Greatest 365 Puzzles - Csaba Balogh.pdf

CSABA BALOGH

Greatest 365Puzzles

Responsible editor Csaba Balogh Cover designer Milos Sibinovic Typesetting Piotr Pielach

•

L. Babujian (�474) S. Ter Sahakyan (�569) Armenian Championship

1>

•

22.01.2012 1

•..

A. Motylev (�677) D. Vocaturo (�545) Wijk aan Zee 22.01.2012

-+

L

•

J. Alvarez Marquez (�3.98) V. Bologan (�68o) Gibraltar 24.01.2012

1. +1-

�'o

+-

(41

(3) 1>

CD

1>

•

V. Erdos (�634) T. Coleman (�536) Gibraltar 24.01.2012

1. +-

GREATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

(5] 1>

•

R. Felgaer (2571) A. Oberhofer (2299) Gibraltar

(8] Lund (2414) S. Movsesian (2700) Gibraltar

1> E. •

24.01.2012

24.01.2012 1. +-

1... -+

(8]

(1] 1>

•

M. Parligras (2650) F. El Debs (2497) Gibraltar 25.01.2012

1. +-

13

1>

•

J. Gallagher (2505) C. Allor (2145) Gibraltar 27.01.2012

1. +-

EASY

14

(101

(9) 1> ....

M. Adams (2.72.4) D. Howell (2.6o3) Gibraltar

1>

30.01.2012

30.01.2012

1. +-

1. +-

G. Sargissian (2.683) .... R Valhondo Morales (2.046) Gibraltar

(12]

(11)

1> F. Bindrich (2.548) .... W. Uhlmann (2.379)

A. Shirov (2.710) T. Baron (2.498) Gibraltar

German league

30.01.2012

04.02.2012

1. +-

1. +-

1> ....

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

[13)

15

[14)

•

1>

P. Hoffmann (2317) L. Vogt (2410) German league

V. Klyuner (2428) P. Nikolic (2636) German league

04.02.2012

05.02.2012

1>

•

1. +-

[18)

[15) 1>

Le Quang Liem (2714) • B. Savchenko (2609) Aeroflot Open

M. Rodshtein (2634) Lu Shanglei (2516) Aeroflot Open

07.02.2012

07.02.2012

1. +-

1. +/-

1>

•

EASY

16

[11]

[18)

D. Khismatullin (2664) Zhou Jianchao (2619) Aeroflot Open 08.02.2012

F. Caruana (2736) E. lturrizaga (2649) Aeroflot Open 09.02.2012

1. +-

1. +/-

1> ._

1>

._

l20J

[19] P. Ponkratov (2611) K. Grigoryan (2482) Aeroflot Open 09.02.2012 1>

._

1... -1+

S. Grigoriants (2570) ._ Shen Yang (2447) Aeroflot Open 10.02.2012 1>

17

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

1221

1211 •

F. Caruana (2736) I. Khairullin (2638) Aeroflot Open

D. Dubov (2498) G. Guseinov (2634) Aeroflot Open

11.02.2012

11.02.2012

1. +-

1. +-

1>

1> •

l231

1241

A. Jankovic (2568) • I. Bukavshin (2517) Aeroflot Open

G. Pap (2533) S. Sjugirov (2622) Aeroflot Open

14.02.2012

14.02.2012

1>

1>

•

1 .. -+ .

EASY

18

(25] 1>

�

V. Akopian (2685) G. Gajewski (2616) Aeroflot Open

S. Sjugirov (2622) Sasikiran (2700) Aeroflot Open

15.02.2012

15.02.20U

1. +-

t..

1>

K

�

.

=I+

(28]

[2JJ 1>

S. Zhigalko (2658) � Y. Zherebukh (2593) Aeroflot Open

1> W. Moranda (2568) � G. Gajewski (2616)

15.02.2012

23.02.2012

1.. -+

1. +1-

.

Polish Championship

19

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

[301

[291 1> A. Rustemov (2537) ,.. M. Feygin (2521) German league 25.02.2012

A. Volokitin (2686) ,.. H. Steingrimsson (2562) German league 25.02.2012 1>

1. +-

[321

[311 D. Abel (2427) ,.. A. Gasthofer (2456) German league 26.02.2012 1>

S. Bogner (2534) ,.. K. Bischoff (2547) German league 26.02.2012 1>

1. +-

20

EASY

(34]

(33] E. Sutovsky (2696) A. Finkel (2499) Israelian league 03.02.2012 t> •

1.+-

Barbosa,Ev (2399) Z. Andriasian (2616) Cappelle la Grande Cappelle la GrandeFRA OJ.OJ.2012 1-.-+ t> •

(38]

(351 T. Likavsky (2486) • V. Jobava (2704) Austrian league 04.0J.2012

E. Rozentalis (2592) • A Fauland (2452) Austrian league 04.0J.2012

1. .. 1+

1. +-

t>

-

t>

21

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

[381

[311 t>

T. Petrosian (2643) ..,. D. �rutinian (2553) Cappelle la Grande 05.03.2012

V. Zakhartsov (2563) ..,. D. Jojua (2507) Cappelle la Grande 05.03.2012

1. +-

1. +-

t>

[401

[391 t>

B. Amin (2608) ... T. Petrosian (2643) Cappelle la Grande 06.03.2012

E. Janev (2484) ..,. And. Sokolov (2577) Cappelle la Grande 06.03.2012

1. =

1 ... -+

t>

22

EASY

1411

1421 J. Gunnarsson (24:!4) Ro. Hess (:!63S) Reykjavik Open o8.03.2012

t>

T. Abrahamyan (:!3:U) I. Kumosov (:!6S7) Cappelle Ia Grande 07.03.2012

t>

.,..

.,..

1 . . -+

L .. -+

.

1441

1431 B. Avrukh (:!S91) .,.. D. Navara (:!700) Reykjvaik Open 09.03.2012 t>

L

••

=I+ 1-1+

D. Muse (:!388) .,.. H. Teske (:!S 47) German league 17.03.2012 t>

1-. -+

23

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

[46]

[45] �. Bluebaunn (�388) .- Z. �edvegy (�s31) German league 18.03.2012

A Lauber (�64) .- K. Landa (�639) German league 18.03.2012

1.

1

�

=

�

•••

-+

[48]

liD �

lv. Saric (�643) .- P. Czamota (�SS4) German league 18.03.2012

Y. Zherebukh (�sSo) .- N. Firnnan (�517) German league 18.03.2012

1. +-

L +-

�

EASY

24

[50]

l49J 1> D. Balokas (2o8o) ,. H. Stefansson (2531) European Championship

1> V. Erdos (2631) ,. V. Nedilko (2392) European Championship

20.03.2012

20.03.2012 1. +-

[52]

l51J 1>

R. Hovhannisyan (26oo) ,. M. Codenotti (2328) European Championship

D. Lomsadze (2338) ,. Z. Kozul (2602) European Championship

20.03.2012

20.03.2012

1. +-

1. +-

1>

GREATEST 365 PUZZLES

25

(54]

(53] 1>

•

F. Pancevski (2470) A Volokitin (2695) European Championship

Z. Kozul (26o2) C. Ali Marandi (2315) European Championship

20.03.2012

21.03.2012

1. +-

1.

1> •

+-

(55]

(58]

1> V. Durarbayli (2543)

• I. Smirin (2657) European Championship

B. Macieja (26o5 ) • AI Manea (2381) European Championship

22.03.2012

22.03.2012

1. +-

1. +-

1>

EASY

26

[511

[581

1>

P. Simacek (2447) ..,. V. Akopian (2684 ) European Championship

V. Akopian (2684) ..,. Val Popov (2546) European Championship

22.03.2012

23.03.2012

1 ... -+

1. +-

1>

[591

l&01

..,. E.

N. Maiorov (2552) Postny (2662) European Championship

T. Nedev (2492) ..,. L. Pantsulaia (2595 ) European Championship

23.03.2012

23.03.2012

1>

1>

1 ... -+

27

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

(821

(81]

A. Giri (2717) .,. F. Holzke (2508) European Championship

t>

F. Vallejo Pons (2693) .,. T. Nabaty (2559) European Championship

t>

23.03.2012

24.03.2012

1. +-

1

•••

-+

(84]

(83] t>

M. Mchedlishvili (2626) .,. P. Michalik (2529) European Championship

A Riazantsev (27 10) .,. B. Esen (2555 ) European Championship

25.03.2012

25.03.2012

1. +-

1. +-

t>

EASY

28

(851 lv. Saric (2649) M. Nikolov (2550) European Championship 25-03.2012 t>

•

l&BJ H. Gabuzyan (2441) B. Damljanovic (2582) European Championship 27.03.2012 t>

•

1. +-

(81J I. Sokolov (2653) • V. Nevednichy (2562) European Championship 27.03.2012 t>

l&BJ Mastrovasilis (2510) • I. Salgado Lopez (2621) European Championship 28.03.2012 t> A

1. +1-

Safarli (2645) V. Durarbayli (2543) European Championship 28.03.2012 t> E. 11-

M. Yilmaz (2530) Bo. Vuckovic (2628) European Championship 28.03.2012 t>

11-

1. -/+

02J

on t>

A. Boruchvsky (2333) H. Stefansson (2531 ) European Championship 29.03.2012

L. Lenic (2637 ) V. Neverov (2544 ) European Championship 29.03.2012

1. +-

1. +-

11-

t>

11-

EASY

30

031

041

1> �

G. Szabo (�553) A. Petrisor (�.383) European Championship

Korobov (�679) Vuck.ovic (�6�8) European Championship

29.03.2012

30.03.20U

1 ... -+

1. +-

1> A �

Bo.

1151

081 L'E. Ami (�6u) � Y. Kryvoruchko (�666) European Championship

1>

Y. Kuzubov (�615) � S. Azarov (�667) European Championship

1>

30.03.2012

30.03.20U

1 ... -+

1... -+

31

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

l18J

l11J t>

Arte Smirnov (2436) ... J. Radulski (�552) European Championship

t> Z. Kozul (2602) ..,. F. Pancevski (2470) European Championship

30.03.2012

31.03.2012

1. +-

lBOJ

091 t>

Y. Kryvoruchko (2666) ..,. F. Caruana (2767) European Championship

L. D. Nisipeanu (2643) ..,. S. Azaladze (2419) European Championship

31.03.2012

31.03.2012

1 . +I==

1. +-

t>

EASY

32

(811

(82J G. Gopal (2572) T. Baron (2497) India-Israel rapid match

1>

Wang Yue (2702) Bu Xiangzhi (2668) Xinghua

1>

02.04.20U

03.04.20U

1.+-

1. +-

�

�

(84)

(83) 1>

Li Shilong (2549) � Bu Xiangzhi (2668) Xinghua

D. Baramidze (2612) � N. Grandadam (2361) Deizisau

04.04.2012

09.04.20U

1 ... /+

1. +/-

-

1>

33

GREATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

l85J

l88J

T. Burg (2464) ... K. Bischoff .(2521) Deizisau

A. Motylev (2683) J. Geller (25 44) Russian league

09.04.2012

09.04.2012

1>

1> •

1. . -+ .

lBBJ

l87J 1> 1

lbragirnov (2539) ... B. Savchenko (2580) Russian league

G. Margvelashvili (2547) ... B. Finegold (2505) Saint Louis

11.04.2012

11.04.2012

1 ... -+

1.

1>

+-

EASY

34

1901

li9J P. Svidler (2744) D. Jakovenko (2729) Russian league 1>

•

M. Matlakov (2632) • D. Khismatullin (2656) Russian league 1>

11.04.2012

(91J

(92] B. Grachev (2705) A. Poluljahov (2505) Russian league

1>

P. Eljanov (2704) S. Movsesian (2702) Russian league

1>

13.04.2012

13.04.2012

1 . . /+

1. +-

•

.

-

•

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

(931 1> P. Svidler (2.744) .,. A Morouvich (2.765) Russian league

35

(941 1> P. Schlosser (2.591 ) .,. L. Vogt (2. 410) German league 14.04.2012 1. +1-

(961

(951 1> Z. Abdumalik (2.137) .,. Z. Andriasian (2.616) Dubai Open

1> J. Gustafsson (2.642.) .,. M. Venkatesh (2.509 ) Bangkok Open

15.04.2012

15.04.2012

1-. -+

1... -+

E>

S. Karjakin (2.766) D. Kokarev (2.637) Russian league

E>

..,.

..,.

15.04.2012

15.04.2012

1. +-

1. +/-

I. Morovic Fernandez (2.577) Mat Latorre (2.2.52.) Iberoamericano Championship

11001

IIIJ ..,.

S. Vysochin (2.550) V. Grinev (2.404) Nabokov memorial

V. Belous (2.52.4) A. Predke (2.461) Sochi

19.04.2012

21.04.2012

E>

1�

+-

E> ..,.

1. +/-

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

37

11121

11111 t>

S. Bromberger (2.513) ,.. T. Likavsky (2.486) Austrian league

L. Thiede (2.458) ,.. S. Siebrecht (2.468) Austrian league

21.04.2012

22.04.2012

1. +-

1 .. -+

t>

.

11041

11031 t>

V. Baklan (2.612.) ,.. T. Sachdev (2.414) Dubai Open

S. Vaibhav (2.494) ,.. S. Maze (2.577) Lille Open

23.04.2012

25.04.2012

1. +-

1. +-

t>

EASY

38

(1881 t> I. Bukavshin (2504) .., V. Fedoseev (2548) Soc hi 26.04.2012

t> R. Antoniewski (2559) .., M. Olszewski (2539) Italian league 28.04.2012

I.+-

L +-

11811

11081

t>

V. Babula (2572) .., M. Grunberg (2420) Austrian league 29.04.2012

A. Czebe (2477) .., S> Arun Prasad (2517) Melaka Open 29.04.2012

I.+-

L +-

t>

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

(109) Z. Mammadov (�378) ,.. G. Guseinov (1616) Nakhchivan Open 1>

29.04.2012

39

- SOLUTIONS nJ t> L. Babujian (2.474) ,.. Ter S. Sahakyan (2.569) Armenian Championship 22.01.2012 n ... lid:�.+! u.lf xd2. exd2.+ 13. �xd2. CZJe4+ 14. �e1 CZJ xgs-+

(2) t>

A Motylev (2.677)

,.. D. Vocaturo (2.545) Wijk aan Zee 22.01.2012 31.e6! fs [3 1 ... fxe6 3 2.\l!fxg4+-; 31 .. . CZJ xe3 32.exf7++-) 32..CZJ.xf s! gxfs [32 .. . CZJ xe3 33.CZJ xe7+ g xe7 34. 'iWxe3 +-) 33 . gg3 ! 3 4.'iWx f5 threats. 33··· .ies l33 ... g fS 3 4· 'iWg5++-) 34.'Yfxes+(3) t> AJvarez J. Marquez (2.398) ,.. V. Bologan (2.68o) Gibraltar 24.01.2012 17.CZJds! �f7 [17... exd5 1S . .i xe7+-) 18.CZJ XC7+ gXC7 19.CZJd4± [It was even better to play 19. gb1! 'iWfs 2o. A xe7 'iWxe7 21. 'iWd2± with an exchange up.) (4) V. Erdos (2.634) ,.. T. Coleman (2.536) Gibraltar 24.01.2012 t>

:�.o.es! lf xes [2o ... CZJ xe5 21. .i f4 Ad6 22. gxd6! 'iWxd6 23. Axb7+-) 2.1. Axb7 Ae6 n. �xeS gxc8 2.3. gael+(5) t> R Felgaer (2.571) ,.. A. Oberhofer (2.2.99) Gibraltar 24.01.2012 33.CZJ xe8! [33.'iWxeS �xeS 34.CZJ xeS±) 33 A xes [33 ... g xd7 34. A xg7!+ ­ Traps the queen.) 34.lf ds!+•••

(6) E. Lund (2.414) ,.. S. Movsesian (2.700) Gibraltar 24.01.2012 t>

34 ···CZJe4! 35· Axg7 CZJ xf2. 36. lixfs [3 6 . � x f2 g xg 7 - + ) 3 6 g xg 7 37.'Yfe6+ �h7 38.lifs+ �h8-+ • • •

(J) t>

M Parligras (2.650)

,.. F. El Debs (2.497) Gibraltar 25.01.2012

2.2. .8: xg 7! [22. A xh6? A f6) 2.2. �xg7 2.3.lf xh6+ �g8 2. 4.'Yf g6 + � h 8 2.5 . �C3+ 1-o [25 . .i c3+ .i f6 26.it.xf6+ g xf6 27.'iVxf6+ 'iWg7 (2;7... �h7 28.ge1+-) 2S.'iWxg7+ 'i:&xg7 29,gXh2+-) •

.•.

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

41

(8) J. Gallagher (2.505) ..,.. C. Allor (2.145) Gibraltar 27.01.2012

(12) F. Bindrich (2.548) ..,.. W. Uhlmann (2.379) German league 04.02.2012

:�. 8.lfi' xd6! lfi' xd6 2.9. � xb7+ $>a8 3 o .l'!d7+ lfi'c6 3 1 . � xc6+ � xc6 32..1'! xf7+-

3 4· �xes! lfi'g1 The game finished after mutual blunders. [34 ... lfi'xc5 35· � xg6 ! l'!e7 3 6.�f5+ $>f8 (36... 'i!thB 37- �e6+-) 37. �e6! l'!q 38.'#ig8+ $>e7 39· � g4 + ] 35 .f4? [35. � d5+! was the ,correct" way to win 35 ... $>h8 36.!fh4! !ffH 37. $>g4 fs+ 38.$>gs+­ l 35 ... f5? [35 . .. !fxcs! 36. � xg6 l'!e7! 37· � f5+ �8 38. �e6l'!a7oo ) 36. �d5+ 1-0

t>

(9) M. Adams (2.72.4) ..,.. D. Howell (2.603) Gibraltar 30.01.2012 t>

uL!!cS! �g8tu .&,+ �f7u3.f!xf7+ 'i!tg8n4. �g7+ 'i!tfs ns.hxg41-o

t>

-

(13) P. Hoffmann (2.317) ..,.. L. Vogt (2.410) German league 04.02.2012 t>

(10) t> G. Sargissian (2.683) ..,.. R. Valhondo Morales (2.046) Gibraltar 30.01.2012 The last move of Black was 39 ... g2??, he wanted to win the game instead of giving perpetual check with 39 ...

42.. � xf6+! 1- o [42 . � x f6 + !! x f6 43 .e5+! �e5 44·C7+-]

U4J V. Klyuner (2.42.8) ..,.. P. Nikolic (2.636) German league 05.02.2012 t>

69.CZJe:�.! [But not 69.':Z'Jf3?? !fa2+ 7o.$>f1 !fbi+ 71. �2 !fxg6-+) 69 ... �a2 [69 ... !fd2 70.e4! transposes to the game) 70.e4! Prepares for 71.$>f3 or 71.$>e3 . 70 lff c:�. 71· 'i!te3! 1-o Mate is coming on g1. •••

42

EASY

n5J Le Quang Liem (1.714) ,. B. Savchenko (1.609) Aeroflot Open 07.02.2012

nn D. Khismatullin (1.664) ,. Zhou Jianchao (1.619) Aeroflot Open 08.02.2012

1.5.CZJ xe6! (25 .CZJ h5 �f8 26. �e4±) 1.5 g6 (25 .. .fxe6 26.�xe6+ �h8 (26... 'lt;;js 2;. �ds+-) 27.:5k8 ++-) 1.6. 'i:!Vq! With the threat of�c8+! 1.6...h6 (26�. f:xe6 27.�xe6+ �f8 28.�d5+-; 26 �e ?

31. 'i:!Vxh7+! [31. CZJe3 ctJ f6+-) 31 �xh7 31..E! xh7+ 'l!;gs 33.g7! 1-o

1>

1>

.••

•.

•••

1181 F. Caruana (1.736) ,. E. lturrizaga (1.649) Aeroflot Open 09.02.2012 1>

37.cs+! �xes 38.E!c1.! 'i:!Vbs 39·�c6+ 'if xc6 40. � xc6 'i!?xc6 4 1 . 'iWxe6+ 'l!; bs 4 1. .'ifC4+ 'l!; b6 43.'if xb4+ 'l!; c6 44.'i:!VC4+ 'l!; d6 45.'i:!fd3± [45.b4+-J UBI P. Ponkratov (1.611) ,. K. Grigoryan (1.481.) Aeroflot Open 09.02.2012 1>

27.�C8+! �e8 28.�c3! :!la2 29.CZJC7+­ ) 1.7.CZJc7! E!b4 (27... ,gc8 28.e6 +-) 1.8. 'iWc1. E!d8 1.9.e6+n&J M. Rodshtein (1.634) ,. Lu Shanglei (1.516) Aeroflot Open 07.02.2012

40... �g1.+! 41. � xg1. hxg 1.+ 41.. 'l!; xgl. 'if h3+ 43· 'l!;g1 'if g4+ 44· 'l!;bl. 'if xd1+

1>

10.f4! Black has fallen into an open­ ing trap, he cannot prevent g4. 10 �g6 (1o... h6 u. �xf6 �xf6 12 .g4±; 10... CZJe4 11. �XC] �XC] 12. �Xe4 dxe4 13.g4 �g6 14.f5+-) n.fs �hs u. �f4! (12.g4 ctJ xg4 13. � xe7 �xe7 14.hxg4 �xg4 15.�d2±) u g6 13.g4+•••

•••

(201 S. Grigoriants (1.570) ,. Shen Yang (1.447) Aeroflot Open 10.02.2012 1>

19. CZJ f7! � g 8 1.o.CZJd8+! � xd8 [2o... �a7 2 1.Cl:Jxe6+-) u.� xd8 gs u.CZJbs+-

43

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZ LES

1211 1> F. Caruana (2736) .,. I. Khairullin (2638) Aeroflot Open 11.02.20I2

1231 1> A. Jankovic (2568) .,. I. Bukavshin (25I 7) Aeroflot Open I4.02.20I2

3s.liJc7+! ! �d7 [35 ... 1!xq 36.1!xd6+! liJxd6 37.1!xd6#; 35 ...liJxq 36.1!xd6+ 1!xd6 37.1!xd6 #) 36.liJ xe8 �xeS 37.liJxd6+ �f8 38.bxa4+-

59 . . . CLle6 ! [59·· ·i.'L)g6!? al so holds the draw, but requires some addi­ tional exact moves 6o. �d4!? 1!xf3+ 6I.�g2 (61.�h2 'il3j4! 62.1! xg6 1! xd4

1221 1> D. Dubov (24.98) .,. G. Guseinov (2.634) Aeroflot Open 11.02.20I2 36.liJxfs! E:es [36 ... � xf4 37· � g6!+­ (JJ.ClJXeJ+ lJ¥ xe7 38. � xj4 + - ) ) 37· �84 [The textmove and 37.£L)h4!? are equally strong, but this was much easier to find 37... � xf4 38. �g6 'i!Ng7 39. � Xf4+-) 37• • •liJdf6 (37... � Xf4 38. � xf4 1!xf5 39· 'i!Nxe4+- )

63. 'il xh6+ �g8 64.l!.hg6+ � h7 6s.'il xgs 'il d2+ 66.�g3 'f:!d3+ 6;. �h4 't:!.ff3!) 61 ... 1!3f4! (6l...i.'L)h4+ 62. �h2+­ ) 62. � e3 (62.'ilxg6 'f:!xd4 63.'il xh6+ �gB 64.'f:!hg6+ � h7 6s.'t:! xgs 'f:!d2+ 66. �g3 1!d3+ 6J.�h4 'Bff3!-=) 62 ...

1!e4 63 .1!xg6 1!xe3 64.1!xh6+ �g8 65.1!hg6+ �h7 66.1!xg51!e2+ 67. �g3 1!e3+ 68. � h4 1!ff3-=) 6o. �g2 'f!xf3 61. 'f!b7+ [6I.1!xe6 1!f2+ 62. �gi1!fH 63. �g2 1!If2+=) 61 . M � g8 62. t'!xe6 1! fz+ 63. �gi i!fi+ 64. �g2 'il lfz+ 65. �gi 'f!fi+ I/2- I/2 1241

G. Pap (2533) .,. S. S jugirov (262.2.) Aeroflot Open I4.02.20I2 1>

38.'f! xe4! E: xe4 [3 8 ... liJxe4 39.f4!+) 39. � h3! � xci 4 o.1W xc1+- hs?! 4I . li'gs·;. �7 42.liJ xd6+ I-o

37••.e4! 38.a6 [38.fxe4 'i!Ng4+ 39.�h2 fxg3+ 40. �hi 'i!Nxh4+-+; 3 8 .gxf4 exf3-+) 38 ••• 1Wxa6 [3 8 ... exf3 !? 39.a7 fxg2 40.a8Q+ �7 4I. 'i!Nc8 'i!Nf3-+) 39.gxf4l!Ve2-+

44

EASY

(251 V. Akopian (2.685) .,. G. Gajewski (2.616) Aeroflot Open 15.02.2012

16.ClJC4! Black cannot save his d5 p awn. 16 ... � [16 . . . ge8 17.CZJ xb6 �xb6 18.CZJ xd5 CZJ xd5 19. Axd5 A xd5 2o. g xd5±; 16 ... CZJ a8 17.CZJ xd5 ! CZJxd5 18 . A xd5 ii.xd5 19.e4+-) 17.CLJxb6 �xb 6 18 .CZJxd5 CZJxds 19. ii. xds Axds 2.o.E!xd5 axb3 2.1.axb3±

1>

38/i hfs! E!d8 [3 8 ... gxc6 39.CZJ h6+ 'i!te7 40. g x f8 'i!txd7 41. CLlg4+ -) 39.ClJe3+! 'i!te6 4o.b5l 'i!td6 41.ClJXC4+ 'i!tcs 42..CLJxe5 'i!txbs 43.a3 [43 · g ct+-) 43...'i!ics 44.E!d1t-o (261 S. Sjugirov (2.6n) .,. K. Sasikiran (2.700) Aeroflot Open 15.02.2012

(281 A. Rustemov (2.537) .,. M. Feygin (2.52.1) German league 25.02.2012 1>

1>

2.6 ...E!xh4! 2.7.E!xh4 A xgs 2.8.E!he4! Axe3+ [28 ... d5 29. f4 dxe4 3o.fxg5 E!e8 31. A d4=) 2.9. E!xe3 Aa6! 30. ge7 A xC4 31 . �XC4 CLlxC4 32..E!xd7 [3 2. gxh7 d6!) 32. ...hs= 1== 1+, Black even­ tually managed to win the game. (271 1> S. Zhigalko (2.658) .,. Y. Zherebukh (2.593) Aeroflot Open 15.02.2012

32.. CLJf6 ! E! xf6 [3 2 . . . A x f6 would have been the only move 33· �x f6+ 'i!tg8 3 4· E!e3! ± with a clear advan­ tage.; 32 ... �xe7? 33.�xh7#) 33.JLxf6 E!f8 34. A xfs! ii. xf6 35 . A xe6 �g7 [35 ... CZJ xe 6 3 6. g x f6+-; 35 ... � xh4 36. gxf8+ 'i!tg7 37· Axd7 Axe1 38. gb8 ii. xa5 3 9· gxb ?+-l 36. �h3+- [3 6. �f4!+- was even easier.) (301

1>

A Volokitin (2.68 6)

.,. H. Steingrimsson (2.562.) German league 25.02.2012

2.8 ...CLJd2.! o-1[28 ... CZJd2 29.ge1 get-+ (29 ...C2Jxb1 3o.gxh1 C2Jjs-+) )

2.5 .CLJb6!'i!ixb6 2.6.E!xd8 'i!ta7 2.7.CLJd5 c6 2.8. 'i!tf 4! cxds 2.9. �xes+- d4 30.g5 e3 31.f6 gxf6+ 32..gxf6 1-o

(211 W. Moranda (2.568) .,. G. Gajewski (2.616) Polish Championship 23.02 .2012

(31) 1> D. Abel (24 2.7) .,. A. Gasthofer (�456) German league 26.02.2012

1>

45

G R E ATES T 3 6 5 PUZZLES

ter 26 ...CLJh2+! 27.'i!?e1 it.xc2 28.�XC2 etJf3+ 29. 'i!?e2 (29. 'i!i'd1 �h4-+) 29 .. tL:lgt+ +) 26 ... � xc:r. 2.7. 'iWxc:r. 'iWh4! 28.'i!?e:r. 'iWxh3 2.9.'iWe4 tLlh2!-+

(321 S. Bo gner (2534) .,. K. Bischo ff (2547) German league 26.02.2012 1>

.

