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Chess Tactics |
Note: Depending upon your computer's processor and internet connection speeds, game files may take several seconds to load in the pgn viewers. The blank chess boards will populate when ready for viewing. Credit is given for examples taken from actual tournament games. Otherwise, positions have been composed for this web page. |
Tactical Demonstration:Pin |
| Example 1. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Bg5! White pins the knight, threatening 2.Bxf6+. Now if 1... Qxe4? 2. Bxf6+ Kg8 3.Qxe4 wins the queen. 1... Kg7 forced 2. Qc3 with an absolute pin of the knight to the king. 2... Rf8 if 3... Qxe4 4.Qxf6+ Kg8 5.Qxf7+ Kh8 6.Bf6# 3. Bxf6+ Qxf6 4. Qxf6+ Kg8 5. Qxc6 with an easy endgame win. 1-0 |
| Example 2. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Ra7! An absolute pin of the knight. White now threatens 2.Rxd7+ as well as 2.Rxb6 and 2.Rxe5 1... Rd8 2. Rd5! wins the knight next move. 1-0 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Fork |
| Example 3. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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White's battery of queen and bishop on the long diagonal attacks the key square d5 1. Bd5! the bishop forks queen and rook, with an absolute pin of the latter. 1... Qa4 1... Qxd5 2.Qxd5 is hopeless for black 2. Bxf7+ Kf8 if 2... Kh8 3.Qa8# 3. Qa8+ Ke7 4. Qe8+ Kd6 5. Qe6# 1-0 |
| Example 4. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Ne3? White jumps at the chance to fork knight and rook, thinking his knight immune from capture because of the pin on the Queen 1... Nxe3+ a triple fork with check! White will have no time to play Bxb7. 2. Ke1 not 2.Kg1 Qxg2# 2... Nxg2+ 3. Kf1 Ne3+ another fork 4. Ke1 or 4.Kg1 Qg2# 4... Qh1# 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:X-Ray Attack |
| Example 5. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1... Qf3+ 2. Qg2 not 2.Rg2 Re1#, a back rank mate. Now the black queen x-rays the white king. 2... Re2 the black rook x-rays the h-pawn, threatening ... Rxh2# if white plays 3.Qxf3.? White is in zugzwang! 3. h3 or 3.h4 3... Rxg2 4. Rxg2 Qf1+ 5. Rg1 Qxh3# 0-1 |
| Example 6. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1... Bd7? Black has attacked the white queen with his bishop, under the mistaken impression it also prevents Re8+. Black overlooks that the white queen has an x-ray attack on the e8 square. 2. Re8+ Bxe8 3. Qxe8# Note after 1... Re7 or 1... Qe7, the white rook has an x-ray attack on the e8 square. White wins with 2. Qe8+. 1-0 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Double Check |
| Example 7. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Qd8+ a deflection sacrifice to create the possibility of a double check 1... Qxd8 forced 2. Nf6# the knight is attacked by four black pieces but cannot be captured because the rook also checks. Likewise, ... Re7 would block the rook check but does nothing about the knight check. An example of the Epaulettes Mate. 1-0 |
| Example 8. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Nxf7 Rf8 If 1 ... Be6 2.Qxe6 Re8 3.Bxe8 Rxe8 4.Qxe8#. 2. Nh6+ a double check 2... Kh8 forced 3. Qg8+ a deflection sacrifice of the queen, forcing the rook away from defense of the critical f7 square. 3... Rxg8 forced 4. Nf7# a Smothered Mate. 1-0 |
