Tactic 0198

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "dorsnorXL"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1r2/1bp2pk1/p1nppnpp/1p6/3PN3/2PB1NQ1/PP3PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 17"]

{Black to move, white just played Bd3. }
{Second best is Nxe4 (-1.77) or Nxd4 (-1.72), best is Nh5 (-2.36). }
{Nxd4 and Nxe4 are similar, because after Nxe4 Bxe4, Nxd4 is played. }
{This threatens to fork the king and queen, so there is no time for Bxb7. }
1... Nh5
2. Qh4 Qxh4
3. Nxh4 e5
4. dxe5 Nxe5
5. Bc2 Nc4
6. a4 f5
*

Tactic 0197

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "senilix"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3k1nr/ppp1qppp/2np4/b3P3/2B3b1/BQp2N2/P4PPP/RN3RK1 w kq - 0 11"]

{White to move, black just played Bg4. }
{White has two good moves to choose from here. }
{Second best is exd6 (2.55), best is Qxb7 (2.99) }
1. Qxb7 {Forking the rook and the knight. }
{But exd6 is also interesting: }
(1. exd6 {Threatening Re1. }
1... Qd7
2. Re1+ Kd8
3. Ne5 Nxe5
4. Rxe5
)
1... Bxf3
2. gxf3 Rd8
3. exd6 cxd6
4. Qxc6+
*

Tactic 0196

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Charger"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4rk1/pp2bpp1/1qp1bn1p/4Q1B1/8/2N5/PPP1BPPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 14"]

{White to move, black just played h6. }
{Second best is Na4 (0.66), best is Bxh6 (1.25) }
1. Bxh6 Ne8 {If gxh6, then: }
(1... gxh6
2. Na4 Qb4 {Only safe move for the queen. }
3. Rd4 Ng4 {Now the queen has no moves at all. }
4. Bxg4 Qb5 {The knight sac opened up this square for the queen. }
5. Qg3 Bxg4
6. Rxg4+
)
2. Na4 Qb4
3. Rd4 Bd6
4. Qe3 Qa5
5. Bf4
*

Tactic 0195

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "cgs"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r2k1/2Q2pp1/7p/8/8/4q1PK/PP6/2R5 b - - 0 32"]

{Black to move, white just played Qc7. }
{Second best is Rd5 (-1.90), best is Qe6+ (-13.16) }
1... Qe6+
2. g4 {King moves leads to mate: }
(2. Kh2 Rd2+ {If Kh4, then g5+ is mate in 2. }
3. Kg1 Qe3+
4. Kh1 Qf3+
5. Kg1 Qg2#
)
2... Rd3+
3. Qg3 Rxg3+
4. Kxg3 Qe3+
5. Kg2 Qxc1
*

Tactic 0194

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Carchi"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3kb1r/2qn1ppp/p1p1p3/1p2N3/2pP1NP1/4RQ1P/PP3P2/R5K1 w kq - 0 18"]

{White to move, black just played Nd7. }
{Second best is Nxc6 (2.48), best is Nxf7 (11.17) }
1. Nxf7 Qc8 {Of course not Kxf7, because it sets up a discovered }
{check that wins the queen. }
2. Nxh8 Nf6
3. Nxe6 Kd7
4. Qf5 Nd5
*

Tactic 0193

[Event "3rd NH Chess Tournament"]
[Site "Amsterdam NED"]
[Date "2009.08.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Caruana, F."]
[Black "Nielsen, PH."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2009.08.20"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7k/4Qr2/1p1p3p/8/3P1q1P/3b2p1/PP4P1/2R3RK w - - 0 29"]

{White to move, black just played Rf7. }
{Second best is Qd8+ (0.00), best is Rc8+ (2.60) }
{Actually, black is better after Qd8+, since he can play Rf8 and }
{then Be4, instead of repeating moves. }
1. Rc8+ Kh7
2. Rf8! {Taking advantage of the pins on the rook on f7. }
2... Rxe7
3. Rxf4 Re2
4. Rg4 Bc4
5. b3
*

Tactic 0192

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "kiyosaki"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b1r1k1/pppn1pbp/3pqnp1/4p1B1/2PPP3/2N2N1P/PP1QBPP1/R4RK1 w - - 0 11"]

