Today’s winning swindle!
All is fair in love and chess…There is something of an ART to being a chess swindler! Besides the poker-face and ice-cold nerves, you also need–at times– the morals of an ally cat: no trick is beneath him! A point is a point, no matter how much your opponent cries afterwards! The true swindler has no problems sleeping at night…
BUT a swindler also needs to be a GREAT tactician! Witness the following example from a game in Italy:
POSITION AFTER WHITE’S 27th MOVE:
im Kenny Solomon
Michael Schaefer (2165)
Black’s position is horrible! Besides being a pawn down for absolutely nothing and having a weakened Kingside to boot, his d-pawn sucks. And White has superb piece coordination and full control of the squares in front of the isolated pawn. White’s game is so strong that even the Cypus National Bank would use this position as collatoral for a loan!
BLACK TAKES HIS BEST CHANCE: BLUFF !
27…d4?!
Why wait for the hammer to strike when you still can wiggle? Black seeks salvation by opening up the lines for his pieces, especially the dormant Bishop in the corner. Ofcourse, this should only speed up Black’s defeat, but atleast he gives White the opportunity to go wrong…
28.Nxd4 Rxe3?!
WTF?
This is the ART of the swindle! It is TOTAL bluff! White can now take the Rook : 29.PxR QxP+ 30.Kh1 when Black’s best move is to extend his hand and resign! Black has absolutely no threats. HOWEVER, White becomes confused and makes a terrible miscalculation, letting Black out of the bag.
29.Bxc6??
The opportunity that every swindler dreams about!
29…Re1+! 30.Kg2
Probably White had only anticipated 30…Bxc6+(?) when 31.Qxc6 Qxc6+ 32.Nxc6 Rxd1 33.Rxd8+ wins handily. A bitter surprise awaits him!
30…Rxd4!!
OUCH!! Pins and double attacks galore…White finds himself completely helpless! If now 31.Rxe1 then 31…Bxc6+ 32.Kf1 Bb5+ wins. The next moves are more or less forced…
31.Qxd4 Qxc6+
If 32.Qd5 then 32…QxQ´and 33…Rxd1 wins the house. Instead, White prefers to get mated:
32. Kh3 Qg2+33.Kg4
33…Qf3+ 34.Kh3 Qh5 and mate next move
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[…] Today’s winning swindle! Spraggett on Chess All is fair in love and chess…There is something of an ART to being a swindler! Besides the poker-face and ice-cold nerves, you–at times– also need the morals of an ally cat … […]