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Tactical Demonstration:King Hunt |
| Example 9. White to move Honn-Orozco, corres 1967 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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37. h4+ Kh5 if 37...Kxh4 38.Qh6+ Kg3 39.Qg5+ Kh3 40.Qg4# 38. Qf3+ Kh6 39. Ng4+ Kh5 if 39...Kg7 40.Qf6+ Kg8 41.Nh6# 40. Ne3+ the dreaded discovered check 40... Kh6 41. Nxc2 the king hunt wins the queen. If black saves the knight, he falls into a mating net: 41... Nxb2 42. Qf8+ Kh5 43. Qf4 h6 44. Ne3 g5 45. Qf7+ Kxh4 46. Qf3 h5 47. Ng2# 1-0 |
| Example 10. Black to move Smyslov-Florian, Moscow 1949 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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19... Re4 20. f4+ Rxf4 20...Kh4 21.Qh6# 21. Rxf4 Kxf4 22. Rf1+ Ke3 22...Ke4 23.Bc4 Re8 24.Re1+ Kf4 25.Qh6+ g5 26.g3+ Kg4 27.Bf1 Rxe1 28.Qh3+ Kf3 29.Qxf5+ Ke3 30.Qd3#, or 22...Kg5 23.h4+ Kxh4 24.Qh6+ Kg3 25.Qh2# 23. Qe5+ Kd2 24. Bc4 Qxa3 25. Rf2+ quicker is 25.Qe1+ Kc2 26.Rf2#. Black resigned in view of 25... Kd1 26.Qe2+ Kc1 27.Qf1# 1-0 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Battery |
| Example 11. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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A battery with two rooks backed-up by the queen is known as "Alekhine's gun", from the game Alekhine-Nimzovich, San Remo 1930. In this example, the pinned white knight is attacked four times but only has three defenders 1... Rxd2 2. Rexd2 Rxd2 3. Qb8 3.Rxd2 Qxd2+ 4.Kb1 Qc1# 3... Qxb8 4. Rxd2 Qf4 5. Kc2 Qxd2+ 6. Kb3 Qd3+ 7. Ka4 Qxc4+ 8. Ka3 8.b4 Qxb4# 8... Qb4# 0-1 |
| Example 12. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1.f5, hoping to drive the knight away, looks rather drawish after 1... g6! 2.fxe6 fxe6 3. hxg6 h5 4. Rh4 Bf3. Instead, White's battery on the g-file can effect the checkmate by sacrificing even more material! 1. Rxg7+ Nxg7 if 1...Kh8 2.Rg8# 2. Rxg7+ Kh8 3. Rxf7+ Kg8 4. Rg7+ Kh8 5. Rg1+ Rd4 or 5...Rf6 6.Bxf6# 6. Bxd4+ Rf6 7. Bxf6# This entire tactical sequence is also an example of a "windmill" attack. The final position is Morphy's Mate. 1-0 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Interference |
| Example 13. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Nd6+ an interference sacrifice, cutting-off the communication between Black's queen and rook. White threatens Qxd2, winning the queen 1... Rxd6 forced 2. exd6 Qxe2 2... Qxd6 3.Qe8+ Qd8 4.Qxf7 threatens Re8 3. Rxe2 cxd6 4. Re7 already down the exchange, Black will lose more material. 1-0 |
| Example 14. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Bc5+ an interference sacrifice, cutting- off communication between Black's queen and rook. 1... Rxc5 forced 2. dxc5+ Qxc5 if 2...Kxc5 3.b4+ Kd6 4.Rd8+ Kc7 5.Qe7+ Kb6 6.Qd6+ Kb7 7.Qb8+ Kc6 8.Rd6# 3. Qe3 Qxe3 4. Rxe3 Nf1 5. Re7 the slow-moving knight will be no match for the rook 5... f5 6. Rxg7 h5 7. Rg5 Ne3 8. Rxh5 Nxg2 9. Rxf5 Ne3 10. Re5 Nc2+ 11. Kb2 Nb4 12. Re4 Nd5 13. f4 Kc6 14. f5 Nc7 15. f6 Kd5 16. Re7 Ne6 17. f7 Nf8 18. Re8 Ng6 19. Rg8 Ne7 20. Rg5+ Ke6 21. f8Q 1-0 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Skewer Attack |
