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Fifty More Lessons
Steve Goldberg
50 Ways to Win at Chess, by Steve Giddins, 2007 Gambit Publications Ltd, Figurine
Algebraic Notation, Paperback, 175pp., $26.95
This is an excellent follow-up to Giddins’ 50 Essential Chess
Lessons from Gambit, published in 2006. It does not include
“the essential lessons” notes at the end of each game, as in
the earlier book, but it does continue Giddins’ easy writing
style that emphasizes teaching major concepts with textual
explanations rather than via lengthy mind-numbing
variations. Giddins is a FIDE Master who understands the
subtle elements that separate class players from master
players.
Each game typically is spread over two or three pages, with a
sufficient number of diagrams so that most readers will be
able to review the game notes without the need for a
chessboard. It might still be advisable, however, to play over
the games either on a physical board or using chess software.
I found that my ChessBase database already contained many of the games from 50 Ways to
Win at Chess.
The book is divided into seven sections, each emphasizing a different feature, as the Table of
Contents shows:
● Section 1: Attack and Defence
● Games 1-8
● Section 2: Opening Play
● Games 9-12
● Section 3: Structures
● Games 13-28
● Section 4: Thematic Endings
● Games 29-33
● Section 5: Other Aspects of Strategy
● Games 34-43
● Section 6: Endgame Themes
● Games 44-48
● Section 7: Psychology in Action
● Games 49-50
More specifically, some of the issues Giddins covers include:

● The danger of a king trapped in the center
● Opposite-side castling
● Attacking weak color complexes
● Exploiting weak opening play
● Principle of two weaknesses
● Pawn structure concepts
● Endgame structures resulting from opening play
● Exploiting the bishop-pair
Game #6, from the Attack and Defense section, is Topalov-Kasparov, Euwe Memorial,
Amsterdam 1995. It aptly demonstrates Giddins’ lucid explanations (not all of his notes are
shown):
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f3 Be7 8.g4 0-0 9.
Qd2 a6 10.0-0-0
Via a Taimanov move-order, we have
transposed into a typical Najdorf/
Scheveningen Sicilian position. White’s setup,
with Be3, Qd2, 0-0-0 and f3, is known as
the English Attack, having been developed
by the English GMs Nunn, Chandler and
Short during the 1980s. It is a very direct
and natural plan. White castles queenside,
and as is typical of such opposite-castling
positions, he throws his kingside pawns up
to attack the enemy king. Black, meanwhile,
uses his queenside pawns and the half-open
c-file to counterattack against White’s king.
Victory goes to he who manages to
prosecute his attack the more vigorously, with great accuracy being demanded of both
players.
10…Nxd4
Black wishes to play …b5, which is impossible at once because of the undefended
knight on c6, hence this exchange. He could instead defend the knight by 10…Qc7,
but it is not yet clear that c7 is the best square for the black queen. Likewise,
defending the knight by 10…Bd7?! would be too passive, since the bishop is poorly
placed on d7, being both inactive itself, and also depriving Black’s king’s knight of
the retreat-square on d7.
11.Bxd4 b5!
Continuing with his active play on the
queenside. Several previous games had seen
Black preface this move with 11…Nd7, but
Kasparov’s choice is more energetic. The
point of 11…Nd7 is that after Kasparov’s
11…b5, White could now play 12.Bxf6.
Clearly, it would be bad to play 12…gxf6?,
exposing Black’s king, and after 12…Bxf6,
White can win a pawn by 13.Qxd6.
However, Kasparov appreciates that Black
would then have excellent compensation
after 13…Qa5!. This type of pawn sacrifice
is a common theme in the Sicilian, and

