Before You Go

Index of Players
Books by Carsten Hansen

3
 Contents

Title page
Foreword by GM Jonathan Tisdall
Author’s Preface
How to work with this book

Chapter 1

Sets 1-8
Sets 9-16

Chapter 2

Sets 17-24
Sets 25-32

Chapter 3

Sets 33-40
Sets 41-47

Chapter 4

Sets 48-55
Sets 56-63

Chapter 5

Sets 64-71
Sets 72-78

Chapter 6

Sets 79-86
Sets 87-94

Chapter 7

Sets 95-101

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 Chess Tactics Volume 3
404 Puzzles to Improve Your Tactical Vision

by
Carsten Hansen

2020
CarstenChess

Daily Chess Training: Chess Tactics - Volume 3

Copyright © 2020 by Carsten Hansen

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief
quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing, 2020

ISBN 978-87-93812-16-1 (printed edition)

CarstenChess
40 Kennedy Blvd
Bayonne, NJ 07002

www.WinningQuicklyatChess.com

4
 Foreword by GM and FIDE Senior Trainer Jonathan Tisdall

This neat series of tactical manuals began in 2018, and here we are at volume three already. Carsten
Hansen is a publishing machine, and he has a simple, but nevertheless very hard to imitate, secret to
success: constant, disciplined work. Adopt the same attitude with this book and your tactical ability
could grow even faster than Carsten’s portfolio of published titles!
Whether you are more at home with books or screens of various sizes, there is one aspect of chess
training that links the generations, and that is tactics solving. You can call them ‘puzzles’, and do
them in a rush, or you can see them as ‘exercises’, and see them as mental muscle-building - either
way, they provide a challenge, satisfaction when they’re done, and a rewarding glow of increased
strength afterwards.
One thing I can’t help noticing - and resenting slightly in crotchety old-timer style - is that
newfangled tactical puzzlery ... can suck a bit. Online or app quizzes often lack a human touch, with
engines helping to select the positions. They can now be formed and generated without any particular
human intervention, and online solving can even involve being told your solution is wrong, because
your final mating move wasn’t the one chosen in the source game. Not only is this infuriating, but not
having a human perspective on study material, or solutions, obviously cannot be an optimal
framework for teaching humans to play better, and to beat other humans.

Attention-grabbing

Carsten’s series caught my eye where we tend to live our lives these days, online and in social media.
It is hard for someone who has spent a considerable chunk of life thinking about chess, and even
more time contemplating training methods, to ignore a tactical challenge when it pops up in my
timeline on Twitter, or Instagram. All sorts of people publish puzzles regularly, but it didn’t take long
to notice that Carsten’s were very special.
The positions were all coming from recent or even ongoing events, so were clearly being chosen by
someone who was glued to the news rather than sorting through existing material. The quality of the
positions chosen was uniformly high, so there was no algorithm picking them out, but a thinking
human. The solutions were almost never just an obvious one-two punch to the face, but more
practical situations, with relevant sidelines to consider and resolve. Sometimes there were no
knockouts at all, just a search for a hidden best move, that provided an even more useful and realistic
challenge. Carsten was providing real training moments, with no predictable giveaways, grounded in
concrete tactics.
The way Carsten forms these books is a lovely integration of modern online life and old-fashioned
tactical training. The material flits through the internet daily, and the author interacts with a range of
online solvers. This process hones the material in the book, providing real-world examples of which
false paths tempt solvers, and allows for deeper and more useful explanations of the solutions.
The final product has a very neat format, graded by difficulty, with a helpful hint if you need it, but
no other categorization to tip the solver off about possible themes or patterns. Just practical, road-

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tested problems to solve, and useful real-world skills to develop.

A bargain

If you’re reading this while thumbing through the book and considering it for purchase, let me
provide a simple suggestion - buy it! If the preceding arguments for the value that this volume, and
the entire series, provide weren’t enough, I have some more.
The cost of a chess book is almost always a bargain compared to the price of even a single hour of a
trainer’s time. Besides the obvious longer lasting satisfaction of a book, there are several other
reasons it is a steal.
There are many services a teacher or trainer can provide: imparting years of experience in highly
compressed time; presenting information in illuminating form that makes it instantly understandable
and memorable; or even just providing stacks of useful material for the student to digest.
Carsten’s always conscientious search and presentation of tactical material guarantees that he will
deliver in several ways and straighten your ‘chess posture’ as well.
And when I said steal earlier, of course I meant - buy. Our increasingly digital world has made it
harder for authors to get what they deserve for their work, and we need to remember that, to ensure
we receive nice things like more of this series in the future.

Jonathan Tisdall
Asker, Norway
February 2020

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 Author’s Preface

An essential part of improving at chess is tactics. Tactics occur at every level of chess but once the
players become stronger the elements involved in spotting the puzzles tend to become more complex
and deeper, whereas among weaker players elementary skewers, forks and deadly pins are more
frequent visitors.
This book is no instruction manual in chess tactics, but rather a representation of some of the best
tactical shots from master games played almost exclusively in the first half of 2019.
On Twitter, Instagram, as well as my Facebook page, Winning Quickly at Chess, the puzzles are
presented at a rate of two puzzles per day (one in the morning and one is the afternoon, both US East
coast time) and thousands of chess enthusiasts, from almost beginners to strong grandmasters, are
joining in to solve the puzzles.
Some of the puzzles are relatively straightforward, but there are also some rather tricky ones where
even very strong players have gotten it wrong or failed to solve them, so do not despair if you are
struggling with some of them. Remember that any improvement, whether in chess or other things in
life, starts right outside your comfort zone.
I want to thank everybody who have taken part in solving the puzzles online, without them, the
solutions presented would have looked very differently. When writing the solutions, I have tried to
take into account most of the relevant, but wrong suggestions that have been made online.
If you find errors or other things that should be corrected, kindly submit these to me on email:
carstenchess@gmail.com
Should you have enjoyed this book kindly leave a review, no more than 10-20 words are needed.
Reviews mean a lot for an author as it tells other potential readers why a book did or did not make a
difference for them.
Thanks for picking up this book, I hope you will enjoy solving the puzzles as much as I have
selecting them and putting this book together.

Carsten Hansen
Bayonne (NJ)
February 2020

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 How to work with this book

This is not your usual tactical puzzle book. It is very different for a number of reasons:
1) You’re not being told what the demand is! That you will have to figure out on your own. This is
to give you more of a game feel simulation and therefore, the first tactical idea you get may not be the
best, so keep looking until you are satisfied. Nor do I tell you who the players are – you will get that
in the solution part. Names may spark your memory if you have seen the game before. The demand
can be mate, but sometimes all you can get is a positional advantage or in a few cases a draw. You
don’t know, so think before moving.
2) The first move is almost never enough. When I have posted these puzzles online, they always
come with the byline “more than the first move is required for a full solution”. This is because in
many cases the finer details of the puzzle are only revealed on move 2, 3, 4, 5 and sometimes even
later. Therefore, even if you think you have the right move, keep calculating to see if you have caught
everything. Trust me when I tell you, even players at an international master level have missed crucial
details when presenting the solution in the Facebook group or on Twitter, so for you to assume that
you got it right without thoroughly calculating things through... you know how the saying goes!
Let me give you an example from volume 1:

When I presented this puzzle in the Facebook group, several said “too easy -

1...Qf3 and mate on the next move!” Well, not so fast. White plays 2.Qc4+ Kh8 3.Qf1 and the mate
on g2 is prevented. Then, the determined puzzle solvers said but then after 3...h7-h5 followed by
...h4, Black wins. Again, not so fast! After 3...h5?, White plays 4.Rd3 Qf7 5.Rc3 h4 6.Rxc6 hxg3
7.Qh3+ Kg8 8.Qxg3 and White is actually doing okay. What Black had to find was 3...Bb5!, and
after 4.Qe1 Re8! 5.Qd2, Black returns the bishop to c6, 5...Bc6! and White can’t prevent the mate on
g2. So, without the precise 3rd and 4th moves, this puzzle wasn’t solved, in fact, far from it. So, take

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your time and get the answer right. It is better to be right and slow than fast and wrong.

3) Don’t use a computer to solve the puzzles for you! You don’t learn anything from that, and you
don’t have a computer handy when you’re playing your own games. When you’re certain that you
have found the right continuation (not move!) or you have given up hope that you can solve it, then
check the solution. If you got it wrong or couldn’t solve it, then mark the page or highlight it in your
e-book and then revisit the puzzle next week.
4) Difficulty level and hints. These are for less experienced players. The puzzles are graded from 1
star (*) to 5 stars (*****). The 1-star puzzles are relatively mundane and should be solved by most,
whereas the 5-star puzzles are positively industrial strength, they may have been missed by the
players during the game, simply because they were too deep or complex to reasonably spot at the
board. If you find the solution anyway – you are seriously good and can consider challenging your
chess engine to a no-holds-barred blitz match!
The hints are there to go some guidance if you have no idea what to look for. However, the hints do
not give the answer away, sometimes they can be a little obscure, tease more than they help.
5) Most puzzles are more difficult than those you will find in the average puzzle book or app. I
tend to select puzzles that require thought and finesse, where move order is important and frequently
where you need to play a couple of precise moves before striking. This will help you improve your
understanding of how to maximize the effect of your pieces and get the most bang for their buck. One
solver told me, it helped him get rid of his self-coined but very appropriate term “puzzle rush bias”
where you know there is something tactical in the position and it is right there, ready to be found.
Because the puzzles are so hard, don’t do too many in a day. I post tactical puzzles in the Facebook
group, on Twitter, and on Instagram at a rate of two per day. That could be sufficient for you for that
day. Some regular solvers save the puzzles for when they are not tired because they know they will
otherwise miss something.
6) Solving these puzzles will make you a lot better – guaranteed! If you follow the instructions
and tips above, your tactical vision will expand, your calculation skills will improve, even
dramatically so. Several solvers have told me that they have started winning tournaments for the first
time in their lives. Obviously, there is no guarantee that this will happen for you, but it could (and
should, I would certainly like that).
If you find the puzzles impossibly difficult, work your way through the solutions at a rate of a couple
per day. And then revisit the puzzles two weeks later. If you can solve them at that point, your pattern
recognition has improved, and you are on the way to getting better! If you go at that rate, it will take
you six months to complete this book and then you can pick up the next book in the series.
Or come join us on social media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WinningQuicklyatChess/ or
www.facebook.com/groups/WinningQuicklyatChess/
Twitter: twitter.com/CazHansen
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chansen64/

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Or on my website: www.winningquicklyatchess.com
Welcome on board, prepare yourself to get seriously better at chess.

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Show in Text Mode

Chapter 1
Sets 1-16

Set 1

1.1)

11
 **
Hint: An invitation to dance

Show/Hide Solution

20.Nxg7! Kxg7 21.Nh5+ Kg6

Or 21...Kh8 22.Qg3 Bg4 23.Qxg4 Qxg4 24.hxg4 and White is a clear pawn up with the bishop pair
and overall better position in hand.

22.Qg3+ Ng5 23.f4

White could play even stronger with 23.h4! Be7 (or 23...f6 24.f4 exf4 25.Nxf4+ Bxf4 26.Bxf4 Kh7
27.hxg5 fxg5 28.Bxc7 Rb7 29.Bd6 and Black is completely busted) 24.f4 exf4 25.Nxf4+ Kh7
26.Nd5! and White wins back the sacrificed piece along with having a winning position.

23...exf4 24.Nxf4+ Kh7 25.e5+ Bf5 26.Qf2

White can do even better with 26.Bxf5+ Qxf5 27.exd6 cxd6 28.axb5 axb5 29.Rf1 and White has a
positionally won position.

26...Be7 27.e6 fxe6 28.h4 Kh8 29.hxg5 Bxg5 30.c4 Bxc2?!

30...Ne7 was a better chance. Starting with the text move, Black is taking himself back into severe
trouble.

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31.Bb2+ e5 32.Rxe5 Nf6?? 33.Nd5!

33.Qxc2! is probably even stronger but the text move more than suffices.

33...Bg6 34.Rxg5 hxg5 35.Nxf6 Qf5 36.Nd7+ Kh7 37.Qd4 Qf7 38.Nxb8 Rxb8 39.Ra3 Bh5 40.Rh3
1–0

J.Van Foreest (2612) – I.Sokolov (2584) Dutch ch (Amsterdam) 2019

1.2)

****
Hint: Deep penetration

Show/Hide Solution

25.Nh4!

This is a nasty move which threatens Nxg6 but overall is very tricky to defend against. In the
Facebook, at least initially, several were tempted by 25.Bxf7+?? Rxf7 26.Ne5 but after 26...Qc7!,
Black is better.

25.Nh4! g5?!

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Black hands over the f5–square to White, basically handing him a positionally won position, perhaps
in the hope that White, a very young - only 12 yearsinternational master would not be able to handle
the pressure and carry it to a win. However, the alternative is very unpleasant for Black, e.g., 25...Kf8
26.Bxf7! Rxf7 27.Nxg6+ Kg8 28.Nf5 Be8 29.Nf4! (this is stronger than 29.Rb7 Nd7, when White
again will have to find 30.Nf4 Kh8 31.Reb1 with a large, probably winning, advantage; 29.Nf4
threatens a variety of forks involving Ne6) 29...Qd7 30.Nxg7 Kxg7 31.e5 and White wins back the
sacrificed material with interest; Black is completely busted

26.Nhf5 Rc7

Or 26...Rea7 27.Bc4 Bf8 28.Rb6 Bb5 29.e5 Bxc4 30.Qxc4 Nd5 31.e6 (31.Nxh6+ is also winning for
White) 31...Nxb6 32.axb6 Qxb6 33.e7 and Black can resign.

27.Bc4! Bb5

If 27...Qf8 then 28.e5 Ne8 29.e6 fxe6 30.Rxe6 Kh8 31.Rb6 and Black is disaster.

28.e5! Bxc4 29.Qxc4 Nd5 30.Nh5 Bh8 31.e6

Black’s position is fully collapsing at this point and he doesn’t hang in there for much longer.

31...fxe6 32.Rxe6 Rd7 33.Rbe1 Qxa5 34.Ne7+ 1–0

V.Murzin (2418) – V.Nozdrachev (2481) Russian ch Higher League (Yaroslavl) 2019

1.3)

14
 ***
Hint: Not all obvious targets make the best targets

Show/Hide Solution

19.h5!

This is clearly strongest, White needs to open a path to the black king to reveal just how vulnerable it
is. The alternatives are: 19.Qc5!? Be6 20.b4 Qd8 21.gxf5 (or 21.Ne7 Qb6 and Black is okay) 21...b6
22.Qc6 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Qc7 (23...Qe7 24.f6! wins for White) 24.Qxc7 Nxc7 25.Rd7 axb5 26.Rxc7
bxa4 27.Rd1 and White has the better chances in the endgame.
Or 19.b4 Qd8 20.Bd3 (20.Qa7 Be6 21.Ne3 Qe7 22.gxf5 axb5 23.fxe6 Qxe6 24.axb5 Nb6 is messy
and from what I can see, probably quite alright for Black; 20.Qc5 Be6 transposes to 19.Qc5 above)
20...Nb6 21.Bxf5 Nxd5 22.Qxd5 Qe8 23.Rd4 Qxa4 24.Kb2 which, while better for White, is still
playable for Black.

19.h5! Qd8

Accepting the piece sacrifice is too dangerous 19...axb5 20.h6 Qxa4 (or 20...g6 21.e6+ f6 22.e7 and it
is game over) 21.hxg7+ Kxg7 22.Qe3 Qa1+ 23.Kd2 Qa5+ 24.Ke2 Qa6 25.Nf6 and Black will get
mated within a few moves.; Blocking the advance of White’s h-pawn also does not help, for instance,
19...h6 20.g5! axb5 21.gxh6 Qxa4 22.hxg7+ Kxg7 23.Rdg1+ Kh8 24.b4 Nc7 (or 24...Be6 25.Qf4)
25.e6+ f6 and now Black is mated by force: 26.Rg8+ Rxg8 27.Qxf6+ Kh7 28.Qxf5+ Kh8 29.Qe5+
Kh7 30.Nf6+ Kh8 31.Nxg8+ Kxg8 32.Rg1+ Kf8 33.Qf6+ Ke8 34.Rg8#, Beautiful.

15
20.h6! Qg5+ 21.Kb1

21.Rd2 also wins but apparently White saw no reason to let his rook be pinned.

21...axb5 22.hxg7+ Qxg7 23.Nf6 fxg4 24.Qe4 and Black resigned; there is no way to stop from
getting mated. 1–0

J.Pechac (2473) – M.Jurcik (2501) Slovakia ch (Ruzomberok) 2019

1.4)

**
Hint: Different levels of attack

Show/Hide Solution

27...Rxb4!

After this straight-forward shot, Black penetrates with deadly effect.

28.cxb4 Qb2+ 29.Kg1

Or 29.Kh3 Rc2 and preventing the mate will cost White the queen.

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29...Rc1+ 30.Rf1 Qf2+! and White resigned. 0–1

M.Swicarz (2341) – V.Koziak (2473) Lazy 2019

Set 2

2.1)

****
Hint: Distract the right pieces to allow deadly force

Show/Hide Solution

23...d4?

This seems logical, opening the diagonal for the bishop on b7, but it is actually a significant mistake.
Instead, Black should play 23...Qc3! which seems to be refuted by 24.Rc1, intending to follow up
with Rxc8+ and Qd8#. Here Black, however, has the clever response 24...Nxg2!! 25.Rxc3 (or
25.Kxg2 Qb2+ 26.Rc2 Rxc2+ 27.Bxc2 Qxc2+ 28.Kf1 Qd1+ and Black has won a pawn) 25...Nxh4
26.Rxc8+ Bxc8 with an extra pawn for Black in the endgame.
Another option, but not as strong, is 23...Nxg2!? 24.Kxg2 d4+ (or 24...Qc3 25.Qg3 g6 (25...d4+
transposes to 24...d4+) 26.Qxc3 Rxc3 27.Nd4 Kg7 28.Bxg6 Kxg6 29.Kf2 Rd3 30.f5+ exf5 31.Rg1+
Kh5 32.Ne2 with a sharp ending that is difficult to accurately assess) 25.Kg1 Qc3 26.Qg3 Bf3

17
27.Rf1 Qe3+ 28.Qf2 Qxb3 29.Qxf3 Qxf3 30.Rxf3 g6 31.Kf1 Kg7 32.Bxg6 Kxg6 33.f5+ exf5
34.Rg3+ Kh6 with a complex endgame that is somewhat better for Black.

23...d4? 24.Rc1 Qd7?

A further mistake. Black had two alternatives: 24...Qxc1+ 25.Nxc1 Rxc1+ 26.Kf2 Ke8 with good
compensation for the queen, but objectively speaking, White is better; or; 24...Qe7 25.Rxc8+ Bxc8
26.Qxe7+ Kxe7 27.Be4 f5 28.Bd3 Nd5 29.Nxd4 Nxf4 with completely equal chances.

25.Rxc8+ Qxc8 26.Be4 Qc7??

This loses on the spot. Instead 26...Kg8 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Qh8+ Ke7 29.Qxc8 Bxc8 30.Nxd4 would
have left Black a pawn down but with some drawing chances.

27.Bxb7 Black resigned. 1–0

E.Romanov (2577) – A.Shimanov,A (2615) Russian ch Higher League (Yaroslavl) 2019

2.2)

***
Hint: Hidden attack

Show/Hide Solution

18
26.Bb3!

Tempting, but less accurate, is 26.Ne3 Qd8! (but not 26...Qd6?? 27.Bb3!, transposing to the note
after Black’s 26th move in the game whereas 27.Rxg7 Kxg7 28.Qh3! Qe6 29.Nf5+ Qxf5 30.Qxf5
Rxc3 31.Bb3 also gives White an advantage but nothing like after 27.Bb3) 27.Qh3 Nh7 28.Rxg7
Kxg7 29.Nf5+ Kh8 and Black has excellent chances of a successful defense.
A strong alternative, albeit not as strong as our game continuation, is 26.Nxf7+ Rxf7 27.Ne5 Bc5
28.Nxf7+ Qxf7 29.dxc5 Qf8 30.Rd1 Rxc5 31.Rd8 Qxd8 32.Qxc5 and White has a large, probably
decisive, advantage.

26.Bb3! Qd8

Or 26...Nh7 27.Ne3 Qd6 28.Bxf7 and White is winning.

27.Nxf7+ Rxf7 28.Ne5 Bd5 29.Bxd5

Black resigned on the prospect of 29.Bxd5 Qxd5 30.Qxc8+ Kh7 31.Qf5+ Kg8 32.Nxf7! and White
is winning. 1–0

B.Heberla (2534) – J.Fus (2341) Warsaw 2019

2.3)

19
 **
Hint: Missing defenders

Show/Hide Solution

16...Rxb2!

Or even simpler 16...Qe5! 17.Nc3 Rxb2 18.Kxb2 Rb8+ 19.Kc1 Qxc3 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Rxd3 Qa1+
22.Kd2 Qxh1 and White can resign.

16...Rxb2! 17.Kxb2 Rb8+ 18.Kc1 Qxa3+ 19.Kd2 Bxe4 20.Be2 Bxc2! 21.Ra1

Or 21.Rc1 Nd5 22.Ke1 Rb2 23.Kf1 Qc5 24.Qd2 Qb6 and it is curtains for Black.

21...Qb4+ 22.Ke3 Qb6+ 23.Kd2 Qd4+ 24.Kxc2 Rb2+ 25.Kc1 Qc3+ and White resigned. 0–1

M.Nayhebaver (2473) – M.Hrabusa (2397) Ruzomberok 2019

2.4)

**
Hint: Distract the right piece

20
 Show/Hide Solution

22.Qd5!?

This is a good move, but White missed the even better 22.g4! Rb8 (after g3–g4, the rook is missing
protection and needs to move) 23.Qe4 and now Black is short of a good reply to the threat of Nf4, for
instance, 23...Bd8 24.Nf4 Nxb4 25.Be2 Qa4 26.Bd1 Qb5 27.Qxb4 and White is winning.

22.Qd5!? Qa4 23.Qg5??

23.Qb7 was better. After the text move, Black is winning, and the bishop on h3 is actually helpful,
preventing the White from castling and escaping.

23...Rxc3! 24.Nxc3 Qxb4 25.Qb5

Or 25.Kd2 Qb2+ 26.Kd1 Be6! and it is game over.

25...Qxc3+ 26.Kd1 g6!

Luft for the king.

27.Qxb6 Nb4 28.Be2 Be6 and with mate looming, White resigned. 0–1

D.Cherednichenko (2304) – I.Yeletsky (2438) Voronezh 2019

Set 3

3.1)

21
 **
Hint: The right sacrifice can make room for the right pieces

Show/Hide Solution

28.Rxg6!

Breaks open Black’s shelter. Black has to accept the rook.

28...Kxg6 29.Re6+ Kg5

Blocking the check with the bishop doesn’t help, e.g., 29...Bf6 30.Ne3 Rdd5 (or 30...Qf4 31.g3 Qg5
32.h4 and the queen is forced away from protecting the rook) 31.Nxd5 cxd5 32.g4 and the rook on g4
drops.

30.h4+! Kxh4 31.Ne3

Even faster is 31.Rg6! Rg5 32.Qe4+ Rg4 33.g3+ Kh3 34.Qxf3 and Black can’t prevent mate.

31...Rf6 32.Rxf6 Bxf6 33.Qg6! Rd1+ 34.Nxd1 Bg5

Or 34...Qe5 35.Ne3 Qg5 36.g3+ Kh3 37.Qd3 and Black is getting mated.

35.g3+

Black resigned as 35...Kg4 is met by 36.Ne3+. 1–0

22
V.Nozdrachev (2481) – O.Rychkov (2409) Russian ch Higher League (Yaroslavl) 2019

3.2)

****
Hint: The right kind opening

Show/Hide Solution

19...Rd5!

Interesting but not nearly as strong was the immediate 19...Rxd2!? 20.Kxd2 Rd8+! (alternatively,
20...Bd5 21.Kc1 Re8 22.Bb2 Bxg2 23.Rg1 Bf3 and White is terribly tied up but far from lost or
20...c3+ 21.Ke1 Re8 22.Bxf6 Bxf6 23.Rd1 Qc8 when Black’s bishop pair and passed c-pawn will
provide Black with more than adequate compensation for the exchange) 21.Kc1 Rd5 22.Bb2 Bf5
23.Qxc4 Qa5 24.Qc3 Qd8! and Black has some akin to a winning position, White’s pieces are poorly
coordinated, and the king is poorly placed on c1.

19...Rd5! 20.Bb2 Rxd2!!

A similarly lethal move is the surprising 20...c3! 21.Bxc3 Bf5 22.Qc1 Rxd2 23.Bxd2 Ne4 and
White’s position is collapsing. In the game, Black chose the inferior but nevertheless still strong
20...Rad8 21.0-0-0? (White should have played 21.Nxc4 although 21...Bf5 22.Qc1 Bd3 is highly

23
unpleasant for White) 21...cxb3 22.axb3 Bf5 23.Qc4 Qc8 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.e4 Rd3 26.Nb1 R8d4
27.Qxc5 Bxe4 28.Rxd3 Rxd3 29.f3 Rd5 30.Qc4 Bg6 31.Nc3 Qf5 32.Ne4 Qf4+ 33.Kb1 Qe5 and
White resigned, mate is inevitable. 0–1 E.Romanov (2577) – P.Ponkratov (2649) Russian ch Higher
League (Yaroslavl) 2019

21.Qxd2

Or 21.Kxd2 Ne4+! (also 21...c3+ 22.Bxc3 Ne4+ 23.Qxe4 Rd8+ 24.Kc2 Qe2+ 25.Kc1 (25.Kb1
Bxc3 and White gets mated) 25...Bxc3 26.Qc2 Bd2+ 27.Kb1 Qxf2 and Black is winning) 22.Ke1
Qa5+ 23.Kf1 Bf5 24.Kg1 c3 and White can resign.

21...Ne4 22.Qc2 Qa5+ 23.Kf1 Bf5 24.Kg1 c3 and it is game over for White.

3.3)

***
Hint: Structural weaknesses meet violent responses

Show/Hide Solution

26...g5!

In the game, Black played 26...b4 27.cxb4 Bb5!? (A beautiful idea, intending to transfer the bishop to

24
c6, targeting the weak light squares around White’s king; however, once again 27...g5! is very strong,
making a fool of White’s rook on h4 which has to keep the d4–pawn protected, e.g., 28.Bxg5
(28.Qg4 f5!) 28...hxg5 29.Qg4 Rh6 and Black is winning) 28.Rf4 Bc6 29.Kf2 g5 30.Rg4 f5 31.Bxg5
fxg4 32.Qxg4 Rg6 33.Qc8+ Kh7 34.Qxa6 Qxd4+ 35.Be3 Qxa1 and White resigned. 0-1
L.Johansson (2480) – T.Hillarp Persson (2562) Swedish ch (Eskilstuna) 2019

26...g5! 27.Rh5

Or 27.Rg4 f5 28.exf6 Re2 and White can resign.

27...Qe4 and White does not have a good way to stop the lethal ...Bd5.

3.4)

**
Hint: Obvious or not so obvious attack

Show/Hide Solution

15...Ne3! 16.fxe3

White doesn’t have an alternative since 16.Bxe3 dxe3 17.Qxd8 exf2+ 18.Rxf2 Rfxd8 leaves Black an
exchange up and a winning position.

25
16...dxe3 17.Qe1 e2+

The game continuation was 17...Bxf1 18.a5?! (Here 18.Kxf1 would have been a better choice, e.g.,
18...Qf6 19.e5 Qxc6 20.a5 Qc4+ 21.Qe2 Qc3 22.Bb2 Qxb4 23.axb6 axb6 24.Ba3 Qa4 a long line
with an advantage for Black at the end but not as clear as our main line.) 18...Bd4?? (An unnecessary
mistake. With 18...Qf6 19.axb6 Qxa1 20.Bxe3 Qxe1 21.Nxe1 Bb5!! 22.Bxb5 cxb6, Black could
have secured a clear advantage in the unbalanced endgame with an interesting material situation)
19.Nxd4 Qxd4 20.Bxe3 Qf6 21.Bxa7 Rxb4 22.Bc5 Rb2? 23.Qxf1 Qxc6 24.Bxf8 Kxf8 25.a6 Rb8
26.Qf5 h6 27.Rf1 f6 28.e5 Rb2 29.Qg4 h5 30.Qg3 h4 31.Qa3+ and Black resigned. 1-0
N.Yakubboev (2575) – S.Iuldachev (2451) Uzbekistan ch (Tashkent) 2019

18.Rf2 Qf6 19.Bd5 Qxa1 20.Bxc4 Qxa4 21.Qxe2 Bxf2+ 22.Kxf2 Rxb4 and Black has a large
advantage.

Set 4

4.1)

***
Hint: Not enough defenders

Show/Hide Solution

26
26.Rxd7!

If White tries the tempting 26.Be7, then 26...f5! is perfectly fine for Black.

26.Rxd7! Bxd7 27.Bf6!

This cracks open Black’s kingside, and there is nothing Black can do to prevent it.

27...g6 28.Qg4

White threatens Bxg6 as well as 29.Qg5, intending, Qh6 when 29...Kh7 will not help due to Qh5+,
followed by Qh8#.

28...e5 29.Qg5 Qd6 30.Rd3!

White should be a little patient. Although White should win after 30.Bxg6 Qd1+ 31.Kg2 Qg4+
32.Qxg4 Bxg4 33.Bc2, the text move is even better.

30...Bh3+

Or 30...Qe6 31.Bxg6! with a forced mate.

31.Rxh3 and Black resigned. 1–0

B.Savchenko (2567) – R.Makarian (2383) Voronezh 2019

4.2)

27
 ***
Hint: Pour gasoline on the initiative

Show/Hide Solution

19.Rxd8+! Bxd8 20.Nxe5! Qxe5 21.Bxh5

The point!

21...0-0

After 21...Bxh5, White plays 22.f4 Qc7 23.Nxg7+ with a winning position.

22.Be2 f6 23.h4

White has won a pawn.

23...fxg5 24.hxg5 Na4 25.Bd3 Qe8 26.Nh4 Bc7 27.Nxg6 hxg6 28.e5 Bxe5 29.Bxg6 Bxb2+
30.Kb1 Qc6 31.Rh4 Bd4 32.Bh7+ Kf7 33.Qf5+ Black resigned. 1–0

J.Miesbauer (2411) – T.Kraus (2479) Ceske Budejovice 2019

4.3)

28
 ***
Hint: Prepare the kill

Show/Hide Solution

29.Rcb1!!

A simple yet incredibly powerful move that immediately kills Black’s resistance. Interestingly, this is
one of the positions in this book that had the most solvers in the Facebook group struggling. I think
that part of the problem is that the position looks simple, and therefore there must be several easy
ways to Black’s exposed king. That being said, White has a decent alternative in 29.e5! but after
29...fxe5, White once more has to find 30.Rcb1! (in the Facebook group, many were tempted by
30.Ne4 Rb3! 31.Nxc5+ Bxc5 32.Rxb3 Kxb3 33.Rxc5 Re8 34.Rc7 a5 and the win is far from easy)
30...Ra3 31.Nc4 Rdd3 32.Nxa3 Rxa3 33.Rd2 and White is winning.
However, if White missed 29.Rcb1, why would he spot 30.Rcb1?
Other alternatives are less strong: a) 29.Nb1 Rb3! 30.Nc3+ (30.Rc4+ Rb4 and Black is better)
30...Kb4 31.Nd5+ Ka3 32.Rxb3+ Kxb3 33.Kd3 c4+ 34.Rxc4 Bd6 and White is somewhat better.;
b) 29.b6 axb6 30.Ra1+ Ra3 31.Rxa3+ Kxa3 32.Rxb6 Rd7 33.Nc4+ Ka4 34.Rb2 Rf7 35.Nb6+ Ka5
36.Kd3 with a clear advantage for White but the win is still far away.
c) 29.Nc4 Rb3! 30.Ra1+ Kb4 this escape is the main reason why White has to play 29.Rcb1 before
playing Nc4.
d) 29.Ra2+ Kxb5 30.Rb1+ Kc6 31.Nc4 b5 32.Na5+ Kb6 33.Nc4+ with a draw by repetition.

29
29.Rcb1!! Rc3

No defense works, for instance, 29...c4 30.Nxc4 Rc3 31.Ra1+ Ba3 32.Nd2 a6 33.bxa6 bxa6 34.Nb1
Rb3 35.Rxb3 Kxb3 36.Rxa3+ Kb2 37.Rxa6 Kxb1 38.Ra7 with a won endgame for White or 29...Ra3
30.Nc4 Rdd3 31.Nxa3 Rxa3 32.Rd2 c4 33.Rc2 c3 34.Kd3 Bb4 35.Kc4 Ba5 36.Rd1 and White is
winning.

30.Nc4! The threat of Ra2+ is lethal, so Black resigned. 1–0

A.Utegaliyev (2510) – A.Kopylov (2410) Samara 2019

4.4)

**
Hint: Too many loose pieces

Show/Hide Solution

17.Rxd7!

Removing this key defender makes the attack crash through rather quickly.

17...Kxd7 18.g4!

30
With this move, the second defender is sent to h3 as ...Qg6 is not possible on account of Nxe5,
forking the king and queen.

18...Qxh3 19.Nxe5+ Kc8

Or 19...Kc7 20.Bf4 Rad8 21.Nxc6+ Bd6 22.Nxd8+ Kxd8 23.Bxd6 Qxg4+ 24.Bg3 and White has an
extra piece as well as the attack.

20.Qxf7! Rd8

Or 20...Bg5 21.Ra3 Qxa3 22.bxa3 Bxc1 23.Qd7+ Kb8 24.Qd6+ Kc8 25.Nc4 and Black can’t
prevent mate.

21.Qe6+!

The fastest path to mate and the full point.

21...Kb8 22.Nxc6+

22.Bf4! leads to a forced mate faster, according to my engine friend, for instance, 22...Bd6 23.Rd1
Ka7 24.Nxc6+ bxc6 25.Qf7+ Kb8 26.Bxd6+ Rxd6 27.Qf8+ Kb7 28.Qxg7+ Kc8 29.Rxd6 and Black
will get mated in a few moves.

22...Kc7 23.Nxd8 Kxd8 24.Be3 The more than suffices but strictly speaking, 24.Bg5 mates faster.
1–0

G.Vazquez (2483) – A.Aranha Filho (2320) American Continental ch (Sao Paulo) 2019

Set 5

5.1)

31
 ***
Hint: Poorly coordinated defenders

Show/Hide Solution

18...Be4! 19.Nd4

Or 19.Nxe7 Qxa2! 20.Rd7 Qa4 and Black is winning.

19...Qxa2 20.Nb3 Ba3! and White resigned as he cannot prevent mate. 0–1

M.Milosevic (2312) – M.Stojanovic (2483) Paracin 2019

5.2)

32
 ***
Hint: Many structural issues

Show/Hide Solution

25.Bf4!

Only so! The tempting 25.Bc3 is less effective after 25...Ncb5 26.Qe3 Be4 and Black is hanging in
there.

25.Bf4! Qc5

The retreating the queen move 25...Qd7 loses after 26.Qe3 Rac8 27.Be5!; while 25...Qxf4 (or the
queen to e7 or f8) 26.Ng6+ and White wins.

26.Qe3

The game continued 26.Rc1 Qb5 (or 26...Nf3+ 27.Qxf3 Bxf3 28.Rxc5 bxc5 29.Nxf3) 27.Qe3 Ne8
28.Be5 Bd5 29.Bxd5 Qxd5 30.Rcd1 Nc2 and Black resigned at the same time. A possible
continuation was 30...Nc2 31.Qxh6+ Kg8 32.Bxg7 Qxd1 33.Qh8+ Kf7 34.Qf8#. 0-1, P.Iniyan
(2524) – P.Karthikeyan (2415) Pattaya 2019

26...Ndb5 27.Qg3 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 and White is winning.

33
 5.3)

***
Hint: That b3-pawn is quite powerful

Show/Hide Solution

25...Rxa3!

Opening access to White’s otherwise reasonably safelooking king. The immediate 25...Rc2
accomplishes less, for instance, 26.Bxc2 bxc2+ 27.Qxc2 Bf5 28.Nd3 Rc8 (not 28...Rxa3?? 29.Rhe1
and White is winning) 29.Qe2 Qb3 30.Rd2! and White barely hangs on to equality but not 30.gxf7+
Kxf7 31.Rhe1 h6 and White has problems managing Black’s many pins and threats.
Also 25...Rxc1+ leads nowhere: 26.Rxc1 Rxa3 27.bxa3 Qd4 28.gxf7+ Kxf7 29.Bg6+ hxg6 30.hxg6+
Kxg6 31.Rcg1+ Kf7 32.Qxd4 Bxd4 33.Rg5 and White is winning.

25...Rxa3! 26.gxf7+

Or 26.bxa3 Rc2 27.Bxc2 bxc2+ 28.Kxc2 Bf5+ 29.Nd3 Qb2#.

26...Kxf7 27.Bg6+ Kf8 and White resigned. 0–1

L.McShane (2688) – N.Grandelius (2691) Match Eskilstuna 2019

34
 5.4)

***
Hint: Mobilization

Show/Hide Solution

19.Bxh6! Nxe4

Alternatively, neither 19...gxh6 20.Qxh6 c4 21.Nf5; nor 19...Nh7 20.Nf5 are acceptable for Black.

20.Rxe4 Bxe4 21.Bxg7!

Now White’s attack simply crashes through.

21...Kxg7 22.Nh5+ Kf8 23.Qh6+ Ke7 24.Bxf7!

White’s punches keep coming while the remainder of Black’s shelter is torn away.

24...Kd7 25.Bxe8+ Kc7 26.Qg7+ Kb8 27.Re1 d5 28.Bg6 and Black resigned. 1–0

E.Barbosa (2506) – P.Garcia Cardenas (2443) American Continental (Sao Paulo) 2019

Set 6

35
 6.1)

***
Hint: Accurate calculation required

Show/Hide Solution

19.Ng6! h5

The knight should not be captured, e.g., 19...fxg6 20.Bxg6+ Ke7 21.f4 with a winning position for
White.

20.Qg3 Rg8

Or 20...fxg6 21.Bxg6+ Kf8 22.Qf3+ Bf6 23.exf6 Qxf6 24.Qg3 Rc8 25.h4 and Black’s position is
despite the equal material a disaster.

21.f4! Bh6 22.Na6

Or as played in the game 22.Qh3 Na4 23.f5 Qg5 24.Nf4 Nxc3? 25.Na6 Rc8 26.fxe6 Bxe6 27.Nxe6
Qe3+ 28.Kh1 Qxh3 29.Nexc7+ Ke7 30.gxh3 Be3 31.Bf5 Rcd8 32.Nb4 and Black resigned. 1-0,
D.Kozusek (2339) – T.Farkas (2314) Budapest 2019

22...Rc8 23.Nc5 Rb8 24.Qh3 and Black is busted.

36
 6.2)

****
Hint: Obvious first move, follow up is less obvious

Show/Hide Solution

24...Nf6! 25.Bxf6 Qxf6 26.Bxb7

If White resists the capture on by, the problems remain, e.g., 26.Nf4 Bxf2+! 27.Kh1 (or 27.Kxf2
Rc2+ 28.Kg1 Bxg2 and White cannot recapture on g2 due to ...Qf2+) 27...Bxg2+ 28.Nxg2 Rc2 and
Black has won two pawns.

26...Qxf2+ 27.Kh1 Rc2

Black wins the piece back with interest.

28.Re1

Or 28.Bf3 Rexe2 29.Bxe2 Rxe2 and White is lost.

28...Rexe2 29.Rxe2 Rxe2 30.Qh3 Re1+ 31.Rxe1 Qxe1+ and White resigned before he would get
mated. 0–1

K.Panczyk (2347) – D.Kozusek (2339) Budapest 2019

37
 6.3)

***
Hint: Find weakness, remove defenders

Show/Hide Solution

22...Rxc3! 23.Rxc3 e5!

Only after this move, the pin becomes powerful, whereas 23...Rc8 24.Rac1, followed by Qb2, has
White sliding out of the pin with equal chances.

24.Nf5

Or 24.Ne2 d4 25.exd4 exd4 26.Nxd4 Bxg2 27.Kxg2 Qe4+ and Black ends up with an extra piece.

24...Qf6 25.g4 d4 26.Bxb7 Bxc3

Black is winning.

27.Qc1 Bxa1 28.Qxa1 g6 29.Ng3 dxe3 30.fxe3 Qb6 31.Bg2 Qxe3+ 32.Kh1 Qxb3 33.Qxe5 Qxa4
34.h3 Qb4 35.Kh2 Qb8 36.Qxa5 Rd3 37.Qe1 Nf6 38.Qf2 h5 39.Bf1 Ne4 and White resigned. 0–1

B.Ahlander (2391) – F.Levin (2457) Police 2019

38
 6.4)

***
Hint: Penetration is the name of the game

Show/Hide Solution

19.Ne5! Qe8

Or 19...Bxe5 20.dxe5 Qc7 21.Bf6! and Black can resign.

20.Bf6!

Black’s position is so passive that he cannot organize a proper defense.

20...Bd8

Or 20...gxf6 21.Rh3 Bxe5 22.Qh5 with checkmate to follow.

21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Rg3+ Kh8 23.Qh5! and Black resigned.

Black cannot organize any kind of meaningful defense, e.g., 23...f6 24.Qxe8 Rxe8 25.Nf7#. 1–0

A.Grischuk (2766) – N.Vitiugov (2727) Riga 2019

39
 Set 7

7.1)

***
Hint: Interfere with Black’s defenders!

Show/Hide Solution

33.e6! Bf6

The pawn cannot be captured, e.g., 33...fxe6 34.Qf7+ Kh8 35.Qxf8+; or 33...Nxe6 34.Qxf7+.

34.e7!

White also wins after 34.Qh3 Bd5 35.Rxf6, but the text move is the direct path to the win.

34...Bxe7 35.Nc1!

The black queen is forced away from the a2–g8 diagonal and, therefore, no longer able to guard the
f7– pawn.

35...Qxb2

40
Or 35...Qb4 36.Qxf7+ Kh8 37.Bc4 and White is winning.

36.Qxf7+ Kh8 37.Ne2

Guarding against the threatened mate on g2.

37...Qa3 38.Bc4 Qe3+ 39.Rf2 Nd7 40.Ne8 Black resigned. 1–0

O.Nigmatov (2488) – N.Abdusattorov (2598) Uzbek ch (Tashkent) 2019

7.2)

****
Hint: Somebody needs to see the light of day

Show/Hide Solution

23.Rcf1!

In the game, White played 23.Bxg6 which is also an idea that attracted many in the Facebook group.
After 23...Nxg6 24.Rh6 Bf8 25.Rxg6+ hxg6 26.Qxg6+ Bg7 27.Rh1 Re7 28.e6 Qa6 29.Rh4 Qf1+?
(Black could have kept the balance with 29...Kf8! 30.Rf4+ Kg8 31.Rf7 Rxf7 32.exf7+ Kf8 33.Qd6+)
30.Ka2 Rxe6 31.Qh7+ Kf8 32.Rf4+ Qxf4 33.exf4 Bxc3?? 34.bxc3 Rae8 35.g6 Re2+ 36.Kb1 Rxg2

41
37.Qf7# Nice attack. 1–0 T.Gareev (2588) – R.Garcia Pantoja (2529) American Continental (Sao
Paulo) 2019.

23.Rcf1! Bc5 24.Ne4!

A strong alternative is 24.Rxh7! Nxh7 25.Bxg6 Re7 26.Bxh7+ Rxh7 27.Qg6+ Kh8 28.Qf6+ Kg8
29.g6 Qc7 30.gxh7+ Qxh7+ 31.Ka2 Rf8 32.Qe6+ Kh8 33.Rf6 with a decisive advantage for White.

24...Rxe5

or 24...Bxe3 25.Nf6+ Kg7 26.Bxg6 hxg6 27.Qe2 Qd2 28.Nxe8+ Rxe8 29.Qf3 Bf4 30.Qh3 and
White is winning

25.Bxg6 hxg6 26.Nf6+ Kg7 27.g4 Re7 28.Qf2 and Black’s defensive lines will not hold for long.

7.3)

**
Hint: Room for troublemaking

Show/Hide Solution

18.Bxh6!

42
This is much stronger than the game continuation which went 18.c4 Bf6 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Bb4 Re8
21.Rxe8+ Qxe8 22.Re1 White has a clear advantage. 22...Qd8 23.Qg3 Qb6 24.a3 Kh8 25.Nd6 Kg8
26.Nf5 Kh8 27.Re7 Qc6 28.Rxf7 Rc8 29.Qd3 Qc1+ 30.Ka2 Rc2 31.Bc3 Nc5 32.Qb5 Kh7 33.Qxc5
b6 34.Qb4 Rxf2 35.Rxf6 Rf1 36.Rxh6+! Kg8 37.Rh8+! and Black resigned. 1-0 M.Kanarek (2493) –
J.Baum (2308) Warsaw 2019.
Two non-starter alternatives are 18.Nxe7+ Nxe7 when White doesn’t have enough for the sacrificed
piece.
And 18.Rxe7?? Nxe7 19.Nxh6+ gxh6 20.Bxh6 Kh8 and Black is winning.

18.Bxh6! gxh6

Or 18...Bf6 19.Bxg7! and White crashes through.

19.Rxe7! Nxe7 20.Qg3+! Ng6 21.hxg6 Qf6 22.Rxh6 and White is winning.

7.4)

****
Hint: Loose pieces can be headaches

Show/Hide Solution

43
14.Nf5! Qb4

Of course, 14...exf5 15.exf5 is not possible, for instance, 15...Ne5 16.Rxe5 Qc7 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.f6
Nc6 19.Rh5 with a lethal attack on Black’s king.; But 14...Qd8 is probably best, leaving White with a
clear positional advantage after 15.Nd6 Bc6 16.Rc1.

15.Nd6

In the game, White played 15.Qd6!? a5 16.a3 Qc5 17.Qxc5 Nxc5 18.Nd6 White has a clear
advantage. 18...Bc6 19.b4 Nd3 20.b5 Nxe1 21.Rxe1 Be8 22.Na4 Nd7 23.e5 Rd8 24.f4 f6 25.Bh3
Bf7 26.Nxf7 Kxf7 27.exf6 Nxf6 28.Bxe6+ Kg6 29.Nxb6 Rb8 30.Nc4 Rxb5 31.g4 Nxg4 32.Bxg4
Rxf4 33.Be6 Kf6 34.Bg8 g6 35.Nd6 Rg5+ 36.Kh1 Rh5 37.Ne8+ Kg5 38.Ng7 and Black resigned. 1-
0 P.Velten (2513) – M.Harff (2368) Saint-Quentin 2019

15...Bc6 16.a3 Qc5 17.Rc1 Qg5 18.Ncb5! Bxb5 19.f4 Qe7 20.Nxb5

Black is positionally busted.

20...Na6 21.e5 Rad8 22.Qd6

22.Qe2!? is also terrible for Black.

22...Qxd6 23.Nxd6 Nab8 24.b4 with a thoroughly depressing position for Black.

Set 8

8.1)

44
 ***
Hint: The lead in the development needs to be pushed

Show/Hide Solution

16.Nb5! Bb6 17.c5!

A strong alternative is 17.Bd2, e.g., 17...Nd7 18.Bc3+ Ne5 19.b4 (19.f4?? allows 19...Bxg1 and
while still better for White, for example, 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Nxc7 Rb8 22.Bxe5+ Kg8 23.Bg2 f4
24.Ne6 Bxe6 25.dxe6 Rbe8 26.Bd5, there is no need to enter this line when you are nearly winning in
the main line.) 19...Re8 20.c5 dxc5 21.bxc5 Ba5! 22.Bxa5 Nf3+ 23.Kd1 Nxg1 24.Nxc7 Bd7
25.Nxa8 Rxa8 26.Rb1 Ba4+ 27.Kc1 and White is winning.

17...dxc5 18.Bf4?

In a later game, Lalith here instead went for the stronger 18.0-0-0! Nd7? (or 18...a6 19.Nxc7 Bxc7
20.d6 Bd8 21.Bh6 and White is winning) 19.d6 c6 20.Nc7 Rb8 21.Bh6 and Black resigned, 1–0,
B.Lalith-C.Likhit, Majitar 2019.

18...Ba5+

Here, the lesser evil would have been 18...Re8+ 19.Kd2 Nd7 20.Nxc7 Re4 21.Ne6 with a large
advantage for White.

19.b4! Bxb4+

45
Now the bishop has been removed from guarding the c7 pawn, and therefore White is winning.

20.Kd1 Re8 21.Nxc7 Re4 22.Bh6 Bc3 23.Rc1 Be5 24.Nxa8 b6 25.Rc4 Black resigned. 1–0

B.Lalith (2580) – A.Pijpers (2474) Leiden 2019

8.2)

**
Hint: One weakness is bigger than the others

Show/Hide Solution

18.Re6! Bxe6

The alternative 18...Kg7 runs into 19.Qxf5, as the rook on e6, removed the guardian of the f-pawn.

19.dxe6 Ne8 20.Nxg4!

Exploiting the pin of the f-pawn. Black’s position is rapidly collapsing.

20...Kh7 21.Ne3 Ng7 22.Bh3 and Black resigned. 1–0

S.B.Hansen (2575) – G.Welling (2310) Helsingor 2019

46
 8.3)

*
Hint: Find the one weakness that is more obvious than the others

Show/Hide Solution

13.Nxd5! exd5

If Black tries the sneaky 13...Qb8 then White plays 14.Nf4 and if Black lashes out with 14...g5? (if
14...0-0 then 15.g3 maintains White’s extra pawn) then White has the strong 15.e4!! Bxf4 (or
15...Bxe4 16.Nxe6 Nf6 17.Bf3 and White is winning) 16.Bxf4 Qxf4 17.exf5 Qxf5 18.Qa3 with a
large positional advantage for White.

14.Qxd5 Qf6 15.e4!

The point, now White wins back the piece.

15...Bg6 16.e5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Qxe5 18.Qxe5+ Bxe5 19.Bb4 Kd7 20.Rac1 Rd8 21.Rfd1+ Ke8
22.Re1

White is winning.

47
22...f6 23.Bf1 b6 24.f4 Rd4 25.Rc4 Rad7 26.fxe5 Rxc4 27.Bxc4 1–0

J.Cori (2686) – S.Bogner (2584) Biel 2019

8.4)

***
Hint: Go beyond the obvious to find the penetration

Show/Hide Solution

25.Re8+ Rxe8 26.Rxe8+ Bf8 27.Qa6!

A powerful follow-up move, the idea is Qa3, attacking the bishop on f8. However, White should
refrain from 27.Ne5 as 27...Re7 28.Rxe7 Qxe7 29.Nxg6 hxg6 30.Nc6 Qe4 leaves the chances about
even.

27...Qd6

Stopping Qa3, but allowing Qc8. Alternatively, 27...h6 28.Qa3 Qd6 29.Qxd6 Rxd6 runs into
30.Ne7+ Kh7 31.Rxf8 and White has won a piece.

28.Qc8 Black resigned. The threat of Rxf8 will cost Black material. 1–0

48
D.Vocaturo (2612) – K.Kucuksari (2310) Helsingor 2019

49
 Show in Text Mode

Set 9

9.1)

**
Hint: Reach in to find the weakest spot

Show/Hide Solution

23.Bb5!

In the game, White missed this opportunity and instead played 23.Rfe1 Kh8?? (Black immediately
returns the favor with interest; after 23...Rc6, Black would still have been fighting) 24.Bb1?? (White
misses another golden opportunity in 24.Nf6! Nxf6 25.Bxf6+ Kg8 26.Bxg6! fxg6 27.Rd7 and it is
curtains for Black) 24...Rc6?? (24...Bc5!) 25.Nf6 Nxf6 26.Bxf6+ Kg8 27.Rd7 Rc7 28.Bxg6 and
Black resigned. 1-0 G.Gutman (2466) – G.Ter-Saakian (2338) Pardubice rapid 2019

23.Bb5! Bg7

Or 23...Qxb5 24.Rxd5 and White is winning.

50
24.Bxe8 Rxe8 25.Bf6 and White is winning.

9.2)

***
Hint: Who are we hunting?

Show/Hide Solution

21.Rxd7! Qxd7 22.Qg5 g6 23.Nh6+!

The tempting 23.Bxf7+?? is refuted by 23...Kxf7!! and 23.Qf6 fails to produce anything after
23...gxf5 24.Rxf5 Qd1+ 25.Kh2 Ne5 26.Rg5+ (or 26.Rxe5? Rxe5 27.Qxe5 Qd8 and Black is better)
26...Ng6 27.Rxg6+ hxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kh8 29.Qh6+ with a draw by perpetual check.

23...Kg7 24.Nxf7!

24.Qf6+?? Kxh6 25.Rf4 Re5! defends and wins for Black and similarly 24.Bxf7?? is refuted by
24...Qd8!.

24...Qe7 25.Qh6+ Kg8 26.Ne5+ and Black resigned before getting mated. 1–0

V.Plat,V (2548) – J.Goriatchkin (2316) Pardubice 2019

51
 9.3)

***
Hint: Poor coordination

Show/Hide Solution

24...Rcc8!

The game continued with 24...e5 25.Kh1?? (White should have defended with 25.Bd1 Rcc8 26.Qg4
e4 when Black has the better chances but is not anywhere near winning) 25...Rcc8 26.Qg4 Nxe2
27.Rxe2 Ba6 28.Ree1 Bxf1 29.Rxf1 Qa6 and White resigned. 0-1 K.Solomon (2375) – B.Bellahcene
(2541) African ch (Hammamet) 2019

24...Rcc8! 25.Qg4

Or 25.Qf4 Nxe2+ 26.Rxe2 Qxf4 27.exf4 Ba6 and Black wins the exchange and should win the game.

25...h5 26.Qg3 Nxe2+ 27.Rxe2 Ba6 and, once more, White loses the exchange and should lose.

9.4)

52
 **
Hint: The weakest point needs to be determined

Show/Hide Solution

24.e6!

A tempting alternative is 24.Rf6, which fooled many in the Facebook group, but if Black stays calm,
she will be able to defend: 24...Qb7 25.R1f4 (or 25.Bh4 b4! 26.R1f4 (26.Bg5?? hxg5 27.Qxg5 c3 and
Black is winning) 26...c3 and Black has sufficient counterplay or 25.Bxa5 Rxa5 26.R1f4 Be6)
25...Rea8 26.Rg4 Kf8! and Black holds White at a safe distance.

24.e6! Bxe6

24...fxe6 is not possible as the rook on e8 is hanging.

25.d5

The point behind the previous move, the bishop will be prevented from keeping up its defensive
duties of the f7–pawn, and thus White is making a decisive break-through.

25...Qc5 26.Rxf7 b4

Or 26...Qxe3+ 27.R7f2 Bd7 28.Qf7+ Kh8 29.Qxd7 and Black is busted.

53
27.Rc7 Qb5 28.a4 and Black resigned. 1–0

D.Harika (2492) – A.Kosteniuk (2517) Shaoxing 2019

Set 10

10.1)

***
Hint: Add firepower

Show/Hide Solution

22...e4!

It can look counter-intuitive to apparently wanting to close the center, but after the text move, White
has a tough time keeping all his piece protected.

23.Bxf6

The alternatives are no better: a) 23.d4 Nh5 24.Bxh5 Rxf2+ (or 24...Bxh5 25.Kc3 Rf7 is a positional
disaster for White but the main line is even better for Black) 25.Rxf2 Qxg3 26.Kc1 Bxh5 and Black
is winning. b) 23.Ng4 exd3 24.Bxd3 Ne4+ 25.Bxe4 Bxe4 26.Qc1 Nf3+ and Black is winning.

54
23...Bxf6 24.Ng4 Bg7 25.d4 Nf5

White’s position is collapsing.

26.Rg2 Nxd4! 27.Qa2

Or 27.exd4 e3+ and oops!

27...Nf5 28.Kc1 Nh4

White resigned as he loses material; after 29.Rgg1 h5, the knight on g4 is without squares. 0–1

F.Cruz (2304) – A.Harikrishnan (2401) Barcelona 2019

10.2)

*
Hint: Teamwork against overburdened defenders

Show/Hide Solution

18.Nf5!

This is stronger than the alternative that also preys on Black’s queen being overburdened, 18.Nc6

55
Qe6 19.Nxe7+ Qxe7 20.Bxb7 Rab8 21.Qg4 Qg5 22.Qxg5 hxg5 23.Bxa6 and White has better
chances in the endgame.

18.Nf5! Qe6 19.Qg4! Ng6

Or 19...g5 20.h4 Nxf5 21.Bxf5 Qe7 22.Qh5 and White is winning.

20.Bd5 h5 21.Ne7+!

This move forces mate. In the game, White missed the opportunity but still won after 21.Qxh5 Qxd5
22.Nh6+ gxh6 23.Qxd5 b5 24.Qc6 f6 25.Rd1 Bb6 26.Rd7 Rae8 27.Qd5+ Kh8 28.Qh5 Ne7
29.Bxf6+ Kg8 30.Bxe7 Rf7 31.Qg6+ and Black resigned.

21...Qxe7 22.Qxg6 and Black can only delay mate for a few moves. 1–0

D.Navara (2734) – S.Fedorchuk (2633) Riga blitz 2019

10.3)

*
Hint: Open Sesame!

Show/Hide Solution

56
27...Ra1+ 28.Kc2

Of course, 28.Bxa1 Rxa1+ wins easily for Black.

28...Qxb2+!

And White resigned as he is getting mated, e.g., 28...Qxb2+ 29.Kxb2 R8a2+ 30.Kb3 Nd4+ 31.Kb4
Ra4# Gorgeous! 0–1

S.Ivanov (2496) – C.Sandipan (2516) Leiden 2019

10.4)

*
Hint: Loose, loose pieces

Show/Hide Solution

29.Ng6!

Best. Another tempting option is 29.Ng4 but Black can put up some resistance with 29...Nf4, even if
30.Nxh6+ gxh6 31.Qc3 f6 32.Qxc7 is clearly better for White.

57
29.Ng6! fxg6

Or 29...Qd7 30.Bxd5 Bxd5 31.Ne7+ and White is winning a piece.

30.Bxd5! Kh7 31.Rxe6 Qxe6 32.Rxc7! and Black resigned. 1–0

R.Svane (2615) – A.Zubov (2601) Riga rapid 2019

Set 11

11.1)

***
Hint: Surprising holes

Show/Hide Solution

18...Nxe4!

The capture is the strongest. It doesn’t win, but it challenges White to play very accurately, and even
if he responds in kind, he will still be worse.

19.Nxe4??

58
A bad mistake by the grandmaster behind the white pieces. The best defense was 19.dxe4 and then
Black has the stunning 19...Rd2!! 20.Qxd2 (but not 20.Bxd2?? Nd3+ 21.Kf1 Nxf2 and Black is
winning) 20...Nf3+ 21.Kd1 Nxd2 22.Bxd2 Rxf2 23.Kc2 Rf3 24.Rbf1 Qd3+ 25.Kc1 Rxf1+ 26.Rxf1
Qxh3 and Black has the upper hand but he is still very far from winning.

19...Qxd3 20.N4c3 Nf3+ 21.Kf1 Nd2+ 22.Bxd2 Rxd2!

In the game, Black went wrong with 22...Qf3? and eventually lost after 23.Be1 Rxe2?? (23...Qxh1+
24.Ng1 Rxb1 25.Qxb1 Bh2 26.Nce2 would still have been about even.) 24.Nxe2 Qxh1+ 25.Ng1
Bh2 26.Qg4 Bxg1 27.Qg2 Qh2 28.Rb3 Qf4 29.Kxg1 Qxc4 30.Bc3 g6 31.Qb7 e5 32.Qd7 and Black
resigned. 1–0 H.Stevic (2569) – R.Makarian (2384) Schwarzach 2019

23.Qe1 Bg3 and White is completely busted.

11.2)

***
Hint: X-ray vision

Show/Hide Solution

22.e5! dxe5

59
White is winning after 22...Na5 23.Bxb7 Nxb7 (or 23...Qxb7 24.f5! gxf5 25.exf6 exf6 26.Qh7+ Kf8
27.Ng3! fxg5 28.Nxf5 f6 29.Rbe1 and Black’s king will not survive) 24.f5 dxe5 25.fxg6 fxg6 26.Nc3
Qd8 27.Nce4 and Black cannot defend against White’s onslaught.

23.Bd5!

This move was the point behind the previous move.

23...e6

Or 23...Nxd5 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Ne6+ fxe6 26.fxe5+ Nf6 27.Bh6 Rec8 28.Bxg7+ Ke8 29.exf6 with a
large advantage for White.; Alternatively, 23...Nd8 24.Bxb7 Qxb7 25.fxe5 is also much better for
White.

24.fxe5 Nxe5 25.Bxb7 Qxb7 26.Rxf6 Bxf6 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Bxc5+ Re7 29.Rf1 Ke8 30.Ne4

The bishop on f6 will fall, leaving White winning.

30...Qc6 31.Nd4 Nf3+ 32.Nxf3 Bb2 33.Bxe7 Kxe7 34.Qxf7+ and Black resigned. 1–0

M.Radovanovic (2500) – O.Bronstein (2378) European Youth U18 Teams (Pardubice) 2019

11.3)

**
Hint: Poor coordination

60
 Show/Hide Solution

23.Rd6! Simple and strong. Black resigned as he is losing material. 1–0

Li Chao (2691) – I.Cheparinov (2666) Chinese Team ch 2019

11.4)

***
Hint: Loose pieces

Show/Hide Solution

23.Bxe6!

If White didn’t have this option, Black would have a good game with plenty of weak pawns to target.

23...fxe6

Or 23...Ndf6 24.Bh3 Qd6 25.f5 Rh6 26.fxg6 Rxg6 27.Qe1 and White is winning.

24.Qxg6 Ndf6 25.Rxe4!

61
White launches a deadly attack, and Black has no reasonable defense because his pieces are
hopelessly coordinated.

25...Nxe4 26.f5! Rxh4 27.fxe6 Qc7 28.Rf1+ Rf4 29.Qh6+ and Black resigned. 1–0

J.Xiong (2691) – A.Donchenko (2615) Biel 2019

Set 12

12.1)

**
Hint: Material considerations

Show/Hide Solution

21.Bxd4 Bxh1 22.Bc3!

The game continued 22.Be5?! Qc6?? (Black should have played 22...Rxe5 23.fxe5 Qc6) 23.Bc3 Be4
24.Bc4 Qxc4 25.Qf6 Kf8 26.Qg7+ Ke7 27.Bb4+ Ke6 28.Qe5# 1-0 L.Hauge (2476) –
A.Tryggestad (2336) Helsingor 2019

22...Bc6 23.Bc4! Qe7 24.Bf6! Qe3+ 25.Kb1 Re6 26.Bc3! and Black is entirely busted. The threat is
Qh6 which is almost impossible to stop.

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 12.2)

**
Hint: Out to dance

Show/Hide Solution

20.Bxf7+!

Black’s king position gets ripped apart.

20...Kxf7 21.Qc4+ Kf6

Or 21...Ke8 22.Bxc5 Qe5 23.Kf1! Qf6 24.Re1+ and White is winning.

22.Nd5+ Kf7

Or 22...Ke6 23.Nb6+ Kf6 24.Bxc5 Qe6 25.Qf4+ Qf5 26.Qc7 and Black’s position falls apart.

23.Nc7+ Kf6 24.Bg5+ Kf5 25.Qe4+ Kxg5 26.Qh4+ Kf5 27.g4+ and Black resigned before getting
mated. 1–0

L.Martinez Duany (2535) – C.Navrotescu (2356) Gijon 2019

63
 12.3)

***
Hint: How to exploit a lead in development

Show/Hide Solution

12...f5! 13.gxf5 Nxf5 14.Rh2

After 14.exf5 Qxf5, Black will win the piece back with interest.

14...d5 15.Ng5 h6 16.Qg4 hxg5 17.h4 gxh4 18.exf5 Qxf5 19.Qxh4+ Kg8

Black has won a pawn and is much better.

20.Nb5 Rac8 21.Bd2 Rf6 22.Ra4 Rcf8 23.Qh8+ Kf7 24.Qh4?

Or 24.Qh5+ Qxh5 25.Rxh5 would have gotten the queens off the board, but Black is winning after
25...Bxf2+.

24...Qxd3 25.Nxc7 Bb6 26.Qg4 Bxc7 27.Qd7+ Ne7 28.Qxc7 Rg6 White resigned. 0–1

V.Moiseenko (2523) – V.Ivanchuk (2684) Turkish Team ch (Konya) 2019

64
 12.4)

**
Hint: Strain the defenders

Show/Hide Solution

27.Qxa6!!

This move, more or less, wins on the spot. In the game, White played a series of mistakes and
eventually ended up losing the game after 27.Nxb7? Qxc6 28.Rd8+? (White would still have a clear
advantage after 28.Qb2! Nd7 29.Qb4 g5 30.Nd6+) 28...Ke7 29.Qd2?? (29.Rxh8 Qxb7 30.h3 and
White has the better chances) 29...Qb6! Ouch! 30.Qd6+ Qxd6 31.Rxd6 Rb8 32.Rb6 a5 and White
resigned. 0-1 A.Macovei (2424) – J.Ciorgovean (2330) Arad 2019

27.Qxa6!! Qxa6 28.Rd8#

Set 13

13.1)

65
 ****
Hint: Wait, what material?

Show/Hide Solution

26.Rxd7!!

In the game, White played the much potent 26.a4!? Rxb2? (26...Rxe5 27.Bxe5 Qxe5 28.Qxe5 Nxe5
and Black is still alive) 27.Kh2?? (White once more had 27.Rxd7! available as in our main line)
27...Qc8 28.Rd6 c3 (28...b5 29.Nf6+ gxf6 30.Qxh6 Qa8 31.Rg1 Qe4 32.exf6) 29.Bf4?? (Here White
could play the very strong 29.Nf6+! Nxf6 (or 29...gxf6 30.Qxh6 and White is winning) 30.exf6 Bxh3
31.Qxh3 Qxh3+ 32.Kxh3 and White has a clear advantage) 29...Qc4 30.Qf3 Bd5 31.Rxd5 Qxd5
32.Rd1 Qe6 33.Rd6 Nxe5 34.Qh5 Ng4+ and White resigned. 0-1 G.Gutman (2466) – S.Movsesian
(2649) Pardubice 2019

26.Rxd7!! Bxd7 27.Nf6+! gxf6 28.Rxf6 and despite his extra rook, Black is defenseless.

13.2)

66
 ****
Hint: Double threat

Show/Hide Solution

29...Qf6!!

A sweet cross-pin that not only saves Black but actually gives him the advantage. In the game, Black
blundered with 29...Rc8?? 30.Rxf7+ Kg8 31.Rxe8+ Kxf7 32.Qe6+ and Black resigned before getting
mated. 1-0 J.Stocek (2556) – P.Galperin (2445) Pardubice 2019

29...Qf6!! 30.Qxe8

Necessary if White has to avoid serious material losses or getting mated.