3 o .tL:lh6! [ 3 o . l"!c 2 ±) 30 'iWxf4 31. tLlxf7+ 'i!?g7 32..exf4 'it>.xf7 33-ge3! 1-o[33. !!e3 l"!c8 34.l"!c2+- ; 33.l"!c2 1i.d3) • • •

(361

1>

E. Rozentalis (2592)

.,. A. Fauland (2452)

Austrian league 04.03.2012

:r. s.gd3! 'iWei+ [25 ... 'i!?gs 26.�£.3+- 1 :r.6. 'it>c:r. gs 2.7. 'iWfs+ 'it>gs :r. S. 'iWe6+ 'it>{g 2.9.gh3 1-0

(331 1> E. Sutovsky (2696) .,. A. Finkel (2499) Israelian league 03.02.2012 2.1.gxe7+! tL:lxe7 2.2.. 'iWxe7+ 'it>b8 2.3.i::t a3!! 1-o (341 Ev Barbosa (2399) .,. Z. Andriasian (2616) Cappelle la Grande Cappelle la Grande FRA 03.03 .2012 1>

2.0 ... �xb:r.+! (20 ... C3 21.ClJXC3 �b8!­ +) 21. �xb 2 gb8+ 2.2. . 'it>a:r. tlJ b4+! 2.3 .'iWxb4 [23 . 'i!?b2 CLJd3+ 24.'i!?a2 �b2+ 25. 'i!?a1 'iWxa3#) 2.3 g xb4 2.4. �d:r. ghb8 0-1 •••

(351 T. Likavsky (2486) .,. V. Jobava (2704) Austrian league 04.03.2012

(311 1> T . Petrosian (2643) .,. D. Arutinian (2553) Cappelle la Grande 05.03.2012 ss.tl:J xes+! lLl xes+ 56. 'i!?f4 'it>ds [56... �f7 57. �f5+-J 57· �xfs 'it>d6 sB.hs! (58. 'it>f6? �g4+ 59· 'i!?g5 CLJe5 6o. h5 'i!?e6==) sa ... �f7 59· 'it>f6 tL:lh6 [59 ... CLJe 5 6o.h6+-) 6o. 'it>g6! tLl g4 61.h6 'i!? e7 6:r. .h7 tL:les+ 63. 'i!?g7 tLlf7 64.g4! 1-o[64.h8Q? �xh8 65. 'i!?xh8 'i!?f6==) (381 V. Zakhartsov (2563) .,. D. Jojua (2507) Cappelle la Grande 05.03.2012 1>

1>

:r.s ... �e4 ! :r. 6.'iWq [26.'i!fd1 was better chance, but still Black wins a pawn af-

4 6 .tL:l xg 6 ! 'iW b:r. + [46 . . . fxg 6 47.l"!xq!+- i s the point!) 47· 'iWxb2 tL:lxb:r. 48.tL:lf4+-

EASY

46

(391

1>

B. Amin (26o8)

..,.. T. Petrosian (2643) Cappelle la Grande 06.03.2012 37.l!xc7+! it.xc7 38. ti..q + �e6 39. �Xb4= (401 1> E. Janev (2484) ..,.. And. Sokolov (2577) Cappelle la Grande 06.03 .2012 33 .. J!xf2! 34.�xb2 [34. � xf2 �xf2 35- · gg6 threats 35.h5 �f4+! 36.'i!?g1 ge5!-+] 34 ... �xb2-+ (411 1> T. Abrahamyan (2322) ..,.. L Kurnosov (2657) Cappelle la Grande 07.03.2012 34 . . . �xe4! o-1[3 4··· g xe4 35. fxe4 �gH 36.�e1 'a'xg4+-+) (421 J. Gunnarsson (2424) ..,.. Ro. Hess (2635) Reykj avik Open 08.03.2012 1>

23 .. J��xe4! 24 . �x� �xdt 2.5,gd4 [2 5. g xC 4 ? �d5+ - +J 25 . . . �hs! 26.�e1 [26.f5 'a'xfs ! This had to be foreseen, otherwise !I h4 is cr ushing. 27.'a'x fs CLJe3+ 28.'�f3 ct:Jxfs+] 26 ... �f5 27. �h4 [27. 'a'e7 CLJe3+! 28.'a'xe3 'a'xf6+) 2. 7...b5 + (441 D. Muse (2388) ..,.. H. Teske (2547) German league 17.03.2012 1>

37···cs! 38. bxcs b4! 39.c6 �e]! 4o.q � 70-1 (451 M. Bluebaum (2388) ..,.. Z Medvegy (2531) German league 18.03 .2012 1>

to8.�bJ+! �f2 [108 ... 'a'fi+ leads to drawn p awn endgame 109.'a'x fi+ �fi no.g-4! hxg4+ (11o... e4111.gxhs�) n1.�g4== l 109.�fs+ �f3 11o.�c2+ �e1 111. �cl+ f7 28.'�f4+ 'i!i>e7 (28... 'it>g6 29. l!Vfs+ 'it>h6 30. 'i!Vhs#) 29.'ii f 8#]

2.7.'iixf6! 1-o[27.'iixf6 gxf6 28.�xf6+ 'it>g8 29.�g4++-]

[521 D. Lomsadze (2.338) .,.. Z. Kozul (2.602.) European Championship 20.03.2012

[481 Y. Zherebukh (2.580) .,.. N. Firman (2.517) German league 18.03.2012

[481 D. Balokas (2.o8o) .,.. H Stefansson (2.531) European Championship 20.03.2012 1>

1>

S4· �b6! 'it>es SS· �xd6! 'it>xd6 s6. 'i!i>g3 'it>q S7· �h4 'it>d6 ss. 'it>hs 'it>� s9.gs 'i!i>f7 6o.g6+ 'i!i>g7 61. 'it>gs 1-o [531 F. Pancevski ( 2.470) .,.. A Volokitin ( 2.695) European Championship 20.03.2012

1>

2.1 Ci'Jxf2.! [21...�xf2! is j ust a trans­ position 22.� xf2 f2lx f2 23. 'it>xf2 (23. � xb7 �xe2!-+) ] n. � xf2. �xb 2.3 . 'it>xb �xg2.-+ •••

[501 1> V. Erdos (2.631) .,.. V. Nedilko (2.392.) European Championship 20.03.2012 2.6. �xd7! 'iixd7 2.7.ClJb6 l!¥� [27... 'i!Vb7 28.fi:lxa8 �f8 29.bxes l!Vxa8 30.e6 +-] 2. 8. fi:l xa8 � f8 [28 ... � a7

41. �xd6! f2lb7 (41...'iixd6 42.'iixf7+ 'it>h8 43· �e7+-] 42.. �e7 �f8 43· � f6+ 'it>g8 44.li'xh4 �xf6 45.gxf6 1-0

48

EASY

(541 1> Z Kozul (2602) ���> C Ali Marandi (2315) European Championship 21.03.2012

(581 1> V. Akopian (268 4) 111> Val Popov (2546) European Championship 23.03.2012

19. � xe6! [19.�xe6 fxe6 2o.�xe6 li' f4+ 21. 'i!?b1 �f6±] l9 · · · fxe6 2o. �xe6 li'f4+ 21.'i!?b1 bs n. �a2 b4 [22... 'i!ths 23.li:Jes+-] 23.axb4 'i!?h8 24.li:Jes+-

28.li'hs! 1-o[28.li'hs ifxfs 29.�e7+ 'i!?gs 3o.li'f7+ 'i!?hs 31.i¥g 7 #)

(55) V. Durarbayli (2543) ���> I. Smirin (2657) European Championship 22.03.2012 1>

(591 N. Mai orov (2552) ���> E. Postny (2662) European Championship 23.03.2012 1>

24 �xf3! (24 . . . 'lWxh 2 ! leads to the same perpetual check 25.�xe2 �xf3! 26.gxf3ifh1+=] 25.gxf3 ifxh2 26. �xe2 'lWhi+ 27.'i!ifzifh2+ 28. �� ifhl+ 29. 'i!ifzifh2+ 1/2-1/2 • . .

34.d7! � fs [34 ..:i!tg 7 3s.'lWes+ -; 34··· �xd7 35-�ds+- (3s.�xfJ+-) J 35.'lW gs 1-0

(601 T. Nedev (2492) ���> L. Pantsulaia (2595) European Championship 23.03.2012

(561 1> B. Macieja (2605) 111> Al Manea (2381) European Championship 22.03.2012

1>

29 ...li:Jxb! o-1(29 . . li:Jxf2 30.�fxf2 �XC2! 31-�XC2 �d1#) .

•s.il.xh7+! Wxh716.\lfxf8

1-o

(511 P. Simacek (2447) ���> V. Akopian (2684) European Championship 22.03.2012

(611 F. Vallejo Pons (2693) ���> T. Nabaty (2559) European Championship 23.03.2012

30 �d4! 31. �Xd4liJXe2+ 32.ifxe2 �xd4 33.li:Jxe6 �6! 34·li:Jcsli'd8!-+

21.f3+! 'i!?d3 [21...'i!txds 22. �d6 #) n. �+ 'i!tc2 23. �+ 'i!?b1 24.li:Jq+ 'i!?a1 25.a4! 1-o With an incredible fi­ nal position!

1>

•••

1>

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZlES

49

1651 1> lv. Saric (1.649) .,. M. Nikolov (1.550) European Championship 25.03.2012 u.b4! CZJ xb4 13.CZJb3! lia4 1 4.cxb4 lixb4+ 1s.lid1.+-

1>

A Giri (1.717)

1621

.,. F. Holzke (1.508) European Championship 24.03.2012 1.7 /iJcs! 1.8.lig1. [28.lixb4 1Wh3+-+) 1.8 J !xdt+ 1.9. �xdt lixfs-+ ••

••

1631 1> M. Mchedlishvili (1.61.6) .,. P. Michalik (1.5 1.9) European Championship 25.03.2012 1.7. � h3! 1-0 (27. � h3 �Xh3 2 8.\i'f6+ �h7 29.\i'g ?#) 1641

1>

A Riazantsev (1.710)

.,. B. Esen (1.555) European Championship 25.03.2012 so .ie6! 1-o •

1661

1>

H Gabuzyan (1.441)

.,. B. Damljanovic (1.581.) European Championship 27.03.2012 1.4.CZJ fs! [24.CZJc6! is exactly the same.) 1.4 lixe3 1.5.CZJ xe7+! �f8 1.6.fxe3! CZJaq [26... �xe7 27. .ixa5+-) 1.7.bxq �xe7 1.8.cs! dxcs 1.9.d6+! �f8 3o.CZJ xcs� 31.CZJb7! �b8 31.. �c7+•••

1611

1>

1 Sokolov (1.653)

.,. V. Nevednichy (1.561.) European Championship 27.03.2012 1.6.CZJexf7! [26.CZJ xg6! fxg6 27.'1i'xg6 � f6 transposes to the game(2J. CZJ/6 28.il.d6!! exd6 29. �e7-t-)) 1.6 �xf7 rJ.lixg6 �f6 1.8. �+ 'i!?f8 1.9.il.es!+­ .ic8 30 .ixf6 exf6 3l.'li'g6 1-0 -

•••

•

EASY

50

(681

1>

A Mastrovasilis (�510)

.,. I. Salgado Lopez (�6�1) European Championship 28.03.2012 13.tlJd7! CLJ g6 [13 ... Wfxd7 14. � xh7+! CLJ x h7 (14 �h8 1 5. il.f5+ + - ) Is.'t!Vxd ?+-) 14. CLJ.xf 8 CL:Jxf8 15 . �d�± . . .

(69)

1>

E. Safarli (�645)

.,. V. Durarbayli (�543) European Championship 28.03.2012 �7.. J'!cs! [27... �c6 ? 28 .axb 6! axb6 (28... �xb5?? 29.b7!) 29. gb3=) :z8. gb3 (28.!hc5 bxc5 ! 29.�e2 �c6 30.�d3 �b5-+l � .. J �xas+ 001 M. Yilmaz (�530) .,. Bo Vuckovic (�6�8) European Championship 28.03.2012 1>

31 ... � h6! 3�. gxd4 �xes!+ mJ

A Boruchvsky (�333) .,. H Stefansson (�531) 1>

European Championship 29.03.2012

(J2J L. Lenic (�637) .,. V. Neverov (�544) European Championship 29.03.2012 1>

3�. gxg7+! 'i!Vxg7 (32 ... �Xg7 33. gg1+ � f8 (33··· �h7 34· Wfg6+ � hS 35. VJ!/g8#) 34.l!Vc8+ �e7 35.l!Vxq+ �e8 36JWc8 + �e7 37.l!Ve 6+ �d8 38. �a5++-) 33· ggi+031 G. Szabo (�553) .,. A. Petrisor (�383) European Championship 29.03.2012 1>

�s ... l!Vxd4+! o-1[28 ... l!Vxd4+ 29.�h1 l!VxdH! 30. �xd1 g f1#; 28 ... � xd4+ ? 29.�h1) 041 1> A Korobov (�679) .,. Bo Vuckovic (�6�8) European Championship 30.03.2012 37. gXh7+! � Xh7 38, gh4+! tlJ xb4 39. l!Vxd6 With the doublethreat of l!Vxf8 and �e4+ 39 ... gxds 4o. 'i!Vxf8 1-0 (751 Y. Kuzubov (�615) .,. S. Azarov (�667) European Championship 3 0.03.2012 1>

We could have expected some sac­ rifices on the kingside, but the solu­ tion is on the other side of the board. nJ�u !+-

G REATE S T 3 6 5 PUZZLES

0 61 l'E. Ami (:161 1) .,. Y. Kryvoruchko (:1666) European Championship 30.03.2012 t>

l11J Arte Smirnov (2436) .,. J. Radulski (:155:1) European Championship 30.03.2012 t>

2.6. CLJ xes ! � xd1 2.7AJxc6! 1-0 (27. CLJ xc6 E:es 28.�d4!+-)

Oil t> 'L Kozul (:160:1) .,. F. Pancevski (:1470) European Championship 31.03 .2012 38.b7! CLJ sb6 (38 ...ctJc5 39·� XC5 dxc5 40.�XC5+-; 38 ...�Xb7 39.�C8+ �7 4o.tt:lg5#) 39.Etc7! Zugzwang, since the only possible move 'i!?f7 runs into � xb6 tt:l xb6 ctJd4! 39· ..h6 (39 ... �7 40. � xb 6 � xb6 41.ctJd4 ctJd5 42.ctJc6! ctJxq 43 .ctJxb8 +-) 40. 'i!?h2. ti:lds 41. Etc8+ 'i!? f7 42. .CZJd8+! 1-o tt:lc6+ is the next

llll t> Y. Kiyvoruchko (:1666) .,. F. Caruana (:1767) European Championship 3 1.03.2012 2.4. A xf7+! �g7 [24 ... 'iVxf7 25 . ..ixf4 .ixh (25 . . . � xj4? 2 6. �ds + + - )

51

26.Bf1;l;; 24... 'i!?xf7 25. � x f4± �xf4? 26 .�d5+ +-J 2. s. Ads?! (25 . ..ib3! ± would have given big advantage !) 2.s ...ct:Jxds 2.6.�xds E!as!;!; Black was close to equalize, but eventually he lost the game. II OJ t> L D. Nisipeanu (:1643) .,. S. Azaladze (2.419) European Championship 31.03.2012 36.f6!+ - 1-o Picturesque final posi­ tion! 1111 Wang Yue (:170:1) .,. Bu Xiangzhi (:1668) Xinghua 02.04.2012 t>

2.8.'i:Wxb3! Etxb3 2.9 .bxa3! Etxq+ 30. �b2. Etxe3 [3o ... �c4 31.'i!?b3+-) 31.!ixe3+ 1121 t> G. Gopal (:157:1) .,. T. Baron (:1497) India-Israel rapid match 03.04.2012 4 1 -�h7+! �g 8 42..ti:lf6 + ! �f8 43 .iih 8 + ! 1-0 (43 .!!h8+ � xh 8 44·�g8#)

52

EASY

1831 Li Shilong (2549) ..,. Bu Xiangzhi (2668) Xinghua 04.04.2012

28.l!VC4! �adS 29. �xds l!Vxds [29 ... �xd5 30.�d1+-) 30. �d1 ! l!VxC4 3J. �xd8+ 'i!i'h7 32.bxC4+ -

t>

1871 I. Ibragimov (2539) ..,. B. Savchenko (2580) Russian league 11.04.2012 t>

20 •• .ll:Jxf3+ ! 21. l!Vxf3 (21.gx f3 'fig3+ 22. �e2 �xg5-+) 21 ..• Etxgs+ 1841

t>

D. Baramidze (2612)

..,. N. Grandadam (2361) Deizisau 09.04.2012 23 . �xh7! 'i!i'xh7 [23 .. . fxg5 2 4. lih3 tixh3 25. �xh3±) 24. l!Vhs+ 'i!i'g 8 2 5 . l!Vxg6+ liJ g7 26. l!Vh7+ 'i!tf7 27.g6+ ! Very important! O nly in this way White gets an advantage. [27. �g6 + 'i!ie7 28. tixg7+ 'i!id8ec>) 27• •• 'i!i'e8 [27... 'i!ie7 28. tixg7+ 'i!id6 29.fiJe2 !?±) 28. l!Vxg7 �g8 29.l!Vh7 fiJf8 3o. l!VC7 fiJd7 31.fLle2! 'i!i'e7 32.fLlg3 1-0 1851 t> T. Burg (2464) ..,. K Bischoff (2521 ) Deizisau 09.04.2012 30.••bs! 31.ftJg1 [31.axb5 axb5 32. � xb5 � Xb5 33 .'fixb5 'fifi+ 34.ctJg1 'fixb5+) 3l•••bXC4 32.l!VXC4+ 'i!i'd8-+ 1861 A. Motylev (2683) ..,. J. Geller (2544) Russian league 09.04.2012 t>

1881 G. Margvelashvili (2547) ..,. B . Finegold (2505) Saint Louis 11.04.2012 t>

17.a3!! This is the only move order which wins the d4 bishop. [17.�xd4? �Xd4 18.a3 'fid6 !) 1]- l!Vcs 18. �xd4! �xd4 19. �e3 Eted8 2o.fiJxd4 [20. b4+ -) 20 • • • �xd4 21. �d1 � xd1 n. � xcs+•.

1881 P. Svidler (2744) ..,. D. Jakovenko (2729) Russian league 11.04.2012 t>

25 ••. l!Vxf4! o-1 Black had winning position anyway, but this is the one, a fter which White has to surren­ der immediately. [25 ... tixf4 2 6.�xdt � xdi+ 27.'i!ixd1 �d8 + 28. 'i!ie2 (28. 'i!ic2 tid2+ 29.'i!ib3 EtbB+-+) 28 . . . �d2+ 29. 'i!ia �c2!- +)

1901

.,. D. Khismatullin (:l656)

Russian league 12.04.2012

1931 P. Svidler (:l744) .,. A. Morozevich (:l765) Russian league 13.04.2012

p . E!xg 6 + ! [ 3 2 . � e 6 + �xe6 33.�x f8+! 'i!?xf8 34.dxe6±) J:l. . .hxg6 33·gh8+!! 'i!?g7 f33 ... 'i!?xh8 34·�h6+ 'i!?g8 3 5. �xg6 + 'i!?h8 3 6 . �h7#) 34· 'i!¥h6+ 'i!?f6 35· E!xf8+ �e7 I n timetrouble White missed some forced mates, but he won the game anyway. 36 .'i!¥g 7+ [36 .d6+ 'i!?xd6 37·�f4++-] J6 �d6 37·gf6++- [37· �f6+! 'i!?c5 38. E!c8+ 'i!?b5 3 9.�c6+ 'i!?a5 4o. E!a8++-)

2.:l A f4+! The king has no good square to leave from the check. :lJ.�C2 (23. 'i!fd1 .li_g4+=) 23 .li.b7!! 24. � xb7 [24. � xa8?! .li.xe4+] :l4··· E!xh8 2.5 . .li.d5 Due to the oppo­ site colored bishops, all the moves lead to draw now. :l5 · ·· E!ds [25 . . . E! x h 2 26. � xh2 .li. xh2 2 7. .li. x f7=J 2.6.gdl [26. .li. xf? gd2+=J :l6 .li.xh2. 2.7. .li.xf7 E!fs :l8 . .li.d5 E!xf2+ :l9. gd:l E!xd2.+ 30. �xd2. .li.e5 31.b3 .li.f6 J.h­

M Matlakov (:l63:l)

t>

.

.••

1911 t> P. Eljanov (:l704) .,. S. Movsesian (:l70:l) Russian league 13 .04.2012 2 1 ... CLle4 ! ! 22. .li.d4! Other moves would have lost a piece. [22 . .li.xd6 CZJ xd6-+) n ... e6 [22 ... E!c8 was even more accurate 23.b3 e6+) 23. �fd1 exd5+ Black had a healthy pawn up. 1921 B. Grachev (:l705) .,. A Poluljahov (:l505) Russian league 13.04.2012 t>

24 .CLld7! 1-o [2 4.CLld7 g fc8 (24 ... E!e8 25.CLle7+!+-) 25.CLl x f6+! gx f6 26.CLle7+!+-)

t>

•••

•••

•••

I/2

1941 P. Schlosser (:l591) .,. L. Vogt (:l410) German league 14.04.2012 t>

39· �xd4! exd4 4o.CLlc5 'i!¥q 41.CLlxb7 lixb7 42. �xd4± 1951 t> Z. Abdumalik (u37) .,. Z. Andriasian (:l616) Dubai Open 15.04.2012 3 0 g x g3 ! [But not 3 0 ... CLl g4+? 3I.'i!?xh3 gh5+ 32. 'i!?g2 �h2+ 33. 'i!?g1! and White survives b y miracle.) 31.CLl xf6+ .li.xf6 J:l.'i!he8+ �g7 o-1 •••

54

EASY

(961 J. Gustafsson (2.642.) .,. M Venkatesh (2.509) Bangkok Open 15.04.2012

nODI V. Belous (2.52.4) .,. A. Predke (2.461) Sochi 21.04.2012

2.7 �d3! 2.8.�XC2. (28.'iWb7 'iWc1!-+) 2.8 � xa6 2.9.�b4 [29J �CI �d3 -+) 2.9 � xft 30. \!txf1 !ks-+

2.1.!!:xh7! 'i:Wxh7 [21 ... fxg4 22.!!:h8+ �g7 23 . !!:1 h7#) 2. 2. . 'i:Wq+ V!f/f7 2.3.E:h8+! \!txh8 2. 4 .V!f/xf7 � xes 2.s.e6! White gets a technically win­ ning position in both s. 2.5 ...b6 [25 ... � xe 6 26.'iWxe 6+-) 2.6.V!f/e8 + � g7 2.7.V!f/c6 �xe6 2.8.V!f/xa8+-

1>

•••

•••

•••

(911 S. Karjakin (2.766) .,. D. Kokarev (2.637) Russian league 15.04.2012 1>

1>

n011 S. Bromberger (2.513) .,. T. Likavsky (2.486) Austrian league 21.04.2012 1>

The last move was 65 ... �f6-h5. After 6 hours of defending, Black ran out of energy and blundered. 66.E:xhs+! [66.lhh5+ �h5 67. � h1#) (981 1> I. Morovic Fernandez (2.577) .,. Mat Latorre (2.2.52.) Iberoamericano Championship 15.04.2012 14.�xas! �xa5 [14-.. �xf1 15.�xc6+-) •s . � xa6±

2.7.�f8+! 1-0 [27.�f8+ �h8 (2J... 'E..xf8

2B.gxh4+-) 28.�h6#)

no21 1> L Thiede (2.458) .,. S. Siebrecht (2.468) Austrian league 22.04.2012 2.s e4! ! 2.6. �e3 [26. dxe4 �xe2+ 27.�xe2 � xd2-+; 26.�xe4 �xe2+ 27.�g2 £5-+) 2.6 ex:d3 2.7. �Xd4 dxe2. [27... cxd4-+) 2.8.�xe2. cxd4-+ •••

(991 1> S. Vysochin (2.550) .,. V. Grinev (2.404) Nabokov memorial 19.04.2012

•••

na3J V. Baklan (2.612.) .,. T. Sachdev (2.414) Dubai Open 23 .04.2012 1>

2.s.E:dxds! 'i:Wb7 (25 ...exd5 26.'iWxc8+ E:xc 8 27. �xa6+-) 2.6.!l:dbs! 'i:We4 2.7.�e3 'i:Wc2. 2.8.'i:We1 t-o

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

27.'tJxf7 ! 'i!txf7 28. 'ifg6 + � f8 29 .E;g3! �d6 JO. �xf6+no4J S. Vaibhav (2494) ,. S. Maze (2577) Lille Open 25.04.2012 t>

17.E;xf6+! 1Wxf6 1 8 .E;f1 lWxfi+ 19 .�Xf1+l105J t> I. Bukavshin (2504) ,. V. Fedoseev (2548) Sochi 26.04.2012 26.fxes! lWd3 [26 ... Ci:Jxh5 27. E;x fS#; 26 ... i¥x f1 27.ex f6 + -) 27. lWh4 [27. E;f3+-) 27... E;g4 28 .1Wh3+l106J

t>

R Antoniewski (2559)

,. M. Olszewski (2539) Italian league 28.04.2012

JS.Ci:Jefs+! �xfs [38 ... gx f5 39.\%Yxg5+ �fs 4o. \%Yxh4+-) 39·� xfs+! gxfs 4o .lWxgs+ � 8 41 .1Wxh4+-

55

l107J t> V. Babula (2572) ,. M. Grunberg (2420) Austrian league 29.04.2012

Black was hoping for winning the a4 knight, but... n.lWb6! � xa4 23. �xe6+ �f8 [23 .. :i!ih8 2 4.E;d8+ � fs 25. E;x f8+! E;x fS 2 6. \%Yxa7+-) 2.4· E;d8+ E;xd8 [2 4.. :i!ie7 25 .\%Yd6+ � f6 2 6. � XC4+ �f5 27. \%Y f4#) 2s. 1Wxd8+ 1- 0 [2 5 . \%Yxd8+ � e 8 26.\%Yd6#) noaJ

t>

A Czebe (2.477)

,. S. Arun Prasad (2517) Melaka Open 29.04.2012

noaJ Z. Mammadov (2378) ,. G. Guseinov (2616) Nakhchivan Open 29.04.2012 t>

28 ...�g3! ! 0-1(28 ...Ci:Jg3 29.fxg3 fxg3+ JO.�Xg3 \%Yf4#)

-

MEDI UM

-

MEDIUM

58

(1]

(2)

t> D. Navara (2. 705) • T. Polak (2.546) Czech Extraliga

t> t>E Ami (2.596) • S. Tiviakov (2.677 ) Wijk aan Zee

07.01.2012

14.01.2012 1. +1-

(4)

(3) t> K. Lahno (2.557) • S. Ernst (2.606 ) Wijk aan Zee

t> D. Navara (2.712.) • V. Topalov (2.77 0) Wijk aan Zee

14.01.2012

14.01.2012 1...

=

59

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

(5] 1> M. Carlsen (�35) • L Aronian (�05) Wijk aan Zee 16.01.2012

lll

.

