Nice attacking finish!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
Yet one more fine attacking example from the ZaoZhuang Asian Chess Team Championship!
POSITION AFTER 20 MOVES:
Zhou Jianchao
Zhao Jun
Sometimes the opening does not go as you want and this is the case for the Black pieces: he has not yet castled! This allows White to strike first…
21. Nxb5!
This turns out to be decisive! Black must accept as 21… O-O 22. Nd6 Bd5 23. Nxe4 gives White a completely winning game 2 pawns up!
21…axb5 22. Qxb5-ch Kf8 23. Rd7!
This strong move essentially forces the Black Queen to flee, leaving the black Monarch without his most trustworthy defender….if now 23…Qf6 then 24.Rf1! keeps up the attack. AND if now the immediate 23…Qxh4 then 24.Qxb7 recovers the piece and still has a mating attack!
23…Ba6! 24. Qe5!
The Rook can not be taken as White will win both Black Rooks! As well, 24… f6? only makes things worse: 25. Qd4 e5 26. Qd5 and Black has only succeeded in cutting off his King along the 2nd rank.
24…Qxh4 25. g5!!
Curiously, the advance of this pawn–while somewhat slow–can not be stopped. Black lacks any real counterplay: 25… Qh3 (threatening a check on e3) 26. Qxe4 Re8 27. g6! etc as in the game continuation. OR if 25…Rg8 26.Qf6! Qh5 27.g6! is forced mate!
25…Qh2!? 26. Qc5-ch Kg8 27. g6 f6 28. Qb6!
There is nothing to be done about the coming g7 followed by a back-rank check (which will promote the pawn). For example, if 28…Qh3 (defending e6) 29.g7! Rh7 30.Rd8-ch etc
1:0
The White g-pawn was the unlikely hero of this attack!