Saturday, December 31, 2022

50 Top Sawyer All-Time Blog Posts

Welcome to my updated all-time Top 50 list! I've written 3428 chess blog posts from 2011 to 2022. Most older blog post games can be found in my chess books, often arranged by the opening. Your support in buying my books is appreciated.

New book this week: Blackmar-Diemer Gambit and Other Openings

1-10

Published November 3, 2011

Published September 3, 2011

Published October 27, 2011

Published April 13, 2013

Published May 10, 2012

Published March 3, 2014

11-20

Published April 8, 2013

Published August 3, 2011

Published January 9, 2017

Published May 29, 2012

1463. Battle of Petroff Defence Repertoire Book Ideas
Published October 8, 2013

1449. Lakdawala on 2.Ne2!? vs Caro-Kann Defence
Published March 8, 2012

1336. Joy of Alapin-Diemer Gambit French Defence
Published July 8, 2012

Published August 20, 2011

Published July 7, 2012


Published December 30, 2016

Published June 19, 2015



Published January 11, 2017

Published September 12, 2013

Published November 26, 2020

Published July 3, 2014

574. Fries Nielsen Irregular Veresov Opening
Published July 30, 2014
Published January 10, 2019

355. Blackmar-Diemer Limontas c5
Published February 18, 2021

Tim Sawyer Chess Blog Posts by Year
2011 - 174
2012 - 580
2013 - 366
2014 - 365
2015 - 287
2016 - 333
2017 - 192
2018 - 349
2019 - 366
2020 - 248
2021 - 83
2022 - 85
Total Blog Posts 2011-2020 = 3428




email: sawyerte@yahoo.com
Copyright 2011-2024

Friday, December 30, 2022

Tim Sawyer Chess Books List December 2022

Here is a partial list of my chess books. Most are available in paperback and ebook in countries with Amazon websites. For more, see Tim Sawyer Author Page. THANK YOU for your support!

Ruy Lopez Tactics covers 500 combinations and mates.
Open Game Tactics covers 1.e4 e5 without Ruy Lopez.
Sicilian Tactics 1.e4 c5 has 500 combinations and mates.
French Tactics 1.e4 e6 has 500 combinations and mates.
Caro-Kann Tactics 1.e4 c6 500 combinations and mates.
Semi-Open Tactics 1.e4 misc 500 combinations and mates.
Blackmar-Diemer Tactics 500 combinations and mates.
Queens Gambit Tactics has 500 combinations and mates.
Indian Tactics (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4) 500 combinations and mates.
English Tactics (1.c4) has 500 combinations and checkmates.

Checkmate Tactics book has the best 500 opening mates.
Combination Tactics has the best 500 ways to win material.

Fool's Mate Themes has 60 games with fast checkmates.
Sicilian Defence Collection has 1100 pages of my material after 1.e4 c5.

London 2.Bf4 Tactics: 200 Winning Opening Positions
London 2.Bf4 Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for White
Caro-Kann Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for Black
Slav Defence Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for Black
Queens Gambit Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for White
Dutch Stonewall Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for Black
Bird Stonewall Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for White

Kings Gambit Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for White
French 3.Be3 Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for White
Philidor 2.Nf3 Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for White
Italian 2.Bc4 Playbook: 200 Positions Bishop Opening White
Alekhine 1...Nf6 Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for Black
Petroff 2...Nf6 Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for Black
Four Knights Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for White

Main Line 1.e4 Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for White
Main Line 1.d4 Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for White
Main Line 1...e5 Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for Black
Main Line 1...c5 Playbook: 200 Opening Positions for Black

King Pawn Puzzles: 200 Easy Opening Checkmates
Sicilian Defence Puzzles: 200 Easy Opening Checkmates
French & Caro Puzzles: 200 Easy Opening Checkmates
Queen Pawn Puzzles: 200 Easy Opening Checkmates
Indian Defence Puzzles: 200 Easy Opening Checkmates
Flank Opening Puzzles: 200 Easy Opening Checkmates

King Pawn 1.e4 e5 – Second Edition
French Defence 1.e4 e6 – Second Edition
Sicilian Defence 1.e4 c5 – Second Edition
Caro-Kann: 1.e4 c6 – Second Edition
Alekhine & Pirc 1.e4 – Second Edition
Chess Games 1.e4 Series: 5 Books in 1 (First Editions)

Queen Pawn 1.d4 d5 – Second Edition
Indian Defences 1.d4 Nf6 – Second Edition
Bird & Dutch 1.f4 & 1…f5 – Second Edition
Rare First Moves – Second Edition
Queen’s Knight 1.Nc3 & 1…Nc6 – Second Edition
Chess Games 1.d4 Series: 5 Books in 1 (First Editions)

