Tactic 0169

[Event "Pfalz-chA"]
[Site "Bad Bergzabern"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[White "Nazarenus, Olaf"]
[Black "Hoegerl, Gerd"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C34"]
[WhiteElo "2250"]
[BlackElo "2270"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2qk2r/p4pp1/2pp3p/1p4b1/2nPP3/1PPQ1P1N/P1B1K3/R6R b kq - 0 19"]

{Black to move, white just played b3. }
{Second best is Na3 (-0.43), best is Nb2 (-8.79) }
1... Nb2 {Where can the queen go? }
*

Tactic 0168

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "ChessNE1"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/ppp1bppp/3p1n2/4P3/1n1P2b1/3B1N2/P1QN1PPP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 14"]

{White to move, black just played Nb4. }
{Second best is Qb1 (-1.14), best is exf6 (2.75) }
1. exf6 Bxf6 {If Nxc2, then: }
(1... Nxc2
2. fxe7 Nxe1 {If Qd7, then: }
(2... Qd7
3. exf8Q+ Kxf8
4. Bxc2 {And white has a rook and three pieces for a queen. }
)
3. exd8Q Raxd8
4. Nxe1 {And white has three pieces for a rook. }
)
2. Bxh7+ Kh8
3. Qb3 Kxh7
4. Qxb4
*

Tactic 0167

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "DCoppola"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2rk1/5ppp/p2p4/1p1n1q2/8/2P2N1P/P4PP1/2RQR1K1 w - - 0 20"]

{White to move, black just played Nxd5. }
{Second best is Nh4 (-0.49), best is g4 (1.69) }
1. g4! Nxc3 {There is no safe square where the queen can move and still }
{defend the knight. }
2. Rxc3 Qf6
3. Ra3 Ra8
4. Nd4 b4
5. Rf3
*

Tactic 0166

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "optional"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4rk1/p1BN1ppp/5b2/8/6b1/2p5/PP3PPP/RN2R1K1 b - - 0 20"]

{Black to move, white just played Nd7. }
{Second best is Bxd7 (0.58), best is cxb2 (-1.80) }
1... cxb2
2. Nxf6+ gxf6
3. Nd2 bxa1Q
4. Rxa1
*

Tactic 0165

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "MontanaSky"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r1r1k1/7p/p2p2p1/1b1P3P/1p2N2b/3pKP2/PP4P1/2RR1N2 b - - 0 29"]

{Black to move, white just played Nxe4. }
{Second best is Rc2 (-0.90), best is Rxe4+ (-6.20) }
1... Rxe4+!
2. fxe4 {If Kxe4, then it is mate in 4: }
(2. Kxe4 Re8+
3. Kf4 g5+
4. Kf5 Bd7+
5. Kf6 g4#
)
2... Bg5+
3. Kf3 Rxc1
4. Rxc1 Bxc1
*

Tactic 0164

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "cj1"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2Q1k1rr/p7/Pp1q4/2pb4/3p1P2/2P1P2P/1P4PK/R4R2 b - - 0 34"]

{Black to move, white just played Qc8+. }
{Second best is Kf7 (-1.54) or Qd8 (-1.16), best is Ke7 (-9.33) }
1... Ke7! {Black has a threat of Rxg2+, followed by Rxh3#. }
{Ke7 is the only move that doesn't allow white enough }
{time to defend g2. For example, if Qd8: }
(1... Qd8
2. Qxd8+ Kxd8
3. Rg1
)
(1... Kf7 {And if Kf7, then: }
2. Qf5+ Ke7
3. Rg1
)
2. Qxg8 Rxg8
*

Tactic 0163

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "forense"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r3/1pq4p/p5k1/2P1rp2/4pR2/2Q4P/P4R2/6K1 w - - 0 31"]

{White to move, black just played dxe4. }
{Second best is Rh4 (-1.07), best is Qg3+ (7.93) }
1. Qg3+ Kf6 {If the king moves to the h file, then Rh4 is mate. }
2. Rxf5+ Rxf5 {If Ke6, then Rf6+ forces the king back to the 7th }
{rank, and then Re7+ wins the queen. If the king goes }
{to d5 after Re6+, then Qb3+ is mate in 4. }
3. Rxf5+ Kxf5
4. Qxc7
*

