Chess Chess Tactics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'double check'?
- Two pieces simultaneously give check, requiring the king to move (Correct answer)
- A check that must be blocked and cannot be captured
- Checking the king twice in the same move with one piece
- A discovered check that also wins material
Correct answer: Two pieces simultaneously give check, requiring the king to move
Double check occurs when two pieces give check simultaneously after a discovered check; since both checks cannot be blocked or captured at once, the king must move.
Question 2: What is a 'deflection' tactic?
- Forcing an enemy piece away from a defensive duty (Correct answer)
- Blocking the opponent's attack with a sacrifice
- Using a pawn to control a key square
- Moving the king to a safer file
Correct answer: Forcing an enemy piece away from a defensive duty
A deflection is a tactic that forces an enemy piece away from defending a key square or piece, allowing exploitation of the newly undefended target.
Question 3: What is an 'overloaded piece'?
- A piece that has too many defensive duties and cannot fulfill them all (Correct answer)
- A piece that controls too many squares
- A queen placed on an open file
- A rook defending both a pawn and a file simultaneously
Correct answer: A piece that has too many defensive duties and cannot fulfill them all
An overloaded piece is one that is required to perform multiple defensive functions at once, making it possible to exploit by attacking both targets simultaneously.
Question 4: What is a 'windmill' combination in chess?
- A series of alternating discovered checks and direct checks winning material (Correct answer)
- A pawn storm against the castled king
- A rook and bishop battery on the long diagonal
- Promoting multiple pawns in sequence
Correct answer: A series of alternating discovered checks and direct checks winning material
A windmill is a tactical combination where a rook and bishop (or rook and queen) alternate delivering discovered checks and direct checks repeatedly, winning material each time.
Question 5: What is a 'decoy' in chess tactics?
- Luring an enemy piece to a bad square with a sacrifice (Correct answer)
- Advancing a pawn to promote it
- Blocking an enemy rook with a minor piece
- Exchanging queens to reach a favorable endgame
Correct answer: Luring an enemy piece to a bad square with a sacrifice
A decoy sacrifice lures an enemy piece to a specific square where it becomes vulnerable or where its new position allows a winning tactic.
Question 6: What is the 'Greek gift' sacrifice?
- A bishop sacrifice on h7 to expose the king after Ng5 (Correct answer)
- A queen sacrifice on d5 to open the center
- A rook sacrifice to promote a passed pawn
- A pawn sacrifice to gain space in the center
Correct answer: A bishop sacrifice on h7 to expose the king after Ng5
The Greek gift sacrifice is Bxh7+ (or Bxh2+), sacrificing the bishop on h7 to lure the king out and launch a mating attack, typically followed by Ng5+ and Qh5.
Chess Chess Tactics 2
What is 'double check'?