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Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Artyom Timofeev
3rd Aeroflot Festival (2004)  ·  Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation (D45)  ·  1-0
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Given 16 times; par: 40 [what's this?]

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sac: 30.Ng6+ PGN: download | view Help: general | java-troubleshooting

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Kibitzer's Corner
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Mar-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  scormus: Seems I'm a bit late today in getting this. My first thought was it looked rather easy. W plays 30. Ng6+ and will get B on the back rank. If 30 ... Rxg6 31 Rxd8 winning. If 30 ... fxg6 31 Rxd6 winning. If 30 ... hxg6 theres no back rank # but W can swing an R over to the h-file to get him, cant he?

I thought I'd better take a minute to check. I eventually realised W now must play very exactly as Rxd6, Rh3+ and Qxf7 all seem to come up short. So I have as the key line

30. Ng6+ hxg6 31 Qh4+

if 31 ... Qh5 32 Qxd8+ Rxd8 33 Rxd8+ Kh7 34 Rh3... winning

if 31 ... Kg8 32 Qxd8+ Rxd8 33 Rxd8+ Kh7 (... Qf8 34 Ree8) 34 Rh3+ winning (Oh, its the same W moves)

Now see what really went down

Mar-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  scormus: Aaaagh, miseed the final move :(
Mar-11-11  CHESSTTCAMPS: In this middlegame, black is up a pawn and a minor exchange, but has back-rank weakness with the Ba8 in an unfortunate position. This can be seen by mentally removing white's knight and realizing that 30.Qxd6 would win in the altered position. This suggests:

30.Ng6+!!

Intuitively it may not seem possible that allowing a luft for the black king would work, but it does. There is no satisfactory defense:

A) 30... Rxg6? 31.Rxd8+ and mate next.

B) 30... Kg8? 31.Qxd6 Qxd6 (Rxd6 32.Re8#) 32.Rxd6 wins a rook.

C) 30... fxg6 32.Qxd6 Qxd6 33.Rxd6 Rc8 34.Rd7 a5 35.Ree7 with an easily won ending.

D) 30... hxg6 33.Qh4+ Qh5 34.Qxd8+ Rxd8 34.Rxd8+ Kh7 35.Ree8! (a key tempo better than Rh3) g5 36.Rh8+ Kg6 37.Rxh5 Kxh5 38.Rxa8 wins.

D.1) 33... Kg8 34.Qxd8+ Rxd8 35.Rxd8+ Kh7 36.Rh3+ Qh5 37.Rxh5+ gxh5 38.Rxa8 wins.

D.2) 34... Kh7 35.Rxd6 and the BQ must fall to the threat of 36.Rh3.

Line C is likely the defense a chess engine would choose. This looks familiar - I might have seen it before. Time for review...

Mar-11-11  CHESSTTCAMPS: Thanks to those who dug up examples of games with similar finishes.
Mar-11-11  alachabre: Ok, f7 is an obvious target, but it would be good to be wary of indiscriminite pawn-snatching, so I will overlook Qxf7 for now. And with good cause, the d2 rook is naked in the wind. Capturing Rxd6 will subject White to the threat of immediate back rank mate. But, maybe White is quicker to the punch?

30. Rxd6 Rxd6
31. Ng6+ &c

30. ... Qxd6
31. Qxd6 with big advantage.

Really? This can't be that easy. Maybe my first line doesn't go deep enough because it looks so obvious. Actually, I don't think either line is going deep enough. Need coffee!!

30. Rxd6 Rxd6
31. Ng6+ hxg6
32. Re8+ Kh7
33. Qh5+ Qh6

Did not go deep enough to see this the first time. Time to go to work, will return later this evening to finish.

Mar-11-11  CHESSTTCAMPS: <Jimfromprovidence> I agree that your line 32.Ra3 winning the a-pawn is more accurate than grabbing the 7th rank right away. Also illustrative of black's difficulties (from your first diagram) is the continuation 32... Rc8 33.Ra3 b4 34.Rxa7 c3 35.bc bc 36.Rc7! Rb8 37.Kf1 and black is out of tricks. Finesses like this can make a difference in a closer ending.
Mar-11-11  Chizoad: I missed this one, choosing 30. Qxf7 instead of the text. The white rook cannot be taken due to 31. Qg8+ followed by 32. Ng6+ and 33. Rh3#. Of course black can short circuit this line with many options including 30... Qxe3, leading at worst to something unclear.
Mar-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sastre: <Chizoad: The white rook cannot be taken due to 31. Qg8+ followed by 32. Ng6+ and 33. Rh3#> After 30.Qxf7 Black can play 30...Rxd2 because if 31.Qg8+ Rxg8 32.Ng6+ hxg6 33.Rh3+, then 33...Qh5 34.Rxh5+ gxh5 .
Mar-11-11  Naugh: Very cool game. And of course you're alway glad to see the Sicilian busted as an 1. e4 player.
Mar-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  parisattack: This game also featured in the 'Shak-and-Awe' collection I put together with the help of <MamedyarovFan> on the Mamedyarov forum. As also noted there, I've not seen another player who gets a pawn on d6 (as white) as often as Mamedyarov!
Mar-11-11  stst: The line 30...fxg6 offers more subtle resistance than 30..hxg6, but probably Bk is too worried about the back rank and tried to give the K some breathing room that the move in the game actually delivers W this pretty finish (where the

