Simple Tactical Excercise

White to move

Originally posted by cludi
[fen]2Q2bkr/5p2/1rb5/1pN1n1qB/1P1pPN2/6P1/5P2/R1R3K1 w - -[/fen]

White to move

1.Bxf7+ Nxf7 (1...Kxf7 2.Qc7+ wins the rook)
2.Qxf8+ Kxf8
3.Nfe6+

Gives white a two pawn advantage, though it does leave the h-file open for the rook.

Originally posted by untergang
1.Bxf7+ Nxf7 (1...Kxf7 2.Qc7+ wins the rook)
2.Qxf8+ Kxf8
3.Nfe6+

Gives white a two pawn advantage, though it does leave the h-file open for the rook.

You mean two pawns for a piece. Not really the killer combination, no?

Originally posted by cludi
[fen]2Q2bkr/5p2/1rb5/1pN1n1qB/1P1pPN2/6P1/5P2/R1R3K1 w - -[/fen]

White to move

Nce6, fxe6, Nxe6, Qe7, Nxf8, Rxc6

Originally posted by Mephisto2
You mean two pawns for a piece. Not really the killer combination, no?

Qxf8+ gets the piece back
edit: oops, no it doesn't because the N on f7 now covers the Q

Originally posted by Mephisto2
You mean two pawns for a piece. Not really the killer combination, no?

Ah, crap. Just goes to show I shouldn't try to do these as soon as I get up.

Originally posted by zebano
Nce6, fxe6, Nxe6, Qe7, Nxf8, Rxc6

Clearly I missed the existence of the e5 knight.

Nce6, fxe6, Nxe6, (QxB, QxB, Kh2, Qg7# ), Qf6, NxB, Qe6+

Originally posted by cludi
[fen]2Q2bkr/5p2/1rb5/1pN1n1qB/1P1pPN2/6P1/5P2/R1R3K1 w - -[/fen]

White to move

My solutions (some may have already been mentioned):

Nce6 fxe6
2. Nxe6 Qxh5??
Qxf8+ Kh7
Qg7#

2. .. Qe7 (or Qh6)
3. Nxf8 Qxf8
Qe6+ Kg7
Ra7+ Rb7
Rxb7+ Bxb7
Rc8+ Qf7
Rxf7+ Nxf7
Qxf7+ Kh6
Qg6#

3. .. Qxh5!?
Nf6+ Qe8
Rxc6 Qxc8
Rxc8+ Kf7
Rxh8 Rxe6
Ra7+ Kf6
Rd8 d3
f4 (.. Nf3+??, Kf2)

1.Nce6! fxe6 2.Qxe6+ Kh7 3.Ra7+ Bg7 4.Rc5!

and black's position is completely ruined.

The original game, Larsen-Ivkov (Mallorca 1967), went on for 4 more moves before Ivkov resigned.

You have sac'ed a pawn in the opening to get the more
active position and hopefully and attack at the white king.
How do you proceed from here?

Black to move.

Warning: Not easy!

Originally posted by cludi
[fen]r1b1Q3/pp3ppk/1q5p/8/8/P3P3/1PnK1PPP/3N1B1R b - -[/fen]

You have sac'ed a pawn in the opening to get the more
active position and hopefully and attack at the white king.
How do you proceed from here?

Black to move.

Warning: Not easy!

I am trying to reason this out so...

First off, the knight is immune from capture due to KxN, Bf5+, any, RxQ
However by the same logic, Qe4 is threatening to win the knight.

One idea is to simply sac the bishop with Bf5, Qxa8, but I don't see a solid continuation as Qd6+, Kc1 seem to hold.

With this info, we know that we either have to play forcing moves, or move the knight.
Candidate moves are
Qa5+
Qd6+
Bf5 (forcing since anything other than QxR allows the rook to come into play making the sac worthwhile).
No Knight moves appear to be worthwhile.


