Free Guide to the Discovered Attack: Chess Tactics!

Enhance Your Chess Tactics: 

Mastering the Discovered Attack

The chessboard is a battleground of cunning strategy and tactical brilliance. Among the weapons in your arsenal, the discovered attack stands out for its deceptive power.

With a simple move, you can unleash a double threat, often leaving your opponent scrambling for defense. This guide equips you with a treasure trove of resources to master this tactic and elevate your chess game.

This section dives into a variety of resources, from free books and articles to interactive studies and video lessons. So, whether you're a seasoned player or a curious beginner, you'll find the perfect tools to hone your discovered attack skills. Let's explore!

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BOOKS (FREE)

English Chess Federation Discovered Attacks - 6 Page PDF - This concise guide from the English Chess Federation provides a clear explanation of the discovered attack concept along with 12 problem worksheets to test your newfound skills.

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Discovered Attack Chess Articles

Introduction to Chess Tactics: Discovered attack - (Nice Article with examples and Quiz): This article offers a clear introduction to discovered attacks, including examples and a quiz to test your understanding. It even delves into double checks and windmills for a well-rounded learning experience.

The Dreaded Discovered Attack - Improve your discovered attack mastery with IM Silman's insightful lesson on Chess.com. This resource dives deep with various examples and scenarios to solidify your tactical understanding.

10 Discovered Attack - Problems -  Sharpen your skills with this collection of 10 discovered attack puzzles.

Collection of discovered-attack exercises - Test your newfound knowledge with another set of 24 discovered attack exercises.

Discovered Attack: How To Make Your Opponent “Discover” That They’re About To Lose - Chess Journal Article - Spice up your learning with this engaging article from Chess Journal. It showcases 3 practical examples to help you see how discovered attacks can turn the tide in your favor.

Sometimes, the greatest strength lies in
revealing the power hidden within the shadows.

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Games Databases

Analyze real-world examples!

• OTB Games with Discovered attack Tactic - 57 Games
• More OTB Games w/ Discovered Attack - 52 Games 
• Discovered Attack with Check - 19 Games

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Discovered Attack LiChess Studies 

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools are fantastic resources for exploring chess concepts and variations move-by-move. Perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge, Lichess studies let you work through positions at your own pace. Here are some great options to hone your discovered attack skills:

• Discovered Attack -  10 Chapter  Interactive Examples - (Lichess Mate Practice Page): Get started with this 10-problem interactive page 
  
  
• Discovered Attacks and Checks - 60 Chapter Interactive Study - Delve deeper with this comprehensive 60-chapter interactive study that explores both discovered attacks and checks. (Highly recommended!)
  
  
• Discovered Attack - 12 Chapter Interactive Study -This 12-chapter study offers a fully interactive experience, including windmills and discovered checks, to truly solidify your understanding.
  
  
• Beginner Tactics Discovered Attack - 32 Chapter Study - This 32-chapter study caters to beginners by providing a more lesson-based approach with analysis for each position.

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Discovered Attack Chess Video Lessons

Expand your visual learning with these informative video lessons on the discovered attack:

Chess lesson # 27: Discovered check and attack | Chess Tactics | Learn Chess the right way  -10 Min - NM Ramirez explores various scenarios where discovered attacks and checks can be applied, highlighting their effectiveness in gaining material advantage or delivering checkmate.

Creating multiple Threats with the Discovered Attack | Chess Tactics | IM Alex Astaneh - 20 Min -IM Alex Astaneh dedicates 20 minutes to demonstrating the power of the discovered attack. This lesson delves into the tactic's nuances, helping you understand why it's such a valuable weapon in your chess arsenal. 
The 5 Most Amazing Discovered Checks in Chess - 9 Min GM Williams - Take a fascinating journey through chess history with GM Williams! This 9-minute video breaks down the five most incredible discovered checks ever played, showcasing the brilliance of legendary players like Garry Kasparov and Viswanathan Anand. 

Chess Tactics Discovered Attacks - 6 Min  - Solidify your foundational understanding of discovered attacks with this clear and concise 6-minute video explanation.

Chess for Beginners with GM Ronen Har-Zvi (Discovered Attack!) - 30 Min -New to chess? GM Ronen Har-Zvi delivers a beginner-friendly 30-minute lecture (Video Below) at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, covering discovered attacks in all their forms.

