Excelling at Combinational Play: Learn to Identify and Exploit Tactical Chances [1 ed.] 1857443454, 9781857443455

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First published in 2004 by Gloucester Publishers plc (formerly Everyman Publishers plc), Northburgh House, 10 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0AT Copyright © 2004 Jacob Aagaard with Nikolaj Mikkelsen. The right of Jacob Aagaard to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

EVERYMAN CHESS SERIES (formerly Cadogan Chess) Chief advisor: Garry Kasparov Commissioning editor: Byron Jacobs Typeset and edited by First Rank Publishing, Brighton. Cover design by Horatio Monteverde. Production by Navigator Guides. Printed and bound in Great Britain by Biddles Ltd.

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, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 1 85744 345 4 Distributed in North America by The Globe Pequot Press, P.O Box 480, 246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437-0480. All other sales enquiries should be directed to Everyman Chess, Northburgh House, 10 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0AT tel: 020 7253 7887 fax: 020 7490 3708 email: [email protected] website: www.everymanchess.com Everyman is the registered trade mark of Random House Inc. and is used in this work under license from Random House Inc.

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Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Bibliography Preface Introduction

Bibliography Preface Introduction 1 The Adventure of Writing a Book on Combinations 2 Combinations and their Indicators 3 Sicilian Sacrifices 4 How to Solve Puzzles 5 Exercises 6 Solutions to Exercises

1 The Adventure of Writing a Book on Combinations 2 Combinations and their Indicators 3 Sicilian Sacrifices 4 How to Solve Puzzles 5 Exercises 6 Solutions to Exercises

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5 6 8 16 45 75 100 112 313

Preface

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books Encyclopaedia of Chess Middlegames, Krogius, Livsic, Parma, Taimanov (Informant 1980) Encyclopaedia of Chess Combinations, (Informant 1984) Sicilian Sacrifices, Levy (Batsford 1980) John Nunn’s Puzzle Book, Nunn (Gambit 1999) Solving in Style, Nunn (Gambit 2002) The Endgame University, Dvoretsky (Olms 2002) Test Your Endgame Ability, Speelman (Batsford 1988) Creative Chess, Avni (Everyman Chess 1998) School of Chess Excellence II, Tactical Play, Dvoretsky (Olms 2002) School of Chess Excellence III, Strategic Play, Dvoretsky (Olms 2002)

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PREFACE

This book has been a long time in coming. Actually, after finishing my first book back in 1998 I wanted to write a book like this, but it was turned down by my publisher at the time, Gambit. On their request I instead wrote a book on the Sveshnikov. Now, finally, I have been allowed to publish this book, a book I have been working on for 12 months on and off, collecting material, analysing, commentating, losing interesting articles, cursing my computer and especially my own ability to operate it (do not ask about backup copies; when you overwrite your backup copies you lose your sense of irony!). But eventually I made it, and here it is! Because I was relatively overworked during the summer of 2003, I brought in Nikolaj Mikkelsen, a talented 15-year-old with the rarely seen ability for dedicated work. He collected many positions and discarded even more after hours behind the computer, and was overall a great help. So, besides a decent cut in the small fee, I felt that his name deserved to be attached to this book. Thank you Nikolaj! The positions in this book have mainly come from my database of 2.8 million games compiled from many sources (mainly ChessBase). Many of the positions have previously not been noticed as anything special and were found by us. But we would be lying if we did not acknowledge a great debt to a number of ChessBase’s regular annotators, including Har Zvi, Tyomkin, Atlas, Bönsch, Gofshtein and Tsesarsky, as well as the many players who played the games themselves. 6

Introduction

The annotations here are my own, with no exceptions, but to go through already analysed games makes it easier to single out interesting tactical moments, and therefore it is important for me to acknowledge the great work of other people. Many improvements were found in existing analysis, and considerable analysis was found to be incorrect after silicon scrutiny. But it was still priceless to have a starting point like this. Together with Nikolaj, my greatest helper has once again been Danny Kristiansen, who has found dozens of both minor and major flaws in the manuscript and asked me to correct them. I am deeply grateful for his help and think I would somehow feel lost without it. Thanks Danny! Jacob Aagaard, Albertslund, Denmark, March 2004

INTRODUCTION

What is this Book about?

This is a training book for development of both combinational vision and combinational calculation. More simply, combinational skills. I have divided the positions into two parts:

Pattern Combinations The main idea here is that these positions should be able to be solved relatively easily. The lines are generally without too many branches and should not involve too much calculation. This does not mean that they are easy, but that it’s more important to find the combinational idea than to calculate the correct lines against all possible defences.

Calculation Combinations These are harder (some of them actually really hard). At times they have many branches, and these are long and winding. I recommend that these positions should be played out against a computer program. The computer will not always understand the solution, but they are strong and reliable defenders. The only hazard, which is a real practical problem, is that the computer would rather lose a queen than allow a brilliant 5-move mating combination, and this can spoil some of the fun. However, if you do not understand why a computer plays something seemingly silly, then you immediately have a fresh exercise on your hands. 7

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Introduction

It must be said that the division of the two blocks was to some extent arbitrary. Some exercises in the ‘pattern’ collection could easily have been found in the ‘calculation’ collection. The general level of difficulty rises throughout the 500 combinations, although the most difficult exercises might well be numbers 290, 292 and 294.

1...Nxd4! 2 Kxg3 2 Qxd4 Rxa3 and Black has won a piece (3 Rd1 is answered by 3...Qh4). 2...Qh4+!! 3 Kxh4 Nf5+ 4 Kg5 Nf8 0-1

What does ‘White to Play and Win’ really mean? When collecting exercises for this book, I decided to avoid what Chess Informant and other publications of tactical exercises have included at times. Namely, puzzles like ‘White to play and gain a large advantage’ and similar. To actually gain a winning position can mean many things. My agenda is not that of aesthetics, but that of improving the tactical skills of the practical player. One of these skills is also to determine when a position is winning and when it is not. So ‘winning’ can mean winning a pawn for no compensation, or gaining an absolutely winning positional advantage (as with only one case out of 500 in this book), or it can simply mean checkmating in the classical aesthetic way as in the following example clipped from Informant 87.

White is mated with 5...Nh7. Everybody loves this kind of stuff (I hope!). But how important is it for the practical player? Well, of course solving such exercises will never make you weaker, but they should not stand alone. For that reason I have collected examples with some degree of tangled complexity over ones with aesthetics solutions. In this book, which is a training manual, I have collected examples from practical play based on their correctness more than anything else, and also on their instructional value. All I hope for is that my evaluation in that direction has been good and that this book will help you develop your tactical chess.

Why another Book on Combinations?

Omer Ibrahim-Ibarra Cuba 2003

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This is one of the first questions I had to answer when I sat down to write this book. Was it really just a waste of time to produce a new collection of combinations? I had several reasons why I found it acceptable to answer this question in the negative. First of all, there have been more games available over the last 10-15 years than in any other period of chess history, and the density has increased even more so over the last five years. A 10

Introduction

strong collection of good combinations from this period seemed to be justified. In this collection there are 80 positions from 2000 or later, another 148 positions from the period 1996-1999, another 162 from the period 1990-1995, and only 108 of an earlier age. The last two are from my personal opening preparation that I found instructive. Secondly, there are few collections that really live up to the standards made possible in modern times by strong computer programs and the collection of material through databases (the great exception is John Nunn’s excellent puzzle book). Even Informant is somewhat sloppy. Here are two examples from Informant (which I still love dearly, though I disagree on certain choices).

Luik-Voorema USSR 1978 Chess Informant: Encyclopaedia of Chess Middlegames

impossible to overlook such details. In this way, for practical reasons, many older collections have a plentiful supply of incorrect combinations. Another weakness of many collections is that they are partly copies of previous collections. Because gathering material for combinations is such a time investment and, not the least, such a drag, many authors have decided to take a short cut by partly collecting from other collections. This was acceptable back in the time when there were no computers, and you had to play through all the games by hand. Now, however, you can identify a possible combination in a game in something like five seconds from when it pops up on your screen (of course it takes longer to determine if it is correct and useful or not). A third weakness is that of more than one solution. This is especially prevalent in older collections. The main problem is in my view not so much that there is more than one solution, but more that the extra solutions are not indicated, or that a very long and difficult solution is indicated, when an easy win is present. The following example is from Informant’s Chess Combinations. Actually, the combination they support is incorrect, which shows that they have not done the necessary work of checking all the positions. Still, it is an outstanding collection.

In the game Black won convincingly with 1...Re2! 2 Bxh7+ 2 Bxe2 Ne4 and Black wins; 2 b3 Ne4 and Black wins. 2...Kxh7 3 Qd3+ Ne4! and White resigned. But all of this would have looked much different if White had found 2 b4!, the absolutely only move, after which White’s position is uncomfortable, but by no means lost. I did not find this myself, but assisted by Fritz 8 it is 11

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Introduction

Botto-Christiansen Buenos Aires 1975 The solution which Christiansen gives in his book Storming the Barricades is 14...Qf3! 15 g3 (White also does not survive after 15 Ne3 Bh3! [or 15...Bh6 – Christiansen] 16 g3 Bh6 and we have a transposition to the main solution) 15...Bh3 16 Ne3 Bh6 17 Qd1 Qxd1 18 Bb5+ Kd8 19 Rfxd1 Bxe3 20 fxe3 Rg4 and Black is winning. However, Black also wins with: 14...Bh3! 15 Ne3 (15 g3 transposes to the above note) 15...Bxg2! 16 Bxf7+ Kxf7 17 Qd5+ e6 18 Qh5+ Ke7 19 Nxg2 Rg5 20 Qxh7+ Bg7 and White cannot save himself in any way. All of this has little to do with the game, where Black went astray, breaking the Nunn dictum DAUT (Don’t analyse unnecessary tactics). 14...Rxg2+?? On the quest for beauty, Black forgets that a difficult win is always less aesthetically pleasing than an easy one. Here it is even incorrect! 15 Kxg2 Bh3+?! Black is of course preoccupied with the execution of a plan, but here 15...Qh3+ with a draw was a better move. 16 Kg1 Qf3 17 Ne3 Bh6 18 Qd1 Qxe3! This was what Black had been looking forward too. But now White has his chance.

19 fxe3?? Bxe3+ 20 Kh1 Bg2 mate is obvious. However, the thing Larry C did not see during the game and which the people at Informant never saw, was that White could save himself here with 19 Bxf7+! Kf8! 20 Qh5 Qg5+ 21 Qxg5 Bxg5 22 Bb3, with an unclear endgame. 19...Qf3 20 Qxf7+ Kd7 21 Bb5+ Rc6! 22 Qg8 Bg5 0-1 Mate can be postponed, not prevented. I have not written this to ‘trash the competition’ as some people might think, nor in any way to create an impression of my work being superior to that of others. Rather, I wanted to give my own reasons for feeling that writing a new book on combinations was justified, and to illustrate how the conditions for writing a book on combinations have changed over the past 10-15 years. The main reason to write a book is always (at least for me personally) some kind of inner urge to do so, more than anything else. I will deal further with the work involved in writing a book on combinations in Chapter 1.

What kind of Combinations have been included in this Book? The combinations in this book have all been taken from the Sicilian. They have been structured by Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) codes B20B99 and then divided into two blocks as explained above. The most important Sicilian lines and their codes are: B20 The Morra Gambit. B22 The 2 c3 Sicilian B24-26 The Closed Sicilian B32 The Kalashnikov B33 The Sveshnikov B34-39 The Accelerated Dragon B42-49 The Taimanov, Four Knights and Paulsen Sicilian B30 and B50-52 The Bb5 Sicilian

19 Qd5?? 13

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B56-B69 The Classical B70-B79 The Dragon B80-B89 The Scheveningen B90-B99 The Najdorf

CHAPTER ONE

Why the Sicilian? The Sicilian Defence is the largest opening complex in Informant’s ECO complex. In this day and age, it’s the most important opening to prepare for with the white pieces (if 1 e4 is your planned opening move) and the most obvious choice for tournaments players against 1 e4. My idea with this book is that the reader is prepared for the tactical onslaughts he is bound to face on either side of the Sicilian Defence, and thereby somehow has a stronger tactical intuition when playing the Sicilian. But of course these combinations are not solely bound to the Sicilian Defence, even though they are a good representation. Combinational imagery floats freely between the different opening systems and a knowledge of one kind of combination in the Sicilian is likely to some day help you in the Nimzo-Indian or other openings. Though the choice of opening might to some extent determine the pawn structure, it does not change the way the pieces move.

Why is there no system to evaluate the performance? I would simply not be able to determine what kind of performance would equal whatever Elo performance.

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The Adventure of Writing a book on Combinations

Actually, there is no great story connected to writing a book on chess combinations. Mainly it is just a lot of tiresome work: looking up games, occasionally finding a wicked combination, and then discarding it a few minutes later. It is close to being a one-dimensional project. Previous collections have mainly been a division between original material and ‘borrowed’ positions, seen in previous books on combinations. This is a bit irritating, but of course there are some pure collections out there, most notably John Nunn’s Puzzle Book, by the man himself. It is easy to understand why many writers have taken the easy road when confronted with the enormous work of looking through tons of games, especially in the old days when there were no databases. But even after the emergence of ChessBase and its competitors, the task of finding original combinations is a time consuming job which takes considerable patience (which is why Nikolaj was invited to participate on this book). For every good combination you will find many that do not work, mainly because they are simply not combinations. I think it is realistic to say that about 20-30,000 games were investigated in order to put this book together. The majority of these only needed a few seconds – just enough time to establish that Caissa had not blessed the meeting of two players with 16

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potential immortality, but instead allowed them to remove the queens from the board and exercise restraint and patience in the form of a technical game. All in all, 42,500 games in my database complied to my search criteria, but often a telephone call, a tick of the clock or simply laziness decided to end my search for brilliance within an ECO code. Besides my pride with the final result, what I personally take with me from writing this book are the near misses. These can be divided into four groups: incorrect combinations, insufficient combinations, combinations with more than one solution and completely insane exercises that, for some reason, are unfit for a combinations book. I have decided to include some of them here for the sheer fun of it. Chess is, after all, a game, and even though it is a competitive one, it still has strong aesthetic dimensions that should never be forgotten. Also, it is nice to go deep into combinations that do not work, for whatever reason, as this also teaches us something about the nature of combinations in chess.

Incorrect Combinations One of the most interesting aspects I found in writing this book was all the combinations I was first startled by and then had to dispose of, when somewhere in the jungle of variations there was something that just did not add up. Often it was the computer that came up with some irrational idea, that neither the players/annotators nor I originally considered. A few times something just smelled funny, and I extended my search for mistakes and found some (even though most often it was my big nose that was oversensitive and suspicious). Here is an example of an annotator who misjudged the value of a combination.

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Yudasin-Gelfand Munich 1991 B26 White to play his best chance! White is under pressure positionally and apparently has to seek his counterplay on the h-file and also partly on the g-file, the only parts of the board where things are going his way. Instead of trying to survive, something he probably could not do anyway, White decides that the moment has come for him to show what he’s got. Somehow Gelfand convinced himself that White should have been successful and therefore criticised his last move, 32...e6, claiming a win for White as we shall see. Of course, in 1991 Gelfand was not helped with a strong chess-playing computer program, as I am today, and his failure to find the mistake in his analysis is merrily a reflection of how difficult chess is, and of how lucky the chess writer is to have a tactically flawless companion with him when he comments on the challenges others have faced. 33 e5! As all other moves have no prospects, this is the correct choice. The key idea is of course to ‘turn off ’ the black bishop on f6, as well as giving the g2-bishop a chance to enter the attack from e4 or d5 – quite a common theme in attacking chess.

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White loses directly after 33 Rh2? exf5 34 exf5 Bxf5! 35 Qxf5 Bd4+ 36 Nxd4 Qe5!, for example 37 Qxf8+ Rxf8+ 38 Nf3 Qd4+ 39 Ke2 Re8+ 40 Kd2 Qf2+ 41 Kc3 Qc2 mate. 33 Rxh6 also does not work: 33...exf5 34 exf5 Kxh6 35 Rh1+ Kg7 36 Nxg5 and here Black refutes the attack with 36...Bd4+! 37 Kf1 Rxf5+ 38 Nf3+ Qg6. The only move according to Fritz 8 is actually 33 Qh3?!, but it is not very nice to be White after something like 33...h5!, for example 34 Qxh5?! Qxh5 35 Rxh5 exf5 36 exf5 Bxf5 and White will inevitably lose because of ideas such as ...Bg4, ...Bxd3 and ...g4. 33...dxe5 33...exf5 34 exf6+ Rxf6 35 Qh5 gives White an extra piece and pretty good chances of winning the game.

34 Rxh6!? White is doing what he does best. 34...Kxh6? This move should have lost the game, but White was apparently short of time. The only move was in this position was 34...exf5, when Gelfand assesses 35 Qh3! g4 36 Rh7+ Kg8 37 Qh6 gxf3 38 Bxf3 e4 39 Bh5 as winning for White.

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Black to play and draw! Actually, this is not so easy. Black has the move 39...Rb6!!, improving his position with a tempo because of 40...Bd4+. Now White is forced to play 40 Kg2 Qe5 41 Bg6 (the idea behind White’s attack). Though it looks incredibly dangerous, Black survives with the amazing 41...Be7!!, protecting f8. White now cannot force a win: 42 Rh1 Qxb2+ seems to lead to perpetual check, and 42 Qh5?! Qf6! 43 Rh6 e3 gives Black the advantage, as after the line 44 Bh7+ Kg7 45 Rxf6 Bb7+! 46 Kg1 Rbxf6 White will end up with a queen and an immobile rook against four fabulous pieces. Another improvement over Gelfand’s analysis is 35...f4!? 36 Rh7+ Kg8 37 Qh6! e4 38 Nxg5 Bd4+ 39 Ke1 exd3+ 40 Be4 Bf5 41 Kd2 Bxe4 42 Rh1 Qe5 43 Rh8+ 43...Qxh8 44 Qe6+ Kg7 45 Rxh8 Be3+ 46 Kc3 Bd4+ 47 Kd2 Be3+ with a draw. All in all, there is no winning combination as I had originally thought.

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unsuccessful, I gave in and disregarded the combination from the book. Well, that is until I got the urge to write this additional chapter.

35 Rh1+? Here Yudasin misses a chance. He could have won with 35 Nxg5!. 35...Kg7 is the only move, after which White wins with 36 Ne4+ Kf7 37 Nd6+ Ke7 38 Nxe8 exf5 39 Qh5 Rxe8 40 Qh7+ Kf8 41 Bd5 Be6 42 Bxe6 Rxe6 43 Qxf5. Probably Yudasin was in time trouble and overlooked that White wins after 35...Qh5?! 36 Rh1!! Qxh1 37 Nf7+! Kh7 38 Qg6 mate. 35...Kg7 36 Nxg5 exf5 37 Rh7+ Kg8 38 Bd5+ Be6 39 Rg7+ 39 Qh3 loses to 39...Bxg5 40 Rh8+ Kg7! 41 Rh7+ Kf6 42 Rh6+ Bxh6 43 Qxh6+ Qg6 – Gelfand. 39...Bxg7 40 Qh3 Rf6 0-1 All in all this combination cannot be said to be incorrect, but it was not winning. The same goes for the following example – a truly impressive combination with fabulous side-lines, which unfortunately turned out only to yield a draw with best play from both sides. At first I thought I was facing something close to the most fantastic variation on the Greek gift sacrifice I had ever seen. But then, as I was reviewing the combination for the last time, I noticed that Black actually was doing fine until he blundered everything away. For several reasons it was hard to evaluate the position correctly. But eventually, after all of my more desperate attempts to prove an advantage had been 21

Kupreichik-Vratonjic Budapest 1988 B89 White looks in ill health, as after 20 Qxe3 Nxd5 there is nothing really to like about his position. But he has an intermediate move that changes the evaluation completely. A most fantastic combination arises, but unfortunately not a winning combination. 20 Nxe6! fxe6! This turns out to be the only move, although the sidelines are not so simple: a) 20...Qd6 21 Bxh7+!! Kxh7 22 Qh5+ Kg8 23 g6 fxg6 24 Rxg6 Nf5 (24...Bf6 25 Rh6! gxh6 26 Rg1+ wins for White; the same goes for 24...Rf7 25 Rh6!! gxh6 26 Rg1+ Bg5 27 Qxh6) 25 Nxf8 Rxf8 26 Rxd6 Bxd6 27 Nf3 Bxd5 28 Ng5 Rf6 29 a4! bxa3 30 c4 Bxc4 31 Ne4 and White wins. b) 20...Qc8 21 Qxe3 Nxd5 22 Qh3 g6 23 f5 fxe6 24 fxg6 hxg6 25 Bxg6 Rf7 26 Bxf7+ Kxf7 27 g6+ Ke8 28 g7 and White wins. c) 20...Qd7 21 Nxf8 is easy to calculate. White wins an exchange, end of story. 21 Bxh7+! Kxh7 The sacrifice has to be accepted. 21...Kf7 22 Qh5+ g6 23 Qxg6 is mate. 22

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22 Qh5+ Kg8 23 g6 Qxc2+ 24 Ka1 White has sacrificed two pieces actively and decided against recapturing one other. All in all, three pieces. That is a lot...

colour of squares can take place. White displays a sound light-squared strategy, which is successful, though not sufficient to win the game in the postmortem analysis. Never mind. The young German grandmaster probably did not really care about this afterwards, when he signed the scoresheet.

Black saves himself! 24...Qxb2+!! The only move. When I first played through the game I believed that this was actually just desperation or an attempt to be funny. How easy it is to misjudge the white attack at this point. Especially when Black resigns just a few seconds later. After the other queen sacrifice 24...Qxg6 25 Qxg6 Bf6 26 Ne4 White wins: 26...Bxb2+ 27 Kxb2 Nxd1+ 28 Ka1 Rf7 29 Ng5. 25 Kxb2 Bf6+ 26 Kb1 Rfc8?? What a blunder. Forced was 26...Rfd8! to prevent White’s next move in the game. A probable continuations is 27 Ne4 Nbxd5 28 Qh3 Nxd1 29 Qxe6+ Kh8, when White cannot win and should therefore take the perpetual check. 27 d6! 1-0 A pity for Black, but nonetheless a somewhat deserved victory for White. The next example would perhaps not have found its way into the exercises section anyway, as it is perhaps more an attack than a combination. Still, it’s good to illustrate how a battle on one 23

Naiditsch-Sax Bad Zwesten 2002 B81 18 Nd5! exd5 19 Bxd5 An interesting position, very important for the understanding of defence. White is trying to win the game on the light squares, and Black is forced to do something about this. When he fails to do so in the game he has to pay the price of a full point. 19...0-0? Black tries to get the king into safety, but this is a slightly superficial evaluation of the position. The king is not safer on g8, not as long as White controls the light squares. 20 e6! White is completely taking over the light squares. Black now decides that his hanging bishop on e7 is problematic and to place it on h4, where it is at least attacking the rook on e1. 20...Bh4!? 20...fxe6 21 Nxe6 Bxe6 22 Bxe6+ Kh8 (22...Rf7 23 Rd7 and White wins the queen or something 24

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similar) 23 Bxc8 and White wins is the not-toodeep point behind the white combination. 21 exd7 Rcd8 The only move, but it’s not enough. Black is also losing after 21...Qxd7 22 Nf5! Bxe1 23 Ne7+ Kh8 24 Bxf7!, when White wins the queen because of Ng6 mate. Or 21...Bxe1 22 dxc8Q and White will be a piece ahead. 22 Rf1 22 Bxf7+!? is also strong: 22...Rxf7 23 Ne6 and Black does not have good prospects of fighting against the passed d-pawn, with his kingside all opened up. 22...Nb6?! Black cracks under the pressure. Necessary was 22...Rxd7, after which White establishes an advantage with 23 Nf5 Bf6 24 Bxc4 bxc4 25 Rxd7 Qxd7 26 Qxc4. With his extra pawn, he is well on his way to winning the game. 23 Bxf7+! Rxf7 24 Rxf7 Kxf7 25 Ne6 Qb8 26 Bf4 Qa8 27 Nxd8+ Qxd8 28 Bc7 1-0 Black resigned, as after 28...Qxc7 29 Qe8+ White wins in a million ways. But let us return to the position where black ‘castled out of trouble’.

Black to play and defend! The right defence was 19...Nf8!, after which White does not have easy access to the light 25

squares. Black’s main idea is to block with ...Ne6 on the next move. White has many ways to continue the attack, but I have found no clear-cut win.

a) 20 Rf1? does not work because of 20...Nxe5. b) The direct attempt 20 e6 seems to liquidate White’s winning chances as his minor pieces are exchanged: 20...fxe6 21 Nxe6 Nxe6 22 Bxe6 Bxe6 23 Qxe6 Rf8. Now White doesn’t seem to be able to break through: 24 g5!? (24 Bxh6!? is also a draw after 24...gxh6 25 Qg6+ Rf7 26 Qg8+ Rf8 27 Qg6+) 24...Rf7 25 gxh6 gxh6 26 Rg1 Rf8! and there is no way for White to strengthen his attack, as after 27 Bxh6 Black draws immediately with 27...Na3+ 28 bxa3 Qxc2+ 29 Ka1 Qc3+. c) The less forcing 20 Nf5!? Bxf5 21 gxf5 Bb4 22 Rg1 Rh7! (protecting f7 indirectly) is rather unclear. Probably the tide is with White, but it is certainly not a straightforward winning position. Now 23 e6 fxe6 24 Bxe6 Nxe6 25 Qxe6+ Kf8 26 Rd7 is too optimistic, as Black mates with 26...Na3+ 27 Ka1 Nxc2+ 28 Kb1 Na3+ 29 bxa3 Qc2+ 30 Ka1 Bc3+ 31 Bb2 Qxb2. The following example was also close to being rejected because the nature of the position was more like an attack. Then I thought, ‘Well on the other hand it can be calculated quite far as there are few branches.’ So I started analysing. Suddenly I ended up in an interesting situation. White 26

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seemed to have strengthened his attack to the maximum and Black had nothing to do but to return material. The computer was very happy with White’s position, but something happened that is very rare these days: I saw something that the computer didn’t. White was losing and there was nothing that could be done about this. After having avoided a handful of draws in the analysis, I had managed to obtain a materially superior position, where there was absolutely no hope!

Kalegin-Yuferov USSR 1990 B52 White continues his attack! White has sacrificed the exchange for a direct attack and needs to keep it rolling. There is nothing wrong with the following lines. 26 Ne4! With the double threat of Nd6+ (a hook) and Rxc6+. 26...dxe4 A long but straightforward line is 26...Kb8 27 Qf4+ (27 Rxc6!? is good too, as there is no better than 27...dxe4 transposing) 27...Ka8 28 Nc7+ Rxc7 29 Qxc7 Qxe4 30 Qxc6+ Kb8 31 Qc7+ Ka8 32 Qxa5+ Kb8 33 Qc7+ Ka8 34 Qxd7 with a winning endgame. 27 Rxc6+ Kb8

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27...Kb7 28 Qb5+ Ka8 29 Nc7+ Rxc7 30 Rxc7 Qb8 31 Qa6+ and White wins. 28 Qf4+ Ka8? Not the best defence. After 28...Kb7! White has to work things out as he goes along, as no one is able to calculate the following line: 29 Rc7+ Ka8 30 Qe3!? Qb8 (30...Rb7 31 Qxe4 Qb8 transposes) 31 Qxe4+ Rb7 32 Rxd7 (with the idea of Nc7+) 32...Rc8 (the only move; 32...Qc8 33 Rc7! Qb8 34 Rc6 Ka7 35 Qd4+ Rb6 36 Qc5 Qb7 37 Rc7 and White wins) 33 g3. ‘To evaluate this as a winning position is a necessary part of solving this exercise. But to find a direct win here is perhaps humanly impossible’ is what I originally wrote, but probably this quote wouldn’t have lasted. The line I gave here was 33...Ka7 34 Qd4+ Ka6 35 Rd6+ Rb6 36 Qd3+ Ka7 37 Rd7+ Rb7 38 Rd5 Ka8 39 Qe4 Qa7 40 Nd8 Re7 41 Re5+ and White wins. But then it turned out that Black had a desperate – and strong – defence: 33...Rc1+ 34 Kg2 Re1 35 Qc6? (blindly walking into the abyss; White is forced to play 35 Qxe1! Rxd7, when his chances are worse but far from zero)

Black to play and win! 35...Rxe6! 36 Qxe6 Rxd7 37 Qxd7 Qb7+ 38 Qxb7+ Kxb7 and Black wins the pawn end-game. Black’s king is in the box of the f-pawn, but White’s king will never make it to the queenside in time. 28

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29 Nc7+ Rxc7 30 Qxc7 Now White simply wins. 30...Nb8 31 Qxa5+ Kb7 32 Rc7 mate

Insufficient Combinations There is not too much difference between incorrect combinations and the following collection of insufficient combinations. The main contrast is that incorrect combinations fail to even bring an advantage, while insufficient combinations are unable to deliver an advantage (against the best defence of course) which deserves to be called ‘winning’. Frequently I would stumble across a combination that really fascinated me, but for some reason was insufficient as an exercise. Often it was because there was more than one winning move, and I could not justify including it because of this aesthetic flaw. Usually this was because the unintended extra solution was simpler than the intended one, or at least simple enough to take my attention away from the solution that originally attracted me. Sometimes I was also dissatisfied with the final verdict against the best defence, usually because I did not really feel that I could call the position ‘winning’. This happened with the following example, where Fritz 8 found a brilliant defence, changing the evaluation from winning for White to clearly better for White.

Hamdouchi-Tregubov Cap d’Agde 2000 B32 This non-standard combination is all about using all the pieces in the attack. White sacrifices an exchange in order to penetrate the black position via e7. This is made possible because of the open nature of the black king. Still, Black has a surprising defence that would probably not save the game in a practical setting, but which makes winning a real task for White. 20 Rxd4!! The strong knight is eliminated and the e-file is opened. 20...exd4 21 Re1 Rb7! Black wisely brings his most inactive piece into the defence. 21...Rf7 loses to 22 Ne7! because of 22...Rxe7 23 Qg5+ Kf8 24 Qg8 mate. 22 Ne7!! This is really the key move of the combination. White’s main idea is the truly astonishing 23 Qg5+ Kh8 24 Bf7!! (with the threat of Qf6 mate) 24...Rxf7 25 Ng6+ and suddenly the queen on d8 is unprotected. 22...d5 Forced. 22...Rxe7 23 Qg5+ Kh8 24 Rxe7 and Black is mated. 23 Bxd5

What must Black play to hang on? 29

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23...Rb6? Losing. 23...Rd7 24 Re6! is also no defence. After 24...Rxd5 25 Qg5+ Kh8 26 Ng6+ Kg8 27 Re7! there is no escape. The amazing defence comes with 23...d3!!, after which the position is great for White, but not completely winning, for example:

a) 24 Bxb7? d2 25 Rd1 Qd4+ 26 Kf1 Bxb7 27 Qe2 (27 Nxf5+ Rxf5 28 Qxf5 Bf3 29 Rxd2 Qxd2 30 Qe5+ Kf7 and Black has some winning chances) 27...Qe4 28 Qxe4 Bxe4 29 Rxd2 Kf7 30 Rd7 Ke6 31 Ra7 Re8 and the knight is lost. White still has some drawing chances, but Black has all the strong cards in his hand. What a bishop! b) 24 cxd3 Rc7 and the option of ...Qd4+ that saves Black in all tactical lines. White must abandon the attack and play for positional compensation. After 25 Re5! he is somewhat better, but not winning. 24 Nxc8 Now White is easily winning. 24...Rh6 25 Re7+ Qxe7 26 Qxh6+ Kxh6 27 Nxe7 Kg7 28 Bb3 Kf6 29 Nc6 Re8 30 Kf2 Re4 31 Ne5 h5 32 Bd5 Re3 33 a3 h4 34 c3 1-0

the execution of the main tactical idea that gives a clear advantage, but when the opponent realises he is out of luck, and escapes into something terrible but momentarily playable. In the same way, the following position contains some nice, surprising tactics, but again it was not possible to bring down the walls of White’s position in the analysis. So in the end the exercise ended up here in Chapter 1, where a clear advantage is just that, and nothing more.

Smikovski-Yudasin St Petersburg 1997 B90 Black to play and obtain a clear advantage Black’s key idea comes on move two, and the lines are long and tangled. It’s not easy for a computer to find its way through. 15...Bf6! The start of the combination. But not 15...Bh6?? 16 Rxh5! and White is doing well. 16 Rxh5 The only move.

The tactics in this example are of course brilliant, instructive and surprising, but I simply hate exercises that call for a clear advantage, and nothing more. This is mainly because it is never 31

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16...Kd7!! The crucial move, a real stunner. White now cannot protect the rook, so only one move remains. 16...Bxg5 17 Rxh8+ Kd7 18 Rxd8+ favours White. 17 Nc5+? This is an attempt to outwit Black, but it’s not successful. 17 Qxg4? is also not an alternative: 17...Bxc3+ 18 bxc3 Bxg4 19 Bxg4+ Kc7 and Black wins. White was forced to go through hell with 17 Rxh8 Qxh8 18 Qd2 Nb4! 19 a3! Rxc3 20 axb4 Rxb3 21 cxb3 Bxb2 22 Rc1! (like on many of the previous moves, this was the only move) 22...Bxc1 23 Qxc1 Nf6 24 f3 Qg7 25 Bf2 Qxg2 and Black has a clear advantage. However, this was the line I did not find completely clear. White has some counter-chances with b4-b5 and the two bishops, plus the knight on f6 is not as active as it could be. Instead of trying to find an improvement over this line (which might be hard), I decided to let the combination go and look for other exercises. 17...dxc5 18 Qd2+ Nd4 19 Bxg4 Bxg4!!

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Black is just a piece up! This was to be the real depth of the exercise – Black should not be scared of Rd5+. After 19...Rxh5?? 20 Bxh5 Qh8 21 Qd1! White is hanging on. 20 Rd5+ Ke8 20...Kc6 wins on the spot and is probably more accurate. 21 Qf4 21 Rxd8+ Rxd8 gives White no chances: 22 f3 Nxf3+ 23 gxf3 Rh1+ 24 Ke2 Rxd2+ 25 Kxd2 Rxa1 and Black wins. 21...Bd7 22 0-0-0 e6 0-1 The following combination is similar. White is on the verge of winning, but only stays there.

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Vukovic-Nowak Naleczow 1986 B95 White to play and do some damage! 25 Rxc8! The right move order: 25 Bxg6 Rxc1+ 26 Rxc1 fxg6 27 Qxh6 Bxf6 and it is Black who wins. 25...Rxc8 26 Bxg6!! A nice sacrifice. After 26 Qxh6? Bxf6 Black is on top. 26...fxg6?! Black collapses, probably discouraged from playing 26...Bg5! 27 Qf5 Qc7, which seems to hangs on. White can get a clear advantage with 28 Bh7+, but can also try his luck with 28 Bxf7+!? Kxf7 29 Qh7+ Kxf6! (only move) 30 Rf1+ Ke5 31 Qf5+ Kd4. Unfortunately there is no way to win the game – it’s a real problem that Black has ...Qc1+ followed by mate. The best try is 32 Rd1+ Kc4 33 Rd3.

42...Rf8! activating the rook. Here White has no way to advance his pawns and get his king into safety. Again a matter of evaluation, and that is pretty far down the line. b) 41 Rf7 Kc5! 42 Rxb7 Rf8 and Black will make a draw. 27 Qxh6 Now Black is simply lost. 27...Qc7 27...Bxf6 28 Qxg6+ Bg7 29 Qe6+ and the rook goes with check. 28 Qxg6+ Kf8 29 Rf1! Bg5 1-0

Exercises with Two (obvious) Solutions When (if?) you go through the exercises in this book you will find that a few of them (I believe between 10 and 20 – 2-4%) have more than one solution. Originally I decided not to include positions where there was more than one winning move, but then I repeatedly stumbled over examples where I believed the extra possibility did not destroy the exercise as an exercise and that nothing was lost aesthetically. You will of course be able to judge for yourselves as you go along. The following example was one I met late in my research. I quickly decided against using it as both solutions seemed too obvious.

Black to play – an ‘only move’ is required! Now Black needs to find 33...Bf6!! in order to stay in the game. My analysis suggests that the best way to continue is 34 Qe4+ Kc5 35 Qe3+ Kb5 36 Rb3+ Ka4 37 Qf4+ Qc4 38 Rf3!? Bxb2! 39 Kxb2 Qxf4 40 Rxf4+ Kb5 and now: a) 41 Rf6 Kc5 42 Rxh6 does not give any chances of an advantage, as Black will play 35

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Lanka-Fedorov Kishinev 1998 B78 Black wins in two ways! This example is really nice. Black wins in two equally fascinating ways. 26...Qf5+!! Obviously it must have felt really good for Fedorov to be allowed to end the game with a queen sacrifice. But actually it was not essential. After 26...Bf5+! Black wins all the same. The following lines are all given by Petursson: 27 Ka1 bxc3 28 bxc3 Qe7 29 Qh2 (29 Nxf5 is strongly met with 29...Qa3!! 30 Nd4 Bxd4 31 cxd4 Rc2 and White is busted) 29...Rxc3 30 Qh7+ Kf8 31 Bh6+ Ke8 32 Rhe1 Be6 33 Bg7 Qa3 34 Rxe6+ Kd7 35 Rd6+ Kxd6 36 Qh2+ Kd7 37 Qh3+ Ke7 38 Re1+ Re3 and White is out of ammunition. 27 Nxf5 27 Ka1 does not help: 27...bxc3 28 Nxf5 cxd2! 29 Nd6 Rxf4 and the endgame is easy. 27...Bxf5+ 28 Ka1 28 Kc1 bxc3 29 Qxd5 Rxf4 30 b3 Bg5 31 Rdg1 Rd4+ and Black wins. 28...bxc3 29 bxc3 Rxf4! Black simply eliminates all kinds of defence on the dark squares. This was probably what Fedorov had foreseen and there is no real defence available for White. Note that after 29...Bxc3+?? 30 Qxc3 Rxc3 31 Be5 White is better. 30 Rc1 Or: a) 30 Qxf4 Bxc3 mate. b) 30 Kb2 loses to 30...Rb4+ 31 Ka3 Rb6 (threatening ...Be7+) 32 Rde1 Rcb8 and there is no defence against ...Ra6+. 30...Rxf3 Black now wins easily. 31 Kb2 d4 32 c4 Rb8+ 33 Ka1 d3+ 34 Rc3 Rf2! 0-1

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It was with some grief that I had to let go of the following example.

J.Polgar-Pliester Aruba 1992 B92 White to play and win (twice?!) 20 Rxf7!! According to Fritz 8, the strongest continuation, and really a very nice combination. However, 20 Bh5! also wins because Black cannot defend f7 satisfactorily. The only try is 20...Nf6, when White wins with 21 Rxe5 dxe5 22 Nxf6+ Bxf6 23 Qxf7+ and the house comes tumbling down. Actually even 20 Rxe5! dxe5 21 Rxf7 wins, but let us try to follow the game. 20...Nxf7 Forced. 20...Bf8 21 Ra7! and White wins because of 21...Qxa7 22 Ne7+ Kh8 23 Qg8 mate. 21 Rxf7 Kxf7 Black has many alternatives, and at the same time no alternative: a) 21...Bf8 22 Ra7! and White wins. b) 21...Bg5 22 Ra7 Qxa7 23 Ne7+ Kh8 24 Ng6 mate. c) 21...Qd8 22 Nxe7+ and wins. d) 21...Bd8 22 Ra7! and White wins. 22 Nb6+ Kg6 Black is mated no matter what. 38

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a) 22...Kf8 23 Nd7 mate. b) 22...Kf6 23 Bd4+ Kg6 24 Bh5+ Kxh5 25 Qf7+ g6 26 Qf3+ Kg5 27 Be3+ Kh4 28 Qh3 mate. 23 Bh5+ Kxh5 24 Qf7+ 1-0 Black resigned on account of 24...Kh4 25 g3+ Kh3 26 Qe6 mate.

23 Rxf6 Qxf6 24 Bxf6+ Kxf6 25 Bxa6! Ke7 26 b4! Re5 27 Bxb7 Bg6 28 a5 f5 29 exf5 Rfxf5 30 h3 1-0 In the following example Dvoirys performs fabulously, but could have won more easily.

The following example is also attractive.

Svidler-Nedobora Linares 1994 B93 White wins in two ways! The initial move is the same for both tactical solutions. 19 Nxg7! Kxg7 20 Bd4!? This wins after some length, but the cleanest winning line is 20 Bh6+! Kh8 21 Bxf8 (21 Qg5? Rg8 22 Qxf6+ Qxf6 23 Rxf6 Rg6 24 Rxg6 Bxg6 is far from clear) 21...Rxf8 (21...Nfxe4!? 22 Qh6 Qxh6 23 Bxh6 Nxd3 24 cxd3 Nc5 is objectively the best line, but White will win easily with his extra exchange) 22 Qh6 Ncd7 23 e5! Qxe5 24 Rxf6!. 20...Ncd7 21 Rxf6! Nxf6 22 Rf1 Rc5?! The only chance was 22...Bg6, but 23 Rxf6 Qxf6 24 Bxf6+ Kxf6 25 Qb4 Rfd8 26 Qxb7 Rb8 27 Qa7! and White wins – Svidler.

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Epishin-Dvoirys Leningrad 1990 B53 Black wins in two ways! 26...Raxc2+!? Black also wins with 26...Nc4! 27 bxc4 (27 Qxc4 Rxc4 28 bxc4 Qxc4 and ...e5 is coming) 27...Qa3+ 28 Kd2 Qc3+ 29 Kc1 Ra1 mate. 27 Nxc2 Qa1+ 28 Kd2 Qc3+ 29 Kc1 Nxf3! With the threat of ...Qa1 mate. 30 Kb1 Qxb3+ 31 Kc1 31 Ka1 Rc5! and White is finished: 32 Nxb4 Nxe1 33 Rxe1 Qxb4 34 Bd8 Rc3. 31...Qa2! 0-1 There is no escape from the mate.

Positions Discarded for Other Reasons Of course when one is looking through thousands of games searching for something worth showing, there will always be some absurd examples. Here is an example that I originally discarded and then 40

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could not allow back in among the 500 exercises (501 exercises sound a bit daft when compared to 1001), when I realised that my analysis was greatly flawed. Firstly, here is the version as it was in my original notes.

29...Rxd6 30 Bxd6 Rd8 31 Rxd3 Qc6 31...Qd7 32 Qd2 Ne8 33 Rd4! Nxd6 34 Ne4 Qb5 35 h3 and White wins – Psakhis. 32 Qd2 Qc4 33 Kg1 a5 34 bxa5 bxa5 35 Rd4 Qe6 36 Bg3 Re8 37 Bf2 1-0 All of this, however, is bogus. After 26...Neg4!? White wins straightforwardly.

Psakhis-J.Polgar Amsterdam 1989 B44 This is a brilliant example of exploiting loose pieces in order to take over the squares of one colour, here the dark ones. 26 Nde4! White is attacking all four black minor pieces. Behind them the b8-rook is a little awkwardly placed on the diagonal. 26...Bxe4 After this there is no defence. The same goes for 26...Nxe4 27 fxe4! Bxe4 28 Rxd6 and White wins a piece. However, I did not feel that White was completely winning after 26...Neg4!? 27 Nxf6+ Nxf6 28 Bg5 Be7 29 Bxa6 Qxa6 30 Bxf6 Bxf6 31 Nxd5 b5, despite being a pawn up. The a-pawn is, after all, backward and there are many possible endgames which could arise from this position in which Black could scrape a draw. 27 Rxd6! Now it is all over. 27...Nd3 28 Bxd3 Bxd3 29 Rd1 29 Qd4! wins on the spot. 41

White wins! 27 fxg4 Nxe4 28 Nxe4 Bxf4 29 Qxf4 Bxe4 30 Rc7 Rxd1+ 31 Bxd1 Qd5 32 Rd7! and Black loses the queen. So in fact this exercise was perfect for the book, but now it will have to live the less glamorous life of being a Chapter 1 example. I find the following example really funny, but then again I have been known to have a warped sense of humour...

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Rausis-Djurhuus Skei 1993 B53 I really liked this little combination and had some variations worked out before I realised that it would not be suitable as an exercise. 14 0-0-0! This is the strongest, after which White is probably just winning. Black now plays a decent move. 14...Bc5 a) 14...exf4 15 Rhe1+ Be7 16 Nc6 Rc7 17 Rxe7+ Kf8 18 Rde1 g5 19 Nd8 and Black loses something heavy straight away. b) 14...Rc7!? was possibly a better defence, but White continues with 15 Rhe1 Be7 16 Bxe5 Nxe5 17 Rxe5 Be6 18 Nd5 Nxd5 19 Bxd5 Bxd5 20 Rexd5 with a clear advantage. The position could have been discarded for this line alone, but there is a stronger argument. 15 Bg3! White simply takes control over the position here. Another possibility was 15 Rhe1 Bxf2 16 Re2 Bb6 17 Nc6 Rc7 18 Nxe5 Nxe5 19 Bxe5 Re7 20 Bc6+ Bd7 21 Bxf6 and White wins. It was actually here that I started to get a funny feeling. A feeling that became really strong when I stopped to think about Black’s next move in the game.

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15...Ng8 Now why would anyone play this. Okay, Black is a pawn up, but he is also under much pressure and could seemingly save himself rather easily with 15...0-0. Those were my thoughts, but then it dawned on me – Black cannot castle!! As I worked by first selecting the positions and then deleting all the previous moves up to the positions, and only later analysing the games, I could therefore not see that the black king had been on a short trip to d8 and back, forever keeping him stuck in the centre. It was this, and this alone, that gave White his initiative, his advantage and in the end the full point. But how do you present this information in a diagram? You don’t. 16 Nc6 f6 16...Rc7 17 Bxe5! and White wins. 17 b4! Bb6 18 Ne4 1-0 The following line given by Bönsch illustrates why Black resigned: 18...Rc7 19 Nd6+ Kf8 20 Nxc8 Rxc8 21 Rxd7. There are more examples that I could include here, but I think I have given a small insight into what it is like to collect combinations for a book in the year 2004, if you want to do it to the best of your ability.

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CHAPTER TWO

Combinations and Their Indicators

My favourite collections of combinations are the two books from Sahovski Informant: Encyclopaedia of Chess Middlegames and Encyclopaedia of Chess Combinations. The main reasons are that there are many combinations and very few of them seem to be daft or dissatisfying in any way (something that many reasonable collections excel in). I do not like very much the fact that all the combinations are sorted according to theme, as I dislike hints, but on the other hand Chess Informant has developed a great system of organising combinations, which I will list below. Here it is my intention to present a few more generic themes that have a tendency to reoccur in combinations again and again. They are not rules, as the only rule in a combination is calculation. But they are indicators of vulnerable spots in the opponent’s position, as all combinations in some way have positional origins. It is a useful weapon for tournament players to be aware of these factors and feel them when they occur on the board. There is no guarantee that because one of more of these factors are present, a combination is imminently possible. But often it is a very good indicator.

friend Mike Cook a long time ago. After hours of play his opponent came to the conclusion that loose pieces have a tendency to disappear from the board with rapid speed, loose pieces meaning ones exposed to threats or (more often) simply unprotected pieces. ‘Loose pieces drop off ’ has since become known as Nunn’s dictum. In the following position a loose piece is a major factor in the combination:

Becerra Rivero-Shabalov Virginia Beach 2003 B75

In his award-winning Secrets of Practical Chess John Nunn tells us about a blitz match he had with his

I wonder how many people would have noted that the bishop on g7 is the real problem with Black’s position. Together with the weakness of the light squares produced by an early ...h5 (probably ...0-0 would have served Black better), the unprotected bishop gives White a tactical option. 15 Ne6! The strongest continuation – White exploits the loose bishop on g7 by overloading the f7-pawn. Still, this should not be devastating for Black and should only pose him some problems. Weaker would be 15 Rab1 when after 15...Nxe3 16 Qxe3 Bxd4 17 Qxd4 Qc5 Black is at least even. 15...fxe6?! This leaves g6 weakened. Black had a preferable alternative in 15...Bxe6!? 16 dxe6 Bxb2 17 exf7+

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Kxf7 18 Rab1 Bf6, even though White looks more comfortable. 16 dxe6

16...Bxe6? This move loses the game. Black could still keep his position together with 16...Bxb2 (eliminating the weak b2-pawn and removing the bishop from danger on g7) 17 Qxg6+! (17 exd7+ Kxd7 18 Bxc4 Qxc4 19 Rab1 Qxd3 20 cxd3 Bf6 21 Rxb7+ Rc7 22 Rfb1 Rhc8 and the game is likely to end in a draw) 17...Kd8 18 exd7 Qxd7 19 Bxc4 Rxc4 (19...Bxa1 20 Be6!) 20 Rab1 Be5 21 Bxa7 and White has excellent winning chances with an extra pawn and a safer king. 17 Qxg6+ Kd7 17...Kf8 18 Qxe6 Bxb2 19 Rab1 Bg7 20 Bxa7 also gives White a winning position. 18 Qxg7 White has a clear extra pawn and there is nothing damaged in his pawn structure or messy about his position. 18...Rhg8 19 Qd4 a6 20 Rf2 h4!? There is no way this position can be saved by normal play, so Black hopes that White does not take the pawn out of some kind of security concern. 21 Qxh4! 1-0 Black resigns, probably due to 21...Nxe3 22 Bxe6+ Kxe6 23 Qh6+, when the loose knight

drops off. Here is another example where White exploits an unprotected black piece.

Short-Sokolov Groningen 1997 B83 In this position White could probably gain an advantage taking with the bishop, but he decides to keep the bishop on the board to protect the knight. 21 Rxd4! This exchange sacrifice only works due to the extra tempo White gains because of the unprotected bishop on h4. 21...Nxd4 22 Qxd4 Bd5 Black decides to give up the bishop in the hope of gaining some counterchances with rook versus two minor pieces, but this comes more from desperation than from desire. 22...Be7 loses to 23 Nxb7 Qxb7 24 f6 Rfd8 25 Qg4 Bf8 26 fxg7 Be7 27 Qh5! and Black cannot defend the weak square without losing the bishop. Also, White always had the chance of playing Bf3. 23 Qxh4 23 c4!? also wins. 23...Qxe5 24 Qd4 Qxd4 25 Bxd4 e5 26 Be3 a5 27 Rd1 1-0 Here’s another example.

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24 Qxd6 and White wins; 17...Rxf1+ 18 Rxf1 Qc5+ transposes to the game. 18 Kh1 Kxg7 19 e5 Rxf1+ Stripping the black king of his defences. Better was perhaps 19...h6 20 Bxa8 Nxe5 21 Qg2, when White has a strong advantage. 20 Rxf1 Qxe5 21 Bxa8 Nf6 22 Qg2 Kh6 23 Ne4 d5 24 Qh3+ Nh5 25 Ng3 Be7 26 Qxh5+ Qxh5 27 Nxh5 Kxh5 28 Rf7 Bd6 29 Rxh7+ 1-0

Ivanchuk-Fedorov Polanica Zdroj 2000 B76

I could go on and on. The number of examples of how undefended pieces somehow allow one side to introduce tactics is almost beyond comprehension. But I want to end with showing some situations where the opposite is the case.

The rook on g5 is loose. 36 Rxf7! Rxf7 37 Qd8+ Rf8 38 Qxg5 Qf1 39 Rc2 1-0 And yet another example:

Summerscale-Aagaard London 1997

De la Villa Garcia-Milosevic Lugano 1988 B80 White ends up winning the exchange after the following combination: 17 Bxg7! Qc5+ 17...Kxg7 18 Qxg5+ Kh8 19 Rxf8+ Nxf8 20 Qf6+ Kg8 21 Rf1 Bd7 22 Qf7+ Kh8 23 Qe7 Kg8 49

Black has played well for once and gained a strong position. He has problems with undefended pieces on b4 and a6 and especially the pawn on e6. Also White is threatening h7 indirectly and the rook on c2 very directly. But Black can solve many problems at once, even though his calculation in the game was nothing short of awful. 31...Bb7! The strongest. If Black is successful in taking control of the light squares, then White has nowhere to hide. 32 Nxe6 Bxe4!? 50

2 Combinations and their Indicators

Black is not distracted by the threat to his queen and fearlessly continues his rotten calculation. 32...Qc8 is objectively best, after which White could resign. 33 Nxc7 Bxg2+ 34 Kg1 Bc6

Here Black was of the belief that White was mated and the game was over. 35 Bf4!? This was not something Black had counted on. Luckily all his pieces were somehow protecting each other, and being short of anything better, he simply played 35...Nxc7 with a positionally and materially winning position. When the white player after the game heard that Black had not even anticipating taking on c7, he exclaimed: ‘That’s typical of my luck.’ Shortly after this event he gained his rightly deserved Grandmaster title. 36 Rd3 Rg2+ 37 Kf1 Rxh2 38 Rd1 Rc2 39 Rxd4 Bc5 0-1 White had had enough, and resigned Play through the following game and see how often White has more than one unprotected piece. Kasparov-Gelfand Novgorod 1997

10 e4 Ne7 11 Bb2 Nbc6 12 Nbd2 0-0 13 Kg1 b5 14 Nxd6 cxd6 15 h4 Qb6 16 h5 h6 17 d5 Ne5 18 Nf1 b4 19 Bd4 Qa5 20 Ne3 Rac8 21 Rh4 Rc7 22 Qd2

22...Rc3 23 Bxc3 bxc3 24 Qd4 exd5 25 exd5 Qc7 26 Qd1 Rc8 27 Be4 Qb6 28 Rf4 Bb7 29 Rc1 Qa5 30 Rc2 Kh8 31 Bg2 Ba6 32 Ra4 Qb6 33 Nc4 Bxc4 34 bxc4 Nf5 35 Rxc3 Nd4 36 c5 Rxc5 37 Qxd4 1-0 Besides the first five moves where both rooks are unprotected, I can only count the moves 23-25 and 34 onwards where White has two unprotected pieces, otherwise the figure is one or zero throughout the game. In his book Chess Middlegame Yuri Averbakh has the double threat as one of the pillars of chess strategy. But how do you create a double threat against an opponent who rarely has more than one unprotected piece? It is of course still possible to create tactical threats against positions without unprotected pieces, but it’s obviously more difficult. The awareness of protected and unprotected pieces can be found in many books and in many strong players’ games.

Big Pieces in Trouble Let us now turn to a type of situation where unprotected pieces are less important. Let us start with a practical example.

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 g3 Ba6 5 b3 d5 6 Bg2 dxc4 7 Ne5 Bb4+ 8 Kf1 Bd6 9 Nxc4 Nd5 51

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Kasparov-Illescas Cordoba Linares 1992 B45 White to play and win on the spot!

Topalov-Smirin Polanica Zdroj 1995 B48 White to play and win

In this position Kasparov aimed at the king and won a nice attacking game. 25 Nf6+!? gxf6 26 gxf6 Bc5 27 Be4 Rfb8 28 Kxh4 Kf8 29 Rg2 Qxc4 30 Qxc4 Bxc4 31 Bh7 Bf2+ 32 Kh5 1-0

In this position Black has some problems with weak spots on e6 and g7, unprotected pieces on c7 and a4, and on top of that the black queen is in trouble. White decides the game by chasing the black queen around and executing a winning combination. 26 Rf4! 26 Nxe7 Rxe7 27 Nc6 also gives White a strong position. 26...Qg6 27 Rg4 Qf7 Also bad is 27...Qf6 28 Bg5 and White wins material. 28 Rxg7! Qxg7 29 Nxe6

Later he was not too happy about this performance, as his computer indicated a win in one move with 25 Nd6!. After 25...Bxd6 26 exd6 there is no way for Black to defend against 27 Ra3, which wins at least a piece. I like this example because it illustrates well how easily a heavy piece can get into trouble in the middlegame where there are many pieces around with lower rank who would love to switch T-shirts. When collecting exercises for this book, I have noticed that this is quite a common theme. Here is another example.

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29...Qb2 Black is lost. Fritz prefers 29...Qxg2+ 30 Qxg2 Rxc6, but White wins in many ways, e.g. 31 Ng7+ Kd7 32 Qg4+ Kd8 33 Rxc6 Bxc6 34 Bd4 and the threat of Ne6+ wins additional material. 30 Nxc7+ Kd7 30...Kf7 31 Qh5+ and it is soon mate. 31 Qxb2 Here Topalov overlooks a very uncommon combination. White would like to continue the attack and could do with 31 Nb8+!! Rxb8 32 Qg4+ Kd8 33 Ne6+ Kd7 34 Rc7+ Kd6 35 Bf4+, when Black would have to resign. Still, White also wins in the game. 31...Nxb2 32 Ne5+ Kd6 33 Nf7+ Kd7 34 Ne5+ Kd6 35 Bf4 Rf8 36 Nc4+ Kd7 37 Nb6+ 1-0

This was played not the least with my opponent’s lower Elo rating in mind. He had already used up much time (and there was not so much to start with) and had to make a quick decision. 14 dxe4 dxe4 15 Nxe4?? Losing. 15...Nxe4 16 Bxe4 Bb4! 0-1

The following example is probably a bit silly. But again, like a thunderbolt from a clear blue sky, the queen finds problems in the centre. Impressive team work from the black army. All in all, this theme of big pieces in trouble is quite common and a good thing to be aware of. I am sorry that I have used up all my good entrapments of rooks in the exercise section, but at least now you know you should look out for them.

Weakened Squares in a Colour Complex NN-Aagaard Copenhagen (rapid) 2003 Black sets up a trap! This position is taken from a recent rapid-play game at my local chess club. Not really a memorable game, but a fabulous illustration of how easy it is for the queen to get into trouble. 13...Rc8!?

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There is a specific reason why the game is often decided on squares of one particular colour. If you look at White’s minor pieces in the diagram below, you will notice that only the white bishop is controlling dark squares, while both knights and the light squared bishop are only targeting light squares. This is an important function of minor pieces: they only target one colour of square at a time. The same goes for pawns – look at the pawns below. Even the queen has a preference for a specific colour: a queen on a light square generally 56

2 Combinations and their Indicators

controls more light squares than dark squares and vice-versa. In the example below White is extremely well positioned for playing on the light squares, and Black is well positioned for playing on the dark squares. Assisted by a lead in development and some weaknesses in Black’s position, White is able to start a winning attack almost solely on the light squares.

Bigaliev-Dao Thien Hai Budapest 1996 B84 White to play and attack! White invades on the light squares with a knight sacrifice. 14 Ne6!! fxe6? Accepting the knight actually loses the game. Black could still fight with a move like 14...Qb8!?, when he is under heavy pressure, but nothing direct can found. Because Black is behind in development, he cannot survive an opening of the position. By the way, a computer program is not of much a help to the annotator here, as all it desires is to win or avoid losing the knight on e6. 15 Bh5+ The first sign of the weaknesses Black is suffering on the light squares. The king has to move. 57

15...Kd8 Now White wins easily. Alternatively: a) 15...Nxh5 16 Qxh5+ Kd8 17 fxe6 Nb6 18 a5 Nc4 19 Nd5 Qc6 20 Nxe7 Qe8 21 Qf7! and White is completely winning. b) Black could have tried to defend with 15...Kf8!?, planning to protect the knight with ...Kg7 and leaving d8 available for the queen. Now after 16 fxe6 we have: b1) 16...Nb6? 17 Bxb6 Qxb6 18 Nd5 Qd8 19 Bf7 and now there is no defence, for example 19...Kg7 20 Nxf6 Bxf6 21 Qh5 Kh7 22 Bxg8+ Kxg8 23 Qf7+; or 19...Rh8 20 Qf3 Kg7 (20...Nxd5 21 exd5) 21 Qf5 Nxd5 22 Qg6+ Kf8 23 Bg8+ Nf4 24 Qf7 mate; or 19...g4 20 Bxg8 Kxg8 21 Nxf6+ Bxf6 22 Qxg4+ Kh7 23 Qf5+ Kg7 24 Ra3 and White wins. b2) 16...Kg7! 17 exd7 Bxd7 18 Nd5 Nxd5 19 Rf7+ Kh8 20 Qxd5 Rae8 21 c4 and White has a large advantage and good chances of winning the game, but no more than that. 16 fxe6 Nb6 Black cannot defend his king. 16...Nc5 loses to 17 Rxf6 Bxf6 18 Nd5 Qg7 19 Nxf6 Kc7 (19...Qxf6 20 Qxd6+ Nd7 21 Bb6 mate) 20 Nd5+ Kb8 (20...Kc6 21 b4 with a winning attack) 21 Bxc5 dxc5 22 e7 Bd7 23 Nb6 Bc6 24 Qd8+ Ka7 25 Nxa8 and White is a knight up with a passed pawn on the seventh rank. 17 Bxb6 An easy move to see of course. But look at how White exchanges pieces to increase his domination of the light squares. Once this is complete, Black cannot defend the dark squares, as all dark squares have light-squared neighbours. 17...Qxb6 18 Rxf6! Bxf6 19 Nd5 Qd4 Or 19...Qf2 20 Nxf6. 20 Qf3 Rf8 20...Bxe6 21 Qxf6+ Kd7 22 Qe7+ and White mates on the next move. Now comes a nice finish. 21 Qxf6+! 1-0

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Black is mated after 21...Rxf6 22 e7+ Kd7 23 e8Q. The next example even clearer. White wins through a traditional attack, sacrificing the exchange in order to take full control of the dark squares. Nothing spectacular about it, but it does illustrate my point well.

