Chess Calculation Training Volume 1

Contents
Preface
Key to Symbols used
Author’s Preface
Chapter 1: Warm up
Part 1 Part 2
Chapter 2: Punish bad coordination!
Part 1 Part 2
Chapter 3: Find the unexpected blow!
Chapter 4: Play the right move under pressure!
Chapter 5: A devastating attacking move!
Part 1 Part 2
Chapter 6: Find the stunning winning move!
Chapter 7: Play the killer positional move!
Chapter 8: Find the missed move!
Chapter 9: Evaluate the opportunity!
Chapter 10: Make the right choice!
Chapter 11: Special section
Swipe left for next chapter
CHESS CALCULATION TRAINING
Volume 1
Middlegames
by
Romain Edouard
Thinkers Publishing 2017
First edition 2017 by Thinkers Publishing
Copyright © 2017 Romain Edouard
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written
permission from the publisher. All sales or enquiries should be directed to Thinkers Publishers, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.thinkerspublishing.com
Managing Editor: Romain Edouard
Assistant Editor: Daniël Vanheirzeele
Software: Hub van de Laar
Proofreading: Adam Emerson, Roger Emerson
Graphic Artist: Philippe Tonnard
Cover design: Iwan Kerkhof
Back cover photo: Ana Matnadze
ISBN: 9789492510037
D/2016/13730/8
Key to Symbols used
!
a good move
?
a weak move
!! an excellent move
?? a blunder
!? an interesting move
?! a dubious move
™ only move
= equality
∞ unclear position
© with compensation for the sacrificed material
²
White stands slightly better
³
Black stands slightly better
± White has a serious advantage
µ Black has a serious advantage
+– White has a decisive advantage
–+ Black has a decisive advantage
‚ with an attack
ƒ
with an initiative
„ with counterplay
… with the idea of
¹ better is
‹ worse is
N a theoretical novelty
+ check
#
mate
Preface
After writing my exercise book “The Chess Manual of Avoidable
Mistakes – Volume 2”, I wanted to continue in the same spirit by
launching another series of books: “Chess Calculation Training”.
This first volume will focus on middlegames.
I have always found that existing puzzle books, however good they
are, only provide a rather mechanical form of mental training. In this
new collection, you will find exercises to help you improve in
specific areas of thinking, such as you may encounter in your own
games. To help this, all the problems are taken from real games, with
most of them having taken place in the last year.
The book begins with a warm-up. After that, you will find several
types of exercises. Some of these fall into the same categories as
those in my previous book, as they were readers’ favourites. Other
categories are completely new, for instance: “Find the killer
positional move!” or “Find the stunning winning move!”.
The problems in the book are accessible to players with a level from
modest to confident. The most difficult ones are marked with an
asterisk, while the most challenging chapter comes with a help page,
that you may check when necessary.
I hope you enjoy solving these 496 puzzles, and look forward to seeing you again in Volume 2: Endgames.
Romain Edouard
01.03.2017
Show in Quiz Mode
Chapter 1
Warm up
As the title indicates, this part of the book is a warm up. For each position given, you must find the winning move. If
there seem to be more than one, you should go for the quickest and/or the clearest.
This chapter contains exercises of all types, which could have been used in several of the other chapters. They have
been collected in this chapter because of their lower difficulty and will prepare you nicely for the rest of the book!
This chapter is quite long: I recommend attempting one or two pages (4 to 8 exercises) as a daily routine, or as a warmup before looking at another chapter.
1. Naiditsch, Arkadij (2676) - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2728) [B44]
ECU- 22nd Club Cup Fuegen (4), 2006.10.11
■ 29...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
29...Rxh2+! 0-1 Naiditsch,A (2676)-Mamedyarov,S (2728) Fuegen 2006.
White resigned in view of: 29...Rxh2+ 30.Kxh2 Qh5+ 31.Kg1 Ne2+ 32.Qxe2 Qxe2 33.Bxh7+ Kxh7 34.Rxf8 Qe3+-+.
2. Landa, Konstantin (2570) - Zhu, Chen (2501) [D23]
OIBM 10th Bad Wiessee GER (5), 2006.11.08
□ 15.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
15.c4! Nxc4
15...Qf5 16.f3+16.Bxe4 Qxe4 17.Qxc4+- 1-0 (19) Landa,K (2570)-Zhu,C (2501) Bad Wiessee 2006.
3. Sher, Miron N (2420) - Kamsky, Gata (2705) [B43]
Dos Hermanas RAPID ICC INT (1.3), 2007.03.23
■ 15...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
15...Nxg4! 16.hxg4 h3 17.Bf3 Qf6-+ 0-1 Sher,M (2420)-Kamsky,G (2705) ICC Internet 2007.
4. Aronian, Levon (2750) - Grischuk, Alexander (2726) [D30]
WCh Mexico City MEX (10), 2007.09.24
□ 41.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
41.Nf6+ Bxf6 42.Rg7+! 1-0 Aronian,L (2750)-Grischuk,A (2726) Mexico City 2007.
Black resigned in view of: 42.Rg7+ Kf8 43.h8=Q#
5. Edouard, Romain (2531) - Zumsande, Martin (2411) [C11]
GER-BL 08-09 GER (3), 2008.10.25
□ 33.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
33.Rxf4! Rxf4 34.h3 Qg7
34...Qg5 35.Qd2+-34...Qf5 35.Qg3++35.Bxf4 Qxd4+ 36.Kh2+- 1-0 (39) Edouard,R (2531)-Zumsande,M (2411) Germany 2008.
6. Eljanov, Pavel (2720) - Mamedov, Nidjat (2594) [B08]
ESP-TCh Honor Final Motril ESP (2.23), 2008.11.02
■ 37...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
37...Qf4+! 0-1 Eljanov,P (2720)-Mamedov,N (2594) Motril 2008
White resigned in view of: 37...Qf4+ 38.Qxf4 Nxd3+-+.
7. David, Alberto (2608) - Petkov, Vladimir (2490) [D39]
Gif sur Yvette, 1st Open FRA (4), 2010.02.24
□ 21.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
21.Rxc6! bxc6 22.Nf6+ Kg7
22...Kf8 23.Qxe5+23.Ne8+ Kf8 24.Nxc7 Rxe2 25.Rxe2 Rb8 26.Na6+- 1-0 (43) David,A (2608)-Petkov,V (2490) France 2010.
8. Mamedjarova, Zeinab (2234) - Daulyte, Deimante (2307) [D76]
Olympiad Men and Women 39th Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (9), 2010.09.30
□ 46.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
46.Ne6+! fxe6 47.f4+ 1-0 Mamedjarova,Z (2234)-Daulyte,D (2307) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010.
Black resigned in view of: 47.f4+ Kf5 48.Qe5#
9. Mastrovasilis, Athanasios (2547) - Marechal, Andy (2326) [A20]
27th Cappelle-la-Grande Cappelle la Grande FRA (1.36), 2011.02.26
□ 35.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
35.Qg6+! A great punishment to Black's last move ...Nd5-e7 in a won position! 35...fxg6
35...Rxg6 36.Nxe7#
36.Nxh6# 1-0 Mastrovasilis,A (2547)-Marechal,A (2326) France 2011.
10. Negi, Parimarjan (2661) - Marin, Mihail (2548) [C16]
Andorra-30th Open Erts-La Massana AND (7.4), 2012.07.27
□ 42.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
42.Qxg6! 1-0 Negi,P (2661)-Marin,M (2548) Andorra 2012.
Black resigned in view of: 42.Qxg6 fxg6 43.Rxg7+ Kf8 44.Bb4++-.
11. Ivekovic, Zvonimir (2320) - Grandelius, Nils (2562) [B98]
World Juniors Boys Athens GRE (4.8), 2012.08.05
■ 26...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
26...Qe5! 0-1 Ivekovic,Z (2320)-Grandelius,N (2562) Athens 2012
White resigned in view of: 26...Qe5 27.Rxe5 Rd1#.
12. Naiditsch, Arkadij (2724) - Demuth, Adrien (2480) [C68]
Corsican Circuit Oscaro Open FRA (3.1), 2013.10.19
□ 17.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
17.Nxc7! Bxh2+
17...Kxc7 18.Rxd6 Rxd6 19.Bf4+-; 17...Bxc7 18.Rxd8+18.Kxh2 Rxd2 19.Rxd2 Kxc7 20.Bf4+ Kc8 21.Na4+- 1-0 (25) Naiditsch, A (2724)-Demuth,A (2480) France 2013.
21.Rd6+-
13. Anand, Viswanathan (2773) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2793) [D40]
London-5th Classic KO ENG (1.2), 2013.12.14
■ 23...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
23...b4!
23...Rc2? 24.Qxb5³
24.axb4 Rc2-+ 0-1 (27) Anand,V (2773)-Kramnik,V (2793) England 2013.
14. Bjerke, Silje (2181) - Freitag, Manfred (2395) [B92]
Casino Graz Graz AUT (2.13), 2014.02.15
■ 37...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
37...Rg4! 38.Qxg4 Qh2# 0-1 Bjerke,S (2181)-Freitag,M (2395) Austria 2014.
15. Richard, Rapport (2681) - Pouya, Idani (2496) [D05]
Reykjavik Open Reykjavik ISL (6.5), 2014.03.08
□ 42.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
42.Qxf6+! Kxf6 43.Ne8# 1-0 Rapport,R (2681)-Idani,P (2496) Reykjavik 2014.
16. Rasmussen, Allan Stig (2522) - Rydstrom, Tom (2234) [A22]
Politiken Cup Helsingor DEN (3.18), 2014.07.22
□ 24.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Nf6+! gxf6 25.Qg6+ Kh8
25...Bg7 26.exf6+26.Bxf7 1-0 Rasmussen,A (2522)-Rydstrom,T (2234) Denmark 2014
Black resigned in view of: 26.Bxf7 Bg7 27.exf6+-.
17. Barrero Garcia, Carlos (2358) - Granda Zuniga, Julio Ernesto (2675) [A38]
Linares (5.2), 2014.09.07
■ 35...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
35...Rxd5! 36.Qxd5 Qf6+ 37.Kg1 Qxf1+! 38.Kxf1 Nxe3+-+ 0-1 (40) Barrero Garcia,C (2358)-Granda Zuniga,J
(2675) Linares 2014.
18. Jackson, James P (2356) - Okike, David (2169) [B57]
London Chess Classic (Open) London ENG (7.26), 2014.12.13
■ 36...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
36...Qxd1! 37.Rxd1 Rxa4# 0-1 Jackson,J (2356)-Okike,D (2169) England 2014.
19. Saric, Ivan (2666) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2757) [B90]
Wijk aan Zee-77th Tata Steel Gp A NED (7.1), 2015.01.17
■ 32...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
32...Qa2+! 0-1 Saric,I (2666)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2757) Wijk aan Zee 2015
White resigned in view of: 32...Qa2+ 33.Kxa2 b1=Q+ 34.Ka3 Qb3#.
20. Pogonina, N. (2456) - Cramling, P. (2495) [B41]
Sochi (5.2), 2015.03.30
□ 38.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
38.Nd7+! 1-0 Pogonina,N (2456)-Cramling,P (2495) Russia 2015
Black resigned in view of: 38.Nd7+ Rxd7 (38...Qxd7 39.Qf6++-) 39.Ra8++-.
21. Granda Zuniga, Julio Ernesto (2652) - Demuth, Adrien (2531) [A01]
Andorra-33rd Open Erts-La Massana AND (9.1), 2015.07.26
□ 22.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
22.Qb4!+- 1-0 Granda Zuniga,J (2652)-Demuth,A (2531) Andorra 2015.
Black resigned due to the double threat 23.Qxb7 / 23.Qf8.
22. Alonso, S. (2505) - Libiszewski, F. (2543) [C06]
6th Terre degli Elimi Erice ITA (6.2), 2015.08.01
□ 17.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
17.Rxc6! bxc6 18.dxe5+- 1-0 (34) Alonso,S (2505)-Libiszewski,F (2543) Italy 2015.
23. Giri, Anish (2798) - Shirov, Alexei (2715) [B31]
ETCC 2015 Open Reykjavik (8), 2015.11.21
□ 31.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
31.Rd1! 1-0 Giri,A (2778)-Shirov,A (2689) Reykjavik 2015.
Black resigned in view of: 31.Rd1 Rxe3 (31...Rxd1 32.Rxc3+-) 32.Rxd8++-.
24. Ronka, E. (2248) - Edouard, R. (2627) [E32]
London Classic Open 2015 London ENG (4.22), 2015.12.06
■ 24...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
24...Qxf1+! 0-1 Ronka,E (2248)-Edouard,R (2627) England 2015.
White resigned in view of: 24...Qxf1+ 25.Bxf1 Re1+-+.
25. Blomqvist, Erik (2493) - Jumabayev, Rinat (2599) [A31]
7th London Classic Open 2015 London (6), 2015.12.08
□ 31.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
31.Ra2! Qxa2
31...Nxa2 32.Qxa5+32.Bxa2 Nxa2 33.Qd2 1-0 Blomqvist,E (2493)-Jumabayev,R (2599) England 2015.
26. Antipov, Mikhail Al (2569) - Morozevich, Alexander (2692) [C92]
Nutcracker 2015-Classic Moscow (1), 2015.12.20
□ 29.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
29.Bxg7+! Rxg7
29...Bxg7 30.Qxe7+30.Rxg7+- 1-0 (41) Antipov,M (2569)-Morozevich,A (2692) Russia 2015.
27. Grandelius, Nils (2632) - Giri, Anish (2784) [B90]
Qatar Masters Open 2015 Doha (2), 2015.12.21
■ 40...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
40...Qxe2! 0-1 Grandelius,N (2632)-Giri,A (2784) Doha 2015
White resigned in view of: 40...Qxe2 41.Nxe2 Nd2+ 42.Ka2 Ra8+ 43.Qa7 Rxa7#.
28. Yu Yangyi, -. (2736) - Carlsen, M. (2834) [E43]
Qatar Masters TB 2015 Doha QAT (2), 2015.12.29
■ 15...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
15...Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Re4!-+ 0-1 Yu Yangyi,- (2736)-Carlsen,M (2834) Doha 2015.
White resigned due to the double threat 17...Rxa4 / 17...Rxf4.
29. Mchedlishvili, M. (2635) - Malakhatko, V. (2531) [A40]
4th Al Ain Chess Classic Al-Ain UAE (8.12), 2015.12.29
□ 47.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
47.g5! A simple positional one! 1-0 Mchedlishvili,M (2635)-Malakhatko, V (2531) Al Ain 2015.
A simple positional kill! Black resigned in view of: 47.g5 fxe5 48.f6+-.
30. Gonda, L. (2544) - Pelletier, Y. (2571) [A05]
39th Zurich Christmas Zurich SUI (7.4), 2015.12.30
□ 24.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Nxf7! Kxf7 25.Nd6+ 1-0 Gonda,L (2544)-Pelletier,Y (2571) Switzerland 2015.
Black resigned in view of: 25.Nd6+ Kf8 26.Bxg5 Qxg5 27.Bxe6+-.
31. Krupenski, Y. (2406) - Gelfand, B. (2735) [E46]
Paul Keres Memorial 2015 Tallinn EST (2.3), 2016.01.08
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Qg6+! fxg6 28.Bg8+ Kh8 29.Bf7+ 1-0 Krupenski,J (2406)-Gelfand,B (2735) Tallinn 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 29.Bf7+ Kh7 30.hxg6#.
32. Abergel, T. (2475) - Vanheirzeele, D. (2124) [B30]
IC FR 2015-16 (5), 2016.01.10
■ 29...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
29...Re1!
Instead, the game went: 29...f5?? 30.Rd7„ 1/2-1/2 (36) Abergel,T (2475) -Vanheirzeele,D France 2016.
30.Qxf7+ Qxf7 31.Rxf7 Rxc1!-+
33. Baskaran, Adhiban (2653) - Abasov, Nijat (2556) [E34]
78th Tata Steel Chess Challengers Wijk aan Zee (1), 2016.01.16
□ 20.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
20.Rge1! Qh4
20...Rxe1 21.Qxf2+-20...Rxd2 21.Re8#
21.Qxe2+- 1-0 (35) Adhiban,B (2653)-Abasov,N (2556) Wijk aan Zee 2016.
34. Tomashevsky, Evgeny (2728) - Ding, Liren (2766) [E07]
78th Tata Steel Chess Masters Wijk aan Zee (11), 2016.01.29
■ 53...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
53...Rb1!-+ 0-1 Tomashevsky,E (2728)-Ding,L (2766) Wijk aan Zee 2016.
White resigned in view of: 53...Rb1 54.Kg2 Rxe1 55.Qxe1 Qxd4-+.
35. Sarakauskas, G. (2415) - Howell, D. (2693) [C50]
4NCL 2015-16 Birmingham ENG (6.111), 2016.02.14
■ 32...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
32...Nc3! 33.Kf3
33.bxc3 Bd5+ 34.Kh2 Rh1#
33...Nxe2 34.Bxe2 Rxb2-+ 0-1 Sarakauskas,G (2415)-Howell,D (2693) England 2016.
36. Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat (2403) - Gunina, Valentina (2496) [D10]
FIDE Women GP Tehran 2016 Tehran (7), 2016.02.18
□ 62.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
62.Qxh5+! Ke4
62...Bxh5 63.Rf8++63.Qg4++- 1-0 (67) Khademalsharieh,S (2403)-Gunina,V (2496) Tehran 2016.
37. Dvirnyy, Danyyil (2571) - Mainka, Romuald (2416) [E39]
BL 2015-16 Germany (8), 2016.02.20
□ 24.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
24.R1d3! Qxa2 25.Rd8 Bd7
25...Be6 26.Rxa8 Rxa8 27.Qd8+ Rxd8 28.Rxd8#25...Qb1+ 26.Rd1 Qb4 27.Rxf8+ Qxf8 28.Rd8+26.Rxa8 Rxa8 27.Rxd7+- 1-0 Dvirnyy,D (2571)-Mainka,R (2416) Germany 2016.
38. Ju, Wenjun (2543) - Zhao, Xue (2519) [A10]
IMSA Elite Mind Games Blitz HuaiAn (24.9), 2016.03.01
■ 27...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
27...Rxb6! 28.Rxb6 Qa7 29.Qc6 Rb8-+ 0-1 (32) Ju Wenjun,- (2558)-Zhao,X (2506) China 2016.
39. Cheparinov, Ivan (2684) - Di Berardino, Diego Rafael (2511) [D63]
31st Reykjavik Open 2016 Reykjavik (5), 2016.03.11
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.f6! 1-0 Cheparinov,I (2684)-Di Berardino,D (2511) Reykjavik 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 27.f6 Bxf6 (27...Qd6 28.Qd3+-; 27...Bxg3 28.fxe7+-) 28.Nxf6+ Qxf6 29.Qxc7+-.
40. Kraemer, Martin (2566) - Hort, Vlastimil (2427) [C96]
SUI TCh SUI (1.2), 2016.03.20
■ 41...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
41...Rc4! 0-1 Kraemer,M (2566)-Hort,V (2427) Switzerland 2016.
White resigned in view of: 41...Rc4 42.Qb3 Rxc2+ 43.Qxc2 Ne3+-+.
41. Nisipeanu, LD. (2678) - Cornette, M. (2591) [D02]
Bundesliga 2015-16 Baden Baden GER (12.3), 2016.04.09
□ 24.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Qh3!+- 1-0 Nisipeanu,L (2678)-Cornette,M (2591) Germany 2016.
Black resigned due to the double threat 25.Qxh5 / 25.Nh6+.
42. Shabalov, Alexander (2528) - Robson, Ray (2663) [E04]
U.S. Championships 2016 Open Saint Louis (1), 2016.04.14
■ 42...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
42...Ne2! 0-1 Shabalov,A (2528)-Robson,R (2663) Saint Louis USA 2016.
White resigned in view of: 42...Ne2 43.Rxc7 (43.Bxe2 Rxc1-+) 43...Ng1+ 44.Kh4 Nf3+ 45.Kh3 Rxh2#.
43. Degtiarev, E. (2410) - Pelletier, Y. (2566) [E11]
TCh-SUI 2016 Switzerland SUI (2.2), 2016.04.17
□ 37.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
37.Rxf8+! 1-0 Degtiarev,E (2410)-Pelletier,Y (2566) Switzerland 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 37.Rxf8+ Kxf8 38.Nc5+-.
44. Pantsulaia, Levan (2604) - Sethuraman, S P. (2658) [A07]
18th Dubai Open 2016 Dubai (8), 2016.04.18
□ 32.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
32.Bxf5! gxf5 33.Bf6+! 1-0 Pantsulaia,L (2604)-Sethuraman,S (2658) Dubai 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 33.Bf6+ Kxf6 34.Qh6#.
45. Zatonskih, Anna (2470) - Abrahamyan, Tatev (2342) [E01]
U.S. Championships 2016 Women Saint Louis (9), 2016.04.23
■ 15...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
15...Bc5! 16.Qxc5
16.Nxc5 Qxd4+-+
16...Rxc5 17.Nxc5 Qd4+-+ 0-1 (24) Zatonskih,A (2470)-Abrahamyan,T (2342) Saint Louis USA 2016.
46. Van Foreest, Jorden (2541) - Groffen, H. (2152) [C11]
Dutch League 2015-16 Netherlands NED (9.3), 2016.04.23
□ 24.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Nf6! 1-0 Van Foreest,J (2541)-Groffen,H (2152) Netherlands 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 24.Nf6 Qxd4 (24...Qxe6 25.Qb4++-) 25.e7#.
47. So, W. (2773) - Nakamura, Hi (2787) [D37]
Ultimate Blitz Challenge Saint Louis USA (15.2), 2016.04.29
■ 27...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
27...Nxb4! 28.Qxb4
28.Nxb4 Qd1#
28...Qxc2-+ 0-1 (39) So Wesley,- (2773)-Nakamura,H (2787) USA 2016.
48. Collins, Sam E (2439) - Short, Nigel D (2671) [B17]
4NCL 2015-16 Birmingham (9), 2016.04.30
□ 16.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
16.Qxh5! h6
16...gxh5 17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.Nexf7+ Rxf7 19.Nxf7+ Kxh7 20.Nxd8+17.Nexf7 Rxf7 18.Nxf7+- 1-0 Collins,S (2456)-Short,N (2686) England 2016.
Show in Quiz Mode
49. Ivanyuhin, V. (1898) - Vanheirzeele, D. [E43]
Hasselbacken (1), 2016.04.30
■ 16...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
16...Qh4!-+ 0-1 Ivanyuhin,V (1898)-Vanheirzeele,D Hasselbacken 2016.
White resigned in view of: 16...Qh4 17.gxh4 Rg6+-+.
50. Alonso Moyano, Jonathan (2412) - Narciso Dublan, Marc (2540) [C01]
Catalan-ch 2016 Mollet (2.1), 2016.05.02
■ 34...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
34...Rd2+! 35.Kh3
35.Rxd2 Qxc4-+
35...Qf5+ 0-1 Alonso,J (2409)-Narciso Dublan,M (2550) Mollet del Valles 2016.
51. Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina (2375) - Cramling, Pia (2471) [E32]
FRA TCh Top 12 w FRA (1.1), 2016.05.05
■ 19...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
19...Rxc4 20.Nxc4 Bd5-+ 1/2-1/2 (27) Vega,S (2375)-Cramling,P (2471) France 2016.
If White protects his Knight, Black plays 21…b5 and wins.
52. Artemiev, Vladislav (2669) - Inarkiev, Ernesto (2686) [A24]
RUS-chT Premier League 2016 Sochi (7), 2016.05.08
■ 37...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
37...Nxg3! 0-1 Artemiev,V (2669)-Inarkiev,E (2686) Russia 2016.
White resigned in view of: 37...Nxg3 38.Qxc1 Ne2+-+.
53. Liang, Awonder (2406) - Landa, Konstantin (2617) [B11]
Hasselbacken Chess Open 2016 Stockholm (9), 2016.05.08
□ 21.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
21.Nxe6! fxe6 22.Bh5+ Kd8 23.Bxb6+ Rc7 24.Bf7
24.Bg4
24...Kc8 25.Bxe6 Rd8 26.Rxd7 1-0 Liang,A (2410)-Landa,K (2618) Sweden 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 26.Rxd7 Rdxd7 27.Rd1+-.
54. Gagunashvili, Merab (2569) - Dubov, Daniil (2644) [A61]
17th EICC 2016 Gjakova (7), 2016.05.19
■ 30...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
30...Ng3+! 31.Kg1
31.Bxg3 Qxh3+ 32.Bh2 Qg2#
31...Ne2+ 32.Kf2 Nxc1 33.Rxe6 Nxf1-+ 0-1 Gagunashvili,M (2569)-Dubov,D (2644) Gjakova 2016.
55. Riff, Jean-Noel (2506) - Schlosser, Philipp (2539) [B32]
FRA TCh Top 12 Drancy FRA (5.5), 2016.06.01
□ 17.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
17.Bxh7+! Kxh7
17...Kf8?! 18.Ne4 Qe5 19.Qg4 1-0 Riff,J (2506)-Schlosser,P (2539) Drancy 2016.
18.Rxd8 Bxd8 19.Qd3++-
56. Brunner, Nicolas (2442) - Leroy, Didier (2289) [E50]
FRA-chT Top 12 2016 Drancy (5), 2016.06.01
□ 12.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
12.Bg5! Bxf3 13.Qd2+- 1-0 Brunner,N (2442)-Leroy,D (2289) Drancy 2016.
57. Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter (2668) - Vocaturo, Daniele (2576) [E62]
3rd International Chess Festival Ortise Ortisei (5.2), 2016.06.07
□ 26.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
26.Rxc7+! 1-0 Nisipeanu,L (2668)-Vocaturo,D (2576) Italy 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 26.Rxc7+ Nxc7 27.Nc6++-.
58. So, Wesley (2770) - Carlsen, Magnus (2855) [A29]
GCT Blitz Paris 2016 Paris (10), 2016.06.12
■ 28...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
28...Qxd1+! 0-1 So Wesley (2770)-Carlsen,M (2855) France 2016.
White resigned in view of: 28...Qxd1+ 29.Bxd1 Re1+ 30.Kg2 Bf1+ 31.Kf3 Ne5+-+.
59. Caruana, Fabiano (2804) - Anand, Viswanathan (2770) [A09]
GCT Rapid Leuven 2016 Leuven (3), 2016.06.17
□ 9.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
9.Bxg8! Rxg8
9...Nd7 10.Qb3+- 1/2-1/2 (57) Caruana,F (2804)-Anand,V (2770) Belgium 2016.
10.Qc4+White is winning due to the double threat 11.Qxc6 / 11.Qxg8.
60. Amonatov, Farrukh (2614) - Ponomariov, Ruslan (2706) [C47]
Eurasian Blitz Chess Cup Almaty KAZ (14.2), 2016.06.18
□ 29.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
29.Ne5! Rf6
29...Rxe7 30.Nxg6++30.Nd7+- 1-0 (47) Amonatov,F (2614)-Ponomariov,R (2706) Kazakhstan 2016.
61. Amonatov, Farrukh (2614) - Artemiev, Vladislav (2653) [B23]
Eurasian Blitz Chess Cup Almaty KAZ (15.3), 2016.06.19
□ 37.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
37.Rxd4! 1-0 Amonatov,F (2614)-Artemiev,V (2653) Kazakhstan 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 37.Rxd4 Qxd4 38.Qf7+ Kh8 39.Nxg6#.
62. Kasimdzhanov, Rustam (2703) - Le, Quang Liem (2718) [C67]
Eurasian Blitz Chess Cup Almaty KAZ (18.5), 2016.06.19
□ 19.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
19.Qxd6! Rxe3
19...Qxd6 20.Rxe8++20.Qxd7+- 0-1 (33) Kasimdzhanov,R (2703)-Le,Q (2718) Kazakhstan 2016.
63. Kramnik, Vladimir (2812) - Giri, Anish (2782) [D03]
GCT Blitz Leuven 2016 Leuven (18), 2016.06.20
□ 20.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
20.e4! Bxe4
20...dxe4 21.Bb5+ Kf8 22.Rxd6+21.Bxe4+- 1-0 (25) Kramnik,V (2812)-Giri,A (2782) Belgium 2016.
64. Aeschbach, Philipp (2249) - Patuzzo, Fabrizio (2358) [A00]
HT1 Flims GR (3), 2016.07.09
□ 45.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
45.Re4+! 1-0 Aeschbach,P (2249)-Patuzzo,F (2358) Flims 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 45.Re4+ Kxe4 46.Rxg4#.
65. Georgescu, Lena (2127) - Schwander, lukas (2182) [B23]
HT1 (5), 2016.07.11
□ 25.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
25.Bf6+! Nxf6 26.Rxf8+! Rxf8 27.Qe7+ 1-0 Georgescu,L (2127) -Schwander,l (2182) Switzerland 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 27.Qe7+ Kc8 28.Qc7#.
66. Efimenko, Zahar (2655) - Krasenkow, Michal (2614) [A07]
MetLife Najdorf Festival 2016 Warszaw (7), 2016.07.14
□ 29.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
29.Rxb6! 1-0 Efimenko,Z (2655)-Krasenkow,M (2614) Warsaw 2016
Black resigned in view of: 29.Rxb6 Qxb6 30.Qxa4 Rxa4 31.Rc8++-.
67. Bedouin, Xavier (2341) - Lagarde, Maxime (2575) [C69]
Sables-d'Olonne Open FRA (3.1), 2016.07.18
■ 28...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
28...Nxc2+! 29.Nxc2 Rd3+ 30.Ke2
30.Kf2 Rd2+-+
30...Rxg3+ 31.Kf2 Rd3-+ 0-1 (40) Bedouin,X (2341)-Lagarde,M (2575) France 2016.
68. Grishchenko, Sergey (1984) (2441) - Lagarde, Maxime (2575) [E11]
Sables-d'Olonne Open FRA (5.1), 2016.07.19
□ 44.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
44.Qe4!+- 1-0 Grishchenko,S (2441)-Lagarde,M (2575) France 2016.
69. Peralta, Fe (2588) - Bachmann, Ax (2649) [D27]
18th Sant Marti Open 2016 Barcelona ESP (8.3), 2016.07.20
■ 30...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
30...Rxc5! 31.dxc5 Qe2! 0-1 Peralta,F (2588)-Bachmann,A (2649) Spain 2016.
White resigned in view of: 31...Qe2 32.Rf1 Rd1-+.
70. Beukema, Stefan (2380) - Grandadam, Patrik (2325) [C10]
World Junior Open Bhubaneswar IND (13.19), 2016.08.21
□ 23.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
23.Bxg7! Bxg7
23...Nxg7 24.Qxf6+24.Qxf7+ Kh8 25.Qf8+! 1-0 Beukema,S (2380)-Grandadam,P (2325) Bhubaneswar 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 25.Qf8+ Bxf8 26.Nf7#.
71. Miralles, Gilles (2441) - Muheim, Sebastian (2153) [E10]
SUI TCh SUI (6.6), 2016.08.27
□ 13.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
13.Rxd4! Bxa4 14.Rxd8+ Rxd8 15.Nxa4+- 1-0 (28) Miralles,G (2441) -Muheim,S (2153) Switzerland 2016.
72. Loetscher, Roland (2429) - Vernay, Clovis (2479) [D11]
SUI TCh SUI (7.2), 2016.08.28
■ 32...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
32...Bxd4! 33.Rxd4 Qc1+-+ 0-1 (51) Loetscher,R (2429)-Vernay,C (2479) Switzerland 2016.
73. Fressinet, Laurent (2664) - Lorenzana, Wilson Estuardo (2239) [B43]
42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open Baku (1.27), 2016.09.02
□ 29.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
29.Rxg7+! Qxg7 30.Qxe6++- 1-0 Fressinet,L (2664)-Lorenzana,W (2239) Baku 2016.
74. Giron, Jorge Ernesto (2208) - Can, E. (2565) [B35]
42nd Olympiad 2016 Baku AZE (1.18), 2016.09.02
■ 33...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
33...Rxd1! 34.Rxd1 Qxf6 0-1 Giron,J (2208)-Can,E (2565) Baku 2016.
White resigned in view of: 34...Qxf6 35.Qxf6 Ng4+-+.
75. Congiu, M. (2232) - Berzina, I. (2241) [B17]
Olympiad Women 2016 Baku AZE (5.13), 2016.09.06
■ 44...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
44...Rd4!-+ 0-1 Congiu,M (2232)-Berzina,I (2241) Baku 2016.
76. Edouard, Romain (2635) - Sosa Trani, Luis (2051) [E21]
Baku-Olympiad Men AZE (6), 2016.09.08
□ 30.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
30.Rxe2! 1-0 Edouard,R (2635)-Sosa Trani,L (2051) Baku 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 30.Rxe2 Rxe2 31.Qc4++-.
77. Goh, Wei Ming Kevin (2444) - Duda, Jan-Krzysztof (2675) [B46]
Baku Chess Olympiad | Open chess24.com (9.2), 2016.09.11
□ 31.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
31.Qxc6! Qf8
31...Rxc6 32.Rxd5+32.Rxd5
32.Rf1+-32.Bxd5+ Kh8 33.Rf1+32...Rxc6
32...Qf2+ 33.Kh3+33.Rd8+ Rxc4 34.Rxf8+ Kxf8 35.bxc4+- 1-0 (43) Goh,W (2444)-Duda,J (2675) Baku 2016.
78. Inarkiev, Ernesto (2605) - Yifan, Hou (2676) [E16]
Friendly Match Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy (2), 2016.09.17
■ 31...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
31...g4! 32.Qc3
32.Qxg4 Bh5-+
32...gxh3-+ 0-1 (37) Inarkiev,E (2732)-Hou,Y (2658) Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky 2016.
79. Gelfand, B. (2743) - Giri, A. (2755) [E60]
10th Tal Mem 2016 Moscow RUS (2.2), 2016.09.27
■ 36...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
36...Be5! 0-1 Gelfand,B (2743)-Giri,A (2755) Moscow 2016.
White resigned as he cannot avoid ...Qh3+ in a proper way.
80. Edouard, Romain (2635) - Cacho Reigadas, S. (2520) [A41]
ESP TCh Div Honor ESP (3.4), 2016.09.28
□ 20.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
20.Nc2! Qa5 21.Nd5! 1-0 (21) Edouard,R (2635)-Cacho Reigadas,S (2520) Monzon 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 21.Nd5 Qd8 (21...Qxd2 22.Nxf6++-) 22.Bb6+-.
81. Rakhmanov, Aleksandr (2528) - Ponkratov, Pavel (2654) [A46]
RUS-ch Rapid Men 2016 Sochi (4), 2016.10.02
□ 18.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Qh5!+- 1-0 Rakhmanov,A (2662)-Ponkratov,P (2589) Sochi 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 18.Qh5 gxh5 19.Rg3+ Bg5 20.Rxg5#.
82. Yuffa, Daniil (2534) - Riazantsev, Alexander (2651) [A40]
RUS-ch Rapid Men 2016 Sochi (7), 2016.10.03
□ 33.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
33.Qh7+! 1-0 Yuffa,D (2534)-Riazantsev,A (2651) Sochi 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 33.Qh7+ Nxh7 34.Ng6+ Kg8 35.Be6#.
83. Karpov, Ana (2628) - Timman, J. (2565) [E62]
4th Basamro Match 2016 Murmansk RUS (3), 2016.10.08
■ 31...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
31...Nxb3! 32.axb3 Rxa1 33.Rxa1 Rxc2 34.Ra7 Nf6-+ 0-1 (40) Karpov,A (2628)-Timman,J (2565) Russia 2016.
84. Fressinet, L. (2676) - Donchenko, Alexander (2581) [D37]
Douglas-chess.com IoM Masters ENG (9.9), 2016.10.09
□ 39.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
39.Bxc6! Bxc6 40.Rxe6+- 1-0 (64) Fressinet,L (2676)-Donchenko,A (2581) England 2016.
85. Socko, Bartosz (2595) - Hoffmann, Michael (2471) [A56]
BL 2016-17 Germany (1), 2016.10.15
□ 36.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
36.h4! 1-0 (36) Socko,B (2604)-Hoffmann,M (2471) Germany 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 36.h4 Qxh4+ (36...Qg4 37.Qxf6+ Qg6 38.Qxe5+-; 36...Qg7 37.Rxf6+ Kh5 38.Rf5++-)
37.Rh3+-.
86. Buckels, Valentin (2273) - Dushyant, Sharma (2039) [A14]
20th Hoogeveen Open 2016 Hoogeveen NED (5.16), 2016.10.19
□ 32.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
32.Qxf7+! Rxf7 33.Rb8+ 1-0 Buckels,V (2273)-Dushyant,S (2039) Hoogeveen 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 33.Rb8+ Rf8 34.Bc4+ Kh8 35.Rxf8+ Ng8 36.Rxg8#.
87. Bocharov, Dmitry (2611) - Tomashevsky, Evgeny (2731) [E32]
Superfinal 69th RUS-ch Men 2016 Novosibirsk (11), 2016.10.27
■ 38...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
38...Rxg3! 39.hxg3 Rf2+-+ 0-1 (42) Bocharov,D (2611)-Tomashevsky,E (2724) Novosibirsk 2016.
88. Miralles, G. (2413) - Lesiege, A. (2521) [D20]
4th ch-Francophonie 2016 Menton FRA (8.6), 2016.10.29
■ 30...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
30...Rxe5! 31.dxe5 Qb6+ 32.Kh1 Qxc7 33.Rxf5 Rxe5-+ 0-1 (36) Miralles, G (2413)-Lesiege,A (2521) Menton 2016.