Granted that this opponent is not up to par, hope Shak (reminiscent of the one in NBA!) more success in the up-coming Candidates Match.

Mar-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  kevin86: A complicated one. Would it be a h-file mate,back row mate,queen sac... Inn a way,it was a piece of all of these.

Note,in the final position,there is no Qd1# as the rook guards that square from cross-country.

Mar-11-11  310metaltrader: Ok, i give up, how does 30. rxd6 not lead to a lost rook for sure, if black tries to recapture with queen or rook, there is a back rank mate on the e file once the horsie gives check.
Mar-11-11  BOSTER: There is nothing is wrong that in such position, where all black pieces moved on the queen's side without king, white can find a combo. This combo is built using the double attack tactics and the weakness on the back rank. The motif of using the immobility of the double pawns g7-g6 (g2-g3) with king on h8( h1) is very popular. This is the position after 21.Qg3 when black played strange Qb5.


click for larger view

Maybe f6 (or Bxe5) give more space for fighting.

Mar-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  morfishine: <sevenseaman>...<When I looked up the game I found I had gone on a tangent. Why the heck did I not consider Black could take my N with the other pawn?> Don't worry about it: black loses in both cases.

Sorry to not read all the posts this morning: I couldn't get on line until just before I had to leave for work. Luckily, I already knew the answer from the Alekhine game!

Mar-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  morfishine: <Jimfromprovidence> As usual, you have a very interesting side-line. However after 32...Rb8 instead of 33.Ra3, isn't 33.Rde6 simply crushing?


click for larger view

The only move for black to keep from losing a piece and being mated is 33...Bd5 so after 34.Re8+ Rxe8 35.Re8+ Bg8 36.Kf1 white wins:


click for larger view

Or am I missing something?

Mar-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  morfishine: <alachabre>...<...Really? This can't be that easy> Well, its not. Black simply replies 30...Qxd6.

Try this: On the next puzzle, take a good look, count the pieces and pawns and look at every corner of the board. Take it all in...then walk away and make your coffee. While you are relaxing with your coffee and donuts or whatever you have for breakfast, your brain will subconsciously be working on a solution. Don't try to think: let your brain work on its own. Then come back and work on your solution.

Your avatar kills me. That Dangerfield looks like he's fretting over the next move like he's facing a checkmate. Hilarious! :) Morf

Mar-11-11  TuxedoKnight: amazing puzzle

do you know where you can find more awesome puzzles?

http://tuxedoknight.uphero.com/

:D

Mar-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  David2009: Mamedyarov vs A Timofeev, 2004 White 30?

30 Nhg6+ hxg6! 31 Qh4+ Kg8 (if 31...Qh5 32 Qxd8+ Rxd8 33 Rxd8+ Kh7 34 Ree8 Kh6 [or 34...g5] 35 Rh8+ wins the Q and then the B the other way round) 32 Rh3 Qh5 33 Qxd8+ Rxd8 34 Rxd8+ Kh2 35 Rxh5+ gxh5 36 Rxa8 and White is a Rook ahead. Instead, 30 Qh4?! (hoping for Rxd2?? Qxh7+ etc) h6 lets Black off the hook: 31 Ng6+ Kh2 32 Qxd8 Rxd8 33 Rxd8 (threatening Nf8+) Kxg6 34 Rxa8 is at best level.

It took me a long time to see this - I saw the win with 31....Qh5 early, but not that with 31...Kg8. Time to check:
====
Seems OK - bed time. I am coming to this very late.

Mar-11-11  wals: Naw, not even close.

