Aug-06-14 Gheorghiu vs Polugaevsky, 1973 
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| MiCrooks: The Queen sac is a no-brainer try when handed this as a puzzle (and really when looking OTB as well I agree with the time trouble angle and it must have been severe). The only line that takes any thought at all is Kf7 where the promotion of the pawn is not with check. This makes ... |
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Feb-28-14 Ljubojevic vs R Calvo Minguez, 1973
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| MiCrooks: After Rxd5 exd5 b7 is cute but I like the positions stemming from Bxd5+ better. Both work but no real thought is required in the latter variations as they are forcing. The resulting positions with the b6 pawn ready to march forward are simple wins. An IM friend of mine used to say ... |
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Feb-10-14 A van Weersel vs A Kelly, 2001
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| MiCrooks: Hmmm...I went with Rxd4 but kept thinking there had to be a way to make Qxf7 work...it is only Monday. I think that finding Rxb3 Qd1 is a bit beyond your normal Monday fare...they just assume that Black is going to play as in the game and allow Qxf7? Hmmm... |
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Feb-07-14 A Zatonskih vs P Dukaczewski, 2013
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| MiCrooks: Those two Rooks really put the heat on once the f-file gets forced open! Black's best chance is to just throw the piece away for two pawns, but given the activity of the White pieces that is really just giving up. |
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Jan-22-14 A Wagner vs Z Hermanowicz, 1933
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| MiCrooks: I went with Qxh3 as well which clearly wins with the idea of Be3+ after Bxh3. Be3 immediately wins as well, though I am not sure the lines are any clearer. I guess they are if you see how devastating Rxg4+ is, but with Qxh3 the lines are all at least as clear. Funny thing is that ... |
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Jan-10-14 L Blumenoff vs Keres, 1933
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| MiCrooks: Not the most obvious of mating nets, requiring a double piece sack to mate with the Queen dancing on the black squares. Black needs to be careful with the checks...ensuring that he can access h4 if White can reach f2. Thus Qg5+ first. Love me some Keres! |
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Dec-18-13 J Nykopp vs P Manne, 1981
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| MiCrooks: I like one of the lines after Kd7 Rxa8 (why not it's the point isn't it) then Rxa4! (exclam for at least trying to swindle your way out of the crush). Now if White snaps off gxh4 Qc6+ Rf3 Qxf3++! Of course, Qe8+ and it's all over. Kd6 and now gxh4 (other moves are possible but this |
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Dec-17-13 G Roeder vs D Heinbuch, 1982
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| MiCrooks: Hmmm...Black has a comfortable game here...he can take the piece with Ng4 instead of Nd5, or he can just let it sit there and make a more useful move than White's silly a3! What's the point? Please take my piece oh please oh please oh please!!! :) |
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Dec-13-13 Ljubojevic vs Van der Wiel, 1986
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| MiCrooks: Hassan...after Ng6+ Qxg6??? and not just Kh7? |
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Dec-12-13 S Rubinstein vs J Stapfer, 1913
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| MiCrooks: When I played back through the game to see how we got here my first thought was why not play Rg3 immediately rather than Rg6. What is it about Rd3 that suddenly makes this move better. It didn't take long to see the answer. The Rook on d3 block's White's only chance for luft--Bd3. ... |
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Kibitzing
