Tactics: Back Rank Motif - Advanced level

Exploiting the back rank weakness for the white pieces and more active pieces.

Black to play

advanced tactics puzzles

presenting more difficult tactics, how to conclude an attack

Position 1: White to play and win

replay solution 

solution here

Position 2 : White to play and win

 

 chp10 solution. can you find the right move ?

Position 3 : White to play and win

can you figure out a way to finish off with the white pieces ?

solution (ch14)

Tactics/Tactics calculating exercizes

Position 1(easy) : black to play and win

Position 2(easy): Black to play and give checkmate

Position 3 medium: Black to play and win: spot the winning move

Position 4-Difficult : choose between two moves listed below the diagram. Black to play

Position 5-Difficult : choose between two moves listed below the diagram. Black to play

Key moves : find the winning path

Key Move I: White to play and win !

Key Move II: White to play and win

Key Move III: White to play and win

Attacking tactics ( level=easy)

To continue with the theme Queen+Knight.

White to play and win ( Position I)

White to play and win ( position II)

GM tactic weapons: World Cup Edition

Black to play and win !

In this position, Mamyedarov with the black pieces uncorked a nice move using a tactical motif against the White king.
Can you guess the key move&theme Black used here ?

Morra Gambit in practice

The Morra gambit (from the player from my hometown Nice,France Pierre Morra who studied and played it) is still a dangerous weapon against the Sicilian.

Classic 1:1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 d6 7. Qe2 a6 8. O-O Be7 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. Bf4 Ne5? 11. Bxe5 dxe5 12. Rac1!Qb8

White to play and seize the initiative !

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Classic2:1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7. Bf4 a6 8. O-O Nf6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. Rfd1 Qc7 11. Rac1 O-O 12. Bb3 Rd8

White to play for the initiative (Position 2)

Eventually, the position above evolved in the following :

Position 3: White to play and win

( Matulovic-Panatopoulos 1965)

September 2007 , Puzzle Hints & Help

You will find 10 tactical positions to solve for the month of September, in the September 07 posts.

Below are hints for each position. Feel free to post what you think is the answer of each puzzle in the comments section underneath each position.

Solutions will be posted by September 28th 2007.

Good luck and calculate well !

September 2007, Tactical positions hints for each position

1. You got the exploit the back rank weakness right away

2. h1-a8 is the Achille's heel. Try a subtle deviation

3. Alekhine increased the pressure. There is no simple, 2 moves win. Black can try to get an inferior ending, which happened in the game

4. Alekhine ( a true master of attack and genius ahead of his time ) wrapped up the game in 2 moves, thanks to the last rank theme

5. White launched a furious attack in this french defense position

6. White opened the lines to get to the king. Sacrifice one knight somewhere !

7. Alekhine started logically with move 1, but had a surprise on move 3

8. Black can combines threat and sacrifice his bishop at some point

9. Look to give checkmate by bringing the white king into the net

10. Bacrot launched a classic attack and concluded the game brilliantly. Do not hesitate to open lines around the king. Material is not important here

August 2007, Puzzle 8

Position8, August 2007

Black to play and win

Rublevsky-Grischuk 2007