1.

[Now, for the queen. She is the most powerful piece on the chess board. The queen combines the powers of the rook and the bishop and is worth nine pawns; or two bishops and a knight; two knights and a bishop; a rook, bishop, and pawn; or any other combination of pieces. Of course, these valuations vary with the position, and we have to learn how to make the judgements.

{B:rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/32/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR}{D:900}{H:d1d8}{D:3100}{B:3q4/48/3Q4}{W:j15f01}

]

2.

[So, as I mentioned, the queen combines the powers of the rook and the bishop. So she can move as far as she is unblocked, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. So this queen on the central square controls all of these squares, a really powerful piece.

{B:64}{P:WQd5}{D:6500}{A:Td5a5}{A:Td5h5}{D:1300}{A:Td5d1}{A:Td5d8}{D:1200}{A:Td5g8}{A:Td5h1}{A:Td5a2}{A:Td5a8}{D:2000}{R}{D:1500}{H:a5b5c5e5f5g5h5d6d7d8d4d3d2d1e6f7g8c6b7a8c4b3a2e4f3g2h1}{W:j15f02}{C}{R}

]

3.

[

{B:8/6r1/1pp5/5p2/b2Q1p2/8/1pb2pp1/6r1 w}{IJ:Here, mark all the black pieces that can be captured by the queen.

 {W:j15f03}; 

a4b2b6f2f4g7;Good job! {W:goodjob}{W:sil1000}{J};

There's more, keep looking.;

Remember, the Queen can move and capture in a straight line and diagonally.

}

]

4.

[And now capture the most valuable piece.

{B:8/6r1/1pp5/5p2/b2Q1p2/8/1pb2pp1/6r1 w}{V:{SAVE}And now capture the most valuable piece.

{W:j15f04};

${S:d4g7}{W:j15f05}{W:sil1000}{J}

$d4g7;Good job! The rook on G7 was the most valuable piece to be captured.

  {W:goodjob}{W:j15f05}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c That's not the most valuable piece to capture.{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

d4a4:$c That is not the best move.{W:notbest}{RETRY};

d4b6:$c That is not the best move.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

d4b2:$c That is not the best move.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

d4f2:$c That is not the best move.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

d4f4:$c That is not the best move.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

You are looking for the most valuable piece to capture - pawns are the least valuable.}

]

5.

[Here, find mate in one.

{B:7Q/32/K7/8/1k6 w}{V:{SAVE}Here, find mate in one.

{W:j15f06};

${S:h8b2}

  {A:Cb2b1}{A:Tb2a1}{A:Tb2a2}{A:Tb2c1}{A:Tb2c2}{A:Ga3b2}

  {H:a1a2b1b2c1c2}

  {W:j15f07}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}{J}

$h8b2;Way to go! Queen B2 is checkmate.

  {W:waytogo}{W:sil500}

  {A:Cb2b1}{A:Tb2a1}{A:Tb2a2}{A:Tb2c1}{A:Tb2c2}{A:Ga3b2}

  {H:a1a2b1b2c1c2}

  {W:j15f07}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}{J};

$c Sorry, that's not correct.{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

h8c3:$c That's not quite it. Remember, stale mate is when no legal move is possible for the player whose move it is. Check mate is when the king cannot avoid capture. Stale mates are considered draws, while check mate wins the game.

  {W:notquiteit}

  {H:c1c2b2a1a2}

  {A:Tc3c1}{A:Tc3a1}{A:Ta3a2}

  {W:j15f08}{C}{R}{RETRY};

h8h1:$c Incorrect.{D:500}{S:b1c2}{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

h8c8:$c Incorrect.{D:500}{S:b1a1}{W:notbest}{RETRY};

h8h7:$c Incorrect.{D:500}{S:b1c1}{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

h8b8:$c Incorrect.{D:500}{S:b1c2}{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

Try to cover all the squares the black king can move to with only one queen move. 

}

]

6.

[Here, white has mate in one. Do you see it?

{B:24/2Pk4/8/3K4/7Q/8 w}{V:{SAVE}Here, white has mate in one. Do you see it?

{W:j15f09};

${S:h2d6}

  {H:c4c5c6d4d5d6e4e5e6}

  {A:Gc5d6}{A:Gd6c5}{A:Td6e5}{A:Td6e6}{A:Td6c6}{A:Cd6d5}

  {A:Td3d4}{A:Td3e4}{A:Td3c4}

  {W:j15f10}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}{J}

$h2d6;Good job! Queen D6 is check mate. The white pawn on C5 guards the D6 square, and the black king has nowhere to go.

