Puzzles from an Online Game: Lessons and Surprises

Let's dive into the highlights and see what we can glean from this lesson.

1. The Classic Fork

The first puzzle in the game emerged early on, if I had been careless and taken the offered e5-pawn. Forks are so strong because many times an opponent can stop one threat but not two or more.

2. Block the Check, Don’t Run Like a Chicken!

Later, I found myself in check. The natural instinct is often to move the King to safety, but in this position, I had a better option: blocking the check with a piece. By placing my Bishop on d2, I not only defended my King but also developed a piece!

The lesson here is to consider all your options when in check. Moving the King can often lead to a worse position, while blocking can maintain or even improve your stance on the board.

3. Preventing Castling: More Important Than You Think

At another point, I had an opportunity to prevent my opponent from castling. By playing 9. e5! and then 10. Bxf7+!! my opponent was unable to successfully castle. Unable to castle, my opponent’s King remained in the center of the board—ripe for attack.

4. The Decoy + Discovered Check

In this game I was able to draw out the Black King to f7, which I proved to be a poisonous square due to the Ng5+ discovered check.

Lesson Here: Always be aware of hidden threats. If your pieces are aligned, moving one can reveal a powerful threat with the other.

5. The Surprise: En Passant Discovered Check!

And now, for the pièce de résistance—the move I never thought I’d see in a game: an en passant discovered check!

Here’s how it happened: My opponent pushed a pawn two squares forward, landing beside one of my pawns. Sensing an opportunity, I captured en passant. But here’s the twist: as I captured, I unveiled a discovered check from my Queen! My opponent was caught completely off guard.

The lesson? Always stay alert for unconventional tactics. Even a rare move, like en passant, can create rare and powerful combinations, if you're imaginative enough.