Exercises are ordered from clearer defensive simplifications to more demanding multi-stage exchanges.
Exercise solutions
Exercise 1
Best move: 1...Qg5!
Short plan: Fork the white queen and knight to force queens off, then continue simplifying the attacking pieces and play against the e5-pawn.
Critical line: 1...Qg5! 2.Qxg5 hxg5 3.Ng3 Ba6!
Strategic theme: Forcing a queen exchange before the attack develops.
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1...Ba6!? is playable, but it is less forcing: 1...Qg5! immediately removes the queens and therefore the main attacking potential.
Difficulty: 1/5
Source mapping: Original Position 127; V. Korchnoi-M. Taimanov, USSR Championship, Riga 1958; exercise printed page 323 / PDF page 324; solution printed page 402 / PDF page 403.
Exercise 2
Best move: 1.Bxc6!
Short plan: Damage Black's queenside structure and prepare Be5, exchanging the active bishop and leaving c6 as a lasting target.
Critical line: 1.Bxc6! bxc6 2.Be5! Qe7 3.Bxc7
Strategic theme: Defensive/positional exchange to reduce activity and create a stable target.
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: A direct continuation that leaves the active c7-bishop on the board misses the point; the source line first changes the structure and then forces a favorable minor-piece exchange.
Difficulty: 1/5
Source mapping: Original Position 128; J. Timman-L. Ljubojevic, Tilburg 1981; exercise printed page 323 / PDF page 324; solution printed page 402 / PDF page 403.
Exercise 3
Best move: 1...Qe2!
Short plan: Prepare a forced queen exchange so White's kingside attack disappears; then consolidate the extra pawn.
Critical line: 1...Qe2! 2.Qh4 Qg4! 3.Qxg4 Nxg4
Strategic theme: Queen exchange to extinguish an attack and reveal a material edge.
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: Keeping queens on the board gives White the only realistic attacking chances. The source explicitly emphasizes that Black's extra pawn becomes decisive only after queens are removed.
Difficulty: 2/5
Source mapping: Original Position 129; E. Lobron-K. Hulak, Yerevan Olympiad 1996; exercise printed page 323 / PDF page 324; solution printed page 403 / PDF page 404.
Exercise 4
Best move: 1...Nxe4! followed by 2...Qd5!
Short plan: First eliminate the active e4-piece, then use ...Qd5 to compel a queen exchange and reach a safer structure.
Critical line: 1...Nxe4! 2.Qxe4 Qd5! 3.Qxd5 cxd5
Strategic theme: Remove the attacker first, then force the queen trade.
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: A passive defensive move leaves White's attacking coordination intact. The point of the source solution is the forcing two-move sequence rather than waiting for the attack to continue.
Difficulty: 2/5
Source mapping: Original Position 130; T. Narmontas-V. Sergeev, Warsaw (rapid) 2007; exercise printed page 323 / PDF page 324; solution printed page 403 / PDF page 404.
Exercise 5
Best move: 1...Bxe4!
Short plan: Exchange the dangerous knight before it can reach f6, then use ...Rad8 and ...f5 to gain counterplay and reorganize.
Critical line: 1...Bxe4! 2.Bxe4 Rad8 3.Bc3 f5!?
Strategic theme: Preemptive exchange of the key attacking knight.
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1...Rad8?! is too slow because 2.Nf6+! creates a direct kingside threat; after ...gxf6, exf6 leaves Black without an adequate defence against Qh6.
Difficulty: 3/5
Source mapping: Original Position 131; M. Illescas Cordoba-O. Korneev, Spanish Team Championship 2004; exercise printed page 323 / PDF page 324; solution printed page 403 / PDF page 404.
Exercise 6
Best move: 1.Qc7!
Short plan: Force a queen exchange, neutralize Black's attack and transpose into an ending where White's extra material can be used safely.
Critical line: 1.Qc7! Qxc7 2.d6+
Strategic theme: Forcing simplification when ahead in material.
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: A quiet consolidating move leaves Black's attacking queen on the board. Qc7 is stronger because it makes simplification immediate or gains time with d6+.
Difficulty: 3/5
Source mapping: Original Position 132; O. Kinnmark-M. Tal, Stockholm 1961; exercise printed page 323 / PDF page 324; solution printed page 403 / PDF page 404.
Exercise 7
Best move: 1.Bg4!
Short plan: Offer a bishop exchange that removes the powerful bishop on h3 and reduces Black's attacking potential.
Critical line: 1.Bg4! Bxg4! 2.Qxg4 g6
Strategic theme: Trading the critical attacking bishop.
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1.Be1?! is too passive: ...Qf6 followed by ...Ng5 gives Black the initiative.
Difficulty: 4/5
Source mapping: Original Position 133; J. Gustafsson-Z. Gyimesi, Internet (blitz) 2006; exercise printed page 324 / PDF page 325; solution printed page 403 / PDF page 404.
Exercise 8
Best move: 1...Nd7!
Short plan: Secure the exchange of at least one of White's active pieces on e5 and g5, then consolidate the kingside.
Critical line: 1...Nd7! 2.Bxe7 Qxe7 3.Ne4 Kg7
Strategic theme: A retreat that forces favorable exchanges of attackers.
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1...Nxc3?! is less convincing because White can preserve the initiative after bxc3 and active central play; ...Nd7 targets the attackers directly.
Difficulty: 4/5
Source mapping: Original Position 134; J. Ambroz-F. Gheorghiu, Baile Herculane 1982; exercise printed page 324 / PDF page 325; solution printed page 404 / PDF page 405.
Exercise 9
Best move: 1...Nxc3!
Short plan: Change the structure first, then play ...Ba4 to arrange a defensive bishop exchange and later challenge the strong knight on e5.
Critical line: 1...Nxc3! 2.bxc3 Ba4! 3.Rd3 Bxc2 4.Qxc2 Nd7!
Strategic theme: Preparatory exchange followed by a second defensive exchange.
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: The game move 1...Rac8?! allows 2.Ne4! Qc7 3.Nc5, giving White useful initiative.
Difficulty: 4/5
Source mapping: Original Position 135; H. Groetz-A. Rychagov, Agios Kirykos 2009; exercise printed page 324 / PDF page 325; solution printed page 404 / PDF page 405.
Exercise 10
Best move: 1...Nxf3+!
Short plan: Immediately exchange the key attacking bishop/defender combination and enter a position where White lacks sufficient compensation.
Critical line: 1...Nxf3+! 2.Nxf3 Qf6 3.Bb2 Qf5
Strategic theme: Immediate removal of the attack's key piece instead of passive defence.
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1...Bd6? is too slow: 2.Be4! keeps a strong initiative and the source continuation shows Black falling under a severe attack. 1...Nd3?! is also met by active play.
Difficulty: 5/5
Source mapping: Original Position 136; B. Predojevic-E. Dearing, Calvia Olympiad 2004; exercise printed page 324 / PDF page 325; solution printed page 404 / PDF page 405.