Solves from 50 Checkmates Flashcards
White moves to win Q
54) White moves Even having the f7-pawn defended is no guarantee of safety. With 1 Rh8+! Kxh8 2 Nxf7+ Rxf7 3 Qxd8+ White wins queen and pawn for rook and knight.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
77) White moves For a white bishop on f6, different rules apply. 1 Rg5 mate is correct – but not 1 Rxf7+? Kg8 2 Rg7+ Kh8 3 Rg5+? Rxf6 and Black wins.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
Whtie moves
40) White moves Control of the g8-square allows White to force open the h-file by sacrificing the knight. There follows 1 Ng6+ hxg6 2 Qh3+ Bh4 3 Qxh4 checkmate.
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White moves
41) White moves After 1 Ng6+ hxg6 2 hxg6 Black has a free move to defend, but to no avail. He is helpless to prevent White’s killer check with 3 Qh5+ next move.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
Black moves
27) Black moves If 1…Nf2+ White escapes with 2 Rxf2, but does Black have anything better? In fact the startling 1…Qg1+ 2 Rxg1 Nf2 is a typical semi-smothered mate. DEADLY
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Black moves
73) Black moves After 1…Bxh2+ 2 Kxh2 Qh4+ 3 Kg1 Bxg2 the second bishop can be declined with 4 f3. But Black wins by 4…Qg3, preparing a discovered check.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
62
Boden’s Mate
Here 1 Qa6 is the spectacular winning move, as Black cannot defend the a7-pawn. If 1…bxa6, 2 Bxa6 is mate, and 1…Nh5 loses to 2 Qxc6+!.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
Black moves
42a) Black moves This was the magical Karpov-Taimanov game. After 1…Ng3+! White captures with 2 hxg3 (42b) (because 2 Qxg3 allows 2…Rxb1). The h-file is now open.
42b) Black moves There follows the brilliant rook retreat 2…Ra8!. Black wins, as White has no defence to 3…Rh8+ next move.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
Black moves to take rooks then gets beat by White
70a) Black moves 1…Bxc3+ 2 bxc3 Qxc3+ forks king and rook, but White happily ‘falls into the trap’. After 3 Qd2 Qxa1+ 4 Ke2 Qxh1 (70b) the black queen is out of play.
70b) A massive assault on Black’s king now decides the game: 5 Bb5+ Bd7 (5…Ke7 6 Qb4+ Kd8 7 Qd6+ Bd7 8 Qxd7 mate) 6 Qxd7+ Kf8 7 g6! hxg6 8 Ng5 and mate with Qxf7 follows.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
Black moves
23) Black moves It looks like Black is in trouble, but a stunning decoy sacrifice unpins the black knight and turns the tables. 1…Qg1+ 2 Rxg1 Nf2 mate.
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White moves
85) White moves After 1 Bg8 the white queen penetrates decisively to h7. For example 1…Rxg8 2 Qh7+ Kf8 3 Qxf7 mate.
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Black moves
Other Queenside Mates
66
A potential combination is signalled by the rook on the b-file, and the bishop on the h7-b1 diagonal. Black plays 1…Qxc3+ 2 bxc3 Rb1 mate.
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White moves
81) White moves The usual discovered checks fail (as Black threatens …Nxb2). But another motif emerges: 1 Rg8++! (double check) 1…Kxg8 2 Rg1+ Qg5 3 Rxg5 mate.
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Black moves for see-saw
44a) Black moves 1…Re2! exploits a pin on the white queen, which cannot take the rook. After 2 Qxb6 Rxg2+ 3 Kh1 (44b) the mighty See-Saw is ready to begin.
There follows 3…Rxc2+ 4 Kg1 Rg2+ 5 Kh1 Rxb2+ 6 Kg1 Rg2+ 7 Kh1 Rxa2+ 8 Kg1 axb6 and Black has won four pawns.
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Black moves to a Q/K fork
52) Black moves The absence of a pawn on f2 makes no difference (although the idea is perhaps harder to visualize). 1…Rh1+ 2 Kxh1 Nf2+ forks the white king and queen.
