AN EXCITING OPENING

How did you get on with your games with the Two Knights' Defence? As you'll see, playing Nf6 instead of Bc5 on move three leads to very different positions. Some of the variations are very exciting and very complicated. You're in for a bumpy ride in this chapter, so hold on tight!

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6 (Diagram 131)

XABCDEFGH
8r+lwqkvl-tr(
7zppzpp+pzpp'
6-+n+-sn-+&
5+-+-zp-+-%
4-+L+P+-+$
3+-+-+N+-#
2PzPPzP-zPPzP"
1tRNvLQmK-+R!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 131
White to move

We asked you to try out 4. Ng5, and, if you had time, 4. d4. But first let's look at some other moves for White.

4. d3 Bc5 takes you back into Chapter 2. After 4. 0-0, Black can safely play Nxe4. A move often played in junior chess which you need to know about is 4. Nc3.

If White wants to play a Giuoco Pianissimo he should play 4. d3 and 5. Nc3 because of what comes next.
Variation 1

4. Nc3 Nxe4

Of course, if Black's happy with a Giuoco Pianissimo he can play Bc5 instead. But this move gives him good chances of an advantage. You've already met it in Chapter 7, but now we'll look at int in more detail.
Variation 1A

5. Bxf7+ Kxf7
6. Nxe4 d5

7. Neg5+ Kg8 (Diagram 132)

XABCDEFGH
8r+lwq-vlktr(
7zppzp-+-zpp'
6-+n+-+-+&
5+-+pzp-sN-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+N+-#
2PzPPzP-zPPzP"
1tR-vLQmK-+R!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 132
White to move

This looks tempting for White because he's stopped Black from castling. But it's really rather bad. Black has a strong pawn centre, the two Bishops in an open position, and his King can seek shelter on h7. Meanwhile, White's Knights get into a tangle on the King-side.

8. d3 h6
9. Nh3 Bg4

and Black stands a lot better.

Variation 1B

5. Nxe4 d5

White has to decide which piece to let Black capture. If you remember that Bishops are better than Knights in this sort of position you'll probably realise that his best line is 6. Bd3 dxe4 7. Bxe4 Bd6 (to defend e5) with an equal position. Another line you may well meet is 6. Bb5 dxe4 7. Nxe5 when either Qd5 or Qg5 gives Black at least an equal game. Now to look at the move you are most likely to meet in junior chess.

6. Bxd5?! Qxd5 (Diagram 133)

XABCDEFGH
8r+l+kvl-tr(
7zppzp-+pzpp'
6-+n+-+-+&
5+-+qzp-+-%
4-+-+N+-+$
3+-+-+N+-#
2PzPPzP-zPPzP"
1tR-vLQmK-+R!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 133
Black to move

Black has a slight advantage here even though he will have to lose time with his Queen. There are two reasons for this: he has a pawn in the centre of the board, and he has won Bishop for Knight.

IN OPEN POSITIONS (like this one, where there has been an exchange in the centre) BISHOPS ARE BETTER THAN KNIGHTS. DON'T EXCHANGE BISHOPS FOR KNIGHTS IN THIS OPENING UNLESS YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD REASON. If you think of Bishops as being worth 3½ points you'll avoid a lot of mistakes.

The game might continue:

7. Nc3 Qd8

Qa5 is another good move.

8. d3 Bg4 (PIN!)

The quiet move Be7 is also strong but this move sets a little trap into which White often falls.

White might be tempted into attacking Black's Queen here with 9. Bg5??, giving Diagram 134. How should Black reply?
XABCDEFGH
8r+-wqkvl-tr(
7zppzp-+pzpp'
6-+n+-+-+&
5+-+-zp-vL-%
4-+-+-+l+$
3+-sNP+N+-#
2PzPP+-zPPzP"
1tR-+QmK-+R!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 134
Black to move

Perhaps you thought of Qxg5. This is not the right answer. It's a clever way to exchange pieces but nothing else. The winning move is 9... Bxf3! (DESTROYING the Bishop's defender), when White ends up a Bishop down whether he takes the Bishop or the Queen. If you don't believe it work it out for yourself.

