Learn Chess
the
Right Way
Book 2
Winning Material
by
Susan Polgar
with Paul Truong
2016
Russell Enterprises, Inc.
Milford, CT USA
Learn Chess the Right Way
Book 2: Winning Material
© Copyright 2016 Susan Polgar
ISBN: 978-1-941270-45-5
ISBN (eBook): 978-1-941270-46-2
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book maybe used, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any manner or form whatsoever or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Published by:
Russell Enterprises, Inc.
PO Box 3131
Milford, CT 06460 USA
http://www.russell-enterprises.com
info@russell-enterprises.com
Cover design by Janel Lowrance
Front cover Image by Christine Flores
Back cover photo by Timea Jaksa
Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1Captures with the Queen
Chapter 2Captures with the Rook
Chapter 3Captures with the Bishop
Chapter 4Captures with the Knight
Chapter 5Captures with the Pawn
Chapter 6Captures with the King
Chapter 7Various Captures
Chapter 8Removing the Guard
Chapter 9Forks and Double Attacks
Chapter 10Pins
Chapter 11Skewers
Chapter 12Discovered Checks and Discovered Attacks
Chapter 13Various Tactics
Solutions
Introduction
Ever since I was four years old, I remember the joy of solving chess puzzles. I wrote my first puzzle book when I was just 15, and have published a number of other best-sellers since, such as A World Champion’s Guide to Chess, Chess Tactics for Champions, and Breaking Through, etc.
With over 40 years of experience as a world-class player and trainer, I have developed the most effective way to help young players and beginners – Learn Chess the Right Way. By understanding the most common and critical patterns, it will help you improve much quicker.
In this series of Learn Chess the Right Way, I will show you the most effective way to learn and improve through pattern recognition.
Volume 2 is all about “winning material” exercises. In each of the first six chapters a certain piece captures an enemy piece (in chapter 1 – The Queen, in chapter 2 – The Rook, and so on). In chapter 7, you will get no hint about which piece should be moved. In chapters 8-12, the most common and important chess tactics (such as decoy, fork, pin, discovery and skewer) are introduced. Finally, in chapter 13, in addition to the previously mentioned patterns, you will need to figure out which tactical pattern to use to win material, including concepts like "trapping a piece" or "intermediate move."
In some examples it will be White to move, while in others you will have to try to find the winning move for Black. Also please note that under each diagram you will be able to record the amount of time it took you to solve each puzzle. As you go through and solve the puzzles again, your speed recognizing the winning material patterns should improve.
In chess, pattern recognition is a very important part of playing better chess. Therefore, my suggestion is to try to solve the puzzles multiple times, or until you feel that you can recognize the correct solutions within a minute per page (4 puzzles). Initially you may want to set up the pieces on the chess board as shown in the diagrams (make sure every piece is exactly as shown!), but by the second time around I would surely recommend to try to solve the puzzles just from the diagram.
Wishing you enjoyment as you embark on the road to “Learning Chess the Right Way!”
Susan Polgar
July 2016