A dangerous attack!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
The following game was played just a couple of days ago at the European Championship. Grandmaster Khenkin has a well deserved reputation for being a strong defender, but this time he overlooked a cute tactic and then found himself completely helpless. The entire concept is very attractive since White sacrifices both a Bishop and a Knight…
POSITION AFTER 19 MOVES:
gm Khenkin
gm Pap
20. Bh6!
The Bishop must be taken: 20… Kg8? 21. Qf3!; no better is 20… Kh8? 21. Rf7
20… Kxh6 21. Rf7
White’s idea is to encircle the Black monarch and prevent him from reaching a safe haven. On h6 Black can never relax…
Here Black can put up stiff resistance with the active 21… Qg4! :22. Rxb7 a5 23. e5 Rab8 24. Rfxe7 Rxe7 25. Rxb8 . Perhaps not wanting to suffer a long defence,–or perhaps just an hallucination–Khenkin overlooks a cute tactic
21… Rf8?
It has to be admitted that Black’s last move certainly looks quite reasonable. White’s next move must have come as an extremely unpleasant surprise:
22. Nf5!
Only now does White’s advantage gain decisive proportions. Black must give up the Queen since 22…gf5 gets mated after 23.Qh3
AFTER 22… Qxf5 23. Rxf5 gf 24. Rxb7 Black’s position collapsed like a house of cards…