Colorado Springs Chess News

Game Of The Week

Last year, I came up with a method to organize chess tactics.  I called it the DROP Method (http://cschess.webs.com/apps/blog/categories/show/1378181-drop-method).  The DROP method is an acronym for the basic kinds of tactics.  It is meant to remind you not to drop your pieces and help you get your opponent to drop theirs.

I said that the DROP Method was a work in progress, and it was.  So, I thought I would revisit each of the four kinds of chess tactics to clarify and improve the method.  The first kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Discovery, which I revisited on April 8th (http://cschess.webs.com/apps/blog/show/25494358-d-is-for-discovery).  The second kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Removal, which I revisited on June 8th (http://cschess.webs.com/apps/blog/show/27861646-r-is-for-removal-ii).  The third kind of tactic in the DROP Method is Overload.

Overload is a chess move that attacks a target. 

The Overload is played when the player creates a threat on a target that cannot be defended.  The classic example is choosing a target and piling more attackers on it than supports the defender can muster.  When the number of attackers are greater than the number of supports, material can be won through a series of captures.   Each capture creates a new target until the final support is exhausted and an unguarded target appears.

However, the Overload is, perhaps, the most broad kind of tactic.  Not only does it use multiple attackers on one target, but also it uses a single attacker on multiple targets.  The idea is the same: to gain a target than cannot be defended.  So, most players will become familiar with the different types of Overload:

• Battery (Overload with multiple attackers on a file or diagonal)
• Fork (Overload with multiple targets by the Knight)
• Double Attack (Overload with multiple targets by the other pieces)
• Over-Worked Piece (Overload with multiple targets)
• Skewer (Overload with multiple targets where high value piece is in front)
  

Here is an example from one of my readers.  

Alexander asks, "Coach Paul, I am confused about what an Overload tactic is?  Did I play any in this game?"

Well, Alexander, I understand that the DROP Method can be confusing at first, especially the Overload idea.  Most chess coaches probably use different terminology.  But seeing some examples from your own game can help clear things up.

You quickly found an Overload on move 9 when your opponent played Pawn captures Pawn on d4.  Now, it is white to move.

The immediate recapture of the Pawn on d4 is not the best move, even though that Pawn is threatening your Knight on c3.  Your position includes an Overload and some checks to give you time to save the Knight.

"Tactics flow from a superior position."

(Bobby Fischer)

You found the best move, even though you may not have known that your Bishop and Queen are Overloading the Knight on c6.   This is the classic Overload.  Multiple attackers (2) have piled up on the target, who only has 1 support (b7 Pawn).

When the Bishop captures the Knight with check, the Pawn will recapture and become the next target.  When the Queen captures the final unguarded target with check, you have won a Pawn and can save your own Knight from capture.

It is interesting to note that you saved your Knight by jumping to d5 which attacks the c7 Pawn, along with the Queen.  This would not be considered an Overload yet.  While you have 2 attackers on a target with 1 support, it is still Black to move.  If he failed to defend the Pawn, another Overload would have occurred.  However, he thwarted your attempt to set up an Overload by adding another support.

Thanks for the question, Alexander!  I hope this helps.  Keep studying your chess games, get plenty of rest, drink lots of milk, and someday you can be an expert like me.

O Is For Overload II

http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=81595  

[Event "January Panera Thursday"]

[Site "http://cschess.webs.com/"]

[Date "2012.01.19"]

[Round "3"]

[White "Freeman, Alex"]

[Black "Kondracki, Kurt"]

[Result "1-0"]

[ECO "D07"]

[WhiteElo "1685"]

[BlackElo "1896"]

[PlyCount "65"]

[EventDate "2012.01.05"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e3 e5 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Bxc4

Bxf3 7. Qxf3 Nf6 8. Bb5 exd4 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Qxc6+ Nd7 11. Nd5 Bd6 12. exd4

O-O 13. Be3 Re8 14. Rc1 Rc8 15. Rc4 Nb6 16. Nxb6 axb6 17. d5 Bc5 18. O-O Bxe3

19. fxe3 Rxe3 20. d6 Re6 21. dxc7 Qe7 22. Qb7 Qe8 23. Rd4 f6 24. Qd5 Rxc7 25.

Re4 Rce7 26. Rfe1 Kf7 27. a4 Qc8 28. b4 g6 29. a5 f5 30. Rxe6 Rxe6 31. Qxe6+

Qxe6 32. Rxe6 Kxe6 33. a6 {black  resigned} 1-0

This Week In Chess

On June 18th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held the final rounds of the June Mating Game (4SS, G/30, USCF-rated).

Joe Pahk not only went unbeaten and earned the 1st place prize money and tour points, he also earned his 5th norm for the 2nd Category title six years after earning his 1st norm.

Here are the results:

Score, Player:

3.5 Joe Pahk 1st $30.00

2.5 Alex Freeman 2nd $5.00

2.5 Isaac Martinez 2nd $5.00

2.5 Paul Anderson 2nd $5.00

2.5 Gunnar Andersen 2nd $5.00

2.0 Mark McGough

2.0 Kevin Kaaoush U1700 $10.00

1.5 Buck Buchanan

1.5 Brian Rountree

1.5 Daniel Herman

1.0 Eugin Pahk

0.5 Shirley Herman

0.5 Tom Richardson

0.5 Dean Brown

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 2nd Quarter Standings

Current Standings (rank, name, total, quarter): 

1    Paul Anderson    59.50    34.50

2    Isaac Martinez    34.00    29.00

3    Mark McGough    32.25    20.25

4    Mike Madsen    24.50    17.00

5    Daniel Herman    15.50    11.50

6    Jeff Fox    14.75    10.25

7    Dean Brown    14.50    7.50

8    Koji DelConte    13.50    7.00

9    Alex Torres    13.00    5.00

10    Tim Brennan    12.00    0.00

11    Peter Grigg    12.00    9.00

12    Joe Pahk    12.00    10.50

13    Shirley Herman    11.00    9.00

14    Josh Bloomer    10.50    8.00

15    Richard Buchanan    9.75    9.75

16    Alex Freeman    8.50    3.50

17    Sara Herman    7.00    3.00

18    Tom Richardson    7.00    7.00

19    Randy Canton    6.00    6.00

20    Brian Rountree    6.00    2.00

21    Eugin Pahk    6.00    3.00

22    Kevin Kaaoush    5.00    5.00

23    Josh Divine    4.25    4.25

24    Scott Williams    4.00    4.00

25    Kathy Schneider    4.00    3.00

26    Peter Barlay    3.50    3.50

27    Gunnar Andersen    3.50    3.50

28    Joe Polanco    3.00    3.00

29    Anthea Carson    2.00    0.00

30    Mike Wanek    2.00    0.00

31    James Powers    2.00    0.00

32    Wes Smith    2.00    1.00

33    William Wilken    2.00    2.00

34    Imre Barlay    2.00    2.00

35    Rebecca Herman    1.50    0.00

36    Mike Toth    1.00    0.00

37    Buddy Diamond    1.00    0.00

38    Curits Holsinger    1.00    1.00

39    Evan Baron    1.00    1.00

40    Teppei Monjiyama    1.00    1.00

41    Nicholas Wyle    1.00    1.00

42    Katie Wise    1.00    1.00

    MAX POSSIBLE    76.00    48.00