Today’s winning 5-sec tactics
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1.
XXV Torneo Magistral Elgoibar 2015.12.16 im (2460)Borya, Ider–im (2429)Gonzalez De La Torre, Santiago. Position after 22 moves. White has an obvious positional advantage, almost all of Black’s pieces poorly placed. Especially, the Black monarch’s situation is cause for alarm…
WHAT IS WHITE’S BEST CONTINUATION?
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2.
Australasian Masters GM Melbourne 2015.12.17 im (2333)Dale, Ari–gm Neiksans, Arturs Position before Black’s 39th move. Black clearly has the upper hand, all of his pieces active and well placed. But how to make progress?
WHAT IS BLACK’S BEST CONTINUATION?
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3.
Australasian Masters GM Melbourne 2015.12.17 im (2456) Izzat, Kanan–gm Johansen, Darryl. Position before Black’s 23rd move. White has an obvious positional edge (Bishop-pair,more space and active pieces) but Black’s game is still very compact and has no real weakness. Hard, therefore, to understand Darryl’s move:
23…g5?!
I suspect that the Australian grandmaster realized that he was weakening his King position, but probably reasoned that after the natural 24.PxP e.p. Nxg6 he would get some counterplay with …Rg7.
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN MATERIAL!
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4.
Sunway Sitges Chess Festival 2015.12.13 fm (2503) Gordievsky, Dmitry– (2110)Gavrish, Leonid Position after 14 moves. An unusual position! Black had just played 14…Nc5, planning to follow up with …Rc8, with serious counterplay on the Queenside (note that the move …e5 would be bad as White would gladly give his Bishop to open up the Black King position). If now 15.g5?! QxN 16.PxN Ne6! and White would not be happy, while 15.Bg2 would just allow Black to execute his plan with 15…Rc8, and–amongst other things–Black is threatening to throw his pawns forward.
It turns out, however, that Black’s plan is all based on bluff (probably too much ICC!) and tactical tricks. The key to understanding the position is this: White is ahead in development. Surely, that must mean something, yes?
WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH!
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SOLUTIONS
XXV Torneo Magistral Elgoibar 2015.12.16 Borya, Ider –Gonzalez De La Torre, Santiago: 23.Bxe4! Winning an important pawn. If Black dares take the Bishop then 24.f5! opens the flood gates and Black will be quickly routed. In the game Black declined the gift with 23.. Be6 but after 24.Rxc6 Qd7 25.Bf3 White is two pawns to the good and won quickly in 32 moves.
Australasian Masters GM Melbourne 2015.12.17 Dale, Ari–Neiksans, Arturs: 39…Rxe3! Winning a decisive pawn. The idea is that 40.Kxe3 Nf4+ 41.Kf2 Nd3+ recovering the Rook.
Australasian Masters GM Melbourne 2015.12.17 Izzat, Kanan–Johansen, Darryl: 24.Bxc6! Bxc6 (24…dxc6 would be answered the same way) 25.Ne5! The key to the position. The Knight can not be taken (why?) and Black must lose an exchange. The game continued:25…Bxe4 26.Nxf7+ Qxf7 27.Qa3 Bb7 28.Bxf8 Rxf8 29.b5 Ra8 30.bxa6 Rxa6 31.Rxd7 1-0