| Example 15. White to move Short - Vaganian, Barcelona 1989 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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51. Be5+ the skewer attack, threatening king and queen in line. Black overlooked this tactical shot and resigned the game immediately. If 51... Kxe5 52.Qc3+ wins the queen. If 51... Kf7 or 51... Kg6, then 52.Bxg7 Kxg7 and White wins the queen for the cost of a bishop. 1-0 |
| Example 16. Black to move Solomons - Rogule, Dresden 2008 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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35... Qf5 Black skewers White's queen and rook, threatening ... Rxf2+. White resigned here; a likely continuation would be: 36. Qb3 Rxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Qxb1 38. Qxd5 Qc2+ 39. Kg3 b1=Q 40. Qg2 Qxg2+ 41. Kxg2 a2 42. Kf3 a1=Q and checkmate follows shortly. 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Double Attack |
| Example 17. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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23... Ra7 24. Bxc8 Qxc8 25. Nb6 white threatens Nxc8 and Rxa7 25... Qb8 26. Rxa7 Qxa7 27. Nbc4 Qb8 28. e5! another double attack, White threatens Nxd6 and exf6 28... dxe5 29. fxe5 Nxe5 if 29... Nh5 30.Qxf7+ (or 30.g4) Kh8 31.Qxd7 30. Nxe5 Rxe5 31. Qf4 Re8 32. Qxb8 Rxb8 33. Bxf6 and white has an extra piece for the endgame. 1-0 |
| Example 18. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Qf7 White threatens Bf8 and Qg7#, but overlooks Black could play 1... Nd6+ and the double attack with check wins the queen. But Black has an even better double attack: 1... Nf2+ 2. Kg1 forced 2... Nxh3# After you've found a good move, always take time to look for an even better one. 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Mating Attack |
| Example 19. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Qxd6 Qa5! not 1 ... Qxd6? 2.Rxd6 with a pawn plus. 2. Qd2 b5 3. Nb1 Qxa2 4. c3 b4 5. c4 Rad8 6. Bd3 6.Qxb4 Rb8 7.Nc3 Bg5+ 8.Rd2 Qa1+ 9.Kc2 Qxh1 Black's a rook ahead with double attack on Q and R 6... Rxd3! 7. Qe2 Bg5+ 8. f4 Bxf4+ 9. Rd2 Rb3 Black threatens mate-in-two 10. Qd3 Rxd3 11. Rf1 Qxc4+ 12. Nc3 Rxc3+ 13. bxc3 Qxc3+ 14. Kb1 Bxe4+ 15. Rc2 Qxc2+ 16. Ka1 Be5# 0-1 |
| Example 20. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Ng4 the only way to stave off ... Qxh2# 1... Rf4! 1... Qxg4 spoils an artistic checkmate: 2.Rg1 Qh3 3.Rg2 Rf4 4.Qxd6 Re8 5.Qd1 Rh4 6.Qg1 Nxg1 7.Kxg1 Rf8 and Black will win 2. Rg1 Rxg4 3. Rg2 Qh3 4. Rag1 Qxh2+ 5. Rxh2 Rxg1# a Smothered Mate. 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Blocking |
| Example 21. White to move Alekhine-Ostrogsky, Moscow Simul 1910 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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22. Rf6! Alekhine blocks the f-pawn's advance and now threatens 23.Rh6 gxh6 24.Nf6+ 22... b5! not 22... gxf6 23.Nxf6+ Kg7 24.Qh6#. The actual game went: 22... Ng6 23. Rxg6 fxg6 24. Bxg6 1-0 23. Raf1 Rb7 24. Rh6 f5 25. gxf6 gxh6 26. Nxh6+ Kh8 27. f7 Bf4 28. Rxf4 Nh7 29. Qg2 Qb8 30. Qg6 Qg8 31. fxg8=Q+ Rxg8 32. Qxg8# 1-0 |
| Example 22. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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Black's two knights attack nothing, as all of White's forces are on white squares. Worse, the knight on f3 is absolutely pinned and attacked three times. Black finds a problem-like (self-block) solution 1... Qh2+ 2. Kxf3 forced, and now White's king is blocking its own rook from checking the enemy king 2... Ng5# 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Discovered |
