Tactics: Leaving Reykjavik in Style
This week's Canadian Tactic comes from the last round of the 2014 Reykjavik Open. Daniel Kazmaier is White against a Women's GM and has sacrificed a N to expose the Black King. White's immediate threat is Nc5+ winning the Nc6.
What should Black play?
Hint: consider these three moves:
Spoiler: Highlight to view
25...Nc4
25...Rfc8
25...Nxd4
Not this one...
Spoiler: Highlight to view
Black can concede that she can't save the Nc6 and try to get something for it, but ...Nxd4 doesn't save the game or her King:
25...Nxd4 26.Nc5+ Ke8 27.Rxd4! (27.Qxd6 +-) 27...Qxd4 28.Qc6+ Kf7 29.Qd7+ Kf6 30.Rxe6+ Kf5 31.Rxd6+ Be6 32.Qxe6#.
This one...
Spoiler: Highlight to view
25...Nc4 Best, but Black's position is still bad. 26.Nc5+ Kd6 27.Ne4+!
27.Nb7+ Kd7 28.Nc5+ repeats.
27... dxe4 28.Qc5+ Kd7 (or Kc7) 29.Bxe4 +/- White wins one of the the Ns and has three pawns for the piece and a continuing initiative.
The game concluded:
Spoiler: Highlight to view
25...Rfc8? 26.Bxd5! +-
If Black takes the B then her King can't use the d-file, and 27.Nc5#.
26.Nc5+ is not as convincing: 26... Ke7 27.Bxd5 Rab8 28.Qa6 Ra8 29.Qd3 Nb4 30.Qb3 with a continuing attack.
26...Qd8 27.Bxc6+ Rxc6 28.Nc5+ (only move) Rxc5 29.Qxd8+!
1-0
After 29.Qxd8+ Rxd8 30.dxc5 White will soon be up an exchange and two pawns.
from the game:
Daniel Kazmaier [CAN] - WGM Jovana Vojinovic [SRB]
Reykjavik Open
2014.03.12
For the full game, and many other Canadian games from Gibraltar and Reykjavik, see the 2014.03 CCN.