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50+2 Chess Quick Wins: Tactical ideas for exciting chess for beginner players. Buy on Amazon! US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | NL | AU

My book, “50+2 Chess Quick Wins: Tactical ideas for exciting chess for beginner players” was published and released on Amazon in October 2023. This is the third video and article of a series that will cover the first section of the book, that explains tactical ideas and themes that underlie many quick win games!

In the previous article, “Tactics: Bishop + Queen f-pawn attack”, the tactic arose from the unique weakness of the f-pawn at the beginning of the game – that it is only defended by the king. The king is not a good defender due to the forcing conditions of check – a player cannot end their turn with their king directly under attack by an opponent’s piece.

There is one other piece that is also only defended by the king at the beginning of the game, the queen! This also creates a potential tactical pattern that can result in a quick win by winning the opponent’s queen, though, it occurs rather less frequently.

The tactic is potentially available when there is a fully open d-file, and the queens “see each other”. The tactic is possible due to the following notable facts at the opening stages of chess:

• The queen is only defended by the king.
• The f-pawn is only defended by the king.
• A player must respond to check, either by moving the king out of check, blocking the check, or by capturing the checking piece.

At the opening stages of a game, both Black’s queen and f-pawn are only defended by the king. As the f-pawn and queen are not on adjacent squares to each other, we could exploit this fact tactically if we can launch an attack on Black’s queen and f-pawn simultaneously. Simply, the king cannot defend both at the same time. If Black is forced to prioritise the f-pawn, for instance, the king is in check, then the king will be deflected away from the defence of the queen.

Example 1 – Englund Gambit Accepted

Example 2 – Stafford Gambit line

[Event "Tactical Pattern"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3qk3/4pp2/8/3B4/8/8/4P3/3QK3 w - - 0 1"]

{[%c_arrow
e8d8;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,e8f7;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false]}
1. Bxf7+ {[%c_arrow
d1d7;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false,e8f8;keyPressed;shift;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false,f7e8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,e8f7;keyPressed;shift;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false]
Bishop captures the weak f-pawn with check. Black's king must respond. As the
d-file is \"fully open\", the king cannot escape to the d-file. It's only legal
options are to capture the bishop on f7, or escape to f8 - both options remove
the king's defence of the queen.} 1... Kxf7 {[%c_arrow
d1d8;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,e8f7;keyPressed;shift;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false] The king is deflected
away from the queen.} 2. Qxd8 {[%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d1d8;keyPressed;shift;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false] And the queen
is lost.} *


[Event "Game 1 - Englund Gambit Accepted"]
[Result "0-1"]

{[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]
Let's keep a focus on the white king's defence of the queen and f-pawn} 1. d4
{[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]}
1... e5 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]}
2. dxe5 {[%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false]
Englund Gambit Accepted - note the semi-opened d-file} 2... Bc5 {[%c_arrow
c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]
Bishop has vision on the weak f-pawn} 3. Nf3 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]}
3... d6 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]
Tempting white to capture} 4. exd6 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]
Note: as per our tactical pattern, White's pawn on d6 is relatively pinned to
their queen} 4... Ne7 $5 {[%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Interesting;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]
A trap $1 If White doesn't appreciate the tactical pattern, it isn't immediately
obvious that the pawn is pinned $1} 5. dxe7 $4 {[%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Blunder;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false]
They blunder $1} 5... Bxf2+ $1 {[%c_effect
f2;square;f2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false,e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f2e1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false]
Check, and the white king has only one legal move} 6. Kxf2 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]
The king is deflected to f2 and the white queen is no longer defended $1} 6...
Qxd1 {[%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d8d1;keyPressed;shift;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Winner]} 0-1


[Event "Game 2 - Stafford Gambit"]
[Result "0-1"]

{[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]
Let's keep an eye on the white king's defence of the queen and f-pawn} 1. e4
{[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]}
1... e5 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]}
2. Nf3 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]}
2... Nf6 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]}
3. Nxe5 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]}
3... Nc6 $5 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Interesting;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]
Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit} 4. Nxc6 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]}
4... dxc6 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]
Notice the d-file is now semi-open} 5. d3 {[%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]}
5... Bc5 {[%c_arrow
c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]
Black's bishop now has vision on the weak f-pawn. Notice, in accordance to our
tactical pattern, this makes White's d-pawn relatively pinned to the White
queen, meaning that it isn't actually defending the e-pawn on e4  $1} 6. Bg5 $4
{[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]
This is a blunder as White can escape the pin with impunity  $1} 6... Nxe4 $3
{[%c_effect
e4;square;e4;type;Brilliant;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false]
An oh no my queen sacrifice  $1 The bishop cannot capture the queen due to
checkmate-in-two (7... Bxf2+ 8. Ke2 Bg4#)} 7. dxe4 $4 {[%c_arrow
d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1f2;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false][%c_effect
e4;square;e4;type;Blunder;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] White avoids the
checkmate, but doesn't see the secondary trap  $1} 7... Bxf2+ {[%c_arrow
f2e1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,e1d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false]}
8. Ke2 {[%c_highlight
c8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false,e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false,e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e2d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,f2e3;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false,f2e1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false]
White's king tries to avoid the deflection} 8... Bg4+ $1 {[%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g4d1;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,f2e1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,f2e3;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false,e2d1;keyPressed;shift;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,g4;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false,d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false]
But the deflection is unavoidable...} 9. Kxf2 {[%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,g4;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false][%c_arrow
g4d1;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false]}
9... Qxd1 {[%c_arrow
d1e1;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,d1g4;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;g4;persistent;false,d8d1;keyPressed;shift;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,g4;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false][%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Winner] And the queen is lost} 0-1