Timely Tactic #11 - SirIvanhoe vs. Opponent

This position is from my latest game in the Team4545 league. My opponent has just played 42... Qf6 blocking the check, probably the only move that doesn't lead immediately to a forced mating line. To be sure, White has an overwhelming advantage here. But of course, it doesn't matter if you don't know how to execute the win. What single motif tactic is the best move in this position?


You can see the full game score after the break.

Timely Tactics #10 - Krush vs Zatonskih

Uscc semifinals r2playoffs 06 (jstrand) / CC BY-SA 3.0

In this position from their Armageddon game, IM Irina Krush has mis-stepped by playing 28. Kd3. What problem does this create, and what move will put the game away?

You can see the full game score after the break.

Timely Tactics #9 - Kaidanov vs. Shankland

Shankland Bags a Win (jstrand) / CC BY-SA 3.0

GM Gregory Kaidanov has erred here with 17. Bc1 (the safer offer of a trade with Qf2 might have still left a chance). GM-elect Sam Shankland grabbed his sword and threatened to storm the castle, making the loss of material imminent and soon causing his opponent to resign.

You can see the full game score after the break.

Timely Tactics #8 - Krush vs. Foisor



Krush v Foisor, Day 1 (jstrand) / CC BY-SA 3.0

Even at the U.S. Women's Championship, single motif tactics can be found. Here's a position from the first round game with IM & WGM Irina Krush facing WGM Sabina Foisor. Irina has erred with 30. Bb3, dropping the coverage of the queen that the bishop had provided from the c2 square. Can you see what motif wins the game for Sabina?

You can see the full game score after the break.

Timely Tactics #7 - Giri vs. Aronian

Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort

Lev Aronian forshadowed his first overall at the 2011 Amber Rapid and Blindfold Tournament with this win over Anish Giri in the 1st round of the rapid (G/25) section. Aronian played a Dutch Defense and had to defend for a bit against a passed d-pawn, but apparently had the path to a win in hand when Giri erred with 37. Rh1. How did Lev swoop in to claim his prize?

See if you can spot the move, then play over the whole game score after the break.

Timely Tactics #6 - Kramnik vs. Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura

Lev Aronian took first overall at the 2011 Amber Rapid and Blindfold Tournament today. Aronian was first in the Blindfold section while Magnus Carlsen had the top score in the Rapid section.

In their rapid game (G/25) in the 11th and final round, Hikaru Nakamura played this knockout to force Vladimir Kramnik to resign in a few moves.

See if you can spot the move, then play over the whole game score after the break.

Timely Tactics #5 - Deviatkin vs. Kosteniuk

Alexandra Kosteniuk

Violent, forcing moves should be at the top of the list when looking for candidates. Here we see a position from Andrei Deviatkin vs. Alexandra Kosteniuk from the 2nd round of the recent Aeroflot Open 2011. White has just played 51.Bxg3 and no doubt is looking forward to trading down into an even endgame against the former women's world champion. Alexandra finds the move that sets up the win, though the actual game was eventually drawn. Can you see the right way to go in this position?

See if you can spot the move, then play over the whole game score after the break.

Timely Tactics #4 - Alsina Leal vs. Kobalia

In this game between Daniel Alsina Leal and Mikhail Kobalia from the 3rd round of the Aeroflot Open 2011, Black actually played the liquidating 37... Qxe1 and went on to get White's resignation in a few moves. But Black has a move that though it may look quieter than the game continuation, will seal the deal. Can you find a better move that would be sure to end the contest?

See if you can spot the move, then play over the whole game score after the break.

Timely Tactics #3 - Cheparinov vs. Papin

Ivan Cheparinov

This position is from the first round game of Ivan Cheparinov and Vasily Papin in the recently completed Aeroflot Open 2011. Black has just played 18... h6 to push the pesky bishop away. Is the frocked one out of a job? How would you play as White?


See if you can spot the move, then play over the whole game score after the break.

Timely Tactics #2 - Luka Lenic vs. Le Quang Liem

Hotel Izmailovo, site of the Aeroflot Open 2011

Some moves are harder to see than others. All chessplayers depend on patterns they recognize to shortcut their way to the correct move. But some moves just hide from our attempts to visualize. Moving a piece back to it's original square or sacrificing a queen are examples.

Here we see Le Quang Liem play a move that must have come as a shock to his opponent Luka Lenic in this position from the 3rd round of the recently completed Aeroflot Open in Moscow. Le Quang Liem was the winner of the tournament, defending his win from last year. Lenic has just played 42.Rxb7. What did he miss?

See if you can spot the move, then play over the whole game score after the break.

Timely Tactics #1 - Sokolov vs. Valguarnera

Everyone knows that practicing tactics is one of the best ways for a class player to improve her results. But sometimes it's hard to find new puzzles, not just the same old exercises passed from one book to the next.

The Pied Chessman's solution is to collect brand new tactical positions from games as recent as just a few days old. This puzzle is from the first round of the 1st Cento Open with GM Ivan Sokolov vs. Girolamo Valguarnera.



See the complete game score after the break.