1> H. Nakamura (2759) • D. Navara (2712) Wijk aan Zee 19.01.2012 1. +-

1. +-

(1]

(8]

1> J. Timman (2571) • S. Ernst (2606) Wijk aan Zee 19.01.2012

1> M. Ragger (2655) • V. Kunin (2537) Austrian League 21.01.2012

1. +-

MEDIUM

60

l10J

l9J t> M. Bosboom (2394) ..,. D. Fridman (266o) Gibraltar

V. Gashimov (2761) ..,. D. Navara (2712) Wijk aan Zee

24.01.2012

24.01.2012

1. . - +

1. +-

.

t>

l11J

l12J T. Baron (2498) ..,. N. Short (2677) Gibraltar

t>

N. Getz (2408) ..,. M. Vachier Lagrave (2699) Gibraltar

t>

24.01.2012

25.01.2012

1 .. -+

1 ... - +

.

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

1131 C. Hanley (2.42.1) H. Koneru (2.589) Gibraltar 25.01.2012 1>

•

61

1141 S. Mamedyarov (2.7 47) ... T. Nabaty (2.563) Gibraltar 25.01.2012 1>

1. -+ ••

1151

1181

1>

M. Adams (2.72.4 ) • D. Fridman (:z.66o) Gibraltar 26.01.2012

R. Felgaer (2.571 ) • V. Bologan (:z.68o) Gibraltar 26.01.2012

1. +-

1. +-

1>

MEDIUM

62

1181 N. Huschenbeth (2.518) .,.. R. Valhondo Morales (2.046) Gibraltar 26.01.2012 1>

A Shirov (2.710) .,.. M. Muzychuk (2.484) Gibraltar 26.01.2012 1>

1. +-

1201

(191 1>

D. Andreikin (2.688) .,.. R. Yandarbiev (2.391) Gibraltar 28.01.2012

F. El Debs (2.497) .,.. M. Vachier Lagrave (2.699) Gibraltar 28.01.2012

1. +-

L +-

1>

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

(22)

(21] S. Ernst (�6o6) L. Bruzon (�691) Gibraltar 29.01.2012 t>

63

S. Movsesian (�700) A. Zatonskih (�so6) Gibraltar 29.01.2012 t>

•

•

1... -+

1. +-

1241

(23] t>

A. Gabrielian (�S 4S) V. Iordachescu (�651) Moscow Open 30.01.2012

M. Peek (�354) S. Brunello (�sSt) Gibraltar 30.01.2012

1�. -1+

1.

•

t>

•

==

MEDIUM

64

(281

(25] V. Laznicka (�704) D. Howell (�6o3) Gibraltar 31.01.2012 1>

•

M. Parligras (�6so) R Rapport (�543) Gibraltar 31.01.2012 1>

•

1

. ••

-+

(21] B. Socko (�636) • I. Naumkin (�443) Moscow Open 31.01.2012 1>

(28] Ab. Gupta (�6s�) • L Javakhishvili (�454) Gibraltar 01.02.2012 1>

1. +-

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

[291

65

[321

t> K. Sasikiran (2700) .- N. Short (2677) Gibraltar 02.02.2012

t> D. Debashis (2389) A. Rychagov (2542) Aeroflot Open 08.02.2012

1 ... -/+

1. +-

[301 t> A. Lastin (2538) .- B. Firat (2396) Aeroflot Open 07.02.2012 1 ...

==

.-

[311 t> I. Sokolov (2641) ._ G. Pap (2533) Aeroflot Open 07.02.2012

66

MEDIUM

[341

[331 t> VI. Fedoseev (2525) ..,. S. Sjugirov (26n) Aeroflot Open 08.02.2012

B. Esen (2534) ..,. R. Mamedov (2636) Aeroflot Open 09.02.2012 t>

1 ... -+

[351 I. Popov (25 99) ..,. M. Venkatesh (2499) Aeroflot Open 10.02.2012 t>

[3 61 t> D. Fridman (2652) ..,. H. Klip (2380) Dutch league 11.02.2012

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

(381

l3D M. Venkatesh (�499) ,.. E. Ghaem Maghami (�570) Aeroflot Open 11.02.2012

Aeroflot Open 15.02.2012

1 ... -/+

1. +-

t>

t> S. Grover (�53�) ,.. E. Karavade (�354)

(48)

(39) M. Sieciechowicz (�459) ,.. B. Macieja (�17) Polish Championship 18.02.2012 t>

67

R. Kempinski (�610) ,.. P. Jaracz (�54�) Polish Championship 24.02.2012 t>

1. +1-

MEDIUM

68

[41J t> K. Bischoff (2547) B. Kohlweyer (2458) German League 25.02.2012 •

[431 t> Mat Bartel (2658) • T. Markowski (2612) Polish Championship 26.02.2012

[421 t> R. Rabiega (2501) • F. Vallejo Pons (2716) German League 25.02.2012

[441 t> R. Fontaine (2552) • E. Najer (2637) German league 26.02.2012

69

GREATEST 365 PUZZLES

[451

[481

t>

N. Huschenbeth (2510) ,. E. Postny (2622) German league 26.02.2012

D. Wegener (2364) ,. L. D. Nisipeanu (2638) German league 26.02.2012

1. +/=

1.

t>

[481

[41J Lenic (2637) ,. V. Kunin (2537) Austrian league 01.03.2012 t> L

1 ... -/+

=

J. Tomczak (2555) ,. D. Pulvett (2340) Cappelle la Grande 03.03.2012 t>

70

MEDIUM

1491

1501

t> B. Valuet (2318) ,. V. Durarbayli (2543) Cappelle la Grande

t> C. Koepke (2404) ,. J. Pinter (2546) Austrian league

03.03.2012

04.03.2012

1. . -1+

1. +-

.

1521

[51] t> A. Shneider (2529) ,. P. Grandadam (2189) Cappelle la Grande

t> M. Tazbir (2513) ,. B. Amin (2608) Cappelle la Grande

04.03.2012

05.03.2012

1. +1-

1... -+

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

71

(54]

(53] 1> T. Sani.kidze (2549) 1> P. Harikrishna (2648) Cappelle la Grande 05.03.2012

1> P. Harikr�hna (2678) ..,. V. Zakhartsov (2563) Cappelle la Grande o6.03.2012

1

1.

• ••

-+

(55] 1> Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (2662) ..,. Li Shilong (2549) HD Bank Cup 06.03.2012 1.+/-

+-

(561 1> And. Sokolov (2577) ... V. Neverov (2544) Cappelle la Grande 07.03.2012

72

MEDIUM

[581

[51] 1> A. Zherebukh (2642) A. Vul (2318) Cappelle la Grande 0?.03.2012

1> 1 Cheparinov (2664) _. K. Akshayraj (2422) Reykjavik Open Reykjavik ISL 08.03.2012

1. +/-

1.+-

_.

l&OJ

l59J 1> H. Steingrirnsson (2556) _. Fl. Perez (2269) Reykjavik Open 08.03.2012

1> Hj. Grettarsson (246o) _. E. Vaarala (2241) Reykjavik Open 09.03.2012

1. +-

1. +-

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

l81J Z. Kozul (2.602.) A Brkic (2.587) Zagreb Open 10.0J.2012 1>

•

73

l82J D. Navara (2.700) I. Sokolov (2.653) Reykjavik Open 10.0J.2012 1> •

1 ... -/+

l84J

l83J V. Papin (2.575) T. Thorhallsson (2.398) Reykjavik Open 11.03.2012

L. Cyborowski (2.543) A. Giri (2.72.2.) German league 17.03.2012

1.+-

1.

1>

•

1> •

==

MEDIUM

74

[851 1> L. Fressinet (2696) • S. Gordon (2535) German league 18.03.2012

[881 1> R Wojtaszek (2704) P. Negi (2631) German league 18.03.2012 •

1. +-

[811 1> Cs. Balogh (2664) • A. Sharafiev (2433) European Championship 20.03.2012 1... -+

[881 1> G. Guseinov (2616) • Y. Erturan (2370) European Championship 20.03.2012

75

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

OOJ

(691 1>

Da. Klein (2.418) .,. lv. Saric (2.649) European Championship

1> Ad. Bach (2.2.64) .,. D. Lintchevs.ki (2.564) European Championship

20.03.2012

20.03.2012 1. +1-

(12)

liD 1>

V. Kotronias (2.597) .,. D. Lomsadze (2.338) European Championship

Gy. Pap (2.538) .,. I. Khenkin (2.632.) European Championship

21.03.2012

2l.OJ.2012

1 ...

1. +-

=

1>

76

MEDIUM

[141

031 ._

t> E. Safarli (2645) D. Agaragirnov (2342) European Championship

t> H. Stefansson (2531) ._ Bo. Vuckovic (2628) European Championship

20.03.2012

21.03.2012

1. +-

081

051 t> S. Sulskis (2596) ._ A. Boruchovsky (2333) European Championship

t> T. Antal (2352) ._ D. Zoler (2541) European Championship

20.03.2012

22.03.2012

1. -/+

1. -/+

••

••

77

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

081

m1 1> N. Grandelius (�545) .,.. H Melkumyan (�6�8) European Championship

European Championship

22.03.2012

22.03.2012

1> A. ICorobov (�679) .... 1 Nyzhnyk (�585)

1. +1-

1801

1191 1> S. Movsesian (�7m) .,.. ". ICotronias (�597) European Championship

1> A. Istratescu (�633) .,.. Ant. Pavlidis (�31) European Championship

22.03.2012

23.03.2012

1. +-

1. +-

MEDIUM

78

(811

(821

•

t> N. Sedlak (2.593) T. Petenyi (2.359) European Championship

t> I. Popov (2.6o5) • Ni Djukic (2.513) European Championship

23.03.2012

24·03.2012 1. +-

(84)

(83) t> C. Braun (2.372.) • D. Navara (2.700) European Championship

t> V. Durarbayli (2.543) • A Beliavsky (2.630) European Championship

25.03.2012

25.03.2012

1. - -+

1. +-

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

79

[881

[851 t>

A. Naiditsch (2702) ..,. I. Sokolov (2653) European Championship

R. Rapport (2553) ..,. D. Kadric European Championship

25.03.2012

25.03.2012

1. +-

1. +-

t>

[811

[881

t>

E. Sutovsky (2700) ..,. Z. Kozul (2602) European Championship

t> E. Can (2476) ..,. T. Nyback (2636) European Championship

25.03.2012

27.03.2012

1. +-

MEDIUM

80

(811 t> A. Cioara (1.477) ..,.. M. Roiz (1.651.) European Championship 27.03.2012

(901 t> R. Hovhannisyan (1.6oo) ..,.. N. Vitiugov (1.709) European Championship 27.03.2012

(911

(921

t> D. Navara (1.700) ..,.. V. Jianu (1.497) European Championship 27.03.2012

t> Djukic,Ni (1.513) ..,.. C. Ali Marandi (1.315) European Championship 28.03.2012

1.+-

1. +1-

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

81

(941

(93) 1> S. Movsesian (:170:1) ... L Pantsulaia (:1595) European Championship 28.03.2012

1> A. Berescu (:1494) • S. Ernst (:1578) European Championship 29.03.2012

1. +-

1. -/+

(951

(981

1> D. Khismatullin (:1656) • A. Mastrovasilis (:1510) European Championship 29.03.2012

1> Vu. Rasulov (:15:16) .,.. A. Mista (:1587) European Championship 29.03.2012

1. +-

1 .. -+ .

82

MEDIUM

(98)

(91J t> D. Lintchevski (�564) ..,.. A. Cioara (�477) European Championship

t> M. Mchedlishvili (�6�6) .... R. Rapport B. Socko (�647) .... V. Popov (�546) European Championship

t> E. Najer (�640) ..,.. M. Vachier Lagrave (�68�) European Championship

30.03.2012

31.03.2012

1.

1. +/-

.

. =I+

GREATEST 365 PUZZLES

(1011 1> A. Shabalov (2523) ..,.. T. Gelashvili (2618) Philadelphia 06.04.2012 1.

+/-

1> J. Bosch (2386) ..,.. V. Shishkin (2464) Deizisau 09.04.2012 -

(1021 1> L. Vajda (2597) ..,.. C. Zeng (2435) Doeberl Cup 08.04.2012 1. +-

11031

1 ... /+

83

11041 1> A. Morozev.ich (2765) ..,.. D. Jakovenko (2729) Russian league 10.04.2012

84

MEDIUM

(1861

(1051 .,..

A. Korobov (2679) M. Panarin (2523) Russian league

1> An. Young (2321) .,.. E. Sevillano (2502) Saint louis

12.04.2012

12.04.2012

1>

1. .. =I+

(1081

(1011 P. Acs (2587) .,.. D. Howell (2633) German league 1>

15.04.2012 1 . .. -+

J. Granda Zuniga (2640) Milos (2593) Iberoamericano Championship 1>

.,.. G.

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

85

l110J

l109J 1> D. Jakovenko (2729) ._ E. Sutovsky (2700) Russian league

1> R. Kasimdzahov (2678) ._ A. Postojev (2330) German league

15.04.2012

15.04.2012

1 ...

=

l111J

[1121

1> M. Mozharov (2474) ._ V. Malakhov (2705) Russian league

1> P. Tregubov (2599) ._ A. Morozevich (2765) Russian league

15.04.2012

15.04.2012

1 ...

1.. -+

=

.

86

MEDIUM

[1131

[1141

t> Y. Bacallao Alonso (2550) ,. J. Gonzalez Garcia (2529) Catalanian league

t> E. Ahrnadinia (2379) ,. B. Arnin (26o8) Dubai Open

17.04.2012

22.04.2012

1. +-

1 ... -/+

[1181

[1151 t> S. Movsesian (2715) ,. D. Swiercz (2585) Czech league 22.04.2012 1. +-

t> J. Radulski (2552) ,. K Rusev (2516) Bulgarian Championship

CD

�'o

22.04.2012

GREATEST 365 PUZZLES

[1111 1> B. Bellahcene (2321) ,. F. Handke (2525) Lille Open 26.04.2012

[1191 1> D. Collutiis (2493) ,. M. Brunello (2263) Italian league 28.04.2012 1. +-

87

[1181 1> V. Nozdrachev (2449) ,. A. Stukopin (2485) Sochi 26.04.2012

[1201 1> A. Moty lev (2683) ,. Wan Yunguo (2441) Chinese league 28.04.2012

MEDIUM

88

l122J

l121J 1> E. Safarli (2645) • V. Rasulov (2526) Nakhchivan Open

1> E. Sutovsky (2700) • M. Olszewski (2539) Italian league

29.04.2012

29.04.2012

1... -+

1.

=

-

SOLUTIONS

131

nl t>

D. Navara (2705)

-

t>

K Lahno (2557)

..,. T. Polak (2546) Czech Extraliga 07.01.2012

..,. S. Ernst (2606) Wijk aan Zee 14.01.2012

n.CZJe5!! CZJ f5 (22 ... dxe5 23 .dxe5! !+­ After this subtle move Black can resign, he has no defense against !! f6 ! (23 . !! f6 Also leads to much better, probably winning rook end­ game 23 .. /�f5 (23 ... �g8 24.dxes!+-} 2 4. 1Wxe5 �g8 25.gxf5 exf5 26.1Wxf5 1Wxe3+ 27.�h2 1We4±} ) 23.gxf5 exf5 24.'if¥c6! 1- o [24.1Wc6 dxe5 25.1Wxh6+ �g8 26. !!xf5+-)

28.CZJ f5!! A great intuitive piece sacri­ fice. 28 gxf5 (28 ... �xf5 29.exf5 gxf5 30. �Xg?+ �g? 31.1Wh3+- Black can not prevent the 1Wh6+ then g6 and the � xf5 threats.) 29.exf5 Black can not hold his material advantage, due to the f6 threat. 29 ... � xf5 30. �xf5 CZJ f7 [3o . . . !!xf5 3 1 . � xg7+ �x g7 32.1Wxf5+-) 31. �Xg7+ 't!fxg7 32.'if¥h5 gh8 33- �e6 �d8 34.g6+-

121 t> L'E. Ami (2596) ..,. S. Tiviakov (2677) Wijk aan Zee 14.01.2012

141 t> D. Navara (2712) ..,. V. Topalov (2770) Wijk aan Zee 14.01.2012

16. �b4! CZJ xe5 (16 ... 1Wxb4 17.� xd7 !! f7 18 .� xf6+ !!xf6 19.cxd5 cxd5 20. &2± White is much better. He will penetrate on the c-file.) 17. � xd6 CZJ xf3 18. � xf8 CZJ xd4 19.e3! ftJe2 (19 ... �xf8 2o.exd4±) 2o. !!c2 't!fxf8 21. !!xe2 't!te? (21 ... dxq 22. l!d6±) n. !!c2 With an exchange up. Few moves later he managed to open one line for the rooks and won the game. n 't!td6 23.b4 a5 2 4.cxd5 exd5 25- gdc1 gc8 26.bxa5 bxa5 27. gb1±

27... 1Wxe2! [27... � f4+? 28.gxf4 1Wg4+ 29. �h1! !!xf4 3o.lWd6± The knight on h2 protects the king.) 28. 'if¥xd5 ge3! Wins back the piece. 29. ge1 'if¥xf3+ 3o.Wfxf3 gexf3 31 . gb2 gxd3 112-1/2 draw agreed, because of 32. !!e7

••.

•• .

151 M. Carlsen (2835) ..,. L. Aronian (2805) Wijk aan Zee 16.01.2012 t>

33.e6!! 1Wa8 (33 ...fxe6 34.1We4!+- was the point and the g6 falls!) 34.exf7+ [34.e7! was the most precise way

90

M EDIUM

t o wi n 3 4 . . . :S xd5 35.e8Q 'iix e8 36.'i!Wxd5+-) 34 . . . �h8? (34 ... �g7 would have given some hopes for sur­ vival 35.'�J f4 'iixgH 36.�g2 �xf? 37· :S fl:t) 35·ClJf4+(6]

H Nakamura (2.759) ... D. Navara (2.712.) t>

Wijk aan Zee 19.01.2012

19. � xds! 'iWxds 2.o. � f6! 'iWd6 (2o ... 'ii x h5 21. � xe7+-J 2.1. �xe7 'iWxq 2.2..ez:J f6+ it was enough to stop the calculations here, as White is win­ ning. Nakamura finishes the game in great style ... 2.2.. . . �g7 2.3.'iWq! 'iih 4 threats! 2.3 'iWes 2.4. :Saf1 hs •••

(1] J. Timman (2.571) ... S. Ernst (2.606) Wijk aan Zee 19.01.2012 t>

2.3.ltJes+!! (23. $.a3:t) 2.3... ez:J xes (23 ... fxe5? 24.t'Ll g5+ �f6 25.fxe5+ �xe5 26. !!et++-) 2.4.fxe5 ctJ g5 is the main threat. 2.4 �f5 2.5.ctJxcs+••.

(8] t> M. Ragger (2.655) ... V. Kunin (2.537) Austrian League 21.01.2012 14. �d3! This silent, lined osing move is winning by force. 14 ... 'iWf7 15.ez:Jxc6 bxc6 16.'iWh3! �c5 17. 1i.q+(8] M. Bosboom (2.394) ... D. Fridman (2.66o) Gibraltar 24.01.2012 t>

2.1 �f3+!! To lure the White queen from the h6 square! 2.2.. 'iWxf3 'i!Vd7! One of the many different wins, with the idea of 'iia 4. 2.3.'iWf4 ltJcs (23 ... 'i!Wa4 2 4.'i!Wh6 CZJd4+ 25.�d2 'iic 2+ 26.'�e1 'iWc1#) 2.4. � h3 (2 4. 'iih 6 �a4+ 25. �e1 lWb4+ 26. �d1 lWbt+ 27.�d2 CZJ e4#) 2.4 ... li34+-+ •••

2.5/ijxhs+! The fastest way to victory! 2.5 'iWxhs (25 ... gxh5 26. !!xf7+ ;g xf7 27. 'i!Wxf7+ �h8 28. ;gf5 'i!Wat+ 29. �g2 !! xd2+ 30. �h3+-J 2.6. !! xf7+ !! xf7 2.7. ;gxf7+ �h6 (27... 'i!?h8 28.'i!Wc3++-) 2.8. lWf4+ gs (2s ... lig5 29. ;g h7+! +-J 2.9. lWf6+ 1Wg6 3o. lWf1! 'iWhs (3o... ;g xd2 31. 'iih 3+ 'ii h 5 3 2. !! h7+ + -) 31 . !!xb7+•••

no1 V. Gashimov (2.761) ... D. Navara (2.712.) Wijk aan Zee 24.01.2012 t>

G R E ATES T 3 6 5 PUZZLE S

91

:2.5·84? [Gashimov missed the beau­ tiful 25J ! xq ! ! V/Bxq 2 6.V/Bg5 ! g6 (26 . . . �g6 27. V/lxg6+ -) 27. V/Bx h6 gxh5 28. �g5+ �g6 29.�xg6+ �h8 30. �Xh5#) :lS··· �86! ;l;

�c6!?-+ (36... h4-+) ; 35.V/Bxh5 CZJ f4+! 36.gxf4 V/Bh3+ 37. �g1 CZJ f3+ 38.V/Bxf3 !t'xf3 -+) 3s ... CZJ f4+! o-1(35 . . .ct:l f4+ 36.gxf4 �h3+ 37· �SI CZJ f3+ 38.V/Bxf3 V/Bxf3 -+)

(11) N. Getz (:2.408) .,.. M. Vachier La8rave (:2.699) Gibraltar 24.01.2012

U41 S. Mamedyarov (2.747) .,.. T. Nabaty (:2.563) Gibraltar 25.01.2012

33 ••• �b8! (33 ··· � Xf1 3 4· �Xf1 �Xf1 35.�xfi �f6++) 34 . �h4 (34. �b1 �f2+! ! this great move was the point of 33··· !!bS! 35 · �xf2 �f6+ 36. �e2 (J6.�g2 Vll/3+ JJ. s!fh 2 �/2#) 3 6 ... V/Bf3+ 37. �d2 Vllh+ 38. �c3 V/Bxe3+ 3 9. �C2 V/Bd3+ 4o. \!?c1 �xb1#) 34 ... �b:l+ 35·�81 �xfi+ o-1, �f6 is com­ ing with mate.

:2.1. �X86! 'i!tx86 [21. .. �xg6 22.gxf5! CZJ Xf5 23 . V/B h7+ � f6 2 4 . 'lllf f7#) :l :l.8xfs+ �87 [22 ... �xf5 23 . �h2 and �g1 wins.) 2.3.e4! Very well played! :l3 ••• dxe4 2.4.CZJcx� !Vxd-4+ :2. 5. �hi +- CZJ f8 :l6.CZJ xf6 'a'xf6 :2.7. ��+! 1-o(27. �e7+ Vllxe? 28.CZJe6+ �7 29.V/Bh5+!+-; 27. �g1+-]

U21 1> T. Baron (:2.498) .,.. N. Short (:2.677) Gibraltar 25.01.2012

1>

1>

39 ... 'iWxf3! 4o.CZJ f6+ Wfxf6! 41 .exf6 �xel+ 4:2.. �:l CZJxf6! taking always with tempo 43· !¥xes �e8! - + Black got too many pieces for the queen. U31 C. Hanley (:2.42.1) .,.. H. Koneru (2.589) Gibraltar 25.01.2012

1>

n5J

M Adams (2.72.4) .,.. D. Fridman (2.66o)

Gibraltar 26.01.2012

With his last move 48 ... b6, Black wanted to simplify the position, but he blundered a great breakthrough. 49-bs!! &s (49... axb5 5o. �xb5+-; 49··· bxa5 50.bxa6+-) so.axb6 as Sl·�xes 84 52..�d6a3s3- �xgs+ 1-0(53. �xg5+ � 54 �h5!+-)

1>

34 ... hs! (34 ... ct:l f4+ 35.gxf4 '\l!fxq+) 3s. !Ve2. ( 3 5 . 'iWd1 'Wxq 3 6 . hxg5

(161 1> R Fel8aer (2.571) .,.. V. Bolo8an (2.68o) Gibraltar 26.01.2012

92

M EDIU M

2.4.CLl h4! with the threat of CZJ xf5. (24. CL\ d2±] 2.4 ... � xh4 2.5 .CZJxd6! ifb8 2.6.CZJxe8! b5 (26 ... l!Vxa7 27.l!Vxe5 f6 28.l!Ve7+-] 2.7.gxh4 bxq 2.8.CZJ f6+ 1-o nn N. Huschenbeth (2.518) ,.. R. Va1hondo Morales (2.046) Gibraltar 26.01.2012 1>

18.CZJd5! exd5 (18 ... l!Vd8 19.CLl xe7+ l!Vxe7 20.C5 dxc5 21.bXC5+-) 19.cxd5 ifd8 2. o .CZJc6! � xc6 (2o ... l!Ve8 21. � xa6±] 2.1.dxc6 1W c7 n.cxd7 ifxd7 2.3. �xa6+na1

1>

A Shirov (2.710)

,.. M. Muzychuk (2.484) Gibraltar 26.01.2012 31. � xd4! ifxd4 (Black could have tried to resist with a computer idea 31 ... �g7! 32. �g4 &q! but still af­ ter a few accurate moves, White is winning. 33· �g1 (33 . 'i!;h3!?+-) 33 ... l!Va7! 34.l!Va3! (34./3 Eixg4 3sfxg4+-} 34 ... 1!Vxf2+ 35. � 1g2 l!Vb6 36.c5 l!Vxc5 37. l!Vxc5 dxc5 38. � xa2+-; 31 ... exd4 3 2.l!Vg8+ 'tie7 33. �e1#] 32.. �xd4 a1Q 33· �g4 'tie7 34· �g7+ 'tid8 35· �xd7+ 'tixd7 36. ifg7+ 'tid8 37.iff8+ 1-0 (37. l!Vf8+ 't;q 38.ife?+ 'tib6 39·l!Vb7++-] nm 1> D. Andreikin (2.688) ,.. R. Yandarbiev (2.391) Gibraltar 28.01.2012

40.CLle6!! (40. �xa1 l!Vxf4+! 41. 'tih1 � xa1==] 4o �xf1 4 1 .ifxf6 1-o . •J

1201 1> F. El Debs (2.497) ,.. M. Vachier Lagrave (2.699) Gibraltar 28.01.2012 2.4. !i xb7! CZJ xb7 2.5. � xc6+ 'tif8 2.6. !id7 ifxd7 (26 ... CZJd6 27. � xq CZJxf5 28. � xa8 +-] 2.7.ifxd7 g xa7 2.8. ife8# 1-o 1211 S. Ernst (2.606) ,.. L. Bruzon (2.691) Gibraltar 29.01.2012 1>

18 ifxa2.+! ! 19. �xu bxa2. 2.o.ife4 (2o.l!Vd5 f6 !-+] 2.o f6! u. � xe5 fxe5 (21. .. o-o ! ?- +] n. ifxe5+ �e6 2.3 .ifxg7 �f8! 2.4. �f3 gef6 o-1 •.•

•••

1221 S. Movsesian (2.700) ,.. A. Zatonskih (2.506) Gibraltar 29.01.2012 1>

4 o.iff7+! 'tih8 41 .ifh7+! ! 1-0(41. l!Vh7+ CZJ xh7 42.CLlf7#) 1231 A. Gabrielian (2.545) ,.. V. Iordachescu (2.651) Moscow Open 30.01.2012 1>

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZ LES

:l :l !'!xc:l! :13. 'i!!fXC:l �Xe4! :14. 'i!!fX� (24.1Wa2 'e9a8 !?=t: (24... Jl.xb1 25.WII xb1 ds=t:) ) :14 � h:1+ :15- �xh:1 �xe4-+ •••

•••

(24) M. Peek (:1354) .,.. S. Brunello (:1581) Gibraltar 3 0.01.2012

93

hxg6 :14.e5 (24.1Wc2! would have giv­ en enough compensation for White to make a draw.) :14 ... �C5 Black was slightly better and eventually won the game.

