5-second tactics!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
1.
From the game Vaganian vs Ivkov (Moscow 1985). After 28 moves of play.
gm IVKOV
gm VAGANIAN
White is clearly on top here! Black is hanging on by a thread…his King is pinned down between cross-fire and the Black Queen is no better off. What keeps Black alive is the fact that the Rook on e1 is not defended: (29.Bxc5?? Qxe1 mate!)
How did White play so that Black resigned after just 2 brutal moves?
SOLUTION !
(29.Rxc5! RxR 30.QxR!! ouch! 1-0)
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2.
From the Serbian Team Cup (2012). The position after 35 moves of play.
POPOVIC, Milos
(29.Rxc5! RxR 30.QxR!! ouch! 1-0)
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2.
From the Serbian Team Cup (2012). The position after 35 moves of play.
POPOVIC, Milos
gm SOLAK
Black had just played 35…Qd6, trying to exchange Queens. His back rank is weak. Popovic was counting on 36.Qe8-ch Qf8! (36…Kg7?? 37.Bc5! and there is a mate on f8!) holding, at least for the time being.
Instead, how did Solak play that won in just 2 moves?
SOLUTION !
36.Qc8-ch! Kf7 (36…Kg7 allows a Knight fork; 36…Qf8 loses a piece to 37.NxB! cute!) 37.Bc5! with mate or win of the Queen 1-0
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3.
gm MACIEJA
gm BARTEL
SOLUTION !
36.RxN!! (now if 36…Rh7 37.Rh5!! closing the file; 37…PxR 38.Ne8 etc) 36…PxR 37.Ne8! 1-0
The coming Knight check on f6 is game over.
36.Qc8-ch! Kf7 (36…Kg7 allows a Knight fork; 36…Qf8 loses a piece to 37.NxB! cute!) 37.Bc5! with mate or win of the Queen 1-0
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3.
From the Polish Team Championships (2012), which just finished a few days ago! The position after 35 moves of play.
gm MACIEJA
White is clearly on top, but must watch out for …Rh7 with considerable counterplay. This would be the reply against either 36.Ne8 or 36.c3
HOW DID BARTEL FORCE HIS OPPONENT TO RESIGN IN JUST 2 MOVES?
SOLUTION !
36.RxN!! (now if 36…Rh7 37.Rh5!! closing the file; 37…PxR 38.Ne8 etc) 36…PxR 37.Ne8! 1-0
The coming Knight check on f6 is game over.