* It is very important to study these themes as the middlegame is where most players get into time pressure or just cannot find a plan.
* These themes are very useful for children as well as adults, with level ranging from beginners to 2500 ELO. For practical players, amateurs, trainers, and just lovers of chess! Studying these themes helps to find plans, ideas, build strategies 15-35 moves into the game.
* Each number – theme contains from few to many hundreds of examples. Every game fragment has been analysed and is already in ChessBase/Fritz format which makes it very easy to study. Those examples that you wish to purchase will be in your hands already after some minutes! 🙂
Prices: each example costs 20 cents, so 10 examples cost 2 euros, etc.
DEMBO RULES
4. “Blow back!” Favorite method of great players of all times!
14. First is to capture, especially near the King!
41. Look for blows near the King!
51. “If it looks impossible, but you want to do it very much, it is possible (Mission Impossible :))!”
59. “If we can’t get into the door, we enter through the window! :)”
62. Look for points of intersection!
76. Look for gifted, talented moves!
80. I would like, but … prevents (look for what you would like to achieve!)
108. “Don’t be afraid to sacrifice a pawn for initiative!”
128. Moves backwards lose!!
130. “The Knight delivers the last blow! :)”
141. “We run to open the door! :)” Playing against fianchetto.
162. “Exchange or not and if yes, on which square?”
164. “Don’t let your opponent to make a good move! :)”
76. “Gifted Moves”
347. Fast, easy and nice realization in winning positions.
Everything about Rooks
85. “Kasparov’s Rook
132. Rook is stronger than 2 minor pieces
134. 2 minor pieces are stronger than a Rook
137. 2 Rooks versus 3 minor pieces
152. Rook comes back to the 1st (8th) rank
245. Queen versus Rook and 2 minor pieces
246. Queen and Rooks (Rook) versus Queen and Rooks (Rook)
275. How to win with Q versus R and a minor piece
309. “Inactive” Rook
354. Rook improvement by 2nd (7th) rank
A.For White:
8. Rxf7.
47. Rе1-е4 (under pawns d5 or f5)
91. Rook captures the N on h5
95. Rook goes to f6 (under g7-pawn)
100. Rook lift to attack on the 3rd rank
116. Rook sacrifice on d7
175. Rook captures the pawn on d5
176. Rook captures the pawn on e4
180. Rook sacrifice on d5
189. Rf6 sacrifice (not under the g7-pawn)
234. Rook sacrifice on g7 (Rxg7)
252. Rook sacrifice on f6 (Rxf6)
331. Rook sacrifice on e6 (Rxе6)
345. Rook sacrifice on e6 (Rе6)
B.For Black:
21. Rxc3 exchange sacrifice
38. Rook sacrifice on b2
57. Rook sacrifice Rxg2
114. Rf3 under g2-pawn
188. Rook sacrifice (Rf2)
240. Rook lift to attack on the 6th rank
310. Rook lift Rс8-с5(с4)
315. Rook sacrifice on с3 (Rc3)
326. Rook sacrifice on f2 (Rxf2)
All about Knights
6. Black Knight goes to h1 or White Knight goes to h8
23. “Inactive” knight
86. The a- or h-pawn plays against the Knight on b- or g-files
118. Black Knight goes to a2 and White Knight goes to a7
130. The Knight delivers the last blow
131. Sacrifice of 2 Knights
161. Two Bishops are stronger than two Knights
166. Two Knights are stronger than two Bishops
344. Knight-provocateur
A.For White:
5. Nxf7
7. Nf6
25. Sacrifice of White Knight on g7
40. The weakness of the f6-square (for the Knight)
55. Just Nf5
65. White Knight goes to g5
73. White sacrifices a Knight (Nxh6)
74. Nd5 sacrifice not in Sicilian
82. White sacrifices a Knight (Nxe6) not in Sicilian
89. Queen and Knight (weakness of f6 or h6 squares)
97. White Knight goes to с4 (Nс4)
