mxm
Neikirch-Botvinnik 1960 1 . . . Q-Ql 2 QxPch and after 2 Q-Q2 QxQ 3 BxQ R-Q1 4 B-K3 R-Q8ch 5 B-Nl R-Q7, Black wins easily 2 . . . R-B2 3 Q-Kl R-K2 and White resigns. The final position, wrote Botvinnik about this game, is interesting in that, although the Black and White pieces are placed along the edge of the board, Black's pieces have such long-range effectiveness that there is no defense. From a composer's artistic point of view, it would have been nice to have had the Black Bishop on QR1....
mm it
Larsen-Petrosyan 1958 reached this position. To prevent mate on Bl, Black played 2 R-R7ch K-Nl 3 P-R6 N-K1 4 R KR-KB7 and Black resigns, inasmuch as 5 P R7ch K-Rl 6 R-B8 mate is threatened and on 4 . N-Q3 White continues 5 R-N7ch K-Rl 6 R-R7ch K-Nl 7 Although in this next position from Botvinnik-Leven-fish 1937 Black has two dangerous passed pawns, White cannot lose he always has the possibility of giving perpetual check. This circumstance gives Botvinnik one last chance, which surprisingly...
When There Is No Escape Luft
Luft, by no means an aristocratic term, means the King's natural requirement of fresh air, when after castling short all the pawns on the King-side are still on the second rank. From his cramped shelter the King cautiously eyes the approaching enemy, and when the shells begin to fall in the immediate vicinity, one of the infantrymen ventures one step forward, so that, in case of a check on the back rank, the monarch can happily scoot to the vacated square. However, in the heat of the chess...
h A
In spite of being on the move, White must lose a Rook. Even if White plays the desperado 1 RxPch, an amusing position arises after 1 . . . PxR, where anv move by the Rook leads to mate 2 O-O R-Nl mate or 2 R-Nl or Bl 2 . . . B-B6 followed by 3 . . . R-Q8 mate. Of course 1 P-B3 BxR 2 R-KN1 R-Q8ch 3 K-B2 RxR gives Black an easy win. Advanced pawns can also work with the Rook and Bishop to create mating situations when they cut off nearby escape squares from the enemy King. Once again, there are...
mm m mm m mm
In the game NN-Sharle 1903 Black's preponderance in the center led to the decisive combination 1 Q-N6 2 PxQ BxPch 3 K-K2 B-Q8 mate. The roles were reversed in the mating finale of Varing Ferscht 1962 the Rook administered mate after the Bishops had created a tight curtain of fire around the King. 1 B-B4ch K-Rl 2 QxPch KxQ 3 R-R3ch K-N2 4 B-R6ch K-R2 5 BxR mate. In this and previous examples we have seen how the Rook would lie in ambush behind one of the Bishops. At the decisive moment, the...
Lukovnikov Sergeyev 1974
Here, the correct continuation is 9 . . . P-B4. However, the desire to free the QB as rapidly as possible might lead unwary players into the incorrect 9 . P-QN3 It is refuted by the tactical device 10 BxN BxB 11 Q-K4. Now both the QR and the KR7 square are under attack. This double attack cannot be parried. This is a classic example of a double attack on two vulnerable points. Within limits, the Queen can attack other undefended or insufficiently defended pieces. In Erglis-Krumkali 1950 , the...
Chess Combinations Mate
Black has an extra pawn on the Kingside, and with N-N6, threatens to advance it. White therefore begins forcing play to obtain counter-chances on the other side. Played hoping for I. . . NPxP 2 N-R7 N-Nl 3 N 7-N5 or 1 . QPxP 2 P-Q6 PxP 3 NxQP N-B2 4 N-B4, with counterplay for White in both cases. White evidently thought his opponent's next move impossible because of the combination which takes a surprising turn. True to himself. The lesser evil was 2 NxB. The essence of White's concept he must...
mm Rip
Kinzel-Dueckstein 1958 1 N-B6ch PxN 1 . . . K-Rl 2 Q-R5 2 BxP threatening 3 R-N5 mate 2 R-Q4 3 Q-Q2 , and Black resigns, as there is no defense to 4 Q-R6. Alekhin's tactics White against Mikulka 1923 were based on a pin. Alburt-Sveshnikov 1974 I RxB RxR 2 Q-Q4 Q-Bl it is now not enough for White to capture on 135, inasmuch as Black takes the Bishop on Q4, but White has a familiar sacrifice in reserve 3 N-B6ch K-Rl 4 Q-K4, Black resigns, after the forced 4 . PxN 5 QxPch, it is all over. Let us...