Serbian Championship: 5-second tactics!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
The Serbian Championship is taking place right now and is , as usual, one of Europe’s strongest national championships. Organized in Vrnjacka Banja, not less than 9 gms are participating. The tournament is organized as a 13-player all-play-all event.
I suggest the readers take a look at the website, as it has lots of useful information and photos. Games as well, both in pgn format and LIVE.
I always follow with interest Serbian tournaments because the style of players that one finds at the top in this small nation is sharp and uncompromising. Lots of fighting chess, refusal to make short draws, and plenty of colourful tactics. Below is a small collection.
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, GIVE A CHECK!
POSITION AFTER 26 MOVES OF PLAY
Im PERUNOVIC
im CVETKOVIC
An unbelievably wild game so far, with surprising sacrifices by both sides and the advantage firmly in White’s hand for most of the time. However, probably due to time trouble, White thru away his chances and now, as the dust is settling, Black has the upper hand.
Here Cvetkovic should soberly play 27.Rf2!, to neutralize the Black threats, and he would have reasonable drawing chances after 27…RxR 28.QxR Qd1+ 29.Qf1! (29.Kg2? gets mated) 29…Qxd5 and now the cold-blooded 30.Kf2!
HOWEVER, realizing that the best he could do is draw and that he had , no doubt, missed atleast several wins earlier, Cvetkovic decides to throw himself onto his sword and give a few spite checks. And if his opponent finds the right moves, then he simply resigns and shruggs it off. Sometimes players prefer to lose than to draw a won game…
27.Qg7+?
Now the simplest way to win is 27…Ke7 28.Qg5+ Kd7 29.Qg4+ Kc7 30.Qf3 Qc5+! when White loses his Queen without really diminishing Black’s attack. HOWEVER, Perunovic’s move is good enough…
27…Ke8
This should win as the Black King can escape the checks.
28.Qg8+
Now Black can win with 28…Kd7! When 29.Qxf7+ Kc8 and White’s checks will soon run out, or if instead 29.Qg4+ Kc7 transposes into the last note.
INSTEAD, Black thought he had an even simpler way to win!
28…Ke7??
WHITE TO PLAY AND MATE IN TWO MOVES!
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gm KOVACEVIC,A
gm BOGOSAVLJEVIC
Another super-wild game with pieces flying all around! Here White is a piece up and can proceed with 30.Nd3, and answer 30…Bf5 with 31.Qd2!, when Black does not have enough compensation.
HOWEVER, the Seriban championship is never just about winning: you must CRUSH your opponent!
WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH BLACK!
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gm MILADINOVIC
im INDJIC
White has an obvious advantage and his passed d-pawn must guarantee victory. But Black is putting up stiff resistance and , with the clock running down, White can easily be lead astray…
HOW DID WHITE CONVINCE BLACK TO RESIGN IN 1-MOVE?