FROM CHESS

NOVICE TO
ADVANCED
PLAYER
IN 7 DAYS
By Mato Jelic

Chess essentials in combination

with advanced strategies
Excerpt from the chess book: From Chess Novice to Advanced Player in 7 days

CONTENTS
ABOUT CHESS
HOW CHESS PIECES MOVE
ALGEBRAIC CHESS NOTATION
SPECIAL MOVES
QUICK CHECKMATES (ALSO KNOWN AS MATES)
MOST POPULAR CHESS OPENINGS
INSTRUCTIVE CHESS MINIATURES
THE 30 MOST IMPORTANT ENDGAME POSITIONS
HOW TO EVALUATE A CHESS POSITION
CHESS EXERCISES
SOLUTIONS
TOP 10 TIPS FOR CHESS IMPROVEMENT

Excerpt from the chess book: From Chess Novice to Advanced Player in 7 days

Bishop

The bishop moves in a straight diagonal line and it cant jump

over other pieces. The value of a bishop is three and a half
pawns. In the endgame you cant win with a bishop and a king
against a king. Bishops are generally better than knights in the
endgame, especially endgames with pawns on both side of the
board. With a bishop pair you are able to control both colour
complexes on the board, and the bishops coordinate very well
by working on different coloured squares. The bishop pair is
generally stronger than two knights or a bishop and a knight in
an open position.
Did you know?
Chess is one of the world's most popular mind games played
by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, by
correspondence, online and in tournaments.

Excerpt from the chess book: From Chess Novice to Advanced Player in 7 days

Smothered Mate (six moves)

The board sets up as follows:- 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4
4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 (blocking the bishop on f1) Ngf6.

The next move is 6.Nd6#. The pawn on e7 is pinned. Only now

does the black player realise why move 5 - Qe2 was played.
In chess, a smothered mate is a checkmate delivered by a
knight. The checkmated king is unable to move because he is
smothered by his own pawns and pieces.
Remember
Always make sure that every move has a purpose.

Excerpt from the chess book: From Chess Novice to Advanced Player in 7 days

The French Defense

The French Defense (1.e4 e6) concedes the central space to

white and limits the scope of the blacks queenside bishop, but
prevents tactics against f7 while allowing black to have activity
on the queenside and counter play in the centre. After 2.d4 d5,
white's e-pawn is immediately pressured and white must decide
how to deal with this.
The most popular variations are:The Exchange Variation - 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5;
The Advanced Variation - 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5;
Main Line - 3.Nc3;
The Winawer Variation - 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4;
The Rubinstein Variation - 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4; and
The Classical Variation - 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6.

Excerpt from the chess book: From Chess Novice to Advanced Player in 7 days

The 30 Most Important Endgame Positions

What would you do if it is white to move and win? The solution

is on the next page.

Excerpt from the chess book: From Chess Novice to Advanced Player in 7 days

Queen vs Pawn 2

The white king is close to the black pawn and white is winning.
Here is the technique.
1.Qf1+ Kb2 2.Qe2+ Kb1 3.Qd1+ Kb2 4.Qd2+ Kb1 [4...Ka1
5.Qc1#; 4...Ka3 5.Qc3+ Ka4 6.Kc4 a1Q 7.Qxa1#] 5.Kd3 a1Q
[5...a1N 6.Kc3 Nc2 7.Qxc2+ Ka1 8.Qb2#] 6.Qc2#
Chess helps you to concentrate and improve your logic. It
teaches you to play by the rules and take responsibility for your
actions, how to problem solve in an uncertain environment.
Garry Kasparov

Excerpt from the chess book: From Chess Novice to Advanced Player in 7 days

Chess Exercises

The solutions are on page 115

Excerpt from the chess book: From Chess Novice to Advanced Player in 7 days

Exercise 19

Exercise 20

Exercise 21

Exercise 22

Exercise 23

Excerpt from the chess book: From Chess Novice to Advanced Player in 7 days

Exercise 24

Follow your dreams, believe that you can do it

and take action

Follow your dreams, work hard, practice and persevere.

Make sure you eat a variety of foods, get plenty of exercise
and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Sasha Cohen

In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.

Nikos Kazantzakis

I hated every minute of training, but I said, Don't quit. Suffer

now and live the rest of your life as a champion.
Muhammad Ali

Excerpt from the chess book: From Chess Novice to Advanced Player in 7 days