Counterattack, part 2 is lesson 5 of 8 in Defensive moves, a tactics course suited to players rated around 1400 (club players). Sometimes the best defence is a bigger threat: a check or a capture that the opponent has to answer first. More positions, a little harder. It has 8 interactive exercises: 8 calculated lines from real positions. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What you practise
Black to move: you are under threat, so strike first. (3 positions)
White to move: you are under threat, so strike first. (3 positions)
Black to move: mate in 4.
White to move: mate in 5.
Worked examples
Black to move: you are under threat, so strike first. 1...Rxb7 2.Bxa2 Rb2 3.Bb1 Rxb1+. You were under threat, but Rxb7 struck harder and the opponent never had time to carry it out. You win the rook on b7 and come out 3 points ahead.
White to move: you are under threat, so strike first. 1.Rxc4 Kxc4 2.f7 c2 3.f8=Q. You were under threat, but Rxc4 struck harder and the opponent never had time to carry it out. You win the rook on c4 and come out 8 points ahead.
chessGM