Neverending Tactics 3003 Positions To Perfection PDF PDF

Neverending Tactics: 3003 Positions to Perfection
Copyright © 20 18 Lyudmil Tsvetkov
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Table of Contents
Journey to tactical perfection
Neverending tactics
Journey to tactical perfection
If read from cover to cover, this book will make you a perfect tactician.
The 3003 positions contained in the book feature almost all important and
less important tactical patterns available in chess. The tactics cover the
opening, middlegame and endgame stages alike with a tremendous amount of
examples.
Learn about the opening traps and tricks, frequent middlegame
techniques and endgame methods to accurately handle a vast range of
positions. In choosing the examples, a wide selection of databases has been
used, among them Chessbase/Fritz, Kingbase, FICS and many other smaller
and larger collections. This ensures the richness and variety of the included
games.
The collection features hundreds of tournaments and other events
played throughout the years. Most of the games from where the examples are
taken date from recent practice, 2016-2018, but there are also a very large
number of historic games going as far back as the 19th century. This means
most of the examples will appear for the first time.
The collection includes games of all types of players - from super-
grandmasters and world champions to real amateurs with rating as low as
800. Most of the games are from sufficiently strong players, which ensures
the quality of the tactical developments. Following the recent trend to use
amateur games and examples for training purposes, however, and going after
the all-inclusiveness of the collection, many such examples have been
incorporated into the book's body.
The book contains a substantial amount of text, explaining each and
every tactical twist worth noting. Variations and sublines affirm the
correctness of the solutions. At times, text and lines go to great detail
depending on the chess relevance.
The book is peppered with sound tactical and positional advice which
strongly increases its instructive value.
While reading the book, you will learn the names and essence of the
different types of checkmates, from Blackburne's mate to Boden's mate and
from the balestra to the escalator, the names, essence and applicability of the
various tactical patterns, from pins and skewers to zugzwang and
zwischenzugs, and much much more. The pool of examples is constructed in
a way that, on the one hand, they are all different, and, on the other hand,
reinforce each other by using multiple related examples on the same theme
with slight or bigger modifications. Thus, the reader is meant to learn a lot
and to strengthen his knowledge in the process.
All examples are mixed together for greater authenticity of the
collection, so opening, middlegame and endgame positions follow each other
in random succession and the same goes true for mating and basic tactical
constructions. This is the real-life situation, the way one would encounter a
problem in his next game.
The book is meant to be fun so things are presented in a rather
effervescent manner. It is also full of knowledge, so don't get surprised if you
learn about something you have never supposed existed.
According to the choice of examples included, all players in the range
of 800-2200 elo points should find the book very useful. Although the
primary goal of the work is to illustrate basic and more advanced tactical
patterns, which has had a reflection on the maximum length of lines being
capped at 6 moves/12 plies, the sheer volume of the variations mentioned
makes it also a fine tool for enhancing one's calculation abilities.
The assumption is that reading the book once will boost a player's
strength and knowledge significantly, while going through it two times will
already make a player a tactical monster. That is what many would like to be,
right?
One can start at the very beginning of the book or go to other sections
first, as said, tactical motifs are mixed, so this will have little repercussions
on the learning process. The important thing is to assimilate most of the
examples. This will take time, of course, but in the end, the dividends will be
significant.
It's about time to start. Are you ready?
LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN!

NEVER-
ENDING
TACTICS
Puzzle No 1 - White to play and win

19. Qxg4! is a very fine temporary sacrifice. It removes the guard of the f5-
knight. On any recapture, White has 20. Bxf5, pinning the Black queen,
virtually gaining a piece.
The position stems from the game Kratochvil-ter Stal, Pardubice 2017
Puzzle No 2 - Black to play and win
The sudden 11...Qxd4! 12. Qxd4 attracts the White queen to d4, after which
12...Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 Bxd4 wins a piece. Key is the x-ray attack of the f6-
bishop upon the d4-square.
The position stems from the game Ezra-Miedema, Helsingor 2017
The White queen is attacked and unsupported. 24. Qxg3 Nxg3 amounts to
nothing. Correct is 25. Rxh5! - recapturing is impossible, as the g6-pawn is
pinned by the previously weak queen, so Black has no better than 25...Qxg5
26. Rxg5, losing a piece in the process.
The position stems from the game Thogersen-Jensen, Helsingor 2017

25. Qe6+ Kd8 26. Bb6 pins and wins the opponent queen.
The position stems from the game Motylev-Nilsson, Helsingor 2017
The queen ending is about equal, not counting whose turn it is. But, as White
has the right to move, 48. Qe8+ Kh7 49. Qg6+ Kg8 50. Qxg7 mates. If Black
interposes with 48...Qf8 in above line, 49. f7+ Kh7 distracts the king away
from supporting the queen and 50. Qxf8 is curtains. In endings, involving
queens, always look for available queen checks, no matter the material
balance, as queens are very active in the final stages of the game due to their
increased mobility.
The position stems from the game Shyam-Vrolijk, Leiden 2017
22. Qxf7! makes use of the weak Black back rank. Recapturing loses
immediately to 23. Re8 mate.
The position stems from the game Eminov-Gulbas, Konya 2017

The elegant 35. Rb7! Qxb7 forces the Black queen to a square, where it will
fall after 36. d6+! and 37. Qxb7 Key motifs: d5-d6 check threat, x-ray attack
of the White queen on the b7-square.
The position stems from the game Havlikova-Bonner, Dundee 2017
Position No 8 - Black to play and win
31...Bc3+ effectively ends the game:

a) 32. Rxc3 Re1+ 33. Kb2 a1Q+
b) 32. Rb2 Re2, reinforcing the pin, 33. Rxc3 Re1+
The position stems from the game McShane-Fridman, Katowice 2017
47. Be3#
The position stems from the game Zubov-Manolache, Sitges 2017
35...Rb3+
a) 36. Kh4 Qf2+ 37. Qg3 Qxg3+ 38. Kg5 f6#
b) 36. Kf4 Qe3#
The position stems from the game Krapivin-Palkovich, Sochi 2017
18...g5 traps the White rook. Rooks rarely belong in the very middle of the
board. Looks a bit like a caricature.
The position stems from the game Van Geet-Sax, Amsterdam 1972

22...Nc3 and, as the queen will have to guard both light pieces, one of the
White minors is lost. The b5-knight can not take, of course, due to the pin.
Kind of a very interesting overextension.
The position stems from the game Szabo-Majchrak, Stary Smokovec 1972
13...Bf3! 14. Bg5 Qg4 is overwhelming. The e2-horse can not move due to
the pin, while 15. g3 Qh3 will mate at h1.
The position stems from the game Jazgeldyev-Dragomarezkij, Moscow 1972
21. Rxd7! gains a piece, as 21...Qxd7 is unsuccessful due to 22. Bh7+ and
Qxd7.
The position stems from the game Dobrovolsky-Strand, Graz 1972

14. Ne7+ Kh8 15. Nc6 attacks the Black lady and b8-cannon, winning the
exchange.
The position stems from the game Sliwa-Uhlmann, Moscow 1956
6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Nfg5+ and Qxg4 wins a pedestrian and disrupts Black's
defences, making the outcome a foregone conclusion. Attraction and
unpinning, based on the looseness of the Black bishop.
The position stems from the game Durao-Papadopoulos, Tel Aviv 1964
8. Qb3! wins material, for example, 8...a5 9. a3 and, provided the bishop
slides back, 10. cxb7 constitutes an original fork on the a8-rook and c8-
bishop, simultaneously menacing promotion.
The position stems from the game Petrosian-Ree, Wijk aan Zee 1971

15. Nxe6! fxe6 16. Qxe6+ and Qxc6 ends the game.
The position stems from the game Bronstein-Uhlmann, Moscow 1971
The fully astounding 13...Qh3!! "quiet sacrifice" ends the game prematurely:
a) 14. gxh3 Nxh3#
b) 14. Ne3 (no other way to defend the g2-cell) Bxg2
The position stems from the game Mosionzhik-Nikolaevsky, Moscow 1972

8. Qc1! is a double attack on the c8-bishop and h6-knight. No more

"imperishables" here. On 8...Qe6, pinning the e3-slider and protecting c8, 9.
d5! foils Black's furtive plans.
The position stems from the game Vasiukov-Razuvaev, Polanica Zdroj 1979

50...Nf3+ 51. Kh1 Nf2/Ng3 checkmates.
The position stems from the game Gonsior-Klabis, Katowice 2017
Appearing out of the air, 14. Qxe6+!! knocks out the hostile king. 14...fxe6
15. Bg6# the Black king has zero mobility, all blocked up by friendly well-
wishers, and the f6-pawn is a tremendous pressurer. "Once upon a time, there
was a king..."
The position stems from the game Tunik-Geller, Togliatty 2001
15...Bxc3+ 16. Rxc3 Qd4! is a simultaneous assault on the c3-rook and h4-
sweeper. On 17. Bxf6 the second mover takes at c3 with check. 17. Bh7+
does not work too, as the queen is supported.
The position stems from the game Rustemov-Lugovoi, Saint Petersburg 1998

The h7-cell is solidly defended. Until 14. Bxh7+!... Suddenly, all bastions fall
apart:
a) 14...Nxh7 15. Qxe7 wins the lady
b) 14...Kh8 15. Be4! discovered check and Bxa8 kills the unpretentious rook
The position stems from the game Kennaugh-Houska, Torquay 1998
14. Bc1! is very very "trappy". The peculiarity in this case is the bishop
retreats to deliver the final blow.
The position stems from the game Kupreichik-Atakishieva, Berlin 1998
33. Rxb7! Rxb7 34. Rxb7 Qxb7 35. Qf6+ Ng6 36. Qxg6 checkmates
summarily.
The position stems from the game Kashlinskaya-Kowalczyk, Katowice 2017

97...Ne3 98. Kh1 Bg4 99. Kh2 Nf1+ 100. Kh1 Bf3 checkmates.
The position stems from the game Fedotov-Costachi, Katowice 2017
Puzzle No 28 - White to play and draw
Black is the exchange and 2 pawns up so White should try to save his skin.
21. Qg5 f6 is simply bad. The elegant and somewhat unexpected 21. Bxg7!
sacrifice is a typical shot that destroys the Black king shelter to tie the game
by a perpetual check after the forced 21...Kxg7 22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Qf6+ Kg8
24. Qg5+ "Threefold repetition" will appear on the scoresheet soon.
The position stems from the game Nguyen-Erigaisi, Bhopal 2017
26. Rf8+! Rxf8 27. Qxe6 wraps up the encounter. 26. Qxe6 Rxe6 27. Rxg7 is
a line White must avoid, due to 27...Rxe5!, and already Black wins.
The position stems from the game Shkapenko-Stojcevski, Katowice 2017

With all those hanging pieces, you have to sacrifice one. 14. Bxf7+! Kxf7 (no
choice) 15. Nd6+ Kf8 16. Nxb7+! and Nxd8 is fast and definitive. If the king
retreats at g8 on the 15th move, 16. Qb3+ mates shortly at f7. The initial
picture very much suggests "an epic battle of two undeveloped armies".
Self-trapping one's rook like the g8-king does with the h8-cannon is a
malignant tumour - try avoiding it whenever possible.
The position stems from the game Abergel-Tebb, West Bromwich 2003

37...Qd1+ 38. Rf1 h2+ 39. Kf2 Qxf1+! 40. Kxf1 h1Q+ produces another
queen.
The position stems from the game Zielinski-Fressinet, Katowice 2017
30. Rxd6 Qxd6 31. Qe4+! Kb8 32. Bf4 will stock up on plentiful material
due to the royal pin.
The position stems from the game McShane-Mastrovasilis, Katowice 2017

Black certainly has other ways of winning too, but the most direct and funny
one is 59...Bf4+ 60. Rxf4 c1Q+! 61. Kxc1 Nd3+ and ...Nxf4, avoiding any
complications.
The position stems from the game Soham-Shankland, Sitges 2017

29...Qxh2+!! 30. Kxh2 Rh4# mimics pretty much "Anastasia's Mate", with
the only difference the restricting bishop has assumed the role of the knight.
The position stems from the game Andrzejewska-Brunello, Katowice 2017
47. Bf6 - the mating net is constructed. White threatens Rh8 mate, 47...Ke8 is
met by 48. Bc6+ Kf8 49. Rh8+ Kf7 50. Bd5+ Re6 51. Bxe6#
The position stems from the game Donskov-Malyshev, Saint Petersburg 2016
30...Rc1+ 31. Re1 Bd4 pins their royal majesties, gaining a lot of material.
The position stems from the game Paszewski-Williams, London 2016

15. Nb3 Qa4 16. Nb6+ wins Black's lady in a typical Sicilian setup.
The position stems from the game Timman-Polugaevsky, Hilversum 1973
14. Nxf6+ forces Black to abandon the game:

a) 14...Qxf6 15. Rxe8+
b) 14...Bxf6 15. Bd5! institutes a lethal diagonal pin
The position stems from the game Sorensen-Nielsen, Vejle 1974

13. Nd6! is a perfect "smother mate" in the middle of the board.
The position stems from the game Pernici-Herrera, Haifa 1976
15...Rxb2! overpowers White in a jiffy. On both 16. Rxb2 and 16. Qxb2
Black captures with the flanked bishop at c3, pinning or forking the queen.
The position stems from the game Wicker-Nicholson, London 1978
12. Bg5 Qh5 13. Ng3! has found offside (indiscretely placed) and trapped the
Black lady. Vivat Caesar imperator, morituri te salutant. Persons of noble
blood are expected to act with more discretion, are not they? One useful
characteristic of a battery (diagonal, in this case) is that the constituent parts
support each other.
The position stems from the game Epishin-Gousseinov, Cergy Pontoise 2004

14...exf6? 15. Qxh6 continues the struggle. Black has 14...Kg7!!, though,
supporting the slider and, while the first player takes care of the assaulted
queen, his opponent will pick up an extra piece with ...exf6. A very ingenious
win of tempo.
The position stems from the game Efimov-Dorfman, Beltsy 1979
13...Nd4! is definitive:
a) 14. Nxd4 Qxh2#
b) 14. Qd1 Nxf3
Deflection - removal of the guard. This is the so-called "Siberian Trap".
The position stems from the game Littlewood-Penrose, Chester 1979
14...Bxf3! 15. Qxf3 Qd4+ wins the a4-knight.
The position stems from the game Zinn-Gauglitz, Plauen 1980

15. Nxd5 Rxd5 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Rxe7 Rd1+ 18. Re1! and White is a piece
up. "A pawn down, a piece up" - that is the motto of the stronger player. In
the present case, the e7-bishop has 2 guards.
The position stems from the game Lorenz-Zinn, Plauen 1980
Black is better developed, the White king has not even castled, yeah,
unfortunately, the position is rife with 14. Bc4, which purely by chance
happens to be a deadly queen pin. Purely by chance again, White wins.
The position stems from the game Schneider-Kaiszauri, Stockholm 1980
15. Nxg6! chops the exchange next at f8 due to the discovered attack on the
queen. Add to that the pawn already won in the process...
The position stems from the game Votruba-Josepson, Stockholm 1980

14...Rxe2! 15. Qxe2 Ne5 is a finesse making the f3-point crumble:
a) 16. Nxe5 Bxe2
b) 16. Qxe5 Bxf3+ and ...Qxe5
Pins, pilings and plain removals.
The position stems from the game De Eccher-Passerotti, Rome 1981
11...Nxe4! scores:
a) 12. Nxe4? Nc2! is the cutest mate one can possibly think of, the d2-queen
is pinned by her Black nemesis at a5
b) if the queen retreats at c1 or d3, Black chops the e2-knight, revealing a
further attack by the fianchettoed g7-slider and the c3-point falls. Mind the x-
ray attacks of the Black lady on the e1-a5 slanted row, including on the
hostile king; mind the x-ray attacks of the flanked g7-bishop on the long
diagonal, primarily on the c3-horse.
The position stems from the game Thormann-Bischoff, Germany 1982
As if nothing could stop the Black h2-pawn from promoting; nothing, but 1.
Bg5!! All lines gain by force:
a) 1...fxg5 2. f6! is an unblocking sac - Qg7# sends the Black king reeling
b) 1...Qxg5 permits 2. Qc8+ Kg7 3. Qc7+! and Qxh2 (the enemy lady has
been decoyed away from the advanced pawn)
c) 1...h1Q 2. Qe8+ Kg7 3. Qg6+! Kf8 4. Qxf6+ Kg8 5. Qd8+! also weaves a
mating net with the active participation of the f-stormer.
Some moves are really stunning - as unexpected as hell.
The position stems from the game Simagin-Bronstein, Moscow 1947

14. Bh3 assails the queen and the d7 mating cell. Posh rook sac.
The position stems from the game Hess-Pangrazzi, Rome 1982

12...Qh4, menacing mate at h2, steals the show, as well as the c4-bishop. A
double attack might arrest your heart.
The position stems from the game Plachetka-Pribyl, Frenstat 1982
11. e4! Nxc3 12. exf5! and White remains a piece ahead as the c3-horse is
shackled due to the pin. The second player has calculated only and
exclusively 11. e4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Bxe4, which favours him. Bad counting,
narrow horizons.
The position stems from the game Knudsen-Jacobsen, Aarhus 1983
15...Nc6 pushes the queen away from the pivotal g1-a7 diagonal. After, for
example, 16. Qd2 Qb6+! 17. Kh1 Nf2+ White has to offer the exchange at f2,
as otherwise 18. Kg1?? Nh3++ 19. Kh1 Qg1+!! 20. Rxg1 Nf2 completely
smothers the "fat White steak" in the corner.
The position stems from the game Moen-Agdestein, Trondheim 1983

Many will recognise the contours of the French Winawer. 9...c4! invites the
"tall pawn" at d3 to flee somewhere, but it can't! Fully immobilised, the
bishop humbly awaits his sentence. The final countdown. 10. Qxg7 Rg8 11.
Qxh7 cxd3 leaves the second player a piece ahead. A minor piece in chess, as
a rule of thumb, is stronger than 3 pawns.
The position stems from the game Olsson-Renman, Karlskrona 1983

15. Nxc5! is curtains:
a) 15...bxc5 16. Rxb7! Qxb7 17. Bxc6+ wins the Black lady in the middle of
her road
b) 15...0-0 16. Nxb7 and the c6-horse is weak
In all instances, White hoards a lot of material. Pins, pins and more pins. One
never has enough.
The position stems from the game Zolnierowicz-Szymczak, Poznan 1984
5...Qe5+ fork-wins the a1-cannon. The Black lady "puts a lot of shine" on all
of her movements across the board.
The position stems from the game Shirazi-Peters, Berkeley 1984
15...Nxe4! does an excellent job of persuading White to abandon the current

game. 16. Nxe4 Qxa2+ 17. Kc1 Qa1 summarily checkmates. Quite attractive
decoy.
The position stems from the game Hjorth-Atalik, Berlin West 1984

13. Rxb2!! duly crucifies Black:
a) 13...Qxa6 14. Rxb8+ Qc8 15. Rxc8#
b) 13...Qxb2 14. Qc6+! Kd8 15. Nxf7#
Seems like a difficult problem. The first thing our senses grasp is the b2-
pawn is so well defended...
The position stems from the game Shirov-Motylev, Moscow 2001
15. Rxe7! Rxe7 16. d6! wins material in all subvariations. Try to figure them
out yourselves. A really arch-deadly pawn fork.
The position stems from the game Rigo-Bukal, Berlin West 1984
15...Qxd4! 16. Qxd4 Nxf3+ 17. gxf3 Bxd4 has won a piece.
The position stems from the game Todorovic-Martinovic, Bor 1984

11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bxc5 has gained a piece. Practice makes perfect.
The position stems from the game Lechtynsky-Blaha, Prague 1985
37. Bb3! attacks the queen and x-ray-attacks the g8-square, where White will
deliver deadly check, in case the queen retreats. After, for example, 37...Qh7
38. Rg8+! Qxg8 39. Bxg8 Kxg8 40. Qg6+ and Qxe8 White is hands down on
top.
The position stems from the game Handke-Sowray, London 2016
48...Rb1, the White king is caged - 49. Rxa2 Rh1 leads to mate.
The position stems from the game Ilfeld-Batchelor, London 2016

15. Ng5! and there is no stopping Qh5, whisking the lady to the king side for
a decisive assault. Variations run as follows:
a) 15...Qc6 (attacking g2) 16. Be4! (interception) fxe4 17. Qh5 mating
b) 15...Qd5 16. Bf1
c) 15...h6 16. Qh5! hxg5 17. Qxg5+ Kh8 18. Re3 (an archetypal rook lift to
strengthen the military engagement) to mate at h3 on the next swing
...f7-f6 weakens the e6-cell.
Line clearance is the main motif. The knight leap simultaneously frees the
d1-h5 diagonal for the queen and 3rd rank for the rook. Always pick
multipurpose moves, if on the menu - they are stronger as a rule.
The position stems from the game Nisipeanu-Saleh, Dubai 2004

Black threatens ...Rg1#, so only forced moves can be good for White. 43.
d7+, the trick is to promote with check:
a) 43...Kd8 44. Rf8+ Ke7 45. d8Q+
b) 43...Kb7 44. Bc6+! (an important zwischenzug) Kxb6 45. d8Q+ and White
mates shortly
Thus, a single forcing check might sometimes win or lose the game.
The position stems from the game Kovalevskaya-Dimitrova, Moscow 2017

41. Bh7+ Kh8 42. Qf6+! Kxh7 43. Rh1+ Kg8 44. Rh8# A series of forced
checks often leads to mate.
On the other hand, 41. Rh1 Qe5 leads to nothing promising, the queen
currently defends the h8-square.
The position stems from the game Raja-Nandhidhaa, Sitges 2017
Two Black pieces are forked, but 49...Re2+ and then ...Rxe3 decides.
The position stems from the game Abbas-Plat, Groningen 2017
37. Qc8+, the Black back rank is weak, 37...Nd8 38. Qxd8+ Qxd8 39. Bxd8
leaves White winning.
The position stems from the game Shirov-Esipenko, Moscow 2017

38...Be3! elegantly seizes the g1-square from the White king's mobility area.
...Rxh2 mate is unavoidable now, as on 39. Ra8+ Black has ...Ke7, attacking
the other rook. In distinction, a forced series of checks starting with
38...Rxh2+ 39. Kg1 Be3+ 40. Kf1 is not at all convincing, as the h1-square is
protected by the bishop on d5. A rare case where forced checks are the worse
solution.
The position stems from the game Mukhutdinov-Iljin, Sochi 2017

25. Rxg7 Nxg7 26. Rd7! ends the game. Placing a rook to the 7th rank is
frequently tactically relevant.
The position stems from the game Tolstikh-Kalinin, Sochi 2017
38. g4! Rf6 39. Ra8+ Kh7 40. Rxe5 wins a piece. But not 39. Rxf6? gxf6
and the e5-knight is already supported. Threats are always relevant.
The position stems from the game Jia-Xiao, Sanya 2017

47...Rc1 and, after the queen retreats, ...d1Q decides.
The position stems from the game Gaboyan-Szczepkowska, Sharjah 2017

39...Bxe4! elegantly unpins the bishop. The Black queen is left hanging, but
40. Qxc7? Rh1 leads to mate. 40. dxe4 Qxa7 is hopeless. A somewhat weaker
alternative is 39...Rh1+ 40. Kxh1 Bxe4+ 41. dxe4 Qxa7 In this second line an
important factor is the x-ray attack of the Black upon the White queen.
The position stems from the game Narayanan-Teske, Elgoibar 2017

42...Nf3! and the threat of ...Qxh2# is decisive. Also strong is 42...Nf1 43.
Rg2 Nxh2! and the rook can not recapture, due to ...Qf1+ with mate to
follow.
The position stems from the game Sylvan-Stojanovski, Denmark 2017
50. f5!, taking under fire the g6-square, completes the mating net. Rh8# will
follow.
The position stems from the game Grove-Klawitter, Denmark 2017
30...Rh8! wins the trapped queen.
The position stems from the game Feuerstack-Kaleta, Katowice 2017

33. Rxg8+! Rxg8 34. Qf6+ Rg7 35. Qf8+ Rg8 36. Nf7#
The position stems from the game Morkisz-Natsidis, Katowice 2017
The Black knight on d5 has forked the queen on e3 and rook on e7. One will
need Stockfish to check all the relevant tactical lines, but here White found a
forced mate in 5 moves - 43. Qxh6+!! Kxh6 44. Rxh7+ Kg5 45. h4+!
(excellent) gxh3, taking en passant, 46. gxh3 discovered check Qg4 47.
Rxg4#
The position stems from the game Golubka-Bernadskiy, Zhytomyr 2017
68. Ng5+ Kh6 69. Rh8#
The position stems from the game Andriasian-Miezis, Katowice 2017

34...c5+! is a cute clearance sacrifice. 35. bxc5 is bad because of 35...Rxb1,

while taking with the knight on c5 fails to 35...Rxd6+ 36. Bd5 Rdxd5+ etc.
The position stems from the game Bartel-Pavlidis, Katowice 2017
39. Rg6#! Could someone miss this mate in one? The d6-pawn plays an
important role in the mating net, controlling the e7-square, while the f5-rook
attacks f7.
The position stems from the game Wieczorek-Kutynec, Katowice 2017
46. Qc5+ coerces the king to b7, where it interferes with the support of the
b8-rook for the b4-knight, after which 47. Rxb4+ Ka8 48. Qxc7 ends the
game.
The position stems from the game Saric-Kazakovskiy, Katowice 2017

39...e3+ 40. Ke2 Bxf3+ 41. Kxf3 Rxg1 ends the game. But not 39...exf3??
40. Rxg4
The position stems from the game Ragger-Brodowski, Katowice 2017
47...g2! uses the fact the White bishop is overloaded with the defence of the
friendly rook and guard of the g2-square. After 48. Bxg2 (otherwise the pawn
promotes) Black takes the rook on g6.
The position stems from the game Pavlidis-Fedorchuk, Katowice 2017
15...Rxb5! 16. Bxb5 Qa5+ and ...Qxb5 leaves Black with 2 minor pieces for
rook, the opponent king scrambling to find safe haven and largely winning.
Fortuna fortes adiuvat.
The position stems from the game Pesztericz-Galyas, Budapest 2004

52. Rc6+, followed by "bishop takes knight" or "rook takes knight",
depending on where the Black king lands, seals it. In the present situation, an
important element is the x-ray attack of the g4-bishop upon the c8-knight.
The position stems from the game Dorokhin-Da Costa, Katowice 2017
26...Ba3+ mates on the next move.

The position stems from the game Inarkiev-Tregubov, Katowice 2017
28...Bg4 - a further double attack - decides after 29. Qh6 Bxf3, this time
using the pinned g2-pawn.
The position stems from the game Tari-Zhigalko, Katowice 2017
35. Rxe6!, other moves also win, but this is most convincing. White has
already gained a minor piece, and retaking with the queen fails to 36. Bc4!
royal pin (36...Rd5 37. Bxd5).
The position stems from the game Sabuk-Weber, Katowice 2017
56...Qb1+! efficiently skewers opponent king and queen. 56...Qxb7 is a

mistake, due to 57. Qf6+! Kh5 58. Qf5+ with a perpetual.
The position stems from the game Darmarakis-Krejci, Katowice 2017

27...Qxe3!! wins a piece and further on more material by removing the guard
of the g2-square. Any White capture on e3 leads to ...Bxg2#
The position stems from the game Terletsky-Mastrovasilis, Katowice 2017
54. Re7+
a) 54...Rf7 55. Rxf7+ Kxf7 56. Qxf6+
b) 54...Kg8 55. Qxg6+
c) 54...Kh8 55. Qh6+
The negligent 54. Rxf6 exposes White unnecessarily to the threat of Black
giving a perpetual check, or at least falling prey to a long series of checks
after 54...Qe3+
The position stems from the game Jensen-Skytte, Denmark 2017
Position No 94 - Black to play and win
40...Rxg2! (menacing ...Qh1#) 41. Qxg2 Rxg2 42. Rxg2 Qh1+ 43. Kf2
Qb1! - the queen has arrived just in time to stop the dangerous b7-passer.
What a stress: such a short critter trying to spoil the afternoon nap of the so
tall queen...Nonetheless, the tour was pleasant.
The position stems from the game Kramnik-Shirov, Linares 1994

Black is on a wild wild attack, but how does he bring the point home
accordingly? On 33...Qh4+ 34. Rf2 interposes and both the queen on g4 and
d4-rook are under fire. 33...Rd1+!! wins the first brilliancy prize. The cannon
self-immolates itself on a cell, where 3(!) opponent men can safely take it,
and still, this forces checkmate in all branches:
a) 34. Qxd1 has attracted the queen away from guarding the g3-square, so
34...Qg3+ 35. Rf2 Qxf2 comfortably whispers "Check and mate, your
Majesty!"
b) 34. Rxd1 has cleared the 4th rank, so that 34...Qb4+! 35. Rd2 Qxd2 brings
the very same end
c) 34. Kxd1 sees the Black queen bash a check from d7, going back,
34...Qd7+!, whereupon 35. Ke1 Qd2# sees the d2-square again as White's
Golgotha
Really amazing.
The position stems from the game Milosevic-Kashlinskaya, Ruma 2017

50...Bd6+ not so much forks king and rook, rather than coercing the White
king to the g2-square with 51. Kxg2, after which Black promotes 51...e1Q
with discovered check with speedy mate to follow. Other moves also win, of
course.
The position stems from the game Styazhkina-Bosiocic, Katowice 2017
44. Nh6++, very forceful double check leads to mate in 2 after 44...Kh8/Kf8
45. Qg8#
The position stems from the game Pultinevicius-Zylka, Katowice 2017
51. Ne7+ Kh7 52. Qg8+ Kh6 53. Qh8#
The position stems from the game Vokhidov-Lye, Ahmedabad 2017

65. Qf4+! Kh7 66. Qc7+ Kh6 67. Qg7#
An equivalent is 65. Qc1+ and then Qc7+
The position stems from the game Levi-Dragicevic, Melbourne 2017
50...Qb1+ picks up the loose c2-rook due to a fork.
The position stems from the game Mulet-Dziuba, Katowice 2017

This might seem like a difficult puzzle to someone, but Black has the
fulgurant 15...Bb7!! forcing immediate surrender. The two main lines run as
follows:
a) 16. Qxb7, acceptance means quick death: 16...Nc2+! 17. Ke2 Qxc4# (the
cell-hopper guards the e3 and e1 squares)
b) 16. Qe2 (the f3-knight pleads for support) Bxf3! 17. Qxf3 Nc2+ 18. Ke2
Nd4+ is a deadly fork (while 18...Qxc4+ is mate in 2, find the rest of the
moves yourselves, but we need some variety, don't we?)
There are pertinent reasons behind each and every unexpected move - if
anything, the White king is "more" uncastled than his opposite side
counterpart. Capisce?
The position stems from the game Heidrich-Jenni, Stuttgart 2002

53. Rc2 pins and wins the knight.
The position stems from the game Dorokhin-Pena, Katowice 2017
46...Qd4+ mates in 2:
a) 47. Kh2 Qf2+ 48. Kh1 Qg2#
b) 47. Kh1 Ng3+ 48. Kh2 Qf2#
The position stems from the game Zelcic-Herman, Katowice 2017

53...Ne2+ sufficiently simplifies the game to a pawn ending after all the
exchanges on d4, to make sure White will not try to hold due to insufficient
material. 54. Nxe2 loses to 54...Rxa4, obviously.
The position stems from the game Bratovic-Malakhatko, Zadar 2017

14...0-0-0! permits trapping next the White queen by ...Bh6. That cornered
lady is ugly there, ain't she? A scabbed sheep mars the whole flock.
The position stems from the game Schmidt-Martinsen, Kiel 2004
63. Rc8# Notice how all White pieces complement each other: the White
king controls the f7 and e7 squares, the rook attacks the back rank, while the
bishop the g7-point.
The position stems from the game Pulpan-Caprino, Katowice 2017
44. c7, racing on the way to promotion. Black can also race with 44...c2, but
one major distinction between the White and Black c-passers is the fact that
the White pawn queens with check, gaining a valuable tempo.
The position stems from the game Tari-Orndahl, Katowice 2017

52...h6! undermines the f6-knight, winning another pawn due to the fact 53.
gxh6? loses to "king captures knight".
The position stems from the game Chalmeta-Bilguun, Sitges 2017
46. Rxf6+! attracts the king to f6, after which 47. Bxd4+ forks the 2 Black
pieces. In the line 47...Re5 48. c4 Ke6 49. Bxe5 Kxe5 50. Kxg5 Black is
hopeless.
The position stems from the game Vavulin-Hosek, Katowice 2017
60. Qd8 Kc6 61. Qd6#
The position stems from the game Liang-Narciso Dublan, Sitges 2017

8...Nd3! checkmates. This arose from the Orangutan but the original is called
the "Kieninger Trap" and occurs in the Budapest Gambit.
The position stems from the game Tschoepe-Jaeckle, Berlin 1998
14. Ne7+! Qxe7 15. Qb5 announces mate. White might try also 14. Nb4+
with precisely the same effect.
The position stems from the game Rechel-Drill, Berlin 1998
15...Qh4+ 16. Kg1 Qh2 checkmates a la Max Lange.
The position stems from the game Nakapunda-Guevara, Elista 1998

52...Qc8+ 53. Qd8 Qxd8#
The position stems from the game Mayans-Kourousis, Katowice 2017
126...Bg3 allows Black to promote next with ...g1Q.
The position stems from the game Reza-Gumularz, Katowice 2017

36. Qf8#
The position stems from the game Apicella-Grollemund, Chartres 2017
43. Nf6+ Kf7 44. Nd8+! forks king and queen.
The position stems from the game Reza-Pakleza, Katowice 2017

33...Rb1#
The position stems from the game Abdullayev-Eminov, Serik 2017
27. Qe8#
The position stems from the game Liang-Lenderman, Saint Louis 2017
Discerning who is better here might be difficult for some. White is about to
queen and, in case this is allowed to happen, the first player is certainly on
top. Black can indeed force a perpetual by checking with the queen all along,
but apart from that? The trick is to whiz the queen to e8 with tempi, blocking
the pre-promoter, and then goad the own pawns forward. This is achieved by
dint of 47...Qb3+! and now, if the king heads for f2, ...Qf7+ and ...Qe8
fulfills the plan. On 48. Ke2 or Kd2 a further check from b2 will grab the
rook, while king retreats to the 4th row are met by ...Qa4+! then ...Qe8.
The queen is a powerful piece, even in desperate-looking situations. Good
calculation is always called for, though.
The position stems from the game Sadorra-Matlakov, Tbilisi 2017

29...Rc1#
The position stems from the game Hyr-Acraig, FICS 2018
35. Qg7+! Qxg7 36. Bg7# quickly punishes the low mobile Black king. It is
good to have defenders around, but sometimes they are a hassle.
The position stems from the game Saric-Krzyzanowski, Katowice 2017

The sudden 32. Rxh6+!! puts an end to all illusions "the Black king is well
defended":
a) 32...gxh6 33. Qg8#
b) 32...Kxh6 33. Qh8+ Qh7 34. Rg6+! Kxh5 35. Qxh7#
Reminiscences of the recent World Championship clash Carlsen-Karjakin
spring to mind...
The position stems from the game Ragger-Kastelic, Katowice 2017

51. Bc8+! followed by a queen grab on e7. 51. Bxd5+ Nxd5 52. Qxe7 Nxe7
53. Rxd8 will also realise quickly.
The position stems from the game Solomon-Levi, Melbourne 2017
35. Rxh6+!! gxh6 36. Bxf6+ Qg7 37. Bxg7+! Kxg7 38. Qf7+ Kh8 39. Qh7#
is pretty much straightforward. Main motif is demolition of the Black king
shelter.
The position stems from the game Berchtenbreiter-Costachi, Katowice 2017
12...d5! 13. exd5 cxd5 has trapped the White light-colour bishop early in the
opening. Always search for low mobility pieces to harass in this way.
The position stems from the game Olkhovskiy-McShane, Katowice 2017

62. Bxb6! Bxb6 63. Kh4 and Kxh5 is a "draw due to insufficient mating
material". If White lets the Black king capture the c4-pawn and then push the
b-passer, it might also promote at some point.
The position stems from the game Shankland-Salem, Sitges 2017
15. Rc7 gains one of the 2 bishops (15...Qd5 16. Rxe7). Centralisation again
is White's trump card.
The position stems from the game Sommerbauer-James, Elista 1998
12...Bb6 13. Qa3 b4! forks to win. If a rim knight might be dull, rim queen
might be even duller.
The position stems from the game Pace-Righi, Elista 1998

Black has just offered queen trade by ...Qb6. Why is this losing? 14. Bxd7+
making the b6-lady hanging, is a good hint.
The position stems from the game Cinar-Hasson, Elista 1998
38. Bf6+! is a gorgeous finale:

a) 38...Nxf6 39. Qxe8 Nxe8 40. d7! fuels a promotion
b) 38...Kf8 39. Bg7+! Kxg7 40. Qxe8 gets the Black queen
The position stems from the game Kasparov-Gonda, Cannes 1988
37...Qe1+ 38. Kh2 Qe2+ 39. Kg3 Qg2+ 40. Kh4 Qg4# completes a full
circle. Very similar is 37...Qg4+ 38. Kf2 Qg2+ 39. Ke1 Qf1+ 40. Kd2 Qd1#
The tandem "queen + knight" is the strongest ever attacking unit.
The position stems from the game Dorokhin-Zelbel, Katowice 2017

28...Bxh3! gains a pawn, erodes the White pawn shelter and effectively ends
the struggle, as 29. gxh3 is met by 29...Rxh3+!! 30. Kxh3 Rh8+ mating.
The position stems from the game Skliarov-Horton, Katowice 2017
Which mate is prettier: 12. Bxd7# or 12. Qxd7#? This seems very much like
a Traxlerian variation.
The position stems from the game Goh Wei Ming-Neo Yongling, Singapore
2002
36. Qh4! will fork the bishop on h3 and rook on e7.
The position stems from the game Mroziak-Muzik, Czech Republic 2017

10. axb4!! Qxa1 11. Nb3! suddenly sees the Black queen in a dark, dark
prison. What a pitfall!
The position stems from the game Powell-Nagel, London 1985
The Black lady is under attack and the f2-point defended. Fortunately, the
initiative is with the second player, who has 10...Qa5+, avoiding the attack
with tempo. The b2-bishop will fly off the board next. 10...Qb4+ is identical.
The position stems from the game Macagno-Wilder, Mendoza 1985
As if Black is fully developed and there is nothing decisive, however, 13.

Ng6, wow!, the f7-pawn is pinned and the bold leaper forks two enemy heavy
men at once. The f8-cannon will perish. How heavy those men should be in
order to allow so easy forking and pinning? The catch has been fat, indeed.
The knight has been acting pro bono, naturally.
The position stems from the game Horvath-Nguyen, Paris 2003

14...Bxh3! has won a pawn while severely compromising the White king
shelter:
a) 15. gxh3 Bxd4! 16. Bxd4 Nf3+ and ...Nxd4
b) 15. f4 Nxd3
The position stems from the game Spraggett-Smyslov, Montpellier 1985
12. Qh5 targets the f7- and e5-cells simultaneously. The second player is
powerless, for instance:
a) 12...f6 13. Qf7+ Kd6 14. Rd1+
b) 12...Be6 13. Qxe5 Qd6 (Bg5+ threatens) 14. Qxa5
An archetypal queen double charge that has taken care of many a quick win.
The position stems from the game Afek-Kotliar, Israel 1986
13. e4! ends the struggle by creating a double threat: e4-e5 fork and a3 horse-
trap (the double push has taken away the d5 flight cell from the grip of the
b4-knight). As the second player is incapable of meeting both at the same
time, he must yield to pressure. Two friendly pawns side by side (d4 and e4 in
this instance) are a major positive, especially if central and on advanced
ranks.
"Beauty and the Beast" - the beast at b4 permits a beautiful denouement of
the game.
The position stems from the game Banikas-Makka, Kavala 2004

Not 13...c6? 14. bxc6 bxc6 15. Nxd6, but 13...axb5! (opening the a-line) 14.
axb5 Bxf2+! This discovers an attack on the a1-cannon. After White
recaptures at f2, Black will take the well-deserved prize sitting at a1.
The position stems from the game Grinberg-Kosashvili, Israel 1986

15...Nxd3+ 16. Bxd3 Ba3+ (discovering an attack on the d3-point), to follow
up with ...Bxd3. White is busted. Something bungled up again.
The position stems from the game Ostl-Nikolac, Germany 1987
6...Nxg4! - cool. Variations are more than convincing:

a) 7. Bxg7 Qh4+! 8. Kf1 Qf2#
b) 7. Bxg4 Bxb2 and ...Bxa1
6...Ne4, founded on the same motif, is hardly any worse.
The position stems from the game Johansen-Budde, Wuppertal 1986
8. Nxf7! Kxf7 drives out the Black king. Now, 9. Qxe6+ Kg6 10. Bd3+!
Kh5 11. Qh3# finishes the proud hunt. Fervour all along. A typical Caro-
Kann pitfall.
The position stems from the game Ali-Westin, London 1987

Yup, 15...Qxa5! wins the rook for nothing due to the pin.
The position stems from the game Magnusson-Bottema, Stockholm 1987
The g5-pawn is "safely protected". Not according to White; 14. Nxg5! Bxg5
15. Qh5+ Kf8 16. Bxg5 does away with the pawn, the Black king safety and
the game as a whole.
The position stems from the game Almeida-Purgimon, Andorra 1987

White is harshly undeveloped. 15...Nxg4! - posh. The move clears the way
for the Black lady to the g6-cell. After 16. Bxg4 Qg6! (the bishop is pinned)
17. h3 Bxd3 18. Qf3 h5 the g4-slider is under siege, falling soon, the White
king safety reduced to minimum, with a handful of pawns missing. "Expect
the unexpected."
The position stems from the game Stein-Ostojic, Dortmund 1987

15. Ng5!, another instance of the so-called "Monticelli Trap". The h7 shelter
cell and loose b7-bishop under twin attack, Black will have to block the mate
and then "bishop takes bishop". Simple and elegant.
The position stems from the game Alterman-Moser, Baden-Baden 1987
14. Bxe5 dxe5 15. Qxd7 has won a piece. Line clearance, removal of the
guard.
The position stems from the game Gallagher-Holmes, Swansea 1987
15. gxf8Q+ Nxf8, defending the f7-square, is not exactly clear. 15. g8Q! is,
as White dominates in material with the new arrival. 15...Rxg8 16. Qxf7+
Kd8 17. Ne6! gives rise to a cool checkmate. Including 15...Bf2+ 16. Ke2 in
above line basically changes nothing. Deflection at its best.
The position stems from the game Arnason-Pribyl, Jurmala 1987

The queen has just grabbed the poisonous b2-pawn. 9. Nb3! supports the
endangered a1-rook and menaces Bc1 trapping the nonchalant lady. After
9...Bxe3 10. fxe3 the second trap attempt by Rf2! will already prove
successful. "The short story of a pawn-grabber and his early demise" - a
timeless classic.
As you might surmise, this arose from a Sicilian "Poison Pawn" variation,
actually, a slight modification of it. The b2-pawn should never be captured,
even kids know that - unless you are Fischer, I mean.
The position stems from the game Popovic-Goossens, Belgium 2004

The Black king is under check and the a8-cannon forked. If the king steps at
f8, White can play e3 and then chop the rook. 8...Qxc7!! is the egregiousness
of invention. Clear-cut lines run as follows:
a) 9. dxc7? Bxf2# (like in the good old Romantic times)
b) 9. Qa4+ Qc6, defending the e4-knight
Sometimes, you need a drop of adrenaline to show your best.
The position stems from the game Huque-Hodgson, London 1987

Black has gobbled 3 extra pawns, but the e6-octopus is gorgeous and the
Black monarch almost fully immobilised. 15. Qh5+ subjects the king to an
atrocious attack. Now, 15...g6 16. Rxg6! tears down all obstructions and the
opponent should resign. A deadly discovered check threatens, while
16...hxg6 17. Qxg6 calls mate.
15. Rxg7 intending 15...Bxg7 16. Qh5# is met by ...h5.
The position stems from the game Jackson-Huque, London 1987

34...Qh3! forces White to sac his queen on f3, to avoid the worst with ...Qg2#
The position stems from the game Polischuk-Van Foreest, Hamburg 2017
45...Qxh2+! 46. Kxh2 Ng4+ and ...Nxe3 picks up a further pawn.
The position stems from the game Powierski-Bindrich, Hamburg 2017

29. Rd7 builds up a lethal battery on the 7th rank. 29. Qf6+ and only then
Rd7 is identical.
The position stems from the game Xu-Hong, Shenzhen 2017
34...Rfd8!!, the powerful c2 passed pawn might provide Black with

alternative winning options, but this is most straightforward. After 35. Rxd8
(35. Bxd8 c1Q+) Rxd8 the Black rook penetrates on d1. Nice deflection
sacrifice.
The position stems from the game Kozak-Pultorak, Krakow 2016
44. Bxg1! frees the square in front of the d5-pawn, so Black has a move to
make. Capturing with the king leads to stalemate.
The position stems from the game Vishnu-Sundararajan, London 2017

41. Qxf6+ Re7 42. Bb4! leads to an easily won pawn endgame after 42...Qd7
43. Bxe7+ Qxe7 44. Qxe7+ Alternative winning ways are also available, for
example 41. g7
The position stems from the game Kotronias-Munguntuul, London 2017
25...Qc2+ mates:
a) 26. Bd2 Qd3+ 27. Ke1 Ra1+ See how each check further restricts the
mobility of the White king.
b) 26. Kf3 Qe4+ 27. Kg3 Qg4 is kind of a sui generis epaulette mate
c) 26. Ke1 Qxc1+ 27. Ke2 Qc2+ 28. Ke1 Ra1# By capturing on c1 the queen
has cleared the 1st rank.
The position stems from the game Carneiro-Cruz, Rio Branco 2017
63. Qh6+ Kg8 64. Qg7 is "Lolli's Mate".
The position stems from the game Varley-Onslow, London 2017

34. Re5+! Bxe5 35. Qxd7+ wins the queen. If we continue a bit the line,
35...Kf8 36. Qd8+ further skewers and gains the Black rook. In distinction,
34. Nxd7?? hxg4 is even better for Black. Threats and captures are forceful
moves, but checks, like Re5+, are even more so.
The position stems from the game Kriebel-Tomczak, Legnica 2017

58...a2 - Black menaces to promote with check. On 59. Qg1, 59...Rb1 is
decisive. Promotions, pawn pushes on advanced ranks are frequently
tactically relevant.
The position stems from the game Zhang-Gu, Shenzhen 2017
32. Rf7+ Kd8 33. Bb6+! deflects the king from defending the e8-rook, after
which 33...Kc8 34. Rxe8 mates.
The position stems from the game Jones-Jackson, London 2017
18. Qd7+ Kf8 19. Qd8+! Rxd8 20. Rxd8# uses the fact the Black back rank
is weak. In above mating setup, the role of the e7-knight blocker is
primordial.
The position stems from the game Xiang-Lin, Shenzhen 2017

32. Qh4+! constructs a battery of heavy pieces on the 4th rank, and White
captures the b4-rook on the next move.
The position stems from the game Gu-Zhu, Shenzhen 2017
42...Nd3+ 43. Kg1/Kf1 Qe1# What matters here is the queen controls the g3
escape square after the check.
The position stems from the game Ni-Ren, Shenzhen 2017

61. Qd4+! utilises the pin of the f3-knight to safely fork the Black rook.
Identical is 61. Qe5+
The position stems from the game Peng-Xu, Shenzhen 2017

42. Bd5! Bxd5 (one way or another White will capture on g8 and then deliver
mate on h7) 43. Rxh7 is the "Arabian Mate".
The position stems from the game Zhang-Ni, Shenzhen 2017
43...Rc2, as both White rooks are pinned, their mobility is fully or partially
limited, and Black will promote after 44. Rdf2 (nothing better) d2!
The position stems from the game Frolyanov-Gordievsky, Khanty-Mansiysk

2017
37. Rfd1 is a quiet move, which ends the game. The threat of 38. Qd8+ Rxd8
39. Rxd8# is impossible to satisfactorily neutralise. If 37...Qb8?, 38. Qe7
mates.
The position stems from the game Zawadzka-Bulmaga, Wroclaw 2017

33. Qe5+ Kh6 34. Qg7+!, pinning the g6-pawn, Kg5 35. Rf5+! Kg4 36. f3 is
a pawn mate.
The position stems from the game Das-Rocco, London 2017
24. Be4 x-ray-attacks the b7-bishop, winning a minor piece. For example,
24...Nxe7 25. Bxb7, or 24...Nc3 25. Nxc3! Bxe4 26. Nxe4
The position stems from the game Martinez-Guerrero, Valencia 2017

34...Qc1+ 35. Kg2/Rf1 Qg5+! and ...Qxg8 gains the White knight. As
opposed to this, 34...Qg5+? straight is a mistake, as White defends the knight
with 35. Rg2
The position stems from the game Nachqebia-Maghalashvili, Tbilisi 2017

It is a pity that one of the attacking knights has to go back. It doesn't! 11.
Nxc6 Nc6! defending with the f8-bishop the weak d6-point once more is fine
for Black, but White has a surprise in store - 11. Nxe6!! The horse sac
uncovers the latent queen attack upon d6. After 11...fxe6 12. Nxd6+ Kd7 (all
forced) 13. Nxb7+ all the second player has to do is stop the clocks and
congratulate his opponent, as his queen falls.
Mind the x-ray attack of the White lady on d6, as well as the potential threat
of the White d4-knight on the hostile queen. Potential threats play a rather
big role in chess.
The position stems from the game Miezis-Gusakovskaja, Winterthur 2004

11. Nxe6! fxe6 12. Rxe6 Qd8 13. Rxf6+! is sufficiently decisive. White can
also grab the hostile queen by 13. Rd6+ and Rxd8 if he wishes so. A wide
range of choices leading to victory is feasible. A wise demolition sacrifice
has cleared the a2-g8 diagonal, activating the wild bishop at b3. And you
know well - discovered checks can nuke out significant enemy units in a
matter of seconds. On 11...Qc6, threatening mate at g2, 12. d5 shuts off the
long slanted row and compels Black to shut up.
The position stems from the game Khachiyan-Serpik, Costa Mesa 2003

54...Bf5+ allows Black to promote on the next move with 55...b1Q+ If not
for this forcing introductory check, White is winning after Nxc3 and Kxb2.
The position stems from the game Santeramo-Di Benedetto, Cosenza 2017
34...Rxc6! 35. Rxc6 Rd6/Rc8 wins a piece due to the very unpleasant
absolute pin.
The position stems from the game Vovk-Grabinsky, Lvov 2017

50. g4+! ends the game:

a) 50...Kh6 51. Qxh4+ simplifies into a won pawn ending, while
b) 50...hxg3 51. Qh8+! Kg5 52. Qh4 mates
In the second line, the ...hxg3 capture has interfered with the defence of the
f2-queen for the h4-square.
The position stems from the game Hansen-Veng, Denmark 2017

49. Rf3+ coerces the Black king to a square, where it will fall prey to a fork.
Both 49...Kg8 50. Bxe6+ and 49...Ke8 50. d7+ pick up the c8-rook.
The position stems from the game Grigoriants-Kuzubov, Hungary 2017
44...Rd3 - after the White queen retreats, ...g3+ wins the f2-rook.
The position stems from the game Sedykh-Stauskas, London 2017

60...Kh6! reduces the mobility of the White king (the g5- and h5-squares).
The immediate threat is ...Rh2# On 61. gxf5 Black mates with ...Rf4, while
after 61. g5+ Kg6 both ...Rh2 mate and ...Rf4 mate are menacing. Above
threats are impossible to parry satisfactorily.
The position stems from the game Szuk-Perunovic, Hungary 2017

39. f5!! starts the destruction of the Black king cover, while simultaneously
ensuring access of the White queen to the h4-square, possible, for example,
after 39...gxf5 40. Qh4, attacking both the e7-rook and h5-pawn. Taking with
the other pawn is impossible, because the rook on e7 is hanging. Alternative
attacking continuations are much less convincing and will take time to break
through.
The position stems from the game Tazbir-Rosko, Czech Republic 2017

35. Qg5! is a double attack upon the d8-rook and the g7-square. As Black
can't defend both, he should resign.
The position stems from the game Meier-Burschowsky, Austria 2017
14. e5! aims at removing the defender of the Black queen, after which White
gains material:
a) 14...dxe5 15. fxe5 and now, in case the knight retreats, the h5-queen is lost
b) 14...dxe5 15. fxe5 Qxe2 fails to the intermediate check on f6, 16. exf6+!
gxf6, after which White recaptures on e2 with the bishop, staying with a
piece more
The key is, of course, the intermediate checking capture.
The position stems from the game Koepke-Drabke, Austria 2017
33...Ra6 pins the White bishop, winning the exchange after 34. Bxd8 Rxa4
The position stems from the game Keetman-De Mie, Amstelveen 2017

19. Bxf5! gains a free pawn, as both 19...Rxf5? 20. Qxe8+ and 19...exf5? 20.
Rxe8+ are weak because of existing pins. The counter-strike in the form of
19...g6 fails to 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21. Qxg6+ Kf8 22. Bh6+ Ke7 23. Rxe6+
The position stems from the game Atlas-Everett, Austria 2017
44...Rxb3! 45. Rxb3 Qd5+ forks king and rook.
The position stems from the game Nevostrujev-Khanin, Khanty-Mansiysk

2017
A rare configuration of queen versus 4 weaker pieces, but here the Black
king is quite exposed and lacks mobility, so 42. g4+ Kxh4 43. Qh6 simply
mates.
The position stems from the game Dobrowolski-Klekowski, Wroclaw 2017

49. Rd6+! Nxd6 50. Qxd6+ Kc8 51. Qc6+ mates. 49...Ke7 50. Rxd8 and the
queen drops off.
The position stems from the game Sardy-Certek, Austria 2017
84. Rxd8! Kxd8 85. Kxf7 with subsequent promotion of the g-passer is the
easiest way to convert.
The position stems from the game Stanec-Pinter, Austria 2017

39. Ref8 makes R5f7# unavoidable. The h5-pawn plays an important role in
the mating net, guarding the g6-square.
The position stems from the game Van Foreest-Van Wely, Amstelveen 2017
14...Qxc3+! creates an unusual situation, where the b2-bishop is pinned and,

after 15. Kb1 Black mates with 15...Qxb2
The position stems from the game Swicarz-Wieczorek, Wroclaw 2017
37. Rf3+ discovers an attack on the undefended Black queen. 37. Rd7+ is
weaker, as after 37...Ke8 the Black king attacks the d7-rook.
The position stems from the game Rogulj-Tomerlin, Zagreb 2017

A very tricky endgame. On 60...f1Q? White will continue with 61. Rf8+ and
Rxf1. The very same manoeuver will follow on 60...Ke4 or 60...Kg4. Black
has a win, though, starting with 60...c1Q+!, forcing the White king to the 1st
rank with 61. Kxc1, after which 61...f1Q+ already promotes with check.
The position stems from the game Bocharov-Yudin, Khanty-Mansiysk 2017
32...Rxa5! immediately ends the encounter. 33. Rxa5 Rd1+ gives mate and
Black threatens ...Rxa1 followed by ...Rd1+ Elegant as ever.
The position stems from the game Lehmann-Fischer, Havana 1965

91...Rg6+
a) 92. Kh5 Rh3 is a "lawnmower mate"
b) 92. Kh4 Rh6+ 93. Kg5 f6 mates with a pawn
The position stems from the game Kokarev-Bocharov, Khanty-Mansiysk

2017

44...gxh5! cuts off the access of the White king to the g4 escape square, with
the strong threat of ...Rh2# On 45. g4 45...Rc3+! 46. Rf3 Rxf3+ 47. Kh4 Rh2
mate will follow.
The position stems from the game Velickovic-Govedarica, Belgrade 2017
33. Rd3! - the rook lift to the 3rd rank and then to h3, strengthening the
attack, decides. 33. Rd4, targeting the h4-square, is also an option.
The position stems from the game Hossain-Ahmed, Dhaka 2017
112...Bd7! distracts the White bishop from controlling the f1-square,

allowing the f-passer to promote after 113. Bxd7 f1Q+ 112...Kh2 113. Ke3
Kxh3? 114. Kxf2 is only a draw due to insufficient material.
The position stems from the game Todorovic-Atakisi, Belgrade 2017

White might try to hold due to a possible fortress (no way of penetration), but
60...Bxf3+! 61. Kxf3 e5 62. Kf2 Kg4 does away with such dreams. The
Black king will pick up all White pawns on the king side. The sacrifice is
possible because of the awkward condition of the b1-bishop, that is
permanently trapped.
The position stems from the game Ljubic-Brkic, Zagreb 2017
Is the Black bishop trapped and that side in zugzwang? Would have been, if it
hadn't been for 49...Bb2!!, the dead start walking and, at the sight of such a
biblical miracle, the slow-mover at d3 and its commanders are fully
powerless. 50. Nxb2 a3! and the pawn promotes. Some moves are simply
astounding.
The position stems from the game Mohannad-Demchenko, Beirut 2017
Other winning moves might exist, but 36. Rd8!, adding another attacker to
the pinned rook on d6, is the most straightforward one.
The position stems from the game Zhigalko-Kalashian, Tsaghkadzor 2017

White mates in 4 with 41. Qxh7+!! Kxh7 42. Rh5+ Bh6 43. Rexh6+ Kg7
44. Rh7# Always check what a potential check will give you.
The position stems from the game Saric-Banek, Zagreb 2017
42...Qxe6! is safe and strong. No need to check what happens in case of

42...fxe6 43. Rxg6+, the Black king is exposed and comes under attack. After
the queen capture, retaking with the rook on e5 is impossible, because of
...Rxg2#!
The position stems from the game Oboladze-Hayrapetyan, Tsaghkadzor 2017
29. Rxg7+ discovers the deadly absolute pin on the e6-knight. White mates in
further 2 moves:
a) 29...Kf8 30. Qf6+ Ke8 31. Qe7#
b) 29...Kh8 30. Rg6+, kind of a "Morphy's Mate" setup, Ng7 31. Qxg7#
The position stems from the game Muzychuk-Paehtz, Medias 2017

81. Re8+ Re6 82. Rxe6! mates right in the very center. All White pieces
perfectly complement each other.
The position stems from the game Kiik - Reizniece-Ozola, Puhajarve 2017
43. Qxe5! fxe5 44. Rxh6 Kxh6 45. c6! and the c-pawn will soon queen.
The position stems from the game Horvath-Medvegy, Hungary 2017

59...Ra3+ forces the White king to leave the 3rd rank, after which Black
captures the opponent rook.
The position stems from the game Valuet-Fedorchuk, Asnieres-sur-Seine

2017
Is the b5 Black queen on the menu of the c3-steed or not? The beast would
have loved to taste a bit of tender female meat, unfortunately, it seems he is
pinned. The egregiousness of injustice! What to do now? Precisely at this
point the second horse comes to the rescue - he boldly jumps 10. Nd6!,
giving check, and the b4-pinner (a subtle nuance) has to capture him, as this
is also a royal fork. The fallout is 10...Bxd6 11. Nxb5, knight is unpinned and
the odious queen lost.
Never say never.
The position stems from the game Liascovich-Straniero, Mendoza 2004
34. Nf6+ Kd6 35. Nxd5 Kxd5 36. Bxc6+ gains a piece. A fork, followed by
removal of the defender. What is important in the present case are the
multiple attacks of different White pieces on the c6-knight.
The position stems from the game Dubov-Gordievsky, Moscow 2017

28. gxf3? Rxf7 is fine for Black, but 28. Nh6! perfectly mates.
The position stems from the game Shcherbin-Tsorbatzoglou, Asnieres-sur-

Seines 2017
White threatens as if unavoidable mate, but Black is faster - 46...Rxb3+!!

mates in further 2 moves:
a) 47. cxb3 Nc3+ 48. Ka1 Qa2# - queen and knight frequently coordinate
excellently
b) 47. Ka2 Qxc2+ and ...Qb2#
c) 47. Ka1 Qc3+ and ...Qb2#
The key is destroying the White king cover.
The position stems from the game Henrich-Pap, Heusenstamm 2017
47. Ne5!, now, 47...Bxe5 deflects the bishop from controlling the f8-square
and White queens with f8Q+ On 47...a2, 48. Ng6+ Kh7 49. Ne7+!,
interfering with the defence of the d6-bishop for the f8-square, Kxh6 50. f8Q
promotes with tempo.
The position stems from the game Dappiano-Wertjanz, Austria 2017

15. Nxf5! clears the b1-h7 diagonal, creating the awful threat of Ne7+ and
Qxh7# Black is powerless, for example:
a) 15...Nf6 16. Qg5+ and Qg7#
b) 15...Qf6 16. Ne7+! Nxe7 17. Qxh7#
c) 15...Bxf5 16. Qxf5 Nf6 17. Bg5! and the fortress is no longer one worth its
name
The x-ray attack of the d3-slider on h7 is vital, naturally, as well as the all
broken-down Black king shelter. Any pawn weakness - doubled, isolated
pawns, etc. - is twice weightier if near the king.
The position stems from the game Landa-Seifert, Vienna 2003

37...Rf1+! 38. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 39. Kxf1 a2 and the advanced a-passer promotes.
The position stems from the game Ulibin-Korneev, Runavik 2017
27...Qh4+ 28. Kg1 Qg3+ 29. Kh1 Qg2#
The position stems from the game Can-Pavlovic, Djenovici 2017

Black can take the White queen, but if there is mate, it should be delivered, of
course. 19...Nf3+! is a nice clearance sacrifice. After 20. gxf3 Black mates
with ...Qxh2.
The position stems from the game Schein-Danner, Austria 2017

14. e6! fxe6 15. Ne5! stops the clocks, as Black can not neutralise
satisfactorily the double menace of eating the bishop at d7 and expressly
forking at f7, wounding the h8-cannon. Vacation sacrifice plus wise
utilisation of pins. Some might recognise the contours of the Berlin Defence.
The position stems from the game Kalezic-Vajda, Bucharest 2001
42...Rh1+ 43. Kf2 Rxe1 44. Kxe1 Bxe3 wins a piece.
The position stems from the game Gusarov-Leriche, Asnieres-sur-Seine 2017

39...Rh6! - the g2-pawn is pinned, the queen uncapturable, so the ...Qxh2#

menace decides (40. Bg3 Qxg3). 39...Qxh2+ sac, followed by ...Rh6+, should
also deliver mate.
The position stems from the game Sadzikowski-Krasenkow, Poland 2017

2...Qh4 is the "Fool's Mate". Who likes being made a fool of?
This is a composed position
22. Qe5 threatens unavoidable mates on b8 and c7. "Queen + bishop"

batteries aimed at the enemy king are frequently very dangerous.
The position stems from the game Gavrilescu-Rusan, Alba Iulia 2017
23. Rxe6! is double-purpose:

a) 23...Qxe6 has removed the defender of the d8-rook, so 24. Qxd8+ wins
b) 23...dxe6 clears the d-file, so that the queen capture on d8 gains a piece
again
In the second line an important feature is the x-ray attack of the d1-rook upon
his Black counterpart.
The position stems from the game Saldano-Torella, Neuquen 2017

30. Qxe8+! Nxe8 31. Rxe8+ Kg7 32. Rxh7# A forced sequence of checks is
frequently the decisive attacking variation.
The position stems from the game Thogersen-Jonsson, Runavik 2017
34...Rxc2! 35. Rxc2 deflects the rook from guarding the e1-square, after
which 35...Ra1+ 36. Be1 Rxe1+ mates. On 35. Rxe3 both 35...Rxf2 and
35...dxe3! 36. Rxc2 Ra1+ win.
The position stems from the game Garcia-Bruzon, Paramaribo 2017
36. Qxc8 is no good, because of 36...Qxe5+ and ...Qxd6, but 36. Qg7+! wins:
a) 36...Ke8 37. Qd7+! Kf8 38. Qxc8+
b) 36...Qf7 37. Rd7+!, a typical pseudo-sacrifice, Kxd7 38. Qxf7+
The position stems from the game Signorelli-Bezuidenhout, Tarvisio 2017

36. Qxa6+ Ra7 37. Bd5+! Nxd5 38. Qc8 mates
The position stems from the game Thorgeirsson-Haraldsson, Runavik 2017
69. Qh8 mates due to the fact the g6-pawn blocks an important escape
square.
The position stems from the game Sanduleac-Manolache, Alba Iulia 2017
33. Rh6! traps the White queen. Weak is 33. Qxe7? Qxg4, which has left the
g4-knight unsupported.
The position stems from the game Sunilduth-Begmuratov, Tarvisio 2017
36. Bc5 evicts the Black queen from f8, where it guards the h6 entrance
square, for example, 36...Qe8, after which 37. Rh8+! Kxh8 38. Qh6+ and
Qg7 mates. In this line, 37. Qh6 is also possible.
The position stems from the game Chudinovskikh-Stock, Plzen 2017
35...h4+! introduces a forced sequence of checks - 36. Kxh4 Bf2+ 37. Kg4
Be6# Only a transposition is 36. Kg4 Be6+ 37. Kxh4 Bf2#
The position stems from the game Indricans-Tronenkovs, Riga 2017

45...Na6+ 46. Ka5 Ra3 mates
The position stems from the game Di Benedetto-San Diego, Tarvisio 2017
34...Bxc4 35. Bxc4 Rc8 pins the White bishop. 34...Nxc4 35. Bxc4 Rc8 is
not identical, as here White has 36. b6 Rxc4 37. Rxc4 Bxc4 38. b7 queens.
On 36...Bxc4 in above variation, 37. b7! Rb8 38. Rxc4 With above caveats,
also possible is 34...Rc8
The position stems from the game Pacher-Baenziger, Austria 2017
105. Ng5+ Kh8 106. Bg7 mates in 2.
The position stems from the game Kantane-Rogule, Riga 2017
42. Nxc6 Rxc6 43. Rd4+! and the loose rook on d8 drops off.
The position stems from the game Pedersen-Larsen, Denmark 2017
33. Rc8 traps the Black queen.
The position stems from the game Schoppen-Pangilinan, Tarvisio 2017

39...Bxd4+! removes the defender of the f3-rook, after which 40. cxd4 Rxf3
gains the rook due to the absolute pin on the White light-square bishop. The
straightforward 39...Rxf3? does not work because of 40. Nxf3
The position stems from the game Jensen-Sylvan, Denmark 2017
51...Re5+ 52. Kd6 Re6+ and the loose a6-bishop drops off.
The position stems from the game Ochsner-Klitgaard, Denmark 2017
White has just attacked both the Black queen and knight and, as if one of
them will fall, but 33...Qc4 magically saves them both, utilising the fact the
White queen is undefended. 34. Rxb6?? Qxe2, or 34. Qxc4 Nxc4 Undefended
pieces are often tactically relevant.
The position stems from the game Smajzr-Bernasek, Czech Republic 2017

19. Qe4+ forks the Black king and rook on a8, using the exposed location of
the king. Such forks frequently occur in the middlegame.
The position stems from the game Baklan-Patrascu, Baile Govora 2017
41...Bc7+ 42. f4 Bxf4+ 43. g3 clears the long diagonal, after which 43...Qh1
mates.
The position stems from the game Ochsner-Hansen, Denmark 2017

What would you play here? Some would trade queens, others would step
aside with the queen to e3 or g3, with a bunch daring g4. Alas, those are all
wrong or unnecessary moves. White has a mate in 2, starting with 13.
Qxc6+!! Pawn takes queen (forced), Bd3 delivers check at a6, and this
suddenly proves to be the final blow. A revelation. Knowing good patterns is
tantamount to playing strong and appealing chess.
Boden left a nice legacy behind.
The position stems from the game Antal-Mayaud, Paris 2000

This is a real thriller. 11. Bg5! - has the queen been trapped? 11...Bxf3!, no,
Black has an intermediate move; now, 12. gxf3? Qxg5 loses, just as 12. Bxf6
Bxd1 seeing the opponent down by a piece. 12. Qxf3 Qxf3 13. gxf3 is
nothing to boast about. Amid the hot exchange of fire, White has a quiet
winner though. 12. Qd2! renews the defence of the g5-bishop, totally
neglecting the appetising prize at f3. Where will the Black queen go now?
12...Qxd4 (no other options, unfortunately). Do you see the knockout blow?
Of course, 13. Bxh7+! is a tempo-gaining move, allowing the first player to
capture the queen at d4 next for nothing.
Encore.
The position stems from the game Lugovoi-Balashov, Krasnoyarsk 2003

35...Bxg5! wins a pawn and then the pinned White dark-square bishop.
35...Ng6 is not sufficient, due to 36. Qe8+! Nf8 37. Qe4
The position stems from the game Zierk-Chirila, Saint Louis 2017
As if the g3-square is sufficiently defended both by the White queen and

knight on e2, but it seems the queen is overworked - 38...Qxe2!! 39. Qxe2
Ng3+ and ...Nxe2
The position stems from the game Privara-Rooze, Acqui Terme 2017
29...Qxf3! ends the game (30. gxf3 Rg1#) Key here is the x-ray attack of the
g6-rook upon the g1-square.
The position stems from the game Sadhwani-De Vleeschauwer, Tarvisio

2017

50. Rxe6! Rd1+ 51. Kh2 and White wins, as 51...Qxe6 fails to Nf8+ royal
fork.
The position stems from the game Gavrilescu-Moldovan, Baile Govora 2017
As if the game is not very clear, as the Black queen is targeted, the h3-rook
loose in a number of variations and the opponent has certain attacking
chances with Rc7, but this is just on the surface. The second player, however,
has the astounding 23...Qg3!! - do you believe it? The lady has landed on a
square attacked by 2(!!) enemy pawns and the hostile queen, but this forces
quick resignation:
a) 24. hxg3 Ne2#!
b) 24. fxg3 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Rxf1#
c) 24. Qxg3 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Nxg3+ 26. Kg1 Nxf1 gets decisive material edge
Of course, Black threatens queen mate at h2, and 24. Qe5, defending h2 on
an x-ray, fails to 24...Nf3+! 25. Kh1 Rxh2#
Pins, pins and more pins, coupled with the lucky check here and there, make
this wonderful combination possible. The logic behind it all is, of course, the
tremendous Black attacking superiority.
The position stems from the game Levitzky-Marshall, Breslau 1912
34...Bd6+ 35. Kh1 Qe1+! 36. Ng1 Qxd2 ends the game.
The position stems from the game Lauri-Ribbegren, Andorra la Vella 2017

64. R1xf6+! Rxf6 65. g5 mates in 2.
The position stems from the game Antonio-Jhunjhnuwala, Acqui Terme 2017

38. c5, the threat of b6# is impossible to satisfactorily parry.
The position stems from the game Stefansson-Jaksland, Reykjavik 2017
The Black bishop is under assault. If it retreats somewhere, the d8-rook will
fall. On 37...Rxd3?? 38. fxe7 suddenly queens on the next move. Therefore,
37...Bxf6!
a) 38. exf6 Rxd3
b) 38. Rxd8+ Bxd8, winning
The position stems from the game Thorfinnsson-Gretarsson, Reykjavik 2017
The queen can retreat somewhere, but simplification after 46. Rc1 Bxd4 47.
Rxc7+ is the easiest way to convert.
The position stems from the game Muniz-Okamura, Rio de Janeiro 2017

The a7-pawn is dangerous, but 35...Re1+ 36. Bf1 Bd5+! 37. Qf3 Bxf3 mates.
The position stems from the game Popescu-Nanu, Baile Govora 2017
38...Rxb5! 39. Rxb5 Nd3+ and ...Nxc1
The position stems from the game Beltz-Vogt, Acqui Terme 2017
37...Nf4 traps and wins a whole rook.
The position stems from the game Darmanin-Weber, Andorra la Vella 2017
35. Qf6 Qxd4 36. Rh8#
The position stems from the game Chigaev-Zimina, Katowice 2017

36...Nd4! 37. cxd4 Rxc2 utilises the fact couple of White pieces share the
same rank with the Black rook. Black can not wish for a better game
development.
The position stems from the game Cibickova-Nemeth, Slovakia 2017

33. Rxd7! Rxd7 decoys the Black rook away from guarding the b6-bishop,
and now 34. Nxb6 is a capture fork, forcing Black to concede the exchange
on the very next move. After making the balance, White is a piece up.
The position stems from the game Gindi-Zifroni, Herzliya 2017
The "weak-maker theme" involves 14...Nxe3 15. fxe3 and now 15...Qxg5
The position stems from the game Parveen-Hunt, Elista 1998

12...Nd3+! is as vigorous as unexpected. See for yourselves:

a) 13. exd3 Qxc2
b) 13. Qxd3 Qc1+! 14. Rxc1 Rxc1#
Line clearance using inherent blockages.
The position stems from the game Andonov-Lputian, Sochi 1987

12...Nxe4! wins a pawn for the time being:
a) 13. Nxe4 Bxb2
b) 13. Bxe4 Bxc3
The looseness of the b2-bishop tells. The combo comes a bit out of the blue,
as the e4-pedestrian seems overprotected, but... Tactics provide for a bit of
gambling and a bit of euphoria.
Stick to kingside fianchetto openingwise and it is bound to earn you a lot of
points.
The position stems from the game Busch-Kleinschroth, Eppingen 1988

Look very carefully here, concentrate all your brain powers. What are you
able to see? The clock is ticking, man! 11. Be7 comes in quite unexpected,
but is definitive:
a) 11...Rxe7 12. Nxf6+ and Qxd8+ picks the queen
b) 11...Qd7 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Bxf6 gains a minor
A dash of euphoria again - White has not even castled.
The position stems from the game Peek-Canfell, Dieren 1988

8. Nxe5! wins material, at first the central e5-pawn, and then more. Lines run:
a) 8...Nxe5 9. Qxg4 (the knight is pinned)
b) 8...dxe5 9. Qxg4
c) 8...Bxd1 9. Nxc6 discovered check and Nxd8
Propicious occasions to unpin should be immediately seized upon. The Black
king is subject to an enormous amount of stress. How many hapless
monarchs have perished as a consequence of enemy rooks bombardment on
the central files?
The position stems from the game Armas-Hartung, Dortmund 1988

Black is underdeveloped, lacks a pedestrian and barely hangs by a thread. 15.
Be5! - aloha - not any more. If the queen slides aside, the h8-rook is a nice
hors d'oeuvre (yummy!); accepting the pseudo-sac with ...Qxe5 leaves White
choosing between 16. Bxc6+ and Bxa8 marauding the battlefield, and 16.
Re1 pinning the queen.
Great style.
The position stems from the game Quillan-Buecker, Oakham 1988

12. Rxa5! gains material:
a) 12...Qxa4 13. Rxa4 (the rook is agile in fleeing the pawn attack)
b) 12...bxa5 13. Bb5! pinning the queen
The position stems from the game Burkart-Haubt, Germany 1988
The sorcery consists in 14. Bf7+! (attempting to deflect the king from his
duty of guarding the queen) Ke7 15. Bc5+ Kxf7 16. Qxd8 and Her Majesty
disappears from the scene. Very similar to the "Magnus Smith Trap" in the
Sicilian Defence.
The position stems from the game Haubt-Junker, Germany 1989
11...f3! is a very fine pawn sac. After 12. Bxf3 the h3-stallion is left
unprotected and Black uses the fact by 12...Nb6! - an intermediate move
assailing the queen and uncovering an attack of the c8-slider. When the queen
retreats, Black chops at h3.
Tactics hide a lot of magic.
The position stems from the game Dezaele-Weill, Chanac 1989

15...Qe5! is a twin attack on the d4-rook and the h2 shelter square. White
loses one of the assets. If you were White, what would you prefer to
concede? (cue: rooks are very valuable)
The first player is fully developed, but totally lacks coordination.
The position stems from the game Villeneuve-Bernard, Cannes 1989
11. Qb5+ later chops at g5. Bad luck.

The position stems from the game De Eccher-Schneiders, Lugano 1989
15...Nf3++! 16. Kd1 Qe1+!! 17. Bxe1 Rxe1 checkmates Arabian-wise.

Avoid double check enemy setups as the plague. See how the inauguratory
move leaves the White king out of answers.
The position stems from the game Mora-Moskalenko, Salou 2000

11...Nb3+ 12. Kb1 Nxd2+ ruminates the White lady. Starring: Mr. Pin and
Ms. Fork.
The position stems from the game Donne-Girard, Val Maubuee 1989
12. Rd1 wins the Black queen. Retreating means Qxd7# If 12...Nf6, 13.
Qe6+, on 12...h5 13. Qg6+ The x-ray attack going from d1 to d7 is decisive.
The position stems from the game Fruteau-Charrouf, Val Maubuee 1989
15...Qg3+ 16. Kf1 Qxh3+ 17. Kg1 Nxg4 puts a full stop. The Black lady
wisely utilised the bishop pin to come closer and initiating the order of the
day of pecking enemy pawns and further sabotaging the White king safety.
The position stems from the game Paris-Fruteau, Val Maubuee 1989

9. Qh5 is an attack on the f7-square and g5-slider. After, for example, 9...g6
(or ...0-0) 10. Qxg5 there is nothing more to play for.
The position stems from the game Kontic-Hoffman, Vrnjacka Banja 1989
13. Bxa6 gives White whopping material advantage:

a) 13...Qxc6 14. Bb5 pinning the lady
b) 13...Rxa6 14. Nb8! - the horse hops offside, on the wild wild rim, to fork 2
enemy heavies
The position stems from the game Farago-Heemskerk, Moscow 1989
15...Qxe5! gains a free piece due to the pin. Further resistance is futile. On
occasion, free lunches do exist.
The position stems from the game Houston-Lane, Plymouth 1982

14. Rxf6! Bxf6 15. Bxf6+ Kxf6 16. Qh4+ and Qxd8 has eaten the Black
lady. Cannibalism?
Playing for mate is possible too.
The position stems from the game Mariette-Joly, Belfort 1989
15. Nd6+! Kd8 (the queen is pinned) 16. Nxf7+ forks the h8-rook. White
might want to chop wood at d7 first.
The position stems from the game Degenhardt-Berger, Germany 1990
White is in the convincing lead by a whole pedestrian. That is, until 15...Bxc3
16. Nxc3 Qd4+! and ...Qxc3
The position stems from the game Rosen-William, Germany 1990

15...Qxd2+! 16. Kxd2 Nxe4+ and ...Nxg3 wins a pawn, the bishop pair and
isolates the hostile d4-pedestrian. Have you ever heard of the Isolated
Queen's Pawn?
The position stems from the game Steinbacher-Akopian, Groningen 1990
9. f4 wins material due to the highly unpleasant pin on the a1-h8 long
diagonal. Time to say "goodbye".
The position stems from the game Hertneck-Wunderer, Kirchheim 1990
14. Qh6! threatens mate at g7. The queen is untouchable owing to the pin on
his colleague provided by the f6-slider. The threat is executed after 14...Rg8
15. Ng5 (this time h7 is aimed at) or 14...Bxf6 15. exf6 Rg8 16. Ng5
Closed positions favour the attacker even stronger as counterplay is mostly
lacking or much slower.
The position stems from the game Bandza-Schaefer, Wiesbaden 1990

All equal? Yup. The offer to split the point may be very much to the
point...until Black finds 14...Qxd4+ 15. Qxd4 Nxd4 16. Rxd4 and now
...Be3+!, forking monarch and rook, to follow up with ...Bxd4. Patzers will
need quite a while to see this, experts will show it in a moment. Work hard -
become an expert.
The position stems from the game Micalizzi-Anand, Rome 1990
15. h6! suddenly traps the Black dark-square bishop. Not an impromptu, but
a very well prepared onslaught. Beware the advancing infantry.
The position stems from the game Botsari-Battsetseg, Azov 1990
The b6-knight is hanging. 14...cxb6 15. Rxd6 is not a cause for joy, though.
The intermediate 14...Bf4 check helps here, to follow up with the
premeditated capture on b6.
The position stems from the game Romero Holmes-Magem Badals, Leon
1990

Knights challenging each other, kings castled on opposite sides of the board.
Who the hell knows what happens here? Obviously, no one, until the Black
sorcerer finds 13...Be3! pinning the queen to the king by a strange whim of
thought.
The position stems from the game Foerster-Preiss, Baden-Baden 1990
14...cxd4 15. Nxe4 restores the gross material balance. To win, Black has to
find the wondrous 14...e3!! temporary pawn sac. No matter how the first
mover captures at e3, 15...cxd4 will set up a new fork in the process of taking
the knight. Winning a piece is the fruit of all this labour and insight.
The position stems from the game Guenther-Espig, Senden 1998
11. Nxe6 wins a further pedestrian (11...dxe6 12. Qxc6+).
The position stems from the game Hacker-Radke, Senden 1998

27. Ra1!, the queen supports the rook getting rid of the low mobility Black
queen on the edge of the board. Pieces on the edge usually get trapped more
frequently.
The position stems from the game Bick-Pikula, Djenovici 2017
109...Kf2 - in the endgame, kings should be driven to the edge of the board
or corners to easily get mated. 110. Kh1 Ng4 111. h6 Ne2 112. h7 Ng3 deals
the final blow. Interestingly, two knights alone can not checkmate opponent
king with optimal play due to stalemate, but here White has a pawn
preventing that from happening.
The position stems from the game Ognean-Istratescu, Alba Iulia 2017
After 27. e8Q+ Rxe8 the pawn is simply lost, but White has the stronger 27.
Qd8+!, winning a rook:
a) 27...Rxd8 28. exd8Q+
b) 27...Kf7 28. Qxb8
The position stems from the game Antoms-Amin, Riga 2017

28. Rxg6+! Kxg6 is an excellent shot, removing both guards of the e7-square
and allowing 29. e7 gorgeous fork. Black loses at least a minor piece after
29...Rde8 30. Ne5+!, breaking the newly-arisen pin, followed by exf8Q. On
29...Rxd1 30. exf8Q promotes unobstructed.
The position stems from the game Christensen-Baekgaard, Denmark 2017
37...Rd2+ 38. Kc1 Qe1+ checkmates.
The position stems from the game Jamesyan-Luckydadming, FICS 2018

37...Rxg2+! 38. Bxg2 e1Q#
The position stems from the game Munguntuul-Aravindh, Sitges 2017

31. Rh8+! Bxh8 32. Qh7#
The position stems from the game Quilter-Piesik, Katowice 2017
63. Nc5 Ke7 64. Na6! Qa7 65. b8Q, a lone queen can't withstand the
cumulative powers of couple of minors plus passers. Sic transit gloria mundi.
The position stems from the game Zylka-Jahncke, Katowice 2017

79...Rxh4#!
The position stems from the game Bugalski-Zimina, Katowice 2017
46...Ra1! wins the queen, as 47. Qxa1 Qf3+ mates.

The position stems from the game Gomez-Nguyen, Chengdu 2017
22. Qxc8+!! wins the rook, as 22...Kxc8 23. Rf8+ mates.
The position stems from the game Lewicki-Janiszewski, Katowice 2017

34. Bh5+ Rg6 35. Bxg6+ Nxg6 36. Rd8#
The position stems from the game Chandra-Paikidze, Saint Louis 2017
24. c6 threatens Qa8+ with an unavoidable mate in a number of moves.
The position stems from the game Xu-Geldyeva, Chengdu 2017

36. Rc8+! Kg7 37. Rxd4 leaves White a rook up. The straightforward 36.
Rxd4? loses after 36...Rh1+ 37. Ke2 Rxc1
The position stems from the game Dionisi-Le Borgne, Chartres 2017
42...Qd5+ 43. Ke2 Qxg2 will promote next.

The position stems from the game Szente-Saptarshi, Zalakaros 2017
36...Rbe2+ 37. Kd1 Qb3+ 38. Rc2 Qxc2#
The position stems from the game De Seroux-Guichard, Chartres 2017

33. Rxf8+! Rxf8 34. Rxf8+ Rxf8 35. Qxe5 seals it.
The position stems from the game Milliet-Tratar, Llucmajor 2017
45...Qh4+ 46. Kg2 Qg3#
The position stems from the game Manin-Schekachikhin, Saint Petersburg

2017
White mates in 3, for example after 32. Qd6+ Ka5 33. Qxa6+ Kb4 34. Qb5
The position stems from the game Liu-Anu, Chengdu 2017
33. Re7+ Kd6 34. Re6+! forks king and knight.

The position stems from the game Vajic-Slamar, Sarajevo 2017
43...Qb1#
The position stems from the game Hammer-Nepomniachtchi, Moscow 2017

57...b1Q fails now in view of royal knight fork on a3 with a draw. One
winning move is 57...Kb4!, avoiding the unpleasant check, and only then
promoting. Most efficient, however, is 57...Bd7+! 58. Kxd7 Kxb5,
liquidating the dangerous hopper, getting an easily won theoretical ending.
The position stems from the game Sezdbekov-Aravindh, Tarvisio 2017
...Qg2 mate is as if unavoidable, but 43. Rd8+! wins:

a) 43...Kh7 44. Rh8#
b) 43...Rf8 44. Rxf8+ Kxf8 45. Qxf4+! and then 46. Qxf3, getting rid of the
nasty wedge
The position stems from the game Bilguun-Pangilinan, Tarvisio 2017
23. Rxd7! - rook to the 7th rank is always tactically relevant - seals it:
a) 23...fxg5 24. Qxh7+ Qxh7 25. R3xh7+ Kg8 26. Rdg7 mates
b) 23...Rf7 24. Rxf7 Qxf7 25. Bxf6+ Kg8 26. Rg3+ Kf8 27. Qh6+ Ke8 28.
Rg7! is hopeless
The position stems from the game Vykouk-Heinechen, Tarvisio 2017

51. Be7+ Bf6 52. Bxf6#
The position stems from the game Tan-Stewart, Telford 2017
Most straightforward is 24...Bf3+ 25. Kc4 Re4+!, subsequently picking the

f4-bishop.
The position stems from the game Pavelek-Kapusta, Czech Republic 2017
41. Qg8+ Ke7 42. Bd6! is mate in 2.
The position stems from the game Baciu-Sgircea, Baile Govora 2017
47. Rxe5! Rxe5 48. Nxf7+ and Nxe5

The position stems from the game Karasek-Machlowski, Czech Republic
2017
34...Rh1+! wins:
a) 35. Kxh1 Qxf2
b) 35. Kg2 Rh2+! 36. Kxh2 Qxf2+
Wagner-Michel - Strutinskaia, Acqui Terme 2017

Black has just played ...f7-f5.

31. exf6+ discovers an attack upon the c7-queen, which drops off.
The position stems from the game Ionescu-Nastase, Baile Govora 2017

51. Rc6! limits the Black king's mobility along the 6th rank, with the
immediate threat of Ra6# Only way Black can prevent that is to sac the
exchange with 51...Rf4+ 52. Kg2 Rxf1 53. Kxf1, and the ending is hopeless.
The position stems from the game Zakaryan-Zhang, Novi Sad 2017
35...Rxh2!! - the threat of ...Rh1+ decides:

a) 36. Nxh2 Qe1+! 37. Rc1 Qxc1+ 38. Rb1 Qxb1#
b) 36. Rxc3 Rh1+ 37. Rc1 Rxc1+ 38. Rb1 Rcxb1#
The position stems from the game Bromberger-Horvath, Munich 2017

Fastest mate, available in the position, is 41...Qxf3+ 42. Ke1 Bf2+ 43. Kf1
g2 Learn to be economical, when mating.
The position stems from the game Privara-Komljenovic, Acqui Terme 2017
38. Qg5 forces Black to sac the exchange with ...Rxe7. Otherwise, the
immediate threat is 39. Nf5! Bxf5 40. Qg7# If 38...Rg8, to defend the g7-
square, then again 39. Nf5! Bxf5 40. Qxh5#
Other moves also win, but less convincingly.
The position stems from the game Adams-Johansson, Munich 2017
11. Rf2! has trapped the queen.
The position stems from the game Larsen-Chan, Acqui Terme 2017

30. Ng5! menaces Qh7 mate. After the forced 30...g6 31. Rxh6 White has
multiple threats, achieving victory in a couple more moves.
The position stems from the game Delgado-Okamura, Rio de Janeiro 2017
Most economical mate is 53. Qe4+ Kg8 54. Qg6! See how the White queen
and bishop alternate in attacking light and dark squares, harmoniously
complementing each other.
The position stems from the game Congiu-Ivell, Telford 2017
27. Qxh6+ Qh7 28. Qxh7+ Kxh7 29. Rd7+! and the loose Black bishop
drops off.
The position stems from the game Bogdanov-Krzywda, Lvov 2017

Quickest mate is 39. Rb4+ (see how the knight supports the rook) Ka5 40.
Qc5+ Ka6 41. Qb5#
The position stems from the game Abarca-Amura, Luque 2017
32...Rfd8 33. Rd1/Rc3 c4! leads to victory. The pin is gradually reinforced.
Going with the other rook to d8 on the first move is also possible. But not
32...c4? 33. Rxc4
The position stems from the game Luciani-Bischoff, Acqui Terme 2017
35. Rxd4! Rxd4 36. Ne8+ Repetition makes perfect.
The position stems from the game Karasev-Borisovsky, Saint Petersburg

2017
29. d7 seals it:

a) 29...Nxd7 leaves the c6-rook undefended, 30. Rxc6
b) 29...Rxa6 30. d8Q+
The position stems from the game Bogdanov-Shpanko, Lvov 2017
28...Qh1+!! distracts the White king to a square, where he will fall prey to a
deadly double check - 29. Kxh1 Rh3++ (the double check, always
completely forcing) 30. Kg1 Rh1#
The position stems from the game Yeritsyan-Papunidi, Moscow 2017
29. Qc8+ Ke7 30. f6! is a cute pawn mate. Queen and pawn complement
each other perfectly in delivering the mate.
The position stems from the game Burchardt-Lauterbach, Acqui Terme 2017

77. Ra7+ Kb8 78. c7+ Kc8 79. Ra8+ Kd7 80. Rxg8 is very convincing. On
the contrary, 77. c7?? is a blunder, due to 77...Rg6+ 78. Kc5 Kxb7 and
already Black wins.
The position stems from the game Hoolt-Zaksaite, Hersonissos 2017
28. h6 wins the Black rook.

