Can you be a Tactical Chess Genius? [Paperback ed.] 1857442598, 9781857442595

Citation preview

EVERYMAN CHESS Everyman Publishers pic

www.everymanbooks.com

PUZZLES

First published in 2002 by Everyman Publishers pic, formerly Cadogan Books pic, Gloucester Mansions, 140A Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8HD

Reprinted 2002 Copyright © 2002 James Plaskett The right of James Plaskett to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a re­ trieval 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 259 8 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, Gloucester Mansions, 140A Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8HD tel: 020 7539 7600 fax: 020 7379 4060 email: [email protected] website: www.everymanbooks.com

EVERYMAN CHESS SERIES (formerly Cadogan Chess) Chief advisor: Garry Kasparov Commissioning editor: Byron Jacobs Typeset and edited by First Rank Publishing, Brighton . Production by Book Production Services.

..

Printed and bound in Great Britain by The Cromwell Press Ltd., Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

CONTENTS

I

Introduction

5

Test 1

7

Test 2

15

Test 3

23

Test4

31

TestS

39

Test6

47

Test 7

55

Test 8

63

Test9

71

Test 10

79

Test 11

87

Test 1 2

95

Ask a Grandmaster

103

Solutions and Points

1 14

INTRODUCTION

I

Chess is 99% tactics. Anatoly Karpov' s reaction to that truism was 'What rubbish!' . He, of course, being one of the best tacticians ever, might have underestimated the significance of his prowess in that particular department of the game. IM William Hartston even went so far as to state that there is no such thing as a good strategist; the best players are simply the best tacticians. Dr John Nunn, on the other hand, is of the opposite opinion- 'Chess is 99% po­ sitional play.' We may indeed have problems defining the precise distinctions between strate­ gic and tactical operations. William Osborne suggested to me that there are not enough words in the English language to accommodate the nuances of the sun­ dry types of chess activity, and that it can sometimes be very difficult to catego­ rise them. Certainly the compiler of the 'Quick' crossword in the December 27th 1988 edi­ tion of The Daily Mail might have agreed, for one clue was 'Tactics (8 letters)' , and the answer was Strategy. Forks, pins, skewers, deflections, overloading, double attacks, trapping of pieces, mating nets, stalemate escapes and unguarded guards ... the whole panoply of tactical weapons will feature in this book. However, the positions are almost all taken from practical play. Consequently the main requirement for earning points when working through the puzzles will be concrete calculation of a tree of varia­ tions in which accuracy in threading your way through is particularly important. There will not necessarily be an especially pretty tactical bauble hanging in any of the branches. Each set of twelve puzzles is intended to be of approximately similar difficulty and the total number of points available in each text is 150. As you progress

5

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius? through the tests you may see if your totals for the later ones are higher than those for the earlier positions, and thereby if your tactical strength is developing. If you become completely stuck on a position you may 'Ask a Grandmaster' to obtain a hint as to the solution. However, this indulgence will not go unpenalised and will cost you points. The puzzles here are of a mathematical type, inasmuch as there is an expected 'correct' answer to each. This will aid the development of precise calculation and pattern recognition but may play less of a part in helping the student to show creative flair. Korchnoi once voiced the amazing opinion that the tactical genius Mikhail Tal was a routine player, lacking in the subtlety and feel for the initiative exhibited by the truly great attackers such as Spassky and Keres. I would differ with him there, but if you want to see instances of the intuitive gambit or true sacrifices, where there is no immediate win by attack nor imminent regain of material, then you might do well to go through a tranche of Shirov or Speelman games.

James Plaskett Hastings February 2002

6

Test One

Test 1: Puzzle 1 Maximum score: 5 Points

D Blatny • Likavsky Ohrid200 1

White to Play

Black has just prepared the fianchetto of his queen's bishop. Why was that unwise?

See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 1 : Puzzle 2 Maximum score: 5 Points

D Deep Fritz • Deep Junior Cadaques200 1

Black to Play

The white king is right out in the open. How did Black win?

See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

7

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 1: Puzzle 3 Maximum score: 5 Points

D Nedela • Schmaltz Stockerau 1992

Black to Play

Black did not promote his pawn to a queen, but rather the game saw a rare case of underpromotion as he continued with l...b1l:t, after which he soon won. What would have happened after the automatic 1...b1"fi?

See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 1: Puzzle 4 Maximum score: 5 Points

D Adorjan • Spassky Toluca 1982

Black to Play

White has just advanced his e-pawn, expecting the attacked knight to move away from f6. He saw that l...tbxd4 2 "fif2 leaves both black knights under attack, so one of them must be lost. What had he overlooked? •

See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

8

Test One

Test 1 : Puzzle 5 Maximum score: 5 Points

D Plaskett • Asrian Internet Chess Club200 1

White to Play

White can win a pawn here, but is there anything even stronger?

See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 1 : Puzzle 6 Maximum score: 10 Points

D Rusakov • Verlinsky Moscow 1947

Black to Play

White is a piece ahead and aims to capture the b2-pawn next. Is that the end of the story?

See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

9

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 1: Puzzle 7 Maximum score: 10 Points

D Plaskett • Relange Internet Chess Club200 1

White to Play

Both sides have adopted an attacking stance but it is White's move. Has he a way of landing a punch?

See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

Test 1: Puzzle 8 Maximum score: 10 Points

D Plaskett • Velimirovich Banja Luka 1985

White to Play

As a last, desperate hope, White sacrificed a piece and drove the oppo­ nent's king out to the fourth rank. He now saw no further checks and, faced with mate on e l , chose 1 g4 but resigned after l ...fxg3. Did he have .. anything better? See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

10

Test One

Test 1 : Puzzle 9 Maximum score: 10 Points

D Bilek • Schussler Finland 1979

White to Play

Black mishandled the opening and White has the advantage of the pair of bishops. How should White proceed?

See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

Test 1: Puzzle 10 Maximum score: 10 Points

D Plaskett • Grooten World Under-26 Teams, Graz 198 1 White to Play

White is better co-ordinated. What can he do to best exploit this?

See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

11

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 1: Puzzle 1 1 Maximum score: 15 Points

0 Plaskett • Miles Lugano 1986

White to Play

In the game Black resigned after 1 i.b2+ �e6 2 ctJg7+ �e7 3 i.a3+ in view of 3...c5 4 i.xc5 mate. White has other forced wins but what is the only other mate in four that the position contains?

See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Test 1: Puzzle 12 Maximum score: 15 Points

0 Plaskett • Short Banja Luka 1985

White to Play

With his extra pawn and active play it is looking very good for White but what is now the best way forward?

See page 103 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

12

Test One

Test 1: Puzzle 13 Maximum score: 15 Points

D Hartston • Upton London 1984

White to Play

All is quiet... or is it?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Test 1: Puzzle 14 Maximum score: 15 Points

D Drozhdov • Gershon Tel Aviv200 1

Black to Play

Black is under pressure and I...'ifxd7 will not do as a means of relieving it for after 2 'ife5+! l:Igg7 3 l:Ixd7 .l:.xd7 4 'ife8+ White picks up a rook. What to do?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

13

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 1: Puzzle 15 Maximum score: 15 Points

0 Plaskett • Short Birmingham2000

White to Play

Black had based his defence on having one pawn compensation plus a solid structure in return for the loss of the exchange after something like 1 ..txb7 J:.xb7 2 i..xc3 i..xc3 3 J:.ac l J:.b8. What had he missed? See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Scorechart for Test 1 Puzzle

Points

Puzzle

1

10

2

11

3

12

4

13

5

14

6

15

7 8

Total

9

14

Points

Test Two

Test 2: Puzzle 1 Maximum score: 5 Points

D Plaskett • Miles Harrogate 1982

White to Play

I played 1 �c5, preserving a winning position. But what was the way to win a piece?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 2: Puzzle 2 Maximum score: 5 Points

D Zhu Chen • Korchnoi Munich2000

Black to Play

White is a healthy pawn up with the superior minor piece, but it's Black to move...

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

15

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 2: Puzzle 3 Maximum score: 5 Points

D San Segundo • Piket Mondariz 2000

Black to Play

White thought that he was strolling to victory here, as l . l:.a2 is easily countered by 2 fxe3. Is that the end of the story? . .

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 2: Puzzle 4 Maximum score: 5 Points

D J.Bellin • Moen Gausdal 1992

White to Play

Although White's queen and bishops are clustered on the queenside they are actually pointing at the black king. How did White now continue?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

16

Test Two

Test 2: Puzzle 5 Maximum score: 5 Points

D Agmaliev • Maciejewski Polanica Zdroj2000

Black to Play

Viktor Korchnoi is of the opinion that the King's Indian Defence is simply bad for Black. This position arose from that opening formation. White is a piece up. Does that vindicate Korchnoi's opinion?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 2: Puzzle 6 Maximum score: 10 Points

D Plaskett • Short Plovdiv 1984

White to Play

White had sacrificed a minor piece to flush the black king out into the open. I now played ll:tf7, which won comfortably, but how could I have forced mate in five moves?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

17

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 2: Puzzle 7 Maximum score: 10 Points

D Linquist • Pihlajasalo Jyvaskyla 1996

White to Play

Black has just made a foolhardy capture on d4 and now White unleashed the full power of the bishops. How?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

Test 2: Puzzle 8 Maximum score: 10 Points

D Plaskett • Arkell London 199 1

White to Play

White has increased his attacking potential in this isolated queen's pawn position by transferring the queen to h4. How did he now make the most of his chances?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

18

Test Two

Test 2: Puzzle 9 Maximum score: 10 Points

D L.Hansen • Vescovi Copenhagen 1995

White to Play

White is pointing pieces towards the enemy king, but is he getting any­ where?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

Test 2: Puzzle 10 Maximum score: 10 Points

D Wilson • Arkell Hastings 1996/97

White to Play

Black is attacking the c4-pawn. What to do?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

19

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 2: Puzzle 1 1 Maximum score: 1 5 Points

0 Gdanski • Arkell European Team Championship2000 Black to Play

Black, a pawn down, is struggling here. How can he activate his position before White can organise the advance of his queenside pawns?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Test 2: Puzzle 12 Maximum score: 1 5 Points

0 Plaskett • Baak The Hague200 1

White to Play

White can capture either a knight or a bishop. How should he continue?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

20

Test Two

Test 2: Puzzle 13 Maximum score: 15 Points

D L.Stein • Portisch Stockholm 1962

White to Play

White's bishop is en prise. How to proceed?

See page 104 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Test 2: Puzzle 14 Maximum score: 15 Points

D Plaskett • Murshed Dhaka 1997

White to Play

Black has hit the d4-knight. White has already sacrificed a pawn ('In Shi­ rov style', I remember thinking to myself). How should he now continue?

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

21

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 2: Puzzle 15 Maximum score: 15 Points

D Plaskett • Hawelko European Junior Championship 1979 White to Play

A bewildering position where White has many attacking possibilities. Which is the best?

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Scorechart for Test 2 Puzzle

Points

Puzzle

1

10

2

11

3

12

4

13

5

14

6

15

7 Total

8 9

22

Points

Test Three

Test 3: Puzzle 1 Maximum score: 5 Points

D G.Fiear • Adams Hastings 1996/97

White to Play

Mickey Adams lost his first three games in this tournament. In this, the fourth round, he had been two clear pawns ahead. But then it came down to the diagram position. A grateful Flear took a draw with 1 .l:td7+ �c8 2 .:.g7 �d8 3 nd7+. What should he have done? See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 3: Puzzle 2 Maximum score: 5 Points D Atanu

• Vadasz Budapest2000

White to Play

Black is trying to ease the pressure by forcing off the queens and/or rounding up the c-pawn. How did White confound his efforts?

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

23

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 3: Puzzle 3 Maximum score: 5 Points

D Fedorov • Neelakantan Calcutta 1999

White to Play

White can stay a piece up with 1 �e6+ �xe6 2 dxe6, but he has a far stronger continuation available.

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 3: Puzzle 4 Maximum score: 5 Points

D Natapov • Schuravlov Moscow 1994

Black to Play

Black resigned because the enemy king is about to infiltrate. Correct deci­ sion?

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

24

Test Three

Test 3: Puzzle 5 Maximum score: 5 Points D Tal

• A.N.Other Simultaneous display

White to Play

Black, having just captured on h1, no doubt expected the automatic recap­ ture...

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 3: Puzzle 6 Maximum score: 10 Points

0 Daly • Rochev Bunratty 1999

Black to Play

Black played l ...i.h4, skewering the rooks, and White resigned. But what was a sweeter finish?

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

25

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 3: Puzzle 7 Maximum score: 10 Points

D Ardeshi • Hayrapetian Fajr200 1

White to Play

Black has a weak kingside and not enough pieces helping out in that sec­ tor. How did White break through?

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

Test 3: Puzzle 8 Maximum score: 10 Points

D Chandler • Forster Bermuda 1999

White to Play

White is a pawn up but, rather than attempting a gradual technical exploi­ tation of his advantage, he has a spectacular coup.

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

26

Test Three

Test 3: Puzzle 9 Maximum score: 10 Points D Brzozka

• Bronstein Miskolc 1963

Black to Play

White is the exchange down but the position is so blocked that there is no normal way through for Black.

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

Test 3: Puzzle 10 Maximum score: 10 Points D Plaskett

• Tiviakov Dhaka 1997

White to Play

Black had just taken a pawn on a2, but it would have been better not to as White now has an opportunity to solve his problems. What is it?

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

27

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 3: Puzzle 1 1 Maximum score: 1 5 Points D Westerinen

• Abramovich Moscow 1982

Black to Play

Black's very active pieces and bishop pair grant him good compensation for his pawn. But would you believe that after his next move White re­ signed?

