Monday’s 5-second tactics
“Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it’s because you’ve started to think of failure.”
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im Pulvett,D
gm Perez Mitjans,O
From the Sitges International Open just a few days ago. Position after White’s 24th move. Clearly Black has the initiative while the White King seeks cover from Black’s actively posted pieces.. For the moment all of White’s pieces seem to cover all the entry points…
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
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gm Hayrapeytan,H
Canal Oliveras,J
Also from Sitges. Once more the theme is an exposed King position. Black has sacrificed an exchange and has a clear initiative. Furthermore, White’s Queen is on vacation on the other side of the board.
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
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Vigo Allepuz,D
gm Perez Mitjans,O
Sitges, position after 25 moves. A typical French Defence with operations on opposite sides of the board. Ofcourse, White’s Kingside play is much more dangerous, as the Black Monarch resides there. Even so, Black appears to have taken sufficient precautions…(that is what they all say!)
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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SOLUTIONS
Perez Mitjans, O–Pulvett, D: 24… Rxd5! 25.Rxd5 (If 25.Rxf4 Rd3! ) and now the simples is 25…a4! 26.Qxa4 Qe4 27.Rxf5 Rxc4+ 28.Kd2 Rd4+ 29.Kc1 Qh1+; Instead, Black played the less energetic (but good enough) 25…Qe4 and after 26.Rxf5 Rxc4+ 27.Qxc4 ( 27.Rc2 Qh1+ 28.Kd2 Rd4+ ) Qxc4+ 28.Kd2 Bxe3+ 0-1 If White takes the Bishop then the Queen captures the a-pawn and the rest would be trivial.
Canal Oliveras, J–Hayrapetyan, H: 22… Rxf4! 23.Bxf4 Nd4 24.Bg3 ( After 24.Rxd4 Bxd4 Black wins easily, for example 25.Re4 e5 26.Bh2 Bxf2+ ) 24…Nc2! 0-1
Perez Mitjans, O–Vigo Allepuz, D: 26.Bxg6!! fxg6 ( 26…hxg6 27.h7+ Kg7 28.h8=Q+! Kxh8 29.Qh3+ Kg8 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Rxb4! Qxb4 32.Nxe6+ Ke7 33.Nc7! ) 27.Nxe6 Bf7 28.Ng5 White’s attack is unstoppable 28… Rf8 29.Rc8 Be6 30.Rxf8+ Nxf8 31.Qf6 1-0