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Chess Counting - Exercises Page 2

This set of exercises is taken from real game situations. You'll be asked to decide whether a certain Pawn or piece is safe.


Exercise 7

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White to Move. Is the black Pawn on b5 safe?

It's white to move. Is the black Pawn on b5 safe? If not, with which piece should white capture the pawn?


Exercise 8

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White to Move. Is the black Rook on d8 safe?

White to move. Is the black Rook on d8 safe?


Exercise 9

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White to Move. Is the black Rook on d8 safe?

White to move. Is the black Knight on d4 safe?


Answers

Ex 7: The black Pawn is not safe. White can capture the Pawn with his Rook or Knight. Note: Capturing with the Queen would be a terrible mistake! After 1. Qxb5 Rxb5 2. Rxb5 black does not have to recapture with his Queen to continue the exchanges. Remember: You aren't forced to play out exchanges right to the end.

Ex 8: No, the black Rook is not safe. If played out completely, the exchange would go: 1. Rxd8 Rxd8 2. Qxd8 Qxd8 3. Rxd8, and white comes out a Rook ahead.

Ex 9: Yes, the black Knight is safe. It's a good idea for white to get rid of the Knight by exchanging: 1. Bxd4 cxd4. However, this is an even trade. It would be a mistake for white to continue the exchange sequence with 2.Nbxd4 exd4 3.Nxd4. White appears to have 'won' the exchange by making the last capture - but adding up the piece values tells a different story. White captured 2 pawns and a Knight (5 points), but lost a Bishop and a Knight (6 points). Also, white's d5 pawn is now unprotected!


Back - Next
Chess Tactics - Table of Contents
Introduction - What Are Tactics?
Piece Safety - Exercises (1) - Exercises (2)
Counting - Exercises (1) - Exercises (2)
Tactical Motifs Introduction
The Fork - Exercises
The Knight Fork - Exercises
The Pin - Exercises
The Skewer - Exercises
The Discovered Attack - Exercises
Removal of the Guard - Exercises
Back Rank Checkmates - Exercises (1) - Exercises (2)
Conclusion