usually offers Black good counterplay. This
particular version of it is especially good, as White would have serious problems
meeting the threats of 14…Bxc3 and 14…b4, especially as 14.e5 is met by 14…Bg5+
15.Kb1 b4, threatening 16…Rd8.
12.Kb1
As noted above, opposite-castling positions are usually all about a race between the
opposing attacks, with time being very much of the essence. For this reason, the textmove
may appear a little slow, but it is usually necessary sooner or later. Black will
follow up with some combination of …b4 and …Qa5, after which the king move will
generally be necessary to defend the a-pawn. In addition, once a black rook comes to
the c-file, the king will feel uncomfortable on c1.
12…Bb7 13.h4 Rc8 14.g5 Nd7
15.Rg1!?
This is a critical moment. Both sides have
deployed their forces logically and started
their attacks, and White must now decide
how to continue. Clearly, White would like
to play 15.h5, but this is impossible because
the g5-pawn would hang, and hence the textmove.
However, removing the rook from the
h-file is not ideal, since in many lines, after a
later h5 and g6, the h-file may well be
opened. One typical idea for White here is
the pawn sacrifice 15.g6, aiming to open
lines quickly after 15…hxg6 16.h5, and if
then 16…g5, 17.h6 gives White a winning attack. In all likelihood, Black would not
have captured on g6, but would have answered 15.g6 with 15…b4 16.gxh7+ Kh8.
Allowing an enemy pawn to stand in front of one’s king like this is a standard
defensive technique, which makes it relatively difficult for the attacker to get at the
black king. Even so, this may have been a better way for White to continue, since
after the text-move, he soon loses the initiative.
15…b4!
Kasparov continues to prosecute his queenside play with the utmost vigour. Some
earlier games had seen Black play 15…Ne5 followed by 16…Nc4. Kasparov’s plan is
more straightforward, driving away the defending knight on c3. As well as furthering
Black’s attack on the white king, this has another point – to weaken White’s control
of the d5-square. In such Sicilian positions, one of Black’s key strategic ideas is to
achieve the break …d5 in favourable circumstances. As we shall see later in this
game, such a break can release the potential energy of Black’s pieces, such as the
bishop on e7, with great effect.
16.Ne2 Ne5
17.Rg3?!
After this, Black’s initiative soon grows to
decisive proportions. Probably the best
defence was 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Qxd8 Rfxd8,
although in the resulting endgame, Black

would have a clear advantage, with his
bishop-pair and control of the dark squares.
17…Nc4 18.Qc1 e5!
This structural change is very common in
Sicilian positions. White’s pieces are in no
position to exploit the weakened d5-square,
and so Black is able to expand his central
influence, without any downside.
19.Bf2 a5
It is very obvious that White has been
outplayed in the race between the two
attacks. His pieces are very awkwardly
placed on the kingside, whereas Black’s
position is a model of harmony. With this
move, Black prepares to activate his lightsquared
bishop along the f1-a6 diagonal, as well as setting up …a4 and …b3,
breaking open White’s king position. White’s attack on the kingside, meanwhile, is
stymied.
20.Bg2 Ba6 21.Re1
21…Na3+ was a threat.
21…a4 22.Bh3 Rc6
Now 23…b3 is threatened.
23.Qd1
23…d5!
This classic central breakthrough decides matters in short order. Now all Black’s
pieces spring into action, and White’s back rank proves weak. Now 24.Qxd5? drops
the queen after 24…Rd6 25.Qc5 Rd1+.

24.exd5 Rd6 25.f4
25…Rxd5 26.Rd3
The pressure down the open d-file is
irresistible. 26.Qc1 loses to 26…Nd2+ 27.
Ka1 Ne4 28.Rf3 Bxe2.
26…Na3+!
The final blow, demolishing White’s
resistance.
27.bxa3 Bxd3 28.cxd3 Rxd3 0-1
The bishop on h3 is lost. A splendid example
of how such a position can collapse if White
loses the initiative. As Kasparov gleefully
pointed out at the time, one unusual feature
of the game is that Black’s queen never
moved from its starting position on d8!
There are fifty such games in this collection, each with something a little different to
contribute to the reader’s base of knowledge. In addition, each of the seven sections is
introduced with illuminating comments. For example, in the Section 2 (“Opening Play”),
Giddins clarifies that “Many players make the mistake of thinking that ‘knowing’ an opening
just involves memorizing long sequences of moves, by rote. In reality, it is developing a
deep understanding of the types of middlegame and endgame to which the opening leads,
which is the key to successful play in any opening.” Giddins then presents a well-chosen
game to drive home this point.
50 Ways to Win at Chess is another in a long line of Gambit books that are ideally suited to
any class player. Giddins’ commentary is appropriate for the lower-rated player who may
simply want to know Why didn’t Black take the pawn?, and for the higher-rated player who
wants to further refine his positional understanding. This is not an opening compendium, but
the astute reader will deepen his appreciation for the various nuances of a number of
openings, and more importantly, will better realize how specific openings lead to certain
middlegame structures, and how these middlegame structures lead to recognizable endgame
positions. Giddins even includes two games to illustrate intangible but not uncommon
psychological factors at play.
The attractive cover and the clear print and diagrams are easy on the eyes, and Giddins’
endless supply of insights and comfortable writing style makes this an excellent addition to
any player aspiring to greater heights.

Order 50 Ways to Win at Chess
by Steve Giddins
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