Tactics: Too Close for Comfort
This week's Canadian Tactic comes from Esserman - Piasetski, San Francisco, 2014.
White has just played 28.Re7 and has pieces swarming the Black King. Black would feel more comfortable if he could trade a Rook.
Should Black try:
28...Rf8 or 28...Rd8 (planning ...Rd7)
Solution: 28... Rd8
Spoiler: Highlight to view
28... Rd8 29.f3, and now Black should play 29...Rf8, because after 29...Rd7? 30.Ne6 ! +- Black has to give up a R just to delay checkmate.
Hint: what comes after 28... Rf8?
Spoiler: Highlight to view
After 28... Rf8, should White play 29.Rxh7 or 29.Nxh7?
Solution: 28.... Rf8 29.Rxh7
Spoiler: Highlight to view
White can win a pawn by: 29.Rxh7 Rxf6 30.Rxh4, but after 30...Rf5 31.Rg4 Ra5 Black restores material equality.
Solution: 28.... Rf8 29.Nxh7
Spoiler: Highlight to view
29.Nxh7 A sudden culmination of White's attack!?
After 29.Nxh7 White was prepared for both:
29... Rxh7? 30.Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.Rxh7+-, and:
29... Rxf6 30.Nxf6+ Kf8 31.Rc7 Ra4=.
But what he got was:
29... Rd8! A cold shower! Black saves the Rf8 and threatens mate. Ironically, it is now the white king's peril that costs him a piece.
White resigned since: 29... Rd8 30.Rxg6+ Kh8 31.f3 Rxh7 leaves Black with an extra bishop.
0-1
IM Marc Esserman - IM Leon Piasetski
Bay Area International, San Francisco
2014.01.04
For the complete game, with notes by FM Vladimir Pechenkin, see "Canadians Abroad" in the 2014.03 CCN.