Wednesday’s winning 5-second tactics
Today’s Killer Tactics!
Just kidding! Here on this blog we play by the rules and win fairly. Below are some 12 examples of ‘killer’ tactical ingenuity for my readers to test themselves. All are from current events: the Chinese Tch, the French Tch and the Karpov-Poikovsky tournament. PGN can be downloaded at the end. Good luck!
Note: some readers might have difficulty seeing all of the boards. This is because their ‘zoom’ is not set to 100%. If this is your case, just alter the zoom settings of your pc.

im Barbot,P – im Vitoux,C French Tch 30.5.2018
Something has gone wrong with Black’s opening. Worse still, Black’s last move (Qg5) is a mistake.White to play and crush!

gm Sokolov,A – Gadarinian,C French Tch 27.5.2018
Chess can be a very cruel game. One momentary lapse and you can lose immediately. White to play and crush!

wfm Choisy,M – wgm Guichard French Tch 28.5.2018
White’s kingside is compromised. Worse still, all of White’s pieces are on the otherside of the board. Black to play and crush!


gm Shchekachev – gm Rodshtein French Tch 26.5.2018
This was a tough fight until White allowed Black to position his pieces as he wishes on the kingside. Black to play and win!

gm Kosteniuk – gm Efimov French Tch 29.5.2018
It is always dangerous to delay castling! When will people learn?In any case, White to play and crush!

gm Malakhov – gm Wagner,D French Tch 27.5.2018
This was an almost equal game until Black ‘forgot’ about White’s passed pawn. White to play and win atleast a piece!


Cappon,J – gm Lagarde French Tch 30.5.2018
Why do so many fall victim to greed? White had such a large positional advantage and then thru it all away with his last move (Ng6). Black to play and win!

gm Fressinet – gm Terrieux French Tch 30.5.2018
Both sides have a passed pawn. In such cases the initiative is often decisive. How can White get it? White to play and crush!

gm Vidit – gm Bologan Poikovsky 27.5.2018
Black was struggling since the opening, but hoped that his kingside initiative would confuse White. White to play and win!


gm Li Chao – Zhao, Chenxi China Tch 22.5.2018
He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. Black was counting on White taking the f-pawn, when Black would be atleast equal. White to play and crush!

gm Girya – gm Lei,T China Tch 23.5.2018
White, in her haste, was careless and advanced her passed pawn. Now Black has a chance to turn the tables. Black to play and win!

Zhu,Jiner – Zhou,Ziran China Tch 23.5.2018
I really like this one! The game was roughly balanced, but with complex play. Black’s last move was careless and gives White a chance. White to play and crush!

Download pgn HERE