Schlepütz & Emms - The Chess Tactics Detection Workbook

First
published in 2014 by Gloucester Publishers Limited, Northburgh House,

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Copyright 2014 Volker Schleptz and John Emms
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About the Authors

Dr Volker Schleptz
is an ambitious amateur chess player and a member of the Sportfreunde Katernberg chess club in Essen,
Germany. He owns a school chess licence and has experience in chess coaching. He has a PhD in
economics and works as a teacher at several universities, most notably at the Hochschule Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, giving lectures in Mathematical Economics and Economics.
Grandmaster John Emms played for the England team in two Chess Olympiads and was captain of the
team at the 2002 Olympiad in Bled. Hes an experienced coach who has worked with World
Championship finalist Michael Adams and some of Englands top junior players. Hes also a highly
respected chess writer, with many outstanding works to his name.
Contents
About the Authors
Introduction
Instructions for the Exercises
1 Games of players rated 1100-1300 Elo
2 Solutions: Games 1-40
Glossary of Tactical Themes
Introduction
This workbook offers a unique framework for improving tactical skills. To create a realistic environment,
many chess coaches advise students to practise chess tactics by solving puzzles independent of tactical
themes and difficulty. However, the often-stated drawback of most chess puzzles is that students know
that there is definitely a tactic in the position to find. To partially combat this drawback, a few books
have incorporated puzzles where nothing can be gained tactically. However, a more realistic training
framework for improving tactical skills is still missing.
With this workbook, I would like to fill a gap in chess literature by offering a framework to study
chess tactics independent of themes, difficulty and, most importantly, even the existence of a tactic in a
given position. This framework is created by a selection of games between players with Elo ratings
ranging between 1100 and 1700 (advanced beginners through to club players), divided into three separate
sets. We do not include expert or master games.
Armed with this material, students cast themselves in the role of a tactics detective, just as if they
were a chess engine analysing a game after it has been played. Indeed, that is what many chess players do
after a game. What they often fail to do is to check for tactical errors and missed opportunities without the
help of a computer engine.
The role of the tactics detective in this training environment is to set up a chess board and to play
through the games move by move. After each pair of moves, the student is called upon to detect tactical
possibilities that have been allowed or overlooked, and to evaluate the consequences of these tactical
possibilities. This training is repeated, move by move, for the entire game.
The entire game concept
This proposed training method resembles an over-the-board situation more realistically than traditional
puzzle books because each move of the game has to be analysed with respect to tactical possibilities. This
is in line with the often-proposed way of thinking during a chess game: Does my opponents move set up a
threat? If not, can I set up a decisive threat myself? This thinking method is suggested by highly regarded
coaches such as Gaprindashvili, Heisman and Hertan, to name just a few. This workbook creates a
structure where exactly this way of thinking is trained during an entire game.
Instead of offering only one or two puzzle positions from a single game, as most puzzle books do, our
approach is to use an entire game (or, more accurately, the moves from the beginning of the game up to the
point where continuing is no longer useful for training purposes). By offering the entire game or a
significant section of the game, without any information concerning tactical themes, nothing is given
about possible tactical ideas for either side. The student starts each game from the beginning, just like
playing a real game. On each move, the student does not know whether there is a possible tactic or not. In
addition, when tactical possibilities do occur, they will often be interlinked with other tactics in the same
game. All of these factors add up to create a real-game situation, much more so than with traditional chess
puzzles.
Why do we use games involving low-rated players?
Beginners, intermediate players and club players do not possess the same skills at creating sophisticated
tactical possibilities that grandmasters do. During their games, tactical possibilities are most likely to
arise when an opponent has committed a serious mistake. By focusing on games played between players
rated 1100-1700 (rather than experts or titled players), the exercises are far more suited to the needs of
these players, who must solve the task of how a mistake or even a blunder from an opponent can
immediately be exploited. Games between low-rated players offer plenty of missed tactical opportunities
and overlooked threats, so the material is rich in tactical themes.
Why is this workbook needed?
One could argue that this kind of training could easily be done without a workbook. A player could select
some random games from a database, go through the games as suggested above, and then check his or her
answers with an analysis engine. Indeed, if all chess players could commit themselves to such a
discipline, this workbook (and many other books which collect material for training purposes) would be
useless. However, people like to have a structured environment, well-written solutions and a scoring
system. In this respect, I believe we are all chess kids to some degree. Providing such players with a
unique method of training is what gave me the motivation to write this book.
What this workbook does and doesnt do
This workbook focusses only on tactics and improving tactical skills. We do not ask students to find good
strategic moves or to evaluate positions strategically. We also do not ask students to suggest possible
improvements during the opening phase (there are many good books dealing with strategy and opening
play).
Weve presumed that most readers are familiar with basic tactical themes. For those readers who
arent familiar with them, weve provided a brief guide of tactical themes in the glossary at the end of the
book, and we recommend reading through this glossary before attempting the exercises. We would also
advise further reading of material which covers these tactical themes in greater depth.
Within the solutions to each game, weve given detailed explanations as to why and how the tactics
have worked and awarded points for correct answers. Weve also listed the tactical themes present in the
game.
Volker Schleptz,
Dortmund,
December 2014
For developing players, theres no doubt that chess tactics is the most important part of the game.
Improving your tactical skills by solving exercises will lead to increased understanding and knowledge of
tactics, and also better results!
Ive always been a big fan of chess exercises which aim to recreate real-life over-the-board situations as
much as possible. When Volker approached me with his idea for this workbook, I hadnt seen anything
quite like it before. I was immediately attracted to his tactics detective concept, and to his idea of the
entire game exercise where students wouldnt know if or when tactics existed. I was only too happy to
help Volker achieve his goal of producing this workbook. The vast majority of the games in this book
were initially selected, analysed and annotated by Volker. I added further analysis and annotations to some
of these games, selected and analysed some new games, and added the glossary of tactical themes.
I hope you enjoy the book. Good luck with the exercises!
John Emms,
Hildenborough, Kent
December 2014
Instructions for the Exercises

For each of the games, please do the following exercises:
Exercise 1: Set up a chess board. You have the White pieces. Run through the game, move by move. After
each move by White, decide whether Whites move misses an opportunity for a tactic in his favour, or
overlooks a tactic against himself. There are two outcomes:
a) There was no possible tactic, either in Whites favour or against White. In this case, go on to the next
pair of moves and repeat your evaluation.
b) Whites move misses a tactic in his favour, or allows a favourable tactic for Black, or both. In this case
write down the relevant variations and assess the final outcome (for example, a material gain of at least a
pawn). If Whites move failed to meet a tactical threat by Black, suggest alternative moves for White
which would prevent the tactic. Then go on to the next pair of moves.
Exercise 2: Restart the game and run through it a second time, now from Blacks viewpoint. Do the same
as in Exercise 1. After each move by Black, decide whether Blacks move misses a tactic in his favour or
overlooks tactic against himself. This exercise gives you a second chance to spot any tactics you may
have overlooked in Exercise 1.
When analysing possible variations, do so without moving the pieces on the board - you wouldnt be able
to move pieces while analysing in a real game, so you shouldnt here! Instead, try to visualize as much as
possible.
Be aware that during long stretches of the game, there may be no tactical possibilities whatsoever. But
be alert, be a tactics detective! There could be a tactical blow after any move. The only clue we can give
is that each game contains at least one tactical possibility.
In the openings, please ignore gambit play. For example, after 1 e4 e5 2 f4 Black can win a pawn with
2 ... exf4 but this isnt a tactical opportunity for Black - its the Kings Gambit for White!
Exercises are terminated before the end of the game when one side already has an overwhelming
material advantage or when the rest of the game is unsuitable for the purpose of the exercise. When this
occurs, an asterisk is placed at the end of the notation and the student should analyse up to and including
the final move before the asterisk. (For completeness, the rest of the game is included in the solutions.)
Finally, set a time limit of 90 minutes per game. Of course, the time required for each game will vary
significantly, depending on the number of moves and tactical possibilities.
Solutions
After completing Exercise 2, compare your notes with the solutions given in the book. For each tactical
possibility, points are usually awarded for identifying the first key move, for outlining the critical
variations after the first move, and for finding defences to threats that were overlooked in the game.
Sometimes an alternative tactical possibility is mentioned which is just as good as the main one, and it
should be awarded the same number of points. Occasionally there are a multitude of defences to a certain
threat and only the most logical, obvious defences are noted in the solutions. The points system isnt by
any means an exact science, but it will certainly give you a good indication of your progress.
A sample game
Before we begin, heres a concocted game (with solutions) just to illustrate the format of the exercises:
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nd7 5 Bc4 Ngf6 6 Nxf6+ Nxf6 7 c3 Bg4 8 Nf3 b5 9 Bb3 e6 10 h3
Bh5 11 g4 Bg6 12 Ne5 Qc7 13 Bf4 Bd6 14 Nxg6 hxg6 15 Bxd6 Qxd6 16 Qd3 Nd5 17 Bxd5 exd5 18
Qe3+ Qe7 19 Qxe7+ Kxe7 20 Kd2 Kd6 21 Rae1 Rae8 22 Rxe8 Rxe8 23 h4 Re4 24 f3 Rf4 25 Rf1 f5
26 gxf5 Rxf5 -
For White
(1) 8 Nf3?
White misses the chance to play 8 Qb3! (1 point).

Position after 8 Qb3 (analysis)
This queen move wins a pawn because of the double attack on the f7- and b7-pawns.
(2) 9 Bb3?
White could have played 9 Bxf7+!, a typical combination:

Position after 9 Bxf7+ (analysis)

Following 9 ... Kxf7 (9 ... Kd7? is met by 10 Ne5+ winning a piece and a pawn) 10 Ne5+! (2 points)
and 11 Nxg4 White wins a pawn and also displaces Blacks king.

(3) After 16 Qd3? the queen no longer protects the g4-pawn. This allows Black to win the pawn with
16 ... Nxg4! (2 points), exploiting the pin on the h3-pawn: 17 hxg4? loses to 17 ... Rxh1+.

(4)

Position after 25 ... f5
26 gxf5? misses a golden opportunity to win the game with 26 Ke3! (2 points). Blacks rook is
trapped and cant be saved.
For Black
(5) 7 ... Bg4? is a natural developing move, but here it is a mistake. White can reply with 8 Qb3! (1
point) winning a pawn, as shown above.

(6) 8 ... b5? fails to defend against Whites threat of 9 Bxf7+! Kxf7 10 Ne5+ (1 point). The simplest
and most logical way to deal with the threat is by blocking the bishops path to f7 with 8 ... e6!. A good
alternative is 8 ... Qc7 intending to meet 9 Bxf7+? Kxf7 10 Ne5+ with 10 ... Qxe5+ 11 dxe5 Bxd1 when
Black wins a piece for a pawn. (1 point)

(7) 16 ... Nd5? misses the chance to win a pawn with 16 ... Nxg4!, as shown above. (1 point)

(8) 25 ... f5? leaves the rook without any safe squares. White can trap it and win it with 26 Ke3!. (1
point)

You have scored ____ out of 12 points.
Tactical Themes
Double Attack, Attraction, Pin, Trapped Piece
Without further ado, lets move on to the real exercises. Good luck!
Chapter One
Games Between Players Rated 1100-1300 Elo
Game 1
D.Svensson-M.Marttila
Hallstahammar 2001
Colle Opening
1 d4 e6 2 Nf3 d5 3 e3 Nf6 4 Bd3 b6 5 0-0 Ba6 6 c3 g6 7 Re1 Bg7 8 Bc2 0-0 9 Ng5 h6 10 Nf3 c5 11
Nbd2 c4 12 a4 Nc6 13 e4 Qb8 14 exd5 exd5 15 b3 cxb3 16 Bxb3 Re8 (*)
Solution
Game 2
B.Jurgan-E.Ludwig
Bergen 2007
Torre Attack
1 d4 e6 2 c3 d5 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 Bxf6 Bxf6 6 g3 c6 7 Nbd2 0-0 8 Bg2 Nd7 9 0-0 Be7 10 Nb3 c5
11 dxc5 Nxc5 12 Nxc5 Bxc5 13 e3 Bd7 14 Re1 Qb6 15 Qb3 Qxb3 16 axb3 a5 17 Nd2 b5 18 e4 b4 19
c4 d4 20 e5 Ra7 21 Kh1 Rd8 22 Red1 Bc8 23 h4 (*)
Solution
Game 3
Y.Baldi-A.Alessandri
Bastia 2009
Four Knights Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bb5 Bb4 5 Ng5 0-0 6 Bxc6 dxc6 7 d3 Be6 8 a3 Bc5 9 Na4 Bd4 10 c3
Bb6 11 d4 exd4 12 cxd4 Bxd4 13 f4 Ng4 14 Rf1 Nxh2 15 Rh1 Ng4 16 Rf1 Ne3 17 Bxe3 Bxe3 18 Qe2
Bd4 (*)
Solution
Game 4
G.Fenske-T.Oellrich
Rotenburg 2007
Scotch Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 d4 exd4 5 Nxd4 Be7 6 Bf4 Nxd4 7 Qxd4 d6 8 0-0-0 0-0 9 e5 dxe5 10
Bxe5 Qxd4 11 Rxd4 c6 12 Be2 Be6 13 Kb1 Rfe8 14 Ne4 Nxe4 15 Rxe4 Rad8 16 Bd3 Rd7 17 Rd1
Red8 18 Re3 c5 19 Rc1 g6 20 Rg3 Bd6 21 Bxd6 Rxd6 22 f4 Kf8 23 Rf3 c4 24 Be4 Bd5 25 Bxd5 Rxd5
(*)
Solution
Game 5
F.O.Cochard-J.Lorans
St Denis 2010
English Opening
1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 d3 Bb4 4 Bd2 Bxc3 5 Bxc3 Nc6 6 g3 d5 7 cxd5 Qxd5 8 Nf3 Bg4 9 Bg2 Qd6 10 00 0-0 11 Qb3 Rab8 12 h3 Bxf3 13 Bxf3 Qd7 14 Rac1 Qxh3 15 Bg2 Qg4 16 Bf3 Qh3 17 Bg2 Qd7 18
Bxc6 bxc6 19 Qa4 Qe6 20 Qxa7 Rfc8 21 Qc5 -
Solution
Game 6
M.Colombo-J.Grange
St Chely dAubrac, 2010
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3 d6 5 Nc3 Nf6 6 Bg5 0-0 7 0-0 Qe7 8 Nd5 Qd8 9 c3 Bb6 10 Bb5
Nb8 11 d4 c6 (*)
Solution
Game 7
D.Dumkova-T.Trenz
Brno, 2010
Caro-Kann
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 Be2 Bf5 6 0-0 Nf6 7 Nc3 e6 8 Bg5 Be7 9 Ne5 Nxe5 10 dxe5
Nd7 11 Bxe7 Qxe7 12 Qd4 Qg5 13 f4 Qg6 14 Bd3 (*)
Solution
Game 8
J.Risius-D.Helwer
Bad Vilbel 2010
Queens Gambit Accepted
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 d5 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 e4 e6 5 Bxc4 Bb4 6 Bg5 h6 7 Bxf6 Qxf6 8 e5 Qg6 9 Qf3 0-0 10 Nge2
f6 11 Nf4 Qf7 12 Qg4 f5 13 Qg6 Qxg6 14 Nxg6 Re8 15 0-0 Bxc3 16 bxc3 Kh7 17 Nf4 g5 -
Solution
Game 9
K.Hanka-S.Keller
Bad Vilbel 2010
Queens Gambit Declined

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 c4 e6 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bf4 0-0 6 e3 c5 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 0-0 b6 9 cxd5 Nxd5 10 Bg3 cxd4
11 Nxd4 Nxd4 12 exd4 Bb7 13 Be5 Rc8 14 Ne4 Nf6 15 Bxf6 Bxf6 16 Qh5 Bxd4 (*)
Solution
Game 10
K.Sperkova-P.Hotar
Brno 2009
Vienna Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 f4 exf4 4 e5 Qe7 5 Qe2 Ng8 6 Nf3 Nc6 7 d4 d6 8 Bxf4 dxe5 9 dxe5 Qb4 10 Bc1
Bg4 11 e6 Bxe6 12 Ng5 Nd4 13 Qe4 0-0-0 (*)
Solution
Game 11
E.Gilles-L.Canutti
Bastia 2009
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 e6 2 Nc3 Bb4 3 Bd2 Nc6 4 e3 Nf6 5 Bb5 a6 6 Bxc6 bxc6 7 Nf3 d5 8 0-0 0-0 9 h3 Ne4 10 Nxe4
Bxd2 11 Nfxd2 dxe4 12 Nxe4 Bb7 13 Qd3 a5 (*)
Solution
Game 12
E.J.Viveros-J.P.Montenegro
Cali 2008
Four Knights Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bc4 Bb4 5 0-0 Bxc3 6 dxc3 d6 7 Bg5 Bg4 8 Qe2 Bxf3 9 Qxf3 0-0 10
Qg3 Qe7 11 Bh6 a5 12 Bb5 Na7 (*)
Solution
Game 13
L.Gibbons-J.Daase
Winnipeg 2008
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 a3 Nc6 4 Nc3 g6 5 Bf4 d6 6 e4 Bg7 7 Nf3 0-0 8 e5 Nh5 9 Bg5 Qd7 10 g4 f6 11
gxh5 fxg5 12 exd6 Rxf3 13 Qxf3 Nxd4 14 Qd1 e5 (*)
Solution
Game 14
F.Jirousek-V.Filip
Ricany 2008
Kings Gambit
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 f4 d6 4 Nf3 exf4 5 d4 Be7 6 Bxf4 0-0 7 Qd2 Re8 8 h3 Nc6 9 Bb5 Bd7 10 d5 Nb8
11 Bc4 c6 (*)
Solution
Game 15
J.Hansen-K.W.Fahle
Dortmund 2006
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Bc4 Bc5 7 Be3 d6 8 Nxc6 bxc6 9 Bxc5 dxc5 10
Qxd8+ Kxd8 11 Rd1+ Kc7 12 0-0 Rb8 13 b3 Nd7 14 f4 Nb6 15 Be2 f5 16 e5 h6 17 Rd6 Bd7 18 Rfd1
g5 19 a4 (*)
Solution
Game 16
G.Veyrat-G.Soler
Loire 2002
Queens Gambit
1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 e6 3 c4 Nf6 4 e3 dxc4 5 Bxc4 b6 6 Nc3 Bb7 7 0-0 Be7 8 e4 Nxe4 9 Nxe4 Bxe4 10 Qe2
Bb7 11 Ne5 0-0 12 Be3 Nd7 13 Rfd1 Nf6 14 f3 Bd6 15 Bg5 h6 16 Bh4 Qe7 17 Ng4 c5 18 d5 Rfe8 19
Nxf6+ gxf6 Ng5 17 h4 Nh7 (*)
Solution
Game 17
G.Banken-M.Mueller
Dortmund 2005
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 Bg5 Be7 6 Nf3 Nbd7 7 Bd3 h6 8 Bf4 c6 9 0-0 0-0 10 Re1
Nh5 11 Bd2 Bd6 12 Ne5 Nhf6 13 Bf4 Re8 14 Qf3 Bxe5 15 dxe5 Nh7 16 Qg3 (*)
Solution
Game 18
S.Krueger-S.Hast
Dortmund 2005
Scandinavian Defence
1 e4 d5 2 e5 Bf5 3 d4 e6 4 a3 c5 5 c3 cxd4 6 cxd4 Nc6 7 f4 Qh4+ 8 g3 Qg4 9 Nf3 (*)

Solution
Game 19
V.Kiewning-C.Baisakow
Bad Zwesten 2005
English Opening
1 Nf3 c5 2 g3 Nc6 3 c4 g6 4 b3 Bg7 5 Nc3 Nf6 6 Bb2 0-0 7 Rc1 d6 8 Bg2 Bf5 9 d3 Qd7 10 0-0 Bh3 11
Rc2 Bxg2 12 Kxg2 Nd4 13 Nxd4 cxd4 14 Nb1 Qc6+ 15 Kg1 Qd7 16 Nd2 e5 17 Ba3 Rfe8 18 f4 Qh3
19 fxe5 (*)
Solution
Game 20
B.Pedersen-O.J.Aas
Karasjok 2004
English Opening
1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 g3 Nf6 4 Bg2 Bb4 5 Qb3 Bxc3 6 dxc3 0-0 7 Qc2 d6 8 Bg5 h6 9 h4 Be6 10 b3 Rb8
11 0-0-0 Re8 12 Rh2 Qe7 13 Bxf6 Qxf6 Qxf6 14 f3 Na5 15 g4 (*)
Solution
Game 21
S.Von Harder-T.Wendler
Neumuenster 2001
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 d6 4 c3 Nf6 5 d3 Bd7 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Nbd2 0-0 8 0-0 Bg4 9 Re1 a6 10 Ba4 b5
11 Bb3 Re8 12 Nf1 Qd7 13 Ne3 Rad8 14 Bxf6 Bxf6 15 Bd5 Ne7 16 Bb3 c6 17 Nxe5 dxe5 18 Nxg4
Qxd3 (*)
Solution
Game 22
D.Bakker-T.Harke
German League 2004
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 0-0 Nf6 5 Nc3 0-0 6 d3 h6 7 Re1 d6 8 h3 Be6 9 Bxe6 fxe6 10 b3 Nd4
11 Bb2 Nxf3+ 12 Qxf3 d5 13 exd5 exd5 (*)
Solution
Game 23
M.Freitag-E.Winter
German League 2004
Torre Attack
1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bg5 Be7 4 Bxe7 Nxe7 5 e3 0-0 6 c4 dxc4 7 Nc3 Nd5 8 Rc1 Nc6 9 Bxc4 Nxc3 10
Rxc3 Re8 11 0-0 Qd7 12 a3 Rd8 13 Qc2 e5 (*)
Solution
Game 24
B.Brooks-E.Mandell
Romulus 2002
English Opening
1 c4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 e5 4 d3 g6 5 g3 d6 6 Bg2 Bg7 7 e4 Nf6 8 0-0 h5 9 Nh4 Bh6 10 Bxh6 Rxh6 11
Qd2 Rh7 12 Nf3 Bd7 13 Nb5 Bc8 14 Ng5 Rh8 15 f4 a6 16 Nc3 h4 17 gxh4 Rxh4 18 fxe5 dxe5 19 Qf2
Rg4 20 Nh7 Rf4 21 Nxf6+ Qxf6 (*)
Solution
Game 25
U.Schreck-I.Bartsch
German League 2003
English Opening
1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 d3 Bc5 5 g3 d5 6 cxd5 Nxd5 7 Bd2 Be6 8 a3 Nd4 9 Nxe5 Qf6 10 Nf3
0-0 11 Bg2 Rfe8 12 0-0 Rad8 13 Rc1 Bg4 (*)
Solution
Game 26
S.Broeker-C.Burton
German League 2003
London System
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 d5 3 Bf4 Nc6 4 e3 b6 5 Bb5 Bb7 6 Ne5 Qd6 7 Nxf7 Qb4+ 8 c3 (*)
Solution
Game 27
G.Banken-S.Krueger
Dortmund, 2003
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 e6 4 Bc4 Be7 5 d4 cxd4 6 Nxd4 Ne5 7 Bb3 a6 8 Bf4 Bd6 9 Nde2 Rb8 (*)
Solution
Game 28
F.Kleist-G.Gausmann
German League 2003
Petroff Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nc3 d6 4 h3 Nc6 5 d4 exd4 6 Nxd4 Nxd4 7 Qxd4 h6 8 Bb5+ Bd7 9 e5 dxe5 10
Qxe5+ Qe7 11 Qe2 Qxe2+ 12 Bxe2 Bd6 13 0-0 0-0 14 Re1 Rae8 15 a3 Bc6 16 Be3 a6 17 b4 b5 18
Bc5 Bxc5 19 bxc5 Ne4 (*)
Solution
Game 29
R.Stricker-E.Winter
German League 2003
Philidor Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 h3 Be7 4 Nc3 c6 5 Bc4 b5 6 Bb3 Ba6 7 a3 Nf6 8 d3 0-0 9 0-0 h6 10 Be3 Nbd7 11
d4 c5 12 dxe5 Nxe5 13 Nxe5 dxe5 14 Qxd8 Rfxd8 15 Rfd1 b4 16 axb4 Rxd1+ 17 Rxd1 cxb4 18 Nd5
(*)
Solution
Game 30
S.Huette-S.Schroeter
Magdeburg 2012
Veresov Opening
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Bf5 4 f3 e6 5 e4 dxe4 6 fxe4 Bg4 7 Be2 Bxe2 8 Ngxe2 Be7 9 Bxf6 Bxf6 10
e5 Be7 11 Qd3 c6 12 a3 c5 13 0-0-0 cxd4 14 Qxd4 Qxd4 15 Rxd4 0-0 16 Rhd1 Nc6 17 Re4 Rad8 18
Nd4 Nxd4 19 Rexd4 Rxd4 20 Rxd4 Rd8 (*)
Solution
Game 31
I.Gouleas-G.Zikos
Athens 2001
Dutch Defence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 f5 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 c5 c6 6 Bf4 Nbd7 7 b4 Ne4 8 Nxe4 fxe4 9 Ne5 Qf6 10 e3 g5 11
Bg3 h5 12 Nxd7 Bxd7 13 Be5 (*)
Solution
Game 32
M.Homfeldt-H.Hepting
Nuremberg 2001
Colle Opening
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 e3 Bg7 4 Be2 0-0 5 0-0 d6 6 Nc3 Nbd7 7 Qd2 e5 8 Nb5 e4 9 Ng5 h6 10 Nh3 d5 11
b3 Nb6 12 c4 c6 13 Nc3 Be6 14 Ba3 Re8 15 Nf4 Bc8 16 f3 g5 17 Nh3 Bf5 18 Nf2 Bg6 19 Bc5 -
Solution
Game 33
L.Andreassen-F.Prohl
Tromsoe 2008
Caro-Kann Defence
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 Bf5 4 h3 e6 5 Nf3 Be7 6 Be2 Nd7 7 c3 Qc7 8 Nbd2 f6 9 exf6 Bxf6 10 Nf1 Ne7 11
Ng3 Bg6 12 0-0 e5 13 Re1 0-0-0 14 Ng5 (*)
Solution
Game 34
D.Poniatowski-K.Crist
Auburn Hills 2003
Vienna Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Bb4 3 Qg4 g6 4 Nd5 Nc6 5 a3 d6 6 Qe2 Bc5 7 c3 a6 8 Nf3 Nf6 9 Nxf6+ Qxf6 10 h3
Be6 11 d3 0-0-0 (*)
Solution
Game 35
M.Liebzeit-L.Gibbons
Winnipeg 2003
Irregular Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Qf6 3 Nc3 c6 4 d4 exd4 5 Nxd4 Bc5 6 Be3 Ne7 7 Be2 0-0 8 0-0 Rd8 9 f4 Qh6 10 Qd2
g6 11 e5 d5 12 f5 Bxd4 13 Qxd4 Qf8 (*)
Solution
Game 36
M.Pollock-K.Stevenson
Grangemouth 1998
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Bc5 4 Bb5 d6 5 d3 Bd7 6 0-0 Nf6 7 b3 a6 8 Bxc6 Bxc6 9 Bb2 0-0 10 Qd2
Qe7 11 h3 b5 12 Ne2 Bb7 13 Ng3 Rfd8 14 Nf5 Qd7 15 N3h4 Qe6 16 Qg5 Ne8 17 Kh1 (*)
Solution
Game 37
J.Rathousky-L.Filip
Ricany 2008
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 d6 4 0-0 Bd7 5 Re1 Nf6 6 c3 Be7 7 d4 exd4 8 Nxd4 a6 9 Nxc6 bxc6 10 Bc4
h6 11 Nd2 0-0 12 Nf3 Ng4 13 h3 Ne5 14 Nxe5 dxe5 15 Re3 Bg5 16 Rg3 Bxc1 17 Qxc1 Qf6 18 Qd2
Rad8 19 Qe3 a5 20 Rd1 Qf4 21 Qc5 a4 22 Rdd3 (*)
Solution
Game 38
L.Dubbeldam-A.Glotin
St Lorrain 2010
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 Nf6 4 e5 Nfd7 5 c3 c5 6 Bd3 Be7 7 Ngf3 0-0 8 0-0 a6 9 Qc2 h6 10 b3 Nc6 11
Bb2 cxd4 12 cxd4 Nb4 13 Qc3 Nb6 14 a3 Nc6 15 Bc2 Bd7 16 Qd3 g6 17 h3 Rc8 18 Nh2 Kg7 19 Kh1
Na7 (*)
Solution
Game 39
J.Martens-L.Green
Winnipeg 2008
Rti Opening
1 Nf3 Nc6 2 b3 e5 3 Bb2 d6 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 e3 Bg4 6 Bb5 Be7 7 Bxc6+ bxc6 8 Qe2 Bxf3 9 Qxf3 Qd7 10
0-0-0 0-0 11 d4 exd4 12 Rxd4 c5 13 Ra4 c6 14 Ra6 Rfc8 15 Rd1 Qb7 16 Ne4 Nxe4 17 Qxe4 Qxa6 18
Qxe7 Qe2 19 Rd2 Qe1+ 20 Rd1 Qxf2 21 Rxd6 h6 22 Ba3 Re8 (*)
Solution
Game 40
M.Rautenberg-M.Rimm
Dortmund 2004
Philidor Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 h3 Be7 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 d4 exd4 6 Nxd4 0-0 7 Bf4 Bd7 8 a4 Nc6 9 Nxc6 Bxc6 10 Bd3
g6 11 g4 d5 12 e5 Bb4 (*)
Solution
Chapter Two
Solutions: Games 1-40
Solutions to Game 1
D.Svensson-M.Marttila
Hallstahammar 2001
Colle Opening
1 d4 e6 2 Nf3 d5 3 e3 Nf6 4 Bd3 b6 5 0-0 Ba6 6 c3 g6 7 Re1 Bg7 8 Bc2 0-0 9 Ng5 h6 10 Nf3 c5 11
Nbd2 c4 12 a4 Nc6 13 e4 Qb8 14 exd5 exd5 15 b3 cxb3 16 Bxb3 Re8 (*) 17 c4 dxc4 18 Bxc4 Bxc4 19
Nxc4 Ng4 20 h3 Rxe1+ 21 Qxe1 Nxd4 22 hxg4 Nc2 23 Qd1 Nxa1 24 Bxh6 Qf8 25 Bxg7 Qxg7 26
Nce5 f6 27 Qd5+ Kh7 28 Qxa8 fxe5 29 Qe8 Qc7 30 g5 Qc1+ 31 Kh2 Qf4+ 32 Kh1 Qc1+ 33 Ng1
Qxg5 34 Qf7+ Kh6 35 Qxa7 Qh5+ 36 Nh3 Qd1+ -
For White
(1)
Position after 6 ... g6

7 Re1?
White missed the chance to carry out a threat set up by his previous move, 6 c3. Here White can play
7 Bxa6! Nxa6 8 Qa4+! (2 points) winning a piece because of the double attack on the knight and king.

(2) 8 Bc2? missed a second chance to win a piece with the same tactic: 8 Bxa6! Nxa6 9 Qa4+!
followed by Qxa6. (2 points)
For Black
(3) 6 ... g6? overlooked the threat - created by 6 c3 - of Bxa6 followed by Qa4+ (1 point). The simplest
way to deal with this threat is by swapping bishops: 6 ... Bxd3 7 Qxd3. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Double Attack
Solutions to Game 2
B.Jurgan-E.Ludwig
Bergen 2007
Torre Attack
1 d4 e6 2 c3 d5 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 Bxf6 Bxf6 6 g3 c6 7 Nbd2 0-0 8 Bg2 Nd7 9 0-0 Be7 10 Nb3 c5
11 dxc5 Nxc5 12 Nxc5 Bxc5 13 e3 Bd7 14 Re1 Qb6 15 Qb3 Qxb3 16 axb3 a5 17 Nd2 b5 18 e4 b4 19
c4 d4 20 e5 Ra7 21 Kh1 Rd8 22 Red1 Bc8 23 h4 (*) d3 24 Nf3 Bxf2 25 Nd2 Bxg3 26 h5 Bxe5 27 Be4
Bxb2 28 Ra2 Bc3 29 Kg2 f5 30 Bc6 Rd4 31 Re1 Rg4+ 32 Kf3 Rg5 33 Rxe6 Bxe6 34 Nf1 Rxh5 35
Ng3 Rg5 36 Kf4 Rg4+ 37 Kf3 d2 0-1
For White
(1)

Position after 18 ... b4

19 c4?
White missed the opportunity to win a central pawn, with simply 19 exd5 exd5 20 Bxd5. (1 point)

(2) 20 e5! was an excellent move, opening the long diagonal and vacating the e4-square for the knight.
However, 21 Kh1? doesnt exploit the mistake Black committed earlier with 19 ... d4. In fact, the black
pawn on d4 is weak. After 21 Ne4! (2 points), the knight attacks the defender of the d-pawn:

Position after 21 Ne4 (analysis)

a) If the bishop retreats with 21 ... Be7, one of the rooks can attack the d-pawn with 22 Red1 (or 22
Rad1), and Black has no defence to 23 Rxd4 (1 point).
b) If Black protects the bishop with 21 ... Rc8, then after 22 Nxc5 Rxc5 the defender of the d-pawn
has been captured and White can gain the d-pawn a move later with 23 Rad1. (1 point)
For Black
(3)
Position after 18 e4
18 ... b4?
Black does not deal with the threat of losing the d-pawn. Black can save the pawn by playing, for
example, 18 ... d4 or 18 ... Bc6. (1 point)

(4)
Position after 19 c4

19 ... d4?
This allows White a second chance to win the d-pawn, as shown above (1 point). To cope with the
threat of losing the d-pawn, Black should exchange pawns with either 19 ... dxe4 or 19 ... dxc4. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Counting, Removing the Defender
Solutions to Game 3
Y.Baldi-A.Alessandri
Bastia 2009
Four Knights Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bb5 Bb4 5 Ng5 0-0 6 Bxc6 dxc6 7 d3 Be6 8 a3 Bc5 9 Na4 Bd4 10 c3
Bb6 11 d4 exd4 12 cxd4 Bxd4 13 f4 Ng4 14 Rf1 Nxh2 15 Rh1 Ng4 16 Rf1 Ne3 17 Bxe3 Bxe3 18 Qe2
Bd4 (*) 19 Nf3 Bg4 20 Qc2 Bxf3 21 gxf3 Qh4+ 22 Ke2 Qxf4 23 Kd1 Rad8 24 Ke2 Qe3+ 25 Kd1
Bxb2+ 26 Qd3 Qxd3+ 27 Ke1 Qd2 mate 0-1
For White
(1) 9 Na4?
Position after 9 Na4

White overlooked that Black can now win a pawn by 9 ... Bxf2+! 10 Kxf2 Qd4+, regaining the piece
next move in view of the queens double attack on the king and knight. (1 point)

(2) 12 cxd4?
This loses a pawn. To avoid this, White should first capture the bishop on b6 - one of its attackers and only then recapture on d4: 12 Nxb6! (1 point) 12 ... axb6 13 Qxd4.

(3)
Position after 12 ... Bxd4

13 f4?
This is a serious mistake because it endangers Whites king, which is now stuck in the middle of the
board, and allows tactical opportunities. 13 ... Nxe4! is especially strong (see below).
It was much safer to simply castle kingside: 13 0-0!. (1 point)

(4)
Position after 13 ... Ng4

14 Rf1?
It was much better to play 14 Nxe6! (2 points), capturing the defender of the g4-knight and intending
14 ... fxe6? 15 Qxg4. Black must instead give up a piece and go on the attack with 14 ... Qh4+.

(5)
Position after 14 ... Nxh2

15 Rh1?
White missed an opportunity to counterattack with the double attack 15 Qh5! (1 point), threatening
both mate on h7 and the knight on h2. After 15 ... Bf5! 16 Qxh2! Black is still on top, but Whites chances
are much better than in the game.
For Black
(6) 9 ... Bd4? missed the opportunity to win a vital pawn by 9 ... Bxf2+! 10 Kxf2 Qd4+ 11 Be3 Qxa4. (1
point)

(7) 13 ... Ng4? is a mistake for two reasons:
Firstly, Black missed a golden opportunity to exploit Whites insecure king in the middle, with 13 ...
Nxe4! (2 points). 14 Nxe4 is met by 14 ... Re8!. (1 point)
Position after 14 ... Re8 (analysis)

Black will play ... Bf5 (1 point) to utilize the pin, regain the sacrificed knight and gain a two-pawn
material advantage. In addition, Black will have a strong, most likely decisive attack.
Also, after 13 ... Ng4 the knight becomes vulnerable because White can capture its defender with 14
Nxe6!, as indicated above. (1 point)

(8)
Position after 14 Rf1

14 ... Nxh2?
Black overlooks the reply 15 Qh5!, threatening mate and the knight on h2. (1 point)
Instead 14 ... Bf2+! 15 Rxf2 Qxd1+ 16 Kxd1 Nxf2+ (2 points) wins a rook for a bishop, while 14 ...
Bf5! (1 point) is a good alternative. The bishop cannot be taken because 15 exf5 Re8+! is too strong, e.g.
16 Kd2 Bxb2+!. (1 point)

(9)
Position after 18 Qe2

18 ... Bd4? gives White time to consolidate by castling queenside. Instead, 18 ... Bxf4! 19 Rxf4 Qxg5
(1 point) wins another pawn without giving White any chance to take a breath.

Tactical Themes
Double Attack, Counting, Removing the Defender, Discovered Check
Solutions to Game 4
G.Fenske-T.Oellrich
Rotenburg 2007
Scotch Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 d4 exd4 5 Nxd4 Be7 6 Bf4 Nxd4 7 Qxd4 d6 8 0-0-0 0-0 9 e5 dxe5 10
Bxe5 Qxd4 11 Rxd4 c6 12 Be2 Be6 13 Kb1 Rfe8 14 Ne4 Nxe4 15 Rxe4 Rad8 16 Bd3 Rd7 17 Rd1
Red8 18 Re3 c5 19 Rc1 g6 20 Rg3 Bd6 21 Bxd6 Rxd6 22 f4 Kf8 23 Rf3 c4 24 Be4 Bd5 25 Bxd5 Rxd5
(*) 26 g4 h5 27 gxh5 Rxh5 28 h3 Rhd5 29 a3 -
For White
(1) 14 Ne4? loses material, as shown below.
14 Rhd1, doubling rooks on the d-file, and 14 Bf3 are just two examples of safe moves for White. (2
points)

(2) 20 Rg3? allows Black to play 20 ... c4!. (2 points)
Position after 20 ... c4 (analysis)

Blacks rook can get to the seventh rank and Blacks pressure will eventually be enough to win a
pawn. For example, 21 Be2 Rd2! (1 point) skewers the bishop to the f2-pawn, and after 22 Bf3 b6 Black
soon wins a pawn (23 Rf1 Bf5!). Alternatively, 21 Be4 f5 22 Bf3 Bh4! (1 point) wins the f2-pawn.
A much better option for White is 20 b3 to prevent, or at least discourage ... c4. (1 point)

(3) 24 Be4?
Position after 24 Be4

White does not realize that the bishop can be trapped and won. After 24 ... f5! 25 Bxb7 Rb8! the
bishop has no safe retreat. (2 points)
24 Be2 or 24 Bf1 would have saved the bishop. (1 point)
For Black
(4) 15 ... Rad8?
Black didnt exploit an opportunity to gain material. Initially it seems as if the bishop on e5 is safely
protected by the rook. However, Blacks bishops can force the white rook away from its defence of the
bishop and also clear the way for the e8-rook to attack it. The first move is 15 ... Bd5!. (2 points)
Position after 15 ... Bd5 (analysis)

Now:
a) 16 Re3 is met by 16 ... Bc5! (1 point). If Whites rook moves away from the e-file, the e5-bishop is
lost. To avoid this loss, White has to give up the exchange, with 17 Bf4 Bxe3 18 Bxe3. (1 point)
b) If Whites rook moves along the fourth rank, Black can win material by skewering the two bishops.
For example, 16 Rg4 is met by 16 ... Bf8!. (1 point)
Position after 16 ... Bf8 (analysis)

If White defends the bishop with 17 f4, Black wins material with 17 ... f6! (1 point), while if 17 Rg5
the rook can be deflected by 17 ... h6 18 Rh5 g6. (1 point)
(5) 20 ... Bd6? missed the opportunity to play 20 ... c4!, as shown above. (1 point)

(6) 24 ... Bd5? missed the opportunity to win the e4-bishop with 24 ... f5! 25 Bxb7 Rb8!, as shown
above. (1 point)

Tactical Themes
Removing the Defender, Discovered Attack, Skewer, Trapped Piece
Solutions to Game 5
F.O.Cochard-J.Lorans
St Denis 2010
English Opening
1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 d3 Bb4 4 Bd2 Bxc3 5 Bxc3 Nc6 6 g3 d5 7 cxd5 Qxd5 8 Nf3 Bg4 9 Bg2 Qd6 10 00 0-0 11 Qb3 Rab8 12 h3 Bxf3 13 Bxf3 Qd7 14 Rac1 Qxh3 15 Bg2 Qg4 16 Bf3 Qh3 17 Bg2 Qd7 18
Bxc6 bxc6 19 Qa4 Qe6 20 Qxa7 Rfc8 21 Qc5 -
For White
(1)
Position after 13 ... Qd7

14 Rac1
This rook move loses the h3-pawn which could have been protected by, for example, 14 Kg2 or 14
Bg2 (1 point). It should be added that, if White follows up 14 Rac1 correctly, his pawn loss is
compensated by an attack on the queenside. In view of this, 14 Rac1 isnt necessarily a tactical mistake.

(2) 20 Qxa7?
This pawn capture deflects the white queen, and as a direct consequence Black gains an opportunity to
unleash a strong kingside attack, as outlined below.
20 b3 was better, safeguarding the a-pawn and crucially keeping the queen on an active square. (1
point)
For Black
(3) 20 ... Rfc8?
Black missed the opportunity to begin a strong kingside attack with 20 ... Qh3! (3 points).
Position after 20 ... Qh3 (analysis)

Black threatens a mating attack with ... Ng4. For example, 21 Rfd1 Ng4 22 e4 Rb6! (threatening ...
Qh2+ and ... Qxf2#) 23 Rd2 c5! followed by ... Rh6.
Therefore White really has to stop ... Ng4 with 21 f3, but then 21 ... Qxg3+ wins a vital pawn and
weakens Whites king position considerably (2 points). A possible line demonstrating Blacks advantage
is 22 Kh1 Nh5 (threatening ... Nf4 and ... Qg2 mate) 23 Qf2 Qh3+ 24 Kg1 Ng3, threatening both ... Qh1
mate and ... Nxf1. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Counting, Deflection, Mate Threat
Solutions to Game 6
M.Colombo-J.Grange
St Chely dAubrac, 2010
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3 d6 5 Nc3 Nf6 6 Bg5 0-0 7 0-0 Qe7 8 Nd5 Qd8 9 c3 Bb6 10 Bb5
Nb8 11 d4 c6 (*) 12 Nxf6+ gxf6 13 Bh6 cxb5 14 Nh4 Re8 15 Nf5 Bxf5 16 exf5 Kh8 17 Qh5 Qd7 18
dxe5 dxe5 19 g4 Rg8 20 Kh1 Bxf2 21 Rad1 Qc6+ 0-1
For White
(1) 9 c3?
It was better to take immediate action by 9 Nh4! with very similar lines to 10 Nh4, as outlined below. (1
point)

(2) 10 Bb5? doesnt exploit the potential in Whites position. Instead, 10 Nh4! (or, similarly, 10
Nd2!) was in order, clearing the way for the queen to join the attack. (3 points)

Position after 10 Nh4 (analysis)

The queen can go to f3, to intensify the pressure on the pinned knight; or to h5 after an exchange on f6.
After 10 Nh4 White actually wins material by force. For example:
a) 10 ... Be6 11 Nxf6+ gxf6 12 Bh6. Black must accept the loss of the exchange, since 12 ... Re8 13
Bxe6 captures the defender of the g4-square and lines up a decisive check with Qg4. (2 points)
b) 10 ... Na5 hopes to weaken Whites attacking resources but fails to deal with the main threat: 11
Qf3!, threatening to take the f6-knight. If 11 ... Bg4, then 12 Bxf6! Bxf3 13 Bxd8 Bxg2 14 Kxg2 Rfxd8
leaves White a piece ahead. (2 points)

(3)
Position after 10 ... Nb8

11 d4?
White missed the chance to play 11 Nxf6+ gxf6 12 Bh6!, trapping the rook and winning the exchange.
(2 points)
For Black
(4)
Position after 7 0-0

7 ... Qe7?
Blacks problems stem from this move, which allows Nd5 with a crucial gain of time. It was much
better to chase away the bishop with 7 ... h6 or play 7 ... Be6. (1 point)

(5) 9 ... Bb6? doesnt anticipate the threat of 10 Nh4 (1 point). It was better to eliminate a potential
attacker with 9 ... Na5 (1 point), even though White keeps the advantage and attacking chances after 10 b4
Nxc4 11 bxc5 Na5.

(6)
Position after 10 Bb5

10 ... Nb8?
This move allows White to win the exchange, as shown above (1 point). Simple development with 10
... Be6, creating the possibility of ... Bxd5 to eliminate an attacker, would be a good choice. (1 point)

Tactical Themes
Pin, Removing the Defender, Trapped Piece
Solutions to Game 7
D.Dumkova-T.Trenz
Brno 2010
Caro-Kann Defence
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 Be2 Bf5 6 0-0 Nf6 7 Nc3 e6 8 Bg5 Be7 9 Ne5 Nxe5 10 dxe5
Nd7 11 Bxe7 Qxe7 12 Qd4 Qg5 13 f4 Qg6 14 Bd3 (*) 0-0 15 Rf3 f6 16 Rg3 fxe5 17 fxe5 Qf7 18
Bxf5 Qxf5 19 Qb4 Qf2+ 20 Kh1 Qf1+ 21 Rxf1 Rxf1 mate 0-1
For White
(1) 14 Bd3?
White missed an opportunity here: 14 Qb4! (2 points) gives Black a lot to think about.

