U.S Grandmasters (Tactical Quiz)

Special Tactical Quiz from U.S grandmasters participating in the upcoming 2009 U.S Championship ( http://www.uschess.org )

GM Hikaru Nakamura

I-Nemeth-Nakamura 2009
Black to play and win


II-Nakamura-Mikhalevsky 2007
White to play and win

GM Gata Kamsky

III-Kamsky-Bacrot 2007
White to play and win


IV-Kamsky-Krai 2007
White to play and win

GM Alexander Shabalov

V-Shabalov-Arenas 2008
White to play and win



VI-Izoria-Shabalov 2007
Black to play and win

Tactical Position from Las Vegas 2008

In the game Kamsky-Paragua, played in Las Vegas 2008, the middlegame became sharp and rich in tactical possibilities. Black to play in the position below. White has sacrificed the exchange, and is currently attacking the Rook on a4 and the Queen on c6. Both kings are exposed though. Black has a few promising continuations. Paragua played an interesting move but overlooked a strong reply from Kamsky. Can you guess the strong and unexpected blow he could have dealt instead to Gata Kamsky in the following position with Black ?

Black to play and continue the attack !




Kamsky-Paragua, Las Vegas 2008


Feel free to post your ideas/variations in the comments section.
Good luck !

Tactical Quiz (Easy Level)

Here are 3 new positions for you to solve, starting from easy to medium level of difficulty. All are about attacking the king. The first exercize features GM Botvinnik, the second GM Piket and the last is from the analysis of a game from GM Nakamura ( Nakamura-Smirin to be precise) . That's a prestigious roster if you ask me!

Calculate well !

1.White to play and win

2.White to play and win

3.White to play and win

Feel free to post in the Comments section if you need a hint or the solution to any of the positions above!