It is always a treat to go through games of chess where both players go in for attack. Then it is a race to see which of them manages to launch an attack first. However it is not by chance that an attack succeeds but through the timing and positioning of forces. While attacking, it is imperative that the King be guarded at all times or the attack fizzles out in no time. In the game below, both players have targeted the King side. Towards the ending it appears as if Black is getting too close to the White King but the positioning of White’s pieces repulses the attack and instead it is Black King who is cornered.

White: Semen Dvoirys (2565) – Black: Alexey Vyzmanavin (2620)

St Petersburg, 1993 Sicilian Defence
1.e4 c5.
The Sicilian defence
2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.f4
This is considered to be one of the sharp lines employed by White. If 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bd3
6...b5.
Black also decides to go on the offensive on the queen side. However Black would have been better off after 6...Bb4 7.Qf3 Ne7 8.Bd2 Nbc6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.e5 Nf5 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.Ne4
7.Bd3 Bb7 8.Qe2
White could have castled or even played 8.a3 Nf6 9.Qf3 Nc6 10.Nb3 d6 11.Be3 Be7 12.0–0 or 8.Qf3 Nc6 9.Be3 Nf6 10.g4 d5 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Be
8...Nf6. More active would have been 8...Bc5 9.Nb3 Ba7 10.e5 f5 11.Be3 Bxe3 12.Qxe3 Ne7or even 8...b4 9.Nd1 Nf6 10.Nf2 Bc5 11.Nb3 Bxf2+ 12.Kxf2 d5
9.e5. A good advance
9. ..Nd5 10.Nxd5 Bxd5 11.0–0 g6 12.a4
With his King safe, White decides to push on the queen side.
12. ..b4.
If 12...bxa4 13.Rxa4 gives advantage to White
13.Be3 Be7 14.Nf3 0–0 15.Nd2. With the idea of landing the knight on e4
15...f5 16.Nc4 Bxc4
If 16...Nc6 17.Nb6 and White remains in control
17.Bxc4 Bc5 18.b3 g5
Gunning for the King side. Black is slightly lacking in development
19.g3 Rf7 20.Bxc5. White decides to eliminate one of the two pieces poised for attack. If 20.Rad1 Rg7
20...Qxc5+ 21.Qf2
Enjoying an edge, White is keen on swapping queens
21. ..Qc7. Black is not interested as 21...Qxf2+ 22.Rxf2 Nc6 23.Rd1 with the idea Rd2 puts White on route to win.
22.Rad1
White is in control of the game now
22. ..Nc6 23.Be2 Rg7 24.Kh1. Getting out of a dangerous file which is threatening to open any moment
24. ..Ne7 25.Bf3 Rc8 26.Qd4 gxf4. If 26...g4 27.Bg2 Nc6 28.Qc5 gives advantage to White
27.gxf4 Ng6 28.Qxb4 Qxc2 29.Qb7. Interesting position. Both queens are on the seventh rank
29. ..d5. If 29...Nxf4 30.Rxd7 Rxd7 31.Qxd7 and if 29...Nf8 30.Qxa6
30.Qxa6 Nxf4 31.Rd4. A good move
31. ..Nh3. If 31...Rg2 32.Rxf4 Rxh2+ 33.Kg1 Kh8 34.Qxc8+ Qxc8 35.Kxh2 and if 31...Rg4 32.Rxf4 Rxf4 33. Qxe6+ Kf8 (33...Kh8 34.Qf6+ Kg8 35.Bxd5 checkmate) 34.Qf6+ Ke8 35.Bh5+ Kd7 36.Qd6 checkmate

Diagram 1
32.Rd2. A superb move offering the rook as a bait. If 32.Qxe6+ Kh8 and Black gets an attempt at counter play by doubling his rooks on the ‘g’ file
32...Qc1
More in desperation than anything else! White won’t be stupid enough to play 33.Rxc1  Rxc1 checkmate. If 32...Qxd2 33.Qxc8+ Kf7 34.Bh5+ Rg6 35.Bxg6+ hxg6 36.Qd7+ Kf8 37.Qd8+and white wins
33.Bg2. If 33.Qxe6+ Kh8 34.Rdd1 Qc5
33...Rc6 34.Bxh3 Qc3 35.Qd3+- Qxe5 36.Re2 Qf6 37.Bxf5 exf5 If 37...Kh8 38.Bh3
38.Qxd5+ Rf7.
If 38...Kf8 39.Ref2
39.Re8+ Kg7 40.Rg1+ Kh6 41.Qg2  and Black resigned as 41.Qg2 Rc3 42.Re6.

Diagram 2
Black to play and checkmate
1.    ..Nf4+  2.Ke4 Re2+
The sequence is forced
3.Kxf4 Be5 checkmate.
Manisha Mohite