Sometimes a doctor has to question, palpate, test, and question again before offering a diagnosis. On other occasions, though, he need merely look over the patient to "see" an internal pain and know what it means and how to treat it.

When this happens, it can seem uncanny, as if the doctor were using clairvoyance. Of course, the clairvoyance is really nothing more arcane than intuition: the product of intelligence guided by much experience.

Here, many players will find themselves in the role of that doctor. Looking over Black's position, they will see that the e6 square looks "tender," and so they start to palpate to confirm what they already "know": that a touch on this spot will elicit a pain reaction; for, deep inside, there is a dangerous vulnerability echoed in this little tender spot.

Sure enough:

<<•> 29. Rxe6! ... >,

and Black winces.

Of course, he can't reply (a) 29. ...Qxe6 30. Qh6, and mate cannot be avoided.

This leaves

<<•> 29. ...fxe6

30. Qh6 ... >

Yes, that hurts. With the pawn still on f7, this move could have been easily met by ...Qf8. But now the kingside is critically weakened; all is not well.

White threatens mate on g7. Pointless spite checks aside, Black can meet prevent this with any of four moves.

< (1) 30. ...Qf8
31. Qxg6†, Kh8
32. Qxh5†, Kg8
33. Rg1† >

White mates in two.

< (2) 30. ...Rb7
31. Qxg6† ... >

Which way to run?

< (2.1) 31. ...Kf8
32. Rg1 >

Black can delay mate, if he wishes, with (b) 32. ...Rg7 33. Qxg7†, Ke7 34. f7†, when White will queen with discovered check and cut away the remaining defenders.

< (2.2) 31. ...Kh8
32. f7 ... >

The threat is 33. Qh6#, and the answer is one of two:

< (2.2.1) 32. ...e5
33. Rf6, Rxf7 >

It's this or (c) 33. ...Qf8? 34. Qxh5†, Kg7 35. Qh6#.

<34. Rxd6, Rf1†
35. Kg2, Rg8
36. Qxg8† >

White has a rook and a knight to spare.

< (2.2.2) 32. ...Qf8
33. Qxh5†, Kg7
34. Rg1†, Kf6
35. Qg5†, Kxf7
36. Rf1†, Ke8
37. Rxf8† >

Farewell, option (2), which so far holds out best.

< (3) 30. ...Rd7
31. Qxg6†, Kf8 >

Black cannot play (d) 32. ...Kh8? 33. Qxh5†, Kg8 (33. ...Rh7? 34. Qe8†, Qf8 35. Qxf8#) 34. Rg1†, Kf8 35. Qh8†, Kf7 36. Rg7†, Kxf6 37. Qh6†, Kf5 38. Qg5#.

< 32. Rg1 ... >

Also playable is 32. f7, but Black can struggle on with 32. ...Rb8.

The text poses a question: I threaten 33. Qg8#. What do you propose to do about it? The answer does exist, but it's more comic than practical.

< 32. ...Rg7
33. Qxg7†, Ke8
34. f7† >

No matter where Black moves, White queens with check and wins with ιlan.

One try left.

< (4) 30. ...Kf7
31. Qg7†, Ke8
32. f7† >

This time, White will queen with discovered check.

Black can prolong the struggle in some of these variations, but he must finally succumb to the mortal malady that our inner chessic physician first diagnosed by the "tenderness" of e6.

Note to <Rhialto>: 31. Rg1!? also looks powerful, and I spent a bit of time on it, but a shade clearer is the direct denudation 31. Qxg6†, when 31. ...Kf8 32. Rg1! wins immediately. Meanwhile, as shown above, 31. ...Kh8 offers no better chances.

a. 29...Qxe6 30. Qh6 Qxf6 31. Rxf6

b. 29...fxe6 30. Qh6 Rb7 31. Qxg6+

b.1. 31...Kh8 32. f7 Qf8 33. Rf6 Qg7 34. Qxh5+ Qh7 35. f8=Q+ Rxf8 36. Rxf8+ (I actually thought the game could continue 36...Kg7 37. Rf7+, neglecting that the rook was still on b7)

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White now wins with 30 Nxd5, threatening Ne7+.

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If 30..fxe6, then 31 Qxe6+ Qf7 32 Qxf7+ Kxf7 33 Nxb4.

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After 29.Rxh5 gxh5 30.Ne4!, Black is toast. The knight blocks the fourth rank allowing the combination to succeed. Black's Queen is attacked and has no good square to move to. 30...Qf8 leads to a mate in six starting with 31.Qg5+, while other Queen moves allow 31.Qh6 followed by mate.>

White would love to play 29.Qh6 and 30.Qg7#, but black can defend with 29...Qf8. 29.Rxe6 seems to make it more palatable.

29.Rxe6

29...fxe6 30.Qh6 Rd7 31.f7+ Rxf7 32.Qxg6+

29...fxe6 30.Qh6 Qf8 31.Qxg6+ Kh8 32.Qxh5+ Kg8 33.Rg1+

29...fxe6 30.Qh6 Kf7 31.Qg7+ Ke8 32.f7+ Kd7 33.f8=Q+

29...fxe6 30.Qh6 Qd7 31.Qxg6+ Kf8 32.Qh6+ Ke8 33.Rg1

29...fxe6 30.Qh6 Qd7 31.Qxg6+ Kh8 32.f7

And, right on cue: