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< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 1 OF 3 ·
Later Kibitzing> |
| Dec-27-08 | | hchrist: Brilliant. |
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| Dec-28-08 | | belgradegambit: 28 Rf5! is very nice indeed. |
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| Dec-28-08 | | cliffordgoodman: games like this, and specifically moves like 28. Rf5 make me realize just how much better gm's are than me |
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Dec-28-08
 | | OneArmedScissor: excellent |
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| Dec-28-08 | | KKDEREK: One more brilliant game from the always amazing Caruana. |
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| Dec-28-08 | | shintaro go: The sequence of moves Caruana made after 28. Rf5 was magnificent. Vallejo was reduced to reacting to what Caruana was doing as the position finally crumbles 12 moves later. Amazing stuff from the Italian kid. |
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| Dec-17-09 | | patzer3844: i cannot believe that he had foreseen 12 moves ahead.If he can i ll not play chess again |
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| Dec-17-09 | | ounos: <patzer3844: i cannot believe that he had foreseen 12 moves ahead.If he can i ll not play chess again>
LOL, don't worry, you don't have to quit chess. Obviously he didn't see beforehand 12 moves. Half-way through he repeated moves. Sometimes they play speculative, you know. If he counted up to 33. Nxf5, that should be enough to realize that after that position he has all practical chances to win. |
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| Dec-05-10 | | mrsaturdaypants: I have never solved a Sunday puzzle. I will keep saying that until it's no longer true. My plan is to sac the queen on h5, setting up what I hope is a mating net with white's bishop and two rooks. First, though, black's queen has to be distracted. 28 Nd4 Qe5 29 Nc6 Qe6 30 Nxe7 Qxe7 31 Qxh5 gxh5 32 Rxg3+ Kh7 33 Rf5, and... ...I thought it was curtains, but 33...Qe5 saves the day. Hmm. Not today. Time to check. |
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Dec-05-10
 | | Phony Benoni: I was on the Nd4-Nf5 wavelength as well, but 28.Rf5 is much more effective. Probably didn't consider it enough because I was focused on the mate with two rooks, so didn't look at sacrificing one of them. |
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| Dec-05-10 | | AGOJ: Beautiful. I saw 28.Rf5, but thought to follow up with 29.Qxh5, which is wrong of course. 29.Nd4 is sweet. |
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Dec-05-10
 | | al wazir: I got skunked again. I had most of the right ideas, but not that 28. Rf5, which is key. So why didn't white play it two moves earlier? After 26. Rf5 gxf5 27. Qxh5, the win is easy. If 26...Bb4, then 27. Nxb4 axb4 28. Rxh5 Qxa2 29. Qxa2 Rxa2 30. Rxg3 Ra5 31. Bd4 wins. |
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Dec-05-10
 | | dzechiel: White to move (28?). Black is up two pawns. "Insane." I started looking at moves like 28 Qxh5, but black has so many ways to deal with that (28...Qxh5 or 28...Qxd3+) that I decided I was not going to be able to remove the knight with my queen. Then I started to consider 28 Nd4, and while it does force black to move his queen, it doesn't have that much else going for it. Finally my eye was drawn to
28 Rf5
I really like this move. If black doesn't want to take the rook, then his queen is forced to abandon the 5th rank, about the only place it can do any good. After say 28...Qd7 29 Rxh5 gxh5 30 Rxg3+
with mate soon to follow. No, I think if black wants to put up a stand, he's gonna have to take the rook. Let's go back to
28...gxf5
Now, it would be fun to try and play 29 Qxh5 immediately, but that would allow black to play 29...Qxd3+ followed by 30...Qxe3 and I think black would be able to still put up resistance. I think we need to shoo the black queen off of her attack on d3. Probably 29 Nd4
is now in order. Once the queen moves, say...
29...Qe5
If for no other reason than to defend g3.
