tag: Tactics - Page 15

Ambush

5/17/2019 – Black's 20...Qd5! in the diagram just feels right, with a concrete bonus — the game continuation 21.Qxa6? can be directly refuted. Watch the potential of all black pieces!

Out of the way

5/10/2019 – In view of the peculiar line-up of White's three pieces on the f-file, 29...Rxe3 in the diagram looks like a real problem for him. But actually he has a forced win. Can you spot it?

Adhiban's amazing attack

5/3/2019 – A standard position from the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation, with a quiet positional fight ahead? Well, not after White's stunning continuation from the diagram — it will soon be mate alert. Have fun!

Candidates classic

4/26/2019 – Playing 14.Bb1! in the diagram position, White prepared to create a queen-bishop battery on the diagonal to the enemy king. Black rushed in to block it with 14...g5 15.Qc2 Ng6, and then it will be your turn. Enjoy!

Karpov's last bullet

4/19/2019 – After White's 49.Rd7 in the diagram position Black must find the right move with his attacked knight h7 to clinch victory. 49...Nf8 or 49...Ng5. What would have been your choice against a reigning World Champion?

Yours truly lucky

4/12/2019 – The best move for White in the diagram position is 28.Rd3!, but following 28...Qc8 29.Rg3? throws the win away. Can you spot Black's saving trick after that?

Young Carlsen's zigzag mate

4/5/2019 – In the diagram position Black's attacked bishop must retreat onto the right square. 29...Bd7 or 29...Be6 — what would you have played against the future world champion?

Kotronias' masterpiece

3/29/2019 – After 16.Rxb7+! in the diagram position White checkmates the black king by force. Four variations, four key moves, and everything goes with check. Enjoy!

Chess Magazine: Find the winning move

3/24/2019 – Here's another opportunity to sharpen your tactical skills: twelve positions taken from recent tournaments. But we have a little surprise for you: on the diagram boards you can not only move the pieces around to analyse — there is also an embedded engine that will actually play out the position against you. Which means you can work things out directly on the diagrams in the browser. How neat is that?

In Fischer's footsteps

3/22/2019 – Would you dare to play 30.Rxf7 in the diagram position? The 11th world champion did, a good omen — but can you walk the talk following Black's reply 30...Rc1+ then?

Unnoticed twist

3/15/2019 – With hindsight it's easy to claim that 30.Qxf3! in the diagram position is the right way to recapture for White, but can you also spot the downside of the actual game move 30.Bxf3?

The king's discipline

3/8/2019 – The good news for Black in the diagram position is that 20...Nxf3+ 21.Bxf3 Qxf3! leads to victory. The downer is White has many checks which must be answered with the right king moves to bring the game home. Will you manage?

Ganguly's calculus

3/1/2019 – Black can obtain a clear advantage after 26...f5! 27.Nxd4 Bxd4 28.Qxh6 with the right continuation at hand. Are you ready to follow in (five of) his footsteps then?

Passed pawn vs. mate attack

2/22/2019 – Played only six years ago, to many this is already a WCh classic: after 26...b2 27.Rf4 b1D+ from the diagram position, Black got a fresh queen with check. But the challenge is to ensure the survival of his king afterwards. Up to it?

Demolition man

2/15/2019 – In the diagram position the black pieces seem to be perfectly placed but he still has to find a way to make short work of White's position. Do you want some action? Please, do not hesitate!

Greek gift declined

2/8/2019 – The diagram position saw the continuation 18...Nxc3 19.Qh5 whereupon White threatens discovered check and mate. Now, what Black player would be so foolhardy to allow such a seemingly deadly constellation... You!?

The vulnerable third

2/1/2019 – In the diagram White's softened king position far outweighs the hanging rook on d8. Yet precision is still required. Your (black attacking) move, please!

Central idea

1/25/2019 – In the diagram position, with White to move, the white knight b3 is hanging. Retreat or counter-attack — how would you react?

Marching through

1/18/2019 – In the diagram position White has just played 33.Ne3-f1, overprotecting the square h2 and posing the threat 34.Re7. Do you have Black's nerves of steel to find his striking continuation?

Filigree follow-up

1/12/2019 – The capture 23.Nxc7! is White's best in the diagram position, provided he has the right answer ready to 23...Rxc7 24.Rxc7 Nf6 then. What about you?

Light start to the new year

1/4/2019 – In the diagram position, White is of course clearly winning. But beauty does matter in chess — can you see the neatest way for him to take the game home?

Two times three queens

12/28/2018 – Despite his huge material plus, in the diagram position White is the one who must seek salvation with only moves. Things start with 33.Qxe8+ Qxe8 34.Qd2 Qe5 — the rest will be up to you. Ready?

Vote: What is the best combination of 2018?

12/24/2018 – The year 2018 is drawing to a close and it was filled with great events, strong tournaments and fantastic games. Now, at the end of the year, we invite you to vote for the player of the year (male and female), the newcomer, the game, the combination and the endgame of the year. What do you think: what was the best combination of 2018?

À la Tal

12/21/2018 – In the diagram position Black can snatch a pawn with 20...Bxf2. But why be so petty-minded... better start a mating attack instead! Can you play like the 8th world champion?
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