Attack and Counterattack in Chess

by Fred Reinfeld, Peter Kurzdorfer (Editor)

Overview

Fred Reinfeld’s timeless Attack and Counterattack in Chess starts with the basic premise that White plays to build on the natural initiative that is inherent in having the first move, while Black plays to sap White’s divine right to this initiative, only to take it over the moment it is possible. The book is neatly divided into two sections: How White manages to make good use of his right to the first move by taking advantage of typical mistakes by Black, and how Black succeeds in challenging that right and taking over the initiative by jumping on blunders by White. There are several points to keep in mind as you peruse the games involved. The first is that this is not an opening book. The examples of play are all built around a complete chess game that came to a logical conclusion based on one player’s muffs and the other player’s exploitation of those errors. The other point is that the poor moves that are taken advantage of were to some extent based on carelessness or inattention or lack of knowledge but were also set up on purpose by the winning player. The first seven chapters cover how to control the center; how to exploit superior mobility; how to exploit Black’s premature opening of the position; how to exploit Black’s premature counterattack; How to exploit Black’s weakening pawn moves; how to exploit Black’s errors of judgement; and how to exploit irregular defenses. All these subjects are covered by a close look at a chess game in which the bungles are followed by their natural punishment The last five chapters look at how to seize the initiative as Black; how to play against gambits; how to defend against a powerful attack; how Black can seize the attack; and how to exploit unusual openings. Again, each topic unfolds during a chess game with faulty play by White and its logical destruction by Black. Develop and improve your attacking/counterattacking skills with the 21st-century edition of Reinfeld’s Attack and Counterattack in Chess!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781941270639
Publisher:	Russell Enterprises, Incorporated
Publication date:	02/22/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Fred Reinfeld (1910-1964) was for many years among the strongest chess players in the country. Even now as an author, he stands alone, the most successful and prolific chess writer of all time, with over 100 books to his credit.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 2

How to Exploit Your Superior Mobility

You will find, almost without exception, that when you have the better development, your pieces have more mobility than your opponent’s forces. Remember that the first move gives you a springboard for getting ahead in development – and for having more mobility than Black has.

Mobility, as you saw in the first chapter, is connected with having a powerful position in the center. The stronger your position in the center, the more mobility your pieces will have. In the following game White emphasizes this point very strongly.

White – Black

Alekhine’s Defense

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6

Diagram]

Black has developed one piece, White hasn’t developed any at all. Yet White has considerable mobility, as his center pawns dominate the center and many avenues of development are open to his pieces. (Black’s lead in development is academic, as his knight can accomplish very little from b6.)

White’s immediate aim is to support his powerful pawn center by advancing his f-pawn.

5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Nc3 c5

This advance of Black’s c-pawn is logical, as it breaks up the center. (On 9.d5 Bxe5 10.Bxc5 Black has a playable but clearly inferior game, as his knight at b6 is sadly lacking in mobility.)

Instead, Black tries to win a pawn outright. The attempt is disastrous, because White leaves Black with an unbearably cramped position. White now makes use of his superior mobility.

9.d5 Qc7? 10.d6! exd6 11.Nb5! Qe7 12.Nxd6+ Kf8 13.Nxc8! Nxc8 14.Bxc5!! Black resigns. (12)

An extraordinary finish. If 14...Qxc5 15.Qd8#. Thus White wins the queen by force.

White succeeded admirably in this game because Black started an attack on White’s center and failed to follow it up. This gave White time to exploit his superior mobility to the utmost.

The remaining games in this chapter are more orthodox, for White has superior development, superior mobility, and control of the center in each one.

White – Black

French Defense

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4

An extraordinary finish. If 14...Qxc5 15.Qd8#. Thus White wins the queen by force.

White succeeded admirably in this game because Black started an attack on White’s center and failed to follow it up. This gave White time to exploit his superior mobility to the utmost.

Table of Contents

About the Author 4

From the Editor 6

Part I White's Point of View

Chapter 1 How to Control the Center 8

Chapter 2 How to Exploit Superior Mobility 13

Chapter 3 How to Exploit Black's Premature Opening Up of the Position 18

Chapter 4 How to Exploit Black's Premature Counterattack 25

Chapter 5 How to Exploit Black's Weakening Pawn Moves 29

Chapter 6 How to Exploit Black's Errors of Judgment 37

Chapter 7 How to Exploit Irregular Defenses 43

Part II Black's Point of View

Chapter 8 How to Seize the Initiative 50

Chapter 9 How to Play against Gambits 57

Chapter 10 How to Defend Against a Powerful Attack 66

Chapter 11 How to Seize the Attack 77

Chapter 12 How to Exploit Unusual Openings 79

Editor's Notes 86