Bishop’s Thread

Bishops usually find thread in narrow diagonals making them another important element in executing an attack. Strong players are looking at possibilities to make this happen even at the expense of heavy pieces. Anybody who could find the right move? Sjestov-Krovatkin (1997)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Re4! 2.fxR QxB 3.Ke3 Qxc+ 4.Rd3 Qc2 5.Qf1 Bb5 Resign. The attack of black is too much to defend.

Black Feast

The position shows the combination of four (4) black pieces attacking white’s king. Polvin- Krejcik (Wein, 1954)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Qxh2+ 2.KxQ Ng4+ 3.Kh1 Rh3+ 4. gxR Rh2 mate.

Double- Angled Pin

The game Madler-Uhlmann depicted black's powerful pin hidden in every angle of the position. Madler-Uhlmann (DDR, 1963)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Rh1+ 2.KxR (NxR is not possible due to Qxg2 mate) Qh3+3.Kg1 Qxg2 mate.

Intrusion

In this position, RxQ would be a normal move for black, however white’s Rb3 is a powerful reply rolling the pawn. What else can black do in this position? Giorgadzi-Kuindzi (USSR, 1973)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Rh5+ 2.BxR g5+mate.

Annihilating the Defender

In the diagram, white commands a superior position against black. Black is not only behind in piece development but is also obliged to evacuate his king. How can white defend black’s counterstrike Qc3+ compromising his bishop pair? Lerner- Seidef-Sade (USSR, 1979)

White to play and win. Solution: 1. Bb2! QxB 2. Rd8+ BxR 3. QxQ Resign.

Perfect Timing

An inspired resource by black Ra8-d8 brought the game in a positional balance. Black’s queen cannot be taken due to RxR mate. Unexpectedly, white is left with another killer move. Paglilla-Carbone (Argentina, 1985)

Solution: 1. Qa8! RxQ 2. fxQ Re8 3. Rd8 Resign. Pawn promotion cannot be stopped.

Rook and Bishop Attack

Another form of annihilating the defense is shown in the game Cabrilo-Vujicic (Yugoslavia, 1985)

Solution: 1. Rd1! Bd4 2. RxB exR 3. Bd5+ Resign. The threat is Bxd4+ ( Qe5 4. QxB).