Saturday’s winning attack
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
Has it ever happened to you during a game that you felt your position was quite OK, but then your opponent pulls some amazing rabbit-of-an-attack out of his hat …and then you have to resign a few short moves later? Well, don’t worry if this story sounds familiar because it happens to even the best of us! Witness the surgical precision with which White dis-members Black’s seemingly sound position…
POSITION AFTER BLACK’S 19th MOVE
M.Taggatz
L.Milov
Black’s sense of danger fails him, and he has just moved his Knight from f6 to d5, hoping for some type of initiative to develop. Who can blame him for missing White’s startling next move?
20. Qh5!! Ouch!
A nasty surprise, threatening mate in 1 move! If now 20… gh?? 21. Bxh7#, and if the Knight returns to f6 White will win in short order with ( 20… Nf6) 21. Qh3! (threatening Bxf6) 21… Nh5 22. Be4! Qb6 23. Qxh5! etc. Black has no choice but to get rid of that Knight on g5…
20… Bxg5
21. Bxg6! Ouch!
Sometimes when it rains it pours! Threatening mate in 1 move!
21… Nf6 Now this is really the only move
Black threatens mate on g2!
22. Bxh7!!
Black must have been thinking ”Why me, Lord??” Black can not take the Bishop because of mate in 1 move, and 22… Kh8 is answered by the crushing 23. Be4 discovered check!
22… Kg7
HOW DOES WHITE PROCEED?
23. Be4!! The decisive cut directly into Black’s heart!
Black must give up his Queen just to stop the immediate mate threat! Resigns!
[1:0]
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