ArcaMax

The great Italian champion, Sergio Mariotti, once forced the resignation of his opponent with a move in this position.

A mate in three, composed by Adolf Anderssen nine years before he became world champ in 1851.

A mate in two! One of the problems solved by GM Ian Watson in winning the British Chess Solving Championship.

A fine finish by Alekhine against Nenarokof in Moscow, 1918.

Another one move wonder forced resignation in Avrukh-Kantsler, Israel 2002

Ree stunned Piket in 2001 with this next move.

In the game Ivanisevic-Jovanovic at Serbia, 2009, White played one move and Black resigned. What was it?

This is our last Q + P vs. Q ending for a while, but it’s a cute way to finish up. This happened in a real game: Podgaetz-Klovan, USSR, 1969. Black saved himself in a somewhat unexpected way and drew.

Queen and Pawn vs. Queen endings are our focus this week. They are very practical things to study. This one shows how careful you have to be when you check the other person’s king.

Queen and Pawn vs. Queen endings require a good deal of focus and imagination. The lone queen will check the potentially winning queen as long as it can, but two can play that game…

From a very famous game that demonstrated a lesson for all chess students. Nimzovich-Tartakower, Carlsbad, 1911. How should the game end?

From Povah-Granat, London, 1979. White finishes up in brilliant style.

A two-mover by the Canadian composer C.F. Stubbs (1853-1907). He makes the knight work, but to no avail!

The U.S. Women’s championship was won by Sabina Foisor in stunning fashion from the following position against Apurva Irkud in the last round. You don’t have a clock ticking or a championship on the line. See how you do!

An endgame puzzle. How does White win this?

This is our last look at selections from Jay Bonin’s new book, Active Pieces. There are many more instructive positions like this one, and, if you like King’s Indians and Sicilians, it’s also a good read. In this position, it seems that Black is doomed, but Bonin had planned a save..

We continue with selections from IM Jay Bonin’s entertaining and instructive book, Active Pieces (Mongoose Press), that has been out just a short time.

IM Jay Bonin has been the most active chess player in America for some years. In the last quarter century, he has played over 18,000 rated tournament games! He has a great book now out, called Active Pieces. The strategic and tactical instruction is excellent. In the back of the book he has positions from his games. See if you can figure out ...

A mate in four by S. Brehmer

This can be a head spinning exercise. Mate in two!