Tactic 0141

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "chesstao"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bqk1nr/ppp2ppp/2np4/1Bb1p3/4P3/2P2N2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 0 5"]

{White to move, black just played d6. }
{Second best is O-O (0.72), best is d4 (1.80) }
1. d4 {Trying the double pawn push trick. }
1... exd4
2. cxd4 Bb6 {Bb4+ turns out about the same, after Kf1. }
3. d5 a6
4. Ba4 Ba5+
5. Nbd2 b5
6. dxc6 bxa4
7. Qxa4 Bxd2+
8. Bxd2
*

Tactic 0140

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "julioedisonmc"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r2/2k3p1/R5B1/pp2P2P/8/1P6/PKP5/4r3 b - - 0 36"]

{Black to move, white just played Ra6. }
{Second best is Kb7 (0.04), best is b4 (-0.53) }
1... b4
2. Rxa5 Rff1 {Threatening mate. }
3. c3 Re2+
4. Bc2 bxc3+
5. Kxc3 Rc1
6. Rc5+ Kb6
7. Kb2 Rh1
8. b4 Rxh5
*

Tactic 0139

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "laSelvaBeach"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bkr3/pp3ppp/1b2q3/3pN3/3Pn3/B1Q2N2/P4PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 20"]

{White to move, black just played Ne4. }
{Second best is Qb3 (0.91), best is Rxe4 (3.53) }
1. Rxe4 f6 {If dxe4, then Ng5 is deadly. The threat is Ngxf7+ followed }
{by Bd6#, and black can only stop it by sacrificing the queen. }
2. Ree1 fxe5
3. Nxe5 Qg8
*

Tactic 0138

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Eyechess"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1r3k1/1q2pp1p/3p2p1/3P4/1n2P2P/1Pb3P1/3B1PK1/2RQ3R w - - 0 23"]

{White to move, black just played Bxc3. }
{Second best is Bxc3 (-0.41), best is Rxc3 (1.55) }
1. Rxc3 {If Bxc3, then Na2 wins back the bishop or the exchange. }
1... Rxc3
2. Bxc3 Na2
3. Ba1
*

Tactic 0137

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "wittanswain"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b1k2r/pp1n1p1p/4pqpB/2ppn3/5P2/2P1P2P/PP2Q1P1/RN2KB1R b KQkq f3 0 12"]

{Black to move, white just played f4. }
{Second best is Nc4 (-0.54), best is Qh4+ (-1.99) }
1... Qh4+
2. Qf2 Qxh6
3. fxe5 O-O
4. Nd2 {If Qf4, then Qg7, followed by Qxe5. }
4... Nxe5
*

Tactic 0136

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "chwinno"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3q2k1/1p2npp1/7p/pP2N3/b3P3/4P1PP/5PB1/2Q3K1 w - - 0 29"]

{White to move, black just played Bxa4. }
{Second best is Nxf7 (2.42), best is Qc4 (3.43). }
{Both moves are good, so give yourself credit for either one. }
{I kind of like Nxf7, myself. The point is that Kxf7 is met by }
{Qc4+, forking the king and the bishop on a4. }
1. Qc4 {If Nxf7, then: }
(1. Nxf7 Qd1+
2. Qxd1 Bxd1
3. Nd6 a4
4. Bf1 Kf8
)
1... Qd1+
2. Kh2 Qb3
3. Qc7 Ng6
4. Nxg6 fxg6
5. Bf1 Kh7
6. Qxb7
*

Tactic 0135

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Eyechess"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1r3k1/1q2ppbp/3p2p1/3Pn3/4P2P/1PN3P1/3B1PK1/2RQ3R b - - 0 20"]

{Black to move, white just played Qd1. }
{Second best is e6 (0.08), best is Nd3 (-1.76) }
1.... Nd3
2. Ne2 {The rook is basically trapped. If Ra1 or Rb1, then the knight }
{on c3 is lost, and if Rc2, then: }
(2. Rc2 Qxb3
3. Ra2 Qc4
4. Rxa8 Rxa8
5. Nb1 Qxe4+
)
2... Nxc1
3. Nxc1 e6
4. Qf3 exd5
5. exd5 Rc5
*

Tactic 0134

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "nityanand"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/5ppp/p3pn2/1pb5/4P3/2NB1N2/PPQ2PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 12"]

