Today’s 5-second tactics
“We must use time creatively – and forever realize that the time is always hope to do great things.”
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Today’s examples are all taken from the just recently finished Gibraltar super-open. Some are easy, some are not so easy, and the rest you decide! Solutions later today. Goodluck!
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Freuler, Roman
Tscharotschkin, Michael
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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gm Lederman, Leon
gm Roeder, Matthias
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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Mihajlov, Sebastian:
fm Gaehwiler, Gabriel
HOW CAN WHITE GET A BIG EDGE?
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Becham, Khalid
im Nezad, Husein Aziz
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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im Lejlic, Samir
gm Salem, A.R. Saleh
Position after 11 moves. Black had sacrificed a pawn in the opening and his last move (11…Qb4) continues his risky play. Should White defend his pawn? Isn’t there a way to use White’s plusses to take advantage of the Black King still stuck in the centre?
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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gm Hansen,Eric
im Mikkelsen, Nikolaj
There is no doubt that Black stands better, but ,still, you would not expect the game to end in just two moves!
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
———————————— GIBRALTAR SOLUTIONSGibraltar Masters 2014.2.6. Tscharotschkin, Michael–Freuler, Roman: 16.Nxh7! The classical ‘rip-up-the-kingside’ ritual. 16… Nxe5 17.Qxe5 Kxh7 18.Qh5+ Kg8 19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.Qxg6+ Kh8 21.Rd3 e5 22.Qh5+ Kg7 23.Rg3+ Bg5 24.Bxg5 1-0
Gibraltar Masters 2014.2.6. Roeder, Matthias–Lederman, Leon: 28.Rxa6! Rxa6 29.Rxa6 Qxa6 30.Qxc6+ 1-0 It is mate, losing the Queen, or both. Better to throw in the towel!
Gibraltar Masters 2014.2.3 Gaehwiler, Gabriel–Mihajlov, Sebastian: 24.d6!! A surprisingly strong move that catches Black’s pieces offside for a decisive moment. 24…f6? The only try, though probably not sufficient to save the game was…24…Rfe8. Now Black quickly loses: 25.Qxa5 Bxd1 26.Qxb4 Bxa4 27.dxe7 Qxd2 28.exf8=Q+ Rxf8 29.Bd5+ 1-0
Gibraltar Masters 2014.2.3 Nezad, Husein Aziz–Becham, Khalid: 18.Nf5!! gxf5 19.Rxf5 There is nothing to be done about the White Bishops. The game ended 19…e5 20.Rg5+ Kh8 21.Qxe5 1-0
Gibraltar Masters 2014.2.4 Salem, A.R. Saleh–Lejlic, Samir: 12.Nd5! Never be afraid to invest in your chess ambitions! White opens the position advantageously. 12…exd5 13.exd5+ Nce7 14.Rad1 Qb5 15.c4 Qxb2 16.Rd2 Qf6 17.d6 g5 18.Bxb7 gxf4 19.Bxa8 Bh6 20.Rb1 Kf8 21.d7 f3 22.d8=Q+ Kg7 1-0
Gibraltar Masters 2014.2.1 Mikkelsen, Nikolaj–Hansen, Eric: 27…Qc6!! Threatening mate and setting up Black’s next shot 28.f3 Bc8 0-1 The Queen is lost!