Tactics 1-50

Question 1

Answer 1

+7.85 2. Qh8+ Ke7 3. Rxd7+ Kxd7 4. e6+ Rxe6 5. Qxc3

Question 2

Answer 2

Both g6 and h6 lead to a mating pattern, but h6 allows K to be attacked by Rh1.

So answer is g6

Question 3

Answer 3

28. Qe3! Qe7

28. ..Qxe3 29. Rxf8#
29. Rxf8+ Qxf8

30. Qxa7+-

Learning points - this was use of alignment (Black Q+R) and tempo move to gain time.

Always follow through to opponents next forcing move unless checkmate

Question 4

Answer 4

1… Re2! 2. Rxe2

2.Qxd4 Rxe1+3. Rxe1 Rxe1#

Chessable Note: After2. Be3 only2…2 Rxe3 and 2…8Rxe3 work because2…Nxe3 is answered by either 3. Qxd4 or3.Qxe2

2… Qxa1+ 3. Qc1 Qxc1+ 4. Bxc1 Rxe2-+

0-1

learning point - no check so need to calculate all variations

Question 5

Answer 5

43. Rxf8+! Kxf8 44. Qh8+ Qg8 45. Rxe8+ Kxe8

45…R xe8,46. Qf6+ Almost an epaulette mate!46…Qf7 47.Qxf7#

46. Qxg8+ Kd7 47. Qd5+ Ke8

47. ..K c8 48. Qf5+ Kd8 49. Qxc2+-
48. ..Kc7 48.Qxc5+ Kd7 49. Qxc2+-

48. Qa8+ Kd7 49. Qa4+ Kd6 50. Qxc2+-

Learning point - keep in mind whole board including past pawns

Question 6

Answer 6

1. Qc3! Qb4 2. Ne7+ Qxe7

2. ..Nxe7 3. Qxb4+-
3. ..Kh7 3. Nxc6+-

3. Qxg7#

Learning point - be careful of exposed K as they often give chance of a counter attack

Question 7

Answer 7

1.Rxg6+ fxg6 2. Qxg6+ Kf8 3. Rf3+ Ke7 4. Rf7+ Kd8 5. Qf6+ Ke8 6. Qe7#

2. .. Kh8 3. Rg3 Qd7
3. .. Kh7 5. Qh4#
4. .. Qg7 5. Qxg7#

Learning point: Q can often check from more positions. In this case a different check is better than the lawn mower.

Question 8

Answer 8

1… Bh3 2. Nb5 Bg2 3. Nxc7+ Ke7 4. Nd5+ cxd5 5. Qxf3 Bxf3 6. Bh6 to mate

Learning point: dont run to place Queen (here attacked by B) and consider most threatening opponents counter attacks - N looking for checks or Queen sacrifices

Question 9

Answer 9

1. Rc1 g6 2. Rc8 Qxc8 3. Qxc8+

Learning point: Alignments should be searched for vertically, diagonally and horizontally

Question 10

Answer 10

3.60 1. Bb6 Qc8 2. Qxe4

Learning point: consider that attacks and hanging pieces can combine to give a tactic.

Question 11

Answer 11

1. Bxg7

there are several responses as there is no check

Engine gives

9.02 1. Bxg7 Re6 2. Bxf6 Qb4 3. Qg5+ Kf8 4. c3 Qd6

Learning point: consider sacrificing piece to take pawns in front of K if you have a strong attack afterwards

Question 12

Answer 12

Best response

5.51 1. Nd7 Rfe8 2. Nxb8 Qxb8

however if QxN then BxB and the Q is lost

Learning point: look to create alignment through tactics and then use the alignment.

Question 13

Answer 13

-7.57 1… Rxf2 2. Qxf2 Be3 3. Qxe3 Qxe3+

Learning point: sacrifice for pawns in front of King. If Q doesn’t take rook there is anyway a discovered attack on K with loss of Q

Question 14

Answer 14

2. Rg1 Bf6 3. Bh6 Qxc3+

Learning point: Bg5 does not work as B will be pinned on Rg8

Question 15

Answer 15

2. Nxc6 Qb4+ 3. Nxb4 Bxb4+

If retakes with pawn then Boden’s mate

Learning point: Not an easy pattern to spot. Look at open DSB diagonal and K is unable to move to right/(left) due to own pieces.

Question 16

Answer 16

14… Nc3 15. Qe1 Nc2 16. Bc4 Nxe1 17. Rfxe1

Learning point: the Queen Bishop pattern creates an opportunity if there is a Knight in forking distance

Question 17

Answer 17

18… Qxb5+ 19. Nxb5 Bxb5+ 20. Kg1 Ne2+ 21. Qxe2 Bxe2

Learning point: if K goes to g1 to avoid losing Q this pattern leads to a windmill with the Knight.