| Example 23. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1... Bxf5+ A discovered attack on White's rook 2. Kh2 Ra2+ 3. Bf2 not 3.Kg1?? Rxe1+ 4.Qf1 Rxf1+ 5.Kxf1 Qe4+ and mate follows 3... Rxe1 4. Rg2 Ree2 5. Qg3 Qe5 6. Qxe5 fxe5 7. Kg3 Rxf2 or 7... Be4 8.Rh2 Rad2 zugzwang 8. Rxf2 Rxf2 9. Kxf2 Bd3 Black's king will capture the h-pawn, then promote a pawn without difficulty. 0-1 |
| Example 24. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Nd5! the knight attacks the queen, threatens a fork by Nxf6+ and discovers an attack on the rook 1... Qd6 If 1... Rxe1 2.Nxc7 Re2 3.Bd5+ Kg7 4.Bxc5 Rxh2 5.a4 Rd2 6.a5 Rxd3 7.Bd6 Rd2 8.Ne8+ Kh8 9.Nxf6 Rf2 10.Nxd7 Kg7 11.a6 winning. 2. Rxe8+ Kf7 3. Re7+ Kf8 4. Rxh7 f5 5. Be3 g5 6. Bxg5 Qg6 7. Be7+ Kg8 8. Nf6+ Qxf6 9. Bxf6 Kxh7 10. a4 and Black is lost. 1-0 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Overloaded |
| Example 25. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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This "Mate-in-3 problem" is based on the theme of the overloaded defender. The Black queen is overworked, defending the bishop on f3, stopping Qxg7# as well as preventing a back rank mate. The solution is straight forward - remove this key defender and Black's position will collapse. 1. Qxf8+ Kxf8 forced 2. Rf7+ Kg8 forced 3. Re8# 1-0 |
| Example 26. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Bxc6! White captures the overloaded knight, leaving Black's other knight and queen hanging. If now 1... Nxc6? 2.Qe8# 1... Qxe1+ if 1... Qg5 2.h4, or 1... Qb6 2.Qxe7 (2... Qxc6 3.Qd8+) and White is up two pieces 2. Rxe1 Be6 2... Ng6 3.Re8+ Nf8 4.Bd7, or 2... Kf8 3.Bxg7+ 3. Nxe6 fxe6 4. Bd7 e5 5. f4 and Black, already a piece down will lose a pawn. 1-0 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Pawn Storm |
| Example 27. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. h5 the goal of this pawn storm is to open files to the enemy king 1... f5 2. gxf5 gxf5 3. Qh4 fxe4 4. h6 Qb5 5. Rg1 Kh8 6. fxe4 Qc6 7. hxg7+ Kg8 8. Rh1 h5 9. Qxh5 Qxe4 10. Kb1 Ra8 11. Qh8+ Kf7 12. Rf1+ Bf5 13. g8=Q+ Rxg8 14. Qh7+ Kf6 15. Qxg8 Qxc2+ 16. Ka1 Ke7 17. Bg5+ Kd6 18. Qd8+ Ke6 19. Qf6+ Kd5 20. Qxf5 Qxf5 21. Rxf5 1-0 |
| Example 28. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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Pawn storms aren't confined to the wings. Sometimes a "pawn roller" can occur in the middle of the board. 1... f5! 2. Qe2 f4 3. Rd3 e4 4. Rd5 f3 5. Qf1 e3 6. fxe3 else ... e2 7.Qe1 Qh3 and mates. 6... Bxa3 7. Bxa3 Qxe3+ 8. Kh1 Qxa3 Black has won a piece. 9. Rcd1 Qe3 10. Rxd8 Rxd8 11. Re1 Qd2 Black's extra material will win. 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Back Rank |
| Example 29. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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White had created some "luft" with h4, but the enemy battery (queen and bishop) kills this escape route 1... Nb4! forking queen and rook 2. Bxb4 if 2.c5 Qxd2 3.Qxd2 Rxd2 4.Ra1 Rxe2 White is two pieces down. 2... Qd1+ Instead of recapturing, Black treats the knight as a clearance sacrifice 3. Be1 forced 3... Qxe1# another successful back rank mate. 0-1 |
