a tactics quiz from grade nationals

1. ???-- Aleem Awan. Black had just played 11...h6, and white retreated the queen to e3. How should Aleem have continued?

2. What good move did black (Isaac Bareyev) play here?

3. Nigel Bryant was white in the above position against Dean Davies; how did he win?

4. White to move (Joel Ogunremi - Nicholas Desmarais)

5. JP Garcia missed a tactic here for white.

6. Miguel Garcia was black in the above position and played some nice moves. What would you do?

7. Randy Rivera played 15... g5 in the above position (rd 7 vs. Sam Chapin).

What is his idea after 16. Nxg5?

White actually played 16. Qb1. Does the same idea work?

answers!!

.

1. 12... Bxh2 wins a pawn, since 13. Kxh2 loses the queen to 13....Ng4+

2. Isaac played 16....b5!, a thematic move that opens up the white king and gains control of the d5 square.

3. Nigel played 14. g4! winning the trapped knight: 14... Nf6 15. exf6 exf6 16. Qxe8+ Rxe8 17. Rxe8+ Bf8 18. Bh6 Qxb2 19. Rxf8# 1-0

4. Joel played the restraining move 19. c5, trying to keep blck's knight on c8.

5. 17. Rxf8 Rxf8 18. Ne7+ forks the king and queen.

6. Miguel played 12...a4! 13. Qd1 Qb6! 14. Rb1 Nxd4

and now his opponent blundered with 15. Ne4? Nxe3 16. fxe3 Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3 Bxc4

He should have lost only a pawn by playing 15. Bxd5! Bxd5 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Bxd4
Qxd4.

7. Randy intended 16. Nxg5 Nxb4! 17. axb4 Qc4+ 18. Ke1 Bxb4.

It also works against 16. Qb1: 16... Nxb4 17. axb4 Qc4+ 18. Bd3 (18. Ke1 Qe2#) 18... Nxd3 19. Nb6 Qb5 20. Ra5 Qxb6 21. Qxd3 -+.

It isn't, however, quite the same if black takes on b4 on move 15 because of 18. Nd2 (15...Nxb4!? 16. axb4 Qc4+ 17. Ke1 Bxb4+ 18. Nd2), although it's still good.