as standard (and other!) attacks against the castled position.
This is a true textbook of checkmate; readers will never be short of mating ideas, and will instinctively know when there is a possibility to launch an attack, or when they must parry the opponent’s threats. Fundamental Checkmates also features more than 300 exercises with full solutions.
Content
004 Preface
007 Introduction
009 Symbols
Part 1: First Steps
010 1. Strategy, Tactics, Combinations
013 2. The Basic Mates
016 3. Named Mates
022 4. Mating Positions Using a Single Piece
035 5. Combinative Patterns
064 Part 2: Mating Combinations Using Two Pieces
065 6. Queen + Rook
082 7. Queen + Bishop
105 8. Queen + Knight
120 9. Queen + Pawn
131 10. Rook + Rook
138 11. Rook + Bishop
151 12. Rook + Knight
162 13. Rook + Pawn
167 14. Bishop + Bishop
170 15 Bishop + Knight
179 16. Knight + Knight
184 17. King + Piece
189 18. Minor Piece + Pawn
193 Training Positions: First Set
205 Part 3: Target: The King in the Centre
206 19. King on its Back Rank
229 20. King on its Second Rank
240 21. King on its Third Rank
243 Training Positions: Second Set
249 Part 4: Target: The Castled King
251 22. Rook Sacrifices
272 23. Bishop Sacrifices
286 24. Knight Sacrifices
298 25. Queen Sacrifices
312 26. Multiple Sacrifices
339 27. Exceptional Combinations
344 Training Positions: Third Set
354 Solutions to the Training Positions
379 Index of Names
Checkmate can occur in all stages of the game, from snap mates in the opening, through middlegame attacks to simplified endgames.
Learning how to use our pieces together to corner the enemy king is a fundamental skill that all chess-players must constantly practise, sharpen and develop.
This book lays out, in systematic and thorough fashion, a wide range of mating patterns and techniques, in particular showing how each piece-pair can combine to deliver mate. A working knowledge of these ideas enables players to move on to mating combinations , where pieces lay down their lives so that the remaining forces can deliver mate. Gude explains an amazing variety of tactical devices, and illustrates them in unforgettable style with some of the most brilliant matingattacks from practice, new and old. There are chapters on how to attack kings in the centre, as well as standard (and other!) attacks against the castled position.
This is a true textbook of checkmate; readers will never be short of mating ideas, and will instinctively know when there is a possibility to launch an attack, or when they must parry the opponent’s threats. Fundamental Checkmates also features more than 300 exercises with full solutions.
Content
004 Preface
007 Introduction
009 Symbols
Part 1: First Steps
010 1. Strategy, Tactics, Combinations
013 2. The Basic Mates
016 3. Named Mates
022 4. Mating Positions Using a Single Piece
035 5. Combinative Patterns
064 Part 2: Mating Combinations Using Two Pieces
065 6. Queen + Rook
082 7. Queen + Bishop
105 8. Queen + Knight
120 9. Queen + Pawn
131 10. Rook + Rook
138 11. Rook + Bishop
151 12. Rook + Knight
162 13. Rook + Pawn
167 14. Bishop + Bishop
170 15 Bishop + Knight
179 16. Knight + Knight
184 17. King + Piece
189 18. Minor Piece + Pawn
193 Training Positions: First Set
205 Part 3: Target: The King in the Centre
206 19. King on its Back Rank
229 20. King on its Second Rank
240 21. King on its Third Rank
243 Training Positions: Second Set
249 Part 4: Target: The Castled King
251 22. Rook Sacrifices
272 23. Bishop Sacrifices
286 24. Knight Sacrifices
298 25. Queen Sacrifices
312 26. Multiple Sacrifices
339 27. Exceptional Combinations
344 Training Positions: Third Set
354 Solutions to the Training Positions
379 Index of Names