Forcing Chess moves:The Key to Better Calculation

Forcing Chess Moves:The Key to Better Calculation

By Charles Hertan

Softback, p.382

New in Chess.2008

http://www.newinchess.com/ 

If you are an experienced player, you feel a kind of déjà vu with most books on tactics. Like "Haven't I seen that position before?" The material is familiar and the treatment stale.So if you are looking for a book on tactics from a refreshingly different point of view, this book by Hertan would serve as a good starting point.In the Introduction he raises a question that has troubled most of us, “What prevents me from finding the winning forcing moves more often?” Hertan's answer is human bias.If we could shed our "natural" ways of thinking and see the position through "computer eyes" we would be able to find moves which may hold the truth to a given position.What a computer does is to see a position without human prejudice and consider unusual, even "ugly" moves that work in terms of tactics.We can also learn to do likewise.

A word on the title of the book: by definition a forcing move compels your opponent to submit and do your bidding. It goes beyond ordinary checks and simple threats that are easily parried.

There are 12 chapters in the book dealing with different kinds of forcing moves, and each chapter is followed by a series of exercises.It is well-nigh impossible to do justice to the detailed explanation offered in each chapter in a single review.As our young readers love a creative challenge, I have devised a short test with five positions from the book.The first two questions are relatively easy and carry 1 point each. The next is a little harder, and carries 2 points. The last are the best.They carry 3 points each.So it is a test of 10 points with 5 graded questions.Are you all ready?

Q.I :White's position appears well-guarded, and his rook on a5 looks poised to annihilate Black's pawns.What can Black do? (1 point)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now wasn't that fun? In chess you don't always "move forward".You feign retreat and shoot.

Q.II.: In the following position White's attack has come to a halt on account of the determined defence by Black.How do you put an end to his resistance? (1 point)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"But that's a quiet move like Petrosian's."

Sure! As you saw, those quiet moves are not that "quiet" at all.So do call those silent killers at your disposal.Some times they can be more devastating than rocket launchers.

So have you earned  your two marks?This time you are going to match lock horns with no less than Morozevich.Your sparring partner is Topalov.

Q.III: In the following position White's bishop is pinned and his pawn on f2 attacked.Black is also threatening...Re1+.What can you do as White?(2 points)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I beat Morozevich.What a move!" Congrats.But remember, greater challenges remain ahead.

Q.IV:In the following position Black is 3 pawns down and can't even defend b7.

        Has he overreached himself? (3 points)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Desperate situations demand desperate remedies.This was crazy.That attack came out of nowhere." Glad,you liked it.But you lost 3 points, right? Here is your chance to make up for those points.

Q.5:The following position arose out of analysis by Kasparov.

       White queen is already lost and  the king is caught in the centre.

        Isn't it time to resign? (3 points)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Terrific stuff! Never mind the score. How can I play like that?"

Read the book!

 

Criticism: I am not too enamoured of that phrase computer eyes used by the author. Nor by the final chapter of the book, Intution and creativity. It doesn't have the inspiration of the preceding chapters.

The names of players are a problem.It is customary to give complete names of players, and not reproduce only surnames as in this book.The author is well-aware that there is more than one Sokolov and Petrosian.In these cases he does offer the complete name, but not in the case of others.As far as the names of Indian players are concerned, ignorance is the norm. Both Neelotpal Das and Prathamesh Mokal are addressed by their first names, not even by the surname. 

However, let us not throw out the baby with the bath water.This is a good book that deserves to be read for its lucid prose, strong conceptual framework and unorthodox approach to tactics.

 

Recommended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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