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Curt Hansen vs Otto Borik
Bundesliga (1998/99), GER, rd 3, Nov-21
Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation (D47)  ·  1-0
ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-14-12  rilkefan: I didn't even consider ...g6, as I thought black was just crushed due to the open h file, the central pawn storm, the threat of R over, the impending disaster on the b2-h8 diagonal, and the threat of Rxf7.

I might have played the inferior 26.Qf3, though stockfish says it's still easily winning after ...Qe7 27.exd6 Qxe3+ 28.Qxe3 Rxe3 29.Rh4 and now after ...Ne5 30.Kf2 white picks up material.

Dec-14-12  dick50: Bxh7 followed by Qh5 and fxe5 should be decisive. A single move fxe5 opens avenues for both Rooks. Rook on f1 is already striking f7. Rook on d4 can join Queen at g4 or h4. Bishop can join once pawn on e5 is removed. With little help possible Black King is doomed.
Dec-14-12  diagonalley: a classic BxRP+ ... a magnificent attack
Dec-14-12  Bartimaeus: Got until 23. Bxh7 Kxh7 24. Qh5+ Kg8 25. fxe5 g6. Didn't find a good refutation for g6 with a sound follow-up.

The cardinals attacking the white position along with the ability of the Rook to move along the latent and swing into the attack facilitated the initial moves. However, Rxf7 is the real killer move which i missed. It really demolishes the black position.

A beautiful example of how a fully mobilized army can execute a devastating attack.

Dec-14-12  M.Hassan: "Difficult"
White to play 23.?
They are equal- White has a Bishop for a Knight.

A Bishop sac can initiate attack:

23.Bxh7+ Kxh7
24.Qh5+ Kg8
25.fxe5
This move opens up the line of action of two Rooks that are very necessary now:

24...........g6
25.Rg4 Nxe5
26.Rxf7 Kxf7
27.Qh7+ Kf8
28.Rxg6
<if...Nxg6 29.Qg7#>
28..........Qd7
29.Rg8#
I think this must be it.

Dec-14-12  Djoker: What is wrong with this line?
23.Bxh7 Kxh7
24.Qh5+ Kg8
25.fxe5 Nxe5
26.Rh4 f6

Did white go wrong somewhere in this line? or am i not seeing something after these moves.

Dec-14-12  rilkefan: <Djoker>, on move 26 white takes the knight and then takes on f7, and Rh4 picks up Q for R - with continued mate threats (or a pawn storm, depending how black takes on e5) after Rf5.
Dec-14-12  C4gambit: ah ... almost there! Got the basic idea, saw that fxe frees the c4 rook to move sideways, but missed that it also frees the other rook to go upwards!
Dec-14-12  uldinch: this one rather belonged on tuesday, i.e. after the first three quite obvious correct moves the black are rendered defenceless
Dec-14-12  Abdel Irada: <<•>Rank and file<•>>

In this puzzle position, we find White with active pieces and much pressure against the black kingside. But adding more pressure appears to give time for defense, so we must consider breaking through with a sacrifice.

Fortunately, there's a stock sac right at hand:

<<•>23. Bxh7†!...>

Now, Black *can* decline this offer, but this is another case where I don't propose to examine such lines in depth. It is enough that we have won a pawn and weakened the enemy kingside; converting those advantages is a story for someone else to tell. *I* will assume the sac is accepted.

<<•>23. ...Kxh7

24. Qh5†, Kg8

25. fxe5...>

With this single pawn capture, White opens a file for one rook (incorporating a deadly threat against f7) and a rank for the other. Now the storm breaks in earnest.

Now comes the defender to the first crossroads: Black has three reasonable options.

<(1) 25. ...Nxe5
26. Bxe5, f6>

Others: (a) 26. ...g6??; 27. Qh8#. (b) 26. ...B/Rxe5?; 27. Qxf7†, Kh7; 28. Rh4†, Qxh4; 29. gxh4 .

<27. Bxf6!, Qc7>

If 27. ...gxf6?!; 28. Qg6†, Kf8 (28. ...Kh8??; 29. Rh4#); 29. Rxf6†, Qxf6; 30. Qxf6†, Kg8; 31. Rg4†, Kh7; 32. Qg7#.

<28. Rh4, gxf6
29. Qh8†, Kf7
30. Qxf6†, Kg8
31. Rh8#>

(Also insufficient is 28. ...Rxe3; 29. Qh8†, Kf7; 30. Qxg7†, Ke8; 31. Rh8†, Bf8; 32. Rxf8#.)

<(2) 25. ...g6
26. Rg4, Nxe5
27. Bxe5...>

Alternatives:

<(2.1) 27. ...Rxe5
28. Rxg6†, Kf8>

On 28. ...fxg6?; 29. Qxg6†, Kh8; 30. Rf7 .

