By Louis Lima
The following positions were taken from my recent tournament games, with the exception for two compositions of mine. This test is geared towards beginner to intermmediate-level players. You can find the solutions at the end. Enjoy!~
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no.4
no.5
no.6
no.7
no.8
no.9
no. 10
Solutions
1. Take it! 1…Rxd7 2.Qxd7?? Qa1 mate.
2. 1…Rg1+! 2.Rxg1 (2.Kh2 Rg8-g2 mate) 2…Qh3 mate.
3. Generally in the opening it is best to utilize one’s move to develop a piece, than to move a developed piece again. Here 1…Nh5 attacking the Bishop on f4 loses to 2.Bxb8! Rxb8 3.Qe5 with a double attack on the rook on b8, as well as the knight on h5.
4. Here I found the most forcing move 1…e3! deflecting the Queen from the e1-h4 diagonal and play Rh4 mate. White tried 2.Rxe3 but after 2…Qxe3 Black resigned in view of 3.Qxe3 Rh4+ 4.Qh3 Rxh3 mate.
5. 1…Bd5 destroys white’s rook battery and wins the exchange (bishop for a rook) as the rook on d6 is now undefended.
6. Here I mistakenly played 1.Re1?! and after black blundered with 1…Rc8 I won the pawn with 2.Nxd7 Qxd7 3.Qxe6+ Qxe6 4.Rxe6. However, instead of 1.Re1 I could have won the pawn straight away with 1…Nc6! 2.Bxc6 Qxe6+ followed by Qxc6.
7. Black wants to destroy the pawn cover of white’s king with 1…fxg3 2.fxg3 Nxh4! 3.Nh3 Bxh3 5.Bxh3 Rxf2+
8. 1…b3 2.axb3 a3! 3.Kc3 Kb6 4.Kc2 Kxb5 regaining the pawn, and obtaining a monster passed on a3.
9. 1…Bb2! wins white’s queen for if 2. Qxb2 white falls for Arab’s mate with 2…Qxh2+! 3.Rxh2 Rg1 mate.
10. Black has the stalemating tactical resource 1…Na3+ 2.Bxa3 Qxa2+ stalemate. If 2.Ka1 Nxc2+ 3.Kb1 Na3+ 4.Ka1 Nc2+ draws by repetition. If 2.Ka1 Nxc2+ 3.Qxc2 Qxa2+ stalemate).