89. Sibajeva, Marija (1869) - Ambartsumova, K. (2288) [B28]
32nd ECC Women 2016 Novi Sad SRB (6.5), 2016.11.11
■ 68...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
68...Bg2+! 0-1 Sibajeva,M (1869)-Ambartsumova,K (2288) Novi Sad 2016.
White resigned in view of: 68...Bg2+ 69.Rxg2 Rdf7+-+.
90. Carlsen, M. (2853) - Karjakin, Sergey (2772) [B54]
WCh Rapid TB 2016 New York USA (4), 2016.11.30
□ 50.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
50.Qh6+! 1-0 Carlsen,M (2853)-Karjakin,S (2772) New York USA 2016.
This trick brought Magnus his 3rd World Championship title! Black resigned in view of: 50.Qh6+ gxh6 (50...Kxh6
51.Rh8#) 51.Rxf7#.
91. Lopez Martinez, Josep Manuel (2552) - Romanov, Evgeny (2622) [C84]
III Sunway Sitges Festival 2016 Sitges (5), 2016.12.19
■ 39...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
39...Ne2+! 0-1 Lopez Martinez,J (2552)-Romanov,E (2622) Sitges 2016.
White resigned in view of: 39...Ne2+ 40.Rxe2 Rb1+-+.
92. Ivanchuk, Vassily (2747) - Matlakov, Maxim (2694) [C85]
FIDE WCC Rapid 2016 Men Doha (2), 2016.12.26
□ 56.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
56.Rf8+ Kg7 57.Qf7+! 1-0 Ivanchuk,V (2747)-Matlakov,M (2694) Doha 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 57.Qf7+ Rxf7 58.R1xf7+ Kh6 59.Rh8#.
93. Tregubov, P. (2585) - Moiseenko, A1. (2657) [E44]
World Rapid 2016 Doha QAT (8.30), 2016.12.27
■ 22...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
22...Qh3! 0-1 Tregubov,P (2585)-Moiseenko,A (2657) Doha 2016.
White resigned in view of: 22...Qh3 23.gxh3 Rg6+-+.
94. Batsiashvili, Nino (2482) - Kashlinskaya, Alina (2429) [A48]
FIDE WCC Blitz 2016 Women Doha (4), 2016.12.29
□ 17.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
17.Nxf7! Kxf7 18.Qe6+ Kf8 19.Ng5 1-0 Batsiashvili,N (2482) -Kashlinskaya,A (2429) Doha 2016.
95. Salomon, Johan (2470) - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2796) [B51]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (3), 2017.01.26
■ 25...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
25...Bxb3!-+ 0-1 (29) Salomon,J (2470)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2796) Gibraltar 2017.
White is lost due to the ...Qxg2+ threat.
96. Stefanova, Antoaneta (2512) - Omar, Noaman (2369) [A06]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (4), 2017.01.27
□ 23.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
23.Rxc2! 1-0 Stefanova,A (2512)-Omar,N (2369) Gibraltar 2017.
Black resigned in view of: 23.Rxc2 Rxc2 24.Be4+-.
Show in Quiz Mode
Chapter 2
Punish bad coordination!
In this chapter, the move or idea which you must find is linked to a lack of coordination in your opponent's pieces.
Keep in mind these issues which you may be able to use to your advantage: trapped pieces, a lack of free squares,
undefended or badly positioned pieces, delayed development, a fragile setup.
The difficulty of these exercises ranges from quite easy to moderately difficult, unless an asterisk indicates that the
exercise is more difficult.
1. Carlsen, Magnus (2072) - Gudbrandsen, Gustav [C06]
NOR-chT qualifier NOR (6), 2002
□ 20.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
20.Qxa7! Rb8
20...Rxa7 21.Rxc8+ Qd8 22.Rxd8+ Kxd8 23.Nxf7++21.Qxb8! Nxb8 22.Rxc8+ Kd7 23.Rxh8 Nc6
23...Qxg5 24.Rxb8+24.Nf3+- 1-0 (35) Carlsen,M (2072)-Gudbrandsen,G Norway 2002.
2. Koster, Ramon (2322) - Landa, Konstantin (2597) [A37]
NED-TCh 05-06 Netherlands NED (8), 2006.03.25
■ 23...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
23...Qb7+ 24.Rf3 Nxc4! 25.dxc4 Rxc3! 0-1 (25) Koster,R (2322)-Landa,K (2597) Netherlands 2006
White resigned in view of: 25...Rxc3 26.Qxc3 e4-+.
3. Topalov, Veselin (2780) - Gelfand, Boris (2737) [C42]
Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (5), 2008.01.17
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Ng4! Qg5
27...Qf8 28.Nxh6++28.f4! 1-0 Topalov,V (2780)-Gelfand,B (2737) Wijk aan Zee 2008.
Black resigned in view of: 28.f4 Qxh5 (28...Qf5 29.Nxh6++-) 29.Nf6++-.
4. Rozentalis, Eduardas (2567) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2637) [B51]
FRA-TOP 16 FRA (1.1), 2008.03.22
■ 26...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
26...Ne4! 27.Qf3
27.Qxe4 Qxf2+ 28.Kh1 Qxf1+ 29.Rxf1 Rxf1#
27...Qg6-+ 0-1 Rozentalis,E (2567)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2637) France 2008.
5. Paikidze, Nazi (2346) - Belenkaya, Dina (2135) [B19]
RUS ch Higher League w St Petersburg RUS (1), 2010.08.26
□ 38.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
38.Qh2! The black Queen does not have a good square! 38...Qd6
38...Qe7 39.Nxg6+ fxg6 40.Qe5+ Qg7 41.Qb8+ Kxh7 42.Rh1++39.Rxf7! Rd1+ 40.Ka2 Qd5+ 41.c4 1-0 Paikidze,N (2346)-Belenkaya,D (2135) St Petersburg 2010.
6. (*) Howell, David WL (2616) - Feller, Sebastien (2649) [C06]
Olympiad Men and Women 39th Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (5), 2010.09.25
■ 22...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
22...Nxf2! 23.Qxc2
23.Rxf2 Rxf2 24.Kxf2 Qb6+-+
23...Nh3+! 24.gxh3 Qb6+ 25.Kg2 Rxc2+ 26.Bxc2 Rxf1 27.Kxf1 Qc7-+ 0-1 (48) Howell,D (2616)-Feller,S (2649)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2010.
7. (*) Migot, Tanguy (Tangi) (2257) - Demuth, Adrien (2423) [A20]
FRA TCh Top 12 Belfort FRA (9.6), 2012.06.08
■ 15...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
15...g5! 16.Rc7 Rac8!! 17.Qxb7
17.Rxd7 Rxc1+ 18.Bf1 gxf4-+ … Bh3
17...gxf4-+ 0-1 (21) Migot,T (2257)-Demuth,A (2423) Belfort 2012.
8. (*) Edouard, Romain (2641) - Santos Ruiz, Miguel (2427) [E54]
V Open LLucmajor LLucmajor (3), 2016.05.09
□ 29.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
29.Bxf6! Nxf6
29...gxf6? 30.Qxh6++30.Nf5 Qc6
30...Qc5? 31.Rd8++31.Qe7+ Kg8 32.Nd6 Qc5+ 33.Kf1 Rb8
33...Bd5™ 34.Nxc8 Qxc8 35.Qd6+34.Qxf7+ Kh8 35.Nxb7+- 1-0 Edouard,R (2641)-Santos Ruiz,M (2427) Llucmajor 2016.
9. Savina, Anastasia (2339) - Knott, Simon JB (2322) [D85]
ENG-4NCL 12-13 div. 1 ENG (6.163), 2013.02.24
■ 27...? µ
Show/Hide the Solution
27...Rg1! 28.Qf4
28.Qxg1? Nf3+-+
28...g5 29.e5
29.Qc1 Qxd6-+
29...gxf4 30.exf6+ Kxf6µ 0-1 (50) Savina,A (2339)-Knott,S (2322) England 2013.
10. Radjabov, Teimour (2793) - Ivanchuk, Vassily (2757) [A88]
FIDE Candidates London ENG (2.4), 2013.03.16
□ 21.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
21.Bxe5! Bxe5
21...Qxe5? 22.Rd8++22.Rd8+- 1-0 (34) Radjabov,T (2793)-Ivanchuk,V (2757) London 2013.
11. Kramnik, Vladimir (2810) - Radjabov, Teimour (2793) [E60]
FIDE Candidates London ENG (11.2), 2013.03.28
□ 31.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
31.Bxd5 Rxd5 32.Rb4! Qa2 33.Nxe7+! Kh8
33...Rxe7 34.Qc8+ Bf8 35.Rb8+34.Nxd5+- 1-0 (37) Kramnik,V (2810)-Radjabov,T (2793) London 2013.
12. Nakamura, Hikaru (2772) - Caruana, Fabiano (2779) [D70]
Paris-FIDE GP FRA (7.2), 2013.09.29
□ 15.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
15.Bxd4! Qxd4
15...Bxd4 16.Qh6 Qd6 17.Rxd4! Qxd4 18.Qh7+ Kf8 19.Qh8+ Qxh8 20.Rxh8+ Kg7 21.Rxd8+16.Qe1+- 1-0 (34) Nakamura,H (2772) -Caruana,F (2779) Paris 2013.
13. Rusev, Krasimir (2541) - Negi, Parimarjan (2638) [D45]
Cappelle-la-Grande Open FRA (9.4), 2014.03.08
■ 24...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
24...Bd2! 25.Be5
25.Rxd2 Nxd2-+
25...Qd7 26.Rxd2 Nxd2 27.Qxd2 Qxd3-+ 0-1 (38) Rusev,K (2541)-Negi,P (2638) France 2014.
14. Fressinet, Laurent (2709) - Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2647) [C54]
EUR-15th ch Individuel Yerevan ARM (10.11), 2014.03.13
□ 33.? ± /+–
Show/Hide the Solution
33.Ndc5! Bxc5 34.dxc5 f5
34...Nd5? 35.Nxf6++35.Qxf5 Qd5?
35...Rc6 36.Qh5± /+36.Qf3
36.g4!?+36...Nd7 37.Nf6+ Nxf6 38.Qxd5 Nxd5 39.Rxe6+- 1-0 (44) Fressinet,L (2709)-Hammer,J (2647) Yerevan 2014.
15. Cubas, Jose Fernando (2455) - Mastrovasilis, Dimitrios (2608) [B46]
Tromso-41st Olympiad Open m NOR (2.14), 2014.08.03
□ 45.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
45.Bc6! (… Qf6) 45...Bxc6 46.Qf6 Qg7 47.Qd8+ Qf8 48.Rh8++- 1-0 (61) Cubas,J (2455)-Mastrovasilis,D (2608)
Norway 2014.
16. Negi, Parimarjan (2645) - Kovalyov, Anton (2622) [B48]
Tromso-41st Olympiad Open m NOR (2.32), 2014.08.03
□ 32.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
32.g5! Qxg5
32...Qxf3 33.Rxf3 Bxf5 34.Rxe8+ Kxe8 35.gxh6+33.Bxe6 Rf6
33...Rhxe6? 34.Qxf7#
34.Qg4 Qxg4 35.Bxg4+- 1-0 (47) Negi,P (2645)-Kovalyov,A (2622) Norway 2014.
17. Hebden, Mark L (2540) - Mannion, Stephen R (2347) [D30]
Douglas (9.18), 2014.10.12
□ 20.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
20.Nxe5! Qh7
20...Nxe5 21.Nf4+21.Nxc6 bxc6 22.Qxc6+- 1-0 (25) Hebden,M (2540)-Mannion,S (2347) England 2014.
18. Harikrishna, Pentala (2727) - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2765) [A88]
Beijing-SportAccord Basque CHN (2.7), 2014.12.16
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Bc7 Rc8 28.Bb7!+- 1-0 (35) Harikrishna,P (2727)-Mamedyarov,S (2765) China 2014.
Black cannot hold both Rooks on the 8th file and is inevitably losing an exchange: 28.Bb7 Rxc7 29.Qxe8++-.
19. Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2640) - Elsness, Frode (2447) [D31]
NOR TCh Elite 14/15 NOR (9.3), 2015.03.06
□ 17.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
17.Ng5+! Kg8
17...fxg5 18.Qf3++18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Nxe6+- White is completely winning, for example: 19...Nf7 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Qg4+ Ng5 22.Nxg5
h5
22...fxg5 23.Qxg5+ Qg7 24.Qd5++23.Qe6+ Kg7 24.Rad1 1-0 Hammer, J (2640)-Elsness,F (2447) Norway 2015.
20. Jaracz, P. (2503) - Cornette, M. (2591) [E12]
GER Bundesliga 15/16 GER (2.5), 2015.09.20
■ 28...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
28...Rxh2! 29.Kxh2 Qh6+ 30.Kg1 Nf3+ 31.Kf1 Qh1+ 32.Ke2 Ng1+ 33.Kd3 Rb3+-+ 0-1 Jaracz,P (2503)Cornette,M (2591) Germany 2015.
21. (*) Mchedlishvili, Mikheil (2607) - Parligras, Mircea Emilian (2584) [E00]
GER Bundesliga 15/16 GER (3.2), 2015.12.12
■ 22...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
22...Rxg2+! 23.Kxg2 Qe8! The Queen on a4 and the Knight on h5 are both hanging! The threat is ...c5+. 24.Qb3
24.Ng3? c5+ 25.Kg1 Qxa4-+
24...Qxh5 25.Qxe6+ Kf8-+ 0-1 (32) Mchedlishvili,M (2607)-Parligras,M (2584) Germany 2015.
22. Pelletier, Yannick (2558) - Sulava, Nenad (2416) [D26]
FRA-chT Top 12 2016 Drancy (7), 2016
□ 24.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Na4! bxa4 25.Nc4 Qb4
25...Qa6 26.Rxa4+-; 25...Qxb3 26.Nxd6 Rb6 27.Bxc5 Ra6 28.Rb1+26.Nxd6 Rb6 27.Nc4 Ra6 28.bxa4 Nd7 29.a5 1-0 Pelletier,Y (2558)-Sulava,N (2416) Drancy 2016.
23. Ganguly, Surya Shekhar (2660) - Mesropov, Konstantin (2406) [C10]
25th Keres Memorial - ACP Open Tallinn (3), 2016.01.08
□ 23.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
23.d5! Taking advantage of the black Queen on b3. 23...Nxc5
23...cxd5 24.Rb4+24.Rh4!+- 1-0 Ganguly,S (2660) -Mesropov,K (2406) Tallinn 2016
(‹ 24.Rb4 Nd3+ 25.Rxd3 Bxb4 26.axb4±)
24. (*) Baskaran, Adhiban (2653) - Bok, Benjamin (2607) [A32]
78th Tata Steel Chess Challengers Wijk aan Zee (3), 2016.01.18
□ 31.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
31.g4!
31.Bg5? Bxg5 32.hxg5 Be6 33.a3ƒ 1/2-1/2 (71) Adhiban,B (2653)-Bok,B (2607) Wijk aan Zee 2016
31...Be6 32.Bd6 Bxh4
32...Re8? 33.g5 Bd8 34.Rc2 Qd7 (34...Bc4 35.b3+-) 35.Bc6+-; 32...Rd8? 33.g5+33.Bxf8 Kxf8 34.Rc2±
25. Van Wely, L. (2640) - Carlsen, M. (2844) [D83]
78th Tata Steel GpA Wijk aan Zee NED (5.2), 2016.01.21
■ 37...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
37...Rxf1+! 38.Kxf1 Rd1+ 39.Kg2 Bxe4-+ 0-1 Van Wely,L (2640) -Carlsen,M (2844) Wijk aan Zee 2016.
26. Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2747) - Hou, Yifan (2673) [E51]
78th Tata Steel Chess Masters Wijk aan Zee (7), 2016.01.23
□ 39.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
39.Bg4! f5
39...Rxb8 40.Nxc6++-39...Rc7 40.Na6+40.exf5 gxf5 41.Rxc8 Nxc8 42.Nxc6+ Kd6 43.Bxf5+- 1-0 (55) Mamedyarov,S (2747)-Hou,Y (2673) Wijk aan Zee
2016.
27. Grandelius, Nils (2635) - Sundararajan, Kidambi (2508) [C09]
Tradewise 2016 Masters Gibraltar (4), 2016.01.29
□ 38.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
38.Qe8!
Instead, the game went 38.Bc5 Qe6+ 39.g4± 1-0 (62) Grandelius,N (2635) -Sundararajan,K (2508) Gibraltar 2016,
when in that position Black could have played 39...h5 and avoid a direct loss.
38...Bf6 39.Bc5
39.Nxf6 Qxf6 40.Qd7 Ne2 41.Kg2! also wins: but is much slower and less concrete.
39...Qe6+ 40.Qxe6 fxe6 41.Nxf6 Kxf6 42.Bd4++
28. Li, Chao b (2751) - Bachmann, Axel (2610) [E11]
Tradewise 2016 Masters Gibraltar (7), 2016.02.01
■ 28...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
28...Qh2+!
28...f5? 29.Qxc6 Rxb6? (29...Qh2+ 30.Kf1 Rxb6 31.Qc8+ Kf7 32.Qc7+ Kg8=) 30.Qc8+ Kf7 31.Qxf5+ Rf6 32.Qd5+
Re6 33.Qf3+ Kg6 34.Rd4 h5 35.c5 Rf6 36.Rd6± 1-0 (61) Li Chao (2751)-Bachmann,A (2610) Gibraltar 2016
29.Kf1 Nf6-+ Simple chess! The white Bishop is lost.
29. Rathnakaran, K. (2463) - Karthik, V4. (2378) [C54]
36th TCh-IND 2016 Bhubaneswar IND (7.2), 2016.02.12
□ 22.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
22.Qc3 Qb4 23.Ne7+!+- 1-0 Rathnakaran,K (2463)-Karthik,V (2378) India 2016.
30. Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2727) - Ivanchuk, Vassily (2710) [A42]
IMSA Elite Mind Games Huaian (3), 2016.02.26
□ 10.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
10.Bxe7+ Nxe7 11.Nb6! Be6
11...Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 axb6 13.Rd8#
12.Nxa8 Qxa8 13.c5+- 1-0 (26) Wojtaszek,R (2727)-Ivanchuk,V (2710) China 2016.
31. Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2747) - Ding, Liren (2766) [C52]
IMSA Elite Mind Games Basque Huaian (2), 2016.03.02
□ 23.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
23.e6!
Instead, the game went: 23.axb6? axb6 24.Qxa8 Rxa8 25.Rxa8+ Nc8∞ 1/2-1/2 (39) Mamedyarov,S (2747)-Ding,L
(2766) China 2016
23...Bxe6
23...Qxe6 24.Bxe7+24.Ne5+-
32. Oparin, Grigoriy (2575) - Korobov, Anton (2674) [B94]
17th EICC 2016 Gjakova (2), 2016.05.13
□ 14.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
14.Nc6! bxc6
14...Qc7? 15.Rd8++15.Qxc6+ Nd7 16.Qxa8± 1/2-1/2 (37) Oparin,G (2575)-Korobov,A (2674) Gjakova 2016.
Show in Quiz Mode
33. Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter (2669) - Khismatullin, Denis (2609) [D02]
17th EICC 2016 Gjakova (10), 2016.05.22
□ 19.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
19.Bb3! Attacking d5, and protecting b2 in case of Nxb7 Qxb7. Black is too badly coordinated to avoid losing one of
the two pawns. 19...Rac8
19...Rad8 20.Nxb7 Qxb7 21.Qxf6±
20.Bxd5 Bxd4 21.Nxe6! Ne5 22.Rxe5 Bxe5 23.Nxf8 Rxf8 24.Re1+- 1-0 (35) Nisipeanu,L (2669)-Khismatullin,D
(2609) Gjakova 2016.
34. Kovalenko, Igor (2644) - Fressinet, Laurent (2692) [A29]
17th EICC 2016 Gjakova (10), 2016.05.22
□ 31.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
31.R1b7! Ra1+
31...Qxg6 32.hxg6 Rd1+ 33.Kg2 Rg4 34.Bxc5 Rxg6 35.Be7+32.Kh2 Qxg6 33.hxg6 Rad1 34.Rxd7 Rxd7 35.Bxc5+- 1-0 Kovalenko,I (2644)-Fressinet,L (2692) Gjakova 2016.
Black resigned, being unable to stop 36.Bb6.
35. Sumets, Andrey (2571) - Naiditsch, Arkadij (2663) [E94]
FRA-chT Top 12 2016 Drancy (3), 2016.05.30
■ 45...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
45...Rxh2+! 46.Kxh2 Qh8+ 47.Kg1 Ne2+-+ 0-1 Sumets,A (2571) -Naiditsch,A (2663) Drancy 2016.
36. Caruana, Fabiano (2804) - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2789) [A48]
GCT Rapid Paris 2016 Paris (6), 2016.06.10
■ 46...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
46...Nh3! 47.Rxg4
47.Qxh3 Nf2+ 48.Kh2 Qxg1#; 47.Rg2 Ngf2+ 48.Rxf2 Qg1#
47...Qxg4 48.Qxg4 Nf2+ 49.Kg2 Nxg4-+ 0-1 (51) Caruana,F (2804) -Vachier Lagrave,M (2789) France 2016.
37. Amonatov, Farrukh (2614) - Potkin, Vladimir (2597) [B23]
Eurasian Blitz Chess Cup Almaty KAZ (9.17), 2016.06.18
□ 36.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
36.Rf1! Qe7 37.Qg6++- 1-0 (39) Amonatov,F (2614)-Potkin,V (2597) Kazakhstan 2016.
38. Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2729) - Heberla, Bartlomiej (2541) [D37]
POL TCh Ekstraliga POL (1.4), 2016.06.24
□ 28.? ± /+–
Show/Hide the Solution
28.f4! Qxf4 29.Ne6! fxe6?!
29...Bxe6™ 30.Rxd8± /+30.Rxd8 Qf2+ 31.Kh1+- 1-0 Wojtaszek,R (2729)-Heberla,B (2541) Poland 2016
Black resigned in view of: 31.Kh1 Qxe2 32.Qxe5+-.
39. Li, Di (2421) - Libiszewski, Fabien (2537) [E06]
XVIII Sant Marti Open 2016 Barcelona (3), 2016.07.15
□ 38.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
38.d5! h4
38...cxd5 39.Rf4+ Ke6 40.Rxf6++39.Rf4+ Kg5 40.dxc6+- 1-0 (42) Li,Di (2426)-Libiszewski,F (2542) Spain 2016.
40. Najer, Evgeniy (2687) - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2798) [B97]
Sparkassen Chess-Meeting Dortmund (5), 2016.07.15
■ 27...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
27...Nc5! 28.O-O
28.Qxe5? Nxd3+-+; 28.Ra3? Qxd6-+
28...Nxd3 29.Qxd3 Bd7-+ 0-1 (36) Najer,E (2687)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2798) Dortmund 2016.
41. (*) Savchenko, B. (2633) - Lomsadze, D. (2364) [A40]
11th Nana Aleksandria Cup Poti GEO (9.5), 2016.07.20
□ 43.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
43.Nd6! Rxd6
43...Rxh4 44.Nxe8 Rxe8 45.Rxc7+-; 43...Qf8 44.Rb8+ Qxb8 45.Rxb8+ Kxb8 46.Qd8#
44.Qe7! Qh8 45.Rxa7+ 1-0 Savchenko,B (2633)-Lomsadze,D (2364) Georgia 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 45.Rxa7+ Kxa7 46.Qxc7+ Ka6 47.Qb7+ Kxa5 48.Qb5#.
42. Timman, Jan H (2559) - Kramer, Julian (2341) [B90]
Xtracon Chess Open 2016 Helsingor (5), 2016.07.26
□ 25.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
25.Qd3! Rxd3
25...Qxa6 26.Qxd8#
26.Ra8+ Qd8 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Rxd8# 1-0 Timman,J (2559)-Kramer,J (2341) Denmark 2016.
43. (*) Jumabayev, Rinat (2611) - Shankland, Samuel L (2661) [D30]
49th Biel MTO Biel (8), 2016.08.02
□ 23.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
23.Qb3+!
23.Bh3? h5 24.Qb3+ Qe6 25.Ne5+ Kf8 26.Qf3+ Nef6∞ 0-1 (63) Jumabayev,R (2613)-Shankland,S (2661) Biel 2016.
23...Qe6
23...Re6 24.Ba1+- (… Nd4)23...Kf8 24.Bxg7++24.Ng5+ Nxg5 25.Bd5+-
44. Topalov, Veselin (2761) - Svidler, Peter (2751) [C88]
4th Sinquefield Cup 2016 Saint Louis (1), 2016.08.05
□ 26.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
26.Qc3! Nxd4™ 27.Qxb4 Ne2+ 28.Kh1 1-0 Topalov,V (2761)-Svidler,P (2751) Saint Louis USA 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 28.Kh1 Nxc1 29.Qb8+! Kh7 (29...Kf7 30.Qxc7++-) 30.Qb1+ Nd3 31.Ne1+-.
45. Pakleza, Z. (2495) - Sjodahl, P. (2420) [A13]
CellaVision Cup 2016 Lund SWE (8.6), 2016.08.07
□ 22.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
22.Be4+!
22.b4? Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Qb7+ 24.Kg1 Be7=
22...Kg8 23.b4! 1-0 Pakleza,Z (2495)-Sjodahl,P (2420) Sweden 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 23.b4 Bxb4 (23...Bxe4 24.Qxe4+-) 24.Bxb7 Qxb7 25.Rxb4+-.
46. Hesham, Abdelrahman (2419) - Amin, Bassem (2661) [E10]
Baku Open - 2016 Baku (3), 2016.09.20
□ 26.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
26.d6+ Qf7 27.Nf6+! 1-0 Hesham,A (2419)-Amin,B (2661) Baku 2016
Black resigned in view of: 27.Nf6+ gxf6 (27...Kf8 28.Nxh7++-) 28.Bd5+-.
47. Edouard, Romain (2635) - Almagro Llamas, P. (2436) [A15]
ESP TCh Div Honor ESP (6.2), 2016.10.01
□ 12.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Ng5! h6
13...Bxg5 14.Bxg5 Bxg2 15.Bxe7+14.Qxh6 Bxg5 15.Bxg5 Bxg2 16.cxb5!+- 1-0 (31) Edouard,R (2635)-Almagro Llamas,P (2436) Monzon 2016.
48. Kokarev, Dm (2636) - Oparin, G. (2617) [B55]
69th ch-RUS 2016 Novosibirsk RUS (3.4), 2016.10.18
□ 28.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
28.h4! (… Rb6)
Instead, the game went: 28.Qb5? Ra2 29.Qc4 Ra5 30.Qc3 Ra2 31.Qc4 Ra5 32.Qc3 Ra2 1/2-1/2 Kokarev,D (2636) Oparin,G (2617) Novosibirsk 2016.
28...Qe6
28...g6 29.Rb6 Qh8 30.Ne7+ Kh7 31.Nxg6+29.Rd5! Nf6 30.Rb6+-
49. Bacrot, Etienne (2692) - Muzychuk, Anna (2550) [A33]
5th Anatoly Karpov Trophy 2016 Cap d'Agde (6.1), 2016.10.23
□ 23.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
23.Qxd5! R2xd5 24.c4 1-0 Bacrot,E (2692)-Muzychuk,A (2561) Cap d'Agde 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 24.c4 Rc5 25.Rxa5 Rxa5 26.Bc7+-.
50. Frischmann, Rick (2312) - Le Roux, JP. (2549) [B12]
32nd ECC Open 2016 Novi Sad SRB (6.13), 2016.11.11
■ 25...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
25...Nxf3+!
Instead, the game went: 25...Rfe8?? 26.a3∞ 1-0 (70) Frischmann,R (2312)-Le Roux, J (2549) Novi Sad 2016.
26.Qxf3 Qh4 27.g3 Qa4 28.Qd3 b5-+
51. Meskovs, N. (2483) - Rodshtein, M. (2687) [D80]
Bundesliga 2016-17 Baden Baden GER (4.1), 2016.11.20
■ 42...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
42...Bc5! 43.Bc3 Rd1-+ (… ...Ke8) 0-1 (56) Meskovs,N (2483)-Rodshtein,M (2687) Baden Baden 2016.
52. Carlsen, Magnus (2857) - Karjakin, Sergey (2769) [D05]
AGON FWCM 2016 New York (8), 2016.11.21
■ 52...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
52...a2! 0-1 (52) Carlsen,M (2853)-Karjakin,S (2772) New York 2016.
White resigned in view of: 52...a2 53.Qxa2 (53.Qa6 Qd4 54.Qxa2 Ng4+ 55.Kh3 Qg1 56.Qb2+ Kg6-+) 53...Ng4+
54.Kh3 Qg1 55.Qb2+ Kg6-+.
53. Topalov, Veselin (2760) - Anand, Viswanathan (2779) [D37]
8th London Chess Classic 2016 London (8), 2016.12.17
■ 33...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
33...Qb5! 34.Qc6 Rxf3+! 0-1 Topalov,V (2760)-Anand,V (2779) London 2016.
White resigned in view of: 34...Rxf3+ 35.Qxf3 Qa4#.
54. Zubov, Alexander (2606) - Gu, Xiaobing (2324) [B06]
III Sunway Sitges Festival 2016 Sitges (6), 2016.12.20
□ 14.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
14.Ndb5! Qd7
14...cxb5 15.Bxd6 Qc6 16.e5+15.Bxd6 Ne6 16.Na3 Bd4 17.Nc4+- 1-0 (39) Zubov,A (2606)-Gu Xiaobing (2324) Sitges 2016.
55. Sheldrick, K. (2151) - Demuth, A. (2521) [D00]
Australian Open 2017 Brisbane AUS (2.2), 2017.01.03
■ 20...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
20...Rxd4! 21.Kxd4 c5+ 22.Kc4 b5+! 23.Kxb5
23.Nxb5 Be6#
23...Rb8+ 24.Kc6
24.Kc4 Ke6 25.a4 Ba6+ 26.Nb5 Rd8-+ … ...Rd4#
24...Bxc3-+ 0-1 (25) Sheldrick,K (2151)-Demuth,A (2521) Brisbane 2017.
56. Maze, S. (2613) - Lampert, J. (2510) [C48]
PRO League Central 2017 chess.com INT (2), 2017.01.18
□ 22.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
22.Bb4! Nxb4
22...Rf7 23.Nd6±
23.Nxf6! gxf6 24.Qxf6++- 1-0 (55) Maze,S (2613)-Lampert,J (2510) chess.com Internet 2017.
57. Rapport, Richard (2702) - Carlsen, Magnus (2840) [A12]
79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters Wijk aan Zee (8), 2017.01.22
□ 31.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
31.Bc6! Re1+ 32.Qxe1 Qxe1+ 33.Nf1 1-0 Rapport,R (2702)-Carlsen,M (2840) Wijk aan Zee 2017.
58. Topalov, Veselin (2739) - Paehtz, Thomas (2365) [A80]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (1), 2017.01.24
□ 15.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
15.Bxd5+! cxd5 16.Rc7 1-0 Topalov,V (2739)-Paehtz,T (2365) Gibraltar 2017.
Black resigned in view of: 16.Rc7 Rb8 17.Rxb7 Rxb7 18.Qxd5++-.
59. Dek, L. (2288) - Bacrot, E. (2695) [B33]
PRO League Central 2017 chess.com INT (3), 2017.01.25
■ 26...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
26...Bxe3 27.Nxe3
27.Qxe3 Rxg2! 28.Rxg2 Qxd1+-+
27...Qxh2+! 28.Kxh2 Rh6+ 29.Qh4 Rxh4# 0-1 Dek,L (2288)-Bacrot,E (2695) chess.com Internet 2017.
60. Carlstedt, Jonathan (2413) - Oparin, Grigoriy (2625) [E32]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (4), 2017.01.27
□ 22.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
22.Nf3! Rf6
22...gxf3 23.Qxh6+ Kf7 24.Qg6+ Ke7 25.Rh7+ Kd8 26.Qg5++23.Nfxd4+- 1-0 (28) Carlstedt,J (2413)-Oparin,G (2625) Gibraltar 2017.
61. Nakamura, Hikaru (2785) - Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo (2652) [E18]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (5), 2017.01.28
□ 26.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
26.dxc6 Rxf1+ 27.Rxf1 Bxc6 28.Qf3! 1-0 Nakamura,H (2785)-Iturrizaga, E (2652) Gibraltar 2017.
Black resigned in view of: 28.Qf3 Bxe4 29.Qf8+ Rxf8 30.Rxf8#.
62. Spraggett, Kevin (2542) - Milliet, Sophie (2387) [D38]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (5), 2017.01.28
□ 25.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
25.e4! Nxd4
25...dxe4? 26.Nxe6+ fxe6 27.Qxg5++26.Qe3! Qf6 27.e5+- 1-0 (37) Spraggett,K (2542)-Milliet,S (2387) Gibraltar 2017.
63. Debashis, Das (2472) - Lagarde, Maxime (2594) [D78]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (8), 2017.01.31
■ 45...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
45...Qb7!-+ 0-1 (48) Debashis,D (2472)-Lagarde,M (2594) Gibraltar 2017.
Black’s next to move is 46...Kd7, winning an exchange.
64. Buhmann, Rainer (2625) - Vitiugov, Nikita (2724) [A04]
Aeroflot Open 2017 Moscow (5), 2017.02.25
■ 29...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
29...Re1+! 30.Kxe1
30.Nxe1 Qxf2#
30...Bxf2+ 0-1 Buhmann,R (2625) -Vitiugov,N (2724) Moscow 2017.
Show in Quiz Mode
Chapter 3
Find the unexpected blow!
In this chapter, you must find unexpected incisive moves! Sacrifices, intermediate moves, surprising and hidden moves
will be on the menu.
The aim of this chapter is to help you to understand how rich chess is in ideas, so that you can overcome your bad
automatic reflexes. Everyone is able to spot basic things. You have to force yourself to see the rest!
The difficulty of the exercises in this chapter ranges from medium to difficult.
1. Ivanchuk, Vassily (2776) - Karjakin, Sergey (2776) [C54]
Medias-5th Kings Tournament ROU (5), 2011.06.15
■ 16...? µ
Show/Hide the Solution
16...Bxh3! 17.c4
17.gxh3 Qf6! 18.Kg2 Nh4+ 19.Nxh4 Qxf2+ 20.Kh1 Qxg3-+
17...Ndf4 18.c5
18.Bxf4 exf4!?µ; 18.gxh3 Qd7!? 19.Bxf4 Nxf4-+
18...Nxg2 19.cxb6 Qf6 20.Nh2 Nxe1 21.Rxe1 axb6-+ 0-1 (37) Ivanchuk, V (2776)-Karjakin,S (2776) Romania 2011.
2. Rozentalis, Eduardas (2592) - Socko, Bartosz (2636) [B22]
AUT-TCh 11-12 AUT (10.2), 2012.04.21
■ 17...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
17...Nd2! 18.Nxc6 Nf3+ 19.Kh1 Bg2+! 20.Kxg2 Nxe1+ 21.Kh3 Nxc2 22.Nxe7+ Kf8 23.Bxc5 Nxa1 24.Nc6+ Ke8
25.Nxd8 Kxd8-+ 1/2-1/2 (55) Rozentalis,E (2592)-Socko,B (2636) Austria 2012.
3. Guerrero, Richard Sanmarti (2258) - Raimbault, Pierre (1931) [B32]
Barcelona-14th Sants Open A ESP (1.98), 2012.08.17
□ 18.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Qxf8+! Kxf8 19.Ng6+! fxg6
19...Kg8 20.Re8+ Kh7 21.Nf8+ Kg8 22.Ne6++20.Ba3+ Ne7 21.Rxe7 axb3
21...Qxe7 22.Rd8#
22.Rxc7+ Kg8
22...Rxa3 23.Rd8#
23.Rd8+ Kh7 24.Bb2! 1-0 Guerrero,R (2258)-Raimbault,P (1931) Barcelona 2012.
Black resigned in view of: 24.Bb2 h5 25.Rxg7+ Kh6 26.Rd6+-.
4. Aronian, Levon (2803) - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2757) [D52]
SportAccord Basque Men Beijing CHN (5.1), 2013.12.18
■ 22...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
22...Rxd6! 23.Qxd6
The game continued 23.Qb3 Bd5-+ 0-1 (26) Aronian,L (2803)-Mamedyarov, S (2757) Beijing 2013.
23...Qe4!-+
5. Negi, Parimarjan (2640) - Idani, Pouya (2502) [C70]
Sharjah-13th Asian Continental m UAE (6.9), 2014.04.22
□ 33.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
33.Re8! 1-0 Negi,P (2640)-Idani,P (2502) Sharjah 2014.
Black resigned in view of: 33.Re8 Rxe8 34.Qd7++-.
6. Van Kampen, Robin (2631) - Hambleton, Aman (2468) [C16]
Hilversum-HSG Open NED (4.1), 2014.06.21
□ 22.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
22.Rxg6! fxg6 23.Rxe6! Qc4 24.Nxg6 Kc8
24...Re8 would not help: 25.Rxe8+ Kxe8 26.f7++25.Nxf8 Nxf8 26.Re8+ Kb7 27.f7+- 1-0 (30) Van Kampen,R (2631) -Hambleton,A (2468) Netherlands 2014.
Also winning would be, for example: 27.Rxa8 Kxa8 28.Qxh5+-.
7. So, W. (2762) - Holt, C. (2559) [C03]
Internet (US league) (3), 2014.12.03
□ 24.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Rxf6! gxf6
24...Rxe2 25.Rxf8++25.Bxf6+ Rxf6
25...Kg8 26.Bc4++26.Qxe8+ Kg7 27.Qe4+- 1-0 (41) So Wesley (2762)-Holt,C (2559) ICC Internet 2014.
