Introduction to Positional Tactics

Chess is about maximizing the firepower of your

pieces so that you can eventually overpower
your opponent's forces. To that end, positional
tactics are (usually aggressive) moves that
increase your firepower, typically by using one or
more of the following ideas:

• Use tempo moves to gain time

• Increase the activity of your pieces through
effective development or by adjusting the
pawn-structures in your favor
• Restrict your opponent's pieces by
anticipating and preventing their ideas
• Use exchanges or threats to create new
targets in your opponent's position
• Add pressure on existing targets in
opponent's position in order to force their
pieces into defensive positions

Note: A good understanding of the 5 elements of

evaluation (as found on chessfox.com), will be
useful in helping you understand the solutions to
these exercises.

Enjoy!
Positional Tactics #1

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

3
Positional Tactics #1 - Solution

1 ... c5! 2. Nc2 BcB

• Wins a tempo against N b4

• C lears the cB-square to a l low Bd7 -cB
• Contro ls the d4-square and turns the
d3-pawn into a target for b lack's pieces
• 1 ... e5 or 1 ... b5 are a lso fair l y good moves

4
Positional Tactics #2

• • •
'if.!.
-.--- '"
,

White to move. What wou ld you do?

5
Positional Tactics #2- Solution

1 . g5! Nh5 2. Nd5

• Forces Nf6 to give up contro l over d5

• 2. Nd5 gains a tempo against Qc7
• B lack's Nh5 wi l l be out of p la y - it wi l l cost
hi m time to bri ng it back

6
Positional Tactics #3

• •
-
11 ,
� 11
1�
1
� �
�CiJ �
��VIIi ��
� ��
White to move. What wou ld you do?

7
Positional Tactics #3 - Solution

• •
11 11
iVl

1 . Ng5 attacks the undefended e6-pawn

• B lack must chose: To lose the e6-pawn or

give up the right to cast le , ie. Kd7
• Note the variation: 1 . Ng5 c5 2. dxc5 Bxc5
3. Nxe6! Qxe6 4. Qxc5 wins a pawn

8
Positional Tactics #4

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

9
Positional Tactics #4 - Solution

1 1
l l ii.!.l l l
• •
1 . .. Nf4 2. Qc2 Nxg2 3. Kxg2 Bc6

• B lack wi l l exchange Nf4 for Bg2

• After Nxg2, Kxg2, Bc6, the Nf3 is pinned.
• B lack wi l l soon p lay Qf6 to add pressure on
the pinned Nf3.

10
Positional Tactics #5

.� ••
1-,..--,L-li-,..-
-*.111 -.--

-*.1 11 �

��� I
��CZJ� CZJ
���
�"iI� .a
White to move. What wou ld you do?

11
Positional Tactics #5 - Solution

1
,
--- 1 1
1
��
��t1J� t1J
���
��� .a
1 . e5 Nd7 2. Be4

• White uses a tempo against Nf6 to open the

e4-square. l e. white is now threatening Be4
• Note the va riatio n: 1 . e5 dxe5 2. dxe5 N g4
3. Qc2! (avoids 3. Be4 Qxd 1 ) and threatens
both Bxh7+ and Be4

12
Positional Tactics #6

White to move. What wou ld you do?

13
Positional Tactics #6 - Solution

••
111
�
, �
1
�l
� � �
�M C[j� �
M �
1 . B b4

• White wi l l exchange his bad bishop for

b lack's good bishop. A bad bishop is
o bstructed b y b locked pawns in the centre
that are on the same co lo r squares as the
bishop.
• Rc2 now defends Ne2.

14
Positional Tactics #7

White to move. What wou ld you do?

15
Positional Tactics #7 - Solution

1 . Qc2 fo l lowed b y e2-e4 on the next move

• White wants to take advantage of b lack's

vu lnera b le king and bad deve lopment. That
is wh y he wants to avoid a queen-trade.
• 1 . Qd3 wou ld potentia l l y b lock the Bf 1 and
Rd 1 , which is wh y Qc2 is better
• Note: 1 . Qc2 Rd8 2. Qa4+ wins the a7-pawn

16
Positional Tactics #8

•
-

,.!.,
, , ,
,�
� ��
� tZJ �
� ��
S
White to move. What wou ld you do?