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Test 3: Puzzle 12 Maximum score: 1 5 Points

D Dravnieks • Beals Postal Game

White to Play

Here White played the calm 1 h3 and play careered on: l..."i¥£2+ 2 Wh2 i.h4 3 l:tg4 and White won. It was suggested that 2..."i'xg3+!? 3 Wxg3 l:tg7+- as was subsequently played in another postal game- would have led to a decisive advantage for Black. \Vhftt, then, is White's best move? See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

28

Test Three

Test 3: Puzzle 13 Maximum score: 1 5 Points D Sadler

• Plaskett Hastings 1997/98

White to Play

White has an extra pawn but Black has a compact game, the bishop pair and two white pieces are attacked. On top of that, the board is about to ignite. How did Matthew begin the fireworks?

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Test 3: Puzzle 14 Maximum score: 1 5 Points D Lalic

• Conquest Sou�end(Redbus)200 1

White to Play

Wild chess! Bogdan Lalic is a pawn ahead but the a2-pawn is a monster. How did the game end?

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

29

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 3: Puzzle 15

Maximum score: 15 Points D Flohr •Geller

Moscow 1949

Black to Play Efim Geller managed to make something of his outside passed pawn. How?

See page 105 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Scorechart for Test 3 Puzzle

Points

Puzzle

1

10

2 3 4

11 12 13

5

14

6

15

7 Total

8 9

30

Points

Test Four

Test 4: Puzzle 1

Maximum score: 5 Points D Keres • Petrosian

Candidates Tournament 1959

Black to Play To reach the diagram position Petrosian has sacrificed a rook (when his knight was

en prise). Now l..."ikbl + is met by 2 "iVg l , so how should

Black continue?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 4: Puzzle 2

Maximum score: 5 Points D Hodgson • Mestel

Bath 1987

White to Play Mestel has just blundered horribly. Why?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

31

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 4: Puzzle 3

Maximum score: 5 Points D Minasian • Kosashvili

Elista 1998

White to Play Black is desperately trying to force off the queens, but White was having none of this. What happened?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 4: Puzzle 4

Maximum score: 5 Points D Miles • Plachetka

Dubna 1976

White to Play Miles became England's first GM at this event. Here a little trick won him a pawn and, shortly after, the game. What was the trick?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

32

Test Four

Test 4: Puzzle 5

Maximum score: 5 Points D Christiansen • Karpov

Wijk aan Zee 1993

White to Play It is not every day that Anatoly Karpov loses in twelve moves, but he did here, resigning after Larry's next. What was the decisive blow?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 4: Puzzle 6

Maximum score: 10 Points D Khalifman •Yandemirov

Bad Wiessee 1998

White to Play White is a pawn up, but the pawns on a4 and d7 are under threat. How should he proceed?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

33

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 4: Puzzle

7 Maximum score: 10 Points D Kuzmin •Ovsejevitsch

Donetsk 1998

White to Play The black king is badly constricted and has no flight squares. White has various obvious sacrificial tries to force checkmate. How can he make these work?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

Test 4: Puzzle 8

Maximum score: 10 Points D Frederics •Altman

New York 196 1

White to Play Looks like a joke position, but I assure you that it did actually happen. How ought the party now to draw to a close?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

34

Test Four

Test 4: Puzzle 9

Maximum score: 10 Points D Timman • Karpov

London 19 84

Black to Play The reigning world champion scored a devastating victory in this tourna­ ment against one of the then major contenders for his crown. How did he deliver a quick kill?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

Test 4: Puzzle 10

Maximum score: 10 Points D Berg •de Firmian

Gausdal 1994

Black to Play Lots of major pieces, lots of possibilities, but Nick de Firmian found the best one. What was it?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

35

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 4: Puzzle 1 1

Maximum score: 15 Points D Borge •V.Georgiev

Verona 200 1

White to Play A messy position but if you compare the relative positions of the rooks, it is not surprising that White has a killing breakthrough. How?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Test 4: Puzzle 12

Maximum score: 15 Points D Yudasin • Kramnik

Candidates Match, 1994

Black to Play White, having snatched some pawns, thought himself well placed to give up an exchange and still have a lot of play, as b7 hangs and his queen and knight are ready to support the advance of his extra foot soldiers. Why was he wrong?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

36

Test Four

Test 4: Puzzle 13

Maximum score: 15 Points D Short • Beliavsky

Groningen 1997

White to Play The critical moment of a critical game in a big match. Beliavsky had been relying on the double attack on White's queen and bishop, but Short saw one move further. What happened?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Test 4: Puzzle 14

Maximum score: 15 Points D Delgado • Llorente

Bayamo 2000

White to Play As with so many of the examples in this book, here we have here a mid­

Think Like A Grandmaster, the character of the middlegame is dictated by the nature of

dlegame with opposite sides castling. As Kotov explained in

the opening. White is well ahead in this race. How did it conclude?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

37

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 4: Puzzle 15

Maximum score: 15 Points D Summerscale •Gimenez

Andorra 199 1

White to Play Anything for White here?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Scorechart for Test 4 Puzzle

Puzzle

Points

10 11 12 13 14 15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Total

8

9

38

Points

Test Five

Test 5: Puzzle 1

Maximum score: 5 Points D Minasian • Chekhov

Moscow 1992

White to Play White is a piece down but his remaining forces loom over the black king. How did he prove that this is the more relevant feature of the position?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 5: Puzzle 2

Maximum score: 5 Points D Friedgood • Pritchett

Birmingham 1999

White to Play Black looks to be pushing back White's initiative by attacking the knight on h4. If it retreats to

f3 Black can exchange it with check and then force

the exchange of queens with 2 ."ii' h4. How should White continue? . .

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

39

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 5: Puzzle 3

Maximum score: 5 Points D H.Oiafsson • D.Mayers

US Open 200 1

Black to Play White was a Grandmaster rated 2563. Black was an amateur aged eighty. How did the veteran now continue?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 5: Puzzle 4

Maximum score: 5 Points D Grunewald • Lematschko

Swiss Championship 2000

Black to Play Ms Lematschko is a pawn down. Is that the end of the story?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

40

Test Five

Test 5: Puzzle 5

Maximum score: 5 Points D Grigoriev • Panikovsky

Kurgan 1972

Black to Play There is a well known saying in chess that when you see a good move, you should look for a better one. Well, doesn't recapturing on d4 look good enough...?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 5: Puzzle 6

Maximum score: 10 Points D Lopez • Plaskett

Hastings 1988/89

Black to Play We are barely out of the opening and White seems to be better developed. However, it is Black who now launches a winning attack. How?

See page 106 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

41

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 5: Puzzle

7 Maximum score: 10 Points D A.Sokolov •Yusupov

Candidates Match, Riga 1986

Black to Play Black has a pleasant game as White has a number of pawn weaknesses and no real initiative to compensate. How did Black transform this pleas­ ant game into something more concrete?

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

Test 5: Puzzle 8

Maximum score: 10 Points D Rausis • Benjamin

World Team Championship, Lucerne 1993 White to Play White retreated with 1 i.b3. Did he have better?

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

42

Test Five

Test 5: Puzzle 9

Maximum score: 10 Points 0 Kotov • Keres

Budapest 1950

White to Play White is about to be repulsed and also lose his c4-pawn to an invading bishop. What to do?

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

Test 5: Puzzle 10

Maximum score: 10 Points 0 Lutz • Ftacnik

Germany 200 1

White to Play White has a great game, but how did he now force mate in five moves?

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 4 points.

43

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 5: Puzzle 1 1

Maximum score: 15 Points D Lewis • Plaskett

Birmingham 200 1

White to Play White has a development lead and an initiative, whilst the black king is still uncastled. Black has an extra pawn. How should the game continue?

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Test 5: Puzzle 12

Maximum score: 15 Points D J.Porterfield-Rynd • Lynam

Simultaneous, Dublin 189 1

White to Play White squeezed a win out of this. Could you?

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

44

Test Five

Test 5: Puzzle 13

Maximum score: 15 Points D Plaskett • Rowson

Scotland 1998

Black to Play Many pawn endings are played badly. This tends to be because players relax after the more complex positions that precede a pawn ending, as­ suming that once they have seen an idea in a position, then there is noth­ ing else to find. But often there are twists. What

ought to happen here?

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Test 5: Puzzle 14

Maximum score: 15 Points D Karpov •Gulko

Oroposa del Mar 1996

White to Play Queens off. Symmetrical structure. All quiet on the Western front? No way!

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

45

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 5: Puzzle 15

Maximum score: 15 Points D Korneev • Banas

Las Palmas 1998

White to Play White is demonstrating hard on the kingside but Black appears to be se­ cure enough... or is he?

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 6 points.

Scorechart for Test 5 Puzzle

Points

Puzzle

1

10

2

11

3

12

4

13

5

14

6

15

7 Total

8 9

46

Points

Test Six

Test 6: Puzzle 1

Maximum score: 5 Points D Hebden •Nunn

Hastings 1996/97

White to Play Black's king has been driven from shelter. How did Hebden exploit this?

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 6: Puzzle 2

Maximum score: 5 Points D Ochoa de Echaguen • D.Garcia

Spanish Championship 199 1 White to Play Black just blundered. How can he be punished?

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

47

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Test 6: Puzzle 3

Maximum score: 5 Points D Hodgson •Agdestein

London, Lloyds Bank 1986

Black to Play Hodgson had sacrificed a piece to set up what Agdestein judged to be an inescapable mating net. Faced with mate from a pawn on f4, he saw noth­ ing better than to bring it about himself with l...f4+?? 2 gxf4 mate. Was there anything better?

See page 107 to Ask A Grandmaster, which will cost you 2 points.

Test 6: Puzzle 4

Maximum score: 5 Points D Acs • Bunzmann

World U-20 Championship 2000

Black to Play Black would like to play l...'i'xh2 but this is protected. Black would like to play l...'i'xg4 and 2 ...xf7 3 �xh7+ the floodgates have been opened and an important defender taken away. White need only mop up with 3 . . . 'it>f8 4 �h8+ 'it>f7 5 .l:!fl + 'it>g6 6 �e8+ 'it>h6 7 �xe7, and the black king will not survive much longer. Points: Twelve for 1 :g8+ ! ! and three more for seeing the details. Puzzle 13: Sadler succeeded with moves which stripped away the cover around my king, whilst simultaneously activating his own forces: 1l:.xf5 ! exf5 ( l . . . �xa6 2 �xe8+) 2 tt::l x h7 ! ! �xa6 (2 . . J:hh7 3 .l:!.g6+l:.g7 [3 . . . 'it>h8 4 e6+] 4l:.xg7+ 'it>xg7 5 e6+ �f6 6 "ii g 5+ 'it>h7 7 �xf6 wins for White) 3 ti::l f6+ ! �xf6 4 �xeS+ 'it>h7 5 exf6 and Black, with one more move to make, lost on time. However, his cause is hope­ less as the attack still rages and White has not even any material deficit.

Shortly after playing such chess and reaching sixteenth position in the world rank­ ings Matthew Sadler decided that he preferred dealing with customer complaints for a Dutch firm . . . Points: Six for the first sacrifice on f5 , and nine for the follow-up o n h7. S o domi­ nant are the white pieces after l .. .exf5 that I will also grant you nine for 2 l:!.f6 ! ?, when life is still dreadfully uncomfortable for Black, e.g. 2 . . . �xf6 3 exf6 with great threats, or 3 . . . I;lf8 4 tt::l x h7 ! ! with familiar variations. Puzzle 1 4 : White played 1 lhg7+ ! and the game ended in a king hunt: 1 . . . l:!.xg7 2 'it'c8+ 'it>h7 (2 . . . 'it>f7 meets with 3 'it'f5+ rJ)e7 [3 . . . 'it>g8 4 .l:!.c8 mate] 4 'it'e5 + ! 'it>d8 5 'it'd6+ and mate on f8 or a killing rook check on c8 will follow) 3 �h3+ 'it>g8 4 lacS+ �f7 5 �f5+ 'it>e7 6 �f8+ and in view of 6 . . . We6 7 f5+ 'it>d7 8 �e8+ 'it>d6 9 �e5 mate, Stuart resigned.

Points: Fifteen for 1 .l::. x g7+ ! . Puzzle 1 5 : Geller produced the stunning, but wholly logical, 1 . . . 'it>g7 ! ! , when the pawn must queen! Play continued 2 h5 a3 3 Wxe4 a2 4 hxg6 hxg6 5 l:tg5 a 1 � 6 .l::t x e5 . Despite Flohr's attempts to reach a drawn ending of rook, f- and g-pawns against queen and g-pawn he cannot, because the white king cannot reach a haven near his pawns: 6 . . . �c3 7l::t g 5 'it>f6 8 'it>d5 �d3+ 9 'it>c5 'it>f7 10 �c6 �d4 1 1 'it>b5 �c3 12 rJ)b6 �c4 1 3 'it>b7 �e6 14 'it>c7 �f6 15 'it>b7 'i¥d6 16 'it>c8 �c6+ 17 'it>d8 �7 18l:.e5 �6+ 19 'it>c8 �f7 and White resigned because he cannot use the rook to defend both his pawns and his king.

Points: Ten for 1 . . . 'it>g7 ! ! . Five more for also appreciating that the queen versus rook ending is won.

Solutions and Points: Test 4 Puzzle 1 : l . . .�xf4+! and Keres resigned in view of 2 �xf4 .l::t h 1 mate.

Points: Five for l . . . 'it'xf4+. Puzzle 2: 1 'it>e 1 and Black resigned, as after 1 . .-l:t.d3 2 We2 the rook must abandon the bishop.

Points: Five for 1 'it>e 1 . Puzzle 3 : 1 l:t.h5 + ! gxh5 2 l:!g7+ rJ) h S 3 �h6 mate. 122

Solutions

Points: Five if you spotted it. Puzzle 4: He played 11i.xc6 ! , when the natural 1 . .1i.xc6 . is impossible due to 2 lt:J f6+ ! exf6 3 l:.e 1 + 'it>f8 4 l:.xd8t etc. Black had to play the miserable 1 . . . bxc6, al­ lowing 2 l:hd4 with a comfortable win for White in prospect.

