How do you beat a world champion? Former champ Kramnik ran afoul of Saleh at the Airthings Masters in 2023. How was he finished off?

I ran across this puzzle this morning and realized that I don’t think I’ve ever used this old classic. Black is threatening to queen a pawn and you, as White, want to checkmate Black. It’s a very logical solution and...Read More

White has to deal with an obvious threat: Black queening the c-pawn, so what do you do?

Another opening trap you should know. This is from Inglis-Hickmott, UK, 2001.The game began with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.d4 Bg4 5.dxe5 Nxe5 See Diagram

Here’s a game in the really sharp Schliemann Defense to the Ruy Lopez. Now you may see the first move, but be very careful on your follow ups. It started this way--1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0–0 fxe4 6....Read More

Black can opt to lose material and then take a longer time to avoid mate, but what’s the straight-out mating line here?