Attraction (Magnet Attack) - Advanced Chess Tactics

 

Unleash the Magnet Attack
 Mastering Chess Attraction Tactics

Imagine dangling a tempting piece in front of your opponent's king,
a forbidden fruit they can't resist.

In chess, this maneuver is known as Attraction (or Decoy Sacrifice).

 It's a powerful tactic where you strategically sacrifice material to lure a key enemy piece, often the king, to a vulnerable square where it becomes exposed and ripe for exploitation.

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Attraction Chess Articles

ATTRACTION AND DEFLECTION – CHESS TACTICAL PATTERNS - interactive Article with examples.

Mate in Two: Magnet Attack Puzzles - 5 Puzzles on ChessKids

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LiChess Studies

Explore interactive training tools to solidify your understanding of the opening's concepts.

LiChess Tactics Practice Area - 10 Attraction Tactics


Attraction - 16 Chapter Study - 12 Attraction Positions
[Motif - Attraction] - 18 Chapter Study - Nice Selection of Positions with detailed Analysis and Lessons.[
Magnetic Attack - 18 Chapter Study - Examples broken into different Themes.

Chess Tempo Tactic: Attraction - 11 Chapter Interactive Study - Starts at 1000 ELO problem then keeps stepping up to the last being 2000 ELO
J] Attraction Tactics - 14 Chapter Interactive Study - Positions, Games and Compositions fully Interactive.

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Game Databases

Analyze real-life games featuring the Attraction Tactic and see how it's played in practice.

Chessgames.com

DECOYS: ALIGNMENT: "ATTRACTION" - 18 Games

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Attraction Video Lessons

• Attraction - Mastering Chess Tactics - Chess Website - Through instructive examples, we'll demonstrate how sacrificing material can lead to gaining an advantage on the board. From attracting the king to a vulnerable square to enticing rooks into traps, you'll discover the art of attraction in action.
  
  
• Power of Chess Tactics: Unleash Your Attraction Skills - 2 Min - explained the tactic through various chess puzzles for Beginners.
• Chess Tactics - Attraction | Magnetic Sacrifices | Best Chess Combinations - 11 Min - 5 Examples of Attraction
  
  
• Chess Tactics #7: ATTRACTION [5 AMAZING Chess Puzzles] - 7 Min
  
  
• Chess Tactics: Attraction #8-13 - 2 Min - A Beginner  tutorial on the chess tactic known as “attraction,” which involves luring an opponent’s piece to a specific square to achieve a strategic advantage.

Bishops Bounty Deflection Page -  Many argue that These Two Tactics overlap or are essentially the same thing. So here is my page on Deflection.

"The lure is often stronger than the truth." 

Clearance Chess Tactics Explained: A Guide to Devastating Sacrifices

 

"A sacrifice is a calculation, not a guess." - Emanuel Lasker

Master the Art of Making Way for Victory

Chess is a constant battle for control of the board. Sometimes, your own pieces can get in the way of a powerful attack. Enter the clearance sacrifice, a tactical weapon where you give up material to open lines and unleash your fury! Studying clearance tactics will sharpen your tactical vision and elevate your game. Here's your one-stop shop to master this skill!

Clearance Sacrifice: This tactical maneuver involves giving up a piece (pawn or minor piece) to vacate a square. This newly opened square often creates a critical line (file, diagonal, or rank) for your other pieces to launch a devastating attack on your opponent's king or key position.

Line Sacrifice: A specific type of clearance sacrifice where you give up material to open a specific file or diagonal. This newly opened line allows your rooks, queen, or bishop to dominate that line and potentially deliver checkmate or capture valuable enemy pieces.

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BOOKS (Free)

Chess Tactics and Combinations - 84 Page PDF -Exeter Chess Club - This free 84-page resource by the Exeter Chess Club covers clearance sacrifices on page 33 . (Free)

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Clearance Chess Articles

Chess Tactics Guide : Clearance Sacrifice - A clear and concise guide with 4 well-explained clearance sacrifice examples.

