Tactic Workbook 2 (2023)
Tactic Workbook 2 (2023)
WORKBOOK
Informant’s Collection
of Instructive Tactics
and Studies
Editorial board
Goran Arsović, Zoran Arsović, Vitomir Božić, Svetlana Ignjatović, Aleksandar
Matanović, Tomislav Paunović, Miloš Perunović, Saša Veličković,
Nenad Vukmirović, Igor Žveglić
Translation
Igor Žveglić
Editor of Studies section
Branislav Ðurašević
Design
Miloš Majstorović
Editing and Typesetting
Jelena Arsović
Proofreading
Vitomir Božić
Editor-in-chief
Aleksandar Matanović
General Manager
Vitomir Božić
President
Aleksandar Matanović
Dear Informant readers, the book you are holding in your hands is a logical continu-
ation of our efforts to provide you with the most topical and instructive material for
self-study and teaching.
Last year we decided to produce Tactic Workbook by putting together best features
from our “Puzzle Quest” and “Endgame Maze” manuals. So, now we continue in the
same spirit once again adding an appendix with 60 most beautiful studies composed
in 2022. We are convinced that solving chess studies enriches every player’s under-
standing of piece coordination and game as a whole.
Of course, the book is aimed at motivated amateur and club players, all the way up to
the grandmaster level, since the main objective is to teach diligent evaluation of any
given position, meticulous calculating, and overall decision making. We kept the orga-
nization of the exercises according to their relative level of difficulty (one * indicating
the simplest exercises, ***** indicating the most difficult positions), since is proved to
allow smooth browsing through the material. However, exercises are not organized
in sections according to any particular type of tactical motif or combination, since our
intention is to create puzzles which are able to mimic a real game of chess. Therefore,
in some examples the solution consists of a devastating sacrifice that leads to swift
mate, while some other examples may require finding the correct strategic plan and
most efficient way of execution. Also, upon receiving generous feedback from our
readers we tried to include more * and ***** examples in this book, since those were
sparse in Tactic Workbook 1. Of course, “level of difficulty” is often rather subjective,
especially because not all chess players are equally skilled in all tactical themes and
motifs.
To summarize, “Tactic Workbook” consists of 500 most instructive middlegame and
endgame examples (puzzles) from the games played during 2022 and 60 prizewin-
ning studies which complement the puzzle section thus making this manual truly
comprehensive and indispensable. We decided to expand studies section after re-
ceiving numerous demands to include more instructive study positions in our books
and manuals.
We hope that you will find the material of great practical value and useful for your
chess progress. Last but not least, we wish you many pleasant hours while solving the
exercises and also many happy returns to this book!
CLASSIFICATION
¤ - Simple
¤¤ - Moderate
¤¤¤ - Advanced
¤¤¤¤ - Difficult
¤¤¤¤¤ - Expert
CHAPTER
I
TACTIC WORKBOOK 2 CHAPTER I
9-+-+-+-+0 9r+k+-wq-tr0
9zp-tR-+-+-0 9+l+n+-+p0
9-+-vLpvlnmk0 9-+-+R+p+0
9wq-+l+pzp-0 9zp-+p+-+-0
9-zp-+-+-+0 9-+pzP-vL-wQ0
9+-+L+-+P0 9+-+-+-zP-0
9PzP-+Q+P+0 9PzP-+-zP-zP0
9+-+-+-+K0 9+-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? +- xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? +-
9
TACTIC WORKBOOK 2 CHAPTER I
10
TACTIC WORKBOOK 2 CHAPTER I
11
TACTIC WORKBOOK 2 SOLUTIONS - CHAPTER I
31. VOJTĚCH STRAKA 2402 - thanks to his far advanced d6–passer, thus
SVATOPLUK SVOBODA 2409 reaching a completely winning position.
...
1.¦xd7!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trq+k+r+0 [1.¦e7 ¦f8 2.e4 g4 3.¦xe5 h5 4.¥a2±]
9zppvllzpp+p0 1...¤xd7 2.¥e6 1:0
9-+p+-+pvL0
9+-zP-+-+-0 ◆
9Q+-+-+-+0
9+-+-zP-zP-0 33. VIACHASLAU ZARUBITSKI 2420 -
9P+-+-zPLzP0 TAGIR SALEMGAREEV 2503
9+R+R+-mK-0 ..
