Wednesday 22 January 2014

January combinations

It is time for an article about combinations.
In the next period I will write some articles about different subjects such as strategy, opening preparation, attack and so on.
I shall explain my thoughts on examples from my own games, as I believe I do that the best.
In this rubric, about combinations, usually I do a mix between random combinations that I found interesting in different books or magazines, and the combinations from my own games.
This time I will show only the combinations from my own games.
Some of them are pretty old.


This is position from the introduction.
White is move, and he has some clear positional pluses.
Passer on e-file and firm control on the dark squares gives White upper hands.
Is it possible to finish of Black?
Yes it is, and it is your task to do so.








This position is from one of my recent games.
White is on move.
White has more than one interesting way to proceed in this position but one is clearly better than the rest.
The task is to find the sequence that leads to a draw.
Even if White can find some continuation that in theoretical terms can be draw, but for example with extra pawn for Black, it can not be the right answer.




This position was never reached on the board, as on check on d3 White moved his king on e1, but the question is, what would Black play if White defended against check as in the diagram (with Knight on e2).
So, Black is on move and your task is to find the winning combination.








This game was played in 2012 in Glasgow.
Black is on move, and with the right sequence he can get the decisive advantage.











This game was played in 2009 in Olomouc.
I was White and despite having more than one winning continuation, I found the most effective, which proved to be very beautiful too.
Calculate all variations, which includes all defencive resources by Black.




2 comments:

  1. Ok, I'll give it a try!

    SPOILER ALERT ;-)

    1) 1.e7 Re8 (...Rf7 2.Be6) 2.Be6+ Kh8 3.Nh4 (w/ idea Ng6+ and Qh4#).

    If black tries 3...Ne5 we play 4.Rxe5, renewing the threat, and now
    4...Qxe5 fails to 5.Qxe5 fxe5 6.Rf3, and mate next move.

    Black can play 3...h6, then I guess 4.Ng6+ Kh7 5.Qd3 w/idea Nf8++.

    2) Maybe the best try is 1.d5, w/ the idea Rd4. It counters Black's tactical idea of pushing the c-pawn. 1...c6 2.Rd4 and if 2...cxd5 3.Rb5.

    3) Qd1# would be good for black, so 1...Rxh2 and White cannot take. If 2.Ne2 Qd1+ anyway, 2...Nxd1 3.Rh1+ Ng1 4.Rxg1#

    4) The idea is probably to make ...Bxe4 and...Ng3+ work, but 1...h6 2.Qf6+ Kg8 3.Rd1 looks good for White... So 1...Bxe4 2.Rxe4 h6 (2.fxe4 h6 and the queen has to move, allowing ...Ng3+ or the fork ...Ne3) and now if 3.Rxd4? hxg5 there's a double threat (taking on d4 and Ng3+!) and if 4.Rg4 there is ...Ne3. So 3.Qg4. Mmm. 3...Ne3? 4.Rxd4 cxd4 5.Qe7+-... ok, doesn't work.
    1...Bxe4 2.Rxe4 f6. After 3.Qg4 i have h5 the queen is trapped... but now White has the ressource Rd7+, so 4.Rxd4 hxg5 5.Rd7+ +-. Actually Black has 3.Rxd4 fxg5 4.Rd7+ +-.

    Ok, so now the idea is to trap the queen :
    1...Bxe4
    2.Rxe4 h6
    3.Qg4 Qd3 (hitting f1 / threatening ...Ne3)
    4.Rfe1? h5! -+

    5) The pattern is mate w/ bishop on f6 and rook on h-file.
    1.Nxf5 (1...exf5 2 Qxh7+ Kxh7 3.Rh4+ Bh6. 4.Rxh6+ Kxh6 5.Rh3#) 1...Bg7 2.Bxg7! (w/ same idea Qxh7+). Now if 2...gxh5 3.Bf6+ Kf8. 4.Nh6 with mate on g8. If 2...gxf5 you can again play 3.Qxh7+ Kxh7 4.Rh4+ Kg8 5.Rh8#. So that leaves 2...exf5 but i guess 3.Qxh7+ still works. 3...Kxh7 4.Bf6! Threatens mate... 4...g5 5.Rxg5. 1-0.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The fifth combination has a bit different solution, even if 1. Nxf5 wins as well.
      Good job!

      Delete