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White moves
86) White moves Here the queen and bishop alone can force mate. After 1 Bg8 (threatening Qh7) Black must capture with 1…Rxg8. White then mates by 2 Qh6.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
36a) White moves Once again, both white rooks are sacrificed for a single tempo. With 1 Rh8+ Bxh8 2 Rxh8+ Kxh8 (36b), Black’s king is decoyed onto the h-file.
36b) White moves Now comes yet another forcing move: 3 Qh2+ (with check), and Black still has no time to defend. 3…Kg8 and 3…Kg7 are both met by 4 Qh7 checkmate.
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White moves
31) White moves If 1 Qh7+ the black king can safely move to f8 or f7, so White inserts the killer decoy sacrifice 1 Rh8+. After 1…Kxh8 comes 2 Qh7 checkmate.
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White moves
74) White moves Even an obstructive pawn on g5 does not rule out the sacrifice: 1 Bxh7+ Kxh7 2 Qh5+ Kg8 3 Bxg7 Kxg7 4 Qh6+ Kg8 5 Rg1! with Rg4-h4 to follow.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
74) White moves Even an obstructive pawn on g5 does not rule out the sacrifice: 1 Bxh7+ Kxh7 2 Qh5+ Kg8 3 Bxg7 Kxg7 4 Qh6+ Kg8 5 Rg1! with Rg4-h4 to follow.
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Black moves to take Q
53) Black moves This very pretty version features two decoy sacrifices: 1…Bf2+! 2 Bxf2 Rh1+ 3 Kxh1 Nxf2+ and again White loses the queen.
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White moves
18) White moves Although Black has some unpleasant threats, White can force mate with checks: 1 Qxf8+ Kxf8 2 Re8+ Kg7 3 Rg8 mate.
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White moves
82a) White moves This was the amazing Pillsbury-Lee game. The stunning sacrifice 1 Qf3! deflects the black queen from the g-file. After 1…Qxf3 White plays 2 Rg1+ (82b).
82b) Black moves 2…Kh8 is forced, when 3 Bg7+ Kg8 4 Bxf6+ forces mate next move. A perfect illustration of the mate when White’s bishop starts on the h6-square.
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Black moves for Q fork or mate
67a) Black moves Here the clever 1…Qxc3 is easily overlooked, as White has a choice of captures. But if 2 bxc3, then 2…Na2 mate, so White has to continue 2 Qxc3 Na2+ (67b).
67b) White moves The crafty fork from the black knight does more than regain the queen. After 3 Kb1 Nxc3+ Black stays a piece ahead, as White’s b-pawn is pinned.
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Black moves
28) Black moves The white bishop has just moved to f1, in order to eject the black queen from h3. Instead of retreating, Black plays 1…Ng4 2 Bxh3 Nxf2 checkmate.
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Black moves
78a) Black moves This is the Paulsen-Morphy game. Black played his famous queen sacrifice: 1…Qxf3! 2 gxf3 Rg6+ 3 Kh1 Bh3 (78b) (threatening 4…Bg2+ 5 Kg1 Bxf3 mate). DEADLY
78b) White moves After 4 Rd1 Bg2+ 5 Kg1 Bxf3+ 6 Kf1 the quickest mate (Morphy played the slower 6…Bg2+) is 6…Rg2 7 Qd3 Rxf2+ 8 Kg1 Rg2+ 9 Kh1 Rg1.
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White moves for perpetual check
24) White moves If Black can keep the f7-square covered, a draw by perpetual check is likely with 1 Nh6++ Kh8 2 Nf7+, etc. Here 2 Qg8+?? is a blunder due to 2…Nxg8! 3 Nf7+ Rxf7.
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Black moves
19) Black moves 1…Qxa1! eliminates the defender of the back rank. After 2 Nxa1 Rd1 White loses due to the threat of 3…Rg1 mate (as 3 Qe8+ Kg7 changes nothing).
