Chess/Tactics Exercises

Chess is, of course, a game of tactics and strategy, and the tactics described in the Chess/Tactics entry are important to any chess player. The right tactics can allow you to make quick gains of material, can protect you from quick losses of material, and can, ultimately, help you to win chess games.

Tactics Practice

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Good chess players, then, must practice tactics. Consider the chess boards below. In each board white can win material by force, if he chooses his moves wisely and utilizes the tactics described in the Chess/Tactics entry.

Play white first in each board (unless, of course, it is otherwise stated), and force material gains for white with the right tactics. The solutions are at the bottom of this page.

a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black rook b8 black king c8 black king d8 black queen e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black rook 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black bishop c7 black pawn d7 black king e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black pawn c6 black knight d6 black pawn e6 black king f6 black knight g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black bishop c4 white pawn d4 white pawn e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 white knight d3 black king e3 black king f3 white knight g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 black king d2 black king e2 white bishop f2 white pawn g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 white bishop d1 white queen e1 black king f1 white rook g1 white king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black rook b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black bishop g8 black king h8 black rook 8
7 a7 black king b7 black king c7 black pawn d7 black knight e7 black king f7 white bishop g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black pawn b6 black pawn c6 black king d6 black king e6 white queen f6 black knight g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black pawn f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 white pawn f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 white pawn g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 black king d1 white rook e1 white king f1 black king g1 black king h1 white rook 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 2
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black rook 8
7 a7 black king b7 black pawn c7 black pawn d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black pawn b6 black king c6 black king d6 black pawn e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 white pawn e5 black king f5 black king g5 white bishop h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 white rook g4 black king h4 white pawn 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black knight f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black rook h2 black king 2
1 a1 black king b1 white king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white rook g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 3
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black rook 8
7 a7 black king b7 black pawn c7 black pawn d7 black king e7 black queen f7 black pawn g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black pawn b6 black king c6 black king d6 black rook e6 black king f6 black knight g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black knight f5 black king g5 white bishop h5 black pawn 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 white pawn d4 black pawn e4 white pawn f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 white pawn b3 black king c3 black king d3 white pawn e3 black king f3 black king g3 white queen h3 white pawn 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 black king c2 black king d2 black king e2 white bishop f2 black king g2 white pawn h2 black king 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white rook g1 white king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 4
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black rook b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black rook g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black pawn h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black pawn d6 black king e6 black king f6 black pawn g6 black pawn h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 white pawn d5 black king e5 white knight f5 black queen g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 white pawn c4 black king d4 white pawn e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 white king d3 black king e3 white pawn f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 black king c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 black king 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 white queen e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 5
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black rook f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black king b7 black pawn c7 black king d7 black rook e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black king 7
6 a6 black pawn b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black bishop f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black pawn d5 black pawn e5 black king f5 black king g5 white bishop h5 white knight 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 white pawn g3 white pawn h3 black king 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 black king c2 black knight d2 black king e2 black king f2 white king g2 white bishop h2 black king 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 white rook 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 6
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black rook b8 black king c8 black bishop d8 black queen e8 black king f8 black rook g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black king b7 black pawn c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black pawn h7 black king 7
6 a6 black pawn b6 black king c6 black king d6 black pawn e6 white pawn f6 black king g6 black pawn h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black bishop d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 white queen d4 black king e4 white pawn f4 white pawn g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 white knight b3 white pawn c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 white rook g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white bishop c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 white king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 7
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 white queen f8 black rook g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black king b7 black pawn c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black pawn h7 black king 7
6 a6 black pawn b6 black king c6 black king d6 black pawn e6 black king f6 black king g6 black pawn h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black bishop d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 white pawn f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 white knight b3 white pawn c3 white bishop d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 white rook 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 black king c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 white king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 8 - Forced Mate
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black rook f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black king b7 black king c7 white rook d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 white rook h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black pawn c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black pawn g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black pawn d5 black pawn e5 black king f5 black pawn g5 black king h5 black pawn 5
4 a4 black pawn b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 white bishop g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 white pawn 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 white pawn h2 white king 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black rook f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 9
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black rook b8 black king c8 black bishop d8 black king e8 black king f8 black rook g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black pawn d7 black king e7 black knight f7 black king g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 white pawn e5 black pawn f5 black king g5 black king h5 black queen 5
4 a4 white knight b4 black king c4 white pawn d4 black king e4 white pawn f4 black king g4 black knight h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black bishop h3 white pawn 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 white bishop h2 black king 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 white bishop d1 white queen e1 black king f1 white rook g1 black king h1 white king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 10
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black rook b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black rook f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black king c7 black pawn d7 black queen e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black king h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black knight b6 black king c6 black king d6 black pawn e6 black king f6 black king g6 black pawn h6 white knight 6
5 a5 black king b5 black pawn c5 black king d5 white pawn e5 black bishop f5 black king g5 white bishop h5 white knight 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black knight d4 black king e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 white queen g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 white pawn g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white rook g1 white king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 11
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black rook d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black bishop b7 black king c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black pawn b6 black king c6 black king d6 white knight e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black pawn c5 black king d5 white knight e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black queen 5
4 a4 black king b4 white pawn c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 black king g4 black bishop h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 white queen e3 white pawn f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white rook g1 white king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 12
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black rook b8 black king c8 black king d8 black rook e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black king b7 black pawn c7 black king d7 black king e7 black bishop f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black queen f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black pawn b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black knight f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 white pawn g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 white knight b3 black king c3 white pawn d3 black bishop e3 white pawn f3 black king g3 white queen h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 white bishop c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 white king f1 black king g1 black king h1 white rook 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 13 - Black to play and win
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black rook e8 black king f8 black king g8 black rook h8 black king 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black king c7 black pawn d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black pawn c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 white queen c5 black king d5 black king e5 black pawn f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 white pawn b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 black bishop g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 white pawn d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 white bishop h3 black queen 3
2 a2 black king b2 white pawn c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 white pawn g2 black king h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 white rook f1 black king g1 white king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 14 - Black to move and win
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black rook b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black rook 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black king c7 black pawn d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black pawn h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black pawn c6 black king d6 black queen e6 black king f6 black pawn g6 black king h6 black pawn 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black bishop e5 white knight f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 white rook g4 black king h4 white queen 4
3 a3 white bishop b3 white pawn c3 black king d3 black king e3 black bishop f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white king b2 black king c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 black king d1 white rook e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 15 - Black to move
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black rook c8 black rook d8 black king e8 black knight f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black king b7 black king c7 black king d7 black king e7 black pawn f7 black king g7 black king h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black pawn b6 black king c6 black king d6 black pawn e6 black king f6 black king g6 black pawn h6 black king 6
5 a5 black queen b5 black pawn c5 black king d5 white pawn e5 black king f5 black king g5 white pawn h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black bishop e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 white pawn b3 black king c3 black king d3 white bishop e3 white queen f3 white pawn g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 black king 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 white king d1 white rook e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 white rook 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 16 - White to play for mate
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black rook g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black rook b7 black king c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black pawn b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 white pawn f6 black king g6 black pawn h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black pawn c5 black king d5 black king e5 white rook f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black knight f4 black king g4 black king h4 white pawn 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 white pawn d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 white bishop 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 black king 2
1 a1 black king b1 white king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 white rook h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 17 - Black to play
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black rook b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black rook f8 black queen g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black pawn d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black bishop h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black pawn e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 white pawn e5 black king f5 black pawn g5 white bishop h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 black king g4 white pawn h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 white rook e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 white queen 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 white king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 white rook 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 18 - White to play and win
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black rook f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black pawn d7 black knight e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 white rook 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 white pawn e5 black rook f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 white pawn d4 white queen e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 white knight 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 white pawn 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 white pawn g2 black king h2 black king 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white king g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
Number 19 - White to play and win

