First page of the PDF Chess Workbook Level 4 with Answers

Chess Workbook Level 4 with Answers

ages 8–11 · 48 puzzles · answers and explanations

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Preparing moves and first strategy. Preparing moves before the blow: decoys, clearance, interference and attacking the castled king. Plus first strategic ideas and queen against pawn. Level 4 roughly matches Step 4 of the Steps Method.

What this level covers

  1. Preparing the blow
  2. Attacking the king
  3. Thinking ahead
  4. Pawns and advantages
  5. Endgames
  6. More tactics

Try a few positions now

How to read the diagrams
  • Yellow square: the piece to move (the "glowing piece" in the question).
  • Stars: squares you could move to; only one is right.
  • Letters A, B, C on squares: the options to choose from.
  • Arrow: the last move, or a move the question gives you.
  • Red square: a piece under attack.
  • Blue square: a piece or square to watch.

Preparing the blow

Black to move

The glowing piece is the rook on b2. Sacrifice it to pull the white king away!

Show answer

Answer: 1…♖xd2+ 2.♔xd2 ♖xf2+

Why: The rook takes the queen with check, and the white king takes back, leaving e2. The white rook on f2 loses its guard: the black rook takes it, with check too.

Pawns and advantages

Black to move

Black to move. The white knight is eyeing f7. Pick the best move!

A ♘xe4B d5C ♗c5
Show answer

Answer: B (d5) · 1…d5 2.exd5 ♘a5 3.♗b5+

Why: The pawn moves to d5, blocking the bishop on c4 from reaching f7, and grabs the center.

More tactics

White to moveABC

White to move. One black piece is about to be trapped. Tap that piece.

A a8B b3C g7
Show answer

Answer: B (b3) · 1.♖b2 ♖d8 2.♖xb3

Why: The black queen on b3 has almost no squares to run to. The white rook goes to b2 to block the last one, and the queen is caught.

Attacking the king

Black to move

The glowing piece is the queen. Sacrifice it so the white king's way gets blocked!

Show answer

Answer: 1…♕g1+ 2.♖xg1 ♘f2#

Why: The queen sacrifices itself on g1, the white rook takes and blocks the escape square itself. The knight drops to f2: checkmate.

Theme worksheets with puzzles from this level

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