Monday’s tactics quiz!

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————————– SOLUTIONS

1.) 38th Nezhmetdinov Mem  Kazan   2016.6.4  Timofeev, Artyom–Sharafiev, Azat: 28.Nxf6!  This sacrífice strips the King of its protection 28… Kxf6 ( Even worse is 28…Qxf6 29.Rxc7+ Kg8 30.Rf4 Qg6 31.Be4 Qe8 32.Qxb4 etc ) 29.Qf4+ Ke7 ( There is nothing better: 29…Kg7 30.Rxe6 c6 31.Qe5+ Kg8 32.Rg6+ or 29…Kg6 30.Rxe6+ ) 30.Rxe6+!  Elegant! 30…Kxe6 ( 30…Kd7 31.Rd6+ cxd6 32.Qf5+ Ke8 33.Qg6+ Kd7 ) 31.Re3+ ( 31.Bh3+ and mate next ) 31…Kd7 32.Qf5+ 1-0  Mate next move.

2.) ch-ISL  Reykjavik  2016.5.31 Thorfinnsson, Bragi–Ingvason, Johann: 24.d6! Bxd6 25.Nd5  The whole point. Now the Knight comes into f6 with tempo and suddently the Black King is in trouble. 25… Qc6 ( No better is 25…Qd8 26.Nf6+ Kh8 27.Qh4 Nh5 28.Bxh5 gxh5 29.Qxh5) 26.Nf6+ Kh8 27.Qh4 h5 ( 27…Nh5 28.Bxh5 ) 28.Qg5 1-0

3.) TCh-FRA Top 12 Drancy 2016.6.7  Baklan, V–Brunner, N:  In the game continuation, Black lost quickly with 23…Bxd6 24.Nxd6 Qd5  25.Nxc8 1-0  To get an idea of the difficulties: ( if 23…Be6? 24.Qxe5 Bf8 25.Bxf8 f6 26.Qxe6+ Qf7 27.Nh6+ etc or if 23…Bxc2 24.Qxe5 once more, or if  23…Ra6 24.Qxe5 Bf8 25.Bxf8 f6 26.Nh6+ Kxf8 27.Qxf6+ Bf7 28.Qh8+; or if 23…Bf8 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 25.Nh6+ Kg7 26.Ng4 f6 27.Qh6+ Kg8 28.Nxf6+ ; or if  23…f6 24.Qxb3+ etc.  The ONLY defence is  23…Nc6! defending e5. The point is that if now 24.Rxc6 ( relatively best is 24.Qxb3 Bxd6 25.Nxd6 Qd7 26.Nxc8 Rxc8 with equality ) 24…Rxc6 25.Qxe5 Bf8! ( 25…Bf6 26.Qe8+ ) 26.Bxf8 f6!!  and the attack comes to a screeching stop, with Black being better!  Ofcourse, this last point is almost impossible to find during a game with the clock ticking.

4.) VII ShakkiNet GM  Helsinki  2016.6.4  Ronka, Erik–Greenfeld, Alon:  In the game White lost after 28.Rd4? Qa2+ 0-1 Mate is unstoppable.  Also bad is  28.Kc2? Qa2+ 29.Bb2 Bxa4+ etc.  The correct defence is 28.Bd3! when Black has nothing better than a draw with 28… Qa2+ ( 28…Be8 is also good enough: 29.Rh4 Qa2+ 30.Bc2 Qd5+ 31.Bd3 etc ) 29.Bc2 Qd5+ (not 29… Rf2+ 30.Ke1! winning)