Solutions

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  • 1. d5 Ne7 (White threatens knight with pawn, black moves knight, knight no longer guards b4.)
  • 2. Qa4+... (Fork tactic; queen checks king, and threatens bishop. Black must concede bishop.)
  • 1.Rxd7+ Kc8 ( if ...Nxd7??, 2. Qe8#)
  • 2. Rd5+ (if Re7+, Kb7 and White risks losing an exchange) Kb7
    • 2. Qc6 is also acceptable. It is followed by ...Ra7, Be6 and eventual moves that clear black pawns on the right.
  • 3. Rxe5 Bd6
  • 4. Rh5, and white wins a pawn while still being able to keep pressure on black.
  • 1.Rf8+ Rxf8 (...Ka7? 2.Bxe3+ b6 3.Rxh8) (White's rook forks check and black's rook, and discovers threat on black's knight from white's bishop.)
  • 2.Rxf8+ Ka7 (Rook checks king. King moves diagonally.)
  • 3.Bxe3+ (Bishop takes knight with check, gaining a piece and avoiding a checkmate on Rg1.)

The expected solution:

  • 1. Qf4; black's pinned knight is now en prise (thrice attacked, twice defended).
  • 1. ...Ned7 defends for black (1. ...Ng6 is fruitless, as white needs simply relocate his queen, Qf5, and black is out of tricks)
  • 2. e5! and we see that white's first move was critical, preparing his e pawn to assume the now vacant e5 square, forking black's knight and rook.


