How to attack - principles of training by Dr. Karsten Müller

Most players prefer to attack rather than defend. But what is the correct way to do it? GM Dr Karsten Müller has compiled many rules and motifs to guide you, along with sharpening your intuition for the exceptions.

Topics include: “All pieces in the attack”; “The attacker does not exchange attacking potential”; “Opening of attacking routes”; “Typical attacking motifs” (such as the Greek-gift and the back rank mate) and “Bishops of opposite colours favour the attacker”. Amongst other things, Müller uses games by the 8th World Champion Mikhail Tal to demonstrate how these attacks are mounted and concluded - high risk with big reward! Of course, attacks in the endgame are not neglected, and round off this fascinating production. Finally, it’s your turn: the author has selected 20 typical attacking positions for youto solve. Show the author how to attack!

• Video running time: 4 hours (English)
• Extra: Database with 20 exercises

Sample video

• Introduction
• Chapter 1 - Invite everyone to the party
• The flying rook
• Beating Wolfgang Uhlmann
• Exception from the rule
• Invite everyone to the counterattack
• Chapter 2 - The attacker does not exchange attacking potential
• Without queens, matters are completely different
• Speed up the attack!
• Chapter 3 - Opening up attacking routes
• The can opener
• Open files or imprisoned king
• Combining attack and counterattack
• Motifs with opposite side castling
• The speed of the attack is what counts
• Knight sacrifices open the way for long-range pieces 1
• Knight sacrifices open the way for long-range pieces 2
• Chapter 4 - Typical attacking motifs
• The Greek gift sacrifice Bxh7+
• The defence ...Kg8
• The defence ...Kg6 1
• The defence ...Kg6 2
• Lasker's double bishop sacrifice
• Miles’s blocking sacrifice
• A deep opening trap
• Back rank mate
• Fischer's classic
• Space for the king
• Chapter 5 - Typical attacking structures
• The isolated pawn
• A trap in the King's Indian
• The King's Indian attack 1
• The King's Indian attack 2
• Attacking the French Winawer
• Chapter 6 - Attack with opposite coloured bishops
• Karpov's classic
• Shirov's classic
• Tal's magic
• Kasparov's classic
• Nepo's piece sacrifice
• Chapter 7 - Attack on a colour complex
• In the crossfire of the bishops
• First the light squares, then the dark
• The weakness of the light squares weighs heavily
• Chapter 8 - Tal's magical attacks
• Sacrifice for development
• Centralize and sacrifice
• Fire on Board 1
• Fire on Board 2
• Chess is not checkers
• Knight are often sacrificed to open the way for the long-range pieces
• When the opponent attacks one piece, attack two 1
• When the opponent attacks one piece, attack two 2
• There are correct sacrifices and mine
• The security net
• Chapter 9 - Endgame attacks
• Mate by the last pawn
• Surprising mate in a rook endgame