Wednesday’s 5-second tactics!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
gm FEDORCHUK
WARNER,D
From Martinique just the other day. It has been an interesting struggle up to now with White trying to use his two Bishops to get a bit of an edge, while Black has built a hold on e4. On the last move White had played 26.g4, planning after the natural 26…Bg6 to play 27.Ne5 followed by capturing the Bishop on g6.
HOWEVER, such aggressive play by White is uncalled for and needlessly weakens the kingside. Black now has a way to get the upper hand.
WHAT IS BLACK’S BEST CONTINUATION?
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gm PONOMARIOV
gm VALLEJO
From Melilla, 2011. The game seems to be heading towards a draw, with play only on the Kingside. Vallejo’s last move (32.Nc6) anticipates a quick truce: if 32…Nxf2 then 33.Qxd5+! simplifying; or if instead 32…Rxf2 then 33.Qd8+! Rf8 34.Qxd5+! once more. BUT things are seldom so clear in chess and infact Vallejo overlooked a small detail:
BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!
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HIRNIESE
gm L’AMI
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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HIRNIESE
From the Bundasliga this past weekend. Looks like the game is just getting started but infact it is soon about to end! HINT: one of Black’s pieces is being hunted and does not yet know it!
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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im SOKOLSKY
gm TOLUSH
From Moscow, 1950. The previous move saw 23.Nh6+ Kf8. The position is very sharp and both sides are vigorously pursuing their plans: Black is about to crash thru in the centre , while White is building up kingside threats…HOWEVER, in such races one move makes all the difference.
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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gm KHENKIN
gm PIORUN
From the Bundesliga this past weekend. Once more White is betting everything on a kingside attack! Black has just captured a pawn on a2 and now plans to return the Queen to d5 , creating threats on g2.
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
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SOLUTIONS:
Warner, D–Fedorchuk, S: Black struck with 26… Nxf2! 27.dxc5 !? Best try. If instead 27.Kxf2? Ne4+ 28.Kf1 Qg3 and White is mated next move; or 27.gxh5?! Nde4 28.Ne5 f6 ! with a clear edge 27… Nde4 ! 28.Be5 and now the simplest is 28…Qxc5 29.gxh5 Nxd1 30.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 31.Bxd1 Qxc4 and Black has every chance to win
Vallejo –Ponomariov: 32… Ne3!! 33.fxe3 Qxe3+ 34.Kg2 Rf2+ 35.Kh3 Qh6+ 36.Kg4 Qg6+ 0-1
L’Ami, E–Hirneise, T: 24.Bh4! Qf4 25.Re4 and the Queen is trapped in the middle of the board! Not even the sly 25…Nxd4 saves her majesty as after 26.RxN Qe3+ 27.Bf2! traps the Queen. So, 1-0
Tolush, A—Sokolsky, A: 24.Rxg7!! Kxg7 25.Qg4+ Bg5 26.c4! most exact 26… Qxd4 27.Qxg5+ Kf8 and now 28.Qg8+ is the simples way to end the game: 28…Ke7 29.Qxf7+ Kd6 30.Bf4+ etc.
Piorun, K–Khenkin, I: 19.Bf6 !! gxf6 ( 19…Qd5 20.Be4! ) 20.Qg4+ Kh8 21.Qh4 Qd5 ( 21…Rg8 22.Qxf6+ Rg7 23.h6 Rcg8 24.hxg7+ Rxg7 25.Re3 ) 22.Qxf6+Kg8 23.Re4 ! Rfd8 24.Rb5! the attack is too strong to stop for long 24…Qxe4 25.Bxe4 Bxe4 and now simples is 26.Rg5+ Kf8 27.Rg7 Rd7 28.h6 Rc5 29.Rg8+ mating