Monday’s winning 5-sec tactics!
Winning 5-second Tactics!
Hello Monday! How was your weekend? The images above are from a newsreel from 1926 (Budapest, Hungary), showing two women playing some sort of rapid/blitz chess while surrounded by some other women spectators. The woman on the far left, curiously, seems more interested in the camera than in the game!
I came across this item on the twitter of Olympiu Urcan, a self described chess historian and researcher. There are lots of interesting goodies for you to discover if you take a look!
Today I present some 12 examples of tactical skill and expertise from recent tournaments. Most are from master and grandmaster games. Some are relatively easy, but I think the reader will find quite a few of them challenging. Good luck!
fm Stefansson– Thorsteinsson
Reykjavik 10.3.2018
If I had a nickle for every time this tactical theme comes up then I would be quite happy! But in the heat of a battle it is very easy to ‘forget’ something. White to play and WIN!
gm Vallejo – im Dinstuhl,V
Bundesliga 10.3.2018
A curious position. The passive position of the White Queen hides the violence about to explode around the Black King. Do you see the idea? White to play and WIN!
Weber,U – gm Andersen,M
Bundesliga 10.3.2018
White is not just threatening mate but is a piece up to boot! Looks pretty promising. Unfortunately, it is Black’s move. Black to play and WIN!
gm Donchenko,A – im Zude,A
Bundesliga 11.3.2018
Black must have thought himself clever, taking the e-pawn with his Knight, seemingly forcing an exchange of a knight for a knight, relieving some pressure. But there is a small problem…White to play and WIN!
gm Edouard,R – gm Onischuk,A
St.Louis 11.3.2018
A tense struggle! Black seems to have no real problems with his development and especially his Queen is quite active. But never put your 100% faith in appearances. White to play and get a LARGE advantage!
gm Mikhalevski – gm Ali Marandi
St.Louis 10.3.2018
Chaos rules! Black has just captured the White g-pawn with his Knight. White can not safely take it. Why? In any case, White has a hidden resource. White to play and WIN!
Chandra,A – im Shtembuliak,E
St.Louis 11.3.2018
Black’s pieces are very active, but White seems to have all of his pieces safely entrenched and protected. Once more, don’t trust 100% first appearances! Black to play and WIN!
fm Eichler,C – im Lauber,A
Bundesliga 10.3.2018
Something is amiss in Black’s game with his King standing on g7. However, the threat of capturing d3 seems to buy time for Black to then move his King. White to play and WIN!
Grigorian,S – gm Naiditsch
Bundesliga 11.3.2018
A strange position! Material is even and things appear balanced. But Black has the more active pieces and this gives Black the chance to change the game entirely! Black to play and WIN!
gm Volokitin – gm Van Forest,J
Bundesliga 11.3.2018
Did Black overlook something?White had just played Qd3, attacking the Knight on b3 and the pawn on g6. If Black takes the Rook then Qg6+ is atleast a perpetual for White. Black to play and WIN!
gm Anand – gm Levin,F
Bundesliga 10.3.2018
Black threatens to double his Rooks on the h-file and mate Anand! But it is not so easy to mate the former World Champion. White to play and get a LARGE advantage!
gm Ruck,R – gm Werle,J
Bundesliga 10.3.2018
Complicated game so far! Pins and counter pins, but Black seems to have little to fear. False appearances once more! White to play and WIN!
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