Tactic 0066

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Blunderbucket"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5rk1/p4p1p/6p1/8/4p2P/1P3q2/P1rR1P1Q/3R2K1 b - - 0 37"]

{Black to move, white just played R6d2. }
{Second best is Rxa2 (-2.24), best is Rxd2 (-8.65) }
1... Rxd2
2. Rxd2 Rc8
3. Qg2 Rc1+
4. Kh2 Qf4+
5. Qg3 Qxd2
*

Tactic 0065

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Full-Rey"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b3kr/p3b1pp/1q2p1n1/2ppP3/8/2N2Q2/PPP2PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 14"]

{White to move, black just played Kg8. }
{Second best is a4 (-3.07), best is Nxd5 (-0.47) }
1. Nxd5 Qb7 {If exd5, then Qxd5+ wins the rook. }
2. Nxe7+ Nxe7
3. Qe2
*

Tactic 0064

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "FJCRUISER"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/p2n1pp1/1p1b1n1p/2Pp1b2/7B/1QP2N2/PP1NBPPP/2KR3R b - - 0 12"]

{Black to move, white just played dxc5. }
{Second best is bxc5 (-1.09), best is Nxc5 (-3.66) }
1... Nxc5
2. Qa3 {The queen is almost trapped. The only safe squares leave the }
{queen exposed to a discovered attack from the bishop. }
{If Qb5, then Bd7, and the queen is forced back to b4. }
2... Bd3
3. b4 {If Bxd3, then Nxd3+ wins the queen. }
3... Bxe2
4. bxc5 Bxc5
5. Qa4 Bxd1
6. Rxd1 Re8
*

Tactic 0063

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Elorenzom"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4r1k/p1p3pp/2p3q1/2P1p3/4N1b1/2P1RN2/PP3PPP/R2Q2K1 w - - 0 16"]

{White to move, black just played bxc6. }
{White is just winning here, so there are lots of good moves, }
{but what is the best one? }
{Second best is Ng3 (5.41), best is Nxe5 (7.68) }
1. Nxe5! Bxd1 {If the queen moves, then the knight takes the bishop (Nxg4). }
2. Nxg6+ hxg6
3. Rxd1
*

Tactic 0062

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "CruiseMissile"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2r1k/pp2q1b1/4n1Qp/3pP1p1/N7/1PB2P2/P6P/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 25"]

{Black to move, white just played gxf3. }
{Second best is Rxf3 (-3.08), best is b5 (-4.33) }
1... b5
2. Qd3 {If Nb2, then: }
(2. Nb2 Nf4
3. Qb1 Qc5+ {Notice that the knight used to guard this square. }
4. Kf1 Nh3
5. Nd3 Rxf3+ {And white is in big trouble. }
)
2... bxa4
3. Qxd5 Nf4
4. Qd2 Rcd8
*

Tactic 0061

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "MickeyB"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1r1k/ppq3pp/5p2/8/PQ3N2/1P1P2P1/1b3P1P/R3R1K1 w - - 0 27"]

{White to move, black just played Bxb2. }
{Second best is Rab1 (1.66), best is Ne6 (3.45) }
1. Ne6 Qb8
2. Rad1 {Move rook to safety first, the fork isn't going away. }
2... Be5
3. Qe7 {Threatens mate on g7. }
3... Rg8 {Now we have to take the rook. }
4. Nxd8 Rxd8
5. d4
*

Tactic 0060

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Aleksandr"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2r2/3q1pk1/p4p1p/1p2p3/2Pb1PbB/PP6/3QB1PP/3R1R1K w - - 0 22"]

{White to move, black just played Bg4. }
{Second best is Bxf6+ (3.75), best is fxe5 (5.17) }
1. fxe5 Bxe5 {Attempts to defend the bishop on e5 fail, for example: }
(1... fxe5
2. Bf6+ Kg6
3. Bd3+ e4
4. Bxe4+ Kh5
5. Qxd4 {Or if you defend with the rook: }
)
(1... Rcd8
2. Bxf6+ Kh7
3. Bd3+ Qf5
4. Rxf5
)
2. Qxd7 Bxd7
3. Rxd7
*

Tactic 0059

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "apic"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5p1p/4r1k1/3RP3/6PP/7K/8/8 w - - 0 47"]

{White to move, black just played Kg6. }
{Second best is Kg3 (0.87), best is Rd6 (9.15) }
1. Rd6 Rxd6 {If Kg7, then: }
(1... Kg7
2. Rxe6 fxe6
3. h5 {Black can't stop white from advancing the g and h pawns, }
{and then walking over to take the e pawn. }
)
2. h5+ {Gain a tempo before retaking. }
2... Kg7
3. exd6 Kf6
4. Kh4 Ke6
5. Kg5 Kxd6
6. Kf6 h6
7. Kxf7 Ke5
8. Kg6 Kf4
9. Kxh6 Kxg4
*

