Onischuk is playing Black against Hikaru Nakamura.
Nakamura has forked the black rooks, and Onischuk is trying to save
them. Will Rd2 pin the knight and keep him from losing a piece?
Answer: Well, it might gain a knight, but it doesn't save the
rook. Nakamura will play 1. Rd8+ Kg7 2. Ne6+! with a
discovered attack on the rook. After fxe6, 3. Rxd2.
And with that threat, Nakamura regained the title of
U.S. Chess Champion in 2015.
#2. Wesley So, playing Black, put the finishing touch on
defending US Chess Champion Gata Kamsksy. How?
Answer: The hurdle! Qa6. Why can't White block with
his queen? A fork! Na3 ouch!
#3. Here Irina Krush playing White misses an opportunity
against 12-year old Annie Wang. Can you find it?
Answer: Annie Wang had played fxe6 instead of Qxe6
opening up a dangerous path to her King. That, combined
with the unprotected Bishop was asking for trouble.
Irina played Nf3 continuing with development, but missed
the tactical fork Qh5+. The game may have continued ...
Qg6 12. Qxc5 Qxg2 13. Qh5+ g6 14. Qf3 and all is safe in
the corner having won a bishop for a pawn.
#4. Later in that same game Annie, playing black, had to
decide which rook to take. Should she play Kxf7 or Qxd1?
Annie played Qxd1 and found out quickly why that
was the wrong choice. Irina played Rf8+ and Annie
resigned because Kh7 Rh8# is all she can do.
Taking the other way would have lasted longer.
31. ...Kxf7 32. Rd7+ Kf6 (Kg8 leads to a fork)
But it's difficult from here to find a convincing win.
Irina went on to win the U.S. championship for the 7th time.
#5. In this next problem, Conrad Holt finds some nice tactics
against Varuzhan Akobian. What are White's next few moves?
Answer: Always explore forcing moves such as checks,
checkmate threats, and major captures. Those often leave
your opponent with few choices. It makes it easy to
predict his moves and plan your next moves.
1. Re8+ (hurdling the knight which is guarded) Kf6 (forced)
2. Qf4+ (forking king and knight) Kg7 (forced)
3. And now the knight is no longer adequately protected, so
Qxe5+ forcing a queen trade and leaving white ahead by a
bishop. The f3 pawn quickly fell and Akobian resigned.
#6 Here's a position from a game between two young grandmasters.
Conrad Holt playing White comes up with a surprising move - Bc7!
Why can Kayden Troff simply take the Bishop with his queen?
Obviously, you should be suspicious. Grandmasters don't
give you free gifts during a chess game. If you play 1. ... Qxc7, he will play
2. Ng5 threatening mate on h7 and also threatening a big fork on e6. The game
might have continued 2. ...Qxh2 3. Ne6+ Kxg7 4. Nxc8+ (double check!)
Kayden saw it all coming and did not take the Bishop.
#7 Here's a position from the same game between Conrad Holt and
Kayden Troff. Kayden has finally got the upper hand against Conrad.
Conrad has just played Rd6. How does Kayden prove the futility of that move?
1. g4+! Kh4 (forced) 2. Nf5+ forking the K and R!