Chess Strategy London 2.Bf4
Chess Strategy Queen's Gambit
Chess Strategy French Defence

Chess Is Chess 2020
Chess Is Chess 2019
Adventures in Chess
Chess Training Repertoire Moves 4 (200 Openings)
Chess Word Puzzles: 80 Large Print Word Puzzles
Chess Games of Ray Haines: 150 Games

Blackmar-Diemer Games 1: Accepted
Blackmar-Diemer Games 2: Declined
Blackmar-Diemer Theory 3: Accepted
Blackmar-Diemer Theory 4: Declined
Blackmar-Diemer Series: Books 1-4 (4 books in 1)

Blackmar-Diemer Puzzles: 200 Easy Positions
Blackmar-Diemer Games 5: Gambit Accepted and Declined
Blackmar-Diemer Playbook 6: 200 Opening Positions White
Blackmar-Diemer Playbook 7: 200 Opening Positions White
Blackmar-Diemer Series II: 4 Gambit Books (4 books in 1)

Blackmar-Diemer Games 8: Gambit Accepted and Declined
The Alekhine Defense Playbook
The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Keybook II
Alapin French: Tactics for White
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Keybook

Author Page: amazon.com/author/timsawyer




email: sawyerte@yahoo.com
Copyright 2011-2024

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

BDG Bg5 Von Popiel Attack Graif

White gains an opening advantage with a Von Popiel Attack 4.Bg5. After 4…Bf5 5.f3, the game resembled a Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. Black wasted tempi by taking the c2 pawn on move six. White won significant material in the blitz game between William Graif and Zala Urh. Black’s uncastled king became the target for a checkmate.

Graif (2305) – Urh (2204), Titled Tuesday chess.com, 13.09.2022 begins 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bf5 5.f3 exf3 6.Qxf3 [Taking with the queen seems best, although 6.Nxf3 makes sense.] 6...Bxc2 [6...Qc8!?] 7.Rc1 Bg6 [If 7...c6 8.Rxc2 Qxd4 Black has three pawns for a bishop. 9.Nh3 when White stands better.] 8.Qxb7 Nbd7 9.Nb5 Qb8 10.Nxc7+ Kd8 11.Qxa8 Qxa8 12.Nxa8 Nd5 [12...e6 13.Nc7 Bb4+ 14.Bd2 and White is better.] 13.Bc4 Nb4 14.Bd2 e6 15.a3 Nc2+ 16.Kd1 Nxd4 17.Ba5+
17...Kc8 [If 17...Ke7 18.Bb4+ Kf6 19.Bc3 White is winning.] 18.Ba6+ Kb8 19.Rc8# Black is checkmated 1–0



email: sawyerte@yahoo.com
Copyright 2011-2024

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Olympic Blackmar-Diemer Gambit

Forty years ago I played Board 4 for the Team USA in the 10th Correspondence Chess Olympiade. The Olympiad in India sees a variety of chess openings. This Blackmar-Diemer Gambit shows White winning two pieces with a tactical chess combination.

Elvis Havyarimana (1724) – Ye Htut Zaw (1255), 44th Olympiad Chennai IND, 30.07.2022 begins 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4 Bg6 8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Bg2 c6 11.0–0 e6 12.Qf3 Qb6 [Better is 12...Qe7 13.Bg5=] 13.g5 Nd5 14.Qxf7+ Kd8 15.Qxe6 Qxd4+ 16.Kh1 Bc5 [Material is equal, but Black's king faces danger.] 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.Bf4 Re8 19.Qxg6 Re2 20.c3 Qa4 21.Qxg7 Bf8 22.Qg8 Qc2 23.Qxd5 Rc8 [Or 23...Rxg2 24.Rad1 Rd2 25.Rxd2 and Black is busted.] 24.Rad1 Qa4 25.g6 Qc6 [White finds the best way to win.] 26.Qg5+ Be7
[Both queens are hanging. White strikes first to win two pieces.] 27.Bxc6 Bxg5 28.Bxg5+ Kc7 29.Bxd7 Rg8 30.Bg4 Rxb2 31.Rd7+ Kc6 32.Rf6+ Kc5 33.Be3+ 1–0



email: sawyerte@yahoo.com
Copyright 2011-2024

Sunday, May 1, 2022

Black Lion Defence Zilbermints

Lev Zilbermints sent me this game from the West Orange Chess Club Championship. Lev found himself playing Black in a must-win situation. This Old Indian Defence involved a popular version of the Black Lion (typically vs 1.e4). White had an expected space advantage, but Zilbermints developed enough counterplay to turn the tables and gain a winning advantage.

My English Tactics book (1.c4) has 500 combinations and checkmates.
My Checkmate Tactics book has the best 500 chess opening mates.
My Combination Tactics book has the best 500 ways to win material.