| Example 30. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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White remembers the advice of Bobby Fischer: "Open the h-file and sac, sac ... mate." 1. Qh2! breaking the pin and preparing a bank rank mate. 1... Kf8 if 1... Bh7 2.Rxh7 Rf5 3.Rh8+ Kf7 4.Rxg7+ Kxg7 5.Qh7# 2. Rh8+ Bxh8 3. Qxh8# 1-0 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Clearance |
| Example 31. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Nxf6! clears the g-file for White's queen and rook 1... Qg6 ruinous, but 1... Rxf6 2.Qg7#, or 1... Qg5 2.Bxg5 Rg8 3.Qh4 Rxf6 4.Bxf6+ Kh7 5.Rxg8 Kxg8 6.Qxh6 b5 7.Qg7# 2. fxg6 Rxf6 3. gxf7 R6xf7 4. Bxh6 Rd8 5. Bg7+ Kg8 if 5... Kh7 6.Qh4+ Kg8 7.Qh8# 6. Bf6+ Kf8 7. Qg8# 1-0 |
| Example 32. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1... Rxf1+ A rook sac to clear the long diagonal, especially f3 2. Bxf1 or 2.Kh2 Rf2 3.Kg1 Re2 4.Qg5 Rc7 5.g4 Rc1+ 6.Kh2 Nf3+ 7.Kg3 Nxg5 8.fxg5 Rxg2+ 9.Kxg2 fxg4 10.h4 b5! wins) 2... Nf3! White's queen is trapped, without a chance of going "desperado" 3. Be2 Nxh4 4. gxh4 Rd2 5. Bb5 Rf2 and more pawns will fall. Black has an easy endgame win. 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Decoy |
| Example 33. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Qf5! the decoy, intending Qxf6 after Black plays ... g6 to prevent Qxh7# 1... g6 if 1... Re8 2.Qxh7+ Kf8 3.Bg5 Ke7 4.Qxg7 Bxg5 5.Qxg5+ Kd7 6.Bf5+ Re6 7.Bxe6+ fxe6 8.Qg7+ Ne7 9.Rf7 Kc6 10.Rxe7 a rook ahead wins by force. 2. Qxf6 renews the mate threat of Bh6 and Qg7# 2... Nxd4 3. cxd4 Qa4 4. Bh6 Qxd4 5. Qxd4 f6 6. Qxf6 Rxf6 7. Rxf6 with 8.Rf8# to follow. 1-0 |
| Example 34. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1... Qxf2 a decoy sacrifice of the queen, to pull the rook off the back rank 2. Rxf2 if 2.Rg1, to avoid the decoy, Black will offer the queen a second time: 2... Qxg2+ 3.Rxg2 Ra1# 2... Ra1+ 3. Rf1 Rxf1# 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Discovered |
| Example 35. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Nxc6+ In capturing the knight, White's knight has "discovered" a check. With no time to recapture on c6, Black loses a piece and will also lose "the exchange" 1... Kd7 2. Nxd8 Kxd8 or 2... Rxd8 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.Rad1+ Kc8 5.Rxd8+ Kxd8 6.Rd1+ Ke7 7.Rd5 wins. 3. Bxf6+ gxf6 4. Rad1+ Kc8 5. Re7 Rf8 6. Rdd7 and "Rooks on the 7th" will devour Black's pawns. 1-0 |
| Example 36. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1... Bh3+ Black's bishop discovers a check while attacking the queen 2. Kc3 There's no time to save the queen - Black must respond to the check 2... Be5+ A "zwischenzug" to avoid doubled f-pawns 3. Kc2 Bxg2 4. Nxg2 b5 5. Ne3 bxc4 6. Nxc4 Rac8 and Black's extra rook will win. 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Deflection |
| Example 37. Black to move |
| Yermolinsky-Tate, Reno 2001 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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7... Nf5? A classic example of how not to play a chess opening. Black has made the usual mistakes, developing the Queen before the minor pieces, moving the same piece twice, etc. 8. Qa4! The deflection sacrifice. 8... Qxa4 only 8... Qb6 prevents mate, but that would cost Black his Queen and Rook. 9. Nc7# 1-0 |