Tactic 0162

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "MontanaSky"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r1r1k1/2qb1p1p/p2p2p1/3P3P/1p2P2b/3pNPN1/PP3QP1/R2R2K1 b - - 0 24"]

{Black to move, white just played Red1. }
{Second best is Qb6 or Qa7 (-1.17), best is f5 (-2.31) }
1... f5!
2. f4 {To stop f4, which wins a knight. If exf5, then Bxg3 also }
{wins a knight, because of the overworked queen. }
2... fxe4
3. hxg6 hxg6
*

Tactic 0161

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Vague1"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/pb4p1/3Np2p/1p1nPp2/3P3P/P7/B1K3P1/8 b - - 0 32"]

{Black to move, white just played Kxc2. }
{Second best is Ba8 (0.36), best is Bc6 (-1.01) }
1. Bc6 {The only move that defends everything. }
1... Bxd5 Bxd5 {Take back with the bishop, so that g2 is attacked. }
2. g3 a6
3. Kc3 g5
4. hxg5 hxg5
*

Tactic 0160

[Event "Arctic Chess Challenge 2009"]
[Date "2009.08.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Rasmussen, Allan Stig"]
[Black "Robson, Ray"]
[WhiteElo "2536"]
[BlackElo "2491"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/3r1pp1/8/p4PPB/P1p5/1pN1n3/1P3k2/1RK5 b - - 0 39"]

{Black to move, white just played Bh5. }
{Second best is Nxf5 (-1.11), best is Ke1 (-4.49) }
1... Ke1! {Black is down a piece, but is winning due to the mating threats. }
{This simple king move tightens the noose around white's king. }
2. Ra1 {Ra1 is the suggested continuation from Fritz. }
{The actual game went like this: }
(2. f6 gxf6
3. gxf6 Rd2
4. Ra1 Rc2+
5. Kb1 Nf1 {and white resigned. If white tries Ne4 to stop the mate, then }
{Nd2+, and after the exchange on d2, Rc1# can't be stopped. }
)
2... Rd2
3. Kb1 Rc2
4. Ra3 Nf1
5. Rxb3 cxb3
*

Tactic 0159

[Event "Bay Area Chess 90"]
[White "Yu, Leland"]
[Black "Bennett, Jim"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/r4pp1/pb5p/1pp2q2/8/1P3B1P/P3QPP1/R5K1 w - c6 0 28"]

{White to move, black just played c5. }
{Second best is Re1 (-0.77), best is Qe8+ (8.63) }
1. Qe8+ Kh7
2. Be4 {Check followed by pinning and winning the queen. }
{An obvious tactic, but pretty. }
2... Qxe4
3. Qxe4+ g6
*

Tactic 0158

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "cacaco"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7k/8/p4qp1/1p1pR2p/3P1r2/2P2PNb/PP2Q2P/6K1 w - - 0 30"]

{White to move, black just played Qf6. }
{Second best is Nh1 (0.99), best is Nxh5 (3.72) }
1. Nxh5 gxh5
2. Rxh5+ Kg7
3. Rxh3
*

Tactic 0157

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "harry143"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4rrk1/pp4pp/2pq4/3p1P2/3P2n1/1B2b1N1/PPP1Q1PP/R4R1K b - - 0 19"]

{Black to move, white just played Qe2. }
{Second best is h5 (-1.87), best is Nxh2 (-5.00) }
1... Nxh2
2. Kxh2 Re4
3. Qh5 Rf6
4. Rf3 Rh6
5. Qh3 Rxh3+
6. gxh3 Bxd4
*

Tactic 0156

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "ThePawnSnatcher"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2q3k1/p2b1pp1/1p6/6Q1/8/3R4/5P1K/8 w - - 0 42"]

{White to move, black just played Bd7. }
{Second best is Kg3 (-0.60), best is Qe7 (2.53) }
1. Qe7 Qc7+ {If the bishop moves, then Rd8+ wins the queen. }
2. Rd6 Qc5 {Now the bishop can't move because it is pinned against the queen. }
3. Qd8+ Be8
4. Qxe8+ Kh7
*