1>

37. !'!e1 (37. �e3 !! would have been the only move to draw 37... �8c3+ {JJ. .. !'! 2C3+ j8.�e2=) 38.�e4�C4+ 39.�d3!== �1.5 4o. �f7+!==; JJ. �g4 �8c3+ 38.�e4 �e2+ 39· �d5 �+ 40. �� �d4#) 37... �Sq+! JS. 'i!f� �! o-1 (25) 1> V. Laznicka (:1704) .,.. D. Howell (:1603) Gibraltar 31.01.2012

Black does not I ose huge material after :lO CZJa4! ! (20 ... CZJxd3 21. �XC3 � XC3 22. � Xa7±; 20...1Wa5? 21.ClJ XC5 �XdH •••

(261

M Parligras (:1650) .,.. R Rapport (:1543) 1>

Gibraltar 31.01.2012

:19 ... �xg4! 3o.fxg4 �e3+! 31 .�h1 tt:lxe4! o-1(31 ... CZJ xe4 32. �xe4 !!xh3+ 33· �g2 lih4-+] (27) B. Socko (:1636) .,.. I. Naumkin (:1443) Moscow Open 2012 Moscow RUS 31.01.2012 1>

:13. �Xd7! lWxC4 (23 ... lixd7 24.lixg6+ �h8 2 5.lWf6+! �g8 26. �e1!+-) :14.h4! 'i!!/b s (24 ... �h7 25. �ad1! 25.lif5 and 25.h5 were also fine. 25 ... !!ac8 26. !'! 1d6 W!le4 27.h5+-) :15. �ad1! e4 :16. !'!7d5!? (White missed the most precise way to win 26. !'! 1d5! lixb2 27. �5d6! lWhH 28.�g2 e3 29.h5 exf2 3o. !! xg6+! fxg6 3 1.lid5+ �h8 32.lie5+ �g8 33 .lig7#) :16 'i!!le:l :17.h5 e3 :18.fxe3± •••

1281 Ab. Gupta (:165:1) .,.. L Javakhishvili (:1454) Gibraltar 01.02.2012 1>

22.1Wxd1! � XC5 23 .'e6d7! �d8 24- �XC5! lWei+ 25. � fl !!xd7 26. !'!c8++-) :ll.CZJ f4! (2 1. !'! xc3? ClJ XC3 2 2 .1Wc2 CZJ xd1 23. �xd1 !!c3! 24. � f1 �xe4=t:) :ll 'i!!/b4 :l:l. !'!xd8+ �xd8 :13.CZJxg6 .•.

:10.f4! tt:leg4 (2o... CZJed7 21. � xc6! �c8 22. W!Ih3 CZJc5 23. lixf7+-) :11. 'i!!/xc6!+-

M EDIUM

94

(281

t>

K Sasikiran (2.700)

N. Short (2.677) Gibraltar 02.02.2012 �

2.9 ... CZJes!! 3o. gfg3 (3o.fxe5 � xe5+ 3 1. g f4 �xg1 32. '�Xgl � Xf4 33.eXf4 �eH 3 4· �h2 h5 !-+ White has no good defense against h4, �g3.(34··· B:e3- +) ) 30 ... gxg3 31. gxg3 CZJ xq 32.. i.c1 � h4! 33, gf3 (33 . �g1 ClJ Xe3+) 33 ... �g7+ (33 ... it. d7! ?-+) (301 t> A. Lastin (2.538) � B. Firat (2.396) Aeroflot Open 07.02 .2012

with CZJg4 or �f3. 2.2. ...fxes 2.3.f6 ge6 2.4. �Xg7 1-0 (321 t> D. Debashis (2.389) � A. Rychagov (2.542.) Aeroflot Open 08.02.2012 30 . �xds! �xds 31.CZJ f6 + 'i!! e 7 32.. �xds (32.CZJ xd5+ exd5 33- � Xd5+­ ; After the fantastic 32.CZJg8+!! Black can not even get to opposite colored bishop endgame. 32 ... �d6 (32 ... 'i!td7 33. ll. xds exds 34fs+-) 33. � xd5 exd5 34.CZJ f6! !+-) 32 ... 'i!!xf6 33- i.xb7 gbs 34 . A xa6 'i!! xg6 3S· �C4+(331

t>

Seemingly Black is completely lost, but ... 31 ... �q! leads to drawish end­ game 32. . gxh7+?! (32 . � xf6 � xd2 3 3 . � x f8+ � x f8==; 3 2 . �d3 ? �fH 33 .�Xfl �Xfl+ 34. �a2 �Xd5-+) 32 ... 'i!!x h7 33. �e4+?? (33 . �d3+ �f5 ! 34.�xf5+ �xf5 35. �e4 �dd5 36. � xa6 �g7 37.

:�. :�. . � xfs ! ! gxfs 2. 3.CZJ xfs i/ies 2.4.CZJe4! Black can not hold the at­ tack. White pieces are too active. CZJ g5 or �f3 is coming. 2.4 ... � xq :�.s.tlJ h6+ (25. CZJg5!? �xf1 26.CZJh6+ �f8 27.CZJe6+ �e7 28 .�h7+ S. Grover (2.532.) ..,. E. Karavade (2.354) Aeroflot Open 15.02.2012 31.'lif8 !! CLl g8 (3 1. .. �xe4 32.� e7!+­ ; 31 ... � xh5 3 2 .�e7+ - ; 31. .. � xh5 3 2.CLl e7+-) 32..hxg6+ fxg6 33. 1lxg6+ �xg6 34· 'lixg8+ 'itf6 3S· 'lif8+ �gs (35 ... �f7 36. 'lixh6++-) 36.CLle7+[381

t>

t>

14.CLJ gs! ! White gets a big advantage in all the lines. It might be easy to find this move, but during the practical game, it is hard to resist of not tak­ ing back the piece on d2. 14 ... CLl xq (14 ...CLl xf1 15. CLlxe6 �d6 16. !! xft±) 1s.CZ'::l xe6 'iWd7 (15 ... ..Wd6 16.CLl xq! ±) 16.CZ'::l cs! Other moves were not clear. (16.CLlxf8 �f8; 16.CLl xq e6) 16 'lid6 17.CLl xb7 'lie6 18. �fc1 CLl xb2. (18 ... � xb s 19 .�c5 �f7 2o. fl xd5 �xds 21. 'lixq±) 19. 'lixb2.+•••

M Sieciechowicz (2.459)

..,. B. Macieja (2.617) Polish Championship 18.02.2012

2.8 lli� (28... �xe.J! is the same as the game 29. &e4�X� 3o. �xe4] 2.9. &� �x� 30. �x� CZ'::l x� 3J .'lix� 'lig3+ 32..�hl (32.�g2 'lixeH-+) 32.M· 'lixh3+ 33· �� 'i!fg3+ 34· �ht 1Wh3+ 3S· �g1 1Wg3+ 36. �m CZ'Jd3! o-1 •••

[401 R. Kempinski (2.610) ..,. P. Jaracz (2.542.) Polish Championship 24.02.2012 t>

96

M ED I U M

19.ctJf4! ± Unbelievable, but Black cannot avoid losing the exchange! 19 ... 'Ll xe3?! (19. . . � ad8 2o.ft:l xd5+; 19... c6 2o.ft:l xd5! 1Wxd5 (2o... cxds 2 1 . ctJ c;+ -; 2 o . . . cxbs 2 1 . ttJ c;+ -) 2 1.ctJ q+-; 19 ... ft:l xf4 2o.gxf4 1Wxf4 2I.ctJ xq±) 2o.fxe3 c6 21.'Lla3! lWb2 22.'Llq lWxez 23.ftJ xe2+-

there with his other rook. As we will see, the a-rook will have a very impor­ tant role on the b-file. (14 � fe1! �e6 15.ctJd4 �xc3 (1s... ctJg8 16.ctJxe6+ jxe6 1J.1W/4+f+-) 16.1Wh6+ �e? 17.bXC3 ctJc6 18. �ab1! ±) 14 ... �e6 1s.ctJd4 �xq 16. lWh6+ "i!fe] 17.bxq ctJc6co

(411

1>

K Bischo ff (2547)

.,. B . Kohlweyer (2458) German League 25.02.2012 25. � xds+! ! cxds 26.lt:lbs lWb8 27.ftJ xa7 lWxa7 28 .lWC7! 1Wxc7 (28 ... 1Wxa4? 29. �a1 1Wb5 3 0. � a7+-) 29. �XC7 �d8 3o.ctJd3± Black pieces are without future. (421

1>

R Rabiega (2501)

.,. F. Vallejo Pons (2716) German League 25.02.2012 n. � xh6! �e8 Vallejo finds the best practical defense. (n... �xf3 12. � xg7! ! �g? 1J .1Wg5+ �h8 14.1Wh6+ �g8 15.gxf3+- �h1 and �g1 are the next moves.; n ...gxh6 u.1Wxh6 �xc3 (12 ... �e8 13.ctJgs+-) 13.1Wg5+! (13-bxc3 ctJe4 14.ft:les±) 13 . . . �h8 14.bxc3 lt:lbd7 15.1Wh6+ �g8 16.ctJg5+-J u. �xg7 (12. �ae1 was probably the best from the many good options. 12 ... � xc3 (12 ... gxh613.1Wxh6+-) 13.1Wg5 ctJe4 14.1Wxg4 �xb2 15.'Llg5±) u 'i!i'xg7 13.1Wgs+ 'i!i'f8 14. �aeJ Very logical move, but a mistake. White should have gone •..

(431 1> Mat Bartel (2658) .,. T. Markowski (2.6u) Polish Championship 26.02.2012 27. �xb6! � xb6 28. � xds+ 'i!i'h7 29.lWfs! 1-o (29.1Wf5 to avoid the ctJ f8Qh7 mate, Black has to play 29... 1Wxg6 but after 30. �g8+! �g8 JI.1Wxg6+­ he is losing too big material because of the �xh6 and d5 threats.; 29.1We4! has the same effect as 29. 1Wf5!) (441

R Fontaine (2.552.) .,. E. Najer (2.637) 1>

German league 26.02.2012

15.f4 !! and Black loses his e4 pawn after �g2 ! JS·· ·ctJa6 (15 ... exf3? 16.e4! f2+ 17. �e 2!+- Unusual queen trap­ ing.) 16. �g2 �b4 (16 ... ctJb4 17. � xb4 � xb4+ 18.�e2±) 17.a3 � xd2 + 18. 'i!i'xd2 es 19. � xe4 lWe6 2o.fxe5± (451 N. Huschenbeth (2.510) .,. E. Postny (2.62.2.) German league 26.02.2012 1>

GR EATES T 3 6 5 PUZZ LES

White achieves a better endgame af­ ter a great idea! 18. A h6!! gxh6 (18 ... f6 19.'iix e 6+ 'iix e6 20. � xe6 gxh6 21. �d1 � adS 22. �ed6 �xd6 23. �xd6 �e8 24. $>f1;t With a clearly better endgame due to the bad pawnstruc­ ture of Black.) 19. �a3! lig5 (19 ... f6 2o. �g3+ �hs (2o.. :ilj7?? 21.'!1ihs#) 21.'ii x e6 'iix e6 2 2. � xe6�) :1o . �g3 A g4 :11.h3 lixe5 :l :l . � xe5 �fe8 :13 . � xg4+ �f8 :14. � xe8+ � xeS :15. �1 �e5 :16. �d4 �e"J :17.f4 �c5 :18.q;t White is better because of the afore-mentioned reason. The 34th example of the ,Hard section" shows the end of this game. 1461 D. Wegener (2.364) • L. D. Nisipeanu (2.638) German league 26.02.2012 :17. �e6+!! Pretty escape! :17... .ixe6 :18.lif8+ �d7 :19.lie7+ �c8 (29 ... �c6 3 o. 'iix e6+ �c5 31.'11ie 7+ �b6 32.'iid6+==) 3o.lixe6+ �b8 31.lid6+ �a7 1/2:1/2 (31 ... �a7 3 2. 'iirl4+ �b8 33 .'11id8+ $>a7 34.'11id4+ b6 3s.'iid7+==J

97

(41.cxd7? Axf6) 41 ... �q+ White has serious problems with bringing back the h6 rook to the game. 4:1. �h5 Ad:l! 43·h4 g4! 44·C5 b5!- + 1481 J. Tomczak (2.555) • D. Pulvett (2.340) Cappelle la Grande 03.03.2012 1>

15.CZJd5!! Actual ly this move was a novelty! According to my data­ base, in the previous 5 games White played differently. 15 ... ex:d5 16. Axd5 C2J b6 (16 . . . Ab7 17.e6! Ad6 (17. . . 'iib 6 18.exf7+ �h8 19. A xb7 CZJ xb7 2o.'iixe7 'iix d4 21. �ad1 'iiq

1>

1411 1> L. Lenk (2.637) • V. Kunin (2.537) Austrian league 01.03.2012 38 ... lif6! (38 ... f6 also gave an ad­ vantage, but less clear after 39. �d2 !; 3 8 ... �Xd7 39.CXd7 Af6 40. � f2 ! es 41. A xe s! A xes 42.d8Q+ 'iigs 43.'11ie7== l 39. �f2! (39 . .ixe5 'iixes-+) 39 ... �xd7! 40. �xf6 �xq! 41. �xh6

22 . .ie3 ! is the most precise, Black loses one of his knights (22.'iixd7 'flxjJ±) 22 ... ClJ dc5 (22 ....�:J bcs 23.b3! 'ii'XC2 24.b4+-) 23 .b4! (23. �d4 'iie6) 23 ... 'iixb4 24 . .id4!+-) 18.exf7+ �h8 19. .i xb7 CZJ xb7 2o.CZJe6+-; 16 . .. �b8 17.CZJ f5+- e6 in the next move wins the game.; 16... �a7 17.CZJc6+-) 17.e6 Ad6 18. Axd6 lixd6 19.CZJf5! lixd5 :lO.CZJe7+ �h8 :ll.CZJ Xd5+-

98

M E DIU M

(481 B. V8luet (2318) .,. V. Durarbayli (2543) Cappelle la Grande 03.03.2012

29 . ClJ xe 2 � xc 2 -+) 1.8 . . . � xe1.+ 1.9.ClJxe1. l!Vxc1. (29... �e8 ! ?-+ is ob­ jectively even better, but both moves definately wins the game.) 3o.l!V xc2 CZJe3+ 31 . �f2 CZJ xc1. 31..fxg6 Aes 33.gxf7+ �Xf7-+

1>

15 ... CZJ xes! 16.dxes l!Vc6 ! 17.f3 (17. l!Vh3 'iWxq 18.exf6 � xf6 19.ClJ d6 'iWc6 2o.CZJ xb7 'iWxb7=F; 17. 'iWf3 'iWxq (1J, .. ClJ e4!?) 18.'iWxb7 lWxb5 19.'iWxe7 �xe5=F (19 ... CLJds 2o.lWa3 �feB:;:) ) 17 liVes+ 18. �e3 l!Vxes:;: ••.

(501

1>

C. Koepke (2404)

.,. J. Pinter (2546) Austrian league 04.03.2012

23. � xgs! l!Vxgs 1. 4. � xf7+! � xf7 25.l!Vxgs � xg5 1.6. �xe8++(511 1> A Shneider (2529) .,. P. Gr8nd8d8m (2189) Cappelle la Grande 04.03.2012 1.1..CZJgs! h6 1.3.CZJ xf7+! �xf7 1.4. 'i!fxe6 C3 (24 . . . �d7 25 . � Xd5+ - ; 24 . . . ge7 25 . l!Vxd5 'iix d5 26. g xd5±) 1.5.bxq �q 1.6.l!Vxds �xe5 1.7.l!Vxb7+(521

1>

M Tazbir (2513)

.,. B. Amin (26o8) Cappelle la Grande 05.03.2012 1.7 �xe4! 1.8.f5 (28 . � xe4 � xe4+ 29.CZJ hf3 �Xb1-+; 28 .bXC 4 �Xe2+ •••

(531 T. S8nikidze (2549) .,. P. H8rikrishn8 (2648) Cappelle la Grande 05.03.2012 1>

ss hs! (55 ... � e7? 56.d5; 55· · · 'i!?d5? 56. 'i!?d3) s6. �dl. h4 57· �e2 h3 ss. �f2 h1. 59· 'i!i'g 1. bs! 6o.axb5 84 61.b6 83 61..b7 'i!tc7 63.f6 u 64.f7 hiQ+! o- 1 •••

(541 1> P. H8rikrishn8 (2678) .,. V. Zakh8rtsov (2563) Cappelle la Grande o6.o3.2012 56. Afs!! Axbs+ (56... il. xf5 57· CZJxf5+­ J 57. �f2 'i!?d4 ss. CZJg4 +(551 Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (2662) .,. Li Shilong (2549) H D Bank Cup 06.03.2012 1>

15 .i. h6! ! (15.'iix a8? �xfH! 16. �xf1 � a6+ 17.'i!?e1 g xa8=F; 15.ClJg5? CZJ f6! 16.'iixa8 'iixfH 17.�xf1 �a6+ 18.�e1 �xa8=F) 15 ... �86 (15 ... �d5 16. 'iig4 g6 17. il. xf8 �xf8 18. g fc1±; 15 ... gxh6 16.'iixa8±) 16.l!Vg4! g6 17. !Hc1 l!Vds 18. il. xf8 �xf8 19. l!Vgs l!Vd6 1.0. �83+•

(561 Sokolov,And (:1577) ._ V. Neverov (:1544) Cappelle la Grande 0?.03 .2012

(601 Grettarsson,HJ (:1460) ._ E. Vaarala (2241) Reykjavik Open 09.03.2012

sz.CLJ xa6! .lixa6 53· .lixds+! �h8 (53··· cxd5 54. gXC7 .li xb4 55. g xh7 $>xh7 56. gq+ $>h6 57.e6+-) 54. il, xc6 'i'e7 ss.ds 'i'xb4 s6.d6+-

16.exf6! �h3 (16... .lif3 17. �f4! .li xd1 18.fxe] ge8 19. gxd1 gxe7 2o.CLJe4±) 17.CLJ ez! ! gs (17... .li f3 18.� f4 .li xd1 19. gxd1+-) 18 . .li xgs! .lies 19. CLJ f4 'i'g 4 :1o. it,h6 .li f3 :11 . A xf8 .li xd1 u . l!fxd1 'i'xdl+ :13 . g xd1 gxf8 24 . :8d7+- I hope, when you decid­ ed to take on f6, you have seen the 17JWf4! and 17.�e2!! moves.

1>

1>

(511

1> ._

A Zherebukh (:164:1) A Vul (:1318)

Cappelle la Grande 0?.03 .2012

:11 . .lixf4! CLJxf4 n.Cl:Jgs! g6 23. il,xe6 CLJ xe6 :14.CLJxe6 fxe6 :15.CLJe4!f± (25. gxe6±) (581 I. Cheparinov (:1664) ._ K Akshayraj (:1422) Reykjavik Open Reykjavik ISL 08.03.2012 1>

z8.CLJ xb6!! CLJ xb 6 29 .li xas gb8 30. gxc6 gd6 31. gdcl! The keymove! Black cannot prevent e5! The knights are on really unfortunate places. 31··· gb7 [3 1... e5 3 2. g xd6 � xd6 33. gc6 .liq 34.'�k5 !+-) 32.e5 1-o •

(591

1>

H Steingrimsson (:1556)

Fl. Perez (2269) Reykjavik Open 08.03 .2012 ._

(611

1>

Z Kozul (:160:1)

._ A. Brkic (:1587) Zagreb 10.03.2012

17. gxh8+! �xh8 18.�f4!! 'i'C? [18 ... ge6 19.�xf7 gxe4+ 2o. $>d2 i!¥xa2+ 2l. gc2+-) 19 .li f6+f [White missed 19.�h2+! $>g7 (19 ... sEg8 2o. il.j4!+-) 20. il, h6+ $>g8 21 . .li f4+-J 19 ... �g8 :1o.l!fhzf 1-o Black resigned in al­ most winning position. Dubious play by strong GMs. [2o. lWh2? Ah3 ! ! 21.gxh3 (21.!¥xh3 'Bxf6-+) 21.. . dx�+J •

(621 1> D. Navara (:1700) ._ I. Sokolov (:1653) Reykj avik Open 10.03 .2012 :13 ds! 24 .lib3 (24.exd5? gxeH-+) :14 :B xe4 :15. gxe4 dx� z6 .CLJfs •.•

•••

•

1 00

MEDIUM

[26. )1Wxh6 � xd4 27. !hd4 )1Wxd4 28.)1Wxg6+ )1Wg7-+)

erence to White, but the objective re­ sult should rather be a draw. 1651 t> L. Fressinet (1.696) .... S. Gordon (1.535) German league 18.03.2012 :t1.l1Jb3! ! Black cannot defend hi s queenside pawns. l1J xa5 and �xd5 are the direct threats. l.I )1Wb6 [2L . �e6 22.t!fc5+-) n.l1Jxas! �xas :t3.�xc6+ 'i!?e7 :t4· l:!xds gxds :t5. �xds+- �a6 :t6. �b3 !!dB :t7.�f3 1-0 •••

:t6 l:!d8! Only move for an advan­ tage! (26...gxf5 27.)1Wxh6 White holds the draw.) :t7.l1J xh6 + 'i!?g7 :t 8.�cl (28.)1Wf4 �Xd1+ 29. �Xd1 )1Wd4 30. �e2 )1We5 31.'i¥xe5 � xe5 32.l1Jg4 � xb2-+) :t8 l:!xdi+ :t9 . �xd1 e3! 3o.l1J g4 exb+ 31.'i!?fi [31.l1Jxf2 'i!We6-+) 31··· .1t.d4 3:t-�h6+ 'i!?g8-+ ••.

•••

1631

t>

V. Papin (1.575)

..,. T. Thorhallsson (1.398) Reykj avik Open 11.03 .2012

1661

t>

R Wojtaszek (1.704)

P. Negi (:t631) German league 18.03.2012 ..,.

34 ... �xd6! (3 4 ... CXd4? 3 5. l:! xg6++-) 35.exd6 l1Jes! Of course, it was more than enough, if you calculated un­ til this moment. 36.d7!? [36.t!fb3+! C4 37. 'i!Wg3 l1J xg4 38. l:!et !! (38.ilxg4

ile3+ 39/i!lh2 ilj2+ 40.'i!lh3 L Cyborowski (1.543) ..,. A. Giri (1.71.1.) German league 17.03 .2012 3:t. gq!! Only move and the bishop is trapped. [32. ge2 gc1 33. l:!xc1 l:!xc1 34.)1Wb3 ggH 3 5. �h3 �Xf4 36.gxf4 t!fxf4-+; 3 2 . g xc6 bxc6 3 3.l1Jc3 gd8+) 3:t .1Lxf4 (32... � XC3 33 .bxc3 !) 33.gxf4 �xf4 I would give slight pref•••

38 ... 'i¥f7! 39. ge7! 'iVd5 4o.'i!Wxg4 l!fhl+ 41.�f2 g f8+ 42.�g3 ! 'i!fgH 43· �h3 'i!WhH== In case of perfect play the game ends with this perpetual check, but of course we are not com­ puters.) 36 t!fxd7 [Black could have get an edge after 36 ... l1J xd3 ! J7.dx­ e8Q+ !! xeS 3 8. l:! xc5! l:!eH 39.�h2 !!hi+ 40. d7 34 .e6+ 1-o [34·e6+ �e7 35. E: f7+ 'it>d8 36 ."i!Va8+ 'f9c8 37. E:d7+ �e8 38.'Bxc8#)

11011 t> A. Shabalov (:15:13) ..,. T. Gelashvili (:1618) Philadelphia 06.04.2012

11021 t> L. Vajda (:1597) .... C. Zeng (:1435) Doeberl Cup 08.04.2012

There are many tempting moves, but only one of them is good! 19.CZJe6 !! (19 . CZJ x f7 'i!?x f7 20. ibe6+ l!xe6 21.dxe6+ 'i!?xe6 I was unable to find way to continue the attack. Black king is quickly running back to f7-g8 ... ) 19 ...fxe6 (19 ... �e7 2o.d6+-) :1o.dxe6 ibc6 (2o ... cxb3 was probably the most critical line, but still after some exact moves White achieves an advantage 21. �xb3 tLlc5 22.�a2! �e7 23. ib d6 �xd6 24.e7+! (24. 'i!xd6 kxd6 25.e7+ 'i!ih8 26. AxeS 1t.xc8 2J. �xa.n;) 24··· tzJ d5 25 .tzJ xd5 'i!?h8 2 6. ib xc8 l!xc8 27. l! fe1±) :11.bxq! Cold-blooded re­ action! Black can not leave the pins. :11 ... ibb4 (21 ... l!e7 2 2.exd7 ib xd7 23. ibg5±) u.exd7 l'Ll xd7 23.ll:Jds it.cs 24. ibfs! h6

31.l'Llxes! (31.d7+ 'i!?d8oo ) 31 ... �xd6 (31. .. �XC5 J2.�a8+ l!b8 33.d7+! 'i!fd8 34. �xb8+ 'i!?e7 35.�x f8+! 'i!?xf8 J6.d8Q++-) 32.l'Llcd7! (32 .ll:Jed7+­ is the same.) )2 'iWxd7 (3 2 ... ib xd7 33.�a8 + l!b8 34·�xb8#) 33.'iWa8+ 1- 0[JJ .ira8+ l!b8 34- �Xb8+! �b8 35.CZJ xd7+ 'i!?c8 36.tzJxf8+-) •••

noa1 J. Bosch (:1386) .... V. Shishkin (:1464) Deizisau 09.04.2012 t>

1o ll:J cs!! u. ibd3 (u.�C2 ibxd4!+; n.dxc5 ib xc3-+; n. �e3 h6! 12 . ib f4 CZJe6+) u Ci)b3! u.axb3 �xal+-+ •••

•..

