Invisible Chess Moves
Page 16
The white king seems to be the obvious target here, but in the game it proved safe enough: 1…Qd4?? 2.Be2 h5 3.Nc3 3.h4+−. 3…Nf2+ 4.Kg2 h4 5.Nxe4 h3+ 6.Kg1 Qxe4 7.Rxf2 Rb3 8.Qc4?? 8.Qc8+ Ke7 9.Qc7+ Kf6 10.Qxf7+! would have finished Black off 8…Qxc4 9.Bxc4 Rxf3 0-1.
The key to success lies in fighting the royal couple all over the board!
1. … Ng4-f2+
2. Kh1-g2
2.Rxf2 Qd1+ 3.Kg2 Bxf2 4.Be2 Qg1+ 5.Kh3 Bf5+ 6.Kh4 Qg2 7.Qxc6+ Kf8 and the white king will soon be mated.
2. … Rb8-b6!!
Transferring the action to the other side of the board with perfect timing! Now the white queen is in trouble: 3.Qa7 (or 3.Qxa5) 3…Bxf3+ 4.Kxf3 Rb3+ and wins.
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Exercise 44 ***
Anand,Viswanathan
Hammer,Jan Ludwig
Kristiansund 2010 (9)
The miserable knight is about to be trapped by the dominating king + bishop tandem.
Should Black try to find refuge in liquidating to what looks like a lost pawn ending? Yes, he should!
1. … Nd7-f8!
Wrongly estimating the resulting pawn ending as hopeless, Black sought activity with the desperate pawn sacrifice 1…f5? 2.exf5 e4 3.Kc6 Ne5+ 4.Kd5 Nd3 in the game. The knight proves active indeed – alas, much too late! 5.Bd2 Nf2 6.Bxg5 Nxh3 7.Be3.
2. Bb4xf8 Kf7xf8
3. Kb7-c6 Kf8-e7
4. Kc6-c7
4. … Ke7-e6
Not 4…Ke8? 5.Kd6 Kf7 6.Kd7 when Black, being driven to the edge of the board, will soon lose all his pawns.
5. Kc7-d8 Ke6-d6!
6. Kd8-e8 Kd6-c5
7. Ke8-e7 Kc5-d4
8. Ke7xf6 Kd4xe4
9. Kf6xg5 Ke4-f3
10. h3-h4 e5-e4
11. h4-h5 e4-e3
12. h5-h6 e3-e2
13. h6-h7 e2-e1Q
14. h7-h84 Qe1-d2+
Drawing comfortably.
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Exercise 45 ***
Marinkovic,Ivan
Abramovic,Bosko
Belgrade 1991
1. … Bc6xg2+!!
Unrolling the red carpet for the queen’s visit.
Instead Black played 1…Rxd3 and lost: 2.Bxd3 Rd8 3.exf6 Bd4 4.Bg7+ Kg8 5.fxe7 Qxe7 6.Bxd4+−
2. Re2xg2 Qb7-f3!!
Almost a quiet move, threatening mate in two. 3.Qe1 Rxd3 4.Bxd3 Qxd3−+; 3.Be3 Bxe3 4.Rxe3 Rd1+; 3.Rxf3 Rd1+ followed by mate on g1. The best try 3.h3 also loses to 3…Qf1+ 4.Kh2 Qxb1−+.
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Exercise 46 ***
Smerdon,David
Mikhalevski,Victor
Queenstown 2009 (4)
1. … Ne5xd7!
The actual game saw 1…Kg8? 2.Nf6+ Kf8 3.Nd7+. Here it comes again – however the Israeli grandmaster misses this second opportunity as well, and a draw was agreed!
2. Rh7xd7 a3-a2
3. Rd7-a7 Rb3-h3!
4. Ke2-d2
The geometry of the chess board keeps the white king just one square short of either b2 or g2!
4. … Rh3-h1!
5. Ra7xa2 Rh1-h2+
And wins.
This game fragment inspired one of your authors to compose the following endgame study which was dedicated to all participants of the 2010 edition of the Wijk am Zee festival (see next page).
46a ***
Afek,Yochanan
The Problemist 2010
1. Rh7-a7+ Ka4-b5
2. h6-h7 Ne1-f3+
3. Kh2-g2!
Not 3.Kh1? Nh4!! (3…Rd1+ 4.Kg2 Nh4+ 5.Kf2 Ng6 6.Rg7 loses as in the main line) 4.Rg7! (4.h8Q? Rh3+ 5.Kg1 Nf3+=) 4…Ng6! (4…Rh3+ 5.Kg1 Kc6 6.d7 Kc7 7.d8Q+ Kxd8 8.h8Q+) 5.d7 Nh8 6.Rg8 Rxd7 7.Rxh8 Rb7!=.
3. … Nf3-h4+
4. Kg2-f2!
4.Kf1? Ng6 5.Rg7 Kc6! 6.Rxg6 Rh3 7.d7+ Kxd7 8.Ra6 Rf3+! 9.Kg2 Rf8=.
