Answers to the Tactics

Guide to Reading the Answers


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The Fork
The Pin
Discoveries and Skewers
The Mating Attack
Undermining the Defense
Assorted Tactics


The Fork

#1  1...Nb3 wins the exchange one way or another. If the
   Queen moves, then 2...Nxa1, and if 2.axb3 Qxa1+

#2  1.Ng6+ Kg7 (1...Nxg6 allows 2.Rxh7#) 2.Nxe7 wins
a piece.

#3  1...Rxf2+ 2.Kxf2 Ne4+ 3.Kf1 Nxg5 gains material and
Black still has the attack.

#4  1...Bxf2+ 2.Kxf2 Ne4+ and 3...Nxc3 gains the Queen.

#5  1.Qxf5 Qxf5 2.Ne4+ and 3...Nxf5 wins a full Rook.

#6  1.Qxc6 Qxc6 2.Ne7+ and 3.Nxc6 picks up a piece.

#7  1.Qh6+ Ke8 (or 1...Kg8 2.Qg7#) 2.Ng7 and 3.Nxe6 wins
the Queen.

#8  1.Nd6+ Kf8 2.Nxe6+ Kg8 3.Nxc7 leaves White with three
pieces for a Rook. Black should cough up the Queen right
away with 1...Qxd6 2.exd6, but of course White is still ahead.

#9  1.Nf6 wins the house. The Knight attacks h5, d5, and
threatens Rxh7. It's too much.

#10  1...Qh1+ 2.Kxa3 a1/Q+ 3.Qxa1 Nxc2+ and 4...Nxa1 with
a winning King and Pawn ending.

#11  1.Rxg7+ Kxg7 2.Nxe6+ Kf7 3.Nxc7  picks up two pawns.
The Knight will escape trapping by 4.e4 and 5.Nd5.

#12  1...Nf4 winsthe exchange. White could try to get fancy with
2.Nf6+ gxf6 3.Bxh7+ but 3...Kh8! collapses the attack.
Hope you saw 3...Kh8 because everything else loses.

#13  1.Rxb7 Qxb7 2.Qf7+ Kc8 3.Nd6+ wins the Queen.

#14  1...Bxc2 2.Qxc2 Rxf3 wins a piece. And if 3.Kxf3? Nxd4+
and 4...Nxc2 wins the Queen.

#15  1...Rxb4 2.Rxb4 e1/Q+ 3.Kxe1 Nc2+ and 4...Nxb4 leaves Black
with a piece for a pawn. He should be able to win the ending.

#16  1.Bxg6+ Kxg6 2.Qf5+ Kg7 3.Ne6+ and 4.Nxc7 wins the Queen.

#17  1...Re2 (A) Qxe2 Nc3+ and 3...Nxe2 (B) 2.Qg1 Nc3+
3.Kc1 Nxd1 4.Qxd1 Re1 wins the Queen.

#18  1...Qxa3+ 2.Kxa3 a1Q+ 3.Qxa1 Nxc2+ and 4...Nxa1
with a winning King and Pawn ending.

#19  Black untraps his Knight by 1...Rxc3 2.bxc3 Ne2+ followed by
3...Nxg1 and then picking up the e5-pawn.

#20  1.Ng5 (threatens 2.Nxe6+ or 2.Nh7+) 1...Qe8 2.Nxe6+ Ke7
3.Qxe8+ Kxe8 4.Nc7+ and 5.Nxa6 winning a bishop.

#21  1...Rd1+ 2.Kh2 Qb8+ and Black wins the Rook.

#22  1.Nxf7 Rxf7 2.Qxg6+ and 3.Qxd3 picks up two pawns.

#23  1...Bxe2  wins a clear pawn. For if 2.Rxe2? Qd3
forks both White Rooks.

#24  1...Qf5+ wins the f6-Knight. If 2.Ne4? then
2...Nd2+! wins the Queen.

#25  1.Nf6+ gxf6 2.Qg4+ and 3.Qxd7 wins the exchange.

#26  1...Rgf3+ 2.Ke1 Qg1+ 3.Kd2 Qxh1 puts Black ahead.

#27  1...Rxa1+ 2.Bxa1 Bxg2+ 3.Kxg2 Qa8+ and 4...Qxa1 wins a pawn.

#28 1.Rxf8Qxf8 2.Qxg6+ Kh8 (2...Qg7+ 3.Rb8+) 3.Qh5+ and 4.Qxe2.

#29  1.Bb5+ c6 2.Bxc6+ bxc6 3.Qxc6+ followed by taking the
a8-Rook with check and then cleaning up on e3.
Net gain-the exchange and a couple of pawns.

#30  1.Bxf5 exf5 2.Qf3 Ne7 3.Qh3 Ng6 4.Qxf5 wins a pawn.

#31  1...Nf2+ 2.Kg1 Nh3+ 3.Kg2 Qe4+ (or 3...Qc2+) 4.Kxh3 Qxb1,
regaining the exchange and leaving Black with a
won Queen and Pawn ending. Black has two extra pawns.

