Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess

1. Chess is a Game of Checkmate

Since checkmating is the object of the game, I think it is the most basic thing to learn.

The ultimate goal. The primary objective in chess is to checkmate the opponent's King, creating a situation where it cannot escape capture. This "knockout" is the culmination of strategic planning and tactical execution. Understanding checkmate patterns is fundamental to improving chess skills.

Checkmate as a theme. The book emphasizes learning common mating positions and combinations, starting with one-move checkmates and progressing to more complex sequences of two, three, or four moves. This approach helps players recognize and apply these patterns in their own games.

Active learning. Unlike traditional chess books that often present material passively, this book encourages active learning through questions and immediate feedback. By actively using new ideas and answering questions, readers can absorb the material more thoroughly.

2. Recognize and Exploit Tactical Themes

The book will do two things for you. First, it will teach you to analyze Chess problems better. Second, it will teach you the themes to look for so that you can find the right move fairly quickly, sometimes in just a few seconds.

Pattern recognition. A key skill in chess is the ability to recognize recurring tactical themes and patterns. This allows players to quickly assess positions and identify potential opportunities for attack or defense. The book aims to develop this skill through numerous practice positions.

Speed and accuracy. By learning to recognize tactical themes, players can improve both the speed and accuracy of their decision-making. This is crucial in timed games where quick thinking is essential. The book provides practice in finding the right move quickly.

Analyzing chess problems. The book aims to improve the reader's ability to analyze chess problems effectively. This involves breaking down complex positions into smaller, more manageable components and identifying the key factors that influence the outcome.

3. King Safety is Paramount

The object of Chess is to attack the enemy King in such a way that it cannot escape capture.

Protecting the King. A fundamental principle in chess is ensuring the safety of one's own King. This involves shielding it from attack and creating escape routes in case of danger. Neglecting King safety can lead to quick checkmates and lost games.

Castling as a defensive move. Castling is a special move that allows players to place their King in a safer position, typically behind a wall of pawns. It is often a crucial step in securing the King's safety early in the game.

King activity in the endgame. In the later stages of the game, when most of the pieces have been traded off, the King can become a valuable offensive piece. However, it is still important to be mindful of its safety and avoid unnecessary risks.

4. Understanding Diagrams is Essential

Diagrams may seem puzzling at first, but once you know what each symbol stands for they are very simple.

Visual representation. Chess diagrams provide a visual representation of the board and pieces, allowing players to analyze positions without physically setting them up. Understanding the symbols used in diagrams is essential for studying chess literature.

Piece symbols. Each chess piece is represented by a specific symbol in diagrams:

• King: ♚ or ♔
• Queen: ♛ or ♕
• Rook: ♜ or ♖
• Bishop: ♝ or ♗
• Knight: ♞ or ♘
• Pawn: ♟ or ♙

Board orientation. In diagrams, the White side of the board is always placed on the bottom, and the Black side is on the top. This convention ensures consistency and makes it easier to follow the analysis.

5. Escaping Check: Capture, Interpose, Flee

Therefore, whenever a King is under attack ("check"), it must escape that attack before the game can go on.

Responding to check. When a King is under attack (in "check"), the player must immediately take action to remove the threat. There are three primary ways to escape check: capturing the checking piece, interposing a piece between the King and the attacker, or fleeing to a safe square.

Capturing the attacker. If possible, capturing the checking piece is often the most direct way to escape check. However, it is important to ensure that the capturing piece is not itself under attack or that the capture does not create new threats.

Interposing a piece. Interposing a piece between the King and the attacker can block the line of attack and provide temporary safety. However, the interposing piece must be able to withstand capture or the threat may persist.

Fleeing to a safe square. Fleeing to a square where the King is not under attack is another way to escape check. However, it is important to ensure that the destination square is not controlled by the opponent and that the King is not exposed to new threats.

6. The Power of Pawn Promotion

Pawn Promotion: When a Pawn reaches the eighth rank (the enemy's back rank) it is promoted to a Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight of its own color, according to the player's choice.

Reaching the other side. When a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board (the eighth rank), it undergoes promotion, transforming into a more powerful piece. This is a crucial aspect of chess strategy and can often determine the outcome of a game.

Choosing the right piece. The player can choose to promote the pawn to a Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight. In most cases, promoting to a Queen is the best option, as it is the most powerful piece. However, there are situations where promoting to a Knight or Rook may be strategically advantageous.

Creating mating opportunities. Pawn promotion can create new mating opportunities or strengthen existing attacks. It is important to carefully consider the implications of each promotion option and choose the one that best advances the player's overall strategy.

7. Back-Rank Mates: A Common Combination

This chapter presents the basic elements of the most common of all mating combinations: the back-rank mates.

Restricting the King. Back-rank mates occur when the opponent's King is trapped on the back rank by its own pawns and pieces, unable to escape an attack from a Rook or Queen. This is a common mating pattern that players should be aware of.

Exploiting the back rank. To execute a back-rank mate, players must control the squares on the back rank and prevent the King from fleeing. This often involves sacrificing pieces or creating tactical threats to weaken the opponent's defenses.

Defending against back-rank mates. To defend against back-rank mates, players must ensure that their King has escape routes and that the back rank is adequately protected. This may involve moving pawns, interposing pieces, or creating counter-attacks.

8. Disrupting the Enemy Pawn Cover

In this chapter and the chapters that follow, I will present mating variations and defenses in rapid succession.

Weakening the pawn structure. A key strategy in chess is to disrupt the opponent's pawn structure, creating weaknesses that can be exploited. This often involves attacking the pawns that protect the King, making it more vulnerable to attack.

Opening lines of attack. By disrupting the pawn cover, players can open lines of attack for their pieces, particularly Rooks and Queens. This can lead to mating opportunities or other tactical advantages.

Sacrificing for positional gain. In some cases, it may be advantageous to sacrifice a piece to disrupt the opponent's pawn cover. This can create long-term positional advantages that outweigh the material loss.

Last updated: April 3, 2025