{White to move, black just played Qe6. }
{Second best is Nb5 (1.35), best is Nd5 (1.99) }
1. Nd5! {Nb5 is nearly as good. The problem for black is that }
{Nc7 forks the two rooks and the queen, and c7 can't be }
{defended. }
1... Nxe4 {The second point of Nd5 is that if Nxd5, then }
{cxd5 traps the queen! }
2. Qc1 c6
3. Nc7 Nxg5
4. Qxg5 {Or just Nxe6, winning a queen for two pieces. }
4... Qe7
5. Qxe7 Rxe7
6. Nxa8
*

Tactic 0191

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "pandas"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1rk1/ppq1bppn/2p5/6P1/2P1P2P/2n1Q3/PB2B3/1K1R3R w - - 0 26"]

{White to move, black just played Nxc3+. }
{Second best is Bxc3 (0.95), best is Qxc3 (4.04) }
1. Qxc3 f6 {To defend against mate. Other moves also lose a piece. }
2. g6 {The knight is trapped! }
*

Tactic 0190

[Event "3rd NH Chess Tournament"]
[Site "Amsterdam NED"]
[Date "2009.08.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Caruana, F."]
[Black "Nielsen, PH."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2009.08.20"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r1k/4Q3/1p1p3p/8/3P1q1P/3b2p1/PP4P1/2R3RK b - - 0 28"]

{Black to move, white just played Rg1. }
{Second best is Ba6 (0.00), best is Be4 (-0.66) }
1... Be4
2. Rcf1 {The threat is Bxg2+, for example: }
(2. d5 Bxg2+
3. Rxg2 {Kxg2 is worse: }
(3. Kxg2 Qf2+
4. Kh3 Rg8 {Threatening mate. }
5. Qf6+ Qxf6
)
3... Qxc1+
)
2... Qxf1
3. Qxe4 Qf4
4. Qxf4 Rxf4
5. Rd1 Rf2
6. a3 Rxb2
*

Tactic 0189

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "kiyosaki"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bqr1k1/pppnppbp/3p1np1/8/2PPP3/2N2N1P/PP2BPP1/R1BQK2R w KQ - 0 8"]

{White to move, black just played Re8. }
{Second best is Be3 (0.37), best is e5 (2.14) }
1. e5 dxe5
2. dxe5 Nh5 {The rook on e8 blocks the knight's retreat. }
3. g4 {And now the knight is trapped. }
3... Nhf6
4. exf6 Bxf6
5. Be3
*

Tactic 0188

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jemmack"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r7/pp2nqkp/5rp1/3p4/4p3/P1Pn2N1/1PQN1PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 22"]

{White to move, black just played Qf7. }
{Second best is f3 (-0.13), best is Ngxe4 or Ndxe4 (0.65) }
1. Ngxe4 dxe4
2. Nxe4 Nf4
3. Nxf6 Qxf6
4. Qe4
*

Tactic 0187

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "carrotop"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r6/1q2p2R/pk1p1r2/6Q1/b1p1P3/2P2P2/PP1R2P1/2K5 b - - 0 31"]

{Black to move, white just played Qg5. }
{Second best is Qc7 (-0.62), best is Qxe4 (-2.50) }
1... Qxe4!
2. Qh4 {If fxe4, then Rf1+ leads to mate. }
{Qh4 protects the rook and guards against Qe1+. }
2... Qxh4
3. Rxh4 Rc8
4. b3 Be8
5. bxc4 Bf7
*

Tactic 0186

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Djedoviluk"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k3r2/1b5p/3pp3/1p2b3/1Pp1P3/P4B2/4QKPq/1R1R4 b - - 0 33"]

{Black to move, white just played Kf2. }
{Second best is d5 (-16.04), best is Bg3+ (mate in 3). }
{There are other winning moves here as well, for example }
{Qh4+, Qf4, or Rf6, but this is a pretty mate. }
1... Bg3+
2. Ke3 Qh6+
3. Kd4 Be5#
*

Tactic 0185

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Feif"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r3r1k/p1n4p/1p3N2/3p1q2/8/2Q2P2/PP5P/1K1R2R1 w - - 0 26"]

{White to move, black just played Qf5+. }
{Second best is Ka1 (0.31), best is Ne4+ (12.61) }
1. Ne4+ Rf6
2. Qxc7 Rg8
3. Rxg8+ Kxg8
4. Rxd5 Qg6 {If Qxf3, then Nxf6+ followed by Rd8+ is crushing. }
5. Rg5
*

Tactic 0184

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "carrotop"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pp2ppbp/2np2p1/4n3/3NP3/1BN2P1P/PPP3P1/R1BQK2R b KQ - 0 11"]