Black is trying to disrupt White’s attack, but with no success. He could also try 20...Qd8 but this is met by 21 Qf4!?, after which White continues to attack on the dark squares. Probably there is no defence, as after 21...Qd5 White should bring in the last piece with 22 Ra3! with the threat of 23 Qh6 and with the following consequences: 22...f5 23 Be2! (coming to h5 at the right moment) 23...Re7 24 Rg3+ Rg7 25 Bd4 Rg6 26 Bh5 and Black is losing material and will surely get mated later. 21 Qh6 f5 22 Re1 Qf7 23 Re3 f4? 23...Kh8 was objectively stronger. After 24 Rg3 Rad8 25 Qh4 Rf8 26 Bd4+ Rxd4 27 Qxd4+ White wins a pawn and could well try for more before exchanging the queens. 24 Re5 Rad8 25 Bxh7+ 1-0 All in all, the colour complex issue is something all strong practical players have developed a great feeling for, consciously or subconsciously.

Maciejewski-Bashkov Katowice 1993 B85 18 Nxf6+ Bxf6 19 Rxf6! gxf6 20 Qxf6 With the deadly threat of Bd4.

Geller-Yap Moscow 1986 B85 White destroys Black on the light squares

Swiss cheese! 20...Qe7

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The following example shows how White can undermine the black defence on the light squares with a series of sacrifices. 19 Nxe6! An interesting sacrifice. 60

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19...Bxe6 20 f5 Ng7 After this mistake Black is completely killed on the light squares. Fritz 8 prefers 20...Bd7 with the paradoxical idea of 21 fxg6 f5!?, when White cannot allow the position to remain closed. He can still win after 22 exf6 Nxf6 23 g7! Rf7 24 Qg6 Rxg7 25 Qxh6, when Black cannot keep his kingside together without pawns. 21 fxe6 Nxe6 22 Rxf7! The destruction of the light squares continues. 22...Rxf7?! 22...g5!? was the only move, leaving Black wounded and in pain, but alive! 23 Qxg6+ Kf8 Black is lost. After 23...Ng7 White mates with 24 Qh7+ Kf8 25 Qh8. 24 Qxh6+! Ke8 24...Ng7 25 Qh8 mate. 25 Qxe6 Qc6 26 Qg6 Qxg6 27 Bxg6 Kf8 28 Bxf7 Kxf7 29 c3 1-0

Exploiting Bad Coordination of the Opponent’s Pieces A further theme in combinations is the one of opponents’ badly coordinated pieces, meaning that they are not working together and have no connection to the most important squares in the position. Most often this is due to a lack of development. In the example below, Black exploits White’s bad coordination after a somewhat risky break.

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Liberzon-Giffard Malta 1980 B83 Black plays a prevented move Sometimes a particular move is the main part of both players’ strategies. One is trying to achieve it; the other is trying to prevent it. In these cases the move can be called a hook. A hook can also be a fork, an attack on a pawn chain or other moves that somehow resemble the way a fish can be caught, unable to get loose. In the same way, a theme can catch the attention of the players, and all their thoughts will be circling around it. In the following example Black is able to gain a strong initiative, based on the poor coordination of White’s pieces. 18...d5?! The move White would have liked to prevent, and which opens things up for all Black’s pieces. However, 18...Qc4!, pointing at e4, was actually the best move. 19 exd5?! The move recommended by my little German friend. Even at a search length of 15/37 (more than an hour) Fritz 8 believes that White is better after this move. It simply does not grasp Black’s compensation. There are probably no strong algorithms for coordination in the machines yet, as

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this would be one of the most difficult areas to make evaluation modules for. 19 fxe5! was the best move. But somehow it is difficult for White to accept that his ‘prevention’ prevented nothing. After 19...Nxe4 (19...dxe4 20 exf6 exf3 21 fxe7 Qxe7 22 Ra3 and White wins) 20 Bxe4 dxe4 21 c3 Nd3 22 Nxd3 exd3 23 Bd4 White keeps some kind of advantage, even though Black should be able to fight back. 19...e4! Now Black takes over the initiative, and because the position opens, White has many problems with his badly coordinated pieces. 19...exf4 20 Bg1 gives White a powerful passed pawn and the threat of 21 c3 as well as 21 d6. 20 Be2 Nbxd5! The key idea. 21 Rxd5 Nxd5 22 Qxd5 Rad8 23 Qa2 23 b6!? is an alternative. After 23...Qxc2 24 Qb5 Black takes the advantage with the following obscure-looking variation: 24...a3! 25 Ra2! (25 bxa3 Qc3 with a triple threat) 25...Qb1! and White is under great pressure. One line goes 26 h3 Rc8 27 Kh2 Red8 28 Bc4, when White is hanging on by the edge of his nails. Now Black can play something like 28...Rxc4 29 Qxc4 axb2 30 Ne2 Bf6 with more than enough for the piece. 23...Qxc2 24 Qxa4 Qxb2

One of White’s defensive resources, Be3-g1, is now gone. 25 g3 was better, but White would still have many problems with his disorganised army. 25...Qc3 26 Bf2 Bc5?! Here Black decides to exchange bishops in order to dominate the dark squares. Even though this strategy is important, it was stronger to invade rapidly with a gain of tempo with 26...e3! 27 Bg3 Rd4. White now has no defence, as is illustrated by the following two lines: a) 28 Qa2 Rd2 29 Qb1 Red8 30 Kf1 Rd1+ 31 Bxd1 Rxd1+ 32 Ke2 Qd2+ 33 Kf3 Rf1+ 34 Kg4 Qd7+! 35 f5 Qd1+ and White is mated. b) 28 Qa5!? (trying to force Black into playing... Bb4, which gives additional defensive possibilities) 28...Bb4 29 Qa2 Rd2 30 Qa4 (30 Qb1 Rb2 31 Qd3 Rxe2! and Black wins) 30...Rc2 31 Nd3 Rxe2 32 Nxb4 Qd4! and White is completely dominated. The threat of ...Qe4 and mate on g2, combined with the strong passed pawn and the oddly trapped knight on b4, spells disaster. 27 Bxc5 Qxc5+?! 27...Qe1+! 28 Bf1 Rd1 would force White to give up the queen and leave Black with a strong position with a strong passed pawn, as after 29 Qc4 e3 30 Bxe3 Qxe3+ 31 Kh1 Qe4 White loses everything. 28 Kf1 Qc3 29 g3 g5!

25 Kg1? 63

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A strong, aggressive move. Black needs to get his pieces working, as his advantages in the position are based on the initiative, and can therefore evaporate, while White’s material edge will not go away by itself. 30 fxg5 Re5 31 Qa5 Rf5+ 32 Kg2 Qd4 33 h4 b6 34 Qa4? This loses by force. The counterintuitive move 34 Qa7! was stronger. The key ideas are that in the coming lines it is important for White to be able to take the b-pawn at some point, and also to prevent ...Qd7+. One continuation after 34 Qa7 is 34...Rf2+ 35 Kh3! Qc5!? (Black cannot play ...Qd7+ anymore) 36 Bg4 Rdd2 37 Ne2 Rfxe2 38 Bxe2 Rxe2 39 Qb8+ Kg7 40 Kg4 and White seems to survive. 40...Rf2 41 Kh5 Qf5 looks dangerous, but only for Black after 42 Qxb6! – White will probably win the rook endgame. 34...Rf2+ 35 Kg1? A final mistake. After 35 Kh3 Qd7+ 36 Bg4 Qd2 37 Ne2 Rxe2 38 Bxe2 Qxe2 Black has the advantage. 35...Qc5 36 Qa3 Rxe2+ 37 Qxc5 Rd1 0-1

Indirect Threats This theme is often called the X-ray. A piece indirectly threatens a square, meaning that if the pieces currently standing in the way are removed, there will be a real threat with very real consequences. This is true for the one example I have chosen to show here.

S.Polgar-Chernin Rome 1989 B85 White has an indirect threat on g7 with the bishop on b2 which, combined with the knight on d4 and the queen at g3, spells a winning combination. 19 Nd5! Black now has no fully satisfactory defence, but he comes up with the best chance. 19...Nxd5! 19...exd5 20 Nf5 Bf8 21 Nxg7! Bxg7 22 Bxf6 and White wins; 19...Bxd5 20 exd5 and White wins a pawn for nothing, as Black cannot take on d5. 20 Nxe6! With the triple threat at g7, Black must give up the exchange. Black survives after 20 exd5? Bf6. 20...g6 21 Nxd8 Qxd8 22 exd5 Rxc2 23 Rab1 Bh4 24 Qh3 Bc8 25 Bg4 Bxg4 26 Qxg4 Nxb3 27 g3?! Be7 28 f5 a5? 29 fxg6 hxg6 30 Qh3! Rxb2 31 Rxb2 a4 32 Rf2 Nc5 33 Rdf1 f5 34 g4! Ne4 35 Rg2 Bf6 1-0

The ECO Theme Selection The two superb books on combinations from Sahovski Informant mentioned in the beginning of this chapter are structured with a system of 16 different themes, which most combinations fall 65

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under. (I once read an article called non-standard combinations on www.chesscafe.com by Mark Dvoretsky. Maybe this is what he meant.) Here I will present the different types for those unfamiliar with this system. The positions here are all taken from the older book (at some points I have used my own words to describe a theme, rather than those originally used). 1) Double threat

White to play and win 4) Deflection

Black to play and win 2) Discovered attack/discovered check

White to play and win 5) Decoying

White to play and win 3) Pinning

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White to play and win 6) Interception

White to play and win 9) Blockade White to play and win 7) Annihilation of Defence

Black to play and win 10) X-ray Black to play and win 8) Clearance

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Black to play and draw 11) Overloading

Black to play and win 14) Passed pawns White to play and win 12) Intermediate move

White to play and win 15) Demolition of pawn structure White to play and win 13) Pawn breakthrough

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White to play and win 16) Repetition of moves (including perpetual check) In the book they called this pursuit.

White to play and draw

Solutions 1) Black wins with 1...Rd1+ 2 Kg2 Rg1!+, Prezepiorka-Ahues, Kecskemet 1927. 2) White played 1 Ne7+ Kh8 2 Rxf7! and Black resigned, Brintse-Eriksen, correspondence 1950. 3) 1 Qxf8! Kxf8 2 Ne6+ and White won, Capablanca-Mieses, Berlin 1931. 4) 1 Bf5 and Black resigned because of 1...Qxf5 2 Qe7 Qg6 3 Qe6+, Lerner-Lehman, Kiev 1978. 5) White wins in one move with 1 Rd8!, Sznapik-Bernard, Poznan 1971. 6) White forced resignation with 1 Re7!!, Maróczy-Vidmar, Ljubljana 1922. 7) 1...Qxd4 and White resigned in SubaricTrifunovic, Yugoslavia 1947. The main line was 2 Bxd4 Nf3+ 3 Kf1 Bb5+ and White is mated. 8) White decided the game with 1 Nxc6! bxc6 2 Qxe6!+ and Black resigned because of 2...fxg6 3 Bg6 mate, Kofman-Filatoc, USSR 1962. 9) After 1...Re3! White loses his chance to escape and following 2 fxe3 Nh3 he cannot escape 73

mate, Friedman-Thornblom, Stockholm 1973. 10) Black played 1...Qg8! and the game was drawn after 2 Qb5 Qxc4!. It’s stalemate or drawn pawn ending – the king can hide on h8 (NesisKolker, correspondence 1979). 11) White won in one move with 1 Rd7!, with the key idea of 1...g5 2 Rxd8 and everything falls, Mikhailov-Sokolov, USSR 1975. 12) In Sevelev-Butnorius, USSR 1979 White played 1 g4!? Ne3 2 gxf5 Kh7 3 Ra8 Nxf5 4 Rg1. But even more direct is 1 h4!, with the idea 1...Bxc1 2 Ra8+ Kh7 3 h5 and Black will be mated. Actually, that is what I originally believed was the solution. This is really a problem with old collections of combinations. Because there were no computers, good analysis was impossible. 13) 1...f4! 2 exf4 (2 gxf4 h4!) 2...h4 3 gxh4 g3 4 fxg3 e3 and, thanks to the selfless efforts of its three colleagues, the black e-pawn goes through, Svacina-Müller, Vienna 1941. 14) White has only one way to promote the pawn. 1 Rh5! decides the game immediately (Scuratoc-Vedsikov, USSR 1972). 15) 1 Qxh7 1-0, Gipslis-Kostro, Dubna 1976. 16) This wonderful draw is fortunately entirely correct. White draws by repetition with 1 Rb5! Re8! 2 Rb1! Rg8!, Ulrich-Spengler, Berlin 1948.

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CHAPTER THREE

Sicilian Sacrifices

Back in 1974 the Scottish IM David Levy published an interesting book called Sacrifices in the Sicilian (I have the 2nd edition from 1980). In this he achieved some of the conceptual analysis with which I have packed my own books. He comes up with 11 different types of sacrifices both in their positional and tactical form. Here I will not go too deeply into his brilliant explanations of the concepts behind the sacrifices, but will simply list the 11 sacrifices and urge the reader to inform Batsford that this book would do well in an algebraic updated version.

Black plays ...Rxc3 – the exchange sacrifice This is probably the most standard sacrifice in the Sicilian. Often the idea is simply to ruin the white pawn structure and to gain a strong initiative, but sometimes there is the bonus of winning a pawn or something more. Nataf-Dominguez Havana 2002 B96 The annotations here are an elaboration of Dominguez’s fine notes in Chess Informant. 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4 Nbd7 8 Qf3 Qc7 9 0-0-0 b5 10 Bd3 Bb7 11 Rhe1 Be7 12 a3?! 75

Mark Dvoretsky writes the following in his excellent book School of Chess Excellence 3 – Strategical Play: ‘Don’t move pawns on the part of the board where you are weaker.’ Though this, of course, cannot account for all situations, it is a general guideline that can be followed like this: if you want to go against this principle, you should be able to prove something in return. It is actually that simple. Here White prevents ...b5-b4 momentarily, but this is hardly enough. 12...Qb6 13 Nb3 Rc8! 14 Qh3

14...Rxc3! A strong new move from the Cuban grandmaster. Black’s sacrifice is justified, amongst other reasons, because of the weakening White has created on his own king’s position with 12 a3?!. 15 bxc3 Qc7 16 Kb1 This is a standard reaction. White cares more about his king than the rather useless pawn on c3. Of course Black feels the same way and is in no way tempted to try to take the pawn. Dominguez gives 16 f5 e5 17 Bd2 d5 18 exd5 Nxd5 19 Be4 N7f6, which gives Black good compensation. 16...Nb6! 17 f5 e5 18 Qg3?! This move is a bit slow. Black is allowed to finish his development, after which he will be fully equipped to attack.

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18 g4?! is met strongly by 18...d5! and the black knights are on their way to c3. 18 Bd2 is best met with 18...Na4! 19 g4 d5 20 g5 Nxe4 21 Bxe4 dxe4 and Dominguez thinks Black is a little better. But only a little better because Black has not finished his development. White should probably now play 22 f6! with counterplay. 18...Na4 19 Bd2 0-0 White has not been able to create any counterplay at all, and now Black will a have free hand to carry out his attack. The material imbalance of an exchange is not really relevant, as the rooks have no scope and are not likely to get any in the near future. 20 Re3 d5! 21 Rde1 Black wins after 21 exd5 Nxd5 22 Be4 Nxe3 23 Qxe3 Bxe4 24 Qxe4 Rd8 with ideas such as ...Bxa3, ...Nxc3, ...Rxd2 etc. 21...Qd6! 22 Bf1 22 Bc1 Nxc3+ 23 Ka1 d4 and White cannot defend; 22 Kc1 dxe4 23 Bf1 Nh5! 24 Qg4 Qxa3+ 25 Kd1 Nf4 is also completely hopeless. 22...Nxe4 White is lost. 23 Rxe4 dxe4 24 Bc1 Rc8 25 Re3 Bd8 26 Qe1 Bg5 27 Rg3 Bf4 28 Rh3 Bxc1 29 Qxc1 Nxc3+ 30 Ka1 Bd5 0-1

White sacrifices a knight on f5 This type of knight sacrifice has different effects. One reason for the sacrifice is to open the e-file, but just as often it is the control over the d5-square that White wants so badly, that he is ready to give up a piece to achieve it. In the example below, it is opening files towards the king that counts. Khalifman-Van Wely Wijk aan Zee 2002 B90 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 f3 e6 7 Be3 h5?! 8 Qd2 Nbd7 9 Bc4 Ne5 77

10 Bb3 b5 11 0-0-0 Bb7 12 Bg5 Qa5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 bxc4 15 Rhe1! Rb8

Black tried the common idea of preventing White’s advance g2-g4 with ...h7-h5 in a different position from where this is usually played. This gave him some problems with the g5-square, and White has other ways to develop an initiative, namely in the centre. White is now fully developed and ready to strike, while Black has still not developed his kingside. Also, the move ...h7-h5 has weakened his light squares severely. 16 Nf5! Black is totally destroyed by this move. 16...exf5 16...Bc6 17 Nxd6+ Bxd6 18 Qxd6 Qb6 19 Qa3 is a pawn up for White with no apparent compensation; 16...Rd8 loses to 17 Bxf6 gxf6 18 Nd5! Qxd2 19 Nxf6 mate. 17 e5! The main idea behind the knight sacrifice here is simply to open lines for the rooks (both of them that is), and this is best achieved in this way. 17...Bc8 After this White wins rather easily. Ernst gives many alternatives, on which I have elaborated a bit. a) 17...dxe5? 18 Bxf6 and White has a winning position.

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b) 17...Nh7 18 exd6+ Kd7 19 Re7+! (19 Be7 Bc6 20 Bxf8 is Ernst’s try, but he does not cover the best defence 20...Rhxf8, after which the win is far from straightforward) 19...Bxe7 20 dxe7+ Bd5 21 Bf4! and now Black has different options: b1) 21...Rb7 22 Qe2 Nf6 (22...Rxb2+ 23 Kxb2 Qb4+ 24 Kc1 Qxc3 [24...Qa3+ 25 Kd2 Nf6 26 Qe5 Qxe7 27 Qc7+ Ke8 28 Qb8+ Qd8 29 Qxd8+ Kxd8 30 Kc1 and White wins] 25 Rxd5+ Kc6 26 e8Q+ Rxe8 27 Qxe8+ Kxd5 28 Qd7+ Kc5 29 Bd6+ Kd4 30 Bb4+ and White wins) 23 Be5 Rb5 24 Bxf6 gxf6 25 Qxc4 Kxe7 26 Nxd5+ Kf8 27 Nxf6 and the white attack is irresistible. One line is 27...Rxb2+ 28 Kxb2 Qb6+ 29 Ka3 Qxf6 30 Qd4 Qe7+ 31 Qb4 and White has a winning endgame. b2) 21...Rb5 22 Nxb5 Qxb5 (22...Qxd2 23 Rxd2 axb5 24 Rxd5+ Kxe7 25 Rxf5 and White wins the endgame) 23 Qd4! and Black’s position collapses. One line goes 23...Nf6 24 Qa7+ Ke6 25 Qc7 Qc6 26 Re1+ Ne4 27 Qe5+ Kd7 28 fxe4 fxe4 29 Rd1 and it is all over. b3) 21...Nf6 22 Be5 (22 Nxd5?! Qxd2 23 Nxf6+ Kxe7 24 Rxd2 gxf6! transposes to the next bracket) 22...Qb4 23 b3! (23 Nxd5?! Qxd2 24 Nxf6+ gxf6 25 Rxd2+ Kxe7 26 Bxb8 Rxb8 gives Black some chances to defend the rook endgame) 23...cxb3 24 cxb3 Ke6 25 Bxb8 Rxb8 26 Qe3+ Be4+ 27 fxe4 Kxe7 28 e5 Ng4 29 Qg5+ Ke8 30 Qxg7 and White has a winning advantage. c) 17...Kd7 18 exf6 g6 19 Bf4 and White wins in an attack, as after 19...Qb4 he has the combination 20 Bxd6 Bxd6 21 Re7+ Kc6 22 a3 Qc5 23 Na4 c3 24 Qd3. d) 17...Nd5 seems to offer the most resistance, though after 18 Nxd5 Qxd2 19 Rxd2 Bxd5 20 Rxd5 White has a very strong end-game, which he most likely will win. 18 exf6+ Be6 Forced. 18...Kd7 19 fxg7 and White wins. 19 fxg7!

This wins easily – White invades on the dark squares. 19...Bxg7 20 Qxd6! The point. Now Black is forced to sacrifice the rook. 20...Rxb2+ 21 Kxb2 Qxc3+ 21...Bxc3+ 22 Kc1 and White wins. 22 Kc1 Qb2+ 23 Kd2 Qd4+ 24 Qxd4 Bxd4 25 Ke2 Bb6 26 Rb1 Bc7 27 Rb7! Bxh2 28 f4 0-0 29 Rh1 Bg3 30 Rxh5 Kg7 31 Bh6+ Kg6 32 Rg5+ 1-0 Black resigned. After 32...Kxh6 33 Rxg3 there is no good defence against Rb7-b1-h1.

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Rxf6 – the mirror exchange sacrifice This sacrifice is hard to define properly. Often it is the pure elimination of the knight that is the main issue; sometimes it’s also the destruction of the pawn structure around Black king. The knight is often removed because it has control over the d5and h7-squares. In the following example it is the latter that counts. Kasparov-J.Polgar Wijk aan Zee 2000 B90 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 Ng4 7 Bg5 h6 8 Bh4 g5 9 Bg3 Bg7 10 h3 Nf6!? 11 Bc4 Qb6 12 0-0 0-0 13 Nde2 Qxb2 14 Bb3 Qa3 15 f4 Nc6 16 Kh1 Be6 17 Qd3 Rac8 18 fxg5 hxg5 19 Nd5 Rfe8 20 Rad1! Nb4 21 Qf3?! Nbxd5 22 exd5 Bd7 23 c3! a5?! 24 Qd3 a4 25 Bc2 Qc5? White’s pawn sacrifice was opening preparation. Still, it was probably a bit too optimistic and the variation here has not been repeated too often in tournament practice. Here Black should have played 25...Kf8! according to my favourite chess annotator Igor Stohl, who claims that White still has to prove his compensation. After 25...Qc5 White unleashes a fabulous attack, where the

3 Sicilian Sacrifices

pieces suddenly reveal that their potential is greater when presented in combined action than when they are looked upon individually. 26 Rxf6!

For White to continue his attack, the knight will have to go. 26...exf6 In Chess Informant Kasparov gives the following variation illustrating the correctness of the sacrifice: 26...Bxf6 27 h4! Kf8 (27...Qc4? 28 Qh7+ Kf8 29 hxg5 Bg7 30 Nf4 Bg4 [30...Red8 31 Bd3 Qxc3 32 Rf1 and White wins] 31 g6! f6 32 Bf5! e5 33 Ne6+ Rxe6 34 dxe6 Bxf5 35 e7+ and Black can resign) 28 hxg5 Bg7 (28...Bb5? 29 Qh7 Bg7 30 Nf4 Qxc3 31 Bf5 e6 32 Ng6+! fxg6 33 Bxd6+ Re7 34 Bxe6 and Black is surely mated) 29 Rf1 e5 30 dxe6 Rxe6 31 Nf4 and White’s attack is very strong. 27 Qh7+ Kf8 28 Nd4 White is planning both Bf5 and Bxa4!, eliminating the defence on the light squares. 28...Re5 Or: a) 28...Re3 29 Bxa4! Bxa4 30 Nf5 Ke8 31 Bxd6 and White wins – Stohl. b) 28...Re7 29 Bf5 (29 Bxa4? Qxd5 is not completely clear) 29...Qxd5 30 Ne6+ fxe6 31 Rxd5 exd5 32 Bxd6 Bxf5 33 Qxf5 and White has excellent winning chances. 81

29 Bxe5 29 Bf5 Bxf5 30 Nxf5 Rxf5 31 Qxf5 Rd8 is not what White was dreaming about. 29...fxe5? The losing move. Black could still have fought with 29...dxe5 30 Nf5 (30 Bf5? exd4 31 Bxd7 Rd8 32 cxd4 Qc4!? 33 Qf5 Qxa2 is even better for Black!) 30...Bxf5 31 Qxf5 and White is better, but by how much is unclear. White is a pawn down, but that is hardly relevant. The d-pawn is strong and g7-bishop should be is ashamed. 30 Ne6+! Bxe6 The only move. The d-file cannot be opened. 31 dxe6 The threat of e7+ is devastating. 31...Rc7 32 Bxa4 32 Bg6!? was also strong. 32...d5 32...fxe6 33 Qg6 Rf7 34 Qxe6 b5 35 Bb3 and White wins – Kasparov. 33 Qf5 Qc4 34 Bd7 Qf4 35 Qb1! fxe6?! The threat of Rf1 and probably also time pressure induces Polgar to make one more mistake. The best chance was 35...Qc4, but as Kasparov points out, White will still win in a practical game after 36 Rf1 f6 37 Re1! e4 38 Qd1 Qxc3 39 Rxe4! Ke7 40 Qxd5; Black is unlikely to hold this endgame. 36 Bxe6 Ke7 37 Bxd5 Rd7 38 c4!? 38 Rf1 wins easily. 38...Qe3 39 Qh7 Kd8 39...Ke8 40 Bc6! bxc6 41 Qg8+ Bf8 42 Qe6+ Re7 43 Qg6+ Rf7 44 Qxc6+ and Black is mated. 40 Rb1 Qf4 41 Be6 Re7 42 Bg4 Rf7 43 Qd3+ Qd4 44 Qg6 1-0

The Bxb5 sacrifice The idea of this sacrifice is usually to get a knight to d6. By sacrificing the bishop White either gains a free pawn, or creates a route from c3 or d4 through b5 to d6. Often the knight comes to b5

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with tempo, for example if the black queen is placed on c7. The example below is somewhat atypical, as the bishop is sacrificed for completely different reasons. Timman-Van Wely Wijk aan Zee 2000 B80 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e6 7 f3 b5 8 g4 h6 9 Qd2 Nbd7 10 00-0 Bb7 11 Bd3 Ne5 12 Rhe1 Rc8 13 Kb1 Nfd7 14 f4 Nc4 15 Qe2 Nxe3 16 Qxe3 Qb6!? This is a theoretical position. After 16...b4? 17 Nd5! g5 18 Nf5 Rg8 19 Qa7 Nc5 20 Bxa6! Bxa6 21 e5 dxe5 22 Nde7! Qxe7 23 Nxe7 Bxe7 24 Rxe5 gxf4 25 Rxc5 Bxc5 26 Qxa6 White won in Morozevich-Topalov, Frankfurt 1999. 17 Nd5!? An interesting sacrifice. White wrecks the black king’s position for the cost of a knight. We shall return to this type of sacrifice below. 17 e5 dxe5 18 fxe5 Bb4! 19 Nxe6 Qxe3 20 Nxg7+ Kf8 21 Rxe3 Kxg7 22 Bf5 Nb6 would lead to equality – Van Wely and Cifuentes. 17...exd5 18 exd5+ Kd8 19 Bxb5!! A brilliant idea developed by Timman. White needs to protect his knight in order to be able to attack the black king on c7. After 19 Qe8+? Kc7 20 Qxf7 Qxd4! 21 Bf5 Qxf4 22 Qxd7+ Kb6! White has no way to get close to the black king.

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19...axb5 19...Kc7 20 Bc6 gives White tremendous compensation for the piece. 20 Qe8+ Kc7 21 Qxf7 g5 Van Wely is very happy with this move. 21...Rd8 22 Ne6+ Kc8 23 Nxd8 Kxd8 24 b4!! (Fritz 8) 24...Nf6 25 Re6 gives White a very strong initiative. The h8-rook cannot join the show and White’s rooks have enormous scope. 25...Bc8 26 Rxf6 Bd7 27 Re6! Bxe6 28 dxe6 Qc7 29 Rd5 with a superior endgame is the line the computer comes up with. 22 Ne6+ Kb8 23 Qxd7 gxf4? This is a bad mistake according to Van Wely, as Black gets no counterplay. Better was 23...h5! 24 fxg5 hxg4 25 Rf1 Rxh2 26 Rxf8 Rxf8 27 Nxf8 Bxd5, where Van Wely and Cifuentes come up with the following line: 28 Qxg4 Qf2 29 Rc1 (29 Nd7+ Kc7 30 Rc1 Rh4! gives Black the advantage) 29...Qxf8 30 Qb4 Bc6 31 a4 with an unclear game. This is probably a bit too optimistic on Black’s behalf. White would have tried something like 28 g6 g3 29 Qe8+ Kb7 30 Ne6 Rh1 31 Qf7+ Kb8 32 Rxh1 Bxh1 33 b3 g2 34 g7 g1Q+ 35 Kb2, when White seems to win. After 35...Qbd4+ 36 Nxd4 Qxd4+ 37 c3 there is no perpetual, so Black is forced into an inferior endgame. This analysis isn’t conclusive, but does show the potential in White’s position, a potential

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that should not be underestimated. A move like 28 Qxg4?! is not in the spirit of the position. 24 Rf1 f3 25 a3?! 25 Rd4! was stronger according to Van Wely and Cifuentes. 25...Qe3 26 Rfe1 Qb6 26...Qf2 27 Nd4!, with ideas of Nc6+ and Re8, is very uncomfortable for Black. 27 Re4! From here the rook is very strong. The ideas of Rf4 and Rb4 force Black to seek the exchange. 27...Rc4 28 Nd4 Rc5?? A blunder that should lose on the spot. Van Wely and Cifuentes present the following impressive analysis: 28...f2! 29 Re8+ Ka7 30 Nc6+ Rxc6 31 dxc6 Qxc6 32 Qf7 Qg2!! (32...Bg7 33 Qxf2+ Qc5 34 Qxc5+ dxc5 35 Rxh8 Bxh8 36 Rd6 Bg7 37 h4 and Black does not survive the struggle with the distant passed pawn; the same goes for 32...Qf3 33 Qxf3 Bxf3 34 Rf1 Bc6 35 Rd8 Bg7 36 Rxd6 Kb6 37 Rxf2 and White has great winning chances) 33 Rxf8 Rxf8 34 Qxf8 Qg1! 35 Rc1 (35 Kc1 Qe1! 36 Qf7 Ka8 is a better version for Black) 35...Bg2 36 Qe7+ Ka8 37 Qe8+ Kb7 38 Qxb5+ Kc7 39 Qc4+ Kd7. They assess this position as equal, which is probably true. But still it is Black who needs to prove it. I have analysed a bit further, just to get an impression: 40 Qf7+ Kc6 41 h4!? f1Q 42 Rxf1 Qxf1+ (42...Bxf1 43 Ka2 and I root for White, though a draw is most likely) 43 Qxf1 Bxf1 44 g5 (44 b4!? is less forcing and most likely more dangerous) 44...hxg5 45 hxg5 Kd5 46 b4 Ke5 47 Kb2 d5 48 a4 d4 49 b5 Kf5 50 b6 Ba6 51 Kb3 Kxg5 52 Kb4 Kf4 53 Kc5 Ke3 54 a5 Kd2 55 Kxd4 Kxc2 56 Kd5 Kb3 57 Kc6 Kb4 58 b7 Bxb7+ 59 Kxb7 Kxa5 and Black is just in time. 29 Re8+?! Even stronger was 29 Nc6+! Rxc6 30 dxc6 Qxc6 31 Re8+ Ka7 32 Qd8! f2 33 Qb8+! Ka6 34 Rxf8 Rxf8 35 Qxf8 and because of the extra tempo and the check on d6, nothing is the same as before. 29...Ka7 30 Nc6+?

30 Ne6 f2 31 Qf7! Rc4 32 Nxf8 Rxg4 33 Re7 would keep things under control even though it was getting more difficult. 30...Rxc6? Black was running short of time. He could still find counterplay in the line proposed by Van Wely and Cifuentes: 30...Ka6 31 Rb8 f2 32 Qf7 Rc4 33 Rxf8 Rxf8 34 Qxf8 Rxg4 35 Nb4+ Ka7 36 Nd3 Rg2 37 Qxh6 Bxd5, though White retains the better chances. 31 dxc6 Qxc6 32 Qd8 Qc4 33 Qb8+ Ka6 34 Rxf8 Rxf8 35 Qxf8 1-0

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The Nxb5 sacrifice This sacrifice is by nature similar to Bxb5, but is often more forcing. White not only wins a pawn here, but also imposes his will on Black – there will be a knight coming to d6. In the example I have chosen here, the knight has a slightly different function from usual. Asrian- Belotti Ohrid 2001 B43 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 a6 5 Nc3 b5 6 Bd3 Qb6 7 Be3 Bc5 8 Be2 This is one of the trendiest positions in modern theory, but that is beyond the boundaries of my concerns here. 8...Bb7 8...Nc6!?. 9 a4!? A nice, aggressive move. 9...Nc6? 9...Nf6 10 axb5 axb5 11 Rxa8 Bxa8 12 Ndxb5! Bxe3 13 fxe3 0-0 14 Qd3 Nc6 15 0-0 Qc5 16 Qd2 and a draw was agreed in Van den DoelChuchelov, Bad Zwesten 2000. 10 a5! Strong; Black is probably already lost.

3 Sicilian Sacrifices

10...Qa7 10...Nxa5 11 Rxa5 Qxa5 (11...Bxd4 12 Qxd4) 12 Nb3 and White wins.

11 Ndxb5! White sacrifices three pieces for the queen, but with these queenside pawns there is no stopping him! 11...axb5 12 Nxb5 Bxe3 13 Nxa7 Bxa7 14 c3! This is actually the first new move in the position. White dominates the dark-squared bishop with his pawns. This strategy is necessary due to White’s absence of any minor pieces to fight for the dark squares with. It is easier to advance the pawns to light squares with the help of the bishop later. 14...Nf6 15 f3 Rc8 16 b4 Ne5 17 b5 Bc5 18 Qb3 Ba8 19 b6 Bc6 20 a6 0-0 21 a7 Black has finally finishes his development, but in return White has advanced his pawns to the seventh rank. Black is busted. 21...Ra8 22 Ra5! A final finesse. 22 b7?? allows 22...Rxa7!. 22...d6 23 Rxc5 dxc5 24 b7 Bxb7 25 Qxb7 Rfc8 26 0-0 Nc6 27 Ra1 Kf8 28 Bb5 Nd8 29 Qb6 10

White plays Nd5

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This sacrifice is similar to the Nf5 sacrifice treated earlier. The main idea is to open files. In fact there are two versions of the sacrifice. Levy only mentions the ‘real’ sacrifice, but there is also a different version:

Husnullin-Tulay Berkay Kocaeli 2002 B44 A common situation is when White wins back the piece immediately, and merrily uses the knight sacrifice to create open files and weaknesses in the opponent’s camp. 13 Nd5! exd5 There is nothing better: a) 13...Qa5? loses to 14 Nb3! Qxa2 (14...Qa4 15 Nc3 Qb4 16 a3 is the same story) 15 Nxe7+ Nxe7 16 Ra1 Qxb2 17 Bd4. This is a nice example of how a queen can suddenly lose its escape route. b) 13...Qb8 14 Nb6 Nxb6 15 Bxb6 Rd7 and Black is very passive. 14 cxd5 White regains his piece and is better. The following example is more important. The long-term sacrifice of the knight gives White open files and thereby a chance to ruin the black structure, something Black never recovers from.

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Motylev-Shetty Dubai 2002 B66 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bg5 a6 7 Qd2 Qb6 8 Nb3 e6 9 0-0-0 Qc7 10 f4 b5 Black is not caring much for his development; 10...Be7!? might be more natural. 11 g3 Bb7 12 Bg2 Rd8?! 12...Be7 13 Bxf6 gxf6 with an edge for White was probably the best solution. Black will have to castle queenside, but White can delay this with 14 Bh3!?. If instead 13...Bxf6, then 14 Qxd6 Qxd6 15 Rxd6 is better for White because of c5-square and the better development. 15...Bxc3 16 Nc5! keeps a clear edge. 13 Rhe1 Be7

14 Nd5!! A wonderful sacrifice committed fully for positional and attacking reasons. The complete destruction of Black’s defence on the light squares is very instructive. 14...exd5 15 exd5 Nb8 15...Ne5 16 fxe5 dxe5 17 Bxf6 Bxf6 18 d6 Qc8 19 Bxb7 Qxb7 20 Nc5 Qc6 21 Ne4 and White has a winning attack. 16 Bxf6 gxf6 17 Nd4 Bc8 Black is trying to take control over the f5square. He cannot castle out of trouble, as trouble 89

simply follows: 17...0-0 18 Qe2 Rfe8 19 Qg4+! Kh8 20 Be4 Rg8 21 Qh5 f5 22 Nxf5 Bf8 23 Nxd6 Rg7 24 Nf5 and White has a winning attack. 18 Re3! White’s only inactive piece is the rook on d1, which has no function at all. With this move White uses the bad coordination of the black pieces (which is often a direct result of accepting the piece sacrifice) and the initiative before it goes away. 18...0-0? Now Black loses by force. It was probably better to try 18...Kf8!? 19 Rde1 Re8, when White clearly has much compensation for the piece – more than enough – but where he also has no forced way to prove it. A move like 20 Qe2 can be met with 20...h5!?, trying to prevent the queen from entering the kingside. After 20...Rg8 White can conquer the f5-square with 21 Qh5 Rg7 22 Bh3!, and he wins without too much trouble. It is clear that the b8-knight and the e7-bishop are not even half a match for White’s knight on d4. 19 Qe2 Rfe8 20 Re1 Kf8 21 Qh5 Black cannot defend his king now that White has taken control over all the important squares on the kingside and open files for the rooks. 21...Kg7 22 g4 22 Be4 Rh8 23 Bf5!, taking control over f5, is thematic and completely conclusive. 22...Qa7 22...Qa5!? 23 Be4! and White wins. 23 Rh3 Rh8 24 Nf5+ Bxf5 25 Qh6+ 1-0

Bd5 – the Younger Brother This sacrifice is quite similar to both the one above and Nf5. The principal idea is to take control over the d5-square. This sacrifice is really not that common and does not play a big part of the tactical repertoire in the Sicilian. Still, here is an example where the sacrifice, combined with the Elo rating difference between the players, played a big influence. 90

3 Sicilian Sacrifices

Damaso-Blasco Blasco Alcobendas 1994 B87 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bc4 e6 7 Bb3 b5 8 0-0 Nbd7 9 Bg5 Nc5 With hindsight, this might not be so attractive. 10 Re1 Bb7 10...Nxb3 11 axb3 Bb7 seems safer, once you see the game continuation.

The final mistake. A better defence was 19...Bd8! 20 Qa3 (20 c6 leads to a drawish endgame) 20...Bxd5! when the situation is very dangerous for Black, but White still has to prove his advantage. 20 Rxe7! The final hammer. 20...Qxe7 21 Rxc5+ Kb8 22 Bf4+ 1-0

Ne6 – Just Searching for Trouble This sacrifice is often connected with getting a pawn to e6 in order to take control of the light squares. The following example is very typical, except for the possible refutation. Bologan-Lukin St Petersburg 1995 B81

11 Bd5! White obtains a strong positional advantage with this move. Instead of having to suffer slowly, Black decides to accept the sacrifice. This seems like ill judgement, but the position is already unpleasant. 11...exd5!? 11...Qc7 12 Bxf6 gxf6 13 b4 Nd7 14 Bxb7 Qxb7 15 Qh5 Qc8 16 Re3 Qc4 17 Rd1! and Black is still struggling for his light squares. 12 exd5+ Kd7 12...Be7 13 Bxf6 gxf6 14 Nf5 and White wins. 13 b4! Na4 Black cannot survive by returning the piece. After 13...Kc7 14 bxc5 dxc5 15 Nf3! his king is by no means safe and his bishops are not really playing. 14 Nxa4 bxa4 15 c4 Kc7 16 Qxa4 Qd7 17 Qa5+ Kc8 18 Rac1 Be7 19 c5 dxc5?

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1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e6 7 g4 b5 8 g5 Nfd7 9 a3 Nb6 10 f4 N8d7 11 Bg2 Nc4 12 Bc1 Qc7 13 0-0 Bb7 14 f5 e5

Here White played 15 Ne6!? fxe6 16 Qh5+ Kd8?! Black was soon in trouble after this mistake. Necessary and strong is 16...g6 17 fxg6 0-0-0 18 gxh7 d5! with strong counterplay against the white king – Shipov.

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17 fxe6 Nc5 18 Nd5 Bxd5 19 exd5 g6 20 Qe2 Be7? 20...e4! was better. Now White has a clear edge. 21 b3 Nb6 22 Be3 Kc8 23 Rf7 Kb7 24 Qf2 Ka7 25 a4 b4 26 c3 a5 27 cxb4 axb4 28 Rc1 Kb8 29 Qe1 Ra7 30 Qxb4 Rb7 31 Qa3 Qd8 32 a5 Bxg5 33 Bxg5 Qxg5 34 axb6 1-0

Bxe6 – Letting the Knight loose on the Black King This sacrifice is normally just a clean destruction of the black king’s defences, and is often, like the Ne6 above, played against the uncastled king. Here are two basic examples. Ernst-Gruvaeus Örebro 2000 B94

11...Qc6 12 Nec7+ Kf7 13 Nxa8 Qxa8 14Re1, with a fantastic attacking position for White, is Black’s only try. Now it is all over. 12 Qxd5 Qb7 13 Nxg7+ 1-0 Bakhmatov-Roeder Vlissingen 2003 B87 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bc4 e6 7 Bb3 b5 8 Bg5 Be7 9 Qf3 Qc7 10 0-0-0 Nbd7 11 e5!? Bb7 12 Qg3 dxe5 12...Nxe5!? is an interesting alternative. White surely has enough compensation for the pawn, but nothing is clear. Never mind, I do not want to go into opening analysis here.

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 Nbd7 7 Bc4 e6 8 0-0 b5?

Very careless; White is fully developed and Black has hardly begun the game yet. 9 Bxe6! The obvious sacrifice. 9...fxe6 10 Nxe6 Qb6 10...Qa5 loses to 11 b4! Qxb4 12 Nd5 Nxd5 13 Qxd5 and now 14 Nc7+ is one way the game can end. 11 Nd5 Nxd5?

13 Bxe6! The only move really, but still this sacrifice had to be prepared. 13...fxe6 13...b4!? 14 Bxd7+ Nxd7 15 Bxe7 bxc3 16 Nf5 cxb2+ 17 Kb1 Rc8 18 Rd2 Be4 19 Nd6+ Kxe7 20 Nxe4 with probably a large advantage for White. 14 Nxe6 Qc6 14...Qc4!? just feels better somehow... 15 Nxg7+ Kf7 16 Bxf6 The only move. 16 Nf5? Qxg2 and the bishop hangs on g5, which gives Black the chance to take the advantage. 16...Nxf6

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16...Bxf6 17 Nf5 Qxg2 18 Nd6+ Ke7 19 Nxb7 Qxb7 20 Nd5+ Kf7 21 Qb3 Kf8 22 f4 Re8 with a highly unclear game ahead, where the unsafe black monarch must give White the better chances. 17 Nf5 Qxg2? Black could still fight with 17...Bf8 18 Qxe5 Qc5, even though after 19 Qf4 White has a strong attack against Black’s unsheltered king. 18 Qxe5 Qg5+ 18...Bf8 19 Qc7+ Kg8 20 Rhg1 and White wins. 19 f4! Ng4 20 Nd6+ Kg6 21 Qe6+ 1-0

Nxe6 – Tal’s trademark Often the main idea here is to prevent the black king from escaping the centre and then play as if nothing has happened. The following example is a wonderful illustration of how this sacrifice can give long-term compensation. As so often, the opponent’s bad coordination is an important feature.

Morozevich gives the following line as insufficient: 18 Qf2 Qb6! 19 exd6 Bxd6 20 Rxe6+ fxe6 21 Bg6+ Ke7 22 Qh4+ Nf6 23 Nf5+ exf5 24 Re1+ Kd8 25 Qxf6+ Kc7 and White is out of paint for his paint-ball gun. 18...dxe5 Or: a) 18...Nxe5 19 Nxe6! fxe6 20 Rxe5 and White wins. b) 18...Qg5!? 19 Qg3!? (19 Qxg5?! hxg5 20 exd6 Bg7! and the bishop gives Black a better game – Morozevich) 19...Nxe5 20 Be4 Bxe4 21 Nxe4 Qd8 is given as unclear, but White seems to be doing pretty well after 22 Qa3! Be7 23 Qxa6 0-0 24 Qxb5 Rb8 25 Qe2, when suddenly it is Black who must look for compensation. But with his own kingside in ruins, this might not be so simple.

Morozevich-Van Wely Wijk aan Zee 2000 B80 The annotations to this game are based on no less than six different contributors: Morozevich, Van Wely, Cifuentes, Ftacnik, McShane, and last and least, myself. The best stuff is definitely delivered by Morozevich, but all contribute considerable insight to the game. 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e6 7 f3 b5 8 g4 h6 9 Qd2 Nbd7 10 00-0 Bb7 11 Bd3 Ne5 12 Rhe1 Rc8 13 Kb1 Nfd7 14 f4 Nc4 15 Qe2 Nxe3 16 Qxe3 g5!? 17 e5! The logical reply to Black’s new move. Black played 16...g5 with the sole intention of taking control over the e5-square. White cannot of course live with this and fills the potential hole with a black pawn. 17...gxf4 18 Qxf4

19 Nxe6!! Qe7 The only move. a) 19...fxe6?? 20 Bg6+ Ke7 21 Qf7 mate. b) 19...Qf6? 20 Qd2! fxe6 21 Bg6+ Qxg6 22 Qxd7 mate. 20 Qd2! The subtle point. White is satisfied with destroying Black’s structure with his knight sacrifice. Long analysis proves that there is nothing better, for example 20 Rxe5 Nxe5 21 Qxe5 Rg8 22 Nxb5 fxe6 23 Nd6+ Qxd6 24 Bb5+ axb5 25 Rxd6 Bxd6 26 Qxe6+ Kf8 27 Qxd6+ Ke8, when White

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has no real chance of gaining an advantage and should probably opt for perpetual with 28 Qe6+. 20...fxe6 21 Bg6+ Kd8 22 Rf1! Rxc3? Apparently White would have no more than a draw after 22...Rc7 23 Rf7 Qe8, as White goes nowhere with 24 Qe3 (24 Rf6 is the draw) 24...Bd5 25 Nxd5 exd5 26 Rxd5 Qe6 27 Qe4 Bd6, when the attack lacks prospects. I see no way to improve White’s attack, but then again, I am not Morozevich... 23 Qxc3 Qc5 24 Rf7! Bc8?! Some annotators believed that Black could actually hold this position, but Morozevich comes up with some fine analysis proving that Black is actually lost. 24...Bd5!? was the best try, but White wins after 25 Qa5+ Kc8 26 Qxa6+ Kc7 27 Qa5+ (the only move analysed by Morozevich) 27...Kc8 28 Bd3!. The bishop returns to the battle scene and White wins after something like 28...Bd6 29 Bxb5 Nb6 30 c4 Be4+ 31 Ka1 Bb7 32 Qa7, when the defences cannot hold. 25 Qd2 Qa7 26 g5! Black has no moves and now White slowly takes over the dark squares. 26...b4 27 gxh6 Bxh6 28 Qxb4 Bg5 29 Qg4 1-0

The Pawn Break ...d5 – Black also needs to have fun Finally a classic break that is often used to open the position at a favourable moment for Black. Often it is a part of White’s strategy to avoid this, but sometimes he simply forgets, and it comes like a thief in the night. Felgaer-Ricardi Pinamar 2002 B28 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 a6 3 g3 g6 4 Bg2 Bg7 5 d4 cxd4 6 Nxd4 Nf6 7 0-0 0-0 8 Nc3 d6 9 a4 Nc6 10 Nde2 Rb8 11 Nd5 e6 12 Nxf6+ Bxf6 13 Ra3

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Qc7 14 f4 Bg7 15 Rd3 Rd8 16 b3 b5 17 axb5 axb5 18 c3

White has not done well in the opening and now Black is as ready as he will ever be carry out his final break. 18...d5! A typical Sicilian break. The centre opens and Black’s pieces are better prepared. 19 Be3?! White tries to control the situation with a relaxed attitude, but this approach is no success. 19 exd5 exd5 20 Rxd5 Be6! was also dangerous. After something like 21 Rd2 Rxd2 22 Bxd2 Rd8 White is under an uncomfortable pressure. 19 f5!? was an interesting alternative. It’s about equal after 19...dxe4 20 Rxd8+ Nxd8 21 f6 Bf8 22 Bxe4 Bb7, though it is still White who needs to be careful. 19...b4! White’s position is now under great pressure. He has lost the chance to play c3-c4 and now loses control of the dark squares. 20 exd5 exd5 21 Rxd5 21 cxb4 Re8!? 22 Bf2 Nxb4 23 Rd2 Bf5 is one illustration of how the ...d5 break has released considerable potential energy existing in Black’s pieces. White is on the defensive and not very well coordinated. 21...bxc3 22 Rxd8+ Nxd8 23 Bd4 Ne6? 98

4 How to Solve Puzzles

Giving White a tempo. More accurate was 23...Bxd4+! 24 Nxd4 Ne6 and now White has: a) 25 Nxe6 Bxe6 and when b3-falls, White will not last long. 25 Nc6 Rb6 26 Ne5 c2 27 Qa1 Rxb3 and Black wins. b) 25 Nc2 Qc5+ 26 Kh1 Ba6 27 Re1 Rxb3 and Black is on his way to the full point, although some technical difficulties still remain. 24 Bxg7 Kxg7 25 Qd3? 25 Rf3 c2 26 Qa1+ Kg8 27 Rc3 looks unbelievable, but it was a fighting chance. It is not clear whether Black is better here, even though White is under considerable pressure. 25...Rxb3 26 Bd5 Qc5+ 27 Rf2 Ba6 28 Qd1 Rb2 0-1

CHAPTER FOUR

How to Solve Puzzles

The temporary becomes permanent – Russian proverb Try to solve the following position before you continue. The solution can be found at the end of the chapter.

Somov-Nasimovic 1936 White to play and draw Okay, now let’s take a look at the following position. see following diagram Many people will find it very hard to find the solution to this study, but if they have some training in solving puzzles then they will know that in puzzles things are often not as they seem. 99

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They have learned to be more goal oriented and more open to different ways of reaching their goals. They are used to being tricked by the study composer. Here the trained study solver will quickly realise that 1 Nhg4? is refuted by 1...f1Q! 2 Nxf1 Kg2! 3 h4 Kxf1 4 h5 Ke2! 5 h6 g2 and the resulting ending is a draw.

Black’s queen is simply trapped; this is an unusual and very aesthetically pleasing solution. But this is not really a demanding puzzle, if you compare it to the abilities you need for tournament games. Because once you find the hook, the main idea, there is no branching and you can stop your investigations. Afek 1997 White to play and win It is hard to know exactly how quickly someone like Mestel, Nunn or another of the world’s best study solvers would be able to solve this puzzle. My guess is that it would not take too long. The only one I have tested is Fritz 5, and it did not take more than a few seconds to start preferring 1 Nhf1, although it does take endless time to conclude that the knights do not guarantee a winning advantage by themselves. The solution is, of course, to allow Black to promote his g-pawn, but then trap the queen after 1 Nhf1! g2 2 h4 g1Q 3 Kf7!!

However, now try to take on the following position.

Kushnitzky 1952 White to play and win This study is based on the game ShternKushnitzky, Russia 1952. I will bet you anything that you are not able to see it all the way to the end.

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Before we return to the solution, I think it is time to go into a discussion of how one should solve studies, combinations and other kind of puzzles in order to improve one’s chess. Obviously solving puzzles is not the same as playing a tournament game. There are some differences that immediately spring to mind: The absence of an opponent or a fighting scenario. The knowledge of the existence of a clear solution. And one solution only (if the puzzle book is any good). The possibility of looking at the back of the book to discover the solutions. You only make one move, and there is no opponent to reply. You can evaluate your own performance and therefore ‘lie’ to yourself about it. The chess in puzzles normally has clarity in evaluations that tournament chess seldom possesses.

way you can improve your chess as rapidly as by solving demanding exercises. So when you are all alone, as most of us are in chess study, you need to develop quite a strict discipline. I normally ask the following of my students concerning solving exercises and I even try to live up to it myself. Place the exercise on your board and do not move the pieces or look at the solution until you have absolute clarity concerning all branches. You should feel so certain about the solution that you would bet your neck that you are right (not that you should actually do this, though). Dan Heisman gives more or less the opposite suggestion in a recent article in Novice Nook, his column at ChessCafe.com. But one is not to be fooled by what he said there. He was talking about very simple combinations, where calculation is not the tool, but finding the hook is. The following is an example of what he is talking about.

There are more of course, but these are the major ones, the ones that should be dealt with. Let us take them from the beginning. The solution to the fighting scenario is obvious. If you can, try to do training with a friend. This is also the solution to the problem of one move only. You can set up a study in the style of the first in this chapter and then set the clock at twenty minutes or whatever you and your friend find appropriate. You take turns and the player who is supposed to deliver the moves can spend his waiting time reading or solving standard combinations. You can also exchange training positions in ChessBase, set the program on training (under Status/Options). In that way you can train by yourself, but with an imaginary opponent. This is especially useful for studies with a very clear solution. Of course you cannot have a trainer or a friend near you all the time, and if you hold ambitions, you need to do this work. There is really no other

The solution to this puzzle is of course 1...Qxg3, after which White resigned due to 2 hxg3 g5 and Black mates. Heisman’s suggestion was to use no more than 5 minutes for this kind of simple pattern combinations, and then look at to the solution if you have not solved it. He is mainly directing this suggestion to players of 1200-1300

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Delecta-Geller Cappelle la Grande 1979 Black to play and win

4 How to Solve Puzzles

rating, and I believe that he knows more about this than I do. For this level this might very well be a good way to proceed, but later it is the ability to not make a decision before you are certain you have solved the exercise that is very important. You can choose to call this determination. The following example of determination is taken from practical play, but clearly illustrates how I myself follow this approach. After a full ten minutes thought I found the best way to finish the game and then played all the remaining moves rather quickly, as I was absolutely positive that I had seen everything. This was of course rather reckless, as you should always use your time well when you execute winning lines. You never know when a miracle or disaster will come your way, so you should be open to them at all times.

Romsdal-Aagaard Copenhagen 2002 Black to play and win How would you treat this position? I think most players would take on d5 and win a long endgame. This would of course win in 95% of the cases, so this approach is in no way bad. But I believe that you should always try to be as effective as possible. Playing the second best move is only possible up to a point, before you suddenly need to play very exactly to win. And then you have a tendency not to do so, as you have practised indifference for so 105

long. I, on the other hand, have tried that too often in the past and now concentrate fully in such situations. 24...Nd3! 24...Qc5+! 25 Kh1 Nd3 is more exact according to Junior 7, but I doubt that 25 Qd4 is really something to bother about after 24...Nd3. 25 Nxg6 Qc5+ 26 Kh1 Nf2+ 27 Rxf2 Qxf2 28 Nxf8+ Kh8! 28...Kxf8 29 Qc8+ with perpetual check. 29 Ng6+ hxg6! 0-1 But not 29...fxg6 30 Qc8+ with perpetual. The ‘normal’ approach is to look at the exercise for some time until you have an idea, and then look up the solution. Then you normally find that there is a defence you did not anticipate, but you have some idea that blows this defence away. It is easy in that situation to tell yourself that you really solved the exercise, but trust me, you did not. To solve an exercise correctly is to have seen all the main defences and their refutations. Afterwards you should be able to play it as a game with only a few seconds on the clock and still win. I know that this differs from the normal ability to make decisions that you have to develop at the board, where time is a factor. But the reason for this is simple. Most people will only use a terribly long time solving such an exercise because they are out of training. Once they get used to calculating long variations accurately they will also speed up. Then it becomes valuable at the board, where speed, accuracy and determination in calculation are undisputedly most of the main qualities a player needs. And if you do not possess this already, then you need to train to obtain it. And solving exercises is a very good way to do this. By the way, the existence of one clear solution is not something you have in a practical game, and therefore you have an artificial advantage when you solve exercises. But really, this is no drawback at all. The knowledge that there is something truly 106

4 How to Solve Puzzles

clear should actually increase your determination, as you do not know the solution before you find it. The same goes for the clarity you find in these puzzles, that you don’t always find in tournament games. It is like any other sport: you isolate one important aspect of your abilities and train it. But now let’s return to the Kushnitzky position. How far did you see?

The beginning is easy. White has a typical attacking pattern in 1 Rxg7+! Kxg7 2 Bh6+ Kxh6 3 Qxf6+ Bg6 4 g4 Qa5 5 h4 and there is seemingly no defence against the threat of g4-g5 mate. Even to see this far can prove difficult for 2350 players who are not experts on tactics. But I doubt that many would be able to see the clever defence found by Kushnitzky. 5...Rc5!! This clever defence looks like a refutation of White’s attack. After 6 dxc5 Qa1+ 7 Kg2 Qg1+! 8 Kxg1 Black is stalemated. This was what actually happened in the game. Previously to this, Black had removed his pawn from a6 to make this work. But a closer look at the position makes it apparent that White in no way has played all his trumps.

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There is an important rule to attacking chess: If your opponent succeeds in preventing your primary attacking idea, this is often at the cost of something else. So do not abandon the attack, but rather investigate the arising position (in advance of course), and see if new possibilities have arisen. Here new possibilities have indeed arisen, and White can attack Black’s trapped king in a new way with 6 Qh8!! and there is no real defence against the check on f8. Actually Avni, who included this game in his wonderful book Creative Chess, did not find this move. I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels that they can make solid ordinary moves, but lack the ability to see truly exceptional possibilities. 6...Be4 Or 6...Bd3 7 Bxd3 cxd3 8 Qf6 mate. 7 Qf8+ Kg6 8 Qxc5 Due to the threats against his own king, there is no way Black can avoid the exchange of queens. 8...Qxc5 8...Qa1+ 9 Kf2 f6 10 h5+ Kh6 11 g5+! with a mating attack. 9 dxc5 Bd5 10 Kf2 Kf6 11 Ke3 Ke5

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1 Kg3 1 Kg1 Bb6 2 Rh5+ Kg6 3 Rh2 Rxf2 4 Rxf2 a5! wins for Black. 1...Rxf2 1...Bb6 2 Nd3! and White survives. 2 Rh5+! Kg6 3 Rd5 Bb6 4 Rd6+ Kf5 5 Rxb6 Rxf3+ Here comes what you probably did not see, if you got this far at all.

12 g5! Black is in zugzwang, as all moves will worsen his position. One line is 12...Be6 13 c6 Kd6 14 Kd4 and Black will inevitably lose. A truly well trained player should be able to see this far, but it will take a long time to reach this. Still, this is the goal for the ambitious player. For the less ambitious player, simply improving practical results is a good target. And that is actually the only guarantee you get from solving puzzles, combinations and other kinds of exercises. You will improve, for as Dvoretsky once said, ‘The most effective way to improve your chess is training.’ Now let’s study the solution to the position from the beginning of the chapter, SomovNasimovic 1936.

6 Kg2!! This move is forced, as after 6 Kxf3 axb6 Black has the opposition and will win in a very elementary way. Many people probably did this exercise in their attempt to work their way through the Dvoretsky book, but how many saw this? I know that GM Peter Heine Nielsen and I missed exactly this point, something we should be not too proud of. 6...axb6 7 Kxf3 with a theoretical draw. This position and the Afek Study are by the way taken from Mark Dvoretsky’s The Endgame University, which is filled with useful knowledge and very demanding exercises.

Further Reading Nunn: John Nunn’s Puzzle Book Nunn: Solving in Style 109

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Dvoretsky: The Endgame University Speelman: Test your endgame ability (out of print) Aagaard: Excelling at Chess Calculation (planned for 2004) Amatzia Avni: Creative Chess Dan Heisman: Novice Nook at ChessCafe.com Dvoretsky: School of Chess Excellence II, Tactical play Dvoretsky: School of Chess Excellence III, Strategical play. According to Dvoretsky the exercises in this final book are not as difficult as those in his other books. And yes, this is the first time this book has been published in English, even though the original in Russian has existed for ten years.

CHAPTER FIVE

Exercises

Pattern Combinations These first 286 combinations mainly illustrate basic tactical themes and ideas, though they can be in no way regarded as easy. They were originally selected with the criteria that finding the idea should be more than half the work in the position, but take nothing for granted. Good luck!

