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Nigel Short vs Neelotpal Das
4th United Insurance (1999), Dhaka BAN, rd 8, Feb-26
French Defense: Winawer. Poisoned Pawn Variation Paoli Variation (C18)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jan-18-07  waddayaplay: I didn't see what would happen after 24.h8Q. Put it into Fritz: black has mate in two.
Jan-18-07  nummerzwei: It´s 24...Qd3+!! 25.cxQd3 c2 mate, isn´t it?
Jan-18-07  Silverstrike: <nummerzwei> 24...Qd3+ 25.cxd3 c2+ 26.Rxc2. I can't see a mate in two after 24.h8Q either though. Hmmm.
Jan-20-07  nummerzwei: No, it´s 24.h8Q, not 25.h8Q. There´s no rook covering c2 at that point, it only moved to a2 instead of 24.h8Q.
Jan-20-07  Silverstrike: <nummerzwei> Oh, sorry. My mistake.
Feb-11-08  notyetagm: <waddayaplay: I didn't see what would happen after 24.h8Q. Put it into Fritz: black has mate in two.>

(VAR) Position after 24 h7-h8=♕??


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<nummerzwei: It´s 24...Qd3+!! 25.cxQd3 c2 mate, isn´t it?>

24 ... ♕b5-d3+!!


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24 ... ♕b5-d3+!! is one of the best examples I have ever seen of the tactical theme <BLOCKADERS DO NOT DEFEND SQUARES>.

In the first diagram the White c2-pawn <BLOCKADES> the Black c3-pawn to prevent Black from playing ... c3-c2#, hence the White c2-pawn cannot also <DEFEND> the d3-square to keep the Black b5-queen out.

Feb-11-08  mrsaturdaypants: Wow! Really nice tactics, waddyaplay. Thanks.

What about 24. Qe8+ Kxe8 25. h8Q+ Kd7 26.Qh3?

Also, why 24. Ra2? I don't see the goal of that move.

Feb-12-08  notyetagm: (VAR) 24 h7-h8=♕?? ♕b5-d3+!! 25 c2xd3 c3-c2#!

Notice how Short saw this idea and instead of playing the blunder 24 h7-h8=♕??, he played 24 ♖a1-a2, <DEFENDING> the c2-square, so that the White c2-pawn no longer had to <BLOCKADE> the Black c3-pawn to prevent ... c3-c2# because now the White a2-rook meets that threat by <DEFENDING> the c2-square (24 ♖a1-a2 ♕b5-d3+?? 25 c2xd3 c3-c2+ 26 ♖a2xc2).

In other words, the White a2-rook <DEFENDS> the c2-square to meet the threat of ... c3-c2# so that the White c2-pawn is freed from meeting this threat by <BLOCKADING> and can instead <DEFEND> the d3-square to keep the Black b5-queen out.

Feb-17-08  mrsaturdaypants: Ah, of course. Thanks, notyetagm. I understand 24. Ra2 now.

I still think that 24. Qe8+ Kxe8 25. h8Q+ Kd7 26.Qh3 is worth a try. Material is roughly even, and the queen on h3 protects against Qd3+ while also attacking the knight on f5 and the rook on g2. She even distantly pins the king on d7 (and 25. Ke7 is refuted by 26. Qf6+, so it would be there).

I think this might hold.

Feb-19-08  notyetagm: <mrsaturdaypants: Ah, of course. Thanks, notyetagm. I understand 24. Ra2 now.>

Great. 24 ♖a1-a2 seeks to relieve the burden on the <OVERWORKED> White c2-pawn, which would otherwise have to both <BLOCKADE> the Black c3-pawn -and- <DEFEND> the d3-square to deny it to the Black b5-queen.

Feb-26-08  Treadhead57: I don't know why I picked today to play through this game. It is totally coincidental that it is the anniversary of the date that it was first played. It is an well played game and it goes into my game collection.
Jan-10-12  Whitehat1963: 261 Elo points. Quite an upset with black!
Jun-14-13  whiteshark: Here's a compact video-annotation by William John Stewart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKZe...

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