Whites queen attacks the b-pawn and, crucially, prevents Black from castling kingside. Whites
attacking ideas include both Nb5 and Bb5. How should Black react? Lets consider three variations:
a) 14 ... Bxc2? is far too risky. 15 Nb5! threatens both Nc7+ and Nd6+, and White is bound to either
gain material or win by a direct attack on the king. (2 points)
b) 14 ... b6? safeguards the b-pawn, but again 15 Nb5! threatens Nc7+, and Whites attack will win at
least some material. (2 points)
c) 14 ... a6 prevents Nb5 and Bb5, but then 15 Qxb7 wins a pawn. (1 point)
For Black
(2)

Position after 12 Qd4

12 ... Qg5? exposes the queen to attack and gives White the initiative.
Black could grab a pawn with 12 ... Bxc2, although this involves some risk because White jumps into
action with 13 Rac1 followed by Nb5. (1 point)
The safest and best option for Black is to simply castle kingside with 12 ... 0-0!. (2 points)

(3) 13 ... Qg6? doesnt anticipate the threats after 14 Qb4 as outlined above (1 point). Instead Black
should keep his queen in defence and play 13 ... Qd8 or 13 ... Qe7. (1 point)

Position after 13 ... Qd8 (analysis)
After 13 ... Qd8 14 g4! Be4 (14 ... Bxc2 15 Rac1 gives White the initiative) 15 Nxe4 dxe4 16 Qxe4
Black loses a pawn but his position remains playable.

Tactical Themes
Exposed King, Double Attack
Solutions to Game 8
J.Risius-D.Helwer
Bad Vilbel 2010
Queens Gambit Accepted
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 d5 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 e4 e6 5 Bxc4 Bb4 6 Bg5 h6 7 Bxf6 Qxf6 8 e5 Qg6 9 Qf3 0-0 10 Nge2
f6 11 Nf4 Qf7 12 Qg4 f5 13 Qg6 Qxg6 14 Nxg6 Re8 15 0-0 Bxc3 16 bxc3 Kh7 17 Nf4 g5 -
For White
(1) 12 Qg4?
White can win material after 12 d5!. (3 points)

Position after 12 d5 (analysis)

The d-pawn threatens to take on e6 with the idea of moving forward to e7 and winning material by a
discovered check. If Black blocks this idea with 12 ... Qe7, he loses the exchange to the fork 13 Ng6 (1
point), while if Black plays 12 ... cxd5?, then 13 Bxd5 pins and wins the queen. (1 point)
The best defence is to strike back with 12 ... fxe5. After 13 dxe6 Qxf4 (13 ... Qe7 is met by 14 Ng6!
winning material) 14 Qxf4 exf4 15 e7+ Kh7 16 exf8Q Bxf8 White still wins an exchange, but this time
Black at least gets a pawn for it. (2 points)
Another line worth mentioning is 12 ... fxe5 13 dxe6 Qxf4 14 Qxf4 Rxf4 (instead of 14 ... exf4).
Position after 14 ... Rxf4 (analysis)

Here White can win by playing 15 e7+! followed by queening on e8. (2 points)
For Black
(2) 11 ... Qf7? puts the queen on an unfortunate square on the same diagonal as Whites bishop, and runs
into 12 d5!, as shown above (1 point). Instead, 11 ... Qe8! neutralizes Whites threats. (1 point)

(3)

Position after 12 Qg4

12 ... f5? doesnt take advantage of 12 Qg4?. Instead, 12 ... fxe5! (2 points) wins a pawn because of
the discovered attack on the knight on f4. White cannot answer with 13 dxe5 because he loses a piece to
13 ... Qxf4.

Tactical Themes
Fork, Pin, Discovered Check, Promotion, Discovered Attack
Solutions to Game 9
K.Hanka-S.Keller
Bad Vilbel 2010
1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 c4 e6 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bf4 0-0 6 e3 c5 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 0-0 b6 9 cxd5 Nxd5 10 Bg3 cxd4
11 Nxd4 Nxd4 12 exd4 Bb7 13 Be5 Rc8 14 Ne4 Nf6 15 Bxf6 Bxf6 16 Qh5 Bxd4 (*) 17 Nf6+ 1-0
For White
(1) 14 Ne4? gives Black the opportunity to win material with the very strong move 14 ... f6!. (2 points)
Position after 14 ... f6 (analysis)

Blacks idea is to trap and win the bishop on g3 with ... f5 (gaining time attacking the knight) and then
... f4. Despite some counterattacking tries by White, theres no completely satisfactory defence and White
ends up losing some material. Lets consider the most natural lines:
a) Retreating the bishop doesnt save the piece: 15 Bg3 f5! with a double attack.

The pawn both attacks the knight and threatens to trap the bishop with 16 ... f4, so White must either
give up the bishop or the knight. (2 points)
b) 15 Qh5 threatens a quick mate with 16 Ng5 fxg5 17 Qxh7+ Kf7 18 Bg6 mate. However, Black can
parry this threat simply with 15 ... g6!, at the same time attacking the knight and the queen. Thus, White
still loses a piece after 16 Nxf6+ Nxf6. (2 points)
c) 15 Ng5! fxg5 16 Qh5 is a tricky try, and Whites best chance.
Position after 16 Qh5 (analysis)

Now, Black must not fall into the trap 16 ... g6?? because here 17 Bxg6! hxg6 18 Qxg6 is mate.
Instead, after 16 ... Rf5! 17 Bxf5 exf5 Black has won two pieces in exchange for a rook. (2 points)

White should safeguard the c3-knght in another way, for example with 14 Rc1 or 14 Qg4 g6 15 Rac1.
(2 points)

(2) 16 Qh5? works in the game but Black could have won a safe pawn with 16 ... Bxe4! 17 Bxe4 g6
followed by taking on d4 (1 point). A better option for White is 16 Nxf6+ Qxf6 17 Qh5 g6 18 Qe5. (1
point)
For Black
(3) 14 ... Nf6?
Instead of this knight retreat, Black can win material with 14 ... f6!, as demonstrated above. (2 points)

(4) 16..Bxd4? allowed a mate in two with the discovered attack 17 Nf6+!. Black missed the chance to
play 16 ... Bxe4! 17 Bxe4 g6!, as indicated above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Trapped Piece, Double Attack, Discovered Attack
Solutions to Game 10
K.Sperkova-P.Hotar
Brno 2009
Vienna Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 f4 exf4 4 e5 Qe7 5 Qe2 Ng8 6 Nf3 Nc6 7 d4 d6 8 Bxf4 dxe5 9 dxe5 Qb4 10 Bc1
Bg4 11 e6 Bxe6 12 Ng5 Nd4 13 Qe4 0-0-0 (*) 14 Nxe6 Nf6 15 Qd3 Nxe6 16 Qc4 Nd4 17 Qd3 Bc5 18
a3 Rhe8+ 19 Be2 Qb6 0-1
For White
(1) 8 Bxf4?
8 Nd5!, attacking both the queen and the c7-pawn, is a much stronger choice. (2 points)
Position after 8 Nd5 (analysis)

Moving the queen and maintaining her defence of the c7-pawn doesnt help Black at all, because then
White can use a deadly tactic involving a discovered check. For example, if 8 ... Qd8? White wins
material with 9 Nxc7+!, attracting the queen to c7 and answering 9 ... Qxc7? with 10 exd6+, winning the
queen because of the discovered check. Because of this tactic, the queen cannot recapture on c7 so White
wins the a8-rook after 9 ... Kd7 10 Nxa8. (2 points)
Blacks best defence is counterattacking with 8 ... Nxd4. Even so, after 9 Nxd4 Qh4+ 10 Qf2 (10 g3 is
also strong) 10 ... Qxf2+ 11 Kxf2 Kd8 12 Bxf4, White is a piece up for a pawn and enjoys a dominating
position. (1 point)

(2)
Position after 10 ... Bg4

11 e6?
White gains nothing by giving up this pawn. (1 point)

(3) 13 Qe4? offers Black the opportunity to gain more time with 13 ... Nf6! (see below). 12 Qf2 is a
better retreat for the queen. (1 point)
For Black
(4) 7 ... d6?
Black hasnt played the opening very well (for example, 3 ... d5 is much better than 3 ... exf4) and is
already in a bit of trouble, but this is the first move which allows White tactical possibilities (with 8
Nd5! - see above).
Better tries for Black are 7 ... d5, sacrificing a pawn in order to make the forthcoming Nd5 less
effective, or 7 ... Qb4 to pin the knight for the time being. (2 points)

(5) 13 ... 0-0-0 certainly isnt bad, but there was something better: 13 ... Nf6!. (2 points)
Position after 13 ... Nf6 (analysis)

This knight move starts a 19-ply, virtually forced variation, which ends up with Black winning a
piece. Part 1 of this variation begins with chasing the queen around to bring Blacks pieces to better
squares. Then, material can be gained in Part 2. However, precise calculation is needed until the storm is
over.
Part 1: 14 Qd3 Bf5! (1 point) 15 Qe3+ Kd7! (threatening both 16 ... Nxc2+ and 16 ... Re8, pinning the
queen; 15 ... Be7 16 Bd3 Ng4! is also strong) 16 Qd2 Re8+ 17 Be2 Kc8! (1 point) (Black unpins the
knight and again threatens ... Nxc2; 17 ... Bd6! is just as good) 18 0-0.
Position after 18 0-0 (analysis)

Part 2: 18 ... Nxe2+! 19 Nxe2 Qxd2 20 Bxd2 Rxe2 21 Rxf5 Rxd2 22 Nxf7 Rg8. (3 points)
Tactical Themes
Attraction, Discovered Check, Fork, Pin
E.Gilles-L.Canutti
Bastia 2009
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 e6 2 Nc3 Bb4 3 Bd2 Nc6 4 e3 Nf6 5 Bb5 a6 6 Bxc6 bxc6 7 Nf3 d5 8 0-0 0-0 9 h3 Ne4 10 Nxe4
Bxd2 11 Nfxd2 dxe4 12 Nxe4 Bb7 13 Qd3 a5 (*) 14 h4 Ba6 15 c4 Qxh4 16 f4 Rab8 17 Ng5 Rfd8 18
g3 Qxg3+ 19 Kh1 Rxb2 20 Qxh7+ Kf8 21 Qh8+ Ke7 22 Qxg7 Qh2 mate 0-1
For White
(1)

Position after 10 ... Bxd2

11 Nfxd2?
Recapturing with the other knight, 11 Nexd2!, would win a whole piece. (2 points)
For Black
(2) 9 ... Ne4? either missed a discovered attack or was bad counting (see below). (1 point)

(3)
Position after 10 Nxe4

10 ... Bxd2? loses a piece since the knight on e4 covers the d2-square as well. (1 point)
Less harmful was 10 ... dxe4! 11 Bxb4 exf3 (1 point). Now White has equally good choices: 12 Qxf3
Re8 13 Qxc6 wins two pawns, while 12 Bxf8 fxg2 13 Kxg2 Qxf8 wins the exchange. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Counting
E.J.Viveros-J.P.Montenegro
Cali 2008
Four Knights Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bc4 Bb4 5 0-0 Bxc3 6 dxc3 d6 7 Bg5 Bg4 8 Qe2 Bxf3 9 Qxf3 0-0 10
Qg3 Qe7 11 Bh6 a5 12 Bb5 Na7 (*) 13 Qxg7 mate 1-0
For White
(1) 10 Qg3? moves the queen to an unfortunate square which allows Black to win material with the
fork/discovered attack 11 ... Nxe4!. (2 points)

Position after 11 ... Nxe4 (analysis)

After 11 Bxd8 Nxg3 the material imbalance depends on Whites next move:
a) After 12 Bxc7 Nxf1 13 Kxf1 Rac8 14 Bxd6 Rad8 Black has won rook for bishop and pawn. (1
point)
b) 12 hxg3 Raxd8 and Black has won a pawn (1 point).

(2) By playing 12 Bb5?? White missed, of course, 12 Qxg7 mate. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 10 ... Qe7? misses a win of material with 10 ... Nxe4!, as outlined above. (1 point).

(4) 11 ... a5?? overlooks the mate threat of Qxg7# (1 point). Black could safely prevent the mate by
protecting the g7-pawn with either 11 ... Ne8 or 11 ... Nh5. (1 point)

(5) 12 ... Na7?? again doesnt deal with the mate threat (1 point). Once more, Black could prevent the
mate with either 12 ... Ne8 or 12 ... Nh5. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Discovered Attack
L.Gibbons-J.Daase
Winnipeg 2008
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 a3 Nc6 4 Nc3 g6 5 Bf4 d6 6 e4 Bg7 7 Nf3 0-0 8 e5 Nh5 9 Bg5 Qd7 10 g4 f6 11
gxh5 fxg5 12 exd6 Rxf3 13 Qxf3 Nxd4 14 Qd1 e5 (*) 15 hxg6 cxd6 16 gxh7+ Kxh7 17 Bd3+ Kh6 18
h4 Nf3+ 19 Qxf3 Qc6 20 hxg5+ Kxg5 21 Rh5 mate 1-0
For White
(1)

11 gxh5?
Black has just met Whites 10 g4, threatening the trapped knight, with the counterattack 10 ... f6.
Instead of swapping bishop for knight with 11 gxh5 fxg5, White could retreat the bishop after which the
knight is still trapped: 11 Be3! (2 points). Although Black can reclaim some material with 11 ... fxe5 12
gxh5 Rxf3! 13 Qxf3 exd4 (1 point) White remains an exchange for a pawn ahead after 14 Bd2 dxc3 15
Bxc3.

(2) 12 exd6? allows Black to win material with the strong reply 12 ... Qf7!. (2 points)
Position after 12 ... Qf7 (analysis)

Black not only threatens the knight, he also pins it to the f2-pawn - moving the knight away allows
mate in one. Here are some possible lines:
a) 13 dxc7 Nxd4! (this is even stronger than 13 ... Qxf3) 14 Be2 Nxf3+ 15 Bxf3 Qxf3 16 Qxf3 Rxf3
and Black is up a piece for a pawn. (1 point)
b) If 13 Be2 then 13 ... g4! (1 point) forces the knight away. After 14 hxg6 hxg6 15 Ne5 Qxf2+ its no
longer mate, but 16 Kd2 Qxd4+ 17 Nd3 cxd6 leaves Black two pawns ahead and with a dominating
position.
c) 13 hxg6 hxg6 doesnt change anything - Black still has the same threats.
Going back to move 12, White could have avoided this idea with either 12 Nxg5 or 12 hxg6. (1 point)

(3) 14 Qd1? runs into the powerful reply 14 ... Qc6!. (2 points)
Position after 14 ... Qc6 (analysis)

Blacks queen moves onto an excellent square from which she attacks the h-rook and also supports a
knight check on f3. White is in big trouble here:
a) If 15 Rg1 the fork 15 ... Nf3+ wins the rook. (1 point)
b) 15 f3 is a better defence, but after 15 ... Nxf3+ (1 point) 16 Kf2 (16 Ke2 Nd4+!) Black has won a
key pawn and Whites king is out in the open.
Instead of 14 Qd1?, White should have played 14 Qe4! (1 point) which avoids the whole idea with ...
Qc6.
For Black
(4)
Position after 9 Bg5

9 ... Qd7?
This move gave White time to attack the trapped knight with 10 g4. (1 point)
9 ... f6! 10 exf6 Nxf6 (or 10 ... Bxf6) saves the knight. (1 point)

(5) 12 ... Rxf3?
With best play, this exchange sacrifice only leads at best to rough equality after 13 Qxf3 Nxd4 14
Qe4! (and not 14 Qd1? - see above).
12 ... Qf7! (1 point) is much stronger, as outlined above.

(6) 14 ... e5? misses the chance to play 14 ... Qc6!, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Trapped Piece, Pin, Fork, Removing the Defender
F.Jirousek-V.Filip
Ricany 2008
Kings Gambit
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 f4 d6 4 Nf3 exf4 5 d4 Be7 6 Bxf4 0-0 7 Qd2 Re8 8 h3 Nc6 9 Bb5 Bd7 10 d5 Nb8
11 Bc4 c6 (*) 12 dxc6 Nxc6 13 Ng5 Rf8 14 0-0-0 Ne8 15 Qd5 Bxg5 16 Bxg5 Be6 17 Bxd8 Bxd5 18
Rxd5 Nxd8 19 e5 dxe5 20 Rxe5 Nf6 -
For White
(1) 8 h3?

Position after 8 h3
In this game, Black gets three opportunities to win the e4-pawn, and here is the first one. The tactic 8
... Nxe4! is possible here. After 9 Nxe4 Black can play 9 ... Bh4+! (2 points) unleashing a discovered
attack against the e4-knight.
Position after 9 ... Bh4+ (analysis)

Black wins a pawn in all lines, though White gets some compensation after, for example, 10 g3 Rxe4+
11 Be2 Bf6 12 0-0-0 because he was already ahead in development.
Moves such as 8 0-0-0, 8 Be2 and 8 Bd3 are all better than 8 h3. (1 point)

(2) 9 Bb5? gives Black another opportunity with the same tactic in a slightly different position: 9 ...
Nxe4! 10 Nxe4 Bh4+! and ... Rxe4 wins a pawn (2 points). White has less compensation than above, as
Black is further developed.
White can avoid the tactic with, for example, 9 0-0-0 or 9 Bd3. (1 point)

(3) 11 Bc4? offers Black a third chance to win the e-pawn, with 11 ... Nxe4! 12 Nxe4 Bh4+ and ...
Rxe4 (2 points) and here Whites compensation is clearly insufficient.
11 Bd3, 11 Be2 and 11 Bxd7 are three possible ways to avoid the tactic. (1 point)
For Black
(4) 8 ... Nc6?
Black could win a pawn with the tactic 8 ... Nxe4!, as shown above. (1 point)

(5) 9 ... Bd7?
9 ... Nxe4! again wins a pawn, as shown above. (1 point)
(6) 11 ... c6?
Black misses a third opportunity to win the e-pawn, with 11 ... Nxe4!. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Clearance, Discovered Attack, Pin
J.Hansen-K.W.Fahle
Dortmund 2006
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Bc4 Bc5 7 Be3 d6 8 Nxc6 bxc6 9 Bxc5 dxc5 10
Qxd8+ Kxd8 11 Rd1+ Kc7 12 0-0 Rb8 13 b3 Nd7 14 f4 Nb6 15 Be2 f5 16 e5 h6 17 Rd6 Bd7 18 Rfd1
g5 19 a4 (*) g4 20 a5 Nd5 21 Na4 Nxf4 22 Rxd7+ 1-0
For White
(1) 7 Be3? gives Black the chance to win a pawn with 7 ... Qb6!. (2 points)
Position after 7 ... Qb6 (analysis)

7 ... Qb6 creates a double attack on the d4-knight, which is pinned to the e3-bishop, and the b2-pawn.
Black wins a pawn in all lines. For example:
a) 8 Nxc6 Bxe3 9 fxe3 Qxe3+ followed by recapturing on c6. (1 point)
b) 8 Ndb5 Bxe3 9 fxe3 Qxe3+. (1 point)
c) 8 Nb3 Bxe3 9 fxe3 Qxe3+. (1 point)
b) 8 Na4 Qa5+! 9 Nc3 (or 9 c3 Bxd4! 10 Bxd4 Nxd4!) 10 Nxe4 10 Nb3 Qb4!. (1 point)
Instead of 7 Be3?, 7 Nxc6, 7 Nb3 and 7 Ndb5 are all better options for White. (1 point)

(2) 19 a4? missed the chance to win a pawn with 19 Na4! (1 point)
Position after 19 Na4 (analysis)

This knight move is a double attack. White threatens to capture the b6-knight which defends the
bishop, and the c5-pawn. Assuming Black safeguards the bishop, for example with 19 ... Rh7, then 20
Nxc5 wins a pawn. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 7 ... d6?
Black could have won a pawn with 7 ... Qb6!, as shown above. (1 point)

(4) 18 ... g5? allows White to play the strong 19 Na4!, as outlined above (1 point). 18 ... Rbd8
prevents Whites main threat. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Double Attack, Pin, Removing the Defender
G.Veyrat-G.Soler
Loire 2002
Queens Gambit
1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 e6 3 c4 Nf6 4 e3 dxc4 5 Bxc4 b6 6 Nc3 Bb7 7 0-0 Be7 8 e4 Nxe4 9 Nxe4 Bxe4 10 Qe2
Bb7 11 Ne5 0-0 12 Be3 Nd7 13 Rfd1 Nf6 14 f3 Bd6 15 Bg5 h6 16 Bh4 Qe7 17 Ng4 c5 18 d5 Rfe8 19
Nxf6+ gxf6 (*) 20 Qe3 Qf8 21 dxe6 fxe6 22 Bxe6+ Kh8 23 Rxd6 Re7 24 Rad1 Rae8 25 Qf4 Rxe6 26
Rxe6 Rxe6 27 Rd6 Rxd6 28 g4 Rd4 29 Bxf6+ Kh7 30 Qf5+ Kg8 31 Qg6+ 1-0
For White
(1) 8 e4
This loses a pawn to 8 ... Nxe4 (1 point), as played in the game, although with the correct follow-up
White could obtain some compensation due to his better development.

(2) 18 d5?
White misses the chance to increase the pressure enormously with 18 Qd2!. (2 points)
Position after 18 Qd2 (analysis)

The threat is to take on f6 followed by Qxh6. Black has no good defence and must give up material.
For example, 18 ... cxd4 19 Bxf6 gxf6 20 Qxh6 threatens to win the queen with 21 Nxf6+, and here 21 ...
Be5 is met by 22 f4!, chasing away the bishop. (2 points)
(3) 19 Nxf6+?
19 dxe6! (2 point) is much better. White is threatening to play exf7+ so 19 ... fxe6 is forced, but then
19 Qc2! (2 points) is very strong.
Position after 19 Qc2 (analysis)

Attacks on d6 and f6, plus the threat of Qg6, add up to a decisive advantage for White. For example,
20 ... Rad8 21 Bxf6 gxf6 22 Qg6+ Qg7 23 Nxf6+ Kf8 24 Qxg7+ Kxg7 25 Nxe8+ wins a rook, or 20 ...
Kh8 21 Nxf6 gxf6 22 Rxd6! (deflection) 22 ... Qxd6 23 Bxf6+ Kg8 24 Qg6+ with mate next move.
For Black
(4) 17 ... c5?
This doesnt deal with the threat of 18 Qd2!, as shown above (1 point). Black can deal with the threat
by playing 18 ... Bf4 or 18 ... h5. (1 point)

(5)

Position after 18 d5

18 ... Rfe8? runs into a decisive attack after 19 dxe6, as demonstrated above (1 point). Much better is
18 ... exd5! (2 points) which leads to a position with equal material after 19 Bxf6 Qxe2 20 Bxe2 gxf6 21
Nxf6+ Kg7 22 Nxd5.
Tactical Themes
Pin, Fork, Deflection, Removing the Defender
G.Banken-M.Mueller
Dortmund 2005
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 Bg5 Be7 6 Nf3 Nbd7 7 Bd3 h6 8 Bf4 c6 9 0-0 0-0 10 Re1
Nh5 11 Bd2 Bd6 12 Ne5 Nhf6 13 Bf4 Re8 14 Qf3 Bxe5 15 dxe5 Nh7 16 Qg3 Ng5 17 h4 Nh7 (*) 18
Bxh6 g6 19 Bxg6 Re6 20 Bxh7+ 1-0
For White
(1) 14 Qf3?
White missed an opportunity to play 14 Nxf7! (1 point), unleashing a discovered attack on the d6bishop:
Position after 14 Nxf7 (analysis)

White wins a pawn after either 14 ... Kxf7 15 Bxd6 or 14 ... Rxe1+ 15 Qxe1 Kxf7 15 Bxd6. (2 points)
For Black
(2) 13 ... Re8? misses Whites threat and loses a pawn, as demonstrated above. (1 point)
13 ... Bc7 or 13 ... Qc7, safeguarding the bishop, are two possible ways to deal with the threat. (1
point)

(3)
Position after 16 Qg3

16 ... Ng5? fails to adequately meet the threat of Bxh6, as the knight can be chased away with 17 h4.
(1 point)
16 ... Kh8, breaking the pin on the g7-pawn, would be a good defence. (1 point)

(4) 17 ... Nh7? allows White to crash through Blacks king defences with 18 Bxh6 g6 19 Bxg6!, when
Black must lose lots of material to avoid mate. (1 point)
17 ... Ne6 is a much better defence, as after 18 Bxh6 the g7-pawn is defended. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Removing the defender, Pin, Mate Threat
S.Krueger-S.Hast
Dortmund 2005
1 e4 d5 2 e5 Bf5 3 d4 e6 4 a3 c5 5 c3 cxd4 6 cxd4 Nc6 7 f4 Qh4+ 8 g3 Qg4 9 Nf3 (*) Be4 10 Bg2
Nxd4 11 Qxd4 Bxf3 12 Qa4+ Kd8 13 Be3 Bxg2 14 Bxa7 Rxa7 15 Qxa7 Bxh1 16 Nd2 Ne7 17 Rc1 1-0
For White
(1) 7 f4? allows Black the chance to play the very strong move 7 ... Qb6!. (2 points)


With 7 ... Qb6 Black attacks the d4-pawn and wins a pawn in all lines. Some examples:
a) 8 Nc3 Qxd4. (1 point)
b) 8 Nf3 Bg4! (Black pins the defender and will then remove it) 9 Nc3 Bxf3 10 Qxf3 Nxd4. (1 point)
c) If 8 Ne2 Black can demonstrate another, less obvious threat behind the queen move: 8 ... Bxb1! 9
Rxb1 Bxa3! (2 points).
Position after 9 ... Bxa3 (analysis)

Black wins a pawn because the b2-pawn is pinned to the rook on b1.
Instead of 7 f4, White should develop with, for example, 7 Nc3 7 Bb5 or 7 Nf3. (1 point)
For Black
(2) 7 ... Qh4+? missed the opportunity to win a pawn with 7 ... Qb6!, as shown above.
(1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Removing the defender, Attraction
V.Kiewning-C.Baisakow
Bad Zwesten 2005
English Opening
1 Nf3 c5 2 g3 Nc6 3 c4 g6 4 b3 Bg7 5 Nc3 Nf6 6 Bb2 0-0 7 Rc1 d6 8 Bg2 Bf5 9 d3 Qd7 10 0-0 Bh3 11
Rc2 Bxg2 12 Kxg2 Nd4 13 Nxd4 cxd4 14 Nb1 Qc6+ 15 Kg1 Qd7 16 Nd2 e5 17 Ba3 Rfe8 18 f4 Qh3
19 fxe5 (*) Ng4 20 Nf3 Ne3 0-1
For White
(1) 16 Nd2?
There was nothing wrong with winning a pawn by 16 Bxd4! (1 point). Perhaps White was concerned
by 16 ... e5 17 Bb2 Qh3 threatening ... Ng4, but 18 f3! defends easily. (1 point)

(2) 18 f4? severely weakens Whites position and runs into 18 ... Ng4!. (2 points)
Position after 18 ... Ng4 (analysis)

Nothing can stop the black knight from entering e3 and forking at least two major pieces. Black wins
at least the exchange.

(3)
Position after 18 ... Qh3

19 fxe5? loses the game after 19 ... Ng4! 20 Nf3 Ng4!, threatening mate with ... Qg2 and the queen on
d1. (2 points)
Whites position is difficult, but he can at least defend against the threat of ... Ng4 with either 19 Rf3!
Ng4 20 Nf1! or 19 Bc1! Ng4 20 Nf3!. In either case White is able to guard the weak e3-square. (2 points)
For Black
(4)

Position after 15 Kg1

15 ... Qd7? fails to protect the attacked d4-pawn (1 point). 15 ... Qc5, 15 ... Qb6 or moving the knight
(e.g. 15 ... Nd7) all safely protect the pawn. (1 point)

(5) 18 ... Qh3
This move was successful in the game, but White could have defended more resiliently. Black could
have forced a gain of material with 18 ... Ng4!, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Unprotected Piece, Double Attack
B.Pedersen-O.J.Aas
Karasjok 2004
English Opening
1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 g3 Nf6 4 Bg2 Bb4 5 Qb3 Bxc3 6 dxc3 0-0 7 Qc2 d6 8 Bg5 h6 9 h4 Be6 10 b3 Rb8
11 0-0-0 Re8 12 Rh2 Qe7 13 Bxf6 Qxf6 14 f3 Na5 15 g4 (*) Qf4+ 0-1
For White
(1)
Position after 11 ... Re8

12 Rh2?
While the rook was on f8, Black was never threatening to take the bishop on g5. After ... hxg5, hxg5
Black wouldnt be able to move the f6-knight without allowing mate with Qh7#, so White would regain
the piece with gxf6, and gain an open h-file for his attack - not a good deal for Black.
After 11 ... Re8, however, Blacks king has an escape square on f8 so the threat to take on g5 becomes
real. White should have dealt with this threat, either by retreating the bishop (e.g. 12 Bd2) or by 12 Bxf6.
(2 points)

(2) 15 g4?

Position after 15 g4

This advance of the g-pawn allows a fork with 15 ... Qf4+! and loses a rook. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 12 ... Qe7?
With the rook on e8, Black can take the bishop without risk: 12 ... hxg5! 13 hxg5 Ng4 14 Qh7+ Kf8
and White is down a piece. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Clearance, Fork
S.Von Harder-T.Wendler
Neumuenster 2001
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 d6 4 c3 Nf6 5 d3 Bd7 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Nbd2 0-0 8 0-0 Bg4 9 Re1 a6 10 Ba4 b5
11 Bb3 Re8 12 Nf1 Qd7 13 Ne3 Rad8 14 Bxf6 Bxf6 15 Bd5 Ne7 16 Bb3 c6 17 Nxe5 dxe5 18 Nxg4
Qxd3 (*) 19 Nxf6+ gxf6 20 Qg4+ Kh8 21 Rad1 Rg8 22 Rxd3 Rxg4 23 Rxd8+ Kg7 24 f3 Rg5 25 Ra8
Ng6 26 Rd1 Nh4 27 Kh1 Rxg2 28 Rg1 Rxg1+ 29 Kxg1 Nxf3+ 30 Kg2 Nd2 31 Bc2 Kg6 32 Kf2 Nc4 33
b3 Nd6 34 Rxa6 f5 35 exf5+ Nxf5 36 Rxc6+ f6 37 c4 Kg5 38 Bxf5 Kxf5 39 cxb5 1-0
For White
(1)
Position after 15 ... Ne7

16 Bb3? missed a chance to win a pawn with the combination 16 Bxf7+! Kxf7 17 Nxg4, since 17 ...
Qxg4? loses to the discovered attack 18 Nxe5+! and 19 Qxg4. (2 points)

(2) 17 Nxe5?
This wins a pawn, but White could have won more with 17 Nxg4! Qxg4 18 Bxf7+!.


If 18 ... Kxf7 White wins the queen with 19 Nxe5+!, while after 18 ... Kh8 19 Bxe8 Rxe8 White is the
exchange and a pawn up. (2 points)
For Black
(3)

15 ... Ne7? defends against the overload threat of Nxg4 followed by Bxc6, but runs into 16 Bxf7+!, as
shown above. (1 point)
Black could have dealt with the threat effectively with any one of 15 ... Bxf3, 15 ... Be6 or 15 ... Bh5.
(1 point)
(4) 16 ... c6? fails to defend against Whites threat of 17 Nxg4 Qxg4 18 Bxf7+! (1 point). Black
should play one of 16 ... Be6, 16 ... Bxf3 or 16 ... Ng6 (1 point). In the latter case, 17 Nxg4 Qxg4 18
Bxf7+? Kxf7 19 Nxe5+? fails to 19 ... Nxe5 defending the queen on g4.

(5) 18 ... Qxd3? allows White to trap the black queen in the game after 19 Nxf6+ gxf6 20 Qg4+ Kh8
21 Rad1!. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Attraction, Discovered Attack, Double Attack, Overloaded Piece, Trapped Piece
D.Bakker-T.Harke
German League 2004
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 0-0 Nf6 5 Nc3 0-0 6 d3 h6 7 Re1 d6 8 h3 Be6 9 Bxe6 fxe6 10 b3 Nd4
11 Bb2 Nxf3+ 12 Qxf3 d5 13 exd5 exd5 (*) 14 Rxe5 Bd4 15 Re2 Ne4 16 Qg4 Bxf2+ 17 Kh2 Qd6+ 18
g3 Bxg3+ 19 Kg1 Qc5+ 20 Kh1 Nf2+ 21 Rxf2 Qxf2 22 Nxd5 Qh2 mate 0-1
For White
(1) 11 Bb2? allows Black to gain material. 11 ... Nxf3+ 12 Qxf3 (if 12 gxf3 Nh5! followed by ... Qh4
with a decisive attack).
Position after 12 Qxf3

Here Black can simply move the knight from f6, unleashing a discovered attack on the queen while
also skewering the queen to the f-pawn. Once the queen moves, Black can play ... Bxf2+ (with a double
attack) or ... Rxf2 (threatening discovered check); in either case Black wins material.
For example 11 ... Nd5! (2 points) 13 Qe2 Rxf2 (13 ... Bxf2+! is just as good) 14 Qxf2 (otherwise
Black will win with a discovered check, e.g. 14 Qd1 Rd2+!) 14 ... Bxf2+ 15 Kxf2. Black has won a
queen and a pawn for a rook and a piece.
11 ... Nd7!, 11 ... Ne8! and 11 ... Nh7, followed by ... Bxf2+, are all just as effective as 11 ... Nd5!.
White made things difficult for himself by playing the weakening 10 b3 which left the knight on c3
unprotected, but 11 Nh2! or 11 Re3 (instead of 11 Bb2) would have defended against the threats. (2
points)

(2) 13 exd5? runs into 13 ... Nxd5!. (2 points)

Position after 13 ... Nxd5 (analysis)

Again the discovered attack on the white queen leads to a material gain for Black. For example, 14
Qg4 (the best chance) 14 ... Bxf2+! (1 point) 15 Kh1 Bxe1 16 Qxe6+ Kh8 17 Nxd5 Bg3 18 Bxe5. Black
wins the exchange for a pawn.
Instead, 13 Qe2! or 13 Qd1! neutralizes Blacks main threats down the f-file. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 12 ... d5?
Black could have won material with 11 ... Nd5!, 11 ... Nd7!, 11 ... Ne8! or 11 ... Nh7, as shown
above. (1 point)
(4) 13 ... exd5? looks natural but 13 ... Nxd5! wins material, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Skewer, Double Attack, Discovered Check
M.Freitag-E.Winter
German League 2004
Torre Attack
1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bg5 Be7 4 Bxe7 Nxe7 5 e3 0-0 6 c4 dxc4 7 Nc3 Nd5 8 Rc1 Nc6 9 Bxc4 Nxc3 10
Rxc3 Re8 11 0-0 Qd7 12 a3 Rd8 13 Qc2 e5 (*) 14 d5 Na5 15 Ba2 Qe7 16 b4 e4 17 Nd2 Rxd5 18
Bxd5 Qg5 19 Rxc7 Bh3 20 g3 Bxf1 21 Rc8+ 1-0
For White
(1) 12 a3?
White misses the chance to exploit Blacks mistake on the previous move by playing 12 Bb5!. (2
points)
Position after 12 Bb5 (analysis)

With 12 Bb5, White sets up a powerful pin on the c6-knight. The pressure on the knight can be
increased by Ne5 and/or Qa4/Qc2, and the outcome is White wins a pawn. For example:
a) 12 ... Qd6 breaks one pin, but the knight is still pinned to the rook: 13 Ne5! Bd7 (13 ... Nxe5 14
Bxe8!) 14 Nxd7 Qxd7 15 Qc2! (or 15 Qa4!, 15 Qf3!). White exchanges on c6 and wins a pawn. (1 point)
b) 12 ... f6 avoids Ne5, but 13 Qc2 followed by taking on c6 still wins a pawn. (1 point)

(2) 13 Qc2?
13 Bb5! is still strong, with very similar ideas to those shown above. (1 point)
Position after 13 Bb5 (analysis)

On this occasion Black can break the pin completely with 13 ... Qd6 but White still wins a pawn by
exchanging and then ganging up on the weak pawn: 14 Bxc6! (1 point) 14 ... bxc6 15 Qc2 Bd7 16 Ne5!.
(1 point)
For Black
(3) 11 ... Qd7? allows White to set up a powerful pin after 12 Bb5! and loses a pawn, as outlined above.
(1 point)

(4) 12 ... Rd8? loses a pawn to 13 Bb5! (1 point). Black could deal with the threat of Bb5 with, for
example, 12 ... a6, 12 ... Qe7 or 12 ... Ne7. (1 point)

(5) 13 ... e5? disastrously weakens the d5-square and the a2-g8-diagonal, and allows White decisive
possibilities.
Position after 13 ... e5

The games 14 d5 was good enough to win, but 14 Ng5! (2 points) with a double attack on h7 and f7
would have blown away Blacks kingside defences.
Black should avoid ... e5 and instead deal with the threat of Bb5 by playing 13 ... Qd6! intending ...
Bd7. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Double Attack
B.Brooks-E.Mandell
Romulus 2002
English Opening
1 c4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 e5 4 d3 g6 5 g3 d6 6 Bg2 Bg7 7 e4 Nf6 8 0-0 h5 9 Nh4 Bh6 10 Bxh6 Rxh6 11
Qd2 Rh7 12 Nf3 Bd7 13 Nb5 Bc8 14 Ng5 Rh8 15 f4 a6 16 Nc3 h4 17 gxh4 Rxh4 18 fxe5 dxe5 19 Qf2
Rg4 20 Nh7 Rf4 21 Nxf6+ Qxf6 (*) 22 Nd5 Qd6 23 Qg3 Rxf1+ 24 Rxf1 f5 25 Qh4 Ne7 26 Nf6+ Kd8
27 Qh8+ Ng8 28 Qxg8+ Ke7 29 Nd5+ Kd7 30 Qf7+ Kc6 31 Ne7+ Kb6 32 Nxg6 Be6 33 Qf6 Rc8 34
exf5 Rc6 35 Bxc6 1-0
For White
(1) With 19 Qf2? White missed a big opportunity. 19 Nd5! (2 points) is very strong here, exploiting the
pressure down the f-file.


After 19 ... Nxd5 20 exd5 Nd4 21 Nxf7 (2 points) White wins a key pawn in front of Blacks king,
while 20 ... Rf4 21 Rxf4 Qxg5 22 Re1 also wins material.

(2) 20 Nh7 isnt bad, but 20 Nd5! (2 points) is by far the best move. Its even stronger now than one
move earlier, since 20 ... Nxd5 allows mate with 21 Qxf7#. Blacks best try is 20 ... Rxg5 but 21 Nxf6+
puts White in a dominating position.

Position after 21 Nxf6+ (analysis)
For example:
a) 21 ... Kf8 22 Nh7+! and Nxg5. (1 point)
b) 21 ... Ke7 22 Qxc5+ (22 Nd5+ Kd6 23 Qxf7 is also good of course) 22 ... Ke6 (if 22 ... Qd6 23
Nd5+) (1 point). White has won a pawn but more importantly Blacks king is out in the open and very
unlikely to survive. White could play 23 Kh1! threatening Bh3+ and forcing Black to give up more
material with 23 ... Rxg2 24 Kxg2.
For Black
(3) 18 ... dxe5?
This allows 19 Nd5!, as outlined above. (1 point)
18 ... Nxe5! (2 points) is a much better option for Black. The key advantages of recapturing with the
knight on e5 are:
1) After 19 Nd5 Nxd5 20 exd5 Whites d5-pawn isnt attacking the knight; and
2) The pawn on f7 is sufficiently protected.

(4) 19 ... Rg4? does nothing to prevent the decisive 20 Nd5! (1 point). Blacks best option is to block
the attack down the f-file with 19 ... Rf4!. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Exposed King, Double Attack, Discovered Attack
U.Schreck-I.Bartsch
German League 2003
English Opening
1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 d3 Bc5 5 g3 d5 6 cxd5 Nxd5 7 Bd2 Be6 8 a3 Nd4 9 Nxe5 Qf6 10 Nf3
0-0 11 Bg2 Rfe8 12 0-0 Rad8 13 Rc1 Bg4 (*) 14 Nxd4 Qxd4 -
For White
(1) 9 Nxe5?
This pawn is poisoned. White fails to deal with Blacks threat which is 9 ... Nxc3! 10 bxc3 (10 Bxc3
Bb3! followed by ... Nc2+ is similar) 10 ... Bb3!. (2 points)
Position after 10 ... Bb3 (analysis)

Whites queen is attacked, and both queen moves are met by a check on c2 followed by a devastating
discovered check:
a) 11 Qb1 Nc2+ 12 Kd1 Nxa1+ 13 Ke1 Nc2+ leaves White with a rook down. (1 point)
b) 11 Qc1 is similar: 11 ... Nc2+ 12 Kd1 Nxa1+ 13 Ke1 Nc2+. (1 point)
c) 11 cxd4 Bxd1 12 dxc5 Ba4 is the best White can do after his mistake. Black has won a queen for a
bishop, knight and pawn. (1 point)
Returning to Whites ninth move, the easiest way to prevent Blacks threat is with 9 Nxd4. (1 point)
For Black
(2) 9 ... Qf6?
Black missed the chance to win material with 9 ... Nxc3! and 10 ... Bb3!, as demonstrated above (1
point). Note that after 9 ... Qf6 10 Nf3 Nxc3 11 Bxc3, the idea of 11 ... Bb3 no longer works as White can
play 12 Bxd4 attacking the black queen.

(3)
Position after 13 Rc1

13 ... Bg4? allows White to win material in more than one way: 14 Ne4 (forking the queen and c5bishop); 14 Nxd4 Qxd4 15 Nxd5; or even 14 Nxd5 first, intending 14 ... Rxd5 Nxd4. (2 points)
13 Rc1 threatened the fork/discovered attack with Ne4, and Black can deal with the threat by
retreating the bishop (e.g. 13 ... Bb6 or 13 ... Nxf3+ 14 Bxf3 Bb6) or by simply 13 ... Nxc3. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Discovered Check, Discovered Attack
S.Broeker-C.Burton
German League 2003
London System
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 d5 3 Bf4 Nc6 4 e3 b6 5 Bb5 Bb7 6 Ne5 Qd6 7 Nxf7 Qb4+ 8 c3 (*) Qxb2 9 Qa4 Kxf7
10 Bxc6 Qxa1 11 0-0 Bxc6 12 Qxc6 Rc8 13 Qb7 Rd8 14 Qxa7 Rd7 15 Qa3 e6 16 Qb3 Ne4 17 f3
For White
(1)

7 Nxf7?
This discovered attack on the queen is clearly very tempting, but White overlooks or underestimates
Blacks resource 7 ... Qb4+! with a double attack. After 8 c3 Qxb5 (instead of the games 8 ... Qxb2) 9
Nxh8 Qxb2 10 Nd2 g6 Black wins the knight in the corner with ... Bg7 and the material balance will be
roughly level. (2 points)
Instead of 7 Nxf7, White has at least two better options:
a) The other main discovered attack 7 Nxc6 (1 point) at first sight seems to win a piece, but Black has
the resource 7 ... Qd7! (1 point) pinning the knight to the bishop! After 8 Nxa7! c6! 9 Nxc6 Bxc6 White
has only a two-pawn advantage.
b) In fact, Whites best option is prevent Blacks threat while adding another one of his own, with 7
c3!. (2 points)
Position after 7 c3 (analysis)

7 c3 is a dual-purpose move, which:
1) Prevents the double attack ... Qb4+; and
2) Allows White to attack the knight on c6 for a third time with Qa4.
Black doesnt have a good defence to the combined threats. For example:
a) 7 ... Qe6 escapes the threat of discovered attack, but after 8 Qa4! White simply wins the knight on
c6. (1 point)
b) 7 ... a6 8 Bxc6+ Bxc6 9 Nxf7 Qe6 10 Nxh8 (1 point). Even if Black wins the knight in the corner
for nothing, for example after ... Qg8 and ... Qxh8, White will be up the exchange and a pawn
c) If 7 ... g5 then Whites strongest move is 8 Bg3! (1 point) and nothing has changed - all the threats
remain.
For Black
(2)


5 ... Bb7?
Black made things difficult by weakening his position and leaving his knight unprotected with 4 ... b6.
However, its only after 5 ... Bb7 that hes losing material by force after 6 Ne5! which exploits the pin on
the c6-knight.
Much better was 5 ... Bd7!, unpinning the knight, after which Black no longer fears Ne5. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Double Attack, Discovered Attack, Trapped Piece
G.Banken-S.Krueger
Dortmund, 2003
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 e6 4 Bc4 Be7 5 d4 cxd4 6 Nxd4 Ne5 7 Bb3 a6 8 Bf4 Bd6 9 Nde2 Rb8 (*) 10
Qxd6 Nc6 11 Nd4 b5 12 Nxc6 Rb6 13 Nxd8 Rxd6 14 Bxd6 Kxd8 15 a4 Bb7 16 axb5 axb5 17 Nxb5
Nf6 18 f3 Ne8 19 0-0 1-0
For White
(1) 9 Nde2?
White misses the opportunity for a more potent discovered attack: 9 Nf5! (2 points) attacks the bishop
and the g7-pawn, and wins material in all lines.