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Games Databases

Clearance - 60 Games with a clearance Tactic (Chessgames.com)

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Clearance Chess Puzzles

• Tactics. Line Clearance - 60 Puzzles   (Chess for Kids Online Course)
  
• Tactics. Square Clearance - 11 Puzzles (Chess for Kids Online Course)
  
  LiChess Puzzle Themes
  
  Clearance Tactic - 53,000 Puzzles - Dive into a massive pool of over 53,000 clearance tactic puzzles on LiChess
  
  

LiChess Puzzle Themes

Clearance Tactic - 53,000 Puzzles - Dive into a massive pool of over 53,000 clearance tactic puzzles on LiChess

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Clearance LiChess Studies

Interactive Learning for Clearance Mastery

• Clearance Sacrifice - 15 Chapters  This in-depth study  provides detailed instruction across 12 lessons, guiding you through gaining material and checkmates with clearance sacrifices. 3 tests at the end solidify your learning!
  
  
• Line Clearance - 19 Chapters - Delve into the specific intricacies of line clearance tactics with this 19-chapter study. The first 3 chapters provide foundational theory, followed by a wealth of illustrative examples.
  
  
• 557 - 620 CLEARANCE - 64 Chapters  (26 Clearance Puzzles and Rest Interference Puzzles)
  

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

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Clearance Tactic Video Lessons

Using Clearance Sacrifices to Improve Pieces - 30 Min Hanging Pawns - Giving up material in order to improve your position and make your pieces better.

Clearance In Chess | Chess Tactics - Line Clearance - 15 Min - Lesson on the deliberate sacrifice of material with the goal of "clearing" either a square or a line.

Chess Tactics #9: CLEARANCE ➡️ 5 Amazing Puzzles explained MOVE by MOVE - 7 Min FM Mederos - Sharpen your skills with FM Mederos as he guides you through 5 carefully chosen clearance tactic puzzles, explaining each move in detail.

How to find tactics in chess! --Clearance Sacrifice with 7 chess puzzles - 9 Min

Advanced Tactics : Clearance (5 Puzzles) - 10 Min

Line Blocking and Line Clearing in Chess | Chess Tactics - 8 Min IM Kavutskiy- delves into the concepts of line blocking and line clearing, illustrating them with tactical examples. This foundational knowledge is crucial for mastering clearance sacrifices.

Clearance In Chess | Chess Tactics - Line Clearance - 15 Min - 

Advance 22 - Clearance Sacrifice - 10 Min- Lesson w/ example and 2 Master games
Advance 23 - Clearance Sacrifice Practice - 6 Min - 3 master games

10 Levels of Tactics: The Clearance Sacrifice -  36 Min - Chess nerd - Let's not only learn but MASTER the Clearance Sacrifice with this Challenge for all levels! (New - 6/4/24)

Morpheus Academy ( Videos of live stream teaching kids Chess)

Examples from master play of the concepts of Square Clearance and Line as a powerful tactic.

• L4 Chess - Semester2 - Wk10 - Square Clearance Part1 - 27 Min
  
• L4 Chess - Semester2 - Wk10 - Square Clearance Pt2 - 10 Min
  
• L4 Chess - Semester2 - Wk11 - Line Clearance Pt1 - 36 Min
  
• L4 Chess - Semester2 - Wk11 - Line Clearance Pt2 - 26 Min

Chess Diagnostic

Covers Clearance! advanced tactics. I cover the method to break down very complicated chess positions. I go really deep in these lessons to lay a foundation for further practice of more complicated chess puzzles and positions.