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
Black neglected development of his pieces, so 9-+-+-+-+0
his king is not able to castle and find shelter. 9+-+-+pzp-0
Therefore, White is presented with the op- 9-+-+-vl-zp0
portunity to execute a strong blow and win 9mk-vLP+-+-0
the game! 9p+P+-tR-+0
1.¦xd7! ¢xd7 [1...£xd7 9+-+-+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-mK-+PzP0
9-tr-+k+r+0 9tr-+-+-+-0
9zppvlqzpp+p0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+p+-+pvL0 Zarubitski misses an exceptionally effective
9+-zP-+-+-0
9Q+-+-+-+0 move at this point.
9+-+-zP-zP-0
9P+-+-zPLzP0 1.¦xf6!
9+R+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy [1.d6 ¥g5 2.¥e3 ¦a2+ 3.¢c1 ¢a6 4.
2.¦xb7! ¦xb7 3.¥xc6 ¦b1+ 4.¢g2 ¦d1 ¦f3 ¥xe3+ 5.¦xe3 ¦a1+ 6.¢c2 ¦a2+=
Viachaslau Zarubitski - Tagir Salemgareev]
5.¥xd7+ ¦xd7 6.c6+-] 2.¦d1+ [2...¢e8
3.¥xc6++-] 1:0 1...gxf6 2.d6 Far-advanced d-passer
should decide the game. 2...¦a2+ 3.¢c3
◆ ¦xg2 [3...¦a1 4.d7 ¦d1 5.¥d4+-] 4.d7
¦g8 5.¥e7+-
32. JORDEN VAN FOREEST 2702 -
SANTOSH GUJRATHI VIDIT 2727 ◆
...
XIIIIIIIIY 34. MARC’ANDRIA MAURIZZI 2502 -
9-+r+-+-+0 DANIEL DARDHA 2532
9zp-vLl+R+p0 ...
9-zp-zP-+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-snLzp-zp-0 9r+l+r+k+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9zp-wqn+p+-0
9zP-+-zP-+-0 9-+-+-zP-zp0
9-+-+-+PzP0 9+-+p+-+-0
9+-+-+-mK-0 9-zppzP-+-zp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-zP-+P+-0
White’s pieces are superbly coordinated, so 9P+LsN-+PzP0
he can unleash a powerful tactical stroke 9tR-wQ-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
26
TACTIC WORKBOOK 2 SOLUTIONS - CHAPTER I
White goes for an unexpected move and 36. VLADISLAV ARTEMIEV 2700 -
puts Black in desperate situation! The black VALENTINA GUNINA 2471
king is hopelessly weak, so White can gener- ...
ate a devastating mating attack thanks to his XIIIIIIIIY
threatening f6–pawn. 9r+-+r+k+0
1.¤e4! dxe4 9zpp+q+-+p0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+l+-+0
9r+l+r+k+0 9+-+p+pzp-0
9zp-wqn+p+-0 9-+-sNnwQ-+0
9-+-+-zP-zp0 9+-zP-+-+P0
9+-+-+-+-0 9PzP-sN-zPP+0
9-zppzPp+-zp0 9tR-+-tR-mK-0
9+-zP-+P+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9P+L+-+PzP0 White gains a decisive advantage after a sur-
prising move, utilising the weaknesses in the
9tR-wQ-+RmK-0
enemy camp, he converts thanks to a power-
xiiiiiiiiy
ful tactical blow.
2.fxe4 [2.£xh6! This move also wins!]
2...¤xf6 [2...¦e6 3.e5 ¢f8 4.¥f5 £b6 1.¤xe4! gxf4 2.¤f6+ ¢f7 3.¤xd7
5.¥xe6 £xe6 6.£xh6+ ¢e8 7.d5! ¥xd7 4.f3 ¢f6 5.¤e2 ¢g5 6.¢f2
£xd5 8.e6! £c5+ 9.¢h1+-] 3.¦xf6 ¥b5 [6...¦e7 7.h4+ ¢xh4 8.¤xf4 ¦ae8
¦e6 4.e5 b3 5.axb3 cxb3 6.¥xb3 ¦xf6 9.¦h1+ 9.¤xd5? ¦xe1 10.¦xe1 ¦xe1
7.exf6 ¢h7 8.¥c2+ 1:0 11.¢xe1 ¢g3 12.¢f1 ¥e6 13.¤f6
¥xa2 14.¤xh7 ¥f7° 9...¢g5 10.¢g3
¥c6 11.¦h5+ ¢f6 12.¦ah1 ¦h8 13.
