1-99

Question 1

Black to Move

Answer 1

10…Bb4+ unleashes a Double Discovered Check. After either 11. Kf1 or Kd1 Black mates with 11…Re1#.

Question 2

White to move

Answer 2

25.Nxd5 Rxd5 26.Qxd5 cxd5 27.Rxc7 Rxc7 28.Rxc7 wins a piece for White, taking advantage of the pinned c pawn and the battery of Rooks on the c file.

Question 3

Black to move

Answer 3

10…Nf3# is a smothered mate often seen in the trappy Blackburne Shilling Gambit variation of the Italian game.

Question 4

Black to move

Answer 4

13…Re8 pins the White Queen to the King. 14.Be4 f5 wins the Bishop.

Question 5

White to move

Answer 5

27.Qe8+!! leads to checkmate after 27…Rxe8 28.Rxe8+ Kg7 29.Bf8+ Kg8 (or Kh8) 30. Bh6#

Question 6

Black to move

Answer 6

30…Rxc4 discovers an attack on the White Bishop on b6. After 31.bxc4 Bxb6 Black has two Bishops for the Rook. If 31.Bxd8 Rd4+ 32.Ke2 Rxd8

Question 7

White to move

Answer 7

26.Qxd5 wins the under defended pawn that was defended once, and attacked twice, and also attacks the undefended Rook on a8. If Black recaptures with 26…Qxd5 White forks the King and Rook with 27.Bxd5

Question 8

White to move

Answer 8

25.Nd7 forks the two Rooks. If 25…Qxd7 26.Bxe5+ causes a lot of problems for Black, who has to give up their Queen to get out of check with either 26…Qg7 or 26…dxe5 (the d pawn is now pinned to the Black Queen). White either wins the exchange (Knight for Rook), or more.

Question 9

Black to move

Answer 9

23…Qxc1+!! a nice X-ray 24.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 25.Qf1 Rxf1+ which wins a rook for Black.

Question 10

Black to move

Answer 10

49…Bc7 blocks the attack from the Rook on c8 on the runaway c pawn, and clears a path so that pawn can advance.

Question 11

White to move

Answer 11

24.Rc3 puts the Queen between a rock and a hard place. The only safe square for the Queen is g5, but this allows for 25.Rg1 pinning and winning the Queen.

Question 12

Black to move

Answer 12

47…Rc3+ forces a trade of Rooks, leading Black to an easily won endgame.

Question 13

White to move

Answer 13

19.Rxg6+ gets the Rook away from the f pawn that is attacking it, and wins a pawn due to the fact that the f pawn is pinned by the Bishop. The f pawn being pinned to the Black King by White’s light square Bishop is a pattern that comes up frequently and is good to memorize. 19.Rd6 forking the Queen and Bishop is also a good move.

Question 14

Black to move

Answer 14

20…Nxg3!! takes a piece, while uncovering a discovered attack on the hanging White Queen on c2. White took the bait, 21.Qxg6 and was mated with the beautiful 21…Nfe2#. White has no way to save his Queen, and stop the mate threat.

Question 15

Black to move

Answer 15

36…Rh3+ leads to mate 37.Kg1 Rh1#

Question 16

White to move

Answer 16

52.Be5+ forks the King and Rook

Question 17

Black to move

Answer 17

7…Nd3 was a winning move that was missed in the game. It attacks and will win the e5 pawn. If this pawn moves forward with e6, then Nc5+ forks the King and Pawn. If the pawn does nothing, Black just takes it. The e pawn is won either way.

Question 18

Black to move

Answer 18

11…Bg4#

Question 19

White to move

Answer 19

25.Qh6+ sets up a good mating pattern to know. 25…Kg8 26.Be6#

Question 20

Black to move

Answer 20

18…e4, which was missed in the game, blocks the Bishop’s defense of the Knight on f5, and attacks it at the same time. White cannot save both, and will soon lose a piece.

Question 21

White to move

Answer 21

16.Bf5 skewers the Black Queen and Rook.

Question 22

White to move

Answer 22

41.Rd8+ sets up 41…Kh7 42.Qe4+ forking the King and Knight, if 42…Nf5 43.Rd5 forking the pinned Knight and the Queen. Black will lose the Knight.

Question 23

Black to move

Answer 23

41…Nd4+ forks the King and Queen. White blundered with 41.e4?? on the previous move allowing this fork.

Question 24

White to move

Answer 24

10.Qc6+ deflects the Black Queen from her protection of the Rook on a8. 10…Qd7 is the only way to get out of check, but allows 11.Qxa8+ which wins the Rook.

Question 25

White to move

Answer 25

**13.Ne5+** unpins itself from the White Queen, and forks the King and Bishop.

Question 26

White to move

Answer 26

**17.Qg7#** checkmating on Black's weak dark squares.

Question 27

Black to move

Answer 27

**22...Nxe4** wins a pawn that is hanging, centralizes the Knight, which was hanging, and double attacks the Queen on f2 and pawn on c3. Nothing tricky about this one.

Question 28

White to move

Answer 28

**12.Bg5** pins the Knight to the Queen. Black cannot add a second defender to this piece.

Question 29

Black to move

Answer 29

**11...Ne2#** is an example of Anastasia's mate.

Question 30

White to move

Answer 30

**48.Qh5+** skewers the King and Queen. Black cannot get out of check and still protect the Queen.

Question 31

Black to move

Answer 31

**13...Qh2#** is a typical mating pattern in the Fishing Pole attack variation of the Ruy Lopez.

Question 32

Black to move

Answer 32

**16...Na3#** is a cute checkmate.

Question 33

Black to move

Answer 33

**38...Ng3** threatens the Queen on e2 and a deadly "hook mate" pattern with Rf1+. For example if White moves the Queen with **39.Qd3** - now black has a mate with **39...Rf1+ 40.Kh2 Rh1#.**

Question 34

Black to move

Answer 34

**17...Ng4** creates a discovered attack on the White Queen, which cannot move and still defend both the Bishop on e3 and the Knight on a4. If **18.e5** blocking the attack from the Bishop **18...Nxe3 19.Qxe3 Rxa4** and Black is up a piece, taking advantage of the overloaded Queen. If **18.Qxb6**, which was played in the game, **18...Qc2** traps the White Knight.

Question 35

White to move

Answer 35

**32.Nb8!!** adding a third attacker to the pinned Black Rook on d7 in an unusual manner. After **32...Kxb8 33.Rxd7** White has won a Rook for a Knight.

Question 36

Black to move

Answer 36

**12...Rh1+** Is a typical crazy position from the Fishing Pole attack. Black has given up a piece for the attack, and continues the "sac, sac, mate" with **12...Rh1+ 13.Kxh1 Qh4+ 14.Kg1 g3 15.Nd6+ Kf8 16.Qh5 Qxh5 17.Re1 Qh2+ 18.Kf1 Qh1#.** This variation is long, because White has some checks, and gives up his Queen to delay mate, but the pattern is a good one to know.

Question 37

Black to move

Answer 37

**16...Qh7** creates a battery that cannot be stopped, only delayed.

Question 38

White to move

Answer 38

**5.Qxf7#** is a good old fashioned Scholar's Mate.

Question 39

White to move

Answer 39

**16.Bc5** attacks the Knight on b4 and sets up a discovered check with Nxc8 on the next move. Black cannot stop both threats at the same time.

Question 40

Black to move

Answer 40

Black infiltrates the dark squares with **22...Qf2+ Kh1 23.Qh2#.**

Question 41

Black to move

Answer 41

**28...Rc1+** leads to a simple back rank mate after **29.Rd1 Rxd1#** where the Black Bishop helps cover the h2 escape square.

Question 42

White to move

Answer 42

**26.Bg5** pins and wins the Rook to the Queen.

Question 43

White to move

Answer 43

**29.Re8+** White has two attractive looking checks here, but **29.Re8+** is better. If **29...Rf8 30.Qe6+** followed by **31.Rxf8#.** If **29...Kf7 30.Qd7#.**

Question 44

Black to move

Answer 44

**25...Rxd5** keeps it simple, and trades down into a winning endgame. Material is even, but White's pawns are such an isolated and doubled mess, that Black will have no trouble winning.

Question 45

White to move

Answer 45

**29.Qx35** wins a rook. The d6 pawn is pinned.

Question 46

White to move

Answer 46

**18.Nxf7#** Is a nice smothered mate (and forks the King and Queen for extra style points).

Question 47

White to move

Answer 47

**13.Rxh7!!** is a beautiful move that attacks the Rook on h8, and removes the defender of the g6 pawn. If **13...Rxh7 14.Qg6+** picks up a second pawn, forks the King and Rook, and forms a dangerous mating net around the Black King.

Question 48

Black to move

Answer 48

**32...a5#** is a cute mate with an assassin pawn.

Question 49

Black to move

Answer 49

**36...d2** Pushes the pawn and White will have no way to stop it from becoming a Queen. If **37.Rxe2 Rc1+!!** gets a new Queen.

