Beware of the dangerous bishop battery

Chess Checks

 This is because if placed on strong and long diagonals, the bishops exert maximum power by covering and controlling territory, long range and also assist to combine most effectively with the other pieces which infiltrate into enemy territory.

In the game which follows, Black does not castle and trains his pieces on the opponent’s King. The bishop pair is gunning long range, threatening the King and this allows Black to finishes with a flourish, a spectacular queen sacrifice clinching the game for him.

White: Hugo Spangenberg (2530) – Black: Lubomir Ftacnik (2570)
Moscow, 1994. Sicilian Defence.

1.e4 c5. The Sicilian defence. 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4
A sharp continuation. 3. ..g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 e6 6.0–0 Ne7 7.d3 Nbc6 8.f5
Once again aggressive play by Black. 8. ..d5
Black decides to hit out at the centre. 9.Bb3 dxe4. If 9...gxf5 10.exd5 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxd5 12.Qe1 h6 13.
Ne5 Nxe5 14.Qxe5 Qf6 15.Rxf5 Qxe5 16.Rxe5 f6. 10.fxg6.
Till now the players were following a previously played line but now White deviates with a enw move. If 10.f6 Bxf6 11.Nxe4 Bg7 12.Bg5 f5. 10...exf3. If 10...hxg6 11.Nxe4 b6 12.Bg5 And if 10...fxg6 11.Ng5
11.gxf7+. If 11.Qxf3 Bd4+ 12.Kh1 f5 13.gxh7 Rxh7 works better for Black. 11...Kf8. Rightly deciding not to capture the pawn as 11...Kxf7 12.Qxf3+ and White works out an attack. 12.Qxf3 Qd4+
Here better is 12. ..Nf5. If 12...Nd4 13.Qh5 Nef5. 13.Kh1
If 13.Be3 Qxe3+ 14.Qxe3 Bd4 15.Rae1 and Black is better. 13...Ne5 14.Qe2
White can also try 14.Qh5 Qg4 15.Qxg4 Nxg4 16.Ne4 b6 17.Nd6. 14...Qg4. Offering to trade queens. If 14...Nf5 15.Nb5 And if 14...Nxf7 15.Bxe6. 15.Qf2 b6. If 15...Nf5  16.Qxc5+ Kxf7. 16.h3
If 16.Bf4 Bb7 17.Rae1 Nf3 18.gxf3 Qxf4 19.Bxe6 Rd8. 16...Qg6 17.Bf4 Bb7
If 17...Nxf7 18.Qf3. 18.Rae1 c4 19.dxc4
If 19.Bxc4 Nxc4 20.dxc4 Kxf7 And if 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 20.Rxe5 cxb3 21.axb3 Nf5. 19...Nxf7

Finally Black captures the pawn which was like a thorn in his flesh. 20.Nb5
If 20.c5 Bd4 And if 20...Bxc3 21.Rxe6 Qxg2+ 22.Qxg2 Bxg2+ 23.Kxg2 Rg8+ 24.Kh2 And if 20...Nd5  21.Bd6+ Kg8 22.Nxd5 Bxd5. 20...Nf5 21.Nc7 Re8
Interesting but here 21. ..e5 looks more promising. 22.Nxe8 White accepts the exchange. If 22.c3 Re7 23.c5 e5 is again better for Black. 22...Bd4
Black’s bishop batter is beautifully placed and is targeting the King
23.Qd2
If 23.Qe2 Rg8 24.Nc7 Bxg2+ 25.Kh2 e5 26.c5 (26.Rf2 Bb7) 26...Bxf1 27.Rxf1 Be3 28.Bxe5 Nxe5 29.Rxf5+ Qxf5
23...Rg8

Though Black has not castled and his King is in the thick of things, his attack is difficult for White to thwart
24.Re2

Diagram 1
24. ..Qg3

Finishing with a flourish! The ultimate queen sacrifice to wrap up the proceedings. White is hopelessly lost after this move as White is threatening 25.Qxh3+. If Black instead of the text move plays  24...Ng3+ 25.Bxg3 Qxg3 26.Qh6+ Kxe8 27.Qxe6+ Kd8 and he is still better. However after the text move, white has no defence 24...Qg3 25.Qb4+ (If 25.Qxd4 Qxh3+ 26.Bh2 Bxg2+And if  25.Bh6+ Kxe8 26.Ba4+ Ke7 And if 25.Bxg3 Nxg3+ 26.Kh2 Nxf1+ 27.Kh1 Nxd2 28.Rxd2 Rxg2 29.Rxg2 Kxe8) 25...Bc5 26.Qxc5+ bxc5 27.Bxg3 Nxg3+ 28.Kh2 Nxf1+ 29.Kg1 Kxe8  0–1

Diagram 2
White to play and win.

1.Qd6 Qd8 2.Rg8 Be8 3.Rxe8 Qxe8 4.Qc7checkmate.