Remember this trap. It comes up quite often and is very easy to miss.

Now to see what happens after 4. Ng5.
Variation 2

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
4. Ng5

Moving a piece twice in the opening but threatening Nxf7. Black's reply is almost, but not quite, forced. A very risky line he can try is 4... Bc5!? 5. Nxf7 (safer is Bxf7+) 5... Bxf2+!? 6. Kxf2 (maybe safer is Kf1) 6... Nxe4+ with a violent attack which, according to the books, probably leads to a draw with best play. This is called the Wilkes-Barre Variation, after a town in Pennsylvania, USA, which it was analysed.

4... d5
5. exd5

If Black doesn't know what's going to happen next he'll probably play the obvious move...
Variation 2A

5... Nxd5?! (Diagram 135)
XABCDEFGH
8r+lwqkvl-tr(
7zppzp-+pzpp'
6-+n+-+-+&
5+-+nzp-sN-%
4-+L+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2PzPPzP-zPPzP"
1tRNvLQmK-+R!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 135
White to move

... when White's next move will come as something of a shock.

6. Nxf7!?

Another good move is 6. d4, when 6... Nxd4 loses a piece to 7. c3 (ATTACKING A PINNED PIECE) and if 6... exd4 White plays 7. 0-0 after which the sacrifice Nxf7 may be even stronger than on move 6.

6. Nxf7 is the famous FRIED LIVER (or Fegatello in Italian) ATTACK. White gives up a Knight to draw Black's King into the centre of the board.

6... Kxf7
7. Qf3+ (FORK!) Ke6

Black's worst move would have been 7... Kg8?? when both 8. Bxd5+ and 8. Qxd5+ lead to mate. Another poor move, but one which is often played in junior tournaments, is 7... Ke8?, when 8. Bxd5 leaves White a pawn up in a strong position, and any of 8... Nd4, 8... Nb4 or 8... Bd7 allows 9. Qf7#, as in many thousand junior games.

8. Nc3 (Diagram 136)
XABCDEFGH
8r+lwq-vl-tr(
7zppzp-+-zpp'
6-+n+k+-+&
5+-+nzp-+-%
4-+L+-+-+$
3+-sN-+Q+-#
2PzPPzP-zPPzP"
1tR-vL-mK-+R!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 136
White to move

ATTACKING A PINNED PIECE! White has a very strong attack for the piece. Is he winning or can Black's King survive the assault? Nobody knows for certain, but it's very difficult for Black to defend over the board.

If Black wants to avoid this he must be prepared to play a sacrifice himself.

So go back to Black's 5th move for...
Variation 2B

5... Na5

Sacrificing a pawn. Black will gain time by harassing White's Bishop and Knight. Other less popular, but equally interesting, moves here are Nd4 and b5. Why not try out these moves in your own games? When you're playing all these moves don't worry about losing a pawn or two. Just concentrate on getting your pieces out as quickly as possible.

6. Bb5+

Another move is 6. d3, when Black should reply 6... h6.

6... c6
7. dxc6 bxc6 (Diagram 137)
XABCDEFGH
8r+lwqkvl-tr(
7zp-+-+pzpp'
6-+p+-sn-+&
5snL+-zp-sN-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2PzPPzP-zPPzP"
1tRNvLQmK-+R!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 137
White to move

8. Be2

Probably the best move. One trap that's worth remembering is 8. Ba4?! h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5? Qd4 11. Bxc6+ Nxc6 12. Nxc6 Qc5! trapping the unfortunate White Knight in the middle of the board. True, after 13. Nxa7 White has three pawns for it but just look at his (lack of) development!

8... h6

9. Nf3 e4

10. Ne5 Bd6 (Diagram 138)
XABCDEFGH
8r+lwqk+-tr(
7zp-+-+pzp-'
6-+pvl-sn-zp&
5sn-+-sN-+-%
4-+-+p+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2PzPPzPLzPPzP"
1tRNvLQmK-+R!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 138
White to move

White is a pawn up but Black has better development. If White defends the Knight with either d4 or f4 Black should capture en passant.
Variation 3

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
4. d4

There's just time for a quick look at one variation which might arise from this move.