8. Tomashevsky, E. (2743) - Mchedlishvili, M. (2618) [D16]
Reykjavik-20th European TCh ISL (6.1), 2015.11.19
□ 32.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
32.Nxf7! Rf8
32...Qxf7 33.dxe6+33.dxe6+- 1-0 (34) Tomashevsky,E (2743)-Mchedlishvili,M (2618) Reykjavik 2015.
9. Korobov, Anton (2713) - Swiercz, Dariusz (2646) [D70]
Qatar Masters Open 2015 Doha (5), 2015.12.24
■ 19...? µ /–+
Show/Hide the Solution
19...Nb3+! The only important move to see. 20.Kb1™
20.Nxb3? Qxa2-+; 20.axb3? Qa1+ 21.Kc2 Qxb2+ 22.Kd3 Bf5+ 23.Ne4 Qxb3#
20...Nxc5 21.dxc5 Rad8!
In the game, Black went for the less precise: 21...f6µ 0-1 (35) Korobov,A (2713)-Swiercz,D (2646) Doha 2015.
22.Bg2 Qa4 (… ...Bf5+, ...Na5) 23.Ka1 Na5 24.Rd3 Qxf4-+
10. Hammer, J. (2695) - Schekachikhin, Maksim (2321) [E15]
45th Rilton Cup 2015-16 Stockholm SWE (1.1), 2015.12.27
□ 33.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
33.Qd7! Rxc2
33...dxe5? 34.Rc7+34.Rxc2 Qd8
34...dxe5? 35.Rc7+35.Qf7+!
In the game White played the less pre-cise: 35.Qxb7?! dxe5 36.Rc7 Nd6± /+-: 1-0 (52) Hammer, J-Schekachikhin,M
Sweden 2015.
35...Kh8 36.Rc7 Rg8 37.Ng6+! hxg6 38.Qxg6 Qe8 39.Rf7 Ng5 40.Qh5+ Nh7 41.Bd3+-
11. Admiraal, M. (2441) - Bok, B. (2607) [B51]
78th Tata Steel GpB Wijk aan Zee NED (9.6), 2016.01.26
■ 30...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
30...Nxf2! 31.Rxf2 Re1+ 32.Nf1 Rxf1+! 33.Kxf1 Qd1# 0-1 Admiraal, M (2441)-Bok,B (2607) Wijk aan Zee 2016.
12. Van Foreest, Jorden (2541) - Bok, Benjamin (2607) [B80]
78th Tata Steel Chess Challengers Utrecht (10), 2016.01.27
□ 29.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
29.Rxg7! Kxg7 30.Rg1+ Kf6
30...Kh8 31.Rg5 Qh6 32.Rg8++31.Rg5 Qh6 32.e5+! dxe5
32...Ke7 33.exd6++33.Qxe5+ Ke7 34.Qc7+ Kf6 35.Nd4!+- (… Qe5+, Nf5+) 1-0 (39) Van Foreest,J (2541)-Bok,B (2607) Netherlands
2016.
35.Nh2 would also win: 35...Qxh4 36.Qe5+ Ke7 37.Rh5 Qf2 38.Qc7+ Kf6 39.Ng4++-.
13. Sethuraman, S P. (2639) - Bai, Jinshi (2507) [B48]
Tradewise 2016 Masters Gibraltar (3), 2016.01.28
□ 40.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
40.Qe7+! Rxe7
40...Qxe7 41.dxe7+ Kg8 42.Rd8+41.dxe7+ Qxe7 42.Rxe7+- 1-0 (69) Sethuraman,S (2639)-Bai,J (2507) Gibraltar 2016.
14. Anand, V. (2784) - Aronian, L. (2792) [C48]
5th Zurich CC 2016 Zurich SUI (1.3), 2016.02.13
□ 15.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
15.Nxh6! Kxh6
15...gxh6 16.Qxf6+16.Qh3+ Kg6
16...Nh5 17.g4+17.Rf3 Nh5 18.Rf5! Nf6
18...Rh8 19.Qg4++19.Qh4 1-0 Anand,V (2784)-Aronian,L (2792) Zurich 2016.
15. Raykhman, Alexander (2421) - Heinemann, Thies (2453) [E15]
BL 2015-16 Germany (11), 2016.03.13
■ 12...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
12...Rxe2+! 13.Kf1
13.Kxe2 Qe8+ 14.Kd1 Bxb5-+
13...Qe8-+ 0-1 (20) Raykhman,A (2414)-Heinemann,T (2459) Germany 2016.
16. Harikrishna, Pentala (2763) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2801) [A13]
Stavanger-4th Norway BLITZ NOR (5.2), 2016.04.18
□ 21.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
21.Nxb6!
21.Bxf6 Nxf6= 0-1 (39) Harikrishna,P (2763)-Kramnik,V (2801) Norway 2016.
21...exf3
21...Bxb2 22.Qxb2 Nxb6 23.Qxb6±; 21...exd3 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.Nxc8 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Qxc8 25.Qe5±; 21...Qxb6
22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.Rxb7+22.Nxc8 fxg2 23.Rfd1 Bxc8 24.Be4! By far the strongest. 24...Ne5 25.f4 Ng4 26.Bxf6 Nxf6 27.Bxg2±
17. Piorun, K. (2591) - Boensch, U. (2552) [B80]
Bundesliga 2015-16 Dresden GER (7.3), 2016.04.22
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Bxb6! Rxb6
27...Qxb6 28.Bd5+ Be6 29.Bxe6+ Rxe6 30.Qf7+ Kh7 31.Rd3+28.Bd5+ Be6
28...Kh7 29.Qh4#
29.Bxe6+ Rxe6 30.Qxf8+ Kh7 31.Rf7+- 1-0 (31) Piorun,K (2591)-Boensch,U (2552) Germany 2016.
For example White could also win playing 31.Rd3!?+-.
18. Najer, Evgeniy (2681) - Timofeev, Artyom (2598) [C10]
RUS-chT Premier League 2016 Sochi (7), 2016.05.08
□ 20.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
20.Nxf5! exf5 21.Rxh7+! Kxh7 22.Qh5+ Kg7 23.Qxf7+ Kh6
23...Kh8 24.Rxd7+24.Qxf6+ Rg6 25.Qh4+ Kg7 26.Qe7+ Kh6 27.Rxd7 Qxc4 White has many wins here, for example: 28.Qh7+ Kg5
29.Rd4+- 1-0 Najer,E (2681) -Timofeev,A (2598) Russia 2016.
19. Watzlawek, M. (2106) - Bauer, Christian (2634) [A41]
Maastricht-10th BPB Limburg Open NED (3.4), 2016.05.14
■ 8...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
8...Nxe4!! 9.Nxe4 d5 10.cxd5
10.Nc3 d4-+
10...Bb4 11.Nc3 Bxd5 12.f3 Qf6 13.Bb2 O-O-O-+ 0-1 (18) Watzlawek,M (2106)-Bauer,C (2634) Netherlands 2016.
20. Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2700) - Palac, Mladen (2577) [B96]
17th EICC 2016 Gjakova (3), 2016.05.14
□ 23.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
23.Nxc5 dxc5
23...Rxh6 24.Nxa6+24.d6! Bxd6
24...Qxd6 25.Rxh8 Rxh8 26.Bxb5+25.Rxf6+- 1-0 (28) Vallejo Pons,F (2700)-Palac,M (2577) Gjakova 2016.
21. Moroni, Luca Jr (2443) - Parligras, Mircea-Emilian (2599) [D36]
17th EICC 2016 Gjakova (7), 2016.05.19
■ 29...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
29...Rf2! 30.Rxf2
30.Kxf2 Qxh2+ 31.Kf3 Rf7+ 32.Kg4 Qh5#
30...Rxe1+ 31.Rf1 Ne3! 0-1 Moroni,L (2443)-Parligras,M (2599) Gjakova 2016.
White resigned in view of: 31...Ne3 32.Rxe1 Qg2#.
22. Dubov, Daniil (2644) - Brkic, Ante (2584) [D38]
17th EICC 2016 Gjakova (8), 2016.05.20
□ 19.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
19.Ba6! gxf3
19...bxa6 20.Nxc6+20.Bxb7+ Kb8 21.Bxc6+ Kc8 22.Bb7+ Kb8 23.Bxf3+ Kc8 24.Bb7+ Kb8 25.Bc6+
25.Bd5+!? Kc8 26.Bc4+25...Kc8 26.Rb2!? (… Rhb1) 1-0 Dubov,D (2644)-Brkic,A (2584) Gjakova 2016.
23. Fressinet, Laurent (2687) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2812) [C65]
GCT Rapid Paris 2016 Paris (7), 2016.06.10
■ 22...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
22...Nxh3! 23.gxh3 Rxf3 24.Re2
24.Qxf3? e4+-+
24...Raf8-+ 0-1 (34) Fressinet,L (2687)-Kramnik,V (2812) France 2016.
24. Topalov, Veselin (2761) - So, Wesley (2770) [C54]
GCT Blitz Leuven 2016 Leuven (16), 2016.06.20
■ 20...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
20...Nxe4! 21.Nxg4
21.dxe4 Qxh4-+21.Bxd8 Nxf2+-+
21...Nxc3!
21...Nxf2+? 22.Bxf2 Bxf2 23.Nxf2 Rxf2³ 0-1 (42) Topalov,V (2761)-So Wesley (2770) Belgium 2016.
22.Bxd8 Nxd1 23.Bxc7 Nb2-+
25. Prie, E. (2481) - Sokolov, Ivan (2635) [A48]
Coupe de France 2016 Saint-Quentin FRA (1.2), 2016.06.25
■ 25...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
25...Rxb3! 26.axb3 Nxb3+ 27.Kd1 Nxd2 28.Kxd2 Rb2+ 29.Kd3
29.Bc2 Ba4 30.Rc1 a2-+
29...e4+-+ 0-1 (31) Prie,E (2481)-Sokolov,I (2635) Saint-Quentin 2016.
26. Skoberne, Jure (2572) - Sebenik, Matej (2530) [D02]
20. Memorial Milan Vidmar 2016 Bled (8), 2016.07.01
□ 9.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
9.Ba6! bxa6
9...Qb6 10.Bxb7 Qxb7 11.Bxd6+10.Qxc6++- 1-0 (25) Skoberne,J (2572)-Sebenik,M (2530) Bled 2016.
27. Pelletier, Yannick (2557) - Studer, Noel (2462) [D37]
SUI-116th ch Flims SUI (5.2), 2016.07.11
□ 38.? µ
Show/Hide the Solution
38.Qxg6 fxg6 39.Rf5! Nb8
39...gxf5? 40.f7²
40.f7 Nd7 41.f8=Q Nxf8 42.Rxf8µ and White is worse but definitely able to fight for a draw: 1/2-1/2 (68) Pelletier,Y
(2557)-Studer,N (2462) Flims 2016.
28. Rozentalis, Eduardas (2552) - Jones, Gawain CB (2650) [B30]
Mem Najdorf Open A Warsaw POL (9.15), 2016.07.16
□ 32.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
32.Rxd5! cxd5 33.Qd7 d4
33...Bh6 34.Qxd5+ Kh8 35.Ne5+34.Bxd4 Bh6 35.Qd5+ Kh8 36.Ne5 Rxe5 37.Bxe5+- 1-0 (58) Rozentalis,E (2552)-Jones,G (2650) Warsaw Warsaw
2016.
29. Amin, Bassem (2654) - Zude, Erik (2403) [B20]
Xtracon Chess Open 2016 Helsingor (6), 2016.07.27
□ 22.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
22.Bxd5! Qxd5+
22...Nxd5 23.Rfg4+23.Ne4 Kh8
23...Nxe4 24.dxe4+-23...Rxe4 24.dxe4 Qe5 25.Qg5! Ne8 26.f6+24.Rxg7 Rg8 25.Rxg8+ Nxg8 26.f6+- 1-0 (74) Amin,B (2654)-Zude,E (2403) Denmark 2016.
30. Carlsson, P. (2436) - Smid, M. (2214) [B01]
Pankrac Cup 2016 Prague CZE (1.4), 2016.09.20
□ 19.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
19.Rg4! Qxe2 20.Rxg7+ Kh8 21.Rg8+! 1-0 Carlsson,P (2436)-Smid,M (2214) Prague 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 21.Rg8+ Kxg8 22.Rg1+ Bg3 23.Rxg3#.
31. Allen, Keith (2236) - Donchenko, Alexander (2581) [A60]
Isle of Man Open Douglas ENG (1.30), 2016.10.01
■ 29...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
29...Qxf3+! 30.Kxf3 Nxd5 31.Qxd6?!
31.Rxd5 Bxd5+ 32.Kf4 h6 33.g5 Re4+ 34.Kf3 Rd4+ 35.Ke2 c3 36.Qxc3 Re4+-+
31...Nc3+!? 32.Kf4 Rxd6 33.Rxd6 Be5+ 34.Kg5 Ne4+-+ 0-1 (37) Allen,K (2236)-Donchenko,A (2581) England
2016.
32. Salem, A R Saleh (2628) - Svane, Rasmus (2552) [C11]
Isle of Man International 2016 Douglas/Isle of Man (8), 2016.10.08
□ 18.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Nf6+! Nxf6
18...gxf6 19.Qg3+ Kh8 20.Bxa5+-; 18...Kh8 19.Qh4+19.Qxc5+- 1-0 (30) Salem,A (2650)-Svane,R (2552) England 2016.
33. Granda Zuniga, Julio E (2648) - Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2720) [A45]
Cuadrangular UNAM 2016 Mexico (1.2), 2016.10.30
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Qxf6+! Kxf6 28.h7 Rxc1+
28...Rc8 29.Rg8+29.Kxc1+- 1-0 (56) Granda Zuniga,J (2648)-Dominguez Perez,L (2736) Mexico City 2016.
34. Kenneskog, Theodor (2332) - Dezelin, M. (2220) [B28]
32nd ECC Open 2016 Novi Sad SRB (6.11), 2016.11.11
□ 26.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
26.Bxg6! Qxd4 27.Bxh7+! Kxh7 28.Rxd4 (… Rh4#) 1-0 Kenneskog,T (2332)-Dezelin,M (2220) Novi Sad 2016.
35. Topalov, Veselin (2760) - Caruana, Fabiano (2823) [C02]
8th London Chess Classic 2016 London (2), 2016.12.10
■ 36...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
36...Re8!! 37.Rxb7+
37.Qxe8 Qc1+ 38.Qe1 d2-+37.Nxb2 Rxe1+ 38.Kxe1 cxb2 39.g8=Q b1=Q+ 40.Kd2 Qc2+ 41.Ke3 Qe2+ 42.Kf4 d2-+
37...Qxb7 38.Qxe8 Qb1+ 0-1 Topalov,V (2760)-Caruana,F (2823) London 2016.
White resigned in view of: 38...Qb1+ 39.Qe1 c2 40.g8=Q Qxe1+ 41.Kxe1 c1=Q#.
36. Papin, V. (2466) - Ikeda, J. (2375) [E70]
Australasian Masters GM Melbourne AUS (6.4), 2016.12.15
□ 31.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
31.Qxh6+!! 1-0 Papin,V (2466)-Ikeda,J (2375) Melbourne 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 31.Qxh6+ Kxh6 32.Rh1+ Kg7 33.Rh7+ Kf8 34.Rxd8++-.
37. Lauber, Arnd (2421) - Zubov, Alexander (2606) [D93]
III Sunway Sitges Festival 2016 Sitges (3), 2016.12.17
□ 18.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Bxe6!!
Instead, the game went: 18.Bxe5? Qxe5 19.Rd4 Bc6 20.Rcd1 Rac8 1/2-1/2 Lauber,A (2421)-Zubov,A (2606) Sitges
2016.
18...fxe6
18...Bxf4 19.exf4 Bc6 20.Re7±
19.Qg4 Bf5
19...Rae8 20.Qh4 h5 21.Qg5+20.Qh4 (… Qe7) Rf7
20...h5 21.Qe7+21.Rxf7 g5!?
21...Kxf7 22.Bxe5 Qxe5 23.Rc7+!+22.Qxg5+
22.Rxf5!? gxh4 23.Rxe5+22...Kxf7 23.Bxe5+23.b4!?+-
23...Qxe5 24.e4+- 1/2-1/2
38. Edouard, Romain (2613) - Maiorov, Nikita (2500) [E21]
XXVIII Open Roquetas de Mar 2017 Roquetas de Mar (4.4), 2017.01.05
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Rxd7! Rxd7 28.Rxd7 Kxd7
28...Qxd7 29.exf6+29.Qd2+ Kc8 30.exf6 e5
30...Rd8 31.Bxc7 Rxd2 32.f7+31.fxg7 1-0 Edouard,R (2613) -Maiorov,N (2500) Roquetas 2017.
Black resigned in view of: 31.fxg7 Qxg7 32.Qd6+-.
39. Lu, Shanglei (2612) - Van Foreest, Jorden (2612) [B40]
79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Challengers Wijk aan Zee (6), 2017.01.20
□ 18.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Bxg7! Kxg7 19.f6+! Nxf6
19...Bxf6 20.Nf5+ Kh7 21.Nxd5+20.Nf5+ Kh7 21.Nxe7 Qxe7 22.Qxf6+- 1-0 (42) Lu Shanglei (2612)-Van Foreest,J (2612) Wijk aan Zee 2017.
40. Carneiro, Vitor Roberto Castr (2426) - Fier, A. (2581) [A20]
83rd ch-BRA 2017 Rio de Janeiro BRA (7.1), 2017.02.11
□ 12.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
12.Nxh6+! gxh6 13.Rxf6 Bxc3
13...Qxf6 14.Nxd5 Qd6 15.Bf4+14.Rxh6 Bb4 15.Qd3
Instead, the game went: 15.e4 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Re8 17.Rh8+ Kg7 18.Rh7+ Kg8 19.Rh8+ 1/ 2-1/2 Carneiro,V (2426)Fier,A (2581) Rio de Janeiro 2017 (19.Qf3! Qxd4+ 20.Be3+-).
15...f5 16.Qf3+- (… Qh5).
Show in Quiz Mode
Chapter 4
Play the right move under pressure!
In each exercise in this chapter you are under pressure from your opponent. You must find the only move, or simply the
best response, depending on the problems you are facing.
A short introduction to each exercise will set you on the path to the solution. The aim of this chapter is to prepare you
for difficult situations: being under attack, needing to find resources, time pressure...
The difficulty of the exercises in this chapter ranges from medium to very difficult, the most challenging ones being
marked with an asterisk.
1. Negi, Parimarjan (2641) - Zhukova, Natalia (2426) [C11]
Gibraltar Masters Open Caleta ENG (4.23), 2012.01.27
■ 22...?
Black has one move to stay fully in the game, can you spot it?
Show/Hide the Solution
22...Kf8!!
Other moves are failing:
The game went: 22...Nf8? 23.Rxd8 Raxd8 24.Qh5+ Kg8 25.exf6+- 1-0 (52) Negi,P (2641)-Zhukova,N (2426) Gibraltar
2012.
22...Bc8? 23.Qxh7+ Kf8 24.Qh8+ Kf7 25.Qh5+ Kf8 26.exf6+22...Re7? 23.exf6 Nxf6 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Rf1 Rd6 26.Qxh7+±
23.Qxh7
23.Rxd7?? Bc8!-+
23.e6 Re7„
23...Re7 24.Qh8+ Kf7=
2. Korobov, Anton (2702) - Negi, Parimarjan (2641) [B90]
New Delhi-AICF-AAI Cup IND (9.1), 2012.12.29
■ 23...?
Find the drawing move!
Show/Hide the Solution
23...Qh4!
Other moves are failing:
The game went: 23...Qh5? 24.Qxe5+ Kd7 25.Rd2 Re8 26.Qxe8+ Kxe8 27.Rxc2+- 1-0 (45) Korobov,A (2702)-Negi,P
(2641) New Delhi 2012.
23...Kd7? 24.Bxe5 Qxf5 25.Qf4! Qxf4 26.Bxf4 Re8+ 27.Kf1 Ree2 28.Bg3±
24.Qxh4
24.Bxe5?? Qe4+-+
24...Nf3+ 25.Kf1 Nh2+=
3. Mateo, Ramon (2413) - Demuth, Adrien (2478) [C73]
Rochefort-13th Open FRA (7.8), 2014.02.22
□ 28.?
Black is threatening ...Qa2: but White has a way to keep the dynamic balance. Find it!
Show/Hide the Solution
28.f5!
Instead, the game went: 28.dxe7?? Qa2 29.Rde1 Qxb2+ 30.Kd1 Qb1+ 31.Nc1 Ne3+ 0-1 Mateo,R (2413)-Demuth,A
(2478) Rochefort 2014.
28...gxf5 29.dxe7
29.Rxh8 Rxh8 30.dxe7 is also OK.
29...Qa2??
Now Black should play 29...Ne5 with an unclear game.
30.e8=Q+! Raxe8
30...Kxe8 31.Rxh8++31.Qxc7++-
4. Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina (2405) - Videnova, Iva (2379) [B76]
Wroclaw-4th Holuj-Radzikowska POL (5.1), 2014.12.14
■ 15...?
It looks like Black is running into big problems, but in fact he is completely fine! Can you find how?
Show/Hide the Solution
15...Bf5! 16.g4 f6!! 17.Qd2
17.gxf5? g5-+ … ...Nf7
17...Be6∞ 1/2-1/2 (63) Vega,S (2405)-Videnova,I (2379) Warsaw 2014.
17...Rab8!?.
5. Jones, Gawain CB (2671) - Melia, Salome (2473) [A00]
Gibraltar Masters Caleta ENG (2.14), 2015.01.28
■ 24...?
White has a deadly threat Nxe7+. How can Black save the day?
Show/Hide the Solution
24...Rd8!³ Black is better since 25.Nxe7+? is met by 25...Qxe7 26.Qxe7 Rxd1+ 27.Kh2 Bxh6-+ That example was
also in "The Chess Manual of Avoidable Mistakes - Volume 2".
Instead, the game went: 24...Bxh6? 25.Qxh6 Rd8 26.Nf6+ exf6 27.exf6 Rxd1+ 28.Kh2 Qb8+ 29.g3 1-0 Jones,G
(2671)-Melia,S (2473) Gibraltar 2015.
24...Rb7? 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Nf6+-
6. (*) Negi, P. (2669) - Enkhbat, Tegshsuren (2417) [B19]
Burlingame-Chinggis GM USA (7.3), 2015.01.31
■ 33...?
Black is facing a terrible attack but he is actually winning: can you find how?
Show/Hide the Solution
33...Bg5!!
Other moves are failing:
The game went: 33...Bxg7?? 34.Nxe6! (… Rxg7+, Qh7#) 34...fxe6 35.Rxd8+ Kf7 36.Qg6+ Ke7 37.Re8+ Kd6
38.Qxe6+ Kc5 39.Rg5+ Kd4 40.Rd5# 1-0 Negi,P (2669)-Enkhbat,T (2417) USA 2015.
33...Rxc2? 34.Bxf6+ Kf8 35.Rxc2+34.Qxc4™
34.Rxg5 Rxc2-+
34...Qxc4
34...Qxd2 35.Qxa4 Kxg7µ
35.Bf6 Kh7! 36.Rh2+ Kg6 37.Bxd8 f6-+
7. (*) McDonald, Neil (2417) - Hawkins, Jonathan (2569) [B48]
7th London Classic Open 2015 London (7), 2015.12.09
■ 22...?
White wants to play Qh4 with the idea Rh3: can you find the only way for Black to defend himself?
Show/Hide the Solution
22...Qa7™
Instead, the game went: 22...a4 23.Qh4 axb3 24.Rh3 h6 25.gxh6 Qc7 26.c3 Ra4 27.Rd4 Rxd4 28.Qxd4 f6 29.hxg7
Kxg7 30.Qg4++- 1/2-1/2 (51) McDonald,N (2417)-Hawkins,J (2569) England 2015.
23.Qh4 Qf2™∞
8. Bauer, Ch (2626) - Baron, Ta (2544) [D02]
London Classic Superrapid London ENG (7.6), 2015.12.13
■ 55...?
How can Black avoid losing a piece?
Show/Hide the Solution
55...Nc4!
Instead, the game went: 55...Bxf2? 56.Kxf2 Rxb4 57.Rxa6+- 1/2-1/2 (78) Bauer,C (2626)-Baron,T (2544) England
2015.
56.Nxg3 Rg4!= (… ...Nxa5 / ...Nxe3+)
9. Grigoryan, Karen H (2602) - Cuenca Jimenez, Jose Fernando (2514) [C54]
XXVII Open Roquetas de Mar Roquetas (6), 2016.01.05
■ 35...?
Find the only move to stay in the game!
Show/Hide the Solution
35...Qe7™
The game went: 35...Rd1+? 36.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 37.Kh2 Be7 38.Rxf6+ Bxf6 39.Qxf6+ Kg8 40.Qe6+ Kf8 41.Be7+ Kg7
42.Qf6+ Kh7 43.Qf7+ Kh6 44.Bf8+ 1-0 Grigoryan,K (2602)-Cuenca Jimenez,J (2514) Spain 2016.
35...Kg8 36.Qf5
36.Qxc5
36.Qf5? Rxg5 37.Qxg5 Qxe4µ
36...Rd1+ 37.Rxd1 Qxc5 38.Rxf6+ Ke8 39.Rf5 Rxg5™ 40.Rxc5 Rxc5∞
10. Fridman, Daniel (2624) - Kazakovskiy, Valeriy (2387) [E11]
25th Keres Memorial - ACP Open Tallinn (2), 2016.01.08
■ 28...?
How can Black avoid standing much worse?
Show/Hide the Solution
28...Nxf3!
Other moves are failing:
28...fxg3? 29.Bxe5+- 1-0 (33) Fridman,D (2624)-Kazakovskiy,V (2387) Tallinn 2016
28...d6?! 29.Bxe5 f5 30.Rxf4±
29.Rxe8 Nh4+ 30.Kg1 Rxe8 31.Qxe8 Nf3+ 32.Kg2
32.Kh1 Qh5 33.Kg2 Nh4+=
32...Nh4+ 33.Kh1 Qd3! 34.Kg1 Qf3 35.gxh4 Qg4+=
11. Fridman, Daniel (2624) - Gunina, Valentina (2496) [D17]
25th Keres Memorial - ACP Open Tallinn (6), 2016.01.09
■ 47...?
Can you spot what is, by far, the most precise move in order to make a draw?
Show/Hide the Solution
47...Qh2+!
The game went: 47...Qf4? 48.Qxf4 Nxf4 49.Rd7± 1-0 (69) Fridman,D (2624)-Gunina,V (2496) Tallinn 2016.
47...Nxe3? 48.Rxd6++48.Kxh2 Nxe3 49.Rd7
49.Rd6+ Rf6=
49.Re1 Nxg2 50.Kxg2 Rf7=
49...Rf2 50.Kg3 Rxg2+ 51.Kf3 Rxb2 52.Kxe3 Rb3+ 53.Kd4 Rxh3 54.Rxa7 Rh4=
12. Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo (2624) - Goryachkina, Aleksandra (2502) [A06]
Tradewise 2016 Masters Gibraltar (3), 2016.01.28
■ 38...?
Black is three pawns down but has one move to make the position unclear: spot it!
Show/Hide the Solution
38...Nc6!
The most important was to find this move, and to understand that the posi-tion gets terribly complicated. Other moves
lead to a lost position:
Instead, the game continued: 38...Rxc1? 39.Rxc1 Qe2 40.Qg2+- 0-1 (61) Iturrizaga Bonelli,E (2624)-Goryachkina,A
(2502) Gibraltar 2016
38...Be5 39.Qg1+39.Qg5
39.Nxc6? Rg8µ
39...Qf3+
39...Qh3!? is also possible.
40.Qg2 Qh5 One possibility for the game to continue would be: 41.Nxc6 Rf2 42.Nxd4 Rxg2 43.Kxg2 Qg4+ 44.Kf1
Qxd4 45.Rxc2 Qd3+ 46.Ke1 Qxc2 47.Rc1 Qe4+ 48.Kd1 Kg7=
13. Gunina, Valentina (2496) - Bachmann, Axel (2610) [E16]
Tradewise 2016 Masters Gibraltar (5), 2016.01.30
■ 37...?
Black is a clear pawn down… Find the best move!
Show/Hide the Solution
37...Nd4! 38.Rxd4 Qxf2+ 39.Kh1
39.Qg2? Qxd4-+
39...Qf1+ 40.Kh2 Qf2+ 41.Kh1 Rc1+! Black is even better! 42.Rd1 Qf5! 43.Be1™ Qxd5+ 44.Rxd5 Rxe1+ 45.Kg2
Re2+³ 1/2-1/2 (67) Gunina,V (2496)-Bachmann,A (2610) Gibraltar 2016.
14. (*) Edouard, R. (2630) - Walter, S2. (2402) [D37]
Bundesliga 2015-16 Bremen GER (6.6), 2016.02.07
■ 35...?
Black is under a deadly Qg6 threat. 35...Bd6?! is a draw after 36.Qd1. Find the only way to a clear advantage!
Show/Hide the Solution
35...Bh4!!
The game went: 35...Bg5?? 36.Qg6 Qc1+ 37.Kg2 1-0 Edouard,R (2630)-Walter,S (2402) Germany 2016.
As mentioned in the instructions, 35...Bd6?! is not convincing: 36.Qd1 Bc7 37.Qd4 Qc2 (37...Qc1+ 38.Kg2=)
38.Bxg7+ Kh7 39.Qxg4 Bxh2+ 40.Kh1 Qf5 41.Qxf5+ exf5 42.Bxh6=
36.Bg3
36.Qg6? Bxf2+ 37.Kxf2 Qf3+ 38.Ke1 Qxe3+-+
36...Qd7µ
Or: 36...Bxg3 37.hxg3 b6µ.
15. Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2727) - Harikrishna, P. (2753) [D41]
IMSA Elite Mind Games Blitz Huaian (13), 2016.02.29
■ 24...?
Black is up a piece: but he has only one move to be winning, can you spot it?
Show/Hide the Solution
24...Re7! Simple but smart!
Instead, the game went: 24...Rxe6? 25.dxe6+ Qxe6 26.Bb3 Bd5 0-1 Wojtaszek,R (2727)-Harikrishna,P (2753) China
2016. White lost on time or accidentally resigned in that blitz game, but after 27.Bxd5 Nxd5 28.Qh5+ the position
would be close to equal.
25.Qf3
25.Bb3 Kf8-+
25...Qb4
25...Qd8!? 26.Bb3 Rd7µ (… ...Kg8)
26.Bb3 Ke8!-+ White fails to prove any compensation..
16. Hou, Yifan (2667) - Muzychuk, Mariya (2563) [C83]
FWWCM 2016 Lviv (4), 2016.03.06
■ 18...?
Black is on the verge of losing: how can he force a draw?
Show/Hide the Solution
18...Bc5
18...Rh1+ 19.Kg2 Bc5 would also do - in spite of a lack of logic!
19.Qxc5 Rh1+ 20.Kg2 Rh2+! 21.Kg1
21.Kxh2?? Qh4+ 22.Kg2 Qh3+ 23.Kg1 Qh1#
21...Rh1+ 1/2-1/2 Hou,Y (2673)-Muzychuk,M (2554) Lviv 2016.
17. Salem, A R Saleh (2629) - Sjugirov, Sanan (2667) [B90]
Aeroflot Open 2016 Moscow (9), 2016.03.09
□ 40.?
Life is no fun: Black's main threat is 40...Rd8. Which move enables White to stay in the game?
Show/Hide the Solution
40.Ra3! … Ra8 and Black is only slightly better.
Instead, the game went 40.c5? Rd8 and White resigned as he couldn’t avoid ...Qe5 next: 0-1 Salem,A (2615)-Sjugirov,S
(2667) Russia 2016.
18. Studer, Noel (2438) - Demuth, Adrien (2550) [E04]
Bad Ragaz-Accentus Young Masters SUI (9.1), 2016.04.14
■ 44...?
What move would you have chosen as Black?
Show/Hide the Solution
44...Rb2! The rest loses!
Of course, the trap was not to answer 44...Rb1?? when White would win with 45.Qe4!+- (… Ra8)
45.Qc5 1/2-1/2 Studer,N (2438)-Demuth,A (2550) Switzerland 2016.
White could have played on with 45.Ra1!? Rxf2+ 46.Kg1 Rf5 47.Qe4² but he is only slightly better.
19. (*) Caruana, Fabiano (2804) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2787) [C50]
GCT Blitz Paris 2016 Paris (1), 2016.06.11
■ 14...?
White sacrificed a piece, but it didn’t work. Can you spot why?
Show/Hide the Solution
14...Bg4! 15.Bxf6
15.Qg3 Qd7 is very likely to transpose to the game soon.
15...Qd7! 16.Qg3 Kxf6 White is far from having enough compensation, for example: 17.d4 exd4 18.e5+ Ke7 19.Ne4
Rag8 20.Nf6 Qf5?!
20...Nxe5!! could have been an awesome finish: 21.Nxd7 Bxd7 22.Qf4 Rg4-+
21.Bd3 Qe6 22.b4 Ba7-+ 0-1 (32) Caruana,F (2804)-Nakamura,H (2787) Paris 2016.
20. Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2719) - Aleksandrov, Aleksej (2577) [C45]
Eurasian Blitz Chess Cup Almaty KAZ (16.7), 2016.06.19
■ 21...?
Your clock shows 5 seconds. Play a move!
Show/Hide the Solution
21...Kf8!
21...Rf8 22.Qxb8 1-0 Nepomniachtchi,I (2719)-Aleksandrov,A (2577) Kazakhstan 2016. Black resigned in view of
22...Rxb8 23.Re8+ Rxe8 24.Rxe8#.
21. (*) Vassallo Barroche, Mauricio (2389) - Libiszewski, Fabien (2542) [A30]
XVIII Sant Marti Open 2016 Barcelona (9), 2016.07.21
□ Here White lost on time without being able to complete the move 57.h6. Would that move have been played, how
could Black have saved the day?
Show/Hide the Solution
57.h6 Qd3+!
57...b1=Q? fails to 58.h7+ Qxh7 59.Qd8+ Kg7 60.Qe7++58.Kh4 Qd7!=
The position is a draw, as after 58...Qd7 59.h7+ Black goes Qxh7+ 60.Nxh7 b1=Q=.
22. (*) Bogdanov, Egor (2269) - Bailet, Pierre (2500) [C56]
Plancoet (4.4), 2016.08.02
■ 22...?
White has sacrificed Queen for Rook and a devastating attack. How can Black counter this attack?
Show/Hide the Solution
22...Bh3!
In the game, Black played 22...d3+? 23.Kh1 dxc2 (23...Bh3 no longer works: 24.Rxg7+ Kf8 25.gxh3 Qe2 26.Rf7+ Ke8
27.Ng7+ Kd8 28.cxd3 Qxd3 29.Re1+-) 24.Raf1 Bf5 25.Rxg7+ Kf8 26.Rf7+ Ke8 27.Bh4+- 1-0 (9) Bogdanov,E
(2269)-Bailet,P (2500) Plancoet 2016.
23.Rxg7+
23.gxh3?? Kh8 24.Rxg7 Qe3+-+
23...Kf8 24.Rf1+
24.gxh3 Qe3+! The reason why ...d3+ should not be included! 25.Bf2 (25.Kg2 Qe2+-+; 25.Kf1 Qf3+-+) 25...Qg5+-+
24...Ke8 Black is winning. For example: 25.gxh3
25.Nf6+? Kd8 26.Rg8+ Ke7 27.Nxd5+ Ke6 28.Nf4+ Kd7 29.Rxa8 d3+ 30.Kh1 dxc2 31.Rd8+ Kxd8 32.g7 Bxg2+
33.Nxg2 Qd5-+
25...d3+ 26.Kh1 Qe2 27.Rgf7™ d2!? 28.Nf6+ Kd8 29.Rf8+ Ke7 30.Nxd5+ Kd7 31.R8f7+ Kc8 32.Nc3 Qc4-+
23. Fressinet, L. (2676) - L'Ami, Alina (2322) [B91]
Douglas chess.com IoM Masters ENG (1.13), 2016.10.01
■ 20...?
Your Knight on d5 is pinned on the a2-g8 diagonal and is about to be double-pinned on the d-file: how do you escape?
Show/Hide the Solution
20...Rb8! (… ...bxc3)
The game went: 20...Kh8?? 21.Rad1+- 1-0 (32) Fressinet,L (2676)-L'Ami,A (2322) England 2016.
21.cxb4
21.Rfd1?? bxc3-+
21...Rxb4 22.Qa2 Kh8 23.Rfd1
23.Bxe5 Re4=
23...Qb8=
24. (*) Hertneck, Gerald (2476) - Vocaturo, Daniele (2583) [E97]
BL 2016-17 Germany (3), 2016.11.19
■ 46...?
Find the only move to stay in the game!
Show/Hide the Solution
46...Rg7!
The game went: 46...Nfe4? 47.Rxh4 Rf2 48.Rh8+ (¹ 48.Bc2 Nxc3 49.Rh8+ Ke7 50.Rxa8 Nxb1 51.Kxf2+-) 48...Ke7
49.d6+! Kxe6 50.Rh6+ Kf5 51.fxe4+ Kg5 52.Kxf2 Kxh6 53.Qd3+- 1-0 (69) Hertneck,G (2476)-Vocaturo,D (2600)
Berlin 2016.
47.Bxf6
After 47.Rxh4?Nge4! 48.Rh8+ Ke7! it's even White who is in trouble.
47...Qa5! 48.Bxg7+ Kxg7 49.Qxb7+
49.Kh2 Rxg2+ 50.Kxg2 Qd2+ 51.Be2 Qxe2+ 52.Kg1 Qe3+=
49...Kf6 50.Qf7+ Ke5 51.Qg7+ Kd6 52.Qd7+ Ke5=
25. (*) Gunina, Valentina (2520) - Girya, Olga (2452) [D11]
FIDE Womens Grand Prix 2015-16 Khanty-Mansyisk (8), 2016.11.27
■ 46...?