Position after 9 Nf5 (analysis)

How should Black defend? Lets take a look at some options:
a) 9 ... exf5? weakens the d5-square which becomes a major problem for Black. After 10 Qxd6 the
knight on e5 is attacked, and knight moves are met by Nd5 threatening a devastating check on c7. For
example:
a1) 10 ... Ng6 11 Nd5! Nxf4 12 Nc7+ Qxc7 13 Qxc7 wins a queen in exchange for two knights. (1
point)
a2) 10 ... Nc6 (or 10 ... Ng6) 11 Nd5 Nge7 12 Nc7+ Kf8 13 Nxa8 wins a rook. (1 point)
b) 9 ... Nd3+ is a better defence. After 10 cxd3 Bxf4 11 Nxg7+ Kf8 12 Nh5 White has won a key
pawn. (1 point)
c) 9 ... Bc7 (or 9 ... Bb8) are also better options than 9 ... exf5. Again White wins a pawn with 10
Nxg7+ Kf8 11 Nh5. (1 point)
For Black
(2) 8 ... Bd6? moves the bishop to an unfortunate square and allows a strong discovered attack with 9
Nf5, as shown above (1 point). Any one of 8 ... d6, 8 ... Ng6, 8 ... Nc6 or 8 ... Bf6 would have been a
better way to safeguard the e5-knight. (1 point)

(3) 9 ... Rb8? simply allows 10 Qxd6 winning a piece (1 point). Black could deal with the threat to
the bishop with 9 ... Bc7, 9 ... Bb8 or 9 ... Qc7. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Double Attack
F.Kleist-G.Gausmann
German League 2003
Petroff Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nc3 d6 4 h3 Nc6 5 d4 exd4 6 Nxd4 Nxd4 7 Qxd4 h6 8 Bb5+ Bd7 9 e5 dxe5 10
Qxe5+ Qe7 11 Qe2 Qxe2+ 12 Bxe2 Bd6 13 0-0 0-0 14 Re1 Rae8 15 a3 Bc6 16 Be3 a6 17 b4 b5 18
Bc5 Bxc5 19 bxc5 Ne4 (*) 20 Na2 Nxc5 21 Nb4 Bb7 -
For White
(1) 17 b4? creates a weakness and loses material. Black can take advantage of Whites last move by
playing 17 ... Be5! (2 points), attacking and pinning the c3-knight which is now undefended.
Position after 17 ... Be5 (analysis)

Whites only way to protect the knight is 18 Bd2, but then Black increases the attack with 18 ... Ne4!
and wins the exchange following 19 Nxe4 Bxa1 20 Rxa1 Bxe4. (1 point)
(2) 18 Bc5? allows Black to exploit the pin again, with 18 ... Be5!. (2 points)
Position after 18 ... Be5 (analysis)

Even though on this occasion Whites bishop can take the rook on f8, Black still wins material in all
lines:
a) 19 Bxf8 Bxc3! (1 points) and Black wins a piece, e.g. 20 Bc5 Bxa1 21 Rxa1 Rxe2.
b) After 19 Bxb5 axb5 20 Rxe5 Rxe5 21 Bxf8 Kxf8 Black has won a piece for a pawn. (1 point)
c) 19 Na2 Bxa1 20 Bxf8 Kxf8! 21 Rxa1 Rxe2 and Black wins a piece. (1 point)
18 Bc5 also allows Black a lesser gain of material after 18 ... Bxc5 19 bxc5. Black can win the loose
pawn on c5, either by 19 ... Nd7! or by 19 ... Re5 (1 point).
Instead of 18 Bc5, to neutralize Blacks threat White should play 18 Bd4, or 18 Rad1 intending 18 ...
Be5 19 Bd4. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 17 ... b5?
Black missed the opportunity here to win the exchange with 17 ... Be5!, as outlined above. (1 point)

(4) 18 ... Bxc5
18 ... Be5! wins more material, as shown above. (1 point)

(5)
Position after 19 bxc5

19 ... Ne4?
Black could win the c5-pawn with 19 ... Nd7! or 19 ... Re5, as indicated above (1 point). 19 ... Ne4
allows White to escape material loss with 20 Nxe4 (instead of the games 20 Na2).
Tactical Themes
Pin, Deflection
R.Stricker-E.Winter
German League 2003
Philidor Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 h3 Be7 4 Nc3 c6 5 Bc4 b5 6 Bb3 Ba6 7 a3 Nf6 8 d3 0-0 9 0-0 h6 10 Be3 Nbd7 11
d4 c5 12 dxe5 Nxe5 13 Nxe5 dxe5 14 Qxd8 Rfxd8 15 Rfd1 b4 16 axb4 Rxd1+ 17 Rxd1 cxb4 18 Nd5
(*) Rd8 19 Nxe7+ 1-0
For White
(1)
Position after 5 ... b5

6 Bb3?
White missed the deflecting tactic 6 Nxb5! which wins a pawn. 6 ... cxb5 fails to 7 Bd5 trapping the
rook and winning the exchange overall (2 points), while the tricky defence 6 ... d5 is met by 7 Bb3! (2
points) intending 7 ... cxb5 8 Bxd5 or 7 ... dxe4 8 Nxe5 cxb5 9 Nxf7.

(2) 16 axb4 isnt bad but 16 Nd5! (1 point) is much stronger, attacking both the bishop on e7 and the
b4-pawn.

Should Black retreat the bishop or exchange on d5? Lets look at both possibilities:
a) 16 ... Bf8 17 axb4 (1 point) discovers an attack on the bishop on a6. 17 ... c4 is the best defence,
but after 18 Rxa6 cxb3 19 Nxf6+ gxf6 20 Rxd8 Rxd8 21 cxb3 Bxb4 22 Rxf6 White is two pawns up. 17
Nxf6+ gxf6 18 Rxd8 Rxd8 19 axb4 comes to the same thing and also wins two pawns.
b) 16 ... Nxd5? 17 Bxd5 puts another question to Black. Should he move the a8-rook?
b1) If so, the a-pawn is no longer protected, and 17 ... Rac8 18 axb4 Bb5 19 Rxa7 wins at least two
pawns. (1 point)
b2) If not, then after 17 ... bxa3 18 Bxa8 Rxa8 19 Rxa3 (1 point) White wins the exchange.
For Black
(3) 5 ... b5? loses a pawn, as shown above (1 point). Straightforward development with, for example, 5
... Nf6 was better. (1 point)

(4) 15 ... b4? runs into a discovered attack along the a-file and loses material, as demonstrated above.
(1 point).
15 ... c4!, blocking the white bishop, would have been a much better choice, as would any other move
that kept the status quo, e.g. 15 ... Kf8. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Deflection, Trapped Piece, Discovered Attack, Double Attack
S.Huette-S.Schroeter
Magdeburg 2012
Veresov Opening
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Bf5 4 f3 e6 5 e4 dxe4 6 fxe4 Bg4 7 Be2 Bxe2 8 Ngxe2 Be7 9 Bxf6 Bxf6 10
e5 Be7 11 Qd3 c6 12 a3 c5 13 0-0-0 cxd4 14 Qxd4 Qxd4 15 Rxd4 0-0 16 Rhd1 Nc6 17 Re4 Rad8 18
Nd4 Nxd4 19 Rexd4 Rxd4 20 Rxd4 Rd8 (*) 21 Rxd8+ Bxd8 22 Nb5 -
For White
(1)

7 Be2? misses the chance to win material. Instead of safeguarding the queen, White can remove the
bishops defender with 7 Bxf6!. White wins a piece in all lines:
a) 7 ... Bxd1 8 Bxd8 Bxc2 (or 8 ... Kxd8 9 Rxd1) 9 Bxc7. (2 points)
b) 7 ... Qxf6 8 Qxg4, albeit here Black gets a pawn in return after 8 ... Qxd4. (2 points)
For Black
(2) After 4 ... e6? the knight on f6 is pinned, and White can exploit the pin to win material with 5 e4!, as
played in the game.
Position after 5 e4

5 e4 attacks the f5-bishop and also prepares to attack the pinned knight with e4-e5. Black cannot
avoid material loss:

a) 5 ... Bg6 6 e5! h6 7 Bh4 (2 points) wins a piece for a pawn. Black cannot break the pin with ... g5
as the g6-bishop blocks its path.
b) 5 ... dxe4 6 fxe4 and now:
Position after 6 fxe4

b1) 6 ... Bg6 7 e5! h6 8 Bh4 (2 points) is similar to note a. White wins a piece for a pawn.
b2) 6 ... Bg4 7 Bxf6! (1 point) wins a piece for a pawn, as shown above.
Tactical Themes
Removing the Defender, Counting, Pin
I.Gouleas-G.Zikos
Athens 2001
Dutch Defence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 f5 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 c5 c6 6 Bf4 Nbd7 7 b4 Ne4 8 Nxe4 fxe4 9 Ne5 Qf6 10 e3 g5 11
Bg3 h5 12 Nxd7 Bxd7 13 Be5 (*) Qxf2+ 1-0
For White
(1)

11 Bg3?
White missed the chance to play 11 Qh5+ Kd8 12 Bxg5, pinning and winning the black queen (2
points). White could have also won material with 11 Nxd7 Bxd7 12 Be5 skewering the queen and rook.
(1 point)
For Black
(2) 10 ... g5? loses the queen! Almost anything was better, including 10 ... Be7 developing a piece. (1
point)

(3) 11 ... h5? allows White to skewer the queen and rook with 12 Nxd7 Bxd7 13 Be5, which wins the
exchange after 13 ... Qh6 14 Bxh8 Qxh8. (1 point)
Blacks best way to avoid the skewer threat is with 11 ... Qh6! (2 points), which also prevents queen
checks on h5.
Tactical Themes
Double Attack, Pin, Skewer
M.Homfeldt-H.Hepting
Nuremberg 2001
Colle Opening
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 e3 Bg7 4 Be2 0-0 5 0-0 d6 6 Nc3 Nbd7 7 Qd2 e5 8 Nb5 e4 9 Ng5 h6 10 Nh3 d5 11
b3 Nb6 12 c4 c6 13 Nc3 Be6 14 Ba3 Re8 15 Nf4 Bc8 16 f3 g5 17 Nh3 Bf5 18 Nf2 Bg6 19 Bc5 -
For White
(1) 9 Ng5 does not allow a tactic. However, it should be noted that after 9 ... h6 10 Nh3 the knight is
vulnerable to an unfavourable exchange on h3, compromising the pawn shelter around Whites king. Black
spurned this possibility of ... Bxh3 at moves 12 and 13.

(2) 16 f3? allows Black to gain material (see below). 16 cxd5 or 16 Rac1 would have been better. (1
point)

(3) White is already facing some material loss, but 17 Nh3? makes things worse.
Position after 17 Nh3

This knight retreat allows Black to gain material with 17 ... exf3! (2 points). A piece is attracted to f3,
after which a pawn fork ... g4 wins either a piece or the exchange:
a) 18 Rxf3 g4 19 Rxf6 Qxf6 20 Nf4 and Black wins the exchange. (1 point)
b) 18 Bxf3 g4 and Black wins a piece. (1 point)
Instead of 17 Nh3, White should play 17 Nh5! Nxh5 18 fxe4 with a discovered attack on the h5-knight.
Whites strong centre gives compensation for the material loss. (1 point)
For Black
Tactical Themes
Attraction, Fork, Discovered Attack
L.Andreassen-F.Prohl
Tromsoe 2008
Caro-Kann Defence
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 Bf5 4 h3 e6 5 Nf3 Be7 6 Be2 Nd7 7 c3 Qc7 8 Nbd2 f6 9 exf6 Bxf6 10 Nf1 Ne7 11
Ng3 Bg6 12 0-0 e5 13 Re1 0-0-0 14 Ng5 (*) Bxg5 15 Bxg5 Rde8 16 Bg4 e4 17 Rc1 Rhf8 18 c4 h6 19
Bxe7 Rxe7 20 cxd5 Qf4 21 dxc6 Qxf2+ 22 Kh2 bxc6 23 Rxc6+ Kd8 24 Qc1 1-0
For White
(1) 11 Ng3? missed the chance to win a piece with 11 g4!.

Position after 11 g4 (analysis)

White attacks the f5-bishop and intends to trap the other bishop with g4-g5. After 11 ... Be4 12 g5!
White wins a bishop for a pawn. (2 points)
For Black
(2) 10 ... Ne7? deprives the f6-bishop of retreat squares and allows White to trap it, as outlined above. (1
point)
Tactical Themes
Trapped Piece
D.Poniatowski-K.Crist
Auburn Hills 2003
Vienna Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Bb4 3 Qg4 g6 4 Nd5 Nc6 5 a3 d6 6 Qe2 Bc5 7 c3 a6 8 Nf3 Nf6 9 Nxf6+ Qxf6 10 h3
Be6 11 d3 0-0-0 (*) 12 Bg5 Qg7 13 Bxd8 Rxd8 14 g3 f5 15 Bg2 fxe4 16 dxe4 Rf8 17 b4 Ba7 18 0-0
g5 19 b5 Nb8 20 bxa6 Nxa6 21 Rab1 g4 22 hxg4 Qxg4 23 Rb2 Qxg3 24 Rxb7 Bh3 25 Nh4 Kxb7 26
Qb5+ Bb6 27 Qe2 Qxh4 28 Rb1 Rxf2 29 Rxb6+ Kxb6 30 Qxf2+ Qxf2+ 31 Kxf2 Bxg2 32 Kxg2 Nc5
33 Kf3 Ka6 34 Kg4 Kb5 0-1
For White
(1) 9 Nxf6+?
White missed the chance to play the powerful move 9 d4!.

With 9 d4 White threatens the c5-bishop and also a deadly pin on the f6-knight with Bg5. Lets look at
some possible variations:
a) 9 ... exd4 10 Bg5! (2 points). Black cannot defend the pinned knight and faces heavy material
losses.
b) 9 ... Ba7 (or 9 ... Bb6) 10 Bg5! (1 point) is the same.
c) 9 ... Nxd5 10 exd5 (1 points) leaves White attacking both the c5-bishop and the c6-knight.
Position after 10 exd5 (analysis)

Blacks best chance here is to counterattack with 10 ... Na5! 11 dxc5 Nb3 12 Rb1 Bf5!. The rook on
b1 is trapped but White still comes out material ahead after 13 Qd1! Bxb1 14 Qxb3 (2 points). White can
also play 11 Bh6 (instead of 11 dxc5) 11 ... Nb3 12 Rd1 Ba7 13 dxe5 when White is a pawn up and
Blacks king is stuck in the centre of the board. (1 point)
For Black
(2) 8 ... Nf6? allows a potentially decisive pin on the knight with Bg5, and White can exploit this
immediately with 9 d4!, as demonstrated above (1 point).

(3) 11 ... 0-0-0?

Position after 11 ... 0-0-0
Castling queenside puts the rook on the same h4-d8 diagonal as the queen, thus allowing White to win
the exchange with the skewer 12 Bg5!. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Trapped Piece, Skewer
M.Liebzeit-L.Gibbons
Winnipeg 2003
Irregular Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Qf6 3 Nc3 c6 4 d4 exd4 5 Nxd4 Bc5 6 Be3 Ne7 7 Be2 0-0 8 0-0 Rd8 9 f4 Qh6 10 Qd2
g6 11 e5 d5 12 f5 Bxd4 13 Qxd4 Qf8 (*) 14 e6 f6 15 fxg6 f5 16 gxh7+ Kxh7 17 Rf3 Ng6 18 Rh3+
Kg8 19 Bh5 Kh7 20 Bxg6+ Kxg6 21 Rh6+ Qxh6 22 Bxh6 Kxh6 23 Qf6+ Kh7 24 Qxd8 Bxe6 1-0
For White
(1) White is still doing well after 11 e5 but this move does not take advantage of Whites huge lead in
development and the weakness created by Blacks last move.
Much stronger is 11 f5!. (2 points)
Position after 11 f5 (analysis)

This discovered attack on the queen seizes the initiative on the kingside and gains material by force.
For example:
a) 11 ... Qf8 12 f6 traps and wins the knight on e7. (2 points)
b) After 11 ... g5 White has many promising continuations. For example:
b1) 12 Bxg5 Bxd4+ 13 Kh1! Qd6 14 Bxe7 Qxe7 15 Qxd4, when White has won a key pawn and
Blacks king is completely unsafe. (1 point)
b2) 12 e5 (1 point) clears the e4-square for the knight.
Position after 12 e5 (analysis)

Notice how nearly all of Whites pieces are ready for the upcoming attack on the king, whereas
Blacks entire queenside is still undeveloped. This must have consequences for Black. One possible
continuation is 12 ... Nd5 13 Nxd5 cxd5 14 Bxg5 with a double attack on the queen and rook. Other
continuations are even worse for Black due to his undeveloped pieces and the power of Whites attacking
forces.
For Black
(2) 10 ... g6? allows White to begin a decisive kingside attack, as outlined above. It was much better to
counterattack in the centre with 10 ... d5. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Trapped Piece, Double Attack
M.Pollock-K.Stevenson
Grangemouth 1998
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Bc5 4 Bb5 d6 5 d3 Bd7 6 0-0 Nf6 7 b3 a6 8 Bxc6 Bxc6 9 Bb2 0-0 10 Qd2
Qe7 11 h3 b5 12 Ne2 Bb7 13 Ng3 Rfd8 14 Nf5 Qd7 15 N3h4 Qe6 16 Qg5 Ne8 17 Kh1 (*) d5 18 f4 f6
19 Qg4 Qd7 20 fxe5 fxe5 21 Bxe5 Bf8 22 Nh6+ Kh8 23 Rxf8 mate 1-0
For White
(1)

15 N3h4?
White has the combination 15 Nxg7! (removing the defender of the knight) 15 ... Kxg7 (15 ... Nxe4 is
met by 16 Qh6!) 16 Qg5+! Kf8 17 Qxf6. White regains the knight and wins a vital pawn. (2 points)

(2) 17 Kh1?
Again, 17 Nxg7! is possible:
a) 17 ... Qf6 18 Qxf6 Nxf6 19 Ngf5 wins a pawn. (1 point)
b) 17 ... Nxg7 is met by 18 Nf5!.

Position after 18 Nf5 (analysis)

Black is unable to save the knight, since 18 ... Qg6 allows the knight fork 19 Ne7+ winning the queen
(1 point). 18 ... Kf8 is relatively best, but after 19 Qxg7+ Ke8 20 Qxh7 White is two pawns up. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 14 ... Qd7? loses a pawn to 15 Nxg7!, for the reasons outlined above (1 point). To prevent this, Black
should play 14 ... Qf8. (1 point)

(4) 16 ... Ne8? also loses a pawn to 17 Nxg7! (1 point). 16 ... g6 would have avoided this idea. (1
point)
Tactical Themes
Removing the Defender, Fork
J.Rathousky-L.Filip
Ricany 2008
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 d6 4 0-0 Bd7 5 Re1 Nf6 6 c3 Be7 7 d4 exd4 8 Nxd4 a6 9 Nxc6 bxc6 10 Bc4
h6 11 Nd2 0-0 12 Nf3 Ng4 13 h3 Ne5 14 Nxe5 dxe5 15 Re3 Bg5 16 Rg3 Bxc1 17 Qxc1 Qf6 18 Qd2
Rad8 19 Qe3 a5 20 Rd1 Qf4 21 Qc5 a4 22 Rdd3 (*) Be6 23 Rde3 Bxc4 24 Re1 Bb5 25 c4 Ba6 1-0
For White
(1)

16 Rg3?
It was possible to win the bishop on d7 after 16 Rd3!. The rook pins, attacks and wins the bishop after
16 ... Bxc1 17 Rxc1 and 18 Rxd7. (2 points)

(2) 20 Rd1
White could have won a pawn with the double attack 20 Qa7!. (1 point)

(3)

Position after 20 ... Qf4

21 Qc5?
White missed another chance to win the bishop, this time by 21 Qxf4 exf4 22 Rgd3. The bishop is
again pinned, attacked and cannot be defended. (2 points)

(4) 22 Rdd3?
White missed a third opportunity to win the bishop by 22 Rgd3. (2 points)
For Black
(5) 15 ... Bg5? allows 16 Rd3 winning the d7-bishop, as outlined above. Instead, 15 ... Be6 safeguards
the bishop. (2 points)

(6) 19 ... a5 allows 20 Qa7, as shown above. 19 ... Bc8! protects the a6-pawn and doesnt lose a
pawn. (1 point)

(7) 20 ... Qf4? again loses the bishop, as outlined above. Again, 20 ... Be6 makes the bishop safe. (2
points)

(8) 21 ... a4?
For the third time, Black gives White the opportunity to pin and win the bishop. Black can save the
bishop with 21 ... Bc8. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Double Attack
L.Dubbeldam-A.Glotin
St Lorrain 2010
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 Nf6 4 e5 Nfd7 5 c3 c5 6 Bd3 Be7 7 Ngf3 0-0 8 0-0 a6 9 Qc2 h6 10 b3 Nc6 11
Bb2 cxd4 12 cxd4 Nb4 13 Qc3 Nb6 14 a3 Nc6 15 Bc2 Bd7 16 Qd3 g6 17 h3 Rc8 18 Nh2 Kg7 19 Kh1
Na7 (*) 20 f4 Bb5 21 Nc4 dxc4 22 Qg3 cxb3 23 Bd3 Bxd3 24 Qxd3 Qd5 25 Rac1 Na4 26 Bc3 Bxa3
0-1
For White
(1) 18 Nh2? allows a knight sacrifice on e5:


Black can win material by playing 18 ... Nxe5!, a clearance sacrifice to open the c-file, attack the
bishop on c2 and prepare the skewer ... Bb5. After 19 dxe5 Bb5! (3 points) the white queen can no longer
protect the bishop on c2. After 20 Qd4 Black wins material with either 20 ... Bxf1 or 20 ... Rxc2 21 Rfc1
Bc5!.
White should play 18 Rac1 or 18 Rfc1, both moves defending against the threat by protecting the
bishop on c2. (1 point)

(2) 19 Kh1? again allows the knight sacrifice on e5: 19 ... Nxe5! 20 dxe5 Bb5! (3 points) 21 Qd4
Bxf1 22 Rc1 Bb5 and Black has won the exchange and a pawn.
19 Ndf3, 19 Rfc1 or 19 Rac1 defend against the threat. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 18 ... Kg7?
Black missed the opportunity to win material by playing 18 ... Nxe5!, as shown above. (1 point)

(4) 19 ... Na7?
Black missed the same opportunity with 19 ... Nxe5!. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Clearance, Discovered Attack, Skewer, Removing the Defender
J.Martens-L.Green
Winnipeg 2008
Rti Opening
1 Nf3 Nc6 2 b3 e5 3 Bb2 d6 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 e3 Bg4 6 Bb5 Be7 7 Bxc6+ bxc6 8 Qe2 Bxf3 9 Qxf3 Qd7 10
0-0-0 0-0 11 d4 exd4 12 Rxd4 c5 13 Ra4 c6 14 Ra6 Rfc8 15 Rd1 Qb7 16 Ne4 Nxe4 17 Qxe4 Qxa6 18
Qxe7 Qe2 19 Rd2 Qe1+ 20 Rd1 Qxf2 21 Rxd6 h6 22 Ba3 Re8 (*) 23 Bxc5 Rxe7 24 Rd2 Qf6 25 Rd6
Qa1+ 26 Kd2 Qxa2 27 Rxc6 Rd7+ 28 Bd4 Rd5 29 Rc5 Rxc5 30 Bxc5 Qa5+ 31 c3 Qxc5 32 b4 Rd8+
33 Kc2 Qd6 34 Kb3 Qe5 35 Kc4 Qd5# 0-1
For White
(1) 8 Qe2?

This allows Black to exploit the pin with 8 ... e4! (2 points). No matter how White responds, Black
wins material. The key point is that the counterattack 9 h3 is met by 9 ... exf3! (2 points) attacking the
queen and demonstrating the problem with Whites queen move.
Note that ... e4 wasnt a threat until White played Qe2. Lets go back to move six:


If Black plays 6 ... e4 White can escape without losing material by playing 7 h3!. For example, 7 ...
exf3 8 hxg4 fxg2 9 Rg1 followed by Rxg2, or 7 ... Bh5 8 g4! exf3 9 gxh5 and Qxf3.

(2) 16 Ne4?
This sacrifice doesnt work, for the reasons outlined below. White should just safeguard the rook with
16 Ra4. (2 points)
(3)

19 Rd2?
White missed a chance to attack the black king. 19 Qg5! (2 points) threatens mate, and Black is forced
to give up vital defensive pawns with 19 ... f6 (19 ... g6? 20 Qf6!) 20 Bxf6 Rc7 21 Rxd6.
Another option for White was 19 Bxg7! (2 points). If Black doesnt take the bishop, White just wins a
key pawn in front of Blacks king, but after 19 ... Kxg7 20 Qg5+ Kf8 21 Rxd6! Whites attack is worth a
draw. For example, 21 ... c4 22 Qc5 (threatening a discovered check) 22 ... Kg8 23 Qg5+ Kf8 24 Qc5 etc.

(4) 22 Ba3?
White missed one last chance: 22 Bxg7!. (2 points)
Position after 22 Bxe7 (analysis)

After 22 ... Kxg7 23 Qe5+! (1 point) Black cannot escape perpetual check without endangering his
position, for example 23 ... Kg8? 24 Rxh6! and Whites attack is too strong. So 23 ... Kh7 24 Qe4+ Kg7
25 Qe5+ with perpetual check.
Black isnt forced to take the bishop, and after 22 ... Re8! 23 Qf6 Qxf6 24 Bxf6 Rxe3 25 Rxc6 White
wins a pawn but remains an exchange for a pawn down.
For Black
(5) 8 ... Bxf3?
Black could have won material with 8 ... e4!, as indicated above. (1 point)

(6) 16 ... Nxe4
Black could have safely accepted the rook sacrifice: 16 ... Qxa6! (1 point) 17 Nxf6+ gxf6! 18 Bxf6
Bxf6 19 Qxf6 Rd8! (1 point).

Position after 19 ... Rd8 (analysis)

Its true that this looks a little scary for Black, but defensive resources are sufficient to repel Whites
attack. For example, 20 Rd3 (planning e4 and Rg3+) 20 ... Qc8! (1 point) 21 e4 Qe6! 22 Rg3+ Kf8 and
Black defends; or 20 Qg5+ Kf8 21 Qf6 c4!.

(7) 21 ... h6? gave White one final chance to get back in the game with 22 Bxg7, as shown above (1
point). Stronger options include 21 ... Qxg2, 21 ... Qf1+ and 21 ... Re8 22 Qg5 Qe1+ 23 Rd1 Qxe3+. (1
point)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Exposed King, Perpetual Check
M.Rautenberg-M.Rimm
Dortmund 2004
Philidor Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 h3 Be7 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 d4 exd4 6 Nxd4 0-0 7 Bf4 Bd7 8 a4 Nc6 9 Nxc6 Bxc6 10 Bd3
g6 11 g4 d5 12 e5 Bb4 (*) 13 Bg5 d4 14 Bxf6 Qd5 15 Rg1 dxc3 16 b3 Rfe8 17 f4 Bc5 18 Rg3 Qh1+
19 Bf1 Qe4+ 20 Qe2 Qxf4 21 Rxc3 Bb4 22 Qc4 Qg3+ 23 Kd1 Bxc3 24 Ra3 Qe1 mate 0-1
For White
(1)

11 g4? is premature. The instability in the centre means that White shouldnt start a wing attack, and
the game continuation shows how Black could have punished White for this mistake. Either 11 0-0 or 11
Qf3 intending 0-0-0 was better. (1 point)

(2) 12 e5? attacks the knight on f6, but it allows a strong counter-attack: the discovered attack with 12
... d4!. (2 points)
Position after 12 ... d4 (analysis)

How should White defend? Lets consider three possible replies:
a) After 13 Ne2 Bxh1 14 exf6 Bxf6, Black wins an exchange and a pawn. (1 point)
b) If 13 0-0 Black has 13 ... dxc3 14 exf6 and now after either 14 ... Qd5!, threatening mate, or the
simple 14 ... Bxf6 (1 point), Black will end up at least one pawn ahead with a dominating position.
c) 13 exf6 dxc3 (13 ... Bb4! is also good; 1 point) 14 fxe7 Qxe7+ 15 Qe2 and here Black can play 15
... Qb4!. (2 points)

This is a powerful double attack, hitting the bishop on f4 and also threatening a decisive discovered
check with ... cxb2. Whites best option is 16 0-0, but after 16 ... cxb2 17 Rab1 Qxf4 Black is two pawns
ahead.
Returning to Whites 12th move, it was better to play 12 0-0 giving up the e4-pawn. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 12 ... Bb4?
It was possible to win material with 12 ... d4!, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Score Sheet for Games 1-40
Game
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
Game 7
Game 8
Game 9
Game 10
Game 11
Game 12
Game 13
Game 14
Game 15
Game 16
Game 17
Game 18
Game 19
Game 20
Game 21
Game 22
Game 23
Game 24
Game 25
Game 26
Game 27
Game 28
Points available
6
8
18
19
8
15
12
13
13
16
7
10
17
12
12
14
9
8
11
5
10
10
13
13
10
11
10
13
Points scored

Game 29
12

Game 30
9

Game 31
7

Game 32
9

Game 33
3

Game 34
10

Game 35
7

Game 36
9

Game 37
14

Game 38
10

Game 39
19

Game 40
10

Total points
442

If you scored 354 points or above (80% or more), you are a real chess tactics detective!
Chapter Three
Game 41
L.Brunelli-D.Ragnini
Castelfidardo 2000
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 c4 b5 4 e3 bxc4 5 Bxc4 d5 6 Bd3 Be7 7 Nc3 Ba6 8 Qa4+ Qd7 9 Bb5 Bxb5 10
Qxb5 Nc6 11 Ne5 Nxe5 12 dxe5 Qxb5 13 Nxb5 Bb4+ 14 Ke2 (*)
Solution
Game 42
W.Lang-W.Schreiber
Voelklingen 2001
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 e6 4 d5 exd5 5 exd5 Nce7 6 c4 d6 7 Nc3 a6 8 Bd3 Bf5 9 0-0 Nf6 (*)
Solution
Game 43
M.Dolenc-M.Z.Povse
Murska Sobota 2007
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 Nc3 Bc5 5 0-0 0-0 6 d3 d6 7 Bg5 h6 8 Bh4 Be6 9 Bb3 Bxb3 10 axb3
Nd4 11 Nxd4 Bxd4 12 Nd5 Bxb2 13 Ra2 Bd4 14 h3 c6 15 Nb4 Qb6 16 Bxf6 gxf6 17 Qg4+ Kh8 18
Ra4 Rg8 19 Qh4 Rg6 (*)
Solution
Game 44
D.Djuricic-M.Dolenc
Murska Sobota 2007
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 c3 Nf6 5 d3 0-0 6 b4 Bb6 7 Bg5 h6 8 Bh4 d6 9 0-0 Bg4 10 Nbd2 a5 11
b5 Ne7 12 Bxf6 gxf6 13 Qb3 c6 14 a4 d5 15 exd5 cxb5 16 Bxb5 Nxd5 17 c4 Nf4 18 Ra3 Ne2+ 19 Kh1
Bc5 20 Ra2 Bd4 21 Nxd4 Nxd4 22 Qc3 f5 23 f3 Ne2 (*)
Solution
Game 45
M.Pitz-T.Schmidt
Greifswald 2007
Semi-Slav Defence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6 5 a3 Nbd7 6 e3 Bd6 7 Bd3 b6 8 0-0 Bb7 9 Re1 0-0 10 e4 dxe4 11
Nxe4 Nxe4 12 Rxe4 c5 13 dxc5 Nxc5 14 Re3 Be4 15 Nd4 Bxh2+ 16 Kxh2 Qxd4 17 Rxe4 Nxe4 18 f3
Nf2 (*)
Solution
Game 46
A.Valyi-G.Ilcsik
Hungarian League 2009
Pirc Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 f3 g6 3 e4 Bg7 4 Nc3 0-0 5 Be3 d6 6 Qd2 b6 7 Bc4 e6 8 Nge2 c5 9 0-0-0 Nc6 10 g4 Qc7 11
h4 Ne7 12 h5 a6 13 Bh6 (*)
Solution
Game 47
J.Kaschka-G.Zoehrer
Schwarzach 2008
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 Bf5 6 Bc4 e6 7 0-0 c6 8 Ne5 Bd6 9 Bf4 Qc7 10 Re1
0-0 11 Qe2 b5 12 Bd3 Bxd3 13 Qxd3 Nbd7 14 Qg3 Nh5 15 Qg4 Ndf6 16 Qh4 h6 17 Ne4 Nxf4 18
Nxf6+ gxf6 19 Qxf4 fxe5 20 dxe5 Bc5 21 Qxh6 Qb6 22 Kh1 Be7 23 Re4 f5 24 exf6 Bxf6 (*)
Solution
Game 48
B.Rummer-K.Klosa
Willingen 2009
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 c3 Nf6 5 b4 Bb6 6 d3 d6 7 Bg5 Bg4 8 h3 Bh5 9 Nbd2 h6 10 Bh4 g5 11
Bg3 a6 12 Qc2 Bg6 13 Rd1 Nh5 14 Bh2 Ne7 15 g4 Nf6 16 Bb3 Ba7 17 a4 b5 18 a5 Rc8 19 Qa2 c5 20
Rb1 cxb4 21 cxb4 Nc6 22 Bd1 Nd4 23 Nxd4 Bxd4 (*)
Solution
Game 49
S.Ambalagi-R.Tralongo
Bagnara Calabra 2009
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 d3 d6 3 g3 e5 4 Bg2 Nf6 5 Nf3 h6 6 b3 Nc6 7 Bb2 Be7 8 0-0 Be6 9 Nc3 a6 10 Qd2 Qd7 11
Rae1 Bh3 12 Nh4 Bxg2 13 Nxg2 Nd4 14 f3 Qh3 15 Ne2 0-0 16 f4 Nd7 17 fxe5 dxe5 18 c3 Bg5 19
Qd1 Nxe2+ 20 Qxe2 Nf6 (*)
Solution
Game 50
A.Ruehl-A.Golosnyak
Kranenburg 2009
Petroff Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nxe5 d6 4 Nf3 Nxe4 5 Nc3 Nf6 6 d4 d5 7 Be2 Bd6 8 Be3 0-0 9 h3 Re8 10 Qd3 a6
11 0-0-0 b5 12 g4 b4 13 Nb1 a5 14 Nh4 a4 15 Qd2 (*)
Solution
Game 51
S.Akif-P.Dubos
Mont de Marsan 2006
Three Knights Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Bc5 4 d3 Nf6 5 Bg5 d6 6 Nd5 Be6 7 Nxf6+ gxf6 8 Bh6 Qd7 9 Bg7 Rg8 10
Bxf6 d5 11 exd5 Bxd5 12 Bxe5 Nxe5 13 Nxe5 Qe6 14 Qe2 0-0-0 15 Nf3 Qb6 16 Qd2 (*)
Solution
Game 52
J.Al Jou Jou-H.Middendorf
Regensburg 2004
Scotch Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Nxd4 5 Qxd4 c5 6 Qd1 b6 7 Nc3 d6 8 Bc4 Nf6 9 0-0 Be7 10 Bf4
a6 11 a4 0-0 12 h3 Bb7 13 Qd3 (*)
Solution
Game 53
G.Albert-R.Camblan
Bastia 2008
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 e5 7 Nf5 Bb4 8 Qf3 0-0 9 Qg3 Be7 (*)
Solution
Game 54
M.Bukowska-P.Renkowski
Augustow 2004
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 c3 Na5 5 Be2 Nf6 6 d4 exd4 7 cxd4 Bb4+ 8 Nc3 Bxc3+ 9 bxc3 Nxe4
10 Bd3 Qe7 11 0-0 0-0 12 Re1 Nxc3 (*)
Solution
Game 55
R.Dopychai-E.A.Rulfs
Bad Zwischenahn 2004
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 Nf3 c5 3 d4 d5 4 exd5 exd5 5 c4 Nf6 6 Nc3 Be7 7 dxc5 Be6 8 Ng5 Bxc5 9 Nxe6 fxe6 10
cxd5 exd5 11 Bb5+ Nc6 12 0-0 0-0 13 Bg5 a6 14 Bd3 Qd6 15 Qb3 Ne7 16 Rad1 Kh8 17 Be2 Rad8 18
Bxf6 Rxf6 (*)
Solution
Game 56
C.Winkler-W.Aurin
Bad Schwalbach, 2009
Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack
1 g3 Nf6 2 Bg2 d5 3 d4 c5 4 e3 Nc6 5 Ne2 h6 6 Nbc3 Bg4 7 Qd2 Qd7 8 b3 Bh3 9 Bxh3 Qxh3 10 Nf4
Qf5 11 Bb2 e5 12 Nfxd5 0-0-0 13 Nxf6 Qxf6 14 d5 Qf3 15 0-0 -
Solution
Game 57
S.Pallas-L.Schwarz
Wismar 2009
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 Nf3 Nbd7 6 e3 0-0 7 Bd3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 c5 9 0-0 b6 10 Qe2 Bb7
11 Rfd1 cxd4 12 Nxd4 Re8 13 Rac1 (*)
Solution
Game 58
E.Grange-C.Grimaud
St Chely dAubrac 2009
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 d3 Bc5 5 Bg5 d6 6 Nc3 h6 7 Bh4 Bg4 8 h3 Bh5 9 g4 Bg6 10 Nd5 Bh7
11 Qd2 Nd4 12 Nxd4 Bxd4 13 Qa5 (*)
Solution
Game 59
L.Unuk-J.Kolsek
Konjice 2009
Kings Indian Defence
1 d4 g6 2 c4 Bg7 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bf4 b6 5 e3 Bb7 6 Nf3 0-0 7 Be2 Ne4 8 Nxe4 Bxe4 9 Bd3 Bxd3 10
Qxd3 Nc6 11 0-0 d6 12 Qe4 Qd7 13 Rad1 e6 14 b3 Nb4 15 a3 f5 16 Qb7 Nc6 17 c5 bxc5 18 dxc5 d5
19 b4 (*)
Solution
Game 60
C.Nord-P.Ollier
Pau 2008
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 c5 4 dxc5 Bxc5 5 Nf3 Qb6 6 Qd2 Nc6 7 Nc3 Nge7 8 Na4 Qb4 9 Qxb4 Bxb4+ 10
Nc3 Ng6 11 Bb5 Bd7 12 Bxc6 Bxc3+ 13 bxc3 Bxc6 (*)
Solution
Game 61
L.Giudicelli-D.Royer
Bastia 2009
Vienna Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 c6 3 Nf3 f6 4 Bc4 (*)
Solution
Game 62
M.Chinellato-M.Tonolo
Mestre 2001
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d3 d5 3 Nd2 c5 4 Ngf3 Nc6 5 g3 Nge7 6 Bg2 g6 7 0-0 Bg7 8 c3 0-0 9 Re1 b5 10 e5 Qc7 11
Qe2 Bb7 12 h4 Rad8 13 Nf1 b4 14 Bf4 Ba6 15 N1h2 d4 16 c4 Bc8 17 Ng5 Nf5 18 Ng4 Nce7 19 Ne4
Kh8 20 Ngf6 (*)
Solution
Game 63
L.Buoncristiani-G.Sirci
Foligno 2008
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Be6 5 Nf3 c6 6 Bd3 Nf6 7 0-0 Nbd7 8 Ng5 Bg4 9 f3 Bh5 10 Re1
e6 11 Bf4 Bb4 12 Qe2 0-0 13 Bd2 Rfe8 14 Qf2 e5 15 a3 Bd6 16 Nce4 Qd5 17 Nxd6 Qxd6 18 Bb4 c5
19 dxc5 Qc6 (*)
Solution
Game 64
K.Govatsmark-A.Tari
Oslo 2008
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4 Be7 8 Qf3 Qc7 9 0-0-0 Nbd7 10 Kb1
b5 11 Bxf6 Nxf6 12 Bd3 Bb7 13 Rhe1 d5 14 exd5 Nxd5 15 Nxd5 Bxd5 16 Be4 Rd8 -
Solution
Game 65
M.Mueller-K.Wiesner
Leipzig 2008
Owens Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 b6 3 c4 Bb7 4 Bd3 f5 5 d5 fxe4 6 Bxe4 Nf6 7 Bg5 h6 8 Bg6+ Ke7 9 Bh4 (*)
Solution
Game 66
G.Mela-V.Zini
Imperia 2007
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 0-0 5 0-0 Re8 6 Bf4 d6 7 Re1 Nd5 8 Qc1 Nxf4 9 Qxf4 e5 10 Qd2
exd4 (*)
Solution
Game 67
V.Zini-R.Vocaturo
Imperia 2007
Rti Opening
1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 e6 3 g3 Nf6 4 Bg2 c5 5 0-0 Be7 6 b3 Nc6 7 Bb2 0-0 8 e3 d4 9 d3 Re8 10 Nbd2 -
Solution
Game 68
N.Nischik-S.Mittag
German League 2007
Slav Defence
1 c4 c6 2 Nc3 d5 3 cxd5 cxd5 4 d4 Bf5 5 Nf3 Nf6 6 Bg5 Nbd7 7 Qa4 e6 8 Rc1 a6 9 Bxf6 Qxf6 10 Ne5
Qd8 11 Nxd7 Qxd7 12 Qxd7+ Kxd7 13 e3 Bd6 14 Kd2 Rac8 15 Bd3 Bxd3 16 Kxd3 b5 17 h3 h5 18 f3
g6 19 Rc2 Rc7 20 Rhc1 Rhc8 21 e4 Bf4 22 Nxd5 Rxc2 23 Nb6+ Kd6 (*)
Solution
Game 69
M.Roettgen-K.Stieg
Bergisch Gladbach 2001
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 d4 Bg4 6 Be3 exd4 7 Qxd4 Qxd4 8 Nxd4 0-0-0 9 f3 Bd7
10 Nc3 Ne7 11 0-0-0 c5 12 Nb3 b6 13 Nd2 Nc6 14 a3 f5 15 Nc4 fxe4 16 Nxe4 h6 17 Bf4 g5 18 Be5
Nxe5 19 Nxe5 Be6 20 h4 gxh4 21 Rxh4 Rxd1+ 22 Kxd1 Bg7 23 Ng6 Rd8+ 24 Kc1 Bc4 25 Nxc5 Be2
26 Nd3 Bxd3 27 cxd3 Rxd3 28 Kc2 Re3 29 Re4 Rxe4 30 fxe4 Kd7 31 b3 Ke6 32 Kd3 Be5 33 Nh4 b5
34 a4 c6 35 g4 c5 36 Nf5 Bf4 37 Nh4 Bg5 -
Solution
Game 70
A.Renaudin-V.Peron Luhrs
Ile et Vilaine 2002
Philidor Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nbd7 6 Bc4 Ne5 7 Bb3 Be7 8 Bf4 0-0 9 Qd2 Ng6 10 00-0 Nh5 11 Be3 c6 12 Rde1 a6 13 h3 Bd7 14 Nf5 d5 15 Nh6+ gxh6 16 Bxh6 Be6 17 Qd4 Bf6 18 e5
Bg5+ 19 Bxg5 Qxg5+ 20 Kb1 (*)
Solution
Game 71
B.Gentile-A.Salone
Udine 2007
Pirc Defence
1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6 4 Bc4 Bg7 5 Nf3 0-0 6 0-0 a6 7 Re1 Nbd7 8 Bg5 b5 9 Bb3 c5 (*)
Solution
Game 72
L.Vitiello-M.Caldonazzo
Rivarolo Mantovano 2007
Bogo-India Defence
1 Nf3 Nf6 2 d4 e6 3 c4 Bb4+ 4 Bd2 Bxd2+ 5 Qxd2 0-0 6 Nc3 d5 7 e3 c6 8 Bd3 dxc4 9 Bxc4 Nbd7 10
0-0 c5 11 Rad1 cxd4 12 Qxd4 a6 13 a4 Qc7 14 Ba2 b6 15 Rd2 Bb7 16 Ng5 h6 17 Nxe6 Qc6 18 Nf4
(*)
Solution
Game 73
A.H.Dang-M.Schulze
Schalksmuehle 2007
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 c4 c6 5 Nc3 Nf6 6 Nf3 Bf5 7 Bd3 Bg6 8 0-0 Be7 9 Re1 0-0 10 Qe2 Re8
11 Bxg6 fxg6 12 Bg5 (*)
Solution
Game 74
R.Klein-J.Renet
Aix-les-Bains 2007
Vienna Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 f4 d5 4 exd5 Nxd5 5 fxe5 Nxc3 6 bxc3 Qh4+ 0-1
Solution
Game 75
B.Decrop-G.Hilven
Brasschaat 2007
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nf6 5 Bg5 Nbd7 6 Nf3 h6 7 Bxf6 Nxf6 8 Bd3 b6 9 Bb5+ Nd7 10
Ne5 Bd6 11 Qg4 Bxe5 12 dxe5 (*)
Solution
Game 76
M.Saucey-A.Militon
Aix-les-Bains 2007
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3 d6 5 h3 h6 6 c3 Qf6 7 Nbd2 a6 8 Bb3 Be6 9 0-0 Nge7 10 Re1 0-0
11 Nf1 Bb6 12 Be3 d5 13 Bxb6 cxb6 14 Ng3 Rfd8 15 Qc2 Rac8 16 Qb1 Bxh3 17 Nxe5 Nxe5 18 d4
N5g6 19 gxh3 Qh4 20 exd5 Qxh3 21 Qc1 (*)
Solution
Game 77
L.Azzinaro-L.Rossini
Bresso 2007
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 c3 Nc6 3 d4 d6 4 Nf3 Bg4 5 d5 Ne5 6 Be2 g6 7 0-0 Bg7 8 h3 Bxf3 9 Bxf3 Nf6 10 Bf4 0-0 11
Bxe5 dxe5 12 Qb3 b6 13 Nd2 e6 (*)
Solution
Game 78
M.DApa-G.Taglione
Bresso 2007
Kings Gambit
1 e4 e5 2 f4 d6 3 Nf3 Bg4 4 Bc4 Nf6 5 Nc3 c5 6 0-0 Be7 7 fxe5 dxe5 8 d3 Nc6 9 Be3 0-0 10 Qe1
Bxf3 11 Rxf3 b6 12 Rf1 Nd4 13 Bxd4 cxd4 14 Nd5 Qd7 15 Nxf6+ Bxf6 16 Qg3 Rac8 (*)
Solution
Game 79
F.Calomeni-B.Levato
San Fili 2007
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 e6 4 Bb5 Qc7 5 0-0 Nf6 6 d4 cxd4 7 Nxd4 Nxd4 8 Qxd4 Bd6 9 Kh1 0-0 10
Bg5 Ng4 11 Rad1 (*)
Solution
Game 80
S.Stasieluk-M.Ocytko
Bialystok 2010
Petroff Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nc3 d6 4 Bc4 Be6 5 Bb3 Qd7 6 d3 Be7 7 Bg5 Bxb3 8 axb3 0-0 9 0-0 Ne8 10 Qd2
a6 11 Nd5 Bxg5 12 Qxg5 Qe6 13 Nh4 f6 14 Qg3 Nc6 15 Nf5 Nd4 16 Nxd4 exd4 17 f4 c6 18 f5 Qf7
19 Nf4 Nc7 20 h4 Kh8 21 Qf3 Rae8 22 g4 h6 (*)
Solution
Chapter Four
L.Brunelli-D.Ragnini
Castelfidardo 2000
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 c4 b5 4 e3 bxc4 5 Bxc4 d5 6 Bd3 Be7 7 Nc3 Ba6 8 Qa4+ Qd7 9 Bb5 Bxb5 10
Qxb5 Nc6 11 Ne5 Nxe5 12 dxe5 Qxb5 13 Nxb5 Bb4+ 14 Ke2 (*) 0-0 15 exf6 c6 16 fxg7 Kxg7 17 Nd4
Rac8 18 a3 Ba5 19 b4 Bd8 20 Bb2 Bf6 21 Rab1 e5 22 Nb3 Rfe8 23 Rhe1 d4 24 Nc5 Rcd8 25 exd4
exd4+ 26 Kd3 Be5 27 g3 Bf6 28 Rxe8 Rxe8 29 Nd7 Bg5 30 Bxd4+ f6 31 f4 Rd8 32 Nc5 Rd5 33 fxg5
Kg6 34 gxf6 Rf5 35 Ke4 Rg5 36 Rf1 h5 37 Ne6 Rg4+ 38 Rf4 Kf7 39 Rxg4 hxg4 40 Nd8+ 1-0
For White
(1)
Position after 7 ... Ba6

8 Qa4+? is not the right way to take advantage of Blacks previous move. Instead 8 Bxa6! Nxa6 9
Qa4+ wins a piece by forking the king and the knight. (2 points)
For Black
(2) 7 ... Ba6?
This mistake often crops up in this type of position. Black allows White to win a piece with 8 Bxa6!
Nxa6 9 Qa4+, as indicated above (1 point). If Black wants to play ... Ba6 he should castle first.

