JOIN USTo break down the opponent’s defence systematically by attacking and at the right time, sacrificing a piece to drag the King into a check-mating net is what every chess player dreams of! Therefore it is important to keep all the pieces active, either in offence or in defence.
In the game which ensues, White is in good attacking mode and sacrifices his rook in the final stages of the game. Black is doomed because his rook and bishop get no opportunity to get into the game, either for attack or in defence.
White: Michal Krasenkow (2661) – Black: Oleg Romanishin (2578)
Leonid , 2000
English Opening
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g4
Definitely not one of the routine Openings seen most times in chess
4...0–0
4...Nxg4 5.Rg1
5.g5. Advancing further
5. ..Ne8. If 5...Bxc3 6.bxc3 Ne8
6.Qc2 d5 7.b3. Fianchetto on both sides! If 7.a3 Be7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 Nc6
7...Be7 8.Rg1. If 8.h4 d4. 8. ..c5
If 8...Nc6 9.Bb2 d4 10.Ne4 e5
9.e3 Nc6. If 9...d4 10.exd4 cxd4 11.Ne4
10.Bd3. He decides against moving his bishop to g2
10...f5. Here better appears 10. ..g6 11.a3. If 10...Nb4 11.Bxh7+ Kh8 12.Qb1
11.gxf6 (en-passant) Nxf6 12.a3
If 12.Bb2 Nb4
12...Qe8.
If 12...d4 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 d3 15.Qb1
13.Bb2 Qh5. If 13...d4 14.Nb5
14.Be2
A good move!
14...d4. If 14...dxc4 15.bxc4 Ne8 16.Ne4 Rxf3 17.Rg3 Ne5 18.Rd1 Bh4 19.Bxe5 Bxg3 20.Bxg3
15.Nxd4. If 15.exd4 cxd4 16.Ne4 e5
15...Nxd4
If 15...Qxh2 16.Nf3 Qh3 17.Ne4
16.exd4 Qxh2 17.0–0–0
White seizes the moment to castle on the queen-side with Black having broken through on the King-side
17. ..cxd4 18.Ne4. If 18.Nb5 .e5
18...Qf4. Getting the queen back into action. If 18...Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Rxf2 20.Bxd4 Bxa3+ 21.Kc2
19.Bd3 Nxe4. 19...e5 20.Nxf6+ Rxf6 (20...Bxf6 21.Bxh7+ Kf7 is the best chance, but the black king is not too inspiring.) 21.Bxh7+ And if 19...g6 20.Ng3
20.Bxe4 h6.
If 20...Rf5 21.Bxf5 exf5 22.Rde1
21.Bxd4 Bf6
Black probably missed the better continuation 21...Bxa3+ 22.Kb1 22...e5 23.Be3 (23.Bh7+ Kh8 24.Be3 Bf5; 23.Bd5+ Kh8 24.Be3 Qf6 ) 23...Qxe4 24.Qxe4 Bf5 25.Qxf5 Rxf5 26.Bxh6 Rf7
22.Be3 Qd6
If 22...Qe5 23.d4 (23.d4 Qa5 24.Kb2
23.c5. White holds advantage now
23...Qa6. Swings to the queen-side but better appears 23. ..Qc7 24.Bxh6 Bd7
24.a4 Qa5. If 24...Kh8 25.Rh1. 25.Bxh6
The Black King is in terrible danger
25...Qb4
A terrible blunder! Black can try 25. ..Rf7 26.Bg5 Bxg5 And if 25...Kh8 26.Rh1 And if 25...Bd7 26.Rxg7+ Bxg7 27.Bh7+ Kh8 28.Bxg7+ Kxg7 29.Qg6+ Kh8 30.Qh6
Diagram 1
26.Rxg7+. A rook sacrifice. An interesting and forceful combination by White to drag the King into a checkmating net.
26...Bxg7 27.Bh7+ Kh8 28.Bxg7+ Kxg7
A forced sequence.
29.Qg6+ Kh8 30.Qh5
White’s queen and bishop have combined devastatingly
30...Rxf2
If 30...Qa3+ 31.Kc2 Qa2+ 32.Kc3
31.Be4+ Kg7 32.Rg1+
All of White’s three pieces are combining beautifully while Black’s rook and bishop are totally out of action.
32. ..Kf8 33.Qh6+ Ke7 34.Rg7+ Rf7 35.Qg5+ Ke8 36.Rg8+
1–0
Diagram 2
Black to play and checkmate
1. .. Qxg2+ 2.Bxg2 Rd1+ 3.Bf1 Rxf1#