4... exd4

4... Nxe4 is not so good: after 5. dxe5 Bc5? or Be7? you should by now know what to do. That's right, Qd5 (FORK!), winning a piece.

5. 0-0

5. e5 is another idea for White. After 5. 0-0, Bc5, amongst other moves, is possible for Black. This is another very complicated variation, called the Max Lange Attack after a nineteenth century German player. But we'll see what happens if Black takes another pawn.

Nxe4
6. Re1 (PIN!) d5 (Diagram 139)

XABCDEFGH
8r+lwqkvl-tr(
7zppzp-+pzpp'
6-+n+-+-+&
5+-+p+-+-%
4-+Lzpn+-+$
3+-+-+N+-#
2PzPP+-zPPzP"
1tRNvLQtR-mK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 139
White to move

7. Bxd5 Qxd5
8. Nc3

A FORK EXPLOITING TWO PINS! (8... Nxc3 is illegal and dxc3 loses the Queen.) Now White gets the piece back and usually manages to get the pawn back as well while Black catches up in development.

QUIZ

There'll be a mini-quiz on this opening in two chapters' time, so don't forget what you've just learned. Meanwhile, play some more games with this opening so that you learn it even better.

ACTIVITIES

Here are some Two Knights' Defence games for you to play through to get a better understanding of the opening.

The first game is one of the earliest published games of chess. Even though the Fried Liver Attack has been studied for 400 years we still don't know whether or not it's sound.

White: Giulio Cesare Polerio Black: Domenico (?)
Rome 1600

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5?! 6. Nxf7!? Kxf7 7. Qf3+ Ke6 8. Nc3 Nce7?! (8... Nb4 9. a3 Nxc2+ 10. Kd1 Nd4 is thought to be best play for both sides.) 9. d4 c6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxe7 Bxe7 12. 0-0-0 Rf8 13. Qe4 Rxf2 14. dxe5 Bg5+ 15. Kb1 Rd2 16. h4 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Bxh4 18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Rxd5 Qg5 20. Rd6+ (DOUBLE CHECK!, but 20. Rd4+ Ke7 21. Qd5 would have led to a quick mate.) 20... Ke7 21. Rg6 (Diagram 140)
XABCDEFGH
8r+l+-+-+(
7zpp+-mk-zp-'
6-+-+-+Rzp&
5+-+-zP-wq-%
4-+L+Q+-vl$
3+-+-+-+-#
2PzPP+-+P+"
1+K+-+-+-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 140
Black to move

Black resigns: 21... Qh5 22. Be2 traps the Queen, or 21... Qd2 22. Rxg7+ wins quickly, for example 22... Ke8 23. Rg8+ Kd7 24. Bb5+ Ke6 25. Rg6+ Kf7 26. e6+ Ke7 27. Qxh4+ Kd6 28. Qd8+, or 22... Kf8 23. Qf3+! Kxg7 24. Qf7+ Kh8 25. Qg8#.

Next, a Fried Liver Attack played by Paul Morphy. Something very unusual happens at the end of the game: can you guess what it is? Morphy gave his unknown opponent a Rook start, so take off the White Rook on a1 before starting to play through the game.

White: Paul Morphy Black: Amateur
New Orleans 1858

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5?! 6. Nxf7!? Kxf7 7. Qf3+ Ke6 8. Nc3 Nd4? 9. Bxd5+ Kd6 10. Qf7 (Threatening Ne4#) 10... Be6 11. Bxe6 Nxe6 12. Ne4+ Kd5 (The Black monarch continues his march up the board. Where will he end up?) 13. c4+ Kxe4 14. Qxe6 Qd4 15. Qg4+ Kd3 16. Qe2+ Kc2 17. d3+ Kxc1?? (Diagram 141)
XABCDEFGH
8r+-+-vl-tr(
7zppzp-+-zpp'
6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-zp-+-%
4-+Pwq-+-+$
3+-+P+-+-#
2PzP-+QzPPzP"
1+-mk-mK-+R!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 141
White to move

And wait for it... 18. 0-0#!! Mate by castling: a very rare occurence.