11041

t>

A Morozevich (:1765)

..,. D. Jakovenko (:17:19) Russian league 10.04.2012

2 5. ib xh6 ! gxh6 26 . A xd7! �gs (26 ... Axd7 27.�g6+ 'i!?h8 28.CZJ f6+-) 27. ibxc8 l!xc8 28.��+-

19.e6!! .txe6 (19 ... CZJxe6 2o. l!fe1+-) w.tzJxe6 (2o. l!fa? o-o-o!) 2o...Ci)xe6 21. 'iWxdS± It is enough to stop your cal­ culations here. Easy to feel, that the Black king will not find shelter in this game due to the strong a3 bishop. 21 .. J �d8 22.�3 (22.�b5+l? �d7 2J.�3±) 22... hs (22. .. l!b8 23.��+ �d7 24.�e4±) 23. l!fe1 l!h6 24.�4! 'r!id7 25. l!ac1 l!b8 26.'iW34+ 'i!?c8 :17. ibb4 1-o

M EDIUM

1 08

(1051

1>

s6. �dJ Af3+ S7· �c2. A�+ ss. �d1 �b3 S9· gb8+! �C4 6o. gd8=

A Korobov (:1.679)

M. Panarin (2.52.3) Russian league 12.04.2012 ..

32. Aes!! The only move to not lose, but it also gives some advantage for Black. 33-CZJxds Axg3 34.CZJf6? White was still ambitious and missed an­ other tactic. [He should have played 3 4.CZJxb6 axb6 3 5.fxg3 gd6+ with good drawing chances, but Black can still press a bit.) 34 ... Axb+! 3S· �xb gf7 36. ge6 CZJd4! 37. �6 CZJbs! o-1 Resigned, because 'i!i>p is coming next •••

11061 Young,An (2.32.1) .,. E. Sevillano (2.502.) Saint Louis 1 2.04.2012 1>

J6 . '�as+ ! ! 17.b4 [17.CZJc3 exd4 18.i!Vxd4 A f6 19.i!Vd2 gxc3 !-+) 1 7... l!Vxu! ! 18.CZJb3 [18 . g xa2 gel+-+; 18.f3 ii'x aH 19 .'i!i>f2 A d7-+) 18 l!VxaJ+! o-1

11081 1> J. Granda Zuniga (2.640) .,. G. Milos (2.593) Iberoamericano Championship 15.04.2012 2.7 . . . lLl xg 2. ! ! 2. 8 . 'i!i' xg 2. A xg 4 ! 2.9. Axg4 g xg4+ 30. � h 1 (30. �h3 gg3+! 31.'i!i>h2 i!Vg5! 32. A xg3 i!Vxg3+ 33.'i!i>h1 il¥h3+ 3 4.'i!i>g1 gg8+ 35·'i!i>f2 il¥e3 #; 30. 'i!i>f3 gp-+) 3 0. . . l!Vg 6! With this important silent move, Black brings his heavy artillery to the game. [30 ... i!Vg5! was also good with the same idea.) 31· &2. gg8-+ 11081 1> D. Jakovenko (2.72.9) .,. E. Sutovsky (2.700) Russian league 15.04.2012

••

•••

11011 P. Acs (2.587) .,. D. Howell (2.633) German league 15.04.2012

48 .fi:lh1!! Picturesque only move ! 49.l!Vc2.! was also necessary. [49· 'i!i>xh1? irxf2-+) 49 ... �fs [49 ... l!fb6 50. 'i!i>x h1 i!Vxb?+==) so. l!Ve2. 't!Vb6 51. �xh1 l!Vxb?+= and soon agreed to draw. ••

1>

54 ... �e4? was tempting, but leads to draw. [54 ... d2+! Or 54 ... �d7! was the way to win. 55.'i!i>d1 �d7! 56. gd8 A a4+ 57.'i!i>e2 �b5+! The keymove! 58 .'i!i>d1 � xa6-+) ss. gds! d:H

(1101

1>

R. Kasimdzahov (2.678)

.,. A. Postojev (2.330)

German league 15.04.2012

2.s.tLlq!! ThectJd6 threat fOrces Black to give up his structure and open the diag­ onal of the g2 bishop. 2.S -dxq 2.6.bxq

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

�C7 27.cxbs axbs 28. &6 [White could have won a ?tWn after 28. �a7! CZJf6 29. �XC7 '1\i'xq 3o.\\i'f3! and a double­ threat is coming in both lines. 30... &8 (Jo .. .Ci)ds 31. '1\i'hs!+-) 31.'1i'e3!+-) 28 ... �ecS 29.e4± with big advantage. m11 t> M. Mozharov (2474) ., V. Malakhov (2705) Russian league 15.04.2012 41 ...tLl g4+! ! 42.hxg4 'ii'h 6+ White can not escape from the perpetual check. 43- �81 'i:We3+! [43 ···\\i'ct+? 44. � f1 \\i'e3+ 45. �g2 '1i'd2+ 46. �f3! \\i'c3+ 47. �e2 'li'c2+ 48. �e3+-) 44- �1 lWei+ (44··\\i'd3+==J 45- �fz 'ii'ch+ 46. �g1 'ii'e3+ 47- �m 'ii'h6+ 48. � h3 'ii'ch+ 49· �g1 'ii'e3+ so. �h2 1/2-1/2 (1121 t> P. Tregubov (2599) ., A. Morozevich (2765) Russian league 15.04.2012 37· · · � fs ! ! [37 . . . �e 6 ? 38. � xd6! ±) 38. � fd1 [38. � xf5 �ei+ 3 9. �h2 CZJ xf5-+) 38 ... �xf6 39- �xd6 � xd6 (39 ... a3 !? 40. �d7+ � f7-+) 40. �xd6 a3 41. �a6 �eJ+ Black won the end­ game with good technique. U131 Y. Bacallao Alonso (2550) ., J. Gonzalez Garda (2529) Catalanian league 17.04.2012 t>

1 09

33· �xf7+!! �7 [33 ... �g8 34· 'li'c6!+­ ) 34.fxe6+ �xe6 35- � xds+ 'i:Wxds 36. �e1+! �d6 37.'i:Wa6++U141 E. Ahmadinia (2379) ., B. Amin (2608) Dubai Open 22.04.2012 t>

18 ... tLl xd4! ! 19. 'ii'xd4 [White could have resisted more with 19. �g2 CZJ xf3 2 o.'li'xf3 li.d7+ But his position re­ mains quite hopeless anyway.) 19 ... lLl fs! 2o.'ii'f4 gs! -+ (1151 S. Movsesian (2715) ., D. Swiercz (2585) Czech league 22.04.2012 t>

29.'ii'xh7+! 'ii'xh7 30. �ds+!! This is the point! The rooks are mating on the h-file! 30 ... �f7 [30 ... 'li'f7 3 1. �h8+ �g7 32 . � 1h7#) 31. ${.Xf7+! 1-0(31. �xf?+ 'li'xf7 32. �h8+ �g? 33.� Ih7#) (1161 J. Radulski (2552) ., K. Rusev (2516) Bulgarian Championship 22.04.2012 t>

16 . . . .i xh3 ! ! Beauti ful motif! [Of course not 16 ... exd4?? 17. 'li'xe8+ CZJxe8 18. �xeS#) 17.gxh3 exd4 18.'i:Wfl �XeJ 19.'ii'xe� d3! The passive White pieces are unbale to protect the king. [19... �e8? 2o.'li'f1!) 2o. �b3 [2o. �dt �e8

1 10

M EDIUM

21.1Wf1 tt:le4-+) w ...llff3 21. �e3 �e8 n.tt:ld2 1lfxh3 o-1

exd5 22.tt:l xd5 '%li'c5 23.tt:lxe]+ �h8 24. �5 '%lfq 25 .CZJXC8 �XC8 26.c5!+-

U1JJ t> B. Bellahcene (2321) 111> F. Handke (2525) Lille Open 26.04.2012

U201 t> A Motylev (2683) 111> Wan Yunguo (2441) Chinese league 28.04.2012

24 ... CLle1!! It is always a pleasure to make such a move ! 2 5.'%li'e2 � xd1 26. '%li'xd1 tt:l xg 2 27.�xg2 '%li'e5 28. �a3 '%li'x�+ 29. �h2 �xq-+

25.tt:l g5+! hxg5 26.hxg5+ �g8 27. �h2! CL:l xd4 2 8 . � ah1 tt:l f3+ 29.'%lfxf3 1 0[29.llfXf3 �Xf3 JO. �h8 + 'i!?£7 3 1 . �xd8+-)

U181

t>

-

U211 E. Safarli (2645) 111> V. Rasulov (2526) Nakhchivan Open 29.04.2012

V. Nozdrachev (2449)

t>

111> A. Stukopin (2485) Soc hi 26.04.2012

18. � h6!! Really spectacular crush­ ing move! [18. �h3 'iWb8 19.1lfd2± also wi th dangerous attack, but Black is alive .) 18 'i!¥c8 19. � xf6! gxf6 2o . � h3! tt:lb8 21.'%li'xf6+ �C7 n.'%li'e5+ �b6 23. �xd7 (2J. �d6++­ ) 23 tt:lxd7 24 .'%li'd6+ �b5 (24 .. 1lfc6 25. 1lfd4++-) 25. '%li'xd7+ White went for easy winning endgame, instead of giving mate in few moves ... (25. �d5+! tt:lc5 26.a4++-) 25 '%li'xd7 26. �xd7+•••

..•

•••

U181 D. Collutiis (2493) 111> M. Brunello (2263) Italian league 28.04.2012 t>

2o.b4!! '%li'xb4 (2o ... '%li'q 21.CLl cd5 !+-) 21.CLlcd5! [ 21.tt:led5 ! is the same.) 21

•••

36 �d3+! ! 37. �xd3 �gH!! o-1 Fol­ lowed by mate on the backrank. .••

11221 t> E. Sutovsky (2700) ..,. M. Olszewski (2539) Italian league 29.04.2012 20. �Xh7+! �Xh7 21. '%lfh5+ �g8 n . � xg 7! �xg7 23 . l!fg4+ �h7 24. '%li'h5+ (It would be too greedy to play on win with 24. �e3?? tt:l f3+ 25 .tt:l xf3 �g8-+) 24 ... �g7 25.'%li'g4+ �h7 26.'%li'h5+ �g7 27.'%li'g4+ 1.h-1/2

- HARD -

1 12

HARD

(1]

(2]

M. Carlsen (�35) L Aronian (�5) Wijk aan Zee 16.01.2012

A. Motylev (:1677) S. Tiviakov (:1677) Wijk aan Zee 17.01.2012

l3J

l4J

1>

...

1> ..,.

1>

L. Aronian (:1805) ..,. F. Caruana (:1736) Wijk aan Zee 24.01.2012

V. Ivanchuk (:1766) ,.. A. Giri (:1714) Wijk aan Zee 24.01.2012

1. +-

1. +-

1>

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

1 13

[8]

[5] t> L'E. Ami (2596) ,. D. Harika (2516) Wijk aan Zee

t> F. Caruana (2736) ,. A. Giri (2714) Wijk aan Zee

24.01.2012

27.01.2012

1. +-

[8]

OJ t> S. Ernst (2606) ,. P. Harikrishna (2665) Wijk aan Zee 27.01.2012 1. +-

t> S. Marnedyarov (2747) ,. A Zatonskih (2506) Gibraltar

CD

�'a

27.01.2012 1. +1-

114

H AR D

[10]

[9] t> A. Aitbayev (2386) • Tirnofeev,Arty (2659) Moscow Open 28.01.2012

t> G. Glidzhain (2381) V. Iordachescu (2651) Moscow Open 28.01.2012

1... -/+

1 ... -1+

[11] t> Hou Yifan (2605) Le Quang Liem (2714) Gibraltar 31.01.2012 •

•

[12] t> Ni Hua (2641) • N. Kabanov (2522) Moscow Open 31.01.2012

GREATEST 365 PUZZLES

1 15

1141

(13)

E. Berg (1.550) .,.. M. Vachier Lagrave (1.699) Gibraltar

1>

A. Lastin (1.538) .,.. Arty Timofeev (2.659) Moscow Open

1>

01.02.2012

02.02.2012

1. +/-

(18)

lliJ 1>

Alb. David (1.598) .,.. Ar Salem (l.S OS) Gibraltar

B. Savchenko (1.609) .,.. A Goganov (2497) Moscow Open

02.02.2012

03.02.2012

1 ... -+

1. -/+

1>

116

HARD

1181

l1J1 t> L. D. Nisipeanu (�638) ,.. A Lauber (�464) German league 04.02.2012

t> M. Vachier Lagrave (�715) A Giri (�7u) German league .,..

CD

eJ

1. +1-

04.02.2012 1.

+1-

1201

l111 t> F. Vallejo Pons (�716) .,.. H. Melkumyan (�619) German league

t> I. Cheparinov (�659) .,.. P. Drenchev (�93) Tringov memorial

24.02.2012

05.02.2012 1. +/-

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

l21J t> H. Melkumyan (2619) ._ C. Lupulescu (2655) German league 05.02.2012

1 17

[22] t> M. Ragger (2655) ._ H. Steingrimsson (2562) German league 05.02.2012

[23]

l24J

t> B. Adhiban (2561) ., M. Ragger (2655) Aeroflot Open 0?.02.2012

t> B. Socko (2636) ._ I. Bukavshin (2517) Aeroflot Open 0?.02.2012

1. +1-

1. +-

HARD

1 18

[281

[251 t> Shen Yang (2447) .,. R. Robson (2596) Aeroflot Open 09.02.2012

t> Ab. Gupta (2652) .,. Cs. Balogh (2665) Aeroflot Open 10.02.2012

CD

eJ

1... ;f+ I -1+

[211 t> A. Jankovic (2568) .,. C. Sandi pan (2628) Aeroflot Open 12.02.2012

[281 t> S. Sjugirov (2622) .,. B. Jobava (2704) Aeroflot Open 12.02.2012

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

1291 B. Jobava (2704) D. Bocharov (2611) Aeroflot Open 1J.02.2012 1> •

, 19

(301 R. Marnedov (2636) Lu Shanglei (2516) Aeroflot Open 1J.02.2012 1>

•

1. +-

(321

1311 A. Khalifrnan (2632) • S. Zhigalko (2658) Aeroflot Open 14.02.2012 1>

M. Godena (2548) • A. Gershon (2499) Israelian league 24.02.2012 1>

1 20

HARD

(341

(331 T. Henrichs (�73) ..,. R Fontaine (1.551.) German league 25.02.2012 1>

N. Huschenbeth (1.510) ..,. E. Postny (1.6n) German league 26.02.2012 1>

(381

(351 A. Lauber (1.464) ..,. D. Baramidze (1.591) German league 26.02.2012 1>

1 -/+ ...

R. Polzin (1.469) ..,. 0. Boguslavskyy (1.467) German league 26.02.2012 1>

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

1381

l3D B. Amin (�6o8) R Vera Gonzalez Quevedo (�48�) Cappelle la Grande 04.03.2012 1> •

1.

+/-

121

I. Krush (�461) F. Caruana (�767) Reykjavik Open 08.03.2012 1>

•

1 ... -/+

1401

l391 V. Durarbayli (�543) C. Sandipan (�595) Cappelle la Grande 09.03.2012

M. Oratovsky (�5�1) L. Bruzon (�691) Catalanian league 10.03.2012

1. +1-

1 ... -/+

1>

•

1> •

122

HARD

(411 1> F. Berkes (2.706) .,.. S. Bogner (2.534) German league 17.03.2012

(421 1> B. Socko (2.62.8) .,.. C. Sandipan (2.640) German league 17.03.2012 1

•••

(44]

(43] 1> L. Gonda (2.52.0) ... Z. Efimenko (2.703) German league 18.03.2012 L

+-

=

A. Naiditsch (2.707) .,.. D. Brandenburg (2.52.2.) German league 18.03.2012 1>

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

1 23

(48]

(45] t> Analysis of Cs. Balogh (2.664) � A. Sharafiev (2.433) European Championship 20.03.2012 CD 1. ==

et

t> A. Volokitin (2.695) � E. Schiendorfer (2.349) European Championship 21.03.2012 1. +/-

(48]

(411 t> L Ivanisevic (2.645) � D. Baratosi (2.407) European Championship 22.03.2012

t> VI. Fedoseev (2.548) � D. Khisrnatullin (2.656) European Championship 23.03.2012

1. +-

1... -+

1 24

H ARD

(501

(491 V. Papin (25 75) ,. B. Jobava (2706) European Championship 23.03.2012

1>

1. -+

1. +-

1>

..

A. Dreev (2698) ,. A Brkic (2587) European Championship 27.03.2012

E. Najer (2640) ,. V. Durarbayli (2543) European Championship 27.03.2012 1>

�'o

(521

(51]

T. Banusz (2583) ,. Cs. Balogh (2664) European Championship 28.03.2012 1>

1. ::::

CD

125

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

(53] t> I. Smirin (2.657) Kulaots (2.585) European Championship 28.03.2012 ... K.

1541 t> V. Erdos (2.636) ... Mio Perunovic (2.481) European Championship 29.03.2012

1. +-

1551 t> Arty Timofeev (2.6s o) ... D. Jakovenko (2.72.9) European Championship 29.03.2012 1. -/+

1561 t> M. Godena (2.5o8) ... S. Ter Sahakyan (2.578) European Championship 30.03.2012

126

HARD

l5JJ Ding Liren (1.66o) Lu Shanglei (1.514) Xinghua 31.03.2012 r> •

1581 B. Grachev (1.705) K. Alekseenko (1.367) European Championship 31.03.2012 r>

•

1..

.

=

1601

1591 Yu Yangyi (1.615) • Ding Liren (1.660) Xinghua 05.04.2012

E. Bacrot (1.706) • M. Burschowsky (1.1.1.9) Deizisau 06.04.2012

1 ..

1...

r>

.

=

r>

=

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

(621

(611 t> C. Hauser (no9) M. Perunovic (1581) Deizisau o6.04.2012

•

1 27

t> S. Shankland (158o) • R. Prasca So sa (1410) Philadelphia o6.04.2012

1.- 1+ -

(641

(631 t> A Naiditsch (1701) 0. Kurmann (1458) Deizisau 09.04.2012

t> Ki. Georgiev (1671) • V. Bogdanovski (1435) Skopje 09.04.2012

1. +-

1. +-

•

1 28

HARD

1681

1851 t> V. Gunina (1.511) ..,.. E. Kovalevskaya (1.419) Russian league w 11.04.2012 1.

+/-

t> P. Nakhapetiane (1.504) ..,.. K Landa (1.645) Russian league 11.04.2012 1 ... -1+

1811 t> S. Movsesian (1.701.) ..,.. A Motylev (1.683) Russian league 12.04.2012

1881 t> V. Potkin (1.669) ..,.. D. Andreikin (1.689) Russian league 12.04.2012

1 29

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

001

[891 t> R. Kempinski (:16o4) ... E. Berg (:1575) German league 14.04.2012

t> R. Ruck (:1579) .,. A. Naiditsch (:1707) German league 14.04.2012

1 -+

1

...

011 t> P. Maletin (:1586) .,. D. Khismatullin (:1656) Russian league 15.04.1012. 1 ... -/+

•••

-+

021 t> S. Movsesian (:170:1) .,. P. Leko (:172.0) Russian league 15.04.2012

1 30

HARD

041

031 A. Volokitin (:1695) Antoniewski (:1559) Austrian league 21.04.2012

Xiu Deshun (:149:1) Wen Yang (:1549) Chinese league 29.04.2012

1>

1>

.,.. R

.,..

1

...

-+

- SOLUTIONS (1) M. Carlsen (2.835) ,.. L. Aronian (2.805 ) Wijk aan Zee 16.01.2012 t>

3 8 . �c1 ! ! 'gxf2.+ 39· �xb 'g xd1 40. �b2.+ CLJ f6 [40 ... �g? 41.CLl xg6#) 41. � xf6+ �h7 42..CLle6! �d6 43. �es �e] 44.f8Q �xfS 4s.CLlxf8++- with a technically winning endgame. (2)

A Motylev (2.677) ,.. S. Tiviakov (2.677) t>

Wijk aan Zee 17.01.2012

2.3 . � f3!! �xb2. [23 ... � xf3 24.gxf3±) 2.4. �a4! The most accurate move! [24. �d3 also led to advantage 24 ... 'gc3 25.�b1 'gxe3 ! (25... �xa1 26. il.xds exd5 27-b7±) 26. �xd5 exd5 27.�Xb2±) 2.4 ••. J!q [24... �xa1 25.'i:Wxc2+-)

2. 5. �XC4! � XC4 2.6. 'gabJ! (2 6.b7 �d5!) :�.6 ... �es 2.7.b7 �ds 2.8. �xds exds 2.9- 'gxds �c7 30. �7 �es 31.bx­ a8Q �xa8 32.. �h6+- White is win­ ning, but the finish was also elegant:

32. ... �e8 33, 'gbd1 �f6 34· 'g7d6 �e7 35. J!e1 a5 36. 'gb6 �d8 37• 'g Xe7! 1-0 (3) t> L. Aronian (2.805) ,.. F. Caruana (2.736) Wijk aan Zee 24.01.2012

Despite being a rook up, the win is not so obvious. 4o.'iWg3!! [4o.'i:Wh4 CLle4 41. 'i:Wxg4 CLl d2) 40 . . . � xe2. [4o ... � g8 41 . .id3 'i:Wd2 42.�e5+ f6 43 .'i:We4 f5 4 4.�e5+ �h6 45. �f4+ �g7 46. � X f5! gxf5 47. 'i:Wxf5+-) 41.�es d3 [4L .. �xc4 42. 'i:Wxf6+ 'i:!tgs

(42 ... �h6 43.¥eihB+ �gs 44.h4+ gxh3 45 �f6+ �h6 46. 'gf4+-) 43· 'gb1! �h7

44· 'gb7 'iWCH 45· 'i:WfH-) 42.. 'gxf6 [42 .'i:Wxf6 ++-) 42. ... �h6 43 . 'g xf7 �el+ 4 4.�g2. �e2.+ 45. �g3 �el+ 46. �xg4 �gl+ 47.�h3 1-0 (4) t> V. Ivanchuk (2.766) ,.. A. Giri (2.714) Wijk aan Zee 24.01.2012

so. l! h7+! �c8 51. l! xb 7! \!txb7 52..f4!! Only this move is winning. [52 .e6? �q 53. \!te5 �d8-+) 52. ••• gxf4 [52 ... g4 53.e6 �q 54· �e5 \!tds (54 ... as 55. tj;J6+-) 55.\!txf5 \!te7 56 . �e5 a5 57.f5 84 58. �d4+-) 53.h4! as 54.e6! [54.h5? a4) 54 ... �c7 55.h5 a4 56.e7! �d7 57.h6 1-0 [ 57·h6 a3 58.h7 a2 59.e8Q+ �xeS 6o.h8Q++-)

1 32

HARD

151 t> L'E. Ami (2596) .,. D. Harika (2516) Wijk aan Zee 24.01.2012 19. � hJ!! Amazingly deep! Creat­ ing the � h6 threat. [19.\i'xq � xe3+ 2 o.�h1 l!Vc5 21. li'b3 �h6 could be good as well, but if Black manages to consolidate with li'e7 and �e6, then he is fine.) 19 ... �xe3 2o.lixe3 gs [2o ... li'h5 21.li'd3+-] 21.e5! h6 :u.e6 [22.li'd3!? � f4 23 .li'h7+-J n ... �xe6 23.lixe6+-

check. 35. �c3! lixu+ 36. �c2 lias+ 37· �c3 liu+ 38. �c2! Only this way! 38 ... �e2+ 39. �d3 lia6+ 40. �C4 lia3+ 41. �q l!Va6+ 42.�d4! Again the only move to progress. 42 ..• �2+ [42 ... li'b 6+ 43 . �C4! li'a6+ 44· �b3 li'b5+ 45. �a3 li'a5+ 46. �b 2 li'b4+ 47· �ci+ -) 43 . �es! lie2+ [43... �e2+ 44. �e3+-) 4 4.�6 1-o Ill

t>

S. Mamedyarov (2747)

.,. A Zatonskih (2506) Gibraltar 2?.01.2012

161 t> F. Caruana (2736) .,. A. Giri (2714) Wijk aan Zee 2?.01.2012

15.CZJce4! CZJ xe4 [15 ... bxq t6.CZJxf6 + � x f6 17. li'h7#) 16. l!Vxe4 � xgs 17. �d3! fs 18.l!Vxc6 �xf4 19. lixa8 li'b6 2o.lif3±

17. � xas!! Typical sacrifice in the Slav, after which White collects all the queenside pawns. 17... �xas [17... li'xa5 18.\i'xa5 � xa5 19.� xc6 �a8 2o. � xb5;l;) 18.CZJxc6! �as 1 9. �xbs �e6 20.34 fs 21.lid2! �f6 [21 ... �d5 22.CZJe5 (22.CZJb4 �!7 23.CZJa6 l!Va7 24 .b4 ±) 22 ... �xe5 23.fxe5 e6 24.b4±) 22.d5 �f] 23. &c1 �f8 24.b4+- Black had no chance to hold the passers.

t>

111

t>

S. Ernst (2606)

.,. P. Harikrishna (2665) Wijk aan Zee 2?.01.2012

Very difficult task to calculate all the s in order to escape from the perpetual

191

A Aitbayev (2386)

.,. Arty Timofeev (2659) Moscow Open 28.01.2012 86 •.• �c::J+!! 87. �xc1 �xd3! 88.cxd3 es+! [88 ... �xct 89.e5 �C2 90. �e3 � xa2 91. �Xb4==) 89. �e3 �XC1 90• �h8 �el+ [90 ... �c2! was the right move 9L �b8 �xa2 92. �xb4 �at! 93 . �a4 a2 -+) 91. �3 �fl+ 92.�e3 �g1 93. �b8 �xgs 94.�xb4? [94.�f2! would have hold the draw) 94... �g2+ 1101 t> G. Glidzhain (2381) .,. V. Iordachescu (2651) Moscow Open 28.01.2012

1 33

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

19 gfs!! [19 ... � f6 was more logi­ cal, but much weaker. 2o.�h5 � h6 2 1.�f7=) �o.bxas (2o. �xe6 � f6 ! 2 1.�h3 � h6-+) � o .'��! �1 . gab1 g f6 [21. .. � a6+) ��.�c� [22. �h5 � h 6 +) n . . . e4 �3. � xe4 dxe4 �4· 'tWx� gxas+

(13)

•••

••

(11) Hou Yifan (�6os) ..,. Le Quang Liem (�714) Gibraltar 31.01.2012 r>

3 4 · g xh6!! gxh6 35· 'tWe6 + �g7 36. 'iWd7+! �g6 37.ClJe6! Actually it is Black, who has to fight for draw. Only one move would have saved him, but he failed to find it 37... �c5? [37··· � f?! 38. ctJ f4+ 'i!?g? 39·lt:l h5+ 't!?g8 ! (39 . . . c2 �xq-+) 1161

1>

B. Savchenko (2609)

,. A. Goganov (2.497) Moscow Open 03.02.2012

23 ezJe2+! 24. 'i!i'h2 � gH! 25. 'i!i'h1 ezJ g3+! 26. 'i!i'xg1 ezJ xe4 27. � xeS � axeS 2S. � xe4 � feS! 29. � xf4! �xe4 30. � xgs �c2+ •••

1111 L. D. Nisipeanu (263S) ,. A Lauber (2464) German league 04.02.2012 23.ds! liJxds [23 ... 1i'b3 24.1i'd2! l!LJ xd5 25. � c2 ! 'iWxc 4 26. � xh7+ 'i!i>xh7 1>

21. Ae4! c6 22.1i'g4+! 'i!fh8 23 . �xd5 ! cxd5 24. � e5+! ! dxe5 25.� xe5+-) 21 . � xd6! � xd6 n. � xeS l!'xeS 23.ezJxd6 White already has three pawns for the pie ce. 23 1We7 24.lWg3+ 'i!fhS 2 5. �d1± (25 . �c1± with a big advantage.) •••

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

1 35

1191 t> F. Vallejo Pons (2.716) ,. H. Melkumyan (2.619) German league 24.02.2012 2.o .t xh7+! (2 o. fxe7? g xd3) 2.0 �xh7 2.1.1!fhs+ �g8 •

•••

2.6. gc1!! This great in-between move causes problems on Black's back rank. 2.6 gad8 [26 ... liJe6 27. .t xa8 gxa8 28.1!fc8+!+-) 2.7.1!fxc7 l!fxc7 2.8. gXC7 d3 2.9. CiJd2.+•••

n.fxg7 (2 2.fiJe4!! was the way to win 22 ... 1!fxf4 (22 ...g6 23.11fh3 .tj8? 24.fiJgs+-) 2J.fXg7 f6 (2J . . . �Xg7 24. il.d4+!CiJxd4 2s. lhj4+-) 24.1!fh8+ 'i!?f7 2 ,5. l!fh7 gg8 26. _t h4!+-; 22. gXC3 .t xf6 23 . gh3 g6 24. 1!fh7+ 'i!tf8) n �xg7 2.3. gXC3 gd6! 2.4. gg3+ (24.f5 gh8 25. gg3+ gg6 transposes to the game) 2.4 ... gg6 2.5.fs gh8 2.6. gxg6+ fxg6 2.7.1!fxg6+ �8 with unclear po­ sition •••

1201 t> 1 Cheparinov (2.659) ,. P. Drenchev (2.493) Tringov memorial 05.02.2012

1211 t> H Melkumyan (2.619) ,. C. Lupulescu (2.655) German league 05.02.2012 31./JiJe8!! (3 1.fiJxf5? gg6!) 31 gg6 32..1!fb8! .tc6 33 . /JiJ xg 7 ! g xg7 34· .txg7 1!fxg7 3S· gbJ! .t xa4 [35 .. .f4 36.1!fc8 .td7 J?.llfq+-) 36. gb7 .td7 37. ga7 against l!fat+ 37... 1!fe?? (37··· CL) e5 38.1!fd6±) 38.1!fc7 CiJes 39· gas! CiJ g6 40. �5 fl:J f8 41. gxfs+•••

1221 t>

M Ragger (2.655)

,. H. Steingrirnsson (2.562.) German league 05.02.2012

2.3 .ixgs! (23 . .txq l!fxq 24. g xd4 (24. il.xa8 il.xd2) 24 ... 1!fx b7) 2.3 l!fxgs 2.4. gxd4! cxd4 2.s.C£Je4! l!fes (25 ... 1!fe? 26. .t xa8 gxa8 27. 1!fxd.¢) •

