Sicilian Attacks with Black : Tactics Quiz !

The previous post featured a nice sicilian game won by GM Ivanchuk in his last game against Cheparinov in the M-Tel 2008 tournament.

Here, we present 4 tactical training positions. There are all issued from the Sicilian Defence, and all feature a tactical idea leading to the victory of the black pieces. Please note that a previous post showed an attack from Kasparov in a Sicilian Scheveningen against GM Michael Adams in Linares 2005.

The roster in this quiz includes games from GMs J.Polgar, Delchev and V. Ivanchuk (again!)

1.


1.Black to play and win ( Ehlvest-Ivanchuk, 1991)
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2.

2. Black to play and win (Zaragatski-Delchev 2005)
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3.

3. Black to play and win ( Nijboer-J.Polgar 1989)

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4.

4. Black to play and win ( Xie Jun-Polgar 1988)

SOLUTIONS:
Replay all games on a board with annotations here

Ivanchuk is on a roll (Black to play and win) !

Ivanchuk just finished clear first at the top tournament M-Tel in Sofia, Bulgaria.

He scored 8/10 in a field composed of Topalov, Cheparinov, Aronian, Radjabov and Bu Xiangzhi.

Can you spot the tactical theme in the following game Cheparinov-Ivanchuk, where the creative super GM had the black pieces ?

Black to play and take a decisive advantage

Cheparinov-Ivanchuk 2008
Replay solution on a chess board here

Solution also posted in the comments section !

Tactical Quiz (Easy Level)

Here are 3 new positions for you to solve, starting from easy to medium level of difficulty. All are about attacking the king. The first exercize features GM Botvinnik, the second GM Piket and the last is from the analysis of a game from GM Nakamura ( Nakamura-Smirin to be precise) . That's a prestigious roster if you ask me!

Calculate well !

1.White to play and win

2.White to play and win

3.White to play and win

Feel free to post in the Comments section if you need a hint or the solution to any of the positions above!

Another example from GM Vasily Ivanchuk.

Ivanchuk is currently leading the M-Tel 2008 tournament with 5/5, which is pretty incredible at the highest level. As mentioned in the previous post, he is one of the most creative 2700+ players.

Let's take a look at another tactical position from the game Ivanchuk-Kasparov 2002 (rapid). The aim is to train your tactical sense, albeit in a less spectacular way than the previous post. Let's mention that this game was a Sicilian Najdorf where Ivanchuk played 6 Rg1 !?, with the idea g4-g5. Kasparov has been the leading expert of the Najdorf for many years, but I am sure he spent more time on 6 Be3, 6 f4, 6 Bc4, 6 g3, 6 h3 than 6 Rg1, which was a clever attempt to take him off the beaten track as soon as possible. Finally let's mention that Nigel Short has played 6 a3 !? a few times, which is quite unusual too.

Try to find the best move in the following position. Good luck !

White to play and win

Ivanchuk-Kasparov 2002 ( rapid )

Solution posted in comments

Ivanchuk's creativity & candidate moves

In today's international top chess GMs, two players stand out : A. Morozevich and V. Ivanchuk. Although they are constantly ranked in the top20, and often in the top10, they are extremely creative, and their strength is not directly linked with their opening knowledge but the unpredictability and quality of the chess moves and plans they produce.

Here's Ivanchuk creating a modern masterpiece against Karjakin in Amber 2008 played in Nice, France. Vasily explained in an interview that his 14th move was prepared beforehand and not found over the board, but it is to his credit to be the first one to discover this spectacular idea. This is also a good reason not to think mechanically but consider all candidate moves, especially in tactical positions.

White to play and get a very strong initiative

Ivanchuk-Karjakin, 2008 (rapid)

Solution see below

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1. Qe6!! fe6 2.Ne6 Qe5 3Ng7+ Kf8 4. Ne6+ Ke7 5 Rhe1 +/_

5 ..Qe1 ? (5..Bf2 is better) 6 Nc5+! Kg6 7 Re1 Kg5 8 Nb7 +/_

*Note that on 2..Qb8 follows 3Ng7+ like in the game

*Also 2..Qe7!? 3 Rhe1 Qe6! 4 Re6+ Ne7 5 f3 was the best defence for Black