Exercise 1: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 4: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 2: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 5: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 3: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 6: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 9: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 7: White to play and win Solution Exercise 10: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 8: White to play and win Solution Exercise 11: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 14: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 12: White to play and win Solution Exercise 15: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 13: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 16: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 19: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 17: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 20: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 18: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 21: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 24: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 22: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 25: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 23: White to play and win Solution Exercise 26: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 29: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 27: White to play and win directly Solution Exercise 30: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 28: White to play and win Solution Exercise 31: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 34: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 32: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 35: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 33: White to play and win Solution Exercise 36: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 39: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 37: White to play and win Solution Exercise 40: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 38: White to play and win Solution Exercise 41: White to play and gain a winning position Solution

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Exercise 44: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 42: White to play and win Solution Exercise 45: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 43: White to play and win Solution Exercise 46: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 49: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 47: White to play and win Solution Exercise 50: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 48: White to play and win Solution Exercise 51: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 54: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 52: White to play and win Solution Exercise 55: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 53: White to play and win Solution Exercise 56: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 59: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 57: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 60: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 58: White to play and win Solution Exercise 61: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 64: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 62: White to play and win Solution Exercise 65: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 63: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 66: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 69: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 67: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 70: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 68: White to play and win Solution Exercise 71: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 74: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 72: White to play and win Solution Exercise 75: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 73: White to play and win Solution Exercise 76: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 79: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 77: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 80: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 78: White to play and win Solution Exercise 81: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 84: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 82: White to play and win Solution Exercise 85: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 83: White to play and win Solution Exercise 86: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 89: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 87: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 90: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 88: White to play and win Solution Exercise 91: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 94: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 92: White to play and win Solution Exercise 95: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 93: White to play and win Solution Exercise 96: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 99: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 97: White to play and win Solution Exercise 100: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 98: White to play and win Solution Exercise 101: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 104: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 102: White to play and win Solution Exercise 105: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 103: White to play and win Solution Exercise 106: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 109: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 107: White to play and win Solution Exercise 110: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 108: White to play and win Solution Exercise 111: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 114: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 112: White to play and win Solution Exercise 115: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 113: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 116: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 119: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 117: White to play and win Solution Exercise 120: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 118: White to play and win Solution Exercise 121: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 124: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 122: White to play and win Solution Exercise 125: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 123: White to play and win Solution Exercise 126: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 129: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 127: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 130: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 128: White to play and win Solution Exercise 131: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 134: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 132: White to play and win Solution Exercise 135: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 133: White to play and win Solution Exercise 136: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 139: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 137: White to play and win Solution Exercise 140: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 138: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 141: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 144: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 142: White to play and win Solution Exercise 145: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 143: White to play and win Solution Exercise 146: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 149: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 147: White to play and win Solution Exercise 150: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 148: White to play and win Solution Exercise 151: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 154: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 152: White to play and win Solution Exercise 155: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 153: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 156: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 159: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 157: White to play and win Solution Exercise 160: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 158: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 161: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 164: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 162: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 165: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 163: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 166: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 169: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 167: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 170: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 168: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 171: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 174: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 172: White to play and win Solution Exercise 175: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 173: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 176: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 179: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 177: White to play and win Solution Exercise 180: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 178: White to play and win Solution Exercise 181: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 184: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 182: White to play and win Solution Exercise 185: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 183: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 186: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 189: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 187: White to play and win Solution Exercise 190: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 188: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 191: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 194: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 192: White to play and win Solution Exercise 195: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 193: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 196: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 199: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 197: White to play and win Solution Exercise 200: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 198: White to play and win Solution Exercise 201: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 204: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 202: White to play and win Solution Exercise 205: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 203: White to play and win Solution Exercise 206: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 209: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 207: White to play and win Solution Exercise 210: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 208: White to play and win Solution Exercise 211: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 214: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 212: White to play and win Solution Exercise 215: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 213: White to play and win Solution Exercise 216: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 219: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 217: White to play and win Solution Exercise 220: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 218: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 221: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 224: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 222: White to play and win Solution Exercise 225: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 223: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 226: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 229: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 227: White to play and win Solution Exercise 230: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 228: White to play and win Solution Exercise 231: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 234: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 232: White to play and win Solution Exercise 235: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 233: White to play and win Solution Exercise 236: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 239: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 237: White to play and win Solution Exercise 240: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 238: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 241: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 244: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 242: White to play and win Solution Exercise 245: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 243: White to play and win Solution Exercise 246: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 249: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 247: White to play and win Solution Exercise 250: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 248: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 251: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 254: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 252: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 255: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 253: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 256: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 259: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 257: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 260: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 258: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 261: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 264: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 262: White to play and win Solution Exercise 265: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 263: White to play and win Solution Exercise 266: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 269: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 267: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 270: Black to play and draw Solution

Exercise 268: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 271: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 274: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 272: White to play and win Solution Exercise 275: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 273: White to play and win Solution Exercise 276: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 279: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 277: White to play and win Solution Exercise 280: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 278: White to play and win Solution Exercise 281: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 284: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 282: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 285: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 283: White to play and win Solution Exercise 286: White to play and win Solution

Calculation Combinations The next 214 exercises have been collected mainly for their complexity. Be ready to calculate accurately and deeply. The best way to solve many of these combinations will be to play them out against a computer program, which will offer you the best defence. Obviously this also has a drawbacks (known as computer desperation), but all in all it will assist you in finding the balance

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between exact calculation and the decision making necessary to choose the best move. Happy hunting!

Exercise 289: White to play and win Solution Exercise 287: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 290: White to play and win Solution Exercise 288: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 291: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 294: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 292: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 295: White to play and win Solution Exercise 293: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 296: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 299: White to play and win Solution Exercise 297: Black to play and draw Solution

Exercise 300: White to play and win Solution Exercise 298: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 301: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 304: White to play and win Solution Exercise 302: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 305: White to play and win Solution Exercise 303: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 306: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 309: White to play and win Solution Exercise 307: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 310: Black to play and draw Solution Exercise 308: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 311: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 314: White to play and win Solution Exercise 312: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 315: White to play and win Solution Exercise 313: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 316: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 319: White to play and win Solution Exercise 317: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 320: White to play and win Solution Exercise 318: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 321: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 324: White to play and win Solution Exercise 322: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 325: White to play and win Solution Exercise 323: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 326: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 329: White to play and win Solution Exercise 327: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 330: White to play and win Solution Exercise 328: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 331: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 334: White to play and win Solution Exercise 332: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 335: White to play and win Solution Exercise 333: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 336: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 339: White to play and win Solution Exercise 337: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 340: White to play and win Solution Exercise 338: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 341: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 344: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 342: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 345: White to play and win Solution Exercise 343: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 346: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 349: White to play and win Solution Exercise 347: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 350: White to play and win Solution Exercise 348: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 351: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 354: White to play and win Solution Exercise 352: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 355: White to play and win Solution Exercise 353: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 356: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 359: White to play and win Solution Exercise 357: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 360: White to play and win Solution Exercise 358: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 361: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 364: White to play and win Solution Exercise 362: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 365: White to play and win Solution Exercise 363: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 366: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 369: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 367: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 370: White to play and win Solution Exercise 368: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 371: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 374: White to play and win Solution Exercise 372: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 375: White to play and win Solution Exercise 373: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 376: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 379: White to play and win Solution Exercise 377: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 380: White to play and win Solution Exercise 378: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 381: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 384: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 382: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 385: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 383: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 386: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 389: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 387: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 390: White to play and win Solution Exercise 388: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 391: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 394: White to play and win Solution Exercise 392: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 395: White to play and win Solution Exercise 393: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 396: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 399: White to play and win Solution Exercise 397: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 400: White to play and win Solution Exercise 398: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 401: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 404: White to play and win Solution Exercise 402: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 405: White to play and win Solution Exercise 403: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 406: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 409: White to play and win Solution Exercise 407: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 410: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 408: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 411: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 414: White to play and win Solution Exercise 412: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 415: White to play and win Solution Exercise 413: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 416: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 419: White to play and win Solution Exercise 417: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 420: White to play and win Solution Exercise 418: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 421: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 424: White to play and win Solution Exercise 422: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 425: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 423: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 426: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 429: White to play and win Solution Exercise 427: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 430: White to play and win Solution Exercise 428: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 431: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 434: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 432: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 435: White to play and win Solution Exercise 433: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 436: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 439: White to play and win Solution Exercise 437: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 440: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 438: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 441: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 444: White to play and win Solution Exercise 442: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 445: White to play and win Solution Exercise 443: Black to play and win Solution

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Exercise 446: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 449: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 447: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 450: White to play and win Solution Exercise 448: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 451: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 454: Black to play and win Solution Exercise 452: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 455: White to play and win Solution Exercise 453: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 456: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 459: White to play and win Solution Exercise 457: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 460: White to play and win Solution Exercise 458: White to play and win Solution

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Exercise 461: White to play and win Solution

Exercise 464: White to play and win Solution Exercise 462: Black to play and win Solution

Exercise 465: White to play and win Solution Exercise 463: White to play and win Solution

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CHAPTER SIX

Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 1 Kr.Georgiev-Vareille Val Thorens 1998 (B20) Surprisingly, Black either loses a piece or is mated on the back rank. 21 Bxc6! 1-0 It is a simple case of overloading. After 21...Nxc6 22 Qxc6! Black is lost. Exercise 2 Ibragimov-Iskusnyh Novgorod 1995 (B20) By eliminating the defenders, Black wins two minor pieces for a rook. 24...Rxf4! 25 gxf4 25 Nxd5 Rfe4 was played in the game, after which White soon resigned. 25...Rxe3! 26 Rxe3 Qg4+0-1 and the rook on d1 is lost. Exercise 3 Strikovic-Suba Seville 1994 (B20) This example contains an original pattern. 26...Qxd6! 27 exd6 Re1+0-1 and White resigned: 28 Kf2 Bh4 mate. Exercise 4 Ermenkov-Kuligowski Smederevska Polanka 1979 (B20) 313

The mating patterns are Qg7 and Re8. There is no defence against their combined force. 32 Bxd5 Rxd5 33 Qf6! 1-0 and Black resigned due to 33...Qf8 34 Re8! followed by 35 Qg7 mate. Exercise 5 Koeller-Brendel Baden-Hessen 1994 (B21) In this exercise several X-rays give White the chance to execute a winning blow. 34 Nf7+!! Qxf7 Black is forced to give up his queen as after 34...Rxf7 35 Bxf6+ Rxf6 36 Rxh7 he is well and truly mated. 35 Rxf7 Rxf7 36 Bxf6+ Rxf6 37 Rd6 Be4 38 Qh4 Rfg6 39 Rd7 h6 40 Qe7 1-0 and Black lost on time, but will surely lose no matter what. Exercise 6 Tesinszky-Magerramov Budapest 1990 (B21) 9...Nd4! 0-1 and White resigned as he must either lose his queen or be mated. Exercise 7 W.Watson-Shamkovich Brighton 1982 (B21) This fine combination is about deflecting a defender, the rook on e8. 25 Rb8!! 25 Bxg7+ Kxg7 26 Qxe8 Qxg5+ 27 Kf2 Qg2+ 28 Ke1 Qg1+ 29 Kd2 Qxb1 is not clear. 25...Rxb8 26 Bxg7+ Kxg7 27 Qe7+ 1-0 and Black resigned due to 27...Kh8 28 Qf6 mate. Exercise 8 Jakubiec-Kachur Polanica Zdroj 1996 (B22)

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Here White wins a pawn with a beautiful combination. 25 Rxf7+! A fantastic pattern. 25...Rxf7 Or 25...Kxf7 26 Qxh7+ Kf6 27 Qxg6 mate. 26 Rxe8 d5?! 26...Bxe8 27 Ne6+ wins for White. 26...Qa5!? is best met with 27 Qd8! and White wins due to 27...Bxe8 28 Ne6+ Kh6 29 g4!! g5 30 h4, when mate follows. 27 Bxg6! 1-0 and Black resigned due to 27...Kxg6 28 Rg8+ Rg7 29 Qg3+. Exercise 9 Keitlinghaus-Fogarasi Budapest 1996 (B22) The weak spots in Black’s position are b7 and c7. White now creates a further weakness: 18 Rc6! 18 Qxf7 Ne7 is less clear. 18...b6 Forced. 18...Qa5 19 Rc8+! Kxc8 20 Qxb7 is mate, while 18...Re8+ 19 Kd1 Qa5 20 Re6! and White wins because of the double threat of Rxe8 and Qxb7. 19 Qxf7 Bd6 20 Rxd6 Rxd6 21 Qf8+ Kc7 22 Qxg7+ 1-0 Exercise 10 Sveshnikov-Kveinys Budapest 1996 (B22) The strong pawn on e6 gives White a full point, if supported by the following tactics: 29 Bxc6! bxc6 29...Qxc6 30 Qd8+ Bf8 31 e7 and White wins. 30 Qd6! Qxd6 30...Qb7 31 e7 and the pawn queens. 31 cxd6 fxe6 32 Bg5! 1-0 and Black resigned, as after 32...Be5 33 d7 Bc7 34 d8Q+ Bxd8 35 Bxd8 White is winning. 315

Exercise 11 Emms-Tukmakov Copenhagen 1996 (B22) This combination is a simple case of deflection and establishing a knight fork on f6. 24 Bxb6 axb6 25 d7! Bxd7 26 Rxa8 Rxa8 27 Ne4 1-0 and Black resigned due to 27...Qe7 28 Nf6+ Kf8 29 Nxd7+ Qxd7 30 Qh8+ Ke7 31 Rxd7+ and the queen is lost with check. Exercise 12 V.Ivanov-Losev Moscow 1995 (B22) It is good to know your classics! 21 Bf6!! Now Black resigned due to 21...Qxh5 21...Rxd3 22 Rxg7+ Kh8 23 Rh7+ Kxh7 24 Qxf7 mate; 21...Kf8 22 Bxg7+ Ke8 23 Be5 Nd7 24 Rg8+ Nf8 25 Qxh6 and White wins. 22 Bh7+! This move has to be foreseen of course. 22...Kh8 Or 22...Kxh7 23 Rxg7+ Kh8 24 Rxd8 mate. 23 Rxd8+ Kxh7 24 Rxg7 mate Exercise 13 Schandorff-Wang Zili Copenhagen 1995 (B22) The weakest square in White’s king’s position (g3) costs him the game after 24...Be1!! 25 Rxf6 Other moves also lose: a) 25 Rf4 Rxf4 26 exf4 Qxf4 is no defence due to 27 Rxe1 Qf2+. b) 25 Rxe1 Rf2+ 26 Kh3 R7f3+ 27 Nxf3 Rxf3+ 28 Kg2 Qg3 mate. 25...Qg3+ 26 Kf1 Rxf6+ 27 Ke2 Nb4! 0-1 White will face mate or lose the queen.

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Exercise 14 Rozentalis-Timoshenko Tbilisi 1989 (B22) The king is fragile in the corner, and White therefore has a variation of a classic combination. 23 Ng6+! Nxg6 23...hxg6 24 Rf3! Ng8 25 Rh3+ Nh6 26 Bxc6 and White wins. 24 Bxc6 Qe7 25 Rae1! Other moves also win, but this is the best way. 25...Nh4 26 Bf2 1-0 Exercise 15 Sibarevic-Pavlov Pernik 1988 (B22) This combination is quite straightforward, but still very pretty. 20 Qxg6!! 20 Bxg6? Qxf2+ and it is Black who mates. 20...hxg6 21 h5! The king is very fragile. Black escapes the mate, but then ends up in a nice fork. 21...Rxf7 22 hxg6+ Kg8 23 gxf7+ Kf8 24 Ne6+ 1-0 Exercise 16 Godena-Drei Saint Vincent 2000 (B23) If e7 falls, the position falls. Therefore White used deflection. 38 Ra6! Qb4 38...Qxa6 39 Qxe7+ Kc6 40 Qxf6+ and White wins. 39 c3! 1-0 Preventing the mate on e1. Now Black resigned because of 39...dxc3 (39...Rxa6 40 cxb4 also wins, though less quickly) 40 Qxf6. Exercise 17 Bryzgalin-Iljushin Sochi 1998 (B23)

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The right intermediate move allows Black to win decisive material through a pleasant combination. 28...Rf6! 29 Qxh5 Rxf4! 30 gxf4 Nxh4 31 Qxg4 White has no defence: 31 Rg1 Bxg2+ 32 Rxg2 (32 Kh2 g3+ 33 Kxg3 Qe3+ 34 Kxh4 Qxf4+ 35 Qg4 Qh2+ 36 Kg5 Qxg1 and Black wins) 32...Qe1+ 33 Rg1 Qe4+ 34 Kh2 Qxf4+ 35 Rg3 Nf3+ 36 Kg2 Qd2+ 37 Kf1 Qe1+ 38 Kg2 Qg1 mate; or 31 Bxe4+ Qxe4+ 32 Kg1 Qg2 mate. 31...Bxg2+ 32 Kh2 Bf3?! 32...Be4 was completely winning. 33 Qg5 Qd7?? 33...Qe3 should still win. 34 axb4?? 34 Kg3! and suddenly it’s White who’s winning. 34...Nf5 35 Qg6 Bc6 36 Kh3 cxb4 37 Rc1 Ne3+ 38 Kg3 Nf5+ 39 Kh3 Qd5 40 Qg4 a5 41 b3 Bd7 42 Kh2 Bc6 43 Kh3 Nd4 44 Re1 Kb6 0-1 Exercise 18 Kiik-Berend Gent 1998 (B23) The X-ray threat of b7 to h1 and the general openness of White’s king allow a nice variation of a classic combination. 27...Ng3+!! 0-1 and White resigned due to 28 hxg3 Qh3+ 29 Kg1 Bd4+ with mate to follow. Exercise 19 Conquest-Bauer Dortmund 1986 (B23) White has several ideas here, Bh6 and Nf5 being the most important. Played right after each other, they decide the game. 23 Bh6!! Qxh6 23...Ne8 24 Bxg7 Nxg7 25 Nf5 makes no difference. 24 Nf5 Kh8 24...Qg6 25 Nxe7+ also wins.

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25 Nxh6 Bxh6 26 Qc7 Rae8 27 Qxb7 Rg8 28 Rde1 1-0

26...Rxf5 27 Bxf5 Re8 28 Re1 Qc6+ 29 Be4 Qf6 30 Bd5 1-0

Exercise 20 Schuetz-Kammer Germany 1994 (B24) Again a classic deflection theme, this time of the king from the defence of f2. 28...Rh2+! 29 Kxh2 Qf2+ 0-1 Mate will follow with 30 Kh3 Rh8+ 31 Kg4 f5+ 32 Kg5 Qxg3+ 33 Bg4 Qxg4.

Exercise 24 Molina-Schwartzman Mar del Plata 1934 (B24) Black wins with an exchange sacrifice that removes all defence from White’s king. 26...Rxe4! 27 dxe4 Rxe4 28 Qf3 Or 28 Qb8+ Bf8 29 Qg3 Bd6; 28 Qg3 Be5; 28 Qf2 Be5+ 29 Kh3 Qe6+ 30 Kg2 Qg4+ 31 Kh1 Qh3+ 32 Kg1 Rg4+ and Black wins. 28...Rxh4+ 29 Kg3 Qxg5+ 0-1

Exercise 21 Lyrberg-Irzhanov Duisburg 1992 (B24) Mate in two cannot be prevented. 20...Qxf2+! 21 Kxf2 Or 21 Kh1 Bg2 mate. 21...Be3 mate Exercise 22 Hoen-Hübner Oslo 1974 (B24) Black gains a tempo by giving up the only piece he has that does not aim at the opponent’s king. 30...Be5! 0-1 White resigned due to 31 dxe5 Rg7+ 32 Ng4 Qxg4+ 33 Kf2 Qg2+ 34 Ke1 Qf1 mate. Exercise 23 Reid-Pelikan Stockholm 1937 (B24) The X-ray from c3 to g7/h8 gives White the chance to play a winning combination. 24 Nxe5! Bxe5 25 Rxf4! The loose queen on c7 now reveals itself as a very important part of the combination. 25...Bf5 25...Bxc3 26 Rxf8+! and White wins; 25...Rbe8 26 Bxe5+ Qxe5 27 Rxf8+ and mate follows. 26 Rxf5 Everything wins.

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Exercise 25 Short-Stohl Batumi 1999 (B25) White breaks down Black’s defence with 34 Be6! Now Black went for his only chance, giving up the queen. Still, White has a winning advantage. 34...Qxe6 Or 34...fxe6 35 Rxg6+ Kh8 36 Qh6+ Qh7 37 Rxf8+ with mate. 35 Rxe6 fxe6 36 Qc1 Nxd4 37 Rxf8+ Rxf8 38 Kg2 38 Qc4! was stronger, but time trouble probably played a role. 38...Nc6 39 b4 Re8 39...Rd8 to play ...Ne5 and ...Rd7 was the only chance. 40 b5 Ne7 41 Qf4 1-0 Exercise 26 Donev-Zeller Reutlingen 1997 (B25) Black’s king quickly finds itself unable to protect e8. 29 Nxf5! Rd8 If 29...exf5, 30 g6+! and White wins with an extra exchange. 30 Rxe6 Be5 31 R1xe5 Nxe5 32 Rf6+ 1-0 320

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Exercise 27 Ostermeyer-Hübner Germany 1978 (B25) White has an extra exchange and should win in most cases, but here he has a wonderful finish that wins on the spot. 33 Bxh6!! Bxh6 34 Rf6 Qg7 Or 34...Nf4 35 Rxh6+ and White wins. 35 Rxg6!! 1-0 White wins after 35...Qxg6 36 f8N+!. Exercise 28 Bastian-Walter Gladenbach 1997 (B26) This is combinational chess in a nutshell. Two sacrifices create a winning knight fork. 24 Rxf6! Rxf6 25 Re8+! 1-0 Exercise 29 Yudasin-Kiselev Podolsk 1991 (B26) An X-ray and a pin in action. 16...Bc3! 0-1 This move wins the exchange and later Black won the game. Exercise 30 Sandipan-Sareen Calcutta 1999 (B27) Black has positional compensation for the exchange, but White can force a pawn to the eighth rank. 36 b6! Nxb7 36...axb6 37 a7 and White wins. 37 bxa7 1-0 Exercise 31 Bode-Siebrecht Hessen 1998 (B27) The X-ray effect from b7 and a8 is quickly felt. White badly needs a light-squared bishop after 29...Nxg2!! 30 Kxg2

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White also loses after the marginally better 30 Ng5+ hxg5 31 Qxg2 c5 32 Qh3+ Kg8 33 Nc2 Rxc4. 30...c5 31 Nd5 e6 White cannot keep the diagonal closed and decides to give up the exchange. 32 Rd1 exd5 33 Rxd5 Bxd5 34 Qxd5 Qxd5 35 cxd5 g5 36 Nd2 Kg6 37 Nf1 Kf5 38 Ne3+ Ke4 39 Ng4 Kxd5 0-1 Exercise 32 Coenen-Arkhipov Münster 1993 (B27) The weakness of the first rank is exploited by overloading White’s rooks. 26...Bxd4 27 cxd4 27 Qxd4 Qxd4 28 cxd4 Rxb4 and Black wins. 27...Rxb4! 28 Ra1 28 Qd1 was a slightly better defence, but Black is winning anyway: 28...Rxb1 29 Rxb1 Qc3 with Rc4 coming. 28...Qxd4! 0-1 and White resigned due to 29 Qxd4 Rxc1+ 30 Rxc1 Rxd4. Exercise 33 Oratovsky-Khamrakulov Albacete 2001 (B28) A magnet sacrifice decides the game. 22 Qxf7+! Kxf7 Or 22...Kh8 23 Bd5 Ng6 24 Qxe8+ Qxe8 25 c8Q and White wins. 23 Bd5+ 1-0 White mates after 23...Kg6 24 Bf7. Exercise 34 Sadvakasov-Tatai Saint Vincent 1999 (B28) White decides the game by destroying the position of Black’s king. 22 Bxg6! hxg6 23 Rxg6+ Kf8?!

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A slightly tougher defence is 23...Kh8 24 Rh6+! (24 Bxf6+ Bxf6 25 Re3! Bg7 26 Rh3+ Kg8 27 Rhg3 Re7 is good, but not completely clear) 24...Kg8 25 Re3! and Black cannot keep his position together. After 25...Kf8 26 Rg3 Bd8 27 Bxd6+ it is all over. 24 Bf4! Bd8 1-0 Black resigned before White had a chance to play 25 Bh6+ Ke7 26 Rg7. Exercise 35 Karpov-Taimanov Leningrad 1977 (B28) This is a famous example of overloading. 37...Ra1! 38 Rb1 This allows the main point of the idea to be executed. 38 Qe2 loses to 38...Qxd5 39 Rc3 Qd2! 40 Rc7+ Kf6 41 Qc4 d5 42 Qc6+ Kg5. 38...Ng3+!! 0-1 White resigned due to 39 hxg3 Ra8 followed by ...Rh8+. Exercise 36 Marusenko-Mnatsakanian Budapest 1991 (B29) White would love to play Bxc4, so therefore he finds 17 Rc5! Qxc5 17...Bxc5 18 Bxc4+ and wins. 18 dxc5 cxd3 19 Re1! White needs to act quickly or else Black will get his pieces to work together. 19...Kf7 19...d2 20 Qxd2 might look like a defence, but although Black does have two bishops and a rook for the queen, he has no coordination. After 20...Bf8 21 Qd5+ Kg7 22 Re3 White has a winning attack. 20 Rxe7+! Kxe7 21 Qg7+ Ke6 22 Qxh8 1-0 The pawn will not queen – White has Qg8+ and Qc4.

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Exercise 37 Adams-Fernandes Haifa 1989 (B29) The following example sees White cornering Black’s king. 21 Nf5! Preventing Black’s king from escaping. 21...Nd7 Or 21...exf5 22 Qh6+ Kg8 (22...Bg7 23 Qd6+ and wins) 23 Bxf5 Qc7 24 Bh7+ Kh8 25 Qxf6+ and White mates. 22 Nh6! Attacking the weakest spot (f7). In the game White won eventually after the inferior 22 Qh6+?. 22...Ke7 23 Rxe6+! Maybe this is what White overlooked. 23...Kd8 24 Nxf7+ Kc7 25 Qh2+ and White wins. Exercise 38 Unzicker-Penrose Hastings 1950 (B29) Black is under pressure and loses his centre after 16 Bc7! Ra8 16...Rd7 17 Bg4 wins immediately. 17 Rad1 1-0 Black loses some material and White retains full central control. Exercise 39 Marotti-Schoenmann The Hague 1928 (B29) A nice pawn sacrifice creates an avalanche of knight forks. 29...e3! 30 Rc2 30 fxe3 Nxg3+ 31 Kf2 Ne4+ and wins. 30...exf2 31 Kxf2 Rf7! White still cannot escape the forks. 32 Rcd2 Re8 Good enough to win, but 32...Ne3+! is even more attractive. 33 Ng2 Nd4+ 34 Kg1 Nf3+ 0-1 324

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Exercise 40 Glek-Arkhipov Tomsk 2001 (B30) X-ray the king! Here the e1-rook aiming at e8 wins the game. 13 Nd6+! Bxd6 13...Ke7 14 Qh5 and White wins. 14 Qxd5! 1-0 Black resigned. After 14...exd5 15 exd6+ White has an extra piece. Exercise 41 Nevednichy-Kupreichik Batumi 1999 (analysis) (B30) This is a special combination because in the end White has no extra material, but his positional advantages are so enormous that the position wins by itself. 22 Bxh6! Bxh6 Forced. 22...Bd7 23 Bxg7+ Qxg7 24 Ng5 Re8 25 Rxe8+ Bxe8 26 Qf4 and White has a winning attack. 23 Re8! Bxd2 24 Rxf8+ Kg7 25 Rf7+ Kh6 26 Nxd2 1-0 Black has absolutely no defence. He cannot develop and his king is in mortal danger. Now 26...Nb4 27 f4 b5 28 Bb3 a5 29 Nf3 Rb8 30 a3 a4 31 Ng5 Rb7 32 Be6! is one illustrative line, in which White wins a piece. Exercise 42 Najer-Kovalevskaya St Petersburg 1999 (B30) White wins by ‘kicking in the door’. 26 Bxh6! Nxh6 27 Qd2 Kg8 Black has no defence. 27...Qg7 28 Rc7! Qxc7 29 Qxh6+ Kg8 30 Qh8+ Kf7 31 Qh7+ and wins. 28 Qxh6 1-0 and Black resigned due to 28...Qg7 29 Qxg7+ Kxg7 30 Rc7+ Rf7 31 Rxf7+ Kxf7 32 Rh7+. Exercise 43 Oratovsky-Whitehead 325

North Bay 1998 (B30) The rook on d7 is the last line of defence. Therefore White played 23 Rb7! 1-0 and Black resigned. An important line is 23...Ke8 24 Rxa7 Be7 25 Rdxd7 Nxd7 26 Ra8 and White wins the queen. Exercise 44 Biolek-Oral Mladi Olomouc 1997 (B30) In this exercise we see brilliant cooperation between all of Black’s pieces. 30...Rxg1+! 31 Kxg1 Rg6+ 32 Ng4 32 Kh1 Bxh2 33 Ng2 Bg3+ with mate to follow. 32...Rxg4+! 33 fxg4 Be3+ 0-1 Exercise 45 Vasiukov-Dreev Elista 1996 (B30) Too many attackers; too few defenders. 40...Bxh3! 41 Ra8+ Ke7 42 Nxh3 Rh6 0-1 Exercise 46 Akopian-Sveshnikov Rostov 1993 (B30) This is a little difficult if you do not know how to approach it. The key idea is to attack the black king’s defence where it is weakest: the h5-square. Therefore White wins as follows: 30 h6+ Kg6 31 g4!! This is the critical move. 31...Bd8 Black has no adequate defence against Qf3-h3h5, for example: a) 31...Rg8 32 Qh3 Bd8 33 Re5! (with the threat of Rf5) 33...Kf6 34 f4 b6 35 Qh5 followed by fxg5+ and mate. b) 31...Re8 32 Rxe8 Qxe8 33 Qf5+ Kxh6 34 Qxf6 mate. 32 Qh3 Kf6 326

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After 32...f5 33 Qh5+ Kf6, 34 Bf8 is one way to win the game, while 34 f4 is another. 33 Re5 Or 33 Bf8. 33...b6 33...Bc7 34 Be7+ Qxe7 35 Qf3+ and White wins. 34 Qh5 1-0 Exercise 47 Sveshnikov-Sherbakov Moscow 1991 (B30) Here White wins a pawn by threatening a ‘golden oldie’. 23 Qe5! Nd7? 23...f6 24 Qxe6+ Rf7 25 Bb4 gives White an attack and a pawn more. 24 Qg7+!! 1-0 Black resigned due to 24...Kxg7 25 Nf5+ Kg8 26 Nh6 mate. Exercise 48 Georgiev-Andrianov Athens 1991 (B30) In this exercise White uses the overloaded bishop on f8 to break Black’s position apart. However, there is a twist that has to be worked out. 17 Bxg7!! bxc4?! No better is 17...Bxg7 18 Nxd6+ and White wins. But after 17...Rg8! 18 Bxf8 bxc4 19 Bxd6 Bb7 White still has to find the right path. That is 20 Qf5! Rxg2+ (20...Rc8 21 Rxe6+ Kd7 22 Bg3+ with mate coming) 21 Kf1 Rg6 22 Qe5! and White is winning: 22...Rc8 23 Qh8+ Kd7 24 Bc7+! Kxc7 25 Qe5+ Kb6 26 Qe3+ Kc6 27 Rxd8 Rxd8 28 bxc4 and Black cannot hold the position. 18 Bxh8 Now it is all over. 18...cxb3 19 axb3 Rb5 20 Bf6 Qc7 21 c4 Bb7 22 Qh3 Ra5 23 b4 Ra4 24 Rxe6+! fxe6 25 Qxe6+ Be7 26 Re1 1-0 327

Exercise 49 Seul-Van der Weide Essen 2000 (B31) Black is hanging on by his teeth. But with a small sacrifice White destroys the fragile defence. 35 Bg5!! 1-0 Exercise 50 Anand-Salov Paris (rapid) 1991. (B31) What do you think is the problem here? 17 Bd2! Easy to miss if you do not think about it. Black’s queen is lost. 17...Qc5 18 Rc1 Qxc1 18...Nc4 is an alternative, but doesn’t give a different result. 19 Bxc1 Bd7 20 Bh6 Rfe8 21 Qf3 1-0 Exercise 51 Westerinen-Savon Dortmund 1975 (B31) The theme should be obvious: Rxh7 and mate somehow. But how? 30 g4!! Winning control over the important h5-square and bringing the pawn into the attack. 30...Rb3 30...Rb4 31 Rxh7 Kxh7 32 Rh3+ mating. 31 Rxh7 Kxh7 32 Qh4+ Bh6 33 g5! 1-0 The power of the two threats is revealed when the less obvious is played on the board! Exercise 52 Volzhin-Oral Varadero 2000 (B32) This is a nice clean-cut attack, old school style. 22 Rxg7+! Not so complicated, but still a very nice tactical way to decide this game. 22...Kxg7 23 Rg1+ Kh8 23...Kf7 24 Qh5 mate. 328

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24 Nf4 Rg8 24...Ne5 25 Nxe5 fxe5 26 Ng6+ and White wins. 25 Ng6+ 1-0 Black resigned due to the line 25...Rxg6 26 fxg6 Nf8 27 g7+ (27 Qh6 Nxg6 28 Nh4! also wins) 27...Kg8 28 gxf8Q+ Kxf8 29 Qxh7. Exercise 53 Khalifman-Sherbakov Elista 1995 (B32) This position might be difficult to solve. The problem for Black is that the d4-knight is lost. 32 f5! Re8 33 Qd3! 1-0 and the threat of Red1 cannot be met (but not 33 Rcd1? Nc2 33 Red1 Ne6). In the game White played 33 Ba1?! f6? (33...a4!? 34 Red1? Nxb3 was worth a try.) 34 Qd3 and won on time. Exercise 54 Yudasin-Polgar Munich 1991 (B32) White uses the weakness of f8 to decide the game. 34 Nxd7! Qxd7 Or 34...Re1+ 35 Kg2 Re2+ 36 Kg3 and White wins. 35 Qa8+ Re8 35...Kg7 36 Qf8 mate. 36 Rf8+! The tactical hook. 36...Kg7 36...Rxf8 37 Qxf8 mate. 37 Qxe8 37 Rxe8 Qg4+ 38 Qg2 also wins. 37...Qg4+ 38 Kf2 Qh4+ 39 Kf3 Qh5+ 40 Ke4 Qg4+ 41 Kd5 Qxg5+ 42 Kc6 1-0 Exercise 55 Suetin-Sherbakov Warsaw 1991 (B32) Knight power in action! 329

36...Nf3+! 37 Kh1 37 Kf1 Ned2+ 38 Ke2 Qe4+ 39 Kd1 Qe1+ 40 Kc2 Nd4+ 41 Qxd4 (41 Kc3 Nxb1+) 41...Qxb1+ 42 Kxd2 exd4 and Black wins. 37...Qg3!! A nice image. The double threat decides the game. 38 gxf3 38 fxg3 Nxg3 mate. 38...Nxf2+ 39 Qxf2 Qxf2 40 Bf1 Qxf3+ 41 Bg2 Qd3 42 Rb6 e4 43 Rxd6 Qb1+ 44 Kh2 Qb8 0-1 Exercise 56 Djerkovic-Sveshnikov Sibenik 1990 (B32) 33...Rc8! The weakest spot is c4! 34 Bb3 The only move. The alternatives were 34 Qg5 Rexc4 and 34 Rae1 Rcxc4, but in both cases Black wins on the spot. 34...Rd4+! 0-1 and White resigned due to 35 Nxd4 Qe4 mate. Exercise 57 Ulibin-Sveshnikov USSR 1988 (B32) The queen cannot keep control over d1. Black won with 19...f5! 20 exf5 20 Qh5 g6 21 Qf3 fxe4 and Black wins. 20...h5! 21 Qf3 21 Qxh5 Rxf5 22 Qg4 Qxf2+! and Black mates. Without the weakness of f2, the combination doesn’t work. 21...e4 21...Rxf5 22 Rd2 Qxc1+ also wins. 22 Qxh5 Rxf5 0-1 Exercise 58 Dolmatov-Guseinov Klaipeda 1988 (B32) 330

6 Solutions to Exercises

White exploits the loose position of the rook on c2 with a nice little combination. 37 Rxg5! hxg5 38 Qd8+ Qf8 Or: a) 38...Kh7 39 Bd3+. b) 38...Ne8 39 Bxf6 gxf6 40 Re1 and White wins a piece. c) Objectively best was 38...Qe8 39 Bxf6 gxf6 40 Qxf6+! (40 Qxd6?? Qe3+) 40...Kg8 41 Qxg5+ followed by Bd3 and White has a winning position. 39 Bxf6 Qxd8 40 Bxd8 Ne4 1-0 Exercise 59 Asrian-Karasev St Petersburg 1997 (B33) Black hopes to get his piece back, but White destroys the black king’s position and thereby uses his lead in development to win the game. 21 Rxf7! Kxf7 Or: a) 21...dxc4 22 Rxf8+ Kxf8 23 Qd5 with 24 Rf1+ to come. b) 21...Qxe5 22 Rxf8+ Kxf8 23 Qxd5 Qxd5 24 Bxd5 Rb8 25 Rf1+ Nf6 26 Ne4 and White wins. c) 21...Rxf7 22 Qxd5 and wins. 22 Qxd5+ Kg6 23 Qc6+ Kh5 24 Be2+ Kg5 25 Ne4+ Kf4 26 Rf1+ Kxe5 27 Rxf8 1-0 Exercise 60 Anagnostopoulos-Balinov Oberwart 1997 (B33) Black decides the game with a standard sacrifice. 22...Bxh2+! 22...Qxh4 23 f4! and White is better. 23 Kxh2 White is also lost after 23 Kg2 Qg5+ 24 Kf3 Rf7+ 25 Ke2 Bc4+ 26 Ke1 Re7+. 23...Qxh4+ 24 Kg1 Rg7+ 25 Bg2 Qh3 0-1 Exercise 61 Lutz-Kramnik 331

Germany 1995 (B33) White becomes exposed on the dark squares and the back rank. 33...Bh3+! 34 Kg1 Qc3! 35 Re1 Or 35 Nc2 Rxf3. 35...Bd2!! 0-1 Exercise 62 Dvoirys-Iskusnyh Novgorod 1995 (B33) Loose pieces drop off! It cannot be said too often. 26 Nf6! An unusual fork that wins on the spot. 26...Qf7 26...Bxh7 27 Nxd7+ Ke7 28 Bxc6 with an extra piece. 27 Nxg8 Qxg8 28 Qxg8+ 1-0 The knight on c6 hangs. Exercise 63 Yudasin-Kramnik Wijk aan Zee 1994 (B33) Black wins a rook due to a standard mating pattern. 24...Qxe3!! 25 Nd6 25 fxe3 Ng3+ 26 hxg3 Rh5 mate. 25...Re7 26 Nxf5 gxf5 27 Qd6 Qe5 28 Qb4 Rae8 29 Qh4 f6 30 h3 Qxd5 0-1 Exercise 64 Kasparov-Lautier Moscow 1994 (B33) 28 Ng4! 1-0 Black loses in all lines: a) 28...Rxg5 29 Nxe5 Rxh5 30 Rd8+ Ng8 31 Nxf7 mate. b) 28...Qe6 29 Rd8! Qg6 30 Qxe7 and wins. Exercise 65 Feher-Priehoda Hungary 1994 (B33)

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Black has some soft spots (f6 and c6), but he also has some counterplay against b2. 23 b4! 23 Rxd8? cxb2+ 24 Kd2 Rgxd8+ 25 Bd3 (25 Ke2 Rxd1 26 Qxf6+ Kg8 27 h6 Kf8 and Black wins) 25...Rd6 is unclear. 23...Na5 24 Bc4!! Now there is no mate and all of Black’s pieces are hanging. 24...Qe7 25 Bxa2 1-0 Exercise 66 Nadoresky-Kaplivatsky Israel 1993 (B33) Black wins by delivering the obvious combination in a surprising move order. 1...Qh8! 1...Rxg3+ 2 hxg3 Qh8 3 Qh4! Qg7! was actually played, and Black eventually won. 2 Qxh8 Rxg3+! 2...Rxh8? 3 Ne2. 3 hxg3 Rxh8 0-1 White will be mated. Exercise 67 Morawietz-Kalinitschew Porz 1992 (B33) Black destroys White’s defence and delivers mate. 33...Bxg3! 34 fxg3 Rf1+ 35 Kh2 35 Kg2 Qf3+ 36 Kh3 Rh1 mate. 35...Qb2+! 0-1 It’s mate after 36 Kh3 Rh1+ 37 Kg4 h5+ 38 Kg5 Qe5. Exercise 68 Ki.Georgiev-Shirov Biel 1992 (B33) 23 Bg6!! and Black resigned immediately. After 23...Qe6 24 Bf5! the queen is trapped.

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Exercise 69 Kosten-Chandler Hastings 1990 (B33) 33...Qh1+! 33...Qh2+ 34 Kf1 Rxf7 also wins, but that is boring! 34 Kxh1 g2+ 35 Kg1 Bh2+ 0-1 Exercise 70 Grosar-Z.Polgar Gorica Portoroz 1991 (B34) The quickest way to win is 31...Bxg3! That Black also wins after 31...Qh3, because ...Bxg3 cannot be prevented, is irrelevant. 32 Rg2 White is defenceless. 32 hxg3 Qh1+!! 33 Kxh1 Rh4+ 34 Kg1 Rh1 mate. 32...Bxh2+ 33 Kf1 Qh3 34 Qd2 Rxe3 0-1 Exercise 71 Shories-Oskam Scheveningen 1905 (B34) Simple destruction! 29 Bxf7+! Kh7 29...Rxf7 30 Rd8+ and wins. 30 Bxg6+ Kg8 31 Bf7+ 1-0 Exercise 72 Liss-Sutovsky Tel Aviv 1999 (B35) The queen in trouble! An important part of the game is the fragility of Black’s heavy pieces. White only needs to protect h2 and it is over. 30 Nxe6! Bf6 30...fxe6 31 Re1!. 31 Bg5 Bxg5 32 Nxg5 Rf8 33 Re1 1-0 Exercise 73 Shamkovich-Veid Moscow 1962 (B35) White has more pieces on the kingside and makes use of this temporary advantage with a little 334

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sacrifice. 31 Bxh6! d6 31...Kxh6 32 Rf3 Qe6 33 Qh8+ Kg5 34 h4+ Kg4 35 Qh6 and Black is mated. 32 Bf8 Kg8 33 Bxd6 Bxe4 34 Bxe5 Rh7 35 Rd1 Rd7 36 Qh8+ Kf7 37 Qg7+ 1-0 Exercise 74 Bastrikov-Shamkovich Sochi 1958 (B35) This famous combination has been played more than once. 10 Bxf7+!! Kxf7 10...Rxf7 11 Ne6 and the queen is trapped. 11 Ne6! 1-0 Black resigned due to 11...Kxe6 (11...dxe6 12 Qxd8 Nc6 13 Qd2 was Fischer-Reshevsky, New York 1958; White won in 42 moves) 12 Qd5+ Kf5 13 g4+! Kxg4 14 Rg1 Kh5 15 Qg2 and White mates. Exercise 75 Beliavsky-Cebalo Bled 1998 (B36) White has a wonderful pin. All he needs is to prevent ...d5. 28 Be6+!! 28 Rc1 d5 is less clear. 28...Kxe6 29 Rd4 Ke7 29...Rc8 30 Rc1 and White wins. 30 Rxc4 Qb7 31 Rfc1 Rd7 32 Rc8 1-0 Exercise 76 Peter Heine Nielsen-Bent Larsen Esbjerg 1997 (B36) Black has already sacrificed one piece, and now he decides the game with another brilliant piece sacrifice. 23...Be4!! 24 fxe4 Black wins after both 24 Qc3 Nxe2+ 25 Nxe2 Bxf3 26 Nf4 Qh1+ 27 Kf2 Bxd1 and 24 Qd2 Bxb1 25 Rxb1 Qh1+. 335

24...Qh1+ 25 Kf2 Nxe4+ 26 Qxe4 Qxe4 Black wins – White has no defence against all of these pawns. 27 Bf3 Qh4+ 28 Kg2 a4 29 b4 Rac8 30 Rbc1 d5 31 cxd5 exd5 32 Rc5 Qe7 33 Bf2 b6 34 Rb5 Rc4 35 Kf1 Qd6 36 Rxd5 Qxb4 37 Rd7 Qa3 01 Exercise 77 Anikaev-Khasin Vladivostok 1990 (B36) Beginners often lose pieces due to a pawn fork. Here it happens to a strong player. 18...d5!! 19 Nxd5 19 exd5 Na5 20 d6 Qf7 21 Bxe6 Nxb3 22 Bxf7+ Kxf7 and Black wins. 19...Nxd5! Probably what White had overlooked. After 19...exd5 20 exd5 Na5 21 d6+ White is better. 20 exd5 Na5 21 d6 Qf7 22 Bxe6 Nxb3 23 Bxf7+ Rxf7 24 Rad1 Rd7 25 Bb6 Kf7 26 Re3 Rc1 27 Rxc1 Nxc1 28 Bc5 b6 29 Bxb6 Rxd6 01 Exercise 78 Smejkal-Muco Thessaloniki 1984 (B36) Black’s problem is the dark squares: both the bishop and knight only protect the light squares. 26 exf6+ exf6 27 Nxf6! Kxf6 28 Qc3+ Ke7 29 Re3+ Qxe3 29...Ne6 30 Rxe6+ Bxe6 31 Qg7+ Bf7 32 Re1+ and White wins. 30 Qxe3+ Be6 31 f5 gxf5 32 Bxf5 32 Rxf5!, intending Rxf8, was even stronger. 32...Kd7 33 Qxb6 1-0 Exercise 79 Portisch-Reshevsky Petropolis 1973 (B36) Black’s kingside is destroyed with a typical series of sacrifices.

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27 Bxg6!! hxg6 Or: a) 27...Nxg6 28 Qxh7+ Kf8 29 Bh6 mate. b) 27...Qa5 28 Bxh7+ Kf7 29 Qh5+ Kg7 30 Bxf6+ exf6 31 Qh6+ Kf7 32 Qxf6 mate. 28 Rxf6! 1-0 Black is mated after 28...exf6 29 Qh8+ Kf7 30 Rh7+ Nxh7 31 Qxh7+ Kf8 32 Bh6. Exercise 80 Kotsur-Egorov Omsk 1996 (B37) A simply twist, often seen. 28 Rxe7! Rxe7 28...Qa1+ 29 Kh2 Rxe7 30 Bf6+ is no different. 29 Bf6 White is winning. 29...d5 30 Qg6 Kg8 31 Bxg7 Rxg7 32 Qxh6 d4 33 Qe6+ Kh8 1-0 Exercise 81 Kempinski-Tirard Medellin 1996 (B38) Back rank problems. 27...Rxc4! 28 bxc4 Nf2+!! 0-1 White resigned due to 29 Rxf2 Rb1+. Exercise 82 Anand-Morovic Fernandez Novi Sad 1990 (B38) White develops a mating attack quickly with 34 Qe6! Rff8 35 c8Q! 1-0 and Black resigned because of 35...Rxc8 36 Qe7 Rg8 37 Qxf6+. Exercise 83 Iordachescu-Mirzoev Linares 2000 (B39) White wins a pawn by challenging Black’s awkwardly placed queen. 15 Qc2! e6 a) 15...b5 16 Rd5 and the b-pawn falls.

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b) 15...Qe5 16 Qa4 Bb7 17 Bd4! is an important point. 16 Rxd6 and White won with little trouble. 16...Rc8 17 Bh6 Ke7 18 Rad1 Rhd8 19 Qd2 Qe5 20 Rd7+ Ke8 21 Bf4 Qc5 22 Bc7 Rxc7 23 Rxd8+ Ke7 24 Rh8 h5 25 Qh6 Qe5 26 f4 1-0 Exercise 84 Sutovsky-V.Milov Polanica Zdroj 1999 (B40) Black’s queen is the last line of defence of the important f6-point. 30 Rb8! Ra6 White wins after both 30...Qxb8 31 Qxf6+ and 30...Bb5 31 Rxb5. 31 Rxd8 1-0 Black resigned. After 31...Rxc6 32 Ree8! he is mated, and after 32 Rxg8+ Kxg8 33 Ne7+ he is simply a rook down. Exercise 85 De la Villa Garcia-Rodriguez Lopez Mondariz Balneario 1999 (B40) White has a promising attacking position and crashes through by exploiting the fact that none of Black’s pieces defends the light squares on the kingside. 21 Rxf7! Kxf7 After something like 21...Bf8 22 Bxg6 hxg6 23 Qxg6 Black is equally lost. 22 Qxh7 Nf4 On 22...Nxe5 White has only one winning move: 23 Nd5!! exd5 24 Bg6+! Ke6 25 Qh3+ Kf6 26 Qf5 mate. 23 Bg6+!? 23 Rf1! is even simpler. 23...Nxg6 24 Rf1+ Bf6 25 Rxf6+ Ke7 26 Rxg6 Rg8 27 Rxg7+ Rxg7 28 Qxg7+ Kd8 29 Qf8+ Kd7 30 Qf7+ Kd8 31 Nd6 Nc7 32 Ncb5 a6 33 Nxc7 1-0

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Exercise 86 Hagara-Espig Pardubice 1999 (B40) White uses both the X-ray from e2 to e8 and the loose queen to win a pawn and start a winning attack. 20 Rxf5! Qg7 20...Qxf5 21 Nd6+ and 20...exf5 21 Nd6+ both cost a queen. 21 Qh5+ Ke7 22 Rf2 Rhf8 23 Qc5+ Ke8 24 Rxf8+ Qxf8 25 Nd6+ Kd7 26 Rf1 1-0

Saint Vincent 2000 (B42) Black breaks up White’s coordination and uses the pin on c5-g1 diagonal as well as the potential deadly fork on d4 to simply win the exchange. 33...Ng3! The way forward. 33...d4 34 Ne4, on the other hand, even seems to favour White. 34 Rfe1 34 Nd1 Nxf1 is clear-cut. 34...d4 35 Ne4 Nxe4 36 Rxe4 Bxe4 37 Rxe4 Qb4 38 b3 Qxa5 39 Qf3 h3 40 Re2 Rd5 0-1

Exercise 87 I.Almasi-Portisch Hungary 1995 (analysis) (B41) Black exploits the pin of White’s queen to deliver mate. 28...Bf2!! 29 Qxb7 29 Rxf2 Qxf2 30 Qxb7 Rh8 and White is mated. 29...Qh4+ 30 Kg2 Qg3+ 31 Kh1 Qh3 mate

Exercise 90 Hjartarson-Mortensen Manila 1992 (B42) The weakness of the back rank decides. 29 Bxf5! White wins a pawn and obtains a strong attack. If instead 29 Rd7? then Black saves himself with the brilliant 29...Rc8!! 30 Rd1 Qc7, when White is only a little better. 29...a5 29...Rxf5 30 Rd8+ wins the house. 30 Qb5 Bd4 30...Rxf5 31 Rd8+ Rf8 32 Rxf8+ Qxf8 33 Qxe5+ and White wins. 31 Ne2 Ba7 32 Rd7 Qa1+ 33 Kh2 Bb8+ 34 f4 Qf6 35 Rxh7+ Kg8 36 Qc4+ Rf7 37 Rxf7 1-0

Exercise 88 Sanz Alonso-Galego Seville 1992 (B41) White has won the queen, but the position doesn’t look completely clear. Yet with his next move, White wins a piece and decides the game. 21 f6! 21 Bxe4? d5! 22 Qg3 Bc5+ 23 Kh1 dxe4 24 f6 g6 25 Qh4 Rfe8 is probably even better for Black. 21...Nxf6 Losing directly, but there are no alternatives: a) 21...Bxf6 22 Bxe4 and White wins. b) 21...gxf6 22 Bxe4 d5 no longer works because of 23 Qg3+ or even 23 Bxh7+! Kxh7 24 Qh3+ Kg7 25 Qg4+ Kh8 26 Rf3 and White wins. 22 Bxb7 Rc2 23 Nc3 d5 24 Qxb6 d4 25 Nd5 Nxd5 26 Bxd5 d3 27 Qb3 1-0

Exercise 91 Anand-Kamsky Delhi 1990 (B42) Black seems to repulse White’s aggression, but in reality he cannot protect himself against mate on h7. 41 Rd1!! Bg6 41...Be4 loses to both 42 Kf1 and 42 f3, while 41...Rxf6 allows 42 Rd8+ and mate. 42 Rdd7 Re1+ 43 Kg2 f3+ 44 Kh3 1-0 Exercise 92 Perez-Mateo

Exercise 89 David-Smirin 339

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Santa Clara 2000 (B43) White destroys Black’s lines of defence with a rook sacrifice. 20 Rxf7! 20 Nxf7? 0-0! is not so clear. 20...Qc4 20...Qc6 21 Rg7! leaves Black defenceless: a) 21...Kf8 22 Rdxd7 Nxd7 23 Nxe6+ and White wins. b) 21...Rd8 22 Nce4 Kf8 23 Rf7+ Nxf7 24 Qf3 Nde5 25 Rxd8+ Kg7 26 Qf6+ Kh6 27 Rd3 and Black will be mated. 21 Qf2 Qc5 22 Qf4?! 22 Nce4! wins on the spot. 22...Rf8 23 Nce4 Rxf7 24 Nxf7 Qxc2 25 Ned6+ 1-0

27...Nf7 is strongly met with 28 Rg7! Bd5 29 Bxe4 Re8 30 Qg8+ with a mating attack. 28 Rf1+ Ke8 29 Qg7! This is, of course, how the rook is presented personally to his majesty. 29...Kd8 Some commentators have regretted that Black could not simply castle his way out of trouble. 30 Rf8+ Ne8 31 Qxb7 That everything now falls is what should have been foreseen. 31...Rc8 31...exd3 32 Qxa8+ Kc7 33 Rf7+ Kd6 34 Qxe8 will eventually end with mate. 32 Qf7! 1-0 A sad end for the black monarch.

Exercise 93 Svidler-Rublevsky Smolensk 2000 (B43) Black’s rook on f3 is simply loose. 31 Rxc4! 31 Qb7? looks strong because of Bb5+, but Black has 31...Qxf2+ 32 Kh1 Rd3 33 Bb5+ Nd7 34 Bxd7+(34 Raa1 Rh8 transposes) 34...Ke7! 35 Bc6+ Kf6 36 Raa1 (36 Rda1 Rh8 37 Bg2 Rxh2+! 38 Kxh2 Qxg3+ 39 Kh1 Qh4+ 40 Kg1 Qd4+ 41 Kf1 Qf4+ with perpetual check) 36...Rh8 37 Bg2 Rxh2+! 38 Kxh2 Qxg3+ 39 Kg1 (39 Kh1 Qh4+ 40 Kg1 Qd4+ and Black will try to win with his three pawns for a piece) 39...Qe3+ 40 Kh1 Qh6+ with a draw. 31...Nxc4 32 Qb8+ Ke7 33 Qb7+ Kf6 33...Ke8 34 Qd7 mate. 34 Qxf3+ Ke7 35 Rc1! 1-0 White wins a piece.