•••

18. gxd7! ! Eliminating the defender! 18 1!fxd7 19. gd1! l!fx34 (19... 1!fa7 2o.liJf6+! gxf6 21.exf6 .txf6 22 . .te4+-) 2.o.CiJ f6+! gxf6 (20 ... .txf6 21.exf6+-) 2.1.exf6 .txf6 n .te4! gd8? (22 ... l!fxdt+ would have given some practi•••

•

1 36

cal chances, but of course the position objectively should be lost. 23. 'i:!fxdH-) 23. 2'! xd8+ � xd8 24.'ifxh7+ �f8 2 s. 'ifh8+! �e'J 26 . � gs+ �d6 27.'ifxd8+ �es [27... �d7 28. A f4+ e5 29.'i:!ff6+ 'i:!fe6 3 0. � xe5+ �d7 3L � f5+-) 28.f3 'ifd7 29.'iff6+ 1-0

HARD

was the point! 51 ... axb5 52.c6! 'i!i>d8 53. CXb7 �q 54.a6 b4 55· 't!f d4+ - ) 4 8.h4 �xas [48 ... �c 6 49.�e5 �d7 50.b4+ - ; 48 ... �b4 49.�e5 �xb3 50. 'i!i>x e6 �c4 51. �7! 'i!i>d3 52. 'i!i>xg7 'i!i>xe3 53· �xg6 d4 54.h5 d3 55.h6 d2 56.h7 dlQ 57.h8Q+-l

(231 B. Adhiban (2.561) ,. M. Ragger (2.655) Aeroflot Open 07.02.2012 t>

30. b7! 2'!xd4 [3o .. . '.Wx b7 3 1. � xd8+ 2'! xd8 3 2 .�xg7±) 31.bxc8Q 'ifxh3 32. 1i'b7+! �f6 33- Ac7! Important defensive move, which had to be foreseen. 33···1Wxg4+ [33 ... E hg4+ 34· �g3 h5 35· 2'!c1! The most precise. 35 ... h4 36.l!fg2! 'i:Wxg2+ 37. �xg2 't!ie7 (JJ... hxg3 3B.c6+-) 38.c6 'i!?d8 39.'i!i>h3!+-) 34·'ifg2+(241 B. Socko (2636) ,. I. Bukavshin (2.517) Aeroflot Open 07.02.2012 42.dxcs! ! At first sight this can only be dangerous for White, but actual­ ly it is winning. 42 ... �c7 43.as! a6+ [43 ... 't!id7 44.a6 bxa6+ 45· 't!?xa6 'i!i>c6 46.b4 e5 47.fxe5 f4 48.e6 f3 49.b5+! 't!?xc5 50.e7 f2 51.e8Q f1Q 52.l!fe7+ 'i!;>q 53. 'ifXg7+-) 44.�b4 �c6 45.h3! Black is in zugzwang. [45 .h4? 'i!iq 46. 't!ic3 'i!i>c6 47. 't!id4 'i!i>d7 was draw.) 45 ... �d7 46. 'i!i>q �c6 47· �d4 �bs [47... 't!id7 48 . 'i!i>e5 'i!?e7 49.h4! 'i!t d7 50.b4 'i!?e7 51.b5! This breakthrough t>

49.c6!! Fantastic move! [49.'i!i>e5 't!ib4 50. 'i!i>xe6 a5) 49 . . . bxc6 [49 ... �b6 50.cxb7 'i!i>xb7 51. 'i!i>e5 'i!i>c6 52. 'i!i>xe6 �C5 53 · 'i!i>f7+-] 50. �CS 1- 0 [50. �C5 d4 51.exd4 e5 52.fxe5 f4 53 .e6 f3 54.e7 f2 55.e8Q f1Q 56.l!fd8#) (251 Shen Yang (2447) ,. R. Robson (2.596) Aeroflot Open 09.02.2012 t>

17. . .CiJc6! ! [17...� xg2 18. 'i!i>xg2 l!fb6 19. � xa5 2'! x f2+ 20. 'i!i>g1 (20. 'i!ih1

E!xh2+ 21. 'i!ixh2 'Vift+ 22.'i!ih1 'fih4+ 23.'i!ig1 �g3+=) 2o ... !!f1+! ! 21. 'i!i>xf1

� h3+ 22. 'i!i>e2 �g4+ 23. 'i!i>f1 � h3+=l 18. �xas [18.dxc6 l!fg5 !) tS . . . 'ifgs 19. � f1? This loses quickly. [19.g3 � h3+ 2o.'i!i>g2! !hf2+ 21.'i!i>h1 �xd2 22. � xe4! � xdt 23 .� xg5 � xa5 24. �axd1 � xg5+ Three pieces and one pawn for two rooks should be

GR EATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

clearly better for Black.) 19 ... CLl h3+ 2 o . �h1 CLl xfl+ 2 t . �g t CLl h3+ 22. �ht CLl fl.+ 23. �gt CLlxdt-+ [26) Ab. Gupta (2652) .,.. Cs. Balogh (2665) Aeroflot Open 10.02.2012

1 37

[28J S. Sjugirov (262.2.) .,.. B. Jobava (2704) Aeroflot Open 12.02.2012 t>

t>

n . .li.xe6+? was tempting, but leads to a bad endgame ... [22. �d3+! CLld5 23. k xd5 exd5 24. �xd5+ ! ! cxd5 25.l!fxd5+ �e8 White holds the draw by perpetual check after the surpnsmg . . ( 25 ... 'GICJ. ..+. n. 2 6. �es+ � � J:Lxes 2J. �Cl+f+-) 26.l!fh5+! � f? 27.�h8+ (27- �el+ l!:Ye7.'? 28. �xe;+ �xe;) 27... � fs 28.l!fh5+==) n ... �q! 23 . .li.es+ � xes 24. 'iixes+ [2 4. �xf8 l!fxf8 25. l!fxe5+ l!fd6 26. l!fxg7+ .li.di+=) 24 ... 'i:Wd6 25. 'i:Wxd6+ �xd6 26. �xf8 .li.xe6+

[271 A. Jankovic (2568) .,.. C. Sandipan (2628) Aeroflot Open 12.02.2012 t>

Black played excellent chess: 23 tLl gs!! [23 ... CLld2 2 4.l!fd5! ±J 24.'iids [24.l!fg2 l!ff5-+) 24 ...CLl h3+! 25.�ht [25. �g2 CLl xe3+! 2 6.fxe3 l!fxe2+-+) 25 ...CLlhxf2+ 26. �g1 [26. �xf2 l!fe4+! 27. l!fxe4 � XCl+ 2 8 . �g2 � Xe4-+) 26 ... CZJh3+! 27. �m 'i:We4+! 28.1Wx� �XCI! 29.1Wf3 [29. �XC1 �Xe4-+) 29 ... CZJ hf:H! 30.�g 2 � xf1 31 . .li.d4 [3 1. �xf1 CLl xh2+-+) 31 CZJdJ! o-1

•••

•••

Probably, Black was already celebrat­ ing his victory, when he had to face the truth. 54.CLlb3!! CLlc8 [54 ... �c6 55. � xb6 �xb6 56.�q==J ss- �cs! CLl a7 [55 ... CLl d6 56. A xd6+ �xd6 57.�C4 �c6 58.CLl d4+ �b 6 59.CLlb3"") 56. A xa7 [56.�C4 CLlc6 57.CLlc1== was also draw.) s6 J !xa7 57· �C4 �b7 58 .CZJcs �b6 59.CLl b3 with a theo­ retical draw. S9···�d6 6o.CLld4 �b8 61.CLlb3 !!b6 62.CZJas �e6 63.CLlb3 !!b8 64 .CZJcs+ �fs 65. �b3 �b 6 66.CLld3 �� 67.CLl xb4 �d4 68.�a3 �4 69.CLla2 �b3+ 70. �34 th-th ••

[281 B. Jobava (2704) .,.. D. Bocharov (2611) Aeroflot Open 13 .02.2012 t>

52. !!d3!! gs [52 ... �h6 53· �d6 + �g5 54J �g6+ �f4 55. � xg1 �xe4 56. Ae6+-; 52 ... g6 53 .f6 ! �h6 54. �g3 Ac5 55J �xg6+ �h5 (ss... �h7s6.!!gs �fB sJ. !! xes+-) 56 . � g8+ �h4 57. Ad5+-) 53. A g6+! (53.fxg6+? �S? 54· �d7 !! a7!==) 53 ... �g8 54· !!d8 + �g7 ss. !!d7+ �g8 [55 ... �6 56. l'! f?#J s6.f6 1-o

HAR D

1 38

(301

1>

R Mamedov (2.636)

� Lu Shanglei (2.516) Aeroflot Open 13.02.2012

2.1. 1i, xe6!! [ 21. f2J xf3 C4 22. Aa2 .§.xf3! 23.gxf3 f2Jef4!) 2.1 1Wxe6 n.q!! This is the point! Suddenly Black king becomes the , haunted" one! [22. tt:l xf3 .i.e2!) 2.2. ... fxg2. 2.3.'iWq! CLlg7 [23 ... �g8 24.CLlg4! ±) 2.4. 1i,h6! 'iWf6 2.5.f4!+••

(311 1> A. Khalifman (2.632.) � S. Zhigalko (2.658) Aeroflot Open 14.02.2012

31 . 'iW h6! 'iWe6 [31. ..'it' f7 32.CLl h5+ -) 32. . .§.d3! CLle7 33-CLl h7+ �7 34. El f3+ 1-0 (331 T. Henrichs (2.473) � R. Fontaine (2.552.) German league 25.02.2012 1>

White can get a big advantage on both sides, it depends on our style, which one we prefer. 2.2..q!! is the strongest move ! [2 2. A xg6 fxg6 23. 'iWxg6 CLlc4oo ; But 22. Axb6 �xb6 23. A xg6! fxg6 24.�xg6 .§. f8 25.CLl xh5 .§.a?± is also clearly better for White.] u...CLlxq 2.3 . .§.c1! CZJd7 2.4 .§.u. [24. CLl fl+-) 2.4 ... .§.ab8 2.s.lWb3! as 2.6.bs+­ Black loses the knight. •

2.o ... f3! ! 2.1.CLl xf3 [21. A xf3 .§.xf3! 22.CLl xf3 CLl d4!! (22 ...CLlxb4 23.CUxgs+f hxgs 24.axb4 Aj3 25.�j1) 23.exd4

(23 .CUjxd4 exd4 24. 1i, b2 C2J es-+)

23 ... A x f3 2 4. � fl exd4-+] 2.1 . . . .§. xf3! 2. 2. . A xf3 CZJ xb4! [22 . . .CLld4? 23.CLl xd4!) 2.3. Axb7? [23 .axb4 A xf3 24.� f1 �h3+ 25. �e1 .§. f8!-+ White can not hold the pressure. 26. �d2? A xe2 27. �xe2 S x h+! 28. 'i!txf2 !t'xh2+-+) 2. 3. . .CLl xc2. 2.4. Ae4 CZJ xa3 2.s .§.b3 'iW34 o-1 •

(321 1> M. Godena (2.548) � A. Gershon (2.499) lsraelian league 24.02.2012 2.4 .CLl xh7!! �xh7 2.5. A xg7+ �xg7 2.6.1ft'xf6+ �g8 [26 ... �h7 2?. �d3+-] 2.7. 1ff xg6+ .§. g 7 2. 8 . CZJ f6+ \!? f8 2.9.CLl h7+ �g8 30.CLlf6+ �8

(341 N. Huschenbeth (2.510) � E. Postny (2.62.2.) German league 26.02.2012 . 1>

Very good example for training the calculations, I hope you managed to find the win. s6. �g6? [56Jhs

1 39

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZ LES

f2 57. �a1 � h5 58 . 'i!?g7 'i!?e3 59.h8Q �xh8 6o. 'i!?xh8 'i!?e2 61. 'i!?g7 fiQ 62. �xft 'i!?xf1 63 . 'i!?f6 'i!?e2 64. 'i!?e5 'i!?d3 65. 'i!?d6 $>q 66. 'i!?xc6 'i!?xb4==; 56. �g8!! was the only winning move. 56 ... f2 (s6... �Js+ 57- 'i!ie6 j2 ss. E:g4 ++­ ) 57. �g4+! 'i!?e3 (57... 'i!ids ss. 'i!fo+-) 58. 'i!?xe5 f1Q 59. �e4+! 'i!?d3 6o. �d4+! (6o.h8Q?? l!Vm+) 6o... 'i!?e3 61.h8Q+-J s6 �e6+! 5 7· �85 [5?.'i!?f7 �e5!==) 57··· 'i!es+ 58.�86 �e6+ 59· �85 'i!es+ 6o. �86 1/2-1/2 •••

1351

1>

A Lauber (2464)

.,. D. Baramidze (2591) German league 26.02.2012 13.4Je5 [13.0-o � xdtt=) 13 1i'h4+ 1 4 ·83 4J x83 15 .hX83 'l%fxhJ+ 16. �d2 'i'xd.l+ 17.�Xd1 f6! This was the whole point! 18.CL)f3 � 84 19. �e2 !!adS+ [19 ... �e4-+) 2o. �d2 �d7 21. �b1 �de7! -+

1311 1> B. Amin (2608) .,. R. Vera Gonzalez Quevedo (2482) Cappelle la Grande 04.03.2012

Really precise calculation was need­ ed 31 . �e5 ! !! xes+ 32· �d2 'i!ds+ [32 . . . 1!V g5+ 3 3 · 'i!?c3 lWe3 + (33 . . . E:e3+ 34. 'i!id4! E:eB 35. iVds+ iVxds+ 36. 'i!ixds±) 34.l!Vd3 transposes to the game; 32 ... l!Vxf1 33.1Wxe5+-) 33· �e3! [33. 'i!?c3? lWc8+!) 33 ... 'I!es+ [33 ... 1Wg5+ 3 4· 1Wf4 liVe?+ 3 5· 'i!?f3+- ) 34 · �d4! 'l'e4+ [34 . . . �e4+ 35· 'i!?c3 l!Vh3+ 36.lWg3+! ±) 35·�C3 'l'e3+ 36.1i'd3! �cs+ 37.�b4 �bs+ 38. �34 'l'xd3 39.cxd3± 1381

u ... 4J xe4! .••

1361 1> R Polzin (2469) .,. 0. Boguslavskyy (2467) German league 26.02.2012 28. �e3!! Very deep idea... 28 1i'c7 29.f4! Suddenly the best piece of Black got caught in the middle of the board! 29 ... �xf4 30. �xf4 �xf4 31. �X86+•.•

1>

l Krush (2461)

.,. F. Caruana (2767) Reykjavik Open 08.03.2012 34 ··· �84! 35· �fi! li'b6? [35···l!Vxe2 ! ! was the elegant win, but Black missed it in the timetrouble. 36. � xf8+ �xf8 37.ltJ xe2 � xe2! 3 8.l!Ve3 �bi+ 39.l!Vg1 �xgi+ 40. 'i!?xg1 �d3 (40... �d6+) 41. �xe5 �d6 42. �e8+ 'i!?g? 43 . 'i!?f2 $>£7 44. �a8 �xe4+) 36. �aa1? [White missed 36. �a6! �xfi+ 37. �xf1 1Wf2 38. �xg6 .i. h3 39.ltJh5!) 36 � xe2 37. 'i!xf8+ [37.ltJ xe2 � f2+) 37··· �xf8 38. 4Jxe2 li'f2-+ •••

HAR D

1 40

(381 V. Durarbayli (2.543) .,.. C. Sandipan (2.595) Cappelle la Grande 09.03.2012 t>

�xa3 (39 . . . 'il.xjs 4o. A hs±) 4o. � h5±) 37.exf5 'Ct'f8? (37· ·· �f6 38. gg8 +-) 38.f6 1-0 (421 B. Socko (2.62.8) .,.. C. Sandipan (2.640) German league 17.03.2012 t>

49- �XC6!! (49· � xg5 CZJ xg5 50J �xc6 CZJd5 51. �a3 ;t) 49 ··· .i xd2.? (49· · · CZJd5 50.fxe6 A xd2 51.CZJ f7 � Xb4 52. A f3 CZJe7 53· gxa6± (53 . g b 6+ �c8 54· 1!b7±) ) 50. gb6+ �a7 51 . �b7+ �as 5:2.. �f3!+- CZJ

M Oratovsky (2.52.1)

.,.. L. Bruzon (2.691)

Catalanian league 10.03.2012

:2.1 ... � xh4! ! :2.:2..CZJ xb7 (22.CZJ f1 los­ es i n similar fashion 22 ... � xf2+ ! 23. �xf2 'iWh4+ 24. 'i!?g1 f4!-+) n ... � xb.+! :2.3. 'Ct'xf2 l!V h4 + :2.4. �g 1 'fWg3 :2.5. ge4 (25.CZJe4 fxe4 26 . .i xf8 e3-+) :2.5 ... fx� 26.'i!VeJ 'fWg4! 27.dxe4 (27. �xf8 e3 ! -+) :2.7···CZJe:H :2.8.'fWxe2 'i!Vxe2 :2.9. �xf8 't!Vxm 3o.exd5 'i!V L Gonda (2.52.0) .,.. Z. Efirnenko (2.703) German league 18.03.2012

Only the silent solution wins the game. 25.CZJ g4+! �g8 :2.6.h3!! White controls the e5 square and g fi. decides the game. :2.6 ... 'fWgs :2.7.CZJf4 (27. gfl+-) :2.7 �c8 :2.8.CZJe6 � xe6 :2.9.dxe6+.••

t>

34.CZJ g5!! hxg5 (34 ··· �e6 35. f5 ! �6

(3s . . . hxgs 36jxe6 �xe6 37. h6±)

36.CZJ xe6! fxe6 37. gg6+ �f5 38.e4++­ ) 35.h6 � f5 [35 ...CZJ f6 36.fxg5+-) 36.e4! This was the point! 36 CZJ xf4? [36 ... gxf4 37.exf5 CZJ f6 38.h7 CZJ xh7 39.�xh7 •••

(44) t> A Naiditsch (2.707) .,.. D. Brandenburg (2.5:2.2.) German league 18.03.2012 :2.o .CZJe3 led to unclear position. [2o. CZJ f6 ! ! gxf6 2 1.exf6 .ixf6 2 2. 'fi h5 ! � xg5 and here comes the subtle point

GREATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

141

(411 I . Ivanisevic (2.645) ..,.. D. Baratosi (2.407) European Championship 22.03.2012 1>

23. � fs!! exfs 24. � xg5 �e6 ! the best practical chance. 25. �xe6 fxe6 26.b3! CZJc3 27.bxc4 CZJ xb1 28.'�h6+- Black can not solve all the problems he is facing with.; 2o.ctJ xh7 �xh7 21.CZJ f6+ gxf6 22. �5+ �g8==) 1451 Analysis of Cs. Balogh (2.664) ,. A. Sharafiev (2.433) European Championship 20.0).2012 1>

Seems l ike White cannot avoid �cB mate, but... 37. lhhs+!! gxhs [37... �g8 38.1ixf4! �xf4 39. � h8 + �f7 4o. � xd8 A xe3 41. �ds==; 37... �g7? 38. �xes !! �c 8+ 39.�d4 dxes+ 4o. 1ix es+ �f7 41. B: xh2 +-) 38.1!ffs! l!b2 39·'iWf6+!

30.1!fg4!! xf7 2o.gs! CLJ x� [The nicest part of the combiantion is coming afteno ... Ag3 21.gxf6! ii. xf2+ 22. A xf2 gxf6 (22 .. .'fll xf6 23Jhas-+-) 23 .lih5+ $>87

3 6.ti'xh8+-; 2o. . .CLld7 21.lih5+ $>g8 22.f6+-) 2 1.ctJ xe4 [21. A xe4! was probably stronger 21 ... dxe4 22.lih5+ $>g8 23 .f6 with winning attack 23 ... gq 2 4.CZJb5!+-) 21 ••• dx� n . gd2 would lead to unclear position af­ ter 22 ... �d5 ! [22. li'h5+! should have been played again 22 ... $>g8 23 .f6 !! q 24.fxg7 !!xg7 25. !!d1+-) 1521 T. Banusz (2583) � Cs. Balogh (2664) European Championship 28.03 .2012 t>

31 . gh3? [3 1. �h6 ! CLl d7 32.e5 ! ! (But not 32.CLlj4? C'Llxj6 33 .C'Ll xg6 $>g!!-+) 32 ... �xe5 33. �gh1 C'Ll xf6 (33 .. J!.hs 34.Rlxhs gxhs and the f6 pawn is pro­ tected was the point behind 31. � h6 ! 3s.CiJg3!:=) 34. !! h8 + $>g7 35-� xd8 �Xe2 36. �C1==) 31 •.•ctJd7 32.f4 (32.e5 !!xe5 33 · �gh1 �h5 34· !!xh5 gxh5+; 32. �gh1 C'Ll xf6+) 32 .•• ctJxf6+ 1531 t> 1 Smirin (2657) � K Kulaots (2585) European Championship 28.03.2012 36. gdb1! ! 1-o [3 6. �db1 A f5 (36. . .

�xf3 37. 'iil b7+! il.. xb7 38. lhb7++-; 2 4.e5 ! fxe5 25 . !! xa5! ! lixa5 26.f6+! $>xf6 (26. . . wjs 27. VJ9 h6 + $>es 28.VJ6g7+-) 27. A h4+ $>e6 2 8.ti'h6+ $>d7 29.li'g7+ $>c6 3o.li'f6 + $>d7

(3o... wcs 31. ii.j2+ d4 32.VJ9xes++-)

31.li'e7+ $>c6 32.li'e6+ $>q 33.lixe5+ $>b6 34. ii. f2+ $>a6 3 5. ii. f1+ gC4

,36

•••

ll.. xb1 37J�b7++-) 37- �b?+ �d7

38. !!b8!+-)

1541 V. Erdos (2636) � Mio. Perunovic (2481) European Championship 29.03.2 012 t>

143

G REATEST 365 PUZZLE S

: n . � X87! � X87 23 .tlJd6! lWbs [23 ... \i'e6 24- �Xf7! +- (24 .CDxb7±) ) 24. �xf7! tz:J 8s [24 ... �e6 25. � xg7+ $>xg7 2 6.tlJ xb7 'li'xb7 (26 . . . tlJj6 27-CDd6+-) 27. �d7+ $> h8 28.e5+-] 25. � X87+! $>x87 26.tlJxb7 tlJ f7 [26 ... 'li'xb7 27. �d7+ tlJ f7 28.\i'f2 �f8 29.e5+-] 27. �7 tlJe6 28 .tlJd6 lWxd6 29. �xd6 tz:J xd6 3o.es+1551 Arty Timofeev (2650) ,.. D. Jakovenko (2729) European Championship 29.03 .2012 t>

18 ... �xq! 19.bxq � xds 2o. � xds tlJd4!! 2 1 . Rsxd4 [2 1.'1i'e4 f5 ! - + ; 2 1.\i'q 'li'e6-+) 21 exd4 n.exd4 �ds+

(571 t> Ding Liren (266o) ,.. Lu Shanglei (2514) Xinghua 31.03.2012 14 . �X86! fx86 1s.tz:Jx86! hx86 [15··· \i'q 16.tlJ e5+ � g7 17J U 3 +-; I5- ··e5 t6.\i'g3+-J 16. 1Wx86+ $>hs 17. �8s! [17. � f3 ! was an alternative solu­ tion 17... �g8 (17... �xd4 + 18. Wh1+-) 18. \i'h5 �xd4+ (18 ... W6e8 19. il.g7+!

Wxg 2o. �g3+ il.g5! 21. �xg5+ Wf6 22. W6h7!+-) 19 . $>h1 \lW e8 2 o.'li'h4!

�g6 21.cxd4+-) 17 �X8S 18.fxgs �e? 19. l!fh6+ $>88 [19-·· � h7 2o. � f8+) 2o.86! tlJd7 21. �f3! tz:J fs n . �af1 tz:Jx86 23. �g3 �87 24. �X86 1-0 .••

• • .

(581 B. Graehev (2705) ,.. K. Alekseenko (2367) European Championship 31.03.2012 t>

(561 M. Godena (2508) ,.. S. Ter Sahakyan (2578) European Championship 30.03.2012 t>

45 ... �Xd4!! 46. � xfs (46. � xd4?? \i'q+ 47- �gl 'li'g3+-+) 46 �d2+! 47. $>81 [47.'1i'xd2 tWxf5==) 47... �xe2 48. �xf7+ $>86 49· �f6+ $>hs so.a3 �e2 51. �d6 �e3= •.•

31.tz:J exes! fxes 32. �C4+ [32.tz:Jxe5 is winning as well 3 2 ... 'li'e6 (32 ...

\i'es 33.CDxg6 hxg6 34.l!!Ixq W6xe7 35. �xq CDd5 36. il.c4 WfB 37- �xaJ+­ ) 33.tz:J xg6 hxg6 (33 ...WBxe2 34.CDxq+ 'li'xe7 35- �xq+ -) 3 4- �C4 �d5 35- � Xd5 � xd5 3 6. 'li'xe6+ tz:J xe 6 37- �xd5+-) 32 . . .tz:Jds 33.tz:J xes 1We6 34.tz:Jx86! lWxe2 3s .tz:J xe7+ lWxe? [35··· WfB 36. �xe2 tz:J xe7 37- �d6! �d7 38. �e6+-) 36. �xe7

17 �xes!! Really nice escaping idea. (17· · · � xa6? I8. � xa6+-) 18. � xes � xes ! 19 . � xes tz:J xes 2 0 . � xeS o-o! [2o... �e7 21. �xe6 fxe6 2 2. �c1 •.•

1 44

HARD

l!c8 23.ltJd4 very close to draw, but White can still press a bit.) 21 . l!c1 [21. � xe6 fxe6==) :n l!xc8 n.CZJd4 ltJb3 threats. u ... l!c7! :13.CZJbs l!cs :14 .CLla7 [24.ltJd6 �q==) :14 . . . l!c7 :1s .tLlbs l!cs :16. CZJa7 l!q :17.ct:Jbs 1/2-1/2

�h2+ 29. �f1 �hl+ 30.�Xh1 l!xht+ 31. �g2 l! xe1-+)

•••

1601

r>

E. Bacrot (2.706)

M. Burschowsky (:12.2.9) Deizisau 06.04.2012 1111>

:16 ... �h3?! [26... ltJ h3+! ! was the right move 27.gxh3 (27.'i!i>h1? Ag4!! 28. l!xf7 �xe2 29.ltJb4 (29. "E.j6 �xd3-+) 29 ... 'i!txf7! 30. �xe4 ltJ f2+ 31.�g1 ltJ xe4+) 27... �xh3 28. l! f2 ! O nly move ! (28.ltJ e1 �e3 + 2_9. �h1 ii. xj1-+) 28 ... l!xb 29.'i!i>xf2 �h4+! (29... �g2+? 3o. �e1+-) 30. �e3 (30.'iitgJ �gs+) 30... �g5+ 31.�f2 �h4+ ==) :17. �dJ! l!xfl+ :18. �xf1 �fs :19. �e:1 �h3! 30 . �d1 � fs 31.CLle1! �f4+ 3:1. �b �xq+ 33- �e2 lixds 34. 1ih4;:t White was slightly better. 1611

1>

C. Hauser (2.2.09)

����> M . Perunovic (2.582.) Deizisau 06.04.2012

n ... gs!! To prevent the h4 defense on l! h6. [22 ... l! h6 23 .h4!) :13.h3 (23. � f3 l! h6 24.h4 �xf3 25.exf3 gxh4 26.g4 l!g6 27.ltJ f4 � Xf4 28.�Xf4 �g5+) :13 � xh3 14 . � xh3 lixh3 :1 s.lixg s+ l! g 6 :1 6 .CZJ f4 � xf4 :17.lixf4 "E.h6 :18. �f3 lih:1+ o-1[28... •• .