The third game in this chapter was played at ten seconds a move. (You do this with a buzzer which is set to buzz every ten seconds.) The winner's name, appropriately, was Tenner.

White: Otis Field Black: Oscar Tenner
New York 1923

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. d3 h6 7. Nf3 e4 8. Qe2 (PIN!) Nxc4 9. dxc4 Bc5 10. 0-0? (Unlucky. This looks obvious but gives Black a strong attack. 10. Nfd2 was to be preferred.) 10... 0-0 (UNPIN!)11. Nfd2 Bg4 12. Qe1 Qd7 13. Nb3 Bf3! (In this game Black is determined to mate on g2 at all costs. Here he gives his opponent a choice of two Bishops. If 14. gxf3 exf3 15. Kh1 Qh3 16. Rg1 Bd6 Black has to play 17. Rxg7+ to avoid being mated. Or if 14. Nxc5 Qg4 15. g3 Qh3, mating on g2.) 14. Bf4 Qg4 15. Bg3 Nh5! 16. Nxc5 Nf4 17. Nxe4 (Diagram 142)
XABCDEFGH
8r+-+-trk+(
7zppzp-+pzp-'
6-+-+-+-zp&
5+-+P+-+-%
4-+P+Nsnq+$
3+-+-+lvL-#
2PzPP+-zPPzP"
1tRN+-wQRmK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 142
Black to move

(He still gets mated if he takes on f3: 17. gxf3 Qh3 18. Bxf4 exf3 with Qg2# to follow. Can you guess Black's winning move? You've got ten seconds starting from now!) 17... Qh3!! White resigns. If he takes the Knight of the Bishop, Black mates on g2, while if 18. gxh3, Nxh3 is mate.

Now a quick win for Black in the main line after 5... Na5.

White: Bibikov Black: Yakov Neistadt
USSR 1946

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Bd6 11. f4 exf3 (en passant) 12. Nxf3 Qc7 13. d4? (In this game, unlike the last one, White should castle while he has the chance. Now his King gets done in in the middle of the board.) 13... Ng4 14. Nc3 Bxh2 15. Nxh2 Qg3+ 16. Kd2 (Diagram 143)
XABCDEFGH
8r+l+k+-tr(
7zp-+-+pzp-'
6-+p+-+-zp&
5sn-+-+-+-%
4-+-zP-+n+$
3+-sN-+-wq-#
2PzPPmKL+PsN"
1tR-vLQ+-+R!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 143
Black to move

16... Nc4+! (DECOY!) 17. Bxc4 Qe3#

Now for two games from Variation 3: one win for each colour. In the first one a young future World Champion finds himself on the wrong end of a brilliancy.

White: Max Euwe Black: Richard Réti
Amsterdam 1920

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qa5 9. Nxd4? (An unsound sacrifice. In the next game White chooses a better plan.) 9... Nxd4 10. Qxd4 f5 11. Bg5 Qc5 12. Qd8+ Kf7 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. Rad1 (Things are looking good for White. It appears that Black cannot develop his pieces as both Bishops are PINNED. Or are they?) 14... Bd6! 15. Qxh8 Qxg5 16. f4 Qh4 (Euwe was hoping Réti would take the f-pawn with the Queen, when 17. Rf1 really would pin him. But no such luck.) 17. Rxe4 (Diagram 144)
XABCDEFGH
8r+l+-+-wQ(
7zppzp-+kzpp'
6-+-vl-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+RzP-wq$
3+-+-+-+-#
2PzPP+-+PzP"
1+-+R+-mK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 144
Black to move

17... Bh3!! (The other Bishop wasn't really pinned either. Black sacrifices a second Rook and a Bishop to force checkmate.) 18. Qxa8 Bc5+ 19. Kh1 Bxg2+ 20. Kxg2 Qg4+ White resigns because of 21. Kf1 Qf3+ 22. Ke1 Qf2#.

In the next game an English player comes up with a brilliant firework display.