21. Kg1 Ne2 22 Kf1 Nxc2 23. Kg1 Nc3 24. Kf1 Nxd1

Question 18

Answer 18

2. Rxh7+ Kxh7 3. Qf7+ Kh6 4. Rh1+ Kg5 5. f4+ Kf5 6. fxe5 Rxe5

Learning point: always consider all possible King moves. In this case h6

Question 19

1. e7 Re8 2. Bf6 Rxe7 3. Rxe7 Qxe7 4. Bxe7

Learning point: consider B can threaten mate in 2 positions. One position (tend not to consider) keeps control over e7

Question 20

Answer 20

0…Rxa5 1.Bxc8 Nxc8 2.Ne6+ Kf7 3.Nxf8 Nxf8 4.Rxc8

Learning point: simplify further if possible

Question 21

Answer 21

1… Qxh3+ 2. Kg1 Qxg2#

Learning point: Always remember this pin when there are Q and B on the board. Hard to consider as seems a Q sacrifice.

Question 22

Answer 22

28. …. Re1+ 29. Rd1 Bh6+ 30. Kb1 Rxd1+

Just a reminder of the accuracy needed in chess. The immediate CM is to pin the Rook.

Question 23

Answer 23

20… Bxb1 21. Bxb1 Rd1 22. Ne2 Rxf1 23. Kxf1 Qb2

Learning point: calculate to last non-forcing move of opponent

Question 24

Answer 24

1. …..Rg5 2. Qf3 Be4 3. Qg3

Learning point: Tempo moves on K and Q give many simple tactics

Question 25

Answer 25

+10.2 2. Rh1 Ke6 3. Rh6+ Kd7 4. Rxb6 - no further forcing moves Learning point: horizontal alignment with an open file. Rook cannot move to defend from skewer otherwise it is mate.

Question 26

Answer 26

18. dxe4 Qxd1 19. Rxd1 Be5 20. exf5 Learning point: identify all hanging pieces before you calculate so recognise immediately attacks on hanging pieces as you go through calculation

Question 27

Answer 27

2. Qg6+ Rf7 33. Rh8+ Bf8 34. Rxf8+ Ke7 35. Qxf7# Learning point: note all hanging defended and pinned pieces.

Question 28

Answer 28

17... Qxc2 18. Rxc2 d3 19. Rc7 dxe2 Learning point: decoy to bring into common pattern

Question 29

Answer 29

38. ...Na4 39. Rb8+ Ka3 40. Rc8 a1=Q Learning point: the K must not allow tempo with 39. Kc4 the only alternative move. Otherwise 39 ....Rc8

Question 30

Answer 30

33... Qb1+ 34. Kg2 Qf1+ 35. Kg3 Qg1+ 36. Kf4 Qg5+ 37.Ke4 Qd8 (not Qh5) Lesson learned: two checks consider both and always consider pawn advances to block attack on K

Question 31

Answer 31

1... Qxf1+ 2. Rxf1 Rxa8 3. g3 Learninng point: This is the baby of all tactics. Both Q are attacked. With a tempo you can win a piece:

Question 32

Answer 32

1. Nb4 Qd2 2. Qe4+ Kc1 3. Qxc2 Nxc2 is an error due to Bd3 Learning point: Habit to take c2 with Knight and having a choice you need to consider which is best.

Question 33

Answer 33

1 ... Nc5 learning point: remember in your candidate moves you can tempo a pin. in this case always consider an attack on the Q. every single move Q can be attacked!

Question 34

Answer 34

Rc5 not Rh2 Iff you look at material need a big win or mate. Rc5 wins Q without losing R unlike h2.

Question 35

Answer 35

1..... Nxd4 2. exd4 e5 3. Qc4 Bd2 Learning point: Always always always check for counter

Question 36

Answer 36

1....Rg4 2. Kh1 Rh8 3. Qh7 Learning point: lawn mower can be achieved in two ways. Be precise with the right way.

Question 37

Answer 37

9. Bxc6+ Bxc6 10. Nxc6 Qd7 11. Ne5 Learning point: N cantake coz it attacks Q but the Q can simply move. Then N can support B to pin Q but pawn can take B. Good calculation exercise.

Question 38

Answer 38

24... Re3+ 25. Kd2 Rxe8 26. Rxe8 Qxf4+ Learning point: If you cant mate with discovered use to attack highest piece, in this case Q

Question 39

Answer 39

Rxg2+ 40. Qxg2 Rxg2+ 41. 41. Kxg2 a5 42. Kf3 a4 43. Ke4 a3 Learning point: passed pawn. i) tempo on K when promotes ii) can K get into square iii) can a pawn eliminate opponents along diagonal

Question 40

Answer 40

1.b6 axb6 2. a6 and pawn can't be caught Learning point: Classic passed pawn pattern

Question 41

Answer 41

20. Bh3 Qxf2+21. Kd1 Qf3+22. Kc1 Qxh1+23. Bf1 Qxf1#0-1 Learning point: i) black has huge threat and so need to check; ii) 22. .... Qf3 does not work as the defence Nd2 NOT only defends but frees up c1 for the K **every move frees up squares** iii) 23. Bf1 always consider BCM every move when calculating;