....f7x[B]g6? 31. Qxg6+ Bg7 (forced) 32.Be5 Rh7 33. Re6 Ne8 and its gone off my radar - all too fuzzy.

However Judit, the giant killer, might have chosen the more strategic 30. Be5 Rh4 31.Qg3 since neither Ne4 nor Nf5 are playable so if Ne8 perhaps now 32.Bxg6 works.

Material: B for N+P. The most striking feature of the position is how the White Rd1 and Re1 dominate the center. The Rd1 is on the same file as 3 Black units: Pd5, Nd6, and Qd8. Because Bf4 attacks Nd6, removal of Pd5 would burden both Qd8 and Bf8 with protecting the Black Nd6. Also notable is the White B-pair. In concert with the White Qg4, Bc2 attacks Pg6, an obvious sacrificial target, because only Pf7 protects it. Moreover, the Black K-side has dark-square weaknesses, which Bf4 can exploit at e5. Finally, the White Qg4 pins Pg6 to Kg8. Overall, the harmonious White development is well worth a P and easily able to support the obvious sacrificial strike with 30.Bxg6. After removal of Pf7, the square e6 will be useful, particularly to Re1 and Qg4.

It seems this week's theme is "obvious first moves".

Step up, step up! Everyone's a winner!

Candidates (30.): Bxg6

30.Bxg6

Because the alternative is a losing position (inferior development and an open K facing a B pair), Black must accept the sacrifice of Bg6:

30…fxg6 31.Qxg6+ Bg7

Now, the next move is far from obvious. The obvious candidate 32.Bxd6 Rh6 puts White in dire straits; and neither 32.Qxd6 Qxd6 33.Bxd6 nor 32.Qe6+ Nf7 do the initial position justice.

As <dzechiel> is fond of saying: Rewind!

The obvious capture 31.Qxg6+ is an error. Instead, let's delay gratification and use e6 to bring more pieces to the front.

31.Re6 (threatening 32.Rxg6+ or 32.Qxg6+, then 33.Rxd6)

Black cannot defend Pg6:

31…Rh6 32.Bxh6 Bxh6 [else, drop an exchange]

33.Qxg6+ Bg7 [else, down a P] 34.Rxd6

Black cannot "counterattack" (31…Qh5 32.Rxg6+ and the end is near), so the only hope is to move Nd6. Of the 2 feasible moves,

32…Nf7 33.Rxg6+ Kh7 [Bg7 34.Rxg7+] 34.Qh5+

quickly surrenders the sacrificed material with interest. Thus,

32...Ne8 33.Rxg6+ Bg7

[33…K moves lead to mate]

[33…Ng7 34.Qe6+ Kh7 35.Rh6#]

34.Qe6+ (threatening a R lift with 35.Rd3)

34…Kf8 35.Rxg7 Kxg7 [Nxg7 36.Bd6+] [else, mate]

36.Rd3 (threatening 37.Rg3+)

36…Nf6 [Qf6 37.Be5] 37.Rg3+ Kf8 38.Bd6+

and White must surrender Qd8.

Someone else suggested this already, and someone else shot it down already.

<MostlyAverageJoe: <dzechiel: ... 30 Bxg6 Rh4 31 Bxf7+ Kxf7 32 Qe6+ Kg7 33 Be5+ Kh7 34 Bf6 Forking the rook and queen.>

While a student in Britain, I collected a scrapbook of humour, which I quickly abandoned once I arrived here in the United States.

Draw your own conclusion.

30.Bxg6 fxg6 31.Re6 Rh7 32.Bxd6 Bg7 33.Rde1 Rh6 34.g3 Qd7 35.Bf4 g5 36.Bxg5 Rg6 <37.Rxg6!! Qxg4> 38.Re7 Kh8 39.Rgxg7 looks ok to me

37 Qf5+?

37 Rxg6, f4, or f3

all preserve the win.

In the game line, 38 Qxe6+ is not as good as 38 Rxe6 either.

They both soldier on, and Polgar grinds Anand's defense away until he starts handing the game back with

46 ... Bxd4

and worse yet

47 ... Bb2?

So it is interesting that the problem was based on a critical position in the game, but not the critical position which ultimately determined the outcome.