Friday’s 5-second chess tactics!
“Enjoy life. There’s plenty of time to be dead.” ― Hans Christian Andersen
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gm Fier,Alex
gm Meister, Peter
Bundesliga 2014.2.8 Position before Black’s 42nd move. The game has been hard fought but is close to the end, as Black’s far advanced passed pawn is unstoppable while White’s counterplay has still not become dangerous. In the game continuation Fier played the imprecise 42…f4, though White decided to resign anyway! HOWEVER, while there is not doubt that Black must win, there is still some fight left: 43. Bxf4 Rf8 44.Kg2! RxB 45.Rc7! when an ending with Black having a Bishop extra arises.
There is a more convincing way for Black to win from the position above. Do you see it?
WHAT IS BLACK’S SIMPLEST WIN?
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gm Zherebukh, Yaroslav
gm Sargissian,Gabriel
Bronstein Mem Minsk 2014.2.19 Position after 18 moves of play. The opening has seen the popular Leningrad Defence in the Dutch. Black has the Bishop pair, but White has a lead in development. White must act quickly, as …a6 will soon push White’s active Knight back and allow him to complete his development.
WHAT IS WHITE’S BEST CONTINUATION?
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gm Akopian, Vladimir
gm Fier, Alexandr
Bronstein Mem Minsk 2014.2.19 Position after White’s 26th move (26.Kg2) The position is about equal, but dynamically unbalanced. White is better placed in the centre, so Black has drummed up some Kingside counterplay. Akopian seizes the opportunity to make a draw, almost by force:
26…h3+!
If now 27.Kg1 then 27…Qf6! can be annoying
27.Kxh3!
HOW DOES BLACK DRAW BY FORCE?
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SOLUTIONS
Bundesliga 2014.2.8 Meister, Peter–Fier, Alexandr: The best line is 42…g5! 43.Bxg5 Bf6! when Black will win BOTH the Rook and Bishop for the passed c-pawn.
Bronstein Mem Minsk 2014.2.19 Sargissian, Gabriel–Zherebukh, Yaroslav: 19.c5! (White opens lines while Black’s pieces are unprepared. If now 19…a6?! 20.Pxe6! Bxe6 21.Nxc7!) 19…exd5 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.Rad1 with strong central pressure. White won in 37 moves.
Bronstein Mem Minsk 2014.2.19 Fier, Alexandr–Akopian, Vladimir: 27…Ng5+ 28.Kg2 Rxd5! The key move. 29.Rxd5 Qe4+ 30.Kf1 Qh1+ 31.Ke2 Qf3+ 32.Ke1 Qh1+ 1/2-1/2 NOTE that 27…Rxd5! and then 28…Ng5+ is the same thing.