Safety of Pieces

Nothing else in a chess game matters more than the safety of your pieces (and those of your opponent). In games between beginners, the player who wins more material through tactical errors will usually win the game, so simply keeping your pieces safe and noticing when your opponent’s pieces are in danger is usually a sure way to win the game. In games of masters, there are very minimum of tactical errors and blunders usually made by beginners only and the games usually decided by who makes the first inaccuracy or mistake. Of course, king safety is most important of all, and this is especially true when you are far ahead in a game. If you find yourself with a big lead, the most important thing you can do is take away anything resembling a threat to your king. Exchange pieces, secure your defenses, and give your king an escape from the bank ranked but just do not let yourself be mated by surprise, and you should win. In each of the following puzzles, Black is to make a move or combination of moves and win or improve.