Tactic 0058

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Blunderbucket"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4rk1/pbq1bp1p/3p2p1/4p3/B1p1n1QN/4B3/PPP2PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 21"]

{Black to move, white just played Qg4. }
{Second best is c3 (-3.02), best is f5 (-4.50) }
1... f5 {Chase the queen. }
2. Qh3 {The only move that supports the knight and doesn't lose the queen. }
2... f4
3. Bc1 Bc8 {Chase the queen again. }
4. Qf3 {Move the queen with a threat. }
4... Qb7
5. Nxg6 {Finally we have time to move the knight, but it's trapped! }
5... hxg6
*

Tactic 0057

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "aicha"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5rk1/p5p1/2p5/2PbQpq1/6B1/4PP1P/1P4P1/3R2K1 b - - 0 26"]

{Black to move, white just played f3. }
{Second best is Qf6 (1.57), best is Qg6 (0.50) }
1... Qg6 {Trapping the bishop. }
2. e4 fxg4
3. exd5 Qc2 {If gxf3 immediately, white can simplify with Qe6+ }
4. Rd4 gxf3
5. gxf3 Rxf3
*

Tactic 0056

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Bonn GER"]
[Date "2008.10.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik,V"]
[Black "Anand,V"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/4pp1k/5b1p/P2q1P2/R2B1P2/1PK1Q2P/6r1 b - - 0 33"]

{Black to move, white just played Bd3. }
{Second best is Bh3 (-3.60), best is Bxd3+ (leads to mate) }
{If you didn't get this one, don't feel bad, Anand missed it, too! }
{But he still won the game. }
1... Bxd3+
2. Rxd3 Qc4+
3. Rc3 {If Kd2, then Qc1# }
3... Qxe2+ {Black is up a queen, and white won't last long. }
*

Tactic 0055

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Blunderbucket"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b2rk1/p1q1bppp/2pp1n2/4p3/8/1B2BQN1/PPP2PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 14"]

{Black to move, white just played Qf3. }
{Second best is d5 (-1.50), best is Bg4 (-5.86) }
1... Bg4 {The queen is trapped! }
2. Bb6 axb6 {The only way out is to sacrifice the bishop. }
3. Qe3
*

Tactic 0054

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "CruiseMissile"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7k/p7/7p/1N2b3/5p2/PP6/4r2P/5R1K b - - 0 39"]

{Black to move, white just played a3. }
{Second best is a5 (-0.57), best is a6 (-2.55) }
1... a6 {The knight isn't quite trapped, but it is forced }
{to the edge of the board. }
2. Na7 Rc2
3. b4 Rc7 {And now it is trapped. }
4. Re1 f3
5. Rf1 {If Rxe5, then Rc1+ leads to mate. }
5... Rxa7
*

Tactic 0053

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Arangar"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2qk2r/pbp1npbp/1pn1p1p1/3pN3/2PP4/2NBPQ2/PP3PPP/R1B2RK1 b kq - 0 9"]

{Black to move, white just played Qf3. }
{What's the best way to deal with the mate threat on f7? }
{Second best is O-O (0.24), best is Nxe5 (-0.93) }
1... Nxe5 {If black tries Bxe5 followed by Nxe5 to win the pawn, }
{white will play Qf6, forking the rook and knight. }
2. dxe5 Nc6 {Now black could play Bxe5, winning the pawn, but }
{Nc6 also wins the pawn, which can't be defended, and }
{leaves black in a better position. }
3. cxd5 Nxe5
4. Qe2 exd5
*

Tactic 0052

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Gert"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k1r1r2/1qp3pp/pp2Rn2/3P4/5Q2/1Pb1B2P/P4PP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 25"]

{White to move, black just played Bxc3. }
{Second best is Bxb6 (-1.46), best is Rxb6 (3.96) }
1. Rxb6 Qxb6
2. Bxb6 Nxd5
3. Qg3 Nxb6
4. Rxd8+ Rxd8
5. Qxc3
*

Tactic 0051

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "CruiseMissile"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7k/pp2q1b1/7p/4P3/3Q1p2/1Pr5/PN5P/4R1K1 b - - 0 31"]

{Black to move, white just played Qxd4. }
{There are two good moves in this position, so give yourself }
{credit for either one. }
{Second best is Rc2 (-4.10), best is Qg5+ (-4.48) }
1... Qg5+ {Rc2 works also: }
(1... Rc2
2. Kf1 Qg5
3. Re2 Rxe2
4. Kxe2 Bxe5
5. Qxa7 Qg2+
)
2. Kh1 Rc2
3. Qe4 Rxb2
*

Tactic 0050

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "bob4"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2rk1/5p1p/4b1p1/p2Q4/1qBP2P1/8/5P1P/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 29"]