30...Rxe8 31.Rxe8 d3 32.Rb1 Qc6 33.Rd8 Qc2 34.Rf1 d2 and Black has an obvious advantage.

13.3)

67
 **
Hint: Classical methods

Show/Hide Solution

15.e5!

A very strong move that is only possible due to Black’s passive set-up. The point is not solely to
break through with e4–e5, which is an accomplishment in itself, but also that it opens up for the
bishop on d3.

15...Nxe5

The alternatives are not pleasant for Black either: a) 15...dxe5 16.Bxh7+! Kxh7 17.Ng5+ Kg8
18.Qh5 Nf6 19.Qxf7+ Kh8 20.Qxb7 and White is winning. b) 15...Rxe5 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5
dxe5 18.Rxe5 c4 19.Bf5 g6 20.Bc2 and White has a clear advantage, but Black is far from lost. This
is Black’s best continuation.

16.Bxh7+! Kxh7 17.Ng5+ Kg6

17...Kg8 18.Qh5 ends the game quickly.

18.Nce4!

This knight move is crucial; the knight is on the way to g3 to support in queen in checkmating the

68
black king on h5.

18...Qc8 19.Ng3! Qg4

Black accepts a material loss to avoid getting mated, but unlike after 15...Rxe5, Black’s overall
position is quite difficult, if not to say hopeless.

20.Qxg4 Nxg4 21.Rxe8 Nd7 22.Rxa8 Bxa8 23.h4! Ngf6 24.h5+ Nxh5 25.Nxh5 Kxh5 26.Nxf7

Winning the d6–pawn as well, making Black’s chances of a successful defense that much smaller.

26...Bxd5 27.Nxd6 g5 28.Bg3 Bg7 29.Rd1 Nb6 30.Nf5 Bxb2 31.Bc7 Bb3 32.Rd6

And Black resigned as 32.Rd6 Be5 (or 32...Nc4 33.Rh6+ Kg4 34.f3+ Kxf5 35.g4#) 33.Rh6+ Kg4
34.Ne3+ Kf4 35.Bxb6 and White is up a whole rook. 1–0

A.Goganov (2561) – M.Iskandarov (2504) Turkish Team ch (Konya) 2019

13.4)

***
Hint: Strike and strike hard

Show/Hide Solution

69
25.Rxg7+! Kxg7 26.Rf7+ Kg8 27.Qxh4 Nf8

Or 27...Qe2+ 28.Rf2 and Black cannot stop Qh7+ without enduring heavy material losses.

28.Rxf8+ Kxf8 29.Qh8+

White has sacrificed a rook, but Black’s king is not escaping the mating attack.

29...Ke7 30.Qg7+ Kd8 31.Ne6+ Ke8 32.Qf8+ and Black resigned a few moves before getting
mated. 1–0

I.Chighladze (2317) – S.Soylu (2335) Turkish Team ch (Konya) 2019

Set 14

14.1)

**
Hint: Prepare the strike

Show/Hide Solution

27...Bf4! 28.Qc2 Nxf2! 29.Qh7+

70
The knight cannot be captured: 29.Kxf2 Be3+ 30.Ke1 (30.Kg3 Qf4#) 30...Bg1+ 31.Kd2 Qf4+
32.Kd3 Qxd4# or 29.Qxf2 Be3, in both cases with total destruction for White.

29...Kf8

The check on h7 is nothing more than a minor nuisance; White remains completely busted.

30.Nb6 Bg4 31.Bf5 Bxf5 32.Kxf2 Be3+ and White resigned before getting mated. 0–1

Peng Xiongjian (2467) – M.Matlakov (2701) Chinese Team ch 2019

14.2)

***
Hint: The move order is as important as the idea

Show/Hide Solution

27.f6!

Breaking open Black’s king shelter.

27...gxf6

71
Or 27...Kxf6 28.Qc3+ Kf7 29.b4 Qd3 30.Qc1 axb4 31.axb4 Nd7 32.Qxc7 and White has a
substantial advantage.

28.Bf3!

Both 28.Bh3 Qxb3 or 28.Bf1 Qxb3 is fine for Black, but after the text move, White threatens Bh5+,
making Black’s life quite miserable.

28...Qd7

Black prevents the lethal invasion but opens himself to other issues.

29.b4! axb4

Or 29...Na4 30.bxa5 bxa5 31.Bh5+ Kf8 32.Qh6+ Qg7 33.Qd2 with a large advantage for White.

30.axb4 Nb7?

It would have been better to play 30...Na4 31.Qe4 and White’s pieces entirely dominate the board.

31.Qe6+! and Black resigned as he loses the knight on b7. 1–0

Ding Liren (2812) - Zhao Jun (2636) Chinese Team ch 2019

14.3)

72
 **
Hint: Creating the right threat

Show/Hide Solution

21...Rxd4! 22.cxd4 Qd5!

The point behind the previous move which cleared the path for the queen to move forward on to the
a8–h1 diagonal.

23.Kf1 Nb3

Two alternatives are 23...Qh1+ 24.Ke2 Qf3+ 25.Kf1 Ne4 or 23...Qg2+ 24.Ke1 Ne4 25.Rab1 Bd5.

24.Rab1?

This makes matters worse. White should have played 24.Rac1, e.g., 24...Qg2+ 25.Ke1 Qh1+ 26.Ke2
Nxc1+ 27.Rxc1 Qxh2 with a clear advantage.

24...Qh1+!

In the game, Black preferred 24...Nxd4? 25.Bxd4 Bxd4 26.Rxd4 Qxd4 27.Rd1 Qg4 28.Rd7 Bd5
29.Bc6 Qh3+ 30.Ke2 Qh5+ 31.Kf1 and White either resigned or lost on time. 0-1, Lan Zilun (2336)
- Wen Yang (2586) Chinese Team ch 2019

25.Ke2 Bf3+ 26.Kd3 Be4+ 27.Kc3 Rc8+ 28.Bc4 Nxd4! 29.Bxd4 Qf3+! 30.Rd3 Bxd3 31.Qxd3
Bxd4+ 32.Kxd4 Rd8+ and Black is winning.

14.4)

73
 ***
Hint: What to do about that knight?

Show/Hide Solution

25...Qd6!

Black has an excellent alternative in 25...Bd3! 26.Rf2 (or 26.Nc6 Nxc6 27.Rxc6 Be2 28.Rc1 Bd2 and
Black is winning) 26...Ng4 27.Nc6 Qf8 28.Nxd8 Qxd8 29.Rf3 Bxe4 with a large advantage for
Black.

25...Qd6! 26.Ne2?

Making matters worse, the alternatives are not pretty but better, for instance, 26.fxe5 Qxe5 or 26.h3
b5 27.fxe5 Qxe5 28.a3 Bf8 29.Qc3 bxa4 30.Nc6 Rd1+ 31.Kh2 Qxc3 32.Rxc3 Rd2 and Black has a
large advantage.

26...Qd3 27.Qc1 Nf3+ 28.Bxf3 Qxf3 29.Nec3 b5 30.Rf2 Qd3

Now White loses material.

31.a3 bxa4 32.axb4 Rc8 White resigned. 0–1

B.Khotenashvili (2480) - Lei Tingjie (2505) Chinese Team ch 2019

74
 Set 15

15.1)

*
Hint: Brutal attack, executed just right

Show/Hide Solution

22.Nf6+!

This sacrifice is White’s strongest move. It should be mentioned that White can also obtain a
significant advantage with 22.Qd2 f6 23.gxf6 Bxe4 24.Bxe4 Qxf6 25.Bxa8 Rxa8 26.Qh2.

22.Nf6+! gxf6 23.Bxf5! Qxg5

Or 23...exf5 24.Qh4 Bxh1 25.Rxh1 and Black will get mated.

24.Be4!

This move made Black resign. It is much stronger than the alternative, the direct 24.Rg1 exf5
25.Rxg5+ fxg5 26.Qe3 f6 when White is obviously better, but Black is still somewhat alive. 1–0

M.Santos Ruiz (2567) – G.Meins (2417) Biel 2019

75
 15.2)

***
Hint: Precision strikes

Show/Hide Solution

16.Ncxe5! Nxe5

Black can’t capture with the pawn: 16...fxe5 17.Ng5 Qf5 18.Qxc6+ and White is winning.

17.Bc3! 0-0 18.Nxe5 fxe5?!

Not good. A better choice was 18...Bxf2 19.Nxc6 Bxe1 20.Rxe1 Qg4 21.Qxg4 Bxg4 22.Nxb8 Rxb8
and White has an extra pawn, but the win is far from trivial.

19.Rxe5 Qg4? 20.Qxc6 Qf4+ 21.Kb1 Bxf2?

Or 21...Qxf2 22.Rg5 Rf7 23.Qxc5 Qxc5 24.Rxc5 and White should win the endgame.

22.Re7! Qg4

Or 22...Rb7 23.Qd5+ Kh7 24.Qxh5+ Qh6 25.Qxh6+ Kxh6 26.Bxg7+ Kg6 27.Rd6+ Kf5 28.Bxf8
and White is winning.

76
23.Rxg7+ Qxg7 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Qc7+ and Black resigned. 1–0

J.Xiong (2691) – S.M.Shyam (2520) Biel 2019

15.3)

***
Hint: That king needs visitors

Show/Hide Solution

24.Ng5!

White has another strong option in 24.Nf6+! gxf6 25.Qg4+! (but not 25.exf6?? Bc8 26.Qh5 Bxd4+
27.Nxd4 Qf4 and White’s attack has come to a standstill) 25...Kh7 26.exf6 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Rg8
28.Qf5+ Rg6 and now 29.Re8! wins for White, the threat is Ng5+, whereas 29.Nh4 Bxd4+ 30.cxd4
Nd6 and 29.Ng5+ hxg5 and fine, if not better, for Black.

24.Ng5! hxg5

Or 24...g6 25.Nf6+ Kg7 26.Nh5+ Kg8 27.Qf6 gxh5 28.Qxh6 f6 29.exf6 Bxd4+ 30.cxd4 and Black
will not be able to defend.

77
25.Qxg5 f5

Or 25...Re6 26.Nf6+ Rxf6 27.exf6 Bxd4+ 28.cxd4 g6 29.Qh6 and Black gets mated.

26.exf6 and Black resigned. 1–0

F.Vallejo Pons (2687) – Xu Yinglun (2562) Changsha 2019

15.4)

**
Hint: Open the fountain

Show/Hide Solution

22...d3!

Black can also play 22...Nd7 23.Bxd7 Rxd7 24.Qd3 Nf4 and Black is much better and will likely
win.

22...d3! 23.Rf1

Or 23.Bxd3 Na4!, threatening both ...Nb2 and ...Nc3.

78
23...Nd7

Black also wins with 23...Nd5 24.exd5 dxe2 25.Bxe2 Nf4 and 23...Qg2.

24.Qxd3 Nxc5 25.Qxd8+ Rxd8 26.Rxd8+ Bf8

Black is winning.

27.bxc5 Qc7 28.Rd3 Qa5+ 29.Nc3 Nf4 and White resigned. 0–1

J.S.Thybo (2528) – M.Lagarde (2597) Escaldes 2019

Set 16

16.1)

***
Hint: Exploit the absence

Show/Hide Solution

18...Ne7!

Very provocative and very good. But Black has a strong alternative in 18...Re8! when White’s

79
position soon becomes unplayable, for instance, 19.Qf3 Ne5 20.Qh1 Be2 21.Re1 Nd3! and White’s
position is a disaster.

18...Ne7! 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Rxd8

White has won Black’s queen, but his queenside pieces remain undeveloped, and he is completely
busted.

20...Rxc1+ 21.Kg2 Rxd8 22.Qxb4 Bf1+ 23.Kf3 Nc6 24.Qb3+ Rc4 25.g4 Ne5+ 26.Kg3 Rb8 and
White resigned. 0–1

Liu Yan (2516) – S.Sethuraman (2630) Changsha 2019

16.2)

***
Hint: Catching strays

Show/Hide Solution

20.f4!

This move traps the black queen in the corner. In the game, White instead chose 20.Rdf1 Nb4

80
21.Nxb4 axb4 22.f4 Nd7? (22...Nf7 23.Bf3 would have left White with no more than a clear
advantage.) 23.Bf3 Nc5 24.Qe2 Qh3 25.Bg4 Qh2 26.Rh1 Qg2 27.Bf3 and Black resigned. 1–0
A.Zubov (2607) – Lee Jun Hyeok (2437) Abu Dhabi 2019

20.f4! Nd7

Or 20...Qxf2 21.fxe5 and White has won a piece for some pawns.

21.Bf3!

Another fun line is 21.Bg4!? Ncb8 22.Rh1 Qg2 23.Rdg1 Qe4 24.f3 Qe8 25.Qh2 Rh8 26.Qh6+ Kf7
27.Qxh7+ Rxh7 28.Rxh7+ Kg8 29.Rgh1 and White is clearly winning.

21...Nc5 22.Rh1 and White wins the queen.

16.3)

**
Hint: Before you think you have the solution, think again and refine

Show/Hide Solution

26...Nxb3! 27.Qxb3 Rdc8! and White resigned.

81
A possible continuation was 27...Rdc8 28.Rxc6 Qxd4+ (but not 28...Qxb3?? 29.Rxc8+ and White is
winning) 29.Rf2 (or 29.Kf1 Qd1+ 30.Kf2 Rxc6 and the pin on the c2–rook decides) 29...Rxc6 30.g3
h4! 31.gxh4 Rc1+ 32.Kg2 Rc3 and White is busted. 0–1

M.Perunovic (2597) – M.Stankovic (2462) Montenegro Team ch (Podgorica) 2019

16.4)

**
Hint: Thematic

Show/Hide Solution

22.Nxf7!

This is best, ripping Black’s position apart. However, White has a strong alternative in 22.Rhf1 Nxg3
23.hxg3 Qb6 (or 23...Qd6 24.Bf5 Rh5 25.Bxg4 with a winning position for White) 24.Rxf7!! Bxf7
25.Ba4+ and Black is busted.

22.Nxf7! Kxf7 23.Rhf1

Or 23.Rdf1 Rh5 24.Qxg4 Rg5 25.Qh3 and White will win; the threat is Bh4.

82
23...Qd7

Or 23...Rh5 24.Qxg4 Rg5 25.Qh3 Qd7 26.Bf4 Rg6 27.Rde1 and White is winning.

24.Rxf5+ Bxf5 25.Rf1 Bf6

Or 25...Rh5 26.Qxg4 Rah8 27.Bxf5 and White is winning.

26.Bxf5 Qe7 27.Qxg4

White is winning.

27...Rag8 28.Qf3 Kg7 29.Rc1 Kh6 30.Bf4+ Bg5 31.h4 Bxf4 32.Qxf4+ Kh5 33.g4+ and Black
resigned before getting mated. 1–0

Xu Yinglun (2562) – N.Batsiashvili,N (2433) Changsha 2019

83
Show in Text Mode

Chapter 2
Sets 17-32

Set 17

17.1)

84
 ***
Hint: Color complex

Show/Hide Solution

24.Bd5!

The intention with this move is not to win material but rather target the very weak light squares in
Black’s camp. There are several tempting alternatives, but they are mostly ineffective: a) 24.Qh7
Rxe3 25.fxe3 Qxe3 and Black is doing well.
b) 24.Rxe7 Rxe7 25.Qh7 Qxf2 26.Qh8+ Kf7 27.Bd5+ Be6 28.Bxe6+ Rxe6 and Black is much better.
c) 24.g5 fxg5 25.hxg5 Rxe3 26.fxe3 Bb5 27.c4 Rxf3 28.gxh6 gxh6 29.Qd5 Rf7 and Black’s defense
holds.
d) 24.Rge1!? Rxe3 25.Rxe3 f5 26.Bd5 Re7 27.gxf5 Rxe3 28.fxe3 Qc5 29.f6 gxf6 30.Bxb7 and White
has an extra pawn in the endgame and has excellent winning chances.

24.Bd5! Rxe3 25.fxe3 Re7 26.Qh7!

Threatening mate, forcing Black to make room for the king. On the other hand, 26.g5 Qxe3 is fine for
Black.

26...Be6

Or 26...Re8 27.Qh8+ Ke7 28.Qxg7+ Kd8 29.Qxf6+ Kc8 30.Qxh6 and White is winning.

85
27.g5 fxg5

Or 27...Bxd5 28.gxf6 gxf6 29.Qh8+ Kf7 30.Qg8#.

28.Qh8+ Kf7 29.Rf1+ Kg6 30.Qf8 Qb5 31.h5+ and Black resigned as he is losing material. 1–0

A.Motylev (2654) – Zhao Yuanhe (2448) Changsha 2019

17.2)

****
Hint: Discoordination to create opportunity

Show/Hide Solution

30.Re6!

After this shrewd move, the a2–g8 diagonal becomes opened and the passed mobile.

30...Bxe6

Or 30...fxe6 31.dxe6 Qe7 32.Rxd8 Rxd8 33.Bxf6 Qxf6 34.e7+ Kg7 35.Nd5 and White is winning.

31.dxe6 Qe5 32.e7 Rxd1 33.exf8=Q+ Kxf8 34.Qxd1

86
White has won a piece and is, of course, winning.

34...g5 35.Bf2 Bxh2 36.Qe2 Qc7 37.Ne4 Nxe4 38.Qxe4 Kg7 39.Qf5 Black resigned. 1–0

I.Cheparinov (2666) - Wang Hao (2725) Changsha 2019

17.3)

**
Hint: Opening the can

Show/Hide Solution

26...f3! 27.Nd3

Capturing the pawn allows a forced mate: 27.gxf3 Nxg4 28.fxg4 (or 28.f4 Rg8) 28...Qd5 and
according to the computer, White can delay mate for five more moves.

27...Nxg4!

In the game, Black played 27...Re2? 28.Nf4 Nxg4 29.gxf3 Bxf3 30.Qf1 Nxh2 31.Qh3 Rxd2 32.Re1
Qxf4 33.Re8+ Kg7 34.Qd7+ Qf7 and White resigned. 0–1 B.Lajthajm (2424) – S.Brenjo (2429)
Montenegro Team ch (Podgorica) 2019

87
28.Nf4 f2+ 29.Kf1 Qd7!

Threatening ...Qb5+.

30.Rc1 Qf5 31.h3 Re1+! and White can resign.

17.4)

***
Hint: Which loose pieces?

Show/Hide Solution

22...Nxc2!

The game continuation was 22...Qc7 23.Nc1 Nb6 24.Nd3 Rc8 25.Nxb4 axb4 (the position is very
unclear) 26.b3 Nd5 27.Bc1 Bc5 28.Nxc5 Nc3+ 29.Ka1 Qxc5 30.Rd2 Ra8 31.Qg5 Nxb5 32.Rd8+
Rxd8 33.Qxd8+ Rf8 34.Qg5 Rg8 and White resigned. 0-1 J.Azarya (2409) – Peng Xiongjian (2467)
Changsha 2019

22...Nxc2! 23.Qxc2

Or 23.Rxd5 Na3+ 24.bxa3 Bxd5 25.Rc1 Qe6 and Black has the better chances.

88
23...Qxc2+ 24.Kxc2 Nb4+ and Black wins the piece back with interest and a better position to boot.

Set 18

18.1)

***
Hint: Right where you want the piece to be

Show/Hide Solution

32...Bd3!

Black uses the queen’s defensive obligations (to the h2–pawn) to activate his pieces. This is much
stronger than 32...g5 33.Rxg4 fxg4 34.Nb5 Rf5 35.Bb4 Rf3 36.Nd4 when White is more or less okay.

32...Bd3! 33.Qd2

Of course, the bishop cannot be captured, 33.Qxd3?? Qxh2+ 34.Kf1 Nxe3+ wins on the spot for
Black.

33...Rxe3! 34.Nf3

Or 34.Rb2 g5 35.Rf3 Re2 36.Qxe2 Bxe2 37.Rxe2 f4 and Black is winning.

89
34...Qh3 35.Qg2 Qxg2+ 36.Kxg2 Re2+ 37.Kg1 Be4 and White resigned. He cannot prevent further
penetration of Black’s pieces. 0–1

Lin Weiguo (2408) – G.Munkhgal (2442) Changsha 2019

18.2)

***
Hint: Obvious choices or precision?

Show/Hide Solution

35...Rxf3!

Direct and devastating. Overly cautious but nevertheless strong is 35...Bc6 36.Qd1 Bd5 when Black’s
pieces dominate.

35...Rxf3! 36.gxf3

White also loses after 36.Rxd7 Rf2 37.Qg1 Qxc2, the threat against g2 along with the advance of the
cpawn, will decide the game in Black’s favor.

36...Qxf3+ 37.Kg1 Qe3+

90
But not 37...Bc6?? 38.Rd8+ Kf7 39.Qf1 Qf6 40.Rd4 and White is better.

38.Kf1 e5

Or more elegantly, 38...c3 39.Qe1 Bb5+ 40.Rd3 Bxd3+ 41.cxd3 Qh3+ 42.Kg1 c2 and Black is
winning.

39.Qd1 Bh3+ 40.Rg2 h6 and White resigned. 0–1

S.Guerra Rivera (2344) – A.Hakobyan (2559) Bratislava 2019

18.3)

****
Hint: Surprising resources

Show/Hide Solution

24...Ba6 White resigned after the text move.

A possible continuation was 24...Ba6! 25.Qxa8 Rxe2 when the standard save 26.Qg8+ Kxg8
27.d8=Q+ Kh7 does not work because the d3–square is guarded by Black’s bishop on a6.
The alternatives win for White, e.g., 24...Rxe2?? 25.Qg8+!! Kxg8 (also 25...Kg6 is quickly punished:

91
26.Rd6+ f6 27.Rxf6+ Kxf6 28.Bb2+ Rxb2 29.d8=Q+ Ke5 30.Qxg7+ Kf5 31.Qd3+ Ke6 32.Qgg6+
Ke7 33.Qdd6#) 26.d8=Q+ Kh7 27.Qd3+ and White is winning.
Or 24...Bb7?? 25.Qxa8 Rxe2 (25...Bxa8 26.d8=Q Rxe2 27.Qd3+ similarly wins for White) 26.Qg8+!
Kxg8 27.d8=Q+ Kh7 28.Qd3+ with the same pattern as we have seen a couple of times. 0–1

R.Rapport,(2747) – L.Dominguez Perez (2763) Saint Louis Rapid 2019

18.4)

***
Hint: Mate is in the air

Show/Hide Solution

27...Re3!

Strictly speaking 27...Rg3! is a quicker win, e.g., 28.hxg3 Qf2+ 29.Kh2 g1=Q+.

27...Re3! 28.Rf1 gxf1=Q+ 29.Rxf1 Re1! and White resigned. 0–1

M.Haubro (2374) – F.Urkedal (2566) Gothenburg 2019

92
 Set 19

19.1)

***
Hint: Uncastled king

Show/Hide Solution

15.Nxe6!

In the game, White preferred 15.Bg5!? a move that has also been given preference by players such as
Van der Sterren and Razuvaev before him: 15...Nxe5 (worse is 15...Qa5 16.Nxe6 Rg8 17.Rac1 and
Black is busted) 16.Nxe6 Nxg4 17.Bb5+ Qd7 18.Nxg7+ Kf8 19.Bxd7 h6 20.Bxg4 White has a large
advantage. 20...hxg5 21.Nc5 Nf6 22.Nge6+ fxe6 23.Bxe6 Re8 24.Rad1 Rh7 25.f4 g4 26.f5 Rc7
27.fxg6 Kg7 28.Bf7 Re2 29.Ne6+ Kh6 30.Rxf6 and Black resigned. 1-0 B.Lalith (2574) –
A.Nesteretz (2387) Riga 2019

15.Nxe6! fxe6

Forced.

16.Bg5 Qc8

Or 16...Ne7 17.Bb5 a6 (17...Bd5 18.Nc5 leaves Black busted) 18.Nc5 axb5 and now instead of
19.Nxb7?? Nxe5 20.Qxe6 Qd7 21.Nd6+? (21.Nc5!) 21...Kf8 22.Qb3?? Qxd6 23.Rfd1 Qc7 24.Rac1

93
Qb7 25.Qe6 Re8 26.Bf6 Nf5 and White resigned, 0–1, M.Lindinger (2358) –D.Sebastian (2360),
Hamburg 2003, White could have won with 19.Nxe6 Nxe5 20.Nxg7+ Kf8 (or 20...Kf7 21.Qe6+
Kxg7 22.Qxe5+ Kg8 23.Qe6+ Kg7 24.Qf6+ Kg8 25.Bh6 when preventing mate will cost Black the
queen) 21.Qe6! Nd7 22.Rad1 and it is curtains for Black.

17.Rac1!

Or 17.Qxe6+ Kf8 18.Qd6+ Kg8 19.Rac1 Qe8 20.Bc4 Bxe5 21.Bxd5+ Kg7 22.Qe6 Qxe6 23.Bxe6
Nf6 24.Nc5 and White has a large advantage.

17...Nxe5 18.Rxc8+ Bxc8 19.Bb5+ Kf7 20.Qe4 and White is winning.

19.2)

***
Hint: Pins

Show/Hide Solution

26.Nxe4

In the game, White continued with the less accurate 26.d6?! cxd6 and now made an additional
mistake 27.Bxf7+? (27.Nxe4! fxe4 28.Bxe5 Bxc4 29.Qxc4+ Rxc4 30.Bxf6 Kf7 31.Bxg5 d5 32.Rd4

94
Rxd4 33.Rxd4 is clearly better for White) 27...Qxf7 28.Nd5 Nxd5 29.Rxd5 Re8 30.Bc1 and White
either resigned or lost on time, 30...Rc5 wins for Black. 0-1 A.Onkoud (2322) – M.Sebag (2450)
Paris blitz 2019

26.Nxe4 fxe4 27.Bxe5 Qxe5 28.d6 Bxc4 29.Qxc4+ Kg7 30.dxe7 with a decisive advantage for
White.

19.3)

****
Hint: Using the right wrench

Show/Hide Solution

26...R8a3!

But not 26...Nd3? 27.g3! (this is stronger than 27.Bg3?? Be5 28.Bxe5 Nxe5 29.Rcb1 R8a3 30.Rb8+
Kh7 31.R1b3 Rxb3 32.Rxb3 Nxc4 leaves Black better) 27...Be5 28.Qxd3 Bxf4 29.Rg1 R8a3 30.Rb3
Ra1 31.Rxa3 Rxg1 32.Ra8+ Kh7 33.Rh8+ Kxh8 34.Qd4+ Be5 35.Qxg1 Qf6 36.f4 with a small
advantage for White.

26...R8a3! 27.Bg3

95
Or 27.Be3 Be5+ 28.Kg1 Nd3 29.Rcb1 Qg3 and White is without a defense.

27...Qxg3+! 28.Kxg3 Nxe4+ 29.Bxe4 Rxd2 30.Rb8+ Kh7 31.h4 f5 32.Bb1 Be5+ 33.Kh3 Rxf3+
and with mate coming on the next move, White resigned. 0–1

G.Aczel (2538) – V.Tiba (2378) Budapest 2019

19.4)

*
Hint: One weakness calls more than the others

Show/Hide Solution

22.Nef6+!

22.Nhf6+! gxf6 23.Nxf6+ leads to the same position as the game continuation.

22.Nef6+! gxf6 23.Nxf6+ Kf8 24.Qh5

Or 24.Qd2 Be6 25.Bxc6 bxc6 26.Nxh7+ Kg7 27.Qg5+ Kxh7 28.Bxe5 and White is winning.

24...Be6

96
Also 24...Bxc5 25.Qh6+ Ke7 26.Nd5+ quickly ends Black’s resistance.

25.Qg5!

Not 25.Nxe8 Kxe8, when White’s advantage is considerably less than after both the game
continuation as well as; 25.Rad1! Bxc5 26.Bxc6! Nxc6 27.Nxh7+ Ke7 28.Bf6#.

25...Rec8 26.Rae1 Bxc5 27.Bxe5 Nxe5 28.Rxe5

White is easily winning.

28...Bd4 29.Qh6+ Ke7 30.Nd5+ Kd6 31.Rxe6+ fxe6 32.Nxc7 Rxc7 33.Rd1 Rc4 34.Bh3 Re8
35.Qf4+ e5 36.Qf7 and Black finally resigned. 1–0

F.Cruz (2309) – P.Fernandez Borrego (2408) Badalona 2019

Set 20

20.1)

**
Hint: Straight shot to the gut

Show/Hide Solution

97
21.Qd3!

A strong alternative is 21.Ng6!? Rg8 (or 21...fxg6 22.Qd3 Rh6 23.Bxh6 gxh6 24.Qxg6+ Kd8 25.Qg8
Kc8 26.Rxf8+ Nxf8 27.Qxf8+ Qd8 28.Qf4 with a clear advantage) 22.Qf4 f6 (22...f5 23.Rg3
followed by Qf3 and Qxh5 with large advantage for White) 23.Qg3 f5 24.Rb3 and White is much
better.

21.Qd3! b5 22.Re1!

This preparatory move is better than 22.Ng6 Rg8 23.Re1, when White is clearly better, but the quiet
game continuation is even stronger.

22...Qb6

Or 22...Nb6 23.Ng6 Rg8 24.Nxf8 Rxf8 25.Qh7 g6 26.Bh6 with a significant advantage for White.

23.Nxd5! Qb7

Capturing the knight is not an option as 23...exd5 24.Qf5 leaves the black king without a getaway
option.

24.Nf4 Nb6 25.d5 Nxd5 26.Nxd5 exd5 27.e6 f6 28.Qg6+ Kd8 29.Bxf6+ Be7 30.Bxe7+ Qxe7
31.Rf7 and Black resigned. 1–0

S.Kostolansky (2406) – K.Popov (2367) Bratislava 2019

20.2)

98
 **
Hint: More gut punches

Show/Hide Solution

26.Be7!

This is much stronger than 26.Bh4 when Black can defend with the surprising 26...Rf7! when
27.Rxg6? can be answered with 27...Bxf4+! something that stumbled several solvers in the Facebook
group
and 26.Bh5 gxh5 27.Bf6 Nxf6 wins for Black.

26.Be7! Qxe7

Capturing on the bishop is probably the best, even if unattractive 26...Bxe7 27.Rxg6 Rf7 (27...Qf7
28.Rg8+ wins on the spot) 28.Rxg7 Rxg7 29.Qf2 and White is clearly better, but Black can still fight.

27.Rxg6 Bxf4+ 28.Qxf4 Rf7

Or 28...Nf6 29.Qe5 and White is winning.

29.Qc7 Rxh7 30.Rxh7+ Kxh7 31.Rg3 Bc8 32.Qxc6 Rb8 33.Nxd5! Qf7 34.Qc3 e5 35.Rg5 Qe6
36.Rh5+ and Black resigned. 1–0

L.Lorenzo de la Riva (2373) – D.Berdayes Ason (2458) Badalona 2019

99
 20.3)

***
Hint: Pins!

Show/Hide Solution

20.Rhe1!

White chases the black queen away from protecting the knight on d7.

20...Qxg5+ 21.Kb1 Qf6 22.Qd3 Qf7

The queen is back to protect the knight, but in the meantime, the pin has gotten more potent, and now
Black has another problem to contend with...

23.Ne4! Kc7 24.Qd6+ and Black resigned.

After 24...Kc8 25.Qg3!, it is curtains for Black. 1–0

V.Bernadskiy (2583) – S.Naboka (2323) Kavala 2019

100
 20.4)

**
Hint: Poor coordination

Show/Hide Solution

14...Nb4!

After this move, White has a hard time coordinating salvaging his exposed pieces as well as the pawn
on c2.

15.Nxe5

Or 15.Qxc7+ Kxc7 16.Be4 f5 17.Nxe5 fxe4 18.Nxg4 Nxc2 19.Bf4+ Kb6 20.Rxe4 Nxa1 21.Nxa1
and Black has a large advantage.

15...Rxd5 16.Qxc7+ Kxc7 17.Nxf7 Nxc2 18.Bf4+ Kd7 19.Re5

Or 19.Ne5+ Rxe5 20.Bxe5 Nxa1 21.Rxa1 and Black is simply a piece up.

19...Nxa1 20.Rxd5+ Ke6 21.Nxh8 Kxd5 22.Nxa1 Be6 and White resigned. 0–1

C.Murphy (2362) – P.Roberson (2429) Bridgend 2019

101
 Set 21

21.1)

**
Hint: Aim for the weakest spot

Show/Hide Solution

33...Rxc3! 34.Rxc3 Rxc3+ 35.Qxc3 Bxd4 36.Qf3 Bc3

In the game, Black played the slower 36...Qxe6? 37.Ra2 Kh7?! 38.Qd3 Bb6 39.Bf3 Qe1+ 40.Kh3 e5
41.fxe5?? (41.Qe2 would have kept the balance but undoubtedly time trouble was a factor at this
point) 41...f4 42.Rg2 and White resigned as Black can force mate in just a few moves. 0-1 Peng
Hongchi (2337) - Chen Fan (2378) Changsha 2019; Also 36...Be3 37.Rxd5 Bd2! 38.Bc4 Qg1+
39.Kh3 Bxd5 40.Bxd5 Qd4 wins for Black.

37.Bd3 Be1+ 38.Kh2 d4 39.Qf1 Qxb4 and Black has a decisive advantage.

21.2)

102
 ***
Hint: How to take advantage of the obvious

Show/Hide Solution

30.fxg6+!

A tempting move, but not nearly as strong as the game continuation, is 30.Nxf6 Bxf6 31.fxg6+ hxg6
32.Nh5 Nbd7 (or 32...Ncd7 33.Nxf6 Nxf6 34.Bg5 Nbd7 35.Bxf6 Nxf6 36.Qh6 Kg8 37.Rxf6 with a
clearly better game for White, whereas 32...gxh5?? 33.Qg5 wins more or less on the spot for White)
33.Nxf6 Nxf6 34.Bg5 Ncd7 35.Bxf6 Nxf6 36.Qh6 Kg8 37.Rxf6 Qe7 38.Rf1 Ra7 39.Bd1 with a
clear advantage for White.

30.fxg6+! hxg6 31.Nh5!

The most accurate choice. In the Facebook group, several found another strong option: 31.Bg7! Kxg7
32.Qh6+ Kg8 33.Rxf6 Bxf6 34.Nxf6+ Kf7 35.Qh7+ Kxf6 36.Qxc7 and White is winning.

31...Nbd7

The alternatives do not save Black: 31...Ncd7 32.Qg5, or 31...Nb3 32.Bxb3 f5 33.exf5 gxh5 34.f6
and Black is completely busted.

32.Bg7!

103
The same idea as in the note to White’s 31st move but now even strong because Black’s king has
fewer escape options.

32...gxh5

After this move, the computer already announces a forced mate.

33.Qh6 hxg4 34.Bh8 Ne6 35.Qh7+ Kf8 36.dxe6 Bh5 37.Qxh5 Kg8 38.Qxg4+ Kxh8 39.Qh5+
Kg8 40.Qf7+ Kh8 41.Rf5 and Black resigned. 1–0

L.Lorenzo de la Riva (2373) – K.Oliva (2479) Badalona 2019

21.3)

**
Hint: Poor coordination

Show/Hide Solution

33.Rxd5!

Black’s pieces are coordinated exactly poorly enough to make White’s tactics work with clockwork
precision. The alternative 33.f5 allows Black sufficient defensive chances: 33...Nc5 34.fxe6 Nxe6

104
35.Qxd5 Qc5 36.Qd3 Nf8 and Black, despite some discomfort, holds.

33.Rxd5! Rc5?!

This is inaccurate, but even the better 33...Qc7 is not without problems: 34.Bxh7+!! Kf8 35.Bg6
Qxe5 36.Rxe5 and White has excellent winning chances, although the drawing threshold is relatively
near due to the limited material. Of course, the rook cannot be captured, 33...exd5?? 34.Qe8#.

34.Bf5!

Adding more pressure to the e6–pawn.

34...Kf8?!

Another wrong move. After 34...Kf7 35.Rd7+ Ke8 36.Qxe6+ Qxe6 37.Bxe6, White should win, but
it takes more effort than in the game continuation.

35.Bxe6 Rxd5 36.Qxd5 Nd4 37.Bg8! Qc6

Or 37...Qa7 38.Qd8#!

38.Qxc6 Nxc6 39.Bxh7

This endgame should, with a minimum of care, win comfortably.

39...Kf7 40.Be4 Nd4 41.Kf2 Kf6 42.h4 Ne6 43.Ke3 Nc5 44.g4 g6 45.g5+ Kg7 and Black resigned
at the same time. 1–0

N.Theodorou (2548) – V.Usmanov (2443) Riga 2019

21.4)

105
 **
Hint: Keyholes

Show/Hide Solution

25...Nf3+!

Through this brutal ploy, Black gains access to White’s position.

26.Kh1

The knight can’t be taken as the white king gets mated. 26.gxf3 Qxf2+ 27.Kh1 Qxf3+ 28.Kg1 Bf2+
29.Kf1 Bh3#.

26...Bxc4 27.Qxc4 Qxc4 28.Bxc4 Nd2 29.Rb4 Bxf2 30.Bb5?

A better chance was 30.Bd3 Rxb6 31.Rxb6 Bxb6 when White is two pawns down but could put a
little hope in opposite-colored bishops, but White should win in any case.

30...Bxb6?

A more accurate continuation is 30...Rxb6! when the pin of the b5–bishop can be a little annoying for
White.

31.Bc6 Ba7 32.Nb5

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Or 32.Rxb8+ Bxb8 with a similar opposite-colored bishop situation as mentioned above.

32...Bc5 33.Rb2 Nc4 34.Ra2 Kg7

Black is winning. With rooks still on the board, it is relatively simple.

35.g3 h5 36.Kg2 Ne3+ 37.Kf3 Ng4 38.h3 Nf6 39.Ra6 Kh6 40.h4 Kg7 41.Ke2 Nxe4 42.Bxe4 and
White resigned at the same time. 0–1

P.Goluch (2418) – T.Markowski (2537) Suwalki 2019

Set 22

22.1)

**
Hint: Tight places

Show/Hide Solution

22.g5!

A brutal can opener move, which exploits that both of Black’s majesties become vulnerable.

107
22...hxg5 23.Qh5+ Kg8 24.Bc2!

Keeping the knight protected is crucial. Now the threat Bxg5.

24...e4 25.Bxe4 Black resigned at the same time.

A possible continuation was 25.Bxe4 Rfe8 26.Bxg5 Qe6 27.Re3! Qxe4 28.Rh3 and avoiding mate
will cost Black a lot of material. 1–0

B.Csonka (2472) – I.Martinovici (2405) Budapest 2019

22.2)

**
Hint: Surprising target

Show/Hide Solution

19.Qg5 Ng6?

Natural but only making matters worse. The better option was 19...Bg4 20.Qxe5 (but not 20.Bxg4?
Nd3+ 21.Rxd3 Qxg1+ 22.Rd1 Qxh2 23.Nf6+ Kh8 24.Nd7 which leaves White with an advantage
but nothing like the main line) 20...Qxe2 21.Nf6+ Kh8 (21...gxf6?? 22.Qxe2) 22.Nxg4 Qxe5

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23.Nxe5 and White’s extra piece should decide the game.

20.Rg2! Qh4

And Black resigned at the same time due to 20...Qh4 21.Ne7+ Kh8 22.Nxg6+ fxg6 23.Qxh4. 1–0

P.Ladron de Guevara Pinto (2431) – J.Cori (2686) Iberoamericano ch (Linares) 2019

22.3)

***
Hint: Mobilization

Show/Hide Solution

21.Ne4!

Bringing another attacker to the mix.

21...Qxd5?!

This is a distraction Black can ill afford; the queen is needed for defensive duties until the kingside
has been sufficiently guarded. An attempt to bring another piece into the mix is 21...c4 22.Nd6 Nc5
(creating a counterthreat on d3) 23.Qxc4 Qe7 24.Nf5 Qe4 25.Qxe4 Nxe4 26.Rxg7+ Kh8 27.Rc1 and

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White is clearly better.

22.Rxg7+!

This is the exact reason why the queen should not have left f7!

22...Kxg7 23.Nxf6! Qh1+

Or 23...Qe6 24.Qg5+ Kf7 25.Nxh5 Qg6 26.Qd5+ Qe6 27.Qd3 and White has a decisive advantage.

24.Kd2 Qg2 25.Ng4+ And Black resigned.

A possible continuation was 25.Ng4+ Kg8 26.Qg5+ Kf7 27.Nh6+ Ke8 28.Qxg2 and White is easily
winning. 1–0

M.Bluebaum (2619) – R.Zysk (2404) Zurich 2019

22.4)

**
Hint: Classical themes

Show/Hide Solution

110
13.Bf6!

The natural 13.Bh6 is good but not as strong as the game continuation, which has a feel resembling
the classic Fischer-Benko game. After 13...f6 14.Bxf8 Qxf8 15.Qd5+ Qf7 16.Qxf7+ Kxf7 17.Rxh5
Be3+ 18.Kb1 Kg6 and Black at most at a marginal disadvantage.

13.Bf6! exf6 14.Qh6!

Or 14.Rxh5 Re8 15.Nd5 Re5 16.Rxh7 Rxd5 17.Qxd5 Be3+ 18.Kb1 Ne5 19.Rfh1 Be6 20.Rh8+ Kg7
21.Rxd8 Bxd5 22.Rxa8 and White is winning.

14...Bg4

The alternatives are not promising for Black either 14...Be3+ 15.Qxe3 Bg4 16.Ng3 f5 17.Nxh5 or
14...Re8 15.Nd5, in both cases leaving White winning.

15.Ng3 Kh8 16.Nxh5 Bxh5 17.Rxh5 Be3+ 18.Qxe3 and Black resigned before he would get mated.
1–0

E.Safarli (2593) – M.Pein (2312) Minsk rapid 2019

Set 23

23.1)

****

111
 Hint: Geometry

Show/Hide Solution

26...c3!

This is much stronger than 26...Qc6 27.Qa5 Bf6 28.Rd6 Qe4 29.Qd2 Qb7 30.Nc3 Bd4 when Black
is clearly better, but White is still alive.
Further, 26...Qb7 is met by 27.Nd6 and White holds the balance.

26...c3! 27.bxc3

Capturing with the knight doesn’t change White’s fate 27.Nxc3 Bh6! (the immediate 27...Ra8? lets
White off the hook: 28.Rd3! Rxa3 29.Rxf3 and Black is only somewhat better) 28.Re2 Ra8! and Black
wins.

27...Bh6!

It is crucial to force White’s rook away from the dfile. By contrast, the immediate 27...Ra8 facilitates
another White escape: 28.Qc1 Bh6 (or 28...Qc6 29.Qf1 c4 30.Nd4) 29.Qd1! and White is okay.

28.Rb2

Or 28.Ra2 Be3! 29.Qb2 Qd1+ 30.Kg2 Qd5+ 31.Kg1 Bxf2+ and Black is winning.

28...Bc1

28...Qd1+ 29.Kg2 Qd5+ 30.Kg1 Bc1 also wins for Black.

29.Qa2 Rd8

The game score ends after the text move, so either White resigned or lost on time. However, it is not
Black’s best move. After 29...Bxb2 30.Qxb2 Rd8, Black wins easily.
After the game move, White could have stayed in the game with 29...Rd8 30.Qxe6+ Kf8 31.Re2
Rd1+ 32.Re1 Be3 33.Qxe3 Qxe3 34.Rxd1 Qe2 35.Rb1 Qc2 36.Re1 Qd3 37.c4 Qxc4 38.Nd6 Qd5
39.Ne4 and there is still a lot of work left for Black to do. White places the knight on c3, and the rook
on e3 and progress for Black will be complicated, if at all possible. 0–1

V.Dragnev (2535) – V.Kovalev (2651), Spilimbergo 2019

112
 23.2)

***
Hint: The key to the heart of the matter

Show/Hide Solution

25.d6! e6

Both 25...exd6 26.Nd5 and 25...e5 26.Nd5 Kg7 27.Qf6+ Kh6 28.Ne7 Qe6 29.Qxe6 Bxe6 30.Nxc8
Bxc8 31.c5 win for White.

26.Nxf5 exf5 27.Qf6 and Black resigned. Re7 will decide the game. 1–0

R.Laxman (2426) – M.Mosadeghpour (2509) Madurai 2019

23.3)

113
 **
Hint: Power!

Show/Hide Solution

17.Nf6+

In the game, White played the more cautious 17.Ng3 Bd7 (17...Ba4 18.Qf4 Bg5 19.Qg4 Rac8 would
have left the players with a complicated position and chances to both sides) 18.Nh5 Be7 19.Qf4 f5??
20.Qg3 g5 21.h4 g4 22.f3 Kh7 23.fxg4 Rg8 24.g5 hxg5 25.hxg5 Rxg5 26.Qh4 and Black resigned. 1-
0 K.Grigoryan (2562) – S.Estremera Panos (2307) Pontevedra 2019

17.Nf6+ gxf6

Or 17...Bxf6 18.exf6 Bd7 19.Nf3 Kh7 20.fxg7 Rg8 21.Ne5 Rxg7 22.Qd3+ Kg8 23.Qh3 and White is
clearly better.

18.Qxh6 Bg5 19.Qh5! Qe7 20.h4! Kg7

Or 20...fxe5 21.hxg5 and White wins easily.

21.hxg5 fxg5 22.f4 Rh8 23.Qf3 and White is much better.

114
 23.4)

*
Hint: A few simple moves make big differences

Show/Hide Solution

20.Qe2!

Threatening Bc4 and while the queen can easily get away from the threat, the rook is more stuck on
e6 due to its defensive responsibilities, having to keep the f6–pawn guarded.

20...f5

The alternatives are also miserable for Black, for instance, 20...Qd7 21.Bc4 Rxe4 22.Rxe4 Bxe4
23.Qxe4 Nc7 24.Qe7 Qxe7 25.Rxe7 and White is winning, or 20...Qd8 21.Bc4 f5 22.Bxe6 f4 23.Bc4
fxe3 24.Qxe3 Nc7 25.Be5 and Black’s hopelessly weak king guarantees White a decisive advantage.

21.Bc4 Qd8 22.Bxe6 fxe6 23.Nd6!

Sacrifices a piece but allows access to e6.

23...f4 24.Rxe6 fxg3 25.Rxg6+! hxg6 26.Qe6+ Kh7 27.Qf7+ Bg7 28.Ne8 gxf2+ 29.Kxf2 and Black
resigned. 1–0

R.Domingo Nunez (2345) – D.Larino Nieto (2457) Iberoamericano ch (Linares) 2019

115
 Set 24

24.1)

**
Hint: Queens and knights are dangerous together

Show/Hide Solution

26.Qc8+ Kf7

After 26...Kh7, White wins in elegant fashion with 27.d6! Qxd6 28.Qxb7+ Nd7 29.Qxd7+ Qxd7
30.Nf8+.Very nice!

27.Qh8

Black resigned, which was a little early, but he is nevertheless lost, for instance, 27.Qh8 g5 (or
27...Nc6 28.h4 (but not 28.dxc6?? Qxe6 29.cxb7 Qb6+ 30.Kf1 Qb1+ with a perpetual check)
28...Qd6 29.Qg7+ Ke8 30.Qxf6 and White is winning) 28.Qg7+ Ke8 29.Qg8+ Kd7 30.Qb8 Ng6
31.a4! (this is stronger than 31.Qxb7+ Ke8) 31...b6 32.a5 bxa5 33.Qb5+ Kd6 34.Qc5+ Ke5 35.d6+
and White is winning. 1–0

J.Fluvia Poyatos (2455) – N.Gavarrete (2349) Iberoamericano ch (Linares) 2019

116
 24.2)

***
Hint: Fearless exchanges

Show/Hide Solution

19...exf4!

Sacrificing the queen to attack White’s vulnerable king.

20.Nb6+?

White takes the forbidden bait. However, the alternative is also quite scary, for instance, 20.Nxf4
Qc7! 21.Rxd8+ (or 21.Qe3 Qe5 22.Rf1 Bg5 23.Rae1 Rh7 and Black is winning as there is no ready
answer to the threat of ...Rdh8) 21...Bxd8! 22.Rf1 (or 22.Nxe6 Qh2+ 23.Kf2 Qh4+ 24.Ke3 Qg3+
25.Kd2 Rh2 26.Rg1 fxe6 and Black is much better) 22...c4 23.Bc1 g5 24.Nxe6 fxe6 and White has a
hard time keeping the king safe.

20...axb6 21.Rxd7 Rxd7 22.c4 Rhd8

Or 22...Bg3 23.Bc3 Rh2 24.Qf1 (24.Rf1 f3) 24...Rd8 25.Bxg7 Rd2 and Black is winning.

117
23.Bc3 f3

Even stronger is 23...Rd3! 24.Be1 f3 25.gxf3 gxf3 26.Qxd3 f2+ 27.Bxf2 Bxf2+ 28.Kxf2 Rxd3 and
Black has won a piece.

24.Qc2 f2+! 25.Kf1 g3 26.a4 Bg4! 27.Be1 Rd1 28.Rb1 fxe1=Q# 0–1

A.Vachylia (2303) – V.Rytenko (2310) Mukachevo 2019

24.3)

*
Hint: Caught in crossfire

Show/Hide Solution

21...f4+!

The move order is important. After 21...Rac8+?? 22.Kb1 f4+ 23.Ka1 Rxc1+ (23...Bxc1?? 24.Ne7+)
24.Rxc1 Nxd5 25.Bxd5+ Kh8, White is better.

21...f4+! 22.Be4 Rac8+ 23.Kb1 Rxd5! 24.Bxg6 Rxc1+ 25.Rxc1 Rxd4 26.Rc7

Or 26.Bf5 Bxc1 27.Rxc1 g6 and Black is simply a piece up.

118
26...hxg6 27.Rxa7 and White resigned at the same time. 0–1

B.Escalante Ramirez (2452) – S.Azarov (2589) Sturbridge 2019

24.4)

***
Hint: Loosen the guardians of their duties

Show/Hide Solution

15.f6!

A strong alternative is 15.Qf2 Be5 16.Ndxb5 Nbd7 17.fxg6 Nxg6 18.Bc4 0-0 19.Nd4 and White has
simply won a pawn and is better.

15.f6! exf6 16.Ndxb5!

With a lead in development and Black’s king stuck in the center, this attack has to work, even without
calculating it through to the end.

16...axb5 17.Bxb5+ Ke7

Or 17...Nbd7 18.Qxd6 fxg5 19.Bxg5 f6 20.Rhf1 fxg5 21.Bxd7+ Nxd7 22.Qxg6+ Ke7 23.Qf7#.

119
Game over.

18.Bf4 fxg5 19.Bxd6+ Ke6 20.Qe3 Nfd7 21.Bc5 Be5 22.hxg5 Qb8 23.Rxd7!

Black could have resigned at this point, but he decided to carry on for a bit longer.

23...Re8 24.Qh3+ f5 25.Bxb6 Ba6 26.exf5+ gxf5 27.Qxh5 Bxc3 28.Qf7+ Ke5 29.Rd5+ Kf4
30.Qxf5+ Kg3 31.Rh3+ Kg2 32.Qf3# 1–0

M.Petrov (2477) – N.Nikolovski (2409) Spilimbergo 2019

120
 Show in Text Mode

Set 25

25.1)

**
Hint: An adventure too many

Show/Hide Solution

27.Qe2!

This clever move exploits both Black’s unfortunate king position and the fact that the queen on b7 is
overburdened with a defensive task, the latter, though, not immediately apparent.

27...Kg7

Or 27...Nc6 28.Nxd5+ Kg7 (if 28...exd5? then 29.Rxc6+! Kg7 30.Qe5+ Kh7 31.Qf6 Rxc6 32.Rxc6
Re8 33.h3 leaves White with a large advantage) 29.Nf4 Rhd8 30.Qg4 Rxd4 31.h3 and White has won
a pawn.

121
28.Qe5+

A strong alternative is 28.Rc7 Rhe8 29.Qe5+ (but not 29.Rxb7?? Rxc1+ and Black wins) 29...Kh6
30.Nd3 and White is winning.

28...Kh6 29.Rc7 Rxc7 30.Qxh8+! Kg5 31.Qe5+

Black resigned, but a quicker mate was available with 31.Nh3+ Kf5 32.Qe5+ Kg4 33.f3#. 1–0

R.Biolek (2446) – J.Szwed (2384) Olomouc 2019

25.2)

***
Hint: When the shelter is too broken, it isn’t really a shelter

Show/Hide Solution

31.Qc1!

A sneaky and quite lethal move, addressing the vulnerable Black king.

31...Qd7

122
The alternatives are also not offering Black much hope: 31...Nxf6 32.Nf5 Rg4 33.Rxe8+ Nxe8
34.Qh6 Qd7 35.Ne7+ Qxe7 36.Rxe7 or 31...Nxe3 32.Rxe3 Rxe3 33.Rxe3 Kh7 34.Rxe8 Qxe8
35.Qg5 Qf8 36.Qxh5+, in both cases with easily won positions.

32.f3 Rxe3 33.fxg4 and Black resigned. 1–0

A.Gupta (2616) – R.Vasquez Schroeder (2496) Madurai 2019

25.3)

***
Hint: One, two, three threats

Show/Hide Solution

20.Nxg7!

This exchange is stronger than the immediate 20.Qa5 Nc6 21.Qxc7+ Qxc7 22.Nxc7 Nxh5 23.Ne6
Bxb2 24.Nxd8 Rxd8 25.Rxh5 Bc3 and while better for White is not yet an easy win.

20.Nxg7! Qxg7 21.Qa5!

The game continued 21.g3? Rhe8?? (21...Rhf8 would have kept Black alive) 22.Qa5 Nc6 23.Bxf6

123
and Black resigned. 1-0 P.Garcia Castro (2327) – D.Soham (2339) Spanish Team ch (Linares)
2019.

21...a6 22.Nxd6! cxd6 23.Bxe5 and White is winning.

25.4)

**
Hint: Discovered treasures

Show/Hide Solution

21.Rxg7+!

Ouch!

21...Kxg7 22.d5!

The point behind White’s sacrifice. Now Black’s king is hopelessly vulnerable.

22...cxd5?

This capture makes matters worse. The alternatives are: a) 22...Kf8 23.Ng6+ Ke8 24.Nxh8 cxd5
25.Bf6 Be7 26.Qh5 (or 26.Ng6 fxg6 27.Rxe6 and White is winning) 26...Bxf6 27.Rxe6+ Kd7

124
28.Qxf7+ Kc8 29.Qxf6 and White is two pawns up and should win easily. b) 22...f6? 23.Qg4+ Kf8
24.Ng6+ Kg8 25.Bxf6 and the game is soon over.

23.Nd7+! Kh7

Or 23...e5 24.Qg3+ Kh7 25.Nf6#.

24.Qf6 and Black resigned before he would get mated. 1–0

M.Szelag (2416) – L.Licznerski (2341) Poznan 2019

Set 26

26.1)

***
Hint: Strike at the core

Show/Hide Solution

12...Nxf2!

This sacrifice could work, considering that Black’s king is still stuck in the center, but Black’s
initiative develops quickly.

125
13.Kxf2 Bh4+ 14.Kg1 Bxe1 15.Nxg6

Or 15.Qxe1 Qxd4+ 16.Kh1 Nc2 17.Nf3+ Qe4 and Black is winning.

15...Bf2+!

But not 15...hxg6? 16.Qxe1+ Qe7 17.Qxe7+ Kxe7 18.Na3 and White is actually better.

16.Kxf2 hxg6 17.Qe1+?

This makes matters worse. After 17.Qe2+ Kf8 18.Kg1 Qd6 19.Qf2 Nd3 20.Bxd3 cxd3 21.Nc3 Re8
22.Bf4 Qd7, Black has better chances, but there is still a lot of work left to be done. After 17.Kg1
Qd6 18.Qe2+ Kf8, play transposes to the line after 17.Qe2+.

17...Kd7! 18.Qxb4

Or 18.Kg1 Nc2 and Black is much better.

18...Qf6+ 19.Kg1

Or 19.Kg3 Qxf1 and Black is winning.

19...Qxd4+ 20.Kh1 Rxh2+! and White resigned before he would get mated. 0–1

M.Bijaoui (2433) – V.Stephan (2413) French ch-B (Chartres) 2019

26.2)

126
 *
Hint: Clear the path

Show/Hide Solution

21.Ng6+!!

A strong sacrifice that cracks open Black’s king shelter and with no additional defenders able to make
their way to the kingside, Black is left defenseless.

21...hxg6 22.hxg6 Bxg6 23.Qh3+ Bh7 24.Rh1 Nf7 25.Kg3

Simple and easy.

25...Nh6 26.Bxh6 Bd8 27.Bg5 g6 28.Qxh7+!

Black resigned as he is getting mated. 28.Qxh7+ Qxh7 29.Rxh7+ Kxh7 30.Rh1+ Kg7 31.Bh6+ Kh8
32.Bxf8#. 1–0

A.Shimanov (2587) – E.Zanan (2486) St Petersburg rapid 2019

26.3)

127
 *
Hint: The logical strike

Show/Hide Solution

25.Bd4!

Putting a fat thumb on the weakest spot in Black’s camp: the f6–pawn.

25...cxd5

Or 25...Qe7 26.b4! Na6 27.Bc3 cxd5 28.cxd5 Nb8 29.Re1 Qd8 30.d6! and Black is busted.

26.Bxf6+

Black resigned on account of 26.Bxf6+ Kxf6 27.Qd4+ Ke7 28.Qxh8 with a decisive material
advantage for White. 1–0

Z.Tsydypov (2568) – V.Hamitevici (2480) St.Petersburg rapid 2019

26.4)

128
 *****
Hint: The key to exploit the obvious weakness is difficult to find but well worth the search

Show/Hide Solution

27...Nxg2!

The opposite-colored bishops favor the attacker. In the Facebook group, many were tempted by
27...Bh3, but overlooked that 28.Bf1!! saves White: 28...Qxd5+ (or 28...Bxf1 29.Rxe1!! Qxd5+ 30.f3
and White is back in the game; Also 28...g5 29.Qc4 is okay for White, e.g., 29...Qf3+ 30.Kg1 Bxf1
31.Qxf1 Qe4 32.d6 and while Black has the initiative, White is still alive) 29.f3 g5 30.c4 Qd8
31.Qc1 Bxf1 32.Bxe1 Be2 33.Qc3 Qb6 and Black has no more than a clear advantage.

27...Nxg2! 28.Kxg2 Bh3+ 29.Kg1 Qe2

And White resigned as 30.Qc1 (to prevent the back rank mate) will be met with the lethal 30...Qf3.
0–1

A.Jacobson (2337) – E.Santarius (2407) Greensboro 2019

Set 27

27.1)

129
 **
Hint: House build on sand crumble easily

Show/Hide Solution

23...Nxe4!

White’s loose position calls for this sacrifice.

24.Qxe4

On 24.Nf3, Black plays 24...Nhg3+ (but not 24...Neg3+?? 25.Kh2 Nxf1+ 26.Qxf1 when only
26...Ng3 saves Black’s queen, but there’s no longer any hope for Black in regards to an advantage)
25.Kh2 Nxf1+ 26.Rxf1 (or 26.Qxf1 Qf2+ 27.Qxf2 Nxf2 and Black is winning) 26...Qh5 and Black
has a decisive material advantage.

24...exf4 25.Qf5

The alternatives are not any better, e.g., 25.Qf3 Rxe2 or 25.Rxf4 Rxe4 26.Rxh4 Rxh4 and Black is
winning.

25...Rc5! 26.Nf3 Rxe2 and White resigned. 0–1

S.Zierk (2505) – L.Bruzon Batista (2643) Greensboro 2019

130
 27.2)

***
Hint: Loose pieces and poor coordination

Show/Hide Solution

18.Bxf7+!

White rips Black’s king shelter wide open.

18...Kh8

Accepting the piece sacrifice doesn’t help Black: 18...Kxf7 19.Qxh7+ Ke8 (or 19...Kf6 20.Ng3 Qe7
21.Ne4+ Qxe4 22.Rce1 Qe6 23.Rxe6+ Bxe6 24.h3 Rh8 25.Qxb7 Nh6 26.g4 and White has a large
advantage) 20.Ng3 Qd5 (or 20...Qf4 21.Rce1+) 21.Rce1+ Be6 22.h3 Nf6 23.Qxg6+ Kd7 (23...Ke7
24.Nf5+) 24.Re5 and White is winning.

19.Qg5 Bd7

Also 19...Rf8 20.Ng3 Qc6 21.Qe7 Bf5 22.Nxf5 gxf5 23.Rfe1 Qh6 24.h3 Nf6 25.Rb1 leaves White
with a large advantage.

131
20.h3 h6 21.Ng3!

Or 21.Qxg6 Qxg6 22.Bxg6 Nf6 23.Nf4 with two extra pawns for White.

21...hxg5 22.Nxe4 Nh6 23.Nxg5 cxd4 24.cxd4

White is winning.

24...Kg7 25.Bd5 Nf5 26.Rc7 Kf6 27.Nf7 Bb5 28.Nxd8 Rxd8 29.Bc4 Black resigned. 1–0

E.Levin (2502) – E.Mirzoev (2478) Anogia 2019

27.3)

***
Hint: Poorly placed pieces make bad defenders

Show/Hide Solution

23.Ne5!

It is apparent that Black’s poorly placed queen is a theme that needs to be considered in the solution,
but not every move is the right way to the goal, for instance, 23.Nd2 Nc6 24.d5 exd5 25.exd5 Rxd5
26.Ne4 Rd1+ 27.Kh2 Qb4 28.Nf6+ Kh8 and while White has excellent compensation for the

132
sacrificed pawn, Black has sufficient counterplay.
A sharp and interesting alternative is the pawn sacrifice 23.d5!? exd5 24.e5! Nc6 (returning the pawn
does not help Black, for instance, 24...d4 25.Nxd4 Nc6 26.Nxc6 Bxc6 27.e6 fxe6 28.Rxe6 Rd1+
29.Kh2 and Black will not be able to both save his king and keep the material balance) 25.e6 Qb4
(25...fxe6 26.Qf6 is even worse) 26.Qxb4 Nxb4 27.e7 and White has a large advantage.

23.Ne5! Nc6

Nc4 was threatened, and the queen needed a way out of its hiding hole.

24.Bxc6!

This exchange appears to let Black’s queen off the hook, but White has an even better target: Black’s
king and the dark squares surrounding the king are terribly weak.

24...Bxc6 25.Ng4! Bxa4

Or 25...h5 26.Nf6+ Kf8 27.d5 and Black is getting crushed.

26.d5 Qb5 27.Nh6+ Kf8 28.Qf6 Qb1+ 29.Kh2 Be8 30.Rxa7 and Black resigned before he would
get mated. 1–0

C.Menezes (2420) – J.Chittka (2317) Vienna 2019

27.4)

133
 **
Hint: Pins

Show/Hide Solution

17.Bc4!

An unpleasant surprise for Black, White threatens Qxg6, after which Qxg7 is unstoppable.

17...Kf8 18.Bxf7! Kxf7

Or 18...Bxf7 19.Qxg7+ Ke7 20.e5 Rf8 21.exf6+ Kd7 22.Rhe1 and Black is completely busted.

19.Rhg1

The point behind the sacrifice on f7, there is nothing to guard the bishop on g6, and, as a result, the
black king is sent out to dance and fend for himself.

19...gxh6 20.Qxg6+ Ke6

Or 20...Ke7 21.e5 and White is winning.

21.Qf5+ Kf7 22.Nd5 Re6 23.Qg6+ Kf8 24.Qxh6+ Ke8 25.Rg8+! Nxg8 26.Qxe6+ and Black
resigned. 1–0

N.Torosyan (2365) – A.Davtyan (2440) Armenian ch 1st League (Yerevan) 2019

Set 28

28.1)

134
 **
Hint: Isolate the attacker

Show/Hide Solution

25.Ng5!

White doesn’t achieve anything after 25.Qxh5 Nf6! 26.fxg3 Qxg3 27.Qg5 Qxg5 28.hxg5 (or
28.Nxg5 Nf4! and Black is even better) 28...Nf4! 29.Ree1 Ng4 and Black is over the worst.

25.Ng5! Nf6 26.fxg3!

There were several failed attempts in the Facebook group: a) 26.e5?? Qxh4 27.Re4! (but not
27.Ndf3? gxf2+ 28.Kf1 (or 28.Rxf2 Qxf2+! 29.Kxf2 Ng4+ and Black is winning) 28...Qh1+
29.Kxf2 Ng4+ 30.Kg3 Nxh6 31.Rxh1 Nf5+ 32.Kh2 h4 and White’s attack is over) 27...dxe4 28.exf6
Qh2+ 29.Kf1 Qh1+ 30.Ke2 Nf4+ 31.Ke3 Nd5+ 32.Ke2 Nf4+ with a perpetual check. b) 26.Ndf3??
Qxc1+ is just embarrassing. c) A full-good alternative is 26.Rc3! gxf2+! 27.Kf1! (but not 27.Rxf2??
Qxf2+! 28.Kxf2 Ng4+ and Black is winning) 27...Nxh4 28.g3 and White is winning.

26...Qxg3 27.Nf1! Qxh4 28.g3 Qg4 29.Rf2!

After this move, Black’s resistance crumbles. The remainder is desperation.

29...Qxg5 30.Qxg5 Nxe4 31.Qh6 Nxf2 32.Kxf2 and Black resigned. 1–0

135
A.Rakhmanov (2606) – D.Kadric (2558) Serbian League (Subotica) 2019

28.2)

**
Hint: Pounce on the weakest points

Show/Hide Solution

30.Qh5?

This move looks logical but is, in fact, wrong. White wins after 30.Nxf7! Rf8 31.Qg6! Qc5 (if Black
tries to prevent Nh6+ with 31...Qe3 then 32.Qh5 decides) 32.b4! White interferes with Black’s
queen, killing the pretense of being able to simultaneously keep the rook on f8 guarded and
preventing Qh5 32...Qe7 (32...Qxb4 33.Qh5 simply wins for White) 33.Nh6+ Kh8 34.Rf7!! Rxf7
35.Nxf7+ Kg8 36.Ng5 Kf8 37.Qh5! Qd7 38.Qh8+ Ke7 39.Qxg7+ Kd6 40.Qf6 with a decisive
advantage for White in the endgame.

30.Qh5? Nd6

At this point, Black is better.

31.h4?! Rd7 32.Qh7+?! Kf8 33.Qg6??

136
33.Qd3 was a way to stay in the game, even if Black has the clearly better chances.

33...Nf5 34.Qh7 Ng3+ and White resigned. 0–1

F.Sanchez Saez (2359) – J.Suarez Gomez (2433) Spanish Team ch (Linares) 2019

28.3)

***
Hint: Prepare to strike

Show/Hide Solution

20.Qc4!

White has sacrificed a pawn, but in return, he has a massive lead in development. That can easily lead
White astray and think that anything will knock Black’s walls down, but that is far from the case. For
instance: a) 20.Ndb5 Qb7 21.Qa5 cxb5 22.Nxb5 Rc8 is much better for Black.
b) 20.Ncb5 cxb5 (20...Qb6 is also okay, e.g., 21.Nxc6 Qxc6 22.Qa5 Rb8 23.Nc7+ Ke7 24.Rc1 Kf6
and White probably doesn’t have anything better than forcing a repetition with 25.Qc3+ Ke7 26.Qa5)
21.Qxb5+ Nd7 22.Nxe6 (22.Qd5 Nb6 23.Qb5+ Nd7 is another repetition) 22...fxe6 23.Rxe6+ Be7
24.Rde1 Qc5 25.Rxe7+ Qxe7 26.Rxe7+ Kxe7 27.Qb4+ Kd8 and it is White who has to try to save
the draw.