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White moves
69a) White moves An astute student might notice that Boden’s Mate would be possible if Black’s queen were elsewhere. White plays 1 axb4 Qxa1+ 2 Kd2 (69b).
69b) Black moves Now if 2…Qxh1 White would mate with 3 Qxc6+ bxc6 4 Ba6. The two white rooks have been used as bait to decoy the black queen.
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White moves
20a) White moves The subtle 1 Rc1! poses Black a problem (since 1…Be2 2 Rc8+ Ke7 3 Re8+ skewers king and bishop). After the best defence, 1…Ba6, comes 2 Re1 (20b).
20b) Black moves The endgame mating-net has been delicately woven by White. Black has no viable defence to the threat of 3 Re8+ Kg7 4 Rg8 checkmate.
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Black moves
9) Black moves The white position looks solid, but appearances prove deceptive, as Black can checkmate in just three moves: 1…Ne2+ 2 Kh1 Qxh2+! 3 Kxh2 Rh4.
Anastasia’s Mate
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Black moves
Boden’s Mate - 61a
61a) Black moves The pawn sacrifice 1…d5 frees up the black bishop on f8, and gains time by attacking the white bishop on c4. White captures with 2 Bxd5 (61b).
61b) Black moves The motive behind Black’s last move is revealed: 2…Qxc3+ 3 bxc3 Ba3 mate. This is the beautiful combination played in the original Boden game.
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Black moves
Here the h-file is already open, and the black rook is itching to exploit this. After 1…Rxh2+ 2 Kxh2 Qh8+ White is mated following 3 Kg3 Qh4.
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White moves
65) White moves 1 Qxc6+ wins a pawn for nothing, as Black cannot capture the white queen. On 1…bxc6, 2 Rb8+ Kc7 3 R1b7 would be mate.
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Black moves
58) Black moves After 1…Qxh4 White captures with 2 Bxg4 (as 2 gxh4 Bxh2 is mate). But after 2…Qxg4 Black will win easily with his extra piece.
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White moves
63) White moves Here White justified an earlier piece sacrifice with the delightful winning combination 1 Nxa7+ Bxa7 2 Qxc6+ bxc6 3 Ba6 mate.
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White moves
35a) White moves The stunning 1 Rh8+! is again aimed at eliminating the g7-bishop. Then 1…Bxh8 2 Rxh8+ Kg7! (35b) is the best try (as 2…Kxh8 loses to 3 Bf6+ Kg8 4 Qh2).
The combination continues with a further rook decoy sacrifice: 3 Rh7+! Kxh7 (3…Kf8 4 Bf6) 4 Qh2+ Kg7 (4…Kg8 5 Bf6) 5 Qh6+ Kg8 6 Bf6 forces mate.
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Black moves
84a) Black moves A typical scenario. First Black forces the white king into the corner with 1…Bh2+ 2 Kh1. Then 2…Bg1! (84b) sets up the threat of mate with …Qh2.
84b) White moves The black queen’s diagonal must be blocked. But on 3 g3, Black wins material by 3…Nxf2+ (forking the white king and queen, so White must capture) 4 Rxf2 Bxf2.
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White moves
32) White moves Here White is a piece down. However, he swoops in to turn the tables with exactly the same rook decoy idea: 1 Rh8+ Kxh8 2 Qh7 mate.
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Black moves
57) Black moves 1…Qxh4 wins instantly, since 2 gxh4 Bh2 is mate. White cannot defend with 2 Bxg4, as 2…Qh1 mate is also threatened.
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White moves
15a) White moves Before sacrificing the queen, it must be established that the black king cannot escape to safety via the g6-square. White plays 1 Qxh7+ Kxh7 2 Rh5+ (15b).
15b) Black moves The king can escape – but only temporarily. After 2…Kg6 comes the pretty finish 3 Bf7 checkmate.
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White moves for ???
55) White moves The h-file can be forcibly opened to facilitate the combination. Here 1 Bxh7+! wins a pawn, as if 1…Kxh7, there follows 2 Rh3+ Kg8 3 Rh8+ Kxh8 4 Nxf7+ Kg8 5 Nxd6.
