Hey guys! Last week I posted my interview with Alex Colovic on his chess experience and some advice he had to offer. The main thing he stressed is the importance of tactical exercises in becoming a more advanced player. No matter your skill level, tactical puzzles/exercises will improve how your mind analyzes any given scenario, increasing your chess IQ.

Remember, my desire throughout my blogs is to empower you to think more critically, always questioning your opponent's moves while also having a plan for your own strategy. I've posted a few chess puzzles in this blog aimed at this very idea: improving your chess IQ. They are all based off games from Grandmasters; some are simple, only one move, while others are more advanced, requiring a few moves to solve. Solutions are at the bottom of the page. Try to refrain from looking until you have solved it. Enjoy :)

#1) Find the best move for white.                                
 

                           

#2) White to move and win.
 
                              

#3) Black to move and win.

A Pulvermarcher vs Capablanca, New York, 1907
                           

#4) White to move and gain material

                 

#5) Black to move and gain material


#6) White to move and win/gain material

                


1. Bc7 
2. Rd8+
3. ...Nxe4
4. Nh6+ w/Qxe5 & Nxf7+
5. ...Qxf1+
6. Re8+ w/Qxc8+ & Nxd5+

As I am sure you just witnessed, a few of these problems are quite difficult. This is the purpose, however, to stretch your brain. Most tricky for me is number six. 1. Re8+ ...KxRe8 2. QxBc8+ is followed by ...Ke7. 3. Nxd5 is the real move, forcing black to capture either with the queen or pawn or its checkmate. It makes no difference, because (3...c6xNd5 permits 4. Qd8xQc5), likewise (3...QxNd5 then 4. BxQd5)

The other puzzles are quite self-explanatory, but if you are struggling with comprehending any of them, please shoot me a comment and I'll make sure to respond. I hope that these puzzles were challenging and that you feel more confident in your chess abilities. They are all from Chess Puzzles by GM's, a chess site that has thousands of available puzzles and tactics for free. Check it out and keep increasing that chess IQ!