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This is continuation of the previous week’s tactical studies. Here are another 7 very difficult mate in 2 problems. You can approach them in two different ways. First, you should try to analyze the position before struggling to find the right moves. In this type of problems each piece is usually does a specific job and if you find this job, your problem is almost solved. So, first approach is to try to solve them on the diagram without shuffling the pieces on the chess board. If you find that quite difficult, only then you should go ahead and use the board (second approach). Visualization is the key. In each problemGood luck.

Diagram on the left: I have decided to put an actual problem (I. Shel “De Maasbode”. White to mave and mate in 2) due to the confusion caused by the previous’ week position, which was there just for demonstration purposes.

Time is precious when you don’t have enough of it. ~ chess quote by Vladimir Kramnik

A strong player requires only a few minutes of thought to get to the heart of the conflict. You see a solution immediately, and half an hour later merely convince yourself that your intuition has not deceived you. ~ chess quote by David Bronstein

In blitz, the knight is stronger than the bishop. ~ chess quote by Vlastmil Hort
Yes, I have played a blitz game once. It was on a train, in 1929. ~ chess quote by Mikhail Botvinnik
It is very difficult to play a single blitz game! You want to play for a long time. So I tend not to do that anymore. ~ chess quote by Viswanathan Anand

What is the object of playing a gambit opening?… To acquire a reputation of being a dashing player at the cost of losing a game ~ chess quote by Siegbert Tarrasch

Many Chess players were surprised when after the game, Fischer quietly explained: ‘I had already analyzed this possibility’ in a position which I thought was not possible to foresee from the opening ~ chess quote by Mikhail Tal

No other master has such a terrific will to win. At the board, he radiates danger, and even the strongest opponents tend to freeze, like rabbits when they smell a panther. Even his weaknesses are dangerous. As white, his opening game is predictable – you can make plans against it – but so strong that your plans almost never work. In the middle game his precision and invention are fabulous, and in the end game, you simply cannot beat him. ~ chess quote by Anonymous-German Expert

Chess holds its master in its own bonds, shackling the mind and brain so that the inner freedom of the very strongest must suffer. ~ chess quote by Albert Einstein

In Chess, as it is played by masters, chance is practically eliminated. ~ chess quote by Emanuel Lasker

Every pawn is a potential Queen. ~ chess quote by Mason

It cannot be too greatly emphasized that the most important role in pawn endings is played by the king.  ~ chess quote by Siegbert Tarrasch

The Passed Pawn is a criminal, who should be kept under lock and key. Mild measures, such as police surveillance, are not sufficient. ~ chess quote by Nimzovich

The scheme of a game is played on positional lines; the decision of it, as a rule, is effected by combinations. ~ chess quote by Reti

In the perfect chess combination as in a first-rate short story, the whole plot and counter-plot should lead up to a striking finale, the interest not being allayed until the very last moment. ~ chess quote by Yates and Winter

Openings teach you openings. Endgames teach you chess! ~ chess quote by Stephan Gerzadowicz

The strategy requires thought, tactics require observation. ~ chess quote by Max Euwe

I have written previously that tactics is a very important part of chess. In fact many chess games are being resolved due to some form of tactics: sacrifice, fork, pin, double attack, skewer, etc. Therefore, regularly practicing tactics will not only allow you to play better attacking chess, but will also make you see things your opponent is planning to do and hopefully to prevent it. You already may know that it is possible to solve tactical problems on this website by going here; these are pretty straightforward positions which are not very hard to solve.

The problems posted below are not exactly your ordinary tactical puzzles. The main difference is that you need to find the way to mate in the specified number of moves. Many of them are really easy to solve without this limitation. But they are very hard to solve in required number of moves, so our goal is to obey this rule. This week’s tactical studies will only include “mate in 2” problems. If you think it’s too easy, think again.  The solutions and next 7 problems will be posted next week. Good Luck.