tag: Tactics - Page 14

Petrov queen sac

11/22/2019 – Following 27.Rg5+! in the diagram position, the weakness of the dark squares will soon prove fatal for Black's king. A queenless mate attack - enjoy!

A knight for a knight

11/15/2019 – In the diagram position White, being a pawn down, delivered a surprising strike: 18.Nxh7. Can you see how after 18...Kxh7 he intends to regain the Nb8 by force - or even better, how Black refutes the idea in the end?

Asking for it

11/8/2019 – In the diagram position White had just played 12.Rac1 which didn't really threaten anything ... until Black replied 12...f6?? How would you take advantage of the new situation?

A Maroczy unbound

11/1/2019 – In the diagram position the central pawns c4 and e4 guarantee White a typical space plus. But if he wants to play for an advantage, 12.b3 is not the way to go. Why?

Dark squares, dark intentions!?

10/25/2019 – After 32.hxg6! fxg6 in the diagram, White must prevent Black from using his d6-knight for defensive purposes on f5 or f7. Ideas?

Attack without queen

10/18/2019 – White's 31.h5! in the diagram starts action on the kingside, and after 31...g5 he wins, with mates and more. Enjoy!

Touch and go

10/11/2019 – The diagram (after 23...b3!) shows a parade example for a Sicilian position with opposite castlings and both sides using their "battering ram" (g-pawn/b-pawn) to open lines against the enemy king. No matter how White plays, Black's attack will come first. Enjoy!

Haste makes waste

10/4/2019 – After 23...exd4 in the diagram, White is never going to recapture this pawn in the game — he just has better things to do! Have you spotted his leitmotif?

Cool Norwegian

9/27/2019 – 19...g6 in the diagram attacks the queen on f5 — but doesn't this spoil Black's position to a draw if White just replies 20.Bxh8 now?

Hot Scotch

9/20/2019 – In the diagram White played 17.Qh5+ Kg8 18.Be5 forking queen and rook. Good for Black: he has a move which does not lose instantly. Bad: it will be a very short-lived success. Enjoy!

Drawing threat!?

9/13/2019 – White's 33.Bd7 in the diagram is a desperate attempt to create counterplay which Black definitely should not have ignored — his game continuation 33...a2? throws away victory. Can you see why?

A short Nordic drama

9/6/2019 – With 36...Qd2 in the diagram Black's queen approaches the enemy king and attacks its "best friend", the knight on d3. Please evaluate the position, and then make the right choice for White!

The right rook

8/30/2019 – In the diagram position Black should have played 16...♜fd8! — can you spot how after 16...♜ad8? White wins by force?

Jack in the box

8/23/2019 – After 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.Rxc5 in the diagram, Black hit the white rook with the centralizing 15...Ne4? Can you spot the drawback of this move?

Light summer mate VI

8/16/2019 – In the diagram position Black's king, though somewhat exposed, doesn't seem to be in mortal danger. Yet after 25.Qg4 Qg3, the game will last only three more moves. Can you imagine what followed?

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Gruenfeld grinder

8/9/2019 – In the diagrammed position White must act fast since his centre is about to be blown apart. What would be your choice?

Out on a limb

8/2/2019 – In the diagrammed position, Black is very cramped, so perhaps starting a little activity with 24...Qb4 is in order. Or is there a problem?

Light summer mate V

7/26/2019 – In the diagram position White played 31.Qb8+!, but then after 31...Kg7 failed to find the right defensive continuation, and three moves later it was over. Can you see the whole picture?

When the dust has cleared

7/19/2019 – The diagram saw a board hoovering sequence: 22...Bxa3 23.Qxg6 hxg6 24.Bxa6 Bxb2 25.Bxb2 bxa6 26.Rxa6. Your first task is to imagine this final position. The second — to then see Black's win!

Light summer mate IV

7/12/2019 – From the diagram position it's still quite a way to go for White until he finally hunts down Black's king in the centre. Enjoy the motifs!

Light summer mate III

7/5/2019 – In view of the coffin nail f6, the only hope for Black's king in the diagram position is based on his defending knight on e8. White to play. Say no more!?

Light summer mate II

6/28/2019 – 26.Rfd1! in the diagram is best if one has a reply ready to 26...Bb6. Can you see how White hunts down Black's king in the centre after that?

Light summer mate I

6/21/2019 – From the diagram, the pawn sac 6.Nb5!? a6 7.Nd6+ Bxd6 8.Qxd6 (Bxe4) gives White the typical dark-squared compensation. The catastrophe to follow shortly after was of course not forced but, some might feel, not completely unexpected either.
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