(3)
Position after 12 dxe5

12 ... Qxb5? loses material, since after 13 Nxb5 Bb4+ 14 Ke2 White threatens both exf6 and Nxc7+
(2 points).
Black could have avoided losing material by playing, for example, 12 ... Ng4, 12 ... Ne4 or 12 ... c6.
(1 point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Double Attack
W.Lang-W.Schreiber
Voelklingen 2001
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 e6 4 d5 exd5 5 exd5 Nce7 6 c4 d6 7 Nc3 a6 8 Bd3 Bf5 9 0-0 Nf6 (*) 10 Re1
Qd7 11 h3 h6 12 Bf4 0-0-0 13 a3 g5 14 Bh2 g4 15 Bxf5 Nxf5 16 hxg4 Nxg4 17 b4 Nxh2 18 Nxh2 Bg7
19 Rc1 Bd4 20 Na4 Kc7 21 Nf3 Rhg8 22 Qb3 Rg6 23 Rb1 Rdg8 24 Nxd4 Rxg2+ 25 Kf1 Rg1+ 26 Ke2
Nxd4+ 27 Kd3 Qf5+ 28 Kc3 Nxb3 29 Kxb3 Rxe1 30 Rxe1 Qxf2 31 Re7+ Kd8 32 Rxb7 Rg3+ 33 Nc3
Qf3 34 Ka4 Qxc3 35 Ka5 Qxa3+ 36 Kb6 Qxb4+ 37 Kc6 Qxb7+ 38 Kxb7 0-1
For White
(1) 6 c4? does not take advantage of Blacks mistake on the previous move. 6 d6! chases the knight away
from e7.

Whichever square the knight goes (for example, 6 ... Ng6), White follows up with 7 Qe2+! (2 points).
Blacks only way to escape check is to block with a knight or bishop on e7 and give up a piece for a
pawn.
If Black instead tries 6 ... Qa5+, then 7 Bd2! (1 point) wins a piece because of the double attack
against the queen and the knight.
For Black
(2) 5 ... Nce7?
This loses a piece for a pawn, as indicated above (1 point). Black can avoid losing material with, for
example, 5 ... Na5 or 5 ... Qe7+ (1 point). Earlier on, 3 ... cxd4! is the normal Sicilian move and this
avoids any problems with the knight being attacked by d4-d5.
Tactical Themes
Removing the defender, Double Attack, Exposed King
M.Dolenc-M.Z.Povse
Murska Sobota 2007
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 Nc3 Bc5 5 0-0 0-0 6 d3 d6 7 Bg5 h6 8 Bh4 Be6 9 Bb3 Bxb3 10 axb3
Nd4 11 Nxd4 Bxd4 12 Nd5 Bxb2 13 Ra2 Bd4 14 h3 c6 15 Nb4 Qb6 16 Bxf6 gxf6 17 Qg4+ Kh8 18
Ra4 Rg8 19 Qh4 Rg6 (*) 20 Qh5 Kh7 21 c4 Rag8 22 Kh1 Rxg2 23 Qxf7+ R8g7 24 Qxf6 a5 25 Nc2
Bc5 26 Qf5+ Kh8 27 b4 Rxf2 28 Qh5 Rxf1+ 29 Kh2 Bxb4 30 Nxb4 Qf2 mate 0-1
For White
(1) 13 Ra2?
White missed the opportunity to get a powerful kingside attack with 13 Qf3! (2 points), increasing the
pressure on the pinned knight.
Position after 13 Qf3 (analysis)

The knight cannot be adequately defended, so White is able to rip open Blacks defences. Lets look at
some possible lines:
a) 13 ... Bxa1 14 Nxf6+! (1 point) and now:
a1) 14 ... gxf6 15 Bxf6 threatens both the queen on d8 and mate with Qg3+ followed by Qg7. After 15
... Qxf6 16 Qxf6 Bd4 17 Qxh6 White has a queen and a pawn for a rook and a bishop. (1 point)
a2) After 14 ... Kh8 15 Rxa1 material is approximately level for the moment. However, White
threatens 16 Bg5 along with the queen moving either to f5 or to h5, and a decisive sacrificial breakthrough
on h6.
Position after 15 Rxa1 (analysis)

For example, 15 ... Qc8 16 Bg5 Qe6 17 Qh5 followed by Bxh6. The attack cannot be defended
without material loss. Probably, Blacks best option is to play 15 ... Rg8, so that the queen can come to f8
to protect the h6-pawn, but of course this allows White to win the exchange. (2 points)
Other tries are no better:
b) 13 ... g5 14 Nxf6+ Kg7 15 Nh5+ Kh8 16 Ra2 Bd4 17 Bg3 and White wins a piece in exchange for
a pawn. (1 point)
c) 13 ... Kh7 14 Qf5+ g6 15 Nxf6+ Kg7 16 Qg4 (threatening Nh5+) 16 ... Qc8 17 Ra2 and White
remains a piece for a pawn up. (1 point)

(2) 14 h3?
Again 14 Qf3! (3 points) is much stronger, with possibilities very similar to those above.
Position after 14 Qf3 (analysis)

In view of the threats and the attack on the king, Black is losing material in all lines. His best chance
is the surprising 14 ... Nxd5, which at least allows him to escape an otherwise devastating attack. After
15 Bxd8 Nc3 16 Raa1 White has a queen for a bishop, knight and pawn. (1 point)

(3) 15 Nb4? not only lifts the pressure from f6 but loses a piece after 15 ... g5 16 Bg3 Bc3! (1 point).
The only way to defend the knight is with 17 Ra4, but then Black can play 17 ... Bxb4 18 Rxb4 b5!.
Position after 18 ... b5 (analysis)

There is no good defence to ... a5 trapping the rook! (1 point)
Much stronger is 15 Nxf6+! gxf6 weakening Blacks kingside (1 point). White can continue 16 c3!
Bb6 (16 ... Bxc3 17 Qc1 is a very strong double attack) 17 Kh1! followed by f2-f4 and an attack down the
f-file in which White will regain his pawn at the very least.
For Black
(4) 12 ... Bxb2? underestimates the power of Whites kingside attack after 13 Qf3, as indicated above.
Faced with the threat of 13 Qf3 and the pressure on f6, it was necessary to chase away the bishop with 12
... g5. (1 point)

(5) 13 ... Bd4?
Again 14 Qf3 is strong for White, and again 13 ... g5 is necessary for Black. (1 point)

(6) 14 ... c6? allows 15 Nxf6+, as indicated above. Again 14 ... g5 was better. (1 point)

(7)

Position after 15 Nb4

15 ... Qb6?
Black missed a chance to win a piece with 15 ... g5 16 Bg3 Bc3!, as demonstrated above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Double Attack, Mate Threat, Trapped Piece
D.Djuricic-M.Dolenc
Murska Sobota 2007
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 c3 Nf6 5 d3 0-0 6 b4 Bb6 7 Bg5 h6 8 Bh4 d6 9 0-0 Bg4 10 Nbd2 a5 11
b5 Ne7 12 Bxf6 gxf6 13 Qb3 c6 14 a4 d5 15 exd5 cxb5 16 Bxb5 Nxd5 17 c4 Nf4 18 Ra3 Ne2+ 19 Kh1
Bc5 20 Ra2 Bd4 21 Nxd4 Nxd4 22 Qc3 f5 23 f3 Ne2 (*) 24 Qxe5 Qxd3 25 fxg4 fxg4 26 Qe4 Qxe4
27 Nxe4 Nd4 28 Nf6+ Kh8 29 Nxg4 h5 30 Ne5 Rae8 1-0
For White
(1)
Position after 13 ... c6

14 a4?
This move allows 14 ... d5 trapping the bishop (1 point). To avoid such complications, White should
simply swap pawns on c6 by 14 bxc6 bxc6. Then ... d5 wouldnt be a threat because the bishop would
have a safe square on b5 after a pawn exchange on d5. (1 point)

(2)
Position after 14 ... d5

15 exd5? loses the bishop in exchange for only one pawn after 15 ... cxd5 (1 point). Even if White
continued precisely, he would probably remain worse, but it was certainly better to try 15 bxc6! dxc4 16
Nxc4 Ba7 17 cxb7 (2 points). At the moment White has three pawns for his bishop. However, after 17 ...
Rb8 18 d4 Bxf3 19 gxf3 exd4 20 cxd4 Nc6 21 d5 Nd4 22 Qd1 Rxb7 the b-pawn is lost.

(3) 16 Bxb5? gives up the support of the d-pawn, which White loses after 16 ... Nxd5. It was better to
take the b-pawn with the queen. After 16 Qxb5 the queen would still protect the d-pawn and White would
remain a pawn ahead. (1 point)

(4) 17 c4? loses a pawn to 17 ... Nf4! (1 point).
Position after 17 ... Nf4

The d3-pawn is no longer protected by the bishop on b5 and cannot be adequately protected from
elsewhere. 18 Ra3?, as played in the game, fails if Black plays 18 ... Bc5! when the rook is chased away
from the pawns defence and White also loses time by having to move the rook again. Moves such as 17
Bc4, 17 Rab1 and 17 d4 are all much stronger. (1 point)
For Black
(5) 15 ... cxb5?
It cannot be ruled out that this move is a database inputters mistake. It looks much more believable, in
view of the previous play, that 15 ... cxd5 was played since it wins the bishop in exchange for only one
pawn. (1 point)

(6) 18 ... Ne2+?
18 ... Bc5 is much stronger, winning the d-pawn after the retreat of the rook, as indicated above. (1
point)

(7)
Position after 23 f3

23 ... Ne2?
This loses a piece to 24 Qxe5!, when the knight and bishop are both under attack. Black should simply
retreat the bishop with 23 ... Bh5. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Trapped Piece, Counting, Removing the Defender
M.Pitz-T.Schmidt
Greifswald 2007
Semi-Slav Defence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6 5 a3 Nbd7 6 e3 Bd6 7 Bd3 b6 8 0-0 Bb7 9 Re1 0-0 10 e4 dxe4 11
Nxe4 Nxe4 12 Rxe4 c5 13 dxc5 Nxc5 14 Re3 Be4 15 Nd4 Bxh2+ 16 Kxh2 Qxd4 17 Rxe4 Nxe4 18 f3
Nf2 (*) 19 Bxh7+ Kxh7 20 Qxd4 Rac8 21 b3 Rh8 22 Qxf2 Rcd8 23 Bb2 Rd3 24 Qc2 Kg8+ 25 Kg3
Rd7 26 Qe4 Rh6 27 Bc3 f5 28 Qe2 g5 29 Rd1 Rdh7 30 Rd8+ 1-0
For White
(1) 12 Rxe4
This unusual recapture causes unnecessary complications. Even though White can avoid material loss
after 12 ... c5 by playing 13 Bg5 Qc7 14 d5, things would have been easier after 12 Bxe4. (1 point)

(2) 13 dxc5? allows 13 ... Bxe4, after which 14 cxd6 Bxd3 15 Qxd3 leaves Black the exchange for a
pawn ahead (1 point). It was, therefore, better to follow the above-mentioned line with 13 Bg5. (1 point)

(3) 14 Re3? allows 14 ... Bf4! (2 points) attacking the rook which defends the bishop on d3, and
threatening to take it next move.

This costs White the exchange after, say, 15 Ne1 Bxe3 16 Bxe3. Safer and more active was 14 Rd4,
pinning the bishop. (1 point)

(4) 15 Nd4? loses a piece to the simple 15 ... Bxd3 (1 point). White should instead deal with Blacks
threat to capture the bishop by 15 b4 or 15 Bc2 (1 point). But not 15 Bxe4??, losing the queen to the
discovered attack 15 ... Bxh2+!.

(5)
Position after 16 ... Qxd4

17 Rxe4?
There is no need for White to give up the exchange. The pinned bishop on d3 is able to retreat to e2,
protecting the queen. Therefore, 17 Be2 is the safer move. (1 point)

(6) 18 f3?
The material imbalance, already in Blacks favour, should increase after this move. Black can play 18
... Qd6+ 19 Kg1 Qc5+ 20 Kh2 Nf2! when any queen move is met by the double attack 21 ... Qd6+ winning
the bishop on d3 (2 points). To avoid such heavy material losses, White should play 18 Be3. (1 point)
For Black
(7) 13 ... Nxc5?
It was better to win the exchange for a pawn with the continuation 13 ... Bxe4 14 cxd6 Bxd3 15 Qxd3,
as indicated above (1 point). Whites advanced d-pawn can safely be blocked after 15 ... Nc5 16 Qd1 f6
17 Bf4 Qd7.

(8) 14 ... Be4? missed the above-mentioned win of the exchange, starting with the move 14 ... Bf4. (1
point)

(9) 15 ... Bxh2+? missed the opportunity to win a piece by 15 ... Bxd3. (1 point)

(10)
Position after 18 f3

18 ... Nf2??
Instead of the winning 18 ... Qd6+, as mentioned above, Black just blunders and suffers from a heavy
material loss after 19 Bxh7+! Kxh7 20 Qxd4. White wins the queen in exchange for the bishop by a
discovered attack. (1 point)

Tactical Themes: Removing the Defender, Discovered Attack, Double Attack
A.Valyi-G.Ilcsik
Hungarian League 2009
Pirc Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 f3 g6 3 e4 Bg7 4 Nc3 0-0 5 Be3 d6 6 Qd2 b6 7 Bc4 e6 8 Nge2 c5 9 0-0-0 Nc6 10 g4 Qc7 11
h4 Ne7 12 h5 a6 13 Bh6 (*) Ne8 14 Bxg7 Kxg7 15 hxg6 fxg6 16 Qh6+ Kf7 17 Qxh7+ Ng7 18 f4 Bd7
19 Qh4 Rh8 20 Qf2 b5 21 Rxh8 Rxh8 22 dxc5 dxc5 23 f5 Ke8 24 fxe6 Bxe6 25 Bxe6 Nxe6 26 Qf6
Rf8 27 Qxe6 Qc6 28 Qxc6+ Nxc6 29 Rd6 Ne5 30 Re6+ 1-0
For White
1 h4?
White attacks on the kingside but overlooks Blacks threats on the other wing. 11 h4 allows Black to win
material by opening the c-file. 11 ... cxd4! and now:
a) 12 Nxd4 Nxd4! (1 point) 13 Qxd4 (if 13 Bxd4 then simply 13 ... Qxc4) and now Black has the
discovered attack 13 ... Nxg4! (13 ... Nd5! is also good). (2 points)
Position after 13 ... Nxg4 (analysis)

Blacks bishop on g7 attacks Whites queen, which is overloaded by defending both bishops. Black
wins one of them after 14 Qd3 Nxe3 15 Qxe3 Qxc4.
b) 12 Bxd4 Nxd4 13 Qxd4. This time Black can win material with the discovered attack 13 ... Nd7!
(13 ... Nd5! is also good).
Position after 13 ... Nd7 (analysis)

If the white queen stays protecting the bishop with 14 Qd3, then 14 ... Ne5 is a double attack which
wins the bishop. (2 points)
Going back to the 11th move, White could have prevented such tactical possibilities by closing off the
c-file with 11 dxc5!. (1 point)

(2) 12 h5?
Again Black can win material with 12 ... cxd4 13 Qxd4 (or 13 Nxd4 Qxc4) 13 ... Nxg4! with a
discovered attack on the queen (1 point). White should have avoided these tactics by playing 12 dxc5!. (1
point)
For Black
(3) 11 ... Ne7? missed the opportunity to win material after Whites 11 h4? with 11 ... cxd4!, as
demonstrated above. (1 point)

(4) 12 ... a6? missed the opportunity to win material with 12 ... cxd4!, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered attack, Double Attack, Overloaded Piece
J.Kaschka-G.Zoehrer
Schwarzach 2008
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 Bf5 6 Bc4 e6 7 0-0 c6 8 Ne5 Bd6 9 Bf4 Qc7 10 Re1
0-0 11 Qe2 b5 12 Bd3 Bxd3 13 Qxd3 Nbd7 14 Qg3 Nh5 15 Qg4 Ndf6 16 Qh4 h6 17 Ne4 Nxf4 18
Nxf6+ gxf6 19 Qxf4 fxe5 20 dxe5 Bc5 21 Qxh6 Qb6 22 Kh1 Be7 23 Re4 f5 24 exf6 Bxf6 (*) 25
Qg6+ Bg7 26 Rg4 Rf7 27 Qxe6 Qxf2 28 g3 Qf3+ 29 Kg1 Qf2+ 30 Kh1 Qf3+ -
For White
(1) 14 Qg3? allows the fork 14 ... Nh5!. Its true that Whites queen can remain protecting the bishop with
15 Qg4, but following 15 ... Nxf4 16 Qxf4, the knight on e5 is pinned and vulnerable to an attack by 16 ...
f6!.

There is no way for White to save the pinned knight. (2 points)

(2)

24 exf6?
White missed the chance to play 24 Qg6+ Kh8 25 Re3! (or 24 Re3 first) when the only way for Black
to avoid mate with Rh3 is by giving up his queen for the rook. (2 points)
For Black
(3) 15 ... Ndf6? missed the opportunity to exploit Whites mistake with 14 Qg3? by playing 15 ... Nxf4 16
Qxf4 f6 winning the knight, as indicated above. (1 point)

(4) 21 ... Qb6? is a blunder which White could have exploited in the game, or even immediately by
22 Re4! when Black can escape mate only by giving up his queen with 22 ... Bxf2 23 Kh1 Qd4. (1 point)
Black should instead play 21 ... Rfd8!.

Position after 21 ... Rfd8 (analysis)

Here, 22 Re4 can be met by 22 ... Rd4! when the mating threat is prevented. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Pin, Mate Threat
B.Rummer-K.Klosa
Willingen 2009
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 c3 Nf6 5 b4 Bb6 6 d3 d6 7 Bg5 Bg4 8 h3 Bh5 9 Nbd2 h6 10 Bh4 g5 11
Bg3 a6 12 Qc2 Bg6 13 Rd1 Nh5 14 Bh2 Ne7 15 g4 Nf6 16 Bb3 Ba7 17 a4 b5 18 a5 Rc8 19 Qa2 c5 20
Rb1 cxb4 21 cxb4 Nc6 22 Bd1 Nd4 23 Nxd4 Bxd4 (*) 24 Nf3 Ba7 25 Qd2 Qc7 26 0-0 0-0 27 Bb3 Qc3
28 Rfc1 Qxd2 29 Nxd2 Bd4 -
For White
(1) 20 Rb1? gives Black the opportunity to play 20 ... c4!, attacking the bishop on b3.

Position after 20 ... c4 (analysis)

This tactic is chiefly based on deflecting the d3-pawn from its defence of e4. If White loses this key
pawn, his position falls apart. Lets look at some lines:
a) 21 dxc4 Nxe4 (1 point) attacks both c3 and f2, and White cannot avoid material loss. For example,
22 Nxe4 Bxe4 (1 point) forks the rook and knight.

Position after 22 ... Bxe4 (analysis)
After, for example, 23 c5 Bxf3 24 Bxf7+ Kf8 25 0-0, Black has won a piece in exchange for a pawn.
b) If the bishop retreats with 21 Bd1, then 21 ... cxd3 wins one pawn and another one follows due to
the threats on c3 and e4. (1 point)
c) 21 Bc2 cxd3 22 Bxd3 Rxc3 wins a key pawn. (1 point)
d) 21 Nxc4 bxc4 22 Bxc4 is perhaps the best try for White, giving up a piece for two pawns. (1 point)
Going back to move 20, White could have avoided this tactic by playing 20 bxc5! instead of 20 Rb1.
(1 point)
For Black
(2) 20 ... cxb4? missed the tactic 20 ... c4!, as demonstrated above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Deflection, Fork, Double Attack, Discovered Attack, Pin
S.Ambalagi-R.Tralongo
Bagnara Calabra 2009
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 d3 d6 3 g3 e5 4 Bg2 Nf6 5 Nf3 h6 6 b3 Nc6 7 Bb2 Be7 8 0-0 Be6 9 Nc3 a6 10 Qd2 Qd7 11
Rae1 Bh3 12 Nh4 Bxg2 13 Nxg2 Nd4 14 f3 Qh3 15 Ne2 0-0 16 f4 Nd7 17 fxe5 dxe5 18 c3 Bg5 19
Qd1 Nxe2+ 20 Qxe2 Nf6 (*) 21 c4 Ng4 22 Rf3 Qxh2+ 23 Kf1 Qh1 mate 0-1
For White
(1) 19 f4?
This move allows Black to decide the game at a stroke, with 16 ... Ng4! threatening mate with ...
Qxh2. (2 points)

After 17 Rf2 Qxh2+ 18 Kf1 Qh1+ 19 Ng1 Nh2 its smothered mate. (2 points)

(2) 18 c3?
Black could have exploited this mistake with an attack on Whites king, as shown below. Better
options for White include exchanging the dangerous d4-knight with either 18 Nxd4 or 18 Bxd4. (2 points)
For Black
(3) 16 ... Nd7? missed the opportunity to win with 16 ... Ng4!, as demonstrated above.
(1 point)

(4) 19 ... Nxe2+ was the obvious choice, of course, but Black could have exploited Whites mistake
18 c3 by ignoring the attack on the knight with 19 ... Nf6!. (2 points)

Blacks threat (of ... Ng4) is stronger than Whites to take on d4. For example, 20 cxd4 (if 20 Nxd4
cxd4 and ... Ng4 is still coming) 20 ... Ng4, threatening mate with ... Qxh2. If 21 Rf3, to give the king an
escape square on f1, Black has a number of promising moves, but by far the strongest is 21 ... f5! (2
points) opening another line of attack on the white king.

White is helpless here, for example 22 exf5 Rxf5! (defecting the rook from its defence of e3) 23 Rxf5
Be3+! 24 Nxe3 (or 24 Kf1 Nxh2 mate) 24 ... Qxh2+ 25 Kf1 Nxe3 mate.
Tactical Themes
Mate Threat, Deflection
A.Ruehl-A.Golosnyak
Kranenburg 2009
Petroff Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nxe5 d6 4 Nf3 Nxe4 5 Nc3 Nf6 6 d4 d5 7 Be2 Bd6 8 Be3 0-0 9 h3 Re8 10 Qd3 a6
11 0-0-0 b5 12 g4 b4 13 Nb1 a5 14 Nh4 a4 15 Qd2 (*) Ne4 16 Qd3 Ba6 0-1
For White
(1) 14 Nh4?
Maybe the idea of 14 Nh4 was to vacate the f3-square for the pawn, in order to prevent the black
knights invasion into e4. However, its too late for this. White has far more urgent matters to deal with,
such as the possibility of ... Ba6 and an immediate ... Ne4.
White didnt recognize that 14 ... Ne4! (2 points) is a strong move, and even stronger as a reply to
Nh4.
Position after 14 ... Ne4 (analysis)

Not only does this knight move unleash a discovered attack against the knight on h4, it also prepares
the skewer 15 ... Ba6, which is all the more powerful now that Whites queen can no longer go to d2.
After 15 Nf5 (15 Bf3 Qxh4 wins a piece) 15 ... Ba6! (2 points), Whites queen cannot remain defending
the e2-bishop. Although White can temporarily block the attack with 16 c4, Black can win material in a
number of ways, for example 16 ... dxc4 17 Qc2 ...

... and now 17 ... b3! 18 axb3 cxb3 (discovered attack and deflection) 19 Qxb3 Bxe2 leaves Black a
piece ahead. (1 point)

It should be mentioned that reversing the move order with 14 ... Ba6! is just as good as 14 ... Ne4.
Black intends to meet 15 Qd2 or 15 c4 with 15 ... Ne4!.
Instead of 14 Nh4, White should have played either 14 Rde1 or 14 Rhe1, to protect the e2-bishop in
readiness for ... Ba6. (2 points)

(2) 15 Qd2? allowed Black to win a knight with the discovered attack 15 ... Ne4!. (2 points)
For Black
(2) 14 ... a4? didnt take advantage of Whites mistake by 14 ... Ne4! or 14 ... Ba6!, as outlined above. (2
points)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Skewer, Deflection
S.Akif-P.Dubos
Mont de Marsan 2006
Three Knights Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Bc5 4 d3 Nf6 5 Bg5 d6 6 Nd5 Be6 7 Nxf6+ gxf6 8 Bh6 Qd7 9 Bg7 Rg8 10
Bxf6 d5 11 exd5 Bxd5 12 Bxe5 Nxe5 13 Nxe5 Qe6 14 Qe2 0-0-0 15 Nf3 Qb6 16 Qd2 (*) Qxb2 17
Rc1 Qxa2 18 d4 Rge8+ 19 Kd1 Ba3 20 Qa5 Bxf3+ 21 gxf3 Rxd4+ 22 Qd2 Rxd2+ 23 Kxd2 Qd5+ 24
Bd3 Qa5+ 25 Kd1 Bxc1 26 Kxc1 Qa1+ 0-1
For White
(1) 12 Bxe5?
The e5- pawn is poisoned. Black can pin the bishop to Whites king with 12 ... Qe7! (or 12 ... Qe6!).
(2 points)
Position after 12 ... Qe7 (analysis)

If 13 Qe2, then 13 ... Bxf3 removes the defender of the bishop and wins a piece after 14 gxf3 Qxe5 (1
point). Or if 13 d4, then 13 ... Bxf3 (13 ... Nxd4! is also good) 14 Qxf3 Nxd4 (or 14 ... Bxd4) wins
material. (1 point)

(2) 15 Nf3? can be met very strongly by 15 ... Qh6!. (2 points)
Position after 15 ... Qh6 (analysis)

15 ... Qh6 threatens to pin the Whites queen along the e-file with ... Re8 and also prevents White from
castling queenside. Lets consider ways for White to cope with this threat:
a) If White ignores the threat along the e-file with 16 c3, then 16 ... Rde8 17 Ne5 f6 18 d4 Bb6 wins a
piece. (2 points)
b) The most natural reply is to sidestep with 16 Qd2 intending 16 ... Rde8+ 17 Be2, but then Black
has many good options including 17 ... Bxf2+! 18 Kxf2 (if 18 Kf1 Be3 19 Qe1 Qg7)
Position after 18 ... Kxf2 (analysis)

18 ... Rxg2+! (attracting the king to a fatal square) 19 Kxg2 Qxd2 and Black wins - the knight on f3
cant recapture because its pinned (2 points). Earlier, 17 ... Bxf3! 18 Qxh6 Rxe2+ is just as good.
c) 16 Kd1 Rde8 17 Qd2 is another way to escape the pin, but now 17 ... Qf6! (2 points) forks f3 and
b2.

Position after 17 ... Qf6 (analysis)

Black is bound to win material here. If 18 c3 Bxf3+ 19 gxf3 Qxf3+ 20 Kc2, Black must be careful not
to fall into the trap 20 ... Qxh1?? allowing the fatal discovered attack 21 Bh3+, but the calm 21 ... Kb8!
stops that trick and leaves White with no good way to save his rook (2 points). 18 ... Rxg2! (instead of 18
... Bxf3) 19 Bxg2 Bxf3+ 20 Bxf3 Qxf3+ 21 Kc2 Re2 is another nice winning option for Black.
Going back to move 15, instead of 15 Nf3? it was better for White to play either 15 c3, with the idea
of d4, or 15 0-0-0 getting the king off the e-file. (2 points)

(3) 16 Qd2? allows Black to win material and gain a decisive advantage with 16 ... Qxb2. White
should instead play 16 0-0-0. (2 points)
For Black
(4) 12 ... Nxe5?
It was possible to win material with 12 ... Qe7 or 12 ... Qe6, as seen above. (1 point)

(5) 15 ... Qb6
This isnt bad but 15 ... Qh6! is even stronger, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Removing the Defender, Attraction, Deflection, Fork, Discovered Attack
J.Al Jou Jou-H.Middendorf
Regensburg 2004
Scotch Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Nxd4 5 Qxd4 c5 6 Qd1 b6 7 Nc3 d6 8 Bc4 Nf6 9 0-0 Be7 10 Bf4
a6 11 a4 0-0 12 h3 Bb7 13 Qd3 (*) Nxe4 14 Nd5 Ng5 15 Nxe7+ Qxe7 16 Bxd6 Nxh3+ 17 gxh3 Qg5+
18 Qg3 Qf5 19 Bxf8 Kxf8 20 Rfe1 Rd8 21 Bd3 Rxd3 22 cxd3 g6 23 Qd6+ 1-0
For White
(1) 7 Nc3?
White missed the chance to play 7 Qd5!, attacking the unprotected rook on a8.

Black has no good way to safeguard the rook. If 7 ... Rb8, then the fork 8 Qe5+! wins the rook, while
Blacks c8-bishop has no safe move to allow the queen to protect the rook. White wins at least a piece. (2
points)

(2) 8 Bc4
This move isnt bad, but 8 Qd5! (2 points) is more direct and leads to a forced gain of material and/or
a decisive weakening of the black king.

For example:
a) 8 ... Be6 9 Bb5+! Bd7 (if 9 ... Ke7 10 Qb7+!) 10 Bxd7+ forces Black to recapture 10 ... Kxd7,
since the queen must remain defending the rook on a8. Now White can win a pawn with 11 Qxf7+ but 11
Qb7+ is even stronger, e.g. 11 ... Ke8 12 Qc6+ Ke7 13 Nd5+ Ke6 14 Nc7+ forking king and rook. (2
points)
b) 8 ... Rb8 9 Bb5+ Bd7 (if 9 ... Ke7 10 Bg5+ f6 11 Bc4!) 10 Bf4 Nf6 11 Qd3 and with Rd1 to follow
if necessary, White will win the weak d6-pawn. (2 points)

(3) 9 0-0?
White could have broken through with 9 e5!:
a) If 9 ... dxe5 White has the deflection tactic 10 Bxf7+! (2 points) to draw the black king out into the
open:

10 ... Ke7 (10 ... Kxf7 11 Qxd8 wins the queen for a bishop) 11 Bd5! Rb8 (if 11 ... Nxd5 12 Nxd5+
Kf7 13 Qf3+) 12 Bg5. Whites dominating position will lead to either a quick checkmate or decisive
material gains. (1 point)
b) If Black pins the e5-pawn with 9 ... Qe7, White sidesteps the pin with 10 0-0!. (1 point)
Position after 10 0-0 (analysis)

Here White intends to use a pin himself - a decisive one after 10 ... Qxe5? 11 Re1!, winning the queen
(1 point). Black must instead play 11 ... dxe5, but after 11 Bg5! (1 point) Whites various threats such as
Nd5, Qf3 and Bb5+ are impossible to deal with adequately. For example, 11 ... Be6 12 Bb5+ Bd7 13
Bxf6 gxf6 14 Nd5 Qd6 and here the deflecting tactic 15 Nxf6+! wins a piece, since 15 ... Qxf6 allows 16
Qxd7 mate. (1 point)
For Black
(4) 6 ... b6? allows 7 Qd5, as shown above. A developing move such as 6 ... d6 was much better. (1
point)

(5) 7 ... d6? loses the d-pawn, as outlined above. Black should play 7 ... Bb7! to prevent Qd5. (1
point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Exposed King, Pin, Deflection
G.Albert-R.Camblan
Bastia 2008
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 e5 7 Nf5 Bb4 8 Qf3 0-0 9 Qg3 Be7 (*) 10
Bh6 Nh5 11 Qg4 Bf6 12 0-0-0 Kh8 13 Bxg7+ Nxg7 14 Rd3 Rg8 15 Rh3 d6 16 Qf3 Nd4 17 Qe3 Ngxf5
18 exf5 Bxf5 19 Rh5 Bg6 20 Rh3 Bg5 21 Qxg5 Qxg5+ 22 Kb1 Bxc2+ 23 Ka1 Qc1+ 0-1
For White
(1) 8 Qf3? does not take advantage of Blacks mistake on the previous move. White can capture a key
pawn with check: 8 Nxg7+ (1 point) 8 ... Kf8 and here 9 Nh5! (2 points) attacks the pinned knight.
Position after 9 Nh5 (analysis)

The only way for Black to defend the knight is with 9 ... Be7 but then White wins even more material
after 10 Bh6+! Ke8 (or 10 ... Kg8 11 Nxf6+ Bxf6 12 Qg4+!) 11 Ng7+ Kf8 and now the double check 12
Ne6+! wins Blacks queen. (1 point)

(2) 9 Qg3?
9 0-0-0! (2 point) introduces the powerful threat of Nd5, and leads to a decisive advantage in all
lines.
Position after 9 0-0-0 (analysis)

Allowing the knight to reach d5 is disastrous for Black. For example, 9 ... d6 10 Nd5 threatens 11
Bxf6 gxf6 12 Qg3+ and Qg7 mate. Black can try 10 ... Bxf5 but then 11 Bxf6! gxf6 12 Qxf5 threatens
Nxf6+ and 12 ... Kg7 is met by 13 Rd3! and Rg3+. (1 point)
Alternatively, after 9 ... Be7 10 Nxe7+ Nxe7 (10 ... Qxe7 11 Nd5!) 11 Bxf6 gxf6 12 Qxf6 White is a
pawn up with a continuing attack against an exposed king. (1 point)
The obvious defensive try is to exchange off the c3-knight, but after 9 ... Bxc3 10 bxc3 new threats
emerge.
Position after 19 bxc3

One threat is 11 Rd6!, to add further pressure to the pinned knight, while another is 11 Nxg7! Kxg7, to
rip open Blacks defences in front of the king, and only now 12 Rd6. Together, these ideas are
devastating, and Black doesnt have an adequate defence. For example:
a) 10 ... d6 11 Rxd6 Qc7 12 Rxf6! wins a piece, as 12 ... gxf6 allows 13 Nh6+ and 14 Qxf6 mate. (1
point)
b) 10 ... d5 11 Rxd5 Qb6 12 Nh6+! gxh6 (12 ... Kh8 13 Qxf6 wins a piece - the queen cannot be
captured) 13 Bxf6 and there is no good defence to Qg3+. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 7 ... Bb4? gives up the defence of the g-pawn and allows 8 Nxg7+, as demonstrated above (1 point).
Better was 7 ... d6 or 7 ... h6.

(4) 8 ... 0-0? allows the strong reply 9 0-0-0!, as demonstrated above. Even though Blacks position
remains very difficult, it was better to exchange the knight for the bishop with 8 ... Bxc3+ 9 bxc3, and then
defend the g7-pawn with 10 ... Kf8. (1 point)
(5) 9 ... Be7?
Black missed a golden opportunity to turn the tables with 9 ... Nxe4! (2 points), utilizing three
different tactics: the pin on the c3-knight, a discovered attack on the g5-bishop by the queen, and a fork by
the knight on Whites queen and bishop.

White can take Blacks queen, but after 10 Bxd8 Nxg3 11 Nxg3 Rxd8 Black emerges a pawn ahead. (1
point)
9 ... Be7? also allows White the chance to win material with 10 Nxe7+ Qxe7 11 Nd5!.
(1 point)

Tactical Themes
Pin, Double Check, Exposed King, Removing the Defender, Discovered Attack, Fork
M.Bukowska-P.Renkowski
Augustow 2004
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 c3 Na5 5 Be2 Nf6 6 d4 exd4 7 cxd4 Bb4+ 8 Nc3 Bxc3+ 9 bxc3 Nxe4
10 Bd3 Qe7 11 0-0 0-0 12 Re1 Nxc3 (*) 13 Qd2 Qb4 14 a3 Qb3 15 Qg5 d6 16 Bxh7+ Kxh7 17 Qxa5
b6 18 Qg5 Bb7 19 Qf5+ g6 20 Qd7 Bxf3 21 Qh3+ Kg7 22 Qxf3 Rfe8 23 Bf4 Rxe1+ 24 Rxe1 Re8 25
Rxe8 Qb1+ 26 Bc1 Qxc1+ 27 Qd1 Qxd1+ 28 Re1 Qxe1 mate 0-1
For White
(1) 5 Be2
5 Bxf7+! is stronger. After 5 ... Kxf7 the pawn fork 6 b4! (2 points) regains the sacrificed piece.

Position after 6 b4 (analysis)

White wins a pawn (e.g. after 6 ... Bxb4 7 cxb4 Nc6 8 b5 Nd4 9 Nxe5+) and Blacks king remains
unsafe.

(2) 6 d4?
6 b4! (1 point) forks two pieces and wins one of them.

Position after 6 b4 (analysis)
Blacks best bet is probably 6 ... Bxf2+, but after 7 Kxf2 Nxe4+ 8 Kg1 Nc6 9 b5 Ne7 10 Nxe5 White
is a piece for a pawn ahead.

(3) 7 cxd4?
Again, 7 b4! forks the bishop and knight, and wins material. (1 point)

(4) 8 Nc3? loses the e-pawn (1 point). 8 Bd2! Bxd2+ 9 Nbxd2 would save it. (1 point)
For Black
(5) 4 ... Na5? allows 5 Bxf7+!, as outlined above. (1 point)

(6) 5 ... Nf6? fails to deal with Whites threat of 6 b4. Black should retreat the knight back to c6. (1
point)

(7) 6 ... exd4? again allows the pawn fork 7 b4. Black had to play 6 ... Bb6. (1 point)

(8) 12 ... Nxc3? loses material to 13 Qc2! (or 14 Qd2!). (2 points)


The queen and the knight are attacked, and Black cannot save both. If 13 ... Qb4 then 14 Bd2 pins and
wins the knight.
13 Bxh7+! is just as good and also wins: if 13 ... Kxh7 then 14 Qc2+!, and if 13 ... Kh8 then 14 Qc2
comes again. (2 points)
Black should meet the threat to the pinned knight by supporting it with 12 ... f5 (1 point). This is better
than 12 ... d5? which allows 13 Qa4 b6 14 Ba3!.
Tactical Themes
Fork, Double Attack, Pin, Attraction
R.Dopychai-E.A.Rulfs
Bad Zwischenahn 2004
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 Nf3 c5 3 d4 d5 4 exd5 exd5 5 c4 Nf6 6 Nc3 Be7 7 dxc5 Be6 8 Ng5 Bxc5 9 Nxe6 fxe6 10
cxd5 exd5 11 Bb5+ Nc6 12 0-0 0-0 13 Bg5 a6 14 Bd3 Qd6 15 Qb3 Ne7 16 Rad1 Kh8 17 Be2 Rad8 18
Bxf6 Rxf6 (*) 19 Ne4 Bxf2+ 20 Rxf2 Rxf2 21 Nxd6 Rxe2 22 Nf7+ 1-0
For White
(1) 15 Qb3
This move is risky. The queen no longer protects the g4-square so this allows Black possibilities based
on ... Ng4, as shown below. (1 point)

(2) 16 Rad1?
White misses an opportunity to win a pawn, and at the same time gives Black the chance to win
material (see below).
16 Bxf6! (1 point) exchanges off a key defender. Lets look at the possible recaptures:
a) 16 ... Rxf6 is met by 17 Ne4!. (2 points)

White exploits the pin on the d5-pawn to fork the queen, rook and bishop, and wins at least the
exchange.
b) 16 ... Qxf6 (16 ... gxf6 is also met in the same way) 17 Ne4! (1 point) 17 ... Qb6 18 Nxc5 Qxc5 19
Rac1! (gaining more time) 19 ... Qd4 (or 19 ... Qd6 20 Qxb7) 20 Rc7 with a double attack on e7 and b7 White wins a pawn (1 point). Earlier, 17 Nxd5! is just as good.
For Black
(3) 15 ... Ne7?
This loses a pawn, for the reasons outlined above. (1 point)
Black could have initiated favourable complications playing 15 ... Ng4!. (2 points)

This knight jump creates a double threat: mate on h2 and an attack on the f-pawn. Whites only good
option is to force a queen exchange with 16 Qxd5+. After 16 ... Qxd5 17 Nxd5 Nxf2 Black regains his
pawn, and following the further 18 Bc4 Nh3+ 19 Kh1 Nxg5 20 Nb6+ Kh8 21 Nxa8 Rxa8 he has a slight
material advantage. (2 points)

(4) 16 ... Kh8?
This time 16 ... Ng4! (2 points) is even stronger, since White can no longer exchange queens.

17 g3 is forced, to avoid mate on h2, but then 17 ... Nxf2! (1 point) forks rook and bishop, and also
threatens a deadly discovered check. White has nothing better than 18 Rxf2 Rxf2 which leaves Black the
exchange and a pawn ahead, with further threats as well.

