Daily Tactic January 3, 2014

MacConnel, James - Morphy, Paul New Orleans, 1849. Morphy's opponent does not put up the best defense but, I guess, the pain is over quicker that way and it makes for a prettier finish. Black (Morphy) to move.

Daily Tactic January 2, 2014

Thomason - Fischer, USA-ch U18, 1955. Today's tactic is from a game of Bobby Fischer's played in the 1955 USA Under 18 Championship. Black (Fischer) to move:

Daily Tactic January 1, 2014

Morphy-Rousseau, New Orleans 1849. In today's game Eugene Rosseau has just played 13. ...d5 attacking Morphy's queen. Twelve year old Morphy plays this brilliantly! White to Move:

Daily Tactic December 31, 2013

This is a famous position from Fischer-Mjagmasuren, Sousse 1967. White to move. Can you visualize white's moves through to the end?

Daily Tactic December 30, 2013

Morphy-Jefferson, New York simul, 1859. This game ends with the mating pattern know as Philidor's Legacy. Morphy sets it up with two Deflection moves. To help learn this pattern and solidify it, practice going over the final moves in your head from move 19. Qa3+ to the end. Once you learn the pattern or if you already know it, go over the game in your head from move 17. e5! onwards to practice your visualization skills.

Deflection is forcing an enemy piece away from some useful position. In this game Morphy deflects the black queen off of the d8-h4 diagonal.

Decoying is attracting an enemy piece to a square useful for you. In this game as part of the final mating pattern, a black rook is decoyed to the f8 square.

Daily Tactic December 29, 2013

Morphy-Julien, New York simul, 1859. This knight odds game features a double attack and multiple deflections. Morphy's 12. Bg5! and 19. Rd1+ are great examples of deflection and 13. Qxb7+ is a double attack threatening the rook on a8 and mate in three.

Daily Tactic December 28, 2013

A pretty little study by H. Rinck from 1907. To win, White needs to promote one of the pawns, but how? The first move may be obvious -- save the g-pawn.