Tactics (40)

In the diagram below you see a position from Luch - Bacrot (Bundesliga 2011). White to move. Is it possible to take the pawn on c6 (Rxc6) with ideas of axb4; Rxc8 Rxa4; Bh6?

Solution:

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No, it is not possible as the game proves: 28.Rxc6? axb4 29.Rxc8 Rxa4 30.Bh6 Ra8 31.Bxf8 Rxc8 32.Rxc8 Qb7! (32.- f6 33.Bxb4+ =) 33.Re8 Qc6 34.Rb8 Qc7 0-1 (35.Re8/a8 Qc1+ 36.Kg2 Qc6+ wins the rook; but the main point is as follows: 35.Bd6+ Qxb8 36.Bxb8 diagram

36.- b3! and the pawn is unstoppable -+

This game is mentioned in IM Souleidis famous column "Gurken des Wochenendes" ("Trash of the Weekend").[1] In my opinion it does not really qualify since deep calculation is needed here. Good work by Bacrot!

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[1] http://entwicklungsvorsprung.de/?p=2166#more-2166

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Blunder (23)

In the diagram below from Jussupov - Meissner (Bundesliga 2011) with Black to move it is difficult to find a move which is worse than the one that was played.

21.- Qxe4??

This is one of the moves that no one will understand since there is no route to escape for the queen if being attacked. And this can easily be done with

22.f3

1-0

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