{Black to move, white just played f3. }
{Second best is Qb6 (-0.49), best is Nxd4 (-4.07) }
1... Nxd4
2. h4 {If Qxd4, then Nxf3+ wins the queen. }
2... Qa5
3. Bd2 Nec6
4. h5 Nxb3
5. axb3 Qe5
*

Tactic 0183

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Hanke"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/2p2ppp/p2b4/1p6/3P4/1BP4P/PP3nP1/RNBQR1K1 w - - 0 15"]

{White to move, black just played Nxf2. }
{Second best is Qc2 (0.36), best is Qf3 (1.84) }
1. Qf3 {If Kxf2, then: }
(1. Kxf2 Qh4+
2. Kf1 Bxh3
3. Re3 Bg4
4. Qe1 Qh1+ {Draw by perpetual check: }
5. Kf2 Qh4+
6. Kg1 Qh2+
7. Kf1
)
1... Qh4
2. Qxf2 Bh2+
3. Kf1 Bg3
4. Qd2 Qf6+
5. Kg1 Bxe1
6. Qxe1
*

Tactic 0182

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "gberto1"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/6r1/p7/2p4n/3pr3/1P6/P1PKN1R1/6R1 w - - 0 34"]

{White to move, black just played Rxg7. }
{Second best is Rg5 (1.24), best is Rxg7+ (1.52) }
1. Rxg7+ Nxg7
2. Rg5 {The c pawn can't be saved! }
2... Kf7
3. Rxc5
*

Tactic 0181

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "frakinyov"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b1r1k1/5p1p/p2p2pb/1pqP1P2/2p1P1P1/2N1NQ2/PP2B1P1/5R1K w - - 0 25"]

{White to move, black just played Bh6. }
{Second best is g5 (-1.89), best is fxg6 (0.09) }
1. fxg6 Rf8 {if fxg6 or hxg6, then Qf7+ wins the rook on e8. }
2. gxf7+ Kh8
3. g5 Bxg5
4. Nc2
*

Tactic 0180

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "Pawnscum"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2rqr1k1/1p1b1p2/p3pnpp/n3N3/P2PP3/B2Q4/2B2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 18"]

{White to move, black just played a6. }
{Second best is Rfb1 (2.46), best is Nxg6 (2.48) }
1. Nxg6 {Since Rfb1 is just as good, here is that line: }
(1. Rfb1 Bc6
2. Qf3 b5
3. Bc5 Nb7
4. Nxc6 Rxc6
5. axb5 axb5
6. e5
)
1... Rxc2 {Of course Nxg6 is more interesting. If fxg6, then: }
(1... fxg6
2. e5 Ne4 {Sacrifice the knight to get some protection for g6. }
3. Qxe4 Qg5
4. Qxg6+ Qxg6
5. Bxg6
)
2. Ne7+ Rxe7
3. Bxe7 Qxe7
4. Qxc2
*

Tactic 0179

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "metp"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6n1/p2k4/1p1Pp3/6b1/2N3P1/5K2/2r2B2/3R4 w - - 0 35"]

{White to move, black just played Rxc2. }
{Second best is Be3 (-1.21), best is Ne5+ (2.69) }
1. Ne5+ Kd8 {If Kc8, then: }
(1... Kc8
2. d7+ Kb7 {If black tries to stop the pawn with Kc7, then: }
(2... Kc7
3. Nf7 Bd8
4. Bg3+ {Black loses the bishop, and the pawn queens }
{anyway. }
)
3. Nf7 Be7
4. d8Q Bxd8
5. Nxd8+ Kc8
6. Nxe6
)
2. Nf7+ Kd7
3. Nxg5
*

Tactic 0178

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "fanwink"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5b2/p5k1/1p2pN2/3pP1p1/3P1nP1/3R1N2/PP6/2rB2K1 w - - 0 35"]

{White to move, black just played Nf4. }
{Second best is Rd2 (0.78), best is Nh5+ (3.75) }
1. Nh5+ {Rd2 is met by Bb4, and the bishop on d1 is lost. }
1... Nxh5 {Better to eliminate the attacking knight. }
2. gxh5 Kh6
3. Nh2 Rb1
4. b3
*

Tactic 0177

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "dorsnorXL"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/2pR2bk/p1r3qp/1p6/5n2/1R5P/P5P1/5Q1K b - - 0 39"]

