Tactics Puzzle #5 (Easy)

Let's have another edition of tactics puzzles. All of these were taken from my games online. This is an easy version so this would only test your basic knowledge or awareness of tactics. Remember that if you look for them, you will be able to find tactics in different positions. Even seemingly boring or symmetrical positions can turn into a blood bath in the blink of an eye. Of course, these following puzzles do not have that feature but they are useful nonetheless.

#1: In this first puzzle, it's White to play. I think it's quite obvious that this is a big advantage for White. Hint: Oftentimes, when the h-file or a-file is open and the king is castled on that side, it often exposes the king to threats. In this case, White can easily get the upper hand.

Solution:

1. Rh4+ Qh6
2. Bxh6 g6
3. Bf4+ Kg7
4. Bxe5+ f6
5. Qc7+ Rf7
6. Rf7+ Kxh7
7. Qxf7+ Kh8
8. Bxf6#

Alternative:
2. Bxh6 Nxd3
3. Qxd3 Kg8
4. Bxg7 Kxg7
5. Qg3+ Kf6
6. Re1 Bf5
7. Rh6+ Bg6
8. Qe5#

If:
6. Re1 Bc1
7. Nxc1 Bf5
8. Rh6+ Bg6
9. Qe5#

#2: It's White's turn to play. This one's a pretty simple tactic which I missed. I was a bit short-sighted and I didn't notice that there was a very obvious way to get the advantage. Because I missed this tactic, I eventually lost the game.

Solution:

1. Bxc6 Bxc6
2. Qxc6 dxc3
3. bxc3 b3
4. Bb2

In this situation, even though Black is down a piece, he does have a passed pawn which he can support. He can use this to put pressure on White and launch a counterattack if he can coordinate all his pieces and minimize his weaknesses.

#3: White to play. This last puzzle also seems pretty obvious. When you've got two rooks on the second or seventh rank, you know there's going to be trouble. Black's pieces are all over the place and the king is almost bare in terms of defense. There are two ways to approach this position. One way is more direct while the other takes a bit of time.

Solution:

1. Ne4! This move is the most direct way to threaten Black. The knight wants to go to f6 and deliver mate with the rook. White's options are limited and they involve sacrificing a piece to avert mate. My engine suggests Nc7 but there's just too much activity going on for White.

The other method is:
1. Rxh7+ Kg8
2. Ne4 Rc6
3. Rhf7

This second approach is almost similar to the first. And it's just as good. But the difference I think is simply the use of tempo. When the rook takes the pawn and gives check, there's no decisive move that follows. The rooks still need the support of the knight to be able to mate the king. So why not go in with the knight immediately? But as I said, this is still a good move. The engine gives White a big advantage.