  {W:goodjob}{W:sil500}

  {H:c4c5c6d4d5d6e4e5e6}

  {A:Gc5d6}{A:Gd6c5}{A:Td6e5}{A:Td6e6}{A:Td6c6}{A:Cd6d5}

  {A:Td3d4}{A:Td3e4}{A:Td3c4}

  {W:j15f10}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}{J};

Sorry, that's not correct{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

h2e5:$c That's not quite right! {D:500}{S:d5e5}{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

h2g2:$c That's not quite right! {D:500}{S:d5c5}{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

h2h1:$c That's not quite right! {D:500}{S:d5c5}{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

Try to check and also protect the pawn from capture.

}

]

7.

[Do you see mate in one here? White to move.

{B:R7/3k4/R7/24/5K2/Q7 w}{V:{SAVE}Do you see mate in one here? White to move.

{W:j15f11};

${H:a8a6b8b6c8c6d8d6e8e6f8f6g8g6h6h8}

  {A:Ta8h8}{A:Ta6h6}

  {W:sil500}{S:a1g7}

  {H2:a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7}

  {A:Cg7d7}

  {W:j15f12}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}{J}

$a1g7;Good job! Queen G7 is check mate.

  {W:goodjob}

  {H:a8a6b8b6c8c6d8d6e8e6f8f6g8g6h6h8}

  {A:Ta8h8}{A:Ta6h6}

  {W:sil500}

  {H2:a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7}

  {A:Cg7d7}

  {W:j15f12}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}{J};

$c Incorrect. The goal is to find mate in one move. {W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

Can you see a way to threaten the black king without moving your rooks?

}

]

8.

[What is white's best move?

{B:64 w}{P:WKh2}{P:WQd1}{P:BKg8}{P:BRa8}{V:{SAVE}What is white's best move?{W:j15f13};

${S:d1d5}{D:500}{A:Cd5g8}{A:Cd5a8}{H:g8}{D:500}{R}{C}

  {S:g8h7}{S:d5a8}

  {W:j15f14}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J}

$d1d5;Good job! Queen D5 check wins the rook with a fork.

  {W:goodjob}{W:sil500}

  {D:500}{A:Cd5g8}{A:Cd5a8}{H:g8}{D:500}{R}{C}

  {S:g8h7}{S:d5a8}

  {W:j15f14}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Sorry, that's not correct. Look to find a fork.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

It's a fork ... Try to attack both black pieces at the same time.

}

]

9.

[In this position, white has mate in one. Do you see it? This is a little tricky. Take a moment.

{B:2k5/P7/4P3/8/5B2/8/7K/6Q1 w}{V:{SAVE}In this position, white has mate in one. Do you see it? This is a little tricky. Take a moment.

{W:j15f15};

${D:2300}{S:a7a8}{X:a8}{P:WQa8}

{D:500}{A:Te6d7}{A:Tf4c7}{A:Ta8b7}{A:Ca8c8}

{H:b7b8c7c8d7d8}

{W:j15f17}{W:j15f18}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}{J}

$a7a8Q;Excellent work! The only way to check mate is to promote your pawn.

A8, queen. Check mate.

{W:excellent}{W:sil500}

{D:3300}{A:Te6d7}{A:Tf4c7}{A:Ta8b7}{A:Ca8c8}

{H:b7b8c7c8d7d8}

{W:j15f17}{W:j15f18}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}{J};

$c Sorry, that's not correct.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

a7a8R:$c This is the right idea, but you have to promote to other piece.

{D:500}{S:c8b7}{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

g1c1:$c You're probably looking for queen moves, but there's no mate, is it? Try something else ... {D:500}{S:c8b7}{W:j15f16}{RETRY};

g1c5:$c You're probably looking for queen moves, but there's no mate, is it? Try something else ... {D:500}{S:c8b7}{W:j15f16}{RETRY};

g1g8:$c You're probably looking for queen moves, but there's no mate, is it? Try something else ... {D:500}{S:c8b7}{W:j15f16}{RETRY};

Remember what you learned about pawn promotion!!!

}

]

10.

[Here white has mate in one again, but this one's very tricky. Take your time.

{B:7k/5P2/8/7K/8/8/7Q/8}{V:{SAVE}Here white has mate in one again, but this one's very tricky. Take your time.

{W:j15f20};

${D:1000}{S:h5g6}

  {A:Ch2h8}{A:Tg6g7}{A:Tf7g8}

  {H:h7h8g7g8}

  {W:j15f21}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}{J}

$h5g6; Good work! The right move is king G6 check mate, a "discovered attack."

  {W:goodwork}{W:sil500}

  {D:1000}{A:Ch2h8}{A:Tg6g7}{A:Tf7g8}

  {H:h7h8g7g8}

  {W:j15f21}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}{J};

$c Incorrect. This move does not achieve mate in one.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

h5h6:$c Incorrect. You've stalemated black. The game is drawn. 