{Black to move, white just played Qf1. }
{Second best is Rc2 (-5.61), best is Rc1 (leads to mate). }
{There are many good moves here, including Nxg2, Nh5, and Qe4. }
{But Rc1 is clearly the strongest. }
1... Rc1!
2. Rxg7+ {Of course, if Qxc1, then Qxg2#. }
2... Qxg7
3. Kh2 {If Rb1, then Rxb1, and if Rb2, then Rxf1+. }
3... Rxf1
*

Tactic 0176

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "timurx"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2rk1/1p2bpp1/pq2p2p/1n1pP2P/3P2P1/1PPQ1N2/P3N2K/1R4R1 w - - 0 26"]

{White to move, black just played Nb5. }
{Second best is c4 (0.51), best is g5 (1.78) }
1. g5 Kh8 {If hxg5, then: }
(1... hxg5
2. Nxg5 Bxg5
3. Rxg5 Kh8
4. Rbg1 Nd6
5. exd6 Qxd6+
6. R1g3 Rg8
7. Qf3
)
2. gxh6 gxh6
3. c4 Na3
4. Qe3 Kh7
5. Rbc1
*

Tactic 0175

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "Tharmax"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/PR6/4p3/1P2k3/5pp1/2P2P2/r5PK/8 b - - 0 45"]

{Black to move, white just played Kh2. }
{Second best is Kd5 (6.82), best is gxf3 (0.00) }
1... gxf3 {After this, white has several replies, but they }
{all seem to end in a draw. For example: }
2. a8Q
(2. Rb6 Rxa7
3. gxf3 Rc7
4. Rc6 Rxc6
5. bxc6 Kd6
6. Kh3 Kxc6
)
(2. Kg1 fxg2
3. b6 f3
4. Rg7 Ra1+
5. Kf2 Kf4
6. Rxg2 Ra2+ {Perpetual check follows. }
)
2... Rxa8
3. gxf3 Rc8
4. Rh7 Rxc3
5. b6 Rb3
*

Tactic 0174

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "dorsnorXL"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/2pR1Rbk/p5qp/1p6/7n/7P/P1r5/5Q1K w - - 0 42"]

{White to move, black just played Nh4. }
{There is only one good move here. }
{Second best is Qd3 (-6.21), best is Rxg7+ (8.00) }
1. Rxg7+ Qxg7
2. Qd3+ {The key move, now black is lost, for example: }
2... Ng6
3. Rxg7+ Kxg7
4. Qxc2
*

Tactic 0173

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "DCoppola"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/5p1p/6p1/pN1p4/7P/3Rn1P1/6PK/r7 b - - 0 34"]

{Black to move, white just played Rd3. }
{Second best is Rb1 (-4.56), best is Ng4+ (mate in 3) }
1... Ng4+ {OK, so black is winning anyway, but this is still a }
{pretty mating pattern. }
2. Kh3 Nf2+
3. Kh2 Rh1#
*

Tactic 0172

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "jemmack"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7k/pp1b1qp1/2p1p2p/3PPr2/2P1Q3/P4R2/1P1B2PP/6K1 w - - 0 33"]

{White to move, black just played Bd7. }
{Second best is d6 (1.47), best is Rxf5 (2.49) }
1. Rxf5 {Simplifies to a won ending. }
1... Qxf5 {If exf5, then: }
(1... exf5
2. e6! {Now if fxe4, then exf7, and the pawn will queen. }
2... Qh5
3. Qe3 {And black will have to give up the bishop }
{to stop the center pawns. }
)
2. Qxf5 exf5
3. e6 Bc8
4. a4
*

Tactic 0171

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "jbennett"]
[Black "ChessNE1"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/ppp2ppp/3b2N1/3n1Q2/3P4/5N2/PB3PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 20"]

{Black to move, white just played Nxg6. }
{Second best is Bxh2+ (2.11), best is hxg6 (-0.95) }
1... hxg6 {Not fxg6, because of Qxd5+ }
2. Qd3 {Not Qxd5, because of Bxh2+ }
2... Re8
*

Tactic 0170

[Event "ICC Blitz"]
[White "DCoppola"]
[Black "jbennett"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "JB"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2rk1/5ppp/p2p4/1p1n2q1/3N4/2PQ3P/P4PP1/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 21"]

{Black to move, white just played Qd3. }
{Second best is b4 (-1.68), best is Qxg2+ (-4.86) }
1... Qxg2+
2. Kxg2 Nf4+ {The point: this fork wins the queen back. }
3. Kf1 Nxd3 {And it also forks the two rooks! }
4. Nf5 Rc5 {Don't allow white's knight to fork. }
5. Nxd6 Nxe1
6. Kxe1
*