(621 r> S. Shankland (2.580) ����> R Prasca Sosa (2.42.0) Philadelphia 06.04.2012 53. l!xb7 :!! xh7 S4. lixc6! �xb3 (54 ... e6

55. �xb7! ! � xb7 56. � xe6+ �h8 57.d5+ +-) ss . 'i!txb3! 1- o [55. �xb3 ! �d7 (ss.. J !bB s6.�e6+ �hB 57ds++­ ) 56.�Xd7 l!xd7 57.C6+-) 1631 r> A Naiditsch (2.702.) ����> 0. Kurrnann (2.458) Deizisau 09.04.2012 :1:1. � d3! l!a4 :13. lixa4 ! � xa4 :14 . l! xb8 + � f8 :1s.ct:J gs (25 . � xf8+ �g7 26.ltJ g5+-J :15 'i!fg7 :16. �xf8+ 'i!tf6 :17.CLl xh7# 1- 0 •••

1 45

GREATEST 36 5 PUZZLES

(641

t>

Ki. Georgiev (:1671)

� V. Bogdanovski (:1435) Skopje 09.04.2012

I . �Xf7+! �xf7 :1 .'iib7+ �e8 ?! (2 ... CLJd7 would have been the criti­ cal of the combination. 3 · 'I!Wxd7+ �f6 4 �xd6+ �g7 5· '11id7+ 'i!? f6 6. h4! ! (6. 'I!We6+! Wg7 J.'iWxes+ 9:lh7 8. Wg1 is the human win.) 6... '11ixfl+ 7.� h2 +- Despite being a rook up, Black is completely lost. 7... �f8 8.b7 '11i b1 9.d6!+-J 3.�xc8+ �e7 [3 ... �f7 4.'11ix q+-] 4· �e6+ S. Movsesian (:170:1) � A Motylev (:1683) Russian league 12.04.2012

Black has some counterplay for the piece down, but White destroys all the hopes with a nice combo! :15.':Z:he6!! �xe6 :1 6.e4! 1Wxd:1 :17.exf5+ We7 [27... �d7 28. 'I!Wxg4+ - (28jxg6+ -)] :18.fx86 �e8 :19. 'UBXg4 �d8 30. �f7 �e1+ 31 .if1+•

(681 V. Potkin (:1669) � D. Andreikin (:1689) Russian league 12.04.2012 t>

:17···exf4 !! :18 .i xe8 [28. �f1 '11ie 3+ 29. �f2 �d4! is the most precise, but there were other good moves as well. •

(29 ... �e6!? JO. Ji.Xa4 'I!Wxj2+! 31.Wxj2

CZJ e4 ++) 30. �af1 fxg3 3 1.hxg3 CLJe4! 32 . .i xe4 � xe4-+; 28 . .i xa4 '11ie 3+ 29. �h1 'i¥f3+ 30. �g1 �e2-+) :18 1We3+ :19. �h1 [29. P. Nakhapetiane (:1504) � K. Landa (:1645) Russian league 11.04.2012

.••

146

H AR D

gxh2+ 33· �xh2 when the pieces are pinned on the f-file.] 32. � f1 gxh2+ 33·�xh2 CiJ g4+ 34·�gJ 1i'g3+ 0-1 1691

1>

R Kempinski (2604)

E. Berg (2575) German league 14.04.2012

�

38 es! ! 39. CiJ xes [3 9· .:ah4 1i'a6-+) 39 ... �xd4 40. �Xd4 �CI+ 41 . �d1 i¥�! The idea behind 38 ...e5! ! 42.1i'd2 �xdH 43.1Wxdt 1Wxes+ •..

41 ... � g 3+! ! Leads to forced mate. 4 2.$>xg3 irxei+ [42 ... 1i'g4+! ? was faster with a few moves 43· �h2 �e5+! 44·�h1 1Wh3+ 45·�g1 �d4+ 46. � f2 1i'g3+ 47.�h1 �xf2-+) 43.$>h3 irft+ 44· �82 [44. �g3 �e5+-+) 44···1Wf3+ 45 . $>h2 (45. �g3 irh1#) 4s ... �es+ 46. $>g1 1Wd.J+ 47· $>b �d4+ 0-1[47... �d4+ 48. �g3 1i'g4+ 49· �h2 1i'xh4#) DOl

1>

111 1> P. Maletin (2586) � D. Khismatullin (2656) Russian league I5.04.20I2

R Ruck (2579)

� A Naiditsch (2707) German league 14.04.20I2

43· · · � b2!! By pi nning himsel f, Black creates the 1Wat threat. [43 ... iVai 44.1i'ci!) 44 .:aC3 [44. �g2 �ei 45 .CiJ xd6 iVai! 46 .1i'f2 �d4-+; 44.CiJ xd6 �d4+ 45·� f1 1i'a3-+] 44··· irxds! ! Another great tactic ! [44 ... iVai 45 . �e3 � xe3 46. �xe3 lWei+ 47· �f3 1i'fi+ 48.1Wf2 irhi+ 49·1i'g2 irdi+ 5o.1i'e2 1i'xd5+-+] 45. �e3 [45· irxb2 irhi!-+ was the point!) 45··· �xe3 46 .$>xe3 � g7- +

1121 S. Movsesian (2702) � P. Leko (2720) Russian league I5.04.20I2 1>

23. �xd7!! [23 .gxf5? gives nothing 23 ... � Xf5 24.C'iJ fh4 (24.C'iJgh4 �g4) 24 ... �c2 25. � f4 �xdi 26. .:axdi fxe5 27. � xe5 �e8==) 23 $>xd7 24.gxfs fxgs 25.e6+ $>c8 [25 ... �d6 26. �di+ �c5 27.e7+-; 25 ... �e8? 26.e7! � xe7 27. �el+-) 26.e7 $>b7 White finds the best way to increase the advantage •••

•

27. �et! �e8 28.exd8N+! ! [28 .exd8Q would be a mi stake 28 .. J �xe1+ 29.CiJxei � xd8==) 28 ... �exd8 (28 ... �axd8 29. � xe8 �xeS 3 o. CiJ xg5+-] 29. �e7+-

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

(13)

t>

A Volokitin (2695)

.,. R. Antoniewski (2559) Austrian league 21.04.2012

After a forced , White gets a much better endgame: 24. �xh7!! [24- ii.d3!? leads to the game with transposition. 24 ... ii.xf6 25. �xh7! !) 24 ... �xf6 Only move! [24 ... �xh7 25. 'iWh4+ �g8 26. � hl+-) 25. ii.d3! ! �Xh7 26. �hl+ � g 8 [26 . . . �g7 27. � h 6 + �g8 28. �xg6+-] 27. ii.xg6 fxg6 28.'iWxg6+ ii. g7 29.'iWh7+ �f7 30. � h6 ! [30. �fl+ gives also a small edge, but the position will rather be drawish 30... � e 8 3 1.'iWg6+ � d8 3 2. �g5+ �q 33· 'iWxg7+ �c6 34· �xf8 'iWgH! 35· �C2 'iWxgH 36. �d3 'iWd5+ 37. �e2 �xf8 38.'iWxf8 'iWxg5 39.'iWc8+�) 3o ... 'iWd4! [3o ... �g8 31. �f1+ �e7 32 . � xg7+ -] 31. �fi+ �e8 [31... �e7 32. �g5+! �d6 33 · i!dH-) 32 . 'iWg6+! �d7 33· �d1 �xh6+ 34· 'iWxh6 'i!Vxdt+ 35· �xd1± With a healthy pawn up, but of course the win still requires good technique.

1 47

(14) Xiu Deshun (2492) .,. Wen Yang (2549) Chinese league 29.04.2012 t>

24... �b8!! Only this way! [The tempt­ ing 24 ... �d2? would spoil the win 25. �b1 ! ! �Xd5 26.c6! �dl+ 27. �C2 �d2+ 28. �b3 and White survives.) 25. �d8+ �xd8 26.� b1 �d2 27.g3 (27.c6 �b2+ 28.�Cl � h6+ 29. �d1 c2+-+) 27... ii.d4 o-1[27... �d4 28.c6 �b2+ 29.�Cl Ji.e3+ 30. �W C2+-+)

-

TESTS

D

-

1 50

TESTS

There are five tests, each with ten examples. The level of exercises is increasing from test to test... Timing is also important factor in a chess game, so I suggest to give yourself: » 1 hour for the tst Test, » 1,5 hour for tests 2-4 » and 2 hours for the 5th. Don't look up the solutions until you have solved all 1o diagrams of the actual test. In the end of each test, you can find your score and the evaluation ofyour current tactical skill. There are three different scoring systems: 1s1 and 51h tests have their own and the middle ones from 2nd to 41h are connected. In order to make your job even harder, there are no "smiley" helpers anymore.

- TEST # 1 -

[1)

(2]

1>

•

D. Solak (1.601.) VI. Georgiev (1.531) Skopje

A. Evdokimov (l.SSS) P. Vishnu (1.4o6) Dubai Open

14.04.2012

21.04.2012

1. +/-

1... -1+

1>

•

1 52

TESTS

(4]

(3] 1> R. Kashtanov (2361) .,. T. Gelashvili (2619) Philadelphia

A. Jankovic (2553) .,. V. Nedilko (2392) European Championship

07.04.2012

29.03.2012

1

•••

-+

1>

1. +-

(5]

(8)

1>

D. Marholev (2383) .,. A Dekhev (2622) Bulgarian Championship

R. Robson (2596) .,. V. Belous (2522) Moscow Open

25.04.2012

30.01.2012

1. +-

1. +-

1>

1 53

GREATEST 365 PUZZLES

IBJ

m •

M. Roiz (1.651) G. Rechlis (1.467) Israelian league

A. Aleksandrov (1.611.) B. Gundavaa (1.493) Aeroflot Open

03.02.2012

09.02.2012

1... -+

1. +-

1>

1> •

1101

Ill 1>

V. Laznicka (1.704) K. Kulaots (1.581) Gibraltar

1>

•

•

2].01.2012

20.01.2012

1. +-

1 ...

I. Hera (1.558) M. Sebenik (1.51.9) Austrian League

=

- SOLUTIONS UJ D. Solak (2602) ..,. VI. Georgiev (2531) Skopje 14.04.2012 t>

19. � XC7! (19.'�Jd5 �g4! 20.f3 �e6==) 19 ... �C7 2oA:Jds+ 'it>c8 [2o . .. 'it>b7 21.CLJ xe7 CLl xe7 22. �xd7+ 'it>c8±) u . CL'l x b6+ 'it>c7 2 2 .CLJ d5 + 'it>c8 23.CLlb6+ �c7 24.CLl xd7+- You got 3 points for solving this. (2)

t>

A Evdokimov (2555)

..,. P. Vishnu (2406) Dubai Open 21.04.2012

25 ... ct:lxe4! This was a warm-up puz­ zle for 2 points. 26.1Wd1 [26.CLJ xe4?? CLJ xe 2 + - +) 26 . . . ClJ XC3 27. � XC3 1Wf6+ 28. �xg4? This allows anoth­ er small combination, but the posi­ tion was quite hopeless anyway. 28 ... 1Wg6! 29.h3 [29. � f3 CLl h3+ 30.'it>h1 �Xe3-+) 29... � xg4 30.hxg4 ClJe2+! 31.1Wxe2 � xe3+ 32.CLJ xe3 ..Wxbt+-+ (3)

t>

R Kashtanov (2361)

..,. T. Gelashvili (2619) Philadelphia 07.04.2012

25 ... �e1 !! 26. �g2 [26. � xe1 �xf5+ is check! 27. CLl xf5 � xe 1-+J 26 ... �dt+!! Excellent "teamwork" by the Black pieces! 27. �xd1 �C3+ 28. 'it>b2

� xd1-+ If you calculated until this move, you deserve 6 points. (4)

t>

A Jankovic (2553)

..,. V. Nedilko (2392) European Championship 29.03 .2012 28. 1W�! ! Brilliant idea! 28 ... �xe7 [28 ... !!xd5 29. �xa7+-J 29.dx� 1Wb8 1-o[29 ... 1Wb8 30. �fe1 CLle6 (30 . �es Jl. �Xa7f+-) 31. �c6+- You receive 8 points!) . .

(5) t> D. Marholev (2383) ..,. A. Delchev (2622) Bulgarian Championship 25 .04.2012 37. �c8!! This great silent move cre­ ates insolvable problems on the back­ rank. 37... atQ+ 38. 'it>g2 You gained 4 points. 38 ... g6 (38 ... h6 39.1We8+ 'it>h7 40. � f5+ g6 41.1WXf7++-) 39.1WC7 (39· CL'l xf6+- was also winning of course.) 39 ... 1Wa8 4o. lWxf7 !! xeS 41. 1Wxf6+ 'it>g8 42.e4 1-o l&J

t>

R Robson (2596)

..,. V. Belous (2522) Moscow Open 30.01.2012

27. � xh6 ! ! ii. xh6 [27 . . . � x h6 28.1Wh3+ CLJ h5 29. 1Wxe6+-J 28.CLJds! ct:l xd5 29.1Wf7+ �g7 3o.lWxe6 Black

1 55

G R E ATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

cannot hold the threats on the h-file. 30 ... CLle3 31. �d3! This was the hard­ est puzzle of the 1st Test, you deserve 9 points for solving it. [31. � f3+-) 31 ... ctJf5 [31 ...CLl xf1 32. �h3+ �h6 33.irf7+ 'C!?hs 34· �xh6#) 32.. �xf5 1-o (7]

M. Roiz (2.651) .,. G. Rechlis (2.467) Israelian league 03.02.2012

1>

19 ... �dB ! :zo J!Vbs � xas! o-1[2 0... �xas 21. � xas �xas 22.�xas �c6+ 23. 'C!?gt !!a8-+ This was for 6 points.) Ill A. Aleksandrov (2.612.) .,. B. Gundavaa (2.493) Aeroflot Open 09.02.2012

no1 I. Hera (2.558) .,. M. Sebenik (2.52.9) Austrian League 20.01.2012 1>

S9···g3! 6o. �xg3 [6o.fxg3 �bs+!! This great stalemate idea was the point of the sacrifice! White cannot avoid per­ petual check. I f you found this idea, you receive 5 points. 61. 'C!?c6 �b6+ 62. 'C!?ds �bs+ 63. 'C!?e4 �b4+ 64. 'C!?f3 �b3+ 65. 'C!?g2 �b2+ 66. 'C!?h3 �h2+! 67. 'C!?xh2=; 6o.f3 g2 61. 'C!?c6 �c1 +! 62. 'C!?d6 �b1 63 . � xg2 �Xb7 6 4. f5 �b6+! 65. 'C!?es �bs+=) 6o �xb7 61.

:z6.�es! 1-o [26.�e5! �dB (26... �xes 27- �C8+) 27.�Xd4! �xd4 28. �c8++­ This gives you 4 extra points.) 191 1> V . laznicka (2.704) .,. K Kulaots (2.581) Gibraltar 27.01.2012 :z6. 'iWxc8+! � xeS 27. !!xc8 + it. fB :z 8 . � xf8 +! 1-o[2 8 . � x f8 + �xf8 (28... 'C!tg7 29. � C8+-) 29. � xes+ 'C!?g8 30.d6++- A nice puzzle for 4 points.)

RATI NGS 50-41

Congratulations, excellent solving! 40-32.

Well done! You are ready for the next level! 31-2.4

Not bad, but try to calculate more ac­ curately. 2.3-10

Before going to the next level, do some additional warm-up. 9-0

More from the easy section is needed!

-

TEST #2

-

[21

[1] t> A. Schenk (2499) ..,. G. Schroll (2.388) Austrian league 20.04.2012 1.

+1-

t> S. Cao (2.52.6) ..,. Pharn Due Thong (2.2.32.) V ietnarnien Championship 19.03.2012 1. +-

TESTS

1 58

(41

(3] �

E. Rozentalis (:1586) ,. B. Kanstler (:14:1:1) lsraelian league 03.02.2012

T. Radjabov (:1773) ,. D. Navara (:171:1) Wijk aan Zee 16.01.2012

1. +-

1. +-

�

(8)

(5) P. Negi (:1641) ,. Le Quang Liem (:1714) Aeroflot Open 10.02.2012

Hou Yifan (:1639) ,. H. Stefansson (:1531) Reykjvaik Open 11.03.2012

1.

1. +-

�

=

�

1 59

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

[8]

OJ t>

G. Kaspret (2292) A. Diermair (2429) Austrian league 04.03.2012

D. Swiercz (2565) ..,. D. Lomsadze (2338) European Championship 29.03.2012

1. +-

1. +-

..,.

t>

[9]

[10]

t> P. Jaracz (2542) ..,. K Kuzmicz (2451)

Polisch Championship 26.02.2012

S. Mamedyarov (2747) ..,. N. Huschenbeth (2518) Gibraltar 28.01.2012

1 ... -+

1. +-

t>

- SOLUTIONS (1)

t>

A Schenk (2.499)

..,.. G. Schroll (2.388) Austrian league 20.04.2012

13. � xh7+! Only this way! (13.CLJ xd5?! CLJ xd5 14. � Xh7+ 'i!fh8 15. E!xd5 � Xf3 16.gxf3 g6! ) 13 . . . �h8?! [13 ... � xh7 14.CLJ xd5 �e6 15 .CLJ xe7+ �xe7 16. �d6 l!ff6 17. �XC5 �Xf3 18.gxf3± with a healthy pawn up. Here you re­ ceive 4 points.) 14. � fs+(2) S. Cao (2.52.6) ..,.. Pham Due Thong (2.2.32.) V ietnamien Championship 19.03 .2012 t>

2.s.CiJbs!! 3 points for solving this. 2.s ... i.Llds (25 ... E!xd4 26.CLJ xq+ �b7 27.CLJ xa6 �d7 28. �C4+-) 2.6. �xe6+­ bxcs 2.7.'ii'xds! (27.�xc5+-) 2.7... �xd5 2.8.ftJc7+ 1-0 (3)

t>

E. Rozentalis (2.586)

..,.. B. Kanstler (2.42.2.) lsraelian league 03.02.2012

2.9.CLl f6+!! �h8 [29 ... 'i!?f8 30. �h5+­ ; 29 ... gxf6 3o.�h5+-) 3o.l!ff4!! There is nothing against lixh6! (3o. �h5? �e3 ! ) 30 ... � xq 31 .l!fxh6+ 1-o If you have seen all these moves, you gain 6 points.

(4) T. Radjabov (2.773) ..,.. D. Navara (2.712.) Wijk aan Zee 16.01.2012 t>

31.�di! �e8 32.. �bs! 1-o was the only way to keep the piece up. 2 points! (5) P. Negi (2.641) ..,.. Le Quang Liem (2.714) Aeroflot Open 10.02.2012 t>

2.o.ftJ fgs! [2o.cxd3 ? Ci:Jc3+ 21.Ci:J xc3 dxc3-+) 2.o ...h6 (2o ... CLJc3+ leads to less spectacular perpetual check. 21.'i!fa1 �Xe4 22.�Xh7+ 'i!?£8 23.ClJ XC4 � XC2 2 4. �h8 + 'i!fe7 25.�h4+==J 2.I.CLJ f6+!! gxf6 (21... 'i!ff8?? 22.�gh7+! 'i!?e7 23.CLJd5+ 'i!?e8 24.�e7#) n.�xh6 fxgs 2.3.l!fxgs+ �8 2.4.�h6+ �e8 2.5. �h8+ �e7 2.6. �f6+ �e8 If you found this draw, you deserve 6 points! 2.7· 'YWh8+ 1/2-1/2 (6) t> Hou Yif an (2.639) ..,.. H. Stefansson (2.531) Reykjvaik Open 11.03.2012 40. � xe6! 1- 0 [4o.i! xe6 fxe6 (40 ... �bl+ 41. �e1+-) 41. CLld7+! l:! xd7

42. �h8+ 'i!?f7 43 . l!fxb 8+- for 5 points!)

GREATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

161

OJ G. Kaspret (:2.2.9:1) � A Diermair (:14:19) Austrian league 04.03.2012

no1 S. Mamedyarov (:1747) � N. Huschenbeth (:1518) Gibraltar 28.01.2012

39.d6!! Opening the a2-g8 diagonal for the bishop. 39 ... �xd6 40. �q!! The keymove ! Black either loses material ot gets mated. 40 ... �XC3 [4o ... !hd2 41. A xd2 A xd2 42. Ad5+ GLle6 43· 'i!Ve8+ 'i!Vf8 44· Axe6+ 'i!?g7 45.'i!Vg6 #) 4 1 . � xd6 A xd6 [41 . . . � c l+ 42.'i!? g2 �xh1 43 . Ad5+ GLl e 6 44· A xe6+ 'i!?f8 45 · �d8+ 'i!?e7 46.'i!Ve8#) 4:1. Ads+ GLle6 43. 'i!Ve8+ 1-o This was the hardest one from the 2nd Test. Only if you calculated the whole line, you receive 9 points.

:18. � xg6! fxg6 :19. �a5!! Necessary , zwischenzug"! [29.'i!Vxg6+? 'i!Vg7+) :19 ... 'i:!Vxas 30. 'i:!Vxg6+ 'i!?fs 31 . �g3! 1-o If you calculated all this, 7 points are your reward!

t>

(8) D. Swiercz (:1565) � D. Lomsadze (:1338) European Championship 29.03 .2012 t>

35 . �xh7! ! [3 5. �q? �5a7!) 35 ... �xu. [35 ...

RATINGS

50-40 Wow! You are ready for the hardest Test! 39-3:1 Great result, worth a try on the next level. 31-:11 Very good, but not enough for the 5 1h Test. Practice from the "Hard" sec­ tion ! :10-10 Solve more examples from the "Me­ dium" section.

t>

35 . . . lLl b4+! 36 .cxb4 [ 3 6 . GLl xb 4 'i!Vxb2#] 3 6. . . 'i!Vc4+ o-1(36. . . 'i!Vq+ 37.'i!?b1 'i!Vxd3+ 38. �a2 cxb4! -+ An­ other 4 points here.)

9-0 Don't give up, you belong to the "Me­ dium" level. Try to concentrate and practice more!

-

TEST #3

-

(2]

(1) 1>

E. Janev (2.484) ..,. D. Solak (2.6o2.) Cappelle la Grande 04.03.2.012

Mat. Bartel (2.6.58) ..,. F. Caruana (2.736) Aeroflot Open 13.02.2012

1. +1-

1. +1-

1>

TESTS

1 64

141

131 t>

.,.. Cs.

P. Prohaszka (:1553) Balogh (:1664) European Championship 2J.OJ.2012

V. Papin (2575) .,.. T. Coleman (:1356) Reykjvaik Open o8.o3.2012

1. +1-

1 -+

t>

•.•

181

151 t> Cs.

Balogh (:1665) .,.. P. Ponkratov (:1611) Aeroflot Open 15.02.2012

Li Shilong (:1549) Lu Shanglei (:1514) Xinghua 27.0J.2012

1. +1-

1.+-

t> .,..

165

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

OJ

[8]

t>

G. Kacheishvili (2612) M. M. Pavlovic (2478) Reykjavik Open 11.03.2012

E. Inarkiev (2689) A. Kovchan (2565) Moscow Open 03.02.2012

1. +1-

1. +-

•

t>

•

l10J

l9J t>

A. Moskalenko (2451) • D. Andreikin (2689) Russian league 11.04.2012

t>

1 ... -+

1. +1-

V. Hamitevici (2436) • I. Nyzhnyk (2585) Nabokov memorial 22.04.2012

- SOLUTIONS t>

lixb6 25 .lixa8++-) 2 1 �xg6+ 'E.h8 n. �g5! 1-o [22. �g5 �g8 23. 'E.e7!+-l

22.CLl xes!! Seems like blundering a piece, but... 22 .. J hes 23J !xes f6

131 P. Prohaszka (2553) .,.. Cs. Balogh (2664) European Championship 23 .03.2012

n1 E. Janev (2484) .,.. D. Solak (2602) Cappelle la Grande 04.03.2012

24.lffxg6! ! fxes [24 ... hxg6 25J h e4!! Black gets mated soon. 2 5 ...g5 (25... 'E.j7 26. E!e8+ iLjB 27. E! xj8+! E!xf8 28. 'E. h4#) 26. 'E. h4+! gxh4 27. E! h5# We started immediately with the most difficult one of the 3rd Test. If you found all the mates in thi s line, you deserve 8 points!) 25. lihs± White ended up with an exta pawn. [25.1i'e4! ±) 121 Mat. Bartel (2658) .,.. F. Caruana (2736) Aeroflot Open 13 .02.2012 t>

2o.lfff3! Doublethreat with �xg6 and �xc6! If you realized both, 4 points! 2o .. .CzJx34 [2o ... �g8 21. �xc6! bxc6 22. 'E.xc6 !t f5 23 .1i'e4! 'a'b8 24. 'E.xb6

.

-

t>

1 4 .CLJ xds! cxd5 (14 ... �c5 15 .CLJq! � xe2 (1s... � xd4 + 1 6. e3±) 16. �e3 ! �xf1 17. �xfl CLl a6 18.CLl xa8 'E. xa8 19. � xc6! bxc6 2o. 'E.xa6±) ts. � xds+ �f7 16. �xb7 CLl b6 17. �xa8 CLl xa8 It was enough to calculate until here for 3 points. 18. 'E.xa7 (18. �e3± was the easiest with close to decisive advan­ tage.) 18 ... �c5 19. 'E.xa8 �xd4+ 20.e3 �b6 2.1. �d2± 141 V. Papin (2575) .,.. T. Coleman (2356) Reykjvaik Open o8.03.2012

t>

61 ... CL:ld3+! 62.CL:l xd3 cs+! o -1[62 ... c5+ 63.CLl xc5 g1Q -+ I can only give 2 points for solving this.; 62 ... g1Q?? 63. a5+ �a6 64.CLl c5+ lixc5+ 65. �C5+-J 151 Cs. Balogh (2665) .,.. P. Ponkra:tov (2611) Aeroflot Open 15.02.2012 t>

G REATEST 36 5 PUZZLES

15. �f4!! The powerful bishop on e5 had to be eliminated 15... �xf4 [15 ... ctJ xd5 16. �Xe5 �Xe5 17.�Xd5+ �Xd5 18.exd5±) 16lijxf4 �xf4 r;. �dB+ �f8 18. �q+ �7 19.�xq! ± �f1 is com­ ing. It was time to stop here. Our in­ tuition should tell us, White must be winning. This was for 7 points. 19 ... �h6?! (19 ... �f6! 20. � f1 � f5 2LeXf5 �c8 22.l!Vf4 ctJ xf5 23.b3±) :z.o. �f1 't!Vg7 2.1.q! 'Llfs u.�cs! b6 [22... �e] 23. � xf5!+-J 2.3.l!Vds ctJ e7 [23 . ..lD e3 24.l!Vd2!+-) 2.4.�Xa8+161 Li Shilong (2549) ,. Lu Shanglei (2514) Xinghua 27.03 .2012 1>

30. � xg 7! d:z. [3o .. :t!?xg7 31. �e5 d2 3 2. �xf6+ $>xf6 33.l!Ve6+ $>g7 34. 1We?++-) 31. !! h7+! �g8 32.. �e6+! �f8 [32 ... �xe6 33 .�xe6+ $>xh7 3 4.� f7+ $>hs 35. �e5#) 33. :S h8+! 1-0[ 33 . � h8+ �xh8 3 4. l!Vf5+ $>e7 3 5.l!Vf7# 6 points!)

(l) G. Kacheishvili (2612) ,. M M Pavlovic (2478) Reykjavik Open 11.03.2012

1 67

2.4. �e6 1-o White is winning, but resignation was a bit premature. Ill 1> E. Inarkiev (2689) ,. A Kovchan (2565) Moscow Open 03.02.2012 :z.o.exd6+!! Temporarily sacrificing the queen. you gained 3 points. [20. �xd1± also gave an advantage, but the fight would have continued.) :z.o �xe:z. [2o... $>ds 21.d7+- (21.W6e8+!? $>xe8 22.d7+ $>e7 23. dxc8Q +-) ) 2.1.d7+ �e? u.dxc8Q+•••

191 A. Moskalenko (2451) ,. D. Andreikin (2689) Russian league 11.04.2012 1>

32. :S g6 ! ! Black either traps the queen or gives mate after this si­ lent move. 33.l!Vhs [33.l!Vf4 �xh3+!! 34· �x h3 �gl+ 35· $>e2 �e1#) 33··· :Ses o-1 If you have seen both lines, 6 points! •.•

1>

2.3. �xf7+ !! [23 . �ab1 seems like it traps the queen, but after 23 ... �xd6 ! ! Black survives.) 2.3 �g7 (23 . . . $>xf7 24. �ab1! ± thanks to the l!Vf3+, Black's trick to take on d6 is not working anymore. 6 points are your reward!) . • •

no1 V. Hamitevici (2436) ,. I. Nyzhnyk (2585) Nabokov memorial 22.04.2012 1>

36/ZJ xq! ! �xq [36 ...� d8 was more resistant 37.CLlc6 ctJ xd5 ! 3 8 .CLJ xd5 ct:l xc6 39.l!Vb7± But the perfect po­ sition of the pieces guarantees a big advantage) 37.tlJe4! lWxd5 38.tlJxd6!

