Intending to meet 18.Bf1 with 18...Nd6. Now that the knight has relinquished control over the dS-square, Smyslov immediately changes tack.

White is clearly better and won quickly.

Ignoring the Threat

Sacrifices may occur at unexpected moments. One surprise factor is when a threat to gain material does not produce a logical response but is answered by a counter-reaction that had not been anticipated at all.

By moving his queen to g4 White has just posed the threat of Bh6 , which would win the exchange.

Ignoring the threat, and using the time and extra pawn to seize the center.

White's attack has come to a stop and her pawn centerstarts to crumble.

Black has gained a second pawn for the exchange and went on to convert his advantage.

Again ignoring the threat!

This is it: Black has time to grab a second pawn.

And now Anand made a move which most of us would have found difficult: