ArcaMax

This week, we’re going to share the attacking skills of a relatively unknown master, Victor Soultanbeieff. He was active from the 20s through the 40s. In 1935, he announced a mate in 6 in this position against Liubarski.

Our attacking theme this week has a nice twist on the idea.

This position is one of the key positions in the isolated queen pawn attacking set-ups. Anyone who plays these systems must know this game and a few others along these lines. The way Botvinnik works f7 to tie Black completely up is worth study.

We pick on a new square this week. Should be easy to guess which one, but you will have to calculate a few moves down the road.

Our last theme problem for this particular square. A bit of a toughie.

If you recall our theme for this week, this should be easy!

We’re going to find a new square to attack this week. The attacker in this game was Max Euwe, who was world champ from 1935-1937. He beat the great attacker Alekhine in 1935, then lost a rematch in 1937. He was well-respected as a fine positional player, but he could attack with the best of them when necessary.

This will finish our little trip into attacks on h7. This is a good teaching position because it shows the value of looking at all check and captures.

In 1926, Janowski had just taken Rubinstein’s knight that had moved to g5. How did Rubinstein finish him off?

We are looking at attacks on h7 in the black castled position. This example is different in that h7 is defended by the king and knight.

This position has a twist on the Bxh7+ theme in that Ng5 doesn’t happen on the next move, but when does it happen??

I’m starting a little series on the classical Bxh7+ mating attack against a castled position, but instead of the usual fare, you will meet some twists in the route to mate. I hope you enjoy these.

This is a good lesson for beginners on how to conduct a kingside attack. There are lots of little side variations that force beginners to think about what options their opponent has in meeting the attack.

Derrickson was a brilliant, promising player who departed this earth too soon at 16 years of age in 1862. This was played in Philadelphia in 1860. An amazing attack by Black.

A remarkable finish by Schlechter over Fleissig. Black mates by using two techniques—a vacating move and a deflecting move.

The legendary Paul Morphy announced a mate in four here in 1857. See if you can match him.

This will be our last composed problem for a while (we do like to give those of you who like them a chance to have at it) as we will start on more practical situations next week. It’s a mate in 4 that revolves around that pawn on b2 promoting to a queen and causing havoc. How do the pieces prepare for that?

Mrs. W.J. Baird was an accomplished early 20th century problem composer. This was one of her two-movers.

For a Monday morning, simpler fare. A mate in two—another one of those to show someone to whom you’re teaching chess. Extra credit: figure out why the composer put a pawn on a7.

The mating attack is there!