White intends Ng3-Nh5: find the only way to defend yourself!
Show/Hide the Solution
41...Nd2™
41...Qb6? 42.Ng3 Qd8 43.Nh5 Bxe5 44.f6 1-0 Gunina,V (2525)-Girya,O (2450) Khanty-Mansiysk 2016.
42.Ng3 Nc4 43.Nh5
43.Bxc4?? dxc4+ 44.Kf2 g4-+
43...Nxe5 44.dxe5 d4+ 45.e4 Qc1= with perpetual check to come.
26. Nakamura, Hi (2779) - Anand, V. (2779) [D38]
8th London Classic 2016 London ENG (3.3), 2016.12.11
■ 26...?
The Bishop on g4 and the pawn on g5 are hanging. Your King also lacks protection. Find the -by far- best reaction!
Show/Hide the Solution
26...Bh5!
26...Rxe4? doesn't do the job: 27.Nxe4 Qg6 (27...Qxd4 28.Qxg5+ Kf8 29.Qh6+ Ke7 30.Bc2 Be6™ 31.Qh4+ Kf8
32.Rd1 Qg7 33.Ng5 Kg8 34.Ne4 is crushing.) 28.Nf6! Qxf6 29.Rxf6 Kxf6 30.Qc3 Bd7 31.d5+ Re5 32.Be4+- 1-0
(43) Nakamura,H (2779) -Anand,V (2779) London 2016.
27.Qxg5+ Qg6©
27. Postny, Evgeny (2620) - Shyam, Sundar M (2532) [E04]
III Sunway Sitges Festival 2016 Sitges (5), 2016.12.19
■ 16...?
Black is up three pawns but is losing material back… Find the best reaction!
Show/Hide the Solution
16...Nd5!
16...Nxa4? 17.Naxc4 Qb4 18.Rcb1+17.Bxd5 exd5 18.Rab1 Qb4! 19.Rxb4 axb4 20.Naxc4 dxc4 21.Nxc4 Be6∞ 0-1 (42) Postny,E (2620)-Shyam,S (2532)
Sitges 2016.
28. (*) Nguyen, Ngoc Truong Son (2629) - Anton Guijarro, David (2650) [E12]
FIDE WCC Rapid 2016 Men Doha (3), 2016.12.26
■ 17...?
Find the move granting Black a nice advantage!
Show/Hide the Solution
17...Ne7!
17...Ng4? is bad: 18.Qd2! h5 19.Bxf8 Qd5 20.Rg2 Kxf8 (20...Qxf3! 21.Bd6 Kh7∞) 21.fxg4+- 1-0 (35) Nguyen Ngoc
Truong Son (2629)-Anton Guijarro,D (2650) Doha 2016.
18.Qxd3
18.Bxf6+ Ng6 19.Bxd8 dxc2µ
18...Ng6µ
29. (*) Harutjunyan, G. (2437) - Edouard, R. (2613) [B32]
28th Roquetas de Mar Open Roquetas de Mar ESP (9.3), 2017.01.08
■ 30...?
Black can reach a drawish position: find how!
Show/Hide the Solution
30...Bg5!
Much worse was: 30...Bd8? 31.fxe3± 1-0 (37) Harutjunyan,G (2437)-Edouard,R (2613) Roquetas de Mar 2017.
31.Bxg5 Bh3 32.gxh3 Qxg5+ 33.Kh1 Qd5+ 34.f3
34.Kg1 Qg5+=
34...d3 35.Re7 Ra8!
35...e2 36.Rxe2 dxe2 37.Qxe2²
36.Qxa8+
36.Qc4 e2©
36...Qxa8 37.Rxe3 d2 38.Rd1 Qxa2 39.Rd3 Qa5 40.R1xd2 Qf5= The white King’s position is too weakened. The
position is a draw.
30. Eljanov, Pavel (2755) - Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2750) [B92]
79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters Wijk aan Zee (8), 2017.01.22
■ 40...?
White's pawns are running fast! How can Black save half a point?
Show/Hide the Solution
40...e4! 41.Qxe4 f3! 42.Qxf3 Rxd5
42...Qe5+ first is also fine.
43.c7 Qe5+ 44.Rg3 Rxg3 45.Qxg3
45.c8=Q+?? Rg8+-+
45...Qh5+ 46.Qh3 Qe5+ 1/2-1/2 Eljanov,P (2755)-Wojtaszek,R (2750) Wijk aan Zee 2017.
31. Steinberg, Nitzan (2486) - Svidler, Peter (2748) [B84]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (3), 2017.01.26
■ 38...?
White plans Bf6: it's going wrong for Black! Save the day!
Show/Hide the Solution
38...Bd4+™ 39.Kh1 Rf3™ 40.Rd1
40.Rxf3?? Qb1+-+
40...Qf7 Now it is White who should play the only moves! 41.Rdg1™ Bxg1 42.Bf6+™ Rxf6 43.Rxg8+ Qxg8 44.Qxf6+
Qg7 1/2-1/2 Steinberg,N (2486)-Svidler, P (2748) Gibraltar 2017.
32. Hou, Yifan (2651) - Ju, Wenjun (2583) [C11]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (8), 2017.01.31
□ 32.?
Black has several devastating threats. White to move and draw!
Show/Hide the Solution
32.f6! (… Qf8+)
32.Qd5?? d3! 33.Qxd3 Nb4! 34.Qe4 Qg1+ 35.Qe1 Qg2 36.Qe4 (36.Qe2 Qh1+ 37.Qe1 Qb7-+) 36...Qd2+ 0-1 Hou
Yifan (2651)-Ju Wenjun (2583) Gibraltar 2017.
32...Qb2+™ 33.Kd1 Qb1+ 34.Ke2 Qxc2+ 35.Kf3 Qd3+ 36.Kf2= Due to the Rh8+ threat, Black does not have more
than a perpetual check.
Show in Quiz Mode
Chapter 5
A devastating attacking move!
In this chapter, you are on the attack. In each exercise, you must find an incisive move to destroy your opponent's
defence: a sacrifice, a combination, a stunning attacking move or any other ambitious move which is devastating to the
opponent's King.
One important piece of advice: do not necessarily look for artificial solutions, sometimes the move may be simple.
This chapter will help you to develop your sense of initiative and to improve your calculation skills.
The difficulty of these exercises ranges from medium to difficult. An asterisk indicates that the exercise is more difficult
than average.
1. Nataf, Igor-Alexandre (2526) - Kozul, Zdenko (2611) [B67]
Istanbul ol (Men) Istanbul (5), 2000.11.01
■ 36...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
36...Qb4! (… ...Qxa3+) 37.Ba6 Rxa6 38.Rd3 Rh8-+ 0-1 (50) Nataf,I (2526) -Kozul,Z (2611) Istanbul 2000.
2. Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2493) - David, Alberto (2573) [B90]
Tournoi de GM du NAO Paris FRA (9), 2004.12.23
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Qg7+! Bxg7 28.hxg7+ Kxh7 29.g8=Q+! 1-0 Vachier Lagrave,M (2493)-David,A (2573) Paris 2004.
Black resigned in view of: 29.g8=Q+ Rxg8 30.Rxh4#.
3. Abergel, Thal (2499) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2681) [B86]
FRA-83rd ch Pau FRA (10), 2008.08.21
■ 29...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
29...Nc3+! 30.bxc3 Qc2+ 31.Ka1 Qxc3+ 32.Ka2
32.Kb1 Qxb3+ 33.Ka1 Qxa3+ 34.Kb1 Qb3+ 35.Ka1 Rc8-+
32...Qc2+ 33.Ka1 Qc1+ 34.Ka2 Rc8 0-1 Abergel,T (2499)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2681) Pau 2008.
4. Seegert, Kristian (2103) - Hartl, Daniel (2249) [C56]
EYCC Boys U16 Fermo ITA (2), 2009.09.01
□ 14.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
14.Bg5! Qxd4 15.Re1+ Be6
15...Kf7 16.Re7+ Kg8 17.Re8+ Kg7 (17...Kf7 18.Qxd4 Nxd4 19.Rxh8+-) 18.Bh6+ Kf7 19.Re7+! Nxe7 (19...Kg8
20.Qxd4 Nxd4 21.Nd5+-) 20.Qxd4+16.Rxe6+ Kd7 17.Re7+! Kc8 18.Rxc7+! Kb8
18...Kxc7 19.Nb5++19.Bf4 Re8 20.Rxc6+ 1-0 Seegert,K (2103) -Hartl,D (2249) Fermo 2009.
5. Gashimov, Vugar (2740) - Gelfand, Boris (2756) [C43]
ESP-CE DH-gr 1 Lugo ESP (3), 2009.09.22
□ 14.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
14.e6! fxe6
14...Bxe6 15.Qe5 Bf6 16.Qg3++15.Qg4+ Kf7 16.Qg7+ 1-0 Gashimov,V (2740)-Gelfand,B (2756) Lugo 2009.
6. (*) Jobava, Baadur (2696) - Grischuk, Alexander (2736) [C54]
World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (3.5), 2009.11.29
■ 50...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
50...Nh4+!
Black obtains a crushing attack. Instead, the game went 50...Qf6?ƒ 1-0 (85) Jobava,B (2696)-Grischuk,A (2736)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2009.
51.gxh4 Rxf3! 52.Nxf3 Qg4+ 53.Kf1 Ng3+
53...Rxf3+!? 54.Nf2 Nf4 55.Rh2 Qg3 (55...Nxd3 56.Qb1 Nf4-+) 56.Qd1™ g5! (… ...g4) 57.hxg5 hxg5 58.Ra2 (…
Qb3+) 58...Kg7-+
54.Kg1 Ne2+ 55.Kf1 Qxf3+ 56.Nf2 Qxh1+ 57.Kxe2 Qf3+ 58.Kf1 Qxd3+ 59.Qe2 Qg3 60.Rd2
60.Ke1 Rf3-+
60...d3-+
7. Carlsen, Magnus (2802) - Radjabov, Teimour (2744) [B07]
World Blitz Ch m Moscow RUS (32), 2010.11.18
■ 49...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
49...Bf6!
Instead, the game went 49...Bf8? 50.Qe1„ 0-1 (58) Carlsen,M (2802)-Radjabov,T (2744) Moscow 2010.
50.Qe1
50.g5 hxg5-+
50...Bxh4+! 51.Kxh4 Qg2-+ (… ...g5+).
8. (*) Rapport, Richard (2543) - Rogic, Davor (2595) [D16]
AUT-TCh 10-11 rds 1-3 AUT (1.3), 2010.11.19
□ 26.? +–
Hint: the mating idea must be prepared with a clever move!
Show/Hide the Solution
26.d5! (… Qe5)
26.Bh6+? would fail: Kxh6 27.gxh7+ Kg7 28.h8=Q+ Rxh8 29.Nf5+ Qxf5 30.Qxf5 Rc8=.
26...Nd3™ 27.Bh6+! Kxh6 28.gxh7+ Kg5
28...Kg7 29.h8=Q+! Rxh8 (29...Kxh8 30.Qh6#) 30.Nf5+ Kf8 31.Qe7+ Kg8 32.Qg7#
29.Qg6+ 1-0 Rapport,R (2543)-Rogic,D (2595) Austria 2010.
Black resigned in view of: 29.Qg6+ Kh4 30.h8=Q+ Rxh8 31.Nf5+ Kh3 32.Qg3#.
9. (*) Negi, Parimarjan (2596) - Potkin, Vladimir (2630) [C10]
GER-BL 1 10/11 rds 1-15 GER (7), 2011.02.04
■ 18...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
18...Bxb2! 19.Kxb2 Rac8! 20.Ka1
20.Kb1 Rc2!? 21.Qxc2 Rxc2 22.Kxc2 Qc6+-+
20...Rc2 21.Qe4 Qb5 22.Qd4 Rxa2+
22...Qa5!? 23.a4 Rd8-+
23.Kxa2 Rc2+ 24.Ka3 Qa5+ 25.Qa4 Qc5+ 0-1 (25) Negi,P (2596)-Potkin,V (2630) Germany 2011.
White resigned in view of: 25...Qc5+ 26.Qb4 Rc3+ 27.Ka4 b5+ 28.Ka5 Qb6#.
10. (*) Negi, Parimarjan (2631) - Adhiban, Baskaran (2551) [C45]
Bad Wiessee-15th OIBM GER (9.3), 2011.11.05
□ 16.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
16.h4!! Bxe4
16...g4 17.Qxf5+-; 16...Bg6 17.Qxg6!! fxg6 18.Bc4+ Kf8 19.hxg5 gxf6 20.gxf6+17.hxg5 Bxh1 18.Bd3
18.fxg7!? Kxg7 19.Qh6+ Kg8 20.Bd3+18...gxf6
18...g6 19.Qh6+19.Rxh1
19.Qh6!? f5 20.Bxf5+19...Kf8 20.Qh6+ Ke7 21.Qxf6+ Kd7 22.Bf5+ Re6 23.Qxf7++- 1-0 (30) Negi,P (2631)-Adhiban,B (2551) Germany
2011.
11. Kamsky, Gata (2762) - Karjakin, Sergey (2775) [C88]
Beijing-SportAccord RAPID m CHN (6.3), 2012.12.15
□ 69.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
69.Ne7! a2
69...Bxe7 70.fxe7 Qxe7 (70...Qxf5 71.e8=Q++-) 71.Qc8++70.Ng6+ Qxg6 71.Qxg6 a1=Q+ 72.Rg1+- 1-0 (75) Kamsky,G (2762)-Karjakin, S (2775) China 2012.
12. Negi, Parimarjan (2634) - Portisch, Lajos (2479) [C45]
Politiken Cup Helsingor DEN (5.6), 2013.07.30
□ 23.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
23.e5! Bxg2 24.Nb5! Rcd8
24...Nd7 25.Ra8+ Kxa8 26.Qa3+ Kb8 27.Qa7#; 24...dxe5 25.Qb3+- (… Ra8+)
25.Qc4 d5
25...Bc6 26.Qa4 Kc8 27.Na7+ Kd7 28.Nxc6 bxc6 29.exd6 Qe2 (29...cxd6 30.Qa7++-) 30.dxc7++26.Qa4 Qxa3
26...Kc8 27.Na7+ Kb8 28.Nc6+ bxc6 29.Qa8#
27.Qxa3+- 1-0 (32) Negi,P (2634)-Portisch,L (2479) Helsingor 2013.
13. Kramnik, Vladimir (2784) - Fridman, Daniel (2629) [A13]
Dortmund-41st Sparkassen GM GER (6.5), 2013.08.01
□ 29.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
29.Nd5! exd5 30.Bxf6!+- … Ng7+: 1-0 (34) Kramnik,V (2784)-Fridman,D (2629) Germany 2013.
Black’s position is hopeless since 30.Bxf6 Nxf6 31.Nxf6+ Ke7 32.Qe5#.
14. Vishnu, Prasanna V (2523) - Negi, Parimarjan (2671) [D85]
IND-51st ch Premier Jalgaon IND (9.7), 2013.12.26
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Ng6+! hxg6 28.Rxh8+ Bg8 29.Reh7! … Bh6+: 1-0 Vishnu,P (2523)-Negi,P (2671) Jalgaon 2013.
15. Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2768) - Batchuluun, Tsegmed (2513) [D14]
Tromso-41st Olympiad Open m NOR (2.1), 2014.08.03
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.h4! h5
27...h6?! 28.Be5+ Kf5 29.g4#
28.e4! It was important to find these first two moves. 28...Nxe4
28...dxe4 29.Bg5+ Kf5 30.Rb5++29.fxe4 dxe4 30.g4! A nice finish, but White was winning anyhow: 1-0 Vachier Lagrave,M (2768)-Batchuluun,T
(2513) Tromso 2014.
Black resigned in view of: 30.g4 hxg4 31.Bg5+ Kf5 32.Rb5++-.
16. (*) Grischuk, A. (2797) - Karjakin, Sergey (2767) [E16]
Baku (2.3), 2014.10.03
□ 32.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
32.Bf8!
Instead, White played 32.Rdf1? Rd3 33.Qxb6 which was also good, but not as strong: 1/2-1/2 (47) Grischuk,A (2797) Karjakin,S (2767) Baku 2014.
32...h5
32...Nxf8 33.Nh6++-32...Bg7 33.Bxg7+33.Nh6+ Kh7 34.Nf7!
34.Rf7+!? Kg6 35.Qf2 Nxf8 36.Rxd4 Kxh6 37.Rxb7+34...Qxf8 35.Rxh5+ Kg6 36.Nxh8+
36.Rxh8+- or 36.Rf1+- would also win.
36...Kxh5 37.g4+ Kh4 38.Ng6# 1/2-1/2
17. Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2651) - Burmakin, Vladimir (2581) [D94]
Fagernes GM Open NOR (8), 2015.03.29
□ 28.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
28.Rf4! … Rh4: 1-0 Hammer,J (2651)-Burmakin,V (2581) Norway 2015
Black resigned in view of: 28.Rf4 Bxf4 29.Bd4++-.
18. Motylev, Alexander (2648) - Najer, Evgeny (2663) [B11]
Russian Team Championship Sochi RUS (6), 2015.05.06
■ 27...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
27...Rxc4+! The quickest win. 28.dxc4 Rc3+ 29.bxc3 Ba3+ 0-1 Motylev,A (2653)-Najer,E (2634) Russia 2015.
White resigned in view of: 29...Ba3+ 30.Kd2 Qxc3+ 31.Ke2 Qe3#.
19. Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2723) - Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2677) [A07]
Stavanger-3rd Norway BLITZ NOR (7.3), 2015.06.15
□ 31.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
31.Re7! Rxf2
31...Rxe7 32.Bf3#
32.Bh3! The most precise move. 32...h6 33.Rh7 1-0 Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Hammer,J (2677) Norway 2015.
20. (*) Iturrizaga, E. (2641) - Zhang, Zhong (2619) [A30]
Berlin-World RAPID Berlin GER (12.48), 2015.10.12
■ 78...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
78...Qf3!
In the game, Black missed that idea and went for a perpetual check: 78...Qh5+ 79.Kg2 Qe2+ 80.Kh3 Qh5+ 1/2-1/2
Iturrizaga,E (2641)-Zhang,Z (2619) Berlin 2015; 78...Qf1+ 79.Kh4 Qh1+ 80.Bh3 Qf3 81.Bg4 Qxb3 82.e6=
79.Qxf7+ Kh6 80.Bd5
80.Kh2 Qf1-+
80...Qh5+ 81.Kg2 Qe2+ 82.Kh3 Bg1! (… ...Qh2+, ...Qh5#) 83.Qf8+ Kh5-+
21. Velikic, A. (2322) - Guichard, P. (2338) [A46]
Reykjavik-20th European TCh w ISL (9.5), 2015.11.22
□ 19.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
19.Bxh7+!
Instead, the game went 19.b4?± and White lost later on: 0-1 (57) Velikic,A (2322)-Guichard,P (2338) Island 2015.
19...Kxh7 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.Bxg7! Kxg7 22.Qg5+ Kf8 23.Rc4+-
22. (*) Vishnu Prasanna V (2514) - Lenderman, Alex (2632) [C11]
7th London Classic Open 2015 London (8), 2015.12.10
□ 15.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
15.Ng5!
Instead, the game went 15.exf6? Nxf6² and White lost later on: 0-1 (86) Vishnu,P (2514)-Lenderman,A (2626) England
2015.
15...fxg5 16.Qh5 h6
16...Rxf4 17.Qxh7+ Kf8 18.Qh8+ Kf7 19.Rae1 Qd2 20.Qh5+ Kf8 21.Qxg5+-; 16...Rf5 17.Nxd5!? exd5 18.Bxf5 Nf8
19.Bxh7+ Nxh7 20.Qe8+ Nf8 21.fxg5+-; 16...g6 17.Bxg6 hxg6 18.Qxg6+ Kh8 19.Qh6+ Kg8 20.Rf3+17.Qg6 gxf4 18.Rae1+-
23. Morozevich, Alexander (2692) - Antipov, Mikhail Al (2569) [A11]
Nutcracker 2015-Rapid Moscow (8), 2015.12.25
□ 32.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
32.h6+! Kxh6
32...Kg8 33.Qf6+- (… Rxc7)
33.Qf6+- (… Rh1, Kg1) 33...Rd7 34.Rh1 Ng7 35.Kg1+ Nh5 36.Rxh5+! 1-0 Morozevich,A (2692)-Antipov,M (2569)
Russia 2015.
Black resigned in view of: 36.Rxh5+ Kxh5 37.Qh4#.
24. Wyss, J. (2289) - Kunin, V. (2572) [C41]
39th Zurich Christmas Zurich SUI (2.6), 2015.12.27
□ 16.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
16.Nxh6+! gxh6 17.Bxf7+! Kxf7 18.Qh5+ Ke7
18...Kg8 19.Qg6+! Kh8 20.Qxe8+19.Nxe4 Kd8 20.Ng5!?
In the game, White blundered with 20.Bb6?? Nxb6 21.Nf6 Rxe1+ 22.Rxe1 Qg7! 23.Qe8+ Kc7 24.axb6+ axb6 25.Nh5
Qd4+!?∞ 0-1 (72) Wyss,J (2289) -Kunin,V (2572) Switzerland 2015; However 20.Bf2!?+- would also be winning.
20...hxg5 21.Bb6!+-
25. Adams, Mi (2744) - Giri, A. (2798) [B31]
78th Tata Steel GpA Wijk aan Zee NED (11.2), 2016.01.29
□ 23.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
23.Rd1!
Instead, the game went: 23.Be3? Qxc4 24.b3 Qb4 25.Rd1 Bxe6 26.Nxe6 Rxe6 27.Qxf5² 1/2-1/2 (42) Adams,M (2744)Giri,A (2798) Wijk aan Zee 2016.
23...Qxc5 24.Rd8+ Kg7 25.Bh6+! Kf6 26.Be3! Qxc4 27.Qxh7 Bxe6
27...Qxe6?! 28.Rf8++28.Qh8+ Rg7
28...Kf7 29.Qf8#
29.Bh6+29.Bg5+!?+- also wins.
26. Grandelius, Nils (2635) - Sundararajan, Kidambi (2508) [C09]
Tradewise 2016 Masters Gibraltar (4), 2016.01.29
□ 43.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
43.f4!
43.Qf8+ Kg6 44.f4 gxf4 45.Qg8+ would transpose as 45...Qg7 loses to 46.Qxg7+ Kxg7 47.Bd4++43...gxf4 44.Bc5 Qg6 45.Qd8! f6
45...Qe6 46.Qh4+ Kg6 47.Qh5+ Kf6 48.Bd4+ Ke7 49.Qc5++46.Bf8+ Kg5 47.Qa5+ f5 48.Qd8+ Qf6 49.Be7 fxg4+ 50.Kg2+- 1-0 (62) Grandelius,N (2635) -Sundararajan,K (2508)
Gibraltar 2016.
27. Pabalan, R. (2089) - Goncalves, Jose Antonio Silvei (1984) [C77]
Gibraltar Masters 2016 Caleta ENG (6.100), 2016.01.31
□ 24.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Rf6! Rd8
24...Kg8 25.Rxh6 f5 26.Rd6+-; 24...gxf6? 25.Qxh6+ Kg8 26.Nxf6#
25.Rxh6+ Kg8 26.Qg5+- … Nf6+: 1-0 Pabalan,R (2089)-Goncalves,J (1984) Gibraltar 2016.
28. Tissir, M. (2363) - Cornette, M. (2594) [B23]
32nd Cappelle Open 2016 Cappelle la Grande FRA (4.22), 2016.02.15
□ 36.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
36.f5!! exf5
Despite a material concession, the least damage would have been: 36...Rxf5™ 37.Rc1 Qxc1+ 38.Nxc1 Rf1+ 39.Rg1
Rcxc1 40.Qxc1 Rxc1 41.Rxc1± keeping some chances.
37.e6+ Nf6 38.Nf4 Bc5 39.Nh5+ Kh8 40.Qh6! Rc7 41.e7 1-0 Tissir,M (2363)-Cornette,M (2594) Cappelle la Grande
2016.
29. Koneru, Humpy (2583) - Ju, Wenjun (2558) [E20]
FIDE Women GP Tehran 2016 Tehran (6), 2016.02.17
■ 10...? µ
Show/Hide the Solution
10...Nxe5! 11.fxe5 Qh4+ 12.Ke2
12.g3? Qe4+-+
12...Bc5! 13.Be3
13.Nf3? Qf2+ 14.Kd3 Bf5+-+
13...Bg4+ 14.Nf3 d4 15.Bg1
15.Bxd4 Bxf3+ (15...Bxd4 16.Qxd4 Bxf3+ 17.Ke3 Qxd4+ 18.Kxd4 Nc6+ 19.Ke3 Bh5µ) 16.Kxf3 Bxd4 17.g3 Qd8µ
15...Bxf3+
15...Nc6-+
16.Kxf3 Nd7 17.g3 Nxe5+ 18.Kg2 Qf6-+ … ...Qc6: 0-1 (26) Koneru,H (2583)-Ju Wenjun (2558) Tehran 2016.
30. Batsiashvili, Nino (2485) - Gunina, Valentina (2496) [A11]
FIDE Women GP Tehran 2016 Tehran (8), 2016.02.19
■ 28...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
28...Nf4! 29.exf4 e3 30.fxe3 Qxf4 31.Bxf3
31.Kf2 Qh2+ 32.Kxf3 Bxd2-+; 31.Rf2 Qxe3+ 32.Be2 fxe2-+
31...Rxe3+ 32.Kd1 Rxf3-+ 0-1 (39) Batsiashvili,N (2485)-Gunina,V (2496) Tehran 2016.
31. Movsesian, Sergei (2653) - Tomashevsky, Evgeny (2728) [C54]
IMSA Elite Mind Games Huaian (1), 2016.02.26
□ 39.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
39.Qd8+!
39.Rh7? Rf1 40.Qxg7+ Ke7 41.g5™ hxg5+ 42.Qxg5+ Kd7∞
39...Kg6
39...Re7? 40.Qb6+ Re6 41.Qxf2++40.g5! The important move to find! 40...Rf4+
40...Rxg2 41.Rxh6+! gxh6 42.Qg8#
41.g4+- … Rxh6+: 1-0 (47) Movsesian,S (2653)-Tomashevsky,E (2728) China 2016.
32. Socko, Monika (2448) - Krush, Irina (2458) [A55]
IMSA Elite Mind Games Blitz HuaiAn (4.16), 2016.02.28
□ 37.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
37.Rxf6! gxf6 38.Nxf6 Qc8 39.Qg6+In the (blitz) game, White blundered with 39.d7?? Qd8-+ 0-1 (49) Socko,M (2448)-Krush,I (2458) hina 2016.
33. (*) Ju, Wenjun (2558) - Khotenashvili, Bela (2502) [B38]
IMSA Elite Mind Games Blitz Huaian (14), 2016.02.29
□ 53.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
53.Qf8+
The game went: 53.Qxh7+ Kg5 54.Qe7+ Kf5∞ 1/2-1/2 (62) Ju Wenjun (2558)-Khotenashvili,B (2502) China 2016.
53...Kg5 54.Rf7!+- (… Qe7+)
34. (*) Karjakin, Sergey (2760) - Caruana, Fabiano (2794) [B67]
Candidates 2016 Moscow, Russia (14.2), 2016.03.28
□ 37.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
37.Rxd5! exd5 38.Qxd5 Qc7
38...f5 39.Qd7+ Kf6 40.Rd6+ Qxd6 41.Qxd6+ Kg7 42.Qd2+-; ¹38...Rd4 39.Qxd4 Qxd4 40.Rxd4+39.Qf5 Rf7
39...Qc6 40.Qh7+ Ke8 41.Qxh5+ Ke7 42.Bd5+- … Qh7+
40.Bxf7 Qe5
40...Kxf7? 41.Qh7++-; 40...Re5 41.Qh7+41.Rd7+ Kf8 42.Rd8+! 1-0 Karjakin,S (2760)-Caruana,F (2794) Moscow 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 42.Rd8+ Kxf7 43.Qh7+ Ke6 44.Qd7#.
35. (*) Edouard, R. (2630) - Fridman, D. (2642) [D37]
Bundesliga 2015-16 Muelheim GER (12.5), 2016.04.09
□ 25.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
25.Qd4! The only move winning by force.
Instead, the game went: 25.Rh6? Qe5 26.Re3 (26.Nf3? Qf4+!= Oops! This is what I had forgotten in the game!)
26...Qd5„ 1-0 (80) Edouard,R (2630)-Fridman,D (2642) Germany 2016.
25...Rfd8 26.Nxf7! Rxd6
26...Kxf7 27.Qf6++27.Nxd6+-
36. (*) Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2691) - Wynn Zaw Htun (2407) [B99]
16th Bangkok Open 2016 Bangkok (7), 2016.04.15
□ 21.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
21.Rg6! Qc5
21...Rh6 22.Nd5+! exd5 23.exd5+ Ne5 24.Qf6+ Kd7 25.Qe6+ Kd8 26.Qe8#; 21...Bh6+ 22.Rxh6! Rxh6 23.Nd5+!
exd5 24.exd5+ Ne5 25.f8=Q++22.Rxe6+! Kxe6
22...Kd8 23.Nd5+23.Nd5+- … Qf5: 1-0 (29) Vallejo Pons,F (2691)-Wynn,Z (2407) Thailand 2016.
37. Gagare, Shardul (2491) - Kuzubov, Yuriy (2638) [D39]
18th Dubai Open 2016 Dubai (6), 2016.04.16
□ 16.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
16.Nf5+! exf5 17.exf5+ Kd7 18.Be6+ fxe6 19.fxe6+ Ke7 20.Qg4
20.Qc2!? leads to the same.
20...Bxe6 21.Qg7+ Kd8 22.Qh8+ Ke7 23.Qxh7+ Kd8 24.Qh8+ Kd7 25.Qg7+ Kd8 White is now crushing several
ways. Here some examples.
25...Ke8 26.Rc8++26.Qxf6+
26.Qf8+!? Kd7 27.Rxe6 Rxe6 28.Rd1++26...Kd7 27.Qg7+ Kd8 28.Qf8+ Kd7 29.Rg3
29.Qc8+ Ke7 30.Qxb7+ Nd7 31.Qxa8+29...Bc4+ 30.Kg1+- 1-0 (41) Gagare,S (2491)-Kuzubov,Y (2638) Dubai 2016.
38. Fressinet, Laurent (2692) - Turner, Matthew J (2509) [E11]
4NCL 2015-16 Birmingham (9), 2016.04.30
□ 15.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
15.f4!!
Instead, the game went: 15.Bxe5? Nbd7 16.Bb2 Bd6 17.Nde4 Re8 18.Nxf6+ Nxf6 19.Qf5² 1/2-1/2 (53) Fressinet,L
(2692)-Turner,M (2491) England 2016.
15...g6
15...exf4 16.Bxf6+-; 15...hxg5 16.hxg5+16.d6!? cxd6 17.Qxg6+ Kh8 18.Bxf7+-
39. Najer, Evgeniy (2681) - Jakovenko, Dmitry (2731) [C49]
RUS-chT Premier League 2016 Sochi (7), 2016.05.07
□ 21.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
21.Nh6+! Kh8
21...gxh6 22.Bb3++22.Qf7! (… Qg8+) 22...Qe6 23.Bb3 Qxf7 24.Nxf7+ Kg8 25.Nd6++- 1-0 (48) Najer,E (2681)-Jakovenko,D (2731)
Russia 2016.
40. Turov, Maxim (2630) - Movsesian, Sergei (2688) [D15]
Wijk aan Zee-75th Tata Steel Gp B NED (9.3), 2013.01.22
■ 45...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
45...Qb1+ 46.Qf1
46.Rf1 Qxb3 47.Rxe8 Qxg3+ 48.Qg2 Bxd4+-+
46...Reh8! 0-1 Turov,M (2630)-Movsesian,S (2688) Wijk aan Zee 2013.
White resigned in view of: 46...Reh8 47.Qxb1 Rh1+ 48.Kf2 R8h2#.
Show in Quiz Mode
41. Safarli, Eltaj (2664) - Muradli, Mahammad (2352) [D00]
Nakhchivan Open 2016 Nakhchivan (2), 2016.05.11
□ 21.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
21.Kg2! axb6
21...Kxb6 22.Rhd1+22.Rhd1+- 1-0 (33) Safarli,E (2664)-Muradli,M (2352) Azerbaijan 2016.
42. Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter (2669) - Kozul, Zdenko (2591) [B67]
17th EICC 2016 Gjakova (7), 2016.05.19
□ 28.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
28.Rxf7+! Qxf7
28...Kxf7 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Rg8#
29.Qxd6+ Re7 30.Qxb8+ Qe8 31.Qd6 1-0 Nisipeanu,L (2669)-Kozul,Z (2591) Gjakova 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 31.Qd6 Qf7 32.Ne6+ Ke8 33.Qd8#.
43. Bacrot, Etienne (2702) - Kogan, Arthur (2528) [E11]
FRA-chT Top 12 2016 Drancy (2), 2016.05.29
□ 44.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
44.Qc1+ g5 45.Qh1! … Kg2/Kg1: 1-0 Bacrot,E (2702)-Kogan,A (2528) Drancy 2016.
44. (*) Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2789) - Anand, Viswanathan (2770) [C65]
GCT Rapid Leuven 2016 Leuven (1), 2016.06.17
■ 26...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
26...Nxf2! 27.Kxf2 Qh2+ 28.Ke3 Qg2! 29.Rf1
The game continued: 29.Qe2 Rxf3+! 30.Qxf3 Bxd4+-+ 0-1 (36) Vachier Lagrave,M (2789)-Anand,V (2770) Leuven
2016.
29...Ne5!! 30.Qe2
30.Nxe5 Rxf1-+
30...Rxf3+ 31.Rxf3 Bxd4+ 32.Kd2 Nxf3+-+
45. Karjakin, Sergey (2774) - Onischuk, Vladimir (2613) [B09]
Eurasian Blitz Chess Cup Almaty KAZ (14.4), 2016.06.18
□ 43.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
43.Qe5+! Kxd7 44.Bb5+ Kd8 45.Qe8+ Kc7 46.Qd7+ Kb8 47.Qd8+ Kb7 48.Bc6+ Ka6 49.Qa5# 1-0 Karjakin,S
(2774)-Onischuk,V (2613) Kazakhstan 2016.
46. Kramnik, Vladimir (2812) - Aronian, Levon (2792) [A07]
GCT Blitz Leuven 2016 Leuven (3), 2016.06.19
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Bc5+! bxc5 28.Qxc5+ Rd6 29.Qxe5 Rd1+ 30.Kg2
The simplest and clearest. Instead, White played the also winning: 30.Bf1 Bxf1 (30...Rxf1+ 31.Kg2 Qc6™ 32.Rb8+
Kxf7 33.Qf5+ Qf6 34.Qh5+ g6 35.Qd5+ Kg7 36.Rg8+ Kh6 37.Qd2+ Kh5 38.h3 g5 39.g4+ Kh6 40.h4+-) 31.Qc5+
(31.Rb8+!? Kxf7 32.Qf5+ Ke7 33.Qf8+ Ke6 34.Re8++-) 31...Kxf7 and now blundered with 32.Rf3+?? (32.Qh5++would have won the game) 32...Ke6 33.Qf5+ Kd6 34.Qf8+ Kc6?? (34...Ke6= would have saved the day) 35.Qe8+
Kb7 36.Qxa4 1-0 Kramnik,V (2812)-Aronian,L (2792) Leuven 2016.
30...Bf1+ 31.Kf3! Bxh3 32.Rb8+ Kxf7 33.Qh5++-
47. Donchenko, Alexander (2573) - Hacker, Jonas (2275) [D23]
Miguel Najdorf Chess Festival Warsaw (1), 2016.07.08
□ 25.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
25.Nf6+! gxf6 26.exf6 Re4™
26...Re6 will transpose to the game.
27.Qf5! Re6
27...Qa4 28.Rxd5 cxd5 29.Qg5+ Kf8 30.Qg7+ Ke8 31.Qg8+ Kd7 32.Qxf7+ Kd6 33.Qc7+ Ke6 34.Qe7+ Kf5
35.Qxd8+28.b4! The most precise, now or later. 28...Qb6 29.Qg5+ Kf8 30.Qg7+ Ke8 31.Re1
31.Qg8+ Kd7 32.Qxf7+ Kd6 33.Qg7 is even stronger.
31...Rxe1+
31...Nxf6 32.Rxe6+ fxe6 33.Qxf6+32.Rxe1+ Kd7 33.Qxf7+ Kc8 34.Qe6+ Kb8 35.f7 Qc7 36.Qe8+- 1-0 Donchenko,A (2583)-Hacker,J (2275) Warsaw
2016.
48. (*) Bilguun, Sumiya (2419) - Dragun, K. (2623) [B93]
Najdorf Mem Open A 2016 Warsaw POL (5.18), 2016.07.12
□ 24.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Nxg7!
24.Be3 Qc6„ 1-0 (31) Bilguun,S (2419)-Dragun,K (2623) Warsaw 2016.
24...Kxg7 25.Nxf6 Rxf6
25...Bxf6 26.Qh5+26.Bxf6+ Bxf6 27.Qh5 Qc6
27...Rh8 28.Rxe5+28.Qxh7+ Kf8 29.Rf3!? Qe6
29...e4 30.Rg3+30.Rf2+- (… Ref1)
49. Fedorchuk, S. (2624) - Moussard, J. (2521) [B78]
91st ch-Paris IdF 2016 Paris FRA (8.1), 2016.07.16
■ 23...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
23...Qc6! 24.Nxf8 Qb5+ 25.Rd3 Rc3 26.Bxf7+
26.Rd1 b1=Q-+
26...Kxf8 0-1 Fedorchuk,S (2624)-Moussard,J (2521) Paris 2016.
