Chess Concepts: The Evolution of Chess Ideas

By Daniel Elman

The contents of this book is a 10 lecture series for chess educators, chess players and 'kibitzers'. This is not a primer for the game. This is a 'Chess Appreciation" course.

The introductory sessions prepare the reader for some basic ideas that the teacher hopes the students understand. Then we are introduced to the evolution of ideas from the 6th century to the 21st century. This is a beautiful and exciting adventure of the mind.

We meet Masters of the game who contributed to Chess Ages:

The Golden Age
The Romantic Age
The Classical Age
The Hypermodern Age
The Neoclassical Age
The Eclectic Age

Chess Masters today feel more comfortable as a specific Age player; some reflect ideas from other Ages if they know their opponent's history would be uncomfortable.

Apart from the moves, the Ages reflect the mindset of philosophy, psychology, even the political manipulations of the time.

Introduction to these concepts to school students have had an enormous global effect. Children can now compete for their grade level at their school, their district, their State or Province, their country, and even at the World level.,

As with actors, musicians, poets, authors, mathematicians, etc. there exists a global comradery between all chess players whenever they meet.

With this in mind enjoy the journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Nov 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9780228821632

Daniel Elman

Dan Elman at age 4 was taught and influenced by his Russian born father, then by chess players who escaped the pogroms then later the Holocaust.As a University student (1955-1962) he played for teams in Switzerland and Belgium, competing in several European countries. Upon returning to Canada he won competitions in his City (5 times), and Province (7 times).Elman retired from competitive play in 1975. His interest then focused on chess organizations, chess camps, and chess lectures.

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Chess Concepts

The Evolution of Chess Ideas

Daniel Elman

Chess Concepts

Copyright © 2019 by Daniel Elman

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-2162-5 (Hardcover)

978-0-2288-2161-8 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-2163-2 (eBook)

Foreword

It might be no exaggeration to say that there are more chess books in homes, schools, clubs, libraries and internet than any other category of human pursuit. At least it seems this way. Chess players cherish their chess books.

We understand that the creation of bits and bytes has given us an infinite number of possibilities to share ideas, to express these ideas in new ways. It has always been this adventure with chess. After merely a few moves on the chessboard we are invited into a world of infinit possibilities. The pieces on the board are like Web icons. We lift a Rook and new adventures are to be experienced.

What we do with these insights are personal. What we do with that Rook depends not only on our psychology, but also our opponent’s experience, culture, and curiosity of his adversary.

The study of chess ideas that develop over time (from the year of 600 bce to the present) is a daunting challenge. This collection of 10 lectures originated in an early television series that excited both adult and junior chess players, created a school chess program, and eventually inspired the World Chess Festival 1988 in my home town of Saint John, New Brunswick Canada.

I dedicate this study to all my chess friends across the world, and especially to my late father, Maurice Elman, who taught me this ‘game’ eighty years ago.

Dan Elman

2019

These ten lectures are meant as a guide for teachers. Each session can be followed by students in competition.

