Tactic 0229

Happy Halloween!

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "tloeber"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1rk1/2q2p1p/2p1n1p1/p7/4N3/1P3PP1/1PPQ3P/3R1R1K w - - 0 26"]

{White to move, black just played Rad8. }
{Second best is Qc3 (1.98), best is Nf6+ (3.53) }
1. Nf6+ Kg7
2. Qc3 Qc8 {The queen moves to avoid being lost to the }
{discovered check. }
3. Nd7+ Kg8
4. Nxf8 Rxf8 {But white still wins the exchange. }
5. Qxa5
*

Tactic 0228

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "dennytru"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r7/2b2k2/2b1pqp1/2Pp4/3P1n2/1RB2P2/P6Q/KR6 w - - 0 36"]

{White to move, black just played g6. }
{Second best is Qh7+ (0.10), best is Rb7 (0.75) }
1. Rb7 Bxb7
2. Rxb7 Rc8
3. Qh7+ Qg7 {If Kf8, then Qd7, which is stronger than Rxc7. }
4. Qxg7+ Kxg7
5. Ba5 Kf6
6. Bxc7
*

Out for a week

I'll be busy for the next week, so no new tactics for a while. Enjoy the ones that are here!

- J.

Tactic 0227

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "gberto1"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2k3rr/1bpn1p2/pp2p3/5p2/1PPp4/3B2P1/P2B1P1P/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 19"]

{Black to move, white just played g3. }
{Second best is c5 (-3.47), best is Rxh2 (-5.77) }
1... Rxh2
2. Be4 {If Kxh2, then Rh8+ leads to mate. }
2... fxe4
3. Kxh2 {Now it's safe to take, with the diagonal blocked. }
3... Ne5
4. Be3 {Another sacrifice to keep the diagonal blocked. }
4... Nf3+
5. Kg2 Nxe1+
6. Rxe1 dxe3
7. fxe3 Rd8
*

Tactic 0226

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "mitre"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/pb3pp1/1p5p/8/3R1n2/P1P3qP/1P3QP1/6K1 b - - 0 35"]

{Black to move, white just played Qf2. }
{Second best is Qxf2+ (-1.73), best is Nxh3+ (mate in 3) }
1... Nxh3+
2. Kh1 Nxf2+
3. Kg1 Qxg2#

Tactic 0225

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "bpasyn"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1rk1/1p2qpp1/p1n2n1p/2p5/P1B1P1b1/2N2N2/1PP1QPPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 17"]

{Black to move, white just played Qe2. }
{Second best is Rfe8 (0.00), best is Nd4 (-2.10) }
1... Nd4
2. Qf1 Bxf3 {Nxf3 is only about even (0.25): }
(2... Nxf3
3. gxf3 Bxf3
4. Re3
)
3. gxf3 {Best to take with the bishop first, because }
3... Nxf3+ {then the knight gets to fork the king and rook. }
{Nxc2, forking the rooks, is also good. }
4. Kh1 Rd4
5. Ba2 Nxe1
6. Rxe1 Rd2
*

Tactic 0224

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Gilbert007MF"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/1p2RNpk/pr2n3/8/7P/2P2PK1/7P/8 w - - 0 39"]

{White to move, black just played Rb6. }
{Second best is h5 (1.06), best is Rxe6 (4.35) }
1. Rxe6 Rxe6
2. Ng5+ Kg6
3. Nxe6
*

Tactic 0223

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "PataNegra"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/Pb3k2/1P3P2/4K2p/7P/8/8 w - - 0 49"]

{White to move, black just played Bb6. }
{Second best is Kf4 (0.00), best is Kd5 (8.41). }
{Kd5 is the winning move, although Kf4 doesn't really draw, }
{since Kd5 can be played later. Fritz is just confused by the }
repetition, and thinks it is a draw. }
1. Kd5 Kxf5
2. Kc6 Bf2
3. b6 Kf4
4. a7 Kg3
5. a8Q Kxh3
6. Qc8+ Kg2
7. Qg4+ Bg3
*

Tactic 0222

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "ash2009"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2b1rr1k/2p3pp/p6q/2N1N3/1Q1P1p2/8/PP3PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 27"]

{White to move, black just played f4. }
{Second best is Qc4 (0.67), best is Nf7+ (11.75) }
1. Nf7+ Kg8 {Of course not Rxf7, because Rxe8+ leads to mate. }
2. Nxh6+
*

Tactic 0221

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "ddavid"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3rr1k1/6bp/p1q2pb1/8/1QN5/8/PP4PP/R1B2R1K b - - 0 27"]