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White moves
45a) White moves Setting up a See-Saw often justifies a major investment in material. Here White sacrifices his queen with 1 Bf6 Qxh5 2 Rxg7+ Kh8 (45b).
45b) White moves After 3 Rxf7+ Kg8 4 Rg7+ Kh8 5 Rxb7+ Kg8 White returns for the queen: 6 Rg7+ Kh8 7 Rg5+ Kh7 8 Rxh5 Kg6 9 Rh3 Kxf6 10 Rxh6+ and wins.
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Black moves
61a) Black moves The pawn sacrifice 1…d5 frees up the black bishop on f8, and gains time by attacking the white bishop on c4. White captures with 2 Bxd5 (61b).
61b) Black moves The motive behind Black’s last move is revealed: 2…Qxc3+ 3 bxc3 Ba3 mate. This is the beautiful combination played in the original Boden game.
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White moves
Blackburne’s Mate
Black moves
11a) Black moves As mate is the final result, spectacular sacrifices to open the h-file are possible. First Black sacrifices the queen with 1…Ne2+ 2 Kh1 Qxg4! 3 hxg4 (11b).
11b) Black moves How does Black check on the h-file with White’s pawn on g4 in the way? The solution is a stunning rook sacrifice: 3…Rh5+! 4 gxh5 Rh4 checkmate.
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White moves
29a) White moves After 1 Ng6+ Black must allow the double check 1…Kh7 2 Nf8++, but assumes that after 2…Kh8 (29b) White will repeat moves with another knight check.
29b) White moves However, the white bishop raking the a2-g8 diagonal signals the possibility of semi-smothered mate. White forces mate: 3 Qh7+ Nxh7 4 Ng6.
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White moves
76) White moves A perfect example of Morphy’s Concealed Mate: 1 Rxg7+ Kh8 2 Rxf7+ Kg8 3 Rg7+ Kh8 4 Rg3+, and mate follows shortly.
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Black moves
78a) Black moves This is the Paulsen-Morphy game. Black played his famous queen sacrifice: 1…Qxf3! 2 gxf3 Rg6+ 3 Kh1 Bh3 (78b) (threatening 4…Bg2+ 5 Kg1 Bxf3 mate).
78b) White moves After 4 Rd1 Bg2+ 5 Kg1 Bxf3+ 6 Kf1 the quickest mate (Morphy played the slower 6…Bg2+) is 6…Rg2 7 Qd3 Rxf2+ 8 Kg1 Rg2+ 9 Kh1 Rg1.
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White moves, Black evades mate, but loses material to Q forking Bs
72a) White moves This was the classic Lasker-Bauer game. After 1 Bxh7+ Kxh7 2 Qxh5+ Kg8 3 Bxg7 Kxg7 4 Qg4+ Kh7 5 Rf3 Black tried the defence 5…e5 (72b).
72b) White moves Although Black avoided mate after 6 Rh3+ Qh6 7 Rxh6+ Kxh6, he lost on material following Lasker’s 8 Qd7!. The queen forks the two black bishops.
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White Moves
10) White moves 1 Rxh7+! and now 1…Nxh7 2 Qc8+ Nf8 3 Qxf8+ Kh7 4 Qg8 is mate. That leaves 1…Kxh7, when White can choose between 2 Qh5, 2 Qh4 and 2 Qh3 – all mate!
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White moves
14) White moves After 1 Nxh7 Kxh7 2 Qh3+ Kg6 White has to close in with the queen: 3 Qg3+ Kh7 (3…Kf6 4 Qg5 is mate) 4 Qh4+ Kg6 5 Qg5+ Kh7 6 Qh5 mate.
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Black moves for draw
Petrosian Draw
White Move to fork Queen
Rh8 + Nf7 fork
White moves
22) White moves The attack on the queen by Black’s knight is irrelevant because White’s first move gives double check. 1 Nh6++ Kh8 2 Qg8+ Rxg8 3 Nf7 checkmate.