This one is a tricky alternative:

  • 1. Rf5 Ned7 (2. ... Re8? 3. Raf1 Ned7 4. Qf2!) (White adds pressure to the knight forcing a withdraw.)
  • 2. Qf2 Rg8 (2. e5? Rb6 3. exf6 Qxe2) (White adds pressure to the other knight, preventing black from moving any of its defenders, and also protects the bishop. There are other responses for black, but this generates some offensive threats and is probably the best option.)
  • 3. e5! Rxg5 (3. ... Nxe5? 4. Bxf6 Rxf6 5. Rxf6) (White's pawn move offers the most immediate reward in the impending exchange. White still has potential with 3. Bh4, but the gains, if any, will take many more turns to come to fruition. For example, 3. Bh4? Rg6 4. Rf1 Qe8! yields a situation far less favorable for white.)
  • 4. exd6 Rxf5
  • 5. dxe7 Rxf2
  • 6. Kxf2 (White does not necessarily have to allow the exchange happen to completion, but since white has a material advantage such simplification of the board is only to his or her benefit.)

This results in white having a bishop, a rook, and a pawn on the seventh rank versus two knights. From there, white can win a further few more pawns somewhat easily, giving a hefty material advantage. One might try the more immediate 1. c5 with the hope of 1. ... Rd5 2. Bxf6 but to do so is forgetting that 1. ... Rc6 is another response. Also, one might try 1. Bxf6 Rxf6 2. Qg7, with the idea that black cannot save both of the rooks at once, but this also does not work because of 2. ... Rxf1+. White must now play something like 3. Rxf1, which gives black the opportunity to save the rook on h8.

  • 1.Qb3+ Kh7 (...Rf7 2.Qxf7+ Kh7) (White checks king with queen. King moves away.)
  • 2.Rh1+ Qh5 (White checks king with rook. Black blocks with queen.)
  • 3.Rxh5+ gxh5 (White exchanges rook for queen!)

Note the importance of white's knight in this exchange. It guarded f7, preventing a simple defense of the initial check with Rf7.

Alternatively, if 1. ... Kh8,

  • 2. Nf7+

if 2. ...Kg8, 3. Nh6+ (or Nd6+) wins the queen for a knight. If 2. ...Kh7,

  • 3. Rh1+

if 3. ...Qh5, 4. Rxh5 (back to main variation)

if 3. ...Kg8, 4. Nh6+ (or Nd6+) wins the queen for a knight

  • 1.Nf6+ Kf8 (...gxf6? 2.Bxf6 Nxa1 3.Rh8#) (Nf6 checks, and threatens two rooks. A naive defence of gxf6 would result in checkmate.)
  • 2. Nxd7+ Kg8 (Any other move allows 3. Rh8#)
  • 3. Nf6+ leaving Black in the same bind, eventually winning Black's other rook as well.
  • 1.Rh3+ Kg8
  • 2.e7+ d5
  • 3.exd8=Q Rxd8
  • 4.Qxc5 Bxh3
  • 5.gxh3
  • 1.Rh8+ Kxh8
  • 2.Qxf8+ Kh7
  • 3.Qxg7# -

Also 1.Qe6+ Rf7 2.Rf1 (Black's rook is pinned) Black cannot stop 3.Qxf7#

  • 1.Rh7+ Kg8
  • 2.Rcg7+ Kf8
  • 3.Bd6+ (Computer give the better 3.Bh6 ...
  • 4.Rh8# is better and logical!) ...Re7 4.Bxe7+ (With mate following, this was what I saw and played. Bh6 is better but it might be to hard for all to find, both lead to mate)
  • 1.Rxf8+ Kxf8
  • 2.Qf3+ Kg8 (...Bf4 3.Bxf4 exf4 4.Qxf4+)
  • 3.Qxg3
  • 1.Nf6 Qe7 (...Bxf6? 2.Qxf6 Kg8 3.Bh6...) ... 1. ...Qc8 gives white mate in at most 8 moves)
  • 2.Nxe8 to win an exchange

Alternatively,

  • 2.Nxh7+ Kg7 3. Bxe7 to win an exchange (when black recaptures on h6 or e7 just move the other piece away)
  • 1.Ne7+ Kh8
  • 2.Nf7+ Qxf7
  • 3.Rxf7

