Tactic 0110

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "mcsimian"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnb2rk1/pp3pp1/2p1p2p/q2NP3/3P3b/3B1N2/PPP3PP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 12"]
{Black to move, white just played Nxd5. }
{Second best is cxd5 (0.61), best is Qxd5 (-1.48) }
1... Qxd5
2. c4 {If Nxh4, then Qxd4+ wins the knight. }
2... Qd7
3. Qd2 Bd8
*

Tactic 0109

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "straumann2"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7r/1Q3p2/p2qkp2/2p1p1r1/P7/BP4P1/3P1RK1/2R5 b - - 0 30"]
{Black to move, white just played Rc1. }
{Second best is Rgh5 (3.53), best is Rxg3+ (mate in 6). }
{No credit for second best here, all moves lose except for Rxg3+. }
1... Rxg3+
2. Kxg3 {If Kf1, then Qd3+ followed by Rh1+ leads to mate. }
2... e4+
3. Rf4 {If Kg4, then Rg8+ leads to mate, and if Kg2 then}
{Rh2+ leads to mate. }
3... Rg8+
4. Kh3 Qd3+
5. Rf3 Qxf3+
6. Kh2 Qh5#
*

Tactic 0108

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "stefjohn"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5rk1/p4ppp/bp6/n1p1q3/2P5/3B4/P1Q3PP/3R1R1K w - - 0 24"]
{White to move, black just played Qxe5. }
{Second best is Be4 (0.65), best is Bxh7+ (8.09) }
1. Bxh7+ Kh8
2. Rxf7! Re8 {If Rxf7, then Rd8+ leads to mate. }
3. Rdf1 Qd6 {Guarding f8. }
4. Qc3 Qh6
5. Qd3 {Threatens mate, and the queen can't come back to guard f8. }
5... Rg8
6. Bxg8 Bxc4 {If Kxg8, then Rf8#. }
7. Qd8
*

Tactic 0107

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "eilonwy"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3Qbk1/1bP2p1p/p5p1/1p5n/3q4/P2B1P2/6PP/R4R1K w - - 0 27"]

{White to move, black just played Bb7. }
{Second best is Qb8 (-0.96), best is Qxa8 (1.72) }
1. Qxa8! Bxa8
2. c8Q Bxf3
3. gxf3 Qxd3
4. Qxa6
*

Tactic 0106

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "straumann2"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3k2r/1bpq1p1p/p4p2/4pR1Q/4p3/6P1/PP1P3P/RBB3K1 b kq - 0 19"]

{Black to move, white just played Rxf5. }
{Second best is Qd4+ (-1.60), best is Qc6 (-2.03). }
{There are actually three good moves in this position, as the move }
{Qd5 also gives an advantage (-1.07). }
1... Qc6 {The continuation after Qd4+ goes: }
(1... Qd4+
2. Rf2 Qd5
3. Rxf6 e3
4. Qxf7+ Qxf7 {White gives up a rook to deflect black's queen. }
5. Rxf7 Kxf7
6. dxe3
)
2. Bc2 {In this line, white gives up a bishop to deflect black's queen. }
{White can defend the bishop with Rf1 or Qd1, but after e3 }
{white has to give up the rook to stop the mate on g2. }
2... Qxc2
3. Rxf6 Qc5+
4. Rf2 O-O-O
*

Tactic 0105

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "straumann2"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5qr1/1p1k3p/p1bNp3/3pP3/PB1Pn3/8/6PP/2RQ2K1 w - - 0 24"]

{White to move, black just played Qf8. }
{Second best is Qc2 (1.04), best is Nxe4 (6.15) }
1. Nxe4 Qxb4
2. Nf6+ {Wins the rook. }
*

Tactic 0104

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "chwinno"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r1k/2qnp1b1/3p2Bn/3P1p2/p1p4Q/P1P2P2/NK5P/4R2R b - - 0 27"]

{Black to move, white just played c3. }
{Black is down the exchange, and under attack. How to proceed? }
{Second best is Qc5 (0.04), best is Ne5 (0.34). }
{Note that Qc5 will be followed by Ne5, so Ne5 is really the key move. }
1... Ne5
2. Rxe5 {If Qg3 to defend the bishop, then Nd3+ and black will win the }
{rook anyway. }
2... Qb6+
3. Nb4 dxe5
4. Qg3 Qe3
5. Rc1 Bf6
*

Tactic 0103

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "ActionMan"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/pp2ppbp/4bnp1/3p4/3BP1PP/2NB1P2/PPPQ4/R3K2R b KQ - 0 12"]

