Chess Tactic of the Day Answers #42 to #48

Tactic #42:



This game is from the same tournament as Tactic of the Day #18. The tournament was to qualify for the World Championship match with Kasparov. The tactic is more of a defensive tactic than an offensive tactic. I feel it is good to through these types of problems into the mix. They do a great job of stopping automatic thinking. After 26...Re4 White's attack fails and he ends up material down.

Tactic #43:



Yep, from the same tournament. This tactic is really easy once you see the answer. Before you see it, though, it Rh3 threatening mate idea is not nearly as easy to spot. Even after you spot it, it is a fairly complicated to actually win.

Tactic #44:



Another from the same tournament. It was a pretty cool tournament after all. It is a pity that World Championship qualifier tournaments are less stable these days. I like the World Cup Knock Out tournament as a qualifier though. Anyway, Black is able to win a pawn by playing 19...Bxf4 because a Knight can eventually capture on f4 forking White's Queen and Light Squared Bishop. In some ways, a straight forward Knight fork. On the other hand, it is pretty well disguised!

Tactic #45:

1. Qxh7+ Kxh7 2. Rh4+ Kg8 3. Re8#

Tactic #46:

1. Qxe4+ Kxe4 2. Nc3+ Kf5 3. Rf1#

Tactic #47:



This game is between Philadelphia chess player Bryan Smith and the eventual World Open winner Viktor Laznicka. There is some good analysis of this game on the Huffington Post. It was a very back and forth game that was well fought by both players. In the end, though, Bryan Smith couldnt hold on for the win. Instead of 41. Nc4, 41. Rb7+ and after the King moves 41. Rc8 and White's position is much more comfortable and he remains up material. Hopefully a lot of Philadelphia Inventors games are like this!

Tactic #48:

1. Qa7+ Kxa7 2. Ra2+ Qa4 3. Rxa4#

Hope you enjoyed these!