The position stems from the game Gara-Purgar, Hersonissos 2017
42. Rhe7 - the threat is Re6# On 42...Re8, 43. Rf7+ Nxf7 44. Rxf7 mates.
Going to e7 with the other rook is an alternative.
The position stems from the game Fischer-Juergens, Tegernsee 2017

23. Qh6, the threat of Ng5 is decisive. Other options are much weaker, for
example, 23. Ng5 h5, or 23. Bxh8 Kxh8 24. Qh6 f5 Bringing the queen as
close to the enemy king as possible is a frequent middlegame technique.
The position stems from the game Merry-Jackson, Coventry 2017
The White king is cornered and Black mates with 78...Kf2 79. Kh2 Nf1+ 80.
Kh1 Bf3
The position stems from the game Kevlishvili-Spoelman, Netherlands 2017
44. Bb8+ and Bxf4 destroys one more opponent pawn and Black is hopeless.
No need to play 44. Kxa5 f3 and Black still has a passed pawn.
The position stems from the game Seyb-Steinbacher, Tegernsee 2017

34...Rd7! ends the game:
a) 35. Qxd7 Qc3! is mate
b) If the queen retreats, Black takes on d1 with the rook
c) 35. Rdf1 Qxf1+! 36. Rxf1 Rxd4 etc.
The position stems from the game Tong-Bezemer, Tegernsee 2017
118. g7+ Kg8 119. h7# Both 118. Kxf7?? and 118. gxf7?? lead to stalemate.
The position stems from the game Blagojevic-Kejzar, Palic 2017
The 34. Qf8 mate in one is not to miss. This is the so-called "dovetail mate".
The position stems from the game Ekeberg-Kizatbay, Stavanger 2017

23. Nd5 Nxd5 (otherwise, the e7-bishop is hanging) 24. Rxd5 and Rxd7
wins a whole piece.
The position stems from the game Fier-Lederle, Tegernsee 2017
38. Ra7 - the threat of Ra8 mate is decisive. Rook swings are sometimes
difficult to find.
The position stems from the game Melia-Kursova, Hersonissos 2017

43. Qxf6! is definitive.
The position stems from the game Dervishi-Abergel, Yasmine Hammamet

2017

29. Rh5! cutely deflects the Black queen:
a) 29...Qxh5 30. Qg7#
b) 29...Qg6 30. Qxg6 and the pawn is pinned
c) 29...Rg8 30. Qxg8+ Rxg8 31. Rxg8+ Kxg8 32. Rxh6
The position stems from the game Sammed Jaykumar-Kunte, Patna 2017
37...Rxg3+! 38. Rxg3 f4 mates.
The position stems from the game Degondo-Bellahcene, Yasmine

Hammamet 2017

If the queen evades, Bxg4 restores part of the material deficit, but Black has
32...Qxe6!, putting the finishing touch. Taking the queen with the knight is
bad, as ...Rf1 is a cute back rank mate.
The position stems from the game Guerreiro-Lisowski, Figueira da Foz 2017
27. Qxc6! Qxc6 unblocks the central White passer, and after 28. d7 Black
should sac his queen in order for the pawn not to promote.
The position stems from the game Purgar-Vanhuyse, Hersonissos 2017
35...Bxc2 36. Rxe5 Rf5! might still win, but Black has much better with
35...Rf1+!, unpinning the e4-bishop in both subvariations:
a) 36. Rxf1 Bxc2
b) 36. Kxf1 Qf5+ and ...Bxc2
The position stems from the game Nielsen-Nedev, Hersonissos 2017

79...Rxh3+ 80. Rh2 Rxh2+ 81. Qxh2 Qxf3+ mating on the next move.
The position stems from the game Stojkovska-Bulmaga, Hersonissos 2017
27...Qc5! adds another attacker to the pinned g1-bishop and White is

defenceless. 27...Qe1 is weaker, as the opponent has 28. Qd4, supporting the
bishop.
The position stems from the game Dardha-Sadiku, Hersonissos 2017

36...Qxb3! gains a free pawn, while attacking the c4-rook and the pawn on
c2.
Hracek-Perunovic, Hersonissos 2017

58...Rd2+ 59. Kh3 Rf2! ends the game as, if the queen evades to the only
available square on d3, ...Rh1 mates.
The position stems from the game Korneev-Naiditsch, Hersonissos 2017
The surprising 33. Rd1!! wins significant material after 33...Qxe3 (taking on
d1 is impossible as the queen is pinned) 34. Rxd7+, an important
intermediate move, and Rxe3.
The position stems from the game Dervishi-Belkhodja, Yasmine Hammamet
2017
Black is ahead in material and capturing the knight on c7 loses to ...Qe2+!

and ...Qg2# Still, White takes the spoils with the subtle quiet move 35. Rd2!,
defending the vulnerable e2-point, after which Black is in zugzwang: the
knight can not budge, as the queen will fall, while 35...Qxd8 36. Rxd8+ Kf7
37. Rd7+ picks up some loose pieces.
The position stems from the game Berend-De la Riva Aguado, Yasmine
Hammamet 2017

White played 31. Bf6+! Kxf6 32. Rxe8 and resistance is futile, as nothing
can stop a new White queen promoting with check. Still, much more
effective was 31. h8Q+! Rxh8 32. Qxh8+!! - a nice queen sacrifice to get the
Black king to the edge of the board - Kxh8 33. Bf6+ Kg8 34. Re8#!
The position stems from the game Gunina-Ushenina, Hersonissos 2017
After 34...Bxe5, a simultaneous attack on the undefended White queen and

rook on c7, 35. Qxe4 Bxe4 (clears the f-file) White loses due to the back rank
mate threat on f1, with the rook still under assault. Other paths to victory
might also be available.
The position stems from the game Blagojevic-Kovacevic, Palic 2017
41. Rxe6! seals it. Both 41...Qxe5 42. Rxe5 and 41...fxe6 42. Qxe6+ and
Qxc8+ leave nothing more to play for.
The position stems from the game Abergel-Meftahi, Yasmine Hammamet

2017

48. Bxc8? Qxf2+ is not convincing at all. The correct move is 48. Qe6+! Kf8
49. Qxc8+ The peculiarity of the e6 queen fork is that on the next move it
takes with check too, so this is rather forceful.
The position stems from the game Spraggett-Richard, Figueira da Foz 2017
42...Qb1+! 43. Kh2 Qa2+! picks up the a8-bishop on the next move. Kind of
a "ladder check" combination.
The position stems from the game Volkov-Fenil, Saint Petersburg 2017
58. Rc4+ Kd6 59. Rxc7 Kxc7 60. h6 and the White pawn promotes.
The position stems from the game Krivec-Vanhuyse, Hersonissos 2017

Black threatens to confiscate the dangerous e7-passer with ...Re8 and ...Rxe7.
After that, White will have no winning chances. 31. Rdf1! is the only move,
leading to a win. On 31...Re8, the sudden 32. Rf8+! Rxf8 33. Rh8+! Kxh8
34. exf8Q+ promotes a new queen. On 31...Kg7, we have a pretty much
similar trick, 32. Rf8 Rxf8 33. Rh7+! Kxh7 34. exf8Q Advanced passed
pawns frequently hide tactics.
The position stems from the game Pena-Adams, Figueira da Foz 2017

42. Nc6+ Ke6 43. Rxd5! Kxd5 44. Nb4+ and Nxa2 seals it.
The position stems from the game Piorun-Mastrovasilis, Hersonissos 2017
17. Qxf5! takes a nice present. The e6-pawn can not recapture, as it is
pinned.
The position stems from the game Plenca-Kolompar, Palic 2017

25. Rf3!, this rook lift creates the menace of Rh3 and Qxh7 mate. On
25...Rg8, to free the f8-square for the knight, the sudden 26. Qxh7+!! Kxh7
27. Rh3# takes the point home. Identical is 25. Re3
The position stems from the game Steinberg-Meribanov, Saint Petersburg

2017

59. Qh2+ Kg4 53. Qxg2+ destroys the last Black hope, the advanced passer.
The position stems from the game Lagno-Botsari, Hersonissos 2017
53...Rh1+ 54. Kg2 Reg1+ 55. Kf2 Rh2+! skewers their royalties. On 55.
Kf3, Black first checks with ...Rxh3 and then skewers.
The position stems from the game Teuschler-Peptan, Hersonissos 2017

White has strong attack, but is almost out of fire power. The winning
sequence is 27. Rb1+ Ka7 28. Bb6+ Kb7 29. Bc5+ and now already Black
will have to offer his queen with ...Qb5. After 30. Rxb5+ axb5 31. Qxd5+!
and Qxg8 the plot is over.
The position stems from the game Yilmazyerli-Sadiku, Hersonissos 2017

58. Be6+ Ke7 59. Qg7+ Ke8 60. Qf7#
The position stems from the game Geetha-Rueberg, Tegernsee 2017
27...Qa1+ 28. Qd1 Qxd1+ 29. Kxd1 Ba4! - this is the key - wins the
exchange, pinning the c2-rook. 28. Ke2 is worse, as 28...Bb5+! will gain at
least the f1-bishop.
The position stems from the game Petrova-Golubov, Saint Petersburg 2017
38...Rxg2! threatens a deadly discovered check, for example, ...Rg4+,

winning the opponent bishop on the next move. White has no defence. If the
bishop moves somewhere on the c1-h6 diagonal, an alternative discovered
check will win it, 39. Bc1 Rc2+ and ...Rxc1+ In case the bishop leaves this
diagonal, the White rook already falls, 39. Bb8 Rg6+ and ...Rxh6+ An
intermediate rook check on h8 does not help at all - abovementioned
conditions stay the same.
Much weaker is 38...Bxg2+
The position stems from the game Evdokimov-Zakhartsov, Saint Petersburg

2017

42. Nf6+! gxf6 clears the 7th rank for the White rook, and after 43. Re7+
Kg6 44. Qg8+ Kh5 45. Qf7+ Kg5 46. h4! Black gets mated. On 42...Kg6
capturing the rook with Nxd5 is sufficient.
The position stems from the game Mosadeghpour-Nadimifar, Tehran 2017
40. Qd7, targeting the h7-square, Qh6 41. Qd5+! Kh8 42. Qxa8+ ends the
game. 40...Qf6 41. Qd5+ makes no difference.
The position stems from the game Hutois-Gavasheli, Sautron 2017
41. Rf5! - the rook lift to the 5th rank, menacing Rh5#, decides.
The position stems from the game Wanderer-Rieger, Austria 2017

The position is quite double-edged, so every single mistake counts. The
winning shot is 20. Rxc8!!, distracting the Black queen from guarding the g5-
square, after which 20...Qxc8 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Qf6+ Kg8 23. Ne7! mates.
In above variation, 20...Qd7 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Qf6+ Kg8 23. Rxf8+ Kxf8
24. Qh8 mate is similar. If 20...Qa5+, then 21. Rc3 Qa1+ 22. Kd2
The position stems from the game Tarlev-Tilicheev, Mersin 2017

Trading rooks with 38...Rf8 is the fastest path to a win.
The position stems from the game Kuznetsov-Salman, Saint Petersburg 2017
49...Rf3+! and ...Rxf4 takes stock of the last White pawn, as capturing the
rook fails to ...Bd5+ double attack.
The position stems from the game Hakobyan-Solozhenkin, Saint Petersburg

2017
The White queen on h6 has self-trapped herself and now Black breaks
through with 48...Rxc2! 49. Rxc2 Qxd3+ and ...Qxc2.
The position stems from the game Daghan-Guliev, Mersin 2017

38. Bf4+ Kc5 39. Bxe3+ and Bxa7 wins so much material. A bit weaker is
38. Bxe3 Rxc7 39. Bf4+
The position stems from the game Malinovsky-Travkina, Saint Petersburg

2017
34. Rh3! creates the towering threat of Qxh7 mate, so Black will have to sac
his queen with 34...Qxh3. On 34...h5, 35. Qxh5! gxh5 36. Rxh5 will mate
shortly on h8.
The position stems from the game Pruijssers-Saduakassova, Hoogeveen 2017
18. Nxf5 gxf5 19. Bb6! wins the exchange.
The position stems from the game Jumabayev-Chu, Bastia 2017

40. Qd7 - the threat of Qxg7# is not to ward off. 40...Nh5 41. Nxh5 with
subsequent mate.
Vokhidov-Kharmunova, Saint Petersburg 2017
19. Qxh7+ Kf8 20. Bh6 puts the final touch, as on both 20...Bxh6 and
20...Qg4 21. Qh8 mates. If 20...e6, then 21. Qxg7+ Ke7 22. Bg5! is another
mate.
The position stems from the game Lagarde-Massoni, Bastia 2017
35. Be7 wins the exchange.
The position stems from the game Svatos-Studnicka, Prague 2017
28...Nf6! constitutes a simultaneous attack upon the d1-rook and its g8-
counterpart. After the forced 29. Rxd6+ Rxd6 White has to give up the rook
on the 8th rank, otherwise ...Rd1+ mates.
The position stems from the game Travkina-Soffer, Saint Petersburg 2017
35...Kf8! forces the White rook to flee, after which Black takes the g4-pawn
with check and then on d5, gaining a piece. 36. gxh5 Kxg7 is equally
hopeless. The direct 35...Rxd5 36. gxh5 might still be winning in the rook
endgame, but the bigger portion of the advantage is already gone. A good
instance of a "quiet tactical move".
The position stems from the game Ghaziolsharif-Gholami, Tehran 2017

109...Qg4 further limits the mobility of the White king to only the edge file,
after which 110. Kh1 Kf2 111. Kh2 Qh4 mates. Black should be careful, as
both 109...Kf2 and 109...Kf1 just stalemate.
The position stems from the game

Tsay-Guo, Saint Louis 2017
62. f6! creates multiple threats that are impossible to meet. Storming pawns
are often tactically important.
Sevian-Yermolinsky, Saint Louis 2017
36...Ra1+!, followed by ...c2, promotes. For example, 37. Rf1 Rxf1+ 38.
Kxf1 c2! and the rook can't stop the bold pawn, as the c3-square is under
attack by another Black pawn. The direct 36...c2 push is not good, as after
37. Rf1 the pawn is stopped.

Babayev-Tilicheev, Mersin 2017

33. Rd8+ Re8 34. Rxe8+ Rxe8 35. c8Q Rxc8 36. Rxc8+ wins the exchange.
The position stems from the game Sebag-Maisuradze, Monaco 2017
77...Re2# is a slight modification of the so-called "Vukovic Mate", which

instead of a king would feature a Black pawn on d3. 77...Rh1+ 78. Rf1 Rxf1
is only mate in 2.
Skripchenko-Paehtz, Monaco 2017
36. Qe2! attacks both Black pieces. After the only move keeping safe both of
them for the time being - 36...Rc1 - a further double queen attack, 37. Qd2,
already definitively picks one.
The position stems from the game Haussernot-Kosteniuk, Monaco 2017

22. Rd8+ Kg7 23. Rg8+ Kh6 24. h4! - starting with a "hook mate" pattern,
White will finish the combination with a queen check on g5, after which
...Qxg5 hxg5 mates. An important detail in the mating net is the g8-rook has
taken control of the g7 retreat square.
The position stems from the game Grischuk - Vachier-Lagrave, Chess.com

2017

43. Qf3 is a nice "swallow's tail" mate.

Zeynalli-Acar, Mersin 2017
28...Qc3 creates the immediate threat of mate on b2. "Queen + pawn" are
often a dangerous tandem in a mating net. On 29. Kc1, ...a2 and then ...a1Q
mates.
Stukan-Palchun, Saint Petersburg 2017
Pushing ...h3 now is a blunder, as "knight captures pawn" leads to a position

with insufficient material to deliver mate, meaning a draw. The correct
approach is 60...Kf4!, driving the Black knight away, after which the pawn
marches forward unobstructed. 60...Kg4 is an alternative.
The position stems from the game Damen-Maris, Hoogeveen 2017

40. Bg8+ Kh8 41. Be6+! gains a tempo to transfer the bishop to a more
convenient location, after which 41...Kh7 42. Bf5 mates. The direct 40. Bd3+
doesn't work, as Black interposes with 40...Be4 and there is no mate.
The position stems from the game Vrana-Mrva, Czech Republic 2017
35...Q7xf4+ trades queens, preventing mate on the long diagonal. Capturing

with the other queen is identical.
The position stems from the game Nguyen-Donchenko, Stroebeck 2017
47...Nf4! wins due to the mate threats on g2 and d1.
The position stems from the game Haubro-Rasmussen, Ballerup 2017

Black is a bit better as his pawn structure is more compact and the king better
shielded. Besides, queen plus knight generally coordinate more smoothly
than queen plus bishop. 38. e6 for example now loses to 38...Qg3+ 39. Kh1
Qe1+ and ...Ng3+ picking up the queen. So, White must actively seek a draw.
That is achieved by 38. Qc8+! Kh7 39. Qf5+! Kg8 40. Qc8+ with a
perpetual check. In above line, 39...g6 is wrong, as White has at least a draw
by the very same method after 40. Qxf7+ Kh8 41. Qf8+ Kh7 42. Qf7+, but
can also play for the full point with 41. Qf6+ Qxf6 42. exf6 swapping queens.
The position stems from the game Miezis-Zhigalko, Katowice 2017

15...g5! This is a quiet move that takes under control the h4-cell and creates
the unavoidable threat of ...Ng6/Nf7, trapping the queen.
The position stems from the game Schmittdiel-Wells, Germany 1999
White is severely overextended, especially his two bishops. 13...Qh4+! will

annihilate the h6-one.
The position stems from the game Krivec-Reizniece, Oropesa del Mar 1998
With such high attacking concentration, White is chanceless. 11...Nf3+! only

confirms the well-established truth: 12. gxf3 Qg3+! 13. Kh1 Qh2 mates
promptly.
The position stems from the game Penas-Sanchez, Oropesa del Mar 1998

53...Qa5+ 54. Kc2 Qxd2 checkmates. In the initial position, the d2-knight is
supported by the rook, but that is no longer the case after the king moves to
c2.
The position stems from the game Nita-Costachi, Baile Govora 2017
21...Rxe4! 22. Rxe4 f5 wins a lot of material due to the highly unpleasant pin
on the long diagonal.
The position stems from the game Milson-Stefanova, Telford 2017
Black is a pawn up and looks perfectly fine, but the logical 29. Qxf7+!! Rxf7
30. Rd8+ Rf8 31. Rdxf8 checkmates. If anything, White is much more
centralised.
The position stems from the game Rafiee-Kovacs, Munich 2017

52...Re1+ 53. Kh2 Rh1/Qh1 mates. A useful "queen + rook" pattern.
The position stems from the game Caruana-Grischuk, Saint Louis 2017
The position is a bit double-edged so every single mistake counts. 35. Nd6+!
sentinels the f7 escape square, while cutting the access of the bishop defender
to the own king. After the forced 35...Kh7 36. Nf7 rook mate on h8 due to
inherent blockages is thwartable, only if Black first sacs his own rook on g1
and then plays ...g5.
The position stems from the game Stefansson-Hebden, Reykjavik 2017
18. Rd1 is an obvious central pin.
The position stems from the game Burrows-Grieve, Coventry 2017

4. Qxf7 represents the "Scholar's Mate". Such patterns should be learned
early on in school, right?
White enjoys the presence of a surplus piece, but Black is on a powerful

attack. 34...Re1+! 35. Qxe1 deflects the queen from guarding the g5-square,
leading to 35...Rg5+ 36. Rg2 Qxg2# A similar alternative is 34...Rg5+! 35.
Qxg5 Re1+ 36. Rf1 Rxf1#
The position stems from the game Arvola-Moroni, Hersonissos 2017
As if White will take on d5 now, getting an advantage, but Black has the
unexpected 28...Nxg4+!! 29. hxg4 f6# The knight has evacuated the square
for the pawn to deliver a beautiful mate. Zero mobility kings bode ill, even in
the very center.
The position stems from the game Ahmadinia-Stern, Berlin 2017

11...bxc5? 12. Nxe2 keeps 3 pieces per side. Correct is 11...Nxf4! - Black
saves his knight, while one of the opposing bishops is earmarked for
destruction.
The position stems from the game Palliser-Jackson, Port Erin 1998
The skyline of the King's Indian Saemisch is neatly distinguishable. The first
player has sacrificed a pawn for strong assault. 15. Bf6! disregards all
possible checks and captures to concentrate on the essential - serving the
Black monarch with fashionable mate at g7.
If Black is too masochistic, the agony could continue with 15...Nf5 (guarding
g7) and 16...Ne6 (again), on which White has two spare pawns to capture
with.
The position stems from the game Nieber-Brose, Burg Stargard 2002
32. Rxf7!! crashes through, pulverising the Black pawn shield and
undermining the g6-pawn. The immediate threat is Qh7 mate. Variations run
as follows:
a) 32...Kxf7 33. Qxg6+ Kf8 34. Qg8#!
b) 32...Nxf7 33. Rxg6#
32...a1Q+ 33. Kg2 delays events by a move.
Many a woodpusher and a bunch of duffers wouldn't have thought White has
decisive attack here, but the truth is otherwise. O sancta simplicitas!
The position stems from the game Keres-Byrne, San Antonio 1972

15. Qd5+ puts a full stop:
a) 15...Rf7 16. Ne5
b) 15...Kh8/Kg7 16. Qe5+! and Qxb8
Lein-Rosen, Grieskirchen 1998

13. Bxf4 exf4 has freed the e-pawn allowing 14. e5 pedestrian fork. White is
easily on top after that, for instance 14...Qe7 (trying to counter-pin) 15. Qe2,
breaking the pin.
The position stems from the game Grinshpun-Godes, Tel Aviv 1998
37. Rxh7+ Kf8 38. Rh8+ Ke7 39. Re8# represents a clear demonstration of
the so-called "hook mate". Retreating with the king on the 38th move to g7
reproduces the pattern in the corner by Rg8#
The position stems from the game Kantans-Flasinski, Katowice 2017
61...Rb1 is an upgraded version of the "box mate".
The position stems from the game Kislinsky-Brunello, Katowice 2017

31. Kf3! suddenly sees the e4-rook trapped. For example, 31...Bxe3 32.
Kxe4. On 31. Kd3, the rook can still run off to g4.
The position stems from the game Melia-Calzetta, Hersonissos 2017
Black threatens to promote with ...d2-d1Q+ Luckily for White, he has a

perpetual check up his sleeve: 40. Rh7+ Kg8 41. Rag7+ Kf8 42. Rf7+ Ke8
43. Re7+ etc. In above line, 42. Ra7 Kg8 43. Rag7+ Kf8 44. Ra7 is a
perpetual pursuit (threefold repetition), as the Black king should wander to
g8 and back in a determined bid not to allow Rh8#
This is a frequent drawing technique.
The position stems from the game Rocha-Saric, Katowice 2017
38...Qxf5! 39. Bxf5 Rxd2 is obligatory to find.

Varholakova-Bejatovic, Hersonissos 2017

21...Bh3 22. g3, shunning the attack, followed by 22...Rc5, suddenly testifies
to the fact the White knight has become prisoner in the enemy camp. No
escape squares are available and that means its demise.
The position stems from the game Walter-Zajogin, Tegernsee 2017
18...Re4! and, when the queen retreats, 19...Qxc4 increases the Black point
count by a full minor piece. Simple, but that is how many things in chess are,
if you follow the rules correctly. Threats play a preponderant function in all
stages of the game.
The position stems from the game Buttkus-Farmani, Berlin 2017
39...Rg6 aims at capturing on g2. On 40. Ng4, intercepting the attack and
counter-attacking the queen, 40...Rxg4! 41. fxg4 Bd4! wins. The queen can
not move and will be lost as, if it does that, Black mates on g1.
The position stems from the game Stojanovic-Teuschler, Hersonissos 2017

48...Rc2+ 49. Kg1 Ra3 (transferring the rook to the other wing, away from
the defending king) 50. Kf1 Ra1 is a good old-fashioned "lawnmower mate".
The position stems from the game Zhaojunyv-Zhuangzhuang, FICS 2017
51. Qf7! is a powerful quiet move. The menace of 52. Rxh6+! gxh6 53. Qh7#
decides. If 51...Qb7, mate is delivered in the 52. Rxh6+! gxh6 53. g7+ Kh7
54. g8Q double check and mate sequence. 51...Qf6 is again met by 52. Rxh6+
gxh6 53. Qh7#
Changing the order of moves, starting with 51. Rxh6+, and only then playing
52. Qf7, is a bit dangerous due to the available 52...Re2 check and things get
complicated.
The position stems from the game Idani-Darini, Tehran 2017
34. Qxh7+!! Kxh7 35. Rh4# wraps up the game in an elegant Greco fashion.
The position stems from the game Pokorny-Vokoun, Czech Republic 2017

31...Rxg3+! 32. fxg3 Rxg3+ 33. Kf2 Rh3+ 34. Kg2 Qg3+ 35. Kf1 Rxh1 is
checkmate. "Danger - heavy pieces close by!"
The position stems from the game Cerny-Jurasek, Czech Republic 2017
30. Qf3, this humble retreat, clearing the way for the h4-rook and threatening
a capture on h6, is pretty much straightforward, as well as the only
unambiguous road to victory. "Attacking retreats" are sometimes hard to find
due to their paradoxical nature.
The position stems from the game Pruijssers-Kollars, Hoogeveen 2017
34...Qe1+! 35. Rxe1 Rxe1 is an upgraded version of the back rank mate with
the g3-pawn cutting the access to important squares.
The position stems from the game Janik-Neiksans, Katowice 2017

27. Qxf7#
The position stems from the game Narva-Dzierzak, Katowice 2017
30. Qh6+ Ke8 31. Qh8#
The position stems from the game Shkapenko-Kukula, Katowice 2017

42. Re8 mates a la Arabian, but in the middle of the board. Who is the duffer
now?
The position stems from the game Yaoyao-Shaoniangong, FICS 2018
White has forked both Black knights, but capturing one of them immediately
is not very convincing because Black captures the queen on e2. 24. Qd3!
unpins the pawn and, on the next move, one of the knights will fall. 24. Qf3
is also possible.
The position stems from the game Majdan-Gajewska - Janzelj, Hersonissos

2017
15...Bxe5 16. cxd3 is not the most convincing of lines. The intermediate
15...Qxd2+! 16. Kxd2 Bxe5, gaining a minor, is. There are feeble moves and
strong moves.
The position stems from the game Krawcheni-Chapman, Suncoast 1999

Again, 11...Nxe4! wins a pawn in view of the discovered attack on the queen,
and then probably more. As you see, "former" x-ray attacks get promoted.
The position stems from the game Stahnke-Shchekachev, Bad Zwesten 1999
12...Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 has attracted the bishop to a square, where a double
attack by ...Qf6! targets it and the c3-hopper.
The position stems from the game Freiberger-Wahrenberg, Bad Zwesten

1999
32...Qxf8 33. Rxf8+ restores the material balance, but Black has the
unexpected 32...Kh7!!, keeping the queen alive. Now, on 33. Rxc8,
33...Rxg2+ 34. Kh1 Rg3! discovered check 35. Rf3 Bxf3 mates in a cute
Morphy fashion.
The position stems from the game Calcado-Matsuura, Ponta Grossa 2017

Once more, in the entanglement of pieces, 30. Qxg6+!! Kxg6 31. Nxe5+ and
Nxd3 decides.
The position stems from the game Gara-Maroroa, Hersonissos 2017
No matter how hard that might be to believe, 24...g4 25. Qg3 Nh5! has netted
the White queen. Advanced pawns, like e4 and g4, frequently exert very
strong pressure.
The position stems from the game Stanetzek-Kouwenhoven, Hoogeveen
2017
55. g4+! summarises things:

a) 55...Kxg4 56. Qf3+ Kh4 57. Qh3#
b) 55...Kh4 56. Qf3 with the very same threat of mate on h3
The position stems from the game Shubin-Zhou, Saint Petersburg 2017

32...Nd3+ 33. Kg2 Re1! and the White queen should leave the f1-bishop
unprotected. Simply increase the pressure and the win will come in and of
itself.
The position stems from the game Geller-Tsoi, Saint Petersburg 2017
23. Qg7 mates
The position stems from the game Annaberdiev-Bacak, Mersin 2017

The unobtrusive 30...g6! suddenly ends the game. If the bishop captures or
moves to e6, 31...Qg5+! forks king and rook.
The position stems from the game Nepomniachtchi-Karjakin, Chess.com

2017

42. Bc7+ Ka4 43. Qxa6+ Qa5 44. Qxa5#
The position stems from the game Walter-Laurusas, Katowice 2017
15...Qh7+ mates. Greco in action again. Pay attention to the restricting c5-
bishop.
The position stems from the game Hildenbrand-Kachiani, Badenweiler 1990

15...Bxb3! removes the guard of the c5-bishop:

a) 16. axb3 Bxc5
b) 16. Bxe7 Bxd1
The position stems from the game Samuelsson-Gschnitzer, Vienna 1990

14. Nxd5! exd5 15. Bxd5 and the a8-cannon falls. Pretty evident, ain't it?
The position stems from the game Huss-Guyot, Bad Ragaz 1991
13. Nxf7! mates in one. The subtle restraining work of the central White rook
impresses.
The position stems from the game Jenal-Kersting, Bad Ragaz 1991
15. Nd7!! Bxd7 16. Bxd6! gains the exchange at f8. If the second player
recaptures at d6, Bxh7+ picks up the female offender by dint of a discovery
on the part of her sister. Subtle, masterful play.
The position stems from the game Priehoda-Ernst, Bad Ragaz 1991
Seemingly, Black defends everything. Nah... 15. Qa5+ Qc7 16. Re8+! Kxe8
17. Qxc7 deflects and wins. Sharp tactical eyes.
The position stems from the game Meinsohn-Castets, France 1991
12...b4, can you believe it, the White horse lacks flight squares? The friendly
pieces posted at b1, d1, e2 and e4 are more like traitors and foes.
The position stems from the game Laske-Hesse, Germany 1991
10. Nxe4 fxe4 11. Qh5+! and Qxc5 has attained a piece. Lucky Joe.
The position stems from the game Kosztolanczi-Bogar, Hungary 1991

12. b4! kills the a5-horse owing to the pin. Many will recognise the Ruy
Lopez construction.
The position stems from the game Jurkovic-Zindel, Geneve 1991
14. Qxe4! fxe4 15. Bxg5 destroys the pinner to get an incisive material edge.
The position stems from the game Kummerow-Wollenweber, Dortmund
1991
14. Nd5! checkmates in the 2 main variations listed below:

a) 14...Nxd5 15. Qxh7#
b) 14...Re8 (to make room for the king) 15. Nxf6+ exf6 16. Qxh7+ Kf8 17.
Qxf7#
Black can procrastinate by 14...Qa8, pinning the knight, 15. e4 Qxd5 16.
exd5, but playing without queen isn't big fun.
The position stems from the game Velikov-Frank, Torcy 1991

15...Qxa2?? allows White to scoop the point with Qxg7 mate. So, White
wins? Nope, Black is inventive and finds 15...Qxf1+!! 16. Kxf1 Bxd3+ 17.
Kg1 Re1# Full of tension, the game was hanging by a thread.
The position stems from the game Kuijf-Bosboom, Netherlands 1991
In the labyrinthine landscape, 14...Bf5! rules, skewering to further chop off

the b1-cannon.
The position stems from the game Ambelang-Kovalev, Berlin 1991
15...Rxd4! uses the weakness of the back rank:

a) 16. Rxd4 Qe1+ with mate to follow
b) 16. Qxa5 Rxd1#
The a2-luft is under the firm grip of the e6-bishop.
The position stems from the game Dengel-Bachmann, Berlin 1991

15. Qa4! keeps the c6 pawn fork intact while successfully unpinning.
Touchdown.
The position stems from the game Schultheis-Muehl, Germany 1992
In the devastation that reigns on the board, another irregular move - 14. Ne6!!
- is decisive:
a) 14...fxe6 15. Bh5#
b) 14...Bxf3 15. Nxc7#
c) 14...Qc8 15. Bxb7! Qxb7 16. Qd8#
One line that doesn't end in checkmate is 14...Qb6+ 15. Bd4 Qxe6 but after
16. Bxb7 the first player stacks ton of material.
Glorious punch, agreed?
The position stems from the game Bazaj Bockai-Benderac, Bled 1992
White is about to near-checkmate at h7 or at least keep his extra pawn. In the

heat of the battle, 15...Nf6!, wow-trapping the queen, is a missed counter-
shot.
The position stems from the game Huebner-Kasparov, Cologne 1992

15. Qe5! swallows one of Black's loose, poor-looking rooks. Born under a
bad star.
The position stems from the game Ujhazi-Aleksieva, Hradec Kralove 1992
15. Qe6+! (got you) Nxe6 16. dxe6+ and Rxd8 has won a piece and pins
everything possible.
The position stems from the game Zaitsev-Ivanov, Moscow 1992

14...Bxg2 wins a piece (15. Rxg2 Nf3+ lethal-forking).
The position stems from the game De la Cruz-Damljanovic, Oviedo 1992

11. Bb5+ c6 brings White nowhere. 11. Bxc7! does: if Black recaptures, 12.
Bb5+ slaughters the queen.
The position stems from the game Schneider-Stauch, Porz 1992
12. Qe5 (yoohoo!) is a perfect "epaulette checkmate" in the middle of the

board. Black has not brought out sufficient number of men, that is the reason
for the debacle.
The position stems from the game Groselj-Pongrac, Slovenia 1992
15. Qxe5?? Rfe8, pinning the queen, is a disaster for White. 15. Qxf5! Qxf5
16. Ne7+ and Nxf5 is a disaster for Black.
The position stems from the game Van Mil-Nijboer, Wijk aan Zee 1992

14. Qxd6 Rxd6 15. Rxd6 cxd6 16. Bxf6 evaporates a minor. White is able to
finger-count to at least five.
The position stems from the game Kaminski-Khait, Warsaw 1992
In terms of point count, Black is the clear favourite. Besides, the g3-lady and
g5-bishop are under attack. Only a miracle can save White. And here it is -
15. Bf6+! This double check, as most double checks worthy of their name, is
devastating. After 15...Kh6 16. Qg7+ Kh5 17. g4+! Bxg4 18. Qh7 the
opponent gets mated. A fine example of self-assurance.
The position stems from the game Bachmayr-Lochte, Munich 1992
Black is 2 pedestrians "more corpulent". 14. Qc2! - a double attack on the h7

mating square and the c3 diagonal slider - decides though.
The position stems from the game Sorokin-Stavanja, Bled 1992

14. Bb6! is the perfect deflector - 14...Qxb6 allows 15. Qxd7 mate.
The position stems from the game Podlesnik-Slibar, Ljubljana 1992
14. Rf4! pin-wins the e4-slider. Murphy's Law in full force.
The position stems from the game Perez-Miro, Benidorm 1992

The hypnotic 13. Qe4! stares at the h7-cell and the c6-animal. As the a8-
cannon is undefended too, Black must lay down arms.
The position stems from the game Misanovic-Mongeau, Manila 1992

12...Nxe5! harvests wood stuff:
a) 13. Qxd8 Rxd8
b) 13. Bxe5 Qxd6 14. Bxd6 Bxa1
The realm of x-ray attacks and implied defences.
The position stems from the game Kolbanov-Malaniuk, Philadelphia 1992
The e5-pawn is vulnerable and Black can easily get better. Not after 11. Qh4!
though, twin-assailing h7 and e7. If the opponent blocks the mate, a chop at
e7 discourages. Wise conduct of one's men.
The position stems from the game Bellin-Tzoumbas, Katerini 1992
13. a4+ Ka6 14. b5 is a nice pedestrian mate. Staying at the forefront of one's
servants does not seem like an optimal strategy.
The position stems from the game Burjan-Clissold, Balatonbereny 1992

10...Ne3 11. Qd2 Bxd4! has succeeded in eliminating a piece and outposting
a beast. Recapturing with the lady fails to ...Nxc2+ sneaky fork. Advanced
minor outposts are a great asset, especially when central.
The position stems from the game Wagman-Rashkovsky, Forli 1992
15. Nf6+ Ke7 gives White the chance to mate twofold: 16. Rd7# or 16.
Rxe6#, using the pin on the f7-infantryman.
The position stems from the game Keller-Gimmel, San Bernardino 1992
15. Nhg5+! hxg5 16. Nxg5+ and Nxe6 wins hordes of material.
The position stems from the game Stock-Tochtermann, San Bernardino 1992

15. Nxc6 serves the purpose of clearing the d-file. After Black recaptures
with either entity, the opponent takes the e4-horse, winning a piece, as eating
with the pawn leaves the d8-rook in limbo. The order of moves matters.
Starting with 15. Bxe4 is far less successful due to 15...dxe4 16. Nxc6 Rxd1,
saving the figure.
The position stems from the game Solana-Lezcano, Fuerteventura 1992

10...Qxb5! eliminates the White intruder in a simple way. To your health!
The position stems from the game Pimmingstorfer-Von Hartlieb, Germany

1991
9. Bh3! allows 9...Qxh3 10. Qxc6+ and Qxa8. If 9...f5, 10. Bxf5! reinstates
the trick of deflection/attraction.
The position stems from the game Knoedler-Ellerbrake, Wuerttemberg 1993

The phlegmatic 14. Bf4 decides - Black is incapable of meeting Qb8 mate.
On 14...Qf5 15. Qc7# Nice melee.
The position stems from the game David-Pinter, France 1993

44...Qcf4+
a) 45. g3 Qxf2+ 46. Kh1 Q5f3#
b) 45. Kg1 Qb1+ 46. Qd1 Qxd1#
The position stems from the game Paszewski-Pultinevicius, Katowice 2017
This arose from the London System. Why not submit a peace treaty for
consideration - seemingly very drawish? On second thought, Black has
played feebly here and his opponent may win at least a pedestrian after 7.
Nxf7! (surprise?) Kxf7 8. Bxd6 The queen is attacked so recapturing with the
monarch is forced. Pretty, ain't it?
The position stems from the game Wahrenberg-Krawutschke, Bad Zwesten

1999
11...Neg4+! 12. fxg4 Nxg4+ wins back the e3-sweeper while severely
compromising the White king safety. A bit out of the ordinary but tactics are
like that.
The position stems from the game Horn-Liardet, Geneve 1999

14. Bxg4+ is a fortunate fork of royalties.
The position stems from the game Schuh-Koehler, Werther 1999
30. Nxg7+ Kg5 31. h4# is a diligent pawn mate.
The position stems from the game Matinian-Galiana, Sitges 2017

44. g3+ Kg5 45. Kg2! has trapped the Black rook, transitioning into an easily
won ending after 45...Rxf1 46. Kxf1
The position stems from the game Remizov-Zavgorodnaya, Saint Petersburg

2017

35...Nf4! mates. Cute.
The position stems from the game Arakhamia-Grant - Collas, Monaco 2017
Puzzle No 496 - Black to play and draw
White is a pawn ahead and has superior development, so the second player is
most happy to draw by 10...Nc2 11. Rb1 Nb4 12. Ra1 Nc2!, leading to a
perpetual pursuit of the rook and threefold repetition. Propitious occasions
should be seized upon.
The position stems from the game Kovalev-Herman, Katowice 2017
56. Kd6! g3 57. e7 leaves Black breathless. Checkmate is possible also in

very simple endgames, so go after it before doing anything else.
The position stems from the game Bigear-Carlosrg, FICS 2017

45. Nxf8 removes the defender of the g7-square, upon which 45...Rxf8 46.
Bd4+! Rf6 47. Bxf6 checkmates.
The position stems from the game Risting-Holm, Kristiansund 2017
31. Qh6+! Ke8 32. Qc6+ forks the king and the awkwardly placed rook on
the edge of the board.
The position stems from the game Ong-Agrest, Sweden 2017

30...Re1+ 31. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 32. Bf1 (32. Kh2 Bf4+) Be3+ 33. Kh2 Qxf1
leaves nothing more to play for.
The position stems from the game Gaponenko-Kosteniuk, Monaco 2017

17. Ba4+! is the sign of a definite opening failure on the part of Black:
a) 17...Ke7 18. Qf6#
b) 17...Qd7 18. Bxd7+
c) 17...Bd7 18. Qxf7#
The position stems from the game Ronka-Tuominen, Finland 2017

12...Nd4+ discovers an attack on the White lady.
The position stems from the game Larusdottir-Grigorian, Copenhagen 1999
14...Bxf2+! 15. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 16. Kf1 Bh3 murmurs checkmate.
The position stems from the game Jensen-Christensen, Copenhagen 1999

14...h4! traps the White bishop. The opponent has superior control over h4,
can you figure this out?
The position stems from the game Lee-Akopyan, Los Angeles 1999
Can you find the mate in one waiting for you there? Right, 28. Qxh7# This is
a basic pattern.
The position stems from the game Kobalia-Zaykov, Saint Petersburg 2017
37...Bg4+! 38. Kf2 Bxe2 wins a lot of material.
The position stems from the game Moe-Arman, Ballerup 2017

30. Rf7! Rxg2+ 31. Kxg2 Nc4 32. Rf4#
The position stems from the game Englert-Rebers, Ballerup 2017
56. Rc6+ Kd7 57. Rb6! Rxb6 58. cxb6 allows White to promote the b-pawn
on the next move (the c7-square is inaccessible for the king).
The position stems from the game Iskandarov-Khamrakulov, Nakhchivan

2017
30...Bf3! wins the queen, as 31. Qxf3 Qh3 mates.
The position stems from the game Mukhina-Belenkaya, Sochi 2017
39. Qg8#
The position stems from the game Elistratov-Rodshtein, Sochi 2017

27. Rxb7+! Kxb7 28. Qxd7+ wins another pawn, while further exposing the
Black king.
The position stems from the game Bodnaruk-Filippova, Sochi 2017
53. Kf2 h4 54. Rg1# The king is an active piece in the endgame.
The position stems from the game Hansen-Brondal, Ballerup 2017
37. Qc7+! Qxc7 38. bxc7+ forks king and rook.
The position stems from the game Kovanova-Azimova, Sochi 2017

46. Ndf5+
a) 46...Qxf5 47. Nxf5+ Rxf5 48. Qg6!#
b) 46...Kxh5 47. g4!#
Delivering check with the other knight is identical.
The position stems from the game Oparin-Faizrakhmanov, Sochi 2017
44. Qd7+ forks king and bishop.
The position stems from the game Belova-Azimova, Sochi 2017

35...Rg2+ 36. Ke1 Rg1+! 37. Kf2 Qg3#
The position stems from the game Lyell-Radlovacki, Budapest 2017
37...Qxe3+ 38. Kh1 Qe1+! 39. Kh2 Qe5+! is a double attack upon king and
the rook on c7.
The position stems from the game Bezdenezhnyh-Matsenko, Sochi 2017
30...Rh1+! 31. Bxh1 Nh3+ is a royal fork.
The position stems from the game Oleksiyenko-Bernadskiy, Lvov 2017

73...Qh1+! skewers king and bishop.
The position stems from the game Budnikov-Onischuk, Lvov 2017
31...Rh5! threatens mate on h2, as well as the undefended queen on e4,

which wins the game (32. Qg2 Rxh2!#).
The position stems from the game Kurilo-Bernadskiy, Lvov 2017

37. Re8+ Kc7 38. Bf4+ Ne5 39. Bxe5+ wins a lot of material.
The position stems from the game Nikitenko-Korolev, Minsk 2017

31. Rb7+ Ka8 32. Ra7+ Kb8 33. Rgb7!# The "blind swine" digging up roots
again - this is the name of the pattern.
The position stems from the game Sivuk-Mikhaletz, Lvov 2017
35. Rxg7! Nxg7 36. Qxe8+! Rxe8 37. Rxg7 leaves White a bishop up.
The position stems from the game Mischuk-Bortnyk, Lvov 2017

57...g3# Strong pawns are.
The position stems from the game Kislinsky-Bortnyk, Lvov 2017
43. g6+! Kxg6 44. Qxg8 wins another rook.

The position stems from the game Kumar-Mohammad, Shiraz 2017
21. Nd6! forks both rooks.
The position stems from the game Golubka-Arman, Goteborg 2017

56. Nb3! attacks the knight on d5 and bishop on a1. One will fall.
The position stems from the game Vlasak-Kolar, Ostrava 2017
42...Rf1+! 43. Rxf1 gxh6 wins queen for rook.
The position stems from the game Welin-Tikkanen, Goteborg 2017

45. Nd6! wins the exchange on e4, as 46...Re2 fails to Qxg4+! fork.
The position stems from the game Schippers-Kerkvliet, Netherlands 2017
61. Qd3+ Ke1 62. Qd2 puts a question mark to the hostile king.
The position stems from the game Rihouay-Van der Verf, Netherlands 2017
36. Qd7!# exhibits perfect coordination.
The position stems from the game Vykouk-Caletka, Ostrava 2017
45. Rf7+! Rxf7 46. Qc8+ mates on e6.

The position stems from the game Hracek-Blatny, Ostrava 2017
Black has other winning options, but 54...Qf6+ 55. Kf4 fxg4+! skewers king
and queen.
The position stems from the game Mladek-Shilov, Ostrava 2017

47...Qxd2!! 48. Qxd2 Ra1+! 49. Kh2 Nf1+ is a royal fork.
The position stems from the game Tomczak-Bartel, Gorzow Wielkopolski

2017
145. Ra8# showcases the "box" again.

The position stems from the game Lavendelis-Olsen, Katowice 2017
47...Qb2+ 48. Ka4 Bc6!#
The position stems from the game Jaskolka-Konopka, Katowice 2017

33. Qf7#
The position stems from the game McShane-Rausis, Katowice 2017
35...Nc6! is a double attack on the White queen and the h5 mating square.
Other knight retreats are not convincing, for example, 35...Nxf3 36. g4!
The position stems from the game Voelker-Patel, Saint Louis 2017

26...Qa6+ and ...Qxa3 picks up the loose a3-bishop.
The position stems from the game Linik-Klekowski, Katowice 2017

48. Bc4+ is a royal pair attack. Other lines might also win.
The position stems from the game Wojtaszek-Fedotov, Katowice 2017
85. Re2! - stronger than 85. Rxf2, the immediate threat is Re8# Look for mate
before you look for material gains.
The position stems from the game Kapitanchuk-Ivannikau, Ahmedabad 2017

31...Rg2!# Any discovered check is weaker than this move, as the fine way
the Black pieces coordinate with each other will suffer as a consequence.
Look how the Black knight defends the bishop on h3, while attacking the h1-
square.
The position stems from the game Przybylski-Inarkiev, Katowice 2017

31...Bxg1 undermines the e2-bishop, gaining a lot of material after 32. Rxg1
Rxe2
The position stems from the game Ryng-Djuric, Katowice 2017
22...Nxd4! wins the exchange after 23. exd4 Rxc2 due to the fact the
alternative 23. Rxc8 (an attempt at an intermediate move) loses to 23...Nxe2+
Sometimes, not only checks, but check threats are tactically relevant too.
The position stems from the game Kowalczyk-Ondrus, Katowice 2017
13. Bb5+ discovers an attack upon the b4-bishop. White will capture Qxb4
next.
The position stems from the game Dobrowolski-Musil, Katowice 2017

Instead of attempting to flee, White has the 75. Rd3! cross-check, of course.
The position stems from the game Liang-Rahul, Ahmedabad 2017
49. Qb5+ Rc6 50. Rc4 d5 51. Qb7+!, an important intermediate move that
displaces the Black king, 51...Kd8, so that 52. Rxc6 capture becomes
possible. The other defensive option, 49...Kc8, fails to 50. Re8+ Qd8 51.
Rxd8+
The position stems from the game Vykouk-Snihur, Katowice 2017
25. Bxd5, the double menace of Bxf7+ and Bxc6 is decisive. For example,
25...Rc8 26. Qxf7+ Kh8 27. Re1! and Black is hopeless.
The position stems from the game Aravindh-Kaasen, Sitges 2017

10...exd4?? 11. Qxe4+ loses, but 10...Bb4+! 11. Kd1 Bg4! pins and wins the
queen.
The position stems from the game Lewicki-Kantans, Katowice 2017
35...Ra1, due to the x-ray attack of the Black rook upon the knight on e1, one
of the two White minors is lost.
The position stems from the game Styazhkina-Navara, Katowice 2017

22...Rxf2+! attracts the White queen to f2, removing its guard of the g4-
square, after which 23. Qxf2 Qg4+ 24. Ke3 d4! pawn-mates. Look at the
harmonious coordination between the Black pieces: the queen attacks the f3
and e2 squares, the bishop the d2 escape one, while the d4-pawn controls e3.
The position stems from the game Zelcic-Nestorenko, Katowice 2017

36. Qxg6+! picks up a free pawn, while continuing the attack. On 36...Kf8,
White can play, for example, 37. Bxf7! Qxf7 38. Qd6+ and Qxd8
The position stems from the game Kyc-Zhigalko, Katowice 2017
28. Bf4 wins a piece after Black sacs his knight on e5, otherwise the Black
queen is trapped.
The position stems from the game Chigaev-Butkiewicz, Katowice 2017

20...Ba6! unpins the c5-knight and wins at least the exchange after 21. Qb4
Nd3!, forking the queen on b4 and rook on e1. Underdevelopment frequently
leads to similar scenarios.
The position stems from the game Rigopoulos-Stocek, Katowice 2017

55. Rh1! suddenly mates.
The position stems from the game Kyc-Hracek, Katowice 2017
31. Bxe5+ dxe5 32. Qxe5+ tridents 3 Black pieces: Kh8, Be7 and Bh5. Some
will fall.
The position stems from the game Navara-Gajewski, Katowice 2017

36...Rb1 is a royal pin. 36...Qxf3? 37. Qxb2 is not very convincing.
The position stems from the game Fressinet-Zhigalko, Katowice 2017
23...Nf3+ treble fork is not to miss. 23...bxa4 24. cxd4 is weaker.

The position stems from the game Tate-Alekseev, Katowice 2017
44. Bf1+! Kh2 45. Rh4+ Bh3 46. Rxh3 mate makes use of the exposed
location of the Black king.
The position stems from the game Sadzikowski-Smieszek, Katowice 2017

32. Nf7+ either takes the enemy queen after 32...Kg8 33. Nxh6+, or mates in
the line 32...Rxf7 33. Qxb8+! In the second variation the knight check entices
the Black rook to a square, where it won't support its counterpart on b8 any
more.
The position stems from the game Zelbel-Rigopoulos, Katowice 2017
38...Re2+! discovered attack later picks up the undefended queen on d8.

The position stems from the game Klabis-Skliarov, Katowice 2017
72. b6+! will promote one of the two White passed pawns:
a) 72...Kxb6 73. e7
b) 72...Kd8 73. b7 Kc7 74. e7
The position stems from the game Plat-Valsecchi, Katowice 2017

33...Nxd4 34. Qe3/Qg3 Qxf4! ends the game (35. Qxf4 Ne2+ and Nxf4).
In above line, 34. Nxe6+ Nxe6 35. Qxd5 is slightly better.
The position stems from the game Kowalczyk-Pena, Katowice 2017
27. Bxf5! wins a piece due to the x-ray attack of the pair of White rooks upon
their d8 Black counterpart. 27. Bxd4? is a mistake, due to 27...Rxd7
The position stems from the game Shkapenko-Montilla, Katowice 2017
49. Qf8+
a) 49...Kxe5 50. Qxf3
b) 49...Rf7 unpleasantly blocks the f7 escape square, so White mates in one
with 50. Qd6!
The position stems from the game Motylev-Cuadras, Sitges 2017

24...Qa4! forks Rd1 and Ba3, effectively ending the encounter.
The position stems from the game Kreisl-Dvirnyy, Katowice 2017
31. Nd5+! is a nice clearance sacrifice. After 31...exd5 32. b6! White has
mated. In the present case decisive is the zero mobility of the Black king,
frequently conducive to unwelcome events.
The position stems from the game Schon-Rosen, Melbourne 2017
38. Re8 - due to the absolute pin on the 8th rank and the immediate menace
of Nf6, interfering with the defence of the Black bishop on the f-file, White
wins.
The position stems from the game Maier-Alekseev, Katowice 2017

73...Ng2+!, this absurd-looking fork actually allows the b3-passer to promote
after 74. Nxg2 b2. Going it straightforward with 73...b2? is a mistake, as 74.
Nd1+ Kc2 75. Nxb2! Kxb2 76. Kg5 is only a draw.
The position stems from the game Evdokimov-Geller, Saint Petersburg 2017
44...Rxf4+! 45. Rxf4 Ng5+ and ...Nxh7 gains further material.

The position stems from the game Langner-Zwardon, Czech Republic 2017
44...Rxe2+! evacuates with tempo the h2-square for the Black h-passer, after
which 45. Kxe2 h3 46. Rc8 h2 47. Rc7+ Kh6 48. Rc8 h1Q 49. Rh8+ Kg7
50. Rxh1 Bxh1 ends the struggle.
The position stems from the game Mazi-Kavcic, Slovenia 2017

28. Qxf7+! is a sudden sac, using the weak Black back rank. After 28...Rf7
29. Rd8+ Re8 30. Rxe8+ Rf8 31. Rxf8 White mates. Please, note, that 28.
Rxf7?? is a self-mating blunder - 28...Rxf1+! 29. Qxf1 Qxf1+ 30. Rxf1
Rxf1# This time, the White back rank proved to be weak.
The position stems from the game Arnason-Crevatin, Reykjavik 2017
15. g4! will eat the f5-horse and ask for more. De gustibus non est
disputandum. See how great a central advanced light piece outpost is.
The position stems from the game Schork-Schellhase, Untergrombach 2003
33. Rd1!, and when the queen evades, 34. Rdxd8 is curtains.
The position stems from the game Alekseenko-Gogin, Saint Petersburg 2017

59. e7! is very convincing, weaving a nice mating net in all variations:
a) 59...g2 60. Ke6 g1Q 61. f7#
b) 59...Kf7 60. Kd6 g2 61. Kd7 g1Q 62. e8Q#
c) 59...Kd7 60. e6+ Ke8 61. Kd6 g2 62. f7#
Alternatives are much weaker, some might even lose. Passed pawn races are
always fun to watch and execute.
The position stems from the game Patel-Cordova, Saint Louis 2017

71. Qf5+, White mates in further 2 - 71...g6 72. Qf7+ and Qg7, or 71...Kg8
72. Qf8+ and Qxg7
The position stems from the game Iskandarov-Acar, Mersin 2017
43...Be3+! compels White to sac a lot of material with 44. Bf2, otherwise 44.
Kf1 Nh2 or 44. Kh1 Rh2 mate.
The position stems from the game Chumfwa-Wanyama, Mansa 2017

24. Nf6+! clears the c6-square for the White queen, offering 2 friendly pieces
in the meantime - the f6-knight and the c8-rook. All lines end in mate:
a) 24...gxf6 25. Qc6+ Ke7 26. Qe8# The queen and pawn on e5 complement
each other perfectly.
b) 24...Kxc8 25. Qc6+ Kd8 26. Qd7#
c) 24...Ke7 25. Rc7+ Kd8 26. Rd7+ Kc8 27. Qc6#
The position stems from the game Ornolfsson-Olafsson, Reykjavik 2017

45...Qh2# is not to miss. The bishop on c4 controls the f1 escape square, the
knight on g4 the f2 one, while the queen attacks on h2.
The position stems from the game Dmitriev-Duzhakov, Saint Petersburg

2017
33. Be5 wins the exchange, with the additional advantage that after Bxf6 exf6
the e6-pawn is transformed into a powerful passer, ready to move forward at
any time.
The position stems from the game Franssila-Mansner, Finland 2017
47...Bxd4! 48. Kxd4 b2 promotes. Otherwise, Black captures a further pawn

with ...Bxe5. 47...b2 48. Kc2 Bxd4 might be similar, but much less effective.
The position stems from the game Golovkina-Kezin, Saint Petersburg 2017

36. Re8! with the deadly threat of mate on h8. The Black king is caged. An
important element in the mating net are the two Black g7 and g6 blocked
pawns.
The position stems from the game Abdusattorov-Ismagilov, Saint Petersburg

2017
73...Kg3! mates fastest - 74. b4 h5 75. b5 h4 76. b6 h3 77. b7 h2# Black

mates just before White queens with check. On 73...h5, White has 74. Kf2
Kh2 75. Ke2 and the king is out of the danger zone for a quick finish.
The position stems from the game Kouwenhoven-Maris, Hoogeveen 2017
Only winning move is 68. Rf3! g2 69. Rg3 and the pawn falls. On any other
rook move on the 2nd rank ...Kf4, supporting the passed pawn, draws, as the
rook will have to be sacrificed for the passer. If the rook retreats somewhere
on the f-file, then ...Ke4!, with similar motifs.
The position stems from the game Cuenca-Johansson, Sweden 2017

Black can recapture on e5 and still try to win, but 31...Nh3! simply mates in
one. A cute bishop and knight mate, where both pieces perfectly complement
each other in delivering the final blow.
The position stems from the game Veselov-Bellaiche, Saint Petersburg 2017
26. Rxe7! removes the guard of the Black knight upon the c8 promotion
square. After 26...Rc6 27. Rd7 Ke8 28. Rd8+ Ke7 29. c8Q Rxc8 30. Rxc8
the game has ended.
The position stems from the game Morgunov-Schwarhofer, Austria 2017
29. Rd8! Kf8 30. Bb5 Rxb5 31. axb5 Ke7 32. Rb8 wins the exchange.
The position stems from the game Kveinys-Karlsson, Reykjavik 2017

34. Qxe6+ Qe7 35. Nf6+!, using the Black queen pin, Kf8 36. Qg8 is kind of
a swallow-tail mate.
The position stems from the game Braun-Unzicker, Solingen 2017
13. b4 traps the Black bishop.
The position stems from the game Uruci-Vrella, Prishtina 2017

48...Re2 is a double attack upon the White queen and the g2 shelter square.
On 49. Qd5, supporting g2 on an x-ray, Black has 49...Re1+! 50. Rxe1
Qxe1+ 51. Rxe1 Rxe1 - this is already a back rank mate.
The position stems from the game Suta-Justin, Slovenia 2017

23...Re3! attacks the White queen, while discovering another attack on the
d1-rook in the process, winning the exchange.
The position stems from the game Gashi-Uruci, Prishtina 2017
48...Qb1+! 49. Kh2 Qxb5 picks up the loose White knight, putting an end to
the fight.
The position stems from the game Pierrot-Sosa, Buenos Aires 2017
29...Qd3+ 30. Kf2 Qd2+! 31. Qxd2 Rxd2 is an exquisite blockage mate (the
knight on e3, pawn on g3, as well as rook on f1 block important escape
squares).
The position stems from the game Quizon-Pimentel, Bacolod City 2017

37. Bc4+ Qxc4 decoys the queen to c4, interfering with her defence of the f8-
square, after which 38. Qxf8 mates. 37...Kh8 38. Qxf8+ is another mate.
The position stems from the game Holtman-Koziol, Bojnice 2017
91. Rd5!, White will build a bridge with Rg5, allowing the g-pawn to
promote.
The position stems from the game Ongut-Gahan, Budapest 2017

48. Nxe5! wins another pawn, as 48...Bxe5 49. Rh5 returns the bishop.
The position stems from the game Holtman-Obsivac, Bojnice 2017

15. Nh5+ Kg8 16. Re8+! Qxe8 17. Nf6! is a nice bishop and knight mate. An
alternative ending in back rank mate in above line is 16. Nf6+! Qxf6 17.
Re8#
The position stems from the game Sousa-Cruz, Almeirim 2017
25. Rh7+! mates quickly in all lines:

a) 25...Kxh7 26. Qh4+ Kg7 27. Qh6! is a nice "dovetail mate"
b) 25...Kf8 26. Rxf7+! Bxf7 27. Qxf7#
c) 25...Kg6 26. Qf6+ Kxh7 27. Qh6 replicates the first pattern with a slight
modification
The position stems from the game Jedinger-Schiestl, Austria 2017
38. Nb5+ Kc5 39. Nxc7 Kxb6 40. Nxa8+ wins the exchange.
The position stems from the game De Eccher-De Vita, Arco 2017

50...Qf4+ 51. Nf3 displaces the defender of the e2-square, upon which
51...R8e2 elegantly mates.
The position stems from the game Kaplan-Ushenina, Antalya 2017
39. Nh6+ mates on the next move:

a) 39...Kf8 40. Qf7#
b) 39...Kh8 40. Qe5! is even more elegant corner mate
The position stems from the game Shkuro-Shalimov, Omelnyk 2017
66. Rh1! reaches zugzwang:

a) 66...f1Q 67. Rxf1 destroys the dangerous passed pawn
b) 66...Kh8 67. Rxh6 mates
A blunder is 66. g5?? because ...f1Q promotes with check, after which 67.
Ke7 Qe2+! picks up the loose h5-rook.
The position stems from the game Fernandez-Cantero, Altea 2017

75...fxg2+ 76. Bxg2 Rxg2?? 77. Rxe3+ Kf4 78. Kxg2 Kxe3 79. g5 is a
blunder. The winning shot consists in 75...Rxf1+! 76. Rxf1 fxg2#
The position stems from the game Stevic-Vocaturo, Antalya 2017
28. Rh8+ Kf7 29. Rh7+ is curtains:

a) 29...Kg8 30. Rg7+ Kh8 31. Qh1+ with mate to follow
b) 29...Ke8 30. Qe2+ Qe5 31. Bxe5
The position stems from the game Kryvoruchko-Mogranzini, Antalya 2017
Most convincing is 51. Bf3+ Ka7 52. c8Q+, promoting with discovered
check and shortly mating.
The position stems from the game Svidler-Sprenger, Antalya 2017

Best is 41...Qb1+! 42. Kg2 Qxe4!, picking a second pawn with check.
The position stems from the game Alava-Reimanis, Antalya 2017
Other moves might also be winning, but most straightforward is 27...Nxh2

28. Qxh2 Qxg3, discovering a pin on the White queen.
The position stems from the game Aizpurua-Serra, Altea 2017

Most straightforward is 30. Bg6+ Kd8 31. Qg8+! Nxg8 32. Re8, a slight
modification of the "Opera Mate". Also possible is 30. Qg8+ Rf8 31. Bg6+
Kd8 32. Qxf8# Pins are abundant in the second line.
The position stems from the game Ashton-Zymberi, Antalya 2017

38. Re2 Nc1/Nc3 39. Rc2! targets both Black knights and one will fall. On
the other hand, an outwardly good move as 38. Ra1 might prove a big
mistake after 38...Nc3 39. Rc1?? Ne2 forking check and ...Nxc1 and it is
suddenly Black who wins. The subtle difference in the two lines is that in the
first variation, when landing on c2, the rook controls the e2-square.
The position stems from the game Osttveit-Draskovic, Antalya 2017

Black threatens ...Qxg2 mate, so White should play decisively. Only checks
can do that. 36. Qh4+! Kg7 (36...Nh5 37. Qxe4 loses the queen) 37. Rd7+
and now:
a) 37...Kg8 38. Qxh7+ Kf8 39. Qf7#
b) 37...Kf8 38. Qf6+ Ke8 39. Qe7#
The position stems from the game Sredojevic-Farago, Budapest 2017
43. Nd4+ Kg4 44. Qh4! mates in 2.

The position stems from the game Bogdanovich-Vypkhanyuk, Omelnyk 2017
32. Qg5+! Qxg5 33. fxg5+, gaining tempo, Kg7 34. e7 is a cute fork.
The position stems from the game Tazbir-Varezhkin, Dresden 2017

17...Bxg4! puts the final touch. Both 18. Qxg4 Qf2 and 18. Nxg4 Qh1 lead to
mate. Both the White queen and knight are seemingly very much overloaded,
the queen with supporting the g4-pawn and guarding f2, while the knight,
apart from defending g4, is also entrusted with the task of blocking the h-file.
The position stems from the game Danielsen-Bartel, Antalya 2017
Shortest mate is 45. Rh6+! Bxh6 46. Qxh6
The position stems from the game Kovchan-Naboka, Omelnyk 2017

47. Be3! constructs a mating net: the bishop guards the g5-square and Rh7
threatens. To avoid the worst, Black has to sacrifice the exchange on e3.
The position stems from the game Huang - Chiku-Ratte, Montreal 2017

This woeful pawn structure is characteristic of some suboptimal lines of the
Rossolimo Sicilian. 13. Ng6! discovers an attack on the lady while intending
to snatch at h8 next, leaving White whole rook to the good.
The position stems from the game Overbeck-Zickau, Dortmund 2003
24. Rxb6! wins a piece due to the pinned Black a7-pawn.
The position stems from the game Mozes-Itkis, Slanic Moldova 2017
5. Nxe5!! Bxd1 (5...dxe5 6. Qxg4) 6. Bxf7+ Ke7 7. Nd5! outlines the

beautiful "Legal's Mate". Very cunning and very efficient, isn't it? The White
flock of minors swooping on the Black monarch looks smart and festive. The
creative effect is strengthened by the queen sacrifice and the awkward central
situation of the checkmated king. A combo really worthwhile memorising.
Maybe you will surprise someone with it?

Although 40. h7 Kg7 41. Bxc6 Nxc6 42. Nxb5 might also win, strongest is
40. Nf5!, taking under control the g7-square, Bxd5 41. h7 and the pawn
queens on the next move.
The position stems from the game Maze-Vogt, Fornebu 2017
46...Rxh2+! 47. Kxh2 Rh8 mates in a pattern similar to "Anastasia's Mate".
The position stems from the game Fedoseev-Kezin, Sochi 2017

38. g5! uses the pin on the f6-pawn, gaining a further pawn, as capturing on
g5 fails to Rxf7.
The position stems from the game Kovalev-Gubsky, Sochi 2017

If the king moves out of the check, the e7-passer will be lost. Therefore, 58.
Qe3, interposing a piece and defending the passer.
The position stems from the game Shubin-Kaasen, Jermuk 2017
39. Rc8 mates in one.
The position stems from the game Belenkaya-Shafigullina, Sochi 2017

38...Qg2+ 39. Kxf4 Qf1+! skewers their royalties, subsequently taking on f7.
The position stems from the game Triapishko-Grachev, Sochi 2017
40...Rff2 41. g4 Rf3 mates.

The position stems from the game Ambartsumova-Vasilevich, Sochi 2017
48. Be3 makes use of the unfortunate circumstance the Black king and queen
share the same diagonal.
The position stems from the game Murzin-Antonenko, Sochi 2017

Strongest is 46...Qxc1+! 47. Kxc1 f1Q+ 48. Kc2 Qf2+ and ...Qxg3, eating
up almost all of White's forces.
The position stems from the game Tekeyev-Kezin, Sochi 2017
26...Rxd7?? 27. Qe8+ Kh7 28. Bg8+ Kh8 29. Bf7+! Kh7 30. Qg8# loses,
getting to "Max Lange's Mate".
Noticing the exposed position of the White king, right is 26...Qb5+! with
subsequent ...Qxd7 and the game is over.
The position stems from the game Bernabeu-Cuenca, Las Palmas 2017
24. Qc4 threatens "Greco's Mate" with Qa4. Black will have to sac the bishop
on b5, but after White recaptures with the rook, mate is nigh. Bringing pieces
closer to the enemy king is an important attacking element. 24. Qd1, targeting
again a4, is not identical, as ...Bxb5 neutralises most immediate threats.
The position stems from the game Bodnaruk-Strukova, Sochi 2017

48. Rxg5+ Kf8 49. Qe8! mates
The position stems from the game Palchun-Savitskiy, Sochi 2017
29...Bf1! penetrates deep into the rear of the White army, making mate on g2
inevitable. 29...Qxh3+ 30. Kg1 f3 also wins.
The position stems from the game Syrov-Gschnitzer, Hannover 2017

32...Qc1+, White's weak spot is his back rank.
The position stems from the game Kovalev-Potkin, Sochi 2017
The material balance is rook for 4 pawns, so not completely winning. The
sudden 37...Rxg2!!, though, destroying the White pawn cover and
threatening ...Qxh2#, quickly wraps up the game after 38. Kxg2 Rg8+ 39.
Kh3 Qg4# If 39. Kh1, then ...Qf3 mates.
The position stems from the game Tiarks-Degenhard, Hannover 2017
135...Qh3+! trades queens, then the pawn promotes.
The position stems from the game Chos-Kobalia, Sochi 2017

49. Rg8+ Kh6 50. Qxf7 ends the game. On the contrary, 49. Qg8+? Rg7
gives nothing.
The position stems from the game Novikov-Antonenko, Sochi 2017
49...Rae2! is the "blind swine" mate.
The position stems from the game Travkina-Maltsevskaya, Sochi 2017

31. Nxa4 Bxa4 wins only the exchange. Stronger is 31. Rxc6! dxc6 32.
Nxa4, netting a whole minor piece.
The position stems from the game Pridorozhni-Potkin, Sochi 2017
14. Qh5+ Kf8 15. Qf7 is "Damiano's Mate", in a slightly different version.
The position stems from the game Pridorozhni-Slavin, Sochi 2017
26. a4 will scoop up the Black knight. Similar is 26. c4
The position stems from the game Rozum-Antonenko, Sochi 2017

32...d2 33. Rxc2 d1Q+ 34. Kg2 Qxc2 calls it a day off.
The position stems from the game Belyakov-Pridorozhni, Sochi 2017
47...Qd3+ and ...Qxd6 is not to miss.
The position stems from the game Belyakov-Alekseenko, Sochi 2017

50...Qc5! mates in one.
The position stems from the game Novikov-Potkin, Sochi 2017
The position is double-edged, so each tempo counts. 35. Nxf6 Rg7

(35...Bxd1 36. Rxh7#) 36. Rd8+ Bg8 37. Rxg8+! Rxg8 38. Rxh7 leads to an
elegant "Arabian Mate" pattern.
The position stems from the game Abergel-Van der Stricht, Belgium 2017
40...Qxe2! 41. Bxe2 Bxg2 is a double bishop mate.
The position stems from the game Tomeo-Flores, Villa Martelli 2017
32. Rxf8+! Kxf8 33. c8Q promotes with check.
The position stems from the game Styazhkina-Kabanova, Sochi 2017
30...Bg2! traps the White rook on h3. 31. Rxg2 fails to ...Qe1 back rank mate.
The position stems from the game Borik-Sepesi, Slovakia 2017
35...Rxc1! 36. Rxc1 Rxd2 gains 2 minor pieces for opponent rook.
The position stems from the game Brito-Leitao, Caioba 2017

15. Rxc6! wins a piece out of the blue, as recapturing with the queen is
punished by 16. Bb5 royal pin.
The position stems from the game Babikov-Zvjaginsev, Sochi 2017
28...Qc6+ 29. Kg1 Bh3! 30. Bf1 Nf3+ 31. Kh1 Nxe1+ puts an end to it.
The position stems from the game Vojtek-Holtman, Slovakia 2017

36. Qf6, the threat of Qf8# is impossible to parry. For example, 36...h6 37.
Qxg6+ Kh8 38. Be5+, or 36...Qf7 37. Qd8+
The position stems from the game Heinrichs-Cadilhac, Caioba 2017
38...Qh3+ 39. Kg1 Qg2 represents a short "escalator mate".

The position stems from the game Szelag-Flis, Poland 2017
61...Be3#! exhibits the perfect coordination between all three Black pieces.
Funnily, White has been preparing similar destiny for his opponent by
delivering two subsequent checks on b7 and c8, the so-called "lawnmower".
The position stems from the game Jonsson-Rakesh, Douglas 2017

28. Re7, the threat of Rxg7+, followed by a deadly discovered check, is
impossible to meet.
The position stems from the game Haring-Dovzik, Slovakia 2017
If the knight retreats, White can at least play Rd4, changing rooks, and then
try to hold. Therefore, 24...Qf3! intending ...Rd1, and White is helpless.
Piece interaction frequently plays important role in tactical decisions.
The position stems from the game Kozak-Popov, Sochi 2017
41. Rxf6+! Kxf6 42. Bxe5+ and Bxb8 wins rook + pawn.
The position stems from the game Bick-Siebenburger, Trebic 2017

27...Qxc4 gets back the piece, leaving Black with decisive positional edge.
The position stems from the game Assumpcao-Brito, Caioba 2017
31...Re2! 32. Rxe2 Rxe2 pins the White queen. An important element in this
tactics is the support of the d4-knight for the e2-square.
The position stems from the game Bratholm-Rosberg, Vasteras 2017

42...Qxe1 43. Rxg4 Qxe3+ is possible, but not optimal. The crux consists in
42...Nf3+! 43. Qxf3, distracting the queen to a square, where it can't guard
the immediate vicinity of the king, after which 43...Qh2 mates.
The position stems from the game Brunello-Daulyte, Douglas 2017

34. Qf7 attacks and traps the Black bishop.
The position stems from the game Polok-Paszewski, Poland 2017
51...Qf1+ 52. Kh2 Nf3+! 53. Rxf3 Qg1# involves an obvious deflection
sacrifice.
The position stems from the game Leks-Krupa, Poland 2017

Other moves also win, but most straightforward is 25...f3! and the light-
square bishop falls, as in the case of its evasion ...f2 forking check will
follow.
The position stems from the game Brnas-Matko, Mali Losinj 2017
White threatens Qh7 mate. On 26...Rfd8, 27. Qh7+ Kf8 28. Qh8 mates, while
26...g6 fails to 27. Bxg6! with similar development. Black saves the day by
finding the ...Qc1! intermediate check and, after the king moves out of check,
...Qh6!, interposing a defender.
The position stems from the game Srbis-Cheparinov, Mali Losinj 2017
33...g3+ attempts attracting the White king away from defending the e1-rook,
and after the forced 34. Ke2 Re8+ 35. Be3 Rxe1+ 36. Kxe1 Rxe3+ there is
no doubt what the outcome will be.
The position stems from the game Nikolic-Tomic, Canj 2017
White who menaces a deadly check on g7 is as if on top, but the accurate

...Qa5! intermediate check completely changes the course of the game. After
26. Kf1 e2+ Black promotes with check on the next move, mating in a couple
more.
The position stems from the game Secheres-Malakhatko, Corund 2017
40. Rg7+
a) 40...Kf8 41. Nxg6+ Ke8 42. Rg8#
b) 40...Kh8 41. Nxg6#
It is enviable to see how the White pieces cooperate.
The position stems from the game Jumabayev-Najjar, Ashgabat 2017

26. Nxe7! undermines the Black knight, while simultaneously constituting a
heavy pieces fork. That ends the game.
The position stems from the game Lyell-Joo, Corund 2017
51...Ne2+, followed by a discovered check on f4, is very convincing.

Capturing on h1 is a bit indecisive, after White captures on d4.
The position stems from the game Melkonyan-Danielyan, Erevan 2017

A very double-edged and unclear at first sight position. Black enjoys

significant material advantage and is about to promote, but the sudden 39.
Bf6! pin is a coup de grace:
a) 39...Rxf6 40. Qxg7+! Kxg7 41. h8Q+ Kf7 42. Rh7+ Kg6 43. Qg7#
b) 39...Qxf6 40. Rxf6 Rxf6 41. Qg8#
The position stems from the game Kalugampitiya-Atabayev, Ashgabat 2017

43...g3 - ...Qf2 mate is unavoidable, so White must resign.
The position stems from the game Djordjevic-Mikluc, Belgrade 2017
A lot of pieces around and the c4-knight is pinned, however, 33...Nc3+!,

followed by ...Nxe2, elegantly unravels the knot.
The position stems from the game Cori Quispe-Triapishko, Montevideo 2017
33. Qxe4! Bxe4 clears the f-file, after which 34. Rxf8 Qxf8 35. Nb6! mates.
In this line, the x-ray attack of the f2-rook upon its counterpart on f8 is
decisive. Whenever you have a slider, look also what it might be attacking on
an x-ray. 33. Rxf5 Rxf5 34. Qxe4 is playable too.
The position stems from the game Bersamina-Atabayev, Ashgabat 2017

29...Qb7! builds a powerful diagonal battery, after which avoiding mate on
h1 is only a dream. On 30. Rxe3 Qg2 mates. The e3-pawn is an inherent part
of the mating net.
The position stems from the game Mai-Kavutskiy, Douglas 2017
49. Nc6+! clears the d-file for the rook and in the sequence 49...Qxc6 50.
Qd8 mates.
The position stems from the game Kalugampitiya-Gomez, Ashgabat 2017
31. Bc6+ Kf8 32. Qxf7# Forced sequences of checks are a very powerful
weapon.
The position stems from the game Kubicka-De Rosa, Balatonszarszo 2017

21...Rf3! 22. g3 Rxd3 picks up the White bishop. A fork and pinned pawn
motifs mixed together.
The position stems from the game Boshra-Sukandar, Ashgabat 2017
36...Qc3+ 37. Kd1 Bb3#!
The position stems from the game Ivic-Chen, Montevideo 2017

78. Rf8 and all fortress dreams quickly evaporate. Black is in zugzwang,
78...Kh6 79. Rh8# and on any bishop move Rxf7+ decides. Other rook moves
on the 8th rank achieve the same goal.
The position stems from the game Popadic-Kisic, Canj 2017

34. Qh7 check forces the Black king to f8, after which 35. Qh8+! skewer
demolishes the a8-rook next.
The position stems from the game Sedlak-Tadic, Canj 2017
21...Rh1+! 22. Kxh1 Qh8+! 23. Kg1 Qh2 is the so-called "Damiano's
Mate". If you are unfamiliar with the pattern, you might very well not notice
it.
The position stems from the game Vasques-Costa, Vila Nova de Gaia 2017
The simple 23...Rxe1 capture might win, but even stronger is 23...Rh2+! 24.
Kxh2 Qxf2+ 25. Kh3/Kh1 Rh8+, not wasting too much time in converting.
The position stems from the game Nyugen-Vanheirzeele, Belgium 2017

49...Rb1# Two sentinel pawns on f3 and g3 help the rook greatly in
simulating a back rank mate.
The position stems from the game Ahn-Grochal, Belgium 2017
30...h4! completes the mating net, cutting the access of the White king to the
g3-square. The straightforward 30...Qh1+ 31. Kg3 Qe1+ 32. Bf2 is not very
convincing.
The position stems from the game Warmerdam-Savina, Sanem 2017
34...d2 35. Rd1 Re1+ mates.
The position stems from the game Nadj-Panic, Banja Vrujci 2017
To make a long story short, 44. Qxe7+! attracts the queen to e7, after which
45. Rf7+ Qxf7 46. Rxf7+ and Rxd7 has told it all.
The position stems from the game Korneev-Vardanian, Erevan 2017
27. Rb8+ Bf8 28. Bh6! mates shortly on f8.

The position stems from the game Agmanov-Aroesti, Montevideo 2017
45. Qg7+ Kd8 46. Qf8 mates. On other Black moves the c7-queen is lost.
The position stems from the game Kacharava-Soto, Montevideo 2017

29. h4! Nh3+ 30. Kg2 traps the Black knight. 29. f4 achieves similar
objective.
The position stems from the game Patrascu-Kokaia, Montevideo 2017
The skyline of an Advance Caro-Kann is looming large. A sharp continuation

perfectly fits a double-edged position - 15...Nxh4!! easily decides:
a) 16. Rxb2 Nf3#!
b) 16. Rxh4 Qxb1
The position stems from the game Nagashima-Milos, Sao Paulo 2003

53...Rh2+! 54. Qxh2 Qxf1+ 55. Qg1 Qxh3+ 56. Qh2 Qxh2+ 57. Kxh2 a4
promotes.
The position stems from the game Ghukasyan-Kislinsky, Erevan 2017
23. Nf5+ Kg8 24. Re8# Of all possible discovered checks, only this check
wins. The key is the knight controls the g7 escape square in the process.
The position stems from the game Aroesti-Patrascu, Montevideo 2017
48. Rf7! adds another attacker to the pinned f6-rook, heralding the end.
The position stems from the game Djordjevic-Pavlovic, Banja Vrujci 2017

51. Bb7! forces the Black queen to a4, after which Qxf8 eats the Black knight
with check.
The position stems from the game Petrov-Galunova, Primorsko 2017
41...Rxg2! 42. Rxg2 Qxh3+ is all Black could wish for. Although seemingly
the h3-pawn is perfectly defended, both the White bishop and g3-rook are
overloaded.
The position stems from the game Galego-Dias, Vila Nova de Gaia 2017
As if the White passer queens forcedly, but the sudden 59...Nd8! 60. g7 Nc6+
and ...Ne7 stops the pawn on time. Identical is 59...Na5
The position stems from the game Knezevic-Maksimovic, Belgrade 2017

42...Ra1+! 43. Nxa1 Rxa1+ 44. Kb4 Rxa4+ 45. Kc5 Rxf4 gains a minor
piece.
The position stems from the game Egyed-Avramidou, Montevideo 2017
61. Be4! is a nice economical mate in the center of the board.
The position stems from the game Dobrijevic-Milosevic, Belgrade 2017

32...c3! clears the a6-f1 diagonal with the immediate threat of 33...Rxd1 34.
Qxd1 Qxb2# If 33. Rxf1, 33...Rxf1 pins the queen, but even stronger is an
intermediate check on d3.
The position stems from the game Fernandez-Munoz, Vallfogona de Balague

2017

26. Qxh7+!! is an appealing queen sacrifice, leading to mate after 26...Kxh7
27. Rh3+ Kg8 28. Rh8 See how the rook on f6 supports the knight, while the
knight the h8-rook.
The position stems from the game Shanava-Petrov, Istanbul 2017
53...Rxg3+! 54. fxg3 Ne3+ and ...Nxc2 wraps up the encounter by winning
another pawn.
The position stems from the game Warmerdam-Ris, Netherlands 2017
The absolute pin on the f7-knight allows mate in one with Qb8!
The position stems from the game Mollema-Dek, Netherlands 2017

35. Rf8+! Rxf8 36. Rxf8+ Kxf8 attracts the Black king to f8, upon which 37.
Qxd8 mates. The perfect coordination between the White queen and pawn on
g6 is visible. If 36...Kd7, 37. Qxd8 mates.
The position stems from the game Asatryan-Garcia, Mamaia 2017
27. Qe8+! Rxe8 28. Rxe8 is a perfect back rank mate.