137
20.Qc4! Be7

On 20...Bd6, White responds in the same fashion: 21.b4 Nb7 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Rxe6+ Kd7 24.Ne4
Rae8 25.Rexd6+ Nxd6 26.Rxd6+ Qxd6 27.Nxd6 Kxd6 28.Qc5+ Ke6 29.Qxc6+ with a queen vs two
rooks endgame that should be won by White.

21.b4

This pawn push sends the knight away allowing for more attacking options for White.

21...Nb7 22.Ncb5!?

White chooses not to go the sacrificial route. a) Another strong option is 22.Nf5! which is incredibly
difficult for Black to meet, for instance, 22...Bd6 (The alternatives are much worse: 22...0-0 23.Nb5
or 22...exf5 23.Nd5 or 22...g6 23.Nd5 exd5 24.Nxe7 dxc4?? 25.Nxg6+ with mate to follow)
23.Nxg7+ Kf8 24.Nxe6+ fxe6 25.Ne4 Re8 26.Nxd6 Nxd6 27.Qf4+ Ke7 28.Qe5 with a decisive
advantage for White. b) The direct sacrificial option is also possible in this line 22.Nxe6 fxe6
23.Rxe6 Rd8 24.Rde1 Rd7 25.Rxc6 Nd6 26.Rxc7 Nxc4 27.Rc8+ Rd8 28.Rxc4 and White is two
pawns up and will win.

22...Qb6 23.Qxc6+

White has a large advantage.

23...Kf8 24.Qf3 Bf6 25.Nd6 Rb8 26.Nxe6+?

This capture is not the best. Far better is 26.Nxf7! Kxf7 27.Nxe6 Qxe6 (or 27...Rbe8 28.Rd7+ Re7
29.Ng5+ Ke8 30.Rexe7+ Bxe7 31.Rxb7 and White is winning) 28.Rxe6 Kxe6 29.Qe4+ Kf7 30.Rd7+
Kf8 31.Qd5 Nd8 32.Qd6+ Ke8 33.Rxa7 and Black is busted.

26...fxe6 27.Rxe6

Or 27.Nc4 Qc7 28.Ne5 Kg8 29.Nd7 Re8 30.Nxf6+ gxf6 31.Qxf6 Qf7 32.Qe5 when White has good
compensation for the piece but not too much more than that.

27...Rh6 28.Qd5?!

28.Qe4!?

28...Nxd6 29.Rxd6 Qxb4 30.Rd7 Be7 31.Rd4?! Qe1+ 32.Kh2 Qxf2??

A dreadful blunder in a much better position, undoubtedly caused by time trouble. After 32...Qe6,
Black should have excellent chances of winning the game.

138
33.Rxe7??

White would have been winning with 33.Qe5 Re8 34.Rf4+.

33...Kxe7??

Black would still have been fine after 33...Rg6! 34.Re2 Rxg2+ 35.Qxg2 Qxd4 and Black has an
insignificant extra pawn.

34.Qe5+

Now White is winning.

34...Re6 35.Qc7+ Ke8 36.Qxb8+ Ke7 37.Qc7+ Ke8 38.Rd8# 1–0

A.Morozevich (2659) – D.Pershin (2408) St.Petersburg Rapid 2019

28.4)

***
Hint: Combining threats

Show/Hide Solution

139
32...Qg3!

A straightforward attack against White’s king. The alternatives do not work as well: a) 32...Qb7+
33.Qf3 Qxf3+ 34.Rxf3 Nd5 35.Na5 Bd4 and Black has no more than an edge in the endgame.
b) 32...Ne4?? simply loses to 33.Qxh5+.
c) But 32...Bf2!? is more challenging for White; best seems 33.Qf3 Ne4 34.Qxh5+ Qh6 35.Qxh6+
Kxh6 36.Rd1 Kh5 37.Kh2 (or 37.Nd2 Rd8! with an unpleasant pin) 37...Kh4 38.Nd2 Bg3+ 39.Kg2
Bxf4+ 40.Kf1 Bxd2 41.Bxd2 Kxh3 and Black is clearly better thanks to his much more active pieces.

32...Qg3! 33.Rf3 Ne4!

The point: Black threatens ...Nf2+.

34.Rxg3

If 34.Nd2 then 34...Bc5 35.Qf1 Qg1+ 36.Qxg1 Rxg1+ 37.Kh2 Rxc1 and Black is winning.

34...Nxg3+ 35.Kxg1 Nxe2+ 36.Kf2 Rb8 and White resigned. 0–1

M.Nenezic (2522) – M.Ratkovic (2431) Serbian League (Subotica) 2019

Set 29

29.1)

140
 **
Hint: Opening doors, dislodging defenders

Show/Hide Solution

15.e5!

After this move, it becomes apparent that Black’s minor pieces are, in fact, rather loose, and one of
them is going to fall.

15...Nxd5

Capturing the e5–pawn leaves the knight on c5 hanging: 15...dxe5 16.Qxc5 e4 17.Nd2 Bxe2 18.Nxe2
Qe5 19.Qc3 and Black does not have enough for the piece.

16.Qd4!

16.Nxd5!? cxd5 17.exd6 (less accurate is 17.Qd4 which tempted several in the Facebook group; after
17...Qa5+ 18.b4 Qxa2 19.Ra1 Ne6 20.Rxa2 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Bxe2 22.Kxe2 dxe5, Black has decent
compensation for the piece in the endgame) 17...Qa5+ 18.b4 Qxa2 19.0-0 Bxf3 20.dxe7 Rfe8
21.Bxf3 Ne4 22.Qd4+ f6 23.Rb2 Qa6 24.Qxd5 with a large advantage for White.

16...Qa5

Or 16...dxe5 17.Qxg4 e4 18.Nxd5 cxd5 19.Nd4 Qe5 20.c3 when Black does not have full
compensation for the piece

17.b4

Even stronger was 17.exd6+ f6 18.b4 Nxb4 19.Rxb4 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 and White is winning

17...Qa3 18.Nxd5 Bxf3 19.exd6+ e5 20.Qxe5+ f6 21.Nxf6 Rxf6 22.bxc5 and Black resigned. 1–0

A.Stukopin (2568) – A.Arribas Lopez (2436) Irving 2019

29.2)

141
 **
Hint: Softening the defensive lines

Show/Hide Solution

16.Bxc4! dxc4

Black’s issues after the text move are well illustrated by the fact that my computer gives preference to
16...Rxc4, despite leaving Black an exchange down after 17.Nxc4 dxc4 18.Be5 with a clear
advantage for White.

17.Ng4! g6

Accepting the piece sacrifice on g5 does not work either although it does require precision from
White to work to its full effect: 17...hxg5 18.Nxf6+! (but not 18.hxg5? Nh5 19.Rxh5 f5!! when Black
is over the worst) 18...gxf6 19.hxg5 f5 20.Qe2 f6 (or 20...Bxg5 21.Qh5) 21.Qxe6+ Kg7 22.gxf6+
Rxf6 23.Bh6+ Rxh6 24.Qxh6+ Kf7 25.Qh7+ Ke6 26.Kf1 and White is winning.

18.Nxh6+ Kg7 19.h5! Nd7?

Black makes matters worse and so does 19...Kxh6 20.Nxf7+ . Black’s best defense try is 19...Qd5,
when 20.Kf1! Nxh5 21.Rxh5 Ba4 22.Qxa4 gxh5 23.Ngxf7 Rxf7 24.Nxf7 Kxf7 25.Re1 leaves White
with a large advantage.

20.Nhxf7!

142
Undermining the defense of the g6–pawn.

20...Bxf7 21.Nxf7 Rxf7 22.Bh6+

Also 22.Qxg6+ wins quickly.

22...Kh8 23.hxg6 Rf5 24.Qe4! Nf6 25.Bf8+ and with mate in a few moves, Black resigned. 1–0

I.Miladinovic (2532) – M.Ratkovic (2411) Serbian League (Subotica) 2019

29.3)

*****
Hint: We opened that h-file for a reason

Show/Hide Solution

16.Bg5!

Threatening Rxh8+. Note that 16.Bf8?? Bf6! is winning for Black!

16.Bg5! Re8?

Black’s best was giving up the exchange with 16...Bg7 17.Bxd8 Qxd8 18.exd5 Ne5, leaving Black

143
alive but an exchange down.

17.Rxh8+!

After the exchange sacrifice, Black cannot resist the invasion of the dark squares of the kingside.

17...Kxh8 18.Bf6+ Kh7 19.Ng5+

19.Be2 is also fine.

19...Kg8 20.Qf4 Qa3 21.Rc2 Qa4 22.Qh2! Rxe4+ 23.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 24.Be2 Black resigned as there is
no good answer to the threat of Qh8#. 1–0

Mi.Miljkovic (2483) – B.Vuckovic (2581) Serbian League (Subotica) 2019

29.4)

*****
Hint: Overburdened defenders and the right holes

Show/Hide Solution

19.bxc5! bxc5 20.Rb7!

144
White is using the overburdened queen on c7 to invade the seventh rank.

20...Qa5+

The rook cannot be captured on account of Nxd6+. In the Facebook group, too many stopped their
analysis at this point, but there is a lot more that needs to be seen before this puzzle is at its
conclusion!

21.Bd2 Qa6

Black has the queen back in place to guard the d6– pawn. So, how does White proceed?

22.Qb1!

Threatening Rb6. Another stopping point for many in the group.

22...Nc8

Guarding both against Rb6 and putting an extra guard on the d6–pawn.

23.d4!!

This move is critical in the solution of the puzzle; without it, you have nothing! White does not get
anywhere after 23.Nxd6+?? Qxd6 and White does not have enough for the piece.

23...cxd4

The alternatives are no better: a) 23...Ra7 24.Nf6+!! (this idea is key for White in his attempts to
break through to Black’s king) 24...Kd8 25.Rxd7+ Rxd7 26.Nxd7 Kxd7 27.Qg6 Bf8 (27...Rg8
28.Qe6+) 28.Qf6 and Black loses material. b) 23...exd4 24.Nf6+!! (again!) 24...Bxf6 25.Qg6+ Ke7
26.Bxg5 Qa5+ 27.Kf1 Rf8 28.Qg7+ Rf7 29.Bxf6+ Ke8 30.Qg8+ Rf8 31.Qg6+ Rf7 32.Rxh6 and
Black will get mated in a few moves.

24.c5!

This pawn push is more than adequate, and therefore I will accept it as the main line, but, according
to the computer, White can play even more accurately with 24.Nf6+!! Bxf6 25.Qg6+ Ke7 (Or
25...Kd8 26.Qxf6+ Ne7 27.Qxh8+) 26.Bxg5! and White’s attack crashes through.

24...Ra7

White also wins after 24...Bxg4 25.Nf6+ (25.Bf1 is also fine) 25...Bxf6 (or 25...Kf8 26.Nxg4)
26.Qg6+ with mate to follow in a few moves.

25.c6 Bxg4 26.Bf1!

145
Black resigned. Of course, once more, 26.Nf6+ also won for White. 1–0

C.Gokerkan (2421) – E.Gullaksen (2322) Barcelona 2019

Set 30

30.1)

*
Hint: Loose pieces…

Show/Hide Solution

21...e4!

A sneaky advance, taking advantage of White’s unguarded bishop on b2.

22.Nxe4?!

I’m not sure why White allows Black to go through with his plan. Of course, the alternative is highly
unpleasant for White, for instance, 22.Bc1 e3 (22...Qc5!?) 23.Qg3 b5! 24.c3 dxc3 25.Nf1 bxc4
26.bxc4 Ba6 27.Kh1 Bxc4 28.Rxe3 Rxe3 29.Nxe3 Bxa2 and Black is winning.

22...Rxe4 23.Rxe4 Bxe4 24.Rxe4 d3!

146
Winning a piece.

25.cxd3

Or 25.Bxg7 d2 and Black wins.

25...Bxb2 26.Qxh6 Qd7 27.Qh4 Qxd3 White resigned. 0–1

K.Savenkov (2375) – T.Fakhrutdinov (2499) St Petersburg 2019

30.2)

****
Hint: Remember the back rank

Show/Hide Solution

22.Rc8+ Kd7

White cannot capture on h8 due to his weak back rank.

23.Rc7+ Ke8 24.Be1!!

A stunning retreat and the only winning move! In the game continuation, both players managed to go

147
wrong: 24.h3? Bc4?? (Black could have saved himself with 24...Qd1+ 25.Kh2 Qd4!! 26.Rc8+ Kd7
27.Rxh8 Qf4+ 28.Kg1 Qc1+ 29.Kh2 Qf4+ with a draw by perpetual check) 25.Rc8+ Kd7 26.Rxh8
Qd1+ 27.Kh2 Qf1 28.Qc5 and Black resigned. 1-0 B.Vuckovic (2581) – P.Dimic (2349) Serbian
League (Subotica) 2019.

24...Qd1

Or 24...b4 25.Qxb4 Qd8 26.Qb7 Ne7 27.h3 Bb5 28.Ba5 with a decisive advantage for White.

25.Qb4 Qd8 26.Qc5 Ne7 27.h4 and White is winning.

30.3)

***
Hint: Don’t be fooled by apparent targets

Show/Hide Solution

24.e6!

Only so can White claim an advantage. In the Facebook group, several were distracted by the fact that
Black’s queen appears to be in trouble but finding no way to trap her. Some of the alternatives that
were analyzed were 24.Ng5 h6 25.Nxf7? Kxf7, which wins for Black;

148
24.Re4 Bxe4 25.dxe4 g5 and Black’s queen survives with an advantage in hand;
and finally, 24.Kh2 Bxf3 25.Rxf3 Rxe5 26.g4 Qg5 27.Qxg5 Rxg5 and White only has an
insignificant advantage in the endgame.

24.e6! Rxe6

Killing the knight seems to have merit: 24...Bxf3 25.exf7+ (also 25.Rxf3 works for White, e.g.,
25...Rxe6 (or 25...Kh8 26.e7 and White is much better) 26.Rxe6 fxe6 27.Qf4 Rf8 28.f7+ Kg7
29.Qf6+ Kh6 30.Rf4 and White is winning) 25...Kxf7 26.Qf4 Qd5 27.Rxe8 Kxe8 (or 27...Rxe8
28.Qc7+ and White is winning) 28.Re1+ Kd7 29.Re7+ Kc6 30.f7 and White wins.

25.Rxe6 fxe6 26.Ng5 Bd5

Also 26...e5 is hopeless for Black: 27.f7+ Kf8 28.Ne6+ Ke7 29.f8=Q+ Rxf8 30.Nxf8 and White is a
rook up.

27.Qf4 Qe2

Or 27...Rf8 28.Qe5 with f6–f7 to follow.

28.f7+ Kg7 29.f8=Q+ and Black resigned. 1–0

S.Rublevsky (2652) – A.Rakhmanov (2606) Serbian League (Subotica) 2019

30.4)

149
 **
Hint: You are going where?

Show/Hide Solution

25...Bh4+!!

Black sends the king out on an adventure he is not keen on.

26.Kxh4

Not capturing the bishop is not an option for White, e.g., 26.Kh2 Rbd8 27.Qc7 Qf3 and Black
decisively breaks through.

26...Rbd8!

This is an essential intermediary move that prevents White from organizing a defense. The
alternatives are not as good: a) 26...Rfd8? 27.Qc7 Rdc8 28.Qe7 Qg2 29.Rf1 Qxc2 30.Rf3 b5 and
despite White’s crazy looking king on h4, the chance are about even. b) 26...Qf3?? 27.Qd4 and White
is winning.

27.Qe7 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 Qf3 29.Rd2

Or 29.Rd4 Qf2+ 30.Kh5 Qg3 31.h4 Kh7 32.f5 exf5 33.gxf5 g6+ 34.fxg6+ Qxg6#.

29...Qxf4 30.Qd6 g5+ and with mate in a few moves, White resigned. 0–1

A.Indjic (2617) – B.Predojevic (2618) Serbian League (Subotica) 2019

Set 31

31.1)

150
 ***
Hint: Open the tap

Show/Hide Solution

25.f5!

The strongest although White has an excellent alternative in 25.e6! fxe6 (or 25...Rxe6 26.Nxe6 fxe6
27.f5 Be8 28.Qh4 exf5 29.Rxf5 Bg6 30.Re7 Rd7 31.Rxd7 Qxd7 32.Rxd5 and White should win)
26.f5 e5 (or 26...Rf8 27.f6 Ref7 28.Ref3 and White’s position is much better) 27.f6 Rf7 (also 27...Be8
28.Qh4 leaves Black with a mess of a position) 28.Rg3 and White’s attack is irresistible.
Also tempting but not nearly as good is 25.Rg3 dxe5 26.Qxh6 f6 (but not 26...f5 27.Re1 e4 28.Rg5
Bc8 29.Re3 Rf7 30.Qh4 when the material is in balance but all of White’s pieces are better than their
black counterparts) 27.fxe5 Qxe5 (or 27...fxe5 28.Qh4 Bc8 29.Nb5 Qd7 30.Rf6 Qxb5 31.Rh6 and
White is winning) 28.Qxf6 Qxf6 29.Rxf6 Rf8 30.Rd6 and White is much better in the endgame.

25.f5! Rxe5 26.Rg3

Not 26.Rxe5? dxe5 27.f6 exd4 28.fxg7 Bc8 29.Qxh6 f5! when Black survives!

26...f6

Or 26...Kf8 27.Rxg7! and White is winning.

27.Rxg7+ Kxg7 28.Qg6+ Kf8 29.Qxf6+ Kg8 30.Qg6+ and Black resigned. 1–0

151
P.Bobras (2488) – T.Kantans (2490) Polish Team ch (Katowice) 2019

31.2)

***
Hint: Distraction

Show/Hide Solution

25.Bd7!

The bishop on f5 is a crucial piece in Black’s defense. The alternative is 25.Nxe4 Bxe4 26.f3 Bxf3
27.Qxf3 fxe3 28.Qh5 when White has the better chances but nothing like the game continuation.

25.Bd7! fxe3

Nothing really works for Black, for instance, 25...Bxd7 26.Nxe4 or 25...Qh6 26.Nxe4 Bxe4 27.Rxg5
Qxh5 28.Rhxh5 fxe3 29.Be6+ Rf7 30.fxe3 or 25...Bh6 26.Bxf5 Qxf5 27.Qxh6 in each case, White is
winning.

26.Nxe4 Qh6 27.Rxg5 Qxh5 28.Rgxh5 Bxd7 29.Nxd6 and Black resigned. Fighting on, being a
piece down, is rather pointless. 1–0

152
A.Shirov (2658) – K.Alekseenko (2668) Spanish Team ch (Linares) 2019

31.3)

****
Hint: How much wood is needed in the fire

Show/Hide Solution

25.Bf7+!

The game continued 25.Bf5+?! Kh8 26.Bxe6? Re8 27.Rf1 Ne5 28.Qh5 Qxe6 29.Nc5 Qc6 and here
White possibly lost on time as the game was scored as a win for Black despite the position being
equal, for instance, 30.Nxb7 Ng6 31.Rf7 Qb6+ 32.Kf1 Qb5+ 33.Kg1 Qb6+ with a perpetual check.
0–1 K.Shanava (2496) – K.Kamer (2306) Istanbul 2019.

25.Bf7+! Kxf7 26.Rf1+ Ke8 27.Qh5+! Kd8 28.Rf7! Qd6 29.Rxb7 and White is clearly better.

31.4)

153
 ***
Hint: Cracking the shield

Show/Hide Solution

19...Rxf2! 20.Rxf2??

Capturing with the queen is also better for Black after 20.Qxf2 Rf7 21.Nf3 Nxf3+ 22.Bxf3 Rxf3
23.Qxf3 Bxf3 24.Rxf3 b5 25.cxb5 Qb6 26.Re1 e5 and Black has a clear advantage.

20...Bxe3

Black is already clearly winning.

21.Nf1 Bxf2+

The computer likes the artificial and particularly nonhuman- looking 21...Bc5 22.b4 Qe8 23.Nd2 Bd4
and Black is winning. But the game continuation is plenty fine and far more obvious.

22.Qxf2 Rxc4?

Imaginative but not best. After 22...Rf7! 23.Qe3 Qc7 24.Nd2 Qc6, Black is winning.

23.Rd1?

White had to accept 23.Bxc4 Nf3+ 24.Qxf3 Bxf3 25.Bxe6+ to stay in the game, although Black

154
should be winning here too.

23...Rc2 24.Qe3 Qc7

Black has two extra pawns and the attack - this is not even a close contest.

25.Rd2 Qc6 26.Kf2 Rc1 27.Qg5 Qc5+ 28.Qe3 Rxf1+ and White resigned. 0–1

V.Epishin (2553) – A.Gschnitzer (2410) Innsbruck 2019

Set 32

32.1)

**
Hint: Combine attack on weak squares and overburdened pieces

Show/Hide Solution

21.Bxg6!

A decent alternative is 21.f4!? Qf6 22.Bxg6! (but not 22.f5? exf5 and Black is much better) 22...hxg6
23.Qd6 Bd7 24.Qe5 Qxe5 25.fxe5 g5 26.Rh8+ Kg7 27.Rxa8 Bc6 28.Rxa7 and White has a large
advantage in the endgame.

155
21.Bxg6! hxg6 22.Rxg6+ Rg7 23.Qe7?!

This move is clever and should win, but White has two even better options: a) 23.f4! Qxf4 24.Qe7
Rxg6 25.Qe8+ Qf8 26.Qxg6+ Qg7 27.Qe8+ Qf8 28.Rh8+ Kxh8 29.Qxf8+ and White is winning. b)
23.Rgh6 Rf7 24.Qb4 Bd7 25.Qh4 and Black will not survive. Note that 23.Rh8+?? Kxh8 24.Qf8+
Kh7 wins for Black.

23...Bd7 24.Qxd7 Rxg6 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Qxg6

That black king looks terribly naked and will not survive.

26...Ke7 27.Rh7+ Kd6 28.Qf7 Kc5 29.Qxb7 Qb8 30.Rc7+ Kd6 31.Rc6+ Ke5 32.Qg7+ Kf5
33.Qf7+ Kg5 34.Rxe6 and Black resigned. Mate is not many moves away. 1–0

J.Santos Latasa (2586) – S.L.Sanchez (2405) Barcelona 2019

32.2)

***
Hint: Opposite-colored bishops

Show/Hide Solution

156
30.Nd5!

The only move to produce any kind of significant advantage for White.

30...exd5?

Black allows White to execute his idea. The alternative is 30...Qc5 31.Rxe6! (White should also win
after 31.Rd8+ Bf8 32.Qxc5 Rxc5 33.Nf4 Rxc2 34.Nxe6 Kf7 35.Nxf8 Rxa2 but this will require more
work than the main line) 31...Qxb4 32.Nxb4 Bf8 33.a3! when the knight on a5 eventually will get
lost because it cannot escape from its prison, and Rxa6 will trap it.

31.Bxd5+ Kh7 32.Qh4+ Bh6 33.Re6! The essential final flourish to the combination. Black has no
good way of meeting the threat of Re7+ and therefore resigned. 1–0

G.Antal (2549) – J.Bosch (2422) Barcelona 2019

32.3)

***
Hint: Combine attack and the overburdened piece

Show/Hide Solution

157
17...Bxc3!

Apparently, walking into a pin, but Black has something sinister in mind. In the Facebook group,
many were tempted by 17...Ng4 but White defends with 18.Nh3 Bxc3 19.Rd1 when Black has an
advantage but nothing that will keep White up at night.

17...Bxc3! 18.Rc1

If 18.Rd1 then 18...d5, threatening ...Ne4 or ...Ng4.

18...Bb4 19.Rd1

Of course not 19.Rxc5?? Re1#!

19...d6 20.Bc6

Or 20.Ne2 Bf5! and White is busted.

20...Bf5 21.Qb3 Bc2 and White resigned. 0–1

I.Martinovici (2405) – G.Akash (2394) Balatonlelle 2019

32.4)

***
Hint: Magnets still work

158
 Show/Hide Solution

20.Bxb7+!!

In the game, White instead chose 20.Bh3? Nge3 21.Re1?! Rg3 22.Qh2 Rdg8 23.h5 Qc4 24.Bxf5 exf5
25.Rxd7 Kxd7 26.Rxe3?? (26.Qd2+ would still have been fine for White, e.g., 26...Ke7 27.Rxe3
Rxe3 28.Qxe3 with a complex endgame that the computer claims is better for White, but that is far
from obvious.) 26...Rg1+ 27.Nd1 R8g2 and White resigned. 0–1 A.Czebe (2413) – L.Perdomo
(2405) Balatonlelle 2019.

20.Bxb7+!! Kxb7?

Unfortunately for Black, even the better 20...Qxb7 is not of much use, e.g., 21.Na5 Qb6 22.Qc4+
Kb8 23.Rfxd7 Rxd7 24.Rxd7 and White is winning due to his many threats, e.g., Rb7 and Nc6+.

21.Rdxd7!

The point behind the previous move.

21...Rxd7 22.Rxd7 Qxd7 23.Nc5+ and White is winning.

159
Show in Text Mode

Chapter 3
Sets 33-47

Set 33

33.1)

160
 ***
Hint: Create a distraction for the critical defender

Show/Hide Solution

13.Bg5! Rf8

Of course not 13...fxg5?? 14.Qe5+ and White is winning.

14.Qe5+!! Kf7

Once more, Black cannot accept the offered piece as after 14...fxe5??, the game ends promptly after
15.Nd6#!

15.Nd6+ Kg7 16.Nxb7 fxe5?

16...Nc6 17.Bh6+ Kxh6 18.Qf4+ g5 19.Qg4 Qe8 20.h4 with a clear advantage and a strong attack
for White.

17.Bxd8

White has won a piece, now he just needs to extract the knight and the bishop, and then he is winning.

17...d5 18.Bc7 Nd7 19.cxd5 Rfc8 20.Bd6 a6 21.Be7 Re8 22.Bg5 and Black resigned. 1–0

L.Perdomo (2469) – Ax.Bachmann (2633) Niteroi 2019

161
 33.2)

***
Hint: Sometimes the answers lie in the most apparent targets

Show/Hide Solution

18.Qh6!

The game continuation was 18.Qd4 Qd8? (18...Qd7!?) 19.Ne7+ Kg7 20.g4 h6 (20...Qd7!?) 21.f4
Qd7 22.g5 Qg4+ 23.Kh1 hxg5 24.Nxd5 Rad8 25.Qxf6+ Kh7 26.Qxd8 Qf5 27.Qxg5 and Black
resigned. 1-0 D.Jojua (2563) – M.Sulashvili (2381) Tbilisi rapid 2019.

18.Qh6! Nh5

Or 18...gxf5 19.Qg5+ Kh8 20.Qxf6+ Kg8 21.Re3 and White is winning.

19.Ne7+ Kh8 20.Nf3, threatening Ng5 and White is winning.

33.3)

162
 ****
Hint: Creating open paths to big differences

Show/Hide Solution

23...Nc5!

Black utilizes the relative pin of the d-pawn to make this knight leap. It is much stronger than
tempting 23...c3!? that has a similar idea in mind: 24.Bxc3 Nc5! 25.Bxd5 Rxe1+ 26.Nxe1 Nxa4
27.Bxf7+ Kh8 (this is more accurate than 27...Kxf7 28.Qa2+ Ke8 29.Qxa4 when Black is better, but
the king is rather exposed) 28.Bb4 Qxd4 29.Qxa4 Nc3 with a clear advantage for Black.

23...Nc5! 24.dxc5?

White immediately goes wrong, but admittedly his options are not all that great. After 24.Bxd5 Rxe1+
25.Nxe1 Nxa4 26.Bxf7+ Kxf7 27.Qxa4 c3 28.Qc4+ Kf8 29.Bxc3 Nxc3 30.Qxc3 Qxd4, Black
should win the endgame without too many problems.

24...c3! 25.Bxd5

Once more, White’s options are not attractive, e.g., 25.Rb4 cxb2 26.Rxb2 Nc3 27.Rxb8 Qxb8
28.Bxd5 Ne2+ 29.Rxe2 Bxa1 or; 25.Bxc3 Nxc3 26.Qa3 Rb5 27.Re3 Nxa4 28.Qxa4 Rxa5 29.Qc2
Ra1+ and in both cases Black is winning.

25...Qxd5 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Bxc3 Nxc3!

163
But not the capture with the bishop: 27...Bxc3? 28.Qc1 Re2 29.c6! Re6 30.Rc4, when White has
almost equalized.

28.Qa3 Nxa4 29.Qxa4 Rc8

Black is winning.

30.Nb3 Rb8 31.Nfd2 Bh6 32.f4 Bf8 33.Kh2 h5 and White resigned. 0–1

D.Garcia Ramos (2348) – D.Arenas (2454) Sabadell 2019

33.4)

***
Hint: Attacking weaknesses combined with poor coordination is a potent blend

Show/Hide Solution

23...Bh3! 24.Rg1

Or 24.Bf1?! Nh5! (threatening ...Qg3) 25.f4 Bg4 26.Bb5 Re4!! 27.Rxe4 Rxe4 28.Re1 Nxf4 29.Rxe4
Qxg2+ 30.Ke3 Nd5+ 31.Kd4 Qxe4+! 32.Kxe4 Nxc3+ 33.Kf4 Be6 and Black is winning.

24...Re5! 25.Bxf6 gxf6 26.Kf1 Rg5!

164
In the game, Black continued with the less accurate 26...Bf5?! 27.Kf2 Qh6?! 28.Rh1 Qg5 29.Qd4?!
Bg6 30.Rad1 Re3 31.Rh3 Qf5 32.Bd3?? (32.Rg3 would have been completely playable for White)
32...Rxd3 and White resigned. 26...Be6!? could also have been considered but is objectively not as
strong as our main move. 0-1 A.Saric (2557) – A.Matnadze (2363) San Cristobal de La Laguna
2019.

27.Ra2

The alternatives are very interesting to analyze: 27.Qb2 Re3 28.Qf2 Bxg2+ 29.Rxg2 Qh1+ 30.Qg1
Rxf3+ 31.Ke1 Qxg1+ 32.Rxg1 Rxg1+ and Black wins or 27.Qd2 Rxg2! 28.Qxg2+ (or 28.Rxg2+
Kh8 29.Qf2 Qh1+ 30.Qg1 Bxg2+ 31.Kf2 Qh4+ 32.Kxg2 Rg8+ and Black is winning) 28...Kf8!
29.Ra2 Re3 30.Be2 (30.Rf2 Bxg2+ 31.Rfxg2 Qh3 wins easily for Black) 30...Bxg2+ 31.Rxg2 Qh1+
and Black is winning.

27...Be6! 28.Bxe6 Rxe6 and with White completely tied down, Black wins by claiming the e-file
through doubling the rooks and then advance the h-pawn; eventually White’s position will fall apart.
For instance, 29.Qd4 Rge5 30.Kf2 h5 31.Qd2

Or 31.Rd2 h4 32.Qg4+ Rg5 33.Qh3 Qg3+ 34.Qxg3 hxg3+ 35.Kf1 Rxc5 and Black wins easily.

31...Rxc5 32.Raa1 Rd6 33.Qe2 Rg5 34.Rad1 h4 35.Rxd6 Qxd6 36.Rd1 Qh2 and Black is winning.

Set 34

34.1)

165
 ***
Hint: Small pockets for big hands

Show/Hide Solution

30.Nf6! Bxf6

The alternatives are not much better, for instance, 30...Qxg4 31.fxg4 and White wins the knight on h5
or 30...Qc8 31.Nxh5+ gxh5 32.Qd4+ Kg8 33.Rxh5 Qf5+ 34.Ne4 Rxh5 35.Rxh5 f6 36.Qb6 Rc4
37.Qb8+ Qc8 38.Qxc8+ Rxc8 39.gxf6 and White is winning.

31.gxf6+ Kg8

After 31...Kxf6 32.Qd4+, Black loses the rook on h8.

32.Qg5 Black resigned as the pin on the g-pawn will cost Black the knight on h5. 1–0

B.Socko (2625) – T.Markowski (2537) Polish Team ch (Katowice) 2019

34.2)

****
Hint: Surprising attacking strategy

166
 Show/Hide Solution

20...Ne7!

White is behind in development, and her developed pieces are quite poorly coordinated, and with this
move, Black aims to take advantage of these facts.

21.Bb3

If 21.Bf3 then 21...Qxd1+ leads to the same as in our main game, whereas 21.e4 Nxd5 22.exd5 Bxb2
23.Ra2 Be2 and Black is winning; those poorly coordinated pieces had to cost White material at some
point, and here it does.

21...Qxd1+! 22.Bxd1 Rc1 23.Qf3 Rd8 24.Nd2??

White gets desperate. Obviously, nothing is good, for instance, 24.h4 Rdxd1+ 25.Kh2 Bxb2 and
White is utterly busted.

24...Rxa1 25.e4 Ng6 26.e5 Nxe5 27.Bxe5 Rxd2

Black is winning, and eventually, she took home the full point.

28.Qa8+ Rd8 29.Qxa7 Raxd1+ 30.Kg2 Bf1+ 31.Kf3 Bxe5 32.Qxf7 Bxb2 33.a5 b3 34.Qb7 Bf6
35.a6 Bxa6 36.Qxa6 b2 37.Qb7 b1=Q 38.Qxb1 Rxb1 39.h4 Rd2 0–1

Song Yuxin (2305) – Zhu Jiner (2471) E05 Zibo zonal women 2019

34.3)

167
 **
Hint: What to do about the attacked queen?

Show/Hide Solution

26...d2! 27.Qe2?

The point behind Black’s previous move is that after 27.Qxd2 he can capture on e3 with tempo
27...fxe3 (Black has an exciting alternative in 27...Qf5 28.Nc3 Nxe3 29.Qd3 Qxd3 30.Nxd3 g5, and
Black has a significant advantage) 28.Qe1 Qh5 29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 with an extra pawn and a clear
advantage for Black.

27...Qf5!

In the game, Black instead chose 27...Qh4 28.Nxd2 Nxe3 29.Ndc4 Nxc4 30.Nxc4 Bd5 31.Rf1 f3
and White resigned. 0-1 D.Berczes (2478) – I.Beradze (2493) Irving 2019.

28.Nxd2 Qc2 and White’s position collapses promptly.

34.4)

168
 ***
Hint: Key: Unfortunate coordination

Show/Hide Solution

27.Nxf7!

In the game, White went for another option: 27.Qf4!? f5 28.d5! Bb3 29.dxe6 Nd5?? (Black should
have played 29...Qxe6 30.gxf5 gxf5 when White is clearly better, but Black is still in the game)
30.Qd2 f4 31.Rc6 Qxe5 32.Rxe5 Bxe5 33.Bh4 g5 34.Qd3 Re7 35.Qxb3 Rd8 36.Bf2 Ne3 37.Rc1 and
Black resigned. 1-0 A.Kislinsky (2436) – D.Lewtak (2377) Polish Team ch (Dzwirzyno) 2019.

27.Nxf7! Qxd4 28.Nxh6+ Kh7 29.Qxd4 Bxd4+ 30.Kg2 Kxh6 31.Rc4 With a clear advantage for
White, the better pawn structure, the bishop pair, and Black’s awkward king leaves White with a
much better position.

Set 35

35.1)

169
 *****
Hint: How to bring that d-pawn home?

Show/Hide Solution

25.d8=Q!

In the game, White played 25.Be6? Qb5+? (a better defense was 25...Rd8 even though White
eventually should win after 26.Rhe1 Re3 27.Rxe3 Bxe3 28.Bb3) 26.Bb3 Rd8 27.Rhe1 Re3 28.Rxe3
Bxe3 29.a4 Qf5+ 30.Bc2 Qe5 31.Rd5 Qb8 32.Rh5 h6 33.Qg6 Kg8 34.Qh7+ Kf8 35.Bb3 Qf4
36.Qg8+ Ke7 37.Qe6+ and with mate ready to be delivered, Black resigned. 1-0 L.Paichadze (2574)
– N,Chkhaidze (2333) Tbilisi rapid 2019.

25.d8=Q! Bxd8 26.Be6!

Now the point behind White’s previous move becomes apparent; the rook has very few squares to
hide from White’s threats.

26...Qb5+

Or 26...Re8 27.Rd7 and Black has no defense.

27.Ka1 Qe8 28.Qxg8+ Qxg8 29.Bxg8 and White is a rook up and easily winning.

170
 35.2)

**
Hint: Crossfire

Show/Hide Solution

23.Nxb5!

In the Facebook group, many were tempted by 23.d6+? but White does not obtain an advantage that
is anywhere close to what he gets in the game: 23...c4 24.Nxb5 cxb3 25.dxc7 bxa2+ 26.Ka1 Rc6 and
while better for White, Black is still fighting.

23.Nxb5! Qxb5 24.d6+

Now the pawn advance is much better because after...

24...c4

White has a neat cross-pin on Black’s king and queen.

25.Qf1! Kf8 26.dxc7!

The game continued 26.Bxc4? Qc5? (26...Qd7 was necessary) 27.Rd5 Qb6 28.d7 Rd8 29.a4 Rd6
30.a5 Qa7 31.Rxd6 cxd6 32.a6 Rxd7 33.Qd3 Ke7 34.Qd5 Kd8 35.Bb5 Re7 36.Qxd6+ Kc8 37.Nh4
Qxf2 38.Qxe7 Qe1+ 39.Kc2 Qf2+ 40.Kb3 and Black resigned. 1-0 Se.Volkov (2557) –

171
A.Shariyazdanov (2519) Chelyabinsk rapid 2019.

26...Qc6

Or 26...cxb3 27.Qxb5!

27.Qxc4 Qxc4 28.Bxc4 and White is winning, three pawns, including a far-advanced passed pawn,
and better piece coordination is amble compensation for the exchange.

35.3)

**
Hint: Kicking down the right door

Show/Hide Solution

19.Rc8+!! Qxc8

Necessary as 19...Bxc8 20.Qd8# ends the game.

20.Qxb4

White has given up an exchange to put Black’s king in a headlock. Now White just needs to remove
the knight on f5, and then it will be game over for Black.

172
20...Rb8 21.Qa3 Qc2 22.Bd3!?

White could play more precisely with 22.b3!, intending 22...Qxe2 23.Nd4! and the knight on f5 will
disappear.

22...Qxb2 23.Qxb2 Rxb2 24.Bxh8

White settled for a material win and eventually won the game.

24...Bc6 25.Bxa6 Kd7 26.a4 g5 27.Nxg5 Nd4 28.Bb5 Bxb5 29.axb5 Rxb5 30.Bf6 Rb2 31.Nxf7
Nb3 32.Ra7+ Kc6 33.Nd8+ Kb6 34.Rb7+ Ka6 35.Rb8 d4 36.Nxe6 d3 37.Rxb3 d2 38.Nc5+ Ka7
39.Ra3+ Kb8 40.Ra1 Rc2 41.Nb3 Ra2 42.Rd1 and Black resigned. 1–0

A.Kogan (2506) – A.Matnadze (2363) San Cristobal de La Laguna 2019

35.4)

**
Hint: Crossing the Ts and dotting the Is

Show/Hide Solution

28.Rf4!

173
In the game, White missed his golden opportunity, played 28.Bd3? and eventually lost after 28...Rxb2
29.Rf1 Bg7 30.Rf4 Nf6 31.Qh4 a5 32.Ng5 Rb4 33.Nxf7 Rxf4 34.Qxf4 Kxf7 35.Qg3 Ra8 36.Bxg6+
Kf8 37.Re1 Qd4 38.Qh3 Qxd5 39.g4 Qd2 40.Re3 Qd1+ 41.Kg2 Qxg4+ 42.Qxg4 Nxg4 43.Rh3 a4
44.Bf5 a3 45.Rf3 Ne5 and White resigned. 0-1 J.Wang (2446) – E.Shtembuliak (2548) Irving 2019.

28.Rf4! Bg7

The rook, of course, cannot be captured: 28...Bxf4 29.Qh8#.

29.Bd3!

Or 29.Qxg6 Ne5 30.Qh7 and White is winning; he threatens moves like Nf6 and Ng5.

29...Rxf2 30.Rxf2, and it is game over.

Set 36

36.1)

***
Hint: Sole attackers need support but consider the counterplay

Show/Hide Solution

174
16.Qxa6!

This is stronger than 16.Qd7+ Qxd7 17.exd7+ Kd8 18.Rd1 Nc2 19.Rb1 e6 and White has no more
than a tiny edge.

16.Qxa6! Nxf3+ 17.Kh1 Qc7??

It was much better to play 17...Bg7, e.g., 18.Qc6+ Kf8 19.Rd1 Nd4 20.Qxd5 Qxd5+ 21.Nxd5 and
White is clearly better.

18.Qa4+ Kd8 19.Bf4!

Putting a cork in the mating threat.

19...Nxf4 20.Nb5 Qb6 21.Nd4 and Black resigned. 1–0

P.Svidler (2729) – C.D.Albornoz Cabrera (2581) FIDE World Cup (Khanty-Mansiysk) 2019

36.2)

****
Hint: Which target is the best?

Show/Hide Solution

175
18.Neg5! Bxf3?

This leads to mate by force, but in fairness, everything loses. The main line is 18...hxg5 19.Nxg5 Kf8
(if 19...g6, White has several paths to victory, but the most straight-forward is probably 20.Nxf7 Kg7
21.Ng5 Bd7 22.Rxe6 and Black’s position collapses) 20.Qh7 Bd5 (or 20...Bd7 21.Bxe6 Bxe6
22.Rxe6 fxe6 23.Nxe6+ Kf7 24.Re1! and Black is toast) 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Qh8+ Ke7 23.Nxe6 fxe6
24.Qxg7+ Kd6 25.Rxe6+ Kxe6 26.Re1+ Re5 (Black gets mated after 26...Kd6 27.Qf6+ Kd7
28.Qe6+ Kd8 29.Qe8#) 27.Rxe5+ Qxe5 28.Qg8+ Kd7 29.dxe5 a6 30.e6+ and White wins easily.

19.Qh7+! Kf8 20.Rxe6! White threatens mate in 1 and, frankly, the best Black can do for herself is
delay the inevitable, so Black resigned. 1–0

H.Koneru (2560) – A.Kashlinskaya (2487) Skolkovo 2019

36.3)

**
Hint: Pressure in all the right places

Show/Hide Solution

18...Qf6!

176
Black add just an extra layer of stress to White’s position to make it crumble. He could also play
18...Qh4+ 19.g3 Qh5 20.g4 Qh3 21.Ng3 Ne5 22.Bxe5 Rxe5 23.Qf1 Qh6 24.Nc4 Bb5 when Black
has a much better if not close to winning position.

18...Qf6! 19.Rc2

Or 19.h4 h6 20.b3 Rad8 21.Qc2 Bb5 22.Nc4 Re6 (22...Rxe2+ 23.Qxe2 Qxf4 also leaves Black much
better) 23.Bg3 Rde8 24.Nf4 Qd4+ 25.Kf1 Re3 26.Rd1 Rc3 and White is utterly busted.

19...Bb6!

Preparing to play ...c5–c4. If White plays Nc4, then ...Rxe2 followed by ...Qxf4 and Black should be
winning.

20.Qc1

Or 20.Rc4 Ne5! 21.Bxe5 Qxe5 22.Qd2 Rad8 23.Qc3 Qxc3 24.bxc3 Rd3 25.Nf5 g6 26.Nfg3 Bd5
27.Ra4 c4+ 28.Ke1 a5 and White is almost stalemated and Black is winning.

20...c4!

The idea behind the previous move, adding additional pressure on the now-pinned knight on e3,
threatening ...g7–g5 as well as ...Nd7–e5–d3.

21.Kf1 Bxf3!

White resigned on account of 21...Bxf3 22.gxf3 Bxe3 23.Bxe3 Qxf3+ 24.Bf2 Qxh1+ and White is
completely lost. 0–1

M.Guseva (2374) – P.Kotsur (2528) Chelyabinsk 2019

36.4)

177
 ***
Hint: Prompt mobilization

Show/Hide Solution

14.Rxd6!

It is somewhat surprising that this sacrifice works when White doesn’t have any other threats
immediately available. However, White’s attack escalates very quickly.

14...Qxd6 15.Ng5!

Now the threat of Nce4 becomes very real, so Black’s options are reduced dramatically.

15...h6

Or 15...Nd4 16.Bxb7 h6 17.Nce4 hxg5 18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.Qxd4 with a large advantage for White.

16.Nce4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 Qd8 18.Bf6! Qd5 19.Qg4 g6 20.bxc4 Qxc4? This ends Black’s resistance,
but Black was busted in any case.

21.Qh4 h5 22.Qf4 Nd4 23.Qh6 Nxe2+ 24.Kh1 and Black resigned before getting mated. 1–0

M.Klekowski (2473) – P.Chylewski (2342) Polish Team ch (Dzwirzyno) 2019

178
 Set 37

37.1)

***
Hint: Hanging pawns can become challenging to hang on to

Show/Hide Solution

27...Rxc4!

This move is incredibly strong; for starters, the rook can’t be captured as White lose more or less
instantly. Also, Black threatens ...N6d5, winning material. The alternatives, while attractive, are not
nearly as good. 27...Nxh3+? 28.Bxh3 Qxh3 29.c5 e5 gives Black a clear advantage but is far from an
easy win.
Additionally, Black can play 27...Qg5+!? 28.Kh2 Rxc4 and Black has a significant advantage, but
once more, it is far from an easy win.

27...Rxc4! 28.Kh2?

As mentioned, 28.Bxc4 loses quickly, e.g., 28...Qg5+ 29.Kf1 Qg2+ 30.Ke1 Qg1+ 31.Bf1 Ng2+ and
it is game over for White.; Or 28.Rb1 Nxh3+ 29.Bxh3 Qxh3 30.Ne2 Rxa4 and Black has two extra
pawns and the better position.

28...N6d5?

179
Black could do even better with 28...Rxc3! 29.Qxc3 N6d5 and now 30.Qb2 is met by 30...Nxh3 and
White can, in fact, not prevent mate.

29.Nxd5 Nxd5 and White resigned. 0–1

J.Cori (2676) – S.Nihal (2610) FIDE World Cup (Khanty-Mansiysk) 2019

37.2)

**
Hint: Efficiency and economy

Show/Hide Solution

28.Ne5+!

This move is best by some margin and caused Black to resign on the spot. Before looking at why he
resigned, let us have a quick look at the alternatives: a) 28.Bxe6+?? was the preferred choice by
several in the Facebook group, but it loses for White after 28...Kxe6 29.Ng5+ and now Black should
not capture the knight, but rather play 29...Ke7!, refuting White’s idea entirely.
b) The second-best option is 28.Ng5+!? fxg5 (or 28...Ke7 29.Qxg6! Qxc1+ 30.Kh2 Qc6 (if
30...Kd8? then 31.Nxe6+ Kc8 32.Nxf8 wins easily for White, in fact, my computer eagerly

180
announces mate in just over 10 moves...) 31.Qh7+ Kd8 32.Nxe6+ Ke8 33.Qg8 Rf7 34.Bh5 Ke7
(note that 34...Qd7?? is met with 35.Qxf8#) 35.Bxf7 Nxf7 36.Nxf8 and White is winning) 29.Bxe6+
Kf6 (or 29...Kg7? 30.Be5+ Kh7 31.Qxc8 Bxc8 32.Bxd7 Bxd7 33.Rc7 and White is winning)
30.Bxd7 Qxc2 31.Bxg5+ Kxg5 32.Rxc2 Nc4 33.b3 Na5 34.Bc8 Bc6 35.Bxa6 Kf6 and White has a
large, probably winning advantage, but there is still a fair amount of work to be done.
Moving back to the game continuation, Black resigned on account of 28.Ne5+ fxe5 29.Bxe6+ Kg7
(29...Kxe6?? 30.Qxg6+ Ke7 31.Bg5#) 30.Bxe5+ Kh7 31.Bxd7 Qxd7 32.Qc7 Bc8 33.Bxd6 Bxd6
34.Qxc8 Qxc8 35.Rxc8 and Black is hopelessly lost. 1–0

A.Hakobyan (2550) – V.Mikhalevski (2578) Saint Louis 2019

37.3)

**
Hint: Black must not consolidate

Show/Hide Solution

19.Nxe6! fxe6

Not capturing the knight is not really an option either: 19...Qd7 20.Qxd7+ Nxd7 21.Nc7+ Kd8
22.Bxe7+ Kxe7 23.e6 and White is winning.

181
20.Qh5+ Kd7

Or 20...Kd8 21.Bxe6 Nxe6 22.Red1+ Kc8 23.Rxc7+ Nxc7 24.Bxe7 and White is winning.

21.Qf7

White can also capture on e6 once more: 21.Bxe6+ Kc6 22.Qf7 Bd6 23.Rxc5+ Bxc5 (or 23...Kxc5
24.Rc1+ Kb6 25.Rxc7 Bxc7 26.a5+ and Black can resign) 24.Bd5+ Kb6 25.a5+ and Black is getting
mated.

21...g5

Or 21...Kc8 22.Bxe6+ Kb8 23.Bxe7 and Black is busted.

22.Bxe6+ Kc6 23.Rxc5+ Bxc5 24.Bd5+ Kb6 25.a5+ Kb5 26.Bc4+ and Black resigned before he
would get mated. 1–0

T.Salemgareev (2457) – A.Grachev (2322) Chelyabinsk 2019

37.4)

**
Hint: The cost of doing business

Show/Hide Solution

182
17.fxg6! Bxh4?

Similarly, 17...hxg6 promptly loses to 18.Rxf6 Qxf6 19.Ne4 Qd4+ 20.Kh1 Nd5 21.c4 and White is
winning. A much better choice is 17...fxg6! 18.Nxg6 (18.Nf3 Bf5 19.Ne4 Bxe4 20.dxe4) 18...Bd4+
19.Kh1 hxg6 20.Qxg6+ Bg7 21.Ne4 Qe8 (21...Be8?? 22.Rxf8+ Kxf8 23.Rf1+ Kg8 24.Qg3)
22.Qxd6 Bf5 23.Ng3 (23.Qxc7? Be5 and Black is better) 23...Bg4! (but not 23...Be5?? 24.Qxf8+
Qxf8 25.Rxf5 Qd6 26.Rg5+ Kh7 27.Rh5+ Kg8 28.Nf5 Qe6 29.Re1 and White is winning according
to my computer but that is not immediately apparent to the naked eye) 24.Rde1 Rxf1+ 25.Rxf1 Ne6
26.Ne4 with a complicated game ahead.

18.gxf7+ Kh8 19.Qxd6 Bg4 20.Qe5+ Bf6 21.Rxf6

Black is busted.

21...Qd4+ 22.Qxd4 cxd4 23.Rdf1 dxc3 24.Bxc3

The queens have come off the board, but Black is more lost than ever.

24...Nd5 25.Be5 Nxf6 26.Bxf6# Very lovely! 1–0

R.Psyk (2314) – M.Molenda (2373) Polish Team ch (Jastrzebia Gora) 2019

Set 38

38.1)

183
 ***
Hint: Generating momentum

Show/Hide Solution

22...Nxc4! 23.Qxc4 Rb4 24.Qe2 c4 25.e4?

White is trying to create active counterplay but weakening the dark squares and letting Black’s queen
into the position does not help White’s cause. A somewhat better try is 25.Rab1 Rc8 (if 25...c3 then
White can try giving the bishop back with 26.Be4! Rxe4 27.Rxb3 Rc8 28.Rc1 Ra4, allowing White
good chances of survival) 26.Qg4 Rc7 27.Be4 c3 28.Bc2 Rcb7 is clearly better for Black.
Alternatively, 25.Be4 Re8 26.Bc2 bxc2 27.Qd2 (27.Qxc2?? Rxe3! wins for Black) 27...Qb2 28.Rac1
Re4 29.Rxc2 Qa3 and Black is better.

25...Qd4+ 26.Kf1 c3 27.Rad1 Qc4! 28.e5

This is only a matter of pretense; White is not accomplishing anything with this pawn advance, but he
does not want to sit passively and observe Black’s pawns queening.

28...c2 29.Rc1 Rc8 30.exd6 b2 31.Rxc2

Or 31.d7 bxc1=Q 32.Rxc1 Rb1 and White can resign.

31...Qxc2 32.Qe5+ Kg8 33.d7 Rf8 34.Qe8 b1=Q 35.d8=Q Qxe1+!? and White resigned. 0–1

184
E.Shtembuliak (2548) – A.Hakobyan (2550) Saint Louis 2019

38.2)

***
Hint: Busy defenders do not make the best defenders!

Show/Hide Solution

26.Nc6!

This is far better than the alternative 26.Bxf5 Qxf5 27.Qxb5 Bb6 when Black has lost a pawn but
does have some compensation.

26.Nc6! Bxc6?

This makes matters worse. Black should have opted for 26...Bxc3 27.Bxf5 gxf5 (27...Qxf5??
28.Ne7+ is not what Black should be trying) 28.Re7 Qc8 29.Qxc3 with a dominating position for
White.

27.dxc6 Qxc6 28.Bxa5 Rxa5 29.Bxf5 gxf5 30.d5

Or even stronger, 30.Qxf5! Ra8 31.Re7 Rf8 32.Qg5+ Kh8 33.Qh6 Qa8 34.h4 and Black has been

185
completely outplayed, unable to wrestle himself loose of White’s iron fist.

30...Qa8 31.Qxf5 Qd8

Also 31...Qf8 32.Qg5+ Kh8 33.Re7 f6 34.Qe3 wins for White.

32.Re4 Ra8 33.Rg4+

33.Rh4! is the best, but the text move easily wins for White as well.

33...Kf8 34.Qxh7 and Black resigned. 1–0

M.Rodshtein (2684) – M.Bartel (2621) FIDE World Cup (Khanty-Mansiysk) 2019

38.3)

***
Hint: Surprising resources

Show/Hide Solution

28...c5!

Very cool-headed. White appears to build an irresistible attack on the g-file.

186
29.Rg1 Bc6

The point behind the previous move. At first glance, Black’s threat is easily stopped by f2–f3...

30.f3 Ng4!!

Black diffuses most of White’s threats in one fell swoop.

31.Rxg7+?

White should have played 31.Rxg4 Bxf3 32.Rg3 Bxg2+ 33.R1xg2 Qf1+ 34.Rg1 Qxg1+ 35.Kxg1 Rf7
when Black is better, but there’s still some work to be done.

31...Qxg7 32.Bxg7 Rxf3!!

Now Black is winning. Black saves winning the queen for later as White can’t escape the pin. After
32...Bxf3 33.Bxf8 Bxg2+ 34.Rxg2 Kxf8 35.Rxg4 and White has a tiny edge in the rook endgame.

33.Be5 Kh7 34.Rd1 Nxe5 and White resigned. 0–1

T.Beerdsen (2482) – I.Nikolaidis (2530) Anogia 2019

38.4)

***
Hint: Poor coordination makes the timing right

187
 Show/Hide Solution

19.Qd1!

This, apparently quiet, move is incredibly difficult for Black to defend against. The main threat is
Rd8, followed by Qd6, but at the same time, the black queen on c4 is far from safe.

19...Bd7

Or 19...a5 20.Rd8 Ba6 21.Rxb8 Rxb8 22.Qd6 and White is much better.

20.b3 Qb5 21.Nd6 Qa5 22.f4

Black loses material and soon resigned.

22...c4 23.fxe5 c3 24.Nc4 Qc5+ 25.Rd4 b5 26.b4 Qa7 27.Kh1 c2 28.Qd2 bxc4 29.Rxd7 c3 30.Qd3
and Black resigned. 1–0

A.Zhigalko (2539) – A.Tsvetkov (2373) Chelyabinsk 2019

Set 39

39.1)

188
 ***
Hint: Strained coordination

Show/Hide Solution

26.Rc1! Na2

If Black tries to avoid the main line with 26...Nxd5, White will be winning after 27.cxd5 Rxd5
28.Bf1 and Black does not have enough for the piece.

27.Rb1?

I give this move a question mark, simply because it is an indication that White is missing the key
idea.

27...Nc3 28.Rc1

Repeating the position, which in itself is no tragedy, but is a further indication that White hasn’t
spotted the central winning idea. White could now play the very strong and winning 28.Ng4!!, e.g.,
28...Rd6 (or 28...Kf8 29.Rc1, transposing to the note after White’s 29th move) 29.Rc1 h5 30.Nh6+
Kg7 31.Nxf7 Kxf7 32.Rxc3 b5 33.cxb5 c4 34.bxa6 and White is winning.

28...Na2 29.Rf1??

This throws White’s advantage away. He should have played 29.Ng4!! Qd2 (the alternatives are no
better 29...h5 30.Nh6+ Kh7 31.Nf5 Rg8 32.Qf6 Nxc1 33.Qxf7+ Kh8 34.Qf6+ Kh7 35.Qg5 and
Black will get mated; or 29...Kf8 30.Qf6 Qa5 31.d6, threatening Qh8# and forcing Black to give up
the rook to prevent mate) 30.Qf6 (or 30.Nh6+ Kf8 31.Qh8+ Ke7 32.Qe5+ Kd7 33.Ra1 Qc3
34.Qxc3 Nxc3 35.Ra3 and White has a large advantage) 30...Rd7 31.Nh6+ Kf8 32.Qh8+ Ke7
33.Qe5+ Kf8 34.Qb8+ Kg7 (34...Ke7 35.Ng8#) 35.Qg8+ Kxh6 36.Qf8+ Kg5 37.Qg7 Qxc1+
38.Kh2 and Black will get mated. This is a long line but there are many forced moves. How far did
you come in your calculations?

29...a5! 30.Bc2?

This hands Black the advantage. Instead, again, White should have played 30.Ng4! Qc3 31.Nf6+
Kf8 (or 31...Kg7 32.Ne4 Qxa1 33.Rxa1 b6 34.Nd2 a4 35.Nxb3 axb3 36.Rb1 and White has the
better chances) 32.Ne4 Qxa1 33.Rxa1 b6 34.Nd2 Nb4 35.Bxg6 hxg6 36.Nxb3 Ke7 with an extra
pawn for White, but this is a very tricky endgame.

30...a4 31.Bxb3?! axb3 32.Qb2 Nc3 33.Ng4?

189
Finally, White plays Ng4, and now it’s a mistake. Life is tough...

33...Qxc4 34.Re1 Qd3? 35.Ra1??

An additional blunder. After 35.Nf6+ Kg7 (35...Kf8!? 36.Nxh7+ is possibly even stronger 36...Ke7)
36.Ne4! Qxe4 37.Qxc3+ Kg8 38.Qxb3 Qxd5 would have kept Black’s advantage to a minimum.

35...Qc2! White resigned as the pawn will queen. 0–1

Ant.Fernandes (2368) – J.F.Veiga (2345) Portoguese ch (Portimao) 2019

39.2)

*****
Hint: A long way from home

Show/Hide Solution

26...Ng4! 27.Qb6 Rxe3! 28.Bf1

The rook cannot be captured: 28.fxe3 Qxe3+ 29.Kh1 Nf2+ 30.Kg1 Nh3+ 31.Kh1 Qg1+ 32.Rxg1
Nf2#.

190
28...Bf5 29.Rcd2

It seems White can hold of Black’s forces, but now the next wave is hitting White...

29...Nxf2! 30.Kxf2 Rf3+! 31.Kxf3 Qe3+ 32.Kg2 Be4+ 33.Kh3 Qf3 34.Qh6 Bf5# A beautiful
attack. 0–1

P.Sabuk (2397) – S.Walter (2311) Polish Team ch (Dzwirzyno) 2019

39.3)

***
Hint: That queen is annoying… what can be done?

Show/Hide Solution

13...Nc6! 14.Nb5

Capturing the knight on c6 is beautifully refuted 14.Qxc6 Nxd4 15.Qd5 (note that 15.Qa4 is met by
15...Nf3+ 16.Kd1 Qg5 17.Nxe4 and now the stunning 17...Rae8!! and White’s position collapses;
while 15.Qxe4 Re8 wins White’s queen) 15...Nxc2+ 16.Kd2 Nxa1 17.Kc1 Rxf2 18.Be2 Qg8
19.Qxg8+ Rxg8 20.Kd2 Rb8 21.Ke3 Rxe2+ 22.Nxe2 Nc2+ and Black has a won endgame.

191
14...Nb4

Here 14...Qh4! 15.0-0-0 Nb4 wins for Black, e.g., 16.Bc4 d5 17.Bb3 Rab8 18.Qxc7 Rxb5 and White
can resign.

15.0-0-0 c6

15...Qh4! transposes to the line after the previous move and is Black’s best option, but White is in
serious trouble in any case.

16.c3 Rb8 17.Qxa7 Ra8 18.Qc7 Nxa2+ 19.Kc2 Qh4

Black is winning.

20.Kb1 Qxf2 21.Bc4 Ne3 22.Rhg1 Qc2+

Of course, 22...Nxc3+ 23.bxc3 Qc2# wins faster, but I suspect that Black wanted to win with an extra
flourish that can be accomplished free of charge.

23.Ka1 Nxc3+ 24.Na3 Qb1+! 25.Rxb1 Nc2# A beautiful conclusion to the game. 0–1

M.Antipov (2588) – CRG Krishna (2446) Qingdao 2019

39.4)

***

192
 Hint: Pins, anyone?

Show/Hide Solution

17...Nxd2?

This looks reasonably natural and is also a decent move, but it is nowhere near Black’s best move.
Instead 17...Bc5! would have caused White major problems. At first, it looks like Black is giving up
two minor pieces for a rook, which is a material loss rather than a gain. However, the pins combined
with the passive white position will end up costing White additional material. For instance, 18.bxc4
Qf7 19.Nh1 Qd7 and White will lose both the exchange on f2 and the bishop on d2, leaving Black
with a won position.

17...Nxd2? 18.Rxd2 Bd6 19.Nf1?

19.Qe1 would have been preferable.

19...Qxe4 20.Qh5 Rhf8 21.Rad1? Rf5! 22.Qh3 Bc5+ 23.Kh1 Rxf1+! and White resigned. 0–1

J.Martin Duque (2373) – M.Munoz Pantoja (2519) Vallfogona de Balague rapid 2019

Set 40

40.1)

193
 *
Hint: We are playing for checkmate!

Show/Hide Solution

19.Qb3+! Kf8

Black’s situation is rather unenviable, for instance, 19...Kh8 is met by 20.Rxh7+! Kxh7 21.Rh1+ Rh4
(or 21...Kg6, when the king is truly coming out to dance... 22.Bh5+! Kxg5 23.Nd5! (it was necessary
to see this move, nothing else wins) 23...Kh6 (also 23...Rh4 loses quickly: 24.Qg3+ Kxh5 25.Nf4+
Kh6 26.Qg6#) 24.Qg3 g5 25.Nxf4 Ne5 26.Be8+ Kg7 27.Qh2 and White is winning) 22.Rxh4+ Kg6
23.Bh5+ Kxg5 24.Rh1 Ne5 25.f4+ Kxf4 26.Ne2+ Kg5 27.Qg3+ Kf6 28.Rd1 when avoiding mate
will cost Black the queen. Alternatively, 19...Rf7 is met by 20.g6! Bg5+ 21.Kb1 hxg6 22.Bc4 and
White is winning.

20.Rxh7 Rh4 21.Bh5!?

White could also play 21.g6! Bg5+ (or 21...Qe8 22.Bh5 Bg5+ 23.Kb1) 22.f4 Bxf4+ 23.Kb1 Qf6
24.Rxh4 and it is over for Black.

21...Bxg5+ 22.f4 Bxf4+ 23.Kb1 Rxh5 24.Rxh5 Qc7 25.Qe6 and Black resigned before he would get
mated. 1–0

C.Deepan (2539) – M.Sidhant (2357) Udaipur 2019

40.2)

194
 **
Hint: Remove the right defenders

Show/Hide Solution

17...Re8?

This is a solid idea but ultimately not the best move. Nor are the many sacrifices that are available to
Black, but before dismissing them, let us look at why they are not the best choices: a) 17...Nxh2
18.Qxd5! (but not 18.Nxh2?? Nxg3 19.f4 Nxe2+ 20.Nxe2 Qxe3+ 21.Rf2 Bc5 22.Rcf1 d4 23.Nxd4
Bxd4 24.Bxd4 Qxd4 and Black is winning) 18...Nxg3 19.fxg3 Qxg3+ 20.Kh1 Be6 (this is better than
20...Nxf1 when White should be able to defend; a long possible line runs 21.Bxf1 Be6 22.Nxe6 fxe6
23.Qxe6+ Kh8 24.Be2! Rae8 25.Qh6 Rxf3 26.Bxg7+ Qxg7 27.Qxg7+ Kxg7 28.Bxf3 Rxe3 29.Bxb7
and White has good chances to save the draw) 21.Qh5 Nxf1 22.Rxf1 g6 23.Qh6 Qh3+ 24.Qxh3
Bxh3 25.Rd1 Rae8 and Black has the somewhat better chances but this is clearly not what we are
angling for in this case.
b) 17...Bxg3 18.fxg3 Nxe3 19.Rf2! Nxf2 20.Kxf2 Re8! 21.Bf1 Nxf1 22.Rxf1 Qh5 with a
complicated position and chances to both sides.
c) 17...Nxg3 18.hxg3 Bxg3 19.fxg3 Qxg3+ 20.Kh1 Qh3+ (20...Nxe3?? 21.Rg1 Qh3+ 22.Nh2 loses
for Black) 21.Kg1 Qg3+ with a perpetual check.
Finally, we have d) 17...Be5!! which wins for Black. Black is threatening to play ...Bxd4 followed
...Ng5 and White will not be able to defend, for instance, 18.Rcd1 (after 18.Rfd1 Nxg3 19.hxg3
Nxf2, White’s kingside collapses and eventually, he will get mated) 18...Ng5 19.Qxd5 Bf6

195
(19...Bxd4?? 20.Qxg5 is even better for White; the text move threatens ...Rd8) 20.Bc4 Rd8 21.Qb5
Be6 (the bishop could also have moved to d7, the key thing was to get the back rank covered to
threaten ...Rxd4) 22.Rfe1 Bxc4 23.Qxc4 Bxd4 and White is lost.

17...Re8? 18.Bb4??

This loses. White should have tried 18.Rc2 although 18...Nxh2 19.Nxh2 Nxg3 20.f4 Rxe3 (but not
20...Nxf1 21.Nxf1 Rxe3 22.Qxd5 and White is doing fine) 21.Rf2 Ne4 22.Rg2 Nxc3 23.Rxc3 Rxc3
24.Qxc3 Qxc3 25.bxc3 Bxf4 and Black has four pawns for the piece, which, combined with the
bishop pair, should promise him the somewhat better chances.

18...Be5! 19.Qxd5 Bxd4

A better option is 19...Ng5! 20.Rfd1 Be6 and Black is well on the way to winning.

20.exd4??

Another mistake, White is clearly not having a good day. Instead 20.Rc7 Ng5 21.Qxg5 Nxe3 22.fxe3
Bxe3+ 23.Rf2 Bxg5 24.Nxg5 would have given White chances to survive

20...h6!

