Tactics: Rapid Finish
The CFC website switched servers this week (!!).
The following is a repost which was lost during the transition.
This week's tactic comes from the Saturday Vlad Dobrich Rapid (g/15).
Black has just played 23...Be2, what should White do?
Candidate Moves:
Spoiler: Highlight to view
24.g5 - to trade the pawn.
24.Rab1 - to trade an attacker.
24.h3 - to save the pawn.
24.g5
Spoiler: Highlight to view
24.g5 doesn't save the pawn for long:
24.g5 fxg5 25.fxg5 Kg7 26.Be4 Re8 -+ and there's no good defence to ...Kg7-g6xg5
24.Rab1
Spoiler: Highlight to view
24.Rab1 gives Black a choice:
24...Rxa2 looks like a mistake, but Black keeps the advantage after 25.Nc1 Ba6 (only move) when the threat to the White King forces 26.Bxa6 Rxa6 with decent winning chances, though without the Bishop pair.
24.Rxb1! 25.Rxb1 Bxg4 and the Bb6 stops the Rg1 pin leaving Black with with an extra pawn and the B-pair and excellent winning chances.
24.h3
Spoiler: Highlight to view
24.h3? to save the pawn, is the obvious move, but it loses quickly.
The game concluded:
24.h3 Rd3!
25.Bg2 Rxh3+!
25...Bf3! removing the defender before capturing on h3 is less spectacular but more efficient.
26.Bxh3 Bf3+
27.Bg2 Rxg2
28.Rf1 Rf2+
29.Kg1 Rxa2+ White resigned.
After 30.Rf2 Rxf2 there's no good defence to ...Rg2+-Rg1#.
played at:
Vlad Dobrich Rapid (g/15).
Unicorn Pub, Toronto
2015.05.23