The position stems from the game Henderson de La Fuente-Makarian,
Mamaia 2017
Two White pieces are forked, but 23. Qa3+! Be7 24. Nd7+! Bxd7 25. Qxe7
delivers a close range mate.
The position stems from the game Karwowski-Maciejewski, Szklarska

Poreba 2017

30. Qb7+ Kg8 31. Qe7! uses the pin in a wise way.
The position stems from the game Iljiushenok-Yumakhuzhin, Chelyabinsk

2017
56...Qe3+ 57. Kh2 Qf2+ 58. Kh3 Bf5 is the so-called "balestra mate". An
alternative is 56...Qf1+ 57. Kg3 Qf3+ 58. Kh2 Qg2 escalator type.
The position stems from the game Sevgi-Janik, Mamaia 2017
31. Rxb5! gets back the pawn, undermining the c4-rook. 31...Rxb5 loses to
32. Qxc4+ Rd5 33. Rd1! and the d5-point falls.
The position stems from the game Czebe-Szotkowski, Budapest 2017

30...Bxe4+ 31. fxe4 Qxd6 ensures a solid material advantage.
The position stems from the game Vykouk-Kouskoutis, Mamaia 2017
29. Bd4 builds an irresistible battery on the long diagonal.
The position stems from the game Fakhrutdinov-Galiana, Mamaia 2017

41. Qd5+ discovers an attack on the Black queen and, after the subsequent
capture, there is little doubt as to the outcome.
The position stems from the game Puczylowski-Chylewski, Szklarska Poreba

2017

38...fxg2+ 39. Kxg2 Rxf8 40. Rxf8+ Kxf8 regains all of the material, but isn't
very convincing. The key is to find 38...Rd1+ 39. Kh2 e4! discovered check
and Black mates in a couple more moves. A salient element in above setup is
the White knight blockage of the g2-square.
The position stems from the game Vazquez-Lujan, Villa Martelli 2017

36. h5+! Kxh5 decoys the king to the edge of the board, 37. Rg7! cuts off his
access along the g-file with Rh1 delivering the final blow next.
The position stems from the game Cukrowski-Butkiewicz, Poronin 2017
With the White pawn cover broken up, 25...Qxf3+ 26. Kg1 Bxd5 creates a
lethal diagonal battery, ...Qg2# and ...Qh1# being the immediate threats. On
the straightforward 25...Bxd5 targeting f3, White has 26. Be4
The position stems from the game Librelato-Amura, Villa Martelli 2017
17. Qh6! intends to follow up with 18. Bf6 and Qg7#, benefiting from the
weak dark-square complex around the Black king. For example, 17...Bxb3
18. Bf6, ignoring the captured piece. A realistic defence is unavailable. On
17. Bf6 Black still has 17...h5.
The position stems from the game Walter-Helis, Szklarska Poreba 2017

37. Rh8+! Bxh8 38. Rxh8+ Kg7 coerces the Black king away from guarding
the e8-rook, after which 39. Rxe8 stocks up on a whole piece.
The position stems from the game Fedoseev-Inarkiev, Tbilisi 2017
Although White is a whole rook up, Black wins after 64...Bd4+

a) 65. Kb1 Qe1#
b) 65. Ka3 Qc1+ 66. Kxb3 Qb2#
The position stems from the game Mamedov-Andreikin, Huaian 2017
29. Bxc5 forks both rooks.
The position stems from the game Licznerski-Rigopoulos, Katowice 2017

12...Nf5! traps the White queen, winning queen for rook after 13. Qxf6 Rxf6
Always look for low mobility pieces to trap.
The position stems from the game Gazik-Olszewski, Katowice 2017
33. Rxg7+! undermines the Black rook on f8, leading to mate after 33...Kxg7
34. Qxf8
The position stems from the game Alekseev-Lewtak, Katowice 2017
27. Be2! effectively traps the queen. The f5-square is controlled by the White
queen.
The position stems from the game Buhmann-Castellanos, Katowice 2017

24...Rxg2+! destroys the White pawn shelter, after which 25. Rxg2 Qxh3+
26. Kg1 Qxg2 mates.
The position stems from the game Strejczek-Zhigalko, Katowice 2017
24...Rc2+ 25. Kd1 Qd2 mates. An alternative is 24...Rd3+ 25. Ke2 Qd2#
The position stems from the game Veiga-Feuerstack, Katowice 2017

65. Rxb7! removes the defender of the c8-square, so that 65...Rxb7 66. c8Q
or 65...Ra8 66. Rb8 promotes next.
The position stems from the game Saric-Horton, Katowice 2017

36. Qh8+ Kxf7 37. Rd7+ Ne7 38. Rdxe7 mates.
The position stems from the game Walter-Djuric, Katowice 2017
47. Be5+! mates in two - 47...Qxe5/Qg7 48. Rf8#
The position stems from the game Kuzmicz-Pavlidis, Katowice 2017

36...Rxd4! removes the guard of the f3-square, after which ...Nf3+ royal fork
threatens whether White captures on d4 with queen or pawn. A second threat
Black has is to play ...Qf3, building a powerful diagonal battery, and then
Qh1#
The position stems from the game Bugalski-Krause, Katowice 2017

16. Qxa8! wins a whole rook, but the more worrying thing is 16...Qxa8 17.
Nc7+ Ke7 18. Bc5! mates.
The position stems from the game Feuerstack-Chernyak, Katowice 2017
40. Rd1+ Kc6 41. Rc1+ and R1xc7 takes en prise the c7-rook.
The position stems from the game Wiewiora-Varvadoukas, Katowice 2017

28. Rxc3! removes the guards of the h7 and d5 squares respectively in the
two lines shown below:
a) 28...Rxc3 29. Qh7#
b) 28...Qxc3 29. Bd5+ Kg7 30. Qh7#
In spite of the surplus defence of the c3-knight, seemingly both Black heavy
pieces are overworked.
The position stems from the game Jarmula-Szadkowski, Katowice 2017

64...Be5+ forces White to sac his queen on e5, otherwise 65. Kh3 Qh1+
mates shortly.
The position stems from the game Tari-Brodowski, Katowice 2017
45. Bxf4! gains a piece, as recapturing on f4 will have Bd5 royal pin as a
consequence.
The position stems from the game Bartel-Herman, Katowice 2017
24. Rxf7+! Rxf7 creates a nasty pin, after which 25. Qxc7! wins a lot of
material.
The position stems from the game Stojcevski-Snihur, Katowice 2017

36. Qh5 mates. The rook on g8 blocks an important escape square.
The position stems from the game Szyszylo-Klekowski, Katowice 2017

40...Qe2+ 41. Kh1 Qf1+ 42. Kh2 Qg1#
The position stems from the game Przybylski-Kutynec, Katowice 2017
56...Rb2+ 57. Ka3 Qb4 is the "railroad mate".
The position stems from the game Shubin-Mikrut, Katowice 2017

63...e2 - the pawn was pinned, but the promotion menace is weightier - 64.
Rxf3 e1Q+, or 64. Ra1 Rf1 ends the game.
The position stems from the game Kreisl-Horton, Katowice 2017
31...Qh3! is kind of an epaulette mate on the edge.
The position stems from the game Jaskolka-Tregubov, Katowice 2017

White just blundered with 26. dxe4??, after which 26...Bxe4 is a nice family
pin (the king and two White heavy pieces on the same diagonal).
The position stems from the game Zaleski-Fedorov, Katowice 2017

28...Qc5+! forks king and rook.
The position stems from the game Luczak-Gajewski, Katowice 2017
Quickest mate is 39. Qh6+ Kxf5 40. Qf6! building a nice mating net. Close
range checks, like Qh6, have the additional benefit of not allowing
interpositions, possible, for example, in the line 39. Qg3+ Ng5
The position stems from the game McShane-Andriasian, Katowice 2017

42. fxg6+! quickly wins:

a) 42...Kh8 43. Qd4+ with mate on g7 to follow
b) 42...Rxg6 43. Ng5+! subsequently picking up the loose Black queen on c8
Attacking pawns are frequently very dangerous.
The position stems from the game Burovic-Bukal, Zadar 2017

55. Bh4! will deflect the queen either from guarding the g7-square or d8-
point, with mate on g7 or deadly back rank check to follow. For example,
55...Qxh4 56. Qxg7#
55. h4 is not good, as after 55...Qf6 56. Qxf4? already Black has a winning
fork with 56...Qe6+!
The position stems from the game Wang-Artemiev, Huaian 2017

70. Rf7 and Black is forced to sac his rook on c4, as otherwise the stronger
side will mate with Rf1. One situation where rook and bishop win a lone rook
in the late endgame.
The position stems from the game Brkic-Nguyen, Zadar 2017
40. Nxc7 will further gain the pinned bishop on e8.
The position stems from the game Artemiev-Grischuk, Huaian 2017

30. Rd8! wins the queen, as 30...Qxd8 31. Qxf7 mates. Other moves win too.
The position stems from the game Dragicevic-Lee, Melbourne 2017
37...Rd3 attacks the knight on e3 and x-ray-attacks the bishop on f3. One of
the two will fall.
The position stems from the game Muzychuk-Dzagnidze, Huaian 2017

22...Qg5+ forks the king and knight on d2.
The position stems from the game Sandjojo-Nguyen, Johor 2017
39. Rg8+! Rxg8 40. Rxg8+ Kxg8 is a cute attraction sacrifice, after which
White coerces the king to g7 with 41. Qe8+ and then picks up the Black
queen with 42. Ne6+! royal fork.
The position stems from the game Remizov-Smirnov, Chelyabinsk 2017
21. Rb1 Qxa2 22. Ra1 Qb2 23. Rfb1! traps the queen.
The position stems from the game Kusiak-Varholakova, Slovakia 2017

49. Bg1, the threat of Bh2+ with mate to follow is unavoidable, for example,
49...Bxb7 50. Bxb7 Nc7 51. Bh2 h5 52. Bxc7#
The position stems from the game Grischuk-Harikrishna, Huaian 2017
22. Nf5+! is royal-forking - the g6-pawn is pinned. Some patterns are

repetitive, but that is why important.
The position stems from the game Stany-Grandelius, London 2017

43. Rxd5+! Kxd5 44. Bc4+ stocks up on a rook more.
The position stems from the game Naumann-Michna, Hamburg 2017

84. Qh8+ Rc8 85. Qh2+! Ka8 86. Qa2+! Kb8 87. Qa7 - the round trip pays
off and the Black king gets mated. Pair of rooks are usually stronger than
lone queen, but in the present case the Black king is cornered.
The position stems from the game Can-Malakhatko, Zadar 2017
79. Qd7+ Kxb6 forces the Black king to b6, after which 80. Qd8+! is a
double attack upon king and rook. 79...Ka6 80. Qa7 mates.
The position stems from the game Plenca-Bratovic, Zadar 2017
42. Ng4+ Kg5 43. Ne6+ forks king and rook.
The position stems from the game Anderton-Mitra, London 2017

28. Qxf7+ Kh8 29. Qf8+! Rxf8 30. Rxf8# makes use of the weak Black back
rank.
The position stems from the game Davison-Willson, London 2017
30...Rh5# Another instance of "Anastasia's Mate".
The position stems from the game Najgebauer-Hros, Slovakia 2017

23...Ba6+ 24. Kg1 c4+ and ...cxb3 picks up the White bishop. If 24. Ke1,
then 24...Re2+! 25. Kf1 Rxa2+ 26. Ke1 Re2+ 27. Kf1 Rxe5+! sets the
windmill mechanism in motion.
The position stems from the game Doluhanova-Stefanova, Monaco 2017

26...Rd3! interferes on the 3rd rank to sever the connection between the
White knight and queen. After 27. Qxd3 Nxd3 28. cxd3 Qxg3+! 29. Kh1
Bxf2 Black wins. 27. cxd3 Qxg3+ 28. Kh1 Qg2 is checkmate.
The position stems from the game Ginsburg-McShane, Muelheim 2017
43...Qe2+ 44. Kg1 Qe1+! 45. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 46. Nxe1 Rxe1 is an efficient
back rank mate.
The position stems from the game Ssegwanyi-Mwali, Mansa 2017

20. Qg3+ Qg6 21. Rg4! is curtains.
The position stems from the game Sedina-Bex, Switzerland 2017
39...Bxh2! is a clearance sacrifice. 40. Qxh2 leads to 40...Re1+ 41. Kg2 Re2+
The position stems from the game Renet-Kosteniuk, Switzerland 2017

Black has some advantage, his rook is already on the 7th row, and 49...Rxf2!
50. Qxf2 Re2, gaining an extra pawn, even threatens. White should be active
in his draw research and destroying the opponent king shelter proves to be
key: 49. Rxf6! gxf6 50. Qxf6+ The resulting position is a perpetual check,
for example, 50...Kg8 51. Qg6+ Kh8 52. Qxh6+ Kg8 53. Qg6+ Kf8 54. Qh6+
Kf7 55. Qh7+ etc. The d1-rook prevents the king from crossing the d-line, so
the queen checks all the time. 3-fold repetition might take some time though,
as the route of the king changes all the time.
Apart from insufficient material, perpetual check sacrifices are one of the
most common drawing techniques.
The position stems from the game Michalik-Styazhkina, Katowice 2017

51. Nf6+ Kh4 (51...Kxg5 52. Ne4+ forks) 52. gxh6 Rd8 53. f4! Rh8 54. g3!
is a perfect checkmate.
The position stems from the game Quparadze-Chu, Stavanger 2017
33. Rxh7+!! Kxh7 34. Qxg6+ Kh8 35. Nf7#
The position stems from the game Plat-Mohr, Katowice 2017

28. Nc7+! Rxc7 29. Ra5+ Ra7 30. Rxa7#
The position stems from the game Walter-Luch, Katowice 2017
The White queen is attacked. 46. Qb2? leads to 46...Qd1+ 47. Kf2 Nd3+! and
...Nxb2 where Black is winning. The correct solution is 46. Nc8+!
a) 46...Rcxc8 47. Qb7#
b) 46...Ka8 47. Qb8#! - the knight intercepts the d8-rook
c) 46...Rdxc8 47. Qb6+ Ka8 48. Qxa6+ Ra7 49. Qxc8#
The position stems from the game Cantero-Pastor, Altea 2017
35. Rxh7+! undermines the g6-rook. After 35...Nxh7 36. Rxh7+ Kxh7 37.
Qxg6+ Kh8 38. Qh7 White mates. At the end of above line also possible is
38. Bf6#
The position stems from the game Sokolov-Jelinek, Prague 2017

28. Re7!! wraps up the game in an elegant fashion:
a) 28...Qxe7 29. Rxg6+ hxg6 30. Qxg6+ Qg7 31. Qxg7#
b) 28...Qxe7 29. Rxg6+ Kf7 30. Rg7+ Ke8 31. Qxc6+! Kd8 32. Bb6+ Qc7
33. Qd7#
c) 28...Rh5 29. Qg7+! Qxg7 30. Rxg7+ Kh8 31. Rxg6+ with mate to follow
The key move loosens the Black control over the g6-square for White to
break through.
The position stems from the game Guseinov-Gantner, Antalya 2017

85...a1Q checkmates on the spot. A pair of queens are overwhelming
attackers.
The position stems from the game Binxiang-Bigear, FICS 2017
15. Bxa6 clears the line for Qh7#
The position stems from the game Devereaux-Mercs, Scarborough 1999

What play now, what play now? Let's send a knight to d3 - whoa! - does not
this look a bit like mate?
The position stems from the game Babos-Skytte, Budapest 1999
13. Bc4+ gears to a subsequent infiltration of the lady at h7. Lasciate omnia
speranza.
The position stems from the game Leskiewicz-Quintero, Yerevan 1999

In spite of being behind on point count terms, 35...Rh1+ 36. Ng1 Rxg1+ 37.
Kxg1 Nxe2+ and ...Nxc1 completely overturns the material balance.
Timely check, followed by attraction and a fork.
The position stems from the game Alcoba-Bernabeu, Las Palmas 2017

27. Ng6+! Kg8 28. Nxe5 stocks up on sufficient quantity of material to make
any future resistance meaningless. If 27...hxg6, then 28. hxg6+ Kg8 29.
gxf7+ has won the queen.
The position stems from the game Ponkratov-Bosiocic, Mali Losinj 2017
52. Rf6! discovered check, followed by capturing the rook on f7, acquires a
nice chunk of material.
The position stems from the game Travkina-Belova, Sochi 2017

19...Qf2+ 20. Kh1 Qh4+ 21. Kg1 Qf2+ 22. Kh1 Qh4+ is an eternal check.
Black should have taken it as the opponent is two healthy pieces ahead.
The position stems from the game Banusz-Vajda, Budapest 2017
81...e1Q 82. c8Q Qh1#

Promoting to a rook is identical.
The position stems from the game Brozyna-Wiewiora, Katowice 2017

28...Qe3+ 29. Kg4 Re4# is middle-of-the-board disaster.
The position stems from the game Pecnik-Kathmale, Zadar 2017

92. Qf8#!
The position stems from the game Manik-Sergeev, Katowice 2017
Black can take at e4, right? Absolute pins are a wonderful device.
The position stems from the game Valbuena-Bergez, Toulon 1999

14...e6 15. Nb4 a5! and the horse startles in view of the insidious trap. The
e3-cell is raked by the a7-bishop.
The position stems from the game Heran-Aleksieva, Toulon 1999
There are 2 lines: 11...Qxc4? 12. Bb3 and White later chops at e6, or
11...Qxd1! 12. Rfxd1 and Black now chops at c4. Choose your own.
The position stems from the game Tolk-Lane, Antwerp 1999
42. b4!, interfering with the defence of the Black queen for the c7-rook, wins
the rook when the queen retreats. 42. Nb3, with the very same intentions, is a
bit weaker alternative. Threats, captures, checks - that is what tactics is all
about.
The position stems from the game Savchenko-Kovalev, Sochi 2017

White can simply push his pawns into queen, but 49. Rd8 intending Rh8# is
much more convincing, of course. Always look for tactics, even in the
simplest of situations.
The position stems from the game Popov-Belyakov, Sochi 2017

40. Rxh8 Rxh8 41. Rxh8 Kxh8 42. Qf8+ Kh7 leaves Black better. The
astounding 40. Qxf8+!! Rxf8 41. Rh7+ Kf6 42. Rxc7 has won a whole rook.
If 40...Kxf8 in above line, then 41. Rxh8+ Ke7 42. R1h7+ Kd6 43. Rxc7
Kxc7 does pretty much the same.
The position stems from the game Maze-Myhrvold, Fornebu 2017
25. Qxh6+ Kg8 26. Bh7+ Kh8 27. Bg6+! Kg8 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Qxf7# is a
typical mating sequence.
The position stems from the game Swicarz-Bartos, Hradec Kralove 2017

14...Bc5+ 15. Kf1 Qh1 duly checkmates.
The position stems from the game Arnhold-Petek, Finkenstein 1993
13. Qxh6! gxh6 14. Nf6+ Ke7 15. Nxd7 Kxd7 16. Nxf7 wins a pawn and
then more. The definitive proof the g7-pedestrian is overloaded.
The position stems from the game Nagy-Somogyi, Hungary 1993

11...Nd3+! uncovers an attack on the White lady, compelling this side to lay
arms. The tactical arsenal is rich.
The position stems from the game Nagy-Csoke, Hungary 1994

12. Qh7+ Kf8 13. Qxf7 is a typical close-range mate. Invaluable the support
of the g5-horse is.
The position stems from the game Hazai-Szoboszlai, Hungary 1994
The offbeat 7. Qe1+! is a fortuitous fork, winning the a5-beast. Some would
develop the White rook to e1 with check, as textbooks recommend. There is
nothing traditional about chess.
The position stems from the game Roeberg-Abramenko, Germany 1993
14...Rd3! is the scourge of both White bishops. White is now in the throes of
deciding which one to offer at the altar of good defence.
The position stems from the game Nussbaum-Teske, Neuwied 1993

The outlines of the French Defence are clearly visible. The a2-rook is a
landmark feature. Unfortunately, 14...g6 15. Qh6 Nf5 violates the privacy of
the fair lady.
The position stems from the game Hansen-Jurek, Odense 1993
White is a barren pawn ahead. 15...Qb6+ and ...Qxb2 is a game-changer,

though.
The position stems from the game Roca-Yakovich, Oviedo 1993
14...Qf6 brings the f5-horse to the gallows. The most White can do is 15.
Nh6+ Qxh6 16. Qxc8 (16. Bxh6 Bxg4) Qxc1+!, a key in-between, 17. Rxc1
Rxc8 to proudly trail behind by only a minor.
The position stems from the game Svistunov-Kharitonov, Pinsk 1993

The position is not very clear, right? For example, 15. Qh5 h6, and how does
White continue now? To be quick, you need a trick. The trick consists in 15.
Nxh7! This is a fork of 2 heavy pieces, and 15...Kxh7 16. Qh5 is a check,
right, a check that happens to carry with it a bit more solemnity. All the
blurriness is gone.
The position stems from the game Hoenig-Scholl, Polch 1993

15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Ng5! and Black has no way of satisfactorily meeting Qf7#
Chess is a simple game.
The position stems from the game Jukic-Curtis, Bratislava 1993
Almost equal - 2 connected pawns for minor. 15...Rxf4! - balance tipped. 16.
Qxf4 Bg5 emboldens an insidious pin. Don't mess with the boss!
The position stems from the game Mudrochova-Sommer, Bratislava 1993

11. Nd5! forces Black to abandon:
a) 11...Nxd5 12. Qxa5
b) 11...Qxd2 12. Nc7#!
Brilliant! Mindful of his safety, the Black monarch has surrounded himself
with fanboys; unfortunately, they are more of an obstacle here than a help,
permitting smothering.
The position stems from the game Landenbergue-Roeder, Bern 1993

13. Ba3+! is an elegant deflection that summarily mates:
a) 13...Qxa3 14. Qxc7+ Ke8 15. Qf7+ Kd8 16. Nc6# How ungallant!
b) 13...Kd8 allows the meek 14. Nf7#
Melodious.
The position stems from the game Levacic-Gatine, Cannes 1993
The f3-knight is pinned and can't move...Until 5. Bxf7+! clever sac, 5...Kxf7,
the king has been coerced to a square where 6. Nxe5+ sucessfully unpins
with check, forking His Majesty and the g4-bishop. The pinner will be eaten
up next with Nxg4, giving White two healthy pawns advantage.
That is serious, is not it?

14...Nxc3 15. Bxc3 e2! - the pawn is on a roll. How uncouth. White will
spend the rest of his time deciding which of both rooks is less dear to him.
Important decisions are not to be rushed.
The position stems from the game Bosco-Szmetan, Buenos Aires 1993
11...Qxc4! is obvious, ain't it? In spite of the d2-steed's strong defence of the
c4-cell, the queen perseveres. Worthy of one's crown.
The position stems from the game Cativelli-Fuentes, Buenos Aires 1993
11. f6! is an elegant thrust:

a) 11...Bxf6 12. Bxh6
b) 11...Qxf6 12. Bg5! is an ambush
As if the f6-square were over-protected... True, but the g7-bishop is
overworked and the Black lady - how to put it - clumsy. Tit for tat.
The position stems from the game Pessi-Helmer, Odorheiu Secuiesc 1993

13...e5! - how rude - is a simultaneous attack on the f4-queen and h3-cannon.
The White figures are overexposed.
The position stems from the game Seiler-Jurek, Wohlen 1993
The sequel of 15. Nxe4 is 15...dxe4 16. Qb3+! and Qxb4. Nice clearance
followed by ethnic cleansing.
The position stems from the game Sadler-Loginov, Budapest 1993

10...Qa2 goes heavy-handed on the b1-rook.
The position stems from the game Sylvan-Antonsen, Farum 1993

The spellbinding 15...Rxc3!! 16. Qxc3/bxc3 Ne2+ brings about a royal fork.
The position stems from the game Jojart-Gabriel, Wuerttemberg 1994
14...Rg1!! double check 15. Kxg1 (forced) Rg8+ with mate to follow is a
Pillsbury in action.
The position stems from the game Saric-Papadatos, Aegina 1994

12. Qd5+ shows no hospitality, dealing a rude blow to the c6-straggler.
The position stems from the game Galyas-Hopper, Herculane 1994
14. Nxe6! Bxe6 15. Bxd6 gains a pawn and the exchange. Discovered attack,
fork, b4-loser.
The position stems from the game Balster-Schnitzspan, Germany 1994
14. Nf3 and, upon retreat of the Black lady, the king slaps the g3-straggler.
An evident case of overextension.
The position stems from the game Zahn-Gotschewa, Doernigheim 1994

White is a whole rook up. In ultimate analysis, 13...Be3+! 14. Kd1 Bxf3 is a
fate-sealer. "Down with the queen! Long live the pin!"
The position stems from the game Kopp-Roeberg, Doernigheim 1994
White confirms his material superiority by 11. Nb6! axb6 12. Rxa8
The position stems from the game Mittendorf-Kurth, Kassel 1994

14...Nb3! and ...Nxc1 leaves White prostrated.
The position stems from the game Rieke-Gruettemeier, Germany 1995

Black has just castled into 13. Qxc6+! Kb8 14. Qxb7# The opponent is
vigilant.
The position stems from the game Morlo-Nazarenus, Wallertheim 1994
13. Nb5! chops wood:

a) 13...axb5 14. Rxc7
b) 13...Qb8 14. Nxd6+
Placing one's queen on the same file as an enemy rook is bad - try avoiding it
diligently.
The position stems from the game Schneider-Mann, Mendig 1994
The c3-pedestrian goes for a walk: 14. c4! and, when the kicked horse leaps
to freedom, c5 forking. No cars in sight.
The position stems from the game Juhasz-Sira, Slovakia 1994

Black might very well get preferable, if it were not for 15. e6!! The ream of
lines unfolds as follows:
a) 15...Bxe6 16. Qxc6+
b) 15...Qxe6 16. Qxa8+
c) 15...Qxf3 16. exd7+! and Nxf3
The position stems from the game Kolcak-Sarkozy, Slovakia 1994

11...Qc4! attacks the b4-bishop and c1 mating cell. Glorious.
The position stems from the game Falk-Galdunts, Saint Ingbert 1994

The White monarch proudly leads the ongoing assault. 15...e5! is a small
hitch, though. 16. Bxe5 Bf5+ skewers the unsuspecting lady down there.
The position stems from the game Szilagyi-Kosanovic, Szekszard 1994
12. Bd5! Nxd5 13. cxd5 forks the life out of the c6-knight.
The position stems from the game Grabarczyk-Meier, Wiesbaden 1994

The enthralling 13...d3! uncovers an attack upon the b2-bishop.
The position stems from the game Pint-Horvath, Zalakaros 1994
13. Bh3 royal pin is a one-time shot. Viva! Before caring for defence, see
what further attacking options you have.
The position stems from the game Beszterczey-Preis, Zalakaros 1994
12. Rxd8! Rxd8 13. Bxe7 is a nice swap - 2 captains for their superior.
The position stems from the game Fernandez-De la Fuente, Seville 1994

9. Nxf7! forks 2 heavies. Recapturing with the king leads to 10. Qxe6 mate.
Relentless. "Undermine to your heart's content."
The position stems from the game Magem Badals-Glavina, Zaragoza 1994
12...Qb6+ uncovers an attack on the White queen. 13. Qe3 Bc5! pins the
queen in the sequel. The lady a protagonist all along.
The position stems from the game Milunovic-Miele, Portoroz 1994

Nonchalantly, 14. Rxd5! removes the defender of the c7-queen. 14...exd5 is

harakiri due to 15. Qxc7, while on 14...Qxd6 the White rook slips out of
danger with 15. Rxd6
The position stems from the game Tolnai-Schirmbeck, Velden 1994

The Black queen prevents castling on both sides. 15...Nd4 is definitive, on
16. Qd2, supporting the bishop, the knight strikes at f3, demolishing the
queen. Life is a bitch.
The position stems from the game Waggerl-Osman, Velden 1994
White trails behind in terms of wood stuff. 12. Nxh4? Qxh4 still leaves his
opponent a pawn ahead. The side to move prevails after 12. Bg5!, a deadly
fork that smashes Black's enthusiasm. The rook invader used to be very
active...until this sudden charge.
The position stems from the game Velimirovic-Ree, Amsterdam 1994
15. Rad1 gains significant material:

a) 15...Qxa4 16. Rxd8# is suicide
b) 15...Nd3 16. Rxd3! is even dumber
Going with the other cannon to d1 is also possible.
The position stems from the game Shirov-Bareev, Novgorod 1994

14...Bxc3! is a fortunate capture:
a) 15. bxc3 Rxa3 erases a light figure
b) 15. Bxc3 b4! pawn-forks
Usually, it is counter-indicated to trade bishop for knight; in this case,
however, there is a solid tactical justification.
The position stems from the game Sidorov-Varga, Budapest 1994
15. Nd5! attempts to lure the f6-horse away from his duties of supervising the
h7 mating cell. One way or another, White will chop at f6 next, so Black
must resign the game. Kicking the knight with 15. g5 is not very effective,
owing to 15...Nh5 intercepting the edge file.
The position stems from the game Carless-Ma, Moscow 1994
15...Qxe7! wins material both after 16. axb3 Qxc5+ and 16. Bxe7 Nxd2 (the
e7-slider is hanging while the f1-cannon attacked). A bit intricate.
The position stems from the game Cochrane-Pineda, Moscow 1994

27...Rbxf2! is spot on. ...Rxf1# threatens, on 28. Rxf2 mate is given by
28...Qxf2+ 29. Kh1 Qf1+ No other defensive options are visible.
The position stems from the game Suhle-Anderssen, Breslau 1859
White outsmarts his opponent with 15. Nf4 - the exiled h3-bishop falls.
The position stems from the game Tao-Matsuo, Moscow 1994

8. Qg4! forks the b4-bishop and f5-knight. Cool, unsymptomatic for any
opening.
The position stems from the game Vaulin-Pasztor, Harkany 1994
13. Qf3 Qe7 14. Ne4! piles up on the vital f6-point to crash through. Fine
combinative play.
The position stems from the game Kutuzovic-Dobrovolsky, Harkany 1994
12. exf6 Qxg5+! keeps the rough material balance. The first player has 12.
Nb3! though, a fine zwischenzug, chasing the queen away and intending to
capture on f6 with the pawn for free later. 12...Qxe5 fails to 13. Qxe5 dxe5
14. Bxf6! Bxf6 15. Rxd7 Interweaves the motifs of line clearance and
removing of defender.
The position stems from the game Lakos-Lipp, Balatonbereny 1995

14...Bg4! skewers 2 White heavy pieces. f2-f3 is impossible due to the pin
provided by the Black lady.
The position stems from the game Tobor-Seres, Balatonbereny 1995
12. d6! traps the enemy e7-bishop. Central passed pawns are especially
dangerous in the middlegame on account of their cramping effect on the
opponent's mobility.
The position stems from the game Dlauchy-Kladiva, Balatonbereny 1995
55...Nxc6! 56. Bxc6 Kf6 and the king manages to occupy in time the vital
g7-cell, getting a theoretical tie. If White decoys the enemy king further away
from the h-file with c7 Kd7 by saccing the c-pawn, he might very well win
by cutting the access of the knight to squares from which it could stop the
edge passer. Joining efforts, king + bishop can certainly do that. Dura lex sed
lex.
The position stems from the game Khanin-Yudin, Khanty-Mansiysk 2017

Three minor pieces for rook - who might be better here? The quandary does
not last long, as Black has 15...Rxf3! 16. Qxf3 Qg1# The attempt to support
h3 by 16. Qf1 does not help in the least because of 16...Rxh3+! 17. Qxh3
Qg1# Outnumbering the opponent in attack is immeasurably more important
than outnumbering him in general.
The position stems from the game Bex-Donev, Biel 1995

15...Rxf3!! gains wood:
a) 16. Qxf3 Bxc4
b) 16. Bxf3 Nd4 17. Qd3 (the queen has to guard c4) Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Bxc4
Not for tea-totallers.
The position stems from the game Joyce-Donaldson, Dublin 1995
15. Bxf4! bringing out the bishop with tempo and menacing rook check at d1
is decisive. For instance, 15...gxf4 16. Rd1+ (or castling long) Kc7 17. Nd5+
Castling short is a slip owing to 15...Qc5+! swapping ladies.
The position stems from the game Delanoy-Bex, Geneve 1995
13. Nxf6+! vacates the d5-square for the subsequent d4-d5 pedestrian fork.
Not much of a calculation here.
The position stems from the game Gerber-Hatarik, Giessen 1995

Black is all out on the attack and successfully manages to hand over the keys
to the fortress after 11. Bxc6+! (making the b4-bishop weak) bxc6 12. Qxb4
Ironic.
The position stems from the game Boric-Nikolaevsky, Kiev 1995
14. Nb5 is met by 14...Na6 and the key c7-square is supervised. 14. Nd5!
crashes through. Lines go like this:
a) 14...Na6 15. Nf6+
b) 14...exd5 15. Qe5+! Qe7 16. Qxe7#
c) 14...f6 15. Bh5+
Funny the disposition of the Black forces is! Who their field marshall of note
has been?
The position stems from the game Casagrande-Banas, Buekfuerdo 1995
12...Bxc4!, the protector-annihilation strategy works fine - 13. Bxc4 Nxb6

has snatched a full piece. Full piece advantage is a big chunk, in sharp
distinction to half piece one. Divide et impera.
The position stems from the game Valencia-Ivanov, Coria del Rio 2004

9...Bh3! gains material:
a) 10. Bxh3 Nxf3+ and ...Nxd2
b) 10. Nxd4 Bxg2 11. Rg1 exd4 12. Rxg2 dxe3
c) 10. Bxd4 Bxg2 11. Rg1 Bxf3
In case of castling short, probably White's best try, 10...Nxf3+ 11. Bxf3 Bxf1
wins the exchange.
The position stems from the game Rasmussen-Brondum, Copenhagen 1995

9...Ne5 10. Qb3 Qxd4 wins a minor. An intermediate 10. Bxf6 gxf6 changes
not an iota.
The position stems from the game Schmied-Aagaard, Copenhagen 1995
13. Ba6 highlights White's superiority by trapping the queen. Vivat regina.
The position stems from the game Handke-Haering, Berlin 1995

7. Nxe5!! Bxd1 8. Bxf7+ Ke7 9. Nd5#! is the "Legal's Mate". Always a joy
to replay.
The position stems from the game Knauer-Boehm, Berlin 1995

White has just played Bh6? intending to trade dark-square bishops. Alas, he
overlooked 13...Qh4+! 14. g3 Qxh6 winning the hapless minor for nothing.
This is a frequent trick in some openings.
The position stems from the game Johansen-Zilberman, Gausdal 1995
12...Nxc3! gains an anchor pawn, for the time being, the base of a chain.
Recapturing is strictly forbidden on account of ...Bb4, hard-pinning the lady.
The position stems from the game Maarten-Petrov, Halle 1995

11. Qb4! twin-attacks the e7-horse and g4 diagonal slider. How funny -
White is almost fully undeveloped, and yet wins! What about those opening
maxims one must first develop? The truth is, chess factors are
interchangeable, and this is just a general rule. What matters is the cumulative
sum of advantages. In this case, lag in development is compensated by
multiple attacks on the part of White's queen and bishop upon enemy objects,
plus the looseness of the Black bishop.
The position stems from the game Giemsa-Urban, Germany 1995

Castling long unpins with tempo, winning the e4-knight next. Who would
expect such a development?
The position stems from the game Mikhailov-Weteschnik, Budapest 1995
15...Qxe5 is a simultaneous attack on the h2-cell and d4-steed. 16. Nf3 Rxf3!
is curtains - h2 is weak again.
The position stems from the game Koenig-Mueller, Binz 1995

12...Bxc6? 13. Qxd4 keeps the equality of forces. 12...dxc6!, protecting the
d4-bishop by the queen, asserts the fact the second player has won a minor.
On occasion, less active, unobvious moves, are more appropriate, if
connected to tactics.
The position stems from the game Khromov-Podgaets, Moscow 1995

7. Bxf7+! is a weapon of mass destruction. Here are the lines after 7...Kxf7 8.
Ng5+
a) 8...Ke8 9. Ne6 smothers the queen
b) 8...Kf8 9. Ne6+ royal-forking
c) 8...Kg8 9. Qb3+! with mate at f7 to follow
Rejoice!
The position stems from the game Vokac-Bazant, Turnov 1996

White has just snatched a pawn at b7, completely missing that 9...Na5! now
simply leaves the female spy out of squares. This arose from the Nimzovich
Defence.
The position stems from the game Melgarejo-Wanzek, Berlin 1996
Black is in excellent mood, enjoying the pair of bishops and very decent
bringing-out of pieces. 14. Nfg5+! is ruinous, though. After 14...hxg5 15.
Nxg5+ Kh8/Kh6 16. Nxf7+ Kh7 17. Nxd8 the lady is gone. A single
unattended weakness - the f7-square - amounts to a general debacle. Double-
check all your moves, plans and variations: this might help you avoid
unnecessary blunders.
Saccing the other knight is an alternative.
The position stems from the game Simic-Zorko, Bled 1996
45. Bh6 will later deliver a decisive bishop check on g7. Identical is 45. Be7
Qg8 46. Bf6+ Nxf6 47. Qxf6+ Kh7 48. Qh6#
The position stems from the game Korneev-Alvarez, Las Palmas 2017

The 31. Bxh7+ one-mover, discovering an attack on the enemy queen and
later capturing it, is necessary to find.
The position stems from the game Sawlin-Ruff, Hannover 2017
22. Qh4+ Kg6 23. Qg4+ Kf6 24. Qg7 also mates, but 22. Ng4 is a much more
efficient mate in one.
The position stems from the game Kobalia-Chekletsov, Sochi 2017

The White king is exposed, so he must be careful. Instead of calculating all

possible opponent checks, 30. Rg8+! Rxg8 31. Rxg8+ Kxg8 32. Qg1+! Kf8
33. Qg7+ Ke8 34. Qg8 simply mates. Advanced storming pawns, like that on
f6, are always very dangerous.
The position stems from the game Kopylov-Yi, Hannover 2017

38...Rxd3! 39. Kxd3 fxe4+ ends the game:
a) If the king retreats, 40...exf3 has acquired 2 minor pieces for rook
b) 40. Kxe4 Bg6! suddenly sees the White king mated
The position stems from the game Kobalia-Inarkiev, Sochi 2017
35...Bg1+ 36. Kh1 Rh3#
The position stems from the game Paehtz-Tan, Huaian 2017

41. Qa7#
The position stems from the game Borys-Sergeev, Katowice 2017
This is probably more positional than tactical but 14. c6! forever traps the
Black b8-knight. Strategy and tactics go hand in hand, right?
The position stems from the game Mann-Deglmann, Germany 2000
11. Qxa7 and Black can not prevent mate on the very next turn by Qa8.
The position stems from the game Nakamura-Romanov, Oropesa del Mar
1999

Let's see now. Does White have any good continuations? Let's try 12. Qg6+
Ke5 13. Nf3 and the Black king will continue his joy ride at..., in the afterlife.
The position stems from the game Shukurova-Papp, Oropesa del Mar 1999
58...Qg6#! dovetails.
The position stems from the game Szalanczy-Mohr, Katowice 2017

56. Ng6+ has won the queen.
The position stems from the game Tsydypov-Khismatullin, Sochi 2017
23. d5! is a simultaneous attack on the e6-bishop and h8-rook. The x-ray
attack of the bishop on b2 upon the h8-rook in this case is decisive.
The position stems from the game Savchenko-Palchun, Sochi 2017
White is a pawn up but rook endings are very drawish. 68...Rg7+ 69. Kf3
Rh7!, attacking the isolated h-pawn, 70. Kg3 Rg7+! 71. Kf3 Rh7 is a
positional draw. The king can not go to the edge h-file, as he is too much
offside there and this might even be dangerous with the f-passer starting
rolling. Therefore, the White moves are forced. A positional draw is a less
common drawing technique where one should take the draw as otherwise his
position will be further compromised in some way, tactical or positional.
The position stems from the game Onischuk-Oleksiyenko, Zhytomyr 2017

71...Rf2+ 72. Kg1 Nh3+! 73. Kh1 Bf3# The three pieces coordinate
perfectly. If 72. Kh1, then already 72...Bf3+ 73. Kg1 Nh3 does the job. A
small transposition, that's all.
The position stems from the game Ashishq-Binxiang, FICS 2017
In spite of the significant White material edge, Black is very active.

72...Nd4+ 73. Ke1 Bh4+ 74. Kf1 e2+ promotes. If 73. Kf1, then promotion
occurs after 73...e2+ 74. Kf2 Bh4+
The position stems from the game Popov-Potkin, Sochi 2017
37...Bh6! - the mate threat on d2 is decisive.
The position stems from the game Ivekovic-Markus, Mali Losinj 2017

28. Rxc8!, removing the guard of the g4-square, is decisive. If Black
recaptures, 29. Qg4 mates. Otherwise, on 28...Qa4, for example, taking the
rook on a8 is sufficient.
The position stems from the game Balint-Trent, Douglas 2017
69. Nc8+ Kc6 70. Na7+ Kd6 71. Nb5+! Kc6 is waltzing the king to his final
square. The White rook will be so generous to land at c7 next.
The position stems from the game Souza-Rothebarth, Caioba 2017
11. Qg4 g6 12. Qg5!, followed by Qh6 and Qg7#, provides for the lack of
counter-measures. The pin on the e7-knight is the key motif, on a par with
weak dark-square complex around the Black king.
The position stems from the game Fedoseev-Domogaev, Sochi 2017

44. Qb8! Qf6 45. a8Q promotes a lot of material.
The position stems from the game Kula-Dhanush, Ostrava 2017
37. Rc8+ Kf7 38. Rc7+! wins the Black rook as 38...Rxc7 39. dxc7
promotes.
The position stems from the game Mosadeghpour-Mohammad, Shiraz 2017

Easiest win is 35. Re8+! Rf8 36. Qxf4 and the rook can't recapture, as it is
pinned.
The position stems from the game Restuccia-Scarella, Villa Martelli 2017

42...Rd1+ 43. Kf2 R8d2+ 44. Kf3 Bd5+! forks king and queen.
The position stems from the game Khademi-Tahbaz, Shiraz 2017
27...Qc1+! 28. Nxc1 Re1#
The position stems from the game Belova-Girya, Sochi 2017

67...Qh5+ 68. Kg3 Qg6+! trades queens, leading to an easily won endgame.
The position stems from the game Wademark-Giffard, Hersonissos 2017
33...Rxg3+! 34. fxg3 Ne3+ 35. Kf2 Nxf1 simplifies to an easily won pawn
ending.
The position stems from the game Vladimirov-Stupak, Tashkent 2017
20. Re5! wins a further exchange on f8 after the Black queen retreats.
The position stems from the game Solc-Ockay, Ostrava 2017

35. Qf5+ Kg7 36. Be5+! dxe5 37. Qxf2 picks up the loose Black queen. If
35...Kh5, then 36. g6+ Kh4 37. Bg5+ does the same.
The position stems from the game Kotanjan-Vakhidov, Tashkent 2017
54. Re4+ picks up the loose knight on e3.
The position stems from the game Smilga-Pavlovs, Riga 2017

15. Bh6+ Kg8 16. Qxe8+ wins a free queen.
The position stems from the game Jameson-Malola, Telford 2017
28...Ne3+ 29. Ke2 Qg2+ 30. Ke1 Qxh1+ wins a lot of material.
The position stems from the game Khrapko-Prakapuk, Minsk 2017
25...Nxf2! wins, threatening discovered check with captures on h1 and e4. If

26. Nxf2, then 26...Qe2+! 27. Kg1 Qxf2#
The position stems from the game Mazzilli-Basso, Gallipoli 2017

41. Qc7 Qe8 42. Qxd8!! Qxd8 43. Rxd7+! Qxd7 44. Nf8+ forks king and
queen.
The position stems from the game Andersen-Mager, Berlin 2017
40...Bg1+ 41. Kh1 Bf2+ 42. Kh2 Qg1+ mates one move later on g3.
The position stems from the game Baskin-Michalik, Berlin 2017

33...g3+! 34. Kxg3 Bxe3 wins a piece.
The position stems from the game Beerdsen-Bacrot, Berlin 2017
43. Qh8+ Qf8 44. Rd8+! Kxd8 45. Qxf8+ wins queen for rook.
The position stems from the game Kolotilina-Verdes, Salou 2017
47. Rxe5! wins a piece as recapturing with the bishop fails to Qxf7#
The position stems from the game Muzychuk-Mkrtchian, Germany 2017

31...Re1 32. Rf1 Nf3+ 33. Rxf3 Rh1#
32. Rxg2 is met by ...Nf3#
The position stems from the game Bartos-Blatny, Ostrava 2017
30...Bxg3 31. Rxg3 Qh4+! followed by a further capture on g3 seals it.
The position stems from the game Salonen-Minasian, Hersonissos 2017

31. Qh8+! Bxh8 32. Rxh8#
The position stems from the game Endress-Richterova, Germany 2017
30...Nc3+ 31. Ke1 Qc1#

The position stems from the game Pavlovs-Bernotas, Riga 2017
21. Qc6! is a double attack upon the rook on a8 and knight on d6, which will
win one of the two.
The position stems from the game Berzinsh-Daudzvardis, Riga 2017

27. Bxf7+!
a) 27...Rxf7 28. Qg6+
b) 27...Kh8 28. Qg6 Qxc7 29. Qh6#
The position stems from the game Vybiral-Ockay, Ostrava 2017

48. g7+ Kh7 49. Nf8#!
The position stems from the game Saric-Jovanovic, Valpovo 2017
40. Ne5+!
a) 40...Kh6 41. Ng4+! forking king and queen
b) 40...Kg8 41. Qf7+ Kh8 42. Qf8#
The position stems from the game Ledger-Rawlinson, Telford 2017

51. Qa8+ Bb8 52. Qxb8#
The position stems from the game Sokolov-McNab, Telford 2017
53. Rh8+ Kg7 54. Rh7+! Kxf6 55. Rxc7
The position stems from the game Shvayger-Boric, Germany 2017

31...Bc2! forks rook and knight.
The position stems from the game Feygin-Chabanon, Belgium 2017

36. Bxf6+ Kf8 37. Qh6+ Kg8 38. Qh8#
The position stems from the game Osmanodja-Mader, Germany 2017
41. b7+ Kd8 42. Bb6+ leads to decisive material advantage.
The position stems from the game Milliet-Horton, Telford 2017

37...Rxe3+! 38. Kxe3 Bg5+ 39. Kd4 Bxd2 wins a piece.
The position stems from the game Freitas-Miranda, Florianopolis 2017
31. Qb2+ Kg8 32. Re7! ends the struggle (Qg7# threatens).
The position stems from the game Malmdin-Seret, Hersonissos 2017

21. Nb6+! cxb6 22. Qxd6+ Ke8 23. Bb5#!! is a good old-timer.
The position stems from the game Dirmeier-Birkholz, Germany 2017
36...Rxf3! 37. gxf3 Qd1+ 38. Kg2 Qxe2

The position stems from the game Garcia-Narciso Dublan, Vilanova i la
Geltru 2017
56...Rc5+ 57. Kb6 Qd6+ 58. Kb7 Rc7+ 59. Kb8 Qd8# is the lawnmower.
56...Qd5+ 57. Kb6 Rc6+ 58. Kb7 Qd7+ 59. Kb8 Rc8# is another
lawnmower. Alternative mating options are also available.
The position stems from the game Sihite-Aakanksha, Ashgabat 2017

26...Na3! double check 27. Ka1 Qb1+!! 28. Rxb1 Nc2 is a perfect smother
mate sample.
The position stems from the game Tokhirjonova-Aakanksha, Ashgabat 2017
14...Nxg4! and White is busted after 15. hxg4 Qxg4+ and ...Qxf3.
The position stems from the game Gomez-Jakusheva, Oropesa del Mar 1999
11. Qh5+! with subsequent capture at e5 decides. Overexposed again.
The position stems from the game Ramo-Portero, Zaragoza 1999

13. Bd5! takes possession of the a8-rook, or the abused lady, in case of
13...exd5 14. exd5 discovered check and dxc6.
The position stems from the game Prediger-Tepe, Bad Wildbad 1999
44...Qg3 penetrates the enemy camp to mate with ...Qh2 on the next move.
The position stems from the game Velieva-Sachdev, Ashgabat 2017

26. Qc7#
The position stems from the game Dudzinski-Stenner, Katowice 2017
37. Qxc3+ Qc6 38. Qxc6+ Kd8 39. Qd7#

The position stems from the game Jaroch-Jahncke, Katowice 2017
87. Re8+ Kh7 88. g6+ Kxh6 89. Rh8#
The position stems from the game Miezis-Balint, Katowice 2017

25. Qg4! aims to deflect the Black queen from guarding the e8-square. The
majority of lines hinge on that pattern:
a) 25...Qxg4 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Rxe8 mates
b) 25...Qc7/Qd8 also has 26. Rxe8+ as a consequence
c) 25...Rxe2 26. Qxd7 takes the undefended queen
On 25...f5, White has 26. Qxf5! reproducing abovementioned patterns.
The position stems from the game Yu-Abdulla, Ashgabat 2017

71. Nh2+ Kg3 72. Nf1+ Kg2 73. Ne3+ Kg1 74. Ng4 is a "perpetual pursuit".
The knight can't be satisfactorily driven away so that the edge passer queens.
Of course, above only Black could have the advantage (potential winning
chances), as a lone knight is unable to deliver checkmate.
The position stems from the game Ponkratov-Navara, Katowice 2017
13. a6! gaols the Black sweeper. 13...Qxc4 14. axb7, pawn-forking both
cannons, is even worse.
The position stems from the game Vezzosi-Schmidt, Switzerland 1996

Instead of capturing at g5, 10...Qb6+! swiftly mates at f2 after a bunch of
White servants attempt to protect their king with their own bodies on d4 and
e3.
The position stems from the game Dusik-Komora, Ruzomberok 1996
Black's backward development and ugly piece positioning permits 10. Ne6+!
fxe6 11. Qxd8+ with a funeral march to follow.
The position stems from the game Kolar-Riznar, Bled 1996
14...Bf3! allows mate at g2 on the next turn. 14...Bh3 is identical. The useful
pin, provided by the d4-sweeper, is the cause for the Black lady's swaggering
in the immediate vicinity of the hostile king.
The position stems from the game Dezelak-Galeev, Bled 1996

12. Qd3! targets the h7 square and the c4-hopper. The hopper falters and
dies. Queen + bishop diagonal battery, when aimed at the enemy king
position, is one of the most powerful in chess.
The position stems from the game Sermek-Raspor, Portoroz 1996
9. Bb6 - Jesus Christ! - the queen is dead. Holes like b6 are bad in one's
disposition. Occupying them with pieces in the enemy camp, on the other
hand, is an excellent strategy.
The position stems from the game Hector-Vidarsson, Reykjavik 1996
15...h4! and now the first player will desperately search for the next half an
hour or so where to put his bishop.
The position stems from the game Murzin-Farago, Budapest 1996

6. Nd6 - what! - the Black king gets mated. An opposition of a king with the
enemy queen is rarely wise.
The position stems from the game Fabian-Szep, Balatonbereny 1996
9. Nxf7! Kxf7 10. Ne5+ and Bxb7 hands over White significant material and
positional edge.
The position stems from the game Christensen-Guindy, Copenhagen 1996

15. c4! levels the gun at the Black knight's face. If the horse moves, c5+ is a
discovered assault on the lady. Nice artisanry.
The position stems from the game Hansen-Christensen, Copenhagen 1996

14. b4! sees the a5-rimmer disavowed and disinherited.
The position stems from the game Bezgodov-Vujosevic, Balatonbereny 1996
In this maze-type position, 14. Nh6++ Kh8 15. Qg8+!! Nxg8 16. Nf7!
suffocates the Black monarch.
A virtuoso performance.
The position stems from the game Namyslo-Lau, Dresden 1996
14...Ba6! gains material. Pay attention to the support the Black lady provides
to the a6-sweeper.
The position stems from the game Vavra-Mitbreit, Pardubice 1996

13...b5! is a powerful double push trapping the a4-bishop. 14. Bxb5 has
enticed the slider to b5, and now 14...Qb6+ forks and emasculates it.
Seduction is a mighty technique.
The position stems from the game Zvara-Mochalov, Pardubice 1996
15. Qxh6! Nxh6 16. Rd8+ and Rxh8 leaves the first player an entire rook
ahead.
The position stems from the game Rahls-Haberscheidt, Berlin 1996
9. Bh6 menaces Qxf8#! Black has no satisfactory answer. The rook pin along
the e-file is killing.
The position stems from the game Polzin-Fritzsche, Berlin 1996

9...Qh4+! spells out White's verdict - both 10. g3 Qxe4+ and 10. Ng3/Nf2
Qxd4 lose big chunks of wood.
The position stems from the game Voigt-Pribyl, Berlin 1996
15. Bb5+ c6 16. Bxc6+! bxc6 17. Qxc6+ and Qxa8 tears down Black's
bulwarks. Sacrifices are often the quickest way to a win.
The position stems from the game Zifroni-Petrov, Siofok 1996
White has hoarded ample wood reserves for the long cold winter.
Unfortunately, 13...Qg3+! 14. Kh1 Qg2 whispers checkmate now. Wise use
of the pin on the f2-pedestrian.
The position stems from the game Hoose-Li, Beijing 1996
It's difficult to imagine a bigger mess. Still, 15. Qh5+ g6 16. Qxg6 duly
checkmates. The White queen and bishop sweep the necessary diagonals
clean.
The position stems from the game Hector-Konopka, Germany 1997

13. e6! is a nice tactical shade:
a) 13...Bxe6 14. Qxc7
b) 13...Qxg3 14. exd7+! and hxg3
The position stems from the game Eisterer-Stuhlik, Vienna 1996

Of course, 14...cxd4 breaks open the c-file with a simultaneous attack on the
White lady and e3-sweeper.
The position stems from the game Bawart-Dueckstein, Vienna 1996
11. Nd5! is a fate-sealer:

a) 11...Nxd5 12. Bxa5+
b) 11...Qxb5 12. Qc7+! Ke8 13. Qc8#
The position stems from the game Vajda-Skripchenko, Medellin 1996
15. Rxd7!! is a dazzling blow, as recapturing with the lord fails to Nxe5+
royal fork (the c6-knight is pinned).
The position stems from the game Chevrier-Nielsen, Viborg 1996

13. Nxf5 Bxf5 14. Qd5+! leaves White the pleasant choice of eating the a5-
horse or f5-sweeper. Whose meat do you think is tastier?
The position stems from the game Ernst-Van Wissen, Enschede 1996
Fastest is 60. Qe7, restricting the Black king on the edge rank, in order for
60...Kb8 61. Nd6 Ka8 62. Qb7 to deliver the final blow.
The position stems from the game Abdumalik-Sihite, Ashgabat 2017
27. Nxg5! wins a pawn for the time being - 27...Nxg4 28. Qh7+ Kf6 29.
Ne4+! Ke7 30. hxg4 Retaking the knight with 27...hxg5 is bad, because of
28. Qxg5+ Kh8 29. Nxf6 and the game has all but finished.
The position stems from the game Gledura-Krstulovic, Corund 2017

27. Kf1! assumes control of the knight:
a) 27...Re8 28. Re1
b) 27...Nf4 28. Be5! forking both Black pieces, with 28...Rb4 being
impossible due to a back-ranker on d8
The position stems from the game Pranav-Fischer, Douglas 2017
39. Rxd6! mates in one.

The position stems from the game Froewis-Rogozenco, Balatonszarszo 2017
A "Maroczy Bind"-like structure has handed White clear advantage. 11. e5!
twin-assails both Black knights.
The position stems from the game Pohl-Fox, Bad Wildbad 2003
50. Qg7+ Kf5 51. Qf6+! Kg4 52. Qg5 is a nice escalator-type mate.
The position stems from the game Haria-Dill, Montevideo 2017
In case Black captures with the queen or knight on d4, White sacrifices the
bishop on g6 or rook on f7 to get a perpetual check or even more. Accurate is
26...Qb7+! checkmating in 2 more moves after the opponent interposes the
bishop on e4 and finally the rook on f3.
The position stems from the game Yayloyan-Petrosyan, Erevan 2017
25. Bg2+ Kc4 26. Rc1/Qb3 mates in 2. Fate is fickle.
The position stems from the game Joshuali-Tigermarch, FICS 2017

If 14...Qxb7 15. Qxd4 The second mover outsmarts his opponent by

14...Rd8! though, the Damocles' Sword being ...Bxf2+ If White reacts with
15. e3, then 15...Bg7 and ...Qxb7
The position stems from the game Driamin-Alekseev, Saratov 1999

15...Bxf6/gxf6?? 16. Qxd6 forfeits the lady. Stepping into the center,
15...Ke7!, the monarch defends his beloved one and Black is a figure ahead.
The position stems from the game Zoister-Birklbauer, Aschach 1999
15...a4! expels the horse that will refuse to budge, however, as if it budges,
16...Ra5 gives the lady a close hug from which she can't escape.
The position stems from the game Kwiatkowski-Rendle, Hastings 2000

21...Nh4!, assaulting the defender of the h2 shelter square, puts the finishing
touch. White has one spite check with 22. Bxf7+ Kh8 and after that:
a) 23. Nxh4 Qh2+ 24. Kf1 Qxf2#
b) 23. Qf1 Nxf3+ 24. Rxf3 Qh2#
c) on alternative moves Black mates on g2
21...Nf4 is insufficient because of 22. Qf1, protecting g2, and there is no
mate.
The position stems from the game Klek-Kantane, Balatonszarszo 2017

21...Rxe3! is the coup de grace:
a) 22. fxe3 Bxe3! diverting the queen from defending the shelter, and now
23. Qxe3 Qxb2 mates
b) 22. Bc4, an attempt at a counter-diversion, fails to 22...Rxc3+! 23. bxc3
Qb1#
The position stems from the game Kopinits-Zimina, Balatonszarszo 2017
19. Qe5+ Qf6 20. Qxf6#

The position stems from the game Kantans-Goslawski, Katowice 2017
38...Rxg2+ 39. Kh1 Rh2+! 40. Kxh2 Qg2#
The position stems from the game Piskur-Salimova, Zadar 2017

131...Qg4+ 132. Kh2 Qg2#

An alternative is 131...Qg2+ 132. Kh4 Qg4#
The position stems from the game Li-Marani, Johor 2017
63. Ng5! threatens mate on h7, leading to 63...hxg5 64. Qh5#! One
alternative is 63. Nf6, elaborating on the same threat, gxf6 64. Qxh6# A more
direct approach, involving only checks, is 63. Qe8+ Kh7 64. Ng5+! (the g8-
square is protected by the queen on a2) hxg5 65. Qh5#
The position stems from the game Bashirli-Karaokcu, Istanbul 2017
Although in a corner, the Black king can not be box-mated at h2 as the

friendly bishop provides sufficient support and cover, 113. Bg8 Rh2+ 114.
Bh7 Rd2 115. Be4 Rh2+ 116. Bh7 with repeating manouvers. Now,
116...Kf7 or any rook move on the h-file is stalemate, while swinging the
rook off the edge file repeats again. This is simply a theoretically drawn
endgame but the weaker side should know how to defend, as lowering the
guard, for example, with 113. Be6?? leads to checkmate after ...Rh2+
The position stems from the game Malakhova-Zhukova, Zhytomyr 2017

Do you believe 36...Rc3 is mate? One should look for better moves in the
most unusual of situations.
The position stems from the game Vasic-Ciganovic, Pula 2017
White has multiple mating threats, starting with Qxg7. How does Black save
the day? 33...Qxg2+!! is an excellent forcing move, leading to 34. Kxg2
Bb7+! - a zwischenzug, creating a discovery on the f8-queen, and on the next
move the rook captures it. In the end, Black is left with a healthy piece more.
The position stems from the game Predke-Kosteniuk, Chelyabinsk 2017
36...Rg1+! is an outstanding tactical shot:

a) 37. Ke2 Rxa1 scooping up the White rook
b) 37. Nxg1 h2 38. Ke2 h1Q puts a new queen on the board, as the knight has
done a very untimely interposition between the newly-arisen piece and the
rook guard of the h1-square
The position stems from the game Carlsen-Bu Xiangzhi, Tbilisi 2017

Don't overlook 27...Re4! menacing both ...Rg4+ and ...Rh4. Rook lifts are a
very significant attacking resource.
The position stems from the game Arvidsson-Lindberg, Linkoping 2017
White is on the attack, but has placed his pieces awkwardly. 28...h6! is a
subtle decoy, preying on the e4-bishop, both when the knight goes back, and
if the queen takes the pawn. Don't put your pieces so that they come under
attack.
The position stems from the game Livaic-Martirosyan, Mamaia 2017
29. Qh6+
a) 29...Kf7 30. Qh7+ Kf8 31. Rf6#
b) 29...Kg8 30. Rg6+ Kf7 31. Qg7#
The position stems from the game Mamedov-Artemiev, Huaian 2017

45. Qf7#
The position stems from the game Lee-Alphaeus, Melbourne 2017
50...Qb1#!
The position stems from the game Lagno-Zhao, Huaian 2017

26...e3 expels the rook from d2, leaving the e2-bishop unprotected.
The position stems from the game Pichugin-Lysyj, Chelyabinsk 2017
29...Re4! is an exquisite double attack on the two White bishops.

The position stems from the game Yudin-Balashov, Chelyabinsk 2017
Black is in a mating situation. But how does White complete the mate? 41.
e6! takes over the e6 escape square, allowing 41...Rxe6 42. Rd1 to deliver
the final blow.
The position stems from the game Ognean-Van Dael, Mamaia 2017
Most straightforward is 26. Nxf6+! forking queen and king, Rxf6,

dismantling the support for the friendly queen, allowing 27. Qxe8+ to take
possession of it free of charge.
The position stems from the game Shkapenko-Vidic, Trieste 2017

White has two passers versus one so Black simply takes the draw with
49...Rf2+ 50. Kg1 Rf1+ 51. Kg2 Rf2+! etc.
The position stems from the game Miezis-Mroziak, Katowice 2017
30...Rxa6! decoys the queen away from the b-file intending 31. Qxa6 Qb2#
The position stems from the game Fudalej-Walkusz, Szklarska Poreba 2017

24...Na6! checkmates in one. So do 24...Qd7 and 24...Qc5, but admittedly,
much less elegantly. The White king was so close...to a touchdown at c8.
Maybe this was his intention after all. Listen to your heart beat.
The position stems from the game Ncemily-Sumur, FICS 2017
15. f5! is very treacherous, indeed:

a) 15...Bxf5 16. Bxh6
b) 15...Bxc1 16. fxe6! (attacking the queen) followed by recapture at c1
The position stems from the game Solomunovic-Schuh, Schwaebisch
Gmuend 2000
This one is extremely eyebrow-raising. As if all marks point to Black's

domination, however, 12. Qxd8+!! Kxd8 13. 0-0-0+! deals the cards anew.
Black can't avoid significant material loss, for instance:
a) 13...Kc7 14. Nxe4 in a flurry of joyful unpinning

b) 13...Qd3 14. Rxd3+ Bxd3 15. Rd1! and the d3-sweeper crumbles due to
the refreshed pin
The position stems from the game Akimov-Pridorozhni, Saint Petersburg

2000

Many will recognise the Exchange Variation of the Ruy Lopez. 10...Bxh2+!
followed by "queen eats loose queen" and the game will be over as soon as it
has started.
The position stems from the game Barber-Hebden, Bunratty 2000
The very much unexpected 41. Rb8+! Kxb8 lures the king away from the d7
flight square, allowing 42. Rh8+ Rd8 43. Rxd8 to checkmate.
The position stems from the game Vidic-Vezzosi, Trieste 2017
38. Nd7! will promote on the next move, winning a rook. If 38...Rxd7, 39.
f8Q installs a new queen.
The position stems from the game Jobava-Salgado, Tbilisi 2017

White has developed especially well in a semblance of Queen's Indian
construction. On his last turn, he has just captured a pawn at g4 with his f3-
infantryman, cherishing the hope of further material gains. Cursedly, the
opponent has 14...Nh3!, which is what? Checkmate.
The position stems from the game Campeau-Krainski, Hoevelte 2003
24. Bh6+! Kxh6 25. Qxf7 ends the game. The king has been distracted to a
square, where it no longer protects the friendly queen.
The position stems from the game Suarez-Loiacono, Trieste 2017
47. Ra7! creates the double threat of rook mate on f7 and knight checkmate
on h7. As Black is incapable of meeting both at the same time, he must
resign. Key is the creation of a barrier for the king along the 7th rank.
The position stems from the game Grischuk-El Gindy, Tbilisi 2017

29...Bg4+ 30. Kc1 Qa1+ 31. Kd2 Qd1+! 32. Kc3 Qxd6 scoops up the White
bishop.
The position stems from the game Rublevsky-Banusz, Ruma 2017
31. f5 gxf5 32. gxf5 makes short work of the tall pawn on e6. Always watch
out for pieces with bad mobility.
The position stems from the game Suarez-Doric, Trieste 2017

44...Ra1+ 45. Kg2 Ne1+! and, no matter where the king will go on the next
move from 4 available options, the knight will give check/double check on
f3, with the rook mating immediately after.
The position stems from the game Geller-Vavulin, Moscow 2017

42. e6+!
a) 42...Kxe6 43. Qd6+ Kf5 44. Qe5#!
b) 42...Kf8 43. Qd6+ Kg7 44. Qe7#
c) 42...Kg7 43. Rh7+ Kf8 44. Qd6#
Any discovered check with the knight doesn't work because of ...Nf5!
countercheck.
The position stems from the game Denikina-Vinokur, Chelyabinsk 2017

51...e1Q+ 52. Kb2 Qa1+ 53. Kb3 Qa3#!
The position stems from the game Hecko-Magat, Slovakia 2017
41...Re3#!
The position stems from the game Gu-Ren, Shenzhen 2017

32. Bg7+ Kg8 33. Bf6+ Kf8 34. Qg8 checkmates the travelling king.
The position stems from the game Bagi-Balint, Budapest 2017
33...Rxh3+!! attracts the queen away from guarding the f2-point, upon which
34. Qxh3 Qxf2+ 35. Qg2 Qxg2 delivers a checkmate.
The position stems from the game Vezzani-Lodici, Trieste 2017
Black is a pawn ahead with very active king and should easily be winning,
moreover that the pawn groups on the queen side seem fully symmetrical and
therefore barren and predictable. What a misjudgement! Actually, White
wins above after the fully unexpected 1. b6 axb6 2. c6!, attacking the b7-
pawn, bxc6 3. a6 b5 4. a7 and the brave new world has opened its riches to
the little infantryman that has just popped up. 1...cxb6 is met by 2. a6! bxa6
3. c6 and this time the breakthrough has facilitated the job of the c-file pawn.
Astounding, isn't it? Who would think White could create a passer here?

The position is a bit chaotic. 12...Nxe3! sets up an elaborate mechanism of
forks and mate threats:
a) 13. Qxe3 Nc2+! and ...Nxe3+
b) 13. Qxb4 Nc2+ (this is the other knight) and ...Nxb4
c) 13. Qc3 Nbc2+! and the lady has to take at c2, as otherwise this is a mating
situation
Great and resourceful.
The position stems from the game Durant-Compton, Saint Helier 2000

It is difficult to imagine a more ugly dislocation of White's forces. Thus,
13...Qf4! checkmates on the next turn at h2 or in 2 moves' time, if the eager
defender chooses 14. f3 Qh2+ 15. Kf2 Bg3#!
The position stems from the game Lang-Jaenig, Bad Woerishofen 2000
The trick is how White captures at f3. 14. Rxf3, 14. Bxf3 or 14. gxf3 lose the
queen with check. The knight capture, though, neutralises the check in the
process of supporting the d4-lady. Gorgeous - further resistance is
meaningless, as point count is too lopsided.
The position stems from the game Rudolph-Slacik, Bad Woerishofen 2000
56. Rb4 - this is a simple drawing position; the White rook shuttles back and
forth to b4, c4 and a4, preventing the enemy king from invading deeper.
When Black pushes ...g4, the White rook goes to the 8th rank and starts
giving checks from behind. The king can't escape, leading to a positional tie.
The position stems from the game Jakubowski-Meskovs, Katowice 2017

30...Nxf3+ is so dangerous that, unless White sacs his queen, Black mates:
a) 31. Kf1 Qh3#!
b) 31. Kg2 Qg4+ 32. Kf1 Qg1#
On 31. Kh1 Black has 31...Qh3 and the twin threat of checkmates on h2 and
f1 forces White's resignation.
Pretty much identical is 30...Qh3.
The position stems from the game Scarpa-Naumkin, Cesenatico 2017

If you aren't very certain what exchanging rooks on f6 boils down to, 57.
Ra7+ Ke8 58. Rxe7+! Kxe7 59. Bg5 Kf7 60. Bxf6 Kxf6 gets an easy-to-win
pawn ending.
The position stems from the game Teske-Hofer, Innsbruck 2017
27...e4 attacks the f3-knight, makes a disovery on the a1-rook, while

simultaneously menacing to open the central e-file. What more does one need
for a move to be excellent?
The position stems from the game Vachier-Lagrave - Xiong, Chess.com 2017
25...Rxf4! 26. Rxf4 Rxf4 for the time being has won a piece. Recapturing
with any chessman is bad, for example, 27. Qxf4 fails to ...Nh3+, forking
their royal majesties, while on 27. gxf4 Black has 27...Nh3 check again, and
then "queen takes queen".
Key motifs are attraction and looseness of the White queen, coupled with a
timely check.
The position stems from the game Semprun-Valles, Collado Villalba 2017

17. Bxe5 gains a piece, as on 17...dxe5 White has 18. Qxd8+ Of course, this
is just a simple pin coupled with a line battery, but the trick here is that the
introductory move only discovers that pin.
The position stems from the game Rut-Anaskin, Ricany 2017
13...Qxf2+ 14. Kh1 Bf3# Very good.
The position stems from the game Zhhyue-Zianlin, FICS 2017

31...Rd1+ 32. Kg2 Qf1#! designs the "dovetail".
The position stems from the game Husbands-Rohl, Port of Spain 2017

13. Qxf6 Rg8 14. Ng5! (targeting f7) stops the clocks. 14. Rxe7+! Nxe7 15.
Qxb6 is also possible.
The position stems from the game Loew-Jakobi, Bad Woerishofen 2000
15...Qf5+! and ...Qxf4 levies a further pawn.
The position stems from the game Kuvsinov-Piesina, Vilnius 2000

15...Nc5! is definitive:
a) 16. dxc5 Qxd3
b) 16. Qc2 Nxe4
c) 16. Rxe8 Nxd3
The position stems from the game Gaitan-Cifuentes Parada, Dos Hermanas
2000

You are seeing 24...Bb4!, right? Batteries, diagonal in this case, are also
important for the reason that the constituting elements support each other,
thus the bishop is protected by the queen on f8.
The position stems from the game Bauer-Gheng, Stuttgart 2017
39...Be6! corrals the knight, after which 40...Kg5 traps it. 40. Nf5 Bxf5 41.
gxf5 Kxf5 transitions into a simple pawn ending win.
The position stems from the game Loutragotis-Samaridis, Nikaia 2017

18. Rxf7! consumes a whole pawn while bringing the rook to the 7th rank.
Recapturing will have 19. Rf3 check and discovered attack, followed by
Qxc4, as a conseqence.
The position stems from the game Jerkovic-Matosevic, Split 2017

70. Kh1 Kh3 is stalemate. One all. Stalemate is a frequent drawing trick in
simple endings; that is one of the reasons edge pawns almost never promote.
The position stems from the game Schulz-Tymrakiewicz, Katowice 2017
The winning machine runs as follows: 33. Ra8 check Kh7 34. Bg8 check
Kh8 35. Bc4! discovered attack, followed by picking the d3-rook.
The position stems from the game Rublevsky-Kuprijanov, Saint Petersburg

2017
26. Qxf8+! Kxf8 27. Rd8#
The position stems from the game Burovic-Sahil, Zadar 2017

47. Rxa8 Rxa8 48. Bxc6! Qc8 49. Bxa8
The position stems from the game Spence-Stevenson, Telford 2017
30. Qh8+! Kd7 31. Qxh5
The position stems from the game Codenotti-Rombaldoni, Gallipoli 2017

34. Bd6 adds another attacker to the pinned bishop on f8, resolving the pin.
The position stems from the game Kivimaki-Robertson, Hersonissos 2017

67. Rg8 seals it. The threat of c6-c7 decides.
The position stems from the game Lomasov-Faizrakhmanov, Loo 2017
45. Qe3+ Kg4 46. Qf3+! Kh4 47. Qh3#
The position stems from the game Kazimov-Banerjee, Iasi 2017

53. Rxf8 leads to a simple won pawn ending.
The position stems from the game Buchenau-Plotkin, Reykjavik 2017

30. Rd7 ends the struggle.
The position stems from the game Karjakin-Topalov, Shamkir 2017
26. Qh6+ Bg7 27. Qxb6 (other defences are even worse).
The position stems from the game Louis-Karason, Reykjavik 2017

32. Qc8+ Kg7 33. Qf8#!
The position stems from the game Berkovich-Hewson, Hersonissos 2017
33...Qc4+ 34. Kd2 Re2+! 35. Kd1 Qxc2#
The position stems from the game Larson-Saptarshi, Reykjavik 2017

38...Rxg2+! 39. Kxg2 Bxf3+ forks king and rook.
The position stems from the game De Francesco-Halvax, Austria 2017

38. Nd6! - the threat of Qb7# is decisive.
The position stems from the game Brecka-Bures, Bohuslavice 2017
37. Re8+! Kf6 38. Rd6+ Kg7 39. Rxe5
The position stems from the game Perelshteyn-Gislason, Reykjavik 2017

34. Rg1+ Kh5 35. Rh1+ Kg5 36. Qe3+! mates.
The position stems from the game Predojevic-Rotstein, Austria 2017
29. Rb1 - the threat of Rb8 is unavoidable.
The position stems from the game Nebolsina-Halldorsson, Reykjavik 2017

61...Qa5+ trades down into a won pawn ending.
The position stems from the game Stetsko-Makka, Riga 2017

30. Ne5! forks rook and bishop.
The position stems from the game Kryvoruchko-Yu, China 2017
36...Qxb1+!! 37. Kxb1 Rf1+ 38. Qe1 Rxe1#
The position stems from the game Pham-Nguyen, Hanoi 2017

40. Nd6+! Bxd6 41. Rxe8 wins more material.
The position stems from the game Narva-Houska, Riga 2017
51...Qd1+ 52. Kg3 Nxh3+! wins the queen (53. Kxh3 Qh1+ 54. Kg4 Qh5#).
The position stems from the game Nguyen-Hoang, Hanoi 2017

30. Rd5+ Ke6 31. Rxe4+! wins a piece, using the pin of the f5-pawn.
The position stems from the game Turcan-Chudinovskikh, Frydek Mistek

2017

46. Rb4! traps the Black knight.
The position stems from the game Sukandar-Brown, Canberra 2017
36. Qxd4+ Kc6 37. Rxc7+ Kxc7 38. Qf4+! followed by Qxg5 picks up too
much material.
The position stems from the game Tong-Nguyen, Hanoi 2017

33...Be5! 34. Qxe5 Qc2+! mates on g2.
The position stems from the game Lane-Krasenkow, Canberra 2017
48. Nxd5 cxd5 49. f7 Rf1 50. Bf2! and the f7-pawn promotes.
The position stems from the game Lagno-Charochkina, Riga 2017

39...Rb8+ 40. Qb4 Rxb4+ 41. cxb4 Qxe2+
The position stems from the game Coenen-Svane, Karlsruhe 2017

40. Qf8+ Kb7 41. Qe7+! Kc8 42. Rf8+
The position stems from the game Jumabayev-Saiyn, Almaty 2017
38. Qh8+ Ne8 39. Qxe8#
The position stems from the game Alvarado-Perez, Las Palmas 2017
56...Qd4+ 57. Kb3 Rb2+! 58. Ka3 Qb4# "railroads".
The position stems from the game Thomas-Svane, Karlsruhe 2017
47...Nf3+ 48. Kh1 Ng4 49. a7 Nf2#

Identical is 47...Nh3+ 48. Kh1 Nd1 49. a7 Ndf2#
The position stems from the game Tsolakidou-Berzina, Riga 2017

36...Nf3+! 37. Kh1 Qf1#
The position stems from the game Van Baar-Fridman, Karlsruhe 2017

56. Rd7#! is a Vukovic-like pattern.
The position stems from the game Stocek-Baudot, Karlsruhe 2017
46. Qe8+!
a) 46...Kh7 47. Qxf7+
b) 46...Rf8 47. Qxg6+ Kh8 48. Qg7#
The position stems from the game Akhmetov-Saiyn, Almaty 2017

44. Rxa6+ Kb7 45. Qa7#
The position stems from the game Li-Stevens, Chicago 2017
127...Bb2#!
The position stems from the game Pangilinan-Liu, Chaam 2017
29. Ne7+ royal fork decides.
The position stems from the game Del Rio Angelis-Movsziszian, Las Palmas
2017

21...Nf7! - the threats of ...Qxe3 and ...Bc3 decide.
The position stems from the game Azimova - Arakhamia-Grant, Riga 2017
One winning line is 40. Nxd6+ Kd7 41. Nxf7+
The position stems from the game Santos-Yohan, Dubai 2017

36. Nxf6+! Bxf6 37. Rxd7
The position stems from the game Kreiling-Henrich, Hofheim 2017

29...Rh8+! 30. Kg1 Rh1 mates a la Anderssen.
The position stems from the game Zilka-Kreisl, Lesnica 2017
33...Rg5! dissolves the pin on the g6-pawn, winning material.
The position stems from the game Leck-Keller, Hofheim 2017

35. Rxf8+ Bxf8 36. Bc3+! wins (36...Bg7 37. Qe8+).
The position stems from the game Jasny-Tikovsky, Czech Republic 2017

41. Bxf5+ wins a piece, as recapturing with the pawn loses the rook on e8.
The position stems from the game Liang-Risting, Fagernes 2017
30...Qc3+ 31. Ke2 d3+! is a discovered attack upon the undefended queen on
f6.
The position stems from the game Jones-Nicholson, Wakefield 2017

46...Qe3+ 47. Kd5 Qe6+ trades queens, winning.
The position stems from the game Perez-Lopez, Donostia 2017

27...R2xe5! and recapturing with the pawn is impossible because of ...Qd3#!
27...R8xe5 is an alternative.
The position stems from the game Bentsen-Arvola, Fagernes 2017
33...cxd4! and the knight on e5 is lost to the pin, as 34. Bxd4 Rxd4! 35. Qxd4
Be5+ loses the queen.
The position stems from the game Pokorny-Petran, Czech Republic 2017
32. Qh6+ Kg8 33. Rg3+ mates.
The position stems from the game Indjic-Asadli, Dubai 2017

30. Be4+ leaves Black no choice (30...Rf5 31. Qxb7+).
The position stems from the game Vybiral-Plesek, Czech Republic 2017
21...Ng4 22. Qf3 Rh1+!! 23. Nxh1 Rxh1+ mates.
The position stems from the game Zherebukh-Nakamura, Saint Louis 2017
37...Bd4+ 38. Kf1 Rf2+ 39. Kg1 Raa2! is hopeless.
The position stems from the game Abrahamyan-Paikidze, Saint Louis 2017

46...Qg2+ 47. Ke1 Qe2#!
The position stems from the game Levi-Guichard, Melbourne 2017
32. Qg6+ Kf8 33. Nxe6#!
The position stems from the game Yu-Yuan, Shenzhen 2017

Might seem like a complicated position, with mutual chances, but 36. Ne7+
Kh8 37. Nxf7! actually mates. A nice display of organised horse power.
The position stems from the game Voinikonis-Mingarro, Barcelona 2017

Is the White queen trapped? No, 31. Rf3! inaugurates a counter-attack,
leading to 31...Rxh5 32. Rxf6 Kxf6 33. gxh5, and the balance of forces is
more or less observed.
The position stems from the game Monninger-Biti, Schwarzach 2017
24. Rxa7! benefiting from the weak Black back rank is curtains:
a) 24...Rxa7 25. Qxf8#
b) 24...Qxe5 25. Rxa8 Bxa8 26. Qxf8#
c) 24...Rb8 25. Nd7! forking rook and bishop
The position stems from the game Haug-Costantini, Barcelona 2017
The obvious 37...d4! targets the queen, while discovering an attack on the
knight, which wins a piece.
The position stems from the game Ratsma-Biti, Schwarzach 2017

29...Nxa1?? is a blunder, due to 30. Qxc4 (the knight is pinned). 29...Nxd2!
successfully breaks the pin, though, gaining a major chessman in the process:
a) 30. Qxc4 Nxc4, while unpinning, the knight has also defended the own
queen
b) 30. Rxd2 Re1+ 31. Kh2 Qf4+! and ...Qxd2
The position stems from the game Cotonnec-Sturt, Barcelona 2017

27. Bxf6+! Qxf6 28. Rh7+! Kxh7 29. Qxf6 is very convincing.
The position stems from the game Whatley-Molnar, Rymanow-Zdroj 2017
54. Rc6+ coerces the Black king to a bad square, allowing 54...Kf7 55.
Rxc4!, decoying the enemy rook to c4, Rxc4 56. Nd6+, forking two
opposing chessmen.
The position stems from the game Zozulia-Pacher, Feffernitz 2017

50. Rxf5+! Kxf5 attracts the Black king to a highly unpleasant skewer with
51. Bd3+, followed by Bxh7. Simple and effective.
The position stems from the game Rozman-Gundogan, Rymanow-Zdroj 2017

Other moves, for example, ...Qa7, also win, but 37...Be2! charmingly
dislodges the White queen from the d1 blocking square.
The position stems from the game Schneider-Kiolbasa, Rymanow-Zdroj 2017
44...Qe3+ 45. Kg2 Rg4+! 46. Kh1 Qg1#
The position stems from the game Klingher-Paterek, London 2017

46. Qxf6+ Qg7 47. Qxg7#
The position stems from the game Pulkkinen-Jarvenpaa, Finland 2017

68...c1Q 69. d8Q Qe3#
The position stems from the game Sharif-Islam, Dhaka 2017
68. Kc8?? Qxa7 is curtains. Correct is 68. Ka8!, voluntarily cornering

himself with no moves available, so that any Black move with the king self-
stalemates. As the king can't come closer to lend a helping hand his queen to
build a mating net, the queen will give spite checks for a while more until the
position is exhausted.
The position stems from the game Kuzmicz-Georgiev, Katowice 2017
12. Qh7 mate. Still, it was not late to gallop away with the knight.
The position stems from the game Chessjl-Richardxu, FICS 2017

The White king is cornered, so Black simply loses 2 tempos, for example
with 49...Kf5! 50. c6 Kf6! in order for 51. a7 to self-block the king, allowing
...Qc8 mate.
The position stems from the game Moiseenko-Yagubi, Tula 2017
26...Rb5! has trapped the White queen right in the very center (27. Rc5 Rxc5
loses the rook).
The position stems from the game Ismail-Docx, Brasschaat 2017
26...Qa4! targets the a1 mating square, inducing a variation like 27. c3

Qxb3+ 28. Kc1 Qb1# Experienced players will see this easily. The difficulty
consists in putting the queen to a square, where it is attacked by an enemy
pawn, willingly.
The position stems from the game Ivanov-Saveliev, Saint Petersburg 2017

If White does not find a tactical solution, Black can easily get on top.
Outwardly, as if all shelter squares are defended and it is difficult to infiltrate,
but the somewhat funny 43. Rb8+!! unravels the knot. The king gets
deflected to a square, where it's x-ray-attacked by the bishop on f4, allowing
43...Kxb8 44. Qxb6+ with immediate victory. Tactics are often synonymous
with surprise.
The position stems from the game Medarde-Bellia, Abudhabi 2017

7. Nxd4 Bxd1 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Kxd1 has gained a piece.
The position stems from the game Keller-Colandrea, Metz 2000
In this highly divergent imbalance situation 14. Nxe6!! is the ideal crushing
tactical blow. Lines run hopeless for Black:
a) 14...fxe6 15. Bxe6+ Rf7 16. e8Q#!
b) 14...Qxe7 (what else?) 15. Bxe7 Re8 16. Nc7 Rxe7 17. Nxa8 with huge
material superiority
The position stems from the game Timotic-Veron, Metz 2000
The eccentric but extremely logical 15. Nh6! stops the clocks. Qxg8 mate
threatens, while 15...gxh6 is quickly refuted by 16. Bxh6+ Ke8 17. Qxg8+
Imagination plays a primordial role in chess.
The position stems from the game Petronic-Savic, Herceg Novi 2000

40...Qh4+ 41. Kg1 Qd4+! and ...Qxg7 picks up the White rook. Of all
forcing moves, checks are the most dangerous.
The position stems from the game Kiselev-Rorvik, Sabadell 2017
20. Qc4+ Kh8 (20...Rf7 21. Re8#) 21. Qf7! underscores White's advantage:
a) 21...Rxf7 22. Re8+ Rf8 23. Rxf8#
b) 21...Rg8 22. Re8
The position stems from the game Kowalec-Kotlowski, Suwalki 2017
29...Bb1+ 30. Ka1 Bc2+! 31. Ka2 Qb1#
The position stems from the game Simonsen-Poulsen, Faroe Islands 2017

31...Bc8! 32. Ne6+ fxe6 33. Bc2 Ba6#!
The position stems from the game Schwarhofer-Kummer, Austria 2017
35...Re3
a) 36. Qe1 Rxg3#
b) 36. Bf3 Qh2#
The position stems from the game Sokac-Sulava, Zagreb 2017

38...a4! wins the awkwardly positioned White bishop. On both 39. Bxa4 and
39. Ba2 39...Nc3 forking check will follow, doing away with the bishop. If
39. Ke3, counter-assaulting the knight, 39...axb3 40. Kxe4 bxc2! seals it by
producing new queen.
The position stems from the game Nitin-Swapnil, Ahmedabad 2017

White has a pawn more and quite realistic winning chances if he captures the
c5-pawn or manages to somehow defend his king. Therefore, 44...Qf2+ 45.
Kh3 Qf1+ 46. Kh2 Qf2+! 47. Kh3 Qf1+ gives White the joy of perpetual
check.
The position stems from the game Chan-Lopez, Sitges 2017
13. Bxb8! Rxb8 14. Bb5 reinforcing the pin on d7 sets up a new game.
The position stems from the game Herder-Pechisker, Vancouver 2000

14...Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 has won a piece, as 16. Rxd4 Qxc2+ 17. Ka1
Qc1+! checkmates.
The position stems from the game Keinki-Schumi, Passau 2000

13. Bg6+ Ke7/Kf8 14. Qf7 gives mate. See how the two White sliders
travelling on light cells cooperate.
The position stems from the game Baumeister-Hopp, Passau 2000
In a relatively complicated position, 22...hxg5?? is a big mistake, due to 23.

hxg5+, opening the h-file, Bh7 24. Rxh7+! Kxh7 25. Rh1+ and White mates.
Decisive is the 22...Nd4! counter-punch, threatening to feast on the queen, as
well as checkmate with the knight on e2. For example, 23. Qxe8 Ne2/Nb3#!
If 23. cxd4, 23...Qxa4! sees White unable to ward off queen mate on c2. 24.
b3 is met by Qa1#
The position stems from the game Currie-Drolet, Quebec 2017
50...Ra1+! 51. Kxa1 pins the b2-pawn, upon which 51...Qxa3+ 52. Kb1
Qxb2 checkmates. Another surprise move is the most correct continuation.
The position stems from the game Das-Tregubov, Riga 2017

34...Nb5! - believe it or not, the queen has slid into a pitfall. The friendly
bishop blocker on c5 plays a primordial role in this unfortunate constellation.
The position stems from the game Kaasen-Sanal, Riga 2017
30. Nf5! (menacing mate on g7) Bxf5 is a useful clearance of the e-file,
allowing for the 31. Nxf6+! Qxf6 32. Rxe8+ Nf8 33. Rxf8# combination to
come true. 30. Ng4, piling up on the f6-point, is seemingly an alternative.
The position stems from the game Kulaots-Thybo, Riga 2017
45. Qf7+ realises the material edge easily:

a) 45...Kc6 46. Qb7#
b) 45...Qd7 46. Rb7+! Kxb7 47. Qxd7
c) 45...Kc8 46. Qb7+ Kd8 47. Rd5! pinning
The position stems from the game Martin-Iglesias, Linares 2017

32...Qxd2 33. Nxd2 Rxe1+ has won the exchange, for the time being. Doing
it right in piece entanglements requires alertness.
The position stems from the game Agmanov-Schroeder, Riga 2017
69. Rg8 - the rook support converging on the 8th rank is sufficient for one of
the two pawns to promote. Simple things, but should be executed to the point.
The position stems from the game Lillo-Sanchez, Pontevedra 2017

70. Qh7+ Bg7 71. Rxg7+

a) 71...Ke8 72. Qh8#
b) 71...Kf6 72. Qg6#
The position stems from the game Hechl-Hofegger, Austria 2017

11. Qg5+!! hxg5 12. Bxg5 elegantly delivers mate. The crossfire of the two
bishops is unsustainable. 11. Bg5+! achieves the very same aim, but is far
less effective. De mortibus aut nihil aut bene.
The position stems from the game Zukertort-Anderssen, Breslau 1865
52. b7+ Kc7 53. b8Q+! Kxb8 54. Qd8#
The position stems from the game Ciolek-Lins, Austria 2017

34. Ra7#!
The position stems from the game Tari-Djurhuus, Oslo 2017

33...Bb7! is a long-distance checkmate. A marksman he is - the b7-bishop.
The position stems from the game Durais-Nuboyvv, FICS 2018
12...Ne4 resolves the victorious pin at d2.
The position stems from the game Scheidt-Hermann, Passau 2000

15. Qf3+ has set up a fork on the king and a8-cannon.
The position stems from the game Kaufmann-Schwabeneder, Passau 2000

15...Nxe3 16. fxe3 Bxe5 17. dxe5 Qxe3+! and ...Qxe5 has won two central
(stronger) pawns. If 16. Nxd7, then 16...Nxd1 17. Nxb6 Nxc3! 18. Nxa8
Nxe2+ and ...Rxa8 gets three minor pieces for lonely rook.
The position stems from the game Ahmed-Berelovich, Tanta 2000
54...Ng5+ 55. Kg1 Nxf3#! is not precisely the easiest thing to see, although
pretty much straightforward. The knight first closes the g-file, only to then
open it again on the next checkmating move, pinning the g2-pawn. Devious
intentions, following a clear goal - sometimes this confuses.
The position stems from the game Fruebing-Dastan, Riga 2017
25...Re1+ 26. Nf1 leads nowhere, while 25...Bxg3?? is an unfortunate

clearance of the f-file, punishable by Qxf7# The paradoxical 25...Qxg3!! will
do it, after 26. Rxg3 Bxg3 White can avoid mate on e1 only by interposing
his queen on f1. Quirky moves are often the best tactical shots.
The position stems from the game Sean-Balint, Budapest 2017

31. Qd2! piles up on the d7-knight that is unable to budge owing to the pin.
After 31...Re7 32. Rc1 Qa2 (the queen has no other place to go) 33. Nf5 the
curtain has been drawn. The bold knight jump is more than what Black can
possibly handle.
The position stems from the game Bluhm-Kalle, Vlissingen 2017
9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. d5 is a powerful pedestrian middle-board fork. On

occasion, central threats trump flank ones. The point is, who will arrange the
pieces for the next game?
The position stems from the game Parzivalgunter-Deruja, FICS 2018
The queen can not step back due to back-ranker on f8. 28...Rxe2! 29. Rxf2
R8xf2 sends two pigs on the 7th that will devour all eatable stuff. On 30.
Qg5, Black has 30...Re1+ and the knight falls.
The position stems from the game Ehlvest-Neiksans, Liepaja 2017

31. Qxb7+ Ke3 32. Qf3+ Kd2 33. Qd3#! hunts the king down. On 31...Kd4,
32. Qd5+ Ke3 33. Re1# is a symphony of major pieces. Other mating
continuations are also possible, of course.
The position stems from the game Moore-Rudd, Llandudno 2017
44. Qxf5+ Kxg8 just swaps rooks. On 44. Rg5 Black has 44...Qf4+! 45. Qxf4
Rxf4 with some drawing chances. Correct is the close vicinity outing 44.
Rf8! and the Black rook is doomed. This time the queen check on f4 fails to
double capture there by the White chessmen.
The position stems from the game Annaberdiev-Schoppen, Dieren 2017
14...Rxe4+! 15. fxe4 Qxe4+ and ...Qxh1+ is pretty much it.
The position stems from the game Fullbrook-Jiganchine, Vancouver 2000

13...f6, Black defends, 14. Bh4 g5, Black attacks, 15. Qf5 Nxd3+! (getting
the sting out of a check at h7) and ...gxh4 wins the stranded bishop. 14. Bh6
changes nothing - Black plays 14...g5 again, and in the subsequent line takes
with the bishop at h6 instead of h4.
The position stems from the game Pham Minh Hoang-Lim, Vung Tau 2000

15. Nh6+! Kh8 (15...Nxh6 16. Qxe5) 16. Nxf7+!! and Nxe5 has licked the
hostile lady out of the board with gusto. Capturing the knight on the 16th
move by ...Rxf7 leads to cute backrank mate pursuant to 17. Qd8+!
Bravo.
The position stems from the game Van Dongen-Labarthe, Issy les
Moulineaux 2000

31. Re7! puts a pig to the 7th rank, after which 31...Qb8 32. Qxa6+! Bxa6
33. Rxa6+ Qa7 34. Raxa7+ Kb8 35. Reb7#! is a blind swine. Sweet
reminiscences of a hogsty.
The position stems from the game Partac-Szukics, Fano 2017
The quiet 40. Kh2! prepares 41. g3 mate. Going 41. g3+ straight lets the
Black king invade on h3.
The position stems from the game Ehmann-Krastev, Bayerisch Eisenstein
2017
36. Rxf6! Kxf6 smokes the king out of his den, in order for 37. Qe5 to
reproduce a dovetail style checkmate.
The position stems from the game Agdelen-Gundogan, Kocaeli 2017

Using the looseness of the Black queen, 12. Nxf5! gains at least a pawn after
12...Qxd1 13. Nxe7+ Kf7 14. Rfxd1 Kxe7. Worth mentioning is also that in
the process the e4-pawn has become undefended and overextended. Taking
the knight will result in White devouring the Black queen for nothing, of
course.
The position stems from the game Das-Solberg, Helsingor 2017

32...Qh3+ 33. Ke2 Qg2+ 34. Kd3 Qe4#!
The position stems from the game Vujakovic-Zelcic, Zagreb 2017
30. Qg6
a) 30...Nf6 31. Bxf6 Qxf6 32. Qh7#
b) 30...Nf8 31. Qxh6+! Nh7 32. Qxh7#
The position stems from the game Zilka-Rasik, Czech Republic 2017
26. Ne8++! Kh6 27. Qg7+ Kh5 28. Nxf6#!
The position stems from the game Mrazek-Lalic, Belgrade 2017

19...Qh4+!! is a beautiful queen stab. 20. gxh4 leads to an Arabian style mate
with ...Rg1, while the alternative subvariation, 20. Kg2, sees the White king
hunted across the board with 20...Qh3+ 21. Kxf3 Qh1+! 22. Kf4 Rg4#, for
example.
The position stems from the game Ingebretsen-Thogersen, Helsingor 2017
Puzzle no 1141 - Black to play and draw
The Black d4-pawn is weak and Qxd4+ menaces all the time, so Black must
save himself. 46...Qf3+ 47. Kh3 Qh5+ 48. Kg2 Qf3+! 49. Kf1 Qd1+ is a
perpetual.
The position stems from the game Pena-Lewicki, Katowice 2017
The beautiful and largely unexpected 36...Rf3+!! gains at least the queen in
the first stage after 37. Ke2 Rxf1. The g2-bishop can not take due to the pin
and, if the king captures with 37. Kxf3, 37...Qg3+ 38. Ke2 Qe3! perfectly
checkmates in a swallow's tail manner. Key is the deflection away from the
g1 safe haven square.
The position stems from the game Kozarcanin-Muratovic, Travnik 2017

18...Bxh2+ is a discovered attack. Black captures the d4-queen next. "Don't
stay loose, or you get the noose." Do loose pieces actually drop off?
The position stems from the game Chuckccac-Kelvinfan, FICS 2018
36. Qxh7+! Rxh7 37. Rxe8# is pretty much straightforward. Key are the x-
ray attacks of the c2-bishop on the h7-knight and e1-rook on its counterpart
on e8.
The position stems from the game Asadli-Ozer, Kocaeli 2017
White is destroyed pursuant to 14...Nxd5! and now:

a) 15. Bxe7 Ne3+! and ...Nxc2+ or
b) 15. exd5 Qxg5 16. dxc6 Rf8+ 17. Ke1 Qe3+
The position stems from the game Sjodin-Marder, Stockholm 2000

13...exf3!! 14. Bxd8 Bb4+! 15. Qd2 Bxd2+ 16. Kxd2 fxe2 gains too much
wood for the first mover to realistically resist any longer.
The position stems from the game Sjodin-Holving, Stockholm 2000
12...Nb4! has trapped the c2-rook as 13. cxb4?? Bxb4 has immobilised the
White lady.
The position stems from the game Krush-Summerscale, Lichfield 2000

In the plenitude of attacks and hanging pieces, 43. Rd8+! is a deadly stab.
43...Rxd8 44. Qxa6 has left the Black queen unprotected.
The position stems from the game Lagno-Zhang, China 2017

Black is ahead by 2 pawns and now 16. Qxc4 Qxc4 17. Bxc4 or 16. Bxd4
cxb3 suits him well. The in-between thrust 16. Qf3!, however, has changed
the scenery, leaving another Black man hanging, the a8-rook, apart from the
queen on d4. As both can't be safeguarded in a single turn, that spells the end
of the skirmish.
The position stems from the game Eriksson-Magnusson, Helsingor 2017

