A Collection of Fine Puzzles, ranging in difficulty

for the mate in 18, why doesnt black just chase white around the pawns forever?

Look in move list? He cant, because if he does, i think white can take the rook and it wont be stalemate.

A very nice TT one (I know i havnt been making them myself now even though its holidays :( been concentrating on other stuff, and one the antiproblem one :D

Another from TT, sorry for not posting for a long time, but you know you've all probably got bored of this already xD but its for my own sake to collect these puzzles together too :O just for the "collection"

ill try refrain from using more TT, as it'll ruin its integrity and the core of tactics "training" if people have already seen it before.

Try this, just messing around on my engine on opening theory stuff im not too sure on, and just playing random lines:

for the cool mate in 18, why not 8... Re1+

Check movelist, its one move longer. Mmm kinda hard to explain; it basically leads to the same thing after Rook takes pawn

Seizing the initiative:

The game isnt over, but a few more sharp moves and it will be. However, it is VERY hard to find those sharp moves to exploit the game even with that +1.5 advantage pointwise. The next move you are looking for really is Qe4, but forming a plan from there will probably give you a win, even if the plan actually reduces your advantage, but in this case, you have enough of an advantage to pull through. Unfortunately, in a material even game, your plans will need to be more accurate.

In this game, for eg, if you double rooks, after Bh5 and Bg6 hitting your queen back to like e2 say or something, then your advantage drops to +0.8. in OTB, or sub 2000 play, +0.8 really isnt a lot, if its not a clear advantage. The double bishops in this case for black are working wonders to prevent white coming forward. White's plan really is to trade off and get his pieces all over black. How that is done is more messy, just searching for those moves. Qe4 is the breaker though, where after your path really is clear after you plop in Ne5 and such.

I've always had trouble turning an advantage into a win, so thats why I like writing about these kinds of positions. To any good player, it is clearly won for white from here. I could probably win it from white, but would find it extremely annoying/somewhat difficult.

In a material even game, i feel less pressured, and I tend to opt for defending which is easier for me, and going for tactics to win material that turns the tide of the game completely. Everyone has a preferred style, what they feel comfortable with; its what natural first moves and thoughts come to them first, which create this style.

However, openings im afraid will have to neglect style and go for the right moves, before you can begin off your "style" of free chess, otherwise you may find yourself actually uncomfortable in a worse position anyway. Choosing an opening that fits your style is important, or just practice lots is another option.

It would help if you included the coordinates on the board so I know which way the pawns go (I seriously don't understand why it's even an option to leave them off).

In the opening or middle game it's OK to leave them off, but the endgame?

Ah sorry, I'll include them in then :P

Thanks

The casual discovery one isn't a very good one to be honest, but ive changed it now, your right thanks :)

As for your second note, well the kings path is the best defence, as white must still play accurately to get the draw.

Okay an easy one now, from a game I just finished:

:)

Sorry, Nxf3 and Nxd3 are both correct, well the bishop gives white less play, but taking the knight keeps the pawn to some extent

For black, who is obviously lost (me), the moves/defence moves for black are just "to try", like TT, where they play a defence where there is further work required (THOUGH NOT ALWAYS! TT criticism there)