Exercise 95 Rodin-Belozerov Maikop 1998 (B44) White breaks down Black’s defences with a magnificent queen sacrifice. 32 Qxf7+!! Wonderful, although 32 Qe6! is also enough for a full point. 32...Kxf7 33 Rxf6+ Ke8 33...Kg7 34 Rf7+ Kh6 35 Ne7! (with a deadly threat of Ng8 mate) 35...Qd8 36 R1f6 and there is no defence. 34 Rf8+ Kd7 35 R1f7+ 1-0

Exercise 94 Svidler-Kasimdzhanov Wijk aan Zee 1999 (B43) White invests a rook to get his attack rolling. 27 Rxg5!! fxg5 341

Exercise 96 Spassky-Averkin Moscow 1973 (B44) White wins an exchange by exploiting the weakness of g7. 26 Bc7!! Rxc7 27 Qe5 g6 28 Qxc7 Bh4 29 Rf3 Be8 30 Rxf7! A strong follow-up. 30...Bxf7 31 Rf1 Be8 32 Qc8 Kg7 33 Qxe8 Bf6 34 Ne4 e5 35 Nxf6 1-0

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Exercise 97 Pyhala-Kivisto Espoo 1986 (B45) White exploits the unprotected a8-rook to win a pawn. 17 Bc4! 17 Be4? dxe4 18 Qd5+ Be6 19 Qxe6+ Kh8 and there is no free pawn. 17...Rb8?! 17...dxc4 18 Qd5+ Be6 19 Qxe6+ Kh8 20 Qxc4 was objectively better. 18 Qxd5+ Kh8 19 Qxc5 1-0 Exercise 98 Lutikov-Khasin Moscow 1961 (B45) White exploits the weakness of Black’s king with a nice piece sacrifice. 29 Bh6!! Rf5 29...Qxh6 30 Qf7+ Kh8 31 Qe8+! leads to mate (31 Qxe7 only ‘wins’). 30 Bxf5 Qxh6 31 Bg4 1-0 Black did not want to continue with an exchange less. Exercise 99 Adams-Timman Dortmund 1999 (B46) White transposes into a winning ending with a small and obvious combination. 41 Rxf6+! Kxf6 42 Kd5 Bf4 43 Kxc6! 43 Bxf4!? gxf4 44 Kxc6 f3 45 Nxc5 Ke5 46 h4 Kf4 47 g5 hxg5 48 hxg5 Ke3 49 g6 f2 50 g7 f1Q 51 g8Q also wins, but it was probably too much calculation for Adams. With the game continuation there is no counterplay. 43...Bxd2 44 Nxc5 With the positional threat of Nd3. 44...Ke5 45 b4! 1-0 Exercise 100 Reinderman-Ivanchuk 343

Wijk aan Zee 1999 (B46) Black penetrates with a simple pawn sacrifice. 37...f3+! 38 Qxf3 Rf6 0-1 White resigned because of 39 Qg2 Rf2+ (39...d3+! 40 Kxd3 Qd4+ is even more convincing) 40 Qxf2 Bxf2 41 Kxf2 Qf4+ with mate to follow. Exercise 101 Kuijf-Van Mil Wijk aan Zee 1992 (B46) White breaks through with 19 Bxe6! dxe6 19...g4 20 Nc7+ Qxc7 21 Bf7+ Kf8 22 Qf6 and White wins. 20 Nf6+ Ke7 21 Qa3+! 1-0 This check can be easy to miss. Use all the board! Exercise 102 Gross-Borgo Budapest 1999 (B47) Black is weak on h7. 22 Bg7+! Bxg7 23 Rxh7+! 1-0 Black resigned, as he is mated after 23...Kxh7 24 Qxg6+ Kg8 25 Qh7. Exercise 103 Anand-Kasimdzhanov Wijk aan Zee 1999 (B47) Hanging pieces meet with an unpleasant end 39 Rg7+! 1-0 39...Kh5 40 Nxf5 (or 40 g4+) 40...Rxe6 41 g4+ Nxg4+ 42 hxg4 mate is important. Exercise 104 Xie Jun-Taimanov Roquebrune 1998 (B47) White cracks open Black’s king with a basic sacrifice. 28 Bxf7+! 28 Qf6 Qxf4 29 Rd4! Be4 30 Rxe4! is another nice combination that wins the game. 344

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28...Rxf7 28...Kxf7 29 Rxd7+ Ke8 30 Qe7 mate. 29 Rg8+ Rf8 30 Rxf8+ 1-0 Exercise 105 Sokolov-Barlov Yugoslavia 1995 (B47) Black’s queen has difficulties defending the rook. 22 Ra3! 22 Rc7? Bd4+! 23 Qxd4 Kxc7 is less clear. 22...Bd8 22...Qxa3 23 Rxd7 and White wins. 23 Qxd6+! The important point. Now b7 is critically weak. 23...Rxd6 24 Rxa4 Re8 24...Rxd5 25 Bf3 Rb5 26 c4 Rb6 27 c5 Rb5 28 Be2 and White wins the exchange and the game. 25 Kf1 Rxd5 26 Bf3 1-0 Exercise 106 Anand-Lautier London 1995 (B47) A classic theme: a knight is not good against aand h-pawns. 34 Bxb7! Kd7 a) 34...Nxb7 35 a6 Kd7 36 a7! and White wins. b) 34...Bxc2 35 a6 and Black will have to part with his knight. 35 Bb4 Kc7 35...Nxb7 36 a6 Kc7 37 a7 is the usual story. Notice the fatal position of Black’s bishop, unable to come home and help. 36 Bd5 White is a pawn up and won easily. 36...Na6 37 c3 Nxb4 38 cxb4 c3 39 Ke3 Kd6 40 Bf3 h5 41 a6 1-0 Exercise 107 Tiviakov-Adams Groningen 1993 (B47)

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White wins the exchange because of the weakness of f6. 29 Ne8! Rxe8 29...Rxd1 30 Nxf6+ Kf8 31 Rxd1 and Black loses the exchange all the same. 30 Rxd7 fxe5 31 f5 Rf8 31...Nf8 32 f6! and White wins. 32 Rdxh7 32 fxg6?? Qf2+ 33 Kh3 Rf3+ and wins. 32...exf5 33 gxf5 Nf4 34 Rh8+ Kf7 35 Qb7+ Kf6 36 R1h6+ Kxf5 37 Qh7+ 1-0 Exercise 108 Luther-Varga Brno 1991 (B47) Black would lose if White could take on h7 or f6 with the queen. 23 Be4! 1-0 Now they cannot both be defended. Exercise 109 Hector-Plachetka Gausdal 1989 (analysis) (B47) White sacrifices and mates by force. 23 Bxh7+! Kxh7 24 Qh5+ Kg8 25 Rxg7+ Kxg7 26 Bh6+ Kh8 27 Bxf8+ Kg8 28 Rxf6 1-0 There is no defence against mate, for example 28...Bxf8 29 Qf7+ Kh8 30 Rg6. Exercise 110 Mainka-Bischoff Recklinghausen 1997 (B48) Black wins with a nice combination here. After the forced sequence 24...Rxg4! 25 hxg4 d5 26 Nd6 Bb6! White has no way to save the knight. 27 e5 fxe5 28 Nb5 Qc6 0-1 Threats include ...Ra8 and ...Bxf2. All this is very nice, but 24...Ra8!! wins much more easily. Remember candidate moves! Exercise 111 Short-Rogers 346

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Manila 1992 (B48) Here Black believed everything to be more or less okay, but White came up with a nice sacrifice, winning back one pawn and taking another as interest. 29 Bxf7+!! Kh8 29...Kxf7 30 Rxd7+ Bxd7 31 Rxd7+ Kf6 (31...Ke6 32 Qg7! and there is no defence against mate) 32 Qg7+ Kg5 33 Qxe5+ Kh6 34 Qg7+ Kg5 35 Rd5+ and White wins. 30 Qxh5 gxh5 31 Bxh5 Ra7 32 Bf7! Kg7 33 Bc4 Rb4 34 b3 axb3 35 axb3 Rb8 36 Kh2 Rba8 37 Kh3 Ra2 38 Bd5! Rxd2 39 Rxd2 Rb8 40 Kg4 Bb5 41 Bc4 Bxc4 42 bxc4 1-0 Exercise 112 Rytshagov-Miladinovic Istanbul 2000 (B49) Black is worse on the dark squares. White now decided the game with a combination exploiting that. 41 Rxd6!! Qe8 After 41...Kxd6, 42 Qg5! with a double threat decides matters: 42...Kc7 43 Qxe7+! (a third threat is invented for the occasion) 43...Kb6 44 Qg7 and the e-pawn will march to the eighth rank. 42 Qg3! 1-0 Exercise 113 Antoniewski-Gritsak Koszalin 1999 (B49) A classic combination is used to transpose into a winning rook endgame. 41...Qf2! 42 Qf3 42 Rg1 Re1 and mate will follow. 42...Qxf3 43 gxf3 Rb2 0-1 Exercise 114 Timman-Yermolinsky Wijk aan Zee 1999 (B50) The threat of promoting the h-pawn together with an attack on e6 decides the game. 38 Re8!! 1-0 347

Black resigned, as after 38...Kg6 39 Rxe6+ Kh7 White wins easily. Exercise 115 Benjamin-De Firmian Denver 1998 (B50) The unprotected queen on e5 causes White’s downfall. 33...Qxf1+! 34 Kxf1 Rd1+ 35 Ke2 Re1+ 36 Kd2 Rxe5 37 Kxc2 Re2+ 0-1 Exercise 116 Rozentalis-Kulaots Stockholm (rapid) 2000 (B51) Black seems to have counterplay, but ‘seems’ is the right word. 37 Rh4+! Qxh4 Or 37...Kg6 38 Qxg3+. 38 Rxh2 1-0 Exercise 117 Pedzich-Shirov Santiago 1990 (analysis) (B52) The hanging queen on b4; how often this factor decides! 28 Nxg6+! Kg7 The best defence. a) 28...fxg6 29 Re8+ Rxe8 30 Qxb4+ and White wins. b) 28...hxg6 29 Re8+!. 29 Ne5+ Kf8 30 Nd7+ Nxd7 31 Re8+ Rxe8 32 Qxb4+ Rc5 1-0 White is completely winning. Exercise 118 Relange-Kosten Belfort 1997 (analysis) (B53) White mates by employing the heavy artillery he has positioned on the kingside. 27 Bxf6+ Bxf6 28 Rg5! 1-0 Exercise 119 Gorbatow-Yuferov 348

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Moscow 1995 (B54) It looks like Black has counterplay, but he also has back rank problems. 26 Be4! 1-0 Black resigned. Either he remains the exchange down or is mated with 26...Bxe4 27 Qf7+ Kh8 28 Qf8+ Rxf8 29 Rxf8. Exercise 120 Benjamin-Dlugy New York 1988 (B54) Black’s king looks relatively safe and White’s knight is hanging. However, White sees that everything is not what it seems. 29 Ne5!! 1-0 After 29...Rg8 White mates with 30 Rf7+ Kd8 31 Rd7. Exercise 121 Maryasin-Tyomkin Israel 1998 (B55) Black wins some pawns with an exploitation of White’s unprotected rook on a1. 12...Nxc2+!! 13 Bxc2 Or 13 Qxc2 Qxe3+. 13...Qxb2 14 Nd1? This loses outright. a) An important line is 14 Kd2 Rc8 15 Qd3 Rxc3! 16 Qxc3 Nxe4+ and Black wins. b) 14 0-0 Qxc3 15 Rfc1 Qa5 also doesn’t give White any real chances to survive, even though there is a little play for the pawns. 14...Qxa1 15 Qc4 Rc8 16 Qb3 a5 17 Bb1 a4 18 Qb6 Bc6 19 0-0 Nd7 20 Qb4 d5 21 Qd2 Qxb1 22 Nc3 Qb4 23 Rb1 Qa5 24 exd5 Bb4 25 Rc1 Bb5 26 Ne4 Rxc1+ 27 Qxc1 Bd3 28 Qc8+ Qd8 29 Qxb7 Qb8 30 Qc6 Bxe4 31 Nxe5 Qxe5 32 Qc8+ Ke7 33 Qxh8 Qa1+ 34 Kf2 Qe1 mate Exercise 122 Morovic Fernandez-Ricardi Buenos Aires 1997 (B57) 349

White exploits the trapped rook on a8 to the maximum by transposing into a winning endgame. 14 Nd5+!! Black has no choice but to go with the flow. 14...cxd5 15 Qxc5 dxc5 16 Bxd5 Ba6 17 Bxa8 Bxf1 18 Kxf1 f5 18...Kd6 19 Rb7 Bh6 20 Rxa7, with Bd5 to come, gives a winning endgame because of both the weakness in the opponent’s camp and the strong a-pawn. 19 exf5 Bg7 20 Rb7+ Kd6 21 Rxa7 gxf5 22 Bf3 Rf8 23 a4 Bc3 24 g3 f4 25 gxf4 Bd2 26 a5 1-0 Exercise 123 Morovic Fernandez-Hernandez Cienfuegos 1996 (B57) White wins an important pawn and keeps his bishop on f6. 28 Qxe7! Qe4 28...Rxe7 29 Rd8+ Kh7 30 Rh8 mate. 29 Qxe4 Bxe4 30 b4 axb4 31 cxb4 1-0 Opposite-coloured bishops do not save Black. He also has Rd2-d4-h4 with mate to worry about. Exercise 124 Topalov-Kramnik Belgrade 1995 (B57) Black wins the queen in a nice manner. 38...Bc3+! 39 Qxc3 a5+ 40 Kxb5 Qxc3 0-1 Exercise 125 Glek-Volzhin Linares 1996 (B58) The weakness of d6 and the unprotected queen on b8 give White the following combination: 34 Bc7!! Rxc7 34...Qa8 is objectively stronger, but not very relevant. 35 Qxd6 Bd8 35...Ree7 36 Qxg6+ Kf8 37 d6 and White wins. 36 Qxg6+ Kf8 37 Rf4+! 1-0 Black will be mated. 350

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Exercise 126 Xie-Demina Manila 1992 (B58) It’s mate in six. 38...Ne2+! 39 Rxe2 Rf1+ 40 Kh2 Rh8+ 41 Kg3 Bh4+ 0-1 White resigned due to 42 Kxg4 Rf4+ 43 Kh3 Bf2 mate. Exercise 127 Galego-Gulko Seville 1992 (B59) Black wins in one move with a nice tactical shot. 39...Re2!! 0-1 White has no way of avoiding the queening of the d-pawn. Exercise 128 Handke-Bischoff Altenkirchen 2001 (B60) White wins by exploiting the fact that Black’s king is still stuck in the centre. 22 Bxf7+!! Kxf7 22...Kf8 23 Rf1 is not a defence. 23 Qd5+ Ke8 23...Kf8 24 Qxe5 Bd7 25 Rxd7 Qxd7 26 Qxb8+ Kf7 27 Qf4+ also wins for White. 24 Qxe5! The point of the combination. Now there is no way to prevent Rc7 on the next move. 24...Bd7 25 Rc7 1-0 Exercise 129 Zelcic-Kozul Bled 2001 (B62) 24 Nf6+ 1-0 After 24...Kh8 25 Qg5! mate is near. Exercise 130 Tolnai-Wittmann Budapest 1999 (B62) White wins by exploiting the unprotected rook on a8 to enter Black’s king’s position via h7. 351

16 e5! dxe5 Or: a) 16...Be7 17 Qe4 and Qh7 wins. b) 16...b4 17 Ne4 dxe5 18 Nxf6 gxf6 19 Rxd8+ Qxd8 20 fxe5 and Black’s position is in ruins. 17 fxe5 Rxd1+ 17...Be7 18 Qe4. 18 Rxd1 Be7 19 Qe4 Black is lost. 19...Rb8 20 Qh7 Bxh4 21 Qh8+ Ke7 22 Qxg7 Bb7 23 Qxh6 Qb4 24 a3 1-0 Exercise 131 Moreno-Norris Mondariz 2000 (B63) White wins with a simple double threat. 36 Bb6! f6 37 Bxc7 a3 38 Rxd6 1-0 Exercise 132 Liss-Mashian Ramat Aviv 1998 (B63) 27 Nf5! 1-0 Black resigned. The main idea is, of course, Nh6+. And 27...gxf5 28 Qh4 leads to mate, as Black no longer has a ...Bh5 defence. Exercise 133 De la Villa Garcia-Gomez Esteban Pamplona 1990 (B63) White mates with a classic breakthrough. Positions with a white pawn on h7 are often seen in the Sicilian, but the pawn is not only a shield... 22 Qxg7+!! Kxg7 23 h8Q+ Kf7 24 Qh5+ Ng6 24...Kf6 25 e5+ dxe5 26 Ne4+ Kg7 27 Rg1+ and Black is mated. 25 Qh7+ Kf6 There is no defence. 25...Ke8 26 Qxg6+ Kd7 27 Bh3 and Black cannot keep his position together. 26 Rh6 Nxd1 27 Rxg6 mate Exercise 134 Gligoric-Nievergelt Zürich 1959 (B63) 352

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White wins with a pleasing mating combination. 28 Nf5+! exf5 28...Kf8 29 Rxc6! and Black is mated. 29 exf6+ 1-0 Black resigned in the face of 29...Kf8 30 Rxc6! Rxc6 31 Rd8 mate. Exercise 135 Acs-Wittmann Budapest 1999 (B64) The weakest spot in the position is f7, so... 21 Rh8+! Kxh8 22 Qh5+ Kg8 23 Qxf7+ Kh8 24 Rh1+ 1-0 Exercise 136 Ziatdinov-Gurevich Bern 1995 (B64) Black wins elegantly with a new version of smothered mate. 25...Nec4!! 25...Nxf3? 26 gxf3 Nd5+ 27 f4! and suddenly it is White who wins. 26 Rd1 26 Re2 Nxf3+ 27 Kb1 Qb5 and Black wins. 26 Kd1 Nxf3 also wins. 26...Nb3+ 0-1 It’s mate after 27 Kb1 Qc1+! 28 Rxc1 Ncd2. Exercise 137 Dvoirys-Feher Budapest 1991 (B64) Winning in chess is all about checkmating. Ideas like 23 Qh1 g6 24 Rh7 look very dangerous, but the right approach is of course to mate directly using what we have with 23 Rgh3 g6 23...g5 24 Qh1 and there is no defence, as gxh5 is no longer possible. 24 Qg5!! 1-0 Black resigned because of 24...Bxg5 25 Rh8+ Kg7 26 R3h7 mate. 353

Exercise 138 Nevostrujev-Kharlov Maikop 1998. (B65) Loose pieces drop off! I never get tired of repeating it. Look at the h4-bishop. 29...Bxg2! 0-1 After 30 c5 Bxf1 31 Bxf2 Bc4 Black will win with his two connected passed pawns in the centre. The pawns also win following 30 Bxg2 Rxc4+ 31 Kd2 Rxh4 32 Bxb7 Rxb4 33 Bxa6 Kf6. Exercise 139 Oll-Hodgson Groningen 1993 (B65) This exercise is about seeing the brilliant defence as well. 44...Nc3 45 Bxb4! Qa2+!! 0-1 Exercise 140 Bauer-Ivanisevic Batumi 1999 (analysis) (B66) White wins with a nice breakthrough on the light squares. Black, not castled and with a dark squared bishop, is defenceless there. 14 Nxb5! Be7 14...axb5 15 Rxd7! and Bxb5. 15 Nc7+ Kf8 16 Qxe5 1-0 and White wins, as after 16...Rc8 17 Nxa6 he has two pawns more. Exercise 141 Kasparov-Kramnik Frankfurt 1999 (B66) White is able to use his fabulously placed pieces to make a final breakthrough. 35 Rxd5! exd5 35...Qxf4 36 Nxf4 and White wins. 36 Nd4+ 1-0 Black resigned because of 36...Kd8 37 Ne6+ fxe6 38 Qxf8 mate. Exercise 142 Stefansson-Piket 354

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Antwerp 1998 (B66) 18 Bb5+!! Rxb5 19 Qc6+ Ke7 20 Qc7+ Ke8 21 Qxc8+ Ke7 22 Rd7 mate Exercise 143 Perez-Siegel Havana 1998 (B66) White exploits the not-so-nice coordination of Black’s pieces. 29 Rxf7+!! 1-0 29 Qxf6+ Kxf6 30 Rf1+ Ke5 gives Black an active king, and the result is not completely clear. After 29 Rxf7+ Black resigned because of 29...Kxf7 30 Qc7+ Qe7 31 Rf1+. Exercise 144 Sutovsky-Greenfeld Haifa 1996 (B66) White’s next move made Black resign. The point is, of course, that h7 invites White to break in. 37 Rxg4! 1-0 Black did not wish to see 37...hxg4 38 Rxf6 Qxf6 39 Qh5+ Kg8 40 Qh7 mate. Exercise 145 Bologan-Prokopchuk Azov 1996 (B66) White wins with a series of neatly executed checks. 37 Rxg7+! Qxg7 38 Qxf5+ Qg6 38...Kh8 39 Qxc2 and the two-pawn advantage will be enough. 39 Rd7+ Kh8 40 Qe5+!? 1-0 With the idea of Qd5+. Also sufficient was 40 Qxg6 Rc1+ 41 Qb1, when White wins the rook endgame. Exercise 146 Adams-Serper New York 1996 (B66) A basic breakthrough, but pleasing to execute all the same. 355

28 Rxe7! Qxe7 29 Rxd6+ Qxd6 29...Ke8 30 Qg6+ Kf8 31 Rf6+ and Black is mated. 30 Qxd6+ Ke8 31 Qe5+ 1-0 After 31...Kd7 32 Bb5+ Bc6 33 Qd5+ further material losses are waiting. Exercise 147 Malisauskas-Lerner Lubniewice 1994 (B66) White is, of course, a pawn up and has the stronger defence, but still a final break-through is needed. Fastest is 35 Qd8+! Qe8 36 Rdh1!! 1-0 Mate cannot be prevented (36...f6 37 g6!). Exercise 148 Tiviakov-Tukmakov Rostov 1993 (B66) White wins by exploiting the weak spots in Black’s position: f7 and the h-file. 36 Nxf7!! Kxf7 37 Qe6+ Kf8 38 Rh1 1-0 Exercise 149 Timoshenko-Nevednichy Bucharest 1993 (B66) White wins with a standard queen sacrifice (which can also be delayed, so the computer offers many winning moves). 34 Qxf7+!! Rxf7 35 Rxf7+ 1-0 Black resigned due to 35...Kg8 36 Nxe7+ Kh8 37 e6 mate. Exercise 150 Dvoirys-Khasin Gorky 1989 (B66) White wins Black’s unprotected queen. 35 Nxf6+! 1-0 35...Bxf6 (35...gxf6 36 Qc6 mate) 36 Qc6+ Kd8 37 Be7+ and White wins. Exercise 151 Mikhalchishin-Csom 356

6 Solutions to Exercises

Copenhagen 1980 (B66) A classic Tal-like sacrifice decides the game, exploiting the fact that Black has not finished his development. 14 Nxe6! Bxe6 Black decides to lose a pawn as 14...fxe6? 15 Bh5+ Kd8 16 Nxd5 exd5 17 Qxd5+ followed by 18 Bb6 decides the game instantly. 15 Nxd5 Bxd5 16 Qxd5 Rc8 17 c3 White is winning – a pawn ahead and the two bishops. 17...0-0 18 Bd3! Rfe8 19 e6! Bf8 20 exf7+ Qxf7 21 Bh7+ 1-0 Exercise 152 Ivanovic-Damljanovic Belgrade 2000 (analysis) (B67) It looks like Black has good counterplay, but a well-known trick quickly decides matters. 36 Qxf8+!! Bxf8 37 Nxf6+ Ke7 38 Nd5+ White wins. Exercise 153 Marjanovic-Conquest Bucharest 1999 (B67) In this position, note the unprotected knight on f5! 22...Nxb3+! 23 axb3 Qa5+ 24 Kb1 Qxf5+ Black has a winning attack. All White’s counterplay was based on the f5-knight, which is no more. 25 Qc2 Qa5! 26 Rf3 Rfe8 27 Rfd3 bxc3 28 Nc1 Rc6 29 Rd5 Qa3 30 Rxh5 Rb8 31 Rg5 Kf8 32 Rxg7 Kxg7 33 Rd3 Rbc8 34 Na2 a5 35 f5 a4 36 f6+ Kf8 37 b4 Qb3+ 38 Kc1 d5 39 Kd1 Rxf6 40 Rxc3 0-1 Exercise 154 Tseshkovsky-Govedarica Tivat 1995 (B67) Black has an unprotected rook on b8. This is exploited, while the ‘threat’ of ...Rxb2+ is evaluated and found to be harmless. 357

39 Bh6! Bxh6 Or 39...Rxb2+ 40 Kc1 and Black has no follow up as after 40...Rb1+ 41 Kd2! (the simplest) 41...Rxh1 42 Bxg7+ Ke7 43 Qxh1 White is a piece up. 40 Qh8+ Ke7 41 Qxb8 Be3 42 Bc4 Bf4 43 Re1+ Kf6 44 Qh8+ Kf5 45 Qh3+ 1-0 Exercise 155 Sax-Kozul Vinkovci 1993 (B67) White overloads the h5-rook. 25 Rxg5! 0-0-0 25...Rxg5 26 Qh8+ and White wins. 26 Ne7+ Kc7 27 Rxc5+ Rxc5 28 Qf6 Be8 29 Ng8 h3 30 Qe7+ Kc8 31 Qa7 Rc7 32 Qxa6+ Kb8 33 Qb6+ Kc8 34 Nf6 Bc6 35 a4 Bg2 36 a5 d5 37 a6 d4 38 a7 Bb7 39 Rd1 d3 40 cxd3 cxd3 41 Qe3 1-0 Exercise 156 Wolff-Fedorowicz Los Angeles 1991 (B67) White mates Black with a typical motif. 45 d4+! 1-0 Black resigned because of 45...Kxd4 (45...Bxd4 46 Rb5 mate) 46 Rc8 Be3+ 47 Ke2 and Rc4 mate. Exercise 157 Ernst-Popovic Subotica 1987 (B67) White wins with a sacrificial breakthrough, exploiting that Black has no control over the dark squares. 24 Nxf6! Bxf6 24...Rg7 25 Nxh7! and White wins. 25 Rxh7+! Kxh7 26 Qh5+ Kg7 27 Qxf7+ Kh6 27...Kh8 28 Qh5+ Kg7 29 Qg6+ Kh8 30 Qh6 mate. 28 Qxf6+ Kh5 28...Kh7 29 Qh4+ Kg7 30 Qg5+ and wins. 29 Be2+ Rg4 30 Qg6+ Kh4 31 Qxg4 mate 358

6 Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 158 Hartman-Schneider Stockholm 1987 (B69) White is a piece up and has strong attack, or so it seems, but Black has a last chance. 28...Ra2+!! 29 Kxa2 Qc2+ 30 Ka3 d5+ 31 Ka4 31 b4 Ra8+ 32 Na7 Rxa7 mate. 31...Ra8+ 32 Na7 Rxa7+ 32...Qc6+! 33 Ka5 Rxa7 mate. 33 Kb5 Rb7+ 34 Ka6 Qc6+ 35 Ka5 Qb5 mate Exercise 159 Bronstein-Dzindzichashvili Tbilisi 1973 (B69) Black wins by bringing his queen and bishop into close contact with White’s king. 39...Ra1+!! 40 Kxa1 40 Kc2 Qxc3 mate. 40...Qxc3+ 41 Ka2 Qa3+ 42 Kb1 Qb3+ 0-1 White resigned because of 43 Kc1 Bg5+ 44 Qd2 Qc3+. Exercise 160 Belotti-Brendel Ohrid 2001 (B70) Black wins nicely with his pawns after 31...cxb2!! 32 Rxc8+ Rg8 0-1 33 Rxg8+ Kxg8 34 Re1 a4 and one of the pawns will queen. Exercise 161 Fedorov-Morozevich Wijk aan Zee 2001 (B70) White is weak on the dark squares and will have to pay the price for it. 25...Nxg4! 25...Nc4?? 26 Qe4! is not clear. 26 hxg4 Be5 27 Qxe5!? The last try. 27 Rfd1 loses to 27...Qxf2+ 28 Kh1 Qh4+ 29 Kg1 Bh2+ 30 Kh1 Bf4+ 31 Kg1 Be3+ 32 Kf1 Qf2 mate.

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27...dxe5 28 Rad1 Rc2 29 Rd8 e4 30 Bb6 Qxg4 31 Ra1 e3! 32 Raa8 Rc1+ 0-1 White resigned due to 33 Kh2 Qh4+ 34 Bh3 Qf4+ 35 Kg2 Qxf2 mate. Exercise 162 Zelcic-Van Wely Elista 1998 (B70) The f5-rook is hanging and is lost after 32...Bxe4!! 33 Qxe4 d5 34 Qf3 34 Qd3 c4! is a nice extra point, as otherwise White would have Qh3. Now 35 Rxf6 loses to 35...cxd3 36 Rxg6 dxc2 37 Rc6 c1Q+ 38 Rxc1 Bxc1 39 Bxd8 Rf1 mate. 34...Qxf5 35 g3 Qh3 White is lost. 36 Rb7 Bg5 37 Nc6 Bxh4 38 Nxd8 Rxd8 0-1 Exercise 163 Peters-I.Ivanov Lone Pine 1981 (B71) Black wins by destroying the dark squares on the queenside. 21...Rxb2! 22 Kxb2 Qb4+ 23 Ka1 Rb8 24 Re8+ The only defence against ...Qb2 mate. 24...Rxe8 25 Rb1 Qxf4 26 Rb7 Qf3 27 Rxa7 Nd4 28 Kb1 Qf1 29 Ne4 Rxe4 30 Ra8+ Bf8 31 Qh6 Qxe1+ 0-1 Exercise 164 Sorensen-Nielsen Denmark 1999 (B72) Black mates with a classic combination. 37...Qxg1+ 0-1 Because of 38 Kxg1 Ra1+. Exercise 165 Bogut-Kozul Pula 1997 (B72) Again a wonderful exploitation of unprotected pieces in a position that is already pleasant for Black. 22...Ng4!! 23 Bxg7 360

6 Solutions to Exercises

23 Rf3 Bxc3 is a disaster anyway. 23...Qxf2! The point. Now the rooks are in trouble. 24 Qxf2 Nxf2 25 Rh2 Nxd1 26 Bh6 Rxe4 27 Kc1 Re1 0-1 Exercise 166 Orlov-Sakaev St Petersburg 1995 (B72) The g2-bishop seems to be a little loose... 21...Nxb2! 22 Bxb2 Qxc2+ 23 Ka1 Qxg2 Black now won convincingly. 24 Rg1 Qc2 25 Rd2 Qc6 26 Nc3 Qb6 27 Rg3 a4 0-1 Exercise 167 Mitkov-Tiviakov Mamaia 1991 (B72) Black remains a piece ahead with 20...Nb5! 20...fxe6 21 Bxe6+ Rf7 22 Qf6 Ne2+ 23 Kh2 Qc7 24 Re1 Bb5 25 g3 is not that clear. 21 Qe3 21 Qf6 Qd2! wins, a very important point that should not be missed. 21...fxe6 22 Qxe6+ Kh8 23 Rd1 Qb6+ 0-1 Exercise 168 Ahmad-Shirazi Nice 1974 (B72)

The queen is unprotected on e3. Therefore Black can break through with 30...Rbxb2! 30...Rcxb2?? 31 Nxa4 is not good, of course. 31 Rxb2 31 Nxa4 Ra2 mate. 31...Qxa3+ 32 Ra2 Rxa2+ 33 Nxa2 Qxe3 0-1 Whoops! White resigned. Exercise 169 Kong-Kaldor Skopje 1972 (B72) The king on b2 and the g7-bishop are too intimate for White to survive. 22...Nxc3! 23 Qxc3 What else? 23 Kxc3 Qb4+ 24 Kd4 Ng4+ 25 Kd5 Qc5 mate. 23...Nd5 24 Rxd5 Qb4+ 25 Bb3 Qxc3+ 26 Kc1 Qb2+ 0-1 Exercise 170 Mitrovic-Dezelin Nis 1995 (B73) A simple case of overloading the black king. 33 Rxf6! Rh8 If 33...Qxf6 then 34 Bh6+! and White wins. 34 Rxf7+ 1-0 Exercise 171 Illescas Cordoba-Rachels New York 1987 (B73) Black’s king is not safe, so White took advantage with 26 Rxf6!! Qd1+ 27 Rf1!! 1-0 Black resigned due to 27...Qxe2 28 Rf8 mate. Exercise 172 Unzicker-Conquest Germany 1986 (B73) The move Ne7+ would be nice, but unfortunately the square is protected. Well... 22 g3! Qxh3 23 Rh2! 1-0

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Actually there are bigger fish to fry. White wins the queen. Exercise 173 Ledic-Sosonko Vinkovci 1976 (B73) The b6-knight is in trouble. Black wins by removing its protection. 22...Rf6! 23 Qd2 Rxb6 24 Bxb6 Qxb6+ 25 Kh1 Qe6 26 Kg1 Be5 27 Rce1 Bc7 28 Re2 Qe5 0-1 Exercise 174 Zarnicki-Hoffman Villa Gesell 1996 (B74) White wins because Black has problems with his back rank, as well as with the d-pawn. 36 d6!! 1-0 There is no defence to 37 d7 and 38 Rc8. Exercise 175 Geszosz-Priby Decin 1973 (B74) Mate in two. I want to turn this book into a page-turner! 26 Qxf8+! Black resigned on account of 26...Nxf8 27 Rg8 mate. Exercise 176 Balcerak-Calistri France 2002 (B75) Black’s queen is simply trapped. 18 Rdg1 Qf2 19 Bxg7 19 Nd1?? Nc4!! 20 Nxf2 Nxd2+ 21 Bxd2 Bxd4 and Black is better! 19...Kxg7 20 Nd1! 1-0 Now it works. Exercise 177 Van der Wiel-Van Wessel Holland 2000 (B75) 16 Bc4!

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Preparing a neat winning shot. 16 Qc7? 0-0 17 fxg4 Qa1+ 18 Kd2 Qxb2 19 Ke1 Nxe4 gives Black many pawns and a serious attack for the rook, while 20 Qxd7?? allows 20...Qc3+ 21 Kf1 Qh3+ 22 Ke1 Qh4+ 23 Kf1 Qf2 mate. 16...Qa4 17 Bb5!! Now Black must part with his queen or allow mate as in the game. 17...Bxb5 18 Qc8 mate Exercise 178 Motylev-Jirovsky Rotterdam 1998 (B75) White mates in a few moves, or at least simply wins a rook. 27 Qxf7! 27 Qg8+ Ke7 28 Qxg6 wins as well, but that is a bit sad when you have such a shot at your disposal. 27...Nxf7 28 Re8+ Kc7 29 R1e7 mate Exercise 179 Yemelin-Klimov St Petersburg 1998 (B75) Black’s king has been hanging around too long in the centre. Now the punishment comes. 20 Nf5! 0-0 20...gxf5 21 Qd7+ Kf8 22 Qxc8+ Kg7 23 Qxc4 and White wins. 21 Ne7+ Kg7 22 Nxc8 Rxc8 23 Nd5 Bxd5 24 exd5 1-0 Exercise 180 Pilgaard-Dimitrijevic Subotica 2003 (B76) The a5-queen is unprotected. That is a mortal sin! 23 Rxd5! Qxa2 23...Qxe1 24 Rxd7 Qa5 25 Rxd8+ Kh7 26 Bxe6 fxe6 27 R1d7 and Nf6 mate is coming. 24 Rxd7!

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It is necessary to be accurate. 24 R5d3? Bxc4 25 bxc4 f5!! 26 gxf6 Bh6+ 27 Ng5 Bxg5+ 28 hxg5 Qa1+ 29 Kd2 Rxd3+ 30 cxd3 Qa5+ and there is no reason why Black should be much worse. 24...Qa1+ 25 Kd2 Rxd7+ 26 Bd3 Qa5+ 27 Ke2 1-0 Exercise 181 Sulipa-Golubev Donetsk 1998 (B76) White crashes through with brute force. 31 Ng5+! 1-0 Black resigned due to the line 31...hxg5 (or 31...Kxg6 32 Nxf7 Rxf7 33 Rg1+) 32 Qxh5+ Kg8 33 Rh1 Qd7 34 Qh8+ Kf7 35 Qxg7 mate. Exercise 182 Karatorossian-Farago Budapest 1997 (B76) White wins with knight magic! 35 Nf6+ Kf8 35...Kh8 36 Ne8+ and Black is mated. 36 Qxb8+! 1-0 Exercise 183 McShane-Duncan England 1997 (B76) Black mates in two. 21...Qxa2+! 0-1 Exercise 184 Giaccio-Hoffman Buenos Aires 1997 (B76) White has a winning endgame, but when a stronger continuation exists, it should be spotted. 29 Re8+!! Kg7 29...Rxe8 30 Qxd7 Re1+ 31 Bd1 and 29...Qxe8 30 Qxh7 mate are both hopeless. 30 Re7+ 1-0 Exercise 185 Gallagher-Summerscale Cannes 1997 (B76) 365

White wins because of one specific idea. The execution can come in many ways. Here we just follow the game. 28 Bxd6 Nxd6 29 Rxh7+! 1-0 Due to 29...Kxh7 30 Qh4+. Exercise 186 Furhoff-Sammalvuo Stockholm 1995 (B78) White wins by forcing mate. 28 Qg7+ Ke8 29 Qh8+! Qf8 30 Rh1! 1-0 Black has no adequate defence against 31 Qxf8+ and 32 Rh8 mate. Exercise 187 Liberzon-Szalanczy West Berlin 1987 (B78) White mates in no less than seven moves. 25 Bg7+!! 1-0 Black resigned because of 25...Kxg7 26 Qh6+ Kf7 27 Qxh7+ Ke8 28 Qxg6+ Kxe7 29 Rh7+ Bg7 30 Rxg7+ Kf8 31 Qf7 mate or 25...Bxg7 26 Rxh7+ Kxh7 27 Rh1+ Bh6 28 Qxh6 mate. Exercise 188 Ljubojevic-Miles Brussels 1986 (B78) Big pieces in trouble! 26...Rb8! 27 Qxa5 27 Qc7 Rb7! 28 Qxa5 Rxb2+ transposes. 27...Rxb2+! 28 Kxb2 28 Ka1 Rxc2! and Black wins because of 29 Nxc2 Nb3+. 28...Nd3+0-1 Exercise 189 Fercec-Markovic Bled 2000 (B79) White decides the game by removing the bishop on f6 and thereby any counterplay. 27 Qxf6! 27 Qd5 Qxd5 28 Rxd5 Bxh4 is okay for Black. 27...exf6 28 Rdh1 f5 29 Rh8+ 1-0 366

6 Solutions to Exercises

The rook on c8 falls as well. Exercise 190 Zelcic-Forster Portoroz 1998 (B79) It’s the Dragon variation. It is all about the dark squares. 20 Rxh7!! Kxh7 Or 20...Bg7 21 Rxg7+ Kxg7 22 Qf4 f5 23 Qh4 and Black has no defence against Bf6+, as 23...Rf8 allows 24 Qh6 mate. 21 Rh1+ Kg8 21...Kg7 22 Be7! and Black cannot escape mate (22 Qf4 also wins). 22 Rxh8+! The key idea. 22...Kxh8 23 Bf6+ Kh7 24 Qg5 Nxf3 25 gxf3 Rc5 26 Bd5 Rxd5 27 exd5 1-0 Black will run out of pieces before he is mated if it is up to Fritz 8, who proclaims mate in 14. Forster saw it differently and rightly resigned. Exercise 191 Verduga-Henao Bayamo 1990 (B79) White mates in the Dragon’s standard full sacrifice mode. 22 Rxh8+! Kxh8 23 Bxf6+ 1-0 and Black resigned. 23...exf6 24 Qh6+ Kg8 25 Rh1 with an eventual with mate on h8. Exercise 192 Martin Gonzalez-Passerotti Rome 1982 (B79) The b7-queen is unprotected. 26 Nf6! exf6 Or 26...Qxg2 27 Rxh7 mate. 27 Qxb7 h5 28 Qe7 Bf5 29 Rxh5+ gxh5 30 Qxf6+ Kg8 31 Qxf5 Be5 32 Rg1+ 1-0 Exercise 193 Firman-Najer Moscow 2002 (B80) 367

Black wins with a pleasant decoy sacrifice. 16...Nxf3 17 Nxf3 Nc3+ 18 bxc3 bxc3 19 Nd4?! Or 19 Qc1 Ba3 20 Nd4 Qb4+ 21 Nb3 Bxc1 22 Bxc1 0-0, when White has no scope for his pieces and has no way to resist ...a5-a4. 19...cxd2 20 Bxd2 Qb6+ 21 Nb3 Bb4 22 Bxb4 Qxb4 23 Nxe6 fxe6 24 Rxe6+ Kf7 25 Ree1 Rhd8 0-1 Exercise 194 Balinov-Cebalo Graz 1996 (B80) White exploits the hanging rooks and the troubled queen. Perfect for this book! 20 Rc5!! dxc5 20...Qd8 21 Rxe5!! dxe5 22 Qxd8+ Bxd8 23 Bxe5 and White wins. 21 Bxe5 0-0 22 Bxb8 Rd8 23 Qf3 Be6 24 Ba7 c4 25 Bb6 Qe5 26 Bxd8 Bxd8 27 Bxc4 Bxc4 28 bxc4 Bxg5 29 Rf1 1-0 Exercise 195 Poulsen-Bjertrup Copenhagen 1989 (B80) White wins prettily by invading on the light squares. 16 Rxf7!! Kxf7 16...Bf6 17 Qe6+ is no better: 17...Be7 18 Raf1 exd4 19 Rxh7 and Black will be mated. 17 Qe6+ Kf8 18 Rf1+ Nf6 19 Nc6! 1-0 and Black resigned as he will be mated after 19...Bxc6 20 Bc5+. Exercise 196 Smirin-Murey Ramat Aviv 2000 (B81) White wins the queen with a pleasing little tactic. 22 Rb8! Qxb8 There is no alternative, as the rook on h8 hangs. 23 Nc6+ Kd6 24 Nxb8 Rxb8 25 Bxe4 Nxe4 26 Qa7 Rc8 27 Qb6+ Kd7 28 Qb7+ 1-0 368

6 Solutions to Exercises

Black resigned because of 28...Rc7 29 Qxc7+!. Exercise 197 Iordachescu-Guido Jesolo 1999 (B81) White wins by getting his attack rolling. 23 Rxh7! Nxh7 23...Bf6!? is tricky: 24 Rh6! Bxd4 25 Qxd4 Ng6 26 Rdh1 and White wins, as 26...Ne5 27 fxe5 dxe5 leads to mate after 28 Rh8+ Kg7 29 R1h7+ Kf6 30 Qf2+ Bf5 31 Rh6+ Ke7 32 Qxf5 Rxh8 33 Qf6+ Kd7 34 Bg4+ Ke8 35 Rxh8. 24 Rh1 Nf6 Or 24...f5 25 Qh3 and there is no defence. 25 fxg5 Rac8 25...Bb5 26 Bxf6 Bxf6 27 Qh7+ Kf8 28 gxf6 and mate is coming. 26 gxf6 26 Bxf6! is even clearer, if this is possible. 26...Qxc2+ 27 Qxc2 Rxc2 28 fxe7 1-0 Exercise 198 Milu-Zetocha Sovata 1998 (B81) A good game that ended slightly awkwardly. Instead of 24 Qb5 White could have played 24 Nxe6!! fxe6 25 Bb6 The rather dull 25 Qxe6+ Kb8 26 Bb6 also wins. 25...Rxd1+ 26 Rxd1 Qxc4 27 Rd8 mate Exercise 199 Santo Roman-Lepelletier Narbonne 1997 (B81) White wins with an enormous sacrificial orgy. 17 Bxh5!! gxh5 Or 17...Nxd4 18 Bxg6 fxg6 19 Qh8+ Kf7 20 Rh7+ and mate. 18 Nf5! This is the key idea. The moves should not be reversed: 18 Qxh5?! Bg7 19 Nf5?? (19 f5! is still

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strong) 19...exf5 20 Bxb6 Qxb6 21 Nd5 Qxb2+ is fine for Black. 18...exf5 Or 18...Bg7 19 Nxg7 Kxg7 20 Qxh5 Kf8 21 e5 Nc4 22 exd6 Nxd6 23 Ne4 Nxe4 24 Bc5+ Nxc5 25 Qh6+ Ke7 26 Qf6+ Kf8 27 Rh8 mate. 19 Bxb6 Qd7 Black is helpless: 19...Qxb6 20 Nd5 Qd8 21 Nf6+ Kg7 22 Qxh5 and 23 Qh7 mate. 20 Nd5 Re6 21 Nf6+ Rxf6 22 gxf6 Bh6 23 Qxh5 1-0 Exercise 200 Ciemniak-Markowski Czestochowa 1992 (B81) White exploits a total superiority on the kingside. Excluding h8, only white pieces have any influence on the h- and g-files. 17 Rh7+! Kxh7 18 Qh5+ Kg8 18...Kg7 19 Qh6+ Kg8 20 Bxg6 transposes. 19 Bxg6! 1-0 Black resigned. He is mated after 19...fxg6 20 Qxg6+ Kh8 21 Ke2 and Rh1. Exercise 201 Vladimirov-Epishin Tashkent 1987 (B81) A classic that I had to include. White ignores the queen and attacks the king. 26 Bh6!! With the threat of Rh7 mate. 26...Ng4 26...Rxh6 27 Rg8+ Kxf7 28 R1g7 mate. 27 Rh7+ Nxh6 28 Rxh8+ Kxf7 29 Rh7+ 1-0 Black resigned on account of 29...Ke8 30 axb3 Nf7 31 Rgg7, when White wins material. Exercise 202 Lobron-Ree Wijk aan Zee 1985 (B81) Apparently White mates in seven moves. 28 Bb8! Kxb8 370

6 Solutions to Exercises

28...Bf2 29 Rd4 Qc1+ 30 Kxc1 Be3+ 31 Kb1 Bxd4 32 Rxd4 Kxb8 33 Nc6+ Ka8 34 Qa7 mate is as far as Black can take things 29 Nc6+ Ka8 1-0 Black resigned before White could play the best move. Exercise 203 Garcia Martinez-Mokry Thessaloniki 1984 (B81) Black’s defence against Ba4+ is ...b7-b5, so White simply prevents this, and his better development decides. 18 Bb6!! Qxb6 19 Ba4+ Qc6 White also wins after both 19...Nc6 20 Qxe5+ and 19...Bd7 20 Bxd7+ Kd8 21 Qxe5. 20 Bxc6+ Nxc6 Black has three pieces for the queen, but they do not play together. Seeing that this position is completely winning is of course essential to solving the puzzle. 21 Qd5 f6 22 f4 Rg8 23 gxf6 1-0 Exercise 204 Vasiukov-Modr Prague 1980 (B81) White wins a pawn and the game by undermining the light squares. 14 Nxe6! fxe6 14...Qe7 is objectively better, but after 15 Nxf8 Rxf8 (15...Rxc3 16 Nxg6! fxg6 17 Qxg6+ Kf8 18 bxc3 d5 19 Bd4 and White is completely safe) 16 Bd4 White is a pawn up for nothing. 15 Qxg6+ Ke7 16 Bg5+ Nf6 17 e5 Kd7 18 exf6 gxf6 19 Bxf6 Be7 20 Bxh8 Qxh8 21 Rg3 1-0 Exercise 205 Razuvaev-Ree Amsterdam 1975 (B81) White wins in one move by exploiting the faradvanced g-pawn. 27 Nf6! 1-0

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Black resigned. After 27...Qe7 28 Nxh7 Rfd8 29 f6 gxf6 30 Nxf6 Qf8 31 Nh7 White crashes through. Exercise 206 E.Berg-Buhr Germany 2001 (B82) White breaks through to the undefended king. 21 Rxf7! Kxf7 21...h5 22 Bc4 d5 23 Qxc3 Kxf7 24 Rxd5 Kg8 25 Rf5+ and Black is mated. 22 Bc4+! d5 23 exd5 Red8 23...Bxg5 24 Qxh7+ and White wins. 24 dxc6+ Ke8 25 Bf7+! Kxf7 25...Kf8 26 Qh6+. 26 Qxh7+ Ke6 27 Qxg6+ 1-0 White mates next move. Exercise 207 Kozakov-Maksimenko Lvov 2000 (B82) White is dominating the light squares because of his g2-bishop, and he is able to use this to win a piece. 24 Rxc6! Nxc6 25 e5 d5 25...Ra6 26 Na5! and White ends with a piece more after 26...Qd7 27 Bxc6 Rxc6 28 Qxd7+ Kxd7 29 Nxc6. 26 Bxd5 Ra6 27 Na5! 1-0 Exercise 208 Mari Arul-Ramesh Kasaragod 1996 (B82) White crashes through on the kingside with a wonderful combination. 21 Bxh6!! After 21 Bxb5? axb5 22 Ndxb5 Qc6 23 gxf7+ Kxf7 24 Nxd6+ Kg8 25 Nxe8 Bh4!! Black has a strong attack. The most likely line is 26 Qf3 Qxe8 27 Nd5 Nd7, when it is uncomfortable to be White. 21...gxh6 372

6 Solutions to Exercises

Or 21...Nbxd3 22 Bxg7 Kxg7 23 f6+ Bxf6 24 Nf5+ Kf8 25 Qh6+ Kg8 26 Qh7+ Kf8 27 g7+ Bxg7 28 Qxg7 mate. 22 f6! Actually, this is the move that could prove hard to see. 22...Qc8 22...Nbxd3 23 Qxh6 Bxf6 24 Rxf6 Ne5 25 Qh7+ Kf8 26 gxf7 Nxf7 27 Nf5 and Black is soon mated. 23 gxf7+ 1-0 Black resigned. After 23...Kxf7 24 Qh5+ Kf8 25 Qxh6+ mate follows. Exercise 209 Frolov-Shmuter Nikolaev 1993 (B82) A truly amazing combination was misplayed in the game. 26 Ne6+!! fxe6 Or 26...Kg8 27 Rxg7+ Kh8 28 Rxh7+ Kg8 29 Rh8 mate. 27 fxe6?? A horrible blunder. Winning was 27 Qxh7!! Nxh7 28 fxe6+ Bf6 29 exd7 a2 30 Bc3!, after which White will be an exchange up for nothing. 27...Qa4?? 27...Qb5! would have killed White’s attacking plans, when the position is very unclear. The point is, of course, 28 Qxh7?? Qxf1+! and Black wins. 28 Qxh7 1-0 Now Black is mated (...Qxd4+ is not important). Exercise 210 Sirigos-Vegh Balatonbereny 1992 (B82) White has sacrificed a piece for an attack. Now it is time to carry this to the end. 17 Nxe6+!! fxe6 18 Bg5+ Qe7 Black has no choice:

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a) 18...Kc8 19 Qxf8+! Qd8 20 Qc5+ Qc7 21 Rf8+ Rxf8 22 Qxf8+ Qd8 23 Qxd8 mate. b) 18...Be7 19 Qf8+ Rxf8 20 Rxf8 mate. 19 Bxe7+ Bxe7 20 Rad1 Kc7 21 c4 1-0 Black resigned. His pieces cannot fight the pawns. Exercise 211 Kosten-Wessman Reykjavik 1990 (B82) The start of this attack is not so difficult, but the continuation is very pleasing. White forces Black to accept the sacrifice. Actually, this is not something the computer finds immediately. 20 Nf6+ Kh8 After 20...Bxf6 21 exf6 g6 22 Qh4 h5 23 Qg5 Kh7 24 Bc1 Black will be mated. 21 Qe4!! Forcing Black to accept. 21...gxf6 21...Bxf6 loses to 22 exf6 Kg8 (22...g5 23 Nxg5 and White wins as in the game) 23 Qg4 g6 24 Qh4. After 21...g6 White wins in a great variety of ways, for example 22 Qf4 Kg7 23 Bc1 Rh8 24 Rd7 Rab8 25 Nh4 with Nh5+ coming, amongst others. 22 exf6 Ba3 23 Ng5! Naturally not the only winning move. Black resigned due to 23...hxg5 24 Rd3 leading to mate. Exercise 212 Kuzmin-Mukhin Baku 1972 (B82) White has sacrificed a pawn and now wins in classic style with 16 Bxh7+! Kxh7 17 Ng5+ Kg8 17...Kg6 18 Nxe6+. 18 Qh4 g6 19 Nce4! 1-0 The key move. Black decided to resign, as after 19...Ng4!? 20 Qxg4 Bg7 21 Qh4 Be5 22 Rf7 he loses the house. 374

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Exercise 213 Ravi-Thipsay Nagpur 1999 (B83) White forces a winning endgame through a remarkable combination. 26 Bb5!! 26 Qxd7?? Rxf3 and Black wins. But with the bishop sacrifice the queen becomes unprotected. 26...Qxc3?! Black is lost after 26...Qxb5 27 Qxd7! but he still had fighting chances after 26...Bf5!, even though White still wins with 27 Bxc6 (27 Rxf5? Qxb5) 27...Bxg4 28 Rxf8+ Rxf8 29 Rxf8+ Nxf8 30 Bxb7 a5 31 Bxg5 Bd1 32 Bd5 Bxc2 33 Kf2, when the endgame is a formality. 27 Bxd7 Rxf3 28 Qxf3 h6 29 Be6 g4 30 Bxg4 Qxc2 31 Bf5 Bxf5 32 Qxf5 Qb2 33 Rf2 Qb5 34 Kg2 Qc6 35 Rf3 Re8 36 Rh3 Qc2+ 37 Bf2 Qc6 38 Rg3 a6 39 Rg6 Qc7 1-0 Exercise 214 Rantanen-Giffard La Valetta 1980 (B83) White is positionally winning, but now finishes the game with a nice queen sacrifice. Who needs a queen when all the other pieces are playing? 26 Rxd8! fxg5 Or 26...Rxd8 27 Nf7+. 27 Rxf8 gxh4 28 Rxg8+ Kh7 29 Rd1 1-0 There is no defence against Rd8. Exercise 215 Estrada Degrandi-Trois Piriapolis 1977 (B83) The weakness of e4 and g3, together with the rook on f5, creates a powerful hook. 17...Rxc3! 18 Qxc3 Nxe4 19 Qe1 Bh4! This move, of course, had to be anticipated. White now loses more than just the already jettisoned pawn. 20 Bf2 Nxf2+ 21 Rxf2 Qb6 0-1

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White resigned. The line 22 Kg1 Re6 23 Kf1 Nc4 shows how hopeless White’s situation is. Exercise 216 Karpov-Spassky Leningrad 1974 (B83) White wins by eliminating the defence on the dark squares. But first the rook needs to be brought into play. 33 Rd1 Nb8 33...Nc7 34 Rd7+ Kh8 35 Qd6 wins. 34 Bc5 Rh8 Starting here would have made combination too simple. 35 Rxd8! 1-0 35 Bd6! also looks pretty strong. Now Black resigned on account of 35...Rxd8 36 Be7 Rf8 37 Bxf8+ Kxf8 38 Qxf6+. Exercise 217 Lutikov-Petrjajev USSR 1970 (B83) I love combinations with quiet moves against which there is no defence. In this position many moves win simply because White can delay the decisive move. But of course it should be played straight away. 25 Rf6! Mate can only be prevented at the cost of severe material losses. 25...Rc8 26 Qxh7+! Kxh7 27 Rh6 mate Exercise 218 Majella-Hulak Jakarta 2001 (B84) Black wins by clearing all defence on the light squares. 27...Rxf3! This second exchange sacrifice yields Black an irresistible attack. 28 Rxf3 Qxe4 29 Rdf1 Or 29 Qd3 Nxc3 30 Qxe4 Bxe4 with a winning position. 376

6 Solutions to Exercises

29...Ne3! This had to be seen in advance. Now White is lost. 30 R1f2 Bh4 30...Qf4 was also winning, and even 30...Nf5 31 Kg1 Nh4 forces resignation. 31 Kg1 Qg6+ 0-1 Exercise 219 A.Sokolov-Siebrecht Bad Wörishofen 2001 (B84) White wins everything by removing the defence of d6. Note that the h8-rook is, of course, unprotected! 13 f6! gxf6 14 gxf6 Bd8 15 Ndb5! 1-0 After 15...axb5 16 Nxb5 Qb6 (16...Qc6 17 Nxd6+ Kd7 18 Nxf7+ Kc7 19 Qxd8+ is equally bad) 17 Nxd6+ Kd7 18 Nc4+ White wins the queen. Exercise 220 Bryson-Sandler Istanbul 2000 (B84) In some positions a pawn can function as well as a piece; this is one of those cases. 20 Bxg6!! hxg6 21 Qxg6 Black cannot bring any of his pieces into the defence and White is threatening Rf7. 21...Be6 Or: a) 21...Rf8 22 Qh6+ Kg8 23 g6 Rxf1+ 24 Rxf1 Bf6 25 Qh7+ Kf8 26 g7+ and Black is soon mated. b) 21...Bf6 22 Qh5+ Kg8 23 gxf6 and Black has no defence. Why should the pawn on f6 not be equal to a piece, or even a few pieces? 22 Qh6+ Kg8 23 Qxe6+ 1-0 Because of 23...Kh8 24 Rf7 Bxg5 25 Qg6 Be3+ 26 Kh1 Bxd4 27 Rh7 mate. Exercise 221 Shirov-Ivanchuk Buenos Aires 1994 (B84) 377

31...Rf3! 32 Qd2 Qh1+ 33 Rg1 Qh3+ 0-1 After 34 Rg2 Rxd3 35 Qe1 Rdc3 White is completely overwhelmed. Exercise 222 Bellon Lopez-Andersson Pula 1975 (B84) White delivers a back rank mate in classic style by first removing the defence of the eighth rank. 25 Rxf3! 1-0 Black resigned due to 25...Qxf3 26 Qxf8+ Kxf8 27 Bd6+ Kg8 28 Re8 mate. Exercise 223 Kharlov-Semeniuk Ekaterinburg 2002 (B85) Black has already sacrificed a bishop and now delivers a nice variation of the smothered mate. 31...Nf2+! 32 Kg1 32 Qxf2 Qxf2 33 Rxf2 Ra1+ 34 Rf1 Rxf1 mate. 32...Nh3+ 33 Kh1 Ra1!! 0-1 White resigned, as there is no way to avoid mate in three moves, for example 34 Qe2 Qg1+! 35 Rxg1 Rxg1 mate. Exercise 224 Lutz-Balcerak Germany 2000 (B85) A standard ‘hook’ situation. White would like to play b4... 24 b4!! axb3 Or 24...Qxc3 25 Na2 and White wins. 25 Nd3 Qxc3 26 Rac1 1-0 Exercise 225 Gomez Baillo-Ricardi Buenos Aires 1998 (B85) White wins with a powerful series of sacrifices. 19 Rxf6! gxf6 20 Nxh7 Kxh7 20...Bg7 21 Qh4 Kg8 22 Nd5 and White wins. The same goes for 20...Be7 21 Nd5 Qc6 22 Qh4 Kg7 23 Nxe7 Rxe7 24 Rd3, when Black loses everything. 378

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21 Qh4+ Kg8 Or 21...Kg7 22 Rd3 and Black has lost a tempo, as 22...Kg8 is the only move. 22 Nd5 Qd6 Black must part with the queen. 22...Qxc2 23 Nxf6+ Kg7 24 Qg5+ Kh8 25 Qg8 is mate. 23 Nxf6+ Qxf6 24 Qxf6 Bg7 25 Qh4 Bxa4 26 Bg4 Ne6 27 b3 Bc6 28 Bf5 Kf8 29 Bb6 Re7 30 Ba5 Ke8 31 Bb4 Rec7 32 Bxe6 fxe6 33 Qh7 1-0 Exercise 226 Timoshenko-Yudasin St Petersburg 1996 (B85) White mates, which is no surprise as he is the only one with pieces on the kingside. 23 Nf6+!! 23 Bxd8? Nxd2 24 Bxc7 Bxd5 is not completely clear. 23...gxf6 23...Kh8 24 Rxf3 Bxd5 25 Qxd5! and White wins. 24 Rxf3 Bxd5 24...Rxe7 25 Qh6! and Black is mated. 25 Qg2+ 1-0 Exercise 227 Oll-Van Wely New York 1994 (B85) White relocates the knight to the ideal square h5, and Black has no defence. 20 Nf6! Re7 21 Nh5! I prefer this move because it is less forcing and the attack continues even after material gains. 21 e5!?, unleashing the d3-bishop, is also strong. White wins after 21...Nxd3 22 Qxd3 gxf6 23 exd6. 21...f6 22 Rxf6! Qd7 22...Qc7 23 Rf3 and White wins. 23 Raf1 Kg8 24 R6f4 Black is defenceless. 24...Qxa4 25 Nf6+ Kh8 26 Nxh7 Kxh7 27 Bxc5 Rf7 28 e5+ Kg8 29 Rxa4 1-0 379

Exercise 228 Zivkovic-Horvath Budapest 1990 (B85) White destroys the kingside and exploits Black’s lack of defence. 16 Rxf6!! gxf6 17 Qh4 Be7 Or 17...Qd8 18 Rd1, with the idea of 19 Bc5, winning. 18 Nd5 Qd8 Maybe a better defence was 18...Qd6, even though after 19 b4! Black would have to play 19...f5, sacrificing the bishop in order not to lose more important material. 19 Bc5!! 1-0 White wins after 19...Bxc5 20 Nxf6 Kg7 21 Qg5+ Kh8 22 Qh6 Qxf6 23 Qxf6+ Kg8 24 Qg5+ Kh8 25 Qxe5+. Exercise 229 Alzate-Zapata Tunja 1984 (B85) White wins with a standard sacrifice. 23 Rxf7+! Kxf7 24 Qh7+ Kf8 24...Ke6 25 Bg4 mate. 25 Rf1+ Bf6 25...Nf6 26 Bh6 mate. 26 Bc4! Bringing in all the pieces is an important principle. Here other moves would have won, but this is the simplest. 26...d5 27 Nxd5 Bxd5 28 Bxd5 1-0 It’s mate in four according to Fritz 8. Exercise 230 Geller-Anikaev Minsk 1979 (B85) White needs to control the light squares, as the f7-knight can control the dark squares. This is achieved with the following combination: 22 Nd5!! exd5 23 Nh6+ Kg7 24 Qf7+!! 24 Bd4+ Bf6 25 gxf6+ Kxh6 26 Be3+ g5 27 Qg2 also wins, but is less straightforward. 380

6 Solutions to Exercises

24...Rxf7 25 Rxf7+ Kh8 26 Bd4+ Bf6 27 Rxf6 1-0 Black resigned because of 27...Ng7 28 Rf7 Rg8 29 Bxg7+ Rxg7 30 Rf8+ Rg8 31 Rxg8 mate. Exercise 231 Geller-Korchnoi Moscow 1971 (analysis) (B85) Black’s king is forced to an inferior square, after which White wins the queen. 27 Rg4+! Kh8 a) 27...Kf8 loses directly to 28 Qd2!, threatening Qh6+ and Bd6+. b) 27...hxg4 28 Qxg4+ and mate is near. 28 Rc4!! This is a very attractive finish. Materially White is not winning, but the weak king and all the holes on the dark squares make it impossible to believe that Black will survive in the long run. 28...Kg8 Or 28...Qxc4 29 Qxh5+ Kg8 30 Qg5+ Kf8 31 Qg7 mate. 29 Rxc5 Rxc5 30 Bb8! Rb7 31 Qf3 White wins. Exercise 232 Lutikov-Nei Parnu 1971 (B86) A very simple combination, which is all about eliminating the defence. 18 Rxe7! But not 18 Bxf6?? Bc5+!. 18...Kxe7 19 Bxf6+ gxf6 20 Bxd5 Qd6 21 Bxb7 1-0 Exercise 233 Arizmendi Martinez-Yagupov Istanbul 2003 (B87) White wins with a simple fork. 14 Nxe6! Qxe7 Or 14...fxe6 15 Bxe6+ Rf7 16 e8R mate. 15 Bxe7 Re8 16 Nc7 1-0 381

Exercise 234 Leyva-Vera Las Tunas 2001 (B87) Black wins in one move with a nice mating combination. 34...Ng4+! 0-1 35 hxg4 Be5+ 36 g3 Rh1 is mate. Exercise 235 Yemelin-Nepomnishay St Petersburg 1996 (B87 ) White needs the d-file, as first tries will show. Therefore he plays 21 Bxe5+!! 21 Nf6 Bxf6 22 gxf6 Rg8 23 Rdd3 (23 Bxe5 Qxe4) 23...g5 is not as strong. After 24 Rxg5 Bg4! 25 Rg7 Qxe4 26 f3 Bxf3 27 Re3 exd4 28 Rxe4 Bxe4 White should win, but still it is not so easy. 21...dxe5 22 Nf6 1-0 22...Bxf6 23 gxf6 Rg8 24 Rd8! and 25 Qg7 mate. Exercise 236 Rogers-Sitanggang Jakarta 1987 (B87) White decides the game with a spectacular mating combination. 33 Qg6+! Kh8 33...fxg6 34 hxg6+ Kh6 35 Rh2 mate. 34 f6!! Black’s king is not allowed to escape. 34...Qf8 34...fxg6 35 hxg6 Rf8 36 Rh2+ Kg8 37 Rgh1 gxf6 38 exf6 and mate cannot be delayed forever. 35 Rdg2 1-0 There are no good moves, for example 35...fxg6 36 hxg6 gxf6 37 Rh1+ Qh6 38 Rxh6+ Kg7 39 Rh7+ Kf8 40 Rxc7. Exercise 237 Bednarski-Zuckerman Polanica Zdroj 1972 (B87) 382

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White wins in rather simple manner, destroying the defence of the kingside. 19 Rxd7! Bxd7 20 Nxf6 Qd8 20...gxf6 21 Qxf6+ Kg8 22 Bh6 and mate is coming. 21 Bg5! White will not give up his attack. 21...h6 22 Qh5 Bc6 23 Bxh6 gxf6 24 Bg5+ Kg7 25 Qh6+ Kg8 26 Bxf6 Bxg2+ 27 Kxg2 Qd2+ 28 Qxd2 1-0 Exercise 238 Madl-Chiburdanidze Batumi 2000 (B88) Black wins in a beautiful manner. 22...Qxc3!! 23 Bxd8 The only try, but something Black would have had to be prepared for. 23 bxc3 Rd1+ 24 Kb2 Bc1+ 25 Kb1 Ba3+ 26 Rxd1 Rxd1 is mate. 23...Qf3!! An absolutely stunning resource from the former women’s world champion. White has no defence. 24 Bc7+ Kxc7 25 Qf7+ Qxf7 26 Rxf7+ Rd7 0-1 Exercise 239 Ljubojevic-Anand Buenos Aires 1994 (B88) Here White missed a brilliant winning combination. 31 Bd5!! Exploiting the weakness of h6. The game continuation was 31 Qg5?? Rxd4! and Black won. 31...Rxd5 31...Qxd5?? 32 Rxh6 mate. 32 Qxd5! 32 Re6?? is given by Ftacnik. He claims a white win after 32...Rxd4 33 Rxc6 Bxc6 34 cxd4, but there is a problem with the back rank following 34...Ra8!. Now White is forced to play 35 Rxh6+ gxh6 36 Qf6+ Kg8 37 h4 with chances for both sides. 383

32...Kh7 Or 32...Qxd5?? 33 Rxh6 mate. 33 Qxc6 Bxc6 34 cxb4 and White will win. Exercise 240 Kuzmin-Lerner St Petersburg 1992 (B89) We need some easy ones once in a while. 29 Rf3! 1-0 Rg3 will prove deadly. Exercise 241 Mortensen-Nielsen Nyborg 2001 (B90) Earlier Black was lost, but now he has a shot at a nice combination. 28...Rxc4+! This simply wins material. 28...Nfxe4 29 fxe4 Rxc4+! 30 Nxc4 transposes. 29 Nxc4 Rxb5+ 30 Kc3 Nfxe4+ 31 fxe4 Nxe4+ 32 Kd3 Nxd2 33 Re1 Rd5+ 34 Kc3 Nxc4 35 Kxc4 Rd4+ 0-1 Exercise 242 Lutz-Ftacnik B90 Germany 2001 White mates in five. 32 Qxf6+!! 32 Bxf7 Rh8 is less convincing, but 32 Rg7 is strong. After 32...Bxg7 33 Rxg7 Rf8 34 Rh7! Black has no defence against f6 and Qxf8. 32...Kxf6 33 Rg6+ fxg6 33...Ke7 34 f6+ Kf8 35 Rg8 mate. 34 Rxg6+ Ke7 35 f6+ 1-0 Exercise 243 Movsesian-Akesson Malmö 1999 (B90) White wins because of all the weak dark squares. 17 Nf5! Bb6 is coming. 17...exf5 384

6 Solutions to Exercises

Or 17...Bxb2+ 18 Kxb2 exd5 (18...exf5 19 Bb6 Qc8 20 Nf6+ Kf8 21 Qxd6+ and White wins) 19 Nxd6+ Kf8 20 exd5 Qf6+ 21 Qc3 and White has a winning position. 18 Bb6 Qc8 19 Nc7+ Kf8 a) 19...Kd8 20 Qxg5+ and White wins. b) 19...Ke7 20 Qxd6+ Kd8 21 Ne6+ Ke8 22 Nxg7 mate. 20 Qxd6+ Kg8 21 Qxd7 Rh6 22 Qxf5 White has won a pawn and will win the game. 22...Ne7? 22...Qxf5 23 exf5 Rf6 24 g4 hxg3 25 hxg3 Rxf5 26 Rhf1 and White will eventually win. 23 Qa5! Nc6 24 Qa4 Ne7 25 Qb3 Rc6 26 Nd5 Ng6 27 Ba7 1-0 Exercise 244 Van den Doel-Gormally London 1998 (B90) White wins by exploiting the unprotected queen on c7 and bishop on e7, as well as the weakness at f7. 16 Qc4! 1-0 a) 16...Rf8 17 Nd5 Nxd5 18 exd5 and White wins a piece. b) 16...Nc5 17 b4 Ne6 18 b5 axb5 19 axb5 Bb7 20 Qxc7 Nxc7 21 Bxb6 and White wins the house. Exercise 245 C.Hansen-Larsen Taastrup 1998 (B90) White wins a piece by exploiting Black’s badly placed knights on the rim. This is somehow quite an ironic example: a tactical refutation of something that should be a positional guideline. 21 Bd1! Nb6 21...Qd7 22 Qc2 and White wins. 22 Qf2! 1-0 After 22...Nd7 23 Rxh4 Bxh4 24 Qxh4 White has a winning position.