29. Qh5+ Kg7 30. Qh7+ Kf8 31. g7+! Ke7 32. g8Q+ sees a newcomer
queen promoting with discovered check.
The position stems from the game Mrsevic-Bajramovic, Travnik 2017
39. exf5? Rxe1 is an equal material trade. The subtle 39. Rh1!, taking under
aim the h5 flight square, on the other hand, gains a whole rook. Somewhat
similar is 39. g4 Rxf4 40. Kg3! achieving the same result, as the Black rook
is again immobile.
The position stems from the game Rakesh-Ivanov, Pardubice 2017
25. Bc5! intercepts the queen support for the c4-rook, winning an additional
exchange after 25...dxc5 26. Qxc4
The position stems from the game Antipov-Emanuel, Biel 2017

37. Qxe8+! Nxe8 38. Rxb8 Kf8 will further reinforce the absolute pin along
the 8th rank with Rdd8 and Black is helpless.
The position stems from the game Gantar-Urh, Pardubice 2017
21. Qc2! is a confirmation of the postulate "bishops on the rim can also be
dim". The a2-slider has nowhere to go, meaning its demise. 21. Qa4 is more
or less similar. One easy winning alternative is 21. Qa1, attacking the a2-
bishop, while x-ray-attacking the knight on f6.
The position stems from the game Paravyan-Bryzgalin, Pardubice 2017
Black wants to trade rooks on d4 with fair chances of a draw. The first player
will certainly find 42. Rxg7+! Kxg7 43. Bc3, though? Attraction, pin,
denoting a win.
The position stems from the game Granovskiy-Pranav, Pardubice 2017

Black threatens to promote a new queen, getting a decisive material
advantage. Unfortunately for him, his opponent has an eternal check with 42.
Qd8+ Kg7 43. Qg5+ Kh8 44. Qd8+! Kg7 45. Qg5+ etc. Covering the queen
check with 42...Qe8 loses the d2-pawn.
The position stems from the game Stefanova-Ju, Huaian 2017
21. Kxg2 Qg3+! 22. Kh1 Qh2 checkmates. Correct is 21. Qxh7+!,
introducing an in-between, outputting the sequence 21...Qxh7 22. Bxh7+
Kxh7 23. Kxg2, where the fight is still on.
The position stems from the game Karlsson-Pantzar, Helsingor 2017
12. Bg5! suddenly imprisons the dark-haired lady. Taking with the pedestrian
fails to queen checkmate at h7.
The position stems from the game Trabert-Gatterer, Bolzano 2000

15...Qa3! prepares a decisive inroad of the Black horse at c3. A case in point
where a pair of bishops is weaker.
The position stems from the game Petersen-Nielsen, Copenhagen 2000
12...Bd4+ 13. Kh1 Nxh2! ends the game, as retaking leads to ...Qh4# Many
might think there is a long struggle still in front of us...
The position stems from the game Svendsen-Porrasmaa, Gausdal 2000

Grabbing a pawn with Nxg5+ might be tempting, but that will oversee the 39.
Qh7+ skewer, to later gobble up the c7-rook. In order to have good move
selection mechanism, one must also have good evaluation.
The position stems from the game Tissir-Persson, Sitges 2017

17...Rxc3!! leaves nothing more to play for. On 18. Qd1 Black will simply
take another pawn on d4, while taking back on c3 fails to 18...Bxd4+, a
powerful royal fork.
The position stems from the game Leskur-Mikheev, Novi Sad 2017
51. Re7 Qxd6 52. Rxf7+! Bxf7 53. Qg7 will checkmate. Landing on support
points is always a good decision.
The position stems from the game Gareev-Deshmukh, Bhopal 2017
31. Qxh7+!! destroys a vital pawn of the Black shelter, allowing for
31...Kxh7 32. Rh4+ Kg8 33. Rh8! to give checkmate. The stodgy 31. Rh4
h6 has successfully shut off the White attacking battery.
The position stems from the game Bosiocic-Kowalski, Katowice 2017

49. Rxe5+ Kg4 50. Rb4+ Qd4 51. Rxd4#
The position stems from the game Kollars-Winterberg, Heusenstamm 2017
20. Rxf8+! Kxf8 21. Qd6+

a) 21...Ke8 22. Qe7#
b) 21...Kg8 22. Qd8#
The position stems from the game Saptarshi-Vardan, Djenovici 2017

53. Rb7#!
The position stems from the game Baron-Klinova, Asnieres-sur-Seine 2017

The second player is behind by a healthy pawn, so going it the slow way is
full of risks. The subtlety consists in 22...Rxc4!, removing the defenders of
both the d3-rook and a4-knight (in the latter case the b3-pawn), making way
for 23. bxc4 Nxd3, diverting the queen, so that 24. Qxd3 Qxa4 sees Black
clearly on top by a whole knight.
The position stems from the game Medvegy-Aczel, Budapest 2017

12...Bd8! - shoo - the queen must go. Hmm, that's a trap. Nothing new under
the Sun.
The position stems from the game Deathhound-Tschumpulus, FICS 2018
27...Ng4+ 28. Kg3 Qxh3+ 29. Kxh3 Nxf2+ 30. Kg3 Nh1+! and ...Kxg8
retains a minor piece more for Black.
The position stems from the game Cerveny-Can, Zadar 2017

White has a pawn more but his king is over-exposed and 33...Qg1+ 34. Kf3
Qh1+! 35. Kg4 (the h4-pawn needs protection) Qg2+ 36. Kf4 Qh2+
perpetuals.
The hands of White are tied-down so this leads to a natural tie.
The position stems from the game Ruck-Medvegy, Budapest 2017

Without trying to figure out what other possible checks lead to, 25. Qc7+
Ke8 26. Qc8+! Qxc8 27. Rxc8+ Kd7 28. Rxh8 has scooped up the last
powerful Black combatant.
The position stems from the game Jodorcovsky-Vargas, Asuncion 2017
20. Qh5, seeking mate on h7, is decisive:

a) 20...g6 21. Bxg6! shattering the Black shelter or
b) 20...f5 21. Qg6 doing honour to the wonderful queen-rook interaction
Queen invasions into enemy territory are frequently strikingly strong.
The position stems from the game Demidov-Bang, Katowice 2017
50...Bg1+! discovering an attack on the White queen is as elegant as plain-

looking it is.
The position stems from the game Demidov-Dziuba, Katowice 2017

43...Bb4+ 44. Kd1 Rxc1+ 45. Kxc1 Bxe1 gains a piece.
The position stems from the game Luch-Demidov, Katowice 2017
38. Rb8+ Ka7 39. Qb7#
The position stems from the game Kogan-Narva, Puhajarve 2017

39. Qc8#
The position stems from the game Mohammad-Hasan, Dhaka 2017
73. b4+ Ka4 74. Ra6#
The position stems from the game Alsina-Surtees, Ilkley 2017

9. Nb5 Qd8 10. Nd6! mates smother-wise. If 9...Qb6, then 10. Nd6+ Kd8 11.
Nxf7+ and Nxh8. Any other suggestions?
The position stems from the game Loidl-Kamaryt, Frohnleiten 2000

15. Bg5! tells the story of an unrequited love.
The position stems from the game Leite-Flores, Barreiro 2000
Black's men are so desperately placed that 11. Rd1 Bd7 12. e6! wins the
pinned bishop by force.
The position stems from the game Chehlov-Nau, Rowy 2000

Who would ever conceive ...Be2! mates on the spot? With so many friendly
obstructors and a gorgeous restricting rook on b5 the force necessary to
overpower the White king is insignificant. By the way, 59...Bb3! is another
variation on the same theme.
The position stems from the game Michalik-Schneider, Katowice 2017

13...Rc2+ 14. Kb1 Rxc3! discovered check pushes fireworks a la Morphy.
Other winning lines are also doable.
The position stems from the game Peterson-Dobrowolski, Katowice 2017
If anything, Black is cramped for space on the queen side. Should we be

looking for a break? Of course! It is there, waiting for you to discover it. The
solution consists in 1. c5 Kf4 2. b5! axb5 3. c6 bxc6 4. a6 and the a-passer
promotes on the run. If 2...Ke5 in above line, then the clincher is 3. c6 bxc6
4. bxa6! On 2...dxc5 3. b6! cxb6 4. d6 nails it. Naturally, 1...dxc5 2. bxc5 Kf4
3. d6 also wins.
What a gem. An endgame study that could help you in other stages of the
game too.
11. Ne4 is obvious and strong. When the queen retreats, the d5-knight will
drop off to the opponent queen. "Knight assails queen" is one of the most
forceful threats in chess.
The position stems from the game Duda-Ponomariov, Katowice 2017

25. Qe6+ checkmates:
a) 25...Kf8 26. Nh7#!
b) 25...Kh8 26. Rh3+ Bh5 27. Rxh5#
The position stems from the game Galyas-Jakab, Budapest 2017
51. Nh6! makes a "hook mate" on g8 unavoidable, for example, 51...Nf8 52.
Rxf7+ Kh8 53. Rfxf8+ Qxf8 54. Rxf8+ Kg7 55. Rg8#! In above variation,
51...Qf8 drops the queen.
The position stems from the game Tomashevsky-Volkov, Saint Petersburg
2017
40. h3 Nf6 also wins, but the resourceful 40. Rh8+! Kxh8 41. e8Q+ Kh7 42.
Qxe4+! and Qxd3 is even more compelling. Promoting straight away is a
huge error due to ...Rd1 back-ranker. Be careful even in the easiest of
situations and, when having a good move, look for even better one.
The position stems from the game Aditya-Sunardi, Penang 2017

Other moves also win, but 29. Na6+! royal fork gobbles up the largest
quantity of material. The optical illusion of the b7-pawn guarding the a6-
square is just that, an illusion, due to the rook pinner on the b-file.
The position stems from the game Ren-Shen, Shenzhen 2017
55. Rc6!, shutting off the Black bishop on the long diagonal, ensures safe
queening for the a7-pawn and precludes any possible drawing chances. 55.
Rc8+ Kd7 56. a8Q Bxa8 57. Rxa8 Nxf5 is just a draw.
The position stems from the game Willmoth-Nettleton, London 2017
White lags behind by a full minor piece. In this situation, 13. Bc7 Qc8 14.
Bf4 Qd8 15. Bc7! Qc8 16. Bf4 is a perpetual pursuit.
The position stems from the game Cebalo-Rezan, Zadar 2017

48. Qd4+ Ke6 49. Qd6#!
The position stems from the game Zierk-Ashwin, Saint Louis 2017
14...Ng3+ takes the corner rook on the next turn for free with check. King's
Gambit lovers surely will have no trouble spotting the origins of the debut.
The position stems from the game Bergmann-Trifunovic, Rowy 2000

11. Ng5! Qh4 12. g3 Qh6 13. Nxe6 abuses the trapped queen.
The position stems from the game Cuartas-Pazos, Medellin 2000

11...g5! imprisons the rim sweeper as 12. Bg3 Qxg3 wins it for nothing in
view of the pin.
The position stems from the game Samuelsen-Naes, Torshavn 2000
21...Qxf1#
The position stems from the game Sarakauskas-Shaw, Ilkley 2017

41...h5+ 42. Kg5 Be3#!
The position stems from the game Keymer-Donchenko, Tarvisio 2017
53...Rb7+ 54. Ka8 Ra7+ 55. Kb8 Qb7 gives mate. Isn't the board turned
upside down?
The position stems from the game Tschumpulus-Zazibou, FICS 2018
If Black rushes through with 55...a2 56. e7 a1Q??, underpromoting with 57.
e8N!! is - guess what - checkmate. The coordination of the two minor pieces
plus the f4-pawn is about perfect.
Correct is 55...Rxd5+! 56. Kxd5, gaining couple of tempi, followed by ...a2,
and White is toothless.
The position stems from the game Ren-Zhao, Shenzhen 2017

23. Qg4+ Ng6 24. Qxg6+!, using the pin of the f7-pawn, Kh8 25. Qg7
mates.
The position stems from the game Chu-Ye, Shenzhen 2017
37. Nf6+! Kxf7 38. Qh7+ Kf8 39. Qg8+ Ke7 40. Qg7! gives checkmate. A
cavalry unit plus queen are often indomitable.
The position stems from the game Xiao-Zhang, Shenzhen 2017

25. Rxe6! - wherever the queen goes, a discovered check will spell her doom,
for example, 25...Qh4 26. Re4+, 25...Qg5 26. Rg6+, 25...Qc7 26. Re7+ or
25...Qf7 26. Rd6 Bd5 27. Rxd5! Kind of a conditional windmill.
The position stems from the game Li-Dai, Shenzhen 2017

41. a7! Rxa7 42. Rxf7+ skewers king and rook, snatching the linear piece in
the sequel. All pseudo-sacs are strong.
The position stems from the game Atalik-Lundin, Belgrade 2017
40. Rf5+ Kd4 41. Rd5! mates perfectly thanks to the barrier along the 3rd
rank the h3-rook provides. Undefended pieces can also be strong.
The position stems from the game Liu-Cameron, Adelaide 2017

Tremendous is 25...Na4+!! Variations run like:

a) 26. bxa4 Qb4#!
b) 26. Kb1 Nc3+ 27. Kb2 Nxd1+ 28. Kb1 Nc3+ 29. Kb2 Nxe2 picking up
everything
The position stems from the game Schulten-Morphy, New York 1857

40. Rf3! is an untypical, but perfect checkmate. It is important to give up the
standard approach and search for the logic behind each and every move. In
the present case, the d7-rook cuts off the 7th rank, while the g4-bishop the e6
escape square.
The position stems from the game Jakovenko-Maletina, Khanty-Mansiysk

2017

The gimmick of 34...Rg4+! provides for an easy and meaningful mate:
a) 35. Bxg4 clears the 3rd rank, so that 35...Qg3+! 36. Kh1 Qh2 deals the
final blow
b) 35. Kh3 Qh6+! 36. Kxg4 Qh5#
c) 35. Kh1 Qh6+ 36. Qh4 Qxh4 is a linear mate
The position stems from the game Obsivac-Havelka, Czech Republic 2017

White has so far defended everything, but 53...Qg6! sees the g2-square
indefensible. 54. Nxg1 Qxg1 checkmates parsimoniously, while on 54. Nh4
Black uncorks the brief 54...Rh1+! 55. Kxh1 Qg1# Restraining kings on edge
files or ranks is a frequently used and very efficient attacking technique.
The position stems from the game Havanecz-Krstulovic, Hungary 2017

White has some nominal advantage due to his d5 protected passer. As the
White king can not infiltrate, though, with all squares on the 4th rank either
blocked or controlled by enemy pawns, this is a fortress draw. Black simply
shuffles back and forth with 41...Ke5 42. Ke3 Kd6 43. Kf3 Ke5 etc. So, the
right tactic/strategy is what? Correct - doing nothing! Playing g4 fully
equalises assets after Black advances ...f4.
The position stems from the game Dzagnidze-Lagno, Huaian 2017

41. Rh6+ Kf5 42. Rf6+ Ke4 43. Re1#!
The position stems from the game Kanmazalp-Sari, Suleymanpasa 2017
White has checked at b3, hoping to remove the b5-slider off the board on the
next turn. Alas - the absurd
14...Qd5!! successfully defends it. 15. exd5 leads to 15...Rxe1+ 16. Nf1
Rxf1#!
The position stems from the game Berkvens-Mikhalevski, Hoogeveen 2000
12...Rxe2! 13. Rxe2 Nxf3+ wins 2 light pieces for rook, leaving White on the
brink of a quick loss.
The position stems from the game Gallinnis-Wolter, Germany 2001

33. Rg7+ Ke8 34. Qe6+ Kd8 35. Qd7#
The position stems from the game Van Dooren-Coenen, Eindhoven 2017
47...Nxb3+ 48. Kd1 Rc1#!
The position stems from the game Gluhovsky-Apryshko, Moscow 2017

34. Qc8+!! Kxc8 35. Re8#!
The position stems from the game Svetushkin-Koellner, Hofheim 2017
37...Kg7! traps the White bishop.

The position stems from the game Calandri-Ehab, Spoleto 2017
21. Nf4 Qe7 22. Rxd6! Qxd6 23. Bc5
The position stems from the game Petrov-Ermeni, Skopje 2017

65...R4b5 - after the queen retreats, the threats of ...Ra6+ or ...Ra5+ are
unavoidable.
The position stems from the game Kesidis-Rogac, Skopje 2017
36. Qg5+ Kc8 37. Qg8+ mates.
The position stems from the game Ghannoum-Alhuwar, Spoleto 2017

57. Rf4+ Rxf4 58. gxf4 a2 59. h8Q - White promotes, while guarding the a1-
square.
The position stems from the game Akopian-Da Costa, Dubai 2017

13...Nh3+! 14. gxh3 clearing the f-line, followed by 14...Qf6+ (x-ray attack
upon the b2-slider) and ...Bxb2 gains a whole cannon in due course. The
exposed location of the f2-king tells. You maybe recognise the contours of
the Scotch, but White badly misplayed it here.
The position stems from the game De Putter-Jonkman, Vlissingen 1999

37...Re2!, threatening mate on h2, decides.
The position stems from the game Gluhovsky-Gavrilov, Moscow 2017
38...Qe3+ 39. Kh1 Rc1! and Black wins.
The position stems from the game Srija-Sargissian, Dubai 2017

34. Qxe6+ Kf8 35. Qxf6+ Ke8 36. Qxg6+! is hopeless.
The position stems from the game Druckenthaner-Hofbauer, Austria 2017

37...Rxb2+! 38. Kxb2 Qxd2+ later picks up the second rook on e1.
The position stems from the game Bruned-Muratet, Barcelona 2017
63. Rf8#!
The position stems from the game Alonso-Subirachs, Barcelona 2017

55. Qxf7+ Kh6 56. Bg5#!
The position stems from the game Naumkin-Makarian, Moscow 2017
37. a4+ Kb4 38. Rxc6 wins a piece.
The position stems from the game Azarov-Luch, Czech Republic 2017
31. Nxd7+ Nxd7 32. Nd5#!
The position stems from the game Kersic-Oblak, Budapest 2017

38...Ng3+ 39. Ke1 f2+ and Black promotes with check on the next move.
The position stems from the game Ramik-Simacek, Czech Republic 2017
14. Bxf5! scoops too much material:

a) 14...Qxf5 15. Nxe7+ and Nxf5
b) 14...Qxd5 15. Qxd5+ Nxd5 16. Bxc8 menacing Bb7 and Be6+
The position stems from the game Molander-Saarinen, Lahti 2000

Black has won a pawn and hopelessly pinned the f3-horse. A great danger
lurks in the shadows, though, namely that the opponent finds the inspirational
10. Nxe5!! Bxd1 11. Bb5+! and the queen should be sacced at d7.
The position stems from the game Mironiuk-Borisov, Kiev 2000

Of course, you can improve on ...Bxg1 - 15...Qg5+! snaps the g1-cannon next
for nothing.
The position stems from the game Dudas-Balogh, Budapest 2000
34. g7+
a) 34...Kf7 35. g8Q++ Kf6 36. Qgg7#!
b) 34...Ke7 35. g8Q+ Rf7 36. Qhxf7#
The position stems from the game Kilic-Soysal, Suleymanpasa 2017
23. Qh4+ Ke5 24. Qf4#!
The position stems from the game Muniz-Paulo, Rio de Janeiro 2017
45...Nf2+! 46. Kxg2 Nxd3 discovered check 47. Kf3 Nxc1 devours not one,
but two opposing rooks. This is given to illustrate the peculiarity and
randomness of some board configurations. Alternative paths to victory might
also be available.
The position stems from the game Kokeny-Havanecz, Hungary 2017
37...Bxe5! undermines the d3-bishop, allowing for 38. Qxe5 Qxd3+ 39. Kb2
Qc2# The type of triangular check the queen delivered on d3 is usually very
effective. On 38. Qxb3 Black mates with 38...Ra1+ 39. Kc2 Qg2+ 40. Be2
Qxe2 On not too rare occasions strong attack means more than material
reserves.
The position stems from the game Kiik-Kogan, Puhajarve 2017

61...Rf2+! pushes the White king off, so that 62. Ke1 Rg1 evidences
checkmate. The coordination of the otherwise weak e3-pawn with both rooks
makes a pleasant impression.
The position stems from the game Gordievsky-Predke, Moscow 2017
47...Bd4! checking fork is sudden and obvious. It is important to notice the

fact the d2-queen supports the d4-square.
The position stems from the game Ramma-Wenzel, Riga 2017
The flabbergasting 47...Bh4!! shakes off all White illusions. The kamikaze
bishop is uncapturable because of 48. gxh4 g3! 49. hxg3 h2 and the bold
front-marcher promotes. In case White abstains from taking, the second
player will take with ...Bxg3, conjuring up pretty much the same effect. The
straightforward 47...Bxd4 still gives White the option of 48. Nxe6! Bg1 49.
Ng7 Advanced pawn chains, like that spearheaded by the h3-pawn, are as a
rule extremely powerful.
The position stems from the game Bartholomew-Gurevich, Saint Louis 2017

25. Rxh3 Bxg5 leads White nowhere. Correct is 25. Qxf6+!, an important
intermediate capture, gxf6 26. Rxh3, retaining a minor piece material
advantage.
The position stems from the game Kovacevic-Dezelin, Ruma 2017
Although White has quite strong attack, Black has as if defended everything:
the d5-bishop controls the g8-square, while his opposite colour counterpart
the g7- and h8-squares. Taking on d5 is unwise because of ...Rxc1+ Still,
White has an elegant way to continue the attack. The exquisite 32. Rg7!!
pseudo sac nets the whole point, as 32...Bxg7 33. Qxg7 mates, while the
obvious queen checkmate on h8 is impossible to neutralise.
The position stems from the game Brodowski-Warszawski, Poronin 2017
White should hurry as ...Qxg2# is behind the door, while on 44. Qf2 Black
has 44...Rxh3+! 45. gxh3 Qxh3+ 46. Qh2 Qxf1+ mating. As usual, a forced
variation, starting with check, 44. Rxe6+!, destroying the Black pawn cover,
will save the day. 44...fxe6 45. Qxe6+ Re7 46. Qc8! is mate. Alternative lines
have the same lethal outcome. Try to figure them out on your own.
The position stems from the game Cichon-Jedryczka, Sklarska Poreba 2017

58. Rxb5 might still win, but much more decisive is 58. Rb7+! Rxb7 59.
axb7 and White promotes.
The position stems from the game Szalanczy-Farago, Budapest 2017

31...Rg4! makes the White king a prisoner, threatening ...Ng5# On 32. cxb4+
Kb8 33. Rc5 already 33...Ng1! mates.
The position stems from the game Dudzinski-Walach, Szklarska Poreba 2017
A queen retreat keeps Black winning, but stronger is 39...Bd6! 40. Rxe6
Bxg3+ 41. Kxg3 Rxd2, increasing the material superiority to a whole rook.
The position stems from the game Georgiou-Pountzas, Nikaia 2017

37...Rxc1! 38. Rxc1 Rxd2 gains a whole bishop.
The position stems from the game Szmyd-Weissbein, Szklarska Poreba 2017

42...Rxc1 43. Kxd4 could hardly be called convincing. The correct
zwischenzug is 42...Rd1+! and, only after the White king goes back to e2, the
rook captures the bishop.
The position stems from the game Zarkovic-Tsatsalashvili, Sharjah 2017
45. Rxf6! removes the guard of the d5-square, and after the forced 45...gxf6
46. Nd5! White makes a double attack on the b4-bishop and the f6-square
(where a forking check threatens to pick the other bishop). As both menaces
are impossible to repel at the same time, White wins.
The position stems from the game Motylev-Karthik, Sitges 2017
31. Qh8+ Kf7 32. Qg7+ Ke6 33. Qf6+ Kd5 34. Qe5+ Kc6 escalates the king
to the center of the board, upon which 35. Qxe4+ seals it.
The position stems from the game Klaasen-Mnguni, Cape Town 2017

27...Bg5! skewers the White queen and rook. Other winning moves are also
possible.
The position stems from the game Pulpan-Miton, Katowice 2017
28. Qg8+!! Nxg8 29. Nf7 is an elegant smother mate. 28. Qxf8+ Ng8 29.
Nf7# leads to the same.
The position stems from the game Zelcic-Krzywda, Katowice 2017

37. Nd4#! is a clear indication why kings should not go to the center of the
board in the middlegame.
The position stems from the game Ponomariov-Andriasian, Katowice 2017

Most direct is 53. f7+ Ke7 54. Qxd8+! Kxd8 55. f8Q+
The position stems from the game Okuyaz-Harshita, Ahmedabad 2017
54...Bc5+! is a close range fork that is not to miss. After the White king
evades the check, the rook on b6 constitutes the spoils.
The position stems from the game Macko-Wieczorek, Katowice 2017

36. Re8+ Rxe8 37. Rxe8+ Kf7 38. Qe6#! Some know this as the triangle
mate, although, whether this is a separate pattern is another thing.
The position stems from the game Klabis-Olszewski, Katowice 2017

38. Rxh6+! Kg8 39. Bh7+ Kh8 40. Bg6+ Kg8 41. Rh8+!! Kxh8 42. Qh5+
Kg8 43. Qh7 checkmates pretty much a la Damiano.
The position stems from the game Banzea-Sahil, Zadar 2017
22. Rg1+ is logical and easy to find.
The position stems from the game Mohammad-Parle, Ahmedabad 2017

Two White pieces are attacked and 49. a7 Bxa7 50. Rxa7 Kxe5 is just a draw.
The winning manoeuver is 49. Ng4+! sacrificial fork, which after 49...Kxg7
50. Nxf2 annihilates the defender of the a7-square, allowing White to
promote quickly due to a forced march of the a-pawn.
The position stems from the game Plenca-Can, Zadar 2017

29...Raxd4+! 30. cxd4 clears the 3rd rank for the 30...Qe3 check, after which
31. Kd1 Rd4! mates. Heavy pieces are always dangerous.
The position stems from the game Kusiak-Winiarski, Katowice 2017
38...Ra1+ 39. Re1 Rxe1+ 40. Nxe1 Rh1! is a good instance of the
"Anderssen's Mate" pattern.
The position stems from the game Chrzaszcz-Tate, Katowice 2017

20. Qh3 builds a vertical battery that will deliver checkmate on the next
move.
The position stems from the game Sliwicka-Fistek, Katowice 2017

38...Qc2! threatens simultaneous mates on g2 and h2, as well as both White
rooks. All of them are impossible to meet in one move, so this spells the end
of the game. Queen to the 7th rank is a frequent tactical motif.
The position stems from the game Ondrus-Kislinsky, Katowice 2017
61. h7?? Rh5 and the pawn is lost. Correct is 61. Bf4!, making short work of
the Black rook, and only then promoting.
The position stems from the game Mohr-Lojek, Katowice 2017

58...Rxd4+! clears the d-file, after which 59. Kxd4 Rd8+ and ...Rxd1 uses
the skewer technique to get rid of any opposition. 58...Rcd8 59. Kc4 achieves
nothing concrete.
The position stems from the game Krainski-Gazik, Katowice 2017

34...Qh1! mates in one, using the baleful pin on the g3-knight.
The position stems from the game Moskalenko-Jakubowski, Katowice 2017
25. Rg8+! Kxg8, the king is deflected from guarding the queen, 26. Qxe7
barters queen for rook.
The position stems from the game Berzina-Vykouk, Katowice 2017

31...Bb4+ 32. c3 Bxc3+! 33. Kxc3 Rxe1 is quite convincing.
The position stems from the game Smieszek-Sadzikowski, Katowice 2017

White has huge material advantage, but 33...d2 34. Qd1 Rb1!! is a cute
unblocking sacrifice, ensuring the d2-passer considerable leeway. Both
reasonable lines lose:
a) 35. Qxb1 d1Q+ 36. Qxd1 Rxd1#
b) 35. Bf3 Rxd1 36. Bxd1 Re8! 37. Bg3 Re1+
The position stems from the game Libiszewski-Kuybokarov, Melbourne 2017

30...Rxc3! 31. Qxc3 Rb1+ 32. Bc1 Nd3!, targeting the c1-bishop, utilises the
weak White back rank to decisively swing the balance in Black's favour. If
32. Bg1 in above line, 32...Ne4, envisaging ...Nf2#, decides.
The position stems from the game Can-Martinovic, Zadar 2017
43. Qf7+ Kh8 44. Ne5 creates the threat of Nxg6+, leaving Black hopeless.
White to play and win Drygalov-Smirnov, Chelyabinsk 2017

44...Rd2! 45. Rxe3 Rxg2+ 46. Kh1 and now 46...Re2 or 46...Rg3 discovered
check, completing the first iteration of a windmill, followed by ...Rxe3, is
quite compelling.
The position stems from the game Mischuk-Mokin, Chelyabinsk 2017

32. Qxe4! Qxe4 33. Nxd6+ is a royal fork.
The position stems from the game Stocko-Ratsma, Zadar 2017
33. Rc8! Rxc8 distracts the Black rook from its task of guarding the f7-
square, upon which 34. Qxf7+ Kh8 35. Qxh7 mates.
The position stems from the game Ivanchuk-Mamedov, Huaian 2017

Despite the huge Black material superiority, 28. Qd5+ Kh8 29. Nf7+ Kg8
30. Nh6++! Kh8 31. Qg8 mates. In the final position, the feeble unprotected
knight on h6 elegantly lends a helping hand to the White queen delivering the
checkmate. 28. Qe6+ is identical. Checks on which no interpositions or
captures are possible are especially dangerous.
The position stems from the game Kostolansky-Horvath, Slovakia 2017

36. b4! gains material:
a) 36...cxb3 37. Rxc5 Bxc5 38. Rxb5
b) 36...Rc8 37. Rxb5
The position stems from the game Sitnikov-Vaseptsov, Chelyabinsk 2017
Black has just captured a knight on d4. Now, both 30. cxd4 Rxc1+, as well as
30. Rxd4 Qxd4! lose (weak back rank). However, White has a clever counter-
pin, 30. Qe3!, leading to a forced victory in all variations:
a) 30...Rxe4 31. Qxb6
b) 30...e5 31. cxd4!, the queen has simultaneously defended the c1-rook
c) 30...Rxb4 31. cxb4 Qxe3 32. Rc8#!
Good defensive vision on the part of White.
The position stems from the game Malik-Piza, Czech Republic 2017
60. Rh8! Rxa7 61. Rxh7+ Kxf6 62. Rxa7 finds the Black rook delicious.
The position stems from the game Martinez-Palomo, Valencia 2017

67. Qf7!, a double attack on the loose e8-rook and the h7 shelter square,
proves decisive. For example, 67...Qe7 68. Qxh5+ Kg8 69. Rg1+, or 67...Re7
68. Qf8+ Qg8 69. Qh6+ Rh7 70. Bxh7
The position stems from the game Martin-Hoffmann, Baden-Baden 2017
35...Rg1! mates. Decisive in the mating setup is the support of the h2-pawn
for the rook.
The position stems from the game Gao-Peng, Shenzhen 2017
26. Rxh7+! decoys the queen to h7, after which 27. Qf6+ mates.
The position stems from the game Wei-Yinglun, Shenzhen 2017

Although other moves might also win, most direct is 43...Qd4+ 44. Kh1
Qe4+!, the rook restricts the king along the 2nd rank, while the queen finds a
comfortable square to mate, 45. Kg1 Qg2#
The position stems from the game Yuan-Vishnu, London 2017
Instead of retreating the attacked queen, Black simply continues with

34...h2!, supporting it. 35. Rxg1+ hxg1Q promotes, 35. Rff1 is bad because
the queen on b6 is hanging, and Black will simply queen on the next move,
getting an overwhelming material advantage.
The position stems from the game Kwon-Kotronias, London 2017
24. Nf5+! makes the f6-knight capturable:

a) 24...gxf5 25. Qxf6+ removes an important defender, while
b) any king evasion leaves the knight unprotected
Sacrificial checks that don't capture are sometimes difficult to find, maybe
not in this instance.
The position stems from the game Piipers-Boeykens, Belgium 2017

32...fxe5 33. Rxe4 keeps the material balanced. Black has an intermediate
move, though, 32...Ng3!, menacing a forking check on e2, after which either
the e5-knight or d4-rook fall.
The position stems from the game Sharon-Hossain, Dhaka 2017
The piece entanglement on the board, as well as the fact the White queen
currently keeps sentinel of the e2-square, might make finding 52...Qxf4! 53.
Qxf4 Ne2+ and ...Nxf4 a bit difficult.
The position stems from the game Bukojemski-Gormally, London 2017
On 22...Qf1+ the king escapes to g3. The solution involves 23...Bh4!, an

important intermediate check, after which 24. g3 blocks the former escape
square and 24...Qf1 mates.
The position stems from the game Lukasiewicz-Wieczorek, Wroclaw 2017

35. Rxe2 Rxd6 more or less keeps the gross material balance. White has the
intermediate 35. Nb7!, though, attacking the Black rook while supporting the
own bishop, and heavy material loss is unavoidable, for example, 35...Rd7
36. Rxe2 Rxb7 37. Bxc6!, threatening the rook, as well as checkmate on e8.
The position stems from the game Shyam-Oboladze, Tsaghkadzor 2017

53...Qf4+ 54. Kg2 Qf3+! 55. Kh2 Rh1#, elegantly sidestepping any squares
defended by the White pieces.
The position stems from the game Schuls - Reizniece-Ozola, Puhajarve 2017
32...Nd3!, forking 2 majors, should be able to easily convert soon.
The position stems from the game Jazdanovs-Kovalenko, Olaine 2017

27. Rxf6+!! does the following things:

a) 27...gxf6 clears the 7th rank, upon which 28. Qf7 mates
b) 27...Rxf6 28. Qh8+ Ke7 29. Qxg7+ Kd8 30. Qxf6+ brings home all the
material in the world
The position stems from the game Hasan-Ahmed, Dhaka 2017

17. Qxd6! benefits from the absolute pin on the f8-bishop, rendering Rxf8
mate unavoidable.
The position stems from the game Paichadze-Qalagashvili, Tbilisi 2017
30. Rd7! decides. On 30...Rxd7, White has at least 31. Qxe8+! Kg7 32.
Qxd7+
The position stems from the game Xu-Goldbeck, Tegernsee 2017

As it proves, 30...Bb7! traps the White queen, forcing 31. Qxf5 Qxf5 32.
Bxf5 Rxf5, which is hopeless.
The position stems from the game Ashiku-Beukema, Hersonissos 2017

60. Ke3 Kh1 61. Kf2 Kh2 62. Qg1 mates. A lone queen can not checkmate
the opponent king, so the support of the friendly monarch is appreciated.
The position stems from the game Stojkovska-Newrkla, Hersonissos 2017
22. Rxd7+! Kxd7 undermines the Black queen and 23. Qxe5 captures free of
charge.
The position stems from the game Yuffa-Hejazipour, Cap d'Agde 2017
32. Rxf4! ends the struggle:

a) 32...Qxf4 has attracted the queen to a square, where it no longer guards the
friendly rook, so 33. Qxc8 mates
b) 32...Qd1+ 33. Rf1! and then Rxf7
The position stems from the game Pourramezanali-Haussernot, Cap d'Agde

2017

20. Ne7++ Kh8 21. Ng6+!!, a clever sac, clearing the edge file, hxg6 22.
Qh4 achieves Greco's mating construction.
The position stems from the game Kabisch-Schwertler, Deizisau 2017
38. d6, targeting the g8 mating square, is curtains. White has wisely created a
luft by pushing a3, otherwise a back rank mate would have been executable,
for example after ...Qe1.
The position stems from the game Bernadskiy-Idani, Tehran 2017
25...Qxf2+!! 26. Rxf2 creates a deadly pin on the f2-rook, allowing the
uninhibited checkmate with 26...Re1!
The position stems from the game Zarkovic-De Seroux, Hersonissos 2017

40. Rh4+! gxh4 41. Qxh4 delivers checkmate, benefiting from unwelcome
blockages, created by the Black pawns and pieces.
The position stems from the game Ahmadzada-Kharmunova, Saint

Petersburg 2017
44...Qxb1! 45. Qxb1 unblocks the Black d2-passer, upon which 45...d1Q+
46. Qxd1 Rxd1+ gains a lot of material. An alternative winning variation is
provided by 44...Qe1+ 45. Kh2 Qg3+ 46. Kg1 Re8! and the rook sally to e1
decides.
The position stems from the game Wachinger-Ioannidis, Uppsala 2017
28...Rxf3! wins further material due to the pin.
The position stems from the game Massoni-Jumabayev, Bastia 2017

51...Rh2+ 52. Ke3 Qe1+ 53. Kd4 Qd2#!
A rare opposition of 6 major pieces.
The position stems from the game Kiseleva-Murzin, Saint Petersburg 2017
34. Qh6+ Kg8 35. Nf6#! Queen and knight usually coordinate perfectly and
this case is not an exception.
The position stems from the game Massoni-Lubbe, Bastia 2017

50. h6 promotes. 50...Be4, trying to stop the pawn on h7, is met by Nf6+ and
Nxe4.
The position stems from the game Sebag-Narva, Monaco 2017

51...Rh1+ 52. Rf1 Bf2+! 53. Kd1 Rxf1 mates in 3.
The position stems from the game Muzychuk-Haussernot, Monaco 2017
42. Nd5! takes aim at the Black queen, while simultaneously menacing Qf6+
and Qg7# On 42...Bxd5 White has prepared 43. Qf8+ Bg8 44. Qf6+! Qg7 45.
Qxg7/hxg7 corner checkmate.
The position stems from the game Lomasov-Klepikov, Saint Petersburg 2017
If White captures the d7 hanging bishop, Black takes on g1 with later back
rank mate, though the side to move has 29. Rxg6! fxg6 30. Rxd7+
checkmating.
The position stems from the game Ratsma-Blees, Haarlem 2017

White wins one way or another, but why not see the mate in one with 62.
Rg1? This might be a bit bizarre and difficult to spot, as what rook would
readily occupy a square, controlled by enemy pawn, but in this case the
justification is the existing pin on the advanced passer.
The position stems from the game Yakubboev-Marinskii, Saint Petersburg

2017

49...Rf2! is a nice economical mate. The White knight significantly hinders
the movements of the friendly king.
The position stems from the game Backlund-Ahlander, Sweden 2017
39. Qxb7! Qxb7 40. d7 with subsequent promotion can't be answered

satisfactorily by Black.
The position stems from the game Skripchenko-Choisy, Monaco 2017

Black can capture safely the knight on c5, while missing a quick checkmate.
The checkmate starts with 33...exf3!, envisaging ...fxg2#! On 34. gxf3
recapturing with the queen features a good diagonal mate.
The position stems from the game Krestin-Alekseenko, Saint Petersburg

2017

41. Qg8+! constitutes a perfect skewer, eating up the c4-rook next.
The position stems from the game Azarov-Yoo, Saint Louis 2017
Black has just played ...Nd7, fully immobilising his king. The sneaky
opponent tries his luck with 6. Qh5! That is the so-called "Fool's Mate
Delayed".
The position stems from the game Javipangea-Gotstobeag, FICS 2018

26. Qf3! is a simultaneous attack on the h5-rook and f6-bishop, leading to the
acquisition of sufficient amount of material for the first player not to worry
more throughout the rest of the game.
The position stems from the game Motwani-De Vos, Belgium 2017

33. Rgb7? does not stop the Black pawn from promoting - 33...b1Q+ 34.
Rxb1 Rxb1+ with decent drawing chances. And 33. Rab7?? is a blunder due
to the very same sequence at the end of which the g7-rook remains
unprotected. Only move that does that is 33. Raf7+! Ke8 34. Rg8+! Kxf7 35.
Rxb8 and the b2-pawn is held hostage. Devious ways sometimes generate
small wonders.
The position stems from the game Grabinsky-Larson, Saint Louis 2017

27...Re2! 28. Kb1 Qa2+ 29. Kc1 Qa1#
The position stems from the game Istona-Mrva, Slovakia 2017
15. Bxh7+! Kxh7 16. Qh5+ Kg8 17. Qxf7+ Kh7 18. Re3! compels Black to
surrender due to the deadly cannon fire at h3.
Alternative winning lines might exist too.
The position stems from the game Mahesh-Raghuram, Avadi 2000

13. Nxd5 Qxd5 14. Be4! skewering on the long diagonal, is pretty obvious.
The position stems from the game Klip-Bernard, Belgium 2000

14...Neg4! 15. hxg4 Nxg4 16. Bf2 Nxf2 17. Kxf2 Bxd4+ wins back the piece
and monopolises a pedestrian and the bishop pair.
The position stems from the game De Barberis-Skembris, Turin 2000
13...e5! forks two light-armoured men. Precious support lends the queen to
the pawn hero.
The position stems from the game Garcia-Enjuto, Oviedo 2000

15. d7+ Ke7 16. Qd6! mates in 2.
The position stems from the game Buckley-Broomfield, Birmingham 2000

33. f7+ Kg7/h8 34. f8Q#!
The position stems from the game Schlosser-Burkart, Schwaebisch Hall 2017
46...Qa1+ 47. Qb1 Qa3+! 48. Qb2 Qxb2#
The position stems from the game Shpanko-Zgadzaj, Lvov 2017

33...Qh1+ 34. Ng1 Bh2! will shortly give mate on g1.
The position stems from the game So-Carlsen, Chess.com 2017
The 35. Ng4! backward leap, menacing deadly check on f6, is decisive, as
35...fxg4 is a fiasco in view of 36. Qh7+ Kf8 37. Qh8#! On 35...f6, White can
simply continue with 36. Nxf6+ Kf7 37. Nxd5 exd5 38. Rxd6
The position stems from the game Postny-Danin, Austria 2017

29...Nc3! is an elegant checkmate. The two powerful Black stallions easily

defeat the White king.
The position stems from the game Raeva-Traistaru, Baile Govora 2017

In an otherwise equal game situation, 27. Qh4+! makes use of the exposed
placement of the Black monarch:
a) 27...Qf6 28. Qxf6+ Kxf6 29. Rxc2
b) 27...Kf8 28. Rd8+ Kg7 29. Qg5+! Kh7 30. Qxg8+
c) 27...f6 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Rd8#
Apart from pattern recognition, calculation abilities are also pretty
significant.
The position stems from the game Carlsen-So, Chess.com 2017

71. Nxb7 Nxb7 72. Kxa6! destroys all pawns for a draw. A lone knight can
not mate. Capturing the knight, 71. Kxa5?? loses obviously to 71...Kxc5.
The position stems from the game Mamedyarov-Le Quang Liem, Huaian
2017
31. Rxd5! is a nice quirky stab, swindling the Black army into disarray and a
loss. Both main lines see White clearly materially on top:
a) 31...Rxd5 32. Bxb4+ has bartered two light pieces for rook
b) 31...Bxd2 gives White the opportunity to continue in an in-between
manner with 32. Rxd7+! Kxd7 and only then take back on d2, snatching a
whole piece
The position stems from the game Carlsen-So, Chess.com 2017
Opposite-colour bishop endings are usually very drawish, but not this time.
51. Bf6! further restricts the Black king, taking away the e7-square and
threatening mate on h8, leading to the forced 51...Ke8 52. Rh8+ Kd7 53.
Rd8+! Kc6 54. Rxd3 The feast on tender rook meat ends the game. This
example highlights how important on occasion random evaluation factors
like low mobility king or hanging piece might be.
The position stems from the game Welling-Larsen, Acqui Terme 2017

Black is whole piece up, though 41. Qf8+ Kc7 42. Qe7+! ends the game:
a) 42...Kc6 43. Qd7#
b) 42...Kc8 43. Qd7+! Kb8 44. Qb7#
The e6- and a6-pawns are valuable helpers in both mating setups.
The position stems from the game Bosiocic-Studer, Austria 2017

Black has just played 25...Bxc5 hoping to swindle White into 26. dxc5 Nxc5
27. Qb1 Nxb7 28. Qxb7 Qc7, gaining rook and 2 central pawns for 2 minor
pieces, more than sufficient compensation. This backfires though due to 26.
Qf5!, assailing the d7-knight, and the swindler is already the first player. As
the c5-bishop is hanging too, Black loses at least a piece.
The position stems from the game Povah-Gutkin, Acqui Terme 2017

47...Bg4+ 48. Nxg4 fxg4#!
The position stems from the game Valenti-Torre, Acqui Terme 2017
36...Rg4+! 37. Kh5 Qxh3+ 38. Qh4 Qxh4#
The position stems from the game Ermeni-Morozov, Hersonissos 2017

50. Rxh6+! Kxh6 51. Qh4#
The position stems from the game Darini-Veisi, Hamedan 2017
15...g3 - the threats of ...Qh2# and 16...g2+ 17. Kh2 g1Q double check, with
mate to follow, are unmeetable.
The position stems from the game Hackett-Nicholas, Birmingham 2001
9...dxc4! 10. Nxc4/Bxc4 Qxg5 has won a full minor. White can play the
clever in-between 10. Bxf6, trying to save his bishop, which is futile though,
as the opponent introduces and in-in-between, 10...cxd3! 11. Qxd3 Nxf6, and
is again on top by a piece. To each swindler his own. Cheating rarely works
in chess.
X-ray attack ray extending from a5 to g5, mobile center pawn, precarious
standing of the g5 diagonal slider. Attacking is good, but one should attack
with measure. Est modus in rebus.
The position stems from the game Grabuzova-Godena, Playchess.com 2004

15...Nxe2+ 16. Kh1 Ng3+! 17. hxg3 Rxe1
The position stems from the game Prezerakos-Kasioura, Heraklio 2001
White has forked both horses, hoping to restore the wood balance.
Unfortunately, 15...d5! safeguards them both in a single turn.
The position stems from the game Viniarski-Oliver, Canberra 2001

8. Re1! comes as a complete surprise for the e4-queen.
The position stems from the game Humphries-Maguire, Canberra 2001

The 49...h5+! thrust makes so that the king is no longer a protector of the f3-
rook, for example, 50. Kf4 Re4+ 51. Kg5 Qxf3
The position stems from the game Moldovan-Secheres, Baile Govora 2017
24...Bh2+ 25. Kh1 Ng3+! and White must give up his queen at g3, as
otherwise 26. Kxh2 Nxf1++ 27. Kg1 Qh2! announces check and mate. The
double check has been lethal, as always.
24...Be3+ is very similar in many respects.
The position stems from the game Tschumpulus-Beiwin, FICS 2018
21. b5 pawn threat undermines the e7-knight. One of the two knights will
fall. Pawn threats are usually extremely efficient.
The position stems from the game Molnar-Matejovsky, Brno 2017

How does White get rid of any potential drawing chances, due to the
presence of queens, perpetual check, etc.? 57. Qa6+!! Kxa6 58. Nb4+ and
Nxd3 ensures the stronger player is completely safe from abovementioned
perils. Unexpected again, to the point of challenging the imagination, but on
the other hand very reasonable.
The position stems from the game Gholami-Favaloro, Tarvisio 2017

42. Rxe8! mates in one. Oh, those pins. The bishop on e8 is supported by
both the rook on e7 and the queen on e3 via an x-ray, but the absolute pin,
provided by the White queen, overrules those.
The position stems from the game White-Connell, Telford 2017
53. Qd8+ gives checkmate in 4: 53...Kh7 54. Ng5+ Kh6 55. Nf7+! Kh5 56.
Qg5# If 55...Kh7 in above line, then the mating sequence finishes with the
assailant queen reaching the h8-square. On 53...Kf7, 54. Ng5! completes the
mating web. Piece interaction is especially important in mating
combinations.
The position stems from the game So-Dominguez, Saint Louis 2017
33. Re1+! will later enjoy the e8-knight as a snack. On occasion, such long
range moves, across the whole board, are overseen. Black can't hope for
anything good with such offside rooks as the one on a6.
The position stems from the game Edgell-Srebrnic, Telford 2017

The winning combination consists in 24. Bxh7 Qxh7 25. Nf7+!, benefiting
from the pin, Kg7 26. Qxh7+ Kxh7 27. Nxg5, leaving White ahead by three
healthy pawns.
The position stems from the game Gazik-Zambor, Slovakia 2017
The queen is attacked. Should it retreat and where precisely, as 44...Qh4 45.
Qxg6 checkmates, while 44...Qf5 45. Bg4! Qc5 46. Qe6 definitely favours
only White? Of course, not! The unexpected 44...Rc1! sham sacrifice
determines the winner by pinning the g1-rook. As the fettered piece can't take
on g5 and 45. Bd1 intercedes in vain due to ...Rxd1, repeating the tactical
motif, while capturing the berserker sees the first player mated on g2 by the
queen, White must simply resign.
The position stems from the game Gabuzyan-Sedlak, Hersonissos 2017
48...Rb1+?? is a huge miscalculation now, as White covers the check with

Bb4, promoting on the next turn and winning the game. Correct is 48...Rxe1!
49. b8Q Rb1+ 50. Kc6 Rxb8 The rook has exhibited qualities of a powerful
skewerer.
The position stems from the game Merkesvik - Aulin-Jansson, Stavanger

2017

In a familiar Nimzo-Indian setup, 8...Qxc3+! 9. Qd2 Qxa1+ 10. Qd1 Qxd1+
11. Kxd1 gxf6 gains only rook and pawn.
The position stems from the game Calford-McPhee, Canberra 2001

10...Qd1+!! comes as a complete surprise for the first player. 11. Bxd1 Rxd1
paints a cool checkmate pattern. Romanticism pays a call.
The position stems from the game Teutsch-Bernardt, Schwaebisch Gmuend

2001
11...Bb3! 12. Qe1 Nc2 13. Qd1 Nxa1 is rather atrocious.
The position stems from the game Johansen-Tallaksen, Gausdal 2001

14. Bb5+ Bd7 15. Qxc8#!
The position stems from the game Biedma-Justiniano, Seville 2001

More experienced players will recognise the apparition of a (misplayed)
Advance Caro-Kann. The first mover lashes out by 11. Bxg6+! to grab the
rook next with a queen whisk to h5.
The position stems from the game Horvath-Contreras, La Florida 2003
14...Ra7! has caught up with the White lady.
The position stems from the game Bizjak-Sitnik, Nova Gorica 2001
52...e3! energises the mighty diagonal battery, rendering ...Qh1# the fateful
termination.
The position stems from the game Collas-Fataliyeva, Hersonissos 2017

37...Qe2#!
The position stems from the game Guerreiro-Fernandes, Figueira da Foz

2017
33...Be4+
a) 34. Qf2 Qxf2#
b) 34. Ke2 Qf3#
c) 34. Kg1 Nxh3#
The position stems from the game Walter-Stillger, Tegernsee 2017
40...Bf6+ 41. Kxh5 Qh6#!

An alternative is 40...Qf6+ 41. g5 Qf4#
The position stems from the game Varney-Richardson, Coventry 2017

59...Ra1+ 60. Kh2 Bb8! spells death for the unfortunate White rook,
parading in the center.
The position stems from the game Grieve-Adair, Coventry 2017
Black can run with the knight and still hold the draw, but safer is 76...Nxg3!
77. Kxg3 - the last enemy pawn that could hypothetically queen is destroyed
with the resulting pawnless ending easy and straightforward draw, according
to theory. When faced with the choice of converting to a known draw or
playing longer an inferior position with more material, go for certainty as
there is no guarantee some mistakes will not be committed later on.
The position stems from the game Cerveny-Banzea, Zadar 2017
As if Black promotes first. Only on the surface. 56. Ne8! (Nb5 is identical)
h1Q 57. Nc7+ Kb7 58. a8Q+ Kxb6 59. Qxh1 has munched the new arrival.
Don't despair at the first sign of opponent superiority.
The position stems from the game Dubov-Jankovic, Hersonissos 2017

32. Rc5!! uncovers the powerful diagonal battery, compelling Black to
surrender. Both 32...Qxc5 33. Qb7 and 32...bxc5 33. Qa8 execute checkmate
with a flourish.
The position stems from the game Sagit-Marder, Stockholm 2017
24. f6! - the c6-bishop is overloaded. The two main split-offs are:
a) 24...Bxd5 25. Re8+ Bg8 26. f7! and Black is powerless
b) 24...gxf6 allows immediate checkmate by Rh7
The position stems from the game Kasparov-Ivanchuk, Moscow 1988
Black firmly holds the helm of the board government. Alas, 24. Ng6+ Kg8
25. Nxe5 forks and defuses the hostile lady. Viva - fork in addition to a pin, a
nice combo.
The position stems from the game Blackagain-Platinumoctopus, FICS 2018

45...Rg2+ 46. Kh1 Rh2+! - the rook is untakeable as the knight is pinned -
47. Kg1 Rag2! sets a piggy checkmate. The snouty creatures don't leave the
White king a hope in the world.
The position stems from the game Ren-Lei, China 2017
14...Bxd4+! 15. cxd4 Qxd4+ 16. Re3 Qxe3 gives checkmate in an elegant
fashion. A bigger eccentricity is 14...Qd4+!! 15. cxd4 Bxd4+ 16. Re3 Bxe3#
though.
The position stems from the game Zivkovic-Ipek, Nova Gorica 2001
8...Bb4 is a nice pin. Kings and queens share a lot in common, but should
they share the same diagonal?
The position stems from the game De Barberis-Corvi, FICS 2001

The Black bishop has just committed a howler by eating the delicious e2-
pawn. 13. Qe6+! and Qxe2 metes out the punishment.
The position stems from the game Bognar-Schulze, Budapest 2001
39...Qb5! reinforces the absolute pin on the f1-slider, gaining it in due course
if the opponent does not react accordingly. White has nothing better than 40.
Qe5+ Qxe5 41. fxe5 Ra1, targeting a3, and drawing chances are inexistent.
39...Qb1 is less desirable to play from a practical standpoint, as White has a
couple of nuisance checks, starting with 40. Qe5, though objectively stronger.
The position stems from the game Shen-Wang, China 2017
37...Qb6! double attack is obvious and strong. The only difficulty consists in
the fact the queen has to retreat to the own camp, in order to execute the
attack, which implies certain psychological thresholds.
The position stems from the game Ostojic-Grishchenko, Palic 2017

The evident 27. Bd6!, interceding on the a3-f8 diagonal and pinning the
knight, leads to a sure win. How imposing the doubled White rooks on the
7th rank are!
The position stems from the game Hejazipour-Savina, Cap d'Agde 2017
33...Qxe5 34. Qxf4 is not convincing at all. The correct approach is

33...Bd3+! and now:
a) 34. Kb3 Qc4+ 35. Kb2 Qc2+ 36. Ka1 Qb1#
b) 34. Kd1 Be4+!, discovering an attack on the White queen, followed by
...Bxf3
c) 34. Kc1 Qc3+, luring the king to a place of discovery, 35. Kd1 Bc2+,
followed by ...Qxf3
Sometimes, you have to complicate the game.
The position stems from the game Nilsson-Carlsson, Uppsala 2017
25. Bd4+ f6 26. Bxf6# illustrates sufficiently well Blackburne's checkmating

pattern.
The position stems from the game Zwirs-Balje, Netherlands 2017

61...Qe3+ 62. Kg2 Qg3+! 63. Kh1 Qh2#
The position stems from the game Rydstrom-Lyell, Budapest 2017
64. Qa8#!
The position stems from the game Morawietz-Bopp, Tegernsee 2017

29. Rxd4! knocks out Black. The assailee has transformed into an assailant
with decisive effect, the bishop can't capture because of the pin, 29...Rxd4 30.
Qxg7 is mate, so as 29...Rf7 30. Rd8+ Rf8 31. Rxf8
The position stems from the game Mastrovasilis-Repka, Hersonissos 2017

39...Ra1+ 40. Ke2 Ra2+ 41. Kf1 Ra1+! 42. Kf2 Ra2+ coerces White to
accept the draw by continuous pursuit/perpetual check, as on 43. Kg3 or Kg1
Black has 43...Re2, and the central pawn anchor at e3 falls. A rook on the 7th
rank is good for winning and drawing alike.
The position stems from the game Rendle-Howell, London 2017

Rb3+, just as Qxc6, is met by ...Rb5, covering the b-file, and the battle rages
on. Therefore, 21. a4!, taking away the b5-point from the Black rook, and
only then 21...Ka8 22. Rb3 Rb8 23. Qxc6+ Quiet moves, prophylaxis play an
importatnt part in tactics too. It should be noted that 21. c4 is not in any way
same, as Black has 21...Rd3, landing on the newly created fissure.
The position stems from the game Xia-Olivetti, Venice 2017

Black has more central pawns and actually threatens to wrap up the game
with ...Rg8, targeting g2. 22. Qh4 is met by ...f5, shutting off the d3-bishop
for good. In this situation, the "Greek Gift" of 22. Bxh7! is timely and well-
indicated. After the forced 22...Kxh7 23. Qh4+ Kg8 24. Qg3+! Kh8 25.
Qh4+ the White queen ogles the Black monarch in secula seculorum.
Blocking the g3-check with the bishop at g7 is impossible because of the
hanging c7-queen.
The position stems from the game Zaibi-Adnani, Yasmine Hammamet 2017

The game is fierce and near equality, so Black should not miss ready-made
mating chances like 41...Qh6+ 42. Kg4 Nh2#! Perfection is the other word
for strength.
The position stems from the game Hejazipour-Demuth, Cap d'Agde 2017
White feels fine. 11...Qxe2+! 12. Kxe2 Nxc3+ and ...Nxa4 will make him
seek appointment with a psychologist, though.
The position stems from the game Saeidi-Roghani, Fajr 2001
The quaint 13...Nd5! fork wins in style the c3-horse, as 14. Nxd5 fails to
14...Qxc1+ 15. Kxe2 Bxd5
The position stems from the game Danilov-Navrotescu, Baile Tusnad 2001

The White king will certainly get mated. Alas, this player is in a possession
of a nice little drawing mechanism, consisting in 1. Rb8+ Kh7 2. Nf8+! Kg8
3. Nd7+! Kh7 4. Nf8+ with a perpetual check. Cute and accurate. When
checking at f8, the knight simultaneously controls the g6 escape square.

10. h6! benefits from the weakness of the Black dark-square bishop and the
f6-point to convincingly score a point. Make out the variations yourselves.
The position stems from the game Miezis-Batenburg, Zwolle 2001
12...Qd1#!
The position stems from the game Lindenmair-Noras, Bad Woerishofen 2001
The quiet 15. Qg3! liquidates the f3-sweeper, as 15...Bxe2 16. Bh6
showcases typical checkmate at g7.
The position stems from the game Kragelj-Stainer, Bled 2001

31...Nxb5 discovers an attack on the d3-square by the d8-rook, allowing for
32. axb5 Bd3+, intercepting the support for the c3-bishop, provided by the
queen, 33. Kf2 Rxc3!, grabbing a minor.
Calculating longer sequences, combining several motifs, is primordial for
robust tactical play and vision.
The position stems from the game Pelletier-Solak, Hersonissos 2017

28...Qxg7 certainly wins. At the sight of such plentiful spoils, the attacker
should not overlook the 28...Qxh2# one-mover, though. Always try to choose
optimal continuations, as something might go wrong later in the game, one
way or another.
The position stems from the game Krahe-Dann, Tegernsee 2017
40. Ra8+! Bxa8 has distracted the light-square bishop from its duties of
guarding the e6-square, whereupon 41. Nxe6+ Qxe6 42. Qxe6 secures large
material advantage. If the queen is not given up on move 41 and the king
retreats to c8 instead, 42. Qc7 checkmates.
The same position could be arrived at after 40. Nxe6+! Qxe6 41. Ra8+ Bxa8
42. Qxe6 Recognition of subtle tactical nuances is key to solid play.
The position stems from the game Omorjan-Grishchenko, Palic 2017
The fast and easy 31. Qg5+ discovers an attack on the d5-queen. In-betweens
are omnipresent in tactical solutions.
The position stems from the game Sargissian-Pavlidis, Hersonissos 2017

Who the hell is better here? Minor for three pawns, and two White pieces are
forked. 12. e3! opens the perilous orifice of the f1-slider, though, trapping the
enemy lady. Obviously, activity without proper development is a wrong rule
of thumb to follow.
The position stems from the game Rzhengkv-Scrablor, FICS 2018
The quiet 44...Rf3! engenders the menace of ...f6 mate, which is meetable
only if White gives up a rook with 45. R8d6+ Rxd6 46. Rxd6+ Kxd6 Posting
the rook on f2 on the first move is identical.
The position stems from the game Heimberger-Handler, Austria 2017
58...Nb4+ 59. Kc3 Rc2+! 60. Kxb4 Rxc8 garners the exchange.
The position stems from the game Nyback-Edouard, Hersonissos 2017

54...Ng3+ 55. Kg1 Nf3#!
The position stems from the game Degenhard-Scholl, Deizisau 2017
40...Rxg2+ 41. Kd3 Qd4#!
The position stems from the game Kabisch-Gabriel, Deizisau 2017

26. Re7!!
a) 26...Qxe7 27. Qh8#
b) 26...Re8 27. Rf7+ Qxf7 28. Qxf7#
c) 26...Be6 27. Nxe6+ Qxe6 28. Qg7#
The position stems from the game Maltsevskaya-Yatzenko, Saint Petersburg

2017

Not 13...bxa4 14. Rxd5; 13...Qxf3+! 14. Kxf3 bxa4 leaves Black a healthy
light piece plus couple of pawns up.
The position stems from the game Ingvaldsen-Hanley, Oslo 2001
12...Bxd4 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 d4! (the point) lambasts the c3-knight.
The position stems from the game Nielsen-Ekeberg, Oslo 2001

In this game, White is after the record for most undeveloped army. The
obvious 15...Bb4+ 16. Ke1 Nxf2+ forks the h1-rook.
The position stems from the game Queiroz-Fucs, Rio de Janeiro 2001

14. Rxa4! wins a light piece pursuant to 14...Qxa4 15. Qxa4 Rxa4 16. Bb5+
and Bxa4. As if in the initial position the b5-cell is twice defended...
The position stems from the game Braslavskij-Bashilin, Essen Borbeck 2001
34. Be6+ starts the combination with a humble check and ends it with a self-
sufficient queen mate on a8 on the next move, no matter if Black takes the
bishop or covers the check with ...Nd7. Pins and line clearance are the main
motifs.
The position stems from the game Repka-Bartel, Hersonissos 2017
32...Rxg3 33. fxg3 Rb1! 34. Qxb1 has enticed the White queen away,
making possible a checkmate in perfect unison after 34...Qf3+ 35. Kg1 Nh3!
Precise deeper calculation often stems from seasoned knowledge of patterns.
The position stems from the game Singer-Sandhoefner, Austria 2017

26...Bxb2+! 27. Rxb2 decoys the linear piece from watching the c1-square,
to create the tableau of 27...Rc1+ 28. Rb1 Rxb1# A cute back-ranker. Other
moves might achieve victory too.
The position stems from the game Risting-Crevatin, Uppsala 2017
32...Rcf8 engineers a powerful linear heavy pieces battery, bearing on both

the f2-bishop and f1-rook. One of them will drop off. Batteries are an
essential element of chess art.
The position stems from the game Furfine-Priyadharshan, Saint Louis 2017
In spite of the huge White superiority in terms of material assets, Black

checkmates with 41...Nc4+ 42. Ka4 Bd7! Awkward placement coupled with
lack of suitable defenders spell the king's doom.
The position stems from the game Saveliev-Burmakin, Saint Petersburg 2017

52...Bc2, Black is able to hold by doing nothing, just keeping his bishop on
the b1-h7 diagonal, to protect the g6-pawn. The most White can achieve is
exchange both pairs of pawns on the king flank, but then no power in this
world can expel the Black monarch from his cosy abode at a8. The enemy
bishop is simply of opposite colour. Opposite colour bishops are known for
their drawishness.
A good puzzle for any lazy solver.
The position stems from the game Blohberger-Debevec, Zadar 2017

18. Ng5! gives up the hopper to clear the 3rd rank for the d3-rook. After the
forced 18...fxg5 19. Rh3 Black gets mated on h7 at short notice. Queen
proximity to the enemy king, the so-called tropism, is a weighty indication of
one's attacking chances.
The position stems from the game Fier-Avdhoot, Bastia 2017

37. Ra8+ and White mates in a couple of moves after Black sacrifices all
three pieces on the back rank.
The position stems from the game Casteleijn-Watters, Budapest 2017
31. Rh7!, threatening Qg7# and Rh8+, seals it.
The position stems from the game Kleinman-Vigorito, Charlotte 2017

30. gxh6! - the threat of h7+ is unavoidable.
The position stems from the game Visanescu-Ionescu, Calimanesti Caciulata

2017

41...Qc1+
a) 42. Kg2 Qh1#
b) 42. Re1 e2+! 43. Kxe2 Qxf4
The position stems from the game Heberla-Tomczak, Warsaw 2017
24. Rxf6! Rxf6 25. Qh7+ Kf8 26. Qh8#
The position stems from the game Sarkar-Kumar, Manchester 2017

24. Qc3!, the double threat of Ra1, trapping the queen, and d5 discovered
check is decisive.
The position stems from the game Prandstetter-Jandourek, Czech Republic

2017

32. Rf5+ Kg7 33. Rxe7
The position stems from the game Beerdsen-Pel, Belgium 2017
39. Rd1 pins the Black queen.
The position stems from the game Bagi-Jurcisin, Slovakia 2017

34...Qd1+ 35. Be1 Nf6! decides.
The position stems from the game Reichmann-Schmidt, Austria 2017
30. Rexd7+! Bxd7 31. Qc5+ and Qxf8 wins more material.
The position stems from the game Nilsson-Vernersson, Sweden 2017

42...Be5+!
a) 43. Nxe5 Qg1#
b) 43. Kg2 Nf4+, forking king and queen
The position stems from the game Khalafova-Iturrizaga, Sharjah 2017

62. Qc5+
a) 62...Kd7 63. Qd4+ and Qxe4
b) 62...Kb7 63. Qe7+! and Qxe4
c) 62...Kb8 63. Qe5+ and Qxe4
The position stems from the game Nygren-Lindahl, Sweden 2017
31. Qxh5, the threat of Qh8 mate is unavoidable.

The position stems from the game Hausner-Krupicka, Czech Republic 2017
37...Qe1+ 38. Kh2 Qxe6. Not so good is 37...Rxe6?, because of 38. Qc8+
and Qxe6.
The position stems from the game Spurny-Pesout, Czech Republic 2017

26...Qg6, and the bishop on e6 is lost due to the pin.
The position stems from the game Mittermayr-Mikanovic, Austria 2017
34. Qb5+ Qxb5 35. axb5 leads to an easily won pawn endgame.
The position stems from the game Vesely-Bazant, Czech Republic 2017
One way to win is 35...Rh1+ 36. Bf1 e2! and the bishop is lost due to the pin.
The position stems from the game Persson-Norberg, Sweden 2017
Most convincing is 30...Nd2!, adding a further attacker to the pinned f1-

bishop. 31. Bxe1 fails to 31...Nf3+! 32. Kh1 Qxh2#
The position stems from the game Tuncer-Rotstein, Austria 2017

41...Bf3, the mate threat of ...Qxg2 is not to parry.
The position stems from the game Sieber-Schmidt, Germany 2017

It isn't necessary for White to take back on c5, as 34. Qb8+! Rc8 35. Qxc8+
Ne8 36. Qxe8 checkmates. The vent created on h7 is no longer a vent, as the
b1 diagonal slider strikes at it.
The position stems from the game Stefanova-Narva, Monaco 2017
24. Qd4+ Ke6 25. Re3+ Be4 26. Rxe4+ Kf5 27. Qxd7+ flogs the Black king
to death.
The position stems from the game Kisic-Draganic, Djenovici 2017
The Black monarch is under the heavy crossfire of a multitude of opposing

sliders, but how does White win? The mystery is unlocked by the 22. Nb5!
cavalry charge and now:
a) 22...cxb5 23. Bxb5+ Bd7/Nd7 24. Qe7#! The sac has induced a nuisance
blockage, preventing the queen from guarding the e7-square.
b) 22...Qb7 23. Rd8 bears similitude to the "Opera Mate"
22...f6 is of no relief, as the knight captures the c7-queen with check.
The position stems from the game Norowitz-Karlsson, Reykjavik 2017

46. Qg5#
The position stems from the game Skara-Kosnar, Czech Republic 2017
53...Rd1+ 54. Re1 Rxe1#
The position stems from the game Stetsko-Khotenashvili, Hersonissos 2017

13. Nc5 successfully "unforks":

a) 13...dxc4 14. Rxd7
b) 13...Bxc5 14. Bxc5 dxc4 15. Bxf8
The position stems from the game Anderson-Hulse, Connecticut 2001

15. Bxc5! Nxc5 16. Ne7+ and Nxc8.
The position stems from the game Lahlum-Kvisvik, Gausdal 2001
7. Bxa6 Nxa6 8. Qa4+! and Qxa6
The position stems from the game Frometa-Fleitas, Havana 2001

15...Qxf2+ 16. Kd2 avoids to give quick mate. 15...Nf3+! 16. Bxf3/Kf1 Qxf2
does.
The position stems from the game Midoux-Fressinet, Lausanne 2001
15. Nxg6! gains a pedestrian due to the pin while menacing a check at e7.
The position stems from the game Klaus-Blessing, Ditzingen 2001

49. Qh8+ Kg6 50. Rg8+ Kf5 51. Qe5#!
The position stems from the game Paulet-Koskoska, Hersonissos 2017

39. Qe7! puts Black in zugzwang: 39...Qa8 40. Qg7# or 39...Qf7! (enticing
White to capture for a stalemate) 40. Qd8+ Qg8 41. Qf6+ Qg7 42. Qxg7#
The position stems from the game Gubajdullin-Petrova, Saint Petersburg

2017
47. Rb5+ Kd6 pushes the Black king away, allowing for the rook to take
with 48. Rxf5 next. The harvest is good, unfortunately, two Black men have
been lined up on the 5th rank.
The position stems from the game Maiwald-Kahlert, Dresden 2017
22. Bxf6+ Ke6 23. Bc4# The Black king's face expresses disgust - where are
all his faithful warriors?
The position stems from the game Degn-Axeclamation, FICS 2018

92. Kc1! Kd3 93. Kd1 c2+ 94. Kc1 Kc3 draws due to stalemate. Huge
mistake is 92. Kd1?? Kd3 93. Kc1 c2 94. Kb2 Kd2 and the pawn queens. It is
important to take the opposition here.
The position stems from the game Moroni-Godena, Cosenza 2017
31. Qc7+ Ke6 32. Bg5 discovered check Kf5 33. Rf6#! is as picturesque as
possible. Other winning lines, subvariations are available too. One should
stay calm and concentrated even in the easiest of situations.
The position stems from the game Sarana-Gurjevskoy, Saint Petersburg 2017
52. Qe8+ Kf6 53. Be7+ also mates, in a longer series of moves, though the
outrageous 52. d5! checking lever is the much simpler and more entertaining
solution:
a) 52...Kxd5 53. Qd6#!
b) 52...cxd5/Bxd5 53. Qe8+ Kf6 54. Bd4+! forking their royalties
c) 52...Kf7 53. Qf8+ Kg6 54. Qf5+! Kg7 55. Bd4+ recurring to the previous
subline
In each case the torment is brief with the main motif being emptying the d4-
square for a subsequent fork.
The position stems from the game Commercon-Keymer, Baden-Baden 2017

34...R8d2!, infiltrating on the 7th rank, clinches it. The immediate threat is
the somewhat paradoxical 35...Rxf2+!! 36. Rxf2 Qh1+ 37. Ke2 Qxe1# The
bad news for the first player is this is impossible to meet. On 35. Rc2
35...Rxe1+ 36. Kxe1 Rd1! checkmates in a self-sufficient fashion. The rook
has blocked the support the White queen provided for the d1-square.
Initiating the final assault with 34...Ra1, intending ...R8d1, falls upon 35.
Rd3, shutting off the eager attacker.
The position stems from the game Sadiku-Uruci, Prishtina 2017

55. Bxa7+! amasses an extra pawn material, while creating a second
advanced passer on a6, as capturing the bishop is taboo in view of 56. c7 and
the front-runner queens.
The position stems from the game Rakhmanov-Ebeling, Finland 2017
65. Qxh6+
a) 65...Kg8 66. c8Q+ Qf8 67. Q8xf8#
b) 65...Qh7 66. c8Q#
The position stems from the game Zavgorodnaya-Shpartko, Saint Petersburg
2017
33. Rc1+ Nc6 34. Rxc6+! bxc6 35. Ba6# is a cute balestra (cross-bow).
The position stems from the game Milliet-Franciskovic, Hersonissos 2017

36. Nxg5+ Kg8 37. Rg6+ Qg7 38. Qe8#
The position stems from the game Duzhakov-Shpartko, Saint Petersburg

2017
13. Be4! wins a further pawn owing to the threat to capture at h7.
The position stems from the game Koch-Bacsi, Budapest 2001

11...Qxc3! ensures Black an extra piece:

a) 12. Qxe2 Qxc6
b) 12. Bxc3 Bxd1 13. Rxd1 bxc6
The position stems from the game Linik-Aleksieva, Andorra 2001

14...Ba6 benefits from the weakness of the c4-pawn, as well as the x-ray
attack on the f1-cannon, to gain wood.
The position stems from the game Glushakov-Erikalov, Tomsk 2001
8. Nbxd4 Bxd4 9. Qa4+! and Qxd4 helps a Black piece to take an off-board
vacation, stopping along the road on the ominous a4-square.
The position stems from the game Ubiennykh-Kulakova, Tomsk 2001

15. Qd3! will give Black a very hard think how to stop the enemy queen
invasion at h7. Batteries are awesome.
The position stems from the game Schmitzer-Josting, Dresden 2001

34. Ra8+ Kf7 lures the Black king to a square, where he is the victim of a
deadly knight fork with 35. Ne5+!, grabbing up the linear combatant next.
The position stems from the game Dobrotka-Szustakowski, Bojnice 2017
39...Nf3! double check, the White commander gets quarantined on h1,

allowing an instant checkmate with 40...Qh2 next.
The position stems from the game Batsiashvili-Cosma, Antalya 2017

The tempo-gainer 35. g5+! coerces the king to the 7th rank, whereupon 36.
Rb7+ is a double attack on their royalties. 35...Bxg5 36. fxg5+ Kxg5 37. Qf4!
checkmates dovetail-wise.
The position stems from the game Palin-Stolarczyk, Dresden 2017

Black is two light pieces ahead, though 24. Ng5+ Kd8/Kf8 25. Ne6! craftily
checkmates. Designing clear-cut plans and solutions out of a confusion is a
precious gift.
The position stems from the game Matlakov-Najer, Antalya 2017
39...Qd4! 40. Qxd4 Rxe1+ 41. Kg2 cxd4 is a bargain. More promising
defences for White are not observable, for example, 40. Qe3 Qxe3 41. Rxd1
Qe2 and it is time to start a new game.
The position stems from the game Wielecki-Zimmer, Dresden 2017
If White succeeds in playing Kb7, then the a-passer will promote. Therefore,
55...Kc8! 56. a5 Kb8 57. a6 Ka8 and nothing can drive the Black king from
his defensive stand in the corner, blocking the road to new queen. On 56. Ka7
Black has 56...Kc7 57. a5 Kc8 58. a6 Kc7 59. Ka8 Kc8! 60. Ka7 Kc7 with a
perpetual pursuit. If 60. a7 in this second branch, then 60...Kc7! stalemates.
The position stems from the game Harika-Huang, China 2017

36...Rxd3! 37. Qxd3 tempts the White lady away from the g2-point,
empowering the 37...Qg2+ double attack, followed by ...Qxh1. Simple, but a
finesse nonetheless.
The position stems from the game Ilincic-Nguyen, Budapest 2017
The b1-rook is overworked with the defence of two own light men, so
34...Bxe1 fills in the reserves:
a) 35. Rxe1 Rxb2 or
b) 35. Ba3+ Bb4 - the intermediate check hasn't helped as the victim has
morphed into a valuable blocker
The position stems from the game O'Connor-Schoppen, Antalya 2017
20. Qe3! is a retreat only on the surface of it. Actually, the lady takes aim at
the a3-slider while cleaning the long diagonal and staking a claim to the f3-
square by the bishop. The second player goes down the drain due to the
forfeiture of at least a minor, for example, 20...b4 21. Bf3 Qb6 22. Bxa8
Capturing the queen on c6 gives perfectly fine for Black after 20...Nxc6 21.
Bf3 Rac8!, successfully unpinning.
The position stems from the game Arnaudov-Thorfinnsson, Antalya 2017

34. Qc7+ Ka8 35. Qxb7#!
The position stems from the game Timerkhanov-Zabolotnov, Saint

Petersburg 2017
38. Rg8+ Kh6 39. Qf8#!
The position stems from the game Xu-Lagarde, Bastia 2017

28. Qh7#!
The position stems from the game De Graaf-Bekedam, Hoogeveen 2017
Black has counter-attacked the queen but, as if by a magic wand, 48. Rxf6!!,
completely neglecting the threat, gains a whole minor piece, 48...Rxd4 49.
Rxf5 or 48...Qxf6 49. Qxe4 Tactics is about random configurations too.
The position stems from the game Ionescu-Martinovici, Slanic Moldova 2017
10. Nxe6! favours only White. The f7-pawn is pinned and main lines run as
follows:
a) 10...g6 11. Qxe5
b) 10...Bxe6 11. Bxe6 (the e5-knight is again under attack)
c) 10...Qxd5?? 11. Nxc7+ royal fork
It's obvious that White loves complications, and in this case they are very
much justified.
The position stems from the game Hrbale-Degn, FICS 2018

40. Qe8+, "Open Sesame!", Qf8 41. Bh7+! Kg7 42. Nh5+ Kxh7 43. Qxf8
finally divorces his royalty from his closest partner.
The position stems from the game Del Rio de Angelis-Martin Duque, Las
Palmas 2017
15. Qh5!, the queen whisks to the king side, eyeing a lethal check on h7. As
pawn interposition with ...f5 is impracticable owing to the pin, that is an
invitation to commence a new game. Compromised shields are a big source
of trouble.
The position stems from the game Kamsky-Shkurkin, Sochi 2017
15. Nxc5 Nxc5 16. b4! renders the attacker a pinned piece.
The position stems from the game Shtereva-Gizem, Patras 2001

14...Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bxg5! invites the h4-pawn to recapture.
The position stems from the game Bongers-De Saegher, Dieren 2001
More experienced players will recognise a certain variation of the Queen's

Gambit Declined. 13. Nb5! and Black is unable to save the c7-point:
a) 13...c6 14. Nd6 hitting the e8-rook and b7-sweeper
b) 13...Rc8 14. Nxa7
The position stems from the game Jenkins-Kjetzae, Budapest 2003
15...Ncxe5! has engulfed a valuable pawn:

a) 16. Bxd7+ Nxd7 taking back like a circus man
b) 16. dxe5 Bxb5
A trap to know, frequent debut occurence.
The position stems from the game Kontokanis-Yasin, Patras 2001

10. Bb5! is impatient to see where the Black ruler will go.
The position stems from the game Kostopoulos-Kerimov, Patras 2001
33. Rh8+ Ke7/Kg7 34. Qf6#!

An alternative is 33. Qf6, followed by Rh8 mate.
The position stems from the game Heimann-Gosdin, Saint Louis 2017
31. Qh4+ Kg6 32. Qh6#!
The position stems from the game Meribanov-Komov, Saint Petersburg 2017

27. Nf6+ Kh8 28. Qxh7#
The position stems from the game Skripchenko-Dornbusch, Monaco 2017
14. Rh8+!! Kxh8 15. Qh5+ accelerates the White lady closer to the enemy
king, allowing for 15...Kg8 16. Qh7 mate. Open files are frequent harbingers
of available tactics. The direct 14. Qh5 fails to meet its objective after 14...f5
soundly blocks the king wing and, for the time being, checkmate is not on the
horizon. Taking back the central knight on e5 also does not worry Black too
much owing to 14...g6, sealing possible approaches.
The position stems from the game Grachev-Goryachkina, Sochi 2017
Both 19. Bxg5 and 19. Nxg5 defeat Black easily. The point to see is the g5-
pawn is capturable due to the loose h8-rook. Pedestrians are frequent targets
of cars and other machinery.
The position stems from the game Markko-Devilachab, FICS 2018

Surprise, 21. Bxd5 Qxd5 22. Qxe7! gains a whole minor piece. Wasn't the
luckless bishop protected twice, by the steed on d5, as well as the dark lady,
before the fatal inauguratory stroke was executed? In this instance, the Bxd5
capture liquidates 2 defenders at once. Tactical varieties are inexhaustible.
The position stems from the game Grela-Leutwyler, Hradec Kralowe 2017

Can you believe 48...Rf5! has just delivered checkmate?
The position stems from the game Hasangatin-Yuffa, Sochi 2017
30...Qd5!, attention, threat on the long diagonal, leads to quick mate after 31.
Kf1 Qg2+ 32. Ke2 Bf3+! 33. Ke3 Ng4 Holes in the pawn shield like those
on f3 and h3 generally bode ill for the resident king.
The position stems from the game Shafigullina-Nechaeva, Sochi 2017

28...Nxf2+ 29. Kg1 Nh3++ 30. Kh1 Qg1+!! 31. Rxg1 Nf2! mate smothers
White. A useful ready-made pattern to remember.
The position stems from the game Popov-Bublei, Sochi 2017

The 36. Nf6! cavalry charge seals Black's destiny:
a) 36...Rxf6 37. Rb8+! Rf8 38. Rxf8#
b) 36...Nf3+ 37. Kf1, duly followed by Rh7+ Rxh7 Rxh7# Weak itself, the
daring steed lends its precious support to the rest of the army.
Similar moves, although not very difficult, are deeply satisfying and full of
aestheticism.
The position stems from the game Morozevich-Kamsky, Sochi 2017

28...Ne2#! The porous White cover lends itself well to similar deadly stabs.
The position stems from the game Ovod-Nebolsina, Sochi 2017
36. Qg7+!! Bxg7 37. hxg7+

a) 37...Kg8 38. Rh8#
b) 37...Kg6 38. Rh6#!
The position stems from the game Dijkhuis-Schmidt, Korbach 2017

41. Qe6+ Kd8 42. Rf8+ Kc7 43. Rc8#! bears similarity to the "kill box"
pattern.
The position stems from the game Stukopin-Heredia, Brownsville 2017

53. Bd6! Rf1 54. Rg8+ Rf8 55. Rxf8#
The position stems from the game Hilwerda-Lindeman, Hoogeveen 2017
Surprise, 47. Qh5! has just mated. A "swallow's tail" on the edge. Was not
this simplistic ending all too drawish?
The position stems from the game Paval-Chima, Slanic Moldova 2017
63...Bg3+ 64. Kd1 Qf1+ 65. Kd2 Qd3+ 66. Kc1 Bf4! checkmates. It is more
important to be active than corpulent. On this background, gobbling the rook
with 63...Qg1+ 64. Ke2 Qxa1 doesn't make much sense, of course.
The position stems from the game Gogolev-Kobalia, Sochi 2017

29. Ne7+, the knight lunges forward to deliver the final blow, Kh8 30.
Nxf7+!!, a second horse bite is already a revelation. Now, 30...Rxf7 31. Qb8+
Rf8 32. Qxf8+ Ng8 33. Qxg8 mates. Checkers are super-dangerous.
The position stems from the game Polivanov-Jarmula, Katowice 2017
Easiest to make sense of tactically is 32. Qxe8+!, removing the blockader of

the e7-passer, Qxe8, followed by 33. Bxc6, this time getting rid of a
controller, to follow up with 33...Qxc6 34. e8Q+ Qxe8 35. Rxe8+ In tactics,
absurd-looking moves are often filled with deep meaning.
The position stems from the game Krejci-Motycakova, Katowice 2017
To round things off, 65. Rxa5+! Kxa5 66. Kxc5 will have spectators glued to
the final battle of two lonely kings. The outcome is anyone's bet. If there is a
definitive draw due to insufficient material, then it is this one.

