Sunday’s 5-second tactics

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im Sarkar, Justin
im Bartholomew, John
St.Louis. Position after 22 moves of play. Black has overplayed his hand: to gain a Pawn and activate his minor pieces, he has exposed his Kingside. The absence of Black’s King-Bishop almost always carries consequences…
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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CUTE KING WALK!
Also from St.Louis…
fm Xiong, Jeffrey – fm Homa, Seth
St.Louis 26-11-2013.
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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. Be3 Bh5 11. h3 exd4 12. cxd4 Na5 13. Bc2 Nc4 14. Bc1 d5 15. e5 Ne4 16. b3 Nb6 17. Qd3 Bg6 18. Qe2 c5 19. Nbd2 Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Bxc2 21. Qxc2 c4 22. Qf5 g6 23. Qg4 Qc8 24. e6 Bb4
25. Bh6! Bxe1 26. Rxe1

If now 26… f5 27. Qh4 Re8 28. Qf6! Ra7 29. e7 wins ; or if 26… c3 27. Ng5! is too strong
26… Re8!?

The best defence.
27. exf7+ Kxf7 28. Qf4+!

If now 28… Kg8 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Qf6 Ra7 31. Qxb6 wins easily enough.
28… Qf5!? 29.Qc7+

If now 29… Qd7 30. Ne5+ Rxe5 31. Qxe5 Kg8 32. Qf6 Rb8 33. Re7 and it is all over. Black’s move is forced, again.
29… Nd7

30. Ng5+! Kg8 [30… Qxg5 31. Rxe8] 31. Rxe8+ Rxe8

32. g4!

If now 32… Qb1+ 33. Kg2 Qe1 34. Qxd7+ Qe7 35. Qxd5+ wins
32…Qd3!

33. Qxd7 Re1+ 34. Kh2!
But not 34. Kg2? Qf1+ 35. Kg3 Qg1+ 36. Kf3 Qh1+ 37. Kf4 Qh2+ 38. Kf3 Qh1+ with a draw by perpetual check
34…Rh1+!
Once more the Rook can not be taken
35. Kg2 Qf1+ 36. Kg3!
The only move! Now the White King will escape via e5 and win!
36… Rg1+ [36… Qg1+ 37. Kf4 Qxf2+ 38. Nf3!] 37. Kf4 37… Qc1+ [37… Qxf2+ 38. Nf3! Qg3+ 39. Kg5] 38. Ke5 Re1+ 39. Kxd5!
1-0
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SOLUTION
Bartholomew, John–Sarkar, Justin: 23.Nf6+! Nxf6 24.Qg5!! The whole point! The roof now collapses on the Black monarch. 24…Nxd3?! Tougher , though also insufficent in, was 24…Kh8 25.Bxg6 Ng8 ( 25…Rg8 26.Rxf6 Be4 27.Bf8 Rxf8 28.Qh6+ or 25…Be4 26.Rxf6 Bxg6 27.Qxg6 Rg8 28.Qh5 etc ) 26.Rf7! The game continued 25.Qxg6+ Kh8 26.Bg5 Rg8 27.Bxf6+ Rg7 28.Bxg7+ ( 28.Rf5! Kg8 29.Bxg7 Qxg7 30.Qe8+ Kh7 31.Rh5+ ) Qxg7 29.Qh5+ Kg8 30.Qe8+ Kh7 31.Rf7 1-0