1.

[In this Mastery Quiz, you'll be asked to find combinations that include two or more of the tactical devices you just learned. I may not tell you in which direction to look, but you can rest assured the solution involves one or more of the themes you were taught in Parts One and Two. Sometimes the solution will involve mate, and sometimes it will involve winning or saving material. If you're having a really hard time with an exercise, just hit the hint button and I'll tell you what themes to keep an eye out for. Good luck.

{Y:0}{B:r1bq1bnr/ppN2kpp/2np4/3Np3/4P3/4p3/PPP2PPP/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 0 0}{Y:1}{D:1000}{D:1000}{S:d1f3}{D:1000}{A:Xf3f7}{D:1000}{R}{C}{D:1000}{S:g8f6}{D:1000}{S:f3f3}{D:1000}{A:Cf3f6}{D:1000}{A:Cf6f7}{D:1000}{R}{C}{D:1000}{S:f1c4}{D:1000}{A:Gc4d5}{D:1000}{A:Cd5f7}{D:1000}{R}{C}{D:1000}{S:c6d4}{D:1000}{A:Cd4f3}{D:1000}{A:Cd4c2}{D:1000}{A:Xc2e1}{D:1000}{A:Cc2a1}{D:1000}{R}{C}{Y:0}{B:r1bq1b1r/ppN2kpp/3p1n2/3Np3/2BnP3/4pQ2/PPP2PPP/R3K2R w KQkq - 0 0}{Y:1}{D:1000}{D:1000}{A:Gc4d5}{D:1000}{R}{C}{D:1000}{S:d5f6}{D:1000}{S:c4c4}{D:1000}{A:Xc4f7}{D:1000}{R}{W:299}

]

2.

[

{B:2rr2k1/1pbn1ppp/p3pn2/1q6/N1NP4/1P6/P1BQ1PPP/R4RK1 b}{V:{SAVE}It's black to move here. The answer involves a double attack.{W:300a};

$Queen H5, threatening mate on H2. White has to defend with a move like H3, after which, B5 forks the two knights. You see the black queen was occupying the B5 square. So you've freed up that square for the pawn and attacked mate with tempo. In the future to help you out spotting pawn forks, whenever two pieces are situated like these two knights here, next to each other with one space in-between, a pawn could fork them. Notice that pattern. Keep it in mind. {S:b5h5}{D:1000}{A:Cc7h2}{A:Ch5h2}{D:3000}{R}{S:h2h3}{D:3000}{S:b7b5}{A:Cb5a4}{A:Cb5c4}{W:300b}{W:300c}{W:sil1000}{J}

$b5h5;Very good! Queen H5, threatening mate on H2. White has to defend with a move like H3, after which, B5 forks the two knights. You see the black queen was occupying the B5 square. So you've freed up that square for the pawn and attacked mate with tempo. In the future to help you out spotting pawn forks, whenever two pieces are situated like these two knights here, next to each other with one space in-between, a pawn could fork them. Notice that pattern. Keep it in mind.

{D:1000}{A:Cc7h2}{A:Ch5h2}{D:3000}{R}{S:h2h3}{D:3000}{S:b7b5}{A:Cb5a4}{A:Cb5c4}{W:verygood}{W:300b}{W:300c}{W:sil1000}{J};

$cNo, that's not right.{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

The idea is to combine a double attack, a fork and indirect discovery.}

]

3.

[

{B:1r1r2qk/1p1RN1pp/p5b1/8/3RnB2/8/PP5P/1KQ5 b}{V:{SAVE}It's black to move here. Mate in two using a discovery.{W:301a};

$Knight C3 double check. The bishop on G6 and the knight on C3 are both attacking the king. Notice of course that if the black knight were to move somewhere than C3 or D2, if it were only checked one way from the bishop on G6, then white could capture knight takes G6 with a check of his own. {S:e4c3}{A:Cc3b1}{A:Cg6b1}{D:4000}{R}{D:2000}{S:c3e4}{G:BNe4}{S:e4c5}{D:9000}{G:WNe7}{S:e7g6}{A:Xg6h8}{D:2000}{R}{S:g6e7}{P:BBg6}{X:e7}{P:WNe7}{X:c5}{P:BNc3}{W:301b}{W:sil1000}{J}

$e4c3;Well done!

Knight C3 double check. The bishop on G6 and the knight on C3 are both attacking the king. Notice of course that if the black knight were to move somewhere than C3 or D2, if it were only checked one way from the bishop on G6, then white could capture knight takes G6 with a check of his own.

{A:Cc3b1}{A:Cg6b1}{D:4000}{R}{D:2000}{S:c3e4}{G:BNe4}{S:e4c5}{D:9000}{G:WNe7}{S:e7g6}{A:Xg6h8}{D:2000}{R}{S:g6e7}{P:BBg6}{X:e7}{P:WNe7}{X:c5}{P:BNc3}{W:welldone}{W:301b}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

e4d2:$c That's the good idea, but you have better! Do you see another one?{W:theresbetter}{RETRY};

Mate in two using a discovery.}

]

4.

[So after knight C3 check, the white king is forced to move to A1. What's your next move?

{B:1r1r2qk/1p1RN1pp/p5b1/8/3R1B2/2n5/PP5P/1KQ5 b}{D:3000}{S:b1a1}{W:301c}{V:{SAVE}So after knight C3 check, the white king is forced to move to A1. What's your next move?;

$Queen takes A2 check mate. So in positions when you have discoveries, always look for the most forcing discoveries. Double check is a great option.

