Today’s 5-second tactics!
“There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
———————————-
Continuing with examples from the games of grandmaster Efim Bogoljubov…
——————————————
gm Alekhine,A
gm Bogoljubov,E
Rastatt 1914. Position before Black’s 37th move. A sharp game with both Kings feeling insecure. In such positions two things are of utmost importance: the initiative and having the move!
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
———————————–
Rabinovich Ilya
gm Bogoljubov,E
Triberg 1915 Position after 20 moves. A neat tactic with a geometric theme. Black seems quite ok (the Bishop pair vs isolated queen pawn is a common occurrence in modern openings) but the Black Rook is on the wrong square…
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
——————————————-
gm Bogoljubov,E
gm Reti,Richard
Berlin 1934. Position before Black’s 34th move. Black has an obvious advantage, both materially and positionally. But Queen and Rook endings are notoriously difficult. Here, however, the White King is a bit exposed and this gives Black an idea……can you also find a way to end the game quickly?
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
—————————————–
gm Rubinstein, A
gm Bogoljubov,E
Stockholm 1919 Position after 33 moves. White was getting crushed earlier, but Black suddenly went astray and played a bit superficially. Rubinstein is counting on the threatened check on g2, but Bogoljubov finds a surprising refutation to Black’s attack! (Note: 34.Rxf3?! Qxe1! is just unclear)
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
—————————————–
gm Bogoljubov,E
gm Rubinstein,A
Stockholm/Goteborg match 1920 Position after 21 moves of play. White had sacrificed a pawn for the initiative, but seems to have hit a dead end. The Black King seems very well protected (the check on h7 is harmless) and is about to expulse the White Queen with …Nf8. However, the great Rubinstein had forseen a brilliant and diabolical idea…
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
—————————————–
Wolf Heinrich
gm Bogoljubov,E
Pistyan 1922 Position after 27 moves of play. White has an obvious advantage but Black seems to have everything under control. All Black needs is one move (Ne5)…however, Bogoljubov is in top form on this day and does not let Black get any play…
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
——————————————
SOLUTIONS
Rastatt 1914 Bogoljubow E–Alekhine A: 37… Nxe5+! This opens the White King’s position 38.dxe5 Rc3! 39.Qd2 R8c4! 40.Nfg2 d4! Decisive 41.Rh1 Kg8 42.Rh3 dxe3 43.Qe2 ( 43.Rah1 exd2+ 44.Ke2 d1=R 45.Kxd1 Qd4+ ) Qd4 0-1 The King is trapped
Triberg 1915 Bogoljubow Efim –Rabinovich Ilya: 21.Bxe5! Qxf5 ( 21…Qxe5 22.Nh6+ and then Qg4+ picking up the Rook on c8 ) 22.Qxd5 with a clear extra pawn and a won game. Black resigned on the 35th move
Berlin 1919 Reti Richard –Bogoljubow Efim :34… Rxg3! 35.Rxg3 Qxf4+ 36.Kg2 Rxg3+ 37.Qxg3 Qxc1 38.Qg8+ Kb7 39.Qxf7 Qg5+ 40.Kf2 Qf4+ 0-1 The pawns win easily
Stockholm 1919 Bogoljubow Efim –Rubinstein Akiba: 34.Qe6+!Kg7 If instead …Kh7 then 35.Rxf3 and 36.Qd7+ wins 35.Qe5+! Kh7 If instead …Kg8 then 36.Rxf3! and 37. Re4 wins as in the game 36.Rxf3!! Rxf3 37.Re4 1-0
Stockholm/Goteborg match 1920 Rubinstein Akiba K –Bogoljubow Efim : 22.Bxh6!! Nxh6 23.Rxd6 Qa5 24.Qh7+ Kf8 and now the simplest way to win is 25.Rxh6! gxh6 26.Nh4! Bf7 27.Bd5! etc
Pistyan 1922 Bogoljubow Efim D–Wolf Heinrich: 28.Bxg6! hxg6 ( 28…Nf8 29.Bc2 Rxc330.Bb2 ) 29.Qxg6 Qg8 ( 29…Nf8 30.Qh5+ Kg8 31.Ne4! Bd7 32.Qf7+Kh8 33.Nf6 ) 30.Qh5+ Qh7 ( 30…Kg7 31.Qh6# ) 31.Qe8+ Nf8( 31…Bf8 32.Qxc8 Qe7 33.g6! ) 32.Rf7 Qc2 33.Qxe7 Qxc1+ 34.Rf1 Rxc3 35.Qxf8+ Kh7 36.Qf7+ Kh8 37.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 38.Kf2 1-0