tag: Tactics - Page 2

Sooner than expected

10/28/2023 – In the diagram position Black has long-term compensation for the exchange because White's g-pawn is missing - 21.h3??, however, allows short-term action! How can Black strike?

Captured!

10/21/2023 – Today, we offer tactics with few pieces on the board. Stray black knight + fork motif - can you mix a winning cocktail for White with these two ingredients from the diagram position?

The art of quiet moves

10/14/2023 – From the diagram position, Black takes down the white king in the center. 16...Qf2+ is obvious, but the other moves are more difficult to see. Can you find them?

Spot the motif

10/7/2023 – In the diagram position, Black's two centralized major pieces create a serious threat - which White did not see. He played 22.Ra4??, allowing Black to strike. How would you punish this rook move?

Patent continuation

9/30/2023 – In the diagram position, the white king has not managed to castle. Time for Black to strike - I wish you massive pleasure!

Ready for action

9/23/2023 – In the diagram position, Black's bishop c6 is eyeing the point g2 on the long diagonal. But to exploit this requires skilful preparation - so it's a case for you!

Castled vs. uncastled king

9/16/2023 – In the diagram position Black has just set up a mate threat with 19...Qh3 ... but I can see your eyes are already on the Ke8. Let's do it - can you calculate everything in your head?

Attacking bishops

9/9/2023 – After 21.Bxh6! (diagram) Black can't take back, but after 21...g6 White needs a brilliant idea to prevent his attack from going nowhere. Can you deliver?

Exchange variation

9/2/2023 – After 11...b6? (diagram) pieces will be traded on the queenside - but not the way Black might have imagined! Do you see how White gets an advantage?

Short and sweet

8/26/2023 – In the diagram position White mates by force after 18.Nf6+ Ke7 19.Re1! Nxf5. Do you see how?

Vishy and the initiative

8/19/2023 – Attacking is usually easier than defending, especially with short time controls. In the diagram position White kept on pressing until Black finally blundered, a typical rapid drama - I wish you fast entertainment!

Knowing when to insist

8/13/2023 – It is always frustrating to learn of a shot or move that you missed in a game but that was well within your ability to find. It happens to everyone, of course, but the question is how can we reduce this. In this article we will look at a strategy to help fight some of these misses.

Catalan compensation

8/12/2023 – In this typical gambit position White must prove that his development advantage and pressure on the queenside are worth two pawns. He has only one convincing move - can you find it?

Double exclam

8/5/2023 – From the diagram position White embarked on a brilliant idea to triumph on the dark squares. Will you be able to crack this tough nut?

Trivial pursuit

7/29/2023 – In the diagram position 32.Bf6! seals the deal for White, but seeing in advance how she checkmates by force after 32...Bxf6 might well be a challenge. Your call!

Blind spot

7/22/2023 – In the diagram position Black played 26...Qe2? and in the actual game he got away with it - but you would not let that go unpunished, would you?

Amazing rook sacrifice in Fritz game at WCCC (video)

7/15/2023 – While engines on powerful hardware are ever closer to chess perfection, draws tend to happen more and more. However, even perfection does not need to be dull, and at the 2023 World Computer Chess Championship, a spectacular game took place between Fritz running on 192 cores (!) and Stoofvlees using massive GPUs. See the video on this tactical slugfest!
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Skilful

7/15/2023 – In the diagram position White found a number of power moves and crushed Black's position. The art of attacking à la Rustam Kasimdzhanov - enjoy!

Stray Bishop

7/8/2023 – From the diagram position, Black wins by force, with White's uncovered Bb7 giving him the decisive impulse. Eight moves later, by the way, bishop takes bishop - happy collecting!

Pitfall in the Exchange Variation

7/1/2023 – In the diagram position, White has just set his centre in motion with 15.e4?, having full confidence in his bishop on h4, which is looking at Black's queen on d8. But this move backfires - can you see how Black gains the advantage? Don't hold your horses!

Castling into disaster

6/24/2023 – In the diagram position Black's 17...0-0?? allowed White a classical raid featuring two clever continuations. Can you calculate the lines?

A-file alert!

6/17/2023 – Although White is a whole piece up in the diagram position, he is dead lost - he simply has castled to the wrong side. How would you hunt down White's king on c1?

The tip of the iceberg

6/10/2023 – In the diagram position White has just played 32.Rxf6!, which gives him an advantage after both 32...gxf6 and the game continuation 32...Dc3. There's a lot more to the position than I initially thought, though - let's climb up the variation tree!

Space advantage!

6/3/2023 – Even with few pieces on the board, territorial dominance can be a decisive factor. In the diagram position Black could have already won with 82...Rg1!, but he took his time to relish the position and won a bit later. Endgame technique spiced up with tactical motifs - enjoy!
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