Sundararajan-Nabaty, London 2017

41. Rxf8! Kxf8 42. Qxc5+, followed by Qxd5, gathers a shovelful of
material. On 41...Bxe4, 42. Qxf6+! Kh6 43. Qh4+ Kg7 44. Rd8 should be
sufficient for a win.
The position stems from the game Inarkiev-Jaracz, Katowice 2017
11...Qb6! - give me the b4-sweeper, surrender the f2-square. Which one

would you prefer?
The position stems from the game Pitkanen-Keskel, Tallinn 2001
12...c2+, Black will take the queen with check and then proceed to save the
h8-rook on the adjacent free square.
Panem et circenses.
The position stems from the game Bachmann-Moen, Bergen 2001

15. d7! check will see the Black monarch scrambling off limits.
The position stems from the game Martinez-Luque, Madrid 2001
15. Nc7+ submits the Black lady to a sacrificial drive, as 15...Kd8 16. Ne6++
Ke8 17. Qd8! hugs checkmate.
The position stems from the game Sikora-Gruczynski, Tatranske Zruby 2001
The legal procedure to win material consists in 13. Nf6+! Kh8 14. Qxh6+
Bxh6 15. Nxd7 and, after the f8-rook moves, the knight escapes the enemy
half of the board via f6 and e4. Naturally, taking the checker on the first turn
is taboo in view of the unsupported queen. Inaccurate and quite different is
13. Qxh6? Bxh6 14. Nf6+ Kg7 (that is the whole point, the king assumes a
vantage placement, controlling f6) 15. Nxd7 Rfd8 and the d7-burglar is
ambushed.
The position stems from the game Krizsany-Likavsky, Slovakia 2001

25. Qg5+ sees the fatigued f6-knight drop off, does not it? An ephemeral
sting, but to the point.
The position stems from the game Mikhalchishin-Peterson, Katowice 2017
19. Bd6, followed by Bxf8, collects the exchange. This is a frequent slash in
cramped positions.
The position stems from the game Wojtaszek-Bablok, Katowice 2017

65. Bf7! Be5 66. Rxe5 Nd5 67. Re8#
The position stems from the game Leon Hoyos-Shimanov, Saint Louis 2017

32. Re8! Rd8 33. Qxf8#
The position stems from the game Olafsson-Johannsson, Reykjavik 2017
29...Nxg3#!
The position stems from the game Shavykin-Sadovsky, Saint Petersburg

2017
39. Rxd3! sac is very ingenious, leaving White victorious. The aim is to bust
the defender of the b2-square. Lines run as follows:
a) 39...Qxd3 40. Bb2!, edifying a lethal battery on the long diagonal, which is
impossible to neutralise efficiently, for example, 40...Rxb7 41. Qg7#
b) 39...Rxb7 40. Rd8+! Rxd8 41. Qxd8+ Kg7 and now the somewhat
unexpected 42. Bf8 long range artillery check cage-mates Black after
42...Kg8 43. Bh6!
Tactical weaponry hides both crude and sophisticated options.
The position stems from the game Yu-Harikrishna, Huaian 2017

Not to elaborate further, 37. Ne6+! sees the Black defence collapse. The first
player will later make a free meal of the c7-rook. A rarer case when a single
discovery constitutes a double attack.
The position stems from the game Sieciechowicz-Michalski, Katowice 2017
20. Nd7! is a subtle fork, attacking at least one hanger - the bishop on c5.
When the slider retreats or Black plays ...Rc8 to support it, the horse outing
continues with 21. Nf6+! and Nxe4, hoarding a bishop's worth of material.
So, actually, the slow-mover has established a triple assault, with the f6-
square its third objective.
The position stems from the game Michalik-Chernyak, Katowice 2017
21. Rf6! intercedes on the 6th rank, allowing for Qxh6+ deadly capture next.
Making a home out of a hole in the enemy camp, also known as outposting, is
a good strategy for both rooks and minors.
The position stems from the game Costachi-Narva, Katowice 2017

14...Qg5! twin-assails the f4-rook and b5-sweeper with the opposing lady
hanging in thin air. On 15. Bc6 Black improvises 15...Nxf4 16. Bxa8 Nh3+!
and ...Qxd2.
The position stems from the game Held-Haas, Winterthur 2001
15...c3! 16. Bxe4 cxb2 leaves two White figures hanging. If 16. Bc1, the
answer is 16...c2! (a further push) 17. Qxc2 Qxe1+ Dangerous advanced
passed pedestrians are, especially when making headway with tempo.
The position stems from the game Roth-Stettler, Germany 2002
14. Bxc6+ bxc6 15. Qxc6+ Ke7 16. Qxa8 seems convincing to me - what
about you? Oh yeah, a small improvement is 16. Qd7#!
The position stems from the game Paredes-Burgos, Madrid 2001

White gasps for air after successful concession of 3 pawns and ingenious
dislocation of combat units. 12...Qd4! now attacking the a1-cannon and f2
mating cell will expect another feat from the first player.
The position stems from the game Carretero-Madina, Alicante 2001
9. Qxb7! leaves Black choosing if the a8-rook or c6-donkey is more dear to

him.
The position stems from the game Hoffman-Garcia, Alicante 2001

25. Qxg8+! Nxg8 26. h7 allows White to promote on the next move. It's only
rarely that a pre-promotion pawn has the choice of ladying on two alternative
squares.
The position stems from the game Wojtaszek-Dragnev, Katowice 2017

40. Rf4+! Bd5 41. Bxd5+ Kh8 42. Rh4 is a recurring "Greco's Mate" pattern
on the backdrop of a Damiano's storming pawn.
The position stems from the game Mikhalchishin-Goessler, Katowice 2017
Black threatens the deadly ...Rc2# 61. Rc4! is the only move that covers the
file. Now, exchanging on c4 and capturing later with the queen with check is
just a draw in a fully equal queen endgame, and, as there are no other open
files, Black must play 61...Ra8+ 62. Ra4 and, in order for White not to get an
advantage, repeating the position with ...Rc8 is forced. Threefold repetition
will occur soon, otherwise a positional draw.
The position stems from the game Englisch-Vignesh, London 2017
27. Qa7+ Kb5 28. Qa5#!
The position stems from the game Ong-Henriksson, Sweden 2017

28. Bh6++!
a) 28...Kxh6 29. Qg6#
b) 28...Kf6 29. Qg7#
The position stems from the game Tommiska-Uimonen, Finland 2017
37. Qf8+ Qe8 38. Qd6+! Qd7 39. Qxd7#
The position stems from the game Durarbayli-Furfine, Saint Louis 2017
81...Qc6+ 82. Kb8 Qe8! 83. Qxe8+ Kxe8 84. Kxb7 a5 liquidates into an
easily won pawn ending. The king will be chasing the Black pawn all along
until the a1-square.
The position stems from the game Neverov-Grinev, Zhytomyr 2017

25. Bc3! piles up on the pinned d2-knight to collect the booty. Other winning
routes might also be present.
The position stems from the game Ladva-Korbal, Katowice 2017
35...Qe1+ 36. Qf1 Nf3+ 37. Kg2 Bh3+!!, behold the deflection, 38. Kxh3
Qxf1 mates satisfyingly full of munch-meat.
The position stems from the game Mikhalchishin-Batsiashvili, Katowice

2017
46. Bxf7+, followed by Bxe8, wins at least the exchange.
The position stems from the game Schneider-Narva, Katowice 2017

The deflector edge pawn storms the enemy king with 32. h6! check and, after
the king retires to a randomly selected square, "queen eats queen" is a total
bust.
The position stems from the game Aleksandrov-Michalik, Katowice 2017
13. c5! Bc7 14. b6! pursues and manhandles the Black dark-square bishop,
which is out of room. Advanced pawn chains like the d4-c5-b6 one in the
final position are strikingly appealing.
The position stems from the game Jbfjbf-Deathhound, FICS 2018
21. Nxd5! is a finesse that breaks down the Black pawn structure and will
include more pieces in the attack along the opening c-thoroughfare.
Capturing the joy-jumper is taboo because of 22. Qxd7#!, while 21...Qxg4
makes of the horse the world's greatest forker pursuant to 22. Nf6+! The d7-
knight is pinned, so the Black lady drops off.
The position stems from the game Stocek-Castellanos, Katowice 2017

31...Qh5!, eyeing the h2-square, ends the game. 32. Bxf3 exf3+ 33. Kg1
Qh3! will follow up with ...Qg2 mate, while 32. Rh1 fails to 32...Nxe1+,
expressly downing the protector of the f2-square, 33. Raxe1 Rxf2+ 34. Kg1
Qg5 and White is helpless. A real octopus of a knight!
The position stems from the game De Villiers-Hercules, Cape Town 2017

11...e3! severs the connection between the lady and g5-knight. After the
forced 12. Qxe3 f4! 13. Qe5 Rf5 the horse drops off. Powerful tempo play.
The position stems from the game Bhuiyan-Legky, Sautron 2001
14. Qh5+ Kg8 15. Bxg6 threatens "Max Lange" at h7.
The position stems from the game Pereira-Rodrigues, Lisbon 2001

6...Nxe4! 7. Bxd8 Nxd2 wins a piece.
The position stems from the game Vasiesiu-Mosnegutu, Targoviste 2001

11...Nxc3! facilitates the coming-off of White material:
a) 12. Qxf5 Nxe2+ and ...exf5
b) 12. Bxc3 Qxe4
The position stems from the game Medina-Escobedo, Merida 2001
14...Ne3 is a simultaneous attack at g2 and d1. White will try to save his
queen.
The position stems from the game Chua-Koh Kum Hong, Singapore 2001
34...Ra1+ 35. Kxb2 Qa3#!
The position stems from the game Thorsteinsdottir-Birkisson, Reykjavik

2017

50...Rh1+ 51. Kg3 f4+! 52. Kg4 Rg2#
The position stems from the game Engqvist-Ziegler, Sweden 2017
61. Qf8+ Kh7 62. Qf7+

a) 62...Kh6 63. Bf8#
b) 62...Kh8 63. Be5#
Other option is 61. Qe8+ Kg7 62. Be5+ Kh7 63. Qh8#
The position stems from the game Ulfarsson-Arnalds, Reykjavik 2017
34. Qf7# The important thing is to internally acknowledge the challenged

knight is still a valuable supporter.
The position stems from the game Artemiev-Le Quang Liem, Huaian 2017

35. Qxe6+, followed by Bxe5/Qxe5 regains the deficient minor piece.
The position stems from the game Ivanchuk-Korobov, Huaian 2017
33. Rxb8 Nxb8 is bad for White - two minor pieces versus rook and no
immediate winning tactics based on the separate passer. 33. Rxa6 Rxc8 is
similarly so and even worse. Therefore, 33. Rxf8+! Kxf8 34. Rxa6 and the
resulting rook endgame is very drawish.
Apart from winning fireworks, there are drawing fireworks too. One must
play according to the position.
The position stems from the game Cvek-Ragger, Czech Republic 2017
63. Qe3/Qd2 with the clear-cut intention of Qh6 mate is strongest. The pitiful
Black king mobility should be made use of. Couple of other alternatives win
too, though one should always try to play the best move.
The position stems from the game Tanriverdi-Salimova, Zadar 2017

The unobtrusive 47. Rg1! quietly prepares Nf1, netting the sidelined Black
rook. On 47...Nd2, 48. Kg3 replicates the result in a slightly different manner.
Efficiency is always called for, even in the simplest of situations.
The position stems from the game Le Quang Liem-Korobov, Huaian 2017
e8Q is currently impossible due to the existing pin. 75. Qa4+!! represents an
exquisite enticement of the Black lady to the a4-point, whereupon 75...Qxa4
76. e8Q+ (the pin is broken) and Qxa4 leaves nothing more to play for.
75...Kb6 76. Qxa7+ Kxa7 77. e8Q pretty much boils down to the same.
The position stems from the game Flom-Haimovich, Herzliya 2017
Here is an astounding sacrifice - 15...Rxb2!! Variations split off as follows:

a) 16. Bxb2 Qxa5
b) 16. Qxd8 Bc2+ 17. Kd2 Bf4#! The pair of bishops and pair of rooks
coordinate superbly.
c) 16. Qa4 Rf2, with multiple threats, is untenable too
The position stems from the game Schneider-Krivoshey, Aschach 2001

13. d6! gains material:
a) 13...Bxd6 14. Bxd6
b) 13...Qxd6 14. Qxd6
c) 13...Qc6 14. Bxe5
The position stems from the game Kosikov-Babionyshev, Kiev 2002
15. Nexd5!, menacing mate at e7 and the c7-lady, deals the final blow.
The position stems from the game Ruetten-Radick, Bad Zwesten 2002
Of course, 13...Nb3+! and ...Nxa5.
The position stems from the game Lie-Hansen, Gausdal 2002

27...Qxd8 28. Bxc6 suits White very well. Correct is 27...Rxc1! 28. Rxc1 and
only now 28...Qxd8, staying with a piece more. Sometimes, intermediate
moves are final ones.
The position stems from the game Zetocha-Haring, Slovakia 2017
Kicking the bishop with 34. d5!, to follow up with 35. Bxb5, wins a large
amount of material owing to the diagonal skewer on the Black heavies,
regardless of whether the bishop takes on d5 or providently goes back
somewhere. Pawn kicks are usually an excellent idea, even if sacrificial, as
they would gain a tempo/tempi at the very least.
The position stems from the game Yuan-Zhang, Shenzhen 2017
73...Rh2! 74. Rf3+ Bxf3 75. Bxh4 Rh1#
The position stems from the game Verdun-Roque, Bacolod City 2017

23. Ba3+! Qc5 24. Bxc5+ Rd6 25. Qxf7#
The position stems from the game Cvitan-Loetscher, Switzerland 2017
47. Qxh4#
The position stems from the game Atlas - Schmidt-Schaeffer, Switzerland

2017
61...g5+! checkmates:
a) 62. fxg5 Qxg5#
b) 62. Kh5 Qh3#
Double pawn pushes, attacking the enemy king, are extremely original and
unexpected, but at the same time also very effective.
The position stems from the game Huang-Zhai, Shenzhen 2017

34. Nd7+!, cutting off the access to the b6 flight square, Kb4 35. Qd2+ Ka4
36. b3+ Ka3 37. Qa5+ goes for the kill.
The position stems from the game Xu-Lou, Shenzhen 2017
35. Rxh6+! gxf6 36. Nf6+ Kh8 37. Qxh6+ mates. Both 35. Qxh6+!! gxh6
36. Nf6+ Kh8 37. Rxh6+ and 35. Nf6+! Kh8 36. Qxh6+, as well as 35.
Rxg7+ Kxg7 36. Qxh6+ Kg8 37. Qh8# lead to the same result. Abundant
checkmate opportunities usually indicate a vastly superior position.
The position stems from the game Lan-Xiang, Shenzhen 2017
35. Ra8 wins a lot of material, for example after 35...Nd7 36. Bxd7 Rxd7 37.
Rxc8 When a contestant has not bringed out his pieces at such an advanced
phase of the game, that is to be expected.
The position stems from the game Zhang-Xiang, Shenzhen 2017

6...Bxh4+! leads quickly to the "Fool's Mate Extended". Full of fools around
there. Look at where your pieces are striking, where they strike is your
greatest chance of conjuring up a shot.
The position stems from the game Gotstobeag-Deathhound, FICS 2018
35...Ra7 36. Ra4 is lost for Black. Therefore, 35...Rd1+ 36. Kg2 Ra1! and
the dangerous a6-passer falls as the e6-square, from where it could be
supported, is inaccessible for the White rook.
The position stems from the game Makinen-Kosmo, Finland 2017
47. e7? Kf7 has stopped the White passer. 47. Ra8+! is called for, and after
the forced 47...Kh7 48. e7 the pawn is unstoppable. Think before you go.
The position stems from the game Shen-Wang, Shenzhen 2017

The killer 34. Qh5+ Kg8 35. Qf7+ Kh7 36. Qxg7 has built a mating web.
Piece interaction, in this case the combined firepower of both White heavies
upon the f7-square, is very important in chess.
The position stems from the game Grigoryan-Roy, Penang 2017
14. Qxh6+ Kf7 15. Qg6+ Kf8 16. Qg8 duly checkmates. Certainly, multiple
other lines win too.
The position stems from the game Troupis-Patrinos, Ambelokipi 2002

15. Nd5! wins the e7-sweeper. The logistics of the Black army is rueful.
The position stems from the game Gutierrez-Martin, Malaga 2002

12. Ng5! interacts with the queen in attacking the h7 mating square. At the
same time, the knight move has uncovered an assault upon the b7-bishop.
Black will have to snap the knight to avoid getting mated, but then 13. Bxb7
gains the exchange. A little jewel.
The original combo bears the name of "Monticelli Trap".
The position stems from the game Jerez-Castaner, Castelldefels 2004

11. Be4! and some material on the long h1-a8 diagonal is bound to fall. The
aftermath of an over-zealous backward development.
The position stems from the game Ruiz-De Andres, Salamanca 2002
14...e5!!, deliberately exposing the queen, is superb. 15. Bxd7 exd4! has left
the d7-sweeper and c3-horse under attack; if the White lady slides back, the
h3-bishop falls. A pawn bravado that hugely pays off.
The position stems from the game Schnitzspan-Wornath, Griesheim 2002
Seemingly, nothing in this world can save White. The hog on the 7th rank at
a7 and the perky knight don't think so, however. 1. Nh7+ Ke8 2. Nf6+ Kf8 3.
Nh7+! sets the precision drawing mechanism in motion. The rook restricts
the king along the 7th rank, while the horse bites here and there. Please note,
that Black has no option as 1...Kg8 2. Nf6+ Kh8?? 3. Rh7 checkmates.

12. Qc8+ Ke7 13. Bc5! brings the Black monarch to the scaffold.
The position stems from the game Vigny-Ranc, Laragne 2002
23. Bd4! pins the rook and will win a sufficient quantity of material to make
the further development of the game uninteresting.
The position stems from the game Richardson-Mitra, London 2017

47...Rd1! cherishes ...Rh1# The first player has no escape options, for
example 48. g4 h4! 49. Qxh4 Qf3 and all that he can now do is deliver one
last agonising check on h8. Mark well where pieces interact, in this case the
h1-square, to have a better understanding of attacking possibilities.
The position stems from the game Mirzoeva-Shaydullina, Khanty-Mansiysk

2017

63...g3?? 64. Kf1 g2+ 65. Kg1 Kg3 gives just stalemate. Correct is 63...Kg3!,
taking opposition, 64. Kh1 Kf2 65. Kh2 g3+ and the advanced infantryman
promotes.
The position stems from the game Di Benedetto-Gueci, Cosenza 2017
34...a1Q 35. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 36. Be1 Re8!, followed by a capture on e1 ensures
Black ample point count edge to be able to get the full point without much
difficulty.
The position stems from the game Stauskas-Bilguun, London 2017
43. Qe8+ Bf8 44. Qxf8+ Kh7 45. Qg8# is inspired by Max Lange.
The position stems from the game Shalimov-Alexikov, Omelnyk 2017

56. Qf6+! Kh7 57. Rh8#
The position stems from the game Pastor-Fos, Altea 2017
64...Rg3#!
The position stems from the game Mischuk-Bortnyk, Omelnyk 2017

37. Ng4! simultaneously attacks the h6-rook and e8-bishop, signifying the
collapse of any potential defensive plans.
The position stems from the game Moranda-Jaracz, Wroclaw 2017

47. d6! blasts open the long diagonal for the sniper on h1. Taking the pawn is
a loss due to 48. Qg7+ Kb8 49. Qb7# On 47...Qd7, suggesting a close
partnership with 48. Qe7 does it, while the panicky 47...Qc8 could simply be
met by 48. Qg7+ Kb8 49. Qxd4 and Black has no better than to wave the
White flag. Intermediate knight checks don't help either.
The position stems from the game Butkiewicz-Lukasiewicz, Wroclaw 2017

White is a whole minor piece up and threatens to play Qf3 with an
impregnable position. Therefore, 17...Qh3, attacking g2, 18. g3 (the only
defence, as 18. Qf3?? Qxf3 blunders the queen due to the pin) Rxg3+! 19.
fxg3 Qxg3+ 20. Kh1 Qh3+ 21. Kg1 Qg3+ with a perpetual. Destroying the
enemy king shelter is core element in this method.
The position stems from the game Rumpl-Ly, Austria 2017

35. Bxg6! is a powerful artillery shell, inducing a tremor in the Black king's
residence. Best defence leads to 35...fxg6 36. Qxg6+ Rg7 37. fxg7 and all the
tales have been told.
The position stems from the game Obsivac-Belunek, Czech Republic 2017
Both the rook on d2 and knight on f4 are pinned by the White bishop, which
might have disastrous consequences later on, but the miraculous 41...Ne2+!
achieves perfect coordination between the Black attackers, bringing home the
full point:
a) 42. Kf2 Qg3#!
b) 42. Kh1 Ng3+ 43. Kg1 Qe3+ 44. Kh2 Nxf1+ and so on
Having the turn is quite of an advantage in chess, especially what concerns
tactics.
The position stems from the game Xu-Zeng, China 2017
The Black queen is very active, so White must be wary of a draw by

perpetual check. One such possibility might arise after 53. Qxc8? Qd2+ To
succeed, White should resort to decisive steps. The magical touch of 53. g4+!
is difficult to deny. In all three subvariations the Black monarch gets quickly
mated:
a) 53...fxg4 cleans the b1-h7 slanted line, so that 54. Qg6+ Kh4 55. Qh6 is
checkmate
b) 53...Kxg4 54. Qg6+ Kh4 55. Qg5+ Kh3 56. Qg3# sees the king with his
back to the wall
c) 53...Kxg4 54. Qg6+ Kxf4 55. Qg3# pursues his majesty to the middle of
the board
The position stems from the game Stankovic-Lalic, Belgrade 2017

43...Rxb2! 44. Qxb2 distracts the queen away from lending support for the
d5-point, preparing 44...Qxd5+ 45. Rg2 Rc1+!, another distraction, 46. Qxc1
Qxg2 mate. The devil is in the details, in this case the mighty h3 restricting
pawn.
The position stems from the game Skare-Jovanovic, Belgrade 2017

35. Re8+ Rf8 36. Ne7+! Kg7 37. Qxh7#
The position stems from the game Frolov-Safronov, Omelnyk 2017
38. Qc8+ Qe8 39. Qxe8+ Nf8 40. Qxf8#
The position stems from the game Klabis-Meskovs, Vilnius 2017

32...Rf2#!
The position stems from the game Rozycki-Goluch, Lvov 2017

19...Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Bd4! reinforces the pin on the e3-rook, winning at least
the exchange.
The position stems from the game Sveshnikov-Krupenski, Vilnius 2017
49...Ra1+ 50. Ke2 R8a2#!
The position stems from the game Backlund-Hillarp Persson, Sweden 2017
45...Rf2+!
a) 46. Ke1 Nd3+ 47. Kd1 Nc3#
b) 46. Kg1 Nh3+ 47. Kh1 Ng3#
The position stems from the game Kagramanianz-Gavrish, Lvov 2017

36...Bf5! skewers both rooks.
The position stems from the game Pap-Markus, Kragujevac 2017
62. Rxa4! defends the a3-pawn. 62...Ne3+ 63. Ke4 bxa4 64. Kxe3 is hopeless
for Black.
The position stems from the game Agrest-Henriksson, Sweden 2017

31. Qh8#
The position stems from the game Nilsson-Engqvist, Sweden 2017
31. Qxe5+ Kf7 32. Rg7+ Kf8 33. Qxe7# railroads in the center.
The position stems from the game Abdulwahhab-Didar, Baghdad 2017

37...Rd3+ is a double attack upon king and bishop.
The position stems from the game Tober-Kreisl, Austria 2017

36. Bxh6! wins a pawn, as 36...gxh6 37. Rg8 skewers both minor pieces.
The position stems from the game Zilka-Bayer, Austria 2017
30...Qf4+ 31. Bf3 Bb7! ends the struggle, the f3-bishop will fall next.
The position stems from the game Almasi-Semiev, Budapest 2017

32. Nf4! Nxf3 33. Bxf3, followed by Rd3#
The position stems from the game Kiolbasa-Zawadzka, Warsaw 2017

31. Ne6+, defending the d4-pawn, which Black can otherwise take with
check, while severing the connection between the Black queen and the rook
on f7, decides. After 31...Kh8 32. Rxf7 Qxe6 33. Qh4+ White mates.
31. fxg4?? is a huge blunder, because of ...Qxg2#
The position stems from the game Asadli-Jamrich, Budapest 2017

38...Rf1+ 39. Ke3 Qf3+ 40. Kd2 Qxf4+! wins a piece, while the attack
continues.
The position stems from the game Setkauskas-Jankunas, Lithuania 2017
31...Qh1+ 32. Ke2 Rd2+! 33. Bxd2 Rxd2#
The position stems from the game Zeller-Hoffmeyer, Schwaebisch Hall 2017
58...Qf4+ 59. Qxf4 gxf4 60. Ke2 Kg2 ensures the quick promotion of the
Black pawn.
The position stems from the game Charmeteau-Heinig, Germany 2017

81. Kh5!, the threat of Ng6+ decides, Black will have to sacrifice his queen,
for example after 81...Qb1 82. Ng6+ Qxg6 83. Kxg6, otherwise Ng6 simply
mates.
The position stems from the game Pap-Hengelbrock, Germany 2017
11. Ba4+ Nd7 12. Qxd5! wins a piece.
The position stems from the game Uuriintuya-Batchimeg, Dadal 2017

24...Qd5!, the double attack upon the knight on d7 and the g2 shelter square
decides (25. Rxb7 Qd1+).
The position stems from the game Miezis-Kamsky, Germany 2017

33. Qf8+!, followed by Qxf3 picks up a whole rook.
The position stems from the game Hess-Krush, Saint Louis 2017
34. Qxd7 Qxd7 35. Nf6+ and Nxd7 is quite convincing.
The position stems from the game Primbetov-Golubov, Budapest 2017

44. Qxe5+! Kxe5 45. Kf2 stops the e2-passer, with a won pawn endgame.
Alternatives will lose or only lead to a perpetual, due to the dangerous Black
passer, supported by the rook.
The position stems from the game Kristensen-Bank, Denmark 2017

Strongest is 38. Qf6, the threat of Qh8# decides (38...Kg8 39. Re8+ and
Rh8#).
The position stems from the game Nagy-Halak, Budapest 2017
42. Nh5++! Kf8 43. Qh8+ Ke7 44. Qd8#
The position stems from the game Liu-Hoang, Ho Chi Minh 2017
39. Qxh6#
The position stems from the game Santos-Hiramine, Joao Pessoa 2017
41. f3+!
a) 41...Kh4 42. Qh6#
b) 41...Kf4 42. Qe5#!
The position stems from the game Shyam-Nguyen, Ho Chi Minh 2017
61. Rh8+ Ke7 62. b7! Rxb7 63. Rh7+ Kd8 64. Rxb7
The position stems from the game Karpatchev-Behling, Bad Woerishofen

2017

35. Rf7! (landing on the 7th rank with the rook is always useful) Rh8 36.
d8Q Rxd8 37. Rxh7#
The position stems from the game Hellen-Ponnio, Finland 2017
64. Qc2! h4 65. Qc1#
The position stems from the game Tiitta-Penttinen, Finland 2017

27. Rf1+ Kg8 28. Qf7+ Kh7 29. Rf3! with mate to follow (Rh3+ threatens).
The position stems from the game Anttila-Halmeenmaki, Finland 2017
67. Rd6! makes good use of the absolute knight pin.
The position stems from the game Zarkovic-Djukic, Belgrade 2017

36...Rf3! wins the knight on d3, as capturing the rook fails to a knight fork on
d2.
The position stems from the game Bayramov-Guliev, Baku 2017

54. Qe4, after the bishop or knight retreat, both will fall to queen checks. For
example, 54...Bd6 55. Qd4+ Other moves also win.
The position stems from the game Roganovic-Ratkovic, Belgrade 2017
34. Rh6 Qf4 35. Re6+!! fxe6 36. Qxe6+ Kf8 37. Rg8# Declining the
sacrifice on the 35th move with ...Kd7 leads to 36. Rf6 discovered check with
subsequent Black queen capture.
The position stems from the game Talsma-Atkins, Telford 2017
43. Rxf7+! Kxf7 44. Qxd6 wins a further pawn.
The position stems from the game Heinrici-Kuecher, Austria 2017

27. Rh8+! Bxh8 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Qxh8#
The position stems from the game Kalod-Pacl, Czech Republic 2017
32. Be6, reinforcing the pin on the 8th rank, the knight on c8 falls.
The position stems from the game Moss-Davey, Telford 2017

46. g7+ forks king and rook.
The position stems from the game Spornberger-Juergens, Austria 2017
53. Qd5+
a) 53...Kf8 54. Qf7#
b) 53...Kh8 54. Bd4+
The position stems from the game Neretljak-Andersson, Sweden 2017
23. Ne5+ Ke8 24. Nxg4 Qc3+ 25. Ke2 Qc2+ 26. Qd2 Re6+ 27. Ne3! ends
the struggle.
The position stems from the game Jones-Wall, Telford 2017

39. Rh7+ Kd6 40. Qf8+! Kc6 41. Qc5#
The position stems from the game Bernales-Mendoza, Tagaytay 2017
25. Rxe4! wins further material due to the pin on the d5-pawn and the
undefended d8-rook.
The position stems from the game Pitl-Pogan, Austria 2017

54...Qe3+ 55. Kf1 Qc1+! 56. Kf2 Qxa3 ends the game.
The position stems from the game Rorvall-Nilsson, Sweden 2017

34...d1Q 35. Rxd1 Rxd1 36. Qxd1 Rc1! wins a lot of material.
The position stems from the game Exposito-Movsziszian, Barcelona 2017
28. h5!, this wins the queen due to a royal fork:

a) 28...Qf7/Qf5 29. Nh6+
b) 28...Qxh5/Qe8 29. Nxf6+
c) 28...Qg5 29. f4! Qd5 30. Nxf6+
The position stems from the game Domenech-Rocabert, Barcelona 2017
13. Ne6+, no matter where the Black monarch waddles off to, 14. Nc7
check/discovered check will follow, forking the a8-rook. Vae victis.
The position stems from the game Gelashvili-Baete, Vlissingen 2000

10. Qe6! kills the Black king cosily enjoying artificial castling.
The position stems from the game Gelis-Wildemeersch, Laragne 2002
11...gxf4 12. Qxe4 is not the wisest of lines. Wisdom flows from 11...Nc5!
(safeguarding the knight), followed by pawn capture at f4. Anchoring the
knight by ...f5 also leaves the White bishop en prise.
The position stems from the game Frank-Szirmai, Budapest 2002

14...c4+! breaks the connection between the e2-bishop and b5-knight, to

angrily eat the knight next.
The position stems from the game Dombai-Juracsik, Budapest 2002

9...Bd4 invites the a1-cannon to hide away from the attack.
The position stems from the game Ramos-Martin, Coria del Rio 2002
36. Rc8+ Rxc8 37. Rxc8#!
The position stems from the game Simon-Pastor, Altea 2017

22...Rg5+! 23. fxg5 Qh1#
The position stems from the game Royset-Stany, Stavanger 2017
A range of moves should be winning for White, but 27. Nd8!, followed by
Nf7 check, is a real knightmare for the opponent king.
The position stems from the game Piza-Bazant, Czech Republic 2017
Instead of fleeing with the b5-bishop, White simply strengthens the attack by
8. Ne5! Qd8 9. Nxc6 bxc6 (the queen is pursued again, and on 9...Qd7 10.
Ne5 decides) 10. Bxc6+ Bd7 11. Bxa8 gaining material to his heart's content.
What are the causes of Black's defeat? He is developed, but badly so. Bishop
pins, especially when more enemy pieces share the same diagonal, are unholy
killing, try avoiding them whenever possible.
The position stems from the game Chessiklein-Axeclamation, FICS 2018

Black is about to promote a second queen, decisively tipping the material
balance. The only way for White to attempt a draw is to counter-attack
virulently. This is achieved by 42. Qe8! b1Q (42...Kg7 43. Be4) 43. Qxg6+
Bg7 44. Qe8+ Bf8 45. Qg6+! with a perpetual check. In above line, trying to
play for a win with 43...Kh8?? actually loses to 44. Be4! mating at h7 next.
The king needs defenders in order to be able to cope with the powerful queen.
Attacking the king, desperately and using all available forces, is one of the
good drawing techniques when behind in material.
The position stems from the game Petenyi-Hujbert, Hungary 2017

The murderous 35. Rf7! sally instantly wraps up the encounter. Qxg7 mate
threatens, with both main lines, 35...Bxf7 36. Qh7 and 35...Bf8 36. Qf6+ Bg7
37. Qxg7 also ending in checkmate.
The position stems from the game Arsenovic-Skare, Belgrade 2017
29. Nf5!, envisaging twin mates with the queen on g7 or h6, Qxf5 30. Qxf5+
humiliates the Black king by leaving it almost completely bare. 29. Nxf7 is a
viable alternative, as 29...Re6, for instance, is thrashed by Ng5! forking
check.
The position stems from the game Milanovic-Frosch, Austria 2017
38. Nxb6!, gaining another pawn, is the last straw. Accepting the sacrifice is
met by 39. Rd6! double attack and one of both minors drops off.
The position stems from the game Belous-Baryshpolets, Costa Mesa 2017

In this highly double-edged position (...Rh1 mate threatens, for example), 41.
Qc5+! fully dissolves the opponent defensive lines:
a) 41...Ke8 42. Re4+ Kd7 43. Re7#
b) 41...Kg8 42. Qg5+! and Qxd8+
What concerns positions of the type, accuracy is essential to conduct them
well.
The position stems from the game Duong-Hoang, Ho Chi Minh 2017

Not allowing any checks on the part of Black, 28. Rxf6+! Nxf6 29. Qd6+
Kg8 30. Nxf6! gives checkmate. The inauguratory rook move has freed the
d6-square for the queen. Initiative is very important in chess.
The position stems from the game Kubicka-Zemlickova, Poland 2017
The brusque 38. Rxg5! finds entrance into the Black king fortress:
a) 38...hxg5 has unclogged the edge file and now 39. Qh8+ Kf7 40. Rh7+
delivers mate
b) after 38...Rxg5 39. Qxh6 the Black monarch is again in his last existence
throes, as both opposing heavies are stern invaders
The position stems from the game Shishkin-Samu, Alba Iulia 2017
By pure chance, White finds 11. Qh5+ A holistic implementation of the anti-
hole concept.
The position stems from the game Hagesaether-Snahre, Oslo 2002

13. Nxg6+! Rxg6 14. Qxh5+ effectively ends the game.
The position stems from the game Tarayre-Mercier, Saint Quentin 2002
8. e5 gains material:
a) 8...Nh5 9. g4! trapping the knight
b) 8...Ne8 (disconnects the f8-rook from the queen) 9. Bf3 Nc6 10. Nxc6 and
the pawn can not recapture as the lady will be hanging
The position stems from the game Shchekachev-Leroy, Evry 2002
12...Qg5+! 13. Qxg5 hxg5 wins the trapped g6-bishop without any
complications (the queens are off).
The position stems from the game Martinez-Lopez, Barcelona 2002

15. e6+! makes use of a kamikaze pawn to expose the Black king after
15...Kxe6 16. Bf3+ The second player is doomed. Test the relevant variations
yourselves.
The position stems from the game Lerch-Gironella, Barcelona 2002
31. Rb8+ Ka6 32. Qb5#!
The position stems from the game Valeanu-Bjarnason, Antalya 2017

78. Qf5+ Kh2 79. Qh5+ Qh4 80. Qxh4#

Identical is 78. Qf3+
The position stems from the game Efroimski-Li, Fornebu 2017

33...Rc2+ 34. Kb1 Re2+ 35. Kc1 Ra1#
The position stems from the game Maltsevskaya-Hasangatin, Sochi 2017
The horse bites with 23. Nxf7! and that bite is fully unexpected. A private has
been won and the Black pawn skeleton permanently damaged. Recapturing
fails to 24. Bxg6, with a lethal fork on both Black heavies. Random play, one
would say? Very close to. Engines love such uppercuts. The piece
arrangement has simply happened like that.
The position stems from the game Kosic-Irizanin, Valjevo 2017
White amply controls the f1-square, so 30...Qxh1!, reducing the tension

there, 31. Qxh1 f1Q+ 32. Qxf1 Rxf1 is called for.
Other winning ways are searchable too. Try to be as economical as possible,
in defence and attack alike.
The position stems from the game Rodi-Rangel, Rio de Janeiro 2017

28...Rb2 leaves the first player no other option but to concede the e2-minor.
29. Qc1 Rxe2 or 29. Rd8+, a counter-punch with limited force, Kh7! 30.
Qd1, taking care of the bishop, Rxe2!, a useful decoy, 31. Qxe2 Qxd8
Exchange of fire has lasted only shortly and now White has to yield to
material superiority. Key motif is the interaction of both Black majors
occuring on the b2-square. Points of power ray intersection are good to make
notice of.
The position stems from the game Lebredo-Borges, Rio de Janeiro 2017

35...Rf7! has swindled the White knight into a pitfall. The old mare finds
itself duly shackled. For example, 36. Nc8 Rxc7 or 36. Nd5 cxd5 The rook
return features an attack and an x-ray attack. Attacks are basic element in
each and every player's arsenal.
The position stems from the game Kambrath-Stremavicius, Dallas 2017
White threatens checkmate with Qf7+ Kh7 Rh5. Black is faster with
43...Qf1+ 44. Kg4 Qg2#! though. The quick and the dead.
The position stems from the game Janzelj-Nurgali, Tarvisio 2017

Black is a pawn up with better pawn structure and better sheltered king.
White should be striving for a tying solution, but how to do that? 50. Rxf7+!!
works wonders! After 50...Kxf7 the king is utterly exposed and into the open,
so 51. Qd7+ Kf6 52. Qd8+ Kf5 53. Qf8+! Ke5 54. Qh8+ Kd5 55. Qd8+!
walks him around to a perpetual. Stepping back with the king now to c6 is
fatal due to 56. Qa8+ skewer and the e4-queen falls.
The position stems from the game Bora-Ludwig, Charlotte 2017

17...Bg4! 18. Qxh6 Bxf3 has won a minor owing to the pawn pin and pretty
much signals the termination of the game. The usual suspects - double attack,
pin. The more frequent a tactical feature is, the more important to learn well,
as it will influence a lot of match-ups.
Naturally, even after this huge material loss, White assesses his chances
rather positively.
The position stems from the game Jameshu-Hiky, FICS 2018

66. Qa8+ Kg7 67. Qa7+! apart from giving check also hits the d4-rook.
Queens are especially strong in the late endgame when their sweeping
activity is unrestrained.
The position stems from the game Stanciu-Gilea, Baile Govora 2017
63. Re7+ Kh6 64. Rh8#!

63. Rf7+ is identical.
The position stems from the game Maltsevskaya-Ozgibcev, Sochi 2017
36...Qxb4+ 37. Kc2 Qc3+ 38. Kb1 Re1#
The position stems from the game Travkina-Gritsayeva, Sochi 2017

32. Qh7#
The position stems from the game Rublevsky-Bocharov, Sochi 2017
39...Qg4+! is a double hit on the king and d1-rook. The unpretentious slider
will perish. Look carefully for similar occasions, not only look but search
them out.
The position stems from the game Hilverda-Volkmann, Austria 2017

The amazing 45. Qh7!! is an occasion to show off. The queen is untouchable
owing to the absolute pin but, more importantly, it gets access to the h8-
square. The intended continuation is 46. Qh8+ Ke7, breaking the link
between the rooks, 47. Rxf7# Unfortunately, the second player can't avoid
that, for example, 45...Rxf6 46. Qh8+ Kf7 47. Rxf6+ Ke7 48. Qf8#! or
45...Qxe5 46. Rxf7+ Ke8 47. Qg8# The e5-wedge plays a vital part in
restricting the Black batallion.
The position stems from the game Liu-Vaibhav, Tarvisio 2017

The bishop retreating is hardly the best of lines. 13. Bb5! leaves it en prise,
but is successful after 13...bxc5 14. Bxc6 gobble-forking both rooks.
Unnecessary holes again.
The position stems from the game Lupi-Paris, San Fernando 2002
15. h5+ Kh6 16. Nxe6 discovered check establishes an eating relationship
with the Black queen. The packaging of a "Greek Gift" is clearly
recognisable.
The position stems from the game Vargyas-Ladanyi, Budapest 2002
13...Rxd2!! 14. fxe5 Rxd1+ and ...Qxe5 has won a pawn and vastly
improved his pedestrian structure. Deviating with 14. Rxd2 Bxf4! 15. Qe1
Rd8 is even worse. Alternative Black replies are clearly inferior to losing, so
the situation is precarious, requiring nerves of steel.
The position stems from the game Bilek-Kallio, Budapest 2002

8. Nxe5 wins a free horse as 8...Qxe5 9. Re1 pins the queen. 8. Re1 d6 9.
cxd4! is fine too.
The position stems from the game Padeiro-Cunha, Guimaraes 2002
Of course, 15...Qxc1! 16. Qxc1 Nxe2+ and ...Nxc1. More chicken players
would flee with the queen.
The position stems from the game Raka-Kappler, Baden Baden 2002
32. Rxe5! adds a further private to the collection of gobbled-up items. White
will play Rd5 next, swapping off linear sliders and minimising Black's
defensive potential.
The position stems from the game Tran-Huber, Tarvisio 2017

31...Qxd4!! wins a second pawn, as 32. exd4? Re1+ checkmates. White has
forgotten to make a loophole.
The position stems from the game Walton-Gourlay, Telford 2017
49...Rc1+ 50. Kf2! achieves nothing, as the rook is supported by the knight.
Correct is 49...Rc3! 50. Rxb2 Rxa3 and the knight comes off the board, as
otherwise 50. Nb5 Rc1+ promotes.
The position stems from the game Valdes-Arkell, Telford 2017
31. Qxe4!, to follow up with Ne6+, family-forking, and Nxc7, is a bust. The
first thought might be, "Let's get the hell out of here with the queen," right?
The position stems from the game Gheng-Leeb, Deizisau 2017

34. Rxe8+ Qxe8 35. Qxf6 lets the fatigued and overworked queen take
responsibility for the disaster. Starting with 34. c6 is also a good idea.
The position stems from the game Solomon-Locci, Venice 2017
33...Qc7! happens to trap the stray White knight, for example, 34. Qa8+ Rf8
35. Qc6 Qxa7 An alternative is 33...Qd7.
The position stems from the game Repka-Fridman, Hersonissos 2017

White has even more material than Black, but he is so tied-down, that
36...Qg4+! 37. Ke3 Qf3# expressly finishes the match-up.
The position stems from the game Salomon-Rodshtein, Hersonissos 2017

41...Qf3+ 42. Rg2 Qxg2#
The position stems from the game Belenkaya-Tomilova, Sochi 2017
30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Bg7+! Kg8 32. Re8#
The position stems from the game Ubiennykh-Bodnaruk, Sochi 2017

35...Qf1#
The position stems from the game Predke-Bocharov, Sochi 2017
Swiftest is 92. Kg7+!, the linear cross-check mates linearly.
The position stems from the game Biriukov-Manush, Saint Petersburg 2017
As if the g4-pawn drops off and the horse is trapped, but seemingly the beast
does not mind that. 65...Nxf4+! 66. gxf4 Kxf4, with the subsequent capture
of the g4-pawn, reaches a "bishop + wrong rook pawn" ending, which is a
theoretical draw. The most White could achieve is stalemate.
Of course, in order to do that well-indicated sac, one must know a bit of
endgame theory. The point to drive home is that tying by dint of a fortress
when significantly lagging behind in material is a frequent endgame
technique. Capisce?
The position stems from the game Shchekachev-Khismatullin, Asnieres-sur-

Seine 2017

35. c6 scares the hell out of the Black leader, threatening a Vukovic after
Rd7#!, but also pawn touchdown with c7# Black can only slightly delay the
outcome with 35...Nxc6 36. Bxc6 and the d7-square is again vulnerable.
The position stems from the game Veselov-Chernyak, Saint Petersburg 2017

The subtle 24...Re5! steals the show, having trapped the White queen. What
is even more desperate is that after 25. Qxe7 Rxe7 26. dxe5 Qh3! Black
checkmates a la Lolli.
The position stems from the game Teitsson-Steingrimsson, Reykjavik 2017
13...Qe4+! and ...Qxh1+ has won a whole cannon. Careful - watch your step.
White will organise a massive offensive later on to restore his unjustly stolen
material.
The position stems from the game Grandenapoli-Jayshanker, FICS 2018
The Black king suffocates in his corner and now 31. Rh3 only confirms the
diagnosis. On 31...Qxh3 the first player recaptures with the queen.
The position stems from the game Grandell-Larsson, Sweden 2017

White struggles to hold, though 32...Rxc3!, eliminating the watch of the e4-
point, 33. Qxc3 Qe4+, slapping the king and b1-rook, proves decisive. The
h2-rook is hilarious.
The position stems from the game Halldorsson-Thorsteinsson, Reykjavik

2017
12. Nc4! forces the lady to take up residence on a cell belonging to the f1-a6
slanted row, upon which 13. Nd6+ discovers an attack on it by the f1-slider.
The position stems from the game Geenen-Astengo, Milan 2002
12...Bg4! skewers queen and rook. Fatal is 13. hxg4 due to 13...Qh4+ 14.
Kg1 Qh1#
The position stems from the game Bellardi-Vion, Checy 2002

13...Bxf4! makes himself a present on account of the pin and the feeble g1-
rook. A mistake is 13...exf4? 14. f3! counter-pinning. The difference between
a move and a move.
The position stems from the game Lys-Michenka, Ostrava 2002
Benefiting from the low mobility of the White king, 14...Bc5+! 15. Nxc5
attracts the knight on a square away from watching d4, permitting 15...Qd4+
16. Be3 Qxe3#
The position stems from the game Jehle-Lichman, Winterberg 2002
41. Qd6+
a) 41...Ke8 42. Qe7#
b) 41...Kg8 42. Qd8#
The position stems from the game Alekseenko-Fedoseev, Sochi 2017

25. Ne7+! Bxe7/Kg7 26. Qh7#
The position stems from the game Tekeyev-Pogromsky, Sochi 2017
50...h6+ 51. Kh4 g5+! 52. Kh5 Rxh3#
The position stems from the game Sieber-Krause, Hannover 2017

28. Rxh7+!! bursts through. 28...Kg8 29. Rag7# is the blind swine, while on
28...Nxh7 White has another well-known pattern in store with 29. Ng6+ (both
defenders of this square are gone and dispersed) Kg8 30. Rg7#
A petite combination, like some are in the habit of saying.
The position stems from the game Gombac-Gjuran, Slovenia 2017

After 40...Qxd3+! 41. Qxd3 Bf5 all non-pawn pieces are gone, with the
resulting ending a walk in the park. Making things uncomplicated is a
surefire strategy, as well as frequently the fastest approach due to
diminishing resistance.
The position stems from the game Ragnarsson-Hardarson, Reykjavik 2017

25...Rxc1 26. Qxh7+ Qxh7 27. Bxh7+ Kxh7 28. Rxc1 wins a free piece. 26.
Rxc1 is even worse, due to 26...Qh1+ 27. Ke2 Qxc1, and the damages
already amount to a whole rook. This is not a freak of randomness, but a
natural consequence of objective evaluation factors. The White pawn cover is
too slim, for example, rendering the king exposed.
The position stems from the game Haas-Maeser, Switzerland 2017

Black is about to promote with check. Luckily, it's White's turn and the two
hogs don't leave the hostile king alone: 48. Rxg7+ Kh8 49. Rh7+ Kg8 50.
Rhg7+ Kf8 51. Rgf7+ with a perpetual.
The position stems from the game Li-Percivaldi, Tarvisio 2017
40...Nd4+! is on the cards and will put the queen off the map the next move.
Although the royal fork itself might be a piece of cake for many, the finesse
of its execution and irregular board arrangement make it worthwhile
considering.
The position stems from the game Sepp-Matlakov, Antalya 2017
23. f3 kicks some butt. When the queen retreats, the e4-knight will fall. The
trick here is to make sense the f-pawn push is supported by the rook.
The position stems from the game Pigott-Gabrielsen, Fornebu 2017

28...Bxg2! is a demolition sac that easily wins. For example, 29. Qg1 Qxh3#
or 29. Kxg2 Nf4+ 30. Kf1 Nxe2 With such a nice advantage, alternative
routes also lead to Rome.
The position stems from the game Bublei-Shirov, Sochi 2017
Only move securely stopping the advanced White couple of the queen wing
is 58...Rb1! Now, on 59. b7 Rxb7 will follow, while on 59. a6, 59...Rxb6 60.
a7 Ra6, successfully holding again the front-runner.
The position stems from the game Nechaeva-Potapova, Sochi 2017
24. b4! summarises the fall-out from the big White positional edge. The c5-
bishop is all tied-up and can't move, as moving will expose the unprotected
rook on c8, which its counterpart on c1 is eager to swallow.
The position stems from the game Kezin-Andrey Tsvetkov, Sochi 2017

Strange as it might seem to you, 77. Re7! simply mates. The e3- and c5-
pawns, guarding the d4 and d6 squares accordingly, as well as the friendly d5
and f5 self-blockers are all conducive to the healthy state of the mating web.
One difficulty with solving such positions is that people often don't expect the
availability of mates in similar innocuous situations in the late endgame.
The position stems from the game Moiseenko-Usmanov, Sochi 2017

56. Qf4+! hunts down and kills the Black king along the edge of the board:
a) 56...Kxh5 57. g4+ Kh4 58. Qh6#
b) 56...g5 57. Qf6+ Kxh5 58. g4+ Kh4 59. Qh6#
Unwise king sorties can sometimes be painful.
The position stems from the game Sjugirov-Goryachkina, Sochi 2017

13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Qc6! hits a8 and e6. A Dutch-like structure did not serve
Black optimally in this case.
The position stems from the game Riemelmoser-Tschedemnig, Vaduz 2003
32...Rf1+! 33. Rxf1 Rxf1#
The position stems from the game Travkina-Belenkaya, Sochi 2017

33. g6+ Kf6 34. Qg5#
The position stems from the game Zufic-Stipic, Mali Losinj 2017
32. Rh4+ Kg8 33. e7+! Qc4 34. Qxg7#
The position stems from the game Adly-Abdulaziz, Beirut 2017

33...Rxf2+!! is a stunner, very unusual and unexpected, but also very logical
in essence. The sac gains a precious tempo. After 34. Kxf2 b2! the advanced
pawn is accelerated to the last rank and nothing can stop it any more from
promoting and trading the insignia of a private with those of a star-striped
general. The point is that both squares from where the White rook could
attempt holding it, b4 and c1, are firmly in the grip of Black men, the bishop
and the pawn itself accordingly.
Alternatives, like 33...Rd2 34. Rc3 b2 35. Rb3 and 33...Ra2 are no good.
The position stems from the game Wiesner-Kopylov, Hannover 2017

15. Nxc4! wins a free pedestrian, as both opponent bishops are under attack
and sufficiently unprotected. Discovered attack plus clearance (in case of
...dxc4).
The position stems from the game Yuwei-Ldopa, FICS 2018
37. Qh6 asks for mate. Black defends the vulnerable g7-point with ...Qf8.
Now, 38. Rd8!! is a stunt that captivates the audience. Rxf8# menaces and
38...Qxd8 is met by 39. Qg7 cosy checkmate.
Great deflection.
The position stems from the game Yuffa-Chos, Sochi 2017
On 23. Kxf2??, Black has 23...Ne4+, forking king and rook and staying with
a material edge. Correct is the 23. Bxf6! zwischenzug, snapping the attacker
of the e4-square off the board, and only then Kxf2. On 23...Ne4 24. Bxd8
wins. One must be vigilant on each and every capture, each and every move.
The position stems from the game Potkin-Papenin, Sochi 2017

27. d5! lever is decisive. In case the knight is startled from its place, the e7-
bishop falls prey to the queen. If 27...cxd5, 28. Rxc8+ has exposed the loose
Black back rank slider. 27...Qxd5 28. Qxd5 cxd5 29. Rxc8+ pretty much
boils down to the same. Some pawn features are indeed powerful.
Key motifs are loose pieces, the c8-rook and e7-bishop, pawn threat, as well
as the x-ray attack of the White lady upon the Black dark-square bishop.
The position stems from the game Nechaeva-Ubiennykh, Sochi 2017

22. Qc3! has finished the construction of an extravagant "queen + bishop"
battery on the long diagonal. The Parcae have woven the knight's destiny.
Tactics come in all colours and shades. It's important to be ready for freaks
and standards.
The position stems from the game Girya-Pogonina, Sochi 2017
14...Nf3+! mates in 2:
a) 15. Kf1 Qxf2
b) 15. Kh1 Qh2
The difference between an attacking and a defensive formation.
The position stems from the game Stelter-Vollak, Winterberg 2002
10. Qb5+ Ke7 11. Nc6+ makes Black resign. Guess why. Holes and
crevasses all around. A compact pawn structure where the separate pawns
support each other is an essential element of sound positional chess.
The position stems from the game Zebisch-Krug, Winterberg 2002

Deliberating 11. Bb5 pays off. Can you surmise why?
The position stems from the game Brzuska-Heyne, Winterberg 2002
White is fine, fully developed, apart from that nasty pin on the c3-hopper.
14...Ne4 makes use of that sporadic fact.
The position stems from the game Shtereva-Nepeina, Varna 2002

14. e6+! discovery finds the Black queen unprepared.
The position stems from the game De Vreugt-Wuts, Rotterdam 2002

38. Rxh6+! captures with check. 38...gxh6 takes back in the hope to fend off
the attack. Sorry - 39. Qxf6 mate ostracises the Black king to the realm of the
dead. More amazing while identical in nature is 38. Qxh6+!! gxh6 39. Rxh6#
Vivid scenery testifying to the omnipotence of advanced attackers.
The position stems from the game Sarana-Perov, Sochi 2017

33...Nc3+
a) 34. Ka1 Ra2#
b) 34. Kc1 Rc2#
The position stems from the game Korotylev-Tsydypov, Sochi 2017
48. g5+!!
a) 48...Kxg5 49. Qg3+ Kh6 50. Rh8#
b) 48...Qxg5 49. Rh8#
An alternative is 48. Qf4+ g5 49. Qh2+ Kg6 50. Qh5#
The position stems from the game Jakovenko-Levin, Sochi 2017
40. Nd7#!
The position stems from the game Nebolsina-Ubiennykh, Sochi 2017

36. Bg8! g5 37. Rxh7+ Kg6 38. f5# Searching out mate decisions is an
optimal strategy in the endgame too.
The position stems from the game Quintiliano-Chemin, Caioba 2017
48. Qh4+ Kg6 49. Qh6+ Kf5 50. Qf6+! Ke4 51. Qe5+ Kf3 52. Qe3#! makes
the Black king dizzy.
The position stems from the game Solodovnichenko-Aaberg, Sweden 2017

25. Re1, after the Black light-square bishop retreats, the c6-knight falls. Or,
25...f5 26. Rxe4! fxe4 27. Bxc6 with mate on a8 to follow.
The position stems from the game Maurer-Lins, Austria 2016

41. Qg6+ Kh8 42. Qxe8+ Kh7 43. Qe4+! Kxh6 44. Qxd3 picks up both
rooks.
The position stems from the game Gong-Frayna, Tagaytay 2017
26. Bh6, Qg4+/Qg3+ and Qg7# threatens. On 26...Kh8, 27. Qxf6+ mates.
The position stems from the game Klabis-Sakalauskas, Vilnius 2017

64. Bb4!, after 64...Bb6 65. Bf3 Ba7 66. a5 the knight is lost due to the pin.
The position stems from the game Diaz-Pozanco, Sabadell 2017

26. Rcd1 skewers the queen on d4 and knight on d8. 26. Rfd1 is similar.
The position stems from the game Noritsyn-Kumar, Chess.com 2017
63. Qc1#!
The position stems from the game Zhou-Daulyte, Chess.com 2017

27...Qc2!, skewering both minor pieces on the 2nd rank.
The position stems from the game Gusain-Donchenko, Moscow 2017
34...Rxa2 35. Qb3 Ra1+ 36. Qb1 Re1+!
The position stems from the game Narmontas-Kaunas, Vilnius 2017

34. Ng5+ Kh6 35. Rxh7+! Kxg5 36. h4+ Kf4 37. g3+ Kf3 38. Re3#
Also possible is 34. Ne5+, for example, 34...Kh8 35. Nxg6+! hxg6 36. Qh3+
The position stems from the game Yu-Iturrizaga, Moscow 2017

61. Rxd4! exd4 62. a7 and the White pawn promotes.
The position stems from the game Annaberdiev-Krause, Neustadt an der

Weinstrasse 2017
35. Qh7+ Kb6 36. Rb3+! Ka5 37. Qxa7 wins abundant material.
The position stems from the game Esenov-Sadovsky, Moscow 2017

40...Bg5 skewers queen and rook.
The position stems from the game Den Hartog-Kerigan, Wachtebeke 2017

39...Rd1!!
a) 40. Qxa7 Rxe1#
b) 40. Rxd1 Qxe3
The position stems from the game Durante-Guerrero, Montevideo 2017
33...Bd2, reinforcing the pin on the f4-bishop.
The position stems from the game Karthikeyan-Berkes, Moscow 2017

57...Qd3+! forks king and rook.
The position stems from the game Perez-Valenzuela, Santiago 2017

20...Nxf3+ 21. Bxf3 Bxb4 wins a piece. 20...Bxb4? 21. Nxe5 favours White.
The position stems from the game Pacis-Yeoh, Tagaytay 2017
27. f6!
a) 27...Bxf6 28. Bh6#!
b) 27...exf6 28. Bb4+ Re7 29. e5 is hopeless
The position stems from the game Henriquez-Hernandez, Santiago 2017

26...Rxg2+!! 27. Kxg2 Rg8+ 28. Rg3 Rxg3+ 29. fxg3 Qh3#!
The position stems from the game Ragger-Akesson, Graz 2017

48...Rh5+ 49. Bh4 Bf2 seals it.
The position stems from the game Atabayev-Sviridov, Moscow 2017
Black has solid material advantage and as if nothing could save his opponent.
For example, Bg5 is answered simply by ...Nd7, blocking the d-file. Could
you believe White mates in 3? The combination goes like this: 1. Qd8+!!
Kxd8 (Black has no choice) 2. Bg5++!, double checks are extremely forcing
and dangerous, never to be underestimated, and now:
a) 2...Ke8 3. Rd8 is Morphy's "Opera Mate", while
b) 2...Kc7 3. Bd8! is Reti's checkmate
Both lines shine with an unforgettable splendour. Dreaming of playing like
this?
65. axb6+! Kxb6 66. Rxe5
The position stems from the game Puranik-Gusain, Moscow 2017

15. Nxf7! Rxf7 16. Bxf7+ Kxf7 17. Qc4+! and Qxc6 is a whitewash - White
has acquired the exchange plus pawn. Dum spiro spero.
Sacrificial decoy plus fork.
The position stems from the game Aveskulov-Mihalichenko, Kharkov 2004
53...Qf3+ 54. Kh2 d1Q
The position stems from the game Bernales-Hoang, Tagaytay 2017

34...Rd1+ 35. Nc1 Rxc1#
The position stems from the game Hilby-Svane, Chess.com 2017

41. d4!, after the Black knight retreats, the bishop on d7 remains undefended.
The position stems from the game Orlov-Astaneh, Chess.com 2017
40...Bb4!, pinning the rook, 41. Rcd1 e3 ends the game.
The position stems from the game Vidarte-Movsziszian, Barcelona 2017

34. Qe7! pins and wins the Black bishop.
The position stems from the game Satyapragyan-Nagle, Chess.com 2017

38...Rh8+ 39. Kg1 Qc5+! 40. Kf1 Rh1#
The d3-pawn played an important part in limiting the White king escape
squares.
The position stems from the game Gunnarsson-Perez, Chess.com 2017
29. Qh7#
The position stems from the game Hua-Lapite, Chess.com 2017

52. Rc7!, the Black queen has no escape squares. On 52. Qxb1?, Black can
still capture ...Qxh6.
The position stems from the game Francisco-Agrest, Chess.com 2017

13...Qxf2#! pays a visit to the hostile king in a KID-like setting.
The position stems from the game Cerda-Treadway, Dos Hermanas 2004
40. Re3#!
The position stems from the game Arnold-Sadhwani, Chess.com 2017

30. Qxf7+!! Rxf7 31. Rxf7+ Kg8 32. Rf8+ Kg7 33. R1f7#!
The position stems from the game Smith-Shaposhnikov, Chess.com 2017
49. Qe7!, the threat of Rxf8+ decides.
The position stems from the game Delgado-Lujan, Montevideo 2017

29. Re8+! Kf7 30. Qxc7+ Kxe8 31. Qxg7
The position stems from the game Von Bahr-Fransson, Vaxjo 2017

Quickest solution is 31. Bh6+ Kh7 32. Bf8#!
The position stems from the game Matsuura-Reis, Rio de Janeiro 2017
42. Rxg6! wins, as 42...fxg6 is met by Qxg7#
The position stems from the game Delgado-Guerrero, Montevideo 2017

62. Qxf6+!! Qxf6 63. Nxf6 wins. Weak is 62. Nxf2? Bxe5 63. Rxe5 Rxf2
and White has at most a draw.
The position stems from the game Nogueira-Carneiro, Rio de Janeiro 2017

10...Ng4! gains material:
a) 11. Nxg4/Nxc6 Bxb2
b) 11. f4 Ncxe5 12. fxe5 Nf2+ and ...Nxh1
The position stems from the game Gorelov-Zaitsev, Moscow 1996
11. Nxh5 Bxh5 12. g4 Bg6 13. h5! sees the bishop succumb to a slow-pacers'
swarm.
The position stems from the game Manninen-Johnsen, Stockholm 1996
Black has calculated 13. Qxf4?? Nxd3+ which wins him a piece. However,
the first player is able to surprise by an intermediate check, 13. Bb5!, after
which capturing at f4 is safe as the gone bishop controls the d3-cell. In the
end, the trapper is trapped.
The position stems from the game Abedinov-Eklund, Stockholm 1996

The magnificent 8...e4!! reveals Black's full intentions only after:
a) 9. Nxe4 Bxb2
b) 9. Bxg7 exf3! 10. Bxf8 fxg2 11. Rg1 (otherwise Black promotes with
check and capture) Kxf8 winning two light pieces for rook
In the second variation, the pawn gets rid of the enemy in a samurai fashion.
The position stems from the game Thoma-Stanec, Austria 1997

Who the hell is better here? Only God knows that, and White, who finds 14.
Qxe6+!! fxe6 (forced) 15. Bg6 mate! As much astounding as unexpected.
Marvelous.
The position stems from the game Gershon-Finkel, Ubeda 1997
10. cxb4 Bxd4 11. g3 Qe4 hitting h1, is a bit unclear. Not so 10. Nf3!,
escaping from the danger zone with tempo, and only then cxb4. A piece has
been won, it's a holiday.
The position stems from the game Fries-Simonsen, Torshavn 1997
As expected (unexpected), 15...Rg6! gains the orphaned and squareless

White bishop.
The position stems from the game Beltugov-Kalichkin, Ekaterinburg 1997

As if White is ok, fully developed and castled, enjoying the ownership of a
prosperous pawn structure. Still, there is some problem with the b5-sweeper,
highlighted after 15...b6! 16. Qc4 (single square from where the lady still
defends b5) Nd6 and the bishop falls prey to a double attack.
Overextension is a difficult issue - some pieces do just fine while others are
weak. Particular circumstances will determine this. In the present case, the
second player has two latent attacks - that of the b-pawn and that of the c8-
horse eyeing d6.
The position stems from the game Neiman-Pelletier, Cannes 1997

Some will maybe recognise the origin of the Staunton Gambit or similar lines
in the Dutch. Black has grabbed a precious pawn at the exorbitant price of a
severely backward development and unfortunate opening of thoroughfares.
The thunderbolt of 6. Rxh7!! steals a pawn...and the show. 6...Rxh7/Nxh7 7.
Qg6! checkmates; on other moves, White simply captures the rook.
Thank you for the music.
The position stems from the game Johansson-Hernback, Gotland 1997

12. c4 wins the knight due to the weakness of the b7-bishop. Those pawn
thrusts...
The position stems from the game Zarnicki-Maggiolo, Boca 1997
Almost fully equal. White has just offered exchange with Qd4. There you go!
15...Rxe2+! 16. Kxe2 Qxd4 leaves him with two good attacking rooks.
Removal of the guard.
The position stems from the game Lorenz-Sickenberger, Wuerzburg 1997
15. Qf2 is a fortunate unpinning that creates two threats: exf6 and 16. f5 Bh5
17. g4! trapping the life out of the bishop. As the second mover can't meet
them at the same time, he should resign.
The position stems from the game Spraggett-Blasco, Andorra 1997

The Black pawn structure is so severely broken-down, that the superficial
material equality basically means nothing. 14. Nxd5! captures the central
anchor and is definitive. Recapturing fails to 15. Rxc8+ Kf7 16. Bc4! with
couple of awful pins more.
On occasion, pawn structure can be worth much - a whole pawn or even
more.
The position stems from the game Cebalo-Kavcic, Ljubljana 1997

10. Qa4! and the second mover is helpless:
a) 10...axb5 11. Qxa8
b) 10...Bd7 (sterile pin) 11. Nxd6#!
c) 10...Qd7 11. Nxd6+ (the queen is pinned) Kd8 12. Nxf7+ forking to eat h8
If 10...Nxd5, 11. Nc7 double check Ke7 12. Nxd5+ is simple enough.
The position stems from the game Kiss-Kosa, Debrecen 1997

14...Bd4 (pins) 15. Nxd4 cxd4! (forks) - end of game.
So simple it was!
The position stems from the game Willemze-Strijbos, Vlissingen 1997
Castling long gets all pieces out, gets the king to palatial safety and reinforces
the pin on the d7-knight. Excellent!
The position stems from the game Kiu Sen-Ginting, Jakarta 1997
Do you see it? Correct, 15. Qe3+! and Qxa7 Awkward piece placement is a
frequent cause of disaster. See to it that all your figures are mobile.
The position stems from the game Lputian-Alexandria, Biel 1997

13. b4! goads the c5-horse which can not move in view of the pin. 13...axb4
walks into 14. Qxa8! Qxa8 15. Nc7+ and Nxa8. Leaving a whole side
undeveloped (see the Black pen of sheep on the king flank) is a sure recipe
for quick defeat.
The position stems from the game Sulava-Barthel, Biel 1997
Will Black see it? Will Black see it? Tight lips, frozen face. 10...Nxg2+ 11.
Kf1 Nxf4 Oh, no!
The position stems from the game Lutz-Dautov, Bad Homburg 1997
The somewhat surprising (for the opponent) 15...Bxe4! targets the lady and
the g2-cell. Recapturing walks into 16...Re8, pinning the queen.
The position stems from the game Mannaberg-Heinbuch, Berlin 1997

38...c1Q!!
a) 39. Rxc1 Qxf2+ 40. Kh1 Qh2#
b) 39. Qxc1 Qxh3 with mate to follow
The position stems from the game Alberto-Indjic, Lisbon 2017
52...Bd2!, this traps the White knight, which has no escape squares. 53. Ke2
h4 54. Kxd2 h3! and the h-pawn promotes.
The position stems from the game Cawdery-Torma, Budapest 2017
47. Rf8
a) 47...Kg7 48. a8Q
b) 47...Rxa7 48. Rxf7+
The position stems from the game Annaberdiev-Burmakin, Lisbon 2017

35. Rd1!, the threat of Rh1+, followed by Qh7+, decides. For example,
35...f5 36. exf6! Bxf6 37. Qg6
The position stems from the game Ozer-Galego, Lisbon 2017
36. Rh5+ Kg8 37. Rg5! pins the queen. Other option is 36. Qh4+ Kg8 37.
Rg5
The position stems from the game Holeksa-Kulovana, Czech Republic 2017
27. Qa8+ Kg7 28. Qg8#!
The position stems from the game Hansen-Hoerstmann, Germany 2017

40. Qd8+ Re8 41. Rxg8+! Kxg8 42. Qxe8+ Kh7 43. Qh8+ Kg6 44. Qh5#!
The position stems from the game Ostrovskiy-Janaszak, Germany 2017
37...Rc2+ 38. Ke3 Bd2+! 39. Ke2 Bxg5+ 40. Kf3 Qxh1+
The position stems from the game Yankelevich-Krasenkow, Germany 2017

22. Bd6! and the queen falls, as 22...Qxc6 is met by Qxf7# 22. Rd7 is an
alternative.
The position stems from the game Kleijn-Schoorl, Netherlands 2017

51...Rc4#!
The position stems from the game Escandell-Vila Gazquez, Barcelona 2017
69. Ra7#
The position stems from the game Kartal-Koc, Antalya 2017

37...Rb2+ 38. Ka1 Rxb4+! Also possible is 38...Rf2+, followed by ...Rxf1+
The position stems from the game Lokesh-Chakkravarthy, Bhopal 2017
34. Rg8+ Rxg8 35. fxg8Q#!
The position stems from the game Nguyen-Pel, Netherlands 2017

30. Nh6+! Bxh6 31. Qxf7+ Kh8 32. gxh6 and Black can't prevent mate, on
either g7 or g8.
The position stems from the game Bodnaruk-Maltsevskaya, Moscow 2017

21. Bxc7! wins at least the exchange, for example, 21...Qxc7 22. Qxb5
The position stems from the game Bujnoch-Soumya, Caleta 2017
32. Nxg4 Kxf7 is not the most decisive of lines. In order to convince, White
has to find the rather long 32. Qa3! check. After 32...Qb4 33. Qxb4+ Rd6
34. Qxd6+ friendly pieces are trying to save the king with their bodies, the
king is buried in the ruins of his castle.
The position stems from the game Goluch-Anwesh, Lvov 2017
The tacit 37. Kh3!, making way for the g-stormer, will follow up with g4#
next. On 37...Rb4, guarding the double push square, checkmate is stamped by
38. Rg5
The position stems from the game Grachev-Sharafiev, Sochi 2017

Black is about to queen his b-pawn, though 50. Kh6!, invading the enemy
castle, forces checkmate. The king is an active attacking piece, especially in
the endgame, but also in some specific middlegames.
The position stems from the game Jovanic-Palac, Mali Losinj 2017
Oh, God, 34. Ne7! is a suffocation mate. Look for simple solutions even in
the most complicated positions. In this case, recapturing the queen on f3 is
pretty meaningless, of course.
The position stems from the game Turk-Medic, Mali Losinj 2017
Black is 2 pawns ahead, but the first player has taken everything into account.
44. Ng5+ Kh6 45. Nf7+ Kh7 46. Ng5+! leads to a repetition, tying the
encounter. Please note, that 44...Kg8? above is a slip, as 45. f7+ Kg7 46.
Nxe6+! presents a royal fork, picking up the f4-queen next.
The position stems from the game Ynojosa-Danelia, Dallas 2017

The position is double-edged and the White lady bullied, though 56. f7+!
says "Hello" to the king, mating on the spot, 56...Kh7 57. Qh5# or 56...Kf8
57. Rc8# Both mates are as frugal as imaginable. 56. Rc8+ Kf7 57. Qh5+ is
an alternative, though the finish is delayed by a couple of turns.
The position stems from the game Girya-Komiagina, Sochi 2017

34...Rc1! power fork will dispatch the d1-bishop on the next turn.
Elementary, but only to the trained eye. Miss a move like that in a random
game and tables might be turned.
The position stems from the game Shkurkin-Timofeev, Sochi 2017
11. Re1! pins the Black queen. It is important that you stick to the general
rules and patterns rather than paying attention to the concrete situation. In this
case, instead of castled kingside, the White monarch lurks in the center, but
that doesn't make the general rule of pinning any less valid.
The position stems from the game Quintic-Lennynew, FICS 2018
53. Qxf6+ Rxf6 54. Rxf6 Kxf6 swaps doubly all non-pawn men and, after
the whirlwind a5 rush, 55...Ke6 56. a6!, the Black king is unable to keep
pace with the free passer. Logical and to the point. Outside passers are a
serious asset in a range of simple endgames.
The position stems from the game Girya-Markelova, Sochi 2017

42. Rxf8+ Rg8 43. Bc3+! d4 44. Bxd4#
The position stems from the game Zakaryan-Lugovskoy, Sochi 2017
19. Qxh5+ Kg7 20. Qh8+ Kxg6 21. h5#!
The position stems from the game Kashlinskaya-Bodnaruk, Sochi 2017

32. Rg5! sends Black reeling:

a) 32...Rf7 33. Qh5 wins the lady
b) 32...Qxg6 33. Rxg6+ gains the a6-bishop
The position stems from the game Fischer-Geller, Nathania 1968

63. c8Q+ Rc7 64. Qxc7+ Kd3 65. Qc2#!
The position stems from the game Alekseev-Poliakov, Sochi 2017
44. g5! breaks, Black captures with ...fxg5, White takes back with the f-pawn
and, after 45...hxg5, the first player kicks the knight to oblivion, 46. h6 Ne8
Now, a further push, 47. h7, is a fine display of the complete powerlessness
of the small Black contingent to stop the glorious passers.
The problem-like solution is courtesy of the advanced White pawns coupled
with the unfortunate positioning of the horse.
The position stems from the game Sakaev-Oganian, Sochi 2017
39. g3+!, the pawn says "Hello", Kh3 40. Qxh1+ and the queen says
"Goodbye". Not difficult, but one is usually accustomed to commit stronger
pieces for attacking purposes. In the same vein, the equally good 39. Be1+!
Qxe1 40. Kxe1 is also a bit bizarre to the eye, isn't it? I bet it hasn't been your
first thought. Purely psychologically, one would expect attacking pieces to
advance, but the slider goes back.
The position stems from the game Dubov-Konaplev, Sochi 2017

Do you see how Black wins? No? Obviously, you are still not through with
this book. The mind-blowing and surreptitious 48...Ba4!! does it. The bull's
eye has been hit both after 49. bxa4 b3, another break, 50. axb3 a2, and after
49. Kd3 Bxb3!, stupendous, 50. axb3 a2 The limit for the agile a-pawn is the
sky. Advanced blocked pawns, like that on a3, are a tremendous asset both in
the middlegame and endgame.
The position stems from the game Souza-Matsuura, Caioba 2017

76...Ke6 77. d7 Kxd7?? puts stalemate. Correct is to first give the White king
a degree of freedom with 76...g2+! 77. Kxh2, sacrificing a pawn, and only
then proceeding to come nigh to and take the infantryman.
The position stems from the game Sachdev-Medina, Ashgabat 2017
If Black succeeds in connecting both minors with the king, he might hold on
for too long. Some endgames featuring knight, bishop and pawn versus queen
are even legitimate fortresses. One will need tablebases to check this though.
Unfortunately, in the case at hand, White has a winner with 63. Qf6+! Now,
on ...Kg8, 64. Qxe7 captures the knight, while the bishop is doomed to drop
off due to looseness after 63...Ke8 64. Qh8+!, registering a twin attack on it
and the king.
The position stems from the game Galiot-Cvetkovic, Belgrade 2017
The bunch of hogs on the 7th rank do their job finely. 39. Rxf7+! rook takes
pawn, 39...Bxf7, bishop snaps off rook, 40. Rxf7+, rook takes bishop and
now, after the quivering monarch recedes to his last abode, the h8-edge,
White can choose to finish him off with Rh7 or, which is definitely more
tasteful and geometrical, g7, constituting a beautiful pawn mate.
The position stems from the game Gomez-Othman, Ashgabat 2017

Seemingly, White is lost, as f2-f1Q will win his bishop, but the breathtaking
81. Bf1!! conjures up a miracle draw. Taking the bishop stalemates, while
81...f2 82. Kg2 builds an impregnable fortress due to the over-defended f1-
square. 81...Bd4, de-stalemating, does not make progress either after 82. Bb5
f2 83. Kg2 and Black can't improve further.
The position stems from the game Nita-Carmaciu, Baile Govora 2017

13...Bxc4! 14. Qxc4 Qxc4 15. Bxc4 Bxd4+ has acquired an all-important
pawn.
The position stems from the game Sartori-Contin, Arvier 2002
15...Nd4! attacks the hanging queen and e2 mating square, effectively

winning the first.
The position stems from the game Krasevec-Guid, Ljubljana 2002

14...Bd4! is a nice interception on the d-file, making the d7-cannon weak.

White loses chunks of material, for example:
a) 15. Rxd8 Bxe3+ and ...Rxd8
b) 15. Bxd4 Rxd7
The position stems from the game Djeno-Frank, Velika Gorica 2002

Black is so well developed that 12. Nc7+! Rxc7 allows dramatic checkmate
with 13. Qd8!! Shining Macho style.
The position stems from the game Hecimovic-Ascic, Velika Gorica 2002
12. Bg5! is very polite to the Black lady. It will have to decide now what its
next step will be. Exemplary development by the second player, especially
the c8-bishop.
Central wedges like the d6-one are worth gold in the middlegame.
The position stems from the game Rabineau-Lafortune, Saint Chely d'Aubrac
2002
The rash 34. Rxe4?? Qxa1+ checkmates for Black along the first rank. The
jackpot consists in 34. Qxe8+!! Rxe8 35. Rxe8+ and already White mates
backrank. Apart from the queen attack on the e8-rook, a landmark board
feature is the x-ray attack of the e1-rook on the very same board inhabitant.
You didn't miss that, did you?
The position stems from the game Gharibyan-Melkonyan, Erevan 2017

14. Bxe4 dxe4 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Qd5+!, forking king and bishop, followed
by 17. Qxe5, has snapped off a whole minor piece. Tactics highlights are the
x-ray attack of the White lady on the d5-point, as well as the exposed,
checkable location of the Black monarch. It is small details that do decide
games. On 14...Nxf3 White recaptures with the bishop, extinguishing the
state of en prise.
The position stems from the game Donchenko-Seyfried, Douglas 2017

35...Bd4+ 36. Kh1 Rf1+! 37. Rxf1 Qxf1#
The position stems from the game Moiseenko-Bublei, Sochi 2017
47. Rh8#!
The position stems from the game Iljushenok-Yuffa, Sochi 2017

58. Qh8#!
Same is 58. Rh8#
The position stems from the game Bodnaruk-Belenkaya, Sochi 2017
Does Black win? As if the rook will guillotine the c7-soldier, making
resistance futile. White has a surprise up his sleeve though. 39. Nd6! leaps to
freedom, simultaneously saccing 2 company units. To the enormous chagrin
of the second player, though, both are poisonous. 39...Rxd6 40. c8Q has
promoted, while 39...Rxc7 40. Ne8+ mesmerises the Black monarch and rook
by dint of a fork. The resilient steed will gobble the c7-inhabitant next.
Although simple, this problem contains a fair share of aestheticism.
The position stems from the game Khmelniker-Harari, Douglas 2017
118. Bb2! checkmates. The bishop lords it over the long diagonal. Bears
similitude to the Blackburne mating pattern.
The position stems from the game Rogozenco-Vujnovic, Balatonszarszo

2017

11...Bh4+! 12. Kd1 makes the king lose castling rights, so he is bound to stay
in the insecure middle for a long, long time. Losing castling rights is a
significant penalty due to the abovementioned reason.
The position stems from the game Porttela-Pierreys, FICS 2018

Not 32. Bxf7 Kxf7 and Black still limps on for a while, but 32. Bh7!, which
will announce queen mate on g8 duly. When faced with a good choice, search
for a better one. In this particular case, purely evaluation-wise, it is a bit
moronic to swap the dominating attacking bishop for the lousy rook on f7.
Common sense.
The position stems from the game Nenezic-Batchelor, Fuengirola 2017

35. Rxg7+! lays bare the opponent king. King captures rook. 36. Rh7+,
drives the king off to the g8 cell of restriction. 37. Qg2+ cherishes possession
of the monarch's soul, 37...Qg5 will defend the Black lord to the last breath,
and now 38. Qxg5, queen consumes queen, "Corvex corvici oculum non
effodit", but that is not true of queens, sets the murderous firecracker off. The
Black king is checkmated. When having a forcing winning sequence, it is not
necessary to look for another one.
The position stems from the game Aguera-Clemente, Trevias 2017

If the f4-knight is expelled successfully, White will have quite decent
chances, for example after 29. Rd6, relishing in the newly-appeared double
attack. At Black's disposal is also the option of 28...Ne2+ 29. Kf1 Ned4 30.
Re4, but that could hardly suit him, as White is very active too. The battle is
decided by two brave infantry inroads, 28...h5! 29. Rh4 g5! and the hapless
White slider is a prisoner in its own camp.
Attacks go first. Consider any conceivable attack or threat before you do so
with the less appealing alternative choices.
The position stems from the game Pedoni-Ranieri, Biella 2017

22...Qxf3!! check is a thunderbolt the White king has hardly expected. Pawn
captures queen. Now, 23...Bh3 delivers an elegant and very economical
checkmate. This is the so-called "Boden's Mate".
The position stems from the game Xiong - Vachier-Lagrave, Chess.com 2017
55...e1Q+! 56. Qxe1 has attracted the White lady away from guarding the g2-
square, so that 56...Qxg2 mate is made possible. A recurring pattern, but the
important thing is to notice the promotion modification. Alternative winning
shots might also be available. On the other hand, 55...Nxh5?? is the blunder
of the century, as this concedes a line like 56. Qb8+! Kh7 57. Nf8+ Kg8 58.
Ng6+! Kf7 59. Qf8 and already White mates.
The position stems from the game Torres-Matsenko, Merida 2017
48...Qd3+ weaves a stanch mating net:

a) 49. Kg5 Qg6+ 50. Kh4 Qg4#
b) 49. Ke5, can you find the winning move? Yes, 49...Nd7#! or 49...Ng4#!
The position stems from the game Leniart-Hracek, Katowice 2017

10...Qxe3+ 11. Kg3 Qf2#! waltzes Matilda.
The position stems from the game Fricke-Pfeifer, Rommelshausen 2002
15...Qc5! creates the unavoidable threat of e6-e5, defusing the d4-knight.

15...Qb6 is also not bad.
The position stems from the game Czikhardt-Banas, Kaskady 2002

12...Nxe5! sees White choosing between the life of her Majesty and that of
the king (...Qd1 mate threatens).
The position stems from the game De Visser-Hopman, Haarlem 2002

The queen goes to safety on f7.
The position stems from the game Van der Peet-De Wolf, Haarlem 2002
Black is very active but 26. Re1! suddenly traps the queen invader on e3.
Losing touch with the own forces is certainly a no-brainer.
The position stems from the game Klekowski-Goessler, Katowice 2017

20. d5! and the "queen + bishop" battery dominates the long diagonal. The
pawn push gives rude treatment the e6-bishop too.
The position stems from the game Navara-Olkhovskiy, Katowice 2017

43. Qh6! and preventing mate on the dark cells is a lost cause. On 43...Qf8,
watching g7, Qh8 mates. Utilising the weak dark-square complex around the
Black king is key. Meshy bastions are sweet targets for any attacker.
The position stems from the game Michalski-Budrewicz, Katowice 2017
29. Qb8+! Kh7 30. Qxe5 and the game's end is a foregone conclusion.
Trivial, but very frequent pattern, so useful to practice many times.
The position stems from the game Tomczak-Zelcic, Katowice 2017

The position is not trivial at all, as Black threatens mate with ...Qh2. To
whom the bell tolls? In order to outrace his opponent, White should be very
expedient. The clinch consists in 29. Rxg6+! and now:
a) 29...hxg6 30. Qxg6+ Kh7 31. Qh7#
b) 29...Kh8 30. Rg8+! Rxg8/Kxg8 31. Qxh7#
Demolition offering coupled with the usefulness of a battery.
The position stems from the game Costachi-Hracek, Katowice 2017

9. d4! is a pedestrian attack on the c5-bishop and discovered attack on the
Black lady. Bye bye love, bye bye happiness.
The position stems from the game Dabao-Xichen, FICS 2017
Most compelling is 38...f2+ 39. Bxf2 Rxf2!, an unblocking exchange

sacrifice, 40. Kxf2 Qxh2 and nothing on Earth can stop the devastating g1Q
promotion to the tune of a double check. Forcing lines frequently involve
different kinds of offerings.
The position stems from the game Grinev-Oleksiyenko, Zhytomyr 2017
13...Rg8 14. Qh6 Rxg2+! is compelling and the ruin of White. Black can eat
the queen later on by a discovered check at h2 or g6, or look for even more
convincing continuation. Full of hope, the White lady has grabbed the g7-
pawn, but it proves poisonous. Anyway, the first player is high and on drugs.
The position stems from the game Ntxpanda-Porttela, FICS 2018

27...Qh4+ 28. Kg1 Qh2+ 29. Kf1 Qh1+ 30. Ke2 sees the White monarch
escape to safety. The subtle prophylactic 27...Bb6! seizes the g1-cell from the
White king, whereupon the passerelle is gone and ...Qh4# a predicament,
unless the White queen is gifted on e3. A nice display of sharp tactical vision.
The position stems from the game Mamedyarov-Korobov, Huaian 2017

14...Nb3 forks queen and rook, winning at least the exchange. One must be
prepared for typical tactical punches.
The position stems from the game Mamedyarov-Ivanchuk, Huaian 2017
27...Be2+ 28. Ke1 Bd3+! grabs the f5-queen next.
The position stems from the game Bhawoodien-Klaasen, Cape Town 2017
24. Qe8+! Rxe8 25. fxe8Q+ Rf8 26. Qxf8#
The position stems from the game Iturbide-Suarez, Las Palmas 2017

40. Rb4#!
The position stems from the game Shaydulina-Gritsayeva, Sochi 2017
41. Rc8#
Same is 41. Rg8#
The position stems from the game Smith-Ang, Auckland 2017

47...Rb2#
The position stems from the game Alexeev-Novikov, Sochi 2017
26...Rxb4! expedites matters by winning a piece. Taking back is ruinous due

to the hanger on e3. One would think the knight is very well defended, but
actually it's earmarked for the firing squad.
The position stems from the game Amartuvshin-Fakhrutdinov, Ahmedabad

2017
34. Rxg6+ snaps off the g6-pawn, Kh7, the king is sent to the single
available square, 35. Rg7+ Kh8, the king has to indulge in the corner cell.
Now, Ra7+! sends his royalty reeling again to follow up with rook snaps
rook at a8. A merry-go-round.
The position stems from the game Mamedyarov-Le Quang Liem, Huaian
2017

With 2 pawns for the exchange, powerful central passer, good attacking
knight and ...Qf3+ followed by ...Qxh5 threatening, White is well-advised to
seek a peaceful outcome. The emergency 49. Rh8+!! Kxh8 50. Qe8+ Kh7
51. Qg6+! Kg8 52. Qe8+ does it, a draw owing to repetition. The rook sac
attraction allows White to gain a precious tempo.
The position stems from the game Rathlev-Palm, Denmark 2017

23. Nh6+ convoys the king to h8. Now, 24. Nf7+ forks their royalties. It is a
pity the f8-square is bombarded by the c5-slider, otherwise the king might
have retreated there at the first sign of peril. Minuscule details frequently
decide games.
The position stems from the game Zhai-Guo, Shenzhen 2017
45...Ne3! is the final straw, compelling White to throw the towel. The g2-
and f1-cells are simultaneously attacked. On 46. Nd4 46...Qf1+ 47. Kh2
N5g4+! 48. hxg4 Nxg4 checkmate is the verdict. If queen plus knight is a
very welcome piece combination, queen escorted by two chivalrous
personalities is difficult to frown upon.
The position stems from the game Stauskas-Gormally, London 2017
26. Rxd6! snaps the rook boldly. Queen retakes. 27. Bxe5, bishop victimises
knight gains 2 minor pieces for rook. The exchange of fire has been brief, but
has only underscored White's edge.
The position stems from the game Seresin-Szakolczai, Austria 2017

33. Ng4+!! is a discovered attack on the Black rook. In a sacrificial mood, the
horse jumps to a square, where 2 enemy foot soldiers attack it, really
impressive feat on the part of the slow-mover. Edge file foot soldier takes
knight. 34. Queen grabs artillery captain on f6 check. King recedes to h5. 35.
Rh7 check and mate.
Short and instructive. Key points are the exposed location of the Black king
and looseness of the rook.
The position stems from the game Luch-Kowalczyk, Wroclaw 2017

Let's repeat that pattern. 28. Qxh6+ Qh7 29. Qxh7+ lays bare the Black
monarch, Kxh7 30. Rf4!, the rook is lifted to the 4th rank with the intention
to switch to h4, making checkmate unavoidable. Very logically played, using
wisely the linear and restriction qualities of the pair of rooks.
The position stems from the game Martinovici-Ciorgovean, Alba Iulia 2017

37...Rc1! close range check, bishop captures rook, why on Earth this free
offering? 38...Rxc1+, rook takes a vendetta for the fallen brother. The king
gets perplexed now, it was not that safe after all, actually. 39. Kxc1 king
takes rook, a good commemorative token for the afterlife. 39...Qxe2 has
erased the most powerful White man or maybe woman off the board.
The sham sac hinges on attracting the king away from lending support to the
friendly queen.
The position stems from the game Xu-Aravindh, Tarvisio 2017

17...Bf5! wins the rook at b1, for example, 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Rc1 Bb2! and
the pair of bishops dominate the luckless cannon.
The position stems from the game Richardisawesome-Snakedad, FICS 2018
25. Qxf8#
The position stems from the game Tsoi-Lugovskoy, Sochi 2017

47. Qg4#
The position stems from the game Savchenko-Hasangatin, Sochi 2017

38...Qf1+
a) 39. Kh2 Rf2+ 40. Kxg3 Qg2#
b) 39. Kxg3 Be5+ 40. Kg4 Qf3#
The position stems from the game Babikov-Vastrukhin, Sochi 2017
37...Rc1! pins the White queen to the king. Though simplistic, it's important
not to miss such manoeuvers. Key is the intersection point of the power rays
of the Black lady and rook occuring at the c1-cell.
The position stems from the game Torres-Wang, Saint Louis 2017
28...Rdxe4! has won the knight. Recapturing with the pawn opens the f-file,
allowing the Black lady to mate on f1 in the delight of a tender rook meat.
Inaugurating the firecrack by taking with the other rook is identical. Weak
back rank and a bunch of loose pieces, not to mention the unenviable plight
of the a2-slider, shut out of the game, underscore the Black evaluation edge.
Connecting the rooks on the first rank is always a good idea.
The position stems from the game Villegas-Aloma, Andorra la Vella 2017

The d5-pawn is pinned and the d2-rook vulnerable. In spite of this, 35. dxe6!!
wins promptly:
a) 35...Rxd2 36. Qxf5 has left the queen unprotected
b) 35...Qxb5 sees the White rook revel in enemy blood after 36. Rxd8+, an
important intermediate capture. After the forced 36...Kh7 37. cxb5 the game
is over.
The starting pawn capture has undermined the defence of the d8-rook, the
White queen, in distinction to her Black sister, is supported, those are all
small little details sealing the destiny of both armies. See how the first take
opens 2 power lines at the same time: the d-file and the 5th rank.
The position stems from the game Baenziger-Shengelia, Austria 2017

Might not be the single winning variation, but 39. Rd6!, shutting off the
Black rook from guarding the d8 queening square, gets straight to the point.
After the forced 39...Rxd6 40. exd6 the advanced d7 marathon runner
subsequently visits the 8th row square in front of it for a standing ovation.
Motif to bear in mind is the intersection of the powers of the White rook and
pawn that happens on d6 and allows the bold plunge.
The position stems from the game Molenda-Obsivac, Czech Republic 2017

28...Nf4! is a finesse that wins a gold medal in elegance. If the knight is not
captured, the g2-rook is lost for nothing after a queen check there, while on
29. exf4 the Black queen makes short work of her relative on b3, which has
been left unprotected.
Pinned rook on g2, undefended White queen, x-ray attack of Qh3 upon Qb3
is what you should be looking for. God bless the game with similar subtle
executions.
The position stems from the game Paehtz-Cornette, Baile Govora 2017

24. Bxf7! for the time being has gobbled a free pawn, intending a family fork
with Ng6+ The sham sacrifice has removed the defender of the g6-cell. If the
Black queen evades the threat, the rook will fall pursuant to the forking
check. One funny line is 24...Qg4, asks mate at g2, 25. Ng6+ Kh7 26. Nxf8+!
Kh8 27. Ng6+, doing loops and activating the horse again, Kh7 and only now
28. Qg3, fending off the Black queen.
To attempt limping on, Black should play 24...Be4, guarding the g6-cell.
The position stems from the game L'Ami-Bucur, Baile Govora 2017

Black is by 2 pawns ahead and 45. Rxe6 Rh2! is a fatal outcome. Fortunately,
the Black king has stumbled onto a drawing net: 45. Re8+ Kg7 46. Re7+
Kg8 47. Re8+! repeats. 46...Kh6 47. Nf7+ Kg7 48. Nd6+ reproduces the
former pattern, while 46...Kf6 is baleful owing to 47. Rf7! checkmate.
Don't despair when you are behind, try to wiggle off in some way.
The position stems from the game Yankelevich-Baldauf, Austria 2017

29...Rh2+ 30. Kf3 Ng1+! 31. Rxg1 Rf2#
The position stems from the game Nielsen-Stany, Fornebu 2017
Black is very active. The single thing he has lost out of sight is 14. Qe2+! and
Bxa6 reduces the knight rimmer to naught.
The position stems from the game Bolhuis-Keesman, Haarlem 2002

The horse does not have to retreat, as 12...Qxb2! will eat the important
artillery unit held at bay on a1.
The position stems from the game Kreindl-Beim, Oberwart 2002

8...d3+ (eureka!) sees the c3-bishop take back at f6, saving his life and
annihilating the competition in the face of his dark-square counterpart.
The position stems from the game Steinert-Eingorn, Oberwart 2002
15. Qxd5! puts an end to any Black lingering hopes.
The position stems from the game Arizmendi Martinez-Munoz, Andorra

2002
One might be tempted to capture on d4 with the bishop, or the pawn,

menacing the knight, but the truth is only 9...Qxd4+! and ...Qxc4 wins a
figure.
The position stems from the game Gallego-Berkovich, Andorra 2002

28...Qxa2+ 29. Kd3 Qc2+ 30. Kd4 e5#!
The position stems from the game Dashko-Zvjaginsev, Sochi 2017
26. Qe7+ Kxg4 27. h3+

a) 27...Kh5 28. g4#
b) 27...Kg3 28. Rf3#
The position stems from the game Savchenko-Popov, Sochi 2017

29. Qxc6+ Kd8 30. Rd1+ Ke7 31. Bc5#
The position stems from the game Kulaots-Kucuksari, Vasteras 2017

26...Rxc5! 27. Qxc5 Qxc5 28. Rxc5 Nxe4 has deprived White of 2 minor
pieces in exchange for a rook. Heed the captures.
The position stems from the game Sjodahl-Lindgren, Stockholm 2017
White enjoys huge material superiority, but Black has a furious attack rolling
on. In the exhilarating knot of pieces, belonging to both camps, it's not easy
to spot the winning tactic. 32...Ne5+! does it, confounding even more the
public as well as the White king. The move is forcing and checkmate a
predicament:
a) 33. Nxe5 Bf5+ 34. Kh5 Kg7+! 35. Bh6 Rxh6#
b) 33. Kh4 Kg7+ 34. Nh6 Rxh6#
Beautiful and instructive.
The position stems from the game Bai-Ding Liren, China 2017
47...Nxg4! 48. Kxg4 Rxf2 nets another pawn. On 48. Bxc5 Black possesses
the 48...Nh2 intermediate check, saving the knight, with later recapture of the
bishop. Other moves also win.
The position stems from the game Sukhareva-Sakaev, Saint Petersburg 2017

72...d1Q+! unpins the g3-pawn. Why does the opponent sacrifice a whole
queen? 73. Qxd1 g2+ gives the answer. The pawn is free, restricts the
monarch further and pushes him to a cell accessible to the Black queen. 74.
Kg1 Qe3+ Black gets mated. King, pawn and queen coordinate neatly to
deliver the final blow.
The position stems from the game Schack-Orshonova, Uppsala 2017

