Tactics Analysis #20

Current Puzzle Rating: 2146 (-20)
Current Puzzles Complete: 3900 (+100)

Position #1
https://lichess.org/training/ii24i

My first idea was to play Kg6 as the knight will have nowhere to go except to take the bishop (which is useful to look at, as it cuts down the number of lines to try to calculate). I must not have calculated the resulting position properly because Black can only draw (1. ... Kg6 2. Nxf4 exf4 3. e5 and both pawns promote). However the right idea is in there, we just have to make the right first move.

Solution: 1. ... Bh2 2. Kd5 Kg6

Position #2
https://lichess.org/training/zWWip

I looked a lot at ways to attack the Black king, or proactive ways to do something with my rook. I never considered the correct move (or even the correct piece).

I do this more often than I'd like. In this case, I think it's not considering all the features of the position - the Black queen is defending the rook, and doesn't have a lot of squares it can do that from.

Solution: 1. c5 Qxc5 2. Rxb8

Position #3

https://lichess.org/training/4FHeG

When solving this one, I missed the last move of the combination. White's idea to take the open file is a common motif, and we can quickly verify that it doesn't allow Black to promote (such as 1. Rf2 Ra8 2. Rf6+ Kd7 3. Kd5 as 4. e6+).

Solution 1. Rf2 a2 2. Rxa2 (nothing else makes sense) Rf8 3. Ra7 Re8 (to stop Re7#) 4. Rg7

Position #4
https://lichess.org/training/LLIxk

Another rook endgame with an open file. I think the key idea is rook activity - sure, we could stop the a-pawn with Ra8, but then the position just fizzles out. Instead, Black can look for a more active way to approach the situation.

Solution 1. ... Rf8 2. a7 Rf3+ 3. Kd2 Rf2+ 4. Kce Ra2!