{White to move, black just played Be6. }
{Second best is Rb1 (-4.32), best is Rxe6 (3.39) }
1. Rxe6 Qb2 {If ... fxe6, then: }
(1... fxe6
2. Qxe6+ Kg7 {Kh8 leads to mate after Qe5+ }
3. Qe5+ Rf6
4. g5
)
2. Ree1 Rcd8
3. Qxa5 Rxd4
4. h3
*

Tactic 0049

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "gberto1"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k1r3r/1ppq2pp/p1p2p2/2b1p3/2N1PnPP/1P1P1Q2/PBP2P2/2KR3R w - - 0 15"]

{White to move, black just played Bc5. }
{Second best is g5 (0.46), best is d4 (2.42) }
1.d4! h5 {If Bxd4 immediately, it is about the same (see next move). }
{If exd4, then Qxf4. }
{On other bishop moves, dxe5 is strong, for example: }
(1... Bd6
2. dxe5 fxe5
3. Nxe5 Qe7
4. Qxf4
)
2. g5 Bxd4
3. Bxd4 exd4
4. Qxf4
*

Tactic 0048

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "CruiseMissile"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2qnrk1/pp1n1pb1/2p1b2p/3pP1p1/N1PP1p2/1B1Q1N2/PP4PP/R1B1R1K1 b - c3 0 13"]

{Black to move, white just played c4. }
{Second best is Nc7 (-0.81), best is dxc4 (-1.95) }
1... dxc4
2. Bxc4 Bxc4
3. Qxc4 b5
4. Qxc6 bxa4
*

Tactic 0047

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "bob4"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r2/5pkp/2r3p1/p2p1b2/2pP4/P1P1Q3/Bq3PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 23"]

{Black to move, white just played Qe3. }
{Second best is Rf6 (-1.38), best is Re6 (-3.44) }
1... Re6
2. Qc1 Rxe1+
3. Qxe1 Re8! {White can't take the rook because Qxa1+ leads to mate }
4. Qc1 Re2
5. Qxb2 Rxb2 {White's bishop is trapped, and his rook is tied down defending it. }
*

Tactic 0046

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Aliyat-EJ"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/1r3p1p/1pp3p1/5b2/2PqNP2/1P4P1/P3Q1BP/3R3K b - - 0 24"]

{Black to move, white just played Rd1. }
{Second best is Bxe4 (1.26), best is Rxe4 (-4.79) }
1... Rxe4! {Notice that if the queen runs from the rook, then white has Nf6+ }
2. Qf3 {If Bxe4, then Bxe4+ is deadly. }
{If Rxd4, then Rxe2, and black is up a piece. }
2... Qc5
3. g4 Re3
4. Qxc6 Rd7
*

Tactic 0045

[Event "EU-chT (Men)"]
[Site "Oberhausen"]
[Date "1961.06.20"]
[Round "2"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Max Eisinger Jr"]
[Black "Josef Rejfir"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1rk1/1pqbbppp/p2ppn2/n5B1/3NP3/1BN1R3/PPPQ1PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 14"]

{I included the names, date, and tournament, so you can look }
{up the whole game in a database, if you are interested. }
{White to move, black just played Na5. }
{Second best is Rg3 (0.67), best is Nf5 (0.93). }
{OK, so this one is a little more subtle than most tactics on }
{my blog, but I just really liked it! Did you even see that }
{Nf5 was possible? }
1. Nf5! exf5
2. Bxf6 Nxb3
3. axb3 Bc6 {... Bxf6 was played in the game, but that is worse: }
(3... Bxf6
4. Nd5 f4 {If the queen moves, then Nxf6+ leads to mate }
5. Nxc7 fxe3
6. Qxe3 Bxb2
)
4. Bxe7 Qxe7
5. Nd5 Bxd5
6. Qxd5 fxe4
7. Rxe4
*

Tactic 0044

[Event "Kolty Cardinals"]
[White "Louis Arquie"]
[Black "Jim Bennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1br2k1/2q1bppp/p1p1p3/3pPPB1/4n1P1/2N5/PPPQB2P/2KR3R w - - 0 15"]

{White to move, black just played Ne4. }
{Second best is Bxe7 (-4.07), best is Nxe4 (2.48) }
1. Nxe4 exf5 {... dxe4 isn't good because of: }
(1... dxe4
2. Qxd8+ Bxd8
3. Rxd8+ Qxd8 {Ouch! }
4. Bxd8
)
2. gxf5 Bxf5
3. Bxe7 Qxe7
4. Nd6 Qxe5
5. Nxf5 Qxf5
6. Bd3
*

Tactic 0043

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Aliyat-EJ"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/1r3p1p/1pp3p1/5b2/2PqNP2/1P4P1/P3Q1BP/4R2K w - - 0 24"]

