Choosing between moves

In the following positions, I will offer the choice between two moves or more... This is aimed at simulating tournament conditions when it is needed to calculate various moves before playing one. Sometimes there's a trap, sometimes there'a combination. Good luck!



















Position 1: Would you play 1..Qa2 or 1..d5 ?



















Position 2: Would you play 1..g6 or 1..Re5 ?



















Position 3: White has launched an attack. Would you play 1..Bc8, 1..Ne5, or 1..Nxe4 ?

Surprising your opponent in the opening !

We'll take a look at two positions where GMs (with the White pieces) were able to find a strong move before the 20th move of the game. Here it is not a matter of finding a combination but rather attacking chances early on. In both games, Black was not able to defend succesfully afterwards.

Position I: White to play




















In the first sicilian position, White could routinely continue by 1.Rae1 or 1 Nce2. However, GM Mitkov was able to surprise his opponent ( rated more than 120 points above him) and start the attack immediately. What did he play ?



Position II: White to play




















In the second position, GM Akopian found a very strong move. While the game lasted 20 moves longer, this move created defensive problems for his opponent who lost material quickly after that. This is certainly the key moment here, although there is no forced win. What did he play here with White ?

Key moves : how to clinch a chess game (Easy level)

Too often, an overwhelming advantage is obtained in a rapid or tournament game, but missing a clean decisive win lets the opponent come back in the game.

Here are three examples taken from recently played games. It's all about looking at all candidate moves and thematic combinations to clinch the game.Variations are not long but precise moves are required...

Position I

Black to play and win in two moves

Position II

White to play and win with a double-attack


Position III

Here White missed an elegant win, letting Black escape.

Gashimov-Nabaldian 2008 (level: medium)

Another tactical position from Gashimov. Here White has clearly the initiative against the exposed black king. Gashimov found the most dangerous next 2 moves and Nabaldian wasn't able to find the most resilient counter.

Can you find the decisive 2 moves Gashimov played ?

White to play and win

Gashimov-Nabaldian Capelle-La-Grande 2008


Hint: First move is a check, second isn't...

Gashimov-Miton 2008 (level: difficult, hint provided)

V. Gashimov won two high-level events recently: Capelle-La-Grande open (tied for first) and the Baku Grand Prix (tied for first again). Let's take a look at the following position with White having a decisive advantage. The idea is to take advantage of the Queen in d7 defending key squares and pieces. The variation is long as Black can defend for at least three or four moves...

White to play and win

Gashimov-Miton 2008

Calculate well!

Hint: the tactial theme here is overloading.

Tactical Quiz: Kings on opposite sides

1. White to play and win
Akopian-Jobava 2005


2. White to play and win
Morozevich-Alekseev 2004

3. Black to play and win
Nakamura-Zapata 2006

4. White to play and win
Akopian-Wells 2006



Today's training is centered on the attack when one side castles long and the other short. This usually generates sharp middle-game position where the fastest or strongest attack decides the game.

Calculate well !


You can play through solutions here to compare with your thoughts.
http://games.top10chess.com/longcastle08.htm

Tactics Explained (Long Diagonal)

We will explain illustrate the attack along a diagonal as our main tactical motif today.



Let's take a look at the following position, White to move:

Svesnikov-Scherbakov 1991, White to play and win

Hint: White has a battery composed of Bc3 and Qe5. However 1 Ne6 is countered by 1..f6, blocking the long diagonal a1-h8. Is there a direct way to conclude the attack.

Solution is given below.

Solution

1 Qg7+!! Kg7 2 Nf5++ ( double check) Kg8 3 Nh6#.

Two easy tactics on Material Winning

In the first position, White has an easy way to win material.
This is extracted from the position reached by Morozevich against Korchnoi in 2004

White to play and win

In the second position, White has a way to win material in two moves. This position was reached in the blindfold game Ivanchuk-Anand 2007, Monaco.

White to play and win

Calculate well !

Feel free to post your solutions/questions in the comments section.