50. (*) Sargissian, Gabriel (2679) - Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat (2445) [E17]
1st Stars Cup 2016 Guilan, Iran (7.1), 2016.07.17
■ 27...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
27...e3!
Instead, the game went: 27...Nxf4? 28.Qg3„ 1-0 (43) Sargissian,G (2679)-Khademalsharieh,S (2445) Iran 2016.
28.fxe3
28.Rd3 Rde8 29.Bg2 (29.fxe3 Qh6 30.Bg2 Nxf4! 31.Nxf4 Bxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Rg8+-+) 29...Rxf4! 30.Nxf4 Qxf4 31.Rc2
Qf5-+; 28.Bg2 Rxf4! 29.Nxf4 Qxf4 30.Rc2 Qg4 31.f3 Rf8 32.Rd3 Qf5 with a crushing attack, for example 33.Re2 Nf4
34.Rdxe3 Bd5! 35.Qd1 Bc4-+
28...Rde8! 29.Rd3
29.Kf2 Qh6 30.Rh1 Qh4+ 31.Ng3 Nxf4-+
29...Qh6-+
51. (*) Zanan, Evgeny (2450) - Laznicka, Viktor (2654) [D02]
27th Czech Open 2016 Pardubice (4), 2016.07.25
■ 32...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
32...Nxf2! 33.Kxf2 Qh2 34.Qf3
The game continued: 34.Re1 Rf6+ 35.Ke2 Re8+ 0-1 Zanan, E (2450)-Laznicka,V (2654) Czech Republic 2016 (White
resigned in view of: 35...Re8+ 36.Kd1 Rxe1+ 37.Kxe1 Qg1+-+).
34...Re3 The strongest. It was important to find the first two moves of the solution, and to understand the evaluation of
the position. Black is winning, here some examples:
35.Qg4 Rde8 … ...R3e4
35...f5!? 36.Qh5 Kg7 is also very strong.
36.Rxd4
36.Rac1 R3e4-+
36...Qe5
36...f5 37.Qd1 g4 38.hxg4 Qh4+ 39.Kf1 Qh1+ 40.Kf2 Re2+ 41.Qxe2 Rxe2+ 42.Kxe2 Qxa1 should also win.
37.Kg1
37.Rad1 f5 38.Qh5 Qg3+ 39.Kf1 Re1+ 40.Rxe1 Rxe1#; 37.Rdd1 Re4 38.Qh5 Rh4 39.Qf3 Rf4-+
37...f5 38.Qd1 Re1+ 39.Qxe1 Qxd4+-+
52. Korobov, Anton (2656) - Sutovsky, Emil (2622) [D74]
XVII Karpov Tournament 2016 Poikovsky (6), 2016.07.29
□ 21.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
21.Rd5! exd5 22.Bxd5+ Kf8 23.Qe6 Ke8 24.Bxe5 Kd8
24...Rd8 25.Qg8+ Kd7 26.Be6++25.c4+- 1-0 (38) Korobov,A (2656)-Sutovsky,E (2622) Russia 2016.
53. Kovchan, Alexander (2576) - Nezad, Husein Aziz (2419) [C47]
49th Bielchessfestival MTO Biel/Bienne (7), 2016.08.01
□ 14.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
14.Ne4! dxe5
14...Bxe1 15.Nxf6+ gxf6 16.Bxf6+15.Nxf6+ gxf6 16.Rxe5!
16.Re3!?+- is not as strong but also winning.
16...Rxe5 17.Bh7+ Kxh7 18.Qxd8+- 1-0 (20) Kovchan,A (2576)-Nezad,H (2419) Biel 2016.
54. Stephan, Victor (2380) - Lagarde, Maxime (2572) [E46]
FRA ch Accession Agen FRA (5.1), 2016.08.17
■ 31...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
31...e3! 32.Rxe3
32.Bxe3 Qg3-+
32...Bxe3 33.Bxe3 Qg3-+ 0-1 (37) Stephan,V (2380)-Lagarde,M (2572) Agen 2016.
55. (*) Stupak, Kirill (2561) - Bok, Benjamin (2592)
Baku-Olympiad Men AZE (5), 2016.09.06
■ 21...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
21...Bxd4!!
Instead, the game went: 21...Nb4? 22.Rd1 Bb7© 0-1 (35) Stupak,K (2561)-Bok,B (2592) Baku 2016.
22.Qxd4
22.Nxd4 Nb4!? (22...Qe5+ 23.Kd2 Nf6-+) 23.Qxb4 Rxd4 24.Qb5 Ba6! 25.Qxa6 Qe5+ 26.Kf3 Qe4#
22...Nf4+! 23.Qxf4 Qxb2+ 24.Nd2 Ba6+ 25.Kf3 Bb7+ 26.Ke2 Qxa1 27.f3
27.Qxh6 Qe5+ 28.Kd1 Bxh1-+
27...Qb2-+ … ...Ba6+.
56. Wang, Yue (2737) - Mareco, Sandro (2606) [D37]
Baku Chess Olympiad | Open chess24.com (6.1), 2016.09.08
■ 33...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
33...Rf3! 34.e6
34.Qd5 Rg3+ 35.fxg3 Qxg3+ 36.Kh1 Rf1+-+
34...Rg3+! 35.fxg3 Qf1+!
35...Qxg3+? 36.Kh1 Rf1+ 37.Bg1 Qxh3+ 38.Rh2 Qf3+ 39.Rg2=
36.Kh2 Bxg3+ 0-1 Wang,Y (2737)-Mareco,S (2606) Baku 2016.
White resigned in view of: 36...Bxg3+ 37.Kxg3 Rf3+ 38.Kh4 Qxh3+ 39.Kg5 Qh6#.
57. (*) Li, Chao b (2746) - Short, Nigel D (2666) [E21]
42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open Baku (7.24), 2016.09.09
□ 34.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
34.f6!
Instead, the game went: 34.Bxe7? exf4 35.Bxf8 Bxd4 36.Qg4 (Just for the pleasure of seeing a beautiful line – the
engine now gives 36.f6 as a forced draw: 36...Bxf6 37.Qd7 Qxe3+ 38.Kh1 Qd4 39.Qe8 Kxh7 40.Bd6!! avoiding
40...Qe5, and Black cannot avoid a per-petual check with Qh5-Qe8 in a proper way!) 36...Rc7-+ Li,C (2746)-Short,N
(2666) Baku 2016.
34...gxf6
34...Rxf6 35.Rxf6 gxf6 36.Bxe4 Bxe4 37.Bxf6+ Qxf6 38.Rg8#
35.Bxe4! Bxe4 36.Bxf6+! Rxf6 37.Rg8#
58. Hou, Yifan (2649) - Jackson, James P (2311) [C95]
Isle of Man International 2016 Douglas/Isle of Man (1), 2016.10.01
□ 31.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
31.Nh5+! gxh5
31...Kh8 32.Qxf8+ Rxf8 33.Rxf8#
32.Bh6+! Kxh6
32...Kg8 33.Qxf8+ Rxf8 34.Rxf8#
33.Qf6# 1-0 Hou Yifan (2649)-Jackson,J (2311) England 2016.
59. Zeller, F. (2395) - Georgiadis, N. (2483) [A13]
TCh-SUI 2016 Switzerland SUI (9.2), 2016.10.09
□ 21.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
21.Nxf7!! Kxf7 22.Bxf6! gxf6 23.Ne5+ Kg7 24.Qg4+ 1-0 Zeller,F (2395)-Georgiadis,N (2483) Switzerland 2016.
After 24.Qg4+ Kf8 25.Qxb4+ Kg8 White can win several ways, e.g.: 26.Qg4+ Kf8 27.Qf4 Kg7 28.Nxd7 Rxd7
29.Rxd7+ Qxd7 30.Qxb8+-.
60. Hou, Yifan (2658) - Short, Nigel D (2666) [C99]
20th Hoogeveen Matches 2016 Hoogeveen (6), 2016.10.22
□ 29.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
29.Rxf6! Bxf6 30.Nh5! gxh5 31.Qxf6+ Kg8 32.Re3+- 1-0 (39) Hou Yifan (2649)-Short,N (2670) Hoogeveen 2016.
61. Caruana, Fabiano (2823) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2779) [B96]
8th London Chess Classic 2016 London (6), 2016.12.15
□ 30.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
30.Nxf7+! Rxf7 31.Rxe6 Qxb5 32.Rh6+ 1-0 Caruana,F (2823)-Nakamura,H (2779) London 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 32.Rh6+ Kg8 33.Rg1+ Kf8 (33...Rg7 34.Be6+ Kf8 35.Rh8+ Ke7 36.Rxg7+ Kxe6 37.Rh6#)
34.Rh8+ Ke7 35.Rxb8 Qxb8 36.Bc5+ Kf6 (36...Kd8 37.Rg8++-) 37.Rg6#.
62. Wei, Yi (2707) - Rapport, Richard (2717) [C03]
White Snow Chess Cup 2016 Yancheng (1), 2016.12.20
□ 26.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
26.Nxf7+! Bxf7 27.e6 Bxe6
27...Nxf6 28.exf7+28.Rxe6 Rxe6 29.Rxe6 Qa2
29...Qc1+™ 30.Re1 Qxe1+ 31.Bxe1 Bxf6 32.Qd6+30.Nxd7 Kxd7 31.Rxe7+! Kxe7 32.Qc7+ Ke6 33.Qc6+ Ke7 34.Qxc5+ Ke6 35.Qc6+ Ke7 36.Qb7+ 1-0 Wei Yi
(2707)-Rapport,R (2717) Yancheng 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 36.Qb7+ Ke6 37.Bxh8+-.
63. (*) Van Foreest, Jorden (2605) - Liang, Awonder (2495) [B96]
III Sunway Sitges Festival 2016 Sitges (7), 2016.12.21
□ 18.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Nxe6! fxe6 19.Rhf1! Kd8
19...h6 20.Qd6+ Kd8 21.Rf7 Ra7 22.Qc5 Qb8 23.Qc6+20.Rf7 Ra7 21.Qf2! Kc8 22.Rdxd7 Qxd7 23.Qxa7+- 1-0 (27) Van Foreest,J (2605)-Liang,A (2495) Sitges 2016.
64. Svane, Rasmus (2555) - Mamedov, Rauf (2688) [E94]
FIDE WCC Rapid 2016 Men Doha (3), 2016.12.26
□ 17.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
17.Rxf7! Rxf7
17...Nxc5 18.Rd7+ Kh8 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Bd5+- 1-0 (49) Svane,R (2555)-Mamedov,R (2688) Doha 2016.
18.Bxf7+ Kxf7 19.Qb3+ Ke7 20.e5!!
The strongest move, although 20.Ne6 Qg8 21.Qa3 Kf7 22.Rc7 is also crushing.
White is winning, here some examples:
20...h6
20...Nxe5 21.Bg5+ Bf6 22.Rxe5++-20...Nxc5 21.Nc6+! bxc6 22.Bxc5++21.Qe6+ Kf8 22.Rc2 Qe7 23.Bxh6!?
23.Rf2+ Nf6 24.Qd5+-23.Qxg6 Nxe5 24.Rxc8+ Rxc8 25.Qf5++23...Qxe6 24.Nxe6+ Kf7 25.Nxg7 Nxe5 26.Rc7+ Bd7 27.Bf4+-
65. Radjabov, Teimour (2710) - Bortnyk, Olexandr (2581) [A49]
FIDE WCC Rapid 2016 Men Doha (9), 2016.12.27
□ 20.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
20.Qxg5+ Kf7 21.Qxh5+!! Bxh5 22.Bxh5+ Kg8 23.Rg1+ Ng7 24.Rxg7+ Kh8 25.Rxe7+ Rf6 26.Bxf6+ Kg8 27.Rg7+
Kf8 28.Rxh7 Qf5 29.Rh8# 1-0 Radjabov, T (2710)-Bortnyk,O (2581) Doha 2016.
66. Mamedyaov, Shakhriyar (2768) - Korobov, Anton (2692) [E12]
FIDE WCC Rapid 2016 Men Doha (9), 2016.12.27
□ 35.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
35.Bh5! Qg8
35...Qxh5 36.Qf8+ Kg6 37.Qe8+ Kh6 38.Bf8+ Bg7 39.Bxg7+ Kxg7 40.Qxh5+36.Qc7+
36.Qa7+ Kh6 37.Qxa6 Kxh5 38.Qxc6+36...Kh6 37.Qxc6 Kxh5 38.Qxa6+- 1-0 (48) Mamedyarov,S (2768)-Korobov,A (2692) Doha 2016.
67. (*) Jobava, Baadur (2702) - Atabayev, Maksat (2492) [B94]
FIDE WCC Rapid 2016 Men Doha (14), 2016.12.28
□ 18.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Nd5! exd5 19.Rxf7! Kxf7 20.Bxd5+ Ke8
20...Kf8 21.Qh5+21.Qh5+ Kd8 22.Ne6+ Bxe6 23.Bxe6+ Bd6 24.Rxd6+ Qxd6 25.exd6 Rf8 26.Qa5+ 1-0 Jobava,B (2702)-Atabayev,M
(2492) Doha 2016.
68. Salem, A R Saleh (2656) - Ivanchuk, Vassily (2747) [D15]
FIDE WCC Blitz 2016 Men Doha (7), 2016.12.29
□ 22.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
22.Rxe6! Rxe6 23.Bf7++- 1-0 (31) Salem,A (2656)-Ivanchuk,V (2747) Doha 2016.
69. Dubov, Daniil (2660) - Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2739) [D31]
FIDE WCC Blitz 2016 Men Doha (5), 2016.12.29
□ 19.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
19.g5! hxg5 20.h6! g6
20...gxf4 21.Bh7+ (21.hxg7!? also wins.) 21...Kh8 22.hxg7+ Kxg7 23.Rdg1+ Bg5 24.Rh5+21.Bxd6 Bxd6 22.Bxg6 Qf6 23.Bf5+- 1-0 (35) Dubov,D (2660)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Doha 2016.
70. Chu, Wei Chao (2289) - Bellahcene, Bilel (2493) [D59]
Schachfestival Basel 2017 Basel (4), 2017.01.04
□ 46.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
46.Re6! Rxe6
46...Rdd7 47.Re7 Qd5 48.Qxd7 Qxd7 49.Rxd7 Rxd7 50.Re7+ Rxe7 51.fxe7+47.Qxf7+ 1-0 Chu Wei Chao (2289)-Bellahcene,B (2493) Basel 2017.
71. Safarli, Eltaj (2686) - Donchenko, Alexander (2559) [B50]
Schachfestival Basel 2017 Basel (5), 2017.01.05
□ 17.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
17.Nf6+ Kh8 18.Nh5 Rg8 19.Rd8! 1-0 Safarli,E (2686)-Donchenko,A (2559) Basel 2017.
72. Forcen Esteban, D. (2541) - Vazquez Igarza, R. (2572) [B43]
28th Roquetas de Mar Open Roquetas de Mar ESP (7.2), 2017.01.07
■ 31...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
31...Qa1+ 32.Kc2 Rd2+! 33.Kxd2 Qxb2+ 34.Ke3 Re8+ 35.Re4 Qxc3+ 36.Kf2 Qc2+ 37.Re2 Bc5+-+ 0-1 Forcen
Esteban,D (2541)-Vazquez Igarza,R (2572) Roquetas de Mar 2017.
73. Harikrishna, Pentala (2766) - Adhiban, Baskaran (2653) [C78]
79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters Wijk aan Zee (2), 2017.01.15
□ 40.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
40.Nh4+! Kg5
40...Ke6 41.Nf4+ Kf7 42.Rg1+41.Rg6+! Kxh4
41...Kh5 42.Nf4++42.Rh1+ Bh3 43.Rg3 1-0 Harikrishna,P (2766)-Adhiban, B (2653) Wijk aan Zee 2017.
74. Giri, Anish (2773) - Andreikin, Dmitry (2736) [C44]
79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters Wijk aan Zee (4), 2017.01.17
□ 37.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
37.e5!
The game went 37.Rd2? Re8 38.Qh6+? Ke7 39.e5 Rg8! 40.Qxd6+ Qxd6 41.exd6+ 1/2-1/2 Giri,A (2773)-Andreikin,D
(2736) Wijk aan Zee 2017.
37...d5
37...Qd8 38.Qg7+ Ke8 39.Qg8+ Ke7 40.exd6+ Qxd6 41.Re2++-; 37...dxe5 38.Qh8+ Ke7 39.Qxe5+ Kf8 40.Qg7+
Ke7 41.Re2++38.e6! Qxe6
38...Rb7 39.e7+ Rxe7 40.Qh8#
39.Qh8++-
75. Adhiban, Baskaran (2653) - Andreikin, Dmitry (2736) [B25]
79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters Wijk aan Zee (8), 2017.01.22
□ 21.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
21.Rxf5! Nxf5 22.Rxf5 Qd4+
22...Bxf5 23.Nxf5 gxf5 24.Nf6++-22...gxf5 23.Nf6++23.Rf2+- 1-0 (46) Adhiban,B (2653)-Andreikin,D (2736) Wijk aan Zee 2017.
76. Horvath, Ad1 (2499) - Tukhaev, A. (2516) [B45]
9th Chennai Open 2017 Chennai IND (7.1), 2017.01.23
■ 19...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
19...Nb3+! 20.axb3 a4 21.Bd3
The gamed ended with: 21.Nc7 a3 0-1 Horvath,A (2499) -Tukhaev,A (2516) Chennai 2017.
21...axb3+ 22.Ba5 Qxd1+! 23.Qxd1 Rxa5+ 24.Kb1 Rfa8 25.Qxb3 Nd2+-+
77. Fressinet, Laurent (2660) - Javakhishvili, Lela (2455) [B46]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (6), 2017.01.29
□ 40.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
40.Rg6! 1-0 Fressinet,L (2660)-Javakhishvili,L (2455) Gibraltar 2017.
Black resigned in view of: 40.Rg6 fxg6 41.Rxh6+ gxh6 42.Qxh6#.
78. Sadler, Matthew D (2671) - Speelman, Jon S (2522) [C16]
4NCL Division 1b Northampton, ENG (5.51), 2017.02.11
□ 24.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Nb5! (… Ra7) 24...Re7
24...Kb7 25.Ra7+ Kc6 26.Nxc7+-; 24...Ne7 25.Ra7 Nd5 26.Rxd5 exd5 27.Rxc7#
25.Rxb8+ 1-0 Sadler,M (2670)-Speelman,J (2526) Reading 2017.
Black resigned in view of: 25.Rxb8+ Kxb8 26.Rd8+ Kb7 27.Bxe7+-.
79. Guramishvili, Sopiko (2357) - Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat (2452) [E20]
FIDE WWCC 2017 Tehran (1.3), 2017.02.13
□ 22.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
22.Qh6! (… Ne7+)
‹ 22.Be2± was played in the game, and White won later on anyway: 1-0 (31) Guramishvili,S (2357) Khademalsharieh,S (2452) Tehran 2017.
22...gxf5
22...f6 23.Ne7+ Kf7 24.Qxh7++23.Bc2!? Any bishop move! … Rg3 23...f6 24.Rg3+ Kf7 25.Qxh7++-
80. (*) Matlakov, Maxim (2701) - Smirin, Ilia (2670)
Aeroflot Open 2017 Moscow (3), 2017.02.23
□ 29.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
29.Re6! (… Rxg6+)
Instead, the game went: 29.Rxg4 Rc4 30.h5 Rxg4+ 31.Qxg4 Qc8„ 1/2-1/2 (38) Matlakov,M (2701)-Smirin,I (2670)
Moscow 2017.
29...Rc4™
29...Kg7 30.Rxg4+-; 29...Kh7 30.h5+30.Rxg6+! fxg6 31.Qxg6+ Kf8 32.Qf5+ Kg7 33.Qxg4+ Kh8
33...Kh6 34.Qg5+ Kh7 35.Qh5++-; 33...Kf6 34.Qg5+ Kf7 35.Qf5+ Kg7 36.Rd3+34.Qh5+ Kg7 35.Rd3! Rg8 36.Rg3+ Kf6 37.Qh6+ Ke5
37...Kf7 38.Qh7++38.Qe6+ Kd4 39.Rxg8+-
Show in Quiz Mode
Chapter 6
Find the stunning winning move!
This chapter contains a selection of difficult positions where you must find a spectacular or unusual winning move.
In most of the exercises, the "hidden" winning move is made immediately. In a few examples, however, it is on move 2,
the first move being merely preparatory.
You must focus on the following issues: seriously disrupting your opponent’s coordination, preventing problems
(prophylaxis: finding your opponent’s ideal move should lead you to the solution!), bringing an extra piece into the
action, destroying the enemy king.
You may wish to use the help page which you will find at the end of the chapter. Don’t give up!
1. Jobava, Baadur (2721) - Mamedov, Rauf (2628) [E76]
Match GEO / AZE Friendship Tbilisi GEO (2), 2012.06.08
■ 27...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
27...Ba4!! 28.Qd3
28.Qxa4 Bxc3 29.Qxb4 Bxb4-+28.Nxa4 Qxe1+-+
28...Nf2! 29.Qxe3
29.Bxf2 Rxf2-+
29...Rae8
29...Nxh3-+
30.Qd2 Nxh3-+ 0-1 (32) Jobava,B (2721)-Mamedov,R (2628) Tbilisi 2012.
2. Negi, P. (2664) - Hou Yifan (2683) [B81]
Saint Louis-Showdown RAPID 2 USA (3), 2015.11.14
□ 35.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
35.Be3!! Anticipating ...Kh7 and threatening Bh6!
Instead, the game went: 35.Qh6+? Rh7 36.Qf6+ Rhg7 37.d6? Kh7„ 0-1 (39) Negi,P (2664)-Hou Yifan (2683) USA
2015.
35...Qxe3
35...Kh7? 36.Qh6#
36.Qxh4+ Rh7 37.Qf6+ Rhg7
37...Rgg7 38.Qd8++-
38.Rh1++-
3. Gunina, Valentina (2496) - Sutovsky, Emil (2647) [D71]
Tradewise 2016 Masters Gibraltar (7), 2016.02.01
□ 32.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
32.Rb8+!
Instead, the game went: 32.Nf6+? Kg7 33.R7b2 Raxb2 34.Rxb2 Rxc7 35.Nxd5= 1/2-1/2 (36) Gunina,V (2496) Sutovsky,E (2647) Gibraltar 2016.
32...Kg7 33.Ra1!! Rd2+
33...Rab2 34.Rxb2 Rxb2 35.Ra6 Nc8 36.Ra8+34.Ke1 Re2+
34...Rac2 35.c8=Q Nxc8 36.Rxc8 Rxh2 37.Rxc2 Rxc2 38.Ra7+35.Kf1 Rxh2 36.Rxa2 Rxa2 37.Rd8+-
4. Harikrishna, P. (2753) - Movsesian, Sergei (2653) [B81]
IMSA Elite Mind Games Basque Huaian (1), 2016.03.02
□ 43.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
43.Nbc8!! (… Ne7/Rxg6+)
Instead, the game went : 43.Nf5+? Kf7 44.Rd6 Rxd6? (44...gxf5! 45.Nd7™ Ke7™ 46.Rxc6 bxc6∞) 45.Nxd6+ Kg7
46.Nf5+ Kf7 47.Rxg6! Qxb6 48.Rg7+! Kf8 49.Qd7+- 1-0 (62) Harikrishna,P (2753)-Movsesian,S (2653) China 2016.
43...Rxc8
43...Bg5 44.Qb3+44.Nxc8 Rxc8 45.Rd7++- White wins, e.g. 45...Kf8
45...Kh8 46.Rh1+ Kg8 47.Rh8+! Kxh8 48.Qh1++46.Rh1 Ke8 47.Rd6 Qc4 48.Rh8+ Nf8 49.Rxf6+-
5. Caruana, Fabiano (2795) - So, Wesley (2773) [C54]
Ultimate Blitz Challenge 2016 Saint Louis (14), 2016.04.29
■ 37...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
37...Nf3+!!
37...Ne6 38.Rxe6 fxe6 39.Qxe6+ Kf8 40.Qf6+ Ke8 41.Qe6+ Kf8 42.Qf6+ Ke8 1/2-1/2 Caruana,F (2795)-So Wesley
(2773) USA 2016.
38.Qxf3 Qg7-+
6. Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2703) - Sjugirov, Sanan (2674) [C42]
RUS-chT Premier League 2016 Sochi (5), 2016.05.05
□ 10.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
10.Bxh7+! Kxh7 11.h4 Bringing the h1-Rook in! 11...Bd2+
11...Bxh4 12.Qd3+ Kg8 13.Rxh4 f5 14.g3±
12.Qxd2 Re8+ 13.Kf1 Bxf3 14.Qd3+ Kg8 15.Qxf3± 1-0 (32) Nepomniachtchi, I (2703)-Sjugirov,S (2674) Russia
2016.
7. Ipatov, Alexander (2648) - Brkic, Ante (2584) [D30]
17th EICC 2016 Gjakova (3), 2016.05.14
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.h4!!
27.f6?? Qg4µ; 27.h3? Qe8! 28.f6 Rg8„; 27.g4? Qd8! 28.Rh3 Qd5+=
27...Qe8
27...c3 28.h5 Qd8 29.Rd7!! Qxd7 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.h6 Qd2+ 32.Rf2+-; 27...Qd8 28.f6+28.h5 1-0 Ipatov,A (2648)-Brkic,A (2584) Gjakova 2016.
8. Caruana, Fabiano (2804) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2787) [A05]
GCT Blitz Leuven 2016 Leuven (3), 2016.06.19
□ 45.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
45.f4!!
Instead, the game went: 45.Qc4+? Ke7 46.Rd2 Qe5+„ 1/2-1/2 (69) Caruana,F (2804)-Nakamura,H (2787) Belgium
2016.
45...exf3 46.Rh8 f2
46...Re7 47.Rxh7+ Ke8 48.Qc6+ Kf8 49.Qa8+ Re8 50.Rh8+ Kg7 51.Qxe8 Qc2+ 52.Kg3 Qg2+ 53.Kf4+47.Rxh7+ Ke6
47...Ke8 48.Rxb7+48.Qc6+ Ke5 49.Qxb7 f1=Q 50.Re7+ Kd6 51.Qc7+ Kd5 52.e4+ Kd4
52...Qxe4 53.Rd7+ Ke6 54.Qd6+ Kf5 55.Rf7+ Kg4 56.Qg3+ Kh5 57.Rh7#
53.Qd6+ Kc4 54.exf5 Qf2+ 55.Kh3 Qf1+
55...Qf3+ 56.Qg3+56.Kg4+-
9. Firouzja, Alireza (2481) - Dreev, Aleksey (2664) [B11]
1st Stars Cup 2016 Guilan, Iran (8.2), 2016.07.18
■ 27...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
27...Bd2!! 28.Nxd2
28.Qxd2 Qxe4-+28.Rxd2 Qxc1+ 29.Rxc1 Rxc1#
28...Qc2+ 29.Ka1 Rb5! 30.b3
30.Qe4 Rxb2-+
30...Ra5 31.a4 Nb4 0-1 Firouzja,A (2481)-Dreev,A (2664) Iran 2016.
10. Jakovenko, Dmitry (2712) - Bologan, Victor (2654) [E12]
XVII Karpov Tournament 2016 Poikovsky (7), 2016.07.30
□ 15.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
15.Bg5! Qd6
15...Bxg5 16.Bb5 Qe6 17.Re1+-; 15...c4 16.Be4 Qc5 17.Bxe7 Kxe7 18.Qe2 Kf6 19.Nd4!+- … Qf3+; 15...f6
16.Bg6++16.Bb5 Qc7
16...Qg6 17.Rxd8+ Kxd8 18.Rd1+ Kc8 19.Qxg6 hxg6 20.Bxc6 Bxc6 21.Bxe7+17.Rxd8+ Kxd8 18.Rd1+ Ke8
18...Kc8 19.Qf5+ Kb8 20.Bf4+19.Qe4 f6 20.Bf4 Qc8 21.Rd6+- 1-0 Jakovenko,D (2712)-Bologan,V (2654) Russia 2016.
11. Bauer, Christian (2620) - Feller, Sebastien (2602) [C54]
91st FRA-ch 2016 Men Agen (3), 2016.08.15
□ 24.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Bb7!! Bxb7 25.Ne6 Qb8
25...Qe7 26.Nxf8+ Qxf8 27.Rxa7+26.Bxa7 Rxa7 27.Nxf8+ Kg8 28.Ne6+- 1-0 (30) Bauer,C (2620)-Feller,S (2602) Agen 2016.
12. Durarbayli, Vasif (2612) - Ivanisevic, Ivan (2650) [C88]
42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open Baku (10.25), 2016.09.12
■ 31...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
31...Bf8!!
Instead, the game went: 31...Rxd1+ 32.Rxd1 Qh5 33.Qb3 Rg8 34.Bf4 Qe2 (¹34...Qg4 35.Bg3 Bxe3+ 36.Kh1 Bf2²)
35.g3 Re8 36.Qd3± 1-0 (67) Durarbayli,V (2612) -Ivanisevic,I (2650) Baku 2016.
32.Bxf8 R8b2 33.Qxb2 Rxb2 34.R7d2™ Rxd2 35.Rxd2 Qa5 36.Rd1 Kg8-+
13. Lu, Shanglei (2612) - Bok, Benjamin (2608) [B90]
79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Challengers Wijk aan Zee (4), 2017.01.17
■ 33...? –+
The most difficult exercise, in my opinion!
Show/Hide the Solution
33...h5!! White needed to play Qg4 next, controling c8 and with the idea of Qc4! Now he simply does not have a move.
For example...
Instead, Black played 33...Rc8? 34.Qg4 Rf8 35.Qc4+- 1-0 (52) Lu Shanglei (2612)-Bok,B (2608) Wijk aan Zee 2017;
The brutal 33...e4 also fails: 34.Qg4 (34.Qg3 Qe2+ 35.Ka3 Nd3 36.Bd4 is also playable.) 34...h5 35.Qg5 Qe2+
36.Ka3 Nd3 37.Bd2! and White is fine!
34.h4 Keeping Qh3 as an option.
34.Qh1 Qe2+ 35.Kc3 Nd3-+; 34.Rb6 Ne4 (34...Rc8!?-+) 35.Qh1 (35.Rc6 Rb8-+) 35...Qe2+ 36.Ka3 Nc3 37.Qa1
Qc2-+
34...Re8!? White is in zugzuang! 35.Rb5
35.a5 Ra8-+; 35.Ka3 Qf1 36.Ka2 Nd3 37.Rc4 e4 38.Rxe4 Rxe4 39.Qxe4 Qe2+-+
35...Rc8 36.Rb4
36.Qh3?! Nxa4+-+
36...Na6 37.Rb6 Qc3+ 38.Ka2 Nb4+-+
14. Riff, JN. (2468) - Gulamali, K. (2341) [B00]
Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta ENG (4.56), 2017.01.27
□ 29.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
29.Bf4!
29.Bh2?? Qf6 30.g4+ Kh4 31.Kg2 Bf1+-+
29...Rxe5
After 29...Qf6? the game soon ended: 30.g4+ Kh4 31.Kh2! 1-0 Riff,J (2468)-Gulamali,K (2341) Gibraltar 2017.
30.Bxe5 Re8
30...f6 31.g4+ Kh4 32.Qg6!+31.Bf4!! (… g4, Kh2) 31...Qe1+
31...Qe6 32.g4+ Kh4 33.Bxg5+ (33.Kh2+-) 33...hxg5 34.Qh7++-; 31...Qe4 32.Qxf7++32.Kh2 Qxf2 33.Qxf7+ Kh4 34.Bxg5++-
15. Svidler, Peter (2748) - Short, Nigel D (2675) [C11]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (7), 2017.01.30
□ 28.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
28.Qe6+
Instead, the game went 28.Bb5? Ne5 29.Bd4 Bg3 30.Bxe5 1/2-1/2 Svidler,P (2748)-Short,N (2675) Gibraltar 2017.
28...Kg7 29.Bb5!! Rxb5 30.Bf8+! Kxf8 31.Qf6+ Qf7
31...Kg8 32.Re8#
32.Qh8+ Qg8 33.Rf1++-
16. Pert, Nicholas (2566) - Batchelor, Peter J (2327) [D37]
4NCL Division 1b Northampton, ENG (6.56), 2017.02.12
□ 20.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
20.Bb5!! fxe5 21.Rd7 Qb8
21...Qc8 22.Qxe5 Rf7 23.Qxe6 Qe8 24.Bc4+22.hxg6 Rf5
22...hxg6 was played but wasn’t a better defence: 23.Qg4 Rf6 24.Qh3 Rf7 25.Qxe6 1-0 Pert,N (2566)-Batchelor,P
(2361) Reading 2017.
23.Qg4!? Not the only win: but the nicest one!
For example 23.Rxh7+- wins as well.
23...h5 24.Qxf5!! exf5 25.Bc4+ Kf8 26.g7+ Ke8 27.Be6+-
Help page!
Subjects of the exercises of the sixth chapter...
1: serious disrupting of your opponent’s coordination.
2: prophylaxis & bring an extra piece into the action!
3: serious disrupting of your opponent’s coordination.
4: bring an extra piece into the action!
5: serious disrupting of your opponent’s coordination.
6: bring an extra piece into the action!
7: bring an extra soldier into the action!
8: prophylaxis (solve the defensive problem before going for an attack!).
9: serious disrupting of your opponent’s coordination.
10: destruction of the opponent's King!
11: serious disrupting of your opponent’s coordination.
12: prophylaxis & serious disrupting of your opponent’s coordination.
13: 100% prophylaxis. Think of White’s next move!
14: bring an extra piece into the action & destruction of the opponent's King.
15: serious disrupting of your opponent’s coordination & destruction of the opponent's King.
16: bring an extra piece into the action & destruction of the opponent's King.
Show in Quiz Mode
Chapter 7
Play the killer positional move!
In this chapter, you must find strong positional moves. The solution is always concrete and the evaluation of the position
which will result should be very helpful.
A good positional move does not mean there are no tactics involved! On the contrary, this series of exercises is intended
to help you to intelligently mix tactics and strategy.
The difficulty of these exercises ranges from medium to difficult, the most challenging ones being marked with an
asterisk.
1. Edouard, Romain (2620) - Ekstroem, Roland (2488) [D37]
EUR-17th TCh m Novi Sad SRB (3.9), 2009.10.24
■ 21...? µ
Show/Hide the Solution
21...Ndc5!
21...Nec5 leads to the same.
22.dxc5 Nxc5 23.Rxc5 bxc5 24.Na3 c4µ Black will push ...f6, ...e5 with a nearly winning position.
In the game, Black played the slightly less convincing 24...f6µ and later did not convert his advantage: 1/2-1/2 (72)
Edouard,R (2620)-Ekstroem,R (2488) Novi Sad 2009.
2. Kramnik, Vladimir (2801) - Vitiugov, Nikita (2712) [A07]
Mem Alekhine Paris/St Petersburg FRA/RUS (1), 2013.04.21
□ 45.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
45.b5! axb5 46.Qb6 The a-pawn will be promoted and Black does not have counterplay on the white King. 46...Qf8
47.a6 Qb4 48.a7 Qe1+ 49.Kg2 Qd2+ 50.Kg1 1-0 Kramnik,V (2801)-Vitiugov,N (2712) Paris 2013.
Black resigned in view of: 50.Kg1 Qe1+ 51.Nf1+-.
3. (*) Van Kampen, Robin (2607) - Adams, Michael (2753) [C16]
Hoogeveen-17th Unive Crown NED (1), 2013.10.20
□ 20.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
20.Rhe1! White needs to bring a rook to f3! 20...Raf8 21.Re3 Ke8 22.Rf3 Rh2
22...Kd7 23.Ke3±
23.Ke3+- 1-0 Van Kampen,R (2607)-Adams,M (2753) Hoogeveen 2013.
4. (*) Kovalyov, Anton (2636) - Van Kampen, Robin (2636) [E92]
Montreal-51st Canadian Open CAN (8.1), 2014.07.25
■ 17...? =
Show/Hide the Solution
17...d4!
17...a6?! 18.Nd6 Bxd6 19.cxd6² / ±
18.Nxd4
18.Bxd4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 Qe7©
18...Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Bc2!! 20.Qxc2
20.Bf6 Qxf6 21.Qxc2 Nd4©
20...Nxd4 21.Qa4 Nxe2+ 22.Nxe2 Qg5 23.Nd4 Qxc5= 1/ 2-1/2 (34) Kovalyov,A (2636)-Van Kampen,R (2636)
Canada 2014.
5. Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2735) - Ragger, Markus (2688) [C69]
Match Ragger / Mamedyarov Vienna AUT (1), 2015.08.17
□ 18.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
18.b4! axb4
18...cxb4?! 19.Bxb6+19.a5 bxa5
19...Kb7 20.axb6 Kxb6 21.Nb3+20.Bxc5 Nh6 21.Rxa5± 1-0 (26) Mamedyarov,S (2735) -Ragger,M (2688) Vienna 2015.
6. Smirin, I. (2655) - Radjabov, T. (2738) [D37]
FIDE World Cup 2015 Baku AZE (2.3), 2015.09.16
■ 29...? –+
Show/Hide the Solution
29...Bc6! Not committing the pawn structure in any way!
Instead, Black continued with the much less convincing 29...c3?!³ although he later won: 0-1 (37) Smirin,I (2655)Radjabov,T (2738) Baku 2015.