{S:g8a2}{W:301d}{W:301e2}{W:sil1000}{J}

$g8a2;Excellent work! Queen takes A2 check mate. So in positions when you have discoveries, always look for the most forcing discoveries. Double check is a great option.

  {W:excellent}{W:301d}{W:301e2}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

Mate in one. Look for a long range attack.}

]

5.

[

{B:1R6/1P3k2/8/8/8/8/6K1/1r6}{V:{SAVE}This is a very famous endgame position. It's white to move here. The idea, obviously, is to promote your pawn and win the black rook. Take your time. A skewer comes to play here.

{W:302a};

$The correct move is rook H8, a really powerful trick.So now let's review this endgame for a minute. First of all, if the black king had been on G6, we see that the white rook can get away with rook G8 check, with tempo, and the king moves, and B8 queen wins the game. If the black king is on F7, or E7 for that matter, then rook H8 wins the game, because after rook takes B7 - rook H7 is a skewer winning the rook - otherwise next move will make a queen.{S:b8h8}{D:4000}

{B:1R6/1P3k2/8/8/8/8/6K1/1r6}

{D:2500}{G:BKf7}{S:f7g6}{D:2000}{S:b8g8}{A:Xg8g6}{D:3000}{R}{S:g6f7}{D:1000}{S:b7b8}{X:b8}{P:WQb8}{D:500}{S:b1b8}{D:500}{S:g8b8}

{D:2000}

{B:1R6/1P3k2/8/8/8/8/6K1/1r6}

{D:1500}{S:f7e7}{D:2000}{S:b8h8}{1600}

{A:Nb7b8}{D:500}{R}{S:b1b7}{D:2000}{S:h8h7}{A:Ch7f7}{A:Df7b7}{D:2000}{Y:0}{R}{S:h7h8}{S:b7b1}{P:WPb7}{Y:1}{S:b7b8}{P:WQb8}

{W:302d}{W:sil500}{W:303a}{W:303b}

$b8h8;Good work! The correct move is rook H8, a really powerful trick.So now let's review this endgame for a minute. First of all, if the black king had been on G6, we see that the white rook can get away with rook G8 check, with tempo, and the king moves, and B8 queen wins the game. If the black king is on F7, or E7 for that matter, then rook H8 wins the game, because after rook takes B7 - rook H7 is a skewer winning the rook - otherwise next move will make a queen.

{D:4000}

{B:1R6/1P3k2/8/8/8/8/6K1/1r6}

{D:2500}{G:BKf7}{S:f7g6}{D:2000}{S:b8g8}{A:Xg8g6}{D:3000}{R}{S:g6f7}{D:1000}{S:b7b8}{X:b8}{P:WQb8}{D:500}{S:b1b8}{D:500}{S:g8b8}

{D:2000}

{B:1R6/1P3k2/8/8/8/8/6K1/1r6}

{D:1500}{S:f7e7}{D:2000}{S:b8h8}{1600}

{A:Nb7b8}{D:500}{R}{S:b1b7}{D:2000}{S:h8h7}{A:Ch7f7}{A:Df7b7}{D:2000}{Y:0}{R}{S:h7h8}{S:b7b1}{P:WPb7}{Y:1}{S:b7b8}{P:WQb8}

{W:goodwork}{W:302d}{W:sil500}{W:303a}{W:303b};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

The idea is to either queen the pawn or win the black rook in the attempt. Look for a skewer!}

]

6.

[If black checks the white king with rook B2 check, ultimately he'll run out of space. King F3. Rook B3. King E2. Rook B2. King D3. Rook B3. King C2. Zigzagging in, the white king actively chases the rook to the B7 square, after which, rook H7 again will win the rook.

{B:7R/1P3k2/8/8/8/8/6K1/1r6}{D:1000}{S:b1b2}{D:3000}{S:g2f3}{D:1000}{S:b2b3}{D:1000}{S:f3e2}{D:1000}{S:b3b2}{D:1000}{S:e2d3}{D:500}{S:b2b3}{D:500}{S:d3c2}{D:3000}{S:b3b7}{D:1000}{S:h8h7}{A:Ch7f7}{A:Df7b7}{W:303c}

]

7.

[It turns out that in this position, if the black king is on G7 or H7, the position is drawn. 

The reason is, first of all, there's no check. There's no rook G8 check or rook F8 check with tempo. Because if white plays rook G8 check here, black can just capture the rook and then take the pawn. Then black wins. 

There's no skewer also, because there's no room on the king's side for the black rook to slip behind the black king. So the only way for white to try to win this position would be to bring the king towards the B7 pawn to try to defend the pawn. Notice if this were the position and then the white rook were to move, white would be winning, because the white king defends the B7 pawn, and next move would be to move ahead, B8 making a queen.

{B:1R6/1P4k1/8/8/8/8/6K1/1r6}{D:3500}{S:g7h7}{D:4500}{G:WRg8}{G:BKg7}{X:h7}{D:1500}{Y:0}{S:g8f8}{S:g7f7}{Y:1}{D:2000}{S:h7g7}{X:g7}{X:f8}{X:f7}{P:BKg7}{D:500}{S:b8g8}{D:1000}{S:g7g8}{D:1500}{S:b1b7}{D:3000}{B:1R6/1P4k1/8/8/8/8/6K1/1r6}{H:h7}{D:8000}{A:Tg2b7}{D:4000}{R}{Y:0}{B:1R6/1P4k1/8/8/8/8/6K1/1r6}{S:g2c6}{Y:1}{D:800}{S:b8c8}{D:5000}{S:b7b8}{P:WQb8}{W:302e}{W:303e2}{W:303f}

]

8.

