This is the second part of the article about the typical scenarios of the tactical motif in chess, which is called Double attack. If you have missed the first part, you can find it here.
Practical example 2
How do you evaluate this position? At the first glance, the position looks a little better for Black, because White has weaknesses in his pawn structure.
Have you spotted that the Rook on b1 is unprotected? It is difficult for someone to discern this immediately. In any case, the game continued in a forcing way: 41…Nh2 42.Rf2 Nxf3+ 43.Rxf3
Perhaps you can spot a very obvious double attack now. The Bishop captures on e4 and both of White’s Rooks are hanging. Black makes this move in the game and White resigns instantly.
Conclusions
1. The double attack is the most common and one of the most powerful tactical weapons in chess.
2. We have three different scenarios:
- Scenario 1: One White’s piece attacks two Black pieces.
- Scenario 2: One White’s piece attacks the King and another White’s piece attacks the opponent’s unprotected piece.
- Scenario 3: Last, but not least, the White’s Queen is threatening checkmate and another unprotected piece.
First, we must understand deeply the three main scenarios and then try to apply them in practice. Usually the practical examples are little more complicated, but if you have understood them then everything will be clear to you and you will gain a lot of wins.
Practice – exercises
Exercise-1
White to play
Exercise-2
Black to play
Exercise-3
White to play
Exercise-4
Black to play
Exercise-5
White to play
After calculating all possible variations, you’re welcome to check the solution in the PGN files here.
P.S. Did you manage to find the right solution for all the exercises? Did you like this two-part article? Feel free to write your thoughts and comments below.
Comments 9
Great problems GM Smirnov. I was able to solve them but it took me too long. Maybe I’ll be faster after I complete calculate till mate. Keep them coming.
Hi Johnny,
It’s great you were able to solve them all!
Once you learn and practice the ideas from ‘Calculate till Mate’, you’ll be able to solve many of such positions in seconds. Good luck!
Hi Igor!
I am surprised to see in your “+300 Spurt” part of your “Self Taught Grandmaster” course how many super GMs like Korchnoi, Ponomariov and others break the base strategical principles and therefore lose the game. How would you explain that? Why does that happen? I mean, isn’t it weird that TOP GMs break the principles which are supposed to be “basic” on a REGULAR base, and they thus lose?
Hi Lovro,
There could be different reasons why top GMs break fundamental principles, for example:
a) The most logical result of a chess game is a draw. In order to play for a win against strong GM, it might be necessary to complicate matters, even by the price of making strange moves.
b) Some of the top GMs rely on computer and calculation skills too much. In some of the games it works fine for them, but in others in leads to disasters. For instance, check the games of Van Wely, and you’ll see many examples where this 2700 GM breaks fundamental rules and lose games.
There could be other reasons as well, but for my students I recommend to follow the fundamental principles strictly (at least until they become FM).
outstanding explanation dear igor sir chess is very complicated science.
Solution files dont match the five problems!
Hello,
Sorry for the different ordering.
But all the solutions are there.
Here is the order
Exercise 1 >> Kesaris – Shiv 1646
Exercise 2 >> Dschungi – Kesaris
Exercise 3 >> Morfy – Bauher
Exercise 4 >> Peev – Pedersen
Exercise 5 >> Yudashin – Sagalchik
Prasaadh | Support Officer
Problem 1- Ne4+…Problem 3-Qd2 otherf problems trying…
great article igor sir thanks for this