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Exercise 246 Lanc-Bernard Rostock 1984 (B90) Black exploits White’s lack of influence on his own dark squares with 31...axb2 32 Kxb2 Rxc3!! 33 Kxc3 33 Qa1 Qd4 34 Qa8+ Rc8+ and Black wins. 33...Qa3+ 34 Kc2 34 Qb3 Ne2+ 35 Kc2 Nd4+ and Black wins. 34...Qa2+ 35 Kc3 Bd4+ 36 Qxd4 exd4+ 37 Kxd4 Qd2+ 0-1 Exercise 247 S.Polgar-Tisdall San Francisco 1995 (B91) White wins by taking over the light squares for a high price. But it is worth it! 38 Rxh7+!! Bxh7 38...Kg8 39 Rag7+ Qxg7 40 Rxg7+ Kxg7 41 Ne6+ Kf7 42 Qf4+ also wins. 39 Rxh7+ Kxh7 40 Be4+ Kh6 40...Kh8 41 Qh5+ with mate. 41 Nf5+ 1-0 After 41...Qxf5 42 Bxf5, mate cannot truly be avoided because following 42...Rxf5 43 Qxf5 White will mate Black within 50 moves anyway. Exercise 248 Vulicevic-Moulin New York 1993 (B91) Light squares, loose piece. 32...Rxg2! 33 Rxg2 Qd1+ 34 Kh2 Qxf3 0-1 How simple chess can be! Exercise 249 Ye Jiangchuan-Lutz Batumi 2001 (B92) White destroys Black’s position on the light squares with violence. 28 Rxd5! Nxd5 Or 28...Rxd5 29 Ne6 Qe7 30 Rb8+ Ne8 31 Nxg5 and White wins. 386

6 Solutions to Exercises

29 Ne6 Qe8 29...Qa3 30 Nxg5 Rfd7 31 Bc4 exf3 32 Nxf3 and White is in the driving seat. Note that 32...Qxa4 33 Ne5 Rd6 34 Rxd6 Rxd6 35 Qb8+ is deadly. 30 Nxd8 Bxd8 30...Nxb6 31 Nxf7 and White ends up with an extra piece. 31 Rd6 1-0 White wins after 31...Nf6 32 Bc4. Exercise 250 Abdelnnabi-Jobava Dubai 2001 (B92) Back rank problems. 43...Rxb4! 0-1 It’s over after 44 cxb4 Qxd4. Exercise 251 Palac-Sutovsky Pula 2000 (B92) White has enormous problems with the pawn on e2. If only he had time, just one move, but no! 26...Re3! The only winning move. 27 Qd2 27 Qc2 Bh3!! 28 gxh3 Qxf3+ 29 Kg1 Bh4 and Black wins. 27...Bxc3!! 0-1 White resigned because of 28 Bxc3 (28 Qc1 loses in many ways; most spectacular is 28...Rxc6 29 dxc6 Bh3 30 gxh3 Be5) 28...Rxb1 29 Rxb1 Qf1+. Exercise 252 Zelcic-Sutovsky Dresden 1998 (B92) Black wins by exploiting the awkward position of White’s king and queen, as well as the unprotected rook on d1. 29...Ba7! 30 Bd4 Rd8! White cannot escape the double pin.

387

31 Bf1 Qe4 32 Bxa7 Rxd1 33 Bc5 Bc6 34 Qg3 h6 35 b5 Bxb5 36 Qb8+ Be8 0-1 Exercise 253 Rohl-Leitao San Felipe 1998 (B92) Black wins with a move easily overlooked. 28...g5!! 29 Bf3 29 Bxf8 loses instantly to 29...Qd2! (or 29...f5). 29 Nb3 Qf6 also decides at once. 29...f5 30 Bxg5 30 Qxg2 Qd4+ and Black wins. 30...fxg4 31 Bxd8 Rxf3 0-1 Exercise 254 Cordoba-Popescu Latin Cup 1991 (B92) White wins at least a pawn by exploiting the hanging knight on b4. 22 fxe5! An important move order. In the game White played 22 Ra4? Qc5?? (22...exf4!! 23 Rxb4 d5 and Black is better) 23 fxe5 and Black resigned. 22...dxe5 22...Rxe5 23 Nxe5 dxe5 24 Nd5 Nbxd5 25 exd5 Rxd5 26 Rad1 and White wins without too much effort. 23 Ra4! and now Black has to play 23...a5, losing a pawn for absolutely nothing. White wins after 23...Qc5?! 24 Rxf6! gxf6 25 Qg4+. Exercise 255 Fedorchuk-Jobava Ohrid 2001 (B93) White has two knights for a rook. One of them is loose and falls after a clever sequence 32...Qf3+ 33 Qg2 f1Q+! 34 Rxf1 Qxg2+ 35 Kxg2 Rxc2+ 0-1 Exercise 256 Solleveld-Vink Leiden 1999 (B93) 388

6 Solutions to Exercises

It is always nice to solve something you know. 19 Bxh7+! 1-0 Because of 19...Kxh7 20 Ng5+ Kg8 21 Qh4 Nf6 22 Rxf6 with mate to follow. Exercise 257 Wahls-Vera Cienfuegos 1996 (B93) A basic mating combination, old school! 22...Bxh2+!! 23 Qxh2 23 Kxh2 Qh4+ 24 Kg1 Qg3+ 25 Qg2 Qxg2 mate. 23...Qxe3+ 24 Rf2 24 Qf2 Qg5+ 25 Kh2 Rxh6+ with mate. 24...Rxh6 0-1 Exercise 258 Ehlvest-Short Parnu 1996 (B93) Black wins by taking over the seventh rank at the cheap price of an exchange. 38...Rd2! 39 h4 White couldn’t accept the exchange: 39 Nxd2 Rxd2 40 h4 (40 Qf1 Ng4 and White is lost due to 41 Qe1 e3) 40...Qd5 41 Qe3 (41 Qf1 Ng4 and there is no defence) 41...Rh2+! and White can resign. 39...Qxh4+ 40 gxh4 Rxe2 0-1 Exercise 259 Rewitz-Jensen Aarhus 1993 (B93) Black wins because the d5-bishop and White’s king are intimate. 22...Ng3+! 0-1 White resigned due to 23 hxg3 (23 Kg1 Ne2+) 23...Qh3+ 24 Kg1 Qxg2 mate. Exercise 260 Slingerland-Bezemer Enschede 1993 (B93) A funny position with mutual pins, possibilities for checks and so on. White has a winning move 389

in 15 Bf2!! 1-0 Here Black resigned. The closest to a defence is 15...Bxf2+ 16 Rxf2 Ng4 17 Ngxe4 Nxf2 18 Nxf2 Qc5 19 Nce4 Qc7 20 Qd6, when White has a winning endgame. Exercise 261 Short-Gelfand Brussels 1991 (B93) Black wins a piece. 18...Qa7+! 19 Rf2+ Kh8 20 Raf1 Rxf2 21 Rxf2 Rf8 0-1 Exercise 262 A.Sokolov-Novikov Vilnius 1984 (B93) White destroys the weak light squares around Black’s king. 17 Nxg6! Bd8 17...fxg6 18 Bd5+ Nxd5 19 Qf7+ Kh8 20 Qxe8+ Nf8 21 Rxf8+ Bxf8 22 Qxf8+ Kh7 23 Bh6 Qc7 24 Nxd5 and Black is mated. 17...Nxe4 18 Nxe7+ Rxe7 19 Nxe4 and White has won a very vital pawn for absolutely nothing. 18 Bd5! e4 19 Qxf6 1-0 Exercise 263 Stripunsky-Granda Zuniga New York 1998 (B94) White wins by trapping Black’s queen and attacking the king at the same time. 16 Qc3! Here Black resigned, unable to find a move. 16...Ra8 17 0-0! 17 Nc7+ Kd8 18 Nxa8 Qb1+ 19 Kf2 Qxh1 20 Qc7+ Ke7 21 Nb6! still wins, but why all the hassle? 17...a5 18 Rb5 a4 19 Nc7+ Kd8 20 Nc1 1-0 White wins. Exercise 264 Lengyel-Szabo 390

6 Solutions to Exercises

Hungary 1995 (B94) White wins in a pleasant way by creating a classic invasion. 14 b3! Driving the queen to a worse square. 14...Qc5 14...Qc7 15 Nd5 Qb7 16 Ne6 and White wins the queen, at least. 15 Ne6! Nb8 15...Qc6!? 16 Nd8! Qc7 17 Nd5 Qb8 18 Qf3 f6 19 Nxf6+ Nxf6 20 Qxf6 and White wins. 16 Nxc5 Bxh3 17 Nb7?! 17 Bf6 Rg8 18 Nd5 Ra7 19 Bxe5! was clearer, but the game is still won. 17...Be6 18 Nxd6+ Bxd6 19 Rxd6 Nd7 20 Rfd1 h6 21 Be3 Rb8 22 a5 1-0 Exercise 265 McDonald-Hodgson London 1992 (B94) Black is weak on the light squares on the kingside. A terrible execution awaits him. 16 Nxg6!! fxg6 17 Qe6 There is no defence. 17...g5 17...Rh7 18 Qg8+; 17...Rf8 18 Bd3! and White wins everything. 18 Qg6+ Kf8 19 Bc4 1-0 Black resigned before he could get himself mated. Exercise 266 Rogulj-Nemet Zagreb 1977 (B94) White wins by exploiting Black’s unprotected queen. 17 Bxd7+ Nxd7 17...Kxd7 18 Rxb7+! Rxb7 19 Qxa5 Rb1+ 20 Ke2 Rxh1 21 Qc7+ Ke8 22 Qc8 mate. 18 Nc6! Bh6 The ‘best’ move. 18...bxc6 19 Rxb8+ Nxb8 20 Qxa5 wins for White. 391

19 Nxa5 Bxd2+ 20 Kxd2 Rg8 21 g3 e6 22 Nf4 Nc5 23 Nxh5 1-0 Exercise 267 Van Riemsdijk-Ricardi Pinamar 2001 (B95) Black wins by utilising his higher number of pieces near the enemy king. 22...Bxa2+! 23 Kxa2 After 23 Kc1 Bc5 Black has improved his position enormously and won a pawn. Black wins after 23 Ka1 Rxd4! 24 Rxd4 Qxc2. 23...Rxd4! 24 Bd3 24 Rxd4 Qxc2 and b2 falls. 24...Nc3+! 0-1 Exercise 268 Kovalev-Bologan Minsk 2000 (B95) With a simple combination, Black wins the exchange or the queen. 17...Nc3+! 18 bxc3 bxc3+ 19 Nb3 Rxd3 20 Rxd3 Bb4 21 a3 Bxa3 22 Rxc3+ Kb8 23 Rxf7 a5 24 Bf3 Bxf3 25 gxf3 Bb4 26 Rc4 Rc8 27 Rxc8+ Kxc8 28 Ka2 a4 29 Nc1 Qc5 30 Kb1 Bc3 31 Nd3 Qa3 0-1 Exercise 269 Akhmadeev-Gulkov Voronezh 1999 (B95) Black destroys the white king’s position, which is very fragile on the light squares. 24...Bxf3! 25 gxf3 25 Kh2 Rxd2 26 Qxd2 Rxc2 and Black wins. 25...Qxh3+ 26 Kg1 Qxf3!? 26...Rg4+! is even stronger: 27 fxg4 Qxe3+ 28 Kg2 Rxd2 and Black wins. 27 Bf2 Rg4+ 28 Kf1 Qg2+ 29 Ke1 Qh1+ 30 Ng1 0-1 Exercise 270 Ivanovic-Paunovic Cetinje 1992 (B95) 392

6 Solutions to Exercises

Black can force a draw, but only with a combination. 35...Rc1+ 36 Ka2 Nc3+!! In the game came 36...Qb1+? 37 Ka3 Rc3+ 38 Qxc3 and Black resigned. 37 bxc3 37 Qxc3?! is interesting: 37...Qb1+ 38 Ka3 Rxc3+ 39 bxc3 Qxg1 40 d7 and it is not clear whether Black can win. The best try seems to be 40...Qc5+ 41 Kb2 Qf2+ 42 Kb3 Qb6+ 43 Kc2 Qd8 44 Rxa6. I have analysed this position deeply and not yet come to a clear conclusion. One possible line from here is 44...Kg8 45 Rd6 Kf8 46 c4 Ke7 47 c5 f6 48 f4 fxe5 49 fxe5 Qxd7 50 Rxd7+ Kxd7 51 Kd3 Kc6 52 Kc4 g5 and Black wins. I think a win for Black should be the final verdict, but I do not fully trust the depth of this analysis. What is clear is that White is not winning. 37...Qb1+ 38 Ka3 Qa1+ 39 Kb3 39 Kb4?? Qb2+ 40 Kc5 Qb5 mate. 39...Qb1+ 40 Ka3 ½-½ 40 Kc4?? Qb5 mate. Exercise 271 Vukovic-Cvetkovic Kladovo 1990 (B95) Black’s king is stuck in the centre, but next move he will play ...Qc5 and everything will be all right? 21 Nf5!! exf5 21...Qc5 22 Nxg7+ Ke7 23 Rxf6 Kxf6 24 Qf3+ Ke5 25 Qg3+ Kf6 26 Qf4+ and White wins. 22 Rde1+ Ne4 23 Rxe4+ fxe4 24 Rxf7! A wonderful position. Black is lost. 24...Qc5 25 Rf5+ g6 26 Bxg6+ 1-0 Exercise 272 Horvath-Gutman Frankfurt 1990 (B95) Nothing spectacular; White just wins a pawn.

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25 Rxg6! fxg6 26 Nxe6 Bxe6 27 Bxe6+ Rf7 28 Nf4 Ng4 28...Re8 29 Nxg6 Nh7 30 Bd5 is evil! 29 Nxg6 Nh6 30 f4 Raa7 31 e5 dxe5 32 fxe5 a5 33 Bd5 a4 34 Rh4 Ra5 35 Bc4 Ra8 36 Nh8 Kxh8 37 Bxf7 Ra7 38 e6 a3 39 Bg6 Re7 40 Rxb4 1-0 Exercise 273 Bergmann-Horak Correspondence 2000 (B96) White uses the fantastic pawn on g7 to crash through Black’s position. 26 Bd3!! Qxd3 26...Qg4 27 Ng5! and Black has no defence. 27 Ne5 Black resigned here. 27...Qd8 27...Qe4 28 Rxf7! Qxe5 (28...Rxf7 29 Qxe6+ Kd8 30 Nxf7+ and White wins) 29 Rxc7 Be7 30 Rc8+ Bd8 31 Rxb8! and White wins because of 31...Qxb8 32 Qxe6+. 28 Rcd1 Rd7 29 Qxh7 Rxg7 30 Qxg7 Bf8 31 Qg8 and White wins. Exercise 274 Dvoirys-Lesiege Koszalin 1999 (B96) White wins a pawn, nothing more remarkable. Still, it’s nice to have some easier exercises in the book. 16 Nxb5! Bd7 16...Qxb5 17 Ba4 and the queen is lost. 17 Nc7+ Kf7 18 Nxe6! White is in top form. 18...Bxe6 19 Bxe6+ Kxe6 20 Qc4+! d5 21 exd5+ Kf5 22 Rxe7 Kxg5 23 h4+ 1-0 Exercise 275 Kasperski-Roze Correspondence 1998 (B96) 394

6 Solutions to Exercises

A simple combination using greater fire-power. 24 Rxf7! Rxf7 Or 24...Qxf7 25 Rxf7 Rxf7 26 Bg6 Rb1+ 27 Kh2 and White wins. 25 Rxf7 Qxf7 26 Bg6 White is winning. 26...g3 27 Bxf7+ Kf8 28 Qd1 Kxf7 29 Qf3+ Ke7 30 Qxg3 Rxa2 31 h4 Bd7 32 Qg7+ Kd8 33 Qf6+ Kc7 34 h5 1-0 Exercise 276 Schula-Malisauskas Pardubice 1996 (B96) Black exploits weak dark squares along with the hanging queen on e3 to win the game. 21...Rxc4! 21...Qa3+ 22 Kd2 Rxc4! 23 bxc4 Ba5 is the same idea, but the opposite move order. 22 bxc4 Qa3+ 23 Kb1 Or 23 Kd2 Ba5. 23...Na4! 0-1 Exercise 277 Rosito-Najdorf Argentina 1991 (B96) White wins by exploiting the fact that the e7bishop has responsibilities on both flanks. 21 Rxg7!! 21 Rxf7 Rxf7 22 Qxf7 Qxe5 is not clear. 21...Kxg7 22 Rf6! Either Black accepts the rook or he is mated. 22...Bxf6 23 exf6+ Kxf6 24 Qxc5 But this, of course, is the price. 24...e5 25 Nf3 Rfe8 26 Qe3 Kg7 27 Nxe5 1-0 Exercise 278 Hellers-Polugaevsky Haninge 1989 (B96) White wins by undermining the defence of e6. 24 Qf6! Now the Black king is trapped. After 24 Bc6+? Kf7 Black is even better. 395

24...Be7 24...Bxd6 25 Bc6+ Bd7 26 Rxe6+ and mate. 25 Bc6+ Bd7 26 Rdxe6 1-0 Exercise 279 Kr.Georgiev-I.Ivanov Primorsko 1987 (B96) White establishes a fabulous collection of pins after an exchange sacrifice. 19 Rxd7!! Qxd7 19...Kxd7 20 Rd1+ Bd6 21 Nd5! and White wins. 20 Nd5! Now f6 is overloaded. Black chose to lose with 20...Nxd5 21 Qxf7+ Kd8 22 Qxg6 Ne3 23 Bxe7+ 1-0 Exercise 280 Bronstein-Aparicio Buenos Aires 1983 (B96) A rare example in this book of an exercise with more than one solution. I really liked White’s idea, so I went against my principles and included it all the same. 17 Nxe6! Not the most charming choice, but still enough to win. 17 Rxe6+! fxe6 18 Qxh7! is the prettier version. 17...fxe6 17...Be5 18 Ng7+ Kf8 19 Bh6 Kg8 20 Qe7 and White wins. 18 Qxh7!! 1-0 Black resigned because of Bxg6+. Exercise 281 Markov-Day Toronto 1972 (B96) Black wins by trapping White’s queen. 18...Rxa6! 19 Qxa6 Bc4 20 Qxc4 Qxc4 21 c3 e4 22 Nd4 Ne5 23 b3 Qd3 24 Ne2 Qe3 25 Rf1 Nf3+ 26 gxf3 Bh4+ 27 Kd1 Qd3+ 28 Kc1 Qxe2 0-1 396

6 Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 282 Kurnosov-Popov Kazan 2001 (B97) White apparently has some compensation for the exchange. Bg6 is threatened and 39...Kh8?? 40 Qxf7! even wins for him. But Black has other methods. 39...b3!! The only winning move. After 39...Qd2? 40 Re1 Kh8 41 Qe4 Rf5 42 d6 it is not at all clear that White is worse. 40 Re1 0-1 40 axb3 loses to 40...Ra8 41 Ba6 Rxa6 42 Qxa6 Qxe5. After 40 Re1 White resigned before Black could play 40...bxa2+ 41 Kxa2 Ra8+. Exercise 283 Brodsky-Biriukov St Petersburg 1997 (B97) Black has problems on the d-file and f7. 19 e5! 19 Rxd6? Qe7 20 e5 Bxe5 21 Qxb7 Rd8 is good for Black. 19...Bc6 19...dxe5 20 Nc5 and White wins. 20 Qf2 Bxg2 21 exf6!? 21 Rxd6 Qe7 22 Qxg2 Bxe5 23 Rd3 was simpler. 21...Bxf1 22 Rxf1 and White won. Exercise 284 Luther-Touzane Lippstadt 1994 (B97) 19 Qxe6+! 1-0 Black resigned on account of 19...fxe6 20 Bg6 mate. Exercise 285 Joao-Cody Correspondence 2000 (B98) White destroys the black king’s position and wins. 397

28 Bxg6! This should be an elementary sacrifice in the repertoire of any player who embarks on being White in the Sicilian. 28...Rc4 Black cannot accept: 28...fxg6 29 Qxg6 Rc7 30 Qh6+ Ke7 31 Rde1 Ne4 32 Qh7+ Kd8 33 Rg8+ and wins. 29 h3! Now Black accepts, but only because 30 Bd3! is a threat. 29...fxg6 30 Qxg6 Ke7 31 Qg7+ Kd8 32 Rde1 Qf5 32...Re4 33 Rxe4 Nxe4 34 Qxe5 dxe5 35 Rg8+ and wins. 33 Qf7 1-0 Black resigned as Rg8+ is coming. Exercise 286 Dobrovolsky-Hausner Trnava 1982 (analysis) (B98) In the game Black self-destructed in order to avoid 23 Nf6+! gxf6 24 Re8+ Kh7 25 Qxf6 when Qxh6 and Rh8 mate are too much to deal with. Exercise 287 Vukovic-Fabiano Catania 1993 (B20) This combination is actually not that imaginative, but it still has to be worked out in detail in order to play it in a practical game. 22 Rxb6! axb6 23 Rxb6 1-0 Black resigned as he was nowhere to go. After 23...Kd8 24 Rb8+ Rc8 25 Qa5+ Kd7 26 Qa7+ Kd8 27 Qb6+ Kd7 28 Qb7+ Rc7 29 Qb5+ White mates, while 23...f3 24 Qa6+ Kd7 25 Qb5+ Kd8 26 Rb8+ Rc8 27 Qb6+ Kd7 28 Qb7+ Rc7 29 Qb5+ is the same story. Exercise 288 Strikovic-Kurajica 398

6 Solutions to Exercises

Zaragoza 1994 White exploits the weak dark squares and the absence of defending pieces. 31 Bh6+!! With this move White starts an attack that cannot be stopped. 31...Kg8 Taking the bishop leads to mate after 31...Kxh6 32 f6! and the king has nowhere to hide. 32...Kg5 33 h4+ Kxg4 34 Rb3!. This move, bringing another piece into the attack, finally seals Black’s fate. Now Black can only avoid mate with 34...d3. After 34...Kh5 comes 35 Qe2+!, forcing Black to remove the h4-pawn, which is only in the way: 35...Kxh4 36 Qf2+ Kg5 37 Rg3+ Kh4 38 Qh2 mate. 32 fxg6 Nd8 32...hxg6 33 Qf6! shows the problem with a weak square. If an enemy piece occupies it, all the squares around it immediately comes under attack. 33...Re7 34 Qxg6+ Kh8 35 Rf1 and White wins. 32...Qe7 33 g7! followed by Qf8+ simply wins the exchange and Black has no chances in the endgame. 33 Qf6 Qc7 33...d3+ 34 Ne3! Qe7 35 Qxe7 Rxe7 36 Rb8 and White wins. 34 Rf1 1-0 Black resigned due to 34...hxg6 35 Qxg6+ Kh8 36 Bg5 with mate looming. Exercise 289 Tartakower-Broadbent London 1946 (B20) It’s all about the dark squares; Black’s darksquared bishop is greatly missed. 24 e5! Nf5 24...fxe5 25 dxe5 Re6 26 Nf6+ Rxf6 27 exf6 Ne6 28 Nd4 and White wins. 25 Rxf5! gxf5 26 Nxf6+ This is the logical follow up and it leads to mate. 26 exd6 fxg4 27 Nf4 Qxd6 28 Nh5 is an 399

alternative way to win. 26...Rxf6 27 exf6 Ne6 28 Nf4 Qb7 Protecting g7 via an X-ray, but White still has a win. 29 Ba3! Planning a mate on f8. An important attacking idea is to always include as many pieces as possible. 29...Bc6 30 Be7! 1-0 After 30...Kh8 31 Nxe6 Rg8 32 Nf8 White mates next move Exercise 290 Gelashvili-Gagunashvili Batumi 2001 (B20) A brilliant example of how a hanging piece is used to start an attack. 20 Ne6!! Qh4!? This is tactically quite complicated, and insufficient. But Black is lost after 20...Rxc4 21 Nxd8 when, due to the mate on e8, Black is forced into 21...Rxd8 22 bxc4, when White will have few problems converting the extra exchange into a full point. Note that 22...Nb4 23 Re2 Nxa2 does not work due to 24 c3! and 25 Ra1, trapping the knight. 21 Rxf7! The only winning move. Without this there was no combination. 21...Bxg3 This is the most stubborn defence. Pay attention to the motif of Nd8+ that returns again and again, setting up a mating threat on e8 while winning time. a) 21...Rxg3+ is a fresh attempt to counterattack. Unfortunately, White just dances away: 22 hxg3 Qxg3+ 23 Kf1 Qh3+ (23...Kxf7 24 Nd8+! Kg6 25 Qf7+ Kg5 26 Ne6+ Kh4 27 Re4+ and White wins) 24 Ke2 Qh5+ 25 Rf3 and White wins. b) 21...Ne5 22 Bxe5 Bxe5 23 Rf4! Bxf4 (23...Rxg3+ 24 Kh1 and White wins) 24 Nd8+ Kf8 25 Qf7 mate. 400

6 Solutions to Exercises

c) 21...Qh5 22 Nd8! creating the double threat of Rg4+ and Re8+. d) 21...Kxf7 allows White to mate on the middle of the board: 22 Nd8+! Kg6 23 Qf7+ Kh6 24 Re6+ g6 25 Qg7+ Kg5 26 Nf7+ Kf5 27 Qf6+ Qxf6 28 Rxf6 mate. e) In the game Black went for 21...Rxc4 22 Rxg7+ Kh8 23 bxc4! (everything wins here, but this is apparently the most clean cut; 23 gxh4 Rxc2 24 Bf6! is another path to victory) 23...Qh3 24 Rg5+ Nd4 25 Nxd4 Be5 26 Rexe5 h6 27 Re7 hxg5 28 Ne6+ Kg8 29 Rg7+ and Black resigned. 22 Rxg7+! Rxg7 23 Nd8+!! This is the main aesthetic point of the combination. 23...Kf8 23...Qxc4 24 Re8 mate. 24 Bxg7+ Kxg7 25 Qf7+ Kh6 26 Re6+ Kg5 27 Qf6+ Kg4 28 Re4+ Kh5 29 Qf5+ Qg5 30 Qf3+ and wins the queen. Exercise 291 Rotshtein-Alvir Vienna 1996 (B22) The problem for Black is that he is lacking development. White uses this with a pleasant nonstandard combination. 13 Nb6!! axb6 14 Bxb6 Nc6 A necessary try. 14...Qd7 15 Bb5 wins the house, while after 14...Na6 15 Bxa6 Qe7 16 Bb5+ Bd7 17 Qa5 Rb8 18 Qa7 Black’s position collapses. 15 dxc6 d5 16 Qb5 bxc6 17 Rxc6 Qd7 17...Ba6 18 Re6 mate. 18 Nxe5 Ba6 19 Nxd7 1-0 After 19...Bxb5 20 Nxf6+ gxf6 21 Bxb5 Black is just a piece down. Exercise 292 Janovsky-Yuferov Moscow 1989 (B22)

401

Black removes White’s control over g4 and simultaneously wins a tempo for his attack. 17...Bxf3!! 18 Qxf3 Ng4 18...Bc5+ transposes. 19 Qe4 19 Qe2 Bc5+ 20 Kh1 Nf2+ 21 Kg1 Nd1+ 22 Kh1 Nxc3 23 bxc3 Rf2 and Black wins. This would probably be the main line for a commentator. 19...Bc5+ 20 Be3 Nxe3 21 Qxe3 21 Rxe3 Qxe4! and 21 Qxg6 Nc2+! 22 Kh1 hxg6 both leave Black an exchange up. 21...Bxe3+ 22 Rxe3 Rf4 0-1 Exercise 293 Rozentalis-Akesson Malmö 1997 (B22) Here White could have played 29 Rxg6+!! In the game White prepared the combination with 29 Rd2? but this was not necessary. I found the combination in the text more beautiful and more difficult. 29...fxg6 30 Qxg6+ Bg7 30...Rg7 31 Bxg7 Bxg7 32 Rd2 Be8 33 Qh7+ Kf8 34 Rf2+ Bf7 35 Bg6 Rc7 36 Qxh5 and White wins. 31 Rd2 It is amazing that White has time to execute his attack in this manner, but the weakness of Black’s king is enormous. 31...Be8 32 Qh7+ Kf8 33 Rf2 Bxf6 34 Rxf6+ Rf7 35 Bg6! Now White wins in all lines. Still, to see this far is not easy. 35...Qd7 35...Rxf6 36 exf6 and Black cannot escape mate. 35...Rcc7 36 Qh6+! Ke7 37 Bxf7 Bxf7 38 Rxf7+ Kxf7 39 Qh7+ Ke8 40 Qxc7 and White has a winning endgame. White now wins as he pleases.

402

6 Solutions to Exercises

36 d5! exd5 37 e6 Qxe6 38 Qh6+ Ke7 39 Rxe6+ Kxe6 40 Bxf7+ Kxf7 41 Qxh5+ 1-0 Exercise 294 V.Ivanov-Batyrov Ashkhabad 1996 (B22) The problem for Black is that White’s king can escape via c2. Therefore the right move is 14...Ba4!! 14...bxa6 15 Nf3 Qa1+ 16 Kc2 and White is much better. 15 Qc5+ Forced. 15 Qxa4 Qa1+ 16 Kc2 Qxd1 mate. 15...Kb8 16 Qe5+ Ka8 17 Rd4 17 Rxd8+ Rxd8 and White will have to give up the queen to avoid mate. 17...Qa1+ 17...Rxd4 transposes. 18 Kd2 Qd1+ 19 Ke3 Rxd4! 0-1 White resigned due to 20 Qxd4 Ng4+ 21 Ke4 Bc6+ 22 Kf4 e5+ and Black wins. Exercise 295 Jonkman-Aagaard Groningen 1998 (B22) In this position White lost in a few moves after 23 Rxe5?, but he had a remarkably beautiful combination at his disposal starting with 23 Nc7! Rb8 a) 23...Rxd6 24 Nxa8! wins the exchange. b) 23...Ra7 is met by 24 Qf3 with the idea of 25 Rxe5. 24...Qxd6 25 Nxb5 and White wins the exchange. c) 23...Ra5 24 Rxe5 fxe5 25 Qd5 Qxd6 26 Bg7+! and wins. 24 Rxe5! fxe5 25 Qd5 Qxd6 26 Bg7+!! Kxg7 27 Ne8+ and White wins. Exercise 296 Har Zvi-Shmuter Tel Aviv 1996 (B22) 403

This combination is mainly calculation that has to be worked out and evaluated correctly. 27 Qxe5! 27 Nxe5 Bxg5 28 Nxg6 fxg6 29 Qxg6+ Kf8 is no good. 27...Rc5 Forced. 27...Qxe5 28 Rxe5 f6 29 Rxe6 fxg5 30 Nxg5 wins easily. 28 Bxe7!! The point. 28...Rxe5 29 Nxe5! 29 Rxe5?? Qc3 and Black is even better. 29...Rxe7 Otherwise the endgame is clearly winning for White. 30 Nc6 Qc7 31 Nxe7+ Qxe7 32 a4 White now has a mechanical win. 32...Qa7 33 a5 Qa6 34 Reb1 Kg7 35 Rb6 Qc4 35...Qa7 36 a6 Qxb6 37 a7 and wins. 36 a6 Qd4 37 Rbb1 Qa7 38 Rd1! 1-0 With the idea of Rd7, when d4 remains protected. 38 Rb7? Qd4! is annoying. Exercise 297 Grosar-Hellsten Pula 1997 (B22) A truly horrible game that continued 26...Rf3?? 27 h6?? (27 Rf4! Rxf4 28 Bxf4 and White wins – Har Zvi) 27...Qc2. Now Black wins. 28 Rd2 Qb1+ 29 Kg2 Qxe4 30 Rd8 Qxg4+? 31 Kf1 Ng3+ 32 Ke1 Re3+ 33 Kd2 Ne4+ and White resigned. The game should have ended in a draw with 26...Rg3+!! 27 fxg3 27 Kh2?? Qc2 is a disaster; so is 27 Kh1?? Qc2. But White can try 27 Kf1 Qc2! 28 Qd8 Qc6 and Black is no worse, for example 29 gxf5 Rxg5 30 Qxg5 Qxe4 31 fxg6 hxg6 32 hxg6 fxg6. 27...Qc5+ 28 Kg2 28 Be3!? Nxe3 29 Rdd4 Qc1+ 30 Kf2 Nd5 31 Qf3 Rc8 32 Re2 Qg5 also gives Black no problems. 28...Qc2+ 29 Rd2! 404

6 Solutions to Exercises

The only move – did you see this? 29 Kh3? Qxd1 and Black wins. 29...Qxe4+ 30 Kh3 ½-½ Black must take a perpetual. Exercise 298 Short-Gelfand Brussels 1991 (B23) This combination is all about eliminating Black’s control over the dark squares on the kingside. A supremacy on one colour often leads to an unstoppable attack on the opposite colour. After 28 Rxf6!! Black only defends the light squares and is lost. 28...Rxf6 29 Ng4 Rf5 The only move. 29...Rf7 30 Qe5+ Rg7 (30...Kg8 31 Nh6+ Kf8 32 Qh8 mate) 31 Rf1 Bc6 32 Rf7 Rag8 33 Bh6 with mate to follow. 30 Nh6 Rh5 A tougher defence was 30...Qd7, when unsurprisingly the clearest way to win is to include the last piece in the attack: 31 Ba4! Nc6 (31...Qxa4 32 Nxf5 gxf5 33 Re7 Qa1+ 34 Be1 and wins) 32 Bxc6 Qxc6 33 Nxf5 gxf5 34 Re7 Qg6 35 Qe5+ Kg8 36 Qxd5+ Kf8 37 Re6 Qf7 38 Bh6+ Kg8 39 Rf6! and White wins. 31 Qf4! 1-0 Now Qf6+ and Qf8+ are brutal threats. Exercise 299 Casper-Postler Frankfurt an der Oder 1977 (B23) Again the destruction of the king’s position is combined with the removal of a defender, the h6pawn. 13 Bxh6!! Ne5 Black has no adequate defence: a) 13...gxh6 14 Qg6+ Kh8 15 Qxh6+ Kg8 16 Neg5 Bxg5 17 Nxg5 Nf6 18 Qg6+ Kh8 19 Re8!! (19 Nf7+ Rxf7 20 Qxf7 also wins) 19...Qxe8 20 Qh6+ Kg8 21 Bd5+. 405

b) 13...Qe8 14 Qxe8 Rxe8 15 Nd6 and White wins material. c) The toughest defence was 13...fxe4 14 Qg6 Rf7 (14...Bf6 15 Bxe4 Nce7 16 Qh7+ Kf7 17 Bg6+ Nxg6 18 Ng5+ Bxg5 19 Qxg7 mate) 15 Bxe4 Nf6 16 Bxc6! bxc6 (16...Nh7 17 Be4 Nf8 18 Qh5 gxh6 19 Bd5 and White wins) 17 Ng5 Qf8 18 Re6!! (a remarkable move: the defence of h7 is removed, or the knight enters the position) 18...Bxe6 19 Nxe6 Qc8 20 Bxg7 Qxe6 21 Bxf6+ Kf8 22 Bg7+ and White wins the queen. 14 Bg5! White has won a pawn for nothing. Black now tries to take it back. 14...Nxg4 14...g6 15 Qh6 fxe4 16 Rxe4 Nxg4 17 Qxg6+ Kh8 18 Rxg4! Bxg4 19 Be4 Rf5 20 Bxf5 Bxf5 21 Qxf5 Qg8 22 Kh1 gives White a comfortable winning position. 15 Bxe7 Nxe7 16 Nhg5! Keeping a knight aiming at f6. 16...Nf6 16...Nh6 17 Nxc5 and White wins. 17 Nxf6+ Rxf6 18 Rxe7! 1-0 Exercise 300 Kudrin-Fedorowicz North Bay 1998 (B23) The following combination is an example of how a sacrifice can force an opponent to place his pieces so that they become utterly helpless. 10 Nxf6+!! Qxf6 10...Bxf6 11 Bxh6 is just a pawn. 11 Bg5 Qf8 12 Nd5 Black now has no defence against Nc7 and Nb6. 12...Ng4 It might look as if Black survives with 12...Bg4!? 13 f3 Bxf3 14 gxf3 Rc8. But White continues 15 Rf1! and there is no defence for the black queen. One line is 15...Nf7 16 f4 h5 17 fxe5 Bxe5 18 Ne7 Nxe7 19 Rxf7 and White wins material. 406

6 Solutions to Exercises

13 0-0 Nf6 13...Qf7 14 Nb6 and 13...Bf6 14 Bxf6 Nxf6 15 Nc7+ win for White. 14 Nc7+ Ke7 15 f4!? White can do whatever he pleases. 15 Nxa8 simply wins of course. 15...h6 16 Bxf6+ Bxf6 17 fxe5 Nxe5 18 Nd5+ Kd7 19 Rxf6 Qg7 20 Qd2 b6 21 Raf1 Rb8 22 Ne3 Rh7 23 d4 1-0 Exercise 301 Spraggett-Lesiege Vancouver 1998 (B23) This long sequence has its beauty in the apparent harmless look of the position. 29 Nd2! The first of a long, forced series of moves. 29...Qb5 30 Rxb7! Rxb7 31 Rb1 Qxb1 32 Nxb1 Rxb1 33 Bd5 Rb8 33...Rd1 34 Bxf7+ Kxf7 35 Qa2+ followed by 36 Qxa7 gives a winning endgame. Black cannot defend c5 either. 34 Qa2 Rbf8 35 Qxa7 Bd6 36 Qd7! 1-0 Black resigned because after 36...Bb8 37 Bxc5 he is completely tied up.

29 Nd6+ Kg8 30 Nxb7 gxf4 31 Nd8 a5 32 Bd6 Nd2 0-1 Exercise 303 Romanovsky-Grigoriev Moscow 1924 (B24) Loose pieces drop off! Here the unprotected rook on h7 becomes a surprising victim to this wonderful dictum. 24 Be6!! fxe6 Black has no way to save himself: a) After 24...Bd7 25 Bxf7 White is a pawn up for nothing and g6 hangs. Note that 25...Rh3 26 Qe4 Bf5 27 Be6! wins directly for White. b) Also no help is 24...f5 25 gxf6 exf6 26 Bg5! and Black’s position collapses. 25 Qf8+ Kd7 26 Qg8! exd5 Black gives up the rook and thereby accepts his fate. He could have tried 26...Rh4, when White wins after 27 Qxe6+ Ke8 28 Qxg6+ Kd7 29 Rf8 Qb7 30 Bf2 Rg4+ 31 Kf1. Amongst others, Rxe7+ is on the way. 27 Qxh7 Bb7 28 Rf7 Qd8 29 Bd2 Kc6 30 Rfxe7 Qc8 31 R1e6 Kb6 32 Rxb7+! 1-0

Exercise 302 Kupreichik-Gutman Bad Endbach/Gladenbach 1995 (B23) In a messy position it is always nice to increase one’s threats. 20...Ne4!! 21 Qb5 White has no move that survives. a) 21 Ncxe4 Bxe5 22 fxe5 h6 23 Nd6 Rd8 24 Nf3 Qxd3 with a winning position. The pawn on f7 will eventually be lost. b) 21 Nxe6+ Bxe6 22 Qxe4 dxc3 23 Qxe6 Qxe6 24 Rxe6 cxb2 and Black remains a piece ahead. 21...Nc5! Now White loses material. 22 Qxb3 Nxb3 23 Nb5 h6 24 g4 Bxg4 25 Nd6 hxg5 26 Nxc8 Nxa1 27 Bd2 Nb3 28 Bb4+ Kxf7

Exercise 304 Karpov-Quinteros Buenos Aires 1980 (B25) This is yet another example of destruction of a king’s position. 32 f5! In the game Black did not offer much resistance and lost after 32...Rxh7 A stronger defence was 32...exf5 33 Bxf5!. The key idea is to destroy the black king’s position. 33...Rc6 34 e6+ Rxe6 (34...Kg8 35 Qxg6 Rxh7 36 Qxh7+ Kf8 37 Bh4 and wins) 35 Bxe6+ Kxe6 (35...Qxe6 36 Qc7+ and Black is mated) 36 Qxg6+ Qf6 37 Nf4+ Kd6 38 Rxg7 and White wins. 33 fxg6+ Kg8

407

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6 Solutions to Exercises

33...Kxg6 34 Bxe6+ Qg5 35 Nf4 mate; 33...Ke8 34 gxh7 Bh8 35 Nf4 and wins. 34 gxh7+ Kh8 35 Nf4 1-0 Black resigned as Ng6+ cannot be prevented. Exercise 305 Spangenberg-Fiorito Buenos Aires 1999 (B25) Again the destruction of the king’s position on one colour is combined with another theme. This time it’s the magnet sacrifice. 28 Bxh6+! Kxh6 29 Qd2+ Rf4 Forced. 29...Kg7 30 Qg5+ Kh8 31 Qh6+ and White mates. 30 Rxf4 exf4 31 Qxf4+ Kg7 32 Rf1! 1-0 33 Qg5+ is coming and the king cannot run. Also possible was 32 Qg5+ Kf8 33 Qh6+ Ke8 34 Qxe6 Kd8 35 Bc6 Qxc6 36 Qxe7+ Kc8 37 Rf1 and White wins. Exercise 306 Spassky-Gufeld Wellington 1988 (B25) Again the destruction of the defence on the squares of one colour decides the game. 31 Rxf6! Rxf6 32 d5 Kf7 Black is lost in all lines: a) 32...Rd6 33 Qd4 Kf7 34 Ne6! with a mating attack. b) 32...Rf8 33 Qd4 Kf7 34 Re1 Qa3 35 Ne6! Rg8 36 d6 and Black is ready to resign. 33 Ne6!! The real beauty of the combination, played with the ideas of Ng5+ and Nd4. Both 33 Qd4 Ng8 and 33 Rb1 Qa3 34 Bxf6 Qxd3 35 Nxd3 Kxf6 36 a5 are less convincing. 33...Rxe6 33...Rd7 34 Nd4! and Black will lose material. 34 dxe6+ Kxe6 34...Ke8 35 Qd4 and White wins. 35 Re1+ Kf7 36 Qd4 White wins as he pleases now. 409

36...Qxa4 37 Qg7+ Ke8 38 Bf6 Kd8 39 Qf8+ Qe8 40 Rd1+ Rd7 41 Bxe7+ Kc7 42 Qxe8 1-0 Exercise 307 Roos-Miralles Clichy 1997 (B25) This combination is actually a bit tricky. 22...Bxe2 23 Qxe2 d3!! 24 cxd3 24 Qxd3 Bxb2 and Black wins the exchange. 24...Qxc1+ 25 Rxc1 Rxc1+ 26 Kh2 Rbc8 The really difficult thing in this exercise was not to foresee this position, but to realise that White is completely and utterly without hope here. Black will simply double his rooks on the second rank, and there is nothing White can do about it. White has a million possibilities, but none that defends. 27 e5 27 Qe3 R8c2 28 Qa7 Rxb2 29 Qxd7 Rxf2 30 Qe8+ Bf8 31 d6 Rcc2 32 d7 Rxg2+ 33 Kh1 Rgd2 and Black wins; 27 d4 R8c2 28 Qe3 Rb1! and Black wins. 27...R8c2 28 Qe3 Nxe5 29 d4 Nc4 30 Qf4 Rd1 31 d6 Nxd6 32 Be3 Nf5 33 Qb8+ Bf8 34 Bf4 Rf1! 0-1 Exercise 308 Arencibia-Cifuentes Parada Terres Catalanes 1996 (analysis) This is a very pure example. Very instructive. 27...Ba6! First this piece should be brought into play. 27...Nf3+ 28 Bxf3 Rxf3 29 Kg2 Ref8 30 Ng4 is not completely clear. 28 Rfe1 28 Bxg5 Bxf1 29 Rxf1 c4 gives Black a winning position. 28...Nf3+ 29 Bxf3 Rxf3 Now the attack flows easily. The rook on e1 has no defensive role anymore, and the a6-bishop is better placed for the attack. 30 Kg2 Rxf2+! 31 Kxf2 Qxh3 White has no defence. One line is 410

6 Solutions to Exercises

32 Rh1 Rf8+ 33 Bf4 Qg4 and Black wins. Exercise 309 Kochetkov-Onoprienko Noyabrsk 1995 (B27) This combination is based on a combination of a loose knight on a5 and a queen in trouble. 17 Be4! e6 Black has no alternative, as 17...Bb7 18 Bxa5! Qxa5 19 c4! loses immediately. This is of course easy to overlook if you do not really look, but only choose to see what you see first time around. 18 Bxd5 exd5 19 Rb4! Qxc2 19...Qa3 20 Re3 and White wins. 20 Rc1 Qf5 Black also loses after 20...Qd3 21 Rc3 Qf5 22 Nd4 Qh5 23 Rh3 and the queen is lost. 21 Rf4 With the knight hanging, Black has no defence. 21...Nc6 22 Rxf5 gxf5 23 Nd4 Bb7 24 Nxf5 00-0 25 Qd4 Kb8 26 Qb6 Rc8 27 Nd6 Rc7 28 Be3 d4 29 Rxc6 dxc6 30 Bxd4 1-0 Exercise 310 Hazai-Osmanbegovic Austria 1994 (B27) Normally I am not a great fan of drawing situations as exercises. I find it hard to motivate myself solving them. But then, that is a good reason including them! 19...f6!

411

In the game Black played 19...Kf8? 20 Qh8+ Ke7 21 Re1+ Kd8 22 Bf6+ Kc7 23 Qxe8 Qxe8 24 Rxe8 and White went on to win – the endgame is very unpleasant. 20 Qxf6 Otherwise the attack is simply over. 20...d4!! This is absolutely forced - Black desperately needs d5 for the king. The immediate 20...Qd7? would lose easily to 21 Qh8+ Kf7 22 Qg7+ Ke6 23 Qf6 mate. 21 Bxd4 21 Qxd4 allows 21...Re7! and White has no way to continue the attack. 21...Qd7! Again the only move. 22 Qh8+ Kf7 23 Qg7+ Ke6 White cannot win this position and should go for a perpetual with 24 Qe5+. After 24 Qf6+? he will lose following 24...Kd5 25 Rc1 Qe7!. This is the clean refutation. The alternatives are less clear: 25...Qe6 26 Rc5+ Kd6 27 Qf4+ Ke7 28 Re5 with advantage for White; 25...Na6 26 Bb2 Qa4! 27 Qf7+ Kd6 28 f4! Qb4 and Black is better, but it is a mess. 26 Qf3+ Kxd4 27 Rc4+ Ke5 28 Re4+ Kd6 29 Rxe7 Rxe7 and Black is winning. Note that 30 Qf8?! Nc6! only helps Black. Exercise 311 Gurgenidze-Ustinov Moscow 1972 (B28) The absent rook on a7 gives White a temporary advantage. Black plans ...Bd8 to free the rook. Therefore White should attack immediately with 27 d5! exd5 27...Bb5 28 c4 exd5 29 Qxe8+ Bxe8 30 Rxe8+ Kh7 31 Rxd5 Qa3 32 Be4+ g6 33 Rd7 Kg7 34 Bd5 and White wins. 28 Qxe8+ Bxe8 29 Rxe8+ Kh7 30 Rxd5 Qa3 31 Be4+!

412

6 Solutions to Exercises

The game went 31 Rd7?! Qxc3 (31...Kg6! 32 Be4+ Kh5 33 Nd5 and White is still winning, but it is less clear) 32 Be4+ g6 33 Rxf7+ Bg7 34 Ree7 and White won. 31...g6 32 Rd7 and Black cannot protect his king at all. Exercise 312 Nijboer-Kurajica Tilburg 1992 (B28) A classic sacrifice with a twist. 35 Bxh6! gxh6 36 Qxh6 Rc8 36...Qd8 sets a trap: a) Not 37 Ng4? Ne4! 38 Bxe4 Bxe4 39 fxe4 Bg5! and Black wins. b) 37 Qg5+! Kh8 38 Rc7! and Black is lost. One line is 38...Qxc7 39 Qh4+ Kg8 40 Qg3+ Kh8 41 Nxf7+ and the queen is lost. Another is 38...Bd5 39 Rxe7! Qxe7 40 Ng4 and White wins with 40...Rc8 41 Qh6+ Kg8 42 Nxf6+ Qxf6 43 Bh7+! Kh8 44 Qxf6+. 37 Rxc8+ Qxc8 38 Ng4 1-0 Black resigned as he loses after 38...Qd7 39 Qxf6! and 38...Qc7 39 h3 Ne4 40 Bxe4 Bxe4 41 fxe4 with a lost endgame. Exercise 313 Solozhenkin-Blechzin Finland 1997 (B28) 21 Bxb4! Removing the bishop from the defence of the king with a tempo. 21...Bxb4 22 Nf6+! We shall see more of this typical sacrifice. 22...gxf6 22...Kh8 23 Be4 wins the exchange. 23 Be4! This intermediate move can be a surprise to some. It is the hanging bishop on b4 White wants. 23...Rd5 23...Qb8 24 Bxa8 Qxa8 25 Qg4+ Kh8 26 Qxb4 and wins. 413

24 Qg4+ Kh8 25 Bxd5! 25 exf6 Bf8 only helps Black. Now the bishop is no longer hanging. 25...Qxd5 26 Rad1! Again the most exact. After 26 Qxb4 Bb7 27 f3 Qxe5 Black is still fighting. 26...Bd2 27 exf6 Qg5 28 Qf3! Rb8 29 h4?! An inaccuracy in a great performance. Simpler was 29 Rxd2! Qxd2 30 Qg3 and Black should resign. 29...Qf4?! 29...Qxh4 30 Rxd2 Bb7 gives a little chance for survival. 30 Rxd2! 1-0 30...Qxf3 31 Rd8+ Kh7 32 gxf3 and wins. Exercise 314 Belikov-Losev Moscow 1995 (B29) As promised, another Nf6. 17 Nf6+!! Kh8 17...gxf6 18 Qg4+ Kh8 19 Re3! transposes. 18 Qg4 gxf6 Black decides to take the piece. It is not easy to see how Black survives after something like 18...Bb7 19 Qe4 g6 20 b5! Ne7 21 Qe3! Kg7 22 Qd4 and White wins. Did you see this? 19 Re3! This is of course the idea behind the sacrifice. Three pieces mate easier than two. 19...Rg8 a) 19...f5 20 Qh4 Kg7 21 Rg3+ Kh7 22 Rh3 and wins. b) 19...Ne7 20 Rh3 Ng8 21 Rg3 winning the queen. c) 19...Ne5 20 Qf4! and Black has no defence. The loose queen decides. 20 Qh4 Rg7 21 Qxh6+ Kg8 22 Rh3 1-0 Black resigned due to 22...Kf8 23 Rg3!. Exercise 315 Seidman-Santasiere 414

6 Solutions to Exercises

New York 1939 (B29) With three sacrifices White completely destroys Black’s defence on the light squares, which was left to the pawns. 15 Nxf7! Kxf7 16 Rxd7!! Qxd7 16...Rxd7 is the most fun: 17 Bxe6+! Kxe6 18 Qc4+ Kf5 19 Qf7+ Bf6 20 Rxd7 Qc8 21 exf6 Nd8 (other moves also lose) 22 Rxd8 Qxd8 23 fxg7+ Kg4 24 h3+ Kh4 25 g3+ (there are other ways around here) 25...Kxh3 26 Qe6 mate. 17 Rxd7 Rxd7 18 Qh5+ g6 18...Kf8 19 Bxe6 Bh4 20 Bxd7 wins. 19 Bxe6+! Kxe6 20 Qxg6+ Bf6 20...Kd5 21 Qf7+ Ke4 22 f3 mate. 21 Qxf6+ Kd5 22 Qf5! Re7 23 e6+ Ne5 24 Qxe5+ Kc6 25 Qd6 mate Exercise 316 Ardeleanu-Bondoc Romania 1994 (B30) White has devastated the black king’s position, but still needs to force his will upon the fragile head of state. 32 Qxd6? This still wins eventually, but only after much work. The right method was the reversal of the move order: 32 Ng6+!! hxg6 (32...Kg8 33 Qd4! and Black has no defence) 33 Qxd6+ Kg8 34 Rxg6+ Kh7 35 Qd3 Kh8 (otherwise Rg7+ and Qh7 checkmate) 36 Qd4+ Kh7 37 Rg7+ Kxh6 38 Rg3! Qa5 39 Qd6+ Kh7 40 Qg6+ Kh8 41 Rh3+ and Black is mated. Truly a wonderful combination. 32...Rxf6 33 Ng6+! 33 Qxf6+? Qf7 34 Qh8+ Kxe7 35 Qxa8 Qf4+ is a draw at best! 33...Kf7 33...Kg8 34 Qxf6 Qf7 35 Qh8 mate. 34 Ne5+ Ke8 35 Qd7+ Kf8 36 Qg7+ Ke8 37 Qd7+ Kf8 38 Qg7+ Ke8 39 Qxf6 Qg8 40 Qb6 Rd8

415

40...Qd5 41 Qc7 Rd8 42 Qg7! and White wins the h-pawn with check in a little while. 41 Qxb7 Qe6 42 Qg7 Rd5 43 Qh8+?! 43 f4 was stronger. 43...Ke7 44 Qxh7+ Kd6 45 f4? 45 Nf7+ Kc6 46 Qg7 Rh5+ 47 Kg3 gives White a winning position. Now Black could have drawn. 45...Qf6? 45...Rxe5 46 fxe5+ Qxe5+ 47 Kh3 Qe6+ 48 Kg3 Qe1+ with perpetual. 46 Kg3? 46 Qd7+ Kc5 47 Qc7+ and wins. 46...Rd4? Black has another chance to draw with 46...Rxe5 47 fxe5+ Qxe5+ 48 Kf3 Qh5+! 49 Ke3 Qg5+ 50 Kd3 Qb5+ 51 Kd2 Qa5+ 52 Kc2 Qa4+ 53 b3 Qa2+ 54 Kd1 Qa1+ 55 Kd2 Qa5+ and White cannot escape. 47 Qd7+ Kc5 48 b4+! 1-0 Exercise 317 Gurgenidze-Gorelov Sverdlovsk 1984 (B30) White wins by eliminating the queen’s influence on the defence. 27 Ng5 Rf5 28 b3! 28 Qh7+ Kf8 29 Ne6+ Qxe6 30 Rxe6 cxb2 and it is Black who wins. 28...Qd5 28...Rxg5 29 bxc4 Rxg2+ 30 Kf1 and Black has no counterplay. 29 Qh7+ Kf8 30 Ne6+ Qxe6 30...Ke7 31 Nxf4+ and wins. 31 Rxe6 Kf7 32 Qxg6+ 1-0 Exercise 318 Kochetkov-Landa Noyabrsk 1995 (B30) Black wins through a glorious orgy of sacrifices, where even the queen must be parted with, in order to open the h-file. 21...Nxh2!! 22 Nxe6+ 416

6 Solutions to Exercises

White is also lost after 22 g3 Qg4 23 Kg2 Nxf1 24 Rxf1 d6. 22...dxe6 23 Qd2+ Bd7! 23...Ke7?? 24 Bg5+ Qxg5 25 Qxg5+ Kd6 26 Rfd1+ Kc6 27 Bh5 wins for White. 24 Bg5+ Kc7! Less clear is 24...Qxg5 25 Qxg5+ Be7 26 Rf8+! Rxf8 27 Qe5 Rh8 28 Kg1 Ng4 29 Qxg7 Bc5+ 30 Kf1 Rh1+ 31 Ke2 Rxa1 32 Qh8+ Ke7 33 Qxa8, where technical difficulties remain. 25 Bxh4 Rxh4 White’s king is now in a very embarrassing situation. 26 Qg5 26 g3 Nxf1+ and Black wins. 26...Nf3+ 27 Qxh4 Nxh4 28 Be4 28 Bh5 Rh8 29 Bg4 (29 g4 g6) 29...Nf5+ 30 Bh3 Ng3+ and Black wins. 28...Rh8 0-1 White resigned due to 29 g3 Nf5+ 30 Kg2 Ne3+. Exercise 319 Zhang Zhong-Tong Yuanming Beijing 1998. (B30) White is ready to deliver the final attack. It’s now or never! 33 Rxh4+!! Nxh4 34 Qh7+ Kg5 35 Ne3! Rh8?! Not the toughest defence. a) 35...Neg6 36 Nxg4! (36 Rxg4+? Qxg4 37 Nxg4 Rh8 is not so clear) 36...Qxg4 37 Rxg4+ Kxg4 38 Bxg6 Rh8 39 Qd7+ Kf4 40 Qf7+ Kg5 41 Be4 and White has an easily winning position. b) 35...Nhg6 36 Nxg4 Qxg4 37 Rxg4+ Kxg4 38 Bxg6 Kg5 39 Qxe7+ Kxg6 40 Qxc5 Rxd3 41 Qxe5 with a winning endgame for White. Still, this might be the best try for a defence. c) 35...Rd7 36 Nxg4 Qxg4 37 Rxg4+ Kxg4 38 Qg7+ Nhg6 (38...Kh5 39 Qxe5+) 39 Qf6 with a winning attack. Black cannot avoid losing material, probably a rook. One line is 39...Kh5 40 Bxg6+ Nxg6 41 Qf5+ and White wins. 417

36 Rxg4+ Qxg4 37 Qxe7+ Kh5 38 Qf7+ 1-0 Exercise 320 Poluljahov-Lopushnoy Smolensk 2000 (B31) The potential weakness in Black’s position is the light squares. 23 e6! Bxe6 23...fxe6 24 Qd3 Be8 25 Rxe6 Bf6 26 Qe3 and White wins; 23...Be8 24 exf7 Bxf7 25 Rxe7 Rf8 26 Rxc6 Bxd4 (26...Qxd4 27 Qxd4 Bxd4 28 Nxg6 and wins) 27 Qc2 Bxf2+ 28 Kh1 and Black’s position is collapsing. 24 Rxe6! fxe6 25 Qd3 Black’s position cannot be defended. 25...Qd8 25...Kg8 26 Qxg6 Kh8 27 Bxh6 Bf6 28 Nf3 Rg8 29 Qh5 and Black must lose material to avoid mate. The toughest defence was 25...Rf8, when White only has a clear win with 26 Nxg6! Rf6 27 Nf8+! Kg8 28 Nd7 Qb7 29 Nxf6+ exf6 30 Qg6 Qf7 31 Qg3. 26 Qxg6+ Kh8 27 Rc3?! Bringing the rook to the kingside. White would have won more easily with 27 Bxh6 Qg8 28 Qh5 Bxh6 29 Qxh6+ Qh7 30 Ng6+ Kg8 31 Qg5 Kf7 32 Nxe7. 27...Qe8 27...Qf8 28 Rf3 Bf6 29 Bxh6 Qe8 (29...Qg8 30 Qh5 and wins) 30 Rxf6! and Black is lost. 28 Qxe6 Bf6? Losing on the spot. A better defence was 28...Qh5! 29 Ng6+ (29 Nf5?! Qd1+ 30 Kh2 Qxd2 31 Nxg7 Qf4+ 32 Rg3 Qd6 and the position is not clear at all) 29...Kh7 30 Nxe7 Qd1+ 31 Kh2 Qxd2 32 Rg3 Qxd4 33 Qf5+ Kh8 34 Nxc8 and White will eventually win. 29 Rg3 1-0 Now the king is dead.

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6 Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 321 Oratovsky-Kagan Israel 2000 (B31) In this atypical combination, White wins at least a pawn because of a very unusual situation. 12 b4! cxb4 12...Qc7 13 Bxc5 is just a pawn for nothing. 13 axb4 Qxb4 13...Qc7 14 Bxa7 is a pawn, as 14...b6? 15 Bxb6 is two pawns. 14 Bxa7! Most amusingly, Black has no way to avoid 15 Bc5 winning the exchange. A highly unusual combination. 14...Ne6 14...b6 15 Rfb1 and White wins a pawn and has a strategically winning position. 15 Bc5! Qxc5 16 Rxa8 0-0 17 Na4 Qb5? 18 Ra5! 1-0 Exercise 322 Yurtaev-Lopushnoy Tomsk 1998 (B31) This fantastic attack requires deep calculation and also some guts. 14 Bxg5!! White sacrifices the bishop to attack Black’s king. 14...hxg5 Otherwise a vital pawn is lost for nothing, and with it the game. 15 Nxg5 Black has no forces that help defending the light squares on the kingside. As so often, the colour complex is decisive. 15...f5 White also wins after 15...Rd8 16 e6!!. To play this move with the threat of taking on f7 with check is very important! 16 Qh7?! is less convincing. After 16 e6 we have some branches: a) 16...fxe6 17 Qh7+ Kf8 18 Ne5 Nf4 19 Re4 and White wins. 419

b) 16...Bxe6 17 Qh7+ Kf8 18 Rxe6 Nf6 19 Qf5. Most people would have ended their calculation around here. White is a pawn up and has a winning attack. 19...Qc8 (19...Rd5 20 Ne5 Rad8 21 Rf1 Rd1 22 Nexf7 and White wins) 20 Ne5! Rd6 21 Nexf7 Rxe6 22 Qg6!!. Black now has no defence. After 22...Re2 23 Ne5 Qe8 24 Ne6+ Kg8 25 Qxg7 he is mated. c) 17 exf7+ Kf8 18 Qg6! Nf6 19 Rxe7!!. This winning move would have been very good to foresee. 19...Kxe7 (19...Qxc4 20 Rae1 wins, e.g. 20...Bd7 21 Qxf6 Bxf6 22 Nh7+ Kg7 23 f8Q+ Kg6 24 Qxf6+ Kh5 25 Qg5 mate) 20 Re1+ Kf8 21 Nh7+ Nxh7 22 Re8+ Rxe8 23 fxe8R mate. 16 Qh4 Rd8 17 Qh7+ Kf8 18 e6! White takes care of all the light squares. Black has no defence. 18...Qf4 18...Nf6 19 Qg6 Kg8 20 Ne5 Rf8 21 Qf7+! Rxf7 22 exf7+ Kh8 23 Ng6 mate is a nice finish. 19 Qg6 Kg8 20 Ne5 1-0 Exercise 323 Fischer-Spassky Belgrade 1992 (B31) In this example White cannot prevent Black from queening his pawn, and the rook is therefore lost. At the same time White wants to advance his king to d8 via d4 and c5. A good waiting move is required. 37 g4!! 37 Rb8? Kc2 38 Kd4 b1Q 39 Rxb1 Kxb1 40 Kc5 h5 41 Kd6 Kc2 42 Kd7 Kd3 43 e8Q Bxe8+ 44 Kxe8 Ke4 and Black makes a draw. 37...Kc2 Black amazingly finds himself in zugzwang. 37...Be8 38 Rb8 Bf7 39 e8R! (no jokes please! 39 e8B?? Bb3!! and Black draws) 39...Bxe8 40 Rxe8 b1Q 41 Rc8+ Kb2 42 Rb8+ Kc1 43 Rxb1+ Kxb1 44 g5 and White wins. 38 Kd4 b1Q 39 Rxb1 Kxb1 40 Kc5 Kc2 41 Kd6 1-0 420

6 Solutions to Exercises

Black resigned. He is too late after 41...Kd3 42 Kd7 Ke4 43 e8Q+ Bxe8+ 44 Kxe8 Kf4 45 Kf7 Kg5 46 Ke6. Exercise 324 Markovic-Zontakh Sabac 1998 (B31) Heavy pieces in trouble (revisited!). 25 Nb3! Black’s rook is trapped and White wins easily. 25 Nc4 Rb1+ 26 Kh2 Qe6 is nothing special. 25...Rb1+?! A better defence was 25...Qe6 26 Nxc5! (26 Bc1 Nb6 27 Qa3 Re2 28 Kf1 c4 gives Black fine counterplay) 26...Nxc5 27 Bxc5 Bxc5 28 Rxc5 and White has won a pawn. 26 Kh2 Qe6 27 Qa2 Re1 28 Qd2 Rb1 29 Qc2 Re1 30 Nc1! Now there is no escape. 30...Rxe3 30...f5 31 Qd2 Rf1 32 Qe2 and White wins. 31 fxe3 Bh6 32 Qf2 Qb6 33 Rb3 Qc6 34 Ne2 Nf8 35 Nc3 Bg5 36 Nd5 Bd8 37 Rb8 Qd6 38 Rb7 Qe6 39 Qa2 Kg7 40 Qa7 g5 41 Qxc5 g4 42 Ne7 Nd7 43 Qc6 1-0

33 Nf5 Qf2! Black tries to make it difficult for White. After 33...Rxf5 34 Qxf5 White will have two pawns more and the attack. Now some work remains. 34 Qg7+ Ke8 35 Qg8+ Kd7 36 Qxf7+ Kc8 37 Qf8+ Kd7 38 Qxd6+ Kc8 39 Qf8+ Kd7 40 Qf7+ Kc8 41 Qg8+ Kd7 42 Qe6+! Kd8 43 Rxf2 1-0 Exercise 326 Vokarev-Shabalov Linares 2000 (B32) White wins rather easily, actually. 29 g4! Rxg4?! On 29...Bxg4 you would have to see 30 Nf7+! Qxf7 31 Qxd8+ Bxd8 32 Rxd8+ Qg8 33 Rxg8+ Kxg8 34 Bd5+! Kf8 35 Nxg4 Rxg4 36 Bf3 and White wins. 30 Qxe2! Rg1+ 31 Rxg1 Qxe2 32 Nf7+ The rest of the game is an easy job for White 32...Kg8 33 Nxd8 Bc8 34 Nc6 Bf6 35 Nxe5 g6 36 Bxg6 Kf8 37 Bd3 Qh5 38 f4 Bxe5 39 fxe5 Qf3+ 40 Ng2 Ke7 41 Rgf1 Qg4 42 c6 1-0

Exercise 325 Kamsky-Piasetski Manila 1990 (B32) White wins be destroying Black’s kingside and establishing a strong knight on f5. 30 Rxf6! gxf6 31 Qxg4+ Kf8 32 Nd4! Solidly bringing all the pieces into the attack. 32...Re5 Other defences are also insufficient: a) 32...Ke7 33 Re1+ Kd8 34 Rxe8+ Kxe8 35 Qg8+ Ke7 36 Nf5+ and White wins. b) 32...Ree7 33 Qh4 Ke8 34 Nf5 Re5 35 Qxf6 Kd7 36 Qxf7+ Kd8 37 Qf8+ Re8 (37...Kd7 38 Nd4! and there is no defence against Rf7) 38 Qf6+ Kd7 39 Ng7 Re7 40 Qf5+ Kd8 41 Qf8+ Kd7 42 Rf7 and Black is lost.

Exercise 327 Aagaard-S.Hansen Øbro 1994 (B33) The following position is a good example of the destruction of the defence on the light squares in front of the king. 20 Rxf7!! Nxf7 20...Kxf7 21 Qh7+ Kf8 22 Ne6 mate. 21 Bxg6 Nf8 A better option was 21...Nxg5 22 Bxg5 Nf8 23 Bxe8 Bxg5, though after 24 Qg4 White has won a pawn for nothing. A nice tactic to see is 24...Qg7 25 Nf5 Bc8 26 Bf7+!, where White wins because of 26...Kxf7 27 Qc4+ Be6 28 Qc7+, winning the queen. 22 Bxf7+! Kxf7 23 Qh8!? The most original out of three good continuations.

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6 Solutions to Exercises

a) 23 Qh5+! Kg8 24 Nf5 Qc4 25 Bd4! and White wins as 26 Nh6+ decides. b) 23 Rf1+?! Kg8 24 Nf5 Bxg5 25 Bxg5 Re6 26 Nh6+ Kg7 27 Qg4 Rxh6 28 Bd8+ Rg6 29 Qxg6+ Nxg6 30 Bxc7 and White is likely to win without much effort. 23...Rec8 24 g6+! Ke8 24...Nxg6 25 Rf1+ and 24...Kxg6 25 Qg8+ Kh5 26 Qf7+ both lead to mate. 25 g7 Qc5 26 g8Q 1-0 Exercise 328 Analysis (B33) A position that arose randomly in a training session based on the previous game. White wins with 25 g6!! fxg6 26 Rxe5 Bc8 26...dxe5 27 Qe6+ Kh8 28 Qxe5+ Kg8 29 Bd4 Qxd4+ 30 Qxd4 Bxe4 31 Qc4+! Kh8 32 dxe4 and Black will not survive. 27 Re6! Bxe6 28 Qxe6+ Kh8 29 Rf7! Qd1+ 30 Kg2 Qe2+ 31 Nf2 and Black is mated. Thanks to Jonathan Faydi for this nice combination. Exercise 329 Ernst-L.Hansen Gausdal 1991 (B33) White has many strong continuations, but one is completely killing. 21 Bxa6! Bxa6 21...d4 22 Bxb7 Rxb7 23 Nc4 gives an easily winning position. 22 Nxd5 Qf7 23 Rac1! This quiet move can be hard to see. White wins in all lines. 23...h5 a) 23...Bb5 24 Qb4 (24 Nc7+ Kf8 25 Ne6+ also wins) 24...Bf8 25 Qxb5+! and wins. b) 23...0-0 24 Rc7 h5 25 Qg3 and wins. c) 23...Bc8 24 Qa4+ Bd7 25 Nc7+ Kd8 26 Qa7 and Black is helpless. 423

24 Qa4+ 1-0 Black resigned because of 24...Bb5 25 Qxb5+!! Rxb5 26 Rc8+ Kd7 27 Nb6+ Ke7 28 Rd7 mate. Exercise 330 Kasparov-Kramnik Novgorod 1994 (B33) A modern classic. As one annotator (Kasparov?) wrote for ChessBase, these are the moments we play chess to experience. 27 h5!! 27 Rxb6 Nxf4 28 Nxf4 Rxg4 is okay for Black. 27...Nxf4 The best move. All the alternatives meet a worse fate. a) 27...Rxg4 28 Qxg4 Rg8 29 Qxg8+ Kxg8 30 Rd8+ Qxd8 31 Rg3+ Kh8 32 Nxd8 and White wins. b) 27...fxe6 28 hxg6 Nxf4 29 Rxh7+ Kg8 30 Rxb6 and White wins. c) 27...Rxe6 28 hxg6 Nxf4 29 Rxh7+ Kg8 30 gxf7+ Kf8 31 Rh8+ Kxf7 32 Bxe6+ Nxe6 33 Rxb6 and White wins. d) 27...Rgg8 28 Rxd5! Rxe6 29 Rd7!! (29 Bxe6?! Qxe6 30 Rd6 with a clear edge – Ftacnik) with the threat of Rxf7 followed by Qh6. Black has no defence: 29...Re5 30 Rxb7! or 29...Bc8 30 Rxf7 Rg7 31 Bxe6. 28 hxg6 Qxd6! The best try. White wins in all lines. a) After 28...Nd3+ 29 Rhxd3! (29 Kb1? Qxf2 and there is no win) 29...exd3 (29...Qxf2 30 gxf7 and wins; 29...Qa5 30 gxf7 Qa1+ 31 Kd2 Qxb2+ 32 Ke1 Qc1+ 33 Bd1 Rf8 34 Rd8 and White wins) 30 gxf7 and Black has no defence. b) 28...Nxh3 29 gxf7! and White wins. c) 28...Rxe6 29 Rxh7+ Kg8 30 gxf7+ Kxh7 31 Rxb6 and White wins. 29 Rxh7+ Kg8 30 gxf7+ Kxh7 31 fxe8Q Nxe6 32 Bf5+! Kg7 33 Qg6+ Kf8 34 Qxf6+ Ke8 35 Bxe6

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6 Solutions to Exercises

White has a won position – the g-pawn will guarantee the full point. Now Black blundered and lost directly. 35...Qf8? 1-0 35...Ba8 36 g4 b4 37 c4 and Black has no way to proceed against g5-g6-g7-g8Q. Black resigned before White could play the killing 36 Bd7+! Exercise 331 Kasparov-Shirov Horgen 1994 (B33) White decides the game by playing the move he wants to play most. 32 Qxh7! 32 Nc7+!? is a slightly inferior version of the same theme. After 32...Ke7 33 Qxh7 White has a strong attack based on 33...Rxc4?! 34 Nd5+ Kd7 35 Nb6+. 32...Rxc4 32...Qc5 33 Bb3 Rb2 34 Qg8+ Kd7 35 Bd1 f5 36 Qf8 and the defence of the light squares has collapsed. 33 Qg8+ Kd7 34 Nb6+ Ke7 35 Nxc4 Qc5 36 Ra1! Qd4 37 Ra3 Bc1 38 Ne3 1-0

course, not all of this has to be foreseen; just enough to make the correct decision. 29 Qxd8+ Bf8 30 f3 Bf5 1-0 Exercise 333 Kogan-Alterman Israel 1999 (B34) This combination is not too difficult. 30 Rxe5! Bxc4 30...Bxe5 31 Qxg6+ Bg7 (31...Qg7 32 Nxe5 and White wins) 32 Nd6 Qd7 33 Bd3 and Black is lost. 31 Bxc4 Bxe5 32 Qxg6+ Kh8 32...Qg7 33 Bxe6+ Kh8 34 Qxg7+ Kxg7 35 Bxc8 and White wins. 33 Bxe6 Rcd8 34 Rd7! 1-0

Exercise 332 Anand-Kasimdzhanov Hyderabad 2002 (B33) White wins by creating and exploiting unprotected pieces. 27 d8Q!! 27 Qa5? Bxe4 28 d8Q Rg6!! 29 Qxh4 Rxg2+ 30 Kh1 Rxf2+ 31 Kg1 Rg2+ is a draw and 27 d8B?! Rxf5 28 Bxh4 Bxe4 is more funny than it is convincing. 27...Rxd8 28 Qa5 Bxe4? This loses directly without resistance. White also wins after 28...Rd7 29 Bxb7 Rxb7 30 Qd8+ Bf8, where he is a full pawn ahead and kills the counterplay with 31 Ne5 Rh6 32 Qc8!? Qe7 33 Qg4+ Bg7 34 Rac1 Rc7 35 Nd3 Rhc6 36 Rxc6 Rxc6 37 Re1. After this Black will not survive. Of

Exercise 334 Sokolov-Lutskan Latvia 1994 (B34) Black has sacrificed a pawn to gain some kind of compensation, but White can eliminate this counterplay with direct action and wins by attacking the loose pieces. 10 e6! Bg7 The only try for a defence is 10...f6 11 Bf4 Rb4 (11...Rxb2 12 Bc4 Rb6 13 exd7+ Qxd7 14 Qf7+ Kd8 15 Rd1 and White wins) 12 Bc4! dxe6 13 Qc5 Rxb2 14 Rd1 Bd7 15 Bxe6 Rb7 16 Qd5! and everything is losing since after 16...Qc8 17 Bf7+ Kd8 18 Qa5+ Rb6 19 Be6 the house collapses. How much of this is necessary to see can of course be discussed. 11 exf7+ Kf8 12 Bh6! Bxh6?! 12...d6 13 Bxg7+ Kxg7 14 0-0-0 and Black might win f7 back, but he has no compensation for the other pawn. 13 Qe5 Kxf7 14 Qxb8 Qa5+ 15 c3 Qg5 16 Rd1 Qg4 17 Qb3+ e6 18 Qc4 Qg5 19 h4 Qe5+ 20 Be2 Rf8 21 h5 g5 22 Rh3 Kg8 23 Rf3 Rxf3 24 gxf3 Bb7 25 Rxd7 Bxf3 26 Qd3 Be4 27 Qd6 Qf6 28 Rd8+ Bf8 29 Rxf8+! 1-0

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6 Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 335 Horvath-Kiss Eger 1997 (B36) Again devastation of the kingside. 23 Bxf6 exf6 24 Bb3+!! The key move. 24 Rxf6 Re6 25 Rf3! still gives White a strong attack, but compared to the game it is clearly inferior. 24...Nxb3 24...Qxb3 25 Rxb3 Nxb3 26 Qxf6 gives White a winning attack. 25 Qxf6 Bh3!? What can Black do? 25...Bf5 26 exf5 and there is no defence. And after 25...Kh7 26 Qf7+ Kh6 then 27 e5!! includes the remaining piece in the attack and wins. 26 Qxg6+ Kh8 27 Qh5+ Kg8 28 Qg5+ Kh8 29 Qh4+ Kg8 30 Qg3+ Kh8 31 Qxh3+ Kg8 32 Qg4+ Kh8 33 Qh5+ Kg8 34 Qg6+ Kh8 35 Rxb7 1-0 Exercise 336 Ivanchuk-Anand Buenos Aires 1994 (B36) White finds a way to continue the attack by eliminating the strongest defender. 31 Rxg7+!! Kxg7 32 Bd4+ f6 The only move. 32...Ne5 loses directly to 33 Bxe5+ (33 Qe3 also wins in long and complicated lines, but why, when there is an easy way?) 33...dxe5 34 Qxe5+ f6 35 Qh2!. Black cannot defend himself, for example 35...Rg8 36 Rh7+ Kf8 37 Qb8 mate. 33 Qe3! Nf8 33...Rf8 34 Qxe7+ Rf7 35 Rh7+ and White wins. 34 Be4! Other moves are also strong, but White has the right focus. All the pieces must join the attack and it can be nothing but irresistible, when the queen and rook are on the wrong side of the board.

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Notice especially how Ivanchuk is in no hurry to execute the check on h6. 34...Kf7 34...Rd1 35 Qh6+ Kf7 36 Bxg6+ Nxg6 37 Qh7+ Kf8 38 Qxg6 and Black is mated. 34...Ra8 loses to many moves: 35 Bb1 and 35 Bf5! Kf7 (35...gxf5 36 Qxe7+ Kg8 37 Rh8+ Kxh8 38 Bxf6+ Kg8 39 Qg7 mate) 36 Be6+ Ke8 37 Rh8 g5 38 Qh3, when Black will be mated. 35 Rh8 Here Black resigned as he has no defence. 35...Qa5 a) 35...Rd1 36 Qh6 Rxd4 37 Rxf8+ Rxf8 38 Qxg6 mate. b) 35...e5 36 dxe6+ Rxe6 (36...Nxe6 37 Bxg6+ Kxg6 38 Qh6+ Kf7 39 Qxf6 mate) 37 Qh6! Rxe4 38 Qxf8+ Ke6 39 Qe8 mate. c) 35...Ra8 36 Qh6 Re1 37 Rxf8+ Rxf8 38 Qxg6 mate. d) 35...g5 36 Qh3 and Black is lost. 36 Qh6 Rg1+ 37 Kf3! e5 38 Bxg6+ Ke7 39 Qg7+ Kd8 40 Qxf6+ Kc7 41 Qf7+ and so on. Exercise 337 Lendwai-Rossi Zürich 1988 (B37) Black wins because White has no influence on the light squares in front of his king. 34...Bxg2+!! 35 Kxg2 Re2+ 36 Kg3 36 Kf3 Qb7+ 37 Kg4 Rg2+ 38 Ng3 f5+ 39 Kg5 Qe7+ and wins. 36...Qxc3? Much stronger was 36...Qa8! 37 Qf6 Rg2+ 38 Kh4 Qf3! and White is mated. Still, Black retains good winning chances. 37 Qd8+ Kg7 38 Rb1? White could have fought back a bit with 38 Rd1 d2+ 39 Kh4 Qb4! 40 Qg5 f6 41 Qg4 Kh6 42 Nxd2 (42 Qf3 Rg2 43 Ng3 f5 44 Nxf5+ gxf5 45 Qh5+ Kg7 46 Qxf5 Qe7+ 47 Kh5 Qe8+ 48 Kh4 Qd8+ 49 Kh5 Qh8+ 50 Qh7+ Qxh7 mate) 428

6 Solutions to Exercises

42...Rg2! 43 Nf3 Rxg4+ 44 Kxg4 Qxa4 and it is not at all clear whether Black will win, even though he has great chances. 38...d2+ 39 Kh4 Rg2 40 Qd5 Qf6+ 0-1 Exercise 338 Milos-Spangenberg Argentina 1995 (B37) White wins through a remarkable combination using all the known themes and an ending with a decisive passed pawn on the seventh rank. 27 Ne7+!! Rxe7 28 exd6 Qxb2 29 dxe7 Qe5 Definitely the best try. 29...Nfe5 loses after 30 Rf2! Qa3 31 Rxd7!. 29...Nc5 loses to many moves, for instance 30 Rxf7 Kxf7 31 Rd8 gives White an extra exchange and some attack. 30 Rd2! 30 Rd3! is a variation of the same idea. 30...Qxe1 30...g3 31 h3 changes nothing. 31 Rxe1 Nc5 32 Bd5 Black has no defence against the pawn on the seventh. 32...Re8 32...Bxd5+ 33 Rxd5 and White wins. 32...Ng5 33 Re5 Bxd5+ 34 Rdxd5 Nge6 35 Rd8+ Rxd8 36 exd8R+ Nxd8 37 Rxc5 and White wins. 33 Bxe6 Rxe7 34 Rde2 h5? 35 Bd5 1-0 Exercise 339 Milos-Silva Buenos Aires 1991 (B38) White wins with a remarkable combination which eliminates the main defender. 22 Bf5!! Simply threatening to invade the position through the e-file, winning a pawn on the way. 22...Nf8 a) 22...gxf5 23 Rg3+ Kf8 (23...Kh8 24 Qc3+ and White wins) 24 Qh6+ Ke8 25 Rxe6+ Kd7 26 Qxh7! and White ends up many pawns up.

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b) 22...Qxc4 23 Bxe6 fxe6 24 Rxe6 Rf8 was objectively the best defence, but White should win as he pleases. One line is simply 25 Re7+ Rf7 26 b3 Qb4 27 Rxf7+ Kxf7 28 Qd5+ Kf8 29 Re3 and Black will not survive the attack, e.g. 29...Re8 30 Qf3+!. 23 Qc3+ Kg8 24 Re7 Qc5 25 Be4?! Leaving the rook on e1 unprotected, which gives Black a few chances of survival. Stronger was 25 Bg4! Qg5 (otherwise Qf6) 26 Qf3 f6 27 h4! (the queen is overloaded, protecting both f6 and d5) 27...Qxh4 (27...Qh6 28 Qxf6 and White wins) 28 Qd5+ Kh8 29 Qf7 Qh6 30 Qxf6+ Kg8 31 R1e3! and there is no defence against Rh3. Always use all the pieces! 25...Nd7?! 25...Qb4! gave a few chances of survival, even though White wins after 26 Bd5 Qxc3 27 Bxf7+ Kg7 28 Bd5+ Kh6 29 bxc3. 26 Bxb7 Rab8 27 Rxf7! Ne5 27...Kxf7 28 Bd5+. 28 Re7 1-0 Exercise 340 Savchenko-Neverov Donetsk 1998 (B39) White has a brilliant combination, including letting Black take on g2. 31 Rxf7!! Rxg2+ White wins easily after 31...Kxf7 32 Qxh7+ Ke8 33 Qxg6+ Ke7 34 Qg5+ Ke8 35 Qh5+. 32 Kf1 Kxf7 33 Qxh7+ Kf8 33...Kf6 34 Re1 and Black has no defence: 34...Rxc4 35 Qh8+ Kf7 36 Re8! and Black is mated. 34 Re1!? 34 b5! Qa3 35 Qh8+ wins even more easily. 34...Bd5 34...Rxa2 was the best try. 35 b5 Bg2+ 36 Kg1 Qa3 37 Qh8+! Kf7 38 Qxc8 and Black’s king will suffer. 35 Re7 1-0 430

6 Solutions to Exercises

Qg7 follows. Exercise 341 Ganbold-Banikas Istanbul 2000 (B40) White has sacrificed a full rook and needs to break through immediately, or this extra rook will actually start playing. 22 Bh5!! Rg5 The only try for a defence. Black is mated after 22...Nxh5 23 Qh8+ Kd7 24 Rxf7+ Ke6 25 Qxd8 Kxf7 26 Qf8+ Ke6 27 Qe7. The line 22...Be6 23 Bxg6 fxg6 24 Rxf6 Kd7 25 Rxg6 followed by Rg7+ is also hopeless. 23 Rxf6 Rxh5 Again forced. 23...Ra7 24 Rxh6 Rxh5 25 Rxh5 and Rh8+ cannot be prevented. 24 Rg6!! The fantastic point to the combination. The rook is immune and has now finally found a route into the black king’s position. 24...Rg5 Black is mated after 24...fxg6 25 Qh8+ Kd7 (25...Kf7 26 Qxd8 simply wins) 26 Qh7+ Ke6 27 Qxg6+ Qf6 (27...Kd7 28 Qf7+ Qe7 29 Qxe7 mate) 28 Qe8+ Qe7 29 Qxe7. 24...Kd7 25 Qg7 Qe8 26 Rf6 is an awkward position. All the black pieces are terribly misplaced and the extra rook does him little good. 24...Be6 25 Rg8+ Kd7 26 Rxd8+ Rxd8 27 Qa5 Ke8 28 Qxa6 only gives White a winning endgame with a large and effective queenside majority. 25 Qh8+ 25 Rxh6 also wins after 25...Rg8 26 Qe5+ Kd7 27 Rh7 or 27 Bb8 or even 27 h4 as Black cannot improve his position, e.g. 27...Re8 28 Qf5+ Re6 29 Qxf7+ Re7 30 Qf5+ Ke8 31 Rh8 mate. 25...Kd7 26 Qh7 Qe8 27 Rf6 Kd8 28 Rxf7 Bd7 29 Re7 Re5 1-0 Exercise 342 Maljutin-Magerramov 431

Moscow 1992 (B40) White wins by attacking Black’s weak king. 21 Qb6! Qxe2 Black is more or less forced to accept the sacrifice. a) 21...Rb8 22 Bd1! (with the threat of Ba4+) 22...Ke8 23 d4 Qe4 24 Qxd6 and White wins. b) 21...Kc8 22 d4! (removing the queen from its central position and eliminating its control over a1) 22...Qxe2 23 Ra1 Kd7 24 Qxb7+ Ke8 25 Qb8+ and wins. 22 Qxb7+ Kd8 22...Ke8 23 Qb8+ and White wins. 23 Qb6+! White checks his queen to a5, from where it protects a1. Another path to victory was 23 c5!? Nc8 (23...dxc5 24 d6 and wins) 24 cxd6 Nxd6 25 Qb8+ Nc8 26 Rc1 and Black has no defence. 23...Kd7 24 Qb5+ Kd8 24...Kc8 25 Ra1 and White wins. 25 Qa5+ Kd7 26 Re1 Ra8!? 27 Qb4! Black now resigned because of Qb7+ and the continuation 27...Rb8 28 Qa4+ Kc8 (28...Kc7 29 Qa5+ and e1 is protected, so there is no back rank mate) 29 Qe8+ Kc7 30 Qxb8+ and White wins with an exchange and a couple of extra pawns. Exercise 343 Morozevich-Kogan London 1994 (B40) With a simple forcing line White wins a pawn and then the endgame. 24 Bxe5! 24 Qh5 Nd4 25 Bxb7 Qxb7 26 Nd2 b5 still leaves Black with some counterplay. 24...Nxe5 Forced. 24...Qxe5 25 Bxc6+!. 25 Bxb7 Nxc4 25...Qxb7 26 Qxe5 and White is a pawn up. 26 bxc4 Qxb7 27 Qd3+ Ke8 28 Qxh7 The point. White wins with little problem.

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6 Solutions to Exercises

28...b5 29 Qg6+ Kd7 30 Qd3+ Kc7 31 cxb5 Qd5 32 Qxd5!? exd5 33 Ne3 c4 34 Nxd5+ Kd7 35 Nxe7! 1-0 Exercise 344 Oratovsky-Miladinovic Salou 2000 (B40) Black eliminates the defence of the dark squares and uses his strongly positioned queen to win the game. 20...Rxd1+!! 21 Kxd1 Ne4 22 Ke1 Forced. 22 Kc2 Qxe2+ and 22 Rf1 Ba4+! 23 Ke1 Qc1+ both win for Black. 22...Qc1+!? White is helpless, and even this changes little. The strongest is the non-forcing line 22...b6! (with the threat of ...a5) 23 Rf1 Ba4. 23 Bd1 Qxf4 24 Rf1?! 24 Bf3! would force Black into finding 24...Qe3+ 25 Be2 b6! and Black wins as in the line above. 24...Qe3+ 25 Be2 Ba4!! 0-1 With the threat of ...Qc1+, which cannot be parried. Exercise 345 J.Polgar-Short Dortmund 1997 (B40) A true avalanche of forks decides this game. 31 Rg5! Qc7 The alternatives are no better. a) 31...Qd6 32 Nf5+! and wins. b) 31...Qb8 would move the queen far away from the scene of action. Now White has a mechanical attack with 32 Nh5+!!, leaving Black with three legal moves at his disposal. b1) 32...Kg8 33 Rf1 Rdd8 34 Nf6+ Kg7 35 Nxh7 Nxh7 36 Rxf7+ Kxf7 37 Qxh7+ Kf6 38 Qxg6+ Ke7 39 Qxe6+ and Black will be mated. b2) 32...Kh6 33 Rg3! Qe5 34 Nf5+! and mate is imminent.

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b3) 32...Kh8 33 Rf3 gxh5 34 Rxh5 f5 35 Qf6+ Rg7 36 Nxe6 Nxe6 37 Rxh7+ Kxh7 38 Bxf5+ and White wins. 32 Nfxe6+ Nxe6 32...fxe6 33 Rxf8! and White wins. 33 Rxe6 This wins, but is not the most direct. 33 Nxe6+!? fxe6 34 Bxg6 Kh8 35 Qh6! gives White a winning attack, but this is similar to the game in some way. The most impressive is 33 Rgxg6+!!. Now Black has: a) 33...Kh8 34 Qxh7+ Kxh7 35 Rg5+ Kh8 36 Rh6 mate. b) 33...Kf8 34 Qh6+ Ke7 35 Nf5+ Ke8 36 Rg8+ Nf8 37 Rxf8 mate. c) 33...hxg6 34 Nxe6+ fxe6 35 Rxg6+ Kf8 36 Qh8+ Ke7 37 Qf6+ Kd6 38 Qxe6+ Kc5 39 b4+ Kd4 40 Qe3 mate. 33...Qa5+ 34 b4 Qxa3 35 Nf5+ Kg8 36 Ne7+ Rxe7 37 Rxe7 Qc3+ 38 Ke2 d4 39 Qf4 1-0 Exercise 346 Smyslov-Hjartarson Reykjavik 1995 (B40) Black wins a piece by attacking two hanging pieces. Still, there are some twists and turns to it, and the final outcome should be no more than an extra pawn. 13...Nxf3+! 14 Bxf3 Qf6! 15 Bg2? Right idea, wrong execution. a) 15 bxc5 Qxc3 16 Qxc3 Bxc3 17 cxd6 Kd7! and there is no compensation for the pawn. b) 15 Kg2! Qxc3 16 e5 Qxd2 17 Bxc6+ Bd7 18 Bxd7+ Kxd7 19 Bxd2 Bxe5 and Black has won a pawn and should win the game. Still, this was the only chance for White. 15...Qxc3 16 e5 Nd4! 0-1 Now Black stays a full piece ahead. Exercise 347 Ehlvest-Shaked 434

6 Solutions to Exercises

New York 1998 (B41) White sacrifices a piece to ruin Black’s kingside. 22 Bxf5! Black only has one try to save the game. 22...g6 22...Rxf5 23 Rxf5 g6 24 Rg5 and White wins. 22...Bxf5 23 Rxf5 Rxf5 24 Qxf5 Qd6 25 Re1 Re8 26 Rf1! gives White an extra pawn and a strong attack to make it easier to convert the material advantage into a full point. 23 Bxg6 Obviously the idea. 23...hxg6 24 Qxg6+ Kh8 25 Qh6+ Kg8 26 Rf3! Black has no defence, as a rook will come into close contact with the king. 26...Rxf3 27 gxf3 Kf7 28 Qh7+! 1-0 The mating line is 28...Kf6 29 Rg1 Qf8 30 Rg6+ Kf5 31 Rg8+ Kf4 32 Qe4. Exercise 348 Donchev-Prie Toulon 1988 (B42) White sacrifices a bishop, exploiting the unfortunate position of Black’s king and queen to decide the game. 19 Bxg6!! Kxg6 19...Ne5 20 Qg3 Nf3+ 21 Qxf3 fxg6 22 Qe3 is a pawn and an attack, clearly enough for a full point. 20 Qf5+ Kg7 21 Re7! With the obvious threat of Ne6+. Less clear is 21 Re6?! because of 21...fxe6 (21...Nc5 22 Qf6+ Kg8 23 Re7 Qd8 24 Rbe1 and White wins with Re1-e3-g3) 22 Nxe6+ Kh8 23 Nxf8! (23 Qg6 Qxc3 24 Qxh6+ is only a draw) 23...Nxf8 (23...Kg8 24 Ne6 Qxc3 25 Qg6+ Kh8 26 Qxh6+ Kg8 27 Qg6+ Kh8 28 Qe8+) 24 Qxf8+ Kh7 25 Re1 Be6 26 Qf6 Re8 27 Rxe6 Rxe6 28 Qxe6 Qxc3 29 Qe4+ Kh8 30 g3 and White should win the endgame, though Black has some defensive resources. 21...Qxc3 435

The alternatives are no better: a) 21...Nf6 22 Rxc7 Bxf5 23 Nxf5+ gives White a winning position. b) 21...Qd6 loses to the following fantastic sequence: 22 Ne6+ Kh8 23 Qh3! (23 Nxf8 Nf6 24 Qe5 also wins, though after much more work starting with 24...Qxe5 25 Rxe5 Kg7 26 Rd1!) 23...Qd2 24 Qg3 Rg8 25 Re8 and Black will have to part with substantial material to avoid mate. c) 21...Qc4 22 Qh3 Kh7 23 Ne6 b5 24 Re1!. 22 Ne6+ Kh8 22...Kg8 23 Nxf8 Nf6 24 Qf4 Kxf8 (24...Ra8 25 Re3 and White wins) and here 25 Qd6, 25 Re3 and 25 Rd1 all win. The same goes for 25 Re2!? Ra8 26 Rc1 Qd3 27 Qxh6+ Kg8 28 Re5. 23 Nxf8 Nxf8 23...Nf6 24 Qf4 and White wins. 24 Qf4! Ra8 25 Rc1! Qg7 25...Qb2 26 Qxh6+ Kg8 27 Re8 Qg7 28 Qxg7+ Kxg7 29 Rcxc8 and Black can only resign. 26 Rxf7 Ne6 27 Qf5! Qg8 28 Qf6+ 1-0 Exercise 349 Ermenkov-Kotsur Dubai 2000 (B42) White has won the exchange, but Black has good counterplay. A removal of this counterplay would win the game. 36 Qd6! Ng4 36...Re8 37 Rc5! transposes. 37 Rc5!! Re8 37...Nxf2 leads to a forced mate after 38 Qf6+ Kg8 39 Qxg6+ Kf8 40 Rf5+ Ke7 41 Qf6+ Ke8 42 Qf8 mate. 37...Rg8 also loses immediately after 38 Qd4+. 38 Rf8+ Rxf8 39 Qxf8+ Kh7 40 Qf7+ Kh8 41 Qe8+ Kg7 42 Qxg6+ Kf8 43 Qd6+ Kf7 44 Qc7 1-0 Exercise 350 Shirov-Topalov Linares 1998 (B42) 436

6 Solutions to Exercises

The loose queen on a8, the smothered mate on f7 and the hanging knight on e3 give White a winning sequence. 31 Qf3! Nxd1 31...Bb7 32 Nd6 Re8 33 Qxb7 Qxb7 34 Nxb7 Nxf1 35 Rxf1! and White wins because of 35...fxe5 36 Nd6 and the rook is lost. 31...Nxf1 32 Nd6 Qa7 33 Nxc8 Qf7 34 Qxf1 and White wins. 32 Nd6! Black will lose everything now. 32...Qa7 32...Qxf3 33 Nf7 mate. 33 Nxc8 Qd7 34 Nd6 1-0 Black resigned because of 34...Nxb2 35 Qd5 Rf8 36 Bxb2. Exercise 351 Stefansson-Olafsson Munkebo 1998 (B42) White wins the game by demolishing the defence of the light squares around Black’s king. 21 Rxf7!! Kxf7 22 Qxh7+ Bg7 22...Kf6 23 Rf1+ Ke5 24 Qh5+ gxh5 25 Rf5 mate. 23 Rf1+ Nf6 23...Ke7 24 Bg5+ Nf6 25 Bxf6+ Kd7 26 Qh3+ Re6 27 Qxe6 mate. Now White has more than one way to win the game. 24 Bg5! More thematic would be 24 e5! Rxe5 25 Bxg6+ Kf8 26 Rxf6+ Bxf6 27 Qxc7. 24...Qe7 25 Bxf6 25 e5!. 25...Qxf6 26 Rxf6+ Kxf6 27 e5+! Kxe5 28 Qxg7+ 1-0 Exercise 352 Svetushkin-Gunawan Istanbul 2000 (B42)

437

White has a passed pawn on the seventh, but Black is threatening to give perpetual starting with ...Rxg2+. 28 Qd8! 28 c8Q Rxg2+ 29 Kxg2 Qd2+ 30 Kh1 Nf2+ with a perpetual, while White is mated after 31 Kg2?? Ng4+ 32 Kg3 Qxe3+ 33 Kxg4 Qf4. 28...Rd2 There are no alternatives. 29 Qxd6 Nxd6 30 Nb6! Takes control over the promotion square. 30 Rc6 Nc8 31 Nb6 Nxb6 32 Rxb6 Rc2 leads to a very strange situation, where Black seems to be lost as he cannot improve his position, while White can create another passed pawn on the queenside. One possible line goes 33 Rb7 e4 34 b4 h5 35 a4 g5 36 Kf1 g4 37 hxg4 hxg4 38 Ke1. Therefore Black should try 31...Rd6 32 Rxd6 Nxd6 with a difficult end-game, but with some chances to draw. 30...Bh6 30...Rd3 31 Rc6! followed by Rxd6 and the white pawn queens. 31 Nc4! Bxe3+ 32 Kh1 Nc8 33 Nxd2 Kf7 33...Bxd2 34 Rd1 and White wins. 34 Rd1 Ke7 35 Nf3 1-0 Exercise 353 Yudasin-Nikolaev Podolsk 1991 (B42) White wins by a nice combination with narrow branches running over eight moves. 28 Nf6+! Kh8 29 Nxh7!! Here Black resigned, fully capable of predicting the future awaiting him after 29...Kxh7 29...Rxe4 30 Qh3 and White wins. 29...Nxe4 30 Rxe4 Rxe4 31 Nf6! gxf6 32 gxf6 and White wins. 30 g6+ Kg8 30...fxg6 31 fxg6+ Kh6 32 Qh3+ Kg5 (32...Kxg6 33 Rg1+ Kf7 34 Rdf1+ Ke8 35 Rxf8+ Kxf8 36 Qh8+ Kf7 37 Rxg7+ Ke6 38 Qh6 mate) 438

6 Solutions to Exercises

33 Rxd6 presents such strong threats that Black is forced into 33...Qxe4+ 34 Rxe4 Rxe4 35 Rd1, where he has no chance of surviving. 31 Qh3 Rfa8 31...fxg6 32 fxg6 Rf2 is another option, but White wins after 33 Qh7+ Kf8 34 Qh8+ Ke7 35 Qxg7+ Ke6 36 Qg8+ Kd7 37 g7 (37 Qh7+ Kc6 38 g7 Rf7 is less clear) 37...Nxe4 38 Qh7 Nf6 39 g8Q+ Nxh7 40 Rxe5! and Black’s king cannot find safety. This line is, of course, hard to calculate exactly, and to simply understand that the pawn will queen is enough to go for the combination. By the way, 40 Qxh7+ also wins here, though it is less convincing. 32 Qh7+ Kf8 33 Qh8+ Ke7 34 Qxg7 Rf8 35 Rxd6!! This move had to be predicted. Now White wins easily. 35...Nd7 36 Re6+ Kd8 37 gxf7 Rd4 38 Rxe5 and Black is stripped completely. Exercise 354 Fressinet-Hauchard Vichy 2000 (B43) White wins by using his superior fire-power on the kingside to smash his way through the enemy ranks. 21 Nxg7! Rxe4 Black has no adequate response to this. 21...Kxg7 22 Rxf6! wins on the spot: Bh6+, Qg3+ and other threats are imminent. Black loses after 22...Bxf6 23 Bh6+! Kxh6 (23...Kg6 24 Qf5+ transposes; 23...Kg8 24 Qxf6 with mate to come) 24 Qxf6+ Kh5 25 g4+ Kxg4 26 Qf5+ Kh4 27 Nf3 mate. 22 Nxc6 The simplest. 22...Qxc6 23 Rfxe4 Nxe4 24 Rxe4 Bb6+ 25 Kh1 Qxc2 25...Kxg7 26 Rg4+ and wins the queen. 26 Nf5 1-0 Black is a piece down and mate is likely. 439

Exercise 355 Smirin-Kurajica Zagreb 1993 (B43) A speedy invasion on d7 decides the game. 20 Bxf5! 20 Bc4?! Bc8 is less clear. 20...Nxe5 White also wins after 20...Nxf5 21 Rxd7 Ba6 and now anything but 22 Qxa6?? Rxb6. For instance, 22 Qf2. 21 Rxd7! Black’s position collapses. 21...Nxd7 22 Bxe6+ Rf7 23 Nxd7 a4 24 Nbc5 Bxc5 25 Bxc5 Ra8 26 Bxf7+ Nxf7 27 Qe7 Rc8 28 Re1 b3 29 Qe8+! 1-0 Exercise 356 Anand-Illescas Cordoba Linares 1992 (B44) A remarkable and original combination decides the game. It becomes transparent that the dark squares on the queenside are weak and that Black’s queen is short of good squares. Actually, Black’s pieces are collected in a weird way. 32 Nxb6!! Nxb6 33 Na5 Qa7 33...Qc8 34 Bxb6 and White will win. 34 c5! The final breakthrough. 34...dxc5 35 bxc5 Nc8 Black has no defence: a) 35...Nfd7 36 cxb6 Nxb6 37 Qg3 and White wins after 37...e5 38 Rxc7 Qxc7 39 Bxe5. b) 35...Bxc5 36 Bxc5 h6 37 Bxb6 Rxb6 38 Rd8+ Kh7 39 Rxa8 and White wins. 36 c6 Rb6 36...Nb6 37 Rb1 and Black is sadly short of a defence, and will lose a rook or so. 37 Rb1 1-0 On 37...Rxb1 White had prepared the simple 38 Rxb1!.

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6 Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 357 Galkin-Beshukov Moscow 1998 (B44) White has invested a piece for two pawns and an attack. Here the attack is completely unstoppable, mainly due to the weakness of the light squares. It begins with the removal of all chances of a defence. 25 Bxf6! Kxf6 There are no alternatives. 25...Qxf6 26 Re1! Bxb3 27 Qxb3+ Kg6 28 Re6 and White wins. 25...gxf6 26 Qh5+ Kg7 27 Bxe6 and White will have three pawns as well as an unstoppable attack. 26 Qc3+! A very important check. 26...Kf7 27 Re1 This is what White was heading for. Now everything comes with check. 27...Bxb3 27...Bd5 28 Rd1 and White will win. 28 Qxb3+ Kg6 28...Kf6 29 Re6+ Kg5 30 f4+ Kxf4 31 Qg3 mate. 29 Re6+ Kh5 30 Qf3+ Kg5 31 h4+ Kxh4 32 g3+ Kg5 33 Qf4+ Kh5 34 Qxf5+1-0 Exercise 358 Shmuter-S.Polgar Rishon Le Zion 1996 (B44) The following combination has one of my favourite aesthetic themes, the delaying of a recapture, as well as a nice removal of defence. 24 Rxd7! Qxd7 25 Nf6+ Nxf6 26 Qg5+ Kh7 27 Rxf6 Black has no defence. 27...Qd4+ Black has no perpetual: 27...Qd1+ 28 Kg2 Qe2+ 29 Kh3 Qd3+ 30 Kh4 and White wins. 28 Kh1 Qxf6 28...Qe4+ 29 Kh2 Qe2+ 30 Kh3 Qd3+ 31 Kh4 is the same story as before.

441

29 Qxf6 Rad8 30 Kg2 Rd7 31 Nb1 Rc8 32 Qh4+ Kg7 33 Qg5+ Kh7 34 Qf4 b5 35 Nd2 bxc4 36 Ne4 Rb7 37 Qg5 1-0 Exercise 359 J.Polgar-Hajkova Maskova Novi Sad 1990 (B45) White is of course already winning, and after a move like 24 Rf3 would remain an exchange up with no counterplay. But White has a more direct way. 24 Rb8! Bxd3 25 Rg8+ Kh5 26 f3! 26 Qg3? Bf5 would be a disaster. But also possible was 26 h3 f5 27 g4+ fxg4 28 hxg4+ Kxg4 29 Qg3+ Kf5 30 Qxd3+ with a mating attack. 26...f5 27 Qg3 1-0 Black resigned because of 27...Qa4 28 Qh3+ Qh4 29 g4+ fxg4 30 fxg4 mate. Exercise 360 Velickovic-Skrobek Pamporovo 1981 (B45) White decides the game by using his momentary chance to keep Black’s kingside shut off from support from the queenside. 14 Bf6! 14 Qh5 f5 15 exf6 gxf6 looks good for White, but is not completely clear. 14...Ba6? Not the best defence. a) 14...dxe5 15 Bxh7+ Kxh7 16 Qh5+ Kg8 17 Qg5 will mate. b) However, Black could have defended with 14...Re8!. Now White wins with 15 Qg4! g6 16 h5 Ba6 17 Bxa6 Rxa6 18 hxg6 fxg6 19 Qxg6+!. This should probably have been anticipated, if we talk about very accurate calculation. 19...hxg6 20 Rh8+ Kf7 21 Rh7+ Kf8 22 Rxc7 dxe5 23 Bg7+ Kg8 24 Bxe5 and White has a winning endgame. 15 Qg4 g6 16 Qg5! 1-0 Black resigned. After 16...Qxc2 17 Qh6! mate is imminent, while 17 Bxa6?? Bd2! gives Black a new 442

6 Solutions to Exercises

chance. Exercise 361 Beshukov-Alekseev St Petersburg 1996 (B46) White wins immediately by involving his bishops in the attack on the weak squares f6 and g6. 24 e5!! A thematic opening of the position. Still, the details need to be figured out. 24...Qxe5 White wins after 24...exf5 25 exf6 Kxf6 26 Qh4+ Ke5 (26...g5 27 Bxd4+) 27 Re1+ Kd5 28 Bxd4 Bxd4 29 c4+ Kc6 30 Qxd4, when the hanging rook and the threat of mate are very uncomfortable, e.g. 30...Qa5 31 Re5 d5 32 Re6+ Kd7 33 Qxg7+ Kxe6 34 Re3+ Kd6 35 Qe7+ Kc6 36 Re6 mate. 24...Nxf5 loses on the spot to 25 Bxf5 exf5 26 exf6. 25 fxg6+ hxg6 26 Bxg6+ Kf8 27 Bb4+! 27 Qh8+ transposes. Now Black resigned on account of 27...d6 28 Qh8+ Rg8 29 Bxd6+ Qxd6 30 Qxf6 mate. Exercise 362 David-Taimanov Prague 1993 (analysis) (B46) White wins quite easily with a classic Greek gift sacrifice. In the game he did not play most accurately. Did you see everything? 21 Bxh7+! Kxh7 21...Kf8 22 Qh5 and that the attack will succeed is beyond discussion. 22 Qh5+ Kg8 23 Rh3 f5 24 Qg6!? This still wins. 24 Qh7+?! Kf7 25 Rh6? (White can still win with 25 Qh5+ Kg8 and now the only winning move is 26 Qg6!) 25...Rg8! 26 Qg6+ Kf8 27 Rh7 Qe8 and the attack is not clearly succeeding. But simplest is just 24 exf6! Bxf6 25

443

Bxf6 Qxf6 26 Qxe8+ Qf8 27 Rh8+ and the game is over. 24...Bf8 24...Bh4 25 Rxh4 Qxh4 26 Qxe8+ Kh7 27 f4 and White wins anyway. 25 Rh7 With the idea of Qh5. This idea is well known and very useful to have in your repertoire, but it should not be implemented so mechanically as here. Still, White does win. 25...Re7 25...Qe7 26 Qh5 g6 27 Qxg6+ Bg7 28 Rxg7+ Qxg7 29 Qxe8+ and White has some pawns and a winning attack. 26 Qh5 g6 27 Rh8+ Kf7 28 Qh7+ Ke8 29 Rxf8+! Kxf8 30 Qh8+ 1-0 Exercise 363 Fishbein-Frias Philadelphia 1994 (B46) White wins by introducing the rest of his arsenal into the attack. 31 Nd4!! exd4 Black cannot escape, e.g. 31...Bc4 32 Nf5!! Qxf5 (32...Ra7 33 Rxg7 Qxg7 34 Nxg7 Rxg7 35 Qh8+ Bg8 36 Qh6; 32...Qg8 33 Qh4 Rd7 34 Rd6 Raa7 35 Rfd1 Rxd6 36 Rxd6 and White has a winning attack) 33 Qxg7+ Ke8 34 Rh6! (34 Rf6 is also enough) 34...Bf7 (34...Qf7 35 Qxe5+ Kd7 36 Rd1+ Kc8 37 Rxd8+ and White wins) 35 Rf6 Qh5 (35...Qd7 36 Re1 Qe7 37 Rxf7 and it is over) 36 g4!! (a wonderful way to open the f-file) 36...fxg3 37 Re6+ Kd7 38 Rxf7+ Kxe6 39 Rf6+ Kd5 40 Qb7+ Kc4 41 Qc6 mate. Of course it is not necessary to calculate such a line to the end. To see 34 Rf6 is enough; to see further is luxury. 32 Rxf4 Bf5 33 Rxg7! 33 Rxf5!?. 33...Bxh7 34 Rfxf7+ Ke8 35 Rxh7 1-0 Exercise 364 Ioseliani-Portisch 444

6 Solutions to Exercises

Monte Carlo 1994 (B46) White wins easily with a classic bishop sacrifice. 16 Nxf6+ Bxf6 17 Bxf6 gxf6 18 Bxh7+! Kh8 Black is lost. 18...Kxh7 19 Qh5+ Kg7 20 Qg4+ Kh8 21 Rf3 Qxf3 22 gxf3 Rg8 23 Qh5+ Kg7 24 Rg1+ Kf8 25 Qxc5+ and everything is gone. Also, 18...Kg7 19 Qg4+ is over and out. 19 Rf3! Black has no choice but to part with his queen. 19...Qxf3 19...Kxh7 20 Rh3+ Kg6 21 Qg4 mate; 19...Rfd8 20 Rg3! Rd5 21 Qg4 and wins. 20 gxf3 Kxh7 21 Qf2 Rg8 22 Qh4+ Kg7 23 Rg1+ Kf8 24 Rxg8+ Kxg8 25 Qxf6 Bxf3+ 26 Kg1 Bd5 27 h4! Rf8 28 Kf2 c4 29 h5 1-0 Exercise 365 Kharlamov-Terentiev Russia 1995 (B46) White either wins a pawn quite easily because of the hanging bishop on b4 or, even better, he brings all his pieces towards Black’s fractured king position and mates. 19 Bxg7! Kxg7 20 Qf6+! 20 Qd4+?!. 20...Kg8 21 Rf4 Rfd8 22 Rdf1 Be8 23 Rg4+ Kf8 24 Rg7! 1-0 Black resigned because of the threat of 25 Rxh7 and also 24...Qe7 25 Qh6!. Exercise 366 Westerinen-Kruszynski Hamburg 1985 (B46) The uncomfortable knight on a5 combined with the king in the centre gives White a winning combination. 13 Nxe5! dxe5 14 Bxe5 Qc5 14...Qb6 loses to 15 Bc3 or 15 Bd4!? Qc7 (15...Bc5 16 Qe3+) 16 Qe3+ and 17 Bb6. 15 Bc3! Black has simply lost a pawn for nothing, and his king has been exposed to White’s pieces. 445

15...b6 15...Nc4 16 Qe2+ and White wins. 16 Re1+ Kd8 17 b4 Qd6 17...Nc4 18 Qg5+ and White wins. 18 bxa5 Qa3+ 19 Kb1 Rb8 20 Ka1 b5 21 Bb2 Qa4 22 Bd3 f6 23 Re4 b4 24 Qf4 Ra8 25 Bxf6+! gxf6 26 Qxf6+ Kc7 27 Qb6+ 1-0 Exercise 367 Adams-Rajkovic London 1989 (B47) White wins by exploiting the weakness of the dark squares on the kingside. 22 Ne5! Ba4 22...Rc8 23 Ng4 Rh5 24 Nxf6 Nf5 25 Qg4 Rh4 26 Qg8+ Ke7 27 Qg5! and Black is without a defence. 22...fxe5 loses to 23 Bxe5 d6 24 Bg7+. 23 Ng4! 1-0 Black resigned. After 23...Rg6 24 Bxg6 Bxb3 25 axb3 Nxg6 26 Nxf6 nothing will be able to stop White’s forces. Exercise 368 Kasparov-Kengis Riga 1995 (B47) The weakness of g7 is begging to be exploited. 20 Bf6! Qb5 Or: a) 20...Rb4 21 Rg3! (21 Bxg7 Kxg7 22 Rg3+ Rg4 23 f6+ Kh8! and it is not clear there how to proceed) 21...Rg4 22 h3 gxf6 23 hxg4 h4 24 Rh3 fxe5 25 Rxh4. b) 20...Rfc8 21 Rg3 Bf8 22 Rxg7+ Bxg7 23 Qg3. c) 20...gxf6 21 Rg3+ Kh8 22 Qe2 and Black is mated. 21 Rg3! g6 Black has no defence: a) 21...Qxd3 22 Rxg7+ Kh8 23 Rg5+ Kh7 24 Rxh5+ Kg8 25 Rh8 mate.

