Arsenal

Question 1

What is the name given to the basic tactical device where one piece attacks two enemy pieces simultaneously?

Answer 1

Fork

Question 2

Which chess piece is said to be the most difficult to master in terms of its unique movement pattern?

Answer 2

knight

Question 3

Why is the f7 square considered a common target for knight forks in the middle game and opening?

Answer 3

The f7 square is a common target for knight forks because it is often defended only by the king, and a knight on f7 can simultaneously attack the king and queen.

Question 4

What is the name of the chess opening that Josh Waitzkin used to play as a child, which frequently led to a knight fork on f7?

Answer 4

The Fried Liver Attack

Question 5

What is the relative value of a rook compared to a bishop in terms of pawns?

Answer 5

A rook is worth five pawns, while a bishop is worth three pawns.

Question 6

Why is it important to consider the possibility of your opponent capturing a forking knight?

Answer 6

It’s important to consider the possibility of your opponent capturing a forking knight because knights are vulnerable to counterattacks. If the opponent can capture the knight, the fork becomes ineffective.

Question 7

What is the term used to describe the trade-off of a rook for a bishop or a knight?

Answer 7

Exchange

Question 8

How many pawns is the exchange (rook for a minor piece) roughly equivalent to?

Answer 8

The exchange is roughly equivalent to two pawns.

Question 9

What is the advantage of finding the most forcing move when executing a fork?

Answer 9

Finding the most forcing move in a fork limits the opponent’s defensive options.

Question 10

What tactical concept involves sacrificing material to gain an advantage later in the game?

Answer 10

Sacrifice

Question 11

What is the name of the tactical device that is described as an “x-ray attack” where one piece attacks two enemy pieces lined up in a row?

Answer 11

Skewer

Question 12

What is the key difference between a skewer and a pin?

Answer 12

A skewer attacks the more valuable piece first, forcing it to move and exposing the less valuable piece to capture. In contrast, a pin attacks the less valuable piece first, pinning it to a more valuable piece.

Question 13

Which chess pieces are capable of executing pins and skewers, and why?

Answer 13

Only bishops, rooks, and queens can execute pins and skewers because they are the only pieces with long-range movement patterns.

Question 14

What is the impact of a pin on the pinned piece?

Answer 14

A pin paralyses the pinned piece, preventing it from moving without exposing the more valuable piece to capture.

Question 15

Why are pins seen more often than skewers in chess games?

Answer 15

Pins are more common than skewers because weaker pieces tend to be more exposed and therefore more susceptible to pins.

Question 16

What should you instinctively look for when you notice two or more enemy pieces lined up on a diagonal, rank, or file?

Answer 16

You should look for pins and skewers when you see two or more enemy pieces lined up on a diagonal, rank, or file.

Question 17

What is meant by “attacking the pinned piece”?

Answer 17

Attacking the pinned piece involves adding pressure to the already immobilised piece, often leading to material gain.

Question 18

Why is it important to avoid “mechanical thinking” when assessing pinned pieces?

Answer 18

because there are situations where a pinned piece can escape. For example, a piece can escape a pin by checking the opponent’s king, forcing a response and breaking the pin.

Question 19

What tactical device involves one piece indirectly attacking an enemy piece while simultaneously checking the enemy king?

Answer 19

Discovered attack

Question 20

What is the German term for an “in-between move” that disrupts an opponent’s planned tactic?

Answer 20

Zwischenzug

Question 21

How can a “zwischenzug” be used to get out of a pin?

Answer 21

A zwischenzug can be used to get out of a pin by forcing the opponent to respond to a different threat, thereby breaking the pin.

Question 22

Why is it important to look for “subtle wrinkles” in a position that might change the evaluation of a seemingly winning or losing position?

Answer 22

It’s important to look for subtle wrinkles in a position because seemingly insignificant details can completely change the evaluation of the position.

Question 23

What is the strategic principle behind “removing the defender”?

Answer 23

Removing the defender aims to eliminate the primary obstacle to achieving a tactical or strategic goal.

Question 24

How can a piece with a critical defensive responsibility become vulnerable to attack?

Answer 24

A piece with a critical defensive responsibility can become vulnerable to attack because it is often unable to defend itself effectively due to its focus on defending another piece or square.

Question 25

What is meant by the term "luft" in chess?

Answer 25

"Luft" means "air" or "breathing room" for the king.

Question 26

Why should players be wary of accepting seemingly free pawns when there might be a more powerful tactical opportunity available?

Answer 26

Players should be wary of accepting free pawns because they may be a trap designed to set up a more powerful tactic.

Question 27

What is a "discovered check"?

Answer 27

A discovered check occurs when moving a piece opens up a check by another piece

Question 28

What is the term for a check delivered by two pieces simultaneously?

Answer 28

Double check

Question 29

Why is it important to "see the whole board" when calculating tactical sequences, particularly those involving discovered attacks?

Answer 29

It's important to see the whole board when calculating tactical sequences involving discovered attacks because seemingly unrelated events on different parts of the board can have a significant impact on the outcome.

Question 30

What important lesson does Josh Waitzkin emphasize about learning basic patterns in chess and applying them to complex situations?

Answer 30

Learning basic patterns and applying them to complex situations is essential for chess improvement. Recognizing familiar patterns in more intricate positions allows players to calculate variations more effectively and develop a deeper understanding of the game.

Question 31

How can sacrificing a piece sometimes be a sound tactical decision in chess? Provide an example from the "Arsenal" section.

Answer 31

Sacrificing a piece, also known as a "sack," can be a powerful tactic when it leads to a greater advantage, such as: Forcing checkmate Winning more material in return Setting up a decisive attack One example from the "Arsenal" section is the problem where white can sacrifice a rook to set up a fork on the black king and queen after the black king captures the rook. This sacrifice leads to a winning position for white.

Question 32

Explain how the concept of "thinking backwards" can be applied to solving chess problems.

Answer 32

"Thinking backwards" involves starting with the desired outcome (e.g., checkmate or winning material) and then working backward to determine the necessary steps to achieve that goal. ○ This approach can help to identify key squares or tactical motifs that are crucial to the solution. ○ It encourages a more focused and goal-oriented approach to problem-solving, rather than randomly exploring variations. Waitzkin emphasises this concept in a problem where black needs to force mate in two moves. He suggests starting by noticing that all of black's pieces are aiming toward the white king, which signals a potential mating attack. By thinking about how to achieve mate, the solution of sacrificing a rook to remove the defender of a critical square and set up a deadly pin on the white king becomes apparent.

Question 33

Explain why "mechanical thinking" can be detrimental to chess improvement, and provide an example of a specific situation where it could lead to a mistake.

Answer 33

Mechanical thinking in chess refers to blindly following rules or assumptions without considering the specific nuances of a given position. This can lead to missed opportunities or tactical blunders. One example is assuming that a pinned piece can never move. While pinned pieces are generally restricted, there are situations where they can escape with tempo, for example by checking the king or forcing an exchange. Another example is overlooking potential defensive resources available to the opponent. Mechanical thinking might lead a player to assume that a tactic is sound without fully considering the opponent's ability to thwart the attack with an unexpected move or counter-tactic. Waitzkin highlights these dangers throughout the "Arsenal" section, urging players to develop a more flexible and adaptive mindset.