Showing posts with label Chess Tactic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chess Tactic. Show all posts

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Don't Let Them Escape! A Guide to Trapping Your Opponent's Pieces in Chess

 

Knight Chess Piece Trapped against a wall in spider webbing


Mastering the Art of Trapping Chess Pieces: Your Ultimate Guide

Don't Let Them Escape! Mastering the Art of Trapping Chess Pieces

Have you ever captured your opponent's queen in chess? It feels amazing, right? But how do you get your opponent's powerful pieces into such a vulnerable position? That's where trapping comes in!

A trapped piece is one that can't move to a safe square. This means you can capture it easily, gaining a big advantage in the game. It might be a sneaky knight stuck between your pawns, a bishop cornered by your king, or even the mighty queen with nowhere to run!

Learning how to trap pieces is a powerful skill for any chess player. It can turn the tide of a game and leave your opponent in a difficult spot. This guide will show you how to do just that! We'll break down the basics of trapping, explore different trapping patterns, and provide you with resources to practice your newfound skills. So buckle up, chess warriors, and prepare to unleash your inner trap master!



Books (Courses)

Trapped Pieces for Intermediates 2 page PDF - 8 Examples This concise resource is geared towards intermediate players who want to refine their trapping skills. It provides eight clear examples of trapping tactics, ideal for focused learning. 


Articles to Sharpen Your Trapping Skills

Trapping Pieces - Chess.com Article by WGM Natalia_PogoninaA beginner-friendly guide to basic trapping tactics.

Teaching Kids how to Trap Pieces - Article From The Chess Improver Blog- An article geared towards helping young players learn about trapping.

Kevin Smith Chess.com Blog
(Bunch of Nice Posts and Chess Lessons)
For an in-depth exploration of trapping tactics, dive into the treasure trove of articles. His "Secrets of Trapping Pieces" series is a comprehensive guide, dissecting various trapping scenarios. Smith's insightful analysis equips you to handle every trapping situation. This blog is a one-stop shop for mastering the art of trapping your opponent's pieces!
Secrets of Trapping Pieces: Boden Configuration - Blog Post
Secrets of Trapping Pieces: B+P v Knight -  Blog Post
Secrets of Trapping Pieces: Can B+N beat N? - Blog Post
Secrets of Trapping Pieces: Pawns versus Knight Blog Post
Knights and Foot Soldiers Hunting Her Majesty Blog Post

Secrets of Trapping Pieces: Rook versus Knight Part 1 of 2 - Blog Post
Secrets of Trapping Pieces: Rook versus Knight Part 2 of 2 - Blog Post

Secrets of Trapping Pieces: Knight versus Knight Blog Post
Secrets of Trapping Pieces--King versus Knight - Blog Post

Secrets of Trapping Pieces--Bishop Dominated by Pawns Part 1 of 5 - Blog Post
Secrets of Trapping Pieces--Bishop Dominated by Pawns Part 2 of 5 - Blog Post
Secrets of Trapping Pieces--Bishop Dominated by Pawns Part 3 of 5 - Blog Post
Secrets of Trapping Pieces--Bishop Dominated by Pawns Part 4 of 5 - Blog Post
Secrets of Trapping Pieces--Bishop Dominated by Pawns Part 5 of 5 - Blog Post

Secrets of Trapping Pieces: Bishop Dominated by Rook + Pawn - Blog Post
Secrets of Trapping Pieces: Epaulette Configuration - Blog Post
Fianchettoed Rook - Blog Post
 


LiChess Studies: Sharpen Your Trapping Skills Interactively

Take your trapping skills to the next level with LiChess, a free online chess platform offering interactive studies. Here are some highly-rated studies to explore:


Trapping pieces - 36 Chapter Study (Really Nice) - This comprehensive study delves deep into various trapping tactics, providing a well-rounded learning experience. 

Trapping Pieces EXERCISE - 10 ChapterEnhance your understanding by actively solving puzzles and practicing your trapping skills in this interactive study.

Trapping Pieces - 35 Chapter StudyThis beginner-friendly study breaks down trapping tactics for each piece (queen, rook, etc.), allowing you to focus on specific weaknesses and improve your overall trapping strategy. Even new players can start with basic trapping patterns for pawns and knights!

Trapped Pieces -  17 Chapter Study -  Learn from real-world examples! This study showcases 9 full games featuring 10 different trapping patterns used by strong players.


Game Databases: Analyze Real-World Trapping Tactics

Witness trapping tactics in action! Explore these online game Collections to see how skilled players have executed various trapping maneuvers in actual games.

Chessgames.com

Trapped Piece Tactic-- OTB Examples - 37 Game Collection

Trapped Piece - 71 Game CollectionThis broader collection allows you to explore a wider range of trapping situations 

TRAPPED PIECES! TRAPPED PIECES! TRAPPED PIECES! - 52 Game Collection

Trapped Queen - 80 Game CollectionA focused collection showcasing the dramatic downfall of powerful queens. This can be particularly interesting for players who want to learn how to exploit queen vulnerabilities.

Knight trapped? Rescue it with adjacent pawn. - 4 game CollectionThis specific collection can be a valuable resource for beginners who might be more familiar with basic knight movement and want to understand how pawns can be used for defense.

Tip: While exploring these game databases, pay close attention to the piece placement and the moves that led to the trapped piece. This will help you identify patterns and improve your ability to set traps in your own games.


Trapping Pieces Chess Video Lessons

Elevate your trapping skills by watching insightful video lessons from experienced chess instructors. Whether you prefer quick explanations or in-depth analysis, you'll find a lesson that suits your needs:


The ULTIMATE Trapping Technique | ChessKid
 - 7 MinIdeal for beginners, this short video by ChessKid introduces basic trapping concepts in a clear and engaging way.

