Skip to content

Daily Dacha Tactics

Each day we add a Dacha color-themed tactic for interactive play. Test your color theory and enjoy!

Members Public

Dacha Tactics #107 - Queen goes back to acting school.

Dacha Tactics #107 - Queen goes back to acting school.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #106 - The light dance!- squeezing that tempo.

Dacha Tactics #106 - The light dance!- squeezing that tempo.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #105 - Knight is the light undertaker...bishop pair mocked!

Dacha Tactics #105 - Knight is the light undertaker...bishop pair mocked!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #104 - Knight got dark bling bling

Dacha Tactics #104 - Knight got dark bling bling
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #103 - Cashing in all that dark money

Dacha Tactics #103 - Cashing in all that dark money
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #102 - Hips don't lie...same for color money.

Dacha Tactics #102 - Hips don't lie...same for color money.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #101 - The overly eager king.

Dacha Tactics #101 - The overly eager king.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #100 - Dark Zinger.

Dacha Tactics #100 - Dark Zinger.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #99 - Bughouse dacha.

Dacha Tactics #99 - Bughouse dacha.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #98 - Classic light faith.

Dacha Tactics #98 - Classic light faith.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #97 - Unlocking the gates.

Dacha Tactics #97 - Unlocking the gates.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #96 - Dark medley.

Dacha Tactics #96 - Dark medley.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #95 - Dark surprise - not a coincidence.

Dacha Tactics #95 - Dark surprise - not a coincidence.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #94 - Earthquake Dacha!

Dacha Tactics #94 - Earthquake Dacha!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #93 - Bronstein opens the dark flood gates.

Dacha Tactics #93 - Bronstein opens the dark flood gates.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #92 - Dark highway to Rome.

Dacha Tactics #92 - Dark highway to Rome.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #91 - Extreme light faith.

Dacha Tactics #91 - Extreme light faith.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #90 - Dark money taken to the bank.

Dacha Tactics #90 - Dark money taken to the bank.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #89 - rarest of rare -- dark Dacha stairway to heaven!

I just came across this position and it is a beautiful one. The black king is a sitting dark duck on a1 but for now it seems mostly safe. Clearly the goal will be to lock up the black king with the knight, bishop – and hopefully the king. Let'

Dacha Tactics #89 - rarest of rare -- dark Dacha stairway to heaven!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #88 - dark pin, forks and spoons galore!

Dacha Tactics #88 - dark pin, forks and spoons galore!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #87 - full light explosion in real time

Dacha Tactics #87 - full light explosion in real time
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #86 - the sleeper Golden Bishop

Dacha Tactics #86 - the sleeper Golden Bishop
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #85 - light bishop turns dark

Dacha Tactics #85 - light bishop turns dark
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #84 - Dark investments paying light dividends

This was an interesting game of mine. Our king seems a bit safer than his , what with his dark weaknesses and the slight delay in castling. Also note on the queen side how our knights are in party mode and our dark bishop is enjoying the dark pressure. Color money

Dacha Tactics #84 - Dark investments paying light dividends
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #83 - Lil August creating dark magic -- Part 2

Dacha Tactics #83 - Lil August creating dark magic -- Part 2
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #82 - Lil August creating dark magic -- Part 1

Dacha Tactics #82 - Lil August creating dark magic -- Part 1
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #81 - GothemChess topples the light resistence

Dacha Tactics #81 - GothemChess topples the light resistence
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #80 - Hikaru unleashes the Golden Bishop

Dacha Tactics #80 - Hikaru unleashes the Golden Bishop
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #79 - yearning for dark, purest of pure

Dacha Tactics #79 - yearning for dark, purest of pure
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #78 - light peekabo Dacha

Dacha Tactics #78 - light peekabo Dacha
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #77 - oozing light!

Dacha Tactics #77 - oozing light!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #76 - Final light straw!!

Dacha Tactics #76 - Final light straw!!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #75 - Dark dacha by hook or by crook.

Dacha Tactics #75 - Dark dacha by hook or by crook.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #74 - King and knight heroic dark!!

Dacha Tactics #74 - King and knight heroic dark!!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #73 - Extreme Dark Faith

Dacha Tactics #73 - Extreme Dark Faith
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #72 - Carlsen hiccup!! dark pawn dacha.

Dacha Tactics #72 - Carlsen hiccup!! dark pawn dacha.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #71 - Dark splash!