This looks inconsequential but the idea is to play ...Ng5 to exchange the knight on f3. White can try
to resist but basically, he’s toast at this point.

21.Rfe1

A decent try is 21.Bc4 Be6 (the immediate 21...Ng5 requires some additional precise moves: 22.Rfe1
Be6! 23.Rxe6 fxe6 24.Qf5 Kh8! 25.Qf4 e5! 26.dxe5 Rac8 27.Nxg5 hxg5 28.Qf3 Qxh2+ 29.Kf1
Nxe5 and Black is winning) 22.Qxe4 Bxc4 23.Qxb7 Bxf1 24.Rxf1 Rab8 25.Qd7 Nxf2 26.Qxh3
Nxh3+ 27.Kg2 Rxb4 28.Kxh3 Rxb2 and Black has an easily won position.

21...Ng5!

Following the plan. From now and onward, White is lost.

22.Bb5 Be6! 23.Rxe6 fxe6 24.Qb3 Nxf3+ 25.Qxf3 Qxh2+ 26.Kf1 Rf8 27.Bxf8 Rxf8 and White
resigned. 0–1

Zhang Ziji (2430) – V.Zvjaginsev (2644) Qingdao 2019

40.3)

196
 *
Hint: Where is the hole?

Show/Hide Solution

22.hxg6

22.Bh3! can lead to a similar scenario.

22.hxg6 hxg6

Or 22...fxg6 23.f7+! Kxf7 24.Qf3+ (the point, now Black loses a piece on c6) 24...Ke7 25.dxc6 Bxc6
26.Qxc6 Qxc6 27.Bxc6 and White is winning.

23.Bh3!

Now, this is essential.

23...Nb6

23...Nxf6 24.Qh4! (24.gxf6 Qxg4 25.Bxg4 cxd5 should also win for White but the road is
considerably more complicated) 24...Nd7 25.Ne4 (threatening Bxd7 followed by Nf6) 25...Bg7
26.Nf6+ Bxf6 27.gxf6 when the threat of Qh6 wins the game for White.

24.Qh4 Qd8

197
Or 24...Qc7 25.Nf5!, threatening Nh6+ with devastating effect, e.g., 25...Nxd5 26.Nh6+ Kh8
27.Nxf7+ Kg8 28.Qh8+ Kxf7 29.Qh7+ Bg7 30.Qxg7# . Ouch.

25.Bxb6 axb6 26.Nf5 Ra4 27.Nh6+ Kh7 28.f4 and Black resigned as there are no good ways of
meeting both Nxf7+ and Ng4+. 1–0

L.Oboladze (2336) – L.Paichadze (2574) Tbilisi 2019

40.4)

***
Hint: Hacking a hole

Show/Hide Solution

22.Rxf5! Nxe7??

This is making things much worse, but Black had clearly missed White’s next move as well. Instead,
22...gxf5 23.Ba6! (This is more accurate than 23.Bb5, which is met by 23...Nxe7 24.d7 Red8
25.Qxe7 Qe4 and while White is somewhat better, it is far from clear if it is anything of significance)
23...Qd7 24.Qa4 Rec8 (or 24...Ne5 25.Bb5 (25.Qxd7 Nxd7 26.Bb5 Red8 can also be played, leaving
White with the clearly better chances) 25...Rec8 26.Re1 Qe6 27.Nxe5 Bxe5 28.Kf1, threatening f2–
f4, and if 28...Qd5 then 29.d7 Rd8 30.f4! wins for White) 25.Re1 h6 (air for the king, if 25...Rab8

198
then 26.Bd3! Rb7 27.Qf4, attacking the next weakness, Black’s king; for instance, 27...Nxe7 28.Rxe7
Qc6 29.Qxf5 Rxe7 30.Qxh7+ Kf8 31.dxe7+ Kxe7 32.Qxg7 and White has a material advantage. It
is, however, not an easy win) 26.h3 (also some air) 26...b5 27.Bxc8 Rxc8 28.Qxb5 Rb8 29.Qc4 and
White has a large advantage.

23.Rxf7!

Ouch!

23...Kxf7 24.Bc4+ Kf8 25.Ng5

Threatening mate on h7.

25...Nd5

Or 25...Bf6 26.Ne6+ Kg8 27.Nc5+ and White wins.

26.Qf3+ Bf6 27.Bxd5

Black resigned on account of 27.Bxd5 Qg7 28.Nxh7+ Qxh7 29.Qxf6+ with mate. 1–0

A.Sarana (2651) – A.Danin (2515) Skolkovo rapid 2019

199
 Show in Text Mode

Set 41

41.1)

****
Hint: That queen on g5 is a headache but for whom?

Show/Hide Solution

21...Bf6!

Despite allowing a capture with a check on h5, this is Black’s best move. The alternatives, however,
are tempting: a) 21...Qxb2 (the game continuation) 22.Qxh5+ Bh6 (but not 22...Kg8? 23.Bxg4 Rae8
24.f4 Qxc3? (24...Nxg4+ 25.Qxg4 was a better choice albeit still clearly better for White) 25.fxe5
Nxe5 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.Rf1+ Ke7 28.Qg5+ Kd6 29.Qxg7 and Black resigned 1-0 A.Sarana (2651)
– S.Golubov (2469) Skolkovo rapid 2019) 23.Rc1 Nd7 and Black has the better chances.
b) 21...Bh6 22.Qxh5 Qxb2 23.Rc1 Rf7 and White has a hard time releasing himself of Black’s
pressure.

21...Bf6! 22.Qc1

200
22.Qxh5+? Kg7!, threatening ...Rh8, winning White’s queen.

22...Bxh4!

Also reasonable but not nearly as good is 22...Rad8 23.f4 gxf3 24.gxf3 Nd3 25.Bxd3 Rxd3 with a
large advantage for Black.

23.Bxh4 Nxh4 24.Qg5 Nhg6 and White’s position is busted. He is without counterplay, and an
attempt like 25.f4 is met by 25...Qe3 26.Bxc4 g3+ 27.Kh1 Rxf4 28.Rxf4 Qxf4 29.Qxf4 Nxf4 with a
winning positional advantage for Black.

41.2)

***
Hint: How much is that d-pawn going to cost Black?

Show/Hide Solution

17...Nc5!

The game continued 17...Rxb2 18.d7 Bxd7 19.Bxd7 Nc5 20.Ne2?? (a bad blunder; a better defense
was 20.Nh3 Nd3+ 21.Kf1 Ra8 22.g3 Ra5 when Black has massive compensation for the sacrificed
piece) 20...Nd3+ 21.Kf1 Ra8 22.f3 e3 23.Ng3 Raa2 24.Bh3 f5 25.Kg1 Nf4 26.Bxf5 Rxg2+ 27.Kf1

201
Rgf2+ 28.Kg1 gxf5 29.Rd8+ Kf7 30.Rd7+ Kg6 and White resigned. Mate is immediately around the
corner. 0-1 K.Mesropov (2422) – D.Lintchevski (2540) Skolkovo rapid 2019.

17...Nc5! 18.d7

Or 18.Rb1 Nd3+ 19.Bxd3 exd3 with an overwhelming advantage for Black.

18...Bxd7 19.Bxd7 Nd3+

This knight is a monster.

20.Kf1

Or 20.Ke2 Rxb2+ 21.Ke3 Bh6+ 22.Kxe4 Nxf2+ and Black is winning easily.

20...Nxb2 21.Rb1 Nc4 and despite White’s extra piece, he is hopeless tied up, waiting for Black’s
decisive strike, for instance, 22.Rd1 e3 23.Ne2 Rd2 24.Ke1 Rxd1+ 25.Kxd1 exf2 and Black wins
back the sacrificed material with interest.

41.3)

***
Hint: Taking advantage of the opponent’s main weakness

Show/Hide Solution

202
23.Nc7!

The black queen is trouble, but while it may not get trapped, White may be able to use it to obtain an
even more dominating position.

23...Qa5

Or 23...Qc8 24.Nd5 Qd7 25.Rc7 Qe8 26.Ne7+ Kh8 27.Nc6 and White is winning.

24.d5! Nf5

Also 24...Ne8 is unsatisfactory for Black, for instance, 25.Nb5 Rbc8 26.Nd4 exd5 27.Bh3 Ra8 (or
27...Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Rd6 29.b4 Qa6 30.Rc8 and Black’s position is a total disaster) 28.Nc6 Qa6
29.Nxd8 Rxd8 30.Qc3 and White has both a material and position superior position.

25.Bf1?!

After 25.Rc6! Rbc8 26.b4 Qxa4 27.Ra1 White is winning.

25...b5?

Black could have defended better with 25...Rbc8 26.Bb5 Qb4, even though White obviously has a
significant advantage.

26.Bxb5 exd5 27.Nxd5 Rdc8 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Qe5 and Black resigned. 1–0

O.Badelka (2399) – E.Goltseva (2317) Aktobe 2019

41.4)

203
 **
Hint: The ultimate target is not the most obvious

Show/Hide Solution

16...Bxg3! 17.fxg3 Rd8!

This pinning move was Black’s idea.

18.hxg4 c5 19.Qe2 cxd4!

This capture is the most challenging for White. In the game, Black instead preferred 19...Rxd4
20.Qxe8+ Nxe8 21.Rd1 Rxd1+ 22.Nxd1 which promised him a clear advantage in the endgame and
eventually he won after 22...Kf8 23.Kf2 Ke7 24.Ke3 Ke6 25.Nf2 Nf6 26.Kf3 b6 27.Nd3 Kd5
28.Nf4+ Ke5 29.Nd3+ Kd4 30.Nf4 Nd7 and White either resigned or lost on time. The position is
not yet clearly lost, so the latter makes the most sense. 0-1 A.Danin (2515) – K.Mesropov (2422)
Skolkovo rapid 2019.

20.Qxe8+ Rxe8 21.g5!?

Or 21.Nb5 Re2 22.Nxd4 Rd2 with a large positional advantage for Black.

21...hxg5 22.Nb5 Re2

An active rook is essential, a rook on the second rank even more so.

204
23.Nxd4 Rd2 24.Nf3 Rxc2 25.Nxg5 Rxb2 26.Rc1

Active counterplay is White’s only hope.

26...g6 27.Rc7 Ng4 and Black has clearly better chances in the endgame.

Set 42

42.1)

**
Hint: Bang a hole in the wall

Show/Hide Solution

21...Ba3!

In the game, Black played the obvious, but poor 21...Ne5? which hands White a playable position.
Nevertheless, Black won after 22.Qf4 c4 (22...Ba6!?) 23.Ba4?? (White would be doing fine after
23.Bc2 Nxf3 24.Qxf3 even if the b2–pawn looks a little vulnerable with both Black’s queen and b8–
rook pointing in that direction) 23...Ba3! 24.Bd4 Rxb2!? (Black also had 24...Bxb2+ 25.Kc2
(25.Bxb2? Nd3+ and Black forces mate) 25...Bxd4 26.Rxd4 Rd8 and Black has a large advantage)
25.Bxe8 c3! (Black is winning) 26.Ba4 Bd7 27.Bb3 Rxb3+ 28.Kc2 Rb2+ 29.Kxc3 Ke7 30.Bxe5

205
Qc8+ 31.Kd3 Qc2+ 32.Ke3 Qf2+ 33.Ke4 Qc2+ 34.Rd3 Rb4+ and White resigned. 0-1 L.Krysa
(2519) – D.Flores (2602) Argentinian ch (Buenos Aires) 2019.
In addition to our main line, Black also has 21...Bc3! 22.Kb1 Bxb2 23.Qa4 Be5 24.Rhe1 Nb6 and
Black is winning, e.g., 25.Qxa7 Rb7 26.Qa5 Nc4 27.Qa4 Nb2, picking up a decisive material
advantage.

21...Ba3! 22.Rd2

The alternatives are: 22.bxa3 Qc3+ 23.Kb1 Rxb3+ 24.axb3 Qxb3+ 25.Kc1 Qc3+ 26.Kb1 Ba6 and
the White king will not survive for long or 22.Bd4 cxd4 23.bxa3 d3 24.Rxd3 Ne5 and Black wins
material while keeping the attack going.

22...Ne5 23.Qe4 Ba6 24.bxa3 Nd3+ 25.Qxd3 Bxd3 26.Rxd3 c4 and White loses further material.

42.2)

**
Hint: Real or imagined pins?

Show/Hide Solution

21.f4! exd4

206
Nothing works for Black, e.g., 21...Kg8 22.g4 Qd7 23.Bxe5 or 21...h5 22.fxe5 Bxe5 23.Bxe5 Rxe5
24.Qc3 and Black’s house of cards crumbles.

22.Qb4+

The point behind the previous move

22...Kg8 23.Rxe8+ Kh7 24.Rxh8+ Bxh8 25.Qc5

White has a decisive advantage and eventually won the game.

25...h5 26.Qxc7 Bxd5 27.g4 Qe6 28.Bxd5 Qxd5 29.gxh5 gxh5 30.Kb1 Qe6 31.Qc5 Qxh3 32.Qd5
Bg7 33.Rh1 Qg4 34.Rxh5+ Bh6 35.Qxf7+ and Black resigned. 1–0

M.Sidhant (2357) – D.Eraschenkov (2390) Udaipur 2019

42.3)

***
Hint: Deployable weapons

Show/Hide Solution

19.Bxh6!

207
In the game, White continued with 19.Rfe1!? d5?? (closing the center may appear to be in Black’s
interest due to White’s active pieces and Black’s comparatively poorly developed and uncoordinated
pieces, but here it merely allows White a free hand to attack at will) 20.Bc2 (or even stronger
20.Bxh6! gxh6 21.Qxh6 Bf5 22.Nh4 Qe6 23.Qg5+ or 23.Nxf5, in both cases with a winning
advantage for White) 20...Qf8 21.Qd3 g6 22.Qd2 Kh7 23.h4 Bg4 24.h5 c5 (if 24...Bxh5 then 25.Nh2
followed by g2– g4) 25.hxg6+ fxg6 26.Nh4 Bh5 27.g4 cxd4 28.Bxd4 Qe7 29.Nxg6 Bxg6 30.Bxg6+
Kg8 31.e6 and Black resigned. 1-0 D.Paravyan (2605) – K.Bhakti (2429) Qingdao 2019.

19.Bxh6! gxh6 20.Qxh6 Bf5 21.Nh4!

Less accurate is 21.Ng5?! although White is still winning after 21...d5 22.Bc2 Qf8 23.Qh4 Bxc2
24.Rxc2 Qg7 25.e6; whereas 21.Rc3! d5 22.Nh4 also wins convincingly for White.

21...Bd3 22.Rc3!

Or 22.Ng6 Bxg6 23.Qxg6+ Kf8 24.Qh7 Ke8 25.Qg8+ Kd7 26.Qg4+ Ke8 27.e6 fxe6 28.Bxe6 and
white is winning.

22...Qf8 23.Qh5 and Black can resign.

42.4)

**
Hint: Creating the right holes

208
 Show/Hide Solution

This is the position pictured on the cover of the book.

27.b5!

27.Qxh5 is, of course, possible, but why settle for winning a pawn back when you can win the game?

27.b5! axb5 28.axb5 Bxb5

White wanted the bishop on this square to prepare the next break-through.

29.e6! fxe6

The alternatives do not help: 29...Qxe6 30.Rxb5 wins a piece for White, whereas 29...Qe8 30.Qg3 g6
31.exf7+ and Black is getting a worse version of the game continuation.

30.Rc7

The idea behind the breakthroughs, to attack on the seventh rank and in particular the g7–pawn.

30...Rfc8

Black is trying to use the unguarded rook on c1 as a defense.

31.Qf4!

Defense denied! Black could resign here, tries a bit more, but is soon convinced.

31...Rxc7 32.Rxc7 Ra8 33.Rxd7 and Black resigned. 1–0

P.Idani (2586) – Xu Yinglun (2565) Qingdao 2019

Set 43

43.1)

209
 **
Hint: How to target Black’s vulnerable king?

Show/Hide Solution

22.Rh5+!!

In the game, White went in the wrong direction: 22.Nf4? Be6 23.Rh5+?? (White could have kept a
serious advantage with 23.Nh5! when 23...Bxd5 24.Nxf6 Nf5 25.Qxf5 wins for White) 23...Nxh5
and White resigned. 0-1 N.Tutisani (2412) – L.Pantsulaia (2603) Tbilisi 2019.

22.Rh5+!! Kg8

Or 22...Nxh5 23.Qxh5+ Kg8 24.Qxe8 and White is winning.

23.Nc3, threatening Nd5 and ...Be6 is simply met with Ne4, and it is curtains for Black.

43.2)

210
 ***
Hint: Innocent moves reveal surprising weaknesses

Show/Hide Solution

19...Nhxg3!

This simple exchange is surprisingly strong. Another interesting option is 19...Qc4!? which is also
awkward for White to handle, for instance, 20.Qxc4 Rxc4 21.Be5 Bxe5 22.Nxe5 Rc5 23.Nd7 Rxb5
24.Nxf8 Kxf8 25.f3 Nc5 and Black is clearly better.

19...Nhxg3! 20.hxg3 a6 21.Nbd4 Qxa2!

This capture is the real point behind the previous moves.

22.Rxa2?

I’m not entirely sure why White decided to go into this line. After 22.0-0 Qc4 23.Qd1 Qb4, Black is
obviously better, but White is just a pawn down, albeit with an uncomfortable position to go with it.

22...Rc1+ 23.Qd1 Rxd1+ 24.Kxd1 Nxf2+ 25.Ke1 Nxh1 26.Ne2

Somehow White must have thought that Black would not be able to save the knight on h1. Black to
his credit had calculated further...

211
26...Rc8! 27.b3

Or 27.Kf1 Rd8! 28.Ra1 Rd3! 29.g4 Rxe3 30.Ra3 Re4 31.g5 Be5 and Black should win.

27...Bh6 28.Rd2 Bxe3 29.Rd7 Kf8 30.Rxb7 Rd8 and White resigned as Black’s knight escapes with
a couple of pawns in the saddlebag! 0–1

C.Ionescu (2426) – L.Miron (2490) Romanian Team ch (Mamaia) 2019

43.3)

**
Hint: Look for the weakest spot, then find the opportunities

Show/Hide Solution

26...Ra3!

This simple move, threatening the pawn on c3, is quite difficult for White to answer.

27.Bd4

There are numerous alternatives, but none of them are working particularly well, for instance,
27.Rdc1 Nd3 or 27.Rxd6 Rxc3 28.Bd4 Qc7 or 27.Rac1 Rxa2 or 27.Nd5 Nd3, in each case with a

212
solid to winning advantage for Black.

27...Nd3 28.Bxg7 Qxg7 29.Nd5??

Or 29.Nxc4 Rxc3 30.Nxd6 Qd4+ and Black is winning.

29...Qa7+! and White resigned. The nasty check clearly took White by surprise. 0–1

N.Djukic (2518) – M.Vavulin (2550) Croatian Team ch (Mali Losinj) 2019

43.4)

***
Hint: The right kind of wrecking ball

Show/Hide Solution

28...Ra3!!

But not 28...Nc4?? 29.Rg7 and White is winning.

28...Ra3!! 29.bxa3

White’s predicament is well-illustrated by the fact that White after 29.Rg7 Rxa2 30.Rxd7+ Kb6 will

213
not be able to prevent mate.

29...Qb6+

This is the important point behind Black’s previous move: despite being two exchanges down,
Black’s attack is irresistible.

30.Kc1 Nc4 31.Rde1 Qb2+

According to the computer, 31...Qxd4 forces mate faster, but the text move is the obvious, direct path
to a win and, therefore, more than sufficient for our purposes.

32.Kd1 Qxd4+ 33.Ke2? Qe3+ 0–1

W.Sean (2425) – M.Lagarde (2657) Barcelona 2019

Set 44

44.1)

**
Hint: Interference

Show/Hide Solution

214
18.Bg5!

The Facebook solvers also looked at 18.a5? but both 18...Nc5, and 18...Ne5 defend well for Black.

18.Bg5! Qa5??

Black’s best defense was 18...Ne5 when 19.Bxf6+ gxf6 20.Qxf6+ Qe7 21.Qxh8 Qg7 22.Qxg7 Bxg7
23.Bxh7 Nc4 24.Re4 Nxb2 25.Rae1 leaves White with clearly better chances, but there is still a lot of
work left to be done before the point can be claimed.

19.Re8+ Kc7 20.Bf5 Ra7

Of course, 20...fxg5 is easily refuted with 21.Rxc8+.

21.Be3 Rb7 22.b3

Black is almost stalemated, which explains Black’s next move, which is a little desperate.

22...Kb8 23.Bxd7

Even stronger is 23.c3!,e .g., 23...bxc3 24.Bxd7 Qc7 25.Rc1! Qxd7 26.Rxc3 when White’s queen is
untouchable.

23...Qc7 24.Rxf8 Rxf8 25.Qxf8 Qxd7 26.Bf4 Ka8 27.Bxd6 Qf5 28.h3 Black resigned. 1–0

S.Bilguun,Sumiya (2497) – E.Enkhnar (2374) Mongolian ch (Murun) 2019

44.2)

215
 ***
Hint: Finesse and the brute force

Show/Hide Solution

26.Bc1!

White wants to exchange the dark-squared bishops for having the remaining black minor pieces easier
to attack and thereby more vulnerable. Note that the more aggressive 26.d5 is far less potent, e.g.,
26...Qxd5 27.Nd4 (here too White should give preference to 27.Bc1! when 27...Bg7 28.Bf4 offers
White a clear advantage) 27...Bd3 28.Rad1 e6 29.Bxe4 Bxe4 30.Nxe6 fxe6 (30...Qxe6?! 31.Rxe4 is
worse) 31.Rxd5 Bxd5 and while better for White, there is a lot of work left to be done.

26.Bc1! Bxc1?!

Making matters worse. A better choice was 26...Bg7 27.Re3 Bd3 (or 27...f5 28.exf6 Nxf6 29.Ne5
Qxd4 30.Bb2 Qd6 31.Nc6 and White is much better) 28.Rxd3 cxd3 29.Qxd3 f5 30.exf6 Nxf6
31.Ne5 Qc8 32.Nc6 Rb7 33.Bf4 with a superior position for White.

27.Qxc1 Bd3

Black intends to follow up with ...f7–f5 to save his knight. However, the exchange of the dark-
squared bishops has also brought about another weakness...

28.Qh6

216
Threatening Rxe4, followed by Ng5.

28...f6

According to the computer, 28...g5 is apparently a much better way of defending as Black. Needless
to say, White has a large advantage after 29.Nxg5 Nxg5 30.Qxg5+ Kh8 31.d5 Rxb4 32.Qf4.

29.exf6 Nxf6 30.Ne5

30.Ng5! is even stronger. Aside from the obvious threat to play Ne6, it has another clever and much
less obvious idea, after 30...Qxd4, White plays the fantastic 31.Bd5+!! and he is winning.

30...Qxd4 31.Nc6 Qb2

Or 31...Qxf2+ 32.Kxf2 Ng4+ 33.Kg1 Nxh6 34.Nxb8 Rxb8 35.Rxe7 and White is winning.

32.Nxb8 Rxb8 33.Qe3 Ng4 34.Qe6+ Black resigned. 1–0

R.Laxman (2437) – A.Hesham (2396) Ahmedabad 2019

44.3)

**
Hint: Attack the weakest spot, then attack the defenders

217
 Show/Hide Solution

25.Nf4! Qxe4

Trying to keep the e-file closed doesn’t rescue Black either: 25...Qg3 26.Nh5 Qg2 27.Rg1 Qh2
28.Nxg7+ Kd7 29.Rf1 Rhf8 30.Rd2 Qe5 31.gxh6 and White is winning.

26.Rd4 Qc6 27.Re1 Kf8 28.g6!

Another good option is 28.Rc4! Qd7 29.g6 b5 30.Rce4 Nxg6 31.Nxg6+ fxg6 32.Qd5 and White is
winning. In the game, White played less accurately 28.Qh5? g6 29.Qh3 Qc8? 30.Qf3 Nf5?? 31.Rc4!
Qd7 32.Qc3 Ng7 33.Nxg6+ fxg6 34.Rc7 Kf7 35.Qf6+ and Black resigned. 1-0 D.Forcen Esteban
(2568) – G.Quispe Arteaga (2404) Spanish Team ch (Linares) 2019.

28...Nxg6 29.Nxg6+ fxg6 30.Rc4! Qd7

Or 30...Qb5 31.Rc7 Kg8 32.Ree7 and Black is busted.

31.Qd5 Qf7 32.Qxd6+! Rxd6 33.Rc8+ and White is winning.

44.4)

***

218
 Hint: A good first move is nothing without the right follow-up

Show/Hide Solution

20.f5!

After this move, White’s attack becomes an unstoppable force. The game continued 20.Nf3!? g6 (If
20...Na6 then 21.Ng5! Nc5 22.Bg6! decides the game in White’s favor) 21.f5! White’s attack crashes
through. 21...Kxh7 (The pawn cannot be captured, e.g., 21...exf5 22.e6+; or 21...gxf5 22.Bxf5 Qe7
23.Bh7 followed by Bc1, in both cases winning for White.) 22.fxg6+ fxg6 23.Ng5+ Kg8 24.Rf7?
(24.Qxg6+! Qg7 25.Rxh6 Re7 26.Ba3! Qxg6 27.Rxg6+ Rg7 28.Rxg7+ Bxg7 29.Bxc5 dxc4 30.Rf7
and White has a clear advantage.) 24...Qxf7 25.Nxf7 Kxf7 26.Qf2+ Kg8 27.Qf6 Kh7?? (Black
could defend with 27...Bg7 28.Qxg6 Nd7 29.Rg3 Re7) 28.Qf7+ (or 28.Bc1 Bg7 29.Qf7 h5 30.Rg3
and it is game over for Black) 28...Kh8 29.Ba3 Re7 30.Qf6+ Rg7 31.Rxh6+ Kg8 32.Qh4 and Black
resigned. 1-0 S.Kostolansky (2418) – C.Menezes (2423) Blansko 2019.

20.f5! Rcd8

Or 20...Red8 21.Nf3!

21.f6!

Also 21.Nf3 is very good for White.

21...gxf6 22.Rxf6 Bg7 23.Rfxh6! Bxh6 24.Rxh6 Kg7 25.Rh3 Na6 26.Nf3 with a decisive attack for
White.

Set 45

45.1)

219
 ***
Hint: Finding the right path through defense is precision work

Show/Hide Solution

21.d6!

In the game, White instead played 21.Ne4!? Rf7 (or slightly better 21...Bg7!? 22.d6 exd6 23.Ng3
Be6 24.Be4 with a dominant position for White) 22.d6! f5 23.Qg3 fxe4 24.Rxf7 Kxf7 25.Qh4 Bf5
(after 25...Bg7 26.Qxe7+ Kg8 27.Bxe4 followed by Rf1 and White is winning) 26.Qxh6 Qe6 27.Qg5
h6 28.Qf4 Nxd6 29.Be5 (Black’s position is falling apart) 29...Nc4 30.Bc3 Kg6 31.Nd4 Qe5
32.Qxe5 Nxe5 33.Nxf5 Kxf5 34.Rd5 and Black resigned. 1-0 V.Ivanchuk (2686) – I.Cheparinov
(2670) Spanish Team ch (Linares) 2019.

21.d6! Nxd6

Or 21...e6 22.h3 Nxd6 23.hxg4 Bg5 24.Bg1 and White wins material.

22.Nd5!

This is the point behind the previous move: Black’s house of cards quickly tumbles.

22...Rf7 23.Nxe7+ Rxe7 24.Bxf6 Re6 25.Bd5 and White is winning, e.g., 25...Ne8 26.Bc3 Ng7

Or 26...Bg7 27.Qf5, threatening Qf7+, followed by Qf8#.

220
27.Rf6 Bg5 28.Rxe6 Bxe6 29.Qd4 Bh6 30.Qf6 Nc7 31.Be4 and White wins back the minor pieces,
and then the attack decides the game in White’s favor.

45.2)

***
Hint: Break down the communication between the defenders

Show/Hide Solution

26.Ba6!

Less accurate is 26.Rdd6 Bd7 27.Re7 (but not 27.Rxb6 Bxe6 28.Rxe6 a3 29.bxa3 Rxc3 and Black is
better) 27...Rab8 28.Rxb6 Rxb6 29.Rxd7 Rxb2 when White is better, but the advantage may not be
enough to win the game.

26.Ba6! Rxa6 27.Rxc6

Taking advantage of the weak back rank.

27...Rca8

Or 27...Rb8 28.Rdd6! (28.Nxa4? Rxa4 29.Rxb6 Raa8 30.Rdd6 leaves White with an extra pawn, but

221
that too is not an easy win) 28...Kg8 29.Nd5 and White wins.

28.Rdd6!

In the game, White instead played 28.Nb5 h6 29.Rdd6 Rb8 30.Na3 Kg8 31.g4 Kf7 32.f4 Nc8??
(32...Kg6 was better, but Black is obviously tied on hands and feet.) 33.Rc7+ and Black resigned. 1-0
I.Popov (2604) – H.Stevic (2570) Croatian Team ch (Mali Losinj)2019.

28...a3 29.Rxb6 Rxb6 30.Rxb6 and White wins.

45.3)

**
Hint: The follow-up is key

Show/Hide Solution

31.Nh5! Qg5

If 31...Qc7 then 32.Nf6+ when a possible continuation was 32...Kh8 33.Qe4 Qg3 34.Nf1 Qd6
35.Qe7 Qxe7 36.Rxe7 Bg8 37.Nd2 Rf8 38.g5 and Black is almost stalemated, allowing White to
execute Black easily.

222
32.Ne4 Qd8 33.Nhf6+ Kh8 34.Qh2

The threat is to put the queen on e5 at a convenient time.

34...Nxc4

Black temporarily stops Qe5, but it won’t be for long.

35.Nd7! Rb5 36.Ne5

Removing the defender of the e5 square.

36...Na3+ 37.Ka1

37.Kc1 is even better, not allowing for any checks on c2, but the text move more than suffices.

37...Kg8 38.Qf2

Or 38.Nc6 Nc2+ (also 38...Qf8 39.Nf6+ Kh8 40.Qe5 wins for White) 39.Kb2 Nxe1 40.Nxd8 and
White is winning.

38...Bxb3 39.axb3 Nc2+ 40.Kb2 and Black resigned. 1–0

K.Rathnakaran (2325) – D.Neelotpal (2433) Ahmedabad 2019

45.4)

223
 *
Hint: The chink in the armor

Show/Hide Solution

32.Nxd6! Nxd6?

A better defense was 32...Qxa4! 33.Rxa4 Rxa4 34.h4! (this pawn advance is better than the more
obvious 34.g3, which allows Black to organize his defense better, e.g., 34...Rd8 35.Nxf7 Kxf7
36.Qxc5 Ra1+ 37.Kg2 Rd1 and White will probably not win.) 34...Rxh4 35.Qxc5 Nxd6 36.Qxd6+
when Black is poorly coordinated, and White has excellent winning chances.

33.Qh8+ Ke7

Or 33...Kf7 34.Rf3+ Rf4 35.Rfxf4+ gxf4 36.Rxf4+ Nf5 37.Qxa8 and White is winning.

34.Qg7+ Kd8 35.Rxe4 Nxe4 36.Rf3! Nd6 37.Rf8+ Ne8 38.d6!

Forcing mate.

38...Qd7 39.Rxe8+ and with mate coming on the next move, Black resigned. 1–0

B.Vymazal (2347) – A.Diermair (2479) Blansko 2019

Set 46

46.1)

224
 ****
Hint: Bringing in the reinforcements

Show/Hide Solution

28.Bb5!

White does not achieve anything after 28.b4 Na4 29.Be2 (but not 29.Bb5 Rb2+ 30.Ka1 Rxb4 and
Black is better) 29...a6 30.d6 Rxd6 31.Re8+ Ka7 32.Rcc8 Nb6 33.axb6+ Kxb6 34.Kc2 Rf2 35.Rc4
Rc6 and White will have a hard time doing anything with his tiny material advantage.
An interesting alternative is 28.Rxf7!? a6 (but not 28...Rd7?? 29.Rf8+, winning on the spot for White)
29.Bf1 Rf2 30.Rxc5 Rxf1+ 31.Ka2 Ka8 with a clear advantage for White in the double rook ending.
Finally, doesn’t not accomplish anything: 28.Bf1? Rf2 29.Rxc5 Rxf1+ 30.Ka2 Rxf4 31.Rb5 b6
32.axb6 a6 33.Rc5 Rf6 34.Rcc7 Rxb6 35.Rxf7 Rxd5 and a draw is likely.

28.Bb5! Nb3?!

Here Black should have tried 28...Rxd5 29.b4! (29.Re8+ Kc7 30.b4 a6 31.Bc4 Rf5 32.bxc5 Rxf4
33.Re7+ Kc6 34.Rxf7 is far from easy to win) 29...Rf2 30.Re8+ Kc7 31.Rxc5+ Rxc5 32.bxc5 Rxf4
33.Re7+ Kb8 34.Bd3 and White has reasonable winning chances.

29.Rc3 Nd2+??

A better defensive try was 29...Nxa5 when 30.b4 Nb3 31.Rxb3 Rxd5 32.Be2 Rd2 33.Rb2 Rxb2+

225
34.Kxb2 Rf2 35.Kc3 a6 36.Re4 leaves White with the clearly better chances but winning it will
require some technique.

30.Ka2 a6

Or 30...Ka8 31.Rcc7 Rb8 32.Rxb7 Rxb7 33.Re8+ Rb8 34.Bc6#.

31.Rcc7 Rxd5 32.Rxb7+ Kc8 33.Ra7 Kb8 34.Reb7+ Kc8 35.Rxf7 Kb8 36.Rfb7+ Kc8 37.Rxg7 Kb8
38.Raf7 Black resigned. 1–0

C.Lupulescu (2643) – A.Cioara (2417) Romanian Team ch (Mamaia) 2019

46.2)

*****
Hint: Distraction then strike

Show/Hide Solution

29.c3!

In the game, White went wrong and lost after 29.Bc4?? Rxc4 30.bxc4 Ne5 31.Qe2 Nxc4 32.Bd4 e3+
33.Kg1 Bd6 34.Rf3 Bxf3 35.Qxf3 Nd2 36.Qe2 Bxg3 37.Rxd2 Bf2+ and White resigned. 0-1

226
K.R.P.Bharat (2304) – S.Himanshu (2408) Ahmedabad 2019.
A strong alternative which was suggested in the Facebook group was 29.Nh5! gxh5 (Or 29...Be7
30.Rxf7 Kxf7 31.Rf1+ Kg8 32.Nf6+ Bxf6 33.gxf6 Ne5 34.f7+ Qxf7 35.Rxf7 Kxf7 36.Qg5 and
White has the clearly better chances) 30.Rxf7 Kxf7 31.Bxh5+ Kg7 (the alternatives are worse, e.g.,
31...Kg8 32.Bxe8 Bc8 33.Qd2 Nc5 34.g6 or 31...Ke7 32.Qf1 Kd8 33.Qf7 Kc8 34.Qxe8+ Qd8
35.Rxd7 Qxe8 36.Bxe8, in both cases, winning for White.) 32.Bxe8 Ne5 33.g6 Bc8 34.Qg5 Ng4
35.Qh5 Qxh2+ 36.Qxh2 Nxh2 37.Kxh2 Bf5 38.Kg3 Bxg6 39.Rd7+ Kf6 40.Bxg6 Kxg6 41.Ra7 and
White wins the endgame. This line is a bit longer than I would l like, but the play seems logical
enough.

29.c3! Rxb3

Or 29...Qxc3 30.Rxd7 Qxe3 31.Rfxf7! Bd5 32.Qf1 Qxb3 33.Rf6 e3+ 34.Kg1 Qb1 35.Rxd5 and
White is winning.

30.Rxf7 Kxf7 31.Qf1+ Kg7 32.Bc4 Ne5 33.Nh5+!

Or 33.Bxb3 Be7 34.Qh3 Bxg5 35.Bxg5 e3+ 36.Kg1 Nf3+ 37.Kf1 e2+ 38.Nxe2 Nxh2+ 39.Qxh2
Qxh2 40.Rd7+ Re7 41.Rxe7+ Kf8 42.Ke1 and White has the clearly better chances.

33...gxh5

Also 33...Kh8 34.Nf6 Qc8 35.Bxb3 Qf5 36.Qxf5 gxf5 37.Nxe8 wins for White.

34.Qf6+

But not 34.Bxb3?? Ng4! and Black is winning!

34...Kh7 35.g6+ Nxg6 36.Bf7 Rb6 37.Bxb6 e3+ 38.Kg1 and White is winning.

46.3)

227
 **
Hint: Soft spots are the core to the heart

Show/Hide Solution

21.Bc4!

Threatening Qxf5.

21...g6

If 21...Bc2 then 22.Bxe6+ Nxe6 23.Nc6 and White is winning. Also 21...Bxg5 22.Qxf5 Qf6 23.Qg4
wins for White.

22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.Nxg6! Qg5

Or 23...hxg6 24.Bxe6+ Nxe6 25.Qxg6+ Qg7 26.Qxf5 and White is winning.

24.Qxf5! Black resigned.

After 24...Qxf5 25.Ne7+, White easily wins. 1–0

A.Predke (2657) – P.Idani (2586) Spanish Team ch (Linares) 2019

228
 46.4)

**
Hint: Clearing the right paths

Show/Hide Solution

14...Kf8!

A simple move, stepping out of the e-file to make room for the rook. This is better than 14...Bxf3
15.gxf3 Kf8! when White has the additional option of running the king to the kingside: 16.Bg2 Qd6
17.Kf1 Qa6+ 18.Kg1 Re8 with a clear advantage for Black, but White can still fight.

14...Kf8! 15.Ne5?

A better defense was 15.Qd3 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Re8+ 17.Kd2 b5 18.Re1 Rxe1 19.Kxe1 b4 20.Ne4 Qxd5
and Black has a dominating positional advantage to go with the win the extra pawn; Black is much
better, if not technically winning.

15...Bxe5 16.Qxg4 Nc2+ 17.Kd2 Nxa1 and White resigned. 0–1

J.Herrera Reyes (2318) – N.Firman (2495) Barcelona 2019

229
 Set 47

47.1)

***
Hint: How to use the pin for your own purposes

Show/Hide Solution

19...Rxc4!

Black clears the c8–square for the bishop, trapping the queen on h3.

20.bxc4

Or 20.Rxc4 dxc4 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Bf1 Rd1 and White is completely tied up on hand and feet; one
possible continuation is 23.Kg2 g5 24.g4 Rxf1 25.Kxf1 cxb3+ followed by ...b3–b2 and Black wins.

20...Bc8! 21.cxd5

A better try, albeit not one that brings great hope, is 21.Qxc8 Qxc8 22.cxd5 Nc3 23.Re1 Qc4 24.d6
(or 24.Bf1 Qxd5 25.Rxc3 Qxf3 and Black wins easily) 24...Bd8 25.Nd4 b5 when White has a rook,
two pawns, and positional compensation for the queen; it is not sufficient, but it is certainly a better
try.

21...Bxh3 22.Bxh3 Bc5

230
Black is winning, and he soon claimed the full point.

23.Rc4 Bxe3 24.fxe3 Nc5 25.e4 Nge6 26.Bg2 Ng5 27.Nd4 Qd7 28.Nc6 Qg4 29.Rf1 Qe2 30.Rd4
Qe3+ 31.Kh1 Ngxe4 32.Bxe4 Nxe4 33.d6 Nf2+ 34.Kg2 Ng4 White resigned. 0–1

H.Herraiz Hidalgo (2410) – D.Semenov(2366) Barcelona 2019

47.2)

***
Hint: Do not swing the arms too much

Show/Hide Solution

21.Qe1!

White targets the soft h4–pawn but also guards the knight on c3, allowing to recapture with the
queen, if Black sacrifices the exchange. In the game, White played the optimistic and interesting
21.f5!? Rxc3 22.fxe6? (22.fxg6!) 22...Rxd3 (22...Nf5!) 23.Rxd3?? (a bad blunder; White would still
have been better after 23.Qxd3 Nf5 24.Rxf5! gxf5 25.Qxf5 fxe6 26.Qg5!) 23...Nf5 24.exf7+ Kxf6
25.Qd2 Bxg2+ 26.Qxg2 Be7 27.Rd5 Qe6 28.Rdxf5+ gxf5 29.Rg1 Bf8 30.Qg8 Qd5+ 31.Rg2 Qd1+
32.Rg1 Qf3+ and White resigned. 0-1 G.Ayats Llobera (2384) – I.Ivanisevic (2618) Barcelona
2019.

231
A decent alternative to the text move was 21.Be5 Rcd8 22.Rd2 Bxe5 23.fxe5 Qc5 when White has
clearly better chances, but Black is still fighting.

21.Qe1! Nf5

After 21...Rxc3 22.Qxh4! Qd8 23.Ne4+ Kd7 24.Qxd8+ Rxd8 25.Nxc3 and White is an exchange up
and should win.

22.Bxf5 gxf5 23.Rxd6 Qxd6 24.Bb4 Qxb4 25.Qxb4+ with a large advantage for White, although
converting it will require some work.

47.3)

**
Hint: Giving up something for something good

Show/Hide Solution

29...Qxc3! 30.Qxc3 Rxc3 31.f3

After 31.Nxf8, stopping the d-pawn will cost White serious work: 31...Be2! (or 31...d2 32.f3 Rc1
33.Bb3 Bxf3 34.Kf2 a5 35.Kxf3 Rxf1+ 36.Ke2 a4 37.Bd1 Re1+ 38.Kxd2 Re8 and Black is winning)
32.Bb3 d2 (threatening ...Bxf1, followed by ...Rxb3 and ...d2– d1=Q) 33.Bd1 Bxd1 34.Rxd1 Rc1 and

232
it is game over for White.

31...Rfc8

Or 31...Bh3 32.Rd1 Rfc8 and Black wins.

32.fxg4 d2 33.Kf2 Rd3 34.Nf4 d1=Q and White resigned. 0–1

J.Herrera Reyes (2318) – H.Herraiz Hidalgo (2410) Barcelona 2019

47.4)

**
Hint: So many pins

Show/Hide Solution

32.Rdxd7!

This exchange sacrifice is White’s strongest option, although White after 32.Bf3 cxd3 33.Bxg4 Rd8
34.Qa2 has a clear advantage.

32.Rdxd7! Bxd7 33.Qd2!

233
White gets the queen out of the pin of the b3–pawn by creating a more potent threat of his own. The
immediate 33.Bf1 is not as effective, e.g., 33...Qe6 34.Bxc4 Qxc4 35.bxc4 Rxb2 36.Bxb2 when the
endgame is far from a trivial win.

33...Rd8 34.Bf1!

Activating the light-squared bishop to join the attack on Black’s poorly coordinated pieces. This is a
further point behind the previous two moves.

34...cxb3 35.Bc4+ Be6

And Black resigned at the same time as 36.Bxe6+ easily wins for White. Also 35...Kh8 36.Bxb5
Bxb5 37.Rxe7 Rxd2 38.Rxe5 wins for White. 1–0

A.Donchenko (2631) – M.Lagarde (2657) Barcelona 2019

234
Show in Text Mode

Chapter 4
Sets 48-63

Set 48

48.1)

235
 *
Hint: Work the weakness

Show/Hide Solution

32.Nf7! Qe7?

Strictly speaking, this is worse than 32...Qd7 33.Nxg5+ Kg8 34.Rf7, which is obviously much better
for White.

33.Nf3!

The knight on f7, of course, can’t be captured on account of the knight fork on g5.

33...Kg7 34.N3xg5 and Black resigned as there is no good defense against the invasion with Qe2–
h2–h7. 1–0

K.Polok (2307) – M.Sinanovic (2312) Croatian Team ch (Mali Losinj) 2019

48.2)

236
 **
Hint: Before saying “too easy” consider Black’s options and work from there

Show/Hide Solution

32.Bxg5! Rg7 33.Bh6! Rg6

Or 33...Rxg4 34.Qf5! and Black will lose the rook if he is to avoid getting mated right away.

34.Rg1! and Black resigned because he doesn’t have any way to reasonably answer both Bf5 and
Bh5. 1–0

I.Cheparinov (2670) – T.Banusz (2619) Spanish Team ch (Linares) 2019

48.3)

237
 **
Hint: Domination

Show/Hide Solution

18.Rad1! Qc7

If 18...Qc5 then 19.Re5 Qxc4 20.Be2 and Black’s queen is trapped.

19.Qf6! Qc8

After the text move, Black’s position is terribly passive but trying to be active doesn’t help either,
e.g., 19...Nd7 20.Qxc6 Qxc6 21.Bxc6 Nc5 22.Bxa8 Rxa8 23.Re7 and White has both a material and
positional advantage.

20.g4!

With Black in a passive position, White initiates a kingside attack that Black will have troubles
fending off.

20...a5

20...Nd7 is, once more, met with 21.Qxc6 Qxc6 22.Bxc6, winning for White. Or 20...Na6 21.Re7
Nc5 22.Rd6 and Black is busted.

21.h4!?

238
21.Re7! is even stronger, tying Black up even further. If 21...Na6, then 22.Rdd7 and a non-move like
21...a4 is met by 22.h4! Ra5 23.h5 gxh5 24.Rd4! and Black is busted.

21...Ra7 22.h5 h6 23.Rd6

Black can only await the execution. White does not fail in his delivery.

23...Rd7 24.hxg6 fxg6 25.Qxg6+ Rg7 26.Qh5 Qf5 27.Qxf5 Rxf5 28.Kg2 Rf8 29.Rxh6

The win is getting simpler.

29...Rgf7 30.Rg6+ Kh7 31.Be4! Rxf2+ 32.Kg3 R2f3+ 33.Kh4 R3f7 34.Rg5+ Kh6 35.Rh1 and Black
resigned as avoiding mate will cost considerable material. 1–0

V.Gazik (2546) - R.Aliyev (2341) World Youth Open (Mumbai) 2019

48.4)

***
Hint: Deal with the opponent’s threats

Show/Hide Solution

30.e7!

239
“Passed pawns must be pushed” is a rule of endgames, and here it works as well. It is the only way to
win by interrupting Black’s activity to have to defend. After this move, Black’s active pieces become
very vulnerable.

30...Be8

The alternatives are not any better, for instance, 30...Kf7 31.Rxe4 Ne5 32.Bxh5+ Rxh5 33.Rf4+, and
30...Qf4+ 31.Qxf4 Nxf4 32.Rxe4 Be8 33.Bg4 and White will win.

31.Rxe4! Nf2

Or 31...Rf2 32.Rg4! Ne5 (also 32...Rxd2 33.Rxg7+ Kh8 34.Rf7+ Kg8 35.Rxf1 and White is winning)
33.Bxe5 dxe5 34.Qg5 Rf7 35.Bf3 and Black is obviously busted.

32.Re1!

32.Rf4! also wins.

32...Qxc4 33.Bc2 Rf7 34.Re2!

The knight is trapped.

34...Qh4 35.Qd4 Black resigned as he will not be able to save the knight. 1–0

P.Pultinevicius (2503) – T.Vanczak (2327) World Youth Open (Mumbai) 2019

Set 49

49.1)

240
 **
Hint: Soft targets, hard measures

Show/Hide Solution

17.Rf6!

A clever move which it took a bit for my computer to discover! The immediate threat is to the d6–
pawn.

17...Nf5

We need to look at what happens if Black captures the rook: 17...gxf6 18.Qxh6 Nxd5 19.c4! (19.Rf1
Re8 20.c4 is also possible) 19...Re8 20.cxd5 Rxe4 21.dxe4 f5 22.Rf1 and White has a large advantage.

18.Rf1!

This is stronger than the game continuation which went 18.g4 gxf6 (18...Nd4 19.Raf1 is better for
White) 19.gxf5 Kg7 20.Ng3 (White has sacrificed the exchange and will at some point need to break
through, but for right now, Black is tied up) 20...Kh7 21.Kh1 Rg8 22.Qf2 (22.Bh3! Bb7 23.c4 and
White is in control of the game) 22...Rb8 (22...Rg5!? would have been a better option) 23.Re1 Rxg3
24.hxg3 Rb7 25.Re4 Re7 26.Rg4 Re5 27.Be4 Bb7 28.c4 Bc8 29.Qf4 Qf8 30.Kg2 Bd7 31.b3 Qh8
32.Rh4 Kg7 33.Rh3 Kf8 34.Rxh6 Qg7 35.Rh5 Ke7 36.Qh4 Be8 37.Kf3 Bd7 38.Kf4 a6 39.Rh7 Qg8
40.Rh8 Qg7 and Black either resigned or lost on time at the same time. 1-0 R.Praggnanandhaa
(2567) – A.Kozak (2354) World Youth Open U18 (Mumbai) 2019.

241
18...gxf6 19.Bh3! Nxg3 20.hxg3 Bxh3 21.Rxf6

Black has an extra rook, but saving the black king against White’s attack will require returning of
some material.

21...Re8 22.Rxd6

Or 22.Rxh6 Rxe4 23.dxe4 Qe7 24.Qc3 f6 25.Qf3 Qg7 26.Rxh3 and White is clearly better.

22...Qc8 23.Nf6+ Kf8 24.g4!

After 24.Qxh6+ Ke7 25.Nxe8 Qf5 26.Rf6 Qxd5 27.Qxh3 Rxe8, Black has decent chances of saving
himself. The text move prevents Black from gaining time through counterthreats.

24...Bxg4 25.Rc6 Qf5 26.Qxh6+ Ke7 27.Qh4! Bh3 28.d6+ Kd8 29.Nxe8+ f6

29...Kxe8 30.Qe7#.

30.Qxf6+ Qxf6 31.Nxf6 and White is winning.

49.2)

***
Hint: Interference to prevent consolidation

242
 Show/Hide Solution

18...e4!

At first glance, this pawn advance looks like a blunder, opening the b2–g7 diagonal for White’s
bishop on b2, but Black has a sinister follow-up plan, addressing both those threats and White’s
issues with loose pieces.

19.Nxe4 Be5!

The point: now Black threatens to win material, and it becomes White who is under attack.

20.Qb1

If White tries to exchange some wood to lighten Black’s initiative, Black remains in control, for
instance, 20.Bxe5 Qxe5 21.Nxf6+ Nxf6 22.Rc1 Rcd8 23.Rc5 (or 23.Rc2 Nd5! 24.Kd2 Nxe3 25.fxe3
Rxd3+ 26.Qxd3 Qxh2+ 27.Kc3 Qxg1 and Black is clearly better) 23...Qb2+ 24.Bc2 Ne4 25.Qc1
Qxc1 26.Rxc1 Nxc5 27.bxc5 Rc8 and Black is clearly better,

20...Nxe4 21.Bxe4 Nb6!

This is even stronger than the game continuation which went 21...Qf6 22.Bxe5 Nxe5 23.a4 Qh4
24.Rg3 Rc4 25.Bd5 Rxb4 26.Qc2 Qh5+ 27.Kf1 Qxh2 28.f6 Ng4 29.Qd2 Rd8 30.Rxg4 Rxg4
31.Bxf7+ Kxf7 32.Qxd8 Qh1+ 33.Ke2 Qxa1 34.Qe7+ Kg6 35.Qxg7+ Kf5 36.Qd7+ Kxf6 37.Qxg4
Qa2+ 38.Kf3 Qd5+ and White resigned as the queens will come off and then Black’s passed pawns
on both wings will secure Black an easy win. 0-1 N.Petriashvili (2441) – A.Gholami (2554) World
Youth Open U18 (Mumbai) 2019.

22.Bd3 Na4 23.Bxe5 Qxe5 24.Kf1 Qxh2 with a large advantage for Black who is clearly in control
of the game.

49.3)

243
 ***
Hint: Finding the core

Show/Hide Solution

25.Nd3!

There are several moves are tempting in the starting position, but none are as potent as this little
retreat which prepares a nasty breakthrough. A promising alternative is 25.fxe6! fxe6 26.Bxe6 Bxe6
27.Rd5 Bxd5 28.exd5 Qxe3 29.Qxe3 Rc8 30.Ne6 with a large, probably winning, positional
advantage for White.
The game continuation went 25.Rb3 Rg8 26.Nd5!? Bd8 27.Nb4 (27.Ne3!) 27...Rb6 28.Qh5 Rf8
29.Qh6 Be7?? (29...Re8 would have kept Black in the game) 30.fxe6 fxe6 31.Qxh7 Re8 32.Nd3 Qa5
33.Rxb6 Qxb6 34.Qf7 f5 35.exf5 exf5 36.Re1 Qd8 37.Bxf5 Bb5 38.Bg6 d5 39.Qh7 Bxd3 40.cxd3
and Black resigned. 1-0 E.Tejedor Fuentes (2453) – A.Suarez Real (2460) Spanish Team ch
(Linares) 2019.

25.Nd3! Qb5

Both 25...Qa5 25...Qd4 would also have been met with 26.e5 with a decisive breakthrough to follow.

26.e5! exf5 27.exd6 Bxd6

Or 27...Bf8 28.Bf1 (also 28.Nb4 Rxd6 29.Bf1 wins material) 28...Rxd6 29.Nb4 Qa5 30.Rxd6 Bxd6

244
31.Nxa6+! Ka7 (or 31...bxa6 32.Bg2 and White wins) 32.Qd1 Qb6 33.Rb3 and White is winning.

28.Nb4! Rb6 29.Rd5! Qc4 30.Rc3! Qe4 31.Qxe4 fxe4 32.Bxd7 and White is winning.

49.4)

**
Hint: Collaboration works every time

Show/Hide Solution

20.d5!

Opening the a1–h8 diagonal to take advantage of the weak dark squares around Black’s king.

20...Bxd5??

Natural but not good. Black had to play 20...Nxe4 when 21.dxe6 Qxd1 22.Rxd1 Ned6 23.exf7 Re7
24.g4 hxg4 25.Nxg4 would leave White with a clear advantage.

21.Nxc6!

The move Black had overlooked when playing 20...Bxd5. Now White is winning.

245
21...Bxe4

Or 21...bxc6 22.Nf6+ and White is the rook on e8.

22.Nxd8 Bxc2 23.Rxe8 Nxe8 24.Qd7

Black is completely busted. White eventually won after

24...Nfd6 25.Nxf7 Nxf7 26.Qxf7+ Ng7 27.Bxb7 Rd8 28.Bd5 Bf5 29.Kg2 a5 30.h3 Rc8 31.a3 Rd8
32.b4 axb4 33.axb4 Rxd5 34.Qxd5 Ne6 35.Qa8 Bf8 36.b5 g5 37.Qe8 and Black resigned. 1–0

M.Galyas (2474) – D.Muse (2357) Croatian Team ch (Mali Losinj) 2019.

Set 50

50.1)

***
Hint: Utilizing geometric patterns

Show/Hide Solution

21.Qh3! Rh8

246
Moving the h-pawn does not help Black either: 21...h5 22.Nxe6+ fxe6 23.Rxe6 Qd8 (or 23...Qd7
24.Rxg6+ and the queen falls) 24.f5 g5 25.Rg6+ Kf7 26.Qxh5 Ke7 27.Qh7+ Ke8 (or 27...Rf7
28.Re1+ and Black is toast) 28.Rxc6 Rf7 (or 28...Rxc6 29.Re1+) 29.Re1+ Kd7 30.Qxf7+ Kxc6
31.Re6+ and Black will soon get mated. 21...h6 22.Nxe6+ fxe6 23.Rxe6 Qd8 24.f5 (White also wins
after 24.Qg4 Rf6 25.Rxf6 Kxf6 (or 25...Qxf6 26.Qxc8 and White should win easily) 26.f5 g5 27.Re1
and Black will not survive for long) 24...Rf6 (or 24...Ne7 25.f6+ Rxf6 26.Rexf6 and Black’s death is
imminent) 25.Rxf6 Qxf6 26.fxg6 Qxg6 27.Qxc8 and game over.

22.Qh6+! Kg8

Capturing the queen is «safer» but also loses: 22...Kxh6 23.Nxf7+ Kg7 24.Nxd6 and Black is losing.

23.f5! exf5

Or 23...Qf8 24.Qxf8+ Rxf8 25.fxe6 fxe6 26.Nxe6 Rf7 27.Nf4 with a large advantage for White.

24.Rxf5 Rf8?

This makes matters much worse. However, even the better 24...Qf8 loses, e.g., 25.Qxf8+ Rxf8
26.Rxd5 and White has a won ending.

25.Ne6!

Black resigned on account of 25.Ne6 fxe6 26.Rxe6 and Black will have to give up the queen to avoid
getting mated. 1–0

E.Safarli (2593) – M.Rodshtein (2684) Douglas 2019

50.2)

247
 ***
Hint: Combining simple threats reap excellent rewards

Show/Hide Solution

20.Nb5!

White threatens a simple knight fork on c7. At first glance, it seems easy to counter, but upon
inspection, it becomes clear that matters are not that simple.

20...Bd8

The alternatives are no better: 20...Rec8 is met by 21.Nxg6!; and after 20...Rac8, White, still installs
the fork on c7 with 21.Nc7 Bb4 (or 21...Bd6 22.Nxe6 Rxc2 23.Kxc2 Rxe6 24.Nd7 and White is
winning) 22.Re3 Qe7 23.Nxg6 Qxc7 24.Rxe8+ Kg7 25.Qxc7 Rxc7 26.Nf4 with an easily won
position for White.

21.Nxf7! Qxe1??

This move simply loses. The best option for Black is 21...Qxf7 22.Nd6 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 (but not
23.Nxf7?? Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 Kxf7 25.Qf3+ and while Black has a material advantage, he can’t win on
account of open king, e.g., 25...Kg7 26.Qe3 Bc8 27.Qe5+ Kh7 28.Qxd5 Bf5+ 29.Ka1 Rc8 30.Qf7+
Kh8 31.Qf8+ with a perpetual check) 23...Qg7 24.Nxb7 Bc7 25.Qc6 Rf8 26.Re6 Kh7 27.Rf6 Rxf6
28.gxf6 Qf7 29.a4 Kg8 30.f4 a6 31.Nd6 Bxd6 32.Qxd6 with a trivially won queen ending.

248
22.Qxg6+ Kf8 23.Qh6+ Kg8 24.Qh8+ Kxf7 25.Nd6+

Black resigned on account of 25.Nd6+ Ke6 (or 25...Kg6 26.Qh6#) 26.Rxe1+ and it is obviously
game over in every way. 1–0

S.Nihal (2610) – A.Zatonskih (2422) Douglas 2019

50.3)

**
Hint: Loose pieces

Show/Hide Solution

15.Nxe4! Nxe4 16.Qb3!

16.Bxe4? Rxe4 17.Ng5 Re7 18.Qb3 c5 is perfectly fine for Black.

16...c5

Or 16...Nc6 17.Bxe4 (17.Qd5 Nb4 18.Qb3 Nc6 repeats the moves, allowing White a second
opportunity to spot the right continuation) 17...Rxe4 18.Ng5 Re7 19.Qc2 and the dual-threat to h7
and c6 decides the game in White’s favor.

249
17.a3 cxd4

After 17...Nc6, 18.Qd5 works perfectly this time as Black no longer has the b4–square available to
his knight.

18.Bxd4 Nxf2

Or 18...Nc6 19.Bxa7 Rxa7 20.Bxe4 and White is winning.

19.Rxe8+ Qxe8 20.Qxb4

White has won a piece and is easily winning. The rest looks more exciting than it is.

20...Qe2 21.Bxa7 Nxh3+ 22.gxh3 Qxf3 23.Bf2 Qxh3 24.Qh4 and Black resigned. 1–0

R.Robson (2670) – A.Stefanova (2479) Douglas 2019

50.4)

**
Hint: Making room

Show/Hide Solution

250
19.Bc2!

The simple retreating move is lethal to Black. Another natural idea on the same theme is to try to
remove the knight on b6 with 19.c4, and while it does provide White with an advantage, it is not as
effective as the move played in the game, which also opens the d-file for White’s heavy pieces. One
possible continuation after 19.c4 is 19...Be6 20.Rde1 (the intended 20.c5?! is less accurate as it allows
Black some tactical shots, for instance, 20...Nd5 21.g3 Rad8 22.Rde1 Nf4! and Black is back in the
game, e.g., 23.gxf4 Qh5, when White has to find a way to a draw such as after 24.Bh7+ Kxh7
25.Qc2+ Kh8 26.Qc3 Kh7 27.Qc2+ with a repetition that saves the half point) 20...Rae8 21.Qc2
Kg7 22.Nb5 Bd7 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Rxe8 Bxe8 25.Nd4 and White is clearly better.

19.Bc2! fxg2??

The alternatives are obviously better but not by much:

a) 19...c6 20.Bb3 Nd5 21.Qe1 Qg7 22.g4 Bd7 23.Rdxd5 cxd5 24.Re7 and Black’s position collapses.
b) 19...Kh8 20.Qd4 Qf6 (20...Qg7 21.Nb5 is a disaster for Black) 21.Qe4 Qg7 22.g4 Bd7 23.Re7
Rf7 24.Rxf7 Qxf7 25.Qxb7 and White is massively better.

20.Bb3 and Black resigned as she loses the queen. 1–0

A.Firouzja (2702) – A.Skripchenko (2403) Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup 2019

Set 51

51.1)

251
 ***
Hint: An investment worth making

Show/Hide Solution

19.Bxd3!!

White can also use a different move order 19.fxg6! fxg6 20.Bxd3!! Nxd2 21.Bxg6 with the same
position as in the game after 21 moves.

19.Bxd3!! Nxd2 20.fxg6! fxg6 21.Bxg6 Kh8?

Black’s best defense was 21...Bc8 22.Rf5! (this is stronger than 22.Rxf8+ Qxf8 23.Bf5+ Kh8
24.Rxc7 Qh6 25.Kf2 Bxf5 26.Nxf5 when White has the clear better chances but that aside, not much
else is 100% clear) 22...Rxf5 23.Bxf5+ Kh8 24.Bxc8 Qxc8 25.Nf5 Bf8 26.Rc2 Qd7 27.e6 Qd3
28.Qd4+ Qxd4 29.exd4 Ne4 30.Rxc7 and with three pawns, including two strong passed pawns, for
the sacrificed bishop, White has the clearly better chances; Black will be forced to give up at least a
piece to stop them from queening.

22.Bxh7! Rxf1+ 23.Rxf1 Bg5 24.Nf5 Qd3

Or 24...Qd5 25.Qxg5 Qxg2+ 26.Qxg2 Bxg2 27.Rd1 and White is much better.

25.Re1 Bxe3+ 26.Kh1 Bh6 27.Bg6!

252
The game continuation was less precise: 27.Qg6? Bxg2+! (Wow! The former world champion is not
going down without a fight!) 28.Kxg2? (White’s best was 28.Qxg2! Kxh7 29.Nxh6 Nf3 30.Rc1 Rd8
31.Ng4 with a complicated struggle ahead, for instance, 31...Nh4 32.Rxc7+ Kg6 33.Qc6+ Kh5
34.Nf6+ Kg5 35.Rg7+ Kf5 which the computer assesses as slightly better for White but the human
intuition screams that there is a mate somewhere) 28...Qd5+?? (Black could have evened the chances
with 28...Qf3+ 29.Kg1 Qf4 but he was undoubtedly short on time at this point) 29.Kh3 Qd3+
30.Kh4 and Black resigned as the checks are running out. 1-0 E.Najer (2635) – V.Anand (2765)
FIDE Grand Swiss (Douglas) 2019.

27...Ne4 28.Qh4 Qd2 29.Qxh6+ Qxh6 30.Nxh6 Nc5 31.Bc2 with two extra pawns, White should
win without too many complications.

51.2)

***
Hint: That battery seems scary somehow

Show/Hide Solution

17.Rxe6!

Positions with a queen+bishop battery like this can be particularly dangerous when other pieces join
into the attack as Black will have a hard time mobilizing his defensive forces in time to resist

253
adequately. An exchange sacrifice like this to weaken the light squares is a small investment when
attacking.

17...fxe6 18.Bxh6!

Another sacrifice to bare the king entirely of the previously nice-looking shelter.

18...Qe8

The alternatives are not any better: 18...Bd6 19.Re1 Qd7 20.Bg5 when White has a strong ongoing
attack and more than sufficient compensation for the exchange; Or 18...gxh6 19.Qg6+ Kh8
20.Qxh6+ Kg8 21.Qg6+ Kh8 22.Ng5 Nf4 23.Qh6+ Kg8 24.Bh7+ Kh8 25.Bf5+ Kg8 26.Bxe6+
Nxe6 27.Nxe6 and it is game over for Black.

19.Bg5 Qh5?!

Distracting the queen with 19...c4 is also possible, although hardly devastating for White’s attacking
plans, e.g., 20.Qxc4 Rc8 21.Qd3 Qh5 22.Re1 and White has the same attack but with Black having
given up an extra pawn to put the rook on c8.

20.Qe2!

A nasty move, threatening Qxe6+. A strong alternative is 20.Re1 cxd4 21.Ne2 (21.Qxd4 is also
clearly better for White) 21...Bd6?? (21...Bc5! 22.Nexd4 Bxd4 23.Qxd4 with a clear advantage for
White) 22.Nexd4 e5 23.Nf5 Rad8 24.Bxf6 Nxf6 25.Nxd6 e4 26.Qb3+ and White is winning.

20...Nxc3

Protecting the pawn with the queen doesn’t help much either: 20...Qf7 21.Ne5 Nxc3 22.bxc3 Qe8
23.Bg6 and White’s attack is as dangerous as ever.

21.bxc3 Rad8 22.Qxe6+ Qf7 23.Qxf7+

23.Qf5!? is possibly even stronger as Black is not likely to be able to put p a successful defense.

23...Kxf7 24.Ne5+ and Black resigned, a little prematurely if truth be told, but White has a large
advantage. 1–0

B.Adhiban (2639) – Wu Li (2332) FIDE Grand Swiss (Douglas) 2019

51.3)

254
 ***
Hint: Domination

Show/Hide Solution

25.Qg5!

An unpleasant and almost paralyzing move that demonstrates the differences in strength between
White’s and Black’s pieces. A more pedestrian move like 25.Qe3 still offers White a clear advantage
after 25...Qe7 26.Qxe7 Rxe7 27.Rxe7 Nxe7 28.Nxf7 Bxa4 29.Nh6+ Kh8 30.Bxa4 gxh6 31.Rd6 with
an endgame that Svidler will win on most days.

25.Qg5! Qb8

White’s immediate threat is h3–h4–h5 and with a limited number of squares available for Black’s
pieces that quickly become awkward. Moving the king to play ...f7–f6 seems like a reasonable
reaction, but White can win in several ways: 25...Kh8 26.a5! (White can even play 26.Nxf7+ Rxf7
27.Bxf7 Qxf7 28.Rd8+ Nf8 29.a5 h6 30.Qe5 with a decisive advantage as Black’s position is
completely falling apart) 26...f6 27.Qh5 Nf4 28.Nf7+! Rxf7 29.Qxf7 and White is winning because
of Black’s weak back rank.

26.Bxf7+ Raxf7 27.Nxf7 Qf4

Or 27...Kxf7 28.Qf5+ Kg8 29.Qe6+ Kh8 30.Qxc6 and White is winning.