35. Qh7+ Kxf6 36. Rxf5+! gxf5 37. Rxf5#
There is a hack to catching every fugitive.
The position stems from the game Sukhareva-Lesovoi, Saint Petersburg 2017
30...d4! is a direct attack on the c3-knight and discovered attack on the

queen. The knight falls. It is important, when under pressure, not to panick
and instead look for defensive counter-shots.
The position stems from the game Borodin-Picklerick, FICS 2018
27. Qf6+! Qxf6 28. exf6+ has removed the defender of the d8-rook,
whereupon 28...Kxf6 29. Rxd8 ensures significant material edge. The White
approach is a tempo-gainer and game-changer. Directly taking the rook gives
nothing.
The position stems from the game Flom-Jumabayev, Bastia 2017

White comes to victory in a very simple way. Namely? 15. Rxe7+!! Kxe7 16.
Qxd6+ Ke8 17. Re1+
The position stems from the game Sanchez-Ferreiro, Orense 2002
26. Qg6, due to the threat of Qg7# Black is forced to sacrifice his queen on
e6 (26...Bf6?? 27. Qxh6#)
The position stems from the game Contin-Munoz, Rosario 2017

23...Nc5!, White can not counter both threats of ...Nd3+ and ...Rxd4. Also
wins 23...e5 fork.
The position stems from the game Shachar-Batsiashvili, Caleta 2017

27. Ba6+ Kb8 28. Nxc6#!
The position stems from the game Pruijssers-Astaneh, Chess.com 2017
25. b7+ Kb8/c7 26. Bf4+ is a royal fork. An alternative is 25. Qc6+
The position stems from the game Xiong-Wahl, Chess.com 2017

47. Qxh7+!! Kxh7 48. Rh4# Insufficient is 47. Rh4, due to 47...Nxf6.
The position stems from the game Adu-Agrest, Chess.com 2017

36. Qc2+ Kh5 37. Ng8#!
The position stems from the game Sargissian-Wheeler, Chess.com 2017
38...Bh3!, the threat of ...Qg2# wins at least the queen after 39. Qf1 Bxf1
The position stems from the game Klein-Miladinovic, Chess.com 2017

45...Rxh3+ 46. Kg4 Qf3+ 47. Kg5 Rh5+ 48. Kg6 Qf5+ 49. Kxg7 Rh7+ 50.
Kg8 Qf7#!
The position stems from the game Van de Oudeweetering-Astaneh,

Chess.com 2017

52...h2 53. Ra1 Rg1 or 53. Rh8 Rh3 and Black promotes.
The position stems from the game Soltanici-Vedmediuc, Chisinau 2017
26...Qh6+ 27. Kg1 Nh3+! or 27. Kg3 Nh5+ and Black captures later on d2.
The position stems from the game Alaslar-Haznedaroglu, Antalya 2017

23...Bf8! pins the e7-rook to the White queen on a3, winning the exchange.
The position stems from the game Yazici-Yilmazyerli, Antalya 2017
14. Bxh7+! Kxh7 is another Greek Gift. White wins after 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16.
Ng5 and mate is unavoidable, for example:
a) 16...Re8 17. Qh7+ Kf8 18. Qh8# (the Black lady blocks the e7 flight
square)
b) 16...Qxg5 (this sac of desperation doesn't help too) 17. hxg5 (opening the
edge file, one attacker is substituted for another one) f6 18. g6! and the White
queen's destiny is to deliver the final blow at h8
Repetitio est mater studiorum.
The position stems from the game Chatalbashev-Petraki, Ano Liosia 2001
31...Qb2#
The position stems from the game Kulkarni-Batsiashvili, Caleta 2017

33...Qxc4! 34. bxc4 c2+, followed by ...Rxe3, wins material.
The position stems from the game Tate-Narciso Dublan, Caleta 2017
52. Qd8#
The position stems from the game Gritsayeva-Bodnaruk, Moscow 2017

51...Re7!, the threat of ...Re1# decides.
The position stems from the game Arakhamia-Grant - Deac, Caleta 2017
38. f6!, defending the g7-pawn and threatening Rh8# On 38...Rxb7 39. Rh8+
Kf7 40. g8Q promotes with check.
38. Rh8+? is weak due to 38...Kxg7
The position stems from the game Kanarek-Cernousek, Czech Republic 2017
30. Bf6!, threatens both Qh6+ and Qxh8+, as well as Qxd4. Capturing the
bishop fails to the knight fork on f6, while 30...Nf5 leaves the d5-bishop
undefended.
The position stems from the game Grachev-Gorbatov, Moscow 2017

35...Rxh3+! 36. gxh3 Bxf3+ 37. Kh2 Bxd1 picks up 2 extra pawns.
The position stems from the game Kalvaitis-Sulskis, Lithuania 2017
23...Re8!, the threat of ...Re2 is decisive. gxf5 is impossible because the

pawn is pinned, while on 24. Qg3, Black has 24...Re2 25. gxf5 Qa1#!
The position stems from the game Hoffmann-Tjiam, Belgium 2017

42. Rh8!, the end of the h7 trapped bishop.
The position stems from the game Jovanovic-Sipos, Hungary 2017

19...Bb4 is a royal pin.
The position stems from the game Gauche-Souza, Florianopolis 2017
27. Bh5 Nf2 28. Rh2! and the f2-knight falls.
The position stems from the game Movsesian-Suran, Czech Republic 2017
37. fxg4!, wins a piece, while simultaneously defending the h5-rook.
The position stems from the game Subelj-Dusak, Nova Gorica 2017

24. f5!, now, the Black queen is lost, for example, 24...Qxd7 25. Nxf6+
The position stems from the game Zuttioni-Dusak, Nova Gorica 2017
28...Re3!, the queen is trapped.
The position stems from the game Macovei-Sanduleac, Chisinau 2017

36...Re1! 37. Qxe1 Qxc2+ 38. Qe2 Qxe2+ 39. Kxe2 dxc4
The position stems from the game Ceschia-Epishin, Nova Gorica 2017

28. b6!, deflects the Black queen from guarding the e5-square, 28...Qxb6 29.
Qxe5 and the double threat of mates on g7 and e8 decides.
The position stems from the game Ivanchuk-Cheng, Caleta 2017
31. Kh2!, a quiet move that restricts the Black king, not allowing him to take
on h3. All lines lead to quick mate:
a) 31...Qxf5 32. Bg3#!
b) 31...gxf4 32. Qh5#
c) 31...Qxe5 32. Bg3+ Qxg3+ 33. fxg3#!
The position stems from the game Riff-Gulamali, Caleta 2017
36...Qxf2#!, the g3-bishop is pinned.
The position stems from the game Havelka-Korpa, Marianske Lazne 2017

33...Rh1, the c1-bishop is lost, 34. Qxf4 Qxd3+
The position stems from the game Heindl-Obermayr, Austria 2017
54. Be4+! Rf5 55. Bxf5+ Kh6 56. Rh7#
The position stems from the game Gergel-Vacha, Marianske Lazne 2017
16. Qg4+!, picks the d4-bishop too.
The position stems from the game German-Csati, Marianske Lazne 2017
28. Qxf8+! Rxf8 29. Rxf8+ Kxf8 30. Ne6+ and Nxc7
The position stems from the game Barbosa-Carvalho, Florianopolis 2017

42...Rc1+ 43. Rxc1 bxc1Q#
The position stems from the game Pon-Colovic, Chess.com 2017

42...Qf1+ 43. Kh2 Qh1#
The position stems from the game Admiraal-Moussard, Chess.com 2017
50...Qa1+ 51. Kb3 Qxa8
The position stems from the game Rendle-Balogun, Chess.com 2017

41. Rxc8! Rxc8 42. Bxf5 is a double attack upon the rook on c8 and knight
on g4, gaining more material.
The position stems from the game Satyapragyan-Beletic, Chess.com 2017

48. Qg7+ Ke8 49. Qg8+ Kd7 50. Qd8#
The position stems from the game Gurevich-Hess, Chess.com 2017
45. b5!
a) 45...axb5 46. c6+! bxc6 47. a6 and one of the 2 advanced White passers
promotes
b) 45...Kxe7 46. c6! Kd8 (46...bxc6 47. bxa6 and the a-pawn queens) 47.
cxb7 Kc7 48. bxa6 leading to a won pawn ending
The position stems from the game Mchedishvili-Arutinian, Tbilisi 2017
24. Rxe7+! Kxe7 25. d6+ is a discovered attack upon the h5-queen.
The position stems from the game Svoboda-Moehn, Marianske Lazne 2017

1...Rd1+ 2. Rxd1 Qxd1! is "Anderssen's Mate".
51. Rg1!, cuts off the Black king from the g-file, so that h6-h7-h8Q is not to
stop.
The position stems from the game Liu-Shabalov, Chess.com 2017

30. e8Q!, Qg7# threatens, which will also be the answer on 30...Rxe8.
The position stems from the game Francisco-Hess, Chess.com 2017

47. Qb8 Qf3 48. a8Q Qxf2+ 49. Qg2! ends the struggle.
The position stems from the game Lagno - Arakhamia-Grant, Caleta 2017
38...Qf1, mate on either g2 or h1 is unavoidable.
The position stems from the game Bacrot-Klein, Chess.com 2017

36. Bxc3!, wins a minor piece:

a) 36...Rxd1 37. Bxb2
b) 36...bxc3 37. Rxd5 c2 38. Rc5
The position stems from the game Batchimeg-Lalith, Caleta 2017

50. f7 Bxd4 51. f8Q
The position stems from the game Rodriguez-Yamamoto, Florianopolis 2017
41...Qb2+, unless White sacrifices its rook on d2, Black mates:

a) 42. Ke1 Qf2#
b) 42. Kxe3 Bf4#
The position stems from the game Varitski-Hoefelsauer, Marianske Lazne

2017
29...Qh2+ 30. Kf1 Qh1+! 31. Nxh1 Rxh1#
The position stems from the game Carstens-Marra, Florianopolis 2017

49...Qh1+ 50. Ke2 Qxg2+ and Black wins.
The position stems from the game Asgarizadeh-Berkes, Rasht 2017
Only 13. Qh5+ and Qxh6 is successful.
The position stems from the game Piay-Gomez, Orense 2002

9. Qd5#! says aloha to the centralised Black king.
The position stems from the game Nebolsina-Zakharenko, Tomsk 2002

14. Qd8 mate. It is interesting to see the Black king's facial expression after
this blow. The caveat is he might be dead by now.
The position stems from the game Legky-Phillips, Montreal 2002
Black is cramped for space, as if in a box. 49. Nb5!, joining forces with the
other two minors in scrutinising c7, finishes him off. How many, even strong
players, will hurriedly defend the pawn with ...Bd8, anything more natural,
only to see the perky White knight continue its raid with Na7! checkmate?
The bishop move has blocked the single available up to now flight cell.
The position stems from the game Usmanov-Smirnov, Saint Petersburg 2017
17. Nxg5!! and the kicked becomes a kicker:

a) 17...hxg5 18. Bxg5 reintroduces the baleful pin upon the f6-knight, which
the second player can not cope with satisfactorily. Among other things,
Bxd7! undermining menaces, making the fettered horse weak.
b) 17...Nxd5 does not help, due to 18. Nxf7+! Rxf7 19. Bxd8, shoveling in
large quantities of material
The position stems from the game Martinovic-Bender, Slovenia 2017

47...Qg3+ 48. Kf1 Qxf3+ succeeds in capturing couple of pawns while
giving checks. If 49. Ke1, 49...Qxe4 nets another one with check, on 49. Kg1
49...Qxg4+ resumes the checking spree. After Black pushes ...f3 later on
checkmate outlines combining queen and pawn will appear too.
The position stems from the game Mirano-Montoya, Bacolod City 2017

28...Bh2+!
a) 29. Nxh2 Qg2#
b) 29. Kh1 Bxf3#
The position stems from the game Zatonskih-Sutovsky, Douglas 2017
49...Rh2#!
The position stems from the game Lind-Hillarp Persson, Vasteras 2017
82...Qb7+ 83. Kf8 Kf6 84. Ke8 Qe7#
The position stems from the game Mendoza-Guo, Ashgabat 2017
18. Bb6+ Kb8 19. Qa7+ Kc8 20. Qxc7#

The position stems from the game Sukandar-Boshra, Ashgabat 2017
The pair of Black knights deftly guard the h8 and g7 mating squares. So, the
logical 40. Rxe6! incinerates the knight, opening the gateway for rapid queen
infiltration on g7. Black is completely powerless to react in any conceivable
way.
The position stems from the game Brunner-Gloor, Switzerland 2017

27...Rxd1+! calls the shots:
a) 28. Bxd1 Qe1+ 29. Qf1 Qxf1 mates
b) 28. Qxd1, the more reasonable branch, ...Rc1! only angles the queen
It is important to see the common denominator in more complicated positions
too.
The position stems from the game Pogosyan-Lobanov, Jermuk 2017

36...Qh4! is very similar to the Fool's checkmate early on.
The position stems from the game Ronka-Kveinys, Antalya 2017
37. Bxg6! nets an extra pawn. 37...Nxg6 is met by 38. Rfg4, aligning the
rooks for a subsequent capture on g6. The difficulty in visualising this might
stem from the fact the knight currently sentinels the g4-square, but this is just
a residual image.
The position stems from the game Yu-Vea, Antalya 2017
The high tension surrounding the e2-point is resolved by 29...Nf3! leap,

forking both rooks. Capturing the knight is weak due to ...Rxe1+ with
colossal material loss. 29...Nd3, another excellent springboard, is fine too.
The position stems from the game Georgescu-Khismatullin, Antalya 2017

34. Qh8!, the queen invades, 35...e5, it is difficult to seek out a better
defence, 36. Qe8+ Kf6 37. Bg5+ and Black should give up as 37...Kg7 38.
Qg8! calls checkmate.
Queen penetration is a very important attacking element.
The position stems from the game Nechaeva-Voit, Antalya 2017

18...e4! is a deft dagger stab. "Treason!", the attacked bishop can't meander
anywhere. 19. Bxe4 in the hope White has gathered a pawn. 19...Rxc4,
surprise, rook forks both diagonal sliders and one is destined to be erased off
the board.
Themes are deflection, double attack, low mobility.
The position stems from the game Zucchelli-Horvath, Arco 2017

With his king cornered and severely behind in material, who might think
White could draw this? Yet, the flabbergasting 46. Qf2+!! achieves precisely
that. This is a fork, so Black must capture with ...Qxf2. Now, 47. e8Q+!!
Kxe8 registers stalemate. If the king doesn't capture the queen and goes
47...Kf6 instead, 48. Qf8+ skewers and wins the f2 hostile queen. On
47...Kg7, 48. Qg8+! is a desperado queen, following the same patterns.
Astounding!
The position stems from the game Kovalenko-Kveinys, Riga 2017

61. a5! continues undisturbed the pawn's course towards the promised square.
People say wonders happen when one lands there. Bishop gobbles pawn,
otherwise, it will simply promote. 62. Rxg3 fishes the ensnared Black knight.
Game over.
Main theme is attraction. Especially useful is the g6-cannon, having taken
aim at the knight at an early point.
The position stems from the game Kumar-Nemeth, Budapest 2017

13. g4 Bg6 14. f5! ensnares the Black bishop. Pedestrians are weak and slow-
moving, but when joined together in companies, they are a big, big deal. The
White pawn avalanche, spanning the d through h files, overwhelms
everything on its way.
The position stems from the game Hback-Stadinpera, FICS 2018
14...e4 twin-attacks two light pieces. Black already got a substantial plus in
an apparent Queen's Indian construction.
The position stems from the game Khudaverdieva-Mamedjarova, Baku 2002

13...Qh2# bears resemblance to the Fishing Pole attack.
The position stems from the game McShane-Helin, Copenhagen 2002

15. Qd5+! will make Black want to start peace negotiations. 15. Qb3+ leads
to the very same format.
The position stems from the game Schmidt-Pedersen, Copenhagen 2002
If you are able to see 6. Qc8! mate, you are already half an expert.
The position stems from the game Abella-Miranda, Ferrol 2002

A fast track mate is available only after 13. Qxf7+!! Bxf7 14. Bxf7
Blackburne's in the middle.
The position stems from the game Paris-Dominguez, Ferrol 2002

41. Bf6, other bishop slides on the long diagonal away from the opposing
king are equally terminating. Nf8# is on the cards. Black gasps for air with
41...h5, creating a temporary outlet. 42. Nf8+ forces the king to the h6-cell.
Nf5/Ng8! checkmate screech or maybe neigh is a clear manifestation of
White's excessive resources.
Weaving together a mating mechanism is a great element to learn.
The position stems from the game Cvitan-Berke, Mali Losinj 2017

42. h7! mortar fire and the Black position explodes. 42...Rxf5 43. hxg8Q+
Kxg8 44. Nxf5 leaves White up a cannon. Very similar is 42...Qh8 43. Qxd5
The position stems from the game Mamedyarov-Moskalenko, Sochi 2017
36. Rbh1! and the second player should lay down arms due to Rh8
checkmate. Heavy pieces line-ups on the edge file with the enemy king nearby
(doublings, triplings) are a potent attacking weapon. The restricting role of
the advanced f6 storming pawn is clear in the broad daylight.
The position stems from the game Nechaeva-Shafigullina, Sochi 2017
52...f3+! and, in spite of being a piece ahead, White is unable to cope with
the inexorable advance of the Black phalanx. For example, 53. Kh1 f2 54.
Kg2 h1Q+ 55. Kxh1 f1Q, horning mate. Pawn cohorts, phalanxes are
overpowerful and frequently add up to much more to what their nominal
point count value could suggest. An undisputable asset to acquire in each and
every phase of the game.
The position stems from the game Iljin-Andreikin, Sochi 2017

46. Rg6++!, only the omnipotent double check is able to quickly decide the
game in White's favour here. The forcing line goes like that: 46...Kf8 47.
Qd6+ Ke8 48. Rg8# The double check assailing technique is so robust as one
can not interpose on such checks, can not liquidate simultaneously both
attackers, so the only available option is retreat, plain and simple.
The position stems from the game Ronge-Zienert, Hannover 2017

43...Rxe1+! 44. Qxe1 Qxc4 might win, but 43...Qxc4! 44. Qxc4 Rxe1+
collects a higher loot. After 45. Qf1 Raa1! the first player cedes a whole
queen, as 46. Qxe1 Rxe1 announces checkmate due to inherent blockages.
Cannon play at its best.
The position stems from the game Sakaev-Sjugirov, Sochi 2017
63...Nxc7 64. Kxc7 Kd4!, attacking the d3-pawn, 65. Kd6 h1Q, distracting
the bishop away, 66. Bxh1 Kxd3 simplifies to a theoretical insufficient
material ending.
The position stems from the game Pantsulaia-Kekelidze, Tbilisi 2017
Quick mate is achieved after 25. Rxh6! Qxh6 26. Rh1 Qxh1 27. Qxg7
Double deflection immolation.
The position stems from the game Umetsubo-Heinrichs, Caioba 2017

31...Qd1+! creates an x-ray attack upon the White queen across the knight.
After 32. Kh2 Nf1+ has discovered an attack on the unchaperoned lady,
kicking her but off the board. Learn good patterns to be capable of
recognising them early on.
The position stems from the game Nakhbayeva-Tan, Ashgabat 2017
58...Bd1! will follow up with the inevitable bishop transfer to f3. As the king
is herded to an uncomfortable corner, this puts an end to the game, for
example, 59. Qg2 Bf3 with a mortal pin.
Light pieces courtseying to the 8th rank are sometimes not easy to see, as
such squares are usually considered not optimal for them, as too
decentralised.
The position stems from the game Jelinek-Rydl, Prague 2017
15...Bxf2! makes White cry foul. 16. Rxf2 will fail to ...Ne3+ royal fork.
The position stems from the game Mazaira-Eyo, Ferrol 2002

7. Qh5+ g6 8. Bxg6+! hxg6 9. Qxg6 checkmates. Even more exhilarating is
8. Qxg6+! hxg6 9. Bxg6# in above line.
The position stems from the game Chulia-Castellote, Valencia 2002
13. Nd6+!! secures large quantities of chess meat. Lines split off:
a) 13...exd6 14. exd6+ removing the c7-lady next
b) 13...Kd8 14. Nxf7+ this time removing the h8-resident
The position stems from the game Bibko-Kirillova, Novosibirsk 2002
15...Ng3+!! 16. hxg3 Rh6+ beautifully checkmates in a wild Greco fashion.
The position stems from the game Lazor-Tadic, Senta 2002

12. Bxe7 Kxe7 13. Qa3+! and Qxa5 is a clear demonstration of the power of
the Evans Gambit.
The position stems from the game Arni-Wolff, Imperatriz 2003
With the banner of victory hoisted high, 24. Qxh7+!! Kxh7 25. Rh5#
screams to the top of one's voice "I love Anastasia!"
The position stems from the game Tabatabaei-Pashikian, Erevan 2017

86. f6 Kf8 87. h7, two passed pawns across a file easily outplay the enemy
king.
The position stems from the game Zilka-Tica, Balatonszarszo 2017

48. Qe7+ Kh6 49. Qg7+ Kh5 50. Qg5# boxes in and further strangles the
unfriendly ruler.
The position stems from the game Batsuren-Brozel, Montevideo 2017
8. d5! gains material. When the knight retreats, a timely queen check at a4
will give a ride the e4-horse. Nothing is fortuitous - while grabbing pawns,
Black has forgotten all about rapid development.
The position stems from the game Fyfazan-Javlacalle, FICS 2018
The 35...f5! bayonet stab wins the White bishop by force. 36. Bxb7?? is a
huge blunder and self-immolation as 36...Rxe1+, discovering a tempo attack
on the f4-lady, 37. Rxe1 queen gobbles queen results in a devastating
material imbalance in Black's favour.
Keep all your pieces well defended. One loose man can botch you the game.
The position stems from the game Stabulnieks-Cori Quispe, Montevideo

2017

51...f1Q+ 52. Rb1 Nb3#!
51...f1R+ is identical.
The position stems from the game Panainte-Acsinte, Corund 2017
37. Qe7+ Kg8 38. Qf8#
The position stems from the game Kiolbasa-Blazeka, Montevideo 2017

44...Qa2+ 45. Kd3 Qxb1+ 46. Ke2 Qc2#

Same is 44...Nc1+ 45. Qb3 Qxb3+ 46. Kd2 Qd3#
The position stems from the game Sadykov-Tokarev, Kazan 2017

61...Rd1+!
a) 62. Bxd1 Qxg2#
b) 62. Kh2 Qg3#
The position stems from the game Stanojevic-Budimir, Belgrade 2017
Black is very active and owns two dangerous connected passed pawns.
Unfortunately, 43. Nc5! forks the cannon on b3 and bishop on d7. Almost
there.
The position stems from the game Benidze-Zeydan, Istanbul 2017
38. Rxe8+ Qxe8 has successfully resolved the tension and now 39. Qg7
gives mate. One must always be on the alert.
The position stems from the game Morado-Miciano, Manila 2017

Black is a piece up, but 36. Qh3+ Kg7 37. Qd7+ Kh6 38. Qh3+! delivers a
perpetual. 37...Kf8 38. Qc8+ Ke7 39. Qe6+! loses the bishop, while 36...Kg5
37. Qh4+ Kf5 38. Qf4 checkmates.
The position stems from the game Caruana-Grischuk, Saint Louis 2017
In this tactically rich position, and therefore a bit mixed-up, 36. Qxe8! guns
down a whole rook due to the existing pin. The Black folks are numerous, but
ill-coordinated.
The position stems from the game Aczel-Akesson, Budapest 2017
35...Ne3, bearing full steam on the g2 shelter square and simultaneously

defending the f5-one from a potential enemy queen check, is curtains. 36. Rf2
Qe1+! 37. Kh2 Qxf2 is even more downgrading.
The position stems from the game Tregubov-Korotylev, Moscow 2017

The exceedingly strange 35...Nf4+! interferes on the c1-h6 slanted row to
ensure the Black queen safe checking ability. After 36. Kf1 Qg2+ 37. Ke1 it
is all over. The side to move can mate with 37...Qe2 or indulge in painful
termination by bashing out 37...Nxd3+ fork.
The position stems from the game Karl-Antognini, Switzerland 2017

Black is ahead in material, though 40. Qf6+ Kxd7 41. Rd1+ will pick more.
The d8-cannon is hanging and on 41...Qd5, 42. Rxd5+ exd5 43. Qf5+! ends
the hostilities due to a further fork. Wise use of open lines is a very strong
approach to tactics.
The position stems from the game Drnovsek-Horvath, Trieste 2017

45...h3, other lines also win, but this is the most straightforward. The threat
of ...Qg2+ and h3-h2, promoting next, is a tall order to parry.
The position stems from the game Dobrov-Bologan, Moscow 2017
14...Qh4+! slaps the c4-bishop right in the face. The h4-square is a

vulnerable one in the debut - mind it.
The position stems from the game Adrian-Henrich, Trier 2002

Both Black figures on the attack look overextended. 13. Nf3! wins the
unfortunate minor outpost:
a) 13...Qxc4 14. Ne5 forking c4 and d3
b) 13...Qe4 14. Ne1! with the knight attacking the d3-cell, while the flanked
bishop the lady
13. dxc6 could not be feeble too.
The position stems from the game Nazarenus-Herzenstein, Werfen Essen

2002

12. e5 and, when the queen flies off, White captures first at c6 and then at f6.
The position stems from the game Rehberg-Herzenstein, Werfen Essen 2002
15...Nxd3# is a safe bet. Duffers should be punished like that.
The position stems from the game Tsagaris-Giannoulis, Patras 2002

Instead of recapturing on c4, 10. Bg5! is flirting with the Black lady. Do you
see it?
The position stems from the game Carmes-Boonekamp, Chambery 2002

38...Rxf1+ 39. Kxf1 Rh1+! and ...Rxc1 gets rid of the hostile diagonal slider.
The position stems from the game Nesterov-Tregubov, Saint Petersburg 2017
55...Ra1! stops the clocks. The forcing march of the b-pawn to the place of
glory is inevitable by normal means. Both 55...b2? 56. Kc2 and 55...Ra2+ 56.
Kc1 are far weaker, as the dangerous passer is held, for the time being.
The position stems from the game Lain-Gasanov, Bratto 2017

26. Nef5/Ngf5+ gxf5 loses a horse in its entirety. Time to rejoice and frolick.
Who cares what happens after the second stallion captures at f5? Indeed, the
d6-lady dies to a fork, but who cares?
The position stems from the game Mariyurik-Lordsunnex, FICS 2018

25. Bxf6! uses the array of pins and attacks to neatly convert:
a) 25...Qxf6 26. Rxd7
b) 25...Nxf6 26. Rxe7 Rxd2 27. Bxe8
Not so difficult to spot, as the second player is all tied-up. 25. Bxd7 Nxd7 is
insufficient.
The position stems from the game Caruana-Hou Yifan, Chess.com 2017

36. Rb7+ Kg6 37. Rxg7#
The position stems from the game Mimbela-Lana, Zaragoza 2017
80...Rf2#!
The position stems from the game Cirakovic-Jesic, Banja Vrujci 2017
38. Rb8+ Kd7 39. Rd8+ Kc7 40. Qb8#!
The position stems from the game Moussard-Fridman, Paris 2017
37. f7+
a) 37...Kh8 38. Qf6#
b) 37...Kf8 38. Nxh7#
The position stems from the game Rakotomaharo-Onkoud, Paris 2017
59...a5! 60. Kd2 Kb2, the White king has been driven away, the Black
bishop will subsequently take the a4-pawn and the resulting a-passer will
promote. 59...Kxa4?? is a huge mistake because of 60. Kb2, the White
monarch takes possession of the a1-square and we get a theoretical "bishop +
wrong rook pawn" ending, which is a draw. The defending king can not be
driven out of the corner without being stalemated. Of course, this is not pure
calculation, some knowledge is required too, but good to bear in mind.
The position stems from the game Stephan-Delchev, Barcelona 2017

Black has a pawn more and, if he consolidates, a win is a potentiality. White
resorts to exorbitant means, 27. Qxh6+!!, in order to smoke the enemy king
out and deliver a perpetual. After 27...Kxh6 (forced) 28. Rh3+ Kg5 29.
Rg3+ Kh6 30. Rh3+! we get a repetition of moves. White can't improve
further, but that has been his goal - to save himself. Please note, that in above
line 28...Kg7?? 29. Rh7 mates.
A pleasurable experience. Queen sacs are not always winning, sometimes
they draw too.
The position stems from the game Remizov-Vaseptsov, Chelyabinsk 2017

44. Re8 Rxe8 45. Qxe8 Qf6 gives strictly nothing. The correct attacking
continuation consists in 44. Be6!, soliciting checkmate on g8, Nxe6 45. Re8+
Rxe8 46. Qxe8+ Nf8 47. Qxf8# A bit of subtlety is required even in the
simplest game situations. Please note, that the g7-cell remains under the
auspices of the d4-queen.
The position stems from the game Nayhebaver-Chukavin, Rymanow-Zdroj

2017

The second player is categorically on top, so no doubt alternative busters are
available too, but strongest is 32...Qc6!, aligning the lady with the enemy
king and preparing the tornado of ...Ne1 discovered check Kg1 Qg2#! This
will be the move justification on 33. Qc3, 33...Ne1+ 34. f3 Qxf3+ 35. Kg1
Qg2# On 33. Rxd3 the very same check 33...Ne1 wins, 34. e4 Qxe4+ A
useful ready-made winning pattern to study and memorise.
The position stems from the game Havanecz-Yao, Budapest 2017

38. hxg6? Qxg5+ bites the dust, just as 38. Rxe7? Rxg5+ and ...Rxe7. The
panacea is found in 38. Qxg6!! Qxe2 39. Rxe2 Rxe2+ 40. Kf1 fxg6 41.
Kxe2 and White easily realises the resulting endgame. Good branch
calculation is important to practice on a regular basis.
The position stems from the game Natsidis-Stauskas, Panevezys 2017

38. Qa8+ Qg8 39. Rd8! is pretty much obvious. The initiating queen check is
tasked with freeing the d-file for the subsequent rook invasion and pin. Team
effort always pays off.
The position stems from the game Rios-Mohota, Barcelona 2017
10. Nxf6+! Kf8 11. Bh6 is a beautiful light piece checkmate. Such is the cost
of two extra pawns.
The position stems from the game Meinsohn-Meng, Chambery 2002
12. c3! is a defensive interception of the d4-horse, hits the a2-cell with the
queen on d2 and prepares 13. Nb3 trapping the opponent lady. All Black can
do is look passively on. Another grabber punished.
The position stems from the game Isonzo-Mollero, Genova 2002

After 15. Bf6! the Black monarch will have to convene a special council to
decide what to do with the queen mate threat on g7. It's difficult to imagine a
weaker dark-square complex.
The position stems from the game Cruz-Exposito, Ortigueira 2002
13...Qxd4+!! 14. Qxd4 Bc5 trades down, removing any danger for his king.
The piece more will soon tell, naturally.
The position stems from the game Hardt-Petschar, Oberpullendorf 2002
13. Qh4+! is bad news for another overextended minor - that one on h3.
The position stems from the game Turauskiene-Savickas, Birstonas 2002

47...Qd3+ paints a perfect mate picture:
a) 48. Kc1 Bf4#!
b) 48. Ke1 Bg3# is the familiar balestra pattern
Did you think White has some resistance chances?
The position stems from the game Brink-Mons, Barcelona 2017
46. Nxd5 makes further timing meaningless:

a) 46...Qxd5 47. Qh5+! and Qxd5
b) 46...Qxg4 47. Rg1
Also possible is a reverse approach, first 46. Qh5+ Kf6 and only now 47.
Nxd5+ Piece attacks, like that of the c3-knight on the opposing d5-bishop,
are a weighty evaluation asset.
The position stems from the game Short-Rozum, Abudhabi 2017
31. Nxf7! is a buster, 31...Rxf7 32. Rxd8+ Kg7 33. Bxf7 Themes include
instituting a pin plus a useful x-ray attack of the d1-rook upon the bishop on
d8. One way or another, Black is all tied-up.
The position stems from the game Winiarski-De Waele, Rymanow-Zdroj

2017

Both sides' pieces are extremely active and the respective king shelters duly
compromised, though Black has the additional disadvantages that it is the
opponent's turn plus the thorny pre-promoting passer on e6.
How does White win? For example, 37. Qxf4!! whizzes the queen much
closer to the hostile monarch in a stunning way, 37...Rxc3 38. Qxh6
checkmates, while White gets significant material superiority after 37...exf4,
accepting the queen sacrifice has uncovered the a1-h8 diagonal, 38. Bxf6+
Kh7 39. Rg7+ Kh8 40. Rd7+! Kg8 41. Rxd6
The 37. e7 thrust, targeting the g8 mating square, is another instructive
approach, Black is with his back against the wall after 37...Rb8 38. Qf7
Sharpness is frequently synonymous with tactical acumen.
The position stems from the game Singer-Petschar, Graz 2017

Without delving deeper, 32...Ned2! arranges a discovered attack on the
undefended c2-queen, as well as a direct attack by the knight on the f3-rook.
The first player has nothing better than 33. Qxf5 Nxf3+, a key tempo-gaining
in-between, 34. Nxf3 exf5 and White has lost at least the exchange. Sudden,
convincing and beautiful. Support points, like that of the well-fortified Black
lady, are always welcome.
The position stems from the game Rahul-Kveinys, Panevezys 2017

24. Rxe6+! fxe6 25. Qxe6+ Qe7 26. Qxe7#
The position stems from the game Ciolek-Staberhofer, Pula 2017
60. Qa8+ Kc7 61. Nb5#!
The position stems from the game Remizov-Kucuksari, Mamaia 2017

Black has a piece more; unfortunately, White has 10. Bg5+! Try to work out
the individual winning lines yourselves.
The position stems from the game Mastrokoukos-Klokas, Nikea 2002
11. Ba3! skewer-invites Black to concede the e7-sweeper. The a3-square is a

frequent attacking outlet for the White dark-square bishop in a range of
debuts. Approximately the same could be asserted for Black's light-square
bishop concerning the a6-cell.
The position stems from the game Mueller-Bieger, Recklinghausen 2002
13. Qb3! looks at the f7 mating cell and the b7-bishop. Time to sign the
scoresheet.
The position stems from the game Al Sulaiti-Boubaker, Casablanca 2002

14...Qxb2+!! 15. Kxb2 Nxe4+ and ...Nxd2 has won a bishop.
The position stems from the game Weyrauch-Sandkamp, Moehnesee 2002
30...Rf1#!
The position stems from the game Leszner-Dziodzio, Szklarska Poreba 2017
34. Rg7+ Kh8 35. Rg4#
The position stems from the game Walkusz-Dudzinski, Szklarska Poreba

2017

In spite of White's big material edge, Black has an eternal checking pursuit
up his sleeve. For example, 34...Qg3+ 35. Kf1 Qf3+ 36. Kg1 Qg3+! etc.
Running off is impossible. On 36. Ke1 ...Qh1 mates, while the very same
outcome is prepared in case of 37. Kh1 Qh3+ 38. Rh2 Qf1! Both variations
feature gem queen mates due to inherent blockages. If Black covers the check
with the rook on the 35th move, 35. Rg2, then 35...Qe1+ 36. Kh2 Qh4+ 37.
Kg1 Qe1+ 38. Kh2 Qh4+! delivers another fine line of ceaseless checks.
Some say strength is in numbers, but is that really so? In chess, spirituality
often gets the upper hand and a place of honour.
The position stems from the game Movsesian-Jakubowski, Baden-Baden

2017

21. Bxh5 gxh5 22. f6! wins a piece due to the pawn fork. The bishop capture
has uncovered an x-ray attack of the f1-cannon upon the f6-cell.
The position stems from the game Prokop-Hback, FICS 2018
40...Nd4! does it, by reinforcing the diagonal bishop pin. Wielding such an
arrogant advantage, it's reasonable to suppose Black has other winning
options too. It is good training pattern recognition in a complicated
landscape.
The position stems from the game Pomes-Crickmore, Sabadell 2017
The agressive 39. f6+! pawn fork and offering avoids any procrastination.
39...Kxf6 40. Qxh6+ Kf5 41. Qxd6 has defused more enemy figures.
The position stems from the game Lovrinovic-Wagner, Graz 2017

36. Bxe5+ Kf8 37. Bxd6! checkmates in a mixture of Boden's and Morphy's
patterns.
The position stems from the game Aditya-Llano, Abudhabi 2017
36...Bh2!, lodging a mate request for the g1-square, is final and definitive.
The last nail in White's coffin could be put also via 36...Qh5
The position stems from the game Parligras-Gagare, Abudhabi 2017

32. g3! is a quiet unassuming move, preparing the lethal Qh4# against which
there is no sufficient defence. Other winning alternatives should be available
too on closer inspection. The greedy 32. Rxb7, though, b2, 33. Rf1 Ra1! is as
precarious as it seems. Calculation in confusing, complicated positions is an
essential element of a strong player.
The position stems from the game Caruana-Karjakin, Saint Louis 2017

50. Bc2! has ambushed the Black horse by cordoning off the area bounded by
the d1- and a4-squares. The White king will slip back later via the d4-c3-b2
staircase to revel in the delicious sugar candy awaiting at the end of the road.
The position stems from the game Ljubojevic-Suarez, Linares 2017
39. Rxc3! dxc3 40. Rxe4 c2 41. Rc4 easily converts the edge by utilising the
power of the ominous pin. Accepted wisdom advises against maintaining
loose figures.
The position stems from the game Narciso Dublan-Granda Zuniga, Linares
2017
44. dxc6?? Rxd3 is bad, of course. The wizardry consists in 44. Bc2!,
edifying a scissoring diagonal battery and targeting h7. Black should yield to
pressure, as 44...g6 is met by 45. hxg6, ripping the Black fortification apart.
The position stems from the game Ernst-Lai, Vlissingen 2017

35. Rh1!, Black can't defend the h7-square.
The position stems from the game Korneev-Tahbaz, Rasht 2017
81...c1Q 82. g8Q Qh1+ 83. Kg5 Qg1+!, skewering king and queen, winning
the Black most powerful piece on the next move.
The position stems from the game Jedinger-Kuecher, Austria 2017

26. Nxe4! forks both Black heavy pieces, winning a whole rook. The hurried
26. Kxf2? Qxd4+ 27. Ke2 Qd3+ 28. Ke1 Qe3+ will lead at least to a
perpetual.
The position stems from the game Garrido-Rahal, Barcelona 2017

34. Re8+! puts the finishing touch:
a) 34...Rxe8 35. Qxd4
b) 34...Kh7 35. Qxd4 Rxd4 36. Rxb8
The position stems from the game Agrest-Hedman, Sweden 2017
Black threatens ...Rbg2#, but White is faster: 42. Rxf8+! is a double attack,
42...Qxf8 43. Bxf6+!! Qxf6 deflects the queen, and now 44. Re8+
checkmates on the back rank. An original combination.
The position stems from the game Sosa-Mareco, Buenos Aires 2017
40. Qh7+ Ke8 41. Qe7#! Queen and knight coordinate perfectly.
The position stems from the game Timmermans-Collier, Vale 2017

29...Rxa2+! evacuates the b2-square for the queen, after which 30. Nxa2
Qb2 mates. A bit longer alternative with the same motif is 29...Rb1+ 30.
Qxb1 Qd4+! 31. Qb2 Qxb2# A pair of heavy pieces to the 7th rank are
tremendous.
The position stems from the game Bick-Gungl, Budapest 2017

Instead of taking on e8 Black can simply play 35...Qd1+! 36. Rxd1 Rxd1# A
perfect back rank mate using blockages.
The position stems from the game Popov-Nepomniachtchi, Antalya 2017
17...Qh4+! 18. g3 Qxe4, winning a minor piece, is a frequent opening trick.
The position stems from the game Kokkila-Tsarouhas, Antalya 2017

34...Qd3+! 35. Ka1 Qxf1+ 36. Be1 Nc2+ and ...Qxe1 leaves nothing more to
play for.
The position stems from the game Kanonier-Ciolek, Austria 2017

50...Rf4+ 51. Kg1 Qd1+ 52. Re1 Qxe1+ 53. Nf1 Qxf1# takes perfect care of
the White king.
The position stems from the game Makropoulou-Bulmaga, Braila 2017
37...Qg5! supports the g7-square, attacks the e7-rook and threatens mate on
g1. Such multifunctionality is rarely seen.
The position stems from the game Pierrot-Cuberli, Buenos Aires 2017
34. Rh3! Rxh3 removes the guard of the g8 shelter square, with the
continuation being 35. Rg8+ Kf7 36. Qg7#
The position stems from the game Frolov-Kovchan, Omelnyk 2017

33...Rxe4! 34. Qxe4 Qxf2+ is decisive.
The position stems from the game Shubin-Shevchenko, Jermuk 2017
33. Qh3+ Kf2 34. Qf3+ Kg1 35. Re1+ Kh2 36. Qh3#! completes a nice
quasi-circular movement.
The position stems from the game Geller-Grela, Hradec Kralove 2017
33...Qe4+ 34. Kg1 Qe3+! and ...Qxg5. Also possible is 33...Qd2 with the
intention of ...Re1.
The position stems from the game Wafa-El Jawich, Beirut 2017

25. Bc5! threatens not only to capture the b4-rook, but also the much more
dangerous 26. Bf8+ Kg8 27. Bh6! discovered check with mate to follow.
Black can't cope with both menaces at the same time and should resign.
The position stems from the game Artemiev-Kryakvin, Sochi 2017
37. Qh8! mate makes full use of the strong diagonal battery.
The position stems from the game Alekseev-Murzin, Sochi 2017

The somewhat unexpected 29. Nxf6+! gxf6 (recapturing with the queen is
impossible due to the pin) 30. Qxe6+ Nxe6 clears the central d-file for 31.
Rxd7 to pretty much make any resistance futile.
The position stems from the game Haug-Zhao, Fornebu 2017

49. Re1+ Kb2 50. Qb1+ Ka3 51. Ra7# chases the Black king across the
board.
The position stems from the game Novikov-Iljin, Sochi 2017
37. hxg7 Kxg7 is not decisive. 37. Ne7+!, an important intermediate check,
bringing the knight closer, Kh8 38. hxg7+ Kxg7 39. Nf5+! fork and Nxe3 is.
The position stems from the game Morozevich-Sjugirov, Sochi 2017

Black threatens ...Qa3+ and ...Qb2# so White should hurry. But, seemingly,
there is no forced winning variation. Not at all. 27. Rxh7+!! is a bolt out of
the blue:
a) 27...Kxh7 28. Qf7+! Kh8 29. Rd8+ If 28...Kh6, 29. Qxg6 mates
b) 27...Nxh7 28. Qxg6+ Kf8 29. Rd8#
Sometimes, chess is very surprising, though still logical.
The position stems from the game Savchenko-Moiseenko, Sochi 2017

34...Bf3+ 35. Kf2 Qxd1 ends the game.
The position stems from the game Predke-Utnasunov, Sochi 2017
68. f3+! exf3 69. Bxf3 mates. The x-ray attack of the light-square bishop
upon the f3-cell matters.
The position stems from the game Bodnaruk-Nebolsina, Sochi 2017

26. b6! suddenly finds the a7-rook trapped. Low mobility pieces are always
unwelcome.
The position stems from the game Reuker-Richter, Hannover 2017

29. Qd8+! Rxd8 30. Rxd8+ Kh7 31. Rg7# exemplifies the good
coordination between the White pawns and pieces.
The position stems from the game Maltsevskaya-Travkina, Sochi 2017
The bishop on g5 should not retreat because of ...Qxg2#, but White can
choose between 28. Nf7+! Qxf7 29. Qxh7 mate, and 28. Qxh7+! Qxh7 29.
Nf7 mate. Two different deflections, two different checkmates.
The position stems from the game Cigan-Mazi, Slovenia 2017
Without trying to figure out all the complications after ...Nd4, 34...Qd5! is a
simultaneous attack on the a2-rook and the g2 shelter square, where the
advanced h3-pawn will allow mate.
The position stems from the game Das-Lopez, Sitges 2017

38...Nf3! guarantees the Arabian on h2.
The position stems from the game Solozhenkina-Grabuzova, Moscow 2017
47. Ng5+ Kh6 48. Nf7+! Kh7 49. Rh8 mates. Always try checks first.
The position stems from the game Novitzkij-Baraeva, Sochi 2017

34. Re8+ Kc7 35. b6+ Kc6 36. Qe4 is checkmate. Another uninterrupted
series of checks.
The position stems from the game Asis-Perez, Sitges 2017

49. Rf6! is a harmonious mate, a product of the interaction of all White
pieces.
The position stems from the game Inarkiev-Mohr, Katowice 2017
41...Qh1 checkmates in one. Other moves also win.
The position stems from the game Wallis-Libiszewski, Melbourne 2017

28...Rxg2! elegantly evacuates the g6-square, in order for the Black queen to
fork king and rook there after 29. Kxg2 Qg6+
The position stems from the game Papakonstantinou-Nikolaidis, Thessaloniki

2017

31. c8Q Nxc8 32. Rxc8 collects a piece, but 31. Re8!, driving away the Black
knight and only then promoting, is stronger. 31. Nc6 is also possible.
The position stems from the game Zelcic-Brzezinski, Katowice 2017
40. e7+!! Qxd5 offers for free the White queen, and then 41. Rf8+ Rxf8 42.
exf8Q produces a new mating queen. Both advanced White e- and h-pawns
play an important role in the checkmate setup.
The position stems from the game Mastrovasilis-Gbyl, Katowice 2017
24. Bf4, mate is unavoidable, for example, 24...Rd7 25. Qb8#
The position stems from the game Olszewski-Kus, Katowice 2017

29...a2+! sacrifices the a-pawn to clear the edge file, after which 30. Kxa2
Qa4+ 31. Kb1 Qa1 checkmates.
The position stems from the game Obrusnik-Dobrowolski, Katowice 2017
58...Rh3+ 59. Kg1 Rh1#! is not to miss. Learning various piece interaction
patterns is very important.
The position stems from the game Swiatek-Tomczak, Katowice 2017

102. Qb1#! is fast and economical.
The position stems from the game Marczuk-Kashlinskaya, Katowice 2017

38...Rxc4!! is a gorgeous way of winning. After 39. bxc4 b3 the unblocking
sacrifice has created two advanced unstoppable and connected passed pawns
that will bring home anything you want. For example, 40. Rb1 a2 41. Ra1 b2
and Black queens.
The position stems from the game Alekseev-Sieciechowicz, Katowice 2017

61. Rc5! attacks the bishop, as well as the c8 mating square, effectively
ending the game.
The position stems from the game Tomczak-Jarmula, Katowice 2017
46. Rxd4! Qxd4 47. Qxd4 exd4 48. Bxc7 is as convincing as one could wish
for. The x-ray attack of the g3-bishop upon the c7-rook is the key element.
The position stems from the game Wieczorek-Bekasovs, Katowice 2017

22...Nb2! traps the White queen. 23. Qd2 is prohibited due to ...Qxd2, and on
23. f4, Black has ...Bxf4!, the g3-pawn being pinned. Always target more
powerful enemy pieces, this might as well win you something.
The position stems from the game Ryng-Jussupow, Katowice 2017

31. Qf2! attacks the rook and the f8 mating square. Point for White.
The position stems from the game Lavendelis-Siekanska, Katowice 2017
48. Rf7+ and Rf8 interferes with the defence of the d8-rook for the g8-
square, menacing to promote. Black loses at least a rook.
The position stems from the game Valsecchi-Buhmann, Katowice 2017

34. Re1 Qf6 35. Rxe7+ Qxe7 36. Nxf5++! is a double discovered check,
gaining the opponent queen on the next move with Nxe7. Kings should
always avoid sharing the same line with opponent sliding units.
The position stems from the game Krainski-Stupak, Katowice 2017

63. Qc5! intercepts the Black queen's control of the c-file, allowing the
advanced passer to transform into a new queen. 63...Qf4+ is met by the
simple 64. g3 and the f2-square is protected.
The position stems from the game Zhigalko-Shubin, Katowice 2017
14...Qa5! reinforces the pin on the c3-knight, confiscating substantial

material. Pins on enemy knights with opponent queen at the other end of the
pin are the most forceful ever.
The position stems from the game Kuzmicz-Demidov, Katowice 2017
Using the fact the bishop and rook share the same diagonal, 41. b4+! wins a
whole rook.
The position stems from the game Cieslar-Sieciechowicz, Katowice 2017

46. Qc6+ Ka5 47. Bd2! gives rise to a harmonious queen and bishop
checkmate.
The position stems from the game Heberla-Morkisz, Katowice 2017
34...d2! is a gorgeous fork, decisively swinging the point count balance in

Black's favour.
The position stems from the game Barski-Stupak, Katowice 2017

38. d7! Kxf7 39. d8Q promotes the pawn. On any other move, Black has at
least ...Rxg3+ and ...Kxd6
The position stems from the game Maslak-Sieciechowicz, Katowice 2017

23. Rxe8! Rxe8 24. Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Nxf6+ and Nxe8 gathers plentiful
material. Try different captures, when available, to see what works and what
not, even if the first capture is a losing one. The combination later on might
bring dividends.
The position stems from the game Tokranovs-Roenko, Katowice 2017
25. Qxd8+! Nxd8 removes the defender of the g8-square, in order for 26.
Rg8 to deliver the final blow.
The position stems from the game Warakomski-Saric, Katowice 2017

24. Qxg6! fxg6 25. Ne6+ and Nxc7 is a frequently encountered pattern.
Tactical alertness means trying out various captures.
The position stems from the game Moskalenko-Maier, Katowice 2017

41...Qe1+ 42. Qf1 Ne2+! 43. Kh1 Qxf1#
The position stems from the game Tate-Balaian, Katowice 2017
44...Rd1+ 45. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 46. Ka2 Bd5! is an elegant and economical
mate.
The position stems from the game Kosteniuk-Harika, Huaian 2017

45...Bd5+ 46. Kf8 Rh8+ mates. The difficulty with this one is mainly the
mirrored board.
The position stems from the game Mohammad-Bronstein, Ahmedabad 2017

14...Nfxd4+! 15. cxd4 Nxd4+ will pick up the White queen on the next
move. The sac is made possible by the absolute pin on the f3-knight.
The position stems from the game Guo-Bao, Shenzhen 2017
Instead of looking for checkmate that might not be available, 39...Rxf2+!,

destroying the cover of the king, 40. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 41. Kf1 Qxd2 simply
stocks up on surplus material with view of mating a bit later.
The position stems from the game Voss-Vignesh, London 2017
Easiest realisation of the advantage provides 35. Bc7+!

a) 35...Kb7 36. Bf4+ and Bxd2 switches on the windmill mechanism
b) 35...Kb5 36. a4+ Kb4 37. Nxa6 mates
The position stems from the game Czebe-Nguyen, Budapest 2017

25. Ba4+! Rd7 compels Black to block the d7 escape square, leading to 26.
Qh8#
The position stems from the game Yeoh-Li, Penang 2017
62. a5! bxa5 63. b6+ mates on the next move, 63...Ka8 64. Bd5# If 63...Ka6,
then 64. Bc4! is another surprising checkmate, the b-pawn controls the a7
escape square, while the a5 friendly pawn is an unpleasant blocker. Pawn
breaks constitute a weighty tactical element.
The position stems from the game Murphy-Ethelontis, London 2017
34. Qg3+ Kh6 35. Ng8+! Kh5 36. Rf5 checkmates in a parsimonious way.
This position is a bit of a tight rope walking one, each side can win
depending on whose turn it is and other small details.
The position stems from the game Schoppen-Verhasselt, Belgium 2017

53. f5! will deliver the hook mate on h8 soon.
The position stems from the game Van den Doel-Timman, Amstelveen 2017
25. Ng5, targeting the h7-square, Bxg5 (forced) 26. Qxf8! checkmates due to
inherent blockages.
The position stems from the game Petre-Miladinovic, Belgrade 2017

39. Nxc2 Kxc7 is about equal. In case the rook evades, the knight on a3 is left
unprotected. Correct is 39. Rxc6+! Kxc6 40. Nxc2 with the intermediate
check gaining a precious tempo for the second capture.
The position stems from the game Berndaskiy-Shyam, Tsaghkadzor 2017

37. Rb8+ Kc7 38. R1b7! is the blind swine checkmate in a bit different
layout.
The position stems from the game Freitag-Pilaj, Austria 2017
30. Qb5+ Ka8 31. Bxd5+! compels the Black queen to offer herself on d5,
wrapping up the game. Key is the zwischenzug coercive check, sending the
Black king to a square, where it is repeatedly checked, this time by another
unit. 30. Rxc8+ Rxc8 31. Qxe7? is quite of a mistake due to 31...Rc1+ (32.
Rxc1 Qxc1+ 33. Bf1 Qf1#)
The position stems from the game Sadler-Wheeler, Telford 2017
29...Bxh1?? is a blunder now, due to 30. Qe6+! and Qxc8+ The right decision
is to play 29...Re8! first, avoiding abovementioned tactics, and only then
...Bxh1. Good defensive move.
The position stems from the game Britton-Williams, Coventry 2017

8. e4! clever sac allows quick mobilisation of forces. After 8...dxe4 (...Bxe4
should not be much better) 9. Bb5+ (gains another tempo owing to the
forcing property of checks) Nbd7 10. Ne5!, piling up, sees Black all pinned
and tied-up. One more bishop capture at f6 or d7 and he collapses. 9...Ke7
10. Qa3+ is - guess what - the most unexpected checkmate in the world. The
second player was so slow here.
The structure arose from the Exchange Slav.
The position stems from the game Epishin-Vandenbempt, Leuven 2003

1. Rb1! outlines Pillsbury's mating pattern. That gaping hole at b7 is really a
big issue.
49. Bxg7+! (49...Nxg7 50. Qxf8+) combines the motifs of the pinned knight
and loose rook on f8 to pretty much wrap up the game. Identical is 49. Rxg7
The position stems from the game Ni-Ning, China 2017

White has a forced mate in 4. The trick is to find it. It consists in 28. Nc4+!
Kd7 29. Qb7+ Kd8 30. Qb8+ Kd7 31. Nb6#! Another example of the
perfect coordination between knights and queens.
The position stems from the game Kulaots-Zysk, Tegernsee 2017

37...Bxf2+ 38. Rxf2 Re1+ 39. Nf1 Rxf1+! 40. Rxf1 Qg2 checkmates, but
why not stumble upon the immediate mate 37...Qg2? The f2-rook can't budge
due to the absolute pin, making this move possible. Bishops on long
diagonals are extremely strong.
The position stems from the game Haussernot-Pourramezanali, Cap d'Agde

2017

34. Nd7! prepares the Anastasia with Ra1. Black can give a couple of spite
checks, starting with ...Rf1+, before the mate happens. See how the knight
prophylactically cuts off the access of the Black king to the b8 escape square.
The position stems from the game Anton-Castellanos, Las Palmas 2017
29...Qg3+! makes use of the fact the f2-pawn is pinned to deliver a close
range mate after 30. Kh1 Qh2
The position stems from the game Gajcin-Wang, Montevideo 2017

21...Qg5+ 22. Kh1 Qf4! sets up a deadly diagonal battery, menacing the
summary ...Qh2#, so White will have to sac bushelfuls of material with 23.
Be5 Bxe5 24. Qxe5 Nxe5 in order not to allow this to happen. Broken-up
shelters are frequently conducive to virulent attacks.
The position stems from the game Weerawardane-Ganguly, Ashgabat 2017

20...Qxh2+ 21. Kf1 Qh1+ 22. Ke2 Qxa1 picks up too much material for any
meaningful resistance to be possible.
The position stems from the game Adzic-Ilic, Banja Vrujci 2017
25. g4! finds the Black queen in a trapped state of mind. See how elegantly
the d4-rook supports the attacking pawn.
The position stems from the game Alonso-Garcia, Villa Martelli 2017
21. Bh7+ Kh8 limits the mobility of the Black king, after which 22. Nf7+!
Rxf7 distracts the Black rook from guarding the 8th rank and 23. Re8+ Ng8
24. Rxg8 is a back-ranker. When calculating variations, test checks and
captures first.
The position stems from the game Mrsa-Janjic, Belgrade 2017

56...Qh7! is a self-sufficient checkmate in one.
The position stems from the game Shmagin-Geivondian, Saint Petersburg

2017
24...Nc3+! severs the connection between the White queen and rook. On 25.
Nxc3 or 25. bxc3 the Black retort will be queen eats queen, while 25. Rxc3
Qxh1+! has left the corner rook hanging.
The position stems from the game Forcen-Ganguly, Linares 2017
23. Qxa5! undermines the b4-knight, enforcing the existing pin. The knight is
doomed to fall. 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Qxa5 isn't good for the reason that Black
has 24...Qxd4!, unpinning and attacking the a1-rook. The time gained will
allow the knight to remain unscathed.
The position stems from the game Medarde-Ayyad, Abudhabi 2017

White should not miss 38. Qe8+ Kh7 39. Qe4+! and Qxf3, as the position is
not so easy to realise.
The position stems from the game Elistratov-Yakimenko, Saint Petersburg

2017
47...Rbc5!, after 48. Rxc5 Rxc5 Black will have to sacrifice his queen for the
rook, as otherwise ...Rc1 mates. Starting with the other rook makes no
difference.
The position stems from the game Tiwari-Swayams, Ahmedabad 2017
31...Rxc3! removes the very important defender of the a2 shelter square.

Recapturing by any means leads to queen mate there. White has 32. Re8+,
intending to deflect the bishop from the strong diagonal, but after 32...Kh7!
he is hopeless. Abundant attacks often have such aftermath.
The position stems from the game Raetsky-Hari, Abudhabi 2017

28...Qxg2+!!, in spite of lagging behind in material and offering another
queen, this surprising sacrifice simply mates after 29. Rxg2 Rd1+! 30. Rxd1
exd1Q# Weak back rank coupled with an absolute pin.
The position stems from the game Stachanczyk-Kashlinskaya, Suwalki 2017

46. Re8! seals it.
The position stems from the game Forcen-Perez, Linares 2017
37. Rc8 checkmates
The position stems from the game Llobel-Sanchez, Linares 2017

Using the x-ray attack of the d6-bishop upon the g3-rook and the unpleasant
opposition of the Black rooks with the White king and queen, 34...R8xg5!
gets back the piece, shortly forcing the concession of more material after 35.
Rxg4 Rxg4 or 35. fxg5 Rxg3! due to the pin on the queen.
The position stems from the game Soltanici-Stoleriu, Arad 2017

47. Qd8+ Kf7 48. Rg7# A worthwhile alternative is 47. Rg8+! Kxg8 48.
Qg7#
The position stems from the game Juhasz-Suliborski, Suwalki 2017
The very much unexpected 28...Nb3+! 29. Kd1 Qxa1 checkmates.
The position stems from the game Teran-Domingo, Linares 2017

34. Rf7+ deals the final blow:

a) 34...Kh8 35. Be5#!
b) 34...Kxh6 35. Re6+ Kh5 36. Rxh7#
The position stems from the game Bilguun-Bednarek, Suwalki 2017

34. Qc6+ Ke5 35. Qxd5! reproduces the swallow's tail mating pattern right in
the center of the board.
The position stems from the game Ponomariov-Forcen, Linares 2017
11...Nxh3++ clears the edge file, upon which 12. Kh2/Kh1 Nf4! mates.
Interesting, that the very same checkmate is achieved if the knight hops to g5
or g1. Double checks are deadly in the majority of cases.
The position stems from the game Wittmann - Schneider-Zinner, Graz 2017
56. Rxf5! exf5 57. Bxf5+ Kf6 58. Bxd7 Rxd7 59. Rxh6+ and Rxc6 collects
too many pawns for Black to have any holding chances at all.
The position stems from the game Vasiukov-Fernandez, Sabadell 2017

29. Ra4! will capture the d4-knight next. Create threats whenever possible,
those are frequently winning moves.
The position stems from the game Mastrovasilis-Polok, Suwalki 2017
Most straightforward is 51. Bxf8 Bxf8 52. Nd6+! and the king should run off
to d8, discontinuing the defence of the bishop, as otherwise 52...Ke7 leads to
the elegant 53. Qf6! mating pattern.
The position stems from the game Berelowitsch-Harsha, Riga 2017
The outcome is not so easy to call, as the queen + bishop pair are very
dangerous, for example, Qf6 threatens. On 45...Rxa4?? 46. Qe8+ Kh7 47.
Qh8 checkmates. Still, Black has a brilliant continuation at his disposal.
45...Rb8!! menaces back rank mate in one with ...Rb1. The trick to spot is
that taking the rook unpins the bishop and the Qe7 falls prey.
The position stems from the game Cebrian-Segarra, Mislata 2017

The sudden 27...Bxg2! demolishes the White pawn shelter. On 28. Kxg2,
28...Qxh3+ 29. Kg1 Qh1 mates.
The position stems from the game Sevdimaliyev-Hojjatova, Baku 2017
31. Bf2 Qh6 32. Be3 Qh4 33. Bg5! takes captive the Black queen in a forced
bishop manoeuver. Attacks of lower power pieces on higher power ones are
particularly effective.
The position stems from the game Skare-Jakovljevic, Belgrade 2017
28. Bd2! wins. On 28...Rxa6, White plays simply Bb4 and the pinned f8-
bishop falls. If 28...Rxa3, 29. Bb4?? would be a big mistake, as 29...Ra1+
mates back rank. To bring the point home, White flashes up 29. Rxf8+!!
Kxf8 30. Bb4+, forking king and rook. Tactics often involve surprise
decisions.
The position stems from the game Van den Berg-Elgersma, Vlissingen 2017

26. Bb6! wins a minor piece. The knight is attacked, if it retreats, the c6-
bishop falls.
The position stems from the game Petrosyan-Grigoryan, Erevan 2017
104. Kf6! threatens mate on h8, if 104...Kd8, 105. Rc2! restricts the Black
king on the c-file and this time already Rc8# is not to avoid.
The position stems from the game McLaren-Perera, Auckland 2017

35...Qb1+ 36. Bc2 Qxc2+ 37. Rd3 Qxd3+ 38. Ke5/Kf4 Qf5#!
The position stems from the game Swiercz-Ashwin, Chess.com 2017

36. R1f7!, the threat of Rb7# is not to parry, for example, 36...Rxf8 37. Rb7#
The position stems from the game Sheng-Pakleza, Chess.com 2017
37...Ng4+ 38. Kg1 Qh7! and Black mates on h2.
The position stems from the game Agrest-Hjartarson, Chess.com 2017

44...Rb2+ 45. Ka3 Rb4#! Other rook retreats along the b-file also mate.
The position stems from the game Zaloznyy-Dreev, Chess.com 2017

30...Bxd4! wins the queen (31. Nxd4 Qxf1#) Also wins 30...Qxf1+! 31. Kxf1
Rxf3+
The position stems from the game Wheeler-Gong, Auckland 2017
36. Qg6+! forks king and rook.
The position stems from the game Gong-Yan, Auckland 2017

14. Qe6+ Kd8 15. Nf7+ Kc7 16. Qd6#!
The position stems from the game Low-Grishchenko, Prague 2017

13. Nb6 suddenly makes shudder the Black flock. Guess the reason.
The position stems from the game Schwartzman-Orgel, Kissimmee 1997
The combo is simple: 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Qf3! gains the f6-sweeper as
moving it leads to Qxf7 mate. Simple, but you have to see it.
The position stems from the game Quillan-Ansell, England 1997

The tension is at its highest. Both kings have stubbornly refused to castle.
15...Qe2+! catches the White bishop red-handed. Tomorrow is another day.
The position stems from the game Shulga-Jakovenko, Saint Petersburg 1997

This is a very strange puzzle. 15. e3! and now Black has all the choice in the
universe to decide between 15...Nf5 16. e4!, forking knight and bishop, or
15...Ne6 16. e4, gaoling the bishop. Festina lente.
The position stems from the game Suba-Garcia, Malaga 2001
White is the exchange up, White is the exchange up. 14...Bb4+! Oh, no! The
h8-queen falls...
The position stems from the game Rozkov-Vunder, Saint Petersburg 1997
Of course, you see it - 9...Bxg3+! consumes the White lady next with
...Qxd1.
The position stems from the game Walesch-Ponater, Bad Wiessee 1997

What to do now? Certainly, you will not see it, wanna bet? In fact, the second
mover looks a bit more active here...until 12. g4! and, upon bishop retreat,
g4-g5! trapping the dark-square sweeper at f6.
Really bizarre.
The position stems from the game Andersson-Velimirovic, Bar 1997

15. Bxe6! fxe6 16. Qxe6+ Kd8 17. Bg5+ ending the hot pursuit cries for
attention.
The position stems from the game Gosch-Horn, Zuerich 1997
14. Qf7+ Kd6 15. Ne4! checkmates in two.
The position stems from the game Ribeiro-Thipsay, Groningen 1997

15. Bxf6 compels resignation:

a) 15...gxf6 16. Qxh7+ Kf8 17. Qxf7#!
b) 15...Qxf6 16. Qxh7+ Kf8 17. Nd7+! with a deadly fork
The position stems from the game Kohtz-Jacob, Groningen 1997

15. Nxd5!! is definitive:
a) 15...exd5 16. Qa4+! wins the Black lady as 16...Kd8 17. Nxf7 is mate
b) 15...Qd8 16. Nf6+!! exf6/Ngxf6 17. Qxf7#
c) 15...Qa5+ 16. Bd2 Qb5 fuels 17. Nc7+! Rxc7 18. Qxf7+ Kd8 19. Qxf8#
Finally, on 15...Qb8, the first mover has at least 16. Nb6 with twin attack on
the c8-rook and f7.
The position stems from the game Soffer-Oratovsky, Rishon Le Ziyyon 1998

14...Be5!, a prime example of tactical defence, saves the e6-bishop by
breaking the pin. Unwelcome is 15. dxe6? Bf4! pinning the queen. In
ultimate analysis, Black retains his extra piece.
The position stems from the game Huber-Ksieski, Schwaebisch Gmuend

1998
10. Nxd6+! Qxd6 11. Qxe5+ undermines to win a pawn. A single pedestrian
might cost you the game.
The position stems from the game Georgiev-Trivizas, Athens 1998

The d8-cannon has pinned the Black bishop in a deadly manner.

Unfortunately, the sweeper wiggles off by 14...Bb4+! leading to 15. Bxb4
Rxd8 and the second player is pawn plus the exchange up.
The position stems from the game Reilly-Leskiewicz, Melbourne 1998

14...Ba6! skewers on the f1-a6 diagonal. Countless rooks have fallen prey to
similar dirty tricks.
The position stems from the game Christensen-Aronian, Ubeda 1998
10. d4! allows d4-d5 next, forking two minors, as the c5-slider is under
attack. Very active, but unfortunate piece placement on the part of Black.
The position stems from the game Ribeiro-Morejon, Ubeda 1998

The "Dancing with Queens" arrives by 15...Rb4!
The position stems from the game Gara-Dolgener, Budapest 1998

14. Nb6+ (whoa!) sweeps the e6-queen off the board courtesy of a discovered
attack.
The position stems from the game Wohl-Garcia, Malaga 1998
15. Bh6 g6 16. Bxg6! (the destroyer has arrived) hxg6 17. Rxg6+! Nxg6 18.
Qxg6+ Kh8 19. Qg7 checkmates. Upping the pressure by creating more and
more attacks on the king shelter is the way to conduct an attack.
The position stems from the game Ortega-Schuster, Bad Woerishofen 1998
Fabulous is 9...Bg4!! 10. Qxg4 Nxf2+ and ...Nxg4. Blocked central backward
pawns are an especially big penalty.
The position stems from the game Lopez-Vasta, Mar del Plata 1998

Black is a whole queen down. Which is no problem at all what concerns
giving a quick mate by 14...Nf3!! double checking. The White king seems a
tad surprised. Alright.
The position stems from the game Alam-Dwyer, Genting Highlands 1998
15. Rxe6+! wins a free knight in view of the pin.
The position stems from the game Jahn-Waffenschmidt, Baden 1998

The pin on the c6-beast is illusory. 6...Qa5+! and ...Qxb5 has acquired at
least a pawn.
The position stems from the game Schmid-Pfister, Baden 1998

White has just broken down his pawn structure with dxe5. 15...Bxe3+! gains
the d2-lady. Surprise?
The position stems from the game Wilhelm-Loetscher, Baden 1998
12. Bd4! traps the forlorn Black queen now. A measured response to
probable pawn-grabbing.
The position stems from the game Maier-Ferk, Schaan 1998

13. Qxb7!! Qxb7 14. Bxc6+ Qxc6 15. Nxc6 has acquired a full full piece.
The position stems from the game Horvath-Luciani, Bozen 1998

10...Qd6! is a twin attack on the d3-bishop and h2-square. If White doesn't
cover the diagonal line with g3 or f4, he gets mated. For example, 11. Bxb4
Nf3+!! (tempo clearance) 12. gxf3 Qxh2# Otherwise, the d3-slider drops off,
a line in point being 11. f4 Qxd3 12. Qxd3 Nxd3 and the b4-man is defended.
The position stems from the game Jaenig-Jurkovic, Bozen 1998

12. Nd6+! removes the h4 gaping queen from the board on the next turn.
The position stems from the game Bering-Jensen, Copenhagen 1998
Alright, 14. Bxd5! gains a figure by force:

a) 14...exd5 15. Bxe7
b) 14...Bxd5 15. Bxe7! Qxe7 16. Nxd5 (the e-pedestrian is pinned)
c) 14...Bxg5 15. Nxg5 (threatens mate at h7) Qxg5 16. Bxb7
Not identical is 14. Nxd5 in view of ...Bxg5.
White succeeds here because he is a bit more centralised. Strive at
centralisation - this brings dividends.
The position stems from the game Olsen-Andersen, Copenhagen 1998
15. Nc4 happens to what? Trap the immobilised lady. Those sneaky knights...
The position stems from the game Drouzinina-Karner, Mureck 1998

Black wins a piece by 14...Nxe4! 15. Bxb6 Nc3+ and ...Nxa4. A careful
player he is.
The position stems from the game Kundin-Vavrak, Mureck 1998
Don't forget about 15...Be3!
The position stems from the game Boelzbauer-Kuess, Saint Veit 1998
10. Rxa6! bxa6 11. Bxc6+ and Bxa8 wins piece plus pawn. Black has a tad
better with 10...d5, involving significant complications though still losing.
The position stems from the game Cvitan-Somogyi, Oberwart 1998

12...Bf5!! is fortright: 13. Qxf5 Qb6+ 14. Kc2/Ka1 Qb2#
The position stems from the game Zimmerman-Brauneder, Oberwart 1998
15...Nxd2+ (royal-forking) 16. Nxd2 Rh1 gives checkmate. 15...Rh1+ 16.

Ng1 Nxd2+ transposes certain lines.
The position stems from the game Laschet-Brandner, Oberwart 1998

51...Nd2#!
The position stems from the game Plachetka-Petenyi, Slovakia 2017

26. Qxc6, only way for Black to counter the threat of mate on b7 is to
sacrifice a rook on g2 after 26...Qg2+ 27. Qxg2 Rxg2 28. Kxg2
The position stems from the game Pacher-Lisko, Slovakia 2017
42. Qxe7! Qxe7 43. Ng6+ and Nxe7
The position stems from the game Perske-Prueske, Germany 2017

33. Re6+ Kh5 34. Qh7+ Kg5 35. Qh6+ Kf5 36. Qf6#
The position stems from the game Jacko-Sosovicka, Slovakia 2017

28. Qb2!, double attack on both rooks, winning more material after 28...f6
29. Qxa1
The position stems from the game O'Toole-Malola, Northampton 2017
28. Qxd6!! uses the weakness of the back rank to win a minor piece after
28...Qxd6 29. Rxe8+ Qf8 30. Rxf8+ Rxf8
The position stems from the game Neelotpal-Sadhwani, New Delhi 2017
58. Nf8+!, checking with the knight wins White a whole piece after he
continues on the next move with Kxf5. The straightforward 58. Kxf5? Bc2+
59. Kg4 Kxg6 gives Black minimal drawing chances.
The position stems from the game Sveshnikov-Tokranovs, Tallinn 2017

50. Bb6! wins the c7-rook (50...Rd7?? 51. Rxc8+).
The position stems from the game Vojtek-Gazik, Slovakia 2017
33...Qxf7! wins a whole rook due to 34. Nxf7 Rxe4. Both 33...Qxe5?? 34.
Qxh7# and 33...Rxe5 34. Rxg7+ are big mistakes.
The position stems from the game Milliet-Sucikova, Northampton 2017

43...Nd5! discovered check, followed by a capture on e3, gains a whole

knight.
The position stems from the game Yapar-Kulhanek, Prague 2017

63. Qh5+ Kg7 64. Qg6+! Kh8 65. Qh6#
The position stems from the game Grigoryan-Petrosian, Erevan 2017
35. Qf7+ Kc6 36. Qe8+ Kd6 (36...Kc7 37. Bd8+ and Bxa5) 37. Be7+ Ke6
38. Bxc5+
The position stems from the game Sammed-Bernadskiy, New Delhi 2017
26. N5g4+! hxg4 27. Nxg4+ Kh5 28. Nf6+ Kh6 29. Nxg8+! Kh5 30. Nf6+
Kh6 31. Nxh7 uses a series of forced checks to capture a lot of material.
The position stems from the game Wolff-Shabalov, Chess.com 2017

46...Qd1+ 47. Qf1 Rh1+! 48. Kxh1 Qxf1+
The position stems from the game Liou-Heimann, Chess.com 2017
66...Rb1#
The position stems from the game Smith - Roussel-Roozmon, Chess.com

2017
Most accurate is 38. Rxe4!! Bxh4 39. Rxh4 and, due to the trapped queen,
White keeps large material advantage.
The position stems from the game Colovic-Ankit, Chess.com 2017

24. Qxe6+ Kf8 25. Be7+ Ke8 26. Bf6+! Kf8 27. Qe7+ Kg8 28. Qxg7#
The position stems from the game Rodriguez-Arias, Antofagasta 2017
73...Kf3+! 74. Kh3 Qg2+ 75. Kh4 Qg4#
The position stems from the game Kejzar-Lazor, Bosnjaci 2017

43. Rb7+!
a) 43...Ka6 44. axb5+ Qxb5 45. Rxb5
b) 43...Kc5 44. Rxb5+ and Rxe5
The position stems from the game Leventic-Cvitan, Bosnjaci 2017

66...Qb1+ 67. Ka7 Qca1#
The position stems from the game Bharath-Swayams, New Delhi 2017
27...Qe1+! 28. Rxe1 Rxe1# The luft on h2 is taken by the White bishop.
The position stems from the game Jakubowski-Psyk, Zgierz 2017

42. R3xb7!, after 42...Bxb7 43. Rxb7 this creates 2 connected passed pawns
on c5 and d6 that easily win the game.
The position stems from the game Hebden-Surtees, Telford 2017

37. Rf3, due to the threat of Rg3+ and Rh8# Black should sacrifice his rook
on f6. Equivalent is 37. Rf5
The position stems from the game Sikora-Horsak, Czech Republic 2017
18. Rxd6 Qxd6 19. Nxf7 forks both heavy pieces.
The position stems from the game Mista-Andrejczuk, Zgierz 2017

43...Qf4+! 44. Kg1 Rd1#
The position stems from the game Swicarz-Psyk, Zgierz 2017

34...Rxe2!!, suddenly the White back rank becomes weak:
a) 35. Qxe2 Qxc1+ 36. Qe1 Qxe1#
b) 35. Rxc4 Re1#!
The position stems from the game Mikkelsen-Andersen, Denmark 2017
41. Nf5+! Kg8 42. Ne7+ Kf8 43. Rh8#

An alternative is 41. Ng6+ Kxg6 42. Rh6+!! Kxh6 43. Qh3+ Kg6 44. Qh5#
The position stems from the game Xheladini-Probst, Basel 2017
45...Qg2+ 46. Ke3 Re1+

a) 47. Kd4 Qd5#!
b) 47. Kf4 Re4#
The position stems from the game Bo Christensen-St Christensen, Denmark

2017

36. Rxb6! removes the guard of the a8-square, so the a-passer promotes,
36...Rxb6 37. a8Q+
The position stems from the game Spence-Shaw, Harrogate 2017
32...Rxf2! ends the struggle, as 33. Rxf2 Re1 mates.
The position stems from the game Braun-Schulz, Bad Zwesten 2017
44. Ke3, the threat of 45. g4+ hxg4 46. fxg4#! is decisive. Playing 44. g4+
straight away allows the Black king to escape after 44...hxg4 45. fxg4+ Ke4
The position stems from the game Kantans-Donchenko, Bad Zwesten 2017

If Black promotes now, 59. Qh8 mates. Most convincing is 58...Rf4+! 59.
Kg2 (otherwise Black queens with check) Ne3+, a discovered attack, leading
to the loss of the White queen.
The position stems from the game Siva-Gledura, Hastings 2017
Quickest is 65. Qf8+, picking the Black rook on the next move.
The position stems from the game Lyell-Batchelor, Hastings 2017

34...Qe3#
The position stems from the game Tomulic-Dizdarevic, Bosnjaci 2017

32. Rce1! Qc5 33. Qf6+ Kg8 34. Qxe5 wins another rook.
The position stems from the game Thybo-Eames, Hastings 2017
35. d8Q++! Kxd8 36. Rd7+ Ke8 37. Nd6#
The position stems from the game Chernov-Sakkal, Untergrombach 2017

59...Rh5#
The position stems from the game Schneider-Karthikeyan, Basel 2017
The Black pawn is about to promote, but 50. Nf6+!, taking away the d7-
square from the Black king, 50...Re8 51. Rxe8 mates.
The position stems from the game Luukkonen-Sadhwani, Stockholm 2017

27. Rxg6! threatening the unavoidable Rh7#
The position stems from the game Faraone-Lorscheid, Basel 2017

26. Rxf8#
The position stems from the game Velicka-Smolny, Schwaebisch Gmuend

2017
27. Re3!, the rook lift on the 3rd rank decides, Rh3# is the immediate threat.
If 27...g4, Qh4 mates.
The position stems from the game Pfreundt-Einwiller, Schwaebisch Gmuend

2017
47. Kh5! and White has sufficient material to win. Both 47. Kxg6 and 47.
Qxg6 stalemate.
The position stems from the game Malik-Pekar, Litomysl 2017

41...Rxf2!! removes the f2-pawn, guarding the g3-square. Black wins after
42. Qxf2 Ng3+ (the previous move has made this possible):
a) 43. Kh2 Qh4+ 44. Kg1 Qh1#!
b) 43. Kg1 Ne4+! 44. Kh2 Nxf2
The position stems from the game Rayner-Ledger, Hastings 2016
34. Qh5+! Kg8 35. Qxe8+ Bf8 36. Qxf8#
The position stems from the game Muzychuk-Paehtz, Doha 2016

39. Kf2!, due to the threat of R1h4# Black has to offer his rook on e2.
The position stems from the game Renner-Windhager, Aschach 2016

55. Bc4 pins and wins the Black knight.
The position stems from the game Firouzja-Bologan, Doha 2016
31. Bb3+ d5 32. Bxd5# is much stronger than the simple capture on e8.
The position stems from the game Volokitin-Bortnyk, Doha 2016

19. Rxd8+! Rxd8 20. Qxb7
The position stems from the game Yu-Maghsoodloo, Doha 2016
63. Bg5! allows White to promote after 63...Bxg5 64. h8Q+
The position stems from the game Jaroch-Dzhuguryan, Bialystok 2016

27. Qc6#!
The position stems from the game Anand-Mamedyarov, Doha 2016

57...Nbxd4+! 58. Rxd4 Nxe5+ is a royal fork.
The position stems from the game Lu-Pantsulaia, Doha 2016
52. Nxf6++, the double check overrides all other threats, 52...Kh8 53. Qg8#!
52. Ne7++ is identical.
The position stems from the game Kultiyasov-Sroka, Bialystok 2016

67. d6+! nicely forks the Black king and rook.
The position stems from the game Zhang-Potapov, Doha 2016

The key is 31. Rxh5+!!
a) 31...gxh5 32. Qxg2
b) 31...Kxh5 32. Rxh2+!!, attracting the Black queen to the h2-square, Qxh2
33. Qh7+ Kg5 34. Qxh2, picking up the loose queen
The position stems from the game Nowicki-Jablonicky, Krakow 2016
44. Qxf7+! Rxf7 45. Rc8#
The position stems from the game Sparenberg-Krasenkova, Groningen 2016

40. d6! takes the e7-square, and subsequently also the d6-square, away from
the Black king. As the f6-square is already occupied by the Black bishop,
White mates after, for example, 40...Qxd6 41. Qg8+ Ke7 42. Qe8+! Rxe8
43. fxe8Q#
The position stems from the game Stukopin-Nyzhnyk, Kenner 2016

63. e6+!
a) 63...Ke8 64. Qxf8+!! Kxf8 65. Rd8#
b) 63...Bxe6 64. Qg6#
The position stems from the game Kuzubov-Mamedyarov, Tbilisi 2017
29. Bc4+! Qxc4 30. Qh7+ Kf8 31. Rd8#
The position stems from the game Szpar-Gaifullin, Mamaia 2017

34. Bf8+! Kg8 35. Bh6#
The position stems from the game Doric-Janzelj, Trieste 2017

36...Qd1+ 37. Ke3 f4+ 38. Ke4 Qe2#
The position stems from the game Kamer-Yilmazyerli, Izmir 2017
13...Nd5!, twin-attacking the c7-bishop and c3-knight (...Nxc3 threatens), is a

quick cook. The cost of a pawn is high again.
The position stems from the game Ostrowski-Miton, Lubniewice 2002

What a fortunate move 14. e7! is - a pedestrian running over two trucks.
The position stems from the game Jakymov-Costa, Peniscola 2002

14. Qh5+! is a typical manoeuver in a range of openings where Black
sufficiently weakens the f7-point:
a) 14...g6 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. Qxh8+
b) 14...Ke7 15. Bxc5+ Nxc5 16. Qf7+ Kd6 17. Nc4#!
The same could be said of ...Qh4+ with colours reversed, of course.
The position stems from the game Brikov-Bakutin, Tula 2002

15. Ndb5! axb5 16. Nxb5 and, when the queen retreats, 17. Nxd6+ Kd7 18.
Nxf7+! and Nxh8 (or something similar in the later stages) amasses piles of
enemy material for safe storage off the board. This is a recurring tactical
pattern in the Sicilian, so highly recommended to learn by heart. The f6-pawn
squeezes Black painfully. What could the tactical motif be - quiet sacrificial
removal of the guard (the a6-pawn protecting the b5-square)?
The position stems from the game Sokolov-Siebrecht, Bad Woerishofen 2001

11...Qh6+! 12. Nbd2 Bxf3 has stolen a piece thanks to the elaborate system
of diagonal pins.
The position stems from the game Mesko-Ramesa, Pula 2002
13. Bc7! Qd7 14. Ne5 has trapped the Black queen for all practical purposes.
Resembles slightly the Rubinstein Trap in the Queen's Gambit Declined.
The position stems from the game Auciello-Manrique, Buenos Aires 2002
The combined powers of the queen, king and advanced storming pawn might
easily force checkmate. With his back firmly against the wall, Black finds a
resourceful way to save himself. 64...Rg7+!! is a genuine thunderbolt. The
pawn must capture as otherwise the White queen falls because of the skewer.
After 65. fxg7 another lightning rips through the sunny skies - 65...Rg6+!!, a
further sacrifice using the very same motif, the availability of a skewer. The
king must capture, but then, "Oh, my...", where does the Black king move
now? Indeed, no free squares, so this is simply an over-elegant stalemate.
One all and, if the spoils are shared, I would certainly adjudicate the
brilliancy prize to the pair of sacrificial Black rooks.
The position stems from the game Hansen-Bok, Hamburg 2017

34. Qxf6+! Qxf6 35. Rh3+ Qh6 36. Rxh6 checkmates the lawnmower
fashion. Checks are the first thing you should be considering while
calculating.
The position stems from the game Krysa-Diaz, Badalona 2017

The unassuming 36. a3! gains the bishop due to the unfortunate
circumstances of the pin on the 4th row and looseness of the e4-cannon. 36.
Ra8+ Bf8 is quite fine for Black.
The position stems from the game Valsecchi-Saveliev, Riga 2017
31...Nc3! is a gem of a fork, aiming at fast consumption of the d5-slider. 32.

