Blind Spot

 

I've been staring at this mate in 3 puzzle and I can't see the solution!

• h2+ Kh1 Qxf2 Nxg4 and there's no mate
• hxg2 Kxg2 Rh2+ Kg1 and there's no mate
• Qf4 Nxg4
• Nxe5 Bxe5
• Qe4 Bf3
• etc

Ten minutes later...

Oh, Qxf2+ looks good.

Rxf2 (otherwise Qxg2#) h2+ 

• Kh1 Nxf2#
• or Kf1 h1=Q#

Calculation Practice

White to play

Is 1. Qh5 (intending 1...hxg5 2. Qf7#) any good?

Answer:
No! After 1. Qh5, Black has 1...Qg3+. Always look at opponent's forcing moves. Instead, White should play 1. Qf2, and if 1...Bg6, then 2. Qf7+ anyway 2...Bxf7 3. exf7#

Giving a Rook with Check

Here is a 3-minute blitz game that I just played on Chess.com. I was White.

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O Nf6 8.

Qe2 Be7 9. Rd1 e5 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. Bxd5 Qc7 12. Be3 O-O 13. Rac1 Be6 14. Qb5

Rfc8 15. h3 Qb8 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Qb3 Nd8 18. Bg5 Kf7 19. Bxe7 Kxe7 20. Nxe5?!

Not sound, according to the computer.

20...dxe5 21. Qb4+ Kf7 22. Rd7+ Kg6 

And here, I intentionally let my opponent take a rook with check, with


23. Qe7!

Figuring that my attack is unstoppable.

23...Rxc1+ 24. Kh2 1-0

Unexpected Mating Net

This is from a recent correspondence game on Chess.com. I was Black. White has just played 43. Ke4-f5.


43...Re6!?

I played this only to stop Kg6 and to protect my h6 pawn. Who could have guessed that the White King is now caught in a mating net? It is very difficult to free himself.

44. Rd2 Rc8!

Threatening Rc5+

45. Rd5

Stops Rc5+ but Black finds another way in.

45...Rc4!

Now Rf4# is very hard to stop. If 46. Rd4, then 46...Rc5+. White resigned.

En Passant Checkmate

Tonight I executed a checkmate by En Passant at the g/20 tournament at Carls Jr.
Here was the position.

White to move. I played 20. e5+
Black's only move is 20...f5
and then...
21. exf6# 1-0

Need To Play Better

My chess reached a low point tonight when I got this position against a master. I was White.

White to play. I had 10 minutes, he had 5 minutes. I blacked out and played 18. Bxe7??  He bashed out 18...Qxd3+ and I resigned; it's mate in 2. A missed opportunity.