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 ?

Gashimov-Nabaldian 2008 (level: medium)

Another tactical position from Gashimov. Here White has clearly the initiative against the exposed black king. Gashimov found the most dangerous next 2 moves and Nabaldian wasn't able to find the most resilient counter.

Can you find the decisive 2 moves Gashimov played ?

White to play and win

Gashimov-Nabaldian Capelle-La-Grande 2008


Hint: First move is a check, second isn't...

Gashimov-Miton 2008 (level: difficult, hint provided)

V. Gashimov won two high-level events recently: Capelle-La-Grande open (tied for first) and the Baku Grand Prix (tied for first again). Let's take a look at the following position with White having a decisive advantage. The idea is to take advantage of the Queen in d7 defending key squares and pieces. The variation is long as Black can defend for at least three or four moves...

White to play and win

Gashimov-Miton 2008

Calculate well!

Hint: the tactial theme here is overloading.

Two easy tactics on Material Winning

In the first position, White has an easy way to win material.
This is extracted from the position reached by Morozevich against Korchnoi in 2004

White to play and win

In the second position, White has a way to win material in two moves. This position was reached in the blindfold game Ivanchuk-Anand 2007, Monaco.

White to play and win

Calculate well !

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

Inventive attack explained step by step

Sandipan-Tiviakov 2007 , Ottawa

White to play and win

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24 Rbd1!. The idea is to exploit the vis-a-vis against the Queen and bring the rook into the game. This quiet move works because Black is tied up ( Ne6 is stuck to protect against mate on g7). The game continued then 24 Rbd1 Qb7 to reach the next position

White to play

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25 Rd4 is how Sandipan continued. The idea is to follow up with rook giving check and then Qf6+ quickly leads to mate. Tiviakov defended with 25 ..Ne4. Logically, Sandipan increased the pressure by the sacrifice 26 Ree4! de4 27 Qf6! and then reach the following:

Exercise Position after 27 Qf6!

Black played ..Qc7 in the position above.
Why did this move (as any other for that matter) lose immediately ?

Here, Black is to play but all his pieces are uncoordinated and unable to cope with the threats. Black played 27..Qc7 above. Can you find how White finished up this magnificent attack ? The answer is as follows:

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28 Nh6 + Kf8

29 Qh8+ Ke7

30 Nf5#

Final position

Impressive, isn't it ?

Warming up with tactics (Easy exercises)

Four simple tactical exercises. Tactical warm-up ! Here after finding the right first move, even the best defence will not save the weaker camp. It is a matter of researching all candidate moves, and selecting the decisive one to clinch the game. Calculate well !

1. Black to play and win (Anand-Aronian, 2008)

2. White to play and win (Kramnik-Leko 2004)

3. Black to play and win (Leko-Kramnik 2004)

4. White to play and win (Anand-Carlsen, 2007)

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Solutions here http://games.top10chess.com/tactics08.htm

Sicilian Scheveningen Attacking Tactics ( Part II)

In the previous post, we have presented three GM games showing attacking themes occuring when White plays Qe1-g3 in the Scheveningen. The two following positions are taken from the same variation. The study of the previous post should facilitate solving the tactics here.
Good Luck !

1. White to play and win

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2. White to play and win

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Solutions here (replayable through a chess board)
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