Temposchlucker

 Robert uses the same book as me, which is handy because I have seen the problem before. White to move 6k1/4brpp/r1p1pp1B/p3q3/2P1N3/PP4Q1/2n3PP/3R1R1K w - - 0 22  Orange square - target. Targets are pieces or PoPs (points of pressure) that lie on the LoA (line of attack) from attacker to piece. f8 is a bit surprising, but it is on the LoAs from the white roos towards the black king. They converge on f8. Red circle - defender. Piece with a function. The defenders are restricted in their movements. By forcing the defenders to fulfill their duties you can win a crucial tempo that makes the combination work. 22.Nf6+ Bxf6   now the bishop has a double function. Or actualy a triple function: it must defend the invasion square d8 it must defend Qe5 it must keep the f-file closed 23.Qxe5 Bxe5 make use of the overloaded black bishop. The invasion square d8 is no longer defended. Notice how the white attack follows the change of functions. Essentially, white has won a tempo her...

  Another mysterious subject is the Tempo.  CM Dan Heisman was een advocate of the CCT method, which is a crude method to drum up a series of candidate moves. Black to move 4r1k1/1p4bp/3qp3/5pp1/Q4N2/2P2PP1/PP5P/1K2R3 b - - 0 23 Slingerland, F. vs. Pijpers, A., Leiden 2013 Source  1001 Chess Exercises for Advanced Club Players There is some sort of tempo balance here. Black wants to take the white knight, but he must first bring his rook into safety. 1. ... b5  in order to chase the white queen away or to a place where the black rook can attack her in a safe way. (notice the redundant candidate moves of CCT 1. ... Ra8 1. ... gxf4 1. ... Qxf4  1. ... Bxc3 1. ... Qd3+ 1. ... Qd1+ 1. ... e5 ) 2.Qxb5 Rb8 3.Qd3    Now black needs still a tempo 3. ... Qb6 Finally a tempo that cannot be parried with a counter tempo! Notice how logic prunes the list of potential candidate moves rigorously.

 We are making the next step. We already have extensively treated the first two ways to gain profit from tactics: double (duplo) attack trap (mate) The double attack is based on time (tempi). The trap is based on space. Function Now it is time to get a better idea about function. In the previous post I discovered that function revolves around the balance between attackers and defenders of a target. What do we know? When is a piece hanging? [1:0] 1 attacker, 0 defenders. [2:1] 2 attackers, 1 defender In general when there is 1 attacker more than defenders LPDO [0:0] 0 attackers, 0 defenders In general a target is vulnerable for tactics when it is not defended B.A.D. (Barely Adequate Defended) [1:1] 1 attacker, 1 defender [2:2] 2 attackers, 2 defenders [3:3] 3 attackers, 3 defenders A target is B.A.D. when the amount of attackers and defenders are in balance. The target with the most defenders is the most vulnerable, The more defenders, the higher the chance that one of the defenders...

 Most of the PoPLoAFun seems to be automated to a certain degree. There is one part that must still be done by System 2 though: FUNction. Let's see whether we can change that. White to move. Red circle = point of pressure. There are 3 PoPs (points of pressure) here. Considered separately, every PoP is defended well. But by taking out the defenders in the right order, it is possible to let the defense collapse. Rd7 takes out the Queen and pawn e5. Bb2+ takes out the defender of f8 Viewed in this light, the position becomes fairly straightforward. This reflects what I noticed during the tournament: tactical combinations are decided by imbalances on the FUNction level. All defense is well organized separately, but by putting stress on it in the right order, a certain defender collapses under the pressure. Due to a double function or a restriction in mobility.

 Somehow the term mini skill emerged during my investigations. So far it was based on a gut feeling and not on a proper definition. Let's see whether we can find out more. Robert came up with the following position: 5r1k/2q4b/p3p2Q/1pp4p/8/1P3r2/P1P4P/1KBR2R1 w - - 3 27  Saric, I. vs. Bosiocic, M. I see the following salient cues: Qxf8 mate if it wasn't voor the defender Rf3 Qg7 mate if it wasn't for the defender Qc7 Bb2 mate if it wasn't for the defenders Qc7-e5 and Rf8-Rf3 So I guess that finding the defender is a mini skill. When we find a defender, the next logical step is the question "can we annihilate the defender?". With tempo would be nice. 1. Rd7 deflects the Qc7 with tempo (Qxh7#). 1. ... Qxd7 2.Bb2+ can only be defended by the self-pin of a rook, after which f8 becomes vulnerable for invasion. So the following mini skills emerge: See the salient cues (the mates) Find the defenders Annihilate the defenders with tempo The logical narrative is the gu...

What are the mate it ones that take me some time? What do they have in common? White to move  3R4/1p6/1K6/5p1p/2k4P/4Bp2/1PB3p1/4q3 w - - 0 14 I noticed two elements that take me time. When there are a lot of empty squares around the king (like in the diagram) When certain pieces have a FUNction (are pinned, for instance), so that they don't have their usual reach Point 1 seems to indicate that all my attempts in the past to see the auras of the pieces have failed. My main rating progress (from 1530 to 1780) back in 2004 was due to studying mate in 1 from Polgars brick. I noticed the change in vision from pieces to squares, back then. So I will investigate whether applying the Trick will have an influence on the mini skill of seeing the auras of the pieces.

 My previous tournament back in december lead to a clear conclusion: my weakest point was making plans for the endgame, followed by a lack of  knowledge (skill) of endgame specific tactics. (promotion, sacrifices, key squares, zugzwang, fortress, stalemate, trebuchet et cetera). Expected benefit from specific endgame training: 150 points. Back in December I performed miserably, and I ended up in a lot of endings which were generally better or equal, and I screwed them all up, spilling half points all over the shop. In May this year I made a discovery about the best method of training for any skill (discovery of The Trick). I decided to swallow my pride and gave up the idea to focus on endgame planning for the moment. Instead I wanted to prove my ideas about the Trick. Proof is more important than rating points. The past tournament this July showed that the Trick is usable and decisive for each and every game. In all my wins (4 times), my losses (3 times) and my draws (2 times)...