Today’s winning 5-sec tactics
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Catalan Championship (sub-18) La Pined 2016.3.20 Tarrago,R—Orteu,M. Position after White’s 21st move (21.Nxc7). Clearly White must have something better than this pawn grub, but now Black has the opportunity to end the game quicky in his favour. Do you see the idea?
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
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Azores Open Ponta Delgado 2016.4.1 gm Spraggett, K– im Hernandez Estevez,Yud. One from my own games! Position after 29 moves. Despite material equality, Black is suffering because of his poorly placed pieces. White’s pieces, on the otherhand, are all harmoniously placed. Sometimes this difference is enough to win the game!
WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH!
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Azores Open Ponta Delgado 2016.3.31 gm Spraggett,K— im Rocha, S. Position after 27 moves. Another from my own praxis. Even though White is a pawn up, Black is hoping that his active pieces will provide sufficient counterplay. Black is threatening annoying little things such as Qb1+, Ng5 or Nef4. Infact, in such dynamic situations an extra pawn is usually irrelevant… Unfortunately for Black, it is White’s move!
WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH!
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SOLUTIONS
Campionat de Catalunya sub-18 La Pined 2016.3.20 Tarrago,R—Orteu,M: 21…Ne5! Attacking the Knight on c7 22.Ne6 Nxe6 23.dxe6 Rxg2+!! 0-1 It is mate after 24.KxR Rg7+ 25.Kh2 Nf3+ and 26…Qxh3
Azores Open Ponta Delgado 2016.4.1 Spraggett, K–Hernandez Estevez,Yud: 30.Rd6! (If now 31…BxR 32.PxB R-moves 33.Nxe5 wins lots of material.) 30… Qe8 31.Nxe5! f6 (31…RxN 32.f4) 32.Ng4! Rxe4 33.Qh6+ 1-0 After the King moves 34.Nxf6 is soon mate.
Azores Open Ponta Delgado 2016.3.31 Spraggett,K—Rocha, S: 28.Nf5! Threatening to win the Queen with Nd6; if now 28…Qxg4? 29.Nh6+ wins the Queen. Or if 28…Qb1+ 29.Kh2 Qxa2 30.Bc5! (even better than the immediate 30.Nh6+) and there is nothing to do about the coming Knight check) The game continued 28…Qe1+ 29.Kh2 Ngf4!? (As good as any. Note that 29…Qxf2+ loses the Queen after 30.Nd6+) 30.Nd6+! Ke7 31.Qg8! f5!? 32.Qf7+ Good enough, but 32.Qe8+ Kf6 33.Ne4+!! and mate next move is quicker 32… Kd8 33.Qe8+ 1-0 It is forced mate.