Two positions - homework 2

Position 2.1

This position comes from the Ruy Lopez.  If you open with 1.e4 no doubt you have seen it before.

What would you play as White, can you list Black's threats and let me know why your move is good.  Also think of another move for White.

Position 2.2

Its Black to play can you find the winning moves?

There are clues below, but first answers from last week.

Answers from week 1

1.1

Black is trying to hold the pawn.  White should undermine Black's pawns with 4.a4
4... c6 (4...a6?, 5.axb5 and Black's a-pawn is pinned, or 4...bxa4? 5.Bxc4 when White is ahead in development and will win the a-pawn)
5.b3 sees another undermining move.  Another way to play is (5.axb5 cxb5, 6.Nc3 when we see a true Gambit take a look at this position, in fact go further and play some games using this if possible.)
5. ...cxb3, 6.axb5 cxb5, 7.Bxb5 Bd7, 8.Qxb3 When material is equal, but White is better placed.
1.2

The stunning 1.Qxh7 is easy to find when you see that the King is in a corridor, like a back rank mate, because the knight controls g8 and g6. 1...Kxh7, 2.Rh5#

Corridor mates are quite common, or rather tactics that win material to prevent them are!!  If we can build up a number of positions we have seen before this gives us ideas at the board, so queen sacrifices are at least considered.

Clues for week 2

2.1 Did you notice e4 under attack?  White can use a pin to ignore the threat.

2.2 The King and queen are lined up on the e1-a5 diagonal, this is a trigger to look for a skewer.  Look at your checks first.