Usborne Puzzle Answers – level 2 To print out this answer sheet, click on ‘File’ and then ‘Print’ in the menu at the top of your browser.

1. Black should play 1…Bc8, so the covers the crucial a6–c8 diagonal and stops any of White’s Pawns from advancing.

2. 1…Be2+ forks the and the .When the King moves out of , Black can take the Knight.

3.The best move is 1.Ra5+, which will capture the on h5 after the King moves out of check. 1.Rxa6 wins only a and 1.Re2+ captures the e8 Knight with a skewer attack.

4. 1.Qg7++. Note that if White plays 1.Qa8+, Black blocks with 1…Bf8 and the game continues.

5. 1.Bf6++.

6. 1…Nd3++.The Pawn on e2 is pinned by the black so the white King is trapped in a .

7. 1…Nh3+ forces White to play 2.Kh1. Black can then play 2…Bb7++.

8. Black can play 1…Nf3+, shielding the King from check, and at the same time, checking White so that White’s next move, 2.Kh1, is forced. (White’s Queen is pinned by the Rook on a1 and cannot capture the Knight.) Black can now play 2…Rxh2++.

9. If Black plays 1…Bh3,White cannot prevent 2…Qg2++.

10. 1…Nf3+, 2.Kh1 Qxh2++ or 1…Nh3+, 2.Kh1 Bxg2++.

11. 1.Ba7+ Ka8, 2.Qc8++ or 1.Ra8+ Kxa8 (the Rook is sacrificed), 2.Qc8++.

12. 1.Rxa7+ Kxa7, 2.Qa5++.

13.White should move 1.Bg1 so Black can play 1…Kg3++ (discovered check and mate).

14. 1.Ke4 Kc6, 2.Kf3 Kd5, 3.Kg2 Ke4, 4.Kh1 Kf3, 5.Bh2 Kf2++.

15.The white King is on f3.The black King is in the corner on h1, under fire from the two Bishops. White’s mating move is Kxf2++, a discovered check from the Bishop on d5.

16. 1.Rc6+.The white Rook blocks the h1–a8 diagonal and the black Rook, which was pinned by the a8 Bishop, can now capture the Bishop on h7.

17. 1.Qg1+ Kd2, 2.Qc1+ Kd3, 3.Qc3++.

18. 1.Bc3 (to strengthen White’s control of the a1–h8 diagonal), then Black cannot prevent 2.Qh8++.

19.The answer is forced – 1.d4 b5, 2.d5 b4, 3.axb4 a3, 4.b5 a2, 5.b6 a1(Q), 6.b7++.

20. 1.Bc3 e2, 2.Bd2++ or 1.Bc3 gxh2, 2.Bxe5++.

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