One of my favorite aspects of chess is solving chess tactics. Many books on the subject continue to fill me with endless hours of pure enjoyment. But why do I still miss them in my tournament games? : )
Below are six positions for you to find the strongest continuation. These positions have made a memorable impression on me due to the wild solution. I suspect that unless you are a chess master (or familiar with the position) to find them quite challenging.
The solutions will be posted on September 15 or earlier. Enjoy!
Solution no.1 One of my favorite tactical chess books of all time is Fred Reinfeld’s 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations. I highly recommend this widely available and inexpensive book to anyone wanting to develop their tactical skills. The wild and entertaining examples made me want to go over the book several times, and contributed to making a hopeless chess addict out of me.
1…Rxh2!! The little point of this unexpected decoying sacrifice will be seen six moves later. 2.Rxh2 (White does not have time to play 2.Ba6 due to 2…Rxf1+) 2…Qxa3! 3.bxa3 Bxa3+ 4.Kb1 Nc3+ 5. Ka1 Bb2+ 6.Kxb2 Nxd1+ 7. Kb2 Nxe3
The unexpected exchange sacrifice on the kingside is simply marvelous. Not only did Black repel White’s attack, but say, after 8.fxg5, it gives the impression this amazing sequence was all to gain a pawn!
Solution no.2 This position can be found in one of my favorite tactical chess books of all time, the 1980 Informant edition of “Encyclopedia of Chess Middlegame Combinations”. Other editions were subsequently published and the positions/layout/and puzzle categorization keeps changing. However, I’ve always felt this edition is more simple and to the point. The puzzles are broken into two sections of sixteen themes, and the positions seemed to have carefully been chosen to highlight their designated themes. Unfortunately it is a difficult out-of-print book to find.
Black is extremely weak on the dark squares, and White find a way to exploit this with 1.Bh3!! Rxb1 2.Qh6+!! (Tactical theme: Attraction), 2…Kxh6 3.Bf8+ Kg5 4.h4+ Kb5 5.Be2 mate.
Solution no. 3 This position is from the game between Ribli-Adorjan, Hungary 1983, and I came across it from the book “How to Think in Chess” by Jan Przwewoznik and Marek Soszynski. This is a terrific hands-on book. It contains one set of 75 positions, and another set of 120 positions for the reader to solve. These examples serve to highlight some of the concepts outlined in the book, as well as to increase awareness of the importance in developing creativity, and exploring various chess thinking methods. The authors provide an overview of different solving methods, psychological training, and various ideas on fostering a player’s creativity over the board. I am currently working my way through this highly stimulating book and hope it will make a difference in my game.
The answer to this puzzle is the unexpected thunderbolt 1…Bf1!!
Solution no.4 It is true that one should not judge a book by its cover, but I love the old paper and smell of my two-book set “2.500 Finales” (2,500 Endings) by G.M. Kasparian. This first edition was published by Editorial Sopena Argentina in 1963. One of the first puzzles is this lovely composition by E.Cook. The solution is the almost forcing line: 1.Qf7+! Kxf7 2.gxh8(N)! 3. Ke8 3 Ng7+ Kd8 4 Nf7+ Kc7 5 Ne8+ Kc6 6 Ne5+ Kb5 7.Nc7+ Kxa5 8.Nc4 mate.
Solution no.5 This is from the game between Tigran Petrossian and Ludek Pachman (Bled 1961). Petrossian uncorked 1.Qxf6+ Kf6 2.Be5+ Kg5 3.Bg7!! The reader needed to visualize this sealing move when sacrificing the queen, otherwise the combination wouldn’t work.
Solution no.6 This highly amusing exercise from Fred’s 1001 book is perhaps the most dramatic example of the clearance theme.
1…Bb5! Vacating the first piece while simultaneously attacking both White’s queen and rook. 2.axb5 Na5-g3+ 3.Nxg3 Nxg3+ 4.hxg3 hxg3+ 5.Kg1 Rh1+ 6.Kxh1 Rh8+ 7.Kg1 Bc5+ 8.Nxc5 Rh1+ 9.Kxh1 Qh8+ 10.Kg1 Qh2 mate.