{D:1500}{A:Th6h7}{A:Th6g7}{A:Tf7g8}

{H:g8g7h7}

{W:j15b18}{RETRY};

h2e5:$c Incorrect. You have better. 

{D:500}{S:h8h7}{W:notbest}{RETRY};

h2b2:$c Incorrect. You have better. 

{D:500}{S:h8h7}{W:notbest}{RETRY};

h2b8:$c Incorrect. You have better. 

{D:500}{S:h8g7}{W:notbest}{RETRY};

It is neither a queen move nor a promotion. Try to discover the attack of a piece by moving another. 

}

]

11.

[A discovered attack is when you can move one piece, opening up the attack of another piece.

  In this position, the white queen on B3 is blocked in its attack on the black king on G8 by a white rook on D5. When that white rook moves, it's a discovered attack. The white queen will have discovered check onto the black king. Notice, of course, that if white plays either rook D8 check or rook G5 check, the king is attacked two ways. This is called a "double check." Very powerful.

  In Part Two of the course, when we build you a tactical arsenal, we'll spend more time with discoveries. For now, I just want you to be familiar with the term.

{B:6k1/16/3R4/8/1Q6/16 w}{W:j15f22}{W:sil500}{D:3500}{A:Db3g8}{D:2500}{H:d5}{D:2500}{C}{R}{A:Cb3g8}{S:d5d3}{H:g8}{D:5500}{C}{R}{S:d3d5}{D:3000}{S:d5d8}{D:1200}{S:d8d5}{D:800}{S:d5g5}{D:2000}{A:Cb3g8}{A:Cg5g8}{H:g8}{W:j15f23}{C}{R}{W:sil1000}{W:j15f24}

]

12.

[Here's another example of a discovered attack. The white pawn can move from D5 to D6, opening up a discovered check on the black king from the bishop on G2. 

  There are countless forms of discovery, and we'll look at more later on.

{B:8/1k6/8/3P4/8/8/1K4B1/8 w}{D:4000}{S:d5d6}{D:2100}{A:Cg2b7}{H:b7}{W:j15f25}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}{W:j15f26}

]

13.

[What is white's best move? Find the best discovery.

{B:8/5pkp/3p2p1/1q6/1p1R4/5r2/5PK1/Q7 w}{V:{SAVE}What is white's best move? Find the best discovery. 

{W:j15f27};

$Rd5+ wins the black queen. The white rook moves out of the way, opening up an attack of the white queen on A1 onto the black king on G7, and attacks the black queen.

Notice that Rxb4, another option, would have been a mistake. It also attacks the black queen and checks, but here black can block. Qe5, protected by the pawn on D6. Black gets out of check and gets the queen out of the way.

{S:d4d5}

{W:j15f28}{D:1000}{A:Ca1g7}{D:4000}{A:Cd5b5}{D:1000}{R}{S:g7f8}{D:500}{S:d5b5}{W:j15f29}{D:500}{B:8/5pkp/3p2p1/1q6/1p1R4/5r2/5PK1/Q7 w}{S:d4b4}{A:Ca1g7}{D:7500}{S:b5e5}{R}{A:Ca1e5}{H:e5}{A:Gd6e5}{W:j15f30}{W:j15f31}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}

$d4d5;Good job! Rd5+ wins the black queen. The white rook moves out of the way, opening up an attack of the white queen on A1 onto the black king on G7, and attacks the black queen.

Notice that Rxb4, another option, would have been a mistake. It also attacks the black queen and checks, but here black can block. Qe5, protected by the pawn on D6. Black gets out of check and gets the queen out of the way.

{W:goodjob}{W:sil500}

{W:j15f28}{D:1000}{A:Ca1g7}{D:4000}{A:Cd5b5}{D:1000}{R}{S:g7f8}{D:300}{S:d5b5}{W:j15f29}{D:500}{B:8/5pkp/3p2p1/1q6/1p1R4/5r2/5PK1/Q7 w}{S:d4b4}{A:Ca1g7}{D:7500}{S:b5e5}{R}{A:Ca1e5}{H:e5}{A:Gd6e5}{W:j15f30}{W:j15f31}{W:sil1000}{C}{R}; 

$c Incorect{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

d4d3:$c Good move, but you have better. Try to capture a more important piece. {W:notbest}{RETRY};

d4f4:$c Good move, but you have better. Try to capture a more important piece. {W:notbest}{RETRY};

d4b4:$c This is not the best move. Black can block. Qe5, protected by the pawn on D6. Black gets out of check and gets the queen out of the way. 

  {W:notbest}{W:sil500}{D:1500}

  {S:b5e5}{R}{A:Ca1e5}{H:e5}{A:Gd6e5}{W:j15f31}{RETRY};

Try to use a discovery to capture an important black piece.}

]