[The problem is that white can't do this. The second the white king gets to C6, black can start checking. Rook C1 check. The white king has nowhere to go. King B6. Rook B1 check. King A6. Rook A1 check. As long as the king stays on this half of the chess board, black has perpetual check. If the king comes back, king B5, rook B1 check, king C4, rook C1 check, king B3, rook B1 check, king C2. Now black can stay behind the passed pawn with a move like rook B5, or rook B6 - doesn't really matter. 

And still white can't make progress. When the king comes back, king C3. Rook can just come back to B1, and when the king approaches the pawn, the checks can begin again. So here you see the power of a rook behind the passed pawn. This is a rule in the endgames in chess: rooks belong behind passed pawns. Here the black rook is active. It can at once defend the passed pawn from promoting and it can check the white king whenever the king gets close. The white rook, on the other hand, on B8, is stuck on this one square. It's in front of the pawn. 

If the rooks were reversed, like this, the white would win easily. The black rook can't move because the B8 queening square is defended by the white rook, and white can just bring the king into the game. King C4 to C5 to C6 to C7, and win. That's a basic theory of this position.

{B:1R6/1P4k1/2K5/8/8/8/8/1r6}{D:7000}{S:b1c1}{D:4000}{S:c6b6}{D:1000}{S:c1b1}{D:1000}{S:b6a6}{D:1000}{S:b1a1}{D:3200}{H:a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h8a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h6a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h5}{D:2000}{C}{D:2500}{S:a6b5}{D:1000}{S:a1b1}{D:1000}{S:b5c4}{D:1000}{S:b1c1}{D:1000}{S:c4b3}{D:1000}{S:c1b1}{D:1000}{S:b3c2}{D:4200}{S:b1b5}{D:1000}{S:b5b6}{D:6000}{S:c2c3}{D:1220}{S:b6b1}{D:13500}{H:b1}{D:1500}{A:Cb1b7}{D:4000}{H:c3}{D:2500}{H:b8}{D:3000}{C}{R}{P:BRb8}{P:WRb1}{D:9000}{S:c3c4}{D:500}{S:c4c5}{D:500}{S:c5c6}{D:1000}{S:c6c7}{D:1000}{A:Cc7b8}{W:303g}{W:303h}{W:303i}

]

9.

[

{B:8/R7/3p1k2/1p2p2p/2N5/1P1N1qP1/P6K/8}{V:{SAVE}It's white to move here. Sacrifice to set up a powerful fork. {W:304a};

$Rook F7 check, a good sacrifice. King takes F7. It turns out that either white knight can take on E5, but let's say knight C takes E5, D takes E5, knight takes E5 check, forking the king and the queen. Now king E6. Knight takes F3 and white wins the game. So keep your eyes out for sacrifices to set up forks. {S:a7f7}{D:3500}{S:f6f7}{D:4000}{S:c4e5}{D:2000}{S:d6e5}{D:1000}{S:d3e5}{D:3000}{A:Ce5f3}{A:Xe5f7}{D:2000}{R}{S:f7e6}{D:1000}{S:e5f3}{W:304b}{W:sil1000}{J}

$a7f7;Excellent work! Rook F7 check, a good sacrifice. King takes F7. It turns out that either white knight can take on E5, but let's say knight C takes E5, D takes E5, knight takes E5 check, forking the king and the queen. Now king E6. Knight takes F3 and white wins the game. So keep your eyes out for sacrifices to set up forks. 

{D:3500}{S:f6f7}{D:4000}{S:c4e5}{D:2000}{S:d6e5}{D:1000}{S:d3e5}{D:3000}{A:Ce5f3}{A:Xe5f7}{D:2000}{R}{S:f7e6}{D:1000}{S:e5f3}{W:excellent}{W:304b}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Use a sacrificial skewer to win the queen!}

]

10.

[

{B:r2q2kr/pp2bppp/2n3n1/7N/8/1P1Q1N2/PBP3PP/R3K2R b}{V:{SAVE}It's black to move here. See the whole board. Look for a fork. {W:305a};

$Queen A5 check is a very powerful move, forking the king on E1 and the knight on H5. This one might have been tricky to find, because you have to see the whole board. {S:d8a5}{A:Ca5e1}{A:Ca5h5}{D:3000}{R}{S:b2c3}{D:1000}{S:a5h5}

{W:305b}{W:305c}{W:sil1000}{J}

$d8a5;Yep, that's it! Queen A5 check is a very powerful move, forking the king on E1 and the knight on H5. This one might have been tricky to find, because you have to see the whole board. {A:Ca5e1}{A:Ca5h5}{D:3000}{R}{S:b2c3}{D:1000}{S:a5h5}{W:yepthatsit}{W:305b}{W:305c}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

Win material with a fork.}

]

11.

[

{B:5kr1/pp2b3/3N2p1/5q2/4r1b1/1Q2p1n1/PBP3P1/4K2R}{V:{SAVE}Here it's white to move and win. Don't move until you see it.{W:306a};

$Queen takes G8, sacrificing to set up a mate. King takes G8, and now what does white play? Rook H8. Check mate. Again, I warn you against mechanical thinking. It's very easy to never even consider moves like queen takes G8, but if you notice the patterns, notice the bishop and the rook honing in on the H8 square. The knight on D6 guarding the F7 square. You start to feel the black king is in danger. Then you'll find a move like queen takes G8. Often we have a sense in chess that there's something in the position, long before we find what that something is.

