Today’s 5-second tactic

You have 5 seconds to move!

——————————————-

A HARD MOVE TO FIND!

gm  Popilski,Gil

cm Mende,Andreas

Barcelona, round 7.  Position after White’s 20th move (20.Rh3!?).  A tricky position filled with subtle resources.  Ofcourse, though White’s attack is not warranted, it is still dangerous.  Wrong  would be the greedy 20…PxB?  because White has the strong 21.Nf5! giving him the advantage in every line.  Also second-rate is the solid  20…Rf7?! as after 21.Ne6!  Black can still not take the Knight: 21…PxB? 22.PxN! PxP+ 23.Kg1 QxQ  24.RxQ+ Kh8  25.Rb3! and Black is busted!  Even worse is to exchange Queens: 20…QxQ? 21.RxQ Ng6  22.h5!  with a winning attack

INSTEAD, Popilski found a brilliant resource that gives him a winning edge.  Do you see it?

BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!

Mende, Andreas–Popilski, Gil:  20…Bc8!!  A retreating move is always the most difficult to forsee.  Black covers the importante f5 square and simply threatens to take the Bishop.  Relatively best now is  21.Ne6 Bxe6 22.dxe6 gxh6 23.fxe5 fxe5+ 24.Kg1 h5 25.Rb1 Rab8 thought Black should win without too much difficulty.  INSTEAD, White was in denial:  21.Nc6?! Nxc6 22.dxc6 Qg6!! 23.Bxg7 Qxg7 24.Qxg7+Kxg7 25.Re1 Bxh3 26.Rxe7+ Rf7 27.Rxf7+ Kxf7 28.gxh3 Rb8 29.Ke2 Rb6 0-1