Points: Five for finding the tactic. Puzzle 5 : 1 Wid 1 ! hit d6 and h5 . No way to cover both, so Karpov resigned.

Points: Five for the fork. Puzzle 6 : 1 l:.xf6+! 'it>xf6 2 ii.d6 and there is no defence to the twin threats of .1Lxb4

and ii.e7+. A very elegant finale. Points: Ten for the whole thing.

Puzzle 7: 11i.e8 ! ! threatens 2 'ilixg7+ 'it>xg7 3 l:.h7+ 'it>f8 4 l:.xf7 mate. l . .l:.xe8 . runs

into 2 lt:Jd7 mate, so the only move is l . . .g5, to tr y to create a flight square, but then either 2 g4 ! or 2 f5 ! sets up a mating net, e.g. 2 f5 exf5 3 �xg7+ ci;; x g7 4 l:.h7+ 'it>g6 5 ii.xf7 mate. Points: A maximum ten points if you found l ii.e8 ! ! , the defensive attempt with l . . . g5 and, subsequently, the winning response of 2 g4 ! or 2 f5 ! . Six points for 1 ii.e8 ! ! if you overlooked l . . . g5, and nothing for others.

Puzzle 8: l lt:Ja8 ! ! �a6 2lt:Jd8 mate was how it all ended. l . . .�a5 2 lt:Jd8+ is equally

decisive.

Points: Ten for 1 lt:Ja8 ! ! in conjunction with 2 lt:Jd8+ (or mate). All other moves are party poopers. Puzzle 9: l . . .l:.xe5 ! ! 2 �xe5 Wif3+ 3 ci;; h 2 �f2+ and Timman ' geeft het op ' because 4 'it>h3 ii.c8+ 5 g4l:.f3+ mates.

Points: Ten for 1 . . . l:.xe5 . Although there may be other moves which preserve a good game for B lack I am going to be ungenerous here and award nothing for any of these. l . . .l:.xe5 ! ! simply tears White apart. Puzzle 10: l . .l:.fx£2 . ! 2 .l:.x£2 l:.b l + 3 Wie l l:.xe 1 + 4 l:.xe 1 Wixa3 and Black is win­ ning the ending. Play concluded 5 h3 b5 6 l:.f7 a5 7 l:.ee7 �2 8l:.a7 a4 9 l:.a6 a3 1 0 l:.fa7 b4 1 1 l:.a4 �d2 1 2 �h2 Wif4+ 1 3 'it>g 1 �e3+ 1 4 �h2 'ilie5+ 1 5 'itg 1 b 3 1 6 l:.xa3 b 2 1 7 l:.b3 and White resigned before Black made him give up a rook for the b-pawn.

Points : Seven for the initial capture on f2. Take three more if, crucially, you saw that the queen and two outside passed pawns outweigh the rooks. Puzzle 1 1 : 1 Wixd5 ! ! , and now l . . .exd5 2 ii.xh5+ cJ;; f8 3 l:.e8 is mate. Georgiev

struggled on with l . . .'iVxd5 2l:.xd5 (with immunity for the same reason), when 2 . . . gxf2 3 .l:!.d8+ cJ;; f7 4 l:.fl wins comfortably for White. Instead Black castled, but 3 l:.d8 ! gxf2 4 l:.fl was the end of the fun. Points: Fifteen for 1 'i+'xd5 ! ! . Other moves may leave White excellently placed but they' re certainly not as good as winning a piece.

123

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Puzzle 1 2 : l . . .'*iVxe3 ! ! and now 2 fxe3 allows mate with 2 . . . lbg3 + ! 3 hxg3 l'::. h 5 . In­ stead Yudasin tried 2 lbd6 but the future world champion countered effectively with 2 . . . l'::. e 7 ! 3 lbxf5 gxf5 .

Points: Eleven for the queen sacrifice. Easy, once you 've seen it. Take an extra four for finding the neat counter to 2 lLJd6 (2 . . . l'::. e 7 ! ) . Puzzle 1 3 : Play went 1l:.xd7, when i t is straightforward enough that l . . .'*iVxd7 loses to 2 'i'xe4 exf4 3 i.xe6 'i'xe6 4 'i'xa8 etc. Consequently Beliavsky played l . . .i.xf5 2 l:txb7 exf4. Now on 3 i.xe6 i.xe6 and 3 . . . i.xa2 Black is holding on. Does this look okay? Not really. Nigel played 3 l'::. x f7 ! ! and Black resigned since after 3 . . . fxe3 4 l'::. x f5 his world collapses. I find it difficult to categorise 3 l!xf7 ! ! , which is almost a unique tactic.

Points: Three for seeing that 1 l!xd7 �xd7 loses for Black, as given. Twelve if you found the game continuation. Puzzle 1 4 : White brought things to a splendid conclusion with 1 i.h6 ! gxh6 2 �h5 ! ! lbxh5 3 lbd7 mate.

Points: Fifteen for the combination. There are other good moves but I am being strict and awarding no points to anything else. Puzzle 15: The game ended spectacularly: 1 f5 ! gxf5 2 l:txf5 exf5 3 i.xf5 h6 4 e6 ! i.g5 5 i. f6 ! ! fxe6 6 i.xe6+ l'::. f7 7 i.xg5 hxg5 8 .tlfl l!f8 9 l:l.f6 and Black resigned. Let us have a closer look: 1 f5 gxf5 ( 1 . . . exf5 2 .l:!.xf5 ! is much the same - lines are opening) 2 l'::. x f5 ! (threatening to clean up with 3 l!h5) 2 . . . exf5 (2 . . . �g7 3 l'::. h 5 l:th8 and now 4 'i'g4+ �f8 5 l!fl looks enough for White) 3 i.xf5 and White threatens mate. Then after 3 . . . h6 4 e6 ! Black ' s queen is cut off from the defence of h6 and the b2-bishop comes to life. 4 . . . i.g5 is forced (to defend h6) and 5 i. f6 ! ! is the real star move. Note that here 5 . . . l:tae8 6 i.xg5 fxe6 7 i.g6 leaves the g5 bishop still un­ touchable and White with a raging initiative. A splendid combination from Aaron Summerscale.

Points: Seven for 1 f5 ! , and take eight more if you saw the power and significance of 5 i. f6.

Solutions and Points: Test 5 Puzzle 1 : 1 l:txf7+ ! �xf7 2 l!fl + and Black resigned as he will soon be mated.

Points: Five for the rook sacrifice. Puzzle 2: 1 g5 ! hxg5 2 lLJg6 ! and Black can stave off mate only at the cost of his queen after 2 . . . fxg6 3 fxg6.

Points: Four for 1 g5 ! . Take an extra point if you saw that, should Black respond with l . . .'i'e7, then White can simply continue the offensive with, for example, 2 i.e3 . But your score is z ero out of five if you then intended 2 gxh6?, as that allows 2 . . .'�xh4. Puzzle 3: Dan Mayers played 1 .. J�hh3 , picking up either the minor piece on e3 or,

should it move, the one on d3 . Helgi resigned and promptly withdrew from the tour­ nament in self-disgust. 124

Solutions

Points: Five for the lateral win of a piece. Five also for l . . . .ii.. x e3 , intending 2 .ii.. x e3 Jahh3, or even l . . . .l:th2+ for, despite being an irrelevance, it spoils nothing because after 2 Jag2 there is still . . . .l:thh3 . Puzzle 4 : l . . . .l::i. f2 +! 2 Wh 1 'i¥xe4� ! 3 l:!.xe4 Jafl + 4 Wg2 l:i.g 1 mate. Points: Four for 1 . . . l:i.f2+ and a further one for seeing that not only is the invasion decisive in itself but that there is mate at g l . Nothing for l . . .�xd6 2 l2'lxd6 l:i.f2+ 3 �h 1 which is not so clear. Puzzle 5 : l . . . e3 ! and there follows a winning fork on d4.

Points: Five for l . . .e3 . Puzzle 6 : The knight is the key. By sacrificing it with l . . .l2'lxb2 ! Black already

launches a decisive attack. After 2 �xb2 .ii.. a3+ ! 3 Wxa3 �xc3+ 4 l2'lb3 ..tc6 ! threat­ ens immediate mate. There followed S .ii.. c S aS (reintroducing the threat) and White resigned. In the event of 3 Wb3 �aS White avoi ds mate only through disastrous ma­ terial losses. Points: Six for the knight sacrifice. Two more for the follow-up sacrifice of the bishop. One point for spotting each of the two details of 4 . . . .ii.. c 6 ! and, in the other line, 3 . . . �aS . Puzzle 7: l . . .lZ:JxeS ! 2 l2'lxeS �c3 ! won a clear pawn and the game.

Points: Ten for the 1 . . . l2'lxeS ! trick. Several other moves leave Black with a good game but, once again, that ' s no excuse for passing over a win, so nothing for these. Puzzle 8: 1 exdS exdS 2 lZ:JxdS ! lZ:JxdS 3 l2'lxd4 leaves Black no real compensation

for the pawn. On 3 . . . l2'lb6 4 l:i.e 1 + .ii.. e 7 White might continue S ..tgS f6 6 .ii.. x f6 gxf6 7 'inS+ �d7 8 l2'le6 �e8 9 �g4 with an overwhelming attack. The point of White ' s play is that after 3 . . . cxd4 4 � S Black is under tremendous pressure after either 4 . . . l2'le7 S �xf7+ �d7 6 l:i.e 1 or 4 . . . .ii.. e 6 S l:i.e 1 (hitting both dS and e6) S . . . il... e 7 6 Ihe6 l2'lf6 7 .l:.xf6 ! gxf6 8 �xf7+. Points : Six for the 2 l2'lxdS ! trick. Two more for each of White ' s respective reactions to 3 . . . l2'lb6 and 3 . . . cxd4. Puzzle 9: 1 l2'lf4 ! and, since l . . .l2'lxf4 allows mate on h7 and l . . . gxh4 2 l2'lxg6 leaves Black unable to capture the knight in view of the mate in two, B lack' s game fell apart like a house of cards.

Points: Ten for 1 l2Jf4 ! and absolutely nothing for any other move. Puzzle 1 0 : 1 �xf6+ ! Wxf6 2 l:!.g6+ ! fxg6 3 .l::i. x g6+ �e7 4 f6+ and Black resigned, as

people often do one move before mate (4 . . . 'it>f8 S �g8 mate).

Points: Only one mate in five, so that ' s the only one that gets the points. Puzzle 1 1 : Lewis found 1 l2'lcbS ! , which should have led to a deci sive advantage. On

1 ... cxbS 2 l2'lxbS Black' s queen has nowhere to go that prevents 3 il... x b7 and the threat of a decisive discovery with l2'ld6+. After l . . .�e7 2 l2'lxc6 .ii.. x c6 3 .Jl.xc6+ l:i.xc6 White has (amongst others) 4 l2'ld4, winning an exchange, while 3 . . . �f8 4 �xa6 .l:.xc6 5 l2'lxa7 .l:.c7 6 l2'lbS is one way for White to win. Consequently I chose 1 . . .�8 and was quite lost after 2 l2'lxc 6 ! .Jl.xc6 3 .Jl.xc6+ �e7, when White produced the cool retreat 4 .Jl.f3 ! . The point is 4 . . . .ii.. x e3 S �xa6 .Jl.xf2 6 l2'lxa7, as there is no 125

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

way for Black to avoid the loss of an exchange. The game continued 6 . . . J::!. c 7 7 tt'lc6+ J::!. x c6 8 ii.xc6, although I did manage to salvage a draw thirty-two moves later. Points : Ten for 1 tt'lcb5 ! , two more for seeing how to deal with I . . :�We7 and three extra if you saw how White won the exchange in the game. Just one extra point if you intended to meet l . . .'ifb8 with 2 ii.xc6+, for after 2 ... �f8 Black, although his position is quite unattractive, is hanging on. Nothing for other first moves. Puzzle 1 2 : I f7 J::!. x e5+ 2 �g4 .l:.e4+ and now, instead of 3 �f5 !:!.e l , which draws

immediately thanks to 4 . . JH1 (+), White plays 3 �f3 ! . But after 3 . . J::!. e l 4 �f2 .l:.e4 ! what does White play next? The automatic 5 f8� fails to the fiendish 5 . . . J::!. f4+ ! ! 6 �xf4 stalemate ! Yet the win is still there - 5 f8.l:. ! , the idea being that now there is no stalemate after a check and capture on f4, so Black must address the threat of mate on the h-file with 5 . . . J::!.h 4, when White has 6 �g3 , and the new mate threat on fl means that Black loses his rook. .

Points: A well-deserved fifteen if you got the whole thing. Puzzle 1 3 : Rowson played l . . .g4?, and after 2 fxg4 �g5 3 �f3 e5 4 c4 e4+ 5 �xe4 �xg4 6 b4 �xh5 7 �f5 ! the boxing-in of his king meant that his outside passed pawn, normally a big plus, was of no value to him. Play continued 7 . . . �h4 8 c5 a6 9 a4 h5 I O b5 axb5 1 1 axb5 �g3 1 2 c6 and Black came second in the race.

