Temposchlucker

 We have not  really names for patterns that are related to the tempo battle. And when items have no names, they are difficult to absorb. System 2 takes care of naming things. He is the one to take care of making the tactical words absorbable. White to move 2r5/p3npkp/3qpnp1/4N3/3P2P1/1B6/PP1Q1P2/4R1K1 w - - 1 27 Lucki, Stanislaw vs. Beltins, Gunars, Email 2010 What is the difference between 27. Qh6+ and 27. Qf4 immediately? And should this tempo move have its own name?

 In order to manipulate the killzone, you need to learn to recognize the invasion squares. White to move r4nk1/pp3rp1/2b4p/3p1p1Q/5q1B/3B2R1/PPP4P/4R2K w - - 0 29 The first invasion square is e7. Why? Because B and R converge there. The second invasion square is g7. Why? Because Rg3 and Re7 converge there. What does the queen sac Qxf7+ achieve? It eliminates the defender of both invasion squares. What is more, it does so with tempo. The task at hand is to recognize the potential invasion squares (count the attackers relative to the defenders), and to find the tempo moves that change the balance.

I use a problem set with a lot of sacrifices around the king. Of course you have the usual tactics, which we all know. What we do need most, though, is to identify the logical scenarios that are involved. A useful metaphor is to identify the killbox that the king is in, and to build your logic around that. White to move r4rk1/pbq2pp1/1p1b4/4B2p/7P/2PBQ2R/PP3PP1/R3K3 w Q - 1 20 Janowski, Dawid Markelowicz vs. Saemisch, Friedrich, Marianske Lazne 1925 One square is not accounted for: h8. Yet you have already a piece in place to cover that: Be5. 20. Qh6! f6 21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. Bxd6 Qxd6 23. Re3 Look how the killbox is morphing.  Black to move These moves are not the only way to win. But I want to show you how the killbox evolves over time. It requires a different way of thinking. The tactics are subordinate to the killbox. Just like the tempo moves.