{Black to move, white just played Qb4. }
{Second best is Rd4 (-2.10), best is Rb8 (-2.50) }
1... Rb8
2. Qc3 f5
3. Na5 Qxc3
4. bxc3 Bxc3 {Forking the rook and the knight. }
5. Bf4 Rb6
6. Bc7 Bxa5
7. Bxb6 Bxb6
*

Tactic 0220

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "PataNegra"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pp2ppbp/3p2p1/4n3/3NPP2/1BN1Q3/PPP3PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 14"]

{Black to move, white just played f4. }
{Second best is Nc6 (-0.03), best is Ng4 (-1.84) }
1... Ng4
2. Qd3 Qb6
3. Nce2 e5
4. h3 Nf6
5. fxe5 dxe5
6. c3 exd4
*

Tactic 0219

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "yachikoham"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4rk1/1p4b1/p2p3p/2pPnpq1/2P5/2N4P/PP2BQP1/2R2RK1 b - - 0 20"]

{Black to move, white just played Qf2. }
{Second best is Nxc4 (-2.70), best is Nd3 (-3.34). }
{Also good are Ng4 (-1.96) and Ng6 (-1.34), but Nd3 is best. }
1... Nd3 {Threatens Bd4, winning the queen. }
2. h4 Qe7
3. Qg3 {Now the queen is safe, }
3... Nxc1 {but black wins the exchange. }
4. Rxc1 f4
5. Qe1 Qe3+
6. Kh1 Rae8
*

Tactic 0218

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Vertti"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3rr1k1/p4pp1/1p3b1p/1BpnNb2/8/P3P1B1/1P3PPP/1R3RK1 w - - 0 21"]

{White to move, black just played Bf5. }
{Second best is e4 (0.05) or Rdb1 (0.04), best is Bxe8 (1.53) }
1. Bxe8 Bxe5 {If Bxb1, then Bxf7+ is good: }
(1... Bxb1
2. Bxf7+ Kf8
3. Nc6 {Can't play Rxb1 immediately, because black can }
{trade off the knight and then take the bishop on f7. }
3... Kxf7
4. Nxd8+ Bxd8
5. Rxb1
)
2. Rbd1 Bxg3
3. hxg3 c4
4. Bb5 Bd3
5. Rfe1
*

Tactic 0217

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "esoteric"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7r/p1k1qp2/2p1b1r1/4Pp1p/2PN2p1/1P2Q3/P4PPP/R4RK1 w - h6 0 25"]

{White to move, black just played h5. }
{Second best is Nxf5 (3.79), best is Nxe6+ (6.49) }
1. Nxe6+ Kb8 {There are three ways for black to take the knight, but }
{none of them are any good. For example, if Rxe6: }
(1... Rxe6
2. Qxa7+ Kc8
3. Qa8+ Kc7
4. Qxh8
)
2. Nd4 h4
3. Nxf5 Qe6
4. Nd4 Qe7
5. Rad1
*

Tactic 0216

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "rafuller"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4rk1/pb1n1pbp/1pq1p1p1/1N1pP3/2PP4/1P3N2/P3Q1PP/1B1R1RK1 w - - 0 19"]

{White to move, black just played d5. }
{Second best is Nd6 (2.68), Ng5 is also good (2.17), but best is }
{cxd5 (2.85). }
1. cxd5 Qxd5 {If exd5, then: }
(1... exd5
2. Rc1 Qe6 {Only safe square for the queen. }
3. Nc7 Qg4
4. Nxa8 Bxa8
5. Rc7
)
2. Nc7 Qa5
3. Nxa8 Bxa8
4. Be4 Bxe4
5. Qxe4 Qxa2
*

Tactic 0215

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Dodgee"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2b2rk1/1pq1bpp1/p1n4p/4p2N/8/1B3N2/PPPQ1PPP/2KR4 b - - 0 22"]

{Black to move, white just played Nh5. }
{Second best is Rd8 (-1.39), best is Bg4 (-3.55) }
1... Bg4
2. Nxg7 {If Ng3, then Bxf3 threatens Bg5, pinning the queen. }
2... Kxg7
3. Qe3 Na5
4. Re1 Nxb3+
5. Qxb3 Rd8
*

Tactic 0214

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "bradipo"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/r1B3pp/8/P2KPk2/8/8/7P/8 w - - 0 44"]

{White to move, black just played Ra7. }
{Second best is Kc6 (1.23), best is Kd6 (7.31) }
1. Kd6 Ra6+
2. Bb6 Ra8
3. e6 g5
4. e7 g4
5. Kd7 g3
6. hxg3 Ke4
7. Bd8
*

Tactic 0213

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "serspb"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2rr2k1/p4p2/4q3/6p1/PpNpPpPn/1P3P2/2P2Q2/2KRR3 b - - 0 30"]