Alternatively,

  • 2.Nexc8 (Threatening back rank mate with Rf8#)

if 2. ... Bxe3+ then 3. Qxe3

Other black moves that avoids mate should allow 3. Nxa7

  • 1. ...Bh4
  • 2.Qxh4 Nf3+
  • 3.gxf3 Qxe3+
  • 4.Kd1 Bb1+
  • 5.Qxd8+ Rxd8#
  • 1. ...Bxg3
  • 2.fxg3 Rxg3+
  • 3.hxg3 Qxg3
  • 4.Kh1 (4.Kf1 Qf3+ 5.Kg1 Rg8+ 6.Kh2 Qg2#) Qh3+
  • 5.Kg1 Rg8+
  • 6.Kf2 Rg2+
  • 7.Kf1 Qh1#
  • 1. ...Bxb3
  • 2.cxb3 Qxd1
  • 1.Qe6+ Kf8 (1. ...Kh8? 2.Rxh7+ Kxh7 3.Qxg6+ Kh8 4.Rh1# or 4.Qh7#)
  • 2.Rxh7 Bg7
  • 3.Rdh1 or 3.Bxg6 with mate following. There are different moves Black can play, White is likely to play both Rdh1 threating rook sacrifice on h8 followed by mate and Bxg6 which is threatening Qf7#.

1.Qxd4 is also winning for White. 1. ...Ng7 2.Rxh7 Kxh7 3.Qh4+ Kg8 (3. ...Nh5? Qxh5, g pawn is pinned) 4.Bxg6 Kg8 With mate following.

  • 1.Nd2+ Kc2
  • 2.Nf3 (There is no way for White to avoid giving up an exchange.)
  • 1.Qh5+ Kg8
  • 2.Qxh7+ Kf7
  • 3.Qxf5+ Kg8
  • 4.Qh7+ Kf7
  • 5.Rf3# (1.Qxh7? Re5 2.Rf3 Ke8 and game continues)
  • 1.Nf5+ Kg8 (1. ...Kf8? 2.Rh8#)
  • 2.Qg4+ Kf8
  • 3.Rh8#

A Highly Tactical Position

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What follows is a complex board.

a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 white bishopg7 black pawnh7 black king7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black pawn6
5a5 black knightb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 white knightd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
A complex position - Black to move

The board arose after the opening moves

1.e4 e5

2.Nf3 Nc6

3.Bc4 h6 (Ask yourself, was h6 a bad move?)

4.Nc3 Na5 (Ask yourself, was Na5 a bad move?)

5.Bxf7+

Even an experienced player might struggle to calculate all the possible moves and their consequences. One way to improve one's tactical vision is to set-up this board, or indeed any board, choose an opening move, and then continuing, picking the best moves possible, and noting the success of the initial move.

Consider the h6 and the Na5 moves, and note their weakness. Indeed, the Na5 move's tempo renders black's only developed piece useless, and the h6 move weakens the King's side and scuppers a future defensive g6 move. Black may have anticipated a Fried Liver Attack, and made a pre-emptive defense, though such an attack should threaten black.

Now consider how the game might develop. Black is in check. He can take the bishop (Kxf7), but this might not be tactical. If Black moves Kxf7, there is an inevitable knight check (Nxe5). White might then play Qh5 which may be played with check.

Studying the many variations, and the patterns of movement, will be beneficial for any chess player, especially once white's queen is active. There are many mate threats that can be created, and many guarded squares that black cannot move his king to.

Here are possible scenarios. First, Ke7, where black moves his king forward, and out of check, which is discussed in some detail. Second, Kxf7, where black captures white's bishop, which is left as an exercise for the keen reader.

  • 1...Ke7 Declining the Bishop capture 2. Nd5+ now the King is forced to capture the Bishop (or play Kd6 with no lose of material for white), 2...Kxf7. It was bad for black to decline the sacrifice because white was able to muscle black into accepting it, and now white has an additional knight bearing down on the black king. 3. Nxe5+ Ke6 (3...Ke8 Would lead to mate with 4. Qh5 g6 5.Qxg6#) 4. Qh5 (White now threatens 5. Qf5+ Kd6 and 6. Nf7+ winning the Black queen the following move) 4...Qg5 (it is plausible that Black will play this in attempt to trade queens and greatly reduce White's attack) 5. Qf7+ Kd6 (The e5 Knight is immune from capture from the King, for two reasons. 5...Kxe5 is met with a.) 6. f4+ forking the Queen, so long as f4 is defended by a white piece, and b.) 6. d5+, this is good because it facilitates the development of the dark square bishop, but white is likely to lose the bishop so long as the queen is protected by the h pawn. There are two ways but only 1 black queen you might say, regardless it is still good to have two ways. What this means is if white can utilize his knight and queen for different things since they aren't tied down to the defense of the f4 square, and the d5 knight will remain immune. That means white is more flexible and can respond to blacks defenses in more ways) 6. Qxf8+ (vacates the f7 square with tempo) Ne7 7 Nf7+ (forking the King and Queen) Black's position is hopeless.
  • 1...Kxf7 See if you can work out what can happen here.

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