Today’s chess quiz
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
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Example 3: 22…e3! 23.PxP Qc7! 24.Rg1 Bd6! and Black must win
Example 4: 28…Qd4! 29.BxQ (forced!) RxB and Black has the edge!
EXAMPLE 1
POSITION AFTER WHITE’S 27th MOVE (27.Rc6)
2012 Chinese Championship
gm Wang Chen
gm Li Shilong
White is somewhat better (B vs N; more centralized position; some initiative) but Black is ok. Here Black must try to create some play in the centre with 27…Qd4! INSTEAD, Black’s sense of danger failed him
27…Qa5?
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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EXAMPLE 2
POSITION AFTER 22 MOVES:
Budva 1967
Geller
Tal
Black has just taken a pawn on d5 with his Bishop. No doubt Geller was counting on 23.Bxd5 Rxd5 with a reasonable game.
WHAT SURPRISE HAD TAL PREPARED FOR HIS ADVERSARY?
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EXAMPLE 3
POSITION AFTER WHITE’S 22nd MOVE (22.Bd2)
2012 Women’s Chinese Championship
Guo Qi
Wang Jue
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EXAMPLE 3
POSITION AFTER WHITE’S 22nd MOVE (22.Bd2)
2012 Women’s Chinese Championship
Guo Qi
The White monarch has not yet got around to castling into safety. What is Black’s most promising continuation to attack?
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EXAMPLE 4
POSITION AFTER WHITE’S 25th MOVE (25.Nd1?!):
2012 Women’s Chinese Championship
Ju Weng Jun
Wang Jue
White has played the attack with great energy , but his last move let’s Black off the hook and even turns the tables slightly in Black’s favour!
27…Rxd5! 28.Qh6 (what else?)
WHAT IS BLACK’S SAVING RESOURCE?
SOLUTIONS
Example 1: 28.Rxg6-ch! Black resigns as after 28…pxR (28…Kh8 29.Rh6! etc) 29.Qxg6-ch Kh8 30.Qh6-ch followed by 31.Qg5-ch and 32.Re4 is immediately lethal.
Example 2: 22.RxB! RxR 23.Qf3! with a huge advantage. Wrong then would be 23…Rde5 as after 24.Qxf7 Kh8 Black gets mated with the elegant 25.Qg8!!
Example 3: 22…e3! 23.PxP Qc7! 24.Rg1 Bd6! and Black must win
Example 4: 28…Qd4! 29.BxQ (forced!) RxB and Black has the edge!