<29. Qh7 >

No defense works: (a) 29. ...f6/f5??; 30. Rg8#. (b) 29. ...Q/Re7??; 30. Rg8#. (c) 29. ...R/Qc7; 30. Rg8†, Ke7; 31. Qxf7#.

<(2.2) 27. ...Bxe5
28. Rxf7!, Kxf7>

Or 28. ...Bg7; 29. Rxg7†, Kxg7; 30. Qxg6†, Kf8; 31. Rf4†, Ke7; 32. Rf7#.

<29. Qxg6†, Kf8>

Or 29. ...Ke7; 30. Qe6†, Kf8; 31. Rg8#.

<30. Qg8†, Ke7
31. Qe6†, Kf8
32. Rg8#>

For the moment, I'm passing over lines in which Black doesn't recapture on e5, since the bishop on b2 then becomes too much of a menace. Provisionally, then, this line also fails.

<(3) 25. ...Be7
26. Qxf7†, Kh8
27. e6 >

The threat is mate on g7, and there is no adequate defense: (a) 27. ...Rg8??; 28. Qh5#. (b) 27. ...Nf6; 28. Rh4†, Nh7; 29. Qxg7#. (c) 27. ...Bf6; 28. Rh4†!, Bxh4; 29. Qxg7#. (d) 27. ...Bf8; 28. Rf5! 1-0.

So far, Black's best chances seem to lie in variation (1), note (b), where he at least escapes mate; however, in all cases the sudden introduction of both of White's rooks with 25. fxe5 creates too many threats to parry.

Dec-14-12  morfishine: White to move, material even (I counted twice <Abdel>!). White's pieces are much more aggressively placed than Black's: Besides having both Bishops pointed at the Black Kingside, the "quiet" rook on <c4> is poised to shift laterally to <h4> after a timely <fxe5>; a move which also opens the f-file for the other rook

I am looking at 1 candidate: (1) 23.Bxh7+ forcing

(1) <23.Bxh7+ Kxh7 24.Qh5+ Kg8 25.fxe5> Threatens 26.Qxf7+, 26.Rh4, 26.exd6 & 26.e6; suffice it to say, the position is fluid

Its hard to find a good move for Black; 25...Bxe5 & 25...Rxe5 allow 26.Qxf7+ followed by 27.Rh4; & 25...Nxe5 26.Bxe5 Rxe5 27.Qxf7+

<25...Qe7> Black must prevent 26.Qxf7+

<26.Rcf4 Rf8 27.Rh4 Qxh4 28.gxh4>


click for larger view

**********
As usual for me, I missed better moves for the losing side, namely <25...g6>

<27.Rxf7> was a wonderful shot by White; and as weird as this may sound, I only could've found this move if I would've played better for Black!

Dec-14-12  Razgriz: Hmm, bishop sacrifice to lure the king out then check with queen. After that open the f-file to strengthen the attack. Pin the pawn on the g file if in case g6 is played.

What a great attack.

Dec-14-12
Premium Chessgames Member		  agb2002: White has the bishop pair for a bishop and a knight.

The black castle looks poorly defended. This suggests 23.fxe5, opening the f-file and the fourth rank to incorporate the rooks :

A) 23... Nxe5 24.Bxe5 Bxe5 25.Bxc8 + - [R vs B].

B) 23... Bxe5 24.Bxh7+

B.1) 24... Kxh7 25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Qxf7+ Kh8 (26... Kh7 27.Rf5 Nf6 28.Rh4+ Nh5 29.Rfxh5#) 27.Rf5 (27.Rh4+ Qxh4 28.gxh4 Bxb2 29.Qxd7 looks much slower) 27... Nf8 (27... g6 28.Qxg6 + -) 28.Rh5+ Nh7 29.Qg6 + -.

B.2) 24... Kf8 25.Qa1 looks good for White. For example, 25... Bxb2 26.Qxb2 Rxe3 27.Qf2 Re7 (27... Qe7 28.Bf5 Re2 29.Qf3 Re3 30.Qf4 Rd8 31.Be6) 28.Rf4 Nf6 29.g4, etc.

B.3) 24... Kh8 25.Rh4

B.3.a) 25... Bxb2 26.Be4+ (26.Bg6+ Qxh4 27.gxh4 fxg6, unclear) 26... Kg8 27.Rh8+ Kxh8 28.Qh5+ Kg8 29.Qxf7+ Kh7(8) 30.Qh5+ Kg8 31.Qh7#.

B.3.b) 25... Bf6 26.Bxf6 Nxf6 27.Bf5+ Kg8 28.Bxc8 + - [R vs N].

B.3.c) 25... g6 26.Bxg6+ and mate soon.

B.3.d) 25... Qxh4 26.gxh4 Bxb2 (26... Kxh7 27.Qh5+ Kg8 28.Qxf7+ Kh7(8) 29.Qxd7 Bxb2 30.Qh3+ Kg8 31.d6 + -) 27.Bf5 Rcd8 28.Qh5+ Kg8 29.Bh7+ and mate soon.

