Chess tactics – move order matters!

As they say, when trying to find a combination, you should always start with a check, since those type of moves are most forcing. So…

Example #1: Broer -  Laurentius, 1935

White to move

While lazily solving this position, I fell victim to the move order, starting with 1.Bxh7+, which fails since after 1...Nxh7 2. Rd7 Qxd7 Black gets enough material for the queen. The solution is 1. Rd7!! Bxd7 2. Bxh7+! Nxh7 3. Qf7+ Kh8. 4. Ng6x

Game over…

 

Example #2: Henneberger – Bernstein, 1934

White to move

And again, in my solution I started with 1. Qg4, missing that Bxf5 covers c8 square. The solution is 1. Bg7+!! Rxg7 2. Rc8+ Rg8 3. Qg4!!

There is no single defence to both Qg7 and Qxg8.

Sometimes you do need to start with a check after all!