King - Pawn Endings - (Endgame Theory)

 

 

 King and Pawn Endgames:
 The Key to Chess Victory

King and Pawn Endgames are the final act of a chess game, where the forces on the board have dwindled, and the focus intensifies. Here, a single pawn, the underdog of the chess world, takes center stage. Its successful promotion to a powerful queen can spell victory, while its capture can lead to a frustrating draw. Understanding these critical positions is essential for any chess player who wants to:

• Convert Winning Advantages: Many winning positions boil down to a King and Pawn Endgame. Knowing how to maneuver your king and escort your pawn to promotion ensures you capitalize on your hard-earned edge.
  
  
• Salvage Stalemates: Sometimes, complex middlegame positions can simplify into King and Pawn Endgames. If you grasp these endgames, you might be able to salvage a draw from a seemingly lost position.
  
  
• Avoid Blunders: King and Pawn Endgames can be deceptively tricky. A seemingly simple misstep can cost you the game. Mastering these endgames equips you with the knowledge to navigate them confidently and avoid throwing away precious points.

This guide curates the best free resources to equip you with the knowledge and skills to conquer King and Pawn Endgames. With the help of ebooks, interactive studies, puzzles, and video lessons from top chess instructors, you'll be well on your way to mastering this crucial endgame skillset.

Bishops Bounty Corresponding Squares Page

Bishop's Bounty Triangulation Page

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Books & Courses (Free)

Chess Endings - UK School 89 Page PDF  (Nice Study Guide with worksheets)
Pawn Endings (Part 1) - 4 page PDF (Handout)

Internet Archive

• A Guide To Chess Endings by Max Euwe, David Hooper - 252 Page PDF
• Begin Chess by Manuel Aaron - 262 Page PDF

Chessable

• Basic Endgames - FREE Chessable Course - 191 Endgames (First 45 are K+P)   Practice all of them with the Movetrainer

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King & Pawn Chess Articles

Theoretical Pawn Endgames - All You Need to Know U2000 Level - ChessMood - What are the most important King and pawn endgame positions that you must know? GM Gabuzyan shares them in this article. (Really Nice Page)

How to Win a King and Pawn vs King Endgame - Very nice article and in depth
- Understanding the Square
- How to Promote a Pawn vs a Lone King
- Rook Pawns are Usually Drawn
- How to Draw with a Lone King vs a Pawn and King
- Positions to Test Yourself

Ultimate Guide to Pawn Endgames -  Pretty Amazing Page With Lessons on Many of the Basic Pawn Endgame Need to Know Topics.

Pawn Endgame: How To Win Pawn Endgames -  The Chess Journal -Covers Most of the Basics w/ puzzles at end

The Floating Square | Split Pawns vs Connected Pawns in the Endgame - Nice Well Done Lesson

The Chess World

• 3 Must-Know Ideas in Pawn Endgames - WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
  
  
• 5 King and Pawn Endgame Tricks Every Chess Player Must Know - Yury Markushin

Chess.com Articles

• Pawn Endgames: A Practical Guide - Gm Daniel Naroditsky  - a brief (but hopefully rewarding) introduction to pawn endgames. Opposition, Pawn races & Pawn Breakthroughs
• Pawn Endgames - Easy to Hard (with puzzles and analysis) - seven different pawn endgames from my own games. They start easier, but get harder as they go.
• Pawn endgames - WGM Tijana Mandura -Direct, Distant and Diagonal Opposition Article
• Pawn Endgames - Easy, Yet Difficult - GM Alexander Ipotov - annotated two of my games, including the one against Tarjan, and found few more games played by world-class players who misplayed their respective pawn endgames!
• Pawn Endgames: Beauty and the Beast - WIM Irena Zenyuk - The article emphasizes the importance of creating passed pawns and the intricate plans required for both offense and defense in pawn endgames.

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King & Pawn LiChess Studies

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.

King and Pawn Endgames 1 - 60 Chapter Study (One at the top of the Page)

King and Pawn Endgames 2 -  5 Chapter interactive Study

Beginner Opposition -  6 Chapter Study

Interactive Studies

• Pawn Endgames - 8 Chapter Interactive Study - All lessons
• Pawn Endgames 🧩 - 12 Chapter Interactive Study - A bunch of Learning Puzzles
• King and Pawn ENDGAMES - 10 Chapter Interactive Study - Active King and Passed Pawns

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Games Database - K & P Endings

Chessgames.com (Collections)

• K&P Endgames  - 26 Games
  
  
• King and Pawn Endgames - 32 Games

By studying both collections, you'll gain valuable insights into the nuances of King and Pawn Endgames and how they arise from various middlegame situations.