{Black to move, white just played Bd3. }
{Second best is Nxe4 (-0.45), best is dxe4 (-1.59) }
1... dxe4 {Both bishops are under attack. }
2. Bxf6 {If Bxe4, then Nxe4 attacks the queen and wins }
{the bishop on d4. }
2... Bxf6
3. Nxe4 Bxb2
4. Rb1 Bg7
5. Rxb7 {White has maintained material equality, but his position }
{is a mess. The computer gives this continuation: }
5... Bd5
6. Rb5 a6
7. Rb3 Bxb3
8. axb3
*

Tactic 0102

[Event "World Championship Match"]
[Site "Baguio City"]
[Date "1978.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karpov"]
[Black "Korchnoi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4rk2/2p2prp/pq2b2N/1p6/8/2PR1Q2/PP4PP/5R1K w - - 0 26"]

{White to move, black just played Rg7. }
{Second best is Re3 (1.51), best is Rd7 (8.73) }
1. Rd7! Rb8 {If Bxd7 then Qxf7+, followed by Rxf7# }
2. Nxf7 Bxd7 {The computer gives this line as the best black can do: }
(2... Qb7
3. Qxb7 Rxb7
4. Nd8+ Ke8
5. Rxg7+ Rb6
6. Nxe6 Rxe6
7. Rxc7
)
3. Nd8+ {and Korchnoi resigned. }
1-0

Tactic 0101

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "ramonw6"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1r2/pp3pk1/2np1Np1/7p/2nqP2Q/6P1/PP4BP/2R2R1K w - h6 0 23"]

{Happy Father's day!}
{White to move, black just played h5. }
{Second best is Rxc4 (2.95), best is Nxh5+ (4.26) }
1. Nxh5+ gxh5 {If the king moves, then Nf6+ threatens Qh7#. }
2. Qg5+ Kh7
3. Rf6 Qxf6 {The only way to stop Rh6#. }
4. Qxf6
*

Tactic 0100

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Rolls"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2qk1r1/2pbnp1p/pp1p1b2/5NB1/4P1Q1/5P2/PPP3PP/RN3RK1 w q - 0 14"]

{White to move, black just played Rg8. }
{Second best is h4 (-1.02), best is Bxf6 (0.75) }
1. Bxf6 {If h4, then: }
(1. h4 Bxb2
2. Bxe7 Rxg4
3. Bxd8 Rg8
4. Bxc7 Bxf5
5. exf5 Rc8
6. Bxb6 Bxa1
7. Re1+ Kd7
)
1... Rxg4
2. fxg4 Bxf5
3. exf5 c6
4. Re1
*

Tactic 0099

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "kopaka"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r5/5pkp/3P1np1/8/Pp6/4RB2/5PPP/2r1R1K1 b - - 0 28"]

{Black to move, white just played d6. }
{Second best is Rxe1+ (-0.59), best is b3 (-2.65) }
1... b3
2. Kf1 {Not Rxb3, because of Rxe1#. }
2... b2
3. Rb3 Rxe1+
4. Kxe1 Rc1+
5. Ke2 b1Q
6. Rxb1 Rxb1
*

Tactic 0098

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "CastilloII"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2bq1rk1/Q3bppp/8/np6/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNB2RK1 b - d3 0 14"]

{Black to move, white just played d4. }
{Second best is Bb7 (3.38), best is Nc6 (-0.28) }
1... Nc6
2. Qa8 {Only move for the queen. }
2... Qd7 {Now the queen has no moves. }
3. d5 Bb7
4. dxc6 Qxc6 {Threatens mate on g2, as well as the queen. }
5. Qxf8+ Kxf8
6. f3
*

Tactic 0097

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "sputnick"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r3rk1/2n2qpp/p2R1p2/2p2N2/2p1PQ2/7P/P4PPK/B7 w - - 0 30"]

{White to move, black just played Qf7. }
{Second best is Rc6 (2.34) best is Rxf6 (5.13) }
1. Rxf6 gxf6 {Qd7 leads to mate, starting with Nh6+. }
2. Nh6+ Kg7
3. Nxf7 Rxf7
4. Bxf6+ Kf8 {If Rxf6, then Qxc7+ picks up the other rook. }
*

Tactic 0096

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "bjalyska"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "q4rk1/1bp1bppp/3p1n2/1pnPp3/4P3/1BP2N1P/1PQ2PP1/1NB1R1K1 b - - 0 15"]

{Black to move, white just played Qc2. }
{There are two good moves in this position, }
{give yourself credit for either one. }
{Second best is Nxb3 (-2.21), best is Nfxe4 (-2.45) }
1... Nfxe4 {If Nxb3: }
(1... Nxb3
2. Qxb3 Nxe4
3. Qxb5 {If Rxe4, then Bxd5. }
3... Bxd5
4. Qe2 Qb7
)
2. Rxe4 Nxb3
3. Bg5 {If Qxb3, then Bxd5. }
3... Na1
4. Qe2 Bxg5
5. Nxg5 Bxd5
*