30.bxc4
30.Rb1 Rb7 31.b4 Ba4 32.Rcc1 c3-+
30...Ba4-+
7. (*) Vachier Lagrave, M. (2758) - Studer, N. (2397) [E06]
31st ECC Open 2015 Skopje MKD (2.4), 2015.10.19
□ 12.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
12.Ba3!! Rxd1 13.Rfxd1 Qh5
13...Qc7 14.Nb5 Qd8 15.Rxd8+ Bxd8 16.Rd1 Nbd7 17.Ncd6+14.Bxe7 Nbd7 15.Bf3± Black is paralyzed, for example: 15...Qf5 16.Rac1 Ne8? 17.Ne4! e5 18.Ncd6 Nxd6 19.Nxd6
Qe6 20.Nxc8+- 1-0 Vachier Lagrave,M (2758)-Studer,N (2397) Macedonia 2015.
8. Harikrishna, Pentala (2737) - Grandelius, Nils (2628) [B76]
BL 2015-16 Germany (4), 2015.12.13
□ 40.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
40.a4! A passed pawn is the key! 40...Re2
Of course, Black cannot just take “en passant” due to the Bc3-pin: 40...bxa3? 41.Bc3+41.g4 Rf2 42.Rd3+- 1-0 (59) Harikrishna,P (2737)-Grandelius,N (2628) Germany 2015.
9. Maze, Sebastien (2614) - Hamdouchi, Hicham (2585) [B24]
FRA-chT Top 12 2016 Drancy (3), 2016
□ 32.? ± /+–
Show/Hide the Solution
32.Nf5!
32.Re1? Ng7„ 1/2-1/2 (51) Maze,S (2614)-Hamdouchi, H (2585) Drancy 2016.
32...Bxf5
32...Bxf2 33.Ne7++33.Bxf5 gxf5 34.Rxc5 Rxc5 35.Qe3+-
10. Krasenkow, Michal (2610) - Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2695) [D38]
XLIV Rilton Cup Stockholm (6), 2016.01.02
■ 31...? µ /–+
Show/Hide the Solution
31...Ra2! 32.Rxa2
32.Rc1 Bxc4 33.Rxc4 Rh2 34.Kg3 Rd2 35.Nf2 Re3+-+
32...Bxc4 33.g5
33.Rab2 Bh4! … ...Bd5 34.Kg2 Re1-+
33...Bxb3 34.gxf6+ Kxf6 35.Rd2 Bxd1+ 36.Rxd1 Re3+ 37.Kf2 Re4-+ 0-1 (50) Krasenkow,M (2610)-Hammer,J
(2695) Sweden 2016.
11. Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat (2403) - Harika, Dronavalli (2511) [A62]
FIDE Women GP Tehran 2016 Tehran (2), 2016.02.12
□ 40.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
40.Rf4!
Instead, the game went: 40.Qxc5? bxc5= 1/2-1/2 (44) Khademalsharieh,S (2403)-Harika,D (2511) Iran 2016.
40...Rxe5
40...Qxe5 41.d7+-; 40...Qxd4 41.Rxd4 Rxe5 42.d7+41.d7+-
12. Kramnik, Vladimir (2801) - Giri, Anish (2798) [D78]
Zurich CC 2016 - Rapid Zurich (4), 2016.02.14
□ 34.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
34.d5! e5
34...exd5?! 35.Bxg7+ Kxg7 36.Qh7+ Kf8 37.Qh8#; 34...cxd5?! 35.Bxg7+ Kxg7 36.Qh7+ Kf8 37.Rxb5+35.Rc1+- 1-0 (46) Kramnik,V (2801)-Giri,A (2798) Switzerland 2016.
13. (*) Feller, Sebastien (2610) - Miron, Lucian-Costin (2496) [C90]
32nd Open Cappelle-la-Grande Cappelle-la-Grande (7), 2016.02.18
□ 30.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
30.e6!! Black's position collapses.
Instead, the game went: 30.Nxe7+ Rxe7 31.Rd8+ Rxd8 32.Rxd8+ Re8= 1/2-1/2 (42) Feller,S (2610)-Miron,L (2496)
Cappelle la Grande 2016.
After the solution move 30.e6, Black's position collapses. Some examples...
30...Qxe6
30...Nxe6 31.Ne5 Qb6 32.Nxf7!? One of the many winning moves. (32.Rd7+-) 32...Kxf7 33.Nxh6++-; 30...fxe6
31.Nxh6+! Again one of many winning moves. (31.Ne5+-) 31...gxh6 32.Qg6+ Kh8 33.Ne5+-; 30...f6 31.Nxh6+!+31.Rd7
31.Re5 Qc6 is not as convincing.
31...Rb7
31...Bd8?! 32.R1d6+32.Bxh6!
Also strong is: 32.Rxe7 Rxe7 33.Bxh6!? (33.Qxc5 Re8 34.Qxa5 Qe4 35.Nh2 Re5 36.Nd6 Rxa5 37.Nxe4+-; 33.Rd6
Qe4 34.Nxe7+ Qxe7 35.Bxc5+-) 33...gxh6 34.Rd6+32...gxh6 33.Rxe7 Rxe7 34.Rd6 Qe4 35.Nxe7+ Qxe7 36.Rxh6+-
14. Trent, Lawrence (2452) - Efimenko, Zahar (2647) [B82]
BL 2015-16 Germany (9), 2016.02.21
■ 28...? µ
Show/Hide the Solution
28...a5! 29.Rxf7
29.Rff3 axb4 30.cxb4 Bd4µ
29...Rxf7 30.Bb3
30.Qd5 Rf6 31.bxc5 h6-+
30...Rf6-+ 0-1 (36) Trent,L (2455)-Efimenko,Z (2663) Germany 2016.
15. Hector, Jonny (2489) - Bacrot, Etienne (2701) [C47]
BL 2015-16 Germany (10), 2016.03.12
■ 27...? µ
Show/Hide the Solution
27...Bd3! 28.Qb2
28.cxd3 d4-+
28...d4µ 0-1 (39) Hector,J (2493)-Bacrot,E (2692) Germany 2016.
16. (*) Baskin, Robert (2378) - Neef, Maximilian (2424) [C11]
BL 2015-16 Germany (10), 2016.03.12
□ 20.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
20.Nh4!!
20.Bxb4 Bxb4 21.Nh4 g6 is much less clear: 22.Qf3 (22.Nhxf5 gxf5 23.Nxf5 Qe6∞) 22...Be7 23.Nhxf5 gxf5 24.Nxf5
Kh8 25.Qh5 Qe6³ 0-1 (32) Baskin,R (2329)-Neef,M (2406) Germany 2016
20...g6
20...Bxh4 21.Bxb4 Be7 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.Nxf5+- … Qg4
21.Nhxf5! gxf5 22.Nxf5 Kh8 23.Qh5!+- followed by Bh6, and Black is completely lost.
Also winning is: 23.Bh6!? Rg8 24.e6! Qxe6 25.Qxe6 fxe6 26.Nxe7 Re8 27.Rf7+-.
17. Demuth, A. (2550) - Bluebaum, M. (2628) [A18]
Accentus Young Masters Bad Ragaz SUI (8.1), 2016.04.13
■ 26...? ³
Show/Hide the Solution
26...c5! (… ...Bc7, ...Re4)
‹ 26...Be7 27.Bf4 Rc6 28.Rd7 Bd6= 1/2-1/2 (31) Demuth,A (2550)-Bluebaum,M (2628) Switzerland 2016; 26...Re4
27.Rd4=
After the excellent 26...c5, Black consol-idates his queenside perfectly and will soon be able to take advantage of
White’s weak pawns. For example: 27.g3 Bc7 28.Rd7 Bd8 29.Rb2 Re4 30.Rbd2 Bf6 31.Rb7 Rxc4 32.Ra2 Ra6µ
18. Melkumyan, Hrant (2646) - Veleski, Robert (2162) [C54]
17th EICC 2016 Gjakova (1), 2016.05.12
□ 66.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
66.Rh1! Rxh1
66...Rgg2 67.Rxh2 Rxh2 68.Nxc7+67.Bxg3 Kf6 68.Nxc7+- 1-0 (95) Melkumyan,H (2646)-Veleski,R (2169) Gjakova 2016.
19. Salgado Lopez, Ivan (2618) - Solodovnichenko, Yuri (2587) [C42]
FRA-chT Top 12 2016 Drancy (2), 2016.05.29
□ 14.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
14.Ne5! Bxd1
14...Nxe5 15.Bxh7+! Kxh7 16.Qxh5+ Kg8 17.dxe5±
15.Nxd7 Rfd8 16.Raxd1 Rxd7 17.Rfe1± 1-0 (48) Salgado Lopez,I (2618)-Solodovnichenko,Y (2587) Drancy 2016.
20. Caruana, Fabiano (2804) - Topalov, Veselin (2761) [D73]
GCT Blitz Paris 2016 Paris (8), 2016.06.11
□ 19.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
19.d5!
19.Bf1 Bxe4 20.Bxc4 Rxc4 21.Qxc4 Bd5 is much less clear.
19...Bxd5
Black can try to resist with 19...Ba4 but it will fail: 20.dxe6 fxe6 21.Qb1 a5 22.Bh3! axb4 (22...Rc6 23.Nd6+ Nxd6
24.Rxe6+ Kd8 25.Rxd6 Rxd6 26.Bxd7+-) 23.Bxe6+20.Rad1 Kd8 21.Ng5 Bf6 22.Bxd5 exd5 23.Ne4
Even stronger was: 23.Rxd5 Qxd5 24.Rd1 Qxd1+ 25.Qxd1+ Kc7 26.Nxf7+23...Bg7 24.Rxd5 Qxd5 25.Rd1+- 1-0 (27) Caruana,F (2804)-Topalov,V (2761) Paris 2016.
21. Lalith Babu M R (2579) - Edouard, Romain (2648) [D41]
3rd Porticcio Open 2016 Ajaccio (4), 2016.06.27
■ 16...? µ
Show/Hide the Solution
16...d4! 17.Nxd4
17.exd4 Rad8µ
17...Nxd4 18.exd4 Rad8µ 0-1 (23) Lalith,B (2579)-Edouard,R (2648) Porticcio 2016.
22. (*) Bogner, Sebastian (2527) - Georgiadis, Nico (2476) [E12]
116th SUI-ch Flims (2), 2016.07.08
□ 14.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
14.Qh3!
Instead, the game went: 14.Nxd5? Bxh2+ 15.Kxh2 Qxd5 16.Bxf6 Qd6+³ 1-0 (77) Bogner,S (2556)-Georgiadis,N
(2470) Flims 2016.
14...h6
14...Bc8 15.Qh4 h6 16.Nxd5+15.Nxd5! Be5
15...hxg5? 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Qh7#
16.Nxf6+
16.Bxf6 Qxd5 17.Be4 Qd6 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Qd7±
16...Bxf6 17.Bxh6! Re8
17...dxe3? 18.Bxg7!+-; 17...gxh6? 18.Qxh6 Re8 19.Bh7+ Kh8 20.Bg6+ Kg8 21.Qh7+ Kf8 22.Qxf7#
18.Bf4±
23. (*) Dreev, Aleksey (2664) - Maghsoodloo, Parham (2501) [A46]
1st Stars Cup 2016 Guilan, Iran (5.2), 2016.07.15
□ 40.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
40.Rb1!!
‹ 40.R6h5? Kc6„ 1/2-1/2 (78) Dreev,A (2664) -Maghsoodloo, P (2501) Iran 2016.
40...e5
40...Bxh6 41.Rb7+ Ke8 42.Rb8+ Kd7 43.Rxh8+-; 40...Be7 41.Rb7+ Ke8 42.Rb8+ Bd8 43.Rg6 Rfxh7 44.Rxf6 Kd7
45.Rg6±; 40...Bb4 41.c3±
41.Rb8 Ke6 42.Kb5 Bg7 43.Rg8+- (… c4) Black is completely dominated!.
24. Rasmussen, Allan Stig (2504) - Fressinet, Laurent (2677) [C92]
Xtracon Chess Open 2016 Helsingor (8), 2016.07.29
□ 37.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
37.a4! Just as the game Harikrishna-Grandelius (exercise 8 above). 37...Qf4
37...bxa3? 38.g5+38.Qd2+- 1-0 (42) Rasmussen,A (2504)-Fressinet,L (2677) Denmark 2016.
White could also have played 38.a5+-.
25. Artemiev, Vladislav (2663) - Idani, Pouya (2543) [A46]
Baku Open - 2016 Baku (3), 2016.09.20
■ 19...? µ
Show/Hide the Solution
19...a4! 20.Nxa4
20.Qc2? Bb4-+
20...Qb4! 21.Qxb4
The game continued: 21.Bc2 Rxc2 22.Qxc2 Qxa4-+ 0-1 (58) Artemiev,V (2663)-Idani,P (2543) Baku 2016.
21...Bxb4 22.Nb2 Rxa2µ
26. Moncamp, G. (2068) - Lagarde, Max (2588) [B22]
9th Marseilles Open 2016 Marseille FRA (2.1), 2016.12.26
■ 13...? µ
Show/Hide the Solution
13...Nxc5! 14.dxc5 d4µ 0-1 (46) Moncamp,G (2068)-Lagarde,M (2588) Marseille 2016.
27. Naiditsch, Arkadij (2687) - Henriquez Villagra, Cristobal (2517) [B66]
FIDE WCC Rapid 2016 Men Doha (7), 2016.12.27
■ 25...? µ
Show/Hide the Solution
25...f5! 26.Rxf5
26.gxf5?! Rxe4µ; 26.exf5? e4-+
26...Rxh3µ 0-1 (53) Naiditsch,A (2687)-Henriquez Villagra,C (2517) Doha 2016.
28. Vocaturo, Daniele (2606) - Shvayger, Yuliya (2413) [B23]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (2), 2017.01.25
■ 16...? ∞
Show/Hide the Solution
16...c3! 17.Qh6
17.Nxc3 Qg5‭→ … ...b4; 17.bxc3 b4©
17...cxb2 18.Rb1 b4 19.Rxb2 Rc8© 1/2-1/2 (51) Vocaturo,D (2606)-Shvayger,Y (2413) Gibraltar 2017.
29. Edouard, Romain (2613) - Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina (2406) [B30]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (4), 2017.01.27
□ 27.? +–
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Nd2! h5
27...Be7 28.Nc4 Bxc5? 29.Nd6+ Bxd6 30.exd6+-; 27...Qa7 28.Nc4 Qxc5? 29.Nd6++28.Nc4
28.Rb1!?+28...h4
28...Qb8 avoiding Rb1 was necessary, but for example White can play 29.Qe1!? with a decisive advantage.
29.Rb1+- … Nd6, Rb7: 1-0 (37) Edouard,R (2613)-Vega Gutierrez,S (2406) Gibraltar 2017.
30. (*) Vachier Lagrave, M. (2796) - Adams, Mi (2751) [C67]
Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta ENG (7.2), 2017.01.30
□ 33.? ±
Show/Hide the Solution
33.f5! An excellent move, freeing the f4-square for the white Knight, and later possibly the white Bishop! 33...Rxf5
33...Bxf5 34.g4! hxg3 35.Nxg3 Bc2 36.Rdd7! (36.Rd2? Bg5=) 36...Re5 37.Bf4 Bf6 38.Nh5 Re1+ 39.Kf2 Bh4+ 40.Ng3
Re6 41.Bd6+?! (41.Ra7+-) 41...Rxd6 42.Rxd6± 1-0 (55) Vachier Lagrave,M (2796)-Adams,M (2751) Gibraltar 2017
34.Nf4 Rf6™ 35.Nd5 Bd8 The best defence.
35...Rxf7 loses to 36.Nxb6 Bf5 37.Nd7+ Bxd7 38.Rdxd7+- (… Rxe7).
36.Nxf6 Bxc7 37.Rf1 gxf6 38.Rxf6 Be6 39.Bh6+ Ke7 40.f8=Q+ Rxf8 41.Rxf8±
31. Cramling, Pia (2434) - Nemcova, Katerina (2359) [D27]
FIDE WWCC 2017 Tehran (1.1), 2017.02.11
□ 14.? ± /+–
Show/Hide the Solution
14.d5! exd5 15.Bg5 Ne4
15...g6 16.Rxe7! Qxe7 17.Nxd5+16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Qxe4 g6 18.Qh4!
Not as convincing is: 18.Rad1 Qc8 19.Qh4± 1-0 (52) Cramling,P (2434)-Nemcova,K (2359) Tehran 2017
18...Qd7
18...Bxg5 19.Nxg5 h5 20.Bb3+-; 18...h5 19.Bb3+19.Rad1 Bxg5 20.Nxg5 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 h5 22.Bb3 Rf8 23.Nxf7
23.Ne4!?+23...Rxf7 24.Qf6+-
32. (*) Ju, Wenjun (2583) - Zhu, Chen (2419) [A32]
FIDE WWCC 2017 Tehran (2.2), 2017.02.15
□ 13.? ± /+–
Show/Hide the Solution
13.a4! (… Ba3)
13.Qc2? Nc6 14.Qxe4?! Nxd4 15.Qxd4 O-O= 1/2-1/2 (51) Ju Wenjun (2583)-Zhu Chen (2419) Tehran 2017.
13...O-O
13...Bd7 14.Ba3± / +14.Nb5 White wins, e.g. 14...Qb6
14...Qc6 15.Ba3 Re8 16.Rc1+15.Be3 Qa5 16.b4 Qxb4 17.Nc7+-
Show in Quiz Mode
Chapter 8
Find the missed move!
In this chapter, each position is accompanied by a series of moves which were played in a game. You must find the
missed opportunity in this series of moves. The player whose move it is in the given position is the one who missed an
opportunity.
In order to help you in your search, I will also give you the evaluation of the position if that missed move had been
played.
The aim of this part of the book is to encourage you to concentrate on what is important, looking at the whole board, so
you can spot key moments.
These exercises will also help you to find the right balance in your analysis: passing quickly over obvious things while
making sure to notice possible surprises, so you develop a feeling for when the key moment has arrived.
The difficulty of these exercises ranges from medium to difficult, unless an asterisk indicates that the exercise is very
difficult.
1. Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2666) - Topalov, Veselin (2804) [B91]
Leon-19th Magistral RAPID Leon ESP (1.2), 2006.06.10
30.Rf6 Qd8 31.Qg5 Nd2 32.Nh6+ Kg7 33.Nf5+ Kh8-+ (±)
Show/Hide the Solution
30.Rf6 Qd8 31.Qg5 Nd2? 32.Nh6+??
32.Ne7+! Qxe7 (32...Kh8 33.Qxe5±) 33.Rxg6+ fxg6 34.Qxe7±
32...Kg7 33.Nf5+ Kh8-+ 0-1 (34) Vallejo Pons,F (2666) -Topalov,V (2804) Leon 2006.
2. Negi, Parimarjan (2622) - Wen, Yang (2545) [B99]
Asian Individual ch Mashhad IRI (4.4), 2011.05.05
33...Qd7 34.Rc8+ Bd8 35.Nc5 Qxe6 36.Rxd8++- (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
33...Qd7 34.Rc8+ Bd8 35.Nc5 Qxe6??
35...Qxc8! 36.Qxc8 e2 37.Qxd8+ Rf8 38.Qd5+ Kh8-+
36.Rxd8+ 1-0 Negi,P (2622)-Wen,Y (2545) Mashhad 2011.
3. (*) Nguyen, Duc Hoa (2503) - Negi, Parimarjan (2651) [D80]
Manila-Asian Continental m PHI (4.6), 2013.05.21
15.Qxe7 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Bf6 17.Nd7 Bxe7 18.Nxb6 axb6© (±)
Show/Hide the Solution
15.Qxe7 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Bf6 17.Nd7
17.Qxf8+! Kxf8 18.Rxc8+ Kg7 (18...Rxc8? 19.Nd7++-) 19.Rxa8 Qa5+ 20.Nc3 Bxe5 21.Rc8±
17...Bxe7 18.Nxb6 axb6© 1/2-1/2 (30) Nguyen,D (2503)-Negi,P (2651) Philippines 2013.
4. Karpov, Anatoly (2619) - Timman, Jan H (2600) [E11]
Match Karpov / Timman Groningen NED (2), 2013.12.27
43.Re8 Qg6 44.Rd8 h4 45.Rd6 Qf5 46.Qd1 Re6= (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
43.Re8 Qg6 44.Rd8 h4?? 45.Rd6??
45.f3 Rxe3 (45...Re6 46.f5+-) 46.Rh8++45...Qf5 46.Qd1 Re6= 1/2-1/2 (55) Karpov,A (2619)-Timman,J (2600) Groningen 2013.
5. Dominguez, Leinier Perez (2751) - Kasimdzhanov, Rustam (2706) [A15]
Baku FIDE Grand Prix AZE (1.6), 2014.10.02
24.Qb1 Qb7 25.Qxe4 Rc8 26.a4² (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Qb1 Qb7 25.Qxe4 Rc8 26.a4?² 1/2-1/2 (30) Dominguez,L (2751)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2706) Baku 2014.
26.Ne7+! Rxe7 27.Bxe7 Qxe7 28.Qxd4+-
6. Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2758) - Aronian, Levon (2797) [A18]
Beijing-SportAccord BLITZ CHN (11.1), 2014.12.14
34...Rc2 35.Qd4 Bh5 36.Be4 Rf2 37.Bxf5+- (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
34...Rc2 35.Qd4?? Bh5! 36.Be4 Rf2??
36...Rgxg2+! 37.Bxg2 Bf3-+
37.Bxf5+- 1-0 (39) Vachier Lagrave,M (2758)-Aronian,L (2797) China 2014.
7. Koneru, Humpy (2581) - Gunina, Valentina (2522) [E11]
Beijing-SportAccord Basque w CHN (3.5), 2014.12.16
56...Qc7 57.Re1 Qc2 58.Qe2 Qxe2 59.Rxe2 Ne5² (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
56...Qc7 57.Re1 Qc2 58.Qe2 Qxe2?
58...Nf2+! 59.Kg2 Nd3!-+
59.Rxe2 Ne5² 1-0 (92) Koneru,H (2581)-Gunina,V (2522) China 2014.
8. (*) Kosintseva, Tatiana (2483) - Ushenina, Anna (2494) [B51]
Beijing-SportAccord Basque w CHN (2.8), 2014.12.16
18.Nxe5 Qxf2+ 19.Kh1 Qb6 20.Nxc6+ Qxc6 21.Re1² (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Nxe5 Qxf2+ 19.Kh1 Qb6 20.Nxc6+
20.Qd4!! Nf2+ 21.Kg1 Nh3+ 22.Kf1+20...Qxc6 21.Re1² 1-0 (44) Kosintseva,T (2483)-Ushenina,A (2494) China 2014.
9. Naiditsch, Arkadij (2706) - Carlsen, Magnus (2865) [C49]
Baden Baden-3rd GRENKE Classic TB GER (2), 2015.02.08
33...Nf6 34.Qxh4+ Nh7 35.Be6 Rf6 36.Bf5 Rh6 37.Qe1+- (∞)
Show/Hide the Solution
33...Nf6 34.Qxh4+ Nh7 35.Be6 Rf6
35...c5!∞
36.Bf5 Rh6 37.Qe1+- 1-0 (68) Naiditsch,A (2706)-Carlsen,M (2865) Germany 2015.
10. Steingrimsson, H. (2566) - Sargissian, G. (2689) [C95]
Reykjavik-20th European Teams ISL (1.6), 2015.11.13
47.Kh1 e4 48.Ng1 e3 49.Qxe3 Qxe3 50.fxe3 Kf7³ (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
47.Kh1 e4 48.Ng1
48.Qd4!+48...e3 49.Qxe3 Qxe3 50.fxe3 Kf7³ 0-1 (76) Steingrimsson,H (2566)-Sargissian,G (2689) Reykjavik 2015.
11. Bogner, Sebastian (2550) - Laznicka, Viktor (2665) [D46]
20th European Teams Reykjavik ISL (8.2), 2015.11.21
23...Nxd5 24.Bxd5 Bxd5 25.Nc3 Nf6 26.Qxa6 Qc7= (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
23...Nxd5 24.Bxd5 Bxd5 25.Nc3 Nf6?
25...Nxe5! 26.Nxd5 Nf3+! 27.Qxf3 Rxe1+ 28.Rxe1 Bxb2-+
26.Qxa6 Qc7= 1/2-1/2 (41) Bogner,S (2550)-Laznicka,V (2665) Reykjavik 2015.
12. Rowson, Jonathan (2569) - Jones, Gawain CB (2615) [E92]
GBR ch KO London ENG (1.2), 2015.12.01
35.Kh2 h4 36.gxh4 Qxe4 37.Rg1 Qf4+ 38.Kh1 Qg3-+ (=)
Show/Hide the Solution
35.Kh2 h4??
35...Qxe4 36.Rg1 h4 was winning for Black.
36.gxh4??
36.Rg7+! Kxg7 37.Qd7+ R8f7 38.Qxg4+= White has a perpetual check.
36...Qxe4 37.Rg1 Qf4+ 38.Kh1 Qg3-+ 0-1 (41) Rowson,J (2569)-Jones,G (2615) London 2015.
13. Miton, Kamil (2612) - Ladva, Ottomar (2404) [E00]
Mem Paul Keres Tallinn EST (6.9), 2016.01.09
34...Qxf2 35.Bxd4 exd4 36.Qxd4 Qe2 37.Kg1 Rd7 38.Rf1± (=)
Show/Hide the Solution
34...Qxf2 35.Bxd4 exd4 36.Qxd4 Qe2 37.Kg1 Rd7
37...Rf2!=
38.Rf1± 1-0 (91) Miton,K (2612)-Ladva,O (2404) Tallinn 2016.
14. (*) Aronian, Levon (2792) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2801) [A14]
Zurich-5th CC SUI (7.1), 2016.02.15
18.Rxd7 Bc6 19.b5 Bxd7 20.Bxf6 gxf6∞ (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Rxd7 Bc6 19.b5?
19.Qc2!! Bxd7 (19...Nxd7 20.Ng5+-) 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Ng5+19...Bxd7 20.Bxf6 gxf6∞ The game continued:
20...gxf6 21.Qg4+ Kh8 22.Qd4 Qd5 23.Qxf6+ Kg8∞ 0-1 (43) Aronian,L (2792)-Kramnik,V (2801) Switzerland 2016.
15. Ushenina, Anna (2450) - Gunina, Valentina (2496) [D46]
IMSA Elite Mind Games Blitz HuaiAn (7.15), 2016.02.28
42.Rxf7 Qg1+ 43.Kg3 Rf1 44.Qe2 Re1 45.Qf2 Re3+-+ (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
42.Rxf7 Qg1+ 43.Kg3 Rf1 44.Qe2 Re1 45.Qf2
45.Nd7!+- (… Nf6)
45...Re3+-+ 0-1 (52) Ushenina,A (2450)-Gunina,V (2496) China 2016.
16. Lagno, Kateryna (2529) - Ju Wenjun, -. (2558) [C46]
Huai'an-IMSA BLITZ w CHN (13.1), 2016.02.29
27.Rxe3 Rxc2 28.h4 h6 29.Bxg7+ Kxg7³ (±)
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Rxe3
27.Bb4! Rxc4 28.Rxe3±
27...Rxc2 28.h4 h6 29.Bxg7+ Kxg7³ 1/2-1/2 (45) Lagno,K (2529) -Ju Wenjun,- (2558) China 2016.
17. (*) Caruana, Fabiano (2794) - Aronian, Levon (2786) [C84]
FIDE Candidates Moscow RUS (12.4), 2016.03.25
37...Qd6 38.Ra1 Qc5 39.Rb1 Qa7= (µ /–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
37...Qd6 38.Ra1? Qc5?
38...Rxd3!! This move is winning. Of course, over the board, it was not easy to assess whether it was winning or not.
However, Black is definitely on the edge, which means it was a clear opportunity. 39.cxd3 Qxd3+ 40.Ke1 (40.Kg1
Qc4!-+ The pawns will run!) 40...Qxe4+ 41.Kf1 Qd3+ 42.Ke1 (42.Kg1?! Qc4-+) 42...Qd2+ 43.Kf1 c2 44.Qb2+ Kh7
45.Re1 (45.Kg1 b3 46.Rf1 Qf4 47.Re1 b4-+ … ...Qc4) 45...Qd1 46.f3 b3 47.Kf2 b4! 48.Qxb3 Qxe1+-+
39.Rb1 Qa7= 1/2-1/2 (67) Caruana,F (2794)-Aronian,L (2786) Moscow 2016.
18. Landa, K. (2626) - Nyback, T. (2608) [C54]
Bundesliga 2015-16 Muelheim GER (12.5), 2016.04.09
30...c4 31.bxc4 Nxc4 32.Ne5 Nxe5 33.Bxe5 f6= (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
30...c4 31.bxc4 Nxc4
31...Kf8! 32.Bd6 Nxc4-+
32.Ne5 Nxe5 33.Bxe5 f6= 1/2-1/2 (77) Landa,K (2626)-Nyback,T (2608) Germany 2016.
19. Chandra, Akshat (2477) - So, Wesley (2773) [B12]
U.S. Championships 2016 Open Saint Louis (2), 2016.04.15
32.Rb3 Rh1 33.Kg4 Kf8 34.Rg3 Kg8-+ (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
32.Rb3 Rh1?? 33.Kg4??
33.Rxe6+! fxe6 34.Qxe6+ Kf8 35.Rd3+33...Kf8 34.Rg3 Kg8-+ 0-1 (40) Chandra,A (2477)-So Wesley,- (2773) Saint Louis USA 2016.
20. Milliet, Sophie (2353) - Smirnov, Anton (2479) [C15]
16th Bangkok Open 2016 Bangkok (7), 2016.04.15
50...Rxb6 51.Bc4 Rd6 52.Bxe6 Rxe6 53.Rxe6+ Kxe6 54.h4 gxh3+ 55.Kxh3= (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
50...Rxb6 51.Bc4 Rd6
51...e3! 52.Rxe6+ (52.f4+ gxf3+ 53.Kxf3 Bd5+-+) 52...Rxe6 53.Bxe6 e2 54.f4+ gxf3+ 55.Kf2 Kxe6-+
52.Bxe6 Rxe6 53.Rxe6+ Kxe6 54.h4 gxh3+ 55.Kxh3= 0-1 (61) Milliet,S (2353)-Smirnov,A (2479) Thailand 2016.
21. Boruchovsky, Avital (2542) - Grandelius, Nils (2649) [C97]
17th EICC 2016 Gjakova (2), 2016.05.13
50...Rd3+ 51.Kg2 Rxd6 52.Rc7 Na5 53.Rxc2 Nc6 (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
50...Rd3+?
50...e4+! 51.Kxe4 (51.Kg2 e3-+) 51...Rd4+ 52.Kf3 Ne5+-+
51.Kg2 Rxd6 52.Rc7 Na5 53.Rxc2 Nc6 54.Ba3 1/2-1/2 Boruchovsky,A (2542)-Grandelius,N (2649) Gjakova 2016.
22. Schwaegli, Bruno (2276) - Loetscher, Roland (2429) [C50]
SUI TCh SUI (5.3), 2016.06.12
23.Nf6+ gxf6 24.Rh4 Rfa8 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Bxf6 Ke8-+ (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
23.Nf6+! gxf6 24.Rh4! Rfa8 25.Qh7+??
25.Qh8+ Nxh8 26.Bxf6+ Ng6 27.Rh8#
25...Kf8 26.Bxf6 Ke8-+ 0-1 (33) Schwaegli,B (2276)-Loetscher,R (2429) Switzerland 2016.
23. (*) Fressinet, Laurent (2687) - Carlsen, Magnus (2855) [A40]
GCT Blitz Paris 2016 Paris (17), 2016.06.12
31...Nxf2 32.R1xd4 cxd4 33.Rxd4 Re8 34.a6 (=)
Show/Hide the Solution
31...Nxf2 32.R1xd4? cxd4 33.Rxd4 Re8?
33...f5! 34.Rc4 (34.Bd5+ Kg7 35.Rc4 Nxe4; 34.a6? Nxe4µ; 34.e5?? Ne4-+ … ...Nd2+; 34.gxf6?? Rxf6-+ … ...Nxe4)
34...Nxe4 35.Bd5+ Kg7 36.Rc7+ Kh8 37.Bxe4 fxe4 38.Rxc3 Ra8 39.Ra3 e3=
34.a6+- 0-1 (58) Fressinet,L (2687) -Carlsen,M (2855) Paris 2016.
24. Megaranto, Susanto (2535) - Gelfand, Boris (2734) [A48]
Eurasian Blitz Chess Cup Almaty KAZ (11.8), 2016.06.18
39.Qf1 e3 40.Qg2 Qxg2+ 41.Kxg2 Nxg4-+ (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
39.Qf1 e3 40.Qg2?
40.Rxg5+! Kxg5 41.Qf5+ Kh6 42.Qh5+ Kg7 43.Nf5+ Kf6 (43...Kg8 44.Qg5+ Ng6 45.Ne7++-) 44.Qxh8+ Ke6
45.Qe8+ Kf6 46.Qd8+ Kg6 47.Ne7++40...Qxg2+ 41.Kxg2 Nxg4-+ 0-1 (49) Megaranto,S (2535)-Gelfand,B (2734) Kazakhstan 2016.
25. Matamoros Franco, Carlos S (2507) - Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina (2385) [A14]
Forni di Sopra-7th Dolomiti Open ITA (8.6), 2016.06.18
15...Rc8 16.Ng5 b5 17.Nxe4 Rxc4 18.Nxf6+= (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
15...Rc8 16.Ng5? b5 17.Nxe4 Rxc4?
17...Bxe4! 18.Bxe4 Rxc4-+
18.Nxf6+= 1/2-1/2 Matamoros Franco,C (2507)-Vega Gutierrez,S (2385) Italy 2016.
26. Jones, Gawain CB (2650) - Kazhgaleyev, Murtas (2582) [C41]
Almaty-Eurasian BLITZ KAZ (22.13), 2016.06.19
43...Bxd5 44.Re5 Ne4 45.Ra6 Bc6 46.Rxa7 Nf6∞ (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
43...Bxd5 44.Re5 Ne4 45.Ra6?? Bc6??
45...Nc5!-+
46.Rxa7 Nf6∞ 1-0 (73) Jones,G (2650) -Kazhgaleyev,M (2582) Kazakhstan 2016.
27. Kramnik, Vladimir (2812) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2789) [A48]
Leuven-GCT BLITZ YourNextMove BEL (15.5), 2016.06.20
16.Bh4 Bc4 17.Qc2 Bxf1 18.Rxf1 Rad8³ (±)
Show/Hide the Solution
16.Bh4 Bc4 17.Qc2?
17.Bxe7! Qc7 18.Bd6! Bxe2 19.Bxc7 Bxf1 20.Kxf1±
17...Bxf1 18.Rxf1 Rad8³ 0-1 (66) Kramnik,V (2812)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2789) Belgium 2016.
28. Naiditsch, A. (2657) - Borisek, J. (2576) [C84]
20th Vidmar Mem Bled SLO (4.4), 2016.06.27
24.h4 Qf7 25.h5 h6 26.Kh1 Ne5 27.Qh3 Nd7= (±)
Show/Hide the Solution
24.h4 Qf7? 25.h5?
25.Qxe6! Rxe6 (25...Qxe6 26.Nxe6+-) 26.Nxe6±
25...h6 26.Kh1 Ne5 27.Qh3 Nd7= 1-0 (68) Naiditsch,A (2657)-Borisek,J (2576) Bled 2016.
29. Short, Nigel D (2652) - Firouzja, Alireza (2481) [B07]
1st Stars Cup 2016 Guilan, Iran (4.4), 2016.07.14
23.Bf6 Nd7 24.Bxe5 Ndxe5 25.Kh1² (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
23.Bf6 Nd7? 24.Bxe5?
24.Nxe4! fxe4? 25.Qg4++24...Ndxe5 25.Kh1² 1-0 (78) Short,N (2652) -Firouzja,A (2481) Iran 2016.
30. Zude, Erik (2403) - Marin, Mihail (2576) [E52]
Xtracon Chess Open 2016 Helsingor (4), 2016.07.25
32...Rg7 33.e6 Kg8 34.Rc5 Rd8 35.g3+- (³)
Show/Hide the Solution
32...Rg7 33.e6 Kg8 34.Rc5?? Rd8??
34...Qd7!³
35.g3+- 1-0 (52) Zude,E (2403)-Marin,M (2576) Denmark 2016.
31. Studer, N. (2462) - Rambaldi, Francesco (2544) [E05]
Biel-49th Juniors Match SUI (4.1), 2016.07.29
38.Rd6 Rc3 39.Rf1 Qc7 40.Kh2 Nd5 41.Rf3∞ (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
38.Rd6 Rc3 39.Rf1 Qc7? 40.Kh2?
40.Bxg6! fxg6 41.Rd7 Qc6 (41...Qxe5 42.Rd8+ Rxd8 43.Qxd8+ Kh7 44.Rf7++-) 42.Rd8+ Kg7 43.Rf7+!! (43.Qf2!?
+-) 43...Kxf7 44.Qf2+ and mate to follow!
40...Nd5 41.Rf3∞ 1/2-1/2 (48) Studer,N (2462) -Rambaldi,F (2544) Switzerland 2016.
32. (*) Nakamura, Hikaru (2791) - Giri, Anish (2769) [D44]
4th Sinquefield Cup 2016 Saint Louis (2), 2016.08.06
39...Rxh3+ 40.Kg1 Qxf3 41.Bxf3 Nd3 42.Re3 Rxg3+ 43.Kh2+- (∞)
Show/Hide the Solution
39...Rxh3+ 40.Kg1 Qxf3 41.Bxf3 Nd3?
41...Ng4!∞
42.Re3 Rxg3+ 43.Kh2+- 1-0 (60) Nakamura,H (2791)-Giri,A (2769) Saint Louis USA 2016.