255
28.Qxf4 Nxf4 29.Ng5 Bxg2 30.Ne6 and Black resigned. 1–0

P.Svidler (2729) - M.Parligras (2629) FIDE Grand Swiss (Douglas) 2019

51.4)

**
Hint: What pin?

Show/Hide Solution

16.Nd2!! Qxc3?

16...Bxd1 17.Nxc4 Ba4 18.Bg5

17.Qxg4 Qxa1 18.Qe6+ Kh8

18...Rf7 19.Rf4 Qg7 20.Bb2 Qf8 21.Rh4 Na6 22.Qxg6+ Rg7 23.Qe4

19.Qxe7 Qxc1+ 20.Ke2 Rxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Qxd2+ 22.Kg1 h5 23.Qf8+ Kh7 24.Rf4

24.Re4?! Nc6 25.Qxa8 Qxd5 26.Qe8 c4 27.Qe6 Qc5+?? (27...Qxe6 28.Rxe6 Nb4 29.Re7+ Kh6
30.Rxa7) 28.Kh1 1–0 G.Sargissian (2690) – Er.Hansen (2611) FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss
Douglas 2019

256
24...Qe3+ 25.Kh2 Qxf4+ 26.Qxf4 Na6 27.Qf7+ Kh6 28.d6

Set 52

52.1)

**
Hint: Many loose pieces

Show/Hide Solution

17.c4!

The black queen is overburdened and very vulnerable at the same time.

17...Qd6

Black cannot capture the c4–pawn: 17...Nxc4 18.Bxc4 Qxc4 19.Rc1 Bxf3 20.gxf3 and White is
winning.

18.Ng5!

Now the rook on f7 is threatened along with the bishop on g4, and finally, White threatens Nge4,
winning the bishop on c5. In other words, White is winning.

257
18...Bf5

Also 18...Bxe2 19.Qxe2 Rc7 (or 19...Nd7 20.Nxf7 Kxf7 21.Na5!, winning additional material as
...Rb8 will be met with Nxb7 anyway.) 20.Nxc5 Rxc5 21.Ne4 and White is much better.

19.Bd3!

This is even stronger than the game continuation which went 19.Nxf7 Kxf7 20.Bd3 e4 21.Nxc5
Qxc5 22.Qh5+ Kf6 23.Bxe4 Na4 24.b4 Qe5 25.f4 Qxe4 26.Rae1 and Black resigned. 1-0 Wang
Hao (2726) - Bu Xiangzhi (2721) FIDE Grand Swiss (Douglas) 2019.

19...Rdf8 20.Bxf5 Rxf5 21.Ne4 Qc6 22.Nbxc5 and White has simply won a piece.

52.2)

***
Hint: Combining threats

Show/Hide Solution

20...Rxc3!

This exchange sacrifice reveals that White’s queenside is a lot more vulnerable than it first appears.

258
21.bxc3 Nd5!

The retreat is the key move; White has to give up his bishop, after which the king’s shelter
completely and immediately collapses.

22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Qd2 b4! 24.cxb4?!

Nothing works particularly well for White, but the best was probably 24.Ne5 although 24...bxc3
25.Rxc3 Bxa2+ 26.Kc1 Rb8 offers Black a definite advantage.

24...Bxa2+!

In the game, Black continued less accurately with 24...Be4+? 25.Ka1? (a better defense was 25.Kb2
Qf5 when Black has excellent compensation for the exchange) 25...Qf5 26.Ng1 Rd8 27.Rh4 Rxd4
28.Qxd4 Bxd4+ 29.Rxd4 Bd5 30.Rh8+ Kxh8 and White resigned. 0-1 S.Mamedyarov (2767) –
W.So (2767) Speed Challenge (chessdotcom) 2019.

25.Qxa2 Qf5+ 26.Qc2 Qxh3

Black has won back the sacrificed exchange, and although the material is currently balanced, Black
has a winning position due to White’s very exposed king and loose pawn structure, both the polar
opposites of Black’s situation.

27.Rd3 Qf1+ 28.Ka2 Rb8 29.Rb3 Bf8 and Black has a winning position, although there, of course,
still is some work left to be done.

52.3)

259
 **
Hint: An effective rescue party

Show/Hide Solution

White’s knight is stuck on c7 with apparently no way to return home. However, not only is it possible
for it to return home, it can win material while doing so.

16.cxd5! exd5

Obligatory, which sets up White’s next move.

17.Rfd1!

Threatening to use the pin of the d-pawn to win a piece.

17...Qc8

If Black retreats with the knight to f6, 17...Nf6 White builds up further with 18.Rac1, threatening
both Qb3 and Be3 with a large advantage, therefore 18...Bd6 19.Nxd5 Bxf4 (but not 19...Nxd5??
20.Bxd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Rd7 22.Rcd1 and White wins a piece) 20.Nxf4 with an extra pawn and a
large advantage for White.

18.Rac1 Bc5

Or 18...Nf6 19.Qd3 Qd7 20.Qb3 and White once more wins a pawn, whereas 20...Bc5 is met by

260
21.Rxc5 bxc5 22.Qb6 Rfa8 23.Qxc5 followed by Nxa8, leaving White with an almost decisive
positional advantage.

19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.b4 g5

If 20...Be7 then 21.Nd5! wins material on the spot.

21.bxc5 gxf4 22.cxb6 Qh3

The last attempt to swindle White, but this is doomed to fail.

23.gxf4! e3 24.f3 Kh8 25.Qc3+ f6 26.Rd8 Black resigned. 1–0

S.Rahul P (2460) – G.Mitrabha (2434) World Youth Open (Mumbai) 2019

52.4)

***
Hint: Interfering with the defenders

Show/Hide Solution

24.Ne7+!

261
A very reasonable alternative is 24.Nf6+!? which also offers White a decisive advantage, for
instance, 24...Bxf6 25.gxf6 Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Bxb3 27.axb3 Qc7 28.Qe4 Qc8 29.b4 Rc7 30.Qd3 and
White’s pieces dominate the board, but there is still some work left to be done as White doesn’t a
quick way to either winning material or mating the black king.

24.Ne7+! Kf8

Or 24...Nxe7 25.Bxe6 Nf5 (or 25...Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Nf5 27.Bxf7+ Kf8 28.Qb4!!, the same theme as
in our main line) 26.Bxf7+ Kf8 27.Qb4!! Qxb4 28.Rxd8+ Ke7 29.Rd7+ Kf8 30.Nxg6#. Gorgeous!

25.N5c6 Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Qb6 27.Bxe6!

Or 27.Rd8+ Qxd8 28.Nxd8 Kxe7 29.Qb4 and White will win easily.

27...fxe6 28.Nxf5!

The game continuation showed us the effects of it being a blitz game: 28.Nxg6+? Kf7? (Black
needed to play 28...Ke8! 29.Nce5 with a large advantage for White) 29.Nge5+ Ke8 30.Qh2 and
Black resigned as there is no stopping Qh5+ with mate to follow. 1-0 S.Mamedyarov (2767) – W.So
(2767) Speed Challenge (chessdotcom) 2019.

28...e5

Or 28...Rxf5 29.Qd6+ Kg8 30.Qxe6+ Rf7 31.Rd8+ with mate in a few moves.

29.Qh4 gxf5 30.Rd8+ and game over for Black.

Set 53

53.1)

262
 ****
Hint: The first idea is almost certainly almost right

Show/Hide Solution

19.Nexf7!

A multi-purpose move that serves to both weapon Black’s position but also to clear the path for the
epawn to advance, allowing the queen on c2 to join the attack on Black’s kingside.

19...Rxf7

If 19...cxd4 then 20.Nxd8 Rxd8 21.Bxd4 Rxd4 22.e5 wins for White.

20.e5!!

The knight on f6 cannot move as it would allow Qxh7+ with mate to follow, so Black tries to make
the best of a bad situation.

20...Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qb7+ 22.f3!

This is much better than 22.Kg1 Ne4 23.Nxe4 cxd4 24.Rfd1 which is clearly better for White but
nothing like the advantage White obtains in the game continuation.

22...cxd4

263
A better defense was 22...Qd5 23.Nxf7 Ng4 (or 23...Kxf7 24.exf6 Bxf6 25.dxc5 Bxb2 (25...Qd2+ is
answered with 26.Rf2, winning for White) 26.Qxb2 and White should win) 24.Qe4 Qxe4 25.fxe4
Ne3+ 26.Kf2 Nxf1 (or 26...Kxf7 27.Kxe3+ and White should win the endgame) 27.Nxd8 and the
conversion of the material advantage will be no problem for White.

23.exf6 gxf6

Or 23...d3 24.fxe7 Qxe7 25.Qd2 and White has an extra piece.

24.Nxf7 Kxf7 25.Qxh7+ Kf8 26.Qh8+

White has the initiative and a winning material advantage. Black can fight on for a bit, but the result
is never in dispute.

26...Kf7 27.Qh5+ Kf8 28.Rfe1 e5 29.Re4 Qd5 30.Bxd4 Bxa3 31.Rce1 Bd6 32.Rg4 Bc7 33.Qh7
Qf7 34.Qh6+ Ke8 35.Rg7 and Black resigned. 1–0

V.Hamitevici (2472) – P.Smirnov (2556) Almaty 2019

53.2)

**
Hint: Breaking the defensive ranks wide open

Show/Hide Solution

264
16.f5!

A big breakthrough.

16...Bxf3

Capturing the pawn gives Black a different bunch of problems: 16...exf5 17.Bxh5 (or 17.Nd5 Bxd5
18.cxd5 Qxe5 19.Re1 Qf6 20.Bd2 0-0 21.Bc3 and White has a clear advantage) 17...gxh5 18.Qxf5 0-
0 19.Bf4 Qd7 20.Qxh5 with a clear advantage.

17.Qxf3 Qxe5 18.Bh6!

The game continued 18.fxg6 f6? (18...hxg6 19.Qxf7+ Kd7 20.Qf3 Kc7 would have fine for Black)
19.g4 Ng7 20.Bf4 Qd4+ 21.Be3 Qxc4 22.Bh6 0-0 23.gxh7+ Kh8 24.Rad1 Rd4 25.Be3?? (White
should have played 25.Bxg7+ Kxg7 26.b3 Qb4 27.Rde1 with clearly better chances) 25...Rxg4+
26.Kh1 Rh4 27.Rd7 Nf5 28.Bc1 Ng3+! 29.Qxg3 Qxf1+ 30.Qg1 Qxg1+ 31.Kxg1 Rxh7 32.Ne4 f5
33.Ng3 Bf6 34.b3 Rxd7 and White resigned. 0-1 M.Maurizzi (2415) – N.Grandelius (2691)
Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup 2019. A reasonable alternative to our main line is 18.fxe6 0-0 19.exf7+
Kg7 20.Nd5 Bd6 21.Qh3 Qd4+ 22.Be3 Qxc4 23.Nxb6 and White has a solid advantage.

18...exf5

Or 18...gxf5 19.Rad1 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Bd6 21.Qxh5 and White should win.

19.Qc6+ Rd7 20.Nd5 and Black is toast.

53.3)

265
 ***
Hint: Is the knight on d7 a distraction or a target?

Show/Hide Solution

21...Bxh2+

In the game, Black won after 21...Re6? 22.Nxf8?? (White should have defended with 22.Rae1 Rfe8
23.Rxe6 Rxe6 24.Ne5 Nb6 25.Qf3 Qf6 and Black is only somewhat better) 22...Bxh2+ 23.Kxh2
Rh6+ 24.Qh3 Nf4 and with a forced mate in a few moves, White resigned. 0-1 S.Pogosyan (2364) –
S.Sargsyan (2580) World Juniors (New Delhi) 2019.

21...Bxh2+ 22.Kxh2

Not accepting the bishop does not work either: 22.Kh1 Nf4 23.Qf3 Qh4 with mate in a few moves.

22...Nf4 23.Qf3

Or 23.Nf6+ Kh8 (but not 23...gxf6? 24.Qg3 and White will survive) 24.g3 Qh6+ 25.Kg1 Qh3! and
Black is winning.

23...Qh4+ 24.Kg1 Ne2+ and White will have to give up the queen.

266
 53.4)

***
Hint: The lead in development is intoxicating but make sure you strike the right way

Show/Hide Solution

12.Bf3!

This intermediary move is significant, forcing Black’s bishop to a square where White can exchange
it when it suits him. The immediate 12.Bxc6+? does nothing for White, after 12...bxc6 13.Qxc6+
Nbd7 Black is fine.

12.Bf3! Bg6 13.Bxc6+!

This is much stronger than 13.Nxg6? hxg6 14.Rxe6+ Be7! (14...fxe6? 15.Qxg6+ Kd7 16.Nf7 Qe8
17.Nxh8 Qxg6 18.Nxg6 Bc5 is clearly better for White) 15.Re2 0-0 16.d4 Re8 17.Qb3 Nfd5 and
Black should be fine.

13...Nbd7

If Black captures the bishop, things do not go well: 13...bxc6? 14.Qxc6+ Nbd7 (or 14...Nfd7
15.Ngxf7 Bxf7 16.Nxf7 and White is winning) 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.Nxf7 and White is winning.

14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.Bxb7 Rb8 16.Rxe6+!

267
The game continuation was 16.Bd5?! Nc5?? (Black collapses quickly; a better defense was 16...Qa5
17.Nxf7 Kxf7 18.Bxe6+ Ke8 19.b3 Be7 20.Qxg6+ Kd8 and White has an attack and four pawns for
the sacrificed pieces; there is obviously still some play left in this position) 17.Bc6+ Ncd7 18.d4
(White could also play the even stronger 18.Nxe6! fxe6 19.Qxg6+ Ke7 20.Qf5 Ke8 21.Rxe6+ Be7
22.d4 and White should win) 18...Be7 19.Bf4 Rc8 20.d5 e5? 21.Ne6! Qa5 22.Rxe5 Ng4 23.Nc7+
Kd8 24.Rxe7 Kxe7 25.Qe2+ and Black resigned. 1-0 B.Amin (2699) – R.Sadhwani (2479) FIDE
Grand Swiss (Douglas) 2019.

16...Be7 17.Bg2 0-0 18.Re2 with two extra pawns and a position that White should win without too
many problems.

Set 54

54.1)

**
Hint: Strike to infiltrate

Show/Hide Solution

19...Bxe3+!

The white queen is overburdened, but there is only one way to take advantage of this, which is the

268
text move properly. The alternatives are not nearly as good: a) 19...Nxd3 20.Rxd3 Bc4 21.Bxc5
Qxc5+ 22.Qe3! and White is only marginally worse.
b) 19...Bxc2 20.Bxc2 Bxe3+ 21.Qxe3 Ng4 22.Qc3 Qh4 23.Qg3 and White defends.
c) 19...Nc4!? 20.Bxc4 Bxc2 21.Rdc1 Bxe4 and Black has better chances, for instance, 22.Bxf7+ Rxf7
23.Bxc5 Qe6 when the opposite-colored bishops favor Black.

19...Bxe3+! 20.Qxe3 Ng4!

Or 20...Nxd3 21.Qxd3 Qc5+ 22.Ne3 Bxd1 23.Rxd1 and Black has won the exchange and should
win.

21.Qd4 Rfd8 22.Qc3 Qh4

The white queen cannot make it over to the kingside to assist in the defense.

23.h3 Bxc2 24.Bxc2 Qf2+ 25.Kh1 Ne3 and White resigned. 0–1

B.Gijswijt (2387) – Ja.Lopez (2409) Haarlem 2019

54.2)

***
Hint: Work out the best defense, then improve on the attack

269
 Show/Hide Solution

14.e5! Ne8

Or 14...Ng4 15.Bxc5 dxc5 16.Qe2 Nxe5 17.f4 Ng6 18.Nd5+ and White is winning.

15.Ne4!

The game continuation was 15.exd6+?! Rxd6 16.Qe4 Nf6?? (Natural but bad; a better defense was
16...Bxe3 when one possible line runs 17.Rxd6 Qxd6 18.Rd1 Bd2 19.Qe2 Bd7 20.Rxd2 Qc5 21.Bxb7
Rb8 22.Qxa6 Nd6 23.Bf3 Rxb2 and White is only somewhat better) 17.Qc4 Nd7 18.Bf4 e5 19.Be3
Kf8 20.Nd5 Qc6? 21.Nf6! Rxf6 (Or 21...Qc7 22.Nxd7+, winning material) 22.Bxc6 Rxc6 23.Rxd7
Bxe3 24.Qxf7# 1-0 D.Khegay (2509) – D.Zakaryan (2338) Russian Blitz ch (Sochi) 2019.

15...Bxe3 16.fxe3 Kf8

The alternatives are not any better: 16...dxe5 17.Qa3+ Nd6 18.Rxd6 Rxd6 19.Rd1 and White wins or
16...f5 17.exf6+ gxf6 18.c4 Rb8 19.Qe2 and White has something akin to a decisive attack.

17.Nxd6 Kg8 18.Qc4 Qe7

If 18...Qxc4 then 19.Nxc4 wins easily for White as Black does not have time to organize his pieces.

19.Qc5 Nxd6 20.Rxd6 Rb8 21.Qb6 and Black is completely stalemated, leaving White with a
decisive advantage.

54.3)

270
 ***
Hint: Limited development makes the defense more complicated

Show/Hide Solution

13.Bb5!

Ouch! The bishop cannot be captured as Black will run into a variety of forks after Qxb5+.

13...Ne7

Or 13...Rc8 14.Bxc6+ Rxc6 15.Qb5 Qd7 16.Nb6 Qc7 17.Nc4

14.Nf6+!

This is much stronger than the game continuation, which went 14.Nxe7 Bxb5 15.Qxb5+ Kxe7 16.0-
0-0 Qc7? (16...Qd7 was much better) 17.Rd2 (17.Rxd6! is even stronger) 17...f6 18.Rhd1 Kf7 19.e5
d5 20.Rxd5 exd5 21.Qxd5+ Kg6 22.Qxa8 f5 23.Qe8+ Kh6 24.Qe6+ g6 25.Qf6 and Black resigned.
1-0 Z.Tsydypov (2553) – V.Papin (2481) Russian Blitz ch (Sochi) 2019. Several in the Facebook
group were tempted by 14.Bf6? but Black does not need to capture it and allow the beautiful mate
with the knight, instead 14...Qb8 15.Bxe7 Bxb5 16.Qxb5+ Qxb5 17.axb5 exd5 18.Bxf8 Rxf8 19.0-0-
0 dxe4 offers White no more than a small advantage in the double rook ending.

14...gxf6 15.Bxf6 and Black cannot avoid material losses.

271
 54.4)

**
Hint: Simple distractions, small investments & big rewards

Show/Hide Solution

22.g3!

Away, you evil knight!

22...Nxd3

Or 22...Ng6 23.Qh5 Rf6 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Rxe6! and Black can resign.

23.Qh5!

The point behind the previous move. White has nothing after 23.Qxd3? Nd8.

23...Rf6 24.Rxe6!

Black resigned as the party ends after 24.Rxe6 Bxe6 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Ncxe6+. 1–0

S.Bogner (2601) – L.Kessler (2432) Swiss Team ch 2019

272
 Set 55

55.1)

*
Hint: Where is the target?

Show/Hide Solution

16.Ng5!

Caveman style. White threatens 17.Nxh7 when 17...Kxh7 will allow 18.Rh4+ with mate on h8.

16...h6

Or 16...f6 17.Qc3 fxg5 18.Rxc5 and White has much better chances thanks to his superior pawn
structure and Black’s weakened kingside.

17.Rh4!

Anyway!

17...Rfd8

273
Black could also try 17...h5 although White gains a large advantage after 18.g4 Na4 19.Qa1! (Staying
on the a1–h8 diagonal is important) 19...Qa5 20.f4! (or 20.Ne4 Nc5 21.Nxc5 Qxc5 22.gxh5 g5
23.Rc4 Qf5 24.f4 g4 25.Bxc6 bxc6 26.Qe5 Qxe5 27.fxe5 and White should be able to convert his
advantage in the endgame) 20...Nc3 21.gxh5 Nd4 22.hxg6 fxg6 23.Kh1 Ncxe2 24.Qb1 Rf5 25.Qe4
and White has a decisive attack.

18.Nf3 h5

If 18...f6, then 19.Qc1 Kf7 20.Rxh6 Rh8 21.Qc4+ Kg7 22.Rxh8 Rxh8 leaves White a clear pawn up.

19.g4 Rd5 20.gxh5 Rxh5 21.Rxh5 gxh5 22.Ne5!

The game continuation was 22.Qc1 Ne4? (22...Ne6 was a better defense) 23.Qf4 Nf6 24.Kh1 Qb4
25.Qg5+ Kh7 26.Bh3 Rg8 27.Bf5+ Rg6 28.Rg1 Ng4 29.Qxh5+ Kg7 30.Rxg4 and Black resigned. 1-
0 J.Miciano (2345) – M.Muradli (2459) World Juniors (New Delhi) 2019.

22...Nxe5 23.Qxe5 and White has a large advantage: Black’s weak kingside will cost him either the
life of the king or material losses.

55.2)

***
Hint: Exploiting poor coordination

274
 Show/Hide Solution

25.axb5 axb5?

Natural but not the best. The alternatives were 25...c5 26.dxc5 Bxe4 27.Qxe4 f5 28.Qe3 axb5
29.Rxa8 Rxa8 30.c6 Kf7 31.c7 Nc4 32.Qc5 with a large, probably winning advantage for White in
the endgame or 25...h6 26.dxe5 c5 27.Rxc5 a5 28.Qb1 Bxe4 29.Qxe4 hxg5 and White has the clearly
better chances in the heavy piece ending.

26.Rxa8 Bxa8 27.dxe5 Qxe5 28.Re1 Kh8

If 28...Qxg5, then 29.Bxh7+! Kxh7 30.Rxe8 Bb7 31.Qb1+ Qg6 32.Qxg6+ Kxg6 33.Rb8 and White
is winning.

29.Bh4 f5 30.f4!

Black resigned as he may have overlooked this clever retort. After 30.f4! Qxf4 31.Bxf5 Rxe1+
32.Qxe1 Qd4+ 33.Bf2, White will win easily. 1–0

A.Hakobyan (2561) – M.Santos Ruiz (2560) World Juniors (New Delhi) 2019

55.3)

275
 *
Hint: Soft spots and a poor coordination

Show/Hide Solution

24...Ne1!

A clever leap into White’s camp, but there are some surprising benefits to eliminating White’s
lightsquared bishop...

25.Qd1

Or 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.Qb1 Rd1 and White is busted.

25...Rxd2 26.Qxd2

Or 26.Nxd2 Nxg2 27.Kxg2 Rd8 28.Qe1 Qd3! (the activity of Black’s pieces simply overwhelm
White’s undeveloped troops) 29.Nf3 c4 30.Qe3 c3 and Black is winning, for instance, 31.bxc3 Bxc3
32.Qxd3 Rxd3 33.Rb1 Rd1 and Black wins material.

26...Nxg2 27.Kxg2 Bh3+!

The point: White’s king is dragged out of his little cubby hole.

28.Kxh3 Qxf1+ 29.Kg4 Qg2 and White resigned. The stray king will cause White to getting mated
or having to give up material to avoid it. 0–1

A.Stambulian (2306) – P.Ponkratov (2621) Russian Rapid ch (Sochi) 2019

55.4)

276
 ***
Hint: Surprising access to the weakest spot

Show/Hide Solution

22...Re4!

Black has a simple plan: transfer the rook on h4 and capture on h3.

23.f4

If 23.Qf3 then 23...Rf8 is a disaster for White; the bishop on h5 will not make it home alive.

23...Rxe3 24.Bg4 f5 25.Bh5 R8e7 26.Bc1 Bxf4!

The game continuation was 26...Rg3 27.Bf3? (a mistake; White should have played 27.Ra2 Rg4
28.Bxg4 fxg4 29.Kh2 gxh3 30.g3 Qg6 and with two pawns and the bishop pair, Black has more than
enough compensation for the exchange) 27...Rxh3+ 28.gxh3 Qxh3+ 29.Kg1 Bc5+ and White
resigned as he will lose the majority of his heavy pieces. 0-1 E.Vaarala (2321) – B.Ahlander (2399)
Swedish Team ch 2019.

27.Bxe3 Rxe3

The numerous weaknesses around White’s king, along with the pawns and the bishop pair, provide
Black amble compensation for the exchange.

277
28.b4 g6 29.Bf3 Qh4 30.Re1 Qg3 31.Kg1 d4 32.Rxe3 Qh2+ 33.Kf1 Bxe3

Penetration continues. White’s poorly coordinated and passive pieces do not represent opposition to
Black’s forces.

34.Rb1 Be6! 35.Qc2 Kg7!

Getting the king away from potential checks on the light squares, White is without active counterplay
and cannot do anything.

36.Ke2 Qg3 37.Rd1 Bd5 and Black is winning.

278
 Show in Text Mode

Set 56

56.1)

****
Hint: Interesting ways to generating threats

Show/Hide Solution

24...Qh8!

A nasty plan for White to face: Black prepares the assault on the open g- and h-files.

25.Rad1 Bf8!

The second step in the plan. Black threatens both ...Nxh2 and ...Rxh2.

26.h3 Nh6!

The third retreat, removing the defender of the bishop on g3.

279
27.Nce3

The alternatives are not of much use either: 27.Rd3 Nxf5 28.exf5 Rhg7 29.Kh2 Ne5 and Black is
winning and 27.Rf3 Nxf5 28.exf5 Rhg7 29.Rdd3 Be7 30.f6 Bxf6 31.Rxf6 Rxg3 32.Rxg3 Rxg3 33.Rf3
Rg7 34.Qf2 Bxh3 with a simple winning position for Black.

27...Nxf5 28.Nxf5 Rxh3 29.Kf2

Or 29.Rf3 Rh7 30.Bf4 Bxf5 31.exf5 Bh6 32.Bg3 Rhg7 and White’s position falls apart; aside from
the obvious threat to the g3–bishop, Black also threatens ...Ne5.

29...Rhxg3! 30.Nxg3 Bg4 31.Qd2

Or 31.Bf3 Qh2+ and game over.

31...Bxd1 32.Rxd1 Qh4 and White resigned. 0–1

S.Sammed Jaykumar (2392) – S.Sargsyan (2580) World Juniors (New Delhi) 2019

56.2)

***
Hint: Opening for an effective partnership

Show/Hide Solution

280
22...Ba4! 23.Qa3 Rc3!!

Black has a strong alternative in 23...d3! preparing ...Rc2 and if 24.b3 then 24...Rc2 will win for
Black, for instance, 25.Nc4 (or 25.Rxc2 dxc2+ 26.Kxc2 (26.Kc1 Qd3) 26...Rc8+ 27.Kd1 Qd3 and
Black is winning) 25...Rc8 (also 25...b5 should win, e.g., 26.Rxc2 dxc2+ 27.Kxc2 bxc4 28.Qxa4
cxb3+ 29.axb3 Rc8+ 30.Kd2 Bc3+ 31.Kc2 Qb6 32.Rh2 Bf6+ 33.Kd2 Qg1 34.Rh1 Qxg3) 26.Rxc2
dxc2+ 27.Kxc2 Qxc4+ with mate in a few moves.

24.bxc3 Bc2+

Or 24...Qd3+ 25.Ka1 dxc3 26.e5 dxe5 and Black is winning.

25.Rxc2 Qxa3 and White resigned. 0–1

M.Parligras (2629) – D.Harika (2495) FIDE Grand Swiss (Douglas) 2019

56.3)

****
Hint: Many strikes to make a little hole

Show/Hide Solution

281
18...Nxb2!

Black rips White’s king shelter wide open.

19.Kxb2 Na4+ 20.Kc1 b3!

Opening the e7–a3 diagonal for the bishop on e7 to join the attack. If instead 20...Nc3? 21.Qg4!
(21.Qh5!? 1–0 Va.Moiseenko (2532) – A.Gutenev (2469) Russian Team ch rapid (Sochi) 2019)
21...Nxd1 22.Kxd1 Qxe5 23.fxe6 and White is winning.

21.Bb5+

Returning a piece to attempt to organize a defense, whereas 21.N2xb3 loses: 21...Ba3+ 22.Kb1 Nc3+
and Black is winning.

21...axb5 22.Qxb5+ Bc6 23.Qxc6+

Or 23.Qxb3 0-0 24.g6 Rab8 25.gxf7+ Rxf7 26.Nxc6 Rxb3 27.Nxe7+ Rxe7 28.Nxb3 Qxe5 and Black
is winning.

23...Qxc6 24.Nxc6 Ba3+ 25.Kb1 Nc3+ 26.Ka1 b2# Beautiful conclusion.

56.4)

282
 ****
Hint: Without defenders, no fortress is strong enough

Show/Hide Solution

24.Nh5+!

Cracking Black’s apparently safe kingside set-up wide open.

24...gxh5

Black’s problems cannot be fixed by retreating the king either as 24...Kg8 25.Bxd7! wins for White.
Also 24...Kh8 25.Rxf7 is hopeless.

25.Rg3+ Kf6

Or 25...Kh8 26.Qxh5 Bg7 27.Qxf7 Rg8 28.Bxd7 and White is winning.

26.Qxh5 Ke7 27.Re1 Nf6?

A better defense was 27...Re8, but White is still winning after 28.Re4 b3 (or 28...Rb7 29.Rf3 f6
30.Qf5 Kd8 31.Rb3 followed by Rxb4 with lethal penetration) 29.cxb3 Nf6 30.Rxe5+ dxe5
31.Qxe5+ Kd8 32.Qxf6+ Be7 33.Qe5 Qc7 (33...f6 34.Qe2 Rf8 35.Re3 Rb7 36.Re6 and White will
eventually all of his material back with a decisive advantage in hand.) 34.d6 Qxd6 (or 34...Qxc6
35.dxe7+ Kc8 36.Rc3 and White is winning) 35.Rd3 Kc7 36.Rxd6 Bxd6 37.Qc3 and White is
winning.

28.Rxe5+! dxe5 29.Qxe5+ Qe6 30.dxe6 Rd6 31.Rf3 and Black resigned. 1–0

Iv.Popov (2611) – L.Garifullina (2330) Russian Team ch rapid (Sochi) 2019

Set 57

57.1)

283
 *
Hint: Simple approach, good reward

Show/Hide Solution

22.Bc5!

A simple move, not allowing Black to get his king to safety.

22...Ra5

Or 22...Ra6 23.Bxe7 Kxe7 24.Qc5+ Ke8 25.Rb3, when Black is without counterplay and meeting
Rdb1, threatening both Rb8 and Rb7 is impossible.

23.Bxe7 Kxe7 24.Qb6 Rd5

Or 24...Rb5 25.Rxb5 cxb5 26.Qd6+ Ke8 27.Ra1! (threatening Ra7) 27...Qb7 28.Qc5! (reinforcing the
threat) 28...Rg8 29.g3 and with all threats parried, Black is hopelessly lost.

25.Rxd5 exd5 26.Qa7+ Kd6

Black has parried the immediate threats, but this is only temporary relief. White’s next wave of attack
is about to start.

27.c4! Rd8 28.c5+

284
The black king is kicked out in the open.

28...Ke6 29.Re1+ Kf5 30.Qxf7 Black resigned. The threat of Re5 decides. 1–0

V.Ivic (2525) – L.Draskovic (2460) European Teams (Batumi) 2019

57.2)

**
Hint: Target the vulnerable

Show/Hide Solution

20...e4!

Black forces a simple breakthrough on the e-file, but just as importantly, White’s anchor stone bishop
on d3 will be forced away from its defensive duties. Once that happens, White’s position completely
falls apart.

21.fxe4 Nxe4! 22.Bxe4 f5 23.f3 fxe4 24.0-0-0

Or 24.f4 Rxc4 with a decisive advantage for Black.

24...Qg6 25.Ba3 Rxc4+ and White resigned. 0–1

285
H.Steingrimsson (2548) – L.Bruzon Batista (2644) Saint Louis 2019

57.3)

**
Hint: Find the weakest square, then look for a way to attack it

Show/Hide Solution

23.Bc1!

On the surface, this move is just a little retreat, but White naturally plans to move the d2–knight away
and sacrifice on h6 with devastating effect. That being said, White has a strong alternative in
23.Ndf3, for instance, 23...Rxb3 (if 23...Qd3 then 24.Ng5 Qd2 25.Rd1 Qf4 26.Nxe6 Rxe6 27.Bc1
Qe4 28.Qxf7 wins for White) 24.Nf5 Bxf5 25.Qxf7 Rg8 26.Qxf5 Qd3 27.Qxd7 Rxb2 28.Nh4 Qxd4
29.Ng6+ Kh7 30.Qf5 and White is winning.

23.Bc1! Rg8 24.Ndf3 Nf8 25.Bxh6!

Also strong is 25.Ng5!? Rb6 26.Nf5 Bxf5 27.Nxf7+ Kh7 28.Qxf5+ g6 29.Qf3 and White is winning.

25...g6

286
25...gxh6 26.Qxh6+ Nh7 27.Ng5 Rg7 28.Nxh7 and Black will get mated very quickly.

26.Nxg6+ fxg6 27.Qh4 Nh7 28.Ng5 Black resigned.

Also 28.Bg5 would have been completely lethal. 1–0

A.Giri (2780) – D.Anton Guijarro (2674) European Teams (Batumi) 2019

57.4)

**
Hint: Some interesting distractions

Show/Hide Solution

20.b6!

The most accurate, not allowing Black to organize a defense by playing ...b7–b6, but also 20.Bd5! is
very strong, for instance, 20...Nf6 (or 20...b6 21.Re7 Bf6 22.Bxf7+ Rxf7 23.Re8+ and White is
winning) 21.Nxc5! (winning a pawn and stronger than 21.Bxf7+ Rxf7 22.Nxc5 b6 23.Ne6 Bxe6
24.Rxe6 Rae7 where White has excellent winning chances) 21...b6 22.Ne6 with an extra pawn and an
overwhelming advantage for White.

287
20.b6! Qxb6

Not capturing the pawn is not that attractive either, e.g., 20...Ra6 21.Na3 Rxb6 22.Nb5 Ng5 23.Bc7
Qf6 24.Re8 and White is penetrating Black’s position from every angle.

21.Na3 Qb4

Again the alternatives do not provide any relief: 21...Ra6 22.Nb5 Ng5 23.Bd6 Rf7 24.Re8+, and
21...Ng5 22.Nb5 Ra6 23.Bd6 both win for White.

22.Nb5 Ra6 23.Ra2 Black resigned. The queen gets trapped after 24.Bd2. 1–0

B.Tondivar (2324) – N.De Strycker (2302) Haarlem 2019

Set 58

58.1)

***
Hint: Target the biggest weakness

Show/Hide Solution

22...Bg4!

288
Attacking White’s fatally weak light squares

23.f3

A better defense was 23.Ng1 exf4 24.Bb6 (or 24.Bxf4 Bc8 (24...Rxf4 25.Qxc6 Qe7 wins for Black)
25.Bg3 Qxg3 26.Qxc8 Qxg1+ 27.Kxg1 Rxc8 and Black is winning) 24...f3 25.Re1 Qg5 26.Qe7 Bf6
and White is busted.

23...Qh3! 24.Ng3

Or 24.fxg4 Qxf1+ 25.Ng1 exf4 with an easy win for Black.

24...exf4 25.Bxf4

Or 25.fxg4 fxg3 26.Rxf8+ Bxf8 27.Kg1 (27.Bg1?? g2#) 27...gxh2+ 28.Kh1 Qxe3 and Black is
winning.

25...Rxf4 26.Qxc6 Qxf1+ 27.Nxf1 Bxf3+ and White resigned. 0–1

M.Guid (2317) – M.Srebrnic (2370) Slovenian Team ch 2019

58.2)

***
Hint: Attack when you have the initiative

289
 Show/Hide Solution

13.Ng5! Be6

A more aggressive response from Black is 13...Nd4 14.0-0 (less precise is 14.Be4 Qxe5 15.c3 Ra7
16.cxd4 Qxg5 17.dxc5 e5 with a clear advantage for White) 14...Ra7 15.c4 Qd8 16.Bxd4 Qxd4
17.Qc2 Qxe5 18.Nf3 Qd6 19.cxb5 and White has a big lead and a large advantage.

14.Be4! Qd7 15.Qf3 Rc8 16.Nxf7! Rg8

Or 16...Bxf7 17.e6 Qxe6 18.Bxh8 Nd4 19.Bxd4 cxd4 20.0-0 and White has a near-winning
advantage.

17.Ng5 Bf5 18.e6 Bxe6 19.Nxe6 Qxe6 20.0-0 Ne5 21.Bxe5 Qxe5 22.Bd5

White is already winning, and the text move does not change that, but 22.Rfe1! would have been even
stronger.

22...Rh8 23.Rfe1 Qf5 24.Qxf5 gxf5 25.Bb7 Rd8 26.Bxa6 Rxd2 27.Bxb5+

White is winning.

27...Kd8 28.Bd3 Bg7 29.Bxf5 Bd4 30.Rb8+ Kc7 31.Rxh8 Bxh8 32.Rxe7+ Kc6 33.g4 Bd4 34.Be4+
Kd6 35.Rf7 and Black resigned. 1–0

G.Guseinov (2660) – V.Ivic (2525) European Teams (Batumi) 2019

58.3)

290
 **
Hint: Too many roles for some pieces

Show/Hide Solution

24...Rxe5?

Black misses his opportunity. With 24...c4!!, Black can exploit the temporary discoordination of
White’s pieces, e.g., 25.Qg3 (25.Be3 cxb3 26.Bxb6 Nf4 27.Bxa7 Nxe2+ 28.Rxe2 b2 29.Rxb2 Rxe5
30.Ne3 Rxd6 and Black is much better; 25.Nxc4?? loses on the spot to 25...Qxf2+ when White will
get mated) 25...Rxe5 26.Rxe5 Qxf2+ 27.Kh1 (27.Qxf2 Bxf2+ 28.Kxf2 Nxe5 29.Ke3 Nd3 30.Rf1 g6
31.Ne7+ Kg7 32.bxa5 Rxd6 and Black has a large probably winning advantage in the endgame)
27...Qxg3 28.Re8+ Nxe8 29.Rxe8+ Kh7 30.hxg3 axb4 31.Re4 b3 32.Bb2 Nf8 33.Rxc4 Ne6 34.Rb4
g6 and Black is clearly better.

24...Rxe5? 25.Rxe5 Nxe5 26.Rxe5 Qxb4?!

Slightly better but also insufficient for a relevant advantage is 26...c4 27.Qc2 Qxf2+ 28.Qxf2 Bxf2+
29.Kf1! (29.Kxf2?? Ng4+ is obviously uncalled for) 29...axb4 30.Rb5 Ba7 31.Rxb4 Bc5 32.Rxc4
Bxd6 and Black is at best marginally better in the endgame.

27.Qg3!

The most testing continuation.

291
27...Qg4?

The third mistake in a row. Black would still have been fully in the game after 27...g6 28.Nxh6+ Kf8
29.Nf5 Qxa4 with chances to both sides.

28.Qxg4 Nxg4 29.Re7 Nf6??

Black should have played 29...Rd8 although 30.Bb2 Bb8 (30...g6?? 31.d7! wins quickly for White,
e.g., 31...Bb6 32.Nxh6+ Nxh6 33.Re8+ Kh7 34.Bf6 and the rook falls as 34...Rxd7 35.Rh8# ends the
game) 31.d7 Bxh2+ 32.Kf1 Bc7 33.Re8+ Kh7 34.Rxd8 Bxd8 35.Nd6 and Black will lose the bishop
to avoid the d-pawn from queening

30.Bb2! Rxe7

Or 30...Rd8 31.Bxf6 gxf6 32.Rxb7 and Black can resign.

31.dxe7

And Black resigned, there is nor stopping the e-pawn, e.g., 31...Ne8 32.Nxg7!. 1–0

V.Onischuk (2616) – O.Kurmann (2420) European Teams (Batumi) 2019

58.4)

****

292
 Hint: More attackers than defenders but they need improved coordination

Show/Hide Solution

28.Rg4! Qf7 29.Rg5!

Threatening Rh5. White has an interesting alternative in 29.Bd3!? Rg8 (29...Qd7? is worse, for
instance, 30.h3 d4 31.Qg5 Qf7 32.Rh4 and White has a decisive advantage) 30.Rf4 Qg7 31.g3,
intending Rf6 followed by Bxh7, and White has a large advantage.

29...Be8 30.h3!

Preparing the decisive stroke. Once more, White can consider 30.Bd3 Rg8 31.Qd4+ Rg7 32.Rxd5
with a large advantage for White.

30...Rg8??

A blunder. Black should have defended with the counter-intuitive 30...h5 when 31.Kh2 readies White
to play Bg6 with a considerable advantage.

31.Be6! and Black resigned.

After 31...Qxe6 32.Qd4, it is over for Black. 1–0

G.Jones (2688) – V.Onischuk (2616) European Teams (Batumi) 2019

Set 59

59.1)

293
 ***
Hint: Making investments for worthwhile goal

Show/Hide Solution

32.Qxf5!!

The only way to gain any kind of advantage, and it also wins.

32...Rxe3

The principal move, but we also need to look at 32...Bxh2+; White wins after 33.Kh1 Rxe3 34.Rf1
Qe7 35.Qc8+! Kg7 36.Kxh2 Rd3 and now the simple 37.Qc7! provides White with two lethal passed
pawns that Black’s rook will not be able to stop by itself.

33.Rf1! Kh8

Black could put up better resistance with 33...Qe7, but White wins with 34.d6! Bxd6 35.Qg6+ Kh8
36.Qh6+ Kg8 37.g6! Bf4 38.Qxf4 Rd3 39.Qc7! Qxc7 40.bxc7 Rc3 41.Rf7 e3 42.Kf1 (42.Rd7?? runs
into 42...Rc1+) 42...b5 43.Rd7 and White is winning.

34.g6!

Or 34.Qf7 Bg7 35.Qh5+ Kg8 36.g6 and White is winning.

294
34...Bxh2+ 35.Kh1

Black resigned as he will get mated after 35.Kh1 Bf4 (35...Rf3 36.gxf3 is a trivial win for White)
36.Qf7 and Black will have to give up the queen to delay mate. 1–0

B.Kalezic (2455) – M.Radovanovic (2479) European Teams (Batumi) 2019

59.2)

**
Hint: Rapid deployment

Show/Hide Solution

23...Ngh3+!!

In the game, Black chose another strong option: 23...Nfh3+! 24.Kh1 Nxf3 25.Bxf3 Bxf3 26.gxf3
Qf6 (Black has a decisive positional advantage) 27.Qe3 Qf5 (27...Rc2! is even stronger) 28.Bd2 g5
29.a4 Rc2 30.Bb4 Qd5 31.Kg2 Nf4+ 32.Kh1 Re2 33.Qc3 Rb2 34.Bxd6 Rc2 and White resigned. 0-1
Peng Zhaoqin (2364) – E.Atalik (2464) European Teams Women (Batumi) 2019.

23...Ngh3+!! 24.gxh3

295
On 24.Kh1, Black has the very attractive 24...Qg5! 25.Rg1 (or 25.Nxg5 Bxg2#) 25...Qxa5! 26.Qxa5
Nxf2#.

24...Nxh3+ 25.Kg2

Or 25.Kh1 Qf6 when 26.Kg2 Qh4 transposes to our main line.

25...Qh4! and White is busted.

59.3)

*
Hint: Some things are worth investing in

Show/Hide Solution

21...e3!

Black rips White’s king shelter apart. The game continued less accurately: 21...Nxg4?! 22.hxg4
Qh4+ 23.Kg1 Bd6 24.f4 Bc5 25.Nxe4?? (This loses promptly; instead 25.Qe1 Qxg4 26.Kh2 Qh5+
27.Bh3 Rcd8 would have given Black amble compensation for the piece) 25...Rxe4! 26.Bxe4 Qg3+
27.Kh1 Qh3+ 28.Kg1 d3+ 29.Rf2 Qg3+ 30.Kh1 Bxf2 31.Qf1 dxe2 32.Qg2 Rxc4 and White
resigned. 0-1 R.Sturt (2470) – E.Cordova (2571) Saint Louis 2019.

296
21...e3! 22.fxe3 Nxg4! 23.Bd5

The alternatives are not better: 23.exd4 Ne3 24.Qe1 Bxd4 25.Bxd4 Qxd4 or 23.hxg4 Qh4+ 24.Kg1
d3, in both cases Black is winning.

23...Nxe3 24.Bxf7+ Kh7 25.Qe1 Nxf1 26.Qxf1 Rf8 and Black is winning.

59.4)

***
Hint: Insufficient defenders allow for decisive action

Show/Hide Solution

23...Qh5! 24.h3

There are no good moves for White, but some are worse than others: a) 24.Qg2 Re2 25.Nxe2 Rxe2
26.Rf1 Rxb2 and Black is winning. b) 24.h4 Ne3 25.fxe3 Rxe3 and White will not be able to defend
his kingside.

24...Bxg3! 25.fxg3 Ne3 26.g4

Or 26.Qf2 Nxd1 27.Rxd1 Re3, threatening ...Rxc3 (the rook on d1 is hanging) as well as ...Rf3

297
followed by ...Ree3.

26...Qh4 27.Qf2

Nor would 27.Qf3 suffice: 27...Nxd1 28.Nxd1 Re1+ 29.Kg2 R1e2+ 30.Nf2 R8e3 and Black is
winning.

27...Qxh3

Black’s attack crashes through.

28.Rf1 Qxg4+ 29.Kh1 Nxf1 30.Rxf1 Re3 31.Qxf7+ Kh8 and White resigned. 0–1

M.Khusenkhojaev (2434) – A.Urazayev (2420) Aksu Pavlodar 2019

Set 60

60.1)

*****
Hint: Find the ideal set-up to attack

Show/Hide Solution

298
31...Bf8!

The key idea behind this move is to remove the rook from the e3–square, thus relinquishing defensive
control either the knight on e4 or the h3–square, in the latter case allowing Black to push the h-pawn
with new potent threats. The alternative 31...b6 32.Rd5 Qe6 33.Rd2 is comfortably better for Black
due to White’s open king and the passed pawn on the h-file but is otherwise not as threatening for
White as the game continuation.

31...Bf8! 32.f3 Bh6!?

The text move is consistent with the previous move and will also win, but strongest is 32...h3+!
33.Kf2 Be7! (attacking the White king on the weakened dark squares; Black also wins after 33...Qg6
34.Rxe5 Qg2+ 35.Ke1 h2 36.Nf2 Bd6 37.Re8+ Kf7 38.f4 Bxf4 39.R3e7+ Kf6 40.Ne4+ Qxe4+
41.Rxe4 h1=Q+ with a significant material advantage) 34.Ng3 Qc2+ 35.Re2 Qc1 36.Rbxe5 Bh4
37.R5e4 h2! 38.Re1 Qc2+ 39.R1e2 Qxe4! 40.Rxe4 h1=Q and Black should win rather easily.

33.Re1?

Or 33.Rd3 to keep the f3–pawn protected, and then 33...h3+! 34.Kf2 (after 34.Kh2 Bf4+ 35.Kh1
Qg6, White will get mated) 34...Qf4 35.Rxb7 Qh2+ 36.Kf1 Qg2+ 37.Ke1 Qg1+ 38.Ke2 Qc1!
(38...h2? 39.Rd8+ Kg7 40.Rxc7+ Kg6 41.Rd6+ Kh5 42.Nf2 is better for Black but far less clear than
the main line) 39.Rb8+ Kf7 40.Nf2 h2 41.Rbd8 Bf4 followed by ...Bg3 and the h-pawn will soon be
queening.

33...h3+! 34.Kf2

Alternatively, 34.Kg3 Bf4+ 35.Kf2 Qg6 36.Rf1 (36.Rg1? Be3+ is much worse) 36...Qg2+ 37.Ke1 h2
and White can resign.

34...Qf4 35.Rg1+ Kf7 36.Rg3 Qe3+ 37.Kf1 Qd3+ and White resigned. 0–1

B.Tondivar (2324) – Ja.Lopez (2409) Haarlem 2019

60.2)

299
 ***
Hint: Eliminate the defenders

Show/Hide Solution

16.Bxf6!

Equally good is 16.Nxe6! fxe6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nxd5 with a transposition to the line after White’s
17th move.

16.Bxf6! Bxf6 17.Nxe6! Bxc3

This is tantamount to a positional resignation, but the alternative is even worse 17...fxe6 18.Nxd5!
exd5 19.Qxd5+ Kg7 20.Bxc8 Rxc8 21.Rfc1 Be7 22.Qd4+ Qf6 23.b4 and White is winning a piece.

18.Nf4 gxf5 19.Nxd5!?

19.Rxc3! is even stronger, e.g., 19...Rcd8 (or 19...Qxb2 20.Qd4 Re4 21.Rxc5! and White has won
even more material) 20.Qd4 Nd7 21.Rd1 Qxd4 22.Rxd4 with a positionally vastly superior position
for White, and besides, she will win a pawn by force.

19...Qe6 20.Nxc3 Ne4 21.Nxe4 Qxe4 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Qd7

White has an extra pawn and eventually won the game.

300
23...Re8 24.Rc1 Re6 25.Rc7 Rf6 26.Rxb7 Qb1+ 27.Kh2 Qxa2 28.Rb8+ Kg7 29.Qd8 Qe6 30.Qf8+
Kg6 31.f4 h6 32.Re8 Qd6 33.Qg8+ Kh5 34.Re5 Qd1 35.Qg7 Rg6 36.Rxf5+ Kh4 37.g3+ 1–0

A.Goryachkina (2575) – N.Batsiashvili (2422) European Teams Women (Batumi) 2019

60.3)

**
Hint: Diversion through threats, then strike!

Show/Hide Solution

19...Bc3!

The bishop cannot be captured, so, for now, White will have to get his rook out of the way of Black’s
bishop.

20.Re2 Bb5 21.Qe3 Qa5 22.Rf2 Bc4!

This is the point behind all those fancy bishop moves, White save himself from losing the exchange,
but now the assault on the king becomes lethally strong.

23.b3

301
White weakens his king shelter rather dramatically. A better chance was 23.Kc1 Bxb2+! 24.Kxb2
Qxa2+ 25.Kc1 Bb3 26.Kd2 Rxc2+ 27.Ke1 Rxf2 28.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 29.Kxf2 Bxd1 30.Bxd1 Rb8
31.Bb3 Rc8 32.Bd1 Rc3 when Black’s rook and pawns are worth much more than White’s minor
pieces.

23...Rc5! 24.a4 Bb5

Black is also winning after 24...bxa3, for instance, 25.Ka2 Qb4 26.e5 Rb8 27.Rb1 Bd4 28.Qd2 Bxf2
29.Qxf2 dxe5 30.Bd1 exf4 31.Qxf4? Rxh5 32.Bxh5 Bxb3+ and the queen falls.

25.Rxd6 Bxa4 26.Kc1 Bxb3 27.Kd1 Bc4 28.e5 Qa1+ 29.Qc1 Qxc1+ 30.Kxc1 Ra5 and White
resigned. 0–1

M.Krzyzanowski (2500) – A.Demchenko (2655) Tegernsee 2019

60.4)

***
Hint: The two Ps: Penetration and pins

Show/Hide Solution

25...Qb2!

302
A silent move of sorts. The threat is, of course, to capture on e1 when the pin of the c2–knight costs
White a piece.

26.Rxe4?

This exchange is just odd, but White was hoping that the exchange would take the pressure off his
position. A better option was 26.Reb1! when Black has to spot 26...Nxh2!! (but not 26...Re2?!
27.Qxe2 Qxb1+ 28.Rxb1 Rxe2 and while better for Black, it is nowhere near as good as 26...Nxh2)
27.Qxh2 Qc3 28.Ra3 Qxc4 29.Qd2 Qc5+ and Black is winning.

26...Rxe4 27.Re1??

This is just a bizarre blunder, however, even after 27.Rd1 Rxc4 and Black is winning.

27...Qxc2

White resigned, as after 27...Qxc2 28.Qxc2 Rxe1+ 29.Kg2 Ne3+, Black is up an army of pieces. 0–1

V.Seifert (2300) – C.Sandipan (2529) Tegernsee 2019

Set 61

61.1)

***
Hint: Open, then mobilize

303
 Show/Hide Solution

19.Nf5!

After this move, Black is surprisingly unable to meet White’s attack that combines threats against
Black’s king with challenging Black’s vulnerable queen.

19...Qf7

The alternatives are: 19...Qe6 20.Qg4 g5 21.f4 (or 21.Nxh6+ Kg7 22.Nf5+ Kg6 23.h4 and White
has a large advantage) 21...Kh8 22.Qh3 Qd7 23.e6 Qh7 24.Rad1 and White is completely winning.
19...Qd7 20.Qg4 Kh7 21.e6 Nxe6 22.Rxe6 and White is once more winning.

20.e6! Nxe6 21.Rxe6 Qxe6 22.Qg4 Kf7

Or 22...Qf7 23.Nxh6+, winning the queen.

23.Qxg7+ Ke8 24.Qb7 Qxf5 25.Re1+ and Black resigned. 1–0

Bl.Kovacevic (2455) – B.Markoja (2447) Slovenian Team ch 2019

61.2)

304
 **
Hint: Contact sport

Show/Hide Solution

28.b6!

This double challenge to Black’s pawns secures White a passed pawn on the seventh rank, a pawn
that will decide the game.

28...bxa6

Or 28...axb6 29.Qxb6 Qd8 30.a7 Ra8 31.Qxb7 with Rc7 to follow, and White is winning.

29.b7!

The point: the pawn will not queen instantly, but Black is so tied up that he will be without defense.

29...Qd8 30.Bxa6! and Black resigned. 1–0

V.Vetoshko (2506) – A.Demchenko (2655) Tegernsee 2019

61.3)

305
 ***
Hint: Combining attacks

Show/Hide Solution

25.Bxa8! Rxa8 26.f5!

This sharp move allows White to combine an attack against Black’s king with the ability to target the
loose knight on b4.

26...Nd5

After 26...Kh8, White plays 27.Qg4 and now Black’s position quickly collapses: a) 27...Nd5 (b)
27...Nxa2 28.Re3 a6 29.Ra1 and the knight is lost. c) 27...a5 28.a3 exf5 29.Nxf5 Qxe5 30.Re3 Qf6
31.axb4 and White is winning.) 28.Rxd5! exd5 29.f6! gxf6 30.Nf5, winning for White. If 26...exf5,
then 27.a3 traps the knight.

27.f6! gxf6

The game continuation saw Black play the desperate 27...Nxf6 which left White winning after
28.exf6 Qxf6 29.Rc7 Rad8 30.Kg2 e5 31.Nc4 Rxd1 32.Qxd1 b5 33.Ne3 e4 34.Rc2 Rd8 35.Qg4 and
Black resigned. 1-0 D.Anton Guijarro (2674) – Ki.Georgiev (2577) European Teams (Batumi)
2019

28.Rxd5! exd5 29.Nf5 Qb4 30.Rc4! and White is winning.

61.4)

306
 **
Hint: The monarch needs visitors

Show/Hide Solution

16.Bxh6!

This first move is apparent enough, seemingly obvious, but without an accurate follow, White’s
attack will go nowhere.

16...gxh6 17.Nf4!

Removing the bishop on e6 from its defensive duties is necessary for White to breakthrough.

17...Ng5

The alternatives are not much better: a) 17...Kh8 18.Bxh7 Kxh7 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Qd3+! Kg7
21.Rf7+! and Black will get mated. b) 17...Bc8 18.Qh5 Nf8 19.e6! fxe6 20.Ng6 Bg5 21.Nxf8 and
White is winning. c) 17...Rf8 18.Qh5 Bg5 19.Nxe6 and with Black unable to recapture on e6, White
is winning.

18.Qh5 Bf8 19.Nxe6!

In the game, White played less accurately: 19.h4 Qe7 20.Nxe6 Nxe6 21.Rf6? (21.Qf5! would still
have provided White with a winning attack, e.g., 21...Bg7 22.Qh7+ Kf8 23.Bg6 Rad8 24.Rxf7+ Qxf7

307
25.Bxf7 Kxf7 26.Rf1+ Ke7 27.Rf6 Rg8 28.Qf5 and White is winning) 21...Bg7? (Here, Black could
have defended with 21...Nd7 22.Bh7+ Kxh7 23.Rxf7+ Ng7 24.Rxe7 Bxe7 and Black survives)
22.Rdf1 Nd8? (a blunder; if 22...Qd7, then 23.Bf5, threatening Rxh6, winning for White; the best
defense was 22...Bxf6 although White after 23.exf6 Ng7 24.fxg7 Kxg7 25.Ne2 has a near-decisive
attack.) 23.Qf5 Nd7 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Rg6 Ne6 26.Rxg7 and Black resigned. 1-0 Peng Li Min (2454)
– I.Naumkin (2385) Uppsala 2019.

19...Rxe6 20.h4!

White simply eliminates the remaining defender of the f7–square, allowing White an unchallenged
attack against Black’s kingside.

20...Kh8 21.Ne2!

The knight is not going anywhere.

21...Bg7 22.hxg5 Qxg5 23.Qxg5 hxg5 24.Rxf7 and while White only has one extra pawn, all of his
pieces are better than their black counterparts, providing White a decisive advantage.

Set 62

62.1)

****
Hint: Precision maneuvering

308
 Show/Hide Solution

20.Nxg7!

With Black’s queen tucked away on a7 and other pieces being far from able to join in defense of
Black’s kingside, this move appears obvious.

20...Kxg7 21.Bxh6+ Kh7 22.Rxe4!

A strong alternative was 22.Qf4 Rg8 23.Rxe4! Rg6 (or 23...dxe4 24.Ng5+ Rxg5 25.Bxg5 and White
is winning) 24.Ng5+ Kg8 (after 24...Kxh6 25.Nxe6+ Kh7 26.Qxf7+, Black gets mated) 25.Re3 c6
26.Rg3 Qe7 27.h4 Kh8 28.h5 Rgg8 29.dxc5 and White is winning.

22...dxe4 23.Qg5! Rg8 24.Qh5 Rg6 25.Ng5+!?

A strong alternative is 25.Bg5+! Kg7 26.Bf6+ Kf8 (Or 26...Rxf6 27.exf6+ Kxf6 (27...Kg8 28.Qh6)
28.Qg5#) 27.Ng5 cxd4 28.Nxe6+ fxe6 29.Qxg6 c5 30.Re1 (Or alternatively 30.Qh6+ Ke8 31.Qh8+
Kd7 32.Qh7+ Kc8 (32...Kc6 33.Qxe4+ Kb5 34.Rc1 also wins for White) 33.Qg8+ Kb7 34.Qxe6
with an overwhelming ongoing attack.) 30...Qf7 31.Qg4 e3 32.fxe3 and White is winning.

25...Kg8 26.Nxe4 Bf5 27.Nf6+ Rxf6 28.exf6 Bg6 29.Qh4

White has a decisive attack.

29...cxd4 30.Bg7 Bh7 31.Qg5

31.Bf8! is even better, 31...Qb8 32.Qg5+ Bg6 33.Be7 and it is curtains for Black.

31...Bc5 32.Bh8+ Kf8 33.Re1 and Black resigned as mate is unavoidable. 1–0

M.Ragger (2684) – T.Nyback (2565) European Teams (Batumi) 2019

62.2)

309
 ***
Hint: One strike, two strike, three…

Show/Hide Solution

23.g6!

Without this move, Black would have had excellent play for the exchange.

23...f6

If 23...hxg6, then the second point to White’s previous move is revealed: 24.Bg5! f6 25.Bxf6 gxf6 (or
25...0-0 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 (26...gxf6 27.Qxf6) 27.Bxd8 and White is easily winning) 26.Qxf6 Kd7
27.Qf7+ and White wins.

24.Qh3!

The threat against the e6–pawn predetermines Black’s answer.

24...e5 25.Qxh7!

Ouch! Black cannot capture the queen as the h-pawn will then not be stoppable.

25...Rf8 26.Qxg7

White is easily winning.

310
26...Qd7 27.Rxd8+ Qxd8 28.Bh6 Qe7 29.Qxf8+ Qxf8 30.Bxf8 Kxf8 31.h4 Kg7 32.h5 Nd6 33.Rb1
Kh6 34.Rb6 Ne8 35.Rb8 and Black resigned. 1–0

S.Nyysti (2335) – J.B.Bjerre (2506) European Teams (Batumi) 2019

62.3)

***
Hint: The knight is threatened… where to place it

Show/Hide Solution

22.Qh6+! Kg8 23.Nf4! Rf7

Or 23...fxe5 24.Nxg6 hxg6 25.Qxg6+ Qg7 26.Qxe6+ Qf7 27.Qg4+ Qg7 28.Qh5 Nxd4 29.Rg3 and
White wins.

24.Nxg6 Qd7 25.Rg3

White could also win with 25.Nf4 Kh8 (or 25...fxe5 26.Rg3+ Rg7 27.Nh5 and White is winning)
26.exf6 Rg8 27.Ng6+ Rxg6 28.Qxg6 Nxd4 29.Re1 and White is winning.

25...hxg6 26.Rxg6+ Rg7 27.exf6 Rxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kf8 29.Qh6+ Kg8 30.Qg6+

311
White repeats the moves to gain time. The immediate 30.Rd1! is, of course, best.

30...Kf8 31.Qh6+ Kg8 32.Rd1! e5

If 32...Qh7, then 33.f7+ Qxf7 34.Rd3 wins promptly.

33.dxe5 Qg4 34.f3 and Black resigned. 1–0

Y.Pelletier (2555) – V.Laznicka (2667) European Teams (Batumi) 2019

62.4)

***
Hint: Precise move order secures the full point

Show/Hide Solution

28...Qh8!

This is the only winning move. In the Facebook group, several thought the move order less important
and suggested other moves, such as 28...Nd1+? 29.Kh1 Nf2+ (29...Nxc3 30.Bc4 wins for White)
30.Kg1, returning to the starting position.
Or 28...Ne4+? 29.Kh1 Ng3+?? (29...Nf2+ would return to the starting position, allowing Black to

312
play as in the game continuation) 30.hxg3 Qh8 31.Qh3!, the move many had overlooked; now White
wins.

28...Qh8! 29.Qxh8 Ne4+ 30.Kh1 Ng3+ 31.hxg3 Rxh8# Elegant. 0–1

M.Hess (2373) – C.Sandipan (2529) Tegernsee 2019

Set 63

63.1)

***
Hint: Headhunting

Show/Hide Solution

22.Rxg7+!

White goes fast forward in the hunt for Black’s king.

22...Kxg7 23.Nh5+! Kh8

Only move. After 23...Kf7 24.Qh6 Black will get mated.

313
24.Nxf6!

Strictly speaking, White can also play 24.Rxf6 but it is far more complicated, for instance, 24...Nxd5
25.Qh6 Qe7 26.exd5 Bd7 27.Nxd6 Rf8 28.Rg6 and there is still a lot of complex situations to
navigate and the win is far from certain.

24...Re7

The alternatives are 24...Rf8 25.Qd4 Rxf6 26.Rxf6 Kg8 27.Rf3 Qg5 28.Rg3 Qxg3 29.hxg3 and White
is winning or 24...Re5 25.Qh6 Qe7 26.Nxh7 Bf5 27.Ng5+ Kg8 28.Nxd6 Qg7 29.Nxf5 and White
has a decisive advantage.

25.Qd4 Re5 26.Ne8 Kg8

Or 26...Qxe8 27.Nxd6 Qe7 28.Nf7+ Kg8 29.Nh6+ (29.Nxe5 also wins) 29...Kh8 30.Rf7 Qg5 31.h4
and White is winning.

27.Nbxd6 Ncd7 28.Nf6+ Kg7 29.Nfe8+ Kg8 30.Nf6+ Kg7 31.Nfe8+ Kg6 32.Bg4 Rxe8 33.Bf5+
Kh5 34.g4+ and Black resigned before he would get mated. 1–0

E.Bogdanov (2397) – Seo Jung Min (2439) Stockholm 2019

63.2)

***

314
 Hint: Opening the right paths

Show/Hide Solution

28...b4!

This is the way to open White’s king shelter. The underlying point behind the text move Black’s next
move.

29.c4 Nc3!

Only so. Black achieves nothing after 29...Qa1+? 30.Kc2 Qa4+ 31.Kd2 (but not 31.Kc1? Nc3
32.Rxd8 Ne2+ and Black wins) 31...Ne7 32.Rd3 Qa2, and while better for Black, it isn’t nearly as
good as the text move.

30.bxc3 b3!

And this was the point behind the knight sacrifice: White cannot both prevent the mate on c2 and
prevent the b-pawn from queening.

31.Qd3 Rxd4 32.cxd4 b2+ White resigned. 0–1

M.Pap (2432) – G.Harutjunyan (2428) Alba Iulia 2019

63.3)

315
 ***
Hint: Combining threats

Show/Hide Solution

18.Qc2! Rfc8

Or 18...hxg5 19.Qxc6 Qxc6 20.Bxc6, winning material.

19.Qh7+ Kf8 20.Qh8+

In the game, White chose 20.Nh3 Ne7 21.Bxd7 Qxd7 22.Nf4 Nf5 23.g4 Nh4 24.Re3 Qd8 25.Qh8+
Ke7 26.Qxg7 Qh8 27.Qxh8 Rxh8 28.Rh3 Ng6 29.Nxg6+ fxg6 30.Nc5 Be2 31.Rb1 Bxg4 32.Rb7+
Kd8 33.Rhb3 Rf8 34.Rd7+ and Black resigned. 1-0 R.Ruck (2530) – G.Drnovsek (2396) Slovenian
Team ch 2019.

20...Ke7 21.Nxe6 Kxe6

Or 21...Rxh8 22.Nxc7 Bc4 23.Bxc6 Rac8 24.Nxd5+ Bxd5 25.Bxd5 and White is winning.

22.Qxg7

Black has an extra piece, but his king is obviously in trouble.

22...Rg8 23.Nc5+ Ke7

316
Or 23...Nxc5 24.Qf6+ Kd7 25.Qxf7+ and White is winning.

24.Nxa6 Qb6 25.Qh7 Nxd4 26.e6 Nf3+ 27.Kh1 Nde5 28.exf7 and White is winning.

63.4)

***
Hint: Precise move order secures the full point

Show/Hide Solution

23.Nxh5

The direct and obvious path in attacking Black’s king. The question is, of course, whether it is
sufficient to have an impact.

23...gxh5 24.Qxh5 f6

It is essential to examine the alternatives:

a) 24...Rad8 25.Rde1! (White prevents Black from playing ...f7–f6; it is important not to rush, for
instance, 25.Rg3? f6 (25...Nc5!?) 26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Nf3 Qf7 and Black has mobilized a defense)
25...c5 (or 25...f6 26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Nxe6+ and White is winning) 26.Rg3 with an irresistible attack,
for instance, 26...Re7 is instantly refuted by 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Qh8+ Bxh8 29.Nh7+ Ke8 30.Rg8#.

317
b) 24...Red8 25.Rde1! (again this move, restricting Black’s ability to free himself) 25...Qe7 26.Qh7+
Kf8 27.f5 and Black’s defense crumbles.
c) 24...Kf8 25.Nh7+ Ke7 26.Qg5+ Kd6 27.d5 and White is winning.