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King & Pawn Endgame Video Lessons

1) King and Pawn Endgames

 
a) Foundational King and Pawn Endgame Positions

• EASY CHESS ENDGAMES: King & Pawns  -21 min - IM Rozman
  
  
• King & Pawn Endgames Crash Course 20 Min NM Nelson Lopez
  
  
• Key Squares in King and Pawn Endgames-part1 15 min IM Astraneh
  
• Key Squares in King and Pawn Endgames | Part 2 13 Min IM Astraneh
• Key Squares in King and Pawn Endgames | Part 3 22 Min IM Astraneh
  
  
• Pawn Endgames you Must Know | Kids' Class - GM Cristian Chirila - 33 Min
  
  
• Introduction to Pawn Endgames | GM Naroditsky - 30 Min
  
  
• Opposition and Outflanking | Beginner Breakdown - 60 Min - ST.Louis CC - a beginner chess class on opposition and outflanking your opponent.
  

 b) Intermediate Pawn Endgame Ideas

• The 3 most important Endgame Principles in King and Pawn Endgames 14 Min IM Astraneh - Outside Passed Pawn, Pawn breakthrough, Rule of the Square
  
  
• Chess Endgames: Converting the Extra Pawn - 7 Min - FM Kostya Kavutskiy discusses the general strategy on how to win a king and pawn endgame with a single pawn extra
  
  
• Chess Endgames: The Reti Idea 7 Min IM Cruze
  
  
• King and Pawn Endgames - 47Min GM Ben Finegold - the importance of understanding opposition, triangulation, and zugzwang in endgame play, as well as the role of pawn structure in achieving victory.
  
  
• Pawn Majority - winning practical endgames - 17 Min - IM Asaf Givon achieved a kingside pawn majority very early in the opening and, after that, his practical endgame knowledge simply assured him the win.
  
  
• These are very hard pawns to queen!! How to Use Sixth rank rule! - 10 Min - Robert Plunkets Chess Lab - Connected passed pawns and getting a Queen (New 5/29/24)

 c) More Complicated Pawn Endings

• Difficult King & Pawn Endings | Endgame Exclam!! - 45 Min GM Ben Finegold - shows king and pawn positions from and inspired by real grandmaster games. Opposition and other themes are explored, and these positions are difficult to calculate.
  
  
• INSANELY Instructive Pawn Endgame | Distant Opposition - 8 Min - use concepts like Distant or Diagonal Opposition to realize a very original winning plan.
  
  
• Unbelievable and illogical pawn endgame! - 20 Min -GM Mykhaylo Oleksiyenko - Simple looking Endgame that is Incredibly difficult to figure out even for a GM.
  
  
• Advanced Pawn Endgame Concepts | GM Naroditsky - 68 Min - We examine the 9 most important king use techniques, and then put them into practice by carefully analyzing a wealth of real-life examples.

 

d) Pawn Breakthroughs

• Pawn Breakthroughs | Chess Middlegames - 21 Min - First Half has pawn and King endgane Breakthroughs
  
  
• How to Endgame #2 | Pawn Breakthroughs - 17 Min - IM Andreas Toth - in-depth tutorial on pawn breakthroughs in chess endgames, emphasizing the importance of calculation and visualization skills.
  
  
• 6 INSTRUCTIVE & TRICKY PAWN BREAKTHROUGHS - 13 Min - Chess Geek - goes over 6 tricky and instructive pawn breakthroughs that will solidity your understanding of pawn breakthroughs and show you how to use the idea of pawn breakthroughs to win seemingly unwinnable positions
  
  
• Pawn Breakthroughs | Principles of Chess Endgames | GM Naroditsky - 47 Min - We examine the 10 most common type of breakthroughs in abstraction, and then put them into practice by analyzing several real-life examples.

 

Bishop Endings: A Comprehensive Guide for Chess Players

Bishop Endgame Resources:
 A Comprehensive Guide

Mastering bishop endgames is crucial for chess improvement. This guide provides a curated list of resources to help you excel in these key situations.
 

Wikipedia Articles
Opposite Colored Bishop Endgame - Rather large Wikipedia page on this topic
Wrong bishop - Page Dedicated to this one topic

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Bishop Endgame Articles

Bishop Endgame Strategies: Dominate the endgame with expert bishop tactics, techniques, and winning concepts.

Understanding Bishop Endgames:

• How to use the Bishop - 6 Page Article about Bishops with some Endgame Info Also.
  
  
• Materialism , Opposite Colored Bishops, and Kasparovs Theorem - Chess.com Article by GM Vbhat - Analyze a game showcasing the complexities of material vs. opposite-colored bishops.
  