4. … Nh4-g6
5. Ra7-g7 Kb5-c6!
5…Nh8 6.Rg8 Nf7 7.Rf8 Rxd6 8.Rxf7 Rh6 9.Kg3+−;
5…Rxd6 6.Rxg6+−.
6. Rg7xg6
6.d7? Nh8! 7.Rg8 Rxd7 8.Rxh8 Rc7!=.
6. … Rd3-h3
And now for the thematic finale:
7. d6-d7+!! Kc6xd7
8. Rg6-a6! Kd7-e7
9.Kg2 is just a waste of time.
9. Ra6-a8! Rh3xh7
10. Ra8-a7+ 1-0
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Exercise 47 ***
Kortchnoi,Viktor
Vallejo Pons,Francisco
Gibraltar 2011 (10)
Black has just played …Rxb6?? and immediately noticed the disaster. ‘I had to spend 25 minutes at the board because if you leave the board it is suspicious!’ Paco (Francisco) Vallejo Pons told afterwards. To the astonishment of everyone Kortchnoi, who had played an excellent tournament so far, continued: 1.Rda1?? ‘The commentators groaned as this was played’, wrote John Saunders in CHESS ‘…A tragic miss for Kortchnoi who possibly missed also the best game prize.’ 1…Kf8 2.Bd5 e2 3.Qf2 Bd4 4.Qxe2 Nxd5 5.Ra8+ Kg7 7.R1a7 Qf46.Qf3 Kh67.R1a7Qf4
1. Ra4-a7!! Qc7xa7
2. Qf5xe5+ Ke7-f8
3. Rd1-d8+ Kf8-g7
4. Rd8-g8+ Kg7-h6
5. Qe5-f4+
And mate follows.
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Exercise 48 ****
Sokolov,Andrey
Vovk,Andrey
Cappelle la Grande 2007 (8)
1. Rf5xh5+!!
White avoided this lengthy yet straightforward calculation and went for a more solid continuation: 1.Rg5? Rg8 2.Qf3 Re1+ 3.Kh2 Kg7 4.Qxh5 Qxe5+ 5.Rxe5 gxh5 Correct was 6.Ref5!. 6.Rff5?! Rxe5 7.Rxe5 Rd8 8.Kg3 f6! and Black converted his edge in a subtle ending.
1. … g6xh5
2. Rf6-f5! Kh7-h6
3. Qg3-f4+ Kh6-g7
3…Kg6 4.Rf6++−.
Now after 4.Rg5+ Kh6 5.Qf3! Re1+ 6.Kh2 Qxg5 7.hxg5+ Kg7 8.Qf6+ Kg8 9.g6 fxg6 10.Qxg6+ Kh8 11.Qxh5+ Kg7 12.Qg4+ Kf7 13.Qf3+ Ke8 14.Qxd5 White is about to collect all remaining black pawns and win comfortably.
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Exercise 49 ****
Cheparinov,Ivan
Gashimov,Vugar
Sochi 2008 (1)
An unusual infiltration enabled Black to create a mating net:
1. … Qg6-b1+!
In the game 1…Qxf6 was followed by a draw after 2.gxf4 gxf4 3.Qe2 Qxh4 4.Qe6+ Kg7 5.Qd7+ Kg6 6.Qe8+ Kg7 7.Qd7+ Kg6 8.Qe8+ Kg7 9.Qd7+.
2. Kg1-h2 Nf4-h3!
This strange beast creates mating threats, from a highly exposed position.
3. Rf6-g6+
Or 3.f3 Qg1+ 4.Kxh3 Qh1+ 5.Qh2 g4+ 6.fxg4 hxg4+ 7.Kxg4 Qxh2−+;
3.Kg2 is not better in view of 3…g4−+;
3.Kxh3 is the quickest solution: 3…Qh1#.
3. … Kg8-h7
Or 3…Kf7.
4. f2-f3
4. … Kh7xg6!
5. Qd2-e3 Qb1-c2+!
6. Kh2xh3?
6.Kh1 is better, but Black will eventually win after 6…Qc8!? 7.Kg2g4−+.
6. … g5-g4+!
Forcing checkmate.
7. f3xg4 h5xg4+
8. Kh3xg4 Qc2-f5#
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Exercise 50 *****
Bobras,Piotr
Moranda,Wojciech
Lublin 2008 (11)
In the game 1…Qc7? led to a draw after 2.Qxh4+ Rf6 3.Qh7+ Rf7 4.Qh4+ Rf6.
Black had a beautiful geometrical win:
1. … Nc5-b3+!
2. Ka1xa2 Qd6-f4!!
This move by the queen, eyeing both wings, is decisive.
3. Ka2xb3 Rf8-b8+
Starting the hunt.
4. Kb3-a2
4.Kc2 Qf2+ 5.Rd2 Rc8+ 6.Kd1 Qf1#.
4. … Qf4-a4+
5. Ka2-b1 Qa4-e4+
6. Kb1-a2
6. … Rb8-b5!
The crucial move. From e4, the queen attacks while controlling any attempt by the opponent, while the rook is able to assist with tempo.
