Today's 5-second tactics
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im Terrieux,K
gm Avruk,B
From a tournament in Sautron (France) just the other day. Position after 25 moves of play. Black’s last move was 24…g4, attacking the White Knight on f3. Should White retreat his Knight then Black will capture the pawn on e5.
In sharp positions, such as this one arising from the Benko Gambit, one must often be cold-blooded and have the courage of our convictions. Sacrifice of material for the initiative, or just for position, are common tools of the trade. Alekhine’s games taught us all that. If these means work in any given game, then you are rewarded. But if they fail, then you must learn to moderate–or better prepare–the degree of your cold-bloodedness. There is a learning curve…
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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Coiffait,P
gm Roiz,M
Also from Sautron. Position after 19 moves of play. Black’s last move (19…Ng4)–seeking to exchange pieces–falls victim to a tactical trick that probably happens not less than 10,000 times a year (in different positions, ofcourse). When will we ever learn?
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN A PAWN!
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Solutions
Avrukh,B–Terrieux,K: 26.exd6! gxf3+ 27.Kxf3 Qf6+ 28.Kg2! Bf8 29.Nd5! Qxd6 30.Ne7+! BxN (30…QxN 31.RxQ BxR 32.Qe2) 31.RxQ BxR 32.Bxh6 followed by infiltration on the open kingside with Re4 and Qf5. Black is dead. 1-0
Roiz,M–Coiffait,P: 20.Nxg4 Bxd2 21.Nxe5! Winning a pawn. 21… dxe5 (21…Bxb4 22.Nc6) 22.Qxd2 Qf6 23.Rac1 Rd8 24.Qc3 The rest was easy. 24…Kg7 25.Rd2 Ba6 26.a4 b5 27.Bf1 Rdb8 28.d6 c6 29.d7 Qe7 30.Rd6 1-0