Fatal decision

by Oliver Reeh
1/7/2023 – In the diagram position White just played 26.Rb1+. How would you parry the check spontaneously, with 26...Nb6 or with 26...Ka8? But you can also think a bit longer, because one of these moves leads straight to a loss...
88 times, IM Oliver Reeh leads you step by step through the most brillant game conclusions of the world champions - in interactive Fritztrainer format, enabling you to enter the winning moves yourself.
 
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.e3 c6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Qc2 h6 9.Bf4 Nh5 10.Bg3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 Nf6 12.Nf3 Bd6 13.0-0-0 Qa5 14.Kb1 Bd7 15.Ne5 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Ng4 17.Bf5 Nxe5 18.Bxd7+ Nxd7 19.e4 d4 20.Rxd4 0-0-0 21.Ra4 Qc5 22.b4 Qc4 23.b5 Qc5 24.bxc6 bxc6 25.Ka1 Kb8 26.Rb1+ Fatal decision In the diagram position White just played 26.Rb1+. How would you parry the check spontaneously, with 26...Nb6 or with 26...Ka8? But you can also think a bit longer, because one of these moves leads straight to a loss... Ka8?? In the corner, the king will not find peace. 26...Nb6! was correct.
White to play and win.
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Book,E-Halfdanarson,J-1–01966D36Reykjavik International-0210

 

Oliver Reeh in ChessBase Magazine

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ChessBase Magazine #208

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Oliver Reeh has been working for ChessBase for many years as a translator and presenter of the internet show TV ChessBase, and he also looks after the tactics column in ChessBase Magazine, for which he has also been responsible as editor-in-chief since 2019. The International Master has contributed to the CB "MasterClass" series and is the author of the DVDs "Strike like the World Champions" and "Master Class Tactics - Train your combination skills!" Volumes 1 & 2. Oliver Reeh lives in Hamburg.
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