  
• Bishop Endgames - Exeter Chess Club Page (Comprehensive Guide): Deep dive into various bishop endgames, including in-depth articles and studies.
  
  
• Double Bishop Endgames - Exeter Chess Club - (Specialized Guide): Explore complexities and strategies specific to double bishop endgames.
  
  

Bishop Endgame Strategies:

• The Chess World: Chess Fortress   -(FM Yuriy Krykun): Learn the surprising concept of sacrificing material to build a winning "fortress" in specific Bishop endgames.
  
  
• The Chess World: Bishop Endgames with Karpov   - (WGM Raluca Sgîrcea & IM Renier Castellanos): Analyze endgames featuring the legendary Karpov's bishop mastery (4 example games).
  
  
• The Chess World: Rook vs. Bishop Endgame   -(Yury Markushin): Gain valuable tactics and techniques for drawing rook vs. bishop endgames.
  
  
• The Chess World: Opposite Colored Bishops Endgame   - (Yury Markushin): Master key concepts and strategies for opposite-colored bishop endgames.
  
  

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LICHESS Bishop Endgame Studies

Sharpen your bishop skills with these Lichess studies!

• Bishop And Pawn Endgames  - 25 Chapter Study - Master fundamental bishop and pawn endgames in this comprehensive study (rated highly with 106 hearts).
  
  
• Bishop endgames  19 Chapter Interactive Study - Put your skills to the test by playing against the computer in various bishop endgame scenarios (includes lessons).
  
  
• same-coloured bishop endgames  - 2 Chapter Study
  
  
• Endgames 3 (Opposite colored bishop) - 10 Chapter Study - Well Done study with nice Lessons
  
  
• Practice: Bishop And Pawn Endgames:  - 25 Chapter Interactive Study - Great Group of Positions to play against the computer.
  
  
• Bishop Pair Endgames  - 15 Chapter Study  (15 Really Nice Annotated 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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Bishop Endgame Video Lessons

a) Bishop Endings General

Master essential bishop endgame concepts with these video lessons:

Bishop Endgames - GM Varuzhan Akobian - 54 Min - Grandmaster Var Akobian takes us through opposite-colored and like-colored Bishop endgames. Turn an apparent drawn position into a winning one. Hold an apparent lost position to a draw. Not everything you've heard about Bishop endgames is true. Also, learn the benefits of triangulation.

Force that Bishop to the Short Diagonal! - 24 Min GM Akobian - Grandmaster Varuzhan Akobian explores bishop endgames. Evaluate opposite-colored bishop positions. When the bishops are on the same color, learn to bully a bishop from a long diagonal to a short one to promote a pawn.

Checkmate with 2 Bishop - 10 min Video - This video illustrates how to checkmate with two bishops. I provide a systematic approach to solving this unlikely chess ending.

Bishop and Pawn vs Same colored Bishop - 10 min Video - I show an endgame discussed in Aron Nimzovitch's 'My System' in which a Bishop is able to display a number of tricky maneuvers to ultimately win control of the Queening Square.

The 5 Bishop Endgames All ChessKids Must Know! - 15 Min

Bishop Endgames Crash Course - Bishop And Pawn Endings Fundamentals - 11 Min - Learn fundamental bishop and pawn endgames: winning tactics, basic concepts, and key ideas for beginners and intermediate players

How to win Bishop and pawn Endgames with the 2 Weaknesses Principle! - 10 Min - Robert Plunketts Chess Lab - (New 5/29/24)

b) Same Color Bishop Endgames

Demystify the challenges and opportunities of same-colored bishop endgames:

 

• GM Magesh Panchanathan: Same Color Bishop Endgames | U.S. Chess School - 61 Min - discussing key concepts, strategies, and common mistakes. He emphasizes the importance of understanding which diagonal the bishop should be on and how to manipulate it to achieve a winning position or secure a draw. 
  
  
• Same-Color Bishop Endgames | Endgame Exclam!! - GM Cristian Chirila  - 43 Min - presents an advanced lecture on the conversion and defense of endgames where each side has a bishop on like-colored squares.
• Same-Color Bishop Endgames, with NM Spencer Finegold - 54 Min - w/ analysis of 4 top level Games.

c) Opposite Color Bishop Endgames

Not all opposite-colored bishop endgames are draws! Explore winning techniques and essential strategies:

• GM Neiksans Boot Camp #15 - Opposite Color Bishop Endgames  - (Almost 2 Hr ) -GM Neiksans explores winning techniques in opposite-colored bishop endgames
  
