“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Part I: Russian Team Championship
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Vitiugov-Oparin. Yesterday. White is better, but at first sight it looks like a fight. White to play and win!
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Malakhov-Orobov. Yesterday. It looks as though the game is over and White’s b-pawn must win the day. Black to play and draw!
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Najer-Jakovenko. Yesterday. How does White get a winning advantage?
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Neopomn’i-Grischuk. Yesterday. A crazy game with both sides trying to win. Black threatens mate. White to play and win!
Part II: Miscelaneous
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Shirov-Sevian. Stockholm. White had just played 26.Nd5 If now 26…Qd7 27.Nxc7! is a typical Shirov mess. Instead, Black to play and win!
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Maltsevskaya-Pogonina. Sochi. Black to play and win!
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Shuvalova-Kosteniuk. In the game White played 19.Qf3?! but was worse after 19…NxP+ 20.Kf1 Qh2!. Instead, how can White get the advantage?
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This is a gift for you! White to play and mate in two moves!
SOLUTIONS
1) TCh-RUS Men Sochi 2016.5.7 Vitiugov, Nikita–Oparin, Grigoriy: 26.Bg5!! This strong resource was seen in advance, and forces a winning liquidation. 26…Qxg5 27.Rxd6! Rf8 28.Qd2 Qc5+ 29.Kh1 Ne5 30.Rd5 Qc7 31.Qd4 With the Exchange and a strong passed pawn, White has little difficulty in winning, despite time trouble.31…Qc4 32.Qxc4 Nxc4 33.Re1 (33.e7 Re8 34.Rf1 is even stronger) 1-0 It is completely lost in anycase.
2) TCh-RUS Men Sochi 2016.5.7 Malakhov, Vladimir–Korobov, Anton: 37…Rxg2+ 38.Kh1 Now the tempting 38…Qxe5 does not work: after 39.b8=Q Rh2+ 40.Kxh2 Ng4+ 41.Kh3 Nf2+ 42.Kg2 Qe4+ 43.Kxf2 the White King can escape perpetual by going over to the Queenside, as the reader can verify for himself. 38…Bd6!! A stunning move that holds the game. 39.exd6 ( 39.Qxb8 Bxb8 is hopeless for White) 39…Qxd6 40.b8=Q Rh2+! 41.Kg1! 1/2-1/2 Black has a perpetual with Rg2-h2. Brilliant!
3) TCh-RUS Men Sochi 2016.5.7 Najer, Evgeniy-Jakovenko, Dmitry: 21.Nh6+! Kh8 22.Qf7! Threatening mate in two starting with Qg8+! 22…Qe6 23.Bb3 (23.Rf1 is strongest and would have won faster) 23…Qxf7 24.Nxf7+ Kg8 25.Nd6+ Kh8 26.Nf7+ Kg8 27.Nd6+ Kh8 28.Nxe8 Rxe8 And White has an extra pawn plus the Bishop pair. Black resigned on move 48.
4) TCh-RUS Men Sochi 2016.5.7 Nepomniachtchi, Ian–Grischuk, Alexander: 35.Qxd4! (Forced, but also winning!) 35…Rxd4 36.R6xd4 Black’s bad luck is that White has a winning attack along the h-file! 36…Rf8 37.Rh4+ Kg8 38.Rdh1 1-0
