“There are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are the very simplest things and because it takes a man’s life to know them the little that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave.”

― Ernest Hemingway, American Lit for Idiots – a one act play

————————–

Bundesliga  2016.2.21 GM Braun, Arik–fm (2280) Pogan, Nikolas. Position after 26 moves. White has an obvious positional advantage, his Knight having taken up a strong and dominating position.  There are a number of good ways to increase his advantage, but there is only one BEST way.  Do you see it?

WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH!

————————-

2.

Bundesliga    2016.2.20 GM Dvirnyy, Danyyil–GM Mainka, Romuald.  Position after 23 moves. Black has been greedily grabbing pawns at the expense of his development, and only now (with his  last move 23…e5) has he decided to do something about it…BUT it is too late.  What Black hopes for is 24.Rd8 Be6! 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 26.Rd8+ Rxd8 27.Qxd8+ Qf8 and Black successfully defends. 

WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH!

————————-

3.

Bundesliga    2016.2.20  GM Rodshtein, Maxim–GM Tazbir, Marcin. Position after 25 moves.  Black, desperate, had just played 25…Bxd6, attacking the Queen.  If now 26.Rxd6? Rxd6 27.Qxd6 Qxc4 and Black wins.  Ditto 26.Qa7+? Rd7! 

WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH!

————————-

4.

32nd Cappelle Open  2016.2.13   GM Kamsky, Gata–IM (2409) D’Costa, Lorin. Position after 25 moves.  A typical Sicilian Defence middlegame where White has managed to coordinate all of his pieces on the Kingside before Black could get his counterplay going…

WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH!

————————-

5.

Bundesliga  2016.2.21  GM Eljanov, Pavel–IM (2537) Tari, Aryan. Position after 36 moves. White has a strong positional advantage and must now decided on how to proceed.  Good and natural is 37.c6!? Rf8 38.Re3 Qd1 39.Bc3 with strong pressure (If now 39…Qc2? 40.Bxe5+!)  HOWEVER, should we be surprised that there is something even better for White?

WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH! 

 

————————-

SOLUTIONS

Bundesliga    2016.2.21 Braun, Arik–Pogan, Nikolas: 27.Bh6! 1-0  Resignation is not premature as after 27…Bh8 28.Bxf8 Kxf8 29.f3!  opens up the f-file by force with immediately catastrophic effect.

Bundesliga    2016.2.20 Dvirnyy, Danyyil–Mainka, Romuald: 24.R1d3!! driving off the Queen from the a3-f8 diagonal is immediately decisive 24…Qxa2 What else? 25.Rd8! Bd7 26.Rxa8 Rxa8 27.Rxd7 1-0

Bundesliga    2016.2.20  Rodshtein, Maxim–Tazbir, Marcin: 26.Re7+! Kf8 27.Rf7+! 1-0  Mate is inevitable

32nd Cappelle Open  2016.2.13  Kamsky, Gata–D’Costa, Lorin: 26.Rxf7! Kxf7 27.Qxh7+ Ke8 28.Qxg6+ Kf8 ( 28…Kd8 29.Qg8+ Kd7 30.Qxd5+ Bd6 31.Bf5+ ) 29.Qh6+ (29.e6! ) Ke8 30.Bb5+ Qd7 31.Qg6+ Kd8 ( 31…Kf8 32.e6 ) 32.Bb6+ 1-0

Bundesliga    2016.2.21  Eljanov, Pavel–Tari, Aryan: 37.cxd6!  Rxc4 38.d7!  The point.  The pawn can not be prevented from promoting, leaving White with a piece advantage3. 1-0