17
Positional Tactics #8 - Solution

•-

Ij),.!.,
, ,
,�
� ��
� tZJ �
� �

1 . Ba6

• White wants to p lay Rc 1 , but first p la ys Ba6

to contro l the cB square.
• B lack wi l l not be a b le to get his rook to the
open c-fi le.

18
Positional Tactics #9

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

19
Positional Tactics #9 - Solution

Ij)
----.-
-' --....,'---

iii
••
1 . .. e5 2. Ne2 d5

• B lack wants to open up the centre so that

his bishops can come into p la y and take
advantage of white's weakened king.
• Note: 1 ... e5 2. Nf5 Bxf5 3. exf5 d5! gives
b lack a stro ng centre. 1 .. Rxa 1 ? 2. Rxa 1
simp l y he lps white to deve lop his Rh 1

20
Positional Tactics #10

.� ----

1
.t. 1 ',-----

-',--
181 ',---.'---- .---

� 8

White to move. What wou ld you do?

21
Positional Tactics #10 - Solution

.�
1
.t. 1
--
'.-----

�181 ',-------,

1 . B b5

• B b5 anticipates that b lack wants to deve lop

his N b8, and prevents him from doing so b y
taking contro l of the d7-square
• B b5 opens up the usefu l c4-square for Nd2
• Note: 1 . B b5 a6 2. Ba4 keeps contro l of d7.

22
Positional Tactics #1 1

•
-

• i
i

White to move. What wou ld you do?

23
Positional Tactics #1 1 - Solution

.if
• � --- •
1 1
1 1
��
� � �
�� ttJ ��
� �
1 . NxfS+ RxfS 2.d5 RfB 3. ReS

• NxfS+ uses a forcing move (check) to open

the d5 square for the d4-pawn
• 2. d4-d5 effective l y turns B b7 into a bad
bishop and B b2 into a great bishop
• 3. ReS forces b lack to defend dS

24
Positional Tactics #1 2

•
-

11

White to move. What wou ld you do?

25
Positional Tactics #1 2 - Solution

•
-

11

1 . a5 fo l lowed b y Nc5

• White can't p la y Nc5 right awa y, since b lack

wi l l just p lay b6, chasing the knight awa y
• 1 . a5 contro ls the b6-square, preventing b6
• White wi l l p lay Nc5 and then dou b le rooks
on the e-fi le to add pressure 0n e6-pawn
• Nc5 forces b lack to defend both b7 and e6

26
Positional Tactics #1 3

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

27
Positional Tactics #1 3 - Solution

1 . . . dxc4

• 1 . . . dxc4 opens the d-fi le for the Rd8, turns

the d4-pawn into a target and increases the
firepower of the Rd8

28
Positional Tactics #1 4

• �....---

11

White to move. What wou ld you do?

29
Positional Tactics #1 4 - Solution

•
11
1
l�
�
� tlJ
� Vjf ��
s s �
1 . c4 fo l lowed b y cxd5

• White uses the pin on the d-fi le to p la y c4,

fo l lowed b y cxd5 - using an exchange to
create a weakness on d5
• White wi l l add pressure on d5 and force the
b lack pieces into defensive positions, or e lse
b lack wi l l lose the pawn.

30
Positional Tactics #1 5

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

31
Positional Tactics #1 5 - Solution

1 . . . Ne3 fo l lowed b y Nxg2

• In this position, the 8g2 is the main defense

of the white king . Exchanging it wi l l leave
him vu lnera b le to the b lack queen
• The white bishop-pair cou ld quick l y become
dangerous if b lack doesn't exchange one of
them before it's too late

32
Positional Tactics #1 6

�l•
.....

l�1
1 Ij)
1
•
B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

33
Positional Tactics #1 6 - Solution

A
1. fj,l
-----',---'
fj,
l fj,l
--r--
fj,
1 QJ l

1 ... Ne8 fo l lowed b y Nxd6

• B lack is a pawn ahead in materia l but the

white Nd6 puts a lot of pressure on b7 and
f7, forcing both R b8 and Rf8 to defend.
• Ne8 is the on l y good way for b lack to
neutra lize white's best-p laced piece