• 28 DAYS TO BETTER CHESS TACTICS - DAY 16 - CLEARANCE! - 26 Min
  
• 28 Days To MASTER LEVEL Chess Tactics! || Clearance Basics! || Day 24 - 6 Min
  
• 28 Days To MASTER LEVEL Chess Tactics! || Clearance CLEARER! || Day 25 - 8 Min
  
• 28 Days To MASTER LEVEL Chess Tactics! || Clearance FINAL Test || Day 26 - 4 Min

Game Videos w/ Analysis

Brilliant Clearance Sacrifice: Nepomuk vs Frohlich - Graz 1888 - 3 Min

Magazines, Periodicals & Newsletters

Active and Archived Chess Magazines

Mechanics-institute-chess-room - Weekly Chess magazine (Active)

California Chess Journal - Archive with Back issues 45- 50 Pages Each (Started back up again in 2021) 

MACA Chess Horizons - Archives - Massachusetts Chess Assoc. (22 Back Issues most recent 2018)

Northwest Chess Magazine —  Archive of Chess News from Washington, Oregon and Idaho (Monthly from 1965 - 2021)

Swiss Chess Newspaper - 2000 - 2021 (Bimonthly Archive 45-50 page PDFs) All in German

California Chess Periodicals - Over 80 Chess Periodicals Listed here from 1960-2009
California Chess Articles from U.S. and World Chess Periodicals - 22 Magazines here from (1857 to Present)

Internet Archive Chess Magazines

Inside Chess 

(25 Dec 1989) - 46 Page PDF 
(22 Jan 1990) - 30 Page PDF  (5 Feb 1990) - 29 page PDF  (19 Feb 1990) - 27 Page PDF 
(5 March 1990) - 25 Page PDF  (19 March 1990)
(5 March 1990) - 25 Page PDF  (19 March 1990) - 25 page PDF 
(8 June 1992) - 25 page PDF  (20 July 1992) - 34 page PDF  (Tal Issue) 
(17 Aug 1992) - 26 Page PDF (Bobbys Back Issue)   (31 Aug 1992)  - 24 Page PDF
(14 Sept 1992) - 24 Page PDF (Fisher-Spassky II)   (12 Oct 1992) - 25 Page PDF
(8 March 1993) - 22 Page PDF   (19 April 1993) - 22 Page PDF

Modern-Chess-Issue-1 - 67 Page PDF    (2015)
British Chess Magazine - November 2015 issue - 56 Page PDF

Chess Mate January 1983 by Manuel Aaron (Ed) - 36 Page PDF
Chess India - June 1981 - 48 Page PDF

Chess Life 1959 -  204 Page PDF

50 Moves magazine - October 2015 issue - 102 page PDF
50 Moves magazine - December 2015 issue - 72 Page PDF

Chess Review 1934 (12 Issues)  - 279 Page PDF
Chess Review 1935 (12 Issues)  - 325 Page PDF
Chess Review 1936 (12 Issues)  - 321 Page PDF
Chess Review 1937 (12 issues)  - 320 Page PDF
Chess Review 1938 (12 Issues)  - 322 Page PDF
Chess Review 1939 (12 Issues)  -289 Page PDF

Chess Review 1940 (12 Issues)  - 229 Page PDF
Chess Review 1941 (12 Issues) - 261 Page PDF
Chess Review 1942 (12 issues) - 312 Page PDF
Chess Review 1943 12 Issues) - 456 Page PDF

Chess Review 1953 (12 Issues) - 432 page PDF
Chess Review 1954 (12 Issues) - 432 Page PDF
Chess Review 1955 (12 Issues) - 432 Page PDF
Chess Review 1959 (12 Issues) - 432 Page PDF

Larry Evans Teaches Chess - 75+ Chess articles from Chess Life from 1978-2007

Modern Defense (B06): Unleash a Flexible and Dynamic Opening for Black!

  

The Modern Defense 
 A Dynamic Chess Opening for Black

• Flexible and strategic: Fight for the center without directly contesting it.

• Active piece play: Fianchetto the dark-squared bishop for quick development.

• Solid pawn structure: Build a strong foundation for dynamic play.

• Effective against 1. e4 or 1. d4: Adaptable to White's opening moves.
  

• This post is your launchpad to explore the Modern Defense! We've curated a collection of resources to help you understand its concepts, sharpen your skills, and elevate your chess game.

Modern Defense Wikipedia Page

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BOOKS (Free)

Short & Sweet: The Modern Defense - FREE Chessable Course -This concise course by CM Vjekoslav Nemec offers 22 trainable variations with 2 hours of free video MoveTrainer® instruction. It's the perfect starting point for players new to the Modern Defense.