{White to move, black just played Bxc5. }
{Second best is a3 (1.38), best is e5 (3.53) }
1. e5 Ng4
2. Bxh7+ Kh8
3. Qe4 {Forks the rook and the knight. }
3... Nxf2
4. Rxf2 Bxf2+
5. Kxf2 Ra7
*

Tactic 0133

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "wrencher2"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/ppp2ppp/2n5/3np1N1/2B5/5Q2/PPPP1PPP/RNB1K2R b KQkq - 0 6"]

{Black to move, white just played Qf3. }
{Second best is Be6 (0.55), best is Qxg5 (-1.32) }
1... Qxg5
2. Bxd5 Nd4! {Ignoring the threat on f7. }
3. Qxf7+ Kd8
4. O-O {To prevent Qxg2. }
4... Nxc2 {Winning the trapped rook. }
5. d4 Qe7
6. Qf3 Nxa1
*

Tactic 0132

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "dishpan"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b2rk1/1pq1bppp/p1np4/3BP3/5B2/5N2/PP2QPPP/R2R2K1 w - - 0 14"]

{White to move, black just played Qc7. }
{Second best is Rac1 (2.40), best is exd6 (5.82) }
1. exd6 Qd8 {If Bxd6, then: }
(1... Bxd6
2. Bxd6 Qd8 {If Qxd6, then Bxf7+ wins the queen. }
3. Bxf8 Qxf8
)
2. Bxc6 Bf6
3. Bd5
*

Tactic 0131

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Dankusti"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/p4kp1/1p6/3pB3/3KbP1p/PP2P3/8/8 b - - 0 39"]

{Black to move, white just played Kd4. }
{Second best is Ke6 (-3.38), best is Bf5 (-8.53) }
1... Bf5! {White needs to play f5 to stop the h pawn, but with the bishop }
{on f5, that's not possible, and the h pawn will queen. }
2. Kxd5 h3
3. e4 h2
4. exf5 h1Q+
*

Tactic 0130

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "ayapar"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r3k1/1p1bbpp1/pq3n1p/1P1p4/3N1B2/r3P3/2Q1BPPP/1R1R2K1 w - - 0 21"]

{White to move, black just played Rc8. }
{Second best is Qb2 (-0.56), best is bxa6 (1.70) }
1. bxa6 Qxa6 {If Rxc2, then: }
(1... Rxc2
2. Rxb6 bxa6 {Black needs to stop axb7, which threatens to promote. }
3. Nxc2
)
2. Bxa6 Rxc2
3. Nxc2 Rxa6
4. Rxb7
*

Tactic 0129

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "telb"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k3r2/p1p3p1/1p1p1q1p/7r/1PP2P2/3QP3/P5PP/1RR3K1 b - - 0 24"]

{Black to move, white just played Rab1. }
{Second best is g5 (0.84), best is Qh4 (-1.09) }
1... Qh4
2. c5 {If h3, then: }
(2. h3 Qg3
3. Qe4 Rxh3
)
2... Qxh2+
3. Kf2 Qh4+
4. Kg1 d5
5. cxb6 axb6
*

Tactic 0128

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Vallejo"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bqk2r/p2pn1pp/np1b1p2/2pP4/4P3/2NB1N2/PP3PPP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 0 9"]

{White to move, black just played b6. }
{Second best is Nb5 (2.01), best is e5 (3.22) }
1. e5 c4 {If Bxe5, then: }
(1... Bxe5
2. Nxe5 fxe5
3. Bg5 {Threatens d6, winning the knight on e7. }
3... d6 {Stops that threat, but allows another. }
4. Qa4+ Bd7
5. Qxa6
)
(1... fxe5 {On the other hand, if fxe5: }
2. Nb5 O-O {If Bb8, then d6 followed by Be4 wins the rook. }
3. Nxd6
)
2. exd6 cxd3
3. dxe7 Qxe7+
4. Be3 O-O
5. O-O
*

Tactic 0127

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "ayapar"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/5qp1/5pNp/2p1pQ2/3p4/6PK/5P1P/2r5 w - - 0 40"]

{White to move, black just played Qf7. }
{Second best is f4 (-6.75), best is Qc8+ (0.00) }
1. Qc8+ {White's only chance is to draw. }
1... Kh7
2. Nf8+ Kh8 {Black can accept the draw, or play with a rook }
{and three pawns against a queen. }
3. Ng6+ Kh7 {Draw by repeating the knight moves. }
*

