Here we have an early skirmish in a game. Both players got "tactical" before getting castled, which is generally not a good idea. You should get everybody out before you start things. Nonetheless, you have the reality of the position before you. As White you notice that your queen is under attack and your pawn on b2 is also threatened. However, as the Black king is just sitting there, uncastled, how might your next move help you out?

For those of you who chose 1.Qb3 f6 2.0–0–0 cxb2+ 3.Qxb2 [3.Kxb2 Be7 4.Rhe1 Qb6 5.Bf4 was better], you do have a slightly better position and it's good that you found one. It's good because you saw the vulnerability of Black's f7 square, and that means you're starting to think in terms of weak squares. Good thing to think about!

The real stars are those of you who realized that a king on an open file should be attacked, and started thinking that maybe castling queenside, despite the loss of the queen, would be enough for two rooks, two bishops and a knight to mate the Black king or at least win a lot of material. Thus, the best solution is: 1.0–0–0!! Be7 [Losing a piece rather than the whole game after 1...Qxa4 2.Rhe1+ Be7 3.Rxe7+ Kf8 (3...Kd8 4.Rexd7+ Ke8 5.Rd8#) 4.Rxf7+ Kg8 (4...Ke8 5.Re1+ Ne5 6.Rxe5+ Be6 7.Bxe6 cxb2+ 8.Kxb2 Qb4+ 9.Bb3#) 5.Rfxd7+ Qxc4 (5...Kf8 6.Rd8+ Qe8 7.Rxe8+ Kxe8 8.Rd8#) 6.Rd8+ Kf7 7.Ne5+ Ke6 8.Nxc4] 2.Qxc6 bxc6 3.Bxe7, winning a piece and the game.

It's very important for you to play through the queen sacrifice lines so you can see how all your pieces on great squares can just devastate a king's position.

An interesting question about the solution was mailed in. Here is the question and the response…worth reading for those of you who picked 1.Bxf7+.

"I got tunnel vision again. I see the moves you are saying work. However, going after what you normally go for which is the bishop sac at f7 why is Bxf7 not the right move? It wins the queen, or am I blind. 1.Bxf7 Kxf7 2.Qf4+ Nf6 3.Ne5+ with a fork. What is my tunnel vision missing? Everything else leads to mate. Surely I must be missing something because you would not have missed this?"

You are doing what some chess teachers call wish moves. You see the fork so you assume Black has to play into it. Actually, you're just fulfilling your wish about what you want to happen without regard to analytical reality. That's what 1.Bxf7+ is...a wish move. You have conjured up a 3 move combination that wins the Black queen and want it to work. However, Black can play

1. Bxf7+ Kxf7 2. Qf4+ Ke8! and other than a perpetual check White can only try 3. Qe3+ Kf7 4. Qxc3 but 4... Qe6+ gives Black a fine game.

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