Restraining and Trapping Bad Pieces | Chess Middlegames
 - 21 Min - Hanging Pawns - Dive deeper with this comprehensive lesson that explores not just trapping, but also restraining your opponent's pieces, a crucial middlegame strategy.

Chess Tactics: Trapped Pieces!
 -  8 Min -  Presented by International Master Danial Tapia, this video showcases real-world examples of trapping tactics used by Grandmasters. Analyze these high-level games and learn from the best!

Trapping Bad Pieces in the Middlegame | Chess Tactics
 - 7 Min Another lesson by an International Master, Kostya Kavutskiy, focusing specifically on trapping tactics within the middlegame.

8 Ways To TRAP Pieces In Chess - 14 MinNational Master Nelson Lopez breaks down eight different trapping methods in this informative video. This is a great resource for players seeking a broader understanding of various trapping techniques. (Video below)


Monday, July 18, 2022

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.


Attraction Chess Articles

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

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



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.


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



Attraction Video Lessons



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

Oil painting of a pawn gazing into a mirror, reflecting a powerful king. Vivid blue hues and geometric shapes create a striking illusion.
"The lure is often stronger than the truth." 

Monday, July 6, 2009

Chess Pattern Recognition - Tactics

"Pattern Recognition" (Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism). Distorted chessboard, giant queen with patterns/symbols, colorful vortex background (chess possibilities).
"Chess is a sea of possibilities." - Savielly Tartakower 


See Winning Moves  
 Master Chess Pattern Recognition

This guide is your one-stop shop for mastering chess pattern recognition! From classic checkmates to strategic traps, learn to identify winning opportunities and become a chess pattern recognition pro.

Bishop's Bounty Checkmate Pattern Page
(Links to Pages and Pages of Mating Pattern resources)




BOOKS & Courses (Free)


FREE Chessable Course

Basic Checkmate Patterns -  34 Mates w/ 74 min Free Video - MoveTrainer™ Tactics course by CraftyRaf & IM John Bartholomew - 

🕒 Lesson 1: Anastasia's mate, Greco's mate, Arabian mate, Hook mate,Vuković's mate, and Smothered mate
🕒 Lesson 2: Suffocation mate, Corner mate, Morphy's mate, Pillsbury's mate, Lolli's mate and Opera/Mayet's mate
🕒 Lesson 3: Damiano’s mate, Max Lange’s mate, Damiano’s Bishop mate, Dovetail / Cozio’s mate, Swallow’s tail / Gueridon mate, and David & Goliath / pawn mate
🕒 Lesson 4: Boden's mate, Balestra mate, Double knights and double bishops mate, Blackburne's mate, and the blind swine mate.
🕒 Lesson 5: Epaulette mate, Back rank mate, Lawnmower mate, Triangle mate, Killbox mate, Fool's mate, Scholar's mate and Legal's mate. 

(This is a pretty simple course you Can do in about 10-15 Mins. Use the MoveTrainer to Practice all of these problems a couple times a day until they become second nature)

(Really Cant beat this if you want to learn a bunch of these patterns. Can use there Movetrainer to practice all of these patterns)


Articles on Chess Patterns

GM Gregory Serper 
 (This is a nice set of Articles of patterns you see in games)


Mating Patterns 1 - Mate with Bishop & Rook 
Kenilworth Chess Club - 15 Famous games where a Bishop and Rook Mate pattern used.

The Complete Checkmate Patterns List (with examples) - GM Avetik 
(37 Checkmating Patterns w/ explanation and Example)


LiChess Studies 
(Some Really Nice Studies Here to Learn Each Pattern)


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.


Chess Videos on Pattern Recognition 

 (Mating patterns, Tactical Patterns, Strategic Patterns and Endgame Patterns) 

@1:23 Mate pattern #1 - Anastasia mate @6:30 Mate pattern #2 - Boden's mate @10.28 Mate pattern #3 - Blackburne's mate (called Stefansson mate in the video) @13:32 Tactical pattern #1 - Undefended bishop on b7 in hedgehog type positions @20:53 Strategic pattern #1 - Gligoric's pawn sacrifice @33:33 Technical pattern #1 - Self pushing rook + two pawns @36:06 Technical pattern #2 - Queen ending, pushing and defending against checks

@1:25 Mate pattern #4 - Anand's mate: Qf3 + h-file battery @8:45 Mate pattern #5 - Bacrot's mate: Qf7 + check on h-file @14:04 Mate pattern #6 - Stellwagen mate: Ba7-g1 diagonal, pawn g4, Qh3 mates Kg2 @19:18 Mate pattern #7 - Arabic mate (Kramnik mate in video) Rg8 or h7 with Nf6 mates Kh8 Endgame pattern #1 - Philidor positon plus thoughts on f- and g- pawns in R+p vs R

Exercises from previous videos @3:46 Strategical pattern #2 - Anand's King @20:20 Tactical pattern #2 - Loman's move @27:43 Tactical pattern #3 - Knight on the rim

Tests from earlier PR videos @6:48 Tacitcal pattern #4 - Petrosian's move @17:52 Tactical pattern #5 - Protecting b2 @23:28 Mate pattern #8 - The Karpov choke

1. Exercises from previous PR's 2. @11:33 Shutting down Spassky 3. @25:36 Engels' Superpawn


               LIchess Study games  - Game Examples from this Video




                    Game With This Pattern - 14 Min
                    Another Video of This Pattern - 16 Min