Tactic 0126

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Jarvin"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1bp2pp1/p6p/1p1nN3/8/1B1PP2P/PPP3P1/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 16"]

{White to move, black just played Nxd5. }
{Second best is Qf3 (2.78), best is Qh5 (3.54). }
{Both moves are good, and also Nxf7 gives an advantage (1.93), }
{but Qh5 is best: }
1. Qh5 Qe7
2. e4 Nf6
3. Bxf7+ Rxf7
4. Qxf7+ Qxf7
5. Nxf7 Kxf7
6. e5 {Winning the knight. }
*

Tactic 0125

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "nityanand"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bqk2r/p2p1ppp/1pn5/2bQP3/8/2P2N2/PP3PPP/RNB1K2R w KQkq - 0 10"]

{White to move, black just played b6. }
{Second best is O-O (1.78), best is b4 (3.06) }
1. b4 Be7
2. b5 {The old double pawn push trick, attacking the pinned knight. }
2... Bb7
3. bxc6 dxc6
4. Qe4
*

Tactic 0124

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "gberto1"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r5k1/2R3p1/1rbNp2p/2p5/4P3/1P4PP/5PB1/6K1 w - - 0 29"]

{White to move, black just played h6. }
{Second best is Nc4 (0.24), best is Nc8 (1.36) }
1. Nc8 Rxc8 {If Rba6, then Ne7+ wins the bishop. }
2. Rxc8+ Kf7
3. Rc7+ Kf8
4. f4
*

Tactic 0123

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "RunkaDunka"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2k4r/pb1p1pp1/1p2p3/3Pn3/7q/2P4P/P1BQ1PP1/R4RK1 b - - 0 20"]

{Black to move, white just played Bc2. }
{Second best is Qxh3 (-0.63) best is Nf3+ (leads to mate). }
1... Nf3+ {Qxh3 wins a pawn, since gxh3 is met by Nf3+, forking the }
{king and queen. But the immediate Nf3+ is stronger. }
2. gxf3 {If the king moves, then black wins a queen. }
2... Qxh3
3. Bh7 Rxh7
4. Qh6 gxh6
5. dxe6 Rg7#
*

Tactic 0122

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "mcsimian"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bqr1k1/ppp2ppp/5n2/4n3/P7/2PBBN2/2P3PP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 14"]

{White to move, black just played Nxe5. }
{Second best is Bd4 (-0.49), best is Nxe5 (2.48) }
1. Nxe5 Qe7 {If Rxe5, then Bxh7+ wins the queen. }
2. Nc4 Ng4
3. Qf3 Nxe3
4. Rae1 Bg4
5. Qxe3 Qxe3+
6. Nxe3
*

Tactic 0121

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "gberto1"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2kr3r/1bp1bppn/5n1p/1Bq1p3/3NP2P/4QP2/PP3BP1/1K1R3R w - - 0 20"]

{White to move, black just played e5. }
{Second best is Nc6 (-2.25), best is Nf5 (0.75) }
1. Nf5 Nxe4 {If Qxb5, then white mates: }
(1... Qxb5
2. Nxe7+ Kb8
3. Qa7#
) {Other tries lose a piece, for example: }
(1... Rxd1+
2. Rxd1 Qxe3
3. Nxe7+ Kb8
4. Bxe3
)
2. fxe4 Qb4
3. Nxe7+ Qxe7
4. Rc1
*

Tactic 0120

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "optional"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/6pp/p4p2/1p1R4/3Pr3/2P3PK/PP3Q1P/3q4 b - - 0 32"]

{Black to move, white just played Rxd5. }
{Second best is g6 (0.00), best is Qg4+ (-7.37) }
1... Qg4+
2. Kg2 Re2
3. Rf5 Qe4+
4. Kf1 Rxf2+
5. Rxf2 Qb1+
6. Kg2
*

Tactic 0119

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "ayapar"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3rqrk1/p2nbpp1/1p4Np/3n4/7B/8/PP2QPPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 19"]

{White to move, black just played Nxd5. }
{Second best is Bxe7 (-0.23), best is Nxe7+ (2.46) }
1. Nxe7+ Nxe7 {If the king moves, then Rxd5. }
2. Bxe7 Rc8
3. Rfe1 Nc5
4. Bxf8 Qxf8
5. Qe7 Qxe7
6. Rxe7
*

