Monday’s winning 5-second tactics
Tactics & Games from Dubai
The 20th Dubai Open is taking place as I write and will finish on the 12th of April. Always a very strong event, this year sees 164 participants from 34 countries. A total of 101 titled players, including 41 gms and 31 ims. Total prize fund of $50,000, with first prize taking home $13,000. A nine-round Swiss, with time control of 90 minutes for the entire game (plus 30‘ per move).
The winner’s trophy!
TACTICS
gm Venkatesh – Moksh,A(2228) Dubai 4.4.2018
Black had just captured the White pawn on c3, a serious error that ruins a perfectly good game. Now White now finds that he has a golden opportunity to end the game in his favour. White to play and crush!
gm Kiriakov,P – im Dhulipalla,B Dubai 3.4.2018
A sharp and unusual position! Both sides are fighting for the initiative. Unfortunately, often everything depends on who has the move, and this is bad news for Black here. White to play and crush!
gm Flores,D – wcm Song,Y Dubai 3.4.2018
Clearly White has a dominating game, his pieces all actively placed. Black’s pieces, on the otherhand, are disorganized and can hardly move. White to play and crush!
gm Ganguly,S – gm Debashis,D Dubai 4.4.2018
The White Knight has effectively cut the Black position into two. In the thick of a fight, in chess, this could be a moment and a signal for decisive action. White to play and crush!
im Karthikeyan – gm Iturrizaga Dubai 4.4.2018
White is clearly trying to wipe Black off the board on the Kingside with his pawn storm. If the Black Bishop retreats, the pawn avalanche will push forward. What should Black do?
im Iniyan,P – gm Zubov,A Dubai 4.4.2018
A sharp game with opposite side castling. Both Kings are exposed, and not feeling very safe. But it is Black’s move. Black to play and crush!
wim Srija,S – gm Pantsulaia,L Dubai 7.4.2018
Black is clearly with the initiative here, but White seems to have everything under control. The main problem, however, is that White can hardly move anything. This creates opportunity. Black to play and crush!
Zhu,Y (2195) – im Sachdev,T Dubai 7.4.2018
A big upset is in progress! Of course, White has a perpetual if she wants, but she wants to beat the famous Indian superstar! But how to do it? White to play and crush!
im Sachdev,T – Minko,D(2145) Dubai 8.4.2018
White is clearly better in a very sharp game. For the moment Black’s counterattack has run out of steam. Is there a way for White to take advantage of this fact? White to play and crush!
Games
im Omar,N – gm Anton,D Dubai 7.4.2018 (0-1)
White played for the throat right from the opening and got a very painful lesson: respect your opponent!
im Christiansen – Kurbanov Dubai 3.4.2018 (1-0)
A really powerful example of modern middlegame play. The hi point of the game is White’s in between move e6!
gm Flores – wcm Song,Y Dubai 3.4.2018 (1-0)
The finish of this game was included in the tactic’s section. The game started quietly, but quickly became a mess.
wgm Kulkarni – gm Kovalev,V Dubai 5.3.2018 (0-1)
An excellent example of a King getting caught in the centre. Brutal, violent and entertaining!
gm Anton – gm Santiago Dubai 7.4.2018 (1-0)
A beautiful positional game! The White piece sacrifice is both elegant and subtle at the same time.
gm Akopian,V – im Christiansen Dubai 8.4.2018 (1-0)
Akopian is known for his brilliant blow outs, and this game is typical of the Armenian superstar.
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