Monday’s 5-second tactics!
Time to move!
Vibbert,Sean
gm Corrales Jiminez
From the Washington International that just ended yesterday! Position after 23 moves. Black’s King is uncastled and his position is shattered. The extra pawn is little comfort…do the humane thing and put Black out of his misery!
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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im Molner, Mack
im Mulyar,Michael
Also from Washington. Position after 19 moves of play. Black’s last move (19…Nf5?!) unexpected gives White a chance to get a bit edge.
WHAT IS WHITE’S STRONGEST MOVE?
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gm Smirin,I
im Mulyar,M
Washington. A tough game! Position after 29 moves of play, most of it sharp and uncompromising. Smirin seems to have the worse behind him now, and with an extra pawn. However, White’s pieces are superbly coordinated and give full compensation. The ‘other’ factor in the position is the Black King… he seems a bit ‘ignored’. Can you do something about that?
WHAT IS WHITE’S BEST COURSE?
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gm Smirin,I
gm Kaufman,Larry
Washington, position after White’s 30th move (30.h3?), which spoils a good position. Smirin’s risky play is now about to pay off…
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
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wgm Krush,Ir
gm Gulko, Boris
From the Razuvaev Memorial! Position after 19 moves of play. Krush has allowed herself to get carried away by the dangling pawn on b2…
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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SOLUTIONS
Corrales Jimenez, Fidel–Vibbert, Sean: 24.Qh6+ Kg8 25.Bxd5! Rc8 (Watch out for the backrank mate!) 26.Be6! Ouch! 26… Qxe6 27.Rxe6 fxe6 28.Rd3 Kf7 29.Rf3 Rhg8 30.Qf4 1-0 Enough is enough!
Mulyar, Michael A.–Molner, Mackenzie: 20.Nc6!? (20.Ne6 might even be better!) 20… bxc6 21.dxc6 Rb8 22.cxd7 Rf8 23.Nc3 Nd6 24.Qxa4 Rxb225.Nd5 Nb5 26.Nb4 Nd6 27.Qc6 Rb3 28.Qxc7 Rxa3 29.Qxd8 Rxd8 30.Rc7Bf6 31.Nc6 Rc3 32.Ra7 1-0
Mulyar, Michael A.—Smirin,Ilyia: 30.Rxe6!! fxe6 31.Ne5! Rg8 32.Qxe6 White has good compensation. 32… Rb7?! ( This misses an opportunity to reduce his losing chances to a minimum: 32…dxe5! 33.Rd7+ Qxd7 34.Qxd7+Rg7 35.Qc6 Rc3 when the c-pawn counterbalances the a-pawn. ) 33.Rxd6 Qe7 34.Qd5 Rc7 and now after the precise 35.Nd7! Kh8 36.Nxc5 White would have had good winning chances. Instead, White played 35.a6?! and the game was eventually drawn.
Kaufman, Larry C–Smirin, Ilia: 30….Bg4! snaring the Queen! 31.hxg4 Rh6 32.Nd2 Rb8 33.Rxc7 Rxh5+ 34.gxh5 Qh4+ 35.Bh2 Rxb4 and Smirin won handily.
Gulko, Boris F—Krush,Irina: 20.Ne7+ Kh8 21.Qf5!! Black has walked into an ambush! If now 21…Qb8 22.Ng5! g6 23.Nxg6+ is a fast mate or 21…g6 22.Qf4 g5 23.Nxg5 is no better Krush played 21…Qxd1 but resigned just two moves later: 22.Rxd1 Bxf3 23.Bd3 1-0