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11 Puzzles For Your Amusement From Round 2

CRuleSportsGuy

Updated: Apr 21, 2021, 2:16 PM | 0

What's more fun than reading about chess? Playing it, of course!

Just like in round 1, I decided to browse my group's games (group 66) in round 2 of the 2021 Chess.com Daily Chess Championship and see what jumped out. Unsurprisingly, there were more great tactical positions to look through than in the previous round ... so, let's dive into some of them and see how you fare!

These are sorted easier-to-hard (ish, I'm no titled player) so comment below with your score and what you missed

Let's begin:

Puzzle #1: How you develop matters...

White's just played Qxf3 after Black played Nxf3+. What should you do next?

Puzzle #2: Move order, move order, move order

Black just took exd4, which was his best move ... but White has an advantage. How should you proceed?

Puzzle #3: Start The Attack

Black just blundered with Rf8! How should you take advantage?

Puzzle #4: Finish The Attack

In the game above, White actually missed en passant and played Qh7, but still has an advantage. What's the right plan?

Puzzle #5: A mistake, to be sure ... but how?

Black just played Rc6. Punish him for it!

Puzzle #6: Can You Squeeze, Please?

Material is even, and these players were even (on rating). Black has the more active rook.

White to play: Is there a way to create an advantage here?

Puzzle #7: Build The Momentum

How should White proceed to build on its very slight (+0.2) advantage?

Puzzle #8: Don't Take The Pawn

...or should you? How should White proceed here?

Puzzle #9: What's The Plan?

White is winning, but just played c6 a bit too hastily. How should Black respond?

Puzzle #10: Hold The Draw

So, I cheated to get to 10 puzzles and actually browsed a few other group games. This is between a GM and a NM (here's the game - but don't open it for this puzzle!).

How should White proceed?

Puzzle #11: Avoid The Draw

And just because, let's take the same position in the previous puzzle, but follow the game a few more moves. How should Black play for an advantage?

So, how'd you do?

Post your score in a comment below and share what you missed ... or what puzzle you found most interesting!

And do head over to the 2021 Chess.com Daily Chess Championship, tons of accurate and interesting play going on there

Thanks for reading!

11 Puzzles For Your Amusement From Round 2

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