WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
I surely must have seen this game many years ago, but I can not remember! My gain, therefore, to have recently re-discovered this gem. Truly one of the most brilliant attacking finales of all time. Enjoy!
Pilnik,H – Najdorf,M Mar del Plata 1942 1-0
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bd3
O-O 8.Qh5 g6 9.Qh4 c5 10.Ne2 Nc6 11.Bh6 f5 12.Bg5 Qb6 13.O-O
cxd4 14.cxd4 Re8$6{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Black’s troubles begin with this move.</strong>}
({<strong style="color:black;">Playable, but tricky is </strong> } 14...Be6 {!?} 15.d5 {!} Bxd5 16.Nc3 Be6 17.Bxf5! )
({<strong style="color:black;">The simplest way to play is </strong> } 14...Nb4! {<strong style="color:black;">with a tough game and chances for both sides </strong> } )
15.Bc4!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Threatening to capture the f7 pawn with a winning attack</strong>} h5{[#] <strong style="color:red;">just about forced</strong>}
( 15...Bd7 {?} 16.Bxf7+ {!} )
16.Rae1{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Logical, but missing the strongest attacking continuation and giving Black a second chance.</strong>}
( 16.Bf6!$16 Na5 ( 16...Bf8 {?} 17.Nf4 ) ( 16...Re4 {?} 17.Qg5!$18 ) 17.Bd3 Be6 18.b3! (18.Qg5 Bc4!)a6? 19.g4! fxg4 20.Qg5! )
Re4 17.Nf4 Qxd4 18.Rxe4 fxe4?{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>}
({<strong style="color:black;">Absolutely necessary was </strong> } 18...Qxe4! {<strong style="color:black;">when </strong> } 19.Nxg6! ( 19.Bd5 Qd4 ) ( 19.Nxh5? Qxh4 20.Nf6+ Kg7 21.Bxh4 Be6$15 ) Qxh4 20.Nxh4 Be6 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Rd1 Be5 23.Rd2{<strong style="color:black;">reaches a ending where there is no doubt that White is better, but Black can still put up tough resistance </strong> } ) 19.Nxh5!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">The start of one of the most beautiful attacks on record.</strong>}
gxh5{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Virtually forced</strong>}
( 19...Qxc4? 20.Nf6+ Kf8 21.Qh8+! )
20.Bf6!{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} Qc5!{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>}
( 20...Qxc4? 21.Qxh5 )
21.Rd1!!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">An unexpected move, but deadly accurate! Threatening both RxB and/or Rd5 depending on how Black plays.</strong>} Kf8 {[#] <strong style="color:red;">The Black King has little better than to try to escape from the Kingside</strong>}
({<strong style="color:black;">Insufficient is </strong> } 21...Be6$6 22.Rd5!! ({<strong style="color:black;">Less strong but also good enough to win is </strong> } 22.Rxd6! Bxc4 23.Qg3+ ) Bxd5 23.Qxh5 Bxh2+ 24.Kh1{<strong style="color:black;">and mate is not far off </strong> } )
22.b4!!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Another unexpected move. The idea is to deflect the Black pieces</strong>} ( 22.Bd5$6 Bg4! ) Nxb4{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Virtually forced.</strong>}
( 22...Qxc4? 23.Qxh5 Ke8 24.Rxd6 Qc1+ 25.Rd1 )
( 22...Qxb4? 23.Qxh5 )
23.Qg3!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">With the Black Knight on c6 this move would not have worked</strong>} Bg4$5{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>}
( 23...Qxc4? 24.Qxd6+ Kg8 25.Qf8+! )
( 23...Ke8? 24.Bb5+! Qxb5 25.Qxd6 Qd7 26.Qe5+ Kf8 27.Rxd7 Bxd7 28.Qxh5 )
24.Rxd6{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Now White wants to play Qf4 followed by infiltration on the Kingside</strong>}
Nd3{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} ( 24...Qxc4? 25.Qe3 Ke8 26.Qh6 )
25.Bxd3!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">The simplest</strong>} Qc1+$5{[#] <strong style="color:red;">A clever idea in a lost position!</strong>}
({<strong style="color:black;">After the normal </strong> } 25...exd3 26.Qf4! Ke8 27.Rxd3 {<strong style="color:black;">White wins as he pleases, the Black King position is indefensible. </strong> } )
26.Bf1 Rc8{<strong style="color:black;">Threatening the diabolical QxB+ winning!</strong> } 27.h3!!{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>}
({<strong style="color:black;">Much stronger than the routine </strong> } 27.Qe3 {<strong style="color:black;">which would have also won, but less brilliantly </strong> } )
Qxf1+!{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} 28.Kh2!{[#] <strong style="color:black;">I love the number of sacrifices in this game! Now that the White King is safe, there is no stopping the White attack. The next few moves quickly decide things </strong> } Qc1 29.hxg4 hxg4 30.Qxg4{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} Qh6+{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} 31.Kg3!
Rc3+ 32.f3!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Black resigns. There is nothing else. A brilliant finish.</strong>} 1-0
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