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White moves
33a) White moves In this extended version, the move-order is important. After 1 Rh8+! Kxh8 2 Qh1+ Kg8 White now liquidates an important defender with 3 Bxf6 (33b). DEADLY
33b) Black moves Black is lost whatever he plays! White’s threat is 4 Qh7+ Kf8 5 Qh8 checkmate, and 3…g6 fails to 4 Qh8 checkmate. A delightful concept.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
62) White moves Here 1 Qa6 is the spectacular winning move, as Black cannot defend the a7-pawn. If 1…bxa6, 2 Bxa6 is mate, and 1…Nh5 loses to 2 Qxc6+!.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
25) White moves Only the black bishop on g6 is preventing immediate smothered mate by the knight. White wins with the decoy sacrifice 1 Qxh7+ Bxh7 2 Nf7 mate.
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White moves
59a) White moves Here after 1 Qxh5 Black can try the promising-looking defence 1…Bxg5 (59b) (Black should not play 1…Nxg5 2 Qh8 mate, nor 1…gxh5 2 Bxh7 mate).
59b) White moves However, the attacking riposte 2 Bxg6 still wins for White. On 2…fxg6, 3 Qxg6 is mate, and 2…Nf6 fails to 3 Bxf6 Qxf6 4 Qh7 mate.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
Black moves
38a) Black moves Once you recognize the patterns, even very lengthy combinations can be found quickly. Black begins with a knight sacrifice: 1…Ng3+ 2 hxg3 hxg3+ 3 Kg1 (38b).
The familiar features of Damiano’s Mate now suddenly appear. 3…Rh1+! 4 Kxh1 Rh8+ 5 Kg1 Rh1+ 6 Kxh1 (38c).
After sacrificing the two rooks on the h1-square, Black’s queen comes to the h-file with check: 6…Qh8+ 7 Kg1 Qh2+ 8 Kf1 (38d).
38d) Black moves And finally, 8…Qh1 checkmate. Because it is comprised of several common patterns, this nine-move long combination is relatively simple!
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Black moves
88) Black moves After 1…Rxg2+ White will be poorly placed if he does not capture. But after 2 Kxg2 comes 2…Qg4+ 3 Kh1 Qxf3+ 4 Kg1 Rg8+ 5 Qg5 Rxg5 checkmate.
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Black moves for perpetual check
89) Black moves The rook sacrifice can also save a difficult position. Here 1…Rxg2+ 2 Kxg2 Qg4+ 3 Kh1 Qf3+ 4 Kg1 Qg4+ gives a draw by perpetual check.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
90) White moves The g-file is semi-open – earlier Black unwisely snatched the g2-pawn with his bishop. After 1 Rxg7+ Kxg7 2 Qg4+ Kh8 3 Qf5, mate on h7 follows.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
91) White moves Here White’s queen has back-up from several minor pieces. 1 Rxg7+ Kxg7 2 Qg3+ wins after either 2…Kh8 3 Nxf7 mate or 2…Kf8 3 Bh6 mate. DEADLY
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
93) White moves The exchange sacrifice 1 Rxd7 Qxd7 lures Black’s queen to a fatal square. On 2 Qg4 Black cannot cope with the double threat of 3 Qxg7 mate and 3 Nxh6+.
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White moves Nxe5, how does Black win?
94) White moves After 1 Nxe5 White expected his opponent to recapture the knight. Instead Black played 1…Qg5! and White resigned, as he is mated or loses his queen.
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White moves to exploit unprotected Black Q
95) White moves 1 Nxg7, winning a key black defensive pawn, exploits Black’s unprotected queen on d7 in a different way (1…Nxg7? is met by 2 Qxd7).
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Black moves for White Q
96) Black moves Remarkably, White will lose his queen: 1…Ng3+! 2 hxg3 Qh6+! (forcing the king to g1, so the next move is check) 3 Kg1 Nh3+ 4 gxh3 Qxe3+.
