Tactic 0018

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "MikeyCez"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4rk1r/p3qpb1/1p3np1/2p1n2p/P2NPQ2/BP1P1B2/2P3PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 21"]

{Black to move, white just played Nxd4 }
{Second best is Nxd3 (0.40) best is Bh6 (-1.82) }
1... Bh6!
2. Ne6+ Qxe6 {The knight is history anyway, since if the queen moves, }
{Be3+ wins the knight. }
3. Qh4 Be3+
4. Kh1 Bd4
*

Tactic 0017

[Event "Kolty Eagles"]
[White "Jan De Jong"]
[Black "Jim Bennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4rk1/p6p/1p2p2q/3pnpB1/2b5/P1P4N/3Q1PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 24"]

{Black to move, white just played Bxg5. }
{There are three playable moves here to deal with the double attack }
{against the queen and the knight. }
{Can you find all of them? }
{Third best is Qxh3 (0.14), although it has dramatic appeal. }
{Second best is Qg7 (0.05) logically moving the queen out of take }
{and simultaneously defending the knight. }
{Best is Nf3+ (-0.78) }
1... Nf3+
2. gxf3 Qxh3
3. Rxe6 Rae8
4. Rxe8 Rxe8
*

Tactic 0016

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "JCHallman"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r2/1R3pkp/3qp1p1/8/4Q3/2n5/5PPP/1R4K1 w - - 0 29"]

{White to move, black just played Nc3. }
{Second best is Qf3 (-1.01) best is Qb4 (0.54) }
1. Qb4 Qe5 {To escape a fork, move one of the pieces with a threat. }
{This only works because black's queen is undefended. }
2. Rf1
*

Tactic 0015

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "dagsy"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1R6/R5bp/1p2rkp1/p3pp2/2P5/1P4P1/P1n2P1P/5K2 w - - 0 40"]

{White to move, black just played Kf6. }
{Second best is c5 (0.99) best is Rg8 (2.52) }
1. Rg8! e4 {Black has to surrender the bishop. }
{If Bh6, then after Rxh7 he has to }
{give up the bishop to avoid mate. }
(1... Bh6
2. Rxh7 Bd2 {Black should give up the bishop here too. }
{If Bg5, then Rf8#}
3. Rf8+ Kg5 {But mate is forced anyway }
4. f3 {A key move to prevent the King from escaping }
4... Ne3+
5. Kg1 Ng2
6. Kxg2 e4
7. h4# )
2. Rgxg7 Nb4
3. a3 Nc2
4. Rxh7 Nxa3
5. Rhf7+
*

Tactic 0014

[Event "Kolty Eagles"]
[White "Jim Bennett"]
[Black "Ray Fergerson"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2R1rbk1/5ppp/3p4/1q1n4/p3P3/B3Q2P/5PP1/2R3K1 w - - 0 33"]

{White to move, black just played Nxd5 }
{Second best is Qd2 (1.88) best is Qg5 (6.27) }
1. Qg5 f6 {The knight can't move because of the pin }
2. Qxd5+ Qxd5
3. exd5 Kf7
4. Rxe8 Kxe8
5. Rc8+ Ke7
6. Ra8
*

Tactic 0013

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "whisky1"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b1r1k1/pp1n1ppp/2p2n2/q2pN3/3P1B2/2PB1Q2/P1P1RPPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 17"]

{White to move, black just played Qa5 }
{Second best is Qg3 (1.93) best is Nxf7 (4.10) }
{There are a number of comparable second best moves, }
{including Bg5, a3, and h3. }
{Notice that if black follows up with Qxc3, }
{then Bxh7+ wins the queen. }
1. Nxf7 Re4 {If Kxf7, then Rxe8 and black is in trouble. }
{Notice that Nxe8 is met by Bc7+, winning the queen. }
2. Nd6 {If Bxe4, then dxe4 followed by Kxf7, }
{and black has two pieces for the rook. }
2... Nc5 {If Rxe2, then Qxe2, and mate is threatened on e8 }
{Nc5 makes room for the defensive maneuver Bd7 }
3. Nxc8 Rxe2
4. Rxe2 Rxc8
5. dxc5 Qxa2
6. Re1
*

