What is the best move for Black ?

Black to play

Once again, going through the main motifs/candidate moves + a bit of calculation are necessary here ( no opening book or ending manual is needed; Chess engines will find the right move instantly)...

The Key Move : Black to Play

Black to play

Can you navigate this complex middle-game ? Black has coordinated her pieces and is not afraid of going into tactics.

November Tactical Position

Black to play and win

What is the best move here for black ?

the path to victory 07-05-2010

Black to play and win !

2 Grandmasters (both with Elo above 2600) were battling in the last round of the U.S World Open played in Philly,PA.

The crucial moment didn't come in the opening or in the ending but in the middlegame.
Black gained a decisive advantage here, taking advatange of 38 Re1-e2?

Tactics at the 39th move

Find the best move with White !

White (who sent me the spectacular game and position) to play in the following position, which happened in a recent tournament game.

What would you play ?

Classic Tactical finish

Svidler-Jakovenko 2009

White to play and win

Ivanchuk is on a roll (Black to play and win) !

Ivanchuk just finished clear first at the top tournament M-Tel in Sofia, Bulgaria.

He scored 8/10 in a field composed of Topalov, Cheparinov, Aronian, Radjabov and Bu Xiangzhi.

Can you spot the tactical theme in the following game Cheparinov-Ivanchuk, where the creative super GM had the black pieces ?

Black to play and take a decisive advantage

Cheparinov-Ivanchuk 2008
Replay solution on a chess board here

Solution also posted in the comments section !

65th post !

Kasparov's attack !

In the following sicilian position, Kasparov with Black, found a concrete way to attack the White's position. This game, played in 2005, is one of the last played by Garry Kasparov, who retired after the tournament. One of the reasons for Garry to retire was that he never got a chance to face Kramnik for the world championship after losing against him in 2000. Kasparov has scored many victories with the Black side of the sicilian, which he started to study extensively in 1983-1985.

Black to play and win !

Solution: See Below

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1..Nc2! 2 Nc5 Na3+ 3 Ka2 Qc5 4 Na4 Nc2!

( Threatening Rb2 #) 5 Kb1 Qa3! 0-1

( Idea 6 Qc2 Rfc8! wins)

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