25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.h5! Rad8

Or 26...fxg5 27.fxg5 Ke7 28.Qxg7+ Kd8 29.Qf6+ Qe7 30.d5 Nc5 31.dxe6+ Kc8 32.Qxe7 Rxe7
33.h6 and White’s army of passed pawns decides the game in White’s favor.

27.Rf3 Nc5 28.h6 Nd3 29.Nxe6+

The game continuation was 29.Rg3 Nxf4 30.hxg7+ (30.Re1 fxg5 31.Rxg5 wins on the spot)
30...Qxg7 31.Nxe6+ Nxe6 32.Rxg7 Nxg7 33.Qc2 Ne6 34.Qg6 Ke7 35.Re1 c6 36.Qg7+ Kd6
37.Qxf6 Rd7 38.f4 and Black resigned. 1-0 N.Sedlak (2557) – S.Zhigalko (2574) European Teams
(Batumi) 2019.

29...Rxe6 30.Rg3 and Black defense falls apart.

318
Show in Text Mode

Chapter 5
Sets 64-78

Set 64

64.1)

319
 ***
Hint: Attacking from all angles

Show/Hide Solution

18...Bg4!

Attacking White on the light squares and simultaneously connecting the rooks to add attacking power
against White’s undeveloped pieces.

19.Bxg4

Or 19.Be3 Rac8 and Black wins a piece.

19...Nd3+

But not 19...Qxg4?? 20.Qxc5 Rfe8 21.e5 and White is winning.

20.Kf1

The alternatives are not working either 20.Ke2 Qxg4+ 21.Kxd3 Qf3+ 22.Be3 Rfd8+ and White loses
the queen or 20.Kd2 Qxg4 and White’s position is hopeless.

20...Qxg4 21.Qc3

A logical try is 21.Be3 but after 21...Rac8 22.Qxb7 Rc2 23.Qb5 Qf3! (this forces mate whereas

320
23...Qe2+ 24.Kg1 Rxb2 also wins, but mate is further away) 24.Qg5 Rxf2+ 25.Kg1 Qxe3 with mate
in a few moves.

21...Qf3 and White understandably resigned. 0–1

S.Mamedyarov (2772) – S.Karjakin (2754) Bucharest blitz 2019

64.2)

***
Hint: Throwing wood on the fire

Show/Hide Solution

21.Bxg7!

With Black’s pieces poorly coordinated and mostly passive, White takes the opportunity to strike
against Black’s king, which seems like it has been left to fend for itself.

21...Kxg7 22.f5!

Enter the rook!

22...exf5 23.Rxf5 Ne5

321
Or 23...Qxa2 24.Rdf1 and things are even worse for Black.

24.Rxe5 Bxe5 25.Qxe5+

White’s queen and knight are a terrifying combo of attacking power, especially with Black’s king
being as open as is the case.

25...Kf8

Or 25...Kg8 26.Qg3+ Kf8 27.Qf4 Qe2 28.Qxh6+ Ke7 29.Qf6+ Ke8 30.Qxc6+ Kf8 31.Qc5+ Kg7
32.Qe5+ Kf8 33.Qh8+ Ke7 34.Qf6+ Ke8 35.Rf1 and White is winning.

26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Qf6+ Kf8 28.Qxh6+ Ke7 29.Qf6+ Kf8 30.Ng5 and Black resigned. 1–0

V.Artemiev (2731) – A.Giri (2776) Bucharest rapid 2019

64.3)

***
Hint: Surprisingly uncoordinated

Show/Hide Solution

22.Nxb6! Rb8

322
Or 22...Qxb6 23.Qxb6 Bxb6 24.Rxc6 f6 25.Nd2 with an extra pawn for White and clearly better
chances.

23.Ng5!

Or 23.Qd5! Rxb6 24.Ng5 Nd8 25.Rxc5, transposing to a line covered below.

23...Nd8

If 23...Nf6 24.Rxc5 Rxb6 25.Rb5 Rxb5 26.Qxb5 and White should win without problems.

24.Qd5 Bxb6

Or 24...Rxb6 25.Rxc5 Qb7 26.Nf3 Ne6 27.Qxb7 Rxb7 28.Rc8+ and White is winning.

25.Qd6

Black’s pieces are paralyzed; the immediate threat is Qe7, followed by Qe8.

25...Bc5

If 25...Ba5 to play ...Bb4, then 26.Rc4 and White is winning.

26.Rxc5! Qxc5 27.Qxd7 Qb5 28.Qe7 and unable to stop the coming mate, Black resigned. 1–0

H.Gabuzyan (2616) – V.Akobian (2627) Saint Louis 2019

64.4)

323
 ***
Hint: Determine the weakness and then find the right strike

Show/Hide Solution

21.Rxb5!

The game continuation was 21.Qb4? Ra7 22.Bxb5+?! axb5 23.Qxb5+ Nd7 24.Rc3? (a further
mistake; White should instead have played 24.Qc6 when 24...Rxa3 25.Rxa3 0-0 would have kept the
chances more or less balanced) 24...f6?? (Black could have defended with 24...Kd8) 25.Rxc8+ Kf7
26.Rxh8 Qg2 27.Rf1 Qxc2 28.Bb2 Qxh2 29.Qe2 and Black resigned. 1-0 K.Sasikiran (2660) –
E.Van Haastert (2439) European Club Cup (Budva) 2019.

21.Rxb5! axb5 22.Qb4! Ra7 23.Qxb5+! Nd7 24.Qc5! and Black’s defense falls apart.

Set 65

65.1)

324
 *****
Hint: Surprisingly many holes

Show/Hide Solution

29.Nf5!

This sharp knight move, which threatens Nd6 is more challenging for Black to face than 29.Re2 Rce8
30.Rce1 which nevertheless promises White a clear advantage.

29.Nf5! Rcd8??

Natural but very bad as it allows White to finish with a beautiful tactical flurry. A better defense was
29...Ne8, also preventing White from playing Nd6. However, after 30.Qh6 Nc7 31.N3h4, White will
gain a strong initiative while Black struggles to coordinate his pieces, for instance, 31...Kg8 32.Qf4
Rcd8 (but not 32...Kh8 when 33.Nd6 wins for White) 33.b4 axb4 34.axb4 b5 35.Rc5 Ba8 (or
35...exf5 36.Nxf5 Kh8 37.Re7 Nxe7 38.Rxc7 and White is winning) 36.Nh6+ Kh8 37.Ng4 Qg7
38.Rec1 and White has a winning advantage.

30.Rxc6!

Now Black’s defense crumbles spectacularly.

30...Bxc6

325
Also 30...Qxc6 is met by 31.Ne5!.

31.Ne5! Qe8

Of course, the knight cannot be captured: 31...fxe5 32.Qxe5+ Kg8 33.Nh6#.

32.Ng6+!

Black resigned. The conclusion could have been quite stunning: 32.Ng6+ Kg8 33.Qh6 Rf7 (or
33...Qf7 34.Nfe7+) 34.Qg7+ Rxg7 35.Nh6#. 1–0

A.Esipenko (2636) – M.Harff (2362) European Club Cup (Budva) 2019

65.2)

****
Hint: What to do about the dark squares?

Show/Hide Solution

27.Nf5!

Black’s dark squares are hopelessly weak and very easy to exploit.

326
27...Rd7

The alternatives are not much better: 27...dxe4 28.Ne7+ Kh8 29.Qf6+ Qg7 30.Nxg6+ hxg6
31.Qxd8+ and White is winning or 27...Re8 28.Nh6+ Kg7 29.Rc7 Rxe4 30.Rxf7+ and White is
winning.

28.Nh6+ Kg7 29.Ng4!

Threatening Qh6+, forcing Black to protect his queen to allow for...Kh8.

29...Rd8 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Nh6+!

Winning the exchange.

31...Qxh6 32.Qxd8+ Kg7 33.Qf6+ Kg8 34.Rd6 and Black resigned, as there is no stopping Rd8. 1–0

O.Cvitan (2490) – J.Florstedt (2352) European Club Cup (Budva) 2019

65.3)

****
Hint: What to do about the king on h6?

Show/Hide Solution

327
28.Rxd8! Nxd8 29.Bc5!

This is the point of the exchange on the previous move: White starts a lethal attack against Black’s
king.

29...Re8 30.f3!

The black king is getting more and more naked by the move.

30...Nh2

Or 30...Nf6 31.Bd4! Rg8 32.Rg5! and White wins.

31.Bd7 Rh8 32.Bd4 Rh7?

This is bad, but let’s face it, Black is lost in any case. After the better 32...Nxf3, White is winning
after 33.Bg7+ Kh7 34.Bf5+ Kg8 35.Rg3.

33.f5 Ouch. Black resigned. 1–0

B.Villamayor (2371) – H.Pascua (2425) Pattaya 2019

65.4)

*****
Hint: Surprising weaknesses

328
 Show/Hide Solution

27...f3!

The game continued 27...Ne4 28.Bf3 Nd6 29.Re1 Rxc1 30.Rxc1 Bg6 31.Bg4 Kh7?? 32.Nd7 Ne4
33.Rc8! and Black resigned. 1–0 V.Anand (2757) – A.Korobov (2670) Bucharest blitz 2019.

27...f3! 28.Bb5 Ne4 29.Bd3

Or 29.Rxc7 Qxc7 30.Bc4 fxg2 31.d6 Rxd6 32.Rxd6 Nxd6 33.Bd5 Qc1+ 34.Kxg2 Qg5+ and Black is
much better.

29...Nxf2! 30.Kxf2 Bxd3 31.Rxc7 Qxc7 32.Rxd3 fxg2+ and Black is winning.

Set 66

66.1)

**
Hint: It looks easier than it is even if the target is obvious

Show/Hide Solution

329
26...Nxg4+!

Black easily rips White’s pawn structure apart.

27.fxg4 Re3!

Black also wins comfortably after 27...f3!? 28.g3 Re3 and Black’s attack crashes through, for
instance, 29.Qc2 Re2+, transposing to the game continuation.

28.Qc2 f3 29.g3 Re2+! 30.Nxe2

Or 30.Qxe2 fxe2+ 31.Ke1 Qxg4 32.Rg1 Qf3 and the game is over.

30...Qe3+! 31.Ke1 f2+ 32.Kf1 Qf3! 33.Rxh6 Ne3# Beautiful conclusion. 0–1

M.Coenen (2364) – D.Paravyan (2628) European Club Cup (Budva) 2019

66.2)

****
Hint: Clear the space for the invasion

Show/Hide Solution

330
23.Nc5!

White threatens Rd7. In the game, White missed his chance with 23.Qh4? Qe6 24.Rc4 Qf5?! 25.Qh6
Rd6 26.Nxf6+ (the computer claims an edge for White after 26.Rxd6 Ra1+ 27.Kg2 Bxe4+ 28.Rxe4
Qxe4+ 29.Kh3 Qf5+ 30.Kh4 Qg5+ and that is definitely a better chance than the game continuation)
26...Qxf6 27.Rg4+ Qg6 28.Rxg6+ hxg6 29.Rf1 Bf3 30.e4?? (30.h3 would have preserved an
interesting game, but the text move loses for White) 30...Rad2 31.Qe3 R6d3 32.Qxa7 Rd1 33.Qb8+
Kh7 and White resigned. 0-1 G.Harutjunyan (2423) – G.Karacsonyi (2302) Budapest 2019.

23.Nc5! Bc6

Alternatively, 23...f5, attacking White’s queen with the rook on b6, but after 24.Qh5 Bc8 (or 24...Bc6
25.Qxf5 with a clearly better position for White although White, of course, has to keep an eye on the
light squares) 25.Na4 Rb8 26.Nc3 Ra6 27.Nd5 and White is much better.

24.Rc4!

White can also consider 24.Qh5!?

24...Bf3 25.Ne6! Rxe6 26.Rc8+ Qe8 27.Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.Rc1 Ra6 29.h3! and White has a clear
advantage, but there is still a lot of work left to be done.

66.3)

**

331
 Hint: Once you find the right target the rest comes easy

Show/Hide Solution

25.Bxc6!

Through a series of precise moves, White will not only break Black’s barricade on the c-pawn, but he
will also eliminate Black’s bishop pair. In the game continuation, White missed his chance, and Black
got a good game, although White eventually won the game: 25.Bc2 Rb8 26.b3 Rb4 27.Bd3 Kg8
28.Qc1 a4?! (28...d4 is better for Black) 29.Qd2 Qb8 30.Bc2 axb3 31.axb3 Kh8? 32.Ne5 Bxe5
33.Nf7+ Kg8 34.Nxe5 Be8 35.Nd3 Rb5 36.b4 Qb7 37.Qc3 Qb8 38.Rb1 Qa7 39.Ne5 Qa2 40.Ra1
Qxa1+ and Black resigned at the same time. 1-0 BD.Deac (2618) – C.Peptan (2371) Bucharest blitz
2019.

25.Bxc6! Qxc6 26.Ne5!

This is the same tactical point White used in the game, only much later.

26...Bxe5 27.Nf7+ Kg8 28.Nxe5 Qc7 29.c6 and White has a clear advantage.

66.4)

***

332
 Hint: More than one way to the heart

Show/Hide Solution

29.Rxf6 gxf6 30.Qf5!

This is the best. In the Facebook group, several as well as White in the game continuation got
distracted by the «normal» 30.Rb3!? Ng5 31.Qxh6? (31.Rg3 is much better, still ensuring White a
large advantage) 31...Qh7 32.Qxf6 Nxe4 33.Qf4 Qg6 34.g4? Nf6 35.Bd4?? Nxd5! 36.Qf5 Rxe6
37.Qxd5 Qe4+ and White resigned. 0-1 F.Hujbert (2420) – G.Aczel (2515) Budapest 2019.

30...Ne5

Or 30...Ng5 31.Qg6+ Kh8 32.Qxf6+ Kh7 33.Qf5+ Kh8 34.Bd4+, winning for White.

31.Rb3!

With the knight on e5, the rook lift is much stronger as the knight can no longer jump to g5.

31...Qf7 32.Rg3+ Kh8 33.Rh3 Kg8 34.Qf4

Threatening Qxh6.

34...Rxe6 35.Rg3+! Kf8 36.Qxh6+ Ke8 37.Qh8+ Kd7 38.dxe6+

But not 38.Rg7? Re7 and Black is still fighting.

38...Qxe6 39.Rg7+ Nf7 40.Qf8 and Black is hopelessly lost.

Set 67

67.1)

333
 ****
Hint: Straight-forward invasion

Show/Hide Solution

41.Rd8! Be6

In the game, Black blundered with 41...Bd7?? and was promptly mated after 42.Qh8+ Kf7 43.Qg8#.
1-0 V.Artemiev (2731) – A.Giri (2776) Bucharest 2019. The text move is more challenging.

42.h4!!

But not 42.Qh8+?? Kg6, when White is only marginally better. White has another win, albeit a much
more complicated one: 42.g4!? Qe2 43.Rh8 Bg8 44.Qh6+ Kf7 45.g5 fxg5 46.Qxg5 Re8 47.Qf5+
Ke7 48.Qxe5+ Kd8 49.Qd6+ Kc8 50.Qg6 and White is winning. This line, however, is much more
complicated than is necessary. After our main move, White wins quickly.

42...Qb2 43.Qh8+ Kg6 44.h5+!

This is the point: White is attacking with three pieces now.

44...Kg5 45.Re8! Rxe8 46.Qxe8 and Black will get mated.

334
 67.2)

**
Hint: Simple targets, easy rewards

Show/Hide Solution

31.e5!

In the game, White continued less accurately: 31.Qg8? Qe5+?! 32.f4 Qe7 33.Rd3+? (33.h5!)
33...Rxd3+ 34.cxd3 b6? 35.h5 h6? 36.Kf3 Kd6 37.a3 c5?? 38.Qd5#. 1-0 JC.Ibarra Jerez (2538) –
M.Chigaev (2644) Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup 2019. Many mistakes in the endgame, but that’s what
happens in blitz games, even between strong players.

31.e5! fxe5 32.Qf8

32.Qg8 leads to the same type of position.

32...Rd6

Or 32...Qd5 33.Qxg7+ Kc8 34.Rxe5 Qd8 35.Qxh7 and White is winning.

33.Qf5+ Re6 34.Rd3+! Ke7 35.Qxh7 Kf6 36.h5! and White is winning.

335
 67.3)

***
Hint: Hard-hitting strikes

Show/Hide Solution

22...Na5!! 23.Nd4

The knight cannot be captured: 23.Nxa5 Rxc3+ 24.Kd2 Rc2+ 25.Ke3 Re8+ and White will get mated
in a few moves.

23...Nb3+!!

And White resigned as he will get mated by force, for instance, 23...Nb3+ 24.Nxb3 Rxc3+ 25.Kd2
Rc2+ 26.Ke3 Re8+ and mate is only a few moves away. 0–1

I.Van der Lende (2410) – C.Seel (2481) Belgian Team ch 2019

67.4)

336
 **
Hint: Improve your attacking force

Show/Hide Solution

17...Bd7!

Attacking the queen while clearing the g4–square for the knight to join the attack.

18.Qxa7?

Making matters worse, but even the better option 18.Qd1 loses, for instance, 18...Ng4+ 19.Kg1 Nd5
20.Ne1 Nge3 21.Bxe3 Nxe3 22.Qd2 Re8 23.Bf3 Bg4 24.Bxg4+ Nxg4 and Black’s pieces dominate
the board and White has no opportunity to change that.

18...Ng4+ 19.Kf1 Rxc1+ 20.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 21.Ne1 Qf4+ 22.Nf3 Qe3

Or 22...Nc6!

23.Ke1 Qc1+ and White resigned. Black has an extra piece, and the attack, White will not last much
longer. 0–1

A.Perez Candelas (2302) – A.Sorin (2401) Timbues 2019

337
 Set 68

68.1)

**
Hint: The reward isn’t always as big as we would like

Show/Hide Solution

21.Qd1!

This little retreat surprisingly deals very effectively with Black’s center.

21...Qc5?

The alternatives are not much better: a) 21...Nce5 22.Nxe5 Bxe5 23.Bxe5 Nxe5 24.Bxh7+ Kxh7
25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Qxe5 and White has effectively blocked the center pawns and rendered the light-
squared bishop out of play. b) 21...Qf7 22.Nxc4!, winning for White. c) 21...Nb6 22.Nxd5 Nxd5
23.Rxd5 exd5 24.Rxe7 Nxe7 25.Ba4 and White has a large advantage.

22.Nxd5 Bd4

Or 22...exd5 23.Rxd5 and White is winning.

23.Nc7! Rxf4

338
Or 23...Bxf2+ 24.Rxf2 Rxf4 25.Nxe8 and White is winning.

24.Nxe8 and Black resigned. 1–0

J.Lundin (2300) – E.Rozentalis (2547) European Club Cup (Budva) 2019

68.2)

****
Hint: Many apparent targets but no obvious way to exploit it, but there is a few…

Show/Hide Solution

17.d4! Qb8

Capturing the pawn does not work for Black: a) 17...Nxd4 18.Nd3 Qd6 19.e5 Qd8 20.f6 and White
is winning. b) 17...cxd4 18.Rc1 Bd7 19.Ng4 Qd6 20.Rxc6! Bxc6 21.f6! Bxf6 22.Ndxf6+ gxf6
23.Nxf6+ Kh8 24.Qh5 and White is winning.

18.Qh5

An interesting alternative is 18.Qa4! Bb7 19.Qxc6 Bxc6 20.Nxe7+ Kh8 21.Nxc6 Qb5 22.d5 with a
large advantage for White.

339
18...f6

Or 18...Bd8 19.f6 Nxd4 20.fxg7 Kxg7 21.e5 a5 22.Ne4 and White is winning

19.e5!

The game continued 19.Ng4?! Bb7? 20.e5 Kh8 21.Nf4 Qd8 22.Bd5 and Black resigned. 1-0
E.Moradiabadi (2552) – A.Sorokin (2513) Saint Louis 2019.

19...Bb7 20.Ng4 Qe8 21.Qh4 Qd8 22.Rae1 and White has a decisive advantage.

68.3)

*
Hint: A combination of threats is required

Show/Hide Solution

22.c5!

A straight-forward move that threatens Bb5, trapping the black queen.

22...Ba6??

340
Black should have played 22...Nxc5 23.Bxc5 (23.Bb5 is less convincing, e.g., 23...Qc7 24.Nxc7
Nxe4 25.Qd5 Rxc7 and Black is even better) 23...dxc5 24.Rb6 Bxb6 (24...Qxb6 25.Nxb6 Bxb6
26.Qb2 Rc6 27.Bc4 and White is clearly better) 25.Ne7+ Kh8 26.Nxc6 Bxc6 27.f3 and White has
the somewhat better chances. Worse is 22...dxc5? 23.Bb5 Qe6 24.Bxd7 Qxd7 25.Nf6+ and Black
can resign.

23.Bxa6 Qxa6 24.cxd6 Re8?! 25.Rfd1

White has a large advantage thanks to his passed pawn on d6.

25...a4 26.Qd3 Qa8 27.Qb5 Rc6 and Black resigned. 1–0

J.Hammer (2625) – T.Moreau (2345) European Club Cup (Budva) 2019

68.4)

***
Hint: Multiple threats to be combined

Show/Hide Solution

23.Qg3!

341
Threatens Nh6+!

23...Ra6

Black has to try to prevent the mentioned Nh6+ as a non-consequential move like 23...Ba6 gets
punished with 24.Nh6+ Kh8 25.Qxe5! (The point!) 25...Qxe5 26.Ngxf7+ Rxf7 27.Nxf7+ Kg8
28.Nxe5 and White is winning.

24.Ne6! Nf3+

Or 24...fxe6 25.Nh6+ with mate.

25.Rxf3! Qxg3 26.Nh6+!

An essential intermediary move.

26...Kh8 27.Nxf7+! Kg8

Or 27...Rxf7 28.Rd8+ and mate on the next move.

28.Nh6+! gxh6 29.Rxf8# Sweet. 1–0

S.Shankland (2679) – Mi.Stojanovic (2496) European Club Cup (Budva) 2019

Set 69

69.1)

342
 **
Hint: Enough holes?

Show/Hide Solution

23.Nc5+!

This is the most accurate. The game continued 23.bxc6+ Nxc6 (23...Kc8 24.Nc5) 24.Nc5+! bxc5
25.Ba5 Rxd2 26.Qb3+ Kc8 27.Bxc7 Rd4 28.Qb5 Rxc4+ 29.Kd1 e4?? (Black could have limited the
damage with 29...Rd4+ 30.Ke1 Bd7 and while better for White, Black is still fighting) 30.Qxc6 Rd4+
31.Ke1 Bd7 32.Qxc5 exf3 33.Bb6+ Kb7 34.Qc7+ Ka6 35.Bxd4 and Black resigned. 1-0
K.Leenhouts (2424) – G.Kjartansson (2454) European Club Cup Open (Budva) 2019.

23.Nc5+! bxc5 24.Ba5 Qc8

Giving up the queen like in the game continuation is now less attractive, for instance, 24...Rxd2
25.Bxc7 Rd4 26.Bxc6+ Nxc6 (or 26...Kxc7 27.Qxa7+ Kd6 28.Qxb8+) 27.Qa6+ Kxc7 28.Qxc6+
Kb8 29.Qxe6 and White has a large advantage.

25.bxc6+ Nxc6 26.Qa4 e4

Or 26...Rxd2 27.Qb5+ and it is curtains.

27.Bxe4 Rd6 28.Rb2+ Ka8 29.Bb6 Qd7 30.Bxc6+ Rxc6 31.Bxa7! and White is winning.

343
 69.2)

*****
Hint: Timely counterplay

Show/Hide Solution

29...g4!!

This is the only way for Black to generate sufficient counterplay to save the game. In the game, Black
quickly lost after 29...Rxe2+?? 30.Kf1 Rf2+ 31.Ke1 Bg6 32.Rg7+ and Black resigned. 1-0 T.Banusz
(2620) – K.Tarlev (2564) European Club Cup (Budva) 2019.

29...g4!! 30.Bxf8

After 30.Bxe3 Rxe2+ 31.Bf2 Rd2, Black is doing fine.

30...Bd5!!

A nasty move and once more the only one to save Black. The simultaneous threats against f3 and the
rook on b7 presses White to play accurately.

31.Kf1!

344
31.Ra7?? Bxf3+ 32.Kf1 Rd1# is embarrassing for White.

31...Bxb7 32.Rxb7 gxf3 33.exf3 Kxf8 and Black is not worse in the rook ending.

69.3)

*****
Hint: Combining many threats with the right kind of preparations

Show/Hide Solution

21...Qc6!

Threatens mate.

22.Re2

The queen can, of course, not be captured: 22.Nxc6 Bxe3+ 23.Rf2 Rd2 and White is toast.

22...Kb8!

The game continued: 22...f5 23.Qf3 (White’s best chance was to give up a piece with 23.Bxe6+ Qxe6
24.Rxf5 Bxd4+ 25.cxd4 Qd7 although this too is obviously better for Black) 23...Qb6! 24.Bxe6+

345
Kb8! 25.Qxf5 Rxd4 26.cxd4 Bxd4+ 27.Rff2 Qc6 and White resigned. A possibly continuation was
27...Qc6 28.Qe4 Qc1+ 29.Re1 Qc5 and White is finished. 0-1 Vl.Kovalev (2674) – D.Vocaturo
(2615) European Club Cup (Budva) 2019.

23.Ref2 Qb6!

This is more accurate than 23...Qc7 24.Rxf7 Qb6 when Black is only somewhat better.

24.Qxg5 Qc7! 25.Rxf7?

Or 25.Re1 Rdf8 when White is tied up on hand and feet. Black intends to follow up with ...Bd6.

25...Rxd4! and Black is winning.

69.4)

****
Hint: How long to wait to reap benefits?

Show/Hide Solution

20.Rxd5!

The bishop on d5 is a crucial piece in Black’s defensive set-up, and therefore the exchange sacrifice is

346
a natural reaction. With the rook on h8, White can almost be considered to be a piece up. The
remaining undeveloped white pieces are, by contrast, quickly mobilized.

20...Nxd5 21.e4

Kicking the knight away.

21...c4??

A blunder. A better defense was 21...Nc7 22.Bf4 c4 (or 22...Qe8 23.Rd1 Rc8 24.Nd7 c4 25.Qe3,
decisively threatening Qb6 or Nb6) 23.Nxc4 bxc4 24.Qxc4 Rb7 25.Bxc7 and Black is busted.

22.Qf3 Nf6 23.Bg5 Be7 24.Rd1!

White is plenty of time to attack. The immediate threat is Nd7.

24...Rb6 25.Bxf6! gxf6

Or 25...Bxf6 26.Nd7 and White is winning.

26.Qg4+ Black resigned as he will lose the rook on b6. 1–0

I.Ivanisevic (2598) – G.Kjartansson (2454) European Club Cup (Budva) 2019

Set 70

70.1)

347
 ****
Hint: Exploiting structural weaknesses can be a worthwhile investment

Show/Hide Solution

27...Bh3+!

This is the only way to take advantage of White’s open king properly. In the game, Black instead
chose 27...Qg4? 28.Kf2 b6 29.Be4? (29.Qe4 is okay for White) 29...Bc5+ 30.Rxc5 bxc5 31.Qa5 Qe6
32.Nd2 Qd6 33.Qc3 Nf8 34.Nf3?! Ne6 35.Ne5 Bb5 36.Bd3? and White resigned at the same time.
After 36...f6, Black wins easily. 0-1 G.Haag (2368) – Mi.Lazic (2409) European Club Cup (Budva)
2019.

27...Bh3+! 28.Kf2 Bc5+

Pushing the white king on the central files.

29.Ke2 Bb6!

Surprisingly, Black is in no hurry to demonstrate the superiority of his position, e.g., 29...Bg4 30.Be4
Bb6 31.Rd3 Nf8 and Black is clearly better.

30.Qh1

Or 30.Qd1 Bg4 31.Bxg6 fxg6 32.Qd3 Qxh2+ and Black is winning.

348
30...Ne7 31.Kd2 Ba5 and Black will win easily.

70.2)

****
Hint: Rocking the foundation of the defense

Show/Hide Solution

22.Nc5!

The game continued 22.Qxh7? f5 23.Ng3 Qxb2? 24.Rc2?? (24.Bxe6!) 24...Qd4 25.Rce2 Rd7
26.Bxe6 fxe6 27.Rxe6 Qc5 28.h4 Kd8 29.h5 Bd6 30.Qg6 Qd5 31.Nf1 Kc7 32.Ne3 Qa5 33.h6
Qxe1+ 34.Nf1 Qc3 35.h7 Rh8 36.Qh6 Rdxh7 and White resigned. 0-1 L.O.Hauge (2483) –
S.Ganguly (2658) Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup 2019.

22.Nc5! Qf5

Or 22...Qf4 23.Bxe6 Qg5 (23...fxe6 24.Nxe6 and White is winning) 24.Qxg5 fxg5 25.Bg4 with a
clearly better game for White.

23.Nxb7 Rd2

349
But not 23...Bxb7?? 24.Ba4+ and White wins, e.g., 24...Rd7 25.Qg3 Bc5 26.Red1 and it is game over
for Black.

24.Qg3 Qb5 25.Qf4

25.Qc3 is also good.

25...Qxb7 26.Rxc6! Rg8 27.Ba4 and White is winning.

70.3)

***
Hint: Where are the defenders?

Show/Hide Solution

25...Rxg3!

The beginning of a multilayered attack on White’s king.

26.Kxg3 Qd6+ 27.f4 e2!

Black distracts the defender of the f4–pawn, forcing it to take a sidestep in order not to allow the e-
pawn to queen.

350
28.Rg1 Re4

Threatening mate in two.

29.Qd2 Qf6!

In the game, Black instead chose 29...g5!? 30.hxg5 h4+ 31.Kg4?? (31.Kh2 Kg7 is clearly better for
Black, but the win is not immediately around the corner) 31...Be6+ 32.Kxh4 Rxf4+ 33.g4 Rxg4+ with
mate to follow. White resigned. 0-1 M.Socko (2417) – N.Batsiashvili (2422) European Club Cup
(Women) (Budva) 2019.

30.Rc8+ Kh7 31.Rc3 Rxd4! 32.Qc1 e1=Q+!

Another sacrifice, diverting a defender.

33.Rxe1 Qg6+ 34.Kf2 Qxg2+ 35.Ke3 Qe4+ 36.Kf2 Qf5 with ...Rxf4 to follow, winning easily for
Black.

70.4)

**
Hint: That open king makes a good target

Show/Hide Solution

351
26.Nd4!

Similarly effective is 26.Nf4 g6 27.Nd5+ Nxd5 28.exd5 when Black has blocked White’s advanced
passed pawns, but I do not believe that he will be able to maintain that blockade for the long term.

26.Nd4! exd4

Trying to stop the threat of Nb5 by playing 26...Ra5 does not hold up either, for instance, 27.Nb3 Ra7
28.Rd1 g6 29.Nc5 when Black is locked down in a defensive stance.

27.e5+!

The second point of the piece sacrifice: a full-blown assault on Black’s king.

27...Bxe5 28.Qf5+ Ke7 29.Rxe5+ Kf8 30.Re1 Re8 31.Qc5+ and Black resigned. 1–0

L.Jarmula (2466) – A.Kozak (2350) Warsaw 2019

Set 71

71.1)

***
Hint: The queen cannot attack by herself

Show/Hide Solution

352
18...Nf5!

A screwdriver move designed to exchange one of White’s defenders.

19.gxf5

Not capturing the knight does not help either, for instance, 19.Kg2?! Ne3+ 20.Bxe3 Rxe3 21.Qc1 (or
21.Qd2 Rd3 22.Qc1 f5 23.g5 h6 24.gxh6 Bxh6 25.Rf1 Ne4 and the penetration level is getting
critical) 21...Qe7 22.Qd2 Bxc3 23.Nxc3 Nd3 24.Nd1 Ne1+ and Black is much better.

19...Bxf5 20.Qd1 Bxh3+!

This is even stronger than the game continuation, which went 20...Nd3 21.Rh2 Nxb2 22.Qe1 Qe7
23.Kg1 Nxc4 24.Bc1 a6 25.Qd1 Bxc3 and White resigned. 0-1 I.Krush (2424) – R.Panjwani
(2450) New York 2019.

21.Rxh3

Or 21.Bg2 Nd3! and game over!

21...Qxh3+ 22.Bg2 Qd3 and Black has a decisive advantage.

71.2)

353
 **
Hint: How to open for that odd king on d7

Show/Hide Solution

18.Ne6!

The game continuation went: 18.Rc1 Rac8?? (A better defensive try was 18...Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Qh5+
20.Kg1 Qxd5 but Black’s vulnerable king will eventually decide the game in White’s favor, for
instance, 21.Rc5 Qd6 22.Qc3 Rhe8 23.Nb5 Qd1+ 24.Kh2 c6 25.Rc4 Qf3 26.Qd4+ Kc8 27.Nd6+
Kc7 28.Rc3 and White is winning) 19.Ne6 Qh5+ 20.Kg1 Nxd5 21.Nc5+ Kc6 22.Qf6+ Kb5 23.Qd4
Rhd8 24.Qa4+ Kb6 25.Nd7+ and mate on the next move. Black resigned. 1-0 M.Paragua (2496) –
H.Steingrimsson (2549) New York 2019.

18.Ne6! Qh5+ 19.Kg1 Rhe8

Or 19...fxe6 20.Qg7+ and Black gets mated.

20.Rc1 Nxd5 21.Nxc7 Qe5 22.Qxe5 Rxe5 23.Nxa8 and White is winning.

71.3)

**

354
 Hint: Combining attacks

Show/Hide Solution

18.Ne5! Qb6 19.Qh5!

White combines the threat against the pinned piece with an attack against Black’s king; with most of
Black’s pieces on the queenside, he cannot put up much resistance.

19...g6 20.Nxg6! fxg6

Even something desperate like 20...Bxa3 is coolly met by 21.Qh6 and Black is finished.

21.Bxg6 and Black resigned. White forces mate within a few moves. 1–0

I.Krush (2424) – L.Yudasin (2507) New York 2019

71.4)

**
Hint: Making the most of simple threats

Show/Hide Solution

355
11...e3!

The game continuation was 11...Ng4 12.Nc2 e3 13.f3 Nf2 14.Qc1 Nh3+ 15.Bxh3 Bxh3 16.Rd1?!
Rd8 17.Rxd8?? (17.Nba3 Rd2 is also highly unpleasant for White but nevertheless better than what
happened in the game) 17...Qxd8 18.a3 Bb2 19.Qe1 Bxa1 20.Nxa1 Nd4 21.Nc3 Qf6! 22.f4 Nxe2+!
23.Nxe2 Qc6 and White resigned. 0-1 Nguyen Anh Dung (2471) – N.Priasmoro (2495) Jakarta
2019.

11...e3! 12.f3 Nh5!

This move wins back the exchange if Black wants it, but that is not Black’s goal; he wants White to
keep placing his pieces on awkward squares and then mobilize his pieces for an attack.

13.Nc2 Bf5! 14.Nba3 Bb2!

Taking squares away from White’s queen.

15.Qe1

Or 15.Nb5 Rd8 16.Qb1 Bxa1 17.Qxa1 Bxc2 and Black is a piece up.

15...Bxa3 16.Nxa3 Qxa3 17.g4

Or 17.Qc3 Re8 and Black is in control of the game.

17...Nf4 18.gxf5 Qe7 and Black is dominating the board while White’s pieces are hopelessly passive.

356
 Show in Text Mode

Set 72

72.1)

*
Hint: Momentary disorganization is sometimes all it takes

Show/Hide Solution

18.Nh6+! Kh8

Necessary as 18...gxh6 19.Rxf6 is positionally unacceptable for Black.

19.Rxf6!

After the exchange sacrifice, Black has severe structural issues and great difficulties defending the
kingside.

19...gxf6 20.Qf3

Threatening mate in 1.

357
20...Kg7 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.Nf5+ Black resigned. Also 22.Qxd5 wins. 1–0

I.Nepomniachtchi (2773) – V.Anand (2757) Kolkata rapid 2019

72.2)

***
Hint: Returning the piece and be happy… or?

Show/Hide Solution

13...Nd4! 14.Qb1

After 14.cxd4 Qxd4, Black is threatening both the rook on a1 and to capture on e4, winning the h1
rook. A possible continuation is 15.Kf1 Qxa1 16.Kg2 Bh6 17.Bb2 Qxh1+ 18.Kxh1 Bxg4 with a
large advantage for Black.

14...Nf3+! 15.Ke2?

This only makes matters worse. However, the alternative is not without problems either: 15.Kf1
Nxd2+ 16.Bxd2 Qxd2 17.gxh5 Qxc3 18.hxg6+ Kg8 19.e5 fxg6 and Black is much better.

15...Qc8 16.gxh5 Qg4 17.hxg6+ Kg8

358
17...Kxg6 is even stronger, but the text move suffices to win.

18.Kf1 Nh4 19.Ke1? Ng2+ 20.Kf1 fxg6 21.Be2 Rxf2+ 22.Kxf2 Rf8+ 23.Kg1 Ne3+ and with mate
around the corner, White chose to resign. 0–1

D.Saduakassova (2505) – M.Antipov (2558) Selfoss 2019

72.3)

***
Hint: Black’s greatest weakness requires the right conditions

Show/Hide Solution

18.Rfe1!

White gives up two rooks for the queen as Black afterward struggles to guard his queenside pawns,
securing White a large advantage.

18...Qxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 20.Kh2 Ree8 21.Nb5!

This is the point. Now Black will not be able to stop White from picking off his queenside pawns.

21...Nb8?

359
Bad, but also 21...h6 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.Nxa7 Ra8 24.Qxc7 is quite unpleasant for Black.

22.Qb7 Ne4 23.Nxa7 and Black resigned. 1–0

A.Vaisser (2497) – C.Garcia Palermo (2421) World Senior (Bucharest) 2019

72.4)

***
Hint: Is the queen a distraction or the target?

Show/Hide Solution

26.Nf3!

This is the intended solution and also what White played in the game, but in the Facebook group, a
couple of solvers found a very strong alternative: 26.Rce1! Qxd2 (after 26...Qc5?, 27.Nf3 is lethal)
27.Bc1 Qc3 28.f5 Bh5 (on 28...h5, White plays 29.fxg6+ fxg6 30.Qg5 and Black will get mated, for
instance, 30...Rge8 31.Bxh5! and Black will not be able to resist for long) 29.f6 Nxf6 30.exf6 Nf5
31.Qxh5 Qxf6 32.Bxf5+ exf5 33.Rgf1 and White is winning.

26.Nf3! Qxf4

360
Or 26...Nf5 27.Ng5+ Kg7 28.Nxe6+! fxe6 29.Bxf5 Qf3+ 30.Kh2 Qe2+ 31.Rg2 Qxg2+ 32.Kxg2
Bxf5 33.Kh1 and White has a large advantage.

27.Rcf1

Here the game ended. A strong alternative is 27.Rce1 Nf5 (or 27...Bh5 28.Ref1 Bxg4 29.Rxg4 Qe3
30.Ng5+ and White wins) 28.Qf2 Ne3 29.Bc1 d4 30.Rxe3 dxe3 31.Bxe3 and Black’s queen is
trapped. A possible continuation to the game was 27.Rcf1 Nf5 28.Bxf5 Qxh4 29.Bxg6+ fxg6
30.Nxh4 and White is winning. 1–0

Ar.Minasian (2486) – F.Berend (2342) World Senior (Bucharest) 2019

Set 73

73.1)

***
Hint: How to attack when all your pieces are poorly coordinated?

Show/Hide Solution

25...d5!

Black not only opens for the queen on b8 to help threaten the capture of the f4–pawn, it also allows

361
Black to answer Bc3+ with ...d5–d4. After the text move, all of Black’s pieces spring to life, making
White’s king a bit unsafe on the central files.

26.cxd5?

Opening the position is not to White’s favor. The more solid 26.Rgf1 d4 27.Rf2 Bc8 is unpleasant and
unattractive for White, but the game continuation is worse.

26...Nxf4+ 27.Bxf4??

Natural, but making matters worse. According to the computer, White should have given up the
queen 27.Qxf4 Rxf4 28.Bc3+ Kg8 29.dxc6 Bxc6 and while much better for Black, White is still alive
for now.

27...Rxf4 28.Qxf4 Qxf4 29.dxc6 Ba6+! Ouch. White resigned as he faces heavy material losses. 0–1

J.Arizmendi Martinez (2517) – C.Ibarra Jerez (2540) Spanish ch (Marbella) 2019

73.2)

**
Hint: Combine the attacks

Show/Hide Solution

362
22.Nxe6! Rxe6

Or 22...fxe6 23.Rxg6+ Kf7 24.f5 e5 25.Bxh6 and White is winning.

23.f5

This is the point of the piece sacrifice on the previous move: Black’s kingside gets wide open.

23...Re5 24.fxg6!

White can also play 24.Bxh6, but the text move is considerably more powerful.

24...Bg7

Black’s position is collapsing rapidly. Also 24...Rcc5 comes up short, for instance, 25.Qh4 Rg5
26.Bxc5 dxc5 27.Rxg5 hxg5 28.Qxg5 Bg7 29.gxf7+ Kxf7 30.e5 and White is winning.

25.Bxh6! fxg6 26.Rxg6 Ne8 27.Bxg7

White can force mate faster with 27.Rf8+! Kxf8 28.Bxg7+ Kf7 29.Qh7 and Black’s king is not going
to last very long.

27...Nxg7 28.Rh6 and Black resigned. 1–0

K.Shanava (2491) – K.Haznedaroglu (2461) Konyaalti 2019

73.3)

363
 **
Hint: Is White about to lose a piece or does can he do something for himself?

Show/Hide Solution

17.Bg5!

In the game, White blundered with 17.Ne3?? c4?? (Black returns the favor immediately, instead
17...Rxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 would have offered Black a clear advantage) 18.Qxb7 Bxe4 (18...fxe4!)
19.Bxe4 (19.Qxc6!) 19...Rxe4 20.Qxc6 f4 21.Rd1 fxe3 22.Bxe3 Re5 23.Bd4 Rc8 24.Qxg6 Qg5
25.Qa6 Ree8 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.h4 Qe5 28.Qxa5 Rf8 29.Qxd5 and Black resigned. 1-0 M.Paragua
(2496) – H.Niemann (2436) New York USA 2019.
A good alternative to our main line is 17.Ncd6!? when 17...Qxd6!? is met by 18.Bf4 (18.Nxd6??
Rxe1+ wins for Black) 18...Qe6 19.Nf6+ Qxf6 20.Qxd5+ Kh7 21.Qxd3 with a clear advantage for
White.

17.Bg5! Bxc4

Or 17...hxg5 18.Nxc5 and Black is struggling to get his pieces to protect each other, for instance,
18...Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 Nce7 21.Rd1 and White has a large advantage.

18.Qxc4 hxg5 19.Nxc5 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 Nce7 21.Nxb7 and White has a large advantage.

364
 73.4)

**
Hint: Where is the hole?

Show/Hide Solution

18.Rxe6!

Once White overcomes the fear to voluntarily going into a pin, it becomes clear that capturing the
pawn will provide White more opportunities, not less.

18...d5

The alternatives are similarly unpromising: 18...Bd8 19.Rfe1 (19.f5 Bxe6 20.fxe6 is also better for
White) 19...Bxe6 20.Rxe6 d5 21.Qf3 and White has a clear advantage; all of his pieces are ideally
placed. Capturing the rook is worse: 18...Bxe6 19.Qxe6+ Rf7 20.f5 Qd7 21.Nd5 Raf8 22.Nxe7+
Qxe7 23.Qxe7 Rxe7 24.fxg6 and White is winning.

19.Kh1 b4 20.Bxg6!

The game continuation was 20.Qe3 Bxe6 21.Qxe6+ Rf7 22.Bxf6 bxc3? (a better defense was
22...Bxf6 although 23.Nxd5 Qd8 24.f5 is clearly better for White) 23.Be5 Qc5 24.f5 gxf5 25.Rxf5
Raf8 26.Rf3 and Black resigned as mate is right around the corner. 1-0 R.Kasimdzhanov (2660) –
P.Schreiner (2453) German Bundesliga (Deizisau) 2019.

365
20...Bxe6

Or 20...hxg6 21.Nxd5! Qd7 22.Bxf6 and White is winning.

21.Qxe6+ Kg7 22.Nxd5 Qd6 23.Qxd6 Bxd6 24.Bd3 and White is winning.

Set 74

74.1)

**
Hint: Where’s Black’s biggest weakness? Go for it!

Show/Hide Solution

21.Rc1!

White removes the defender of the e6 pawn.

21...Qd7 22.Rxc6 Qxc6

Black maintains the protection of the e6–pawn, so everything is okay, right?

23.Rc1!!

366
Nope!

23...Qxa4 24.Qxe6+ Rf7 25.Rc7! Qd1+

Or 25...Qe8 26.Rc8 Bd8 27.Qxe8+ Nxe8 28.Rxd8 and White should win.

26.Kg2 Qxd4??

Black should have defended with 26...Qg4 27.Rxe7 Qxe6 28.Rxe6 and White has an extra pawn and
the more active pieces.

27.Rc8+! Bf8 28.Rxf8+! Forcing mate. Black resigned. 1–0

H.Niemann (2436) – L.Yudasin (2507) New York 2019

74.2)

***
Hint: Blitz attack!

Show/Hide Solution

31...Qd1+! 32.Kg2

367
Or 32.Kh2 fxg3+ 33.fxg3 Rxb2+! 34.Nxb2 Rf2+ 35.Ng2 Rxg2+ 36.Kxg2 Ne3+ 37.Kf2 Qd2+
38.Kg1 Qg2# Nice!

32...Ne3+ 33.fxe3 Rxb2+

Black forces mate, whereas 33...Qe2+ 34.Kg1 Qd1+ leads nowhere.

34.Nxb2 f3+ 35.Nxf3 Qxf3+ and with a mate in 2 looming, White resigned. 0–1

S.Vidit (2722) – I.Nepomniachtchi (2773) Kolkata blitz 2019

74.3)

***
Hint: Look for a can opener

Show/Hide Solution

18...Nh5! 19.Nf1 Nxg3

In the game, Black played the tempting 19...Nhf4 20.gxf4 Nxf4 21.Qc2 Bxh3 22.Bh1?? (White
should have defended with 22.Bxh3 Nxh3+ 23.Kh2 Qf6 24.Kxh3 Qxf3+ 25.Kh2 when White is still
in the game) 22...Qg6+ 23.Kh2 Bxf1 24.Rxf1 Qh5+ 25.Kg3 Qh3#. 0-1 D.Belenkaya (2302) –

368
V.Gunina (2509) European ch blitz (women) (Monaco) 2019.

20.Nxg3 Nf4 21.Qf1 Bxb3

White is a piece up but all of his pieces are terribly passive whereas Black pieces are dominating the
board.

22.Nd2 Be6! 23.Reb1 Rad8 24.Bc1 Rd3! 25.Kh1 Red8 and Black has a decisive advantage.

74.4)

*****
Hint: Surprising resources

Show/Hide Solution

17...Qxe5!!

In the game, Black went wrong and soon lost after 17...Nxe5? 18.Qxe5 Bd6 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Qxe6+
Be7 21.Bxg6+ Kd8 22.Bf4 Rb8 and Black resigned at the same time. 1-0 R.Pruijssers (2557) –
M.Bosboom (2410) Dutch ch blitz 2(Amstelveen) 2019.

17...Qxe5!! 18.Qxe5 Nxe5 19.Rxe5 Rh4!

369
This is the point: all of a sudden, White is struggling to keep everything adequately guarded.

20.Be2 Nxg4 21.Nf3 Rd8!

Or 21...Bxf3 22.Bxf3 Nxe5 23.Bxa8 Nxc4 with chances to both sides.

22.Nxh4 Nxe5 23.Be1 Bg5! 24.b5 axb5 25.Nxb5 f5 and Black has the better chances.

Set 75

75.1)

*
Hint: Structural issues

Show/Hide Solution

16.Bf4! e5 17.Bg5!

The exchange of the dark-squared bishop will leave Black with some long-term structural issues.

17...Bxg5 18.Nd6+ Ke7

Or 18...Kf8 19.Qf5 Bf6 20.Nxb7 Nb6 21.Na5 bxa4 22.Rdc1 with a positional disaster for Black.

370
19.Qb3!

The game continued 19.axb5 axb5 20.Nxb5 Qd8 (20...Qb8 21.Rxa8 Bxa8 22.Bxc6 Rd8 23.Bxa8
Qxa8 24.h4 Bf6 25.Qc4 Qb8 26.Qb4+ Ke8 27.Nd6+ Ke7 28.Nb7+ Ke8 29.Qe4 Nf8 30.Nxd8 Bxd8
31.b4 when White is somewhat better but Black is, of course, far from lost) 21.Rxa8 Qxa8 (Or
21...Bxa8 when both 22.Bh3 and 22.Bxc6 Bxc6 23.Qxc6 Qc8 24.Qd5 win for White) 22.Rxd7+
(This is stronger than the game continuation 22.Qf5 Rd8 23.Qxg5+ Kf8 24.Nd6 Nf6 25.Qxe5 Ne8
26.Qc5 Kg8 27.Rd3 Qa1+ 28.Bf1 Qxb2 29.Nxb7 Rxd3 30.Qxc6 and Black resigned. 1-0 L.Van
Wely (2610) – J.Smeets (2596) Dutch rapid ch (Amstelveen) 2019) 22...Kxd7 23.Bh3+ Ke8
24.Nc7+ and it is curtains for Black.

19...Rhf8 20.Qa3 and Black can resign.

75.2)

***
Hint: Geometrical issues

Show/Hide Solution

21...Nxe4! 22.Nxe4

A better try was 22.fxe4 although Black is much better after 22...Rdxc3 23.Bd8 Qc5 24.Bb6 Bxe4+

371
25.Qxe4 Qxb6 26.Qa8+ Rc8 27.Qe4 Rb3 and Black has a big plus.

22...Rxf3 23.Rxf3

Or 23.Re2 Bxe4 24.Rxe4 Rf2+ and it is game over for White.

23...Rxe4 24.Bf4 Re2+ 25.Kh3 Bxf3 26.Qe7 Rxh2+! 27.Kxh2 Qf2+ 28.Kh3 Qg2+ 29.Kh4 Qh2+
and with mate on the next move, White resigned. 0–1

M.Socko (2417) – E.Solozhenkina (2314) European rapid ch women rapid (Monaco) 2019

75.3)

***
Hint: King safety issues

Show/Hide Solution

20.Bh5!

Or 20.Rxg7+ Kxg7 21.Qc3+ Kg8 22.Bh5 Nh4 23.Nf2 Re8 24.g3 Nf5 25.Ng4 and White has a
strong attack.

20.Bh5! Nh8

372
The alternatives were: 20...Ne5 21.Nxe5 Rxe5 22.Qd3 or 20...Nf8 21.Rxg7+ Kxg7 22.Qc3+ Kg8
23.Rf7 and it is game over for Black.

21.Rxg7+ Kxg7 22.Qc3+!

The game continued 22.Nxc5? dxc5 23.Bxc5 Rxc4 24.Bf8+? (24.b4!) 24...Kg8 25.d6 Be6?
(25...Qb6+! would have been clearly better for Black) 26.Bxh6 Nf7?? 27.Qd3 Ne5 28.Qg3 Qxd6??
29.Qxg5+ and Black resigned. 1-0 V.Gunina (2509) – M.Michna (2366) European rapid ch women
(Monaco) 2019.

22...Kg8 23.Nf2 Rh4 24.Bd2

But not 24.Qc2? Qe7 and Black is back in the game.

24...Rxh5 25.Ne4 and Black is completely busted as there is no good way of stopping Nf6+.

75.4)

**
Hint: Coordination issues

Show/Hide Solution

373
20.b4! Ba4

The alternatives also come up short: 20...Ne6 21.b5; or 20...Na4 21.Rad1 dxc4 22.e6 Rxe6 23.Rxe6
fxe6 24.Ne5 and White is winning in both cases.

21.Qd2 Ne4 22.Qxd5 Bc6

Or 22...Nxg5 23.Nxg5 Re7 24.Qd4, followed by Qh4 and White is winning.

23.Qd4 Nxg5 24.Nxg5 Qd8 25.Qh4 Qd3 26.e6 Kf8 27.e7+ and Black resigned. 1–0

A.Muzychuk (2543) – P.Guichard,P (2407) European rapid ch women (Monaco) 2019.

Set 76

76.1)

**
Hint: Find the key to open the door to the king

Show/Hide Solution

24.Qd3!

374
Threatens mate, so Black’s response is forced.

24...Nf6 25.Bxf4! exf4 26.Rxe7!

The rook can’t be recaptured because of Ng6+, forking the king and queen.

26...fxg3

Or 26...Be8 27.Ngf5 and White saves both rook and knight and is winning.

27.Qxg3!

In the game, White blundered with 27.Qg6?? Qxe7 and then resigned. A cold shower after the being
completely winning. 0-1 R.Pruijssers (2557) – J.Van Foreest (2632) Dutch blitz ch (Amstelveen)
2019.

27...Ng4 28.hxg4 Bxa1 29.Qe3! Bg7 30.Qe4! and White wins.

76.2)

**
Hint: Locate the weakness, then find a way to use it

Show/Hide Solution

375
33...Rxf1+!

With an exact sequence of moves, Black penetrates White’s position, winning material.

34.Kxf1 Qd1+ 35.Qe1 Qd3+!

White resigned at this point. A possible continuation was 35...Qd3+ 36.Qe2 Qxh3+ 37.Ke1 Nf3+
38.Kd1 Qh1+ 39.Kc2 Nd4+, winning easily for Black. 0–1

J.Cox (2306) – S.Grover (2508) London 2019

76.3)

***
Hint: Creating discoordination between the defenders

Show/Hide Solution

19...h2+!

The game continued 19...Ng4!? 20.Rf3?? (White should have played 20.Bf3 Nxe3 21.cxd5 Qf6
22.Na4 when Black is clearly better but White at least has survival chances) 20...dxc4?? (20...Qh4!
wins) 21.Rxh3 Qf6 22.Rd1? (22.Ne4!) 22...Qg6 23.Rg3? (23.Bg2!) 23...Rxe3 24.Rg2 Rh3 (24...Rd3!

376
wins on the spot) 25.Nce2 Qh7 26.Ng3 Rd8 27.Qe2 Re8 28.Qxc4 Rxg3 and White resigned. 0-1
L.Vrolijk (2462) – J.Van Foreest (2632) Dutch Blitz ch (Amstelveen) 2019.

19...h2+! 20.Qxh2

Or 20.Kg2 Qh4 21.fxe5 Bh3+ 22.Kf3 Rxe5 and Black is winning, White king will not survive for
long.

20...Ng4 21.Qg3

The alternatives are not any better: 21.Qg2 Nxe3 22.Qd2 Nxf1 (22...Qf6) 23.Rxf1 Bh3 or; 21.Qd2
Rxe3 22.Bf3 Qh4 23.Na4 Rd3 and Black is winning in both cases.

21...Rxe3 and Black is winning.

76.4)

***
Hint: Making traditional means work perfectly

Show/Hide Solution

18...d5!

377
Black cracks open the center and threatens ...Qg3+. A reasonable alternative is 18...hxg5 19.hxg5 d5
and Black is doing very well.

18...d5! 19.Qe1

White cannot accept the piece sacrifice: 19.gxf6 Qg3+ 20.Kf1 Bxf6 21.Qe1 Qh3+ 22.Kg1 dxe4
23.Bf1 Qf5 and White is busted.

19...hxg5

In the game, Black continued 19...dxe4 20.gxf6 exf3 21.fxe7 fxe2 22.Nxe2 Qxe7 23.Qg3 Nxh4
24.Bxb6 Nf5 (or 24...Nf3+ 25.Kf1 e5 26.Be3 Qe6 and Black has the better chances) 25.Qf4? (White
could have limited Black’s advantage with 25.Qg4 Ba8 26.Bf2 Qb7 27.Qh3 Qxb2 28.Re1 and while
Black is better, White is still in the game) 25...Qf6 26.Rc3? (26.Qf2 was best) 26...e5 27.Qf2 Re6
28.c5 Qg5+ 29.Ng3 Rg6 30.Rdd3 Be4 31.Re3 Nxg3 32.Rxg3 Qh5 and White resigned. 0-1
O.Terletsky (2302) – V.Vetoshko (2497) Lviv 2019.

20.hxg5

Or 20.cxd5 g4 (or 20...Bc5 21.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 22.Qf2 gxh4 (22...g4!?) 23.Qxc5 Rxc5 with a good game
for Black) 21.dxe6 gxf3 22.exf7+ Kxf7 23.Bxf3 Qe5 and Black has the clearly better chances.

20...Nh5 21.cxd5 Ngf4 22.Bf1 Qe5 23.d6 Bxd6 24.Rxd6 Qxd6 and Black has the much better
chances.

Set 77

77.1)

378
 ****
Hint: Rapid strikes

Show/Hide Solution

20.Bh7+!

This is, by far, White’s best move. Interestingly, for a while, my computer gave preference to 20.Kf2,
preparing White’s assault. However, as seen in the game continuation, that kind of preparation is
completely unnecessary.

20.Bh7+! Kh8 21.Rxg7!

In the Facebook group, several got tempted by intending to meet 21...Re7 with 22.Rxf6, but Black
instead plays 21.Qg6?? Qxg3!! 22.Qxg3 Kxh7 (21...Re7 22.Rxf6) and Black is probably not worse.

21...Qh1+

Or 21...Kxg7 22.Qg6+ Kh8 23.Rxf6 Qe5 (ugly but necessary) 24.Bxe5 dxe5 25.Rf3 and White is
winning.

22.Kf2 Kxg7 23.Qg6+ Kh8 24.Bg8!

But not 24.Rxf6?? Qh4+ 25.Kg1 Rxf6 and Black survives and then some!

379
24...Re7

Or 24...Bxg8 25.Rg4! with a forced mate.

25.Rxf6 Qh4+ 26.Kg1 and Black resigned. 1–0

E.Iturrizaga (2597) – V.Topalov (2736) Salamanca 2019

77.2)

***
Hint: Making investments in worthwhile matters

Show/Hide Solution

24...Bg4!

Black gives up two rooks for the white queen and to grab the initiative.

25.Qxd8 Rxd8 26.Rxd8+ Kh7 27.Nxg4

This appears necessary as Black is threatening ...Be2, for example, after 27.Rd4 Be2. Also, 27.g3 Qf3
28.Nxg4 Qxg4 29.f3 Qg5 30.Rd3 Nc5 gives Black an advantage as Black’s queen+knight combo is
superior to White’s rooks+bishop combo.

380
27...Qxg4 28.f3

Alternatively, White can also consider 28.Rdd1, but after 28...Ng5 29.Kh1 (or 29.Rc1? Nh3+ 30.Kh1
Nf4 and Black is winning.) 29...Qxc4 30.f4 Ne6 31.Bc1 Nc5 and Black has the much better chances
thanks to Black connected passed pawns on the queenside.

28...Qg5 29.Rd3 Nc5 30.f4 Qf5 31.Rd6

The alternatives are: a) 31.Rdd1 Qc2 32.Bc1 Nd3 and Black is winning. b) 31.Rdf3 Qc2 (or 31...Nd3
32.Bd4 Qe4 33.Bxa7 b3 34.h3 b2 and Black should win) 32.Bd4 Nd3 (or 32...Qxc4 33.Bxc5 Qxc5+
34.Kh1 Qxa5 and Black is winning) 33.Bxa7 b3 34.Bd4 Qxc4 and Black is much better.

31...Nd3 32.Bd4 c5

Black is winning after 32...Nxf4 33.Kh1 Qg4 34.Rg1 Ne2.

33.Be3 Qe4 34.Rf3 b3 and White resigned. 0–1

O.Zujev (2316) – A.Smirnov (2573) London 2019

77.3)

***
Hint: How to make a hole

381
 Show/Hide Solution

27.Ng4!

Several in the Facebook group were tempted by 27.g4?? but that is a non-starter and Black wins after
27...cxd4 28.Rxd4 (or 28.e6 dxe3 29.exf7+ Kh8 30.Qa1+ d4 31.Rxd4 Qe5+ and Black is winning)
28...dxc4 29.Rxd8 Qxe5+ 30.Ng3 Rxd8 31.Nxc4 Qe7 32.Bxb7 Qxh4+ (32...Qxb7; 32...b5) 33.Kg2
b5 and Black wins.

27.Ng4! h5

If 27...gxf5, then 28.Nf6+ Kg7 29.Qxf5 leads to mate.

28.Ngh6+!

Or 28.Nf6+ Kh8 29.e6! and Black’s position falls apart.

28...Bxh6 29.Nxh6+ Kg7 30.Nxf7! Rf8

Or 30...Kxf7 31.Rf1+ Kg7 32.Rf6 and Black is without defense.

31.Nd6 Rf2 32.Rf1 Rcf8 33.Rxf2 Rxf2 34.Rf1 Rc2 35.Rf7+ Kg8 36.Qf1 and Black is toast. Having
all of the pieces stuck on the queenside with no chance of returning to the kingside to assist in defense
of the king certainly became a problem. Black resigned. 1–0

J.Granda Zuniga (2644) – S.Slipak (2384) Buenos Aires 2019

77.4)

382
 ***
Hint: Where is the reward? Is there a reward?

Show/Hide Solution

31...Rg4!!

A very clever move, Black has to know when to call it quits and recover the sacrificed material. In the
game, Black instead continued with 31...f5?? 32.Qb3+! (This is possibly the move that Black had
overlooked) 32...Kh7 33.Rh1 Qg4 34.Qf7 and Black resigned. 1-0 M.Mis (2328) – K.Pacan-Milej
(2315) Polish U20 ch (Ustron) 2019.

31...Rg4!! 32.Rc4

Other moves are also met with 32...Qg5!.

32...Qg5 33.Kh1

Running away with the king is only causing headaches for White: 33.Kf1?? h4 34.Ne2 Qf5 35.Ke1
(35.Ng1 Rg3) 35...Rg2 36.Rdd4 Qf3 and Black is winning.

33...Qh4+ 34.Kg1 Qg5 with a draw.

383
 Set 78

78.1)

**
Hint: Combining threats

Show/Hide Solution

20.f3! Nd6 21.c5 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 Black resigned as saving the knight means losing the queen which
is trapped on a2. 1–0

N.Delgado Ramirez (2628) – Y.Santiago (2479) Buenos Aires 2019

78.2)

384
 *
Hint: Strike or preparation?

Show/Hide Solution

23...h6!

Reducing the activity of the white pieces is a good first step, though it should be said that Black has
an excellent, albeit not as good, alternative in 23...Nxg3!?, for instance, 24.fxg3 Qxg3+ 25.Kf1 h6
26.Ne4 Qh3+ 27.Ke2 and now 27...e5 is best whereas 27...Ne7 looks promising but probably isn’t as
good. This, however, is an unnecessary discussion as the text move is much better and not more
complicated.

23...h6! 24.Ne4 f5!

Forcing the knight to retreat further.

25.Ned2

A better choice for White was 25.Nc3, although in that case too, Black has 25...f4 with a considerable
advantage.

25...Nxg3

Here White resigned, which is understandable, for instance, 25...Nxg3!? 26.fxg3 (26.c5 is possibly

385
better, but that too does not inspire too much confidence either, e.g., 26...Qf4! 27.Bc4 Qxe3 28.fxe3
bxc5 and Black has a substantial advantage) 26...Qxg3+ 27.Kf1 Nxd4 28.Bxd4 Rxd4 and White is
utterly busted; However, best is 25...f4! 26.gxf4 Qxf4 27.Qxf4 Nxf4 when Black has a decisive
advantage. 0–1

J.Granda Zuniga (2644) – A.Hoffman (2441) Buenos Aires 2019

78.3)

**
Hint: Open the barn

Show/Hide Solution

21...Nfxe4! 22.fxe4 Nxe4 23.Nd2

White’s problem is that 23.Rxe4 is not possible on account of 23...Qf1#.

23...Nxg3+ 24.Kg2

Or 24.hxg3 Rxe1+ 25.Kg2 Qc5 26.Nf3 Re3 and Black is winning.

24...Qc5!

386
The game continued in a less accurate fashion: 24...Qf4?? 25.Rxe8+?? (White should have played
25.hxg3 Qxd6 26.Nce4 and while slightly worse, she is still firmly in the game) 25...Rxe8 26.Qd3
Nf5 27.Rd7 Ne3+ 28.Kh1 Qg4 and White resigned. 0–1 N.Dzagnidze (2502) – K.Lagno (2549)
Monaco 2019.

25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.hxg3 Qxd6 27.Nce4 Qd5 and Black is much better, for instance, 28.Bxg7 Kxg7
29.Qb2+ Kh6 30.Kf2 f5 and Black is on the path toward victory.

78.4)

*
Hint: Hit where it hurts

Show/Hide Solution

13.Nxh7! cxd4??

Accepting the sacrifice was Black’s only option when wanting to stay in the game, but 13...Kxh7
14.h5 (Now it gets drafty around Black’s king) 14...Kg7 15.hxg6 fxg6 (Or 15...Bg5 16.Rh7+ Kg8
17.Qh2 fxg6 (17...Qf6 18.g7 and White wins) 18.Rh8+ Kf7 19.Qh7+ Ke8 20.Bb5+ Bc6 21.Qxg6+
and White is winning) 16.Qh6+ Kf7 17.Qh7+ Ke8 18.Bb5+ Bc6 19.Qxg6+ Kd7 20.Bxc6+ Nxc6
21.Nxd5 Qe8 22.Qg4+ Kd8 23.dxc5 and White is winning, although some precision is still required.

387
14.Qh6 and Black resigned as there is no reasonable way to meet the threat of Ng5, followed by
Qh7#. 1–0

P.Iniyan (2497) – A.Suarez Uriel (2381) El Prat 2019

388
Show in Text Mode

Chapter 6
Sets 79-94

Set 79

79.1)

389
 *
Hint: Creating threats

Show/Hide Solution

16.Nh5! Qe7 17.Qxd7! Qxd7 18.Nef6+ Kh8 19.Nxd7

White has a very large advantage.

19...Re8 20.Rfe1 exd5 21.cxd5 Ndf7 22.Ndf6 Red8 23.Rac1 Rac8 24.Bc4 c6 25.dxc6 Rxc6 26.Bxf7
Nxf7 27.Rxc6 Bxc6 28.Nxg4 Rd2 29.h3 Rc2 30.a3 Black either resigned or lost on time. 1–0

Z.Kozul (2590) – V.Bukal jr (2393) Zagreb 2019

79.2)

390
 **
Hint: Can opening

Show/Hide Solution

24.c5! Bf8

Capturing the pawn is not an option, e.g., 24...Bxc5 25.Nd3 Rxd3 26.Qxd3 and White has won the
exchange and is much better.

25.c6 b6?

Or 25...Rd5 26.cxb7 Qxb7 27.Rc4 and White has a large advantage.

26.Nxf7!

Black resigned as 26.Nxf7 Qxf7 27.Bxf6 gxf6 28.c7+ Qxc7 29.Rxc7 Kxc7 30.Rc4+ is pretty
hopeless for Black. 1–0

A.Puranik (2580) – P.Mascaro March (2381) El Prat 2019

79.3)

391
 *****
Hint: The right mobilization

Show/Hide Solution

22...Rf7!!