34
Positional Tactics #1 7

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

35
Positional Tactics #1 7 - Solution

1 ... d4, threatening dxc3

• Opens up the diagona l for the Be6, which

increases its firepower
• 1 ... d4 2. cxd4? Ba2! (to cover king's
escape square on b 1 ) and threatening
RecB+
• Note: 1 .. b4? 2.d4! is not so good for b lack

36
Positional Tactics #1 8

'� i.
, Ij) , Ij)
" 'iV'"
••
B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

37
Positional Tactics #1 8 - Solution

�1:( 1:(
� �� "fII � ��
� C£J C£J �
It � --..

,� It --..

Ij) , Ij)
, , if ,,
••
1 . . . c6, threatening to win the d5-pawn

• B lack wi l l exchange a f lank-pawn for a

centra l pawn and in the process get more
contro l over the centre
• Notice that the e4-pawn does not rea l l y
defend the d5-pawn, since b lack can p lay
e5-e4 if the e4-square is open.

38
Positional Tactics #1 9

ttJl1ii'
l
111

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

39
Positional Tactics #1 9 - Solution

�
[j[j [j
[jilt [j
[j
Ij) ttJ
ii i
i • iii

1 . .. Qa4 (or Qa6) attacks c2 A N D defe nds a7

• White is forced to move his pieces into

defensive positions, ie. Qe2 (or e lse he wi l l
lose the c2-pawn)
• Qa4 a lso opens c6 to possi b l y a l low c7-c6
• Note: 1 ... Qa4 2. Rf2 a l lows Qxa2 since
Rd 1 -a 1 wi l l not be defended b y Rf 1

40
Positional Tactics #20

Ai.- , '--

A�
A
�

White to move. What wou ld you do?

41
Positional Tactics #20 - Solution

1 . Bh6 prevents Kf6-g7

• The b lack king was "threatening" to escape

to g7 but Bh6 prevents it and a lso opens the
diagona l for Qc 1 - threatening Qg5#
• Once your opponenfs king is weakened,
don't a l low him to get back to safet y easi l y.
• After 1 . Bh6, white is winning

42
Positional Tactics #2 1

• --------'r--,'-

1 --
1

White to move. What wou ld you do?

43
Positional Tactics #2 1 - Solution

•-

1 111
1 1 �
�
8 ttJ ttJ l
8 8 8
8� �88
S �
1 . b4

• 1 . b4 is a tempo-move that a lso increases

white's space on the queen-side
• 1 . a5 (secu ring the b6 squa re fo r the N c4 is
an a lternative so lution move).

44
Positional Tactics #2 2

White to move. What wou ld you do?

45
Positional Tactics #2 2 - Solution

.�
It

ii
i
i�
�

1 . g4 fo l lowed b y g5, opening up the b lack king

• White has a firm grip on the centre which

makes it possi b le to attack on the f lank
• In this position the white king is safe in the
centre, since white contro ls it.
• 0-0-0 wou ld give b lack a chance to launch
an attack on the queen-side, ie. b6- b5- b4

46
Positional Tactics #2 3

'8
-',..-
\jf , ,
, . , ,
••
B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

47
Positional Tactics #2 3 - Solution

8
---'.--- \jf , ,
, . , ,
••
1 ... e4 2. Rc3 (or R b3) exf3 3. exf3 Re7

• B lack is threatening to open the e-fi le b y

p laying exf3, fo l lowed b y Re 7
1 ... e4 opens f6-a 1 diagona l for the queen
.
•

• Note 1 . . e4 2. Qxe4? Re7! gives b lack a

ver y strong position
• White's pieces are poor l y coordinated

48
Positional Tactics #2 4

� M
��
� �
�� �
� ,�
, ,
,, iV' ,
.- -
B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

49
Positional Tactics #2 4 - Solution

AA ----'.--- iVAA
.- -
1 ... Ng6 2. Qg3 Nf4 prevents f3-f4

• B lack uses a tempo-move to p la y Ng6-f4

• Nf4 wi l l be a monster because white can't
chase or exchange it without losing materia l.
• Nf4 forces white to defend the d3-weakness
• Bg2 wi l l be bad since f3 is now b locked
• The b lack rooks wi l l soon come to the d-fi le