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Modern Defense Chess Articles 

Equip Yourself with Modern Defense Knowledge: Dive deep into the fascinating world of the Modern Defense with this curated selection of articles! We've gathered resources for players of all levels, from foundational concepts explored in comprehensive guides to strategic insights from renowned chess masters. 

The Ideas Behind the Modern Defence - ( Exeter Chess Club ) - This comprehensive article delves into the core strategic principles behind the Modern Defense, laying a strong foundation for your understanding.

5 Reasons to Play Modern Defense -  ( WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos ) - Discover the key benefits of wielding the Modern Defense in your chess arsenal, making it a compelling choice for Black players.

Strike Back Now With the Modern Defense - ichess.net -This extensive guide by iChess.net serves as a one-stop shop for beginners. It offers a complete overview of the Modern Defense with embedded videos, making it an excellent starting point.

Modern Defense Chess Opening – Deep Dive with GM Damian Lemos - Take a deeper dive with Grandmaster Damian Lemos in this iChess.net article. With video analysis included, this resource provides detailed exploration of the Modern Defense for intermediate players.

How to Win with the Pirc & Modern Defenses – GM Fabien Libiszewski - Learn winning strategies from Grandmaster Fabien Libiszewski! This iChess.net article explores both the Pirc and Modern Defenses, offering valuable insights for Black players looking to expand their repertoire.

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Modern Defense LiChess Studies

• Modern Defense - 15 Chapter Study (One of the Nicer ones)  (626 hearts) - Different Variations, Common Traps and a few Model games.
  
  
• The Modern Defense - 16 Chapter Study - Different Variations Shown
  
  
• Reference games - BLACK - B06 Modern Defense  -  64 Chapter Study  - All 0-1 Games (No Annotations)

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

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Modern Defense Chess Puzzles
Test your tactical vision and put your knowledge of the Modern Defense into practice with these engaging puzzles. 

WTHarvey.com

Chess puzzles from the Robatsch (ECO B06) - 9 Tactics Puzzles - Get started with a set of tactical problems focusing on the Robatsch (ECO B06) variation.

LiChess Opening Puzzles

Robatsch Defense -  69 Puzzles - Dive deeper into the Robatsch variation with a dedicated set of tactical challenges specifically tailored to this sub-opening.

Modern Defense - 13,749 Modern Puzzles -Deepen your understanding with a vast collection of Modern Defense puzzles categorized by variations, allowing you to focus on specific areas of your game.  (Broken into 13 Variations on Main Puzzle Page)  

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Games Databases

365Chess.com

B06: Robatsch (modern) defence 1. e4 g6  -  54,000 Games   


B06 Sub-variants:

• Robatsch (modern) defence                                  Main Line 53901 Games

• 1. e4 g6

• Norwegian defence

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. e5 Nh5 4. g4 Ng7                    3 Games

• Robatsch (modern) defence

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7                                                 Main Line

• Robatsch defence, three pawns attack

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4                                        1979 Games

• Robatsch defence

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3                                     2951 Games

• Robatsch defence, Gurgenidze variation

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 h5      1142 Games

• Robatsch (modern) defence

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6                                 Main Line

• Robatsch defence, two knights variation

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3                          7793 Games

• Robatsch defence, two knights, Suttles variation  

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 c6                  2844 Games

• Robatsch defence, Pseudo-Austrian attack

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4                          7172 Games

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• Chessgames.com

• Robatsch (B06)   - 72 Annotated games

• Modern Defence - 10 Games with Different Plans in the Modern

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• Modern Defense Video Lessons

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• Modern Defense Opening Theory - 5 Video Playlist -  Hanging Pawns (Almost 2 hrs)
  Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Modern Defense! -6 Video Playlist  - Chess Giant (New - 6/4/24)
  
  

• Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Modern Defense! - 23 Min - Chess Giant 
  
  Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Modern Defense with …a6!!!! - 28 Min - Chess Giant - In this video, we look over some of the most dangerous concepts in chess openings for black including the Modern Defense, Pirc Defense, Czech Pirc Defense, and Hippopotamus Defense. These openings may be slightly different, but have many similarities in terms of overall chess opening ideas, chess opening strategy, and chess opening principles.
  
