What was the move of 2017?

Move of the year

In our review of 2017, we begin with the "Move of the Year." Which move was the most amazing, the most fantastic, the best move of 2017?

There are six moves to choose from, presented by IM Oliver Reeh, who oversees tactics for ChessBase Magazine and has seen many great combinations and powerful moves throughout the year. Six moves were such standouts that they earned his nomination for best move of 2017.

It's worth noting that it's not only the best players on the planet who are able to find extraordinary moves and ideas. Players with lower Elo ratings will find beautiful combinations on a good day. We also must remember to applaud not only for the winners of the respective games, but also give the losers their due. Often these gems emerge from games played on equal terms such that the winners are challenged by their opponents resistance to reach their peak performance.

The nominations:

• Viswanthan Anand's 22.exf6 !! — an introduction to a powerful winning combination against Fabiano Caruana

• Sabrina Vega Gutierrez's 28...Rxg2 !! — a brilliant rook sacrifice on the long diagonal connecting several tactical motifs

• The startling pawn sacrifice 33...f6 !! by Narayanan Sunilduth Lyna — a surprise clearance operation, followed by a raid on the antagonistic king

• Gata Kamsky positional sacrifice 13...c4 !! — by which he achieved a superior position from nothing

• The magical 'knight dance' by Boris Savchenko, starting with 24...Bxb3 !! — Black sacrifices a queen, but his knight decides the game almost single-handedly with seven powerful moves.

• Vera Nebolsina's pawn sacrifice 26.c5 !! — an offer that Black could not refuse but entangled her in a deadly net.

All combinations presented on Tune Your Tactics

Replay the moves and vote

ChessBase Account Premium annual subscription

At the airport, in the hotel or at home on your couch: with the new ChessBase you always have access to the whole ChessBase world: the new ChessBase video library, tactics server, opening training App, the live database with eight million games, Let’s Check and web access to playchess.com

To vote, please log in with your ChessBase account if you are not already registered. The final result of the vote will be announced soon.

ChessBase Magazine 181

Enjoy the best moments of recent top tournaments (World Cup, Isle of Man Open) with analysis of top players. In addition you'll get lots of training material. For example 10 new suggestions for your opening repertoire.