99. White sacrifices a Knight on h5 (Nxh5)
102. Knight captures the pawn on d5
126. White Knight goes to b1 from c3 or d2
195. Nd5 for Nf5
196. Nf5 under e6-pawn
197. Nf5 under g6-pawn not in Ruy Lopez
198. Nxf5 sacrifice
199. Nf5 under e6 and g6 pawns
236. Nxg6
241. White Knight goes to d7
243. Sacrifice of a Knight on g5
271. Nb5 not in Sicilian
306. Sacrifice of a Knight on f7 not in Ruy Lopez
320. White Knight goes to h6
321. Sacrifice of a Knight (Nе6) not in Sicilian
324. White Knight goes to h5 (Nh5)
330. White sacrifices a Knight on g6 (Ng6)
335. White sacrifices a Knight on h7 (Nxh7) not in French
342. White Knight captures the pawn on f6
346. White Knight captures the pawn on c4 not in French
349. White Knight sacrifices the Knight (Nxb5) not in Sicilian
B. For Black:
27. Black Knight goes to f4 (under the g3-pawn)
34. Sacrifice of Black Knight on f2
60. Black Knight goes to h3 from f4 or g5
63. Black Knight goes to a3 from c4 or b5
67. Sacrifice of Black Knight on f3
70. “Kasparov’s” Knight (Nd3)
78. Black Knight goes to b4
96. Sacrifice of Black Knight Nxd4
117. Black Knight captures on e4
119. Black Knight goes to с3
150. Black Knight goes to f4 (without sacrifice)
171. Sacrifice of Black Knight on b2
202. Sacrifice of Black Knight on g2 (Ng2 and Nxg2)
204. Sacrifice of Black Knight on g3 (Nxg3) not in King’s Indian
269. Black Knight captures on b4
276. Black Knight captures on d5
278. Queen and Knight (weaknesses on f3 and h3)
311. Black Knight goes to b8 (from c6 or d7)
322. Black sacrifices the Knight on d4 (Nd4)
328. Black sacrifices the Knight on g3 (Ng3) not in King’s Indian
333. Sacrifice of Knight or Bishop on g4 not in Sicilian or King’s Indian
340. Black Knight captures on h3 (Nxh3)
All about Bishops
109. Attack with opposite color Bishops
113. Bishop captures the Rook on f8 and on f1
149. The advantage of two Bishops in middlegame
159. White Bishops goes on e8, Black Bishops goes to d1!
161. Two Bishops are stronger than two Knights
166. Two Knights are stronger than two Bishops
191. “Inactive” Bishop
192. Two Bishops versus two Bishops in middlegame
363. Queen and Bishop play on opposite colors
372. The advantage of two Bishops in Rossolimo without Bxс6
A.For White:
3. Bxa6
11. White Bishop goes to f6 not in Sicilian
20. Sacrifice Bxb5 or Bb5 not in Sicilian
24. Sacrifice Bxg7
39. White Bishops goes to h3 from g2 (f1)
66. Sacrifice Bxh6
72. Sacrifice Bxf5
75. Sacrifice Bxe6
94. The use of light square Bishop of White on a2-g8 diagonal
112. Sacrifice Bxg6
138. White Bishop goes to d4
151. White Bishop goes to f4
183. Opening up the Bishop on a1-h8 diagonal
185. Opening up the Bishop on h1-a8 diagonal
186. Ba6
187. Sacrifice Bxf7
235. Sacrifice Bxh5 and Bh5
312. Sacrifice of the Bishop on g5
318. Sacrifice Bh6
319. Sacrifice Bf5
325. Sacrifice Bg6
337. White plays Bе6
410. Bxh7
B.For Black:
2. Opening up the Bishop ona8-h1 diagonal
29. Sacrifice Bg3
79. Bg7-d4
111. Sacrifice of Knight or Bishop on g4 in Dragon
173. Sacrifice of Bishop on b2
184. Opening up the Bishop on h8-a1 diagonal
190. Black Bishop goes to f3
203. Sacrifice of Black Bishop on g2
205. Sacrifice of Black Bishop on f2
207. Sacrifice Bxh3
270. Sacrifice Bxb4
302. Black Bishop goes to h6 from g7 (f8) not in King’s Indian
316. Sacrifice Bxg3
329. Sacrifice Bh3
333. Sacrifice on Bishop or Knight on g4 not in Dragon or King’s Indian
358. Black Bishop goes to b4
382. Bg7-f8 in King’s Indian
All about Queens
1. Queen sacrifice for Rook, minor piece (and maybe pawn)
