The King Hunt (from recent top GM games)

Three positions where White managed to scalp the opponent's king.

1)White to play
Aronian-Volokitin 2008




2)White to play
Caruana-Berg 2008


3)White to play
Adams-Topalov 2006

Tactics,Tactics

Hess-Van Wely (Foxwoods,CT 2009)

Black to play and win !

Note that the very strong dutchman did not find the winning move here and eventually drew the game against the american revelation IM Hess, soon to be GM.

Tactical motifs and kibitzers

The following position appeared with Black to play

Black played 1..Qh4 !?

After this startling move from Black, how would play the position with White ?

a) Yuri, the russian expert, said " Russians always go forward. Therefore 2.Nb5 should be played".

b) Richard, the swiss guy said " Sometimes neutralizing the opponent is called for, therefore I'd play 2.Nf3".

c) Emily from Canada looked at the position and said " Obviously you guys are not practical. The Black queen is en prise, there 2 Bxh4 is the right move".

What would you do ?

Tactics with two bishops

Black to play and win

Position extracted from an online sicilian B47 game.

Tactics Quiz !

I: Black to play and win (Easy)

II White to play and win (Easy)

III White to play and win (Difficult)

IVWhite to play and win (Difficult)

V.Black to play and win (Easy)


VI White to play and win (Medium)



VII White to play and win (Easy)

Sources :
I (Kamsky-Karpov 1996) Analysis

II Karpov-Salov 1993
III Kamsky-Short 1994

IV Kasparov-Karpov 1992

V Adams-Kasparov 2005

VI (Tal-Mohrlock 1972) Analysis
VII(Tal-Andersson 1976) Analysis

For hints & suggestions please comment on the blog directly...

Tactics in the bogo-indian

I White to play

can you work out an interesting tactial continuation ?

II White played 1.Rxb7 in the following position. Was that wise ?

Calculate well !

Tactical Motif IX: Clearance

Clearance is the tactic motif where one makes space for a different piece to join the action.

Illustration: Smejkal-Popov 1970

1.? White to play and win

White played 1 d5! clearing the a2-g8 diagonal. Because the double threat is to promote the pawn, Black has to play 1..cd5. Then 2.Bd5! wins the game as the Bishop attacks the rook as well as the knight in g8: 3.Re8 will win the knight on g8 ( double attack). Black resigned after 2.Bd5!









Exercise: Mikhalcissin- Chekhov 1977


1.? White to play and win

Tactical Motif VIII: X-Ray

X-Ray ( fr: Rayon X) is the motif where one adds control to a square through a piece.

X-Ray Illustration: Chigorin-ZnoskoBorovsky 1903

White to play and win
White played here 1Qf8+!. The f8 square is controlled indirectly by the Rook on d8, allowing for that move.
1..Rf8 2 Rf8 is Checkmate.














Exercise: White to play and win (Tal-Chandler, 1974)


1.?

August 2007, Puzzle 8

Position8, August 2007

Black to play and win

Rublevsky-Grischuk 2007