Even after a quick look you will see that this position is totally crazy. White has a material advantage, but most of his pieces are en prise. 

What makes matters even more complicated is the pawn on b2 that is about to queen and give mate.

Is there a way out of this mess? Can white achieve the impossible and even win this position?

Yes, he can. It is up to you to figure this one out. Solution…

If found this fantastic puzzle on Johan Salomon’s twitter account. Johan is the present Norwegian Champion and is well on his way to become a grandmaster. You will find more intriguing puzzles on his account.

I have to confess that sometimes I spend quite a lot of time at chess puzzles. I can’t stand it when I am unable to find the correct solution.

When I make a mistake, which happens still too often, I can get very annoyed with myself.

Most of these mistakes occur when I find the solution rather quickly. Then get overconfident and don’t check very well and make stupid blunders on the second or third move in the combination. On the other hand, when I can’t find the correct solution, I keep on trying.

I follow my hunch and calculate the variations over and over again. That doesn’t work either (of course). One might raise the question: do you trust your own calculation yes or no? Seemingly not.Read More »

I found this one from the chessbase website (first round report by Albert Silver). This position is from the game between Sam Shankland (USA) and Joan Fernandez Lopez (Andorra) after black’s last move 15. – Qb6? White can get a winning position. But how?

The obvious 16. b5 doesn’t work. What will? It took me a while to figure this one out, and of course I didn’t see all the variations. But at least I found the wining move. 🙂 Solution…

By the first looks of it black is in big trouble. He is two pawns dawn and his pieces are very loose.

Is there a way out of this quandary? Well there is. It is a very glorious one. Do you see how? Solution…

 

Source: problem #166673 ChessTempo

 

 

White just played 38. Qxf7 and left his rook on d1 en prise. It seems like a piece of cake for black to win the game. When you are hungry, indulge yourself with the food that is been offered.

Or not? Solution…

The tactical puzzles on ChessTempo are more difficult then on some other websites. They are taken from real chess games.

The solution is often a bit messy and not allways straightforward. Many times there is some sort of sting. And you guessed it right: I fall right into the trap. 😦

White just played 1. Kg4-f5. The threat is obvious: if white gets the chance to play Ke6 or Kg6 he threatens mate (Rf7#). This makes the conversion off f3-pawn into a queen a bit complicated. But it is the only way to win the game. Therefore let’s play 1. – f2 White answers 2. Kd3. The question is: how can black not only save the game but win it? See the solution…