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Nikola Mitkov vs Stanislav Smetankin
Chicago Winter Invitational (2006), Chicago, IL USA, rd 9, Jan-13
Sicilian Defense: Closed Variation. Traditional (B25)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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sac: 22.Nxh5 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jun-18-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  takebackok: Up up and away Wednesday, no stopping 22. Nxh5 (threat Nf6+ & # incoming) gxh5 23. Qxh5+ Kg8 24. Bf6 Qxf6 25. Rxf6 end is near. 22. Nxh5 Qc5+ 23. Kh1 gxh5 24. Qxh5+ Kg8 25. Bf6 Bxg2+ (or Qxh5) mate still incoming starting with Rxg7+.
Jun-18-25  Walter Glattke: 22.Nxh5 Qc5+ 23. Kh1 gxh5 24.Qxh5+ Kg8 25.Bf6 Qxh5 26.Rxg7+ Kh8 27.Rg5+ Kh7 28.Rxh5 Kg6 29.Rg5+ Kh7 30.Rf4 mate soon
Jun-18-25  King.Arthur.Brazil: It seems simple, the first idea is: 22. Nxh5 gxh5 23. Qxh5+ Kg8 24. Bh6 Qg6 25. Rxg6 fxg6 26. Qxg6 Rxf1+ 27. Kxf1 Rf8+ 28. Kg1 Rf7 29. Bxg7 Rxg7 30. Qe8+ Kh7 31. g3 d2 32. Qd8...

But, W can improve it with 22. Nxh5 gxh5 23. Qxh5+ Kg8 24. Bf6 Qxf6 25. Rxf6 dxc2 26. Rxg7+ Kxg7 27. Qg5+ Kh7 28. Rh6#.

Refusing: 22. Nxh5 Kg8 23. Nf6+ Bxf6 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. Qxf6 Bf3 26. gxf3 d2 27. Rh4 d1=Q 28. Rh8#.

Jun-18-25  mel gibson: I wasn't sure.

Stockfish 17 says mate in 22:

22. Nxh5

(22. Nxh5 (1.Nxh5 gxh5 2.Qxh5+ Kg8 3.Bf6 Qxf6 4.Rxf6 Be4 5.cxd3 Bxd3 6.Rxg7+ Kxg7 7.Qh6+ Kg8 8.Rf3 Rad8 9.Rg3+ Bg6 10.Rh3 Rd1+ 11.Kf2 Rd2+ 12.Ke1 Rd1+ 13.Kxd1 Rd8+ 14.Ke1 Re8+ 15.Kf2 Bh7 16.Qxh7+ Kf8 17.Rf3 Re2+ 18.Kxe2 Ke7 19.Qxf7+ Kd6 20.Qg6+ Kc7 21.Rf7+ Kb8 22.Qg8+) +M22/70 602)

White wins _ mate in 22.

Jun-18-25  cocker: The sting comes on move 25, seeing that Bf6 is still possible.
Jun-18-25  TheaN: <22.Nxh5!> is kind of obvious. It's not the only move keeping advantage (something I did expect at first glance), but apparently White's not in a rush, the simple 22.cxd3 keeps a large advantage because 22....Bxf6 23.Bxf6 is not possible due to Qg5-h6.

However, the knight's currently in the way so just sac it to open up lines. 22....gxh5 23.Qxh5+ Kg8 24.Bf6 (Bh6 also wins fairly swiftly as White just goes up two pawns) +-. Weirdly enough I missed the whole Qc5+ idea, but in any case White wins due to the windmill, here it's mate 24....Qc5+? 25.Qxc5 bxc5 26.Rxg7+ Kh8 27.Rf4! #2.

Instead, 22....Bd4+ 23.Kh1 (Rxd4?? Qxg2#) +- #8 just blocks c5 and opens up the g-file prematurely: 23....gxh5 24.Qxh5+ Kg7 25.Bf6#. So yeah, <22....Qc5+ 23.Kh1> I don't really get Rf2, no need <23....gxh5 24.Qxh5+ Kg8 25.Bf6!>, on account of the game line <25....Qxh5 26.Rxg7+ Kh8 27.Rg5+ +-> and windmill success. I'll claim credit even missing Qc5+ because I saw the principle of the windmill and no effective defense: sure, Qc5-QxQ is the most drastic approach but practically the same.

Jun-18-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  chrisowen: I quick its timid fog Nxh5 ach its much its duh its axiom juggle its dhi its Nxh5 its ear;

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