ArcaMax

In the early 20th century Dr. Bertolisch, as White, was obviously getting beat up by Dr. Atkin. Should he have resigned? If not, why?

To start off your Monday morning, here’s a delightful mate in two.

I really like this puzzle because players familiar with attacking might very well go down the wrong road here, or make the game last longer than I should.

A quick mate in three to start off this week. Hope you enjoyed your holiday yesterday!

Black is clearly on the edge of disaster with White threatening to take the rook and check on e7. In one of the great saves in chess history, how did Black emerge victorious?

It’s an endgame, but you can still have a mating attack.

Here we have a good, standard isolated queen pawn attacking position, so it’s worth knowing the attacking sequence here. The obvious lesson is that you first need to coordinate as many of your pieces as possible toward the kingside.

This is one of those “theme” positions you have to know as an attacking player. White obviously has the advantage, but what’s the best way to finish off Black?

So, do you take the rook?

White’s a piece up, so Black had better come up with a mating attack against the exposed white king.

A finish won by Schaffarzik from the 20s.

(NOTE: My apologies for the incorrect diagram from yesterday. Here is the original position with White to play.

This position would be quite equal if it weren’t for one move Benko found in 1949.

This position would be quite equal if it weren’t for one move Benko found in 1949.

We’re leaving the realm of holiday fantasy compositions to return to the real world of actual games played.

A little fun with our last puzzle this week. The kings are taking the day off, so White will now checkmate the knight. That’s right! White will attack the knight and it won’t be able to avoid capture. Enjoy!

You might call this “The Knights Before Christmas.”

You can see the task in the headline. It is from Vladimir Nabokov’s book, “Poems and Problems.” The famous author of “Lolita,” “Ada” and “The Defense” (a chess novel)composed this himself. The problem was first published in 1932 under the pseudonym “V. Sirin.” You have to be very specific on what went where and what it did ...

This endgame is so common that it is worth really studying. You’re a pawn down and Black is closing in on you with promotion and mate threats. How do you draw this?

This is a very instructive rook and pawn ending that not only actually occurred, but has several themes in it that have great practical use.

Now, some slightly tricky rook and pawn endings.