  
• The Opposite Color Bishops | Endgame Class - NM Caleb Denby - 58 min - National Master Caleb Denby looks at opposite color bishop endgames. Start with the "bare bones" of the situation and then work up with more pawns being added to the board.
• Opposite Colored Bishops Endgames | Endgame Strategy | Intermediate Level | IM Andrey Ostrovskiy  - 16 Min -  IM Andrey Ostrovskiy will teach you the basic theory of opposite colored bishop endgames.
• How to Win the Opposite-colored Bishop Endgames? - 20 Min - Remote Chess Academy -  IM Asaf Givon has prepared a very instructive video lesson for you on a tricky topic – Opposite-colored Bishop Endgames! In this lesson, he will teach you how to win and defend in such endgames with the instructive examples - games of Mikhail Tal, Paul Keres, Veselin Topalov, Ding Liren, and more.
• Opposite Color Bishops: Know the Rules | Insane in the Endgame - GM Josh Friedel - 60 min - Learn the "rules" of opposite color bishop games.
• Opposite-Color Bishop Endgames | Grandmaster's Choice - GM Dariusz Swiercz - 50 Min - Grandmaster Daro Swiercz looks at chess games where opposite-color bishop endgames occurred. Usually, these types lead to draws. However, that is not always the case. See different scenarios where the pawn structure made the difference.
• Key Tips for Endgames w/ Opposite Colored Bishops | Dojo Lessons  - 24 min  Chess Dojo - The video provides an in-depth analysis of a chess game focusing on the endgame with opposite-colored bishops. It discusses strategic moves, tactical errors, and principles for winning such endgames.
  
  
• IM Kassa Korley: Opposite Colored Bishop Endgames | US Chess School - 56 Min - IM Kassa Korley delivers a lecture on opposite colored bishop endgames w/ 6 Example games.

Opening Tactics

Defense Opening Tactics:

Sharpen Your Chess From the First Move

Articles

Opening Tactics - (Chess.com Blog Post): This article dives into the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, a dynamic opening that can lead to sharp tactical positions.

25 Best Opening Chess Traps and Tricks -  (Chess.com Blog): Looking for some sneaky tricks to surprise your opponent? This list is a great resource.

Opening Failures And How to Avoid Them - IM Jeremy Silman - To improve, one must study simple openings, understand the ideas, plans, and typical patterns associated with them.

How to Stop Blunders: The Ultimate Grandmaster Guide - ChessMood - Uncover the reasons why blunders happen and learn practical strategies to reduce them.

LiChess Studies

Opening Tactics - 30 Chapter Interactive Study - Common opening tactics and Themes from different Openings all done in an interactive style.

Opening Puzzles 

LiChess Opening Puzzles Page - Every Opening under the Sun.  Millions of Puzzles. You Can Set level of Difficiulty. 

WTHarvey (30,000 Puzzles) - Go to the opening Section and Pick your opening to practice tactics.

Video Lessons

Basic Opening Traps  - 66 Video Playlist - Chessbase India - IM Sagar Shah - Master the art of exploiting common opening traps with this comprehensive video playlist by IM Sagar Shah.

4 Clever Ways To Win Pieces In The Opening - Chess Tactics, Tricks, Strategies - NM Nelson Lopez - This video goes beyond traps and showcases practical tactics and ideas you can use in various opening positions.
 
Beginners' Openings and Tactics - GM Varuzhan Akobian - 56 Min - St.Louis CC - Learn sound opening principles and essential tactics for beginners with Grandmaster Varuzhan Akobian

Top 3 Opening Tactics for Beginners | ChessKid - 4 Min - FunMasterMike will show you how to survive some of the most common opening tricks with three easy tactics.

Stunning Chess Opening Tricks & Traps | Amazing Moves, Tactics & Ideas - 9 Min - some of the best traps & gambits from which I will show you some brilliant chess opening tactics & ideas for both the white & black pieces.

Laying the Foundation:
Essential Chess Opening Principles

Before diving into the world of opening traps and tactics, let's solidify your understanding of fundamental chess opening principles. These principles will serve as your guiding light, helping you develop strong opening strategies that pave the way for a successful middlegame and endgame.

This section will explore key principles like:

• Controlling the Center: Learn why the center of the board is crucial and how to effectively claim your share of the territory.
• Developing Your Pieces: Discover how to activate your pieces quickly and efficiently, ensuring they're ready to contribute to the battle.
• Castling for Safety: Understand the importance of castling and the different castling options available.
• King Safety is Paramount: Learn strategies to keep your king safe throughout the game, especially in the opening phase.

By mastering these core principles, you'll gain a solid foundation for building strong opening repertoires and taking control of the game from the very first move.