Barcelona 5-second chess tactics!
The Barcelona Sants International has a reputation for being a TOUGH tournament and always produces some exciting chess. Below are some tactical-tests for my readers. Solutions follow at the end. GOOD LUCK!
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QUICK KNOCK-OUT BLOW!
gm Gustafsson,J
Svensen,T
From the first round, pairing experienced grandmaster against amateur. White seems solid enough, but look out for that Bishop on g7!
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
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TOURNAMENT WINNER’S LAST GAME!
gm Burmakin,V
gm Adhiban,B
The game that decided first place!
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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PRECISION CALCULATION
Ortega Serra,M
gm Alsina Leal,D
Position after 20 moves of a French Defence. Black looks solid enough, but there are some unusual tactical possibilities in this position. Namely, taking the pawn on d5 (the Bishop on d7 is undefended). However, Black has the defence …Qd4 ready, with a double attack on the Bishop and Knight. Or does he?
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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SHOULD HE OR SHOULD HE NOT?
Alanic, X
gm Potkin, V
Position after White’s 20th move (20.a3). Ofcourse, White is better, being a pawn up, but the outcome is still not clear. The active Bishop on c6, for example, compensates to some extent. HERE Black is given a choice: to take the b-pawn or to hide the Queen.
CAN BLACK GET AWAY WITH TAKING THE PAWN?
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BAD LUCK FOR AMAN!
im Hambleton,Aman
im Kalegin,Evgeny
A complex French Defence has led to a difficult struggle. The game is about even, and now had Aman played 31…Re8! then the game would have continued and everything would still be possible. HOWEVER, Aman moved his King, thinking that it made no difference…
31…Kg7??
Surprisingly, after this move Black is lost!
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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A CLASSY WIN!
gm Potkin,V
im Pardo Simon,D
Position after 27 moves. The game is razor-sharp and both sides have played with courage and bravo. However, in chess there can be only one winner…
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
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EXPLOITING SUPERIOR COORDINATION
fm Vittorino ,Carlo
gm Bruzon,L
A last round game! Position after 25 moves. The Cuban star has outplayed his opponent and has centralized, active pieces. Notice all of the Black pieces lining the edges of the board…now if only there was a way to exploit this!
HOW SHOULD WHITE PROCEED?
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SURPRISE TACTIC!
im Valdes Romero
gm Coryi ,J
Position after 22 moves. The game resembles a Spanish Opening in many respects. At first sight the game appears very complicated, with Black having excellent counterchances because of his passed pawn on d3. However, sometimes appearances are deceiving…
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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FINESSE!
gm Irturrizaga,Ed
im Firat, B
The last round! The advantage has changed sides several times as both strive for victory. Position after 40 moves. Black is attacking the Knight on c3. Should White move it then Black can exchange Rooks and get his a-pawn moving!
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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Svensen, T–Gustafsson, J: 16… Nxb2! 17.Kxb2 Rc8 CRUSHING 18.a3 Bxc3+19.Ka2 Qa4 0-1
Adhiban, B.–Burmakin, Vladimir: 20.b5! Qxc5 Otherwise c6 follow. 21.Qd3! Be7 ( 21…Qd5 22.Qe2 traps the Queen! ) 22.Qd7+ Kf8 23.Rac1 1-0 There is no defence to the coming Rc8+.
Alsina Leal, Daniel–Ortega Serra, Marc: 21.Nxd5! Rxc1+ 22.Rxc1 Qd4 This is what Black was counting on to keep him in the game. 23.Ne7+! 1-0 The coming explosion on g6 will be devastating.
Potkin, V–Alanic, Xavier: Black took the bait and lost his Queen: 20…Qxb2?? 21.Ra2 Qb3 22.Rb1 Qc4 23.Rb4 1-0
Kalegin, Evgeni–Hambleton, Aman: 31…Kg7?? 32.g4! Qg5 33.Qf3 1-0 The White Queen is heading to f6!
Pardo Simon, David–Potkin, Vladimir: 28… Re8! 29.Qa6 (29.Qd6 Rbd8. 30.Qc5 Ng4!! as in the game continuation) 29… Ng4!! White has no good way to stop the attack. 30.fxg4 Re2+ 31.Kf1 Qh3+ 0-1
Bruzon Batista, Lazaro–Vittorino, Carlo Giovanni: 26.Nfxe4!! fxe4 27.Bxc8 Rxc8 (Recapturing with the Queen would only delay the inevitable) 28.f5!! Rxg1+ 29.Rxg1+ Kf7 30.Qh8! Qh4 31.f6 Qxf6 32.Qxh7+ Ng7 33.Rf1 Qxf1+ 34.Nxf1 Nxc4 35.Qxe4 Ne5 36.Ng3 Rd8 37.Qf4+ Kg8 38.Ne4 Nf7 39.h4 Rd7 1-0
Cori, Jorge–Valdes Romero, Leonardo: 23.e6!! fxe6 There is little choice. 24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.Ne5! The Black game is hopeless. The game continued 25… Nxe5 26.Bxe6+ Qxe6 27.Rxe6 Bd6 28.Bd4 Nc4 29.Rxg6 hxg630.Qxd3 Re8 31.g3 Re6 32.Kg2 c6 33.h4 Be7 34.Qf3 Bf8 35.Qg4 Kf736.h5 Nd6 37.hxg6+ Rxg6 38.Qd7+ 1-0
Firat, Burak–Iturrizaga, Eduardo: 41.hxg5!! Bxc3 42.Rf6! There is no defence. 42… Bd2 43.Rh6 Bxg5 44.Rh8+ Kg7 45.Qh7+ Kf6 46.Rg8 Qb4 47.Re8! Black is merciless 47… Rxg3+ 48.Kxg3 1-0