EXPLOSION ON F7


From what you know about SCHOLAR'S MATE you know that the f7 (or f2) square is the weakest part of your position at the start of the game. Very many games are won quickly by EXPLOSIONS on f7. A Bishop (or sometimes a Knight) SACRIFICES itself on that square to force the King out when White has a winning TACTIC: very often a FORK or DISCOVERED ATTACK based on a check to the errant monarch.


For example:


1. e2-e4 Nb8-c6


This is the NIMZOWITSCH DEFENCE, one of Black's more unusual defences to e2-e4. It's named after Aron Nimzowitsch, a Grandmaster who was active in the 1920s and 1930s.


2. Ng1-f3 d7-d6

3. Bf1-c4 Bc8-g4? (Diagram)


What would you play for White here? Think CCT and you'll get the right answer.


4. Bc4xf7+!


This move wins a pawn. Do you see why? After Ke8xf7, what does White play next? Nf3-g5+ is the move: it's CHECK and there's a DISCOVERED ATTACK by the Queen on the Bishop on g4. Next move White will play Qd1xg4. (Remember: LPDO (Loose Pieces Drop Off)). Going back to the diagram, if you've got some tactical imagination you might have found the move Nf3-e5??! Do you see the idea? If Bg4xd1, Bc4xf7 is mate. But Black can win a piece by playing Nc6xe5. DON'T play for traps like this. A move winning a safe pawn is better than a move that will either mate or lose a piece.


Of course, anything White can do, Black can do as well.


1. e2-e4 e7-e6


This is the FRENCH DEFENCE. The idea is to play d7-d5 next move and attack White's centre. It's a good move but not one for you to play until later in the course.


2. d2-d4 d7-d5

3. e4-e5 c7-c5

4. Bf1-b5+


Not a very good move in this position.


4... Nb8-c6

5. d4xc5? Bf8xc5

6. c2-c3? (Diagram)


It's your move now with Black. What would you play?


Qd8-b6 is a good idea: a FORK of b5 and f2, but White can defend by Bb5xc6+ followed by Qd1-e2. But if you CCT, the first move you look at will be Bc5xf2+, which just happens to be the right answer. After Ke1xf2 Black has another check, Qd8-b6+, FORKING the King and the loose Bishop on b5. The same idea again. A Bishop check on f2 or f7 to drive the King out, followed by a QUEEN FORK to pick up a loose piece.


See what you make of the next one.


1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6

3. Bf1-c4 Bf8-c5

4. d2-d3 d7-d6

5. Nb1-c3 Bc8-g4 (Diagram)


You've seen this sort of thing before. It's now White's move? What would you recommend?


It looks like the same idea again, doesn't it? We'll play Bc4xf7+ to force the King out, and after Ke8xf7, Nf3-g5+ and Qd1xg4. Right? Sadly, no. If you play Bc4xf7+ you end up a piece behind:


6. Bc4xf7+?? Ke8xf7

7. Nf3-g5+ Qd8xg5!

8. Bc1xg5 Bg4xd1

9. Ra1xd1


And if you stop to count the pieces you'll find that White's a knight for a pawn down. You really do have to be careful before you try this sort of thing.


The next example's easier.


1. e2-e4 c7-c5


The SICILIAN DEFENCE: Black's most popular reply to e2-e4 among strong players.


2. c2-c3 Ng8-f6

3. e4-e5 Nf6-d5

4. d2-d4 d7-d6

5. d4xc5 d6xc5


6. Bf1-c4 Nd5-b6? (Diagram)


Choose a move for White. CCT!


You probably noticed that the Queens were opposed on the d-file. So White can win a pawn by trading Queens and then playing Bc4xf7. But look what happens if you play the moves in the reverse order. The Black King is defending the Queen. Can we force him to move away? Yes: by checking him. So we play Bc4xf7+ first. Black is forced to play Ke8xf7, when Qd1xd8 wins the Queen.