50
Positional Tactics #2 5

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

51
Positional Tactics #2 5 - Solution

1 . . . a5 threatens ax b4

• 1 . . . a5 increases the firepower of Ra8 as

we l l as Bf8, since c5 cou ld become a target
after ax b4
• Note: 1 . a5 2. a3? ax b4 wins materia l
. .

since a3 is pinned b y Ra8 to Ra 1

52
Positional Tactics #2 6

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

53
Positional Tactics #2 6 - Solution

1 . e4
. .

• Increases the firepower of Bf6

• Forces white to defend the c3-weakness
• Prevents white from activating his bishop to
the f3-square
• B lack wi l l aim to land his knight on d3, le.
Nc6-e5-d3 or Nd7 -c5-d3

54
Positional Tactics #2 7

� �
ttJiV
11
-',...-
l� l
1 • 1 1
••
B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

55
Positional Tactics #2 7 - Solution

AA----.-
-' --
A /lA
A • A A
•
1 . . . Na5 threatening Nxc4

• Increases the firepower of the knight and

forces white to reduce the firepower of his
rook, b y p laying R b4 to defend b4, or retreat
with the knight, Ne3, or lose the b4-pawn
• Opens the c6-square to possi b le p lay c7-c6
and chase awa y white's centra lized knight

56
Positional Tactics #2 8

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

57
Positional Tactics #2 8 - Solution

ttJ1:t:
�� �
� Vf! �
� �
, , �
if ,
, , ,� ,
•
1 . .. b4 2. 0-0 R dB

• 1 ... b4 restricts the deve lopment of the N b 1 J

b y contro l li ng c3 and a3
• 2 ... RdB wi l l further restrict the deve lopment
of N b 1 since he wi l l be forced to he lp defend
the d2-weakness

58
Positional Tactics #2 9

White to move. What wou ld you do?

59
Positional Tactics #2 9 - Solution

1 . Bxd5 cxd5 turns b4 into a passed pawn

• The power of a passed pawn often lies in

the simp le fact that your opponent is forced
to use his pieces to b lock the advance of
your pawn. That means your pieces wi l l
have more freedom to attack other targets
and/or support the advance of the pawn.

60
Positional Tactics #30

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

61
Positional Tactics #30 - Solution

��L__��_
�i -�r---

ii ,
---

••
1 ... e5 2. Kg 1 exf4

• B lack is threatening exf4, which wi l l turn his

e4-pawn into a protected passed pawn - a
strong endgame advantage
• 1 ... e5 opens the c8-h3 diagona l for B b7 to
join the action again via Bc8
• Note: 1 ... e5 2. dxe5 Nxe5! fo l lowed b y Nd3

62
Positional Tactics #31

•
11
1 ....

�
A
I

White to move. What wou ld you do with 8g5?

63
Positional Tactics #31 - Solution

• •
11 11
1 11
��
A � C£J
I �/C£J
�-

� ���
s�
1 . Bd2 maximizes the firepower of the bishop

• Bd2 contro ls b4 and f4, preventing the b lack

Nd5 from entering via those squares
• Bh4 wou ld not optimize the firepower of the
bishop since it wou ld have no c lear ro le

64
Positional Tactics #32

�
C£J �
�� C£J � ��
:s � �:s�
White to move. What wou ld you do?

65
Positional Tactics #32 - Solution

1 . Nd4 fo l lowed b y Nxe6

• Nd4 wins a tempo on Qd5 (from the 8g2)

• After 2. Nxe6 Qxe6 3. Qxe6 fxe6 4. Re 1 , the
e6-pawn becomes a target
• White wi l l own the bishop-pair advantage,
which can be ver y usefu l in open positions

66
Positional Tactics #33

l lii
------'r_'L---...
..J ..-
Ijj
1

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

67
Positional Tactics #33 - Solution

l:('if<t>
�
� �
�l 1 '---r-
- -

1 . .. 94 2. Nd2 Rh5

• B lack p lans a "rook- lift", Rh8-h5-a5

• Rooks spend most of their time on the 1 st
two ranks since the y are vu lnera b le to
threats from pawns and minor pieces. In this
position however, the "rook- lift" is safe.