{Black to move, white just played Rhe1. }
{Second best is Rc6 (0.02), best is Rxc4 (-1.81) }
1... Rxc4 {This exchange sacrifice exposes blacks king and weakens }
{his pawns on the queenside. }
2. bxc4 Qxc4 {It also supports black's d4 pawn, which was hanging. }
3. Rd3 Qa2
4. Kd2 Qxa4
5. Rd1 Rc8
*

Tactic 0212

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "swagger"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "R7/4k1p1/5n2/P7/8/5B1P/1r1p2P1/7K b - - 0 46"]

{Black to move, white just played Bf3. }
{Second best is Rb1+ (-0.76), best is Rb3 (-3.67) }
1... Rb3
2. Ra7+ {The bishop can't stay on the diagonal guarding the }
{queening square: If Bd1, then Rb1 wins the bishop, and if }
{Be2, then Re3 chases the bishop to d1, and Re1+ wins it. }
2... Kd6
3. Ra6+ Ke5
4. Rxf6 Kxf6 {With the knight gone, the bishop can stay on the diagonal. }
5. Be2 Ra3
6. g3 Rxa5
7. Kg2 Ra1 {Now advancing the pawn will win the bishop. }
*

Tactic 0211

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "BananaBreath"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3q1k1/1Q3ppp/1p6/2b1N3/8/2B4P/P4PP1/6K1 w - - 0 30"]

{White to move, black just played Bc5. }
{Second best is Nd7 or Nd3 (-2.30), best is Nxf7 (0.25). }
{There is really only one good move here, otherwise white is losing. }
1. Nxf7 Bxf2+ {If Qxf7, then Qxa1+. }
{If Rxa2, then there is a pretty mate in 2: }
(1... Rxa2
2. Nh6+ gxh6 {If the king moves, then Qxg7 is mate. }
3. Qg7#
)
2. Kh1 Qxf7
3. Qxa8+ Qf8
*

Tactic 0210

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "elcapa"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r3rk1/1p3p2/p3p2q/3p4/4P1P1/1P1Bb1QP/PB4K1/5R2 w - - 0 34"]

{White to move, black just played cxd5. }
{Second best is g5 (2.04), best is Rf6 (3.60) }
1. Rf6 {If g5, then Qxg5 holds for a bit, but black soon gets }
{into trouble because of his exposed king and white's }
{well placed bishops. }
1... Qg5
2. h4 {The queen can't defend the bishop any longer. }
2... Qg7
3. Qxe3 Qxg4+
4. Kf1
*

Tactic 0209

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "swagger"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r6k/ppn3pP/2p1b3/2qp2N1/5R2/2NB4/PP4PP/4R2K w - - 0 25"]

{White to move, black just played Bxe6. }
{Second best is b4 (1.80), best is Rxe6 (8.19) }
1. Rxe6 Rf8 {The f7 square must be defended to prevent Nf7 mate. }
2. Rxf8+ Qxf8
3. Rd6 {Threatening Rd8! }
3... g6 {To provide an escape square for the king. }
4. Rxg6
*

Tactic 0208

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "JDix2"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3b1rk1/1p3qp1/p1np3p/3NnB2/4P3/5P2/PPP1Q3/R3K2R b KQ - 0 24"]

{Black to move, white just played Qe2. }
{Second best is Bh4+ (-0.01), best is Nd4 (-1.89) }
1... Nd4 {In the Bh4+ line, after Rxh4 then Nd4 is played also. }
2. Qf2 Nxf5
3. O-O-O {If white takes the knight, then black can take the knight }
{on d5. }
3... Ne7
4. Nc3 Ba5
*

Tactic 0207

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "fershadpour"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/1pp2rpn/p1q3Rp/4p3/3QP3/2NR3P/PPP3P1/6K1 w - - 0 22"]

{White to move, black just played dxe5. }
{dxe5 unveils a double attack: the queen threatens the rook on g6, }
{while the pawn attacks the queen on d4. What is white's best response? }
{Second best is Rxc6 (-3.25), best is Qa4 (-1.19) }
1. Qa4 {Pinning the queen, so if Qxc6, then Qxe8+, and things are even. }
{If Rxc6, then: }
(1. Rxc6 exd4 {And black still has a double attack. }
2. Rc4 dxc3
3. Rdxc3
)
1... Qxa4
2. Nxa4 Ng5
3. Nc5 Kh7 {Unfortunately the rook is trapped, so white will be }
{down the exchange, for a pawn. }
4. Rxg5 hxg5
5. Nxb7
*

Tactic 0206

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "swagger"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b2rk1/ppn1q1pp/2p1P3/3p1PN1/7n/2NB4/PP1Q2PP/4RRK1 w - - 0 20"]

