Table of Contents

Signs and Symbols 6

Introduction 7

1 Principles and Methods of the Defender

1a Chess is not Checkers 9

1b Intermediate Moves 10

1c Calculate to the End 12

1d The Elimination Method 13

1e Prophylaxis 14

1f Structural Weaknesses 16

1g Do Not Panic 17

1h "Being" instead of "Doing" 19

2 Defending against an Attack on the King

2a Counterattack 26

2b Exchange Attacking Potential 29

2c Bringing in More Defenders 33

2d A Spanner in the Works 36

2e Evacuating the King from the Danger Zone 38

2f Destroying the Harmony of the Attacking Army 39

2g Closing Inroads 42

2h The King as an Important Defender 44

3 Fighting against the Initiative

3a Counterplay 46

3b Tactical Defense 48

3c Wresting the Initiative from the Opponent 51

3d Neutralizing the Initiative 54

4 Perpetual Check 57

5 Stalemate

5a In the Endgame 60

5a1 Second-rank Defense: Rook+Bishop vs. Rook 60

5a2 Bishop versus Rook 61

5a3 Queen versus Rook 63

5b In the Middlegame 64

6 The Right Exchange

6a A Very Problematic Rule of Thumb 66

6b Exchanging Pieces and Changing the Character of the Position 68

6c An Active Rook Should Be Exchanged 70

6d A Rook Fighting a Minor Piece Welcomes Exchanges 70

7 Exchange Sacrifices

7a Russian Exchange Sacrifices 76

7b Blockade 79

7c Opposite-color Bishops 80

7d A Strong Unopposed Bishop 83

7e The Initiative 86

7f Typical Exchange Sacrifices

7f1 The Sicilian Exchange Sacrifice 89

7f2 The French Exchange Sacrifice 91

8 Defense against a Minority Attack

8a White's Objectives 95

8b Defensive Motifs against the Minority Attack 97

9 Defending Inferior Endgames

9a Activate the Rook 103

9b The Defender Exchanges Pawns 107

9c The Mighty Passed Pawn 109

9d Fortresses 112

10 The Great Tigran Petrosian 117

11 Easy Exercises 124

12 Tests 131

Solutions

Chapter Exercises 164

Easy Exercises 186

Test Solutions 190

Bibliography 216