Nº41 Yuri Bazlov

Win

Yuri Bazlov (Russia)

wKe8,Nf7,g5,Rb8,Pd5,e7/bKf5,Qd2,Nf8,Re3

1.Ne4! Rxe4!
If now 1…Qxd5, then 2.Nfd6+! Ke6 3.exf8N+! Ke5 4.Ng6+ Kd4 5.Rb4+ Kd3 6.Nf4+ and 7.Nxd5 – a rook and three knights are stronger than a rook and a queen.

Therefore 1…Rxe4!
1…Ng6 2.Nd6+ Kg4 3.Nxd2 Nxe7 4.Rb4+ Kh3 5.Kd7 win.

2.Nd6+ Kg6! 3.Nxe4 Qf4! 4.Rb6+!
Thematic try 4.exf8N+?! Kh5 5.Rb4! Qe5+ 6.Ne6! Qxd5 5.Nf6(f4)+-. But 4…Kf5! 3.Rb4 Qe5+! 4.Ne6 Qxd5 draw.

4…Kg7! 5.Kd8!
5.Nf6?! Qa4+! 6.Kd8 Qa5! (6…Qa8+ 7.Kc7 Qa7+ 8.Rb7 Qc5+ 9.Kb8! Qd6+ 10.Kc8 Qc5+ 11.Rc7 win) 7.Nh5+ Kg8 8.Nf6+ Kg7 9.Ne8+ Kg8 =

5…Qxe4 6.e8N+! Kh8!
6…Kg8(h7) 7.Nf6+.

7.Rh6+ Kg8!
7…Nh7 8.Nf6! The position is interesting for its economy. The d5 pawn covers the king from the chess, the knight protects it, and a full exchange of pieces leaves White with a passing pawn. Black can move to the knight endgame: 8…Kg7 9.Nxe4 Kxh6, but it is hopeless for them. Persevere 7…Qh7 8.Rxh7+ Kxh7 9.Ke7! Ng6+ 10.Kf6! Kf4, but after 11.d6 White also wins without problems.

8.Nf6+ Kg7 9.Nxe4 Kxh6! 10.d6! Ng6! 11.Kd7! The king blocks his own passing pawn, preventing it from moving forward. 11…Кg7! 12.Ng5! Kf6! 13.Kc7! Ne5 14.Nf3! Nxf3 15.d7 Ng5 16.d8Q, and there is no saving double attack of 14…Nf6+, because the black king is under the check!