ArcaMax

Holiday Chess School #8! A new theme this week: Distraction. This is an odd form of distraction because it doesn’t happen until move three.

Holiday Chess School #7! A new theme this week: Distraction. If your opponent is guarding certain weak squares, you have to “lure” him away from that protection.

Holiday Chess School #6! We continue with our theme of using a pin to win. This time we have a demonstration that it comes in endgames as well.

Holiday Chess School #5! We continue with our theme of using a pin to win.

Holiday Chess School! #4 White is a piece down and his queen is under attack. He has one way out.

Holiday Chess School! #3 If White doesn’t find the only move to win here, he will likely lose as Black has the two bishops and extra material.

Holiday Chess School! #1 Until the end of the year, we’re going to have a holiday school on chess tactics. Some positions will be mating positions, but many will not be since most games are won by winning material. Those positions may not be as “sexy” as checkmate attacks, but they are a definite help to improving your chess skills. It’s...

Another king hunt, but a bit more of a challenge. Remember, expose the king!

A king hunt on an exposed king! It’s all checks, so see if you can visualize it right to the end.

A nice finish from “Super Nezh.”

One of the most brilliant games of chess ever played reached this position. Match your wits! Hint: you have to know how to use rooks.

Black is surrounded by his pieces, but he’s also surrounded by White pieces, and there is a mating attack here.

A decisive kingside attack by J. Friedel in 2009.

This is one of the most famous positions in chess. It arises in the Ruy Lopez after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.0–0 Be7 7.Re1 0–0. By making a normal and often recommended castling move, Black has just lost the game. When I teach my students the Ruy Lopez, I have them memorize the whole game that was played back in 1892. ...

This position contains one of the most surprising winning moves I’ve ever seen. Black is played by J. H. Blackburne, the British attacking genius.

Happy Halloween! Here in New Jersey, we have Mischief Night (lots of toilet paper strung about)on the 30th, so we are dedicating our puzzle to that bit of mischief. It’s White to Play and Mate in one. Honest!

From a game won by Hartlaub where his opponent missed a saving defense.

Mikhail Tal with one of his signature mating attacks.

Black has the whole team ready to go here!

White wins here in a quick endgame lesson. What was your first thought to play?