33. Ziska, Helgi Dam (2546) - Krishna, C Revanth Gopala (2401) [A07]
Abu Dhabi-23rd Masters UAE (7.24), 2016.08.27
45...Nd6 46.Ne2 Bc5 47.Qb2 Qxb2 48.Rxb2 Nd3 49.Rd2± (µ)
Show/Hide the Solution
45...Nd6 46.Ne2 Bc5 47.Qb2?? Qxb2??
47...Nxc4!µ 48.bxc4? Qe3-+
48.Rxb2 Nd3 49.Rd2± 0-1 (89) Ziska,H (2546)-Krishna,C (2401) Abu Dhabi 2016.
34. Vandenbussche, T. (2401) - Collutiis, D. (2441) [B47]
42nd Olympiad 2016 Baku AZE (4.35), 2016.09.05
42...Ra8 43.Re7 d3 44.Rh7+ Kg8 45.Rg7+ Kh8 46.Rh7+ Kg8= (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
42...Ra8??
42...Rg7!-+
43.Re7 d3 44.Rh7+ Kg8 45.Rg7+ Kh8 46.Rh7+ Kg8= 1/2-1/ 2 (48) Vandenbussche,T (2401)-Collutiis,D (2441) Baku
2016.
35. Lagarde, Max (2593) - Kantans, T. (2476) [D80]
20th Corsica Masters Open Bastia FRA (6.7), 2016.10.25
27...Rad8 28.O-O Rd1 29.g3 Bxb2 30.Rxe6+- (=)
Show/Hide the Solution
27...Rad8??
27...Nd4!= … 28.Rxe5?? Nc2+ 29.Kf1 Rd1#
28.O-O Rd1 29.g3 Bxb2 30.Rxe6+- 1-0 (46) Lagarde,M (2593)-Kantans,T (2476) Bastia 2016.
36. Galliamova, A. (2450) - Gunina, V. (2535) [E12]
66th ch-RUS w 2016 Novosibirsk RUS (10.5), 2016.10.26
30.e4 Nxe4 31.Bxe4 Rxd1+ 32.Nxd1 Qxe4 33.Kf1 Qh1+-+ (White remains worse but alive!)
Show/Hide the Solution
30.e4 Nxe4 31.Bxe4 Rxd1+? 32.Nxd1?
32.Kg2! would have been a surprise, and Black is better but does not have a forced win: 32...Qd7!? (32...Qa7 33.Qxa7
Bxe4+ 34.Kh3 Bxa7 35.Nxd1µ) 33.Qxa8 Rd2 34.Nd1! Bd4 (34...Rxd1 35.Bxe5+ f6 36.Bc3³) 35.Bc6! Qd6 36.Bxd4
Qxd4 37.Ba4 Qxb4 38.Be8! Rxd1 39.Qf3 Qd6 40.Qxf7+ Kh8 41.h4 and White should hold.
32...Qxe4-+ 0-1 (33) Galliamova,A (2450) -Gunina,V (2535) Novosibirsk 2016.
37. Edouard, R. (2628) - Tarhon, Brian (2300) [A18]
4NCL 2016-17 Reading ENG (1.53), 2016.11.19
24.Rg3 Kh8 25.f5 Rg8 26.Qe2© (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Rg3 Kh8 25.f5?
25.Rxg7! Kxg7 26.Bf6+ Kg8 (26...Kf8 27.Qh7+-) 27.Rf3+25...Rg8 26.Qe2© 1-0 (37) Edouard,R (2628)-Tarhon,B (2300) Reading 2016.
38. (*) Kovalenko, I. (2664) - Dautov, R. (2607) [A11]
2nd Bundesliga Sud 2016-17 Germany GER (2.6), 2016.11.20
24.Nf4 Bg4 25.Bxg4 Qxg4 26.Rxd5 Nxf2∞ (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Nf4 Bg4?! 25.Bxg4?
25.Rxd5! Rxd5 26.Nxd5 Bxf3 (26...Qxd5 27.Bxe4+-) 27.Ne7+ Kh8 28.Ng6+ hxg6 29.Qxf8+ Kh7 30.Qxg7#
25...Qxg4∞ 26.Rxd5 Nxf2∞ 1/2-1/2 (36) Kovalenko,I (2664)-Dautov,R (2607) Germany 2016.
39. (*) Kramnik, V. (2809) - Hou Yifan (2651) [D04]
10th Kings Blitz Match Medias ROU (9), 2016.11.30
37...Bd4+ 38.Kh1 Bxe4 39.Qd2 Be3 40.Qd8 Bxg2+ 41.Kh2+- (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
37...Bd4+ 38.Kh1 Bxe4 39.Qd2 Be3??
39...Qd7! 40.Kh2 Qg7 41.Kh1 Qg3-+
40.Qd8 Bxg2+ 41.Kh2+- 1-0
40. Leko, Peter (2693) - Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan (2574) [B12]
FIDE WCC Rapid 2016 Men Doha (5), 2016.12.26
25.Ng4 Bg5 26.Rf1 Qg3 27.Qe8+ Kh7 (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
25.Ng4 Bg5 26.Rf1 Qg3?? 27.Qe8+??
27.Nf6+! Bxf6 28.Bxe6+ Kf8 29.Rxf6+ Ke7 30.Rf7+ Kxe6 31.Nc5+ Kd6 32.Qh6+ Ng6 33.Rf6++27...Kh7 28.Qh5+ Kg8 29.Qe8+? Kh7 1/2-1/2 (29) Leko,P (2693)-Ghaem Maghami,E (2574) Doha 2016.
41. Henriquez Villagra, C. (2517) - Fressinet, L. (2672) [B06]
World Rapid 2016 Doha QAT (14.38), 2016.12.28
57...Qf1+ 58.Kh4 Qxf3 59.Qxd4+ Kg8 60.Kg5 Kh7 61.Qf4∞ (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
57...Qf1+ 58.Kh4 Qxf3 59.Qxd4+?? Kg8??
59...f6! 60.Qd7+ Kh6-+
60.Kg5 Kh7 61.Qf4∞ 1-0 (107) Henriquez Villagra,C (2517)-Fressinet,L (2672) Doha 2016.
42. Howell, D. (2644) - Mamedyarov, S. (2768) [A05]
World Blitz 2016 Doha QAT (6.15), 2016.12.29
18...e4 19.Nfxd4 Rd8 20.Qb6 Qf8 21.Ra3 Nd7 22.Qa7± (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
18...e4 19.Nfxd4 Rd8?
19...exd3 20.exd3 Nd7-+ Attacking the d4-knight and defending the b8-rook!; 19...Nd7 also works, although
exchanging on d3 first is even stronger.
20.Qb6 Qf8 21.Ra3 Nd7 22.Qa7± 1/2-1/2 (86) Howell,D (2644) -Mamedyarov,S (2768) Doha 2016.
43. Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2739) - Ivanchuk, Vassily (2747) [C17]
FIDE WCC Blitz 2016 Men Doha (10), 2016.12.29
39...Rxh3+ 40.gxh3 Qxf2+ 41.Qg2 Qxd4 42.Rxe6 Qf4+ 43.Qg3 Qd2+= (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
39...Rxh3+! 40.gxh3 Qxf2+?
40...Rxh3+! 41.Kxh3 Qh1+ 42.Kg3 Qg1+-+
41.Qg2 Qxd4 42.Rxe6 Qf4+ 43.Qg3 Qd2+= 1/2-1/2 (46) Dominguez Perez,L (2739)-Ivanchuk,V (2747) Doha 2016.
44. Lalith Babu M R (2587) - Jakovenko, Dmitry (2704) [E15]
FIDE WCC Blitz 2016 Men Doha (17), 2016.12.30
40...Ng4+ 41.Kf3 Ne5+ 42.Kf4 Nf7 43.Ra6+ Kg7 44.Ra7+- (–+)
Show/Hide the Solution
40...Ng4+ 41.Kf3 Ne5+ 42.Kf4?? Nf7??
42...Rg4+ 43.Bxg4 g5#
43.Ra6+ Kg7 44.Ra7+- 1-0 (45) Lalith,B (2587)-Jakovenko,D (2704) Doha 2016.
45. Leko, Peter (2693) - Wei, Yi (2707) [C42]
FIDE WCC Blitz 2016 Men Doha (20), 2016.12.30
18.Bf3 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Qxf2 20.Rf4 Qc5µ (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Bf3 Bxd4? 19.Rxd4??
19.Qb3! Qg5 20.Qxb7+ Kd7 21.Bc6+ Ke7 22.Qxc7+ Kf6 23.Rxd4 Qc5 24.Rf4+ Bf5 25.Rd1+19...Qxf2 20.Rf4 Qc5µ 1-0 (24) Leko,P (2693)-Wei Yi (2707) Doha 2016.
46. (*) Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2750) - Van Wely, Loek (2695) [E81]
79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters Rotterdam (5), 2017.01.19
32...Bxb2 33.Nb5 Nc4 34.Nxd6 Rxd6 35.Rb4+- (²)
Show/Hide the Solution
32...Bxb2 33.Nb5 Nc4??
33...Rc6! That could have been an excellent example for the chapter "Play the right move under pressure!" as well.
34.Rxb6 (34.Bxb6 Be5=) 34...Rxb6 35.Bxb6 Rb7 36.Rb1 a3 37.Kf1 Rxb6 38.Nxa3 Ra6 39.Nc4²
34.Nxd6 Rxd6 35.Rb4+- 1-0 (46) Wojtaszek,R (2750)-Van Wely,L (2695) Wijk aan Zee 2017.
47. Carlstedt, J. (2413) - Maze, S. (2613) [E62]
Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta ENG (2.25), 2017.01.25
26.Re1 Rf8 27.Bg5 Nd4 28.Bh6 Be6 29.Bxf8 Kxf8© (+–)
Show/Hide the Solution
26.Re1 Rf8 27.Bg5?
27.g4! Qxg4+ (27...Bxg4 28.Rh2 Qf5 29.Qh6+-) 28.Kh2+27...Nd4 28.Bh6 Be6 29.Bxf8 Kxf8© 1/2-1/2 (33) Carlstedt,J (2413)-Maze,S (2613) Gibraltar 2017.
48. Mastrovasilis, Athanasios (2551) - Docx, Stefan (2405) [D70]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (5), 2017.01.28
18.Bxc5 bxc5 19.Bd5 Rfd8 20.Bxb7 Qxb7= (±)
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Bxc5 bxc5 19.Bd5 Rfd8? 20.Bxb7?
20.Bxf7+! Kxf7 21.Ng5+ Ke8™ (21...Kg8? 22.Qc4++-; 21...Kf6? 22.Nxh7+ Kf7 23.Qc4+ e6 24.Ng5++-) 22.Qc4
e5™ 23.Ne6 (‹ 23.Qg8+ Bf8 24.Qxf8+ Kxf8 25.Ne6+ Ke7 26.Nxc7 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 Rb8) 23...Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Qc6™
After this move White does not have a forced win, but of course the position is one-sided and in White's favour.
(24...Qe7? 25.Qb5++-) 25.Nxg7+ Kf8 26.Ne6+ Ke7 27.f3 Qxe6 28.Qxc5+ Ke8 29.Rd6 Qf5 30.e4 (30.Qb5+ Ke7™
and again, White is better but does not have a forced win.) 30...Qc8 31.Qxe5+ Kf7 32.Qd4 Ra6™ 33.Rd7+ Ke6™
34.Rxh7 Rd6™ 35.Qe3±
20...Qxb7= 1/2-1/2 (42) Mastrovasilis,A (2551)-Docx,S (2405) Gibraltar 2017.
Show in Quiz Mode
Chapter 9
Evaluate the opportunity!
For each exercise in this chapter, I will suggest a possible move. You must say whether the move is good or bad and
evaluate the resulting position in the same way as a chess engine: White is winning, Black is winning, White is better,
Black is better, or the position is equal or unclear.
You must find the key continuation and explain why the suggested move does or does not work.
This is intended to replicate a game situation, when you must analyse a critical candidate move. The difficulty of these
exercises ranges from medium to difficult, unless an asterisk indicates that the exercise is very difficult.
1. Sjugirov, Sanan (2653) - Karjakin, Sergey (2772) [E13]
RUS-21st TCh Loo RUS (1.1), 2014.04.07
■ 42...Rxc3?
Show/Hide the Solution
42...Rxc3! Good! Black is (much) better. 43.Qe6+
The best defence would have been: 43.f6 Qxg3+ 44.Qxg3 Rgxg3 45.Be6+ (45.f7 Rcf3+ 46.Ke2 Rxf4 47.Rxh5 Kd7-+)
45...Kd8 46.Rxh5 Rcf3+ 47.Ke2 Re3+ 48.Kf2 Rxe6 49.Kxg3 Rxf6-+ and Black should be winning.
43...Kb7 44.Qxg8 Rc2+! The point! 45.Bxc2
45.Kf3? Qc3+ 46.Ke4 Re2+ 47.Kd5 Qc5#45.Kf1? Qa1#
45...Qxg8-+ 0-1 (66) Sjugirov,S (2653)-Karjakin,S (2772) Loo 2014.
2. Lupulescu, Constantin (2660) - Bogner, Sebastian (2587) [B50]
Dubai-16th Open UAE (6.3), 2014.04.12
□ 12.Qxc6+?
Show/Hide the Solution
12.Qxc6+?? Bad! White loses a piece and the game.
12.gxf3 was better.
12...Nd7 13.gxf3 Rc8 14.Qa4 Rxc1!-+ 0-1 (24) Lupulescu,C (2660) -Bogner,S (2587) 2014.
White loses because of: 14...Rxc1 15.Rxc1 Qg5+-+.
3. Hoffmann, Michael (1970) (2447) - Cornette, Matthieu (2548) [E32]
BEL TCh 14/15 BEL (3.3), 2014.11.02
■ 16...Bxd5?
Show/Hide the Solution
16...Bxd5! Good! Black is better.
Instead, the game went 16...Qh4 17.Nxe4 fxe4 18.f4∞ 1/2-1/2 (42) Hoffmann,M (2447)-Cornette,M (2548) Belgium
2014.
17.Bc4? The only answer not to be simply a pawn down, but... 17...Rxg2+! 18.Kxg2
18.Kh1 Rg1+! 19.Kxg1 Qg5+ 20.Kh1 Nxf2#
18...Qg5+ 19.Kh1 Nxf2#
4. Bacrot, E. (2711) - Baramidze, D. (2594) [D70]
3rd GRENKE Chess Classic Baden Baden GER (1.2), 2015.02.02
□ 27.Nce4?
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Nce4? Bad! The position is a draw.
¹ 27.fxg4±
27...gxf3 28.Rh8+ Kg7 29.Rh7+
Now the key of this exercise: did you notice that 29.Rdh1?? fails because of Nd2+! 30.Nxd2 Bf5+-+?
29...Kf8 30.Rh8+ Kg7 31.Rh7+ 1/2-1/2 Bacrot,E (2711)-Baramidze,D (2594) Germany 2015.
5. Topalov, Veselin (2803) - Giri, Anish (2778) [D71]
7th London Classic 2015 London (1), 2015.12.04
■ 33...Nxf2?
Show/Hide the Solution
33...Nxf2! Good! Black wins. 34.Bxe2 Nxh3+ 35.Kf1 Qd5! The point! 36.Bh5
36.Ke1 Qh1+ 37.Bf1 Qf3 38.Rb2 Qxg3+ 39.Rf2 Re8+ 40.Be2 Nf4-+
36...Qh1+ 37.Ke2 Qg2+ 38.Ke1 Re8+ 39.Kd1 Nf2+ 40.Kc2 Ne4+ 0-1 Topalov,V (2803)-Giri,A (2778) London 2015.
White resigned in view of: 40...Ne4+ 41.Kd3 Qd2+ 42.Kc4 Rc8+ 43.Qc5 Rxc5#.
6. (*) Nakamura, Hikaru (2793) - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2773) [A69]
7th London Classic 2015 London (2), 2015.12.05
■ 32...gxf3?
Show/Hide the Solution
32...gxf3! Good! Black is winning.
Instead, the game went 32...Bxc4? 33.Nxc4 Nd5∞ 1/2-1/2 (57) Nakamura,H (2793)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2765) London
2015.
33.Bh6 Ne4+ 34.Ke3
34.Kf1 Kh7! 35.Bxg7 Be6!?-+
34...Kh7! 35.Bxg7 f2!
35...f6!? is also good.
36.Rg2 Nd4-+
7. Shyam, Sundar M (2485) - Maze, Sebastien (2582) [C54]
II Sunway Sitges 2015 Sitges (5), 2015.12.16
□ 13.Nxe5?
Show/Hide the Solution
13.Nxe5? Bad! Black is winning. 13...Rxe5! 14.Nc4
After 14.dxe5 Qh4 Black gets a winning attack: 15.Re3™ (15.Rf1 Bxh3-+) 15...Bxe3 16.fxe3 Bxh3 17.Nf3 (17.gxh3
Qg3+ 18.Kf1 Qxh3+ 19.Ke1 Qh4+ 20.Kf1 Nxe5-+) 17...Qg3 18.Qf1 Nxe5-+
14...Rg5 15.Bxg5 Qxg5-+ 0-1 (38) Shyam,S (2485) -Maze,S (2582) Spain 2015.
8. Ma, Zhonghan (2463) - Ivanchuk, Vassily (2710) [D58]
Qatar Masters Open 2015 Doha (1), 2015.12.20
■ 18...Nc5?
Show/Hide the Solution
18...Nc5? Bad! White is better.
¹18...Be7=
19.Bxf8! Nxb3 20.Rcd1 Qxf8 21.Qc4!± 1/2-1/2 (37) Ma Zhonghan,- (2463)-Ivanchuk,V (2710) Doha 2015.
White wins material as the B on h4 and the N on b3 can't both be defended.
9. Arvola, B. (2328) - Kryvoruchko, Y. (2711) [E15]
Al Ain Classic 2015 Al Ain (1), 2015.12.25
■ 29...Rc1+?
Show/Hide the Solution
29...Rc1+ Good! Black wins. 30.Nf1
30.Rd1 Qxe3!-+ The important trick to see!
30...Qf5 31.g4
31.Qd8+ Kh7 32.Qd3 Qxd3 33.Rxd3 Be2-+
31...Rxf1+ 0-1 (31) Arvola,B (2328)-Kryvoruchko,Y (2711) Al Ain 2015.
White resigned in view of: 31...Rxf1+ 32.Kxf1 Qb1+-+.
10. Amin, Bassem (2665) - Gasanov, Eldar (2485) [C55]
Al Ain Classic 2015 Al Ain (5), 2015.12.26
□ 33.c5?
Show/Hide the Solution
33.c5! Good! White is winning.
33.h4? Bg1+ 34.Kh3 Qd7+∞ 1/2-1/2 (68) Amin,B (2665)-Gasanov,E (2485) Al Ain 2015.
33...Qxd6™ 34.Qc3!
34.Qb4
34...Bxc5
34...Qe7? 35.Qxe1+35.Qxe1+-
11. Howell, David W L (2685) - Jumabayev, Rinat (2607) [A33]
25th Keres Memorial - ACP Open Tallinn (8), 2016.01.09
□ 17.Nf6+?
Show/Hide the Solution
17.Nf6+! Good! White wins.
17.Be7 brings an advantage, but the suggested move just wins.
17...gxf6 18.Bxf6 Ng6 19.Qh5
19.Qd2 leads to the same.
19...e5 20.Rc6!+- 1-0 (27) Howell,D (2685) -Jumabayev,R (2607) Tallinn 2016.
20.Bc6 also wins.
12. Fier, Alexandr (2607) - Brunner, Nicolas (2426) [E52]
14th Meurthe&Moselle - A Nancy (8), 2016.02.20
□ 39.Rxd5?
Show/Hide the Solution
39.Rxd5 Good! White is winning. 39...g4 40.g3! The important move to see! 40...Nxg3 41.Rd8+ Kh7 42.Qa8 Ne2+
43.Kg2 Black has no perpetual check. 43...Nf4+
43...Qh3+ 44.Kf2 Qh2+ 45.Ke1+44.exf4 Qh3+ 45.Kf2 Qh2+ 46.Ke3 Qg3+ 47.Ke4 The white King escapes and White has many ways to win, but the
end of the game was quite nice: 47...Qe1+ 48.Kd5 Qd1+ 49.Kc6 Qf3+ 50.Kd6 Qxa8 51.Rxa8 g3 52.Kxe7 g2
53.Kf7! g1=Q 54.e7 Qxa1 55.Rh8+! 1-0 (55) Fier Takeda,A (2608)-Brunner,N (2438) France 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 55.Rh8+ Kxh8 56.e8=Q+ Kh7 57.Qg8+ Kh6 58.Qh8#.
13. Karavade, E. (2400) - Bailet, P. (2509) [E93]
Meurthe et Moselle A 2016 Nancy FRA (8.2), 2016.02.20
■ 33...Rxb2+?
Show/Hide the Solution
32...Rxb2+! Good! Black wins. 33.Rxb2 Rxb2+ 34.Kxb2 Qd2+ 35.Kb1 a3 36.Qe2 Qb4+ 37.Ka1
37.Kc2 Qb2+ 38.Kd1 Qc1#
37...Qc3+ 38.Kb1 Bd2! 0-1 (38) Karavade,E (2400)-Bailet,P (2509) France 2016.
14. Hector, J. (2493) - Demuth, A. (2550) [B22]
Copenhagen CC 2016 Ballerup DEN (8.1), 2016.04.24
■ 13...b5?
Show/Hide the Solution
13...b5? Bad! White is better.
The right choice was the simple 13...Bxc5 14.Nxf5 exf5 15.Bd5 O-O 16.O-O b5∞ 1/2-1/2 (49) Hector,J (2493)Demuth,A (2550) Denmark 2016.
14.Nxb5 axb5 15.Qxb5 Ra5 16.Rd8+! The point! Otherwise Black would be better. 16...Qxd8 17.Qxc6+ Qd7
18.Qxd7+ Kxd7 19.Bb6±
15. (*) Brochet, Philippe (2379) - Vaisser, Anatoly (2509) [C07]
FRA-chT Top 12 2016 Drancy (5), 2016.06.01
□ 18.Rxe5?
Show/Hide the Solution
18.Rxe5? Bad! Black is winning.
A much better choice was: 18.Bxh6 Bf4 (18...gxh6? 19.Qxh6 Rfe8 20.Qg5+±) 19.Bxf4 Qxf4 20.Kg1=
18...Qxe5!
In the game Black failed to find the ‘winning defence’ and played 18...hxg5?? 19.Rxg5+- 1-0 (35) Brochet,P (2379)Vaisser,A (2509) Drancy 2016.
19.f4 Ne4!! What a move! 20.Qe3
20.fxe5 Nf2+-+
20...Qd6 21.Qxe4 f5-+ 1-0
16. Sokolov, Ivan (2642) - Mousavi, Seyed Khalil (2432) [D27]
1st Stars Cup 2016 Guilan, Iran (2.5), 2016.07.12
□ 17.Bxh6?
Show/Hide the Solution
17.Bxh6! Good! White is winning.
17.Nxd5? Qxd5 18.Re3‭→ 1/2-1/2 (27) Sokolov,I (2642)-Mousavi,S (2432) Iran 2016.
17...gxh6 18.Qxh6 Qxb2 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Rad1!! The point! Qc2
20...Bf5 21.Re3 Qc2 22.Rg3+ Bg6 23.Re1+21.Rd3+-
17. (*) Edouard, Romain (2639) - Tabatabaei, Mohammad Amin (2481) [E81]
Biel-49th chess festival MTO SUI (3), 2016.07.27
□ 20.e5?
Show/Hide the Solution
20.e5? Bad! The position is unclear.
After 20.exd5! Black is far away from getting enough compensation: 20...Rfe8 (20...Rxb2 21.Bd2 Re8+ 22.Be2+-)
21.Kf2 Rxb2+ 22.Rxb2 Qxc3 23.Re2 (23.Qc1!? Rxe3 24.Rb8+ Kh7 25.Qxc3 Rxc3 26.Bb3 c4 27.Rc8!+-) 23...Qxc4
24.Qb3+-.
20...dxc4 21.exf6 Rxb2! 22.Bd2
22.Rxb2 Qxc3+ 23.Qd2 Qxf6 24.Rc2 Qxf3 25.Rf1 Qe4© This position is very tricky and probably around equal! Black
has many pawns and White has problem to run away with his King.
22...Re8+ 23.Ne4 Qxd2+! 24.Qxd2 Rxb1+ 25.Qd1 Rxd1+ 26.Kxd1 Bh8! 27.g4 g5³ … ...Re6: 1/2-1/2 (41) Edouard,R
(2639)-Tabatabaei,M (2481) Biel 2016.
18. Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2819) - Anand, Viswanathan (2770) [B11]
4th Sinquefield Cup 2016 Saint Louis (2), 2016.08.05
□ 30.Nxe6?
Show/Hide the Solution
30.Nxe6?? Bad! Black is winning.
30.Bxd5 was a better option: 30...exd5 31.Qh3²
30...Bxe6 31.Bxd5 e3! 32.Bxe3 Bxd5-+ 0-1 (46) Vachier Lagrave,M (2819)-Anand,V (2770) USA 2016.
19. Maze, S. (2617) - Mastrovasilis, D. (2601) [C48]
42nd Olympiad 2016 Baku AZE (4.9), 2016.09.05
■ 33...Bxf2+?
Show/Hide the Solution
33...Bxf2+! Good! Black makes a draw. 34.Kh2 Bg1+! The important move to see! 35.Kxg1™ Qd4+ 36.Rf2™ Qa1+=
1/2-1/2 (43) Maze,S (2617)-Mastrovasilis,D (2601) Baku 2016.
20. L'Ami, Erwin (2611) - Adhiban, B. (2671) [E33]
Baku Chess Olympiad | Open chess24.com (6.2), 2016.09.08
■ 36...Bxc4?
Show/Hide the Solution
36...Bxc4! Good! Black is much better. 37.Bf3
White cannot go for 37.Bxf7+? because of: Rxf7 38.Rxd6 Rf1#
37...Rxd1+ 38.Bxd1 Bb5µ 0-1 (66) L'Ami,E (2611) -Adhiban,B (2671) Baku 2016.
21. Pultinevicius, Paulius - Moroni, Luca Jr [A09]
World Youth Open U16 Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (8.19), 2016.09.30
■ 42...Qxd4?
Show/Hide the Solution
42...Qxd4! Good! Black is winning.
Instead, the game went: 42...Bg4 43.e5„ 1-0 (68) Pultinevicius,P-Moroni,L Khanty-Mansiysk 2016.
43.Qxd4 Rxd2 44.Qc5 Bg4!-+ The important move to see. The Bishop will go to h3 and White eventually gets mated.
22. Kenneskog, T. (2335) - Vanheirzeele, D. (2120) [D41]
ECC 2016 (3), 2016.11.08
■ 24...Nxf3+?
Show/Hide the Solution
24...Nxf3+! Good! Black is winning.
24...Bg6?? 25.Qxd5 Nc4!© 0-1 (34) Kenneskog,T (2332)-Van Heirzeele,D (2120) Novi Sad 2016.
25.Bxf3 Bxf3 26.Nxf3 Qxe3+ 27.Kg2 Rc2+ 28.Kh3 Qh6+ 29.Kg4 Qe6+ 30.Kh4 Qf6+ 31.Kh3 Qf5+ 32.Kh4 g5+!
33.Kh5
33.Nxg5 Rxh2+ 34.Nh3 Rxh3#
33...Qxf3+ 34.Kxg5 f6+ 35.Kh6 Rxh2#
23. Carlsen, M. (2853) - Karjakin, Sergey (2772) [C65]
WCh 2016 New York USA (10), 2016.11.24
■ 21...Nxf2+?
Show/Hide the Solution
21...Nxf2+! Good! This leads to a draw.
21...Ng5?! 22.h4² 1-0 (75) Carlsen,M (2853)-Karjakin,S (2772) New York 2016.
22.Kg2 Qf7™ (… ...Nf4+) 23.Kg1
23.Qe2 Nh4+ 24.Kg1 (24.gxh4?? Qg6+-+) 24...Nh3+ 25.Kh1 Nf2+=
23...Qf6™ (… ...Qg5) 24.Kg2
24.h4? Nf4! 25.gxf4 Qxf4-+; 24.Qe2?! Nh3+ 25.Kg2 Nhf4+ 26.gxf4 Nxf4+ 27.Rxf4 Qxf4³; 24.Rae1 Qg5 25.Qxg5
Nh3+ 26.Kg2 Nxg5 27.Rxf8+ Nxf8 28.Ng4 Nd7 29.exd5 exd5 30.Nxe5=
24...Qf7=
24. (*) Reinhart, Emmanuel (2386) - Riff, Jean Noel (2477) [B51]
OL16/17 Baden Baden II-Oberwinden Baden GER (5.3), 2017.02.05
□ 22.Nxe5?
Show/Hide the Solution
22.Nxe5! Good! White is winning.
22.Rxc6?! Kg7 23.Bb2 Rac8 24.Rxc8?! Rxc8© 0-1 (46) Reinhart,E-Riff,J Baden Baden 2017.
22...Bg5™
22...dxe5 23.Qxh6+ Kg8 24.Rg3+ Bg6 25.Rxg6+ fxg6 26.Qxg6+ Kf8 27.Rd3 e4 and here White has a panoply of wins,
like 28.Rg3+23.Qe2! dxe5
23...Bxc1 24.Nxc6 Qd7 25.Rdxc1+24.Bxg5 hxg5 25.Qxe5 White is winning, for example: 25...Be6
25...Kg6 26.Rxc6+ Be6 27.Rxe6+ fxe6 28.Qxe6+ Kh5 29.Rd6+26.Qxg5+-
Show in Quiz Mode
Chapter 10
Make the right choice!
In each exercise in this chapter, I will suggest two possible moves. One of them is a blunder! You must decide which is
right and, most importantly, the reason why the other one is a mistake.
Generally, if the two moves suggested are quite similar, you must find the key continuation in both lines, in order to
discover a final important nuance. If the two moves are very different, you must find a clear refutation of one of them.
This chapter is intended to help you to work on your calculation skills, while developing your sense of danger when you
need to rule out a move which seemed good at first glance.
The difficulty of these exercises ranges from medium to difficult, the most challenging ones being marked with an
asterisk.
1. Zhao, Xue (2478) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2525) [A33]
CHN-FRA Match 2nd Shenzheng CHN (3), 2005.06.30
■ 24...Bxf3 / 24...Nxf3
Show/Hide the Solution
24...Bxf3
24...Bxf3! 25.Bxf3 (25.gxf3 f5-+) 25...Rxe1+ 26.Kxe1 Nxf3+-+ 0-1 (29) Zhao,X (2478)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2525)
Shenzheng 2005.
24...Nxf3? 25.gxf3 Bh3+ 26.Ke2 f5 27.Rhg1+ Kf6 28.Rg3„
2. Ivanchuk, Vassily (2746) - Topalov, Veselin (2812) [B99]
Sofia-5th MTel Masters BUL (5), 2009.05.17
□ 37.Qxb7 / 37.Qf7+
Show/Hide the Solution
37.Qxb7
37.Qf7+! Kd8 38.Qxb7 (38.Rd1+!? Bd5 39.Qxe6 Qe3+ 40.Kb1 Qe4+ 41.Ka1!? Kc7 42.Qxd5 Qxd5 43.Rxd5 Rf8=)
38...Qe3+ 39.Kd1 Qd3+ 40.Ke1 Qe3+=
37.Qxb7?? Qe3+ 38.Kc2 (38.Kd1 Rd8+-+) 38...Qe2+ 39.Kb3 Qc4+ 40.Kc2 b3+! 41.Kd2 (41.axb3 Qe2+-+)
41...Rd8+ 42.Ke1 Rd1+! 43.Kxd1 Qxf1+ 44.Kd2 Qf4+ 45.Kd1 bxa2-+ 0-1 (54) Ivanchuk,V (2746)-Topalov,V (2812)
Bulgaria 2009.
3. Edouard, Romain (2597) - Fressinet, Laurent (2667) [D43]
FRA-National A Nimes FRA (2), 2009.08.11
■ 17...b5 / 17...0-0
Show/Hide the Solution
17...b5
17...O-O 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.Qc2²
17...b5? 18.Rxc6! Rxc6 19.Bxb5+- 1-0 (67) Edouard,R (2597)-Fressinet,L (2667) Nimes 2009.
4. Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2710) - Koch, Jean-Rene (2483) [C42]
FRA-Coupe de France Final Chalons-en-Champagne FRA (1), 2010.06.27
□ 54.c6 / 54.Ne5
Show/Hide the Solution
54.c6
54.Ne5+54.c6?? Rxd3 55.c7 Rd1+ 56.Kg2 Rd2+ 57.Kh3 Ne4! 58.c8=Q Nf2+ 59.Kg2 Ng4+! 60.Kh1 (60.Kf1 Nh2+ 61.Ke1
Nf3+=; 60.Kf3 Nh2+ 61.Ke3 Nf1+=; 60.Kg1 Rd1+=) 60...Rd1+ 61.Kg2 Rd2+ 1/2-1/2 Vachier Lagrave,M (2710)Koch,J (2483) France 2010.
5. Efimenko, Zahar (2702) - Forster, Richard (2458) [B76]
European TCh Porto Carras GRE (7.8), 2011.11.09
□ 27.Rf1 / 27.Ne4
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Rf1
27.Ne4 e2 28.Re1+27.Rf1?? Rcxd7! 28.Bxd7 Qxf1+! 29.Nxf1 e2µ 0-1 (43) Efimenko,Z (2702)-Forster,R (2458) Porto Carras 2011.
6. (*) Kamsky, Gata (2778) - Shankland, Samuel L (2698) [D02]
Sturbridge-23rd Eastern Class USA (4), 2014.03.16
■ 10...Bxd7 / 10...Qxd7
Show/Hide the Solution
10...Bxd7
10...Qxd7! 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.dxc5 Qxc5 and if White tries to sacrifice: 13.Bxh7+ Kxh7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Ne4 g6
16.Qg5 Qe7 17.Nf6+ Kg7 18.Nh5+ Kh7 19.Nf6+ Kg7=
10...Bxd7? 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.dxc5 Qxc5 13.Bxh7+! Kxh7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Ne4 Qc4 (15...g6 16.Nxc5 gxh5
17.Nxd7+- The difference! The Bishop on d7 was hanging!) 16.Ng5 Rfd8 17.Qxf7+ Kh8 18.Qh5+ Kg8 19.Rd1±
White’s position is crushing. 19...e5 20.Qf7+ Kh8 21.e4 Ne7 22.Qxe7 Bb5 23.Rd2 Qxa2 24.Qf7 Qc4 25.Qh5+ Kg8
26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Qh8+ Ke7 28.Qxg7+ Kd6 29.Rxd5+ Kc6 30.Qf6+ 1-0 Kamsky,G (2778)-Shankland,S (2698) USA
20141-0
7. Karpov, Anatoly (2619) - Graf, Felix (2493) [E16]
GER-BL 13/14 GER (14), 2014.04.05
□ 51.Rdd1 / 51.Nxg7
Show/Hide the Solution
51.Rdd1
51.Nxg7 Bxd2 52.Nxe6 Bxc1=
51.Rdd1? Rg2! The position clearly becomes favourable for Black!52.Kxg2 Qe2+! (52...Be7? 53.Nxe7 Qe2+ 54.Kh1
Qf3+ 55.Kh2 Qf2+ 56.Kh1 Qf3+ 57.Kh2 Qf2+ 1/2-1/2 (57) Karpov,A (2619)-Graf,F (2493) Germany 2014) 53.Kg1
Qxh5 54.Qh4™ Qxf5 55.axb3 Be7 White is in big trouble, for example: 56.Qh2 (56.Qf2 Qh3-+) (56.Qg3 Rg6-+)
56...Qg4+! (56...Rxe3µ) 57.Kh1 (57.Qg2 Qh5-+) 57...Rxe3 58.Rg1 Qf3+ 59.Rg2 Bf6-+.
8. (*) Edouard, Romain (2639) - Claesen, Pieter (2319) [D16]
Montreal ch Francophonie CAN (8.2), 2015.07.24
■ 17...g5 / 17...Qb6
Show/Hide the Solution
17...g5
17...Qb6 and Black is only a bit worse.
17...g5 18.f4! gxh4 19.fxe5 Nh7 20.Qc4+- 1-0 (44) Edouard,R (2639) -Claesen,P (2319) Montreal 2015.
9. Mueller, Matthias 1 (1964) (2385) - Braun, Arik (2567) [B19]
GER Bundesliga 15/16 GER (8.8), 2016.02.20
□ 30.h5 / 30.g4
Show/Hide the Solution
30.h5
30.g4 exd4 31.Nxd4 Rf8!?∞
30.h5?? Bh6 0-1 Mueller,M (2385)-Braun,A (2567) Germany 2016.
10. Jobava, Baadur (2673) - Alekseenko, Kirill (2560) [B23]
Aeroflot Open 2016 Moscow (6), 2016.03.06
□ 33.Rd1 / 33.Re1
Show/Hide the Solution
33.Rd1
33.Re1! just wins, for example: 33...Bxe1 34.Bxb2 Ba5 35.Qf5+ g6 36.Qf3!+- (… Re7).
