| Mar-17-07 | | Confuse: Lots of tactical maneuvers! Very exciting. Rapid chess is pretty crazy at this level |
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| Mar-17-07 | | Shajmaty: He finds 36. Re8 followed by 37. Ne6 with only 10" increment... what a talent, this Chucky! |
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| Mar-17-07 | | dehanne: This happens with a horribly weak back rank.
Poor Loek. |
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Mar-17-07
 | | chancho: 37...fxe6 38.Re7+ and Black's Queen is kaput. |
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Mar-17-07
 | | technical draw: Losing the queen is not really the problem. After the queen is down the Knight on b6 is dead meat. |
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| Mar-19-07 | | Manequinho: 36. Re8+ could be a puzzle for someday... |
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| Mar-26-07 | | notyetagm: Position after 35 ... ♕d8-c7?:
click for larger viewThe key to this puzzle is that the piece configuration White b7-queen, Black c7-queen,
Black c8-rook is the basic pattern for the <FORK-OVERLOAD TRICK>: the White queen
attacks the Black queen which is defended -only- by the Black rook which is on the <BACK RANK>
with the Black g8-king.
So Ivanchuk first plays 36 ♖e1-e8+!, with the idea that 36 ... ♖c8x♖e8? <DEFLECTS> the Black c8-rook
from defending the Black c7-queen, and White would then win the now undefended Black queen with
37 ♕b7x♕c7.
click for larger viewInstead of capturing the checking White rook, the Black g8-king will move to g7. But now the
Black g7-king is lined up with the Black c7-queen along the 7th rank. Because the Black queen and
king are lined up along the 7th rank, the only thing that is preventing the devastating <ROOK FORK> ♖e8--e7+
is the Black f7-pawn, by <BREAKING THE ALIGNMENT> between the Black royalty. But since <BREAKING
AN ALIGNMENT IS A FULL-TIME JOB>, the Black f7-pawn cannot also defend the e6-square. So
Ivanchuk next plays 37 ♘g5-e6+!, a <KNIGHT FORK> of the Black king and queen. 
click for larger view |
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| Mar-26-07 | | notyetagm: Black has to meet the <KNIGHT FORK> of his g7-king and c7-queen by capturing the White e6-knight
with 37 ... f7x♘e6 but now his king and queen are directly lined up along the 7th rank, i.e., there is no longer
A Black f7-pawn between them to <BREAK THEIR ALIGNMENT>.
click for larger viewSo now Ivanchuk strikes with 38 ♖e8-e7+!, <FORKING> the Black king and queen with his rook. After
Black catpures the White rook with 38 ... ♕c7x♖e7, White wins the Black queen with the <X-RAY> 39 ♕b7x♕e7+. 
click for larger view
click for larger viewWhat Ivanchuk saw and Van Wely missed is that after 36 ... ♔g8-g7 the Black c7-queen and Black g7-king
are in not one but -two- alignments: a <PIN/SKEWER/FORK> alignment from both being situated along the
7th rank -and- a <KNIGHT FORK> alignment from occupying the c7- and g7-squares. The Black f7-pawn is then
<OVERWORKED> trying to meet both of these threats, meeting the <KNIGHT FORK> by <DEFENDING> the
e6-tactical base and meeting the <ROOK FORK> by <BREAKING THE ALIGNMENT>. A simply -stupendous- petite combination by Ivanchuk, one of the finest I have ever seen. A beautiful combination
involving the <FORK-OVERLOAD TRICK>, <DEFLECTION>, and <X-RAY> tactical motifs. 36 ♖e1-e8+! ♔g8-g7 (36 ... ♖c8xe8? <deflection from c7> 37 ♕b7x♕c7) 37 ♘g5-e6+! f7xe6 <deflection
from 7th rank> 38 ♖e8-e7+! <x-rays e7> ♕c7x♖e7 39 ♕b7x♕e7+ |
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| Mar-26-07 | | notyetagm: Ivanchuk has now played two -outstanding- <PETITES COMBINATIONS> at Amber, this one to defeat Van Wely and an incredible <DECOY FOR TEMPO> which resulted in a minature win over Anand in their blindfold game. |
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| Mar-28-07 | | dehanne: <notyetagm> Just a suggestion, it's "petite combinaison". |
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| Mar-28-07 | | notyetagm: <dehanne: <notyetagm> Just a suggestion, it's "petite combinaison".> Thanks. I thought that "combination" had the same spelling in English and French. |
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| Nov-10-07 | | notyetagm: <notyetagm: A simply -stupendous- petite combination by Ivanchuk, one of the finest I have ever seen. A beautiful combination involving the <FORK-OVERLOAD TRICK>, <DEFLECTION>, and <X-RAY> tactical motifs.> Indeed, the best <petite combinaison> I have seen all year. |
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Mar-31-08
 | | Bobsterman3000: Loek seems to be a very unlucky player. He seems to catch all of the other Super-GM's when they are in top form :-) |
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| Aug-13-11 | | kia0708: Ivanchuk for president !
(of Ukraine, of course) |
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Kibitzing