White: Martyn Corden Black: Amateur

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qa5 9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Bd2 Qf5 11. Bg5 Bb4 (Bd6 is the move to equalise) 12. Nxd4! Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Bf8? (It looks wrong to move the Bishop back home. But after 13... Bxe1 White had planned 14. Qxg7 Rf8 (but better was 14... Bxf2+ 15. Nxf2 Rf8) 15. Nf6+) 14. Rad1 (Threatening Qd8+) 14... f6 (Diagram 145)
XABCDEFGH
8r+-+kvl-tr(
7zppzp-+-zpp'
6-+-+lzp-+&
5+-+-+qvL-%
4-+-wQN+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2PzPP+-zPPzP"
1+-+RtR-mK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 145
White to move

(What's White's next move? It will take a very strong player to see from here to the end of the game.) 15. Qd7+!! Bxd7 16. Nd6+ (DOUBLE CHECK!) 16... Kd8 17. Nf7+ Kc8 18. Re8+! Bxe8 19. Rd8#

Finally, a quick look at the Max Lange Attack. The winner of this game was one of the leading English footballers of his day. One of today's leading Grandmasters, Simen Agdestein, has played international football for Norway.

White: Charles Wreford Brown Black: Percy Gibbs
London 1918

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. 0-0 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 (After a different move order we've reached the position in the note to White's 5th move in Variation 3.) 6. e5 d5 7. exf6 dxc4 8. Re1+ Kf8 (The more usual move is 8... Be6 when play can continue 9. Ng5 Qd5 (Not 9... Qxf6 10. Nxe6 fxe6 1 1. Qh5+ (QUEEN FORK!)) 10. Nc3 (EXPLOITING THE PINS of the Pawn on d4 and the Bishop on e6.) 10... Qf5 11. Nce4) 9. Bg5 gxf6 10. Bh6+ Kg8 11. Nc3 (EXPLOITING THE PIN!) 11... Bb6? (Bf8 was a better move) 12. Ne4 Bg4 13. Qe2 Ne5 (Diagram 146)
XABCDEFGH
8r+-wq-+ktr(
7zppzp-+p+p'
6-vl-+-zp-vL&
5+-+-sn-+-%
4-+pzpN+l+$
3+-+-+N+-#
2PzPP+QzPPzP"
1tR-+-tR-mK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 146
White to move

14. Nxe5! Bxe2 15. Nd7! (The White Knights combine to score the winning goal. If 15... Qxd7, Nxf6 is mate.) Black resigns.

Masters of the Universe 9

We left you last chapter in 1961, when Mikhail Botvinnik had just regained his title from Mikhail Tal. His next opponent was yet another Soviet player, Tigran Petrosian. Petrosian won the match, whereupon Botvinnik decided to retire from World Championship play.

The new champion was born in Tblisi, Georgia, in 1929 and died in 1984. Petrosian was a very solid player, sometimes accused of being boring, and very difficult to beat. But when he was in the mood he could still play brilliantly.

White: Tigran Petrosian Black: Ludek Pachman
Bled 1961
Opening: King's Indian Attack

1. Nf3 c5
2. g3 Nc6
3. Bg2 g6
4. 0-0 Bg7
5. d3 e6

White's playing the moves Black plays in the KING'S INDIAN DEFENCE. Hence the name: KING'S IN DIAN ATTACK.

6. e4 Nge7
7. Re1 0-0
8. e5 d6
9. exd6 Qxd6
10. Nbd2 Qc7?

Leaving his Queen open to attack. Either b6 or Qd8 would have been an improvement.

11. Nb3 Nd4? (Diagram 147)

XABCDEFGH
8r+l+-trk+(
7zppwq-snpvlp'
6-+-+p+p+&
5+-zp-+-+-%
4-+-sn-+-+$
3+N+P+NzP-#
2PzPP+-zPLzP"
1tR-vLQtR-mK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 147
White to move

And here Black should aim to complete his development with b6 and Bb7 instead of moving a piece twice.

12. Bf4 Qb6
13. Ne5 Nxb3
14. Nc4 Qb5

15. axb3

The threat is to win the c-pawn with Ra5 and Bd6. Notice that the Pawn on b7 is PINNED, so Black cannot play b6.

15... a5
16. Bd6 Bf6
17. Qf3! Kg7
18. Re3?

Not the best move! But in this case opportunity does knock twice.