Best is I ... �g7 ! 2 c4 �h6 3 c5 �xh5 4 b4 �g6 when, to thwart ... �f6, White must continue 5 �e5 h5 6 b5 �f7 ! 7 �d6 as 7 c6? loses to 7 . . . bxc6 8 bxc6 �e7 . There follows 7 . . . g4 8 fxg4 hxg4 9 c6 bxc6 I 0 bxc6 g3 I I c7 g2 I 2 c8"i¥ g I "if and, since the new black queen happens to be defending a7, the first check in the queen ending - often a crucial asset - is no use. There is nothing better for White than 1 3 �xe6+, when it is a clear draw. Points: Six points for spotting the technique that occurred in the game with 7 �f5 ! . Nine for calculating correctly the far more difficult variations after the superior l . . .�g7 . Incidentally, since this is an instructional book, I should say apropos the much-vaunted training school of Dvoretsky that, effective though his techniques may have been, do not forget that players such as Speelman, Adams and Short went fur­ ther than the likes of Yusupov, Dolmatov, Dreev, Chemin, Zviagintzev et a! - and the British, I know, have followed no precise programmes at all . Dvoretsky' s ap­ proach may have led to his pupils becoming too technical, as they trotted out their Slav and Petroff defences. Dolmatov, for instance, was a very imaginative player before he was drilled by Mark, presumably along the lines of a five year plan. I refer you again to my introductory remarks about the exercises in this book having right and wrong answers. Flair is a more difficult thing to acquire - perhaps you' ve either got it or you haven ' t ! ? Puzzle 1 4 : Karpov struck with I .l:.xd7+ ! �xd7 2 tt'lxb6+ ! ..txb6 3 ..ta4 and the de­ fence is very problematic for Black. If he brings the king ' s rook over with 3 . . . �e7 4

ii.xc6 J::!.h c8 , then after 5 ..tb4+ �d8 6 tt'le5 l:i.�7 7 l:i.d l + you see how the white pieces are still packing terrific punches, e.g. 7 . . . �c7 8 ii.d6+ �d8 9 ii.f8+ �c7 1 0 ii.xg7 tt'lh5 1 1 ii.h6, with two healthy pawns and a better structure for the exchange. Accordingly Boris Gulko tried 3 . . . �c8 ! ? 4 tt'le5 �b8 5 tt'lxc6+ �b7 6 tt'le5 J::!. a c8 7 ii.c6+ �a 7 8 tt'lxf7 .l:.hf8 9 tt'le5 tt'ld5 I 0 J::!. d I ! .!:!.fd8 1 1 ..ta4 ! tt'le7 1 2 tt'ld7, and 126

Solutions

White has two good pawns, the pair of bishops and a superior structure in return for the exchange. Karpov went on to win. Points: Fifteen for appreciating t�at after 1 �xd7+ ! �xd7 2 tLixb6+ ! Black must lose at least another pawn and is very much on the ropes. Puzzle 1 5 : 1 l:i.d7 ! ! 4Jxd7 2 i.h6 ! ! is the sparkling point. After 2 . . . 4Jxe5 3 i.xg7+ �g8 4 i.xe5+ i.g5+ 5 .l:rxg5 is mate. If Black plays another first move he will emerge a bishop down.

Points: Fifteen if you saw the whole thing. Five for 1 h5 , which is also a constructive attacking move, although not nearly as good as 1 :d7 ! ! .

Solutions and Points: Test 6 Puzzle 1 : 1 .lad4 ! �e3+ 2 �h2 and Nunn, seeing that there is nothing to be done about the rook coming to h4, resigned.

Points: Five for 1 .l:!.d4 ! . Puzzle 2 : 1 tLie6+ ! and 2 �xe4 wins the exchange. Black actually played l . . . .l:.xe6 but after 2 dxe6 he soon resigned.

Points: Five for 1 t2\e6+ ! . Puzzle 3 : Black missed 1 . . . i.f3 ! 2 i.xf3 , after which i t i s possible to fight on with

either 2 . . . l:i.af8 3 l:i.xb7 f4+ 4 gxf4+ �xf4 5 i.xc6 4Jb4 with some compensation, or 2 .. J:'!hf8, e.g. 3 !hb7 l:!ab8 or 3 !ldd7 l:i.xt7 4 l:i.xt7 4Jb4, and the band plays on. Points: Three for finding the only move: 1 . . . i.f3 ! , and one extra point each for the assessment of 2 . . . .Uaf8 and 2 .. .l:rhf8 as yielding practical chances. Puzzle 4: 1 . . .4Jf2+ ' throws a spanner' into White' s carefully contrived set-up. After

2 �xf2 comes 2 . . .'�!Vxg4, while 2 i.xf2 allows mate on h2 . The following year Acs took the title.

Points: Five for spotting the neat overloading tactic. But Black ' s position is domi­ nant, so have four for l . . . t2\xc3 , l . . . .l:.f8, l . . . a5 , or most sensible non-forcing moves. Puzzle 5 : 1 l:i.h8+ ! �xh8 2 g6 mates.

Points : Five for 1 I!h8+ ! but nothing for 1 .laxc3, for after l . . Jha7 Black may force the exchange of one pair of rooks to leave an ending which is a theoretical draw. Puzzle 6: 1 . . .4Jxb2 ! destroyed Adams ' defences. As in Position Six of the previous test, 2 �xb2 is met by 2 . . . i.a3 + ! , when 3 �xa3 �c3+ 4 4Jb3 a4 is final.

Points : Eight for the knight sacrifice and only two for the follow-up this time. You're rather slow if you failed to find it! Puzzle 7: 1 �xg6+ ! �xg6 2 i.h5+ �h7 3 i.t7+ i.h6 4 g6+ �g7 5 i.xh6+ and Black resigned due to the various mates from which White may choose after 5 . . . �h8 . After l . . . �g8 2 �h7+ �t7 3 i.h5 Black is also mated.

Points: Ten for the mating sequence. Puzzle 8: 1 l:i.g8+ ! leaves White with an extra piece after l . . . �xg8 2 l:!. g l + �h8 3

fxe7+ f6 4 exf8�+, so Andersson played l . . .l:i.xg8 2 fxe7+ .l:.g7 3 .l:!.g l (there are other winning moves) 3 . . . �xb2+ 4 �d l �b l + 5 i.e ! and then resigned. 127

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Points: Ten for 1 l::t g 8+ ! . On 1 bxc3 Black might try l . . .�a3+ 2 'it>d2 �xc3 ! (when he is okay), so no points for that move. Puzzle 9: l . . .'iVxg2 ! 2 �xe3 � I + 3 'it>d2 iYxa 1 4 'Llc l , and now Black continued vigorously and managed to extricate his queen: 4 . . . I:i.f5 5 .l:.e 1 .l:!.£2+ 6 'Lle2 .l:.e8 ! 7 'iVb3 'iYxe 1 + 8 'it>xe 1 l::t e xe2+ 9 'it>d 1 l:!.b2 and White resigned.

Points: Five for l . . .'iVxg2, and award yourself five more if you considered, and suc­ cessfully addressed, the matter of the cornered queen after 4 'Llc l . Puzzle 1 0 : 1 f5 ! threatens to take the bishop and also to advance to f6, creating a

deadly mate threat on g7 . In the game Black played the forced 1 . . . �xf5 , and then came 2 g6 ! �xg6 3 l::t d g 1 , reintroducing the mate threat on h7. After 3 . . . .l:i.e8 4 'iVxh7+ �f8 5 ..ltc5+ mate on h8 follows. Note how all of the white pieces co-operate in the final assault. Points : Five for 1 f5 ! and five more if you saw 2 g6 ! and 3 l::t dg 1 . Puzzle 1 1 : At the competitive cost of two minor pieces Short dragged Black' s naked king out into the streets with 1 �xg7 ! ! Wxg7 2 ctJh5+ �g6 3 e5+ ! �xh5 4 'iVf4. There is a mate threat on g4 and 4 . . . 'Llxe5 is, of course, effectively dealt with by 5 J:!.xe5. Lj ubo made the best of it with 4 . . . ..ltxg5 but the situation is hopeless: 5 "iYxf7+ 'it>h4 6 "iYh7+ �g3 7 "iYh5 'it>h2 and by now there are several ways of completing the business, one being 8 'iYe2+. Short selected 8 "iYxg5 l:!.g8 9 .l:.d2+ �g2 1 0 "iYf4+ .l:.g3 1 1 �e4 �xe4 1 2 'iYxe4, and Black resigned.

Points: Ten for 1 �xg7 ! ! and a further three for seeing the effect of 2 ctJh5+ and 3 e5+ ! . The final two points are for finding that if Black retreats with 2 . . . �h8/g8/f8 then 3 g6, bringing the queen in, is decisive, e.g. 2 . . . 'lt>f8 3 g6 i.f6 4 'Llxf6 'Llxf6 5 g7+ ! c/f;e7 6 'iYg5 , and �fl will win the pinned knight. Note the uselessness of the black pieces in defending the king or knight. In the initial position there is no move in the same league as 1 ..ltxg7 ! ! , which wins outright. But White does have a superiority with a number of slower moves, so take four for any of 1 'Llh5 , 1 .l:i.fl or 1 h4. Puzzle 1 2 : 1 i.h7 ! stops the king from running. On l . . . i.d6 White finishes with 2 'iYe8+! 'i!Vxe8 3 �xd6+ etc.

Points: Thirteen for 1 �h7, and the full fifteen if you saw how to defeat l . . .�d6, too. Take eight points for 1 �xd5 as White will emerge with good play for the exchange. Puzzle 1 3 : 1 'i!Vxe6 ! ! was Geller's fabulous continuation, which he would have had to have foreseen long before. Play continued l . . . fxe6 2 'Llfg6+ (the other knight check also works) 2 .. .'iVxg6 (2 .. .t>f7 3 'Llxh8+ �f8 4 'Ll4g6+ forces Black to part with the queen anyway) 3 'Llxg6+ \te8 5 'Llxh8 .

But this is not the end of the story. They say that Geller thought for a long time be­ fore the queen sacrifice as he looked carefully at the details of this ending. Karpov played 5 . . . �a4 and the game ended 6 l:.d 1 (6 i.e3 leaves the knight stranded) 6 . . . 'Lle7 7 il.xe7 'it>xe7 8 ctJg6+ 'it>f7 9 ctJf4 � ;e5 1 0 dxe5 l:.xf4 1 1 .l:i.c 1 ! �e8 1 2 c6 c/f;d8 1 3 c7+ 'it>c8 14 g3 . Now 14 . . . .l:i.f5 puts up the toughest resistance, the winning line being 1 5 f4 g5 1 6 a4 ! gxf4 1 7 a5 ! fxg3 1 8 a6 gh2+ 1 9 �h 1 l:!.f2 20 .l:i.a 1 etc .

128

Solutions

Points: Eleven for 1 �xe6! ! , and four further points for following the details of the technique after 5 . . . l:.a4. If you considered only 5 . . . .l:.xa2 to be Black' s best defensive try then take no extra points. To be fair, I cannot regard 9 lt:Jh4 as other than a comfortably winning move after 9 . . . �xe5 1 0 lt:Jf3, so four extra points for that intention, too. Puzzle 1 4 : 1 l:[e6 ! fxe6 2 �xe6+ �h8 3 l�Vxh6+ ! ! gxh6 4 �e5+ and mate next

move.

Points: Ten for the rook sacrifice and the subsequent one on h6. The concentration of White' s pieces around the enemy king is so strong by the third move that a duller finale, such as 3 �e5, will also suffice, e.g. 3 . . . lt:Jf5 4 'iig 6 hxg5 5 'iih 5+ and mate. 1 lt:Je6? ! fxe6, with . . . �e8 coming, is nowhere near as clear - nothing for that. Puzzle 1 5 : 1 e5 ! knocks out the foundations. Black had nothing better than I . . :ifxa3 2 exf6 .lir.xd8 3 l:Ixd8+ �f8 4 �d4 (threatening mate) 4 . . . h5, but after 5 .l:te 1 ! (bring­ ing out the last reserve) 5 . . . �h7 6 l:.e7+! it was time to resign in view of 6 . . . �xe7 7 fxe7, when White threatens mate and the creation of a new queen.

Points: Ten for 1 e5 ! . Three more for appreciating that Black' s last ditch defence is l . . .¥1ixa3 , and that 4 �d4 is the key to finishing him off. A final two for 5 kre 1 .

Solutions and Points: Test 7 Puzzle 1 : 1 lt:Jh5+ won the knight and the game.

Points: Five for 1 lt:Jh5+. Puzzle 2: 1 lt:Jd5 ! when, because l . . . exd5 2 �xf6 is hopeless for Black, Miles played

l . . .�xb2 2 lt:Jxc7 .l:te7. But, of course, after 3 lt:Jxe6 Karpov had no problem in win­ ning the game.

Points: Five for l lt:Jd5 ! , or J lt:Jb5 ! if you planned on then meeting l . . .�e7 with 2 �xf6 "iYxf6 3 lt:Jxd6 ! �xd6 4 e5 etc. Puzzle 3 : The game ended l . . . 'iix g5 ! 2 "iYxg5 .&txh3+ 3 �g2 .l::!.h 2 mate. A pure mate - a rare phenomenon in practical play.

Points: Five for l . . ."iYxg5 ! ; nothing for others. Puzzle 4 : I �xg7 �xg7 2 'ii'd 4+ won the bishop. On l . . . ..ixe2 White had the devas­

tating 2 'iix h6.

Points: Five for this sequence. Puzzle 5: I 'ifa8 ! and Black resigned as his rook and knight are attacked by this rude intrusion, and there is no defence because l . . Jha8 loses to 2 lt:Jxe7+ and 3 lt:Jxc8.

Meanwhile l ... l:Ib7 fails to 2 lt:Jxe7+ and 3 "iYxb8. Points: Five for I 'iia 8 ! .

Puzzle 6 : l . . ..l::!. e4 ! ! 2 �xe4 dxe4 and one rook must drop, leaving Black a bishop ahead. Alternatively, after a capture on e4 by either rook and the subsequent recap­ ture 2 . . . dxe4, White' s remaining rook and bishop are under attack, ensuring that Black wins material.

129

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Points: Ten for l . . J�e4 ! ! . Incidentally, note that in the game continuation, were there no pawn on f5 , then a rook would still be lost even if it were a white pawn on e4. I mention that because Bent Larsen once told me that the Dutch master Bouwmeester had had a lifelong dream of forking an opponent' s rooks in such a manner. One evening during a ' simul ' tour that Bouwmeester was giving in Holland he ap­ proached Larsen and related to him, with a child' s glee, how he had at last managed to do it in a game from that day ' s simul . The following day he came towards Larsen again, this time with a strange glow in his eyes, and whispered to him with breathless j oy 'I did it again ! ! ' Puzzle 7: 1 �d3+ Wh8 2 'ifd2 Wh7 2 :lg6 ! ! fxg6 4 'iVd7+ and Black resigned as 4 . . . Wg8 5 'fixeS+ Wg7 6 'it'e7+ Wg8 7 hxg6 introduces a new attacking piece in the shape of the g6-pawn, which finishes the game. An original tactic.

