Today’s winning 5-second tactics

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gm Short,Nigel

 Heinsohn, Guenther  (2092)

World Senior Teams Dresden 2015.2.25  Position before Black’s 26th move.  White is trying to play solidly against the famous English grandmaster, but has left his King all alone on the Kingside…something that Short was quick to punish

BLACK TO PLAY AND CRUSH!

Members of the all-powerful English squad (Chapman, Nunn and Short) participating in what Short has dubbed the ‘World Senile’ championship! (Photo by Dagobert Kohlmeyer)

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gm  Brkic, Ante

gm  Gruenfeld, Yehuda

16th ch-EUR Indiv  Jerusalem 2015.2.27  Position before Black’s 17th move.  Take a look at White’s Queen, fishing for a pawn on the Queenside.  Then take a look at all of Black’s pieces looking at the White King…

BLACK TO PLAY AND CRUSH!

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im  Kjartansson, Gudmundur  (2491)

gm  Khairullin, Ildar

16th ch-EUR Indiv  Jerusalem 2015.2.27  White had just played 18.Qb3 (attacking the e-pawn) and Black immediately replied 18…Qb6(?) defending the pawn.  After White’s next move, Black immediately resigned.  Do you see it?

WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH!

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World Senior Teams Dresden 2015.2.25 Heinsohn, Guenther–Short, Nigel: 26…Ng4+! 27.Kh1 ( 27.hxg4 Qh4+ 28.Kg1 Bd4+ 29.Be3 Rxe3 and mate is inevitable; also useless is 27.Kg3 h4+ 28.Kf3 Nh2+ 29.Kf2 Bd4+) Qh4! 0-1 There is nothing to be done about the coming …Qg3 leading to variations as above.

16th ch-EUR Indiv  Jerusalem 2015.2.27  Gruenfeld, Yehuda–Brkic, Ante: 17…Rxf3! 18.gxf3 ( No better would be 18.Nxf3 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Ne5! 20.f4Nf3+ 21.Kg2 Qxe4 etc ) 18…Qh4! 19.Rfe1 ( 19.f4 Rxf4! ) Qxh2+ 20.Kf1 Rxf3! Black’s forceful play gives a good impression. 21.Qxb7 Qh3+ 0-1 It is soon mate.

16th ch-EUR Indiv  Jerusalem 2015.2.27   Khairullin, Ildar–Kjartansson, Gudmundur: 19.Ba5! A shocker for Black, who immediately resigned!  Why? Because after 18… Qxa5 20.Qxe6+ Rf7 ( 20…Kh8 21.Qxe7 Qd8 22.Nxf5! and the count is plus two pawns… ) 21.Bh5! Ne5 22.Qxe5 and Black will lose even more material.