Dacha Tactics #71 - Dark splash!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #70 - Immortal dacha walk!

Dacha Tactics #70 - Immortal dacha walk!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #69 - The light straw that broke the camel's back

Dacha Tactics #69 - The light straw that broke the camel's back
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #68 - Golden light bishop lurking!

Dacha Tactics #68 - Golden light bishop lurking!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #67 - Light Zwischenzug - with dark intentions

Dacha Tactics #67 - Light Zwischenzug - with dark intentions
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #66 - Dark blow - not a coincidence

Dacha Tactics #66 - Dark blow - not a coincidence
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #65 - Light with Dark intentions!

Dacha Tactics #65 - Light with Dark intentions!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #64 - Bobby Pin

Dacha Tactics #64 - Bobby Pin
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #63 - Fischer's Light Shocker!

Dacha Tactics #63 - Fischer's Light Shocker!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #62 - Fischer's oozing light.

Dacha Tactics #62 - Fischer's oozing light.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #61 - Fischer's dark shocker!

Dacha Tactics #61 - Fischer's dark shocker!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #60 - Golden Dark bishop strikes in endgame!

Dacha Tactics #60 - Golden Dark bishop strikes in endgame!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #59 - The queen acts as a ........

Dacha Tactics #59 - The queen acts as a ........
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #58 - Endgame finesse - yearning for light harmony.

Dacha Tactics #58 - Endgame finesse - yearning for light harmony.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #57 - Golden light bishop shows what it's got!

Dacha Tactics #57 - Golden light bishop shows what it's got!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #56 - a dark shocker -- a dacha special!!

Dacha Tactics #56 - a dark shocker -- a dacha special!!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #55 - Oozing dark.

Dacha Tactics #55 - Oozing dark.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #54 - Soft light tickle!

Dacha Tactics #54 - Soft light tickle!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #53 - Dzindzi soft dark touch!

Dacha Tactics #53 - Dzindzi soft dark touch!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #52 - Dzindzi wants the juicy golden bishop!

Dacha Tactics #52 - Dzindzi wants the juicy golden bishop!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #51 - Bishop pair + passed pawn is too much harmony!!

Dacha Tactics #51 - Bishop pair + passed pawn is too much harmony!!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #50 - Dzindzi's golden bishop and its henchmen!

Dacha Tactics #50 - Dzindzi's golden bishop and its henchmen!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #49 - Dzindzi's bear hug on the light squares!

Dacha Tactics #49 - Dzindzi's bear hug on the light squares!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #48 - The light straw that broke the dacha's back!

Dacha Tactics #48 - The light straw that broke the dacha's back!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #47 - Dzindi's bishop can change colors!

Dacha Tactics #47 - Dzindi's bishop can change colors!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #46 - Dzindzi's dark shocker!

Dacha Tactics #46 - Dzindzi's dark shocker!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #45 - Dzindzi's light saber!

Dacha Tactics #45 - Dzindzi's light saber!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #44 - Dzindzi's dark knockout blow!

Dacha Tactics #44 - Dzindzi's dark knockout blow!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #43 - "sleeping knight" gets a good night's sleep in the dark.

Dacha Tactics #43 - "sleeping knight" gets a good night's sleep in the dark.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #42 - "trapped" horsie shows its worth in light.

Dacha Tactics #42 - "trapped" horsie shows its worth in light.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #41 - another smooth dark knockout!

Dacha Tactics #41 - another smooth dark knockout!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #40 - smooth dark knockout!

Dacha Tactics #40 - smooth dark knockout!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #39 - dark "parachute" dacha!

Dacha Tactics #39 - dark "parachute" dacha!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #38 - Bent Larsen golden bishop queen sacrifice!

Dacha Tactics #38 - Bent Larsen golden bishop queen sacrifice!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #37 - Petrosian queen sacrifice is Nehz's inspiration!

Dacha Tactics #37 - Petrosian queen sacrifice is Nehz's inspiration!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #36 - dark and light.

Dacha Tactics #36 - dark and light.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #35 - Nezh's dark magic!

A classic Nezh game here. The position looks normal and a sane player would try and save the queen. However this is Nezh, and to boot -- the dark squares on black's kingside are looking fine and tasty today. How to proceed? Try and procure the Nezh dark

Dacha Tactics #35 - Nezh's dark magic!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #34 - cracking Naroditsky with strict cheesecake dark dacha.

