With the Independence Day weekend upon us, we will be skipping chess next Tuesday night (July 4th) and instead leave that time to celebrate with our families and friends.  We’ll see you again on July 11th.

As a gift to keep you busy in the meantime, here’s another tactical exercise from David Hayes.  If you like these puzzles, this problem and more can be found under the tactics’ menu’s Help Me Find a Better Move.

Hayes vs Wang 2017

This is a position from the first round of the June Huntsville Classic. Here White has a strong attack against my King.  If White can get h5 in, then my position will become uncomfortable.  Play could have continued 33. BxB QxB+ 34. QxQ fxQ, and I would have a long, but winable endgame given white’s disconnected and doubled pawns.  However, I was fortunate.  This time, I found the better move.  Can you?

Solution: Hint: Pawn Power