2. Intermediate Principles Flashcards by Jason Barber

The Fork

What are the most common forks?

Knight forks

Pawns forks

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Five basic tactics?

Fork
Pin
Skewer
Discovered Attack
Double Check

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What is a Pin?

A piece is Pinned when it can’t move because it would allow an attack on a piece behind it - usually the king or queen.

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What is a Skewer?

A Skewer is where you attack a piece (usually the king or queen) and when that piece moves you capture the piece behind it.

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What is a Discovered Attack?

A Discovered Attack is where you move a piece out of the way (often with check) and your piece BEHIND it is attacking a valuable piece.

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What is a Double Check?

A Double Check is the most powerful kind of Discovered Attack, where you move a piece to check the enemy king, and the piece behind it is ALSO checking the enemy king!

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What is an Outpost?

An Outpost Square is one that due to trades is no longer able to be attacked / protected by enemy pawns.

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Outpost - Usefulness?

If you can place a piece on an outpost, and have it supported by a pawn, it is often a great and lasting advantage.

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Outpost - best piece to take advantage of one?

A Knight is perfectly suited to using an outpost.

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What is a ‘good’ Bishop?

A bishop that is not restricted by it’s own pawns ♟

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What is a ‘bad’ Bishop?

One that is restricted by its own pawns ♟

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All other things being equal, which is better, a knight or a bishop?

A good Bishop is generally better than a knight, especially in the endgame.

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How to take advantage of a bishop vs a knight?

Make your bishop as free as possible and your opponent’s knight as restricted as possible.

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How can a bishop dominate a dim knight?

A knight on the rim (dim) can be trapped by a bishop three spaces away. The bishop covers all four squares the knight can move to.

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How is a rook most powerful?

Rooks are best on open files, with no pawns in the way. They are also especially powerful when used together - ‘doubled’ on a rank or file.

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Doubled rooks work well on a rank too, especially where?

in the 7th (2nd) rank as the attacker. You can trap the opponent’s rooks on the back rank and threaten the opponent‘ pawns.

Name four-six pawn structures.

Doubled pawns - weak

Isolated pawns - weak

Pawn island - strong

Side by side pawns - strong

Passed pawns - strong

Protected passed pawns - strong esp vs endgame King

What is the most powerful pawn structure?

The opening pawn structure!

Pawns are best when directly next to each other.

What are doubled pawns?

Pawns on the same file.

doubled pawns are weak and ineffective.

What are isolated pawns?

Pawns with no support pawns on the files next to them.

weak and vulnerable

What is a pawn island?

At least two pawns supporting each other but without pawns to either side.

a healthy pawn structure.

What are passed pawns?

Pawns that have passed the opposition’s ability to capture with their own pawns

v.strong

What are protected passed pawns?

Two reinforcing diagonal passed pawns

v.strong endgame structure where both can’t be captured by a king

What ‘direction’ are pawns facing?

The direction they are angled or aiming‘towards’

this side can be played more aggressively

How many moves into a game might be considered the ending of the ‘opening’ and the beginning of the ‘midgame’?

Perhaps ten.

At the end of the opening what might be taken into consideration?

- what’s important in the position - what pieces could be improved - look for the opponent’s weaknesses

If there are no obvious targets to attack at the ending of the opening, what then?

- look at the strengths and weaknesses of areas of the board and, - often, look to develop a plan of which side if the board to attack (kingside or queenside)

What is a smothered mate?

One where the enemy king is trapped (often by a queen sacrifice taken by a rook?) and then checkmated by a knight.

What is a ‘mate in two’?

A situation where the first move ‘forces’ the enemy‘s move and it can be followed by a checkmate.

What are ‘forced’ moves? Why should you look for them?

Forced moves are almost always (always?) checks with only the one response. Because there is only one response, forced moves can be used to plan moves further ahead for Mate-in-X etc

What is ‘Zugzwang’?

‘Move compulsion’ - ie. if you could pass you’d win, but you’re forced to move each turn. Can be used to force someone to make a game losing move. Eg. King and Pawn vs King endgame

What is ‘Opposition’ and how is it used?

When we oppose a piece directly (eg King vs King in the endgame) and force it to make a choice.

‘King on the _____, Pawn on the _____ always wins!’

King on the 6th Pawn on the 5th (Endgame checkmate.) Always wins vs King ie. leading with the *KING!*

King vs King And pawn Checkmate Pattern? What does it look like in action?

The King stays a Knight’s move away. Eg. He goes right, I go left Then he moves in front and I regain the opposition (This happens on my pawn’s file. But pawn only follows once his king touches the far side of the board. So basically, our King is pushing their King all the way down the file. And then we protect the file for the pawn.)

King vs King and Pawn - how do you force a draw?

- take the ‘Defensive Opposition!’ | - force a stalemate!

With King and Pawn vs King, | Do we advance the pawn to the 7th rank when it will be check? Or when it is not check?

We must advance the pawn to the 7th rank when it will NOT be check. Any other move will (might?) draw.

In Endgame with King and Pawns, with protected passed pawns: Should you guard them with your king? Leave them alone? Go for other board priorities?

They are strong and independently capable of winning. Leave them alone and go for other board priorities.

Endgame with King and Protected Passed Pawns on ranks 6 and 7 - be very careful of what? - What sacrifice might be necessary?

- because they are ‘protected’ and passed, the base pawn can never be captured without allowing the lead pawn to promote. - be very careful not to stalemate - the lead pawn may need to promote and be sacrificed to allow the remaining King and Pawn to promote safely.