Points: Ten for the game sequence. Only one point if you were tempted by 1 'ilid7 l:.f8 2 'it'e7 because Black can defend with 2 . . . f5 ! , when the win in the queen ending after 3 'ifxf8 fxg4 4 'it'xf7+ 'iig 7 5 'iff5+ 'iii h 8 6 'ii'x a5 would be quite problematic. Puzzle 8 : 1 lbe6+ ! smashes through. After the forced capture a sample finish is 2 �xg6+ Wf8 3 .lth6+ l::f. x h6 4 �xh6+ and mate soon follows.

Points: Ten for the deadly knight fork. Puzzle 9: l . . ..ltxg2 ! 2 lbxg4 .ltf3 and mate at h 1 is unstoppable. On 2 'i!Vxg2 .l:!.xh2

wins material.

Points: Ten for the mating sequence Puzzle 1 0 : 1 l::r f5 ! threatens mate and thus forces l . . .lbxf5 . Then 2 gxf5 once again threatens mate, so 2 . . . Wh7 is forced, in tum allowing the elegant and decisive 3 f6 ! , when Black resigned a s 3 . . . exf6 runs into 4 'iix d7.

Points: Ten if you found 1 l:tf5 ! and the relevant points. Puzzle 1 1 : 1 e6! ! was Jonathan Tisdal l ' s marvellous solution. After l . . .'iix g7 2

exd7+ mate will soon follow, e.g. 2 . . . l2Jxd7 3 .l:!.he 1 + �e5 4 .l::r x e5+ lbxe5 5 .l:td8 mate. l . . . fxe6 allows mate on e7, while l . . .'iix e6 invites White to win with 2 .lth6 'iie 7 3 �he 1 , or the immediate 2 .l:lhe 1 . The game concluded 1 . . . d5 2 l:Ixd5 lbc6 3 e7 ! l2Jxe7 4 Ild8+! and Black resigned. Points: Fifteen for 1 e6 ! ! and subsequent lines. Puzzle 1 2 : l . . . .lte3 ! won the game. After 2 fxe3 g4 the bishop is powerless against the advance of both passed pawns, while 2 Wxh6 runs into 2 . . . g4+ with the same problem.

Points: Fifteen for l . . . .lte3 . Puzzle 1 3 : Short startled me with l . . . .ltxb4 ! ! , the point being to gain a tempo to

swing the rook over to c7, thereby regaining the bishop. I managed to salvage a vi­ able game with 2 axb4 l::r c 7 3 lbxe6 l::r x c4 4 lDc5 ! , attacking the pinned rook. After 4 . . . b5 5 nd4 Wh8 6 nxc4 bxc4 7 �xc4 a5 Blctck was a pawn down but the white king exposed, resulting in a very double-edged situation. Points: Ten for l . . . .ltxb4 ! ! , and a further five for seeing that White' s only defensive line was the game continuation, 4 lbc5 ! being the crucial trick. 130

Solutions

Puzzle 1 4 : Fischer found 1 .txd4 exd4 2 .l::i. f6 ! ! . The rook happens to attack a knight but the big idea was to obstruct the f-pawn. White now threatens 3 e5 and there is nothing Black can do about this deadly advance. Play concluded 2 . . . 'it>g8 3 e5 h6 4 lL'le2 and Benko had seen enough�

Points: Fifteen if you saw as far as 2 .l::i. f6 ! ! and that Black is then busted. There were other fourth moves that Fischer could have selected. For sharing second place in the 1 978 British Championship I received a cheque for £850 and a large replica of it to stick on my wall. Each featured the position after 2 .l::i. f6. An interesting comparison is with the game Plaskett-Nunn, Borehamwood 1 982.

In this position the move 1 �f6 was played and the game was eventually drawn. Puzzle 1 5 : Spassky broke in with l . . .h4 ! ! , the game ending 2 hxg4 hxg3 3 lag 1 .l::i. h 1 ! ! 4 .l:txh 1 g2 5 k!.fl ( 5 :rg 1 �h4+ 6 �d 1 'ifh 1 is devastating) 5 . . . 'iV114 + 6 �d 1 gxfl 'ik'+ and White resigned in view of the mate after 7 .txfl .txg4+.

Of course we should also investigate 2 .txg4, when Black may win in similar fash­ ion to the game with 2 . . . .txg4 3 hxg4 hxg3 4 l:Ig 1 .l:.h 1 ! ! 5 �xh 1 g2 6 .l::r g 1 'iV114 + 7 �d 1 �xg4+ 8 We 1 'i¥g3+ 9 Wd 1 �f2 etc. Also strong is 4 . . .'iVh4. Points: Nine for l . . .h4 ! ! and a further six for spotting the . . . .l::r h 1 ! ! sacrifice. l . . .lt:Jxe3 ! ? 2 dxe3 .txe3 is certainly worth a try. There is nothing immediate for Black but he has two nice pawns and a healthy initiative - always promising against an uncastled king - so I ' ll give you eleven for that. l . . Jhd2 ? ! ? is really wild, leading to a situation after 2 ctJxd2 ctJxe3 3 'iVc3 .l::r d 8 where Black has very real compensation for his rook. However, it cannot be given such high marks as the clearer l . . .h4 ! ! , so only nine for that choice. Five for 1 . . . lL'lf6, which is rather modest but Black still has an excellent game. Nothing for l . . . .txe3 ? for after 2 hxg4 Black must lose yet another piece for insuffi­ cient compensation.

131

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Solutions and Points: Test 8 Puzzle 1 : 1 'iib 7+ ! ! lbxh7 2 l:.g6 mate.

Points : Five for the mate. Puzzle 2: 1 .l:!.xd6+ ! Wxd6 2 �e6 mate.

Points: Five for finding the mate. Puzzle 3 : l . . .'i"V g2+! 2 ..txg2 .l:!.d l + 3 i.. fl :;txfl mate.

Points : Five for the mate. Puzzle 4 : l . . .'i¥f5 ! allowed the queen across to defend. White cannot capture in view of 1 . . . :b 1 + and a back rank mate, so Bobby was reduced to 2 '.t>g l when, after 2 . . . 'i¥g6, he might as well have instantly resigned.

Points: Five for l . . .�f5 ! . Puzzle 5 : Play continued 1 .l:!.xe4 ! dxe4 2 'i¥d5+ Wh7 3 lDM ! lbb7 4 �xf5 .l:!.e8 5 lbxg6 'i¥xg6 6 'i¥d7+ '.t>h8 7 f5 ! �g8 8 'i¥xd7 and Black resigned. Note that 3 �xa8 exf3 4 �xf3 is less effective, although still good for White.

Points: Four for 1 l:.xe4 ! and an extra one for 3 lbh4 ! , but only three if you intended 3 'i¥xa8. Puzzle 6: 1 .l:!.b7+ ! ! does the trick. After l . . . .l:!.xb7 2 �xg8 the loose f6-rook prevents the capture of the bishop thanks to 3 'i¥g7+, while l . . .Wxb7 2 ..tcS+ ! renders Black's queen defenceless, and 2 . . . '.t>xc8 3 �xg8+ leads to the same problem with the f6rook. Accordingly Black preferred 2 . . . '.t>a8 , but White just took his queen and soon won.

Points: Eight for 1 .l:!.b7+ ! !, with two more for seeing that after l . . .'it>xb7 2 ..tcS+! White succeeds due to the vulnerable position of the rook on f6 . Puzzle 7: 1 i.. d 5+ ! and Black declined to take it since l . . .cxd5 2 �xd5+ lets the white pieces swarm over his king. However, the selected l . . .'.t>g7 helped little after 2 i.. e 5+, when Black could do nothing more than resign after 2 . . . i.. f6 3 i.. xf6+ xf6 4 �d4+ as 4 . . . Wxg5 allows 5 �4 mate.

Points: Take ten if you appreciated that Black is finished after 1 i.. d 5+. Ten, too, for 1 .l:!.e 1 ! - just introducing the last gun in this manner maintains the threat of ..td5+ and Black has no adequate reply because l . . .i.. x g5 2 i.. x g5 'i¥xd6 loses to either 3 ii.xd8 or 3 .l:!.e8+ ! etc . 1 c5 is powerful and Black probably has to take on d6, leaving White splendidly placed. But it is not as good as 1 i.. d 5+ or 1 :;te l ! , so only eight for points available. Puzzle 8 : 1 lbb5 ! lbxb5 and now we can strike with 2 lbxg5 , when Black must give up her queen (even after 2 . . . 'i¥g8 3 lbh7+).

Points: Ten for 1 lbb5 ! and the subsequent 2 lbxg5 . Puzzle 9: l . ..h5 ! ! is a decisive dual-purpose move. It is true that this advance per­ mits the creation of a second queen, but after � dS'iV+ Wh7 there is no way for White to avoid mate, 3 i.. x f3 being met with 3 . . . �fl +.

Points: Ten for l . . . h5 ! ! , but nothing for l . . .�xh l +??.

1 32

Solutions

Puzzle 1 0 : 1 . . . �h4 ! ! threatens mate on h2, and the forced 2 �xeS was met with the

second thunderbolt: 2 . . . �f2 ! ! . Remarkably, Black's initial bishop sacrifice leaves his remaining pieces en prise, yet there is no escaping mate as 3 l:lg 1 .t/�xg2+ 4 l:lxg2 l:.c 1 5 �e 1 l:lxe 1 mates. Larsen•resigned. A glorious finale ! Points: Ten for the mate. As I said, there are other good moves, but nothing is as good as a mating sequence. Puzzle 1 1 : In reply to l . . .l:lxf2 White has 2 .l:!.xh6, when 2 . . . 'i!Vd l + should not be met

with 3 �xg5 , in view of 3 . . . l:.f5+, or 3 �h3 (3 . . .'�11 1 +), but rather the unguarded guard of 3 .te2 ! . After this surprising counter White threatens mate, and on 3 .. .'�'xe2+ 4 'it>h3 it is the black monarch that is in trouble, a sample finish being 4 . . . Wf8 5 �8+ cJ;; e 7 6 'i!Vc7+ �f8 7 �d8+ cJ;; g 7 8 �h8 mate. Points: Fifteen for spotting the unguarded guard.

Puzzle 1 2 : Delchev played 1 �xf7+ ! ! 'it>xf7 2 .tc4+ and, as 2 . . . �e8 3 lbxd6+ �xd6 4 .l:!.xd6 is great for White, who has the bishop pair, the superior structure and a con­ tinuing initiative, while after 2 . . . e6 3 lbxd6+ Black is splintered, there followed 2 . . . .td5 . Now 3 .txd5+ �e8 is a (lucky ! ) defence, so White played 3 lbxd6+ 'i¥xd6 (3 . . . exd6 4 �xd5+ 'it>f6 5 .l:!.e6+ 'it>f5 6 g4 mate, or 5 . . . �f7 6 l:.xd6+ 'it>e8 7 .l:!.e6 mate) 4 .l:!.xd5 . The impression is that White ' s initiative is overpowering, but 4 . . . 'i¥f6 leaves no winning discovered check available, and after 5 .i.. g 5 Black can slip out of the line of fire with 5 . . . �f8 ! ! . Then, after 6 �xf6 lbxf6 6 l:l(d)e5 .l::!. d 7, White has a clear advantage thanks to his superior structure and minor piece, but we certainly cannot speak of a win.

Points: Nine for 1 'i¥xf7+ ! !, and take two more if you saw that Black must play 2 . . . �d5 . Four extra for finding the defence with 4 . . .'iWf6 and 5 . . . '>t>f8 ! ! . Other con­ tinuations are not as good, and no points for 1 .i.. c4 in view of l . . .lbe5 . Puzzle 1 3 : 1 �xf7+ .l:!.xf7 2 'i¥h8+ ! ! and Spassky resigned as 2 . . . '>t>xh8 3 lbxf7+ leaves White with an extra piece.

Points: Fifteen for finding the elegant swoop 2 'iV11 8 +! ! to set up the subsequent fork. Puzzle 1 4 : Maia played 1 . . . 'i¥xc3 ! ! with the idea that 2 bxc3 allows mate with 2 . . . .l:!.d I + 3 .l:!.xd 1 .l:!.xd 1 + 4 �b2 .i.e I + 5 '>t>b 1 .i.. a 3 . Consequently Mad! chose 2

�xd8, and then came the next pseudo queen sacrifice, 2 .. .'�'f3 ! ! , leaving d8 and f1 under attack. White was reduced to 3 .i.. c 7+ cJi;xc7 4 �f7+ but after 4 . . .'�Vxf7+ 5 l:lxf7+ .l:!.d7 she found herself a piece down and thus resigned. Points: Ten for l . . .'i¥xc3 ! ! . Five more for 2 . . . �f3 ! !, further exploiting White ' s vul­ nerable back rank. Puzzle 15: Karpov played 1 .l:!.d7 ! , and the rook is immune due to 2 'i¥xf7+ ! and sub­ sequent mate on f7. Meanwhile White threatens to remove the f7-pawn with any of the pieces that now bear upon it, and 1 . . . l:f.e7 fails to 2 l:.xe7 'it>xe7 3 'i¥f6+ (3 . . . cJi;f8 4 iVd8 mate). Korchnoi tried l . . . .l:!.b8 but Karpov jumped in anyway with 2 lbxf7 ! �xd7 3 lbd8+ ! and Black resigned as '*l¥f8 is mate.

Points: Twelve for 1 l:f.d7 ! , three more for seeing that the line with 2 lbxf7 and 3 lbd8+ is then one of the wins.