Radomskyj – Zilbermints, West Orange CC Ch g/60, 26.04.2022 begins 1.c4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.e4 e5 5.Be2 [Most players choose 5.Nf3 to take on d4 with the knight. White enjoys a space advantage.] 5...exd4 6.Qxd4 c6 [Reasonable alternatives are 6...Nc5; or 6...Be7.] 7.Be3 [Again 7.Nf3 is a good move, but White has a different setup in mind.] 7...Nc5 8.f3 a5 9.g4 Be7 10.h4 h6 11.Nh3 Ne6 12.Qd2 Qc7 13.0–0–0
[This is typical of a postion I might play as White.] 13...Nc5 14.Nf2 Nfd7 15.f4 b6 16.Bd4 Rg8 17.g5 hxg5 18.hxg5 Ne6 19.Be3 Bb7 20.Rh7 [Or 20.Bg4 and White stands better.] 20...Ndf8 21.Rh3 0–0–0 22.f5 Nc5 23.Bd4 Nfd7 24.Qf4 f6 25.gxf6 [25.g6 is tempting.] 25...gxf6 26.Kb1 Ne5 27.Rh7 Rh8 28.Rdh1 Rxh7 29.Rxh7 Rd7 30.Qh6 [White might try 30.Ng4] 30...Bd8 31.Rh8 [31.Rxd7 with equal chances avoids the knight fork on f7.] 31...Nf7 32.Qxf6 Nxh8 33.Qxh8 Rh7 34.Qf8 [Maybe 34.Qg8] 34...Qe7 35.Qxe7 Bxe7 36.f6 Bf8 37.Bg4+ Kc7 38.Bf5 Rh2 39.e5 Bc8 40.Bxc8 Kxc8 41.Ng4 [Or 41.exd6 Bxd6 and Black stands better.] 41...Rh1+ 42.Kc2 Rh4 43.Bxc5 bxc5 44.Ne3 dxe5 45.Kd3 Rd4+ 46.Ke2 Kd7 47.Kf3 Rf4+ [Black is up the Exchange and wears down his opponent.] 48.Ke2 Ke6 49.b3 Kxf6 50.Na4 Rh4 51.Ng2 Rh1 52.Nc3 Ke6 53.Ne1 Be7 54.Nd3 Rh2+ 55.Kf3 Rc2 56.Ne4 Rxa2 57.Nexc5+ Bxc5 58.Nxc5+ Kf5 59.Ke3 Ra3 60.Kd2 e4 61.Kc3 Ra1 62.Kd4 Rd1+ 63.Ke3 Re1+ 64.Kd2 Rh1 65.Ke3 Rh3+ 66.Ke2 Ke5 67.Nb7 Kd4 68.Nxa5 Rh2+ 69.Ke1 Ke3 70.Kd1 Kd3 71.Kc1 e3 72.Nxc6 Rc2+ 73.Kb1 Rh2 74.Nb4+ Kc3 75.Nd5+ Kxb3 76.Nxe3 Rh1+ 0–1



email: sawyerte@yahoo.com
Copyright 2011-2024

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Medusa Gambit 2.c4 g5 Cavicchi

The Indian Defense Medusa Gambit is audacious and tricky due to its rarity. Francesco Cavicchi has won several games with it as Black after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g5. If White avoids doubled e-pawns by 5.Bxe5 (5.dxe5 is better), Black gains play against White’s king.

You might like my 100 recent wins in 10 moves or less:

sigvedyrhovden (1975) – Cavicchi (2045), Rated Correspondence lichess.org, 06.03.2022 begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g5 3.Bxg5 [3.Nc3 is good.] 3...Ne4 4.Bf4 e5 5.Bxe5 [Risky. Safer is 5.dxe5 Bb4+ 6.Nd2 f6 7.Ngf3. Black regains only one of the two gambit pawns. White should beat back the attack.] 5...Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Nxc3 7.Qb3 Nd5+ 8.Kd1 Nf6 9.Qxb4 Nc6 10.Qc3 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Ne4 12.Qd4 d5 13.cxd5 [Correct is 13.exd6 Qxd6 14.Qxd6 Nxd6 15.e3 when White's two extra pawns compensate for not being able to castle.] 13...Nxf2+ 14.Qxf2 Qxd5+ 15.Kc1 Qc4+ 16.Kb1 [This loses. Better is 16.Kd2 Qd5+ 17.Kc3 Qc6+ 18.Kd3 Qb5+ 19.Kc2 Qc4+ 20.Kd1=]
16...Qe4+ 17.Kc1 Bf5 18.e3 0–0–0 19.Nf3 Qc6+ [White resigns.] 0–1



email: sawyerte@yahoo.com
Copyright 2011-2024

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