Free Dacha Tactics

We would like to give you a chance to experience some YAACATTACK Academy tactics for free, before you commit to becoming member. The Dacha color-themed approach to chess is uniquely IM Yaacov's. We're positive it will radically change your chess game. Once you've checked out our free Dacha fundamentals videos lessons, you should next dive-in the Dacha-themed tactics, below.

Interact with each of the puzzles below. If you get stuck, you can always click the "lightbulb" icon in the lower-left of each of the puzzle frames. Each puzzle will be followed by solution video, narrated by IM Yaacov. Good luck!

Dacha Tactics #16

An interesting position has arisen. Both kings are slightly under fire. How do we begin? Color $$ of course! So it's our dark bishop vs his light. Meaning we're -1000 light and +1000 dark. The swing is real! How valuable is our dark $$? Well his king is tender and there are dark holes. Time is of the essence though because our f7 ( light) is under fire. To avoid a queen trade , drastic measures may be necessary...

Watch IM Yaacov solve and explain the puzzle in the video below.

Dacha Tactics #11

Famous position from Lasker vs Capa! To start, what is the color $$? The imbalance is knight vs light bishop, so that will mean we are behind on light but ahead on dark (+500). We also have more space. And the Ne6 "Sleeping Knight" is already tickling dark. The Nc3 -- not so much. Let's be creative and unlock the latent dark power in the position...

Watch IM Yaacov solve and explain the puzzle in the video below.

Dacha Tactics #9

White has lots of passed pawns -- it should be simple to win! Except that Black has a strong blockade on the dark-squares, preventing us from advancing to promote. If we can break this blockade, then we win with our passed pawns! Therefore, it's time to march in some dark support...

Watch IM Yaacov solve and explain the puzzle in the video below.

Dacha Tactics #6

This is a beautiful tactic by the great Adolf Anderssen from the 1800s. Clearly we are doing very well and have an attack brewing vs the white king, but how to proceed? As always -- we begin by assessing the Facts -- color facts! The imbalance is light (Golden) bishop for us, and knight for him. Which means we are ahead on light , he is ahead on dark. Which light squares are accessible for us? Let's have some faith in our golden bishop and peer in deeply -- do not take "No" for an answer...

Watch IM Yaacov solve and explain the puzzle in the video below.

Dacha Tactics #5

This was one of my favorites vs Magnus Carlsen. Through out the game I was proudly showing off my golden dark bishop lurking on b2. After many escapades, it netted me an extra piece. The finish is pretty, and will naturally relate to dark -- note our pressure on the long diagonal with mates on g7 and h8 looming. The rook on d8 protects -- and it also protects his weak (dark!) pawn on d6. We deserve to crack him on dark -- the only question is how...

Watch IM Yaacov solve and explain the puzzle in the video below.

Dacha Tactics #2

Black has an open h file which could be promising for a kingside attack. In addition , the color money is interesting -- we have a knight vs his light bishop, which means we are behind on light and ahead on dark. All this means that dark squares are especially vulnerable -- namely f2 and especially h2! While ordinary moves like Nc6 can easily give us a nice position, we may very well have more. The dark advantage provides heavy clues for where to look and calculate for the knockout blow...

Watch IM Yaacov solve and explain the puzzle in the video below.

Dacha Tactics #1

There is a color imbalance here: Black has a light-squared bishop against White's knight, so Black is up on light money, and his light-squared bishop is his golden bishop. Therefore, if there are tactics here -- it would make sense for them to be on light squares, as this is where White is weaker. Also, know that the g4-pawn stands out like a sore thumb on light -- White has exposed his king a bit too much... how to punish these light-squared weaknesses?

Watch IM Yaacov solve and explain the puzzle in the video below.

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