The relevant white pawns (a3, b2, e3, f2) are all on dark squares thus indicating that we should play on the light squares.
So my first line of thought is
Bf5, Qxa8, Qa5+, b4, Qd5+ (better than an immediate Qd6+ because it's on a light square)...

I will edit as I study more.


Edit 1 Ke2 is trivial...
Bf5, Qxa8, Qa5+, b4, Qd5+, Ke2, Qd3+, Kf3, Be4+, Kg3, Qd6+, Kh3, Bf5+, Kh4, g5+, Kh5, Qg6#

Edit2: I believe Kc1, Na1 wins for black because the black queen cannot come to the c-file.
Bf5, Qxa8, Qa5+, b4, Qd5+, Kc1, Na1

Edit 3: Na1, Nc3 seems fine for white...

Originally posted by zebano
I am trying to reason this out so...

First off, the knight is immune from capture due to KxN, Bf5+, any, RxQ
However by the same logic, Qe4 is threatening to win the knight.

One idea is to simply sac the bishop with Bf5, Qxa8, but I don't see a solid continuation as Qd6+, Kc1 seem to hold.

With this info, we know that we either have to play forcing ...[text shortened]... o the c-file.
Bf5, Qxa8, Qa5+, b4, Qd5+, Kc1, Na1

Edit 3: Na1, Nc3 seems fine for white...

My idea is worthless due to the simple Qa5+, Nc3 which is far more effective then b4.

Originally posted by zebano
One idea is to simply sac the bishop with Bf5, Qxa8, but I don't see a solid continuation as Qd6+, Kc1 seem to hold.

Are you sure?

I think a little hint is ok, as this is a tough one!

Originally posted by cludi
[fen]r1b1Q3/pp3ppk/1q5p/8/8/P3P3/1PnK1PPP/3N1B1R b - -[/fen]

How do you proceed from here?

Black to move.

Warning: Not easy!

Here goes nothing:

1. .. Bf5
Qxa8 Qa5+
(the K can just move behind the N here but it would lead to a shorter mate)
b4 Qd5+
Kc1 Nxa3

5. Nc3 Qb3
Kd2 Qa2+
Ke1 Qxc3+
Ke2 Qd3+
Kf3 Qd1+
Kf4 Qg4+
Ke5 Qe4+
Kd6 Qe6+
13. Kc7 Qd7+ (13. Kc5 Qe5# )
Kb8 Qc8#

5. Qe8 Qa2!
Nb2 Qb1+
Kd2 Qxb2+
8. Ke1 Nc2+ (8. Kd1 Nb1, Qd8 Nc3+, Ke1 Qc1+, Qd1 Qxd1# )
Kd1 Qb1+
10. Ke2 Nd4+ (10. Kd2 Qe1# )
exd4 Qd3+
Ke1 Qc3+
13. Ke2 Bd3+ (13. Kd1 Bc2+, Ke2 Qd3+, Ke1 Qd1# )
14. Kf3 Be4+!
Kxe4 Qe1+
Kany Qxe8

14. Kd1? Qc2+
Ke1 Qc1#

14. Ke3? Bb5+
any Bxe8

I'm sure I missed a shorter way... hunting Ks in minefields isn't my strong point.

Originally posted by cludi
[fen]r1b1Q3/pp3ppk/1q5p/8/8/P3P3/1PnK1PPP/3N1B1R b - -[/fen]

You have sac'ed a pawn in the opening to get the more
active position and hopefully and attack at the white king.
How do you proceed from here?

Black to move.

Warning: Not easy!

OK, I found a less tedious one:

1. .. Bf5
2. Qxa8 Qd6+
3. Kc1 Na1!

4. Bc4 Qc5
(4. Nc3/Qe8 Nb3# )

5. Nc3 Qxc4
(5. Qd8 Nb3# )

6. b3 Qxc3+
(6. Kd1/d2 Qd3+, 7. Kc1 Nb3# (7. Ke1 Nc2# ))

7. Kd1 Qd3+
8. Ke1 Nc2#

Interesting that all the possible mates come from the N. Seems like the Q is just the herder.