Monday’s winning 5-second tactics

 “When you do what you fear most, then you can do anything.”

― Stephen Richards

——————————–

im  Vedder, Henk

gm  Shirov, Alexei

30th ECC Open Bilbao 2014.9.14  Yesterday.  Position after 40 moves of play.  White has a dominating position with active pieces, but Black has managed to keep everything together.  If Shirov now exchanges Queens it is unlikely that he will have any winning chances. But Shirov is a master of attack and he discovers a brilliant tactical nuance, deeply hidden in the position,…as in so many of the Latvian superstar’s games.

WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH!

———————————-

fm  Broekmeulen, Jasper (2425)

gm  Navara, David

————————————–

Also from yesterday’s round in Bilbao.  Position after 21 moves. Black looks solid enough, White’s immediate threats defended against. But one must remember that sometimes even a small weakness around one’s King is sufficient to lose the game…

WHAT IS WHITE’S BEST LINE?

————————————-

gm  Movsesian,Sergei

fm  Schramm,Christian (2401)

 

Also from yesterday’s round in Bilbao.  Position after 21 moves. (Black’s last move was 21…Nf4, attacking the Queen) A sharp position arising from a popular line of the Tajmanov Sicilian. White has dangerous attacking chances, and must be favoured here , especially because of the pawn on f6. But precision is required  as direct play can rebound: 22.Bxf4?! Bxe4! (not 22…exf4 23.Ng5! winning as in the game) 23.Bxe4 exf4 and Black can look to the future with confidence.  Note also that 22.Qh6 is met by 22…Bf8.

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

———————————————

fm  Le Quang,Kim  

gm  Anton Guijarro, David

And another one from Bilbao, yesterday.  Position after White’s 30th move (30.Qg3).  A confusing and messy position! Both sides are lost! (Just joking…the ‘move’ changes everything!)  White has a huge mass of pawns advancing on the Kingside, but his King is open and vulnerable to attack.  In the game Black played 30…Rah8? and after 31.g7! he found himself lost.  But take a close look at the above position: Black has something very strong hidden amongst the pieces…

BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!

——————————————–

—————————————–

30th ECC Open Bilbao 2014.9.14  Shirov, Alexei–Vedder, Henk: 41.Rxg7+!!  Rxg7 ( 41…Kxg7 42.Rg3+ Kh8 (42…Kf6 is met the same way ) 43.Qd4! etc)  42.Qxe6+ Kh8 43.Nf7+ Rxf7 44.Qxf7 White’s attack forces Black to return material  44…Qd8 45.Rg3 Qf8 46.Qxb7 and Black resigned a couple of moves later

30th ECC Open Bilbao 2014.9.14  Navara, David–Broekmeulen, Jasper: 22.Rxg7+!! Bxg7 23.Bxh6  The open position of the Black King does not give Black any room for error.  Best now is  23…Nh5!? 24.Bxg7 Re6! when either  25.Be5  or  25.Rg1 gives White more than enough compensation but not a clear win; Wrong would be 23…dxe4?  24.Qg5! Bh8 25.Bg7! etc.  In the game Black lost quickly after the weak 23… Bh8? 24.Qg5 Re5 ( 24…Rg8 25.Qh4 Nxe4 26.Bg5+ ) 25.Bg7 1-0

30th ECC Open Bilbao 2014.9.14  Schramm,Christian–Movsesian,Sergei: 22.Rxf4! (If now  22…exf4 23.Ng5! gives a winning attack: 23… h5 24.gxh5 ; Also wrong is 22…Bxe4 23.Rxe4 ) 22…Rxd3!? 23.cxd3 exf4 ( 23…Be3!? 24.Nc3! Not  24.Rc1? Qxc1+ 25.Bxc1 Rxc1+ 26.Ka2 Bxf4 when only Black has winning chances 24… Bxf4 25.Bxf4 exf4 26.Qh6 is game over ) 24.Ng5! h5 25.gxh5 and Black can resign ; The game continued 25… Bxa3 26.Bc3 Bd5 27.hxg6 fxg6 28.f7+ Kf8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qf6+ Kd7 31.bxa3 Qc5 32.Kb2 f3 33.Ne4 1-0

30th ECC Open Bilbao 2014.9.14  Anton Guijarro, David–Le Quang, Kim :  30…Qh1+ 31.Kf2 Rxf4+ 32.Qxf4 Qg2+ 33.Ke1 Bxg5 with an easy win a piece up.