Monday’s 5-second tactics
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
”A lifetime of training for just ten seconds.”
Jesse Owens
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World class sport may be a cruel reality when the only difference between being the winner and an also-ran comes down to what you can do in the final seconds…You don’t have time for much more than reacting…so in chess you need to practice operating under severe time constraints. Practice makes perfect. Train with today’s 5-second problems. Good luck!
gm NABATY
gm SMIRIN
From this year’s Israeli championship, just a couple of days ago. Position after 70 moves (!). Clearly both players are down to their final seconds…IN THE GAME continuation Smirin played 71.Qc3 and drew by perpetual check some ten moves later. BUT take a good look at the position above! Smirin missed something obvious…
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN IN ONE MOVE!
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KASHLINSKAYA
RJANOVA
From the Russian Team Championship (w) just a couple of days ago. Position after White’s 22nd move. Clearly White has been risking a lot capturing some stray pawns, as his King is now caught between a rock and a hard place.
BLACK TO PLAY AND FORCE MATE!
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DOGODKINA
BARAEVA
Also from the Russian Team Championship (w). White has just played the weak 29.Nd6?, hoping to trap her opponent with 29…Rxb1?? 30.Re8+! Rf8 31.Nf7+!! winning in all lines.
BLACK TO PLAY AND FORCE MATE!