Tactics: poisoned or not?
The 2013 BC Championship provides this tactics problem.
Question: If Black plays ...e6 should White take the pawn on d6?
Click below for a hint:
Spoiler: Highlight to viewWhere would the Na3 like to be?
Click below for Solution:
Spoiler: Highlight to view
After 16...e6 the game line is best play, and shows that White can and should take the e6-pawn.
16... e6 17. Qxd6! Qxd6 18. Rxd6 Bf8 (Skewering the undefended Na3.) 19. Nab5! (To recapture on d6 with a fork that would regain the exchange and keep the extra pawn. Instead 19. Ncb5? would be the wrong N, since it leaves the one on a3 loose: 19...a6 20. Rxb6 axb5 21. Nxb5 and White gets "only" three pawns for the N.)
19... a6 20. Rxb6! axb5 (20... Bxe4? is not a good desperado: 21. Rxa6 Bb7 22. Rd6!) 21. Rxb7 bxc4 22. Bd4 (White is spoiled for choice: 22. bxc4 and 22. b4 are also good.) 22... Ned7 (22... Nfd7 23. b4 and Black is left defending a horribly misfired Benko-like ending.) 23. Bxc4 1-0
The game was between Jack Yoos (2381) and Howard Wu (2252), round 6 of the 2013 BC Championship.