  How To Win with the Pirc & Modern Defenses - GM Fabien Libiszewski - 29 Min - In this video, Grandmaster and opening theoretician Fabien Libiszewski explores the many tactical opportunities and strategic plans available to Black in the Pirc and Modern defenses. It is a free preview of his brand new 8-hour in-depth training designed to give you a lifetime repertoire for Black.
  
  MODERN DEFENSE - GURGENIDZE VARIATION - 20 Min - Introduction to the Modern Defense - Gurgenidze Variation. 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6. Learn how to play with Black pieces against e4 opening. Winning with the Modern Defense.
  
  TOP Opening TRAPS | 🔥🔥 | Hikaru Modern Defense 2021 - 5 Min - Black's set-up: Gurgenidze variation g7-g6 ,Bg7 with c7-c6 and d7-d5- Modern Defence Hybrid between Modern Defense and Caro-Kann where you can set opening traps early on for White. Win quickly with Black following online chess superstar GM Hikaru Nakamura.
  
  Beat the London system | Burn it down with the modern defense! - 19 Min - With all the talking and praising for the white side of the London System over the last years, it´s time to try to take it apart with black. And what better way to do it than simply using my favourite Modern Defense
  
  Beat the Jobava London with the Pirc/Modern Defense  - 17 Min - Last time i showed how to beat the traditional London system with the modern defense, and since then i found out that white often tries to counter my idea by using the Jobava system in the london, so today i bring you an antidote against that as well
  
  The Modern Defense | Play the modern by Shirov with ...c6 - 30 Min - Continuing with my favourite Modern defenses, here´s the one Shirov used to play regularly, making ...d6 and then the more unusual...c6, often with the idea of expanding the queen side pawns.
  
  The Modern Defense, Tartakower variation ( or the rat) - 30 Min - This opening was my bread and butter when i started playing chess, and it is now one that i still play and i do so with both colors. The interesting thing for me is to show you my whole story with it, playing it at first with black for more than 7 years, and after that resolving what to do against it with white. Enjoy!
  
  

• Play Against The Modern Lessons

• Universal Killer Attack vs Modern & Pirc!! - 13 Min IM Perunovic - Presents a chess strategy known as the Universal Killer Attack, which is effective against both the Modern and Pirc defenses. 
  
  Beat Modern Defense as White: Chess Opening Secrets - 3 Min - Coach Kestony - Discover the ultimate strategies to Beat Modern Defense in chess with this in-depth guide. Offers detailed insights and tactics for chess players looking to improve their opening game when playing as White. Learn how to gain an advantage from the start and outmaneuver your opponent in the Modern Defense opening
  
  Super Fast Analysis on Crushing The Modern Defense!! - 7 Min - IM Pernuovic
  
  
  GM Naroditsky - Naroditsky - Modern Defense - 6 Video playlist

Master Class | Crushing The Modern Defense | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 23 Min

CRUSHING the Modern Defense | Caro-Kann, Gurgenidze System | GM Naroditsky’s Theory Speed Run - 60 Min 

Beginner To Master | Chess Speedrun | C3 Vs Modern (Saragossa) | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 22 Min

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• Modern defense Game Videos (w/Analysis)

• Playlists

• Pirc and Modern Defence  -  113 Video playlist  - kingscrusher - Famous and Instructive Games with detailed analysis

Modern Defense   - 13 Video Playlist  - Jozarovs Chess Channel - Famous and Engine Games w/ analysis

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• GM Moulthun Ly 

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  When To Blow Open The Centre | Pirc/Modern Defence | Speed Run Series | GM Moulthun Ly - 13 Min - Key Takeaways: - Again value the Bishop pair even if the position is not yet fully open - Look for chances to open the centre especially if the opponents king is yet to
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  Preparing A Queenside Attack | Modern Defence | GM Moulthun Ly - 22 Min - Key Takeaways: - A fairly easy attacking setup for Black in this opening is to meet 0-0-0 with a c6-b5-Nd7-Qa5-Nb6 followed by Be6-Rb8-Nc4 attacking ideas - Delay your kingside knight development to stop Bh6 - Go for quick queenside counter play before White attacks on the kingside
  
  Spotting Weaknesses and Setting Up a Queen Trap | Modern Defence | Rapid Training Game - 28 Min -
  
  Unleashing Your Dark-Squared Bishop | Modern Defence Speed Run Series | GM Moulthun Ly - 7 Min - Hi guys, in this series we will do a speed run from Beginner all the way to Master explaining my thoughts along the way.
  
