1

146

154

154

141

Training Tests / CI 126

White to move.
Find a surprising opening idea!

White to move.
Would you play the bishop to g2 or consider another move?

White to move.
Would you take the pawn on a2 or consider another move?

Black to move.
Do you move with the knight on c6 or capture on f3?

Page

PIECE PLACEMENT IN THE OPENING

2

32

32

33

33

Training Tests / CI 126

Black to move.
What is Black

’s main idea?

Black to move.
What is Black

’s main idea?

Black to move.
Find an attacking move for Black.

Black to move.
Find an attacking move for Black.

Page

COMBINING STRATEGICAL AND TACTICAL MEANS

3

41

42

42

42

Training Tests / CI 126

Black to move.
Calculate candidate moves for Black.

White to move.
How can White get an advantage?

White to move.
Find an idea for White to continue with the attack.

White to move.
Find an idea for White to continue with the attack.

Page

OPENING DEVELOPMENT & MIDDLEGAME TACTICS

4

66

67

68

68

Training Tests / CI 126

White to move.
Any idea how to exploit the pin of the rook on f7?

White to move.
White is looking for an attack!

White to move.
How can White exploit his menacing pair of bishops?

White to move.
How can White exploit his menacing pair of bishops?

Page

FINDING THE ACHILLES HEEL

5

71

73

117

106

Training Tests / CI 126

White to move.
How does White react to the pressure against f2?

Black to move.
How does Black continue with his attack?

Black to move.
Does a knight capture on b2 or f2 save the day?

White to move.
Can White finish the job?

Page

DOES TACTICS WORK?

6

120

126

127

134

Training Tests / CI 126

White to move.
Where should the white queen move to?

White to move.
Calculate queen captures on d5 and f4.

White to move.
Should you look for mate or exchange queens?

Black to move.
Should you exchange on a3 or making another move?

Page

USING THE STRONGEST PIECE THE RIGHT WAY

7

169

173

143

189

Training Tests / CI 126

Black to move.
Which king is more safe and what next from Black

’s point of view?

Black to move.
How should Blacj take care of his knight?

Black to move.
Can Black survive and, if so, what should he do here?

White to move.
What is White

’s main concern?

Page

COOL TACTICS

8

156

162

139

137

Training Tests / CI 126

White to move.
How can White make progress?

White to move.

What is White’s next step?

White to move.
Can White find a way to continue his attack?

White to move.
How can White take care of his pawn on d4?

Page

JUST DO IT

9

164

179

180

180

Training Tests / CI 126

Black to move.
Does Black have counterchances?

White to move.
Is a rook move to a2 a good option?

Black to move.
Can Black stop the advancing passed pawn?

Black to move.
Can Black launch an attack?

Page

BOTH SIDES ARE ATTACKING

IVAN SOKOLOV

10

56

49

74

161

Training Tests / CI 126

White to move.
What is White

’s next step?

White to move.
What is White

’s next step?

White to move.
Should White take with the rook on a8 or b7?

White to move.
Is the advance of the white pawn to h3 a strong or a weak move?

Page

MAKING A BIG DECISION

11

57

185

186

186

Training Tests / CI 126

White to move.
Which king move should White play?

AND MIDDLEGAME DECISIONS

White to move.
Exchange rooks or not?

Black to move.
Should Black take on f5 or make another move?

E

Black to move.
Can Black win or is it just a draw?

Page

MAJOR ENDGAME DECISIONS

12

79

166

113

114

Training Tests / CI 126

Black to move.
How can Black stop the white pawns?

White to move.
How can White make progress?

White to move.
What is White

’s most important task?

White to move.
Can Black save the game?

Page

ROOK OR PAWN MOVE?

13

58

171

191

148

Training Tests / CI 126

Black to move.
Can Black save the game?

White to move.
Should White advance his a-pawn or do something else?

Black to move.
Can Black achieve a draw?

White to move.
Should White give a check on c1 or take on d3?

Page

I

DIFFICULT DECISIONS

14

85

86

86

87

Training Tests / CI 126

White to move.
King to e1 or knight to d4?

White to move.
King to d5 or pawn to b5?

White to move.
King to e3 or pawn to b5?

OP

White to move.
Any idea how to make progress from White

’s point of view?

Page

FINESSE AND FINE POINTS IN THE ENDGAME (I)

15

88

88

89

90

Training Tests / CI 126

Black to move.
King to b5 or another move?

White to move.
What is White

’s main task?

Black to move.
King to f4 or a bishop move?

White to move.
To which square should the white king move?

OP

Page

FINESSE AND FINE POINTS IN THE ENDGAME (II)

16

91

91

92

92

Training Tests / CI 126

Black to move.
Black needs good technique. What next?

White to move.
White needs good technique. What next?

Black to move.
Black needs good technique. What next?

White to move.
White needs good technique. What next?

Page

FINESSE AND FINE POINTS IN THE ENDGAME (III)