Here's another EXPLOSION on f7.


White: Eduard Hamlisch Black: Amateur

Vienna 1902


1. e2-e4 d7-d6

2. d2-d4 Nb8-d7

3. Bf1-c4 g7-g6


Black's playing a variation of what is now called the MODERN DEFENCE, which usually starts with Black playing g7-g6 and Bf8-g7. Not recommended for beginners.


4. Ng1-f3 Bf8-g7? (Diagram)


and it's your move again.


You should know what to expect by now. Yes, it's Bc4xf7+ again. Black would have done best to play Ke8-f8, but instead snapped at the bait.


4. Bc4xf7+ Ke8xf7?


Now what? It's not too hard to find Nf3-g5+, when Black has a choice of three evils. What happens if he goes Kf7-f8? Yes, Ng5-e6+, FORKING King and Queen. Or if Kf7-e8? Again, Ng5-e6 wins the Queen, this time by a sort of SMOTHERED MATE to the Queen. So the game continued...


5. Nf3-g5+ Kf7-f6


And that turned out even worse because... Well, you tell me. CCT and you'll find 6. Qd1-f3 which just happens to be mate!


Our final example is rather more complicated.


1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6

3. Bf1-c4 d7-d6


Black usually plays either Bf8-c5 or Ng8-f6 here.


4. Nb1-c3 Bc8-g4?

5. h2-h3 Bg4-h5? (Diagram)

Over to you. It's not Bc4xf7+ this time, but the f7 square has something to do with it.


White has a choice of sensible developing moves, for instance 0-0 or d2-d3, but he can in fact win a pawn here in a surprising way. If you find the right move for the right reason you're doing well. Either that or you've seen the position before.


The answer is...


6. Nf3xe5!


because if...


6... Bh5xd1


Black thinks White's made a mistake and lost his Queen by moving the PINNED knight. But White's been looking ahead and has seen...


7. Bc4xf7+ Ke8-e7

8. Nc3-d5#


Let's go back to move 6 and see what happens if Black takes the Knight instead of the Queen. Firstly, 6... d6xe5 7. Qd1xh5 and White's a pawn ahead. But what if 6... Nc6xe5 7. Qd1xh5 Ne5xc4 (Diagram)?

Isn't Black ahead? Yes, but it's White's move. What will he play next? It's a QUEEN FORK - Qh5-b5+ followed by Qb5xc4 and White again comes out a pawn up.


Let's play through the first few moves again:


1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6

3. Bf1-c4 d7-d6

4. Nb1-c3 Bc8-g4


Why didn't White play Nf3xe5 here? If Black takes the Queen he still gets mated, but instead he can play Nc6xe5, and this time White remains a piece for a pawn behind.


This sort of mate is called LEGALL'S MATE, named after a chap called Legall who first played it (not in this position) back in 1750 in Paris.


Of course you have to be VERY CAREFUL to check everything before you play this sort of thing in a game. Firstly, that there really is a mate there if your oppo zaps your Queen, and secondly that you come out ahead if he zaps your Knight instead.


HELPFUL HINTS


1. At the start of the game your weakest square is f2 (or f7) and your opponent's weakest square is f7 (or f2). If you have a chance of taking on f7 (or f2) with a Bishop, stop and have a look. It might just work.


2. A frequent idea is to sacrifice the Bishop on f7 to force out the Black King, followed by a QUEEN FORK picking up a LOOSE PIECE. Remember LOOSE PIECES DROP OFF (LPDO). To avoid this sort of thing try to keep all your pieces defending each other.


3. If the d-file is open you might be able to sacrifice on f7 to force your opponent's King away from his Queen, then take the Queen for nothing.


4. Remember the idea of LEGALL'S MATE: moving a PINNED Knight to THREATEN a mating attack on f7 and the Bishop that was PINNING the Knight at the same time.


5. Yet again, CCT every move. CHECKS, CAPTURES, THREATS. In that order.






















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