Tactic 0118

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "x-plica"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r5k1/5ppp/p3p3/8/2P5/1P2QR2/rq3PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 29"]

{White to move, black just played Qb2. }
{Second best is Qf4 (0.49), best is Rxf7 (1.84) }
1. Rxf7 Re8 {If Kxf7, then: }
(1... Kxf7
2. Qxe6+ Kf8
3. Qd6+ Kg8
4. Qd5+ Kf8
5. Qxa8+
)
2. Qa7 Qe5
3. Rf1 a5
4. c5 Rc2
5. Rc7 Rf8
6. Qxa5
*

Tactic 0117

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "optional"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5rk1/5ppp/p7/1p1p2q1/3PrR2/2P3P1/PP1Q3P/5RK1 w - - 0 26"]

{White to move, black just played Re4. }
{Second best is a4 (-0.02), best is Rxf7 (9.73) }
1. Rxf7! {Threatens mate on f8, and the unprotected queen on g5. }
1... Rxf7 {The computer recommends Qxg3+, but that still loses. }
2. Qxg5 Rxf1+
3. Kxf1
*

Tactic 0116

[Event "Kolty Championship 2009"]
[White "Arajs, Roland"]
[Black "Bennett, Jim"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/p4ppp/1p6/3q4/3b1B2/1P1r4/P4QPP/2R2R1K w - - 0 30"]

{White to move, black just played Bd4. }
{Second best is Rce1 (-1.05), best is Qe2 (1.26) }
1. Qe2! Qb5 {Of course not Rxe2, because Rc8+ leads to mate. }
2. Rfe1 Rf8
3. Bd6 Rd8
4. a4 Qd7
5. Qxd3 Qxd6
*

Tactic 0115

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "straumann2"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r5rk/1p3pq1/4p3/1P1bP3/P6p/4QPB1/7P/3R1R1K w - - 0 31"]

{White to move, black just played h4. }
{Second best is Rd2 (-1.91), best is Rd4 (3.43) }
1. Rd4! hxg3
2. Rh4+ Qh7
3. Rxh7+ Kxh7
*

Tactic 0114

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "envigado"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b1k2r/pppp3p/5p1B/2bP4/8/1B6/PP3PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 15"]

{Happy Fourth of July! }
{White to move, black just played Ke8. }
{Second best is Rac1 (1.52), best is d6 (4.13) }
1. d6! Bxd6
2. Rae1+ Kd8 {If Be7, then Bg7. }
3. Bf7 {Renews the threat to trap the rook. }
3... c6
4. Bg7 Be5
5. Bxh8
*

Tactic 0113

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "mcsimian"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r5/pb5k/1p2p1pp/4P1q1/8/P7/1P3QPP/5RNK b - - 0 30"]

{Black to move, white just played Qf2. }
{Second best is Qxe5 (-0.53), best is Rf8 (-1.48) }
1... Rf8
2. Nf3 {If Qxf8, then Qxg2 mates. }
{If Qe2, defending both the rook and g2, then: }
(2. Qe2 Rxf1
3. Qxf1 Qxe5
4. Qf7+ Qg7
5. Qxe6 Qxb2
)
2... Bxf3
3. gxf3 Qxe5
4. Rd1 Rf7
*

Tactic 0112

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "straumann2"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q2rk/bp3p1p/4p3/1P1bP3/P4B2/N2Q1P2/7P/3R1R1K b - - 0 26"]
{Black to move, white just played Rad1. }
{Second best is Bc5 (-2.08), best is Qh4 (-5.91) }
1... Qh4
2. Bc1 Qh3
3. Qe2 Rg1+!
4. Rxg1 Bxf3+
5. Rg2 Bxe2
*

Tactic 0111

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Antonio7"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5rk1/pb4p1/1p2q2p/3pPp2/3Bn3/P2Q4/1P3PPP/1B2R1K1 w - f6 0 23"]
{White to move, black just played f7-f5. }
{Second best is f3 (1.0), best is exf6 (3.29) }
1. exf6 Rxf6 {If gxf6, then f3 wins the knight. }
2. f3 Rf4
3. fxe4 dxe4
4. Qg3 g5
5. Be3 Rf8
*