Table of Contents

Lecture #1

Overview of the Series

The Basic Mates

Principle of Exchange

END Game

Pawn Promotion

The Key Position

Opposition

King on the 6th

Rook Pawn Rule

Distant Opposition

The IDEAL OPENING

MIDDLE GAME

Tactical Motifs

Knight Fork

Absolute Pin

Relative Pin

Double Attack

Discovered Attack

Discovered Check

Typical Mates

Corridor Mate

Variation of the Corridor Mate

Greco’s Mate

27 Diagrams; 3 Games

Lecture #2

END GAME

Rule of the SQUARE

Forward Sacrifice

K+P vs K+2Ps

Triangulation

Transitional Analysis to Ideal Ending

MIDDLE GAME

Tactical Motifs

Double Check

Overworked Piece

Removal of the Guard

Typical Mates

Anastasia’s Mate

Blackburne’s Mate

16 Diagrams; 4 Games

Lecture #3

The Pawn Skeleton

Concept of the Head Duo

Doubled Pawns

Backward Pawn

Half-Open, Open, and Closed Files

Isolated Pawn

Overextended Pawn

Hanging Pawns

Pawn Hole

Passed Pawn

Protected Passed Pawn

Pawn Chain

Wedge / Saw

Rim Pawn, Lever, Ram

Pawn Majority

Candidate

Minority Attack

Front Span

Sneaker / Quartgrip

MIDDLE GAME

Tactical Motifs

Clearance

Interference \ Blockade

X-Ray Attack \ Skewer

Zugzwang

The Breakthrough

Typical Mates

Lolli’s Mates I

23 Diagrams; 1 Game

Lecture #4

MIDDLE GAME

Typical Mates

Lolli’s Mate II

Anderssen’s Mate

Pillsbury’s Mate

Beginning of Advanced Study

The GOLDEN AGE of Chess

Combinational Play

Types of Combinations

Légal’s Pseudo Sacrifice

Lecture #5

14 Diagrams; 14 Games

Positional Chess

Combinations arising from Position

Greco’s Sacrifice

The ROMANTIC AGE of Chess

The OPEN GAME

Paul Morphy

Three Maxims

Concept of TIME

6 Diagrams; 6 Games

Lecture #6

MIDDLE GAME

Typical Mates

Damiano’s Mates A, B, C

Morphy’s Mate

History of Chess Development

Positional Chess

The CLOSED GAME

The Classical School

Scientific School of Chess

Mobility

Positional Characteristics

William Steinitz

Accumulate Advantages

Emmanual Lasker

Laws of Conflict

Valence

Space, Time, Force

Balance

Dr. Tarrasch

The PLAN

The Three-Fold Analysis

1. Mechanical

2. Dynamic

3. Individual

Style \ Psychology

The ANALYSIS CHART

19 Diagrams; 1 Game

Lecture #7

MIDDLE GAME

Typical Mates

Smothered Mates

Damiano

Lucena

Kostich

History

Hypermodern Chess

Aaron Nimzovitch

Flank Openings

The Neo-Classical School of Chess

The Technicians

Raoul Capablanca

1st Transitional Analysis

Valence Chart

Principle of Attack

Principle of Defence

Principle of Balance

Overprotection

Alternation

Storybook Themes

12 Diagrams; 2 Games

Lecture #8

MIDDLE GAME

Typical Mates

Queenside Castling

Boden’s Mate I, II

General Midgame Theory re Typical Mates

Variation Analysis

Methodology

Selectivity

Spraggett vs Sokolov 1988 – home study

OPENING THEORY

Ideal

Equality

Normal vis-à-vis Abnormal moves

Gambits

Permanency of Pawn Structure

Systems

Evaluation

Traps

Key Positions

Terms

Notation

Classification

Procedure for Study

Literature

8 Diagrams; 3 Games

Lecture #9

Evolution of Chess Theory

The Eclectics

Russian School of Chess

A. Alekhine

Dynamics

Potential and Speed of Attacks

Liability of Weakness

Milestones 1918 – 1948

M. Botvinnik

P. Keres

Switching Plans

Chess for Fun and Beauty

The Role of Memory In Chess

9 Diagrams; 2 Games

Lecture #10

Two Eclectic Giants: Fischer and Kasparov

Bobby Fischer

Biography

Chess as an Art Form

The Search for Truth

Fischer’s Game Plan

Directing the Style

Preparing for the Opponent

The Tactical Search

Garry Kasparov

The Dynamic Aspect of Chess

Restriction and Blockade

Alternation

Positional Sacrifice

Exchange Sacrifice

Zugzwang

10 Diagrams; 4 Games

Lecture #1

Outline For The Lecture Series

1.OPENING

The Evolution of Opening Theory

Opening Styles

2.MIDDLE GAME

Tactics

Typical Mates

Analysis

Planning

3.END GAME

Theory and Technique

Know Your Basic Mates

Knowing your BASIC MATES gives you a sense of assurance in the latter stages of the MIDDLE GAME. You would then know when to exchange down to a won ending.

Very often the outcome of a game depends upon one pawn. Whether or not that Pawn can be promoted is what determines the result. Once the Pawn becomes, say, a Queen then your knowledge of that basic mate will assure your victory.

K  +  Q    vs    K

K  +  R    vs    K

Steps to Victory:

1.R/Q occupies rank directly in front of opponent’s K

2.keep R/Q as far away as possible from opponent’s K

3.whenever opponent’s K retreats a rank - occupy that rank with your R/Q

4.approach opponent’s K with your own a Knight-Distance away

5.whenever opponent’s K is directly in front of your K and one rank apart then give CHECK with your R/Q. (note: in this position there would be checkmate if on the back rank)

6.always invite opponent’s K to move in front of your K. If opponent’s K retreats along the rank - just follow with yours - a rank away. Eventually he will run out of squares and will be forced back in front of your K, or will have to give up the rank.

7.Mate is on side of board.

The Queen can give checkmate in a quicker manner, but there is always the chance of producing a STALEMATE. Follow the method with a Rook and this danger is avoided.

K  +  2 B’S    vs    K

Two Bishops control adjacent diagonals much as the Rook controls the rank.

Keep the Bishops far away from opponent’s K

Mate occurs in any corner.

K  +  N  +  B    vs    K

The N and B must complement each other. That is, cover different coloured squares. They cooperate