tag: Tactics - Page 10

Trouble

2/12/2021 – In the diagram position it is White to move and he is in big trouble: his king is exposed, Black's white-squared bishop rules on the diagonal a8-h1, and the black pawn on h3 can turn nasty. White played 29.Qf2 which allowed Black to hunt down White's king. How did Black finish the game?

Light cavalry

2/5/2021 – White's 8.Nh3?? in the diagram position (which according to the Mega Database occurred in the first recorded game that started with the moves 1.e4 Nf6) allowed Napoleon to finish in style - don't hold your horses!

Not that simple

1/29/2021 – In the diagram position White is three pawns up and just played 45.Qf7+. Things look fine for White but the position is not that simple. After 45...Ng7 White played 46.Be3?? and now Black had a chance to strike. What did he do?

A missed chance

1/22/2021 – Yes, White's king is on f4! Which Black could have exploited. But this was a rapid game, and in time-pressure Magnus Carlsen, who was playing with Black against Ian Nepomniachtchi, did not find the win. Can you do better?

Fireworks

1/15/2021 – In the diagram position White just played 21.Nf6+!, which gives him a winning attack. There are some most beautiful variations to discover, the highlight being a checkmate in ... 14! Enjoy!

Striker

1/8/2021 – In the diagram position White develops a powerful initiative with 12.Rb5! This play on the wing finally allowed White to score. Enjoy!

More dynamic than Alekhine!?

1/1/2021 – In the diagram position White has to decide how to proceed after Black took on d4. A long-term strategic decision ... or isn't it? Enjoy!

A tricky choice

12/26/2020 – In the diagram position Black just played 45...Rxc5 and now White has a tricky choice: he can play 46.Qxc5, 46.Qxf7+ or 46.Rxf7+. What would you do?

Aggressive Opening Play II

12/18/2020 – In the diagram position, Black wants to play a5-a4 to harass the knight on b3 - a threat, which White decided to ignore with 7.c4?. Why does this move deserve a question mark?

Aggressive Opening Play I

12/11/2020 – In the diagram position, White hit on a stunning attacking idea, based on the powerful position of his queen on d4. Creativity counts - your call!

Light-hearted

12/4/2020 – Black's position in the diagram is a horror, and his attempt to safeguard the hanging bishop d6 with the 'active' 21...Sc4 only accelerates the end - if you know what to do with White!

Attacking with a calm mind

11/27/2020 – In the diagram position, White had just played 32.Qd4+, after which Black decided to take the pawn on g6 and played 32...Kxg6??. However, that was a mistake which allowed White to unleash a powerful mating attack. How did White continue after 32...Kxg6?? - and can you calculate the lines in your head?

Calm and powerful

11/20/2020 – Objectively, the diagram position in which Black is to move, might be equal but it is certainly tricky and complicated. Therefore, Black should find a good and powerful move - Richard Rapport was up to the task. How about you?

With minimal means

11/13/2020 – In the diagram position, Black can use mate motifs to achieve perfect coordination of his few remaining pieces. Spot Black's three power moves - and leave White no chance!

Rook invaders

11/6/2020 – In the diagram position White can win with the line opener 37.f5!. However, after Black's answer 37...gxf5 White has to avoid one last pitfall. Which he can do if he follows the motto: keep calm!

Sophisticated

10/30/2020 – If White plays 12.Bh1 in the diagram position to keep the fianchetto bishop the white king on g1 is boxed in and this might lead to trouble, especially in view of the powerful bishop on h3. But does Black really have a way to raid White's position!

Checks and counter checks

10/23/2020 – In the diagram position, that shows a study but did not occur in a real game, White's King on h8 is in danger and White needs to act quickly. Things start with 1.g4+! Kh6 - enjoy!

The other day in the Playchess Café

10/16/2020 – With 18.Qb5 (diagram), White has just attacked the black pawn on d5. Can you work out why 18...Rfe8! is a very relaxed way of dealing with this threat?

King in the middle (3)

10/9/2020 – Grabbing the opponent's b-pawn in the opening by sending your queen on a killing spree is not always bad, as the Poisoned Pawn Variation in the Najdorf (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6!?) shows. But in the diagram position, Black's greedy 9...Qxb2? is indeed bad. However, to refute the move, White needs to use many a piece. Have fun!

King in the middle (2)

10/2/2020 – In the diagram position White is a pawn down but Black has not castled yet and is far from being fully developed. Black's last move 13...Qb8 targets White's pawn on e5 but did not do anything for Black's development. Don't you let him get away with it!

King in the middle (1)

9/25/2020 – In the diagram position Black just played the provocative 8...Bd6 - but his real mistake after 9.Kh1! was 9...Ne7??. But why is this developing move a serious error?

Use your leverage!

9/18/2020 – In the diagram position Black would like to close the position, while White wants just the opposite - he would like to open the position to give his pieces space. But it is White to move! How would you continue?

Hanging helpers

9/11/2020 – In the diagram position, the black queen on e3 and the black knight on g4 need the help of the 'heavy guys' to hunt down the white king who is living on the edge at h3. One key move and two mate lines - enjoy!

Slaying the dragon II

9/4/2020 – The diagram shows the starting position of the aggressive Löwenfisch Variation. After the natural 6...Bg7 Black already must be very careful not to be crushed. Are you in a Dragon slayer mood today?
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