18... Rd8? (Diagram 148)

XABCDEFGH
8r+ltr-+-+(
7+p+-snpmkp'
6-+-vLpvlp+&
5zpqzp-+-+-%
4-+N+-+-+$
3+P+PtRQzP-#
2-zPP+-zPLzP"
1tR-+-+-mK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 148
White to move

19. Qxf6+!! Kxf6
20. Be5+ Kg5
21. Bg7!

The point! Shutting the door on the Black King so that he cannot escape back home. There is now no good answer to h4+ or f4+ with a mating attack.. For instance 21... Rd4 22. f4+ Rxf4 23. gxf4+ Kxf4 24. Rg3 Qc6 25. Rf1+ Qf3 26. Rfxf3#

Black resigns.

In 1966 Petrosian retained his title by beating his challenger, Boris Spassky. In 1969 Spassky won through again and this time his challenge was successful.

Boris Spassky, the new champion, had been a famous prodigy back in the late 1940s. He was born in Leningrad in 1937. During the war he was evacuated to the country and it was there that he learned chess at the age of five. Back in Leningrad, when he was 10 he joined a Junior Chess Club where he was coached by a famous chess teacher called Vladimir Zak. He was a World Championship Candidate at only 18, but it took him another 13 years to reach the summit.

Here's how he played at the age of 12.

White: Boris Spassky Black: Avtonomov
Leningrad Junior Championship 1949
Opening: Queen's Gambit Accepted

1. d4 d5
2. c4 dxc4
3. Nf3 Nf6
4. e3 c5
5. Bxc4 e6
6. 0-0 a6
7. Qe2 b5
8. Bb3 Nc6?
9. Nc3 cxd4?
10. Rd1 (PIN!) Bb7
11. exd4 Nb4 (Diagram 149)
XABCDEFGH
8r+-wqkvl-tr(
7+l+-+pzpp'
6p+-+psn-+&
5+p+-+-+-%
4-sn-zP-+-+$
3+LsN-+N+-#
2PzP-+QzPPzP"
1tR-vLR+-mK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 149
White to move

Spassky has played the opening well and now sacrifices a pawn to open up the position in the centre before Black can castle.

12. d5! Nbxd5
13. Bg5 (PIN!) Be7
14. Bxf6 gxf6

14... Bxf6 would lose a piece to Nxd5 because of the PIN on the e-file. Notice how White has lined up his Rook against the Black Queen and his Queen against the Black King.

15. Nxd5 Bxd5
16. Bxd5 exd5
17. Nd4 Kf8

After 0-0 Spassky intended Nf5, attacking the Bishop and threatening mate in 2.

18. Nf5 h5 (Diagram 150)
XABCDEFGH
8r+-wq-mk-tr(
7+-+-vlp+-'
6p+-+-zp-+&
5+p+p+N+p%
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2PzP-+QzPPzP"
1tR-+R+-mK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 150
White to move

19. Rxd5 (DECOY!) Qxd5
20. Qxe7+ Kg8
21. Qxf6

Black resigns: the two threats are Qg7# and Ne7+ (FORK!)
LESSONS FROM CHAPTER 9

1. IN OPEN POSITIONS BISHOPS ARE BETTER THAN KNIGHTS. DON'T EXCHANGE A BISHOP FOR A KNIGHT WITHOUT A GOOD REASON.

2. IF YOU PLAY THE GIUOCO PIANISSIMO FOR WHITE, REMEMBER THE MOVE ORDER KING'S PAWN, KING'S KNIGHT, KING'S BISHOP, QUEEN'S PAWN, QUEEN'S KNIGHT, QUEEN'S BISHOP.

3. IF YOU'RE PLAYING A COMPLICATED OPENING LIKE THE TWO KNIGHTS' DEFENCE YOU HAVE TO KNOW IT. READ ABOUT IT AND PRACTISE IT BEFORE YOU USE IT IN A TOURNAMENT.

4. IF YOU'RE LEARNING AN OPENING DON'T JUST LEARN THE MOVES OFF BY HEART. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE PLAYED SO THAT YOU CAN FIND THE RIGHT MOVE IF YOUR OPPONENT PLAYS SOMETHING YOU HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.