Tactic 0155

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "cacaco"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4q2k/6pp/p7/1p1p4/3P1r2/2P2P1b/PP3Q1P/R4NK1 w - - 0 26"]

{White to move, black just played Qxe8. }
{Second best is Re1 (0.63), best is Qg3 (1.59) }
1. Qg3 {Forks the rook and bishop. }
1... Qg6 {Only defense is to pin the queen. }
2. Qxg6 hxg6
3. Kf2 g5
4. Kg3 Rh4 {Fork again, but now black can defend. }
5. Ne3
*

Tactic 0154

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "harry143"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqk2r/ppp1b1pp/5n2/3pNP2/4p3/1BN5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 0 8"]

{White to move, black just played Be7. }
{Second best is Bxd5 (1.51), best is Nxd5 (2.56) }
1. Nxd5 Bd6 {If Nxd5, then Qh5+, and black is in big trouble. }
2. d4 exd3
3. Nxd3 Bxf5
4. Bg5
*

Tactic 0153

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "ThePawnSnatcher"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5rk1/p4ppp/1p1Q4/4N3/3p2P1/7P/bq3PK1/4R3 w - - 0 27"]

{White to move, black just played Bxa2? }
{Second best is Re4 (-2.06), best is Qxf8+ (mate in 3). }
1. Qxf8+ {A very nice queen sac mate, that I missed in the game. }
1... Kxf8
2. Nd7+ Kg8
3. Re8#
*

Tactic 0152

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "piasprong"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2kr3r/p2b1pp1/2pp1q2/2b1n2p/2B2B2/2N3QP/PPP2PP1/R4RK1 w - - 0 16"]

{White to move, black just played Ne5. }
{There are two good moves in this position. }
{Third best is Na4 (0.95), best is Ba6+ or Ne4 (4.07) }
1. Ba6+ {Ba6+ and Ne4 can be played in either order. }
1... Kc7
2. Ne4 Qg6
3. Nxc5 Qxg3 {If dxc5, then Bxe5. }
4. fxg3 f6
5. Nb3
*

Tactic 0151

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Lorets"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/3r2b1/pNP3p1/8/K3k3/P7/8 w - - 0 47"]

{White to move, black just played Rxd6. }
{Second best is cxd6 (-2.04), best is Nxd6 (0.0) }
1. Nxd6 Bh5
2. c6 {The point: after cxd6, the bishop can stop the pawn easily. }
2... Bg4
3. c7 Be6
4. c8Q Bxc8
5. Nxc8 g4
6. Ne7
*

Tactic 0150

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "ThePawnSnatcher"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/pp3ppp/6b1/2b5/2Pp2P1/3P1QBP/PP3PK1/RN2q3 b - - 0 19"]

{Black to move, white just played c4. }
{Second best is Re6 (-2.63), best is Qc1 (-3.98) }
1... Qc1! {The b2 pawn can't be defended, and then the rook is trapped. }
2. Bf4 Qxb2
3. Nd2 Qxa1
4. Nb3 Qxa2
5. Nxc5 {White manages to get some material back. }
5... b6
*

Tactic 0149

[Event "13th Melody Amber Rapid"]
[Site "Monte Carlo MNC"]
[Date "2004.03.26"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[Round "6"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Loek Van Wely"]
[Black "Alexander Morozevich"]
[ECO "D09"]
[WhiteElo "2617"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r1k/2p1q1p1/1r5p/1PRnNb2/1n1pNP2/Q5P1/6BP/4R1K1 b - f3 0 29"]
{Black to move, white just played f4. }
{Second best is Bxe4 (0.22), best is Nc2 (-2.17) }
1... Nc2
2. Qb2 {Rxc2 is no good, because the rook is pinned. }
2... Nxe1
3. Rxd5 Nxg2
4. Qxg2 c5
5. Nxc5 Rxb5
*

Tactic 0148

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "tjh54"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r1k/p3Qpqp/3p1N2/8/2rn4/8/PPP3PP/R3R2K b - - 0 22"]

