Wednesday’s winning 5-second tactics
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Gutkind, Kedem
Van Den Bersselaar, Jeroen
PokerStars IoM Masters; Douglas; 2014.10.7 Yesterday. Position before Black’s 33rd move. A typical Kings-Indian position with Black having sacrificed a pawn on the Kingside to get the initiative and open lines. White seems solid enough…but having the move makes all the difference!
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
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im Nakar, Eylon (2424)
fm Wallis, Christopher (2347)
PokerStars IoM Masters; Douglas; 2014.10.7 Position after 29 moves. A super-sharp Benoni-type position where Black no longer has his King Bishop. White decides to try to exploit this with some courageous play…
30.Nf5!
Although this threatens mate and forces Black’s move, the real idea is to allow the White Rook to move onto the h-file.
30…PxN 31.Rxh3
The critical position. Wrong is both 31…f6? 32.PxP (when the g-file will give White a decisive attack) and 31…Ne5? 32.fxe5 dxe5 33.Qf2! (and the Queen moves decisively to the h-file). Correct is the courageous 31…Re5! with a completely unbalanced game. The idea is to meet either 32.PxR or 32.Qf2 with 32…Nxe4!. It is still anybody’s game!
INSTEAD, Black thought he found a better idea…
31…Kf8?
WHITE TO PLAY AND MATE IN 4 !
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