I love Chaturanga !

Now I'd say: let's stop the theory, let's stop the jokes... Let's do something more practice:

Tactics Exercises

(they are easy!)

Al-ruhk to c6 forking al-fil and al-ferza 🤨🤔🙊

Ok great, well it wasn't hard at all.

I think the best sequence is 1*. Rc6 Ac8 2*. Rxc8+, because if Black moves the Ferz then White takes Alfil and pawn thanks to the check tempo, instead 1*... Ac8 forces White to take only the Alfil (which is worth less than a Ferz).

So, let's try a new one:

I think in ...🤔 cxb .... mmmh 

Why cxb? Then Black plays axb. What White gains from that?

you're right xD ahahahaha sorry

I'm just asking what follows after 1*. cxb axb, it could be right, I don't know ...

cb...ab

Exb5...cxb5

Nxb5 with threats against the d6 square and an open c file for the Rook on a1.

Wow Bill 

Yep bravo, it's the best sequence!

There is a gain of material other than positional, because an Alfil (or Elephant) is worth less than 2 pawns. So finally the solution: 1*. cxb5 axb5 2*. Axb5 cxb5 3*. Nxb5

Aaneliia were right but couldn't explain it ...

Oh my gosh i knew it hahahah xD

Here the third one:

Af5!? Haha 

1*. Af5 is playable, then Black plays 1*... Fxf5 and White 2*. exf5: the exchange is equal but then Black can push the 'torrent pawn' to the 5th rank 2*... c4! (as-sayyal) so probably being in a better position.

White can do better than that.

OMG, lemme try 🙊

c4! Trying to control the center!!! 🤨🤔

As-Suli said, when there are three pawns in a line on the fourth (fifth) rank, take the middle one.  The idea was typically something like 1.exd5 Fxd5 2.c4 Fe6 3.d5 etc. gaining space.

Here the sequence might not work: 1.exd5 Fxd5 2.c4 exd4 3.cxd5 Ne7 and Black likely wins two pawns for the firzan.

1.Bf5 looks good to me, as after 1....Fxf5 2.exf5 Ne7 3.Ng3, White has won at least a little material and will likely have good pressure on the center.  With White there, I would not be worried about ...c5-c4 for Black, as this just relieves the tension in the center and White can develop smoothly with Ba3, Rad1, Rhe1, and d4xe5 at the right moment.  Black's king may be stuck in the center.

If I found a reason to reject 1.Bf5, then I would likely play 1.Fe3 and just carry on with the game.

Thanks Jonathan, maybe I missed something because I thought exd5 was the best move without a doubt (keeping as-Suli's saying). The solution in my mind had to be: 1*. exd5 Fxd5 2*. Af5! Nb8 3*. dxc5 and White wins a pawn.

Ah yes.  I just missed your move order--makes perfect sense, and seems superior to 1.Bf5.