Safety and Counting

Question 1

Black to play and win

Answer 1

1-1: 1…Bxf3 2.Qxf3 Rxg7 A typical easy counting problem. Black trades off his attacked piece before hie wins the hanging bishop on g7.

Question 2

White to play and win

Answer 2

1-2: 1.Nxd4 Bxd1 2.Nb3 Be2 3.Re1 wins a piece

Question 3

Black to play and save a piece

Answer 3

1-3: 1…Ke6 is necessary to save the knight on d5 and maintain equal chances in this famous “Frid Liver” position. Retreating the king to “safety” and returning the knight is just hopeless, and a common beginner mistake.

Question 4

Black to play; is …Ne4 safe?

Answer 4

1-4: Yes. 2.Bxe7 Qxe7 or 2.Bxe4 Bxg5. And 2. Nxe4? dxe4 3.Bxe7 Qxe7 wins for Black.

Question 5

White to play and win

Answer 5

1-5: 1.Bxd7 But not the “cute” 1.Rxd4 Nb6!. 1…Qxe5 1…dxe3 2.Qxe4 wins a piece. 2.Bd2 leaves White ahead a piece.

Question 6

Can Black play 1…Nxe4 2. Nxe4 d5 and win back his piece?

Answer 6

1-6: No. This “center fork trick” does not work with a bishop on c5! 1…Nxe4 2. Nxe4 d5 3.Nxc5.

Question 7

Can White win the d-pawn?

Answer 7

1-7: No. 1.Nxd4 Bxd4 2.Rxd4 Qxd4 3.Qxd4 Re1#.

Question 8

White to play; is Bxb5 safe?

Answer 8

1-8: Yes. 1.Bxb5 Qa5+ 2.Nc3 guards the bishop and remains a pawn ahead.

Question 9

White to play and win a pawn

Answer 9

1-9: The desperado queen sacrifice 1.Qxd7+ Bxd7 2.Bxa5 wins a pawn.

Question 10

White to play and win

Answer 10

1-10: The pawn on d2 is not going anywhere: 1.exf6 wins the knight. In the actual game White panicked and played the hasty 1.Nxd2??, allwoing Black to save the piece with 1…Nd5.

Question 11

Black to play; is …Ng4 good?

Answer 11

1-11: No. White wins two pieces for the rook. 1…Ng4? 2.fxg4 Bxg1 3.Kxg1.

Question 12

White to play and win a pawn

Answer 12

1-12: 1.Rg7 and if Black tries to trap the rook, White escapes: 1…Kf8 2.Rxg6 Kf7 3.Rh6 Kg7 4.Rxh5 Kg6 6.Rh8 Kg7 6. Rb8

Question 13

White to play and win

Answer 13

1-13: 1.Nxe2 Not capturing is an unbelievably big counting mistake 1…Bxa1 2.Rxa1 and White is ahead two pieces for a rook.

Question 14

Black to play and win a pawn

Answer 14

1-14: 1…Nxf6 2.Rxd8 Bxd8 and Black holds everything while winning back the pawn he was down.

Question 15

White to play and win

Answer 15

1-15: 1.Ne7+ Qxe7 2.fxe7 wins the house!

Question 16

White to play and win a pawn

Answer 16

1-16: 1.Bxh6 1.Qxe7 hxg5 2.Qxd8 Raxd8 3.Nxg5 is almost as good, and also counts as correct! But not 1. Bxf6? Bxf6, when White has nothing. 1…gxh6 If 1…Ng4 2.Qxe7 and if 1…Re8 2.Bg5. 2.Qxe7 and White is ahead a pawn.

Question 17

White to play and stay ahead material

Answer 17

1-17: 1.Rxf7+ Rxf7 2.Nd6 and White remains ahead two pieces for a rook.

Question 18

Black to play and win a pawn

Answer 18

1-18: 1…Ng4 2.Qe2 Qc7 wins the e-pawn.

Question 19

Black to play and win

Answer 19

1-19: 1…Bxe5 (skewer!) 2.Qxe4 Bxb2 wins a piece.

Question 20

Black to play and win

Answer 20

1-20: 1…Qxf5 2.gxf5 Bxd2 and Black ends up a piece ahead.

Question 21

Black to play and win

Answer 21

1-21: 1…Rxc1 Of course not 1…Bxd5? 2.Rxc8. 2.Rxc1 Bxd5 wins a piece for Black.

Question 22

White to play and save a piece

Answer 22

1-22: 1.Rf3 If instead 1.Rf2?? Bxf2. Other moves allow 1…g5 or 1…Rxf4.

Question 23

Can White win a piece?

Answer 23

1-23: No. If 1.Nxe5 Bxe5 2.Rxe5?? Rd1+ 3.Re1 Rxe1#.

Question 24

Black to play and win

Answer 24

1-24: 1…Qxb1+ 2.Nxb1 Nxd5 leaves Black a rook ahead. 1…Nxc2+? 2.Kd1 is good for White.