#32  1...Bxd4+ and 2...Bxa1 garners a Rook.
White cannot afford. 2.Nxd4?? Qe1#

#33  1...Bc4+ wins the a6-Rook. If 2.Rxc4? then
2...Rb1+ leads to a back row mate.

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The Pin

#51  1...Bxe3 exploits the double pin. Black is sure to win
something, either the c1-Rook or the f4-Bishop.

#52  1.Kd1 followed by 2.Re1 pinning the Queen, or 2.Qxh8
winnning the Rook.

#53  1...Rf3 followed up with 2...Rxf4+ and 3...Bxg5 wins a
Knight.

#54  1.Nxf6 threatens 2.N(x)d7+. and if 1...Qxf6 2.Re7+
K-moves 3.Qxf6 wins the Queen.

#55  1.Rh7+ Ke8 2.Bb5 and wins the pinned Queen.

#56  1.Rf1 e4 (or 1...Qd6) 2.g5 piles on and wins the Knight.

#57  Faced with a mate threat at f2, White extricates with 1.Rxg7+
and 2.Rg1 nabbing Black's Queen and breaking the attack.

#58  1.Qxe5 dxe5 2.Dxd7 regains the Queen, finishing with
an extra Bishop.

#59  1.g4+ Rxg4 2.Qf3 and 3.Qxg4 is pretty straight-forward.

#60  1...axb2+ 2.Rxb2+ Ka3 and 3...Bxb2 will be mate.

#61  The right way is 1.Qc8+ Qe8 (1...Kg7 2.Rd7) 2.Qxg4
winning a piece. The wrong way is 1.Rd7? Re1+
2.Ng1 Rxg1+ 3.Kxg1 Qe1 and Black mates.

#62  1.Qh5+ Kd8 (if 1...g6 then2.Bxg6+) 2.Ba5 confiscates
the Queen.

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Discoveries and Skewers

#101  1.Nd5 threatens 2.Qf8# and the c7-Rook. Also,1.Nc6
hitting the Queen with threat of mate.

#102  1.Ngf6+ gxf6 2.Bxf5 wins the Queen.

#103  1...Nd3+ 2.Kf1 Rxd8 wins a piece.

#104  1.Nh6+ Kh8 2.Qxd7

#105  1...Bxf2+ 2.Kxf2 Ng4+ and 3...Qxg5

#106  1...Nd3+ (A) 2.Kxe2 Rxb2+ and 3...Ra2 (B) 2.Kg2 Rxb2
3.a8 / Q+ Kg7 and the black e2 pawn Queens shortly.

#107  The idea is 1...Ne4 2.Rb1 Nc3 3.Qc2 Nxb1 winning
the exchange. White might try 2.d4,
closing the diagonal, but it costs at least a pawn.

#108  1.Nd6+ Rxd6+ 2.cxd6 and if 2...Bxf3 3.d7 promotes.

#109  1.Nd6 (A) 1...Nxd6 2.Qg5# (B) 1...Rxd8 2.Nxf7
(C) 1...Qf6 2.Qxf6+ Kxf6 3.Ne4+ and 4.Rxa8

#110  1.Ne7+ Bxe7 2.Bxe6+ Rf7 3.Qxf7+ Kh8 4.Qh5# A little
overlap. The discovery leads to a mating net.

#111  1.Rb8+ (A) 1...Kh7 2.Rh8+ Kg6 3.Ne5+ Kf5 4.e4+ Kf6
5.Nd3+ e5 6.Bxe5+ Ke6 7.Rh6+ Kd7 8.Nxc1
(B) 1...Kf7 2.Ne5+ Kf6 3.Nd3+ e5 4.Bxe5+ Ke6
5.Nxc1 Kxe5 6.Rxb4 Bxb4 7.Nd3+ and 8.Nxb4

#112  1...Bg1! threatens 2...Qxh2# as well as 2...Rxd3.

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The Mating Attack

#151  1.Nb6+ axb6 2.Ra3#

#152  1...Qxf4+ 2.Kxf4 Bh6#

#153  1.Bg5+ Kg8 (or ...Kg7) 2.Qh7#

#154  1.Qxe6+ fxe6 (1...Be7 2.Qxe7#) 2.Bg6#

#155  1...Qf3+ 2.Kh4 Qg3# Or 2.Kh2 Qg2#

#156  1.Qxh7+ Nxh7 2.Kf7# Or 1.Nf7+ Nxf7 2.Qxh7#

#157  1.Kf4 g5+ 2.Kf3 and 3.Ng6#

#158  1...Qxf2+ 2.Rxf2 Re1+ 3.Rf1 Rxf1#

#159  Rg7+ Kf2 2.Rf7+ Kg1 3.Re1#

#160  1.Rd8+ Rxd8 2.Qf8+ Rxf8 3.Ne7#

#161  1...Qxb2+ 2.Rxb2 Re1+ 3.Qd1 Rxd1#

#162  1.Rxg7+ Kxg7 2.Qf7+ Kh8 3.Qh7#

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Undermining the Defense

#201  1.Nd5! The Knight can't be taken, 1...Nxd5 2.Rxe8+
And meanwhile, there's no defense against
2.Nxf6+ and 3.Rxe8

#202  1.Rxd7 Qxd7 (1...Nxd7?? 2.Bxe7) 2.Bxf6 Bxf6
3.Qxf6 wins two pieces for the Rook, leaving
White a pawn ahead in the endgame.

