“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it.”

― Alan Armstrong

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im  Nithander,V

im  Sipila,V

From the Visma GM tournament, Vaxjo SWE , yesterday.  Position before Black’s 36th move. A couple of moves ago Black was struggling to survive, but now fate has given him a chance to not just escape, but to get a clear advantage.  Unfortunately, he wasted his chance with 36…Bh6(?)–with the idea of sneaking behind White’s b-pawn–and after 37.f4! Re4 38.Rxa5 Bxf4 39.Rxc5 White even went on to win the game.

 

WHAT IS BLACK’S BEST MOVE?

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gm  Ma Qun

 gm  Bu Xiangzhi

 

5th Hainan Danzhou GM 2014.6.25  Position after 57 moves.  A hard fought middlegame saw Bu enter a Queen and pawn ending a pawn to the good, which he has carefully nursed to arrive at the above position.

 

58.e7!

If now 58…Qxg5+ 59.Kh3 Qxh5+ 60.Qh4 forces the exchange of Queens and wins.  With the White pawn about to promote, Black tries his last trick:

 

58…f5+!?

If now 59.Qxf5 Qa4+! 60.Qf4  Qd7+! 61.Kg3 Qxe7  and it is highly improbable that White can force the win.

59.Kh4!!

1-0

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Vos, Tjark

fm  Van Foreest, Jorden

HSG Open Hilversum 2014.6.21  Position after 21 moves of play. This one is relatively simple, and perhaps the oldest tactical theme in chess!

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

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im  Hambleton,Aman

gm  Van Kampen, Robin

HSG Open Hilversum 2014.6.21  Position after 21 moves of play. This one is VERY difficult (but pretty!) and should make all of the anthologies in coming years.  A topical line of the French defence, an expert on the opening with Black; a GREAT attacker with White.  (Hint: you should castle when you can!)

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

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Visma GM Vaxjo SWE  2014.6.25  Sipila,V–Nithander,V:    36…Bxc3!  Threatening mate on e1.  If now White takes the Bishop  37.bxc3 Black has the brilliant resource 37…Rb6!! .

HSG Open Hilversum 2014.6.21  Van Foreest, Jorden–Vos, Tjark:  22.Bxh7+ 1-0  The classic Bishop sacrífice!  We all know the routine: 22…KxB  23.Qh5+ and 24.g6

HSG Open Hilversum 2014.6.21  Van Kampen, Robin–Hambleton, Aman: 22.Rxg6!! fxg6 ( Relatively best is 22…e5 23.dxe5 fxg6 24.Nxg6 Nxe5, though after  25.Rxe5 Rxf6 26.Ne7 Qd6 27.Qg3 there is little doubt that White must win ) 23.Rxe6 Qc4 ( 23…Qxa4 24.Qxd5 ) 24.Nxg6 Kc8 ( 24…Rxf6 25.Rxf6 Nxf6 26.Qxf6+Kc8 27.Qe6+ Kb7 28.Ne5 Qxa4 29.Qxd5+ must also win easily ) 25.Nxf8 Nxf8 26.Re8+ Kb7 27.f7 Qc6 28.Qxh5 a5 29.Qe5 Nd7 30.Qf5 1-0