Qxc3 fails to a knight double attack on e2, this time around of a royal
character.
The position stems from the game Rahul-Meskovs, Riga 2017
42. Qf8 blows Black's mind on either h8 or g7. Having the attack with
opposite colour bishops is worth twice as much, as one protector is missing
to cover the porosity of the shelter.
The position stems from the game Tregubov-Pedersen, Riga 2017

The bishop on b7 spears the White position, giving rise to the sudden but
logical 17...Rg5!! The undefended queen is attacked and White has nothing
better than 18. fxg5 Qxc3 Capturing the queen on f6 leads to 18...Rg2+ 19.
Kh1 Rxe2+! 20. Rf3 Bxf3+ and then ...gxf6 with huge differential in point
count values. If 20. Kg1 in above ramification, then 20...Rg2+ 21. Kh1 Rg3+!
22. Rf3 Bxf3 simply gives mate a la Morphy. Nice sac with a windmill to
boot.
The position stems from the game Moise-Petrisor, Arad 2017

21...Nd2! forks the e4-lady and f1-rook. As if White is sufficiently developed
and cheerful - alas, development is but one of the characteristics of good
play.
The position stems from the game Pinogin-Vakarpov, FICS 2018
77...Nxe3! wins a further pawn. 78. Nxe3 f4+ 79. Kf2 fxe3+ 80. Kxe3 Kf5 is
hopeless. But isn't in the initial position the f4-square defended by 2 enemy
pieces?
The position stems from the game Horton - Claridge-Hansen, Llandudno
2017
Black has sufficient advantage to win the way it pleases him, but 28...Rh6 is
met by h4, putting stumbling blocks in the wheels of the attacker. At Black's
disposal is an efficient combination, though. Can you find it? 28...Qxh2+!! is
a bunker-buster. 29. Kxh2 Rh6+ 30. Kg1 Rh1! elegantly checkmates, while
the first player is hopeless also in the case of 29. Kf1 Rxg3! with full-scale
assault. Squares, power lines, random configurations, that is what tactics is all
about. Keep more defenders closer to your king, otherwise disaster strikes
like this.
The position stems from the game Stange-Praggnanandhaa, Vlissingen 2017

White is by a rook and minor ahead, so 31...Bxd1 32. Rxf4 doesn't suit his
opponent. Capturing on e4 is taboo due to the x-ray attack of the d1-bishop
on the g4-queen. Correct is 31...Bxg2+! 32. Qxg2 Qxd1+ 33. Qg1 Qf3+ 34.
Qg2 Qd1+! and perpetual check is unavoidable. A very typical drawing
setup.
The position stems from the game Nakar-Li, Dallas 2017

White is fine, until 35...Rc1+ 36. Kg2 Bb7!, pinning the rook. After 37. e4
Bxd5 38. exd5 the resultant endgame is easy to call.
The position stems from the game Nieuwenhuijse-Maatman, Vlissingen 2017
1. Bxa7#! features Blackburne's pattern. Really astounding how 3 minor

pieces could prove stronger than 3 heavy ones. Coordination of chessmen is
all-important in chess.
29. a6!! increases White's point count lead to a significant margin:

a) 29...Bxa6 30. Rxa8 or
b) 29...Rxf8 30. axb7 g5 31. b8Q Rxb8 32. Bxb8
The position stems from the game Ozenir-Ozates, Kocaeli 2017

32...Qc1#
The position stems from the game Nestorovic-Lazic, Ruma 2017
36. Bb6 Qd5 37. Rxd5 Rd7 38. Qa8#
The position stems from the game Zakrzewski-Chojnacki, Szklarska Poreba

2017
51. Qg6#
The position stems from the game Sarenac-Radoja, Ruma 2017

40...Qf1+ 41. Kh2 Qh3+! 42. Kg1 Rf1#
The position stems from the game Marziali-Suc, Trieste 2017
The thunderous 66...Qd2!! immediately stops the clocks. A power capture on

d3 threatens, 67. Rxb3 Qxd6 gathers a rich material harvest, with 67. Ke4 f5+
being even more catastrophic. A nice sign-of-the-cross puzzle.
The position stems from the game Hawkins-Emms, Llandudno 2017
The position begs for 11. Qf7 mate.
The position stems from the game Plazaola-Sotelo, Buenos Aires 2002

15...Bxh3! is a sermon on unfortunate pins and weak pieces.
The position stems from the game Felizes-Trois, Sao Paulo 2002
13. Bh5! is a proof Black has sinned against development and weak points.
The position stems from the game Waugh-Purton, Port Erin 2002
11...Re6! scares the hell of quite some White wood on the central e-corridor.
"Lift to swing" - the watchword of the brave Black cannon.
The position stems from the game Bennion-Cioara, Port Erin 2002

A sweet 46. f5+! pawn check is the final equaliser. 46...Qxf5 47. Qh6
swallow-tails, while 46...Kxf5 47. Qh7+! and Qxc2 tastes like a Turkish
delight.
The position stems from the game Gouloutis-Danielian, Kavala 2017
26...Nb3+ and ...Nxd2 wins only rook for pawn, while 26...Nd3+ 27. Ke2 is
also not the fastest path to victory. The eye-opener is 26...Bg4+!, adding
another piece to the all-out assault. Now, if White plays 27. Ne2, the e2
escape square gets blocked and 27...Nd3+ 28. Qc1 Qxc1 mates. Covering
with the bishop is similar. But what if the king retreats to e1? Anyone will
indulge in the pretty picture arising after 27...Nd3!! double check and mate.
Cute. Bring as many reserves as possible to strengthen the attack.
The position stems from the game Deshmukh-Peralta, Badalona 2017
28...c2! quickly does it. 29. f3 Rxc1 30. Qxc1 Qd1 31. Qf4 c1Q or 29. Rxc2
Rxf1+! 30. Kxf1 Qd1# In the first ramification, 29...Qd3 might be even
stronger. Push your passers as far as possible to score more points.
The position stems from the game Idrisov-Hojjatova, Baku 2017

The ecstatic 30. Qh8 trumpets: "Checkmate!" Tantalisingly close.
The position stems from the game Horton-Willson, Llandudno 2017
With a bunch of hanging pieces and both rulers enjoying reduced mansion
services, 64. Bf8+! elegantly uncovers a queen attack, to later dispose of the
Black lady on a4. Details, like the potentiality of the White bishop to give
check and thus gain tempo, are frequently crucial.
The position stems from the game Beukema-Grieve, Dieren 2017

Scrambling to stay alive, Black can not avoid defeat. 35. Qe8+ Kh7 36. Be4+
does a disservice to the Black lady, to later gobble it up. On 35...Kf6 36.
Qf7+ Ke5/Kg5 37. f4 gives a neat checkmate.
The position stems from the game Podvin-Trouve, Avoine 2017

28. Rd1+ wins the d7-rook and with that the game.
The position stems from the game Anderssen-Mayet, Berlin 1855
The thematic 33...Qf4+! and ...Qxd6 annihilates the bold White hopper.
The position stems from the game Cocks-Batchelor, Llandundo 2017

On the surface, the game is near equality with both sides creating pressure
and neutralising attacks. The outrageous 31. Bxf7+!! though suddenly tilts
the balance in favour of White. After 31...Kxf7 32. Rd7+ Re7 33. Rxe7+
Kxe7 34. Qxg7+ a deadly intricate spider-web is woven around the Black
lord.
Main themes are gaining tempo with a check, getting the hog to the 7th, as
well as the pre-historic attack of Qa1 upon Ng7.
The position stems from the game Iniyan-Steinberg, Escaldes 2017

28...Qh4+ 29. Rh3 Qxe1# Beautiful, the handling of the two White rooks, I
mean.
The position stems from the game Vepara-Mubita, FICS 2018
31. Ref1 Rg8 32. R1f6+! Rg6 33. Rh7#
The position stems from the game Tregubov-Apryshko, Moscow 2017

31...Qa1+! 32. Re1 Qxe1#
The position stems from the game Sychev-Apryshko, Moscow 2017

49...Qf3+ 50. Ke1 Qf2+ 51. Kd1 Qf1#!
The position stems from the game Paravyan-Apryshko, Moscow 2017
24. Qe6+ Kd8 25. Qd6+! Kc8 26. Qc7#
The position stems from the game Vavulin-Popov, Moscow 2017

Any move with the White rook along the a-file draws, for example Ra8. The
Black rook can not leave the a1-square as the advanced passer drops off, and
when the Black king comes closer to the pawn to attempt assisting its
promotion, the rook starts giving checks from behind, leading to a perpetual
pursuit. As soon as the king comes farther away from the pawn, the White
rook occupies the a-column again, immobilising the opposing rook, and so
on.
Low mobility pieces are seldom useful. In this case, the a1-cannon blows the
win; if the a-pawn were still on a3, Black would have scored. Don't worry if
you don't get that on the go - top engine Stockfish, supposed to play at 3300
elos or so, still thinks Black has a decisive advantage. Too deep for it.
The position stems from the game Thavandiran-Preotu, Dallas 2017

63...Rf1 interposes on the line, controlling the g1-square, while
simultaneously attacking the a1-rook. The second player is ensured to
promote first.
The position stems from the game Tomazini-Chernyshov, Pardubice 2017

43. Rh7! inspires awe due to Rh8# Three lighter pieces are always much
stronger than lone queen. See how efficiently the 3 musketeers coordinate in
outlining a mating web.
The position stems from the game Salinas-Esplugas, Sitges 2017
48...Nf3+! wins the loose b2-queen. It doesn't matter at that the f3 checking
square is defended by 2 hostile men, the factor to spot is the undefended state
of the lady. Try to differentiate between apparitions and reality. The first can
be quite annoying at times.
The position stems from the game Galicek-Voigt, Pardubice 2017
8. Nxh6++ Kh8 9. Nf7++! Kg8 10. Qh8# is a clear demonstration of the

mightiness of Mr. Double Check.
The position stems from the game Klink-Alaca, Antalya 2002

If Black succeeds in capturing the offside h8-horse, this might drastically
reduce the material disbalance. 14. Ng6!! though proves the knight is
untrappable - 14...hxg6 is deficient owing to 15. Qh8+ calling on the a8-
neighbour to fall.
The position stems from the game Pham Minh Hoang-Nguyen, Hanoi 2002

8...d4! (threatening the e3-bishop) 9. cxd4 Bxg2 wins material.
The position stems from the game Sallai-Boguszlavszkij, Budapest 2002
12. Rc8+! gains the h8-rook or the queen. That's all the second player has
been waiting for.
The position stems from the game Garcia-Zuriel, Buenos Aires 2002
15...Qc3! does selective justice to the a1-rook or c4-bishop. The first player
is an obvious champion of looseness.
The position stems from the game Potze-Galje, Hoogeveen 2002

If the Black queen takes on g5, White will gobble an even bigger chunk on
c2. Therefore, 30...Rxe2!, including an in-between that sets up White. Black
will shoot off the hanging bishop only after White moves a figure to e2. On
31. Qxd5 31...exd5! reconnects both rooks, this time on a vertical column.
Tactics is often about minutiae.
The position stems from the game Fernandez-Rios, Gijon 2017

30...Qxh6 31. Qxd4 leaves too many issues unresolved. 30...Bf6 31. Bg5
doesn't shine particularly bright either. The resolution consists in the
intermediate stab in the form of 30...Bf2!, and only when the queen takes to
her heels or g2-g3 covers the attack, the hanger on h6 is devoured. First
things first. Walking on a knife's edge the second player convincingly proves
his superiority.
The position stems from the game Jepsen-Svane, Helsingor 2017

The c3-pawn is appetising, but 56. Bxc3 Kxg5 is draw due to insufficient
mating material. The bishop should avoid the temptation and stay on the c1-
h6 slanted row, guarding the own passer. The king will travel back to familiar
lands then, to swipe at the far advanced enemy infantryman, winning hands
down in the sequel.
The position stems from the game Volkov-Pogorelov, Sitges 2017

37. Bxg7! discovers an attack on the b3-horse. Now, 37...Kxg7 38. Rxb3 has
comfortably grabbed a pawn. An in-between scare check by the Black rook
on d2 is nothing to be afraid of and could only be sneezed at, as the king
simply moves somewhere and there is no alteration to the essential
configuration. The White rectangle of pawns on the king flank is eery-
looking.
The position stems from the game Blasco-Beltran, Sitges 2017

The White skeleton of pawns is so weak and dispersed that 34...Nf6!,
attacking the central e4-anchor, already proves decisive. On 35. Kf3, the only
method of supporting the dire-straitor, already the edge h-pawn falls to a
cannon check. Positionality goes hand in hand with good tactics.
The position stems from the game Ranaldi-Timman, Helsingor 2017

Material is about equal and White has the pair of bishops, a strong asset in all
phases of the game, though the over-powerful 30...Bxg2!! sham sac quite
suddenly ends the performance to a standing ovation. 31. Bxg2 f3! will mate
apocalyptically on g2 next. Topical tactics are demolition of the pawn cover,
attraction and a deadly pin.
The position stems from the game Veng-Bosiocic, Helsingor 2017

36. Ra7#
The position stems from the game Peng-Ghatti, Irving 2017
27. Rxf6+ Kg8 28. Qe6+ Qf7 29. Qxf7#
The position stems from the game Skaperdas-Georgiou, Nikaia 2017

19. Nb6#!
The position stems from the game Burovic-Zacinovic, Sarajevo 2017
48...Nf5+! 49. Kg1 Qd1+ 50. Kg2 Qf1#
The position stems from the game Leconte-Safranska, Agen 2017

31...Rxf1+ 32. Qxf1 Ng3+! wins the White queen. The peculiarity consists in
the fact that the last knight check has just uncovered the lethal pin.
Sometimes, shots with similar characteristics represent a tough point because
of the false residual images.
The position stems from the game Chittka-Agdestein, Helsingor 2017

52...Bxf4+ 53. Kxd7 Rb7+! uses the knack of the rook skewerer to pick up
the hapless queen.
The position stems from the game Gijsen-Wuebker, Dortmund 2017
White still cherishes the prospect of a possible draw due to insufficient

material, though 42...d2 43. Ke2 Re1+! 44. Kxd2 Rxe4 forces him to
abandon. The White king and bishop have briefly shared the same column
which unlocks the pawn sac.
The position stems from the game Nechaeva-Khukhashvili, Konya 2017
7. Bd3! and, when the queen retreats, 8. Bxc2/Qxc2 Obviously, 7. Nc3 Qg6
8. Nh4 also wins. A very patzerian handling on the part of Black.
The position stems from the game Luoyu-Kentheking, FICS 2018

White has vast numerical superiority, though the queen is very lethargic and
the d3-king strangulated. Thus, 49...Rf2 50. Ke3 Rae2+! 51. Kd3 Rxf3+ 52.
Kxe2 Rxc3 sees the appearance of a wasteland. Wild boar incursions are
extremely perilous.
The position stems from the game Giannoulakis-Svetushkin, Paleochora 2017

48...Qe1! mates. The close White defender on h3 and the dislocation of both
knights side by side might spur the mirage this isn't so.
The position stems from the game Aymerich-Granero, Xativa 2017
Black is checked and as if in a precarious situation, though the preposterous

44...Nf6+!! interposition, giving cross-check and landing on a square that is
undefended and assailed by two enemy warriors, actually sees White
checkmated after 45. Kg3 Rxh3+ 46. Kf4 Qxf3 Cross-checks sometimes
possess the uncanny ability to turn events around.
The position stems from the game Nie-Xu, Qinhuangdao 2017
42...Qh1+! 43. Ke2 Qxb1 is fruitful and decisive.
The position stems from the game Van Halderen-Beerdsen, Leiden 2017

27...Nd2 is a symmetrical fork that will win either cannon or rook. Those are
frequent, so the pattern is useful.
The position stems from the game Happel-Gavrilov, Leiden 2017
37. Kc2 Na4 38. Kb3! suddenly traps the Black knight (Bxa4 threatens).
When you find a good move, always look a bit deeper, maybe you will
discover an even better one. Depth plays an essential role in chess.
The position stems from the game Kuljasevic-Gennari, Bergamo 2017
37...Rh2+ 38. Kg4 Rbg2+ 39. Kf5 Rg5+! 40. hxg5 Rxh7 capitalises on the
restricted king and loose queen. If 39. Kh5 in above line, then 39...Rg5+! 40.
Kh6 Rxh4 catches up with the roving monarch in his cul-de-sac. In the
general case two rooks are stronger than lone queen.
The position stems from the game Nasybullina-Goltseva, Sochi 2017

48...Bxg2! creates a moon landscape around the White king. Recapturing will
have ...Qg5 checking fork as a consequence, later devastating the c1-rook.
Defended items are sometimes not so well defended.
The position stems from the game Koziak-Ahlander, Police 2017
32. Qf7+ Kh8 33. Qf8#
The position stems from the game Welz-Koller, Feffernitz 2017

36. Qd6+! Kc8 37. Qxc7#
The position stems from the game Lingur-Doroshenko, Saint Petersburg 2017

38. Qe8+ Rg8 39. Qxg8#!
The position stems from the game Milliet-Maisuradze, Agen 2017
31. Bb6+
a) 31...Ke8 32. Qb8+ Bc8 33. Qxc8#
b) 31...Kc8 32. Qc7#
The position stems from the game Saim-Bhagwat, Abudhabi 2017

58. Re2+ Kd6 59. Rd2! overwhelms the Black central knight. Checks often
are a prelude to decisive tricks and combinations.
The position stems from the game Rakhmanov-Rozum, Sochi 2017

White is by two robust pawns ahead, but his king is deserted, allowing for
58...Qg6+ 59. Kf8 Qg8#! Usually kings get checkmated in their own
dominions though this is an exception.
The position stems from the game Galunova-Zawadzka, Achaea 2017
The smart 45. Bxe6! Qxe6 46. Qf8 checkmates. Decoys are a powerful
attacking weapon.
The position stems from the game Naoum-Georgiadis, Achaea 2017
43...Ne2 files a request for mate on g1. Unless White sacrifices queen for
knight, the queue will hardly be long: 44. h4 Qg1+ 45. Kh3 Qh1+ 46. Kg4
Qxg2+ 47. Kf5 Qg6#!
The position stems from the game Costachi-Fedorov, Katowice 2017

16. Rxd7! Qxd7 17. Bxf6 uses the bishop pin, making impossible taking
back with the horse, to remove two defenders of the f6-animal at once.
Flashy, even the opponent would agree.
The position stems from the game Hadimoshirabadi-Lordsunnex, FICS 2018
Recapturing with the pawn exposes the king too much. Correct is 32...Qg7!,
interposing and counter-pinning the bishop, which is one way or another
gone. Accuracy is one of the requirements for playing sound tactical and
positional chess.
The position stems from the game Zhao-Peng, Sanya 2017
White is an entire rook down so, in case he doesn't find a quick winning way,
the greedy opponent will be on top. For example, 24. Rf1+ Bf6 doesn't quite
seem to work. Correct is to combine geometrical motifs in wisely using the
limited attacking potential: 24. Qe6+! Kf8 25. Rf1+ Bf6 26. Rxf6+! exf6 27.
Bh6 comes down to a balestra. The White queen controls the light squares,
while the bishop spews fire on the dark ones. Actually, a mate is available a
move earlier, skipping the sac, after the same Bh6, as the Black slider is
already pinned and can not interpose on g7.
The position stems from the game Kubica-Djuric, Katowice 2017

If the White pawn morphs into queen with check, that might become quite
dangerous. Luckily, Black has 32...Qf4+ 33. Kg1 Qxf7!, liquidating the over-
extended spearhead. 33...Qxe4? 34. Qf6+ Rg7 35. f8Q#! in above line is an
obvious slip. In the late endgame, the fast-flying ladies are often able to catch
up with and run down opponent far advanced pawns.
The position stems from the game Kubica-Polzin, Katowice 2017

11...Na5! attacks the White lady and the weak g2-flanker.
The position stems from the game Gonzalez-Borges, Madrid 2002
15...Nd3+! (surprise) is a scourge for the f4-queen.
The position stems from the game Bonafede-Andreikin, Heraklio 2002

10...Bg4! - lol - the f3-queen is trapped.
The position stems from the game Cornette-Schneider, Heraklio 2002
In this highly unusual position - God bless both sides - 12. Nf5 double check
Ke8 13. Nxg7! checkmates.
The position stems from the game Apresian-Khasanova, Heraklio 2002

15. Bxg6! wins the knight while making the h8-rook loose. Both sides are
extremely proficient in queen play.
The position stems from the game Alanyu-Dududorneles, FICS 2017

46. Qd8#
The position stems from the game Medarde-Mithil, Abudhabi 2017
38. Qh6+ Kg8 39. Re8+ Rf8 40. Rxf8#
The position stems from the game Horvath-Juhasz, Budapest 2017

52...Rxh3+! 53. Rh2 Rxh2#
The position stems from the game Varacalli-Mayorga, Buenos Aires 2017
56. Rg4! Bf4 57. Rxf4 g2 58. Ra4#
The position stems from the game Malmdin-Bautista, Sabadell 2017

37...Qh1+! 38. Nxh1 Rxh1 neatly checkmates. The rationale behind this
move is the White monarch is already fully encircled and unable to move so
even a whole queen gift will be fully warranted.
The position stems from the game Filippova-Eidelson, Chelyabinsk 2017

33. Nd5 Nxd5 is not an equal trade, as 34. Qxg7! cosily mates. The horse
jump has exposed its team-mate in the rearguard. In this case, the x-ray of the
White queen upon the g7-knight wins the lottery. Don't miss the forest for the
trees.
The position stems from the game Le Quang Liem-Mamedov, Huaian 2017

43...Qd5! spellbinds the White bishop into petrification: 44. c7 Qxb7, using
the pin, or 44. Rg1 Bxg1+ and the g2-point crumbles. Some might think the
queen can not touch the d5-square as the bishop attacks it, but that is just on
the surface. A bit closer look reveals the truth.
The position stems from the game Bates-Gormally, London 2017

How does White win? 36. Qe5+ Bf5 has carefully interposed, saving the
bishop, and Black is not only live and kicking, but also a healthy pawn up.
The small piece of sorcery consists of a quiet introductory move, 36. f4,
demanding the enemy king succumb to a sweet mating hug by the queen on
g5, Kh6, followed by two brisk forcing checks, 37. Qg5+ Kg7 38. Qe7+! and
Qxe4, decimating Black. Finding sequences of quiet and forcing moves, in
different order, is one of the challenges for the aspiring player.
The position stems from the game Parligras-Parvanyan, Hamburg 2017

49. g5! Rxc6 50. bxc6 will soon witness the c-file chrisalis evolve into a
fully-fledged butterfly. That is the magical touch with tactics: it helps
transform the rank-and-file b5 blocked pawn into something much more
special. That happens only in fairytales.
The position stems from the game Krishna-Pein, London 2017

The obvious 52...Kg5, closer to the center, closer to the enemy pawns, doesn't
work because of 53. Kg3, taking the opposition, Kh5 54. Kh3! and Black can
not penetrate. The endgame finesse consists in 52...Kh5!, taking a longer
road, using the so-called technique of triangulation to pass the move to
White, and now 53. Kg3 Kg5 54. Kf3 Kh4!, the sly fox is already in the hen
coop, 55. Ke3 Kg4 56. Kd3 Kf3 forces White to sign the scoresheet. Didn't
Bronstein lose a similar ending to Botvinnik in a vital game for the world
title?
The position stems from the game Ager-Hoellrigl, Austria 2017

14...Rc8! sees the first player crying with pain, as something will be lost on
the open c-file.
The position stems from the game Lanzani-Collutiis, Montecatini Terme

2002
The g8-rook takes a landmark position on g8 vis-a-vis the opposing king.

This allows the second player to finish the game by 14...Nf3+!! (royal fork)
15. gxf3 Bxc3! discovered check and later ...Bxd2.
Exquisite.
The position stems from the game Deutsch-Zilberman, Tel Aviv 2002
15. Nfxd5! Nxd5 16. Nxd5 threatening forking check on c7 is a nice

orchestration.
The position stems from the game Just-Schmid, Greifswald 2002

The pathetic Black pawn structure is punished by 11. Qg4 Be7 12. Qxg7
The position stems from the game Grafl-Jakab, Budapest 2002
In case White spots it, he has a simple mate by8. Bf7+ Kd7/Ke7 9. Qe6! The
contours of an open game starring 1. e4 and 1...e5 are clearly visible.
The position stems from the game Gopal-Nehal, Goa 2002

47...Nh3+ 48. Kf1 Rf2 announces checkmate. What is the difference between
the Black and White men? A single one: all Black pieces are attacking
squares of the hostile king shelter, while none of White's does so. Try to get
your forces to attacking positions - that is the most important chess rule that
is bound to bring you also most points.
The position stems from the game Nester-Secheres, Lvov 2017

32...Qxe1! 33. Bxe1 Rxe1 effortlessly brings home the full point due to the
fatality of the absolute pin.
The position stems from the game Djokic-Papakonstantinou, Belgrade 2017
31. Qxf5! uses the weak back rank to gain a whole rook; 31...Rxf5 32. Re8+
is a back rank mate. Game will continue, of course - Black might produce the
very same trick later on.
The position stems from the game Cogitophagist-Knightmeking, FICS 2018
63...Qf3+ 64. Kh4 Qh3#!
The position stems from the game Llano-Chitlange, Abudhabi 2017

42...Rd1+ 43. Re1 Rxe1#
The position stems from the game Tejedor-Hansen, Linares 2017
54...Nd5#!
The position stems from the game Winiarski-Morozov, Rymanow-Zdroj

2017
45...Qd1+
a) 46. Kg3 Qe1+ 47. Kf3 Qf2#
b) 46. Ke3 Qe2#
The position stems from the game Shevchenko-Jones, Linares 2017

Should the queen go back? Of course, not. 39...Rxg4! 40. hxg4 Qh4+
suddenly forks king and rook. One shouldn't mix up strong with meek
attackers.
The position stems from the game Secheres-Plichta, Lvov 2017
29...Qg3+ 30. Kg1 Qf2+ 31. Kh2 shuttles back and forth and now the quiet
31...Rh5! prepares a blast landing at h3, an instant mate due to the pin the
Black queen provides on the g2-pawn. Running off the hook is possible only
after a double sacrifice, first of the light-square bishop at g6, and then the
queen at c2, so the first player must abandon.
The position stems from the game Hoang-Vo, Ho Chi Minh 2017
11. Bxb5+! axb5 12. Qxb5+ Nd7 13. Qxb7 has currently won at least two
pawns. Developing one's knights at f8 and h6 is hardly the best-indicated of
strategies. Quem Deus perdere vult dementat prius.
The position stems from the game Solleveld-Hommeles, Leeuwarden 2001

34...Be5! severs the link between the White queen and dark-square bishop
with the latter falling in a very desperate situation. Line interferences are a
subtle tactical approach as they are forcing, while mostly quiet at the same
time. The best of both worlds. Other winning continuations are also available.
The position stems from the game Nester-Fedorov, Alba Iulia 2017

42...Nf3 threatens the hostile queen and the h2 mating square at the same
time. Tentacles abound. This is a kraken, not a knight.
The position stems from the game Lamard-Miciano, Tarvisio 2017
31...f3! is a nice blocking sacrifice (in this case the support the e4-bishop
provides for the g2-square is at stake). 32. Nxf3 Qg2#! magnificently
exemplifies the idea, 32. Qg1 Bg2+ pretty much boils down to the same,
while taking with the bishop will be rather painful for the exposed queen on
e1. Lastly, 32. Bg3 roadblock doesn't function right because of 32...Bg2+ 33.
Kg1 Bd4+! 34. Bf2 Bh3+ Push storming pawns as far down the board as
possible. They are tremendous attack facilitators.
The position stems from the game Bonte-Fedorov, Baile Govora 2017
The eye-scratching 42. Rg6+ Kh7 43. Rxb6+! does the job. Coercion +
discovered attack/check are the thematic highlights.
The position stems from the game So-Dominguez, Saint Louis 2017

Believe it or not, 41...Bd4+! wreaks havoc in the seemingly resilient White
defence: 42. Kh1 Qh5+ checkmates, 42. Nxd4 Qe3+ 43. Kh1 Qxc1+ too.
Coercion and removal of the guard top the list of tactical motifs. Quiet
sacrifices (i.e. a sacrifice that doesn't capture something) are a distinctly rarer
variety.
The position stems from the game Topalov-Nakamura, Saint Louis 2017

43. Kh4?? Qg4 self-mates. Correct is 43. Qxf2!! Qxf2 44. g7# Alertness,
open-mindedness and sound judgement are required to the very last.
The position stems from the game Latham-Regan, Telford 2017
39. Rxe8+! Kxe8 40. Qc8+ Qd8 41. Bb5+! Rd7 42. Bxd7+ wins a piece,
highlighting pins. Absolute pins like those encountered here are twice more
dangerous than standard pins as they are reducing defensive options.
The position stems from the game Blagojevic-Pasko, Hersonissos 2017
17. Bxc5 dxc5 18. a3! traps the Black queen, forcing an uneven exchange for
the e1-rook. Attackers are frequently offside.
The position stems from the game Arkell-Britton, Coventry 2017

Paradoxically, a more central check does not immediately win, for example,
86...Qe6+ 87. Rg6 or 86...Qf4+ 87. Kh5 Qf3+ 88. Rg4 Ambushing the king
from the back, 86...Qh8+!, is successful, 87. Kg5 Qg8+ has caught both
White warriors on the same line, and ...Qxg2 next will have a snack. Chess is
as much logic as algebra and geometry.
The position stems from the game Cvitan-Novkovic, Hersonissos 2017

51. Rc7!, restricting the Black king along the 7th rank leads to quick mate,
51...Qe6+ (Qh8 mate threatens) 52. Nxe6+ Rxe6 53. Qh8#
The position stems from the game Michalik-Safarli, Zurich 2016
41. Qh8+ Kg6 42. Qg7+ Kf5/Kh5 43. Qg4#!
The position stems from the game Mamedov-Vidit, Doha 2016

35...c4! severs the connection between the two White minors, winning a
piece after 36. Kxe3 Rxe6+ and then ...cxb3 .
The position stems from the game Sengupta-Cheng, Hastings 2016

Although there are other winning ways too, 54. Bf4+ skewers king and rook.
The position stems from the game Lu-Perez, Doha 2016
31...Nd3! twin fork is not to miss.
The position stems from the game Brendel-Schoene, Erfurt 2016

40...Qxh4+ 41. Kg2 Qg4+!forks king and rook.
The position stems from the game Belyakov-Howell, Doha 2016
46...Qa1+ 47. Kb3 Qb2+ 48. Kc4 Qxb4+ 49. Kd3 Qd4+! 50. Ke2 Qxe4+ is
more convincing than 46...Qxe4 47. Rxc3
The position stems from the game Paehtz-Gvetadze, Doha 2016

31...Qa1+! 32. Kd2 Qxf1 picks up the hanging bishop.
The position stems from the game Martinez-Ghatti, Las Vegas 2016

30. Qc6#!
The position stems from the game Muzychuk-Zhao, Doha 2016
41. Qg8+pins and wins the queen:

a) 41...Qe8 42. Rf8
b) 41...Kd7 42. Rf7
The position stems from the game Robson-Ashwin, Kenner 2016

29...a1Q+ 30. Kh2 Qf1 with mate on g2 to follow.
The position stems from the game Levrand-Dimitrov, Zurich 2016

71...f2 is impossible, because the pawn is pinned, while capturing the rook
leads to stalemate. Therefore, 71...Rb1+!! 72. Rxb1 f2#
The position stems from the game Kardoeus-Krause, Hamburg 2016
28...Nb6! traps the White queen.
The position stems from the game Samuelson-Erenburg, Bethesda 2016

24. Bc5+ Kg8 25. Qe8#
The position stems from the game Xu-Venkatesh, Doha 2016
25...Bd4! creates a battery along the a7-g1 diagonal, threatening mate on f2.
White has to sacrifice his queen, as otherwise, after 26. Qxf7+ Kh8 he has no
more useful checks.
The position stems from the game Volokitin-Mamedov, Doha 2016
28...Re2! , because of the threat of mate on h1, White has to sacrifice his
queen.
The position stems from the game Nasuta-Heberla, Bialystok 2016

22. Bc3!skewers the queen on d4 and rook on h8.
The position stems from the game Pfreundt-Skibbe, Erfurt 2016
53...Nf5!, due to its low mobility, the rook on e3 can not defend the knight on
c3 on the 3rd rank, and after 54. Re8+ Kf7 one of the two White pieces falls.
The position stems from the game Marusenko-Arkell, Hastings 2016

75...Nf2#
The position stems from the game Leung-Zeng, Hong Kong 2016

24. Nxg6+! hxg6 25. Rh3+ Bh6 26. Rxh6#
The position stems from the game Carlstedt-Polster, Erfurt 2016
35. Qg7+! is a clearance sacrifice, opening the h-file for the White rook.
After 35...Qxg7 36. hxg7+ Kxg7 37. Rfg3+! Bg5 38. Rxg5+ White wins.
The position stems from the game Karjakin-Pantsulaia, Doha 2016

60...Bf1!, the threat of mate on g2 is unavoidable.
The position stems from the game Zubarev-Kaczmarek, Krakow 2016

41...Qe1+ 42. Kc2 Ne3#
The position stems from the game Gholami-Potapov, Doha 2016
44. Ke2! , the dangerous d-passer should be stopped first. 44. cxb8Q d1Q+
might lead only to a perpetual.
The position stems from the game Kuklin-Klings, Boeblingen 2016

39. Qg5#!
The position stems from the game Grischuk-Vidit, Doha 2016
Instead of fleeing with the queen, 31...Rxd4! counter-capture is strongest, for

example,32. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 33. Qxd4 Rxd4 and Black is easily on top.
The position stems from the game Stratonowitsch-Lalith, Doha 2016
37...Qe1+ 38. Kh2 Rg5! wins the White queen, as retreating will have
...Qg1# as a consequence.
The position stems from the game Xu-Riazantsev, Doha 2016

28. Qg6+! uses the pin of the f7-pawn, 28...Kh8 29. Bd4+ f6 30. Bxf6#
The position stems from the game Haubro-Olsen, Copenhagen 2016
10...Rd1+! uses the lack of development of the White pieces to gain

significant material after 11. Ke2 Rxh1
The position stems from the game Dobo-Konopka, Aschach 2017

56. a8Q! Nxa8 removes the defender of the e6-rook, which is won by
subsequent 57. Qb3+ fork.
The position stems from the game Naiditsch-Gashimov, Doha 2016

39. Nf6+ Ke7 40. Qe7+ Kh6 41. Qf8#!
An alternative is 39. Qe7+ Kh6 40. Qf8+ Kxh5 41. Qh8+! Bh7 42. Qxh7#
The position stems from the game Vachier-Lagrave - Tomashevsky, Doha

2016
19. Qg6+ Kxh8 20. Qxh5+ Kg7 21. Nf5#!
The position stems from the game Gonzalez-Carballo, Pontevedra 2016

26...Rxh2+!! 27. Kxh2 Qh6+ 28. Qh5 Qxh5#
The position stems from the game Heining-Sandalakis, Boeblingen 2016

36. Re6! skewers the Black queen and knight, putting an end to the fight after
36...Qg5+ 37. Kf1
The position stems from the game Malakhov-Mchedishvili, Doha 2016
28. Bxd6! wins the knight due to the pinned e7-pawn. In the present case, the
x-ray attack of the rook on e1 upon its counterpart on e8 is decisive.
The position stems from the game Hort-Toenz, Zurich 2016

39...h5! deflects the overloaded White bishop. As it has no other escape

squares, the e6-knight is lost after 40. Bxh5 Bxe6. Or, 40. Nxc5 hxg4.
The position stems from the game Schwab-Antal, Aschach 2016

After 35...N7e5 36. Qg3the bishop on f1 is lost.
The position stems from the game Trifan-Braun, Boeblingen 2016
59. h8Q?? Rb1+ is an extended box mate. White must be vigilant, 59. Rc3+!
chases off the intruding king first, after which putting a brand new queen is
already perfectly safe . 59. Rf7+ is good too. Always think before you move, a
large number of mistakes are due purely to ready-made decisions based on
earlier information that might currently not be valid.
The position stems from the game Matnadze-Revo, Hersonissos 2017
32...Qa6+
a) 33. Kc5 Qb6+ 34. Kc4 Rd4#!
b) 33. Kc7 Qb6#
The position stems from the game Dixit-Ravi, Ahmedabad 2017

51...Nc3+ 52. Kc1 Rc2#
The position stems from the game Titus-Nguyen, Manchester 2017
29...Ne2+ 30. Kf1 Rh1#!
The position stems from the game Havasi-Tica, Rymanow-Zdroj 2017

40...Qb2+
a) 41. Ka5 Qxa3+ 42. Kb5 Qb4#
b) 41. Kxc5 Qe5#!
The position stems from the game Rosner-Chernousek, Olomouc 2017
33. Qe8+ Kh7 34. Qg8 is similar to Max Lange's mating pattern. Further
resistance after mate has been delivered is futile, of course.
The position stems from the game Zaharisokolov-Fyfazan, FICS 2018
10. Rxh5! has gained a figure, as 10...gxh5 11. Qg5 gives checkmate. Similar
sacrifices are typical of the Sicilian Dragon and a bunch of other lines.
The position stems from the game Benderac-Kresic, Neum 2004

...fxg2 wastes an unnecessary tempo and partly ruins the aesthetic
impression. Black should be bolder and more straightforward, 34...Qh2+ 35.
Kf1 Qh1+!! 36. Bxh1 Rxh1 quickly boxes in the hostile king. The f3
blocked storming pawn is star-born, almost the worth of a whole minor piece.
Everything is relative in chess, just as Einstein once noted.
The position stems from the game Hejazipour-Yuffa, Cap d'Agde 2017

Some might think it would be good to check the king from e7, a more central
square and a frontal attack, but this allows the king to escape via g3. The
puzzle crystallises after 50...Qe1+!, now 51. Kg5 Qe7+ 52. Kh6 Qh4 rips off
the opponent single-handedly. Blocking with the pawn, 51. g3, prostrates the
king in a 2-mover with ...Qe7#!
As said, a large part of chess is geometry, the game is played on a board with
confines , after all.
The position stems from the game Berry-Ochsner, Hersonissos 2017

White threatens Ra8+ Kg8 Qh8 checkmate, so the second player should be
quick.42...Be4+! 43. Rxe4 distracts the rook from its task of guarding the f3-
square, making43...Qf3+ 44. Kg1 Qg2# feasible.
The position stems from the game Deues-Heimrath, Tegernsee 2017
45. Qh2+ Kg7 46. Qh7# oven-bakes the hostile monarch. Give 'em the heat!
The position stems from the game Matnadze-Kulon, Hersonissos 2017

15...Qf4! (nice switch) 16. Bxa7 Rh1+!! 17. Kxh1 Qh4+ 18. Kg1 Qh2
checkmates a la Damiano. The 16...Qh4 split-off mates a move earlier.
The position stems from the game Padeiro-Galego, Canecas 2002

12...Ba6! reminds Black to destroy as many hostile men as possible, starting
with the e2-bishop.
The position stems from the game Hubbe-Cortes, Verden 2002
The White king does not believe his eyes - 15...Bb4! checkmates.
The position stems from the game Broomfield-McGowan, Hastings 2002

38...Re7! and quick mate is unavoidable, for example, 39. h3 (the king needs
breathing air) Qxh3+ 40. Kg1 Re1+ 41. Kf2 Qe3# Rooks belong to open files.
The head-on 38...Qd1+ 39. Rg1 Rf1 is actually a swindle on White's part
because of the jaw-dropper 40. Qf6+!! Rxf6 41. Rxd1 and it is the first player
who is on top now. The queen flies to the rescue of her beloved one.
The position stems from the game Krassowizkij-Kabisch, Deizisau 2017

Black mates in a single pattern and 5 possible ways here: any retreat of the
Black rook with discovered check, from c4 through c8, for example,
33...Rc4+ 34. Ka2 Rc2#! As soon as the e5-sniper has pushed back the king
to the edges, the rook sprints back to anger the monarch, greatly helped by
the restriction powers of the knight that controls the b1 and b3 run-off
squares.
The position stems from the game Hejazipour-Savina, Cap d'Agde 2017

35. Rxd7! Kxd7 36. Bg4+ Kd8 37. Bxc8 Kxc8 38. e4 liquidates into a walk-
in-the-park pawn ending where, apart from being a pawn ahead, the d5
protected passed pawn is way stronger than the isolated c5-one. Protected
passers are especially dominating in pawn endgames.
The list of main themes includes a decoy sac plus diagonal skewer.
The position stems from the game Kuljasevic-Okkes, Hoogeveen 2017

This is one of the cases where an underpromotion, 33. d8B+ Kf4 34.
Rd4/Qd4 mate also does it. This way is simply more effective. Time to show
off.
The position stems from the game Van Foreest-Maris, Hoogeveen 2017
38...b1Q?? 39. Qd8 and Black gets mated. Correct is to first uproot the thorny
wedge at h6, 38...Bxh6! 39. Qd8 Bf8, safely blocking, and already nothing
can stop the party of the couple of advanced Black connected passers. Don't
rush, ever!
The position stems from the game Nesterov-Vakhidov, Saint Petersburg 2017
71...Bc1 72. Kh5 Be3 is a positional tie. The most White can achieve is trade
the pawns on the king wing. The tactic consists in the Black bishop guarding
the a7-square (g1-a7 diagonal), so that when the opponent king comes closer
to the b6-square, a6-a7 can not be pushed. The Black king blocks the b7-
pawn, the dark-square bishop will guard the push square of the a6-pawn, no
way to improve for White.
The position stems from the game Nevednichy-Bida, Baile Govora 2017

43...Qd5! and White can not reject the mate request at g2. The f2-pawn is
pinned.Pawn chains, like the f5-g4-h3 one, are especially strong due to their
durability and restraining powers. Material above is about equal but, apart
from numerical values, pieces also have ad-hoc positional ones, and here the
f1-rook is too defensive, while the f8- and c8-henchmen pronouncedly
offside. The spirit or the flesh, which is stronger? Spiritual matters often take
front seat in chess.
The position stems from the game Obgolts-Iljiushenok, Saint Petersburg

2017

The f3-square is defended, but 51...Rxg4+!! crashes through, burning down
what is left of the White king's cover:
a) 52. Kxg4 Qf4#
b) 52. hxg4 Qf4+ 53. Kh4 Rh2+ 54. Rh3 g5+ 55. Kh5 Rxh3#
The list of motifs narrows down to vacation sacrifice, demolition of the king
shelter and using the exposed location of the enemy overlord.
The position stems from the game Acosta-Dolezal, Buenos Aires 2017

11...Nxd4+! and, when the king budges,12...Nxb5 wins a bishop. A beautiful
fork. Unfortunately, White forgot to recapture at d4 on the first move. Vomit
sometimes happens. Let's push wood until we are young.
The position stems from the game Zenekk-Mlam, FICS 2018
27. Ra4! and the Black horse is in trouble. One might think 27. Kc3 does the
very same job - trapping the knight - but this is not so due to 27...Nd5+! 28.
edx5 exd5 and the poor bishop drops off because of the pin. The line between
appearances and reality is thin.
The position stems from the game Kantorik-Sepesi, Bojnice 2017
White is down a pawn and rook for light piece, so the window of opportunity
to perpetually pursuit the queen by 25. Rd3! Qa1+ 26. Rd1 Qc3 27. Rd3
Qa1+ 28. Rd1! is most welcome. Another perpetual pursuit is 25. Bb2 Qb4
26. Ba3 Qc3 27. Bb2! etc. The bishop obviously enjoys the chase. An
archetypal pattern.
The position stems from the game Naumann-Volokitin, Austria 2017

53...Qe1#
The position stems from the game Dardha-Varga, Bruges 2017
14. Bg5! ensures Black of a disaster.
The position stems from the game Schelwokat-Pichl, Bad Zwesten 2003
Black wins material after8...Bb4!! 9. axb4 axb4 , splitting off like this:
a) 10. Qxb4 Rxa1
b) 10. Rxa8 bxc3
"The closed lines shall be opened."
The position stems from the game Schmied-Schlindwein, Untergrombach

2003

46...Qg1#
The position stems from the game Huang-Niemann, Manchester 2017
43...Rg3+! 44. Bxg3 Rg1+

a) 45. Kf3 Rxg3#
b) 45. Kh2 hxg3#
The position stems from the game Pogosian-Samusenko, Saint Petersburg

2017
31...Rf1++! 32. Kg2 Qg1#
The position stems from the game Koelber-Singer, Graz 2017
27...Rxf3! 28. Qxf3 Rxf3 29. Rxf3 for the time being has kept the material
balance, though 29...Qg5+! now, double-attacking the king and c1-rook, tips
it rather obviously. The attempt at decisive king hunt with 27...Rh4 doesn't
quite work due to Rh1. Isolated pawns, especially when part of the shelter,
like f2, f3, h2, are always bad - try to avoid them.
The position stems from the game O'Connell-Tratar, Antalya 2017
51...Rxg4! checkmates the fighting White monarch. One of the strangest

killing webs ever. Some would think they should fumble with the hanging
White queen at h8, right?
The position stems from the game Pogosyan-Shevchenko, Jermuk 2017

32. Qxg6+!! fxg6 33. Be6+ ends the game as Black should give up his queen
while being completely paralysed. Once again, advanced pawn chains like
the h4-g5-f6 one on the king wing are tremendous positional/attacking assets.
Try to get such arrangements whenever possible. The situation of the Black
pieces, on the other hand, almost all of which are on their home rank, huddled
together, is pathetic.
The position stems from the game Motuz-Skreno, Tatranske Zruby 2017

Not 19. Kxg2 Nxe8, giving Black a piece more, nor 19. Nxg7 Bxd5!, leaving
the g7-knight with a noose around his neck due to trapping, but 19. Nxf6+!,
winning a tempo, followed by Kxg2, and White is left with a pawn more and
robust position.
The position stems from the game Yuffa-Krylov, Sochi 2017
The board is full of hanging pieces - Nc2, Be5, Nd6 - and no one knows what
precisely happens. Not 33. Rxe5 Rxd6 and the game is still in the balance,
nor 33. Rxc2? Bxd6, which even blows it, but 33. Nc4! evading the attack
while counter-attacking the bishop, and two Black minors remain en prise.
One of them falls and the first player is clearly on top. Careful tactical soul-
searching should help even the more inexperienced player reach that
conclusion.
Pitched battles involving hanging pieces are sometimes pain to calculate as
simply patterns to which humans are accustomed are lacking.
The position stems from the game Oganian-Pervakov, Sochi 2017
57. Qxf5+ Kh6 58. Rxh7# People call this the "kill box" mate. Man, the
name is ugly. 58. Qxh7 and 58. Qg5 also set the hostile king checkmate.
The position stems from the game Jary-Savchenko, Sochi 2017

60. Qe7+ Kg8 61. Nf6+ Kh8 62. Qf8 and 60. Qe7+ Kh8 61. Qf8+ Kh7 62.
Nf6! lead to the same mating picture with the slight distinction who the
hangman is. Queen + knight are really really strong.
The position stems from the game Kryakvin-Tekeyev, Sochi 2017

Of all possible king and rook peregrinations, only 75...Rc6+! is victorious:
76. Rxc7 Rxc7 or 76. Ka4 Ra6# Even the simplest of positions might
sometimes pose certain problems.
The position stems from the game Nazaretyan-Kryakvin, Sochi 2017
15...Re1#!
The position stems from the game Mueller-Vasiukov, Sabadell 2017

37. g3! Qxg3+ 38. hxg3 hxg5 39. Qh5#
The position stems from the game Dominguez-Navara, Saint Louis 2017

52...Bg4+ 53. Kd2 Qf2+ 54. Be2 Qxe2#
The position stems from the game Eggleston-Maghsoodloo, Abudhabi 2017
48. Qg8#
The position stems from the game Nepomniachtchi-Navara, Saint Louis 2017
The 42...Be5! deflection sacrifice allows Black to mate if the offering is

accepted after 43. Qxe5 Qg2, or capture loads ot material in case of 43. Kxh3
Bxg3 White has the full right to choose.
The position stems from the game Voit-Bodnaruk, Sochi 2017

Yes. 42. Rd7! Bxb2+ 43. Kb1 Rf7 44. Rxf7 smothers the Black queen. Pin
plus interaction of both White attacking men on the f7-square. A solitary
pawn like that on h6 is hardly the best of defenders.
The position stems from the game Voit-Ambartsumova, Sochi 2017
Any duffer with a bit of self-respect will find here 47...Rf2#!, not to mention
experienced players like me and you.
The position stems from the game Pawnteaser-Stankog, FICS 2018

30. h6 Kf8 31. Re1! , cutting off the e-column, and the Black citadel has
fallen. The rook manoeuver is advisable to remember, a frequent middlegame
trick.
The position stems from the game Sjugirov-Popov, Sochi 2017

Black has set himself up: 15. Qxg6+!! hxg6 16. Bxg6#
Doubled isolated pawns on central files, like the e7 and e6 pair, are a huge
negative in the middlegame, extremely slowing down development.
The position stems from the game Corrales-Gavilan, Malaga 2003
Black mates by 12...Bxf2+ 13. Kf1 Bh3
The position stems from the game Albarracin-Jimenez, Villa Ballester 2003
The contours of the French are visible without a miscroscope. Black exhibits
a huge development lag - 15. Nxe6! leaves his monarch squatting in the
center, with 15...Qxe6 16. Rfe1 finding their royalties on the same line.
The position stems from the game Heinz-Baeuml, Bayern 2003

Black has played great sacrificial chess and anticipates now the sweet meat of
the a1-cannon. Unfortunately, all this grand combo is cooked by the simple
11. Qe3+! exchanging queens.
The position stems from the game Dumitrescu-Balabaev, Marianske Lazne

2003
13. Qf3! establishes the threats of 14. Qxb7 Qc6 15. Qc8# as well as 14.
Qf7+ and Qxg7. A common solution to both of them doesn't exist.
The position stems from the game Sebag-Griffe, Evry 2003
Both armies have powerful trumps, though43...Be3+ 44. Kb2 Qb3+ 45. Ka1
Bd4+! ensnaring the White ruler is on the cards for Black. Turn to move plus
overly exposed king. The g7-king is under attack too, but the bricks of his
residence (the pawns) are still at their places.
The position stems from the game Akobian-Caruana, Douglas 2017

You are seeing 34. Qf8#!, right? If not, Black might attempt a perpetual
check. Psychologically, not the easiest to do, as a common maxim/mantra is
to think of defence first, that is what to do with the g6-knight, but hanging
pieces are weak only themselves , the support they give is completely adequate
and this is demonstrated by the knight/night watch over f8.
Long live logic! Leave all prejudices aside.
The position stems from the game Shishkin-Rusan, Slanic Moldova 2017

The wondrous 37...Rb7!! brings down the house. The attacked queen has no
other square on the g1-a7 slanted row where to retreat and still guard the f2-
square, while accepting the sac will entail ...Qxf2 check and mate. Main
motif is distraction. Give us more like those.
The position stems from the game Wagner-Schmidek, Hannover 2017

42. Nxe6!! is a petite combination that partly surprises:
a) 42...fxe6 43. Rxc8+
b) 42...Rxc1 43. Qg7#!
While capturing and self-destroying itself and the c1-rook, the knight has also
taken under control g7. X-ray attack, loose pieces and weak shelter are the
core of the combo.
In order to successfully improvise such sparks of genius over the board, one
needs not just good pattern recognition, but also expert visualisation.
The position stems from the game Howell-Timman, Douglas 2017

36...Rxc4! 37. Rxc4 Nxf3+! 38. Kh1 Qg1# is decisive. Decoy/removal of the
guard.
The position stems from the game Kastelic-Damljanovic, Slovenia 2017
47. Nf6+! is decisive:

a) 47...Bxf6 48. Rxe8+ and Qxb4
b) 47...Kf8 48. Qxb4 Bxb4 49. Rxe8+
47. Qxb4 Bxb4 48. Nf6+ Rxf6! 49. Rxe8+ Kf7 isn't.
The small difference that stands out is that, in the main line, the weak and
hanging c4-queen provides a useful pin on the f7-rook, so capturing the
jumper is ruled out.
The position stems from the game Sargissyan-Yeremyan, Erevan 2017
44. Qe7#
The position stems from the game Warakomski-Stoma, Suwalki 2017

55. h5#!
The position stems from the game Schwabeneder-Fahrner, Graz 2017
31...Qb3+ 32. Kc1 Be3#
The position stems from the game Nitish-Tymrakiewicz, Olomouc 2017

45...Qf3+ 46. Ke1 Rb1+ 47. Kd2 Rd1#
The position stems from the game Yao-Lyell, Budapest 2017
Is 35. b7 Rb8 36. Rxa5 Rxb7 the best White can achieve? Of course, not! The
subtle 35. Rxa5!! self-offering nets a second pawn. 35...Rxa5 is taboo
because of 36. b7 and the marathon-runner queens. Take a further look at the
final position in this branch: the sinewy Black rook is dominated by two
weak, dispersed little pawns, each worth only one fifth of what it is worth.
The b7-pawn controls the a8-cell, while its battle companion the b5-cell, so
the rook has no way of reaching an avenue from where it could catch the
passer.
The position stems from the game Gabuzyan-Kislinsky, Erevan 2017
White has big positional advantage and could probably win by other means
too, but most convincing is 1. Bxh7+! Kxh7 2. Ng5+ and now:
a) 2...Kg8 3. Qh5 Re8 4. Qxf7+ Kh8 5. Qh5+ Kg8 6. Qh7+ Kf8 7. Qh8+ Ke7
8. Qxg7#!
b) 2...Kh6 3. Nxf7++ and Nxd8
c) 2...Kg6 3. Qd3+! f5 4. exf6+ (this en passant capture is decisive) Kxf6 5.
Rxe6#!
Beautiful and intriguing, isn't it? This is the so-called classical bishop
sacrifice or "Greek Gift" sacrifice.

The first player has built a gorgeous pawn chain spanning from c2 to f5 at the
cost of severe over-extension and complete lack of bringing-out. This permits
a vendetta by 6...Qh4+! 7. Kd2 Bh6+ 8. Ke2 Nd4# Ciao, bambino!
The position stems from the game Dourerassou-Wohlers, Evry 2003

After 15. Qxh6+ the second player will have to think very hard how to
continue further resistance.
The position stems from the game Dueck-Kavalski, Leutersdorf 2003
13. Nc6 Qe8 14. Re1! Ne4 15. f3 certainly wins a piece. Even better stands
out 13. Bxd7! Nxd7 14. Nc6 Qe8 15. Re1 avoiding unnecessary
complications.
The position stems from the game Liebs-Muenchhalfen, Leutersdorf 2003
44...Nf6! is a nice interference, leaving the f7-rook undefended.
The position stems from the game Moskalets-Kovanova, Sharjah 2016

42. Qf8+ Kh7 43. Qf5+! and the e4-rook is lost.
The position stems from the game Lagno-Charochkina, Doha 2016
49...Rxd2! 50. Rxd2 decoys the rook to d2, after which 50...Qe1+ forks it.
The position stems from the game Jobava-Vidit, Doha 2016

27. Nc5#! is the shortest variation. An alternative is 27. Re3#
The position stems from the game Doluhanova-Schepetkova, Sharjah 2016

35...Qf1+ 36. Rg1 Qxh3#!
The position stems from the game Potapov-Turov, Tallinn 2016
46...Qh5+ 47. Kg2 Qh1+ 48. Kf2 Qg1+ 49. Ke2 Qe1#! uses the fact the d3-
square is blocked by the White queen.
The position stems from the game Smirin-Gunina, London 2016

27...Rxb5 is a double attack on both White knights.
The position stems from the game Wall-Hawkins, London 2016

45. Nd6+! Kd4 46. Rc4#
The position stems from the game Shabalov-Milliet, London 2016
67...Rd3+ 68. Kxh4 Rd8! is a clearance sacrifice, after which Black mates
on the h-file.
The position stems from the game Gharamian-Arkell, London 2016

26. Rxg7+! Kh8 (26...Rxg7 27. Nf6+) 27. Rh7+! Kxh7 28. Nf6+ is a royal
fork.
The position stems from the game Zapata-Balleisen, Charlotte 2016

28...Rxd3! 29. Rxd3 dxe4 gains two minors for rook.
The position stems from the game Aroshidze-Granda Zuniga, Sitges 2016
74. Qh5#
The position stems from the game Bologan-Riazantsev, Tallinn 2016

43. Nxh6+! Bxh6 44. Rxg4 wins the exchange.
The position stems from the game Plat-Riazantsev, Tallinn 2016
64. Rh7#! using the fact the g8-square is blocked by the Black rook.
The position stems from the game Jovanovic-Luch, Tallinn 2016

26...Rxe4!, the d3-pawn is pinned, so Black simply wins the knight.

26...Bxe4 is almost identical.
The position stems from the game Reprintsev-Kovalenko, Tallinn 2016

27...Rxc2! practically ends the game. The capture is possible because of the
weak White back rank, 28. Qxc2? Qe1#
The position stems from the game Kakabaev-Tarasov, Moscow 2016
46...Kb3! attacks both the White rook and knight, leading to material gains.
The position stems from the game Munoz-Jovanovic, Tallinn 2016

40...Rd2+ 41. Kh3 Qf1+ 42. Qg2 Qxg2# , the f5-pawn importantly limits the
escape squares of the White king.
The position stems from the game Psaila-Radlovacki, Kecskemet 2016

38...Ne3!forks both White sliders, while also attacking the g2 shelter square,
and effectively wins the White bishop.
The position stems from the game Potrel-Nevednichy, Vandoeuvre les Nancy
2016
34. Be5 not only attacks the rook on f6, but also x-rays the g7-bishop, putting
an end to the game. 34. Rd8 pin is an alternative.
The position stems from the game Martinovic-Onischuk, Tallinn 2016
31...Rc1! wins a bishop after 32. g4 Rxd1 33. Rxd1 Rc1 34. Rxc1 bxc1Q
35. Bxc1 Bxc1 Advanced passed pawns are an important asset.
The position stems from the game Petr-Laznicka, Prague 2016

35...Rxg2+! 36. Kxg2 Nf4+and ...Nxd3 gains another pawn.
The position stems from the game Orehek-Matlakov, Tallinn 2016
36...Qxg2#
The position stems from the game Van Foreest-Ducarmon, Netherlands 2016
12. Qxb5#!
The position stems from the game Saric-Gasik, Tallinn 2016
45...Nd2! due to the threat of mate on b1 wins the opponent queen for rook
and knight after 46. Qxd2 Rxd2 47. Nxd2 If we continue the line a bit,
though, 47...Qd7! increases the material gains due to a further fork.
The position stems from the game Pavlidis-Agrest, Tallinn 2016
28...Nxf2! is a perfect mate, semi-smother or what you call it.
The position stems from the game Llobel-Fridman, Tallin 2016

24. Rd8+!!, a nice clearance sacrifice, Nxd8 25. Re8 is mate in 2.
The position stems from the game Kobalia-Boe, Tallinn 2016
25...Rc8! wins the trapped knight on c7.
The position stems from the game Rigopoulos-Saric, Tallinn 2016

69...Rf1+! 70. Kxf1 Kxh2 is the quickest way to convert, the g-passer is now
unstoppable.
The position stems from the game Wege-Munoz, Tallinn 2016

33...Nh3! 34. Re2 Rd1+ 35. Ne1 Qg1! leads to quick mate.
The position stems from the game Gallagher-Powierski, London 2016
39. R1c8!, as the g6-pawn blocks an important escape square for the Black
king,Rh8# is unavoidable after a couple of Black rook spite checks.
The position stems from the game Bologan-Kovalenko, Tallinn 2016

37. f3! mates the exposed Black king.
The position stems from the game Liang-Santarius, Sitges 2016

30. Bxd5! wins a pawn due to the undefended e7-bishop.
The position stems from the game Hovhannisyan-Andersen, London 2016
56...Rg2++ 57. Kh1 Ng3#! How much more powerful and forcing a double
check is next to an usual check is easily seen by the fact that 56...Rxd3+ 57.
Rxc7+ Kg8 58. Rxd3 even loses for Black.
The position stems from the game Larsen-Gual, Sitges 2016

33. Bh6+! deflects the king from supporting the f8-rook, which after
33...Kxh6 34. Rxf8 and b8Q gains a whole rook. Also possible is 33. Ba7,
followed by b8Q, but this wins only a minor piece.
The position stems from the game Kleijn-Maris, Netherlands 2016

44...Rc5+ 45. Kb4 Qd4+ 46. Kb3 Rxc3+ 47. Kb2 Qd2+ 48. Kb1 Rc1! leads
to mate, unless White sacs his queen on the first move.
The position stems from the game Grandelius-Mamedov, Tallinn 2016
40. Be6, a discovered check simultaneously targets the c8-rook.
The position stems from the game Piskur-Zovko, Zadar 2016

36. Rd7!, Black can not satisfactorily defend the f7-square, 36...Re7 37.
Rd8+ (using the fact the e6-knight is overloaded, guarding both the d8 and g7
squares) Nxd8 38. Qg7#
The position stems from the game Matlakov-Novikov, Tallinn 2016

33...d2! with the immediate threat of ...Re1+ Now, White has no much
choice:
a) 34. Nxd2 Re1+
b) 34. Qxd2 Qxd2 35. Nxd2 Re1+ 36. Kh2 Be5+ 37. g3 Re2+! with
subsequent capture on d2
33...Re2 is not convincing due to 34. Rc8+
The position stems from the game Kantans-Wojtaszek, Tallinn 2016

66...f4! reinforces the pin on the g3-rook. After 67. e7+ Kxe7 68. Qe1+ Kd8
Black wins.
The position stems from the game Marin-Onischuk, Tallinn 2016
24...Be3+! is a discovered attack, coupled with check, on the g2-point. As the

check should be taken care of first, Black mates on the next move, for
example, 25. Qxe3/Rf2 Qg2#
The position stems from the game Domingo-Narciso Dublan, Sitges 2016
49. Bh4! skewers the Black queen and rook, winning at least a full rook, as
after the capture on e7 the g7-bishop will remain unprotected too.
The position stems from the game Andriasian-Saric, Tallinn 2016

40...Qf5! , instead of retreating his rook, Black is counter-attacking. The
threat of ...Qh5# decides.
The position stems from the game Alekseev-Brodowski, Tallinn 2016
45...Rxf2+ skewers king and queen.
The position stems from the game Soumya-Hawkins, London 2016

42. Qxh6+ Kg8 43. Qe6+! and Qxe5 returns the piece, staying with two
pawns and large positional advantage more.
The position stems from the game Boel-Suder, London 2016

30. Rg3! constructs a battery on the g-file. Qg8# is unavoidable.
The position stems from the game Munoz-Krutti, Tallinn 2016
49...h4+!, pawns are powerful attackers, 50. Kg4 Qxg2+ 51. Kh5 Rh8+! 52.
Qh7+ Rxh7+ ends the game.
The position stems from the game Lochte-Grafl, London 2016

33. Ba5+ Bc7 34. b8Q#! promotes due to the nasty pin. Advanced passed
pawns are always tactically relevant.
The position stems from the game Blazeka-Piskur, Zadar 2016

33...Qh5 34. Rh1 is not dangerous, but33...Rxh3! exposing the White king
wins. If 34. Kxh3, 34...Qh5+ 35. Kg2 Qh2+ 36. Kf1 Qxf2#!
The position stems from the game Maier-Agrest, Tallinn 2016
28...Rxd3+! 29. Kxd3 Ne5+ forks king and queen. Other moves also win, but
this is most straightforward.
The position stems from the game Narmontas-Ruck, Tallinn 2016

26. Qd3+, with three minor pieces more Black gets mated due to the over-
exposed location of his king:
a) 26...Kxg4 27. Rg1+! Kh5 28. Qh7#
b) 26...Re3 27. Qd1+! Re2 28. Qxe2#
The position stems from the game Bukojemski-Stefanetti, London 2016

13. Bxd2? Nxd5 leaves Black, who has a pawn more, more compact pawn
structure and the excellent c5 outpost square for his knight, undoubtedly
better. So, White seizes the opportunity to deliver a perpetual check by 13.
Nc7+ Kd8 14. Nde6+!! fxe6 15. Nxe6+ Ke8 16. Nc7+! Kd8 17. Ne6+ etc.
When the king is on e8 the c4-slider guards the f7 escape square. Nice and
inspiring.
The position stems from the game Munoz-Asis, Barcelona 2017

60. Qg2# In a battle of titans and a very precarious situation, where the f2-
passer could promote any time, White prevails at last.
The position stems from the game Bigear-Zianlin, FICS 2017
30. Qf8+ Kh7 31. Qf7+ Kh8 32. Qf8+! levels all things earthly by eternally
chasing the hostile monarch. Covering the check with ...Ng7 is not very much
advisable as the f3-queen will be hanging.
The position stems from the game Orujov-Muradli, Baku 2017
In spite of lagging behind by a full piece, 21...Qa8!, zeroing in on the White

king, nails it: 22. Kc1 (avoiding ...Ra1#) Ra1+ 23. Nb1 Rxb1+! 24. Kxb1
Qa2+ 25. Kc1 Qa1# Heavy pieces batteries are mighty weapons, especially
when aligned on an edge file against the enemy king, even more so if
supported by a gorgeous wedge like the b3 storming pawn.
Key motifs are clearance sacrifice (on b1) plus lack of air (the self-blockage
the d2-queen provides to suffocate her best friend and partner.
The position stems from the game Yankelevich-Rathnakaran, Douglas 2017

The extravagant 24...Ng4! 25. fxg4 Bxf2+ and ...Bxe1 gains at least the
exchange. Uncovering sacrifice, followed by a close-range fork. Of course,
the x-ray of the f8-rook upon the f2-knight as well as the fact the White king
and d4-bishop share the same diagonal play an important role here.
Alternative, more complicated winning ways might also be available.
The position stems from the game Matevosyan-Yeritsyan, Erevan 2017

Black's pieces are more than the sands of the sea, yet 25. Qxh7! diligently
checkmates courtesy of the sweeping diagonal battery. Dirty tricks have not
been part of the original match contract, have they?
The position stems from the game Jalencity-Cyanding, FICS 2018
13. Rxe6+! is curtains, for example, 13...fxe6 14. Qxg6+ Kd7 15. Qxe6# Or,
13...Kd7 14. Rxg6! fxg6 15. Qg4+ Ke8 16. Qxg6+
One swallow doesn't make a summer - it is difficult to defend with a single
piece activated.
The position stems from the game Laznicka-Cervinka, Luhacovice 2003
Not 15. Nge2/Be3 Bxd7, but15. Qe3! Qxe3 16. Bxe3 and the c8-sweeper
falls.
The position stems from the game Tuvic-Nakov, Dimitrovgrad 2003

Rude 13...Bc2!, fully encircling the White lady, is. Courtesy requires that the
stronger player avoids similar behaviour in the future.
The position stems from the game Le Anh Tuan-Nguyen, Dong Thap 2003
White is sufficiently brought-out and enjoys the soothing presence of a

surplus piece. His hopes are high. 14...Ne4+! , though, is a smite turning the
game around. Split-offs run like:
a) 15. Rxe4 Qxd1
b) 15. Ke2 Qxg2+ 16. Kd3 Nf2+! and ...Nxd1+
Tactics means exactitude, not generalconsiderations.
The position stems from the game Arnarsson-Gretarsson, Reykjavik 2003
42. Ne6! fires from all guns. 42...fxe6 43. Bxa7 scores due to the discovered
attack on the queen, while Black can also oversee the queen mate at g7. A
jump at f5 is also feasible, the difference being that in the 42. Ne6 fxe6 43.
Bxa7 Rxa7 44. dxe6 branch White has engineered an additional passer.
The position stems from the game Sadorra-Ahmad, Ashgabat 2017

40. Bxd6! gains a free pawn while removing the defender of the f6-cell.
Recapturing leads to 41. Qf6+ and Qxd6, gobbling back, accompanied by a
decisive sweeping invasion of the White queen.
The position stems from the game Georgiev-Marjanovic, Banja Vrujci 2017

44. g6! , taking possession of the f7-square, makes a mating sequence
featuring 45. Rg8+ Kh6 46. Rh8+ Kg7 47. Rag8/Rh7#! avoidable only if the
g2-cannon is offered on g6. Starting with the usual favourite, a check on g8,
this time around is immensely worse.
The position stems from the game Radovic-Milosevic, Banja Vrujci 2017

44. Rb5! Bc2 45. Ra3+ Ba4 46. Rxa4#
The position stems from the game Czebe-Pel, Bruges 2017
52. Qxa5+ Kb8 53. Qd8+ Ka7 54. Ra2#!
The position stems from the game Piotrowski-Czachor, Wroclaw 2017

46...Rg1+
a) 47. Kh3 Qxg4+ 48. Kh2 Qg3#
b) 47. Kh2 Qh1#
The position stems from the game Garcia-Cruz, Mislata 2017
47...Qb1+!! 48. Rxb1 cxb1Q!#
The position stems from the game Lyell-Nguyen, Budapest 2017

44...e5!, shutting off the h2-b8 diagonal, so that the White lady stops
guarding h2, is most forcing. Mate will appear shortly, for example, 45. Bg2
Qb1+ 46. Bf1 Qxf1# 44...Qf2 is also playable, though this allows the first
player to sac his queen by Qf4+, followed by Qxf3, and checkmate is
delayed. Perfect chess somehow is very appealing, see all those good moves,
all those little details.
The position stems from the game Bogosavljevic-Draskovic, Canj 2017

45...Ng2! is a suffocation checkmate. A close relative of the smother mate.
The frequently accepted wisdom that one should possess queen in order to
wield a strong attack is simply a trite misconception. Non-queen pieces, if in
sufficient numbers and well-coordinated, are great attackers.
The position stems from the game Pogosyan-Onischuk, Erevan 2017

White has a pawn more, more compact pawn structure, less exposed king and
the e4-pawn is weak, so the chance to invite the hostile queen to a dance
macabre by 38...Bf6 39. Qg3 Be5 40. Qh4 Bf6! 41. Qg3 Be5! should be
taken. Queens are queens after all, aren't they?
The position stems from the game Carlsen-Ding Liren, Saint Louis 2017

35. Qb3! piles up on the c4-knight, which collapses soon after. Not the most
obvious move due to purely psychological reasons: there is a tension between
the c4 and a5 knights and the usual reaction in such situations is to release the
tension. Not the best option in this instance, though.
Psychology plays an important role in chess - we are all biased, starting with
the world champions and top engines and ending with me and you.
The position stems from the game David-Milonakis, Anogia 2017

29. Qd7! is doubtless most compelling, though many other choices win too.
Look where the attacking rays of the White queen and bishop intersect: the
h7-square. A patzer that sees that relatively easy is actually not a patzer.
The position stems from the game Nurzhanov-Aspiazu, Montevideo 2017
31...Qxf2 checkmates. Two in one. Besides decisively ending the game, the
queen capture also improves Black's material balance. Anything better than
that?
The position stems from the game Johnli-Rabdomoridin, FICS 2017
45...Rxh3+! 46. gxh3 Qxh3+ 47. Kg1 Qg3+ grabs the perpetual.
The position stems from the game Bilguun-Sai Agni, London 2017

46. Qh8+ Kf7 47. Qh7+ Ke8 48. Qh8+ has an endless series of checks on
the cards. 47...Kf8 48. Qh8+ Qg8 49. Qf6+ Qf7 50. Qh8+ Qg8 51. Qf6+ is
fruitless too.
White is compelled to cling to a tie as the b3 and especially the f2 pre-
promoting pawns are very dangerous.
The position stems from the game Inarkiev-Svidler, Saint Petersburg 2017

81...Qe1+ 82. Qg3 Qe7+! 83. Qg5+ Qxg5 84. fxg5+ Kg6 85. Kg3 Kxg5
precludes any winning chances.
The position stems from the game Yemelin-Cyborowski, Czech Republic

2017
Black should save his skin. 16...Nxc2! 17. Qxc2 Qg4+ 18. Kh1 Qf3+ 19.
Kg1 Qg4+! successfully does that. The White queen has been distracted from
guarding the g4-cell, so that her Black counterpart bores the friendly monarch
to death with endless checks from f3 and g4. 17. Rc1 is a sterile attempt to
avoid the inevitable due to 17...Rxe3! 18. Rxc2 Rh3
The position stems from the game Short-McShane, London 2017
In spite of White's huge material advantage, the possession of the open h-file,
the pin on the f2-pawn and the towering g3-stormer speak well for Black.
Mate is achieved after 12...Bxf2+!! (clears the d-file) 13. Rxf2 Qd1+ 14. Rf1
Rh1+! (deflects the king) 15. Kxh1 Qxf1 The Black king didn't even bother
castling. That is how they played, in the Macho age.
The position stems from the game Mayet-Anderssen, Berlin 1851

11...Bc2! is wooing the White lady.
The position stems from the game Dittlow-Dintheer, Bad Woerishofen 2003
In the tense atmosphere of opposite castling, 11...Nxf4 12. Qxf4 Bg5!

pinning happens to quickly decide the game.
The position stems from the game Plank-Schoebel, Bad Woerishofen 2003
The rude 11...f5!bustles the queen along to quickly determine the outcome
after 12. Qh4 Qxh4 13. Nxh4 Nc2+and ...Nxa1 The aftermath of exemplary
development on White's part.
The position stems from the game Moehring-Mader, Bad Woerishofen 2003

12...b4 13. Nb1 b3! paralyses the c2-bishop. Nothing else available - check
the lines yourselves. "Beware thrusts of connected pedestrians."
The position stems from the game Sidhoum-Velikov, Clichy 2003
Black is two pawns up but tremendously lagging behind in development. 13.

Qxe4+!! Nxe4 makes use of that fact, unblocking the f-line, and now 14.
Bxf7!checkmates. f7/f2 is a very vulnerable square in the early opening.
The position stems from the game Anderssen-Schallopp, Berlin 1864
67. Qh2#!
The position stems from the game Mirkovic-Becelic, Belgrade 2017

24. Bd3! Be4 25. Bxe4 fxe5 26. Qxh7#
The position stems from the game Gutkind-Amesz, Vlissingen 2017
30. Qg6+ Kf8 31. Rh8#
The position stems from the game Itkis-Marin, Arad 2017

55. Kc3! Rh8 56. Re5#!

Same is 55. Kd3
The position stems from the game Medunova-Miesbauer, Bayerisch

Eisenstein 2017
Black is a knight and pawn up, though the b7-passer is very advanced. The
ultimate leveller is 60. Kd6 g5 61. Kc7! Na6+ 62. Kb6 Nb8 63. Kc7 Na6+
64. Kb6 leading to a repetition of moves as the horse can not fend off the
nasty gadfly. In above line, 61...g4 62. Kxb8 g3 63. Ka8 g2 64. b8Q g1Q 65.
Qf4+ is also a theoretically drawn ending with sterile edge pawn.
The position stems from the game Topalov-Nakamura, Saint Louis 2017
9...f5! scares the White queen and, after she steps back to the only available
safe square, e3, 10...Ng2+ forks their royalties. Chess is child's play.
The position stems from the game Cochrane-Staunton, London 1842

11...Nxe4! wins the central pawn thanks to the x-ray attack of the g7
fianchettoed bishop upon the queen and the fact the marauding knight is
protected by his queen flank colleague. Of course, after that White's position
dissipates as a whole. A useful opening trick.
The position stems from the game Stahnke-Shchekachev, Bad Zwesten 1999

27...e4! gains the White knight due to the pin and the weak rook at f2. Pretty
obvious. How powerful a triple battery of heavy pieces is!
The position stems from the game Rexonarus-Porttela, FICS 2018
14. Rb5 Qa3 15. Rb3! snips off the c3-bishop. The causes for Black's
disaster are inferior development and unfortunate piece placement. Unless
there is something very concrete, always develop sufficiently before
launching an attack.
The position stems from the game Lane-Allison, Suncoast 1999
10...Bb4+ 11. Nd2 (nothing else) Bxd2+! 12. Qxd2 Qxa1+ harvests a lot of
material.
The position stems from the game Gomes-Hoffman, Brasilia 1999

11. Nxe6 Qe8 12. Nxc7 and when the queen retreats,Nxa8 , startles first the
Black lady and then announces to the corner rook: "Get the hell out of here!".
The position stems from the game Kovalevskaya-Reizniece, Tallinn 1999
9. Nxf6+ Nxf6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Qe4! forks the h7 shelter mating square
and the a8-rook. As Black will prefer to fend off mate, the rook falls. How
many players have fallen for a similar trap?
The position stems from the game Sermek-Varini, Nova Gorica 1999
11. h5 hxg5 12. hxg6! threatens mate on f7 and the h8-rook. On 12...Rxh1
13. Qxf7/gxf7! ends the board journey of the Black king. Otherwise, the rook
will fall.
The position stems from the game Matveeva-Guseinov, Moscow 1999

7. Qa4+! takes ownership of the b4-bishop. Queen checks at a4/a5, forking
enemy king and minor piece, are a frequent guest in various opening systems
and lines.
The position stems from the game Szelag-Moen, Cappelle la Grande 1999
10. Ne6+ followed by Nd5! lady scare will menace mate at e7 or c7 (after
Ndc7+) depending on whether the Black monarch seeks refuge at g8 or e8.
The position stems from the game Al-Modiahki - Tin, Yangon 1999
10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nxd5 wins a minor. In the 10...Qxd7 11. Bb5! (pinning
the queen to the king) axb5 12. Qxa8+ Qd8 13. Qxb7 subvariation the gain
amounts to only an exchange plus pawn. Please note, that 10. Nxd7 Nxc3?
11. Nxf6!! is a fatal double check and mate. Beautiful, isn't it? Let pieces
hang and kings get checkmated. To each his own.
The position stems from the game Lautier-Bologan, Enghien les Bains 1999

30...Qc7! pin-wins the White bishop, as capturing on b7 has ...Qxc1# as a
consequence.
The position stems from the game Brewer-Zhu, Llandudno 2017
28. Rxd7! wins material:

a) 28...Rxd7 29. Rxc8+
b) 28...Rxc2 29. Rxe7 trades two minor pieces for rook. The e3-bishop
disrupts Black's plans of mating back rank on c1. Minor pieces are good
defenders.
The position stems from the game Van Delft-Elgersma, Vlissingen 2017
The sudden 28. Rd8+!! Kxd8 29. Qd6+ makes the d6-square accessible for
the White queen, upon which 29...Bd7/Ke8 30. Rh8 mates.
The position stems from the game Karthik-Diaz, Badalona 2017

50. Re8+ Ka7 51. Qd4+ Qb6 52. Ra8+! Kxa8 53. Qxb6 gains queen for
rook.
The position stems from the game Grischuk-Rapport, Chess.com 2017
49. Rc7! will win the c5-pawn next, creating a dangerous c-passer, as taking
the rook allows 50. h8Q+
The position stems from the game Eggleston-Ward, Llandudno 2017

32. Nf7+! discovered check decides:

a) 32...Kg8 33. Nh6#!
b) 32...Bxd4 33. Qh6+ Kg8 34. Ne7#!
The pair of knights are an excellent tandem.
The position stems from the game Sieber-Schneider, Erfurt 2017

31. Rxe7+! is a nice attraction-deflection sacrifice:
a) 31...Kxe7 attracts the king to a square, where 32. Nxf5+ is a royal fork
b) 31...Qxe7 leaves the Black rook unprotected and White captures with 32.
Qxb8
Please, note, that in the second variation the e1-square is under control of the
d3-knight, so no back rank mate possible.
The position stems from the game Hendriks-Vos, Dieren 2017

37. f5!, with subsequent capture on e6, gains a pawn due to the pinned
condition of the e-pawn. Taking on f5 is counter-indicated: 37...Qxf5? 38.
Qxf5 exf5 39. Rxd6 or 37...exf5 38. Qa8+!, an important intermediate move,
to flee the pawn attack, followed by Rxd6.
The position stems from the game Le-Bauduin, Charleroi 2017

The White rook is pinned and under attack and on Kf1 Black captures twice
on e1, promoting in the sequel. Truly, White can attempt a perpetual check,
starting with Qe7+, but is that all he can hope for? Of course, not. 34. Rf1!is
a strong quiet move. It provides a defender for the rook, making promotion
impossible, as now the b1-square is controlled by both White heavy pieces.
White will further attack with his pawns on the king side or include Qb1,
followed by Rd1, activating the rook to realise the advantage.
The position stems from the game Abarca-Iermito, Buenos Aires 2017

This might seem as a kind of a fortress at first sight, how does Black break to
win, but this is only a superficial impression. Black has 56...e2+! evacuation
sacrifice, winning by force. Taking with the king leaves the knight
undefended, while on 57. Nxe2 Black has 57...Be3!, the outposted bishop
lands on the just emptied square, dominating the knight, that has no available
squares. This formal zugzwang compels the White king to continue with Ke1,
after which Black takes on c2 and promotes the b-pawn.
The position stems from the game Morozov-Gouloutis, Kavala 2017

Black, who is a passer down, is happy to perpetual with 30...Rg3+ 31. Kh1
Rh3+ 32. Kg1 Rg3+!
The position stems from the game Tahbaz-Ghaem Maghami, Hamedan 2017
16. Bh7+
a) 16...Kh8 17. Nexf7 Rxf7 18. Nxf7#!
b) 16...Nxh7 17. Qxh7#
The position stems from the game Prusikin-Hausner, Bayerisch Eisenstein
2017
61. Ka6 Rxb4 62. Rg8+ Rb8 63. Rxb8#
The position stems from the game Bok-Van den Berg, Vlissingen 2017

38. Rd7+! Ke8 39. Rc8#
Other option is 38. Nf7+ Ke8 39. Rc8#
The position stems from the game Solomon-Castor, Townsville 2017
50...Rg2#
The position stems from the game Krivanek-Petran, Prague 2017

15. Qxh5 f5! does not bring White very far. Both White bishops are pent-up
on the Black king shelter, and this gives birth to the idea of 15. Bxh7+!!
instead, destroying the shield, Kxh7 16. Qxh5+ Kg8 And now? The attacker
is down a piece. The cure consists in 17. Bxg7!, another gorgeous sac that
fully lays bare the hostile king, and after that:
a) 17...Kxg7 (Qh8 mate has been menacing) 18. Qg4+ Kf6 19. Qg5#!
b) 17...Kxg7 18. Qg4+ Kh8 19. Rf3!, an important rook lift that wins the
game, and Black is helpless against Rh3 check and mate
c) 17...f5 18. Be5!
Really amazing skill! The name of this inventive offering is the "double
bishop sacrifice".
The position stems from the game Lasker-Bauer, Amsterdam 1889

White wins a piece by 11. Bxf6!
a) 11...Qxf6 12. Qxg4 or
b) 11...Bxd1 12. Bxd8 Rfxd8 13. Rfxd1
Removal of the guard plus good counting.
The position stems from the game Chessashley-Shidingwu, FICS 2018
10. Nc3! piles up on e4 to render any further resistance meaningless.
The position stems from the game Stojkovic-Lukic, Subotica 2003

15. Nxc6 Qxc6 leaves the d8-rook en prise.
The position stems from the game Schwartz-Sturm, Bad Wildbad 2003

The chaotic 13...dxe3! leaves 2 White pieces en prise.
The position stems from the game Appavou-Verat, Elancourt 2003
Chaos is best served by more chaos. 15...Qxe4+!targets the h1-cannon.
The position stems from the game Tarayre-Hadet, Elancourt 2003

14. Nc7+forks king and rook. Simple and efficient.
The position stems from the game Murey-Mohamed, Saint Quentin 1999
11. Nxh7! for the time being has won a pawn, but the more important thing is
the nibble has undermined the g6-man. This tells in all lines, for example,
11...Rxh7 12. Bxg6+ Kf8 13. Qxd8+, picking up the loose queen. It is
difficult to find an antidote, as a case in point 11...Bb7?? 12. Bxg6! mates on
the spot (the knight controls the f8-cell). If 11...Qd4, then 12. Bxg6+ Kd8 13.
Ng5 etc. The considerable development lag and the ugly central pawn
structure (the e7 and e6 doubled isolated pawns) are Black's Doomsday.
The position stems from the game Hodgson-David, France 1999
If the h4-bishop, who is given the boot, travels back, the e3-pawn will fall
and White has dangerous c6-passer. Aware of that, the Black queen is happy
to exchange a couple of angry communications with the enemy king after
34...Qf2+ 35. Kh1 Qf3+ 36. Kg1 Qf2+! etc. The king hasnowhere to run.
The position stems from the game Subelj-Sahil, Palic 2017

14. Nf6+! gxf6 15. Qxh7 checkmates. Discovered checking attack plus
powerful diagonal battery.
The position stems from the game Labib-Essa, Dubai 1999

15...Bxe4!, while picking a pawn along the way, menaces the White queen
and c2 shelter square. White is hopeless. A typical Sicilian structure.
The position stems from the game Lont-Szekely, Haarlem 1999
White has taken with the f3-knight on d4 on the previous move. He should
have run with the c3-horse instead. As a punishment, 14...bxc3! followed by
...cxd4 gains a minor. Wrong priorities and tactical blindness.
The position stems from the game Cartagena-Ginsburg, San Francisco 1999
12...Bd7 13. Qb4 Rb8! traps and wins the White lady now. 12...Rb8 13. Qc6
Rb6! is an alternative. Pawn-grabbing early in the opening is rarely a bright
idea.
The position stems from the game Skripchenko-Lautier - Przedmojski,

Koszalin 1999

15. h3! sets a trap to the g4-knight. 15...Bxd2 16. Qxd2 and the queen ogles
the h6-square.
The position stems from the game Galkin-Helaszek, Koszalin 1999
42. Qg7+!
a) 42...Kg5 43. h4+ Kg4 44. Nf6#!
b) 42...Kh5 43. Nf6+ Kg5 44. h4#
The position stems from the game Tokranovs-Bernotas, Liepaja 2017
68...Qa1+ 69. Nf1 Qxf1#
The position stems from the game Gokerkan - Nomin-Erdene, Kocaeli 2017

37...Qxf3! 38. Qxg7+ Kxg7 39. Kh3 Qh5#
The position stems from the game Gayson-Kolbus, Llandudno 2017
8. Bxf7+! is stressful for the Black king, definitive and conclusive: 8...Kxf7
9. Ng5+ is a discovered attack on the g4-knight, but that is the last of Black's
concerns. Now, the line branches off:
a) 9...Kf8 10. Ne6+ represents a royal fork
b) 9...Kg8 10. Qd5+! e6 11. Qxe6+ checkmates
c) 9...Ke8 10. Ne6! entombs the Black queen
Refusing the capture by 8...Kf8 leads to pretty much similar developments
after 9. Ng5 (the d7-knight is paralysed as the friendly queen is hanging).
Beware the f7/f2 point in the opening.
The position stems from the game Managadze-Koukoufikis, Ikaros 1999
13. e5!is very tolerant to the second player, giving him the choice to decide
which light figure to sacrifice.
The position stems from the game Gilli-Aguilar, Villa Maria 2003

14. Kxf2?? Qd4+ will lose the a1-rook. Correct is 14. Qxf2! harvesting a
piece.
The position stems from the game Nisipeanu-Ivanchuk, Las Vegas 1999
12. hxg4? forfeits the h1-cannon due to the existing pin. 12. Bf3! though
maintains the diagonal pin on the knight, while protecting the cannon, which
is already a vendetta on the hopper which can not move as this will expose
the much more valuable queen. So, the knight drops off. Quiet tactical moves
require special skills.
The position stems from the game Najer-Myc, Polanica Zdroj 1999
38. Rh7! makes Rh8 mate unavoidable, unless Black sacs a rook by ...Rd7.
The two White hounds on the 7th row will never let the hostile king go. That
is how one is supposed to train his pet animals.
The position stems from the game Williamwang-Steveshi, FICS 2018

15...Ne5! threatens the queen and d3-bishop, with check to boot. Big material
losses are unavoidable. Underdevelopment and bad piece
placement/coordination are thematic here. Just one of countless opening
catastrophes.
The position stems from the game Hefter-Doettling, Fuerth 1999
White is about to queen with a8 now. Unfortunately, the friendly king has
fallen into a mouse-trap and the Black rook aptly proves that by 59...Rb5+
60. Ka6 Rb6+ 61. Ka5 Rb5+! etc. Low hostile mobility helps the attacker a
lot here.
The position stems from the game Nielsen-Salomon, Hersonissos 2017
11...Bb4+! checkmates briefly. Try castling as soon as possible.
The position stems from the game Duley-Stripunsky, Hatfield 1999

11. Ng5+ Kg6 12. Qe8+! completes the mating net:
a) 12...Kh6 13. Ne6+ g5 14. Bxg5#
b) 12...Kf6 13. Rf1+!
Peculiar situations, like this one, also have their logical rules in strict
accordance with general chess principles; one has to get accustomed to the
specificity of patterns, though.
The position stems from the game Ivanov-Bataev, Saint Petersburg 1999

The quite unexpected (for people unfamiliar with the pattern) 14. Nxd5!
(attacks the loose Black queen) Qd8 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 has gulped at least a
pawn. 14...Qxd2? 15. Nxe7+ (an important intermediate stab, grabbing the
hanging knight) Kh8 16. Bxd2 strongly increases the gains. A good setup to
know.
The position stems from the game Uhlmann-Dornieden, Gladenbach 1999

11...Nxf2? 12. Kxf2 d3+ 13. Kf1 is quite unoffensive for White.11...Ne3!
jump in the thick of the struggle is a surprise though. Now, if the queen
evades the attack, Black can grab at least the minor exchange with ...Nxg2.
Capturing with the pawn, 12. fxe3 dxe3 (a discovered check threatens) 13.
Kh2 exd2 has further weakened the White king shelter, while refusing to
budge from g1 loses loads of material after possible ...exd2 or ...e2 deadly
discovered checks (the latter munches up the d1-lady).
The position stems from the game Von Herman-Huebner, Altenkirchen 1999

11. Qd4! ogles both Black knights. Looseness, underdevelopment.
The position stems from the game Dubois-Dessirier, Issy les Moulineaux
2003
After 15. Qxc6 Qxc6 16. Bxc6 Rxc6 17. f5! the e7-bishop falls.
The position stems from the game Schwarz-Pfeiffer, Solingen 2003

In this double-edged position, 12...Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Qf2+ 14. Kd1 Nxc3!
promptly checkmates.
The position stems from the game Jenkins-Trajber, Budapest 2003

11. Rxe5+! stops the clocks, as 11...fxe5 12. Qf7 gives the Black king a
close-range hug.
The position stems from the game Mirke-Braeuer, Willingen 2003
14...Nxf3+! 15. gxf3 Qh2# That is easy, ain't it?
The position stems from the game Sohl-Spangenberg, Willingen 2003

39. Qd4+!
a) 39...Rg4 40. g3+ Kg5 41. Qg7#!
b) 39...Kg5 40. Qxg7+ Kh4 41. g3#!
The position stems from the game Vuelban-Laketic, Lignano Sabbiadoro

2017

37. Rd8+ Ng8 38. Rxg8+! Kxg8 39. Qe8#
The position stems from the game Merry-Smith, Llandudno 2017
34. Ba7+!
a) 34...Kxa7 35. b8Q#
b) 34...Kc7 35. Qb6#
An alternative is 34. bxc8Q++ Kxc8 35. Qb7#
The position stems from the game Bernath-Vranic, Senta 2017
41. Qxb8+!! Kxb8 42. Rd8+ Rxd8 43. Rxd8#
The position stems from the game Yilmaz-Arat, Kocaeli 2017

13. Nf6+! Kh8 14. Qxd7 has won a free bishop. If Black captures the knight,
13...Bxf6, 14. Bxf6 creates the lethal threat of Qh6 with mate on g7 to follow,
which is hardly avoidable. To get rid of the possible Qh6 Nf5 counter-strike,
White might first include Qg5!, Rad1 etc.
Whenever doable, occupy holes in the enemy king shield with your pieces,
especially minors.
The position stems from the game Narciso Dublan-Bello, Cala Galdana 1999

9...Bxf2+! has won a pawn and exposed the White king. 10. Kxf2 Nxe4+ and
...Nxg5 wins a second pawn. The pin on the f6-knight is obviously an
imaginary one.
The position stems from the game Rebelo-Mitkov, Lisbon 1999
15...cxb2! 16. Bxb6 bxa1Q has gained further material.
The position stems from the game Pinto-Galego, Lisbon 1999

10. Nc6! wins at least a minor after 10...Ne5 11. Nxa5 Nxf3 12. gxf3 In this
line, 10...Qxa2? 11. Nc7! sets checkmate.
The position stems from the game Loeffler-Ramseier, Mendrisio 1999

White is already a pawn up. 15. Nxd5! exd5 unblocks the e5-stormer, and
now 16. e6!gorgeous attacking lever uncovers an assault on the Black queen.
After16...Qd8 17. exd7+ lines get opened, which will allow the first player
to use his superiority in development. Other defensive tries are doomed to fail
too. Uncastled king, oops!
The position stems from the game Sevillano-Andrews, Philadelphia 1999

Lagging behind in material, White is very active. 43. Qxe5+ Kf8 44. Qh8+
Ke7 45. Qe5+! is a perpetual. The Black king can not go to d8 due to Qb8+,
forking him and the a7-rook, neither touch the d7-square owing to Bb5+
skewer and the fatality this time will be the e8-lady.
Activity often trumps or is an adequate compensation for material.
The position stems from the game Lagarde-Karthik, Bastia 2017

63...h2 64. Rg8+ Kh1! Now, if the White king moves or the rook remains on
the g-column, we get stalemate picture; so 65. Rh8 Kg2 66. Rg8+ repeats.
The position stems from the game Velicka-Koziol, Bojnice 2017
13. Nxe6+! fxe6 14. Bg6! Qd8 15. Qf3+ , intending to deliver fatal check on
f7, quickly sorts out things. Black is all pinned and tied-up, making a pitiful
impression. On 13...Kg8 the horse can at least fork 2 enemy bosses at c7. Try
avoiding self-trapping your own rooks, as the king does to the cannon on h8,
whenever possible. Rooks belong mostly to the center files.
The position stems from the game Moskalenko-Rahal, Paretana 2000
12. dxc6! has won a minor. A funny line runs like 12...exf3 13. cxb7 fxg2 14.
bxa8Q gxh1Q+ 15. Qxh1!, leaving the first player a whole queen ahead. The
clutter on the h1-a8 slanted row, consisting of 8(!!) chessmen couple of turns
ago, has now shrinked to a solitary tenant at h1.
Talk about vicissitudes of fate.
The position stems from the game Tregubov-Ravi, Ubeda 2000

13. Qxf7 mate checks one's reactions in a messy situation.
The position stems from the game Poetsch-Wisheckel, Willingen 2003
14. Qh5 is a modified repeat of the Fool's Mate. There are many fools
around, no one can deny that.
The position stems from the game Roitzsch-Van Orsouw, Willingen 2003
11. Bh6+ Kg8 12. Bxf7!stings the Black monarch in the heart.
The position stems from the game Kim-Van Orsouw, Willingen 2003

Black has just posted his sweeper to block the e4-pedestrian; unfortunately,
this invites 12. Qb5+! with subsequent capture on e5 (from where the h8-
rook will be targeted, by the way). A prophylactic overzeal.
The position stems from the game Poetsch-Trapp, Willingen 2003
36. Nc6#!
The position stems from the game Schmidt-Holinka, Helsingor 2017

167...Rh8#
The position stems from the game Schroeder-Aabling, Helsingor 2017

35...Qg3+ 36. Kd1/f1 Ne3#!
The position stems from the game Lazov-Enchev, Kavala 2017
29...Rf3+ 30. Kd2 Qf4+ 31. Ke2 Qe3#

An alternative is 29...Nc4+ 30. Kd3 Rf3+ 31. Ke2 Qe4#
The position stems from the game Pantzar-Bogdanov, Helsingor 2017

18...c4! and, upon retreat of the White bishop, 19...Bxe4 wins the pivotal
central pawn.
The position stems from the game Sailingsoul-Ksweat, FICS 2018
15. e6! attacks the d7-bishop and uncovers a second attack on the b2-queen:
a) 15...Qxg7 16. exd7#!
b) 15...Bxe6 16. Qxb2
Great! Thank you for the magic. Development, development and more
development.
The position stems from the game Frolov-Kuprijanov, Saint Petersburg 2000
White has a pawn less, 3 isolated pawns plus the misedge of the opponent's
central majority, so he is glad to accept threefold repetition by perpetual
queen pursuit after 16. Be3 Qe5 17. Bd4 Qa5 18. Bb6! Qe5 19. Bd4!
Chances come and chances go, one has to seize them.
The position stems from the game Komiagina-Nechaeva, Sochi 2017

12...Bh3! traps the White g2-rook. 12...Bf3 succeeds in the very same task.
With such an awkward pawn and piece placement, Herculean efforts are not
required of Black to get the upper hand.
The position stems from the game Rkw-Orjin, FICS 2017
The White a-passer is racing down on the way to promotion, so Black simply
uses the propitious occasion to deliver an unending series of checks by
66...Qa1+ 67. Kh2 Qe5+ 68. Kg1 Qe1+! 69. Kh2 Qg3+! 70. Kg1 Qe1+
How many favourable queen endings have been tied due to compromised
king safety?
The position stems from the game Bodnaruk-Maltsevskaya, Sochi 2017
15...Nxh4! removes the pivotal defender of the f2-cell. Now, 16. Bxc8 Qxf2+
17. Kh1 Qxg2! finishes the White ruler off. Simple, but helps visualisation.
The position stems from the game Timman-Van Wely, Dordrecht 2000

14...b3! is a fulgurant decoy:
a) 15. Qxb3 Bxe2
b) 15. axb3 Qxa1
c) 15. Qd2 Qxd2 16. Bxd2 Bxe2
Simple and tasteful conflict resolution.
The position stems from the game Corrales-Bellon, Malaga 2000
13...Bxc3+! 14. bxc3 Qxc3+ and ...Qxa1 prepares for a new match-up.
Uncastled king, pent-up pieces, x-ray attacks.
The position stems from the game Ilves-Kiik, Tallinn 2000
15. Nxc6! is curtains:

a) 15...Qxc6 attracts the queen to a cell where the e7-bishop is no longer
protected and 16. Qxe7 sets mate
b) 15...Ng8 16. Bxd5 is more hopeless than it seems
Good performance! King in the center plus powerful central file battery.
The position stems from the game Galdunts-Macek, Bad Wildbad 2000

The White lady is trapped and humiliated, but the valiant pawn stab 14. d5!
saves it out of isolation, 14...Qd6 15. Qxc6 As already noted, depth of
variations is one of the most important aspects of chess.
The position stems from the game Hakki-Mohamed, Dubai 2000
13. Qe4!is a double attack on two loose pieces: the a8-cannon and g4-horse.
Lack of discipline sticking together is baleful for privates, non-commissioned
officers and generals alike. Chess imitates life in many aspects.
The position stems from the game Dolmatov-Gadjily, Dubai 2000
34. Qh8+
a) 34...Ke7 35. Qg7+! Qf7 36. Qxf7#
b) 34...Qg8 35. Qxf6+ Qf7 36. Qxf7#
The position stems from the game Schroeder-Roe, Helsingor 2017

58...Rd1#
The position stems from the game Tukhaev-Mchedishvili, Kocaeli 2017
38. Qh7+ Kf7 39. Nf5#!
The position stems from the game Grigoriants-Rewitz, Helsingor 2017

52...Qb2#!
52...Qe3# is identical.
The position stems from the game Elgersma-Luch, Dieren 2017
Counting on the small detail that bxa3 is blightful owing to the undefended
c2-lady that falls, Black has captured the a3-pawn on the previous turn. An
unpleasant surprise is waiting for him, though. 10. Qa4! is a pinning-
unpinning detour that seals the result. The queen has unpinned herself and
pinned the Black diagonal slider, that drops off. The b1-cannon is defended
by the knight. Pitfalls of different depth, sleight and complexity abound in the
chess opening.
The position stems from the game Gheorghiu-Elstner, Crans Montana 2000
Can you see it? White has blundered with 12. Qa4, exposing his unprotected
queen to attack. Of course, "queen eats queen" and the world has all but
forgotten the White army had powerful generals once.
The position stems from the game Annaberdiev-Annageldyev, Ashgabat

2000

13...Qf5+! and the wrath of the marauding lady in Black consumes the b5-
bishop next. The only subtlety to the move is that the queen retreats in order
to execute her punitive action instead of attacking. Usually, attacks are
associated with forward movement, but that is not the case here. The
resulting position is an easy win for the second player: pair of bishops,
advanced pawns, compromised White king safety.
The position stems from the game Vukovic-Aldrovandi, Saint Vincent 2000

11...Qh4+ 12. Kd2 Qf4+ 13. Ke2 Qe3#! swiftly catches up with the hostile
monarch. The skill of converting promising positions is as essential as the
skill to get them.
The position stems from the game Arriagada-Szmetan, Linares 2000
A whole rook down, the first player reaches out and grabs the draw on
display with 23. Nb6+ Kc7 24. Nd5+ Kc8 25. Nb6+!The royal apartments
aren't very spacious, are they?
The position stems from the game Oparin-Jumabayev, Barcelona 2017
Black is about to deliver mate and seemingly nothing could prevent such
development. Really? The White king shudders in awe, but the madness of
the friendly rook saves the day: 1. Ra7+!!, if the king captures now, cute
stalemate arises on the board, so Black plays 1...Kb8, 2. Rb7+!! , the
impudent rook repeats his manoeuver, and the king can not take again due to
the very same reasons. After Black goes to c8, the game could continue 3.
Rc7+ Kd8 4. Rd7+ Ke8 5. Re7+ and now backwards - 5...Kd8 6. Rd7+ Kc8
7. Rc7+ etc. The rook will pursue the Black king eternally, offering itself as
prize on each and every turn.
This is called a "desperado" rook, or simply desperado. Very impressive
indeed.

