The sword of Damocles

by Oliver Reeh
8/28/2020 – If it weren’t for the bishop on h6, White could give checkmate with Qxh8++ in the diagram. But the attempt to remove this piece with 21.Bf8? would actually backfire. Happy countering!
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.

Dragonfly 3

Such a constellation with the open h-file and the bishop on h6, ready for a killer move anytime, truly requires nerves of steel — just like the Dragon in general!

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Nc6 7.f3 Bg7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Kb1 a6 12.g4 b5 13.h4 b4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 a5 16.h5 Qd7 17.Qh2 Rfb8 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.Be3 a4 20.Bh6 Bh8 If it weren't for the bishop on h6, in the diagram White could give checkmate with Qxh8++. But the attempt to remove this piece with 21.Bf8? will actually backfire. Happy countering! 21.Bf8? The game saw this move, and Black's riposte, later - twice! 21.b3 Ra5 22.Bf8 Nh5! 23.Bh6 for 23.gxh5 axb3 24.cxb3 compare Black's 25th/26th move of our variation. 23...Nf6 A nice counter would have been 23...Ng3 with the idea 24.Qxg3 axb3 25.cxb3 Rxa2! while the comp shines with 23...axb3 24.cxb3 Rba8 25.Rd2 Be5 26.f4 Bc3 27.Rg2 Qa7 28.gxh5 Qd4‼-+ 24.Bc4 Raa8 25.Rde1 Ra5 26.Bf8! Now it's really the knockout! Nh5 27.Bxe7 Be5 28.Rxe5 dxe5 29.Qxe5 Rc8 30.Rxh5 gxh5 31.Qg5+ Kh7 32.Bd3+ 1-0.
White has cleared the h-file threatening mate. Only move for Black?
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vea,O2226Merkesvik,S20552013B76Oslo Vederhus Memorial op5

Oliver Reeh in ChessBase Magazine

Do you like these lessons? There are plenty more by tactic expert Oliver Reeh in ChessBase Magazine, where you will also find openings articles and surveys, endgames, and of course annotations by the world's top grandmasters.

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ChessBase Magazine #196

CBM 193

 

ChessBase Magazine Extra #196

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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