Dec-14-12  BOSTER: <Abdel Irada> <I will assume the sacr. is accepted>.

I will not.
After 23...Kf8 white has no any brillance in attack.

Dec-14-12
Premium Chessgames Member		  chrisowen: Ah attack me tallyin pop goes the weasel dominated of course never turn down bishop pawn grab in cot 23.Bxh7+ kite fly by knightd7 out of the question leg in bishop slake your thirst h7 opens all sorts of doors in bad find to cleanse now in kingxh7 shaggy you lavish in pile up ride a scan boom 24.Qh5+ to the nth degree doom for king got narrowed in.
Dec-14-12
Premium Chessgames Member		  chrisowen: Encouraged to take bone 24...Kg8 cut f4 loose now the firework start earnest in feel white has right rookc4 fade away you g4 log g6? true delight in what a turkey mate again beckons to binded 26.rg4 nxe5 heading arose no cake in walk smart rook f1 tangle f7 black is obliege e5 night evermore finalise next in f7 l0 win get one idea now in ghosting along good game nincompoop rooke8 allows right in do I ke a furnish gloom in difficult it off in dervish bishop in 7h!
Dec-14-12
Premium Chessgames Member		  kevin86: The attack begins with a bishop sac and then the heavy pieces come in for the kill.
Dec-14-12  James D Flynn: Material is equal but White has 2 Bs for B and N more space . Whites pieces are directed at the K-side ad the h7 and f7 pawns are defended only by the K. The common theme of Bxh7+ Kxh7 and Qh5+ comes into consideration.: 23.Bxh7 Kxh7 24.Qh5+ Kg8 25.fxe5 Nxe5 26.Bxe5(now if Black retakes White threatens Qxf7+ followed by Rh4+ and Qxh4 losing Q for R is forced leaving White the advantage of Q and 2 pawns for B and R and if he defends f7 by Rf8 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 28.Rg4+ Qg5 29.Rxg5#). Black can try the intermezzo 25…. g6 26.Rg4(not Qh6 Bxe5 27.Bxe5(not 27.Rh4 Qxh4 28.gxh4 Bxb2 and Black has 2 Bs and a R for his Q) Rxe5 28.Rh4 Rh5 29.Rxh5 gxh5 30.Rf5 Nf8 31.Rh5 Ng6 32.Qh7+ Kf8 33.Rf5 Qe2 34.Qxg6 Qxe3+ 35.Kg2 Q2+ 36.Kh3(and Black has run out of checks and must defend f7 ) Qe8 37.d6 and there is no defense to Qh6+ followed by Rg5#)Nxe5(White threatened 37.Rxg6+ fxg6 38.Qxg6+ Kh8 39.Rf7 and mate on g7 or h7)27.Bxe5 Bxe5 28.Rxg6+ fxg6 29.Qxg6+ Bg7 30.Rf7 and the only defense is Qf6 31.Rxf6 Re7 32.d6 Rd7 33.Re6 Rf7 34.Re7 Rf8 35.Rxf7 Rxf7 36.d7 Rxd7 37.Qe8+ Kh7 38,Qxd7 and White has Q for B with an easy win.
Dec-14-12  Kikoman: White starts with a ♗ sac, ♗xh7+! and killing attack follows.

Kihx3

Dec-14-12  Patriot: I figured the game line but considered 26.Qf3 as possibly better than 26.Rg4 but I didn't look at it too much after that.
Dec-14-12  Patriot: <<BOSTER>: <Abdel Irada> <I will assume the sacr. is accepted>. I will not.
After 23...Kf8 white has no any brillance in attack.> If you want to consider 23...Kf8 as a puzzle then by all means do so. But it would be a waste of time calculating this as white OTB. It wins a pawn for nothing so the critical test is 23...Kxh7.
Dec-14-12  Conrad93: Difficulty (1-5):
23.Bxh7! (2)

24.Qh4+ (1)

25.fxe5 (3)

26.Rg4! (3)

27.Rxf7 (4)

Overall, I would give it 3.2 at best.

Dec-14-12  TheBish: C Hansen vs O Borik, 1998

White to play (23.?) "Difficult"

I didn't find this too tough.

23. fxe5 and now:

(A) 23...Bxe5 24. Bxh7+! Kxh7 25. Qh5+ Kg8 26. Rh4 g6 27. Qh8+! Bxh8 28. Rxh8#.

(B) 23...Nxe5 24. Bxh7+! Kxh7 25. Qh5+ Kg8 26. Bxe5 Rxe5 27. Qxf7+ Kh7 28. Rh4+ Qxh4 (forced) 29. gxh4 and White wins.

(C) 23...g6? 24. Bxd7 Qxd7 25. exd6 wins a piece.

There are better ways to go for Black (such as declining the bishop and giving up a pawn), but White is better in all lines and should win.

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