Today’s winning 5-sec tactics
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THE TACTICAL SHOT
Moscow Open A 2016.1.31 IM (2395) Vorontsov, Pavlo–GM Korobov, Anton. Position after Black’s 29th move (29…Qc5). A balanced, but dynamic situation on the board. White’s extra pawn is meaningless, while Black must watch out for the defence of his d-pawn. To his credit, Black has the c-file, but it is difficult to see how to use it. (Had there been another minor piece on the board, perhaps this factor might tilt things in Black’s favour…as it is having only one minor piece limits chances)
In the position above, White should proceed cautiously with 30.Kg2 followed by 31.Kf1 and await a draw offer. Black can not do anything without risking…HOWEVER, under the impression that he had the advantage, White proceeded rashly:
30.Qc4(?!)
White is trying to be clever, wanting to trade Queens when the ending is better for him. For example, 30…QxQ 31.PxQ Be7 (30…Rxc4 31.Nxd6 and the passed d-pawn will become very dangerous.) 32.Rc1 followed by the advance of his King over to the Queenside. Nor is the ‘solid’ 30…Be7 good enough after the forceful 31.Rc1! However, in his rush to ‘prove’ his advantage, White overlooked a small detail…do you see it?
BLACK TO PLAY AND GET A CLEAR ADVANTAGE!
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SOLUTION
I think the solution is actually a bit more complicated than it looks after 30…Qf2!! 31.Rf1 Rxc4 32.Rxf2 Rc1+ 33.Kg2 Be3! 34.Rf1 Rc2+ and Black won by technical means. White can put up a stubborn resistance with 34.a4! (instead of 34.Rf1) Bxf2 35.Kxf2, for example 35…Rb1 36.Nxd6 Rxb3 37.Nc4 Rb4 38.Nxa5 Rxa4 39.Nc6 Ra2+ 40.Ke3 Kf8 41.d6 and I cannot see any win for Black. So here is the solution: 34.a4! Bxf2 35.Kxf2 Rc2+! 36.Kg3 (nothing better) Kg7! 37.Nxd6 h4+! 38.Kxh4 Rg2!!. The only winning move. Now White is in zugzwang, 39.Nc4 allowing 39…Kh6! followed by mate. And if White tries to stop all this nonsense with 37.h4 (instead of 37.Nxd6), Black has 37…f5! 38.exf5 gxf5 39.Nxd6 f4+ 40.Kh3 Rf2 winning easily. Wow!