(5) 18 ... Rxf6? allows 19 Ne4! exploiting the pin on the d5-pawn to win material (1 point). Black
should instead play 18 ... Qxf6!. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Removing the Defender, Fork, Double Check, Discovered Check
C.Winkler-W.Aurin
Bad Schwalbach 2009
Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack
1 g3 Nf6 2 Bg2 d5 3 d4 c5 4 e3 Nc6 5 Ne2 h6 6 Nbc3 Bg4 7 Qd2 Qd7 8 b3 Bh3 9 Bxh3 Qxh3 10 Nf4
Qf5 11 Bb2 e5 12 Nfxd5 0-0-0 13 Nxf6 Qxf6 14 d5 Qf3 15 0-0 -
For White
(1) 12 Nfxd5? does not win a pawn! On the contrary, it loses material as demonstrated below.
The only way to win the pawn is by 12 dxe5! Nxe5 13 0-0-0!. (2 points)
Position after 12 0-0-0 (analysis)

By castling queenside, White avoids the deadly knight fork on f3 and Black cannot adequately defend
the d5-pawn, for example 13 ... 0-0-0 14 Ncxd5 Nxd5 15 Nxd5 wins a pawn. (1 point)
For Black
(2) 11 ... e5? loses a pawn as demonstrated above (1 point). Black has many better options here,
including 11 ... e6 and 11 ... cxd4. (1 point)

(3) 13 ... Qxf6? allowed White to close the centre with 14 d5!, and White was simply a pawn ahead
in the final position.
Black missed the chance to play the vital zwischenzug 13 ... cxd4! (2 points), which would have led
to a gain in material and a clear advantage for Black.
Position after 13 ... cxd4 (analysis)

Whites knight on f6 is still attacked, but ... dxc3 is an even bigger threat. Whats more, moving the c3knight allows ... Bb4 pinning the queen to the king. White has no satisfactory way to deal with the threats.
For example:
a) 14 0-0-0 dxc3 15 Qxc3 Qxf6 and Black is a piece for a pawn ahead. (2 points)
b) 14 Nb5 Bb4! (pinning the queen to the king) 15 Nxa7+! (if 15 c3 dxc3 with decisive threats)
Position after 15 Nxa7+ (analysis)

15 ... Kc7! (2 points) (not falling for the deflection tactic 15 ... Nxa7 16 Qxb4!) 16 Bc3 Bxc3 17
Nb5+ Kb8 18 Nxc3 dxc3 19 Qxc3 Qxf6. Black is a piece up for two pawns.
c) 14 exd4 exd4 (2 points) is very similar to notes a and b. If anything this is even worse for White
because his king is more exposed.
Tactical Themes
Zwischenzug, Pin, Deflection
S.Pallas-L.Schwarz
Wismar 2009
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 Nf3 Nbd7 6 e3 0-0 7 Bd3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 c5 9 0-0 b6 10 Qe2 Bb7
11 Rfd1 cxd4 12 Nxd4 Re8 13 Rac1 (*) a6 14 Nxe6 Qc8 15 Nd4 Bc5 16 a3 b5 17 Bb3 Bxd4 18 Rxd4
Qc5 19 Qd2 Qxg5 0-1
For White
(1) 13 Rac1
There was something more concrete here: 13 Nxe6! (2 points) is a typical sacrifice in such positions
and leads to a gain of material for White:
Position after 13 Nxe6 (analysis)

a) Accepting the sacrifice with 13 ... fxe6 eventually leaves White two pawns up after 14 Bxe6+ Kh8
15 Bxf6 (removing the defender of the knight on d7) 15 ... Bxf6 16 Bxd7 (or 16 Rxd7). (2 points)
b) Declining the sacrifice is the better choice. However, after 13 ... Qc8 14 Nf4 White has won a
healthy central pawn. (1 point)

For Black
(2)
Position after 11 Rfd1

11 ... cxd4?!
This innocent-looking capture invites trouble because it opens up the d-file. Better options include 11
... Qc8, moving the queen off the d-file, or 11 ... Ne4 trying to relieve the pressure via exchanges. (1
point)

(3) 12 ... Re8? allows the knight sacrifice on e6 as outlined above. (1 point)
Its not easy to defend against the threat, for example 12 ... Qe8 sidesteps the pressure on the d-file but
runs into 13 Ncb5 threatening Nc7. Blacks best option is probably the prophylactic 12 ... Kh8 (1 point),
so that Bxe6 doesnt come with check.
Position after 12 ... Kh8 (analysis)

White can play 13 Bxe6 fxe6 14 Nxe6 Qe8 15 Nxf8 Bxf8 but this material imbalance isnt bad for
Black.
Tactical Themes
Removing the defender, Pin
E.Grange-C.Grimaud
St Chely dAubrac 2009
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 d3 Bc5 5 Bg5 d6 6 Nc3 h6 7 Bh4 Bg4 8 h3 Bh5 9 g4 Bg6 10 Nd5 Bh7
11 Qd2 Nd4 12 Nxd4 Bxd4 13 Qa5 (*) Bb6 14 Qa4+ c6 15 0-0-0 g5 16 Bg3 Nxd5 17 exd5 Qd7 18
dxc6 bxc6 19 h4 Rc8 20 hxg5 Qxg4 21 Bxf7+ Kxf7 22 Qxg4 Ke7 23 Rxh6 Rcg8 24 Qe6+ Kd8 25
Rxh7 Re8 26 Qd7 mate 1-0
For White
(1) 13 Qa5? missed the opportunity to play a winning continuation: 13 Bxf6! gxf6 14 Qxh6. (2 points)
Position after 14 Qxh6 (analysis)

Black cannot avoid losing the pinned bishop on h7 since there is no good way to prevent the knight
fork on f6. After 14 ... Kd7 15 Nxf6+ Kc8 16 Nxh7 White has won a piece.
Another good option is 13 Nxf6+ gxf6 14 Qxh6 (2 points), and this time there is no defence to Bxf6. If
14 ... Kd7 15 Bxf6 Bxe4 16 Qg7! Rh7 17 Qxh7 Bxh7 18 Bxd8 Rxd8 White is the exchange and a pawn up.
After 13 Qa5? Black could play 13 ... g5! to break the pin (1 point). The tempting 14 Nxc7+? is a
mistake: after 14 ... Kf8 the knight on c7 is pinned, and Black threatens both ... gxh4 and ... Bb6.
For Black
(2) 1 ... Nd4?
If White continues correctly as outlined above, Black loses a piece. Instead, Black should break the
pin with 11 ... g5!.
Position after 11 ... g5 (analysis)

Blacks problems are solved if White retreats the bishop to g3, but what happens if White sacrifices
on g5? 12 Nxg5 shouldnt be met by 12 ... hxg5? 13 Bxg5 when Black has no way to save the pinned
knight on f6. Instead he can play 12 ... Nxd5!. (1 point)

White has no good way to utilize a discovered attack on the black queen by moving his knight. For
example:
a) 13 Nxh7? is met simply by 13 ... Qxh4 14 exd4 Nd4! after which Black will win a piece. (1 point)
b) 13 Nxf7 Qxh4 14 Nxh8 Be3! 15 Qe2 Nd4! 16 Qf1 Nb4! and wins material. (1 point)
c) 13 Nf3 is met very strongly by the counter-threat 13 ... Nd4!. (2 points)

Position after 13 ... Nd4 (analysis)

Black threatens ... Nxf3, forking king and queen, and also deflects the knight away from its defence of
the bishop on h4. Black remains a piece ahead after either 14 Nxd4 Qxh4 or 14 Bxd8 Nxf3+ 15 Ke2 Nxd2
16 Bxd5 Rxd8 17 Kxd2.
d) 13 exd5 is probably Whites best bet. After 13 ... hxg5 14 dxc6 gxh4 15 cxb7 Rb8 White has two
pawns for a piece. (1 point)
In view of the strength of 11 ... g5!, White should probably have played 11 Bxf6! gxf6 12 Qd2, instead
of 11 Qd2.
Tactical Themes
Pin, Fork, Discovered Attack, Deflection
L.Unuk-J.Kolsek
Konjice 2009
1 d4 g6 2 c4 Bg7 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bf4 b6 5 e3 Bb7 6 Nf3 0-0 7 Be2 Ne4 8 Nxe4 Bxe4 9 Bd3 Bxd3 10
Qxd3 Nc6 11 0-0 d6 12 Qe4 Qd7 13 Rad1 e6 14 b3 Nb4 15 a3 f5 16 Qb7 Nc6 17 c5 bxc5 18 dxc5 d5
19 b4 (*) a5 20 b5 Na7 21 c6 Qd8 22 a4 h6 23 h3 Nc8 24 Be5 Nb6 25 Bxg7 Kxg7 26 Ne5 Nxa4 0-1
For White
(1) 16 Qb7?

Position after 16 Qb7

Whites queen has gone deep into enemy territory, and theres no way back! After 16 ... Rfb8! the
queen is trapped (1 point). The best White can do from here is 17 Qxb8+ Rxb8 18 axb4, when Black has
won a queen for a rook and knight. (1 point)

Instead of 16 Qb7, White should have retreated with 16 Qb1. (1 point)

(2) 17 c5? loses a pawn, to 17 ... Na5 18 Qa6 Nxb3 (1 point). White could prevent this double attack
and bring the queen back to safety with 17 Qa6!. (1 point)

(3) 19 b4?
Instead, 19 Qxc7 simply wins a pawn (1 point). But not 19 Bxc7? Rfb8!, exploiting the pin and
winning the bishop.
For Black
(4) 16 ... Nc6?
Black missed the chance to trap the queen with 16 ... Rfb8!, as indicated above. (1 point)

(5) 17 ... bxc5?
Black can win a pawn with 17 ... Na5 18 Qa6 Nxb3, as shown above. (1 point)

(6) 18 ... d5? loses a pawn. Better was 18 ... Rab8 19 Qd6 e5, to relieve the pressure against d6 (1
point).
Position after 19 ... e5 (analysis)

After 20 Bg3 Black should avoid grabbing a pawn with 20 ... Rxb3?, as 21 Qc4+! Qf7 22 Qa4! is a
fork that wins a piece for two pawns.
Tactical Themes
Trapped Piece, Fork
C.Nord-P.Ollier
Pau 2008
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 c5 4 dxc5 Bxc5 5 Nf3 Qb6 6 Qd2 Nc6 7 Nc3 Nge7 8 Na4 Qb4 9 Qxb4 Bxb4+ 10
Nc3 Ng6 11 Bb5 Bd7 12 Bxc6 Bxc3+ 13 bxc3 Bxc6 (*) 14 Be3 0-0 15 0-0 a6 16 Rab1 Rab8 17 Rfe1
Rfc8 18 Bd4 Ne7 19 Rb2 Nf5 -
For White
(1) 10 Nc3?
White voluntarily enters a pin, and the knight is vulnerable to an attack.
Position after 10 Nc3

Black can take advantage of the pinned knight by 10 ... d4! (2 points). Although White is able to avoid
losing a piece by breaking the pin with 11 a3 Ba5 12 b4, Black can still win material with the temporary
sacrifice 12 ... Nxb4! 13 axb4 Bxb4. (2 points)
Position after 13 ... Bxb4 (analysis)

After the further 14 Bb2 Bxc3+ 15 Bxc3 dxc3 16 Ra3 Bd7 17 Rxc3 Black has won a pawn from the
attack on the pinned knight.
Instead of 10 Nc3, White should block the check with either 10 Bd2 or 10 c3. (1 point)
For Black
(2) 10 ... Ng6?
Black missed the chance to play 10 ... d4!, as outlined above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin
L.Giudicelli-D.Royer
Bastia 2009
Vienna Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 c6 3 Nf3 f6 4 Bc4 (*) d5 5 exd5 c5 6 d3 Bg4 7 h3 h5 8 hxg4 g6 9 gxh5 g5 10 Bb5+ Nd7
11 Bxd7+ Kxd7 12 Ne4 Bh6 13 Nxc5+ Kc7 14 Ne6+ Kb6 15 Nxd8 Rxd8 16 Be3+ Kc7 17 Bxa7 Rxd5
18 Qd2 Kd6 19 Qb4+ Kd7 20 Qxb7+ Ke6 21 0-0-0 g4+ 22 Nd2 e4 23 dxe4 Bxd2+ 24 Rxd2 Rhxh5 25
Rxh5 Rxh5 26 Qc6+ Ke5 27 g3 Rh1+ 28 Rd1 Rh7 29 Qd5 mate 1-0
For White
(1) 4 Bc4
White has a promising sacrifice 4 Nxe5! (2 points), clearing the way for the queen to reach h5 with
check. After 4 ... fxe5 (if Black doesnt take White simply wins a pawn) 5 Qh5+ Black is forced to defend
accurately just to stay in the game:
Position after 5 Qh5+ (analysis)

a) If 5 ... g6 then 6 Qxe5+! with a double attack, winning the rook on h8. (1 point)
b) After 5 ... Ke7 6 Qxe5+ Kf7 White continues checking with 7 Bc4+!. (2 points)
Position after 7 Bc4+ (analysis)

Now Black has to make the right choice:
a) After 7 ... Kg6? 8 Qf5+! Kh6 9 d4+ g5 10 h4! the threats of Bxg5+ and hxg5+ are unstoppable and
decisive. (1 point)
b) 7 ... d5! is the only chance: 8 exd5! (1 point) (8 Nxd5 Be6 is less clear) 8 ... Bd6! (8 ... cxd5 9
Bxd5+ Kg6 10 Qg3+ Qg5 11 Bf7+! wins) 9 dxc6+ Kf8 10 cxb7! Bxb7 11 Qe6. White has won four pawns
in exchange for the knight.

For Black
(2) 3 ... f6? allows 4 Nxe5!, as demonstrated above (1 point). To avoid this line, Black should defend the
e5-pawn with either 3 ... d6 or 3 ... Qc7. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Clearance, Double Attack, Pin
M.Chinellato-M.Tonolo
Mestre 2001
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d3 d5 3 Nd2 c5 4 Ngf3 Nc6 5 g3 Nge7 6 Bg2 g6 7 0-0 Bg7 8 c3 0-0 9 Re1 b5 10 e5 Qc7 11
Qe2 Bb7 12 h4 Rad8 13 Nf1 b4 14 Bf4 Ba6 15 N1h2 d4 16 c4 Bc8 17 Ng5 Nf5 18 Ng4 Nce7 19 Ne4
Kh8 20 Ngf6 (*) Ng8 21 h5 Qe7 22 Bg5 Qc7 23 Bf4 Qe7 24 b3 Nxf6 25 Nxf6 Bxf6 26 exf6 Qd7 27
Be5 Rg8 28 hxg6 Rxg6 29 Qh5 Rdg8 30 Be4 Bb7 31 Kg2 Rh6 32 Qe2 Nh4+ 33 Kf1 Nf5 34 Qf3 Bxe4
35 Qxe4 Nd6 36 Qf4 Qc6 37 Qxh6 Nf5 38 Qh3 Qf3 39 Rad1 1-0
For White
(1) 19 Ne4? missed a chance. White could have won material with 19 Nf6+!. (2 points)

Position after 19 Nf6+ (analysis)
If Black responds with 19 ... Bxf6 then 20 exf6 unleashes a discovered attack against the black queen
and wins the knight on e7 (1 point). Alternatively, after 19 ... Kh8 20 Ngxh7 White wins a pawn with
more material to follow since the attacked rook on f8 has no safe square. (1 point)
For Black
(2) 18 ... Nce7? moves the knight to an unfortunate square and allows 19 Nf6+!, as shown above. (1
point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Discovered Attack, Trapped Piece
L.Buoncristiani-G.Sirci
Foligno 2008
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Be6 5 Nf3 c6 6 Bd3 Nf6 7 0-0 Nbd7 8 Ng5 Bg4 9 f3 Bh5 10 Re1
e6 11 Bf4 Bb4 12 Qe2 0-0 13 Bd2 Rfe8 14 Qf2 e5 15 a3 Bd6 16 Nce4 Qd5 17 Nxd6 Qxd6 18 Bb4 c5
19 dxc5 Qc6 (*) 20 Bc4 Rac8 21 Rad1 e4 22 Rd6 Qc7 23 Nxe4 Nxe4 24 Rxe4 a5 25 Bxa5 Qxa5 26
Rxd7 Rxc5 27 b4 Qxa3 28 Qxc5 Qa1+ 29 Bf1 Bg6 1-0
For White
(1) 16 Nce4?
White missed the chance to win material, with 16 Nb5!. (2 points)
Position after 16 Nb5 (analysis)

This is a powerful discovered attack on the black queen, because in addition the knight attacks the
bishop on d6. The queen is unable to defend the bishop so Black is forced to either give up the bishop, or
the queen for two minor pieces with 16 ... Qxb5 17 Bxb5 cxb5. (2 points)

(2) 17 Nxd6?
Blacks queen was defending the bishop, and she could have been chased away from her defence by
17 c4!.
Position after 17 c4 (analysis)

Blacks only safe queen move here is 17 ... Qxd4, but then 18 Qxd4! removes the defender, and after
18 ... exd4 19 Nxd6 White wins a bishop for a pawn. (2 points)

(3) 18 Bb4? allows Black to win a pawn with 18 ... Qxd4 (1 point). Instead White should either
defend the d4-pawn or swap on e5.
For Black

Position after 15 a3

15 ... Bd6?
On d6 the bishop is unprotected and 16 Nb5! is strong, as indicated above (1 point). Since the queen
on a5 is vulnerable to a discovered attack, it was vital to safeguard the bishop, and so 15 ... Bf8! is a
much better move (1 point). 15 ... Be7 isnt as effective because it leaves the e5-pawn vulnerable.

(5) 16 ... Qd5?
On the d5-square, the queen is still vulnerable to an attack, with 17 c4! (1 point). Blacks only good
move was 16 ... Qc7!, safeguarding both the queen and the bishop. (1 point)

(6) 18 ... c5? loses a pawn (1 point). Instead, Black could have won a pawn by playing 18 ... Qxd4.
(1 point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Removing the Defender
K.Govatsmark-A.Tari
Oslo 2008
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4 Be7 8 Qf3 Qc7 9 0-0-0 Nbd7 10 Kb1
b5 11 Bxf6 Nxf6 12 Bd3 Bb7 13 Rhe1 d5 14 exd5 Nxd5 15 Nxd5 Bxd5 16 Be4 Rd8 -
For White
(1) 14 exd5?
White missed the opportunity to seize the initiative with 14 e5! (1 point). In reply, 14 ... Ne4 loses a
pawn to 15 Nxe4 dxe4 16 Bxe4 Bxe4 17 Qxe4 (1 point). The obvious retreat is 14 ... Nd7 (14 ... Ng8 15
f5!), but then the key pawn break 15 f5! (2 points) creates some dangerous threats.
Position after 15 f5 (analysis)

For instance, 16 fxe6 fxe6 17 Nxe6 attacking the queen and also threatening 18 Qh5+ g6 19 Qxg6+!
hxg6 20 Bxg6 mate.
In view of Blacks exposed king, none of his defensive tries are fully adequate. Here are some
examples:
a) 15 ... Nxe5 16 Qg3! (1 point) (creating a pin) 16 ... Bf6 17 fxe6 0-0 18 Nf3! d4 (otherwise White
just captures the pinned knight) 19 Nxe5 dxc3 20 exf7+ Kh8.
Position after 20 ... Kh8 (analysis)

Now, White has mate in three: 21 Ng6+! hxg6 22 Qh3+ Bh4 23 Qxh4 mate. (1 point)
b) 15 ... exf5 16 Nxf5 (16 e6! is also very strong) 16 ... g6 17 Nd6+! Bxd6 18 exd6+ and the
discovered check wins the queen. (1 point)
c) 15 ... 0-0-0 16 Qg3! (16 Qh3 is also good) 16 ... exf5 17 Bxf5 g6 18 Bh3 (1 point). The pin on the
d7-knight is very awkward for Black, e5-e6 is threatened, and if 18 ... Kb8 there follows 19 Ndxb5! axb5
20 Nxb5 Qb6 and now the discovered check 21 e6+! Ka8 22 exd7. White is two pawns up with a very
strong attack.

(2) 17 -?
In the final position White could have won a pawn: 17 Bxd5 Rxd5 (if 17 ... exd5? then 18 Nf5! Rd7
19 Rxd5) and now the key move 18 f5! (2 points) 0-0 19 fxe6 fxe6 20 Qg4!.

Position after 20 Qg4 (analysis)

Black cannot save his e6-pawn as 20 ... e5? 21 Ne6! threatens both the queen and mate with Qxg7. (1
point)
For Black
(3) 13 ... d5? allows White to seize the initiative with 14 e5! Nd7 15 f5 (1 point). Black should delay any
action in the centre and play something like 13 ... b4, 13 ... 0-0 or 13 ... Rc8.

(4) 14 ... Nxd5?
This allows White to win a pawn later on, as demonstrated above. 14 ... b4 or 14 ... 0-0, keeping the
pin on the d5-pawn and intending to recapture it later, were both better choices. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Exposed King, Pin, Discovered Check, Double Attack
M.Mueller-K.Wiesner
Leipzig 2008
Owens Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 b6 3 c4 Bb7 4 Bd3 f5 5 d5 fxe4 6 Bxe4 Nf6 7 Bg5 h6 8 Bg6+ Ke7 9 Bh4 (*) Kd6 10 Nf3
b5 11 Bg3+ Kc5 12 Qd4+ Kb4 13 a3+ Ka5 14 b4+ Ka6 15 cxb5+ Kxb5 16 a4+ Ka6 17 Bd3 mate 1-0
For White
(1) 8 Bg6+ is tempting and certainly not bad, but White has a better move: 8 Qh5+!.
Position after 8 Qh5+ (analysis)

The key tactical theme behind this queen check on h5 is deflection: 8 ... Nxh5? allows 9 Bg6 mate (2
points), so Black cannot take the queen.
8 ... g6? 9 Qxg6+ Ke7 10 Qxf6+ is disastrous for Black (1 point), so the only choice left is 8 ... Ke7.
Position after 8 ... Ke7 (analysis)
Here White has the discovered attack 9 d6+! (2 points) followed by 10 Bxb7 and Bxa8, winning a
rook overall.
For Black
(2) 7 ... h6? fatally weakens the g6-square and allows the decisive 8 Qh5+! (1 point). Good options for
Black include 7 ... exd5, 7 ... Be7, 7 ... Bd6 and 7 ... Bb4+.
Tactical Themes
Deflection, Discovered Attack, Exposed King
G.Mela-V.Zini
Imperia 2007
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 0-0 5 0-0 Re8 6 Bf4 d6 7 Re1 Nd5 8 Qc1 Nxf4 9 Qxf4 e5 10 Qd2
exd4 (*) 11 Nxd4 c5 12 Nb5 Bxb2 13 Qxd6 Qa5 14 N1c3 Bxa1 15 Rxa1 a6 16 Nd5 axb5 17 Nf6+ Kh8
18 Nxe8 Nd7 19 Bh3 Qc3 20 Rf1 Qe5 21 Qxe5+ Nxe5 22 Bxc8 Rxc8 23 Nd6 Ra8 24 Ra1 Ra7 25 f4
1-0
For White
(1) 10 Qd2? deprives the f3-knight of a vital retreat square and allows Black to win it by force with 10 ...
e4!. (2 points)

Whites knight has a choice of two squares, but either way Black is able to win it:
a) 11 Nh4 g5! and the knight is trapped. (1 point)
b) 11 Ng5 is met by the interference tactic 11 ... e3!.

Blacks pawn advance interferes with the queens defence of the knight, and wins it after 12 fxe3
Qxg5. (2 points)
Instead of 10 Qd2?, White should play 10 dxe5 dxe5 and now either 11 Qe4! to prevent ... e4 for the
moment, or 11 Qc1! protecting the b2-pawn and allowing the knight to retreat to d2 after ... e4. (2 points)
For Black
(2) 10 ... exd4
This move isnt bad, but 10 ... e4! is stronger, as demonstrated above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Trapped Piece, Interference
V.Zini-R.Vocaturo
Imperia 2007
Rti Opening
1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 e6 3 g3 Nf6 4 Bg2 c5 5 0-0 Be7 6 b3 Nc6 7 Bb2 0-0 8 e3 d4 9 d3 Re8 10 Nbd2 -
For White
(1) 10 Nbd2?

Position after 10 Nbd2

10 Nbd2? blocks the queens defence of the d3-pawn and Black could have won it with 10 ... dxe3! 11
fxe3 Qxd3. (2 points)
Any sensible move that keeps the d3-pawn safe would have been better, for example 10 exd4 cxd4 or
10 Re1.
For Black
(2) 10 ... -?
10 ... dxe3! 11 fxe3 Qxd3 wins a central pawn. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack
N.Nischik-S.Mittag
German League 2007
Slav Defence
1 c4 c6 2 Nc3 d5 3 cxd5 cxd5 4 d4 Bf5 5 Nf3 Nf6 6 Bg5 Nbd7 7 Qa4 e6 8 Rc1 a6 9 Bxf6 Qxf6 10 Ne5
Qd8 11 Nxd7 Qxd7 12 Qxd7+ Kxd7 13 e3 Bd6 14 Kd2 Rac8 15 Bd3 Bxd3 16 Kxd3 b5 17 h3 h5 18 f3
g6 19 Rc2 Rc7 20 Rhc1 Rhc8 21 e4 Bf4 22 Nxd5 Rxc2 23 Nb6+ Kd6 (*) 24 Nxc8+ 1-0
For White
(1) 5 Nf3?
White can play the strong move 5 Qb3! here. (2 points)

The double attack on the b7- and d5-pawns is a typical idea for White in this opening. After 5 ... Nc6
6 Nf3 (to defend d4) 6 ... Qc8 7 Nxd5, White wins a pawn and Black gets insufficient compensation.

(2) 8 Rc1?
White missed an opportunity to exploit the pins on Blacks knights, with the forceful sequence 8 e4!
dxe4 (8 ... Bxe4 is met in the same way) 9 Ne5!. (2 points)

White is threatening to win by 10 Bxf6 gxf6 11 Nxd7 Qxd7 12 Bb5, and Black has no satisfactory
defence. If 9 ... a6 White can still play 10 Nxd7 Qxd7 11 Bb5! axb5 12 Qxa8+ winning the exchange with
a dominating position. (1 point)

(3) 10 Ne5?
This knight move looks threatening, but after 10 ... Qd8! Black was okay.
White could exploit the black queens temporary absence from the queenside with 10 Nb5!,
threatening the fork Nc7+ and seizing the initiative. (2 points)
Position after 10 Nb5 (analysis)

Black is able to prevent the threat only by moving her king, either here or next move. In both cases the
king becomes exposed, Blacks coordination suffers greatly and material losses are inevitable sooner or
later. For example, 10 ... Rb8 (10 ... Kd8 11 e3 is similar) 11 Nc7+ Kd8 12 Qa5 Ke7 (12 ... b6 13 Qxa6
wins a pawn, although 13 Qa4 might be even stronger) 13 e3. Whites ideas include 14 Bxa6! bxa6 15
Nxa6 Ra8 (15 ... Rxb2 16 Qa3+) 16 Qb4+ Kd8 17 Qb7 Rxa6 18 Rc8+ Ke7 19 Ne5 winning.

(4) 21 e4?
This pawn advance allows Black to win material with 21 ... Bf4! followed by ... b4 to exploit the pin
on the c-file (1 point).

(5) 22 Nxd5?
After this move White should lose a piece for a pawn, if Black chooses 22 ... Bxc1 23 Nxc7 Rxc7 or
22 ... exd5. (1 point)
White is in trouble anyway, but she can at least get two pawns for the piece by choosing 22 Re1 b4 23
exd5 bxc3! (23 ... exd5 24 Nxd5! Rxc2 25 Nf6+! is a problem for Black) 24 dxe6+ fxe6 25 Rxc3. (1
point)
For Black
(6) 4 ... Bf5?
As shown above, this move allows 5 Qb3! winning a pawn (1 point). Either 4 ... Nf6 or 4 ... Nc6 is
better.

(7)
Position after 7 Qa4

7 ... e6? allows the very strong 8 e4!, as demonstrated above (1 point). Better options for Black
include 7 ... Qb6 or 7 ... Ne4, intending to meet 8 Nxd5? by 8 ... Nxg5 9 Nxg5 e6! attacking both knights.
(1 point)

(8) 9 ... Qxf6? allows White to seize the initiative with 10 Nb5!, as outlined above (1 point). 9 ...
gxf6 is better, so that Blacks queen can defend the queenside. (1 point)

(9) 22 ... Rxc2
22 ... Bxc1! 23 Nxc7 Rxc7 or 22 ... exd5!, as shown above, are much stronger. (1 point)

(10) 23 ... Kd6?
This move lost the exchange to 24 Nxc8+ (1 point), after which Black resigned. Instead, Black could
have still won a piece after 23 ... Kd8! 24 Rxc2 Rxc2 25 Kxc2 Kc7!. (2 points)
Position after 25 ... Kc7 (analysis)

The white knight is trapped, as 26 Na8+ is met simply by 26 ... Kb7!.
Tactical Themes
Double Attack, Pin, Exposed King, Trapped Piece
M.Roettgen-K.Stieg
Bergisch Gladbach 2001
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 d4 Bg4 6 Be3 exd4 7 Qxd4 Qxd4 8 Nxd4 0-0-0 9 f3 Bd7
10 Nc3 Ne7 11 0-0-0 c5 12 Nb3 b6 13 Nd2 Nc6 14 a3 f5 15 Nc4 fxe4 16 Nxe4 h6 17 Bf4 g5 18 Be5
Nxe5 19 Nxe5 Be6 20 h4 gxh4 21 Rxh4 Rxd1+ 22 Kxd1 Bg7 23 Ng6 Rd8+ 24 Kc1 Bc4 25 Nxc5 Be2
26 Nd3 Bxd3 27 cxd3 Rxd3 28 Kc2 Re3 29 Re4 Rxe4 30 fxe4 Kd7 31 b3 Ke6 32 Kd3 Be5 33 Nh4 b5
34 a4 c6 35 g4 c5 36 Nf5 Bf4 37 Nh4 Bg5 -
For White
(1)
Position after 25 ... Be2

26 Nd3?
White missed the opportunity to win material with 26 Ne7+! (1 point), starting a knight fork dance!
After 26 ... Kb8 27 Nc6+! Kc8 28 Nxd8 (2 points) White wins at least the exchange in all lines.
For Black
(2) 24 ... Bc4? exposes the bishop and allows White to win a pawn with the discovered attack 25 Nxc5!.
(1 point)

(3) 25 ... Be2? threatens checkmate with ... Rd1, but runs into the powerful response 26 Ne7+! as
outlined above (1 point). Black could keep the material loss to only a pawn by playing 25 ... bxc5 26
Rxc4. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Discovered Attack
A.Renaudin-V.Peron Luhrs
Ile et Vilaine 2002
Philidor Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nbd7 6 Bc4 Ne5 7 Bb3 Be7 8 Bf4 0-0 9 Qd2 Ng6 10 00-0 Nh5 11 Be3 c6 12 Rde1 a6 13 h3 Bd7 14 Nf5 d5 15 Nh6+ gxh6 16 Bxh6 Be6 17 Qd4 Bf6 18 e5
Bg5+ 19 Bxg5 Qxg5+ 20 Kb1 (*) Qxg2 21 Rhg1 Qxh3 22 Rh1 Qf5 23 Rhg1 Kh8 24 Ne2 Qf3 25 Ng3
Nhf4 26 c4 dxc4 27 Bxc4 Rad8 28 Qc3 Qxf2 29 Nf5 Bxf5+ 30 Ka1 b5 31 e6+ f6 32 Ref1 Qc5 33 b4
Qxc4 34 Qxc4 bxc4 35 Re1 Bxe6 36 Kb2 Nd3+ 0-1

For White
(1)

15 Nh6+? gives up a knight to open up the black king, but the sacrifice isnt convincing.
Instead, White could play 15 Nxe7+! (2 points). This move wins a pawn, and the opening of the
central files will make further material gains more than likely. For example:
a) 15 ... Qxe7 16 exd5 (1 point) and if 16 ... cxd5 then 17 Nxd5 Qd8 18 Nb6! (1 point) forks the rook
and bishop to win more material.
b) 15 ... Nxe7 16 exd5 (1 point) threatens Bc5 pinning the knight to the rook.

(2)

Position after 16 ... Be6

17 Qd4? loses valuable time and allows Black to consolidate his material advantage.
White was right to reject 17 Bxf8?, on account of 17 ... Bg5! 18 Re3 d4! - Black exploits the diagonal
pin, will take the rook and end up a piece ahead. (2 points)
White could and should have grabbed a pawn with 17 exd5 cxd5 18 Nxd5 (2 points). In this case two
pawns and a weak black king add up to good compensation for the knight.
For Black
(3)

Position after 14 Nf5
Whites last move threatened the d6-pawn. 14 ... d5? relies on the tactic 15 exd5? (removing the
defender) 15 ... Bxf5, but after 15 Nxe7+! it loses a pawn and allows White to open the centre, as outlined
above. (1 point)
Black could have safely dealt with the threat with either 14 ... Be6 or 14 ... Bxf5. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Pin, Removing the defender
B.Gentile-A.Salone
Udine 2007
Pirc Defence
1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6 4 Bc4 Bg7 5 Nf3 0-0 6 0-0 a6 7 Re1 Nbd7 8 Bg5 b5 9 Bb3 c5 (*) 10 dxc5
dxc5 11 e5 Ng4 12 e6 fxe6 13 Bxe6+ Kh8 14 Bxg4 1-0

For White
(1) 8 Bg5?
White misses the chance to seize the initiative with 8 e5!. (2 points)

Blacks knight is forced to move, after which the advance e5-e6, backed up by the bishop and rook, is
very strong. White eventually wins at least a pawn, and in many variations he wins the exchange. Lets
consider some possibilities:
a) 8 ... Ng4 9 e6! Nb6 (9 ... fxe6? 10 Bxe6+ is a fork, winning the knight on g4) 10 exf7+ wins a
pawn. (2 points)
b) 8 ... Nh5 9 e6! Nb6 10 exf7+ again wins a pawn. If instead 9 ... fxe6 then 10 Ng5! is very strong. (2
points)
Position after 10 Ng5 (analysis)

White threatens Nxe6 trapping the black queen, and if 10 ... Nb6 11 Bxe6+ White wins the exchange
after either 11 ... Bxe6 12 Nxe6 followed by Nxf8 or 11 ... Kh8 12 Nf7+ Rxf7 13 Bxf7.
c) 8 ... Ne8 9 e6! fxe6 10 Ng5! and White will win the exchange in the same way as in note b. (2
points)
d) 8 ... dxe5 9 dxe5 is similar to the lines above. The exchange of pawns doesnt help Black. For
example:
d1) 9 ... Ng4 10 e6! Nde5 (10 ... fxe6 11 Bxe6+ wins a knight) 11 exf7+ wins a pawn. If 11 ... Nxf7
then 12 Qxd8 Rxd8 13 Rxe7 wins more. (2 points)
d2) 9 ... Nh5 10 e6! fxe6 11 Bxe6+ Kh8 12 Ng5! (threatening Nf7+) 12 ... Ne5 (if 12 ... Qe8 13 Nd5!
threatens Nxc7) 13 Qxd8 Rxd8 and now 14 Rxe5! Bxe5 15 Nf7+ Kg7 16 Nxd8 wins a piece for White. (2
points)
For Black
(2) 7 ... Nbd7? allows White to play 8 e5!, as outlined above (1 point). 7 ... Bg4, 7 ... b5 and 7 ... Nc6 are
all good options for Black. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Trapped Piece, Removing the defender
L.Vitiello-M.Caldonazzo
Rivarolo Mantovano 2007
Bogo-Indian Defence
1 Nf3 Nf6 2 d4 e6 3 c4 Bb4+ 4 Bd2 Bxd2+ 5 Qxd2 0-0 6 Nc3 d5 7 e3 c6 8 Bd3 dxc4 9 Bxc4 Nbd7 10
0-0 c5 11 Rad1 cxd4 12 Qxd4 a6 13 a4 Qc7 14 Ba2 b6 15 Rd2 Bb7 16 Ng5 h6 17 Nxe6 Qc6 18 Nf4
(*) g5 19 Bd5 Nxd5 20 Nfxd5 Rfd8 21 Ne7+ 1-0
For White
(1)
Position after 16 ... h6

17 Nxe6?
This sacrifice looks promising but it can be refuted by Black. After 17 ... fxe6! White initially regains
the piece, together with two extra pawns, with the double attack 18 Bxe6+, but following 18 ... Kh8 19
Bxd7 theres a sting in the tail:
Position after 19 Bxd7 (analysis)

Black plays 19 ... Rfd8! (or 19 ... Rad8!), pinning and winning the white bishop, leaving Black a
piece up for two pawns. (3 points)
Instead of 17 Nxe6, White should retreat with 17 Nge4, 17 Nf3 or 17 Nh3. (1 point)

(2) 18 Nf4 defends against the mate threat on g2, but its not the strongest continuation. Instead, White
can both defend and attack with 18 Bd5!. (2 points)
Position after 18 Bd5 (analysis)

The bishop cannot be captured by the knight on f6 because it is pinned - 18 ... Nxd5? allows 19 Qxg7
mate. So Black is forced to retreat the queen, and after 18 ... Qc8 19 Nxf8 Kxf8 White is the exchange and
a pawn ahead. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 17 ... Qc6?
Maybe Black was surprised by the knight sacrifice on e6 and lost his composure. As demonstrated
above, Black could have refuted 17 Nxe6? by accepting the sacrifice with 17 ... fxe6!. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Pin
A.H.Dang-M.Schulze
Schalksmuehle 2007
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 c4 c6 5 Nc3 Nf6 6 Nf3 Bf5 7 Bd3 Bg6 8 0-0 Be7 9 Re1 0-0 10 Qe2 Re8
11 Bxg6 fxg6 12 Bg5 (*) Nbd7 13 Qe6+ Kh8 14 Bxf6 Nxf6 15 Ng5 Rf8 16 Nf7+ Rxf7 17 Qxf7 Bb4 18
a3 Bxc3 19 bxc3 Qf8 20 Qxb7 Ne4 21 Rac1 Qxf2+ 22 Kh1 Rf8 23 Qxc6 Qf4 24 h3 Nf2+ -
For White
(1) 10 Qe2?
White missed the chance to carry out a typical idea: 10 Bxg6 hxg6 11 Qb3! (2 points) (11 cxd5
followed by Qb3 is similar and just as good).


This queen move attacks the undefended b7-pawn and also puts more pressure on the d5-pawn. White
wins a pawn in all lines. Some examples:
a) 11 ... Qc7 12 cxd5 cxd5 13 Nxd5 Nxd5 14 Qxd5. (1 point)
b) 11 ... Qd7 12 Ne5! Qc7 13 cxd5 Nxd5 14 Nxd5 cxd5 15 Qxd5. (1 point)
c) 11 ... dxc4 12 Qxb7 Nbd7 13 Qxc6. (1 point)
d) 11 ... b6 12 cxd5 cxd5 (or 12 ... Nxd5 13 Nxd5 cxd5 14 Re5 winning the d5-pawn) 13 Bg5 Nc6 14
Rad1! (first protecting d4) 14 ... Qd6 15 Bxf6 Bxf6 16 Nxd5. (1 point)

(2) 12 Bg5?
White could have got a winning advantage with 12 Qe6+! (2 points):
Position after 12 Qe6+ (analysis)

a) 12 ... Kf8 13 Ng5! (or 13 Ne5!) and Qf7 mate next move cannot be prevented. (1 point)
b) 12 ... Kh8 13 Ng5 (threatening a decisive knight fork on f7; 13 Ne5 is also good) 13 ... Qd7 (if 13
... Rf8 then simply 14 Qxe7 wins a piece) 14 Nf7+! Kg8.
Position after 14 ... Kg8 (analysis)

White has only one way to win here, and its spectacular: 15 Nh6+! Kh8 (if 15 ... Kf8 16 Qf7 mate)
16 Qg8+!! (attracting a black piece - rook or knight - to a fatal square) 16 ... Rxg8 17 Nf7 mate. (3 points)
Position after 17 Nf7 mate (analysis)

This is Philidors Mate, the most famous version of the smothered mate.
For Black
(3) 9 ... 0-0? loses a pawn, as demonstrated above (1 point). Better options for Black include 9 ... Bxd3
10 Qxd3 dxc4 11 Qxc4 or immediately 9 ... dxc4. (1 point)

(4) 11 ... fxg6? allows 12 Qe6+!, as shown above (1 point). 11 ... hxg6! saves Black. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Double Attack, Double Check, Attraction, Mate Threat, Smothered Mate
R.Klein-J.Renet
Aix-les-Bains 2007
Vienna Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 f4 d5 4 exd5 Nxd5 5 fxe5 Nxc3 6 bxc3 Qh4+ 0-1
For White
(1) 7 White resigned?
There was no reason to resign! Its true that 7 g3? is no good, since 7 ... Qe4+ creates a double attack
and wins a rook. But after 7 Ke2! (1 point) the game continues.

Position after 7 Ke2 (analysis)

White must have thought that Black could win with the skewer 7 ... Bg4+, but 8 Nf3! saves the queen
and the game (2 points). White is also safe after 7 ... Qe4+ 8 Kf2, intending to meet 8 ... Bc5+ with 9 d4!.
(2 points)
Tactical Themes
Double Attack, Skewer
B.Decrop-G.Hilven
Brasschaat 2007
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nf6 5 Bg5 Nbd7 6 Nf3 h6 7 Bxf6 Nxf6 8 Bd3 b6 9 Bb5+ Nd7 10
Ne5 Bd6 11 Qg4 Bxe5 12 dxe5 (*) Kf8 13 0-0-0 Qe7 14 f4 a6 15 Bc6 Rb8 16 Rd3 h5 17 Qg3 h4 18
Qe3 Kg8 19 Rhd1 Nf8 20 Rd8 Kh7 21 Re8 Qb4 22 Ng5+ Kg6 23 Be4+ f5 24 exf6+ Kxf6 25 Bc6 Ng6
26 Rxe6+ Kf5 27 Qh3+ 1-0
For White
(1) 11 Qg4?
White started correctly by playing 10 Ne5!, but 11 Qg4? doesnt follow it up accurately.
11 Nxd6+! (2 points) clears the diagonal and 11 ... cxd6 12 Nxf7! forks queen and rook.

Position after 12 Nxf7 (analysis)
After 12 ... Kxf7, the king has been attracted to a fatal square. 13 Qf3+! forks the king and rook,
winning an exchange and a pawn overall. (2 points)
11 Qf3 and 11 Nxf7 (2 points) initiate different versions of the same combination, but neither is quite
as effective as the more forcing 11 Nxd6+! cxd6 12 Nxf7!.
For Black
(2)

Position after 9 Bb5+

9 ... Nd7? allows White to gain material, as shown above (1 point). Instead, Black should play 9 ...
Bd7 (1 point). Earlier, Black should probably avoid 8 ... b6 which invites tactics by weakening both the
a4-e8 and h1-a8 diagonals.
Tactical Themes
Clearance, Attraction, Fork
M.Saucey-A.Militon
Aix-les-Bains 2007
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3 d6 5 h3 h6 6 c3 Qf6 7 Nbd2 a6 8 Bb3 Be6 9 0-0 Nge7 10 Re1 0-0
11 Nf1 Bb6 12 Be3 d5 13 Bxb6 cxb6 14 Ng3 Rfd8 15 Qc2 Rac8 16 Qb1 Bxh3 17 Nxe5 Nxe5 18 d4
N5g6 19 gxh3 Qh4 20 exd5 Qxh3 21 Qc1 (*) Nh4 22 Rxe7 Nf3 mate 0-1
For White
(1)

Position after 16 ... Bxh3

17 Nxe5?
Blacks last move 16 ... Bxh3 was based on the deflection tactic 17 gxh3 Qxf3, winning a pawn. 17
Nxe5? is a desperado sacrifice by White with the idea of maintaining the material balance after 17 ...
Nxe5 18 gxh3, but it fails.
Position after 18 gxh3 (analysis)

At the end of this sequence Black can play 18 ... Nf3+! 19 Kg2 Nxe1+ 20 Qxe1, winning the exchange.
(2 points)
White has two equally good ways to meet 16 ... Bxh3:
a) The first is 17 exd5! Nxd5 18 Nh5! (2 points) attacking the black queen. If 18 ... Qg6 then 19 Ng3!
after which Black must either repeat moves with 19 ... Qf6 20 Nh5 or else safeguard the bishop and give
back the pawn after 20 ... Bg4 (or 20 ... Be6) 20 Nxe5 Nxe5 21 Rxe5. (2 points)
b) White can also counterattack in the centre with 17 d4!. (1 point)

White will regain his pawn while Black spends time safeguarding his bishop. Some examples:
a) 17 ... dxe4 18 Nxe5! Be6 19 Bxe6 Qxe6 20 Qxe4 with level material. (1 point)
b) 17 ... exd4 18 Nh5! Qd6 (18 ... Qg6? 19 Nf4 forks queen and bishop) 19 gxh3 dxc3 20 bxc3 is
slightly better for White. (1 point)
c) 17 ... Be6 18 exd5! with a discovered attack by the e1-rook on the e5-pawn, and White regains the
lost pawn after, for example, 18 ... Bxd5 19 Nxe5 Nxe5 20 Rxe5. (1 point)

(2) 18 d4?
Perhaps White now realized that 18 gxh3 loses the exchange to 18 ... Nf3+, as shown above, but this
was still the best option. (1 point)
18 d4? tries to chase the knight away from e5 but it makes things even worse: 18 ... Nf3+! (2 points)
wins for Black.
Position after 18 ... Nf3+ (analysis)

For example:
a) White cannot take the knight: 19 gxf3? Qxf3 and mate on g2 is unstoppable. (1 point)
b) 19 Kf1 Nd2+ forks the king and queen. (1 point)
c) If 19 Kh1 Black could simply win a rook with 19 ... Nxe1, but 19 ... Bg4! intending 20 ... Qh4 leads
to a quick mate, e.g. 20 gxf3 Qxf3+ 21 Kg1 Bh3 and ... Qg2 mate next move. (1 point)

(3) 21 Qc1? allowed Black to force checkmate in two moves with 21 ... Nh4 followed by 21 ... Qg2#
(1 point). White should play 21 Qe4. (1 point)
For Black
(4) 18 ... N5g6?
The winning move for Black is 18 ... Nf3+!, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Deflection, Desperado, Double Attack, Discovered Attack, Mate Threat
L.Azzinaro-L.Rossini
Bresso 2007
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 c3 Nc6 3 d4 d6 4 Nf3 Bg4 5 d5 Ne5 6 Be2 g6 7 0-0 Bg7 8 h3 Bxf3 9 Bxf3 Nf6 10 Bf4 0-0 11
Bxe5 dxe5 12 Qb3 b6 13 Nd2 e6 (*) 14 Nc4 exd5 15 exd5 e4 16 Be2 Qxd5 17 Rad1 Qg5 18 Rfe1
Rad8 19 Nd6 e3 20 f3 Qg3 21 Rf1 Rxd6 22 Rde1 Nh5 23 Kh1 Be5 24 f4 0-1
For White
(1) 6 Be2?
Blacks previous move 5 ... Ne5? relied on the pin against Whites knight on f3, but it was actually a
blunder. White could have turned the tactic on its head by playing 6 Nxe5! (2 points), creating a
discovered attack against the g4-bishop.
Position after 6 Nxe5 (analysis)

If Black recaptures with 6 ... dxe5, White simply replies 7 Qxg4 and wins a piece. (1 point)
If Black makes the more obvious capture, taking Whites queen with 6 ... Bxd1, White wins much
more than a piece with the deadly 7 Bb5+! Qd7 (the only move!) 8 Bxd7+ Kd8 9 Nxf7+ Kxd7 10 Kxd1!.
Next move, White will take the rook on a8, after which he will have a huge material advantage. (2 points)

(2) 7 0-0?
White missed the chance to win a pawn with 7 Nxe5! (2 points) 7 ... Bxe2 and now:

a) The most direct and human choice is 8 Nxf7 Bxd1 9 Nxd8 Bg4 (or 9 ... Rxd8 10 Kxd1) 10 Ne6
(10 Nxb7 a5 is less clear as the knight is trapped on b7) 10 ... Bxe6 11 dxe6. White is a pawn up,
although Black has some chances to attack the advanced e6-pawn. (1 point)
b) The zwischenzug 8 Qa4+! b5 9 Qa6 is even stronger: 9 ... Qb6 (9 ... dxe5 10 Qc6+! Qd7 11 Qxa8+
wins) 10 Qxb6 axb6. Only now does White play the desperado 11 Nxf7! Kxf7 12 Kxe2 and hes a clear
pawn ahead. (2 points)

(3) 8 h3?
Again it was possible to win a pawn, in a similar fashion to the previous note: 8 Nxe5! (2 points) 8 ...
Bxe2 9 Nxf7! (this time the zwischenzug doesnt work: 9 Qa4+? b5 10 Qa6 Bxe5! 11 Qc6+ Kf8!) 9 ...
Bxd1 (or 9 ... Kxf7 10 Qxe2) 10 Nxd8 (1 point) 10 ... Bg4 (if 10 ... Be2 then 11 Re1! maintains the attack
on the bishop).
Position after 10 ... Bg4 (analysis)

After 10 ... Bg4 White can either play the simple 11 Ne6 Bxe6 12 dxe6 with an extra pawn (1 point),
or 11 Nxb7. After 11 Nxb7 Black can trap the knight with 11 ... a5!, but following 12 Be3! Bc8 13 Nxc5!
dxc5 14 Bxc5 White still has a material advantage of four pawns for a bishop. (1 point)
For Black
(4) 5 ... Ne5?? opens the door to a typical unpinning/discovered attack tactic, as shown above (1 point).
5 ... Nb8 or 5 ... Bxf3 6 Qxf3 Ne5, intending 7 Bb5+ Nd7, are better options for Black. (1 point)

(5) 6 ... g6? loses a pawn, as outlined above (1 point). Black should play either 6 ... Nxf3+ or 6 ...
Bxf3. (1 point)

(6) 7 ... Bg7? loses a pawn as well (1 point). Again, 7 ... Nxf3+ and 7 ... Bxf3 were better. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Discovered Attack, Zwischenzug, Desperado, Trapped Piece
M.DApa-G.Taglione
Bresso 2007
Kings Gambit
1 e4 e5 2 f4 d6 3 Nf3 Bg4 4 Bc4 Nf6 5 Nc3 c5 6 0-0 Be7 7 fxe5 dxe5 8 d3 Nc6 9 Be3 0-0 10 Qe1
Bxf3 11 Rxf3 b6 12 Rf1 Nd4 13 Bxd4 cxd4 14 Nd5 Qd7 15 Nxf6+ Bxf6 16 Qg3 Rac8 (*) 17 Rxf6 b5
18 Bb3 a5 19 a4 b4 20 Raf1 Rc7 21 R6f5 g6 22 Rxe5 Kg7 23 Rd5 1-0
For White
(1) 5 Nc3
5 fxe5! (1 point) is a tempting option. Lets look at Blacks possible responses:
a) 5 ... dxe5 allows a typical combination starting with 6 Bxf7+!.