A juicy smooth cheesecake has arisen. Where to look for plans? Well the color money is equal. However there are some weak dark squares in question --and with black's bishop on g7 relatively sleeping, our dark bishop on a3 is ready to pounce! Interact with the puzzle below.

Dacha Tactics #34 - cracking Naroditsky with strict cheesecake dark dacha.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #33 - king shows dark chops to hold draw!

White's bishop looks trapped. Is there a form of escape or is it simply over? Let's look at color $ -- both have light bishops, neither have dark. If there is hope -- it will be on dark. But how? Let's dig deep for underground

Dacha Tactics #33 - king shows dark chops to hold draw!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #32 - knight shows off dark.

From a blitz battle -- all seems normal-- but how about some color money investigation! We have a knight vs white's light bishop. Which means we are ahead on dark but behind on light. His king stands on dark, seemingly activating his king like the books tell us

Dacha Tactics #32 - knight shows off dark.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #31 - battle versus Caruana, knight showing light juice!

Battle vs Caruana! We are black here, in a bit of a time scramble. How to begin? Well let's see the color $$ -- knight his dark bishop. So we are ahead on light, he's ahead on dark. There are some juicy opportunities for our knight on

Dacha Tactics #31 - battle versus Caruana, knight showing light juice!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #30 - oozing dark juices.

This was a cheesecake blitz game vs the strong IM Lawrence Trent. A juicy position has arisen, what with our "Sleeping" Knight on d6. Color money is equal. However , neither side has a dark bishop so it would be helpful to look to replenish our dark! How? Interact

Dacha Tactics #30 - oozing dark juices.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #29 - light rebuild.

An interesting endgame from a blitz game of mine. Knight vs Bishop -- means that we are behind on light but ahead on dark. His d4 pawn might be a target one day -- who knows. His pawn on c6 is a nuisance and is on light. How to replenish,

Dacha Tactics #29 - light rebuild.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #28 - Max Euwe shows faith in light golden bishop.

This is a classic game by Max Euwe. The position is very complex - how to begin? The same way we begin every position -- colors. so the color imbalance is light bishop for us, dark bishop for him. We are down 1000 dark, up 1000 light. In addition our

Dacha Tactics #28 - Max Euwe shows faith in light golden bishop.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #27 - Reshevsky shows off golden light bishop.

We have a golden light bishop vs a knight. As such we look for color $$ -- we're ahead on light but behind on dark. The pesky knight must be neutralized... Interact with the puzzle below. If you get stuck, you can always click the "lightbulb" icon

Dacha Tactics #27 - Reshevsky shows off golden light bishop.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #26 - oozing dark for the win!

From an exciting blitz game. Material is equal but the color money is not. We are ahead on dark and behind on light. Thankfully his kingside is ridden with dark holes! How to display our Golden dark bishop and take advantage? Interact with the puzzle below. If you get stuck,

Dacha Tactics #26 - oozing dark for the win!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #25 - dark nugget incoming!

From a blitz game of mine in a wild time scramble! Material is about equal – let's look for color $. So we have a light bishop vs a rook. This means we are ahead on light, but behind on dark. White's king is precarious but alas , stands

Dacha Tactics #25 - dark nugget incoming!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #24 - Nimzo light squeeze featuring triangulation!

Here black has a large advantage, what with the poor dark bishop sleeping in the b2 boondocks. That being said, our knight isn't great either and our king needs to find a way to invade. Color money time! We are behind on dark and ahead on light. Let&

Dacha Tactics #24 - Nimzo light squeeze featuring triangulation!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #23 - Reti vs Romanovsky light magic.

A complex endgame we have here. Since there are opposite colored bishops, the color money swings are real and palpable. White is +$1000 light, Black is +$1000 dark. F5 is under some pressure, and if fxe6 then ooops!-- f5 mates us. How to break black on light, and show

Dacha Tactics #23 - Reti vs Romanovsky light magic.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #22 - Alekhine vs Yates dark magic.

This is a personal favorite of mine from my early childhood chess days. Alekhine is playing Yates, we have a great knight and 2 strong rooks. First -- what is the color $$? Well knight vs light bishop means we have extra dark $. Which squares are sensitive in black's

Dacha Tactics #22 - Alekhine vs Yates dark magic.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #21 - Capablanca dreams big for the golden bishop.