| Example 38. Black to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1... Re1+ Black offers a rook, a deflection sacrifice to remove the knight's protection of h2. 2. Nxe1 forced 2... Qxh2+ 3. Kf1 Qh1# 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Triangulation |
| Example 39. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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White's king can triangulate among d5, e5 and e4, while the Black king has only two squares (e7 and f6) for his maneuvering. 1. Kd5 Kf6 if 1...Kd7? 2.f6! Ke8 3.fxg7 2. Ke4 Ke7 3. Ke5 back to the starting position, except this time it's black's move. Thus, White has "lost" a move by triangulation! 3... Kd7 if 3...Ke8 4.Kd6 Kf8 5.Kd7 Kg8 6.Ke7 Kh8 7.f6 gxf6 8.Kf7 f5 9.g7+ Kh7 10.g8=Q+ Kh6 11.Qg6# 4. f6! gxf6+ 5. Kxf6 Kd6 6. g7 and the pawn will promote to queen, winning easily. 1-0 |
| Example 40. Black to move |
| Pranitchi-Florea, corres 2008 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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78... Kd8? No better is 78... Bh7 79.Bg6 Bg8 80.Ka7 79. Bg6! immobilizing Black's bishop, taking away Black's main source of "tempozug" moves. 79... Kc7 80. Ka7! Because white controls a6 and a7, Black must move his king away from the pawns, losing. Another successful triangulation and Black resigned. If 80 ... b5 81.cxb5 and White's passed pawn promotes first: c4 82. b6+ Kd7 83. b7 c3 84. b8Q c2 85. Bf5+ Ke7 86. d6+ Kf7 87. Qc7+ Kf8 88. Qe7# 1-0 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Under-Promotion |
| Example 41. Black to move |
| Korody-Balogh, corr 1933 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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Initial moves were 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. e3? Bb4+ 5. Bd2 dxe3 6. Bxb4? 1... exf2+ 6.fxe3 Qh4+ 7.g3 Qe4 (=+) 2. Ke2 fxg1N+ Black under-promotes to knight with check! (7... fxg1Q? 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Rxg1 Nh6 10.Nd2 Nc6 11.Bc3 Ng4 = just throws away a huge opportunity for black. 3. Rxg1 Bg4+ and white loses the queen 0-1 |
Tactical Demonstration:Windmill |
| Example 42. White to move |
| Torre-Em. Lasker, Moscow 1925 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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Black has played 25 ... Qxh5, capturing White's queen. Torre now unleashes a "windmill", a forcing series of discovered checks which gobbles up enemy pieces. 26. Rxg7+ Kh8 27. Rxf7+ Kg8 28. Rg7+ Kh8 29. Rxb7+ Kg8 30. Rg7+ Kh8 31. Rg5+ Kh7 32. Rxh5 and Black resigned after a few more moves, a rare loss for the former World Champion. 1-0 |
| Example 43. White to move |
| Alekhine-Fletcher, London Simul 1928 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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26. Qxe4! This astounding Queen sacrifice unleashes a "windmill" attack ending in checkmate! 26... fxe4 27. Bxe4+ Kh8 28. Ng6+ Kh7 29. Nxf8+ Kh8 30. Ng6+ Kh7 31. Ne5+ Kh8 32. Nf7# 1-0 |
| Example 44. Black to move |