If Black doesnt take the bishop, White simply wins a pawn, but 6 ... Kxf7 runs into the double attack /
discovered attack 7 Nxe5+! followed by 8 Nxg4 leaving White two pawns up. (2 points)
b) 5 ... Bxf3 prevents the Bxf7+ tactic, but after 6 Qxf3 dxe5 White has 7 Qb3!. (2 points)

The double attack on b7 and f7 means that White will win a pawn at the very least.
c) 5 ... Nxe4! is Blacks best option. White can win a pawn with the fork 6 Bd5! (2 points), although
after 6 ... Ng5 7 Bxb7 Nd7! Blacks speedy development provides some compensation. Grabbing further
material with 8 Bxa8? Qxa8 would be unwise, as Blacks attack on the pinned f3-knight would spell
trouble for White.

(2) 8 d3?
White could have played 8 Bxf7+!, with the same tactical theme as the one demonstrated above. White
wins two pawns after 8 ... Kxf7 9 Nxe5+ followed by 10 Nxg4 (1 point), or one pawn after 8 ... Kf8 9
Bd5 (1 point). In both cases Blacks king is also displaced, which only increases Whites advantage.

(3) 15 Nxf6+
White could have played 15 Qg3! (1 point) with a double attack on the f6-knight (because of the
pinned g7-pawn) and the e5-pawn.
Position after 15 Qg3 (analysis)

After 15 ... Nxd5 16 Bxd5 a double attack remains: e5 and a8. Black can counter-attack with 16 ...
Rac8, but this is met by 17 Rf2!. White still wins a pawn because of the dual threats of Qxe5 and Raf1
followed by capturing the f7-pawn. (1 point)
For Black
(4) 4 ... Nf6 gives White the chance to win a pawn with 5 fxe5!, as shown above (1 point). Black can
prevent Whites threat with moves such as 4 ... exf4, 4 ... Nd7 or 4 ... Nc6. (1 point)

(5) 7 ... dxe5? loses at least one important pawn, as shown above (1 point). Black can save the pawn
only by 7 ... Bxf3! 8 Qxf3 dxe5. (1 point)

(6) 14 ... Qd7? allows 15 Qg3!, as outlined above. (1 point)

(7) 16 ... Rac8? loses the bishop to 17 Rxf6. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Attraction, Double Attack, Discovered Attack, Pin
F.Calomeni-B.Levato
San Fili 2007
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 e6 4 Bb5 Qc7 5 0-0 Nf6 6 d4 cxd4 7 Nxd4 Nxd4 8 Qxd4 Bd6 9 Kh1 0-0 10
Bg5 Ng4 11 Rad1 (*) Bc5 12 Qd3 Qxh2 mate 0-1

For White
(1) 11 Rad1?? loses the game quickly, after the discovered attack 11 ... Bc5! threatening both the queen
on d4 and mate with ... Qxh2. (2 points)
The solution to this position is a difficult one. White can simultaneously prevent Blacks winning idea
and also create his own threats by playing 11 e5!. (2 points)

11 e5 is a multi-purpose move. Lets look at what is does:
1) It prevents Blacks threat of ... Bc5 and ... Qxh2 mate.
2) It attacks the bishop on d6.
3) It creates a discovered attack against the knight on g4.
4) It clears the e4-square for the knight, to attack the bishop on d6.
If 11 ... Bxe5 White just takes the knight on g4, so the only real option for Black is 11 ... Nxe5. After
12 Ne4! (2 points) Blacks bishop on d6 is lacking safe squares and cannot be protected, so Blacks
attempts to avoid losing a piece must be based on counterattack.
Position after 12 Ne4

a) The most obvious try is 12 ... a6, intending 13 Nxd6 axb5 14 Qxe5 f6 to regain the piece. However,
White can play 14 Be7! (2 points) trapping the rook and winning the exchange in the long run: 14 ... Nc6
15 Qc3 b4 16 Qc4 b6 17 Bxf8 Ba6 18 Qg4 Rxf8 19 Rfd1.
b) Another try is 12 ... f6 13 Nxd6 and now 13 ... a6.
Position after 13 ... a6

Black has prevented the Be7 idea, and even though White is a piece up, the position isnt easy
because both white bishops are attacked. Whites best option is 14 Bd3! Nxd3 (if 14 ... Nc6 then 15 Qh4!
Qxd6 16 Qxh7+ Kf7 17 Bg6+ Ke7 18 Qxg7+ wins) 15 cxd3 fxg5 16 Rac1!. (1 point)
Position after 16 Rac1

Black has regained his piece, but only temporarily. White completely dominates here and actually
wins the bishop on c8 by force, by doubling rooks on the c-file: 16 ... Qd8 (or 16 ... Qa5 17 Rc5 Qxa2 18
Rfc1) 17 Rc2! (1 point) followed by Rfc1.
For Black
(2) 9 ... 0-0
Black didnt miss an opportunity to win a pawn here. If 9 ... Bxh2 White can trap the bishop with 10
g3!, and following 10 ... Bxg3 11 fxg3 Qxg3 Black gets three pawns in return for the bishop. (1 point)

(3) 10 ... Ng4?
Even though it won very quickly in the game, 10 ... Ng4 is a mistake which runs into 11 e5!, as
demonstrated above (1 point). Better options for Black include 10 ... Be5 and 10 ... Bc5. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Clearance, Trapped Piece
S.Stasieluk-M.Ocytko
Bialystok 2010
Petroff Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nc3 d6 4 Bc4 Be6 5 Bb3 Qd7 6 d3 Be7 7 Bg5 Bxb3 8 axb3 0-0 9 0-0 Ne8 10 Qd2
a6 11 Nd5 Bxg5 12 Qxg5 Qe6 13 Nh4 f6 14 Qg3 Nc6 15 Nf5 Nd4 16 Nxd4 exd4 17 f4 c6 18 f5 Qf7
19 Nf4 Nc7 20 h4 Kh8 21 Qf3 Rae8 22 g4 h6 (*) 23 Ng6+ Kg8 24 Nxf8 Rxf8 25 Qg3 d5 26 Rae1 Kh7
27 g5 fxg5 28 hxg5 Rg8 29 g6+ 1-0

For White
(1) 22 g4?
White missed the chance to play the very strong move 22 h5!. (2 points)
Position after 22 h5 (analysis)

Whites idea is to follow up with Ng6, either to take the rook on f8 or, after ... hxg6, hxg6, to get
decisive mating threats against the black king. Black has no adequate response to this plan. For example:
a) Ignoring the idea doesnt work: 22 ... d5 (or a similar move not dealing with the threat) 23 Ng6+
hxg6? (Black should just give up the exchange with 23 ... Kg8) 24 hxg6 (2 points).
Position after 24 hxg6 (analysis)

Black has no good response to Qh5+ and Qh7 mate.

b) The prophylactic 22 ... Kg8 makes sure that Ng6 doesnt come with check, but 23 Ng6! (2 points)
is still strong. The rook on f8 is trapped, while if 23 ... hxg6 24 hxg6 Qd7 25 Qh5 the only way to avoid
mate is by giving up the rook with 25 ... Rf7. After White takes the rook he will be the exchange ahead.
For Black
(2) 21 ... Rae8? cages in the f8-rook, which means that 22 h5! now becomes a very strong move winning,
as shown above. (1 point)

(2) 22 ... h6? loses the exchange to 23 Ng6+, as played in the game. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Trapped Piece, Mate Threat
Game
Game 41
Game 42
Game 43
Game 44
Game 45
Game 46
Game 47
Game 48
Game 49
Game 50
Game 51
Game 52
Game 53
Game 54
Game 55
Game 56
Game 57
Game 58
Game 59
Game 60
Game 61
Game 62
Game 63
Points available
6
5
19
12
16
10
8
7
11
11
20
17
16
12
16
13
8
9
9
6
11
5
13
Points scored

Game 64
13

Game 65
6

Game 66
8

Game 67
3

Game 68
19

Game 69
6

Game 70
11

Game 71
14

Game 72
8

Game 73
16

Game 74
5

Game 75
6

Game 76
15

Game 77
19

Game 78
17

Game 79
13

Game 80
9

Total
448

Chapter Five
Game 81
A.Perez Herrero-D.Marcelo de la Mata
Madrid 2009
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e5 6 Nxc6 bxc6 7 Bc4 Be7 8 0-0 0-0 9 a3 Rb8 10 b4
Bb7 11 Re1 Qc7 12 Bg5 h6 13 Bxf6 Bxf6 14 Qf3 Rbd8 15 Re3 d6 16 Rd1 Bc8 17 Qh5 Be6 18 Bxe6
fxe6 19 Rg3 Qf7 20 Qxh6 (*)
Solution
Game 82
G.Cesati Cassin-U.Zanin
Condino 2009
Closed Sicilian
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 a6 3 g3 Nc6 4 Bg2 g6 5 Nge2 Bg7 6 0-0 e6 7 d3 Nge7 8 Be3 d6 9 Qd2 0-0 10 Bh6 Rb8
11 Bxg7 Kxg7 12 f4 b5 13 a3 Bb7 14 d4 cxd4 15 Nxd4 e5 16 Nxc6 Nxc6 17 Ne2 Qe7 18 Rad1 Rfd8
19 Qc3 Rbc8 (*)
Solution
Game 83
A.Olah-Z.Hetesi
Budapest 2010
Danish Gambit
1 e4 e5 2 d4 exd4 3 f4 Bc5 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 Bd3 d6 6 a3 a6 7 Nbd2 Bg4 8 h3 Bd7 9 0-0 Nf6 10 Kh1 Qe7
11 b4 Ba7 12 Nc4 b5 13 e5 bxc4 14 exf6 Qxf6 15 Bxc4 d3 16 Rb1 dxc2 17 Qxc2 Bf5 18 Bd3 Ne7 19
Re1 Bxd3 (*)
Solution
Game 84
J.Geene-W.Boontje
Maastricht 2010
French Defence
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 c4 Bb4+ 5 Nc3 dxc4 6 Bxc4 Qe7+ 7 Nge2 Nf6 8 0-0 Be6 9 Bxe6 Qxe6
10 Re1 0-0 11 Nf4 Qd7 12 Re3 Bd6 13 Rh3 Qg4 14 Qxg4 Nxg4 15 Nfd5 c6 16 Ne3 Re8 17 Bd2 Nf6
18 Nf5 Bc7 19 Bg5 Nbd7 20 Rf3 Re6 21 Rd1 Rae8 22 h3 (*)
Solution
Game 85
E.Keane McCarney-E.Sonn
Montreal 2009
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 a6 5 Bd3 Qc7 6 Be3 Nf6 7 0-0 b6 8 c4 Bb7 9 f3 Nc6 10 Nb3 Ne5
11 Bf4 Nh5 12 Bxe5 Qxe5 13 Nc3 Nf4 14 g3 Nxd3 15 Qxd3 Bb4 (*)
Solution
Game 86
O.E.Jorgensen-L.Gecse
Budapest 2009
Birds Opening
1 f4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 e4 g6 4 c3 Bg7 5 d4 cxd4 6 cxd4 a6 7 Nc3 Qb6 8 e5 Nh6 9 Be2 e6 10 0-0 Nf5 11
Kh1 Nfxd4 12 Nxd4 Nxd4 (*)
Solution
Game 87
S.Kim-R.Son
Seoul 2008
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 e4 Nf6 6 Nf3 Bb4 7 Bd3 0-0 8 0-0 b6 9 Bg5 Be7 10 Qc2 h6
11 Bh4 Bb7 12 Rac1 Nc6 (*)
Solution
Game 88
D.Lopez-J.F.Guzman
Manizales 2008
Pirc Defence
1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6 4 Be3 Bg7 5 f3 Nbd7 6 Bd3 e5 7 Nge2 a6 8 a4 0-0 9 Qd2 exd4 10 Nxd4
Ne5 11 Bh6 Nxe4 12 Nxe4 Qh4+ 13 Qf2 Qxh6 14 0-0 c6 15 a5 d5 16 Nc3 Nxd3 17 cxd3 Re8 18 Rae1
Bd7 19 Na4 (*)
Solution
Game 89
J.Herman-M.Rouffignac
La Fere 2010

1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Be7 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 Bg5 0-0 6 e3 a6 7 Qc2 Nbd7 8 Bd3 dxc4 9 Bxc4 b5 10 Bd3
Bb7 11 Be2 Rc8 12 0-0 c5 13 Qd1 Ne4 14 Nxe4 Bxe4 15 Bxe7 Qxe7 16 dxc5 Rxc5 17 Nd4 Nf6 18
Qe1 h5 19 Qb4 Qc7 20 f3 Bd5 21 Rfe1 Rc8 22 e4 Bc4 23 Bxc4 Rxc4 24 Qd2 Qc5 25 Kh1 Qxd4 (*)
Solution
Game 90
K.Abramovic-K.Djaic
Osijek 2010
Kings Gambit
1 e4 Nc6 2 f4 e5 3 d3 Bc5 4 Nf3 d6 5 Nc3 Nge7 6 Bd2 Ng6 7 f5 Nge7 8 Na4 Bb6 9 Nxb6 axb6 10 Be2
g6 11 fxg6 hxg6 12 Bg5 Bg4 13 c3 Rh5 14 h4 Qd7 15 Nh2 Bxe2 16 Qxe2 f5 17 g4 Rh7 18 a3 b5 19 00-0 (*)
Solution
Game 91
W.Prazmowski-J.Rytel
Warsaw 2010
Grnfeld Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Bg7 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 e4 Nb6 7 Be3 0-0 8 Rc1 Bg4 9 Be2 Nc6 10 d5
Bxf3 11 gxf3 Ne5 12 Qb3 Qd7 13 h4 c6 14 Bxb6 axb6 15 Qxb6 cxd5 16 Nxd5 Rxa2 17 Qb3 Rfa8 18
Nb6 Rxb2 19 Qe3 Raa2 20 Nxd7 Rxe2+ 21 Qxe2 Rxe2+ 22 Kxe2 Nxd7 (*)
Solution
Game 92
L.Doma-J.Nilsson
Eger 2009
Vienna Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 d6 3 Bc4 h6 4 d3 Nf6 5 h3 Be7 6 Nge2 0-0 7 0-0 a6 8 a3 c6 9 Be3 b5 10 Ba2 Bb7 11
Ng3 Bc8 12 Kh2 Bd7 13 Qd2 Kh7 14 Nce2 (*)
Solution
Game 93
M.Kalinovsky-M.Martinez Sanz
Collado Villalba 2009
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 d4 cxd4 3 c3 d5 4 exd5 Qxd5 5 cxd4 Nc6 6 Be3 e5 7 Nc3 Bb4 8 a3 Bxc3+ 9 bxc3 exd4 10
Bxd4 Nxd4 11 Qxd4 Qe6+ 12 Be2 Nf6 13 Nf3 0-0 14 Qd3 Re8 15 Nd4 Qe5 16 0-0 Bg4 17 Rae1
Rad8 18 f4 Bxe2 19 Rxe2 Qxe2 20 Qxe2 Rxe2 21 Nxe2 Rd2 22 Kf2 Ra2 23 Rb1 b6 (*)
Solution
Game 94
L.Le Marec-T.Tounsi
Rennes 2009
Kings Indian Attack
1 Nf3 d5 2 g3 c5 3 d3 Nc6 4 Nbd2 Nf6 5 Bg2 Bg4 6 0-0 e6 7 c3 Be7 8 Qb3 Qd7 9 e4 0-0 10 e5 Ne8 11
h3 Bf5 12 d4 a6 13 Qd1 f6 14 g4 Bg6 15 Re1 cxd4 16 cxd4 Nb4 17 Nh4 Bd3 18 Bf1 (*)
Solution
Game 95
G.Cerami-G.Fontana
Erice 2009
Sokolsky Opening
1 b4 d5 2 Bb2 Bg4 3 Nf3 Bxf3 4 exf3 e6 5 c4 c6 6 a4 Nf6 7 b5 Nbd7 8 Be2 Be7 9 0-0 0-0 10 d3 Qc7
11 g3 Ne5 12 f4 Ng6 13 Nd2 Rad8 14 Qc2 c5 15 Rad1 d4 16 Ne4 b6 17 Bc1 Nd7 18 Bf3 f5 19 Ng5
Qd6 20 Bg2 h6 (*)
Solution
Game 96
C.Louot-A.Beaudiot
Champagne Ardenne 2009
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 c5 3 Bf4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 a6 5 e3 d6 6 Bg5 (*)
Solution
Game 97
J.Cop-J.Skuhala
Rogaska Slatina 2009
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 e6 3 g3 d5 4 Bg2 Nf6 5 d3 Nc6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bxf6 Bxf6 8 Nge2 d4 9 Nb1 Ne5 10 0-0 0-0
11 Nd2 Ng4 12 h3 Ne5 13 f4 Ng6 14 Nc4 b5 15 Nd2 Qb6 16 Rb1 Bb7 17 Kh2 e5 18 f5 Ne7 19 a3 Qc6
20 b3 g6 21 g4 Kh8 22 Nf3 Bg7 23 Nd2 f6 24 Ng3 Bh6 25 Re1 Bf4 26 Bf1 (*)
Solution
Game 98
E.Cote-T.Mathews
Montreal 2010
Kings Gambit
1 e4 e5 2 f4 Bc5 3 Nf3 d6 4 Nc3 Nc6 5 Bc4 Nf6 6 d3 a6 7 a3 0-0 8 f5 Nd4 9 Bg5 c6 10 Ne2 Nxe2 11
Qxe2 d5 12 Bb3 dxe4 13 dxe4 Qe7 14 0-0-0 b5 15 Bh4 a5 16 g4 a4 17 g5 axb3 18 gxf6 gxf6 19 Qg2+
Kh8 20 Rhg1 Be3+ 21 Nd2 Bh6 22 cxb3 Bd7 23 Kb1 Rg8 24 Qf2 c5 25 Rg3 Bc6 26 Rdg1 Bf4 (*)
Solution
Game 99
M.De Schepper-S.Welling
Maastricht 2011
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 b6 5 e3 Ba6 6 b3 Be7 7 Bd3 0-0 8 0-0 Bb7 9 Bb2 Nbd7 10 cxd5 Nxd5
11 Nxd5 Bxd5 12 Qe2 c5 13 Rad1 cxd4 14 Bxd4 Rc8 15 Ba6 Rc7 16 Ne5 Qb8 17 Nxd7 Rxd7 18 Bb5
Rdd8 19 Qg4 e5 20 Bb2 f6 21 Bd3 Qb7 22 e4 Bc6 23 Kh1 Bd6 24 Bc1 g6 25 Bh6 Rfe8 26 h4 Bd7 27
Bc4+ Kh8 28 Qe2 Bf8 29 Bc1 Bc6 30 f3 Bc5 -
Solution
Game 100
E.Dumont-M.Servant
Quebec 2008
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 d5 2 Bf4 Nf6 3 h3 c6 4 e3 e6 5 Nf3 Be7 6 Bd3 0-0 7 Nbd2 Nbd7 8 c3 c5 9 Rc1 a6 10 0-0 b5 11 a4
bxa4 12 Qxa4 Nb6 13 Qa5 Nfd7 14 Ne5 Nxe5 15 dxe5 Bb7 16 e4 c4 17 Bb1 Nd7 18 Qa2 Nc5 19
exd5 Qxd5 20 Nf3 Ne4 21 Rfd1 Qc5 22 Be3 Qc7 23 Rd4 Nc5 24 Qxc4 Bxf3 25 gxf3 Qxe5 26 Rg4 f5
(*)
Solution
Game 101
O.L.Einarsson-L.Skovle
Ballerup 2012
Alekhines Defence
1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 exd6 cxd6 5 Nf3 Nc6 6 Be2 g6 7 0-0 Bg7 8 c4 Nb6 9 Nc3 0-0 10 Be3 Bg4
11 b3 Nd7 12 Qd2 Qa5 13 Rac1 e6 14 h3 Bxf3 15 Bxf3 e5 16 d5 Nd4 17 Be2 f5 18 Rfd1 Nc5 19 Rb1
Ne4 20 Nxe4 Nxe2+ 21 Qxe2 fxe4 22 Bc1 Rae8 23 Rb2 Qd8 24 Qxe4 (*)
Solution
Game 102
O.Essler-U.Von Koslowski
Sebnitz 2011
Morra Gambit
1 e4 c5 2 d4 cxd4 3 c3 d3 4 Bxd3 d6 5 Nf3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7 7 Nbd2 Nf6 8 h3 Bd7 9 0-0 0-0 10 Re1 Nc6
11 Nb3 Re8 12 Qd2 Qc8 13 Nbd4 d5 14 exd5 Nxd5 15 Bh6 Bh8 16 Qg5 Nf6 17 Nxc6 Bxc6 18 Ne5
Nh5 19 Nxc6 Qxc6 20 Rxe7 Bf6 21 Rxe8+ Rxe8 22 Qb5 Qc8 23 Bc4 Re5 24 Qb3 Qe8 25 Qxb7 a5
26 Rd1 Bh4 27 Qf3 Rf5 28 Qe2 Bxf2+ 29 Kh2 (*)
Solution
Game 103
E.Garcia Vidal-J.M.Alvarez Garmendia
Barcelona 2011
Birds Opening
1 f4 Nf6 2 Nf3 d6 3 e3 Nc6 4 d4 Bg4 5 Be2 g6 6 Nbd2 Bg7 7 Rb1 0-0 8 0-0 a6 9 c4 Rb8 10 Qc2 Nb4
11 Qb3 c5 12 a3 Nc6 13 d5 Na7 14 Qc2 b5 15 b3 Re8 16 Bb2 Qc7 17 h3 Bd7 18 Nh4 e6 19 dxe6
Rxe6 (*)
Solution
Game 104
H.Hoose-G.Ermann
Berlin 2010
Petroff Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d3 Nc6 4 c3 h6 5 h3 d5 6 exd5 Qxd5 7 Nbd2 Bf5 8 Nc4 0-0-0 9 Ne3 Qd7 10 Nxf5
Qxf5 11 Be3 g5 12 Qa4 Kb8 13 Be2 Nd5 14 0-0 Qe6 15 Bd2 f5 16 Nh2 Bd6 17 Bf3 Nb6 18 Qc2 Rhg8
19 Be3 g4 20 hxg4 fxg4 21 Bxc6 bxc6 (*)
Solution
Game 105
C.Ijzermans-R.Poots
Delft 2008
Caro-Kann Defence
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 Bf4 Bf5 5 Bd3 Bxd3 6 Qxd3 Nf6 7 Nf3 g6 8 Nbd2 Bg7 9 0-0 0-0 10 b3
Re8 11 c4 Nc6 12 Rfd1 Nh5 13 Be3 e6 14 c5 (*)
Solution
Game 106
S.Lakinska-K.Bashaer
Maribor 2012
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 g6 3 f4 Bg7 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 Bc4 e6 6 0-0 b6 7 d3 Bb7 8 Qe1 Nge7 9 a3 Nd4 10 Nxd4 cxd4
11 Nd1 0-0 12 Ba2 Rc8 13 Bb3 Qc7 14 Bd2 Nc6 15 c3 d6 16 f5 exf5 17 exf5 Rfe8 18 Qh4 Ne5 19
Bh6 dxc3 20 bxc3 (*)
Solution
Game 107
N.Le Bas-A.Pozdnyakov
Montreal 2010
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 3 c4 c6 4 d4 cxd5 5 c5 Nc6 6 Bb5 Qc7 7 Nc3 Bg4 8 f3 Bd7 9 Nge2 g6 10 Bf4 Qc8
11 0-0 Bg7 12 Bxc6 bxc6 13 b4 Nh5 14 Be3 0-0 15 a4 Qc7 16 b5 e6 17 Qd2 Rab8 18 Rfb1 e5 19 Rb3
f5 20 Qb2 f4 21 Bf2 (*)
Solution
Game 108
B.Lemke-N.Manusina
Doelln 2010
Caro-Kann Defence
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Bf5 5 Ng3 Bg6 6 h4 h6 7 h5 Bh7 8 Nf3 Nd7 9 Bd3 Bxd3 10 Qxd3
Ngf6 11 Bd2 Qc7 12 0-0-0 0-0-0 13 Ne4 Nxe4 14 Qxe4 Nf6 15 Qd3 e6 16 Ne5 Bd6 17 Bf4 Kb8 18 c4
c5 19 Qc3 Rhf8 20 dxc5 Qxc5 21 Qd4 Qxd4 22 Rxd4 Bxe5 23 Bxe5+ Kc8 24 Bxf6 gxf6 25 Rhd1
Rxd4 26 Rxd4 Rg8 27 g4 Rg5 28 Rf4 f5 29 f3 Kd7 30 Kd2 Ke7 -
Solution
Game 109
P.Oliana Rectoret-A.Torres Camps
Llinars del Valles 2011
Colle Opening
1 d4 Nf6 2 e3 e6 3 Bd3 c5 4 c3 Nc6 5 f4 d5 6 Nd2 c4 7 Bc2 Be7 8 Ngf3 Bd7 9 Ne5 Qc7 10 0-0 0-0 11
g4 Rfd8 12 Qf3 Bf8 13 g5 Ne8 14 Qh3 f5 15 gxf6 Nxf6 (*)
Solution
Game 110
V.Witte-A.Bilow
Troisdorf 2010
Nimzo-Indian Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 g3 d5 5 c5 b6 6 cxb6 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 cxb6 8 Bg2 0-0 9 Nh3 Nbd7 10 0-0
Ba6 11 a4 Bc4 12 Ba3 Re8 13 Re1 Rc8 14 Nf4 a6 15 Nd3 Nb8 16 Ne5 Nfd7 17 f4 f5 18 Qd2 Nf6 19
Bf3 Qc7 20 Kg2 Bb3 21 Bb2 Nc6 22 Rf1 Na5 23 h3 Nc4 24 Nxc4 Bxc4 25 g4 Ne4 26 Bxe4 dxe4 27
Qe3 -
Solution
Game 111
P.Dangelowski-R.Kock
Pinneberg 2011
Benoni Defence
1 d4 c5 2 d5 g6 3 e4 Bg7 4 c3 a6 5 a4 d6 6 a5 Bd7 7 Qb3 Qc7 8 Nf3 Nf6 9 Nbd2 0-0 10 Bd3 Bg4 11
h3 Bxf3 12 Nxf3 Nbd7 13 0-0 Rfc8 14 c4 Ne8 15 Bf4 Rcb8 16 Ra2 b6 17 axb6 Rxb6 18 Qc2 Qb7 19
Rb1 Nc7 20 Bd2 Rb3 21 Bc3 Bxc3 22 bxc3 Rxb1+ 23 Qxb1 Qxb1+ 24 Bxb1 Rb8 25 Nd2 Kg7 26 f3
Ne5 27 Bc2 Rb6 28 Kf2 f6 29 f4 Nf7 30 Ke3 e6 31 g4 g5 32 f5 e5 -
Solution
Game 112
H.Rosenburg-T.Rosenburg
Hamburg 2010
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 c5 6 Nf3 0-0 7 e3 b6 8 Bd3 Bb7 9 Rb1 d6 10 0-0 Na6
11 Re1 Ne4 12 Qc2 d5 13 Nd2 f5 14 cxd5 Nxd2 15 Bxd2 Qxd5 16 e4 Qd7 17 exf5 exf5 18 Qa2+ Kh8
19 Bxa6 Bxa6 20 dxc5 bxc5 21 Be3 c4 22 Qc2 f4 23 Bd4 f3 -
Solution
Game 113
R.Hug-A.Le Bihan
Montlucon 2011
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 g6 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 Nc6 5 d3 d6 6 Be3 Nf6 7 h3 a6 8 Qd2 b5 9 a3 Qa5 10 Nge2 Bd7 11
0-0 0-0 12 Rad1 Rab8 13 Bh6 Rfc8 14 Bxg7 Kxg7 15 Kh1 Nd4 16 Qc1 Nxe2 17 Nxe2 Bc6 18 f4 c4 19
Qe3 Qb6 20 Qd2 cxd3 21 cxd3 Bb7 22 Nc3 Qd4 23 g4 e6 (*)
Solution
Game 114
M.B.Kyrkjebo-R.Weinman
Maribor 2012
Four Knights
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bb5 Nd4 5 Ba4 Nxf3+ 6 Qxf3 c6 7 d3 d6 8 Bg5 Be7 9 0-0 0-0 10 Qe3
Ng4 11 Bxe7 Qxe7 12 Qg3 Kh8 13 f4 f5 14 fxe5 Qxe5 15 Qxe5 Nxe5 16 exf5 Bxf5 17 Rae1 Bg6 18
Rxf8+ Rxf8 19 d4 Nd7 20 Re7 Rd8 (*)
Solution
Game 115
D.Moeller-C.P.Hartmann
Schoenhagen 2009
English Opening
1 c4 e5 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 d5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 Nf3 Nc6 6 d4 Bb4+ 7 Bd2 exd4 8 Bxb4 Ndxb4 9 a3 Na6 10
b4 Nab8 11 b5 Ne7 12 Nxd4 0-0 13 0-0 c6 14 Nc3 Qc7 15 Qa4 c5 16 Nb3 Nd7 17 Nd2 Nb6 18 Qa5
Be6 19 Rac1 Rfc8 20 Nce4 Nd7 21 Qxc7 Rxc7 22 Nd6 Rb8 23 N2c4 b6 24 Rfd1 Nc8 25 Nxc8 Rbxc8
26 Nd6 Rf8 (*)
Solution
Game 116
F.Hova-A.Olsen
Pinseturnering 2009
Slav Defence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6 5 e3 Nbd7 6 Bd3 dxc4 7 Bxc4 b5 8 Bd3 a6 9 0-0 Bd6 10 a3 Bb7 11
Qe2 0-0 12 Rd1 Qb8 13 h3 c5 14 e4 cxd4 15 Nxd4 Rc8 16 Bg5 Bc5 17 Nf3 e5 18 Nd5 Ne8 19 Nh4 (*)
Solution
Game 117
I.Rios Almada-Y.Cho
Istanbul 2012
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 0-0 Nf6 5 d3 d6 6 c3 Bg4 7 Be3 Bxe3 8 fxe3 0-0 9 Nbd2 Re8 10 b4 d5
11 exd5 Nxd5 12 Bxd5 Qxd5 13 Qc2 Rad8 14 d4 exd4 15 exd4 Re2 16 Rf2 Bxf3 17 gxf3 Rxf2 18
Kxf2 Nxb4 (*)
Solution
Game 118
T.P.Magklaras-G.Batzolis
Kallithea 2009
Rti Opening
1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 g6 3 Bg2 Bg7 4 0-0 0-0 5 d3 d6 6 Nbd2 Nc6 7 e4 e5 8 Nh4 Rb8 9 f4 exf4 10 gxf4 Ng4
11 Ndf3 Bd4+ 12 Nxd4 Nxd4 13 Nf3 Nxf3+ 14 Qxf3 Qh4 15 Qg3 Qxg3 16 hxg3 f6 17 b3 Bd7 18 Re1
Rfe8 19 Bb2 g5 20 Bh3 gxf4 21 gxf4 Kf7 22 Bxg4 Bxg4 23 Kf2 h5 -
Solution
Game 119
D.Beissel-F.D.Krug
Maastricht 2012
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 d5 2 Nd2 Nc6 3 e3 a6 4 c4 e6 5 Ngf3 Nf6 6 Bd3 Be7 7 0-0 0-0 8 a3 dxc4 9 Nxc4 b5 10 Nce5 Bb7
11 Qc2 Nb8 12 Ng5 g6 13 Rd1 Nh5 14 Ne4 Bd5 15 Nc5 Bxc5 16 dxc5 (*) Qg5 17 e4 Qxe5 18 exd5
exd5 19 Bd2 c6 20 Re1 Qc7 21 Bh6 Rd8 22 Bg5 f6 23 Bxg6 hxg6 24 Qxg6+ Ng7 25 Bxf6 Qf7 26
Qxf7+ Kxf7 27 Bxd8 Ne6 28 Bh4 Nd7 29 b4 a5 30 f4 axb4 31 axb4 Rxa1 32 Rxa1 Nxf4 33 Rf1 1-0
Solution
Game 120
P.Lankof-T.Kaluzny
Klementowice 2011
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 c3 d5 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 d4 Nc6 5 dxc5 Qxc5 6 Be3 Qa5 7 Nf3 Nf6 8 Nbd2 e6 9 Nb3 Qc7 10
Bd3 Be7 11 0-0 0-0 12 Qc2 h6 13 Rad1 b6 14 Nbd4 Nxd4 15 Bxd4 Bb7 16 Be5 Qc6 17 b4 Rad8 18 b5
Qc8 19 Nd4 Nd7 20 Bh7+ Kh8 21 Bxg7+ Kxg7 22 Nxe6+ fxe6 23 Qg6+ Kh8 24 Qxh6 Nf6 25 Bc2+
Kg8 26 Qg6+ Kh8 27 Rde1 Bc5 28 Re5 Rd5 29 Rxd5 Bxd5 30 Qh6+ -
Solution
Chapter Six
A.Perez Herrero-D.Marcelo de la Mata
Madrid 2009
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e5 6 Nxc6 bxc6 7 Bc4 Be7 8 0-0 0-0 9 a3 Rb8 10 b4
Bb7 11 Re1 Qc7 12 Bg5 h6 13 Bxf6 Bxf6 14 Qf3 Rbd8 15 Re3 d6 16 Rd1 Bc8 17 Qh5 Be6 18 Bxe6
fxe6 19 Rg3 Qf7 20 Qxh6 (*) Bg5 21 Qxe6 Qxe6 22 Rxg5 d5 23 exd5 cxd5 24 b5 Qf6 25 h4 Qxf2+
26 Kh1 Qxh4+ 0-1
For White
(1) 15 Re3?
This move puts the rook on an unfortunate square which allows Black to win material by force with 15 ...
d5!. (1 point)

Black threatens the bishop on c4 and also - due to Whites last move - a fork with ... d4. After a series
of exchanges Black will unleash a deadly discovered attack with ... e4. There follows 16 exd5 (16 Bb3
d4 forks rook and knight) 16 ... cxd5 and now:
a) 17 Bb3 d4 forks rook and knight. (1 point)
b) 17 Nxd5 Bxd5 18 Bxd5 e4! unleashes a discovered and double attack which wins a rook for Black.
(2 points)
c) 17 Bxd5 e4! 18 Bxe4 Bxe4 19 Qxe4 (or 19 Nxe4 Bxa1) 19 ... Bxc3 (2 points). Black has won a
piece for two pawns.
Returning to Whites 15th move, most choices other than 15 Re3 are okay. The best move is 15 Rad1!
removing the rook from the dangerous long diagonal and putting it on a half-open file. (1 point)

(2) 20 Qxh6? allows the tactic 20 ... Bg5! (2 points), as played in the game.


A discovered attack on the f2-pawn means that Black not only threatens the queen but also a back rank
mate with 21 ... Qxf2+ 22 Kh1 Qf1+! 23 Rxf1 Rxf1#. White has no good defence to both threats and must
give up at least a rook with 22 Rf3 Bxh6 23 Rxf7 Rxf7.
Instead of 21 Qxh6 White should either swap queens with 21 Qxf7+ or retreat, for example with 21
Qg4 or 21 Qe2. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 15 ... d6?
Black missed the chance to win material with 15 ... d5!, as demonstrated above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Discovered Attack, Double Attack, Mate Threat
G.Cesati Cassin-U.Zanin
Condino 2009
Closed Sicilian
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 a6 3 g3 Nc6 4 Bg2 g6 5 Nge2 Bg7 6 0-0 e6 7 d3 Nge7 8 Be3 d6 9 Qd2 0-0 10 Bh6 Rb8
11 Bxg7 Kxg7 12 f4 b5 13 a3 Bb7 14 d4 cxd4 15 Nxd4 e5 16 Nxc6 Nxc6 17 Ne2 Qe7 18 Rad1 Rfd8
19 Qc3 Rbc8 (*) 26 Qf3 Bc8 27 Rxd8 Qxd8 28 Rd1 Rd7 29 Rxd7+ Qxd7 30 Bf1 -
For White
(1) 14 d4? loses material because Black can exploit a pin on the a7-g1 diagonal, as shown below.
White can prepare d3-d4 by vacating the diagonal with 14 Kh1, or by adding extra support with 14
Rad1. (1 point)

(2) 15 Nxd4? is the consistent follow-up to 14 d4, but it loses a piece. Black attacks and pins the
knight with 15 ... Qb6!. (1 point)


White must defend the knight with either 16 Rad1 or 16 Nce2, but in either case Black follows up
with 16 ... e5! and ... exd4, winning the pinned knight. (2 points)
White should have restricted material loss to just a pawn by retreating the attacked knight with, for
example, 15 Nd1. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 15 ... e5? fails to take the chance to win a piece with 15 ... Qb6!, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin
A.Olah-Z.Hetesi
Budapest 2010
Danish Gambit
1 e4 e5 2 d4 exd4 3 f4 Bc5 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 Bd3 d6 6 a3 a6 7 Nbd2 Bg4 8 h3 Bd7 9 0-0 Nf6 10 Kh1 Qe7
11 b4 Ba7 12 Nc4 b5 13 e5 bxc4 14 exf6 Qxf6 15 Bxc4 d3 16 Rb1 dxc2 17 Qxc2 Bf5 18 Bd3 Ne7 19
Re1 Bxd3 (*) 20 Qc6+ 1-0
For White
(1) 10 Kh1? loses a pawn to 10 ... Nh5!. (2 points)

Position after 10 ... Nh5 (analysis)

This knight move is a double attack: the f4-pawn and the check on g3, forking the king and rook. White
must deal with the bigger threat ( ... Ng3+), and after 11 Qe1 Nxf4 Black has won a pawn. (1 point)
10 Kh1? actually creates the threat for Black, so any sensible move (e.g. 10 b4, 10 Qe1, 10 Nb3, 10
e5) would be okay for White. (1 point)
For Black
(2) 10 ... Qe7? missed the chance to win a pawn with the strong move 10 ... Nh5!, as demonstrated
above. (1 point)
(3) 19 ... Bxd3? overlooks Whites threat of 20 Qc6+! (2 points), as played in the game, exploiting
the pin on the e7-knight and forking the king and rook.

Position after 20 Qc6+

After 20 ... Kd8 21 Qxa8+ (1 point) White is the exchange for a pawn ahead, and also Blacks king is
exposed.
The best way to prevent the threat of Qc6+ was with 19 ... 0-0. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Double Attack, Fork, Pin
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 c4 Bb4+ 5 Nc3 dxc4 6 Bxc4 Qe7+ 7 Nge2 Nf6 8 0-0 Be6 9 Bxe6 Qxe6
10 Re1 0-0 11 Nf4 Qd7 12 Re3 Bd6 13 Rh3 Qg4 14 Qxg4 Nxg4 15 Nfd5 c6 16 Ne3 Re8 17 Bd2 Nf6
18 Nf5 Bc7 19 Bg5 Nbd7 20 Rf3 Re6 21 Rd1 Rae8 22 h3 (*) Re1+
0-1
For White
(1) 10 Re1? threatens to pin the queen to the king by moving the knight, but after 10 ... 0-0! Black is in no
danger along the e-file as White has no effective discovered attacks.
Instead, White can play the forcing 10 Qa4+! Nc6 and now the pawn sacrifice 11 d5! (2 points),
vacating the d4-square for the e2-knight. Black is forced to capture, and following 11 ... Nxd5 12 Nd4! (1
point) many tactics are at work including an overloaded black queen.

White wins material all in lines. For example:
a) 12 ... Qd7 13 Nxd5 Qxd5 14 Nxc6 Qxc6 15 Qxb4 wins a piece for a pawn. (1 point)
b) 12 ... Nb6 13 Nxe6 Nxa4 14 Nxc7+ (this is the point!) 14 ... Kd7 15 Nxa8 Bxc3 16 bxc3 Rxa8
leaves White the exchange ahead. (1 point)
c) 12 ... Nxc3 13 bxc3 Qd7! (the toughest) 14 Nxc6 Bxc3 15 Bb2! Bxb2 16 Rae1+ Kf8 17 Qb4+ Kg8
18 Ne7+ Kf8 19 Qxb2. White is a piece for two pawns ahead, with a very strong position as well. (2
points)

(2)
Position after 21 ... Rae8

22 h3? allows mate in two moves with 22 ... Re1+ (1 point). White should prevent the threat with 22
g3 or 22 Bd2 (1 point), but not by 22 Kf1? after which 22 ... Ng4! is strong.
For Black
(3)

8 ... Be6?
It is hard to see in advance, but after White takes the bishop on e6, neither the queen (as shown above)
nor the f-pawn can recapture the bishop on e6 without consequences. 8 ... 0-0! is safer. (1 point)

(4) 9 ... Qxe6?
Recapturing on e6 with the queen loses some material (1 point). 9 ... fxe6 is less damaging (1 point),
although even here Black cannot avoid losing the weak e-pawn after 10 Nf4 0-0 11 Re1.
Tactical Themes
Clearance, Fork, Overloaded Piece, Removing the Defender, Exposed King, Mate Threat
E.Keane McCarney-E.Sonn
Montreal 2009
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 a6 5 Bd3 Qc7 6 Be3 Nf6 7 0-0 b6 8 c4 Bb7 9 f3 Nc6 10 Nb3 Ne5
11 Bf4 Nh5 12 Bxe5 Qxe5 13 Nc3 Nf4 14 g3 Nxd3 15 Qxd3 Bb4 (*) 16 Na4 b5 17 cxb5 axb5 18 Rad1
Rd8 19 Nb6 0-0 20 Nxd7 Qxb2 21 Qxb5 1-0
For White
(1) 11 Bf4? can be met powerfully by 11 ... Bd6!. (3 points)

This move unpins the e5-knight and also creates threats based on discovered attacks on the f4-bishop.
Black wins material in all lines. For example:
a) 12 Be2 Nxf3+! 13 Bxf3 Bxf4 wins a pawn. (1 point)
b) 12 Bxe5 Bxe5 with a double attack on h2 and b2. (1 point)
c) 12 g3 Nxd3 13 Qxd3 Bxf4 14 gxf4 Qxf4 wins a pawn. (1 point)
d) 12 Nc3 Nxd3 13 Bxd6 Qxd6. White can win the piece back after 14 e5 Qxe5 15 Qxd3 or 14 Rf2
Rc8 15 Rd2 Rxc4 16 Rxd3 Qc7 but in either case Black is a pawn ahead. (1 point)
11 Nc3! (1 point) is a better choice for White. If 11 ... Nxc4 12 Bxc4 Qxc4, White regains the pawn
with 13 Bxb6.
(2) 13 Nc3? deals with one threat ( ... Qxb2) but not another: 13 ... Bd6!. (2 points)

White has no satisfactory way to meet the threat of ... Qxh2+ and must lose at least a pawn. For
example:
a) 14 g3 Nxg3! and White cannot recapture because of 15 hxg3 Qxg3+ 16 Kh1 Qh2 mate. (1 point)
b) 14 f4 Nxf4. (1 point)
c) 14 h3 Qh2+ 15 Kf2 Nf4 threatening the g2-pawn and ... Nxh3+. (1 point)
13 Qd2! (2 points) is better because it deals with both ... Qxb2 and ... Bd6 threats. White intends to
answer 13 ... Bd6 with 14 g3, and if 14 ... Nxg3 15 hxg3 Qxg3+ then 16 Qg2! defends.
For Black
(3) 11 ... Nh5? missed the opportunity to win at least a pawn with 11 ... Bd6!, as shown above. (1 point)

(4) 13 ... Nf4? missed another opportunity to play 13 ... Bd6!, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Double Attack, Removing the Defender, Exposed King
O.E.Jorgensen-L.Gecse
Budapest 2009
Birds Opening
1 f4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 e4 g6 4 c3 Bg7 5 d4 cxd4 6 cxd4 a6 7 Nc3 Qb6 8 e5 Nh6 9 Be2 e6 10 0-0 Nf5 11
Kh1 Nfxd4 12 Nxd4 Nxd4 (*) 13 Be3 Qd8 14 Qxd4 d5 15 Qc5 Rf8 16 Qd4 1-0
For White
(1) 10 0-0
White could have saved the d4-pawn with, for example, 10 Na4 Qa7 11 Be3 intending 11 ... Nf5 12
Bf2. However, 10 0-0 cannot be classified as a mistake because White will get some compensation for
the pawn.

