opening traps

There are probably a couple of thousand of those opening tricks& traps. Here are three to solve :

Position 1 arises after: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Qc7 7.Qe2 Nf68.O-O Ng4 9.Bb3?

Position 1: Black to play and win



















Position 2 arises after
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 Be7 4.Nbd2d5 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3 b68.Qa4 O-O 9.Ne5
Black played 9..Nxe5? Why is it such a bad idea ?

Position 2: Black plays 9..Ne5? and loses quickly


















What did Black miss by exchanging a pair of knights with 9..Ne5?


Next position:
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bd3Be7 8.Qe2 O-O 9.Bg5 b6?

Position 3: White to play and win

Decisions in chess

Choosing between two continuations. Eternal dilemna. Three positions to test your instinct when it comes to avoid or spot tactical tricks...

Position 1: White to play















Choose between:
1Bf7+
or 1.Qe6+ followed by 2.Rf7


Position 2: White to play















Choose between
1.Qe7 or
1 Qf5+

(Krasenkow-Cvitan 1997)
















Choose between
1 h3 or
1 Qb7

(Korchnoi-Spassky 1977)

Recent Grandmaster Games

Three entertaing GM games played over the summer, including combinations & tactics.

The entire games can be replayed through this link:

http://games.top10chess.com/summer08games.htm

Black to play. Find the best move! (Smeets-Adams 2008).

















Black to play. Find the best move! (Feller-VachierLagrange 2008)

















White to play and win:(Morozevich-Kramnik 2008)

Choosing between moves

In the following positions, I will offer the choice between two moves or more... This is aimed at simulating tournament conditions when it is needed to calculate various moves before playing one. Sometimes there's a trap, sometimes there'a combination. Good luck!



















Position 1: Would you play 1..Qa2 or 1..d5 ?



















Position 2: Would you play 1..g6 or 1..Re5 ?



















Position 3: White has launched an attack. Would you play 1..Bc8, 1..Ne5, or 1..Nxe4 ?

Surprising your opponent in the opening !

We'll take a look at two positions where GMs (with the White pieces) were able to find a strong move before the 20th move of the game. Here it is not a matter of finding a combination but rather attacking chances early on. In both games, Black was not able to defend succesfully afterwards.

Position I: White to play




















In the first sicilian position, White could routinely continue by 1.Rae1 or 1 Nce2. However, GM Mitkov was able to surprise his opponent ( rated more than 120 points above him) and start the attack immediately. What did he play ?



Position II: White to play




















In the second position, GM Akopian found a very strong move. While the game lasted 20 moves longer, this move created defensive problems for his opponent who lost material quickly after that. This is certainly the key moment here, although there is no forced win. What did he play here with White ?

Key moves : how to clinch a chess game (Easy level)

Too often, an overwhelming advantage is obtained in a rapid or tournament game, but missing a clean decisive win lets the opponent come back in the game.

Here are three examples taken from recently played games. It's all about looking at all candidate moves and thematic combinations to clinch the game.Variations are not long but precise moves are required...

Position I

Black to play and win in two moves

Position II

White to play and win with a double-attack


Position III

Here White missed an elegant win, letting Black escape.