Sunday’s winning 5-second tactics

‘’The fingers must do what the head desires; not the contrary.” ― Robert Schumann

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Orube Bona, Andon

gm  Cruz, Cristhian

XXIV OPEN GROS DONOSTIA 2014.9.21  (First round!)  Position after 22 moves. White has an obvious positional advantage (pawn structure and more active pieces) and Black is aggravating things by leaving his Bishop on b5 in the air. For the moment it can not be taken, as the White Queen would be lost.  However, it is always a risky business for an amateur to play like this against an experienced grandmaster…

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

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 Jauregi Barandiaran, Jon

gm  Del Rey, Diego

XXIV OPEN GROS DONOSTIA 2014.9.21  Also from the first round.  Position after 20 moves.  I like this example because it is the ‘cousin’ of the first problem!  (Hint: never let your opponent’s Knight so close to your King!)

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

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XXIV OPEN GROS DONOSTIA 2014.9.21 Cruz, Cristhian–Orube Bona, Andon: 23.Qd2! Winning. Hits the Bishop on b5 and threatens Nxg7. Black has no good defence.  The game ended quickly: 23… Bc4 24.Nxg7! Kxg7 25.Qg5+ Kf8 26.Qxf6 Nc5 27.Nd5 Bxd5 28.exd5 Rb8 29.Rxe5 dxe5 30.d6 Qd7 31.Qh8# 1-0

XXIV OPEN GROS DONOSTIA 2014.9.21 Del Rey, Diego–Jauregi Barandiaran, Jon:  21.Nxg7! Kxg7 22.Bh6+ Kh8 (Otherwise Qg5+ will be mate) 23.Bxf8 Be7 24.Qh6 Bxf8 25.Qxf8+ Ng8 26.f4 and White won a few moves later…