If the queen moves along the diagonal (e.g. 31...Qc7), then 32.Qa8+ wins because 32...Bf8 is answered by 33.Rf1, and once again Qxf8# is threatened. Black must jettison material simply to postpone mate.

<This section is devoted to methods for achieving those aims: ways of removing or disabling the pieces that guard targets in the enemy camp. It covers material that has been labeled in a wide range of ways in the literature, including terms such as destruction, deflection, diversion, decoying, damming, drawaway, driving off, breaking communication, blockading, overloading, attraction, interference, interception, and obstruction. While some of those terms have useful meanings, on the whole the proliferation of jargon is unfortunate. All of those devices can be assimilated under the heading of “removing the guard”; we can then subdivide this theme into four methods—four ways to loosen a piece or square you would like to take. (a) You can capture the guard; (b) you can attack the guard (i.e., threaten it so that it becomes obliged to leave its square); (c) you can take something else the guard protects (distracting it, or showing that it is “overworked”); or (d) perhaps you can interpose something between the guard and its protectorate, interfering with the defensive work the guard is trying to do.>

<xrt999> I still can't wrap my mind around what a "litote" is. :-)

Seems to me you could also pin it (which has a similar effect to (d) but achieves it by another mechanism).

Emphasis using litotes: "Hey mom, that ham you made? Not half bad!"

As for the puzzle, I also saw it before (in the London Times) but didn't think it was that difficult. What I did find amazing (and what would have made a better puzzle, if variations of actual games were permitted) was Black's threatened maneuver, if White moved his rook off the back rank (e.g., Rd7), of ..Rf1+...Ra1+ and...Qxa3+.

Not so puzzling if you make the effort to look at the actual moves given there, a not unwise thing to do (http://chessok.com/broadcast?key=co...). It ends by mistake with 30.Qxf3, and then gives the +0.19 eval for Black's best move, which is 30...Be5(!) rather than 30...Bg7?? played by Dominguez (as I've already noted, with 30...Be5 the bishop doesn't deprive the king of the g7 square in the 31.b4 Qc7 32.Qa8+ sequence).

Most, if not everyone here, understands there is a huge difference between solving a puzzle and striving for first place in a major tournament with seconds remaining on the clock. I'm certain <dzechiel> understands this as well.

The first thing the police want is your name ;>P

Even though one might prefer to consider these tactical categories (deflection, overworked piece, obstruction etc.) separately, this methodology might be useful for showing how they relate to each other. It also might prove to be a good method for trying to undermine guarding pieces in game situations (i.e. how should I exploit a guarding piece -- capture it, deflect it, capture a guarded piece so as to distract it, obstruct its protection of a guarded piece or suare, attack a second guarded square so as to overwork it? etc.).

my only consolation was Shirov's draw..

"The most violent thing you can do to a child is give it a name." --J.D.

* Was 27...Bxc3 right?
* Could White have won with 29.Rd7?
* Was 30...Bg7 a mistake or was Black already lost by then?

I like the emphasis "Too" creates and think it's definitely the best formulation.

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.