It has been a while since I wrote about some tactics, but there was a nice aesthetic one today: http://www.chess.com/tactics/?id=26056

This comes from a grandmaster game played in 1970, worthy of reproducing  here:

 White has sacrificed a piece and now finishes the game with:

Tactics Trainer Puzzle #0022864

Absolutely, I tried this move also. Let's have a look at the position:

So what can we say? The most accurate move leading to checkmate or the most decisive gain of material is the move that will be accepted. However take a look at this position:

Tactics Trainer Puzzle #0097303

Today I had two puzzles that were difficult:

http://www.chess.com/tactics/server.html?id=40226

http://www.chess.com/tactics/server.html?id=29065

The first puzzle is a study by Troitzky:

The tempo-winning plan is the key to the puzzle.

As for the second puzzle, there is a story to go with it. Both players had debated an opening line in an under-16 girls championship, and were keen to continue the battle one year later:

White had captured the d6-pawn with a seemingly effortless win, as in the previous year. But what surprise did Black play in this position?

After that move, the game completely changed in Black's favour, and she went on to win the game:

Original Message by sisu on 3/29/2012 @ 12:28am:

Hi, I cannot foresee what is wrong with 1...Qe5 in 

Tactics Trainer Problem #189727

Can you help me here? It says it is incorrect.

Regards,

sisu

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Original Message by TSFralf70 on 3/30/2012 @ 11:57am:

It is hard to see that 1..Qe5 does not win. Even Houdini thinks that 1...Qe5 is sufficient, before it changes its mind after 10 to 20 seconds. The point is that black just ignores it and attacks himself: 2.Bxd5 Qa1+ 3.Kc2 Qxf1 4. Qb7 (threatening mate on f7) Qd3+ 5. Kb2 Qxd5 with a draw by perpetual check.

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A difficult puzzle.