“The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.”

― Lewis Carroll

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wfm  Mammadzada, Gunay  (2316)

gm  Iordachescu, Viorel

Baku 2014.9.24  Position after 31 moves. (Black’s last move was 31…Nd7, attacking the Bishop on e5)  An unusual situation, with both monarchs stuck in the centre.  White is doing better than Black, however, as almost all of his pieces are in play and actively posted (in this kind of position we do not need to count pawns). Then, having the move makes a big difference also!

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

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im  Abdulov, Orkhan  (2344)

gm  Guliyev, Namig

Baku 2014.9.23  Position after 17 moves.  Black’s last move was the confident 17…Rad8.  Black provokes a sacrifice on e6, a typical theme in such positions.  However, praxis has shown that if all White gets is a Rook and a couple of pawns (for two pieces), then the middlegame will be better for Black.  For the sacrifice to work, White needs something special.  Is there something special hidden here?

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

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Baku 2014.9.24 Iordachescu, Viorel–Mammadzada, Gunay: 32.Rxd7! Bxd7 33.Qd6!  The point. If now 33…Kd8 then 34.Kc1 Re7 35.Bxe6 etc. In the game continuation Black did not do much better: 33… Qd8 34.Kc1!  There is no defence to Qxc5+. If 34…Bc6 35.Qxc6+ is mating.  1-0

Baku 2014.9.23 Guliyev, Namig–Abdulov, Orkhan: 18.Ndxe6! fxe6 19.Qxe6+ Kh8 ( 19…Kf8 20.Bg6!) 20.Rxd7!!  This is that ‘something special’.  20…Rxd7 ( 20…Nxd7 21.Qh6!)  and now the fastest way to conclude the game is  21.Qh3! h6 (or  21…Bf8 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Qxd7) 22.Ng6+ Kg8 23.Qe6+ Kh7 24.Ne5+ etc