ALEX'S PUZZLE w/ EXPLANATIONS - Coach Sean.

PUZZLING PUZZLE NUMBER TWO - Alex's Puzzle!

Tactics can happen during any phase of the game - and do happen in the endgame. The endgame requires a different set of "thinking" skills - so my tip to you is that once you get into the endgame and providing that you have enough time on your chess clock that you get up from the board and go get a drink of water or walk around the playing hall to relax. It is called taking a break and this is important as we do tire from our effort at the board. To focus upon one thing for so long can take a lot of energy so to refresh I suggest that once you enter the endgame - take the mini break. When you come back to the board focus upon the position again and dig back into the complexity of your game.

Another good tip for you to use during a game is to get up during your opponent's move and to go quietly and carefully around to their side of the board. Without disturbing him/her take a look at the board from their side and begin to think about the position. Believe it or not this will allow you to sometimes find ideas that you may have missed from your "perspective" - from where you were seated. Till you are able to keep the image of a chess board with pieces upon it in your mind this tip will allow you to catch mistakes that you might have otherwise made.

A common endgame chess tactic is the SKEWER. In positions with fewer pieces and pawns upon the board there are, naturally, more open lines. The usual suspects for an endgame skewer tactic is one of our line pieces. Queens, Bishops and Rooks are the pieces that can skewer other pieces. The skewer tactic of using the threat of pawn promotion to entice an enemy Rook onto a square behind their King allows us to go for this skewer tactic. You will either promote your pawn or they will lose their Rook - either way, with care, you win.

- Coach Sean.

Be on the look out for this tactical shot - it can and will happen in your games. Make sure you do not allow your opponent's to pull this tactic on you!