  
  

• GM Bok vs GM Hikaru | Modern Defense | Blitz Chess - 5 Min - GM Benjamin Bok
  
  Extremely Violent Modern Defense Caused The Fire On Board - 11 Min - Chess School - Ivan Sokolov vs Tiger Hillarp Persson Koge op 1997, DEN, rd 7 Modern Defense: Standard Defense (B06)
  
  Modern Defence : Aggressive Pawn Structure : Molina vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Gibraltar 2012 - 20 Min

• THE BEEF EATER | Epic Opening for Black - 42 Min  GothamChess   (Plays 3 Games of this Variation)

• Magnus Carlsen plays the Modern Defence going into the Hippo || vs Kovachev 2003 - 9 Min

• Leela doesn't mind living dangerously | Stockfish vs Leela | Modern Defense - Averbakh System - 22 Min

• Modern Defence: Sokolov vs Shirov France 1994 - 7 Min

• Austrian Exchange Sac Brilliancy || Jovanovic vs Rapport || Modern Defence - 12 Min

• Positional masterpiece in Modern Defence: Schaufelberger vs Ljubojevic - 5 Min

• Amazing Chess Game: Wei Yi vs Magnus Carlsen : Bilbao (2016) · Modern Defense: (B06) - 21 Min

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Decoding Pawn Breaks in Chess: A Complete Guide

 

Strategic Chess Maneuvers
Harnessing the Power of Pawn Breaks

Elevate your chess game with a deep dive into the art of pawn breaks. Uncover the strategic significance of these pivotal maneuvers and learn how to wield them effectively to seize control of the board. With expert insights, instructive articles, and engaging video lessons at your fingertips. Bishops Bounty Pawn Structures Page (Organized Links to Info On over 20 Pawn Structures)

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Books (Free)

(Free Chessable Course)

Judit Polgar: Free Endgame Lesson #2 - 14 Variations on Pawn Breaks 

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Pawn Break Chess Articles

Theory of Pawn Breaks Explained! - Article with 20Min Video Embedded

Typical Pawn Breaks: Ruining the Opponent’s Pawn Structure - Short Article

Pawn Break Prophylaxis  - Article showing a few Games

Pawn Breaks, part 1 -Chess.com Article By GM Magesh and GM Arun

Pawn Breaks -  Nice Article by NM Dana Mackenze

The powerful e5 Pawn break against the Benoni: using it as White, neutralizing it as Black - Huge Article on this Specific Pawn Break

Pawn Breaks - Detailed Guide w/ Embedded Video  - IM Igor Smirnov

Chess Pawn Break: Guide To Using Pawn Breaks in Chess  - Very nice Guide at The Chess Journal

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Pawn Break LiChess Studies

• Demystifying Pawn Breaks - 12 Chapter Study - French , King's Indian and Benoni Structures Discussed
  
  
• Middle Game Pawn Breaks - IQP - 2 Chapter study  (2 Annotated Games)

Progressive Pawn-break Studies - In these progressive studies you are presented with a collection of positions where a forced pawn breakthrough is on the board.

