Today’s winning shot!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
POSITION AFTER 28 MOVES
gm MUREY
gm SPRAGGETT
Cleaning house today, I came across an old game of mine against the Israeli grandmaster Jacob Murey from the 1989 Paris Championship. It was a memorable tournament for me, winning first prize ahead of an impressive field! I started like a bat out of hell with 4 out of 4…against a field of im Andruet, gm Taimanov, gm Razuvaev and gm Murey (above).
In the position above, after a really intense middlegame, Black finally seems to have consolidated his position and seems very much out of danger…BUT appearances can be deceiving!
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
Solution
White played 29.Nd6! (threatening the Rook) and if 29….Rf8 then 30. Ne8! mates. Should Black take the Knight on move 29 with his Queen (which is what Murey played) then 30.Re8-ch picks up the Queen for a Rook and Knight: a good deal and the position is easy enough to win.
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS