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Positional Play GM Susan Polgar: The 10 Training Questions

The document contains 10 training questions about positional play in chess, each followed by a short solution. The questions cover topics like pawn majorities, piece exchanges, opening files for rooks, and tactical combinations. The solutions analyze the strategic and tactical factors in each position and recommend the best moves for white or black to gain an advantage or win the game.

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Brian Wood
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199 views6 pages

Positional Play GM Susan Polgar: The 10 Training Questions

The document contains 10 training questions about positional play in chess, each followed by a short solution. The questions cover topics like pawn majorities, piece exchanges, opening files for rooks, and tactical combinations. The solutions analyze the strategic and tactical factors in each position and recommend the best moves for white or black to gain an advantage or win the game.

Uploaded by

Brian Wood
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Positional Play

The 10 Training Questions


GM Susan Polgar

Question 1.

White to play.

Black is a little better because he


has a pawn majority on the
Queenside.

Should White capture on b7?

Question 2.

Black to play.

How should he continue?

1
Question 3.

White to play.

Black just played Be4 offering


the exchange of Bishops.

Should White accept?

Question 4.

White to play.

How can White progress?

2
Question 5.

White to play.

Can you find a combination for


White?

Question 6.

White to play.

Black is a pawn up and just


played Qc6, offering the
exchange of Queens.

What should White do?

3
Question 7.

White to play.

What plan did Karpov use here?

Question 8.

White to play.

Black has neutralized White’s


control of the c-file with …Rc8.

What’s the best response?

4
Question 9.

White to play.

White is ahead in development.

What should he do next?

Question 10.

White to play.

Can you find the winning


continuation?

5
The Solutions

1 No. After 1.Qxb7 Qxb7 2.Bxb7 Rab8, Black will capture on b2 and is better
thanks to the passed c pawn and active Rook on the 2nd rank.

2 1…b3! 2.Rd2 2.Rc1! with the idea of Rc2 or c3. Black is winning.

3 White should refuse the trade with 1.f3! The White Bishop is better than
Black’s as the pawns are on light squares. 1…Bg6 2.e4! dxe4 3.fxe4 and White
is better.

4 White continues with the break 1.d5! cxd5 2.exd5 exd5 3.Rxd5! Rfd8 4.Rfd1.
The b7 pawn will fall soon.

5 1.Nxc5! Nxc5 2.Rxc6 Kb8 3.Rxc5 gives White the advantage.

6 White trades Queens with 1.Qxc6! bxc6 2.Nd2! Despite being a pawn down,
White has a very promising position. Black’s pawn structure is badly damaged
and the c8 Bishop entombed by the pawns. Plus White has the Bishop pair
and open files for the Rooks.

7 The plan is to exchange off Black’s best minor piece and bring the Bishop to a
more useful diagonal with 1.Nd2! Nxd2 2.Bxd2 Rc8.

8 1.Rc6! is an excellent move, keeping White’s control of the c-file. Black can’t
play 1…Rxc6 for tactical reasons. 2.dxc6 Qxc6 3.Qd8+ Bf8 4.Bh6 winning.

9 1.Na4! heading for b6 and further dominating Black’s pieces.

10 1.Ne7+! Kf8 (1…Qxe7 2.Bxe7 Rxd2 3.Rxd2) 2.Qxd8+! Nxd8 3.Rxd8 mate.

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