Black is a pawn up and White takes the draw with20. Ra1 Qb2 21. Rb1 Qa3
22. Ra1! Qb2 etc. A perpetual chase-after. On 21...Qxc3 White includes 22.
Bd2! Qa3 23. Ra1 Qb2 24. Rb1 repeating again.
It has to be noted that Black can not go back 20...Qe6 due to d4-d5! fork.
The position stems from the game Sekar-Kumar, Puchong 2017

White is about to gain an extra pawn after Rxh4, so Black simply takes the
draw with 43...Nd2+ 44. Kc1 Nb3+ 45. Kb1 Nd2+!When the knight checks
at d2, the monarch can not cross to the a-file as ...Ra8 checkmates. A moment
of inaccuracy and a whole game could be turned around.
The position stems from the game Tsoi-Alekseenko, Sochi 2017

All White pieces are passively defending, while all Black men (and women)
are pinning, attacking and pressuring. In that situation, 13...Bxf3, removing
the guard of the d4-square, scores instantly. After 14. Bxf3 Nxd4 White can
not save at the same time the c2-queen, f3-bishop and c3-knight that are all
under heavy fire. Faint heart never won a fair lady.
The position stems from the game Hatzimanolis-Miladinovic, Athens 2000

6...Qh4+! 7. Ke2 Qf2+ 8. Kd3 Qxd4+ 9. Ke2 Ng3+ 10. Ke1 Qf2 gives
mate. The gates of disaster around the White king are wide open - a welcome
contribution to king safety.
The position stems from the game Chippops-Adagualpa, FICS 2018
34. Qf6+ Kh7 35. Qh6#!
The position stems from the game Tarlabasi-Tasdogen, Kocaeli 2017

Easiest is 32. Nf5+ Kh5 33. Qh4+ Kxg6 34. Qh6#
The position stems from the game Baron-Paquico, Escaldes 2017

39...Rh5+ 40. Kg4 Rh4+! 41. Kxh4 Qh5#
The position stems from the game Smailkadic-Radlovacki, Travnik 2017
28...Qb2#
The position stems from the game Haubro-Shabalov, Helsingor 2017

15. Bxg5#! leaves the adverse monarch terror-smitten. A powerful tactical
tool double checks are!
The position stems from the game Frey-Haecker, Willingen 2003
Don't miss 11...Qc3+!
The position stems from the game Thielemann-Ziaeian, Kiel 2003

Don't see how to mate? Well, here is how:13...Nf3+! 14. gxf3 Bxf3 and h1
falls.
The position stems from the game Henriksen-Braathen, Fredrikstad 2003

13. Bf7+ Kd8 14. Ne6+! wins the queen.
The position stems from the game Chiricuta-Ciornei 2003
14. Nb5! spells out the diagram's motto: "Rooks are doomed to perish."
Indeed, one of Black's rooks will falter into inexistence. Nc7+ fork threatens.
If the king steps aside to d8 to protect the c7-cell, 15. Nxf7+! already forks.
On 14...Rc8, the galloping White horse snorts out, "Fork you!", from d6.
Finally, in case the a8-rook goes somewhere else, 15. Nd6+ Kd8 16. Ndxf7+
repeats one of the available forking stunts in a different modification.
The position stems from the game Khenkin-Drabke, Bolzano 2000
The Black king shield is replete with self-blockers. 14. Qb5! arranges a
battery, making Rb8 mate unavoidable. For example, 14...c6 15. Qxc6+ Kd8
16. Rb8# Solutions are sometimes simple but you have to find them.
The position stems from the game Bergez-Costagliola, Paris 2000

1. Kg7 h4 2. Kf6 Kb6 (otherwise the White king will support his pawn with
Ke6) 3. Ke5! Kxc6 (alternatively, 3...h3 4. Kd6 h2 5. c7 h1Q 6. c8Q
promotes simultaneously with a tie) 4. Kf4 and the king has caught up with
the enemy passer and destroys it.
At first glance, it is impossible to believe the White king could ever catch the
Black pawn, but the trick is the king uses an efficient way of moving
diagonally, which saves space so he is able to come closer to both pawns at
the same time. Really astounding.
This is the famous Richard Reti study dating back a whole century.

If the White rook moves somewhere, one of the e4 or c4 pawns will fall, and
with it the game will be lost. White has single option: 1. Rxd4 Now, after
1...cxd4 , if White plays 2. Kd3 Kd6 3. Kd2 Kc5 4. Kd3 Kb4! he quickly goes
down the drain. The trick is to find 2. c5!, sacrificing a pawn to create a
protected passer on b5, and after 2...bxc5 3. Kd3 the king shuttles back and
forth from d3 to c4, safely overseeing both enemy passers. A positional
draw/fortress has arisen.
On 1...exd4 2. e5! fxe5 3. Kd3 achieves precisely the same. Protected passers
and blockade are very strong assets.

What is the number of people that would miss the mate in 6 after 13. Nxg7+!
(clearing the e6-square for the queen) Bxg7 14. Qe6+ Kf8 15. Be7+ Ke8 16.
Bf6+ Kf8 17. Qe7+! Kg8 18. Qxg7? The final snapshot represents
Damiano's bishop mate. Give yourself full credit, if you find this - you are a
strong player.
The position stems from the game Ernst-Gruvaeus, Orebro 2000

14. Bb5+ c6 has gained a tempo to connect the White cannons, and now 15.
Rhe1! pin-wins the Black queen parading proudly in the center. Multiple
other lines score a point too. Make good use of tempo moves - checks, threats,
etc. - whenever possible.
The position stems from the game Salmensuu-Silander, Jyvaskyla 2000

Sneering at the fact Black leads by a whole rook, the White queen sneaks in
with 14. Qd8+! Kg7 , allowing for 15. Rg1+ Kh6 16. Qxh8 to mate.
Combining vertical and horizontal lines for attack is a useful-to-learn
technique.
The position stems from the game Turov-Glek, Korinthos 2000
12. d5! will kick the butt/buttock of the c6-horse, that is left out of squares.
The a7-cell is shelled by the a1-rook. Take care that your pieces don't get in
the way of each other. Mobility is all-important in the game of chess.
The position stems from the game Martin-Mundet, Barcelona 2000
48...Qxg3+ 49. Kf1 Qg1#!
The position stems from the game Matta-Manafov, Pardubice 2017

30...Qxe7+ 31. b4 R8c3+ 32. Qb3 Qxb4#!
The position stems from the game Bournel-Travadon, Avoine 2017
22. g4#!
The position stems from the game Meunier-Braeuning, Avoine 2017

32...Ra6#
The position stems from the game Andersson-Gajic, Helsingor 2017
The f6-horse is fictitiously pinned.6...Nxd5!! 7. Bxd8 Bb4+ 8. Qd2 Bxd2+

9. Kxd2 Kxd8 has acquired a piece. This well-known bust in the Queen's
Gambit is called the "Elephant Trap".
The position stems from the game Kokkinakis-Naxakis, Kallithea Chalkidiki
2003
13. Rd1! Be6 14. Bc4 overwhelms Black due to the pin and the unprotected
d8-rook.
The position stems from the game O'Donovan-Bennett, Dublin 2003

Let's practice some more - 13. Bh7+ Kh8 14. Bg6+! and Bxf7+ could hardly
be a brainteaser.
The position stems from the game Tallafuss-Weinberger, Oberwart 2003
14. Nxc6 Bxe3 (otherwise, the c5-bishop will fall) 15. Ne7+! Kh8 16. fxe3
has confiscated a piece. The c8-bishop will die next. The key to it all is the
intermediate knight check at e7 - the knight saves itself while menacing
another minor. Chess is a complicated game, you have to take everything into
account.
The position stems from the game Klovans-Shestoperov, Rowy 2000
Black has just castled into it - 14. Ba5! skewers the queen and d8-rook.
Batteries, like this "queen + bishop" one, are useful in different ways.
The position stems from the game Arakhamia-Grant - Hickman, Port Erin
2000

11. exd7+! followed by 12. Bxf3 has gained a minor. Sort out checks first,
only then captures.
The position stems from the game Sharavdorj-Gruska, Istanbul 2000
The Black knight is chained as moving it would expose the hanging h4-
queen. Black has a powerful retort, though. 14...Qxf4!! is god-awful as hell -
both 15. Rxf2 Bxe3 and 15. exf4 Nxd3! discovered check and ...Nxe1 lead to
heavy material loss for the first player. Unexpected moves acquire particular
appeal.
The position stems from the game Babula-Kurajica, Istanbul 2000
10. Qh5? h6 has successfully shut the h-file. The small "Greek Gift" of10.
Bxh7+! prevents that. After 10...Kxh7 11. Qh5+ Kg8 12. Ng5! Black gets
busted at h8.Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.
The position stems from the game Fernandes-Baptista, Lisbon 2000

Almost everything loses here, for example, 1. Ra1 Qd4+! forking
mercilessly, or 1. Ra3 Qc1+ which is identical. The White king and rook are
simply far apart and weak, exposed to checks, forks and zugzwang. The hack
is to play 1. Rf8+ Ke6 2. Rf3! and White has built a sturdy theoretical
fortress. White shuffles the rook from f3 to h3 and back, the Black king can
not penetrate past the 3rd rank and the queen alone is incapable of delivering
checkmate.
Yeah, chess is not a material game, you see that very clearly here, Black
leads by 4-5 points in terms of material count and still winning is a hopeless
enterprise.

Black is all pressed for space, plus a pawn down. If the a6-rook retreats now,
a5-a6 thrust breaks open the a-file, where White will invade. The trick is to
find/outimagine 1...Nb8!, supporting the attacked rook. After 2. Nxa6 (what
else?) Nxa6 a fortress, fully blocked position is achieved. White can not
break through in any way. Who says material is all-important? Blockade
first!

11. Ne5 Qxb5 12. Bxb5+ Kd8 13. Nxf7+ and Nxh8 sequesters a lot of
material. Cavalry charges are always piquant and dangerous.
The position stems from the game McShane-Molander, Stockholm 2000
11. Qxh8? Nf6! is a mistake, as the queen gets imprisoned. After ...0-0-0 and
...Bg7 it will easily fall. Correct is 11. Qxc7! picking a second pawn. In the
main line running 11...Bxb5 12. Nxb5 the queen is defended by the capturing
knight and White should realise his robust material edge.
The position stems from the game Dvoirys-Mihailidis, Ano Liosia 2000
You won't miss the Pin Holiday - 9. d5! exd5 10. cxd5 and the c6-knight falls
- will you?
The position stems from the game Lain-Barlocco, Cortina d'Ampezzo 2003

13...Nxf3+has won a pawn and busts White's pawn skeleton, as on 14. Qxf3
the opponent captures at d3.
The position stems from the game Amoyal-Poley, Saint Lo 2003
15. Qa4+ Bd7 16. gxf7+! Kxf7 17. Qxd7+ is a powerful coup that ends the
game.
The position stems from the game Linford-Eckersley, Millfield 2003

The combo goes 15. Qh7+! Kf8 16. Qh8+ Kf7 17. Rxg7#
The position stems from the game Kovalevskaya-Deva, Millfield 2003

27. Qxf7+ Kxd6 28. Qe7#!
The position stems from the game Hansen-Paquico, Escaldes 2017
35...Rh2+!
a) 36. Kxh2 Qxf2+ 37. Kh1 Qg2#
b) 36. Bxh2 Qf3#
The position stems from the game Kolotilina-Zvara, Pardubice 2017

37. Qxf8#
The position stems from the game Bergauz-Manafov, Pardubice 2017
38...Nb2+ 39. Ke4 Rf4#!

The position stems from the game Bauer-Chigaev, Pardubice 2017
17. Nxd7 is either a knockout or knockdown depending on how Black

perceives it. Apart from gobbling the bishop, the knight also forks two heavy
pieces. More optimistic people will see it as just a small discouragement.
The position stems from the game Hpsilveira-Practico, FICS 2018
Puzzzle No 2723 - White to play and win

15. Kxe2? Bxe5 leaves White minimally better. Correct is 15. Bxg7! Bxd1
16. Bxf8 Kxf8 17. Kxd1 and a whole minor has been stacked up as reserve.
Try counting accurately.
The position stems from the game Volzhin-Huseyin, Canberra 2001
14...Re8! 15. Qa3 b4 wins a piece. Threat, another threat/fork - game over!
In its essence, chess is a very dynamic exercise.
The position stems from the game Romkes-Van Wely, Dordrecht 2001
12. g4! gains a minor piece by temporarily imprisoning the queen. Black will
have to take with the knight, otherwise 12...Qe4 13. f3! already grabs the
entire lady, bones and muscles included. Pawn threats are one of the most
forcing in chess, always to be considered, even if accompanied by occasional
weakening.
Please note, that 12. Nxc6 (in the hope of 12...bxc6 13. Bxc6+ and Bxa8)
might prove a pitfall by dint of 12...Bd7!, and the knight can not retreat as
Ba4 remains undefended, but you have to calculate deeper here. Do you
know that some tactics are resolved only after some 20 full moves or 40 plies,
although this is usually an exception?
The position stems from the game Fernando-Berges, Cappelle la Grande

2001

8...Qa5+! surprisingly (only for the White king, naturally?) forks the king
and g5-bishop. Out-trapping your opponent should be a primary tactical goal
of yours. Exercise more and enemy pieces and pawns will fall like ripe fruit
from an autumn tree.
The position stems from the game Duppel-Rouzaud, Cappelle la Grande 2001

9...c5 and, when the queen retreats, ...c5-c4! traps the White light-square
bishop. This is the so-called "Noah's Arc Trap". Usually arises in the Ruy
Lopez but is possible to get from different openings too.
Black is firmly on top and nothing in this world could change the balance,
barring 52. Rf3+!, snapping off the loose queen next. Discovered checks are
very perilous, as frequently mentioned, but ask Black, and he will tell you
this was nothing but a chance event .
The position stems from the game Navarra-Pitpony, FICS 2018
14...Bg6! interferes on the g-column to trap and kill the destitute g7-cannon,
while preventing on a par Rg8+ "That hog doesn't belong here."
The position stems from the game Sar-Shchekachev, Metz 2001

14. exd6 Qc6! (but not 14...Qxd6? 15. c4) and Black is perfectly fine. Correct
and extremely strong is 14. Qxd5!! - the queen infatuatedly sacrifices herself
while forking the rook at a8 and bishop at d6. Now, 14...exd5 15. exd6+! and
dxc7 increases the White point count by a bishop. As a general wisdom, kings
should avoid sharing the same file with an enemy rook. The e8-lord has
ignored this ignominious detail.
The position stems from the game Glek-Arkhipov, Tomsk 2001

14...Qg2! kindly asks to gobble the h1-rook.
The position stems from the game Weiler-Korotylev, Silvaplana 2003
14...Bb5! wins material after 15. c4 (otherwise e2 falls)Bxc4 16. Qc3 (cross-
pinning the queen) Qb6+!unpinning and e2 is weak.
The position stems from the game Fischli-Arquint, Silvaplana 2003

Black has weakened a range of squares in his half of the board, which the
swift-footed lady utilises by 13. Qg7! Black can save at will either the h8-
rook or f6-horse. His choice.
The position stems from the game De Gregorio-Torricelli, Silvaplana 2003

13. Qb3+ mates next turn at b5 with the queen no matter if the Black king
steps aside to c5, a5 or a6. Taking such offensive stance in front of his own
pawns is hardly the best security strategy.
The position stems from the game Joncic-Eschle, Silvaplana 2003
14. Ng6+! forces queen self-sac on g6, otherwise 14...hxg6 15. Qh3 registers
mate. Nice piece of tactics.
The position stems from the game Nuri-Schaffner, Silvaplana 2003

14. Ne2 Qxb2 15. Bc3! pitfalls the Black queen. The trick is that the knight
retreats in order for the attacking arrangement to be complete. Very similar
to an ambush. An (almost) lone warrior in the enemy camp doesn't have high
survival chances.
The position stems from the game Ksieski-Huettig, Ditzingen 2001

Black was counting on 8. Ng5 Rf8, which is pretty much safe. Alas! The f7-
cell is temporarily weak and White uses that to good avail by 8. Bxf7+!
(marvelous sacrifice)Kxf7 (otherwise, the attacker scoops the e8-cannon) 9.
Ng5+ Kg8 10. Ne6 starting interrogations of the hapless d8-lady. A prisoner
in her own court with so many henchmen around! The d7-knight is clearly in
the way of the lady, but more pitifully, it hems in the c8-slider from guarding
the e6-square. "Line up!" doesn't mean that every soldier should take the
place he likes - order is called for so that the arrangement is meaningful and
robust.
The position stems from the game De la Paz-Wohl, Havana 2001

Black has wrongly and self-reliantly put the bishop on e6, over-trusting the
central file pin. Now, 15. dxe6!! boldly unpins, gifting the queen, and after
15...Qxd3 16. exf7+! White has already incinerated rook + minor for lady.
The combo is complete with 16...Kxf7 17. Rfd1 Qc2 18. Rac1!, gaoling the
queen. In the end, White will need much longer time to count his army units
than the opponent. The downside to everything. This is more like a grande
combination than a short tactic.
The position stems from the game Grabarczyk-Brendel, Ohrid 2001

83...Rg2+ 84. Kh8 Rf2 85. Kg7 Rg2+ 86. Kf7 Rh2 87. Kg7 Rg2+! repeats
moves as one of both pawns always needs defence. That is how a lone rook
successfully handles two more or less dangerous passers.
The position stems from the game Papakonstantinou-Moutousis, Thessaloniki

2017
A lady down, the perpetual saves White: 62. Rg7+ Kf8 63. Rf7+ Kg8 64.
Rg7+ Kh8 65. Rh7+ Kg8 66. Rg7+! The b5-slider watches over the e8-
square, while the king lends moral (and logistical) support to the rook.
The position stems from the game Vovk-Gasanov, Zhytomyr 2017
10. Ne5! piles up on c6 and threatens mate on d7 (10...Qxb5 11. Qd7#) After
the forced 10...Qc7 11. Qa4! Black has only to be buried. For example,
11...Qxe5 (apart from c6, the e4-knight is also under fire) 12. Bxc6+ Bxc6
13. Qxc6#! A summary execution after a brief court-martial. What is the
problem with Black's pieces now? He is seemingly sufficiently developed,
but badly disorganised : the b7-bishop is loose, the e4-knight is loose, the
queen attacks the wrong section (the c3-point is well-supported). Good
organisation/coordination is an element of sound play. Look what your pieces
are doing apart from where they sit.
The position stems from the game Sakaev-Delchev, Ohrid 2001

65...b2#
Same is 65...Re1# But not 65...Rxh2?? with stalemate.
The position stems from the game Srinath-Villegas, Pardubice 2017

50. Rd8#
The position stems from the game Britton-Green, Dundee 2017
58...Rf2+ 59. Kg3 Bf4#!
The position stems from the game Lederman-Krylov, Pardubice 2017

15...Nxc4! wins everything as 16. Bxc4 Bxd4 paralyses the adverse lady.
The position stems from the game Kostopoulos-Koukoufikis, Ikaros 2003
13. Nge4! dxe4 14. Nxe4 Qxf5 15. Nd6+! and Nxf5 means the queen is no
more. Passivity rarely spells good.
The position stems from the game Munoz-Bedoya, Balaguer 2003

15. g4 Bg6 16. f4! Bd6 17. f5 paralyses the g6-sweeper. Scavengers have a
hard time here. Compact flexible pawns like White's on the king wing are
extremely powerful.
The position stems from the game Czebe-Tarrago, Balaguer 2003

10...Nxe5 11. dxe5 d4! 12. Bf4 g5! is a disaster for the White dark-square
bishop. Where will the orphan find consolation?
The position stems from the game Tandrup-Harestad, Copenhagen 2003
The first player completely ignores the forking threat on c2 and pays a visit to
the Black monarch with12. Qe7! Rofl - that is checkmate.
The position stems from the game Paaske-Pedersen, Copenhagen 2003

96...Ra4! 97. Qxa4 Qb2#

To identical outcomes lead 97. a6 and 97. Ka2
The position stems from the game Tilicheev-Timagin, Pardubice 2017

11. Qh5+! frightens the e8-king and a5-hopper. White wins a piece, for
example, 11...Bf7 12. Qxa5 Bxc4 13. Qxd8+! and Bxc4. Flash queen checks
at h5/h4 are frequent cause of headache for the hostile kings in the early
opening - mark that well.
The position stems from the game Iskusnyh-Tishin, Saint Petersburg 2001
The fine-tuning of 15...Qg2! , cutting off the f3 and h3 squares of flight,

dooms the perky king at g4. What the hell does he do there? The mesmerising
threat of ...f7-f5 check, and when the king squats at h4, Bf6 check, with mate
to follow, is impossible to meet.Cutting the way back of over-exposed kings
is a trade secret frequently divulged in nice sample games.
The position stems from the game Dorin-Slipak, Vicente Lopez 2001
14. Qxd5! ends the game (14...Qxd5 15. Nc7+). Seemingly, the c7-cell is
defended twice?
The position stems from the game Vysochin-Bairachny, Voronezh 2001

11. Qd5+ Kf6 12. Qf7+ Kxe5 13. Bf4+! Kxe4 14. f3# quickly hunts down
the alienated enemy monarch. Modern day kings seem to suffer from a lot of
physical and psychological diseases.
The position stems from the game Skatchkov-Krovelschikov, Tomsk 2001
12. Qxd8 Raxd8 13. Bc7! wins at least the exchange (the a5-knight is
attacked too). After queen captures queen, the c7-square is no longer
defended.
The position stems from the game Szekely-Veltkamp, Haarlem 2001
In the maze of intertwined pieces,13. Bxg7! finds Ariadne's thread:

a) 13...Nxg7 14. Nf6+! royal fork or
b) 13...cxd5 14. Bxh8
Major themes are removing of the defender of the f6-cell plus tempo-gaining
move (the sacrificial bishop assails the h8-rook).
The position stems from the game Shchekachev-Maahs, Haarlem 2001

19. Bc4+! is a discovered attack on the Black queen that leaves nothing more
to play for.
The position stems from the game Metatronchess-Lipsk, FICS 2018
The temporising fine-tuner of 15. Qc6+! gives White decisive advantage:

a) 15...Qd7?? 16. Qxa8+
b) 15...Bd7 16. Qxf6! (attacking the h8-rook) 0-0 17. Rxe7 dxc3 18. Bh6!
c) 15...Kf8 16. Bh6+ Kg8 17. Rxe6! and the resulting complications will
definitely favour White, 17...fxe6? 18. Qxe6#
Chess is not a simple game - the wealth of decisions, techniques and
priyomes is astounding.
The position stems from the game Chernyshov-Jedryczka, Pardubice 2001
Black is all tied-up, while White all pent-up. The hypnotic 13. Nxd6+!
quickly proves the second player is just a hollow dreamer:
a) 13...Bxd6 14. Bb5! pins the queen - vacation sacrifice
b) 13...Qxd6 14. Qxf7+ Kd8 15. Bg5+! and Rad1 is another lethal queen pin -
attraction, tempo-gaining check plus the customary pin
The position stems from the game Salmensuu-Toma, Bergen 2001

15. Qg4+! f5 16. Qxf5+ picks up the e4-knight. Just when Black almost
managed to develop and neutralise existing threats...
The position stems from the game Roselli-Hernandez, Cali 2001

45...Rg2#
The position stems from the game Visser-Sandipan, Leiden 2017
28. Qh3+ Kg7 29. Qh7#
The position stems from the game Jamula-Stefanova, Warsaw 2017

61. Qxg5#
The position stems from the game Certek-Chmiel, Banska Stiavnica 2017
33...Ne5+ 34. Kd4 Rd3#!
The position stems from the game Kazarian-Kudischewitsch, Jerusalem 2017

35...Qg4+ 36. Kh1 Qh4+ 37. Kg1 Qg4+ 38. Kh2 Qf4+! 39. Kh1 Qh4+ is a
perpetual checking pursuit. The king is cornered and all defenders awkwardly
placed.
The position stems from the game Bodnaruk-Gritsayeva, Saint Petersburg

2017

34...Rb1+ 35. Kd2 Rb2+ 36. Ke1 Rb1+! 37. Kd2 Rb2+ repeats. At the end
of the line, trying to go 38. Kc3 Rc2+ is wrong, as well as 38. Ke3 d4+! 39.
Kxd4/Kxe4 d2 and the pawn promotes in short order. See how strong the c6-
d5-e4-d3 pawn chain is. All pawns support each other while firmly grounded
at the same time. I grab the pawns and leave you the meat of a whole horse!
The position stems from the game Lyell-Wells, London 2017

White does not strike like having an overwhelming edge. Alas, after 15.
Nh4!, the knight becomes a gaoler and hangman of the otherwise attractive
Black queen.
What is the logic in Black's defeat? Well, simple coincidence; the h7-pawn
belongs to h6, then the queen might have scurrried back to h7.
The position stems from the game Garcia-Szmetan, Cali 2001

If the c4-bishop retreats, Black might try to consolidate. 9. Re1+ Ne7,
followed by ...Nbc6, also might land Black at firm ground. The trick is knock
off the protector of the d5-point, and that is achieved by 9. Qe1+! Qxe1 10.
Rxe1+ , the queen has disappeared from the circulation, and now
10...Ne7/Be6 11. Bxd5 concedes a pawn.
Trappy, tricky and pitfally - what normal person would undevelop a queen to
e1 instead of developing a rook there?
The position stems from the game Weinzettl-Wukits, Mureck 2001

8. Bxf6 Qxf6 (alternative captures change nothing) 9. Qd5+! will sweep the
c5-slider off the board. Was there a saying that loose pieces drop off?
The position stems from the game Gross-Bujak, Pilsen 2001
15...Bh4!invites the White lady to a morbid dance.
The position stems from the game Gutierrez-Llaneza, Mondariz 2003

9. Qc4! - f7 and c6 are at stake. I would concede c6, happily.
The position stems from the game Gomez-Rios, San Fernando 2003

10. Nxd5! gains material:
a) 10...Nxe5 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. Bxa8
b) 10...exd5 11. Nc6! Qe8 12. Nxe7+ Qxe7 13. Bxd5 staring at a8
Looping through the combo while initiating with Nc6 fork and only later
offering the knight at d5 is a possibility.
The position stems from the game Schleifer-Fernandez, Montreal 2003

14. Bc4! happens to trap the Black queen. A bit strange, but logical - the d7-
square is in the grip by the White rook.
The position stems from the game Estremera-Leonardo, Lisbon 2001
6. Qd5! and the f7-square is indefensible:

a) 6...Nh6 7. Bxh6! relieves the knight from his duty
b) 6...d6 7. Qxf7+ Kd7 8. Be6#!
A frequent pitfall/morass in a range of central gambits.
The position stems from the game Zezulkin-Jasik, Polanica Zdroj 2001
13. Ba6! wins more material:

a) 13...Kxd8 14. Bxb7
b) 13...Bxa6 14. Qxc6+ and Qxa8
The position stems from the game Zubov-Zavgorodniy, Nikolaev 2001

15. Qxc6+! (the e7-knight is pinned) and Qxa8+ gains more material,
bringing mate closer.
The position stems from the game Garcia-Barrios, Cartagena de Indias 2001
10. d6! stamps White's victory by gathering sufficient quantity of enemy

resources:
a) 10...Bxd6 11. Bxb7
b) 10...Bxg2 11. dxe7! (an important intermediate fork with the queen
involved) Qxe7 12. Kxg2
Discovered attack, loose b7-bishop, ingenious d5 lever/pawn break. Beware
advanced levers!
The position stems from the game Cebalo-Pantaleoni, Bratto 2001
15. Qh4+! forks the e7-overlord and the stray diagonal slider at e4. Exposed
kings always represent major danger/concerns, especially in the early phases
of the game.
The position stems from the game Anisimov-Popczynski, Koszalin 2001

13. Qd4! scares the startly e4-horse. When it jumps back at f6 or is supported
by the services of the f-pawn, 14. b4! isolates and annihilates the Black dark-
square bishop. A step-by-step approach working wonderfully here. Piling
threats one over the other is a good dynamic strategy.
The position stems from the game Pavlovic-Fierz, Winterthur 2001

8. Qa4+! The g4-bishop falls into the arms of the sword-yielding lady. Even
a beginner wouldn't miss that one.
The position stems from the game Shabanov-Igney, Arco 2001
9...Bb4+! gains the White queen due to the pin. Similar pins along the central
files are a frequent phenomenon when one side is fully oblivious of
development. Time to open a bottle of champagne.
The position stems from the game Janmohammad-Lordrudman, FICS 2018
40. Bb4+ Kd8 41. Nxe6#!
The position stems from the game Rakesh-Krzyzanowski, Warsaw 2017

39...Rxh4+! 40. Kxh4 Qh5#
The position stems from the game Kazarian-Kaspi, Jerusalem 2017
Black is 2 cannons to the good. Unfortunately for him, 14. Nxc7! is a mating
occurence. "If I win the whole world, but I have no mate, I am nothing."
The position stems from the game Zimmerman-Haszon, Szombathely 2003

13...Qg5+! tests the staying ability of the g3-knight.
The position stems from the game Simon-Szabo, Szombathely 2003

15. e5!gains material: 15...Nd5 16. Nxd5 (attacking the lady) exd5 17. Bxe7
Even worse is 15...g5 16. exf6 gxh4 17. Qh7# Ideal centers frequently take
care of ideal play.
The position stems from the game Grimberg-Vaillant, Avoine 2003
9. dxc5!"discovers" the g4-horse.
The position stems from the game Lucio-Schneider, Avoine 2003

12. e5! crashes through, discovering a check while stinging the f6-horse.
Diagonal opposition of kings with enemy sliders is ill-boding all the way
through.
The position stems from the game Ortiz-Rua, Cali 2003

29...Rd3+ (this is more dangerous than 29...Rd2++ as escape squares for the
White king to the 3rd rank are denied) 30. Qd4 Qxd4+ 31. Ke2 Qe3#
The position stems from the game Kesgin-Benidze, Izmir 2017
33. Qxh6+! Kg8 34. Qxg7#
The position stems from the game Takacs-Jurcisin, Banska Stiavnica 2017
6. Qh5+! g6 7. Qxd5 grabs the d5 central pawn, making the c4-backpacker

weak at that. Over-extension plus stupid weakening of the king shelter.
The position stems from the game Popchev-Jakab, Subotica 2001

11. Qh5! and the Black monarch will curse this move to the end of his life
(rather short, to be objective). The discovered check of Bg6 is not parryable
by any ordinary or extraordinary means (unless the second player throws the
chessboard away). That is what happens in case the Greek Gift sac is not
accepted.
The position stems from the game Fercec-Kukina, Rijeka 2001

14. Qd3! pins the e4-horse. As it is already challenged by its doppelgaenger
at d2 and the f5-lady is unsupported, it is time for it to neigh goodbye.
The position stems from the game Socko-Ernst, Bermuda 2002
14. Bxb7has won at least a pawn in the main line running 14...Qxa4 15.
Nxa4 The alternative of 14...dxc3? 15. Bc6!, pinning the queen, is disastrous.
There are moves and moves.
The position stems from the game Solodovnichenko-Maratkanov, Kharkov
2002
8. g4! Qxg4 severs the connection between the queen at h5 and bishop at c5.
Now, the insatiable dragon at e3 gobbles his half-brother at c5, to announce
the point of no return has been reached.
Pawn decoys are especially pungent at times.
The position stems from the game Kulaots-Geller, Moscow 2002

White has just opened the g1-a7 slanted row by playing f2-f4? The opponent
makes good use of that by 9...Nxd4, snapping a free knight. It suddenly
proves recapturing with the queen fails to 10...Bc5! instituting a deadly pin.
Who would have thought that?
The position stems from the game Borekci - Sideif-Sade, Antalya 2002
15. Nh4! attacks both knights. About the best Black has is 15...Nxh4 16.
Qxh5+ g6 17. Qxh4 and the obituary will list only the loss of a minor. Too
many loose horses swirling around.
The position stems from the game Shabalov-Gagnon, Las Vegas 2002
33. Rxe5+! dxe5 34. Qxg6 wins additional material. Cool undermining.
The position stems from the game Bbr-Kenom, FICS 2018

22. Qxh7+!! Kxh7 23. Rh4#
The position stems from the game Tezeren-Akkus, Konya 2017
39. Bxg7+ Kg8 40. Bf6+ Bg7 41. Qxg7#
The position stems from the game Dimitrova-Solozhenkina, Sochi 2017

38...Qg3+! 39. Kf1 Qxf2#
The position stems from the game Hewitt-Arkell, Cardiff 2017
34. Ng5! Be7 35. Rxe7 Rd8 36. Rxh7#
The position stems from the game Petrakis-Papageorgiou, Achaea 2017

12. Rxe6+!! fxe6 13. Bg6 is one nore example of Boden's mate. Destruction
of the pawn shield utilised by a pair of raking bishops.
The position stems from the game Kornev-Soloviev, Tula 2002

14...Bxe2! 15. Qxe2 Qxf6 leaves Black one captain ahead in personnel. 15.
Bxd8 Bxd1 in above line does the very same. Intermediate captures might
sometimes spoil a person's day. Black counts well here, White obviously has
some problems with numbers.
The position stems from the game Ruiz-Rizouk, Dos Hermanas 2002
The strange 12. e6!issues a death sentence to the d7-bishop. Pieces of both
camps wallow all over the board. What a mess!
The position stems from the game Rodriguez-Perez, Madrid 2002

One more bizarre-to-the-bone position. No one can understand what's going

on above. 15. Nxc5! check is a clearance sacrifice and, after Black retakes
with either the pawn or queen (White welcomes both decisions), 16. Qe7
ideally checkmates. The logo of this campaign might be "Whose king is more
exposed?" No need to search for a complex solution when there is a simpler
one.
The position stems from the game Mamedyarov-Zibaei, Dubai 2002

15. Nc4! is strong and obvious - when the queen avoids the attack, Nd6
checking fork looms large.
The position stems from the game Eerens-Schoorl, Dieren 2003
The foray of the White king ends after 12...Ng5+ 13. Kg4 h5+! 14. Kh4
Qf4+ 15. g4 hxg4# Can you find alternative checkmates?
The position stems from the game Fatma-Gopal, Dubai 2003

15...Qxf2+ 16. Kh1 Qf1+ checkmates backrank. To see that, you should be
aware the Black queen and rook interact at f2.
The position stems from the game Billot-Redon, Plancoet 2003

Before White captures the a8-rook, 13. Ndxb5! axb5 14. Nxb5and Nxd6+
slurps 2 extra pawns. Sweet Sicilian dreams... Apart from the fork, the x-ray
attack of the d1-lady upon the d6-slider is of weight.
The position stems from the game Shirazi-Cappelletti, Metz 2002
14. Be3! Qa6 15. cxd5, pointing the d3-sword at her Majesty again, to follow
up with lynching the e4-culprit, is a nice culmination. Threat, threat, death.
What could the queen possibly smuggle at a1?
The position stems from the game Almeida-Herraiz, Havana 2002
Black has just captured en passant, leaving the f4-bishop hanging. Naturally,
14...Qxf4 is an appropriate punishment. Careful - chess logic does not put up
with negligence.
The position stems from the game Merelos-Paragua, Makati 2002

13. Nxd5! (discovers an attack on the hostile queen) Qxb3 14. Nxf6+ (an
important intermediate checking link) and axb3 has won a pawn. Bearing in
mind White also owns the bishop pair, who would you guess will win? The
devil is in the details.
The position stems from the game Dumitrache-Cappon, La Fere 2002
The sudden though obvious 14. Nxe6! fxe6 15. Qxd5 , hitting a8 and e6,
pretty much wraps up the game. White will give an official reception next in
commemoration of the event. Line clearance coupled with well-indicated pin.
The position stems from the game Arizmendi-Munoz, Andorra la Vella 2002
The winning variation runs like 14. Qa4 Qxd5 15. Qxc6! Qxc6 16. Nxe7+
and Nxc6 The offering of a knight in kind actually turns into a swindle with
time. Sac reasonably.
The position stems from the game Belozerov-Driamin, Tomsk 2002

You will not miss15. e7! discovered check, simultaneously hitting the hostile
queen, will you? Well, I know, you are just starting the game... Anyway,
clearing one's ideas in this hell of a mess might take some time.
The position stems from the game Volkov-Gillas, Korinthos 2002
57. Ng4+ Kh5 58. Nf6+! Kh6 59. Rh7#
The position stems from the game Ustich-Legenko, Sochi 2017

54. Rh7#!
The position stems from the game Nasibullin-Vicas, Panevezys 2017

62...g1R! 63. Kh2 Nf3+ 64. Kh3 g4#!
Big mistake is 62...g1Q?? because of stalemate.
The position stems from the game Dewi-Sredojevic, Budapest 2017
37...Kh7! 38. Qg6+ Kxg6 39. Rxf3 Qg2#
The position stems from the game Jowett-Watson, Warwick 2017

13. Ne5! unexpectedly traps the Black queen. Taking with the pawn opens
the d-file, allowing Qd8# Obviously, the knight's hobby is braving danger -
always chivalrous.
The position stems from the game Legky-Phillips, Montreal 2002

14. Nxd5! wins a whole piece:
a) 14...Qxb3 15. Nxf6+ (the point!) and Bxb3
b) 14...cxd5 15. Qxb4 has left the queen undefended
c) finally, 14...Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Qxb3 16. Bxb3! has returned the White slider
from the danger zone at d5 to homeland in the process of retaking and
regaining the queen
A bit weird. Weirdness is a measure of logic.
The position stems from the game Ivanov-Supplieth, Trier 2002

16. Rxh8 Bxh8 17. Bxg8! grabs a piece. Wonderful counting on White's part.
The position stems from the game Jayfanstone-Venugopal, FICS 2018
15. Bg2+ Kc5 16. Rd5+! and Rxe5 Check, check - point home.
The position stems from the game Tadic-Borsos, Senta 2002

13. Bxg6! is a demolition sacrifice quickly ending the game. The rook has
nowhere to go - an outcast in his own land. If 13...hxg6, then 14. Qxg6+ Kh8
15. Qxf7 is very convincing. With all those dark-complexion pieces rubbing
their home ranks, there is a fair share of justice in the outcome.
The position stems from the game Peralta-Duran, Pobla de Lillet 2002

15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Bxb7! gains further pawns,
breaking down further the opponent pawn skeleton. Chess is a game of small
advantages gradually growing into larger ones. See where those small
advantages are hidden.
The position stems from the game Foisor-Escofet, Pobla de Lillet 2002
12. Nf6+!! exf6 13. Qxd8+ Kxd8 14. Bxf6+! and Bxh8 leaves the audience
agape. A round of applause will follow now. Non-capturing sacs are
especially resplendent.
The position stems from the game Sherzer-Chiong, Washington 2002
Not 14...bxc3? 15. Nxe7+, but 14...Bxf5! 15. exf5 bxc3 A good guiding tenet
is to get rid of annoying attackers before proceeding any further.
The position stems from the game Vedder-Westerweele, Vlissingen 2003

10. Bxf7+! comes as a surprise. 10...Kxf7 11. Ne5+ swallows the lady. A
howler is 10. Ne5?? Qxg2#
The position stems from the game Clawitter-Van Meter, Los Angeles 2003
12...Be3! checkmates painfully. The pair of Black bishops are not sweepers
but rakers. Harrwitz would be glad.
The position stems from the game Trubacik-Kantorik, Stare Mesto 2003
14...Qc7!leaves the second player a piece to the good as, if the c3-animal is
protected, ...Qxh2 whispers checkmate.
The position stems from the game Nadir-Magerramov, Abu Dhabi 2003

13. Bxf7+! Kxf7 14. Qe6+ Kf8 15. Ng5! is a whirlwind that asks mates on f7
and h7 (with the knight).
The position stems from the game Bentancor-Lo Presti, Buenos Aires 2003
15. 0-0-0! simultaneously attacks the d7-knight and clears the e1-square. In
the sequence 15...Rd8 (what else?) 16. Rxd7! Rxd7 17. Rd1 the d7-point
falls, ensuring the first player significant material edge. 15. Rd1 Rd8 16.
Bxb6 also wins.
The position stems from the game Nurkic-Muslimovic, Neum 2002
14. Ng6! ensnares the Black lady right in the center of the board. Black will
have to lunge forward with e6-e5, but after 15. dxe5 his survival chances are
infinitesimal due to the heavy loss of material. Please note, that the knight
hop at g6 watches over the e7-cell .
The position stems from the game Arencibia-Alvarez, Madrid 2002

10. Qxb7 attacks the c6-horse and x-ray-attacks its teammate at e4. If the c6-
dweller leaves, e4 falls. 10...Qd7 abandons the a8-cannon. Alternative
winning ways might also be available.
The position stems from the game Obukhov-Arbakov, Alushta 2002
14...dxe4! wins the knight or bishop due to the fork. Recapturing will be a
huge disappointment owing to ...Ne2+ royal fork. Quaint - how an
undefended pawn can wreak such havoc.
The position stems from the game Sturua-Atalik, Bled 2002
5...Bxa3 6. Nxa3 Qa5+! picks up the a3-horse. Inexperienced players might

fall in for that mouse-trap. Obviously, it is possible to win a game even as
early as the starting line.
The position stems from the game Al Dahbali-Ghaem Maghami, Bled 2002

14. Bc6+! sends Black dizzy:
a) 14...Kf8 15. Rd8# (the g7-bishop blocks an important escape square)
b) 14...Bd7 15. Rxd7! Rxd7 (transforming the defender into a pinned piece)
and now 16. Rd1 piling up is definitive
Uncastled king again.
The position stems from the game Khachiyan-Lakdawala, Los Angeles 2002

15. Nxf6+ and, no matter how Black recaptures at f6, 16. Qd5+! and Qxa8 is
a lightning termination. The a8-rook is a frequent suspect in similar
developments.
The position stems from the game Tyomkin-Hidalgo, Merida 2002
54...Kg3 55. Kg1 Bd4+ 56. Kh1 Bf3#!

54...Kf2?? stalemates.
The position stems from the game Rahul-Vokoun, Prague 2017
56...Qh5#!
56...f5 and 56...h5 also mate.
The position stems from the game Pozun-Plaskan, Maribor 2017

41. Rh4+! Kxh4 42. Qh3#
The position stems from the game Lind-Nielsen, Vaxjo 2017
The e4-knight is pinned, but 14...Bxf2+! and ...Bxe1 gets rid of the pin,
leading to a definitive conclusion. Weak pieces, like the central Black knight,
can be very useful in lending support to their co-patriots. Gens una sumus.
The position stems from the game Elia-Garbisu de Goni, Pamplona 2002
15. Rd2!, the exercise of piling-up is so sweet and exhilarating; Rhd1

doubling will follow and Black should yield as the d7-point crumbles. Give
me more of those "ings". There is a time for everything - a time for dynamic
moves and a time for quiet moves. God bless, we have the Bible to teach us
that.
The position stems from the game Bobras-Fruteau, Cappelle la Grande 2003

Where does the White knight flee from the arrogant bishop attack? 15. Nc6!
takes the comfortable hole, forking a whole flock of majors. After the queen
retreats and the knight takes at b8, a subsequent g4 already traps the h5-
knight.
The position stems from the game Kloss-Fuchs, Recklinghausen 2003
12. Qd8leaves Black a mated king more.
The position stems from the game Saldano-Morejon, Albacete 2003

14...Qd6! will gain one of the two overcrowded minors on the d-file.
The position stems from the game Alvarez-Quevedo, Madrid 2003

14...Bxg3! nets a pawn while shattering the (somewhat deficient) White king
shelter. Recapturing with the pedestrian is disastrous owing to 15...Qxg3+
and ...Qg2#
The position stems from the game Filipkiewicz-Juszczak, Wysowa 2003
Pin right ahead (Black hopes to restore the material balance due to it).
"Annihilate." 12. Qxd5! - gosh. Queen captures queen. Nf6 check - queen
lost, after Nxd5 White's personnel includes one cavalry unit more. A story of
an uncastled king and frustrated dreams.
The position stems from the game Bakre-Ekrof, Doha 2003
9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. Bxe5! for the time being has gained a pawn, as 10...Qxe5?
sees Black mated with Qd8 intimate hug. A disciplined central file mate. Of
course, White will quickly realise one way or another.
The position stems from the game Benjamin-Hrop, Parsippany 2003

14. Nxf5! nibbles away a free pawn. 14...gxf5 15. Qg5+ Kf7 16. Qg7+ Ke8
17. Rfe1! checkmates. The Black pawn shield is far from exemplary - porous
and vulnerable - and most pieces rudely hemmed in (look at the b7-slider).
Attacking outposts, like Bh6, are extremely useful, try to get them.
The position stems from the game Mikchalchishin-Plomp, Zwolle 2003

13. Bxf7+! has won a pawn, creating multiple islands in Black's pawn
edifice. 13...Qxf7 14. Qxf7+ Kxf7 15. Rxd7+ and Rxb7 grabs a second edible
infantryman. If anything, White enjoys big development lead, so the sac is
very legitimate.
The position stems from the game Prie-Neubauer, Bad Woerishofen 2003
Black is ready and White is coming. 13. Nxe7! badly mishandles the second
participant as he has to take back with the rook, a tasty food for the g5-
bishop. Capturing with the knight reveals an attack of the b5-slider upon d7.
Hocus-pocus.
The position stems from the game Galyas-Francsics, Budapest 2003
15. Rb3 Qa5 16. Bb6! with a fore-taste of a sweet queen meat. Give 'em the
heat - threaten all the time.
The position stems from the game Negulescu-Burden, Virginia Beach 2003

15. Rxe4! is the final verdict. 15...dxe4 16. Qxd7 has just checkmated. Pins,
line clearance - the usual suspects. Attacks through the center are generally
much more forceful than flank ones; there are exceptions, of course.
The position stems from the game Milanovic-Zivkovic, Dimitrovgrad 2003

26...Qh3+! 27. Kg1 Qg2#
Also possible is 27...Ne2#
The position stems from the game Kizatbay-Hansen, Oslo 2017
37. Rd6+ Kh5 38. Rxc5#!

Also possible are 38. Rh7# and 38. g4#
The position stems from the game Stevanic-Urbanc, Maribor 2017

39. Qe8+ Kh7 40. Qg6+! Kg8 41. Re8#
The position stems from the game Okhotnik-Olsen, Koege 2017
24...Bf1+!
a) 25. Kh1 Bxh3+ 26. Rxe1 Rxe1#
b) 25. Kf3 Nxh2/Ne5#
The position stems from the game Hilwerda-Wunnink, Hilversum 2017
11...c5! forces the White queen to disengage her support for the c4-pal.
Queen retreats to e3. Horse tramples bishop. Somewhat similar to Noah's Arc
pattern, what concerns the execution.
The position stems from the game Al Sayed-Jobava, Dubai 2003

15. Qd4! and Black has no defence against the impending check/fork at f6:
a) 15...Be5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Nf6+! and Nxe8
b) 15...Rd8 16. Nf6+ Kf8 17. e4 (or Ng4)
Place you pieces on central squares - their performance strongly increases
there. Black is so strangulated for space he can hardly move. Look at the d5
gorgeous warrior - he clamps everything. Advanced d5 or e5 central pawns
have major sway on the entire game - try getting them.
The position stems from the game Yermolinsky-Dimitrijevic, Oak Brook

2003

9. Qb3! attacks the f7-pawn threatening Qxf7+ and, when the king steps
aside to the d-line, Rd1 pin, so Black must most realistically castle with ...0-
0. Now, the continuation is 10. cxb7, ouch!, the pawn assails 2 enemy army
units at once, menacing to promote. After 10...Bxb7 11. Qxb7 the game has
all but finished.
The position stems from the game Mamedyarov-Belov, Istanbul 2003

12. e5! powerful pawn thrust is fatal: 12...dxe5 13. Bf3!, skewering on the
long diagonal, e4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Qxe4 16. Qd8+!! Bxd8 17. Rxd8
redesigns Morphy's Opera mate pattern. Anything better than emulate the
classics?
The position stems from the game Horvath-Lang, Pfaeffikon 2003
11. e5!simultaneously attacks the f6-knight and g4-bishop (by a discovery).

Black will have to reconcile himself with a quick rout:
a) 11...Nd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Qxg4
b) 11...Bxf3 12. exf6! (gaining a tempo) and gxf3
c) 11...c5 (an attempt at a counter-thrust) 12. exf6 cxd4 13. fxe7 attacking the
f8-dweller, etc.
Tempo play at its best. Counting correctly is a vital technique in all phases of
the game. Learn to count well.
The position stems from the game Cherniaev-Preziuso, Silvaplana 2003
15...Ng3! forks the White queen and rook.
The position stems from the game Gdaly-Vinrip, FICS 2018

12. Bxc3+ Ke8 doesn't bring White very far. The position hides 12. Bg5!!
double check, though. Lo!,12...Ke8 13. Rd8 checkmates! Black will know
better next time - stay away from discovered checks, especially if they
happen to be double.
The position stems from the game Salai-Papatheodorou, Olomouc 2003
The fancy11...cxb2+! disregards the threat on the bishop's person and allows
the appearance of a new female after 12. Qxb4 bxa1Q!Cheers.
The position stems from the game Cabart-Pirklova, Prague 2003

The impudent 15...Bc5! wins the d4-pedestrian in view of the loose condition
of the d1-cannon. Black could also take more drastic measures with the
"magical" 15...Rxd4! 16. Rxd4 Bc5causing paralysis.
The position stems from the game Dusek-Sodoma, Prague 2003

The bold 14. Rxf5! rounds off the game. Recapturing leads to 15. Bxh6 and
Qxg7#
The position stems from the game Holmgren-Morsare, Hallstahammar 2003
The masterly 15. Bh6+! Bg7 16. Rd8 backranks. The more obvious 15. Rd8+
Kg7 bears no fruit.
The position stems from the game Norberg-Janse, Hallstahammar 2003

13...Ng4!! (threatening mate at h2) 14. hxg4 hxg4 (mate at h2 again)

successfully will deliver the Promised Land of Checkmate. For instance:
a) 15. g3 Qxg3#!
b) 15. Rd1 Qh2+ 16. Kf1 Qh1#
Choreography of a past master.
The position stems from the game Nuri-Georgescu, Budva 2003

Black's superior tactical ability materialises after 12...Qa5+ and ...Qxb5.
The position stems from the game Mikkelsen-Volodin, Budva 2003
13. Bd5! - surrounded by fierce enemies from all sides, the queen must
succumb. Fantasy finale.
The position stems from the game Gruber-Bretscher, Seefeld 2003

11. Nxa7+! flies the Black lady off the board; 11. Nxe7+ is pretty much
identical. Taking the knight on b8 is not bad at all.
The position stems from the game Voss-Kreusch, Seefeld 2003

14...Bxc3! will peck next on a2.
The position stems from the game Colombo-Albarran, Villa Ballester 2003
14...Qa5+ 15. b4 Bc3+! 16. Rd2 c1Q gives checkmate in 3. Advanced

passed pawns like c2 are dangerous as hell. Any positional savings of those
constitute a towering asset.
The position stems from the game Crahan-Le Roux, Plancoet 2003
White has been hoping for 12...Nxc3 13. bxc3 Rxc3 14. Bb2 hobbling on.
Alas, Black has better. The crux consists in 12...Rxc3!! and the first player
must throw the towel. As it happens, 13. bxc3 Nxc3+ 14. Ke1 Nc2!
checkmates. Hallelujah, the new horse draft is really powerful! Speak about
the surprise element in chess...
Underdevelopment is bad, even with queens gone, even in the endgame.
The position stems from the game Razafison-Lazarev, Tarbes 2003

12. Nc4! shall grab countless riches. 12...Bxf4 13. Nxb6 or 12...Qxb5 13.
Nxd6+ forking. Not only attacks themselves, but the mere potentiality of
attack, is important, like the e5-knight eyeing the c4 threat square.
Recognising threats earlier should boost your playing strength.
The position stems from the game Marciano-Lemoine, Tarbes 2003

10...Bc2! destroys the d1-cannon. White must play something like e3 or a3 to
save his queen, otherwise, on 11. Rd2, for instance, 11...Nb6! suddenly
paralyses the lady in midboard (the c2-sweeper cuts off the d3- and b3-
squares).
The position stems from the game Klimm-Pajeken, Germany 2003
15. Bd5! Kf7 (what else?) 16. Qg4! (or Qh5+) collapses the e6-point.
The position stems from the game Ruettinger-De la Cruz, Germany 2004
With such backward development and lost castling rights,12. Nxc7! easily
decides. 12...Kxc7 13. Qxd6 makes a mate announcement, otherwise the a8-
cannon falls.
The position stems from the game Teske-Bachstein, Forchheim 2003

11...Bc2+! will lovingly take the d5-queen next.
The position stems from the game Monmeneu-Redondo, Manises 2003
13. Ng6+! hxg6 14. Qxh8+ Kf7 15. Bc4+ stops the clocks (the lady flies off
the board).
The position stems from the game Lukey-Lean, Canterbury 2003

This one is simple - 14...Bxh6! 15. Qxh6 Qxd4
The position stems from the game Ortiz-Sarmiento, El Sauzal 2003

No matter how tense the position might look like,15...Ng3+! is a fusillade of
the White lady. Young she dies.
The position stems from the game Tsimbryla-Pasko, Dniepropetrovsk 2003
You don't need to be an extreme tactician to see 15. c5!trapping the bishop.
After 15...bxc5 16. dxc5 Black has to take care of the g7-cell first.
The position stems from the game Hebesberger-Wasl, Austria 2003

9...Qf3 threatens ...Qxh1+, threatens ...fxe4 paralysing the d3-slider. White is

fine if we omit couple of unnecessarily weakened squares.
The position stems from the game Volejnik-Sargac, Rabac 2003

15. Nxf5 Qxf5 16. Qd5! is a double attack. Determine the 2 targets
yourselves.
The position stems from the game Jagdhuber-Berkemeier, Bad Meinberg

2003
7. g4!locks horns with the Black queen. The only available retreat, 7...Qe6,
is happily met by Nxc7+ family-forking.
The position stems from the game Rodriguez-Herrera, Mendoza 2003
13. Qxa6+ Kb8 14. Qb7# is decisive as hell. A pleasant alternative is 13.
Qxc7+ Ka8 14. Qb7#
The position stems from the game Ong-Ryan, Singapore 2003

Careful. Not 14...Nxh7?? 15. Nxf7+ deadly-forking, but 14...Bxe5! 15. dxe5,
destroying the subversive attacker first, and only then ...Nxh7, enjoying a
piece to the good.
The position stems from the game Prasad-Gautam, Suva 2003
15...d4! 16. Bxd4 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. Rxd4 Bc5! 19. Rd1 Rad8 gains
a whole rook. You should be able to spot such subtleties to become a stronger
player.
The position stems from the game Villatoro-Pineda, San Salvador 2003
12. Nxe6! is the move, attacking the crown-bearer and f8-cannon. Can you
make out why other moves are weaker?
The position stems from the game Wang-Boersma, Groningen 2003

The conscientious 15...Qc5! pins the White bishop. Later, ...b5 will win it.
The position stems from the game Rayo-Tornay, Arrasate 2003
10...Qe3+! nets the d3-bishop. Sloppy piece placement causes the pre-historic
catastrophe.
The position stems from the game Haug-Heinl, Boeblingen 2003

14...c5 traps the White sweeper. Sharp eyes are the property of a good
tactician.
The position stems from the game Kaesemann-Wagner, Unna 2003

The most fierce attacks arise when a piece or 2 down. The witty 15. Ba3!
pins the e7-horse to allow queen mate at h8. Previously, on Qh8+ the second
player could have interposed by ...Ng8, muddling up the game. Think before
you go.
The position stems from the game Dorst-Schmehl, Bad Zwesten 2004
12. Qh5+ Kg8 13. Bh7+ Kh8 14. Bg6+ Kg8 15. Qh7# sees Max Lange in
action.
The position stems from the game Sargac-Dedijer, Bosnjaci 2004

15...Qxc5 16. Kxb2 is not the best of variations. 15...Rb4!, blocking out the
firepower of the c5-sweeper, is a humble and simple checkmate. More of
that.
The position stems from the game Santaella-Tapia, Malaga 2004

9...Bd4! asks for the e5-horse and b2-pawn (and later the a1-dweller). Me
innamoro.
The position stems from the game Navratil-Karhanek, Prague 2004
Any normal player would have retreated his queen. Not this one, though, who
found 14...Be3+!! to surprise his opponent and the kibitzers. 15. Bxe3 Qxg3
has drowned the queen; 15. Kb1 Bxf4 is bishopping all along.
The position stems from the game Serrano-Delgado, Valencia 2004
15. Qxd7# is an excellent piece of first-grade tactics.
The position stems from the game Paramasivam-Tariq, Chennai 2004

15...Rd8 guarantees the eradication of the evil d3-bishop. A bishop retreat by
16. Be4/Bc2 is met by ...Qc5+! exposing the White lady to the ferocious
attack of the d8-cannon.
The position stems from the game Joanovits-Collas, France 2004
15...Qb5! wins material due to the double attack on the d3-lady and a4-
rimmer. 16. Qxb5 cxb5 replicates the threat, this time on the a4-critter and
e3-sweeper (by the knight outpost on d5). A clear manifestation how
important piece defence is - the c6-pedestrian supporting the b5-queen gains
a tempo after recapturing.
The position stems from the game Szell-Koczo, Budapest 2004
13...Rfb8 14. Qxc7 Ra7! gives the naughty queen a good lashing. Other
uncompromising scourges, like 14...Bb6 or 14...Bd6 are also experimentable.
The position stems from the game Kamp-Christensen, Copenhagen 2004

We witness a Reti-like structure that has arisen from who knows what
opening arrangement. 15...Bf4! , the g5-jumper will never see the scintillating
e4 outpost station.
The position stems from the game Slawtschew-Ohme, Leutersdorf 2004
13...Nd5! is a buster. Queen budging is met by a frivolous horse jump on f3.
The position stems from the game Vela-Razmyslov, Coria del Rio 2004
15. Qg6+!, using the paralysis on the f7-pawn, is a wise man's motion. Do
you see the subsequent developments? Broken king shelter is king half-dead.
The position stems from the game Duenzel-Gaier, Leutersdorf 2004

15. Bg4 Qg5 16. Ne4 Qg6 17. Bh5! counts until three to witness a queen
paralysis. An intermediate check at b4 changes nothing - the king simply
shuffles to f1.
The position stems from the game Turikov-Raedeker, Dresden 2004
15. g5! squeezes the life out of the Black female. The megalodon on d6 is
worth rook and a half.
The position stems from the game Karadeniz-Camci, Kusadasi 2004
Black has just made a powerful pawn thrust with ...f7-f5, which brings
happiness in the White camp after15. Qe6+! (the d7-rook falls).
The position stems from the game Daler-Okumus, Kusadasi 2004

15. Bh3! displaces the c8-rook, allowing a bite at c7 next.
The position stems from the game Sambuco-Lo Russo, Villa Ballester 2004
13. Bxh6is decisive:

a) 13...Bxh6 14. Nxf6+ and Nxd7
b) 13...c6 14. Bxg7
Avoid placing your pieces on squares where they are under attack.
The position stems from the game Kruppa-Moliboga, Kiev 2003
15...Qg6! attacks the e4 and h3 pawns (the latter by the bishop due to the
pin). One of them will fall. Bravo!
The position stems from the game Leiva-Granados, Sants 2003

Don't miss the mate in 2 after 13...Qxf2+ 14. Kh2 Qg1!
The position stems from the game Sijpkens-Gustafsson, Dos Hermanas 2004
13. Qd5+ Ke7 14. Bg5+! is more interested in the lady hiding behind the
king's back.
The position stems from the game Vasta-Revesz, Dos Hermanas 2004
14. Ng6#! is violent.
The position stems from the game Ward-Manrique, Dos Hermanas 2004

14. Bxg7+ Kg8 15. Bxf6! checks and mates. Laudable is the role of the
White monarch leading his army to glory uncastled.
The position stems from the game Pique-Eeckhoudt, Dos Hermanas 2004
15...Qe3mate adds to the hustle and bustle in midboard.
The position stems from the game Stupp-Palmer, Dos Hermanas 2004
13. e5! gains the f6-knight as, in case it moves, Qh7 checkmates.
The position stems from the game Nardi-Kosir, Dos Hermanas 2004

The quiet 15...Qd5! forces resignation - White will get heart attack before
trying to neutralise ...Qe4+ Wedgy stuff.
The position stems from the game Paz-Kruglikov, Dos Hermanas 2004
7. Nxf7 kills the Black lady who has left herself no loophole.
The position stems from the game Gasik-Eliezer, Dos Hermanas 2004
11. Bb5! guns down the Black queen to make sure he will have sufficient
mating material.
The position stems from the game Can-Rustia, Dos Hermanas 2004

15...Nf3+ pays close attention to 3 enemies at once in a family format.
The position stems from the game Mar-Szmetan, Dos Hermanas 2004
After 12. c3! the News Agency reports treachery: "Our Lady has fallen in an
unequal battle with multiple opponents deep in the enemy half."
The position stems from the game Lagumina-Coddington, Dos Hermanas

2004
It's problematic whether people will see 14...Qxh2 mate.
The position stems from the game Tokarchuk-Naranjo, Dos Hermanas 2004

The tiny little trick consists in 15...Nxf3+! 16. Bxf3 Bc3!
The position stems from the game Markzon-Vega, Dos Hermanas 2004
Just 15. Bxc5! - the semi-outposted knight dies due to the opposition of the
White rook with the Black queen.
The position stems from the game Carvalho-Goeke, Dos Hermanas 2004
The first player has allowed decisive weakening of the f2-point, which allows
10...Qh4+! and ...Qxc4. The kibitzers will be happy.
The position stems from the game Bell-Kaspersen, Dos Hermanas 2004

8. Qh5#! unfools the Black king. See how "developed" Black is - he has
brought out 6 of his pawns, the opponent almost nothing.
The position stems from the game Rodriguez-Maeckelbergh, Dos Hermanas

2004
7. c4!will see a White intervention on d5 thanks to a pedestrian no matter if

the d5-leaper stays there or startles away somewhere. The bundle of Black
light pieces in the middle isvery unwisely positioned.
The position stems from the game Erichsen-Paiva, Dos Hermanas 2004
6...Qc5! strikes at c4 and d4 at the same time. One of the positives of

fianchettoing a bishop is that the bishop usually yields good influence over
the center.
The position stems from the game Lacasa-Schiller, Dos Hermanas 2004

Rude11. Bb4! is, skewering two beautiful Black butterflies for posterity.
The position stems from the game Salama-Burnaes, Dos Hermanas 2004
If you find 13. Qg8#quick, you are a good attacker.
The position stems from the game Ankerst-Tokarchuk, Dos Hermanas 2004
Black is a pawn ahead. How should White continue now? 14. Rxe6, amen!
14...fxe6 15. Bxg6+! and Qxd4 wins the unescorted opponent lady. A real
gem, finesse to the nth degree. Black has been told at least an umpteen times
the king does not belong in the center in the middlegame, all fallen on deaf
ears.
The position stems from the game Neubauer-Stajcic, Vienna 2003

56...Nc4+ 57. Ka4 Rxb4#
The position stems from the game Chojnowski-Meshkov, Ohrid 2017
69...Qc3+ 70. Ke2 Qd2+ 71. Kf3 Qf2#

Identical is 69...Qe1+ 70. Kd3 Qd2+ 71. Kc4 Qc3#
The position stems from the game Rajkovic-Gazik, Veliko Gradiste 2017
59. Bg8+ Kh6 60. Bg7#!
The position stems from the game Mandiza-Becerra Rivero, Philadelphia

2017
48. Rg6#!
The position stems from the game Velikic-Rabrenovic, Veliko Gradiste 2017
14. Nb5! proves decisive:

a) 14...axb5 15. Rc8#
b) 14...Ra8 15. Nc7+ and Nxa8
Line clearance is main motif.
"Always give check - it might happen to be checkmate."
"Always create threats - this might win you something in the process."
Don't sneer at these maxims, actually, those are very good and logically
robust tenets.
The position stems from the game Kuljasevic - Dabo-Peranic, Rabac 2003

7. Nxe5!!has won a pawn:
a) 7...Nxe5 8. Qxh5
b) 7...Bxd1? 8. Bxf7+ Ke7 9. Nd5#! Legal's mating pattern again.
Loose pieces plus pin-breaking and massive attacking potential.
The position stems from the game Ivanov-Simms, Denver 2003
13. Nd5 Qd8 14. Nxf6+! Bxf6 15. Bxh6 has won a pawn. Threats are one of
the best candidate moves, ever.
The position stems from the game Nalbandian-Khudyakov, Alushta 2003
14...Nxd4 15. cxd4 Bxd4+! 16. Qxd4 Qxe1+ has more or less won the
pitched battle. Deflection is the name of the game. Per aspera ad astra.
The position stems from the game Cubas-Milos, Sao Paulo 2003

In what way does White win the opponent queen? Still not seeing it? It's
simple - 15. b4 Qb6 16. Na4! The memorial service will take place sometime
later on. Lo, the enemy henchmen are coming.
The position stems from the game Berelovich-Schuetzhold, Bad Wiessee

2003
What a pawn mess! The levers at f6 and c3 make the game completely
unpredictable. Luckily, it is White's turn, and he makes full use of it: 10.
Qe2! is a very important check that coerces the Black king to d7. 11. fxg7
Bxg7 attracts the Black bishop to g7. And now? It is eye-scratching, come
on! Naturally, 12. Qg4+! forks the king and newly-arrived diagonal slider.
Amen. Willy-nilly, Black must resign.
The position stems from the game Gostisa-Rogulj, Celje 2003
31...Rf6+ 32. Kg5 Qf4+ 33. Kh5 Rh6#!railroads on the flank.
The position stems from the game Colas-Gorovets, New York 2017

32. Qf8#!
The position stems from the game Maryasin-Cernousek, Teplice 2017
28. Qxd7#!
The position stems from the game Ulyanovskyy-Pereira, Almada 2017

9...c4! immobilising the b3-dweller comes in quite unexpected. Everyone
knows bishops are stupid, but that much?
The position stems from the game Aguayo-Zimin, Dos Hermanas 2004
Ok,11. Nxe7+ mates...the Black queen.
The position stems from the game Hungaski-Garcia, Dos Hermanas 2004
Spotting 10...Qxd2+! is not masterful, but necessary.
The position stems from the game Thorgersen-Domb, Dos Hermanas 2004

11. N7d5+! exd5 12. Nxd5+ throws the e3-lady out of the game. Leaping
with the brother knight on the first move to the same square should be
identical for most purposes.
The position stems from the game Bachmann-Lulic, Dos Hermanas 2004
9. Rxa7! Rxa7 10. bxa7 queens. Capturing with the pawn retains the a8-
blocker.
The position stems from the game Lieb-Dierich, Bad Woerishofen 2004
15. Rxc8! Qxc8 16. Nxe7+ and Nxc8is classics.
The position stems from the game Artels-Marlier, Worriken Buetgenbach

2004

9...Bg4! has caught up at long last with the overshy White lady.
The position stems from the game Sadjadi-Victor, Saarlouis 2004
9...b5! means a "dustbin" career awaits the White horse. The poor draught
animal is no match for the agile d4 and b5 soldiers.
The position stems from the game Garcia-Inkiov, La Roda 2004

15...Bb4+! 16. axb4 Rxc1+! 17. Rxc1 Qd2#
The position stems from the game Navabi-Wong, Dubai 2004

28...Be3! 29. Bxe3 Rhxh2+ 30. Kg1 Reg2#
The position stems from the game Paulsen-Morphy, New York 1857
21. Qg8#
The position stems from the game Landa-Marin, Porto Mannu 2017
15. Rc1! finds the second player unprepared. If the lady budges from its post,
the c8-bishop will fall. White is awkward, but Black is awkwardly developed.
Don't grab pawns like one possessed, especially in the early stages of the
game, unless you discern a clear compensation.
The position stems from the game Wells-Arkell, Halifax 2003

6...Nxe4! wins a central pawn with no compensation at all. Recapturing with
the knight denudes the b2 diagonal slider. Ouch, that hurt. See how the
distant x-ray attack of the flanked g7-bishop upon the b2-cell matters.
Kingside fianchetto is a very good opening approach. The b2-bishop is also
fianchettoed, but on the queen side, and undefended at that.
The position stems from the game Ghane-Ghaem Maghami, Kish 2003

My head starts swirling: who is on the move, who is playing which side and
who must resign? A reasonable query. Oh, I see it now - 12. dxc6! axb5 13.
cxd7+ has won a piece. Gee, that was difficult.
The position stems from the game Cicak-Agushi, Basel 2004
15. Nd5! naturally, and Nxe7+ pretty much dissolves Black's resistance.
When the opponent helps, you don't need special skills to score. A bunch of
Black men here are like bulls in a china shop.
The position stems from the game Crepan-Mestrovic, Nova Gorica 2004
11. Bxf6! Qxf6 12. Nxg4makes short work of a pathetic defender. Boo, boo
- we want a better performance.
See that your figures attack enemy objects and not vice-versa.
The position stems from the game Matamoros-Garcia, Coria del Rio 2004

14. Nb5! intercepts the Black queen's access to the b6-cell. This makes
running impossible. The cock of the gun has been released. The White
marksman now threatens to pull the trigger with 15. a3, trapping her Majesty
for good. Black has to offer something in kind. The benevolent try at a
counter-strike by 14...Bb2 backfires owing to 15. Rc2 Ba3 16. Nb1! and it is
already the a3-bishop who is between a rock and a hard place.
The position stems from the game Abreu-Dumont, Sao Paulo 2004

Three soldiers for a draught animal - who is better? Fortunately, White
doesn't have to bother with this quandary, as 14. Qxb8 Rxb8 15. Bf4!
effortlessly gains material. In case the e5-knight moves, the b8-rook drops
off. Coercion, followed by a pin.
The position stems from the game Kristjansson-Steindorsson, Reykjavik

2004

15. Bc5! harshly mistreats the Black queen. Guess what - it has snatched a
pawn at f2. Pawn-grabbers' graves are deep into enemy land with no special
honours attached.
The position stems from the game Aronian-Hjartarson, Reykjavik 2004
12...Nfxe4 13. Bxe4 Nxe4 14. Rxe4 e5! gains the d4-horse owing to the
unpleasant pin and undefended condition of the White lady. Frequently, the
core combination starts only after a couple of preliminary captures. Key motif
is attracting the e1-rook away from guarding the queen.
The position stems from the game Ibanez-Cifuentes Parada, Dos Hermanas
2004
41. Rh8+! Bxh8 42. Rh7#
The position stems from the game Yudin-Ivanov, Kazan 2017

73. Kf6! gxh4 74. Rh7#
The position stems from the game Saurabh-Priyanka, Mumbai 2017
29. Bf6!! Bxf5 30. exf5 Qxf6 31. Qxh7#

30...Rf8 leads to precisely the same mate.
The position stems from the game Pridorozhni-Ivanov, Kazan 2017

63. Bb7+ Kb8 64. Rd8#
The position stems from the game Rathnakaran-Avdhoot, Mumbai 2017

15. d6! is the diluvium for Black:
a) 15...exd6 16. Bxd6 fork-skewers all heavy pieces; not many diagonal
sliders are blessed with such boon
b) 15...Qc6 in case of a queen retreat is equally decisive after 16. dxe7 Re8
17. Bb5!
Once again, advanced levers/breaks are extremely dangerous - try getting
them instead of letting your opponent include them in his arsenal of weapons.
The position stems from the game Shabalov-Hoffman, Playchess.com 2004

15. Bxd5! exd5 16. Re1+ leaves the Black monarch in the middle of the
board, where he will certainly perish. Enrol more pieces in the attack,
calculate variations carefully, and the onslaught plays itself out. Some say
one of the advantages of the pair of bishops is they could be exchanged at any
moment for an opponent minor.
The position stems from the game Fridman-Hebert, Stratton 2004

Look on carefully. What are you able to discern here in terms of tactical
plans? Nothing? Ok, well, the bizarre 13. Rh5! (queens usually outpace
rooks) suddenly quarantines the dark-complexion (and therefore suspect)
lady:
a) 13...Qg6 14. Ne7+ royal-forking
b) 13...Qg4 14. Be2 Qe4 15. f3! (threat, threat, another threat) and the queen
will have to unwillingly travel back to her Golgotha at g6
The "obvious" 13. Bh4, on the other hand, is not very bright, due to ...Qh6,
pinning the bishop as the cannon at h1 is loose.
Cool. Not all that shines is gold.
The position stems from the game Riazantsev-Tjurin, Voronezh 2004

10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. Qd4!is a double attack on both Black minors - what a
pity, one of them goes to the gallows. The queen is an excellent forker.Do
your captures mentally before you start iterating quiet moves; that might be
responsible for a significant boost in your strength as captures eliminate
uncertainty.
The position stems from the game Gagunashvili-Van den Berg, Haarlem
2004

12. Nb6! and, when the a8-cannon moves out of menace, the blissful horse
royal-forks at c4. Primus inter pares. The Black overlord at d6 might think he
is riding in front of the whole army, but is really ridiculous. Actually, Black's
can't be called an army - more like a Tom, Dick and Harry gathering.
The position stems from the game Hamdouchi-Dimitrov, Montpellier 2004

14. Qxf8+ Qxf8 15. Rxf8+ and Bxg5 wins a piece. Main theme is removal of
the guard.
The position stems from the game Antal-Hart, Millfield 2004
13. Nb6 - bam! The rook must move but, when he does that (a7 is the only
available square), Bxb8 swoops on the unsuspecting Black animal enjoying
pasture. Coercion is the battle cry. Alternative preludes might also lead to
victory, but definitely less convincing.
The position stems from the game Neelotpal - Al-Tamimi, Abudhabi 2004
13. Qxd4 cxd4 14. Na2! (the hunted transforms into a hunter) is a
simultaneous attack on both bishops (14...Rac8 15. Bb3) The aftermath will
be material loss.
The position stems from the game Kosteniuk-Gannon, Fort Lauderdale 2004

14. Qd2! , the h6-knight is so awkwardly placed that the combined "queen +
bishop" sliding attack simply picks it off the tree of life. Hurray, it's a
holiday. Dim is a knight on the rim.
The position stems from the game Brooks-Berry, Oklahoma 2004
White's pieces are underdeveloped and dispersed all over the board - a bad
sign. 13...Bxf3 is a clearance capture, forcing surrender after 14. Qxf3 Qh3+!
a) 15. Kg1 Re1 is a back-ranker
b) 15. Qg2 Re1+! deflects the king, permitting 16. Kxe1 Qxg2
White got lynched and stoned to death.
The position stems from the game Price-Tseitlin, Port Erin 2004
15...Bxe5 16. fxe5 Nxe5! has won a pawn and threatens to hammer a kraken
at d3 or f3. White will have to recapture with 17. dxe5, but after 17...Qxd2
the queen presence deep into the enemy camp proves disruptive: the pawns at
e3 and b2 are under fire, the e2-bishop weak too. The first player can save
himself only in a wild wild dream.
Savage. Take a pen and pencil and write down the distant x-ray attack of the
Black lady on the d2-slider, as well as the looseness of the latter. The
advanced pawns at e4 and c4 press the first player very hard, a thorny issue
with cramping effect.
The position stems from the game Welling-Volkov, Bad Wiessee 2004

Black lags behind in development, but is very solid. As it turns out,
13...Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3 g5! locks the f4-bishop. Ill placement of pieces is a
frequent cause of defeat. Although active, many of White's pieces are in each
other's way; that can not be confirmed for their Black counterparts - although
passive, they are well-positioned.
Slow waters run deep.
The position stems from the game Al Atarji-Todorovic, Obrenovac 2004

13. cxd5! undermines the e4-horse. Black loses material, for example,
13...Bxd5 14. Bxe4 Bxe4 15. Rxe4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Nothing earthshaking, but
should suffice for a win. Even unadvanced levers are on occasion dangerous;
levers are synonymous with pawn tension and, where there is tension, tactics
are not far off.
The position stems from the game Marinkovic-Dugonjic, Tuzla 2004

59. Kxg6! Kg8 60. e8Q#
The position stems from the game Gelashvili-Martynov, Minsk 2017
33. Qxc6+ Ka7 34. Qb7#
The position stems from the game Henrichs-Sergeev, Bregenz 2017

23...Rg5+ 24. Kh1 Qxh2+!! 25. Kxh2 Rh4#
The position stems from the game Rydstrom-Tykkanen, Tylosand 2017
26. Bxf7+ Rxf7 27. Qxf7+ Kd8 28. Qxd7#
The position stems from the game Nickel-Rolle, Bregenz 2017

This is a swindle, an attempt at a swindle, that is. White must be careful. Not
38. Qf6? Ra1+! 39. Bxa1 Qa2+ 40. Kc1 Qc2#, neither 38. g6 Ra1+ 39. Bxa1
Qa2+ 40. Kc1 Qxa1+ and it is anyone's guess who wins (most probably
Black), but 38. Qxh7+!! Kxh7 39. g6+ (all with tempo) Kg8 40. h7+ Kf8 41.
h8Q+and White is on top. 38...Qxh7 39. g6 is identical in many branches.
Initiative, both tactical and positional one, is paramount in chess.
The position stems from the game Bischoff-Nogueiras, Havana 1998

Who calls the shots here? Most probably, the side to move, and it is White in
this instance. 28. f8Q!! leaves Black no choice:
a) 28...Bxf8 29. Bb7+! Rxb7 30. Rd8+ and Rxb8#
b) 28...Rxf8 29. Bb7#
Commencing with 28. Bb7+! and only later queening with check leads to
identical developments, but is more forcing, denying Black even the feeble
distraction of the ...Qxg3+ counter-sacrifice.
The position stems from the game Rossolimo-Livingstone, New York 1961

56. Rxc8! Rxc8 57. Qf7+ and Qxf6expressly ends the exchange of fire and
offence. Easy to find but nice decoy.
The position stems from the game Granda Zuniga-Seirawan, Buenos Aires
1993
As soon as White has taken the firm decision to fight to the last breath,
16...Qh4+! 17. Kd1 gxf1Q+ 18. Bxf1 Bxg4+ 19. Kc1 Qe1+
checkmates...What a pity, who can endure enemy checks ad nauseam?
The position stems from the game Larsen-Spassky, Belgrade 1970
30. Rxh6+! gxh6 31. Qh7 has devised a cool mating pattern. A clearance sac
again - "Get 'em all out of my way!"
The position stems from the game Olafsson-Levitt, Reykjavik 1990

25. Bb4+ Kd8 26. Ba5+! is an utter shock for the Black king, who is out of
squares, out of resources and out of patience. What royal personality could
actually stand that?
The position stems from the game Hommeles-Skoblikov, Rotterdam 1992
In spite of the first player's colossal material superiority, 29...b5+! 30. Kxb5
Qc4+ 31. Ka5 Bd8+! checkmates. Lasker was a very profound and inventive
player.
The position stems from the game Pillsbury-Lasker, Saint Petersburg 1896
Black will hold on, Black will hold on...44. Rc1+! Kd7 45. Qc8+ Ke7 46.
Re1+! Where does the king go now? What a disappointment, 46...Kf7 47.
Qe8mates. Life (in this case horizontal rook checks) is the ultimate leveller.
The position stems from the game Tal-Brinck Claussen, Havana 1966

It is better to have more pieces of equal power than a single major one. 32.
Nc7+ e6 33. Bxe6+ Kf8 34. Nh7+ Ke7 35. Bg5+! Bf6 36. Bxf6 gives mate.
The enemy is coming from all sides and directions - stabbing, shooting,
neighing and jumping - who could endure such a pressure?
The position stems from the game Malinin-Savinov, Leningrad 1988

31. Kxa2? Kxc5 and Black is on top. 31. Ne4+ Ke5 32. Kxa2 g4! and one of
the minors falls. At least suspect or making the win difficult is 31. Nb7+ Kc7
32. Kxa2 g4 33. Bd5 Re8 The a2-rimmer doesn't expect 31. Nd3! though,
trapping the life out of it, does it? Simple moves, if logical, are frequently
strongest.
The position stems from the game Tal-Lutikov, Tallinn 1964

36...Nh3! prepares ...Qg1# Capturing the leaper leads to ...Qh1 mate. 37.
Rb7+ Kh8 38. Rb8+ Qxb8 39. Bxh3 Qg3! with mate at f2 to follow. What a
brawny pawn, the e3 is! Many a piece pale next to it.
The position stems from the game Ivanchuk-Yusupov, Brussels 1991
Black is squeezed to the utmost. But how to win? Besides, the d7-rook is
attacked. 34. Kg5!! is as strange a move as one could possibly encounter in
the middlegame. The king heads to h6 to support the queen in delivering
mate at g7 and Black has no means of preventing that. For example,
34...Bxd7 35. Kh6 mating. 34...Kh7 leaves the f7-point unprotected. What a
powerful attacking piece the king is!
The position stems from the game Short-Timman, Tilburg 1991
34...Bf4! 35. Qg1 (White prepares for a long stand-off)Rf1! 36. Qxf1 Qh2
mate is definitive.
The position stems from the game Zaichik-Psakhis, Soviet Union 1980

12. Qxf6!! gxf6 13. Bxd4 is more of a positional than tactical sacrifice:
White gets 2 minors plus strong attack plus compromised enemy pawn
structure (the d7 isolated and f6 doubled pawns) plus the d5 outstanding
outpost square plus the bishop pair for the royal presence of the opponent
queen. This seems quite a lot, and maybe the presence is more of a shadow
one. Anyway, the offering is correct and definitely the best move.
Just to highlight the link between positional and tactical sacrifices - positional
sacs often have to do with tactics.
The position stems from the game Nezhmetdinov-Chernikov, Rostov 1962

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Neverending Tactics: 3003 Positions to Perfection

Copyright © 20 18 Lyudmil Tsvetkov

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Journey to tactical perfection

LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN!

Puzzle No 1 - White to play and win

Puzzle No 2 - Black to play and win

Puzzle No 3 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Thogersen-Jensen, Helsingor 2017

Puzzle No 4 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Motylev-Nilsson, Helsingor 2017

Puzzle No 5 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Shyam-Vrolijk, Leiden 2017

Puzzle No 6 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Eminov-Gulbas, Konya 2017

Puzzle No 7 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Havlikova-Bonner, Dundee 2017

Position No 8 - Black to play and win

31...Bc3+ effectively ends the game:

Puzzle No 9 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Zubov-Manolache, Sitges 2017

Puzzle No 10 - Black to play and win

The position stems from the game Krapivin-Palkovich, Sochi 2017

Puzzle No 11 - Black to play and win

Puzzle No 12 - Black to play and win

Puzzle No 13 - Black to play and win

Puzzle No 14 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Dobrovolsky-Strand, Graz 1972

Puzzle No 15 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Sliwa-Uhlmann, Moscow 1956

Puzzle No 16 - White to play and win

Puzzle No 17 - White to play and win

Puzzle No 18 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Bronstein-Uhlmann, Moscow 1971

Puzzle No 19 - Black to play and win

The position stems from the game Mosionzhik-Nikolaevsky, Moscow 1972

8. Qc1! is a double attack on the c8-bishop and h6-knight. No more

Puzzle No 21 - Black to play and win

The position stems from the game Gonsior-Klabis, Katowice 2017

Puzzle No 22 - White to play and win

Puzzle No 23 - Black to play and win

Puzzle No 24 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Kennaugh-Houska, Torquay 1998

Puzzle No 25 - White to play and win

Puzzle No 26 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Kashlinskaya-Kowalczyk, Katowice 2017

Puzzle No 27 - Black to play and win

The position stems from the game Fedotov-Costachi, Katowice 2017

Puzzle No 28 - White to play and draw

Puzzle No 29 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Shkapenko-Stojcevski, Katowice 2017

Puzzle No 30 - White to play and win

Puzzle No 31 - Black to play and win

The position stems from the game Zielinski-Fressinet, Katowice 2017

Puzzle No 32 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game McShane-Mastrovasilis, Katowice 2017

The position stems from the game Soham-Shankland, Sitges 2017

Puzzle No 34 - Black to play and win

The position stems from the game Andrzejewska-Brunello, Katowice 2017

Puzzle No 35 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Paszewski-Williams, London 2016

Puzzle No 37 - White to play and win

The position stems from the game Timman-Polugaevsky, Hilversum 1973