Pin test, level 1

How much do you know about the pin in chess? Find out here!. Please make sure you type your moves like this: Don't type exclamation marks (!), question marks (?), checks (+) or any other signs, except the "x" for captures. Also, make sure you use short algebraic notation. For example, if you're taking a queen on b5, you should write: Bxb5 = correct. Bf1xb5 = Wrong, BxQb5 = Wrong (you're not using the short algebraic notation in either case). Bd7 = correct. Ad7+ = Wrong (You shouldn't use any signs, just the "x" for captures). Piece initials are written using capital letters: Bxc5 = correct. bxc5 = Wrong if you meant Bishop takes c5. A "b" in small case is considered a b pawn. Don't preceed a move by ... if it's black to move, don't add any numbers to indicate the mover numbre.

1. White has just taken on c7, a very serious error in a position where black's compensation was already clear. How would you exploit it?

2. 9...Ne7 is a blunder. What does white play here?

3. After Black's last move, 9...Qd7, everything seems under control. Well... not everything! What would you play as white now?

4. Black has fallen into a well known Sicilian trap. What's white's strongest move here?

5. Black's weak opening play has given white a large advantage. How should white continue at this point?

6. Choose a move for white here:

10.Ne5 (exploiting the pin to the knight on c6)

10.Nd2, attacking the Black knight at c6 and planning Nc4.

7. White has just played 9.f3?? a move which severely weakens white's position. How can black exploit it?

8. Choose a move for black here:

Nc6

9. White has a nice game here. What should he do next?

Bb2, to continue his development.

e4, playing in the center.

10. White to play. What would you play here?

11. A pretty normal looking position, isn't it? Black has just played 8...e5, and nothing seems to indicate that there's anything wrong with black's position. Yet... What would you play as white now?

12. After 8.e5 black played 8...Nxe5, a somewhat desperate sacrifice. How should white continue now?

Simply 9.dxe, avoiding complications. True, black gets a couple of pawns for his pieces after 9...Qxe5, but surely that's not enough compensation!

9.Qe1 or 9.Qe2, will win the knight next move...

13. 9.a3?? is a blunder. What did white overlook?

14. A well known position from the Budapest Gambit. Choose white's best move here:

8.axb

8.e3

8.Qa4

15. White's position is a little better. Do you see a good move to increase this advantage?

16. What is black threatening here?

17. White has just taken back on c3. What would you play here as black?

18. Black has fallen into a somewhat forgotten Russian line... how would you punish black's mistakes now?

19. This position was reached in one of Nunn's games against Bulgarian GM K.Georgiev. Does white have enough for his piece here? What would you play after 9...Kd8?

20. There seems to be something terribly wrong with white's position here... and there is! What would you play as black to exploit it?