◆ ¦h6+ ¢g7 14.¤e6+ ¢f7 15.¤d4+-]
7.¤d4 ¥d7 8.¦ad1 h5 9.¤e2 ¦e5
35. LARS OSKAR HAUGE 2513 - 10.h4+ ¢xh4 11.¤xf4+- Now the white
HJÖRVAR STEINN GRÉTARSSON 2548 knight becomes exceptionally dominant and
...
that factor decides the game.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+-+0
9tR-+-+-+-0 ◆
9p+-tr-+-mk0
9snp+L+-zpp0 37. MAXIM MATLAKOV 2674 -
9-+p+-+-zP0 RAMIL FAIZRAKHMANOV 2480
9+-+-+-+-0 ....
XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-+-+PmK0 9r+-tr-+k+0
9+-+R+-+-0 9+l+-+pzp-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9nwq-+psn-zp0
Even though Black is a pawn up, White is able 9zpp+-sN-+-0
to take full advantage of Black’s king poor po- 9-+-tR-+-+0
sition. On top of that, the a5–knight is too far 9zP-+-+NzP-0
away to protect his monarch! 9-zP-+PzPLzP0
1.¥e4!! ¦g6 2.¥xg6 1:0
9+-tRQ+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
◆ Matlakov notices how weak the 8th rank is
and that proves to be quite sufficient for a
27
TACTIC WORKBOOK 2 SOLUTIONS - CHAPTER I
Studies
In this additional chapter we will present you our selection of the most
interesting and instructive studies composed in 2022. Some of the positions
are visually compelling, some of great practical value, while some possess both
artistic and remarkable "classical chess" qualities. We are certain that you will
enjoy solving these studies, even though some may prove to be rather difficult
and complex. So, without any further ado - it's time to crack some serious
chess riddles!
TACTIC WORKBOOK 2 CHAPTER XIII
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-sN-+-+0 9-+-+-+r+0
9+-mk-+-+r0 9+-+-+-zPk0
9-+-+K+-zP0 9-sNP+-+-+0
9+-+P+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-zp-+-+0 9-+-zP-+r+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+N+-+-+-0
9-+Ntr-zp-+0 9L+-+-+-mK0
9+R+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? = xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? +-
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-wq0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+r+-+P+p0 9+-+-+pzpp0
9-zP-+-+-zp0 9-+-+-+-tr0
9+-+k+P+K0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+R+-+0 9n+-+-+P+0
9+-+-zP-+-0 9+-+-+-zp-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+Q+-+0
9+R+-+-+-0 9mk-mK-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? = xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? +-
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9K+-+-tR-+0 9-+-+k+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+pzP-+-0
9-mk-+-+P+0 9-zP-zP-+-+0
9+-+R+-+L0 9sN-+P+-mKP0
9-+q+-+-+0 9L+-sn-sN-+0
9sn-+-zP-+-0 9+-+-+-+p0
9-+-zp-+-zP0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-wq-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? +- xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? +-
295
TACTIC WORKBOOK 2 CHAPTER XIII
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-sn-+-+-+0 9-+r+-+-+0
9+P+-+-+k0 9mK-zp-zP-+-0
9-+-+-+-zp0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-sNp+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9-+-zPP+-+0
9+-+-+-mK-0 9mk-+-+n+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-vL-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? +- xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? =
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0 9-tR-+-+-+0
9+-+K+-+-0 9+-+-+p+-0
9-+-zPPzPpmk0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+K0
9-+q+-+P+0 9-+-+-zp-+0
9zP-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+n+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+n+k0
xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? +- xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? =
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+l+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0 9+-+-+-zp-0
9p+-+-+-zP0 9-+-+-+p+0
9zP-zPPzP-zp-0 9+-+-+-zp-0
9pzp-+-+pmk0 9-+-zp-+PtR0
9+-+-zP-zp-0 9+p+p+-zpK0
9L+-+-+P+0 9-zP-zP-+-+0
9+-+-+-+K0 9+-+-+-mk-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? +-
xiiiiiiiiy
1. ? +-
296
TACTIC WORKBOOK 2 SOLUTIONS - CHAPTER XIII