Today’s winning 5-second tactics
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A KNIGHT STORY
gm Ivanchuk,V
gm Mamedyarov,Shak
Vladimir Petrov Mem Jurmala 2015.3.8 Actually, a rapid tournament. Position after White’s 17th move (17.h4) attacking the Knight on g5. White is hoping that the Knight will retreat, when he can follow up with a timely Rg1 and Bb2 with Kingside chances. However, the tournament winner (Ivanchuk) was in great form and found some clever tactical themes that allowed him to take the offensive…
HOW DOES BLACK GET A BIG EDGE?
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Canabate
Millan
Jaen Open February 2015 Position after 30 moves. At first sight it seems that Black has everything under control…in chess first impressions are rarely reliable.
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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ANOTHER KNIGHT STORY
gm Schlosser, P
gm Karjakin,S
Vladimir Petrov Mem Jurmala 2015.3.7 The rapid tournament. Position after 17 moves. As with most of these d3-Spanish Openings, very little other than ‘cat and mouse‘ play is going on. Black’s last move (17…Bg4) aims to get some Kingside play (18.Nd2 Nh5!?), something that Karjakin’s next move prevents…
18.Ng5!?
With an obvious threat on f7…
18…Bh5 19.Re3!?
Planning to slide the Rook to g3 or h3, depending on circumstances…
19…h6
Politely asking the Knight to declare its intentions… White should now continue 20.Nf3 with a messy fight.
20.Ne6??
THE WINNING BLUNDER!!
Yes, that is right! Black emerges a piece up after 20…PxN! 21.BxP+ Bf7! (overlooked by both players). BUT, remember, this is a rapid game!
20…Re8?
Defending the attacked Rook…
21.Rg3!
Karjakin has ‘stolen’ the advantage!
21…Bg6?!
White has a number of ways of winning. Probably the most crushing is 22.Rxg6! and if 22…PxR 23.Bxa6!! winning the house, the Queen and/or all of Black’s important pieces! The discovered check theme of the Queen on a2 is worth close study…BUT, it must be admitted that Karjakin’s way of winning is also pretty brutal:
22.Nxg7!
This is, after all, a ‘Knight’-story! White threatens both RxB and NxR. If Black plays 22…KxN then 23.Bxf7 brings down the house…
22…d5 (Desperate, but what else?) 23.NxR
1-0!
Black has had enough! What a hero that Knight was!!