{White to move, black just played Bf5. }
{Second best is Qe3 (-3.10), best is Nf6+ (2.04) }
1. Nf6+ Qxf6
2. Qxe8+ Kg7
3. Bxc6
*

Tactic 0042

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Blunderbucket"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/8/2bR3p/2P2pp1/p7/4B2P/5P1K/6r1 b - - 0 41"]

{Black to move, white just played Kh2. }
{Second best is Rh1+ (0.00), best is Rg2+ }
1... Rg2+ {Rh1+ leads to a perpetual check, with 2. Kg3 Rg1+ 3. Kh2, }
{but black can do better. }
2. Kh1 Bf3 {Move the bishop to a safe square before }
{using the discovered check. }
3. c6 Kh7 {The discovered check isn't going away. }
4. c7 Rxf2+ {Now we have to use it. }
5. Kg1 Rg2+
6. Kf1 Rc2
*

Tactic 0041

[Event "Kolty Cardinals"]
[White "Michael Lico"]
[Black "Jim Bennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r3rk1/p3b1p1/4b2p/1qn1pp2/3p4/P2P2P1/1BQNPPBP/1RR3K1 w - - 0 21"]

{White to move, black just played Be6. }
{Second best is Bc3 (-0.13), best is Bxd4 (2.23) }
1. Bxd4 Nb3 {Blocking the threat to the queen. }
2. Bxa7 Rbc8
3. Nc4 Bxc4
4. dxc4 Qa5 {Unpin the knight and attack the bishop. }
5. Rxb3 Qxa7
6. Bb7 {But at the end, black is still down two pawns. }
*

Tactic 0040

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "andyosso516"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r2k/1pp3pp/p1q3b1/4P3/8/1QPBR1P1/P6P/6K1 b - - 0 29"]

{Black to move, white just played e5. }
{Second best is Bxd3 (-1.14), best is Qc5 (-12.36) }
1... Qc5 {Pin and attack the rook, and when the king defends it, }
2. Kf2 Bxd3 {then take the bishop. }
3. Qb4 Rf8+ {Ouch! }
*

Tactic 0039

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Blunderbucket"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r3k1/5pp1/p3pn1p/3b1n2/8/BP3N1P/P3BPP1/4R1K1 b - - 0 24"]

{Black to move, white just played Be2. }
{Second best is Bxf3 (0.14), best is Rc2 (-1.32) }
1... Rc2 {Attack the trapped pawn. }
2. Bc4 {Ra1 to defend the pawn loses the bishop. }
{If Bxa6, then Rxa2 skewers the two bishops. }
2... Bxc4
3. bxc4 Rxc4
4. Rb1
*

Tactic 0038

[Event "Kolty Eagles"]
[White "Jim Bennett"]
[Black "Antonio Rabadan"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rn3k2/pbp3pB/1p2pp2/3qN3/3P4/P1n5/2P2QPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 16"]

{Black to move, white just played Bxh7. }
{Second best is Nc6 (1.19), best is Qxd4 (0.12) }
1... Qxd4
2. Ng6+ Ke8
3. Rae1 {If Qxd4, then Ne2+ wins the queen back, }
{so there is no way to avoid the exchange of queens. }
3... Qxf2+
4. Rxf2 Ne4
5. Rff1
{It's the old K+Q fork trick and I was lucky that my opponent }
{didn't spot it, as this would have equalized for him. }
{As it was, I retained an edge. }
*

Tactic 0037

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Fradley"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r2k1/p4pp1/3P1b1p/4N3/2N1n3/1P1R2PK/7P/8 w - - 0 32"]

{White to move, black just played Ne4. }
{Second best is Rd5 (-0.39), best is Ng4 (0.47) }
1. Ng4 {Notice that Ng4 protects against the threat of Nf2+. }
{Other responses (Kg2 or Rd5) lose the d pawn shortly. }
1... Ba1
2. Kg2 f6
3. b4 Kf7
4. Kf3 Ng5+
5. Ke3 Re8+
6. Kf2 Ke6
7. b5 f5
8. d7 Rd8
9. Nge3
*

Tactic 0036

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Andrex"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q2r1/4bk2/p4n2/2p4Q/3p4/2N3RP/PPP3P1/5RK1 b - - 0 22"]

{Black to move, white just played Qh5+. }
{Black is under attack, what is the best way to hold on? }
{Second best is Ke6 (3.05), best is Kf8 (0.35) }
1... Kf8
(1... Ke6 {This doesn't work out as well, }
2. Re1+ Kd7 {the king is more exposed in the center. }
3. Qf5+ Kc7
4. Rxg8+ Nxg8
5. Nd5+ Kb7
6. Nxe7 Nxe7
7. Qf7 {White wins the knight. }
)
2. Rxg8+ Kxg8
3. Qg6+ Kh8
4. Ne4 Qg8
5. Rxf6 Bxf6
6. Qxf6+ Qg7
*