30 Nxf5
With threats of 31 Qxh5 and 31 Bd4
I confess that I'm less and less sure about this line and it plays out. I'm gonna check now and see how this game really ended. =====
OK, I started correctly, but there was no way I was going to see the end of this one. |
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Dec-05-10
 | | ganstaman: I recognized this position and even remembered the first key move (28. Rf5). Recently-ish, I was going through Caruana's more interesting games and this was obviously among them. What struck me was how he would repeat moves half-way through tactical sequences with more frequency than most. You can see that here as the position after move 33 is the same as after 35. It's a barely noteworthy observation, but since we're all here for the puzzle of the day, I figured I'd comment. |
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| Dec-05-10 | | knight knight: Black's two pawns up with a passed pawn on g3, so this may even be white to play and draw. 28. Nd4 is a possibility, perhaps 28. Rf5, this has a puzzle-move feel to it, possible replies: a) 28...Qxf5 29. exf5 is losing material for black
b) 28...Qd7 (or other queen moves off the 5th rank) 29. Rxh5 gxh5 30. Rxg3+ mating c) 28...d5 29. Rxh5 as above
d) 28...Nf4 29. Rxf4 material ahead
e) 28...gxf5 29. Nd4 Qe5 30. Qxh5
i) 30...Qh6/h8 31. Rxg3+ mating
ii) 30...Qg7 31. Nxf5 winning
iii) 30...f6 31. Nxf5 Rf7 32. Rxg3+ mating
iv) 30...fxe4 31. Nf5 Bf6 32. d4 Q moves 33. Rxg3+ is the end for black v) 30...Bf6 and here I'm a bit stuck (31. Nxf5?? Qb2#) The right idea I think, let's check out the game... |
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| Dec-05-10 | | tacticalmonster: 1) White is down two pawns
2) White wants to remove the defender (h5 knight) which is guarding the g3 pawn to open up the g-file toward black king 3) White has a weak king. In particular, Black can potentially exploit the weak h8-a1 long digaonal with the set up of f6B+e5Q battery 4) White's rooks are both ready for action while Black's rooks are still inactive. 5) White's has central majority which can be used to drive away Black defenders of the black king. Candidate: 28 Rf5
Note: any queen move away from the fifth rank allows 29 Rxf5 gxh5 30 Rxg3+ Kh7 31 Qxh5# so Black has to play gxf5. 28...gxf5 29 Nd4 (Black must not be allowed to play Qxd3+) Qe5 30 Qxh5 f4 31 Nf5! a) 31...Bf6 32 Nh6+ Kg7 33 Rxg3+!! fxg3 (33...Kh7 34 Nf5#) 34 Qh6+ Kg8 35 Nxf6+ Qxf6 36 Qxf6 g2 37 Bd4 g1=Q+ 38 Bxg1 Rfe8 39 Bd4 Kf8 40 Qxd6+ Re7 41 Bf6 Rae8- White will end up Q against R b) 31...fxe3 32 Qg4+ Kh7 33 d4! Qf6 34 Qh5+ Kg8 35 Rxg3+ Qg5 36 Rxg5+ Bxg5 37 Qxg5+ Kh7 38 Qg7# c) 31...Bf6 32 Nh6+ Kh7 33 Nf5+ (white should go for the perpetual)Kg8 34 Bd4 Qxd4 35 Nxd4 Bxd4 36 Rg2 Be3  d) 31...Bf6 32 d4 Qxe4+ 33 Ka1 Qg6
e) 30 Nxf5 Bf6 31 Qg4+ Ng7 32 d4 Qe6 33 Bh6 Rfe8 34 Bxg7 (34 Re1? Qxf5!) Qxe4+ 35 Qxe4 Rxe4 36 Bxf6 Kh7 37 Rxg3 Rg8 38 Rh3+ Kg6 39 Ne7+ Kxf6 40 Nxg8+ Kg7 41 Rg3+ Kf1 42 h3 Rxd4- White has a knight against two pawns f) 30 Nxf5 Nf6 31 Bd4 Qe6 32 Rxg3+ Kh7 33 Bxf6 Qxf6 34 Qh5+ Qh6 35 Qxh6# g) 30 Nxf5 Ng7 31 Bd4 Qe6 32 Nxg7 Qd7 33 Rxg3 - Black cannot avoid mate or huge loss of materials time spent: 111 mins |
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Dec-05-10
 | | M.Hassan: "Insane" White to play 28.?
