Brilliant attacking finish!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
gm MOROVICH
Portuguese star player — grandmaster Luis Galego — has a unique style of play characterized by a penchant for unorthodox opening choices that lead to obscure and little studied positions. It is in these positions that Luis is like a fish in water.
Possessing a razor sharp tactical eye , he rarely misses an opportunity to pounce on his opponent. Witness his game with Chilean star Ivan Morovic from the 1996 Yerevan Olympiad:
POSITION AFTER 20 MOVES:
gm MOROVICH
gm GALEGO
Luis has sacrificed a pawn in order to surround the Black King in the centre. However, for the moment it appears that Black’s 4 minor pieces have covered all of the entry points…
21. Bxg6!!
A brilliant concept! Along with the coming sacrifice on d5, this is one of the prettiest attacking finishes in chess literature!
If now 21… fxg6 then the Rook on h7 would become more active. There could follow 22. Nxd5! Bd8 (22… Nf5 23. Nc7 Kf8 24. Qc3 Rg7 25. Rxg7 Nxg7 26. Nxa8 Qxa8 27. Be5 Nh5 28. Bd6) 23. Bd6 with a crushing attack.
21…Rxg6 22. Nxd5 !!
Anyway! White has numerous threats and Black has no satisfactory defence. If 22… exd5 23. Rh8 will mate; or 22… Ba4 23. Rh8 Kd7 24. Rxa8 Qxa8 25. Nb6 wins the Queen; finally 22… Bb5 allows 23. Nxe7 Kxe7 24. Bd6! and the position collapses.
22…Nf5 23. Rh8! Bf8
24. Nc7 !
Decisive! If now Black tries to flee the centre by 24…Kd8 then 25.Rxf8 is the end.
24…Ke7
25. Bd6 !!
Black resigns! After 25…Nxd6 it is a forced mate in 6 after 26. Nd5 Kd8 27. Qxd6 etc.
A brilliant conclusion of a very surprising attack!