33.Rd1?? Rd2! 34.Kg2 (34.Rxd2?? Qf1#) 34...Rxd1 (34...Re2? 35.Kh3± 1/2-1/2 (41) Jobava,B (2676) -Alekseenko,K
(2554) Russia 2016) 35.Qxd1 Bb6=
11. (*) Artemiev, Vladislav (2674) - Petrosian, Tigran L (2607) [B09]
Aeroflot Open 2016 Moscow (8), 2016.03.08
■ 28...Qb5 / 28...Rxc5
Show/Hide the Solution
28...Rxc5
28...Qb5-+
28...Rxc5?? 29.Nxe6 Rxe5 30.Qxe5! Bxe5 31.Rf8+ Kh7 32.Rf7+ Kg8 33.Rf8+ Kh7 34.Rf7+ Bg7 35.Rxg7+ Kh8
36.Rh7+! Kg8 37.Rg7+ Kh8 1/2-1/2 Artemiev,V (2674) -Petrosian, T (2607) Russia 2016.
12. Shirov, Alexei (2686) - Simacek, Pavel (2455) [C80]
tht CZE Extraliga 2015-16 Turnov (9), 2016.04.15
■ 32...Qa7 / 32...Qa2
Show/Hide the Solution
32...Qa7
32...Qa2 33.Rxd8 Rxd8 34.Rxd4 Re8³
32...Qa7?? 33.Rxd8 Rxd8 34.Rxd4! Qa1+ (34...Re8 35.Qb3++-) 35.Kg2 Qa8+ 36.Kg3 1-0 (36) Shirov,A (2689)Simacek,P (2454) Czech Republic 2016 (Black resigned in view of: 36.Kg3 Re8 37.Qe6+! Rxe6 38.Rd8+ Re8
39.Rxe8#).
13. (*) Sethuraman, S P. (2658) - Sengupta, Deep (2554) [A11]
18th Dubai Open 2016 Dubai (5), 2016.04.16
■ 14...Rfc8 / 14...Rac8
Show/Hide the Solution
14...Rac8
14...Rfc8! 15.Bc3 Bb5 16.Qb2 Bxe2 17.Bxb4 Bxf3-+ There is no Rook hanging on f8!
14...Rac8? 15.Bc3 Bb5 16.Qb2² 1-0 (49) Sethuraman,S (2658)-Sengupta,D (2554) Dubai 2016 (16.Qb2 Bxe2 17.Bxb4
Bxf3?! fails: 18.Bxf8 Bxg2 19.Rg1+-).
14. Schiendorfer, Emanuel (2384) - Fischer, Marcel (SUI) (2085) [A07]
SUI TCh SUI (2.6), 2016.04.17
□ 33.Rxd3 / 33.Ke3
Show/Hide the Solution
33.Ke3
33.Rxd3! Raxd3 34.Be4+ Rxe4+ 35.Kxd3 Rf4 36.c5 Rf3+ 37.Kc4 Rxh3 38.Rc8 the c-pawn will bring White a draw.
33.Ke3? e5! 34.Be4+ Rxe4+ 35.Kxe4 Nc5+! 36.Kxe5 f6+ 37.Kd4 (37.Kf4? g5+ 38.Kf5 Rf3#) 37...Ne6+ 38.Ke4
Ng5+ 39.Kd4 (39.Kf5 Rf3#) 39...Nf3+-+ 0-1 (47) Schiendorfer,E (2384)-Fischer,M (2085) Switzerland 2016.
15. (*) Naiditsch, Arkadij (2660) - Demuth, Adrien (2550) [D05]
GER Club Cup 2016 Deizisau (2.1), 2016.05.01
□ 24.Ba3 / 24.Qxf5
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Qxf5
24.Ba3 Rc2 25.Ne4! Qxe4 (25...Rec7?? 26.Rd8+ Kf7 27.Nd6++-) 26.Bxe7=
24.Qxf5?? exf5! (24...Rxf5? 25.Rd8+ Re8 (25...Ne8 26.Ba3+-) 26.Bxf6 Rxd8 27.Bxd8 Rf4=) 25.Ba3 Rd5-+ 0-1 (55)
Naiditsch,A (2660)-Demuth,A (2550) Germany 2016.
16. Edouard, Romain (2639) - Darini, Pouria (2524) [B52]
1st Stars Cup 2016 Guilan, Iran (1.3), 2016.07.11
□ 37.Ke1 / 37.Ke2
Show/Hide the Solution
37.Ke2
37.Ke1!±
37.Ke2? Rf2+ 38.Kd3 (38.Kd1 Rd2+ 39.Ke1 Bf2+ 40.Kf1 Rd1+ 41.Ke2 Re1+ 42.Kd3 c4+ 43.Kxc4 Nd2+-+)
38...Rd2+! 39.Kc4 (39.Kxe4 Re2+-+) 39...Nd6+ 40.Kd5 Bf6+-+ 1-0 (67) Edouard,R (2639)-Darini,P (2524) Iran
2016.
17. Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2652) - Carlstedt, Jonathan (2457) [D45]
Helsingor-Xtracon Chess Open DEN (5.8), 2016.07.26
□ 26.Ke1 / 26.Ke2
Show/Hide the Solution
26.Ke2
26.Ke1 is about equal, for example: 26...Ne4 27.Rc2 Nf3+ 28.Ke2 Ng1+ 29.Ke1 Nf3+=
26.Ke2?? Ne4 27.Rd3 (27.Rc2 Rxc1! 28.Rxc1 Rd2+ 29.Kf1 Rxf2+ 30.Ke1 Nf3+ 31.Kd1 Rd2#) 27...Nxd3 28.Bxd3
Nc3+ 29.Kd2 Nxa2 0-1 Hammer,J (2652)-Carlstedt,J (2457) Denmark 2016.
18. Xu Xiangyu, -. (2461) - Zhao, Chenxi (2096) [E73]
CHN RAPID Shenzhen CHN (4.8), 2016.08.24
□ 51.Qe5+ / 51.Qd4+
Show/Hide the Solution
52.Qe5+
52.Qe5+? Kh7 53.Kxh4? Qf3 54.g5 Qf2+ 0-1 (54) Xu Xiangyu (2461)-Zhao,C (2096) Shenzhen 2016 (White resigned
in view of: 54...Qf2+ 55.Qg3 hxg5+ 56.Kg4 Qf5#).
52.Qd4+! Kh7 53.Kxh4 Qf3 54.Rd3 (54.g5?? hxg5+ 55.Kxg5 f6+-+) 54...g5+ 55.Kh5 Qc6 56.Qd6+-
19. Mareco, S. (2606) - Nakamura, Hi (2789) [A09]
42nd Olympiad 2016 Baku AZE (3.8), 2016.09.04
□ 64.c7 / 64.Kg3
Show/Hide the Solution
64.c7
64.Kg3 Rxe2 65.Rxe2 Rxe2 66.Rxb3 Rc2 67.Rb6+- … f5, Kf4
64.c7?? Nc1! 65.Rxc1 (65.c8=Q?? Nxd3+ 66.Kf1 Nxe1-+) 65...Rxe2+ 66.Kf1 Rh2 67.Kg1 Rag2+ 68.Kf1 Rf2+
69.Kg1 Rhg2+ 70.Kh1 Rh2+ 1/2-1/2 Mareco,S (2606)-Nakamura,H (2789) Baku 2016.
20. Cori, J. (2609) - Salgado Lopez, I. (2662) [A48]
42nd Olympiad 2016 Baku AZE (4.10), 2016.09.05
□ 39.Bb5 / 39.Nc4
Show/Hide the Solution
39.Bb5
39.Nc4 Qxa4∞
39.Bb5?? Qxb5 40.axb5 Ne2+-+ 0-1 (60) Cori,J (2609)-Salgado Lopez,I (2662) Baku 2016.
21. (*) Shankland, S. (2679) - Sethuraman, S. (2640) [D11]
42nd Olympiad 2016 Baku AZE (7.1), 2016.09.09
■ 31...Ra3 / 31...Qf7
Show/Hide the Solution
31...Qf7
31...Ra3?? 32.Rb2!! and the position is a draw: 32...Rxb3 33.Rxg2+ Kh7 (33...Kf7 34.Reg8 Bf8 35.Rh8 and Black
cannot avoid Rh7+ and is even worse!) 34.Rh2+ Kg7 35.Rg2+=
31...Qf7 A winning move among many. 32.Qd1 Nc4-+ Black is of course completely winning, although in the game
White even won! 1-0 (75) Shankland,S (2679)-Sethuraman,S (2640) Baku 2016.
22. Pultinevicius, Paulius (2351) - Moroni, Luca Jr (2459) [A09]
World Youth Open U16 Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (8.19), 2016.09.30
■ 60...Rxd2 / 60...Rxe5
Show/Hide the Solution
60...Rxe5
60...Rxd2 61.Rxd2 Rxe5 62.Qxf7+ Qxf7 63.gxf7 Kxf7 with a likely draw although White must still defend accurately!
60...Rxe5?? 61.Bh6+! Kxh6 62.Rh8+ Kg7 63.Rh7+ Kf8 64.Rxf7+ Ke8 65.Rf8+ Ke7 66.Qf6+ Kd7 67.Rf7+ Ke8
(67...Kc8 68.Rxc7++-) 68.Qh8# 1-0 Pultinevicius,P-Moroni,L Khanty-Mansiysk 2016.
23. Charochkina, D. (2366) - Gunina, V. (2535) [E37]
66th ch-RUS w 2016 Novosibirsk RUS (1.6), 2016.10.16
■ 11...dxc4 / 11...Nxc5
Show/Hide the Solution
11...dxc4
11...Nxc5! 12.b4 Qa4 13.Qxa4+ Nxa4 14.Ra2 Nc3 (14...Bd7!?) 15.Rb2 Na4=
11...dxc4? 12.e3 Nb3 13.Bxc4! Nxa1 14.b4 Qd8 15.Nxe4 O-O 16.Bb2+- 1-0 (34) Charochkina,D (2366)-Gunina, V
(2535) Novosibirsk 2016.
24. Carlsen, Magnus (2840) - Bosiocic, Marin (2591) [D02]
FIDE WCC Blitz 2016 Men Doha (12), 2016.12.29
■ 14...f5 / 14...Qxd1+
Show/Hide the Solution
14...f5
14...Qxd1+ is necessary.
14...f5? 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.c6!+- 1-0 (25) Carlsen,M (2840)-Bosiocic,M (2591) Doha 2016.
Show in Quiz Mode
Chapter 11
Special section
In this chapter, you will find all the exercises which need a special introduction or do not fit in any of the other chapters.
Simply follow the instructions!
The difficulty of these exercises ranges from quite easy to difficult. An asterisk indicates that the exercise is more
difficult than average.
1. Gupta, Abhijeet (2580) - Negi, Parimarjan (2618) [D43]
Dubai 13th Open UAE (9), 2011.04.18
□ 28.?
What is the best way to handle this mess?
Show/Hide the Solution
28.Rxd4! cxd4
28...Rxd4 29.Nxe5 Bxc2 30.Rxc2+29.Qxc8+- 1-0 (31) Gupta,A (2580)-Negi,P (2618) Dubai 2011.
2. Laznicka, Viktor (2681) - Negi, Parimarjan (2622) [D45]
New Delhi-AAI GM IND (4), 2011.06.25
■ Can Black save the day playing 48...Nxe4 49.Qxe4 Qf2?
Show/Hide the Solution
48...Nxe4 49.Qxe4 Qf2 No! This is indeed the only try, but it fails... 50.Qf5+
50.Qe5+ Kh4 51.Qe7+ f6 52.Qxf6+
50...Kh4 51.Qf6+! Kh5
51...gxf6 52.Rxh6#
52.Qxf7+ Kh4 53.Qe7+ 1-0 (53) Laznicka,V (2681)-Negi,P (2622) India 2011.
Black resigned in view of: 53.Qe7+ Kh5 54.Qc5++-.
3. Meier, Georg (2610) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2784) [E06]
Dortmund-41st Sparkassen GM GER (4.5), 2013.07.29
□ Can White save the day playing 31.Nf6+?
Show/Hide the Solution
32.Nf6+ No! Let's see why... 32...Qxf6!! 33.Qxd5
33.gxf6 Nf4+ 34.Kf1 Rb1+-+
33...Qg6 34.Qe5 Rb5-+ 0-1 (38) Meier,G (2610) -Kramnik,V (2784) Dortmund 2013.
4. Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2722) - Cruz, Cristhian Sanchez (2529) [A90]
ESP TCh CECLUB Honor Linares ESP (7.1), 2013.09.14
■ Black went 29...Rd1 (with the idea to answer 30.Ne5 with 30...h5). Was it indeed solving his problems?
Show/Hide the Solution
29...Rd1 No! Let's see why... 30.Kf3!!
30.Ne5 h5 is indeed very unclear.
30...Rd2
30...Rxd3?! 31.Ke2+31.gxf5 h5 32.Bf1+- 1-0 (47) Vachier Lagrave,M (2722)-Cruz,C (2529) Linares 2013.
5. (*) Hou, Yifan (1994) (2676) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2783) [C65]
Dortmund-43rd GM GER (2.2), 2015.06.28
□■ 16...?
Find an excellent move, granting Black a great advantage.
Show/Hide the Solution
16...Nc5!! Keeping the bishop pair and activity, while the a8-Rook is not takable. 17.Qxa8
17.b4 Bb7 18.Qxe6 Nxe6µ 0-1 (28) Hou,Y (2676)-Kramnik,V (2783) Dortmund 2015; 17.Qxe6 Bxe6-+
17...Bb7 Black's pieces are way too strong! 18.Qa3
18.Qa7 Ra8-+
18...Bxf3! 19.gxf3
19.c4 Nh4-+; 19.Qb4 Nf4-+
19...Nh4 20.Kh1
20.Rd1 Qh3-+
20...Nd3 21.Rf1 Qh3-+
6. Baskin, Robert (2369) - Michalik, Peter (2574) [B98]
BL 2015-16 Germany (8.5), 2015.11.07
□ 30.?
Find the smart winning move!
Show/Hide the Solution
30.Rc7! (… Qxh4)
Simple chess! Instead, the game continued: 30.Qxh4 Rxd6 31.Ree1² 1/2-1/2 (38) Baskin,R (2369)-Michalik,P (2574)
Germany 2016.
30...Rxf4 31.Qe3 Qe4 32.Qb6 Re8 33.d7+-
7. Haba, Petr (2487) - Moiseenko, Alexander (2689) [B32]
BL 2015-16 Germany (8.2), 2015.11.07
□ 24.?
Find the crushing move!
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Rxd4! Nxd4
24...exd4? 25.Qxe6++25.Qxe5+- 1/2-1/2 (31) Haba,P (2487)-Moiseenko,A (2673) Germany 2016.
8. (*) Gabuzyan, Hovhannes (2585) - Edouard, Romain (2627) [A09]
Al Ain Classic 2015 Al Ain (6), 2015.12.27
■ 35...?
Find the winning move!
Show/Hide the Solution
35...Nxe3!!
Instead, the game continued: 35...Bxe4? 36.Rc8+ Bf8 37.dxe4 Nh4 38.Qxc3∞ 1/2-1/2 (53) Gabuzyan,H (2585)Edouard,R (2627) Al Ain 2015
36.fxe3
36.Rxc3 Nc4!-+
36...Qa7!-+ and White cannot hold both the e3-pawn and his e4-knight..
9. Vitiugov, Nikita (2724) - Sasikiran, Krishnan (2638) [C50]
Doha-Qatar Masters Open QAT (7.9), 2015.12.27
□ Should White go 27.Rxd4?
Show/Hide the Solution
27.Rxd4! Yes! 27...Nxd4 28.Qxd4+ f6 29.Nc7!± A little trick making the whole idea work! 1-0 (42) Vitiugov,N
(2724) -Sasikiran,K (2638) Doha 2015.
10. Riff, V. (2372) - Gantner, M. (2274) [A29]
39th Zurich Christmas Zurich SUI (7.13), 2015.12.30
■ 33...?
Find the winning continuation!
Show/Hide the Solution
33...Bxe4 34.Rxe4
34.dxe4 Rxc4-+
34...Rb1+ 35.Kg2 Rxf2+! The unexpected blow! 36.Kxf2 Qf8+ 37.Rf4
37.Ke2 Qf1+ 38.Kd2 Qd1#
37...Bxf4 38.Kg2
38.gxf4 Qxf4+ 39.Kg2 Re1!-+38.Qf3 Be3+ 39.Ke2 Re1+-+
38...Be3-+ 0-1 (40) Riff,V (2372)-Gantner,M (2274) Switzerland 2015.
Black had many winning moves, 38...Bxg3!?-+ being one of them.
11. Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter (2679) - Batsiashvili, Nino (2485) [D35]
78th Tata Steel Chess Challengers Wijk aan Zee (1), 2016.01.16
□ 30.?
Black seems to be solid: how can White break through?
Show/Hide the Solution
30.f5! gxf5 31.Bxf5 Rd6
31...Kxf5? 32.Rf3#
32.Bxh7+- 1-0 (49) Nisipeanu,L (2679) -Batsiashvili,N (2485) Wijk aan Zee 2016.
12. Timofeev, Arty (2570) - Eliseev, U. (2582) [B67]
Moscow Open A 2016 Moscow RUS (7.1), 2016.02.05
□ 48.?
How would you manage this mess?
Show/Hide the Solution
48.Qxe5! 1-0 Timofeev,A (2570) -Eliseev,U (2582) Russia 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 48.Qxe5 Qxe5 (48...Rxg8 49.Qb8++-) 49.Qxf7#.
13. (*) Loiseau, Quentin (2437) - Fier, Alexandr (2608) [E60]
14th Meurthe&Moselle - A Nancy (7), 2016.02.20
□ Which move is winning: 50.Qxh6+, 50.Re2, 50.Nb5 or 50.Rh2?
Show/Hide the Solution
50.Re2!!
50.Qxh6+? Rh7 51.Re2 (51.Qd6 Rxd7 52.Rh2+ Kg8 53.Qg6+ Rg7 54.Qe6+ Rf7 55.Nd5 Kf8 56.Qh6+ Kg8= 1/2-1/2
(73) Loiseau,Q (2437)-Fier Takeda,A (2608) France 2016) 51...Rxh6 52.Re8+ Kg7 53.Rxd8 Rd6 54.Nb5 Rd5 55.Nc7
Bf6!=; 50.Nb5? Rxd7 (50...Qxd7 51.Qxh6+ Kg8 52.Nxd4 cxd4 53.b4²) 51.Qxh6+ Rh7 52.Qc6 Qf8 53.Nxd4 cxd4
54.Rxd4²; 50.Rh2? Qxd7 51.Rxh6+ Kg8=
50...Rxd7
50...Rxe2 51.Nxe2+- … Nf4
51.Qxh6+ Kg8
51...Rh7 52.Qg6! Rh1+ 53.Kc2+52.Qe6+! Rf7 53.Nb5! Kf8 54.Nxd4! Qxd4
54...cxd4? 55.Qh6++55.Qe8+ Kg7 56.Rg2+ Kf6 57.Qh8+ Ke6 58.Re2+ Kd6
58...Kd5 59.Rd2! Qxd2 60.Qd8++-; 58...Kf5 59.Qh5+ Kf6 60.Qh6+ Kf5 61.Qe6++59.Qd8+ Kc6 60.Re6+ Kb5 61.Qb6+ Kc4 62.Qa6+ Kd5 63.Rd6++-
14. Stupak, Kirill (2537) - Santos Ruiz, Miguel (2418) [E17]
Manacor-7th Open GM ESP (7.5), 2016.02.26
□ 28.?
Which move breaks Black's fragile defence?
Show/Hide the Solution
28.Nh6+! Kh8
28...gxh6 29.Bxf6+29.Bxf6 1-0 (29) Stupak,K (2537)-Santos Ruiz,M (2418) Spain 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 29.Bxf6 gxf6 30.Qxd8+ Qxd8 31.Nxf7++-.
15. (*) Tomashevsky, Evgeny (2728) - Movsesian, Sergei (2653) [B50]
Huai'an-IMSA BLITZ CHN (5.6), 2016.02.28
■ 27...?
Find the winning idea! Not easy, but not spectacular...
Show/Hide the Solution
27...Rxe4!
27...Rxf2? 28.Bxd4 Rxe4?? (28...cxd4 29.Rxh2 Rxh2+ 30.Kxh2 Qf4+∞) 29.Bxf2 c4 30.Qf3 1-0 Tomashevsky,E
(2728)-Movsesian,S (2653) China 2016.
28.Nxe4
28.Qxe4 Qxh3-+
28...Rf3! Simple chess! 29.Rxf3 Nxf3-+ E.g. 30.Nf6
30.Qd8+ Kh7 31.Bxg7 Qxg7 32.Nf6+ Kh6 33.Rd1 Bf7-+; 30.Nd2 Qh3-+
30...gxf6 31.Bxf6+ Kg8 32.Qd5+ Kh7 33.Qxb7+ Kh6-+
16. (*) Predke, Alexandr (2520) - Safarli, Eltaj (2653) [C18]
Aeroflot Open 2016 Moscow (3), 2016.03.03
□ 30.?
White to play and win! Sophistication is our enemy... This is the most difficult exercise.
Show/Hide the Solution
30.Ng5+!
Instead, the game went: 30.c3? Qa2!?„ 1/2-1/2 (46) Predke,A (2508)-Safarli,E (2663) Russia 2016.
30...Kg6 31.Bxd4 Qxd4
31...Kxg5 32.Rg1++32.Kb1!!+- White is winning. Some examples… 32...Qxc5
32...Qg4 33.Rg3+-; 32...Qf4 33.Rg1 Qxf2 34.Nh3++-; 32...Kf6 33.Rf3+ Ke7 34.Rf7+ Ke8 35.Re1+ Kd8 36.Ne6++-;
32...Kxg5 33.Rg3++33.Rg1 Qb5+
33...Qb6+ 34.Ka2 Rc8 35.Re6++-33...Kf5 34.Rf3+ Ke5 35.Nf7+ (35.Re1+ Kd6 36.h7+-) 35...Ke4 36.Rxg8 Kxf3
37.Rg3+ Kxf2 38.Rb3+- … h7
34.Ka1 Rc8 35.Rf3+- (… Nf7+)
Also winning is 35.Ne4+!?+-.
17. Kulaots, Kaido (2575) - Esipenko, Andrey (2445) [C92]
Aeroflot Open 2016 Moscow (9), 2016.03.09
■ 48...?
Find the winning move!
Show/Hide the Solution
48...Rh1+! 0-1 Kulaots,K (2578)-Esipenko,A (2445) Russia 2016.
Black resigned in view of: 48...Rh1+ 49.Kxh1 fxe2-+. Instead, 48...fxe2? would fail to: 49.Nce7 Rh1+ 50.Kg2 Rg1+
51.Kh2=.
18. (*) Topalov, Veselin (2754) - Giri, Anish (2790) [A29]
Altibox Norway Chess 2016 Stavanger (7), 2016.04.27
■ 37...?
How can Black force a draw?
Show/Hide the Solution
37...Rxh2!! 38.Rxd7
38.Kxh2? Qxc7³
38...Rh1+ 39.Kf2 Rh2+ 40.Bg2 Rxg2+ 41.Kf1 Rh2! 42.Rd2 Rh1+ 43.Kf2 Rh2+= 1/2-1/2 (45) Topalov,V (2754)Giri,A (2790) Norway 2016.
19. Sanders, Isaac B (2340) - Edouard, Romain (2632) [C02]
4NCL 2015-16 Birmingham (9), 2016.04.30
■ 24...?
A tricky position where both sides are in danger: find the winning move for Black!
Show/Hide the Solution
24...Qh5! 25.Bf2
25.cxd4 Bb5+-+; 25.Ke1 d3-+
25...Bb5+ 26.Kg1 Qxh2# 0-1 Sanders,I (2326)-Edouard,R (2632) England 2016.
20. (*) Speelman, Jon S (2518) - Fressinet, Laurent (2692) [A48]
4NCL 2015-16 Birmingham (10), 2016.05.01
■ 32...?
Find the winning continuation!
Show/Hide the Solution
32...Qc5+!
32...Qb6+? 33.c5 Qxc5+³ 1-0 (41) Speelman,J (2517)-Friedgood,D (2692) England 2016.
33.Kh2
33.Kh1 e4! 34.Bxe4 Bxe4 35.fxe4 Qh5+ 36.Kg1 g3-+
33...e4! 34.Bxe4 Bxe4 35.fxe4
35.Qxe4 Qd6+-+
35...Qd6+ 36.e5
36.Kg1 Qb6+ 37.Kh1 Qh6+ 38.Kg1 g3-+
36...Qh6+ 37.Kg3
37.Kg1 g3-+
37...Qe3+ 38.Kxg4
38.Kh2 Rd3-+
38...Rd3!-+
21. Steil-Antoni, Fiona (2165) - Stefanova, Antoaneta (2519) [B06]
4NCL 2015-16 Birmingham (11), 2016.05.02
□ Should White play 41.Re1, or be afraid of 41...Re5 as an answer?
Show/Hide the Solution
41.Re1! This move should be played!
Instead, the game went: 41.Rf3+? Ke5 42.Re3+ Kd6 43.Qxh5 Re5„ 0-1 (48) Steil Antoni,F (2150)-Stefanova,A (2519)
England 2016.
41...Re5 Indeed the most consistent defense, but failing. 42.Qxh5! Rxe1 43.Qf7+! Qxf7 44.exf7+-
22. Ochsner, Bjorn Moller (2393) - Edouard, Romain (2632) [D24]
V Open LLucmajor LLucmajor (6), 2016.05.13
■ 53...?
You are in time trouble: find the best move as quickly as possible!
Show/Hide the Solution
53...f5!
Instead, the game continued: 53...b2? 54.Kg2? (54.Qe7) 54...Re3 55.Rxb2 Qc8 56.f5? (56.Kh2) 56...Qc6+ 57.Kh2
Qd6+ 58.Kh1 Rh3+ 0-1 Ochsner,B (2397)-Edouard,R (2641) Mallorca 2016.
54.g5+
54.Qe7 Qb2+-+
54...Kh5-+
23. Lai, Hing Ting (2332) - Bauer, Christian (2634) [A10]
10e BPB Limburg Open Maastricht (1), 2016.05.13
■ Which move is the winning one: 31...Rd6 or 31...Rg6?
Show/Hide the Solution
31...Rd6!
31...Rg6? 32.Bh3 Qxe2 33.Qxe2 Bxg3+ 34.Kg1 Bf2+ 35.Kh2 Bg3+ 36.Kg1 1/2-1/2 Lai,H (2332)-Bauer,C (2634)
Netherlands 2016.
32.Qf3
32.Qxe4+ Bxe4 33.Rxd6 Bxg2 34.Kxg2 Bc5-+
32...Bxg3+! 33.Nxg3 Qxh4+ 34.Bh3
34.Kg1 Nxg3-+
34...Qxh3+! 35.Kxh3 Ng5+ 36.Kh4 Nxf3+ 37.Kh3 Rg6-+
24. Edouard, Romain (2641) - Stremavicius, Titas (2443) [A80]
V Open LLucmajor LLucmajor (8), 2016.05.14
□ 16.?
White to escape that mess, and win!
Show/Hide the Solution
16.Nd1! Qxa1 17.Qg6! Bxe5 18.Qxg8+ Kd7 19.Qxa8+- 1-0 (30) Edouard,R (2641)-Stremavicius,T (2443) Mallorca
2016.
25. Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2789) - Topalov, Veselin (2761) [B51]
GCT Blitz Paris 2016 Paris (18), 2016.06.12
□ 25.?
Find the way to a huge advantage!
Show/Hide the Solution
25.Qg3!
25.d7?? Nxe1? (25...Rd8! 26.Nc6 (26.Rd1 Nxc1 27.Nc6 Ne2+-+) 26...Nxe1-+) 26.dxc8=Q+ Qxc8 27.Qg3 Kh8
28.h4? (28.Bh6! gxh6 29.Qe5+±) 28...Nd3∞ 1/2-1/2 (66) Vachier Lagrave,M (2789)-Topalov,V (2761) Paris 2016.
25...Kh8
25...Nxe1 26.Bh6 g6 27.Qe5+26.Re3!
26.Rd1!?
26...Nxc1 27.d7 Rd8 28.Qxb8 Rxb8 29.Nc6+-
26. Karjakin, Sergey (2774) - Shoker, Samy (2489) [B27]
Eurasian Blitz Chess Cup Almaty KAZ (8.6), 2016.06.18
■ 27...?
Black seems to be losing material... but with the help of a brillant move, he is in fact better! Spot this move!
Show/Hide the Solution
27...Nd4!! Black is suddenly much better. Let’s see some examples how this can develop... 28.Qg4
28.cxd4 Bxd4 29.Rf1 Qb3 30.Ra3 Rxf2! 31.Rxf2 Rd1+-+; 28.Qf1 Qb6! Going for a win! (28...Nb3 29.Be3„) 29.Ra4
(29.Be3 Qb3! 30.Rxa6 Nc2-+) 29...Nb3 30.Bg5 Nd2 31.Qe2 Nxe4-+
28...Qb3
28...Rdf3!? is also strong.28...Nc2!? 29.Rf1 Qb6 30.Qe2 Nd4! 31.cxd4 Bxd4 32.g3 Bxf2+ 33.Rxf2 Rd1+ 34.Kg2
Rxc1µ
29.Rxa6
¹ 29.e5 Rdf3!?µ
29...Qc2
29...h5!?-+
30.Rf1
30.Nxd3 cxd3-+
30...Ne2+-+ 0-1 (33) Karjakin,S (2774)-Shoker,S (2489) Kazakhstan 2016.
27. (*) Sargissian, Gabriel (2679) - Pourramezanali, Amirreza (2509) [D46]
1st Stars Cup 2016 Guilan, Iran (5.1), 2016.07.15
□ 35.?
Black's King has insufficient protection: how would you continue your attack?
Show/Hide the Solution
35.Re1+!
35.Qh5+? Kd7 (35...Kf8!? 36.Qh6+ Kf7=) 36.Rd1 Rxg2+ 37.Kf1 Rd2! 38.Qh7+ Kc8 39.Qh8+ Kd7= 1/2-1/2 (47)
Sargissian,G (2679)-Pourramezanali,A (2509) Iran 2016.
35...Kd8 36.Re2! Simple chess! The black King cannot escape. 36...Kc8
36...Qxc5+ 37.Kh1 Rf8 38.Rd2+ Kc8 39.Qd7+ Kb8 40.Rc2+37.Be5 Qxc5+ 38.Kh2 Rf8 39.Re3+- The easiest (… Rc3).
28. Firouzja, Alireza (2481) - Edouard, Romain (2639) [D32]
1st Stars Cup 2016 Guilan, Iran (10.3), 2016.07.20
□ If White goes 30.Bc1 should Black play 30...b2?
Show/Hide the Solution
30.Bc1
Instead, the game continued: 30.Re1 b2 31.Rb1 Rc8µ … ...Nc4: 0-1 (33) Firouzja,A (2481)-Edouard,R (2639) Iran 2016.
30...b2 Yes! Black is winning. 31.Bxb2 Qxb2 32.Qxd6? Qa1+! 33.Kg2 Qa8+-+
29. Carlsen, Magnus (2855) - Giri, Anish (2785) [D02]
IX Chess Masters Final 2016 Bilbao (9), 2016.07.22
□ 23.?
Which elegant way of winning material did the World Champion miss?
Show/Hide the Solution
23.c5!
In the game Magnus only obtained an initiative: 23.cxd5? exd5 24.Nb3 Qxc2 25.Nd4ƒ 1-0 (45) Carlsen,M (2855)Giri,A (2785) Bilbao 2016.
23...bxc5 24.Ra6± (… Rxd6!)
30. Shankland, Samuel L (2661) - Pfreundt, Jakob (2292) [C84]
Biel-49th chess festival MTO SUI (1), 2016.07.25
□ 10.dxe5?
Should White go for the e5-pawn?
Show/Hide the Solution
10.dxe5 Yes! 10...dxe5 11.Qxd8 Raxd8
11...Rfxd8 12.Nxe5 Bxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Nd3 f5 15.f3 Bc5+ 16.Kf1+12.Nxe5 Bxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Nd3! f5 15.f3 Bc5+ 16.Nxc5!
16.Kf1? Bb6=
16...Nxc5 17.Bg5! A theoretical trick! 17...Rd5 18.Be7 Re8 19.c4+- 1-0 (25) Shankland,S (2661)-Pfreundt,J (2292)
Biel 2016.
31. Daly, Colm (2328) - Morris, Charles F (2127) [C11]
Baku Chess Olympiad | Open chess24.com (6.4), 2016.09.08
□ 24.?
Anything better than 24.Bc3?
Show/Hide the Solution
24.a3!!
Stronger than 24.Bc3? Qe4™ 25.Qxe4 Nxe4 26.Bxa5± only winning a pawn, while in the game White went wrong with
24.c3?? Qa3„ 1/2-1/2 (50) Daly,C (2328)-Morris,C (2127) Baku 2016.
24...Qxa3 25.Bb2 Qb4 26.Rd4+-
32. (*) Topalov, Veselin (2760) - Caruana, Fabiano (2823) [C02]
8th London Chess Classic 2016 London (2), 2016.12.10
■ 30...?
Black to play... and be clearly better!
Show/Hide the Solution
30...Rxg7!
Instead, the game went: 30...Bxc3? 31.bxc3 Qb2∞ 0-1 (38) Topalov,V (2760)-Caruana,F (2823) London 2016.
31.Bxd4
31.Rxg7? Rh8!-+
31...Rxg5 32.Bxb6+ Kxb6µ White is in big danger: his knight on a3 is very limited and the d3-pawn is powerful..
33. Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2739) - Aronian, Levon (2785) [C88]
FIDE WCC Rapid 2016 Men Doha (12), 2016.12.28
■ 25...?
Can Black save the game?
Show/Hide the Solution
25...Nd2 No! This move is the only try, but it fails... 26.Qxf7+!
26.Rxe7?? Rxe7 27.Qxc5 Re1+ 28.Kh2 Nf1+=
26...Qxf7 27.Rxe8++- 1-0 Dominguez Perez,L (2739)-Aronian,L (2785) Doha 2016.
34. Bok, B. (2598) - Grischuk, A. (2737) [C70]
World Blitz 2016 Doha QAT (11.15), 2016.12.29
■ 26...?
Pick the best move!
Show/Hide the Solution
26...Qg5! 27.Qxf4
27.g3 Nh3+-+
27...Qxf4-+ 0-1 (45) Bok,B (2598)-Grischuk,A (2737) Doha 2016.
35. Bauer, Ch (2635) - Schroeder, Ja (2541) [A13]
40th Zurich Christmas Zurich SUI (7.4), 2016.12.30
□ 24.?
Find the crushing move!
Show/Hide the Solution
24.Nh4! Be5 25.Rd7! Bxb2 26.Nxg6! Bxf6 27.Nxf8+ Kxf8 28.Rxc7+- 1-0 (40) Bauer,C (2635)-Schroeder,J (2541)
Zurich 2016.
36. (*) Sokolov, Ivan (2632) - Swapnil, S Dhopade (2527) [A57]
46th Rilton Cup 2016 Stockholm (7), 2017.01.03
■ 29...?
Find the winning move and its continuation. Black must find several accurate moves to win!
Show/Hide the Solution
29...Qe2! 30.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 31.Kh2 Qd1!
31...Qxe4?? 32.Bxg7+32.Rxg7+ Bxg7 33.Bxg7 Qh1+ 34.Kg3 Bxh3! Otherwise White would escape. 35.Bxh6
35.gxh3 Qxe4-+
35...Qxg2+ 36.Kf4 f5 37.Nf6+ Kf7 38.Qe3 Qh2+-+ 0-1 (40) Sokolov,I (2632)-Swapnil,S (2526) Stockholm 2017.
37. Ivanov, Sergey (2545) - Sokolov, Ivan (2632) [E33]
46th Rilton Cup 2016 Stockholm (8), 2017.01.04
□ 52.?
A tricky position: how should White deal with it?
Show/Hide the Solution
52.Be5! White wins!
Instead, the game went: 52.Bc3? Qd5+= 1/2-1/2 (63) Ivanov,S (2545)-Sokolov,I (2632) Stockholm 2017.
52...d2 53.Qe6 d1=Q
53...Qg8 54.Bxg7+ Qxg7 55.Qe8+ Qg8 56.Qxe3+54.Bxg7+ Kxg7 55.Qf7+ Kh8 56.Qh7#
38. Wei, Yi (2706) - Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2767) [B96]
79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters Wijk aan Zee (3), 2017.01.16
□ 25.?
White has one way to an advantage: find it!
Show/Hide the Solution
25.Qxd7+ Kxd7 26.e6+!! fxe6
26...Kxe6? 27.Rxe4++27.Rf7 Rg5™
27...Rae8 28.Rd1++28.Rd1+
28.Bxg5
28...Ke8 29.Rh7² / ± : 1-0 (75) Wei Yi (2706) -Nepomniachtchi,I (2767) Wijk aan Zee 2017.
39. Gelfand, Boris (2721) - Steinberg, Nitzan (2486) [E04]
Tradewise Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta (6), 2017.01.29
□ 32.?
How can White make use of his d-passer?
Show/Hide the Solution
32.d7 Rd8 33.Rc8! 1-0 Gelfand,B (2721)-Steinberg,N (2486) Gibraltar 2017.
Black resigned in view of: 33.Rc8 Rxc8 34.Qg4++-.
40. Maze, S. (2613) - Kobo, Ori (2482) [B31]
Gibraltar Masters 2017 Caleta ENG (8.21), 2017.01.31
□ 32.?
Find the only winning move!
Show/Hide the Solution
32.Rd7!
32.Rf1 Qd2!?©; 32.Rd5 Bh6©
32...Qc1+ 33.Kh2 Qxe3
33...Be5+? 34.Bxe5 Rxc6 35.Rd8+ Kh7 36.Rh8#
34.Qd5+- White ends up with an extra pawn and initiative!: 1-0 (44) Maze,S (2613)-Kobo,O (2482) Gibraltar 2017.