{S:b3g8}{D:3500}{S:f8g8}{D:3000}{S:h1h8}{D:6000}{Y:0}{B:5kr1/pp2b3/3N2p1/5q2/4r1b1/1Q2p1n1/PBP3P1/4K2R}{A:Cb3g8}{Y:1}{D:4000}{H:b2c3d4e5f6g7h8}{D:1000}{A:Ch1h8}{D:2000}{A:Cd6f7}{H:f7}{D:5000}{C}{R}{W:306b}{W:306c}{W:sil1000}{J}

$b3g8;Well done! Queen takes G8, sacrificing to set up a mate. King takes G8, and now what does white play? Rook H8. Check mate. Again, I warn you against mechanical thinking. It's very easy to never even consider moves like queen takes G8, but if you notice the patterns, notice the bishop and the rook honing in on the H8 square. The knight on D6 guarding the F7 square. You start to feel the black king is in danger. Then you'll find a move like queen takes G8. Often we have a sense in chess that there's something in the position, long before we find what that something is. 

{D:3500}{S:f8g8}{D:3000}{S:h1h8}{D:6000}{Y:0}{B:5kr1/pp2b3/3N2p1/5q2/4r1b1/1Q2p1n1/PBP3P1/4K2R}{A:Cb3g8}{Y:1}{D:4000}{H:b2c3d4e5f6g7h8}{D:1000}{A:Ch1h8}{D:2000}{A:Cd6f7}{H:f7}{D:5000}{C}{R}{W:welldone}{W:306b}{W:306c}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

Sacrifice for mate in 2.}

]

12.

[

{B:1r5k/p3qpp1/1p3r2/7p/4P1n1/1B1P4/PP1Q4/K2R2R1}{V:{SAVE}It's white to move here. Again, see the whole board. {W:307a};

$Rook takes G4, an excellent sacrifice. H takes G4, and now do you see the fork? Queen H2 check, going after the king on H8 and the rook on B8 on the opposite side of the board. White wins. {S:g1g4}{D:3000}{S:h5g4}{D:2500}{S:d2h2}{A:Xh2h8}{A:Ch2b8}{D:2000}{R}{S:h8g8}{D:1000}{S:h2b8}{W:307b}{W:307c}{W:307d}{W:sil1000}{J}

$g1g4;Very good!!! Rook takes G4, an excellent sacrifice. H takes G4, and now do you see the fork? Queen H2 check, going after the king on H8 and the rook on B8 on the opposite side of the board. White wins. {D:3000}{S:h5g4}{D:2500}{S:d2h2}{A:Xh2h8}{A:Ch2b8}{D:2000}{R}{S:h8g8}{D:1000}{S:h2b8}

{W:verygood}{W:307b}{W:307c}{W:307d}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Sacrifice to remove the defender and open up a fork.}

]

13.

[

{B:1r6/p4p1b/1p1k4/8/3P4/1Pq4N/P1P5/1KR1Q3 b}{V:{SAVE}Here it's black to move. What do you think?{W:308a};

$Bishop takes C2 check, a great move, removing the defender. White has no choice but to take on C2 with a rook, and now obviously queen takes E1 check. The rook on C1 isn't guarding it anymore. Black takes a queen.

  {S:h7c2}{D:5000}{S:c1c2}{D:3000}{S:c3e1}{D:3000}{W:308b}{W:sil1000}{J}

$h7c2;Way to go! Bishop takes C2 check, a great move, removing the defender. White has no choice but to take on C2 with a rook, and now obviously queen takes E1 check. The rook on C1 isn't guarding it anymore. Black takes a queen.

  {D:5000}{S:c1c2}{D:3000}{S:c3e1}{D:3000}{W:waytogo2}{W:308b}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right. {W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

c3h3:$cThat's not the best move. {D:500}{S:e1e5}{W:theresbetter}{RETRY}

Find the best move! Remove the defender...}

]

14.

[

{B:2r5/pnkp3R/8/2q2b2/5N1p/1P4rP/P1P5/1K1RQ2B}{V:{SAVE}Okay, in this position, it's white to move. You have to combine a sacrifice, a pin, and fork to win material. Take your time.

  {W:309a};

$Rook D takes D7, a very strong move. After bishop takes D7, what does white play?

  {S:d1d7}{D:3000}{S:f5d7}{W:309b}{W:sil1000}{J}

$d1d7;Very good! Rook D takes D7, a very strong move. After bishop takes D7, what does white play?

  {D:3000}{S:f5d7}{W:verygood}{W:309b}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right. {W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Combine a sacrifice, pin, and fork. Look for a move that places the king in check.}

]

15.

[Now, the point is that the bishop is pinned to the black king by the rook on H7. So it can't move. What is white's best move?

{B:2r5/pnkb3R/8/2q5/5N1p/1P4rP/P1P5/1K2Q2B w}{D:1000}{A:Ch7d7}{A:Dd7c7}{D:3000}{R}{W:309c}{V:{SAVE}Now, the point is that the bishop is pinned to the black king by the rook on H7. So it can't move. What is white's best move?{W:whitesbestmove};

$Here white has knight E6 check, a powerful fork winning the black queen. Again, we're training your chess intuition here. Whenever you see a king and a queen set up like this with only one square apart, a knight fork might be in the air. Look for it.

