Watch out!

This is one of these positions where White seems to be spoilt for choice. But which continuation leads to victory?
A) 42.Nxb6
B) 42.Nxe7+ Qxe7 43.Rxd8+ Nxd8 44.Bf6
C) 42.Bb2
D) 42.f5
Solution
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0-0 Be7 6.b3 0-0 7.Bb2 d5 8.e3 dxc4 9.bxc4 c5 10.Qe2 Nc6 11.Rd1 Qc7 12.Nc3 Rac8 13.d3 Rfd8 14.Rd2 Qb8 15.Rad1 Qa8 16.Ne1 Rd7 17.f4 Rcd8 18.g4 a6 19.Ba1 Nb4 20.g5 Ne8 21.Na4 Qa7 22.a3 Nc6 23.Nc3 Nd6 24.Rb2 Na5 25.Rdb1 Bxg2 26.Qxg2 b5 27.cxb5 c4 28.b6 Qb8 29.d4 Nf5 30.Nc2 Nb3 31.Qc6 Rb7 32.Qxc4 Nd2 33.Qxa6 e5 34.Rd1 exd4 35.Nxd4 Nxd4 36.exd4 Nf3+ 37.Kh1 Nxd4 38.Qf1 Rxb6 39.Rbd2 Qa8+ 40.Qg2 Qxa3 41.Nd5 Ne6 42.Bb2 42.Nxb6?? Rxd2! 43.Qxd2 43.Rxd2 Qc1+! 44.Qg1 Qxd2 43...Qf3+ 44.Kg1 44.Qg2 Qxd1+ 45.Qg1 Qxg1+ 46.Kxg1 Bc5+ 44...Bc5+-+ 42.Nxe7+ Qxe7 43.Rxd8+ Nxd8 44.Bf6 Rd6‼ 44...gxf6 45.gxf6++- 45.Bxe7 Rxd1+= 46.Qg1 Rxg1+= 42.f5! Rxd5 42...Bxg5 43.fxe6 Bxd2 44.Qxg7# 43.Rxd5! 43.Qxd5? Rd6! 43...Nxg5 44.Rd8++- 42...Rxb2! 43.Rxb2? 43.Nxe7+! Kf8! 43...Qxe7? 44.Rxd8+! Nxd8 45.Qxb2+- 44.Rxd8+ Nxd8 45.Rxd8+?? 45.Qd5 45.Nc6 45...Kxe7-+ 43...Rxd5! 44.Rb8+ 44.Rxd5 Qa1+! 45.Qg1 Qxb2-+ 44...Rd8! 45.Rbxd8+ Nxd8 46.Re1 Qb4 47.Qe4 Qxe4+ 48.Rxe4 Kf8 49.Kg2 g6 50.Kf3 Ne6 51.Kg4 h5+ 52.Kf3 Bxg5! 53.Rxe6 fxe6 54.fxg5 Ke7 55.Ke4 Kd6 56.Kd4 e5+ 0–1
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Kachiani-Gersinska,K | 2347 | Bulmaga,I | 2391 | 0–1 |
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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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A top class European Cup and pure tension at the World Cup - these are the focal points of the present issue. With video clips by l'Ami, Marin and Shirov, as well as 11 new suggestions for your repertoire, you can look forward to a rich training program.
Video introduction by Karsten Müller
Opening Surveys
Marin: English Opening A15
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 0-0 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2 e5 7.d3

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In the form of the double fianchetto Mihail Marin presents a setup against the King’s Indian – but without d2-d4. The Nb1 remains for the time being on its starting square and can be developed, according to choice, to d2 or c3. White has the more pleasant game. |
Schandorff: English Opening A29
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.Ng5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Re8 9.f3 exf3 10.Nxf3

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The English Opening is at present experiencing a major boost in popularity. So it is only logical that the old main variations are also being seen on the board once more. Lars Schandorff examines the position in the diagram, which this year has been up for discussion in several of Aronian’s games.
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Sagar Shah: Modern Defence B06
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d5

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The pawn sacrifice 3...d5 is mostly only a temporary one and will probably surprise most players of the white pieces. Sagar Shah has investigated the variation in depth and at some points suggests improvements for Black’s play. |
Souleidis: Caro-Kann B13
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4

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Vassily Ivanchuk has tried 6.Bf4 several times and in doing so drawn the attention of Georgios Souleidis to this subject. Black should become active quickly in order to take advantage of White’s lag in development. The fact that the most frequently played moves for Black do not equalise gives White some hope. |
Ris: Sicilian Defence B20
1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.a3

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The Wing Gambit is hardly a focal point for top level play, but amongst amateur players it is a weapon to be feared. From the position in the diagram Robert Ris analyses mainly 3...d5 and 3...e5 and comes to some surprising conclusions. |
Szabo: Sicilian Defence B51
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.0-0 Ngf6 5.Re1 a6 6.Bd3

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The variation with 3.Bb5+ continues to be very popular both in elite level chess and among amateur players and for the moment 3...Nd7 is the most popular reply. The setup investigated by Krisztian Szabo should suit those players who prefer to proceed along positional lines. |
Moskalenko: French Defence C12
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6

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In his latest article French specialist Viktor Moskalenko provides insights into the McCutcheon Variation which is at present in transition. His subject is the retreat of the white bishop to c1, which White can carry out immediately or else beginning with 6.Bd2. |
Breutigam: Vienna Game C29
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4

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The Vienna Game with 3.f4 is only extremely rarely seen nowadays in the games of stronger players. But there are also good reasons for that. Martin Breutigam gets to the bottom of things in his accustomed meticulous manner. |
Rotstein: Philidor Defence C41
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.g3

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The Fianchetto Variation is at the top of the popularity stakes nowadays. The fact that in the starting position Black has several plans available to him makes the whole business interesting for the second player. According to Arkadij Rotstein he should, however, reckon on White gaining an advantage. |
Stohl: Catalan Opening E05
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5

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Of late the trend in the Open Catalan has again been towards 10.Bg5. Igor Stohl deals systematically with the alternatives for Black. White often possesses long-lasting pressure without having to run any great risk. |
Kuzmin: King's Indian E97
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Nf3 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.a4

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The move 9.a4 looks a little anti-positional, allowing as it does a hole to be created on b4. But after 9...a5, which is the almost obligatory reply for Black, according to Alexey Kuzmin Black cannot prevent b2-b4 and White obtains play on the queenside. |
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