oday's newsletter was guest written by Life Master Joel Johnson. Joel's 2nd book "Formation Attack Strategies" was released in June 2012, and is highly recommended.  Thanks Joel!  

 

   In the position on the right it is White to move. 

 
    Answer below.
 
   The following game is an excerpt from my recently released book, "Formation Attack Strategies".

   Dual Points of View

   Perhaps the biggest difference between a Chess Master and the average chess player is how they view the board. The average chess player is concerned with where his pieces can move to and what he can capture. His thought process is likewise for his opponent. His view of the chessboard is myopic in nature and prevents him from uncovering the truths of a chess position. I refer to this view of the chessboard as the "Calculation View".

   Calculation View

   The average chess player sees every position as something he must brutally calculate to locate the best move for each side. This time consuming process leads them to poor decisions and eventually to constant time pressure in every game.

   Strategical View

   In addition to the Calculation View, Chess Masters primary view of the chessboard relates to squares. Where are the weak squares, strong outposts, long diagonals, open files, etc.? At a glance we know where our pieces belong and how to get them there. We only calculate when necessary. I refer to this view of the chessboard as the "Strategical View".

   The Chess Master unlocks the secret of a position by first identifying the weak squares. Afterwards the solution seems obvious.

   Here is the complete game:

[Event "US Open"]
[Site "Framingham, MA"]
[Date "2001.08.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kameswaran Visweswaran"]
[Black "Aditya Prasetyo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2299"]
[BlackElo "2133"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Ngf6 11.Bf4 Qa5+ 12.c3 e6 13.Ne5 Be7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Rfe1 Rfd8 16.Nxf7 Kxf7 17.Qg6+ Kg8 18.Bxh6 Bf8 19.Bxg7 Bxg7 20.h6 Ne8 21.Rxe6 Ndf6 22.Rxf6 Qc7 23.h7+ 1-0

You can play through this game here: http://tacticstime.com/visweswaran-vs-prasetyo/

   Answer:

   A master level player can quickly identify the weak squares around the Black King. The weak squares are h7 and g8. The Black King is the only piece protecting these squares.

 

   White checkmates Black by first playing 23. h7+ to force the Black King into the corner away from the f8 square and more importantly adding an attacker to the weak g8 square. After Black responds with 23. ... Kh8, White checkmates by forcing the piece (Black Bishop on g7) shielding the weak g8 square away with Invisible Defender move 24. Rf8!+. The game could have concluded with 24. ... Bxf8 25. Qg8#.

    Just remember one weak square in your opponent's defensive stronghold can induce a terminal attack. The ability to manufacture and/or identify existing weaknesses in your opponent's position is a lethal skill to possess. 

  Joel