21...e4!
Preparing to transfer the knight to the strong d3-outpost.
22.Nb3 Bf6 23.Nd4 Bg6 24.Be3 Ne5 25.Qb3 Nd3
Preparing to transfer the knight to the strong d3-outpost.
22.Nb3 Bf6 23.Nd4 Bg6 24.Be3 Ne5 25.Qb3 Nd3
27.Ra2!
A multi-purpose move:
1- The rook vacates its vulnerable position on the long diagonal.
2- White can meet ...Rc8 with Rc2.
3- Intending the maneuver Nd4-c2-e1 to deal with the mighty knight on d3.
27...Qe7 28.Nc2 Rc8 29.Ne1 Bg5 30.B×g5 h×g5 31.Raa1! Qc7 32.N×d3 e×d3 33.B×d3 B×d3 34.Q×d3 Q×c4 35.Qd2
A multi-purpose move:
1- The rook vacates its vulnerable position on the long diagonal.
2- White can meet ...Rc8 with Rc2.
3- Intending the maneuver Nd4-c2-e1 to deal with the mighty knight on d3.
27...Qe7 28.Nc2 Rc8 29.Ne1 Bg5 30.B×g5 h×g5 31.Raa1! Qc7 32.N×d3 e×d3 33.B×d3 B×d3 34.Q×d3 Q×c4 35.Qd2
13.Qd3
White plans to set up a battery of queen and bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal, threatening mate.
13...Rad8 14.Bc2 g6 15.Bh6 Rfe8 16.Rad1
White plans to set up a battery of queen and bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal, threatening mate.
13...Rad8 14.Bc2 g6 15.Bh6 Rfe8 16.Rad1
41... Rd3??
Wesley's blunder in a position where he could have forced a draw with the following continuation.
(41... Rd2 42. hxg4 hxg4 43. Qg2 Qh8+ 44. Kg1 Rxg2+ 45. Kxg2
Qh3+ 46. Kg1 Qg3+ 47. Kf1 Qf3+ 48. Kg1 Qg3+)
42. Qg2 Rg3 43. hxg4 Rxg2 44. Kxg2 h4 45. Kf3 Qg3+ 46. Ke2 h3 47. Rg1 Qh4 48. e5 1-0
Fabiano Caruana won the 2018 Altibox Norway Chess after winning the nerve-racking encounter with Wesley So in the final round.
Wesley's blunder in a position where he could have forced a draw with the following continuation.
(41... Rd2 42. hxg4 hxg4 43. Qg2 Qh8+ 44. Kg1 Rxg2+ 45. Kxg2
Qh3+ 46. Kg1 Qg3+ 47. Kf1 Qf3+ 48. Kg1 Qg3+)
42. Qg2 Rg3 43. hxg4 Rxg2 44. Kxg2 h4 45. Kf3 Qg3+ 46. Ke2 h3 47. Rg1 Qh4 48. e5 1-0
Fabiano Caruana won the 2018 Altibox Norway Chess after winning the nerve-racking encounter with Wesley So in the final round.
17...b5!
Resourceful play: exploiting the weakness of the e4-pawn, Black opens a loophole for his queen and deprives the white pieces of the c4-point.
18.f4 Qb6
The natural move; but 18...Bd6 would also have impeded White's attack.
19.Kh1! b4?!
Over-hasty. In striving to weaken the opponent's attacking potential by exchanging a pair of bishops and obtaining counterplay, Black loses control of the c4-point and opens the b-file, which proves advantageous only to White. 19...Rc7, for example, was better, with the idea of 25.f5 exf5 26.Rxf5 Ne8 and Nd6-c4.
20.axb4 Of course!
20...Bxb4 21.Rab1!
Preventing ...Bb4-c3 and creating the threat of Bb2-a3.
Resourceful play: exploiting the weakness of the e4-pawn, Black opens a loophole for his queen and deprives the white pieces of the c4-point.
18.f4 Qb6
The natural move; but 18...Bd6 would also have impeded White's attack.
19.Kh1! b4?!
Over-hasty. In striving to weaken the opponent's attacking potential by exchanging a pair of bishops and obtaining counterplay, Black loses control of the c4-point and opens the b-file, which proves advantageous only to White. 19...Rc7, for example, was better, with the idea of 25.f5 exf5 26.Rxf5 Ne8 and Nd6-c4.
20.axb4 Of course!
20...Bxb4 21.Rab1!
Preventing ...Bb4-c3 and creating the threat of Bb2-a3.
26...Ne7!
The most interesting stage begins. The maneuver of the knight to h4 may cause White serious problems: one of his most important pieces – the bishop on g2 – will be under attack.
27.d5
Prophylactic measures (such as 27.Qc1!, hindering ...Ng6) should have been considered, but Tempone does not display any signs of disquiet.
27...Ng6 28.Nd3?! Nh4
The most interesting stage begins. The maneuver of the knight to h4 may cause White serious problems: one of his most important pieces – the bishop on g2 – will be under attack.
27.d5
Prophylactic measures (such as 27.Qc1!, hindering ...Ng6) should have been considered, but Tempone does not display any signs of disquiet.
27...Ng6 28.Nd3?! Nh4
Unity Chess Multiple Choice 489
public poll
B: a4 – 7
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 64%
@Shadowoffhollow, Jonas, Gavin, Nikhil, Hosein, @Afshr5, Sanjana
A: b4 – 3
👍👍👍 27%
Kavian, @Afshin3333, Jayden
C: N×f6 – 1
👍 9%
@RichardPeng
👥 11 people voted so far.
public poll
B: a4 – 7
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 64%
@Shadowoffhollow, Jonas, Gavin, Nikhil, Hosein, @Afshr5, Sanjana
A: b4 – 3
👍👍👍 27%
Kavian, @Afshin3333, Jayden
C: N×f6 – 1
👍 9%
@RichardPeng
👥 11 people voted so far.
Unity Chess Multiple Choice 490
public poll
C: Rc7 – 10
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 83%
Meisam, @Shadowoffhollow, Jonas, Gavin, Nikhil, Hosein, Jayden, @Afshr5, Sanjana, @AryanLeekha
A: Bb5 – 2
👍 17%
@Afshin3333, @RichardPeng
B: B×a5
▫️ 0%
👥 12 people voted so far.
public poll
C: Rc7 – 10
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 83%
Meisam, @Shadowoffhollow, Jonas, Gavin, Nikhil, Hosein, Jayden, @Afshr5, Sanjana, @AryanLeekha
A: Bb5 – 2
👍 17%
@Afshin3333, @RichardPeng
B: B×a5
▫️ 0%
👥 12 people voted so far.
Unity Chess Club
Congratulations to Sam Shankland on winning the American Continental Championship & a place in the 2019 World Cup after yet another perfect tournament! https://bit.ly/2xWC5vN
Sam Shankland won the American Continental tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay, scoring 9 out of 11 (7 wins, 4 draws, no losses). He is now rated 2727, # 27 in the world. He also qualifies for the next FIDE World Cup. He now has an unbeaten string of 51 games (25 wins, 26 draws)