| D. Byrne-R. Fischer, New York 1956 - "Game of the Century" |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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17 ... Be6 - Bobby Fischer sacrifices his queen for a "windmill" attack: 18. Bxb6 Bxc4+ 19. Kg1 Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Nxd4+ 21. Kg1 Ne2+ 22. Kf1 Nc3+ 23. Kg1 axb6 24. Qb4 Ra4 25. Qxb6 Nxd1 26. h3 Rxa2 27. Kh2 Nxf2 28. Re1 Rxe1 29. Qd8+ Bf8 30. Nxe1 Bd5 31. Nf3 Ne4 32. Qb8 b5 33. h4 h5 34. Ne5 Kg7 35. Kg1 Bc5+ 36. Kf1 Ng3+ 37. Ke1 Bb4+ 38. Kd1 Bb3+ 39. Kc1 Ne2+ 40. Kb1 Nc3+ 41. Kc1 Rc2# 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:Desperado(Trapped Piece) |
| Example 45. Black to move |
| T. Petrosian-R. Fischer, Portoroz 1958 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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In this 1958 Interzonal game, Petrosian has just played 12. Nxe5, intending to win an all-important center pawn after 12 ... dxe5 13. Qxh5. Bobby Fischer employs the "desperado" theme to restore material equality: 12... Nxg3! 13. hxg3 Bxe5 The game was ultimately drawn after a lengthy (67 moves) struggle. 1/2-1/2 |
| Example 46. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. c3 Black's knight on d4 is now trapped and becomes a "desperado", sacrificing itself for as much material or positional advantage as it can. 1... Nf3+! 2. gxf3 Qg6+ 3. Kh1 Qh5 4. f4 Qf3+ 5. Kg1 Rxf4 6. Rc1 Rg4+ 7. Kf1 Rf8 8. Ke1 Rg1+ 9. Bf1 Qxe4+ 10. Qe3 Rxf1+ 11. Kxf1 Qxe3 Black wins. 0-1 |
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Tactical Demonstration:"Zugzwang"German "compulsion to move" |
| Example 47. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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"Zugzwang" positions most often occur in the endgame. Players should be alert for this tactic which forces the opponent to weaken his position, often fatally. Here, 1. Rxc8?? Rxc8 2. Nf5 Ng6! and black is better. 1. Nf5! "zugzwang!" No matter what black moves, white mates with 2. Nh6+. 1-0 |
| Example 48. White to move |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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1. Ra8+ Bc8 forced 2. Rb8! Black is now in "zugzwang" and forced to abandon the pinned bishop. 2... Ke8 3. Rxc8+ Kf7 4. Rc5 and mate follows. One example is: 4... Kf6 4 ... Kg6 5.Ke7 Kg7 6.Rf5 Kg6 7.Rg5+ Kh7 8.Kf8 Kh6 9.Kf7 Kh7 10.Rxh5# 5. Re5 Kf7 6. Re6 Kf8 7. Re7 Kg8 8. Ke6 Kf8 9. Ra7 Kg8 10. Kf6 Kh8 11. Kg6! "zugzwang" again 11... Kg8 12. Ra8# 1-0 |
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Tactical Demonstration:"Zwischenzug"German "in-between move" |
| Example 49. Black to move |
| Tartakower-Capablanca, NY 1924 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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White has played 9. Bxb8, setting a trap: if 9 ... Rxb8? 10. Qa4+ and then 11. Qxb4 wins a piece. Instead of recapturing, Capablanca interpolates 9... Nd5! a "zwischenzug" threatening ... Ne3+ as well as protecting the bishop. 10. Kf2 if 10. Bf4, not ... Nxf4? but another "zwischenzug" 10 ... Qf6! follows. 10... Rxb8 and Black won in thirty moves. 0-1 |
| Example 50. White to move |
| Romanishin-Ivanchuk, Irkutsk 1986 |
| PGN Viewer courtesy of ChessTempo. |
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Black just played 18 ... Bxb5. Instead of the "automatic" recapture 19. Qxb5 Qd7 20. Qa5 Bd6 21. Bxd6 Qxd6 22. Qxa7, restoring material equality, white discerns a beautiful "zwischenzug" leading to mate: 19. Bxb7+! Kxb7 if 19 ... Kd7? 20. Qxb5# 20. Qxb5+ Kc8 or 20 ... Ka8 21. Qc6# 1-0 |
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