TESTS

168

iVdJ+ (38 ... iVxd6 39- �C5+-) 39-�h:t If you have seen this and had the feeling, that White must be winning, 5points. 39... � f8 (39 ... 'i!?d7 40.'�e4+­ J 4o.tLle4++- and the f8 bishop falls.

RATI NGS

50- 40 Wow! You are ready for the hardest Test! 39-3:1 Great result, worth a try on the next level. 31-:11 Very good, but not enough for the 51h Test. Practice from the "Hard" sec­ tion! :t0-10 Solve more examples from the "Me­ dium" section. 9-0 Don't give up, you belong to the "Me­ dium" level. Try to concentrate and practice more!

-

TEST #4

(1]

-

121

t>

Cs. Balogh (2.662.) A Bokros (2.452.) Hungarian league 19.02.2012

B. Socko (2.636) M. Bartel (2.658) Polish Championship 23.02.2012

1. +1-

1 ... -+

•

t>

•

TESTS

170

(3]

(4]

1>

D. Baramidze (2.6o7) ..,. A. Volokitin (2.695) Austrian league 20.04.2012

V. Erdos (2.634) ..,. S. Mamedyarov (2.747) Gibraltar 29.01.2012

1. +1-

1. . -+

1>

.

(5]

(8]

1>

K. Kulaots (2.585) ..,. M. Roiz (2.652.) European Championship 22.03.2012

A. Naiditsch (2.702.) ..,. S. Mladenov (2.419) Deizisau 07.04.2012

1. +1-

1. +-

1>

171

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

(8)

OJ

V. Bologan (:�687) ..,. M. Mchedlishvili (:16:16) European Championship 29.03.2012

1>

R. Robson (:1596) ..,. AI. Reshetnikov (:1514) Moscow Open 01.02.2012

1>

1. +-

1. +-

(9)

(10)

1>

B. Lalic (:1468) ..,. E. Vorobiov (:158o) Cappelle Ia Grande 05.03.2012

A. Dgebuadze (:1548) ..,. K. Solomon (:1449) Cappelle Ia Grande 05.03.2012

1. +-

1. +1-

1>

- SOLUTIONS nJ t> Cs. Balogh (2662) ... A. Bokros (2452) Hungarian league 19.02.2012 2 2.CLl xe7+! E!xe7 23.l!Vxd6 l!Vxd6 24. E!xd6 CLl x� [24 ... �xe4? 25. E!d8+ � fB 26. � xc5+-) 2s. E!xc6± White re­ mains a pawn up because ofthe threat on the backrank. Only 2 points.

(2) t>

B. Socko (2636)

... M. Bartel (2658) Polish Championship 23 .02.2012 30 h5!! with the crucial threat of h4 [3o ... l'Hxd5? 3 1. 'iWxC4!) 31. E!a8 [On 3 1. E! xc4 Black can already take on d5 31...'i:Wxd5 ! 32. E!e4 the only way to prevent WIg2 mate, but now 32 ... h4!-+ If you have seen this line, 5 points. Other variations were not relevant.; 31.�Xh5? 'iWxfH-+) 31 ...h432.E!xf8+ l!Vxfs 33·lWf3 l33.'iWh5 hxg3! 34· 'iWxg6 'iWxf2+ 3 5.�h1 'iWxh2#) 33 . . .hxg3 34.fxg3 1Wxf3 35.CLl xf3 E!xg3+-+

�xh7 2o.l!Vh5+ �g8 21. i:Ll g5 l!Vxg5 n.l!Vxg5 It was enough to stop here, with the intuition, White must be bet­ ter. 4 points! n . CLJbd7 23.l!Ve] [23 . h4!+- was probably the most precise way to win. I show one line to dem­ onstrate the idea. 23 ...b6 24.h5 �b7? 2 5.h6 g6 26. g xd7! CZJ xd7 27. gd1! g fd8 28. gxd7 gXd7 29. 'iWf6+-) 23 ... a5 24. �fe1 [24 gd6±) 24 .. ga6 25.f4 e5 26.f5 � 27.E!d5 �c6 28. E!e3± with a winning advantage. .

.

.

(4) V. Erdos (2634) ... S. Mamedyarov (2747) Gibraltar 29.01.2012 t>

•..

38 ... q! I mportant to close the 4th rank. [38 . . . �xf8 39. �xa4 �g5+ 40. �h2=) 39.l!Vxa4 l!Vg5+ 40.�h1 � h4+ 41.�gl �g4+ 4 2.� h2 [42. �h1 �e5!! was the point! 43 .f4 'iWh3+ 44· �Sl �d4+ 45· g f2 'iWg3+ 46.�h1 �h4+ 47· �g2 �xf2+-+ 5 points if you calculated this.) 42 ... .!e5+ 43.f4 � xf4+ 4 4· E!xf4+ l!Vxf4+ 45 ·'i!tg2 �dl.+ 46. �h3 1WC3+ 47·�g2 �xf8-+ (51

(3) D. Baramidze (26o7) ... A Volokitin (2695) Austrian league 20.04.2012

... M. Roiz (2652) European Championship 22.03.2012

If Black had a pawn on h7, the best move would be obvious. Now it is much harder to find ... 19. A h7+! !

18.CLle7+! .! xe7 [18 ... �h8 19. !ixd6 cxb5 2o.fxg7+ �xg7 2 1.CZJ f5+±] 19.fxe] �e8 20 .!q+ d5

t>

t>

K Kulaots (2585)

•

G R E ATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

173

16. �xes! �b6 [16 ... dxe5 17.�e2! �b6 18.�xhs+ �8 19.b3+-] 17.ClJ 34! 'Wia6 18. � xd6! From now on White has different wins as well. Unfortunate­ ly, only 4 points. 18 ... �d8 [1S ... �xa4 19. � xbS+-) 1 9.CZJcs! [19 .�b4+-) 19 'W/ bs 2.o.CZJ xe6! �xd6 2.1.ClJq+ �7 2.2.. 'W/xd6 1-o [22. �xd6 � xd6 23.CZJxbs cxbs 24. �xd6+-J •.•

:n. �xds!! This is the whole idea, which had to be foreseen. 2.1 ... cxds 2.2.. � xds+ �e6 [22 ... �h8 23 . � fS++-) 2.3. �xe6+ �h8 2.4. �f7± Black is to­ tally paralysed. This was one of the hardest puzzle of the 4th Test. If you stopped here, you deserve 7 points! 2. 4 ... hs 2. S· �b! \!?h7 2.6. �e3 \!?g6 2.7. ��+- �ac8? 2.8. �fs! 1-o

[6] t> A. Naiditsch (2.702.) .,.. S. Mladenov (2.419) Deizisau 07.04.2012 2.4. �e6! �h8 [24 ... fxe6 25 .lLl f6+! �xf6 26. �xf6 gxf6 27.�g6+ Ag7 2S.h5! �xds 29. �g1 l!d7 3o.h6+- This line was for 5 points. The continuation of the game was obviously not criti­ cal.) 2.5.ctJgs (25. � xf7!+- would have won on the spot.) 2.S·· ·e4 2.6.ClJ xf7+ 'Wixf7 2.7. �xf7 .i.d6+ 2.8. �g2. exd3 2.9. � Xb7 dxa 30. �C1± OJ t> R Robson (2.596) .,.. AI. Reshetnikov (2.5 14) Moscow Open 01.02 .2012

[8] V. Bologan (2.687) .,.. M Mchedlishvili (2.62.6) European Championship 29.03.2012 t>

2.8. A xds! exds 2.9. ClJb6 +!! axb6 3o.axb6 �d8 [30... �b8 31.e6+-; 30... �d6 31. �aS+ �bS 32.f5! e6 and � f4 are coming.) 31. �a8+ �c8 32.. 'Wibs!+­ lt was possible to stop here, since our intuitions should work Despite being two piece down, White is completely winning. 6 points. 32. ...ctJd6 33· 'W/xds 'Wif7 34.'W/cs! � f8

35.fs! Really spectacular position with the pawnstorm in the center. 35·· · 'W/d7 36.e6 [36.exd6!? .i.xd6 37. �xeS+ �xeS 3S.�xd6+ 'W/d7 39. �g5+ �xg5 4o. 'Wif6 + +- ) 36 . . . 1Wc6+ 37· 'W/xc6

1 74

bxc6 diagram 38.f6! � h7 39.f7 �g6 4o. ka3 �xe6 4I. kxd6 1-o (9) t> B. Lalic (2468) ..,. E. Vorobiov (2580) Cappelle la Grande 05.03.2012 24. '!Wf7!! Excellent idea, for 5 points. [24.CLJ f7+ leads to unclear position 24 ... �xf7 25. �xf7 k c 6! 2 6.CLJe6 �g8 27. �xg8+ 'i!txg8 28.�ab1 �e5oo ) 24 . . . � Xf7 (24 . .. �g7 25.CLJce 6!+-) 25.CLJ xf7+ 'i!?gs 26.l'LJxd8 kf3 [26 ... k xa1 27. � xaH-) 27. CLJ de6 A xd1 28. �xd1 �xa:z 29. �3 1-o

(10) A. Dgebuadze (2548) ..,. K. Solomon (2449) Cappelle la Grande 05.03 .2012

t>

26. kxh6! '!Wxc [26...gxh6 27. �xh6+ 'i!?g8 28. �e3 !+-] 27. �c1!! Only this great in-between move gives an ad­ vantage ! If you managed to find it, you gain 7 points. I considered this to be the most difficult puzzle from the 4th Test, just as the 5th diagram. [27. kgs+?! 'i!?g8 28. kxe7 e3 ! ! 29. k h4 (29. !!xe3 l!d1+ 3o.'t!fh2 '9Jlxj2-+) 29 - · exb+ 3o. Axb �d2=) 2 7. . .'1W � [27- · �xb2 28. k f4+ (28. 1lxc6±) 28 ... �g8 29. � xc6±) 28. k gs+ 'i!?g8 29. kxe7 �ds 3o. �gs+-

TESTS

RATINGS

so-40 Wow! You are ready for the hardest Test! 39-32 Great result, worth a try on the next level. 31-21 Very good, but not enough for the 5th Test. Practice from the "Hard" sec­ tion! 2.0-10 Solve more examples from the "Me­ dium" section. 9-0 Don't give up, you belong to the "Me­ dium" level. Try to concentrate and practice more!

-

TEST #S

-

[21

[1) t>

F. Handke (2518) B. Bok (2488) German league 05.02.2012

V. Malakhov (2705) I. Salgado Lopez (2621) European Championship 24.03.2012

1. +-

1. +-

•

t>

•

TESTS

1 76

(4]

(3] D. Solak (26o2) Bartel (2665) European Championship 31.03.2012

S. Zhigalko (2658) S. Sjugirov (26u) Aeroflot Open 13.02.2012

1... - +

1. +-

1>

..,. M

1>

..,.

(5]

lll

1>

A. Frois (2347) ..,. T. Sanikidze (2549) Cappelle la Grande o6.03.2012

Yu Yangyi (2615) ..,. Li Shilong (2549) Xinghua 03.04.2012

1-. -1+

1. +-

1>

1 77

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

OJ

(8]

1>

V. Potkin (2.669) ._ Ant. Pavlidis (2.431) European Championship

Z. Kozul (2.6o1) A. Saric (2.52.8) Croatian Championship

21.03.2012

20.01.2012

1.

1.

=

1>

._

+-

(9]

(10)

1>

Y. Zherebukh (2.594) ._ D. Alsina Leal (2.535) Aeroflot Open

R. Wojtaszek (2.704) ._ A. Fedorov (2.6o9) Czech league

09.02.2012

22.04.2012

1.

1. +-

+-

1>

-

SOLUTIONS

-

nl t> F. Handke (2.518) ,. B. Bok (2.488) German league 05.02.2012

131 t> D. Solak (2.602.) ,. M. Bartel (2.665) European Championship 31.03.2012

2. 9 . CLJ x f6 + ! ! � xf6 [29 . . . � x f6 3 o. l!Vh5+-) 3o . �xf6 � xf6 31. 1Wh5 �g8 32.1Wf7+! � g7

[22 . . . � xd2 ? 23.l!Va8+ �d7 24.1Wxg8; 22 ... 1Wxd2? 23. �adt+-) 2.3.�C4 (23 . fxg3 !ixd2+ 24. �X h3 l!Ve5! ! was the whole idea! Bravo and 6 points are your reward if you have seen this.(but not 24 ... !V/3?? 25.!Va8+ �d7 26.'flas) ; 23. �ad1 �g2+ 24. �h1 � Xd2-+) 2.3 ... �g2.+ 2.4. "i!fh1 �gg8 2.5. 'i!i'h2. .ie6 2.6.!Va8+ 'i!i'd7 o-1

33.�f3!! This deep and silent move was the point of the combination. Black cannot prevent the � h4 and CLJg5 threats! If you have calculated until here and had the feeling, that the attack is decisive, 7 points. 33 ... l!Vc7 [33 ... �h8 34. � h4+-) 34.CLJ g5+! hxg5 [34 ... �h8 35.l!Vg6+- (Js.Cl:Je6+-)) 35 .�xg5! 1-o

n . . . � x g3 ! !

141 t> S. Zhigalko (2.658) ,. S. Sjugirov (2.62.2.) Aeroflot Open 13 .02. 2012 2.4. �ec1!! � xb5 2.5. � xq �c5 [25 ... lixq 26. l!Vxq �XC4 27. �a8+ � f8 28. � h6+- 4 points for this.) 2.6.dxc5 d5 [26 ... �xa1

121 V. Malakhov (2.705) ,. I. Salgado Lopez (2.62.1) European Championship 24.03 .2012 t>

2.5 . .ic6!! 1- o(25. �c6 l!Vxc6 (2s ... 'i!lf7 26. �xe8 �xe8 2,7. �e1+-) 26. �xd6!

l!Vxd6 27. l!Vg7# This was too easy, only 2 points.)

27.cxd6 ! ! l!Vxq 2 8 . l!Vxq � XC 4 29.d7+-) 2.7. !kc1 1-o

G REATEST 3 6 5 PUZZLES

(5) 1> A. Frois (2347) .,. T. Sanikidze (2549) Cappelle Ia Grande 06.03.2012 27... e4! ! o-1, but resignation was a bit premature. [27... e4 28.d4 (28. �xg7

exd3! 29. '8.xd3 tie4+-+; 28. dxe4 '8.xd1 29. tixd1 � xa1 3 o. tixa1 tixe4+-+) 28 ... !!cd8! wi ns a pawn. 3

points if you did not make mistake in the calculations!) l&J Yu Yangyi (2615) .,. Li Shilong (2549) Xinghua 03.04.2012 1>

Precise calculation is need­ ed! 31 .f2lxe5! ! f4 32 . t!fxc5!! dxc5 33. I!xd7 t!fxd7 [33 ... irh4 3 4. '8.aa7! f2l f6 35J �xh7+ CLJxh7 36.f2lg6+ 'it>g8 37.CLJ xh4+-) 34.f2l xd7 fxg3 35.f2l xf8 gxb+ 36. 'it>xb '8. xf8 + 37· �e3+­ White ended up in a winning end­ game. An amazing hard puzzle for 7 points. OJ V. Potkin (2669) .,. Ant Pavlidis (2431) European Championship 21.03.2012 1>

36. 'it>h3 ! ! 'i!f xq 37· t!fxg6 + Sur­ prisingly, Black c annot escape from the perpetual check. 37··· $>is 38. 'i!ff6+ t!ff7 39· t!fhs+ t!fgs [39 ... 'it>e7 4o. iVe5+ �d8 41. iVb8+ 'it>e7

179

42 .ire5+==J 4o.t!ff6+ t!ff7 4 1.t!fh8+ t!fgs 42. 'i!ff6+ 6 points. 42 ... t!ff7 1/2-1/2 (8) 1> Z. Kozul (2601) .,. A. Saric (2528) Croatian Championship 20.01.2012 20.a3!! Black cannot handle the threats on the back rank. 20 t!fc5 21.f2le4! '8.bxd8 [21... irxe5 22. '8.xb8 '8. xb 8 23. I!d8+ '8.xd8 2 4. irxd8#) n. I!xd8! '8.xd8 [22 ... irc6 23 .f2lf6+! gxf6 24.irg4+ �h8 25 . I! xf8 #; 22 ... irxe5 23. I! xf8 + �xf8 2 4.iVd8#) 23.f2l xc5+- 3 points. .•.

(9) Y. Zherebukh (2594) .,. D. Alsina Leal (2535) Aeroflot Open 09.02.2012 1>

26. �g6 ! ! Too many storm clouds around the king! 4 points! 26 I!� [26 ... 'it>e7 27. '8.xd7+! 'it>xd7 28.iVc8+ $>e7 29.irb7+ 'it>f6 30. irxf7+ $>g5 3 1. � h7 ! + - ; 26 ... !! g5 27. � Xf7+ 'it>xf7 28. !! xd?++-) 27. �x� t!fxe4 28.t!fx� dx� 29. '8.c6!?+.•.

l10J

R Wojtaszek (2704) .,. A Fedorov (2609) 1>

Czech league 22.04.2012

23.g4 !! An excellent idea to under­ mine Black's central pawns. After the

1 80

� falls, the position becomes hope­ less, but one more exact move had to be foreseen! :13... fxg4 :14. gg3!! To prevent the g3 threat. Black cannot avoid losing huge material now. This was the hardest puzzle of the hard­ est Test. Strong intuition was need­ ed for the rest of the game. 8 points! :14 ... .l:!ae8 [24 ... CiJ h5 25. A xe4+- traps the queen.; 24 ... �h5 25.CiJ xe4 fiJxe4 26. A xe4 gxh3 27. A f3+- �xh7 next move.) :15- Axf6 'i!Wxf6 :16.fiJ x� 'i!We] :17.tt:J xg4 [27.CiJg5+ was even easier, but the text move is also winning. 27... 'i!ff8 28. 4J fs+-) :17... �xg4 :18.hxg4 1Wh4+ :19. !!h3 l!Wxg4 3o.ctJ g5+ il. xg5 31 .'i!Wxh7+ 1-0

TESTS

RATINGS

50-4:1 Bravo, tactics are in your vains! 41-35 You are an extremely dangerous tac­ tical player! 34-:16 You have great tactical skills, but there is still place for improvement! :15-15 Not bad, but solve more examples from the "Hard" section! 14-6 Practice, practice, practice! :-) s-o Medium section is probably the right one for You.

- TOP 1 0 This is the ,cream de la cream"

area

with the most spectacular puzzles.

This section is not about the level of the examples! It is made for pure joy and for true chess lovers!

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182

12)

[1)

E. Sutovsky (2700) .,. S. Grigoriants (2561) European Championship

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B. Adhiban (2561) .,. M. Sadler (266o) Wijk aan Zee

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19.01.2012

23.03.2012

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[3)

14)

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A. Shomoev (2570) .,. D. Khismatullin (2664) Aeroflot Open

Fier (2603) .,. A R. Salem (2505) Gibraltar

07.02.2012

31.01.2012

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t> A

G REATEST 365 PUZZLES

(5]

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(8)

t> Zhou Jianchao (�6�5) Bu Xianghzhi (�668) Xinghua

t> Z. Almasi (�717) • Alb. David (�598) Gibraltar

27.03.2012

30.01.2012

1 ...

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(8)

OJ t> A. Naumann (�546) • R. Rapport (�547) German league

t> E. Tomashevsky (�740) • A Korobov (�66o) Aeroflot Open

26.02.2012

11.02.2012

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1.

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1 84

(10)

(9) t>

I. Salgado Lopez (2.6:.n) J. Granda Zuniga (2.640) Iberoamericano Championship

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22.04.2012

21.04.2012

1. +-

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E. Rozentalis (2.592.) B. Socko (2.636) Austrian league •

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- SOLUTIONS (1) t> B. Adhiban (2561) � M. Sadler (266o) Wijk aan Zee 19.01.2012

(3) t> A. Shomoev (2570) � D. Khismatullin (2664) Aeroflot Open 07.02.2012

The last Black move was the great 53 ... �d.sxg2 ! It seemed to be all over, but White found a fantastic idea ... 54· �xh6+! ! White frees the h4 square for his king, i n order to escape there from the matenet. Other moves were losing. (54.exf7? �d5+! 55. 1Wf2 (ss. �g3 � 8aJ+-+) 55... �xf2+ 56. �g3 �f3+! 57.�h2 (5J.�h4 �aa3- +) 57... �xf?-+; 54. � xg2? :S xg2+ 55. �xg2 1i'g6+ 56.1i'g3 �a2+ 57. 'i!?f3 �a3+-+) 54 •••gxh6 ss.exf? and Black has noth­ ing more than a draw. 55 ... �d5+ (55... � f1+ 56. 'i!?h1!) 56. 'i!?g3 �xf7 57· 'i!?h4 �g8 58. �xg8 'i!?xg8 59· �xd4 I/2-I/2

It is possible to feel that something should work now, but the position requires powerful handling! 37·· · ClJ xg3!! 38.1Wxg3 �xe3 39· �xe3 �xe3 White must cover the e2 square with the king. 4o.�g4 [4o. iVf2? li'g5+-+l

(2) E. Sutovsky (2700) � S. Grigoriants (2561) European Championship 23 .03 .2012

40... �es! ! This is the first silent point of the whole combination! Black re­ freshes the �e2 threat 41. �dl (41. �f2 li'xd5+-+; 41.f6 �e2+-+ Black mates first.) 41•.. �d6! And the sec­ ond subtle point! Black had to forsee this move and its consequences be­ fore 37... CL:l xg3 ! 42.�f4 �g3+!! The most precise way to win! (42 ... 1i'xd5+ 43. � f3 1i'd2+-+) 43• �Xg3 (43 .'i!?h2 li'xd5-+l 43···1We3+ 44.�g4 .Jtxf4 45· �xf4 'i'gi+ 0-1

t>

The puzzle is really beautiful... 32. �e8+! 'i!?h7 33. � 1e5!! lLlxes [33 ··· li'xf3 3 4. � h5#) 34.CLl f6+!! 1-o This is the point! Black cannot hold the pin of the c2 bishop. (34.liJf6+!! gxf6 (34... �h6 35. CL:l g8+ 'i!?h7 (Js. . . 'i!fgs 36. �xes+! iVxes 3J. 'filg4#) 36.1i'h5#) 35·1Wh5+ 'i!?g? 36.1i'h8#)

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(4) A. Fier (2603) � A. R. Salem (2505) Gibraltar 31.01.2012 t>

A fantastic position with many nice tactics. 39. lbe7? (39.f6! would have won on the spot 39 ... exf6 40. � h7+ �xh7 41. � xd2 � xd2 42. '¥!?xd2+- ) 39 .. .ftJg1? Tempting, but losing move. (39 ... � xc2! would have saved the game 40. � xc2 � xc2 41.f6 Seems like White is winning, but...

41... � g2!! 42.g6 � gH! 43· '¥!?d2 (43. �e2 liJxj4+! 44.gxj4 l!xg6=) 43 ... � g2+! perpetual check, the king can not go forward.) 40.�d1? [ 40. g e8+! ! This strange looking check would have won the game 40 ... �7 41. � d1! ! was the point!! 41 ... � xd1+ (41 ... l!xa2 42. Ji.xhs+ �g7 43j6+ �h7 44.g6+ �h6 45· �h8#) 42. �fl �e8 43· � b2+-) 40 ... �X82

41.f6?? And Black has only one move to not lose, but it is actually winning. [It is already White, who should have found the only move to survive. 41. �e8+! �g? 42.f6+ 42 ... �g6

43 .f7! �xf7 (43 ... � g2 with the threat of liJ f3! 44.f5+ �xf7 (44 ... 'tlxgs?? 45. l!g8++-} 45 · A xhs+ �g7 46. �e7+=) 44. A xh5+ e8 32. E!g8++- wins. ; b) 28 ... e2 2 9.f7+ 'i!?f8 3o. A a3+ E!e7 31. A xe7+ $>xf7 3 2. Ab4++-; 29.e6 �b4! and White has nothing more than draw. (29... e2? 30j7+ 'T!if8 31. � a3++-) 30. Eig7+ 'i!?f8 31. Ei xh7 (31.e;+? 'T!ie8!) 31 ... $>g8==) 2 7-.. Eic8 The tension is still on the maximum.

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a) 2 7... h6 is very tricky, to give ,,air, for the king, but ... 28.CZJg5!! (28.CZJxh6+? �h7.� 28 ... 'i!?hs (28... hxgs 29.f7+ $>j8 30. �a3++-) 29.f7! Eras 3o. E!xb7 hxg5 (30 ... e2? 31.CZJj3) 31. �d4! e2 32.Af2±; b) 27... e2? 28.CZJh6+!+-; 28.CZJ h6+! gxh6 29.f7+ $>g7 30.e6+! 'i!?g6 31. E!xc8 e2 I recommend you to stop here and try to solve the remaining part of the puzzle!

32. Eic1! ! Only move, but still it seems like White can hardly stop the e­ pawn, while Black's dark squared bishop together with the king will catch the passers. But the truth is the opposite! 32 . . . A xc1 3 3. �c3 ! � a3 34.b4!! Black has to give up his own hope to stop the f-pawn. 34 ... etQ+ 35. � xe1 $>g7 and here comes the keymove: 36. Ad2! !+- (but not 36. �c3+ 'T!if8 37-�d2 because of 3J. .. �b2!) ) 24 ...fxe6 25. E!C7 1/2-I/2 Clev-

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1 90

er draw offer, since 25 ... ge7 would give a slight advantage for Black. [25. &7 ge7+; 25.CLJxe6 i.d6 26.h3 gxe6! 27.�C4! �f4 28.�xe6+ �8 29. gc8+ � xeS 30.\1Wxc8+==]

no1 E. Rozentalis (�59�) � B. Socko (�636) Austrian league 21.04.2012

(9] I. Salgado Lopez (�6�1) � J. Granda Zuniga (�640) lberoamericano Championship 22.04.2012

I thought such kind of puzzles were existing only in the 19th century! 17... ctJ�!! J8.ctJxc6 ctJ f3+ 19.'i!th1 �g �+!! This is the brilliant point! �o. 'i!txg� ctJ xeJ+ ��. 'i!t h3 ctJ xc� ��. ltJ xe7+ 'i!ffs �3· i.xc5 CLJ xa1 �4.ctJc6+ 'i!fes �5. CLlxdS 'i!fxd8-+ After this long and forced line Black achieved a winning endgame. Unfortunately, he blun­ dered later and drew the game after such a beautiful combination...

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�8. ctJxf7!! The move suggested itself, but it had to be calculated precisely! �s ... 'i!fxf7 �9- � xf6 �xf6 [29 ... �xf6 3o.ct:J g5+ �e? 3 d U3 !+-J 3o.�xh7+ 'i!ffs [On 3o ... 'i!?e6 31. �ed3! !+- Black can not hold himself against the threats.)

31.ctJh4! Only this way, but before making this move, you had to see the final position. Unless you have exceptional intuitions. 3J i. xh4 p. i!f3+! Af6 33. i!xd7! ! In order to open the bishop,s diagonal. Every­ thing is forced! 33···CLJxd7 [33 ... �xd7 34· �xf6++-) 34.c5! �e6 Black seems to hold, but the final strike is j ust coming! 35. Ad5! �a6 36.c6! 1-o •••

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