Don't miss out on winning continuations

Chess Checks

In tense situations on a chess board, where multiple options are possible, it is very easy to miss winning continuations, especially when short of time.

If the position is open and allows scope for pieces to infiltrate, one has to look for sacrificial continuations which can drag the King into a checkmating net.

In the game below, it is interesting to note that White, not once but twice misses sure-shot winning or checkmating continuations. It is ironical to see that when Black has more or less neutralised threats to reach a balanced position, he oversteps the time limit to end on the losing side.

White: Alexander Berelovich (2505) – Black: Stanislav Savchenko (2574)
Ordzhonikidze, 2000

French Defence

1.e4 e6
The French Defence
2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0–0 Nf6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 a6 11.Bb3
Still in Opening theory
11. ..Qc7 12.Re1 Bd6 13.h3
If 13.Nf5 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 0–0 15.Nxg7 Rd8 16.Qf3 Kxg7 17.Bh6+ Kg6 18.c3 Nh5 19.Re4 Kxh6 20.Rh4 Qe5 21.Qxf7 Rd7 22.Qf8+ Qg7 23.Qf3 Qf7 24.Qg4 Qg6 25.Qh3 Bc7 resulted in a victory for Black in a previous game
13...0–0 14.Bg5 Bf4
Novel way to exchange bishops. If 14...b5 15.c3 Bb7 16.Bc2 Nd5 17.Qg4  
15.Bxf6 gxf6
White has ruptured Black’s castle
16.Qh5. The queen swings into action in an aggressive mode
16. ..Kh8 17.Nf3
If 17.c3 Rg8 18.Bd1 Bd7 19.Bf3 Rg6
17...Rg8. Taking control of the open file and hoping to launch an attack
18.Re4 b5 19.Qh4 Bg5 20.Nxg5 Rxg5 21.Rg4 Rxg4 22.hxg4 Qf4
If 22...Qe7 23.c3 e5 24.Bc2 e4 25.Re1 Bb7 26.f3
23.Rd1 Kg7 24.Qh2
An invitation to trade queens. If 24.c3 Bb7 25.Bc2 Be4
24...Qe4. Interestingly this is a novelty as previously till this point we have a reference game.  White had won a previous game which continued 24...Qxh2+ 25.Kxh2 Ra7 26.Kg3 Rc7
25.Qg3 Ra7. In trying to activate the rook Black misses a defensive must in 25. ..h6 to prevent White from gaining momentum on the kingside
26.Rd8. Invading the eighth rank
26. ..Bd7 27.g5
A strong pawn advance
27. ..Bc6. A mistake!  
Black should have played 27...f5 28.Qh3 Qe1+ 29.Kh2 Qe5+ 30.g3 And if  27...Qe5 28.gxf6+ Kxf6 29.Qxe5+ Kxe5 30.Rh8 Bc6 31.Rxh7 Rd7
28.gxf6+
White misses the beautiful 28.Bd5. If Black accept 28. ..Bxd5  29.Rg8+ Kxg8  30.gxf6 Kf8  31.Qb8 checkmate.
28...Kxf6 29.Qc3+
If 29.Rg8 Qe1+ 30.Kh2 Qe5! 31.Qxe5+ Kxe5
29...Ke7 30.f3 Qf5
30...Qf4! was a better chance for Black, but White keeps a clear advantage after 31.Rd4 (31.Rc8 Rc7 32.Qc5+ ) 31...Qg5 32.Qb4+ Ke8 33.Rg4
31.Rg8 Rc7
If 31...Rd7 32.Qxc6 Rd1+ 33.Kf2
32.Qb4+ Kd7

Diagram 1

33.Qf8
Once again White misses the road to a clear cut victory with 33.Qd4+ Bd5 34.c4 Rxc4 (34...bxc4 35.Ba4+ Ke7 36.Re8+ Kd6 37.Qb6+) 35.Bxc4 bxc4 36.Qa7+
33...Bb7 34.Qe8+ Kd6 35.Qd8+ Kc6
If 35...Rd7 36.Qb6+ (36.Qb8+ Kc6) 36...Ke7
36.Rg5 Qf4 37.Rg4 Qe3+ 38.Kh2
38. ..Kb6
If 38...Kb6 39.Qd6+ Bc6 40.a4
1–0

Diagram 2

White to play and checkmate
1.Nxg7+ Bxg7 2.Qh5+ Ng6 3.Qxg6+ Kf8 4.Qf7 checkmate.