133

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Solutions and Points: Test 9 Puzzle 1 : He smashed his way in with 1 lZ:lxg6 ! , when l . . .hxg6 allows a swift mate after 2 �8+ 'it>f7 3 '¥Wf6+ �g8 4 !:i.h8 . Kuligowski grovelled with 1 . . . '¥Wc7 but soon lost.

Points: Five for 1 lZ:lxg6 ! and an extra five if you have any idea what became of Adam Kuligowski. Puzzle 2 : Kupreichik, one of the world's most gifted tacticians, produced 1 l:!.xh6 ! in order to threaten mate and simultaneously discover an attack on the black queen.

Points: Five for 1 .l:!.xh6. Puzzle 3: l . . .�xg3+ ! and stalemate.

Points: Five for l . . .'ihg3 + ! . Puzzle 4 : 1 .l:;!xc8+! l:Ixc8 2 .txb5 was winning for White.

Points: Five for the two move sequence. Puzzle 5 : 1 lhe6 ! 'i¥xe6 2 1hd5+ �xd5 3 lLlf6+ and 4 lZ:lxd5 was how White won, but 3 '¥Wxd5+ 'it>c7 4 �f3 or 4 'ifb3 will also suffice.

Points: Five points for taking on e6 and d5 . Puzzle 6: l . . .Si.d3 ! is the only chance. But it wins. After 2 'it>xd3 'Wie7 the position is very different, for now 3 �6+ is met by 3 . . .'ii' h 7 CHECK! Lev Gutman tried 3 e4 but Vitolinsh still had an extra rook and consolidated with 3 . . . 'i¥g7 . The game ended 4 �h5+ �g8 5 Si.d4 c5 ! 6 Si.xc5 .l:;!c8 7 f4 lZ:la6 ! (not 7 . . . l:!.xc5 8 'i¥e8+ 'iii> h 7 9 'i¥h5+ '¥Wh6 1 0 �f7+ and there is no escaping the checks) 8 .tf2 lLlb4+ 9 'it>e2 lha2 and White resigned since 1 0 l:Ig 1 fails to 1 O . . . l:Ixb2+ and the rooks flood in. A great counter-initiative from Vitolinsh.

Points: Eight for l . . .Si.d3 ! , two more for spotting 7 . . . lZ:la6 ! . Puzzle 7 : H e played 1 .l:;!x£7 ! lZ:lx£7 2 lLlxe6 'iVg6 3 lZ:lxg7+. Now 3 . . . '¥Wxg7 allows 4 e6 ! �xb2 5 �xf7+ and mate, and 4 . . . lZ:le5 5 Si.xe5 is devastating, so Hradecsky tried 3 . . . 'it>d8 , but after 4 'iVxa7 ! 'it>cS 5 e6 he threw in the towel.

Points : Seven for 1 l:Ix£7 ! and three more for seeing the key advance 4 e6. Nothing for 1 !:i.g3 lZ:lg4. There are a number of useful moves, such as 1 l:Ie 1 , but I am only awarding points for 1 .U.x£7 ! , as it really does the business. Puzzle 8: 1 Si.xh7+! �xh7 2 �h5+ �g8 and now the key 3 Si.xg7 ! completes the

double sacrifice (Lasker was the first person to sacrifice both bishops in this man­ ner). After 3 . . . 'it>xg7 4 �g5+ �h7 6 l:Id4 White wins. Note that on 3 . . . f6 or 3 . . . f5 White can capture on f8 , when e6 is hanging. Points: Ten for finding the double bishop sacrifice. Puzzle 9: Kasparov played l . . .lZ:lf2+ 2 �g 1 lZ:lh3+ and, since capturing the knight allows . . . 'ifb6+ and . . . �xa7, Karpov was obliged to repeat with 3 �h 1 lLlf2+, and a draw was agreed.

Points: Ten for finding the perpetual check. Puzzle 1 0 : Mayers hit back with l . . .h5 ! and a startled Olafsson continued 2 hxg5

hxg4 3 g6, which is probably forced as 3 lLlg 1 loses a piece to 3 . . . .l:!.h 1 , while 3 lZ:ld2 134

Solutions

g3 (threatening . . . g3 -g2) is hopeless for White. These lines remind me of some of the events in Spassky-Larsen of Test Seven, Position Fifteen. After (3 g6) 3 . . . gxD 4 gxf7 f2+ 5 'it>d2 tt:lh6 6 tt:ld l tt:lxf1 7 tt:lxf2 'it>e7 Black' s development lead and splendidly placed pieces mean that White' s game is already very difficult, if not lost. In fact the game continued for j ust six more moves : 8 tt:lg4 tt:ld6 9 �d3 l:Iag8 (com­ pleting mobilisation) 10 tt:le3 l:Ig3 1 1 'it>e2, reaching Position Three of Test Five. After 2 gxh5 g4 3 tt:lgl (3 tt:lh2 g3 and 4 . . . g2) 3 . . . g3 ! the pawn is terribly powerful and something like 4 �D �xh5 5 �g2 �g4 will lead to the win of the h4-pawn. Further to my remarks in the introduction, I am unsure whether this was strategy or tactics from Mayers. But it was certainly excellent chess. Points : Six for l . . .h5 ! , and two points more for seeing how to deal with 2 hxg5 and 2 gxh5 respectively. One for the meek l . . . h6. Puzzle 1 1 : 1 :xh7+ ! ! 'it>xh7 2 'ifh 1 + 'it>g7 (2 . . . �h3 would have postponed the end for one more move) 3 �h6+ ! 'it>f6 4 ifh4+ 'i.t>e5 5 'ifxd4+ 'it>f5 6 'iff4 mate.

Points: Fifteen for the mate. I wonder if the infant Capablanca saw this game being played? Puzzle 1 2 : l l:txe6+ ! ! . Now l . . . fxe6 simply loses to 2 �xg6+, so l . . .dxe6 was forced. Then White finished off with 2 �e4 ! , as 2 .. ."ifxg3 loses to a back rank mate after 3 �c6+ l::t x c6 4 l::t d 8 mate. Note also that the last resort attempt 2 . . . 'i¥d4 still leads to mate after 3 �c6+ l:lxc6 4 'i¥b8+.

Points: Ten for l l::tx e6+ ! ! and five more for 2 �e4 ! , exploiting both of Black ' s weaknesses. Puzzle 1 3 : l . . . tt:lg4 ! , and play went 2 hxg4 hxg4, renewing the mate threat on h2. After 3 e5 the key move is 3 . . . f5 ! , holding on to the important g4-pawn and prepar­ ing to transfer the queen over to the h-file, so that 4 �g5 �h5 5 'ifd2 'it>fl and . . . 'ifh8 wins for Black. Williams attempted a defence with 4 �xf5 exf5 5 tt:ld5 , but Black still has powerfully positioned forces and, after 5 . . . 'ifd8 6 g3 I:!h3 7 'it>g2 'it>fl, they will assuredly triumph. The game continued 8 �e3 'ife7 9 �xeS �ah8 ! 1 0 .l:lg l 'i¥xc5 1 1 .l:.ad 1 b5 ! 1 2 b3 bxc4 1 3 bxc4 �h2+ 1 4 'it>fl �e8 1 5 l:!.g2 l:th 1 + 1 6 .l:lg 1 .l:Ih2 1 7 �g2 .l:lh6 1 8 'it>g 1 �he6 1 9 Z!h2 I:.xe5 20 'i¥d3 .l::i. e 1 + 2 1 l:!.xe 1 �xe 1 + 22 'it>g2 �e5 23 l:th5 �xd5 0- 1 .

Points: Seven for l . . .tt:lg4 . Eight more for appreciating that White is busted after 3 . . . f5 ! . Puzzle 1 4 : The game ended 1 d5 ! tt:lxd5 2 tt:lxd5 exd5 3 �xd5 tt:lb8 4 �xfl+ ! 'it> f8 5 'ifxh7 and Black resigned. Now let us take a closer look. l . . . exd5 looks like a more demanding choice. Then after 2 tt:lxd5 Black, faced with the threat of tt:lxf6+ and 'i¥xd7, has the possibility of 2 . . . 'it>h8 ! ? , moving out of range. White must proceed with vigour and accuracy: 3 'iff5 ! is best, threatening to take on f6 with tempo due to the mate threat on h7 (thus winning the d7-rook). There is now no entirely adequate defence against the activity of White' s pieces, e.g. 3 . . . tt:lg8 4 'ifxf7, or 3 . . . tt:lxd5 4 �xd5 , when White threatens not only f7 but also 5 �e4, hitting d7 and h7. In the event of 4 . . . g6 White wins a good pawn with 5 'ifxf7 because 5 . . . .f:.f8 is most power­ fully countered by 6 �xc6 ! , i.e. 6 . . . l:txd l 7 'ifxe7 lhe l + 8 tt:lxe l 'ifxe7 9 �xe7 .l:tfl,

1 35

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

and the neat 1 0 .if6+ ! ! llxf6 1 1 .ixb7 leaves White with two pieces and a pawn for a rook with a simple ending. Note that 1 0 i.xb7?? .l:.xe7 means instead that he would have to have given back a piece due to the double attack. Returning to 1 d5 ! tZ:lxd5 2 tZ:lxd5 exd5 3 i.xd5, White threatens to take on f7 and then on d7, hence 3 . . . tZ:lb8 . The alternative 3 . . . lid6 does not counter the threat be­ cause White takes on e7, then on f7 and finally on d6, thus winning the exchange. 3 . . . .ixg5 loses to a forcing line: 4 llxe8+ 'it'xe8 5 tZ:lxg5 g6 6 'ifh3 h5 (6 .. Jhd5 7 i¥xh7+ '>t>f8 8 ifb8+) 7 �xd7 ! i¥xd7 8 i.xfl+ 'iix fl 9 tZ:lxfl '>t>xfl 1 0 .t:i:d7+ and White wins the exchange. Finally there is (3 . . . tZ:lb8 4 i.xfl+ ! ) 4 .. .'�xf7 (instead of 4 . . . \t>f8), when 5 tZ:le5+ \t>g8 6 tZ:lxd7 .ixg5 7 tZ:lf6+ ! .ixf6 8 �xd8 l:rxd8 9 �xd8 .ixd8 1 0 .lae8+ '>t>fl 1 1 �xd8 tZ:lc6 1 2 :td7+ once again sees White emerge with a material lead. Black was lost after 1 d5 ! . Points : Three for 1 d5 ! and six more for finding the strength o f 3 i¥f5 ! after l . .exd5 2 tZ:lxd5 '>t>h8 . Six points for finding the game continuation and the sidelines, each of them resulting in an ending with White winning the exchange. Puzzle 1 5 : Romanishin played l . . . b5 ! ! . Now after 2 cxb5 .ixa2 Black acquires a powerful and well supported outside passed pawn with tempo due to the attack on the rook. In the event of 2 d5 bxc4 ! ? Black is ready to win a piece himself with . . . c4c3 , threatening both the knight and a fork on c2, and on 3 tZ:lxc4 tZ:lxe4 ! ? 4 dxe6 fxe6 B lack has some pawns and play against White ' s uncastled king as well as the imme­ diate threats of 5 .. Jhf4 and 5 . . . tZ:lc3 - all for his piece.

The game continued 2 �xbS dS ! ! 3 exdS (Romanishin intended to meet 3 eS with 3 . . . 'iie 8 ! , and after 3 cxdS .ixd5 ! the same . . . i¥e8+ trick awaits to catch the rook, while both a2 and e4 are en prise) 3 . . . i.xd5 ! . Now the point emerges that after 4 cxdS �e8+ the loose b5-rook falls, and if White takes the proffered two minor pieces for his rook with 4 .l::( x d5 tZ:lxdS 5 exdS iVxdS Black, who will win either g2 or a2, stands very well. Finally there is 4 0-0 i.c6 ! 5 l:!cS �xd4, which is good for Black, whereas 4 . . . i.xc4 5 tZ:lxc4 �xd4 6 tZ:le3 �xf4 7 �xd3 is merely satisfactory. White ' s 4 .ieS met with 4 . . . .ic6 ! 5 .l:.c5 i.xg2 6 Ilg l .l::t e 8, when White is quite lost. After 7 l::!. x g2 'iix d4 8 '>t>fl �xeS 9 l:.xeS 'it'xeS 1 0 l:Ig3 l:i.d8 a stunned Karolyi re­ signed. Points: Fifteen if you found any of Romanishin ' s moves, either played or intended.

Solutions and Points: Test 10 Puzzle 1 : 1 tZ:lg6+ ! and Korchnoi lost on time, resigned and got mated ( l . . .hxg6 2 �3+ i.h6 3 �xh6 mate) all at the same time.

Points: Five for spotting the mate. Puzzle 2: l . . .tZ:le3 + ! 2 .ixe3 � 1 + 3 .ic 1 1:.�2 was mate. Had Short played 2 �xe3 ,

then 2 . . . 'iVfl + 3 .l:i.e 1 �f3+ 4 l::!. e 2 iVxe2 would have arrived at the same conclusion.

Points: Five for l . . . tZ:le3 + ! and the follow-ups. Puzzle 3: He played the decisive l . . .�xd l + ! 2 '>t>xd l tZ:lxt2+ and 3 . . . tZ:lxe4. 1 36

Solutions

Points: Five for l . . .'iVxd l +. Puzzle 4 : Lajos sprang a nasty surprise with l . . . f5 ! , hitting a rook and a queen. The game ended 2 �6 fxe4 and, si�e 3 exd6 l:.xfl + 4 �xfl 'ifxd6 is hopeless for White, Vladislav Tkachiev preferred some pawns and checks for his rook with 3 'it'xe6+, but Black soon consolidated: 3 . . . ii.e7 4 !txf8+ 'it>xf8 5 'iff5+ �g8 6 'i¥g4+ �h8 7 e6+ ii.f6 8 �g5 ii.d4+ etc.