This sneaky move is incredibly strong and not easy to spot. In the Facebook group, several were
tempted by 22...a4 but after White’s 23.Rc3, Black is only slightly better.

22...Rf7!! 23.Kb1

Note that White cannot capture the pawn on a5: 23.Qxa5?? Nb3+!, winning.

23...a4! 24.Rd4

Or 24.Qe2 Rb7 25.Qe3 Qb6 26.Qd4 Rcb8 27.Ka1 Qa5 28.Qc3 Rb4 29.Ra2 Qb6 and White is slowly
but surely being crushed positionally.

24...Rb7 25.Qe2 Rcb8 26.c4

The alternatives are similarly awful 26.Ra2 a3!; or 26.c3 Qh4! and Black is winning in both cases.

26...Rxb2+

Black can also play 26...Qa5 27.cxd5 Rxb2+ 28.Qxb2 Qe1+ 29.Ka2 Rxb2+ 30.Kxb2 Qxf1 31.dxe6

392
Qxg2+ and Black is winning.

27.Qxb2 Rxb2+ 28.Kxb2 Qb6+ 29.Kc2 Qb4 and White resigned. 0–1

E.Dominguez Pons (2390) – Mat.Bartel (2634) El Prat 2019

79.4)

***
Hint: Straight for the gut

Show/Hide Solution

19...Nexc3!

19...Naxc3! leads to the same position.

19...Nexc3! 20.bxc3 Nxc3 21.Nc6

Or 21.Rbc1 Nxd1 22.Rxd1 Rc3 23.Nc2 Rxd1+ 24.Bxd1 Rd3 25.Ne3 a5 26.Kf1 Ra3 and Black
should win.

21...Nxd1 22.Nxd8 Nc3 23.Rb3

393
If 23.Rc1?? then 23...Ne2+ 24.Bxe2 Rxc1+ 25.Bf1 a5 and Black is winning.

23...Nd5! 24.Kf1 Rxd8

Black has two extra pawns and a significant advantage.

25.a4 bxa4 26.Ra3 Nb6 27.Rc3 Rd4 28.Rc7 g6 29.Ra7 a3 30.Rxa6 Ra4 and White resigned. 0–1

W.So (2767) – V.Artemiev (2746) Speed Challenge 2019 INT 2019

Set 80

80.1)

***
Hint: Is the queen trapped or is it another distraction?

Show/Hide Solution

21...Nc5! 22.Nb5

This is the only move that saves White’s queen. If White tries other things, he will not get enough
wood for the queen, for instance, 22.Red1 Ra8 23.Qxa8 Bxf2+ 24.Kxf2 Qxa8 25.Rd4 Rd8 26.Rad1 or
22.Rad1 Ra8 23.Rxd4 Qxd4 (23...Rxa7 also wins material and leaves Black with a large, probably

394
winning, advantage) 24.Qxb6 Rfb8 25.Qc6 Ra6 26.Qf3 and Black is winning.

22...Bxf2+ 23.Kxf2 Nd3+ 24.Kg1 Nxe1 25.Rxe1 Qd2 26.Rb1

Or alternatively 26.Rf1 Qe3+ 27.Kh2 Rc1 28.Bc4 (or 28.Rxc1 Qf4+ 29.Kg1 Qxc1+ 30.Kh2 Qf4+
31.Kh1 Qf1+ 32.Kh2 Qxb5 and Black is winning) 28...Qe5+ 29.Kh1 Qf4!, winning for Black.

26...Rc1+ 27.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 28.Kh2 Qf4+ and White resigned. 0–1

K.Wang (2416) – T.Ringoir (2501) Charlotte 2019

80.2)

**
Hint: Playing for checkmate

Show/Hide Solution

20...Nxc5!

20...Nb6!?, threatening ...Bxh3, and after 21.Nh2 Nc4 22.Qd3 Nxd2 23.Qxd2 f3! 24.gxf3 Be6 and
Black has a large positional advantage: better pawn structure, bishop pair, and better-coordinated
pieces.

395
20...Nxc5! 21.Qxc5?

This makes matters worse but also 21.Rg1 Bxh3 (21...Na6 followed by ...Bxh3 also is sufficient)
22.Nh2 Rad8 is quite terrific for Black.

21...Bxh3 22.Bxf4

Nothing works for White, e.g., 22.Nh2 Bxg2+ 23.Kxg2 Bf8+; or 22.gxh3 Qxf3+ 23.Kh2 Rad8, in
both cases Black wins easily.

22...b6!

Black kicks the white queen away from the fifth rank and from pinning the f4–pawn. The game
continued: 22...Raf8? 23.Nh2?? (23.Bg3! Bxg2+ 24.Kxg2 Qxf3+ 25.Kg1 Bf6 26.Rc2 and White is
still alive) 23...Bxg2+! 24.Kxg2 Rxf4 25.Qe3 Bh6+ 26.Qg3 Rh4 27.Nf3 Bxc1 28.Nxh4 Qxh4 and
White resigned. 0-1 V.Blesic (2369) – B.Maksimovic (2378) Paracin 2019. Black could also play
22...Bxg2+ 23.Kxg2 b6! 24.Rh1 Qg4+ and Black is winning.

23.Qc4 exf4 and Black is winning easily.

80.3)

**
Hint: Poor coordination

396
 Show/Hide Solution

30...Rxf5!

The game continuation was 30...Nxf5?, and here the game was scored as a win for Black, 0-1,
S.Duran Vega (2372) – Lee Jun Hyeok (2404) Paracin 2019, but that seems a little strange as White
is not worse after 31.Nxe4 Rxe4 32.Rxf5 Bxd4 33.Bxd4 Rxd4 34.Rxf6 gxf6 35.Qxd4 Qxg3+ with a
perpetual check.

30...Rxf5! 31.Rxf5 Bxd4! 32.Qxd4 Qxg3+ 33.Kh1 Nxf5

Or 33...Qxh3+ 34.Kg1 Qg3+ 35.Kh1 Nxf5 36.Qd2 Qh3+ 37.Kg1 Ng3 and Black is winning.

34.Rxf5 Qxh3+ 35.Kg1 Qxf5 36.Nxe4 f6 and Black should win.

80.4)

***
Hint: Increase ability to mobilize

Show/Hide Solution

397
24.e5!!

White sacrifices a pawn that can now be captured in three different ways, but none of them work for
Black.

24...fxe5

The main alternative is 24...dxe5, but this is brilliantly refuted by 25.Qf2!, threatening Nf5+, forcing
25...exd4 when 26.Qxf6+ Kd7 27.Rxd4+ Kc7 28.Rc4 simply wins for White. The other alternatives
are equally hopeless: 24...Kd7 25.Qe4 a4 26.Qb7+ Qc7 27.Qb5+ Kc8 28.exd6 and 24...Qxe5
25.Nc6+ and game over.

25.Qe4 Bf4

Desperation but 25...exd4 is met by 26.Qb7+, winning both of Black’s rooks.

26.Rxf4 exf4 27.Qxe6+ Kd8 28.Qf6+ Kd7 29.Qg7+ and Black resigned. 1–0

O.Mihok (2559) – A.Vovk (2607) Hungarian Team ch 2019

Set 81

81.1)

***
Hint: Obvious targets but how to exploit them?

398
 Show/Hide Solution

24.Bxe6!

This sacrifice is the only move that puts cracks in Black’s armor.

24...dxe6

If 24...Qxe6 then 25.Qd2 wins for White.

25.Rc7+

This is the point of the sacrifice on the previous move: Black’s king is all of a sudden very
vulnerable.

25...Kd8 26.Rxb7! Qxb7 27.Qxe6

White threatens both Qd6+ and Bh4+, and Black can’t adequately defend against both.

27...Bc5 28.Re5!

Black’s previous move appears to have guarded against both of White’s threats as 28.Bh4+ allows
Black to run away with 28...Kc7, but White introduces his remaining piece into the attack...

28...Be7 29.Rd5+

29.Bh4! is even more potent, but the text move also suffices.

29...Ke8 30.Qg6+ Rf7 31.Rf5

Black resigned as after 31.Rf5 Bb4 32.Rxf7 Qxf7 33.Qc6+, White is winning. 1–0

J.Moussard (2600) – A.Cherniaev (2428) London 2019

81.2)

399
 ***
Hint: A very open king vs a very advanced passed pawn

Show/Hide Solution

27.Rd2!

A nasty move that threatens Bh5+. In the game, White instead played 27.Bd3 Qg4?? (Black returns
the favor! Instead, 27...b3 28.axb3 Ra1+ 29.Kc2 Rxd1 30.Kxd1 Qg4+ 31.Be2 Qh3 would have lead
to equal chances and so would; 27...Qxe3+ 28.Kc2 Qf2+ 29.Rd2 Qxg1 30.Qg6+ Kg8 with a
perpetual check) 28.Rd2 b3 29.a3 Ke8 30.Rdxg2 Qf3 31.Rxg7 Qxe3+ 32.Kb1 Ra4 33.Rg8 Rxg8
34.Rxg8#. 1-0 M.Percivaldi (2384) – R.Song (2468) London 2019.

27.Rd2! Rh8 28.Bh5+! Qxh5 29.Rf2+

The point behind the previous move.

29...Ke8 30.Qxg7 Qe5 31.Rgxg2 Qxg7 32.Rxg7 and White has a superior position in the endgame
thanks to his rook on the seventh rank.

81.3)

400
 **
Hint: Boom!

Show/Hide Solution

28.Bxh7!

Ripping Black’s kingside open. At first, it can look like White does not have enough attackers to
make it work, but that is not the case.

28...f6

Accepting the piece sacrifice doesn’t favorably change anything: 28...Kxh7 29.Qh4+ Kg8 30.Bf6!
and Black’s king will get mated.

29.exf6 gxf6 30.Bf4 and Black resigned as there is little point in seeing White rip him further apart.
1–0

C.Aravindh (2605) – R.Laxman (2444) Indian ch (Majitar) 2019.

81.4)

401
 ****
Hint: Carefully when calculating the obvious

Show/Hide Solution

17.Nxg5+!

In the game, White continued less accurately: 17.Rxe6? Kxe6? (Black should have played
17...Bxh2!! 18.Nxg5+ Kg7 19.Rxh2 Nce7 20.Nf3 Nf4 and Black survives, even if his position looks
highly suspect) 18.Qxg6 Bxh2 19.Nxg5+ Ke7 20.Qg7+ and Black resigned. 1-0 S.Avila Pavas
(2384) – J.Echavarria (2323) El Bagre 2019.

17.Nxg5+! fxg5 18.Rxe6!

Now the black king becomes really bare and vulnerable.

18...Kxe6 19.Qxg6+ Qf6 20.Re1+ Be5 21.Qxf6+ Kxf6 22.Bxe5+ Nxe5 23.dxe5+ Ke7 24.Nd4 and
White has two pawns for the exchange and the clearly better chances.

Set 82

82.1)

402
 ***
Hint: Discoordination

Show/Hide Solution

24.0-0!

White gives up a piece to mobilize his pieces. Several solvers in the Facebook group were trying to
make 24.Bc4 work, but after 24...Ra1+ 25.Ke2 Rxh1 26.Nf7+ White has not more than a draw, e.g.,
as 26...Kg8 27.Nd6+ Kh8 28.Nxb7 Rb1 29.Nd6 Rb2+ 30.Kd1 (or 30.Kf1 Rb1+ with a perpetual
check) 30...Rb1+ 31.Kc2 Rb2+ 32.Kc1 Rxf2 and Black is fine.

24.0-0! Rxe2

Or 24...h6 25.Bc4 and White is winning.

25.Rd1

All of a sudden, Black’s pieces are passive bystanders to the attack on Black’s king.

25...Bc3

Now White forces mate.

26.Rd8+ Kg7 27.Bf8+ Kf6 28.Rd6+ Ke5 29.Nf7# 1–0

403
Ab.Gupta (2611) – D.Neelotpal (2430) Indian ch (Majitar) 2019

82.2)

*****
Hint: Obvious or not? Calculate very, very carefully!

Show/Hide Solution

21.Nxh7!

In the game, White instead continued with 21.Kg1?? Qa3! 22.Rh3 Rxe3 23.Nf3 Bb7 24.Rb1 Bxf3
25.gxf3 Qxa2 26.hxg6 hxg6 27.Rb7 Rfe8 and White resigned. 0-1 M.M.Jacobsen (2348) – F.Svane
(2398) Aarhus 2019.

21.Nxh7! Kxh7 22.hxg6+ Kg8

But not 22...Kxg6?? as White wins after 23.Qxd6+ f6 24.Qg3+ Kf7 25.Qc7+ Ke6 26.Qc6+ Kf7
27.Qd5+ Kg7 28.Qd7+ Rf7 29.Qg4+ Kf8 30.Rh8+ Ke7 31.Qe4+ and it is game over for Black.

23.g7!

Only move!

404
23...Kxg7 24.Rh7+!

Only move but forcing the draw.

24...Kg6

Black is not ready yet.

25.Kg1!!

Another only move to make room for the rook on f1 if needed.

25...Re5 26.Qxd6+

Or 26.Rh6+, also leading to a draw.

26...Kxh7 27.Qxe5 Qb6 28.Rf1 f6 29.Qe4+ Kg7 30.Qg4+ with a perpetual check.

82.3)

***
Hint: Quietly taking advantage of a weakness

Show/Hide Solution

405
15.Nb5!

This is best, inferring with Black’s pieces and potentially causing the Black queen some severe
problems. However, also 15.Rc2 Ne7 16.Rfc1 offers White a comfortable advantage.

15.Nb5! Ne8 16.Nc7!

The point: White mobilizes his pieces with tempo.

16...Nxc7 17.Rxc6 Ne8 18.Qc2 Qa6 19.Rc1

White has taken complete control of the only file on the board, leaving White with a dominating
advantage.

19...Rd8 20.g4

Black is defenseless against White, taking over the entire board.

20...fxg4 21.Ng5

The game went 21.hxg4 Nf6 22.Rc7 Ne4 23.Kg2 h6 24.Ne5 Rf8 25.Nd7 Rfd8 26.f3 Ng5 27.Ne5
Bxe5 28.Bxe5 Qb5 29.Rh1 Rd7 30.Rxh6 and Black resigned. 1-0 V.Sivuk (2588) - Li Bo (2308)
Penang 2019.

21...Nf6 22.Rc7 and Black can resign.

82.4)

406
 ***
Hint: Essential move order issues

Show/Hide Solution

19.Rxg7+!

This assault is the only move to offer White a sizeable advantage. A tempting alternative is 19.Bxg6
but rather than recapturing it, and transposing to our main line, Black plays 19...Ra7 20.Rxa7 Qxa7
21.Bb1 b4 and Black has some counterplay for the lost pawn.

19.Rxg7+! Kxg7 20.Bxg6!

In the game, White instead continued with 20.Qh6+? Kf7?? (Black blunders, trying to escape from
the attack, but with 20...Kg8! 21.Bxg6 Qc7 22.Ne4 Qg7 Black could have survived) 21.Ng5+ Ke8
22.Bxb5+ Bd7 23.Bxd7+ Nxd7 24.Qg7 Qb4 25.Rxh7 Rxf2+ 26.Kxf2 Qxb2+ 27.Kg3 and Black
resigned. 1-0 S.Ernst (2541) – T.Vandenbussche (2440) Dutch League 2019.

20...Ra7 21.Qh6+ Kg8 22.Ng5 Qc7 23.Nxb5 Qg7

Only so can Black make his defense work.

24.Nxa7 Ba6+ 25.Kg1 Qxg6 26.Ne6 Re8 27.Nc6 and White is better, but the game is far from over.

407
 Set 83

83.1)

****
Hint: Preventing the defense

Show/Hide Solution

25.b4!!

Prior to this move, the black queen was on its ideal square, but after the pawn push, the queen has to
move. The game continuation was 25.Re8+ Rf8 26.Qe2 Bxf3?? (Black blunders, if instead 26...Bc6
27.Qe6+ Kh8 28.Rxf8+ Nxf8 29.Qe5 Qxe5 30.Nxe5 Bxg2+ 31.Kxg2 Kg8, Black has an
uncomfortable, but still playable position) 27.Bxf3 Qg5 28.Qe6+ Kh8 29.Bc6 h5 30.Be4 Kh7
31.Rxf8 Rxf8 32.Qxg6+ and Black resigned. 1-0 D.Zoler (2498) – T.Beerdsen (2482) Herzliya
2019.

25.b4!! Qxb4

Or 25...Qb6 26.Re8+ Rf8 27.Qe2 Qf6 28.Rxd8 Qxd8 29.Qe6+ Kh8 30.Nd4 Bxg2+ 31.Kxg2 c5
32.Nc6 and White is winning.

26.Re8+ Rf8 27.Qe2 Qc5

Unlike in the game continuation, 27...Bc6?? is no longer available as the bishop is no longer protected

408
by the queen on c5 and therefore 28.Qe6+ wins.

28.Qe6+ Kh8 29.Nh4!

Or 29.Rxf8+ Qxf8 30.Ng5, also winning.

29...Bxg2+ 30.Nxg2 and White is winning.

83.2)

**
Hint: Common themes

Show/Hide Solution

25.Qe5! f6 26.Qe6+ Kh8 27.Qd7!

Threatens mate on g7.

27...Rg8 28.Nd6 h6 29.Nf7+ Kh7 30.Qf5+ g6 31.Qxf6 Nc1

Or 31...Qf8 32.Qh4 Qg7 33.Ng5+ Kh8 34.Rf7 and White is winning.

32.Qh4! Ne2+ 33.Kh1 h5 34.Qg5! Qf8 35.Qe3 and Black resigned; the knight on e2 is trapped. 1–0

409
Y.Vovk (2577) – O.Bilych (2337) Lviv 2019.

83.3)

***
Hint: Straightforward finesse

Show/Hide Solution

31.Rf3! Qg5 32.h4!

Diverting the queen to a less ideal square. If White captures immediately on f6, Black is fine, e.g.,
32.Nxf6 gxf6 33.h4 (or 33.Rxf6+ Ke7 and Black is better) 33...Qg7 and Black defends.

32...Qxh4 33.Nxf6! gxf6 34.Rxf6+ Kg8 35.Rg6+ and Black resigned before getting mated. 1–0

E.Shtembuliak (2600) – A.Volokitin (2641) Ukrainian ch (Lutsk) 2019

83.4)

410
 ***
Hint: Surprising soft spot

Show/Hide Solution

23.Ne6! fxe6 24.fxe6 Ndb6 25.Rf7

This is the idea behind the piece sacrifice.

25...Qc5 26.Bxh7

In return for the sacrificed piece, White has three quite advanced passed pawns.

26...Rge8 27.Bf5 Bd5 28.g6 Rc8 29.e7!

The game continued 29.Qd3 e4 30.Bxe4 Ne5 31.Qxd5 Nxd5 32.Rxd5 Qc4 33.Rxe5 Rc7 34.Bd3 Qg4
35.Re4 1-0 G.Akash (2431) – C.Sandipan (2545) Indian ch (Majitar) 2019.

29...Be6 30.Qg2!

But not 30.Bxe6?? Na3+ and Black is forcing mate.

30...Bxf5 31.Rxf5 Rxe7 32.h6 and White is winning thanks to his two connected passed pawns.

411
 Set 84

84.1)

***
Hint: The king in the middle…

Show/Hide Solution

22.Bd2!

White puts the black king in the crosshairs.

22...Bd6

Or 22...d5 23.cxd5 exd5 24.Rbc1 Qg6 25.Rxc6 Bf5 26.Ba5+ Ke8 27.Rxd5 and White has a decisive
advantage.

23.Ba5+! Ke7 24.Rxd6! Qxb1 25.Qc5

Or 25.Rd3 d5 26.Qh6 and White is winning.

25...Kf7 26.Rd3 Qc2 27.Bb4 d6 28.Qh5+

28.Qxd6 also wins.

412
28...Kg7 29.Rg3+ Qg6 30.Bxd6 Rd8 31.c5 Bd7 32.Bd3 and Black resigned. 1–0

C.Deepan (2535) – H.Gusain (2412) Indian ch (Majitar) 2019.

84.2)

***
Hint: Preparation before rewards

Show/Hide Solution

24.Rfe1!

Overprotecting the e5–pawn, preparing an irresistible attack. In the game, White attacked with little
premeditation nor patience: 24.Nxh7?? Kxh7 25.f5 Qxe5 26.Rf4 Kg8 27.Re1 Qd6 28.f6 Ne5 29.Qg5
Nxd3 30.Rh4 Qf8 31.Qg3 Rc4 32.Rh5 Rg4 and White resigned. 0-1 R.Fernandez Mayola (2328) –
Y.Santiago (2479) Merida 2019.
A decent alternative was 24.Qh3!? h6 25.f5 Bc8 26.Rde1 and White has a strong attack.

24.Rfe1! Nb4 25.f5

There is an air of inevitability in White’s attack, and remarkably, there is nothing Black can do, even
to just slow it down.

413
25...Rdc8

Or 25...d4 26.Nd5, winning material.

26.Nxh7! Kxh7 27.fxg6+ fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kh8 29.Qh6+ Kg8 30.Re3 and White is winning.

84.3)

*
Hint: Many loose pieces

Show/Hide Solution

34.Nxf6+! Bxf6 35.Qe8+ Kg7 36.Qxd7+! The point of White’s combination: White ends up an
exchange up in the endgame. Black resigned. 1–0

Wei Yi (2725) – A.Giri (2769) Jerusalem 2019

84.4)

414
 **
Hint: Trap that king

Show/Hide Solution

30.a4+ Ka6

Capturing the pawn would have been a better try: 30...Kxa4 31.Ra3+! (another try is 31.Rb7 Nb5
32.Rd6 Bd8 33.Ra6+ Kb4 34.Ne3 (34.Ne5 Rh4 35.c3+ Kb3 36.Rxb5+ Kc2 37.Rb7 and while much
better for White, the win is still is some work away from happening.) 34...Kc5 35.c3 Bb6 36.Rbxb6
axb6 37.Rxa8 with a clear advantage for White in endgame) 31...Kb5 32.Ra5+ Kb4 33.c3+ Kb3
34.Ra3+ Kc2 35.cxd4 Bxd4 (or 35...Rb8 36.Re3 Kb1 37.b4 a5 38.Na3+ Kb2 39.Rc2+ Ka1 40.Re1#)
36.Nb6+ Kxb2 37.Nc4+ Kc2 38.Na5+ Kb1 39.Rb3+ Ka1 40.Rc1+ Ka2 41.Rc2+ Ka1 42.Rb4 and
White is winning.

31.Rf7

Also 31.b4 Rb8 32.b5+ Rxb5 (or 32...Nxb5 33.axb5+ Kxb5 34.Rb3+ Ka6 35.Rc6+ and curtains for
Black) 33.axb5+ Kxb5 34.Ra3 and White is winning.

31...Bh8 32.b4 Rh4 33.Rxd4 and, unable to prevent mate, Black resigned. 1–0

H.Raja (2447) – D.Gukesh (2547) El Prat 2019

415
 Set 85

85.1)

**
Hint: More space increases mobility

Show/Hide Solution

14.Bxe5!

Thanks to White’s lead in development and more active pieces, this exchange, opening up the d-file,
puts Black under pressure.

14...dxe5

Or 14...Bxe5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.f3 Be6 17.Qb4 a5 18.Qc5 Qd6 19.Qxc7 Ra6 20.Qxd6 Rxd6 21.Nc7
and White has won back the pawn that he gambitted in the opening and retaining severe pressure due
to Black’s out of play rook on h8.

15.Qb4! b5 16.Nb6 cxb6?!

A better try was 16...Bxf3 17.Rxd8+ Rxd8 18.gxf3 cxb6 19.Bc2 and White has a clear advantage.

17.Rxd8+ Rxd8 18.Rd1 Rxd1+ 19.Bxd1

416
Now White is winning due to Black’s poorly coordinated and entirely passive pieces.

19...Bf6 20.Nxe5 Bxd1 21.Nd7+ Kg7 22.Nxf6 and Black resigned. 1–0

B.Haldorsen (2455) – C.O’Donnell (2312) Sitges 2019

85.2)

***
Hint: Making the most of the pin

Show/Hide Solution

15.Bg4!

Breaking the pin of the knight on e6, but White needs to have answers ready against both ...f6–f5 and
...h7– h5.

15...h5

If 15...f5 then 16.Nxf8 fxg4 17.Qxh7+ Kxf8 18.Qh8+ Kf7 19.f3 Ke6 20.fxg4 and White is winning.

16.exf6 Nec6??

417
A better defensive try was 16...hxg4 when 17.fxe7 Re8 18.exd8=Q Qxd8 19.Qh6 Rxe6+ 20.Be3
offers White the clearly better chances, but there is still plenty of play left in this position.

17.Nxf8 Bxg4 18.Qe3 Kxf8 19.Qh6+ and Black resigned. 1–0

L.Aroshidze (2514) – A.Parvanyan (2456) Sitges 2019

85.3)

***
Hint: Exploit Black’s piece coordination to make way to the weakest spot in Black’s position

Show/Hide Solution

16.b5

Sending the knight to a5 before continuing the kingside attack. That being said, White could also play
16.h5 with a clear advantage and strong attack.

16.b5 Na5 17.h5 g5

Closing the kingside, but White can then resort to violence... In the game, Black instead chose the
more feeble 17...Nc4 when White crashed through after 18.hxg6 fxg6 19.Bxh6 Bxh6 20.Rxh6 Kg7

418
21.Qc1 and Black resigned. 1-0 D.Vocaturo (2627) – K.Shubin (2430) Sitges 2019.

18.Bxg5!

18.Nxg5 is also very good.

18...hxg5 19.h6 Bh8 20.Bh7+!

A beautiful flourish. But also, 20.Nxg5 would have sufficed.

20...Kxh7 21.Nxg5+ Kg8 22.h7+ Kg7 23.Nf4 followed by either Nh5+ or Qh5.

85.4)

**
Hint: Where are the targets?

Show/Hide Solution

20...Nxe4!

This sacrifice is only an option because of the weak dark squares around White’s king.

21.Rxe4 Rxe4 22.Qxe4

419
Or 22.Bxd6 Qb6 23.Qxe4 Qxd6 and the weak dark squares around White’s king will sooner or later
decide the game in Black’s favor.

22...Qc3 23.Kc1 Rc8!

The game continued 23...Bb5?! 24.Qxb7?? (24.Qe3 was a better defensive try) 24...Rc8 25.Ne1 Re8
26.Be4 Qa1+ 27.Kd2 Bc3+ 28.Ke3 Qd1 29.Nd3 Qxh1 and White resigned. 0-1 S.Sethuraman
(2638) – SL.Narayanan (2626) Sitges 2019.

24.Bxd6 Qb2+ 25.Kd1

Or 25.Kd2 Bh6+ 26.g5 Bf5 and game over.

25...Bb5 26.a4 Re8 and Black is winning.

Set 86

86.1)

**
Hint: Many holes!

Show/Hide Solution

420
21.Nd6!

The threat against the rook on e8 and f7, forces Black to capture the knight.

21...Bxd6

If Black plays 21...e4, then White has several good continuations: a) 22.Nf7+! Kh7 23.N3g5+ Bxg5
24.Nxg5+ Kh8 25.Nf7+ Kh7 26.Bxh6 Be6 27.Ng5+ Kxh6 28.Nxe6 and White is winning. b)
22.Ne5 Nxe5 23.dxe5 Bxd6 24.exd6 Qd8 25.Qh5 Rf8 26.Bxh6 with a large advantage for White. c)
22.Ng5 Nd5 23.Ngf7+ Kh7 24.Bxd5 cxd5 25.Qh5 f4 26.Qxd5 and White is much better.

22.cxd6 Qxd6 23.dxe5 Qe7

The alternatives are similarly unattractive: 23...Nxe5 24.Nxe5 Rxe5 25.Bxb4 and White is winning.
Or 23...Qf8 24.e6 Bc8 25.Ng5 Nd5 26.Nf7+ Kg8 27.Bxd5 cxd5 28.Qh5 Bxe6 29.Nxh6+ and it is
game over for Black.

24.Bg5!

This is the clever point behind the previous moves: if Black wants to avoid losing a piece, he has to
allow his kingside pawn structure to become compromised, and then that will lead to his demise.

24...Qf8

After 24...hxg5, White has the lethal 25.Nh4! Threatening Qh5# as well as Nxg6+, Black cannot
guard against both.

25.Qxd7 hxg5 26.Nxg5 Qe7 27.Qxf5 and Black resigned. 1–0

Hou Yifan (2664) - Tan Zhongyi (2502) Xi’an 2019

86.2)

421
 ***
Hint: More space = more options

Show/Hide Solution

14...e3! 15.fxe3 Bxh1! 16.Kxh1

You may ask: so, what has Black accomplished? The answer is: The next wave of attack becomes
impossible to resist after White’s kingside has been weakened and the light-squared bishop
exchanged.

16...h5!

White has almost no opportunity to add defenders against Black’s kingside attack, and those he has
available are not sufficient to adequately resist.

17.h4

This looks bad and certainly does not make the kingside weaknesses less, but the alternatives are also
problematic: 17.Kg2 h4 18.h3 g5 19.hxg4 gxf4 and Black’s attack crashes through. 17.Qc2 h4
18.Kg1 hxg3 19.hxg3 g5 20.Qc4 gxf4 21.Rxf4 (if 21.Qxa6, then 21...Qd5 22.e4 Qc5+ 23.e3 Rh3
checkmates White) 21...Ne5 22.Qe4 0-0-0 23.Nd2 (23.Qa8+ Nb8 wins for Black) 23...Bd6 and
Black has a decisive material advantage.

17...g5 18.Ng2 Ne5!

422
Threatening ...Qh3+ followed by ...Ng4. In the game, Black instead continued with 18...gxh4 and
won after 19.Qe1 0-0-0 20.e4 Rdg8 21.Bf4 Ne3 (Black has the even stronger 21...Nf2+! available,
for instance, 22.Qxf2 Qh3+ 23.Kg1 hxg3 24.Bxg3 Rxg3 25.Qf5+ Qxf5 26.exf5 Rhg8 27.Rf2 Bc5
and Black is winning, but the game continuation, of course, suffices) 22.Bxe3 Qh3+ 23.Kg1 Rxg3
24.Rf2 Rhg8 25.Qf1 Rxg2+ 26.Rxg2 Qxe3+ 27.Qf2 Rxg2+ 28.Kxg2 h3+ 29.Kf1 Qc1+ and White
resigned. 0-1 Cheng Bo (2529) – Liu Xiangyi (2385) Melbourne 2019.

19.Kh2 gxh4 20.gxh4

Or 20.Nf4 hxg3+ 21.Kg2 0-0-0 and Black is winning.

20...Rg8 21.Qe1 Ng4+ 22.Kg1 Bd6 23.Rf3 Nh2 24.Nd2 0-0-0 and Black wins at will.

86.3)

***
Hint: Attacking precision

Show/Hide Solution

22.Rxf6!

Natural and not missed by anyone in the Facebook group, but the next move fooled several.

423
22...gxf6 23.Bf5!

Very important. The c2–pawn has to be protected. After 23.Qxh6 Qxc2! 24.Rf1 Qh7, Black survives.

23...Kg7

Letting White capture on h6 is, of course, out of the question.

24.Qc3!

After this move, Black is paralyzed and has no right answer to the threat of Rd6!.

24...b5 25.Rd6 Qb1+ 26.Kf2 Qc1 27.Qxf6+ Kg8

This is another vital position; how does White continue his attack?

28.h4!

Stopping Black from playing ...Qg5.

28...Rde8

Black gets desperate, which is understandable as White’s threat was impossible to prevent after other
moves: 28...b4 29.Be4! c4 30.Qf5! and Black will get mated.

29.dxe8=N Rxe8 30.Bh7+! Kf8 31.Be4! and Black resigned. Beautiful precision to the end. How
much of this did you see from the starting position? 1–0

M.Karthikeyan (2611) – L.Aroshidze (2514) Sitges 2019

86.4)

424
 **
Hint: You see the target but how to get to it the best way?

Show/Hide Solution

22...Qh4! 23.g3 Nxg3!

Brutally ripping open White’s king shelter. In the game, Black instead played 23...Qh3? 24.Bf3 Nh4
25.Bh1 Rfd8? 26.Nd7? (26.Be7! would have won for White) 26...Rxb1 27.Rxb1 Qf5 28.Be7??
Qxb1+ and White resigned. 0-1 Zhao Chenxi (2396) – Zou Chen (2459) Chinese rapid ch
(Shenyang) 2019.

24.fxg3 Bxg3 25.hxg3

Or 25.Rf2 Bxf2+ 26.Bxf2 Qe4! 27.Qd1 Bb7 and Black is winning.

25...Qxg3+ 26.Kh1 Bb7+ 27.Nd5 Qh4+! 28.Kg1 Bxd5 and Black has a large, possibly winning,
advantage.

425
 Show in Text Mode

Set 87

87.1)

*****
Hint: Attacking with one piece?

Show/Hide Solution

28...Rac8!

28...Rec8 works just as well

28...Rac8! 29.Kf1

This king move is natural but lets Black execute his idea. However, the alternative also loses for
White: 29.Rxc8 Rxc8 30.Kf1 Rc2 31.Qd4 (or 31.Qe1 Qd5 32.Kg1 Rd2 and Black is winning)
31...Qa1+ 32.Ne1 Rc1 33.Qb4 Qb1 and White, tied up on hand and feet, is completely lost.

29...Qb1+ 30.Ne1 Bh3+!! 31.Rxh3 Qf5+ and White resigned as he cannot both hang on to the rook

426
on h3 and avoid mate. 0–1

M.Sinanovic (2309) – B.Predojevic (2616) Zadar 2019

87.2)

***
Hint: Does Black have attack or what else is there in this position?

Show/Hide Solution

27...Qxd6!

By exchanging queens, Black is given time sufficient time to generate an attack against White’s king.

28.Rxd6 Ne5!

Threatening the f3–pawn.

29.Nd4 Nxf3!

Anyway! Black sacrifices the knight the soften the e4– pawn and with that making the white king on
h1 a vulnerable target of the bishop on b7.

427
30.Nxf3 Nxe4 31.Nxe4 Bxe4 32.Kh2?

A mistake, but even the better 32.Rd3 does not save White after 32...Rf6! (a) This is strongest, but let
us nevertheless take a look at two other choices: 32...Rg1+ 33.Kh2 Rxf1 (but not 33...Bxd3??
34.Nxg1 and White is winning) 34.Rxf1 Bxd3 with an extra pawn for Black or b) 32...Rg3!? 33.Re3
Bxf3+ 34.Kh2 Rg2+ 35.Bxg2 Rxg2+ 36.Kh1 Rc2+ 37.Rxf3 Rxc1+ 38.Kh2 Kg7 with an improved
version because Black’s pieces, in particular the rook, are more active) 33.Re3 Bxf3+ 34.Kh2 Bc6
(Black maintains the initiative to keep White under control and only enter an endgame when it suits
him) 35.Re2 Rfg6 36.Rcc2 Rg1 37.Bg2 R1xg2+ 38.Rxg2 Bxg2 39.Rxg2 Rxg2+ 40.Kxg2 Kg7 and the
pawn ending is easily won for Black.

32...Bxf3 33.Rc3 Ba8 34.Rxb6

Or 34.c5 Rg1 35.c6 Rxf1 when White cannot make progress with c-pawn because it allows ...Rh1#.

34...Rg1 and White resigned because there is no stopping the mate on h1. 0–1

R.Martin del Campo (2314) – R.Vera Gonzalez Quevedo (2436) Merida 2019

87.3)

*
Hint: Hunting royal blood

428
 Show/Hide Solution

30...Rc3! 31.Qf2! Nf3+!

By sacrificing the knight, Black’s attack becomes extra poignant because White has no protection on
the light squares, and White’s pieces are passive and poorly coordinated. Black does not achieve
anything with 31...d3 when White responds 32.fxe5 Qxe5 33.Bf4 Qe4 34.Rxd3 Rxd3 35.Bxd3 Qxd3
36.Rc7 and White’s counterplay is sufficient.

32.gxf3 Rxf3 33.Re1?

After 33.Qg2, Black plays 33...Rg3! 34.Qxg3 Qh1+ 35.Kf2 Qxc1 36.Re2 Rxe2+ 37.Kxe2 Qxc2+
(Black has won the sacrificed material back and now has to find the way through to break White’s
remaining defense) 38.Kf1 Qd1+ 39.Kf2 Qd2+ 40.Kf1 h6! (A clever and important intermediary
move) 41.Bxh6 Be4 42.Qf2 Qd1+ 43.Qe1 Qf3+ 44.Qf2 Qxh3+, winning the bishop on h6, the
reason why ...h7–h6 was so important.

33...Rxe1+ 34.Qxe1 Re3! 35.Qxe3 Qh1+ 36.Kf2 dxe3+ 37.Kxe3 Qf3+ with mate being delivered on
the next move, White resigned. 0–1

D.Divya (2332) – E.Zanan (2493) Sitges 2019

87.4)

429
 ***
Hint: Solid shelter… I think not!

Show/Hide Solution

23...Rxe3!

A typical plan that interferes with White’s ability to coordinate his pieces and generate an active plan.
In the game, Black chose another, but also a quite strong option: 23...h5!? 24.g5?! (This makes
matters worse; a better choice was 24.Qb3 Nc8 25.g5 Ne4 26.a5 Nxc3 27.bxc3 b5 28.Bf4 Re4 29.e3
Qd8 and Black has the better chances) 24...Ne4 25.Nxe4 Rxe4 26.Nd2 Rh4 27.a5 Na4 28.f4 Qe8
29.Qb3? Nc3! (Now White’s position collapses) 30.Kf2 Nxb1 31.Rxb1 Bd4 32.Bxd4 Rxf4+ 33.Nf3
cxd4 34.Rc1 Bb5 35.Bf1 Qe4 and White resigned. 0-1 B.Dhulipalla (2414) – J.Bjerre (2526) Sitges
2019.

23...Rxe3! 24.fxe3 Qe7 25.a5 Nc4 26.e4 Nxe4 27.Nxe4 Qxe4 and Black has a clear advantage. In
return for the sacrificed exchange, Black has won control over the dark squares (and there are a lot of
weak dark squares) and limited White’s counterplay.

Set 88

88.1)

430
 ****
Hint: Is seems so obvious but is it?

Show/Hide Solution

36.bxc4!

This little exchange looks unimportant, but the followup is deviously strong. After the more obvious
36.Qe5?!, Black can defend with 36...Re7 37.Kg1 Rce8, and there is no immediate win.

36.bxc4! dxc4 37.Rb2!

The clever follow-up that either activates the rook or allows White a nasty queen centralization.

37...Rxb2+

If 37...Re7 then 38.Rb8 Ree8 (or 38...Kh8 39.Qd6 Rxb8 40.Qxe7 Rg8 41.Qxe6 and White is
winning) 39.Qe5 and Black’s position collapses.

38.Bxb2 Bd5

If 38...c3, then 39.Qe5! decides.

39.Qe5 Bxf3+

Or 39...c3 40.Bxc3 Rxc3 41.Qe8# .

40.Kf2! and Black resigned as there is no stopping mate in 1–2 moves. 1–0

L.Van Foreest (2526) – O.Elgersma (2319) Groningen 2019

88.2)

431
 ****
Hint: This is Sparta!

Show/Hide Solution

26.Bxb6!!

A very sharp and not entirely clear decision in an endgame that would otherwise have been quite
equal. The point is that Black will be forced on the defensive and requiring very accurate defense to
hold it. In other words, the decision is logical but a brave choice by the American teenager against the
Ukrainian legend.

26...cxb6 27.Qxb6 Qb5?

The text move is relatively logical, trying to stay active, but it turns out not to be the most accurate
move. The alternatives were: a) 27...Bc8 28.Qb8 Qe8 29.c7 Ke7 30.b4 axb4 31.cxb4 Bd4 32.Bb7
Kd7 33.Kg2 d5 34.a4 Kd6 35.Qxc8 Qxc8 36.Bxc8 Kxc7 37.Bg4 Bc3 38.b5 and White has winning
chances but Black has drawing chances too on account of the opposite-colored bishops. b)
27...Qe1+?! 28.Kh2 Bc8 29.Qc7 Qe8 30.Bd5 Bf5 31.Qxa5 and White has excellent winning
chances.

28.Qa7! Bg5?

A further inaccuracy. A better defensive try was 28...Bc8 29.Qa8 Qf5 (or 29...Qa6 30.Qb8 and White
is getting close to a decisive advantage) 30.c7 Qd7 31.Bb7 Qxc7 32.Bxc8 Qd8 33.Qa6 d5 34.Bd7

432
and White has real winning chances.

29.c7 Qc5? 30.Qb8+

Or 30.Qa8+ Ke7 31.Bc6 Bc8 32.Qxc8 Qxc6 33.Qd8+ Ke6 and White is winning.

30...Ke7 31.Bb7 and Black resigned. That went very fast downhill for Black. 1–0

A.Liang (2593) – V.Ivanchuk (2690) Sitges 2019

88.3)

**
Hint: A lead in development is worth how much?

Show/Hide Solution

10.e5!

White crashes through in the center and uses his lead in development to generate threats very quickly.

10...dxe5

Not capturing the pawn is not of much help for Black either: 10...Nfd7 11.exd6 Qxd6 12.Qf3 Nb6

433
(or 12...Qxd4 13.Be3 Qd6 14.Qxa8) 13.Be3 (13.Rd1 Qc7 14.Be4 is also very good) 13...N8d7
14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Be4 and White is winning.

11.fxe5 Qxe5 12.Bf4 Qc5 13.Qf3 Qa7?

This is making matters worse: 13...Ra7 14.Be3 Qe5 15.Nf5 Bb7 16.Nxg7+ Kd7 17.Qh3 Rg8 18.Bh6
Kc8 19.Rae1 and Black is utterly busted.

14.Be3!

This is an improvement over the game continuation which went 14.Ndxb5!? axb5 15.Nxb5 Bb7
16.Qg3 Nh5 17.Qg4 Bxg2+?? (a bad blunder, instead Black should have played 17...Nxf4 18.Qxf4
Qc5 19.Qxf7+ Kd8 20.Qxg7 Re8 21.Nd4 Bd5 22.c4 and White has a clear advantage) 18.Qxg2
Nxf4 19.Rxf4 Qa5 20.b4 Bxb4 21.Rxb4 0-0 22.Rh4 g6 23.Qh3 Nd7 24.Rxh7 Qd2 25.Rf1 and Black
resigned. 1-0 G.Guseinov (2666) – J.Geller (2521) World Rapid (Moscow) 2019.

14...Bc5

Or 14...Qc7 15.Qxa8 and White is winning.

15.Ndxb5 axb5 16.Nxb5 Bb7 17.Bxc5 Bxf3 18.Bxa7 Rxa7 19.Nxa7 Bb7 20.a4 and White is
winning.

88.4)

434
 **
Hint: Is this a “loose pieces” thing or is there something better?

Show/Hide Solution

18.fxg6! hxg6 19.Ne6!!

This made Black resign, which is slightly premature. A possible continuation was 19.Ne6 and now:
a) 19...Qc8 20.Nxf8 Bxe4 21.Qxe4 Bxf8 22.Ng5 Nf6 23.Qf3 Qe8 24.Be3 and White is much better.
b) 19...fxe6 20.Bxb7 Nxh2 21.Qxe6+ Kh8 22.Re1 Nxf3 23.Bxf3 Rad8 24.Bg5 (or 24.Qxg6 Rd6
25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Bg5 and Black is clearly not in a happy place) 24...Bf6 25.Bh6 Rd6 26.Qh3 Rf7
27.Be4 and Black is clearly struggling. 1–0

N.Abdusattorov (2635) – S.Golubov (2469) World Rapid (Moscow) 2019.

Set 89

89.1)

**
Hint: What is Black’s biggest problem?

435
 Show/Hide Solution

16.Nxd5! exd5 17.e6!

Threatening mate in two. In the game, White continued with 17.Qxd5? and was promptly rewarded
with 17...Nge7?? (Black defends after 17...Qc5!! 18.Qe6+ Nge7 and White’s attack has been stalled)
18.Qd7+ Kf8 19.Bh6+ Kf7 20.Bc4+ and with a mate on the next move, Black resigned. 1-0
I.Iljiushenok (2521) – R.Faizrakhmanov (2434) World Blitz (Moscow) 2019.

17...Nge7

Or 17...Ne5 18.Qxd5 Qc7 19.Qb5+ Qc6 20.c3 with a clear advantage for White.

18.Qf7+ Kd8 19.Rxd5+ Kc8 20.Qg7

White has five pawns and the attack for the sacrificed pieces, yet nothing is decided yet.

20...Rd8 21.Rxd8+ Qxd8 22.Qxh7 Qd5 23.Qd3 Qxe6

But not 23...Qxh1?? 24.Qd7+ Kb8 25.Bf4+ with mate to follow.

24.Be2 and White has a distinct advantage, but there is still plenty of work left to be done.

89.2)

436
 **
Hint: Has the initiative run its course?

Show/Hide Solution

16...exf3!

Black gives up his queen for three minor pieces and a strong passed pawn on e2. At the same time,
White is prevented from castling, allowing Black the opportunity to launch an attack against the white
king.

17.Bxb4 Nxb4 18.Qd2??

Loses on the spot. A better try was 18.Qc4 fxe2 19.Ra1 Nfd5 20.g4 Bg6 21.Kxe2 Rac8 (or 21...Bd3+
22.Qxd3 Nxd3 23.Kxd3 and Black is a piece up) 22.Qd4 Nc3+ 23.Kf3 Be4+ and White will have to
give up his queen.

18...fxe2 19.Rb1 Rfd8! and White resigned as he will lose the queen. 0–1

A.Galkin (2611) – K.Mesropov (2422) World Blitz (Moscow) 2019

89.3)

437
 **
Hint: Pins and stuff

Show/Hide Solution

14...Bxe4!!

With this sacrifice, Black forces White’s king out to dance. Tempting but nearly as good is 14...b5,
e.g., 15.Qb3 a6 16.Be2 Qc7 and White is comfortable and has no reason to complain.

14...Bxe4!! 15.fxe4?

Accepting the sacrifice is not advisable. It was better to accept the situation as a pawn loss with
15.Qb3 Bc6 16.Rd1 Qa5 17.Bb5 e6 18.Bxc6 bxc6 when Black is clearly better, but White is by no
means lost at this point.

15...Ng4+ 16.Kf3 Nxe3 17.Kxe3 Qa5 18.Bd3

Or 18.Rc1? Bh6+ 19.Kf3 Qg5 20.g3 Qe3+ 21.Kg2 Qxc1 and Black is winning.

18...Bxc3 19.bxc3 Rxc3 20.Qd2 Rd8

White may have thought that he could get away from this situation by returning his queen and bishop
for Black’s rooks. But the situation is far from that simple.

438
21.Rad1 Qc5+ 22.Ke2 Rcxd3 23.Qxd3 Rxd3 24.Rxd3 Qc2+ 25.Rd2 Qxe4+ White resigned. With
queen and three pawns for the two rooks, Black is winning rather easily. 0–1

D.Voit (2336) - Lei Tingjie (2483) World Blitz Women (Moscow) 2019

89.4)

**
Hint: The uncastled king

Show/Hide Solution

19.f5!

A can opener move designed to exploit Black’s weak dark squares and the king that has been left in
the center a bit longer than advisable.

19...exf5

Of course, 19...0-0 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Bxe6+ Kh8 is a disaster for Black.

20.Bc7! Qc8?

Or 20...Qd7 21.Rae1+ Ne4 22.Rxe4+ fxe4 23.Bxf7+ (23.Rxf7 is also fine) 23...Qxf7 24.Rxf7 Kxf7

439
25.Qf4+ Kg8 26.Qxe4 Bf6 27.Qe6+ Kg7 28.Qd7+ Kh6 29.h4 and White is winning.

21.Qd6 Ne4 22.Rae1 Qd7 23.Rxe4+! fxe4 24.Bxf7+ Qxf7 25.Rxf7 Kxf7 26.Qd7+ and Black
resigned. 1–0

M.Carlsen (2872) – A.Utegaliyev (2502) World Rapid (Moscow) 2019

Set 90

90.1)

**
Hint: White has some obvious problems

Show/Hide Solution

26...Ng4! 27.Qf3?

A better try was 27.Qe1 when 27...Qc2 28.Rd2 Qb3 29.Rd3 Nxf2+! 30.Qxf2! Qxd3 31.Bxd3 Rxh3+
32.Qh2 Rgh6 should win for Black.

27...Qc2! With no reasonable way to protect the f2– pawn due to a variety of discovered checks,
White resigned. 0–1

440
A.Demchenko (2642) – G.Gajewski (2626) World Rapid (Moscow) 2019

90.2)

****
Hint: Is the back rank an issue or is there something better?

Show/Hide Solution

25.Kh2!!

This brilliant «waiting» move puts Black in an awkward position as he cannot capture on f2 due to his
fatally weak back rank, so he has to do something else, which means that White has gained a crucially
important tempo for free. In the game, White instead continued 25.Ra8+? Ne8 26.Kh2 Rb1?? (Black
could stayed alive with 26...Qe5 27.Qd7 Kf8 28.f6 g6 and there is no obvious way for White to
attempt a breakthrough) 27.Qd7 Re1 28.Ra7 h6 29.Qxf7+ Kh8 30.f6 and Black resigned. 1-0
S.Pogosyan (2459) – E.Iturrizaga (2597) World Rapid (Moscow) 2019.

25.Kh2!! Ne8

Or 25...g6 26.Ra7 Qe8 27.Qxd6 Kg7 28.Ra6 Ng8 29.Qf4 Re2 30.f6+ Kh8 31.d6 and White is
winning.

441
26.Qd7 Kf8

Or 26...Qe5 27.Ra7 and Black cannot defend both the f-pawn and the knight on e8.

27.Ra7 and the f7–pawn cannot be defended.

90.3)

***
Hint: Where lies the attacking opportunities?

Show/Hide Solution

18.f5!

White creates the simple threat of Bxd5 followed by f5–f6+ or even the immediate f5–f6+. Black has
to stop it...

18...f6 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.Nxg6!

Ripping Black’s shelter apart. White is not attacking with a lot of pieces, but the rook quickly assists
the queen on f1, which can be lifted via f5 directly into the attack.

20...Kxg6 21.Qg4+ Kf7 22.Qxe4 Be7

442
Black tries to hang on to the gain material, but it would probably have been best to play 22...Rh8,
although 23.Bxd5+ Bxd5 24.Qxd5+ Kg7 25.g3 should win for White.

23.Qh7+ Ke8 24.Qh5+ Kd7 25.Bxd5 Kc8 26.Bxb7+

Or 26.Qf5+ Kb8 27.Bg3 Bd6 28.Bxb7 Kxb7 29.Qd5+ Kb8 30.Bxd6 Qxd6 31.Qxd6 cxd6 32.Rc6
with an easily won endgame.

26...Kxb7 27.Qf3+ Ka7 28.Bg3 Bd6 29.Rc6 and Black resigned. 1–0

P.Vishnu (2493) – M.Atabayev (2475) World Rapid (Moscow) 2019

90.4)

***
Hint: Loose pieces make excellent targets

Show/Hide Solution

25.Ne4!!

Sacrificing a whole rook to crack open Black’s king shelter.

25...Bxc1

443
If Black declines the sacrifice with 25...h6 then 26.Nxg5 Qxg5 27.Qxg5 hxg5 28.Bf1 Bxf1 29.Rxf1
Re8 30.Rd1 Rxe5 31.Rxd4 f6 the chances are balanced in the rook ending.

26.Nf6+ gxf6 27.Be4 Re8 28.Qxh7+ Kf8 29.Qh8+!

In the game, White blundered and lost after 29.Qh6+?? Bxh6 and White resigned. 0-1 D.Fridman
(2616) – Xu Yinglun (2555) World Rapid (Moscow) 2019.

29...Ke7 30.Qxf6+ Kd7 31.Qxf7+ Re7

Or 31...Qe7 32.Qd5+ Kc7 33.Qb7+ Kd8 34.Qb8+ Kd7 35.Qb7+ with a perpetual check.

32.Qd5+ Kc8 33.Qa8+ Kd7 34.Qd5+ and a draw by perpetual check.

Set 91

91.1)

****
Hint: What to do about the pin of the rook

Show/Hide Solution

17...Kh8!!

444
An incredibly cool move, inviting White to capture the rook that he had pinned.

18.d4

Suddenly, White’s appetite for the rook has disappeared; let us have a look at why it is so: 18.Bxe6
Nd3+ 19.Ke2 (also 19.Kd1 Nxb2+ 20.Qxb2 Bxg1; and 19.Kf1 Qh4 20.Rg2 Qxh3 both win for
Black) 19...Nf4+ 20.Kd1 (20.Kf1 Bxg1 21.Kxg1 Qg5+ with mate to follow) 20...Bxg1 21.Qxf5
Nxe6 22.Qxe6 Nc6 and Black is, of course, much better.

18...Qxd4 19.Ne2 Nd3+!

The game continuation was 19...Qh4 20.Bxe6 Nd3+ (20...Nc6!) 21.Kd2 Qh6+ 22.Kxd3 Qe3+??
(Black throws everything away; instead 22...Na6 23.a3 Rd8+ 24.Nd4 Qxe6 25.Rae1 Bxd4 26.Bxd4
Rxd4+ would still have been clearly better for Black) 23.Kc4 Nc6 24.Rg3 Na5+ 25.Kb5 a6+
26.Kxa5 b6+ 27.Ka4 b5+ 28.Ka5 Qf2 29.Nd4 and Black resigned. 1-0 D.Gukesh (2547) –
G.Gajewski (2626) World Rapid (Moscow) 2019.

20.Bxd3 Qf2+ 21.Kd1 Nc6! 22.Bc3

Or 22.Kc1 Qe3+ 23.Kb1 Nb4 and Black is winning.

22...Nd4! 23.Bxd4 Bxd4 24.Rc1 Rc6 25.Qd2 Be3, and it is curtains for White.

91.2)

445
 ***
Hint: I laugh at your safety

Show/Hide Solution

21...Nxf2!

Tearing up White’s otherwise solid pawn structure.

22.Kxf2 Nxe3 23.Rc3?

White does not see any reason to return any of the newly gained wood. However, in retrospect, it
would have been best to play 23.Nf1 Nxc2 24.Rxc2 cxb5 25.Bxb7 Qe1+ 26.Kg1 (or 26.Kg2 b4
27.axb4 Qxb4 with clearly better chances for Black) 26...Qb1 27.Rd2 Re1 28.Qxb1 Rxb1 and White
is in serious problems.

23...Nxg2 24.Kxg2 Qe2+ 25.Kg1 Bh6 26.bxc6?!

Very cool-headed but also probably not the best. That being said, after 26.R1c2 Be3+ 27.Qxe3 Rxe3
28.Nf1 Qd1 29.Rd2 Rxc3 30.Rxd1 Rb3 31.Rd2 Rxb5, Black, has every chance of winning.

26...Bxd2

Even stronger is 26...Qxd2! 27.c7 Rc8 28.Qxd2 (or 28.Rb1 Be3+ 29.Kh1 Qf2 and Black is winning)
28...Bxd2 29.Rc5 Bxc1 30.Bxc1 f6 and Black should win the endgame without too many problems.

27.Qxe2 Rxe2 28.cxb7 Bxc3 29.Bxc3 Rb8 30.d5 and White resigned at the same time. 0–1

F.Blohberger (2434) – M.Bluebaum (2644) World Blitz (Moscow) 2019

91.3)

446
 ***
Hint: Do you want to dance?

Show/Hide Solution

24.Bxf7! Bxe5?!

Black accepts the challenge and the piece sacrifice, but it seems that it would have been wiser not to
do that; a possible alternative is 24...Rxf7, for instance, 25.Nxf7 Nc3 26.Bxc3 bxc3 27.g4 Nf4
28.Qf3 Ne6 29.h5 (29.g5? h5) 29...Nd4 30.hxg6+ Kxg6 31.Rxd4 Qxd4 32.Nf5 Qc5 33.Nxg7 Kxg7
34.e5 and White appears to be better, but 100% clear it is not.

25.Bxg6+ Kxg6 26.Bxe5 Ng7??

A bad mistake. It was necessary to play 26...Nf6, but after 27.h5+ Kh7 28.Bxf6 Rxf6 29.e5 Rf7
30.Qc2+ Kh8 31.Qg6 Qc7 32.Qxh6+ Kg8 33.e6 White gains a decisive advantage.

27.Rd6+ Kh7 28.Ng4?!

Or even more potent: 28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.Qh5, and it is game over for Black.

28...Qb5? 29.Qe3 and Black resigned. 1–0

P.Vishnu (2493) – E.Iturrizaga (2597) World Blitz (Moscow) 2019

447
 91.4)

***
Hint: Hard targets or soft targets

Show/Hide Solution

18...Nxf3+!

Black can make a breakthrough on account of White’s unprotected bishop on d4 and White’s
suddenly loose kingside.

19.gxf3 Nxe4! 20.fxe4

White’s cannot avoid taking the knight as the consequences are worse when not accepting the
sacrifice: 20.Qd1 Qg5+ 21.Bg2 Nd2 or; 20.Be3 Ng5 21.Bg2 Nxf3+ 22.Bxf3 Bxf3 23.Ng3 h4 and
Black is winning.

20...Bxd4+ 21.Nf2 Qh4 22.Rc2 Rxc3!!

Or 22...Rc5 23.Bg2 Rg5 24.Kf1 Qxh2 25.Nh3 Rxg2 26.Rxg2 Qxh3 27.Ne2 Qh1+ 28.Ng1 Rxe4
29.Rxg6+ Kf8 and Black is winning.

448
23.bxc3 Qg5+ 24.Bg2 Rxe4 25.Kf1 Qxg2+ 26.Kxg2 Rxe1+ 27.Ne4 Bxe4+ 28.Kg3 Rg1+ with mate
to follow. White resigned. 0–1

M.Narciso Dublan (2516) – V.Bernadskiy (2593) Lorca 2019

Set 92

92.1)

***
Hint: Long-term or short-term?

Show/Hide Solution

17...Nxf2! 18.Rxf2

Or 18.Qc2 Be3! 19.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 20.Kxf2 Qb6+ 21.Kf1 Re8! (threatening ...Qe3) 22.Bg3 Rxe2!
23.Kxe2 Ba6+ and Black is winning.

18...Bxf2+ 19.Kxf2 Qb6+ 20.Kf1 Re8! 21.Bc3

After 21.Bg3 Rxe2 22.Nc4 (22.Kxe2 Ba6+ is game over for White) 22...Qf6+ 23.Kxe2 dxc4 and
Black is winning; the white king will never find safety.

449
21...Rxe2!

Again! Also 21...d4 is good, e.g., 22.Nc4 Qf6+ 23.Kg1 dxc3 24.bxc3 Be6 and Black is winning.

22.Kxe2 Ba6+ 23.Nc4 Bxc4+ 24.Kd2 h5!

No need to allow any checks on g4 with counterplay for White.

25.Kc2 Re8 26.Qd4 Re2+ 27.Kd1 Qxd4+ 28.Bxd4 Rxg2 29.b3 Bd3 30.Be5 f6 and White resigned
as he will not be able to release himself from Black’s stranglehold enforced by the rook on the second
rank. 0–1

J.Bobadilla Viera (2339) – Peng Li Min (2451) Lorca 2019

92.2)

***
Hint: Sacrifice or…? If so, where?

Show/Hide Solution

28...h4!

Preparing the breakthrough on the h-file. There are a couple of tempting alternatives, but they are not

450
nearly as good: a) 28...Nh4 29.Rg1! Nf3 30.Rg2 (only so) 30...Nf6 (but not 30...Nf4?? 31.gxf4 Rg6
32.Qf1! and White is winning) 31.Ne3 h4 when Black has pressure, but White’s defense seems to
hold up.
b) 28...Nf4?? leads nowhere 29.gxf4 Nh4 30.Rg1 Nf3 31.Rg2 Rg6 32.Qf1 and we have transposed to
the line above; White is winning by following up with Bc5– e7–g5.

28...h4! 29.Rg1 Rh6

By not exchanging on g3, White has less opportunity to release himself from Black’s pressure.

30.Qf1??

A dreadful blunder that allows Black an appealing opportunity. After 30.Ne5 hxg3 31.fxg3 Nxg3+
32.Rxg3 Qxg3 33.Rg1 Qh4 and Black is clearly better. Also 30.g4? Nf4! 31.Qxe4 Ng3+! wins for
Black.

30...Qxh2+! Forcing mate. White resigned. 0–1

D.Sengupta (2564) – M.Panchanathan (2479) Hastings 2020

92.3)

**
Hint: Some weaknesses are more substantial than others

451
 Show/Hide Solution

16.Nd5! 0-0

Black escapes the knight fork on c7 but runs straight into another fire. If 16...Rb8 then 17.Nc7+ Kf7
18.Bg5 wins for White; the threat is Qd5+.

17.Ne7+ Kf7

Or 17...Kh8 18.Nhxg6+! hxg6 19.Qg4 and Black can resign.

18.Ba5!

White has several excellent alternatives, but this is, by far, the best.

18...Qxa5 19.Qd5+

White’s queen penetrates with decisive force.

19...Ke8 20.Qe6 Kd8

Black can play various other moves, but none of them see him escape mate.

21.Nc6+ bxc6 22.Qe7# 1–0

P.Sabuk (2354) – A.Kozak (2372) Krakow 2019

92.4)

452
 ***
Hint: Adding fuel to the fire

Show/Hide Solution

22...e3! 23.Nxe3

Or 23.Qxe3 Qd5 and Black wins.

23...Qf4!

Black could have won the piece back after 23...Qxe3?? but that only leads to a marginally better
endgame, which is not Black’s objective nor his best option.

24.Rc2?

Not the best defense, but White is in bad shape already, for instance, 24.Qc2 Rxe3 25.Rd1 Qf3
26.Rh2 Rfe8 27.Qc1 Re2 and Black dominates the board; the immediate threat is ...Rxb2.

24...Rxe3! 25.Qc4 Qf3 26.Rh2

If 26.Qxc6, then 26...Re4! is played, and Black penetrates with deadly force: 27.Rh2 Qd1+ 28.Kg2
Re1 29.Kg3 g5 and White is toast.

26...Qd1+ 27.Kg2 Re1 and with mate in few moves looming, White resigned. 0–1

453
E.Santarius (2382) – N.Meshkovs (2558) Stockholm 2019

Set 93

93.1)

**
Hint: Combining opportunities

Show/Hide Solution

20.Bf5+! Kc7

If Black captures the bishop, White gains a large advantage: 20...gxf5 21.Rxd6 Re6 (or 21...Rxd6
22.Nxf5 with a nasty fork on d6 to follow) 22.Rxd8+ Kxd8 23.Qd3+ and White has an
overwhelming positional advantage.

21.Rd4!

The black queen is trapped.

21...Bxg3 22.Rxh4 Bxh4 23.Bf4+ and with White winning even more material, Black resigned. 1–0

J.Kosakowski (2403) – I.Janik (2466) Bialystok 2019

454
 93.2)

**
Hint: Taking advantage of obvious targets

Show/Hide Solution

26...Bf8!

This is the best way to clear the g-file, gaining time by threatening the rook on d6. The game instead
continued 26...Bf6 27.Rg1 Qf7 28.Ne1?? (Total collapse by White; after 28.Bf1 Rxg1 29.Nxg1 Be7
30.Nf3 Qf8 (30...Bxd6 31.Qxd6 is fine for White) 31.Rd2 Qf6, the chances would have been about
equal) 28...Be7? (28...Qg7! forces mate by threatening ...Bxh3) 29.Rd3? Bg4 30.Qa1 f3 31.Qxe5+
Bf6 32.Qd5 Qc7+ (32...Bxh3! 33.Bxh3 Qc7+ 34.Rg3 Rxg3 35.fxg3 f2 wins) 33.Kh1 Rg5 34.e5??
Bxh3 and White resigned. 0-1 D.Ippolito (2356) – L.Hauge (2504) Stockholm 2019.

26...Bf8! 27.Rd3 Bxh3! 28.Bxh3 Rxh3+ 29.Kxh3 Qe6+ and the White king gets mated

93.3)

455
 ****
Hint: Black has a lot of counterplay but also has weaknesses

Show/Hide Solution

24.Nc7!!

This move was missed by most in the Facebook group. A popular suggestion was the line starting
with 24.Rxe4? dxe4 25.Qc4+ Rf7 and now 26.Ng5 (note that Black is okay after 26.Nxd4 e3+
27.Kh3 cxd4 28.f4 (or 28.fxe3 Qf3 and Black is even better) 28...Qe4 with a complicated position
and chances to both sides) 26...e3+ 27.Kh3 Ne5 28.Qe6 exf2 29.Nxf7 Nxf7 and Black’s passed on
f2 along with his active pieces secure to sufficient counterplay to balance the chances.

24.Nc7!! Ne5

Or 24...Qxc7 25.Rxd4! and White wins. After 24...Rf7 Black’s active position gets peeled apart with
25.Nb5! Bf6 26.Nd2! and Black collapses, e.g., 26...Nxd2 27.Nd6 and White is winning.

25.Rxd4! Nxf3?

A challenging line that requires accurate calculation is 25...cxd4!? 26.Rxe4 d3! 27.Qc5 dxe4 28.Nxe5
e3+ 29.f3 d2 30.Qc4+ Kh8 31.Nf7+! and White is winning.

26.Rexe4 dxe4 27.Qc4+ Kh8 28.Qxc5! White is winning.

456
28...Rc8 29.Rd7 e3 30.Qc3+ Ne5+ 31.Kh2 Qe4 32.Re7 Rxc7 33.Re8+ Kg7 34.Qxc7+ Black
resigned. 1–0

P.Koykka (2372) – L.Quesada Vera (2391) Stockholm 2020

93.4)

***
Hint: Exploiting better coordination

Show/Hide Solution

19.Nxf7! Kxf7 20.Ng5+ Kg8 21.Nxe6 Ng4

Black tries a counterattack as 21...Qxe6 22.f3 wins for White, e.g., 22...Bc2 23.Rxe6 (but not
23.Qxc2? Bxd4+ 24.Kh1 Qd7 and Black is fine) 23...Bxa4 24.Bxb6 axb6 25.Rxb6 and with rook and
three pawns for a bishop and a knight, White has a winning endgame.

22.Rxe4!

The game continuation was 22.g3? Qxe6 23.f3 Bxd4+? (Black should have played 23...Rc4 24.Qd1
Bxd4+ 25.cxd4 Qb6 26.fxg4 Rxd4 27.Qb3 Rb4+ and Black has some compensation for the
exchange) 24.Qxd4 Ne5 25.Qe3 Nc4? 26.Qxa7 Nxb2? 27.fxe4 dxe4 28.Qb7 Nd3 29.Rxe4 Qf5

457
30.Rf1 Qc5+ 31.Kg2 h6 32.Rf3 Rd8 33.Qf7+ Kh7 and Black resigned at the same time. 1-0
A.Tukhaev (2552) – P.Girinath (2330) Mumbai 2020

22...dxe4 23.Qb3!

