15. Qd3 r4rk1/1p1qbppp/5n2/p1Pp4/bP1N1B2/2P5/P4PPP/RN1QR1K1 w - - 0 15 15. c6! Yes, a loose piece can drop off, even when it's attacking a Queen. 15... Bxc6 (15... Bxd1 16. cxd7 and both Bishops are hanging) 16. b5! is a neat combi nation of trapping and overworking. Black's Q is stuck guarding e7 and is thus not able to recapture on b5 after 16... Bxb5 17. Nxb5 . * [White's best move?]

8/1nq5/bppp4/1p1k1K1N/1rrp3b/2pp2p1/8/n7 w - - 0 1

1. Nf4+ Kc5 2. Ne6+ Kd5 3. Nxc7+ Kc5 4. Nxa6+ Kd5 5. Nc7+ Kc5 6. Ne6+ Kd5 7. Nf4+ Kc5 8. Ke4! Entices Black to block the d5 square. Not immediately 8. Ke6? Nd8+ and wK can no longer cover d5. 8... d5+ 9. Ke5 Bf6+ 10. Ke6 Nd8+ 11. Kd7 and Black's out of tricks. 12.N(x)d3# is inevitable. * [White mates in 12]

3r1nk1/5ppp/p1r2q2/1pp1pPN1/3pP1Q1/1P1P2R1/P1P3PP/5RK1 w - - 0 25

25. Nf3 25. Ne6! wins on the spot. 25... fxe6 26. fxe6 Qg6 (26... Qe7? 27. Rf7) 27. Qh4 threatens RxQ and e7. 1-0 [White wins]

8/8/p7/1p1rp1p1/2k3P1/P1P5/1PK1R3/8 w - - 0 38

38. b4! weaves a mating net around the enemy K. 38... Rd6 39. Rxe5 Rc6 40. Rxg5 is a tragic omic state of affairs; thanks to the menace of Rc5#, Black can do nothing but shuffle his Rook and watch while White promotes the g-pawn. 1-0 [White wins]

r1bq1rk1/p2pbppp/1pn1pn2/2p1N3/2P5/4P1P1/PP1PQPBP/RNB2RK1 b - - 0 8

8... Qc7 8... Nxe5! 9. Bxa8 Ba6 10. Bg2 Bxc4 gains the exchange back with interest. * [Black's best move?]

k6r/pp4p1/2b1q2p/6r1/3Qp3/P7/1PP1B1P1/1K1R3R w - - 0 1

Paradoxically, White's blow is aimed at the seemingly best-defended piece. The justification is the weakness of the back rank.

1. Rxh6!! Black can't capture ( 1. Qd8+? Qc8 and Black is safe 1... gxh6 1... Rxh6 2. Qd8+ 1... Qxh6 2. Qd8+ ) or move the Q ( 1... Qe8 2. Rxh8 again menaces Qd8+) 2. Qxh8+ , so he must lose her to prevent mate. * [White wins]

brr3k1/5p1p/p3p1p1/2q5/1nN5/1B2QP2/P5PP/2RR2K1 w - - 0 27

27. Rd8+! undermines the bQ. 27... Rxd8 27... Kg7 28. Qxc5 Rxc5 29. Rxb8 28. Qxc5 1-0 [White wins]

2r4k/2r3pp/1p1p1q2/1P1P4/pKP1b3/P6B/3Q3P/2R3R1 b - - 0 1

1... Bc2! interferes with the defense of c4 and b2 at once. When White captures, he has only one piece guarding both threats, leaving him susceptible to a decoying sacrifice. 2. Qxc2 2. Rxc2 Qb2+ 3. Rxb2 (3. Kxa4 Ra7+ and mate next.) 3... Rxc4# 2... Rxc4+ 3. Qxc4 Qb2+ and mate next. * [Black mates in 4]

8/p1k3p1/8/8/K3n3/P1P5/6P1/5B2 b - - 0 1

Who says you can't play for mate in the endgame? After

1... Kb6! Black thre atens ...a5 and ...Nc5#. White cannot escape without losing his Bishop: 2. Kb3 2. Kb4 a5+ 3. Kb3 Nd2+ 2. Be2 Nxc3+ 2. Bd3 Nc5+ 2. Bb5 Nxc3+ 2. Bc4 Nc5+ 3. Kb4 a5# 2... Nd2+ * [Black wins]