Today’s 5-second tactics
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“People who are winning at working don’t ignore the problems they encounter.”
― Nan S. Russell
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EXAMPLE ONE
Varaciuc, V (2179)
gm Svetushkin, D
Lasi,Romania. May 11 of this year. Position after 14 moves of play. Black has misplayed the opening, weakening his Kingside while White amassed his pieces ready for the attack. White does not hesitate…
15. Nf6+!
The piece can not be taken: 15… gxf6 16. exf6 Bd6 17. Nxd4 ! and the transter of the Queen to the Kingside is immediately decisive: Bxf4 (17… Nxf6 18. Nxc6 Bxf4 19. Nxb8) 18. Qg4 Bg5 19. hxg5 h5 20. Qxh5 Nxd4 21. Be4 and mate is not far off
15… Kh8 16.Ng5!!
Picturesque! Both Knights can be taken and Black can not simply allow them to stay there as White is threatening (amongst other things) Qe4: 16…Pxc4?!17. Qe4! g6 18. Nxf7 +!Rxf7 19. Qxg6 etc. And clearly impossible is 16… hxg5 17. Qh5#. So Black is stuck between a rock and a hard place (as the saying goes…)
16… Bxf6!? 17. exf6 e5
There is nothing better. White now efficiently dissects the Black Monarch’s liver…
18. fxg7+ Kxg7 19. Qg4!
Relentless! White has 5 pieces available for the attack, and does not shrink from sacrificing some of them in the assault. Now 19…f5 goes off to 20.Ne6+ Kf6 21.Qg7+ KxN 22.Bxc6! and Black can only decide upon which way White will mate him!
The game quickly ended:
19… hxg5 20. Qxg5+ Kh8 21. Qh6+ Kg8 22. Be4!
[1:0]
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EXAMPLE TWO
wgm Baginskaite, Camilla
gm Krush,Irina
The US women’s championship on the 12th of May. Position after 16 moves of play. After an acceptable opening by Black , she allowed herself to be led into a false sense of security and committed a serious ommision allowing the White Rook to remain on c5. Krush does not let escape this opportunity…
17. Bxe4! dxe4 18. Rd5!
A powerful blow that must have escaped Black’s attention. The Black Queen is forced into a passive position
18… Qc8 19. Ng5!!
The key to the position! The White Queen will now join the attack (Qh5) and the Black defence is helpless. Insufficient now is 19…g6 as both 20.Nxh7 and 20.Nxf7 win (the latter is strongest: 20…KxN 21.Re7+ any 22.Qd5 etc) And if instead 19… h6 20. Qh5! hxg5 (20… Rf8 21. Nxe4) 21. Rxg5 and there is no defence. The Bishop on b2 is worth its weight in gold.
19… f6!? 20.Rd7!!
White has many threats (21.Qd5+ being the most obvious) Both 20…PxN or 20…Re7 are now met by 21.Qd5+. That leaves Black with little choice…
20… Ne7
Black is doing her best (trying to block the Bishop on b2 and neutralizing the Rook on d7, but the position is much too difficult to hold for long.
21. Qh5!!
If now 21… fxg5 22. Qxg5 will soon mate.
21… Qxd7
Hoping for 22.Qxh7+ which would allow Black to keep fighting…
22. Qf7+Kh8 23. Bxf6!