68
Positional Tactics #34

M �
� ��
� �
�1 ·

1 �
lif 1
1 1 ,
--- 1

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

69
Positional Tactics #34 - Solution

�
� ��
� � �
� l QJ
1 �
l if 1
1 , ---

1 ... c5 2. N b3 Rd3 fo l lowed b y Qd6

• c5 chases the we l l-p laced Nd4 away

• c5 restricts the movements of Q b5
• 2 ... Rd3 forces white to defend e3
• B lack wi l l a lso bring the queen to d6 and
take tota l contro l of the on l y open fi le.

70
Positional Tactics #35

White to move. What wou ld you do?

B lack is threatening ax b5. What is the best wa y

to dea I with this threat?

71
Positional Tactics #35 - Solution

iV ••
1 � l l l
1 � 1
l�
�
A
�� C£J � � �
� � ��
1 . Bd3 neutra lizes the strong Bf5

• 1 . Bxc6 wou Id give awa y the bisho p-pa ir

without an y compensation
• 1 . Ba4 wou ld give the bishop less firepower
than his counterpart, Bf5
• 1 . a3? loses materia l, ie. 1 . a3 Bxc3 2. Bxc6
Bx b2 4. Bx b7 Ra7

72
Positional Tactics #36

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

73
Positional Tactics #36 - Solution

1 ... c4 2. Qc2 Nd5

• Increases the firepower of Bf8 and restricts

the B b2 and Rc 1 b y b locking c3-pawn.
• Secures d5-square for the Nf6
• Note: The downside of c5-c4 is that it gives
white a passed pawn, but the advan tages of
this move outweigh the downsides

74
Positional Tactics #37

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

75
Positional Tactics #37 - Solution

�1:( A 1:(
� ���
� �
tlJ A
,
.!.�
, , , ,
.-
1 ... Be2 2. Re 1 Nd4

• B lack uses attacking moves to gain tempos

whi lst increasing the firepower of his pieces
• 2 ... Nd4 defends Be2 but a lso threatens
Nf3+ or Nxc2

76
Positional Tactics #38

B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

77
Positional Tactics #38 - Solution

1 . . . a5 threatens a4

• B lack has a majorit y of forces on the

queen-side. You must aim to cha l lenge your
opponent for a batt le on the area of the
board where your forces are better p laced.

78
Positional Tactics #39

ii.t. -r-

••
B lack to move. What wou ld you do?

79
Positional Tactics #39 - Solution

�
�� �.
ttJ � �
��l�
1

1 ... Bxd5 2. exd5 Nd3

• The b lack knight wi l l be a monster on e3,

which is wh y b lack is wi l ling to give up his
bishop pair in order to remove the defender
of the e3-square
• 2 ... Ne3 threatens Nxg2 or R b 1 + and gives
b lack an overwhe lming l y strong position.

80
Positional Tactics #40

White to move. What wou ld you do?

81
Positional Tactics #40 - Solution

• ••
11 ,
� 11
1
1 1
1 [j
[j [jCiJ
[j[j [j[j
� ��
1 . Bxf6 Bxf6 2. exd4

• White wants to p lay exd4 so that his rooks

can use the e-fi le to put pressure on e6.
• But the b lack Nf6 was threatening to come
to e4, where it wou ld be a strong piece.
• White first removes the Nf6 and on l y then
p lays exd4

82
 Afterward

Congratulations on completing this collection of

positional tactics. I trust you enjoyed it and learnt
a lot!

As I am sure you are aware, repetition is a

proven and powerful learning tool. I recommend
you repeat these exercises at least 2 or 3 times
in future. For example, do them again in about a
month's time and then again in 3 months' time.
This is how you will get the most value from it.

To conclude, remember that chess is about

maximizing the firepower of your pieces so that
you can overpower your opponent's forces. Keep
this in mind - it will help you find useful moves in
positions where you just aren't sure how to
improve your position.

Also, be sure to check out my other training

exercises on chessfox. com to further train your
chess skills.

Thank you,

Louis Holtzhausen