Tactics: It's not over... or is it?
This week's Tactic comes from the game Cheng - Sambuev (Guelph Fall Pro-Am, 2013).
White's Knight is straining to cope with Black's pawn, but it's not over yet...
What happens if White plays 57.e5-e6!?
57. e6
What if 57... Kxe6
57... Kxe6 58. Nc5+ eliminates the b-pawn, leaving a drawn KN v KBp ending. Spoiler: Highlight to view
What if 57... Bxf6
Spoiler: Highlight to view
57... Bxf6 58.exf7 Be7 59.Kc5 Ke4 60.Kc4= and the b-pawn falls.
What if 57... fxe6
57... fxe6 is more complicated, but is also a draw: 58.f7 Bg7 59.Kb5 e5 60.Kc4 e4 61.Nb2 only move, but enough to draw: Black's B is busy stopping the f-pawn, so White can stop Black's pawns with his K and N. Spoiler: Highlight to view
Does Black have something better?
Spoiler: Highlight to view
57... Bd4+ (The only move: simply covering the ...Nc5 check with gain of tempo.) 58. Nc5 (58. Kb5 Kxe6 -+) 58... Bxc5+ 0-1
For the full game, with notes by GM Bator Sambuev, see the February 2014 CCN.