“People are crazy and times are strange; I’m locked in tight I’m out of range; I use to care but things have changed.”  ― Bob Dylan

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TIT FOR TAT!

86th ch-GER Saarbruecken  2015.12.3  Fuellgrabe, Thomas (2258)–gm Bischoff, Klaus.  Position before Black’s 28th move.  An exchange and a pawn down, White has not enough compensation and is forced to play for tricks.  Black should now play 28…Qc6!, adding protection to the e-pawn and taking control of the long diagonal.  INSTEAD, Bischoff thought he saw a better move…

28…Qe2(?!)

It is easy to understand the grandmaster’s thinking: the e-pawn is also defended AND Black has some threats against the f-square. Now if 29. Rf4 (threatening RxN) 29…Re7! 30. Bxe6?! Rxe6 31. Rxf6 Qe1 32. Kg2 Rfxf6! and White has a few useless checks, leaving Black a Rook up.

29.Rd7!!

This surprising move seems to win!

29…Qxf2+!!

The saving clause!  Now the simplest move is…

30.Kh1!

When Black has nothing better than a perpetual check!  This would have been a very original end to the game.  HOWEVER, in the actual game White played 30. Kxf2 when after 30…Ng4! 31. Kg1 Nxh6 32. Bxe6 Rxe6 33. Nxe6 Re8 34. Ng5 a roughly equal ending was reached, which Black even managed to win! (Grandmasters have more experience!)

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2.

86th ch-GER Saarbruecken  2015.12.8   gm Khenkin, Igor–fm Dorst, Johannes (2204).  Position after Black’s 26th move (26…Qxe3).  Black is hoping for 27.QxQ RxQ 28.Nde6 NxN 29.NxN Rg8 with good chances to hold the game.

WHITE TO PLAY AND CRUSH!