Today’s winning 5-sec tactics
(Original chess set, board and clock, set up at the final position of the 34th game, where Capablanca resigned, giving Alekhine the world title. Buenos Aires, November 29th,1927)
“By some ardent enthusiasts Chess has been elevated into a science or an art. It is neither; but its principle characteristic seems to be—what human nature mostly delights in—a fight.” —Emanuel Lasker, Common Sense in Chess
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1.
25th Keres Mem Tallinn 2016.1.8 GM Svidler, Peter– WIM (2085) Narva, Mai. Position after Black’s 34th move, 34…Rh8, attacking the White Queen. This is an easy one. Black is hoping to get either a perpetual check on the Queen or to capture the passed pawns.
WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH!
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25th Keres Mem Tallinn 2016.1.8 FM (2406) Krupenski, Juri–GM Gelfand, Boris. Position after White’s 23rd move (23.Re2). Black has an obvious edge, his doubled Rooks dominate the centre. Here Gelfand can increase his advantage with 23…N(any)d5! (threatening to infiltrate on f4), forcing favourable exchanges.
INSTEAD, being a rapid game (not Gelfand’s forte), the former world champion-challenger executes the same idea but from the other side of the board, falling victim to a NASTY, but brilliant, trick:
23…Nh5(?)
Essentially the same strong idea as recommended above, with a slight difference…(!!)
24.PxN (forced) RxB
25.f6! BxP (forced) 26.Re8+ Kh7
WHITE TO PLAY AND MATE IN 4 MOVES!
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3.
25th Keres Mem Tallinn 2016.1.9 GM Howell, David–GM Jumabayev, Rinat. Position after 16 moves of play in a sharp,speculative English opening where Black appears to have be caught unaware when White sacrificed several pawns. Here 17.Be7 would win an exchange, but not the game (there would still be lots of play left)
17.Nf6+!!
A brilliant concept, tearing open the Kingside. Black must capture as otherwise there would follow Qh5 when things would be even worse…
17…PxN 18.BxP
The Bishop on f6 is GOD! White simply threatens to infiltrate his Queen to h6 when mate is unavoidable. Black tries his only real chance…
18…Ng6 19.Qh5 e5