  {S:f4e6}{D:1000}{A:Ce6c5}{A:Xe6c7}{W:309d}{W:309e}{W:sil1000}{J}

$f4e6;Excellent work! Here white has knight E6 check, a powerful fork winning the black queen. Again, we're training your chess intuition here. Whenever you see a king and a queen set up like this with only one square apart, a knight fork might be in the air. Look for it.

  {D:1000}{A:Ce6c5}{A:Xe6c7}{W:excellent}{W:309d}{W:309e}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

Combine a sacrifice, pin, and fork.Look for a move that places the king in check.}

]

16.

[Let's continue with this position. Let's say that after rook D takes D7 check, black doesn't capture, but tries to run away instead. Let's say king B8. What should white do here?

I don't want you to just play one move. Take your time. You have forced mate in three moves. What is it?

{B:2r5/pnkR3R/8/2q2b2/5N1p/1P4rP/P1P5/1K2Q2B w}{D:6000}{S:c7b8}{W:309f}{W:309g}{V:{SAVE}Let's continue with this position. Let's say that after rook D takes D7 check, black doesn't capture, but tries to run away instead. Let's say king B8. What should white do here?

I don't want you to just play one move. Take your time. You have forced mate in three moves. What is it?;

$Rook takes B7 check. King A8. Now mate in two.

{S:d7b7}{D:2000}{S:b8a8}{W:309h}{J}

$d7b7;You got it! Rook takes B7 check. King A8. Now mate in two.

{D:2000}{S:b8a8}{W:yougotit}{W:309h}{J};

$c No, that's not right. {W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Find the most forcing discovery.}

]

17.

[

{B:k1r5/pR5R/8/2q2b2/5N1p/1P4rP/P1P5/1K2Q2B}{V:{SAVE}We can't forget about this bishop on H1.{D:500}{H:h1}{D:1000}{W:309i};

${J}

$b7a7;Well done!

{C}{W:welldone}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right.{C}{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

Find the most forcing discovery.}

]

18.

[Now rook takes A7 check is a double check. The bishop on H1 and the rook on A7 are both checking, because of discovery from the bishop. The king has to move, but of course the rook on H7 is guarding his other rook on A7. Black has to play king B8. Now what do you do?

{B:k1r5/pR5R/8/2q2b2/5N1p/1P4rP/P1P5/1K2Q2B}{S:b7a7}{R}{D:2000}{S:b7a7}{A:Ch1a8}{A:Ca7a8}{D:10000}{A:Gh7a7}{D:2000}{R}{C}{S:a8b8}{W:309j}{V:{SAVE}Now rook takes A7 check is a double check. The bishop on H1 and the rook on A7 are both checking, because of discovery from the bishop. The king has to move, but of course the rook on H7 is guarding his other rook on A7. Black has to play king B8. Now what do you do?;

$Here there are two check mates. The first is rook H to B7. The king has nowhere to go, and the other mate is rook to A8 mate. This one is particularly nice because the bishop on H1 guards the rook all the way on the opposite corner of the board, and the rook on H7 cuts off the seventh rank. Black is in check mate. White wins the game.   {G:WRh7}{S:h7b7}{D:4000}{S:b7h7}{X:h7}{P:WRh7}{D:1000}{S:a7a8}{W:309l}

$h7b7;Well done! Here there are two check mates. The first is rook H to B7. The king has nowhere to go, and the other mate is rook to A8 mate. This one is particularly nice because the bishop on H1 guards the rook all the way on the opposite corner of the board, and the rook on H7 cuts off the seventh rank. Black is in check mate. White wins the game. 

  {R}{C}{D:2000}{G:WRb7}{D:4000}{S:b7h7}{X:h7}{P:WRh7}{D:1000}{S:a7a8}

  {W:welldone}{W:309l}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

a7a8:$cWell done! Here there are two check mates. The first is rook H to B7. The king has nowhere to go, and the other mate is rook to A8 mate. This one is particularly nice because the bishop on H1 guards the rook all the way on the opposite corner of the board, and the rook on H7 cuts off the seventh rank. Black is in check mate. White wins the game. {R}{C}{S:a8a7}{D:2000}{G:WRh7}{S:h7b7}{D:4000}{S:b7h7}{X:h7}{P:WRh7}{D:1000}{S:a7a8}{W:welldone}{W:309l}{W:sil1000}{J}

}

]

19.

[

{B:4r2k/p1pR1Qpp/1q6/5NN1/2B1PB2/7n/PPP3PP/5R1K b}{V:{SAVE}Black's position looks rough here, but he has mate in two. I actually used this tactic quite a bit when I was a younger. Take your time. Black to move. Force mate in two. {W:310a};

$The solution to this problem is called a "smothered mate". Queen G1 check is how you begin. This looks strange because the rook can obviously capture the queen. Note the king can't capture it because the knight on H3 defends that square. After rook takes G1, though, the white king has nowhere to go. So knight F2 check is a beautiful move. Check mate, a smothered mate. Here you can really see the power of the knight, the only piece that can jump over other pieces, mates the white king alone.

