Tactics: nogarD
This week's Canadian Tactic comes from the game Dougherty - Vettese (Guelph Fall ProAm, 2014).
It's a reversed Dragon, where Black has played ambitiously with ...f6, and now White can trigger some tactics against d5.
What happens on 10.Nxe5 and on 10.Ng5?
This move is terrible...
Spoiler: Highlight to view
10.Nxe5 is terrible, losing to 10...Nd4, attacking the Qb3 and protecting the Be6 leaves White with choices but no way out:
11.Qxb7 Nxc3 -+
11.Qc4 Nxc3 -+
11.Bxd5 Nxb3 12. Bxe6+ Kh8 13. Bxb3 fxe5, White has only two pieces and a pawn for the Queen.
This move isn't terrible...
Spoiler: Highlight to view
10.Ng5!?
Now Black has a choice:
...Nd4 or ...fxg5 or ...Nxc3
Solution to 10.Ng5 Nxc3:
10...Nxc3?? 11.Nxe6 and the fork and discovered check will cost Black at least a piece; e.g. 11...Na5 12.Qd1+-.Spoiler: Highlight to view
Solution to 10.Ng5 fxg5:
10...fxg5! This is the only move to stay in the game. 11.Bxd5 Bxd5 12.Qxd5+ Qxd5 13.Nxd5 Nd4 14.Nc3 Bb4 is unclear. Spoiler: Highlight to view
Solution to 10.Ng5 Nd4
The game continued with: 10.Ng5 Nd4?? 11.Nxe6+- Nxb3 11...Nxc3? 12.Nxd4+ +- 12.Bxd5 The only move that wins. 12.Nxd8 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nxc1 14.Rfxc1 +/-. 12...Qxd5 This is the key point in the tactics started with 10.Ng5: Black can save the Q but it's too expensive: 13.Nxd5 Nxa1 14.Nxc5 Nc2 15.Ne6! Rf7 16.Nexc7 Rd8 17.e4 White has a N, B and pawn for the Rook, which was more than enough, and went on to win in 32 moves. Spoiler: Highlight to view
11...Nxe6? 12.Bxd5 and White will go up two pieces.
12...Qe7 13.Nxc5+ Kh8 14.Nxb3 White has four pieces for the Q and Black's majors have no open files.
From the game:
FM Michael Dougherty (2229) - Nicholas Vettese (2129)
Guelph Fall ProAm
2014.11.01