Question 50

Black to move

Answer 50

**17...c4** is a discovered attack, which attacks the Bishop on e3 and the Queen on b3 at the same time.

Question 51

White to move

Answer 51

**16.Nxe6** deflects the Queen away from defending the b7 pawn, which would allow White to win the Rook on a8. For example, **16.Nxe6 Qxe6 17.Bxb7 Nbc6 18.Bxa8.**

Question 52

White to move

Answer 52

**40.Rxg6!!** White clears the way to protect his passed pawn on g7. If **40...Qxg6 41.Rg3** Black Queen moves, and then White Queens a pawn with **42. g8=Q+**

Question 53

White to move

Answer 53

**22.Rxe4+** sets up an absolute pin. After **22...Bxe4 23.Re1** White will win the Bishop with **24.f3.**

Question 54

White to move

Answer 54

**9.Qxc6+** forks the Knight and King and "LPDO" - Loose Pieces Drop Off.

Question 55

Black to move

Answer 55

**41...g5+** and mate after **42.Rxg5 fxg5#.**

Question 56

White to move

Answer 56

**9.Qf7+** and a pretty mate the next move after **9...Qxf7 10.exf7.**

Question 57

White to move

Answer 57

**10.Nf6#** the Knight delivers smothered mate.

Question 58

Black to move

Answer 58

**25...f3** threatens the Queen on e2 and double attacks the vulnerable pawn on g2. If **26.Qxf3 Qxf3** and the g pawn cannot recapture because it is pinned.

Question 59

Black to move

Answer 59

**5...Bxb5** wins a piece. If **6.Nxb5 Qe5+** forks the Knight and King.

Question 60

White to move

Answer 60

On the previous move Black played 10...Be6 to develop his bishop, stop the threat of Qxf7# and attack White's Queen. The move **11.Bxc6+** buys time for White, and wins a piece, removing the defender of the Bishop on b4, **11...bxc6 12.Qxb4.**

Question 61

White to move

Answer 61

**38.Qf4+** is a close range fork of King and Knight

Question 62

Black to move

Answer 62

**7...Nxb5** After **8.Bxb5 Qa5+** wins a piece. This is a very valuable tactical pattern to know.

Question 63

Black to move

Answer 63

**32...Bg4** forks the two White Rooks.

Question 64

White to move

Answer 64

**15.Nd7+** is a nice discount double check that leads to mate after **15...Ka8** (only move) **16.Nb6++ axb6** (only move) **17.Qa4#**

Question 65

Black to move

Answer 65

**36...Nb4+** Forks King and Rook.

Question 66

Black to move

Answer 66

**18...Qd6** threatens mate on h2 and the Knight on c5. White cannot defend both threats

Question 67

Black to move

Answer 67

**22...Qg4** puts White in position to infiltrate the light squares. No need for anything crazy here.

Question 68

White to move

Answer 68

**32.Re3** forks the Queen and Knight.

Question 69

Black to move

Answer 69

Black has a cute mate in 3 with **46...Be6+ 47.g4 fxg3+** en passant! **48.Kxg3 h4#**

Question 70

Black to move

Answer 70

**16...Ne2+** Discovered attack on the White Queen. **17.Bxe2 Qxa4**

Question 71

Black to move

Answer 71

**11...Nxf2** deflects the White King and forks the White Rook and Queen. If **12.Kxf2** then **12...d3+** discovers an attack on the King by the Bishop, winning back the sacrificed piece, **13.Kf1 Qxg3 14.Qf3 Qxf3+ 15.gxf3 dxc2** and Black is up a piece and a pawn.

Question 72

White to move

Answer 72

**39.b4** prevents Black from doing the "Every Russian Schoolboy knows" endgame trick with three pawns facing each other. If instead White would play **39.Kxe6** Black can get a passed pawn with **39...b4** (Although White is still winning).

Question 73

Black to move

Answer 73

**11...Ng4** threatens mate on h2 and discovers an attack on the Bishop on g5 at the same time.

Question 74

White to move

Answer 74

**27.Nh6#** Is a nice mate with Knight and Queen working well together.

Question 75

White to move

Answer 75

**38.Bxg7+** and mate after **38...Rxg7 39.Qxg7#**

Question 76

Black to move

Answer 76

**26...Rdxf2** grabs the f pawn that was attacked 3 times and only defended once, and is threatening lots of dangerous double and discovered checks. Note that **29...Rfxf2** doesn't work, because the Rook on d2 is under attack, and Black has nothing after **29...Rfxf2 30.Rxd2 Rxd2+ 31.Kh1.**

Question 77

White to move

Answer 77

**11.Qh8+ Kf7 12.Ne5#** is a nice mate with Knight and Queen working together.

Question 78

Black to move

Answer 78

**15...Bf8** removes the defender of the Knight, which is also pinned to the Rook. Neither piece can move and defend the other.

