One useful way of practicing to play particular positions … this can be used at any level … is to set up such positions and play through them, against yourself, a training partner, or, perhaps best, against your computer. To use the latter properly, without having to play through the moves in human vs. human mode, learn how to use the set up position feature … most programs have it somewhere!

The position of interest should be played through more than once … it is the nature of this form of chess exercise. Consider the categories of positions that you might want to become familiar with in this practical way …

Endings … e.g., mating with a king and queen vs. king … hundreds of starting positions are possible, but choose a hard one: place the 'lone king' in the center, and your king and queen on opposite corners … use the procedures you've learned … try to do it faster and in fewer moves each time!

Openings … pick important positions, like one that you keep getting but you have trouble with … check out the ideas an opening book suggests, and try them out until you find one you feel comfortable with one … then play it enough times for it to be familiar to you.

The example position shown should be of interest to many of you, as it is played over and over, usually incorrectly, in every scholastic event! One strong player recently triumphed with an unusual idea at a Dobie Mall G10 event (which he won 5-0). The move was 4… a6!? The position is shown on the right.

Next Time (!) … Okay, you blundered and lost, or, maybe, you simply had no idea of how to handle a position … and then you lost! Your coach, training partner or computer makes a suggestion as to how you might have improved at this critical moment …

The position on the right is from a training game in which a student ventured 11… c5?! After the game, it was discovered that Black could have made significant gains in the center by playing 11… c6! instead. If you try this position out for Black, keep an eye on the square e4 … White had best keep his pawn there! — EK

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