  {S:b6g1}{D:8000}{A:Ch3g1}{D:3000}{R}{S:f1g1}{D:3000}{S:h3f2}{A:Xf2h1}{W:310b}

$b6g1;Good move! The solution to this problem is called a "smothered mate". Queen G1 check is how you begin. This looks strange because the rook can obviously capture the queen. Note the king can't capture it because the knight on H3 defends that square. After rook takes G1, though, the white king has nowhere to go. So knight F2 check is a beautiful move. Check mate, a smothered mate. Here you can really see the power of the knight, the only piece that can jump over other pieces, mates the white king alone.   {D:8000}{A:Ch3g1}{D:3000}{R}{S:f1g1}{D:3000}{S:h3f2}{A:Xf2h1}

  {W:goodmove}{W:310b};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY}

}

]

20.

[

{B:1k1rr3/p4pp1/2p3np/1pN1p1b1/3n4/qP1Q2N1/P1PB1PPP/1K1R3R}{V:{SAVE}It's white to move here. This one might be difficult to spot. You have to set up a fork. {W:311a};

$Bishop B4, a very strong move. The black queen has nowhere to go but to capture that bishop. Queen takes B4. Now white to move. Do you see the win? Knight A6 check, a royal fork, hitting the black king on B8 and the queen on B4. White's going to win the queen. Because of this tactic, we refer to the bishop on B4 as being "indirectly defended" by the knight on C5.

  {S:d2b4}{D:5000}{S:a3b4}{D:3000}{S:c5a6}{A:Ca6b8}{A:Ca6b4}

  {D:7000}{R}{S:a6c5}{S:b4a3}{P:WBb4}{W:311b}{W:311c}{W:311d}{W:sil1000}{J}

$d2b4;Good job! Bishop B4, a very strong move. The black queen has nowhere to go but to capture that bishop. Queen takes B4. Now white to move. Do you see the win? Knight A6 check, a royal fork, hitting the black king on B8 and the queen on B4. White's going to win the queen. Because of this tactic, we refer to the bishop on B4 as being "indirectly defended" by the knight on C5.

  {D:5000}{S:a3b4}{D:3000}{S:c5a6}{A:Ca6b8}{A:Ca6b4}{D:7000}{R}{S:a6c5}

  {S:b4a3}{P:WBb4}{W:goodjob}{W:311b}{W:311c}{W:311d}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

Win the black queen. Think fork.}

]

21.

[

{B:r2qkbnr/ppp2pp1/3p3p/4p3/2BnP1b1/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQ1RK1}{V:{SAVE}It's white to move here and win a pawn. You can take advantage of black's pin. {W:312a};

$Knight takes E5, a shocking and very strong move. Black has two options here. He can either take the queen on D1, which is obviously the tempting move, or he can play D takes E5. First of all, if black plays D takes E5, then white can play queen takes G4 and white's won a pawn. Sometimes you can turn your opponent's pin into your discovery.

{S:f3e5}{D:6000}{A:Cg4d1}{D:2000}{R}{D:5000}{S:d6e5}{D:2000}{S:d1g4}

{W:312b}{W:312c}{W:312d}{W:sil1000}{J}

$f3e5;Very good! Knight takes E5, a shocking and very strong move. Black has two options here. He can either take the queen on D1, which is obviously the tempting move, or he can play D takes E5. First of all, if black plays D takes E5, then white can play queen takes G4 and white's won a pawn. Sometimes you can turn your opponent's pin into your discovery.

{D:6000}{A:Cg4d1}{D:2000}{R}{D:5000}{S:d6e5}{D:2000}{S:d1g4}

{W:verygood}{W:312b}{W:312c}{W:312d}{W:sil1000}{J};

$cNo, that's not right.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

Is the Nf3 really pinned?}

]

22.

[

{B:r2qkbnr/ppp2pp1/3p3p/4N3/2BnP1b1/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQ1RK1}{V:{SAVE}But black has a much more tempting move. After knight takes E5, what black wants to do is bishop takes queen on D1. The knight on F3, after all, is pinned. But what does white have in mind here?

In this position, there's a beautiful mate in two. Take your time. Do you see it?{D:3000}{S:g4d1}{D:4000}{R}{W:312e}{W:312f};

$Bishop takes F7 check. The D7 square is defended by the white knight on E5. So black has to play king E7. Now mate in one. Knight D5 check mate, a beautiful central attack. White's three minor pieces go after the black king and win the game. Once again, I warn you against mechanical thinking. It's very easy to see that knight on F3 and think it can never move. Always look for a way to get out of a pin with tempo. In this position, knight takes E5 turns the tables on black's pin. {S:c4f7}{A:Xf7e8}{D:2000}{A:Ce5d7}{D:3000}{R}{S:e8e7}{D:3000}{S:c3d5}{A:Xd5e7}{D:7000}{B:r2qkbnr/ppp2pp1/3p3p/4p3/2BnP1b1/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQ1RK1}{D:9500}{S:f3e5}{W:312g}{W:312h}

$c4f7;Yep, that's it! Bishop takes F7 check. The D7 square is defended by the white knight on E5. So black has to play king E7. Now mate in one. Knight D5 check mate, a beautiful central attack. White's three minor pieces go after the black king and win the game. Once again, I warn you against mechanical thinking. It's very easy to see that knight on F3 and think it can never move. Always look for a way to get out of a pin with tempo. In this position, knight takes E5 turns the tables on black's pin.{A:Xf7e8}{D:2000}{A:Ce5d7}{D:3000}{R}{S:e8e7}{D:3000}{S:c3d5}{A:Xd5e7}{D:7000}{B:r2qkbnr/ppp2pp1/3p3p/4p3/2BnP1b1/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQ1RK1}{D:9500}{S:f3e5}{W:yepthatsit}{W:312g}{W:312h};

$cNo. Look some more.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY}}

]

23.