Black is clearly doing well here. More space, 2 bishops, and a very compact position. How to form a plan? Let's begin with colors naturally! The imbalance is black has a light bishop for the white knight. This means we are ahead on light. As a bonus --

Dacha Tactics #21 - Capablanca dreams big for the golden bishop.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #20 - Capablanca finds dark amidst the light!

An interesting endgame taken from a Capablanca game vs Janowski. Lots of funky pawns everywhere, which are strong which are weak and how to play? Well let's begin with colors! The imbalance is our Golden light bishop vs his knight which means we are +500 light and -500

Dacha Tactics #20 - Capablanca finds dark amidst the light!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #19 - dark dacha Capablanca vs Vidmar.

A Capablanca game. We are slowly squeezing black with the bishop pair. Well let's look for the pride and joy -- our dark Golden bishop naturally. If so , the knockout will likely be on dark ... Interact with the puzzle below. If you get stuck, you can always click

Dacha Tactics #19 - dark dacha Capablanca vs Vidmar.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #18 - light dacha finale.

A wild tactical melee has occured and white's king has landed on the edge. How to finish the job? With his light bishop being pinned, our own light bishop may as well be a Golden bishop. We can begin to look for a light knockout... Interact with the

Dacha Tactics #18 - light dacha finale.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #17 - full board light squeeze, featuring a sleeping bishop!

A perfect full board dacha has been built. The last black move was h6, dark brick. Now it is time to cash in on our light central dominance, spearheaded by our light mini bishops and "sleeping bishop" on d3. Interact with the puzzle below. If you get stuck,

Dacha Tactics #17 - full board light squeeze, featuring a sleeping bishop!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #16 - hardcore dark dacha.

An interesting position has arisen. Both kings are slightly under fire. How do we begin? Color $$ of course! So it's our dark bishop vs his light. Meaning we're -1000 light and +1000 dark. The swing is real! How valuable is our dark $$? Well his king is

Dacha Tactics #16 - hardcore dark dacha.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #15 - lighthouse dacha!

Very complex! Where to start looking? The colors, naturally. Black has more space and pressure on White's king. As for the color money, the imbalance is Knight vs Dark bishop. Which means we are behind on dark, but ahead on light. Moves like Nf3 spring to mind --

Dacha Tactics #15 - lighthouse dacha!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #14 - tactical dark rebuild.

An interesting endgame has arisen. Black has the bishop pair plus the more active king. We are ahead on dark, behind on light. As a bonus -- our dark bishop is a Golden Bishop. As we look further, it dominates the hapless white Knight on h3. If the Knight ever

Dacha Tactics #14 - tactical dark rebuild.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #13 - cashing in the light money.

Clearly White has a nice attack. The open h file and the pieces peering onto Black's kingside gives us high hope. And what about the color money? The imbalance is Knight for us, Dark bishop for Black. Meaning we are behind on dark but ahead on light. How

Dacha Tactics #13 - cashing in the light money.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #12 - light with DARK intentions!

A complex position. We could start calculating and crunching variations. Well bravo for that! But -- even better, let's have colors be our guide. To start -- what is the color $$? The imbalance is our knight for blacks light bishop. This means he is ahead on light, we

Dacha Tactics #12 - light with DARK intentions!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #11 - pawn sacrifice enabling the knight to crush on its color!

Famous position from Lasker vs Capa! To start, what is the color $$? The imbalance is knight vs light bishop, so that will mean we are behind on light but ahead on dark (+500). We also have more space. And the Ne6 "Sleeping Knight" is already tickling dark. The

Dacha Tactics #11 - pawn sacrifice enabling the knight to crush on its color!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #10 - golden bishop oozing dark energies.

Interesting position we have here. Black has a nice golden dark bishop and with the white king on dark, there promises to be juicy ideas. Also note how white has little to no pawns on dark -- i.e. no dark rebuild. Find the knockout blow! Interact with the puzzle

Dacha Tactics #10 - golden bishop oozing dark energies.
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #9 - yearning for dark rebuild!

White has lots of passed pawns -- it should be simple to win! Except that Black has a strong blockade on the dark-squares, preventing us from advancing to promote. If we can break this blockade, then we win with our passed pawns! Therefore, it's time to march in

Dacha Tactics #9 - yearning for dark rebuild!
Members Public

Dacha Tactics #8

Although the material is equal, it is clear that white has a nice bind and much more space and activity. Is there a knockout blow? First we look at the color money... White has a knight vs light bishop which means we have more dark $$ -- 500 to be exact.

Dacha Tactics #8