White is 2 pawns down
After checking several variations and spending time on this, I found that the best approach would be to try and push the Black Queen out of row 5.Why?, because one of the moves that I thought could be "destine making" is Qxh5 and presence of Queen in row 5 prevents gxh5 that exposes Black King to check. The followings are three variations that I have studied:
Variation A
28.Nd4 Qb7
29.Qxh5 gxh5
30.Rxg3+ Kh7
31.Rf5 Qb5
32.Nxb5 axb5
33.Rxh5#
I do not think this line has happened in the game!!
Variation B
28.Nd4 Qa5
29.Nf5 Bg4
30.Bxg4 gxf5
31.Qxh5 Rab8
32.Rxg3 f3
33.Bc1#
Variation C
28.Nd4 Qa4
29.Rf5 b3
30.axb3 Bf6
31.Rxg3 Bxd4
32.Bxd4 Qxb3+
33.Bb2
And White is ahead by a Bishop for a pawn.Time to check |
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Dec-05-10
| | M.Hassan: I had seriously thought about Rf5 but did not think it was the 28th move! |
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| Dec-05-10 | | tacticalmonster: again find the right candidate but miss the most promising continuation. Hmm I spent too much time on this puzzle. Next time I should shorten my thinking time to one hour max. |
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| Dec-05-10 | | goodevans: I got <28 Rf5> quite quickly, but after <28 ... gxf5 29 Nd4 Q moves> I was planning on <30 Qxh5> with Nxf5 and Rxg3 to follow. What I didn't spot is that after <29 ... Qe5 30 Qxh5 Bf6> the N is pinned, which rather takes the sting out of the attack. |
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Dec-05-10
 | | scormus: Fabulous combination, kicked of by a neat interference tactic! I started off OK but then I lost my way. I thought 30. Ncf5 ticked all the right boxes but when I played it through I saw it just comes up short. E.g. 30.... Nf4 31 Bxf4 Qxf4 32. Rxg3+ looks winning but ... Bg5 stops W in his tracks. If this this game didnt win the brilliancy prize I'd like to see the one that did! |
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Dec-05-10
 | | Once: 
click for larger view"Hang on a minute, lads," said the Rg1 gruffly. "I've got a great idea. Sac something on h5, then I'll take that black g3 pawn and it'll be check. check, mate. Easy peasy." "Not so fast, young man," countered the white queen. "I'm not going anywhere near h5 until one of you workman types makes it safe. It looks far too dangerous." "I suppose that means me," muttered the Rf1 with a resigned harrumph. 28. Rf5 gxf5
"Now! Now!" screamed the Rg1. "Qxh5 and then I get to play Rxg3. That's gotta be winning." "Slow down, slow down," said the white queen haughtily. "If I take on h5, the black queen recaptures on d3 with check. Let's make the black queen move away." "And that will mean me," said the white knight happily. "Always happy to serve." "That bloke enjoys his work a little too much for my liking" muttered the Rg1 sourly 30.Nc6 Nf4 31.Bxf4 Qxf4 32.Nxe7+ Kh7 33.Nxf5 Kg6 34.Ne7+ Kh7 35.Nf5 Kg6 
click for larger view"Now can I take the g3 pawn?" asked the rook, getting more and more insistent. "No, I don't think so," replied the white queen. "If you do, the black king escapes to f6 and our king hunt would be shortlived. Why don't you scare the black queen away so that the knight and I can get closer?" "Yes, your majesty, if I must," grunted the rook. But what he was really thinking was "here am I, muscles the size of bowling balls and she has me saying boo to a queen. I should be ripping pawn's heads off, not pussy footing around shouting at royalty." 36.Rf1 Qg5
"And now a little pawn move to kick the black queen again," said the white queen. Meanwhile, on f1 the rook positively glowered. 37.h4 Qf6 38.Qg4+
"Oh that's rich, that is," said the Rf1 sourly. "We rooks do all the hard work, and the fancypants knight and queen get all the glory..." 38... Kh7 39.Qh5+ Kg8
"Okay, okay, I know you are itching to get into the action," said the white queen sweetly to the Rf1. "So I've arranged a little treat for you. Get ready for some action." 40.Nh6+
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" yelled the rook with an enthusiastic war whoop. "Rxf6! Rook takes queen! Carnage, death, destruction, five points for nine! It's clobbering time!" 1-0
"What do you mean, "1-0"?? He resigned? He can't do that! Come back and fight like a man! I want to take something..." |
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Dec-05-10
| | scormus: <Once> again, brilliant! |
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| Dec-05-10 | | bonniekathosh: Repetition of moves before move 40 usually indicates that the player wants to avoid time trouble by getting to the time control faster i.e. it saves time. Comes in handy in tournaments just mentioning. |
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Dec-05-10
 | | David2009: F Caruana vs Vallejo-Pons, 2008 White 28? Insane White is two pawns down but his attack is much further forward than Black's.
My first thought was 28 Nd4 with the plan of exchanging off the Be7 and then playing Qxh4, but this doesn't work: 28...Qa5 29 Nc6 Qc7 30 Nxe7+ Qxe7
(there are other move sequences that bring about this position) 31 Qxh5! gxh5 32 Rxg3+ Kh2 33 Rf5 threatening mate, but Qh4! turns the tables and Black,
with Q for a B, wins.
But there is no need for Nxe7+: White can simply play 28 Nd4 Qa5 29 Nc6 Qc7 30 Qxh5 since gxh5 31 Rxg3+ Kh7 32 Rf5 threatens a mate that Black can delay but not stop.
Alternatively Black can try 28...Qe5 when 29 Nc6 Qe6 30 Qxh5 gxh5 31 Rxg3+ Kh7 32 Rf5 Qxf5 33 exf5 holds for Black. But White can simply
play 29 Rf5! gxf5 (forced) 30 Nc6! Qh8 31 Nxe7+ Kg2 32 Nxf5+ with a violent attck for the sacrificed material. This is as far ahead as I can reliably calculate.
Conclusion: I play Nd4 and await Black's reply. Time to
check:
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Wrong first move: will it transpose into the game? Time to check by inputting the puzzle position
click for larger view (F Caruana vs Vallejo-Pons, 2008 White 28?) into Crafty End Game Trainer. Link:
http://www.chessvideos.tv/endgame-t... The EGT reveals all. 28 Nd4? is met by Qd7! (NOT Qe4 29 Rf5! fxe5 30 Nc6! as in my analysis and transposing into the game).
Now 29 Qxh5? simply loses the exchange; 29 Rf5? fails to Ng7! and Black is consolidating his extra material; and finally 29 Nf5 is met by 29...b3! with
a strong (winning?) counterattack. One variation: 30.axb3 Bf6 31.Nxg3 Nxg3 32.Rxg3 Rab8! 33.Rxf6!? [defence is clearly hopeless] Rxb3+ 34.Kc2 Qc6+! and mates. The right move order is 28 Rf5! fxg5 29 Nd4! and the EGT defends with 29...Qe5 30.Nc6 (so far as in the game). The EGT now plays 30...Ng7 surrendering Q for R plus B. In principle this is won for White: in practice winning it seems very tough. Over to you to finish the EGT off (if you can). |
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sac: 28.Rf5