Rybka 4 x 64 d 17 : 4 min :

26...Rd7, blunder, +1.72.
Best,

1. (0.66): 26...f5 27.Rc1 b5 28.Re1 Be4 29.g4 b4 30.Nxf5 Bxf5 31.Re5[] Qc8 32.Rxf5 Rxf5 33.gxf5 c3 34.bxc3 bxc3 35.Rd4 Qb7 36.Rc4 Re8 37.Qc1 Qd5 38.Qxc3 Qxd6 39.h3 Qd1+ 40.Kh2 Qd6+ 41.Qg3 Qf6

2. (0.86): 26...f6 27.Re1 Qg5 28.Qxg5 fxg5 29.d7 g6 30.f3 Kg7 31.Nc8 Bc6 32.Re7+ Rf7 33.Rxf7+ Kxf7 34.Rd6 Bxd7 35.Nxa7 Ke7 36.Rxb6 Ra8 37.Rb7 Kd6 38.Kf2 Bc6 39.Nxc6 Kxc6 40.Rb4 c3 41.Rc4+ Kd5

28...Rfd8, +2.45. Best, a6. f6, +1.80

White blunder, d 16 : 4 min :

29.Re3, 0.50.

Best,

1. (2.45): 29.Qxf7 Qg5 30.Rg3[] Qf6 31.Qxf6[] gxf6 32.Rd4 f5 33.Nxf5 Rf7 34.Rg5 Bc6 35.Rh4 Bd7 36.Ne7 Rg7 37.Re5 Rf7 38.f4 a5 39.Kf2 Rf6 40.Reh5 Rf7 41.Kg3 Be6 42.f5

Black blunder. d 17 : 3 min :

29...Rxd6, +3.21. Best,

1. = (0.14): 29...f6 30.Nf5 g6 31.Ng3 Kg7 32.Re6 Rf7 33.Rd1 b4 34.Ne4 Bxe4 35.Rxe4 Rfd7 36.Re6 Rf7 37.Rde1 Qd5 38.h4 c3 39.Qxb4 cxb2 40.Qxb2 Rxd6 41.Re7 Rd7 42.Re8 a5 43.Qa3 Rd6 44.Qa4 Rc7

2. (0.84): 29...Qb4 30.Rde2 Qxd6 31.Qxf7 Qd1+ 32.Re1 Qg4 33.f3 Qd4 34.Kf1 Qf6 35.Qxf6 gxf6 36.Nf5 Kg8 37.Re8+ Kf7 38.Rxd8 Rxd8 39.Re7+ Kg6 40.Nh4+ Kh6 41.Rxa7 b4 42.Nf5+ Kg5 43.Ng3[] Kg6 44.Ne2 Bc6

Mar-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Jimfromprovidence: <Morf> <As usual, you have a very interesting side-line. However after 32...Rb8 instead of 33.Ra3, isn't 33.Rde6 simply crushing? >

I can't see much difference between the two continuations. They both look strong. In yours, black can put his rook on the files between the king and the white rooks with 33...Rf8, below, or Rg8, to save the bishop.


click for larger view

Now if white follows 34 Re8 than 34...Kg8 protects a back rank mate or bishop loss.


click for larger view

I also posted a response on your forum page.

Mar-11-11  alachabre: Going to change track from this morning. Had a couple of major misconceptions at the start, but now looking at

30. Ng6+

30. ... Rxg6??

30. ... fxg6
31. Qxd6 Qxd6
32. Rxd6 Rg8
33. Re7

30. ... hxg6

At first glance, this is best defense. It opens up the h file, and there should be a way to exploit it, but I don't yet see it. Ah. There it is.

30. Qh4+ Qh5
31. Qxd8+! Rxd8
32. Rxd8+ Kh7
33. Re8

And White should be able to pick up both Q for R and the attacked bishop.

30. ... Kh7?
31. Rxd6

Solution

30. Ng6+ fxg6!

Mar-11-11  WhiteRook48: i only got 30 Ng6+, with ideas of sacrificing to open the back rank. but my idea didn't work
Mar-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  sevenseaman: <morfishine: The only move for black to keep from losing a piece and being mated is 33...Bd5 so after 34.Re8+ Rxe8 35.Re8+ Bg8 36.Kf1 white wins: Or am I missing something?>

In response to <jimforprovidence>, you are spot-on. This idea occurred to me too. I found the same B moves for going to g8.

With material advantage, White wins.

Thanks for checking into my parallel solution.

Yesterday I was too engrossed in Cricket World Cup. Ireland were unfortunate to be denied via an umpiring howler.

So I was apprehensive of a double whammy; cricket as well as Friday puzzle that I had been rather hard put to concentrate upon. Your excellent allusion to Alekhine-Colle popped up to give me hope like an oasis in the desert.

Mar-12-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  David2009: Mamedyarov vs A Timofeev, 2004 postscript: My variation 30 Nhg6+ hxg6 31 Qh4+ Kg8 32 Rh3? fails since Black escapes to victory with 32...f5! Congratulations and thanks to <CHESSTTCAMPS> and before him <gofer> and <UTCAA> for their fine analysis of the winning line - simple if you spot it.
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