Sunday’s winning 5-second tactics

——————————–

wfm  Norinkeviciute, Rasa  (2018)

wim  Chevannes, Sabrina L  (2163)

 

4NCL  Hinckley  2014.11.15  Yesterday!  Position after 30 moves.  A tough fight and now probably both players are running VERY short of time.  Black is threatening a check on d2, but White does not lose focus: the Black King position is the more exposed.  But can she exploit this?

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

——————————–

fm  Berry, Neil (2241)

Williams, Samuel G  (2257)

4NCL  Hinckley  2014.11.15  The strongest team championship in Britain!  Position before Black’s 32nd move.  Something had gone wrong in Black’s game when he rashly sacrificed his d-pawn. Now he desperately wants to recover it. But how?  If he takes the a-pawn he risks getting his Queen trapped (32…Qxa3 33.b4! Nc4 34.Ra2 etc.)  He therefore, by the process of elimination, took the d-pawn:

32…Nxd5?

The process of elimination is only effective in mutiple-choice exams!

 

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

———————————-

gm  Savchenko, Boris

fm  Kozionov, Kirill  (2403)

10th Ugra Governor’s Cup  Khanty-Mansiysk  Position after Black’s 31st move (31…Qe5+).  White has a difficult choice to make. Black has a very strong attack and White’s Queen is ‘fishing’ on b2. Clearly White can not play 32.Be3(?) because of the very strong 32…Nd1!, which leaves White helpless, as the reader can easily verify for himself.  Therefore, White must take one of the Knights! But which one?  (HINT: taking the ‘right’ Knight draws; taking the ‘wrong’ Knight loses)

WHICH KNIGHT SHOULD WHITE TAKE?

 

————————————–

4NCL  Hinckley  2014.11.15  Chevannes, Sabrina  32L–Norinkeviciute, Rasa: 31.Rxf7!  Now Black’s game collapses.  Taking the Rook allow Qc6+ and mate next move. The game ended no less brutally: 31… Rd7 32.Rxd7 Qxd7 33.Qa8# 1-0

4NCL  Hinckley  2014.11.15  Williams, Samuel G–Berry, Neil:  33.Nf5! Qe6 34.Bxd5 Bxd5 35.Rxd5 Rxd5 36.Rxd5 The point is that he can make a last capture on d5 because he loses to Ne7+.  Instead of resigning, he makes a few useless moves: 36… Nxb3 37.Rd1 g6 38.Ne7+ Qxe7 39.Qxb3 b5 40.h3 Rc4 41.Qf3 Re4 42.Rd6 a5 43.Qd3 Rc4 44.Qd5 1-0

10th Ugra Governor’s Cup  Khanty-Mansiysk Kozionov, Kirill–Savchenko, Boris: Correct is 32.Kxf2! Nxd2! ( Not 32…Qxe6 33.Kxf3 Bxh5+ 34.Kf2 Qe2+ 35.Kg1 and the King escapes and White wins ) 33.Nxg7 Qxg7 34.Bxf5+ Bd7! 35.Bxd7+ Qxd7!  When the game should end in a draw as the White Queen can not come back in time: 36.Qb4 Qf7+ 37.Kg1 Qf1+ 38.Kh2 Nf3+ 39.Kh3 Qh1+ 40.Kg4 Qxg2 etc )  In the game, White blundered , taking the other Knight: 32.Kxf3 Nxh3! 0-1  It is forced mate!