Lesson 11: Active Defense

There are two main strategies for defense in chess: active defense and passive defense. In Lesson 8, we discussed one type of passive defense--fortress positions. Tonight, we will how to defend actively, including defense by counterattack. In active defense, the defender not only aims to thwart the attacking plans of his opponent but also undertakes his own aggressive actions.

Position 1: Tal-Petrosian (Riga, 1958)

White: Kg1, Qg4, Ra1, Rd1, Nb3, Be3, a5, b2, c4, d5, e4, g2, h5.

Black (to move): Kg8, Qd8, Rf8, Rf6, Nd7, Bd6, a6, b4, c5, f7, g7, h7.

Position 2: Reshevsky-Petrosian (Zurich, 1953)

White: Kg1, Qf4, Re1, Re3, Bb2, Bg4, a3, c3, d4, e5, g2, h2.

Black (to move): Kg8, Qe8, Rd8, Re7, Nc6, Bg6, a5, b5, c4, f7, g7, h7.

Position 3: Geller-Euwe (Zurich, 1953)

White: Kg1, Qd1, Ra1, Rf4, Bc1, Bd3, Ng3, a3, d4, e4, f5, g2, h2.

Black (to move): Kg8, Qd8, Rc8, Rf8, Bb7, Nc4, Ne8, a7, b6, d7, e6, f6, g7, h7.

Position 4: Keres-Smyslov (Zurich, 1953)

White: Kg1, Qd1, Rc3, Re5, Bb2, Bf1, a3, b3, c4, d4, f2, g2, h2.
Black (to move): Kg8, Qd8, Rc8, Rf8, Bb7, Be7, a7, b6, d5, e6, f7, g7, h7.

Position 5: Short-Smirin (Deprecen, 1992)

White: Kc1, Qf3, Rd2, Rh1, Bb2, Nc3, Bf1, a3, b3, c2, e5, f4, g5, h5.
Black (to move): Qb6, Ra7, Rf8, Nc5, Bc8, Bg7, a5, c6, d5, e6, f7, g6, h7.