(2)
Position after 11 ... Nfxd4

12 Nxd4?
White missed the opportunity to win a piece by pinning the d4-knight, either with the immediate pin 12
Be3! Qxb2 13 Bxd4 Nxd4 14 Qxd4, or by 12 Na4! Qa7 (12 ... Qb4 13 a3 Qb3 14 Nxd4) and only now 13
Be3!. (2 points)
For Black
(3) 11 ... Nfxd4? loses a piece as demonstrated above. (1 point)
11 ... Ncxd4! (2 points) is the correct capture.

Position after 11 ... Ncxd4 (analysis)

In this case the f5-knight prevents Be3, and after 12 Nxd4 Qxd4! Black remains a pawn ahead,
although White gets compensation in the form of better development and piece activity.

(4) 12 ... Nxd4? allows White to pin and win the knight with 13 Be3, as played in the game (2
points). 12 ... Qxd4! (1 point) avoids losing a piece.
Tactical Themes
Pin, Deflection
S.Kim-R.Son
Seoul 2008
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 e4 Nf6 6 Nf3 Bb4 7 Bd3 0-0 8 0-0 b6 9 Bg5 Be7 10 Qc2 h6
11 Bh4 Bb7 12 Rac1 Nc6 (*) 13 e5 Nd7 14 Bxe7 Qxe7 15 Be4 Na5 16 Bxb7 Nxb7 17 Nb5 c5 18 Rfe1
Rfd8 19 Qe4 Nf8 -
For White
(1) 8 0-0?
White missed the opportunity to force Blacks knight away from its key defensive square and follow
up with a typical Greek gift sacrifice on h7, to force Blacks king out into the open. 8 e5! (2 points) and
now:


a) 8 ... Ng4 9 Bxh7+! Kxh7 10 Ng5+ and 11 Qxg4 wins a vital pawn, and White also has a strong
attack. (2 points)
b) 8 ... Nd5 9 Bxh7+! Kxh7 10 Ng5+. (2 points)
Position after 10 Ng5+ (analysis)

White gets a winning position wherever the king goes:
b1) 10 ... Kh6 allows a double check 11 Nxf7+ (or the discovered check 11 Nxe6+) winning the
queen. (1 point)
b2) 10 ... Kg8 11 Qh5!. White threatens Qh7# and Black must either give up his queen or get mated
after 11 ... Re8 12 Qxf7+ Kh8 13 Qh5+ Kg8 14 Qh7+ Kf8 15 Qh8+ Ke7 16 Qxg7#. (2 points)
b3) 10 ... Kg6 is met by 11 h4!. (2 points)
Position after 11 h4 (analysis)

White threatens h5+, forcing the king to either h6 (fatal because of discovered checks) or to f5
followed by a fatal queen check/mate. Black has no good defence. One possible line is 11 ... Nxc3 12
bxc3 Bxc3+ 13 Kf1 Bxa1 14 h5+ Kh6 15 Qd3! (the best, forcing mate) 15 ... Qxg5 16 Bxg5+ Kxg5 17
Qe3+ Kf5 18 g4+ Kxg4 19 Rg1+ Kh4 20 Qg3+ Kxh5 21 Qg5 mate.
c) 8 ... Nfd7 9 Bxh7+! Kxh7 10 Ng5+ (2 points) leads to very similar lines to those after 8 ... Nd5,
e.g. 10 ... Kg6 11 h4!, or 10 ... Kg8 11 Qh5 Re8 12 Qxf7+ Kh8 13 Qh5+ Kg8 14 Qh7+ Kf8 15 Qh8+ Ke7
16 Qxg7 mate.

(2) 9 Bg5?
White misses a second chance to play 9 e5! (2 points) followed by the Bxh7 sacrifice:
a) 9 ... Ng4 10 Bxh7+! Kxh7 11 Ng5+ followed by 12 Qxg4 wins a key pawn. (2 points)
b) 9 ... Nd5 10 Bxh7+! Kxh7 11 Ng5+ and again Black has no good choices:
Position after 11 Ng5+ (analysis)

b1) 11 ... Kh6 again walks into a decisive discovered/double check 12 Nxf7+ or 12 Nxe6+. (2 points)
b2) 11 ... Kg8 12 Qh5! and once more Black must give up his queen to avoid getting checkmated after
12 ... Re8 13 Qxf7+ Kh8 14 Qh5+ Kg8 15 Qh7+ Kf8 16 Qh8+ Ke7 17 Qxg7. (2 points)
b3) 11 ... Kg6 12 Qg4! (2 points). (12 Qd3+ is also strong, while if 12 h4 Black can defend with 12 ...
Rh8 but even here White can go back to the idea 13 Qg4!)
Positon after 12 Qg4 (analysis)

After 12 Qg4 White threatening the devastating discovered check Nxe6+. If 12 ... f5 White keeps the
threat with 13 Qg3!. Blacks only try is 13 ... f4 but then 14 Bxf4! Nxf4 15 Nxe6+ Kf7 16 Nxd8+ Rxd8 17
Qxf4+ leaves White way ahead on material. (2 points)
For Black
(3) 7 ... 0-0? walks into the decisive attack outlined above. Black should delay castling in favour of a
move such as 7 ... c5, attacking the centre, or 7 ... Be7 bringing the bishop back into defence. (2 points)

(4) 8 ... b6? does nothing to prevent 9 e5 and the bishop sacrifice on h7.
8 ... Be7! (2 points) discourages Bxh7 sacrifices as the bishop covers the important g5-square and so
defends against Ng5. For example, 9 e5 Nd5 10 Bxh7+? does not work here because of 10 ... Kxh7 11
Ng5+? Bxg5 12 Qh5+ Bh6!.
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Discovered Check, Double Check, Mate threat, Attraction
D.Lopez-J.F.Guzman
Manizales 2008
Pirc Defence
1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6 4 Be3 Bg7 5 f3 Nbd7 6 Bd3 e5 7 Nge2 a6 8 a4 0-0 9 Qd2 exd4 10 Nxd4
Ne5 11 Bh6 Nxe4 12 Nxe4 Qh4+ 13 Qf2 Qxh6 14 0-0 c6 15 a5 d5 16 Nc3 Nxd3 17 cxd3 Re8 18 Rae1
Bd7 19 Na4 (*) Qf4 20 Nb3 Qxa4 21 Nc5 Qb4 0-1
For White
(1) 11 Bh6?
Position after 11 Bh6

This move doesnt deal with Blacks threat and also walks into another tactic, 11 ... Nxe4! followed
by 12 ... Qh4+, winning a pawn, as played in the game. (1 point)
Blacks threat after 10 ... Ne5 is ... c5 followed by ... c4, winning a piece either by trapping the d3bishop or forking the bishop and knight. For this reason, 11 ... Bxh6! 12 Qxh6 c5! is perhaps even stronger
(2 points).
Position after 11 ... c5

Black wins a piece for a pawn after either 13 Nde2 c4! or 13 Nb3 c4!.
Instead of 11 Bh6, White could have prevented Blacks threat by playing a prophylactic moves such as
11 Be2 or 11 Nde2. (1 point)
(2) 14 0-0?
This allows the same tactic as shown above: 14 ... c5! 15 Ne2 c4 or 15 Nb3 c4, winning a piece for a
pawn in either case. (1 point)

White should prevent the tactic with either 14 Ne2 or 14 Be2. (1 point)

(3) 15 a5?
Again White misses the threat: 15 ... c5! followed by 16 ... c4 (1 point). Either 15 Be2 or 15 Ne2 (1
point) prevents it.

(4) 16 Nc3?
This time 16 Nc5 would have prevented 16 ... c5! and 17 ... c4. (1 point)

(5) 19 Na4? runs into a winning skewer with 19 ... Qf4!, as played in the game. (2 points)
For Black
(6) 11 ... Nxe4!
11 ... Bxh6!, as shown above, is perhaps even stronger. (1 point)

(7)


14 ... c6? misses the chance to win a piece for a pawn with 14 ... c5! 15 Ne2 c4 or 15 Nb3 c4. (1
point)

(8) 15 ... d5? misses another chance to play 15 ... c5! and 16 ... c4. (1 point)
(9) 16 ... Nxd3? misses a final opportunity for 16 ... c5! and 17 ... c4. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Clearance, Fork, Trapped Piece, Skewer
J.Herman-M.Rouffignac
La Fere 2010
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Be7 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 Bg5 0-0 6 e3 a6 7 Qc2 Nbd7 8 Bd3 dxc4 9 Bxc4 b5 10 Bd3
Bb7 11 Be2 Rc8 12 0-0 c5 13 Qd1 Ne4 14 Nxe4 Bxe4 15 Bxe7 Qxe7 16 dxc5 Rxc5 17 Nd4 Nf6 18
Qe1 h5 19 Qb4 Qc7 20 f3 Bd5 21 Rfe1 Rc8 22 e4 Bc4 23 Bxc4 Rxc4 24 Qd2 Qc5 25 Kh1 Qxd4 (*)
26 Qg5 Qc5 27 Qh4 Rc1 28 Qf2 0-1
For White
(1) 19 Qb4? pins the rook to the queen but White walks into a tactic based on a discovered attack: 19 ...
Bxg2!. (2 points)

Position after 19 ... Bxg2 (analysis)

White cannot capture the bishop, as 20 Kxg2? is met by 20 ... Rg5+! and 21 ... Qxb4 winning the
White queen (2 points). Thus Black wins a key pawn in front of Whites king, and more material is likely
to follow because Whites king is so open. Blacks main threat is 20 ... Rg5! 21 Qxe7 Bf3 mate. If 20 Nf5,
there follows 20 ... exf5 21 Kxg2 Ne4 when Black is a pawn with a very strong attack on the white king.

(2) 23 Bxc4? allows Black the time to set up a decisive pin on the d4-knight, after 23 ... Rxc4 24 Qd2
Qc5! (1 point) as played in the game. Whites best way to avoid this was 23 b3! Bxe2 24 Nxe2. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 19 ... Qc7?
Black missed the opportunity to play 19 ... Bxg2!, as shown above. (1 point)

Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Mate Threat, Pin
K.Abramovic-K.Djaic
Osijek 2010
Kings Gambit
1 e4 Nc6 2 f4 e5 3 d3 Bc5 4 Nf3 d6 5 Nc3 Nge7 6 Bd2 Ng6 7 f5 Nge7 8 Na4 Bb6 9 Nxb6 axb6 10 Be2
g6 11 fxg6 hxg6 12 Bg5 Bg4 13 c3 Rh5 14 h4 Qd7 15 Nh2 Bxe2 16 Qxe2 f5 17 g4 Rh7 18 a3 b5 19 00-0 (*) Na5 20 h5 f4 21 Rdf1 c5 22 Rfg1 Qc7 23 Kb1 b4 24 cxb4 cxb4 25 Rc1 Qb6 26 axb4 Nb3 27
Kc2 Nd4+ 0-1
For White
(1) 17 g4?
Instead, 17 exf5! (2 points) wins a pawn and threatens to take the g-pawn removing the defender of
the rook.
Position after 17 exf5 (analysis)

Black cannot recapture the pawn without further consequences. For example:
a) Of course not 17 ... Qxf5? when 18 g4 forks the queen and rook. (1 point)
b) 17 ... Nxf5 and now:
b1) 18 g4 is the obvious reply but then Black can play 18 ... Rxg5! intending 19 hxg5? Ng3!. White
can still keep a small material advantage after 19 Qf2! Rh5 20 gxh5 gxh5.
b2) 18 Ng4! (2 points) is stronger.
Position after 18 Ng4 (analysis)

White threatens a family fork with Nf6+, and after 18 ... Qe6 (or 18 ... Ng3 19 Nf6+ Kf7 20 Qf3!) 19
Nf6+ Kf7 20 Nxh5 gxh5 21 Qxh5+ White wins the exchange and a pawn.
For Black
(2) 16 ... f5?
Black was concerned about the possibility of Ng4, so he prevents it, but 16 ... f5 is met strongly by 17
exf5!, as shown above. (1 point)
Better options for Black include 16 ... Ng8, covering the f6-square in case of Ng4, or 16 ... Nd8
planning ... Ne6 and intending to meet 17 Ng4 with 17 ... Ng8. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Fork
W.Prazmowski-J.Rytel
Warsaw 2010
Grnfeld Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Bg7 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 e4 Nb6 7 Be3 0-0 8 Rc1 Bg4 9 Be2 Nc6 10 d5
Bxf3 11 gxf3 Ne5 12 Qb3 Qd7 13 h4 c6 14 Bxb6 axb6 15 Qxb6 cxd5 16 Nxd5 Rxa2 17 Qb3 Rfa8 18
Nb6 Rxb2 19 Qe3 Raa2 20 Nxd7 Rxe2+ 21 Qxe2 Rxe2+ 22 Kxe2 Nxd7 (*) 23 Rc8+ Bf8 24 Rd1 Ne5
25 Rdd8 1-0
For White
(1) 16 Nxd5
White could have held on to the pawn that Black gambitted with 13 ... c6, by playing 16 exd5, but
Black gets significant compensation after 16 ... Rfc8 so returning the pawn with 16 Nd5 is probably
Whites wisest option here.

(2) 17 Qb3?
This loses the b-pawn, and some time, as Black can play 17 ... Rxb2!.
Position after 17 ... Rxb2 (analysis)

Note that 18 Qxb2 Nxf3+ (2 points) wins the queen by a discovered attack. Whites queen has to
move after 17 ... Rxb2, after which Black is a pawn ahead with a very strong position.
17 0-0? allows the same tactic 17 ... Rxb2! intending 18 Qxb2 Nxf3+. Better options for White
include 17 Rc7 and 17 Kf1 (2 points). With the latter move Blacks tactic no longer works because ...
Nxf3 wont be check.

(3) 19 Qe3? allows a winning combination by Black (see below). White could have played 19 Qxb2!
Nxf3+ 20 Bxf3 Bxb2 21 Nxd7 Bxc1 (2 points), leaving him a piece for two pawns ahead.
For Black
(4) 17 ... Rfa8 overlooked the idea of 17 ... Rxb2!, as shown above. (1 point)

(5)

19 ... Raa2?
Black missed a very strong combination here. After 19 ... Rxb6! 20 Qxb6 Nd3+! 21 Bxd3 Qxd3 (2
points) Black has a decisive advantage.
Position after 21 ... Qxd3 (analysis)

Blacks main threat is 22 ... Bc3+ 23 Rxc3 Ra1+ followed by mate (2 points), and White has no good
defence. The longest line of resistance runs 22 Qc5 Ra2 23 Qe3 Bc3+! (deflection) 24 Rxc3 Ra1+ 25 Rc1
Qxe3+ 26 fxe3 Rxc1+ 27 Ke2 Rxh1. (2 points)
19 ... Rxe2+ (2 points) is not as powerful as 19 ... Rxb6! but it does leave Black a pawn up after 20
Qxe2 (20 Kxe2 Qb5+!) 20 ... Nd3+ 21 Kf1 Nxc1 22 Nxd7 Nxe2 23 Kxe2.
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Deflection, Skewer
L.Doma-J.Nilsson
Eger 2009
Vienna Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 d6 3 Bc4 h6 4 d3 Nf6 5 h3 Be7 6 Nge2 0-0 7 0-0 a6 8 a3 c6 9 Be3 b5 10 Ba2 Bb7 11
Ng3 Bc8 12 Kh2 Bd7 13 Qd2 Kh7 14 Nce2 (*) Ng8 15 f4 exf4 16 Rxf4 Bg5 17 Rxf7 Bxe3 18 Qxe3
Rxf7 19 Bxf7 Qf6 20 Bxg8+ Kxg8 21 d4 Qg6 22 Rf1 Be6 23 Nf4 Qe8 24 b3 Nd7 25 Nxe6 Qxe6 26
b4 Rf8 27 Rxf8+ Nxf8 -
For White
9 Be3? sets up a pawn fork for Black. White loses material after 9 ... d5!. (1 point)

Black threatens both the bishop on c4 and also a fork with ... d4, and White has no defence to this
double attack. Black wins a piece for a pawn after 10 Ba2 (or 10 Bb3) 10 ... d4, or 10 exd5 cxd5
followed by ... d4. (2 points)
For Black
9 ... b5?
Black missed the chance to win a piece for a pawn with 9 ... d5, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Double Attack
M.Kalinovsky-M.Martinez Sanz
Collado Villalba 2009
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 d4 cxd4 3 c3 d5 4 exd5 Qxd5 5 cxd4 Nc6 6 Be3 e5 7 Nc3 Bb4 8 a3 Bxc3+ 9 bxc3 exd4 10
Bxd4 Nxd4 11 Qxd4 Qe6+ 12 Be2 Nf6 13 Nf3 0-0 14 Qd3 Re8 15 Nd4 Qe5 16 0-0 Bg4 17 Rae1
Rad8 18 f4 Bxe2 19 Rxe2 Qxe2 20 Qxe2 Rxe2 21 Nxe2 Rd2 22 Kf2 Ra2 23 Rb1 b6 (*) 24 Rb3 Ne4+
25 Ke3 f5 26 h3 Nc5 27 Rb1 Rxa3 28 g4 fxg4 29 hxg4 Kf7 30 Rc1 b5 0-1
For White
(1) 18 f4
Although not losing material, at least not in the immediate future, this pawn move does weaken
Whites position and allows Black to enter a favourable endgame. 18 Qc2, breaking the pin, or 18 f3 are
better options.

(2) 19 Rxe2?

Position after 19 Rxe2

This recapture loses a piece to 19 ... Rxd4! (2 points). For example: 20 cxd4 Qxe2 (1 point); 20 Rxe5
Rxd3 (1 point); or finally 20 fxe5 Rxd3 and the e-pawn is pinned, so 21 exf6 loses to 21 ... Rxe2 (1
point).
White should instead play 19 Qxe2!. (1 point)

(3) 23 Rb1? puts the rook on an unfortunate square and this allows Black to win a piece after 23 ...
Ne4+!. (1 point)

Position after 23 ... Ne4+ (analysis)

Black wins a piece after 24 Ke3 (or 24 Ke1) 24 ... Rxe2+! 25 Kxe2 Nxc3+ (2 points), or a rook after
24 Kf3 (or 24 Kf1) 24 ... Nd2+ (2 points).
Instead of 23 Rb1, White should activate the rook with 23 Rd1. (1 point)
For Black
(4) 19 ... Qxe2? missed the chance to win a piece with 19 ... Rxd4!, as shown above. (1 point)

(5) 23 ... b6? missed another chance to win a piece, with 23 ... Ne4. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Attraction, Removing the Defender, Fork
L.Le Marec-T.Tounsi
Rennes 2009
Kings Indian Attack
1 Nf3 d5 2 g3 c5 3 d3 Nc6 4 Nbd2 Nf6 5 Bg2 Bg4 6 0-0 e6 7 c3 Be7 8 Qb3 Qd7 9 e4 0-0 10 e5 Ne8 11
h3 Bf5 12 d4 a6 13 Qd1 f6 14 g4 Bg6 15 Re1 cxd4 16 cxd4 Nb4 17 Nh4 Bd3 18 Bf1 (*) fxe5 19 Nhf3
e4 20 Ne5 Qb5 21 a4 Qa5 22 Bxd3 exd3 23 Nb3 Qc7 24 Bd2 Nc2 25 Rc1 Bh4 26 Nxd3 Bxf2+ 27 Kh1
Qg3 28 Bf4 Qxh3+ 29 Bh2 Nxe1 0-1
For White
(1) 17 Nh4?

Black was planning ... Nc2 forking the two white rooks, and 17 Nh4 is a defence against this threat:
17 ... Nc2 now fails to 18 Nxg6. However, 17 Nh4 walks into another tactic: 17 ... Bc2! 18 Qe2 fxe5! (2
points). Because of the discovered attack on the h4-knight, Black wins a key pawn and gets a strong
position.
White should first play 17 exf6, and if 17 ... gxf6 then 18 Nh4! is now safe because Black no longer
has the possibility of ... fxe5. Another possibility is 17 Re2, so that ... Nc2 is no longer a fork. (1 point)

(2) 18 Bf1?
This gives Black a second chance to win a pawn via a discovered attack with 18 ... fxe5!, and this
time the opportunity is taken. (1 point)
The most effective way to deal with the threat of ... Nc2 is by 18 Ndf3!. (1 point)

Position after 18 Ndf3 (analysis)

If Black goes ahead with 18 ... Nc2?, there can follow 19 Qxd3 Nxe1 (19 ... Nxa1 20 Bd2 traps the
knight in the corner) 20 Nxe1 fxe5 21 Nhf3 e4 22 Ne5! and White escapes any material losses.
For Black
(3) 17 ... Bd3?
Much stronger is 17 ... Bc2! 18 Qe2 fxe5, winning a pawn, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Trapped Piece
G.Cerami-G.Fontana
Erice 2009
Sokolsky Opening
1 b4 d5 2 Bb2 Bg4 3 Nf3 Bxf3 4 exf3 e6 5 c4 c6 6 a4 Nf6 7 b5 Nbd7 8 Be2 Be7 9 0-0 0-0 10 d3 Qc7
11 g3 Ne5 12 f4 Ng6 13 Nd2 Rad8 14 Qc2 c5 15 Rad1 d4 16 Ne4 b6 17 Bc1 Nd7 18 Bf3 f5 19 Ng5
Qd6 20 Bg2 h6 (*) 21 Nxe6 Rf6 22 Nxd8 Bxd8 23 Rfe1 Bc7 24 Re2 Ngf8 25 Rde1 Rf7 26 Bd5 1-0
For White
(1)


20 Bg2?
Black has just protected the e6-pawn with 19 ... Qd6, but it can be taken anyway: 20 Nxe6!. If Black
plays 20 ... Qxe6 then 21 Bd5! pins and wins the queen. If Black doesnt take the knight then White wins
the exchange and a pawn because the knight is forking the two black rooks. (2 points)
For Black
(2) 19 ... Qd6?
The queen doesnt properly protect the e6-pawn, as shown above (1 point). The best defence to the
threat is to simply swap off the knight with 19 ... Bxg5!. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Attraction, Fork
C.Louot-A.Beaudiot
Champagne Ardenne 2009
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 c5 3 Bf4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 a6 5 e3 d6 6 Bg5 (*) Qa5+ 7 Nc3 Qxg5 8 Nf3 Qa5 9 Bd3 Nd5
10 0-0 Nxc3 11 bxc3 Qxc3 12 Rb1 Nd7 13 Rb3 Qc7 14 Qd2 e6 15 Rc3 Qd8 16 Rb1 Be7 17 Rb4 0-0
18 Rg4 Nc5 19 Be2 e5 20 Rgc4 Be6 21 Rb4 a5 22 Rxc5 axb4 23 Rb5 Qc7 24 Rxb4 Rxa2 25 Qd1
Rxc2 26 Qd3 Ra8 27 h3 Raa2 0-1
For White
(1) 4 Nxd4?
White recaptures the pawn but allows Black to win material with 4 ... e5!.


The pawn forks the bishop and knight, and if 5 Bxe5 the bishop is lured to a fatal square: 5 ... Qa5+!
forks the king and bishop, and Black wins a bishop for a pawn. (2 points)
To avoid this tactic, White should recapture the pawn with 4 Qxd4. (1 point)

(2) 5 e3? allows the same tactical idea as above: 5 ... e5! 6 Bxe5 Qa5+!, again winning a bishop for a
pawn. (2 points)
White can defend against the threat by moving the f4-bishop or the d4-knight, or by 5 Nc3 (or 5 Nd2)
which blocks the a5-e1 diagonal so that ... Qa5 isnt check. (1 point)

(3)


6 Bg5? defends against the forking threat of ... e5, but puts the bishop on a vulnerable square. Black
can win a piece with the fork 6 ... Qa5+!, as played in the game. (2 points)
White can deal with the threat by moving the bishop or knight to a safe square, for example, 6 Nb3, 6
Nf3 or 6 Bg3. (1 point)
For Black
(4) 4 ... a6? missed the chance to win a piece by playing 4 ... e5! 5 Bxe5 Qa5+!, as shown above. (1
point)

(5) 5 ... d6? threatens ... e5, but again Black could have won material with the immediate 5 ... e5! 6
Bxe5 Qa5+!. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Fork, Attraction
J.Cop-J.Skuhala
Rogaska Slatina 2009
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 e6 3 g3 d5 4 Bg2 Nf6 5 d3 Nc6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bxf6 Bxf6 8 Nge2 d4 9 Nb1 Ne5 10 0-0 0-0
11 Nd2 Ng4 12 h3 Ne5 13 f4 Ng6 14 Nc4 b5 15 Nd2 Qb6 16 Rb1 Bb7 17 Kh2 e5 18 f5 Ne7 19 a3 Qc6
20 b3 g6 21 g4 Kh8 22 Nf3 Bg7 23 Nd2 f6 24 Ng3 Bh6 25 Re1 Bf4 26 Bf1 (*) 26 ... gxf5 27 Qf3 Bxd2
28 Re2 Bf4 29 Kg1 Bxg3 30 Qxg3 f4 0-1
For White
(1) 8 Nge2
White cant win a pawn here with 8 exd5 exd5 9 Nxd5, as Black regains it with 9 ... Bxb2, while 9
Bxd5? loses a piece to 9 ... Bxc3+ 10 bxc3 Qxd5.

(2)

Position after 15 ... Qb6

16 Rb1?
White missed the chance to play 16 e5! with a discovered attack on the a8-rook. White wins a bishop
for a pawn. (2 points)

(3) 26 Bf1?

Position after 26 Bf1

Whites position has become increasing difficult over the last few moves, but after 26 Bf1 it collapses
completely. 26 ... gxf5!, as played in the game, wins a vital pawn and Black is on the verge of breaking
through. 27 exf5 is met by 27 ... Qh1 mate (1 point), while 27 gxf5 can be answered by 27 ... Rg8!,
winning the pinned knight, or even by 27 ... Nxf5! intending 28 exf5 Qh1 mate (2 points).
Whites best chance is with 26 Bf3!, so that 26 ... gxf5 can be met by 27 exf5. (1 point)
For Black
(4) 15 ... Qb6? allows 16 e5, as indicated above (1 point). Black can defend against the threat by 15 ...
e5, 15 ... Rb8 or 16 ... Bb7. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Removing the Defender, Discovered Attack, Pin
E.Cote-T.Mathews
Montreal 2010
Kings Gambit
1 e4 e5 2 f4 Bc5 3 Nf3 d6 4 Nc3 Nc6 5 Bc4 Nf6 6 d3 a6 7 a3 0-0 8 f5 Nd4 9 Bg5 c6 10 Ne2 Nxe2 11
Qxe2 d5 12 Bb3 dxe4 13 dxe4 Qe7 14 0-0-0 b5 15 Bh4 a5 16 g4 a4 17 g5 axb3 18 gxf6 gxf6 19 Qg2+
Kh8 20 Rhg1 Be3+ 21 Nd2 Bh6 22 cxb3 Bd7 23 Kb1 Rg8 24 Qf2 c5 25 Rg3 Bc6 26 Rdg1 Bf4 (*) 27
Qxc5 Qxc5 28 Bxf6+ Rg7 29 Rxg7 h6 30 Rxf7# 1-0
For White
(1)
Position after 18 ... gxf6

19 Qg2+?
Both sides are attacking but Whites attack is much quicker. Here White can win with 19 Qd2! (2
points), threatening Qh6 followed by Rg1+ or Bxf6. Black is forced to give up a lot of material to avoid
mate. Here are some possible lines:

a) 19 ... Kh8 20 Qh6! and there is no good defence to Bxf6+. (1 point)
b) 19 ... bxc2 20 Rdg1+! Bxg1 21 Rxg1+ Kh8 22 Qh6 and White forces mate after 22 ... Rg8 23
Bxf6+. (2 points)
c) The most complicated line arises if Black counterattacks: 19 ... Bxa3 20 Rdg1+! Kh8 21 Qh6! (21
Qg2! is also good) 21 ... Bxb2+ 22 Kd1! (but not 22 Kxb2 Qa3+ and Blacks attack becomes quicker) 22
... bxc2+ 23 Ke2! c1N+ 24 Kf1!.
Position after 24 Kf1 (analysis)

Finally Blacks checks have run out and White will force checkmate. (3 points)
d) If 19 ... Rxa3 Whites simplest is to take the rook: 20 bxa3 Bxa3+ 21 Kb1. (2 points)

(2) 20 Rhg1?
White threatens mate on g7, but Black can defend effectively with 20 ... Be3+! and 21 ... Bh6.
Despite the loss of tempo, 20 Qd2! (2 points) threatening Qh6 is still very strong, e.g.:
a) After 20 ... Bxa3 White wins, though only through a series of precise moves: 21 Qh6! Bxb2+ 22
Kd2! Qb4+ 23 Ke3! Qc5+ 24 Ke2! Qc4+ 25 Rd3! Qxe4+ (or 25 ... Qxc2+ 26 Nd2) 26 Kf2 Bd4+ 27
Nxd4. Blacks checks have run out and White will force checkmate very soon. (3 points)
b) If 20 ... Bxf5 21 exf5 Bxa3 White should play 22 cxb3! (2 points), since after 22 Qh6? Bxb2+ 23
Kd2 Black now has the key resource 23 ... e4 and White also must avoid 23 Kxb2? Qa3+ 24 Kc3 bxc2+.
For Black
(3) 18 ... gxf6?
Given that 19 Qd2 is winning for White, Black should avoid taking on f6. 18 ... Qa7! 19 fxg7 Re8! is a
better option. Black can use the white pawn on g7 as a defensive shield. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Mate Threat, Fork

M.De Schepper-S.Welling
Maastricht 2011
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 b6 5 e3 Ba6 6 b3 Be7 7 Bd3 0-0 8 0-0 Bb7 9 Bb2 Nbd7 10 cxd5 Nxd5
11 Nxd5 Bxd5 12 Qe2 c5 13 Rad1 cxd4 14 Bxd4 Rc8 15 Ba6 Rc7 16 Ne5 Qb8 17 Nxd7 Rxd7 18 Bb5
Rdd8 19 Qg4 e5 20 Bb2 f6 21 Bd3 Qb7 22 e4 Bc6 23 Kh1 Bd6 24 Bc1 g6 25 Bh6 Rfe8 26 h4 Bd7 27
Bc4+ Kh8 28 Qe2 Bf8 29 Bc1 Bc6 30 f3 Bc5 -
For White
(1)


21 Bd3?
White missed the chance to win a bishop with the tactic 21 Rxd5! Rxd5 and now either 22 Qe6+ and
23 Qxd5, or 22 Bc4 Qd6 23 e4. (2 points)
For Black
(2) 20 ... f6? runs into 21 Rxd5!, as indicated above (1 point). Black can protect the e5-pawn without
allowing this tactic by first playing 20 ... Be6, attacking the queen, and only then 21 ... f6. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Attraction, Fork, Pin

Game 100
E.Dumont-M.Servant
Quebec 2008
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 d5 2 Bf4 Nf6 3 h3 c6 4 e3 e6 5 Nf3 Be7 6 Bd3 0-0 7 Nbd2 Nbd7 8 c3 c5 9 Rc1 a6 10 0-0 b5 11 a4
bxa4 12 Qxa4 Nb6 13 Qa5 Nfd7 14 Ne5 Nxe5 15 dxe5 Bb7 16 e4 c4 17 Bb1 Nd7 18 Qa2 Nc5 19
exd5 Qxd5 20 Nf3 Ne4 21 Rfd1 Qc5 22 Be3 Qc7 23 Rd4 Nc5 24 Qxc4 Bxf3 25 gxf3 Qxe5 26 Rg4 f5
(*) 27 Bd4 fxg4 28 Bxe5 gxf3 29 Kh2 Rad8 30 b4 1-0
For White
(1)

Position after 21 ... Qc5

White missed the chance to play 22 Rd4! (1 point), attacking both the knight on e4 and the pawn on
c4. After 22 ... f5 (the only way to safeguard the knight) 23 exf6 Nxf6 24 Qxc4 (or 24 Rxc4) White wins a
pawn. (1 point)
For Black
(2)
Position after 20 Nf3

20 ... Ne4? leaves the knight exposed and allows White to eventually win a pawn after 21 Rfd1! and
now:
a) Both 21 ... Qc5 and 31 ... Qc6 are met by the double attack 22 Rd4!. (2 points)
b) 21 ... Qb5 22 Rd4 Nc5! intending ... Nb3 is less clear, but White can instead chase the queen with
22 Nd4!. If 22 ... Qb6 23 Qxc4 Qxb2 24 Bxe4 Bxe4 the discovered attack 25 Nxe6! (1 point) wins a
pawn, while after 22 ... Qc5 23 Re1! (1 point) the e4-knight is vulnerable and Black loses material.

(3) 26 ... f5? overlooks the threat of 27 Bd4! (2 points), as played in the game, skewering the queen to
the g7-pawn.
Position after 27 Bd4

Black must give up the queen or allow 28 Rxg7+ followed by a decisive discovered check, e.g. 27 ...
Qb8, 28 Rxg7+ Kh8 29 Rxe7+.

Black can defend against the threat of Bd4 by playing 26 ... g6, safeguarding the g-pawn, or by moving
the queen off the diagonal. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Double Attack, Discovered Attack, Skewer
O.L.Einarsson-L.Skovle
Ballerup 2012
Alekhines Defence
1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 exd6 cxd6 5 Nf3 Nc6 6 Be2 g6 7 0-0 Bg7 8 c4 Nb6 9 Nc3 0-0 10 Be3 Bg4
11 b3 Nd7 12 Qd2 Qa5 13 Rac1 e6 14 h3 Bxf3 15 Bxf3 e5 16 d5 Nd4 17 Be2 f5 18 Rfd1 Nc5 19 Rb1
Ne4 20 Nxe4 Nxe2+ 21 Qxe2 fxe4 22 Bc1 Rae8 23 Rb2 Qd8 24 Qxe4 (*) b6 25 Re2 Qf6 26 Rde1
Qf5 27 f4 Qxe4 28 Rxe4 Rf7 29 Bb2 Rfe7 30 fxe5 1-0
For White
(1) 19 Rb1?
Position after 19 Rb1

Possibly concerned by ... Nxb3 ideas, White protects the b3-pawn but neglects the safety of the knight
on c3. Black can now win a piece with the little combination 19 ... Qxc3!, as after 20 Qxc3? Nxe2+ and
21 ... Nxc3 White is losing a lot more material. (3 points)
For Black
(2) 19 ... Ne4?

Black misses the chance to win a piece with 19 ... Qxc3, as indicated above. (1 point)

(3) 20 ... Nxe2+? soon loses a pawn, as shown in the game continuation. Black can prevent this from
happening by choosing 20 ... Qxd2! 21 Rxd2 fxe4 (2 points) after which its much more difficult for White
to attack the e4-pawn.
Tactical Themes
Attraction, Fork
O.Essler-U.Von Koslowski
Sebnitz 2011
Morra Gambit
1 e4 c5 2 d4 cxd4 3 c3 d3 4 Bxd3 d6 5 Nf3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7 7 Nbd2 Nf6 8 h3 Bd7 9 0-0 0-0 10 Re1 Nc6
11 Nb3 Re8 12 Qd2 Qc8 13 Nbd4 d5 14 exd5 Nxd5 15 Bh6 Bh8 16 Qg5 Nf6 17 Nxc6 Bxc6 18 Ne5
Nh5 19 Nxc6 Qxc6 20 Rxe7 Bf6 21 Rxe8+ Rxe8 22 Qb5 Qc8 23 Bc4 Re5 24 Qb3 Qe8 25 Qxb7 a5
26 Rd1 Bh4 27 Qf3 Rf5 28 Qe2 Bxf2+ 29 Kh2 (*) Qb8+ 30 Kh1 Ng3+ 0-1
For White
(1)
Positon after 19 ... Qxc6

20 Rxe7 won a pawn, but the skewer 20 Bb5! (2 points) would win an exchange.

(2)
Position after 26 ... Bh4

With 27 Qf3? Whites queen returns to defend, but this only helps Blacks attack by allowing the
skewer 27 ... Rf5!. (2 points)
Instead of 27 Qf3, White had many good options including 27 Qc7! (1 point) which keeps the pressure
on f7 and prevents any checks on the b8-h2 diagonal after 27 ... Re1+ 28 Rxe1 Qxe1+ 29 Kh2.

(3) 28 Qe2?
The queen tries to stay close to the king, but this only makes things worse for White, as shown below.
After 28 Qb7! Bxf2+ 29 Kh1! (2 points) White is still on top.

(4) 29 Kh2?
Position after 29 Kh2

29 Kh2? runs into a devastating check on the diagonal. After 29 ... Qb8+! 30 Kh1 Ng3+! (2 points)
White resigned - following 31 Kh2 Black can take the queen or, even better, force mate with 31 ... Nf1+
32 Kh1 Qh2#.
White can prevent this catastrophe by giving up a queen for a rook and bishop: 29 Qxf2! Rxf2 30
Kxf2. (1 point)
For Black
(5)
Position after 18 Ne5

Black was already under some pressure and was perhaps concerned by sacrificial ideas on g6, but 18
... Nh5? loses the e-pawn after the discovered attack 19 Nxc6 (2 points). A better defence would be 18 ...
Bg7 (1 point).

(6) 19 ... Qxc6? gives White the chance to win the exchange with 20 Bb5, as shown above, whereas
19 ... bxc6 would only lose a pawn. (2 points)

(7) 24 ... Qe8? loses another pawn. Black should prefer 24 ... Re7 or 24 ... Qc7. (2 points)
Tactical Themes
Skewer, Fork, Discovered Check, Discovered Attack
E.Garcia Vidal-J.M.Alvarez Garmendia
Barcelona 2011
Birds Opening
1 f4 Nf6 2 Nf3 d6 3 e3 Nc6 4 d4 Bg4 5 Be2 g6 6 Nbd2 Bg7 7 Rb1 0-0 8 0-0 a6 9 c4 Rb8 10 Qc2 Nb4
11 Qb3 c5 12 a3 Nc6 13 d5 Na7 14 Qc2 b5 15 b3 Re8 16 Bb2 Qc7 17 h3 Bd7 18 Nh4 e6 19 dxe6
Rxe6 (*) 20 Qc3 Nh5 21 Qd3 Bxb2 22 Rxb2 Ng3 23 Rf2 Rbe8 24 Rf3 Nxe2+ 25 Qxe2 Qd8 26 g3
Bc6 27 e4 Bxe4 28 Nxe4 Rxe4 29 Qd3 Qf6 30 Rff2 Re3 0-1
For White
(1) 10 Qc2?
Black wasnt previously threatening anything, but this queen move allows Black to win material with
a combination: 10 ... Bf5! 11 e4 (or 11 Bd3 Nb4)

and now 11 ... Nxe4! 12 Nxe4 Nb4! (chasing away the queen; 12 ... d5! 13 cxd5 Nb4!, with similar
variations, is just as good) 13 Qb3 Bxe4 (3 points).

Black has already won a pawn, and more is to come. Black intends to meet 14 Qxb4 with 14 ... Bxb1
winning the exchange (1 point); and 14 Ra1 with 14 ... Nc2! forking the rook and the d4-pawn, after
which 15 Rb1 Nxd4 unleashes a discovered attack (2 points).
Instead of playing 10 Qc2, White should consider moves such as 10 e4, 10 a3 and 10 b4. (1 point)
For Black
(2) 10 ... Nb4? misses the opportunity to play 10 ... Bf5! 11 e4 Nxe4!, as shown above.
(1 point)
Tactical Themes
Skewer, Removing the Defender, Fork, Discovered Attack
H.Hoose-G.Ermann
Berlin 2010
Petroff Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d3 Nc6 4 c3 h6 5 h3 d5 6 exd5 Qxd5 7 Nbd2 Bf5 8 Nc4 0-0-0 9 Ne3 Qd7 10 Nxf5
Qxf5 11 Be3 g5 12 Qa4 Kb8 13 Be2 Nd5 14 0-0 Qe6 15 Bd2 f5 16 Nh2 Bd6 17 Bf3 Nb6 18 Qc2 Rhg8
19 Be3 g4 20 hxg4 fxg4 21 Bxc6 bxc6 (*) 22 Bxb6 cxb6 23 g3 h5 24 Rfe1 Qf6 25 Re4 Rg7 26 Qe2
Rdg8 27 b4 Qe6 28 a3 h4 29 d4 hxg3 30 fxg3 -
For White
(1) 11 Be3? ignores problems on the d-file, a recurring theme in this game. Black can exploit this with 11
... e4! (2 points) which favours Black in all lines:

a) 12 Nd2 exd3 wins a pawn. (1 point)
b) 12 Nd4 Nxd4 13 Bxd4 (or 13 cxd4 Bb4+) 13 ... Rxd4! 14 cxd4 Bb4+ 15 Ke2 Re8 and White has
no chance of surviving the attack on the king. (1 point)
c) 12 Nh4 Qh7 with a double threat: 13 ... exd3 winning a pawn and 13 ... g5 trapping the knight. (1
point)
Instead of 11 Be3, White should break the pin on the d3-pawn with 11 Qc2. (1 point)

(2) 17 Bf3? allows another breakthrough in the centre, with 17 ... e4!. (2 points)

Black wins material in all lines via a combination of tactics:
a) 18 dxe4 Bxh2+ 19 Kxh2 Nb6! 20 Qc2 Qd6+! wins the bishop on d2. (1 point)
b) 18 Be2 exd3 either wins a pawn, or more than that after 19 Bxd3 Bxh2+! 20 Kxh2 Nb6! 21 Qc2
Qd6+ and ... Qxd3. (1 point)
c) 18 Bd1 Nb6 (1 point) and Black wins a pawn, e.g. 19 Qb3 Bxh2+ 20 Kxh2 Qe5+ 21 Kg1 Rxd3.
Instead of 17 Bf3, White should have strengthened his defences in the centre with, for example, 17
Rfe1, 17 Rfd1 or 17 Rad1. (1 point)

(3) 18 Qc2 once again allows Black to exploit Whites looseness on the d-file with 18 ... e4!.
(2 points)

Black wins material in all lines. For example:
a) 19 dxe4 Bxh2+! 20 Kxh2 Qd6+! and ... Qxd2. (1 point)
b) 19 Be2 exd3 20 Bxd3 Bxh2+ 21 Kxh2 Qd6+ and 21 ... Qxd3. (1 point)
c) 19 Bh5 exd3 wins a pawn with a dominating position - 20 Qxd3 is impossible in view of 20 ...
Bxh2+ and ... Rxd3. (1 point)
White should prefer 18 Qb3 (1 point), even if 18 ... Qxb3 19 axb3 e4! still favours Black.
For Black
(4) 11 ... g5? missed the chance to play 11 ... e4!, as shown above. (1 point)

(5) 17 ... Nb6 wasnt bad, but 17 ... e4! was stronger, as shown above. (1 point)

(6) 18 ... Rhg8? missed a final chance to play 18 ... e4!. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Deflection, Exposed King, Discovered Attack, Fork

C.Ijzermans-R.Poots
Delft 2008
Caro-Kann Defence
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 Bf4 Bf5 5 Bd3 Bxd3 6 Qxd3 Nf6 7 Nf3 g6 8 Nbd2 Bg7 9 0-0 0-0 10 b3
Re8 11 c4 Nc6 12 Rfd1 Nh5 13 Be3 e6 14 c5 (*) e5 15 dxe5 Nxe5 16 Nxe5 Bxe5 17 Rac1 d4 18 Bh6
Bf4 19 Bxf4 Nxf4 20 Qf3 Ne2+ 21 Kf1 Nxc1 22 Rxc1 Re6 23 Ne4 Rc8 24 Rd1 f5 25 Nd6 Rxd6 26
cxd6 Qxd6 27 Qxb7 Re8 28 g3 Qe5 29 Qf3 Rd8 30 a4 a5 -
For White
(1) 13 Be3? removes the bishop from attack, but allows Black to initiate favourable tactics with the move
13 ... e5!. (2 points)


Black has numerous threats, including the fork ... e4, so White is forced to act, but every line leads to
a material advantage for Black. Some examples:
a) 14 cxd5 exd4! (2 points) wins material. For example: 15 dxc6 dxe3! 16 Qxd8 Raxd8 threatens both
... Bxa1 and ... dxe3; 15 Nxd4 Nxd4 16 Bxd4 Nf4! (with a double attack on d3 and e2) 17 Qf3 Ne2+ wins
the exchange; or 15 Bg5 Qxd5 wins a pawn.
b) 14 Nxe5 Nxe5 15 dxe5 Bxe5 reaches line c. (2 points)
c) 14 dxe5 Nxe5 15 Nxe5 Bxe5 16 Rac1 (after 16 cxd5 Bxa1 17 Rxa1 Black has won the exchange
for a pawn) and now Black has the key move 16 ... d4!.