Tactic 0012

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Anania"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1qk1/1b5p/pp2ppp1/2n5/2P5/P3R1PQ/1BBr1P1P/2R3K1 b - - 0 28"]

{Black to move, white just played g3 }
{Second best is Qd6 (-2.94) best is Rxc2 (-6.59) }
1... Rxc2!
2. Rxc2 Rd1+
3. Qf1 Rxf1+
4. Kxf1
*

Tactic 0011

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "checkeredflag"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r5k1/ppp1q1pn/4b2p/4N3/4P3/3P2P1/PP4BP/R1Q2rK1 w - - 0 19"]

{White to move, black just played Rxf1+ }
{Second best is Kxf1 (0.00) best is Bxf1 (0.92) }
{This is sort of an anti-tactic. }
{The main point is not to play Qxf1?, because then black has Qc5+, winning the knight. }
1.Bxf1 c5 {If Bxa2, exploiting the discovered attack, then Ng6 is strong: }
(1... Bxa2
2. Ng6 Qf7
3. Rxa2 Qxg6 {Qxa2 isn't good because then d4 threatens Bc4+, }
{which not only forks King and Queen, but also leads to mate. }
4. Qxc7
)
2.Qc3 Qd6
3.Bg2 Rf8
4.Nf3 Ng5
5.Nxg5 hxg5
6.e5
*

Tactic 0010

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Xterminater"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3rk2r/p3b1pp/q1p1Pp2/8/2p5/1nB1PQ2/2B2PPP/1R3RK1 w k - 0 20"]

{White to move, black just played f6 }
{Second best is Rxb3 (4.94) best is Qh5+ (mate in four) }
1.Qh5+ g6
2.Bxg6+ hxg6
3.Qxg6+ Kf8
4.Qf7#
*

Tactic 0009

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "RunkaDunka"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rn5r/p1p2kp1/1p1p3p/5B2/2PP1N2/2P2K2/P6P/6R1 w - - 0 23"]

{White to move, black just played Kf7. }
{Second best is Bg6+ (1.29) best is Be6+ (2.58) }
1.Be6+ Ke8 {If Kf8, then Ng6+ wins the rook. }
{If Kf6, then Rg6+ forces Ke7. }
{If Ke7, then Rxg7+ is strong, for example: }
(1...Ke7 2. Rxg7+ Ke8 3. Ng6 Rf8+ 4. Nxf8 Kxf8
5. Rg8+ Ke7 6. Bd5 c6 7. Bxc6 Nxc6 8. Rxa8 )
2.Rxg7 {Threatening Ng6}
2...Rf8
3.Kg3 Rxf4
4.Kxf4 c6
5.Rh7
*

Tactic 0008

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "really"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6r1/p3kp1p/1q2bp2/4p3/2p1P3/P1N2P2/1P3Q1P/2R1K3 b - - 0 24"]

{Black to move, white just played Nc3. }
{Second best is f5 (-1.80) best is Rg1+ (-12.79) }
1... Rg1+!
2.Qxg1 {If Ke2, then Rxc1}
{If Kd2, then Qxf2+}
{If Qf1, then Rxf1+}
2... Qxg1+
3.Kd2
*

Tactic 0007

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "PatentsRUs"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4k1r/p4q2/bpn1RpQ1/3p2p1/3P4/PN3Nb1/1P3PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 21"]

{White to move, black just played Kf8. }
{Second best is Qxf6 (1.79) best is Rxf6 (11.38) }
1.Rxf6! {White pins and wins the queen. }

*

Tactic 0006

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "mrbill44"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6b1/6p1/R7/4k3/3p2PP/2n2K2/5P2/8 b - - 0 44"]

{Black to move, white just played Kf3. }
{Second best is Bc4 (-3.61) best is Bd5+ (-4.41) }
1...Bd5+
2.Kg3 Ne4+
3.Kh2 {If Kg2, then Nc5+ wins the rook. }
3...d3
4.Ra1 d2 {White will have to give up the rook to stop the pawn. }
*

