Tactics: Pawn for Your Trouble?
This week's Canadian Tactic comes from the game Michael Kleinman - David Itkin, North American Junior Championship.
White has built up an ominous attack. Is there anything wrong with 23.h5, or is it a mistake to let Black win a pawn for his trouble with ...Nxe4 then ...Qxg5?
23.h5 Nxe4
Was that a good move, or did Black have better?
Spoiler: Highlight to view
Black's position is difficult, but taking the pawn is a mistake.
23...Kg8+ 24.hxg6 hxg6 25.Nf6+!?:
25...Bxf6? 26.Qxg6+ Bg7 27.Qh7+ Kf7 28.Bh5+ +-
25... Rxf6 only move 26.gxf6 Qxf6 +/-
24.Bxe4 Qxg5
Solution
Spoiler: Highlight to view
25.h6!
A nice combo, which I haven't seen before. White wins the Q or the B:
25...Bxh6 26.Rdg1 wins the Bh6.
25...Bf6 26.Rdg1 traps the Q.
Weaker is 25.hxg6 h6! and although White still has a huge advantage, Black isn't getting mated in the near future.
25...Bc8 26.hxg7+ Kxg7 27.Rdg1 Qf6
Black has two pawns for the B... but there's something about all those pieces pointed at the Black King.
28.Rxh7+! Kxh7 29.Rxg6 Qf5 30.Re6
30.Bxf5?? Bxf5 -/+.
30...Bxe6 31.dxe6 Kg6 32.e7 Rf7 33.Bxf5+ Rxf5 34.Qd3
1-0
The game:
Kleinman, Michael - Itkin, David
2014 NA Junior Ch, Kitchener
2014.08.01
and nine others from the 2014 NA Junior appear in the 2014.09 issue of Chess Canada, the CFC's electronic newsletter.