Monday’s winning 5-second tactics
“When you do what you fear most, then you can do anything.”
― Stephen Richards
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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!
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fm Broekmeulen, Jasper (2425)
gm Navara, David
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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?
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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!
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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!
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