Monday, March 24, 2008

Another Tal Brilliancy

Ex-World Champion and attacking genius Mikhail Tal had a terrific year in 1976, in particular at the Biel Interzonal. Can you find the right sequence of moves, to finish off your opponent in the following position ?


White to play and win !

Monday, February 25, 2008

Play like Tal !

In this position, the chess magician and ex-world champion Mikhail Tal managed to get a decisive material advantage. Can you find out what were his next three moves ?



White to play and gain a decisive advantage

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Kasparov or the killer instinct

Here's another position to test your tactics. Kasparov had the white pieces in the following position and attacked aggressively.Can you find the killer move the world champion played ?

White to play and win
Kasparov-Lautier 1994

Quiz Kasparov : Answers

The previous post showed 5 positions where Kasparov find a winning continuation.

Click on the following links to replay the answers on a chessboard.

Position 1:
http://www.geocities.com/thechesscorner/kassho93.htm

Position 2:
http://www.geocities.com/thechesscorner/kasnik92.htm

Position 3:
http://www.geocities.com/thechesscorner/gelkas97.htm

Position 4:
http://www.geocities.com/thechesscorner/timkas04.htm

Position 5:
http://www.geocities.com/thechesscorner/shikasp97.htm

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Quiz Special Kasparov !

Improve your tactical skills by finding the best move in the following 5 positions.
In each puzzle, the former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, undoubtely one of the best players of all times, managed to get a decisive advantage.Calculate well !

Feel free to post your solutions & questions in the comments section.

1.Kasparov-Short 1993. White to play and win !



2.Kasparov-Nikolic 1992. White to play and win !




3.Gelfand-Kasparov 1997. Black to play and win !




4. Timofeev-Kasparov 2004. Black to play and win !


5. Shirov-Kasparov 1997. Black to play and win!




Solutions will be posted later on this month. Please post requests for hint or solutions in the comments section, or by email at thechesscorner "at" gmail.com

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Position Assessment

White to play


Assess the position above ( White to play) and analyze the critical path. Once again, a critical position , a topic largely brought up to the general chess audiences by IM Dvorestky.
This position comes from a game played by Bacrot with Black.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Quiz Special Anand- Part III

Play like Anand !

Practice chess tactics by solving 3 positions played by Anand against strong chess grandmasters.


Position 11

White to play and win



Anand-Morozevich Calvia(ol) 2004





Position 12:

White to play and win

Anand-Charbonneau Calvia (ol) 2004





Position 13:


White to play and win


Anand-Kasimdzhanov, Leon (rapid) 2005


Solutions coming soon

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Anand's tactics explained- Second Exercize

We will explain here move by move a combination played by Anand against Adams in the 2005 Corsica rapid tournament.


Black to play and win !


Adams-Anand 2005
Solution given below





White has threatening pawns in c5 and d5, therefore Black must act fast. Black is containing the white King on the first rank thanks to its rook on a2. Black can counter-attack by threatening checkmate by 1..Rh6.

Position after 1..Rh6!

It followed 2Qd3+ Kg8 3 Qe4. White has defended against the Black threat Rh1.


Position after 3 Qe4. Black to play and win.


It followed 3..Rh1+!. Black is using a geometric motif to win outright.


Position after 3..Rh1+!


It followed 4 Qh1 Ra1+ and black wins the Queen as the King moves anywhere on the second rank.


Superb play by Viswanathan Anand.