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White moves
98) White moves The winning queen sacrifice 1 Qh6! threatens checkmate on g7. 1…gxh6 fails to 2 Nxh6 mate and 1…Bf6 makes no difference after 2 Bxf6.
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White moves
99) White moves After 1 Qg3 (threatening Qxg7 mate and Black’s queen on c7) 1…Qxg3 2 Nxe7+! Kh8 3 fxg3 White has won the bishop on e7 for nothing.
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White moves
100) White moves A subtle example of the double attack. White gains an advantage with 1 Bxh6 gxh6 2 Qd3, threatening 3 Qxc4 and mate beginning with 3 Qg3+. DEADLY
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Black moves
101) Black moves 1…Bxh3 2 gxh3 Qe6 leaves White helpless, in spite of his having the move. After 3 Kg1 Qxh3 4 Rf2 g4 the black attack will crash through.
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Black moves
103) Black moves The decoy may be possible even if the second rook is not instantly available. 1…Rh2+ 2 Kxh2 Qf2+ 3 Kh1 Ke7! wins in view of 4…Rh8+ next move.
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White moves
104) White moves Here the black pieces are unfortunately placed. White uses the rook deflection to win the queen with 1 Rh8+ Kg7 2 Rh7+ Kxh7 3 Qxf7+.
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Black moves
105) Black moves A familiar theme, but with a highly original first move: 1…Bg1! (threatening …Rh2 mate) 2 Rxg1 Rh2+ 3 Kxh2 Qf2+, and 4…Rh8 will mate next move.
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White moves
106) White moves 1 Ra7+ Kxa7 2 Qxc6 is not immediate mate, but Black’s king will perish soon on the a-file: 2…Rb8 3 Ra1+ Na6 4 Qc7+ Rb7 5 Bxb6+ Ka8 6 Rxa6+.
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White moves
109) White moves Here the standard formation is reached via a rook sacrifice: 1 Rg4+ fxg4 2 Bxh7+ Kh8 3 Bg6+ Kg8 4 Qh7+ Kf8 5 Qxf7 checkmate.
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Black moves
110) Black moves On rare occasions Black has a defence. Here the saving move is 1…Bxg5, as White’s discovered check (e.g. 2 Bb1+) is blocked by 2…Bh6.
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White moves
111a) White moves First White makes a preliminary exchange sacrifice (of rook for knight) to eliminate the defender of the h7-square: 1 Rxf6 Qxf6 2 Bxh7+ Kh8 3 Qh5 (111b).
111b) Black moves There is no defence to White’s threat of Bg6+ and Qh7 mate. 3…Re8 fails to 4 Nxf7+, 3…Qh6 to 4 Nxf7+ Rxf7 5 Bxh6, and 3…g6 to 4 Bxg6+ Kg7 5 Qh7 mate.
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White moves
113) White moves After 1 Bc4+ Kh8 the key elements of Greco’s Mate appear. White continues 2 Ng5 h6 3 Qg6 (threatening mate on h7) 3…hxg5 4 Qh5 checkmate.
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Black moves
114) Black moves Despite an extra defensive tempo (the pawn is already on h3) White is helpless after 1…Qh4, e.g. 2 Rf1 Qg3 3 hxg4 Qh4 mate or 2 Rd3 Nf2+.
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Black moves
115a) Black moves Here f2 is well defended by White, but the black pawn on h5 means a related theme still works. The knight is sacrificed with 1…Qg3 2 hxg4 hxg4 (115b).
115a) Black moves Here f2 is well defended by White, but the black pawn on h5 means a related theme still works. The knight is sacrificed with 1…Qg3 2 hxg4 hxg4 (115b).
