Step by Step: Tactics #56

by Mark Donlan

Step by Step: Tactics is designed to improve your basic tactical skills. For best results, play the position out over-the-board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. You can also print out this page and use it as a workbook exercise in a classroom setting.

After the moves 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Ne5 Bh7 8.Qh5 g6 9.Bc4 e6 10.Qe2, why was 10…Bg7 a mistake?

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Circle the type of tactics that were involved in this puzzle:

Checkmate	Fork
Deflection	Pin
Discovered Attack	Removing the Guard
Double Attack	Skewer
En Prise	Trapped Piece

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MacDonald, Jonathan (2150) – Mallais, Daniel (1935)
Canadian Open Sackville CAN (8), 13.07.2001
Caro-Kann [B11]

After 11.Nxf7 Black resigned as White wins material. For instance, 11…Qe7 12.Bxe6 and 13.Nxh8. White checkmates upon 11…Kxf7 12.Qxe6+. Earlier Black should have played 7…Qd6.

A PDF file of this week’s Step by Step puzzle, along with all previous puzzles, is available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.

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