Question 79

Black to move

Answer 79

**17...Ne2+ 18.Kh1 Qxh2+!! 19.Kxh2 Rh4#**

Question 80

Black to move

Answer 80

**27...Rf7+** gets the Black King out of check, and also puts the White King in a discovered check at the same time, winning the White Queen on the next move.

Question 81

Black to move

Answer 81

**27...Qd4+** forks the White King and Rook on a1.

Question 82

White to move

Answer 82

**42.Qh8+ Rh7 43.Qxf6+ Kh5 44.Qg5#**

Question 83

White to move

Answer 83

**15.Nh5** adds another attacker to pinned Knight on f6, and clears the path for the Rook on g1 which indirectly pins the g7 pawn to the King.

Question 84

White to move

Answer 84

**10.Bxh6** picks up a pawn, while discovering an attack on the Black Queen. These types of tactics come up often when White castles Queenside.

Question 85

White to move

Answer 85

**40.Kd2** cuts off all the squares for the Black King. When the King has no squares, any check will be mate. Cutting off squares is often better than giving check, and just chasing the King around. After Kd2 White is threatening Rd6#.

Question 86

White to move

Answer 86

**43.Nd3+** discovers an attack on Black's last remaining piece, the Knight on h5. When your oppenent won't resign, little tactics like this can save you time and energy to help end the game quickly.

Question 87

Black to move

Answer 87

**21...Rd8**. The White Queen is trapped, with no safe squares.

Question 88

White to move

Answer 88

White mates after **31.Qe8+ Rg8 32.Qxg8#.**

Question 89

White to move

Answer 89

**20.Nxd6** is a simple move that gets the Knight out of trouble (it was hanging on f5), wins a pawn that was under defended, forks the Rook and Bishop, and offers a discovered attack from the Rook on the Queen if it moves ont the next turn.

Question 90

White to move

Answer 90

**11.Nb5** attacks the Queen on c7, with a discovered attack on the Knight on e4. If **11...Qc6** to defend the Knight, **12.Qxe4 Qxe4 13.Nd6+** wins a piece.

Question 91

Black to move

Answer 91

**17...Qb2** threatens the Rook on c1 and Knight on d2. White has no way to meet both threats.

Question 92

White to move

Answer 92

**25.Qc2** forks the Rook and Knight.

Question 93

Black to move

Answer 93

**18...Qxc1+!!** **19.Nxc1 Rd1#.**

Question 94

Black to move

Answer 94

**8...c5** is the Noah's Ark trap. The Black Queen will have to move, and **...c4** will trap the light square Bishop. This is a great trap to know. If **9.Qd5** hitting the Rook **9...Be6 10.Qc6+ Bd7** and White can't stall **11...c4** any more.

Question 95

White to move

Answer 95

**9.Bxf7+!** Deflects the Black King from protection of the Black Queen. **9...Kxf7 10.Qxd8** and White is up a Queen for a Bishop. This type of tactic often comes up in the Sicilian Defense, when Black has a pawn on d6 and a Knight on f6, and White can play e5. If Black responds to e5 with dxe5, which is a normal looking response, then this tactic can often be used.

Question 96

White to move

Answer 96

**24. Qxf4!!** If **24...exf4 25.Rxg7+** and White windmills **25...Kh8 26.Rg5+** winning the Black Queen. White wins a piece.

Question 97

White to move

Answer 97

**14.Ng5** adds another attacker and creates an unstoppable mating net against the Black King. If **14...Ndf6 15.Qg8+ Nxg8 16.Nf7#** and against anything else White plays **15.Qxh7#.**

Question 98

Black to move

Answer 98

**37...Rf4+** followed by **38.Kh5 Rh4#** (or **38...Qh4#**) ends the King Hunt.

Question 99

Black to move

Answer 99

**21...Qxd3** is nothing fancy - it wins a piece that was under defended. If **22.Nxe5** then **22...Qxc2 23.Rxc2 Rxe5** If **22.Qxd3** then **22...Nxd3** forking the two White Rooks.