First pawn to queen wins the game.
Pawn Breaks 1/4 - [Easy]: lichess.org/study/ddiidonk
Pawn Breaks 2/4 - [Medium]: lichess.org/study/i4sO9cTx
Pawn Breaks 3/4 - [Hard]: lichess.org/study/lT0Aao3u
Pawn Breaks 4/4 - [Extreme]: lichess.org/study/xKG6VGB8

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

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Pawn Break Video Lessons

NM Dan Heismith

• Learn Chess: NM Dan H on Break Moves = Pawn Breaks - 27 Min (Great Video) - discusses Break Moves, also known as pawn breaks, which are one of the most important strategic concepts in chess.
• Chess - When are Pawn Breaks Good? - 26 Min - shows a variety of pawn breaks (including one in the endgame) and discusses when they are good/bad/OK based on criteria such as the resulting pawn structure & how much they enhance the activity of the pieces.
• Pawn Breaks at the 2022 US Chess Championship - 26 Min - examines every game in the 5th round of the 2022 US Chess Championship with emphasis on "break moves" (pawn breaks).

Pawn Breakthroughs - GM Ben Finegold - 2014.12.23 - 41 Min - guides you through a jungle of tied-up pawns. How do we untangle this mess and break through with a powerful passed pawn? Sacrifices, king position, and more...

Chess Strategy: Pawn Breaks - 20 Min - IM Asaf Givon will help you better understand the theory of pawn breaks.

Everything You Need to Know About Pawn Breaks - 31 Min - Dr Can's Chess Clinic - An extensive strategic overview of pawn breaks. We discuss all major functions of pawn breaks by solving instructive examples.(New - 5/30/24)

Chess Fundamentals #4: Pawn Play - 1.5 hr - Im John Bartholomew - discuss key structural considerations (isolated pawns, doubled pawns, backward pawns, pawn breaks, "hooks")

Why Your Pawn Breaks Aren't Working - 4 Min - IM Max Illingworth - Discusses the importance of pawn structure and pawn breaks in chess, using a game from the Kasparov variation of the Queen’s Gambit Declined as an example.

Jims Chess Channel 

• Top Ten Middlegame Ideas #8: Pawn Breaks - Introduction - 40 Min - - Pawn breaks give you the power to change the structure of the position. 2 Game Examples
• Top Ten Middlegame Ideas #8: Pawn breaks - Conclusion - 35 Min - in-depth analysis of pawn breaks in the middlegame of chess, focusing on their strategic importance and psychological impact. It emphasizes the flexibility pawn breaks offer to the player who initiates them, allowing for maintaining tension, exchanging to open files, or pushing pawns forward. 2 Game Examples
  
  

Svitlana's Smart Moves - Middlegame pawn breaks - 52 Min - ChessBase Video Series - Figure out how to hold the tension in the middlegame, why to hold it, and how to break through with your pawns in the right moment.

Importance of Pawn breaks in Chess - 2.5 hr GM Ramesh - the importance of pawn breaks in chess, highlighting how they can open up positions and provide strategic advantages. It emphasizes the need for careful planning and understanding of the game’s dynamics to effectively utilize pawn breaks.


Pawn Breakthroughs | Principles of Chess Endgames | GM Naroditsky - 47 Min - the endgame master's arsenal: pawn breakthroughs. We examine the 10 most common type of breakthroughs in abstraction, and then put them into practice by analyzing several real-life examples.

Pawn Breaks - 34 Min  FM James Canty - Pawn Breaks and the importance of them! We look at a game, Loek Van Wely vs Thilo Kabisch

Specific Openings

Season 2 Pawn Break - Ruy Lopez - 53 Min FM James Canty - Jose Raul Capablanca vs Edward Lasker in 1913, with a Ruy Lopez.

Under 1400: Preventing Pawn Breaks in the Hedgehog, with NM Spencer Finegold - 58 Min - preventing your opponents’ pawn breaks when Black has a Hedgehog structure. 
Pawn breaks: The Stonewall pawn structures - 1.5 hr  Coach Robert  - We start with two of the totally-blocked pawn structures: the kingside and queenside Stonewalls.

The Devious Decoy Tactic: A Comprehensive Guide

 

The Decoy Tactic:
 A Masterful Way to Lure Your Opponent

Sharpen your chess arsenal with the art of the decoy!

This comprehensive guide equips you with valuable resources to master this deceptive tactic. Explore articles, puzzles, video lessons, and real game examples to identify decoy opportunities, calculate variations, and outsmart your opponents.