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6 Solutions to Exercises

b) 21...Rfc8 22 Rxg7+ Kf8 23 Rh7 Ke8 24 c4 and White wins. 22 Qd1! exf5 23 Rxf5 Rb6 24 Qxh5 1-0 Exercise 369 Liss-Rechlis Tel Aviv 1998 (analysis) (B47) This combination is one of the most wonderful, creative ideas I have seen for many, many years. I surely hope that you succeeded in solving it. The hard move, of course, only comes after six moves of the combination. 25...Nxe4!! Otherwise 25...Ne8 with an unclear game had to be played. 26 Nxe4 26 Bxe4 Rh1+ and White is mated. 26...Rh1+ The idea. 26...Qxe4?? 27 Qxb7+! and wins. 27 Bxh1 Rxh1+ 28 Kxh1 Qxe4+ 29 f3 Necessary. 29...Qxf3+ 30 Kg1 Kf8!! Simply brilliant. After changing the position radically, Black improves his king, gets out of the pin and prepares to start a final attack on White’s king. a) 30...Qxg3+? 31 Kf1 Qh3+ will give nothing more than perpetual check. b) 30...Bxg3? is met by the sublime 31 Rd5!! exd5 (31...Kf8 32 R1d3 and White wins) 32 Qxb7+ Kf8 33 Qb8+ Kg7 34 Bc3+ f6 35 Qa7+ and White has surfaced with an extra rook. 31 Qxb7 The best try for a defence was possibly 31 Qb6!? Qh1+ 32 Kf2 Qg2+ 33 Ke1 Bxg3+ 34 Rf2 Qg1+ 35 Kd2 (35 Ke2 Bf3+! and Black wins) 35...Qxf2+ 36 Qxf2 Bxf2 and Black will win the endgame, though there will be some fighting. After 31 Bxd6+ Bxd6 32 Qd4 Qxg3+ 33 Kf1 Qh3+ 34 Ke1 Bg3+ 35 Rf2 Bf3! White is lost. The bishops outweigh the rooks: 36 Qc5+ Kg7 37 447

Qg5+ Kh7 38 Rd8 Qh1+ 39 Kd2 Bxf2 40 Qg8+ Kh6 41 Qh8+ Kg6 42 Rg8+ Kf5 and Black wins. 31...Qxb7 32 Bxd6+ Bxd6 33 Rxd6 Ke7 0-1 White decided that this endgame did not offer any chances of survival, and resigned. Probably too soon, as Black will still have to prove that he can find shelter for his king as he advances his two connected passed pawns. Still, this is certainly possible. Exercise 370 Milos-Murshed Groningen 1997 (B47) White wins by exploiting the weakness of the dark squares around the king. 24 Nxf6! Rxf6 25 fxe5 Qxe5 26 Rde1 Qxc3 26...Ke8 27 Rxf6 and White wins. 27 Rf3! This was of course the point. Black must part with his queen. 27...Qxe1+ 27...Qb2 28 c3 or 28 Ref1. 28 Qxe1 Rxf3 29 Bxf3 Nc6 30 Qh4+ f6 31 Qh7+ Kd6 32 Qg7 f5 33 h4 1-0 Exercise 371 Shabalov-Skripchenko Lautier Koszalin 1999 (B47) White wins instantly with 29 Qxg6! fxg6 30 Bd5+ Re6 a) 30...Kh8 31 Nf7+ Kh7 32 Nxd8 Rxd8 33 Rxa5 and the loose piece has dropped off again. b) 30...Kf8 31 Nh7 mate. 31 Bxe6+ 1-0 Black resigned due to 31...Kf8 32 Nh7+ Ke8 33 d7+ Ke7 34 Bg5+. Exercise 372 Tischbierek-Thiel Dortmund 1992 (B47) The weakest spot in Black’s position is f7 and it should be attacked immediately, before Black has 448

6 Solutions to Exercises

any chance to consolidate. It is important to notice that White cannot bring more pieces into the attack quickly enough, so he needs to attack with what he has got. 17 f5! exf5 Black has no defence: a) 17...gxf5 18 Nh7+ and White wins. b) 17...Qxe5 18 fxe6 Qxg3 19 Rxf7+ Ke8 20 exd7+ and White has won a piece. c) 17...Nxe5 18 fxe6 f5 19 Bf4 (19 Nf7 Bd6 20 Nxd6 Qxd6 21 Bf4 also does the job) 19...Bd6 20 Rae1 Nc4 21 Bxc4 Bxf4 22 Rxf4 dxc4 23 Rxf5+ and White wins. 18 Rxf5!! The key to the combination. 18 Bxf5!? is a good move, but this is a brilliant move, clearing all defences. 18...gxf5 19 Nh7+ Ke7 20 Qxg8 1-0 The threat is Bg5+ and after 20...Qxe5 21 Bd2 Kd6 22 Re1 Qd4 23 Qxf7 Black will lose material as well as suffer from a broken king’s position. Exercise 373 Wang Zili-Ye Jiangchuan Shenzhen 1992 (B47) White wins with a brilliant rook sacrifice. 26 Rxf7! 26 Rc7 Qe2 27 Bg6 also looks very tempting, but Black has a defensive resource in the fantastic 27...Bc6!! 28 Rxc6 fxg6 29 Qxe6+ Kh8, when Black is even better. 26...Kxf7 26...Rxf7 27 Qxb8+ Rf8 28 Bh7+! Kxh7 (28...Kf7 29 Ra7+) 29 Qxf8 and White wins. There will be no mate on the light squares, e.g. 29...Bc6 30 Ra7!. 27 Ra7+ Bd7 28 Rxd7+ Ke8 29 Bd3! 1-0 Black resigned as after 29...Qg4 30 Qxb8+ Kxd7 31 Qxf8 White remains a piece up. Exercise 374 Wedberg-Kirov 449

Copenhagen 1981 (B47) White wins in classic style with the destruction of Black’s kingside. 21 Bxh6! Rxd1 21...gxh6 22 Qxh6 f5 23 exf6 Bd6 is no defence either. Here White wins in many ways. One of them is 24 Rd5! e5 25 Rd4! Be6 26 Bd5! Qh7 27 Bxe6+ Kh8 28 Rxd6! Qxh6 29 Rxd8+ Kh7 30 Bf5+. 22 Rxd1 gxh6 23 Qxh6 f5 After 23...Bd8 Black is mated with 24 Bh7+ (24 Qh7+ Kf8 25 Qh8+ Ke7 26 Qf6+ Ke8 27 Bc6+ also wins) 24...Kh8 25 Bg6+ Kg8 26 Qh7+ Kf8 27 Qh8+ Ke7 28 Qf6+ Ke8 29 Bxf7+! Qxf7 30 Rxd8. 24 exf6 Bf8 25 Qg6+ Kh8 26 Qh5+ Kg8 27 Rd5! 1-0 Black resigned because of 27...exd5 28 Bxd5+. Exercise 375 Yusupov-Sveshnikov Ashkhabad 1978 (B48) White needs to get his queen to h6. This takes a little preparation. 24 Bf5! A useful tempo is won. 24 Bd2 Qg4! would be embarrassing. 24...Qd8 24...gxf5 25 Qxh5+ Kg8 26 Qh6 and Black is mated. 25 Bd2 Re8 26 Qg5 Kg8 27 Bxg6 1-0 Exercise 376 Fedorov-Miezis Istanbul 2000 (B48) This is one of the most astonishing combinations in this book, at least as I see it. Black sacrifices more or less all his pieces in what seems to be an orgy of tactics. 28...Rxg3!! This is the right way to approach. Still, seeing the defence is what calculation is all about. Black apparently had another way to win the game, but 450

6 Solutions to Exercises

the devil hides in the details, as a Danish idiom goes. If you could work out just a tiny bit of what follows, then hats off! 28...Qb8!? with the idea of ...Rxg3 and Rh8. Now White is forced to play 29 fxe6 (29 Kg1 Rh8 and the queen is just trapped) 29...Rxg3 (29...Rh8?? 30 Nf5+ and White wins) and now: a) 30 Rf1 f5 31 Rxf5 fxe6 32 Qf6+ Kd7 33 Rxc5 Bxg2+ 34 Rxg2 Rxg2 35 Qf7+ Kd6 36 Qf4+ Kxc5 37 Qd4+ Kc6 38 Be4+ Kc7 39 Qc5+ Kd8 40 Bxg2 Qf4 and Black will win. b) 30 Qh5!? (seemingly a fabulous move, but now Black has an amazing winning line) 30...Rxg2! 31 Qxf7+ Kd6 32 Qd7+ Ke5 33 Rxe3+ Kf4 34 Re4+ Kg5 35 Kxg2 Qf4!! and White cannot defend against mate. One line goes 36 Qd1 Rh8 and ...Qf2+ and Rxh2 mate is on the way. 29 hxg3 At least this line is forced! 29...Qxg3 30 Qh2 Rh8!! This is really the highlight of this wonderful, aesthetic combination. Also possible was 30...Bxg2+?! 31 Qxg2 Rh8+ 32 Kg1 Qxe1+ 33 Rxe1 e2+ 34 Qf2 Rg8+ 35 Kh1 Bxf2 36 Rxe2 and White has good chances to hold the endgame due to the opposite-coloured bishops, even though the odds are still with Black. 31 Qxh8 Bxg2+! Another sacrifice, of course. 32 Kg1? A stronger defence was 32 Rxg2 Qxe1+ 33 Rg1 (33 Kh2 Bd6+ with mate to follow) 33...Qxg1+! 34 Kxg1 e2+ (what a nice feeling it would have been for Black to play this move) 35 Kg2 e1Q. It just so happens that the position with queens instead of rooks (see the note to move 30) is easier to win, as there is a strong attack against the king. 36 Qh2 e5 37 Kh3 (37 Kf3 e4+ 38 Kg4 Bf2! and White is in trouble due to ...Qe2+) 37...Bf2 38 Bd1 Qd2 and Black will win the endgame, even though some work remains. 32...Bd5+ 33 Kf1 Bc4! 0-1 451

Now there is no defence against the mate on f2. Exercise 377 Mainka-Lau Porz 1992 (B48) White opens up Black‘s king’s position in classic style. 21 Bxf5! gxf5 22 Re3!! It is the king which is the target. After 22 Bxf6?! Nxf6 23 Qxf6 Rfe8 Black can still bite! 22...h4 23 Rff3 White mates a little faster with 23 Bxf6 Nxf6 24 Qg5+ Kh7 25 Qxh4+ Kg6 26 Rg3+ Ng4 27 Rxg4+ fxg4 28 Rf6+ Kg7 29 Qg5+ and Rh6. 23...f4 24 Bxf6 Nxf6 25 Qg5+ Kh7 26 Rxf4 1-0 Black is mated soon enough all the same. Exercise 378 Mitkov-Rublevsky Neum 2000 (B48) White has already sacrificed an exchange spectacularly and now finishes the attack with a wonderful flow of sacrifices. 19 Rxg7!! A marvellous move, against which Black has no defence. 19...Rg8 The best try. a) 19...exf5 20 Bg5 (20 Nd5 Rg8 – 20...Kxg7 21 Qh6+ Kh8 22 Nxf6 wins – 21 Rxf7 Rg7 22 Rxg7 Kxg7 23 Bg5 also wins) 20...Kxg7 21 Qh6+ Kg8 22 Bxf5 Bxf5 23 Nxf5 and White wins. b) 19...Bxd4 20 Rxh7+! Nxh7 21 f6 and Black is mated on h7. c) 19...Kxg7 20 Bh6+ Kh8 21 Bg5 Kg8 (21...Be7 22 fxe6 and White wins; 21...Bxd4 transposes to 21...Kg8) 22 Bxf6 Qxf6 23 Qxf6 Bxd4 24 Qg5+ Kh8 25 f6 Rg8 26 Qh6 e4 27 Bxe4 and Black is eventually mated. 20 Rxg8+ 20 Rxf7!? should also win. After 20...exd4 (20...Rg7 21 Rxg7 Kxg7 22 Qg3+ Kh8 23 Qxe5 452

6 Solutions to Exercises

Be7 24 fxe6 Bc6 25 Nf5 Bxf3+ 26 Kh2 followed by Bd4 and Black cannot defend his dark squares) 21 fxe6! Rg7 22 Rxg7 Kxg7 23 Bh6+ Kh8 24 Bg5 Kg7 25 Qh6+ Kg8 26 Nd5 Black is overwhelmed – and mated. 20...Kxg8 20...Nxg8 21 f6! Nxf6 22 Bg5 and White wins. 21 Bg5 Be7 22 Ne4! 22 fxe6 Bxe6 23 Nxe6 fxe6 24 Ne4 also wins, though less spectacularly. 22...Nd5 22...Nxe4 23 Bxe7 Qb6 24 f6 and mate follows. 23 f6! Despite his material advantage, Black has no defence at all. 23 Bxe7!? Qxe7 24 f6 Qf8 25 Nc5 Nxf6 26 Nxd7 also wins for White. 23...Qb6 23...Bf8 24 Nd6 and White wins the whole kingdom. 24 Nc5 Other moves win as well. 24...Qxc5 25 Qxh7+ 1-0 Exercise 379 Rizouk-Garrido Dominguez Seville 2003 (B48) White wins by bringing all his pieces near Black’s king, or at least some of them at the cost of the lives of some of the others... 17 Bxf6! 17 exf6 bxc3 would be good for Black. 17...gxf6 17...bxc3 18 Qg5 g6 19 Qh6 with mate to follow. 18 Qh6! 18 exf6 Qh5 19 axb4 also wins, though it is less convincing. 18...f5 19 Ne4! The point. Nf6+ would be devastating, so... 19...fxe4 20 Bxe4 1-0 Black is without hope after 20...Ra7 21 Qxh7+ (21 Bxh7+ also wins) 21...Kf8 22 Qh8+ Ke7 23 453

Qf6+ Ke8 (23...Kf8 24 Bxc6 Bd7 25 Rhf1 and White wins) 24 Bxc6+ Bd7 25 Rhf1 Bxc6 26 Qh8+ Ke7 27 Rxf7+! Kxf7 28 Rf1+ and Black is mated. Exercise 380 Topalov-Lutz Dortmund 2002 (B48) White wins with a brilliant king hunt, old school style. 27 Nf6+!! gxf6 27...Kh8 28 Rd8+ Rxd8 29 Rxd8 mate. 28 Rd8+ Rxd8 28...Kh7 29 Qf8 Kg6 (29...Rxd8 30 Rxd8 transposes) 30 Qg8+ Kh5 31 R1d5+ Qxd5 32 Rxd5+ Bxd5 33 Qg4 mate. 29 Rxd8+ Kh7 30 Qf8 Black’s king is being hunted down like a fox, and the remaining black pieces can do nothing but stand and watch. 30...Kg6 Black is also lost after 30...h5 31 g4! (31 Qh8+ Kg6 32 Rg8+ Kf5 33 Qxh5+ Kf4 34 Rd8 also wins: 34...Bd7 35 Rxd7 Qxd7 36 Qh4+ Ke5 37 Qe4+ Kd6 38 Qd3+ gives a winning endgame, but mate was the agenda!) 31...hxg4 32 fxg4 Kg6 (32...Bxg4 33 Qg8+ Kh6 34 Qxg4 Ra8 35 Rd3 and wins) 33 Qg8+ Kh6 34 Qh8+ Kg5 35 Qg7+ Kf4 36 Qxf6+ and Black is mated, for example 36...Ke3 37 Rd3+ Ke2 38 Qe5+ Kf1 39 Qf4+ Kg2 40 Rg3+ Kxh2 41 Qf2+ Kh1 42 Qg1. 31 Qg8+ Kh5 31...Kf5 32 Qg4+ Ke5 33 f4+ Ke4 34 Qf3+ and the unprotected black queen has to pay for her master’s negligence. 32 Qg7! White also wins with 32 Rd4 Qb5 33 g3 Qg5 34 Rh4+. 32...f5 33 Rd4! With the threat of 34 Rh4+!. 33...Bc8 34 g3 1-0

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6 Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 381 Balashov-Nadezhdin Novgorod 1997 (B50) Through a spectacular but silent combination, White wins a pawn for no compensation whatsoever. 20 Bc7! Qd7 20...Qc8 21 Bd6 and White wins the exchange. 21 Qf4!! The overprotection of the c7-bishop creates two threats: Bd6 and Nb6. Both cannot be parried. 21...Rae8? There is no adequate defence, but this even loses the queen. 21...Rac8 22 Bd6 g5 23 hxg5 hxg5 24 Qxg5 Qxd6 25 Qxf5 and White has won a pawn. 22 Nb6 Rxe1+ 23 Rxe1 Re8 24 Nxd7 Rxe1+ 25 Kh2 Bxd7 26 Qxf7 Bf5 27 Bd5 1-0 Exercise 382 Art.Minasian-Ilincic Yerevan 2000 (B50) Black somehow neglected his development and finds himself in trouble. With three pieces ready to attack up close and the queen itching to get going, it is no surprise that White has a direct win. 15 Ne6!! Black now must part with a5, as the knight is immune. 15...Qb7 15...fxe6 16 dxe6 and Black will have to give up the exchange or face an even worse fate: 16...Rd8 (16...Re7 17 Rxc8+!) 17 Nf6+! gxf6 18 Qh5+ Ke7 19 Qf7 mate. 16 Rxa5 fxe6 17 dxe6 Rc7 17...Rd8 18 Rxb5! (18 Qh5+!? should also be enough) and White wins because of 18...Qxb5? 19 Nf6+! Ke7 20 Nd5+ and 21 Nc7+. 18 Qh5+! g6 18...Ke7 19 Qf7+ Kd8 20 Bg5+ Be7 21 Nxd6 Qb6 (21...Qc6 22 Qxg7 and White wins) 22 Qe8+ Rxe8 23 Nf7 mate. 19 Qf3 Be7 20 Bh6?! 455

Even stronger was 20 Qf7+ Kd8 21 Nxd6! Bxd6 (21...Qxg2 22 Qe8+!) 22 Qf6+ and White wins. 20...Kd8 21 Bg7 Rg8 22 Qf7 Bxe6 23 Qxe6 Rxg7 24 0-0 Qc8 25 Qd5 Ke8 26 Ra8 1-0 Exercise 383 Shaposhnikov-Dvoirys Samara 2000 (B50) Another combination with two solutions. On principle these should be eliminated from a book like this, but on the other hand, from a training point of view, it’s no defect that a player must choose between two different wins. Especially when they include the same theme. 14 Bxh7+!! The most straightforward. Another brilliant combination starts with 14 Ng6!? hxg6 15 Bxg6 Rf7 16 Qh5 Qd7 17 Ne4 Bb8 (17...Kf8 18 Nxd6) 18 Ng5! fxg5 19 fxg5 Bf4 20 Bxf7+ and White wins. 14...Kxh7 15 Qh5+ Kg8 16 Ng6 Qd8 16...Qd7 17 Ne4 Nd3 18 Ng5! fxg5 19 fxg5 and White is crashing through. 17 Ne4 Nd3 17...Nc6 18 Ng5!. 18 Ng5! 1-0 Black resigned (a bit early) in the view of 18...fxg5 19 Qh8+ Kf7 20 fxg5+ Nf4 (20...Kxg6 21 Qxg7+ Kh5 22 Qh6+ Kg4 23 Qh4 mate) 21 Rxf4+! Bxf4 22 Qxg7+ Ke8 23 Qxf8+ Kd7 24 Qxf4 and the black king is being hunted down like a fox, while his army is bleeding to death. Exercise 384 Berezjuk-Ftacnik Presov 1999 (B51) This is an exceptional position where Black (already with a pawn more) forces the win of at least another pawn by trapping the bishop on a2. 33...Bc2!! The first phase is taken care of: the bishop is trapped. Now comes the second phase: keeping the 456

6 Solutions to Exercises

king out. 34 Kf1 Bb2 The bishop comes to c3. 35 Ke2 Bc3 A fabulous position has arisen. White has no way to improve his position and is helpless against the threat of ...Kg8xa2 in 10 moves! Therefore White soon decided to lose in a different way. 36 f3 Kf7 37 Bf2 Ke7 38 Ke3 c5! Winning directly. 39 dxc5 39 Bxd5 cxd4+ 40 Kf4 g5+ 41 Kg3 Kd6 42 Be4 Bxe4 43 fxe4 d3 44 Kf3 Ke5 and the end-game wins easily once e4 falls. 39...d4+ 40 Kf4 g5+ 41 Kg3 d3 42 Bc4 d2 43 Be2 Be5+ 0-1 Exercise 385 Liang Jinrong-Oll Beijing 1997 (B51) This fantastic combination makes a difficult exercise, where the moves will have to be executed in the correct order. 17...Bxe5! White survives after 17...Nxf2? 18 Kxf2 Bxe5 (18...Ne4+ leads to a draw after 19 Kg1 Bxe5 20 Bxe4! Bxh2+ 21 Kxh2 Qh4+ 22 Kg1 Qf2+ 23 Kh2 Qh4+, as Black should stay away from 23...Rf6? 24 Bf3 Rh6+ 25 Bh5 g6 26 Re5 and White wins) 19 Rxe5 Ng4+ 20 Ke2! (the only move) 20...Rf2+ (20...Qh4 21 Qe1 Qxh2 22 Qg1! and White even seems to have the advantage) 21 Ke1 Rxg2 (21...Nxe5 is met by 22 Bxh7+! Kxh7 23 Kxf2 Nd3+ 24 Kg1 and White is more or less okay) 22 Bxh7+ Kxh7 23 Rh5+ Nh6 24 Qf3 and White is still alive in this mad position. 18 dxe5 Complex is 18 Bxe4 Nxe4 19 Nxe4 (19 dxe5 loses to 19...Nxf2 20 Qe2 d4!) 19...Bxh2+ 20 Kxh2 Qh4+ 21 Kg1 dxe4. Maybe one of the difficult parts of this combination is to correctly evaluate this position. In his annotations Har Zvi 457

assesses it as a clear advantage for Black, which is very cautious. In fact White has no defence at all. One possible line is 22 Qd2 Rf5 23 Re3 Raf8 24 Rf1 (24 Rh3 Qxf2+) 24...Qh6!! and White cannot defend himself sufficiently against ...Rh5, as 25 Qc3 Rc8! 26 Qb4 Rh5 27 Rh3 Rxh3 28 gxh3 Qxh3 is clearly the end. 18...Nxf2! 19 Qe2! White is mated after 19 Kxf2?? Ne4+ 20 Ke2 (20 Kg1 Qb6+ with the classic smothered mate; 20 Ke3 d4+ 21 Bxd4 Qg5+ 22 Ke2 Qxg2+ 23 Ke3 Qf2 mate) 20...Rf2+ 21 Ke3 d4+ 22 Bxd4 Qg5. 19...N6g4! Black has a strong attack with all his pieces near White’s king. Of course it was also okay to see that 19...Nxd3 is a pawn up for nothing. 20 Nf3 White has no defence anymore: a) 20 h3 Qb6! and Black wins. b) 20 Bd4 Qh4 21 Nf1 Rf4! 22 Qd2 Raf8, when White is completely outplayed and his position collapses like a house of cards – only the b7-bishop is not attacking White’s king. One possible line is 23 h3 Rxd4 24 Bxh7+ Kxh7 25 Qxd4 Nxh3+ 26 gxh3 Rxf1+ 27 Kxf1 Nh2+ and White will have to resign. 20...Rxf3! This wins pretty straightforwardly, but even so there was no need for urgency. Also possible was the simpler 20...d4!?, overpowering White’s pieces completely. 21 Rf1 Nxd3 22 Qxd3 Ne3 wins the exchange, as 23 Rf2 is met by 23...Rxf3!! 24 gxf3 Qg5+ 25 Kh1 Bxf3+ 26 Rxf3 Qg2 mate. 21 Qxf3 21 gxf3 Qh4 22 fxg4 Nh3+ 23 Kh1 (23 Kf1 Rf8+ 24 Bf5 exf5 25 g5 Qf4+ 26 Kg2 d4+ 27 Kxh3 Bf3 is a nice line given by Har Zvi) 23...d4+ 24 Be4 Bxe4+ 25 Qxe4 Nf2+ and Black wins. 21...Qb6 22 Qf4 Nh3+ 0-1 Exercise 386 Ulibin-Tiviakov 458

6 Solutions to Exercises

Oakham 1992 (B51) Loose pieces drop off! Notice that the c3-knight is unprotected. Black wins directly by attacking this knight and the fragile g2-square. 32...Rxg2+! 33 Qxg2 h3! 34 Qxg8 34 Qg3 Bh4! doesn’t help. 34...Qxg8+ 35 Bg3 Qg4! Intending the double threat ...Qf3. This cannot be defended against. 36 Kh2 36 Re3 Bg5 37 Rd3 e4 38 Nxe4 Ne5! and Black wins. 36...Qf3 37 Kxh3 Qxc3 38 Rea2 Qxc4 39 Rxa7 Nb6 0-1 Exercise 387 Tkachiev-Watson London 1993 (B52) This is one of my all-time favourites. White smashes his way through to the lonely black monarch. 19 Nd5!! exd5 19...Bxb2 20 Ne7+. 20 exd5 Qd7 The queen cannot seek the queenside with 20...Qb6 with the idea of taking on b3 in the main line, as White will be left to his own devices on the kingside: 21 Bxf6 gxf6 22 Rg3+ Kf8 23 Qxh7 Nd7 24 Re1 Ne5 25 Rg7! and Black has no defence, as after 25...Re8 26 Qg8+ Ke7 27 Qxf7+ Kd8 28 Rxe5 he is gone. 21 Bxf6 gxf6 22 Rg3+ Kh8 22...Kf8 23 Qxh7 Re8 24 Rg8+ Ke7 25 Re1+ and White wins. 23 Qxh7+!! This brilliant move was what Watson had overlooked. 23...Kxh7 24 Rd4 1-0 There is no defence against the mate. Exercise 388 Kamsky-Lautier 459

Dortmund 1993 (B53) A pretty standard combination where White exploits his slight lead in development and the weakness of Black’s kingside with ...h7-h6 to create an attack in classic style. 16 Bxh6!! gxh6 17 Qxh6 Re8 All queen moves are met with the same basic idea of Re1-e3-g3 (h3): 17...Qc7 18 Rfe1 Rfd8 19 Re3 and Black has no defence. 18 Bc4! 18 Bc2!? with the same idea was equally possible. 18...Bd7 18...Qb6 19 Rd3 an there is no defence. 18...Qa5 19 Rd3 Nh7 20 Bxf7+ Kxf7 21 Qxh7+ Kf6 22 Rg3 Ke6 23 Rd1 and the black king is caught in a mating net. His only move is 23...Qe5, when 24 Re3 is more than enough for a full point. 19 Rd4 Bf8 20 Qg6+ Bg7 21 Qxf7+ Kh8 22 Rh4+ Nh7 23 Rxh7+ Kxh7 24 Qh5+ Bh6 25 Bd3+ Kg8 26 Qxh6 1-0 26 Qg6+ also won. Exercise 389 Vydeslaver-Avrukh Israel 2002 (B53) One of the most startling combinations in recent years. To see the final finesse here is outstanding. 31...Rec3!! More or less forced as White not only threatens 32 exd7, but also 32 Nf5 with a winning attack. 32 bxc3 Forced. 32 exd7 Rc1+ 33 Rxc1 Rxc1+ 34 Kxa2 Qa6+ 35 Kb3 Qc4+ 36 Ka3 Ra1 is mate. 32...Rb8 33 Rxa2 33 Kxa2 Ra8 mate. 33...Qb3! With the serious threat of ...Qxc3+. 34 Rc1 34 Ne2 Bxe6 is similar. 34...Bxe6! 460

6 Solutions to Exercises

The fantastic double threat created by the combination is absolutely wonderful. 35 Qxe6+ Qxe6 36 Nd4 Qxg6 37 Ngf5 Bf6 38 Ra7 Qg2 0-1 Exercise 390 Adams-Anand Hilversum 1993 (analysis) (B54) White mates in a classic style. 29 Qxf7+! Rxf7 30 Rc8+ Rf8 31 Rfxf8 mate. In the game Black saw this combination, avoided it and later won. Exercise 391 Shirov-J.Polgar Buenos Aires 1994 (B54) A modern classic. Black sacrifices her queen (which cannot be accepted) and wins a rook. 16...Ne3!! 17 Qg3 There are no alternatives. 17 Bxe3 Qxe3 18 Nxb7 Nf3+ 19 Kd1 Qd2 mate; 17 Qxg5 Nf3 mate. 17...Qxg3 18 Nxg3 Nxc2+ 19 Kd1 Nxa1 20 Nxb7 b3 21 axb3 Nxb3 22 Kc2 Nc5 23 Nxc5 dxc5 24 Be1 Nf3 25 Bc3 Nd4+ 26 Kd3 Bd6 27 Bg2 Be5 28 Kc4 Ke7 29 Ra1 Nc6 0-1 Exercise 392 V.Gurevich-Olenin Yalta 1995 (B55) White wins a piece by a remarkable regrouping of the knight. 22 f4!! Threatening Bxd7. 22...exf4 23 Ne8+ Kg5 24 Nd6 With a double threat on f7 and c8. Black has no defence. 24...Kf6 25 Nxc8 Rbxc8 26 Bxd7 Rc2+ 27 Re2 Rxe2+ 28 Kxe2 Rd8 29 Ba4 Rxd5 30 Rc1 b5 31 Bb3 Rd7 32 Rc5 Rb7 33 Kf3 1-0 Exercise 393 Grosar-Wach 461

Ptuj 1995 (B56) A rather direct combination. Just to keep you folks alert! 28 Nxh6+! Kf8 28...gxh6 29 Rxh6 and there is no satisfactory defence against Qf6 with mate to follow. 29 Rd7?! More precise was 29 R1d5! gxh6 30 Rd7 with an impending mate. 29...gxh6?! 29...Rxc3, though being a better defence, still wins for White after 30 Qh5 g6 31 Qh4. 30 R1d5 1-0 Exercise 394 Arizmendi Martinez-Waitzkin Bermuda 1999 (B57) Black is badly coordinated and now he rightfully meets his doom. 18 Bd5!! With no apparent defence against 19 Bxc6 and 20 Nd5+. 18...Bg4 18...Bd7 19 Rb7 Qc8 20 Bxc6! and 21 Nd5+. 19 Rb7! Black is lost. 19...Bxf3 20 Rxc7+ Kd8 21 Rxc6 Bg4 22 Rxd6+ Ke7 23 Ra6 Rac8 24 Rb7+ Kd8 25 Rd6+ Ke8 26 Bc6+ Kf8 27 Rxf6 Be6 28 Bd5 1-0 Exercise 395 Balashov-Lopushnoy Maikop 1998 (B57) 35 Bxh6 Ne5 Or 35...gxh6 36 g7+ Kh7 37 g8Q mate. 36 Bxg7+ Kg8 37 Qh3 Nxg6 38 Bxf8 Rxf8 39 Nh6+ Kg7 40 Qxe6 1-0 Exercise 396 Elseth-Groenn Oslo 1991 (B57)

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Big pieces in trouble – a common theme in combinations. Here White has the fantastic 18 Bxe3 Qxe3 19 c5!! 1-0 And the black queen is trapped. There is no defence against 20 Rf3. Exercise 397 Galdunts-Serper Herson 1991 (B57) White obviously has a strong attacking position, but that it runs as smoothly as it does was probably a great surprise for Black. 22 Bxf7! e5 The only move. 22...Rxf7 23 fxe6 is a simple win. Look at the light squares! 23 Ng6+!! hxg6 23...Rxg6 24 fxg6 exd4 25 Qh6 is mate. 24 fxg6 Rxf7 24...Rh7 loses to 25 Nf5! Bxf5 26 Rxf5 Rh4 27 g3 Rh3 28 Kg2 (Galdunts). A fantastic line. 25 Qh6+ Kg8 26 gxf7+ Kxf7 27 Qh7+ Kf8 28 Rxf6+!! This would have had to be anticipated, even though 28 Nf3!? also looks pretty strong. 28...Bxf6 29 Rf1 Qd8 30 Qg6 Black has no defence. The endgame is completely lost. 30...exd4 31 Rxf6+ Qxf6 32 Qxf6+ Kg8 33 Qxd4 Ne5 34 Qxd6 Re8 35 Qd5+ Kf8 36 Qxb7 Bc8 37 Qc7 Nf7 38 h3 Be6 39 Qb6 Bc8 40 c4 Kg7 41 Qc6 Rd8 42 b4 1-0 Exercise 398 Rublevsky-Svidler Tivat 1995 (B57) White wins by destroying the black king’s position. 31 Nxf6! Kxf6 Otherwise 32 Ne4 and the black king is none too safe. 32 Rxh4 Rhf8 There is nothing to do, for example: 463

a) 32...Qd8 33 Rh6+! (this move can easily be missed) 33...Rxh6 34 Qxh6+ Kf7 35 Qg6+ Kf8 36 f6 and Black is mated. b) 32...Rxh4 33 Qxh4+ Kf7 34 Qh7+ Kf6 35 Qg6+ Ke7 36 f6+ Kd8 37 Qg8+ and White wins. 33 Rh7 1-0 Exercise 399 Wahls-Wirthensohn Hamburg 1991 (B57) White wins a pawn with a basic break-through. 21 Bxh6! gxh6 22 Rxh6+ Kg7 23 Qg3+! The point. The rook is immune. 23...Ng6 23...Kxh6 24 Rh4+ Nh5 25 Rxh5 mate; 23...Nfg4 24 Rxh8 Qxh8 25 Bxg4 and White wins. 24 Rxh8 Qxh8 25 fxg6 fxg6 26 Rh4 Qe8 27 e5 Nd5 28 Rg4 Nxc3 29 Bd3! Qf7 30 Rxg6+ Kf8 31 bxc3 dxe5 32 Qxe5 Ke8 33 Qh8+ 1-0 Exercise 400 Kristensen-Gausel Skei 1993 (B58) The weakest spots in Black’s camp are g8 and g6, and White creates access to these with a nice bishop sacrifice. 40 Bxg7! h5 40...Bxg7 41 f6 Qxg4 42 hxg4 Bxf6 43 Qf7+ Bg7 44 Qxa7 and the endgame wins easily. 41 Rg3 Qe7 42 Be5 1-0 Not the only way, but clear enough. Exercise 401 Lutikov-Sakharov USSR 1968 (B59) White has sacrificed a piece and needs to crash through here and now to justify his actions. 20 Rxf7! No other move makes significant progress. 20...Rxf7 21 Bg6 Nxe5

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6 Solutions to Exercises

21...Nd8 22 Qg8+ Bf8 23 Rf1 Bb5 24 Rxf7 and Black is mated. 22 Qxe5 Qc4? Black has no sufficient defence, but he has a defence of sorts, and should have tried it: 22...Bb5! 23 Qg7! (23 Rd1 Qc6! 24 Kh1 Qxb6 25 Qh8+ Bf8 26 Qf6 Bd6! 27 Qxf7+ [27 Qxe6+ Kd8 28 Rxd6+ Kc7 and Black wins!] 27...Kd8 28 Qf8+ Kc7 29 Qxa8 cxb2 30 Qh8 Bc6 31 Qh7+ Kb8 32 c4 Qf2 33 Qh8+ [33 Be4 Qe2 and White’s only salvation is perpetual check] 33...Ka7 34 Qd4+ Qxd4 35 Rxd4 Be5 36 Rd1 Bc3 and Black has much counterplay with his passed pawn) 23...Kd7 24 Qxf7!? (24 Bxf7 Kc6! 25 Bd4! cxb2 26 Bxb2 Qd7 27 Kh1 and White has a strong attack and an extra pawn, though a direct win eludes me) 24...Be2 25 b3 Qg8 26 Bd4 with a winning endgame, though nothing is easy here. 23 Bxf7+ Kxf7 24 Rf1+ Kg6 25 Bd4 Qxf1+ 25...Rg8 26 Qe4+ Kh6 27 Be3+ and Black will have to resign. 26 Kxf1 Rf8+ 27 Kg1 cxb2 28 Bxb2 Rg8 29 Qc7 Rd8 30 Qg3+ Kf5 31 Qe5+ 1-0 Exercise 402 Manik-Balinov Olomouc 1997 (B61) White wins through an amazing king hunt, where both monarchs are exposed on the way. 21 Bxe6+!! The obvious start. 21...Kxe6 22 d7! 22 Qg6+ Kd7 would allow Black to use the white pawn as a shield. 22...Rxc2+ 22...Rd8 23 Qg6+ Ke7 24 Rhe1+ with mate. 23 Kb1 Rxb2+! The only move. 23...Bg7 24 Qg6+ Bf6 25 Rhe1+ and Black is mated. 24 Kxb2 Bg7+ 25 Kb1 Bxd1 26 Re1+!! This is the fabulous move that would have to be anticipated. The important thing is not to reclaim 465

material, but to use what you have to finish the attack. 26...Kf6 26...Kf7 27 Qc4+ Kg6 28 Qe6+ Kh5 29 Rxd1 followed by Rd5 and White wins, as 29...Kh4 30 Rd3! is almost instantly mate. 27 Qd6+ Kf5 28 Qe6+ Kxf4 29 Qe4+ Kg5 30 Rg1+ Kh5 31 Qg6+ Kh4 32 Qg3+ 1-0 Exercise 403 Renet-Scarella Buenos Aires 1994 (B61) White wins by using the weakness on f6 and the problems Black has with his king stuck in the centre. 17 Bxd5! Wins on the spot. 17...Rc7 Black decides to live a life with a lost position. Instead 17...exd5 18 Nxd5 Be7 19 Nf6+! Bxf6 20 Qxd7+ Kf8 21 exf6 Qxc2+ 22 Ka1 and Black has no defence. 18 Bf3 Be7 19 g4 fxg4 20 Qh7 Rf8 21 Bxg4 Bc6 22 Rhf1 Qb6 23 Bf3 Ba3 24 Bxc6+ Rxc6 25 Na4 Qb5 26 Rf3 Be7 27 Nc3 Qc4 28 b3 Qa6 29 Rfd3 b5 30 Qe4 Rg8 31 Qh7 Rf8 32 Qg7 Qc8 33 Ne4 Rxc2 34 Nf6+ Bxf6 35 Qxf6 1-0 Exercise 404 Am.Rodriguez-Gambua Bogota 1991 (B61) White has strong attacking ideas, but is also under heavy attack himself. The following sequence decides the game. 21 b3!! This looks like suicide, but actually it is the correct path. Before committing to his own attack, White consolidates. 21...Qa3+ Alternatively:

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6 Solutions to Exercises

a) 21...Qxa2 22 Bb2! f5 23 Rfe1 leaves Black without a defence. Now 23...Be4 24 Rxe4! fxe4 25 Qxe4 and Black loses material and is mated. b) 21...Qa5 is interesting, and here White decides the game with 22 Kb1!, after which Black has no good way to proceed. The main threat is 23 Bxe6! fxe6 24 Be5! and Black is mated. 22...Bd7 (22...Rxc2 23 Kxc2 Qxa2+ 24 Bb2 and Black has nothing) 23 Rxd7! Kxd7 24 Rd1+ Ke8 (24...Kc6 25 Qe4+ and White is a piece up) 25 Bb5+! Qxb5 26 Qc7! and it’s mate on d8. 22 Kb1! 22 Bb2? Qe7! and the position is not clear at all. 22...Bg7 Black has no defence. 23 Bxg7 23 Qc7?? Qb2+! and the position is even better for Black!. 23...Rxg7 24 Qf6! Kf8 24...Qf8 25 Bxe6 and Black has no defence. 25 Qxe6 1-0 Black resigned. A real calculation exercise! Exercise 405 Molnar-Madl Hungary 1999 (B62) White wins with a nice bishop sacrifice calculated all the way to mate. 16 Bxh7+!! Kxh7 17 Qxf8 Qxc3 This was of course the counterblow. White could now play 18 Qxf7 and have a large advantage, but he had seen further. 18 Rd3!! Qa1+ Black has no choice but to accept that rook, as otherwise Rg1 would be immediately lethal. 19 Kd2 Qxh1 20 Rh3+ Kg6 21 Rg3+ Kf5 21...Kf6 22 Qd8+ Kf5 23 Qg5+ Ke4 24 Qe5 mate. 22 Qxf7+ Ke4 23 Re3+ Kd5 24 Qc7! The strongest. White also wins with other moves like 24 Qh5+, though these are less clear. 24...Qxh2+ 25 Kc3 1-0 467

Black resigned. There is no reasonable way to avoid the mate. Exercise 406 Tal-Nievergelt Zürich 1959 (B63) A famous combination by Tal. 34 Qh6!! Back rank problems. 34...Rd8 Black has no defence: a) 34...Rg8 35 Rxa6! Bxa6 36 Bxa6 Qc7 37 Bb5 and White regains his material and continues his attack. b) 34...Rxh6 35 Rxc8+ Qb8 36 Rcxb8+ Ka7 37 R3b7 mate. 35 Bxa6 Bd2!? 36 Qf6! Qd7 37 Bxc8 1-0 White wins after 37...Rxc8 38 Ra6+. Exercise 407 Van der Wiel-Miralles Cannes 1990 (B63) White wins a piece with a delightful combination. 18 g4! Qxg4 Forced. Otherwise White plays 19 f5. 19 f5 Bh5 Black tries to hang on. After 19...d4!? 20 Qd2 Bh5 (20...Bxf5 21 Rdg1 Qh3 22 Rg3 Qh5 23 Rg5 Qf3 24 Rf1 and White wins) 21 Rdg1 Qf3 22 Qh6! Bg4 (22...Bg6 23 Qh4 Bxf5 24 Nd2! Qd5 25 Qg5 and White wins) 23 Qg5 Ne5 24 Nxd4 Qf2 25 Rxg4 Nxg4 26 Qxg4 White has a decisive advantage, with an attack and bishop and knight versus rook. 20 Rdg1 20 Rhg1? Qxd1+! gives Black a break. 20...d4 The only move. 21 Qd2 Qf3 21...Qh4 22 Qh6 Qe1+ 23 Nc1! and White wins; 21...Qh3 22 Qh6 Bg4 23 Qg5 h5 24 f6 and 468

6 Solutions to Exercises

Black is mated. 22 Qg5 22 Qh6 should also win. 22...g6 23 Nd2! Qd5 23...Qe3 24 Qxh5 Qxd2 25 fxg6 fxg6 26 Rxg6+ Kh8 27 Rg8+ Rxg8 28 Qxh7 mate; 23...f6 24 Qh6 and White wins. 24 Be4! The final piece of accuracy. After 24 Qxh5?? Qxh1! the game is not clear. 24...Qa5 25 Qxh5 Nb4 26 a3 1-0 Exercise 408 Nunn-Gschnitzer Germany 1990 (B63) White has made it far with his attack, and could simply take the exchange in the centre. But that would be neglecting a beautiful, classic breakthrough on the kingside. 31 Rxh7+! Nxh7 Black cannot escape mate. For example, 31...Kg8 32 Qh3 Nxg6 (32...Nxh7 33 Qxh7+ Kf8 34 Qh8+ Ke7 35 Qxg7+ Ke8 36 Qf7 mate) 33 Bxg6 Rxd1+ 34 Bc1 Kf8 35 Rxg7! (35 Qh4 is also okay) 35...Kxg7 36 Qh7+ Kf8 37 Qf7 mate. 32 Rh1 Ndf8 Or 32...Rxd3 33 Rxh7+ Kg8 34 Rh8+ Kxh8 35 Qh3+ Kg8 36 Qh7+ Kf8 37 Qh8+ Ke7 38 Qxg7+ Ke8 39 Qf7 mate. Black could escape immediate mate with 32...Rc8 33 Rxh7+ Kg8 34 Qh3 Kf8 35 Rxg7 Ke8 36 Bxd4 Bxd4 37 Bb5 Qc6, when it is only mate in nine moves. Those computers... 33 Rxh7+ Kg8 33...Nxh7 34 Qh3 Kg8 35 Qxh7+ Kf8 36 Qh8+ Ke7 37 Qxg7+ Ke8 38 Qf7 mate. 34 Qh3 Nxg6 35 Bxg6 Rd1+ 36 Nc1 1-0 It is mate after 36...Kf8 37 Qh4 and Rh8. Exercise 409 Solomon-Canfell Melbourne 1991 (B65)

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White wins the queen in a highly unexpected manner. 13 e5! dxe5 14 fxe5 Nd5 15 Bxe7 Nxe7 16 Qc5! Black is very weak on the dark squares and suddenly finds himself without material. 16...Ng6 17 b4! Qa3 18 Rd3! Nf4 19 Rf3 Bb7 20 Nd5! Qxa2+ 21 Kxa2 Bxd5+ 22 Kb2 Nxe2 23 Qe3 1-0 The knight is trapped after 23...Bxf3 24 gxf3. Exercise 410 Christiansen-Dlugy New York 1990 (B66) A remarkable combination where the weakness of c2 is exploited by eliminating the queen’s defence of that square. 27...Nd2+! Black should not be tempted by 27...Kg7?? 28 h5!!. After 28...Kxh6?? (28...Nd2+ is a draw) 29 hxg6+ Kg7 30 gxf7+ Kxf7 31 Rh7+ White’s attack is lethal. 28 Bxd2 28 Nxd2 Qxc2+ 29 Ka1 Bf8 and Black wins a rook. Big pieces in trouble! 28...Qxc2+ 29 Ka1 Rxd2! A nice follow-up. White has problems with the back rank and general coordination. 30 Nxd2 Or: a) 30 Qxd2 Qxe4 31 Re1 Qc4 and Black wins due to both his attack and the problems of the h6rook. b) 30 Rxg6+ fxg6 31 Qxg6+ Kf8 32 Qh6+ Ke8 33 Qh5+ Kd8 34 Qa5+ Rc7 and the checks have run as far as they can. 30...Rd8 31 Rb1 31 Qe4 Rxd2 32 Qxc2 Rxc2 33 Kb1 Rc6 34 h5 Bf8 35 hxg6 Bxh6 36 Rxh6 fxg6 and Black wins. 31...Rxd2 32 Qa8+ Rd8 33 Qxa6 Rd1 34 Rxg6+ fxg6 35 Qe6+ Kf8 36 Qc8+ 0-1

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6 Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 411 Khalifman-Kotronias Belgrade 1993 (B66) White wins because of a highly spectacular checkmate. 19 Nf5!! exf5 19...Qc5 20 Nxh6 is obviously no alternative. 20 Qf2! Re6 21 Rxe6 Qxe6 Black decides to part with the queen, as 21...fxe6?? 22 Bxh5+ Kd8 23 Qb6 is mate. 22 Re1 Nf6 23 Nd5! Kd7 23...Ne4 24 Bxe4 fxe4 25 Nc7+ and wins. 24 Rxe6 fxe6 25 Nb6+ Kc7 26 Qe3 Bd7 27 Nc4 b6 28 Qe5+ Kc8 29 Nd6+ Bxd6 30 Qxd6 Ne4 31 Bxe4 fxe4 32 Kc1 e3 33 Kd1 Rb7 34 Qf8+ 1-0 Exercise 412 Kobalija-Korotylev Moscow 1999 (B66) White exploits the hanging rook on g7 to start his attack. 30 Qd4! Rg8 a) 30...Kf8 31 Qa7! Qa8 32 Rd7 f5 33 Bb4 Rd8 34 Qd4 Rxd7 35 Qxd7 Bxb4 36 Rc8+ Qxc8 37 Qxc8+ and White has a winning endgame, even though there are some technical difficulties. b) 30...Rxc3 31 Qxg7! Rc8 32 Qh8+ Bf8 33 Bb4 and White wins. c) 30...f6 31 Qb6! followed by 32 Qxe6 and White wins. 31 Qa7! Qxa7 31...Qa8 32 Qd7+ and wins. 32 Rxc8+ Bd8 33 Rcxd8+ Ke7 34 Rxg8 e5 35 g4 1-0 Exercise 413 Liu Dede-Serper Jakarta 1994 (B66) Black has an attack on the queenside and needs to get going. His position will never be better than it is now. 471

25...Ra4!! 26 Bd2 a) 26 Bb6 Qb4 27 Qe1 Rxa2 with the idea of ...Ra1+ and Black wins. b) 26 fxe6 Rxa2 with mate to follow. c) 26 bxa4 Qb4+ 27 Ka1 Qb2 mate. 26...Bb4! 26...Rxa2?? 27 Bxc3! is not the way to proceed, but 26...cxd2 should also win. 27 bxa4 Ba3! 28 Bxc3 Rb8+ 28...Qxc3?? 29 Qb6 and White hangs on. 29 Bb5 Qxc3 0-1 Exercise 414 Naiditsch-Wells Pulvermuehle 2000 (B66) White exploits Black’s misplaced queen to net a pawn. 19 Bxe6! Bb4! The only counterplay. 19...fxe6 20 Qxe6+ Rf7 21 Bb6! Qb4 22 Rd4 Bc8 23 Qc6 and White wins. 20 Bb3! 20 Nd5 fxe6 21 Nxb4 Qxb4 22 Bc5 Qa5 23 Bxf8 Rxf8 is not really clear. 20...Rfe8 21 Qf4 Bxc3 22 bxc3 Qxc3 Black needs to take the pawn. 22...Rac8 23 Bd4 Rc6 24 Rhe1 gives White a winning position with a pawn up and a strong bishop on d4. Next comes 24...Rf8 25 Re7 and things are only getting worse for Black. 23 Bd4 Qb4 23...Qc6 24 Bxf6 Qxf6 25 Qxf6 gxf6 26 Rd7 and White wins. 24 a3! Actually, it was probably necessary to see this far to be really happy about White’s idea. 24...Nd5 24...Qf8 25 Bxf6 gxf6 26 Rd7 Re7 27 Rhd1 and Black cannot defend himself at all. White will win a pawn and has a winning initiative. 25 Qg5! Black has no more to offer. 472

6 Solutions to Exercises

25...Nc3+ 26 Bxc3 Qxc3 27 Rd7 h6 28 Qh5 Bc6 29 Bxf7+ Kh8 30 Bxe8 Bxd7 31 Bxd7 b4 32 Qa5 Qd4 33 Be6 bxa3 34 Qxa3 a5 35 Ka2 Qe5 36 Bc4 Rc8 37 Bd3 a4 38 Rb1 Qd5+ 39 Ka1 Qd4+ 40 Rb2 Re8 41 Qb4 Qd5 42 Qc4 10 Exercise 415 Nunn-Fedorowicz Wijk aan Zee 1991 (B66) The following beautiful attack by Nunn shows the importance of a lead in development, and how it should be exploited with force. 17 Rxd5!! 17 Be2? Rc8 18 d7+ Qxd7 19 Bf3 Qc6! would give Black a good game. 17...Qxd5 18 Be2 Better than 18 Bd3, as the option of 19 Rd1 is kept alive. 18...Qxa2 Nunn analyses 18...Qxd6, which loses to 19 Rd1 Qb8 (19...Qe7 20 Bf3 Rc8 21 Qe4! and Black has no defence against 22 Qc6+; 19...Qb4 20 Qf3 Rc8 21 Qb7 and Black is lost) 20 Bf3 Be7 21 Bc6+ Kf8 22 Rd7 Bf6 (22...Qc8 23 Rc7 Qb8 24 Bxa8 Qxa8 25 Bc5 Bxc5 26 Qxc5+ and White wins) 23 Rb7 Qc8 24 Rc7 Qb8 25 Bxa8 Qxa8 26 Qc5+ and White wins the queen. 18...Bxd6 19 Rd1 Bxf4 allows Black to avoid mate. But after 20 Qxf4 Qg5 21 Qxg5 hxg5 22 Bf3 Rc8 23 h3 White has a winning end-game. It is impossible for Black’s rooks to come alive with the bishops dominating most of the squares on the board. 19 Qf3! Bxd6 Black can find no salvation: a) 19...Rc8 20 d7+ Kxd7 21 Qb7+ and wins. b) 19...Qd5 20 Rd1 Qxf3 21 d7+ and White wins. 20 Qxa8+ Ke7 21 Qb7+ Kf8 22 Bc5!? Nunn continues his creative effort. Also possible was something like 22 Rf1 with an extra piece. 473

22...Qa1+ 22...Kg8 23 Bxd6 Qa1+ 24 Kd2 Qxh1 25 Bd3 f5 26 Be5 and Black is mated. 23 Kd2 Qxh1 24 Qb8+ 1-0 Exercise 416 Peng Xiaomin-Atalik Beijing 1996 (B66) White has sacrificed a piece and now brings the attack to a pleasing conclusion. 25 Bd4!! A second piece sacrifice. 25...Rxd4 25...Qc6 26 Rxe7! Qxc4 27 Bxf6 and White wins; 25...Qxd4 26 Rxd4 Rxd4 27 Qe6 Rxc4 28 Qxe7+ Kg8 29 Qe6+ and White wins. 26 Rxe7 Rxc4 27 Qg6 Black has a big problem protecting f7. 27...Rxc2+ 28 Kb1 Rxb2+ 28...Rc1+ 29 Kxc1 Qc5+ 30 Kb1 Bc2+ 31 Qxc2 Qxe7 32 Qc8+ Ne8 33 Rxe7 Kxe7 34 Qc5+ and White wins easily. 29 Kxb2 Qf2+ 29...Qd4+ 30 Kb1 and it is all over. 30 Ka1 1-0 The f7-square still cannot be protected. Exercise 417 Shirov-Lutz Munich 1993 (B66) A fabulous position where White decides the game by trapping the rook and taking it with his king. 22 b4!! 22 Qxa5?! Bxa5 23 b3?? Rd4 is good for Black. 22...Qc7 The only move. 22...Qxd5 23 Qb3! Qc6 24 b5 and White wins; 22...Nxd5!? 23 bxa5 Nxc3+ 24 Bxc3 Bxa5 25 Bxa5 Rb8+ 26 Kc1 Ra1+ 27 Kd2 Rxa5 28 Bd3 and White has a winning endgame; 22...Qb6 23 Qb3 and the rook is lost. 23 Kb2 Nxd5? 474

6 Solutions to Exercises

This loses without resistance. Or: a) 23...a5?! 24 Qxc7 Bxc7 25 Kb3 Rxb4+ 26 Bxb4 axb4 27 Bb5 Rb8 28 Bc6 gives White a winning advantage. Black cannot get his pieces playing. b) 23...Qd7?! 24 Qc6! and Black has gained nothing. c) 23...Qb7! was the best try. 24 Qb3! Qd7 (the idea) 25 b5! (according to my analysis the best move, winning rather convincingly) 25...Rd4 26 c3 Rxd5 27 g5 Rxb5!? (27...Rxd2+ 28 Rxd2 Nh5 29 gxh6 axb5 [29...g6 30 bxa6 Bc7 31 a7 and White wins] 30 Bxb5 Qf5 31 Rxd6 with a messy but completely winning position) 28 Bxb5 axb5 29 gxf6 Bxf6 30 Rhg1 Kh8 31 Be3 and White eventually wins. 24 Qxc7 Bxc7 25 Kb3 Nb6 26 Be3 a5 27 c3! 27 Bxb6?? Rxb4+. 27...axb4 28 Bxb6 1-0 Exercise 418 Brodsky-Nevednichy Bucharest 1995 (B67) White wins a pawn because b7 is overloaded. 18 Bxa6! Rd8 a) 18...Rxa6?? 19 Qb8+ Ke7 20 Qd8 mate. b) 18...Qe7 19 Bb5 and White wins. 19 Qc5 19 Qxd8+ Qxd8 20 Rxd8+ Kxd8 21 Bb5 wins too. 19...Rxd1+ 20 Rxd1 Qe7 20...Qxh2 21 Bxb7 Bxb7 22 Qb5+ Kf8 23 Qxb7 and White wins. 21 Qe3 Rh4 22 Bb5 Bxb5 23 Nxb5 Kf8 24 Qe2 Qc5 25 Nd6 b6 26 a3 Rf4 27 Qa6 Kg7 28 Qa4 Ne5 29 h3 Rf2 30 h4 Kg6 31 Qb3 Kh5 32 a4 Kh6 33 Nb7 1-0 Exercise 419 Popovic-Kozul Belgrade 1989 (B67) Only one move here. 475

36 d7+! Kb7 36...Bxd7 37 Qf8+ Kc7 38 Qd6+ and Black is mated. 37 d8N+?? This move loses. White was winning with 37 Qc6+! Kxc6 38 dxe8Q+ and Black is soon mated. 37...Ka8 0-1 There are no checks. Exercise 420 Kuzmin-Ovsejevitsch Donetsk 1998 (B70) White wins by setting up an amazing combination. 29 Be8!! With the idea of 30 Qxg7+. 29...g5 29...Rxe8 30 Nd7 mate. 30 g4 Just one win amongst many. Now Black has no defence. After 30...Rac8 there comes 31 Qxg7+ Kxg7 32 Rh7+ Kg6 33 Bxf7 mate. Exercise 421 Perelshteyn-Shahade New York 2001 (B71) The queen on g3 is unprotected. 27...Bxa3! 28 bxa3 28 Na4 Bc5 29 b3 Bd4+ 30 Kb1 Qb5 and White is lost. 28...Qxa3+ 29 Kb1 Ba2+?! 29...Rd8! wins as well. After 30 Kc2 Bb3+ 31 Kb1 Rxd2 White is mated. 30 Kc2 30 Ka1 Bd5+ 31 Kb1 Bxg2 32 Qxg2 Rb8+ 33 Kc2 Qb3+ 34 Kc1 Nd5 and Black wins. 30...Qb3+ 31 Kc1 31 Kd3 Nd7! and Black’s attack is decisive. 31...Bb1! 0-1 A cute end.

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6 Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 422 Boehmfeldt-Miles Dortmund 1979 (B72) Probably a bit easy compared to the previous exercises. Black wins with a knight fork on c4. 20...Nac4+! Either knight works. 21 dxc4 Nxc4+ 22 Kd3 Bxd4! 23 Kxd4 Nxe3 23...Rf3 wins easily too: 24 Rae1 Rxe3 25 Qxe3 Nxe3 26 Rxe3 e5+ 27 Rxe5 Qf4+ 28 Kxd5 Rd8+ 29 Ke6 Qf7 mate. 24 Qxe3 Rf4+ 25 Kd3 Rf3 26 Rae1 Raf8 0-1 Exercise 423 Oll-Van der Wiel Holland 1996 (B72) Black looks like he has a strong attack, but White can magically repulse it. 27 Ba6!! Harassing the black queen. 27...Be5+ 27...Qb6 28 Rxc6! and White wins. 28 Bxb7 Bxf4 29 Rxc6 Rxb7+ 30 Ka2 Nd4? 30...Nxg5 was a better try, but after 31 Rh4 Be5 32 Rc5 Nf3 33 Rh3 Ng5 34 Rb3 White will win. 31 Rc8+ Kg7 32 Rch8 Bxg5 33 e5 1-0 Exercise 424 Tolnai-Nemet Liechtenstein 1993 (B72) A messy ‘desperado’ position where everything hangs. White wins with a nice trick. 33 Ne8+! Kf8 33...Nxe8 34 Rxd7+ Qxd7 35 Qxe2 and wins. 34 Qh6+ Kxe8 35 Qxg6+ Ke7 36 Qg7+ Ke8 37 Rxe6+ 1-0 Black resigned due to 37...Re7 38 Qh8+ Kf7 39 Rxf6 mate. Exercise 425 Vasilyev-Golubev Odessa 2001 (B72) 477

White looks okay, but after the next move he can simply resign. 21...e5! 22 dxe6 22 Bf2 bxc3 23 Rxc3 e4! and Black wins; 22 fxe5 dxe5 23 Bf2 bxc3 makes little difference. 22...Bxd4+ 23 cxd4 Qxf3 24 exf7+ Kg7 25 Rxf3 Rxc1+ 0-1 Exercise 426 Carlsson-Yakovich Stockholm 2002 (B73) White is doing well positionally, but tactically he is about to get a shock. 34...Bxh3! 35 Rxe7 There is no defence, for example: a) 35 gxh3 Qxh3+ 36 Kg1 Qg3+ 37 Kh1 Rxf4 and White is mated. b) 35 Kg1 Bxg2! is no escape. c) 35 Bxa6 Qg4! and Black wins. d) 35 cxd6 Bxg2+! 36 Kxg2 Qg4+ 37 Kf2 Qxf4+ with a mating attack. 35...Bxg2+! 36 Kg1 Rxe7 37 Qxe7 Bxd5 38 Be2 Qxc5+ 39 Kf1 Rxf4+ 40 Ke1 Qc3+ 41 Rd2 Qg3+ 42 Kd1 Bb3+ 43 Kc1 Qe1+ 0-1 Exercise 427 Grosar-Jirovsky Groningen 1991 (B73) The following combination is maybe not so hard, but it requires long calculation. 25 Nxg6+! 25 Nd5!? is similar. 25...hxg6 25...Kg8 26 Rfxf7 transposes, even though other moves are also possible. 26 Rfxf7+ Kg8 27 Rg7+ Kh8 28 Rh7+ Kg8 29 Rbg7+ Kf8 30 Rxa7 Kg8 31 e6! This idea is enormously important. White needs to free his rook on h7 from attack before the a4knight can be captured. 31...Rxe6

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6 Solutions to Exercises

31...Nxc3 32 Rag7+ Kf8 33 e7+ and White wins. 32 Rhd7 Re8 33 Rxa4 Rxc3 34 h3 White has an easily winning ending. 34...Rc2 35 Ra6 Kh8 36 a4 1-0 Exercise 428 Kramnik-Cvitan Munich (blitz) 1994 (B73) The weaknesses of b6 and d5 are fatal. 14 Nxa5 Qxa5 15 Nd5! Black has no defence. 15...Rc6 15...Qd8 16 Bb6 and White wins; 15...Ra8 16 Bb6 even wins the queen. 16 Nxe7+ Kh8 17 Nxc6 Bxc6 18 exd6 Nf6 19 Bf3 Ne4 20 Bd4 f5 21 Bxg7+ Kxg7 22 Qd4+ Kh6 23 b4 1-0 Exercise 429 Szabo-Geller Hilversum 1973 (B73) Who says that endings are positional? Here White has to deal with a d-pawn running towards the finishing line, and the only way to do that is to create a passed pawn of his own. 35 b5! d3!? Black has no defence in the following line: 35...axb5 36 Qb8+! Kg7 37 a6 d3 38 a7 d2 39 a8Q d1Q 40 Qh8 mate!!. 36 bxa6 d2 37 Qb8+ Kg7 38 a7 d1Q 39 a8Q Q7d6+ 40 f4 1-0 Black probably lost on time here. The position after 40...Qxb8 41 Qxb8 Qd3 42 Qe5+ Kh7 43 Qf6 Kg8 44 a6 holds no hope for him. White will eventually queen the a-pawn. Exercise 430 Savon-Sosonko Ljubljana 1977 (B74) White wins a piece by trapping the knight after a clever forced sequence.

