Saturday’s 5-second tactics and other stuff
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
1.
Very rare blunder by Kramnik!
gm KRAMNIK
gm ANAND
Position after Black’s 21st move (21…Qb8??). Some excitement from yesterday’s final round of the Zurich International. Quite a pity, really, since Kramnik had played quite well up to a couple of moves ago and actually had the upper hand!
Here ex-world champion simply overlooked that after 22.Rxa6! (Anand never misses such shots) 22…RxR. White has 23.Qxd3 with a double attack, the Knight on e2 and the Rook on a6.
The best Kramnik has is to play on with Anand having 2 pieces for a Rook , which at this level of players–in the present game–is quite hopeless. The whole issue is moot however, because Kramnik soon made things worse and even resigned on the 27th move…
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2.
ENTER THE DRAGON!
Well, almost…(!)
gm GRIGORYAN, KH
gm RODSHTEIN
From yesterday’s 8th round in Cappelle. Black has not played the middlegame very well and is now in trouble. Black’s last move (19…Rf8) was braced for 20.Bxg6 PxB 21.Qxg6, planning to play 21…Qe8!, which avoids mate. (White would still be much better, however).
INSTEAD, the young Israel star found a more direct way to win. A clever way, very reminiscent of the Dragon Sicilian. Do you see it?
WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH BLACK!
Rodshtein, Max–Grigoryan, KH: Rodshtein struck with 20.Rxh5! gxh5 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Rh1! and the Black King is not long for this world: 22… Bxd4 23.Rxh5 Kg7 24.g6 f5 25.Bh6+ Kh8 26.Qd2 1-0
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GRUESOME PUNISHMENT!
Due to its seeming popularity as a method of execution in England, perhaps an explanation of “hanged, drawn and quartered” is in order: The victim was hanged, by being pushed off a ladder for about a two foot drop (this would not, ordinarily, break the neck) to hang there, slowly strangling. Before death, however, the executioner would cut the victim down, and then open the body and “draw out” the intestines, stomach, etc while the victim was sill living, usually making sure the victim could enjoy the process. The limbs and head were then cut off.
gm AZAROV,S
gm LAGARDE,M
Also from yesterday’s round at Cappelle. Position after 13 moves of play. Curiously, from this point onward Black can NOT save the game! I suppose the difference in development must explain it, but still it is quite shocking how brutally White is able to wipe the board with his opponent….definitely worth careful study!
WHITE TO PLAY AND HANG, DRAW AND QUARTER BLACK!
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4.
MISSED DRAW…BUT INSTRUCTIVE!
im HAMBLETON
im MUIR,A
From the last round of the Reykjavik Open. Here the Scottish IM played 50.f3? and lost after 50…e3 51.b5 Kc4 52.b6 Kd4 53.b7 Bf4 (just in time!) 54.Kd1 Kd3 and White resigned the next move.
HOWEVER, had Muir played 50.b5! Kc4 51.b6 Kd4 52.b7! Bf4 he has a positional draw!
White need only play his King between e1 and d1 and Black can not make progress. Should Black try to round up the stray b-pawn with his King, then White waits until the King reaches c6(b6) and then play f3!, eliminating Black’s only pawn.
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5.
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED!
gm NAVARA
im GRETARSSON,HS
Black had just played the provocative 16…Nh5! , when White should just castle. True, Black would stand somewhat better, but the edge is small and manageable.
INSTEAD, White played 17.BxN?! and was brutally massacred. If you are a sadist, then you will like the quick finish. IF NOT, then you should cover your eyes…!