13. Sacrificing a pawn to a Queen for a file
22. Queen Sacrifice for two minor pieces (and pawn)
43. Centralization of Queen
44. Queen goes to b4
84. Queen goes to с5 or с4 in various openings
88. Queen is stronger than 2 Rooks
89. Queen and Knight (weakness of f6 and h6 squares)
93. Sacrifice of White Queen on h8
124. Queen versus 3 minor pieces
172. Queen sacrifice on b2
245. Queen versus Rook and 2 minor pieces
275. How to win with a Q versus Rook and minor piece
278. Queen and Knight (weaknesses on f3 and h3 squares)
308. “Inactive” Queen
368. Queen versus pawns
369. Two Rooks stronger than a Queen
418. Realization of Queen for 2 minor pieces
All about Kings
30. Strong King moves
250. “King-traveler”
Different material
1. Queen sacrifice for Rook and minor piece (and maybe, a pawn)
22. Queen sacrifice for 2 minor pieces (and pawn)
87. Piece sacrifice for 2 (3) pawns in middlegame
124. Queen versus 3 minor pieces
132. Rook is stronger than 2 minor pieces
134. Two minor pieces are stronger than a Rook
137. 2 Rooks versus 3 minor pieces
143. 2 minor pieces and pawn versus one minor piece and larger amount of pawns
242. Extra exchange in middlegame
275. How to win with a Queen for Rook and minor piece
Rare moves
3. Sacrifice Bxa6
47. Rе1-е4 (under d5 or f5 pawns)
314. Last move – castle!
Special themes
77. How much is possible to sacrifice in one game?
168. Don’t play chess like that!
314. Last move – castle!
355. How to win with a, b, d5, e, f, g, h, pawn structure for both sides
365. Intermediate move
366. Development advantage
412. Sacrifice of a pawn on b2
Freeing a file or a square
13. Sacrificing a pawn to a Queen for a file
71. Freeing up a square
413. Removal of blocade
Easy, but nice
50. “Easy, but nice!” Very nice wins in 1-2 moves
92. Easy, but nice (very easy wins!)
Exchange sacrifices
16. Exchange sacrifice
113. Bishop captures the Rook on f8 and f1
A. For White:
9. Exchange sacrifice on f6
49. Exchange sacrifice on е6 (Rxе6)
91. Rook captures the N on h5
121. Exchange sacrifice on d5 (Rd5)
174. Exchange sacrifice on е4
179. Exchange sacrifice on d5 – Rxd5
214. Exchange sacrifice on a6
219. Exchange sacrifice on d7
221. Exchange sacrifice on f4 (Rf4 or Rxf4)
223. Exchange sacrifice on с5 (Rс5 or Rxс5)
224. Exchange sacrifice on d4
226. Exchange sacrifice on f5
227. Exchange sacrifice on е5
228. Exchange sacrifice on с6 (Rxс6 or Rс6)
230. Exchange sacrifice on d6
231. Exchange sacrifice on с4 (Rxс4 or Rс4)
249. Exchange sacrifice on a1
259. Exchange sacrifice on е7
280. Exchange sacrifice on d8 (Rxd8)
284. Exchange sacrifice on с3 (Rxс3)
317. Exchange sacrifice on е6 (Rе6)
343. Exchange sacrifice on g7 (Rxg7)
B.For Black:
154. Exchange sacrifice on е3 (Rxе3 or Rе3)
181. Exchange sacrifice on f3
213. Exchange sacrifice on d3
215. Exchange sacrifice on е2
216. Exchange sacrifice on с4 (Rxс4)
217. Exchange sacrifice on f4 (Rf4 or Rxf4)
218. Exchange sacrifice on (Rxе4 or Rе4)
220. Exchange sacrifice on d4
222. Exchange sacrifice on d5 (Rd5 or Rxd5)
225. Exchange sacrifice on b2
229. Exchange sacrifice on g5
232. Exchange sacrifice on е5
233. Exchange sacrifice on g3
248. Exchange sacrifice on a8
251. Exchange sacrifice on d2
268. Exchange sacrifice on с4 (Rс4)
281. Exchange sacrifice on g4 (Rxg4)
282. Exchange sacrifice on b3 (Rb3)
285. Exchange sacrifice on d6 (Rxd6)
286. Exchange sacrifice on с5 (Rxс5)
334. Exchange sacrifice on с3 (Rс3)
352. Exchange sacrifice on с3 (Rxс3) not in Sicilian
Blows near the King
41. “Look for a blow near the King!”
