512
The British Chess Magazine
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+rwq-+0
9+-mk-+pvL-0
9pzp-sn-sN-zp0
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9-+P+-+PzP0
9zP-+PzP-+-0
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After some spectacular sacrifices, Kramnik has
built up a decisive attack. Now, however, his
queen is attacked and the opponent is close
to escaping. The next move made a strong impression on me:
33 a1!!
and Black resigned. He will lose his queen in all
variations.
This game was played just two days before
Howell–Wells and played a big part in my
victory. To add to that, a few days later at
the World Cup, we saw another example.
G J Cori
O T Radjabov
World Cup, Tromso, 2013
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9+-+-zP-mk-0
9-+-+-trpzp0
9zp-+-wQ-+-0
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9P+-+-wqPzP0
9+-+-tRL+K0
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Black now gambled on White’s weak back rank,
hoping it would help him to save the game.
However, a shock was waiting for him:
30…f2? 31 b5 h7 32 a1!!
Yet again the only winning move, and causing instant resignation. This move, all the more
impressive in a rapid game, immediately ends
Black’s back-rank hopes and wins material.
We now come to one example where decentralisation is not the way forward.
G A Ushenina
O P Svidler
World Cup, Tromso, 2013
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9+-+-+-vlk0
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9+-+-+RmK-0
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Perhaps frustrated at missing an earlier win,
the Women’s World Champion played:
38 h1+??
38 g2 would have kept the game going.
38…h3+ 39 g2 e2+
and she was forced to resign. A clear indication
that sometimes rule-breaking is not the best
idea. Chess is full of exceptions…and each position demands different things!
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