The Self-block Put to Bed
By David Friedgood
In the preceding
article on the self-block theme, I tightened up the requirements for the
best examples of games in which self-blocks played a part. [Definition of self-block:
a unit on the defending side moves to a square to which the defending king could
otherwise move, enabling the attacker to deliver checkmate]. Examples fulfilling
these revised requirements proved very difficult to find.
Greek IM Ilias Kourkounakis sent me a selection of positions from his stock
that he uses for training. He doubts that examples fitting my requirements are
even out there to be found. Amongst his examples is the following one, which
probably has a number of precursors of a similar nature. It is a neat illustration
of what I call ‘impure’ self-blocks, that is, those which are produced
not only for reasons of self-blocking, but have another motive as well:
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1...Rd3! 2.Nxd3 2.Rc1 Nxa3# 2.Ra1 Rc3# 2...Be6# 0–1
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Kopylov | - | Karlson | - | 0–1 | 1961 | | Irkutsk | |
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Steven B Dowd, whose reviews appear quite often on this site and who is an
accomplished problem composer as well, also sent me a few examples. After I
strengthened the requirements though, he pointed out that it would be very difficult
to search electronically for anticipatory self-blocks (a self-block which occurs
some moves before the opponent takes advantage of it). This is a challenge in
itself!
Michael McDowell, who is even better known in the problem world as a composer
than as a former British champion solver, has an exceptional memory. He suggested
a few pertinent games by historic personalities such as Joseph Henry Blackburne,
of which the following one is perhaps the most interesting from a thematic point
of view, with two self-blocks arising perfectly naturally:
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bg5 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Bb7 7.e3 d6 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0 Qe7 10.Nd2 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 0-0-0 13.a4 a5 14.Rb1 Rdg8 15.f3 h5 16.e4 h4 17.Be1 e5 18.h3 Nh5 19.c5 dxc5 20.d5 Nf4 21.Nc4 Rh6 22.Rf2 f5 23.d6 Rxd6 24.Nxd6+ Qxd6 25.Bc4 Rf8 26.exf5 Rxf5 27.Rd2 Qe7 28.Qb3 Rf8 29.Bd3 e4 30.Bxe4 Bxe4 31.fxe4 Qxe4 32.Qc2 Qc6 33.c4 g4 34.Bxh4 gxh3 35.g3 35.Bg3 35...Ne5! 36.Rb3 Ne2+ 37.Rxe2 Rf1+ 38.Kxf1 Qh1+ 39.Kf2 Ng4# 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
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Bogoljubow,E | - | Monticelli,M | - | 0–1 | 1930 | E13 | San Remo | |
Please, wait...
An example of the kind of thing I have been looking for occurred in a game
I played against my good friend Craig Pritchett, the Scottish IM and author,
some years ago.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
20.g4 Bd8 21.g5! hxg5 22.Ng6 fxg6 23.fxg6 Nf5 23...Ne6 24.Bxg5 Qxg5 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Rxf5+ Bxf5 27.Qh8+ Ke7 28.Qxg7+ Ke6 29.Qf7# 1–0
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
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Friedgood,D | - | Pritchett,C | - | 1–0 | 1999 | | 4NCL | |
Please, wait...
To put the self-block theme to bed for the time being (doubtless it will crop
up many times in future articles), here are a couple of problems for solving,
with self-blocks central to the composer’s idea. The solutions will be
given next week.

Mate in two
You have to find White’s first (‘key’) move, which is the
only one to force mate on the following move whatever Black tries to do about
it. This move will threaten mate and all Black’s defences will create
some weakness – mostly self-blocks, which White can take advantage of
to deliver mate. In this case, most moves by the knight on d5 will threaten
2. Rf4# (now that d5 is guarded), but which is the correct one?

Mate in three
You have to find White’s key move, which will threaten to force mate
in a further two moves. Again, Black’s defences to the threat will allow
White to meet them with continuations that take advantage of the weaknesses
they create – again self-blocks, but this time of the anticipatory variety
(see commentary above). Three-movers are generally more difficult than two-movers,
but this one is not so bad – all the white moves after the key are checks.
You could also ask yourself: Is the Bh3 really needed to guard e6?
Any queries or constructive comments can be addressed to the author at david.friedgood@gmail.com.
Copyright in this article David Friedgood 2012/ChessBase
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