Tactic 0095

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "austenclarke"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r3r/1kp2ppp/p2b4/3Pq3/Nn6/PQ2B1PP/1P3P2/R4RK1 b - - 0 20"]

{Black to move, white just played g3. }
{Second best is Rb8 (7.07), best is Qxd5 (0.62) }
1... Qxd5 {Forcibly unpins the knight: }
{If Qxd5, then Nxd5, and the queen can't be protected }
{where it is, so it has to move. }
2. Qc3 Nc6
3. Rfd1 Qe5
*

Tactic 0094

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "nascar1"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/2p1pppp/p1n5/1p1n4/3P4/2NBP3/PPQ2PPP/R1B1K1NR w KQkq - 0 8"]

{White to move, black just played Nd5. }
{Second best is a3 (1.28), best is Nxd5 (3.82) }
1. Nxd5 Bb7 {If Qxd5, then: }
(1... Qxd5
2. Be4 Nb4
3. Qb1 Qc4
4. b3 Nc2+
5. Qxc2 Qxc2
6. Bxc2
)
2. Be4 Qd6
3. a3
*

Tactic 0093

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "HarrisonB"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r3k1/4R1pp/1n6/p5P1/4P3/2p2B2/r6P/2R3K1 w - - 0 30"]

{White to move, black just played Nb6. }
{Second best is g6 (-0.49), best is Bg4 (3.08) }
1. Bg4 {Threatens to take the rook on c8, and also Be6+, }
{winning the rook on a2. }
1... Rc6 {Guarding against both threats. }
2. Rf1 {Threatens Re8#! }
2... g6
3. Re6! Rc7 {Can't take the rook on e6, because of Bxe6+, again. }
4. Re8+ {White could just take the knight here, but this }
{line is better. }
4... Kg7
5. Be6 h6 {Mate was threatened, again. }
6. Bxa2
*

Tactic 0092

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "hardcase"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2qr1k1/3bbpp1/7p/1pnPN3/2p1B3/P6P/1P3PP1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 23"]

{White to move, black just played Re8. }
{Second best is d6 (0.96), best is Qh5 (2.61) }
1. Qh5 {d6 is a double attack, but by first playing Qh5, }
{it becomes more effective. For example: }
(1. d6 Bf6
2. Nxf7 {The knight is lost in any case, since: }
(2. Bxa8 Rxe5
3. Rxe5 Bxe5
4. Qf3 Be6
)
2... Kxf7
3. Qh5+ Kf8
4. Qxc5 Re5
)
1... Rf8
2. d6 Bxd6
3. Bxa8 Bxe5
4. Rxe5 Nb3
*

Tactic 0091

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "etturN"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/2pnbpp1/4p2p/p1NbP3/Pp1P4/3B1N2/1PR1QPPP/5RK1 b - - 0 17"]

{Black to move, white just played Rc2. }
{Second best is Bxf3 (-0.15), best is Bxc5 (-1.45) }
1... Bxc5
2. dxc5 Bxf3
3. gxf3 {Trying to hold the e pawn. }
3... Qg5+
4. Kh1 Nxe5 {But it is lost, anyway. }
5. Rg1 Qf4
6. Be4 Rad8
*

Tactic 0090

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "CraftyOne"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rn2k1nr/pp3pp1/4p2p/q1bpPb2/5P2/2N1BN2/PPP3PP/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 0 9"]

{White to move, black just played Bxc5. }
{Second best is Bxc5 (0.73), best is Bb5+ (4.41) }
1. Bb5+! Nc6
2. Bxc5 {OK, that was easy, but it is an unusual type of tactic, }
{and we both missed in during the game. }
*

Tactic 0089

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "edison-d"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b2rk1/pp2bppp/1q2p3/3nB3/2B5/2N5/PP2QPPP/R2R2K1 w - - 0 14"]

{White to move, black just played Nd5. }
{Second best is Rxd5 (2.71), best is Bxd5 (3.68) }
1. Bxd5 Bd7 {If exd5, then: }
(1... exd5
2. Nxd5 Qe6 {If Qc5, then Rac1. }
{If Qd8, then Nc7. }
3. Nc7 Qg4
4. f3 Bc5+
5. Kh1 Qg5
6. Nxa8
)
2. Qg4 g6
3. Bf3
*

Tactic 0088

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "paxvobiscum"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/pp2npbp/3pp1p1/2p5/2B1P3/P1NPBN1P/1PP2PP1/R2QK2R b KQ - 0 8"]

{Black to move, white just played Be3. }
{Second best is Nbc6 (-0.34), best is d5 (-1.94) }
1... d5
2. Bxd5 {If the bishop moves away, then d4 forks the bishop and knight. }
2... exd5
3. Bxc5 Qc7
4. Bxe7 Bxc3+
5. bxc3 Qxe7
*