KMO:Key Move Order !

White to play and win

Hint:

The candidate moves would be:

1 Bb5+

1Qa4+

1b8=Q+

1Bf6

Tactics&traps in the Petroff Defense

This post is about tactical themes in the Petroff Defense :

1e4 e5 2Nf3 Nf6 3 Ne5 d6 4 Nf3 Ne4 5d4 d5 6 Bd3 Be7 70-0 Bg4 8 Re1 Nc6 9Nbd2 f5 10 c3 0-0 11 Qb3 variation.

11..Na5 12Qa4 12..Nc6 13 Bb5 Nd2 14 Nd2 Qd6 15 h3 Bh5 16 Nb3 Bh4 17 Nc5 Rae8

Here we reach the position after 18 Bd2

Black to play after 18 Bd2

Black can play 18..Bf3!?, which is a thematic and recurrent move in the Petroff Defense (Analysis position here-This may qualify as an opening novelty, although I don't have any recent database). The aim here is to show chess patterns and motifs , and not listing the existing games in a given opening.

Position after 18..Bf3!? White to play

Here's an hint (Read below after studying the diagram!)

Would you play

A) 19 gxf3

B) 19Nxb7

C)19Bf1

Tactics straight from the (Petroff) opening lab.

Good luck!

Amber Chess 2011 (Monaco)

Official site: Amber Chess Tournament here

And the winner of the 2011 edition is Levon Aronian. Congratulations to the armenian GM who came first ahead of top players such as Anand, Kramnik, Carlsen ...

Kasparov explained move by move

Kasparov-Ponomariov 2002

White to play (Diagram I)

Garry plays 1 a4! This opens a second front, making the defensive task harder for Black.

If Pono tries to defend his pawn by 1..c4 then 2 Qb6! Re7 3 g5! and White's victory is near.

Therefore, Pono plays 1..e4 2 ab5 ab5 3 Bb5 Qe5 reaching Diagram II

White to play ( Diagram II)

Here Kasparov plays 4 Qg5!

If 4..Be6 then 5Bc4! is decisive. The bishop cannot be taken in view of 6 Rd7+. and 5..Re8 6 R1d5 Qf6 7 Qf4! leaves White winning.

If 4..Ra7 5 R1d5 Qf6 6 Qh6! similar to the game,

The game went 4..Qe7 5 Qh6 Be6 ( because 5..Qf8? loses against 6 Bc4+ and 7 Rd8+).

We reach the next position :

White to play and win (after 5..Be6) Diagram III

Here Garry clinched the victory by playing (after repeating the moves) 6gf5!

After 6..Bf5 7 Bc4+! Ke8 8 Qf4! is strong, so Pono played 6..gf5

The game ended : 7Be2!

A great move bringing the bishop into the attack via the h5-e8 diagonal.

7..Qf6 8 Bh5+ Ke7 9 Rxe6! 1-0

Final Position

Position after 9 Rxe6! 1-0

9..Qe6 10 Qg7+ wins

9..Ke6 10 Rd6+! wins