[

{B:r3k1r1/pb1pp3/1p4pp/2q2p2/2P3n1/1Q3NP1/P1RN2PP/1B5K b}{V:{SAVE}This position is actually from a game I played in the New York City Elementary School Championship in 1988. My opponent was a boy named Nicholas Proudfoot. He had the white pieces. I was black. Here I have forced mate in four. Take your time. Black to move. You just learned the critical idea in the last exercise.{W:313a}{W:313b};

$First, knight F2 check. King G1. {S:g4f2}{D:2500}{S:h1g1}{D:1000}{W:313c}{J}

$g4f2;Good job! First, knight F2 check. King G1. {D:2500}{S:h1g1}{D:1000}{W:goodjob}{W:313c}{J};

$cNo, that's not right.{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Remember a pattern you saw recently!}

]

24.

[

{B:r3k1r1/pb1pp3/1p4pp/2q2p2/2P5/1Q3NP1/P1RN1nPP/1B4K1 b}{V:{SAVE}Now it's mate in three for black. Take your time. Play the best move. Notice, of course, the black knight can move anywhere it wants to with discovered check, but there's only one way to force mate. Do you see it?{W:313d};

$Knight H3 check. King H1.   {S:f2h3}{A:Ch3g1}{A:Cc5g1}{D:1000}{R}{S:g1h1}{W:313e}{J}

$f2h3;Good move! Knight H3 check. King H1.   {A:Ch3g1}{A:Cc5g1}{D:1000}{R}{S:g1h1}{W:goodmove}{W:313e}{J};

$cNo, that's not right. {W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

Remember a pattern you saw recently!}

]

25.

[

{B:r3k1r1/pb1pp3/1p4pp/2q2p2/2P5/1Q3NPn/P1RN2PP/1B5K b}{V:{SAVE}Now it's forced mate in two. Take your time. What is it? {W:313f};

$A queen sacrifice. Queen G1 check. Very similar to what we just saw. The knight on H3 guards the queen on G1, so the king can't capture. But white's knight on F3 can take it. Knight takes G1. And now do you see the smothered mate? Knight F2 check mate. And black wins the game. 

I actually went on to win this tournament. This was a very important tactic for me. Now, returning to the original position for a second, let's take a look. I just want you to notice that, of course, black couldn’t initially play queen G1 because white can play king takes G1. The whole idea of the initial two moves - knight F2 check, king G1, knight H3 check - was that after king H1, queen G1 the white knight has to capture, smothering its own king. 

Of course, after that H3 double check, white could also have played king F1. Do you see the mate in one here? It's a support mate. Queen F2. The knight on H3 also guards the F2 square, and black wins the game here.The reason I gave you the last exercise first is because you may have had more trouble with that one than with this one, even though this one was much more complicated. I want you to recognize the importance of learning patterns and then applying those patterns to other situations. 

Now for your last exercise, an extra challenge.

{S:c5g1}{D:5000}{A:Ch3g1}{D:5000}{R}{S:f3g1}{D:3000}{S:h3f2}{A:Xf2h1}{D:7000}{B:r3k1r1/pb1pp3/1p4pp/2q2p2/2P3n1/1Q3NP1/P1RN2PP/1B5K b}{D:6000}{S:c5g1}{D:3000}{S:h1g1}{D:3000}{S:g1h1}{P:BQg1}{S:g1c5}{D:1000}{S:g4f2}{S:h1g1}{D:1000}{S:f2h3}{D:10000}{S:g1f1}{D:4500}{S:c5f2}{W:313g}{W:313h}{W:313i}{W:313j}{W:313k}

$c5g1;Excellent work! A queen sacrifice. Queen G1 check. Very similar to what we just saw. The knight on H3 guards the queen on G1, so the king can't capture. But white's knight on F3 can take it. Knight takes G1. And now do you see the smothered mate? Knight F2 check mate. And black wins the game. 

I actually went on to win this tournament. This was a very important tactic for me. Now, returning to the original position for a second, let's take a look. I just want you to notice that, of course, black couldn’t initially play queen G1 because white can play king takes G1. The whole idea of the initial two moves - knight F2 check, king G1, knight H3 check - was that after king H1, queen G1 the white knight has to capture, smothering its own king. 

Of course, after that H3 double check, white could also have played king F1. Do you see the mate in one here? It's a support mate. Queen F2. The knight on H3 also guards the F2 square, and black wins the game here.The reason I gave you the last exercise first is because you may have had more trouble with that one than with this one, even though this one was much more complicated. I want you to recognize the importance of learning patterns and then applying those patterns to other situations. 

Now for your last exercise, an extra challenge.{D:5000}{A:Ch3g1}{D:5000}{R}{S:f3g1}{D:3000}{S:h3f2}{A:Xf2h1}{D:7000}{B:r3k1r1/pb1pp3/1p4pp/2q2p2/2P3n1/1Q3NP1/P1RN2PP/1B5K b}{D:6000}{S:c5g1}{D:3000}{S:h1g1}{D:3000}{S:g1h1}{P:BQg1}{S:g1c5}{D:1000}{S:g4f2}{S:h1g1}{D:1000}{S:f2h3}{D:10000}{S:g1f1}{D:4500}{S:c5f2}{W:excellent}{W:313g}{W:313h}{W:313i}{W:313j}{W:313k};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Remember a pattern you saw recently!}

]

26.