{White to move, black just played Nh4. }
{Second best is Kh1 (2.81), best is Nxh7 (5.12) }
{g3 (2.67) is also good, trapping the knight. }
1. Nxh7 Rxf5 {Not Kxh7, because f6+ wins the queen. }
2. Bxf5 Nxf5
3. Rxf5 Kxh7 {With the bishop gone, now the king can take the knight. }
4. Rf7 Qb4
5. Qd3+ Kh8
6. e7
*

Tactic 0205

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "timurx"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/p7/K1Pk3p/5p2/4nP2/P4B2/8/8 w - - 0 56"]

{White to move, black just played Ne4. }
{Second best is a4 (0.02), best is Bxe4 (4.45) }
1. Bxe4 fxe4
2. Kb7 {This is the point. If Kb7 was played immediately, }
{then Nc5+ drives the king away. }
2... e3
3. c7 e2
4. c8Q e1Q
5. Qd8+ Kc5
6. Qc7+ Kd4
7. Qd6+ Kc4
8. f5
*

Tactic 0204

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "nosurrender"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/3n1pp1/2pPpP1p/q2pP3/1p1P3N/r5P1/P2Q3P/R4RK1 w - - 0 23"]

{White to move, black just played Qa5. }
{Second best is Qd1 (2.03), best is fxg7 (13.92) }
1. fxg7 Rxg3+ {Kxg7 leads to mate: }
(1... Kxg7
2. Rxf7+ Kxf7
3. Qxh6 Nxe5
4. Rf1+
)
(1... Kh7 {Kh7 is also no help. }
2. g8Q+ Rxg8
3. Rxf7+ Rg7
4. Qc2+ Kh8
5. Rxg7 Nf8
6. Rf7
)
2. hxg3 Qa3
3. Rf3 Kxg7
4. Rxa3 bxa3
5. Qa5
*

Tactic 0203

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Imaginator"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r1k2r/p3bppp/1n2p3/3nP3/3P4/2N2N2/2RB1PPP/2R3K1 b k - 0 19"]

{Black to move, white just played Rfc1. }
{Second best is Ba3 (-0.42), best is Nb4 (-1.51) }
1... Nb4
2. Rb2 {Only move for this rook, but it sets up a knight fork. }
2... Nd3
3. Rxb6 Nxc1
4. Rb2 a5 {Create an escape square for the knight. }
5. Kf1 Nd3
6. Rb7
*

Tactic 0202

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "timurx"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bqr1k1/pp1nbppp/2p1pn2/3p4/2PPP3/1PNB1N2/P4PPP/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 9"]

{Black to move, white just played e4. }
{Second best is dxc4 (-0.05), best is Bb4 (-1.77) }
1... Bb4
2. Nxd5 {The knight is needed to defend e4. If it just moves }
{away, then dxe4 forks the bishop and knight. If Qc2 }
{to defend the knight, then the bishop takes and after }
{the queen retakes, then dxe4. }
2... exd5
3. e5 Bc3
4. Rb1 Ne4
*

Tactic 0201

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Yahsue"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p5p/p1p1bbN1/3p3Q/1P1P1P2/P3B3/6PP/R3R2K b - - 0 20"]

{Black to move, white just played Nxg6. }
{Second best is Bf7 (-0.75), best is Qe8 (-1.79) }
{hxg6 leads to a draw. }
1... Qe8 {Qe8 and Bf7 have the same idea, to pin the knight. }
{But Qe8 is better, because Bf7 allows f5: }
(1... Bf7
2. f5 Re8
3. Bg1 Kg7
4. Be3 Rxe3
5. Rxe3 hxg6
6. Qg4 Qc7
)
2. Nxf8 Qxh5
3. Nxe6 Re8
*

Tactic 0200

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "senilix"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3k1nr/pp2qppp/2npb3/b7/2B5/BQp2N2/P4PPP/RN2R1K1 w kq - 0 13"]

{White to move, black just played Be6. }
{Second best is Nxc3 (1.37), best is Bxe6 (4.71) }
1. Bxe6 Kf8 {Not fxe6, because Rxe6 pins and wins the queen. }
2. Bxf7 Qxf7
3. Bxd6+ Nce7
4. Qxb7
*

Tactic 0199

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Icon53"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3k2r/ppp1qpp1/2n4p/8/3P2b1/2PQ1N2/P4PPP/R1B2RK1 w kq - 0 15"]

{White to move, black just played Bg4. }
{Second best is Rb1 (1.31), best is Re1 (3.14) }
1. Re1 Be6
2. Qb5 {If d5, then O-O-O pins the d-pawn. }
{Qb5 threatens d5 and also the pawn on b7. }
2... Rd8
3. Qxb7 Qd7
4. Ba3 Rb8
5. Qa6 Rb6
6. Qe2
*