Typical IQP tactical breakthrough from Lichess game

Here is a rapid game example I could have included into my IQP ebook/paperback:

Find the best move for White after Black made a typical mistake.

 

Exchange Slav – Sample Puzzles from new PaperBack Book

My ebook Exchange Slav – Strategy and Tactics is now available in paperback format, so you can order a physical copy and have it delivered to you like most chess books you probably already own. Here is a sample set of exercises from the “Pressure on c6” chapter. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see solutions.

Kramnik, Vladimir - Anand, Viswanathan
   2007.11.21   

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3 Rc8 9. Be2 e6 10. O-O Be7?!

( 10. ... Bd6! )

11. Qb3

11. ... Na5?

( Correct was 11. ... Qd7! 12. Na4 Na5! 13. Rxc8+ Qxc8 14. Qb6 Nc4 15. Qa7 although White still maintains some pressure. )

12. Qa4+ Nc6

White's turn

---

The following examples have colors reversed, as it is Black who is putting pressure on 'c3'.

Babu N Sudhakar - Sriram, Jha
   2002   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nf3 e6 8. Bb5 Nd7 9. O-O Be7 10. Rc1 Rc8 11. Ne5 Ndxe5 12. Bxe5 O-O 13. Bg3 Qb6 14. Qe2 a6 15. Ba4 Bg6 16. Bd1 Nb4 17. Qd2 Qa5 18. Be2 b5 19. a3?

Black's turn

---

Khropova, Larisa - Shumilina, Alexandra
   2008   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. e3 Bg4 8. Be2 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 O-O 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Qd2 b5 14. Qd3 Qb6 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Be2 Na5 17. Qb1 Nc4 18. Bd3 h6 19. b3 Na3 20. Qb2 Qa5 21. g4 Bb4 22. Ne2 Qb6 23. Kg2 Qb7 24. Kg1 a5 25. Bg3 Ne4 26. Bh2 Ng5 27. Kg2 Nc4 28. Qb1 Nd2 29. Qb2 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 Ndf3 31. Nc3 Rc8 32. Bg3?

Black's turn

 

 

Solutions

Kramnik, Vladimir - Anand, Viswanathan
Wch Blitz 3rd   2007.11.21   

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3 Rc8 9. Be2 e6 10. O-O Be7?!

( 10. ... Bd6! )

11. Qb3

11. ... Na5?

( Correct was 11. ... Qd7! 12. Na4 Na5! 13. Rxc8+ Qxc8 14. Qb6 Nc4 15. Qa7 although White still maintains some pressure. )

12. Qa4+ Nc6

13. Bxa6! Ra8

( After 13. ... bxa6 14. Ne5 Qb6 15. Ne2 Qb5 16. Qxb5 axb5 17. Rxc6 +/- White remains up a pawn. )

14. Bxb7 Rxa4 15. Bxc6+ Kf8 16. Nxa4 Ne4 17. Bb7 Nd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Rc6 Qd7 20. Rc8+ Bd8 21. Ne5 1-0

---

Babu N Sudhakar - Sriram, Jha
Chhattisgarh Trophy   2002   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nf3 e6 8. Bb5 Nd7 9. O-O Be7 10. Rc1 Rc8 11. Ne5 Ndxe5 12. Bxe5 O-O 13. Bg3 Qb6 14. Qe2 a6 15. Ba4 Bg6 16. Bd1 Nb4 17. Qd2 Qa5 18. Be2 b5 19. a3?

19. ... Na2 20. b4

( 20. Rcd1 Nxc3 21. bxc3 Bxa3 would have left Black up two pawns, as the 'c3' pawn is also going to fall. )

20. ... Nxb4 21. axb4 Bxb4 22. Ra1 Bxc3 23. Rxa5 Bxd2 24. Rxa6 b4

Black came out of complications with an extra passed pawn and is winning here.

25. Rb6 Rc2 26. Bd6 Rfc8 27. Ba6 R2c6 0-1

---

Khropova, Larisa - Shumilina, Alexandra
Moscow-ch   2008   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. e3 Bg4 8. Be2 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 O-O 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Qd2 b5 14. Qd3 Qb6 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Be2 Na5 17. Qb1 Nc4 18. Bd3 h6 19. b3 Na3 20. Qb2 Qa5 21. g4 Bb4 22. Ne2 Qb6 23. Kg2 Qb7 24. Kg1 a5 25. Bg3 Ne4 26. Bh2 Ng5 27. Kg2 Nc4 28. Qb1 Nd2 29. Qb2 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 Ndf3 31. Nc3 Rc8 32. Bg3?

32. ... Ne1+ 33. Rxe1 Bxc3 34. Qe2 Bxe1 35. Qxe1 b4 -+ 36. Bd6 Rc3 37. Qe2 Ne4 38. Bxe4 dxe4 39. Bc5 e5 40. Kh2 exd4 41. Bxd4 Qc7+ 42. Kg2 Rd3 43. Bb2 Qc6 44. Kg1 a4 45. bxa4 Qxa4 46. Bd4 Ra3 47. Qc4 Qd1+ 48. Kh2 Qf3 0-1

Samples of Best Combinations of 2016 – Now as Paperback

My ebook Modern Chess Combinations: October, November, December 2016 is now also available in paperback format, so you can order a physical copy and have it delivered to you like most chess books you probably already own. Here is a sample set of exercises for you to get the taste of it. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the solutions.

This publication is a collection of over 140 best combinations played by strong chess players in tournaments that took place in the fourth quarter of 2016. This book is the eighth in the "Quarterly Tactics" series, which provides instructive tactical positions from the most recent top chess tournaments. Quarterly Chess Tactics will allow you to
    * Follow the recent games of top grandmasters
    * Improve your game
    * Study combinations any time and anywhere
    * Enjoy a collection of annotated puzzles that you have not seen in any other tactics books
    * Maintain regular practice by solving several puzzles every day

The highlight of this edition are the games from the World Championshop match between Karjakin and Carlsen, and World Rapid and Blitz Championship. The combination played by Magnus Carlsen in the last game of the tie-break - was found by him instantly and was a worthy finish to the tough match. It proved yet again, that being able to spot tactics quickly and effortlessly is an essential part of being a strong player.

Nabaty, T. - Vaganian, R.
   2016.10.07   

White's turn

---

Nenezic, M. - Miladinovic, I.
   2016.10.01   

White's turn

---

Flores, Di - Real de Azua, E.
   2016.07.20   

White's turn

---

Bosiocic, Mari - Fercec, N.
   2016.10.12   

White's turn

 

 

Solutions

Nabaty, T. - Vaganian, R.
1st Yerevan Open 2016   2016.10.07   

28. Qxc8+

Black resigned in view of

28. ... Rxc8 29. Ne6+ Kf7 30. Nxg5+ 1-0

---

Nenezic, M. - Miladinovic, I.
TCh-SRB Premier 2016   2016.10.01   

21. c4 bxc4 22. Qxb7 Nxd4 23. Bxc4

---

Flores, Di - Real de Azua, E.
91st ch-ARG 2016   2016.07.20   

40. Rxe6

Black resigned in view of

40. ... Qxe6 41. Bd5 1-0

---

Bosiocic, Mari - Fercec, N.
25th TCh-CRO Div 1b 2016   2016.10.12   

18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Rxd5 Bd6

( 19. ... Rxd5 20. Bxd5 Qd7 21. Qxb7+ Qxb7 22. Rc8# )

20. Qxb7+ Kxb7 21. Rxd6+ 1-0