The Decoy Tactic in Action:

• Lure the Big Guns: You aim to tempt your opponent's most valuable pieces, like the king or queen, away from their safe zone.

• Sacrifice Smartly: You offer a less valuable piece, often a pawn, to create an attractive target for your opponent.

• Snap the Trap: Once your opponent takes the bait, their captured piece becomes exposed, creating an opening for an attack.

• Exploit the Weakness: This attack can take many forms, like a fork, pin, skewer, or even checkmate!

• Calculated Advantage: You need to think strategically and consider different scenarios to ensure your sacrifice leads to a clear benefit.

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Decoy Chess Articles

Introduction to Chess Tactics: Decoys - Chess Strategy Online Article - This article provides a good overview of the decoy tactic, including how to identify opportunities to use it and how to calculate the consequences of a decoy sacrifice. 5 Example Problems at the end.

Tactics 101: Devious Decoy Sacrifices – Baiting the Wins - Real Nice Article w/ Different Piece Decoy Explanations and examples.

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Decoy LiChess Studies

Sharpen your tactical vision with these exceptional Lichess studies on the decoy tactic!

• Learning About Decoys - 7 Chapter Interactive Study
  
  
• Decoy - 21 Chapter Study with Lessons and Problems (Very Nice!)
  
  
• Tactics by motif 2: Decoy - 64 Chapter Interactive Study - Amazing Study (Decoys from 30 Famous Games and another 34 Examples all for you to practice interactively)
  
  
• Decoys - NM Ralph Tan - 12 Chapter Study - All Decoys from actual Games.

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

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Games Databases

Chessgames.com

These collections of games from Chessgames.com features games where a decoy tactic was used to win the game. Studying these games can help you see how decoy tactics are used in practical play.

• Decoy - 106 Game Collection 
  
  
• TACTICS. DECOY 39 Game Collection 
  

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Decoy Chess Video Lessons

Decoys: Dupe the Defender | Beginner Breakdown - NM Ralph Tan - 58 Min - St.Louis Chess Club -  a chess class on decoys. A decoy is a tactic that lures an enemy piece off its square and away from its defensive role.

Chess Tactics: Decoy - 9 Min - TheChessWebsite - in-depth explanation of the decoy tactic in chess, which involves luring an opponent’s piece to a disadvantageous square, often through sacrifice. The presenter, Kevin from thechesswebsite.com, demonstrates various scenarios where decoys can be effectively used to gain material advantage or to expose the opponent’s king to a mating pattern.

Chess lesson # 38: Decoy vs Deflection | Chess tactics with National Master Robert Ramirez - 9 Min - In this video, National Master Robert Ramirez explains the chess tactics of deflection and decoy. He clarifies the differences between the two, provides examples, and demonstrates how to practice these tactics. Deflection involves distracting a defender to achieve an objective, while a decoy lures an opponent’s piece into a disadvantageous position.

Trapping your Opponent with a Decoy | Chess Tactics | Improver Level | IM Kostya Kavutskiy - 9 Min - a lesson on the decoy tactic in chess, explaining its distinction from deflection and demonstrating its application through classic game examples. He emphasizes the importance of observation skills in identifying decoys and provides tips for spotting such tactics in play.

28 Days To Better Chess Tactics - Day 21 - Decoy Attacking Chess - 7 Min - provides insights into advanced chess tactics focusing on the decoy technique. It features three positions from famous games, demonstrating how to use decoys to gain a tactical advantage. The presenter explains each position, highlighting the importance of forcing moves and the consequences of different decisions.

Chess Tactics, Decoy, Examples - 5 Min

Secrets of Chess Tactics | Decoy Tactic Stunningly beautiful secrets revealed | Everything you need! - 30 Min - Kingcrusher - delves into the intricacies of chess tactics, specifically focusing on the decoy tactic. It provides definitions, distinguishes between decoy and deflection, and presents numerous examples from chess history to illustrate the tactic’s effectiveness. 

"The decoy is one of the chief tricks in the tactics of chess." - Max Euwe