Points: Five for l . . .f5 ! . Puzzle 5 : 1 ii.xh7+ ! �xh7 2 'i¥h5+ �g8 3 ii.xg7 ! cJ;; x g7 4 'iVg4+ and Black resigned as 4 .. .'�f6 5 'i'g5 is mate and 4 .. .'it>h8 5 !:tf3 is decisive. Note that White wins after 3 . . . f6/f5 4 �g6 (or perhaps even 4 .l:lf3).

Points: Three for 1 ii.xh7+ ! and a further two for seeing to the end of the line with 5 l:!.f3 . Puzzle 6: Alekhine played 1 e5 ! and Black has no other way of defending f6 than

1 . . . f5 because 1 . . ..l::t f8 2 exf6 .U.xf6 3 :c8+ wins his queen. In fact Flohr resigned in­ stantly after ( l . . . f5) 2 :tc8 ! ! , as it is impossible to avoid disastrous material loss. The point of 1 e5 ! was to deny Black the use of the d6-square, to which Black' s queen would otherwise move after �c8. Points: Six for 1 e5 ! and a further four for 2 !lc8 . Puzzle 7: 1 lbfh6+ ! �h8 ( l . . . gxh6 2 llxd7) 2 lbf7+ �g8 3 lbgh6+ ! gxh6 4 �g4+

(the final point) and 5 l:r.xd7 will be decisive. Points: Ten for the whole sequence.

Puzzle 8 : I played l . .. �e5 ! , the point being that 2 .l::t e 3 invites 2 ... !:tg 1 + ! 3 �xg 1 �xg3+ and 4 . . . 1:!.d 1 mate. Therefore in view of the threat of 2 . . Jig 1 +! White had to allow my maj or pieces to come flooding in. Now 2 f4 loses to 2 . . . �e4+ 3 l:!.f3 Z:t8d2, when e2 falls, so play continued 2 �f2 Z:th 1 3 f4 'i¥e4 4 :f.f3 .l:.dd l . Then 5 �g2 loses to 5 . . . .l::t d g l + 6 �f2 Z:tb 1 , threatening both mate and the queen, so my opponent elected to lose by 5 l::tc 8 l:th2 mate.

Points: Ten for l . . .'iVe5 , providing that you fully appreciated that it is a winning move. Only seven if you thought it to be only the best move available. Puzzle 9: Kacheishvili played 1 .l:.xe5 ! ii.xe5 2 �g6+ cJ;; h 8 3 ii.g8 ! and Black re­

signed thanks to the coming mate on h7 or h6. Note that throughout the sequence the captures on f2 with check are always met by �fl . Points: Six for 1 �xe5 and a further four for seeing that it leads to mate. Puzzle 1 0 : The game concluded 1 'iVh3+ �xg5 2 �g4+ ! ! �f6 3 'iVe6+ �g5 4 'il.Vg4+ ! ! �xg4 with an amusing stalemate. The alternative 3 . . . �g7 4 'ife7+ does not help Black as there is no escaping the checks, except by returning to the stalemate position.

Points: Ten for finding the stalemate, or if you started with 1 'ife6+, which can transpose. Puzzle 1 1 : 1 lbxe6 ! fxe6 2 �xe6+ 1:!£7 (2 . . . �h8 3 'il.Vxe7 .l:lae8 4 b4 ! neatly covers e 1

and parries the queen attack) 3 ii.c4 lbd5 4 'iVxd7 ii.b4, and now the ' vulnerability' of e 1 once more plays a critical role in the tactics. White must proceed with 5 .l::t e 8+ 137

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

i.f8 6 'i!Wxf7+ ! 'it>t7 7 l:l.xa8, with simply too much material for the queen. However, after 7 . . . 'i!Wb4 8 i.b3 'i!Wxd4 9 i.e3 �xb2 1 0 .l:!.d l my technique was insufficient to achieve more than a draw ! Points : Seven for I lbxe6 ! , four more for seeing the line with 4 b4 ! and a final four for the game continuation until 7 .l:!.xa8. Puzzle 12: I 'i!Wxf5 lbe4 2 ctJxc6 ! ! i.xc6 3 ctJxd5 was how the game went. Then 3 . . . .l:!.xf5 loses to 4 ctJxe7+ and 5 lbxf5 and 3 . . . i.xd5 runs into 4 'i!Wxd5+ and 5 �xe4, so Karlsson tried 3 . . . 'i!Wb7 . But after 4 'i!Wxe4 he found himself hopelessly lost. Note also that 2 . . . 'i!Wd6 fails to 3 �xd5+ �xd5 4 ctJxd5 i.xc6 5 lbe7+. In reference to 2 lbxc6 Bent Larsen, in his column in a Danish newspaper, commented ' Plask ! ' - this means ' splash ! ' in Scandinavian languages, while Plaskett means 'the splash' (in the past) in Swedish. However, this is not as bad as the meaning of 'plas ' in Dutch . . .

Points: Fifteen for finding 2 lbxc6 ! ! . Puzzle 1 3 : l . . .ctJxd4 ! was Krarnn i k' s clever solution, when 2 ctJexd4 i.xd4 3 lbxd4 'iix c5 4 ctJf3 'i!Wc2 saw Black take control. He was clearly winning after 5 .l:!.c i .l:!.xg4+ 6 �h2 (6 \t>h3 i¥f5 ) 6 . . .'iVxb3 .

Points: Fifteen for seeing the game continuation and assessing it as excellent for Black. Thirteen for 4 . . . .l:!.xg4+ 5 �h3 'i!Wxe3 6 fxe3 .l:!.b4, when Black has full com­ pensation for the piece but White is not yet over the edge. Fifteen also for 2 . . .'iVxc5 ! ? , when lots of white pawns will fall however he attempts to repair his game. Notice how Krarnn i k sprang the combination at just the right moment, when Tim­ man had exposed his own king with the advance of the g-pawn. Nothing for I . . .'i!Wb8 or l . . .'�b7 as 2 g5 gives White too much play against Black' s king. Puzzle 1 4 : 1 ctJf6 ! ! forks queen and rook and therefore forces Black ' s reply:

I . . .\t>xf6 2 i.e5+ ! ! \t>xe5 3 'i!Wxe4+ ! �xe4 and now Anatoly won back a rook and a bishop with 4 .l:!.e I + and 5 .laxe8 , when Black must also lose one of his bishops. Points: Fifteen for spotting this elegant and unusual combination which leads to a won ending. Puzzle 1 5 : White is not forced to move his attacked queen. Joel took his chance with

1 lbxf7 ! . Now after 1 . . ctJxg4 2 ctJxd8 l:.cxd8 (2 . Jhf2 3 i.xe6+ and 4 ctJxc6) White ' s best is 3 .l:!.xe6 ! (3 i.xe6+ 'it>h8 4 i.xg4 l:hd4 grants Black counterplay), when 3 . . . \t>h8 4 l:.xe7 sees White able to deal with any tricks. Play went I . . .l:.xf7 2 �xe6, when Black must address the problem on the a2-g8 diagonal as White is threatening to take on e7 as well as f7 . After 2 ... i.d5 White has the simple 3 ctJxd5 ctJbxd5 4 l:.e5 , which is similar to the game, and the defence collapses, e.g. 4 . . . .l:.c6 5 .l:!.xd5 ! .l:!.xe6 6 .l;!xd8+ i.xd8 7 i.xe6 and White will emerge two pawns to the good. In reply to 2 . . . ctJfd5 comes 3 f!.e5 i.d7 4 .l:!.xd5 ! i.xe6 5 .l:!.xd8+ lhd8 6 i.xe6 l:.xd4 7 i.e3 , and this time it will be only one extra pa�n, although White has a clear lead in the ending. This line is very similar to the game continuation as Black actually blocked with 2 . . . ctJbd5 , when there followed 3 l:.e5 i.d7 4 .l:!.xd5 ..ll. x e6 5 l:.xd8+ .

.

138

Solutions

.l:.xd8 6 �xe6 .l:.xd4 7 i.g5 .l:Ixd I + 8 lt:lxd I �f8 9 i.xf7 'lt>xf7 with a considerable plus for White, although perhaps not yet decisive. Points: Ten for 1 lt:lxf7 ! and fi'le more for calculating through to 3 lle5 and the three superior/winning endings which arise after whichever piece Black uses to blockade on d5 . Nothing for other moves. Such chances must be grabbed with both hands.

Solutions and Points: Test 1 1 Puzzle 1 : I .l:Ixh7+ ! 'lt>xh7 2 �5 mate.

Points: Five for the mate. 1 fxe5 is a strong move, but it is not mate. Puzzle 2: 1 �f6+ �h7 2 W/g7 mate.

Points: Five for spotting the mate in two. Puzzle 3 : I . . .lt:lcxe5 ! 2 .txe5 .ltxg2 and now 3 �xg2 is impossible due to 3 . . . ctJh4+, so Botterill was quite lost - after 3 f3 f5 he resigned.

Points: Five for l . . .ctJcxe5 ! with the subsequent check on h4 . Puzzle 4 1 !lxf7+ ! .l:!xf7 2 �xh6+ ! and if 2 . . . �g8 White insists on his tactic with 3 Wih8+ ! , emerging two pawns ahead with an easy win.

Points: Four for I .l::!. x f7+ ! and a further one for the 3 Wih8+ tactic. Puzzle 5 : l . . .�a7+ and White resigned as he must now give up the queen or . . .'�a l will checkmate him.

Points: Five for l . . .�a7+. Puzzle 6: 3 .. .'�xg l ! 4 �xg l ctJf3+ refutes.

Points: Ten for seeing the dummy queen sacrifice. Puzzle 7: 1 . . .0-0-0 ! ! absolutely turns the tables. On 2 ctJxf7 bxa l � 3 lt:lxd8 lt:lf6 Black wins, as is the case after 3 exd7+ !ixd7 4 I:te8+ '1t>b7 ! 5 'i!Vxd7 �xb 1 . The game went 2 .txb2 iff5 3 ctJf7 dxe6 4 lt:lxd8 lt:lxd8 5 ctJd2 ctJf6 and Black won eas­ ily.

Points: Ten if you castled. Puzzle 8 : 1 .. .'i¥xf2+ ! 2 .l:!xf2 .l:.xe I+ and Black wins an exchange after either 3 .l::! fl .l:.exfl + 4 ifxfl i.h2+ ! or 3 �xfl .th2+ ! etc.

Points: Eight for l . . .'�xf2+ ! , and take an extra two for seeing the finesse of 4 ... �h2+ ! in the final line, as this is by no means easy to find. Puzzle 9: I . . J::i. e 5 ! 2 iff2 (2 �xe5 �xc3+ is final) 2 . . . 'i!Vxc3+ 3 �a2 .:!d5 ! 4 l:!.ed l

(what else?) and now Black finished with vigour: 4 . . . b5 ! 5 lt:lxb5 (5 axb5 a4 6 bxa4 .l:.a8 etc . ) 5 . . . .tb i + ! and White resigned as 6 �xb i 'it'xb3+ 7 �a l �xa4+ spells the end. Note that 6 �a3 .l:rxd2 ! works for Black, but not the hasty 6 . . . �a l +?, for then 7 .l:.a2 ! refutes. Points: Five for l . . .l:Id5 ! , and two more for the . . . b7-b5 ! idea. Award yourself up to three more depending on how much of the rest you found. .

Puzzle 1 0 : I .l:lxh7 ! ! , and if Black accepts the rook White has 2 ctJg5+ ! , when

2 . . . fxg5 3 �5+ mates next move, and ignoring the knight allows captures on e6 and 139

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

f8. Wiedenkeller played l...f5 but Seirawan simply returned the rook to h1 and went on to win. During the game I overheard Seirawan enthuse that this was his third rook sacrifice in his last four games. He became the 1979 World Junior Champion. Points: Fifteen for 1 lhh7!!. Puzzle 11: 1 tt::lxe5!! .i.xd1 2 �xf7+ We7 3 �g5+ �d6 was how it started, but now taking the queen with 4 i.xd8 loses to 4...tt::lxe5, when White emerges a piece down. Instead de Barberis turned his attentions to the enemy king: 4 tt::le4+!! Wxe5 5 f4+ �d4 (5...�f5 6 g4 mate) and now we have to be accurate. 6 �d2 threatens mate but the d1-bishop can still have an influence on proceedings with 6... �xc2!, ripping a liberating hole in the mating net. Correct is 6l:hd1!!, when White has only one pawn for the queen yet Black's troubled king is then well and truly caught in the net. Black tried 6...'�xg5 but White kept both his nerve and his consistency, playing 7 c3+ �e3 8 0-0!!. Black has an extra queen and a knight for a single pawn, but he can resign. The game ended 8...tt::le5 (8...'�c5 gets mated after 9 tt::lg3!) 9 tt::lxg5 tt::lxf7 10 tt::le6 and mate with .l:.fe1 is coming.

Points: The full fifteen only if you found as far as 6 .l:.xd1!! and saw that Black must Jose. Indeed after that there may well be other wins than the one White chose. No other first move scores. Puzzle 12: l.. . .i.xe3!! is the brilliant start. 2 �xe3 .l:.d I+ is out of the question and so White plays 2 fxe3 when there follows 2 ... .l:.dxg2!! 3 tt::lxg2 l:.g3! and mate is forced either on h3 or g1.

Points: Fifteen points for finding this idea. A consolation five if you tried 1...l:.x£2 2 gxf3 .l:.xf3 which is quite strong but White can struggle on with 3 h4. Puzzle 13: 1...tt::lb4!! is the dazzling key. Black threatens mate on a2 and White can­ not capture with 2 axb4 because after 2 ...�a4 Black reintroduces a mate threat, to which there is no adequate defence. Then after 3 �d3 tt::lxc4! the second knight is equally immune due to the mate on a l. Meanwhile e3, d2, a1 and b2 are all hit. In reply to 3 'i'c3 Black brings in another attacker with tempo with 3... �xb4, when there is no defence, e.g. 4 b3 �a2 5 11ih2 i.a3. Play proceeded 2 b3 but after 2 ...tt::lc2 it is not surprising that such a troublesome visitor caused so much damage. Hubner tried 3 c5 but Hort had little difficulty in demonstrating a decisive advantage: 3...'i'c6 4 i.d3 tt::lxe3 5 �xe3 tt::ld5 6 �f2 �xd3 7 .l:.xd3 �a6 with a double attack on d3 and a3 which won a pawn and the game. The alternative 6 'it'd2 runs into 6... �xc5! 7 dxc5 �xeS+ 8 �b2 �xd3 9 l!Vxd3 and the loose g3-knight drops off after 9 ...�£2+ 10 tt::le2 tt::lf4.