#203  1...Rxf1+ (A) 2.Kxf1 Qf2# (B) 2.Rxf1 Qxh2#

#204  1.Ne4 wins the d-pawn after 1...Qxe4 2.Qxe4 Nxe4
3.Bxd5+ Or 1...Qd6 2.Nxf6+ Rxf6 3.Qxd5+

#205  1.Rxe6 Rxe6 2.Qf7+ and 3.Qxg8

#206  1...Qb6+ 2.Qxb6 Bxb6+ and 3...Rxd7 leaves
black the exchange ahead.

#207  1.Nxb4 axb4 2.Bxd5+ and 3.Bxa8

#208  1.Bxd7 Kxd7 2.Qb7+ picks up the Bishop with
more to come.

#209  1.Rxe7 Qxe7 2.Qg6+ Kh8 3.Qxh6# or 3.Qxg7#

#210  1.Rxe6 fxe6 2.Qxg7 Rf8 (2...Bf6 3.Nd6#) 3.Nc7+
wins the Black Queen.

#211  1.f6 Qxf6 (1..Rxh1+ 2.Qxh1 check!) 2.Qxf6+ Nxf6
3.Rxh4+

#212  1.Bxc6 bxc6 2.Rxh7+ Qxh7 3.Qxf6+ and 4.Qxd8+
gaining a full piece.

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Assorted Tactics

#251  1.Qb4 combines two threats: 2.Qxb4 and 2.Qb8+
with a back row mate. Black cannot stop both.

#252  1.Re6 threatens Queen mate at c7 along with the win
of the Black Queen.

#253  1.Qh1 threatens 2.Qxh7# and 2.Qxa1.

#254  1...Be4 2.Rxd6 Rh1# Or 2.Bc1 Bxd5 winning the Rook.

#255  1...Qg3 threatens 2...Qxg6, also 2...Qxf2+ 3.Kh1 Qxd2

#256  1...Nh5 stops the mate threat at g7. After 2.Bxh5 Qxh6
two white pieces are still under fire: Nd4 and Bh5

#257  1...Qd3! is a triple threat: 2...Qf1#; 2...Kxe8; and 2...Qxf3+
It's much better than 1...Kxe8? running into 2.Nf6+ and
3.Bxd5. If White now responds with 2.Be2, then
2...Qb1+ and 3...Kxe8. But not the overhasty
2...Qxe2? 3.Nd6+ and 4.Rxe2.

#258  1.Rd2 Rxd2 2.Bxd2 Q-moves 3.fxg7 wins a Bishop.

#259  1...Qb6 2.0-0-0 Qxf6 winning two pieces for a Rook. If
2.Rxg7+ Bxg7 also wins two pieces for a Rook as
there is no time to take the Bishop: 3.fxg7? Qg1#

#260  1.Qf3 Rb8 2.Rd1 Nd7 3.Qxf8+ Nxf8 4.Rxd4+
wins the exchange.

#261  1.Bd7 (not 1.Rxh4? Qg5+) 1...Rd8 2.Rxh4 Rxd7
(3...Qg5+ 4.Rg4) 3.Qxh7+ Kf8 4.Rxd7 wins. E.g:
4...Qg5+ 5.Kh1 Qc1+ 6.Kg2 Qc6+ 7.Qe4 Qxd7 8.Rh8#

#262  1.Qf3 (threatens  2.Rxd7 as well as 2.Qxh5)
1...Rfd8 2.Qxh5 Qxc3 (2...Be6 also loses to
3.Qxh7+ Kf8 4.Qh8+ Ke7 5.Rc7+ etc.)
3.Qxf7+Kh8 4.Qh5+ Kg8 5.Qh7+ Kf8
6.Qh8+ Ke7 7.Qxg7+ Ke8 8.Qf7#

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Guide to Reading the Answers

K stands for king
Q stands for queen
R stands for rook
B stands for bishop
N stands for knight

There is no symbol for the pawn. A pawn move is indicated by
a lowercase letter which indicates the file of the moving pawn.

x stands for capture.
0-0 stands for King-side castle
0-0-0 stands for Queen-side castle

... stands for a black/white move
/ with a capital letter stands for a pawn promotion
(e.g. h1/Q means that the h1 pawn was promoted to a Queen)

+ stands for check
# stands for checkmate

! means very good move
!! means brillant move
? means bad move
?? means losing blunder