Tactic 0005

[Event "ICC blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "enaus"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2r1bk1/5p1p/p3p1p1/1pqbB3/7Q/3B4/PPP3PP/4RR1K w - - 0 23"]

{Black is a pawn up, but needs to defend carefully. }
{According to Fritz, f5 would have been fine, but instead black played g6. }
{How should white proceed? }
{White to move, black just played g6. }
{There are three winning moves in this diagram, Rxf7 (18.55), Qf6 (12.08), and Bxg6 (7.81) }
1.Rxf7! Bxg2+ {Desperation. If Kxf7, then Qxh7+ followed by Bxg6# }
{Other moves are met by Qxh7# }
2.Kxg2 Qd5+
3.Kh3 Qxd3+ {More desperation. }
4.cxd3 Kxf7
5.Qxh7+ {White has a queen for a rook, and an attack. }
*

Tactic 0004

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Dankusti"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4r1k/1p3p1p/1bp2p2/p2p3B/8/1N3Q1P/Pq3PP1/R3R1K1 w - a6 0 19"]

{White to move, black just played a5. }
{Second best is Rab1 (4.57) best is Re2 (8.61) }
1.Re2 Qxa1+ {The black queen needs to stay on the diagonal protecting f6, }
{to prevent the devastating Qxf6+. But where can the queen go? }
2.Nxa1 Bd4 {Again protecting f6, }
3.Nb3 {but black is lost anyway. }
*

Tactic 0003

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Full-Rey"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b3kr/p3b1pp/1q2p1n1/2ppP3/8/P1N2Q2/1PP2PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 14"]

{Black just played Kg8. }
{White is a piece down, but is attacking. }
{What should white play? }
{Second best is a4 (-3.14) best is Nxd5 (-0.19) }
1.Nxd5! Qb7 {If exd5, then Qxd5+, winning the rook on a8. }
2.Nxe7+ Nxe7
3.Qg4 Ng6
4.Rd1 Bd7 {If Nxe5, then Rd8+, followed by Qf4+, winning the knight. }
5.Qg3 {White has two pawns for the knight. }
{Fritz rates this as slightly favorable for black, but white is still in the game. }
*

Tactic 0002

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "ElPaso"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bq1r2/pppp1pk1/8/4p3/2BNP1n1/2NP3P/PPP1KbP1/R2Q3R b - - 0 11"]

{White just played Nxd4. }
{The natural recapture exd4 (which was played) leads to a roughly equal position. }
{What should black have played? }
{Second best is exd4 (-0.63) best is Bxd4 (-3.14) }
1...Bxd4!
2.hxg4 d5
3.Qd2 {Black threatened Bxg4+, winning the Queen}
3...Bxg4+
4.Ke1 {Now black can capture the Bishop on c4, and will be a piece up. }
{However, Fritz thinks that this continuation is best: }
4...Qf6
5.Nxd5 Rh8! {Ignoring the threat to the queen! }
{If Nxf6, then Rxh1 mates. }
{If Rxh8, then Rxh8 renews the threat of mate, and white will have to give
up a queen to avoid immediate mate. }
6.Rg1 Qh4+
7.Kf1 Bxg1
8.Kxg1 Raf8
{Black is up the exchange and has a winning attack. }
*

Tactic 0001

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Antwnis"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/pp1bp1B1/3p3Q/5p1p/4P1p1/2N2n2/PPP5/2KR1B2 w - f6 0 17"]

{This is a Sicilian Dragon, in which black has played fast and loose, and deserves to be punished. }
{Black just played f5, to avoid the mate on h8. }
{White, in the game, played the intuitive move Bc4+. }
{However black can defend with e6. }
{What is the best way for white to proceed? }
{Second best is Be2 or Qh8+ (+1.97) best is Rxd6 (+4.56) }
1.Rxd6! e6 {If exd6, then Bc4+}
2.Qh8+ Kf7
3.Bxf8 Qg5+
4.Kb1 Rxf8
5.Qh7+ Kf6
6.Qxd7 {White is a piece up, and the attack continues. }
*