Unity Chess Club
Hou Yifan – Kosteniuk Nalchik 2008 Black to play White is preparing the Ng3-f5. What can Black do?
This is a good time for 1 … h5!. White would be over-extended after 2 g5 Nh7 3 h4 g6 and … f6.
2 N3h2, to maintain the pawn on g4. This surrendered control of the kingside dark squares. The best try is 2 gxh5! Bxh3 3 N1h2 but Black is better after 3 … Nh7.
Unity Chess Club
Tal – Plaskett Sochi 1984 Black to play Black is virtually forced into 1…fxg3. Is there any benefit to 2.fxg3?
Yes, because of playing along the f-file in connection with Nd5.
Unity Chess Club
Kavalek – Bilek Sousse 1967 White to play How can White take advantage of Black’s piece placement?
White can force a trade of rooks with 1 Rb5! and create an outside passed pawn after 1… Rxb5 2 cxb5.
Black can try to blockade with 2 … Bd4 and 3 … Bb6. But White breaks it with 3 Ba5 and 4 b6 or 3 Ke2 and 4 Be3.
Unity Chess Club
Fischer – Reshevsky Los Angeles 1961 White to playhould With no passed or queenside pawns White’s chances seem slim. Did he draw after 1.Be4?
He could have won with 1 Rc7+! and 1 …Rf7 2 Rxf7+ Kxf7 3 Bb5! and the knight is dominated.
If 3 … Ke7 4 Kg4 Nd7, White converts to a won pawn endgame 5 Bxd7 Kxd7 6 Kh5.