Online Chess Exercises - Position 1

OK, it's already 5 AM in the morning and I haven't slept yet. It seems like my new chess improvement blog is gonna give me a lot of sleepless nights. Anyway, to make something productive out of it, I have decided to make a series of online chess exercises using positions taken from actual games.

The idea?

Guess the correct plan of action. Chess opening, middle game, endgame - the positions can be taken from any of these chess game stages (or even in between!). To make sure you are getting the most out of it, you won't get any clue as to which piece to move, no clues as what factors stand out...NONE whatsoever.

WARNING: Do NOT scroll all the way down as the bottom most part of the page contains the answer. No cheating please. Also, I strongly recommend taking and pondering on these online chess exercises on an actual board. Along with that, you want to limit your thinking time to 5 to 15 minutes. You don't get unlimited thinking time in tournament games.

With that taken care of, let's move on to the online chess exercises:

Online Chess Exercise Position 1

What Do You Think Of The Position? Equal? Better For White? Better For Black? Also, how would you proceed? (Indicate Concrete Moves)

Don't Scroll Down!

ANSWER
Check out White's Rooks - they are doubled on the b-file. With that in mind, there's no doubt about White's position being better a little bit. If Black wants to level the field, he needs to activate his rooks on the e-file. How to do that? Go for the e5-e4 advance.

BUT wait, Black can't do that right away. In the game, the second player went straight for the advance 1…e5-e4?? and he crumbled right away after 2.Rxc6+! Kxc6 3.Bd5+ Kb6 4.Bxa8 Ra7 5.Bd5 Rd7 6.fxe4 fxe4 7.Kf2 Kc5 8.b4+ 1-0.

(You missed that? If you have, then your chess thinking skills could use a lot of help. The GrandMaster's Secrets Course by Grandmaster Igor Smirnov - rock solid advice on how to think like the pros coupled with exercises that will sharpen and improve chess skills. This course has it!)

So what is the correct move? The answer is 1...Rae8. The idea is to open the e file with the mentioned advance. 2.Kf2 e4! 3.fxe4 (NOT 3.f4? e3! This gives Black good winning chances thanks to his passed pawn.) 3…Rxe4 - I don't think Black should have any problem keeping his position together.

Need more chess exercises? Want to learn how GrandMasters think? Want to know how to avoid blunders and find winning resources in that mysterious position in front of you? With The GrandMaster's Secrets by GrandMaster Igor Smirnov, you will never be at a loss at what to do in a chess game!

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