Blacks idea is to meet the only safe bishop move, 17 Bh6, with 17 ... Bf4! (2 points) 18 Bxf4 (18 g4
Qh4!) 18 ... Nxf4 19 Qf3 Ne2+ and Black wins the exchange.
Instead of 17 Bh6, White can try the counterattack 17 Nf3!? but Black still gains material: 17 ... dxe3
18 Nxe5 (or 18 Qxd8 Raxd8 19 Rxd8 Rxd8 20 Nxe5 e2! 21 Re1 Rd1) 18 ... Qe7 (18 ... exf2+ and 18 ...
Qf6 are also good) 19 Nf3 Nf4 20 Qxe3 Ne2+ 21 Kf1 Qxe3 22 fxe3 Nxc1 23 Rxc1 Rxe3.
Returning to the 13th move, White can avoid material loss by choosing either 13 Be5 or 13 Bg3. (1
point)

(2) 14 c5? allows the same ... e5 advance, and this time Black seized the opportunity. After 14 ... e5!
(2 points) 15 dxe5 Nxe5 16 Nxe5 Bxe5 17 Rac1 d4! 18 Bh6 Bf4! (2 points)

Position after 18 ... Bf4
19 Bxf4 Nxf4 20 Qf3 Ne2+ 21 Kf1 Nxc1 22 Rxc1 Black wins the exchange.
White could have avoided this tactic with moves such as 14 Rac1 (removing the rook from the sight of
Blacks bishop), 14 Nf1 or 14 cxd5. (1 point)
For Black
(3) Black missed the chance here to play the strong pawn advance 13 ... e5!, as indicated above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
S.Lakinska-K.Bashaer
Maribor 2012
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 g6 3 f4 Bg7 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 Bc4 e6 6 0-0 b6 7 d3 Bb7 8 Qe1 Nge7 9 a3 Nd4 10 Nxd4 cxd4
11 Nd1 0-0 12 Ba2 Rc8 13 Bb3 Qc7 14 Bd2 Nc6 15 c3 d6 16 f5 exf5 17 exf5 Rfe8 18 Qh4 Ne5 19
Bh6 dxc3 20 bxc3 (*) Qc6 21 Ne3 Rc7 22 Bxg7 Kxg7 23 f6+ Kh8 24 Qh6 Rg8 25 Bd5 Qxc3 26 Bxb7
Rxb7 27 Rac1 1-0
For White
(1) 19 Bh6? misses a tactical opportunity for White and also allows one for Black.
White could have played 19 fxg6! (2 points), opening up a second line of attack on the f7-pawn.
Position after 19 fxg6 (analysis)

Whichever way Black responds, White wins material:
a) 19 ... Nxg6 20 Rxf7! (2 points) 20 ... Qxf7 (if 20 ... Nxh4 the discovered check 21 Rxc7+ Kh8
followed by 22 Rxb7 wins a piece) 21 Bxf7+ Kxf7 22 Qg4.
b) 19 ... hxg6 20 cxd4! (2 points) chases away the key defender of the f7-pawn. If the knight moves,
Rxf7 or Bxf7+ will give White a decisive advantage.

Whites less forcing 19 Bh6? allows Black to create threats with 19 ... Qc6!. (2 points)

Black threatens checkmate with ... Qxg2 and has some tactics lined up against Whites defences:
a) After 20 Qh3 Bxh6! (1 point) 21 cxd4 Nxd3! (1 point) the white queen is overloaded. White can
reclaim some material after 22 fxg6 hxg6 23 Bxf7+ Kg7 24 Bxe8 Rxe8 but Black is still ahead.
b) 20 Rf2 can be met by a wonderful queen sacrifice: 20 ... Qxg2+!. (3 points)
Position after 20 ... Qxg2+ (analysis)

After 21 Rxg2 Nf3+! 22 Kf2 Nxh4 23 Rg4 Nxf5 Black has won three pawns.
For Black
(2) 17 ... Rfe8 invites trouble because it removes a defender of the f7-pawn. If Black wants to attack the
white queen, 17 ... Rce8 is a much safer way to do so.

(3)

Position after 18 Qh4

18 ... Ne5? loses a substantial amount of material after 19 fxg6!, as shown above. (1 point)
Blacks best option here is 18 ... d5! 19 Bxd5 Ne5! 20 Bxb7 Qxb7 (1 point). Black has eliminated
problems with the f7-pawn and has some compensation for the pawn.

(4) 19 ... dxc3? misses the opportunity to seize the initiative and win material with 19 ... Qc6!, as
demonstrated above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Removing the Defender, Discovered Check, Overloaded Piece, Double Attack, Deflection, Fork
N.Le Bas-A.Pozdnyakov
Montreal 2010
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 3 c4 c6 4 d4 cxd5 5 c5 Nc6 6 Bb5 Qc7 7 Nc3 Bg4 8 f3 Bd7 9 Nge2 g6 10 Bf4 Qc8
11 0-0 Bg7 12 Bxc6 bxc6 13 b4 Nh5 14 Be3 0-0 15 a4 Qc7 16 b5 e6 17 Qd2 Rab8 18 Rfb1 e5 19 Rb3
f5 20 Qb2 f4 21 Bf2 (*) e4 22 b6 axb6 23 cxb6 Qd8 24 fxe4 Qg5 25 Qd2 Bh3 26 g3 Qg4 27 Qd3 fxg3
28 Nxg3 Rf3 29 Qd2 Rbf8 30 Rbb1 Rxf2 31 Qxf2 Rxf2 32 Kxf2 Bxd4+ 33 Ke1 Bxc3+ 34 Kf2 Bd4+
35 Ke1 Nxg3 0-1
For White
(1) 18 Rfb1
White could have won material with 18 g4!.

Position after 18 g4 (analysis)

The knight which was defending against Bf4 is chased away, and following 18 ... Nf6 19 Bf4! (2
points) 19 ... Qb7 20 Bxb8 Rxb8 White wins the exchange.

(2) 19 Rb3 misses another opportunity to play 19 g4!. After 19 ... exd4 20 Nxd4 Nf6 21 Bf4! or 19 ...
Nf6 20 dxe5! Qxe5 21 Bf4! White wins at least an exchange (2 points). In the latter line, Black can try 20
... Ne8, but 21 b6! leaves White a good pawn ahead.
For Black
(3) 17 ... Rab8?
Putting the rook on the same diagonal as the queen runs into Bf4 ideas after 18 g4!, as shown above.
(1 point)

(4) 18 ... e5 doesnt adequately deal with the problem of the potential Bf4 skewer, and 19 g4! is again
strong, as shown above. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Removing the Defender, Skewer

B.Lemke-N.Manusina
Doelln 2010
Caro-Kann Defence
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Bf5 5 Ng3 Bg6 6 h4 h6 7 h5 Bh7 8 Nf3 Nd7 9 Bd3 Bxd3 10 Qxd3
Ngf6 11 Bd2 Qc7 12 0-0-0 0-0-0 13 Ne4 Nxe4 14 Qxe4 Nf6 15 Qd3 e6 16 Ne5 Bd6 17 Bf4 Kb8 18 c4
c5 19 Qc3 Rhf8 20 dxc5 Qxc5 21 Qd4 Qxd4 22 Rxd4 Bxe5 23 Bxe5+ Kc8 24 Bxf6 gxf6 25 Rhd1
Rxd4 26 Rxd4 Rg8 27 g4 Rg5 28 Rf4 f5 29 f3 Kd7 30 Kd2 Ke7 -
For White
(1)
Position after 20 ... Qc5

21 Qd4?
White misses the chance to play 21 Rxd6!, setting up decisive pinning ideas:
a) 21 ... Qxd6 22 Nd3! wins the pinned queen (22 Nc6+, 22 Nd7+ and 22 Ng6 are also good). (2
points)
b) 21 ... Rxd6 22 Nd3! Qc6 23 c5! wins a piece. (2 points)
For Black
(2) 19 ... Rhf8? ignores the threat of 20 dxc5! Qxc5 21 Rxd6, as shown above (1 point). Black can deal
with the threat in a number of ways, including 19 ... Ng4, 19 ... Nd7, 19 ... cxd4 and 19 ... Ka8. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin
P.Oliana Rectoret-A.Torres Camps
Llinars del Valles 2011
Colle Opening
1 d4 Nf6 2 e3 e6 3 Bd3 c5 4 c3 Nc6 5 f4 d5 6 Nd2 c4 7 Bc2 Be7 8 Ngf3 Bd7 9 Ne5 Qc7 10 0-0 0-0 11
g4 Rfd8 12 Qf3 Bf8 13 g5 Ne8 14 Qh3 f5 15 gxf6 Nxf6 (*) 16 Ndf3 Be8 17 Ng5 h6 18 Qxe6+ Kh8 19
Ngf7+ Bxf7 20 Nxf7+ Kg8 21 Nxd8+ Kh8 22 Nf7+ Kg8 23 Nxh6+ Kh8 24 Nf7+ Kg8 25 Ne5+ Kh8 26
Rf3 g6 27 Qxf6+ Bg7 28 Qxg6 1-0
For White
(1)

Position after 13 ... Ne8
14 Qh3? missed the opportunity to force checkmate with a typical sacrifice: 14 Bxh7+! Kxh7 (or 14
... Kh8 15 Qh5 and its soon mate) 15 Qh5+ Kg8 16 Qxf7+ Kh7 17 Rf3! and theres no good defence to
mate with Rh3 (17 g6+ Kh6 18 Qg8 works too). (3 points)
For Black
(2) 12 ... Bf8?
Black was already under some pressure, but after this move Black is forced to give up a pawn
following 13 g5!. Black should take steps against the threat of g5 followed by Bxh7+. For example, 12 ...
Be8 to protect the f7-pawn and so prevent Qxf7 (see above), or 12 ... g6 to block the attack on h7. (2
points)

(3)
Position after 13 g5

13 ... Ne8? allows a checkmating attack after 14 Bxh7+!, as shown above (1 point). Black can still
prevent the idea, albeit at a cost of a pawn, with 13 ... Ne4! 14 Nxe4 dxe4 15 Bxe4, which gives Black
time to play 15 ... g6. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Mate Threat, Eliminating the Defender, Attraction
V.Witte-A.Bilow
Troisdorf 2010
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 g3 d5 5 c5 b6 6 cxb6 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 cxb6 8 Bg2 0-0 9 Nh3 Nbd7 10 0-0
Ba6 11 a4 Bc4 12 Ba3 Re8 13 Re1 Rc8 14 Nf4 a6 15 Nd3 Nb8 16 Ne5 Nfd7 17 f4 f5 18 Qd2 Nf6 19
Bf3 Qc7 20 Kg2 Bb3 21 Bb2 Nc6 22 Rf1 Na5 23 h3 Nc4 24 Nxc4 Bxc4 25 g4 Ne4 26 Bxe4 dxe4 27
Qe3 -
For White
(1) 6 cxb6?
White missed a chance to win a piece with 6 Qa4+!. (2 points)

Position after 6 Qa4+ (analysis)

Whites queen forks the king and the bishop on b4, and the block 6 ... Nc6 is no longer safe because of
Blacks previous move with the b-pawn. 6 ... Nc6 is still Blacks best option, but although Whites queen
is forced deep into enemy territory after 7 Qxc6+ Bd7 8 Qb7, theres no way for Black to exploit this. (2
points)
For Black
(2) 5 ... b6? loses a piece to 6 Qa4+!, as shown above (1 point). Black could instead play any normal
developing move, such as 6 ... 0-0 after which ... b6 would be fine.
Tactical Themes
Fork
P.Dangelowski-R.Kock
Pinneberg 2011
Benoni Defence
1 d4 c5 2 d5 g6 3 e4 Bg7 4 c3 a6 5 a4 d6 6 a5 Bd7 7 Qb3 Qc7 8 Nf3 Nf6 9 Nbd2 0-0 10 Bd3 Bg4 11
h3 Bxf3 12 Nxf3 Nbd7 13 0-0 Rfc8 14 c4 Ne8 15 Bf4 Rcb8 16 Ra2 b6 17 axb6 Rxb6 18 Qc2 Qb7 19
Rb1 Nc7 20 Bd2 Rb3 21 Bc3 Bxc3 22 bxc3 Rxb1+ 23 Qxb1 Qxb1+ 24 Bxb1 Rb8 25 Nd2 Kg7 26 f3
Ne5 27 Bc2 Rb6 28 Kf2 f6 29 f4 Nf7 30 Ke3 e6 31 g4 g5 32 f5 e5 -
For White
(1) 21 Bc3
White could have won material with 21 Ba5!. (2 points)
Position after 21 Ba5 (analysis)

Firstly, Blacks queen is overloaded - she protects both the rook on b3 and the knight on c7 - so White
is threatening to win a piece with simply 22 Bxc7. Secondly, after 21 Ba5 Blacks rook on b3 no longer
has any safe squares to go to, which means White has a second threat of 22 Nd2. After 21 ... Rb8 (to
protect the rook) 22 Nd2 Rxb2? 23 Raxb2 Bxb2 White wins a piece with 24 Bxc7! Qxc7 25 Rxb2, or 24
Bc3!. (2 points)
Blacks best option after 21 Ba5 Rb8 22 Nd2 is 22 ... Rb4! 23 Bxb4 cxb4. (2 points)
Position after 23 ... cxb4 (analysis)

In this line Black loses only the exchange, and furthermore he gets decent compensation in the form of
dark-square control and an outpost on c5 for the knight.
For Black
(2) 20 ... Rb3 loses the exchange, albeit for some compensation, as shown above (1 point). Black can
avoid material loss by giving his rook on b6 some room to retreat, for example with 20 ... Qc8 or 20 ...
Qa7 (2 points).
Tactical Themes
Overloaded Piece, Trapped Piece
H.Rosenburg-T.Rosenburg
Hamburg 2010
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 c5 6 Nf3 0-0 7 e3 b6 8 Bd3 Bb7 9 Rb1 d6 10 0-0 Na6
11 Re1 Ne4 12 Qc2 d5 13 Nd2 f5 14 cxd5 Nxd2 15 Bxd2 Qxd5 16 e4 Qd7 17 exf5 exf5 18 Qa2+ Kh8
19 Bxa6 Bxa6 20 dxc5 bxc5 21 Be3 c4 22 Qc2 f4 23 Bd4 f3 -
For White
(1) 18 Qa2+?
White still holds an edge after this move, but he missed an opportunity to get much more with 18 Re5!.
(3 points)
Position after 18 Re5 (analysis)

The f5-pawn is under threat, and if this vital pawn is lost Blacks position is likely to collapse. Here
are the key variations:

a) 18 ... cxd4 19 Bxf5 (1 point) threatens both the queen on d7 and Bxh7+. Black should give up the
exchange here, as allowing Bxh7+ is even worse, e.g. 19 ... Qd6? 20 Bxh7+ Kh8 21 Rh5! with
unanswerable threats.
b) 18 ... Qd6 19 Bxf5 g6 20 Be6+ wins an important defensive pawn. (1 point)
c) 18 ... g6 defends the f5-pawn, but at a cost of further weakening the kingside. After 19 Bh6! (1
point) (19 Rbe1 and 20 Qb3+ are also strong) Black will eventually lose material.
Position after 19 Bh6 (analysis)

For example:
c1) 19 ... Rfe8 20 Qb3+ Kh8 21 Bb5!. (1 point)
c2) 19 ... Rfd8 20 Bc4+ Kh8 21 Bg5! (threatening the rook and also Bf6+) 21 ... Rf8 22 Re7 Qc6 23
d5 Qc8 24 Qe2 and theres no good defence to Qe5+. (1 point)
d) 18 ... Bc8 also protects the f5-pawn, but also at a cost - this time its a lack of coordination in
Blacks pieces. White continues by doubling rooks with 19 Rbe1!. (2 points)
Position after 19 Rbe2 (analysis)

White threatens to win with 20 Rxf5! Rxf5 21 Bxf5 Qxf5 22 Re8+ Kf7 23 Qxf5+ Bxf5 24 Rxa8 (1
point). Black can try 19 ... Nc7 to defend the e8-square, but then 20 Bf4! (1 point) threatens Re7 and
Black has no good defence, e.g. 20 ... Rf7 21 Bc4, or 20 ... Kh8 21 Re7 Re8 22 Rxe8+ Nxe8 23 Bxf5!.
For Black
(2) 16 ... Qd7?
Black was already in some difficulty (earlier on 12 ... f5 and 14 ... exd5 were better options) but here
Black could avoid the problems outlined above by playing 16 ... Qc6! (2 points), which prevents exf5 for
the moment. White can drive the queen away with 17 Bb5 Qd6, but at least the bishop no longer attacks
the f5-pawn.
Tactical Themes
Double Attack, Skewer, Exposed King, Pin
R.Hug-A.Le Bihan
Montlucon 2011
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 g6 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 Nc6 5 d3 d6 6 Be3 Nf6 7 h3 a6 8 Qd2 b5 9 a3 Qa5 10 Nge2 Bd7 11
0-0 0-0 12 Rad1 Rab8 13 Bh6 Rfc8 14 Bxg7 Kxg7 15 Kh1 Nd4 16 Qc1 Nxe2 17 Nxe2 Bc6 18 f4 c4 19
Qe3 Qb6 20 Qd2 cxd3 21 cxd3 Bb7 22 Nc3 Qd4 23 g4 e6 (*) 24 Bf3 Rg8 25 h4 e5 26 f5 gxf5 27
Qg5+ Kf8 28 Qxf6 f4 29 h5 Re8 30 Nd5 Bxd5 31 Qxd6+ Re7 1-0
For White
(1) 9 a3?
White missed the chance to win material with 9 e5!. (2 points)

9 e5 attacks the knight on f6. It also unleashes a discovered attack and a pin by the g2-bishop against
the knight on c6. Added together, this leads to a forced gain of material. For example:
a) 9 ... Nxe5 10 Bxa8 wins a rook for a pawn. (1 point)
b) 9 ... dxe5 10 Bxc6+ Bd7 11 Bxa8 Qxa8 wins a rook for a pawn. (1 point)
c) 9 ... Bb7 10 exf6 Bxf6 wins a piece for a pawn. (1 point)

(2) 10 Nge2? missed another chance to play the same tactic as above: 10 e5! (2 points) wins a piece
for a pawn.
For Black
(3) 8 ... b5?
This pawn advance, gaining space on the queenside, is a typical idea for Black but here its premature
because it allows 8 e5!, as shown above. (1 point)
Black could simply castle instead. If Black wants to play ... b5 quickly, it should be prepared by 8 ...
Bd7 or 8 ... Qc7, defending the knight, or by 8 ... Rb8 so that e5 can be answered by ... Nxe5. (1 point)

(4)
Position after 9 a3

9 ... Qa5? gives White a second opportunity to win material with 10 e5!, as indicated above. (1
point)
Black can deal with the threat of e4-e5 with, for example, 9 ... Bb7, 9 ... Bd7, 9 ... Qc7 or 9 ... Rb8. (1
point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Pin, Fork
M.B.Kyrkjebo-R.Weinman
Maribor 2012
Four Knights
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bb5 Nd4 5 Ba4 Nxf3+ 6 Qxf3 c6 7 d3 d6 8 Bg5 Be7 9 0-0 0-0 10 Qe3
Ng4 11 Bxe7 Qxe7 12 Qg3 Kh8 13 f4 f5 14 fxe5 Qxe5 15 Qxe5 Nxe5 16 exf5 Bxf5 17 Rae1 Bg6 18
Rxf8+ Rxf8 19 d4 Nd7 20 Re7 Rd8 (*) 21 d5 Nc5 22 dxc6 Nxa4 23 c7 Rc8 24 Nxa4 Bf5 25 Nc3 Kg8
26 Nd5 Kf8 27 c3 Re8 28 Rxe8+ Kxe8 29 Kf2 Kd7 30 c8Q+ 1-0
For White
(1)
Position after 14 ... Qxe5

15 Qxe5?
Instead of exchanging queens, White can win a piece with 15 Qxg4!. Black cannot recapture on g4
because the f-pawn is pinned: 15 ... fxg4 would allow mate in one move with 16 Rxf8#. (2 points)
For Black
(2) 14 ... Qxe5? loses a piece after 15 Qxg4!, as shown above. (1 point)
14 ... Nxe5 15 exf5 Bxf5 or 14 ... dxe5 15 exf5 Rxf5! (but not 15 ... Bxf5? which allows 16 Rxf5!
Rxf5 17 Qxg4) would retain the material balance, while 14 ... f4!? is another good option for Black. (1
point)

(3) 20 ... Rd8? was a mistake which allowed White to exploit a pin on the c6-pawn in the game with
21 d5! (2 points).
Position after 21 d5

White is threatening simply to capture on c6, the pawn on d5 cant be taken, and after 21 ... Nc5 22
dxc6 Nxa4 (22 ... bxc6 23 Bxc6 Bxc2 24 Rxa7 wins a pawn) White played the vital zwischenzug 23 c7!
(2 points) to remain a big pawn ahead.
Position after 23 c7

After 23 ... Rc8 White could have won more quickly with the combination 24 Rd7! Nb6 25 Rd8+ Be8
26 Nd5! h6 27 Nxb6 Rxc7 28 Rxe8+.
Going back to the 20th move, Black can avoid these problems by defending the knight with 20 ... Rf7!
intending 21 Re8+ Rf8 22 Rxf8+ Nxf8 or 21 Rxf7 Bxf7 22 d5 Ne5. (2 points).
Tactical Themes
Pin, Removing the Defender, Zwischenzug
D.Moeller-C.P.Hartmann
Schoenhagen 2009
English Opening
1 c4 e5 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 d5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 Nf3 Nc6 6 d4 Bb4+ 7 Bd2 exd4 8 Bxb4 Ndxb4 9 a3 Na6 10
b4 Nab8 11 b5 Ne7 12 Nxd4 0-0 13 0-0 c6 14 Nc3 Qc7 15 Qa4 c5 16 Nb3 Nd7 17 Nd2 Nb6 18 Qa5
Be6 19 Rac1 Rfc8 20 Nce4 Nd7 21 Qxc7 Rxc7 22 Nd6 Rb8 23 N2c4 b6 24 Rfd1 Nc8 25 Nxc8 Rbxc8
26 Nd6 Rf8 (*) 27 f4 g6 28 Bc6 Rd8 29 Nb7 Rb8 30 e4 Nf6 31 e5 Ne8 -
For White
(1) 25 Nxc8?
White could have won material with 25 Ne8!. (4 points)


This is an easy move to overlook, since its unusual for a knight to go to the eighth rank unless it is
capturing something. The rook on c7 is attacked and it doesnt have a safe square to go to. After 25 ...
Rcb7 26 Bxb7 Rxb7 White wins the exchange.
For Black
(2)
Position after 24 Rfd1

24 ... Nc8? not only blocks the b8-rook but also takes away a vital retreat square for the c7-rook. This
means that 25 Ne8! is possible and wins material, as shown below. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Trapped Piece
F.Hova-A.Olsen
Pinseturnering 2009
Slav Defence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6 5 e3 Nbd7 6 Bd3 dxc4 7 Bxc4 b5 8 Bd3 a6 9 0-0 Bd6 10 a3 Bb7 11
Qe2 0-0 12 Rd1 Qb8 13 h3 c5 14 e4 cxd4 15 Nxd4 Rc8 16 Bg5 Bc5 17 Nf3 e5 18 Nd5 Ne8 19 Nh4 (*)
Nc7 20 Qg4 Ne6 21 Nf5 Re8 22 Rac1 Qa7 23 Rc2 Ndf8 24 b4 Bb6 25 Nxb6 Qxb6 26 Be3 Qd8 27
Bxb5 Qf6 28 Bxe8 Rxe8 29 Nd6 Rb8 30 Nxb7 Rxb7 31 Qe2 Nc7 32 Qd3 Nfe6 33 Qd7 1-0
For White
(1) 18 Nd5?

Position after 18 Nd5

18 Nd5 is tempting but not good. White is relying on discovered attack and pin tactics such as 18 ...
Nxd5 19 exd5 Bxd5? 20 Bxh7+!, or 18 ... Bxd5 19 exd5 Nxd5? 20 Bf5!. However, its Black who can
turn the tactics in his favour with 18 ... Bxd5 19 exd5 e4!.


The e-pawn forks two pieces, so it must be taken (20 Bxf6 is met by the zwischenzug 20 ... exd3! or
20 ... exf3! (1 point)). After 20 Bxe4 Black creates a pin with 20 ... Re8! (2 points) after which White is
struggling to avoid losing a piece.

Position after 20 ... Re8 (analysis)

Some lines:
a) 21 Nd2 Nxe4 22 Nxe4 f5! wins the pinned knight. (1 point)
b) 21 Bxf6 Nxf6 and now:
b1) 22 Ng5 Qf4! (or 22 ... Qg3!) wins a piece. (1 point)
b2) 22 Nd2! is the most resilient defence. 22 ... Qe5! (after 22 ... Nxe4 23 Nxe4 f5 White has the
resource 24 Qc2!, while after 22 ... Qf4 White can save himself with 23 Qf3! Rxe4 24 Nxe4 Qxe4) 23
Re1 Qxb2 (1 point).

Position after 23 ... Qxb2 (analysis)

White still suffers from pins and will have to give up the a3-pawn. If White tries to break the pin with
24 Qd3? Black has the decisive tactic 24 ... Bxf2+! 25 Kxf2 Nxe4+ 26 Rxe4 Rxe4 or 26 ... Qxa1. (1
point)
For Black
(2) 18 ... Ne8? misses the possibility to play 18 ... Bxd5 19 exd5 e4!, as shown above, and also puts
Black on the back foot. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Discovered Attack, Pin, Zwischenzug, Attraction, Overloaded Piece
I.Rios Almada-Y.Cho
Istanbul 2012
Italian Game
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 0-0 Nf6 5 d3 d6 6 c3 Bg4 7 Be3 Bxe3 8 fxe3 0-0 9 Nbd2 Re8 10 b4 d5
11 exd5 Nxd5 12 Bxd5 Qxd5 13 Qc2 Rad8 14 d4 exd4 15 exd4 Re2 16 Rf2 Bxf3 17 gxf3 Rxf2 18
Kxf2 Nxb4 (*) 19 Qb1 c5 20 Ne4 Na6 21 Qg1 Kh8 22 a3 cxd4 23 cxd4 Qxd4+ 24 Kg2 Qe5 25 Re1
Qb2+ 26 Kh1 Qxa3 27 Nd2 h6 28 Rd1 Qc5 29 Qe1 Qd6 30 Qe2 Nc5 0-1
For White
(1)

Position after 15 ... Re2
15 ... Re2! was a strong move, pinning the knight on d2 and creating the threat of 16 ... Bxf3! 17 Rxf3
(or 17 gxf3 Qg5+ and 18 ... Qg2 mate) 17 ... Nxd4! 18 cxd4 Qxd4+.
16 Rf2? tried to defend along the second rank, but it doesnt work. Black can play 16 ... Bxf3 17 gxf3
Nxd4! (17 ... Nxb4! is similar) (2 points) with a decisive advantage:


Taking the knight is no good: 18 cxd4 Rxf2 19 Kxf2 Qxd4+ followed by ... Qxal wins for Black. (2
points).
Moving the queen is even worse. For example, 18 Qd3 (18 Qd1 is similar) 18 ... Qg5+! 19 Kf1 Rxf2+
20 Kxf2 and now any sensible knight move (e.g. 20 ... Ne6, 20 ... Nf5, 20 ... Nc2) sets up an decisive
discovered attack and skewer. (2 points)
Returning to Whites 16th move, a good defence to Blacks threat is 16 Qb3!. (2 points)

White breaks the pin on the d2-knght (so that ... Bxf3 can be met by Nxf3) and aims to relieve the
pressure with a queen exchange.
For Black
(2) 17 ... Rxf2?
Black chose the right idea but the wrong move order, which leaves him only a pawn up.
17 ... Nxd4! (or 17 ... Nxb4!), as shown above, is much more decisive. (1 point)
Tactical Themes
Pin, Fork, Removing the Defender, Discovered Attack, Skewer
T.P.Magklaras-G.Batzolis
Kallithea 2009
Rti Opening
1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 g6 3 Bg2 Bg7 4 0-0 0-0 5 d3 d6 6 Nbd2 Nc6 7 e4 e5 8 Nh4 Rb8 9 f4 exf4 10 gxf4 Ng4
11 Ndf3 Bd4+ 12 Nxd4 Nxd4 13 Nf3 Nxf3+ 14 Qxf3 Qh4 15 Qg3 Qxg3 16 hxg3 f6 17 b3 Bd7 18 Re1
Rfe8 19 Bb2 g5 20 Bh3 gxf4 21 gxf4 Kf7 22 Bxg4 Bxg4 23 Kf2 h5 -
For White
(1) 9 f4?
Position after 9 f4

Whites desirable pawn break is f2-f4, but the timing has to be right. In this instance the pawn advance
is premature as it allows Black to win material with 9 ... exf4! and now:
a) 10 Rxf4 g5! forks the rook and knight. (2 points)
b) 10 gxf4 Nxe4!. (2 points)

Black wins a pawn because of the discovered attack on the h4-knight.
For Black
(1) 10 ... Ng4
10 ... Nxe4! wins a pawn, as shown above. (1 point)

(2) 11 ... Bd4+
Black doesnt miss a tactical opportunity here, but 11 ... Bf6 is close to being very strong.

After 12 Qe1! (to defend the knight) 12 ... Nd4! 13 Nxd4? Bxd4+ 14 Kh1 Bf2! 15 Rxf2 Qxh4 Black
wins material. However, White has the surprising defensive resource 13 Qd1! Bxh4 (or 13 ... c5 14 c3!)
14 Nxd4 and White is okay! So no tactic was overlooked.
Tactical Themes
Removing the Defender, Fork, Discovered Attack
D.Beissel-F.D.Krug
Maastricht 2012
Queens Pawn Opening
1 d4 d5 2 Nd2 Nc6 3 e3 a6 4 c4 e6 5 Ngf3 Nf6 6 Bd3 Be7 7 0-0 0-0 8 a3 dxc4 9 Nxc4 b5 10 Nce5 Bb7
11 Qc2 Nb8 12 Ng5 g6 13 Rd1 Nh5 14 Ne4 Bd5 15 Nc5 Bxc5 16 dxc5 (*) Qg5 17 e4 Qxe5 18 exd5
exd5 19 Bd2 c6 20 Re1 Qc7 21 Bh6 Rd8 22 Bg5 f6 23 Bxg6 hxg6 24 Qxg6+ Ng7 25 Bxf6 Qf7 26
Qxf7+ Kxf7 27 Bxd8 Ne6 28 Bh4 Nd7 29 b4 a5 30 f4 axb4 31 axb4 Rxa1 32 Rxa1 Nxf4 33 Rf1 1-0
For White
(1)
Position after 13 ... Nh5

14 Ne4?
White misses the chance to crash through Blacks defences with 14 Nxh7! Kxh7 15 Bxg6+! (2 points)
and now:
a) 15 ... Kg8 16 Bxh5 leaves White two pawns ahead and Blacks kingside is completely blown open.
(1 point)
b) 15 ... Kh6 16 Nxf7+ Rxf7 17 Bxf7 and theres no good defence to Qg6. (1 point)
c) 15 ... fxg6 16 Qxg6+ Kh8 17 Qxh5+ Kg8. (2 points)

Position after 17 ... Kg8 (analysis)

White has three pawns for the piece, but more importantly theres no way Blacks king will survive
out in the open. After 18 Qg6+ Kh8 19 e4! (this is better than cashing in with 19 Nf7+) White threatens
both Bh6 and a decisive rook lift with Rd3-h3.
For Black
(2) 13 ... Nh5? move the knight away from its vital defensive post and allows 14 Nxh7!, as shown above.
(1 point)
Tactical Themes
Removing the Defender, Mate Threat, Fork, Exposed King
P.Lankof-T.Kaluzny
Klementowice 2011
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 c3 d5 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 d4 Nc6 5 dxc5 Qxc5 6 Be3 Qa5 7 Nf3 Nf6 8 Nbd2 e6 9 Nb3 Qc7 10
Bd3 Be7 11 0-0 0-0 12 Qc2 h6 13 Rad1 b6 14 Nbd4 Nxd4 15 Bxd4 Bb7 16 Be5 Qc6 17 b4 Rad8 18 b5
Qc8 19 Nd4 Nd7 20 Bh7+ Kh8 21 Bxg7+ Kxg7 22 Nxe6+ fxe6 23 Qg6+ Kh8 24 Qxh6 Nf6 25 Bc2+
Kg8 26 Qg6+ Kh8 27 Rde1 Bc5 28 Re5 Rd5 29 Rxd5 Bxd5 30 Qh6+ -
For White
(1)

Position after 24 ... Nf6

25 Bc2+? is a mistake. In this very complicated position White has only one way to win, and its not
easy to see: 25 Bf5+! Kg8 26 Rde1!. (3 points)

Position after 26 Rde1 (analysis)
Moving the rook to the e-file creates two major threats: one is Bxe6 and the other is Re3 followed by
Rg3 or Rh3. Despite being two pieces ahead, Black doesnt have a satisfactory defence. For example:
a) Crucially, 26 ... exf5 27 Rxe7 threatens mate on g7, and 27 ... Rf7 is met by 28 Qg6+!, winning. (1
point)
b) 26 ... Bd5 (defending e6) 27 Qg6+ Kh8 28 Re3! and there is no good defence to Rh3+. (1 point)
c) 26 ... Rf7 27 Bxe6 Qc5 (27 ... Qxe6 28 Rxe6 leaves White well ahead on material) and now 28
Qg6+ Kh8 29 Bxf7 is good enough while 28 Re3! is even better. (1 point)

(2) 28 Re5? is too slow. Black can punish White with 28 ... Qc7! (28 ... Qd7! and 28 ... Rd7! are just
as good). (2 points)

Black defends along the second rank and White can no longer force perpetual check. After 29 Qh6+
(or 29 Rg5 Rd7) 29 ... Nh7 30 Rh5 Rd7 Whites attack ends and Black has a decisive material advantage.
White should have settled for the draw and perpetual check with 28 Qh6+ Kg8 29 Qg6+ Kh8 30
Qh6+. (1 point)
For Black
(3) 19 ... Nd7 is certainly risky because it invites White to sacrifice two pieces to smash open Blacks
king position, but objectively its not a bad move because Whites attack probably leads to only a draw
with best play (see below).
(4) 24 ... Nf6?
This loses to 25 Bf5+! Kg8 26 Rde1!, as demonstrated above. (1 point)
Blacks only good option is 24 ... Bg5! (deflecting the queen) 25 Qxg5 and only now 25 ... Nf6! (3
points) (not 25 ... Kxh7? 26 Rd4! and Rh4).

By giving back one of the pieces Black has beaten off the most dangerous threats. The position is
roughly level and could easily end in perpetual check after, say, 26 Bc2 Qxc3 27 Qh6+ Kg8 28 Qg6+ Kh8
29 Qh6+.

(5) 28 ... Rd5?
Black could beat off Whites attack with 28 ... Qc7!, 28 ... Qd7! or 28 ... Rd7!, as shown above. (1
point)
Tactical Themes
Mate Threat, Exposed King, Pin, Deflection
Game
Points available
Points scored
Game 81
Game 82
Game 83
Game 84
Game 85
Game 86
Game 87
Game 88
Game 89
Game 90
Game 91
Game 92
Game 93
Game 94
Game 95
Game 96
Game 97
Game 98
Game 99
Game 100
Game 101
Game 102
Game 103
Game 104
Game 105
Game 106
Game 107
Game 108
Game 109
Game 110
Game 111
Game 112
Game 113
Game 114
Game 115
Game 116
Game 117
Game 118
Game 119
Game 120
11
6
10
12
17
8
29
15
7
7
13
4
14
6
4
11
8
19
4
9
6
17
8
21
15
16
6
6
7
5
9
14
11
10
5
8
9
5
7
14
Total
413

Glossary of Tactical Themes

Below is a brief guide of the main tactical themes that arise in the exercises throughout the book.
Attraction
An attraction occurs when an enemy piece is lured to an unfavourable square, using a sacrifice.

By playing 1 Rh8+!, White sacrifices the rook in order to force Blacks king onto a fatal square. After
1 ... Kxh8 White can give checkmate with 2 Qh7#.
Clearance
A clearance occurs when a piece moves off a vital square or line so that another piece can use it
advantageously.

If the queen wasnt on the f7-square, White could give checkmate by playing Nf7. White solves the
problem by clearing the square for the knight with the sacrifice 1 Qf6+! Nxf6 2 Nf7#.
Desperado
A desperado occurs when a piece gives itself up for as much material (or other gain) as possible. A
desperado may arise when both sides have pieces under attack.

Both queens are attacked, and 1 Rxb2? Nxd7 would be just a fair trade of material. Instead, before
taking Blacks queen, White first plays the desperado 1 Qxe8+! Rxe8 and only now 2 Rxb2, winning a
rook overall.
Discovered Attack
A discovered attack occurs when one piece moves off a line to reveal an attack by another piece on the
same line.

1 Nf6+! reveals a discovered attack by the white queen against the black queen, along the d-file. After
Black gets out of check, Whites queen will capture Blacks queen.
Discovered Check
A discovered check is a special version of the discovered attack, where the piece under attack is the
enemy king.

1 Nxe5+! reveals a discovered check by the bishop on a2 against the black king on g8. After 1 ... Kg7
2 Nxc6 White wins a knight and a pawn.
Double Check
A double check is a special version of the discovered check, where the piece which moves off the line
also gives check to the enemy king. The only possible way out of a double check is to move the king.

1 Bg6+! is double check: the black king is checked by the bishop on g6 and the rook on e1. After 1 ...
Kd8, White can give checkmate with 2 Re8#.
Fork / Double Attack
A fork is the most common of all chess tactics and occurs when a piece simultaneously makes two or
more direct attacks (normally against enemy pieces). When there are two attacks, it can also be called a
double attack.

1 Qc4+! attacks both the king and the rook. After Black gets out of check, White wins the bishop with
2 Qxc5.

In this second example, one of the targets is a piece while the other is a vital square. 1 Qd4! threatens
mate (with Qh8) and also the attacks the knight on b6. After Black escapes the mate threat, Whites queen
captures the knight on b6.
Interference
Interference occurs when a line between an attacked piece and its defender is blocked, often by a
sacrifice.

By playing 1 d5! White interferes with the black queens defence of the knight. White wins the knight
after 1 ... cxd5 2 Qxb3.
Mate Threat
This is a situation where the threat of checkmate is so serious that it can only be prevented by losing
material.
Here White plays 1 Ng5! threatening mate with Qh7#. Black has no adequate way to prevent mate (if
1 ... Rd8 then 2 Qh7+ Kf8 3 Qh8#) so hes forced to give up the queen for the knight with 1 ... Qxg5 2
Qxg5.
Overloaded Piece
An overloaded piece is a piece which is unable to cope with two or more defensive tasks.

Blacks knight and bishop are attacked. Both are guarded by the queen, but the queen is overloaded its unable to perform both defensive tasks at the same time. After 1 Nxd7! Qxd7 2 Rxa5 White wins a
piece.
Pin
A pin occurs when a piece attacks an enemy piece which cannot move from the line of attack without
exposing a more valuable piece (or sometimes a vital square) along the same line of attack. The pin is a
very common tactical weapon.
White plays 1 Rc2! pinning the bishop to the king on the c-file. The bishop simply cannot move and
White can capture it next move. When the more valuable enemy piece is the king, as it is here, the pin is
called an absolute pin.

In this second example, White plays 1 Qa1! pinning the black knight to the black rook along the a1-h8
diagonal. The knight cannot move without exposing the rook to attack, so White wins the knight.

In this third example, a piece will be pinned to a vital square. White plays 1 Rf1!, pinning the black
knight to f8. The knight cannot move without allowing mate with Rf8#.
Removing the Defender
If an attacked enemy piece (or vital square) is defended by another enemy piece, a common tactic to win
the piece is removing the defender. This may be achieved in one of three ways: capturing, chasing away
or deflection.

1) Capturing
Blacks bishop is attacked by a rook and defended only by the f6-knight. White removes the defender
and wins a piece with the straightforward sequence 1 Bxf6! gxf6 2 Rxd7.

In this second example, the black bishop on g8 is the only thing preventing mate with Qf7, as it
defends the key f7-square. However, White can force mate by removing the bishop: 1 Rxg8+! Rxg8 (or 1
... Nxg8) 2 Qf8 mate.

2) Chasing away
Blacks bishop is attacked by a rook and defended only by the c6-knight. White wins a piece by
attacking the knight with 1 b5!. If the knight doesnt move, the pawn will simply capture it, but if it does
move, Whites rook will take the bishop on e7.

3) Deflection
Deflection usually involves giving up a pawn or a piece for a greater gain. Here Blacks queen is
attacked by Whites queen and defended only by the rook on d8. White plays 1 Re8+! to deflect the rook
away from its defence of the queen. After the forced 1 ... Rxe8 2 Qxd1 White wins a queen for a rook.
Skewer
A skewer is very similar to a pin - there is just one difference. A skewer occurs when a piece attacks an
enemy piece which cannot move from the line of attack without exposing a less valuable piece along the
same line of attack.
1 Re1+! skewers the king to the bishop. After the king moves, the rook takes the bishop.
Trapped Piece
A trapped piece is a piece which has no escape squares and is vulnerable to attack from enemy pieces of
less value.

White plays 1 c5! to trap the black bishop, which has no safe squares. White wins a bishop for a
pawn.
Zwischenzug
A zwischenzug is a vital in-between move which appears in the middle of a sequence of apparently
forced moves, like captures and recaptures. The zwischenzug is usually a very forcing move, for example
a check.
In this position Black could try to exploit Whites vulnerable back rank with 1 ... Qxe2?, intending to
answer 2 Rxe2? with 2 ... Rd1+! and mate next move. However, White can refute Blacks idea with the
zwischenzug 2 Qb3+!. Following 2 ... Kh8 3 Rxe2 the check on d1 is no longer possible because the
queen covers that square, so White has won a queen for a rook.

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First

published in 2014 by Gloucester Publishers Limited, Northburgh House,

About the Authors

Instructions for the Exercises

Queens Gambit Declined

1 e4 d5 2 e5 Bf5 3 d4 e6 4 a3 c5 5 c3 cxd4 6 cxd4 Nc6 7 f4 Qh4+ 8 g3 Qg4 9 Nf3 (*)

Position after 6 ... g6

Position after 9 Na4

Position after 12 ... Bxd4

Position after 13 ... Ng4

Position after 14 ... Nxh2

Position after 14 ... Re8 (analysis)

Position after 14 Rf1

Position after 18 Qe2

You have scored ____ out of 18 points.

Position after 20 ... c4 (analysis)

Position after 24 Be4

Position after 15 ... Bd5 (analysis)

Position after 16 ... Bf8 (analysis)

Position after 13 ... Qd7

Position after 20 ... Qh3 (analysis)

Position after 10 ... Nb8

Position after 7 0-0

Position after 10 Bb5

Position after 14 Qb4 (analysis)

Position after 14 ... Rxf4 (analysis)

Position after 14 ... f6 (analysis)

Position after 15 ... f5 (analysis)

Position after 16 Qh5 (analysis)

Position after 8 Nd5 (analysis)

Position after 10 ... Bg4

Position after 13 ... Nf6 (analysis)

Position after 18 0-0 (analysis)

Position after 10 Nxe4

Position after 10 ... f6

Position after 12 ... Qf7 (analysis)

Position after 14 ... Qc6 (analysis)

Position after 9 Bg5

Position after 9 ... Bh4+ (analysis)

Position after 7 ... Qb6 (analysis)

Position after 19 Na4 (analysis)

Position after 18 Qd2 (analysis)

Position after 19 Qc2 (analysis)

Position after 14 Nxf7 (analysis)

Position after 16 Qg3

Position after 9 ... Bxa3 (analysis)

Position after 18 ... Ng4 (analysis)

at least the exchange.

Position after 18 ... Qh3

Position after 11 ... Re8

Position after 15 ... Ne7

Position after 12 Qxf3

Position after 12 Bb5 (analysis)

Position after 13 Bb5 (analysis)

Position after 13 ... e5

Position after 10 ... Bb3 (analysis)

Position after 13 Rc1

Position after 6 ... Qd6

Position after 7 c3 (analysis)

Position after 17 ... Be5 (analysis)

Position after 18 ... Be5 (analysis)

Position after 19 bxc5

Position after 5 ... b5

Position after 6 ... Bg4

Schlepütz & Emms - The Chess Tactics Detection Workbook

Schlepütz & Emms - The Chess Tactics Detection Workbook