[This problem is really hard, and it involves thinking backwards. The first thing you should notice is that all of black's pieces are aiming at the king. You see, the bishop on B7, the bishop on D6, the knight on D4, the queen on D7... They're all sweeping this way towards the king's side. So you should immediately sense that there's a way for you to win here. Black can put these elements together to mate the white king.So when you see this type of situation where all of the pieces are aiming at the king, your instincts should go off. You're alarm bells should ring. There's a way to win here. Take your time. What do you see? 

It's very tempting in this type of situation to just run at the king, to try to play knight E2 check, or knight F3, or queen takes H3, sacrifice something, attack. A lot of people think that attacking chess is all about rushing forward, but it's not. Usually to be successful against a strong opponent, an attack has to be very methodical. Here, there's one white piece, the knight on C3 which is guarding the E2 square which turns out to be quite critical. With that in mind, find black's strongest idea.

{B:2r3k1/pb1q1pp1/1p1b3p/1P6/3n4/1QNP3P/PBP2PP1/R4RK1 b}{D:9000}{H:b7}{D:800}{H:d6}{D:800}{H:d4}{D:800}{H:d7}{D:7000}{C}{D:32000}{H:c3}{D:3000}{H:e2}{W:314a}{W:314b}{W:314c}{W:314d}{V:{SAVE}This problem is really hard, and it involves thinking backwards. The first thing you should notice is that all of black's pieces are aiming at the king. You see, the bishop on B7, the bishop on D6, the knight on D4, the queen on D7... They're all sweeping this way towards the king's side. So you should immediately sense that there's a way for you to win here. Black can put these elements together to mate the white king.So when you see this type of situation where all of the pieces are aiming at the king, your instincts should go off. You're alarm bells should ring. There's a way to win here. Take your time. What do you see? 

It's very tempting in this type of situation to just run at the king, to try to play knight E2 check, or knight F3, or queen takes H3, sacrifice something, attack. A lot of people think that attacking chess is all about rushing forward, but it's not. Usually to be successful against a strong opponent, an attack has to be very methodical. Here, there's one white piece, the knight on C3 which is guarding the E2 square which turns out to be quite critical. With that in mind, find black's strongest idea.;

$The first move is a sacrifice. Rook takes C3. White plays queen takes C3.

  {S:c8c3}{D:4000}{A:Cd4b3}{D:2000}{R}{S:b3c3}{W:314e}{W:sil1000}{J}

$c8c3;Well done! The first move is a sacrifice. Rook takes C3. White plays queen takes C3. 

  {D:4000}{A:Cd4b3}{D:2000}{R}{S:b3c3}{W:welldone}{W:314e}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c No, that's not right.{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Notice that all the black pieces are aiming at the kingside. Sacrifice and remove the defender to prepare a deadly mate based upon a pinned defender!}

]

27.

[

{B:6k1/pb1q1pp1/1p1b3p/1P6/3n4/2QP3P/PBP2PP1/R4RK1 b}{V:{SAVE}Now it's your turn. Forced mate in two. Black to move. {W:314f};

$The idea of taking on C3 was to remove the defender of the E2 square. So black plays knight E2 check, king H1. Did you see the mate here?

Here you use a pin. The G2 pawn, in fact, can't move, because the bishop on B7 is now pinning it to the king on H1. So black can play queen takes H3 check. And, in fact, that's not just check. It's mate. Black wins the game because of a fantastic pin. So this last problem involves sacrificing to remove the defender, to open up a deadly pin to deliver check mate. That's how we combine critical ideas to win chess games.

Congratulations! Now you're in possession of a tactical foundation that you can build on for the rest of your chess-playing days. Remember, these ideas we just studied are the building blocks of nearly every complex chess creation. As you grow as a chess player, you'll learn how to combine the very themes we just discussed to orchestrate beautiful, harmonious attacks. Now we're ready to enter the subtle world of chess strategy.

{S:d4e2}{D:5000}{S:g1h1}{D:4000}{A:Cb7g2}{A:Dg2h1}{D:6000}{S:d7h3}{A:Xh3h1}

{W:314g}{W:314h}{W:314i}{W:30a}

$d4e2;Very good! The idea of taking on C3 was to remove the defender of the E2 square. So black plays knight E2 check, king H1. Did you see the mate here?

Here you use a pin. The G2 pawn, in fact, can't move, because the bishop on B7 is now pinning it to the king on H1. So black can play queen takes H3 check. And, in fact, that's not just check. It's mate. Black wins the game because of a fantastic pin. So this last problem involves sacrificing to remove the defender, to open up a deadly pin to deliver check mate. That's how we combine critical ideas to win chess games.

Congratulations! Now you're in possession of a tactical foundation that you can build on for the rest of your chess-playing days. Remember, these ideas we just studied are the building blocks of nearly every complex chess creation. As you grow as a chess player, you'll learn how to combine the very themes we just discussed to orchestrate beautiful, harmonious attacks. Now we're ready to enter the subtle world of chess strategy.

{D:5000}{S:g1h1}{D:4000}{A:Cb7g2}{A:Dg2h1}{D:6000}{S:d7h3}{A:Xh3h1}

{W:verygood}{W:314g}{W:314h}{W:314i}{W:30a};

$cNo, that's not right.{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

Notice that all the black pieces are aiming at the kingside. Sacrifice and remove the defender to prepare a deadly mate based upon a pinned defender!}

]