{Black to move, white just played Nf6. }
{Second best is Nf5 (0.21) or Nxc2 (0.23), best is Rxc2 (-0.89) }
1... Rxc2 {Threatens Qxg2#. }
2. Qxf8+ Qxf8
3. Re8 {Pinning the queen. }
3... Qxe8
4. Nxe8 d5
5. Nf6 Rxb2
6. Nxd5 Nc2
7. Rf1 Rxa2
*

Tactic 0147

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "bonden"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1rk1/p1q1p1bp/1p3pp1/2p1n3/3PN3/2P1P1P1/PP4KP/1R1QNR2 b - - 0 18"]

{Black to move, white just played d4. }
{Third best is Bh6 (-1.87), best is Qc6 (-4.57), or Qb7 (-3.20) }
1... Qc6
2. Qc2 Ng4 {Threatens to fork the king and queen. }
3. Rf3 Bh6
4. Kg1 Nxe3
5. Qd3 c4 {And white can't defend the knight any more. }
*

Tactic 0146

[Event "13th Melody Amber Rapid"]
[Site "Monte Carlo MNC"]
[Date "2004.03.26"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[Round "6"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Loek Van Wely"]
[Black "Alexander Morozevich"]
[ECO "D09"]
[WhiteElo "2617"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2b2r1k/2p2qp1/1rn4p/2Rn4/1P1p4/Q4NP1/3N1PBP/4R1K1 w - - 0 26"]

{White to move, black just played Nd5. }
{Second best is b5 (0.88), best is Rxd5 (1.73) }
1. Rxd5 {Better than b5, which was played in the game. }
1... Qxd5
2. b5 {The point: double attack on the knight and the rook on f8. }
2... Kg8
3. Bf1 {Threatening to pin and win the queen. }
3... d3
4. bxc6 Rxc6
5. Qxd3 Qxd3
6. Bxd3
*

Tactic 0145

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Vallejo"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r2k1/p1P2pp1/4p2p/1R2P3/P1R5/5K2/7r/8 b - - 0 39"]

{Black to move, white just played Kf3. }
{Second best is Rdd2 (6.25), best is Rd3+ (-3.86) }
1... Rd3+
2. Ke4 {If Kf4, then Rh4 is mate. }
{If Kg4, then g5 leads to mate. }
2... Rhh3
3. c8Q+ Kh7
4. Qc5 Rdg3
5. Qf2 Rg4+
6. Qf4 Rxf4+
7. Kxf4 Rh4+
8. Kg3 Rxc4
*

Tactic 0144

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "elcapa"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b2rkb/pp1q3p/6pP/3nppB1/2BpN3/P2P4/1PP2PP1/R2Q1RK1 w - f6 0 17"]

{White to move, black just played f5. }
{There are two good moves in this position. }
{Second best is Nc5 (1.95), best is Qf3 (3.34) }
1. Qf3 {Nc5 is also interesting: }
(1. Nc5 Qc6
2. Qf3 Qxc5
3. Qxd5+ Qxd5
4. Bxd5+ Rf7 {Only legal move, since the king can't move. }
)
1... fxe4
2. Qxe4 {Increasing pressure on the pinned knight. }
2... Rf7
3. Qxd5 Qxd5
4. Bxd5 Bf5
5. f4 Re8
6. Bxf7+ Kxf7
7. fxe5
*

Tactic 0143

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "julioedisonmc"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/4k2P/8/8/1R6/1P1r4/1KP4r/8 w - - 0 50"]
{White to move, black just played Rxd3. }
{Second best is Re4+ (0.16), best is h8Q (1.23). }
{Of course, h8R is just as good as h8Q. }
1. h8Q Rxb3+ {If Rxh8, then the rook on d3 is lost anyway. }
2. Kxb3 Rxh8
3. Rd4
*

Tactic 0142

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "laSelvaBeach"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/Qpk3pp/2b2p2/2Pp1qn1/8/B7/P4PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 32"]
{Black to move, white just played Qxa7. }
{Second best is d4 (0.00), best is Nh3+ (-0.77) }
1... Nh3+
2. gxh3 Qg6+
3. Kf1 Bb5+
4. Re2 Qb1+
5. Kg2 Bxe2
6. Qb6+ Qxb6
7. cxb6+ Kxb6
*