Threatening both Ng5+ with a mate to follow as well as the simple Nxg7+.

23...Qxh2+ 24.Kf1 Nh6

Stops the mate starting with Ng5+.

25.Rd1! Qh1+ 26.Ke2 Qh5+ 27.Ke1 Nf7 28.Nf4 Qg5 29.Qe6 and White has a clear advantage.

Set 94

94.1)

*****
Hint: Easy target or is it?

Show/Hide Solution

33.Bf1!

458
This bishop retreat is incredibly strong but not for the obvious reasons, the threats against Black’s
pieces, but rather for enabling White’s ability to mobilize an attack against Black’s vulnerable king
quickly. After the exchange of the light-squared bishops, Black is surprisingly helpless. Alternatively,
33.b3 was a favorite by several solvers in the Facebook group, but it fails to deliver unless combined
with a version of the critical move (Bf1): a) 33...Rcc7 34.Qd4 (34.Qf4?! Kg7) 34...a4 35.Bf1 Bc8
(35...Bxf1 36.Rxf1) 36.Qh4+ Qh6 37.Qf4 and White has the clearly better chances. b) 33...Rc3
34.Qf4 Kg7 35.Bf1 (or 35.Bf3 Qe7 36.Ngh7) 35...Bxf1 36.Kxf1 Qd8 37.Ngh7 Rac7 38.Kg2 d4
with counterplay for Black. c) 33...Rc6 34.Qf4 Kg7 35.Bf3 Qe7 36.Ngh7! and White is better.

33.Bf1! Rcc7

Several other moves need to be considered: 33...Nxf6 34.exf6 Rg4 35.Bxa6 Rxa6 36.Kg2, or 33...Rc8
34.Qd4, or 33...Rc6 34.Qd4, in each case, with a winning position for White.

34.Bxa6 Rxa6 35.Qf4

The game continued 35.Kg2 Nxf6 36.exf6 Kg8 37.Rh1 d4? (or 37...Rac6 38.Rh7!) 38.Qf4 Qa8+
39.Nf3 and Black resigned. 1-0 E.Blomqvist (2537) – B.Serarols Mabras (2356) Stockholm 2020.

35...Ra8 36.b3 Kg7 37.Kg2 and White is winning.

94.2)

**
Hint: Combining opportunities

459
 Show/Hide Solution

27.Qh5! Rxe4

If 27...Ng6 then 28.Rh3 forces mate.

28.Nf4

In the game, White instead went for 28.g6 Nxg6 29.Bg5 Qd7 30.Rh3 h6? (Black should have played
30...Nh4 31.Bxh4 exd5 32.Be7 Qxh3 33.Qxh3 R4xe7) 31.Bxh6 gxh6 32.Qxg6 Bg7 33.Nf6 and
Black resigned before getting mated. 1-0 M.Manik (2379) – D.Debashis (2523) Mumbai 2020.

28...Kg8

Or 28...Nf5 29.Rh3 h6 30.Ng6+ Kh7 31.gxh6 gxh6 32.Rxf5 exf5 33.Nxf8+ Rxf8 34.Qxh6+ Kg8
35.Qg6#.

29.Rh3!

29.Qxh4?! e5 is less problematic for Black.

29...g6 30.Qxh4 and White is winning.

94.3)

460
 ***
Hint: Finding room for the right pieces

Show/Hide Solution

40...Rb8!

Black can also win with 40...Rxf6! 41.Qe8+ Kg7 42.Qe7+ Kg6 43.Be4+ Kg5 44.Qg7+ Kh5
45.Qxf6 Qxf2+ 46.Qxf2 Bxf2 47.Ke2 Be3 48.Kd1 g3 49.Bg2 Kg4 50.a5 Bf4 51.a6 Bb8 and White
will not be able to keep Black’s king out for ever.

40...Rb8! 41.Bb7

A more testing defense was 41.Qd1 Bf4 42.Qxg4 Rb1+ 43.Ke2 Rb2+ 44.Kf3 Rxf2+ 45.Ke4 Qh7+
46.Qf5 Re2+ 47.Kxd4 Be5+ 48.Kc4 Qh4+ and Black is winning.

41...Qh3+! 42.Ke1 Qh1+

White resigned as Black wins a piece after 42...Qh1+ 43.Bxh1 Rb1+ 44.Qd1 c2, and here the best
continuation would have been 45.Qc1 Rxc1+ 46.Kd2 Rxh1 47.Kxc2 Kg7 48.Rf5 Kg6 49.Rf8 Rh2
when Black is winning but there is still a little work left. 0–1

F.Cruz (2329) – F.Valenzuela Gomez (2373) Barcelona 2019

461
 94.4)

**
Hint: The weakest point under attack

Show/Hide Solution

21...Rd8!

This is much stronger than the game continuation which saw 21...Rfb8 after which White
immediately blundered with 22.Rhd1?? (White could have held the balance with 22.Qxc6 Qa3
23.Bxe6 Rxb3+ 24.axb3 Rxb3+ 25.Bxb3 Qxb3+ with a perpetual check) 22...Qa4 23.Qxe5 Bxc4
24.Rxc4 Rxb3+ 25.axb3 Qxb3+ 26.Kc1 Qxc4+ 27.Kd2 Rd8+ 28.Ke1 Qb4+ 29.Ke2 Qxg4+ and
White resigned. 0-1 Jo.Ivanov (2379) – P.Papadopoulos (2238) Thessaloniki 2020.

21...Rd8! 22.Qxc6 Rxc4!

Capturing with the bishop is far less effective: 22...Bxc4 23.Rxc4 Rxc4 24.Qxc4 Rd2 25.b4 Qa3
26.Qb3 and Black is only somewhat better in the ending.

23.Rxc4

Or 23.bxc4 Rb8+ 24.Kc2 Qxa2+ and Black is winning.

23...Bd5!

462
This fork was the point of the two previous moves.

24.Qc7 Qxc7 25.Rxc7 Bxh1 and Black is winning.

463
Show in Text Mode

Chapter 7
Sets 95-101

Set 95

95.1)

464
 **
Hint: Find the king’s running shoes

Show/Hide Solution

18.Bxf7+! Kxf7 19.Qb3+ Ke8 20.Ng5!

The game continuation was 20.Qg8+? Bf8 21.b4?! (Or 21.g4 Nxc1 22.Bxc1 Rxd6 23.gxf5 Rc7
24.Bh6 Rf6 25.Ng5 and White has a strong attack) 21...Qxb4 22.Rb1 Qc3 23.Bg5 Rxd6 24.Rxb7 Rd7
25.Rb3?? Qg7 26.Qc4 Be7?! (26...h6!) 27.g4 Bxg5?? (27...Qf7! is much better for Black) 28.gxf5
gxf5?! 29.Rxd3 Rxd3 30.Qxd3 Bf4+? 31.Kh1 Qb7?? 32.Re1+ Kf7 33.Qxf5+ Kg7 34.Rg1+ and
Black resigned. 1-0 D.Svetushkin (2528) – B.Krasteva (2327) Paracin 2019.

20...c4

Or 20...Rxd6 21.Qf7+ Kd8 22.Qxg7 and White is winning.

21.Rxc4 Rxc4 22.Qxc4 Rd7 23.Nxh7 Rf7 24.Ng5 and White has a decisive advantage.

95.2)

465
 **
Hint: Defense or attack?

Show/Hide Solution

31...f6!

Only move. 31...g6?? 32.Qh4 wins quickly for White.

31...f6! 32.Bxf6 Qb6+ 33.Bd4 Rxd7!!

Black loses after 33...Qg6 34.Qxb3+ Qf7 35.Qxf7+ Kxf7 36.Bb6 and the rook falls.

34.Bxb6 Rxd1+ 35.Kf2 Rd3

In the game, Black played 35...Rd2+? 36.Ke1 b2 37.Qb3+ Kf8?? 38.Bc5+ Ke8 39.Qe6+ and Black
resigned. 1-0 O.Oglaza (2345) – Z.Abdumalik (2458) Warsaw 2019.

36.Qxd3

If 36.Qg5, then 36...h6 37.Qe7 Rd2+ 38.Ke1 b2 39.Kxd2 b1=Q 40.Qc5 Qa2+ and Black has the
better chances in the ending.

36...Bxd3 37.Bd4 Kf7 38.Ke1 Be4 39.g3 g6 40.Kd2 Ke6 41.Kc3 Kd5 with a drawn opposite-
colored bishop ending.

466
 95.3)

****
Hint: Surprising resources

Show/Hide Solution

29...Re5!!

White was threatening the devastating Nf5, but after the text move, Black is back in the game.

30.Qf6

The point behind the rook sacrifice is that 30.fxe5?? is met by 30...Qa8!! and White gets mated!

30...Rxe1+ 31.Kxe1 Bd4

Also 31...dxc2 32.Kd2 Be3+ 33.Kxc2 Bxf4 leads to equal play.

32.Qf5+??

White, shellshocked from 29...Re5!!, blunders, after 32.Qxd6 dxc2 33.Kd2 Bxb2 34.Kxc2 Bg7, the
chances would have been about even.

467
32...Kg7 33.Qe4 Kf8 and White resigned as he loses a piece. 0–1

N.Georgiadis (2514) – O.Kurmann (2427) Swiss ch (Leukerbad) 2019

95.4)

***
Hint: Botvinnik-Capablanca

Show/Hide Solution

30.Ba3!

Of course, White could also play 30.Qxf7+ Qxf7 31.Rxf7 Rxb2 32.Rxb7, gaining a clear advantage.
However, getting the black queen away from its defensive duties is even better. Should Black not
capture the bishop on a3, then White will hit on f7 with even greater effect than before.

30.Ba3! b4

The alternatives are: 30...Qxa3 31.Qxf7+ Kh8 32.Qxg6 Rc6 33.Rf6 Qe7 34.e5, and it is game over
for Black. Or 30...Qc7 31.Qxf7+ Qxf7 32.Rxf7 Bc8 33.Be7 Re8 34.Rf8+ Kh7 35.Rxe8 Nxe8
36.Rf7+ Kg8 37.Rf8+ Kg7 38.Rxe8 Rc1+ 39.Bf1 Kf7 40.Rxc8 Rxc8 41.Bf6 and White should win
the endgame; long variation but probably not wrong variation as my compatriot Bent Larsen favored

468
saying.

31.Bxb4 Qxb4 32.Qxf7+ Kh7 33.Rf6 Rxg2+

A desperate attempt at rocking White’s boat, but this is not going to bother White.

34.Kxg2 Qd2+ 35.Kh1 Qxg5 36.Rg1

36.Qxb7 is also perfectly acceptable, easily winning for White.

36...Bd5

Another desperate move.

37.exd5 Qxd5+ 38.Qxd5 Rxd5 39.Rfxg6 Nf5 40.R6g5 Kh6 41.h4 Re5 42.Rf1 and Black resigned.
1–0

D.Dordzhieva (2319) – I.Bulmaga (2444) Riga 2019

Set 96

96.1)

***
Hint: What is White’s biggest asset?

469
 Show/Hide Solution

26.Bc4! Ke6

Capturing the bishop is untenable for Black: 26...dxc4 27.Qxd6+ Kg7 28.Qxe5+ Kh6 29.Qf4+ Kg7
30.Qd4+ Kh6 31.Qxc4 and White is winning.

27.Bb3!

The threat is e3–e4, which is remarkably difficult for Black to meet.

27...Qb7

The alternatives are: a) 27...Rb8 28.e4 Kf6 29.Bxd5 Qa7 30.Bxf7 Kxf7 31.Qxd6 Rxb5 and while
White only has an extra pawn, the open black king will give White a strong ongoing initiative. That
being said, it is far from a certain win. b) 27...f5 28.Qe2 Bc5 29.Rd1 Rd8 30.e4 fxe4 31.Qxe4 Bd4
32.Rc1 Kd6 33.Qg4 and White has a strong initiative. c) 27...e4? 28.Qd4 and White is winning.

28.e4 Qxb5 29.Bxd5+ Ke7 30.Bxf7 Rf8 31.Bb3

White has gained the type of advantage that we discussed above: White has only an extra pawn, but
Black has an open king. In the present situation, Black’s pieces are very actively placed, and that
promises him decent chances to save himself.

31...Rf6 32.g3 Kf8

Understandably, Black is trying to gain some more king safety, but this cannot be done at the cost
relinquishing the initiative as his counterplay is critical when trying to save himself.

33.Kg2 Kg7 34.Re1!?

White can also try something like 34.Qc2 Qc5 35.Qd3 Rf8 36.h4 h5, but it is not clear how much
progress he has made.

34...Bc5 35.Re2

White prefers to have the rook guard the f2–pawn from the second rank as it will also guard the e4–
pawn as well as possibly allowing the option of f2–f3 without opening the king to an attack from the
side.

35...Bd4 36.Bd5 Qc5 37.Qa4 Qc3 38.Qd7+ Kh6 39.Qg4 Kg7 40.h4 h5??

A dreadful blunder, probably played in time trouble, as the last move before the time control. Black

470
should instead have played 40...Kf8! and White cannot make progress, e.g., 41.Ra2 (41.h5 Kg7! and
White will not be able to make progress) 41...Qe1 42.Qd7 Rxf2+, forcing a draw. Black’s active
pieces that are preventing White from switching to an attack against Black’s king is his key defensive
strategy.

41.Qd7+

Now the black king has no safe hiding spot.

41...Kh6 42.Bg8! Qf3+ 43.Kh2 and Black resigned. 1–0

V.Bernadskiy (2583) – P.Trimitzios (2306) Kavala 2019

96.2)

**
Hint: Clear paths

Show/Hide Solution

20.Bxg5!

White can also switch up the move order with 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.Bxg5 but the text move seems

471
objectively best if Black now instead of capturing on g5 plays 21...Bc3 22.Bf4 Rxb1 23.Qxb1 Kg7,
which is objective awful for Black but perhaps not as bad as our game continuation if Black does not
recapture on g5.

20.Bxg5! fxg5

If 20...Kg7? then 21.Qh5! is murder on Black’s king, for instance, 21...Qd7 22.Bf5 and it is curtains
for Black.

21.Bxg6 Qd7 22.Qh5!

The game continuation was 22.Qg4 Bd2? (a better defense was 22...Rb6 23.Bf5 Rxf5 24.Rxb6 axb6
25.Qxb4 with material balance but Black will have a tough defense ahead, trying to safeguard his
loose pawns while guarding his open king.) 23.Rd1 Rb6 24.Bxh7+ Qxh7 25.Rxb6 axb6 26.Rxd2
(White has a very large, if not winning, advantage) 26...Qe7 27.Re2 Qf6 28.h4 d4 29.Qxg5+ Kf7
30.Qxf6+ Kxf6 31.f3 Rd8 32.Kf2 b5 33.Rb2 Rb8 and Black resigned. 1-0 M.Pap (2454) –
V.Djordjevic (2368) Serbian League (Subotica) 2019.

22...Bc5 23.Rxb8 Rxb8 24.Bf5! Rb1+!? 25.Bxb1 Qxe6 26.Qxg5+ Kf7 27.Qf4+ and White has good
winning chances.

96.3)

***
Hint: Organization before prize collection

472
 Show/Hide Solution

26...b4!!

Fantastically strong, threatening to swing the rook to a5 while keeping the queen active on the a7–g1
diagonal. The alternatives are far less effective, e.g., 26...Rcc8 27.Bxb5 Ra8 28.Ra4 and White is
clearly better or;
26...Ra8 27.c3! (but not 27.Qxf7+? Kh8 28.Kc1 (28.c3? Qa1+ 29.Kc2 Rxc3+! 30.Kxc3 Qxd1 and
Black is clearly better) 28...Rf8 29.Qxf8+ Bxf8 30.Rxf8+ Kg7 31.Re8 Qa1+ 32.Kd2 Qxb2 and Black
has the better chances) 27...d5 28.Bxb5 Rb8 29.Rb4 Rcc8 30.Ra4 and White is doing fine.

26...b4!! 27.Kc1

Or 27.Qxb4 Ra5 28.Kc1 Qe3+ 29.Kb1 Rfa8 and Black is winning.

27...Ra5!

The game continued with 27...Rxg5? 28.Rxb4 (A better try was 28.hxg5 Qe3+ 29.Kb1 Qxf4 30.Be4
Rb8 31.Rd4 Bxg5 32.c3 when Black is better but not as much as in the game) 28...Qa1+ 29.Kd2
Rg2+ 30.Be2 Qa5 31.c3? (31.Qa4!) 31...Bxh4 32.Re4 Qf5 33.c4 Bg5+ 34.Kd3 Rd8 35.Kd4 Qc5+
36.Kc3 Bf6+ 37.Kc2 d5 38.Qe3 Rxe2+ and White resigned. 0-1 D.Berdayes Ason (2458) –
F.Valenzuela Gomez (2388) Barcelona 2019.

28.Rxb4 d5! 29.Rb7 Ra1+ 30.Kd2 Qf2+! 31.Be2 Qd4+ 32.Qd3 Qf4+ 33.Qe3 Bb4+ 34.Rxb4

34.Kd3 Qc4#.

34...Qxb4+ 35.Qc3 Rxd1+ and Black is winning.

96.4)

473
 **
Hint: Combining threats

Show/Hide Solution

14.Bb5!

Black’s queen is very vulnerable. The text move threatens Bxc6 but also serves to lock the queen in
place.

14...Bb7 15.a3!

White should not rush with 15.c4 as Black is fine after 15...Qa3.

15...Rad8 16.Be1!

With the nasty threat of c3–c4 against which Black has no reasonable reply. The game continuation
was 16.Nd4? Rxd4 17.cxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxa5 Nxe2+ 19.Bxe2 bxa5 20.Rfc1 Bd8 21.Rc3 Bb6 (White is,
of course clearly better but the win is far from trivial) 22.Rd1 g6 23.h4 Rb8 24.Bf3 Ba6 25.g3 Bb5
26.Be4 h5 27.Kg2 Kf8 28.f3 a4 29.Rb1 a6 30.Rd1 Ba5 31.Rc5 Bd8 32.Rdc1 Rb6 33.Rc8 Ke7 34.Bc6
Bxc6 35.R8xc6 Rb5 36.f4 Bb6 37.R6c4 a5 38.R1c2 Rb3 39.Rxa4 Kd7 40.Rac4 Rxa3 41.Rb2 Be3
42.Rb7+ Kd8 43.Rcc7 Ra2+ 44.Kf3 Ra3 and here Black resigned at the same time. 1-0 F.Cukrowski
(2410) – S.Nihal (2473) Polish Team ch (Dzwirzyno) 2019.

16...Bxa3 17.c4 Nb4 18.Nd2! followed by either Nb1 or Nb3, winning material.

474
 Set 97

97.1)

*****
Hint: Opening paths?

Show/Hide Solution

26...Nb4+!!

A brilliant breakthrough and well-spotted by the Russian grandmaster. Even the engine on my
computer took a while to spot the correctness of the sacrifice. Another, but obviously not nearly as
good, continuation was 26...Qb7 27.Qd5 a4 when Black has the better chances.

26...Nb4+!! 27.cxb4 Qc4+ 28.Ka1

Or 28.b3 Qc2+ 29.Ka3 axb4+ 30.Ka4 Rc3 31.Rb1 Rd3 32.Qxe5 Qc6+ 33.Kxb4 Rd5 34.Qxd5 Qxd5
and Black is winning.

28...axb4 29.Qd5

Or 29.Rd2 b3 30.Kb1 Qe4+ 31.Rd3 Rfd8 32.f3 Rxd6 33.fxe4 Rxd3 and Black is winning.

475
29...Qc2 30.Qa5

White will not be able to save himself with 30.Ba7 Ra8 31.Qa5 b3 32.Rc1 Qxf2 33.Bxf2 Rxa5+
34.Kb1 Rfa8 and Black wins.

30...Ra8 31.Ba7 b3 32.Qa3 Rfc8 33.Rge1 h6

Or 33...Rc7 immediately.

34.f3 Rc7 35.Bc5 Rxa3+ 36.Bxa3 Ra7 37.Rd8+ Kh7 and White resigned. 0–1

S.Gan-Erdene (2407) – I.Nepomniachtchi (2776) FIDE World Cup (Khanty-Mansiysk) 2019

97.2)

*
Hint: Straightforward?

Show/Hide Solution

32...Nc3+! 33.Ka1

White cannot capture the knight either 33.bxc3 bxc3+ 34.Ka1 c2 and Black is winning.

476
33...Nxd5 34.Rxd5 b3

Or 34...Kh8!.

35.e6 Qh4 36.exf7+??

Or 36.Qc3 Rb6 and Black has the clearly better chances.

36...Rxf7 37.Bc6 Rc8 38.Re5 Qa4+! and White resigned before getting mated. 0–1

D.Charochkina (2360) – M.Guseva (2374) Satka 2019

97.3)

****
Hint: Winning time for the right things

Show/Hide Solution

17.hxg6!

17.b4 Bxb4 18.hxg6 hxg6 leads to the same position.

17.hxg6! hxg6 18.b4!

477
White wins time to be able to develop the dark-squared bishop to the a1–h8 diagonal.

18...Bxb4 19.Qc2

The threat against the g6–pawn is a real problem for Black because it cannot be protected without
creating additional problems.

19...cxd5

If 19...f5 then 20.Bb2 decides the game in White’s favor. Or 19...Kf7 20.Bxg6+! Qxg6 21.Rh7+ and
Black will have to give up the queen.

20.Bxg6 f5 21.Bh7+ Kf7 22.Bb2!

In the game White continued with 22.Rb1 Na6 23.cxd5? (23.Bxf5! wins for White) 23...Rac8
24.Qa4? (24.Qe2 was the way to go) 24...Ke8 25.Bb2 Bc3 26.Bxf5 Nc5?? 27.Bxc3?? (27.Rbe1+!)
27...Qxc3 28.Bg6+?! Kd8 29.Qxa7 Bxd5 30.Qxb6+ Rc7 31.Rhf1? Rf6 32.Rbe1 Be4? 33.Qb8+ Rc8
34.Qb5?? Rxg6 35.Qe2 Qg7 36.Rg1 Rxg3+ 37.Kf2 Nd3+ 38.Ke3 Nxe1 and White resigned. 0-1
A.Esipenko (2624) – Va.Moiseenko (2543) Skolkovo Rapid 2019.

22...d4 23.Bxf5 Qf6 24.Be4 and Black’s position is quite hopeless, with the king unable to find
safety and White’s attack continuing unabatedly.

97.4)

478
 ***
Hint: Using threats to generate irresistible strength

Show/Hide Solution

22.Nd4!

White can reach the same position as in our main line with 22.Nh4! Nxf4 23.Qg4 g5 24.Nf5 Re6 (or
24...Rd7 25.Nxh6+ Kh7 26.Nxf7 Rxf7 27.Bxf7 Qe7 28.e6 and White is winning) 25.Bxe6 fxe6
26.Nxh6+ Kg7 27.g3 and White wins material.

22.Nd4! Nxf4 23.Qg4 g5 24.Nf5!

In the game, White continued with 24.g3 Ng6? (24...Nd5 was relatively better although, White has an
obvious advantage after 25.e6) 25.e6? (25.Rf1!) 25...Ne5?! 26.Qh5 fxe6? 27.Nxe6 Rxe6 28.Qxh6
Nf3+ 29.Kf2 Nd4 30.Bxe6+ Nxe6 31.Qxe6+ Kg7 32.Kg1 Bc8 33.Qe4 Rb8 34.g4 Bb7 35.Qd4+
Kg8 36.Rf1 c5 37.Qd3 Qe8 38.Rf6 Kg7 39.Raf1 Rd8 40.Rf7+ and Black resigned. 1-0 D.Swiercz
(2648) – V.Durarbayli (2626) Saint Louis 2019.

24...Qf8 25.g3 Ng6 26.Rf1 and White has an overwhelming initiative, for instance, 26...Nxe5
27.Qh5 Kh7 28.Bc2 and Black’s defense collapses.

Set 98

98.1)

479
 *
Hint: Attack to most obvious weakness

Show/Hide Solution

34.f4!

Cracking open Black’s loose defensive cover.

34...Qb7

Nothing works for Black, for instance, 34...Qe6 35.Qc7 or 34...Qf7 35.Rxe5 Rd8 36.f5! Nb7 37.Re3!
Nd6 38.Rg3+ and White wins.

35.Qf6! Qf7 36.Rd8+ Black resigned. 1–0

K.Lagno (2545) - Ju Wenjun (2576) Skolkovo 2019

98.2)

480
 ****
Hint: Pour gasoline, and then some

Show/Hide Solution

27...Ng3+!

The game continued 27...Qg4 28.Nf4?? (A blunder, a better try was 28.h3 Ng3+ 29.Bxg3 hxg3
30.Nd4 Bxd4 31.cxd4 Qxd4 32.Qe1 when Black has the better chances but White is not without
counterplay) 28...Re8?? (Black could win with 28...Ng3+! 29.hxg3 hxg3+ 30.Nh3 Rxh3+ 31.gxh3
Qxh3+ 32.Qh2 g2+ 33.Rxg2 Qxf3 34.Nd4 (if 34.Qh8+ Kc7 35.Qxg7 Qh3+ 36.Rh2 Qf1+ with mate)
34...Qf1+ and Black is winning) 29.c4 dxc4 30.Qxc4+ Kb8 31.Qe2 Ne3 32.Bf2 Nxg2 33.Bxb6
Nxf4 34.Bxa7+ Kc8 35.Qc4+ Nc5 36.Rf1 Reg8 37.Bxc5 and Black resigned. 1-0 J.Duda (2730) –
J.Xiong (2707) FIDE World Cup (Khanty-Mansiysk) 2019.
A decent alternative is 27...Rgh7!? 28.h3 (or 28.Rh3 Ng3+ 29.Bxg3 hxg3 30.Rxh7 Rxh7 31.h3 Qf5
32.Nd4 Bxd4 33.cxd4 Rh4 and Black is much better) 28...Ng3+ 29.Bxg3 hxg3 30.Nd4 Bxd4 31.cxd4
Rxh3+ 32.gxh3 Rxh3+ 33.Kg1 Qh4 and Black has a clear advantage.

27...Ng3+! 28.Bxg3 hxg3 29.h3 Nxe5!!

Black can also play 29...Rgh7!? 30.Nd4 Rxh3+! 31.gxh3 Rxh3+ 32.Kg1 Rh2 33.Qe3 Qh5 34.Rxg3
Rxa2 35.Rg8+ Bd8 and Black has a clear advantage.

30.Nxe5 Bf2 31.Rxf2 gxf2 32.Qxf2 Qxe5 33.Rxa7 Kb8 34.b6 Qe4 and Black has the clearly better

481
chances.

98.3)

****
Hint: What is a loose piece?

Show/Hide Solution

30.Rd2!

This move is powerful, both defensively and aggressively, preparing some latent threats to exploit
Black’s loose pieces and awkward coordination.

30...Ba8?

Natural but ultimately not very good. A better option was 30...f4, although White after 31.Ng2 Rb8
32.Nxf4 Rxb3 33.Nd3 has the better chances.

31.f4!

Now the situation becomes critical for Black as the threat of Bxh5+ is not easy to counter.

31...Rg8+

482
31...Nf6 is met by 32.Rxe7+! Kxe7 33.Bxf6+ Kxf6 34.Rxa2 and White is winning.

32.Kf1 Rxb2

Black has no other way to defend against the threats.

33.Bxh5+! Kf6 34.Rxb2 Nf8 35.Ra2!

Starting the attack Black’s king by transferring the king tho the 7th rank.

35...Rh8 36.Raa7 Rh7 37.Rxe7, winning two pieces for a rook. Black resigned. 1–0

J.Kociscak (2499) – A.Diermair (2479) Blansko 2019

98.4)

***
Hint: Can opener

Show/Hide Solution

17.Nhxf6+!

White wrecks Black’s kingside. White can, of course, capture with either of the knights.

483
17...gxf6 18.Nxf6+ Kh8

Or 18...Kg7 19.Nxe8+ Rxe8 20.d4 and Black’s king is even more vulnerable because Black needs to
spend more time getting the king to safety.

19.d4!

White opens the diagonal toward Black’s vulnerable king. Black’s pieces are passively placed and
poorly coordinated, but he is also a piece up for a couple of pawns, so White’s victory is far from
certain at this point, but he definitely has the better chances.

19...cxd5

It seems advisable to keep the position closed with 19...d6, for instance, 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.Nxe8 Rxe8
22.d5 Bd7 when White has better chances, but there is still a lot of work to be done before the full
point can be claimed.

20.dxe5 Rxe5

Or 20...Re7 21.exd5 Bg7 22.Bd4; and 20...Bg7 21.Nxe8 Rxe8 22.exd5, and in both cases, White is
overwhelmingly better.

21.Nxd5 Qh6 22.f4 Kg8 23.fxe5 Qxd2 24.Bxd2 Nxe5 25.Rb3 Rc8 26.Rg3+ Ng6 27.Nf6+ Kg7
28.Nxd7

White is winning.

28...Bd6 29.Rd3 Be7 30.Rc3 Rd8 31.Rc7 Kf7 32.Bc3 Ke6 33.Rd1 Rg8 34.Nc5+ Bxc5 35.bxc5
Bxe4 36.Rd6+ Kf5 37.Rf7+ Kg4 38.h3+ Kh5 39.Rxh7+ Kg5 40.Bd2+ and Black resigned. 1–0

F.Caruana (2812) – H.Nakamura (2745) World Fischer Random (Hovikodden) 2019

Set 99

99.1)

484
 ***
Hint: Using your trumps to your advantage

Show/Hide Solution

23...Rxb7!

Black eliminates the errant knight to gain time for the next strike.

24.Bxb7 c4!

In the game, Black continued with 24...dxc3!? 25.Bxc3 Nxd3 26.Be4 Nf4 27.Qf3?? (27.Qe3 Qe7
and Black has the better chances) 27...Qh4 (The bishop cannot return to g2 and Black is already close
to winning) 28.Rd7 Nxh3+ 29.Kf1 Bxe4 30.Rxe4 Ng5 31.Qe3 Qh1+ 32.Ke2 Nxe4 33.Rxc7 Rd8
34.Be1 b4 35.Qd3 Rf8 36.Qd7 Nf6 37.Qc6 Nd5 38.Bd2 Qe4+ 39.Kf1 Qd3+ 40.Ke1 Nxc7 and
White resigned. 0-1 T.Vojta (2363) – L.Budisavljevic (2359) Tatranske Zruby 2019.

25.dxc4 d3

The point: the passed pawn guarantees Black a significant advantage.

26.Qd2

Or 26.Qe3 bxc4 27.Ba3 Qb8 28.Bg2 Rd8 and Black is clearly better.

485
26...bxc4 27.f4 Qb8 28.Qg2 Nd7 and Black is much better.

99.2)

***
Hint: Open & disrupt

Show/Hide Solution

20.Bb6!

White will also gain a large advantage with 20.Rb8 Rc8 21.Rxc8 Qxc8 22.Qa5 Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Ba3
(or 23...Be7 24.Rb7) 24.Rb3 and White is much better.

20.Bb6! Bc5+ 21.Bxc5 Rxc5 22.Re7+ Kf8 23.Qb4 Rxd5

The alternatives are no better, for instance, 23...Qxd5 24.Rc7 or 23...g6 24.Rc7 Kg7 25.Rxc5 Bxd5
26.Rd1 and White is winning.

24.Rxe6+ Kg8 25.Rd6 and Black resigned. 1–0

G.Prithu (2493) – D.Gavrilescu (2451) FIDE Grand Swiss (Douglas) 2019

486
 99.3)

****
Hint: Prepare the attack against White’s weakest point

Show/Hide Solution

27...Qb6

A decent alternative but not nearly as good as the text move is 27...Qd7 28.Rcd2 (or 28.Nf4 c4
29.Rcd2 c3 30.Rd5 Qe7 and Black has a large advantage) 28...Bxe2 29.Rxe2 Bf8 30.Red2 Bxd6
31.Rxd6 Qxd6 32.Rxd6 Rxd6 and Black should win the endgame.

27...Qb6 28.Nc4

Or 28.Nxe4 Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1 Bd3! and Black wins more material, for instance, 30.Qxd3 Rd8 and the
white queen will fall.

28...Bxc4

Or 28...Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1 Rd8 30.Qc1 Bxc4 31.Rxc4 Qb2 32.Rc2 Qxc1+ 33.Rxc1 Bb2 34.Re1 c4 and
Black is winning the endgame.

487
29.Rxc4 Rxd1+ 30.Qxd1 Rd8 31.Qxa4

After 31.Qc2, Black plays 31...Qb2! and wins.

31...Qb2 32.Kf1 Rd2 33.Qe8+ Bf8 34.Qxe4 Rd1# 0–1

S.Duran Vega (2387) – R.Mullick (2399) Budapest 2019

99.4)

**
Hint: Structural weaknesses

Show/Hide Solution

18...Bb5!

Black gets the bishop away from the threatening pawn but opens for some threats of his own.

19.Rfe1

The alternatives are seeing similar punishment: 19.Rg1 Rxc3 20.bxc3 Nxe4 21.Qe1 Qxd5 22.Bd4
Rc8 or 19.Rfd1 Rxc3 20.bxc3 Nxe4 21.Qh4 Qxh4 22.Nxh4 Bxc3 23.Bb6 f6 24.Nf3 Kf7 or 19.Nxb5
Nxe4 20.Qe1 axb5 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Ng5 Nxg5 23.fxg5 Rc2, in each case with a large advantage for

488
Black.

19...Rxc3!

After this move, White’s house card collapses at the investment of no more than an exchange.

20.bxc3 Nxe4 21.Qh3 Qxh3 22.gxh3 Nxc3 23.Bd4 Nxd5 24.Bxg7 Kxg7

Black is winning.

25.Nd4 Bd7 26.Rf1 e5 27.fxe5 dxe5 28.Nf3 Re8 29.Rfe1 f6 30.h4 Bc6 31.Kg1 Nf4 32.Rc3 Nd5
33.Rcc1 Kf7 34.Kf2 Nf4 35.Rc3 e4 and White resigned. 0–1

P.Potapov (2489) – S.Golubov (2469) Russian blitz ch (Sochi) 2019

Set 100

100.1)

**
Hint: The white king is vulnerable but how vulnerable?

Show/Hide Solution

489
28...Nxc4! 29.Nxc4 Rxc4 30.Bxc4 d3+!

This discovered check is the first point of the combination

31.Ne3 Qd4!

This is strongest, but, rather surprisingly, Black gets enough compensation for the rook after 31...d2!?
32.Bb2 Bxe3+ 33.Kxe3 Rxg3+ 34.Ke2 Bd5 35.Bxa6 Rb3 36.Rd1 Qa8 37.Bd3 Be4 and Black has a
large advantage.

32.Ra3?

Or 32.Qxd3 Qxa1 33.Bd2 Be4 34.Qe2 Rg6 35.Qe1 (35.Bxa6 h5 intending ...Nh6 followed by ...Ng4
and White is completely busted) 35...Qd4 36.Qc1 Ne7 with a large advantage for Black, a possible
continuation is 37.Qc3 Qxc3 38.Bxc3 Bxe3+ 39.Kxe3 Rxg3+ 40.Kd2 Kg7 41.Bd4 (41.Bxe6?? Rd3+
is obviously out of the question) 41...Nd5 42.Bxd5 Bxd5 with very good winning chances for Black.

32...Qxc4

Exploiting the pin on the knight.

33.Rxd3 Qc2+

Now White’s position entirely falls apart.

34.Rd2 Bxe3+ 35.Kxe3 Rxg3+ 36.Ke2 Qc4+ 37.Ke1 Qxc1+ 38.Rd1 Qc3+ and White finally
resigned. 0–1

N.Nikolovski (2424) – L.Pantsulaia (2603) European Teams (Batumi) 2019

100.2)

490
 ****
Hint: Combining threats

Show/Hide Solution

27.Ba7! Bd5

If Black aims for the activity to compensate for the exchange, it quickly runs on the ground, e.g.,
27...Nc5 28.Rb2 Qd7 (or 28...Rd8 29.Bxb8 Rxb8 30.Rc1 and White is winning) 29.Bxb8 Rxb8
30.Nc4 Nxc4 31.Bxc4 and White is decisively better.

28.Rc2!

This is essential to claim an advantage for White.

28...Rxb1 29.Rxc8+ Nf8 30.Rxb1

White has two rooks for the queen but with a clear positional advantage to boot, leaving White with a
decisive advantage.

30...Bb7 31.Rb8 Bxe4 32.Rxf8+ 1–0

P.Harikrishna (2731) – I.Nepomniachtchi (2773) Kolkata rapid 2019

491
 100.3)

***
Hint: Generate momentum

Show/Hide Solution

22.Rh5! gxh5 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Qf6!

In the game, White played less accurately 24.Qh6+ Ke8?? (a big blunder; better was 24...Kg8 25.Re5
f5 26.dxe6 Bxe6 and White is much better but this is still better than the game continuation) 25.Nf5
Bb5 26.Qxh7 Rc7 27.d6 Nd3 28.Rxe6+ Kd7 29.dxc7 Qxf2+ 30.Kh2 Qf4+ 31.Ng3 Kxc7 32.Nxb5+
Kb8 33.Rd6 Re8 34.Qxd3 and Black resigned. 1-0 S.Tiviakov (2613) – A.Igambergenov (2410)
Pavlodar 2019.

24...Kg8 25.Re5 Re8 26.Rg5+ Kf8 27.Rg7! Re7 28.Rxh7 with mate on the next move.

100.4)

492
 ***
Hint: Attack the most important defender

Show/Hide Solution

20...Qh4!

In the game, Black played 20...Bh6!? 21.Qd3 Qg5+ 22.Kh1 Ng3+ 23.fxg3 Qxg3 24.e6 Bf4 25.Re2
fxe2 26.Qxe2 Be8 27.Nc6 Bxc6 28.dxc6 Rae8 29.Rd1 Be3 30.Qg2 Qh4 31.e7 Rxe7 32.Qd5+ Ref7
33.Bg2 Qg3 34.Qd3 h5 35.Qc3 Rf1+ and White resigned. 0-1 T.Abrahamyan (2397) – C.Hilby
(2414) Saint Louis 2019.

20...Qh4! 21.e6 Bxb2 22.Qxb2 Ng3! 23.Re3

Or 23.fxg3 Qxg3+ 24.Kh1 f2! 25.Bg2 fxe1=Q+ and Black is winning.

23...Nxf1 24.Kxf1 Qg5 25.Re4 Qxd5 26.Qd4 Bxe6 27.Qxd5 Bxd5 28.Rd4 Rf5 with two extra
pawns for Black, which should suffice to win the game.

Set 101

101.1)

493
 ***
Hint: Calculate the counterplay carefully

Show/Hide Solution

25...Bxh3!

This capture is obvious at first glance because the recapture is not possible on account of the knight
fork on f3, but Black needs to have an answer ready against a White c2–c3, attacking the knight on
d4.

26.c3

Of course, Black is not concerned with 26.f4 exf4 27.gxh3 fxe3 28.Bxe3 b5 29.Nd2 Qd7 and Black
has a clear advantage as well as an extra pawn.

26...Nxb3 27.gxh3 Nxc1 28.Bxc1 Rxd3

Black has received a rook and three pawns for two knights, and this promises him a clear advantage
because the knights have no opportunity to be effective in this position.

29.Bd2?!

Or 29.Nb2 Rdd8 30.Qe2 Bh6 and Black is clearly better.

29...Red8 30.Qe2??

494
Another mistake that loses the game for White. The better option was 30.Bc1 b5 31.axb5 cxb5
32.Nb2 R3d6 and Black has a clear advantage and should eventually win the game.

30...b5

Black wins material.

31.axb5 cxb5 32.Nd5 R8xd5 33.exd5 bxc4 34.Be3 Qd7 and White resigned. 0–1

A.Chandra (2513) – R.Mamedov (2645) Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup 2019

101.2)

***
Hint: The first couple of moves are simple but then it gets tricky

Show/Hide Solution

20.Nf6+! gxf6

Safer, but not good is 20...Kh8 21.Nd7 and White wins the exchange with a large advantage in hand.

21.Qxh6 fxe5?

495
A better defensive try was 21...f5, but White should win after 22.a3! Nxa3 and now White has an
elegant path to the win: 23.Qg5+! Kh7 24.Qh4+ Kg7 25.Qg3+ Kh7 26.Ne4! fxe4 27.Rxa3 and
White is winning.

22.Ne4 f6 23.Qg6+ Kh8 24.Nxf6 Rxf6 25.Qxf6+ Kg8

Black’s king is completely bare, and all of his pieces are on the queenside.

26.dxe5 Qb5

The alternatives are no better: 26...Nd5 27.Rxd5; or 26...Nxe5 27.Qg5+ Kf7 28.Qxe5 and White is
winning.

27.Qxe6+ Kh8 28.Rd7 Qxe5 29.Qh6+ Kg8 30.Qh7+ and Black resigned before getting mated. 1–0

R.Ruck (2526) – F.Kaczur (2464) Hungarian Team ch 2019

101.3)

***
Hint: Mobilization

Show/Hide Solution

496
20...Qd6!

A dual-purpose move, making room for f8–rook to join the fun and to use the queen actively to attack
White’s king on the dark squares.

21.Kb2

Alternatively, 21.Rhd1 is met by 21...Rc8 22.Kb2 Rxc3 23.Qa8+ (or 23.Kxc3 Qf6 24.Qb8+ Rd8+
25.e5 Qc6+ and Black is winning) 23...Kg7 24.Kxc3 Qf6 (but not 24...Qe5?? 25.f4 and White is
actually better) 25.Re1 Qe5 26.f4 Qc5+ 27.Kb2 Bxe4 28.Qxe4 Rxd2+ 29.Kb1 Qf2 30.Kc1 (or
30.Qe5+ f6 31.Qxe7+ Kh6 and Black should win) 30...Rxa2 and Black is winning.

21...Bxe4! 22.Rxd4 Qxd4 23.fxe4 Qd2+ 24.Kb1 Qxc3 25.Qd7 Qe3 26.Qxe7??

A blunder. The better defense was 26.Rc1 Qxe4+ 27.Rc2 Qe1+ 28.Kb2 Qe5+ with a clear advantage
for Black

26...Qd3+ 27.Ka1 Qc3+

Even stronger was 27...Qd4+ 28.Kb1 Rc8 29.Qa3 (or 29.h4 Qd3+ 30.Ka1 Qc3+ 31.Kb1 Qc2+
32.Ka1 Ra8 and White has no defense) 29...Qxe4+ 30.Ka1 Qxg2 31.Rd1 Qc2 and Black will win.

28.Kb1 Rc8 29.Qb7 Qd3+ 30.Ka1 Qd4+ 31.Kb1 Rc5 32.h4?

Or 32.Qxb6 Qxe4+ 33.Ka1 Qd4+ 34.Kb1 Rc1+ and Black is winning.

32...Qd3+ 33.Ka1 Qc3+ 34.Kb1 Qc2+ 35.Ka1 Ra5 and White resigned. 0–1

S.Gordon (2505) – C.Aravindh VR. (2605) London 2019

101.4)

497
 ***
Hint: Go for it!

Show/Hide Solution

21.Bxg6!

The game continuation saw White continue with the very interesting alternative 21.Bc2!? Be7?! (a
better defense was 21...0-0-0!? 22.b4 Nd7 23.b5 Nc5 with sharp play where White appears to have
the better chances due to Black’s somewhat looser king position) 22.b4 Ne4 23.Ba4+? (here, White
should have played 23.Nxe6! fxe6 24.Rd4 Kf7 25.Bxe4 Bxe4 26.Rxe4 Qc6 27.Qf3 (or 27.Re5!? Bf6
28.c5 Bxe5 29.fxe5+ Kg7 30.cxb6 with a complicated position) 27...Bxb4 28.Rb1 and White has the
upper hand, but Black is still firmly in the game) 23...Kf8 24.Nxe6+ fxe6 25.Rd7? (25.c5!? would
have been stronger although White probably does not have sufficient compensation after 25...b5
26.Bb3 Bf6) 25...Qxc4 26.Rfd1? Qxa2 27.f5 gxf5 28.Bb3 Qxb3 29.Bh6+ Rxh6 30.Qxb3 Bd5
31.R7xd5 exd5 32.Qxd5 Rd8 33.Qxf5+ Rf6 and White resigned. 0-1 J.Echavarria (2323) –
Jo.Morales (2404) El Bagre 2019.

21.Bxg6! 0-0-0!?

Or 21...fxg6 22.Nxe6 Qc6 23.Bxc5 Bxc5 24.Nxc5 bxc5 25.Rfe1+ Kf8 26.Re6 Qxg2+ 27.Qxg2
Bxg2+ 28.Kxg2 Kf7 29.Rdd6 and White is much better in the endgame.

22.b4 Na4 23.Bxf7 Qxf7 24.c5 bxc5 25.Nxe6 with a strong initiative and excellent compensation for

498
White.

499
 Before You Go

Thanks for picking up this book and reading your way through it. I hope you have found it
entertaining and enjoyable.
If you have, please let an honest (it doesn’t have to be long) review on the platform you have
purchased it from.
Thank you.

If you enjoyed this book…

Then you may also enjoy the other book in this series, volume 1, also by Carsten Hansen

500
 Index of Players

Abdumalik 95.2
Abdusattorov 7.1, 88.4
Abrahamyan 100.4
Aczel 19.3, 66.4
Adhiban 51.2
Ahlander 6.3, 55.4
Akash 32.3, 83.4
Akobian 64.3
Albornoz Cabrera 36.1
Alekseenko 31.2
Aliyev 48.3
Amin 53.4
Anand 51.1, 65.4, 72.1
Antal, 32.2
Antipov 39.3, 72.2
Anton Guijarro 57.3, 61.3
Aranha Filho 4.4
Aravindh 81.3, 101.3
Arenas 33.3
Aroshidze 29.1, 85.2
Arribas Lopez 29.1
Artemiev 64.2, 67.1, 79.4
Arizmendi Martinez 73.1
Atabayev 90.3
Atalik 59.2
Avila Pavas 81.4
Ayats Llobera 47.2
Azarov 24.3
Azarya 17.4
Bachmann 33.1

501
Badelka 41.3
Banusz 48.2, 69.2
Barbosa 5.4
Bartel,M. 38.2, 79.3
Batsiashvili 16.4, 60.2, 70.3
Baum 7.3
Beerdsen 38.3, 83.1
Belenkaya 74.3
Bellakcene 9.3
Beradze 34.3
Berczes 34.3
Berdayes Ason 20.2, 96.3
Berend 72.4
Bernadskiy 20.3, 91.4, 96.1
Bhakhti 42.3
Bharat 46.2
Bijaoui 26.1
Bilguun 44.1
Bilych 83.2
Biolek 25.1
Bjerre 62.2, 87.4
Blesic 80.2
Blohberger 91.2
Blomqvist 94.1
Bluebaum 22.3, 91.2
Bobadilla Viera 92.1
Bobras 31.1
Bogdanov 63.1
Bogner 8.3, 54.4
Bosboom 74.4
Bosch 32.2
Brenjo 17.3

502
Bronstein 11.2
Bruzon Batista 27.1, 57.2
Bu Xiangzhi 52.1
Budisavljevic 99.1
Bukal 79.1
Bulmaga 95.4
Carlsen 89.4
Caruana 98.4
Chandra 101.1
Charochkina 97.2
Chen Fan 21.1
Cheng Bo 86.2
Cheparinov 11.3, 17.2, 45.1, 48.2
Cherednichenko 2.4
Cherniaev 81.1
Chigaev 67.2
Chighladze 13.4
Chkhaidze 35.1
Chylewski 36.4
Cioara 46.1
Ciorgovean 12.4
Coenen 66.1
Cordova 59.3
Cori 8.3, 22.2, 37.1
Cox 76.2
Cruz 10.1, 19.4, 94.3
Csonka 22.1
Cukrowski 96.4
Cvitan 65.2
Czebe 32.4
Danin 40.4, 41.4
Davtyan 27.4

503
De Strycker 57.4
Deac 66.3
Debashis 94.2
Deepan 40.1, 84.1
Delgado Ramirez 78.1
Demchenko 60.3, 61.2, 90.1
Dhulipalla 87.4
Diermair 45.4, 98.3
Dimic 30.2
Ding Liren 14.2
Divya 87.3
Djordjevic 96.2
Djukic 43.3
Domingo Nunez 23.4
Dominguez Pons 79.3
Donchenko 11.4, 48.2
Dordzhieva 95.4
Draskovic 57.1
Drnovsek 63.3
Dragnev 23.1
Duda 98.2
Duran Vega 80.3, 99.3
Durarbayli 97.4
Dzagnidze 78.3
Echavarria 81.4, 101.4
Elgersma 88.1
Enkhnar 44.1
Epishin 31.4
Ernst 82.4
Escalante Ramirez 24.3
Esipenko 65.1, 97.3
Estremera Panos 23.3

504
Faizrakhmanov 89.1
Fakhrutdinov 30.1
Farkas 6.1
Favaloro 86.3
Fedorchuk 10.2
Fedorov, A. 21.4
Fedoseev 1.3, 92.1
Fernandes 39.1
Fernandez Borrego 19.4
Fernandez Mayola 84.2
Firman 46.4
Firouzja 50.4
Flores 42.1
Florstedt 65.2
Fluvia Poyatos 24.1
Forcen Esteban 44.3
Fus 2.2
Gabuzyan 64.3
Gajewski 90.1, 91.1
Galinsky 18.4
Galkin 89.2
Galperin 13.2
Galyas 49.4
Gan-Erdene 97.1
Ganguly 70.2
Garcia Cardenas 5.4
Garcia Castro 25.3
Garcia Palermo 72.3
Garcia Pantoja 7.2
Garcia Ramos 33.3
Gareev 7.2, 42.2
Garifullina 56.4

505
Gavarrete 24.1
Gavrilescu 99.2
Gazik 48.3
Geller 88.3
Gerogiadis 95.3
Georgiev, Ki. 61.3
Gholami 49.2
Gijswijt 54.1
Giri 57.3, 64.2, 67.1, 84.3
Girinath 93.4
Goganov 13.3
Gokerkan 29.4
Goltseva 41.3
Golubov 41.1, 88.4, 99.4
Goluch 21.4
Gordon 101.3
Goryatchkina 9.2, 60.2
Grachev, A. 37.3
Granda Zuniga 77.3, 78.2
Grandelius 5.3, 53.2
Grigoryan 23.3
Grischuk 6.4
Grover 76.2
Gschnitzer 31.4
Guerra Rivera 18.2
Guichard 75.4
Guid 58.1
Gukesh 84.4, 91.1
Gullaksen 29.4
Gunina 74.3, 75.3
Gupta 25.2, 82.1
Gusain 84.1

506
Guseinov 58.2, 88.3
Guseva 36.3, 97.2
Gutenev 56.3
Gutman 9.1, 13.1
Haag 70.1
Hakobyan 18.2, 37.2, 38.1, 55.2
Haldorsen 85.1
Hamitevici 26.3, 53.1
Hammer 68.3
Hansen, E. 51.4
Hansen, S.B. 8.2
Harff 7.4, 65.1
Harika 9.4, 56.2
Harikrishna 100.2
Harikrishnan 10.1
Harutjunyan 63.2, 66.2
Haubro 18.4
Hauge 12.1, 70.2, 93.2
Hazbedaroglu 73.2
Heberla 2.2
Herraiz Hidalgo 47.1, 47.3
Herrera Reyes 46.4, 47.3
Hesham 44.2
Hess 62.4
Hillby 100.4
Hillarp Persson 3.3
Himanshu 46.2
Hoffman 78.2
Hou Yifan 86.1
Hrabusa 2.3
Hujbert 66.4
Ibarra Jerez 67.2, 73.1

507
Idani 42.4, 46.3
Igambergenov 100.3
Iljiushenok 89.1
Indjic 30.4
Iniyan 5.2, 78.4
Ionescu 43.2
Ippolito 93.2
Iskandarov 13.3
Iturrizaga 77.1, 90.2, 91.3
Iuldachev 3.4
Ivanchuk 12.3, 45.1, 88.2
Ivanisevic 47.2, 69.2
Ivanov,J. 94.4
Ivanov, S. 10.3
Ivic 57.1, 58.2
Jacobsen 82.2
Jacobson, A. 26.4
Janik 93.1
Jarmula 70.4
Johansson 3.3
Jojua 33.2
Jones 58.4
Ju Wenjun 98.1
Jurcik 1.3
Kaczur 101.2
Kadric 28.1
Kalezic 59.1
Kamer 31.3
Kanarek 7.3
Kantans 31.1
Karacsonyi 66.2
Karjakin 64.1

508
Karthikeyan 5.2, 86.3
Kashlinskaya 36.2
Kasimdzhanov 73.4
Kessler 54.4
Khegay 54.2
Khotenashvili 14.4
Khusenkhojaev 59.4
Kislinsky 34.4
Kjartarsson 69.1, 69.4
Klekowski 36.4
Kociscak 98.3
Kogan 35.3
Koneru 36.2
Kopylov 4.3
Korobov 65.4
Kosakowski 93.1
Kosteniuk 9.4
Kostolansky 20.1, 44.4
Kotsur 36.3
Kovacevic, B 61.1
Kovalev 23.1, 69.3
Koykka 93.3
Kozak 49.1, 70.4, 92.3
Koziak 1.4
Kozul 79.1
Kozusek 6.1, 6.2
Krasteva 95.1
Kraus 4.1
Krishna 39.3
Krush 71.1, 71.3
Krysa 42.1
Krzyzanowski 60.3

509
Kucuksari 8.4
Kurmann 58.3, 95.3
Ladron de Guevara Pinto 22.2
Lagarde 15.4, 43.4, 47.4
Lagno 78.3, 98.1
Lajthajm 17.3
Lalith 8.1, 19.1
Lan Zilun 14.3
Larino Nieto 23.4
Laxman 23.2, 44.2, 81.3
Lazic 70.1
Laznicka 62.3
Lee 16.2, 80.3
Leenhouts 69.1
Lei Tingjie 14.4, 89.3
Levin 6.3, 27.2
Lewtak 34.4
Li Bo 82.3
Li Chao 11.3
Liang 88.2
Licznerski 25.4
Lintchevski 41.2
Lin Weiguo 18.1
Liu Yan 16.1
Liu Xiangyi 86.2
Lopez, J. (not that J Lo!) 54.1, 60.1
Lorenzo de la Riva 20.2, 21.2
Lundin 68.1
Lupulescu 46.1
Macovei 12.4
Makarian 4.2, 11.1
Maksimovic 80.2

510
Mamedov 101.1
Mamedyarov 52.2, 52.4, 64.1
Markoja 61.1
Markowski 21.4, 34.1
Martin del Campo 87.2
Martinez Duany 12.2
Martin Duque 39.4
Martinovici 22.1, 32.3
Mascaro March 79.2
Matlakov 14.1
Matnadze 33.4, 35.3
Maurizzi 53.2
McShane 5.3
Meins 15.1
Menezes 27.3, 44.4
Meshkovs 92.4
Mesropov 41.2, 41.4, 89.2
Michna 75.3
Miciano 55.1
Miesbauer 4.1
Mihok 80.4
Mikhalevski 37.2
Miladinovic 29.2
Miljkovic 29.3
Milosevic 5.1
Minasian 72.4
Miron 43.2
Mirzoev 27.2
Mis 77.4
Mitrabha 52.3
Moiseenko, V. 12.3, 56.3, 97.3
Molenda 37.4

511
Morales 101.4
Moreau 68.3
Moradiabadi 68.2
Morozevich 28.3
Mosadeghpour 23.2
Motylev 15.3, 17.1
Moussard 81.1
Movsesian 13.1
Mullick 99.3
Munkhgal 18.1
Munoz Pantoja 39.4
Muradli 55.1
Murphy 20.4
Murzin 1.2
Muse 49.4
Muzychuk, A. 75.4
Naboka 20.3
Najer 51.1
Nakamura 99.4
Narayanan 85.4
Narciso Dublan 91.4
Naumkin 61.4
Navara 10.2
Navrotescu 12.2
Nayhebaver 2.3
Neelotpal 45.3, 82.1
Nenezic 28.4
Nepomniachtchi 72.1, 74.2, 97.1, 100.2
Nesteretz 19.1
Niemann 73.3, 74.1
Nigmatov 7.1
Nihal 37.1, 50.2, 96.4

512
Nikolaidis 38.3
Nikolovski 25.1, 34.4, 100.1
Nozdrachev 1.2, 3.1
Nyback 62.1
Nyysti 62.2
Oboladze 40.3
O’Donnell 85.1
Oglaza 95.2
Oliva 21.2
Onischuk 58.3, 58.4
Onkoud 19.2
Pacan-Milej 77.4
Paichadze 35.1, 40.3
Panchanathan 92.2
Panczyk 6.2
Panjwani 71.1
Pantsulaia 43.1, 100.1
Pap 63.2, 96.2
Papadopoulos 94.4
Papin 54.3
Paragua 71.2, 73.3
Paravyan 40.1, 66.1
Parligras 51.3, 56.2
Parvanyan 42.3, 85.2
Pascua 65.3
Pechac 1.3
Pein 22.4
Pelletier 62.3
Peng Hongchi 21.1
Peng Li Min 61.4, 92.1
Peng Xiongjian 14.1, 17.4
Peng Zhaoqin 59.2

513
Peptan 66.3
Percivaldi 81.2
Perdomo 32.4, 33.1
Perez Candelas 67.4
Pershin 28.3
Perunovic 16.3
Petriashvili 49.2
Petrov 24.4
Pijpers 8.1
Plat 9.2
Pogosyan 53.3, 90.2
Polok 48.1
Ponkratov 3.2, 55.3
Popatov 99.4
Popov, I. 45.2, 56.4
Popov, K. 20.1
Praggnanandhaa 49.1
Predke 46.3
Predojevic 30.4, 87.1
Priasmoro 71.4
Prithu 99.2
Pruijssers 74.4, 76.1
Psyk 37.4
Pultinevicius 48.4
Puranik 79.2
Quesada Vera 93.3
Quispe Vera 44.3
Radovanovic 11.2, 59.1
Ragger 62.1
Rahul 52.3
Raja 84.4
Rakhmanov 28.1, 30.3

514
Rapport 18.3
Rathnakaran 45.3
Ratkovic 28.4, 29.2
Ringoir 80.1
Roberson 20.4
Robson 50.3
Rodshtein 38.2, 50.1
Romanov 2.1, 3.2
Rozentalis 68.1
Rublevsky 30.3
Ruck 63.3, 101.2
Rychkov 3.1
Rytenko 24.2
Sabuk 39.2, 92.3
Sadhwani 53.4
Saduakassova 72.2
Safarli 22.4, 50.1
Salemgareev 37.3
Sammed Jaykumar 56.1
Sanchez, L. 32.1
Sanchez Saez 28.2
Sandipan 10.3, 60.4, 62.4, 83.4
Santarius 26.4, 92.4
Santiago 78.1, 84.2
Santos 33.2
Santos Latasa 32.1
Santos Ruiz 15.1, 55.2
Sarana 40.4, 41.1
Sargissian 51.4
Sargsyan 53.3, 56.1
Saric 33.4
Sasikiran 64.4

515
Savchenko, B. 4.2
Savenkov 30.1
Schreiner 73.4
Sean 43.4
Sebag 19.2
Sedlak 63.4
Seel 67.3
Seifert 60.4
Semenov 47.1
Sengupta 92.2
Seo 63.1
Serarols Mabras 94.1
Sethuraman 16.1, 85.4
Shanava 31.3, 73.2
Shankland 68.4
Shariyazdanov 35.2
Shimanov 2.1, 26.2
Shirov 31.2
Shtembuliak 35.4, 38.1, 83.3
Shubin 85.3
Shyam 15.2
Sidhant 42.2
Sinanovic 48.1, 87.1
Skripchenko 50.4
Slipak 77.3
Smeets 75.1
Smirnov, A. 77.2
Smirnov, P. 53.1
So 52.2, 52.4, 79.4
Socko 34.1, 70.3, 75.2
Soham 25.3
Sokolov, I. 1.1

516
Solomon 9.3
Solozhenkina 75.2
Song 34.2
Sorin 67.4
Sorokin 68.2
Soylu 13.4
Srebrnic 58.1
Stambulian 55.3
Stankovic 16.3
Stefanova 50.3
Steingrimsson 57.2, 71.2
Stephan 26.1
Stevic 11.1, 45.2
Stocek 13.2
Stojanovic 5.1, 68.4
Stukopin 29.1
Sturt 59.3
Suarez Gomez 28.2
Suarez Real 49.3
Suarez Uriel 78.4
Sulashvili 33.2
Svane, R. 10.4, 82.2
Svetushkin 95.1
Svidler 36.1, 51.3
Swicarz 1.4
Swiercz 97.4
Szelag 25.4
Szwed 25.1
Tan Zhongyi 86.1
Tarlev 69.2
Tejedor Fuentes 49.3
Ter-Saakian 9.1

517
Terletsky 76.4
Theodorou 21.3
Thybo 15.4
Tiba 19.3
Tiviakov 100.3
Tondivar 57.4, 60.1
Topalov 77.1
Torosyan 27.4
Trimitzios 96.1
Tryggestad 12.1
Tsvetkov 38.4
Tsydypov 26.3, 54.3
Tukhaev 93.4
Tutisani 43.1
Urazayev 59.4
Urkedal 18.4
Usmanov 21.3
Utegaliyev 4.3, 89.4
Vaarala 55.4
Vachylia 24.2
Vaisser 72.3
Valenzuela Gomez 94.3, 96.3
Vallejo Pons 15.3
Van der Lende 67.3
Van Foreest, J. 1.1, 76.1, 76.3
Van Foreest, L. 88.1
Van Haastert 64.4
Van Wely 75.1
Vanczak 48.4
Vandenbussche 82.4
Vasquez Schroeder 25.2
Vavulin 43.3

518
Vazguez 4.4
Veiga 39.1
Velten 7.4
Vera Gonzalez Quevedo 87.2
Vetoshko 61.2, 76.4
Vidit 74.2
Villamayor 65.3
Vishnu 90.3, 91.3
Vitiugov 6.4
Vocaturo 8.4, 69.3, 80.1, 85.3
Voit 89.3
Vojta 99.1
Volkov 35.2
Volokitin 83.3
Vovk, A. 80.4
Vovk. Y. 83.2
Vrolijk 76.3
Vuckovic 29.3, 30.2
Vymazal 45.4
Walter 39.2
Wang, J. 35.4
Wang, K. 80.1
Wang Hao 17.2, 52.1
Wei Yi 84.3
Welling 8.2
Wen Yang 14.3
Wu Li 51.2
Xiong 11.4, 15.2
Xu Yinglun 16.4, 42.4, 90.4
Yeletsky 2.4
Yudasin 71.3, 74.1
Yakubboev 3.4

519
Zakaryan 54.2
Zanan 26.2, 87.3
Zatonskih 50.2
Zhang Ziji 40.2
Zhao Chenxi 86.4
Zhao Jun 14.2
Zhao Yuanhe 17.1
Zhigalko 38.4, 63.4
Zhu Jiner 34.2
Zierk 27.1
Zoler 83.1
Zou Chen 86.4
Zubov 10.4, 16.2
Zujev 77.2
Zvjaginsev 40.2
Zysk 22.3

520
 Books by Carsten Hansen

Winning Quickly Series:

Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening - Volume 1: Indian Defenses
Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening - Volume 2: 1.d4 d5
Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening - Volume 3: Flank Openings
Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening - Volume 4: Dutch, Benonis & d-pawn Specialties
Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening - Volume 5: Anti-Sicilians
Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening - Volume 6: Open Sicilians
Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening - Volume 7: Minor Semi-Open Games
Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening - Volume 8: 1.e4 e5
Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening - Volume 9: French & Caro-Kann
Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening – Volume 10: Selected Brilliancies from Volumes 1-9

Chess Miniatures Series:

Winning Quickly at Chess: Miniatures in the Sicilian Najdorf
Winning Quickly at Chess: Miniatures in the Queen’s Indian Defense: 4 g3
Winning Quickly at Chess: Miniatures in the Ruy Lopez: Main Lines
Upcoming Volumes:
Winning Quickly at Chess: Miniatures in the King’s Indian Defense: Fianchetto Systems
Winning Quickly at Chess: Miniatures in the Slav Defense: Main Lines
Winning Quickly at Chess: Miniatures in the Scotch Game

Specialized Chess Tactics Series:

Specialized Chess Opening Tactics: Budapest & Fajarowicz Gambits
Upcoming Volumes:
Specialized Chess Opening Tactics: Caro-Kann - Main Lines
Specialized Chess Opening Tactics: Caro-Kann - The Panov, Advance & Specialties
Specialized Chess Opening Tactics: Benko & Blumenfeld Gambits
Specialized Chess Opening Tactics: The Sicilian Dragon – Classical Lines
Specialized Chess Opening Tactics: The Sicilian Dragon – Yugoslav Attack

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For updates and free material, please visit www.winningquicklyatchess.com

Other books by Carsten Hansen:

The Sicilian Accelerated Dragon: Improve Your Results with New Ideas in This Dynamic Opening
(with Peter Heine Nielsen, Batsford 1998)
The Gambit Guide to the English Opening: 1...e5 (Gambit Publications 1999)
The Symmetrical English (Gambit Publications 2001)
The Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 (Gambit Publications 2002)
Improve Your Positional Chess (Gambit Publications 2004) - also available as e-book (Gambit
Publications 2016) and in a Spanish-language edition
Mejore su ajedrez posicional (Editorial La Casa Del Ajedrez 2008)
A Strategic Opening Repertoire (with John Donaldson, Russell Enterprises 2008) - also available as
e-book (Russell Enterprises 2015)
Back to Basics: Openings (Russell Enterprises 2008) - also available as ebook (Russell Enterprises
2016)
The Sicilian Dragon: Move by Move (Everyman Chess 2016) - also available as an e-book (Everyman
Chess 2016)
The Closed Sicilian: Move by Move (Everyman Chess 2017) – also available as an e-book (Everyman
Chess 2017)
The Chameleon Variation – Confronting the Sicilian on Your Own Terms (Russell Enterprises 2017)
– also available as an e-book (Russell Enterprises 2017)
The Full English Opening – Mastering the Fundamentals (New in Chess 2018) – also available as an
e-book (New In Chess 2018)
The Sicilian Accelerated Dragon – 20th Anniversary Edition (with Peter Heine Nielsen -
CarstenChess 2018) – Expanded version of the 1998 edition with approximately 15% new material)

Next…

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Are you ready for more games, more tactics and more ideas?

Check out the above titles and sign up for a free book on:

http://www.winningquicklyatchess.com/index.php/free-book/

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Table of Contents
Title page 4
Foreword by GM Jonathan Tisdall 5
Author’s Preface 7
How to work with this book 8
Sets 1-8 11
Sets 9-16 50
Sets 17-24 84
Sets 25-32 121
Sets 33-40 160
Sets 41-47 200
Sets 48-55 235
Sets 56-63 279
Sets 64-71 319
Sets 72-78 357
Sets 79-86 389
Sets 87-94 426
Sets 95-101 464
Before You Go 500
Index of Players 501
Books by Carsten Hansen 521

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