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White moves
117) White moves 1 Qg6 hxg5 2 Be5! wins, as Black has no good way to deal with the mate threat on g7. For example 2…Qd7 3 Bxd5+ or 2…Rf7 3 Bxg7 Rxg7 4 Re8+.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
118) White moves After 1 Qg6 hxg5 2 Nxg5 Black can avoid mate only by 2…Nf6 3 exf6 Rxf6 4 Qh7+ Kf8 5 Qh8+ Ke7 6 Qxg7+. White is a pawn up with an attack.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
Black moves
119a) Black moves The queen manoeuvre is also potent in conjunction with a bishop on the long diagonal. Here 1…Qh4 forces 2 h3 (119b), due to the mate threat on h2.
119b) Black moves Now 2…Qg3 wins by creating two mate threats simultaneously. White cannot defend satisfactorily against both …Qh2 and …Qxg2.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
121) White moves Losing a whole piece for nothing is a common blunder. Here White (an international strength player) played 1 h3?? and had to resign after 1…Qxg3.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
122) White moves 1 Qg6 wins instantly, as there is no reasonable defence to the threat of 2 Qxg7 mate. The queen cannot be captured, as the black f-pawn is pinned.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
123a) White moves The black h-pawn has just moved to h6. There follows 1 Bxh6 Nb6 (1…gxh6 loses to 2 Qg6+ Kh8 3 Qxh6+ Nh7 4 Ng5 Nf6 5 Nce4) 2 Qg6 (123b).
123b) Black moves White’s threat is Qxg7 mate. After 2…Ne8 3 Ng5, White’s new threat of Qh7 mate cannot be parried.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
125a) White moves The sacrifice 1 Bxh6 gxh6 2 Qxh6 Be7 (125b) does not give White immediate mate threats, but neither can Black bolster his critically weak kingside.
125b) White moves There is even a choice of ways to feed extra white pieces into the attack, e.g. 3 Ng3 and 3 Re3, or 3 Ng5 e5 4 Ng3 e4 5 Nh5 Nxh5 6 Qh7 mate.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
126a) White moves Encouraged by the misplaced black pieces on the queenside, a superb kingside assault begins: 1 Bxh6 gxh6 2 Qe3 Ne8 (2…Ng4 3 Qh3) 3 Qxh6 (126b).
126b) Black moves After 3…Qd7 (to stop Ne7 mate) White exploits the loose queen brilliantly: 4 Qg5+ Kh7 5 Qh4+ Kg8 6 Qg3+ Kh8 7 Qh3+ Kg8 8 Nh6+ Kg7 9 Qxd7.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
128) White moves The pawn advance 1 e5 opens the key diagonal from d3 to h7 for the white queen. After 1…Nxe5 2 Nxe5 dxe5 3 Bxf6 Qxf6 White checkmates with 4 Qh7.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
Whtie moves
129) White moves By eliminating the knight on f6, White can penetrate to h7 and gain a decisive attack: 1 Rxf6 Qxf6 2 Qh7+ Kf8 3 Rf1 Qe6 4 Ng6+ and wins.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
129) White moves By eliminating the knight on f6, White can penetrate to h7 and gain a decisive attack: 1 Rxf6 Qxf6 2 Qh7+ Kf8 3 Rf1 Qe6 4 Ng6+ and wins.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
Black moves
130) Black moves Remarkably, 1…Nxd4 wins a piece for Black, thanks to the line-up. If 2 exd4, then 2…Nxc3 3 Rxc3 Rxe2, and 2 Bxd4 is worse due to 2…Nd2! 3 Qd1 Nxf3+ 4 Bxf3 Qxh2 mate.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
Black moves
130) Black moves Remarkably, 1…Nxd4 wins a piece for Black, thanks to the line-up. If 2 exd4, then 2…Nxc3 3 Rxc3 Rxe2, and 2 Bxd4 is worse due to 2…Nd2! 3 Qd1 Nxf3+ 4 Bxf3 Qxh2 mate.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
White moves
131) White moves Here an unusual sacrifice followed by a semi-smothered mate foils Black’s attempt to swap queens: 1 Qxh7+ Nxh7 2 Bxh7+ Kh8 3 Ng6 checkmate.
Chandler, Murray. How to Beat Your Dad at Chess . Gambit Publications. Kindle Edition.
