Sometimes when I reach a winning position I switch the board around and I let my students finish me off. It's frightening to see how much pleasure they derive from seeing coach Vas go down in flames. But it's good training because in tournaments players often fail to bring the full point home.

White to play

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Almost anything wins here because White is up a Queen. (Black got his Queen trapped earlier.) 
So, full marks for seeing and playing 1.Qxf5!!+ gxf5 2. gxh6 +- One mark for bravery and one for seeing that the White pawn will Queen. And it took him seconds, not a long think. I love it.

This is a position from my training game with one of the best 3rd graders in BC.

​Black to move.

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My young opponent quickly found 1. ...Rh1+  2. Kxh1 b1=Q+ 3. Kh2 Qxc8 4.Qxc8 and coach Vas eventually outplayed his young opponent. End of story? Not so fast.

​What else can Black play?

1. ...Qxc8! and now 2. Qxc8 loses to b1=Q so, White has to play 2. Qxf7+ and he escapes with a draw because the Black King can't hide on the b-file, allowing Qxb2+ and picking up the rook on a1.

Homework:
Play it out and see if you can get away from checks by the White Queen.

It's about to get very exciting for chess players as the World Chess Championship starts in London, England on November 9, 2018.

The current title holder and #1 in the World GM Magnus Carlsen is taking on #2 American GM Fabiano Caruana. Check out this link and follow the games on the chess server of your choice.

If you're new to chess, you can always take a few lessons so you can enjoy the match more. Please contact chess coach NCM Vas Sladek, text 604-562-3736.

White to move. In the game he played 1.Qxg5 Nxg5 and eventually lost. What did he miss? 

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