Points: Ten for l...tt::lb4!!. Take two more for seeing that 3...�c6 is the way to con­ tinue after 3 c5, and three extra for calculating the details of the 61\V£2 and 6 'Yi'd2 lines. 1...h6 might be playable, but I asked you to beat Robert Hubner- not tickle him- so nothing for that. Puzzle 14: 1 l::i.xf5!! 'Yi'xf5 2 .l:.f3 reveals the tq�th of the position- that it is really Black's game that is unco-ordinated. After 2 ...'i'xc2 3 'i¥xd6 Black's bishop is inde­

fensible, while 2 ...'i'xf3 3 gxf3 leaves Black's camp full of holes and White's queen with access to d6, e4, g4, f5, e6 or h7. Play concluded 2 .. .'iVd7 3 'Yi'e4!, when it be­ comes clear that Black cannot prevent an invasion on h7 without parting with his 140

Solutions

bishop, as 3 ...1:i.h8 fails to 4 .i.xg5 with a monstrous attack. Instead there followed 3...�e8 4 l:i.xf6 �d8, and Miles now found another highly unusual and devastating move in the form of 5 .i.f8!, when 5.. .'Y!ib5 6 i.xd6 l:i.d7 7 'iHxe5 prompted Chan­ dler's resignation. Points: Ten if you found the rook sacrifice and saw as far as 3 iYe4. Take three more if you assessed the attack at that point as unstoppable. The last two points are avail­ able only for finding the cute line with 5 i.f8!. Puzzle 15: l....i.g4+! sacrifices the rook but gives Black sufficient time to bring in the mighty queen: 2 �xg2 'i¥d2+ 3 �g3 (3 �f l i.h3+ leads to mate) 3...'iHd3+! and now 4 �xg4 allows mate with 4...h5 or 4...'iHf3, so White played 4 �g2. However, after 4...'iHf3 + White resigned because mate follows, e.g. 5 �g l iVg3+ 6 �f l .i.h3+ 7 �e2 'iHd3+ 8 'iiif2 'iHf3 + etc.

Points: Seven for l....i.g4+ and eight for 3...'iHd3+ (or 3...'iHc3+).

Solutions and Points: Test 12 Puzzle 1: Stein played 1 'iHxc6 l:i.xc6 2 l:i.h8! to introduce a cross pin, a rare phe­ nomenon in practical play. After 2 ...l:i.xh8 3 i.xc6 the pinned knight falls, so Smys­ lov tried 2 ...1:i.g6 3 fxg6 l:i.xh8, but then 4 .i.c6 won a piece. Beginning with 1 l:Ih8! would have had the same effect.

Points: Five points for finding either line. Puzzle 2: l...iYd5! and White is busted as 2 exd5 allows 2 ...l:Ixe1+ 3 'Llf l l:i.xf l mate.

Points: Five points for l...'iHd5!. Puzzle 3: l...'Llb4! forces the queen away from the defence of the d6-rook. Back­ wards moves, especially of knights or queens, are always difficult to find. Both play­ ers were short of time and this retreat was only found a week later by an amateur player from Kasparov's home town of Baku. Alekhine once observed of a weak move that he made in time pressure that such a shortage was no more valid an ex­ cuse than the criminal's claim that he was drunk when he committed the crime.

Points: Five for l...'Llb4!, two if you saw nothing better than l...lhb3. After all, nei­ ther didGarry, and he still won the most important game of his life. Puzzle 4: 1... 'Llxg2! 2 'it>xg2 h4 regained the piece and destroyed the foundations of White's kingside. 2 f4 would have been met with 2 ...'Llxe1, attacking the queen.

Points: Five for the pseudo knight sacrifice. Nothing else compares. Puzzle 5: 1 'iHh3! 'ifxh3+ 2 'it>g5 and there is no stopping the white king from invad­ ing with decisive effect. Play continued 2...'iHg3+ 3 �f6 'iHf3 + 4 'it>e7 'iHxb3 5 'iHh5+ 'i;g7 6 iYg4+ and Black resigned.

Points: Five for the unguarded guard. I will not award you points if you chose 1 'iitg5 with the argument that the 'iHh3 trick can come later, as such an answer is too cheeky! Puzzle 6: l...l:i.g2! and White resigned as there is no defence to 2 ...'Llf4 mate, and 2 'it>xg2 allows the fork on e3. 141

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

Points: Ten for l....l:.g2. Nothing for others. Puzzle 7: 1 1Lxf7+! �xf7 2 �h8+! .1Lxh8 3 CLJh6+ forks king and queen.

Points: Ten for the combo. Nothing for 1 'Llh6+? 1Lxh6 2l:!.xh6 because Black then wins with 2 ...�f4+, picking up the bishop. Puzzle 8: On 1 'Llxb6l:!.xb6 2 iVxb6 l:Id1+ the refutation is 3 l:l.e1!! l:Ixe1+ 4 �h2, when White's back rank mate threat can be addressed only at the cost of a queen. In the game White won quickly after l...l;!c6 2 'Lla4 g5 3 .l:.xg5+ 'it>f8 4 .l:.g7 l:td1+ 5 'it>h2 .1Lxb3 6l:!.b4! etc.

Points: Ten for seeing the nice unguarded guard. Puzzle 9: l...'Lld2! forced the white queen to a terrible post. 2llxd2 loses to 2.. Jhc l 3 'Llxc1 "iixd2, so 2 "i*'a2 had to be played. Then 2 ....l:.xc1 set Black up for decisive operations. In the event of 3 .l:Ixc1 there comes 3...b3 4 �a l and, not surprisingly, White's pieces are so awfully placed that Black can force a win with 4....1Lg5 5 'Llfl 'i!Ve4+ 6 �gl 'i¥xe2 etc. Instead the game continued 3 'Llxc l, concluding 3 ...'�e4+ 4 'it>gl .1Lg5 5 'Llfl, and a piece went after 5...�c2 6l:!.el 'Llxf l 7 'it>xf l .iLxc l. Total domination.

Points: Ten for l...CLJd2! in conjunction with 2...l:!.xcl. Nothing for 1....1Lg5 because White has 2 'Llxb4 CLJd2 3 :f.xc8!, fighting on. Puzzle 10: 1 .1Lxg6! hxg6 2 .:!.e7+!l:!.xe7 3 dxe7+ �xe7 4l:!.d8! and the h-pawn goes home. Don't be too hard on yourself if you did not find this- the story is that Beyen had to have the combination whispered to him by a team-mate before he played it!

Points: Six for the first move; two more for the second. Take two for the fourth move. Puzzle 11: 1 .1Lxe5!! favourably opens up the position for White. After l...'Llxe5 2 'Llxe5 dxe5 3 f4 White continues a decisive initiative as a second rook comes into play on the f-file. Note White's considerable development lead and the vulnerable, uncastled black king. Turner chose 1...dxe5, when 2 CLlg5 threatens mate on f7 and forces 2...'Lld8 (2...�c7 loses to 3 'i:!Ve6+ "fie7 4 'i'xc6+). I played the rather specula­ tive 3 f4!? but, before continuing with the analysis, we should observe that the im­ mediate regain of material with 3 l:hd8+!? 'it>xd8 4 CLlf7+ e7 10 �d6+ 'it>e8 11 'i¥d5 r:tle7 12 �d6+ 'it>e8 13 'it>b1!? !:.g8 14 �e5 'iic6 15 CLJd6+ �d8 16l:!.f7 'Llxe4 17 'Llxe4+ '1t>e8 18 'Lld6+ �xd6 19 l:!.xd6 'it>xf7 20 :i.d7+ 'it>f8 21 'i:!Vd6+ 'it>e8 22 'i'e7 mate. If you found all of this, then you must have seen the game! Points: Nine for 1 .fl..xe5!! and a further six for taking either path on the third move. In the first case you should have seen as far as 7 exd5 and judged White to be on top, while in the second your intuitive feeling- not thinking- should have been that White has lots of compensation for the piece. Precise calculation of the thicket of variations is hardly possible.

142

Solutions

Three points for 1 i..g5 because White will have a bit of play for his pawn due to the weakness of Black's light squares and the hole on d5. Puzzle 12: 1 'bxf7! broke in nic�y. After l...'iWxf7 White has the decisive 2 .l:txe5, so Sadvakasov tried l...l:.xf7. Then came the elegant point 2 'iixf5!!, when 2 ....l:txf5 allows mate in one, 2 ...i..xb2 loses to 3 .l:td7 and unpinning with 2 ...'it'h8 loses to 3 i..xe5. Black tried 2 ...g6 and resigned after 3 i..xe5.

Points: Seven for 1 'bxf7!, and eight more for 2 'iHxf5!!, which is worth remember­ mg. Puzzle 13: The game continued 1 'iHxg6!! CDf4. This leads to positions which are essentially the same as those arising from l...fxg6 2 i..xe6+. After 2 .l:txf4 fxg6 3 i..e6+ .l:tf7 4 .l:.xf7 Wh8 5 .l:.g5 b5 6 .l:.g3 Black resigned. The alternative try 3...Wh7 4 l::th4+ i..h6 5 i..xh6 does not help Black, e.g. 5...g5 6 .l:txg5 'iWh6+ 7 c5 etc.

Points: Eleven for 1 'i¥xg6!!. However, fabulous though the move is, there are actu­ ally few alternatives! For example, 1 �4 f5! is far from clear. Take an extra four for seeing that after 4 l:.xf7 Petrosian was losing. Puzzle 14: 1 c5! was the discovery ofGM EduardGufeld. After l...dxc5 comes 2 CDxf5!, and now we have four of our team going at Black's king. 2...exf5 3 i.c4+ brings the bishop to a more effective diagonal with tempo, but after 3...'it>h8 the key move has to be produced... 4 .l:td6!!, and White again has four pieces involved in the attack, with the rook going to h7 via h6. Now 4...i.xd6 5 i.xg7+! 'it>xg7 6 'i¥g5+ mates, while 4...i.e7 5 'i¥h6 .l:.g8 6 .l:::lg6 causes the ultimate demise of g7 after 6...i.f8 7 i.xg8, or decisive material gain after 6...i.e5 7 i.xg8 .Sxg8 8 i..xe5.

Points: Four for 1 c5!. Three more for 2 Cbxf5! and the last eight for finding 4 .l:.d6!! and appreciating that this leaves Black defenceless. Puzzle 15: 1 l:rxh4! is the key move. Let us look at the variations:

l...cxb 1 'i¥ 2 axb8'i¥ 'ii'xb2 3 'iib3 'ii'c3 4 'i¥xc3 mate. l...cxb 1.la 2 axb8!i l:rxb2 3 l:rb3 Wxc4 4 �xf4 mate. l...cxb I i.. 2 axb8i.. i.e4 3 i.xf4 i./any 4 i..e5 or (e3) mate. 1 ...cxb 1 CD 2 axb8CD 'bxd2 3 Cbc6+ 'it>c3 4 .l:.c 1 mate.

Almost unbelievably, in each case not only does the corresponding underpromotion lead to checkmate in two more moves, but it is the only move to do so. Believe me, there is no other way to mate in four. The Dutch writer Tim Krabbe said that when he saw that someone had solved the Babson Task it had the effect on him as if he had opened a newspaper and seen the headline: 'Purpose of Life Discovered.' Points: Eleven if you found the key. A further point for figuring out how and why White responds to each of the four possible promotions. (See The Creative Work­ shop of Leonid Yarosh at www.mi.ru/�yarosh/) Inspired by the wondrous achievement of Yarosh, several other people, including the Frenchman P.Drumare of France, managed to create their own Babsons. Drumare's solution is all the more poignant for, in 1982, after twenty-two years of trying- and that included a period of four consecutive years during which he devoted four hours of every day to the challenge!- he announced that he was abandoning his attempts 143

Can You be a Tactical Chess Genius?

and stated that it was impossible to solve this task. By 1987 Yarosh himself had pro­ duced three further (perfect) Babsons, and Drumare, drawing yet more inspiration from him, has since created one. If you ever compose your own Babson, get in touch with me or Krabbe. We'll hail you as a true genius! Here endeth the lesson in tactics. I hope you feel that you have learnt from this book.

144

Test your tactical chess skills with a quiz book with a difference! Grandmaster James Plaskett , a player of distinguished tactical ability, has carefully assembled an abundance of chess puzzles to test players of all levels. At the beginning of each chapter the puzzles are relatively easy, worth five points for a correct solution. However as you move on they become more and more difficult, soon becoming worth ten points and eventually 15. If you get stuck, do not despair as help is at hand! You can 'ask a grandmaster' to obtain the guidance you need. However, use this option carefully, as it will cost you some of your hard-earned points. You can also obtain points for finding the basic idea of the solution without necessarily working out all the refinements. Either on your own or with friends, this book will provide hours of brain-teasing enjoyment. • Includes puzzles for all levels • Grandmaster hints to help you through the most taxing problems • Unique scoring system to monitor your progress through the book

James Plaskett is one of Britain's most talented and imaginative Grandmasters. A former British Champion , his sharp and . uncompromising play has won him many admirers over the years. Plaskett is also an experienced writer; his earlier works include Sicilian

Taimanov and Sicilian Grand Prix Attack (both published by Everyman).

ISBN 1-85744-259-8

EVERYMAN CHESS www.everymanbooks.com Published in the UK by Everyman Publishers pic Distributed in the US by the Globe Pequot Press

9