7. Qh5-f3 Rb5-a5+
8. Ka2-b3 Qe4-a4+
9. Kb3-c3 Ra5-c5+
10. Kc3-d2 Qa4-c2+
11. Kd2-e1 Rc5-e5+
12. Ke1-f1
0-1 Re5-f5
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Exercise 51 *****
Vescovi,Giovanni
l’Ami,Erwin
Wijk aan Zee 2006 (12)
The drawing move is logical, but to calculate the whole variation during a game is very difficult.
1. Qd6-h6+
1.f5?! was played in the game.
A) There followed 1…Qxg4+? 2.Kxg4hxg2
3.f6+ 3.Qh2! Bxd5 (3…Re2 4.Kf3 Rd2 5.Qg3+=) 4.f6+! Kg8 5.Qb8+ Kh7 6.Qh2+=. 3…Kg6 4.Qh2 Re5! 0-1;
B) 1…h2 2.Qh6+ Kg8 3.Qg5+ Kf8 4.Qh6+ Ke7 5.Qxe3+ Kd7 6.Kg5 Qxg4+! (6…h1Q 7.Nf6+ Kd8 8.Qb6+ Kc8 9.Qc5+ Kb8 10.Nd7+draw) 7.Kxg4h1Q−+.
1. … Kg7-g8
2. Kh5-h4!
The crucial unpinning move, which forces Black to sacrifice the queen for the sake of promoting the pawn.
2. … Qd1xg4+
2…Qe1+ 3.Kh5 Qe2 4.Kh4 f5 is only a draw: 5.Qg6+ Kf8 6.Qd6+ Kf7 7.Nh6+ Kg7 (7…Ke8 8.Qb8+ is even winning for White: 8…Ke7 9.Qxb7+ Ke8 10.Qc8+ Ke7 11.Qc7+ Ke8 12.d6+−) 8.Nxf5 Kf7 9.Nh6+.
3. Kh4xg4 h3xg2
4. Qh6-g5+ Kg8-f8
5. Kg4-f5! Bb7xd5
5…Re2 6.Qh6+ Ke7 7.Qb6 Bc8+ 8.Kg5 Re1 9.Qc5+ Kd8 10.Qb6+=.
6. Qg5-d8+ Re3-e8
7. Qd8xd5! g2-g1Q
8. Qd5xf7+!! Kf8xf7
Stalemate.
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Exercise 52 ******
Howell,David
Michiels,Bart
Antwerp 2009 (9)
1. … Qb7-b6!!
An astonishing illustration of a rare motif. Your opponent has just built up a deadly battery which is about to come into operation. It takes a lot of courage to ignore such a battery and what’s more, to counter it by setting up your own effective battery! It’s hard to blame Black, who acted instinctively and desperately to dismantle the white battery: 1…Nxe6?? 2.Rxe6+ Kf7 3.Ng5+ Kg7 4.Qd4+ Kh6 5.Qe3! Many roads lead to Rome, yet setting up another battery is not only a thematic concept here but also the most effective. 5…Rc2+ 6.Kg1 Re2 7.Nf7+ Kg7 8.Qd4+ Kxf7 9.Rf1+ Kg8 10.Qf6 Rxg2+ 11.Kh1 Rh2+ 12.Kxh2 Qb8+ 13.d6 Bxf1 14.Re7 Qf8 15.Qe6+
2. Kf2-g3
Or 2.Qd4 Nd3+ 3.Kg3 Qxd4 4.Bxc8+ Nxe1 5.Rxe1+ Kd8 6.Nxd4 Kxc8 7.Ra1 Bb1 8.Rxa3 Bxd5 9.Rxa5 Rd8 10.Rc5+ Kb7 and the position is still tenable.
Black’s idea was obviously the surprising cross-checkmate 2.Bxc8+ Ne4#!
2. … Qb6-d6+
3. Kg3-h3
3. … Nc5-d3!!
4. Be6xc8+ Ke8-d8
with a very sharp, double-edged position.
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Exercise 53 *****
Kagan,Shimon
Partos,Charles
Biel 1977 (7)
It’s trivial, of course, but we wanted to conclude our book with a smile.
The main difficulty here is that it’s so hard to believe something like the following can really happen. Twice Israeli champion IM Shimon Kagan described the incident as follows:
1. Rg1xg6+??
‘Realising the disaster at once, I sat at the board motionless. My rival, a Swiss IM, with twenty minutes for three moves to reach the time control, contemplated the position for three minutes, finally playing…
1. … Qd6xg6??
2. Qb6xb7+ Kg 7-h6
3. Qb7xc8 Qg6-f6
4. a2-a4 Kh6-g5
5. Qc8-c5+ Kg5-h4
6. Qc5xa5 Qf6-f3
7. Kb1-b2 1-0
Apparently there are no boundaries to the invisibility of chess moves…
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Explanation Symbols
◻ White to move
◼ Black to move
! Good move
!! Excellent move
? Bad move
?? Blunder
!? Interesting move
?! Dubious move
K King
Q Queen
R Rook
B Bishop
N Knight
The chess board with its coordinates: