Jul-16-25 Shulman vs Van Wely, 2009 
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| TheaN: This one took me a while, as you look for something more destructive. However, it eventually becomes clear White's fighting a disadvantage (pawn down, first rank mate threats) in the original position, so there's no time for exchange sacs and winning rooks. Still <28.Rxd5!> to, ... |
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Jul-15-25 J Gdanski vs D Norwood, 1987
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| TheaN: This one is surprisingly easy, because one, there's literally only one reasonable sac in the position (Nd3 being the other one which makes no sense whatsoever), two, the moves play themselves entirely due to how locked up the queenside is. Ie, <37....Rxf6 -+> and White should ... |
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Jul-14-25 D Horvath vs S Erenburg, 2024
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| TheaN: <35.Rxh6> is curtains, because the rook can't be taken back: 35....Rxh6 36.Qc3+ #2 and Black can only interpose. Meanwhile White threatens Qc3+ anyway as well as Qxg6 and there isn't much Black can do to prevent both. Best is <35....Rg7 36.Rxd6 Rxd6 37.Qxd6 Qxd6 38.Rxd6 ... |
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Jul-11-25 Nepomniachtchi vs D Lazavik, 2023
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| TheaN: Saw this game pass by on YT just now: for all that it matters I absolutely adore Nepo adopting the KG in a super GM game, it's so rare. Sure, he probably won't do it in classical, probably not even in rapid, but still shows the game's rich regardless of the gambit being technically ... |
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Jul-09-25 E Vegh vs J Polgar, 1989
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| TheaN: Oh oops, saw 28.Rxe6 Rxe6 29.Qh7+ and thought this brilliant forced sequence would allow White to simplify completely, if 29....Kf8. Except.... 29....Nxh7 -+. Something I'd play in a heartbeat in blitz only to look confused at my screen after the queen's captured. |
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Jul-08-25 U Atakisi vs S Williams, 1999
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| TheaN: Will have to be honest, I missed the potential of Nxg6 trapping the queen forcefully. However... I do also join the criticism how this is a puzzle: Black simply takes the over-attacked Pg6 and threats all about. The fact that 34.Nxg6 Rh7 -+ is <technically> a sac doesn't qualify |
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Jul-07-25 N Umudova vs S Sommer, 2006
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| TheaN: Monday *snort*. If <45.Rxh6+ Kxh6 46.Qh8+ Kg6 (Nh7 47.Re6+ Qg6 (else Qxh6#) 48.Rxg6+ Kxh6 49.Qg8+ +-) 47.Qg8+ Kf6 (else 48.Rh1+ +-) 48.Re6+ Nxe6 49.Qxg4 +-> is Monday, we're in for a rough ride this week. I deliberately wrote it as one line, variations included, to show how ... |
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Jul-04-25 D Gukesh vs So, 2025
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| TheaN: So probably underestimated or miscalculated the clamp White will have on g6 after 16....Qc6? 17.g4/Nh4 ±. Principally, walking into the discover on the long diagonal seems like a disaster waiting to happen which did immediately, however after 16....Nc6 ⩲ Black also faces |
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Jul-03-25 H M Klek vs S Papp, 2013
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| TheaN: Oh wow, I missed the potential of Nc5+ completely. Looked at it, dismissed it. If you see 31.Nc5+! Bxc5? 32.Qxf7+ Be7 33.Rc7#, it's clear as day Nc5+ is the best move because 31.Nc5+ Ke8 32.Nxa4 +- is just unplayable for Black, zero compensation for a full queen. I instead chose the ... |
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Jul-02-25 D H Fernandez vs J Jackson, 2014
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| TheaN: Mate in four Wednesdays? Sure. <33.Bc4 Bxh2+ (Be5 34.Bxf7#) 34.Kxh2 Rxc4 (Bd5 35.Bxd5 with 36.Qg7#, else Qg7#) 35.Re8+ with 36.Qg7#>. |
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Kibitzing
