ArcaMax

Today we have a two for one special. Whoever has the move in the position gets to mate the opponent.

We’re giving you a whole game because it’s so much fun to play over. (64) Zaitsev - Storoienko USSR, 1969

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4 cxb2 6.Bxb2 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nge7 8.Ng5 Ne5 9.Qh5 g6 10.Qh6 Nxc4 11.Qg7 Rf8 12.Nxh7 Nc6 13.Nf6+ Ke7 14.0–0–0 Ba3 15.Nfd5+ Ke6 16.Nf4+ Ke7 17.Nxg6+ Ke6 18.Nf4+ Ke7 19.Nfd5+ Ke6 20.Qg4+ Kd6 21.e5+...

So, how are your minor piece skills, especially with a knight. White wins this by winning the queen. Can you map out the plan?

It seems that White, somewhat exposed, is safely surrounded by his pieces and Black’s queen is under attack and is bishop on b7 is shut out. However, all is not what it seems. It’s a mate in six!

A clever mating attack.

I’m taking a game from my latest Openings for Amateurs book—the last in a trilogy. Openings for Amateurs: Theory vs. Practice won Book of the Year (instructional category) from the Chess Journalists of America for 2025. The explanatory notes took almost five pages, so I’m just giving one of the key positions; however, here is the whole ...