А.For White:
5. Nxf7
8. Rxf7
24. Sacrifice of Bishop on g7
25. Sacrifice of Knight on g7
66. Sacrifice Bxh6
73. Sacrifice Nxh6
95. Rook goes to f6 (under g7-pawn)
112. Sacrifice Bxg6
187. Sacrifice Bxf7
189. Sacrifice Rf6 (not under g7-pawn)
234. Sacrifice Rxg7
236. Sacrifice Nxg6
243. Sacrifice of Knight on g5
252. Sacrifice of Rook on f6 (Rxf6)
306. Sacrifice of a Knight on f7 not in Ruy Lopez
312. Sacrifice of a Bishop on g5
318. Sacrifice Bh6
320. Sacrifice Nh6
325. Sacrifice Bg6
330. Sacrifice Ng6
335. Sacrifice Nxh7 not in French
342. Sacrifice Nxf6
343. Exchange sacrifice on g7 (Rxg7)
398. h5-h6 in Sicilian
B.For Black:
29. Sacrifice Bg3
34. Sacrifice Nxf2
38. Sacrifice Rxb2
57. Sacrifice Rxg2
67. Sacrifice Nf3
114. Rf3 under g2-pawn
171. Sacrifice Nxb2
172. Sacrifice Qxb2
173. Sacrifice Bxb2
181. Exchange sacrifice on f3
188. Sacrifice Rf2
190. Sacrifice Bf3
202. Sacrifice Nxg2
203. Sacrifice Bxg2
204. Sacrifice Nxg3 or Ng3
205. Sacrifice of Black Bishop on f2
207. Sacrifice Bxh3
281. Exchange sacrifice Rxg4
316. Sacrifice Bxg3
326. Sacrifice Rxf2
328. Sacrifice Ng3 not in King’s Indian
329. Sacrifice Bh3
333. Sacrifice of Bishop or Knight on g4 in various openings
340. Sacrifice Nxh3
Pawn blows and pushes
86. The a- or h-pawn plays against the Knight on b- or g-files
А. For White:
10. f4-f5 against e6 and g6
12. f5-f6 not in Sicilian
17. e4-e5 not in Sicilian
18. d5-d6 (for Kd5 and not only)
26. с4-с5 not in King’s Indian
31. h2-h4
42. a5-a6
48. g2-g4
58. d4-d5 in closed openings
61. h4 with the idea of h5
68. Attack on h-file (h4-h5, Rxh5, etc)
81. b2-b4 (b3-b4)
125. е5-е6
135. h5-h6
201. e3-e4
291. d4-d5 not in closed openings
293. g5-g6 not in Sicilian
341. Positional h5-h6
B. for Black:
35. e4-e3
37. Freeing d6-d5 (d7-d5)
46. g7-g5 (g6-g5)
52. b7-b5 (b6-b5)
64. d5-d4
178. Black pawns on b3 and c3 together, not in Sicilian
206. f4-f3
209. h7-h5
239. h7-h5 with the idea of h4
296. е5-е4 not in King’s Indian
297. g7-g5 (g6-g5) – gaining space
298. g5-g4 not in King’s Indian
299. g5-g4 blow
300. g4-g3
301. Black pawns on b3 and a3 together, not in Sicilian
303. с5-с4 not in various openings
307. f5-f4
405. h4-h3