Unity Chess Club
Jeroen Piket John Nunn Wijk aan Zee 1990 Black to move
The motif of advancing the pawns closer to queen strikes one at first glance. And certainly, with his knight so far away, the white queen has trouble coping with the excellently-coordinated black pieces, supporting their passed pawn.
Now, the black bishop can support the passed pawn from f1 rather than h3, which facilitates the bringing up of additional help in the form of the h-pawn.
It was essential to play 34.Qg1! Bh3 (34...Nd4 35.Qxg2+ Kf7 36.f3 h5 leads to something close to a positional draw β
It was essential to play 34.Qg1! Bh3 (34...Nd4 35.Qxg2+ Kf7 36.f3 h5 leads to something close to a positional draw β
34...Bxb5 35.Qg1 Bf1 36.Qh2 Bxh4 37.Qxh4 g1=Q 38.Qd8+ Kg7 39.Qxc7+ Kh6 40.Qxb6+ Kh5 41.b4 Bd3+ 42.Kd2 Qxf2+
Unity Chess Club
Marat Makarov 2523 Konstantin Sakaev 2649 Russia 2002 Black to move
The white e-pawn cannot advance, because the d4-pawn would be hanging. This means that it needs to be blockaded, so as to leave White with a bad bishop. Obviously, to do this, we need the knight. The route to e4 is obvious:
The attack on the rook is extremely useful for Black, as it effectively shortens by one tempo the route to e4.
Definitely the right move, forcing the exchange of bishops. The superiority of the knight over the remaining white bishop will be overwhelming.
This desperate attempt at counterplay does not give any chances β the advance of the pawn is not supported by the white pieces. Black reacts in the simplest possible way, keeping the position closed, which suits him.
The queen alone cannot give mate, but it was hard to recommend anything to White β Black is already prepared to break in down the c-file.
31...gxh6 32.Qxh6 Rc7 33.0-0-0 Nf2 34.Rg1 Rg7 35.Be1 Nd3+ 36.Kd2 Nxe1 37.Kxe1 Qe4 38.Kf2 cxd4 39.cxd4
Unity Chess Club
Michael Adams 2723 Teimour Radjabov 2644 Aix-les-Bains 2003 White to move
The position is quite non-standard, with both kings in the centre. But whilst White can castle by hand, and evacuate his king to the kingside, it is harder for Black to find a safe home for his king. This is the main thing that defines Whiteβs advantage. With his next move, White ensures himself a static advantage.