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24 d7! Nxd7 25 c4 Qf5 25...Qc6 26 Qxc6 Rxc6 27 Rxd7 wins. 26 g4 Ne5 This was supposed to be the salvation, but White has seen further. 27 gxf5 Nxf3 28 Kg2 Now the knight is trapped. 28...Nxh2 29 Kxh2 gxf5 30 Ne2 Red8 31 Ng3 e6 32 Nh5 It might look as if Black has drawing chances with three pawns for the piece, but the pawns are neither passed nor active, and White has an attack against the king on the dark squares. Black has no adequate defence. 32...Bb2 33 Bh4 Rxd1 34 Rxd1 h6 35 Nf6+ Kf8 36 Nd7+ Ke8 37 Ne5 a5 38 Bf6 Ba3 39 Rd7 10 Exercise 431 Adorjan-Fuller London 1975 (B75) White wins quite simply with a temporary queen sacrifice. 19 Qxd6!! Qxd6 19...Qxg6 20 Bc4+ also wins for White. 20 Bc4+ Rf7 21 Bxf7+ Kf8 21...Kh8 22 Rxh7 mate. 22 Bc5 White is an exchange up and won easily. 22...hxg6 23 Bc4 Qxc5 24 Rxc5 a5 25 Bd5 a4 26 Nd2 a3 27 bxa3 Rxa3 28 Rh4 Ra1+ 29 Kf2 e4 30 Rf4+ Ke8 31 Bxc6+ Bxc6 32 Rxc6 1-0 Exercise 432 Aagaard-Borge Copenhagen 1996 (B76) An example of my own. I feel as if I was very young when this was played. Notice the hanging bishop on e6. 20 Rxg7+! Kxg7 21 fxe4 21 c4!? is not a bad move either, but the text is better. 480

6 Solutions to Exercises

21...fxe4 22 Qg2+ Kh8 There are no other squares: a) 22...Kf6 23 Nxe4+ Kf7 24 Nd6+ Kf6 25 Bd4+ Ke7 26 Qg7+ Kxd6 27 Be5+ Kc5 28 Qg1+ Kb4 29 Qd4+ Ka5 30 Qxa7+ Kb4 31 a3 mate. b) 22...Kh7 23 Qxe4+ and the bishop is lost. 23 Bd4+ Nf6 24 Qg6 White is winning. 24...Bd5 25 Qxh6+ Kg8 26 Qg6+ 26 Be2! is even better: 26...Qxd6 27 Qg6+ Kh8 28 Qh5+! Kg8 29 Rg1+ with mate to follow. 26...Kh8 27 Be5 Qe7 28 Nf5 Qf7 29 Qh6+ 1-0 Exercise 433 Analysis (B76) This position came about when I was analysing a line in the Dragon. White now wins with 28 g5! Qd2! The only defence. 29 Nxe7+!! Rxe7 30 gxf6 Qxh6 31 fxe7 and Black cannot prevent the queening. Exercise 434 Popovic-Sax Subotica 1987 (B76) A bit of a classic actually. Black could have won in fascinating style. 31...Bxe4? 31...Bc3!! 32 bxc3 Qxa3+ 33 Rb2 (33 Kb1 Rxd6 and Black wins) 33...Qxd6 and Black has an extra piece. 32 Rb3 Qa1+? Better was 32...Bf5 33 Qb6! (the old line was 33 Qe1 Bf8! 34 Rb6 Bxd6! 35 Bxd6 Qa1+ 36 Kd2 Qxa4 and Black wins) 33...Rd7 34 Qe3 Qa1+ 35 Kd2 Qh1 with a very promising position for Black. 33 Kd2 Qb1 34 Qxf7+ Kh8? 34...Kh7 35 Rc3 Rf8 36 Qxf8 Bxf8 37 Nxe4 Bxa3 38 bxa3 with an advantage for White. 35 Qc7 Rd7 36 Qc4 Qh1 37 Rb8+ Kh7 38 Qg8 mate 481

Exercise 435 Jansa-Mrva Krynica 1998 (B76) White wins because of a spectacular mate in the endgame. 29 Rxd6! h6 a) 29...exd6 30 Re8+ Kg7 31 h6+ Kg6 32 Rg8 mate. b) 29...Rc8 30 Rd5 Ra8 31 Ree5 Rba7 is not really a defence, but the best available. White should win this endgame. 30 Rxh6 Rbc7 31 Re2 Rg3 32 Ra6 Rc5 33 g6 Rxg4 34 Ra8+ Kg7 35 h6+ Kxg6 36 Rg8+ Kf5 37 h7 Rh4 38 h8Q Rxh8 39 Rxh8 e5 40 Rf2+ 1-0 Exercise 436 Marciano-Relange Sabac 1998 (B76) White wins by invading the light squares. 26 Bg6!! exf6 26...fxg6 27 f7+ and White wins; 26...Rf8 27 Bh7+! Kxh7 28 Qe4+ Kg8 29 fxe7 and White wins. 27 Rxf6 Re5 Black cannot defend himself. After 27...Rf8 28 Rdf1 Be8 29 Be4 Qe7 30 R1f5 White has a mating attack. 28 Rxd6 1-0 Exercise 437 Van der Wiel-Sax Plovdiv 1983 (B76) Another classic. 23 Rh8+!! 1-0 23...Kxh8 24 Qxf7 Rg8 25 Bxf6 and there is no defence against mate: 25...Qf5 26 Rh1+ Qh7 27 Qh5 Qxh5 28 Rxh5 mate. Exercise 438 Babaev-Gouliev Baku 2001 (B77) White wins on the spot with a mate on g8. 482

6 Solutions to Exercises

23 Qg2 Bh6 24 Rxh6! Qxh6 25 Ne7 1-0 Qg8 mate is imminent. Exercise 439 Analysis (B78) Once again this is from my own analysis in the Dragon. I like the finish here. 24 Be4! Bh3! Did you see this counterattack? When you calculate, seeing such moves is often the difference between winning and losing. 25 Bxh7+!! The only winning move. Actually, the only move. 25 Qxh3 h5 and 25 Rxh3 Qg1+ both lose. 25...Nxh7 26 Qxh3 and Black cannot escape mate. Exercise 440 Hartston-Sosonko Hastings 1976 (B78) Black has achieved everything he ever desired. 22...Rxc2!! 23 Nxb4 White decides not to fight. a) 23 Kxc2 Qxa2+ 24 Kd3 (24 Bb2 Nxd5 25 exd5 Qxb2+ 26 Kd3 Qxb3+ 27 Kd2 Bb5 and White cannot escape a fate worse than death) 24...Qxb3+ 25 Kd2 Nxd5 26 exd5 Bb5 27 Qf1 Bc3+ 28 Ke3 e6! 29 Kf2 exd5 and Black wins: 30 Qh3 Rxe2+ 31 Kg3 Be5+ 32 Kh4 Re3! 33 Rdf1 Bxf1 34 Rxf1 Re2 35 Rh1 Qc4 and so on. b) 23 a4 Qc5 24 Be3 Qc8 and White has no counterplay at all. After 25 Qh4 Rxe2 26 Nxf6+ Black has 26...exf6! 27 Qxh7+ Kf8 winning, as 28 Qxh8+ Ke7 29 Qh6 Qc2+ 30 Ka1 Qa2 is mate. 23...Rxe2 24 Qxe2 Qxb4 25 Bb2 Be6 26 Rh4 Rb8 27 Qe3 Qc5 28 Bd4 Qa3 29 e5 Bxb3 0-1 Exercise 441 Seres-Aagaard Budapest 2003 (analysis) (B78) 22 Qxe7 Rxd4 23 Rxg6+! Kxg6 24 Rg1+ Kh6 25 Qg5+ Kh7 26 Qxh5 mate 483

Exercise 442 Kozirev-Varavin Omsk 1996 (B78) White is of course better. But the idea in the game simply wins immediately. The a3-rook is in trouble and after 28 Rxh5! gxh5 29 Rb2 it cannot escape. White’s plan is c3 and Kd3-c4b4. 29...e6 30 c3 d5 31 exd5 exd5 32 Kd3 Kf8 33 Re2 Cutting of the king. 33...f6 34 Kd4 Kf7 35 Rc2! Now it becomes clear that the rook never had a chance. 35...Ke6 36 Kc5 d4 37 Kxd4 1-0 Exercise 443 Ankerst-Bawart Bled 1998 (B78) White has a strong attack, but Black also has ideas. 25...Rxe2! 26 Rhd1 The natural response. After 26 gxh5 Bf5 Black wins. What now? 26...Rh2?? Not this. Of course it is a difficult position and a move like 26...Re1!! can be very hard to predict. After this Black wins material: 27 Rxd7 Qxd7 28 Rxe1 Qd3+ 29 Ka1 Nf6, or 27 Rxe1 Bf5 28 gxf5 Qxd3+ 29 Ka1 Qxf5 and Black has four extra pawns. 27 Rxd7 Qb6 28 Na4 Qa5 29 R7d5?? 29 Nc5!! would have kept the kettle boiling. 29...Qxd5! 0-1 Exercise 444 Palac-Tolnai Osijek 1992 (B78) White has a pleasant finish at his disposal. 27 Rxh7+! Kxh7 28 Rh1+ Bh5 29 Rxh5+ Rh6

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29...Bh6 30 Nf5! and Black is lost after 30...Rg6 31 Rxh6+ Kg8 32 Rxg6+ fxg6 33 Qxg6+ Kh8 34 Qh6+ Kg8 35 Qg5+ Kh8 36 Ne7!. 30 Qf5+ Kh8 31 Rxh6+ Bxh6 32 Qf6+ 1-0 Black resigned because of 32...Kh7 33 Nf5! and there is no defence. Exercise 445 Tukmakov-Sosonko Amsterdam 1974 (B78) White wins in an attack started by a knight sacrifice. 27 Nf5+! Bxf5 28 Rxh5! The key idea. 28...Bh3 29 Qh6+ Kf6 30 Qf4+ Ke6 Black cannot escape: 30...Kg7 31 Rh7+! Kxh7 32 Qxf7+ Kh8 33 Qe8+ Kg7 34 Qxg6+ Kh8 35 Qg8 mate. 31 Rh7 f6 31...Kd7 32 Qxf7 Re5 33 Qxg6 gives White a completely winning position. 32 Qg3 f5 33 Qxh3 1-0 Exercise 446 Pyhala-Shneider Espoo 1988 (B78) White wins on the light squares. 26 Rxg6! fxg6 27 Qh7+ Kf7 27...Kf8 28 Ne6+ and White wins. 28 Rh6! Now Black cannot defend g6. After 28 Rg1?? Qh5! Black wins. 28...Rf8 29 Qxg6+ Kg8 30 Rh5 30 Qh7+ Kf7 31 Nf5 Rxa3+ 32 Kb1 also wins. 30...Qc4 31 Qh7+ Kf7 32 Rg5 Rxa3+ 33 bxa3 Qxc3+ 34 Kb1 Qe1+ 35 Bc1 1-0 Exercise 447 Z.Almasi-Abel Hungary 1992 (B78) White mates elegantly with sacrifices on the light squares. 485

35 Re6+! Kg7 35...fxe6 36 Qg6 mate. 36 Rxf7+! Rxf7 36...Kxf7 37 Qg6 mate. 37 Rg6+ Kf8 38 Rg8+! Kxg8 39 Qe8+ Kg7 40 Qxf7+ 1-0 Black is mated next move. Exercise 448 Apicella-Bergez St. Quentin 2001 (B79) White would like to play 31 Qxc3, but 31...Bxe4+ rules this out. Instead he comes up with a spectacular move using the mate on g7 and the hanging rook. 31 Nc5! Bxe4+ 31...dxc5 32 Qxc3 Bxe4+ 33 Ka1 f6 34 Ng4 and White has a winning attack. 32 Nxe4 Na4 33 Qb4! 33 Nd5? does not work because of 33...Nxb2 34 Nxc7 Nxd1 35 Rxd1 (35 Nd5 Rc1 mate) 35...R3xc7 and Black is doing well in the endgame. 33...Rxe3 34 Qxa4! Qb6+ 35 Ka1 Black has no more to offer after this. 35...e5 36 fxe5 Rxe1 37 Rxe1 dxe5 38 Rd1 Qe3 39 Qc4! Qh3 40 Qc7! 1-0 Exercise 449 Keres-Popov Dortmund 1973 (B80) Black is doing well, but how to proceed? He wins by removing the counter to ...Nc4 with 35...e3!! 36 fxe3 What else? 36 Bf1 Nf3+ 37 Kg2 Nd4+ 38 Rxc6 Qxd1 and Black wins. 36...Bxg2 37 Kxg2 An important point is that after 37 Rd8 Black only wins with 37...Bc6! 38 Rxe8+ Bxe8 39 Qd8 Kh7!. 37...Qa8+

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6 Solutions to Exercises

After 37...Nc4?! 38 Qd4 then 38...Qa8+ 39 Rd5 Nb6! still wins. 38 Kg1 Nc4 0-1 Exercise 450 J.Polgar-Milos Sao Paulo 1996 (B80) White would love to give a mate on e8, so the queen is introduced into the attack. 32 g5!! Qc7 32...Qd6 33 Qh5! fxg5 34 Qf7 and White wins; 32...Qd8 33 Bxe5 and White wins the bishop ending, if not before. 33 Qh5! Bf8 33...fxg5 34 Qf7 and Black is mated. 34 gxf6! 1-0 After 34...exf4 35 Qe8 Qd6 36 Qf7 he is mated. Exercise 451 Conquest-Yakovich Saint Vincent 2000 (B80) The trick is not to see the initial combination, but to see that it wins on the spot. 26 Nfxe6! 26 Qg3!? Rg8 27 Qg6+ Kh8 28 Qxf7 Nf6 29 Ng6+ Kh7 30 Ne7 also wins – again a double solution. For the practical player this has little influence, so I have let it be. 26...fxe6 27 Rxg7+ Kxg7 28 Nxe6+ Kh7 28...Kf7 29 Nxc7 Rxc7 30 Qf4+ and White wins. 29 Nxc7 Rxc7 30 Qg5!? The poor coordination of Black’s pieces will cost him dearly. 30 Qg3! also forces 30...Ne5. 30...Ne5 White wins after both 30...Rg8 31 Qf5+ Kh8 32 Qf4 and 30...Nf6 31 Rd8! Rxd8 32 Qg6+ Kh8 33 Qxf6+. 31 Qxe5 Rcf7 32 Qe6 Rf6 33 Rd7+ Kh6 34 Qe5 R8f7 35 Rxf7 Rxf7 36 Qe6+ Kg7 37 h6+ Kf8 38 Qd6+ 1-0 487

Exercise 452 Krakops-Kraschl Zagan 1995 (B80) A remarkable combination based on a tactical invasion. 16 Nxe6!! fxe6 The main line. If Black had seen what White was intending, he might have reacted differently. 16...Bf6!? was the alternative. Here White should remain aggressive. After 17 N2f4! fxe6 18 Nxe6 Ne5 19 Qf5 White has a winning attack: a) 19...d4 20 f4 Bd5 21 fxe5 Qxa2+ 22 Kc1 and Black has no real threats. b) 19...Rxh7 20 Qxh7 Kd7 21 Nxg7 and Black cannot escape. c) 19...Qb6 20 Rxe5 Bxe5 21 Qxe5 Rxh7 22 Ng5+ and White wins. 17 Qg6+ Kf8 From here on Black has no choice. 18 Nd4! All the pieces get to work. 18...Nc5 19 Qxg5 Rxh7 20 Nxe6+ Nxe6 21 Qf5+! 1-0 A beautiful point. Black resigned because of 21...Kg8 22 Qxe6+ Kh8 23 Qe8+! Rxe8 24 Rxe8 mate. Exercise 453 De la Paz-Arencibia Santa Clara 2000 (B81) White has sacrificed a piece and should therefore attack. 18 Bxf7+! Kxf7 Forced. 18...Kd8 19 Bb6+ and wins; 18...Kf8 19 Be6 Qb7 (19...Qe8 20 f6 Bd8 21 Bxc8) 20 Qh5 Bxe6 21 fxe6 Nd8 22 fxe5 and White wins. 19 g6+ hxg6 19...Kf6 is the only move according to the computer. But White wins after 20 g7! Rg8 21 Qg5+ Kf7 22 Qh5+ Kf6 (22...Kxg7 23 Rhg1+ Kh8 24 Rxg8+ Kxg8 25 Rg1+ Kh8 26 Qf7 and Black is mated) 23 fxe5+ Nxe5 (23...Kxe5 24 Rhe1 488

6 Solutions to Exercises

Kf6 25 Bg5+ Kxg7 26 f6+ Kh8 27 fxe7 and wins) 24 Bg5+ Kxg7 25 f6+ Kh8 26 fxe7 Ng4 27 Rhg1 Qe8 28 Rxg4! Qxh5 29 Bf6+ Rg7 30 Rxg7 Qh6+ 31 Rg5+ Qxf6 32 e8R+ Qf8 33 Rxf8 mate. 20 Qxg6+ Kf8 21 f6 Rg8 21...Bd8! was the best chance: 22 Rhg1 Nd4 23 fxe5! (23 Qg7+ Qxg7 24 fxg7+ Kg8 is not completely clear) 23...dxe5 24 Bh6+ Rxh6 25 Qg8 mate. 22 Qh6+ Ke8 23 Qh5+ Kf8 24 fxe5 White is clearly winning. 24...Bxf6 25 Bh6+ Ke7 26 exf6+ Kd8 27 f7 Rh8 28 f8Q+ 1-0 Exercise 454 Ionov-Yashtylov Samara 2000 (B82) Black has sacrificed a piece and needs to blast his way through White’s position. 19...Rxc2+! 20 Kxc2 Rc8+ 21 Bc4 21 Kd3 Qc4+ 22 Ke4 Qc6+ 23 Kd3 Qf3+ 24 Be3 Qxe3 mate. 21...d3+! Opening up for the bishop; now White has no defence. After 21...Qxc4+? 22 Kb1 and 21...Rxc4+ 22 Kd3 White wins easily. 22 Kxd3 22 Kc1 Rxc4+ 23 Bc3 Rxc3+ 24 Qxc3 Bxc3 25 bxc3 Qc2 mate. 22...Qxc4+ 23 Ke3 Re8+ 24 Kf3 24 Kf2 Qe2+ 25 Kg1 Bd4+ also does not help White. 24...Qe2+ 25 Kg3 h5! All this, of course, should have been seen in advance. 26 Rhe1 26 Qf3 Bh4+ 27 Kxh4 Qxf3 and wins; 26 h4 Qg4+ 27 Kf2 Re2+ 28 Kf1 Qg2 mate. 26...Bh4+! 0-1 Next comes ...Qg4 mate.

Exercise 455 Spraggett-Hebert Montreal 1982 (B82) This combination is the most remarkable in the entire book. Never have I seen such a penetration on the kingside before. 16 Bxg7 Kxg7 The sacrifice must be accepted. 16...bxc3 17 Rh3 Nf8 18 Bxf8 Kxf8 19 Qh6+ Kg8 20 Qxh7+ Kf8 21 Qh8 is mate. 17 f5 Rh8 Black has no defence: a) 17...bxc3 loses splendidly to 18 f6+ Kg8 19 g6!! fxg6 20 f7+!! Kf8 21 Qh6+ Kxf7 22 Qxh7+ Kf6 23 Qxg6+ Ke5 24 Rd5+ exd5 25 Qf5+ Kd4 26 Qxd5 mate. b) 17...Bb7 18 f6+ Kg8 19 e5!! dxe5 (19...Nxe5 20 Rh3 and White wins; 19...Nf8 20 Qh6 and Black is mated) 20 Rxd7 Qxd7 21 Rh3 and Black is forced into 21...Qd2+ 22 Kxd2 bxc3+ 23 bxc3 Be4 to create an illusion of defence. But after 24 fxe7 the physical reality comes knocking on the door. c) 17...Qc5 is met with 18 f6+ Kg8 19 e5 Qxe5 20 Bd3 and White wins. 18 fxe6?! This still wins, but less convincingly. The correct move order was 18 Qh6+ Kg8 19 fxe6! and Black has no defence. One line goes 19...Nb6 20 g6 fxg6 (20...Bg5+ 21 Rxg5 fxg6 22 Nd5 Nxd5 23 exd5 and White wins easily; Bd3xg6 is just one reason to resign) 21 Rxg6+ hxg6 22 Qxg6+ Kf8 23 Qf7 mate. 18...fxe6 19 Qh6+ Kf7 19...Kg8 20 Qxe6+ Kf8 21 Nd5 Qd8 22 Rf3+ Nf6 23 gxf6 Bxe6 24 fxe7+ and wins. 20 g6+ Ke8 21 g7 Rg8 22 Qh5+ Kd8 23 Qf7 10 After 23...Rxg7 24 Rxg7 Bf8 25 Nd5 exd5 26 Rg8 White is winning.

489

490

6 Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 456 Mrva-Chloupek Prague 1992 (B82) The undefended queen on c7 decides. 20 Rxf7!! Kxf7 21 Nxd5 Qc2 21...exd5 22 e6+ and White wins. 22 Qf4+ Ke8 23 Rf1 1-0 Mate is impending. Exercise 457 Fressinet-Varga Lausanne 2001 (B82) White wins because of the weak light squares in the centre and Black’s exposed king. 17 f5! e5 Only terror awaits Black after 17...exf5 18 Nxf5 0-0 19 Nd5 Bf6 (19...Bxd5 20 Rxc8 and wins) 20 Rxc8 Bxc8 21 Nxd6, when Black now has no way to protect himself. The threat is 22 Nxc8 Qxc8 23 Rxf6! winning a piece or the queen. 21...Kh8 22 Qh5 g6 23 Qe2 Kg7 24 Nxc8 Qxc8 25 Nxf6 Nxf6 26 Bd4 and White wins. 18 Ne6! Qa5 Black capitulates. 18...fxe6 19 Qh5+ g6 (19...Kf8 20 fxe6+ Nf6 21 Qf7 mate) 20 fxg6 and White wins because of 20...Nf6 21 g7+!. 19 Nxg7+ Now everything is easy. 19...Kd8 20 f6 Nxf6 21 b4 Qc7 22 Nd5 Nxd5 23 exd5 1-0 Exercise 458 Lutikov-Tarjan Odessa 1976 (B82) White wins by a remarkable attack on the light squares. 17 Neg5!! fxg5 Black must accept. After 17...e5 18 Qh4 h6 19 Ne6 Qb6+ 20 Kh1 Rfe8 21 Nxg7! he is torn apart: 21...Kxg7 22 Qg4+ Kf8 23 fxe5! (23 Qxd7 is also good, of course) 23...Qc7 24 Qg6 and the king can never be defended. 491

18 Qxe6+ Rf7 18...Kh8 19 Qh6 Nf6 20 Bxf6 Bc5+ 21 bxc5 gxf6 22 fxg5 leaves White a few pawns up. 19 Bxh7+! Kf8 Also without a chance is 19...Kxh7 20 Qxf7 Nf6 21 Nxg5+ Kh8 22 Rf3 Bc5+ 23 bxc5 Qxf7 24 Nxf7+ Kg8 25 Nd6 and White has everything. 20 Nxg5 Qb6+ 20...Bxg5 21 fxg5 Nde5 22 g6 Re8 23 Rxf7+ Nxf7 24 Qxf7+ Qxf7 25 gxf7 Re7 26 Bg6 Nd8 27 Bd4 also leaves Black struggling just to stay a few pawns behind. 21 Kh1 Nd8 22 Qxd7 g6 Now anything wins. 23 Rae1 23 f5!. 23...Bc8 24 Qd5 Bb7 25 Qe5 Qf6 26 Nxf7 Kxf7 27 f5 1-0 Exercise 459 Tischbierek-Tseshkovsky Rostock 1984 (B83) Again White wins on the light squares. 22 Rxf7!! Sacrificing the exchange in order to control the light squares. Black would do well after 22 Bxc5 Qxc5+ 23 Kh1 Qxg5 with compensation. 22...Kxf7 22...Bxg5 23 Rf3 and White wins. 23 Qh5+ Kg8 23...Kf8 24 Rf1+ is no improvement. 24 Nd5!! Bf8 There are no defences: a) 24...Bxg5 25 Bxe6+ Kh8 26 Qxg5 with a winning position for White. b) 24...exd5 25 Be6+ Kh8 26 Bf5 (26 g6 also wins after 26...h6 27 Bxh6) 26...h6 27 Qg6 Kg8 28 Qh7+ Kf8 29 Be6 and Black is mated. 25 Bxe6+ Kh8 26 Qf7 Be7 27 Qxe7 Nc6 28 Qxd6 Rd8 29 Qf4 Nd4 30 Bxd4 Qxd4+ 31 Kh1 Rxc2 32 Rf1 g6 33 Qf8+ 1-0

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6 Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 460 Lutikov-Kapengut Minsk 1978 (B83) White exploits the weakness of d5, Black’s exposed queen and the hanging bishop on e7 with a wonderful combination. 15 b4!! 15 Nd5 Qxd2 16 Nxe7+ Kf8 17 Bxd2 Kxe7 leaves White clearly better, but that is unsatisfactory. 15...Qxb4 Forced. 15...Qc7 16 Rxf6 Bxf6 17 Nd5 Qb8 18 Nxf6+ gxf6 19 Bd4 followed by Bxf6 and Black will be mated. 16 e5 Qxf4?! Equivalent to resignation. The only try was 16...Qb2!? 17 exf6! (17 Rb1?? Qxb1+! 18 Nxb1 dxe5 and Black is much better) 17...Bxf6 18 Rxf6! Qxa1+ (18...gxf6 19 Rf1 with a winning attack) 19 Rf1 Qb2 20 Bd4 Qb4 21 a3 Qxa3 22 Qg5 f6 23 Rxf6 and Black will soon be mated. 17 Bxf4 dxe5 18 Qe1 Bc5+ 19 Be3 Bb4 20 a3 Ba5 21 Bg5 Nd5 22 Bd2 Nf6 23 Bd3 Ng4 24 Kh1 Bb6 25 Nd1 f5 26 h3 Nf6 27 Qxe5 Bd4 28 Qc7 Be6 29 Rb1 Bd5 30 Ne3 Rac8 31 Qf4 1-0 Exercise 461 Xie Jun-Giffard Wijk aan Zee 1997 (B83) White wins with a wonderful attack, sacrificing a queen for rook and knight. 25 Rxe3! Rh5 The only move. 25...dxe3 26 Qh6 wins for White. 26 Qxh5! This was of course the idea. 26...gxh5 27 Rg3+ Kh8 28 Rg7 h6 28...Be6 29 Ng5 h6 30 Rh7+ Kg8 31 Rxh6 and Black cannot protect his king. 29 h3! White has all the time in the world and defends her king against a back rank mate. 493

29...Qc7 30 Ng3 Qe5 31 Ne2 b5 32 Rf3 Suddenly my computer starts to understand that White is not going to take a perpetual check here. There is no defence, of course, even though the best chance is seen in the next note. 32...h4 32...b4! creates counterplay. Now comes 33 Rh7+ Kg8 34 Rxh6 Qg5 35 Rh7 Qe5 36 Rg3+ Qxg3 37 Nxg3 bxa3 38 Rg7+ Kh8 39 Bc4 Be6 40 Bxe6 fxe6 41 Ra7 and White is just in time to gain a full point. 33 Rh7+ Kg8 34 Rxh6 Qg5 35 Rh7 Qd2 36 Rg7+ Kh8 37 Rf4 Qe1+ 38 Kh2 1-0 Exercise 462 Kupreichik-Kasparov Kislovodsk 1982 (B83) Kasparov shows his fantastic understanding of dynamics and the hazards of having exposed pieces with a classic breakthrough in the centre. 14...e4!! 15 Bxe4 Re8! This is a very important move. Black needs to remain as flexible as possible, and the rook needs to be on e8 in all lines, while the bishop can go to various diagonals. Now White has nowhere to castle to. 16 0-0-0 16 0-0 Bd6! 17 h3 (17 Qd4 Nxe3 18 Qxe3 Bxf5 19 Ng5 Bxe4 20 Nxe4 Qh4 and Black wins) 17...Nxe3 18 Qxe3 Bxf5 19 Ng5 Qe7! 20 Rxf5 Bc5 and Black wins. 16 Kf1 Bf6 17 h3 Nxe3+ 18 Qxe3 Bxf5 19 Nd2 Qe7 20 Re1 Bg5 and Black wins. 16...Bf6 Black now wins one of the bishops. 17 Bg5 Rxe4 18 h3 Ne5 19 Bxf6 Qxf6 20 Nxe5 Qxe5 21 g4 Bd7 22 Rhe1 Re8 23 Rxe4 Qxe4 24 Qa5 Qe3+ 25 Kb1 Qxh3 26 Qxa7 Qxg4 27 Rc1 Bxf5 28 Qxb7 h5 29 b3 Qd4 30 a4 Qc3 0-1 Exercise 463 Svidler-Maksimenko 494

6 Solutions to Exercises

Tivat 1995 (analysis) (B83) This is not the game, but a variation. Often the greatest tactics are seen by both top grandmasters, and the public are let down as the game ends with less excitement. Okay, they are fighting for victory, so they are forgiven, but here is a nice one that never made it on the board. 20 Nf5!! Blowing Black’s position wide open. 20...exf5 A better try was 20...0-0 21 Nh6+ Kg7 (21...Kh8 22 Qxd6 Bb7 23 Bd4 and Black loses a piece) 22 Rg1+ Ng6 23 Ng4 Be7 24 Bh6+, when White will win with his extra exchange and better placed pieces. After 20...Qc6 21 Nxd6+ Ke7 White wins with both 22 Bc5 and 22 Bg5. 21 Qxd6 Nd7 22 exf5 Be5 23 Bg5 Qe6!? This is a funny try, but White wins in a million ways. One of them is 24 Rxe5 Qxe5 25 Qxe5+! Nxe5 26 Rd8 mate Exercise 464 Aagaard-Houska Hampstead 1998 (B84) Here is a personal effort. I feel I somehow lack a sense of modesty when I include it. In Blokh’s fabulous book with 1200 combinations (also known as the CD Chess Art 3), it is only when he includes his own examples that the positions are less than marvellous. Here I think I keep up the general standard with an attack that includes some pleasing sacrifices. 31 Rxf8+! First the light squares are won. 31...Kxf8 32 Bxe6 Qe8 The only move. 32...Qc7 33 Qf3+ Kg7 34 Qf7+ Kh8 35 Bd7 and White wins; 32...Qxa4 33 Qf1+ Kg7 34 Qf7+ Kh8 35 Bg4 and the game is over. 33 Qf3+ Kg7 34 Qf6+!

495

Also the computer’s favourite. Still, White also wins instantly with 34 Bf7!. 34...Bxf6 35 exf6+ Kf8 35...Kh8 36 f7 mate. 36 Bc5+ 1-0 Exercise 465 Yegiazarian-Nielsen Ohrid 2001 (B84) White removes the defence of f7 and creates a winning attack. 27 Rxd3! Deflecting the black rook, White captures the f7-pawn, creating decisive threats to Black’s king. 27...Rxd3 27...bxc3 28 Nxf7! and White wins. 28 Nxf7 Black has no real defence against Nh6 mate and Qh8 mate, so he tries some checks. 28...Bxg2+ 29 Kxg2 Qb7+ 29...Rd2+ 30 Kh1 Qc6+ 31 Rf3 and White wins. 30 Kg1 Qb6+ 31 Rf2 Rd1+ 32 Nxd1 Rxd1+ 33 Kg2 Qc6+ 34 Rf3 1-0 Exercise 466 Leitao-Stohl Istanbul 2000 (B84) White has sacrificed a piece that is easy to regain. But maybe it is possible to squeeze a little more out of the position? 18 Nf5! Nxe5 The only move. 18...fxe6 19 Nxe7+ Kg7 20 Qh4 and Black is defenceless against Qh6+; 18...dxe5 19 Nxe7+ Kg7 20 Ned5 and White wins a ton of material. 19 Bxb6! The point. 19...Qxb6 Here is another example of why Kh1 is such an important move for White in these lines. 20 Nxe7+ Kh8 496

6 Solutions to Exercises

Exercise 467 Tiviakov-Beshukov Elista 1996 (B85) White needs to attack the weakest spot in the black king’s position to break through – that is h7. 29 Qh6! Qc6 30 Bg6!! 1-0 The pawn on g7 does not really work as a shield here!

White has time to bring in all the resources. 23...Kg6 23...e5 24 g5 Ne6 does also not save Black, as after 25 Rxh6+ Bxh6 26 Qxh6+ Kg8 27 g6 fxg6 28 Qxg6+ Kh8 (28...Kf8 29 Rg1 and White wins) 29 f7 White wins some rooks because of Qh6 mate. 24 Rf1! Keeping an eye on Black’s king – White has all the time in the world. 24 Rxh6+? Bxh6 25 Qh5+ Kxf6! would be sad. 24...Nxd3 25 g5 1-0 Here anything wins. I personally prefer 25 Rxh6+ Bxh6 26 Qh5+ Kh7 27 g5 and Black is mated. But even possible is 25 cxd3 Qxa5 26 Rh5 and White wins (Glek). In the game Black resigned because of 25...hxg5 26 Qg4! and Black is mated. 26 Rh8 Nf4 27 Rxf4 gxf4 28 Qh4! also wins, but is a bit sloppy.

Exercise 468 Glek-Savchenko Paris 2000 (B85) White wins by removing the obstacles to the attack. It is clear that 19 f6?! g6! would not get White very far. Therefore he decides to prevent this with a radical approach. 19 Bxg7! Kxg7 Or 19...Bxg7 20 f6 and now: a) 20...Bxf6 21 Rxf6 Nxd3 22 cxd3 gives Black a position without hope. This is really a question of evaluation. Black has no defence against Raf1-f3 followed by Qh6 and Rg3 and Rh3. Also White has plans like d4-d5, destroying Black in the centre. b) 20...Bf8 21 Rf4 Qd8 22 Raf1 Nxd3 23 Rg4+ Kh8 24 Rh4 and Black is mated. 20 f6+ Kh8 21 Rf4 The main idea is of course Rh4. 21...h6 22 Rh4 Kh7 This defence is also not enough. 23 g4!

Exercise 469 Anand-Kasparov 3rd Match Game, New York 1995 (analysis) (B85) White has a fantastic version of the classic Greek gift attack. 21 Bxh7+!! Kxh7 22 Ng5+ Anand writes the following for ChessBase: ‘Amazingly, I had seen this in my calculations. Unfortunately, I didn’t linger long enough to realise how strong White’s attack is. The variations are quite pretty.’ He is right. The variations are rather nice. I remember following this game live on ICC and quickly spotting the combination with its main idea of Rf6+ winning. I have seen the same phenomenon before, where someone is lucky that the first line he looks at is the best line. My inability to repeat such combinations over and over again has always been the real proof of why I am the spectator. But here I had my 15 seconds of personal fame. Then Anand played something else...

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20...Kg7 21 Nf5+ Kh8 22 e7 and White wins. 21 Ned5 Bxd5 21...Qxb2 22 e7 Ng7 23 exf8Q+ Rxf8 24 Rab1 Qxc2 25 Rxb7 and White wins. 22 Nxd5 Qxb2 23 e7 White has succeeded in getting more than his piece back for the pawn. Black is busted. 23...Ng7 24 Qh4 Rc8 25 Nf6 h5 26 exf8Q+ Rxf8 27 Qg5 Ng4 28 Nd7 Rc8 29 h3 Qb7 30 Rxf7 1-0

6 Solutions to Exercises

22...Bxg5 Or: a) 22...Kg6 23 f5+! exf5 24 Nge4+ Kh7 25 Nxf6+ gxf6 26 Rf4 and Black is mated. b) The most stubborn alternative is 22...Kg8 23 Qh4 Bxg5 24 fxg5 Qe8 (trying to prevent g5-g6; 24...Rf5 25 g6 e5 26 Qh7+ Kf8 27 Qh5 and White wins because of 27...Rxf1+ 28 Rxf1+ Ke7 29 Rf7+ Kd8 30 Qg5+ Ke8 31 Qe7 mate) 25 Rxf8+ Kxf8 (25...Qxf8 26 g6 and White wins) 26 Rf1+ Kg8 (26...Ke7 27 g6+ Kd7 28 Rf7+ Kc8 29 Bxg7 and White wins the queen) 27 Bxg7!! Kxg7 28 Qh6+ Kg8 29 Rf6! (29 g6? Qe7 30 Rf7 Qxf7 31 gxf7+ Kxf7 and there is no easy way for White to prove an advantage) and White has a winning attack. 29...Rc8 seems to do something for Black, but White wins after 30 Rg6+ Qxg6 31 Qxg6+ Kf8 32 Qh7! followed by 33 g6, winning a piece. 23 fxg5! Kg6 Black has no defence: a) 23...Kg8 24 g6 Ne4 25 Qh4 Ng5 26 Qxg5 e5 27 Qh5 and White wins. b) 23...Qe8 24 Rxf8 Qxf8 25 g6+ Kh6 26 Be3+ Kh5 27 Qg5 mate. c) 23...Rxf1+ 24 Rxf1 Qe8 25 Qh4+ Kg8 26 Bxg7 transposes the 22...Kg8 above, with the one difference that the game is one move shorter. 24 Rf6+!! What a wonderful check! If White did not have this, then Black would be safe. 24...gxf6 25 gxf6+ Kh5 25...Kf7 26 Qg7+ Ke8 27 Qe7 mate; 25...Kh6 26 Be3+ Kh7 27 Qg7 mate. 26 Qh3+! Now Rg8 and Qc6 are coming. But not 26 Be3?? Bxg2+!! and Black is suddenly in the game again. 26...Kg5 27 Rf1! and Black is mated. These lines given here are mainly Anand’s, but I have elaborated on them a bit with the help of Fritz 8.

Exercise 470 Glek-Lingnau Dortmund 1992 (B85) White wins by obtaining d5 for his knight. The details are not simple to calculate, but should be worked out. 20 Rxf6!! Bxf6 20...exd4 21 Nd5 Qd8 22 e5! and White wins in the attack: 22...Bxf6 23 exf6 Rc5 24 Ne7+ Kf8 25 Re4 and there is no satisfactory defence against Rh4. 21 Nd5 Qd8 22 Bb6 Bh4! This had to be anticipated of course. 23 Qh3 Qg5 23...Bxe1 24 Bxd8 Rxd8 25 Qh6! and White wins. 24 g3 Qd2 Blow for blow is the nature of this game. 25 Qf1! Bd8 26 Be3 Qa5 27 Ra1! 1-0 The black queen is most remarkably trapped – chess aesthetics of a high calibre! Black resigned in the face of 28 b4.

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Exercise 471 Komliakov-Gadjily Nikolaev 1993 (B85) White wins in traditional style by burning down the house! 19 Qh3! 19 Qg6? Nh6 is less clear. 19...h6 20 Bxh6!! gxh6 21 Rxh6+ Nxh6 22 Qxh6+ Kg8 23 Bc4 Black has no defence. 23...Ne6 23...Rf7 24 Nxf6+ Bxf6 25 Rxf6 Qxf6 26 Qxf6 Raf8 27 Qg6+ Kh8 28 Bxf7 and wins. 24 Qg6+ Kh8 25 Rf3 Ng5 26 Rh3+! Black resigned. He is mated after 26...Nxh3 27 Qh6+ Kg8 28 Nxf6. Exercise 472 Nielsen-Sax

6 Solutions to Exercises

Valby 1994 (B85) White needs to prove his attack before e5 becomes weak. 17 Bh6 Ng6 The only move. After 17...g6 18 Qf4 Bc5 19 Qf6 Black is mated. 18 Rxf7!! The point behind the combination. White establishes a rook on the seventh and Black has no defence. 18...gxh6 Black could also try taking the rook, but it helps little. 18...Kxf7 19 Qxe6+ Ke8 (19...Kf8 20 Rf1+ is no improvement) 20 Nf5 gxh6 21 Rf1! and Black is in deep trouble. All he has is 21...Rd2 22 Nd6+ Rxd6 23 exd6, when there is no way to defend despite two extra pieces. After 23...Qc6 (23...Nc6 24 Ne4 Kd8 25 dxe7+ Ngxe7 26 Rf8+ Kc7 27 Qd6 mate) 24 Ne4 Ra7 White wins with 25 Qg8+ Kd7 26 dxe7 Nxe7 27 Qxb8. With the material regained and the attack going stronger than ever, White is on his way to shaking hands with a smile. 19 Raf1 Rf8 20 Qxe6 Kh8 21 Nd5 1-0 Exercise 473 Sherzer-Olafsson Philadelphia 1991 (B85) White spots the weakness of f7 and finds an original way to eliminate all the defenders. 18 Bh5!! hxg5 The only move. 19 fxg5 g6 20 Bxg6!! No hesitation here. 20...fxg6 20...Bc6 21 Qh4 and Black is mated: 21...f6 22 gxf6 e5 23 f7+ Kg7 24 Qh7 mate. 21 Rxf8+! 21 Qf2 also wins, but this is somehow cleaner. 21...Kxf8 22 Qf3+ Kg8 23 Rf1 White has sacrificed a rook and a knight, but he still has clearly the greatest firepower on the 501

kingside, and that is what counts. 23...Nf6 24 Qxf6 e5 25 Qxg6+ 1-0 Exercise 474 Labensky-Smetankin Rovno 2000 (B85) White wins by exploiting the loose pieces in the black camp. 19 Ne4! Nxf4 The critical line is really 19...f6 20 Nxd6 Qxd6 21 c4 and White wins a piece, but have you seen everything? 21...g5 22 Bxe5 Qxe5 23 Qxe5 fxe5 24 Nc5 Bxa4 25 Nxa4 Ne3 26 Nb6!!. This finesse is very important. Now Black has to play the notso-serious 26...Ra7, as after 26...Rab8 27 Rf7! there is no defence to the idea of Nd7-f6, e.g. 27...Nxd1 28 Nd7 Nf2+ 29 Kg1 Ne4 30 Bd3 and White wins. 20 Nxd6 Nfg6 21 Nxf7+ Kg8 22 Rxd7! White wins a little material. 22...Qxd7 23 Nxe5 Nxe5 24 Qxe5 Rf8 25 Rxf8+ Rxf8 26 Nd4 Re8 27 Bg4 1-0 Exercise 475 Belakovskaia-S.Polgar Moscow 1994 (B85) Black wins with a nice version of the smothered mate. 23...Bxd5 24 exd5 24 Bxe5 Qxe5 25 exd5 Ncd3 26 cxd3 Nxd3 27 Qd2 Nxc1 28 Rxc1 Rxc1+ 29 Qxc1 Qe1+ also wins. 24...Ncd3!! 25 cxd3 Rxc1 26 Rxc1 Nxd3 27 Qg1 27 Qf1 Nxc1 28 Bxe5 Qxe5 29 Qxc1 Qe1+ and wins. 27...Bxd4 28 Qxd4 Qe1+! Black also wins after 28...Nxc1 29 Ne4 f5. Following 28...Qe1+ White resigned because of 29 Rxe1 Rxe1+ 30 Qg1 Nf2 mate. Exercise 476 Martinez-Gonzalez Rodriguez 502

6 Solutions to Exercises

Bogota 1980 (B85) White has control over the centre and Black has weak light squares. It’s easy. 22 Rfe1 d5 23 Rxd5+! exd5 24 Qxd5+ Qd6 25 Qxf5+ Ke8 26 Bc4! A really pleasant move, illustrating the theme. 26 Bc5 also wins, though. 26...Bxg2+ 27 Kxg2 Qxb6 28 Qc8+ Qd8 29 Rxe7+ 1-0 Black resigned. It’s mate after 29...Kxe7 30 Qe6+ Kf8 31 Qf7. This is truly justice. Exercise 477 Kaidanov-Wojtkiewicz New York 1994 (B86) White wins by exploiting the slightly weakened dark squares with a rapid invasion. 18 Nf5!! No choice but to take it. 18...exf5 19 Rxd6! The key move. Often control over a colour of squares is created like this. 19...Qxd6 20 Bxe5 Qc6 Black has no defence: 20...Qb6 21 Nd5 Ne4+ 22 Nxb6 Nxg3 23 Bxg3 Rad8 24 Bc7 and White wins. 21 Nd5 Rfe8 22 Nf6+ Kf8 The computer prefers the hopeless 22...Qxf6. 23 Nxh7+ Kg8 24 Nf6+ Kf8 25 Bd6+ Kg7 26 Qc3 1-0 Black resigned. He loses everything, as 26...Nxb3 27 Nxe8+ Kh6 28 Qh3+ Kg5 29 Bf4 is mate.

This is a fabulous invasion. Black is left with little choice. 12...exf5 12...b4 13 Qxg7! Rg8 14 Qxf6! and White wins; 12...Bc6 13 Qxg7 Rg8 14 Qxf6 Bxf6 15 Nxd6+ Ke7 16 Nxb7 Bxb7 17 f3 also gives White an easily winning position. 13 Qxg7 Rf8 14 Bg5! A key move. Black is not given any rest. 14...Ng8 14...b4 15 Bxf6 bxc3 16 Bxe7 Kxe7 17 exf5 with a winning attack. One line is 17...Nc6 18 Rae1+ Ne5 19 f4 cxb2 20 fxe5 d5 21 e6 and Black is massacred. 14...Nxe4 loses to 15 Bxe7 Kxe7 16 Rae1!. It’s always best to improve the position of your pieces, if it does not lose too much valuable time. 16...Bc6 17 Qg5+ f6 18 Qxf5 and Black is lost. 15 Bxe7! 15 Bxf7+?! Rxf7 16 Qxg8+ Rf8 17 Qxh7 was given as better for White in John Nunn’s Najdorf for the Tournament Player back in 1988. This verdict is of course correct, but the text move is even better. 15...Nxe7 16 Nd5 Ng6 16...Nxd5 17 exd5 and White wins; 16...Ng8 17 exf5 Nc6 18 Rfe1+ Ne5 19 f4 and White wins. 17 exf5 The logical progression. Also sufficient is 17 Nf6+ Kd8 18 Nxh7 Rh8 19 Ng5 Be8 20 exf5 Rh5 21 Nxf7+ Bxf7 22 fxg6 – Bönsch. 17...Bxf5 18 Rfe1+ Kd7 19 Ne7 Nxe7 20 Qxf8 Nbc6 21 Qxf7 Rg8 22 Bd5 Rc8 23 Rxe7+ 1-0

Exercise 478 Rytshagov-Van den Doel Antwerp 1996 (B87) This position was reached in seven games on my database. Unsurprisingly the score was 7-0. 12 Nf5!!

Exercise 479 Kudrin-Fedorowicz Salt Lake City 1999 (B87) White wins by destroying Black on the light squares. 13 Nxe6!! Bxe6 The only move. 13...fxe6 14 cxd5 exd5 15 Bxd5 Nf6 16 Bxc6 wins for White.

503

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6 Solutions to Exercises

14 cxd5 Nd4 14...Bxd5 15 Bxd5! (15 Rd1 is weaker, but still strong) 15...Qxd5 16 Nb6 Qe5 17 Re1 f5 18 Nxa8 Bd6 19 Qh3 and White has a winning position. 15 Qxe4 Nxb3 16 dxe6! Of course! It is the black king which is the target. 16...Nxa1 17 Qc6+ Ke7 18 Qb7+ 1-0 It’s mate after 18...Kxe6 19 Re1+ Kf6 20 Qf3+ Kg6 21 Qg4+ Kf6 22 Qg5.

Clearly with the idea of ...Qh5 mate. 35 Bxa3 35 Qg4 Qf2+ 36 Kh5 Bxg4+ 37 hxg4 Ra1 38 Rh3 Qg3! and White is mated in a few moves. 35...Qxf4+ 36 Qg4 Bxg4 37 hxg4 Black has a winning position but still needs to win a bit more material to decide the game. 37...Qf2+ 38 Kh5 Qf3! 0-1 The bishop and knight are both lost. One line could go 39 Rh2 Qxa3 40 Nc6 Qg3 41 Rh1 g6+ 42 Kh6 Qd6 and White is mated.

Exercise 480 Magomedov-Isaev Dushanbe 1999 (B87) White needs to break the defence of the b5pawn and make use of his own bishop. 32 Bd5! Bxd5 32...exd5 33 exd5+ Kf8 34 dxc6 and White wins; 32...Nxd5 33 Nxc6+ Qxc6 34 exd5 Qc5 35 dxe6 fxe6 36 Qd3 and Black cannot defend himself against all the various threats. 33 exd5! 33 Rxb5?! Ba8!? 34 Rxc5 dxc5 35 e5 Ne8 is unclear, even though 34 e5! would still have secured White the advantage. 33...Nxd5 33...Qxd5 34 Rxb5 Qc4 35 b3 Qc8 36 Nf5+ Ke8 37 Nxh6 and Black has no real defence. One line could be 37...Nh7 38 Qd3 Nf8 39 Ng8! Rb7 40 Nf6+ Ke7 41 Qf5 Rxb5 42 Ng8+ Ke8 43 Qxb5+ Nd7 44 Qxg5 and White wins the house. 34 Rxb5 Qc4 35 b3 Qxc3 36 Rxd5! This was the root of everything that was going on. 36...Qxd2 37 Nc6+ Ke8 38 Rxd2 1-0

Exercise 482 Velimirovic-Csom Amsterdam 1974 (B89) White wins by exploiting the d-pawn and Black’s problem on the eighth rank. 22 Bxf7+! Rxf7 23 Qxe8+ Nxe8 24 Rxe8+ Rf8 25 d7 Qd6 26 Rf1!! 1-0 The key move. Black can do nothing but resign.

Exercise 481 Brunner-Wolff Maringa 1991 (B89) Black decides his attack in a pleasing manner. 34...Ra3! 505

Exercise 483 Bologan-Dao Thien Hai Moscow 1994 (B90) White needs to get to black king to decide the game. 33 Bxh6!! gxh6 Or: a) 33...Nxb2 34 Bxg7+!! Rxg7 35 Rf8+ Bxf8 36 d8Q Qxd8 (36...Nxd3 37 Qxf8+ Rg8 38 Qh6 mate) 37 Qxd8 Rg8 38 Qg5 and White wins. b) 33...Bf6 34 Bc1! and White wins because of the idea Qh5+. 34 Qe3 Rg7 34...Rxg6 35 Qxe7 and White wins. 34...Bf8 loses to many moves, even 35 a3. Strongest is 35 Rf7! Bg7 36 Qxh6+ Bxh6 37 Rh7 mate. 35 Rf7! An important move to have in your calculation. Now it is all over. 35...Rxg6 36 Rxe7 Rf6

506

6 Solutions to Exercises

36...Qd8 37 Qd4+ Kg8 38 Re8+ Kf7 39 Qd5+ Kf6 40 Qe6+ Kg7 41 Qg8+ Kf6 42 Qf8 mate. 37 Re8+ Kg7 38 Qg3+ Rg6 39 Qe5+ 1-0 Exercise 484 Moroz-Berezin Donetsk 1998 (B90) A standard attack which basically just needs to be calculated. This kind of exercise must be good for learning about the Sicilian. 25 Nxh5 Nxh5 26 Ng5 Nf6 27 Rxf6! Actually it is here that the combination starts. 27...exf6 28 Qh7+ Kf8 29 Re1! The point of the combination. But Black still tries a counter. 29...Re2! However, White wins easily with 30 Qh8+! Ke7 31 Rxe2+ Kd7 32 Qh3+ Kd8 33 Qe3 fxg5 34 Qe8+ Kc7 35 Re7+ Kb8 36 Rxb7+ Kxb7 37 Qxf7+ Rc7 38 Qf1 1-0 Exercise 485 De la Paz-Roeder Santa Clara 2000 (B90) Black’s only problem is the mate threat on the back rank. White exploits this in typical style. 26 Ref1! The winning move. 26...Qd6 26...Rg8 27 Qxa8! Rxa8 28 Rf8+ Rxf8 29 Rxf8 mate. 27 Qc6! 27 Qxa6 works too, but is slower. 27...Qb4 28 c3 28 Rf4!? also wins. 28...Qe7 29 Rf7! Black is simply out of good squares. 29...Rac8 29...Rxf7 30 Qxa8+ Qf8 31 Qxf8+ Rxf8 32 Rxf8 mate. 30 Rxe7 Rxf1+ 31 Ka2 1-0 Black resigned due to 31...Rxc6 32 Re8+. 507

Exercise 486 Anand-Gelfand Biel 1997 (B90) White has extraordinary success attacking with only two pieces. 28 Qf8!! A wonderful move. Actually it is so strong that Anand points out that after 28 Qb8 Qc6 29 Qf8! White still has a powerful attack. 28...Nd5 Black has no defence: 28...Nxd2 29 Qxe7+ Kc6 30 Qc7 mate; 28...Ne8 29 Qxe7+ Kc8 30 Bc7! and Black is mated on d8. 29 Bxe7! The clearest path to victory. 29...Nxd2 30 Qd8+ Ke6 31 cxd5+ Ke5 31...Kf7 32 Qf8+ Kg6 33 Qg8+ Kh6 34 Bf8+ Kh5 35 Qh8+ Kg6 36 Qg7+ Kh5 37 Qh6 mate. 32 Qd6+ Kd4 33 Qc5+ Ke5 34 Qd6+ Kd4 35 Qf4+ Ne4 36 Qxf5 1-0 Black still does not have a valid check, so instead of losing his knight and queen as well, he chose to resign. Exercise 487 Sax-Gallagher Baden 1999 (B90) Black is under a strong attack and needs to act immediately. 26...Nc5! The only move. 26...Qa2+? 27 Kc1 Nc5 28 Nxc5! makes a big difference. 27 Bxf6 27 h6 Rfc8 and Black has an unstoppable attack. 27...Qa2+ 28 Kc1 Nxb3+ 29 cxb3 Rfc8+ 30 Kd2 Qa5+! A very important check. After 30...Qxb2+? 31 Ke1 Black is forced into an unclear end-game with 31...Qxg2 32 Rxg2 gxf6, when White has counterplay with his passed pawn.

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6 Solutions to Exercises

After 30...Qa5+ White’s king cannot escape. This is the strength of Qa5+: the escape route via e1 is prevented. 31 Ke3 31 Ke2 Rc2+ and Black wins; 31 Kd3 Qxd5+ 32 Ke3 Qxb3+ 33 Rd3 Qb6+ 34 Ke2 Rc2+ and Black wins. 31...Qb6+! 32 Ke2 32 Kd2 Qb4+ 33 Ke3 Qf4+ and Black wins. 32...Rc2+ 33 Rd2 Rxd2+ 34 Kxd2 Qd4+ 0-1 White resigned on account of 35 Ke2 Qxb2+ 36 Kd3 Qd4+ 37 Ke2 Ra2+ 38 Kf1 Qa1 mate. Exercise 488 Salinnikov-Afanasiev Novokuznetsk 1999 (B92) This combination is extraordinary and complex, so much so that in the game White did not find the right path. I felt that White had a great concentration of pieces near Black’s king, so there should be something. Then again, I felt that with ten positions before I found one exercise... 23 Rxf7!! Nxf7 There is no defence, but then again, this actually worked in the game! a) 23...gxh5 24 Be6 and Black is soon mated. b) 23...Nxg5 24 Rg7+ Kh8 25 Bxg5 Bxg5 26 Rxb7 gxh5 27 Qxh5 h6 28 Rf6!! Rg8 29 Bg2 and Black cannot defend properly. c) 23...Bxg5 24 Rxb7 gxh5 25 Rg7+ Kh8 26 Qxh5 Bf6 is yet another try. Everything wins here, the most elegant being 27 Rxh7+! Kxh7 28 Bg5+ Kg7 29 Qh6+ Kg8 30 Nxf6+ Nxf6 31 Bxf6 and Black is mated. 24 Be6 White also wins with the nice 24 Qd4!? Bf8 (24...Ne5 25 Be6+ Kh8 26 Bg7 mate) 25 Nhf6+ Nxf6 26 Nxf6+ Qxf6 (26...Kh8 27 Nxe8+ Kg8 28 Rxf7 Kxf7 29 Qf4+ and Black is mated) 27 Qxf6 Bd5 28 Bg2 Bc4 29 Bxa8. 24...Nexg5 25 Rxf7??

509

A terrible move. Did White simply overlook his opponent’s reply? 25 Bxg5 Bxg5 26 Qd4!! is the winning line. Black cannot defend g7 after 26...Be3+ 27 Nxe3 Qg5+ 28 Ng4!!. 25...Nxe6! Now there is nothing. 26 Rxe7 Rxe7 0-1 Exercise 489 Dvoirys-Neverov Helsinki 1992 (B93) Black would win if he had control with e4. So... 20...f5!! 21 exf6 Otherwise ...d5-d4 wins material. But this is no better. 21...Nxf6 22 Bxg6!? Seeing that this does not work is the main part of this exercise. 22 Rae1 is best met with 22...Rxe1! 23 Rxe1 Ng4 and the double threat of ...Nf2+ and ...Nxh6 decides the game. Oh those loose pieces! 22...hxg6 23 Qxg6+ Kh8 24 Qxf6+ Kh7 Now White has no way to stop the devastating ...d5-d4 25 Rf3 d4 26 Raf1 Re1 0-1 Strongest according to the computer, but as everything wins no human cares. Exercise 490 Mrva-Jirovsky Odorheiu Secuiesc 1995 (B93) White has all his pieces near Black’s king, and Black is not fully developed and coordinated. The moment is now. 17 Ne7+ Kf7 17...Kh8 18 Nxg6+ hxg6 19 Qh4+ Kg8 20 Bxg6 and now: a) 20...Rf7 21 Bxf7+ Kxf7 22 Qxg4 and White wins, as 22...fxg5 23 Nxg5+ Kg8 (23...Ke8 24 Ne6 is without hope) 24 Qe6+ Kh8 25 Qh3+ Kg8 26 Qh7 is mate. 510

6 Solutions to Exercises

b) 20...Re8 21 Qh7+ Kf8 22 Bxe8 Qxe8 23 Bf4 and Black has no defence. One line goes 23...Nde5 24 Nxe5 Nxe5 25 Bh6 Bxh6 26 Rxf6+ Nf7 27 Qh8+ Ke7 28 Re1+ and so on. 18 Bxf6!! A wonderful destruction of Black’s position. Now there is no defence. 18...Bxf6 The alternatives are divided into short but plentiful branches. a) 18...Ngxf6 19 Ng5+ Ke8 20 Nf5+ and White wins. b) 18...Kxf6 19 Nd4+ Kg5 20 Ne6+ wins. c) 18...Bh6 19 Ng5+ Bxg5 20 Bxg5+ Ndf6 21 h3 Qxe7 22 hxg4 Qxe1 23 Raxe1 Kg7 24 Re7+ and Black must resign. d) 18...Ndxf6 19 Ng5+ Ke8 20 Nc6+ and the queen is won. 19 Ng5+ Kg7 19...Ke8 20 Nc6+ and wins. 20 Ne6+ Kh8 21 Nxd8 Rxd8 22 h3 1-0 Exercise 491 J.Polgar-Ivanchuk Monte Carlo (rapid) 1995 (B93) White wins on the light squares. 26 Rxf7!! Ng5 Black could also have considered 26...Kxf7!?, after which White obtains a winning position only with 27 Qxh7+ Ng7 28 Bc4+ Rd5 29 Rf1+ Ke6 30 Nc3 Kd7 31 Bxd5 Kc8 32 Rf7 Ne6 33 Qxg6, when Black is two pawns down for no compensation. 33...Bd6 34 Rf2 wins for White, and so does 33...Qe1+ 34 Kg2 Qd2+ 35 Kg1! Qd4+ 36 Kh1. 27 Nxg5 Qxe1+ 28 Bf1 28 Rf1?? Bxg5! and it is Black who wins. After 28 Bf1 Black has no defence. 28...h5 29 Qb3 The key move. 29...c4 29...Kh8 30 Rh7 mate. 511

30 Qxc4 Rc8 30...Bxg5 31 Re7+ Kh8 32 Rxe1 Rxe1 33 Qc3+ and White wins. 31 Rf8+ Kg7 32 Qg8+ 1-0 Exercise 492 Batyrov-Irzhanov Ashkhabad 1996 (B95) White wins with a beautifully orchestrated attack. 18 Bb5!! The black king is stuck in the centre and should not be allowed to bail out. 18 Nc7+ Kf8 19 Qxc3 Rd8 is not completely clear, even though White retains the better chances. The text move is more direct. 18...axb5? A better chance was 18...fxe6 19 Bxd7+ Kf8 20 Qxc3 e5 (20...Kg7 21 Rxe6 and White wins) 21 Rxe5!! fxe5 (21...Bd2!? 22 Qxd2 fxe5 23 Qg5 Bd5 24 Qxe5 Rg8 25 Qxd5 and White’s attack is decisive; Black has nothing better than something like 25...Kg7 26 Be6 Rgf8 27 Qg5+ Kh8 28 Qe5+ Rf6 29 Qxf6 mate) 22 Qxe5 Qf2 (22...Bxg2 23 Qxh8+ Ke7 24 Qxh7+ Kf8 25 Qf5+ Ke7 26 Ba4 and Black cannot defend his king at all) 23 Qxh8+ Kf7 24 Qxh7+ Bg7 25 Be6+ Kxe6 26 Qxg7 Qxg2 27 Re1+ Kd6 28 Qe7+ Kc6 29 Re6+ Kb5 30 a4+ Kxa4 31 b3+ Kb5 32 c4+ Ka5 33 Qc5 mate. 19 Nc5+! Now it is all over. 19...Kd8 19...Kf8 20 Nxd7 mate. 20 Rxd7+ Kc8 21 Ree7 21 Qh3! is even stronger. 21...Be4 22 Rc7+ Kd8 23 Nb7+ 1-0 Exercise 493 Bernard-Civin Czech Republic 2003 (B95) White needs to open files towards Black’s king. 16 Nd5! exd5 512

6 Solutions to Exercises

16...Bh6+ 17 Kb1 exd5 18 exd5+ Kf8 19 Bg4 Bxg4 20 Qxh6+ Kg8 21 Re8 mate. 17 exd5+ Be7 18 Rxe7+! Kxe7 19 Qe3+! The exact move – White needs the check on h6. Less clear is 19 Re1+?! Kf8 20 Bg4 h5 21 Bxd7 even though White should win. 19...Ne6 19...Kf8 20 Qh6+ Kg8 21 Rd3 and Black has no defence. 20 Bxf7! Also possible was 20 Nf5+!? Kd8 21 Bxf7 Rc8 22 Rd2 and Black is defenceless. 20...Kxf7 21 dxe6+ Kg7 21...Kg8 22 Nf5! Be8 23 e7 and Black has no defence. One line goes 23...Bg6 (23...Qc4 24 Qh6! and wins) 24 Qe6+ Bf7 25 Nh6+ Kg7 26 Qxf7+ Kxh6 27 Qxf6+ Kh5 28 Rd5+ Kg4 29 h3 mate. 22 Nf5+ Kg6 23 Rd5 1-0 Even faster was 23 Qh6+! Kxf5 24 Qh5+ Ke4 25 Qd5+ Kf4 26 Rd4 mate. Exercise 494 Ivanovic-Ginsburg Metz 2003 (B95) White wins with a magnificent king hunt. 27 Rxh7+! Kxh7 28 Qh3+ Kg6 28...Kg7 29 Qh6 mate. 29 Qh6+ Kf5 30 Re1! A very important idea. White is now threatening to win in one move with 31 g4+. 30...Qxg5 30...Qc4 31 g4+ Kf4 32 g6+! Kg3 (32...Kxf3 33 Nd2+ Kf2 34 Qh4+ and White wins) 33 Rg1+ Kf2 34 Qh2+ Ke3 35 Re1+ Kxf3 36 Nd2+ and White wins. 31 g4+ 31 Nd4+ Kf4 32 Qh2+ Qg3 33 Re4+ also wins. 31...Kf4 32 Qh2+ Kxf3 33 Nd4+ 1-0 Black resigned due to 33...Kxg4 34 Rg1 mate.

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Exercise 495 Timman-Gelfand Wijk aan Zee 2002 (B96) White has the chance to transpose into a won pawn ending by force. 27 Rc6 Bb7 28 cxd5! Bxc6 29 dxc6 Kd6 After 29...f5 30 b4 White wins. 30 g4! 1-0 30 b4!? Kxc6 31 g4! wins in the same way. Black resigned as he cannot create two passed as well. Tyomkin gives the following line to illustrate how White proceeds: 30...Kxc6 31 Kc2 Kd5 32 Kd3 e5 33 b4 Kc6 34 Kc4 Kb6 35 a4 Ka6 36 a5 Kb7 37 b5 Ka7 38 Kc5 Kb7 39 a6+ Ka7 40 Kc6 e4 41 b6+ Kxa6 42 b7 Ka7 43 Kc7 and White wins. Exercise 496 Griffith-Hopps St Paul 1982 (B96) This was hardly the first and definitely not the only game where this combination was played, but it was the only one finishing with an accepted queen sacrifice. 15 Nc7+!! Qxc7 16 Nxe6 Qe5 16...fxe6 17 Qxe6+ Be7 18 Qxe7 mate. 17 Nc7+!! Qxc7 18 Qe2+ Ne5 19 Qxe5+ Qxe5 19...Be7 has also been played here, but after 20 Qxc7 Bxg5+ 21 Kb1 White wins all the same. Black has no coordination to enjoy his three pieces for the queen. 20 Rd8 mate Exercise 497 Grünfeld-Sigurjonsson Lucerne 1979 (B96) White would like to replace his knight with a queen on h7 and does so with a wonderful sequence. 21 Nhg5!! 21 Qxf7 Nf5 22 Nhg5 Nxe5! 23 Nxe5 Qxe5 is less clear. 21...hxg5 514

6 Solutions to Exercises

After 21...Nd5 22 Nxf7+ Kg8 23 Qe4 Qc5+ 24 Kh1 Black loses considerable material, as after 24...Kxf7 25 Qg6+ Kg8 26 Ng5 he is mated. 22 Qxf7! Eyeing h7. 22 Nxg5 Nf5 23 Nxf7+ Kg8 24 Nxd8 Qxd8 is again not clear. 22...Ng8 22...Nf5 23 Bxf5 exf5 24 Nxg5 and there is no defence against the many different mates White can line up. 23 Qg6 Rxd3 24 Nxg5 1-0 Mate is imminent. Exercise 498 Groszpeter-Szekely Hungary 1998 (B97) White has many promising continuations, but only one really deadly blow. 23 Bd5!! 23 Be8?! Rh7 24 Qxh7 Kxe8 25 Qg8+ Kd7 26 Rd1+ Qd4 and Black is still struggling. 23...e4 The variations show that Black has no defence at all: a) 23...Rh7 24 Rxc8+ Rxc8 25 Rxf5+ and Black cannot prevent mate. Not even with 25...Bf6 26 Qxf6+ Ke8 27 Qxe6+ Re7, when White has 28 Rf8+! Kxf8 29 Qg8 mate. b) 23...Bh4 24 Rxc8+ Rxc8 25 Rxf5+ Ke7 26 Qxe6+ Kd8 27 Qd6+ Ke8 28 Bf7 mate. c) 23...Ba3 24 Qf6+ Kg8 25 Bxe6+ Kh7 26 Bxf5+ Kg8 27 Qg5+ Rg7 28 Be6+ Kh7 29 Qxh5 mate. d) 23...Qxc2 24 Rxc8+ Rxc8 25 Bxe6 and Black cannot avoid mate. 24 Rxf5+! Bf6 24...exf5 25 Qf7 mate. 25 Rxf6+ Ke7 26 Rxe6+ Kd7 27 Qf7+ 1-0 Mate is looming. Exercise 499 Manduch-Mitov 515

Correspondence 1988 (B97) White already has spotted the weakest square in the Black position, e7, and now exposes it by creating an additional weakness on e6 with a deflection. Note that after 17 Qd6? Ng6 18 Rbe1 (18 Rxb7 Qxg5! is a cold shower) 18...Qxg5 19 Nd5 Qxd5 20 Qxd5 Nc6 White has won a queen, but at an expense and the advantage is gone. 17 Rxb7!! 1-0 Black resigned. There is no defence, for example: 17...Bxb7 17...Nbc6 18 Qd6 (threatening Re7+) 18...Qa3!? 19 Qxa3 Bxb7 20 Qd6 Bc8 21 Re1 and White wins. 18 Qd6 and Black is mated. There is no way to defend both Qxe6 and Qe7. Exercise 500 Wedberg-Sigurjonsson Lucerne 1979 (B98) A wonderful combination by the Swedish grandmaster, leading to a winning endgame. 19 Nxf5+!! exf5 20 Rxd8 Kxd8 21 Rxf5 g5 21...g6 makes little difference. 22 Rf8+ Kc7 23 Rf7+?! Even stronger would have been 23 e6! Bd5 (23...Ng7 24 Rf7+ Kb6 25 Rxg7 and White wins) 24 e7 Ng7 25 e8Q Nxe8 26 Rxe8 and Black has no chance of saving the endgame a pawn down, even though practical play often offers some surprise. 23...Kb6 24 Nd6 Bxg2 25 Nc8+ Kc5 26 Nxa7 White has a clear edge and was still able to win the game. 26...Bd5 27 Rh7 Kd4 28 Rxh6 Ng7 29 Rh8 Nd7 30 Rh7 Nxe5 31 Rxg7 g4 32 Nc8 Be6 33 Ne7 Nf3 34 Rg6 Ke5 35 Rh6 Bd7 36 Kd1 a5 37 Nc6+ 1-0

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