Today’s 5-second tactics
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Campbell,Murray
gm Spraggett,K
Canadian Junior, Toronto, 1974. Position after 24 moves of play. This game was played at Hart House,Toronto, the first of several national tournaments that I participated at that popular location (even today the Hart House Chess Club is active and alive!).
In the position above, White has a clear positional advantage, Black’s pawns, especially, are a serious problem. However, a minor detail should not be overlooked: the open h-file. Is it out of the question that while all of Black’s pieces are tied up on the Queenside, some danger lay in store for the Black monarch?
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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gm Spraggett,K
fm Zalys,Ignas
Spring Open, Montreal 1973. Position before Black’s 31st move. Material is even, but Black has the more active pieces. More over, his passed pawn on e3 is a monster!
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
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Toronto 1974 Spraggett Kevin–Campbell Murray: 25.Rh8+!! Kxh8 26.Qxf7 Qd4+ 27.Kg2 Rb5 28.Qxg6 Qg7 29.Qe8+ Qg8 30.Rh1+ Kg7 31.Qxe7+ Kg6 32.Rh4 1-0
Montreal 1973. Zalys,I –Spraggett,K: 31…Nf4!! If now 32.QxQ e3+ 33.QxB e1Qmate! The game continuation changed nothing: 32.Qe1 Qd5! 0-1