Friday’s 5-second tactics
You are with just seconds to make your final move of the first time-control when your opponent –probably also short of time– suddenly gives you the opportunity that you have been waiting for! What do you do? Panic? No way! You remain calm and go into a head space where time seems to slow down…you immediately hit the right idea and then calculate accurately. You then make the move and hit the clock. Incredibly, you still have a second left …your opponent and especially the spectactors are amazed.How did you do it? PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! Operating efficiently under pressure is what these 5-second tactics are all about. Good luck! (I will be adding examples as the day goes on)
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FINESSE!
N.N
Belzberg, Sid
From a recent 5-minute game played on the internet. Position after 28 moves. White has played well to reach a dominating position. But if White now takes the b-pawn then Black can get some counterplay with 29…h5! followed by taking on e5. Sid found a better idea!
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
My Canadian readers will no doubt remember Canadian businessman Sid Belzberg ( and his better half, Alicia). Sid and Alicia did a lot to sponsor and promote Canadian chess from 2000 to 2008.
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ORIGINALITY!
fm Minko,Vlad
im Satyaprapyan,Sway
From a game played in Barcelona (San Marti) just the other day! Position after 21 moves. Black had just played 21…d4, hitting the g2 pawn and undermining the position of the White Queen. If now 22.QxQ?? Bxg2+ is forced mate (23.Kg1 Bf3+ etc). If instead 22.f3 then Black gets the upper hand with 22…QxQ 23.PxQ Rxc2 24.Bxb5+ Kd6!
HOW DID WHITE SAVE HIMSELF?
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SOLUTIONS
Belzberg,Sid–N.N: 29.e6!! winning If now 29…PxP 30.f7+ wins the Rook. The same is true for 29…Bxf6. The game continued 29…Rf8 (as good as any) 30.e7 Re8 31.Rd8! etc.
Satyapragyan, Swayangsu-Minko, Vladimir: 22.Ra7!! Qxa7 ( 22…Qxb4 loses to 23.RxB+ Kc6 24.Bf3+) 23.Qe7+!! the idea 24…Kc6 24.Rb1! And now Black must play accurately to make a draw: 24…d3! 25.Bxd3 Rg5! 26.Qxf7 Kb6 27.Qxe6+ Bc6 28.Qe3+ Rc5 29.c4 and the game should be drawn) INSTEAD, Black blundered with the natural-looking 24…Qa2?? and after 25.Bf3+ he resigned.