This week’s tactical exercises come from the recently concluded Gibraltar Chess Festival.
For help on using these exercises click here.
Black has just grabbed a pawn on a2. Was this a good idea?
White already has a big advantage, but how did Naka end the game quickly?
Can the rook be taken?
Here Svidler opted for 47.e7, and the game was still a fight after 47…Bf7. Find a better move.
Tactical exercises for the week of Sunday Feb 8 2015 are available here.
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The Tata Steel Chess Tournament features some of the very best chess players in the world. 2700+ chess is often decided by subtle opening innovations, the accumulation of advantages, and protracted grinds that eventually break the opponent. However, even here the occasional forcing combination reminds us how basic tactics are an important element of chess at any level.
This week’s tactical exercises come from the Masters and Challengers sections of the 78th Tata Steel tourney that finished on January 25th.
For help on using these exercises click here.
To be fair, Black probably saw this coming, but felt forced to play actively a few moves previously because the position was already desperate.
Chucky resigned here. How could the American end the game after the natural looking 27.Be3?
MVL has sacrificed a piece, and best play would have resulted in a draw by perpetual check. However after Rd2?? a winning combination was executed.
Dutch legend Jan Timman had a disastrous 2015 tournament, but was victorious in this encounter.
Anne Haast, who scored her final WGM norm at Tata Steel 2015, falls victim to a forcing sequence by US standout Sam Shankland.
The Black position is creaking. How did White decide the game?
There are a lot of pieces hanging. How did White take advantage of the moment?
In this battle between rising stars, White’s more centralized pieces and a lightly defended king spell trouble for Black.
Classic Carlsen: a slow positional buildup followed by decisive action against the king.
Black menaces both …gxf4 and …Be4. How did White prove his own threats to be more relevant?
This is arguably the most beautiful combination of the tournament.
The game continued 28.Qxc3. In the post-game interview, Ivanchuk explained the tactical consequences of 23.Bxf6. Is 23.Bxf6 an improvement over the game?
Solution to Exercise 2
Solution to Exercise 3
Solution to Exercise 4
Solution to Exercise 5
Solution to Exercise 6
Solution to Exercise 7
Solution to Exercise 8
Solution to Exercise 9
Solution to Exercise 10
Solution to Exercise 11
Tactical exercises for the week of Sunday Jan 18 2015 are available here.
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Tactical exercises for the week of Sunday Jan 11 2015 are available here.
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